World Focus On Tobacco

To mark World No Tobacco Day, the Ulster Cancer Foundation held a major conference to outline the charity's vision for a tobacco free Northern Ireland. Pictured at the conference are Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention, Ulster Cancer Foundation, Professor Renee Bittoun, Director of Smoking Cessation, University of Sydney and Luk Joossens, Advocacy Co-ordinator, European Cancer Leagues, Brussels.

Cruise Ship 'Sunk'

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has detained the Italian-flagged ship Vistamar after an inspection at Belfast docks on Wednesday found faults including broken or missing fire doors. Passengers had to remain on board the German-owned vessel until works were carried out to bring it up to standard. The 290-capacity ship was also held for safety reasons in London in 2006.

Cash Goes South

Two men have been arrested in the Irish Republic on suspicion of handling cash stolen in a burglary in Co Antrim. The money is believed to have been taken from a business in Ballycastle earlier this week. The men were arrested in Dublin on Tuesday evening in a cross border police operation.

More Cops Injured

The number of PSNI officers being hurt on duty has increased over the last three years. The Chairman of the Assembly Justice Committee Lord Morrow received the figures in a written answer from Justice Minister David Ford. A total of 2,912 officers were assaulted in 2007/08, rising to 2940 in 2008/09 and increasing agin to 3289 for 2009/10. However, most of the attacks on police officers resulted in minor injuries.

Academic Accolade

A University of Ulster lecturer and prominent Irish language advocate has been appointed a Chief Examiner with one of the UK's leading qualification awarding bodies. Niall Comer is the new Chief Examiner and Principal Moderator for Asset Languages (Irish) at Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations Awarding Body (OCR). It provides a wide range of qualifications to meet the needs of learners of all ages and abilities. More than 10,000 schools and colleges actively deliver its qualifications, which include A Levels, GCSEs, GNVQs and NVQs. Mr Comer has extensive experience as a teacher and examiner and is a member of the top-rating Irish and Celtic Studies Research Institute at the Coleraine campus.

Northstone Jobs In Doubt

Midsummer's Day bears few attractions for staff in a major construction sector firm. Workers will be informed on June 21 as to whether or not they will lose their jobs at Northstone which is thought to be planning to lay off up to 30 workers. The decline in workload in the construction industry had forced it to consider cutting some jobs from its Farrans division's buildings, homes, and healthcare businesses, as well as all administration and insurance personnel within its Dunmurry complex. The firm, which is ultimately owned by Irish construction giant CRH, has entered into a 30-day consultation with employees.

Swim For Free!

Belfast City Council is throwing open the doors of its leisure centres for free to mark the European Day of Sport on Sunday, 6 June. It will be the finale of three days of sporting activities aimed particularly at encouraging new participants. Similar events will be happening in four other European countries, Spain, Cyprus, Italy and Hungary after Belfast forged a new European partnership to improve the health of its citizens. More than 50 sports clubs and community groups have signed up to take part in activities on the day with financial support from the council. Chairman of the Parks and Leisure Committee, Councillor Peter O'Reilly said: "We are offering free entry to all council leisure centres on the day and are encouraging local sports clubs and other groups to get involved by offering them grants to arrange sporting events in their own areas."

(BMcC/GK)