By Phil Flanagan

THE BBC Radio Ulster Evening Extra sports bulletin top story on Tuesday was the Manchester City v Aston Villa soccer match, with a detailed report from BBC 5 Live’s John Murray (City won 4-0, by the way).

This was followed by details from the rest of the day’s English Premier League games.

Next up was news that Tony McCoy fell off yet another horse, didn’t win... Free article

SINN FÉIN deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has been at his desk in Stormont Castle this morning seeking urgent answers from officials and from NI Water on the response to the recent thaw.

McGuinness, who yesterday visited householders affected by flooding and a cut in supply, said:

Yesterday, along with Minister Conor Murphy, I visited householders in Lurgan and Coalisland... Free article

SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie’s “contradictory” comments about who people should vote for in the Dáil general election have been labelled “SDLP sour grapes from a losing party” by general election candidate and Dublin Sinn Féin Chairperson Paul Donnelly.

The Dublin West candidate challenged the SDLP leader to stand in the Dáil elections and said:

Margaret Ritchie says she... Free article

MARTIN McGUINNESS has told flood-hit families he wants the Executive to look at how the the Financial Assistance Act could be used to help people most affected by the extreme weather conditions.

The deputy First Minister was speaking alongside Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy today while visiting homes affected by flooding in the Shankill estate in Lurgan.

Martin... Free article

THE Dublin Food Co-Op has voted to boycott Israeli goods in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Previous attempts over the past two years failed to reach consensus or when put to a vote failed to reach the required 75% quota needed. The vote, held just before Christmas, was 50 in favour of the boycott to 6 against.

While the Dublin Food Co-Op itself has an unwritten 'policy'... Free article

AN EMERGENCY PLAN by Social Development Minister Alex Attwood is needed to help huge numbers of people who have no heat or water in their homes or dealing with flooding from burst pipes, Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann has said.

The West Belfast MLA said on Monday:

We have received a number of pressing complaints  from residents who have been without heat or water in their... Free article

THIS YEAR marks the 20^th anniversary of the murder of Fergal Caraher in Cullyhanna. On December 30th 1990, Fergal was murdered and his brother Míceál seriously injured.

The shooting

Fergal and Míceál were in Cullyhanna when they stopped to help a man whose car had broken down and were then approached by a group of British soldiers. They checked them – their names, addresses... Free article

THE Government’s cut of €19.80 per week to students on VTOS means that many students who were failed by the education system the first time around will be denied a second chance, Sinn Féin Mayo County Councillor Rose Conway Walsh has said.

The allowance paid to students on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme who are long-term unemployed has been cut from €31.80 to... Free article

THE National Pension Reserve Fund should be used to stimulate Ireland’s economy and create jobs and not to bail out banks, Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD has said.

The newly-elected TD was speaking on December 23^rd as Finance Minister Brian Lenihan went to the High Court in Dublin for approval to put a further €3.7billion of taxpayers’ money into Allied Irish... Free article

Monday 27th December 2010
Belfast City Hall
3pm
Commemoration marking 2nd anniversary of Operation Cast Lead

BETWEEN 27 December 2008 and 18 January 2009, over 1,400 Palestinians were killed by Israel in a brutal and illegal attack on the Gaza Strip, destroying lives and infrastructure.

Two years on, Gaza's infrastructure has still not been repaired due to Israel's blockade.... Free article