01/08/2011 BBC Newsline

Good evening. Welcome to BBC Newsline. The SDLP's deputy leader

says the decision not to give him a ministerial post in the new

Executive was not a factor in his decision to challenge Margaret

Ritchie for the leadership. The MLA from Mid-Ulster says party members

are telling him there needs to be changed.

I listened very carefully to people at all levels within the party and

our support base. For that reason, I have made the decision and

stepped up to the plate. It is time for me to put my hat into the ring

and offer myself for legislation -- for leadership.

New legislation outlawing sectarian chants and drinking on the way to

rugby, Gaelic Athletic Association and football matches comes into

force today. The Justice Minister David Ford says the measures are

aimed at making sporting events family friendly.

Young people today learning about playing sport and a safe and

respectable way. Recently, violence caused by drink and a tax on

players from the terraces have emerged as problems. These are two

of the issues the new laws set out today to tackle. It means fines can

be applied to throwing something that could cause an injury,

invading the pitch or sectarian chanting. The Justice Minister says

the changes sure the Assembly is taking this seriously.

This legislation will back up the good work that has been done.

Stewards will have the force of the law as they seek to in -- enforce

good behaviour, and someone facing a fine for sectarian chanting

should learn that good behaviour makes it -- good behaviour is

expected. Pre-match drinking could also lead

to three months in jail, as could having flares or fireworks in

grounds. A major search is under way for a

yacht that left the Isle of Man last night and was expected to are

rife in our glass. The brother of the man on board has said he

expected him this morning and he told him he had difficulty with a

Three men allegedly involved in riots in the Ardoyne area of

Belfast of July 12th have appeared in court. The men, who face charges

of riotous behaviour, were refused bail after the judge said that

there had been widespread revulsion at the violence. The judge said he

could not take the risk of allowing either of the two men out on bail.

A third man was granted bail. He was charged with a riotous Assembly

and throwing a petrol bomb. At Tyrone GAA fan has drowned in

the River Liffey. The man had stayed on in the City

after seeing Tyrone when in Croke Park on Saturday afternoon. It is

understood he fell into the river in the city during the early hours

of yesterday morning. A post-mortem examination is being

carried out, but the guard that are not treating the death as

suspicious. -- the Gardai. A complaint has been raised about a

placard allegedly carried during the weekend's de protests. A man

carrying a placard saying Jesus had two dads and he turned out just

fine was declared unacceptable. BBC News services in Northern

Ireland have been disrupted due to strike action by the National Union

of journalists. The strike was called in protest over compulsory

peace redundancies. It is the second 24-hour strike in a

fortnight. fortnight.

Time for a look at the weather brought back there will be some

showers in the east border town. Otherwise a dry night. -- there

will be some showers in the east for a time.

Tomorrow, any mist will burn off early in the morning and then it

will be mainly dry and bright with some sunny intervals and like winds.