In Northern Ireland, a pre-Christmas Stormont election's looking inevitable. If the latest power-sharing deadlock isn't resolved by midnight- then the Secretary of State say's he'll be sending voters back to the polls.
The stalemate's been ongoing since February - when the DUP walked out of the Executive in protest at the post-Brexit protocol. At lunchtime, a final attempt will be made to recall the Assembly at Stormont
Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill - who was poised to become First Minister seven months ago - says she'll be there. "There is a small window if the DUP decide to take it.
"That is highly unlikely given the stance they have taken so far. There is an onus on all of us to turn up in that Assembly Chamber," she added. Meanwhile, Senator George Mitchell will virtually attend an Oireachtas committee today on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
The special envoy to the north who was appointed by former US president Bill Clinton, is likely to address the current political impasse at Stormont.
