NEWS

A 35-year-old man has been charged to court following an arrest in the Ballymena area, with police also continuing enquiries into a number of alleged drugs offences. The man has been charged with three counts of common assault after being arrested on Saturday, 30 May. He is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 25 June. Police confirm further drugs enquiries ongoing Police said the man was also bailed in relation to a number of drugs offences to allow

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Republic of Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) have issued a major cross-border warning over dangerous drugs circulating ahead of the busy summer festival and concert season, with officials raising serious concerns about high-strength MDMA, ketamine-related harms and the spread of so-called “pink cocaine” across the island of Ireland. Thousands of people are expected to travel north and south for concerts, festivals and nightlife e

More than one million people across the UK have now used a free online checker designed to help consumers avoid poor mobile phone coverage, dropped calls and frustrating signal blackspots. The milestone, announced by Ofcom, highlights growing public concern over patchy mobile reception as people increasingly rely on smartphones for everyday essentials including banking, GP appointments, navigation, travel bookings and remote working. The regulator says its free “Map Your Mobi

Doug Beattie MLA, Upper Bann Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie has resigned from the Ulster Unionist Party with immediate effect after launching a scathing attack on party leader Jon Burrows and accusing the party leadership of fostering a “toxic atmosphere”. In a dramatic statement published on social media on Saturday evening, the Upper Bann MLA said “integrity is more important than just belonging” as he confirmed he was walking away from the party he once led. The resignat

A police officer has suffered serious injuries after being struck by a stolen police vehicle during a dramatic incident in Downpatrick in the early hours of Sunday morning, prompting the launch of an attempted murder investigation. The officer was hit after a suspect allegedly drove directly at police during a chaotic confrontation following a foot pursuit through the County Down town. The incident unfolded at around 4.45am on Sunday, 31 May, when a vehicle failed to stop for

More than half a million households across Northern Ireland are facing another jump in energy costs from Friday, with both electricity and gas prices rising amid renewed pressure on global wholesale markets linked to conflict in the Middle East. Power NI customers will see electricity tariffs increase by 6.2% from 1 July 2026, while regulated firmus energy gas customers in the Ten Towns network will face a much steeper rise of 15.65%. For many families already juggling food c

Police in Ballymena have seized a quantity of suspected Class A and Class B drugs along with a large amount of cash following a proactive search operation in the town. A 35-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drugs-related offences and remains in police custody. The operation was carried out by officers from the Local Policing Team on Saturday, 30 May, as part of ongoing efforts to target the supply and distribution of illegal drugs in the Ballymena area. T

Northern Ireland is preparing for one of its biggest weeks of youth sport of the year after the full fixture list for the 2026 Budget Energy SuperCupNI was officially unveiled — bringing Manchester United, Liverpool, Rangers, Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland back to pitches across the north this summer. More than 1,200 young players from across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East will descend on the Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim, an

Countryfile’s Adam Henson, Local chef, broadcaster and Head Judge Paula McIntyre and Sheila Dillon from BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme launch nominations for the awards at The Balmoral Show Northern Ireland’s food and farming industry is set for a major national spotlight after it was confirmed the BBC Food and Farming Awards will be hosted here for the first time ever later this year. The prestigious UK-wide awards ceremony will take place at Titanic Belfast in October 202

NIO Minister Matthew Patrick; Secretary of State, Hilary Benn MP; Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer at the Department of Health; Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly; Finance Minister John O'Dowd; Leah O’Donnell, Pharmacist at Carryduff Pharmacy; Marie Smith, Chair of Community Pharmacy NI. A major £42 million investment to replace paper prescriptions with a fully digital system across Northern Ireland has been unveiled as part o

Hundreds of thousands of people across Northern Ireland could be living with dangerously high blood pressure without realising it — and a free health event coming to Ballymena aims to change that before lives are put at risk. Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS) has launched a public awareness campaign highlighting what it describes as the hidden danger of undetected high blood pressure, a condition linked to one in every two heart attacks and strokes. As part of the

Causeway Hospital, Coleraine The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has reaffirmed its commitment to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine as the facility marks its 25th anniversary. Speaking at a meeting of the Trust board at the hospital on Thursday, interim chief executive Suzanne Pullins said the Trust had published an update as it “continues to deliver on its vision” for Causeway Hospital. The Trust said Causeway Hospital “continues to play a vital role in our hospital netwo

Derry’s riverfront is set to transform into a giant family playground this summer as the 2026 Foyle Maritime Festival prepares to bring four days of circus acts, tall ships, fireworks, science experiences and water adventures to the city. Running from Thursday June 25 to Sunday June 28, the festival will once again take over the quayside and River Foyle with one of the biggest public events in the north west calendar, drawing thousands of visitors to the city across an action

SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP is set to visit Cushendall next week for a public discussion event focused on the future of Northern Ireland, rural communities and the party’s vision for a “New Ireland”. The event, titled “In Conversation with Claire Hanna”, will take place at Tír na nÓg in Cushendall on Thursday 4 June at 7pm and is expected to centre on growing public frustration around political deadlock, pressures on public services and the challen

Ballycastle beach, County Antrim Northern Ireland’s bathing water system could face its biggest overhaul in years under new proposals that may change how swimming sites are identified, monitored and protected across the country. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a 12-week public consultation examining whether current bathing water rules are still fit for purpose as outdoor swimming surges in popularity and more people use coasta

A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the stabbing of a man during a motorcycle event in Carrickfergus earlier this week. Detectives investigating the violent incident, which happened during the “Storming the Castle” bike meet on Wednesday night, confirmed the arrest was made following a search operation in the Newtownabbey area on Saturday. The stabbing, which happened in the Rodgers Quay area near Carrickfergus Castle shortly after 7

Micro-businesses employing fewer than 10 people will be exempt from proposed new trade union workplace access rules after Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald announced a significant change to the Good Jobs Bill following pressure and engagement from businesses and trade unions. The move marks one of the first major revisions to the flagship employment rights legislation as it moves closer to Assembly scrutiny, with the Minister signalling a willingness to alter proposals in re

Jonathon Fulton (CCP Chair), Dr Paul Roelle (US Consulate), Richard Hanna (CCP) Cullybackey Community Partnership has unveiled a major new exhibition exploring the remarkable role ordinary people from the local area played in the events surrounding American Independence — uncovering stories that stretch from rural Mid and East Antrim to the inner circle of George Washington himself. The project, titled Ordinary People Extraordinary History – Cullybackey and American Independe

A large-scale emergency training exercise involving police armoured vehicles, multiple casualties and a major road traffic collision scenario has been staged in Armagh as emergency services tested their response to some of Northern Ireland’s most dangerous incidents. The immersive operation at Gough Police Station brought together officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and Air Ambulance

An urgent regional appeal has been launched to recruit more foster carers for children with disabilities across Northern Ireland, as more than 100 young people remain waiting for vital short break support. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced the first ever region-wide campaign for Short Breaks foster carers for children and young people with disabilities, amid growing demand across all five Health and Social Care Trust areas. There are currently 109 children and young