🚧 Light at the end of the tunnel as DfI 'optimistic' Kilrea Bridge can reopen before Christmas. Packed house of business owners, residents and local reps in the town this afternoon. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🏥 | Despite a prolonged procurement process, the Trust was left with interim arrangements for a three-month period on its life-saving medical gas system. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🔴| NEW: NI schools will see a rise in the price of school meals in January, with an almost 20% hike to costs. It's among a number of sweeping cost-cutting measures announced by the Education Authority today. How will it impact you? 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

💬 "I do not need to be told what this man said to the police. I spent three days in Musgrave with him. The PPS were not there." Robust exchanges as a court ultimately heard this case cannot be expedited at this stage 📰| @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🔴 | NEW: The NI Audit Office has raised concerns over a Stormont department's accounts for the second year running 🏦 The Dept said the outcome was "expected" 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🔴 | NEW: Kilrea Bridge to remain closed for a futher three months The Department said the length of the work was due to "difficult ground conditions". "We fully appreciate the impact of the ongoing closure," added a spokesperson. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

⛔ Belfast has consistently recorded the highest figures for immigration raids in the UK since 2018 That's according to a recent report compiled by the @migrantsrights.bsky.social It found some 1,277 raids had been carried out in the BT3 area alone between Jan 2022 and Sept 2023. 1/2

📉 A group civil action taken by dozens of the brand builder's former clients has taken a step forward. Mr Campbell has announced the launch of a new venture - but says he has no income in the UK. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🏥 | Some 950 post mortems on NI infants have taken place in Liverpool since 2020. Previously the service had been offered in Belfast. The Health Minister has discussed cross-border co-operation with his ROI counterpart. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

📩 Hundreds of emails released under FOI tell the tale of how the Dept has responded to issues at Kilrea Bridge. 🔸 feasibility study ordered in 2022 never completed 🔸 wingwall at risk of collapse, could threaten bridge's long term use 🏛️ DfI says UK Government austerity behind maintenance issues...

🏛️ I watched the Committee @sjamcbride.bsky.social refers to here and it was an example of scrutiny done well. As was the Health Committee on Thursday when the Trust faced questions. People think Committees are boring - but they are effective when used well by MLAs.

🥊| Winning world title at Windsor Park was a 'dream come true' says IBF World Welterweight Champion Lewis Crocker Belfast City Council held a civic reception for the Sandy Row man at City Hall on Thursday. 📰| @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🔴 | One of the men has been on the run since June this year after absconding during compassionate leave for a funeral Bench warrants for the other two were issued last month by Belfast Crown Court. 📰| @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🏥 | Trust and Department officials appeared before the Health Committee today. 🔸 No de-escalation until report implemented 🔸 review of senior management 🔸 Trust apology to Diane Dodds 📰| @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

⚡ NI's Energy Strategy is failing considerably in some of its key targets despite a £107m spend since 2020. Just 90GWh of a targeted 8000GWh in savings has been achieved while there is a 35% shortfall in renewables goals. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk 🔗 tinyurl.com/2rraeztr

🔴 | RVH cardiac surgery team still 'dysfunctional' says new report. 🔸 some consultants questioning original review 🔸 increase in whistleblowing cases 🔸 700 overdue mortality reviews 🔸 steady increase in legal claims against Trust 📰| @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

In Saggart tonight there's a large group of masked men who just want to protect women and children who also happened to be determined to murder a hotel full of women and children

There is a team of three different English men with "audits" accounts livestreaming and the three different feeds are being put onto a tiktok account "HumanDilemma"

The mob at citywest is so scary, the guards should be way more prepared than this. Imagine being inside and knowing there's a mob of violent racists trying to get in... Terrifying

If you are with the thugs setting fire to Garda vehicles, you’re one of the bad guys. And not the smart, savvy bad guys, you’re the dumb shit henchmen who takes the fall for someone who‘ll be careful not to get their hands dirty while you go to prison.

🍂 Autumn always enhances Clarendon Dock - 5pm views today...

🔴 | FM Michelle O'Neill has backed Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald over an intstruction to Invest NI not to support companies involved in sending arms to Israel. A pre-action letter challenging the move has been sent to the Dept. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🏥 | An NI health trust failed to follow due process during a procurement exercise linked to an alleged £180,000 fraud The Trust has issued a reminder to staff to stick strictly to policies and procedures. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🔴 | DUP motion calling for a review of Belfast City Council's dual language signage policy is defeated Unionist MLAs Timothy Gaston and Phillip Brett clashed during the twilight debate at Stormont 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

This is alarming and significant: the first sighting in Northern Ireland of the Asian hornet, a ferociously aggressive predator which decimates the bee population by mass attacks where it rips the heads off bees - which are crucial for pollination.

🔴| NEW: Dept confirms the presence of the Asian Hornet for first time in NI after report from resident 🐝| DAERA Minister @andrewmuirni.bsky.social said the species represented a "serious threat". 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

In the spirit of Baby Loss Awareness Week, sharing my daughter Fionnuala's story and highlighting the importance of marking this week. Full video: tinyurl.com/2w7whzh

End Deportations Belfast are quoted in this @belfasttelegraph.co.uk article by @ismiseliam.bsky.social on Larne House immigration detention centre. 6000+ people have been detained here since opening in 2011. This Spanish woman suffered under the 'lock up first, ask questions later' sytem.[1/2]

📝 A fairly scathing report carried out in July showed almost no progress made towards recommendations from a previous inspection in 2021. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk 1/4

⭕ "This is going to drag on. We're not going to leave it. We're not going to accept that there'll be no Commissioner." Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin said the delay in appointing Stormont's language commissioners is "deeply disappointing". 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Jim Allister is a (v good ) Barrister & has said multiple times that he would have no qualms taking the case of an IRA person if he was approached because the cab rank rule is fundamentally part of the legal system here. JIM ALLISTER. So quit with this angle about Catherine Connolly, it’s a smear

🏛️ An event has been held at the gates of Belfast City Hall to mark the passing of the Council's new Irish language policy. @cnagaeilge.bsky.social President Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin told the crowd the language has grown "in every part of the city". 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🎙️ Realise we're competing with another big podcast today 👀 but myself and @ciarandunbarrach.bsky.social have been dissecting the last week in politics with Alex Kane and @dmcbfs.bsky.social ⭕️ Language policy, the Labour conference and the SDLP on the agenda 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🔥 An uplift in the tariff is expected to be in place by the end of this month. Officials told the Economy Committee today that owners of some 590 boilers have not engaged with the Department. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

DoH: Monitor spending on restricted procedures Trusts: lolz An NIAO report has found "inadequate approaches" to data recording and 'no assurances' the Dept policy was followed. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🔴 | LATEST: "This is a reckless attack but it won't stop me in my role as Minister" Liz Kimmins and First Minister Michelle O'Neill have hit out at those responsible for the attack in Newry. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

On the fringes of the Labour conference, Sean Brown's family continued their battle for truth about his murder. Secretary of State Hilary Benn had earlier defended a Govt decision to oppose the calling of a public inquiry. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

✍️ The absence of NI from the speeches of Labour's big hitters - Starmer, Reeves - meant Hilary Benn was left to carry the can alone, but his comments on Stormont competence will jar with many people's experience. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Me: I'm doing a thing. TikTok:

🏈 A look back at when the US Army teams gave Belfast its first taste of American Football. Croke Park will tomorrow host Ireland's first in-season NFL match between Pittsburgh Steelers & Minnesota Vikings. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🙌 Delighted to be among these five nominations. My work on the FBA Brand Builder has been shortlisted for the Media Freedom Awards Investigation of the Year (Regional). Congratulations also to @kscott94.bsky.social & @sjamcbride.bsky.social also 👏 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🫆 Quite a reaction locally to Keir Starmer's reported plan to introduce digital ID 'Britcards' cross the UK. 📰 @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🏥 | Some 1,600 appointments were cancelled as a result of this week's major IT outage in the Southern Trust. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has said work was underway to determine the cause of the failure. 📰| @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🔴 | NEW: The IT outage within the Southern Trust has been referred to the UK body that handles potential data breaches. The ICO said it was assessing information after receiving a report from the Trust. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🚨 The reaction to this PSNI training exercise to test preparedness for a terror incident has been amusing. TikTok: Full Matt Le Tissier - "makes you think" Instagram: Roy Keane - "it's their job" More details here: tinyurl.com/mvpm95bn

🔴 | Stormont's newly-appointed Standards Commissioner has quit the role after just eight days. 📰| @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

A reminder that what we often dismiss as the horrors of history are some people's contemporary nightmares. 📰 @nytimes.com ✍️ Jeffrey GettlemanMaya Tekeli and Amelia Nierenberg

💬 "I find it very difficult to feel love for anybody or anything." NI sports broadcaster Mark Robson on his career, recovery from illness and his ordeal at the hands of paedophile teacher Lindsay Brown. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

🙏 Gaza 🎾 Wimbledon 🏳️‍⚧️ Supreme Court gender ruling 🏦 A "volatile" Executive? Spiky exchanges at today's Executive Office Committee hearing. 📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk