Belfast news

• We need to refresh not rebuild – Pep Guardiola on Man City’s striking struggles

  18-12-2020 23:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Pep Guardiola has rejected suggestions Manchester City’s struggles in front of goal require a major rebuilding project.
  
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• Still no timetable on Raul Jimenez return, says Wolves boss Nuno

  18-12-2020 23:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Raul Jimenez is “progressing and improving very well” but there remains no timetable for his return to action with Wolves.
  
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• Roberto Firmino wants to score more but I’m fine with his efforts – Jurgen Klopp

  18-12-2020 23:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits Roberto Firmino wants to score more goals but he will never be put under pressure to do so.
  
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• Ralph Hasenhuttl open to Theo Walcott making Southampton return permanent

  18-12-2020 23:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl would be open to seeing Theo Walcott make his return to St Mary’s a permanent one.
  
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• Ralph Hasenhuttl blames rejection of five subs on Premier League’s ‘tough’ image

  18-12-2020 23:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Ralph Hasenhuttl has suggested the Premier League’s “tough” image is behind the rejection of proposals to allow sides to make five substitutions per game this season.
  
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• Northern Ireland shoppers gear up for £100m spending spree ahead of new restrictions

  18-12-2020 23:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Northern Ireland shoppers are gearing up for a £100m six-day festive spending spree ahead of draconian new lockdown restrictions that take effect on Boxing Day.
  
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• Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to start converting chances to turn season around

  18-12-2020 23:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes his side must become “super efficient” again to kick-start their Premier League campaign.
  
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• Jose Mourinho unconcerned by criticism over his approach to games

  18-12-2020 23:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is not interested in how he is perceived as his approach to games comes under increased scrutiny.
  
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• Exceptional Jordan Henderson guaranteed statue at Anfield one day – Roy Hodgson

  18-12-2020 23:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will have the support of his former national team boss Roy Hodgson on Sunday when the BBC Sports Personality of the Year is announced and the Crystal Palace boss says the midfielder deserves a statue outside Anfield.
  
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• Maisie Smith: Competing in Strictly Come Dancing has boosted my confidence

  18-12-2020 23:12 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Maisie Smith says competing in Strictly Come Dancing has boosted her confidence.
  
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• NI schools to reopen in January as normal, Education Minister confirms

  18-12-2020 23:11 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Northern Ireland’s schools will reopen as planned in January, the Education Minister has said.
  
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• Storm before the calm: What pre-lockdown mood is like on NI streets

  18-12-2020 23:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The grey skies over Belfast summed up the mood on Friday as Northern Ireland faced into a brief Christmas respite before the next raft of coronavirus restrictions kick in for six weeks from Boxing Day.
  
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• Storm before the calm: What pre-lockdown mood is like NI streets

  18-12-2020 23:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The grey skies over Belfast summed up the mood on Friday as Northern Ireland faced into a brief Christmas respite before the next raft of coronavirus restrictions kick in for six weeks from Boxing Day.
  
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• Education Minister Peter Weir under fire for insisting that schools reopen in early January

  18-12-2020 23:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Education Minister Peter Weir's decision to insist that all Northern Ireland schools are to open again in the first week of January was slammed as a "disaster waiting to happen".
  
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• 'Knife-wielding masked men assault man in his home in North Belfast' - Belfast Live

  18-12-2020 22:12
  
  'Knife-wielding masked men assault man in his home in North Belfast'  Belfast Live
  
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• Teaching union slams Weir after decision to reopen schools in first week of January

  18-12-2020 22:10 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A leading teachers union has slammed the Education Minster for waiting until 8pm on the final day of the school term before e-mailing principals to inform them that schools will be fully re-opening in January without any further restrictions.
  
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• Sir Paul McCartney and Idris Elba discuss fame during interview

  18-12-2020 21:58 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Sir Paul McCartney has said he finds being famous “great” during an interview with Idris Elba.
  
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• Costcutter sold to new owners

  18-12-2020 21:31 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The owner of Costcutter has agreed the sale of the convenience store chain to Bestway Wholesale, the UK’s largest independent wholesalers.
  
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• Northern Ireland dancer who partnered football hero Paolo Rossi suffers stroke

  18-12-2020 21:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A Belfast dancer who partnered the late football star Paolo Rossi on the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing is recovering after suffering a stroke during lockdown at the age of 40.
  
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• Belfast dancer Victoria Martin who partnered football hero Paolo Rossi suffers stroke - Belfast Telegraph

  18-12-2020 21:30
  
  Belfast dancer Victoria Martin who partnered football hero Paolo Rossi suffers stroke  Belfast Telegraph
  
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• Philip praises teachers for efforts during the year

  18-12-2020 21:16 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The Duke of Edinburgh has paid tribute to teachers and school staff for their efforts teaching the nation’s children “in the most challenging conditions”.
  
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• Hospitals across south-eastern England cancel treatments as Covid cases rise

  18-12-2020 21:15 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Hospitals across south-eastern England are postponing non-urgent procedures as some face double the number of coronavirus patients they had in the spring.
  
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• Shambles at Stormont shows world how not to handle a pandemic

  18-12-2020 21:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  We have been around the board in the game of Covid since February. And here we are back at square one.
  
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• Michail Antonio signs new West Ham deal

  18-12-2020 20:35 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  West Ham striker Michail Antonio has signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract.
  
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• Unions criticise Hancock’s ‘Scrooge’ NHS pay letter

  18-12-2020 20:15 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Matt Hancock has been criticised by unions for sending a “Scrooge” letter which suggests a pay rise for nurses will not come until next summer.
  
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• Care home resident meets great-grandchild for first time in Covid-secure reunion

  18-12-2020 20:07 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A 97-year-old care home resident has met her great-granddaughter for the first time after reunions were allowed to take place.
  
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• Heaney wasn’t an ideologue for any cause, so co-opting him into NI centenary celebrations was always going to be a problem

  18-12-2020 20:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Seamus Heaney is one of the greatest people to have come out of Northern Ireland. There is no disputing that.
  
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• Rosemary Smith's passion for speed at 83 years old

  18-12-2020 19:51 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Dublin native Rosemary Smith's passion for speed is undiminished at the age of 83 after completing countless rallies and being the oldest driver ever to test drive an F1 car.
  
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• Wayne Rooney a ‘proud dad’ after son Kai signs for Manchester United

  18-12-2020 19:43 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Wayne Rooney said he is a “proud dad” after his eldest son Kai signed for Manchester United.
  
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• Glider staff 'punched in the face' by youth in West Belfast - Belfast Live

  18-12-2020 19:32
  
  Glider staff 'punched in the face' by youth in West Belfast  Belfast Live
  
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• It’s scary to think I’m up there now – Lucy Bronze on being named world’s best

  18-12-2020 19:22 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Lucy Bronze admits it feels “surreal” to have joined the likes of Brazil great Marta as a winner of FIFA’s women’s player of the year award.
  
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• ‘Significant difficulties’ remain in Brexit trade deal talks – Micheal Martin

  18-12-2020 19:15 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The Irish premier has said “very significant difficulties” remain in the Brexit trade deal talks between the EU and UK, particularly in relation to fisheries.
  
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• Premiership Rugby agrees new three-year broadcast deal with BT Sport

  18-12-2020 19:02 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Premiership Rugby has reached an agreement to extend its long-standing broadcast deal with BT Sport by a further three years.
  
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• Premiership Rugby agrees new four-year broadcast deal with BT Sport

  18-12-2020 19:02 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Premiership Rugby has reached an agreement to extend its long-standing broadcast deal with BT Sport by a further four years.
  
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• A statistical look at Liverpool’s 2020 after Jurgen Klopp given FIFA award

  18-12-2020 19:01 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Jurgen Klopp was named men’s coach of the year at the FIFA Best Football Awards after Liverpool’s remarkable Premier League-winning season.
  
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• Covid-19: 'Many deaths' without NI lockdown

  18-12-2020 18:56 via bbc.co.uk
  
  NI's chief scientific adviser says without a six-week lockdown, the number of deaths would be "severe".
  
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• ‘I’m no big lump, I’ve got skills’ – Callum Smith fired up for Saul Alvarez bout

  18-12-2020 18:54 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Callum Smith believes his prowess is just as important as his physical advantages over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez ahead of their showdown this weekend, as the Liverpudlian insisted: “I’m not just a big lump with limited ability.”
  
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• George Lineker teases dad Gary on Twitter over football skills

  18-12-2020 18:40 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Former England striker Gary Lineker’s son has teased his father online for failing to pass down his football skills.
  
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• Taylor Swift tops UK album chart for second time in 2020

  18-12-2020 18:39 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Taylor Swift has topped the UK album chart for the second time in 2020.
  
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• Whale skull due to be studied by experts is taken from beach

  18-12-2020 18:32 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Police are trying to trace a whale skull due to be studied in Scotland, which has gone missing from a beach.
  
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• Directionless markets close down as Brexit fatigue sets in

  18-12-2020 18:25 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Red was the primary colour facing traders’ screens on Friday as markets ended the week down.
  
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• Wales battered by heavy rain with flooding ‘likely’

  18-12-2020 18:12 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Flood warnings remain in place in parts of Wales as much of the country continues to be battered by heavy showers.
  
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• Scarlets-Toulon clash called off after French club raise coronavirus concerns

  18-12-2020 18:11 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Scarlets’ Heineken Champions Cup clash against Toulon on Friday has been postponed after the French club decided not to play because of coronavirus-related concerns.
  
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• ‘Brutal’ coronavirus has left Newcastle players struggling to walk – Steve Bruce

  18-12-2020 18:00 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce has revealed some of his Covid-19 victims have been left needing to lie down after a short walk as they attempt to battle their way through the virus.
  
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• Stormont leaders clash in Covid blame game

  18-12-2020 17:58 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Northern Ireland’s political leaders have clashed amid a blame game over the region’s spiralling Covid-19 infection rates.
  
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• Ex-Chamber of Commerce boss admits live-streaming child abuse from Philippines

  18-12-2020 17:55 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A former Chamber of Commerce president spent thousands of pounds live-streaming sexual abuse of children as young as 10 in the Philippines, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
  
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• Current tiers are not enough to bring down coronavirus rates, scientists say

  18-12-2020 17:45 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The current tier system is not enough to control the spread of coronavirus, scientists have said.
  
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• Jake Wood bids farewell to EastEnders on his last day on set

  18-12-2020 17:44 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Jake Wood has said EastEnders has been an “incredible life-changing experience” on his last day of filming.
  
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• Greater Manchester chief constable quits after critical watchdog report

  18-12-2020 17:32 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The chief constable of Greater Manchester Police has resigned after the force was placed in special measures over its failure to record more than 80,000 crimes in the space of a year.
  
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• Big Sam returns and Blades seek Brighton boost – 5 Premier League talking points

  18-12-2020 17:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The Premier League’s crowded schedule continues following a full  midweek round with eight fixtures across Saturday and Sunday, followed by two more on Monday.
  
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