Statement from Ulster Unionist Party. “The party does not accept the characterisation of recent events set out in Mr Beattie’s letter.” “Management Board met … to consider serious concerns about Mr Beattie’s conduct and judgement.“

Doug Beattie has quit the Ulster Unionist Party, saying it has become clear his membership is no longer "tenable". www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Doug Beattie to Jon Burrows MLAs have been “marginalised, ignored, isolated, and discredited.” “Your leadership style is dismissive & overly centralised.” “An Insidious campaign of rumour & gossip was being waged against me.” “You intended to reopen a disciplinary matter.”

Bally… comes from the irish word ‘baile’ meaning farm, home, settlement Knock… comes from an irish word for hill Drum... has its origins in an Irish word for ‘back’ Dr Frances Kane explains the influence the Irish language has on our many of our place names today.

Dr Frances Kane explains the influence of Scottish & English language on place names in Northern Ireland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Some word to look out for include; burn (the word for a river), brae (hill), and kirk (church) Watch more on BBC The View on BBC iPlayer www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

'The only thing growing in rural communities are the graveyards' Small schools close, GAA clubs merge, and marching bands fold. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Paddy McLaughlin owns a limousine and a vehicle recovery company in Strabane. He told BBC News NI that his fuel bill increased by more than £5,000 in the past month and he would be taking his lorries off the road from today. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Paddy McLaughlin owns a limousine and a vehicle recovery company in Strabane. He told BBC News NI that his fuel bill increased by more than £5,000 in the past month and he would be taking his lorries off the road from today. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Death of 13 lambs 'worst thing I could ever imagine', says farmer Kevin McGivern told @BBCNewsNI “at least 11 had their necks broke, the others were probably strangled,". www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Is it time to ban social media for under-16s in Northern Ireland? Education Minister Paul Givan has said he is "very sympathetic" to calls for a ban. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

“There are people in their graves today who wouldn’t be there had there been an upping of the price of cheap alcohol.” Former Health Minister Jim Wells wanted to introduce minimum unit pricing in 2014. Read more: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

“120 fewer people are dying each year in Scotland as a consequence of Minimum Unit Pricing.” NI Chief Medical Officer Prof. Michael McBride says evidence from Scotland shows the policy can reduce hospital admissions & alcohol related deaths. Read more: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The health minister has said time is "quite rapidly" running out for the executive to introduce alcohol minimum pricing in Northern Ireland. And he says a failure to introduce it back in 2013 “inevitably” means some lives have been lost. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

An Indian woman who has been living in Belfast for 23 yrs said racist graffiti and anti-social behaviour near her home has forced her to change how she lives her life Another resident says his children are “shattered” and afraid to go to their room alone. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

You can now watch our entire interview with @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social on the BBC News NI YouTube channel. Scotland's former First Minister talks to @markcarruthers7.bsky.social about the rise of Reform, Scottish Independence, and culture wars. #indyref #politics youtu.be/04sxx9si4Bs?...

The #Allianz logo was behind both goals for the first half of tonight’s televised @TyroneGAALive @KildareGAA #GAA league game in Omagh but was removed at halftime.

Not a single reference to Allianz - or appearance of its logo - in the 23 page programme for tonight’s #Tyrone #Kildare league game

There have been more than 66,000 pest reports & complaints made to councils and housing authorities across NI since 2020. It comes as some business owners in Dungannon are calling for action to be taken over the presence of rats in the town. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Ireland is facing a "grave moment" in terms of our relationship with the US. www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...

'No going back' on Greenland plan, Trump says, as EU chief vows 'unflinching' response. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx...

The confessions of one of Northern Ireland's most notorious killers are to be broadcast for the first time. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Three pro-Palestinian activists have been acquitted of causing criminal damage to Israeli-made Sodastream products in a west Belfast supermarket. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ulster GAA says site enabling works will resume at #CasementPark next Monday. It involves site clearance and demolition of existing structures within the stadium’s boundary, including the old stand. Expected to last until April 2026

The family of a Belfast man whose body was found in Dublin’s Phoenix Park but not identified for 13 months, has met the Garda ombudsman as part of its investigation into the case. www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said she is "deeply concerned" about the potential impact of Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on countries opposing his proposed takeover of Greenland. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Pupils behind explicit AI images tracked down, says principal www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Trump says he will '100%' follow through on threat to impose tariffs over Greenland demand www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx...

Dublin players are set to refuse to appear in front of Allianz-branded signage during the forthcoming National Leagues. www.rte.ie/sport/footba...

Conservative shadow minister Andrew Rosindell has defected to Reform UK, becoming the seventh Tory MP to do so. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

European countries threaten €93bn tariffs on Trump - FT www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...

I’ve updated this #StarterPack as more people join #BlueSky. This one has Northern Ireland politicians, journalists & political commentators. Send through any recommendations or anyone you spot that I should include. go.bsky.app/SGhfVQV

'Europe won't be blackmailed’ Danish PM says as Nato allies unite over Trump's #Greenland threat www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...

Police investigate reports of 'explicit' AI images at County Armagh school www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A pile of 14 #Evri parcels has been discovered on a driveway in Coalisland. The addresses on the parcels span across parts of Mid-Ulster, with some of the packages being for shoppers 45 miles away. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🇮🇪 🇬🇧 Will the Gardaí police the Shankill Road in a United Ireland? What are the strongest arguments for a #UnitedIreland? And what are the best for remaining part of the #UK? @sjamcbride.bsky.social & @fotoole.bsky.social debate #BorderPoll issues Watch on YouTube👇 youtu.be/86_mtnxYugU?...

Indeed

🚨 𝐉𝐢𝐦 𝐆𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 I have decided to withdraw from the presidential election contest with immediate effect and return to the arms of my family

The speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly has said he is worried that the current political climate in Great Britain could turn ugly and lead to civil unrest and someone getting hurt. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Almost 10% of adults in Ireland have had a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot within the last 12 months, new research shows. A further 12% of adults wouldn't rule out such a relationship in the future. www.rte.ie/news/busines...

#𝗕𝗕𝗖𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 Mark Carruthers sits down with former Government Chief Whip & former Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith Read more : www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Listen now : www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Former NI Secretary Julian Smith -on a #BorderPoll "I cannot in any world see a border poll with interest from Ireland, acceptance from the UK... I just don't see that happening at the current time so we're better focusing on making people's lives better” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

“Unforgivable.” Former Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith has accused ex-Prime Minister David Cameron of treating the 2016 Brexit referendum as "some sort of Eton game". www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A restaurant in #Portrush has said it is reviewing recent price increases following a social media backlash A chicken & bacon burger increased from £7.95 to £17.95 while a bowl of chilli chicken pasta that cost £14.95 earlier this month, rose to £27.95 #TheOpen #Golf www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#𝗕𝗕𝗖𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 Former UUP leader Doug Beattie talks to Mark Carruthers about his life in the army & politics. Listen now on BBC Sounds www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The former Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie has said he was "beaten badly" by instructors for being Irish when he joined the Army at the age of 16. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What's next for NI after this week's Spending Review? www.bbc.com/news/article...

The sentence given to Winston Irvine was unduly lenient and should be extended, according to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). The PPS said it will now appeal the sentence. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Masonry thrown at police in Portadown in fourth night of NI disorder www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

“Our ethnic minority community plays an integral role in the life of our club, enriching us with their passion, culture, and commitment. We are stronger and better because of them.” A Portadown GAA club sends a message of solidarity to its ethnic minority members.

Ballymena violence 'pure racism' and must stop - O'Neill www.bbc.com/news/article...