Belfast Telegraph

21 hours ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Cillian Sherlock

Ireland completes disposal of AIB sharesA 20.8 billion euro bailout saved the lender nine years ago (Niall Carson/PA)Ireland has reduced its shareholding in Allied Irish Banks (AIB) to zero, completing its return of the bank to private ownership after the financial crash. AIB’s exposure to Ireland’s property market crash nine years ago brought the country to its knees and triggered a 20.8 billion euro bailout to save the lender from the abyss.

21 hours ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Chris Leebody |Garrett Hargan

Officers were pelted with debris and fireworks during the disorder, which broke out shortly after 8pm, close to the city walls. A crowd had gathered in the Orchard Row area of the city before police were attacked. The gathering was organised over social media on Monday night. It’s understood that several attempts were made to attack homes in the Fountain Estate before police intervened. Videos posted to social media show crowds of youths shooting fireworks at officers in riot gear.

1 day ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Garrett Hargan

The body responsible for managing Lough Neagh has described a Stormont debate on the ecological crisis as “depressing” after promised political support “disappeared like melted snow”. Gerry Darby, who runs the Lough Neagh Partnership, attended the Nutrient Action Plan (NAP) debate in Parliament Buildings this week where Sinn Fein and unionist parties backed a motion to scrap the NAP consultation process.

1 day ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Clodagh Traynor

Debbie Thompson’s crocheted creations sit on a postbox on the Glen Road in the west of the city, and her colourful design has gained attention around the world after she shared a photo in a popular craft group. The topper features characters Wallace and Gromit, with “new topper in progress” spelled out in yarn. Debbie explained that she hadn’t expected such a reaction, as it’s a temporary piece placed to show that a new summer topper is being made.

1 day ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Cillian Sherlock

In Ireland, the official measure of poverty is consistent poverty, which describes a person who is both materially deprived and “at risk of poverty”, or “Arop”. Deprivation is defined as the enforced lack of two or more of 11 items, including heating a home or eating protein once every two days. Arop is defined as having disposable income that is below 60% of the median equivalised income for Ireland, also termed income poverty.