Ministers Welcome Appointment Of new US Consul General

First Minister Paul Givan and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill have welcomed the appointment of the new United States Consul General, Paul Narain.

Mr Narain, who replaces Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau as Consul General, and his deputy, Chris Rendo today visited Stormont Castle.

First Minister Paul Givan said: "It is a pleasure to welcome the new US Consul General to Northern Ireland. I look forward to working with Mr Narain and his team as we continue to grow our special friendship with the United States.

"Through our close working relationship with the Consulate General in Belfast, and our Bureau in Washington DC, we will continue to cultivate and strengthen our political, economic and cultural links with the US."

Killough Recycling Plant On Fire

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) remain at the scene of a fire at a recycling plant on the Downpatrick Road in Killough, County Down.

Nine appliances from various NIFRS depots are attending the scene, which began earlier this morning.

The public has been urged to avoid the area.

Power NI Support Work Of North Coast Environmental Group

North Coast World Earth has been awarded a Power NI Brighter Communities funding package to help with their environmental action and awareness activities.

Set up in March 2020, North Coast World Earth has over 2000 members across the Causeway Coast and Glens regional council area and regularly teams up with environmentally focused organisations such as the National Trust to organise clean-up and coastal improvement campaigns.

The group's Power NI grant is being used to assist with the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), rakes to enable volunteers to create sand art, and general signage required for projects and campaigns.

Gavin Wallace, a founder of the volunteer community group said: "Our end goal is simple. We want to ensure that the areas we live in are pollution free. We encourage individuals, communities and groups across the North Coast region to raise awareness about pollution as well as taking action with litter-pick events and clean-up projects. Our Causeway coastline is stunning and we want to keep and indeed enhance it for both residents and the many visitors to the region throughout the year.

"Through education we seek to make real change and leave a lasting impact on the local environment. North Coast World Earth is currently working in the primary and post primary sector, as well as with local groups, to deliver beneficial programmes on the environment and its wildlife which dovetail with the school curriculum.

"We are also at the forefront of sand art in Northern Ireland and are striving to develop this artistic medium whilst sharing our expertise with the community and the wider public."