A fire bomb is believed to have ignited at a Belfast shop in the latest attack on the city’s commercial heart.

Business and community leaders have broadly welcomed the British Government’s economic pact which aims to rebalance the North's beleaguered economy and tackle sectarian division.

The Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams is calling for an all-party, cross-community response to the flag protests and sectarian rioting in the North.

The new Northern Ireland Secretary has promised to help build stability and peace in the North.

Towns in the North should have designated enterprise zones to develop independent retail in the 21st century, it has been announced.

Budget proposals to impose a levy on out-of-town shopping developments to boost small businesses in the North were welcomed today by Northern Ireland independent traders.

More than 1,800 properties were repossessed in the North in the last year, it was revealed today.

THE pressure on the retail sector will continue given the British government’s decision to retain its 15% VAT rate until the end of the year.

The rate of VAT in the North is set to fall from 17.5% to 15%, British Chancellor Alastair Darling confirmed in today’s Pre-Budget Report.

Up to 7,000 shop jobs could be lost if the growth in out-of-town centres isn’t halted, small retailers in the North warned today.

Industrial action by civil servants in Northern Ireland is to continue after intervention today by the North's Secretary of State Paul Murphy failed to resolve the long running dispute.