Growth and promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont and a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education, according to the Council of Europe.

More than twice as many Catholics as Protestants have been appointed to the board of Sport Northern Ireland, it was claimed tonight.

The lighting of the Paralympic Flame at Northern Ireland’s devolved parliament has shone the message of the power of human endeavour and energy, it has been claimed.

Plans for a major redevelopment of Ravenhill rugby stadium have been given the green light, Assembly ministers confirmed today.

Death threats have been issued to Sinn Féin members linked to the controversial appointment of an IRA killer to the role of ministerial adviser at Stormont, the party has announced.

Mitchel McLaughlin is standing down as the chairman of the Northern Assembly Finance and Personnel Committee as part of a reshuffle announced by Sinn Féin today.

The North’s government has been locked in suspended animation by the dispute between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin, it was claimed today.

Police were attacked with a television set during mob violence in north Belfast.

A Portuguese man was stabbed in a suspected racist attack in the North early today.