Hi °C | Lo °C Park the charges to boost retailers
Christmas didn't exactly come early for the High Street. Any High Street, anywhere.
It's little wonder parties' support is still flagging
Have the unionist parties - the UUP in particular - misread the mood of the wider unionist community?
What ought to be history
The problem about what history should be taught in schools is that every year there's that bit more to choose from.
We're going through an awful phrase
Words and phrases that we might wish to see the back of at the start of another bright, shiny New Year?
Staring into the abyss? US has nothing on here
I imagine if Cliff Richard had a pound for everyone who'd made a crack to him this Christmas about Fiscal Cliff he'd be rolling in it. A fiscal of dollars at least ...
Young Romeo is wearing it well
Young Romeo Beckham who is aged all of ten has been chosen as the new face of fashion label Burberry.
Perhaps Hillary's sick of sight of us
A present from Northern Ireland - norovirus.
Appearing near you ... that other Christmas panto
Belfast 2012 - a Christmas Pantomime.
Even Confucius would be baffled by our politicians
Just a month ago Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness were in China slaving tirelessly on our behalf on yet another "trade mission."
Tories' major move on gay marriage more Christian than churches'
John Major seems like an odd champion of equal rights for gay people. I'm not sure why I think that. Possibly because he is more associated with grey than gay.
Will UK wear Wintour as an ambassador?
Until now the Ferrero Rocher being passed around at the Ambassador's drinks reception was about as stylish as it got on the international embassy circuit.
How on earth will we soldier on if the world does end?
Members of the Armed Forces have landed a surprise and unusual Christmas present. A 25-day break over the festive period which will apply to somewhere in the region of 110,000 military and civilian personnel.
We went wild for sensible Charlie
Charlie Brooks has won I'm A Celeb but we're invited to ponder whether - as some commentators allege - this has come at the expense of her small daughter Kiki and her "cruel" (their word) treatment on the show.
Why Kate needs a pregnant pause from this hysteria
The Queen, apparently, was one of the last to know. The rest of us had already copped. It was, of course, coverage of The Fringe that did it. Coverage of what The Fringe might be covering to be precise.
These are not simply football chants, but just worst kind of racism
Spurs football fans are savagely attacked in Italy and one is stabbed by a murderous mob chanting "Tottenham Jews".
Rihanna's crazy love
You have to hand it to Rihanna. Whatever your views on her decision to get back with bad boy Chris Brown who bit her, hit her and choked her during a row three years ago, she's certainly milked the controversy for all the publicity going.
I believe head's tough love will produce results
When my younger son was at school, and I know he will forgive me for mentioning this, he was a bit of a scruff. To be totally honest "a bit of" is a bit of an understatement.
It was politics which killed Savita
Twenty years ago X's case made headlines all over the world. But Savita was only a child then.
Shall they rise up on last day?
The world doesn't end tomorrow despite what the man with the sandwich board once warned. But, if you're of the Mayan persuasion the world could end next month. December 21 to be exact. No Christmas turkey this year, then ...
Cities' war of words won't win customers
It's a festive tale of two cities - so where will you be headed for the Christmas shopping this year? Only in Belfast? (To quote the capital's marketing message). Or for "City Glam" will you be avoiding the "Traffic Jam" and heading for the cheaper parking of Lisburn? (Again I quote from that city's seasonal ad campaign.)