Other NI News In Brief

Northern Rewards

NI's business community has crowned Northern Bank 'Corporate Banking Team of the Year' during the recent Insider Dealmakers Awards, highlighting the Bank's significant support to businesses last year. Speaking after the announcement Kevin Kingston, Northern Bank General Manager for Corporate and Markets said: "The fact that this award is voted for by the business community recognises that it has remained committed to supporting new and existing customers. Mr Kingston, is pictured, (centre) with Ivan McMinn, Head of Corporate Acquisition and Robert Garrett, Head of Corporate Banking, (right).

Blitz Recalled

Just 70 years ago tonight, well over 9,000 people died in what was one of two deadly German bomb raids on Belfast - now know as the Belfast Blitz. Taken with the fatalities from the other bomb raid, the death toll in just two nights - around 1,000 - was almost one third of those killed during the decades of the Troubles. See: Memorial Proposal Recalls Blitz Anniversary

High Flying Controversy

The scenic Mountains of Mourne are the location for a row over noise from low-level training flights by RAF fighter jets across south Down. Although not based in Northern Ireland, the fast jets have been carrying out training manoeuvres over the mountains in recent weeks and BBC NI has reported that local residents have complained that the planes are flying too low over residential areas. Cadogan Enright, Green Party candidate for South Down, said that more cultural sensitivity needed to be shown, but DUP representative Jim Wells said in counterpoint: "I have had no complaints from people who are supportive of the Army," he said. If it helps save the lives of aircrew and prevent injury and loss of planes, then I think it's a very good thing."

Ulster Course 'All Accounted For'

Business education at the University of Ulster's Magee campus is poised for a new era with confirmation that Ireland's largest accountancy body has given official recognition to an innovative degree course. It is the first time that an accounting course at Magee has been endorsed by Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI), which is the profession's longest established body here. This means that successful students on the full-time BSc Accounting and Managerial Finance programme will emerge from their three-year course with an officially recognised qualification and a head start in their professional career.

Director Faces Disqualification

A company director from Holywood has agreed to disqualification. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has accepted a disqualification undertaking for nine years from Barry Dobbin (65) of Torgrange in respect of his conduct as a director of Timber Frame Homes Limited. The Department had previously accepted a disqualification undertaking for four years from another director on 12 October 2010 in respect of her conduct as a director of the same Company. The Company carried on business as a manufacturer of timber frame housing kits for residential housing from Seagahan Road, Collone, Armagh. It went into liquidation on 11 November 2008 with estimated assets of £288,930, liabilities to preferential creditors of £9,989, liabilities of £262,570 to floating charge holders, liabilities of £421,897 to non-preferential creditors and an estimated deficiency as regards creditors of £405,526.

Starboy Nathan 'Belfast Bound'

British R&B singer, Starboy Nathan, is to celebrate the release of his new single, 'Diamonds', with three in-store appearances at hmv stores starting at hmv's Donegall Arcade store in Belfast on Monday 18th April. Nathan will be at the store from 4.30 pm, to meet fans and sign copies of the new single which is released the same day through Vibes Corner Music. 'Diamonds' is taken from Starboy Nathan's highly anticipated second studio album,'3-D, Determination, Dedication, Desire' which is set for release later this year. Having just finished touring with the huge boybands JLS and The Wanted, Nathan is currently on the road with N-Dubz.

(BMcC/GK)