NEWS

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

Marks & Spencer has cut the price of 19 vegetable staples and moved 22 everyday items into its value ranges, in a direct bid to win more family shoppers who want healthier food without paying more. The move, announced as part of the retailer’s wider growth strategy, comes amid clear evidence that UK households are prioritising health in their weekly shop while remaining highly price-conscious. Price cuts target everyday essentials in weekly shop The retailer confirmed that mo

Monday in the House of Commons, North Antrim MP Jim Allister challenged the Prime Minister on announcing a cut to fuel duty to relieve pressure on drivers, farmers and businesses across the UK Motorists, farmers and businesses across Northern Ireland facing soaring fuel costs were given no immediate promise of tax relief on Monday after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Government’s main focus remains reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing global supply pressures. T

Stephen Fry on series 2 of ITV’s The Assembly Award-winning ITV interview series The Assembly is set to return this April for an extended second run, with Sir Stephen Fry and Nicola Sturgeon among a high-profile line-up facing what has become one of television’s most disarming and unpredictable interview formats. The RTS-winning and Bafta-nominated show, praised by critics as one of the most original programmes on television, will see a fresh group of well-known names take t

BBC announces the cast for the return of Balamory, featuring some familiar faces and some new! Images: Lion Television Scotland/BBC After more than two decades off screen, one of the BBC’s most beloved children’s programmes is set to return this month, as Balamory makes its long-awaited comeback on BBC’s CBeebies and BBC iPlayer. The brand-new series will launch on Monday 20 April at 5pm, with all episodes also becoming available on BBC iPlayer the same day, marking the first

Millions of workers across Northern Ireland and the wider UK can now access sick pay from the first day they are off work, as a major overhaul of employment rights came into force on Sunday. The changes, introduced under the Employment Rights Act, mark one of the most significant shifts in workplace protections in recent years, affecting more than 18 million employees across the UK. From 6 April 2026, workers who fall ill no longer have to wait until the fourth day of absence

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Picture by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street) Prime Minister Keir Starmer has used his 2026 Easter message to place hope, renewal and community support at the centre of his remarks, while acknowledging the anxiety being felt by many families amid conflict abroad and ongoing pressures at home. In a message issued ahead of Easter, the Prime Minister described the Christian festival as “a celebration of hope, new life and renewal”, setting the tone

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has written to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland warning that rising agricultural input costs, driven by renewed global instability, are placing increasing pressure on farm businesses and could threaten food production across Northern Ireland. Representing around 12,000 farm families, the Union said ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are creating fresh volatility in the cost of essential farming inputs,

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

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