Sculpture RISEs

Work will be completed within the next few weeks on the biggest public artwork ever commissioned in Northern Ireland. Once completed, RISE will tower 37.5 metres – or 123 feet - above the city's Broadway roundabout. Construction of the sculpture - by the Nottingham artist Wolfgang Buttress – is expected to be completed in the latter half of this month. RISE is made up of two globes, one inside the other, cast in silver and white steel, symbolizing the rising of the sun and new hope for Belfast's future. When finished, RISE will appear to rest on a bed of reeds - a reference to the natural heritage of the neighbouring Bog Meadows. There will be lights at the end of each 'reed' reflecting on the two globes.

Three Arrested After Crash

The PSNI have said that three males have been arrested following a road traffic collision in Londonderry. The crash involving one vehicle - occurred on the Culmore Road at 2.30am on Wednesday morning and the police confirmed that the three males, aged 16, 18 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of burglary, taking and driving away and driving whilst unfit. Two of the males were treated at hospital for injuries which are not thought to be life threatening. It is believed the keys for the vehicle may have been taken from a house in the Danesfort Crescent area earlier in a creeper style burglary.

E-.coli Scare

Sinn Fein MEP Bairbre de Brun has called for urgent action by the European Commission following the recent deadly outbreak of E. coli food poisoning in Germany, which has resulted in over a dozen deaths to date. She said, "I have quizzed the Commission along with other MEPs urging them to identify the source(s) and extent of the contamination, and to give us information on what they have done to date, and are further planning to do. Combating a life-threatening outbreak such as we have seen in northern Germany in recent days needs all agencies to be working at full speed. We need close monitoring of this situation, to put at rest the minds of consumers across the EU," she said, noting that

the European Commission said that cucumbers from Spain had been confirmed as one of the sources responsible for the outbreak in Germany, but the Spanish authorities have strongly denied that the outbreak has anything to do with the country of origin. Contamination within Germany after import has not been ruled out.

Careers Vital

The Employment and Learning Minister (DEL) and the Education Minister have highlighted the progress on the 'Preparing for Success' careers strategy to training and educational leaders. A conference, 'Education and Career Decisions – Routes to Employment and Social Engagement', was held at Greenmount College in Antrim and was jointly opened by Dr Stephen Farry, DEL Minister and John O'Dowd, Minister of Education. Speaking at the event, Minister Farry said: "There are many routes into a successful career path. The strategy aims to address the careers guidance needs of individuals of all ages and develop effective career decision makers." Also commenting, Minister O'Dowd said: "The world of work is changing fast; jobs for life are increasingly rare; sectors bloom and fade in an increasingly globalised world; fast changing technology transforms lives. So all of us in the education sector need to ensure that our young people can attain the skills, knowledge and aptitudes to be ready to grasp the opportunities in the world of work, explore new opportunities and hopefully, even create their own opportunities."

(BMcC/KMcA)