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As we switch gears into Christmas mode (early, I know, but I’m convinced I was an elf in another life), one can’t help but wonder what Europe’s Christmas markets will look like this year… and especially whether or not they’ll be cancelled.
As an avid Christmas market fangirl, I’ve been doing a lot of research on this topic. I’ve already assembled a list of Christmas markets in Germany that have been cancelled, but I figured a broader one for more of Europe’s most famous Christmas markets would be helpful, so here it is!
For the purpose of this article, I’m mainly discussing the countries in central Europe best known for their Christmas markets (e.g. Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria).
I have also included cancellations across the UK as that info is readily available, whereas details on most other countries are not yet confirmed. I hope you find this all helpful!
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Christmas Market Cancellations in Austria
Those hoping to visit Austria’s scenic Christmas markets this year are in luck – the majority of the big ones appear to be moving forward.
At the moment, planning is already underway for the popular Christmas markets in Vienna, where new safety measures are in the works, including testing stations in popular spots like the City Hall.
Nonetheless, some smaller markets have announced cancellations already, well in advance of the Advent Season. Here are the Christmas markets in Austria that have been cancelled so far:
- Feldkirch Christmas Market: While the city’s main Christmas market is still scheduled to take place, the Blosengelmarkt in Felkirch has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Frankenmarkt Christmas Market: The Adventmarkt in Frankenmarkt has officially been cancelled for 2020, according to the city’s main event page here.
- Gosau Christmas Market: The Gosauer Berg-Weihnacht has officially been cancelled for 2020 according to the main event page here.
- Johannesbachklamm Advent: Advent in der Johannesbachklamm has officially been cancelled for 2020, according to the event page here.
- Obernberg Christmas Market: The Kathrein- und Weihnachtsmarkt at Burg Obernberg has officially been cancelled for 2020 according to the official tourism page here.
- Timelkam Christmas Market: The Weihnachtsmarkt Timelkam has officially been cancelled according to the official event page here.
I will update this section as I learn more about Christmas market cancellations in Austria, but this page is a good resource for up-to-date cancellations for all events in Austria, organized by region.
Christmas Market Cancellations in Czechia
Czechia is becoming an increasingly popular Christmas market destination in Europe, thanks in large part to its tourist magnet capital of Prague.
And for eager visitors, the news seems pretty positive. So far, it seems like the Christmas markets in Prague will be going ahead. They’ve even announced the annual competition for their main Xmas market Christmas tree, so at the very least we know there will be festive decorations across the city.
Brno, another city known for Christmas markets in Czechia, has also begun the process of auctioning off stalls to different vendors (here’s a funny article about that), so we can infer that plans are underway there as well.
I will update this section as I learn more about Christmas market cancellations in Czechia.
Christmas Market Cancellations in England
While Christmas markets are usually a popular staple of the winter season across England, many organizers have already cancelled their winter events for 2020.
Optimistically, it seems like many organizers are cancelling their usual events in favour of alternative programs that allow for appropriate distancing, but the exact details of these are not yet known.
But, if you’re curious, here are the Christmas market cancellations in England we know of so far:
- Birmingham Christmas Market: The annual Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham has officially been cancelled for 2020 despite earlier predictions that it would still be able to go on.
- Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland: The popular Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland event has been cancelled for 2020 and will be instead replaced with an alternative 7 week program that complies with current hygiene and safety standards.
- Bristol Christmas Market: The popular Christmas market in Bristol has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Harrogate Christmas Market: The annual Christmas market in Harrogate has been officially cancelled for 2020, however they are looking into the possibility of hosting a market in the Spring to make up for it.
- London’s Winter Wonderland: The Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, one of London’s most popular winter events, has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Leeds Christmas Market: The German Christmas market in Leeds has officially been cancelled for 2020, however the city is looking into alternative Christmas programs for the city center.
- Richmond Christmas Market: The Christmas market in Richmond has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Rochester Christmas Market: The Christmas market in Rochester has officially been cancelled for 2020, as has the Dickensian Christmas Festival.
- Stratford Christmas Market: The Victorian Christmas market in Stratford has officially been cancelled for 2020.
Christmas Market Cancellations in France
France is home to several world-famous Christmas markets and events. Christmas in Paris for example is a popular choice for many visitors from overseas, however with rising cases and uncertainty, concrete plans on what Christmas will look like across Paris (and France in general) are not yet known.
Christmas markets in the Alsace region are especially popular for visitors from around the world, however official word on the fate of these markets (which include big names like Strasbourg Christmas Market and Colmar Christmas market) is unknown as well.
As of early September, it was announced by the mayor of Strasbourg that the goal was to still hold the city’s Christmas market this year, but with a wary undertone of “anything can change quickly”.
Nonetheless, there are a few Christmas markets in France that have already been cancelled. Here are the ones that have been confirmed so far:
- Arras Christmas Market: The Christmas market in Arras has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Château d’Havré Christmas Market: The marché de Noël du château d’Havré has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Lauwin-Planque Christmas Market: The marché de Noël de Lauwin-Planque is officially cancelled for 2020.
- Provins Medieval Christmas Market: The medieval market that takes place at Place du Châtel is officially cancelled for 2020.
- Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire: The Christmas market in Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Waimes Christmas Market: The Christmas market in Waimes has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Wiwersheim Christmas Market: According to the official event page here, the Christmas market celebrations in Wiwersheim have officially been cancelled for 2020.
Christmas Market Cancellations in Germany
While the situation seemingly changes day by day in Germany, the overall plan right now for most major cities is to proceed with Christmas markets this year, albeit with significant modifications to the market plans/programming to accommodate new hygiene requirements and social distancing. The main exception to this is Cologne’s Christmas markets, where two of the major markets of the city center have already been cancelled.
In Munich for example, while the airport’s annual Christmas market is cancelled, they say that the city’s main Christmas markets will continue this year with modifications, and the story sounds similar for other well-known markets like Düsseldorf and Frankfurt.
For smaller Christmas markets in Germany however, many organizers have decided to cut their losses early. Again, you can access a more thorough list of cancellations here, organized by state, but here they are at a glance…
- Auerbach: The town’s Bergwerksweihnacht celebration has officially been cancelled for 2020
- Christkindlmarkt auf der Fraueninsel: Officially cancelled for 2020
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen: The town’s annual White Night 2020 has been officially cancelled, and some sources report that the Christmas market will also be cancelled this year
- Lindau Christmas Market: Both the Hafenweihnacht und Jahrmarkt in Lindau have been officially cancelled for 2020.
- Miltenberg Christmas Market: Officially cancelled for 2020, and will be replaced by a new festive concept known as “Miltenberger Weihnachtszeit” (Miltenberg Christmas Time) which includes a program of festive performances rather than a traditional market
- Munich Airport Christmas Market: The Christmas market at Munich airport has been officially cancelled for 2020
- Rothenbuch Christmas Market: Officially cancelled for 2020
- Tegernseer Adventszauber: This lakeside Christmas event which includes 3 markets along the lake was officially cancelled earlier in August, but they are currently examining other smaller festive alternatives.
- Tischenreuth Christmas Market: The Kunsthandwerklichen Weihnachtsmarkt has been officially cancelled for 2020
NORTH RHINE WESTPHALIA:
- Cologne Christmas Market: The famous Christmas market in front of Cologne Cathedral has been cancelled, along with Christmas markets in the Old Town. In spite of these cancellations, city officials have said that they will still try to keep the Christmas spirit alive with festive decorations. There are also other Christmas markets in the city that have not yet been cancelled.
- Düsseldorf Christmas Market: While sources claim that Christmas markets in Düsseldorf are likely going ahead this year, the markets will look a lot different due to adjusted safety and hygiene regulations. It is said that there will be no market stalls on Flinger Str, and the Engelchenmarkt will be cancelled.
- Essen Christmas Market: Some smaller markets in Essen such as the Borbeck Christmas Market and Haarzopf have been cancelled, however the main market in the city center is said to still be in the works.
- Hohenlimburg Castle Christmas Market: The Weihnachtsmarkt am Schloss Hohenlimburg was already cancelled back in April 2020
- Hamm Christmas Market: The Christmas market in Rhynern has already been cancelled for 2020, as has the Tünner Weihnachtsmarkt and theWeihnachtsmarkt in Uentrop.
- Präst Christmas Market: The Praester Weihnachtsmarkt has officially been cancelled fo 2020.
- Calw Christmas Market: The Calw Christmas Market has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Donaueschingen Christmas Market: The Donaueschinger Weihnachtsmarkt has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Eberbacher Christmas Market: Eberbacher Weihnachtsmarkt has officially been cancelled for 2020
- Heudorf Christmas Market: The Heudorfer Christkindlmarkt has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Königsfeld Christmas Market: The Königsfelder Weihnachtsmarkt has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Lörrach Christmas Market: The Lörracher Weihnachtsmarkt has officially been cancelled for 2020, however they are planning a smaller alternative Christmas program for the year.
- Meßkirch Christmas Market: The Schlossweihnacht in Meßkirch has been officially cancelled for 2020.
- Rheinfelden Christmas Market: The Christmas market in Rheinfelden has been officially cancelled for 2020.
- Schloss Salem Christmas Market: The Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Salem has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Schönwald Christmas Market: The Schönwalder Weihnachtsmarkt (which bills itself as the highest Christmas market in Germany) has been officially cancelled for 2020.
- Schwetzingen Christmas Market: The Kurfürstliche Weihnachtsmarkt Schwetzingen has officially been cancelled for 2020, although organizers are looking into alternative concepts for festivities.
- Neuenburg am Rhein Christmas Market: The traditional market at Neuenburg am Rhein has been cancelled for 2020, according to the official event page here.
- Pullendorf Advent Magic: The Adventszauber in Pfullendorf (including both the Christmas market and the popular ‘Angel’s Descent’) has been officially cancelled for 2020.
- Triberg Christmas Magic: The Triberger Weihnachtszauber specacle at the famous waterfalls have officially been cancelled for 2020
- Überlinger Christmas Market: The Christmas market in Überlinger has officially been cancelled for 2020, however they are hoping to still have an ice skating rink this year.
- Winnenden Christmas Market: The Winnender Weihnachtsmarkt has officially been cancelled for 2020 however an alternative Christmas village program is being planned with some stalls and events.
- Vogtsbauernhof Christmas Market: The Weihnachtsmarkt im Schwarzwälder Freilichtmuseum Vogtsbauernhof in Gutach has officially been cancelled for 2020, however they are curently planning a digital alternative where you can view exhibitors online
- Brühl Christmas Market: The Brühl Christmas market is officially cancelled for 2020.
- Burgschwalbach Christmas Market: Officially cancelled for 2020 according to this announcement from the mayor
- Dudeldorf Christmas Market: Officially cancelled for 2020 according to the official tourism page
- Johanniskreuz Christmas Market: the Romantische Waldweihnacht in Johanniskreuz has officially been cancelled for 2020, however a Christmas tree sale/food stalls is slated to take its place, pending approvals and hygiene regulations.
- Koblenz Christmas Market: The Koblenzer SchängelMarkt appears to be cancelled for 2020 according to the official tourism page, but many sources including Koblenz Tourism say that planning is underway for other markets, with the castle looking like a strong contender for hosting a market of some kind.
- Rhens Christmas Market: Officially cancelled for 2020 according to the official tourism page
- Liebenberg Christmas Market: The popular Weihnachtsmarkt auf dem Schloss und Gut Liebenberg has officially been cancelled for 2020
- Neuzelle Christmas Market: The traditional Weihnachtsmarkt in Neuzelle has been cancelled for 2020
- Zehdenicker Laternenzauber: The Zehdenicker Laternenzauber has been cancelled for 2020
- Biebertal Christmas Market: The Biebertal Christmas market has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Frankfurt Christmas Market: While Frankfurt seems intent on hosting some form of Christmas markets this year, the Christmas market at the Stadtwaldhaus has already been cancelled.
- Lohfelden Christmas Market: The Lohfeldener Weihnachtsmarkt has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Schwalm Christmas Market: The Schwalm Christmas Market has officially been cancelled for 2020 according to its website here.
- Witzenhausen Christmas Market: The Christmas Market in Witzenhausen has officially been cancelled for 2020, however they are planning an alternative Christmas program to take its place.
- Altentreptow Christmas Market: The “Treptower Wihnacht” has officially been cancelled for 2020, however discussions are still taking place regarding other Christmas markets in Altentreptow.
- Parchim Martinimarkt: The Martinimarkt in Parchim has officially been cancelled for 2020. NOTE: This is not an official Christmas market, but rather a winter festival at the beginning of November quite similar in nature.
Christmas Market Cancellations in Scotland
Christmas markets and festivals have become an integral part of the Scottish winter calendar, but one thing’s for sure: the events that do go on will look substantially different this year.
And while official cancellations for Christmas markets and festivals in Scotland are still quite limited, many areas have opted to cancel official switch-on events for Christmas lights this year, including Ayr, Paisley, Inverness, Bridgend and Felixstowe, however most of them will still have the lights, just without the usual switch-on ceremony.
Controversially, the Edinburgh Christmas Market is scheduled to go on this winter.
Here is what we know so far about Christmas markets and festivals that have been cancelled in Scotland:
- Aberdeen Christmas Village: The popular Christmas village in Aberdeen has officially been cancelled for 2020.
- Perth Winter Festival: The Winter Festival in Perth has officially been cancelled for 2020, along with the switching on of lights event.
Christmas Market Cancellations in Switzerland
Switzerland is home to some truly breathtaking Christmas markets (or Swissmas markets, as I like to call them) and so far, it seems most of the major markets are planning to still go on in some capacity, with revised hygiene concepts and programs to reduce crowding.
The mayor of Basel for example has insisted that the famous Basel Christmas Market will take place this year in some form. Plans are also underway for the Christmas markets in Zurich, as well as the lights-on ceremony for ‘Lucy’, Zurich’s beloved Christmas lights.
In Montreux, they have already presented a revised hygiene concept for the beautiful Montreux Christmas Market, and the nearby Bô Noël celebrations in Lausanne are also already planning ways they can host the event with revised safety measures. Overall, it seems like the event organizers in these regions are very opposed to cancelling the Christmas markets completely so (depending on how cases progress of course), we can likely expect them to take place in some way.
Nonetheless, some Swiss Christmas markets have announced that they will not be happening in 2020. Here are the Christmas market cancellations in Switzerland that we know of so far:
- Lucerne Christmas Market: While not all markets in Lucerne have been cancelled, the iconic Lozärner Wiehnachtsmärt in the city center (Franziskanerplatz) has been officially cancelled for 2020.
- Willisau Christmas Market: The Christkindli Märit in Willisau has officially been cancelled for 2020, with no plans for a “light” or alternative version in place.
- Zofingen Christmas Market: The Weihnachtsmarkt der Sinne in Zofingen has officially been cancelled for 2020, also with no plans to organize a ‘light’ version with reduced activities.
Christmas Market Cancellations in Wales
While many Christmas events in Wales have already been cancelled, the fate of the country’s major Christmas market in Cardiff is still to be decided.
For now, here is what we know about Christmas market/festival cancellations in Wales for 2020:
- Aberglasney Gardens Winter Fair and Carol Service: The Winter Fair and Carol Service at Aberglasney Gardens has officially been cancelled for 2020
- Blaenavon Christmas Market: The Christmas market in Blaenavon has officially been cancelled for 2020.
I will update this list as I learn more about Christmas market cancellations in Wales, but this page is also a great resource that is getting updated frequently.
Other Major Christmas Markets in Europe: Which are/might be cancelled?
Since Europe covers a ton of countries, there are still plenty of Christmas markets that I haven’t mentioned above.
Unfortunately, the fate of Xmas markets in many other countries is still a huge question mark, but here is what I’ve been able to dig up on some other major Christmas events. Let me know in the comments if you have additional helpful info that I should add!
The Christmas markets in Brussels, Belgium have already set the dates for their 2020 Plaisirs d’Hiver event, (from Nov 27, 2020 to January 3, 2021). However no announcements or updates have been made yet about whether the event will be impacted this year.
Many Christmas markets in the Netherlands have already been cancelled for 2020. This page (in Dutch) is a really excellent resource, so be sure to check it out for an up-to-date list on what Christmas markets have been cancelled in the Netherlands.
The Christmas markets in Budapest, Hungary have been voted one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe for multiple years, and while no official dates have been set for 2020’s markets, the prospects of international visitors coming in are quite bleak, given that they just re-closed the borders in early September due to surging cases in the country.
The Christmas markets in Tallinn, Estonia have also earned international acclaim over the past few years, but as of mid-September, their official pages still list only the market’s 2019 dates. I will update you as I learn more.
Do you have more European Christmas market cancellations I should add to this list?
Let me know in the comments below if I’m missing a Christmas market cancellation that you know of! Pooling all this information from scattered sources has been a huge challenge, and I did try my best but this info changes day by day so I can always use a hand in updating the list! Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you found this helpful.
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Fergus Ewing MSP, the newly-appointed Tourism Secretary, revealed he was not going to be shaking hands – as he opened a Scottish Food and Drinks Showcase in Glasgow.
He also admitted the last few days have been “challenging” and likened the tsunami of Coronavirus and the demise of Flybe as feeling like the “Darkest hour just before the dawn”.
But he was also quick to reassure delegates and exhibitors at the Scottish Tourism Alliance Signature Conference and Scotland Food & Drink’s Showcasing Scotland West event that everyone in the Scottish government was focussed on working through it.”
He told Hotel Scotland editor Susan Young, “Life throw us challenges and this feels like one of these times.”
On the subject of Flybe, he said, “We are working hard to find alternative operators for the routes. Logan Air has already stepped in and Eastern Airways is also helping out. We certainly need to find a solution we need people to be able to travel to the Scotland regions – it is essential.”
He also sympathised with the plight of the staff, saying, “Three hundred staff are now unemployed and they will not be eligible for Universal Credit for five weeks. That is something that needs to be addressed and we are working hard with the support of PACE – the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment – to work through it.”
He was in Glasgow for the launch of a new £220,000 fund to help promote food and drink tourism businesses. The funding, which will be managed by The Scottish Tourism Alliance, will be used to develop a website with resources and information to help businesses encourage more tourists to enjoy Scottish food and drink. It will also support industry-led work to unlock the growth potential of the sector.
Said Ewing, “This funding will give food and drink businesses throughout the country access to online tools and resources to enable them to market their produce to visitors. It will also build on the great work already underway and allow more of our hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions to showcase Scotland’s world-renowned food and drink.”
He continued, “Tourism is the most important sector of the Scottish economy and food and drink is at the heart of hospitality.”
Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance Marc Crothall said, “We are absolutely delighted that the Scottish Government recognises the value of Scotland’s tourism and food and drink sectors all working together to deliver the £1billion growth ambition outlined in Scotland’s Food Tourism Action Plan.
“Our ambition is bold and we have a strong shared vision which will drive us forward to deliver our aims. This funding announcement offers a huge boost to both sectors and is one I welcome warmly.”

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- How to Install YouTube on FireStick / Fire TV
- YouTube app now on Fire TV; Amazon Prime Video arrives on Google Chromecast
How to Install YouTube on FireStick / Fire TV
Amazon and Google have been duking it out for the past few months, and it doesn’t look like the two companies will come to an agreement anytime soon. Earlier this month, Google announced plans to pull its YouTube app from Amazon’s Fire TV streaming devices, along with the Echo.can and how can
Months after Amazon and Google ended their fight over streaming video, the official YouTube app is once again available on Fire TV devices. This includes playback for 4K HDR video at 60 frames per second, not to mention expanded Alexa integration -- you don't have to mention YouTube by name if you're already inside the app. More Fire TV devices will receive the YouTube app in the "coming months," so don't be disheartened if yours doesn't support the service right away. Combined with support for Prime Video on Android TV and Chromecast more on that in a separate story , this is welcome news for fans of connected living rooms. You no longer have to jump through hoops to use Google's video service on Amazon devices, or vice versa. In other words, you can stick to a single device ecosystem without having to jump through hoops to enjoy the shows you like. Buyer's Guide.
It will bring thousands of Live TV Channels for movies, sports, shows, etc…. It unblocks geo-restricted contents and allow you to watch YouTube TV smoothly. Grab the deal now. Here I am going to share that trick by which you can install YouTube TV for firestick in a couple of minutes. The quality provided by the YouTube TV is extremely well and it thoroughly supports p, p, and p video quality. It means you have the freedom to choose the video quality according to your device display resolution.
The app was removed in late after Amazon removed Google's smart home products from its online store. During YouTube's absence, Fire TV users could still watch the video platform through the built-in web browser, but the workaround wasn't full-featured and lacked Alexa integration. With an official app, you can use Alexa to launch the app, control playback, and search YouTube for specific topics or videos. Here's why Samsung's Note 10 Plus is such a boring upgrade. It's official: Apple will announce the iPhone 11 on Sept. Apple launches independent iPhone repair program.
YouTube app now on Fire TV; Amazon Prime Video arrives on Google Chromecast
Amazon's Fire TV is one of the most well-rounded TV platforms you can use to get your entertainment fix, and it's become even stronger since the YouTube app returned. That's right - after spending nearly 18 months in the cold due to Google and Amazon's competitive relationship, watching YouTube videos on Fire TV is now a possibility once again. Related reading: Amazon Fire TV tips and tricks. That's not every device in the family, with more expected over the coming months, so scroll to the bottom to find the web browser workaround. However, for those with a compatible device, read on to learn how to download and use the YouTube app for Fire TV. Before you can enjoy all the delights of the YouTube app on your Amazon Fire TV device, you need to know how to download it. What you see will depend on whether you downloaded the app before it was removed, but the steps for re-downloading it are the same.


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Paul Moen is a principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group and an international trade lawyer.
Free trade with China represents a golden opportunity to secure market access to a global powerhouse at a time of uncertainty in the NAFTA talks. But if we thought the North American free-trade talks were difficult, we have recently seen that negotiations with China will be fraught with even more dramatic ebbs and flows. Canadian pragmatism will be tested, as we are the first G7 country to start down this path.
One issue requiring some artful navigation is the issue of China's "market economy" status. China asserts it has diminished state control and moved to a market economy. Indeed, many key sectors have opened to foreign investment and restrictions on the service sector have been liberalized. But a "reasonable person" could remain skeptical about the Chinese state's involvement in its economy, on many levels.
China's non-market economy status affects trade remedies such as anti-dumping. These rules are designed to protect domestic producers from Chinese imports priced below market or even below the cost of production. China's economic data do not meet international standards yet, so its trading partners use third-country data – rather than China's own economic data – as comparators in assessing anti-dumping duties.
In 2016, China formally launched a complaint against the United States and the European Union claiming that, under the terms of its accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, it was promised that in 15 years it would graduate to market economy status. Its partners say no such promise was offered. The Trump administration has been unequivocal: asserting that the Chinese government's role in its economy and effects of its own markets create "fundamental distortions in China's economy." In contrast, the EU has softened its opposition to China's bid for market economy status. To balance the interests of its own producers, which seek higher duties, and its consumers, who seek lower prices, the EU proposes duty calculation rules that include "significant distortions" arising from state intervention.
For Canada, while the potential benefits of access to the Chinese market are obvious, it is the second-largest market in the world, soon to be the largest. Manufacturers that compete with Chinese imports are understandably concerned about free trade. But when it comes to finding the right balance, Canada should look at a system that protects manufacturers without imposing undue costs on consumers.
First, in talks with China, Canada should not soften its position on the market economy too soon. At the same time, we should remain open to change. The issue is real for China's exporters, and Canada's producers and consumers. It also carries a great symbolic importance for China's goal of full acceptance into the world trading system.
Once negotiations have sufficiently advanced, there might be a Canadian quid pro quo acceptable to both sides. The concept is what trade experts call a "lesser duty rule." It would reduce duties only to the level required to offset actual injury. Today, anti-dumping duty levels often exceed the extent of the harm, imposing a punitive duty as well as an attempt to assess and compensate actual injury. Domestic producers reap a windfall of protection, but users and consumers pay higher costs, the economy suffers a net loss – and serious wounds are inflicted on relations between winner and loser.
A lesser duty rule could help achieve a balance between domestic producers, and downstream consumers on the other hand. China would likely mirror these changes in its own anti-dumping system as it applies to Canadian goods. This would ensure that any Canadian exports found to be dumped or subsidized would only be subject to duties to offset real injury – to the benefit of our exporter helping to secure their competitiveness in China's booming markets.
Canada's current NAFTA experience confirms that any trade partnership is a long, complex undertaking requiring a careful balance between costs and benefits. Free trade with China will be no different. A reasonable approach to assessing dumping penalties as part of a solution to the debate over China's market economy status could be an opportunity to avoid a dangerous divide on the need to ensure China's smooth integration into the global trading system.
Canada has demonstrated leadership and creativity in its approach to talks with our European partners and the Asian Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership process. We know how to craft the best international trade agreements. We can do it again with China.


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We're in the process of being demolished, back to "new normal" as some governments have noted, the stage where it is important to know where Coronavirus is circulating in our society. As we announced, Apple and Google want to help with thisTo do this, they have produced an API they provide to find the path of the virus. Of course, many governments are reluctant to use it and today we have a new one joining this list of countries that do not want to use the development of Apple and Google. France recognizes the good work of Apple and Google but wants to improve its app to get Coronavirus among its citizens
Well, as we say, France seems to have just joined many denialist countries from the Apple and Google technologies, they know that what these companies do is good, but according to the guys that come out Reuters, of course, chooses to carry out this type of development. We leave you details published by Reuters when we see how The French government is confirming a new and effective API version developed by Apple and Google
Contact tracking system StopCOVID, supported by the status quo France, should enter the phase of its scrutiny in the week of May 11, when the country begins its ascendancy, a government minister said on Sunday.
Digital Affairs Minister Cedric O, a member of President Emmanuel Macron's inner circle, launched the application as the key to France's plan to prevent coronavirus as authorities face the prospect of mass testing.
France's health and technology regime … it is our country's freedom to choose and be limited in the choice of a large corporation, new and efficient as they are.
Finally it is good for tech companies to participate in contributing to the fight against Coronavirus, but it is understandable that governments themselves want to develop their own mechanisms and prevent foreign companies from doing so. What do you think? Is it good for hackers like Apple and Google to develop Coronavirus tracking APIs? Is it better for governments to use this virus transmission to their citizens? opening a dispute…


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It has recently been announced that Atmozfears have undergone some changes. See the official statement from Scantraxx below:
“Scantraxx would like to inform you about the following: Atmozfears decided to split up which will have some effects on the act. Tim will go on with Atmozfears and Kevin will focus on his own career. They decided this because they would like to have total creative freedom. Tim & Kevin are still very good friends and will support each other in their coming careers. Behind the scenes Kevin is working on his brand new act which will be revealed soon.”
We will continue to handle bookings for Atmozfears and wish the best for both Tim and Kevin with their future music careers.
In other news, there has been a brand new release from Atmozfears! “Fedde Le Grand & Nicky Romero – Sparks (Atmozfears & Audiotricz Remix) ft. Matthew Koma” hit the download portals yesterday. Some of you may know the track by the name “This is the Time”, as it was featured in the world famous Defqon.1 Festival endshow of 2013. Preview and purchase the fantastic new remix here:
Stay connected with Atmozfears on your favorite social networks!


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Seven samples of raw ingredients were tested by the Irish Department of Agriculture, including one sourced from another European country which tested positive.
All ingredients in the production of burgers sourced from Irish suppliers tested negative for horse DNA, the department said.
The positive samples will now be analysed further in Germany with a view to quantifying the percentage of horse DNA present.
Thirteen samples of finished burgers were tested for the presence of equine DNA. Nine have tested positive for traces of equine DNA and another four have tested negative. The minister and the FSAI have repeated their clear statement that there is no concern from a food safety perspective.
The horsemeat scandal demonstrates how long and complicated the food chain we all depend on is. Regulating our food supply is expensive.
Some of the best, and worst, jokes and gags from Twitter users discussing the discovery of horse DNA in some supermarket beef burgers.
We've seen the jokes on Twitter but the discovery of horse and pig DNA in beefburgers poses a serious question; where did it come from?


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Indonesian fishery products are accepted in 171 countries, according to head of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries' System Standardization and Assurance, Fish Quarantine Agency, Quality Control, and Security of Fishery Product Center (BKIPM). "The main export of Indonesia's fishery products are tuna, skipjack, shrimp, squid, lobster, and crab,” Teguh Samudro said in Temanggung District, Central Java, on Tuesday. Samudro earlier attended the 2022 Quarantine Quality Month event organized by the Yogyakarta Fish Quarantine and Fishery Product Quality Control Station (SKIPM) in Purbosari Village, Ngadirejo Sub-district, Temanggung.The main export destinations for Indonesian fishery products are the United States, China, Japan, and the European Union, he said.
The value of Indonesia's total fishery exports reached USD 5.5 billion in 2021, and it is expected to rise to USD 6.5 billion this year, he informed. "Besides the existing potential (in the fishery sector), existing programs are enhancing the production increase. We also need to ensure that finished products satisfy the quality standard required by our export destination countries," he added. The agency head said that the applicable standard changes constantly in response to global health issues. As the standard is also a trade issue, it is also relevant to environmental, human, and animal health, he added. "Our duty at BKIPM is to ensure that finished products have their health and security quality assured. (We ensure the standard) from the start of the production, from the ship used to capture fishes, and at the nursery for cultivation fishery," he stated. He then affirmed that the health and safety quality of fishery products for export purposes or domestic consumption would not be different.


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We like to brag about the efforts the Honda corporation makes in every step of the design and manufacturing of its products to be environmentally friendly. And we are not the only ones who notice that Honda is truly and industry-leader in it’s “green” efforts.
This article on Torque.com, “Honda’s philosophy will insure company’s green automotive dominance,” he gives several reasons why Honda is a global leader in environmentally friendly automotive manufacturing and why that won’t change.
- “The Fit and CV-R manufacturing facility scheduled to open in Mexico in 2014, will be the first zero manufacturing waste by product plant in North America.”
- The 2014 Honda Accord has been named “greenest car”
- It is developing fuel cell technology
- The redesigned Honda Ridgeline will be the first half-ton truck to get more 30 mpgs
- Fuel economy levels have increased 9.5% from 2012
But it all comes back to their philosophy as nicely summed up with this quote: “Honda is not so much in the business of selling cars as it is in the business of selling products that improve and enrich people’s lives,” says Honda design engineer Toriyama.
From the manufacturing, selling, and operating of the vehicles, Honda’s automobiles are ones you can be proud to own because they are designed, not with just future owners in mind, but future generations of our world.


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By Commodity News Service Canada
WINNIPEG, June 21 (CNS Canada) – The following is a glance at the news moving markets in Canada and globally.
– Prince Philip is in hospital being treated for infection. Buckingham Palace called it a precaution. Philip, Queen Elizabeth’s husband, is 96.
– A top-level shakeup continues at Uber this morning. Company chief executive officer and co-founder Travis Kalanick was pressured to resign by investors yesterday. He will remain on the board of directors. Uber developed software that co-ordinates unofficial taxi services with potential customers. The company is trying to transition from disrupter start-up into a steady and reliable profit maker.
– British Prime Minister Theresa May promised Wednesday to listen more closely to business concerns surrounding the country’s Brexit strategy to break away from the European Union. Following the recent election in the United Kingdom that left the ruling Conservative party short of a majority, May laid out a new, more consultative, government strategy.
– Sears Canada Inc. is likely to seek court protection soon, which would ultimately lead to the business being sold off in pieces, according to the Globe and Mail. Sears, once Canada’s largest retailer, has been closing stores to cut costs as consumers look more and more to online retailers. Shares have fallen 64 per cent this year. The company has posted losses of more than C$700 million in the past three years.
– A new report suggests Canada could boost its gross domestic product by C$150 million by 2026 by closing the gender gap and promoting women’s equality. That would be six per cent higher than standard estimates. Research by McKinsey & Co. surveyed 69 Canadian companies representing 500,000 employees. The report focussed on three areas of GDP growth: Labour force participation, number of hours worked and relative productivity.


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PHCPPros recently profiled F.W. Webb Account Manager Stacy Papa in their "Women in PHCP 2023" feature. The article celebrates women in the plumbing, heating, cooling and piping industry.
Papa, specializing in outside commercial sales, performs numerous roles, including working with mechanical contractors and engineers and participating in product training sessions. She solves an array of problems ranging from inventory management to product delivery and her phone is always on. Whether it is a 4:00 am call or a no-heat emergency on Christmas Day, Papa continuously delivers for her customers.
She got her start in the PHCP field through a vocational high school.
"A woman taught the HVAC/R course," said Papa. "Completing that three-year program let me graduate with a trade, so I was immediately qualified to enter the workforce."
Driven by her work ethic and focus on customer service, Papa has dedicated her career — more than three decades — to helping customers develop their businesses.
"Stacy is extremely well-versed on product lines and offers the very best information to her customers," said Director of Plumbing Sales Nick Snell. "She is a highly-motivated professional and is well-respected in the industry."
Papa hopes more women build careers in the PHCP industry. She thinks companies can attract women by portraying an image that appeals to the female workforce and by including them in leadership positions.
Not one to seek the limelight, the nomination came out of the blue. After reflecting for a few days, Papa said she was honored by the recognition.
"This job has provided me with so many magnificent experiences," said Papa. "I hope more women realize how successful they can be in the PHCP industry."
An industry pioneer since 1866, F.W. Webb Company is the largest wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, HVAC, LP gas, refrigeration, pipe, valves and fittings in the Northeast. F.W. Webb has grown from a single location to more than 100 across nine states and proudly offers customers an extensive inventory of products and dedicated services that reach from underground to the rooftop. Covering 16 areas of expertise, specialty markets include process controls, water works, environmental services and more. F.W. Webb also operates more than 45 Frank Webb Home bath, kitchen and lighting retail showrooms. For more information visit fwwebb.com. Media contact: email@example.com.
Please send an email to firstname.lastname@example.org


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Provider of processing and packaging solutions for food products Multivac has announced that it will invest approximately €20 million in the construction of a new multi-purpose building in Tsukuba, Japan.
Areas of expansion will include the company’s integrated systems, as well as products from the Fritsch (a manufacturer of equipment for both large bakeries and smaller producers of bakery products) and Tvi (a meat portioning specialist) business units. The new building will also include a training centre for customers and staff, as well as showrooms for machines.
“Japan is a significant market for Multivac. The new building will expand the local production capacity and also optimise our logistics systems,” said Guido Spix, group president of Multivac. “In the future, we will therefore produce at one location, which will also enable us to increase our productivity.”
Located on the ground floor will be the manufacturing and assembly departments, as well as the training & application centre for processing & packaging, together with the application centre for bakery technology. The upper floor will comprise a small-parts warehouse, as well as a canteen and the offices and meeting/training rooms, which are needed to meet the growing demand.
“The new building will not only create additional capacity, but it will also enable us to provide new training facilities for the staff of our Japanese service network, as well as offering customers advice on all aspects of system integration, and bringing our solutions closer to them in our showrooms – including those from the Fritsch and Tvi business units, which will play an important role for us in future on the Japanese market,” says Kenichiro Onuma, managing director of Multivac Japan.
Multivac now has 12 subsidiaries in the Asia-Pacific region, employing more than 300 staff.
The building will sit on 14,400 square metres of land and is set to open in summer 2022.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2022
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Karl Lagerfeld Throws Chanel's Most Extravagant, Celeb-Studded Show Yet
Every year for more than a decade, Karl Lagerfeld spins his quilted-leather globe to pick a destination that will be the theme of Chanel's December Chanel Metiers d'Art traveling fashion show. Or at least, that's how we imagine it goes down. This year, Karl's inspiration came from Dallas, the Texas city Coco Chanel visited in 1957 at the invitation of Stanley Marcus, who led Neiman Marcus. Alexa Chung, Poppy Delevingne, Dakota Fanning, Anna Wintour and Kristen Stewart were all there, with the extravagant show commencing with a 'drive-in movie' style premiere of Karl Lagerfeld's film titled The Return.
"It's going to be over the top and it's going to be spectacular," Ken Downing, the fashion director at Neiman Marcus promised before the show. "I'm anticipating that we're going to see a lot of Dallas and certainly a lot of Texas and the American West translated into the collection." And he couldn't have been more spot on — see a social media round-up of the over the top, spectacular show here in the gallery


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I'm still big — it's the journalism that got smaller
Monday, January 14
Advertisers Are Trashing Trump's Shutdown
We know advertisers taking a stand is risky business — especially in the age of Trump, with his angry army of disciples poised to attack any brand that dares challenge their dear leader. Even though it alienated many Americans who secured their place in the Charles Darwin Hall of Fame by setting fire to sneakers they'd already purchased, Nike siding with Colin Kaepernick's protest against the criminal treatment of minorities resonated positively with many, many more consumers and ending up making for arguably last year's best ad. The year prior, Pepsi's lame attempt at supporting the #BlackLivesMatter movement by way of a spot that enlisted noted civil rights warrior Kendall Jenner made for one of the biggest marketing screw-ups of all time. Then, there are those ads that fall somewhere in the middle of success and failure — take 84 Lumber's brave Super Bowl spot from a couple of years back that took a forceful jab at Trump's wall, an incredibly moving and bold move for the retailer's first appearance in the big game but one whose entire point was subsequently ruined by the company's CEO who, kowtowing to critics threatening a boycott, released a statement saying an ad that was clearly political wasn't really intended to be political. Now comes the latest advertiser to court controversy, this time over the longest government shutdown in history. Columbia Sportswear placed a full-page ad in the Washington Post urging Congress and Trump to "Make America's Parks Open Again." (The brand played it safe by blaming both sides — even though everybody knows it's really all Trump's fault.) As Fortune notes, it's not the first time an advertiser has had the courage to call out Trump for his regressive policies — and unlike 84 Lumber's lily-livered CEO, stick to their guns — with Tiffany, Patagonia and REI all coming out against one or the other of the president's cruel policies. Again, seeing as advertisers' first priority is selling stuff and building affinity among consumers, walking into the crossfire of public debate can be dicey. But consider the Edelman study last year that found that two-thirds of consumers want companies to align themselves with social causes, a double-digit increase from the prior year. P&G, Airbnb and Stella Artois are just a few of the brands that have taken a stand on issues ranging from immigration and gender equality to the environment. So, taking a stand can be worth the risk. Marketing guru Nirmalya Kumar once wrote that while so many brands seek to be universally loved, "universal love is neither achievable nor desirable — great brands are loved by some and hated by others because they actually stand for something."


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CUs want a share of Tesla’s pie: Tesla and Origence partner up to offer EV financing at POS
- For years, credit unions have been competing to increase their market share in auto financing. But last year, their market share fell for three quarters.
- For credit unions, EVs may present a possible solution to their market share problem.
For quite a few years, credit unions have been competing to increase their market share in auto financing. But last year some of that progress fell away as their market share fell for three quarters.
For credit unions, EVs may present a possible solution to their market share problem. Last year EV sales reached a record one million cars, although the number is not eye-popping on its own, especially considering that 15.5 million new cars were sold last year. It does represent the surge in demand for EVs which are expected to become 53% of all cars sold in the US by 2030.
Recently, Tesla partnered with Origence, a credit union lending technology provider, to help CUs offer EV financing through the Tesla website. The technology provider’s licensed subsidiary FI Connect allows customers to access financing at the point of sale.
According to Origence’s Chief Financial Officer, Neetu Bhagat this solves the issues of accessibility and affordability when it comes to financing.
“While EV financing at the point of sale, isn’t a new concept. Tesla has offered financing at the point of sale for quite some time. However, it hasn’t included credit unions as a financing option in their website until FI Connect. By offering FI Connect as a financing option, buyers can take advantage of competitive rates and terms available through credit unions right on the website – ultimately making their EV purchase more affordable,” she said.
Mechanics: Consumers in the market for a Tesla can shop and opt for credit union financing options on the manufacturer’s website. Their application is then routed to a credit union based on Tesla’s matching criteria. “When FI Connect is selected, we return decisions nearly 24×7. We automatically match the borrower to a credit union in our network and provide the membership agreement. Upon delivery of the vehicle, Tesla sends the e-signed package to FI Connect to purchase. We purchase the contract from Tesla, and then sell the loan with membership to the credit union on the same day,” Bhagat added.
If a customer is already a member of a participating CU, their loan is transferred to their own credit union.
For Origence and Tesla, the target market are consumers that have money to spare.
“Historically, the profile has been a super-prime borrower, with high net worth and discretionary income. They were rate sensitive and could often pay with cash. However, as EVs become more affordable, the addressable market continues to expand,” Bhagat added.
Being an active presence at the POS is expected to be increasingly important for CUs going forward, especially due to the competition in the market.
“In addition to retaining their own members that apply directly at the point-of-sale, our credit unions win high-quality new members as well. While we recognize that liquidity is tight for some credit unions, we see this as the right time to get in the game. As the market begins to rebound, it will be important for credit unions to be present and competitive,” she said.


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Thales, working in the field of critical information systems and cybersecurity, and Mint Payments Limited have announced that Thales payShield hardware security modules (HSMs) are to provide high assurance encryption and key management to secure Mint Payments’ mobile payments solutions. 270 more words
Tags » MPOs
Spire Payments in collaboration with SoNet (authorised partner and well-known payment solution integrator in the Czech and Slovak regions) is to roll-out of over 6,000 POS devices for Komercni Banka (KB) in the Czech Republic. 310 more words
GoSwiff, a mobile payments and marketing services provider, is to enter into a global partnership with VERA, a leading provider of new generation cash registers with integrated electronic funds transfer at the point of sale. 835 more words
SumUp, a European mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) company, have launched their mobile payments platform in the United States.
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Says SumUp, in a statement, “As the US migrates to EMV chip technology as new payment standard, including a liability shift in case of fraudulent transactions starting this month.
Fostering financial inclusion for SMEs
These are without doubt very exciting times for those of us working in the mobile payments industry. The ‘mobile wallet wars’, as they call it, has been heating up like crazy since the three giants, Apple, Google and Samsung all announced the launch of their respective m-payment services. 1,178 more words
SumUp, a European mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) company with financial backing from American Express, Groupon and BBVA Ventures has launched its mobile payments service in Sweden. Including this recent launch, the company is now present in a total of 14 countries, including Germany, the UK and Brazil. 299 more words


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Atosa UK’s focus on building distributor relationships in 2017 looks to have paid off, as the manufacturer has grown by 40% over the last 12 months.
Lee Donkin, who has now been promoted to sales director at Atosa UK, stated: “It has been a great year for Atosa throughout Europe, with huge growth reported in Italy and France, which shows the level of trust our dealers have with our product.
“We remain committed to providing the very best energy efficient products at extremely competitive prices. We have already secured some excellent deals with dealers and 2018 should prove to be an exciting year as we look to grow by even more than 40% as we have this year.”
The success has meant the manufacturer outgrew its existing premises in Northampton and has moved to a larger base nearby.
Donkin detailed: “The warehouse space is just under 1,000ft2 larger but in the last warehouse the height was the issue, and we were restricted as to the number of units we could store. Our new warehouse is 2metres taller and allows us to utilise around 20% more space.
“Also, as we continue to grow our sales we need to invest in people so our new offices allow us to do this with no space restrictions.”
The new offices include “a state of the art showroom where dealers can come and view product or even host meetings with their own teams,” according to Donkin.
“The new showroom has a good range of equipment a mix from all our ranges showing the differences between medium duty, heavy duty and green refrigeration as well deli counters and blast chillers.”
He believes that the new premises have already been beneficial. “First impressions are everything in this industry. Dealers that have already taken advantage of our new showroom have been hugely impressed and now see Atosa as a huge player in the refrigeration market in the future.
“We have some very exciting new products launching next spring with deli counters and blast chillers being added to our portfolio.
“Recently sponsoring the After-Party at the Catering Insight Awards also further enhanced our brand image and reputation.”


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Whatever jitters some may feel about Bitcoin, CheapAir.com remains a willing taker.
The online travel site, which began accepting the virtual currency in November for flights and in February for hotel rooms announced Tuesday that it now allows passengers to use Bitcoin for Amtrak tickets as well.
It’s another step for Bitcoin, a new kind of currency that’s not distributed by banks and which fluctuates greatly in value, yet has some enthusiastic users.
CheapAir.com says it is the only online travel agency to take the currency. But with consumers able to use the virtual cash to buy a sandwich at a Subway shop in Pennsylvania, to spend at two Las Vegas casinos, and now to purchase plane and train tickets online, CheapAir.com’s CEO Jeff Klee believes that other players in the travel space may eventually follow suit.
“If the user base grows, I would expect others to jump on board,’’ Klee says. “From our standpoint … although the vast majority of the traveling public will pay in dollars or their local currency, there are enough people out there who prefer to use Bitcoin (that) we might as well do what we can to accommodate that.’’
Since November, the website has seen roughly $1 million dollars in gross bookings paid for with Bitcoin.
“We’re reaching new customers because of it,’’ says Klee. “I think the Bitcoin community is very passionate about Bitcoin and is appreciative that we’re accepting it.”
The site has to pay travel suppliers like hotels and airlines in actual cash so it immediately exchanges the Bitcoin payments it receives for dollars. Still, while Bitcoin’s acceptance is not yet widespread, Klee believes that the digital currency carries some advantages for businesses.
For instance, transactions involving the virtual cash tend to be cheaper than those involving credit cards which usually require merchants to pay a roughly 3% fee per purchase.
And Klee says that while online companies like his have to carefully scrutinize credit card purchases to prevent fraud, Bitcoin purchases don’t cause such headaches. If someone swipes a customer’s digital cash, it’s like losing a wallet – with the loss borne by the customer and not the business.
“It’s really shifting the risk,” he says.


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Who doesn't take a quick glance to see what your fellow shopper has in their basket?
It's a normal human curiosity to see what other people are eating, buying, and where they are going. From fruit and veg to soft drinks, we look beyond our shores to see how Irish abroad have adapted and what is in their baskets.
Just this week, the one-third of Europeans eat no fruit or veg a day, while the Irish are among the best healthy eaters. Does living abroad change this?reported that
If someone returns from a holiday, it's not just the weather we inquire about but the price of a pint too, or indeed the cost of a meal out. But since the pandemic things have changed on that front too, with more and more people dining and drinking at home.
In Ireland, an average household spends about €228 per month on groceries, with those in their 50s spending the most at around €367.
When it comes to alcohol things have changed dramatically in the last 22 months. Studies from Drinkaware found that 25% of Irish adults are drinking more than they did before the pandemic, and another survey showed we were drinking even more than that.
More than 50% of Irish people who took part in the Global Drugs Survey said their drinking had increased since the introduction of restrictions.
The Central Statistics Office found a huge jump in our spending on alcohol. In 2019, we spent €2.2bn on alcohol that we consumed at home, and in 2020, that increased by €500m to €2.7bn.
So how do our citizens abroad shop, dine, and drink? What does their weekly grocery list cost them and are they drinking at home or dining out?
Limerick man Gerald Flynn lives in Ontario, Canada, with his wife Meggan and their 10-month-old girl Clara.
For the last eight years, he has been getting to grips with the thriving food scene in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where food and, in particular, coffee is a huge part of life.
"There is a great diverse culture here so things like Sushi are huge as well as other cultures like Indian and Lebanese.
"Coffee is big here. You have two places, Starbucks or Tim Hortons - the Canadian Starbucks - and they are on every corner," says the Limerick man.
And alcohol? Much like Ireland, there is currently a craft beer boom out west.
"Drink is big here also, especially craft beer which everyone and their mother seems to be producing right now," says Gerald.
And, again like Ireland, consuming alcohol at home is the done thing, with the pub not really being a key tenet of life in Canada.
"Mainly people drink at home. Pubs are not really a thing, it's more sports bars or restaurants, so not the same social scene you’d get in Ireland at all," says Gerald.
"It's far less talking really, more eating frozen food that’s been reheated," he adds.
In Stockholm, things are a little bit different.
Cork woman Eileen Littorin lives in the Swedish capital with her husband and two children. The country is well-known as being one of the more expensive in Europe and this is particularly born out in the cost of a weekly grocery shop, Eileen says.
"Here is where Sweden isn't as rosy. Our weekly shop as a family of four is about €175. That's just on food.
"Before the pandemic, we used to eat out a bit. It's very popular here, particularly lunches, and the city is filled with places targeting working clientele," says Eileen.
With regards to alcohol, the sale of it comes under State control, and you have to be 20, not 18, to be able to buy it.
"In Sweden, you can only buy alcohol at the government-controlled off-license. It's a very popular shop.
"You have to be 20 to buy from there, but you can drink in pubs from 18," she says.
And what is the price of a pint?
It's not cheap, says the Cork woman.
"Eating and drinking out is very expensive, €10 for a beer or glass of wine is a bargain outside of happy hour where it might set you back €5, so people tend to start at home and then go out," says Eileen.
"I'd say it's most common to drink at home in general," she adds.
The prices in Sweden contrast sharply with Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and home to Dingle native Siun Creedon Prochazka, where she lives with her husband and children.
In Prague, the weekly grocery shop is very cheap, and eating out is very popular. With regards to alcohol, that's consumed both at home and in the pub setting, says Siun.
"The cost of the weekly groceries shop is between €40 and €50 a week.
"Eating out is normal here and restaurants are often full at lunch and in the evenings, particularly as you get closer to the centre," says the Kerry woman.
Alcohol is not only cheap but very popular, with morning beer being part of the culture. While alcohol consumption in the Czech Republic has declined slightly in recent years, consumption per capita remains among the highest in the world, according to the World Health Organisation.
"People drink at home and in the pub. Alcohol is cheap and beer is a favourite amongst the Czechs. It’s not unusual to see men in suits drinking a beer at 8am before work," says Siun.
But it's consumed for its taste not for its mood- or mind-altering effects, though alcoholism is an issue in the Czech Republic.
"Beer is loved for its taste and not necessarily as a means to get drunk," says Siun.
Caitríona Rush lives in The Hague in The Netherlands with her husband and two children aged 10 and seven.
Like Ireland, Aldi and Lidl are popular supermarkets in The Netherlands, with a weekly grocery shop for a family of four costing over €100 per week.
When it comes to alcohol it's slightly different, with the pub not being such a mainstay of social life for the Dutch.
"The average weekly shopping depends on where you buy, and what you like to eat. We'd buy a fair bit in Aldi or Lidl and then other shops for extra things.
"We probably spend about €130 per week for a family of four," says Caitríona.
And as for the pub, there is no sentiment of rounding up the troops for a beverage in The Netherlands.
"The Dutch would drink more at home and less in the pub than the Irish. There isn't the same 'let's go to the pub" attitude here though you probably don't find it anywhere else in the world as much as in Ireland.
"But that is changing in Ireland as well I think," says Caitríona.
Ailbhe Storan, originally from Limerick city, lives in Dubai with her husband.
Of the six countries our citizens abroad live in, Dubai came in as the most expensive place for a weekly grocery shop, and that's including the fact that dining out is a weekly event too. A bottle of wine in a restaurant would set you back €80, even though it would only cost you €10 in a corner shop at home.
"Our average weekly shop costs around €150," says Ailbhe.
"We dine out most weekends and the Deliveroo (food delivery service) options are plentiful with delivery only taking 20 minutes usually," she adds.
Dining out is very popular though with dry and hot weather coupled with lots of choice.
"Eating out is popular and we are spoiled for choice with every cuisine you could think of and many flagship outlets," says the Limerick woman.
However, alcohol is extremely costly, even though people drink in pubs and in restaurants, where happy hours are popular.
"People drink in pubs and restaurants mostly, but alcohol is notoriously expensive. Happy hours and brunches are the way to go.
"The cheapest bottle of wine a la carte is usually about €80 and the same bottle would cost about €10 in your local Spar shop at home," says Ailbhe.
Sonya Coogan, originally from Co. Monaghan, now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, with her husband and two step-children.
The city is becoming increasingly popular for Irish abroad and the nightlife and social life is a key part of that. Nightlife really starts around 9pm daily, with dancing an important aspect.
And, while alcohol is a small part of life there, it is not the same as at home.
What is the same, says Sonya, is the cost of the weekly grocery shop.
"I do my weekly shop and it's my husband and my two step-kids and it's the same as Ireland. Alcohol is a lot cheaper but the food itself is expensive," says Sonya.
When it comes to drinking alcohol though, things are different. "It's nothing like Ireland. It's very much you would have wine or a drink with food.
"Their night starts at around 9pm for dinner, a bit like the Spanish way, they may go on dancing," explains Sonya.
And on the dance floors, it's common to see 80-year-olds enjoying themselves and staying out late.
"In the nightclubs, there are women there, 70, 80, all ages, they don't stop like we do in our 20s going to nightclubs.
"They go here all ages. And they stay out late. They really, really love to dance," says Sonya.
The Portuguese are not big drinkers, she adds. "It's more with food. It's definitely nothing like Ireland," says the Monaghan woman.
She goes to festivals and concerts there, and it's very much just about the music, with drink not having a starring role there either.
"I go to festivals, I go to concerts and you don't see people drunk and messy and fighting, there is none of that here. It's extremely safe, it's a very safe country to live in," says Sonya.
But all that said, "there is still no place like home", she adds.


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Grand Theft Auto 3 is at the top of the iPhone top grossing titles chart.
Congratz iPhone "gamers"! You get to play a game we played 10 years ago! That iPhone tech is really amazing.....
Heh, but 10 years ago you didn't get to play it anywhere you want :)
IPhone gamers are the same gamers who played it ten years ago. It's on Android too. Why haven't you bought it?
Smart phones are becoming, the "All-in-one" handheld device.
I highly recommend it for Xperia Play owners. The controls are great! It's a shame more phones don't have controller buttons.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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On January 17, in Davos, the team of the Ministry of digital transformation of Ukraine presented the Impact Business acceleration project. The competition program is aimed at entrepreneurs whose business or startup is aimed at the development of the sectors of the Ukrainian economy that were most affected by the war.
"We strive to educate leaders of change and build an ecosystem that strives for a better future for Ukraine. By launching Impact Business, we want to support a new generation of entrepreneurs in Ukraine, promote the development of social entrepreneurship and help social innovators navigate challenges and make their impact louder and more visible," Nina Levchuk, co-founder of Impact Force.
Until February 17, every entrepreneur registered in Ukraine can apply for participation in Impact Business. The criteria for selecting 25 participating companies will be localization in key areas of the economy and a business plan that will contribute to the projected increase in Ukraine's GDP by $250 million+ within 5 years.
25 participating teams will undergo a training course with representatives of global business, and 2 winning teams will get a chance to attract €20.000 of investment for the development of their project or enterprise.


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New York—In the week since the United States first levied sanctions on one of the industry’s largest diamond suppliers, one thing has become clear—the situation is complicated, and no one knows quite where the industry goes from here.
Russian diamond miner Alrosa fell under the second round of U.S. sanctions announced last week after Russia launched a deadly, unprovoked assault on Ukraine, creating a humanitarian crisis and drawing criticism from nearly every corner of the globe.
As previously reported
, the sanctions are not a total ban on doing business with Alrosa, but the situation is murky.
Russia’s primary banks are sanctioned, which could complicate any financial transactions with Alrosa, as is the company’s CEO, Sergey Ivanov Jr.
Considering the sanctions on Alrosa, the banks and Ivanov, the Jewelers Vigilance Committee recommends companies check the lists of sanctioned companies and individuals, which are available here
to ensure they are not doing business with any of them.
Jewelers of America, meanwhile, issued a statement late Monday
advising its members to stop buying or selling diamonds, precious metals and gemstones of Russian or Belorussian origin.
In an interview Tuesday, diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky
noted the midstream section of the market—cutters and polishers based mainly in India—will be first to feel the effects of the sanctions, as the country’s Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council noted in a statement to Rapaport.
Rough diamonds being cut and polished today won’t end up in U.S. retailers’ hands for 3-5 months, and no one can say with any certainty what the situation will be then.
But, what about the diamonds that are already in the United States?
According to JVC, the restrictions placed on Alrosa do not apply to goods obtained from Alrosa or Alrosa USA before Feb. 24, the day the sanctions took effect. And the diamonds are already paid for, meaning they aren’t currently adding to the coffers of the Russian government as it advances in Ukraine.
Zimnisky also pointed out that while the Russian government does own 33 percent of Alrosa, another 33 percent is owned by the government of Sakha (Yakutia), the remote region where Alrosa has most of its mines and where local populations rely on diamonds for their livelihood.
But, from vodka to caviar, there is a groundswell of disdain for Russian products, an irony for Alrosa, which, like the rest of the diamond trade, has spent an extraordinary amount of time and money making sure its stones are traceable from mine to market and can reliably be sold as Russian diamonds.
“Sanctions aside, I think the biggest impact for the industry could be if the Western consumer becomes reluctant to buy Russian diamonds in protest. For many jewelers, one in three or four of the diamonds they hold in inventory are of Russian origin,” Zimnisky said.
“So, this is a big deal for this industry, for sure.”
That fact is not lost on jewelry’s major players, who, so far, have said little to nothing publicly about Russian diamonds.
Signet Jewelers, Tiffany & Co., and Blue Nile did not respond to National Jeweler’s request for comment on how the sanctions will impact their business or their position on Russian diamonds.
As of press time, nothing had been posted to their respective websites or social media accounts addressing the issue.
In fact, the only public reference any of these jewelers have made to the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine came from Signet's Banter by Piercing Pagoda, which posted to Instagram about backing Together Rising
in its support of Ukraine, a post that was later removed.
The two retailers that did respond to National Jeweler were Ben Bridge and Helzberg Diamonds, both Berkshire Hathaway-owned companies.
Helzberg said, “Alrosa is not a Helzberg Diamonds business partner,” while Ben Bridge CEO Lisa Bridge
said via email they “have not and do not” source directly from Russia.
She added: “At Ben Bridge, we care deeply about protecting both people and the environment in every stage of the supply chain. We have always adhered to the highest ethical and quality standards in the industry to ensure that all of our diamonds and gemstones are mined and sourced responsibly … Today, we stand with the people of Ukraine and keep them in our hearts as they fight for their freedom.”
The sole retailer to speak out publicly so far has been Brilliant Earth, which centers its brand on “responsible sourcing.”
The retailer, which recently went public
, posted a tweet over the weekend announcing it had removed all diamonds mined in Russia from its website, though it declined to comment when asked what percentage of its stock consists of Russian goods, citing a quiet period.
“At Brilliant Earth, we remain committed to transparency and responsibility, and offering products that meet our high standards,” the company wrote on Twitter. “We hope for a peaceful and swift resolution in Ukraine, and, like the rest of the world, are watching the situation there closely.”
Alrosa mined 32.4 million carats of diamonds in 2021, making it the world’s largest diamond producer alongside De Beers (32.3 million carats) and accounting for nearly 30 percent of global supply.
Zimnisky said the potential impact on the diamond industry—which is already grappling with a shortage of rough and rising prices—from a supply standpoint is significant, akin to a disruption in the supply of uranium (which is enriched and used to power nuclear power plants) from Kazakhstan or cobalt (used in batteries for electric cars) from Congo, both of which account for one-third of global supply.
Russia also is a supplier of palladium and gold, with JVC noting Tuesday it is working to determine if there are repercussions for gold coming through Russia.
The longer the invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions on Russia continues, the greater the implications for the industry.
“There is hope this is going to be resolved in the near term and, if so, the implications wouldn’t be as great. That is the hope,” Zimnisky said.
But, he concluded, “The longer it goes on, the more complex it gets.”
Source: National Jeweler 02-03-2022


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Durand village finds three cars in unattended barn
The village bought the barn to repurpose it but underneath a pile of antique items filled to the brim, they found three Ford vehicles.
DURAND, Ill. (WIFR) - The village of Durand bought a barn that’s sat untouched for decades, but they were surprised to find what was inside.
Leaders from the village bought the barn sometime last year. The village is discussing during its board meetings about repurposing the barn for themselves or demolishing it.
Inside, they found several items that filled the barn up to the brim, including vintage car items, wooden crates which held explosives, and three vehicles all made from Ford in 1959 that looked untouched for more than 30 years: a Fairlane 500, an Ambulance, and a Thunderbird.
In addition to repurposing the barn, the village partnered with Durand Charm to sell the three cars and give the village the proceeds made on each car. Nico Leonard recently moved into the area across from the barn and was there when village leaders removed the vehicles from the barn. He’s happy to see the proceeds going back into the community.
“I think it’s a great idea. I just moved here recently and I can see the town grow and they are putting something back,” said Leonard.
The non-profit organization posted the listings on several websites on Friday June 25, and they’ve received several messages and calls as far as New Zealand from individuals who might want to buy one of the cars. Durand Charm Executive Director Kelly Giovanine says they received evaluation and appraisal from a vintage car expert out of Chicago to help get them on the market.
Giovanine believes there is someone out there who sees value in one of these cars.
“I think it speaks volume to the age of the cars and the desirability of vintage cars in our world,” said Giovanine. “The t-bird in particular is one that’s highly sought after and even though it’s not working you could totally see somebody like their grandpa or their dad had it and they wanted to get one just like it and restore it to it’s original beauty and hopefully drive it someday.”
Those interested can contact Grey at 309-320-8923.
Copyright 2021 WIFR. All rights reserved.


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After confirming that bespoke slot specialist Aurum Signature Studios has joined its increasing network of exclusive independent game designers, Microgaming has announced the latest expansion of its studio strategy.
As a consequence of the link-up, Aurum will become the first dedicated supplier of custom slots for Microgaming, producing game designs and themes designed exclusively for operator partners.
Microgaming partners with a number of independent studios to ensure that its network stays at the cutting edge in terms of creativity and content diversity.
Microgaming CEO John Coleman said of the most recent addition: “Our studios strategy sees Microgaming work closely with a variety of independent game developers to ensure our content remains varied and innovative.
“Aurum are a strong addition to our network, and will be helping to address increasing customer demand for uniquely personalised game content. We welcome the team on board.”
Aurum, which has developed more than 20 custom games for operators worldwide, will provide Microgaming with an exclusive range of online slot games for network-wide distribution through its consumer base, in addition to producing bespoke titles.
A Tale of Elves, a festive 243-way slot featuring stacked wilds and free spins, is one such example and is now available through the Microgaming platform.
The head of Aurum Signature Studios, Madelein Özok, added: “We’re thrilled and honoured to team up with Microgaming. The sheer scale of the company means our games will have further reach via more tier-one operators than any other partner could have offered.
“It’s our mission to create exciting, innovative games, and we knew we were on the right track when Microgaming chose to exclusively launch Aurum as its bespoke provider.”
We’re proud to present Aurum Signature Studios, the first dedicated studio to join our growing network of exclusive independent game designers with the mission to create tailor-made games for our operators.
— Microgaming (@Microgaming) November 26, 2020


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IKEA is launching a take-back service at its Sydney store in Tempe, offering to resell used furniture made by the Swedish homewares giant.
The announcement comes as IKEA releases its annual People & Planet Positive Report, which found that more half of Australians (56%) threw out furniture over last year, yet one quarter would have kept it if they knew how to repair or reuse it.
The recycling program will give people a voucher for their unwanted IKEA furniture, which will then be onsold for the same price.
The company already has take-back programs for sofas, mattresses, batteries and light bulbs in its Australian stores.
To participate in the furniture take-back, you’ll need to fill in an online form and send photos of the old furniture you want to offload. IKEA staff will then assess whether it’s eligible and offer a value for the voucher. You then have a fortnight to take it to the Tempe store and collect the voucher before IKEA offers to sell it for the same value.
The IKEA People & Planet Positive report concluded that Australians threw away 13.5 million pieces of furniture with the potential to be recycled, or repaired and reused. In the meantime, more than a third (34%) of the population were looking at buying furniture in the next year, and two-thirds of those people (67%), were happy to purchase second-hand pieces.
IKEA Australia’s Sustainability Manager, Kate Ringvall, said the Tempe take-back service was designed to make it easier for people to live the sustainable life.
“Our utmost priority is to generate as little waste as possible, but we can’t do it alone – it takes government, business, industry and the entire community to make a difference,” she said.
More details on the Tempe take-back service are available here.
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Nissan has switched on a solar farm at its biggest manufacturing site in Europe.
The 19,000-panel project is now fully operational at its Sunderland facility, the car manufacturer’s centre of production for the all-electric Nissan LEAF and batteries.
The 4.75MW solar farm has been installed alongside 10 wind turbines which were already generating 6.6MW of power.
They will together provide 7% of the facility’s electricity requirements – enough to build the equivalent of 31,374 vehicles.
Colin Lawther, Nissan’s Senior Vice President for Manufacturing, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management in Europe, said: “With 10 wind turbines already generating energy for our Sunderland plant, this new solar farm will further reduce the environmental impact of Nissan vehicles during their entire lifecycle.”
Last month Nissan unveiled a new pilot scheme through which electric vehicle owners in the UK will be able to sell power back to the grid.


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An Inside Look
A new set of standards for ecommerce?
At the March 12 VIP Roundtable focusing on ecommerce held by MicroD in Charlotte, N.C., one of the issues that was brought up among the panel was the lack of standardization in the industry.
Charles White, owner of retailer RW Designs, cited the example set by the propane gas industry, which agreed upon a standard valve so all propane tanks will fit all grills. Jesse Akre, MicroD’s senior vice president for ecommerce, noted that such a movement toward a certain degree of conformity (though not necessarily in construction or design) would probably help generate more sales across the industry.
From vendor to vendor, there are — and should be — differences in product that sets each apart. However, in the arena of ecommerce, wouldn’t it be great if there were certain aspects that could be standardized to help streamline the process of retail?
Officials for RM Innovation (formerly Innovations International), the makers of POS system RMPro, say we’re at that point — at least for those of us selling online the rug world.
Recently, I was permitted a sneak peek at their newest program, called RM Datalink, which streamlines digital imagery, pricing information and product details for (as of this writing) more than 190,000 rug SKUs from numerous sources, running the gamut from majors to smaller vendors.
The program, which costs $499-$999 per month (depending on the number of SKUs a retailer has access to) works by taking the offerings from manufacturers and putting them in a database that reconfigures the data into a single format that is compatible with a number of different website building programs. The result is a simplified method for showing sizes, styles, information and prices for rugs for which a retailer has a program in place with a vendor.
RM Innovation’s Michael Getz called Datalink the “single source of truth,” noting that since the information comes directly from the vendors, it significantly reduces the possibility of errors in coding or translation.
“That’s the end goal of this database: having these retailers and vendors see Datalink as the go-to — the industry standard for product information. When it comes to Web store product data, if you search product data no matter what industry you’re in, accuracy is the first thing you want to see,” he said.
“Inaccurate data is the biggest headache. It will not only threaten credibility (misspelling, mispricing, inaccurate uploads) if one digit is wrong on this one item, you’ve got to honor the mistake. With the small inaccuracies like that, the retailer takes a hit.”
Getz and Patrick Bain, RMI’s vice president of sales, said RM Datalink will drastically cut the time spent having to update websites to reflect SKU or price changes. That levels the playing field for smaller retailers, who can devote more man-hours to selling rugs and less time to housekeeping.
Datalink is currently live, but it will be officially introduced at AmericasMart during the July 8-15 Atlanta International Area Gift & Home Furnishings Market.
At the roundtable, MicroD’s Akre said a strong champion would be needed in order to implement standardization.
Calling all champions?


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OAKLAND, Calif.:Alphabet Inc’s Google generated $11.2 billion in income from its cell app retailer in 2019, in line with a court docket submitting unsealed on Saturday, providing a transparent view into the service’s monetary outcomes for the primary time.
Attorneys common for Utah and 36 different U.S. states or districts suing Google over alleged antitrust violations with the app retailer additionally mentioned within the newly unredacted submitting that the enterprise in 2019 had $8.5 billion in gross revenue and $7 billion in working revenue, for an working margin of over 62%.
The figures embody gross sales of apps, in-app buy and app retailer adverts.
Google is combating the costs that it abuses its alleged monopoly in app gross sales for Android gadgets. The corporate and its accusers mentioned in a separate submitting on Saturday mentioned a trial in late 2022 is feasible.
In its quarterly monetary disclosures, Google teams Play app income with that of different companies and accounts for the shop’s advert income as a part of one other broader class.
Attorneys common, in addition to cell app developer Epic Video games and others individually suing Google have contended that it generates big income by the Play Retailer by taking 30% of the charge for each digital good bought inside an app. The plaintiffs say Google’s minimize is arbitrarily excessive, siphoning app builders’ income.
Google argues that alternate options exist to Google’s retailer and fee programs, although critics say these routes are unfeasible and had been typically blocked.
Plaintiffs allege Google by anticompetitive offers prolonged advantages to and imposed restrictions on main builders comparable to “League of Legends” maker Riot Video games to maintain them from leaving the Play Retailer.
A submitting by Epic Video games unsealed this month mentioned Google, in line with inside paperwork, feared dropping $1.1 billion in annual app retailer revenue if the Play Retailer was efficiently bypassed.
Learn all of the Newest Information, Breaking Information and Afghanistan Information right here


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BOZEMAN - Montana State University Extension specialists will have a booth at the Gallatin Valley Farmers’ Market at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds on Saturday, where they can adress questions about weeds, insects, diseases and other general yard and garden issues.
Toby Day, Extension horticulturist and Montana Master Gardener Coordinator, will be the guest specialist and can assist with tree and shrub identification and answer questions about cultivars pertinent to our planting area, as well as provide free MSU Extension factsheets and MontGuides.
“People are encouraged to bring plant or insect samples to the booth for diagnosis or identification,” said Day. “If you want to know what will grow in your area, or what plant is invading your garden, pasture or cropland, bring a sample of it to the Gallatin Valley Farmers Market this Saturday.”
The Gallatin County Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. through noon on Saturday. It is the last one of the season.
For more information about the MSU Extension Farmers Market booth, contact Day at (406) 994-6523 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
Contact: Toby Day (406) 994-6523 or email@example.com


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Sony Corp. is in talks to sell its battery business to a state-backed investment fund, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
Innovation Network Corp. of Japan hasn’t made an offer for the acquisition yet, said the person, who declined to be identified as the information isn’t public.
Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the world’s largest contract maker of electronics, has also shown interest in the buyout, the Nikkei business newspaper reported Saturday.
Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai has said he would consider alliances for the battery unit as he seeks to refocus the manufacturer on mobile devices, including smartphones, after logging around ¥840 billion in losses over the past four years. Sales of the company’s Bravia TVs, PlayStation game consoles, Handycam video recorders and Cyber-shot digital cameras may further decline this year in the face of competition from overseas rivals, including South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co.
Lithium-ion batteries, used in smartphones, personal computers, tablets and plug-in electric vehicles, account for the largest portion of the global market for rechargeable cells. Sony’s market share in lithium-ion batteries fell to 6.9 percent in the April-June quarter this year, down from 15.4 percent in the first quarter of 2008, according to Tokyo-based Techno Systems Research Co.
Sony’s battery business posted sales of about ¥142.5 billion in the year that ended in March, the Nikkei newspaper said Saturday. The unit had about 2,700 employees as of September, according to the report.
Shares of Tokyo-based Sony have fallen 34 percent this year, the sixth-worst performance on the benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average, which has gained 18 percent. The company maintained its forecast for a ¥20 billion profit this fiscal year even though it posted a seventh straight quarterly loss last month.
Sony had its credit rating cut to junk status last month by Fitch Ratings, which said slumping demand for televisions, the impact of the strong yen and weakened economic conditions both at home and overseas will leave the electronics maker struggling to regain its former status as market leader.
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
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Remember when Microsoft offered Texas Hold ’em for free on XBLA and everyone dowloaded it and played it and realized how buggy and craptastic it was? Well, Microsoft finally got around to fixing all that junk that was broken. According to a fantabulous press release, your gambling hopes and prayers have been answered:
This week on Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays, we offer a full-featured update to one of the most popular titles on the service – Texas Hold ‘em. We’ve listened to our community and as a result, a host of features and improvements have been added to Texas Hold ‘em to speed up game-play, eliminate cheating and ensure proper competition. As a result, the online multi-player leaderboards will be reset to eliminate the inflated scores that currently appear. In a future update in early 2007, we’ll be adding Xbox Live Vision Camera support as well.
The update will be available for download on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 beginning Wednesday, November 29, after 0800 GMT (1:00 a.m. PST).
Check for the full set of features after ye olde jump. Cheaters beware, you aren’t going to like what you see.
• Game-play has been sped up:
• Post the blind and play right away! – Players can now, if they wish, start playing immediately when joining a table by posting the big blind, rather than having to wait for the blind to come to them.
• New ‘Away’ mode – Players can now set their status to ‘Away’. Hands will be auto-folded and blinds auto-posted until the player returns.
• New ‘Auto-boot’ mode – Players who continuously let the timer expire (more than three times in a game) will be booted from the table
• Faster overall pacing – Timers and messaging durations have been adjusted to speed up game-play among experienced players, but still allow novice players plenty of time to play.
• Improved blind structure – Initial blinds, as well as blind increases, are now more proportional to table stakes, ensuring more meaningful increases during game-play.
• Matchmaking improvements – Players are no longer matched into games they cannot afford
• Improved interface controls – Improvements to controls, such as increasing/decreasing stake amounts
• Leaderboard display – A player’s full winnings and rank are now properly displayed
• Art and text improvements – Game art and spelling issues have been addressed
• Online exploits addressed – Certain known exploits that enabled cheating have been addressed. As a result, the online multi-player leaderboards will be reset to eliminate inflated scores as a result of these exploits.


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Enter our prize draw for a chance to WIN one of several products from Gill Marine’s latest range.
The winner can choose either a Gill North Hill Jacket for men or a Gill Whitesand Jacket for women, both worth £140 new.
One runner up gets a Gill Holcombe tee and a Gill Race Team bag.
Gill Marine, one of the leading technical apparel brands in the world, has partnered with the Junior Offshore Group (JOG) in the UK to become JOG’s Official Clothing Supplier.
JOG members will wear Gill products at sea and Gill will be working with them on special events, including the exciting anniversary race next year to commemorate 70 years since the launch of this unique yacht club.
Gill was also be the primary sponsor of this year’s JOG Cowes to Cherbourg race in September.
JOG is a yacht club with a difference. Since 1950, the JOG has been focused on making coastal and offshore racing accessible to small boat owners by keeping entry fees modest. The yacht club doesn’t have a clubhouse, but instead organises events at host ports for their weekend events.
Commenting on the partnership, Gill’s Corporate wear Business Development Manager Joel Chadwick said: “Gill are very proud to be supporting the Junior Offshore Group. The iconic yacht club breaks the mould in the UK and we share their values of innovation, friendly yet serious racing, a Corinthian spirit and building a supportive community.”
Gill was an idea first born on British waters in 1975 by founder Nick Gill, a keen sailor who wanted to create a range of sailing product without compromise – the best fabrics, the best features, the best quality.
Now trusted for over 40 years, Gill has grown into an established technical apparel brand meeting consumer needs both on and off the water, distributed around the world to 37 countries.