Latest news with #ArleneFoster
The Guardian
23-07-2025
- The Guardian
Shooting in Northern Ireland leaves two people dead and two seriously injured
A shooting incident has left two people dead and two seriously injured at a property in a rural area of County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Police sealed off the Drummeer Road area of Maguiresbridge, a village 8 miles from Enniskillen, on Wednesday and said there was no ongoing risk to the public. 'We can confirm two people have died, and two people are being treated in hospital for serious injuries,' a police spokesperson said. The ambulance service said it had received a call at 8.21am and dispatched emergency crews to the scene. An air ambulance took one injured person to the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast and an ambulance took the other to South West Acute hospital in Enniskillen. Politicians expressed shock and sadness. 'My thoughts are with the victims and their families at this tragic time,' said Pat Cullen, the Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. 'I would urge people to not speculate on the details of this tragic and shocking incident.' Deborah Erskine, a Democratic Unionist party (DUP) assembly member, said the community was stunned. 'The area of Maguiresbridge where this has happened is a rural, quiet area and everyone is deeply affected by what has happened,' she said. 'My deepest condolences are with the families of those who have been killed as a result of this incident. Their lives have been turned upside down this morning.' Arlene Foster, the former DUP leader who grew up near the area, said: 'I am so very sorry for the family involved and praying for all impacted by this horrific act.' Several local representatives said the incident was 'domestic'.
Belfast Telegraph
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Belfast Telegraph
NI records warmest day in almost three years as fire service warn of gorse fire risk
After basking in heatwave conditions since Wednesday, a top temperature of 30C has been recorded in Magiligan, Co Londonderry, on Saturday. It marks the first time the milestone has been reached in NI since July 18 2022. Scotland recorded its highest temperature since 2023, as the mercury reached 32C at Aviemore, only the seventh time the temperature has been recorded since 1961. "We are encouraging everyone to stay vigilant to the risk of fire in the countryside' – NIFRS Highs of 34C have also been recorded in England, though the country's current record of 35.8C is unlikely to be broken. Amber heat warnings remain in place for the Midlands as well as parts of southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday morning. Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: "Yesterday was Wales' highest temperature of the year so far, so it'd be a similar value, so we'll keep an eye on that today. "And then Northern Ireland and Scotland, I think the highest of the year is just shy of 30C so for both of them, it could be slightly higher than those values. "So quite, quite possible to see the highest temperatures of the year so far for parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland and Wales too, but England unlikely." On Saturday, those taking part in the annual Twelfth of July celebrations battled with the heat as parades took place at 19 different locations across NI to mark the 335th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. GB News presented coverage of the parades from Coleraine, with Dame Arlene Foster and former Coronation Street actor Charlie Lawson leading the programme. It comes after the NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) issued a warning over potential gorse fires, having attended several incidents in the last few days. "Firefighters attended a range of emergency calls, including a number of wildfires with five fire appliances at the Bloody Bridge area of Newcastle, a three-vehicle road traffic collision in Rathfriland with ten casualties, and a shed fire in Castlederg,' said Area Commander Andy Burns. 'With high temperatures and dry weather this bank holiday weekend, a further period of heightened operational activity is expected over the coming days. Watch: Twelfth celebrations take place across Northern Ireland "We are prepared and ready to respond and are encouraging everyone to stay vigilant to the risk of fire in the countryside and to follow our advice to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe.' NI has so far avoided the hosepipe bans that have been enforced in parts of England. Yorkshire Water brought in restrictions on using hosepipes for activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars and filling paddling pools, while South East Water also implemented hosepipe restrictions. NI Water did issue advice on Friday for businesses closing over the bank holiday weekend; the guidelines were aimed at reducing water waste during a time of increased demand.
Belfast Telegraph
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Many outside NI may not have a clue what they've just watched on GB News, but it was still great fun
Dodgy camera work akin to a Facebook live feed? Check. Dame Arlene Foster wearing orange? Check. Charlie Lawson as unfiltered as ever? Check. Presenters back in the studio who have little clue as to what's occurring? Check. And so the Grand GB News Orange Tour of Ulster continues: Armagh to Belfast to Carrickfergus and, this year, Coleraine.
Belfast Telegraph
04-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Value of Stormont Executive's office in Beijing questioned
The chair of the Assembly's scrutiny committee for the Executive Office suggested it cost around a quarter of a million pounds a year to run the office in Beijing. The Executive also has offices in Washington DC and Brussels. It has had a presence in Beijing since 2014, before then-first minister Arlene Foster opened an Executive bureau in December 2016. Executive Committee chair Paula Bradshaw said she had concerns around its value for money, after the committee heard from the three bureaux during a meeting last month. Executive Office official Brenda Henderson said she appreciated there is frustration around transparency and accounting for what they do. 'One of the things that I want to do is to get that coherency across all three bureaux and with the international relations team in Belfast to make sure that we have a clear narrative, that our communications plans can let you see, and let our ministers see, exactly who we're meeting, what is the outcome of that, what does it mean, the 'so what' question in terms of the Programme For Government,' she told MLAs. 'Work is already under way on that.' Ms Bradshaw followed up by asking at what point would they conclude it is not value for money, and that they could be doing other things with that money. Ms Henderson said there are different ways to measure value for money. 'One of the things that I know that the overseas offices do is that they build relationships, you have to build those relationships before you utilise them, but there are things about companies, investment, increased student places they bring,' she said. 'I think what we need to do is be more absolutely transparent about that and be clear about the metrics, what we can measure and that we stand in front of those.' Permanent Secretary David Malcolm said he can 'see behind the curtain', and knows what the Beijing office is doing, He expressed frustration it was not communicated. He said last month the vice minister for education in China visited Northern Ireland and signed an agreement with the Confucious Institute in Belfast and the Department for the Economy for a £34 million programme over the next 10 years. He also said in Beijing this St Patrick's Day, there were two community organisations led by Chris Hazzard, including young people who had never left Ireland before. 'There is significant work we're doing,' he said. 'We are also talking to the Chinese Consul about a mini conference here later on,' he said. 'The Chinese have agreed to fund three placements in Beijing through the Arts Council to give people the opportunity to break into the Chinese market. There is a tremendous amount we're doing.' He added: 'Not just in Beijing, in Washington, we punch miles above our weight in the representational role we get, and indeed in Brussels.'
The Herald Scotland
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Value of Stormont Executive's office in Beijing questioned
The Executive also has offices in Washington DC and Brussels. It has had a presence in Beijing since 2014, before then-first minister Arlene Foster opened an Executive bureau in December 2016. Executive Office chair Paula Bradshaw (Brian Lawless/PA) Executive Committee chair Paula Bradshaw said she had concerns around its value for money, after the committee heard from the three bureaux during a meeting last month. Executive Office official Brenda Henderson said she appreciated there is frustration around transparency and accounting for what they do. 'One of the things that I want to do is to get that coherency across all three bureaux and with the international relations team in Belfast to make sure that we have a clear narrative, that our communications plans can let you see, and let our ministers see, exactly who we're meeting, what is the outcome of that, what does it mean, the 'so what' question in terms of the Programme For Government,' she told MLAs. 'Work is already under way on that.' Ms Bradshaw followed up by asking at what point would they conclude it is not value for money, and that they could be doing other things with that money. Ms Henderson said there are different ways to measure value for money. 'One of the things that I know that the overseas offices do is that they build relationships, you have to build those relationships before you utilise them, but there are things about companies, investment, increased student places they bring,' she said. 'I think what we need to do is be more absolutely transparent about that and be clear about the metrics, what we can measure and that we stand in front of those.' Permanent Secretary David Malcolm said he can 'see behind the curtain', and knows what the Beijing office is doing, He expressed frustration it was not communicated. He said last month the vice minister for education in China visited Northern Ireland and signed an agreement with the Confucious Institute in Belfast and the Department for the Economy for a £34 million programme over the next 10 years. He also said in Beijing this St Patrick's Day, there were two community organisations led by Chris Hazzard, including young people who had never left Ireland before. 'There is significant work we're doing,' he said. 'We are also talking to the Chinese Consul about a mini conference here later on,' he said. 'The Chinese have agreed to fund three placements in Beijing through the Arts Council to give people the opportunity to break into the Chinese market. There is a tremendous amount we're doing.' He added: 'Not just in Beijing, in Washington, we punch miles above our weight in the representational role we get, and indeed in Brussels.'
