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Many places across the country reported heavy flooding Flooding at Moat Park in Dundonald, Belfast. Photograph by Declan Roughan / Press Eye This was the scene on the Hillhall Road in Lisburn which had been closed to traffic. Photo - Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press This was the scene on the Hillhall Road in Lisburn which had been closed to traffic this morning Paul Gray of Crosspoint Church A man walking his dog carefully avoids the folded pathway as he walks on the grass along the banks of the Waterworks Swan Lake in north Belfast . Photo: Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX Northern Ireland is beginning to recover from chaotic weather over the weekend. Storm Bert arrived on Saturday causing power cuts, travel disruption and flooding, and a strong winds continued to batter Northern Ireland today. The Department for Infrastructure said it responded to more than 500 incidents since weather alerts were issued on Friday night. Winds of up to 67mph were recorded in Ballypatrick, Co Antrim on Saturday. Roads across counties Tyrone, Down and Antrim were blocked by trees and flood waters on Saturday, and properties were flooded in Dundonald, Kilcoo, Coalisland and Ballinamallard as well a Royal Mail property in Mallusk. The weather is expected to calm down as we head into the new week but many across the country will be dealing with the aftermath of the devastation wreaked by Storm Bert for many weeks to come. This was the scene on the Hillhall Road in Lisburn which had been closed to traffic. Photo - Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press Homes near Moat Park in Dundonald, Co Down were affected by flooding. Some residents at Park Avenue were trapped in their homes by the floodwater, with around 18 properties damaged. Several homes in Coalisland, Co Tyrone, have also been damaged. A local community centre has been opened for those affected. Their homes are now unoccupied with many residents currently waiting for emergency accommodation. Paul Gray is a Pastor of the Crosspoint Church in Dundonald. He opened the churches doors for residents affected by the flooding. “I got a phone call first thing in the morning telling me that there was flooding and I should go check on the church,” he said. “I went out and the church was fine but you could see the street at Moat Park was flooded. “So I said I would keep the church open for anyone that needed it.” Mr Gray said many residents were trapped inside their homes while the NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attempted to find the source of the flooding and pump water away from the homes. “Initially we only had one family come to us because a lot of them were stuck in their homes,” he said. “That must have been very hard for them because the power had been out from the earlier morning and they had to stay upstairs.” Paul Gray of Crosspoint Church As the NIFRS cleared the flooding more families were able to come into the church or see the damage the floods caused to their homes. “It’s awful. I’ve seen videos from people and the water was up to their ankles or knee and everything they have is lost or water damaged,” Mr Gray said. “It clearly done a lot of damage to the homes.” He said the flooding has upset many residents. “It is a very distressing and stressful time for people because everything they have is ruined. “Some of them didn’t have house insurance and everything is gone. “One of the families has a five or six month old little baby and they were very distressed by everything.” Another family displaced by the flooding was an immigrant family who had only been living in Northern Ireland for a short time. “We have an Iranian family and they have only been here three or four months and they lost absolutely everything. They didn’t even have shoes,” Mr Gray said. “Their landlord came and sat with them, him and his partner sat with them for a long time and brought them some things they needed.” He said the local community in Dundonald had come together to support those affected by the flooding. “That is what the community is like here — we always come together. I had people volunteering here, people messaging me asking if we needed anything. “People were bringing down blankets, and cash donations and food. The local chip shop rang us up and said if we needed any food to just ring in and ask and they’d give it to us,” he said. The church quickly became a hub for residents to receive support from locals as well as the Housing Executive. “Not everyone came here. Some people just went and stayed with relatives but everyone that was here the council got them sorted with somewhere to stay for the next two nights before they get emergency accommodation sorted for them,” the pastor added. Mr Gray praised the local council, the Housing Executive and the NIFRS for their fast response to the flooding. “I can honestly say I think the response was flawless. They did everything they could as quickly as they could but it is very hard for the people affected, like they aren’t going to be back into their homes for months,” he said. This was the scene on the Hillhall Road in Lisburn which had been closed to traffic this morning An emergency payment scheme was activated at the weekend by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, meaning householders who have suffered “severe inconvenience” from flooding can claim a £1,000 payment through their local council. The Met Office said the weather this week is expected to be much calmer than the weekend. It will begin cloudy and windy with some bright spells and scattered heavy showers. However they are not expected to be as strong as the heavy rainfall Storm Bert brought. The wind will ease and the showers gradually clear during Tuesday. This will leave Wednesday and Thursday mainly dry with bright spells and light winds, perhaps with rain later on Thursday. Into next weekend, we could expect to see light rain changing to overcast by lunchtime on Friday which will likely stay for the duration of the weekend. In the Republic, the storm, which landed overnight on Friday, flooded villages and roads, and disrupted travel. Torrential rainfall caused havoc across many rural communities with homes flooded, infrastructure damaged, roads left impassable, festive attractions closed and Christmas shopping interrupted. At its peak, over 60,000 homes and businesses were left without power as Storm Bert battered Ireland with torrential rainfall and high winds. A man walking his dog carefully avoids the folded pathway as he walks on the grass along the banks of the Waterworks Swan Lake in north Belfast . Photo: Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX Almost 50,000 people were successfully reconnected on Saturday evening as repair crews began operations once it was safe to do so. All businesses and householders were expected to be reconnected by last night. Thousands of customers also had water supplies hit by Storm Bert as treatment plants in Banteer, Fermoy and Dunmanway in Cork were impacted by the storm winds and flood waters. More than 100 roads nationwide, mostly rural, were left impassable on Saturday due to the combination of flooding, fallen trees and storm debris. In Co Donegal, Bridge Street in Killybegs was dramatically flooded, with homes and charities impacted, while the River Feale in west Limerick burst its banks. After alerts warning of rain, wind and snow lifted on Saturday, clean-up operations began and power supplies were restored to thousands of homes and businesses. However, the combination of damage to property and infrastructure, allied to the disruption of critical Christmas trade, is expected to see losses run to millions of Euro. Some traders fear they have suffered flood-related damage to much of their critical Christmas stock. Forecasters issued a low-level wind warnings for 13 counties across the island. Forecasters at Met Eireann said gusty winds will create a risk of fallen trees and difficult travelling conditions in these counties. Storm Bert also played havoc with public transport across Ireland with dozens of Iarnrod Eireann and Bus Eireann services either delayed or cancelled because of the conditions. A number of flights were also either delayed or diverted at the height of the storm. The public has also been urged to stay away from exposed coastal areas due to hazardous gusts which could continue for a couple of days.Described by one city councillor as ‘the biggest inner-city infrastructure project’ Windsor could undertake, the tender for the reconstruction of University Avenue West has been approved. On Monday, councillors approved nearly $20 million to fund the first phase of rebuilding the major arterial road that links the University of Windsor area to the downtown core. Phase one of the project will cover a nearly one kilometre stretch between McEwan and Salter Avenues. "We're going to see the complete reconstruction and redesign, both underground and above ground," said west-end councillor Fabio Costante. "It's going to be a catalyst, in my view, to residential, commercial and economic development along that strip... This gives us an opportunity to have Windsor's first complete street." According to an administrative report, phase one will include protected bike lanes, expanded sidewalks, new sewers, streetlights, a new watermain and overall road rehabilitation. The green dots represent what is covered by Phase 1 of the University Avenue corridor reconstruction approved by city council on Nov. 25, 2024. The red line shows the stretch of the entire project which councillors say could take around 10 years to complete. (CTV/Bing) Currently, drivers on University Avenue West experience the sound of tires rolling over cracks and potholes in the road. The CAA's Worst Roads campaign ranks University Avenue West as the fifth worst road in southwestern Ontario, which includes Essex County, Chatham-Kent and Lambton County. The University Avenue reconstruction will also reduce the number of driving lanes. "It gives it a road diet," said Costante. "The current traffic count doesn't warrant the four lanes that we see today." The full University Avenue corridor project runs between Huron Church Road and McDougall Street. Future budgets will need to allocate money for the remainder of the road. However, according to Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, it’s highly unlikely the project will be cancelled at this stage. "It'll just be incumbent upon future councils to make sure that they continue to allocate money to get that work done. Very rarely do we start a street project and not finish it," said Dilkens. However, the road to finish the work will be long. Underground work between McEwan and Salter Avenues is expected to begin in a few weeks, Costante said, but active construction is "likely going to spill into 2026." The full University Avenue corridor is expected to be rebuilt within the coming decade. "The old adage of 'short-term pain, long-term gain' is going to be real here, without question. But I think that as we see this reconstruction happen, there's going to be a lot of momentum to want to see it through," said Costante. "I think this is going to have a massive return on investment, unlike any other road project that we see." The tender for the project was awarded to D’Amore Construction, which submitted a bid of $15.9 million for the first phase of work — lower than those submitted by two other companies. London Top Stories 'It’s getting dangerous downtown': Rear entrance of London business sprayed with gunfire 'I just knew something was up': London family recounts rushing to their burning home where pet perished Christmas tax break will be 'challenging' for small businesses, says gift shop owner VIDEO | Three of five former junior hockey players in attendance for court proceedings Londoner whose wallet was stolen from their unlocked car serves as cautionary tale Stabbing and robbery being investigated by London police, 3 suspects wanted Fatal crash reported in Huron County Three people in hospital due to collision CTVNews.ca Top Stories 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being eligible for the $250 government benefit. NDP support for part of Liberal relief package in question, as House stalemate persists After telling Canadians that New Democrats would back Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's holiday affordability package and help pass it quickly, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh now wants it split up, as he's only ready to support part of it. Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the Liberals are 'certainly open to working with the opposition parties,' to find a path forward. BREAKING | Judge tosses Trump 2020 election case after prosecutors' request A U.S. judge on Monday dismissed the federal criminal case accusing Donald Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat after prosecutors moved to drop that prosecution and a second case against the president-elect, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting U.S. president. Premiers seek 'urgent' meeting with Trudeau before Trump returns to White House Canada's premiers are asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold an urgent first ministers' meeting ahead of the return to office of president-elect Donald Trump. Warren Buffett gives away another US$1.1B, announces plans for distributing $147B fortune after death Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by announcing plans Monday to hand more than US$1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Deer spotted wearing high-visibility safety jacket in Northern B.C. Andrea Arnold is used to having to slow down to let deer cross the road in her Northern B.C. community. But this weekend she saw something that made her pull over and snap a photo. Canada Post says progress 'limited' at negotiating table as strike continues Canada Post says they have made 'limited progress' with the union at the negotiating table 11 days after the strike began. Los Angeles judge postpones hearing on release of Menendez brothers A Los Angeles County judge on Monday postponed a hearing over the possible release of Lyle and Erik Menendez after 35 years in prison for the shotgun murder of their parents, saying he wanted to hear from a new district attorney due to take office on Dec. 3. Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony A corporal in the Canadian Army has been fined $2,000 and given a severe reprimand for wearing service medals he didn't earn during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Alberta two years ago. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 27 Of The Absolute Best Stocking Stuffers For Men 24 Of The Best Host And Hostess Gifts You Can Find Online Right Now 21 Of The Absolute Best Stocking Stuffers For Kids (And They're All From Amazon Canada) Home Our Guide To The Best Stand Mixers In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Nespresso Machines in Canada in 2024 (And Where to Get Them) Our Guide to the Best Jewellery Boxes You Can Find Online Right Now Gifts 19 Of The Best Tech Gifts Under $100 17 Gifts Your Husband Actually Wants 23 Gifts, Add-Ons, And Stocking Stuffers For Anyone Who Spends A Lot Of Time In Their Car Beauty 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit If You Suffer From Dry Skin, You'll Want To Add At Least One Of These Hydrating Moisturizers To Your Cart Deals From Anthropologie To Adidas: Here Are The Best Early Black Friday Deals On Clothing And Accessories These Apple Products Are Majorly On Sale On Amazon Canada Right Now, So It Might Be Time To Upgrade Your Tech Black Friday Has Begun On Amazon Canada: Here Are The Best Deals Kitchener Waterloo reviews most collision-prone areas to improve safety Driver warned after police receive complaints about car decked out in Christmas lights in Waterloo Kitchener, Ont. doctor officially claims second Guinness World Record Barrie 'James deceived us,' Slain Collingwood, Ont. woman's family speak ahead of husband's sentencing Novice driver charged with speeding 95km/h over limit on Hwy 11 accused of being impaired Fire causes significant damage at Tiny Township cottage Windsor City of Windsor to look into curbing prolonged apartment vacancies First phase of University Avenue West reconstruction greenlit by Windsor city council 'Active investigation' underway in Windsor Northern Ontario 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Sudbury, Ont., magic mushroom store sells illegal product as a form of protest Elliot Lake, Ont., woman charged with choking neighbour's dog Sault Ste. Marie Two truck drivers killed in collision on Hwy. 17 near Kenora Sault suspect charged with punching rideshare driver in the face twice Drug bust after a suspect pointed handgun at victim at northern Ont. gas station Ottawa FREEZING RAIN WARNING | 1 to 3 mm of freezing rain possible in Ottawa-Gatineau tonight Transit Commission passes smaller, but still significant, fare hike for seniors Cargo ship runs aground in St. Lawrence River near Morrisburg, Ont. Toronto Ontario government passes bill to limit bike lanes Toronto mother now facing murder charge in death of four-month old baby 'Embarrassing:' NHL team ditches bus and walks to Scotiabank Arena amid gridlock Montreal Cases at Quebec's housing tribunal are dragging on, can take 'years' to solve More people hurt in Quebec road accidents after fall time change, data shows Montreal mayor says Friday pro-Palestinian protests were taken over by 'professional vandals' Atlantic 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Man charged with unsafe storage of a firearm in Tyson MacDonald homicide: RCMP RCMP investigating after shots fired at residence in Mavillette, N.S. Winnipeg Winnipeg police shoot, kill suspect after officer stabbed in the throat Mounties looking for missing car in connection with suspicious death $4.2M from feds to create Indigenous-led family care centre in Winnipeg Calgary Calgary's Green Line discussions focus on alignment $3.69M Calgary mansion with basketball court for sale in Aspen Woods Alberta seeks to 'de-risk' oil, gas pipeline investments in wake of Trump victory Edmonton 'Be vigilant': 24 arsons in south Edmonton under police investigation Death of worker in Edmonton smokehouse leads to 26 charges against food processing company The story of Alberta's rural long COVID program that never was Regina Sask. Party prioritizes affordability, civility with opposition in Throne Speech Regina commits to clearing all 'high priority roads' of snow by Tuesday morning Sask. NDP takes aim at premier over Shercom deal Saskatoon Sask. NDP takes aim at premier over Shercom deal Saskatoon's second big snowfall in a week won't trigger emergency response: City Two dead after crash on Saskatchewan Highway 4 Vancouver B.C. opens disaster aid to atmospheric river flood victims Deer spotted wearing high-visibility safety jacket in Northern B.C. Wild weather behind 11-cent surge in Vancouver gas prices, analyst says Vancouver Island Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony Deer spotted wearing high-visibility safety jacket in Northern B.C. Vancouver Whitecaps drop head coach Vanni Sartini Stay ConnectedPresident-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to pause the in mid-January until after his inauguration. Trump filed a brief on Friday urging the top court to give him time to "pursue a political resolution" before agreeing to ban the social media app. In April, Congress passed a that established a nine-month deadline for TikTok's Chinese parent company to divest from the app or be barred from US app stores. Neither TikTok nor Trump's lawyers immediately responded to Business Insider's request for comment. BI also reached out to the Supreme Court. In the Friday filing, Trump's lawyers highlighted the president-elect's "consummate deal-making expertise," suggesting Trump has the "political will" to negotiate a resolution that would simultaneously "save the platform" and address the national security concerns highlighted in the Congressional bill. The nine-month deadline is officially up on January 19, which is one day before Trump assumes office for a second time. Trump previously but appeared to change his mind in recent months. He met with the app's earlier this month and said he had a "warm spot" in his heart for TikTok. Legal experts previously told BI that to try to keep the app running in the US, including asking his Department of Justice to ignore the divest law or trying to rework strategic interpretations of the law. Trump and his lawyers also argue that the president-elect has a mandate from American voters to protect their free-speech rights, including those who use TikTok. "Moreover, President Trump is one of the most powerful, prolific, and influential users of social media in history," the file said. "Consistent with his commanding presence in this area, President Trump currently has 14.7 million followers on TikTok with whom he actively communicates, allowing him to evaluate TikTok's importance as a unique medium for freedom of expression, including core political speech," lawyers added. Read the original article on

Agartala: The Directorate of Information Technology (DIT), Government of Tripura, has been recognized as a winner at the esteemed 15th National Digital Transformation Awards 2024. The award acknowledges the department's groundbreaking IT initiatives and was presented by Gov-Connect, an iLougue Media initiative, during a ceremony held in Guwahati, Assam, on December 13, 2024. The prestigious accolade celebrates the department's success in implementing the Beneficiary Management System (BMS-DBT platform). This initiative, introduced in 2020-21, has transformed the State’s welfare benefits delivery system. With 100 welfare schemes from 23 departments onboarded, the platform has benefited approximately 11,60,912 individuals out of Tripura's total population of 39,48,350, as per the Ration Card Database. To date, a total of ₹1594.30 crore has been disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the system. Key features of the BMS include enhanced accountability, transparency, the elimination of fake beneficiaries, streamlined paperless processes, reduced response times, and increased citizen engagement. These advancements have significantly improved the delivery of welfare benefits, earning national recognition. Visionary Leadership Driving Success: The initiative has been implemented under the visionary leadership of Tripura’s Chief Minister and Hon’ble IT Minister. Their guidance and commitment to the “Digital Tripura” drive have been instrumental in making the BMS-DBT platform a success. Jeya Ragul Geshan B., IFS, Director of IT, received the award on behalf of the department. He was also a key speaker at the 15th National Digital Transformation Conclave, where he presented Tripura’s various IT initiatives to an audience comprising government officials from across India, including representatives from the Cabinet Secretariat, NIC, NeGD, PSUs, and IT agencies. While addressing the award ceremony, Shri Geshan stated, "This award stands as a tribute to the hard work, dedication, and professionalism of the entire DIT team. It underscores our unwavering commitment to enhancing citizens' lives and building a brighter future. This recognition aligns seamlessly with our mission to realize the vision of 'Digital Tripura.'" About the Directorate of Information Technology: Established in 1999 under the Industries & Commerce Department, the Directorate of Information Technology aims to transform Tripura into a developed and empowered State. Over the years, it has consistently delivered innovative solutions to address the evolving needs of citizens. The award comes at a crucial time as DIT continues to roll out various e-governance initiatives aimed at improving service delivery, ensuring transparency, and driving digital transformation across the State. This recognition underscores the Directorate’s unwavering dedication to harnessing digital technology for the betterment of society, solidifying its position as a leader in India’s digital transformation journey. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.

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Emma Roberts cuts a casual figure with fiancé Cody John at Front Row Card Show in Los AngelesFury as Labour splash £250,000 of taxpayer cash to hear people’s views on the NHSLAS VEGAS (AP) — The Broncos are 0-4 in Las Vegas, but in a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions, Denver has more at stake than trying to end a series skid. A victory over the Raiders puts the Broncos that much closer to an unexpected playoff berth, playing with a rookie quarterback and just a year after they went 8-9. The Broncos are 6-5 and coming off a 38-6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons , and would be in the playoff field if the season ended entering Week 12. Not bad for a team given a win total of 5 1/2 games at BetMGM Sportsbook. “Everyone understands the significance of where we are at this point in the season,” Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. The situation is quite different for the Raiders. They are 2-8, on a six-game losing streak and decimated by injuries. Las Vegas could enter this game without its top two running backs and a reshuffled line on offense, and defensively, the Raiders could have two linemen, three cornerbacks and a safety out of action. “Just been having some bad breaks, but nobody feels sorry for us,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. "Nobody feels sorry for me. You’ve got to roll out there with 11 players, and that’s what we’re going to do come Sunday.” The Raiders are badly in a need of a franchise quarterback and are in a logjam for the top pick in next year's NFL draft. Denver showed with this year's draft how valuable landing such a QB can be to an organization. Bo Nix was selected 12th — one spot ahead of the Raiders — and he is pushing for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was this week's top AFC player and rookie after completing 28 of 33 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns in the rout of the Falcons. “I think as we’ve gone on, Coach (Sean Payton) and I have found a good rhythm of what we both like, what we can kind of put out there on the field and what we can execute," Nix said. "Then the guys have kind of adapted to it, found our roles within the offense and executed at a high level. It’s just all about slowing the game down and processing things in a manner that you can handle.” Raiders tight end Brock Bowers also could have a say in who wins the season's top offensive rookie award. He is second in the NFL with 70 catches and his 706 yards receiving is 10th among all receivers. His numbers from a historical perspective are even more impressive. Bowers, the 13th pick in this year's draft , is fourth all time among all tight ends in catches through the first 11 weeks and he and Jeremy Shockey in 2002 are the only rookies at that position to have more than one game with at least 10 receptions. “This week's a brand new week,” Bowers said. “I've always got something to prove.” Payton still isn't entirely comfortable splitting carries between running backs Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime. Asked how he determines the right balance in his rotation, Payton said, “That's the $6 million question. It’s difficult. We know kind of what we have with those three players. I think it’s always hard to feed three. "I'm used to — and it’s easy — to feed two. So we kind of do that a little bit. I thought Javonte had some really good runs (last week). Certainly the game ends and we’re like, ‘Gosh, we have to get Jaleel more touches.’ So it’s a tough, but a good problem to have.” With injuries to running backs Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quadriceps), 10-year veteran Ameer Abdullah could get the start for the Raiders this weekend. He has just 17 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown this season and started just one game his previous six seasons. “I see myself as a starter,” Abdullah said. “I think every guy in the room does. I consider myself the best back on this team just like every back does. This is my opportunity to go out there and put my best foot forward.” Patrick Surtain II had a pair of interceptions, including one he returned for 100 yards and a touchdown, in the team's first meeting this season and that fueled the Broncos' 34-18 win in Denver . Both of the passes were intended for Bowers, who caught a 57-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Surtain isn't expecting the Raiders to avoid him Sunday, however. “You don't want to go into a game thinking they're not gonna throw it your way,” Surtain said, “because it's the pros at the end of the day, everybody's ready, everybody's capable.” AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton in Englewood, Colorado, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl