Manx Newscast

Douglas Council says its new social housing development in Willaston is 'everything' it wants to achieve in one building.

The local authority has spent £11 million on the new apartment block which has 48 flats and will take roughly 88 people of its waiting list.

Leader Devon Watson says the development will also make the housing stock more 'efficient' by helping people downsize.

Our Local Democracy Reporter Emma Draper has been speaking to him and the Chair of the Housing Committee Peter Washington.

Manx charity Victim Support has received 85 referrals since the start of the year.

January is typically the busiest month for the service, which helps people affected by crime on the Isle of Man.

An increase in referrals if often, in part, due to increased publicity of the charity - and towards the end of 2025 there was a campaign to raise awareness about coercive control, financial abuse and elder abuse.

CEO Lorna Trevethan says they are looking ahead to similar, targeted campaigns throughout this year.

International data protection authorities - including those in the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey - have raised concerns about AI-generated deepfakes.

They warn that non-consensual intimate imagery can cause serious emotional harm and damage reputations.

Organisations developing AI tools are being urged to prevent misuse, protect personal data and act quickly when harmful content is reported.

Information Commissioner Alexandra Delaney-Bhattacharya sat down with Manx Radio's Christian Jones to discuss.

We are now entering the fourth day of strike action by the Island's bus drivers as an ongoing row over pay and conditions shows little sign of letting up.

For those relying on public transport there is a limited bus service running, while the Department of Infrastructure has worked to reopen the Manx Electric Railway for anyone who is able to commute by tram.

DOI Minister Tim Crookall joined the Manx Radio Breakfast team to discuss the strike action and address his decision on the Ramsey sea wall

The leader of Douglas Council believes government needs to be investing the same amount into social housing as it does 'luxury apartments'.

Devon Watson has welcomed its plan to put £8.5 million pounds every year for five years into the housing deficiency fund,but says it needs to be 'accelerated'.

Local authorities who have social housing development plans use money from rents to pay for the projects and any remaining costs are covered by the deficiency fund.

Councillor Watson says the increased funding is a 'step in the right direction'.

Forty-eight hours after he presented this year's Budget to Tynwald, Treasury Minister Chris Thomas joined Ben and Sian on Breakfast for an extended interview about the financial plan, its implications and to consider the reaction it's had so far.

After voting against the 2026/27 Budget, Lawrie Hooper speaks to Manx Radio's Phil Gawne.

The chief executive of Manx Care has welcomed the increase in the health body's budget for the next financial year.

It will get £404.2 million, up from £361.8 million last year.

In this edition of Newscast, Teresa Cope tells Manx Radio's Lewis Foster what that means for patients on the Isle of Man.

Treasury Minister Chris Thomas MHK has delivered his Budget speech for 2026.

You can listen to it in full here.

Tony Thompson is a harbour keeper in Ramsey and back in November 2025 he joined a crew of seven aboard a 45ft yacht taking on a 3,086‑nautical‑mile voyage from Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands to St Lucia in the Caribbean.

It was part of the world‑famous ARC rally, which sees hundreds of vessels make the transatlantic trip each year, and for Tony - aged 64 and married to Sheila - it was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.

He's been telling Lewis Foster all about it.