Armagh Observatory continues centuries-old winter solstice tradition
It comes this year as the historic Armagh Observatory is part of a bid for Unesco World Heritage status, recognising Ireland’s central role in a formative period of astronomical history. The winter solstice, at 3.03pm (GMT) on Sunday, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. “The winter solstice occurs because Earth’s axis, which is tilted at 23.5 degrees to the plane of the Earth’s orbit around the sun, leans furthest away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere on this day,” he said. Prof Burton added: “The winter solstice is a perfect example of how a single scientific moment can carry meaning across centuries. “As we work towards Unesco World Heritage recognition, it is important to remember that Armagh Observatory represents more than buildings or instruments – it reflects a long tradition of people observing the sky, asking questions, and sharing knowledge.
Source:The Herald
December 21, 2025 11:24 UTC
Last chance to see! Spectacular multi-coloured meteor shower will end in British skies tonight
Keen sky gazers will have one last shot to capture a blazing fireball from the 2025 Geminid meteor shower tonight. The final major meteor shower is expected to dazzle the night sky with up to 150 shooting stars visible every hour. The Royal Greenwich Observatory said: 'The meteors of the Geminid meteor shower are very bright, moderately fast. Geminids meteor showers typically produce up to 120 and 160 meteors per hour at the peak. Following that, keen fireball hunters will be able to catch the weaker but reliable Ursid Meteor Shower, peaking on December 22.
Source:Daily Mail
December 21, 2025 11:23 UTC
Top of the pops! The science behind pouring the perfect glass of Champagne at Christmas
But if you want your fizz to be perfect this Christmas, there is a scientific knack to it, according to the world's leading expert on the physics of champagne. According to Prof Liger–Belair, how the champagne is treated can have a significant effect on the quality of the wine, especially its fizz factor. A flute glass – a long–stemmed glass with a deep, tapered bowl and a narrower opening – is perfect. Carbon dioxide is the gas responsible for the bubbles in champagne and other fizzy drinks. The characteristic pop is caused by the sudden drop of pressure inside the bottle's neck, which causes the carbon dioxide inside to rapidly expand.
Source:Daily Mail
December 21, 2025 11:01 UTC
Leadership needed on road safety
Last week, Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney decided not to disband the Road Safety Authority (RSA) into two agencies, a move which had been recommended by external consultants. Unfortunately, is more than 2024 and marks a disconcerting continuation over recent years of rising road deaths. Not proceeding with the break-up also avoids a scenario with even more agencies responsible for road safety. The RSA is responsible for a range of important road safety levers including road safety education, driver education, driver testing and licensing and vehicle standards. O’Sullivan adds that “as long as Ireland’s road governance remains defined by this diffusion of responsibility, there will inevitably be more such deaths.”“Ireland does not treat road deaths as structural failures.
Source:The Irish Times
December 21, 2025 10:57 UTC
My husband turned to me and said 'this is the best day of my life'... 15 minutes later he died in my arms - and his killer only got five years in prison: Widow of father killed by Sainsbury's queue-ju
Inside the store, Williams pushed ahead in the queue, prompting Mr Clark to challenge him. Mrs Clark said Williams repeatedly threatened her husband in front of other horrified shoppers and staff. The killer struck Mr Clark with an open hand, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head. As Mr Clark lay gravely wounded, Williams fled the scene, driving away with his young child still in his car. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mr Jenrick said: 'Williams committed an appalling crime and yet his prison sentence is paltry.
Source:Daily Mail
December 21, 2025 10:54 UTC
Ireland should resist cheap, tough talk on migration – The Irish Times
'The Irish policy of enforced homelessness of men seeking asylum belongs in the category of inhuman treatment. This not the time to align with the UK on anything to do with asylum, migration and human rights. But we know the vibes matter – they render asylum seekers and refugees more vulnerable to violence, and they normalise xenophobia. Ireland has to figure out where it stands in these troubled times – cheap, tough talk on migration is ill-fitting at this moment. Cathryn Costello is professor of Global Refugee and Migration Law at UCD
Source:The Irish Times
December 21, 2025 10:43 UTC
Ashes RECAP: Re-live every moment as Australia win the Ashes with drama-packed victory in Adelaide after losing one of their biggest stars
The gutted England captain has been a rock for his team this series - and he remained defiant despite the series loss. 'That dream we came here with is now over, which is incredibly disappointing,' he said. 'We came here with a goal in mind, and we've not been able to achieve that, and it hurts and it sucks, but we are not going to stop.' 'Australia have been able to execute things on a much more consistent basis than us, with the ball, with the bat and in the field,' he said. 'They've been able to outdo us on a much higher level.'
Source:Daily Mail
December 21, 2025 10:33 UTC
International far-right groups taking inspiration from Irish violence against migrants
International far-right groups taking inspiration from Irish violence against migrantsJames CoxInternational far-right organisations have taken inspiration from extremist violence against migrants in Ireland, according to an organisation that monitors global far-right movements. The report traces the legalisation of same-sex marriage and the abortion referendum, the far-right has been "gaining a foothold" in Ireland. Gpahe also point to an attempt by far-right parties in Ireland to amalgamate in what they called the 'National Alliance'. The report identified a number of far-right anti-immigrant groups active in Ireland including Anti-Corruption Ireland, Brotherhood of the Gaels, Ireland First, the Irish Freedom Party, We the People and Seed of Ireland. Gpahe co-founder and president Wendy Via said the fact Ireland has overwhelmingly rejected far-right parties in elections should not be "mistaken for immunity".
Source:Irish Independent
December 21, 2025 10:28 UTC
Nine people killed in mass shooting in South African tavern
Police have not yet identified the suspects of the shooting. File photograph: Nigel Jared/ Getty ImagesA mass shooting killed at least nine people and injured 10 more at a tavern near Johannesburg in South Africa, police said Sunday morning. The shooting took place at the KwaNoxolo tavern in Bekkersdal, a township around 30 miles west of Johannesburg, police said. Athlenda Mathe, a spokesperson for the South African police, said in a statement on Sunday morning that police had not identified the suspects. A similar shooting took place earlier this month, when three gunmen opened fire at random at guests staying at an unlicensed tavern near Pretoria, the South African capital, killing 12 and injuring 13.
Source:The Irish Times
December 21, 2025 10:27 UTC
Liverpool news: Antoine Semenyo 'preference' emerges as Arne Slot is told not to sign star
With calls for a speedy wide man to join Liverpool's attack, Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo is one name that's been on the lips of fans. Today's rumours see Semenyo reportedly make a choice on his next destination while one Liverpool icon has warned Arne Slot over his next signing. Liverpool icon warns Liverpool off SemenyoMeanwhile, John Barnes has told Liverpool NOT to sign Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window. "January is not a time to sign players," Barnes said, speaking exclusively to Mirror Football via BetMGM. But January, for me, is never a time to sign players."
Source:Daily Mirror
December 21, 2025 10:27 UTC
The great work-from-home dream is over as America's hottest pandemic housing market is now one of its biggest losers
Now, these employees have been called back to the office in droves — forcing them to abandon their sun-drenched homes while property values tank. The Gulf Coast metro saw its median home price drop 8.6 percent over last year, or a whopping $36,423, to a median listing price of $478,800. The nearby Cape Coral-Fort Myers area saw the second biggest drop in median home values, down at 7.9 percent since last year, according to Realtor.com. The metro's median listing price sat at $399,900, down $29,393 from a year earlier. In Florida's northeast, the metro area surrounding Jacksonville — the state's most populous city — experienced a 3.3 percent dip year over year.
Source:Daily Mail
December 21, 2025 10:26 UTC
Justin Bieber and wife Hailey look tense on lunch date following late-night holiday party amid marriage rumors
Justin and Hailey Bieber stepped out for lunch in West Hollywood in their usual fashion-forward style on Friday, December 19, just six days before Christmas. Hailey, 29, covered up in an oversized black coat, baggy gray pants, and a beige top. Nondescript black shoes and dark shades finished off the ensemble. Plain black shoes and high-fashion shades completed his look. Hailey and Justin became first-time parents with the arrival of their son, Jack Blues, in August 2023.
Source:Daily Mail
December 21, 2025 10:15 UTC
My Job interview: Emerald Guitars, a finely tuned business
Occupation: Founder and CEO, Emerald Guitars. It has been a turbulent twelve months for Emerald Guitars. Just one month later in October, the company arrived at another significant milestone in presenting guitar number 10,000 to its new owner. “When we realised that we were approaching guitar number 10,000, we knew that this milestone deserved something extra special to commemorate it. Today Emerald Guitars sells to clients around the world, from beginners to stadium acts such as Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams.
Source:Irish Examiner
December 21, 2025 10:07 UTC
Two huge worries take the gloss off Australia's Ashes series win
Mitchell Starc has bowled Australia to an Ashes series win after the hosts withstood an unlikely England fightback and Nathan Lyon injury to beat England by 82 runs in Adelaide. But Australia's 3-0 series lead only came after Lyon limped from the field on Sunday morning, injuring his right hamstring diving for a ball at fine leg. Cummins refused to confirm he'd be right for Boxing Day after the Adelaide win. Carey's 106 on the opening day held Australia's innings together alongside Usman Khawaja's 82, as Australia pushed towards 371. Head's near-perfectly executed 170 and Carey's second-innings 72 also ensured England needed to pull off a world-record chase to stay in the series.
Source:Daily Mail
December 21, 2025 09:58 UTC
A life-changing lunch that triggered a career pivot: ‘My friends thought I was mad’
Then, one extraordinary lunch switched on a light bulb, a Michelin-starred light bulb, that led him to swap the spreadsheets for stove tops. Wouldn’t it be great?”That lunch led to his career pivot. In 1999, he opened The Sportsman in a rundown pub in Kent – long before local and seasonal menus were de rigueur. Extract from The Sportsman at Home by Stephen Harris(Quadrille, £30.00)Christmas Ham Glazed with Mustard and Brown SugarChristmas ham glazed with mustard and brown sugar. Remove the pan from the heat and leave the ham in the cooking water to cool for a few hours.
Source:The Irish Times
December 21, 2025 09:58 UTC