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Indoor Hospitality Services And International Travel To Resume In July
Published on May 31 2021 10:34 AM in Features tagged: Featured Post / pubs / Aer Lingus / restaurants / hotels / IHF / VFI / Tourism Ireland / LVA / cafes / Irish hotels federation / Vintners' Federation of Ireland / bars / Licensed Vintners Association / Outdoor Dining / outdoor drinking / indoor dining / EU Digital COVID Certificate / indoor drinking
It has been announced that restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars will be permitted to provide indoor services again from July 5, and non-essential travel will be permitted to resume on July 19, on which date Ireland will begin operating the newly-announced EU Digital COVID Certificate.
The announcement of the date from which restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars will be permitted to provide indoor services again closely follows the publication of safety guidelines for the reopening of the hospitality sector.
Outdoor Service Enhancement Scheme
Minister for tourism, arts, culture, Gaeltacht, sport and media Catherine Martin has announced a new outdoor service support scheme for hospitality businesses called the Outdoor Service Enhancement Scheme.
Rte.ie quotes Martin as saying, "The Outdoor Service Enhancement Scheme will provide much needed assistance to businesses who in many cases been unable to open since March 2020.
"Our pubs and bars are an important social outlet and a popular element of our tourism and hospitality offering.
"Along with the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme businesses will receive assistance to transform appropriate outdoor spaces as welcoming vibrant places helping businesses to recover and people to return to work."
Rte.ie quotes the government as saying, "It is expected that eligible pubs will be able to apply for up to €4,000 each, a similar amount which is being given to food-serving businesses.
"All applicants will be required to comply with planning codes, legislative requirements and other compliance requirements. Details will be finalised in the days ahead."
Additional details about financial supports for businesses are reportedly expected to be outlined on Tuesday June 1 when the National Economic Recovery Plan is published.
As mentioned above, Ireland will be begin operating the EU Digital COVID Certificate on July 19.
As reported by rte.ie, to be considered vaccinated under the EU Digital COVID Certificate system, individuals will need to have received all necessary vaccine doses, and there are also provisions under the system to permit individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 or who have received a negative test result to travel.
As reported by rte.ie, minister for transport Eamon Ryan said that, under the system, children will still require a negative PCR test to travel, and that EU member states have a six week discretion on implementation, and Ireland will be using part of that.
Travel from third countries, which is the designation that has been given to the UK and the US, will reportedly return at a similar time, using measures that are similar to the EU Digital COVID Certificate system, and Ryan reportedly said that mandatory hotel quarantine will continue to apply to travellers from a small number of countries.
Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the US have been removed from the list of countries to which the mandatory hotel quarantine rule currently applies.
Number Of People Permitted In Outdoor And Indoor Venues
From June 7, up to 200 people will be permitted to attend outdoor venues that have a minimum capacity of 5,000, and a maximum of 100 people will be permitted to gather for a majority of outdoor events.
From July 5, a maximum of 500 people will be permitted to attend outdoor events in venues that have a maximum capacity of 5,000.
Also from July 5, a maximum of 50 people will be permitted to attend most indoor venues, while 100 will be permitted to attend events in larger venues with strict health and safety measures in place.
Subject to continued progress in controlling the spread of COVID-19, from August 5, up to 200 people will be permitted in larger indoor venues, and up to 100 will be permitted in all other indoor venues.
As reported by The Irish Times, from June 7, up to 25 people will be permitted to attend a wedding reception.
As reported by rte.ie, from July 5, up to 50 people will be permitted to attend a wedding celebration or reception.
As reported by The Irish Times, from August 5, up to 100 people will be permitted to attend a wedding reception.
A number of pilot entertainment events will be held in June and July, including large and small music and sporting events.
Cinemas will be permitted to reopen from June 7.
As reported by The Irish Times, from June 7, people will be permitted to allow one other household to visit their homes indoors regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.
From July 5, up to three households will be permitted to gather together with another household regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.
Responding to the news that pubs and bars will be permitted to resume indoor services from July 5, Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) chief executive Donall O'Keeffe said in a statement published on the LVA's website, "We are pleased to have finally received confirmation that all pubs will be able to reopen for indoor service from 5th July. It has been a long time coming, but this is a time for hope and optimism. The 5th July will mark the beginning of the recovery for pubs and other hospitality businesses. Many pubs will not be in a position to offer outdoor service, so confirmation of the date for reopening indoors was vital. Everyone in our sector will now be counting down the days until the 5th July.
"It is extremely important that all pubs, food and traditional, will now be able to open together. We are absolutely delighted that the government has taken this on board and that there will be no further divisions in our industry. Our members are all simply 'pubs' once again. Hopefully no one will ever have the need to use the term 'wet pubs' in future. We also outlined to government that it was important for our sector that outdoor capacity should be dictated by social distancing requirements, so we are glad to see that has been reflected in the guidelines.
"While this announcement has been badly needed for quite some time, the publication of the National Economic Recovery Plan next week will also be vital for the recovery of our industry. The fact is that even in July, after almost 16 months of closure, we will still be operating with significant restrictions which really damage our viability. Some elements of the trade, such as late bars, won’t be opening on the 5th July. As the government is keen to see the hospitality sector recover, then supports will need to remain in place for the remainder of 2021 and beyond. We also welcome the announcement of an outdoor grant scheme for traditional pubs.
"Obviously, the 5th July will now mark a major milestone for our sector, but it really is the beginning of a process. We will also be working with the government in the coming weeks and months to discuss the easing of the restrictions on our trade as the vaccine rollout progresses and the public health situation improves."
Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) chief executive Padraig Cribben said in a statement published on the VFI's website, "This announcement is hugely significant as it provides certainty to our members and the 50,000 staff employed in the trade about when they can reopen indoors. The end of our trade's 15-month nightmare is now in sight.
"It's important to remember that our members closed their businesses on 15th March 2020 and have remained mostly shut ever since. It has been a catastrophic time for the trade and I would like to pay tribute to all the publicans, their families and staff who have battled through such an unprecedented storm.
"Reopening in time for the traditional summer season is a big boost to the trade who can now plan with confidence for a busy July and August."
Cribben added, "In many ways, the announcement of a reopening date is only the beginning of the end of the crisis for the pub trade as we face an uncertain future where rebuilding consumer confidence and working within social distancing guidelines will be tough challenges. Supports will continue to play a vital role and we look forward to the announcement of further measures for the trade next week."
Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) president Elaina Fitzgerald Kane stated, "Today, hotels and guesthouses across the country have been given much-needed clarity that will help their business planning for the peak tourism season. This is another important step in the right direction for the tourism and hospitality industry. However, we still have a long road ahead of us.
"The government has sent a very clear signal that Ireland is reopening for tourism when it is safe to travel similar to other European countries. The domestic market was very important last year and will be again this year. However, it does not replace international visitor numbers. As an island nation international tourism is critically important, accounting for over 70% of tourism revenue pre-COVID. While hotels and guesthouses are not relying on significant overseas visitors this year, the easing of restrictions on international travel for business and leisure will be very important in extending the season for many Irish tourism businesses, while also supporting the recovery in our major cities including Dublin, where occupancy levels lag the rest of the country."
Fitzgerald Kane added, "Tourism will recover, but it will take time and needs additional supports. Our industry has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and with some level of restrictions likely for some time to come, tourism recovery is not going to begin in earnest until 2022. The supports to date have been very welcome and akin to life support, but it is essential that the government provides greater clarity and certainty now around supports into 2022 and beyond so that businesses can plan.
"The hotel sector has a vital role to play in ensuring Irish tourism and hospitality returns to a more stable footing in the months ahead - helping to sustain thousands of businesses and almost 270,000 livelihoods throughout the country. These jobs represent 11% of total employment nationally and, with 70% located outside of Dublin, make a vital contribution to communities in every county and town throughout the country. In some communities, tourism is the only show in town. The industry’s recovery must be to the fore of government economic policy as we seek to restore employment levels and tourism communities as quickly as possible."
Tourism Ireland Response
Tourism Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons stated, "Today's announcement is an extremely welcome and important step on the road to recovery for our industry. This will help protect thousands of jobs and livelihoods across the tourism industry. For the first time in many months, we can look to the future with optimism.
"We know from our research that there is significant pent-up demand among travellers in our overseas markets to return to the island of Ireland as soon as possible. However, we also know that there will be significant competition in the marketplace; every destination across the globe has experienced the impact of COVID-19 and will be seeking their share of the recovery. Our kick-start campaign will therefore need to punch through the noise and create an immediate desire to visit.
"Everyone at Tourism Ireland looks forward to getting back in full swing, to promote the island of Ireland as a safe, welcoming and 'must-see' destination across the world. Over the coming months, we will be working flat out, with all of our partners, to restore as much business as possible. Our message is that we can’t wait to roll out the green carpet and welcome back our overseas visitors."
Dublin Airport Response
In a statement published on Dublin Airport's website, the airport said, "Dublin Airport welcomes the Irish government's formal announcement of a timeline for the reopening of non-essential international travel in a safe and sustainable way.
"Under the roadmap announced this evening by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, international travel will reopen from July 19. We, along with other key players in the Irish aviation sector, have been advocating for a clear roadmap for the reopening of travel for some time.
"Dublin Airport will continue to work with its airline customers, government agencies and other stakeholders in relation to the plans for a more widespread reopening of air travel.
"As Ireland's key international gateway, Dublin Airport will also be working to restore the vital connectivity that Ireland has lost over the past 14 months."
Cork Airport Response
In a statement published on Cork Airport's website, the airport said, "Cork Airport welcomes the government's formal announcement of a timeline for the reopening of non-essential international travel in a safe and sustainable way.
"Under the roadmap announced this evening by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, international travel will reopen from July 19.
"DAA, which is the operator of Dublin and Cork airports - the two largest airports in the state - has been advocating for a clear roadmap for the reopening of travel for some time.
"Cork Airport will continue to work with our airline customers, government agencies and other stakeholders in relation to the plans for a more widespread reopening of air travel. We will also be working to restore the vital connectivity that the south of Ireland has lost over the past 14 months."
Aer Lingus Response
In a statement published on Aer Lingus's website, the airline said, "While Aer Lingus welcomes the easing of travel restrictions announced today, it will not facilitate a significant level of travel to and from Ireland during the critical summer months of 2021."
Aer Lingus added, "With restrictions in place until late July, Aer Lingus will continue to burn a significant amount of cash over the coming months. The cumulative consequences of the crisis over the last 15 months leaves Aer Lingus facing significant restructuring to rebuild its network and financial strength."
Consumer Spending On Holidays
As reported by The Irish Examiner, according to Deloitte's latest monthly consumer survery, between the end of March and the end of April, there was a 19% increase in the number of consumers looking to spend money on holiday plans.
According to The Irish Examiner, the survey also showed a 10% increase in the level of people who are intending to stay at a hotel in the next three months, and an 8% increase in the level of people who are looking to stay in private accommodation.
As noted by The Irish Examiner, the increase in the number of consumers looking to spend money on holiday plans occurred around the time that the first easing of COVID-19 restrictions was announced.
The above news about consumer spending on holidays follows news from last week that 73% of the people who participated in a survey commissioned by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said that they are "proactively" making travel plans for this year, and 44% of the participants said that a staycation is their preferred holiday option for 2021, while 20% of participants said that they are planning to travel overseas this year.
© 2021 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.


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Unlike Facebook’s Libra project, China’s digital yuan does not pose a threat to the global financial system. If it goes into circulation, it will facilitate international payments and make instant currency conversion possible, says Zhou Xiaochuan, former governor of the People’s Bank of China.
The digital yuan is not intended to crowd out the dollar or other fiat currency, says the economist.
This is the first time that Zhou Xiaochuan has spoken publicly about the Chinese digital currency project. Zhou, who led the Bank of China for a record 15-year period, became famous for his innovative approach to the financial sector. Under his leadership, some steps were taken to partially liberalize the yuan exchange rate, leading to its inclusion in the reserve currency basket in 2016.
Furthermore, Zhou was one of the first top officials in the world to question the credibility of the dollar-centric financial system after the 2008 crisis.
The development of the digital currency began in 2014 when Zhou was still head of the People’s Bank of China. He is considered the ideologue of the project, since the digital yuan or Digital Currency Electronic Payment, DC/EP or DCEP, as it is officially called – implies the creation of a fundamentally new payment system that will be issued in two stages: from the Central Bank to commercial banks, and from commercial banks to the public.
Screenshots of DCEP digital wallets leaked online suggest that their user interface closely resembles mobile payment systems that have spread in China, such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, but with one significant difference. These programs are transfer claim rights, whereas the digital yuan is a complete analog of fiat money with all the functions of cash and the same sovereignty.
Will WeChat Pay and Alipay be the next victims of US sanctions?
Zhou has also revealed what are, in his opinion, the most important benefits of the DCEP. He stressed that cross-border payments are mostly made in a non-monetary way, either through credit cards or mobile payment systems. However, currency conversion, as well as the transactions themselves, are not always instantaneous and the process is quite complicated.
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If the digital yuan allows these procedures to be performed synchronously and instantaneously, it would be a significant improvement in the international system of collections and payments. In addition, payments through the digital yuan will be more secure and accessible to the general population, Chen Fengying, an expert from the Chinese Institute of Contemporary International Relations, expressed his opinion in an interview.
“It can be said that the digital yuan, as a replacement for M0, will mainly serve as a means of payment and cash in circulation. For ordinary people, it will be a more secure means of payment, much more secure than the current Alipay and WeChat payment systems. Digital currency can also be used without an internet connection. This is a very great advantage since existing mobile payment systems require being online to carry out a transaction,” the expert stressed.
According to Chen, mobile payments proved effective during the COVID-19 pandemic, when economic activity shifted online due to lockdowns. However, the problem of digital inequality remains. For example, there are videos of seniors without an internet-connected smartphone facing difficulties in obtaining the full range of financial services. The digital yuan should solve this problem: the system will work both through the internet connection and through automatic RFID identification – radio frequency identification.
It is cross-border use that can really unlock the potential of the digital yuan, Chen adds.
“I would like to point out that I am optimistic about future development rather than the current situation. Because right now the digital yuan is only the monetary aggregate M0. But if the DCEP is used for cross-border payments, it will significantly reduce the costs of transactions and it will increase the convenience of making payments”, emphasizes the specialist.
Now, due to currency fluctuations, trading and investment activities are severely limited, but using a digital currency in trading can avoid the impact of currency volatility, he believes.
The digital yuan will first be used in China, but not before 2023. It could be tested on a broader level involving foreign guests during the Winter Olympics to be hosted by Beijing in 2022.
Zhou Xiaochuan stresses that China does not seek to bring digital yuan internationally and thus change the international financial architecture. As the experience of Libra – Facebook’s proposed digital currency – has shown, ambitions that are too bold at the international level can provoke a harsh reaction from regulators and financial authorities in different countries.
The Libra project, which was originally supposed to cover 2.3 billion Facebook users around the world and operate on the basis of a closed blockchain system managed by a consortium of 100 companies, failed even before it was born because the central banks of different countries, including the US Federal Reserve, they decided that Libra is a threat to financial stability. As a result, the main backers of the project, such as Mastercard and PayPal, withdrew.
That is why China will take into account the sad experience of Libra and will not impose its own financial innovations on the rest of the world, Zhou concluded.

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Apple launched the iPhone five on 12th September, following that with iPad Mini, and Microsoft launched Windows 8 on October 26. The launch of its premier tablet, Microsoft Surface operating windows 8 is anticipated in January 2013. Primarily based on these studies, it appears that relative hyperlinks, i.e. hyperlinks to other stories inside the online news website, is the most typical form of hypertext structure found in on the web journalism, although target hyperlinks (hyperlinks within stories) and external links are utilised to a lesser degree.
As a highly focused company with knowledge in thefield, SMSInfosys had turn out to be the choice for top mobile Brands. AppsAfrica Advisory gives strategic, tactical and operational Africa advisory solutions for mobile and tech ventures arranging to launch or expand in Sub-Saharan Africa with a team of experienced advisors.
This broadens the journalist’s role as proposed by Bardoel and Deuze of a expert who serves as a node in a complicated environment between technology and society, in between news and analysis, amongst annotation and selection, in between orientation and investigation” (2001, p. 101).
And like clockwork, my wife goes to a Docomo shop, asks about the phone and about smartphone plans, then provides it up when she realizes how significantly it’d cost. This report focuses on on the internet news reporting of the final general election in India: the 2009 Lok Sabhā Election.
I just had a issue figuring out captions simply because tech stuff overwhelms me. I should have missed your explanation. Faculty vary tremendously in terms of how they prefer materials to be delivered, which is why mobile resources for students want to be made with an end-item either a challenging copy or digital copy in mind.… Read More


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NEW YORK – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), the world's largest retailer, is considering selling ethanol-based fuel at its more than 380 gasoline stations, the Wall Street Journal reported late on Wednesday.
The move could give the sales of alternative fuels a significant boost amid steep gasoline prices, the Journal said in a report on its Web site.
The retailer held an alternative fuels summit in Washington this week to explore plans to sell E-85, a blend of ethanol, mixed with 15 percent gasoline.
Wal-Mart's meeting was attended by representatives of the auto industry, oil companies, government officials and biofuel producers, the report said.
"The purpose was to explore expanding alternative fuels in the marketplace and help us consider carrying E-85," Wal-Mart spokesman Kevin Gardner told the Journal.
Wal-Mart had yet to determine if it could sell the alternative fuel profitably, the Journal said.
A company spokesman was not immediately reachable for further comment.


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They're described as handcrafted, beautiful and rare - and that's just the price tag!
Today Rolls-Royce unveiled its brand new car at the company's factory in Chichester.
Called the Dawn, it's hoped that the new model will attract a new, younger buyer to the luxury brand and provide job security in an ever-changing industry. Richard Slee reports on the £250,000 dream machine.
Rolls-Royce has announced the successful completion of the company's recent recruitment campaign for 100 new permanent jobs. The news was celebrated at a special event attended by the new recruits at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex, hosted by Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer and Frank Ludwig, Director of Manufacturing.
The campaign was launched in January following the company's announcement of record sales for 2013. More than 1,500 people are now employed on site.
Speaking from the Home of Rolls-Royce, Torsten Müller-Ötvös said, "I am delighted to announce the successful completion of our latest recruitment campaign. Our greatest asset is the skilled men and women that work for Rolls-Royce around the world and we have ensured that we recruit only the very best candidates. I am very pleased that our continuing growth has enabled us to recruit more permanent employees into the team."
Earlier this month, the company announced that a new Technology and Logistics Centre will be built at Bognor Regis, close to Goodwood. Around 200 people will be employed at the Centre, with a number of new roles created in addition to those transferred from existing logistics functions. The Technology and Logistics Centre is planned to be fully operational in early 2016.
The luxury car manufacturer, Rolls Royce, is designing a new convertible model that will be made at it's site in Goodwood in West Sussex. It will go on sale by mid-2016 - its price could be up to £250,000. A record number of Rolls Royce cars were sold from January to June.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced today that the company has enjoyed a record half-year in 2014, with sales increasing by 33% worldwide compared with the same period in 2013.
Sales growth was seen in all regions, with a particularly strong performance in Europe, up by over 60%, Asia Pacific up by almost 40% and the Middle East up by over 30%. The US and China also saw double-digit growth. In Europe, strong performance was seen in Germany, with sales doubling.
Rolls-Royce continues to see strong customer demand for Wraith, significant orders for the recently announced Ghost Series II and good demand for the Phantom family of cars across the world. Bespoke production continues at record levels across all model families.
Rolls Royce are celebrating their 110th year by announcing 100 new jobs at Goodwood in West Sussex.
It comes after their 4th year of record sales, with more than 3,600 cars sold throughout 2013.
Demand is still high for models such as the Phantom, Ghost and Wraith models.
Manufactures have also seen a popular increase in bespoke vehicles, with a high percentage leaving Goodwood with bespoke design elements.
A man from Kent has been sharing his story of how he took part in the re-enactment of a daring publicity stunt carried out by a motor company exactly 100 years ago.
At the time Rolls Royce said their cars were 'the best in the world'. The firm sent a hundred of their cars on an 1,800 mile roadtrip - across mountains.
This time round Ivan Odds, from Rochester was one of the drivers behind the wheel. John Ryall reports.
A Rolls-Royce used as a mobile dental surgery during the First World War will join the impressive line-up of motor cars at this year’s Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale on Friday 12th July.
The 1913 Rolls-Royce 45/50hp ‘Silver Ghost’ London-to-Edinburgh Tourer was bought by a wealthy Englishman for £1,016 (approximately £100,000 in today’s money) in September 1913, before passing to its second owner Auguste Charles Valadier in October 1915.
On the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 Valadier had been keen to help the war effort in some way. He volunteered his services to the British Red Cross Society in Paris, who accepted him for duty in October that year.
Valadier established the first unit dedicated to the treatment of facial injuries, which helped facilitate the later progress of plastic surgery for use in facial reconstruction.
By the end of 1916 he was stationed at Boulogne and the Rolls-Royce – then bodied in limousine style – had been modified to incorporate a dentist’s chair in the rear.
A colleague who worked alongside Valadier at the time noted: “In Boulogne there was a great fat man with sandy hair and a florid face, who had equipped his Rolls-Royce with a dental chair, drills and the necessary heavy metals. The name of this man... was Charles Valadier.”
Ed Diment and his pal who work at Bright Bricks in Farnham have built this amazing Rolls Royce jet engine out of Lego!
Click here to see how they did it.


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North West, daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, turned 4 earlier this month. To celebrate, Kardashian and West gifted their daughter with a puppy, but it’s what North West’s aunt, Kendall Jenner, got her that fans are delighted by.
Jenner, 21, gave her niece a book with more than 20 science projects.
Along with the book were materials and ingredients for four of the projects.
Kardashian, who said she loved the gift, shared video of the book and prepared kits on social media. She said she appreciated the creative package.
Many praised Jenner for getting the gift “instead of something expensive and lavish.”
Download the new AJC app. More local news, more breaking news and in-depth journalism.


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E.ON is the last of the big six energy giants to increase its tariffs this winter, meaning that its typical standard dual fuel customer paying by cash or cheque will see their bill rise by around £110 a year to £1,370.
The latest price hike comes at a time when households up and down the country are turning up the thermostat, with forecasters saying Britain will be coated in up to 10in (25cm) of snow today.
Comparison website Confused.com said that the recent increases have widened the gap between the cheapest tariffs on the market and the standard deals being offered by the big six companies to more than £300 a year.
Two years ago, customers on standard dual fuel tariffs were paying up to 23% or £221 a year more than those on the cheapest deals, but the latest round of hikes has increased the price gap to almost a third (30%) or £312, the website said.
The energy price gap was calculated by working out the cost for an average dual fuel user if they were on the cheapest tariff on the market and paying by monthly direct debit. Researchers looked at the difference between this and what someone on a typical standard dual fuel tariff from one of the big six energy companies would pay, if they were covering their bills quarterly by cash or cheque.
E.ON's announcement last month that it planned to put up its prices followed a string of similar confirmations from SSE, British Gas, npower, Scottish Power and EDF. Having pledged in May to keep residential energy prices on hold during 2012, E.ON blamed the new year hikes on increased costs that make up energy bills, including the price of energy on the wholesale market and regulatory costs. E.ON's average dual fuel bill will increase by 8.7%, with electricity rising 7.7% and gas by 9.4%.
According to research by MoneySupermarket.com, households typically use around 40% of their annual energy consumption during the winter months, making the next average quarterly standard bill likely to be well over £500.
MoneySupermarket has also conducted new research looking at the savings which could be made by consumers regionally in switching to the best energy deal. It found that people living in the South East could potentially make the biggest saving out of the 14 regions it looked at across Britain. People living in the South East who have never switched could save £385 by moving from their traditional energy supplier to the cheapest deal.
Bill payers in North Wales and Liverpool who are still customers of their original energy supplier were found to have the highest typical annual bills of £1,444 for their gas and electricity and they could save around £306 by switching, MoneySupermarket found.


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The Pokemon Company is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a brand new Pokemon Presents! Here's everything announced at today's presentation.
Pokémon is turning 25 in just a weeks. Here's a look back on the past 25 years filled with adorable pocket monsters.
New Pokémon Snap releases for Nintendo Switch on April 30, 2021. Preorders are now available. Here's how to reserve your copy.
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Now that New Pokémon Snap has been announced you might be itching to play the original game. Here's where you'll find it listed for sale.
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Sielo identity elevates LEDSENSE® Commercial Internet of Things (IoT) technology
May 2, 2017, Longmont, CO – Terralux is announcing a new corporate identity and vision for intelligent buildings and connected lighting.
The company is now Sielo, a brand that represents cloud-based, connected building solutions at the nexus of power, light, and data. Sielo will continue to advance LED lighting offerings for Retrofit and OEM markets, in conjunction with accelerating the LEDSENSE® IoT intelligence platform.
“The needs of commercial buildings are evolving, and require technology that combines efficiency, productivity, and well-being,” said Sielo CEO Steve Hane. “Sielo’s connected building solution, LEDSENSE®, leverages existing infrastructure in a straightforward strategy to create more intelligent, efficient, and effective building management. Our goal is to help our customers find a practical route to making the commercial IoT work for them – a very real and valuable goal for our innovative technology platform.”
Sielo products and solutions have been implemented in leading green building projects around the country, in university campuses, medical facilities, office buildings, municipal, multifamily, and retail, shaping enhanced environments across every application.
“Our name is derived from the sky, inspired by connected lighting and the Internet of Things (IoT),” said Matthew Sallee, Director of Strategic Marketing at Sielo. “Our brand is uninterrupted connectivity between spaces and people, just as our LEDSENSE® platform delivers intelligent sustainability to our clients through the cloud.”
Sielo will be unveiling their new brand experience, LEDSENSE® Software – Summer 2017 release, and Radio Reveal at booth #1057 at Lightfair 2017, May 8-11, in Philadelphia, PA.
At Sielo, formerly Terralux, we have the vision to see beyond current conditions and continuously advance toward real innovation.
Founded in Boulder, Colorado, Sielo has been designing and manufacturing building intelligence and LED solutions since 2003.
Laura Baumgartner, Asylum PR


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KELLYVILLE residents are cleaning out their cupboards in preparation for Australia’s biggest garage sale.
The Garage Sale Trail is a national initiative which aims to provide a novel way for residents to declutter, reduce waste, make money and raise money for charity.
Mayor Yvonne Keane said one way people could get involved is to band together with their neighbours and put on a street wide garage sale.
“The more garage sales per street, the greater the response from bargain hunters,” Mayor Keane said.
“It gives local community members the opportunity to grab a bargain and make a few dollars from items they no longer want.”
Homeowners on Mediati Avenue, in Kellyville, are one of 45 sales registered in the area for the Garage Sale Trail on October 22.
A range of second-hand goods are for sale including books, clothes, tools, kitchen and general household items, and furniture.
“With almost 50 garage sales already registered in The Sydney Hills, there will be plenty to choose from,” Mayor Keane said.
“My advice for shoppers is to get up early and plan your day - that way you ensure you don’t miss a thing.”
The award-winning sustainability and community campaign was founded in 2010 and has grown from one event in Sydney to a massive national program supported by more than 54 local NSW Councils.
For more information about the sale, visit garagesaletrail.com.au.


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Tiny electronic sensors and devices that can be implanted in the body and then dissolve almost without a trace are getting closer to reality.
Scientists have tested several biodegradable materials, including DNA, proteins and metals, for making transient electronics. Now one team, reporting in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, has taken another step toward this goal. They created a dissolvable device component out of egg proteins, magnesium and tungsten.
Transient electronics have many potential applications from localized drug delivery to pollution monitoring. To explore these possibilities, scientists have been working with an array of natural materials to test how well they perform in electronic devices and whether they might cause side effects or damage when implanted. Unlike conventional electronics that contribute to a growing amount of harmful waste, dissolvable devices are designed to be compatible with the environment. Jikui Luo, Xiaozhi Wang and colleagues wanted to build on this work and develop a transient memory resistor with dissolvable components. This electronic component, also called a memristor, is a new type of resistor that regulates the flow of electric current and also can “remember” charges.
The researchers rapidly spun diluted egg albumin, the white part of an egg, on a silicon wafer to turn it into an ultra-thin film. Then they incorporated electrodes made out of magnesium and tungsten. Testing showed that the device’s performance matched that of non-degradable memristors. Under dry conditions in the lab, the components worked reliably for more than three months. In water, the electrodes and albumin dissolved in two to 10 hours in the lab. The rest of the chip took about three days to break down, leaving minimal residues behind.
The Latest on: Dissolvable electronics
via Google News
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via Bing News


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MARY REICHARD, HOST: Today is Wednesday, May 29th. Thank you for turning to WORLD Radio to help start your day. Good morning. I’m Mary Reichard.
NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. In many parts of the country, next week is the beginning of “market season.” Fresh baked breads, grass-fed beef, raw honey, and of course unique fruits and vegetables.
The farmers market in Kent, Washington, is set to open. Last fall, WORLD Radio’s Jenny Lind Schmitt spoke with the farmers who are going to make it happen next week.
JENNY LIND SCHMITT, REPORTER: When Noel Fadonougbo moved to the United States, he missed the vegetables he ate growing up in Benin. Then he heard about the East Hill Farmers’ Market in Kent—a Seattle suburb. The market specializes in produce native to Africa and the Middle East:
FADONOUGBO: It’s like an American who goes some part of the world and there’s no cheeseburger, and they give you space to make a cheeseburger! That’s how I feel!
Fadonougbo is more than a customer—he’s one of 12 immigrant farmers growing produce for the market.
FADONOUGBO: There are some typical beans from West Africa that we don’t see in the market here that we grow on that farm. And there is okra! We don’t often find okra here.
The Kent East Hill Farmers’ Market is the handiwork of Shamso Isaak, a longtime resident of Kent and immigrant from Somalia.
ISAAK: When we first started in 2014…we dreamt about bringing healthy foods to our community….
Over the last decade, lower-income populations have moved into Kent. At the same time, local stores started disappearing. Isaak saw increasing health concerns among the immigrant population, and looked for a way to help.
ISAAK: When we find out that a lot of stores have been closing in Kent, that’s when we said, okay, what is the definition of a food desert? And that was us: living in a place where we have to drive to go get food.
But since many refugees don’t have cars, Isaak began dreaming of a local farmers’ market within walking distance from the low-income apartments where many live.
The Kent East Hill Farmers’ Market began in 2016. Risho Sapano is the co-founder.
SAPANO: And we hosted a couple of meetings with the community, too, and we invited others farmers’ market communities who did it so we can learn from them.
Sapano is originally from Sudan. She wanted the market to do more than provide affordable, healthy food for her community. She wanted to offer produce that immigrants were familiar with—food not found in most local stores.
At first, Isaak and Sapano couldn’t find vendors who would commit to a once-a-month market. So they approached immigrant farmers at local Pea-Patch Gardens—offering them free vendor space in exchange for growing traditional vegetables. The plan worked.
The first year there were only three farmers. Four years later, that number has quadrupled.
Meanwhile, not far away were eight abandoned greenhouses. Northwest Harvest, a local food non-profit, arranged access to the greenhouses for Kent Market volunteers.
Hillary Bii grew up farming in Kenya. He was part of the group that got the greenhouses ready to use again.
BII: It was bad. All the weeds grown, everything was left the way it was. So we had to clean it up, move everything out and started building boxes and putting all the soil and manure to make things grow.
Bii and other farmers tended greenhouse crops evenings after work and on weekends. They grew common crops like cucumbers, tomatoes and kale, but also planted collard greens, okra, spider plant, cowpeas, and amaranth—vegetables that don’t usually grow in Washington’s cool climate, but thrived in the greenhouses.
BII: We had a lot of the African community in Kent coming and buying the amaranth. We also had another traditional green called mulukhiyah and they also loved those greens that reminds them back in the country that they’re came from.
Amaranth and spider plant were big sellers. Kale—not so much.
AUDIO: Camels are milked on the weekend.
The market has also attracted other ethnic food vendors. One sells milk from a camel dairy in Colorado.
ISAAK: We use for drinking. In our culture, camel milk is more nutritious than cow milk, so we drink a lot of camel (milk).
This market provides much more than food, it’s a gathering place — a melting pot– for the many different cultures present here.
Saadiyah Albdri missed her daily visits to the bazaars of her native Iraq. So she comes here for the fresh produce—but also finds connection with her neighbors.
AUDIO: She says I’m so happy about this farmers’ market. She interested in all kinds of people here. And she say she lives close to this space, this park.
In addition to selling his produce, vendor Hillary Bii says he also appreciates the exposure to different cultures and the chance to sample the various ethnic cuisines—like camel’s milk!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the Kent market a grant, allowing it to expand this year’s market to twice a month. So Isaak and the others are busy recruiting more farmers—immigrant and non-immigrant—to expand the greenhouse project and provide more diversity in market offerings.
Meanwhile, Fadonougbo grew garlic through the winter, and has planted for spring. And he’s also tending a different kind of crop. When he heads to the greenhouse, he takes his daughters with him: teaching them how to farm, to care for themselves and for others.
FADONOUGBO: I want to show my daughters how you can produce your own food instead of going to the supermarket and buying. I want to show them that with just a little space you can produce your own food. Because that’s how we used to do back home.
For WORLD Radio, I’m Jenny Lind Schmitt, reporting from Kent, Washington.
(Photo/East Hill Farmers’ Market)
WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.


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Customs Clearance Expertise in Dover
Franzosini and Butti (F&B Ltd) opens customs clearance office in Dover to help imports and exports after Brexit
Franzosini & Butti (F&B Ltd), an amalgamation of Swiss and Italian logistics expertise, proudly announces the inauguration of its new customs clearance office in Dover, tailored to streamline import and export processes in the post-Brexit landscape.
Nestled in the bustling hub of Dover, this office emerges as a beacon of efficiency, symbolizing the synergy between the renowned Swiss transport and logistics connoisseur, Franzosini Group, and the Italian customs virtuoso, Butti Dino. Together, they herald a new era of customs facilitation, offering over 150,000 annual declarations for cross-border shipments into Europe.
As the UK navigates the complexities of newly-minted regulations, F&B Ltd’s Dover-based customs clearance services stand as a testament to the proactive and adaptive spirit of these family-founded entities. The Dover initiative is a strategic response to the burgeoning demands of Brexit’s commercial reshaping.
Marco Tepoorten, the visionary at the helm of Franzosini Group, elucidates the organic partnership’s evolution: “Our collaboration is a natural extension of our shared values and history, converging to deliver exemplary customs clearance services in Dover.”
Alessandro Butti, the director of Butti Dino, reflects on the transformative impact of Brexit: “This pivot has necessitated a competitive edge in an evolving marketplace, one we’re confident our Dover office provides.”
With the support of Locate in Kent, F&B Ltd has established its Dover presence on Cannon Street, appointing the seasoned customs connoisseur, Evelynne Morris, as the UK manager. This strategic move fortifies the group’s dedication to exceptional customs clearance services, bridging the UK with Europe.
For inquiries and seamless customs clearance solutions in Dover, contact us:
Telephone: +44 1304 793366
Find the full story at our Kent business news feature.


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DAEJEON — When the South Korea government unveiled an expanded semiconductor material testing facility last month, the centerpiece was a towering white machine given by Samsung Electronics at a fraction of its market price.
The facility, aimed at motivating local suppliers to make and test sophisticated chipmaking materials like photoresist, comes as South Korea pushes for self-sufficiency after Japan last year imposed export curbs https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-japan-laborers-chip-analys/south-korean-chip-giants-face-strangling-from-japanese-export-curbs-idUSKCN1UR3LZ on high-tech chip materials.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
While industry sources warn Korea has a long way to go to achieve this, the need for self-reliance in chip technology has become more critical with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and U.S.-China tensions threatening to accelerate supply chain shifts.
Large chip-making companies like Samsung would previously source the best components at the cheapest price “no matter where the material was from,” said Lee Jo-won, president of the National Nanofab Center, home to the testing facility.
“But due to Japan’s export curbs and COVID-19, they have begun to … foster local suppliers and to create a system where they can be supplied without disruptions,” Lee told Reuters at the center in Daejeon city, 150 km (93.21 miles) south of Seoul.


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As 2021 draws to a close, the Business Events industry is witnessing a boom with several in-person or hybrid events and exhibitions on the books. The industry is therefore optimistic in its recovery hopes but warns that pre-COVID levels may only be achieved by 2023.
The recent announcement of dates for Meetings Africa 2022 and Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022 has stimulated even more optimism.
SAACI National Chairperson, Kim Roberts, said: “Corporate South Africa is using this 2021 window to meet in person or have a year-end event.”
But, she added that due to the restrictions placed on the Business Events industry – via the Disaster Management Act, which is still in place – the capacity limits on venues remain a frustration for corporates who would like specific spaces, but find that now these cannot work for them. Nor can the venues themselves make their spaces work as they did pre-COVID.
Now that individuals are ready to leave their PC screens and meet in person, there is more interest being shown in national destination events, where there is the opportunity to travel in South Africa.
Roberts continued: “Programme formats are shorter all-round, allowing more free time, as delegates have yearned for wellness time. Many programmes include wellness and health segments.” Roberts highlighted a challenge in the services sector - low staff numbers supporting events. “Lots of training on-site is needed,” she said.
SAACI CEO, Glenton De Kock pointed out that events such as Intra-African Trade Fair (taking place this month in Durban), African Energy week last week in Cape Town, the Cape Town Cycle Tour and Cape Town Marathon, as well as the Ironman event the Ironman held last weekend in Gqeberha, added to the awareness globally that Destination SA is open for business.
“While we are seeing optimism as we approach 2022, and while things continue to improve, the industry views 2023 as the year we will be close to returning to 2019 activity (which was not a great year),” cautioned De Kock.
He encouraged players in the sector to hold smaller in-person business events that occur regularly. “This will aid the Business Events industry's drive to a sustained recovery. Confidence over the past 20 months continues to build as the industry has demonstrated that it can meet safely and responsibly when it is allowed to work,” said De Kock.


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Flipkart Big Billion Days: Interns Will Get Rs 500/Day To Manage Supply Chain In Tier 2 Cities
Flipkart is now hiring students to work for their supply and logistics department as interns for 45 days as the e-commerce giant awaits a huge demand in the upcoming sale for the festive season.
Read on to find out all the details!
Flipkart To Hire Students As Interns Ahead Of Big Billion Days Sale
Just like every year, Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale will go live ahead of the festive season and estimates are that there will be 22 million daily shipments in the last festive season.
The company has already promised that they will be creating 70,000 new jobs in the supply chain. And now, students who wish to earn while they learn can avail of this opportunity of interning with Flipkart under Flipkart’s Launchpad programme.
In a statement, Flipkart has said, “Students from tier-II cities and beyond will get an opportunity to work across key supply chain functions at Flipkart’s facilities across India. Launchpad will help students gain critical skills in supply chain management and create an ecosystem of trained professionals for the e-commerce industry.”
Flipkart is looking for students who will work in the supply and logistics chain as interns for about 45 days. This will be a paid internship, with about Rs. 500 will be paid to the intern daily.
However, the local state and labour laws will be taken into account while paying them, and the pay can go only as high as Rs. 600 per day.
Internships Available In Small Towns, Students Will Be Taught New Skills
Also. Flipkart is working with educational institutions in 21 locations, which include Binola (Haryana), Bhiwandi (Maharashtra), Uluberia and Dankuni (West Bengal) and Malur (Karnataka), Medchal (Telangana), and more to “identify meritorious students and engage the selected students at its fulfilment centres.”
This internship opportunity will also be available in small towns.
Flipkart has said that these students will get the opportunity to learn new skills along with the monetary benefits. “Upon joining, students will be trained in various aspects of supply chain management while following strict practices that prioritise their health and safety.”
Last year, more than 2000 students had participated at Flipkart during the Big Billion Days Sale.


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Friday, January 4, 2013
Unilever to phase out micro plastics by 2015
Anglo-Dutch consumer giant Unilever says it is planning to phase out microplastics from a number of its personal care ranges by the year 2015, in response to increasing awareness over environmental concerns. This comes after growing evidence from marine scientists and environmental groups that microplastic particles are accumulating in the ocean, causing considerable environmental perils to a range of marine life and eco systems
Evidence on micro beads points to ocean pollution
The company said that it had reviewed the growing evidence on micro beads from its own product portfolio and that it has consequently decided to take action on micro beads for all current ranges and a number of products in the pipeline. Micro plastics have been used in a range of soaps, scrubs and shower gels as a means of giving exfoliating and texture qualities to formulations.
"We have decided to phase out the use of plastic micro beads as a 'scrub' material in all of our personal care products. We expect to complete this phase globally by 2015", the company said in an official statement.
Poor biogdegredation of micro plastics
Scientific evidence suggests that micro plastics are slow to biodegrade, leading to long lasting accumulation and pollution in both waterways and oceans once waste water is discarded. The research also shows that the discarded micro plastics can be ingested by a very wide range of marine organisms, with evidence pointing to deposit-feeing lugworms and filter-feeding mussels as demonstrating ingestion of the substance.
Scientists have also pointed out that, unlike other plastic-based pollutions, because micro-plastic particles are only around 5mm in diameter, assessing their exact impact on the environment is particularly difficult.
In 2010, Unilever unveiled a sustainability strategy that aims to halve the company's environmental impact, while simultaneously doubling the size of the business by 2020. Unilever says its products are used by some two billion people every day, so their phase-out could have a big environmental benefit.
Unilever’s announcement is a step in the right direction, but the environmental impact of these tiny plastic pieces remains unclear, and they can still be found in other beauty products. More research will need to be done on how microplastics affect the animals that ingest them, and the larger role they may play in the food web. In the meantime, washing less plastic down the drain can’t be a bad thing.
For more information on micro plastic beads, watch this video from the Plastic Soup Foundation. You can also sign their petition to help ban cosmetics with micro beads in them.
Photo courtesy of Moyan_Brenn via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)


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Private Equity: Real Estate Firms Eye J.C. Penney
Private equity firm and Real Estate Investment Trusts are having discussions about buying J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP) if the bankrupt retailer does not reach an agreement with creditors.
The department store filed for bankruptcy in May after the spread of the coronavirus forced the retailer to close more than 800 stores across the country. J.C. Penney had been struggling to survive for the past few years, and the virus was the final nail in its coffin.
J.C. Penney Might Be a Target
Sycamore Partners is said to be the leading candidate to buy the company should negotiations fail. Sycamore specializes in retail. The private equity firm owns several retailers, including Dollar Tree, Hot Topic, Staples, The Limited, and several other chains. Sycamore had a deal to buy Victoria’s Secret form L Brands (LB), which fell apart when the chain had to close stores and miss rent payments because of the pandemic.
Another scenario involves Sycamore joining with J.C.Penney’s biggest landlords, Brookfield Asset Management (BAM), and Simon Properties (SGP) to buy the retailer. Wells Fargo (WFC) is also said to be involved in the discussions, although it is unclear what role the bank would play in a deal for the department store.
J.C. Penney is in discussions about handing over control to its lenders in exchange for reducing its nearly $5 billion of debt. This would depend on several investment firms that hold the company’s senior debt and have provided the company’s bankruptcy financing agreeing with the proposal by July 14. If they cannot reach an agreement with the lenders by the date, Penney will have to abandon the reorganization plan and look for a buyer.
The plan being discussed would result in J.C. Penney being split into two companies. One would be a real estate investment trust that would own the company’s property and lease it back to J.C. Penney. The other would operate J.C. Penney’s department store business.
Any reorganization plan or sale of J.C. Penney would require the approval of the bankruptcy court.
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Digital TV News: iWedia
iWedia to demonstrate software solutions for IPTV, Google TV, OTT, and SAT>IP devices at TV Connect 2013
Mar 14, 2013 — iWedia has announced that it will be showcasing a collection of software solutions for connected TV devices during TV Connect 2013. With an offering that covers IPTV, Google TV, OTT, and SAT>IP, iWedia affirms itself as the software partner of choice for connected TV devices.
News categories: iWedia, Gateway, IPTV, Middleware, OTT, Set Top Box, TVConnect
iWedia releases Teatro-3.0 software for Linux SAT>IP headless broadcast gateways
Jan 10, 2013 — iWedia has announced that it has released a dedicated edition of its Teatro-3.0 software solution targeted at Linux operated, SAT>IP based headless broadcast gateways.
News categories: iWedia, CES, Gateway, Home Networking, Middleware, Satellite
iWedia selected by Google as Software integrator for Google TV
Jan 9, 2013 — iWedia has announced that it has concluded an agreement with Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) to provide iWedia integration services to Google partners wishing to deploy the Google TV platform in their products.
News categories: iWedia, Google TV, Blu-ray, CES, Middleware, OTT, Set Top Box, Smart TV
iWedia to launch Teatro-4 turnkey software for Smart TVs at IFA 2012
Aug 31, 2012 — iWedia has announced the launch of its Teatro-4 line of products at IFA 2012 in Berlin. Teatro-4 is a comprehensive line of turnkey software solutions targeted at Smart TVs giving support to analogue and digital TV and managing the TV chassis.
News categories: iWedia, Digital TV, IFA, Middleware, Smart TV
iWedia set-top box solution enters mass production with General Satellite
Jul 25, 2012 — iWedia has announced that one of its set-top box (STB) solutions has been adopted by General Satellite for its GS-8305 decoder which is to be deployed on the network of Tricolor TV, the largest satellite television operator in Russia.
News categories: iWedia, General Satellite, Tricolor TV, Conditional Access, Digital TV, Middleware, Russia, Satellite, Semiconductor, Set Top Box
iWedia to launch Teatro line of turnkey software solutions for STBs and Smart TVs at ANGA Cable 2012
Jun 11, 2012 — iWedia has announced the launch of its Teatro line of products at ANGA Cable 2012 in Cologne. A comprehensive line of turnkey software solutions, Teatro is equally relevant for zappers, advanced STBs, and Smart TVs.
News categories: iWedia, ANGA COM, DLNA, HbbTV, MHEG-5, Middleware, Personal Video Recorder, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Smart TV
iWedia at the forefront of Smart TV developments with HbbTV, DLNA, CI Plus, and Android4TV products
Sep 7, 2011 — iWedia has announced that it will be presenting its latest developments at IBC. iWedia will be showcasing its turnkey software solution for hybrid set-top boxes.
News categories: iWedia, DLNA, HbbTV, IBC, Middleware, Set Top Box, Smart card / CAM, Smartphone, Tablet
SmarDTV to purchase assets from French technology company Iwedia
Dec 2, 2010 — SmarDTV (SIX: KUD.S) has announced that it has entered into an agreement to purchase certain assets from French technology company Iwedia including the transfer of all staff (approximately 20) from Iwedia to SmarDTV.
News categories: SmarDTV, Digital TV, France, M&A, Middleware, Set Top Box, Smart card / CAM, Smart TV
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- 24% of Russian homes equipped for satellite TV reception
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- Eastern Europe to add 13 million digital TV homes in 2013
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AND INVITES SHOPPERS TO ONLINE HIGH-FASHION CATWALK THIS WEEKEND
Supermarket Aldi is unveiling its first ever Aldimania Winter Collection, available to pre-order online from 14th November and in store from 21st November, with a high-fashion online catwalk event – helping Aldi fans to celebrate in true Aldimania style this Christmas.
All Aldi fashionistas are invited to attend the catwalk show by visiting Aldi’s Facebook and Twitter channels at 4pm on Saturday 13th November, where the full range will be modelled – giving the high street range a high-fashion feel, without the high prices. To launch the collection Aldi is also taking over the Victoria Warehouse billboard in Manchester; the largest of its kind in the UK and second largest in Europe, on Saturday 13th November.
The catwalk will take place in Aldi’s famed middle aisle, the traditional home of Specialbuy ranges. The event will feature models more used to strutting their stuff in designer collections and for big-name brands, having previously worked on campaigns for high-end makeup brand Illamasqua.
Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “Following the success of our Aldimania range earlier this year and huge demand from shoppers for more, we really wanted to take the collection to the next level by, not only expanding the range, but unveiling it with our very own high fashion catwalk. We can’t wait for our shoppers to see it!”
Hot on the heels of its first ever Aldimania loungewear range earlier this year, Aldi has taken it further with its new Winter collection, as well as bringing back the popular Aldimania Hoodie (£14.99 available online only) from the loungewear range – which was previously worn by Tommy Fury – and sold out in minutes when it first went on sale in April.
Also included is Aldi’s take on the Christmas jumper – with designs featuring traditional snowflake and reindeer patterns – with Aldi’s logo at its heart.
Other products in the range include the Aldimania Christmas Fleece Jumper (£9.99 available online only) and Aldimania Christmas Fleece Trouser (£9.99 available online only) set, seen here modelled in the newly opened Aldi Denton Crownpoint store, as well as Aldimania Christmas Socks (£1.49) in a variety of vibrant designs.
Available to pre-order online from Sunday 14th November and in store from 21st November:
|IB: L/M ALDImania Xmas Jumper (48/2021)||£9.99|
|IB: L/M-Aldimania-Xmas-Socks (48/2021)||£1.49|
Available to pre-order online only from Sunday 14th November:
|IB: ALDImania Hoodie, unisex (46/2021)||£14.99|
|IB: L/M ALDIMANIA XMAS FLEECE JUMPER||£9.99|
|IB: L/M ALDIMANIA XMAS FLEECE TROUSERS||£9.99|
Available to pre-order online 21st November and in store 28th November:
|IB: L/M ALDIMANIA XMAS ONESIE||£17.99|
Aldi has reported bumper bubbly sales so far this Summer thanks to soaring temperatures and Jubilee celebrations. The supermarket’s best-selling Castellore Prosecco Spumante DOC (£6.25, 75cl) saw its highest day of sales EVER in June, with an incredible one bottle flying off the shelf every second!
Aldi’s Specialbuys Summer Sale has just got even better with more products added, and now you can even shop the sale from your local middle aisle. Just popping in for a loaf of bread? Now you can also take bargain trampolines, tents and garden must-haves to the check out and make the most of savings with up to 50% off. Bargain hunters will need to be quick though, as with all Specialbuys once they’re gone, they’re gone.


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Seattle and Burien and other cities have recently passed ordinances pertaining to implementing mandatory hazard pay for employees of large grocery stores within city limits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, Auburn City Councilman Larry Brown wants the city to consider something like that here.
“We’re all very fortunate that retail grocery workers stayed on the job and made available the food that we all need to buy when we go to the grocery store,” Brown began at the close of the March 8 council study session.
Noting that Seattle’s ordinance provides for $4-an-hour hazard pay, and Burien’s ordinance provides for $5 an hour, Brown said, “I was hoping that we could look at the potential of passing a similar ordinance here in Auburn to both help what are normally low-wage workers dealing with very difficult health issues … every day, and I was hoping our council would take a look at it.”
Brown, who is also president of the Washington State Labor Council, said several Auburn residents had suggested the idea to him.
City attorney Kendra Comeau will draw up a draft ordinance and resolution, and staff will provide information for council members to consider at a future study session.
Generally such ordinances affect only businesss with a minimum of 500 employees and a minimum of 10,000 square feet of store size, which immediately cuts out mom-and-pop outlets.
The larger grocery outlets have fought the measures as too expensive.
Grocery Workers Union UFCW Local 21 lobbied for the ordinances in Seattle and Burien and could take up the cause in Auburn.
On March 9, Tom Geiger, public informaation officer for UFCW Local 21, said he hadn’t had time to gather much information about the issue in Auburn, but he was able to offer some generalities.
“All of (these ordinances) are temporary in nature, that is, they are intended to last for a period of time when the emergencies are in place in different communities, and so most have time periods of, like, three to four months as cities assess the status of emergency orders,” Geiger said.
“The public has been very much in support of these as well. It’s unfortunate that the companies haven’t stepped up and done this voluntarily, hence the need for moving rhough local councils,” Geiger said.


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James Dyson, who recently became the richest person in the U.K., has shelved his plans to challenge Tesla with a high-end, all-electric SUV. Dubbed the Dyson Car, but officially called the N526, the only pictures of the vehicle appeared in The Times over the weekend, alongside an interview with Dyson, who explained that despite sinking £500 million (~$612 million) and years of research into the car, it won’t be coming to market.
Too expensive for this world — Dyson explained the final vehicle — which looks like a Range Rover Evoque, but has dimensions nearer those of a Hummer — would’ve needed to sell for around £150,000 (roughly $184,000) for the company to actually make any money off it.
While you can bet some people would buy one nonetheless and might consider it over the similarly priced Porsche Taycan, at three times the price of an optional extras-laden Tesla there’d be no hope of Dyson’s vehicle being a mainstream success. Especially considering selling cars and making money from them is a volume game, and Dyson would have to create a network of after-sales support facilities that would further eat into its already slim profits.
The news sucks, but Dyson doesn’t — Dyson is best known for its vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, bladeless fans, and iconic contactless Airblade hand dryers. It’s also known for its obsessive engineering that results in outstanding products that come with a similarly exceptional price tag. It’s also known for taking fresh approaches to products that don’t always pay off.
The Dyson car isn’t the first product it’s had to shelve because of costs — it also canned a washing machine which proved too expensive for consumers, but not before it made it to market and sold (albeit poorly) for five years. And earlier this year it spent millions on plans to produce ventilators that eventually turned out to be unnecessary. Fortunately, though, unlike Tesla Dyson is a private company, so it isn't accountable to shareholders for its decisions.
What might have been — The Dyson car is a seven-seater powered by a pair of 200kW electric motors capably of 536 BHP and 480 lb-ft of torque. Despite weighing 2.6 tonnes, it can do 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds, has a top speed of 125 mph, and can manage a staggering 600 miles to a charge. Combine that with the futuristic interior and we’re very sorry we won’t be seeing it at motor shows any time soon… or ever.
Some of the battery technology will live on and Dyson’s ideas may still make their way into rival automakers’ vehicles, but the N526 will go down in history as one motoring’s most expensive missteps.
This article was originally published on


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A recent report by Consumer Reports magazine indicates turbos (turbocharged engines) are more hype than help, generally failing to deliver.
Ford Motor Company disagrees with their analysis.
“We cannot answer for how Consumer Reports tested the Fusion, but its findings are not consistent with our internal and external feedback. It shows EcoBoost vehicles lead in customer satisfaction for fuel economy across segments – including surveys by J.D. Power,” asserts Said [Mr.] Deep, Ford’s product technology spokesman.
Ford has heavily invested in its EcoBoost system, offering a variety of different versions on a wide range of models. It plans to offer the technology on 80% of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. by mid-decade, from the little Fiesta all the way up to the big F-Series truck. But Ford isn’t the only maker disputing Consumer Reports’ latest test results.
Hyundai, which uses turbocharging on a wide range of its own products, has also raised a flag. In fact, it believes CR has shown that its claims for real-world mileage, “in fact do correlate nicely” with official EPA fuel economy figures.


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- Valkyria Chronicles launching with all DLC for PC in November
- Gran Turismo Awards 2014 to be at SEMA, sign-up forms now up
- Techland cancels PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Dyling Light
- Destiny Expansion I: The Dark Below launching December 9
- FizzCo’s on notice, Sunset Overdrive now available for Xbox One
Fancy A Date?
Developer- and Publisher-specific Articles: Convention
QuakeCon 2012 attendees looking to pre-register will be able to log in tonight at 7:00 p.m. (CST). As always, QuakeCon is free, but for those who want some extras, there are a limited number of premium packages that offer additional items to take away from the event. Details can be found below, but they range between $30 to $50 and are limited, the lowest to 350 and highest to 1,500, with items ranging from a Dishonored tallboy T-shirt to “fast-pass” access to panels and other events.
Blizzard has announced that tickets for the sixth annual BlizzCon convention will go on sale in two batches, starting on Saturday, May 21. For those who don’t get in the first time around, the second batch will go on sale on Wednesday, May 25. Tickets are $175 and will be available at BlizzCon.com.


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Craft Beer Will Keep Growing & Here’s Why
CHICAGO — Once 2015 draws to a close, craft beer is predicted to see 22-percent dollar sales growth for the year, bringing the category to $24 billion in sales, according to new research from Mintel. The segment has also seen an 83-percent increase in its share of the U.S. beer market in a five-year period, going from 4.5-percent share in 2009 to 8.5 percent in 2014, while overall beer volume fell by 2 percent during the same timeframe.
The craft beer segment is currently in a state of growth as new breweries and brew pubs launch, and distribution markets expand.
"Craft beer sales are predicted to grow in 2015, further increasing market share, as the result of a perfect storm of factors, including an engaged consumer base interested in trying new products; a savvier group of shoppers invested in where their products come from and how they are made; and a market that responded with an elevated version of a familiar product that ticks all the boxes," stated Beth Bloom, food and drink analyst for Mintel.
Consumption of craft beer increased from 14 percent in 2011 to 19 percent in 2015 among U.S. consumers. Although this is a positive sign, Mintel noted that craft consumption is still dwarfed by that of beer overall, which sees 46-percent penetration among U.S. consumers. At the same time, consumption of regular (not light or low-calorie) domestic beer fell from 28 percent in 2011 to 24 percent in 2015, which indicates opportunities for craft to increase its category share.
One strength of craft beer is its role as an entry point among less-likely beer drinks, including women. While females aged 22-plus are significantly less likely than men to drink beer overall (49 percent vs. 73 percent respectively), the gap is considerably smaller when it comes to craft beer, at 14 percent of women vs, 20 percent of men, according to Mintel's findings.
A more expansive craft flavor profile may be one factor behind this. Among beer drinkers aged 22-plus, women (26 percent) are more likely than men (23 percent) to be interested in trying seasonal brews. Women are also more likely to have tried fruit-flavored beers (42 percent of women vs 39 percent of men). Twenty percent of craft beer launches in 2015 carried the seasonal claim, according to the Mintel Global New Products Database.
"Craft consumption has grown over the last five years due, in part, to an expansion of offerings and purchase channels that increase both access and awareness. While craft beer consumption remains modest in comparison to beer overall, craft has the potential to chip away share from other beer segments, including lighter beer offerings. It's perceived as more affordable than imports, and with the proper promotion of lighter styles, may appeal to light beer drinkers," Bloom added. "What's more, lighter craft offerings can appeal for sessionability, for diversifying drinking occasions, and may be perceived by some consumers to be a healthier alcohol alternative."
Preserving craft beer's performance will require expanding the consumer base. Twenty-two percent of Americans aged 22 and older who drink beer consider themselves knowledgeable about beer, with that figure rising to 28 percent among millennials. However, while 61 percent of U.S. consumers aged 22-plus drink beer, just 17 percent drinks craft. And only 10 percent of beer drinks say that craft beer is easy to find.
A slower growth rate is projected through 2020 due to consumers turning to an expanding range of alcohol options; craft-style launches from larger brewers; and craft brewery acquisitions by larger beverage companies, Mintel cited.


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Processed meats – for example sausages, ham or bacon – are linked to a higher risk of cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
It is classed as “carcinogenic to humans” on the basis of sufficient evidence for colorectal cancer, and an association with stomach cancer.
By eating 100g a day of red meat, your risk of colorectal cancer increases by 17%, and 50g of processed meat (less than two slices of ham) a day increases your risk by 18%, the report stated after reviewing the evidence.
Processed meat refers to meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavour or improve preservation.
Similarly, red meat – beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse, or goat meat – has been classed as “probably carcinogenic to humans”, though the report admitted that red meat also contains B vitamins, iron, and zinc.
In response, Professor Robert Pickard, emeritus professor of Neurobiology at the University of Cardiff and a member of the Meat Advisory Panel, said he was “very surprised” at the strong conclusion of the report “given the lack of consensus within the scientific community and the very weak evidence regarding the causal relationship between red meat and cancer.
”Avoiding red meat in the diet is not a protective strategy against cancer. The top priorities for cancer prevention remain smoking cessation, maintenance of normal body weight and avoidance of high alcohol intakes. Red meat has a valuable role within a healthy, balanced diet thanks to its high protein content and rich nutritional composition,” he added.


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US: European and US wineries sign geo-origin pact
Europe's producers of Champagne, Port and Sherry have joined winemakers from Napa Valley, Oregon, and Washington State in signing a declaration of joint principles stating the importance of location to wine and the need to protect place names.
It is hoped this meeting marks the beginning of a broader, collaborative effort on the part of these trade associations focusing on educating consumers about the importance of wine origin and the practice of clear and accurate labeling.
The effort comes at a time when there is growing concern about mislabeling and the lack of legal protection for place names in the United States.
Last month at Vinexpo, the world's largest international wine and spirits exhibition, wine leaders from around the world signed on in support of a declaration produced by the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) that addresses this issue in very clear and simple terms.
"Winemakers worldwide know that when it comes to wine, location matters," said Joel Aiken, president of the NVV board of directors. "Our goal for this initiative is simple -- in Europe most people are familiar with the concept of 'terroir,' but in the US this concept is not part of the vernacular. We have joined together as winemakers to help promote a broader public awareness of why place is important to wine, and why the names of the places where great wines are produced need to be used accurately."
In the declaration, the signatories state that: "Wine, more than any other beverage, is valued based on its association to its place of origin -- and with good reason. The names of these places are familiar, and synonymous with quality."
The declaration goes on to say that, "The geographic place names of wine regions are the sole birthright of the grapes that are grown there, and when these names appear on wines that do not contain fruit from that region, they lose their integrity and their relevance, becoming merely words."
"Regardless of what side of the Atlantic you come from, we all agree that great wine is made in unique places all over the world and that these unique place names must be protected. A failure to do so does nothing but diminish the credibility of our industry as a whole," said Bruno Paillard, representing the Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC). "Just as it doesn't make sense for Florida oranges to come from New Mexico or Idaho potatoes from Georgia, a wine bearing the name of Napa Valley or Champagne should not come from China. We are committed to educating consumers about the importance of place and ending the use of misleading labels."
As part of the event, Champagne, Port and Sherry also announced plans to open the Center for Wine Origins later this year. The organisation will be dedicated to educating US consumers and policymakers about the importance of location and accurate labelling.
The Port industry is currently facing a period of considerable change and adjustment. Innovation and evolving a modern, viable industry structure are seen as vital if Port is to compete effectively in...
An innovative fermented lemonade produced by a small Bavarian brewer is one of the more unlikely brand success stories of recent times, but Bionade has taken the Hamburg club scene by storm, earning i...
Three Port shippers are for sale as consolidation continues to bite in the Douro Valley....
After almost 20 years of talks, US and European Community (EC) negotiators have announced an agreement on key provisions of the wine trade....
Maxxium UK has added to its Highland Park range, launching a 30 year old single malt for the first time....
A brewer in Germany claims to have produced the world's strongest beer. ...
Drinks group Maxxium Canada is set to become the third largest spirits company in Canada, following the addition of four new brands resulting from the recent acquisition of some Allied Domecq brands b...
Leading US and European wine regions are to sign a declaration to protect and promote "location" within the wine industry, the Office Of Champagne in the US said yesterday (18 July)....
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Apple Computer announced a $46 million profit for its second operating quarter of 2004, based on revenue of $1.9 billion and sales of nearly 750,000 Macs and over 800,000 iPods. International sales accounted for 43 percent of the quarter’s revenue, and gross margins were a still-substantial 27.8 percent. The quarterly profit takes into account a $7 million restructuring charge; Apple will likely incur restructuring charges next quarter as well, as the company today announced plans to further streamline processes by shutting down its Sacramento, California, manufacturing facility and moving those operations to a supplier in southern California. Nonetheless, Apple remains in good financial shape, having completed its third quarter of double-digit revenue expansion, keeping $4.6 billion in cash on hand, and having no corporate debt.
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Association Publishes Polling Results on National Energy Shopping Day
(Harrisburg, PA) June 24, 2020 – The Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA), the nation’s leading trade association representing competitive retail energy suppliers, released the findings of a national scientific poll that indicates three out of four voters want options and choice when selecting their energy suppliers or providers. The results are released in conjunction with National Energy Shopping Day, which is created by RESA and published in Chase’s Calendar of Events 2020.
The survey was conducted by Ragnar Research Partners. Interviews included 1,000 Likely Voters (LVs) nationwide. Quotas on age, gender, ethnicity, education, and region were used to ensure a representative distribution. The study’s margin of error is ±3%.
The survey found a strong sense of importance for choice (76%) when deciding on consumer products such as cell phone or ISP plans. This sentiment is carried over to a near equal number of voters who agree (74%) that consumers should be able to shop for energy suppliers in the same way.
“It is clear that the majority of Americans want the right to choose their electric providers and suppliers,” said President of RESA, Matt White. “With only 14 states offering consumers a right to choose (or 28%), while three-quarters of Americans want a choice, clearly there is a disconnect. The data should shine a light on the reality of the situation for state legislatures to make more informed decisions on behalf of the people they represent going forward.”
Additionally, a majority of voters (58%) want energy to be a competitive marketplace and let competition drive down costs, although a plurality (49%) believes investors should be the ones to bear the cost of expanding energy infrastructure.
Those who are less satisfied with their energy supplier want increased competition, while those who are more satisfied are more willing to bear the cost of infrastructure expansion. A majority of voters (70%) are more likely to support increased competition among energy suppliers if it leads to an increase in low-cost, green energy options.
Highlight of poll findings can be seen in the figure below:
Similar to choosing an Internet or telephone service provider, consumers in some states can choose an electricity and natural gas supplier for their home or business. This choice is a significant change over traditional utility service, in which an energy consumer has no choice but to purchase from a monopoly utility service provider offering few or no options in terms of energy management tools, renewable energy and efficiency, and pricing.
“National Energy Shopping Day was created to educate consumers, regulators, and legislators on the benefits of retail choice,” said Tracy McCormick, executive director of RESA. “These benefits include setting efficient prices, development of innovative products and services, and the ability to efficiently meet clean energy policy objectives.”
For competition to be effective, all consumers must be afforded the right to shop for competitively priced energy products and services, just as they do for other services. Voters are ready for energy options in the marketplace and want more players in the game, such as green energy suppliers, to reduce costs.
A copy of the survey and more information on National Energy Shopping Day can be found at nationalenergyshoppingday.org.
The Retail Energy Supply Association is a broad and diverse group of retail energy suppliers who share the common vision that competitive retail energy markets deliver a more efficient, customer-oriented outcome than a regulated utility structure. RESA is devoted to working with all stakeholders to promote vibrant and sustainable competitive retail energy markets for residential, commercial and industrial consumers. For more information visit: www.resausa.org. Follow RESA on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
About Ragnar Research
With over 40 years of combined experience in public opinion research, the partners at Ragnar Research have a track record of getting the numbers right on behalf of candidates, colleges and universities, and Fortune 500 companies. Our survey research team is the best in the business. From our cutting-edge research design to our clear-sighted analysis, our survey research techniques are unmatched when it comes to getting the number right. Whether via live interviewer phone surveys, online surveys, or other methods, our team’s survey research has provided the right answers to hundreds of successful clients. For more information visit: ragnarresearch.com.


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Coimbatore, Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) on Monday appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to withdraw the cotton import duty, which it claimed, is severely hurting the global competitiveness of the Indian Textile and Clothing Industry.
The SIMA cited the announcement on the levy of 5 per cent BCD (Basic Cotton Duty) and 5 per cent AIDC (Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess) with applicable cess on the import of cotton in budget 2021-22. The levy of these import duties is a major blow to the Indian cotton textiles industry which was just recovering from losses suffered during the pandemic and lockdowns last year, SIMA Chairman Ashwin Chandran said in a statement here.
Similar import duty policy intervention of 10 per cent customs duty, 4 per cent additional customs duty and 3 per cent education cess exercised in 2007-08 had a severe impact on Indian spinning industry and after understanding the ill-effects, the government withdrew the import duty, he pointed out.
In view of this, Ashwin Chandran sought withdrawal of both the BCD and AIDC levied on cotton to create a level playing field on the raw material front for the Indian Textile and Clothing Industry.
While appreciating the bold initiatives of the ministry in addressing the structural issues in Man-Made Fibres, he stated that the import duty on raw cotton would erode the competitiveness of the value-added segments that has a business size of around Rs 50,000 crore in exports and Rs 25,000 crore in the domestic market.
These segments provide jobs to around 12 lakh people, he said.
“It has taken over a decade for the Indian textile industry to build up the market share in these segments and with the levy of cotton import duty, we will lose our competitiveness and market share to the competing countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Vietnam.”
The Government might receive around Rs 360 crore per annum as additional revenue on account of the import duty on cotton but will in turn imperil annual GST revenues of around Rs 1,800 crore,he claimed.
“More importantly, the import duty will not benefit the Indian cotton farmers owing to the negligible volume of imports and the non-availability of such speciality cottons in India at the moment,” he said.PTI


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East Sacramento Pizza Joint Closes
The Neighborhood Pizzeria has shut its doors in East Sacramento after only 10 months of business. The Sacramento Business Journal's Sonya Sorich says the eatery came from the same team as the popular Midtown spot Federalist Public House.
"Apparently its operators just couldn't find the right formula to make The Neighborhood Pizzeria work in East Sacramento,” says Sorich. “The restaurant began by offering square-shaped pizzas and later switched to a different recipe with round pizzas."
An owner of the business says the concept might've worked better in Midtown Sacramento.
Benihana Closing Citrus Heights Location
Benihana, the restaurant chain known for cooking food on hibachi grills in front of customers, is closing its only Sacramento area site. Sorich says the location in the Sunrise Village center in Citrus Heights will have its final day this Sunday.
"In a written statement, Benihana representatives said their Citrus Heights lease expired and the landlord is redeveloping the center,” says Sorich. “They also said they'd like to return to the Sacramento area when they find the right location."
Sunrise Village was built in the 1970s. A redevelopment project at the site is expected to add nearly 18,000 square feet of new space.
Niche Bread Abandons Midtown Café Plans
A Sacramento bakery has called off plans for a Midtown cafe. Sorich says the business was only in the space for 9 months.
"Last year, a local business called Niche Bread and Company announced plans to fill a space at 23rd and K streets, which was previously occupied by Skool Japanese Gastropub. This week, operators of Niche Bread said they won't be filling the space after all."
In a social media announcement, the business attributed the decision to "some unfortunate reasons." Operators of the bakery, which is known for its naturally leavened sourdough bread, say they're figuring out their next step and that the company will continue to exist.
Retail Development Planned For West Roseville
People who live in West Roseville could see a new retail center coming soon. Roseville city planners have begun the process of reviewing a proposed development called The Plaza at Blue Oaks. Sorich says the site is in a fast-growing section of town at Blue Oaks Boulevard and Fiddyment Road.
"The area is surrounded by thousands of planned or existing homes, but right now there appears to be little to no existing retail,” says Sorich. “With the uncertain state of retail, it's common these days to see homes constructed before retail projects. Those homes help ensure there are people to shop in the new retail centers."
The center would be anchored by an unnamed grocery store. And it looks like there would be a convenience store with a gas station. Overall, the project would have about 82,000 square feet of space, which is considered massive in the retail world.
Project Would Add New Office Space In North Natomas
New office space could soon be coming to North Natomas. That part of Sacramento hasn't seen many of those projects in the last decade because of a construction-moratorium spurred by flood-fears. The moratorium was lifted about five-years ago. Sorich says Sacramento developer Pappas Investments is planning a new five-building office project.
"They’re calling it Parkview Business Park, and it would be located along Duckhorn Drive between Arena Boulevard and San Juan Road,” says Sorich. “It would be able to accommodate up to 5,000 workers."
Since the building-moratorium was lifted in North Natomas, there's been slow progress at a couple of office parks: Natomas Pointe Plaza, and to the south of that, a massive campus for insurance firm Centene, where three buildings are expected to be ready for occupancy later this year.
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