BBC News NI Live

After two days of seemingly non-stop showers, there'll be a change in the weather overnight. It'll be bright start but it will cloud over. You can watch this evening's weather forecast here.

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There'll be a little bit of rain tomorrow afternoon but the temperatures will nudge up, making it feel more spring-like. It means that it'll be a decent if cloudy day on Thursday.

A pet owl who got a terrible scare and took off for almost a week, has been reunited with her grateful owners.

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Arya, the one-year-old Barn Owl, was frightened into flight when she was attacked by a group of up to 10 rooks while being shown to a child by her owners. It happened at the Giant's Causeway a fortnight ago.

Northern Ireland's lamb trade has been caught in a "perfect storm" of currency exchange and new EU labelling rules, a Stormont committee has been told.

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The agriculture committee heard the price of an average lamb was down to around £80 a head from £105 last year. They were told half the price difference was down to the weakness of the euro.

There are long delays on the A1, country-bound between Hillsborough and Dromore in County Down due to a crash. No-one is injured but the road is down to one lane, causing congestion in the area.

BBC economics and business editor John Campbell tweets: It's not all closures...Tesco is planning to open a Metro store in Ballynahinch, County Down.

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Ulster Head Coach Neil Doak concedes that lock Franco van der Merwe "needs a miracle" to be fit for Friday's Pro12 semi-final with Glasgow at Scotstoun.

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The South African second row suffered an ankle injury in his side's 32-10 defeat by the Scots in the final regular game of the season on Saturday.

Belfast City Council's Planning Committee has approved an application for a new four-star boutique hotel in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.

The planning committee has also voted (6-5) to support listing of the Belfast Telegraph's original building and the 1907 extension.

The largest law firm in Northern Ireland has withdrawn from all major criminal cases in a protest against new rules reducing the level of legal aid payments.

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The BBC can also reveal that solicitors and barristers are to take Justice Minister David Ford to court in an attempt to have the new rules declared illegal.

Thunder and lightning has been recorded by weather instruments in many places across Ireland since Monday.

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Many strikes have been in remote locations but this mobile photo footage shows a direct hit at the Institute of Technology in Blanchardstown, Dublin. It was taken by lecturer Nicola Duffy.

The Prince of Wales has expressed regret over lives lost in Northern Ireland's Troubles, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said.

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Mr Adams, one of the most prominent and controversial republican figures of the last 50 years, said he spoke to Charles in a private meeting about the 1979 IRA bombing in which his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten was murdered.

A crash involving four cars on Sydenham Bypass near Belfast City Airport is blocking the outside lane and affecting traffic heading east with queues back over the M3 and onto the M2.

BBC Newsline presenter Tara Mills tweets that BBC Newsline will be longer tonight to cover the visit of Prince Charles, Ashers and more. Join Tara and Catherine Morrison from 18:30 until 19:30 tonight on BBC One Northern Ireland.

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Golf's world number one Rory McIlroy says he wants to be "the best player of my generation".

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The Northern Irishman, 26, won his third tournament of the year on Sunday, recording a seven-stroke victory at the Wells Fargo Classic on the PGA Tour.

Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey has said Sinn Féin will continue to support the Ballymurphy families in their campaign for justice.

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Mr Maskey was photographed with the Ballymurphy families as they protested at Belfast City Hall at Prince Charles' visit to Ireland. Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and other Sinn Féin representatives met today with Prince Charles in Galway.

John Maxwell looks back on the day his son Paul, 15, was killed by an IRA bomb off the coast of Mullaghmore, County Sligo. Paul Maxwell was a schoolboy working as a boatman for Lord Mountbatten.

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The Queen's cousin Lord Louis Mountbatten and his grandson, Nicholas Knatchbull, 14 were also killed in the blast.

World number 15 Patrick Reed has pulled out of next week's Irish Open.

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The 24-year-old United States player was due to compete at the event at Royal County Down, Newcastle.

There's been a crash on the Broad Road in Limavady, County Londonderry. There are no serious injuries but there are delays in the area.

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A DUP councillor who claimed she'd been "bullied" by the party has resigned ahead of an internal disciplinary inquiry.

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Jenny Palmer told the BBC Spotlight programme: "I certainly won't hang around for them to discipline me for telling the truth."

Consultations will take place over the possible closure of 10 residential care homes across Northern Ireland. The homes in question are:

Chestnut Grove and Pine Lodge in Belfast, William Street and Rectory Field in Londonderry, Northfield House in Donaghadee, County Down, Slieve Roe in Kilkeel, County Down, The Roddens in Ballymoney, County Antrim, County Antrim, Westlands in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Roxborough House in Moy, County Tyrone. Pinewood in Ballymena's role will change to provide a community rehabilitation unit for the Antrim/Ballymena area.

The UK's highest court has rejected applications to hear appeals on two high profile cases in Northern Ireland.

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Loyalist Winston Rea lost his attempt at the Supreme Court to stop police getting tapes of interviews he gave to Boston College's Belfast project.

The key finding from Judge Isobel Brownlie on Ashers bakers was that they were legally obliged to provide a service to all.

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The judgment reads: "Much as I acknowledge fully their religious belief is that gay marriage is sinful, they are in a business supplying services to all. The law requires them to do just that."

Cavan boss Terry Hyland expects a close encounter in Sunday's Ulster Championship clash against Monaghan.

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The game will be live on BBC Two NI, BBC Radio Ulster and the BBC Sport NI website.

Invest NI, Northern Ireland's economic development agency, created a record number of jobs in 2014, beating targets set by the Stormont Executive.

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However, it continued to struggle with a target to increase the exporting performance of local firms.

Northern Ireland striker Jamie Ward is in talks with Nottingham Forest after being told his contract will not be renewed at Derby County.

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Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy says the DUP's plan to bring the Welfare Reform Bill back to the Assembly is a mistake but he places the blame on the welfare crisis on the government.

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Mr Murphy also said that Westminster taking back powers from Stormont would be "unacceptable" to Sinn Féin.

Around 40 people gathered at the Bloody Sunday memorial at Rossville Street to protest against the visit of Prince Charles to Ireland and to call for the disbandment of the parachute regiment.

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Among the group were civil rights campaigner Eamon McCann and some relatives of those who lost their lives on Bloody Sunday.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness held a private meeting with Prince Charles at NUI Galway today.

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Mr Adams said the meeting was "a measure of our commitment to resolving outstanding legacy issues and to be part of an inclusive healing and reconciliation process and a new political dispensation between the people of this island".

You can watch the moment Prince Charles met Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams at a meeting at the University of Galway earlier today.

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It is the first time Sinn Féin leadership has met a member of the Royal Family in the Republic of Ireland.

Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey has warned MLAs about the consequence of rejecting the Welfare Reform Bill when it returns to the house.

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Mr Storey said: "If we fail and welfare reform falls, it will have serious repercussions for Northern Ireland, the people of Northern Ireland and the future of the institutions we are engaged in."

Ireland's women hockey team has lost 3-0 to the United States in the first match of three test series.

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Consultations will take place over the potential closure .

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The homes affected include the Roddens care home in Ballymoney, Westlands, Cookstown and two residential care homes in Londonderry, namely William Street and Rectory Field.

The BBC understands that consultations will take place over the potential closure of 11 residential care homes across Northern Ireland.

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The Health and Social Care Board agreed this morning that the five health trusts should look at alternatives to house older residents. The consultation will last 12 weeks.

BBC News NI's Kevin Sharkey tweets that Anne and Aine McCann, the wife and daughter of Joe McCann, who was shot by soldiers in disputed circumstances in Joy Street in the Markets area of Belfast on 15 April 1972, are staging a protest outside the National University of Ireland during the Royal visit.

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BBC economics and business editor John Campbell tweets that the Office of National Statistics have shown that house prices in Northern Ireland continued to rise in the year to March.

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More definitive Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) stats will be released tomorrow.

NI Railways tweets that a security alert has disrupted the 12:35 and 15:20 trains from Belfast to Dublin - a bus substitute will run between Dublin's Connolly Station and Malahide.

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The Prince of Wales has said that he is greatly looking forward to his "all-too-short visit" to Ireland.

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He said: "There is a unique magic about Ireland that is totally irresistible. Wherever I go in the world and meet Irish people, I promise you it always makes me feel better. You raise our spirits in so many different ways."

The Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland (Tanáiste) Joan Burton says that Prince Charles "has always placed great emphasis on peace and reconciliation, all the more moving when a person has suffered great personal anguish and loss."

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Ulster hooker Rob Herring could miss Friday's Pro12 semi-final against Glasgow after being cited for stamping last weekend.

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BBC News NI's political correspondent Gareth Gordon tweets that the Secretary of State is to have a series of meetings over solving the welfare reform crisis this week.

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Prince Charles and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams shake hands during the royal's visit to Galway. It's the first time Sinn Féin's leadership and a member of the Royal Family have met in the Republic of Ireland.

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There will be major heartbreak for some One Direction fans in Belfast. Thirteen tickets for the band's concert have been stolen after a burglary in the Victoria Street area of south Belfast between 20:00 last night and 08:45 this morning.

Three laptops, two blackberry phones, some cash and a stereo were also stolen.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are continuing their visit to NUIG, with Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams among the onlookers.

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The DUP's timetable for pushing through welfare reform focuses on the next week.

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If the bill falls, Peter Robinson could ask the Assembly to allow Westminster to have power over welfare or ask Theresa Villiers to take the power back anyway. If she doesn't, Stormont's institutions would collapse - it could take a matter of days or stagger on longer.

Peter Robinson says he's "not terribly surprised" by the judgement against Ashers Baking Company and "that's why we were preparing a legislating alternative".

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"I suspect there will be an appeal so I don't want to say any more about the case itself.," he says. "But in terms of what we were looking to do, I think we have refined it over the months."

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) at the start of a four-day visit.

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Prince Charles will visit the village of Mullaghmore in County Sligo - where his great-uncle, Earl Mountbatten, was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979.

BBC News NI's business correspondent Julian O'Neill has been tweeting that Invest NI boss Alastair Hamilton is frustrated that the corporation tax rate and date for introduction has not been progressed by the executive.

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You can watch reaction outside the court after this morning's judgement that a Christian-run bakery discriminated against a gay customer by refusing to make a cake with a slogan supporting same-sex marriage, calling it "significant".

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The Equality Commission welcomed the judgment, saying it was "very robust and very clear" while the DUP's Paul Givan said that the Equality Commission should apologise for "using taxpayers' money to drag a family through the courts".

Prince Charles has arrived in Galway at the start of a four-day visit that will include a meeting with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.

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The meeting will be the first in the Republic of Ireland between the Sinn Féin leadership and a member of the British Royal Family.

Sinn Féin MLA Catríona Ruane has told BBC Talkback that her party, along with Basil McCrea of NI21 and Stephen Agnew of the Green Party "will block the conscience bill" that the DUP's Paul Givan has drawn up.

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The clause would allow businesses to refuse to provide some services if they clash with their religious convictions.

You can read the full judgment in the 'gay cake' case here.

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A judge ruled this morning that a Christian-run bakery discriminated against a gay customer by refusing to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan.

The bakery owners at the centre of the controversial 'gay cake' case are considering an appeal after it was ruled that they discriminated against a gay customer over their refusal to make a cake with a slogan supporting same-sex marriage.

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Damages of £500 were awarded to Mr Gareth Lee after Judge Isobel Brownlie ruled that Ashers Bakery had discriminated against him on the grounds of his sexual orientation.

First Minister Peter Robinson says that welfare reform is a matter that must be brought to a conclusion.

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Mr Robinson said: "We've run out of road. The finance minister has to bring a budget forward. That budget is predicated on what happens on welfare. That has to be done in June. There are processes that require us to take these decisions this week."

Gerry Adams says that his meeting with Prince Charles is "another symbolic and practical part of the process".

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Mr Adams added: "It's important. It'll be judged on how it contributes to the ongoing need to build healing, to build reconciliation."

There has been mixed political reaction to the judgment that a Christian-run bakery discriminated against a gay customer over their refusal to make a cake with a slogan support same-sex marriage.

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Sinn Féin's Catriona Ruane said it was "a good day for equality" while the TUV's Jim Allister said the judgment signalled "a dark day for justice and religious freedom".

First Minister Peter Robinson has warned that the devolved institutions could collapse next week if welfare reform is not agreed.

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The Social Development Minister will bring the Welfare Bill back to the assembly next week, alongside a new implementation plan. If the bill is not passed Mr Robinson says he will ask the secretary of state to take control of welfare powers.

Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission Michael Wardlow says that the judgment against a Christian-run bakery is "extremely significant."

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He praised the judgment describing it as "very robust and very clear" adding it "confirmed the law as we understand it".

BBC News NI's business correspondent Julian O'Neill tweets that Invest NI has told MLAs that it has just recorded its best year for job creation.

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The Northern Ireland economy has taken a dip, according to fresh data.

The Northern Ireland Composite Economic Index (NICEI) - a measure of activity - fell back by 0.7% between the second and third quarters of 2014. By comparison, the wider UK economy grew slightly over the same time.

The DUP's Paul Given says there will be "deep consternation" at the ruling against Ashers Baking Company and that legislation could be used to "strike a balance".

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"What we cannot have is a hierarchy of rights and today there is a clear hierarchy being established that gay rights are more important than the rights of people to hold religious belief, and we need to now move in the Assembly to strike the right balance" he says.

The Rainbow Project, Northern Ireland's largest support organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) people welcomed a ruling clarifying that Ashers baking company had acted unlawfully over their refusal to make a cake with a slogan supporting same-sex marriage.

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John O'Doherty of the Rainbow Project said: "We would encourage faith leaders to engage with our community to ensure better relations and to develop trust and respect between our overlapping communities for the betterment of our society.'

The judge found against Ashers Baking Company because she believed that Gareth Lee, who had his order for a cake refused, had been treated "less favourably" contrary to the law.

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She said: "They were contracted to bake and ice a cake. The plaintiff was not seeking support or endorsement."

Police have arrested a 42-year-old man in Strabane in relation to violent dissident republican activity.

He was arrested in the Ballycolman estate this morning.

Ashers Baking Company have been fined £500 damages - the amount was agreed by both legal teams in advance.

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After 70 minute judgement, the judge is now considering what action to take against Ashers. But both sides believe case is about the principle, not money.

The coastguard says that the man who has reportedly gone missing from a ferry to Belfast is from England.

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It says that he was on board a ferry from Liverpool that arrived this morning at 06:29 but there was evidence on board that he didn't disembark. Belfast Lough is being searched for the man.

Court judgement continuing - judge has now been speaking for more than an hour. No news yet on a fine against Ashers.

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BBC News NI's Mark Simpson has the latest from a respectful court as it listens to the judgement against Ashers Baking Company.

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The judge accepts that Ashers bakers have "genuine and deeply held" religious views. But says they are not above the law.

The judge says Ashers bakers are not exempt from discrimination law. Ashers are "conducting a business for profit", they're not a religious group.

Derry City manager Peter Hutton says his side should stay positive ahead of their EA Sports Cup quarter-final against Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday.

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The Candystripes will have to do without Philip Lowry, who's out for at least five weeks.

Bishop Donal McKeown has been speaking to BBC Radio Foyle about the marriage referendum in the Republic of Ireland - some of the bishop's parishioners will be voting as they live in Donegal.

He said: "I'm asking if whether this social experiment is going to lead us down the path of trouble in 50 years time? People might say why were they so mad as to think that was good for the children of Ireland."

BBC News NI reporter Sara Girvin reports that some prominent individuals in the Ashers Bakery case have arrived at court.

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BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale tweets that William McNeilly has handed himself to police.

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Mr McNeilly went on the run after claiming that the Trident nuclear missile programme was a "disaster waiting to happen".

Lifeboats from Donaghadee and Bangor have been launched after a report of a missing person from this morning's sailing to Belfast from Liverpool.

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RNLI says it received a report at 08:40 that a passenger might be missing from the ferry.

A broken down car on the A12 Westlink, M2 bound, just before Clifton Street has been cleared.

The current weather picture shows how the rest of the day should pan out. It's going to be a damp one, but it should dry up from the west this evening.

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Daniel McArthur, the general manager of Ashers Baking Company, has just read a statement outside the court in Belfast ahead of this morning's judgement.

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He says the company did not refuse to make the cake because of "anything to do with the customer but because of the message - a message supporting a cause with which I and my family fundamentally disagree".

Police have arrested a man and woman in relation to dissident republican activity.

The man, aged 50, and the woman, 46, were arrested after searches in Newry this morning.

The crash heading into Belfast on the M2 Hill Section just after Longlands Road Bridge has been cleared. Still delays from Sandyknowles.

Good Morning Ulster reporter Sara Girvin tweets that media are already setting up ahead of a judgement on the Ashers Bakery case.

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A judge will make a final decision over the 'gay cake' row later this morning - but what brought about this controversial and long-running legal battle?

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Our Q&A explains how the story has developed since it began last July, when Ashers Baking Company refused to make a cake with a slogan supporting gay marriage.

A crash on the M2 citybound is blocking lane three just after Longlands Bridge, between junction four and junction two.

John Teggart, whose father Daniel was killed by the Parachute Regiment in Belfast in 1971, says relatives of those shot dead in Ballymurphy will be protesting Prince Charles' visit to Northern Ireland.

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"We oppose the visit entirely," he told Good Morning Ulster. "He's colonel-in-chief, he's responsible for people under his authority."

An SDLP MLA whose father died aged 47 from a heart attack will tell the Assembly later that defibrillators should be installed in all public buildings.

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Karen McKevitt will be speaking in support of a motion at the Assembly later. She says: "I feel very strongly that these life saving devices should be viewed as being just as essential in buildings as fire extinguishers."

In Belfast, a car has broken down on the Westlink at Clifton Street. It's blocking lane two and causing delays towards the M2.

An office building opposite the Titanic Quarter has been put on the market for £6m.

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Clarendon Dock was built in 1996 and is currently being let to a government department.

Watch out for heavy showers today, they'll be moving across the country throughout the day. See the full video forecast for more.

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English duo Luke Towler and Ryan Evans have booked places at the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle in early August.

Printing firm ER Media in Banbridge is creating seven new jobs in an investment worth £400,000.

The firm started as an IT firm about 20 years ago but has moved into the printing and photo gift market. It employs 11 new people at the site and plans to recruit a further 13 staff after taking on the extra seven.

The partner of a woman seriously injured in a "freak accident" while watching the North West 200 motorbike races has paid tribute to quick-thinking doctors.

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Violet McAfee, 44, is in a stable condition after being struck in the garden of a friend's house when three bikes crashed during Saturday's opening race.

It's rumbled on for almost a year but this morning a judge will rule on the 'gay cake' dispute.

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Ashers Baking Company has been accused of discrimination after refusing to make a cake with a slogan supporting gay marriage. We're expecting to hear after 09:30 what the judge has found.

Prince Charles is to meet Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams this morning in Galway at the start of his royal visit to Ireland.

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The meeting will be the first in the Republic of Ireland between a member of Sinn Féin's leadership and a member of the British Royal Family.

Welcome back to BBC News NI Live - we'll have all the news, sport, weather and travel until 19:00 tonight.