Other NI News In Brief

UCF Wins PR Accolade

The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) has scooped a gold award for their Personal Everest Project at the recent CIPR PRide Awards. Joyce Savage, Head of Appeals & Marketing, UCF, (pictured with Noel and Lynne Hanna after receiving a CIPR PRide Award in the Not-for-Profit category), said: "It is a great honour to win this award. The Personal Everest Project is a unique fundraising initiative designed to help local people who have been affected by cancer. It was launched and promoted by our long-term supporters and intrepid Everest climbers Lynne and Noel Hanna from Dromara." The CIPR PRide Awards showcase the best public relations work being carried out across the UK regions, setting industry standards.

London Visit Success

The NIO Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has congratulated two innovative young people from Northern Ireland who were amongst the winners of a national competition on transforming communities. Belfast's Danielle Burns impressed the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State when she pitched her idea for employment 'speed dating' events, linking young people to local employers and job opportunities in their area at yesterday morning's Cabinet meeting. The 24-year old from Belfast is one of three winners in the Take Your Ideas To The Top competition, run by Cabinet Office and social networking site Bebo. Mark Robinson's, 17, from Fermanagh, idea for a community centre run by young people saw him secure one of the runners-up places. See: Belfast's Danielle Addresses UK Cabinet

PSNI To Be Quizzed Over Violence

Sinn Féin MLA John O' Dowd and Portadown Sinn Féin Councillor Brian McKeown are to meet senior PSNI officers in Portadown to discuss community concerns as to how the loyalist demonstration in Portadown was handled by the PSNI. Mr O'Dowd said the police need to act immediately to apprehend those responsible: "We want to meet the PSNI to ensure that last weekend's events and the policing mistakes are not repeated and that the PSNI do not allow mobs to take control of Portadown town centre." The meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

Boyonce Tops Birthday Poll

Beyonce has been voted the superstar the Northern Ireland public would most like to sing 'Happy Birthday' to them. That's according to a survey undertaken by Belfast's Odyssey Arena to celebrate the venue's 9th birthday. The poll showed that Beyonce - who has performed three times at the Arena this year - is NI's top choice of birthday entertainer, while heart throb Enrique Iglesias was ranked a close second on the wish list to serenade them.

Inquiry Into Knock Road

A public inquiry could be held into Roads Service plans to develop Belfast's Knock Road, the Stormont Transport Minister has said, noting that preliminary works relating to the A55 scheme are progressing well. Roads Service has already published an Environmental Statement, draft Direction Order and Notice of Intention to make a Vesting Order. Conor Murphy said: "The department may decide to hold a public inquiry to allow a decision to be made on implementation of the scheme." Roads Service has earmarked £3.4m for investment in the Castlereagh area this year.

SF Man Welcomes Funding

A west Belfast Assemblyman has welcomed news of an additional £6m which will be injected into the coffers of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Sinn Féin's Fra McCann said he hoped the money would be used to deal with the underfunding of the replacement schemes. "Sinn Féin have been lobbying the Housing Executive and the Social Development Minister to reinstate this vital budget as a matter of urgency," said Mr McCann. "I am happy now that the Housing Executive have found this additional money which will ensure many schemes which had been cancelled will now go ahead delivering much needed repair to peoples homes."

(BMcC/KMcA)