Fortwilliam Attack

PSNI officers are appealing for information following a robbery at a house in north Belfast's Fortwilliam Demesne on the evening of October 10th. Three masked men, one armed with a gun, entered the property and made off with cash on Monday evening and a man living in the house was tied up during the incident. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact them on 0845 600 8000. Alternatively, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Missing Kayak Man Sought

There's a full-scale coastguard operation underway in a search for a missing 37-year-old man on Carlingford Lough. Mark McGowan, a kayaker from Carlingford in County Louth, was last seen on Sunday evening. The Irish coastguard are taking his disappearance "very seriously".

Antrim Bomb Condemned

The Alliance Antrim Councillor Neil Kelly has expressed his disgust at those who left a pipe bomb on a windowsill on a house the Parkhall area of Antrim. "I am disgusted at those people responsible for this pipe bomb. This device could have severely injured or killed any person walking past this house. These incidents must stop before a life is lost. The whole community in Antrim is opposed to the actions of those people behind these devices," he said, adding that anybody has any information about this pipe bomb then they "must contact the police". It was discovered at the house at Seacash Drive at about 8am on Wednesday when a number of people were moved from neighbouring homes due to the alert. The device has since been removed and Parkhall Road has now been reopened. A loyalist group called the BBC to say it carried out the attack, believed to be on a Polish family's home.

O'Neill Meets NIIRTA

The NI Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill has met with a delegation from the NI Independent Retailers Association (NIIRTA) led by their Chief Executive Glyn Roberts and President Paul Stewart. Speaking after the meeting, Minister O'Neill said: "The ever-increasing global demand for food is providing economic opportunities for our quality food producers and it is vital that sustainable supply chains continue to be developed on both the local and international stages. Continual dialogue between the various parts of the food chain is essential to ensure that farmers receive a fair price. All need to work together and retailers need to work with the industry to ensure its future sustainability by taking account of increased input costs faced by producers," she said. The Minister also addressed the issue of the need for a Grocery Code Adjudicator. "The appointment of an Adjudicator should benefit everyone in the food chain and in particular help ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their produce," she commented.

International Links

Students from across Northern Ireland will travel to Belfast next week for a prestigious two-day exhibition and fair celebrating links with Europe and further afield. 'Opportunity Europe and Beyond' is organised by Belfast City Council and the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland and, in its eighth year, brings thousands of students to the city to find out more about working, studying, travelling and volunteering abroad. It will take place on Tuesday (18 October) and Wednesday (19 October) at St George's Market and students can take part in a vibrant programme which includes music, dance, visual arts, quizzes, workshops, exhibition stands, discussions as well as the chance to sample cuisines from Europe and beyond. Highlights include Cool FM's Pete Snodden hosting a quiz to test students knowledge on all things European with an opportunity to win prizes; the Onatti Theatre Company performing an interactive French play; language taster sessions in German, Irish, Polish, Italian and Portuguese; learning to salsa dance as well as the chance to take part in the Chinese Dragon dance. Alderman Christopher Stalford, Chairman of Belfast City Council's Development Committee, said: "The council recognises the importance of competing on a European stage and equipping our young people with the right skills to avail of the opportunities that exist in Europe and further afield."

(BMcC/CD)