:00:00. > :00:07.Here on BBC One, it's time for the news where you are.
:00:08. > :00:11.The DUP and Ulster Unionist Party are both fielding a candidate
:00:12. > :00:13.in East Belfast in the Westminster election next month.
:00:14. > :00:21.Two years ago they had an electoral pact which secured the seat
:00:22. > :00:23.for the DUP's Gavin Robinson at the expense of Naomi Long
:00:24. > :00:28.While the main unionist parties have agreed deals
:00:29. > :00:32.for some other areas, there is no such
:00:33. > :00:35.Our political editor Mark Devenport has more.
:00:36. > :00:37.With the deadline for putting your name forward just days away
:00:38. > :00:39.the final line-up for next month's Westminster election
:00:40. > :00:43.There have been talk of a deal between the DUP
:00:44. > :00:47.and the Ulster Unionists in East and South Belfast, but no
:00:48. > :00:52.However, both parties say they won't split
:00:53. > :00:58.the unionist vote in Fermanagh, South Tyrone or in North Belfast.
:00:59. > :01:03.Time was very short in relation to conversations that we were having
:01:04. > :01:08.We do very much welcome the fact that unilaterally
:01:09. > :01:12.the Ulster Unionists are not running in North Belfast, and of course
:01:13. > :01:15.despite the fact that we are by far the largest unionist party
:01:16. > :01:17.in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, we have stepped aside
:01:18. > :01:21.to assist Tom Elliott, so whilst there was no formal pact,
:01:22. > :01:30.those two very significant moves I think will help assist
:01:31. > :01:33.the unionist people to send two unionist MPs back.
:01:34. > :01:41.Both seats where the unionists have made the moves.
:01:42. > :01:44.We are now facing into this snap election and as I said
:01:45. > :01:48.when it was called we are committed to maximising the number
:01:49. > :01:54.of anti-Brexit candidates that will be returned.
:01:55. > :02:04.I am calling today on the SDLP to stand aside in the seats
:02:05. > :02:06.of Fermanagh and South Tyrone and North Belfast for
:02:07. > :02:09.of two MPs that will be anti-Brexit anti-Tory cuts,
:02:10. > :02:13.pro-equality, pro-rights and pro-unity.
:02:14. > :02:16.We are the best vote to fight Brexit in Westminster.
:02:17. > :02:18.We are present, hard-working, and not interested in standing aside
:02:19. > :02:21.for a political party that wouldn't even take their seats
:02:22. > :02:32.to vote against Brexit, to vote against Tory cuts,
:02:33. > :02:35.or any of that and they just want more seats for no
:02:36. > :02:38.For its part, the Alliance rejected doing deals.
:02:39. > :02:43.We don't want to see sectarian headcounts,
:02:44. > :02:46.however they are termed, coming down to sectarian headcounts.
:02:47. > :02:52.What we want to do is provide them with a choice in the election.
:02:53. > :02:54.Despite talk of unionist pacts and anti-Brexit pacts it looks
:02:55. > :02:57.like this Westminster election is going to be largely
:02:58. > :03:08.From early this morning firefighters have been battling a gorse fire
:03:09. > :03:12.on a large protected moorland near Fivemiletown in County Tyrone.
:03:13. > :03:16.There have been about 500 gorse fires in the past week.
:03:17. > :03:23.At first glance, it may seem like a mist on a large moor.
:03:24. > :03:29.Another look, it's a gorse fire and it is spreading quickly.
:03:30. > :03:35.It is a key habitat for birds of prey.
:03:36. > :03:38.It is getting into forestry, covering a substantial
:03:39. > :03:42.area, and going on now for nearly two days.
:03:43. > :03:45.It is very dangerous terrain for firefighters
:03:46. > :03:50.Another gorse fire, this one in Newry.
:03:51. > :03:58.My neighbour calls over and said come on out, come on out quick,
:03:59. > :04:07.Embers were going up in the air and coming down around us.
:04:08. > :04:24.It is almost three days since this gorse fire was set deliberately
:04:25. > :04:29.and you can still smell smoke in the air.
:04:30. > :04:31.See how close this house came to being set alight?
:04:32. > :04:35.500 reported gorse fires in one week compared to 59 this time last year.
:04:36. > :04:38.90% of these fires have been started deliberately,
:04:39. > :04:40.Fire and Rescue Service saying it is a drain on resources
:04:41. > :04:46.and it is keeping them back from covering other emergencies.
:04:47. > :04:49.300 jobs are being created in Belfast by the publishing
:04:50. > :04:53.It's opened a finance centre to serve its global operations.
:04:54. > :05:04.Our economics and business editor John Campbell has the details.
:05:05. > :05:06.Here at Pearson, people believe in learning.
:05:07. > :05:08.It is the world's biggest education publisher,
:05:09. > :05:13.selling services to online and university students.
:05:14. > :05:15.The business is now simpler and cutting costs,
:05:16. > :05:22.restructuring into Belfast, and part of that.
:05:23. > :05:24.This project is central to the transmission of finance
:05:25. > :05:31.What we are trying to do, have standard services and provide
:05:32. > :05:36.those services back to different Pearson entities around the globe.
:05:37. > :05:40.Most recent investments here have come from smaller technology firms.
:05:41. > :05:44.Pearson is on a different scale with around 35,000
:05:45. > :05:54.It is about diversification, yes, we have attracted a lot
:05:55. > :05:56.of early-stage high-growth start-up companies, but we are always
:05:57. > :06:02.The company has been recruiting here for almost a year
:06:03. > :06:08.It hopes to get 300 over the next three years with the help of around
:06:09. > :06:14.?2 million in grants and training support.
:06:15. > :06:17.There have been concerns about how Brexit will impact on the flow
:06:18. > :06:21.of foreign investments to Northern Ireland.
:06:22. > :06:24.Thus far the effects look to be minimal, and Invest NI has been
:06:25. > :06:26.pleased to land a big name like Pearson.
:06:27. > :06:29.But negotiations have only just begun and it is the shape
:06:30. > :06:31.of the final deal which will shape investment for the next
:06:32. > :06:51.Today have arrested two men under offences on the terrorism act. They
:06:52. > :06:52.were from Algeria and Morocco and detained in the Dublin area.
:06:53. > :06:55.Practice in the North West 200 road racing festival
:06:56. > :07:04.The biggest names in bikes have rolled into town. The unique sights
:07:05. > :07:09.and sounds of the North West 200. The best motorcycle road racers in
:07:10. > :07:14.the world are gearing up for the first international meeting of the
:07:15. > :07:17.season. And it is two riders from Carrickfergus who could be the men
:07:18. > :07:23.setting the pace this week. Everyone can be competitive. My plan will be
:07:24. > :07:30.to get that old girl off the language is quite hard sometimes and
:07:31. > :07:37.to go from Labuan -- off the line. My adrenaline is already running. I
:07:38. > :07:40.can feel it running down my hands. It is a norm is for me. I love
:07:41. > :07:46.coming here because it is a seaside resort. I came here as a boy,
:07:47. > :07:49.growing up, Portrush and Portstewart. The queues in the
:07:50. > :07:54.traffic and cars, ice cream everywhere and everyone is smiling.
:07:55. > :08:00.Nice to have the weather. Practice gets underway tomorrow for Thursday
:08:01. > :08:05.and Saturday. Roads are closing from 9:15am and 3pm. You can catch all
:08:06. > :08:06.the action live on the BBC Sport website and BBC Radio Ulster from
:08:07. > :08:08.10am. Football, and Friday's Europa League
:08:09. > :08:10.play-off decider will be between There were goals galore in both
:08:11. > :08:15.of tonight's semi-finals. Glenavon came from behind twice
:08:16. > :08:17.to overcome Cliftonville 5-3. While Ballymena were 5-2 winners
:08:18. > :08:25.over Dungannon Swifts. Joe McKinney had the pick
:08:26. > :08:30.of the goals in that game. Meanwhile in the Airtricity Premier
:08:31. > :08:32.Division, Derry City drew Now the weather forecast
:08:33. > :08:51.with Cecilia Daly. There are another few days of rain
:08:52. > :08:56.during the worst of the working week is a possibility of showers late on
:08:57. > :09:02.Friday. Next weekend looks like it'll be unsettled. Finally clearing
:09:03. > :09:40.tonight. Despite the indie high teens of temperatures today, it
:09:41. > :09:50.might tomorrow temperatures at age 18 or 19 Celsius mark from parts of
:09:51. > :09:54.the West. If you are having to file moral if it's off on Wednesday and
:09:55. > :10:00.it looks like a fine start some forms of sunshine. Clouded by the
:10:01. > :10:02.end of the week, the literal Friday. That is it, good.