Bowing out as leader of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams’ denial of IRA involvement continues to anger many of his political contemporaries, but all acknowledge his skills in delivering a peace deal, writes Political Reporter Elaine Loughlin.

Moscow claimed Gavin Williamson has "lost his grasp on reason" as the UK Defence Secretary stepped up his warnings about Russian aggression.

Templeogue College edged St Malachy’s of Belfast in the Under 19A Boys final on the opening day of the Subway Schools All-Ireland Cup finals at the National Basketball Arena yesterday.

The UK government has been warned it faces a "very substantial rebellion" from Tory MPs if it fails to find the money needed for the armed forces.

Latest: New Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said he is "both honoured and excited" by his promotion, following Sir Michael Fallon's resignation amid sleaze allegations.

Sleaford Mods might eschew the role of spokesmen for the downtrodden but they do add some grit to the prawn-sandwich of popular music, writes Ed Power

Two boys have been electrocuted by power lines downed during violent weather in Texas, officials said.

Growth in Germany’s private sector picked up in February to reach its highest level in nearly three years, driven by humming factories, a survey showed, pointing to a strong first quarter in Europe’s biggest economy.

Munster 52 Worcester Warriors 21: It certainly wasn’t a happy return to Cork for former Munster and Ireland hero Donncha O’Callaghan as Munster stormed to a comprehensive pre- season win over Worcester Warriors at Musgrave Park last night.

Wildlife officials have pulled four alligators from a lagoon at Walt Disney World after a two-year-old boy was dragged into the water by an alligator.

A search is under way for a two-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, authorities said.

Carrigaline 1-16 Mallow 1-11: Carrigaline utilised a numerical advantage to overcome Mallow in the Cork PIHC at Páirc Uí Rinn in treacherous conditions last night.

A terminally ill cancer patient chose not to press charges against a nurse who allegedly withdrew money from his account without consent because “he didn’t want to see her again”, a disciplinary inquiry has heard.

Man City 6 Newcastle 1: Sergio Aguero has no peers when it comes to the Premier League’s striking department.

Newcastle 2 Chelsea 2: Tyneside remains a no-win zone for Jose Mourinho and refreshingly, it was also a no-whine zone for the Chelsea manager, who for once resisted the urge to blame outside influences for his team’s failings.

Eurozone business growth slowed this month as Asian demand weakened, leading to fewer new jobs and forcing factories to reduce output, even though companies raised prices for the first time in over four years, a survey showed yesterday.

Newcastle United 2 West Ham United 0: As a survivor of testicular cancer, Jonas Gutierrez is used to winning battles far more important than those against mere relegation.

John Carver is expecting no favours from Sam Allardyce as he attempts to keep Newcastle in the Barclays Premier League.

Hull midfielder Jake Livermore has been suspended by his club and the FA after reportedly failing a drugs test.

Eurozone businesses started the second quarter with healthy growth as a buoyant order book again encouraged them to hire more, a survey showed.

John Carver will continue to lead Newcastle into the final three games of an increasingly calamitous campaign after surviving crisis talks at the club’s training ground yesterday.

LEICESTER CITY 3 NEWCASTLE  0: Mike Williamson has apologised for his sending-off for Newcastle at Leicester on Saturday but denied his manager John Carver’s claim that his dismissal was deliberate.

Newcastle boss John Carver suspected defender Mike Williamson of deliberately getting himself sent off as the Magpies’ 3-0 loss at Leicester left them in the thick of a Barclays Premier League relegation battle.

Newcastle boss John Carver accused defender Mike Williamson of getting sent off deliberately in a blistering attack on his players after their 3-0 loss at Leicester.

Newcastle United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3: Newcastle United supporters who refused to join a boycott of the game only witnessed further evidence of the decline of a team head coach John Carver accepts is now involved in a fight against relegation.

A Kerryman with learning difficulties has lost his appeal before Europe’s top human rights court to have his conviction for a murder in the North overturned.

A Kerry man who is serving a life sentence for murder in a prison in the North will find out tomorrow if he is successful in his attempt to overturn the conviction on grounds he was denied a fair trial.

Sunderland 1 Newcastle United 0: Jermain Defoe is a quick learner. Sunderland’s recent acquisition has spent the last fortnight taking a crash-course in Wear-Tyne derby history, and it took him less than 45 minutes to write his name indelibly into its latest chapter.

Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2

Check out the starting line-ups for all of tonight's matches.

Manchester City 5 Newcastle United 0: THE prospect of facing mighty Barcelona - Messi, Neymar, Suarez et al - will presumably offer Manchester City more concern than this perfunctory five-goal thrashing of Newcastle but so schizophrenic are the mood swings at the Etihad Stadium these days that captain Vincent Kompany is relishing the prospect.

The eurozone private sector has expanded at the fastest pace in seven months this month led by rising new orders, surveys showed yesterday.

FA Cup Fifth Round: Blackburn Rovers 4 Stoke City 1: Blessed with a proud striking heritage featuring the likes of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton, Blackburn supporters can now heap their adoration upon Norwegian international Josh King after an extraordinary 19-minute hat-trick.

Crystal Palace 1 Newcastle United 1

The team news for tonight's Premier League games.

Newcastle 1 Stoke 1: By Mark Hughes’s usual abrasive standards, his criticism of referee Kevin Friend was calm and measured, but that was only because the Stoke City manager had seen substitute Peter Crouch earn his team a deserved point with a 90th-minute header.

Eurozone companies stepped up hiring as manufacturing and services activity from Germany to Spain expanded faster than economists estimated.

Hull City 0 Newcastle United 3: Newcastle head coach John Carver is convinced Remy Cabella is the right man to spur his side towards a top 10 finish in the Barclays Premier League.

All the team news from around the grounds ahead of Week 23 in the Premier League - more to follow as it comes in.

Premier League

Newcastle 3 Burnley 3

Newscastle 0 Everton 0