There is already 25 minutes more daylight than the shortest day and by the end of this week it will be around 45 minutes.

x.com/bbcnewsline/...

Scotland-NI electricity link project takes a 'step forward' The Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland awarded the licence for the project last month.

'Step forward' for Scotland-NI electricity link www.bbc.com/news/article...

Single-use plastic cups: Venues to pilot year-long ban The 12-month pilot is being driven by the Venue Sustainability Forum and supported by Visit Belfast.

Single-use plastic cups ban at some venues under scheme www.bbc.com/news/article...

New Year, same walks 👟 #january #cregaghglen #blueskies

Spent the last week of the year with trips to Donegal, Dublin & at home with the cats🎄

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year✨

#NewYearsEve #countdownto2025 #HappyNewYear

Wishing you all a very Merry Cat-mas 🎄🐱🎅🏻 #christmascats

Christmas Eve, Shrove, Donegal🎄

Should we put a star or an angel on top of our tree?🌟🎄

One of them is an angel all year round😸

#CatsatChristmas #catoftheday #catsofbluesky

He said as childcare is heavily regulated in terms of the no. of staff per child, they can't mitigate this increase in costs, so they have little option but to pass it on to their customers

One nursery calculated across their units its going to mean an increase of around £300k

Increasing employers national insurance contributions could push up childcare costs for parents, Federation of Small Businesses tells Stormont’s Economy committee

Roger Pollen said there's a very real risk many businesses will "crumple"

He said it will mean on average an extra £18.6k on nurseries

£3bn is the backlog of road maintenance facing the Department of Infrastructure🚧

One thing that contributes to this is when utility companies dig up roads & repair them

That’s the focus of an audit office report, which you can watch on BBC Newsline’s Facebook

www.facebook.com/share/v/1B7R...?

The Communities Minister has announced more support for homelessness
 
He said many service providers have a monthly funding model which creates “too much uncertainty”

He confirmed funding until end of March & announced further £6.7m to Housing Executive to prevent homelessness service closures

Difference in shares from 2020

FF -0.3%
FG -0.1%
SF -5.5%

FF back at the top for first time since 2007. Although lower than 2016.

FG down slightly but worst vote share

SF copping the biggest swing away from a main opposition party in 21st century. 2nd best share though.

Petrol prices: Drivers still paying over the odds, says watchdog Fuel retailers' profit margins remain

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Winter Fuel Payment: Pension credit applications rise but many rejected A big jump in pensioners applying for the means-tested benefit came after ministers limited winter fuel payments.

Pension credit applications rise but many rejected www.bbc.com/news/article...

Budget: National Insurance rise could impact NI public employers, warns minister The finance minister is

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A very chilly start to the day❄️

My car tells me it’s minus 2 degrees in Belfast city centre today

Can barely make out Broadcasting House & City Hall in these pics 🥶

Figures from @seamusleheny.bsky.social

Ireland Population: 5.38m
Social Housing waiting list = 58,000
NI Population: 1.9m
Social Housing waiting list = 47,000

Conor McGregor: Nikita Hand case sees rape helpline calls almost double Meanwhile, Tesco and other retailers say they will no longer stock products linked to the MMA fighter.

Rape helplines on both sides of the border have seen increased calls during and after the McGregor case, meanwhile some retailers are distancing themselves from the MMA fighter and dropping his whiskey from shelves #rapecrisis #VAWG

www.bbc.com/news/article...

a woman is standing in front of a window and says it 's only tuesday . ALT: a woman is standing in front of a window and says it 's only tuesday .

Tuesday is the longest day of the week. Tuesday morning = one day. Tuesday afternoon = a second day. By Tuesday night it feels like Thursday

Irish Election: Family live in mobile home after mortgage rejected A father says his family's mortgage offer was withdrawn when his partner became pregnant.

'We couldn’t get a mortgage so live in a mobile home' www.bbc.com/news/article...

Me figuring out this new platform #catsofbluesky

Reeves tells businesses no more tax rises as she defends Budget Chancellor Rachel Reeves tells the CBI conference she is

Will tax rises put businesses off hiring staff and investing? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...