Northern Ireland has recorded the first death of a patient who had Covid-19, the Department of Health has announced.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster has said there has been close cooperation between the government in the Republic and the Assembly since the coronavirus reached the island of Ireland.

Schools across the UK are to close to all pupils except those of key workers, as Boris Johnson urged the public to continue heeding health advice to help slow the spread of Covid-19.

The politicians were asked to respond to comments from Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, who on Thursday said he favoured a tunnel rather than a bridge as a way to link the two nations.

Powersharing is returning to Northern Ireland after Sinn Fein joined the DUP in backing a deal to re-enter devolved government together.

The British and Irish governments on Thursday night published their estimate of what constitutes a “fair, balanced and inclusive” deal.

Students at Catholic schools in Northern Ireland should be encouraged to join the PSNI to help balance community representation in the force, the leader of the DUP has said.

There was certainly no WH Auden moment in New Zealand when it was announced that Ian Foster would be the new All Blacks head coach.

Being a strong advocate of Scott Robertson to replace Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach does not mean Ian Foster is not the right fit in my eyes.

The 54-year-old succeeds Steve Hansen in the position after eight years serving as his assistant.

The Sinn Féin president believes there would be a "huge economic dividend and potential" in reunification and it would provide a chance to properly deal with healthcare across the island.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British prime minister Boris Johnson are in very similar, but entirely different, positions this morning.

The DUP has said peace in Northern Ireland is at risk if a Brexit deal draws a customs border in the Irish Sea.

The DUP leader has blamed Leo Varadkar for setting a precedent that has led some loyalists to contemplate violent resistance to the Brexit deal.

Joe Schmidt wasn’t having any of Steve Hansen’s mind games after Ireland saw off the All Blacks last November.

Joe Schmidt wasn't having any of Steve Hansen's mind games after Ireland saw off the All Blacks last November.

No one could know it at the time but Ireland’s relationship with the All Blacks changed irrevocably in November of 2013.

DUP leader Arlene Foster has dismissed speculation about a Northern Ireland-only backstop and said she expects to meet Boris Johnson tonight.

No-one could know it at the time but Ireland's relationship with the All Blacks changed irrevocably in November of 2013.

Leadership is one of those intangible, mercurial characteristics far harder to define than recognise. Whether for benign or dark purposes, leadership shapes our world even though that simple truth is wrapped in mystery. The magic of leadership seems a mixture of charm, energy, empathy, vision, radiated if silent testosterone and the capacity to convince others you understand and share their objectives. It is usually, but not always, necessary to have right on your side. However, in a world where charisma and leadership are often confused right and wrong are almost side issues; subjectivity usurps substance, self-interest seems a virtuous motivation.

This week the British Home Office announced it is to issue one million texts to UK passport holders.

Odsonne Edouard helped himself to a double as Celtic came from behind to overpower Kilmarnock 3-1 at Parkhead.

TOKYO — The funny thing about World Cups is that they help the All Blacks find their inner Zen.

If the beef talks epitomised one-step-forward-two-steps-back negotiations, then those focussed on a sane Brexit seem, sadly, more like one-step-forward-three-steps-back.

Brexit talks should no longer be about "punishing" Britain, Micheál Martin has warned.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is following a Brexit “fantasy”, and that his plan is “profoundly stupid and immeasurably dangerous”.

DUP leader Arlene Foster has criticised a Northern Ireland-only backstop as “anti-democratic and unconstitutional”.

Latest: European Parliament Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt has said Boris Johnson's plans to suspend Parliament are “unlikely to help deliver a stable future EU – UK relationship”.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned Ireland and Britain "should be afraid of a no deal Brexit" after admitting the scenario could force him to scrap plans to cut income tax in the autumn budget.

The Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said an opinion piece published yesterday in the UK’s Daily Telegraph is “inaccurate, divisive”.

Sinn Féin’s deputy leader Michelle O’Neill has said that a return to direct rule in Northern Ireland would be a retrograde step.

However, other political parties in Northern Ireland expressed concern at Mr Johnson’s election as Conservative Party leader, particularly in terms of the potential implications for Brexit.

Fresh concerns around Northern Ireland have been raised following Theresa May's resignation announcement.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said that this was a case of yet another Conservative Party leader losing leadership of the party because of their relationship with the EU.

An Irish cervical cancer campaigner who lost her life because of medical negligence is due to be remembered at a special lecture in the Netherlands next month.

Talks to break the political impasse in the North are set to reconvene in the next fortnight amid mounting public pressure.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said that if there was the political will the issues that led to the fall of the Stormont Assembly could be “sorted out in one hour.”

Fr Magill challenged the politicians in attendance to use the tragic death of Ms McKee to "be the catalyst needed for parties to start talking".

Matthew Fitzpatrick was left wondering what might have been had he not opened his Masters account with a round of 78.

MPs are voting tonight on eight possible Brexit options after Parliament seized control of the Commons agenda.

Just over two years ago, when Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster said it would be a mistake to allow the local crocodiles to hope that their well-honed appetites might be satisfied because, no matter how much they were given to eat, they would want more she revealed far more than she intended.