Other News In Brief

Views Sought On Draft Music Strategy For Belfast

People who play music, work in music, or simply love music are being invited to share their feedback on Belfast City Council's draft music strategy for the city, ‘Music Matters – a roadmap for Belfast'.

It's all about building on Belfast's UNESCO City of Music designation last November, and placing music at the heart of the city to make Belfast a better place to live, work and visit.

‘Music Matters' is the culmination of years of strategic engagement and aims to deliver on the ambitions laid out in Belfast's UNESCO City of Music commitments. It's also intended to help support the city's music sector recover post-Covid and embed music culture into the city's growth. The consultation is now live and everyone with an interest in music – including musicians, those working in music, local venues, audiences, music fans, wider stakeholders and visitors is invited to share their feedback.

Councillor Ryan Murphy, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee said: "Now that Belfast is recognised by UNESCO as a City of Music, it's crucial that we have a strategy that builds on this accolade and supports our musicians, our music infrastructure and maximises Belfast's vast music potential. Music is such a key part of our cultural identity and expression – it's also an intrinsic part of Belfast's post-Covid recovery which can help us achieve the sustainable, inclusive growth we're working to deliver through our community plan, The Belfast Agenda. So whether you work in the music industry, are a music enthusiast, or simply love listening to music, I encourage you to get involved in the ‘Music Matters' consultation – your views will shape how we support music's growth in Belfast."

To complete the consultation visit yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk

DUP Pre-Election Warning 'Proven Correct' – Middleton

Foyle MLA Gary Middleton has said that the DUP's pre-election warnings have been proven correct as Sinn Fein is now using its electoral position to demand a divisive border poll.

Gary Middleton said: "Last week Michelle O’Neill was in cahoots with the union wrecking SNP and this week Mary Lou McDonald is touring London studios and foreign media demanding a divisive border poll.

"Instead of recognising the Protocol is flawed and working to have it replaced, Sinn Fein is entirely focused on their divisive border poll plans and has abandoned any semblance of consensus politics.

"Without a hint of embarrassment on national television, Mary Lou McDonald is even claiming votes cast for non-unionist parties as supporting her border poll plan. Again, this is what we warned. Every first preference vote cast for any party other than the DUP was a vote to help Sinn Fein border poll propaganda.

"Faced with the uncomfortable fact there are more MLAs in the Assembly who designate as unionist rather than nationalist, Mary Lou McDonald was happy to claim all "non-unionist" MLAs as backing Sinn Fein. During the election campaign some of those same MLAs were completely dismissing the prospect of Sinn Fein using the election to launch such a campaign. Given that fact, it would be useful to hear whether those same non-unionists are comfortable being co-opted onto the border poll bandwagon."

Appeal For Information On Suspicious Object Found In Whitecross

Police have issued an appeal for information following a security alert in Whitecross, Co Armagh.

A suspicious object was reported on the Ballymoyer Road late on Monday night. Police and Army Technical Officers attended the scene, which was declared safe shortly after midnight.

The device was taken away for further examination.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact police.