NEWS

The cost of a UK TV licence will increase to £180 a year from 1 April 2026, the Government has confirmed, in line with inflation and the terms of the existing BBC funding settlement. The £5.50 rise – equivalent to an extra 46p a month – follows the methodology set out in the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement, which links annual increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) until the end of the current BBC Charter period in 2027. Ministers said the increase is intended to provide the

William Sayers A powerful first-hand account of the dangers faced on Northern Ireland’s farms will be shared in Ballyeaston tomorrow night, as William Sayers addresses a Farm Health and Safety talk hosted by the Ballyeaston Vintage Tractor Club. The free event takes place on Friday 6 February at 7.30pm, at 19 Trenchill Road, Ballyeaston, BT39 9SJ , with tea and refreshments served and everyone welcome. Organisers say the evening is aimed at farmers, families and the wider r

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain across Northern Ireland, with heavy and persistent rainfall expected to cause localised flooding and travel disruption over the next two days. The warning came into effect at 12:00 on Thursday 5 February 2026 and is scheduled to remain in place until 23:59 on Friday 6 February 2026 , covering the majority of the region. According to the Met Office, areas of rain will continue to spread north-westwards across Norther

Clive Fulton, of Clive Fulton Eyecare, announcing the special Nuance Audio Glasses demonstration morning on Wednesday 11 February Clive Fulton Eyecare (Galgorm) has announced the arrival of an innovative new hearing solution designed to transform how people with mild to moderate hearing loss experience sound in everyday life. Nuance Audio Glasses combine advanced hearing technology with modern, stylish eyewear, offering discreet hearing support without the appearance or fee

Aerial views from Bellaghy Wastewater Treatment Works toward the GAC pitch A £3.6 million investment to upgrade the wastewater network in Bellaghy is now underway, with NI Water commencing a major programme of infrastructure works aimed at reducing flooding risk and strengthening environmental protection in the area. The scheme will see the installation of larger diameter sewers to increase the capacity of the combined wastewater network, helping to reduce the likelihood of o

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has issued a final call to anyone considering a career in policing, as applications for Student Officers and Custody Detention Officers enter their final days. The closing date for Student Officer applications is Wednesday 4 February 2026 , while applications for Custody Detention Officers will close on Monday 9 February 2026. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged potential applicants not to miss the

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice covering all counties in Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop overnight on Sunday 1 February and persist into Monday morning. The warning is in force from 7pm on Sunday until 9am on Monday , with motorists, pedestrians and commuters urged to take extra care as temperatures drop close to, or below, freezing. According to the Met Office, icy patches are likely to form on untreated surfaces, pa

CAFRE trained Apprentice, Jack Johnson from Belfast secured his first Point-to-Point win having recently achieved his Jockey’s Licence. The upcoming Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week (2–6 February) is providing an opportunity to spotlight the achievements of a rising local talent, as former CAFRE Equine Apprentice Jack Johnson celebrates a remarkable journey from classroom to racetrack success. Staff at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) have pr

A new free Digital Skills training programme aimed at people who are deaf or have hearing loss is being rolled out across Northern Ireland, with accessible sessions taking place in local libraries throughout February and March. The initiative, delivered by AdaptNI and supported by the Department of Finance, is designed to tackle digital exclusion by providing deaf-aware, visual and practical training tailored to the everyday needs of people who often face barriers when acces

Knockan Road Play Park in Broughshane on Tuesday, when Storm Chandra brought heavy rainfall leasing to the River Braid bursting its banks. Knockan Road Play Park in Broughshane has been temporarily closed after flooding caused by Storm Chandra damaged the site’s safety surface, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed. Flood waters from the storm washed away the play-grade bark surfacing and left significant silt deposits across the park, raising safety concerns for

Joanne Deighan, Senior Commercial Manager, Belfast International Airport and Jaclyn Coulter, HR Director, Belfast International Airport. Belfast International Airport is set to host its first major recruitment event of 2026, offering more than 100 job opportunities as it prepares for a busy summer season and continues a £100 million transformation programme. The New Year Jobs Fair will take place on Saturday 31 January 2026, from 11am to 3pm, at the Voco Hotel in the Gasworks

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Northern Ireland, warning that spells of heavy rain could lead to flooding in places and disruption to transport networks. The warning, which follows the recent impact of Storm Chandra, is in effect across all six counties from 00:00 until 18:00 on Friday 30 January 2026. According to the Met Office , “spells of heavy rain will move over Northern Ireland during Thursday night and Friday” , raising concerns for communitie

The Met Office has issued a further yellow weather warning for ice across Northern Ireland, as multi-agency partners continue to meet in response to Storm Chandra and its ongoing impacts. The warning is in place from 03:00 to 10:00 on Wednesday 28 January 2026 , with all counties affected. Forecasters have warned that clearing skies overnight on Tuesday will allow temperatures to fall below freezing, increasing the risk of icy conditions following several days of heavy rainfa

Leading UK manufacturer Wrightbus is opening its doors to the next generation of engineering and manufacturing talent as part of Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week and National Apprenticeship Week, with two dedicated careers events at its Ballymena headquarters. The bus maker will host an Apprenticeship Open Night and a dedicated Insight Day, offering up to 60 individuals the opportunity to explore careers in advanced manufacturing and engineering across a wide range of dis

Students at Erne Integrated College in Enniskillen who will among those learning about Graduated Drivers Licensing today. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is to be introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 October 2026, marking the most significant reform of driver licensing and testing in almost 70 years, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced. The new scheme, unveiled as part of a Road Safety Strategy Action Plan, is aimed at tackling the disproportionate involvement

Emergency services, infrastructure teams and public bodies across Northern Ireland are stepping up preparations ahead of the anticipated impact of Storm Chandra, as a combination of yellow and amber Met Office weather warnings for heavy rain and strong winds comes into force. Multi-agency planning is already underway to minimise disruption and protect public safety, with authorities warning of possible power cuts, travel disruption, flooding and coastal hazards over the comin

Residents across Mid and East Antrim, and Antrim and Newtownabbey, are being urged to take precautions as Storm Chandra is set to bring disruptive winds and heavy rain from the early hours of Tuesday, January 27. The Met Office has issued an AMBER Weather Warning for Wind, in force from 5am until 9pm on Tuesday 27 January 2026 , alongside a YELLOW Weather Warning for Rain covering the entire borough from midnight tonight until midnight on Tuesday. Council services under revi

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for parts of Northern Ireland as Storm Chandra is forecast to bring very strong winds, heavy rain and the risk of disruption on Tuesday. The amber warning will be in effect between 05:00 and 21:00 on Tuesday 27 January 2026 , covering County Antrim, County Down and County Londonderry. Forecasters warn that easterly winds will strengthen rapidly early on Tuesday morning, with gusts of 60–70 mph expected across eastern and nort

Audiences are being invited to step into the past and explore shared cultural journeys through a new heritage programme at The Old Courthouse Theatre, presented by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. Titled Journeys , the series brings together live performance, music and storytelling to reflect on culture, place and movement through time, offering a varied programme designed to resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Counci

The Met Office has issued an updated yellow weather warning for rain covering Northern Ireland, with heavy rainfall and strong winds forecast to bring the risk of flooding and disruption on Tuesday 27 January. The warning is in effect from 02:00 until 21:00 on Tuesday , as a spell of unsettled weather moves across the region. Outbreaks of rain are expected to spread across Northern Ireland during the early hours, with some of the precipitation possibly falling as snow for a t