Cave Hill country park and Belfast Castle closed due to alert

Jessica Lawrence of BBC News NI reports that there is an ongoing security alert in north Belfast, with entrances to Cave Hill Country Park and Belfast Castle on the Antrim Road being closed. The public has been advised to steer clear of the area at this time. Residents have relayed hearing a series of controlled… Continue reading Cave Hill country park and Belfast Castle closed due to alert

Ex-paddleboard firm owner jailed over deaths of four people

A tragic incident on the Western Cleddau river in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire in October 2021 resulted in the deaths of four individuals who were paddleboarding in what were described as “extremely hazardous conditions”. The victims were identified as Paul O’Dwyer, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers, and Nicola Wheatley. The former owner of a paddleboard company, Nerys Bethan… Continue reading Ex-paddleboard firm owner jailed over deaths of four people

NI legacy: Lawyers got most of £25m to settle cases, says PSNI

The chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Jon Boutcher, revealed to Members of Parliament that the PSNI has paid out £25m in recent years to settle civil cases related to the Troubles. Surprisingly, the majority of this hefty sum went directly to lawyers, totaling almost £18m, while the victims who actually… Continue reading NI legacy: Lawyers got most of £25m to settle cases, says PSNI

Driving test backlog to be cleared by next summer, minister says

The government has made a commitment to address the backlog of learner drivers waiting for practical tests in England by pledging to provide an additional 10,000 driving tests per month. Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, highlighted the current wait times of over five months as “totally unacceptable” during a session with parliament’s transport committee. The aim… Continue reading Driving test backlog to be cleared by next summer, minister says

Water restored for some Devon properties after burst main

Following a burst main in west Devon, South West Water (SWW) has announced that water supplies have been restored to some properties. Despite this, several schools and businesses remained closed due to ongoing issues. Areas affected by the burst main included Plymouth, Bere Alston, Yelverton, and Tavistock, with around 13,000 properties experiencing water supply disruptions.… Continue reading Water restored for some Devon properties after burst main

Talks to resume as Birmingham bin strike now in seventh week

Shehnaz Khan reports from the West Midlands for BBC News, where talks are scheduled to resume on Wednesday in an effort to resolve the Birmingham bin worker strike. The ongoing strike, now in its seventh week, has resulted in large piles of uncollected rubbish accumulating on sidewalks and street corners. Last month, a major incident… Continue reading Talks to resume as Birmingham bin strike now in seventh week

Russia-Ukraine war: London ceasefire talks downgraded

Reporting from London, talks in the city aimed at securing a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia have undergone changes as the original planned involvement of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff has been omitted. Instead, the meeting on Wednesday will involve senior officials from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine, and… Continue reading Russia-Ukraine war: London ceasefire talks downgraded

Higher pay and benefits drives government borrowing higher

The government’s borrowing for the year ending in March exceeded expectations due to increased spending on pay and benefits, according to official data. The borrowing, which represents the difference between government spending and income from taxes, totaled £151.9bn for the year, an increase of £20.7bn compared to the previous year. This figure surpassed the predicted… Continue reading Higher pay and benefits drives government borrowing higher

Apprentice winner Dean Franklin 'not aware' of licence breach

Dean Franklin, the recent winner of The Apprentice 2025, dismissed reports of his air conditioning company operating without the appropriate license, stating that he was not informed of any ongoing investigation by the Environment Agency. The 35-year-old father-of-two from Hornchurch, east London, was declared the champion of the popular BBC reality show by Lord Alan… Continue reading Apprentice winner Dean Franklin 'not aware' of licence breach

Merseyside Police failings left predator free to kidnap girl, 6

Lewis Jones, a 23-year-old man from Liverpool, was able to perpetrate a violent and prolonged sexual assault on a six-year-old girl in Manchester due to police failings and workload pressures, according to information obtained by the BBC. Merseyside Police had been investigating Jones since 2020 for grooming and sexually abusing a vulnerable child before he… Continue reading Merseyside Police failings left predator free to kidnap girl, 6