Student-led protests have taken place in Iran this weekend, coinciding with the start of the new university term and the 40th day of mourning for many of the thousands of people killed by security forces in early January.

Pro-and anti-regime activists protested at five universities in Tehran on Saturday, in some instances facing off against each other.

At the Ferdowsi University in Mashhad, Iran’s second city and birthplace of Ayatollah Khamenei, video shows a large gathering of anti-regime protestors chanting “so much crime all these years” and “death to this rule”.

These demonstrations are nowhere near the scale of the protests six weeks ago which saw uprisings in towns and cities across all Iran’s 31 provinces, but it is brave to be coming out at all given the authorities’ crackdown in January.

The numbers killed then are still unclear, but the US-based Human Rights Activists Agency (HRANA) says they have verified at least 7,015 fatalities and have thousands more cases under review.

The government has admitted to 3,117 deaths including around 200 security personnel. Donald Trump has said he believes 32,000 people were killed.

The 40th day is an important moment in the mourning process in Iran. During the revolution in 1979, 40th day commemorations became flashpoints for fresh protest, sparking renewed crackdowns and killings and further cycles of unrest. As a result, the Iranian regime has been wary of allowing mourners to gather for commemorative rituals.

Last week, clashes around the 40th day took place in Abdanan, a city near the border with Iraq. Videos show people chanting “death to Khamenei” as they remembered Alireza Seydi, a 16-year-old boy killed on January 8th. In another video from the city, the sound of gunfire echoes across the valley.

It is difficult to tell what exactly the response of the authorities has been to this latest unrest. Internet is back but it is patchy.

On Tuesday, the Ayatollah gave a speech saying some of those who took part in the January protests had been “naive and inexperienced” and were deceived by the rioters, but that they were still “part of us, they were our children”.

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Diana Magnay provides analysis

Given the US military build-up across the Middle East, the Iranian authorities appear not to want to provoke Donald Trump by being heavy-handed with protesters – but, instead, to focus minds on further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme which they say could take place next week.

Read more:
How Iran might be preparing for a potential US strike
UK has not agreed to let US strike Iran from British bases

They are signalling that they are prepared to work towards a deal but that they stand ready to fight should the US strike.

Now it is up to Donald Trump to decide whether and how long he is prepared to wait for a deal, and what he does if he fails to get one.

Pollsters asked about the way the devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales worked with Westminster

Just over a third of Welsh people think devolution has been a good thing, according to polling released today. However, that 36% figure in Wales is higher than the 16% who believe the Westminster-based government has been a good thing for the nation.

The polling was conducted by More in Common on behalf of PolicyWISE between January 30 and February 10 with 806 people polled in Wales.

It asked questions about the way the devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales worked with Westminster and almost all those polled said they wanted stronger cooperation between their governments and Westminster.

The polling found 95% of the public in Scotland and Wales wanted that.

Just 20% of people in Wales felt their devolved governments and Westminster worked well together. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here

This compared to the 68% in Wales who felt that their devolved governments and Westminster did not work well together now.

When Labour was elected into Government at a UK level in 2024, it promised a “partnership in power” between London and Cardiff.

In both countries, the public would prefer that the devolved government worked “much more closely” with the UK government on its top policy priority rather than “standing firm against the UK government”. Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

In Wales, 42% want closer working between the two administrations.

In both countries, Westminster is frequently perceived as acting “mainly as a government for England” (Scotland 43%, Wales 42%). Many, especially in Wales (52%), think Westminster is unclear when decisions affect only England.

When asked which two reserved issues (i.e. Westminster responsibility) required the UK Government to work most closely with the devolved governments, these were the answers for Wales:

Immigration: 37%

Energy policy: 31%

Trade: 25%

Relations with the EU: 24%

When asked which three issues the respective new devolved governments should focus on post elections, both nations identified the cost-of-living, supporting the NHS, and immigration.

When it comes to how the Welsh First Minister should approach the UK Government, 30% of respondents said they wanted Eluned Morgan to work constructively with Westminster – even if that meant compromise.

The village also has a strong sporting history, and there is evidence it was a Roman settlement.

A lovely Cambridgeshire village with a name that is hard to pronounce is full of posh period houses. There are many places in Cambridgeshire that have names that sound differently to how they should be pronounced.

One of these is the rural village of Great Wilbraham, located six miles from Cambridge. People may think it’s supposed to be pronounced as Great Wil-bra-ham, but it’s actually Great Will-brum.

Despite having a hard name to pronounce, the village boasts an impressive history. Its history dates back to the Bronze Age, but there is also evidence of Roman settlements.

The village appeared in the Domesday Book as Wilburgaham. The name is said to derive from the Anglo-Saxon princess Wilburh, the daughter or close family member of Penda King of the Mercians. She is portrayed on a village sign.

In the Middle Ages, the Knights Templar held the manor of Great Wilbraham. Their local headquarters were at Denny Abbey. The manor house is still known as ‘The Temple’ today. Within the grounds of the temple, the remains of a Roman villa were found.

Above it, a Middle Saxon burial ground was also found. Today, Great Wilbraham is a charming village home to around 600 people. Homes in the village range from around £300,000 to over £1 million.

The homes stand tall and grand along the roads. They are also hidden behind lots of greenery, providing plenty of privacy for all who live there. There is one pub in the village, called The Carpenter Arms.

The pub has served the village community for more than 250 years, with what it calls “genuine hospitality”. Visitors have praised it for its “beautiful” decorations and that it feels “really welcoming”. The pub is also dog-friendly.

There is also a Post Office, a shop and a well-used village hall. The village also has a strong sporting history, as it has a local football and cricket team.

MILAN (AP) — The United States is on top of the hockey world for the first time in nearly a half-century. No miracle needed.

Jack Hughes scored less than 2 minutes into overtime and the U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in the gold medal final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday, earning the nation’s third men’s title at the Games and its first since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980 — 46 years to the day of the upset over the mighty Soviet Union, too.

Unlike that ragtag group of college kids that pulled off one of the biggest shockers in sports history in Lake Placid, the Americans in Milan were a machine that rode goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and a roster full of NHL players through the tournament unbeaten.

Still, they were underdogs again against the stacked Canadians and came out on top — again.

“This is all about our country right now,” said Hughes, who lost at least one and maybe two of his front teeth taking a high stick during the game. “I love the U.S.A. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The USA Hockey brotherhood is so strong.”

Early in the three-on-three overtime, Zach Werenski took the puck away from Nathan MacKinnon and passed it to Hughes, who was wide open streaking to the net. Hughes fired a shot past Jordan Binnington 1:41 in to send players into a wild celebration as the rival Canadians watched from the bench.

Asked his favorite moment during his Olympic debut, captain Auston Matthews quipped, “I think when Jack scored. … I’ll definitely remember Jack’s goal.”

There was a note of sadness amid all the joy as Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk carried a Johnny Gaudreau No. 13 jersey around the ice in tribute to the beloved player who was killed along with his brother in 2024.

Gaudreau’s parents, Guy and Jay, his widow, Meredith, and their oldest children were in attendance. It was Johnny Jr.’s second birthday and he was brought on the ice with older sister Noa for the team photo.

“We just wanted to show the Gaudreau family our support,” Brady Tkachuk said of the player known as “Johnny Hockey.” “He was so near and dear to a lot of us, and we miss him dearly. We did it for him.”

Hellebuyck was extraordinary, stopping 41 of the 42 shots he faced as Canada tilted the ice toward him over the final two periods. He made the save of the tournament by getting his stick on the puck on a shot from Devon Toews in the third period, then minutes later denied Macklin Celebrini on a breakaway — something he also did to Connor McDavid earlier.

“He was our best player by a mile,” winger Matt Boldy said. “He’s an absolute stud. He wants to be in those moments. He wants to make the saves. And he did just that, so he was definitely our MVP.”

It was a glorious weekend for Team USA, with the women’s hockey team also defeating Canada in overtime to win gold. For the men, it was only fitting the Americans needed to go through Canada, their northern neighbor that beat them at the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago and has won every international competition over the past 16 years that featured the world’s best players.

Not anymore.

Winning a fast-paced, riveting game that was full of big hits and plenty of post-whistle altercations, the U.S. got a goal from Boldy 6 minutes in and led until Cale Makar tied it late in the second period. Hellebuyck and the penalty kill was a perfect 17 for 17 at the Olympics.

“I can’t even believe this,” Hughes said. “I mean it’s such an unbelievable game, USA-Canada. Such a good game. There’s so many great players. We’re a great team. That’s exactly how we wanted it to go. We’re underdogs to Canada, (but we) beat them. It could have gone either way.”

Hughes paid a painful price when he took the high stick and wound up face down on the ice. The teeth were out, but the celebration wasn’t far away.

“More people are going to be looking at his medal than his teeth,” Boldy said.

The U.S. finally came through after generations of churning out talent from the grassroots level like a production line. All but two of the 25 players on the team went through USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.

That group of 23 includes captain Auston Matthews, the top line of Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Eichel, and the second set of brothers, Jack and Quinn Hughes. Much of the team played together either at the program, under-18s, the world junior championship or some combination of them.

The U.S. winning silenced criticism of general manager Bill Guerin and his management group choosing a roster full of experienced veteran players to fill specific roles and leaving four of the top 10 American goal-scorers in the NHL this season at home. The players they brought got the job done.

“There are whisky drinkers and milk drinkers and we got a lot of whisky drinkers on this team,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “One of the things that Billy Guerin and I talked about from the very beginning was trying to build a team in the true sense of the word, so we looked at a deep group of American talent and these decisions were very difficult. They weren’t easy. You look at how this group is constructed, there was a thought process that we had players that could play in all situations.”

Some decisions were no-doubters, like Sullivan giving the net to Hellebuyck, who stopped 131 of the 137 shots he faced throughout the tournament and was at his best against Canada.

“He was our backbone — today even more so than the rest of the tournament,” forward Vincent Trocheck said. “He saved our lives there a couple times in the third. He was unbelievable.”

Canada, back-to-back Olympic champions in 2010 and ’14 and winners of three of the first five, fell short while playing without injured captain Sidney Crosby. The 38-year-old two-time gold medalist and three-time Stanley Cup champion left the quarterfinal game against Czechia and sat out the semifinal game against Finland.

“It was a tough decision,” Crosby said. “Obviously, in your head you always want to be out there and find very way possible. But not at the expense of what needs to be done. And them watching how we played today, the guys played incredible.”

McDavid, who wore the “C” in Crosby’s absence, suffered another devastating defeat on the doorstep of a title. He and the Edmonton Oilers have lost to Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two years.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

This Disney+ crime thriller is a must-watch for fans of Netflix’s You, with one standout difference that sets this stalker series apart from the rest.

With streaming services flooded with thrillers, crime, and mystery programmes, the storylines can occasionally feel repetitive and formulaic. There hasn’t been a riveting thriller that has captured the nation’s attention quite like Netflix’s You (2018).

However, Disney+ is venturing into this sinister realm with its new stalker thriller entitled Watching You (2025). The series delivers a nerve-wracking, gripping narrative packed with twists and shocking revelations. Audiences can anticipate intricate characters whose hidden truths gradually emerge, maintaining the tension throughout.

Yet, there’s one distinctive feature that distinguishes this programme and renders it essential viewing for thriller devotees.

What is Watching You about?

Protagonist Lina has a one-night stand, which is secretly filmed by a mystery person. However, Lina is engaged to someone else, meaning this one night of passion is an affair.

Lina is subsequently blackmailed by this enigmatic individual who appears to be monitoring her every action. Intent on exposing the stalker threatening her existence, she quickly discovers the peril may be considerably nearer than she ever suspected.

There’s murder and domestic violence in this thriller with layered characters. Whilst it may not feature the most twists and turns, the programme expertly keeps you on edge as secrets steadily emerge, given that no character is entirely blameless.

Similarities to Netflix’s You

Both programmes portray domestic violence, threats against women, stalking and murder. The villains in both shows conceal their true identity while manipulating women.

The only difference is that in Netflix’s You, stalker Joe is the main character and more charismatic than the villain in Watching You. Spoilers ahead.

However, both men are completely unhinged and will do anything to keep their secret whilst convincing themselves they are relentlessly, madly in love with the women they are obsessed with.

One reason you should watch

Watching You does a brilliant job of addressing domestic violence. Unlike Netflix’s You, this show is from the perspective and follows the actions of Lina. Though she is flawed, the show does not excuse what happened to her as a victim.

Her fight against the abuser is fierce, intense and complicated, but it is well written and delivered. Netflix’s You has been criticised for the “romanticisation” of male violence against women, as seen from Refinery29, Our Wave, and feminists.co, but Watching You intensifies the feeling of danger and suspense.

Early ratings

Commenting on IMDB, one person said: “It’s a refreshing and paychpatic watch. All the characters are stupid and follow questionable and illogical choices. But haven’t we all been there? The series reminds me of ‘You’ to a certain degree.

“It’s the plot of stalking someone and manipulating them into loving you. That’s about it with the similarities. The acting could be better; there’s some nudity, which I am not appalled by, but sometimes it makes no sense. Anyway, it’s not vulgar or anything. All in all, it’s a good show. But judge for yourselves.”

Another viewer commented: “I was very entertained by the first 3 episodes. Steamy show, interesting relationship dynamics, good performances. Despite the plot being more than obvious, I enjoyed watching the story unravel.”

They continued: “After the fourth episode, the story started getting more and more ridiculous. Characters were making one stupid decision after another, and the final episode was a letdown, the way it ended. Was that even justice being served? I doubt so.

“Overall, it’s a nice show for a binge, easy to follow despite being predictable. The finale just wasn’t to my taste. It wouldn’t hurt you to watch it.”

LONDON (AP) — Politically charged thriller “One Battle After Another” won six prizes, including best picture, at the British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, building momentum ahead of Hollywood’s Academy Awards next month.

Blues-steeped vampire epic “Sinners” and gothic horror story “Frankenstein” won three awards each, while Shakespearean family tragedy “Hamnet” won two including best British film.

“One Battle After Another,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s explosive film about a group of revolutionaries in chaotic conflict with the state, won awards for directing, adapted screenplay, cinematography and editing, as well as for Sean Penn’s supporting performance as an obsessed military officer.

“This is very overwhelming and wonderful,” Anderson said as he accepted the directing prize. He paid tribute to his longstanding assistant director, Adam Somner, who died of cancer in November 2024 a few weeks into production.

“We have a line from Nina Simone that we used in our film, ‘I know what freedom is: It’s no fear,’” the director said. “Let’s keep making things without fear. It’s a good idea.”

Bookies’ favorite Jessie Buckley won the best actress prize for playing grieving mother Agnes Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare, in “Hamnet.” Buckley, 36, is the first Irish performer to win a best actress prize at the awards, known as BAFTAs.

She dedicated her award “to the women past, present and future who taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently.”

In a major upset, Robert Aramayo won the best actor category for his performance in “I Swear,” a fact-based British indie drama about a campaigner for people with Tourette syndrome.

The 33-year-old British actor looked stunned and called the victory over Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet “absolutely mad.”

“I absolutely can’t believe this,” he said. “Everyone in this category blows me away.”

“Sinners” took home trophies for director Ryan Coogler’s original screenplay, the film’s musical score and for Wunmi Mosaku’s supporting actress performance as herbalist and healer Annie.

The British-Nigerian actor said that in the role she found “a part of my hopes, my ancestral power and my connection, parts I thought I had lost or tried to dim as an immigrant trying to fit in.”

Stars and royalty

Hollywood stars and British celebrities, from Paddington Bear to the Prince and Princess of Wales, gathered at London’s Royal Festival Hall for the awards. DiCaprio, Chalamet, Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close and Ethan Hawke were among the stars walking the red carpet before a black-tie ceremony hosted by Scottish actor Alan Cumming.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales also attended, three days after William’s uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by police and held for 11 hours over allegations he sent sensitive government information to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The scandal has rocked the royal family led by King Charles III, though William and Kate remain popular standard-bearers for the monarchy. William presented an award in his role as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Among the biggest receptions from gathered fans was for Paddington, the puppet bear who stars in a musical stage adaption of the beloved children’s classic.

Oscars bellwether

The British prizes, officially called the EE BAFTA Film Awards, often provide hints about who will win at Hollywood’s Academy Awards, held this year on March 15. “Sinners” has a record 16 Oscar nominations, followed by “One Battle After Another” with 13.

“One Battle” went into the BAFTAs ceremony with 14 nominations. “Sinners” was just behind with 13, while “Hamnet” had 11.

Ping-pong odyssey “Marty Supreme” also had 11 nominations but went home empty=handed.

Guillermo del Toro’s reimagining of “Frankenstein” and Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value” each got eight nominations.

“Frankenstein” took awards for production design, costume design and for the hair and makeup artists who spent 10 hours a day transforming Jacob Elordi into the movie’s monstrous creature.

“Sentimental Value” won the prize for the best film not in English.

Cumming told the audience that it had been a strong year for cinema, if not a cheerful one, with nominated films tackling themes including child death, racism and political violence:

“Watching the films this year was like taking part in a collective nervous breakdown,” he said. “It’s almost as though there are events going on in the real world that are influencing filmmakers.”

The ceremony was more glitz than gloom, though, including a performance by Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — the voices of animated band HUNTR/X in box office juggernaut “KPop Demon Hunters” — singing the movie hit “Golden.”

Putin critic wins best documentary

The best-documentary prize went to “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” about a Russian teacher who documented the propaganda imposed on Russian schools after the invasion of Ukraine.

The film’s American director David Borenstein said that teacher Pavel Talankin had shown that “whether it’s in Russia or the streets of Minneapolis, we always face a moral choice,” referring to the protests against U.S. immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

“We need more Mr. Nobodies,” he said.

It beat documentaries including Mstyslav Chernov’s harrowing Ukraine war portrait “2000 Meters to Andriivka, ” co-produced by The Associated Press and Frontline PBS.

Most BAFTA winners are chosen by 8,500 members of the U.K. academy of industry professionals. The Rising Star award, which is decided by public vote, went to Aramayo.

Donna Langley, the U.K.-born chairwoman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, was awarded the British Academy’s highest honor, the BAFTA fellowship.

___

Associated Press writer Hilary Fox contributed to this report.

Rory McIlroy shot a four-under-par 67 but it was not enough to overhaul winner Jacob Bridgeman, who won by one shot at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles.

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy started the day six shots off the lead but despite making five birdies he could not catch American Bridgeman, who got over the line with a one-over-par 72 to finish on 18 under.

Bridgeman, who held a seven-shot lead early in the day, held back tears on the 18th green before sinking a three-foot putt for his first PGA Tour title.

He is also the first man to win the prestigious event in his tournament debut since 1975.

Bridgeman’s victory continues his good start to the year having had two top-10 finishes in his opening four events, including last week’s eighth place at Pebble Beach.

The 26-year-old’s three bogies on the final day at the Riviera Country Club gave the chasing players hope, including countryman Kurt Kitayama, who finished tied for second with McIlroy on 17 under after carding a seven-under-par 64.

World number two McIlroy was even par after the first nine holes, but made four birdies on the back nine, including a brilliant hole-out from the greenside bunker on the 12th, to put pressure on Bridgeman.

A nervy closing three holes saw Bridgeman bogey 16 then leave his putt on 18 over three feet short, after McIlroy had drained a 30 footer to get within a shot, to ensure a tense final stroke in front of tournament host Tiger Woods.

Bridgeman held his nerve though to claim a first PGA Tour title in style, with victory at one of the Signature Events moving him inside the top 25 of the world rankings for the first time.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood shot a four-under-par 67 to finish joint-seventh on 12-under, which included a slam dunk eagle with his approach shot on 15 from 173 yards out.

World number one Scottie Scheffler made a flying finish with his 65 seeing him recover from his bad start on Thursday to finish in joint 12th.

That meant an end to Scheffler’s brilliant run of 18 consecutive top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour.

England’s Marco Penge, who was the joint-leader alongside Bridgeman after the second round, ended in tied for 16th place on 10 under.

Max Greyserman provided another big highlight of the day as he made a hole-in-one at the 14th, which illuminated an otherwise difficult day for him as he made four bogeys and a double bogey in his 73.

The decisive moment came seven minutes into added time. Alexis Mac Allister had seen a goal disallowed just moments earlier but bundled the ball in from close range to spark scenes of wild celebration both on the pitch and in the technical area after a second VAR review.

“My emotions are of happiness and relief because we did not play a good game,” said Slot. “We were the lucky ones scoring in extra time. If you score in the last minute, there’s always an element of luck but so many times this season we’ve experienced the opposite. The first-half was poor, probably the worst we have played up to now. Maybe our luck is turning.”

There were other positives for Slot to take, and how he has needed them after this season. This was Liverpool’s first clean sheet in consecutive away games in the league for a year. The response after such an abysmal first-half performance was also there, although Forest did not deserve to lose.

Slot expressed his surprise before and after the game that Forest are in such a lowly position, and the home team will take encouragement from this performance. Though they performed admirably without reward under Vitor Pereira, their fourth head coach of the season, they remain in deep trouble.

Pereira disclosed that Chris Wood, last season’s leading scorer, is likely to return from a knee injury before the end of the season and he is desperately needed soon.

He said: “I am angry with football but we have to come back stronger and face the future with confidence. They have talent, quality and spirit. If they play the way they played in the first half, then we can get a lot of points. Of course I am sure that we have more than enough to survive.

“We need to keep the good things for the next game and prepare everyone to be ready. We need everyone to reach our target.”

The leather jacket is an “on trend” piece to add to your wardrobe.

The weather in the transitional period between winter and spring can often be hard to predict. It can go from sunny and mild to windy and cold in a few minutes so it is important to have a few items you can easily layer over any outfit for some extra warmth.

Tesco’s clothing brand F&F has just released the F&F Faux Leather Bubble Hem Zip Up Jacket in Brown that could make a great addition to your spring wardrobe. The leather jacket is “a bold layer” that will give your outwear a bit of refresh.

The jacket “offers a bold and modern silhouette” and comes with a “collared neckline and practical zip fastening”. The leather jacket has a “classic feel” and is currently be sold for £45.

The leather jacket was shared in a video on the Tesco F&F Instagram page. The post was captioned: “Some Spring newness on @devon_mummy.”

Fans of the F&F clothing brand have already taken to social media to share their thoughts on some of the springtime clothing. One commenter said: “Love this,” and another said: “Absolutely adore an F&F haul!!”

If you fancy getting your hands on this jacket or any other coat from the brand for the spring, you can go to the Tesco website to browse all of its clothes. You can also go in person to a Tesco store with a clothing department.

Boden has a few different options for coats and jackets that you might prefer. There is this Lisburn Patch Pocket Jacket that reviews say is “beautifully made” or there is this Duffle Quilted Parka, which has been lined with soft borg to make it extra cosy.

You could also check out what New Look also has in stock for the new season. There is this Light Yellow Cotton Belted Mac Coat that could be a good choice if you need something waterproof or this Black Faux Leather Funnel Neck Bomber Jacket, which also comes in a dark brown colour.

“I am there for my community when they need us most”

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are recruiting for enthusiastic and committed On-Call Firefighters from local communities across the country.

The ‘Your Town, Your Team, Your NIFRS’ campaign is aimed at those who live or work within 5 minutes of their local On-Call Fire Station, who want to make a real difference in their community.

As part of NIFRS’ commitment to recruiting the best possible candidates, information evenings are being held in every recruiting station throughout the duration of the campaign.

READ MORE: Aspiring NI pilots encouraged to apply for Jet2 fully-funded training programmeREAD MORE: NIFRS statement as 50 firefighters tasked tackle blaze in Co Armagh

NIFRS is recruiting On-Call Firefighters across 26 Fire Stations including:

• Ballycastle
• Ballyclare
• Glengormley
• Portrush
• Portstewart
• Whitehead
• Armagh
• Ballynahinch
• Crossmaglen
• Holywood
• Keady
• Lurgan
• Newcastle
• Newtownhamilton
• Portaferry
• Warrenpoint
• Comber
• Belleek
• Clogher
• Dromore (Tyrone)
• Irvinestown
• Lisnaskea
• Enniskillen
• Newtownstewar
• Pomeroy
• Carryduff

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Western Area Commander David Doherty said: “We are inviting new applicants to join our dedicated team of On-Call Firefighters who provide vital support in protecting local community.

“Our On-Call Firefighters respond to the same types of incidents that Wholetime Firefighters do, alongside balancing firefighting duties with other jobs, businesses and family responsibilities. On-Call Firefighters demonstrate incredible dedication to protecting their local community and I would encourage anyone who is interested in joining our team to apply.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage any local business owners in these areas who are willing to allow On-Call Firefighters to be released from their employment to attend emergency calls, to contact your local On-Call Fire Station for more information.”

Megan Walsh from Crossmaglen combines her role as an On-Call Firefighter alongside working in a children’s entertainment centre, volunteering in her local community and attends the gym regularly.

She said: “My primary employer, a children’s entertainment centre, is very supportive of my role as an On-Call Firefighter. They allow me to respond to fire calls with a minute’s notice.

“Knowing that I am helping others and ensuring I am there for my community when they need us most, it’s very worthwhile.”

Oran Swift combines his role as an On-Call Firefighter alongside working as a bricklayer and looking after his young family.

He said: “Being an On-Call Firefighter has provided me with transferable skills that I can use every day. I work as a bricklayer and keep my pager on during the day and then clock off when I’m spending time with my family.

“Once you find the correct balance, the role is incredibly rewarding. I am helping others, gaining new skills and discovering leadership strengths I never knew I had.

“It’s so important living in small rural villages that we all chip in together to keep people safe.”

The closing date for applications is Friday 13 March at 12noon anc candidates can apply online and download application packs from NIFRS’s website

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