New Year tragedy in the Mournes

	Jan 1, 2021

	Good afternoon, Welcome to the first daily round-up of news, features, sport and opinion for 2021 from the team at the News Letter. A Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. It's the start of a new year with a difference. Reporter Philip Bradfield reveals how the new Brexit dawn is casting a shadow over the Union. If you have any questions on how the new arrangements may affect your everyday life, check out our guide to the Northern Ireland Protocol - which governs trade between Great Britain and the Province - and what it means for you. Meanwhile, in an interview with reporter Niall Deeney, Education Minister Peter Weir admits he can't give 100 per cent assurances that the new school return dates won't be pushed back further. In his trawl through the declassified files, Political Editor Sam McBride reveals the sobering details of the government's expectations of how a potential nuclear attack from the Soviet Union would destroy certain key sites in Northern Ireland. Thank you for reading this newsletter and for your continued support of our journalism. In 2021 it will be more important than ever that the public in Northern Ireland has access to fact-checked, accurate information, so if you haven't already, then please consider taking out a digital subscription with us from just £1 a month. Check out your subscription options here. Stay safe. Valerie Martin, Head of Content.


	Walker dies after collapsing in Mournes on New Year’s Eve

	A hill walker has died after collapsing during a descent from the Mourne Mountains on New Year’s Eve.

News Letter to move to new ownership

Regional newspaper publisher JPI Media, owners of the News Letter, has been snapped up by National World, the media takeover vehicle led by industry veteran David Montgomery, in a £10.2 million deal.

Lousy unionist Boris Johnson has betrayed Northern Ireland: Orange leader Rev Mervyn Gibson

Boris Johnson has proved himself a “lousy unionist” with his Brexit “betrayal” of Northern Ireland, a leading Orangeman has said.

Subtle Presbyterian ministers were laughed at by their neo colonial rulers because of their reluctance to consent to loaded term ‘Irish’

A letter from Rev Mark Wilson:

This new year of 2021 brings change like barely any since 1737

When the News Letter was launched in September 1737, the new year began in March.

OPINION: Let’s celebrate the grammar school heads who are determined to continue to provide for the 40% of NI’s children in selective education

In this peculiar pandemic year, public health concerns have dominated the news, writes DR WILLIAM KITCHEN.

Seven arrests by PSNI public transport team

A dedicated police team for public transport made seven arrests in their first three months.

MLAs line up to give Education Minister Peter Weir a ‘verbal beating’

Education Minister Peter Weir endured a bruising encounter at Stormont today as MLAs delivered what the former UUP leader Mike Nesbitt described as a “verbal beating”.

This new year of 2021 brings change to Ulster like barely other any since this newspaper began reporting in 1737

News Letter editorial of January 1 2021:

The past year of restrained roaming went all around the world

Happy New Year from Roamer to everyone who perused and contributed to this page on Wednesdays and Fridays during 2020, and very best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2021 to you all.

PICTURES: Snow fun on New Year’s Eve for families

Families throughout NI didn’t hold back when they saw snow on their doortep.

Tommy Wright in the frame for Motherwell job

Motherwell vowed to move quickly to replace Stephen Robinson after their manager declared he had taken them as far as he could and resigned with Tommy Wright in the frame to replace him.

Daryl Gurney challenges Gerwyn Price to boxing match

DARYL GURNEY has raised the stakes ahead of his World Darts Championship quarter-final against Gerwyn Price by challenging the 'Iceman' to a heavyweight darting dust-up in the boxing ring.

The irrepressible Scot who always had a one-liner at the ready - the late Tommy Docherty remembered

Tommy Docherty, who has died at the age of 92, was one of football’s great characters.

Jonny Evans signs new deal at Leicester

Jonny Evans has agreed a new two-and-a-half-year deal at Leicester.

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