Belfast News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

The government is cracking down on vape marketing to kids with plain packaging rules—limiting colors to white, black, or grey, banning candy-like flavor names, and hiding vapes in stores. With 19% of teens aged 11-17 having tried vaping, health leaders say current flashy branding is dangerously enticing youth into nicotine addiction. Experts, including England’s chief medical officer, call the mar...

An Irish resident of Indian origin was brutally attacked in Citywest, Dublin, after a teen asked where he was from — sparking a mob assault fueled by his nationality. The victim suffered multiple facial punches, escaped to a nearby home, and now faces physical injuries and emotional trauma, forcing him to miss work. Gardaí are investigating, amid growing concern over a troubling summer pattern of...

France storms into the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Morocco, thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, setting up a final-four showdown as they aim to defend their title. Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a stunning early save from Mbappe’s penalty, but France’s relentless pressure paid off with Mbappe’s powerful strike and Dembele’s clinical finish sealing th...

An Irish writer, arrested at Heathrow for allegedly inciting violence via social media posts, is now set to receive £25,000 after a civil settlement — while four officers underwent “learning through reflection.” The Met apologized, admitting the case caused significant distress, and announced a major policy shift: they’re no longer investigating “non-crime hate incidents,” aiming to refocus on act...

Stabbing in North Belfast | Belfast News

Starting September 1st, a groundbreaking national health referral scheme launches to redirect people caught with drugs for personal use toward health services—not courts. Designed to treat drug use as a health issue, not a crime, this joint government initiative from Health, Justice, HSE, and police aims to reduce stigma, offer early intervention, and prevent minor mistakes from derailing educatio...

England’s T20 squad is on the brink of claiming the world number one ranking after a crushing 3-0 series win over India, turning around a turbulent period with Test losses and a major player exit. Their white-ball form has been electric, adapting flawlessly to conditions and executing with precision — a direct follow-up to their near-miss at the World Cup. Harry Brook, pivotal to the revival, emph...

A 58-year-old comedy writer was arrested at Heathrow for allegedly inciting violence after three X posts — but the case was dropped in October. He pursued accountability, leading to a £25,000 settlement and “learning through reflection” for four officers. The Met apologized, acknowledging the distress caused, and used the case to overhaul its policy — now focusing only on actual crimes, not hate i...

Derry City clawed back from a three-goal deficit with a dramatic late winner against CSKA Sofia, giving them a fighting chance to advance in the Europa Conference League. After a gritty away performance that saw them fall behind twice, James Olayinka’s stoppage-time header salvaged a 3-2 result and set up a thrilling second-leg showdown at home. With just a one-goal win needed in Brandywell, the L...

A 37-year-old man in south Belfast faces serious charges—including explosives, weapons possession, and intent to supply Class C drugs—after a security alert on Roosevelt Street triggered a major police operation. Items were seized and sent for analysis, residents were evacuated, and a community center opened as a hub. A woman arrested at the scene has been released pending investigation. The man i...

The Met Police are digging into Reform UK’s finances after uncovering half a million pounds in pre-election donations, sparking a firestorm of accusations and defenses. With two individuals already under caution and legal advice from the CPS, Labour demands transparency while Reform UK brands the probe a smear campaign from the establishment. Nigel Farage faces additional scrutiny over a £5 millio...

Prince Harry made a heartfelt return to Birmingham, marking the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games while also honoring the 20-year legacy of the WellChild nursing program at Birmingham Children’s Hospital — where he shared a warm hug with a nurse. Though Meghan and the kids haven’t joined him yet due to security concerns, reports suggest their UK visit may soon be possible, potentially allow...

Belfast police arrested a 37-year-old man after a security alert in the Roosevelt Street area, charging him with possessing explosives, carrying offensive and prohibited weapons, and intent to supply class C drugs. The bust followed a search after an earlier drug arrest, prompting a public safety operation, neighborhood evacuations, and a community center opening. A 37-year-old woman arrested in c...

Ireland is moving to legalize “no wait cards” for people with chronic, invisible illnesses — giving them legal access to staff toilets in businesses. Currently, these cards exist but aren’t enforceable, leaving users reliant on goodwill. A Labour-backed bill seeks to change that, citing conditions like IBS that affect thousands. Backed by the government, including the Health Minister, the legislat...

Trans rights activists in Edinburgh are furious as new guidance on single-sex spaces—set to prioritize biological sex over gender identity—wraps up its public scrutiny, sparking protests from eighty demonstrators who see it as erasing trans people from public life. While the government and some groups like For Women Scotland call it a practical, legally grounded step to protect women’s rights and...

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly ground to a halt as U.S.-Iran tensions explode into renewed military strikes, with the U.S. hitting 90 Iranian targets and Iran retaliating by attacking U.S. allies in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. President Trump has scrapped any interim ceasefire, declaring the conflict reignited after Iran’s tanker attacks. With this vital oil chokepoint paralyzed,...

England crushed India in a thrilling T20 series win, chasing down 158 in just 13.4 overs with a blistering 146-run partnership between Harry Brook (79 off 35) and Phil Salt (59 not out). With bowlers like Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue delivering sharp wickets and Sam Curran, Will Jacks keeping it tight, England sealed their third straight win. India’s Shreyas Iyer fought valiantly with an unbeaten...

Murder in Killarney: Irish cops chase a suspect who may have fled after killing a US woman, while a Hungarian court hands down a 14-year sentence for a brutal sex-related murder of an American tourist. Irish prisons are slammed as a “national disgrace” in a damning watchdog report. Heat warnings blast 12 counties — stay hydrated. Meanwhile, US-Iran tensions flare as ceasefire crumbles, and music f...

Ulster University has awarded Mervyn Whyte an honorary doctorate, honoring his half-century of tireless dedication to the North West 200 road race — a global spectacle that draws over 100,000 fans and fuels Northern Ireland’s economy. Starting as a volunteer in 1973, he rose to become event director, while also shaping other iconic racing events like Macau and British Superbikes, and building a pa...

A police vehicle was hijacked on Fountain Street in Downpatrick, leading to an officer firing their weapon — a moment captured on video and sparking national attention. The officer was injured but not critically, and a 27-year-old man was arrested for attempted murder. The Police Ombudsman’s office reviewed all evidence, including body cam footage, CCTV, and witness statements, to determine if the...

Police in Bangor, Northern Ireland, have arrested a 43-year-old man suspected in two armed robberies on July 8th along Balloo Road and Bloomfield Road South. Charged with aggravated burglary, robbery, and criminal damage, authorities are urgently seeking public witnesses who were in the area around 8 PM that night—any tip could help solve the case and restore community safety. Listen in comfort: G...

A chilling murder trial has begun in Waterford, centering on 34-year-old Marcus ONeill, accused of killing 47-year-old Gillian Curran, found unresponsive in their home on January 25th. The prosecution reveals ONeill lived there, claimed to have moved her body and dressed her before calling emergency services, and later admitted to hand injuries from punching a wall. A critical 999 call, played for...

Armagh’s long-shot dream of a train station is finally getting serious attention — but cash is the biggest hurdle. After a decade of campaigning, the push to revive the Portadown-to-Armagh rail line faces a critical funding gap: £10-15 million needed just to develop the business case, with total costs estimated at £200-245 million. Without it, years of work could go to waste. Young locals who don’...

Ballycastle is reeling as the historic Antrim Arms Hotel—dating back to the 1760s—is fully demolished, sparking outrage after last year’s partial demolition plans were rejected. The council now investigates whether proper permissions were obtained, as the building had been fenced off for over a year due to structural decay, even during the Aul Lammas Fair. A two-million-dollar town center revitali...

Jeffrey Donaldson, a former Northern Ireland political heavyweight, has been convicted of rape — a verdict that sends shockwaves through the region and raises urgent questions about accountability, justice, and the future of his party. The trial, marked by intense scrutiny and emotional testimony, underscores the devastating toll such crimes take on victims while spotlighting the justice system’s...