Northern Ireland News for September 2003

Recruitment News, Sep 30, 2003
Quality Award For Glass Qualifications Authority Ltd
Following an assessment by an independent international body, Glass Qualifications Authority (GQA) has been awarded the new BS EN ISO 9001: 2000 Certification. This prestigious award for quality is s...
Business News, Sep 30, 2003
FMB Seeks Top Apprentices
Are your apprentices worth their weight in gold? Do they deserve special recognition? Do you run a building firm that prides itself on training new recruits? If so, then the Federation of Master Buil...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
10 held under anti-terror laws
It has been reported that 10 people have been arrested under anti-terrorism legislation this morning. The men, all thought to be of Algerian descent, were detained following police swoops on addresse...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
9/11 used as 'excuse' for government repression, claims UN report
The terrorist attacks against the US on 11 September 2001 have been used by many countries as an "excuse for a crackdown on religion", especially in Central Asia, according to a new United Nations rep...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
Royal Mail fined £7.5m for 'service failings'
The Royal Mail has been fined £7.5 million for "failings in its service to customers", the post watchdog has said today. The fine relates to two of Royal Mail’s services used by business customers: F...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
£50m boost for terminal cancer services
Services for long-term cancer patients have received a £50 million investment boost today following an announcement by Health Secretary John Reid. A national partnership group, made up of voluntary s...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2003
SF hit out at Policing Board intimidation figures
Sinn Fein have hit out a survey from the Policing Board which suggests that an increasing number of Catholics are refusing to join the PSNI because of intimidation from republicans. The Policing Boar...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2003
Schrader to create 200 new jobs in Co Antrim
A leading electronics company is set to open its second factory in Northern Ireland creating up to 200 new jobs. London-based, Schrader Electronics, which designs and manufactures the radio-frequency...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2003
General Consumer Council attacks gas price hike
The General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland has voiced its disapproval at plans by Phoenix Natural Gas to raise domestic and business prices for its customers. The gas firm announced on Tuesday...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2003
Youth dies in road accident in Co Armagh
The number of people who have died on Northern Ireland's roads has risen to 119 following a road traffic accident in Co Armagh. A 17-year-old youth died after the car he was in collided with another ...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
South African man charged with cannabis smuggling
A South African man has been charged today with smuggling around 15kgs of cannabis, worth an estimated £46,000, from South Africa to Belfast. Jacobus Frederick Engelbrecht, (24), was intercepted by C...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
'Next big step' in breast cancer treatment launched
Cancer Research UK scientists will today embark on the next big step towards preventing breast cancer with the launch of a major new trial called IBIS II. The 10-year study will test a new drug calle...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
Affordable homes plan for south east unveiled
Plans to build 1,600 affordable homes on surplus public land in south east and east England will include housing for at least 850 key workers, the government has announced. Two registered social land...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
Europe's largest air carrier created after merger
Air France and KLM are expected to conclude an agreement today that would lead to the creation of Europe’s leading airline group. The new group, to be called Air France-KLM, will be eased through vi...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2003
DUP attacks plans to 'phase out' RIR
DUP Councillor, Sammy Wilson has attacked an alleged leaked document which says that the home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment are to be scrapped. Mr Wilson claimed his party has seen G...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2003
Police come under petrol bomb attack
Police in Londonderry have escaped injury following a petrol bomb attack late last night. Officers came under attack in Butcher Street when a number of youths threw a pipe bomb at premises. No damage...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
Hard-hitting tobacco warnings come into force
Hard-hitting warnings about the dangers of smoking become compulsory on every cigarette packet today. The stark messages are designed to hammer home the truth about Britain's biggest cause of prematu...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
UK has sunniest September on record
The Met Office has reported that this September was the sunniest on record since the England and Wales sunshine series began in 1961. According to Met Office figures released today, this month there...
UK National News, Sep 30, 2003
Farmers' grants scheme gets revamp
Government grants to help farmers meet the cost of environmental protection controls on storing and spreading manure are to be revamped. Ministers have responded to European Commission requirements b...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2003
No licence, no fireworks, says Minister
Government Minister Jane Kennedy has called on members of the public interested in purchasing fireworks this Hallowe'en to purchase the necessary licence. A three-week radio advertising campaign whic...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2003
Kilkeel gets new £1m Jobs and Benefits Office
A £1 million Jobs & Benefits office has been officially opened in Kilkeel today. Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency, Chris Thompson said the new office would offer "a whole new service for...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2003
Peace II Action Team meets for first time
An 'Action Team' set up to work alongside the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) to look at ways of simplifying and developing the Body’s Peace II Programme has met for the first time. Reporting dir...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 30, 2003
Employers’ role in childcare support 'crucial' says Beggs
The crucial role employer's play in supporting childcare provision for the workforce should not be underestimated, former East Antrim UUP MLA Roy Beggs said today. He was speaking at the Employers fo...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2003
Brown hails economic success at party conference
In his speech to the Labour Party conference, the Chancellor has hailed the UK economy, and its "uninterrupted growth", as one of the government's major achievements during more than six years of offi...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2003
Warning issued as sunscreens 'fail' to offer UVA protection
New research published today has warned that sunseekers are still at serious risk from harmful UVA light even though they may have applied the correct dose of sunscreen. According to research by the ...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2003
Murders of Afghan aid workers condemned by UN
UN officials in Kabul have deplored the murder of two Afghan aid workers who died of gunshot wounds near Kandahar earlier this week. David Singh, a spokesman for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanis...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2003
Pensioners need help with finances, says Age Concern
Millions of pensioners live on less cash than they should because they pay too much tax or miss out on benefits, a leading charity has claimed. Age Concern issued its warning came on the launch of it...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2003
Global measures against organised crime come into force
The UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, the first legally binding treaty to fight crime on a worldwide scale in response to the growing globalisation of criminal gangs, entered into f...
UK National News, Sep 29, 2003
Welsh Water hears public concerns over price hikes
WaterVoice Wales today called for a public debate on the proposed water price increases to ensure Welsh customers "know exactly where their money is going". At a meeting with Dwr Cymru Welsh Water an...
Northern Ireland News, Sep 29, 2003
Catholic school targeted by arsonists
Six cars were burnt out in the grounds of a Catholic school in north Belfast today following an arson attack. The incident occurred at Our Lady of Mercy girls' school which is situated in the mainly ...