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UK Immigration Enforcement Sees Record Surge: Northern Ireland Arrests 234 in 187 Raids, UK-wide Operations Jump 77% and 83% in 2024-2025

UK authorities conduct record-breaking immigration raids, arresting 234 people in Northern Ireland and targeting over 17,000 businesses nationwide. The surge in operations follows a funding boost, aiming to combat illegal working and protect honest businesses. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood vows to restore order at the borders, emphasizing that illegal migrants have nowhere to hide. Local leaders stress the impact of illegal work on communities and human trafficking. Enforcement efforts continue to intensify, ensuring those breaking the law face full consequences.

Residents in Antrim and Newtownabbey express frustration over ongoing missed bin collections by contractor Bryson Recycling, despite a recovery plan with the council. Councillors report missed collections, with locals venting online about inconsistency, poor communication, and unsightly streets. Bryson claims crews worked through the weekend and will complete missed collections this week, while the council plans immediate fixes and Bryson reps will attend the next council session.

In Tullamore, County Offaly, hundreds gathered to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Ashling Murphys murder. The community, led by her family and boyfriend, walked along her final route, ending at a shrine where they honored her love for music. The Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund, established in her name, has spent over €150,000 on causes she cherished, including arts, science, culture, and Irish heritage. The fund supports Gaeltact scholarships for students at Coláiste Camus, the school Ashling attended. Despite the pain of her absence, the community remains united in honoring her legacy.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasizes global engagement to tackle cost-of-living crisis, highlighting progress in reducing waiting lists, increasing wages, controlling inflation, and decreasing crime. He stresses the importance of international involvement in addressing global crises and protecting citizens at home.

Knots Landing in Ballymena, a four-bedroom home, is a finalist in this years House of the Year competition. Built by retired chief executive Collette and her husband David, a skilled joiner, it features upcycled touches like flooring from a 150-year-old Amish barn. The home, which includes a cozy sun room and open-plan living space, has been praised for its blend of old-world charm and fresh ideas. Tune in to BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer to see more homes in the running.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemns Irans crackdown on protesters, calling for an end to repression as hundreds are killed and thousands detained. Meanwhile, Irelands Minister for Foreign Affairs criticizes the regimes nationwide communications blackout. Protests in Iran escalate, with reports of over five hundred deaths and a total blackout preventing people from reaching loved ones. In London, protesters burn a picture of the supreme leader outside the Iranian embassy. At home, tragic court cases make headlines, including a young Brazilian woman strangled by her ex-boyfriend and a woman allegedly stabbing her eight-year-old daughter over seventy times. Gardaí investigate an incident where regulars chased a masked, apparently armed man out of a Dublin pub. The Dublin Airport Authority pauses its disciplinary probe into suspended chief Kenny Jacobs until a court hearing. Greenlands government rejects any US takeover talk from President Donald Trump. On a positive note, Kerrys Jessie Buckley wins best actress in a drama at the Golden Globes, thanking her cast and crew in a heartfelt speech.

Tragic Loss: Filipina Healthcare Worker and Unborn Child Killed in Car Crash; Husband Fights for Life