Weapon Recovered

The police have made arrests after they recovered a handgun and a pipe bomb during a planned search in west Belfast. The items were found on Wednesday night. A man and a woman, who are both aged in their 30s, were arrested.

Orde Wins Sunday World Case

It emerged yesterday that, two years after publication, Sir Hugh Orde is to receive substantial libel damages over false Sunday World allegations that he spent public money to fly his son to the United States. The former PSNI Chief Constable sued the Sunday World over an article it published in May 2007. The undisclosed settlement is believed to be one of the biggest of its kind ever reached in Northern Ireland. Lawyers for the paper's publishers also issued an apology to Sir Hugh at the High Court in Belfast after the Sunday World erroneously claimed that he used PSNI funds to take his son with him when he travelled to the US to attend St Patrick's Day functions in Washington.

Promote R&D, Says MLA

A DUP MLA has said that the newly published Independent Review of Economic Policy has underlined his previous calls to promote research and development (R&D) as well as innovation as the "cornerstones of economic development in Northern Ireland". Robin Newton, the East Belfast MLA, who is also a Stormont Junior Minister, said that if local businesses are to prosper in the global marketplaces of the future then they must ensure "innovation-led enterprise is the centrepiece of both our indigenous and inward investment sectors of the future". See: Invest NI 'Welcomes' Review Findings

Castlereagh Supports Sainsbury's

The Mayor of Castlereagh, Lawrence Walker, has welcomed plans for a new Sainsbury's supermarket in Dundonald. The deal will see a brand new 60,000 square foot store built at the disused Rolls Royce Factory on the Upper Newtownards Road. The store is subject to planning and it is proposed that it will form part of a mixed use development on the 16.9 acre site, which will include a hotel and business units. Mayor Walker said: "This announcement is a welcomed boost to the economy in Castlereagh, especially during the current economic climate. The proposed plans will not only help regenerate an area of unused land but it will also bring significant investment to the borough and help create a number of much needed jobs."

Gaol Tours Extended

Public tours of the (in)famous Crumlin Road Gaol are being extended for a further three months. The First Minister Peter Robinson said that it has exceeded its target over the last year and, due to the high levels of demand, the historic tour will continue to operate until mid December. "I welcome the extension of these tours. This year's success in attracting over 20,000 visitors is a welcome boost for this area of north Belfast and is testament to the unique and historic tourist facility we have at the heart of this community."

£8m Lurgan Works Due

Work will start shortly on the £8m Lurgan and Portadown public realm works, following the appointment of SIAC Construction Ltd. The public realm works in both towns, which has taken three years in the planning, and will transform the town centres, helping to re-establish them as modern contemporary market towns whilst retaining their unique original character. Pavements will be widened, civic spaces will be improved and side streets will be developed to encourage café culture.

(BMcC/KMcA)