Northern Ireland News for December 2014

Business News, Dec 19, 2014
Belfast Named 'Fairtrade City'
The first in a series of road signs proclaiming Belfast's status as a Fairtrade City has been unveiled on one of the city's main arterial routes. The sign was unveiled by the Lord Mayor, Councillor N...
Recruitment News, Dec 19, 2014
London Bus Drivers Back Strike Action Over 'Unfair' Pay Disparities
London's bus drivers have backed industrial action in a dispute over 'unfair' pay disparities between the capital’s 18 bus operators, their union Unite has announced. The vote in favour, averaging 85...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2014
Man Injured In Belfast Shooting
A man has been injured in a shooting in west Belfast. The incident happened shortly after 9pm on Thursday (18 December). It is understood three men walked into a fast food outlet in the Falls Road...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2014
Tesco Security Alert 'Elaborate Hoax'
A security alert which closed a Tesco supermarket in south Belfast has been declared an "elaborate hoax" by police. The store, located on the Newtownbreda Road had to be evacuated at around 2pm on T...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2014
£1.8m Winning Lotto Jackpot Claimed
A lottery ticket – with a jackpot of £1.8m – has been claimed. Camelot, who operates The National Lottery, confirmed that the owner of the winning ticket had come forward to claim their prize. The...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2014
Calls To Reform NI's Education System
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said improving the education system is crucial to Northern Ireland's future. In a statement, it has said the region's political leaders need to grasp ...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2014
NI Water Supply Interruption 'Inevitable'
Union representatives have said interruptions to supplies, as well as slower responses to problems regarding NI's water network over the Christmas period will be "inevitable". The announcement comes...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2014
Other News In Brief
Man Rescued From Pit In Co Down A man has been rescued after he became trapped in a pit in Hillsborough, Co Down. The incident happened this morning (19 December) at around 8.30am. Seven a...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2014
Ban On Woman In Close Combat Could Be Lifted
A ban on a woman serving in close combat could be lifted by 2016 following an Army review that concluded it would "not have an adverse effect on troop cohesion". The Ministry of Defence review found ...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2014
Fugitive Arrested Entering Britain In Light Aircraft
One of the UK's most wanted men, 32-year-old Paul John Scott, has been arrested attempting to return to Britain in a light aircraft. A suspected member of a drug-smuggling gang, Mr Scott is understoo...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2014
Five-Hour Stand-Off Ends Peacefully
A five-hour stand-off has ended with the arrest of a 43-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder. Armed police were called to a flat in Alexandra Road in Blackpool at about 15:20 following repor...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2014
Police Appeal For Witnesses To Fatal Stabbing
Essex Police have appealed for witnesses to a fatal stabbing in a Chelmsford park at about 15:15 on Thursday afternoon. It is understood that a man died in hospital after being fatally injured in an ...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2014
Investigation Underway Into Substation Explosion
An investigation has been launched into an explosion at an electricity substation in Leicestershire. Fire crews were called to reports of an explosion at the plant on Middlefield Lane in Hinckley at ...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2014
Other News In Brief
Amateur Fossil Hunter Makes 'Once In A Lifetime' Find The 7ft skeleton of a carnivorous marine reptile has been uncovered on a beach in south Wales. Amateur fossil hunter Jonathan Bow is sa...
Business News, Dec 18, 2014
Minister Launches Integrated Development Framework
Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey has launched the newly completed Integrated Development Framework for the urban area of the Castlereagh Borough. The framework document sets out a coherent f...
Recruitment News, Dec 18, 2014
Rolls-Royce Under Fire Over Job Losses
Rolls-Royce's business case to cut 2,600 jobs has come under fire from union Unite as the company released further details on where it would be cutting jobs in its aerospace division. The announceme...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2014
Queen's Research In UK's 'Top 20'
Queen's University Belfast has been ranked among the top 20 UK university's for its research quality and impact. It follows a UK-wide research assessment of higher education institutions. In addit...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2014
Man, 31, Critical Following Assault
A 31-year-old man is said to be in a critical condition in hospital after he was assaulted in Portrush. At around 1.50am this morning (Thursday 18 December), an altercation occurred close to a takea...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2014
Cross-Party Talks To Resume
Cross-party talks are due to resume at Stormont today, it is understood. On Wednesday, Northern Ireland's main political parties held discussions until almost 10pm. However, not much progress is t...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2014
Govt To Announce Local Council Funding For 2015-16
The government is due to announce later today council funding grants for 2015-16. Councils have previously been warned that they will be facing average cuts of 1.8%, with the Local Government Associa...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2014
NCA Launch Rotherham Abuse Investigation
An investigation has been launched into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, where more than 1,400 children were abused between 1997 and 2013. The National Crime Agency (NCA) have launched the inv...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2014
32ft Crater Appears In Garden Of Family Home
A 32ft wide and 16ft deep crater has appeared in the garden of a house in Berkshire. The hole began to appear on 05 December in the garden of a family home in Upper Basildon, near Reading, and has co...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2014
Two Charged Over Terrorism Offences
Two more men have been charged with terrorism offences in relation to dissident republican activity, police have said. A 41-year-old man was charged with attending and receiving explosives training,...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2014
Women Diagnosed With Cancer Following Recall Of Patients
Six out of 30 women recalled following concerns about breast cancer screenings have been diagnosed with the disease. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust recalled the women after a review of 626 cas...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2014
81-Year-Old Murder Accused Skips Bail
Cumbria Police have appealed for help in tracing 81-year-old John Parry, who is currently on bail while facing a charge of murdering his wife. Mr Parry was charged with murder after the body of his w...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2014
Other News In Brief
Victorian Urinal Given Grade II Listed Status English Heritage has granted listed status to a rare Victorian public urinal on Whiteladies Road in Clifton. Built by Glasgow-based W.MacFarlan...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2014
Social Fund Payments 'Help Thousands'
Thousands of people in need in Northern Ireland last year received help in the form of Social Fund payments, it has been revealed. The Social Fund Annual Report showed that during 2013/14, some £140...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2014
Other News In Brief
U2 Film New Music Video In Belfast U2 are reportedly filming their new music video in Belfast. It is understood to be the third day production has taken place. Reports suggest that scenes ...
Recruitment News, Dec 17, 2014
Nelipak Healthcare Packaging To Expand Workforce
Nelipak Healthcare Packaging is to expand its workforce at its Irish operation. The announcement, which follows steady growth at the Galway operation, sees an increase of 10 employees to the perman...
Business News, Dec 17, 2014
ISDM Secures New Business
Belfast-based technology services firm ISDM has secured valuable new business with support from Invest Northern Ireland. ISDM Solutions provides communication solutions, such as video conferencing an...