Other News In Brief

UUP Urges DUP To End Its Stormont Boycott

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has renewed their call for the DUP to end its Stormont boycott.

Speaking at an event in the Edward M Kennedy Institute in Boston to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement, Mike Nesbitt said: "It was not lost on anyone in the audience that American politicians are in no position to lecture others on how to get along. That said, there remains tremendous goodwill and a desire to see devolution working in Northern Ireland.

"There is also a clear appetite among the American business community to investigate the possibilities of investing in Northern Ireland. I applaud Steve Orr, the Chief Executive of Catalyst in Belfast, for doing such a great job selling Northern Ireland at the Conference.

"If the last 25 years have been about building peace, the next quarter century must deliver the peace dividend we promised back in 1998. We need a prosperity agenda, and the United States and Economic Envoy Joe Kennedy III have an important role to play. I was glad to be a proud unionist voice in the room, arguing for a stronger economy."

Royal Mail Announces Postal Price Increases

Royal Mail has announced a price increase for a number of postal services from Monday, 02 October.

From next week, a first class stamp will be increased by 15p, from £1.10 to £1.25. Second class stamps will remain at the same price of 75p.

Other price increases include first class large letter prices starting from £1.95, up from £1.60. And second class large letter prices starting from £1.55, a 40p increase from its current price of £1.15.

DUP Welcomes Major Investment Of Dundonald Ice Bowl

DUP East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson has welcomed the announcement of a major redevelopment of Dundonald International Ice Bowl.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council have agreed to invest £51million into the project, alongside £12million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The DUP MP said: "The original construction of the Ice Bowl was an example of far-sighted decision making and it delivered a leisure facility that still draws visitors from right across Northern Ireland. It was the first of its kind here and is still Northern Ireland’s only Olympic-sized ice rink.

"The Ice Bowl has nurtured many local figure skating champions, it is home to the Junior Belfast Giants and has hosted a number of international tenpin bowling championships. Alongside this however it can also boast of playing venue to both Bob Dylan and Van Morrison.

"After nearly 40 years however the Ice Bowl needs rejuvenation, and I am delighted that residents can now look forward to a new state of the art facility. I have worked closely with party colleagues on Lisburn & Castlereagh Council to champion this project and see it finally agreed. The Council’s investment of more than £50million by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council is boosted by more than £12million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. I was pleased to be involved in the process of helping secure that funding and it represents a significant commitment from our national Government.

"This will be a development that is warmly welcomed by people in East Belfast and beyond. A new facility will ensure that the Ice Bowl will remain at the heart of leisure provision within Dundonald and many more people will take to the ice in the years to come."