The Newspaper Society has responded to the European parliament over plans for the Working Time directive for a maximum 48 hour working week, and opt-out clauses for certain industries.
It said that the flexibility allowed by the opt-out was essential for business and should be allowed – and that the reference period for working out the details should be annual rather than weekly.

Former Newcastle Journal journalist Yvonne Ridley, who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001, is to stand for the European parliament, representing the Respect the Unity Coalition, which was formed from the Stop the War movement.
The party aims to challenge the Government’s decision to go to war in Iraq, as well as tackling domestic issues.

Portadown Times journalist Niall Crozier is taking to the stage after penning his second one man show.
Niall will perform at the town hall for two nights, 18 months after he brought the house down in his comic debut at the same venue.

Brian Walsh, the Greenock Telegraph’s longest-serving employee, has retired after 43 years at the company.
He was computer systems manager and joined the paper in 1961 as a message boy in the despatch department.

A campaign in the Colchester Evening Gazette to raise awareness on bogus callers has won praise from the Association of Chief Police Officers.
The If in Doubt, Keep ’em Out initiative warned people not to let strangers into their homes.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]