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It had all been going so well. 

The serious political business of the day dispensed with, Joe Biden left Belfast and broke for the border.

Arriving for the first day of ancestral exploration in County Louth, he was taken on a tour of Carlingford Castle, the last sight his great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan would have seen in 1849 as he sailed away to a new life in America.

The rain sheeted down, the cold was something from the depths of winter.

And yet, the 80-year-old president exuded an energy of a much younger man, beaming from beneath his baseball cap as he arrived in Dundalk.

Traditionally a staunchly republican border town, he wound up at a bar improbably called The Windsor.

Here, in relaxed mood, he spoke from the heart, and apparently off the cuff.

And that’s where the gaffe came from.

He was paying tribute to his distant cousin in the room, the former Irish rugby international Rob Kearney.

Kearney was a member of the Irish team that famously beat New Zealand’s All Blacks for the first time ever, in a 2016 match played in Chicago.

Ireland beat the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016 Pic AP
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Ireland beat the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016 Pic AP

Read more:
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How Irish is Joe Biden, really?

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‘The best drop of blood in you is Irish’

President Biden, who played rugby himself as a student, said that Rob Kearney was “a hell of a rugby player, and beat the Black and Tans”, thus confusing New Zealand’s famous team with the reviled British paramilitary force the Black and Tans, who brutally repressed opponents of British rule during the Irish War of Independence.

Most infamously, the force massacred 14 people and wounded 60 more at a Gaelic football match at Croke Park in Dublin in 1920.

It seemed an obvious slip of the tongue, rather than anything intentional.

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But here you had a US president often accused by unionists of being rabidly republican, apparently bragging about his family beating the British. In that context, the remark was deeply unfortunate.

President Biden continues on a more familiar political path on Thursday, meeting with the Irish president and prime minister, and addressing the Irish parliament. We can expect his comments there to remain more rigidly to script.

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UK

‘Nurse’ stabbed at hospital A&E department – man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder

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'Nurse' stabbed at hospital A&E department - man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder

A woman has suffered life-changing injuries after being stabbed by a member of the public at the accident and emergency department where she was working.

The victim – believed to be a nurse in her 50s – was attacked at Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester, where she is now being treated.

It is understood she was injured with a bladed article or a sharp instrument – and not by a knife.

Officers were called at 11.30pm on Saturday.

A 37-year-old man is in custody after being “swiftly arrested at the scene” on suspicion of attempted murder, Greater Manchester Police said.

Detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and say there is no threat to the wider public.

Jim McMahon, the Labour MP for the area, described it as a “senseless attack”.

He posted on Facebook: “We are all shocked at the senseless attack on a nurse in the A&E department of the Royal Oldham Hospital.

“Our thoughts are with the nurse, family and friends as we wish a full recovery.”

Detective Sergeant Craig Roters said it was a “serious incident which has left a woman in a critical condition”.

The victim’s family and colleagues will be supported, he added.

The local community can expect to see an “increase in police presence” while enquiries are carried out, Mr Roters said.

“We know that news of this nature will come as a shock, and if you have any concerns or anything you would like to share, please speak to [officers].”

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Kemi Badenoch calls on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq over property allegations

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Kemi Badenoch calls on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq over property allegations

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.

It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.

He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.

Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.

“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.

“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”

Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.

Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.

Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.

Kemi Badenoch
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Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister

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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.

She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.

On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.

“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”

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Search area widened for missing sisters in Aberdeen

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Search area widened for missing sisters in Aberdeen

Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.

Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.

The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.

Eliza and Henrietta Huszti who were last seen on CCTV in Market Street.
Pic: Police Scotland/PA
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Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA

They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.

Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.

SN screengrab aberdeen city showing Victoria Bridge (looking north towards market street) re: missing sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti
Ingest_23_NM23_RGR_15_SAF_MISSING_SISTERS_ABERDEEN_GVS_ABERDEEN
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The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee

SN screengrab aberdeen city showing boat club. A potential location of missing sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti
Ingest_23_NM23_RGR_15_SAF_MISSING_SISTERS_ABERDEEN_GVS_ABERDEEN
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The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee

Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.

Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.

datawrapper map of aberdeen city showing location of police searches for missing sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti

Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.

“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”

The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.

Henrietta  Huszti who along with her sister, Eliza, were last seen on CCTV in Market Street.
Pic: Police Scotland/PA
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Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland

Eliza Huszti.
Pic: Police Scotland/PA
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Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland

Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.

Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.

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