Other News In Brief

New Microsoft 365 Cloud Academy Training Places Announced

Twenty new high-quality training places has been announced by the Department for the Economy on the Microsoft 365 Cloud Academy.

Funded by the Dept, this Assured Skills programme will guarantee participants who successfully complete the Academy an interview with Microsoft for a career in a Support Engineering position with them. However, please note that completion of the Academy is not a guarantee of gaining employment.

Whilst experience is not required, applicants must have a university degree classification 2:2 in any discipline, or have a Level 5 qualification in an IT related subject.

Successful applicants will receive 12 weeks of industry-relevant pre-employment training with Belfast Metropolitan College, and can expect to gain industry recognised accreditation and skills in areas such as Microsoft 365 Fundamentals, Microsoft 365 Security Administration, Microsoft Security Operation Analyst and Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals.

Participants will receive £155 per week training allowance. Applications close at midnight on 20 May 2022.

Greens Appeal BBC Complaint To Ofgem

The Green Party NI has appealed to regulator Ofcom after the BBC has dismissed a complaint about its coverage of the 2022 Assembly election.

Green Party NI Leader Clare Bailey said: "Despite over 3,500 members of the public signing our recent petition and public support from other parties, the BBC has refused our request for the Green Party NI to receive fair coverage in this election campaign.

"In no other democracy would the main opposition party be excluded from election debates and other election coverage.

"I'm glad that the BBC has reversed its decision to only grant the Green Party NI one Party Election Broadcast slot, and that our PEB will now be broadcast for a second time on Monday 25 April. But we're disappointed that UTV has refused to do the same.

"Our broadcasters have a duty to remain impartial, especially during an election campaign. It's unacceptable for the main alternative to the broken five-party Executive system to be passed over for coverage in favour of controversy and sensationalism."

DUP Condemns Pro-Russian Graffiti At The Dark Hedges

DUP North Antrim Assembly Candidate Mervyn Storey has said that refugees are welcome in Ballymoney despite pro-Russian graffiti at the Dark Hedges.

Commenting, Mr Storey said: "This is a wanton act of vandalism at one of Northern Ireland's most iconic location. It is completely at odds with the warm welcome our local community provide to tourists from all over the world who come to see what the Dark Hedges and the North Coast have to offer.

"This week I was pleased to be able to welcome refugees from Ukraine into my own church community. It is despicable that they should have to encounter this type of behaviour glorifying Russia's oppressive campaign of terror in their homeland. Our support must be with the people of Ukraine.

"I will be working closely with local authorities and the PSNI to ensure this graffiti is removed immediately and those responsible held to account."