NEWS

Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the situation in the Middle East in 10 Downing Street. (Pictures by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street) UK will not be drawn into the conflict in the Middle East, the Prime Minister insisted today, as he moved to reassure households facing fresh anxiety over fuel prices, energy bills and wider economic uncertainty. In a significant Downing Street address on Wednesday, the PM said the war — now entering its second mont

Millions of the UK’s lowest-paid workers will see a boost in their pay packets from today, 1 April 2026, as the new statutory minimum wage rates officially pass into law. Following recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission (LPC) last autumn, the National Living Wage has increased to £12.71 per hour . The move is designed to provide a real-terms pay increase for the lowest earners while navigating a complex period of economic uncertainty. Balancing the Economy with Fair P

More than 6.9 million families across the UK are set to receive a boost in Child Benefit payments from next week, with HM Revenue and Customs urging parents in Ballymena and beyond to make sure they are claiming everything they are entitled to. From 6 April, payments will increase to £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child — equivalent to £1,406.60 a year — while each additional child will bring £17.90 per week, or £930.80 annually. The increase means families will recei

North Antrim MP Jim Allister at the wheel of a Wrightbus electroliner vehicle. North Antrim MP Jim Allister has sharply criticised the decision to award the bulk of a £45 million Scottish Government contract for zero-emission buses and coaches to a Chinese manufacturer, describing the move as “outrageous” and warning it represents a failure to support UK industry. The intervention comes as pressure continues to mount over the allocation of public funding away from domestic ma

Jo Bamford, Wrightbus The owner of Ballymena-based Wrightbus has launched a sharp attack on the use of taxpayer-funded grants to support overseas manufacturers, branding the move a “national scandal” and warning it risks undermining jobs and investment in Northern Ireland. Jo Bamford, who rescued Wrightbus from administration in 2019 and helped transform it into one of the UK’s leading zero-emission bus manufacturers, spoke out after the Scottish Government allocated the lar

Pictured are the four UK farming union presidents, Andrew Connon, NFU Scotland, Tom Bradshaw, NFU, William Irvine, UFU and Abi Reader, NFU Cymru pictured at today’s Summit. Geopolitical tensions thousands of miles away are now hitting home for UK farmers — and the consequences could soon be felt on dinner tables across the country. Farming leaders from across the UK gathered in Newry for urgent talks, warning that escalating global instability — particularly in the Middle Eas

Communities across Northern Ireland are being urged to shine a spotlight on the people who quietly make a difference every day, as the BBC officially opens nominations for its 2026 Make a Difference Awards. From volunteers and young heroes to neighbours who go above and beyond, the awards celebrate the everyday acts of kindness that often go unnoticed — but shape communities in powerful ways. A UK-wide celebration of community spirit The awards bring together BBC radio statio

The UK Government has issued its first national guidance on screen use for children under five — as mounting evidence suggests early childhood is being reshaped by digital habits long before many children reach school. The scale of change is striking — and accelerating. Children are now typically introduced to screens by around nine months old. By age two, daily use has surged to an average of 127 minutes — more than double the recommended maximum of one hour. And the consequ

Millions of UK workers who rely on their cars for their jobs could soon see long-overdue financial relief, as HM Treasury confirms a review of approved mileage rates ahead of a future Budget. The announcement, issued by the UK Government, comes after more than a decade without change—despite rising fuel, insurance and maintenance costs leaving many workers covering the gap themselves. Rates unchanged since 2011 Approved mileage allowance payment rates have remained frozen sin

A major new UK Government strategy published today (Wednesday 25 March 2026) has warned that another pandemic is inevitable — and outlines how the country, including Northern Ireland, must prepare for a potentially far more complex global health crisis. The Pandemic Preparedness Strategy: building our capabilities sets out a decade-long plan to strengthen resilience across all four nations, with a strong focus on cross-border coordination, faster response systems, and protect

Linzi Moore, an outstanding team member at EUROSPAR Cullybackey has taken the crown as the UK’s Sales Colleague of the Year at the prestigious Convenience Awards.  A familiar face in Cullybackey has earned national recognition after being crowned UK Sales Colleague of the Year at the prestigious Convenience Awards in Liverpool. Linzi Moore, a loss prevention co-ordinator at EUROSPAR Cullybackey, secured the top honour against competitors from across the UK — a moment that not

Northern Ireland will be fully included in the UK’s landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill, following a firm Government commitment secured during a House of Commons debate led by South Antrim MP Robin Swann. The former Health Minister pressed for clarity on whether the legislation would apply equally across all four nations, warning that consistency is crucial to protecting public health and avoiding divergence within the UK. ‘Common-sense’ legislation for future generations Speakin

L-R: Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler and Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton in Dutton Ranch, episode 1, season 1, streaming on Paramount+, 2026. (Photo: Emerson Miller/Paramount+) A new chapter in the Yellowstone universe is set to unfold this spring, as fan-favourite characters Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler return in a brand-new series — and this time, the stakes are shifting far beyond Montana. Dutton Ranch will premiere globally on Paramount+ on Friday, May 15, launching with two episod

easyJet’s new ultra-lightweight “Kestrel” seats on incoming Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft easyJet has announced a major cabin upgrade that promises more legroom for passengers while cutting tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions each year — a move the airline says will reshape both comfort and efficiency across its future fleet. From 2028, the airline will begin installing new ultra-lightweight “Kestrel” seats on incoming Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, of

Shoppers are being warned to check their cupboards after a wide range of popular porridge products were urgently recalled due to a potential contamination risk. The recall, issued on 22 March 2026, affects multiple porridge pots and sachets made by sold through Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores, with customers advised not to eat the products under any circumstances. Contamination concern prompts action The recall has been triggered due to concerns over possible mouse contaminatio

Anyone planning a holiday or needing to renew their passport is being urged to act quickly, as new UK passport fees are set to come into force from 8 April 2026. The increases, subject to parliamentary approval, will affect almost every type of application — meaning waiting even a few weeks could cost applicants more. What’s changing? The new fee structure will see notable rises across online, postal, premium, and overseas applications: Standard online (UK): Adults: £94.50 →

Wrightbus manufacturing facility in Ballymena A major boost for Ballymena’s manufacturing sector has been announced after global bus maker Wrightbus was ranked the number one supplier on a key UK public sector procurement platform. The recognition places the Ballymena-based company at the top of the list for operators and local authorities purchasing buses and coaches with 36 seats and above, reinforcing its growing reputation as a leader in both zero-emission and traditional

Health officials have reassured the public in Northern Ireland there is no increased risk from a meningitis outbreak in South East England — but are urging people to stay alert to the warning signs of the potentially life-threatening illness. The Public Health Agency (PHA) said it is closely monitoring the situation, with the UK Health Security Agency leading the response in England. While the outbreak has not impacted Northern Ireland, experts stress that rapid recognition

North Antrim MP Jim Allister, speaking in Parliament A new European court ruling on gender recognition has sparked fresh constitutional concerns in Northern Ireland, with TUV leader Jim Allister  warning it could override a landmark UK Supreme Court decision. The North Antrim MP has raised urgent questions with the UK Government after the European Court of Justice ruled in favour of a transgender woman in the so-called Shipova case—potentially setting up a legal clash with do

Families across Northern Ireland are set to receive a share of a new £50 million support package aimed at helping households struggling with soaring heating oil prices. The UK Government has confirmed that £17 million will be allocated to Northern Ireland, where reliance on heating oil is significantly higher than in other parts of the UK, leaving many families exposed to sudden price spikes. The announcement comes as kerosene — the fuel used in most home heating oil systems