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HSE warns emergency departments ‘extremely busy’

Emergency departments are experiencing high levels of presentations “due to ongoing high illness rates related to winter viruses”, the Health Service Executive has said. It is asking the public to consider “all care options” before presenting at emergency departments. In a statement, the HSE’s Chief Operations Officer Damien McCallion said: …

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United Nations create independent panel to ‘assess’ UNRWA

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has announced the creation of an independent panel to assess UNRWA, its embattled agency tasked with helping Palestinian refugees. UNRWA is under fire over accusations by Israel that 12 staff members were involved in the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October. More than a …

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Grammys honour Sinéad O’Connor and Shane MacGowan

Sinéad O’Connor and Shane MacGowan were both honoured at the Grammy Awards – with Annie Lennox performing a powerful rendition of Sinéad’s 1990 smash hit Nothing Compares 2 U during the In Memoriam segment. 69-year-old Lennox wore an all-black outfit with a red sacred heart on her sleeve, and she …

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Dad’s Army star Ian Lavender has died at the age of 77

Ian Lavender, best known for playing Private Pike in classic BBC comedy Dad’s Army, has died at the age of 77. Lavender was the last surviving cast member of the series following the death of Frank Williams in 2022. He died on Friday morning, his agent confirmed to the PA …

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‘We want Stormont Executive to last’

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he wants devolved government in Northern Ireland to last. The Taoiseach was greeted by First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle. They had a meeting inside before Mr Varadkar met the rest of the newly-formed Stormont Executive. Ms O’Neill …

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Safety assessment at Brittas building damaged by fire

Gardaí say the results of a technical examination at the scene of a fire, which destroyed a building near Brittas in south county Dublin, will guide the investigation into the cause of the blaze. Protests have been held in the area recently – amid speculation that the premises was earmarked …

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Palestinians hope Blinken visit can deliver Gaza truce

Palestinians huddling under bombardment in Gaza said they hoped a visit to the region by the US Secretary of State would finally deliver a truce, in time to head off a threatened new Israeli assault on the last refuge at the enclave’s edge. Antony Blinken is headed to the Middle …

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O’Neill urged to focus on public services

The Northern Ireland Secretary has said First Minister Michelle O’Neill should focus on improving public services rather than raising the issue of a ballot on reunification. Chris Heaton-Harris has dismissed the prospect of a border poll after Ms O’Neill claimed one could be held in the next ten years. He …

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