Halloween Is Coming On!

Halloween will really sparkle next weekend with hundreds of children across the city expected to take part in lantern parades, workshops and other fun events in local parks. Children will be leading the way in the Falls Park, Waterworks and Blythefield in the run up to the spooky celebrations. Attractions include a Tee Pee of Horror in Falls Park, a lantern parade, enchanted evening, musical entertainment, and fireworks display in Waterworks and sports, arts and BMX events in Blythefield. All the events are part of festivals organised by local community groups and supported by Belfast City Council staff. These include west Belfast's Draiocht Children's Art Festival, Newlodge Arts, supported by the North Belfast Community Pride Steering Group through the First Ministers' Office at Stormont.

Dougal Gets UTV Tribute

Veteran broadcaster Jim Dougal is to be honoured by UTV with the broadcasting of his special programme, Paisley: From Protest to Power. Originally aired in 2007, on the day Ian Paisley took the office of First Minister, the 55-minute special received critical acclaim. Jim Dougal, 65, died on October 15 following a long career with UTV, the BBC and RTÉ and he also served as head of the European Commission for the UK, but returned to UTV in 2007 to cover the Assembly elections and the restoration of the devolved institutions at Stormont.

Generating Business

A Co Tyrone firm, Autogen Manufacturing Ltd has secured orders in the Middle East worth £5 million following support from Invest Northern Ireland. The Coalisland based company designs and manufactures a range of diesel powered generator systems for use in both the public and private sector. It targets niche markets with specialist solutions for specific customer requirements as well as offering a range of generators to the general public. Invest NI offered over £28,000 towards Autogen's investment worth over £95,000, aimed to regulate the quality of company products and processes, and increase sales in Middle East markets. Autogen has appointed a Quality Assurance Manager to implement process control standards across the organisation and strengthen the management team. As a result of its investment and marketing activity, Autogen has secured three major orders to supply companies based in Dubai, Qatar and Sudan with bespoke generator systems.

R&D With USA

The extension of a research and development partnership with the UK, US and Ireland has been announced. The announcement followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding among the three governments that will allow scientists from the respective jurisdictions to collaborate on new areas of research. In addition, $7million in new funding has been earmarked for research and development in the study of cystic fibrosis. Speaking following the event, First Minister Peter Robinson said: "This ongoing commitment to research collaboration with the US administration is a strong reflection of the close relationship between leading academics and the strategic importance of our ongoing relationship with the United States."

CSeries Wings Into Belfast

The first phase of construction of the 600,000 sq. ft. (55,742 m2) facility in Belfast that will house the manufacture and assembly of the advanced composite wings for the all-new CSeries commercial aircraft has been completed on schedule. Bombardier's Belfast operation is responsible for the design, manufacture and integration of the advanced composite wings for the CSeries aircraft, including all flight control surfaces and highlift systems. The first phase of the new building incorporates a production area, a low contamination 'clean room' area and an area for tool storage. The main equipment, including a fabric cutter, multipleaxis machine cell, pre-formers and autoclave, is currently being installed and commissioned in preparation for production of the CSeries aircraft wings, which is due to begin in 2011. The facility, which is part of a £520m investment by Bombardier in its Northern Ireland operation, is being built to meet high environmental standards.

Justice In Focus

The Stormont Justice Minister David Ford has launched a consultation on a Code of Practice for Victims of Crime. Developed and agreed by organisations within the criminal justice system, the code of practice sets out how victims of crime can expect to be treated when they enter the justice system. Care that falls below that standard can be reported to the Assembly Ombudsman. He launched the initiative at this week's Annual Conference of Victim Support Northern Ireland being held in Belfast.

(BMcC/GK)