Appeal Following Armed Robbery In L'Derry

Police are appealing for information following a robbery at a filling station on the Creggan Road in L'Derry on Wednesday, 1 October.

The incident occurred at approximately 7.50pm when a man forced his way into the premises and threatened a staff member to hand over cash before making off with a sum of money. The member of staff was left unharmed but shaken by the ordeal.

The suspect is described as being around 5 feet 6 inches tall and was wearing a black puffa jacket, black trousers, black shoes, and a balaclava.

Detectives from Strand Road station are investigating the crime and have asked for any witnesses or anyone who may have captured relevant footage in the area to come forward.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting reference 1379 01/10/25. Alternatively, details can be submitted anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111 or online.

Call For Apology After DUP MLA's Slur On BBC's Question Time

Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA has demanded an immediate apology from DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley following his appearance on BBC Question Time, during which he used a "homophobic slur" on national television.

The Upper Bann MLA, Mr Tennyson, called the use of the offensive language "embarrassing" and a "car-crash performance."

He strongly criticised the DUP politician, stating that this type of "nasty, divisive and hateful rhetoric" is expected from the party and is "increasingly out of touch and out of date." Mr Tennyson argued that such actions "demean respectful public debate" and do not represent the majority of people in Northern Ireland, who he described as "decent, fair and inclusive."

Boost For NI Business Innovation With New Plan

A new Collaborative Innovation Plan has been unveiled to strengthen business innovation across Northern Ireland.

The plan is a joint creation between Innovate UK, the Department for the Economy (DfE), and Invest Northern Ireland.

The core ambition is to boost productivity, raise Research and Development (R&D) levels, decarbonise industry, and leverage Northern Ireland's unique geopolitical location for economic benefit.

The plan will focus on the seven strategically important priority sectors previously identified by DfE—areas like precision medicine, advanced manufacturing, and cyber security—where the region already holds significant strength.

Innovate UK has already invested £164 million in innovation projects across Northern Ireland over the past six years, with DfE providing an additional £6.5 million in local funding for over 100 projects.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald highlighted the region's strong position with "world-class universities, thriving innovation centres, and dual-market access to both Britain and the EU."

The three shared objectives of the plan are to:

1. Enhance collaboration among partners to simplify access to support.

2. Strengthen connectivity locally, across the UK, and internationally to increase funding and investment.

3. Collectively support strategic priorities to deliver better jobs, raise productivity, and reduce carbon emissions.