Residents urge airport to fund noise-proofing

Residents of two streets are appealing to Belfast City airport bosses to fund noise-proofing measures for their homes.

Obama's dream for America

On the anniversary of Martin Luther King's historic speech, the first black presidential candidate will set out his vision for America

Darren Clarke a Ryder ‘must’: McDowell

Graeme McDowell believes the experience Darren Clarke would bring to the European Ryder Cup team makes it paramount that he is presented with a wild-card pick.

Union piles pressure on Tesco through US supplier

America's biggest food workers' union has stepped up its pressure on Tesco's US operation, by reporting its ready-meals supplier in the US to a labour-relations tribunal yesterday for the alleged unfair firing of six employees.

Sarah Churchwell: How to be a real man and a selfish, cartoon jerk

I'm as susceptible to nostalgia as the next girl — and she probably falls short of my devotion to Cary Grant — but some things are just obsolete. Blood-letting as medicine, chamber-pots as hygiene: we've moved on for a reason. But some primitive forms die harder than others.

Drainage needs to be overhauled

Until recently the Bog Meadows was the lowest point in Belfast, lying at the foot of the Belfast Hills and the ever-growing west Belfast urban sprawl. I say until recently because it was decided to dig an underpass below the lowest level.

Inner-ear hair cells offer hope for hard of hearing

The delicate hair cells of the inner ear that are crucial to hearing have been grown successfully in mice for the first time by scientists who believe that the technique may one day be used to restore hearing in profoundly deaf people.

Tomorrow's world today: How far are we from the invisibility cloak?

Invisibility cloaks are set to become a reality. So where are our X-ray specs and rocket boots, asks Rhodri Marsden

Kanye kicks off tour with Belfast show

Hip-hop superstar Kanye West is to return to Belfast to perform at the Odyssey Arena — less than a year since his last show here.

Album: The Script, The Script (RCA) (Rated 2/ 5 )

Caligula uncut: Guccione's x-rated DVD goes on sale

Despite a script by Gore Vidal and a stellar cast, the original version of 'Caligula' was a critical flop. Then the publisher of Penthouse got involved, but his efforts were judged too hot for the censors – until now.

Burn After Reading, Venice Festival Opening Film (Rated 4/ 5 )

"Report back to me when it makes sense," the CIA boss tells an underling midway through the Coen brothers' deliriously confusing comedy thriller, which opened the Venice Festival last night.

Simon Calder: The man who skis all day

Fear, for the inept skier, is frightfully easy to define: the moment of no return when physics collides with psychology. You are heading towards a tree or a precipice with too much speed and too little control.

Road test: It's a flat ride when the bumps are smoothed out

The Citroën C5 Tourer took me serenely across Europe. But the drive was so stress-free it made me nostalgic for a car with a few rough edges