New York state politicians have agreed the first and toughest gun control laws in the nation.

Students returned to school in the shattered Connecticut town of Newtown for the first time since a gunman’s rampage killed 26 people in an elementary school, altering the gun control debate in Washington and forcing a retailer to pull guns from shelves.

MOST people may be counting down the days to Christmas, but Cha Fitzpatrick and Ballyhale Shamrocks are already looking beyond the festive period to the New Year and a shot at redemption.

MAYBE, just maybe, hurling followers in Cork will finally get that big game they have been craving all season when Avondhu and Newtownshandrum clash in the semi-final of the Permanent TSB SHC at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tomorrow (4pm).