Sam McBride: Hints of reformist DUP wing could discomfit Arlene Foster but help her party

Your weekly news roundup from the Belfast News Letter

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News   What's On   Lifestyle              May 31, 2020           Top Stories A round up of the most popular news stories this week.           Sam McBride: Hints of reformist DUP wing could discomfit Arlene Foster but help her party           On Wednesday, I was being questioned in public by a DUP MLA when he said something unexpected.                 Creature comfort: pets are helping these Northern Ireland folk through lockdown   Whether it's a gorgeous greyhound or even a pygmy goat, our pets have provided us with companionship during the coronavirus.           PSNI say travelling to beaches and parks this weekend may be legal but may also be ill-judged   The authorities have been accused of leaving "scope for confusion" as the police continue to press the public not to visit beautyspots like parks and beaches, despite the easing of lockdown restrictions by politicians.           Ben Lowry: Older people face a greatly increased Covid risk, yet few of them want to be locked up so there is no easy way to protection   Over recent weeks the statistics on who suffers most from coronavirus have become more and more stark.           Ben Lowry: This spring season has been rich compensation for the cabin fever of lockdown   Eighteen months ago I lived in a south Belfast flat with no outside access. I loved that flat, but it would have been hard to self isolate there.           A must-read guide to keeping fit without being ripped off   Let's be honest, millions of us aren't using lockdown to get healthy and exercise, no matter how many times we're pretending to watch Joe Wicks (sorry Joe) in the morning.           In matters of risk, no man is an island   The former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption has made an impressive case criticising the government approach to the lockdown (in the Sunday Times, May 16, and on the BBC).           The season is rich compensation for the cabin fever of lockdown   Eighteen months ago I lived in a south Belfast flat with no outside access. I loved that flat, but it would have been hard to self isolate there.           NI council says it is not 'gung-ho' it becomes first to allow house viewings   The leader of the DUP grouping on Mid and East Antrim Council has insisted the council is not taking a "gung-ho" approach to ending the coronavirus lockdown.                 View more news

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Three additional COVID-19 related deaths in NI as 17 more people test positive

The number of people to die after testing positive for COVID-19 in Northern Ireland increased by three in the last 24 hours.

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News   What's On   Lifestyle              May 29, 2020           Good afternoon everyone These are very strange times for us all, and while the coronavirus lockdown may have eased slightly, it is still having a profound effect on all of our lives. The newspaper industry is no exception and lockdown has had a particular impact on our advertisers, and consequently the revenue that our business receives. As such, we are more reliant than ever on subscriptions. If you were to take out a digital subscription with the News Letter, you can read more than five articles, see fewer adverts,  and enjoy faster loading times. You can sign up now at https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions and pay just £1 a month for the first three months.  The economic impact of coronavirus was underlined on Friday when it was revealed that Belfast International Airport, which has seen its flight schedule decimated over the last few months, will be making 45 employees redundant out of a total workforce of 195.  The airport's managing director estimates that it could take several years before the number of flights returns to pre-coronavirus levels.  The weekend weather promises to be sunny and warm. I hope you can all enjoy it while following social distancing guidelines.  Alistair Bushe Editor, News Letter Twitter: @abushe7   If you receive this email as a subscriber thank you for supporting us. If you are a registered reader on our site you can further help us continue to produce quality journalism that matters. Digital subscription to the News Letter are available on www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions and pay just £1 for the first three months   Today's coronavirus update: The number of people to die after testing positive for COVID-19 in Northern Ireland increased by three in the last 24 hours One of the three deaths occurred in the last 24 period with the other two taking place outside that time frame but they were reported to health officials within the last day. The number of COVID-19 related deaths has shot up to 716 after the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) reported 47 new deaths for the week ending May 22, 2020 The report showed a disparity between the way in which NISRA and the Department of Health (DoH) record COVID-19 related deaths. DoH reported 504 COVID-19 related deaths up May 22 whilst NISRA reported 716 for the same period. A 101-year-old retired nurse has raised thousands of pounds for the NHS as she aims to walk 102 laps of her local park before she turns 102 Following in Captain Sir Thomas Moore's footsteps, the former auxiliary nurse and Second World War veteran aims to raise as much money as possible for the service she worked in for much of her life. Northern Ireland's R-number is climbing again after a period in which it had been plateauing and then falling – but it remains unclear whether that demonstrates an upsurge in the virus or simply reflects greater testing or other factors The number indicates how fast coronavirus is transmitting – an R number of one means that every person who gets the virus infects one other person, meaning that only a figure beneath one will mean that the spread of the virus is slowing. Tens of thousands of jobs could be lost if restrictions on hotels, pubs and restaurants aren't eased soon, Hospitality Ulster has said That stark warning came after the first and deputy first ministers announced a further easing of the coronavirus lockdown yesterday. A passenger on a bus was arrested for drugs offences and attempted grevious bodily harm with intent when he spat at PSNI officers telling them he had COVID-19 Police were responding to reports of two disruptive passengers when the man spat at them.           Three additional COVID-19 related deaths in NI as 17 more people test positive           The number of people to die after testing positive for COVID-19 in Northern Ireland increased by three in the last 24 hours.                 Coronavirus: NI contact tracing programme likely to run for two years   Contacting tracing to track coronavirus infections is likely to continue in Northern Ireland for the next two years, the First Minister has indicated.           NI Coronavirus death-toll rockets to 716 with NISRA reporting 47 new COVID-19 related deaths   The number of COVID-19 related deaths has shot up to 716 after the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) reported 47 new deaths for the week ending May 22, 2020.           Centenarian Joan (101) aims to finish 102 laps of park before next birthday   A 101-year-old retired nurse has raised thousands of pounds for the NHS as she aims to walk 102 laps of her local park before she turns 102.           After decline, Northern Ireland's R-number rises – but no alarm yet from politicians   Northern Ireland's R-number is climbing again after a period in which it had been plateauing and then falling – but it remains unclear whether that demonstrates an upsurge in the virus or simply reflects greater testing or other factors.           Hospitality Ulster warns Executive that tens of thousands of jobs at risk unless lockdown restrictions are lifted   Tens of thousands of jobs could be lost if restrictions on hotels, pubs and restaurants aren't eased soon, Hospitality Ulster has said.                 View more on Coronavirus

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