NEWS

Set to host Strictly Come Dancing 2026: Presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe. (Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston) The BBC has unveiled a dramatic new era for Strictly Come Dancing, confirming the show will be fronted by three presenters for the first time in its history following the departure of long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe

Pictured during a visit to The JAQ Group’s rapidly expanding headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Randalstown, are Tom Wiggins, Chief Executive of Ballymena Chamber of Commerce, Peter Houston, President of Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Connor Martin, Managing Director of The JAQ Group. More than 30 members of Ballymena Chamber of Commerce were given a first-hand look inside one of Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing business success stories this week as they toured

Tender Baby Garlic Kale - one of a new range of vertically farmed leaves launched by M&S in the UK Marks & Spencer has launched a new range of vertically farmed salad leaves that use 96% less water than traditional farming methods while staying fresh for up to five days longer. The retailer says the new products represent a major shift in how fresh food could be grown in the future, combining robotics, controlled indoor farming and pesticide-free production to create salad le

A still Image from the NSPCC’s new campaign ‘Shift Ctrl’ Children across Northern Ireland and the UK are increasingly turning to Childline in fear that intimate images shared online could destroy their futures, as new figures reveal a dramatic rise in counselling sessions linked to online sexual abuse and exploitation. The NSPCC says children are being exposed to growing levels of harm on social media and digital platforms, with young people reporting blackmail, coercion, onl

Lady Ballyedmond and family remain the wealthiest people in Northern Ireland with an estimated fortune of £898 million, despite suffering a £24 million drop in wealth over the past year, according to the 2026 edition of The Sunday Times Rich List. The annual rankings, published by The Sunday Times Rich List, paint a striking picture of changing fortunes, billionaire migration and growing concern over an exodus of wealth from the UK. This year’s list reveals that one in six pe

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds during a meeting with businesses to discuss the Government’s new UK-EU food and drink deal, which it says will remove the vast majority of GB-NI checks. Northern Ireland businesses moving food and drink products from Great Britain could soon see millions of pounds in extra costs wiped out under a new UK–EU agreement aimed at dramatically reducing post-Brexit trade barriers. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds visited Northern Ireland this w

Passengers due to fly from UK airports this summer have been told there is currently “no need” to change travel plans despite growing international concern over jet fuel supplies linked to disruption in the Middle East. The UK Government said airlines operating across the UK are not currently experiencing a jet fuel shortage, while airports continue to maintain fuel reserves to help keep flights operating normally. The reassurance comes amid ongoing uncertainty following the

Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+ The next chapter in the Yellowstone universe is officially underway, with Paramount+ unveiling the first full trailer for Dutton Ranch — the highly anticipated spin-off centred on Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. The new Paramount+ Original Series premieres globally on Friday, May 15 with two launch episodes, transporting the fan-favourite couple from the mountains of Montana to the dangerous and unforgiving landscape of South Texas. Set in

The radon map of Northern Ireland People living in parts of Northern Ireland with the highest radon levels are more than twice as likely to develop lung cancer, according to a major new study that for the first time connects national radon mapping with cancer registry data at a regional scale. The research, led by Queen’s University Belfast in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin, analysed radon exposure patterns alongside data from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (

Thousands of students, apprentices and young people across the UK are set to regain access to study and work opportunities across Europe after the government formally agreed to rejoin the Erasmus+ programme from 2027. The legal text confirming the UK’s return was signed in Brussels on April 15, marking a major shift in post-Brexit relations and reopening one of Europe’s most established education and exchange schemes to UK participants. More than 100,000 people are expected t

Professor Stephen Wallace harvesting engineered bacteria for analysis. (Photo: Edinburgh Innovations) A team of UK scientists has developed a pioneering method to turn discarded plastic bottles into a key drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease, in a breakthrough that could transform both pharmaceutical manufacturing and global recycling efforts. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have successfully engineered bacteria to convert post-consumer plastic into L-DOPA, a fro

Young people across the UK are facing mounting pressure ahead of GCSE and A-Level exams, with new figures revealing the scale of stress being carried into exam season. Childline delivered 1,679 counselling sessions linked to exam and revision stress between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, highlighting a sustained demand for support as students struggle to cope with expectations, workload and anxiety. The figures show a sharp peak in May, coinciding with the start of exams, wh

A sweeping new law designed to phase out smoking among future generations has been enacted, marking what health leaders and charities describe as a decisive shift towards prevention and long-term public health protection in Northern Ireland. The Tobacco and Vapes Act, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, will make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009—creating what has been described as the UK’s first “smoke-free generation”. T

Thousands of families across Northern Ireland risk losing vital weekly Child Benefit payments this summer unless they take action before a key deadline, with HM Revenue and Customs urging parents of teenagers approaching 16 to confirm their child’s next steps in education or training. Child Benefit payments automatically stop on 31 August on or after a child’s 16th birthday unless parents actively extend their claim — a requirement that affects households whose teenagers are

Proud winners - the Travelmax Ballymena team. A family-run Ballymena business has made history after being named the UK & Ireland’s top travel agency — the first time a Northern Ireland company has ever secured the industry’s highest honour. Travelmax, a female-led agency marking its 25th year in business, claimed the overall title at the prestigious TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies Awards, alongside two additional major accolades, in a landmark night for the local firm. The awards

Passengers travelling from Belfast are set for a significant boost in choice this winter after easyJet confirmed two new direct routes from Belfast International Airport, opening up both a major European capital and a popular Red Sea resort with year-round sunshine. The airline will begin flying from Belfast International to Sharm El Sheikh on 25 October, followed by Rome on 26 October, with both routes operating twice weekly and forming part of a wider nine-route expansion a

Families across the UK are being financially penalised when teenagers choose apprenticeships over staying in school, with some households losing more than £330 per week due to the way the benefits system operates, a new report has found. The findings, published by the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC), highlight a stark imbalance in post-16 education choices, where families can be left worse off if a young person enters work-based training instead of remaining in full

Actor Anna Maxwell Martin Appearing on ITV’s The Assembly ITV’s bold interview series The Assembly continues this week with two new episodes featuring actor Anna Maxwell Martin and rapper Aitch , as both stars describe the intensity, honesty and emotional impact of taking part in one of television’s most unfiltered formats. The acclaimed series, which sees a panel of autistic, neurodivergent and learning disabled interviewers ask direct and deeply personal questions, airs at

A batch of a commonly prescribed blood pressure medication is being recalled across the UK after a manufacturing error raised the risk of patients unknowingly taking a lower dose than prescribed. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has ordered an immediate halt to the supply of one batch of Ramipril 10mg capsules , after it emerged that some packs may contain blister strips of the lower 5mg strength instead. Pharmacies and healthcare providers have

Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn. (Image: Khara Pringle) A new BBC political thriller rooted in the shadowy world of government secrecy has been commissioned from Ballymena writer Declan Lawn and long-time collaborator Belfast man Adam Patterson , placing a little-known national security mechanism — the D-Notice — at the centre of a major primetime drama. The six-part series, titled D-Notice , will explore how the British state can quietly intervene in journalism by advising e