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House price growth picked up at start of 2026, says Nationwide Building Society
The average UK house price increased by 0.3% month-on-month in January, following a 0.4% fall in December, a building society has reported, with housing market activity expected to gain momentum in the months ahead.
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Starmer hints at comeback for ‘fantastic’ Rayner
Sir Keir Starmer has suggested former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has a “future role to play” in government.
Kennedy Centre to close for two years for renovations in July, Trump says
US president Donald Trump has said he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Centre performing arts venue for construction work for two years, starting in July.
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Average house price in NI up by 4.8% to £221, 233
Northern Ireland’s average house price has risen 4.8% over the past year to £221,233, amid an interest rate cut and competitive lending conditions
Lucky escape for James McClean and family after fire at new home
Footballer James McClean and his family have had a lucky escape after a fire broke out at their new Derry home.
Renowned Belfast company announces goal to hire 35 apprentices
Harland & Wolff in Belfast has set a target of hiring 35 apprentices during 2026 as it gears up to help build three ships for the Royal Navy.
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl: ‘I struggled to justify coming back to Stormont after having my son’
Kate Nicholl was recently described as “the political equivalent of Little Miss Sunshine” — and it’s a nickname she’s happy to take, especially, as she says, “the world is so dark right now”.
NIO minister was querying Epstein links to Andrew as far back as 2010: US files
A minister at the Northern Ireland Office was asking questions about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein – two years after the wealthy financier was first convicted of sex crimes, new US government files reveal.
Colin Howell's children reveal devastating moment they realised he'd murdered their mum
Colin Howell murdered his wife Lesley and his lover Hazel Stewart's husband Trevor in 1991 before covering it up as a suicide, letting his children believe their mother took her own life for 18 years
Andrew and Mandelson face pressure to reveal what they know about Epstein
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Peter Mandelson are facing calls to reveal all they know about Jeffrey Epstein to US lawmakers, as the peer resigned his membership of the Labour Party to avoid causing it “further embarrassment”.
Further rainfall could exacerbate flooding in south-west England – Met Office
Further rainfall could exacerbate flooding in the south-west of England in the wake of Storm Chandra, the Met Office has warned.
Savings of close to £1m agreed in taxi bill for home-to-school transport
The Education Authority has said the high cost of home-to-school transport costs is linked to a lack of school places for children with special educational needs
Northern Ireland average house price reaches £221k amid interest rate cut
Challenges around housing supply and affordability for first-time buyers remain key issues
Heart transplant patient ‘energised’ by 110km Sahara trek two years after op
A bank worker who trekked more than 110km across the Sahara desert two years after receiving a life-saving heart transplant has said he feels he can “do anything now”.
North Sea sandstone could be used to store carbon dioxide, report says
Sandstone beneath the North Sea could be used to store carbon dioxide, a new study has claimed.
Most ‘cash heavy’ and ‘cash light’ parts of UK for Link ATM withdrawals revealed
UK adults made an average of 15 trips to cash machines last year, according to figures from ATM and cash access network Link.
Savings of close to £1m agreed in taxi bill for home-to-school transport
Savings of close to £1 million have been agreed with taxi firms which provide school transport provision in Northern Ireland.
Scottish young people save hundreds on bus travel compared with rest of UK
Young Scots are saving hundreds of pounds a year on bus travel compared with those in England, the SNP have said.
Charities launch appeal to reverse Nice decision on life-saving cancer treatment
A formal appeal has been sent to the NHS spending watchdog regarding its decision to remove a potentially life-saving cancer treatment from the health service in England and Wales.
One in five Britons would end relationship over difference in salary – survey
One in five Britons have ended or would consider ending a romantic or platonic relationship because of salary differences, according to a survey for Nationwide.