Northern Ireland News for March 2004 : Page 3

UK National News, Mar 26, 2004
'Delight' at rescue of British cavers
The government has spoken of its "delight" at the rescue of six British cavers who became trapped in a flooded underground system in Mexico. The six men, five of whom are believed to belong to the B...
UK National News, Mar 26, 2004
UN resolution condemning Yassin killing vetoed by US
A UN Security Council resolution condemning the assassination of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin has failed to be ratified after the US vetoed what it called a "one-sided text". The resolution, spo...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 26, 2004
Minister steps into Gas hike row
Enterprise Minister Ian Pearson has expressed deep concern over proposed gas price increases in Northern Ireland. The Minister's statement follows last week's announcement by Phoenix Gas to raise its...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 26, 2004
Man released in murder investigation
Police have released a man being questioned over a fatal shooting in Co Down on Wednesday. It follows the death of 47-year-old builder, Andrew Cully, who died following a shooting incident in the loy...
UK National News, Mar 26, 2004
Maxine Carr in court over benefit fraud charges
Maxine Carr, the former girlfriend of Soham murderer Ian Huntley, has appeared before Peterborough magistrates court today charged with benefit fraud and lying on job applications. Carr is accused o...
UK National News, Mar 26, 2004
CWU rejects increased BT pay offer
Following a recent meeting between negotiators from BT and the Communications Workers Union (CWU), which began with the union’s outright rejection of a tabled 1.5% pay offer, the union have today reje...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 26, 2004
PSNI performance figures released
Newly released PSNI performance figures have revealed that although the detection rate for violent crime has increased, it is still well below the target set by the Northern Ireland Policing Board. T...
UK National News, Mar 26, 2004
BMA announces support for UK smoking ban
The BMA has called on the government to follow the Republic of Ireland's lead and ban smoking in enclosed public places. Last month, the Irish government announced that it would ban smoking in the ...
UK National News, Mar 26, 2004
Deprived communities benefit from £192m funding package
A funding package worth £192 million has been unveiled today which is designed to reverse decades of decline in communities affected by low housing demand and abandonment. Deputy Prime Minister John...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 26, 2004
Suspect package declared a hoax
A suspect device found in north Belfast on Friday has been declared a hoax. The package was discovered at a telephone control box on Glenview Street. Army bomb experts were immediately called in and...
UK National News, Mar 26, 2004
US sends more Marines into Afghanistan
The US military has announced that it is to bulk up its presence in Afghanistan by sending thousands of Marines into the country. Some 2,200 Marines and sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit ...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 26, 2004
DVLNI drive to cut vehicle licence fraud
In a drive to cut vehicle licencing fraud in Northern Ireland, the DVLNI are reminding motorists that they now need to produce proof of identification when registering their vehicle. Since January 1 ...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 26, 2004
Small businesses must grab EU enlargement benefits
Small businesses in Northern Ireland need to grasp the opportunities that will be brought about by the enlargement of the European Union on May 1. This was the message from Enterprise Minister Ian Pe...
UK National News, Mar 26, 2004
OFT urges consumers to shop around for savings
Consumers are being urged to use their spending power – and shop around, not just in terms of price but also after-sales service, delivery terms, and any extras that might be offered by retailers. A...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 26, 2004
Award winning roadshow plays to North Down teenagers
Hundreds of teenagers from the North Down area are to be served up a hard-hitting road safety message through an award-winning roadshow devised by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Supported by...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 26, 2004
Government praised for Irish and Ulster-Scots role
The Government has been praised by a EU report for its efforts in supporting the Irish and Ulster-Scots languages. The Council of Europe’s first report, which assesses how the UK Government is comply...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 26, 2004
Liverpool - Dublin ferry route to benefit Belfast
NorseMerchant Ferries is to reintroduce its passenger service linking Liverpool (Birkenhead) and Dublin from March 29. The announcement, made by the company on Friday, means passengers can also avail...
UK National News, Mar 26, 2004
Boots reports growth in quarterly sales
Boots The Chemists has reported that quarterly sales have grown an estimated 4.6% in total, in the seventh consecutive quarter of "good growth". However, the company said that the business needed a p...
UK National News, Mar 26, 2004
National Skills Day for media industries announced
Skillset have joined with Broadcast to organise the first National Skills Day for the media industries, to be held on Wednesday May 18 2005. Billed as “a major new event to raise awareness of the im...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 26, 2004
University unveils new strategic research institutes
Plans have been unveiled for a network of new strategic research institutes at the University of Ulster aimed at powering "the development of a knowledge economy in Northern Ireland". Speaking to the...
Recruitment News, Mar 26, 2004
Job Scene sees recruitment 'rush'
Employers and training providers have rushed to secure their stand at Job Scene Northern Ireland according to the show's organisers. The event, run in association with the Department for Employment a...
UK National News, Mar 25, 2004
Blair meets Gaddafi for Tripoli talks
Prime Minister Tony Blair has met with the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli today to offer the "hand of partnership" to the renegade state. Today's visit, the first by a British Prime Minist...
UK National News, Mar 25, 2004
40 arrested in swoops on immigrant gangmasters
Forty people have been arrested throughout the country as part of an operation to crack down on the exploitation of illegal immigrants in the UK. Officers from 'Operation Absent', a multi-agency inve...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 25, 2004
Man shot dead in Newtownards
A father of two has died following a shooting incident in Co Down on Wednesday. He has been named as Andrew Cully from North Street in Greyabbey. The incident occurred in the loyalist West Winds est...
Business News, Mar 25, 2004
Fishing fleet must be cut by extra 13%: report
Creating a competitive and profitable UK fleet will require the removal of at least 13% of the whitefish fleet beyond the 2003 decommissioning scheme, according to a report by the Prime Minister's Str...
Business News, Mar 25, 2004
Postal dispute talks breakdown after five hours
Talks last night between both sides in the ongoing postal dispute in Dublin broke down last night without agreement being reached. Brokered by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) the talks lasted f...
Business News, Mar 25, 2004
Shell signs deal to re-enter Libya
Shell has signed a strategic deal with Libya's state-owned oil company to re-enter the Libyian oil exploration market. The landmark agreement between Shell and the National Oil Corporation of Libya c...
UK National News, Mar 25, 2004
Average council tax rises by almost 6%
The average council tax for a Band D property will increase by 5.9% this coming year, it has been announced today. Two adults occupying a Band D property will pay an average of £1,167 in 2004/5, comp...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 25, 2004
Assets Recovery Agency targets drug dealing property
Northern Ireland's Assets Recovery Agency has taken its first step in seizing a property in Co Londonderry which it believes is being used for drug dealing. The Agency has successfully applied to the...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 25, 2004
Rural Post Offices get funding boost
Some of Northern Ireland's most deprived rural areas received a boost today on the launch of a £750,000 fund to support Post Office branches. The Government said it hoped the Fund would help sub post...