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IndianaLocalNewsSouth Bend Market St. Joseph County Parks issues reopening plan Google+ TAGSAugustcoronavirusCOVID-19gradualIndianajulyJuneparksplanreopeningSouth BendSt. Joseph County By Brooklyne Beatty – June 2, 2020 0 388 (Photo Supplied/St. Joseph County Parks) St. Joseph County Parks has released its plan for gradually reopening County Park facilities.As of now, County Parks and trails are open to the public. When hiking, remember to stay on designated trails and keep dogs on a 6-foot leash.Beginning June 3, County Park offices are scheduled to reopen, and playgrounds are tentatively scheduled to open on June 15. Drinking fountains will remain closed.Reservations for open air shelters at all County Park locations will resume on July 6 and larger special events allowed to take place beginning that day, so long as CDC guidelines for social distancing are followed.Enclosed shelter reservations may begin on August 3.All St. Joseph County Parks are open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and open at 8 a.m. on weekdays.For questions, visit www.sjcparks.org, call the County Parks Main Office at (574) 277-4828 or email [email protected] Pinterest
Notre Dame sets the Blue Gold game for May 1
Google+ Facebook Notre Dame sets the Blue Gold game for May 1 By Tommie Lee – March 25, 2021 0 244 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Google+ (Photo supplied/University of Notre Dame) Notre Dame Football’s Blue Gold game will be May 1st.Due to the pandemic the only fans who will be allowed are members of the Notre Dame campus community, and family members of the coaches and players.Fans will be able to see the game exclusively on Peacock, for free. The scrimmage is the final spring practice, and will begin at 12:30 p.m.Tailgating will still be prohibited and campus ticketing policies will be the same as they were during the 2020 season. IndianaLocalNewsSouth Bend MarketSports WhatsApp Pinterest Twitter WhatsApp Previous articleTwo die in Dowagiac house fireNext articleTamm: Expect to still be required to mask up in Indiana restaurants Tommie Lee
Statement to Parliament: Home Secretary statement on the Windrush generation
From the late 1940s to the early 1970s, many people came to this country from around the Commonwealth to make their lives here and help rebuild Britain after the war.All members of this House will have seen the recent heartbreaking stories of individuals who have been in this country for decades struggling to navigate an immigration system in a way they never, ever should have been.These people worked here for decades. In many cases they helped establish the National Health Service. They paid their taxes, enriched our culture. They feel British in all but legal status and this should never have been allowed to happen.Both the Prime Minister and I have apologised to those affected and I am personally committed to resolving this situation with urgency and purpose.Of course an apology is just the first step we need to take to put right the wrong these people have suffered, but before I get on to the steps we will be taking I want to explain how this situation has arisen.The Immigration Act 1971 provided that those here before it came into force should be treated as having been given indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK, as well as retaining a right of abode for certain Commonwealth citizens.Although HMS Windrush docked in the Port of Tilbury in 1948, it is therefore everyone that arrived in the UK before 1973 who were given settlement rights and not required to get any specific documentation to prove these rights.Since 1973 many of this Windrush generation would have obtained documentation confirming their status or would have applied for citizenship and then a British passport.From the 1980s successive governments have introduced measures to combat illegal immigration. The first NHS treatment charges for overseas visitors and illegal migrants were introduced in 1982. Checks by employers on someone’s right to work were first introduced in 1997, measures on access to benefits in 1999, civil penalties for employing illegal migrants in 2008, and the most recent measures in the Immigration Acts of 2014 and 2016 introduced checks by landlords before property is rented and checks by banks on account holders.The public expects us to enforce the immigration rules approved by Parliament as a matter of fairness for those who abide by the rules.And I’m personally committed to tackling illegal migration because I have seen in this job the terrible impact has on some of the most vulnerable in our society.But these steps intended to combat illegal migration have had an unintended, and sometimes devastating, impact on people from the Windrush generation, who are here legally, but have struggled to get the documentation to prove their status.This is a failure by successive governments to ensure these individuals have the documentation they need and this is why we must urgently put it right.Because it’s abundantly clear that everyone considers people who came in the Windrush generation to be British. But under the current rules this is not the case. Some people will just have indefinite leave to remain, which means they cannot leave the UK for more than 2 years and are not eligible for a British passport.This is the main reason we’ve seen the distressing stories of people leaving the UK over a decade ago and not being able to re-enter.So I want to enable the Windrush generation to acquire the status that they deserve – British citizenship – quickly, at no cost and with proactive assistance through the process.First, I will waive the citizenship fee for anyone in the Windrush generation who wishes to apply for citizenship. This applies to those who have no current documentation, and also to those who have it.Second, I will waive the requirement to carry out a Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK test.Third, the children of the Windrush generation who are in the UK will in most cases are British citizens. However, where that is not the case and they need to apply for naturalisation, I shall waive the fee.Fourth, I will ensure that those who made their lives here but have now retired to their country of origin, are able to come back to the UK. Again, I will waive the cost of any fees associated with this process and will work with our embassies and High Commissions to make sure people can easily access this offer.In effect this means anyone from the Windrush generation who now wants to become a British citizen will be able to do so.And this builds on the steps that I have already taken.On 16 April, I established a taskforce in my Department to make immediate arrangements to help those who needed it. This included setting up a helpline to get in touch with the Home Office. And let me be quite clear, this helpline and the information shared will not be used to remove people from the country. Its purpose is to help and support.We have successfully resolved 9 cases so far and made 84 appointments to issue documents.My officials are helping those concerned to prove their residence and they are taking a proactive and generous approach so they can easily establish their rights.We do not need to see definitive documentary proof of date of entry or of continuous residence. This is why the debate about registration slips and landing cards is misleading. Instead the caseworker will make a judgement based on all the circumstances of the case and on the balance of probabilities.Previously the burden of proof on some of the Windrush generation to evidence their legal rights was too much on the individual. And now we are working with this group in a much more proactive and personable way in order to help them.We were too slow to realise there was a group of people that needed to be treated differently. And the system was too bureaucratic when these people were in touch.The Home Office is a great department of state. It works tirelessly to keep us safe and protect us. It takes millions of decisions each year that profoundly affects peoples’ lives. And for the most part it gets these right.But recent events have shown that we need to give a human face to how we work and exercise greater discretion where and when it is justified.That’s why going forward I will be establishing a new customer contact centre, so anyone who is struggling to navigate the many different immigration routes can speak to a person and get the appropriate advice.This will be staffed by experienced caseworkers who will offer expert advice and identify a systemic problem much more quickly in the future.I will also be putting in place 50 senior caseworkers across the country to ensure where more junior members of staff are unsure about a decision they can speak to someone with experience to ensure discretion is properly exercised.There has also been much concern about whether the Home Office has wrongly deported anyone from the Windrush generation.The 1971 Immigration Act provides protection for this group if they have lived here for more than five years if they arrived in the country before 1973.And I am now checking all Home Office records going back to 2002 to verify that no one has been deported, in breach of this policy.This is a complex piece of work that involves manually checking thousands of records.So far, 4,200 records have been reviewed out of nearly 8000, which date back to 2002, and no cases have been identified which breach the protection granted under the 1971 Act.This is an ongoing piece of work and I want to be absolutely certain of the facts before I draw any conclusions. I will ensure the House is informed of any updates and I intend to have this data independently audited once my department has completed its work to ensure transparency.Mr Speaker, it was never the intention that the Windrush generation should be disadvantaged by measures put in place to tackle illegal migration.I am putting additional safeguards in place to ensure this will no longer happen, regardless of whether they have documentation or not.As well as ensuring the Home Office does not target action against someone who is part of the Windrush generation, I will also put in place greater protection for landlords, employers and others conducting checks in order to ensure we are not denying work, housing, benefits and services to this group.These measures will be kept carefully under review and I don’t rule out further changes if they are needed.Now I will turn to the issue of compensation.As I said earlier, an apology is just the first step we need to take to put right these wrongs. The next and most important task is to get those affected the documents they need. But we also do need to address the issue of compensation.Every individual case is painful to hear. But so much more painful, often harrowing for the people involved. These are not numbers but people with families, responsibilities, homes and I appreciate that.The state has let these people down. Travel documents denied, exclusions from returning to the UK, benefits cut, even threats of removal. This, to a group of people who came to help build this country. People who should be thanked.This has happened for some time. I will put this right and where people have suffered loss, they will be compensated.The Home Office will be setting up a new scheme to deliver this which will be run by an independent person.I will set out further details around its scope and how people will be able to access it in the coming weeks.Mr Speaker, I am also aware that some of those individual cases that have come to light recently relate not to the Windrush generation, but to people who came to the UK after 1 January 1973.These people should have documentation to confirm their right to be here.But I recognise some have spent many years here and will face similar issues in documenting their rights after so many years in this country.Given people who have been here for more than 20 years will usually go on a 10 year route to settlement, I am ensuring that people who arrived after 1973 but before 1988 can also access the Windrush taskforce so they can access the support and assistance needed to establish their claim to be here legally.I will consider further, in the light of the cases that come forward, whether any policy changes are needed to deal fairly with these cases.Mr Speaker I’ve set out urgent measures to help the Windrush generation documents their rights, how this Government intends to offer them greater rights than they currently enjoy, how we will compensate people for the hardship they have endured and the steps I will be taking to ensure that this never happens again.None of this can undo the pain already endured, but I hope it demonstrates this Government’s commitment to put these wrongs right going forward.
Press release: PM call with President Erdogan of Turkey: 27 August 2018
A Downing Street spokesperson said:“This morning the Prime Minister Theresa May spoke with President Erdogan of Turkey.“They discussed a number of their shared priorities. They both expressed their concerns about the escalating military action by the Syrian regime in north-west Syria putting millions of civilians at risk, and the potential for further – illegal – use of chemical weapons.“They discussed the importance of stability in the region, the need to protect civilians and to avoid a deterioration in the humanitarian situation. The Prime Minister reiterated her strong belief that the long-term stability of Syria can only be secured through a political settlement.“They also discussed the Turkish economy and the Prime Minister noted the UK is a major investor and trading partner with Turkey, and wants to see the Turkish economy flourish. The Prime Minister said the UK would welcome a visit from Turkey’s Treasury and Finance Minister to discuss ways to enhance the trade relationship between Turkey and the UK.”
Speech: UK update on the Western Balkans London Summit
The Prime Minister announced that the Government would double the number of UK staff working in the region on security issues affecting the UK and the Western Balkans. Through this co-operation we aim to prevent crime having a negative and destabilising impact both in the region and in the UK by strengthening the region’s own response to serious and organised crime, corruption and money laundering. Good morning and my thanks to Foreign Minister Professor Darmanovic for his invitation to join this important forum for discussing regional issues in particular the results of the London Summit. I’d like to update you on the UK’s plans to continue our support for the integration process and reform in the region. In terms of UK support for socio-economic development, we pledged UK support for regional economic growth, including a special focus on youth and by offering help for the next generation of Balkan entrepreneurs: At the Summit the UK announced it would commit £10 million to help build digital skills and employment prospects for young people in the Western Balkans. The funding will see the British Council provide training in every primary school in the region, reaching around one million children, to bolster digital literacy and core skills across the region, and help improve the employability of young people across the region. The UK also announced an expansion of its Global Entrepreneur Programme across the Western Balkans, which will help foster entrepreneurial spirit and provide mentoring to talented young people with an aspiration to scale up an existing business. Over 140 civil society and youth representatives from the region attended the London Summit’s Civil Society and Youth Forum. At the Summit, your colleagues, the six Western Balkans Interior Ministers signed the Joint Declaration on the Principles of Information-Exchange in the Field of Law Enforcement which committed to deepen regional cooperation against serious and organised crime and terrorism through increased operational and strategic information sharing. The UK committed to working with the region to improve its cyber resilience through a £1m investment in training and advisory activities, launching a Security Fellowships course on cyber security, and providing strategic support to Governments across the region, and establishing a UK-Western Balkans Security Discourse on Cyber Security. As Foreign Minister Crnadak said, the Summit, Berlin Process Heads also signed separate Joint Declarations on War Crimes and Missing Persons, through which the region’s leaders pledged to resolve as many remaining missing persons cases as possible over the next five years, to increase efforts to bring perpetrators of war crimes to justice and to support survivors of these crimes, including by addressing stigma resulting from conflict-related sexual violence. These declarations will be supported by a £1.5m project with ICMP to strengthen regional cooperation in the WB to resolve Missing persons’ cases, by project with MICT, and by a number of bilateral projects (currently underway) in BiH and Kosovo. In terms of UK support for reconciliation and good neighbourly relations in the Western Balkans, we helped renew support in the region for taking action on legacy issues from the conflicts of the 1990s and on developing good neighbourly relations. We did all of this because history teaches us that a secure and stable Western Balkans means a secure and stable Europe. By contrast, fragility in the Western Balkans holds risks not only for the people of the region but for everyone who calls Europe home. So it is in our shared interest to work together to increase stability and help the region on its Euro-Atlantic path.The UK is leaving the EU, but that does not change the fact that we want a strong, stable and prosperous European neighbourhood. And we remain of the view that the EU accession process is fundamental to delivering security, stability and prosperity in the Western Balkans. After we leave the EU, we will continue to work with international partners including the EU institutions and Member States, and with important groups such as this one, to achieve that goal.Thank you.
Your governments also endorsed a Franco-German roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons in the region. Recognising the important role of civil society in this effort, the British Government used the Summit to launch the Balkans Organised Crime Observatory, jointly with the Austrian and Norwegian governments, which will enable civil society to play a more effective role in tackling organised crime and corruption. Led by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, this will serve as a virtual network for key civil society actors to work together to monitor, report on and expose serious and organised crime and corruption, share research and good practice and improve strategic and operational coordination. The UK Government announced a new £4 million programme to expand the activities of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy across the Western Balkans, to support efforts to strengthen political cooperation. The programme will strengthen the three pillars of democracy – parties, parliaments and voters. WB6 Foreign Ministers meetingAt the Summit, the Prime Minister and her colleagues set out the UK’s long-term commitment to the prosperity and security of the region. We announced that the UK would increase our bilateral programme funding in the region to £80 million per year by 2020 to work with the countries of the Western Balkans and key partners in order to reinforce the UK’s engagement on security and social-economic development in the region, and support for reconciliation and the development of good neighbourly relations.In terms of UK engagement on security: The Heads of all Berlin Process countries signed a Joint Declaration on Regional Cooperation and Good Neighbourly Relations at the Summit. Through the Declaration, the governments of the Western Balkans re-committed to resolve all outstanding bilateral issues and to report annually on the progress made in strengthening good relations within the region. To ensure that this Declaration is implemented, Austria has recently hosted, and Macedonia has also agreed to host, stock-take meetings with the governments of the Western Balkans and other Berlin Process participants within six and nine months of the London Summit respectively, ahead of the 2019 Summit in Poland. Finally, we will also continue to work closely with Poland to ensure that agreements reached in London are followed up ahead of and during the 2019 Summit. As Foreign Minister Professor Darmanovic and Foreign Minister Crnadak noted the First Berlin Process Security Commitments Steering Group met last week in Podgorica, to take stock of progress since the Interior Ministers’ Meeting and to consider the concrete steps necessary to counter serious organised crime and other threats faced by the region.
News story: Study suggesting widespread illegal killing of hen harriers on English grouse moors published
Dr David Douglas, RSPB Principal Conservation Scientist and a co-author on the paper, said: Dr Megan Murgatroyd, from the University of Cape Town, who is the lead author of the study said: Natural England welcomes the publication of this study, which demonstrates the value of tagging as a legitimate conservation tool. These analyses are a significant step in understanding the fate of tagged hen harriers, and confirm what has long been suspected – that illegal persecution is having a major impact on the conservation status of this bird. This research identifies the scale of the problem hen harriers have faced on grouse moors. It makes for sobering reading and shows how vital it is that everyone involved in the future of this wonderful bird pulls together. Natural England is working in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, including moorland communities, conservation organisations, police and landowners to implement the joint Hen Harrier Action Plan which aims to improve the conservation status of this at-risk bird. The report, Patterns of satellite tagged hen harrier disappearances suggest widespread illegal killing on British grouse moors, can be found online on Nature Communications. The high rate of illegal persecution on grouse moors revealed by this study goes a long way to explaining why hen harriers are barely hanging on as a breeding bird in England. Satellite tag data is giving us very valuable insights into what is happening to our birds of prey in the UK. It has already provided compelling evidence of the link between suspicious golden eagle deaths and grouse moors in Scotland and now it has done the same for hen harriers in England.
Natural England’s long-term commitment to this tracking study has yielded an important dataset involving over 20,000 individual fixes. This is a remarkable achievement for a species whose population in England has averaged only a handful of pairs for the last few years. Whilst dead harriers can be disposed of, the pattern of hen harrier disappearances revealed by this data could not be hidden. The multiple levels of analyses of the data have all led to the same robust conclusion that hen harriers in Britain suffer elevated levels of mortality on grouse moors, and this is most likely the result of illegal killing. A new study reveals that young hen harriers in England suffer abnormally high mortality compared to populations in Orkney and mainland Scotland and the study provides compelling evidence that the most likely cause is illegal killing in areas associated with grouse moor management.Published today in Nature Communications this paper represents the culmination of a 10-year Natural England study involving 58 satellite tagged hen harriers. The analyses have been led by the University of Cape Town and Aberdeen University with the provision of land use data by the RSPB.The study showed the likelihood of hen harriers dying, or disappearing, was ten times higher within areas predominantly covered by grouse moor, compared to areas with no grouse moor. The study revealed that 72% of tagged harriers were either confirmed or considered very likely to have been illegally killed.The hen harrier, sometimes called the ‘skydancer’ because of its amazing acrobatic display in the breeding season, is one of England’s rarest birds and is legally protected. Illegal killing of hen harriers has long been thought to limit their population size, but identifying the scale of these crimes and their impact on harrier populations has been difficult because they occur in remote areas and evidence is likely to be destroyed, thus successful prosecutions are rare.This long-term study has enabled patterns of disappearances to be assessed across a large number of birds. This provides overwhelming evidence that illegal killing is occurring on some grouse moors, where some gamekeepers view hen harriers as a threat to their grouse stocks.Rob Cooke, Natural England Director said: Last year’s Hen Harrier breeding season was the most successful in over a decade with 34 chicks fledged across the country. While this was very encouraging we recognise that a continued partnership approach is required to combat illegal persecution of these rare birds and ensure that numbers of breeding hen harriers continue to grow. Stephen Murphy from Natural England led the data collection and commented:
Press release: Plans announced to introduce new laws for internet connected devices
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Technical Director, Dr Ian Levy said: The consultation follows the government’s voluntary Secure by Design Code of Practice for consumer IoT security launched last year. The Code advocates for stronger cyber security measures to be built into smart products right from the design stage, and has already been backed by Centrica Hive, HP Inc Geo and more recently Panasonic.The proposals come a day after Margot James held a roundtable on IoT security with global technology companies. As a result Amazon, Philips, Panasonic, Samsung, Miele, Yale and Legrand affirmed their commitment to taking steps to ensure that effective security solutions are being implemented across IoT products on the market.The Government is working with international partners to ensure that the guidelines drive a consistent approach to IoT security. The proposals set out in the consultation have the potential to impact security of devices made across the world to meet the UK’s future standards.Alternative options to the label that Government are also consulting on would be to mandate retailers to not sell any products that do not adhere to the top three security requirements of the Code.ENDSNotes to editors:The consultation document will be available on the Government’s Secure by Design pages and is open for 5 weeks. It has been published alongside a consumer survey report which tested various label designs with 6,482 UK consumers as part of helping to create a labelling scheme that was backed by evidence.The public consultation is part of a wider evidence based approach, to create regulatory proposals for consumer IoT products.In February, ETSI, the European Standards Organisation, Iaunched Technical Specification 103 645, the first globally-applicable industry standard on the cybersecurity of internet-connected consumer devices. TS 103 645 builds on the Code of Practice for Consumer IoT Security, but has been developed for wider European and global needs. Cybersecurity Tech Accord signatories endorsed the ETSI TS 103 645 in March 2019.Stakeholders can submit feedback to the consultation via [email protected] UK Government has also updated its guidance for consumers (‘Smart devices: using them safely in your home’) – the guidance has been published on DCMS and NCSC’s website.The Industrial Strategy sets out a long term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK. It sets out how we are building a Britain fit for the future – how we will help businesses create better, higher-paying jobs in every part of the UK with investment in skills, industries and infrastructure.The Minister made the announcement at the PETRAS/IET Living in the Internet of Things Conference (1-2 May 2019), at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Savoy Place. IoT device passwords must be unique and not resettable to any universal factory setting. Manufacturers of IoT products provide a public point of contact as part of a vulnerability disclosure policy. Manufacturers explicitly state the minimum length of time for which the device will receive security updates through an end of life policy. Many consumer products that are connected to the internet are often found to be insecure, putting consumers privacy and security at risk. Our Code of Practice was the first step towards making sure that products have security features built in from the design stage and not bolted on as an afterthought. These new proposals will help to improve the safety of Internet connected devices and is another milestone in our bid to be a global leader in online safety. techUK welcomes the publication of the Government’s consultation on regulatory next steps for consumer IoT. This follows the Government’s voluntary Secure by Design Code of Practice for consumer IoT security launched last year, which techUK supported. The Code advocates for stronger cyber security measures to be built into smart products right from the design stage. We are pleased that the security requirements outlined in the consultation are consistent with the Secure by Design Code of Practice and key industry standards that already exist for consumer IoT devices. This is an important first step in creating flexible and purposeful regulation that stamps out poor security practices, which techUK’s research shows can act as significant barriers on the take-up of consumer IoT devices. The proposals set out have the potential to positively impact the security of devices made across the world and it is good to see the Government is working with international partners to ensure a consistent approach to IoT security. techUK looks forward to responding to this consultation on behalf of our members. Serious security problems in consumer IoT devices, such as pre-set unchangeable passwords, continue to be discovered and it’s unacceptable that these are not being fixed by manufacturers. This innovative labelling scheme is good news for consumers, empowering them to make informed decisions about the technology they are bringing into their homes.
Basic cyber security features to be built into products Consumers will get better information on how secure their devices are Consultation now launched ahead of potential legislation Following the consultation, the security label will initially be launched as a voluntary scheme to help consumers identify products that have basic security features and those that don’t.Digital Minister Margot James said: Plans to ensure that millions of household items that are connected to the internet are better protected from cyber attacks have been launched by Digital Minister Margot James.Options that the Government will be consulting on include a mandatory new labelling scheme. The label would tell consumers how secure their products such as ‘smart’ TVs, toys and appliances are. The move means that retailers will only be able to sell products with an Internet of Things (IoT) security label.The consultation focuses on mandating the top three security requirements that are set out in the current ‘Secure by Design’ code of practice. These include that: CEO of techUK Julian David said:
China bakery insight 2012: lost in translation
British Baker’s associate editor Georgi Gyton has set off on a bakery tour of China to investigate the marketplace, NPD and the potential opportunities for UK bakers.Day one: Thursday 10 May – my arrivalIt certainly was a bit of a shock to the senses when I first reached Shanghai. You are greeted with a language you cannot recognise any of, both spoken and written, and quite frankly feel a little bit lost. After a long flight – well two long flights actually – the first hurdle I had to overcome was trying to find the taxi rank, which was harder that you’d imagine.However, I eventually tracked a taxi down, jumped in and gave the driver the address of the hotel. He looked at it, looked confused, spoke to his colleague, and still looked confused. Despite not understanding a single word of what they were saying I knew this wasn’t a good sign, but with that we were off. After a hair-raising ride, and a phone call to find out where the hotel was, I finally arrived.Despite the presence of jet lag, the warm sunshine and knowledge that some of the main sightseeing spots were only a few metro stops away meant I decided sleep could wait – I wanted to explore. I made my way to People’s Square – a single tube journey for the equivalent of 40p – and walked out of the metro station to be greeted by skyscrapers and city lights.I had been stood there only a minute or so, trying to work out the lay of the land and which direction to head off in first, when a group of Chinese girls came and asked if I could take their picture. I obliged and then asked if they could take one of me. We got chatting and when I told them I was planning on having a wander round the sights they asked if I wanted to join them. So in the spirit of adventure I said yes.They showed me some of the more traditional homes of Shanghai residents. Old two-storey houses with their washing lines hung outside their windows, sat nestled in with the skyscrapers and shopping malls of the city – a real blend of old and new. The next thing I knew I was being ushered into a tea shop, and into a tiny room in which I then experienced a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.The Chinese lady explained about the history of the teas and their various medicinal qualities – thankfully the girls I was with spoke very good English and were able to translate – before we tried a range of them, from green tea and Ginseng, to lychee tea.After the tea, the girls showed me how to get to The Bund – the waterfront scene shown in most images of Shanghai – where I was able to see the buildings on both sides of the river, lit up at night. It was quite a view. It was then finally time to me to give in to the jet lag and head to bed.Georgi will be reporting back to British Baker next week on day two of her tour. She will be talking all about her experiences at the Bakery China trade show.
Closures for Harris + Hoole Tesco-backed coffee shops
Tesco-backed coffee shop chain, Harris + Hoole, will reportedly close six stores around the UK.One of the closures will be in a concession Tesco store in Highbury, London.Philip Clarke, chief executive of Tesco, bought a minority stake in the Harris + Hoole business last year, in a bid to attract shoppers to the supermarket.The coffee company claims it still has the support of Tesco, and told The Telegraph that the closures did not indicate a weakness in performance.Nick Tolley, co-founder of Harris + Hoole, told the paper: “Harris + Hoole is a fast-growing business. We have six more stores scheduled to open this year and the vast majority of our stores continue to perform strongly.“However, like any business which has grown rapidly, some locations have performed better than others, so it makes sense for us to review those locations which have done less well, or where the lease is coming to an end.”Harris + Hoole has over 40 locations in the UK, with a mix of high street stores and Tesco concessions.Despite the closures, Tolley also outlined plans to expand by opening more stores on the high street and in the supermarket giant.He said: “This review of our business was led by Harris + Hoole and we continue to have the full support of Tesco. Harris + Hoole is a start-up business still in its infancy – it was never our expectation to deliver a return from day one and many of our shops are still very new.“It’s clear that our customers love the coffee, service and experience we offer, and this will be the bedrock of our future performance. Our working relationship with Tesco remains as strong as ever and we are looking forward to upcoming openings within Tesco stores later this year, as well as our planned standalone openings.”A Tesco spokesperson said: “We continue to work successfully with Harris+Hoole. Feedback from customers in stores with Harris+Hoole coffee shops has been really positive and we look forward to more shops opening in the future.”Clarke’s attempt to turn Tesco around has had a varied effect, and Dave Lewis is to replace him in the role of chief executive in October this year.
Project seeks to drive healthy bread technology across the EU
The EU HealthBread project intends to form an association to drive commercialisation of its healthy bread technologies and concepts across the Europe. The EU-funded programme plans to have the group in place before the year is out, according to British Baker’s sister publication BakeryandSnacks.com. It has investigated methods of improving the nutritional profile of breads using altered grains, fractions, concentrates and different fermentation and baking processes.Of the eight companies involved, five have already commercialised products with some due to launch this January. Of those products, many have been developed with a different take on the HealthBread principles, including alternative fermentation processes, such as fermenting only part of the dough or using sourdough fermentation techniques.Jan Willem van der Kamp, HealthBread project leader from TNO Food and Nutrition, said the next stage was to spread the word to other European bakeries.The association has not been finalised yet, but if it happens, it will be used to pool all information, communicate results and act as a first point of contact for companies interested in its technologies. Companies involved would use the trademarked HealthBread name.