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Category: 3. Business

  • Minister Calleary signs new contract with An Post for cash payments at post offices

    • An Post will deliver approx. 25 million payments to welfare customers in 2026
    • Pensions, jobseekers, child benefit and other payments can be collected at your local post office

    Today, Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary announced that An Post has been awarded the contract for the Department of Social Protection’s new Cash Payment Services contract.

    The Department’s Cash Payment Services contract provides for over-the-counter personal cash payments to welfare recipients. About 30% of payments made to the Department’s customers are made by cash.

    The awarding of the contract to An Post follows a competitive tender process to secure the best-value and best-quality provision for customers and taxpayers.

    The new Cash Payment Services contract began on the 1st of January 2026 and will expire in December 2028. After the initial three-year contract period is complete, the Department has the option to extend the contract for one additional year.

    Welcoming the new contract, Minister Calleary said:

    “An Post delivered almost 25 million welfare payments to our customers through the An Post Network in 2025. Now that this new contract is in place, my Department, in conjunction with An Post will continue to provide the important provision of cash payments to the Department’s customers who rely on this service across urban and rural communities.”

    Debbie Byrne, Managing Director of An Post Retail said:

    “An Post is pleased to continue delivering cash payment services to Department of Social Protection customers across Ireland.”

    “Through investment in our unique network of 880 Post Offices, technology, training and our dedicated staff and Postmasters, we will continue to ensure customers’ access to secure, reliable cash payments, so essential to local communities.

    Post Offices handled more than €7 billion in DSP payments last year, showing huge resilience during extreme weather events and other challenges to serve customers. We look forward to our continued close working relationship with the Department over the coming years”, she added.

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  • REMINDER: Swisscom 3G phase-out | CERN

    Swisscom will switch off its 3G network at the end of 2025. This 3rd generation of mobile communications was introduced 20 years ago and has become inefficient in terms of energy requirements, spectrum usage and the resources required to maintain it, so operators are freeing up these resources for new technologies.

    To continue using your mobile phone at CERN (in Switzerland and in CERN’s underground facilities) you’ll need a device that supports at least 4G and VoLTE (Voice over LTE). SMS (Short Message Service) services will be maintained via 4G.

    You can check your device’s compatibility via Swisscom’s cockpit or by sending a free SMS to 444, using your CERN SIM card, with the keyword 3G. Please be aware that some models’ characteristics are not properly identified in Swisscom’s database. If this is the case, you should check that 4G/5G is shown on your phone as an option for data connectivity. You will also need a VoLTE-compatible phone to place/receive calls. If your device displays 4G but it disappears when you make a call (while connected to Swisscom), then VoLTE is not switched on or your device is not compatible.

    If your phone is not compatible, you should replace it. 4G and VoLTE have been standard on mobile phones for the last 7 to 10 years, depending on the brand.

    For further information, you can visit this link or contact the mobile service support team.

    __________

    This announcement was originally published in June 2025.

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  • Chinese shares close lower Thursday-Xinhua

    BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) — Chinese stocks closed lower on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.07 percent to 4,082.98 points.

    The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.51 percent lower at 13,959.48 points.

    The combined turnover of these two indices totaled 2.82 trillion yuan (about 402 billion U.S. dollars), down from 2.85 trillion yuan on the previous trading day.

    Stocks related to the commercial aerospace sector as well as brain-computer interfaces and AI applications led the gains, while those related to insurance, securities companies, lithium mining and precious metals experienced declines.

    The ChiNext Index, tracking China’s Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, fell 0.82 percent to close at 3,302.31 points.

    However, the STAR Composite Index, which reflects the performance of stocks on China’s sci-tech innovation board, closed 1.14 percent higher at 1,766.57 points. ■

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  • CR Tested These Protein Powders. All Had Low Levels of Lead.

    CR Tested These Protein Powders. All Had Low Levels of Lead.

    Before publication, CR contacted the manufacturers of all the products we tested and shared our results and methodology with them. We wanted to know whether they were using any unique sourcing or manufacturing processes that could explain their comparatively cleaner results, and what that might reveal about other manufacturers’ practices.

    Premier Protein declined to comment. Representatives from Equate’s parent company, Walmart, and Clean Simple Eats didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.

    Truvani’s co-founder and co-CEO, Derek Halpern, said in an interview that what sets his company apart is the frequency with which it tests for heavy metals. “I’ve been told routinely by my manufacturers that the volume of tests that we ask for far outstrips anyone else they’ve ever worked with,” he said. “I just want a test result for every lot—that doesn’t seem that ridiculous to me.”

    Truvani has tested its chocolate-flavored protein powder 162 times over the last 12 months, Halpern said. Every lot of Truvani products is tested for heavy metals and other contaminants, and ingredients that don’t meet internal standards are rejected. (Halpern declined to share the specific thresholds Truvani uses, but said that its lead standard is similar to the California Prop 65 limit that CR uses in its level of concern calculations.) 

    Halpern said he suspects less rigorous approaches are more common across the industry because they’re less costly and still technically meet FDA requirements. Some companies rely on spot-checks or certificates of analysis from ingredient suppliers instead of testing every finished lot, he said.

    “It can be more expensive to ensure that every vat of your product is very low in lead,” says Cohen of Harvard Medical School. “And without a requirement that it be that way, it’s unlikely that the industry as a whole is going to move in that direction.”

    Lindsay Dahl, chief impact officer at the supplement brand Ritual, says she thinks that “heavy metal testing transparency is feasible for the entire industry.” Ritual tests its ingredients and all finished goods for contamination, and uses California’s Prop 65 limit as a goalpost for most products, she says.

    Ritual is unique in that it publishes detailed sourcing information for its products. “We openly share the final place of manufacturing and the names of our suppliers for the public to see,” says Dahl, who added that the company thinks that “ingredient traceability is the best way to help reduce contaminants.” She noted that the powder tested by CR was made with Puris-brand pea protein from North America and cocoa powder from several countries through Cocoa Horizons, a program that promotes sustainable and traceable farming.

    “It took us three years of searching and testing different cocoa suppliers to finally launch a chocolate flavor version of Essential Protein,” says Dahl, who attributed the delay to Ritual’s heavy metal and human rights standards. “While we spend a tremendous amount of time working to find the highest quality suppliers, we also know it’s hard to have formulas that are entirely contaminant-free, which is where our product testing comes in.”

    In a letter to Congress last year, Ritual’s CEO, Katerina Schneider, said that because plant-based protein powder is a “high-risk product,” the company publishes heavy metal test results for one recently released lot of each flavor of its Essential Protein powder on its website. In the letter, Schneider also took the rare step of advocating for greater industry regulation, calling on Congress to “empower the FDA to establish health-protective limits for heavy metals in supplements and protein powder.”

    It’s a position also held by CR’s consumer advocates—and many others. A CR petition calling on the FDA to set strict standards for heavy metals in protein supplements has garnered over 43,000 signatures since October.

    “The FDA is still lacking enforceable lead limits for protein powders and dietary supplements,” says Brian Ronholm, CR’s director of food policy. “Having these standards in place would push the industry to consistently make products with lower levels of lead, which our test results certainly demonstrate is possible for companies to do.”

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  • A year of action: More than 43,000 counterfeit products removed from Manchester’s streets in 2025

    A year of action: More than 43,000 counterfeit products removed from Manchester’s streets in 2025

    In 2025 Manchester City Council’s Trading Standards Team seized and destroyed nearly £4.5m of counterfeit goods.

    Ranging from fake handbags, trainers, jewellery, electronic items, sportswear, to children’s toys and sunglasses there are few areas that the counterfeit goods industry does not reach. 


    However, through exemplary partnership work alongside Greater Manchester Police, and brand representatives this criminal industry has taken a substantial hit over the past 12 months. 


    Of the more than 43,500 counterfeit items which were seized it is estimated that the value lost to the industry was between £34m – £43m.* 


    In addition to counterfeit goods a substantial push was made throughout the year to crack down on the sale and distribution of illicit tobacco. Sold in packaging not compliant with UK law and often shipped in from oversees, it presents a substantial impediment to supporting Mancunians to quit smoking and move away from tobacco products. 


    As Manchester has some of the worst health outcomes in the country when it comes to smoking-related illnesses it is hugely important that steps are taken to curtail the sale of illicit tobacco. 


    In total, 316,625 cigarettes – equivalent to nearly 16,000 individual packs were seized. In addition, 258kg of hand rolling tobacco was seized, as well as more than 18,000 illegal vapes which do not comply with UK laws or regulations. 


     


    Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods, said: “I am incredibly proud of the results that our officers achieved throughout 2025. The counterfeit industry was substantially embedded in our communities, but through their diligence and the support of our valued partners we have driven away some of the worst offenders and are beginning the process of regenerating the areas of Manchester that were long blighted by this sort of crime. 


    “Through Operations Elswick and Machinize run in collaboration with GMP we have made a significant impact against criminal enterprises and we hope this sends a message that we will not tolerate this harmful trade.” 


     


    Detective Chief Inspector Melanie Johnson, lead coordinator over Operation Machinize for GMP, said: “Last year we collaborated with Manchester City Council’s Trading Standards to tackle businesses on our high streets that were being used as a front for criminality and putting our communities at risk. 


    “As a result of our operations, we managed to seize over £1 million worth of illegal items. 


    “The joint partnership operation has enabled GMP to gather further information and intelligence enhancing our understanding of criminality within these types of businesses. 


    “We take any information we receive very seriously and will continue to investigate all aspects of this criminality to protect our communities from the harms of illegal products.” 


     


    *Note on Lost Value 


    This is the estimated loss of money when comparing the price of a sold counterfeit item, vs the authentic product. Ie., if a pair of counterfeit Nike shoes were sold for £20, when the RRP was £90, the lost value would be £70. 

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  • DMA Review contributions

    DMA Review contributions

    Today, the European Commission published a summary and the individual contributions received in response to the consultation on the ongoing review of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). 

    The Commission welcomes the high level of participation, with over 450 contributions submitted by a broad range of interested parties, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), gatekeepers, civil society organisations, academics, and individual citizens. The contributions generally show respondents’ broad support for the DMA’s objectives and indicate that the regulation has already brought benefits. Some contributions ask to strengthen interoperability, data access and data portability, as well as support for SMEs. Some also ask to expand the DMA’s scope, particularly in relation to AI and cloud services. Gatekeepers on the other hand expressed criticisms such as regarding impact on user experience, as well as concerns about proportionality.

    The assessment of these contributions will feed into the Commission’s review report to be presented by 3 May 2026 to the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Economic and Social Committee. The regular review of the DMA every three years is a legal requirement, mandated by the regulation itself, to ensure that the DMA meets its objectives and maintains its effectiveness in the evolving landscape of digital markets.  

    The public consultation, which was launched on 3 July 2025 as part of the ongoing review, was accompanied by a call for evidence and a dedicated questionnaire on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which were published on 26 August 2025. The contributions to the call for evidence are already public.

    See the announcement also on Commission’s press corner.

     

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  • A deep learning and large language hybrid workflow for omics interpretation

    A deep learning and large language hybrid workflow for omics interpretation

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  • Muse Places Ltd announced as preferred development partner for Bristol Temple Quarter

    Muse Places Ltd announced as preferred development partner for Bristol Temple Quarter

    The Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership (BTQ LLP) has selected Muse as its preferred development partner for Temple Meads West and St Philip’s Marsh.

    By selecting Muse as a single development partner to transform the area, the BTQ LLP and Muse can deliver coordinated and comprehensive change, including 10,000 new homes, commercial space and major public realm and connectivity improvements.

    A competitive procurement process began in February 2025, as the BTQ LLP searched for a partner that shares its ambitions for inclusive, mixed-use development at Temple Quarter.

    Muse’s Southern team’s proven track record of delivery – demonstrated through projects in Bournemouth, Plymouth, and London, and the hugely successful Wapping Wharf in Bristol – together with its vision for Temple Quarter, was clearly evidenced throughout its procurement response.

    The placemaking specialist has initially been selected to transform the area to the West of Bristol Temple Meads railway station known as Temple Meads West.

    Temple Meads West features several development sites on publicly owned land, including land next to the station at the Friary, the City Point building and multistorey car park at Temple Gate, vacant land at Lower Station Approach and the Portwall Lane car park.

    Muse will develop an outline planning application for the area, with the application submission anticipated in early 2027.

    In parallel to its work on Temple Meads West, Muse will support the BTQ LLP as it develops more detailed long-term proposals for new homes and jobs at St Philip’s Marsh.

    Karen Mercer, CEO, Bristol Temple Quarter LLP, said:

    “This is a major milestone for the transformation of Bristol Temple Quarter. Over the last decade the BTQ partners have worked closely on a shared vision for the area. Now, alongside significant infrastructure improvements already being made by the BTQ LLP, our ambitions will be accelerated by our new partner who can bring their expertise to bear to bring inclusive and sustainable growth to people in the city-region.”

    Simon Harding-Roots, Regional Managing Director at Muse South said:

    “Temple Meads West and St Philip’s Marsh represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a vibrant new community aligned with major transport investment. Realising that opportunity requires a long-term, partnership-led approach to regeneration, which sits at the core of how Muse works with the public sector.

    “And, Bristol Temple Quarter is setting a new benchmark for truly collaborative regeneration, demonstrating what is possible when public, private and infrastructure partners unite behind a shared vision.

    “As a committed partner in Bristol, having celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Wapping Wharf in 2025, we understand the scale of the opportunity Bristol represents – a place where culture, creativity, community and industry combine to drive sustainable growth.”

    Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

    “This is an important step forward for Bristol Temple Quarter and for our whole region, as we look to kickstart the next phase of regeneration work to create new jobs, new homes, and better transport links around the West Country’s biggest station. Temple Quarter is a huge part of the Central Bristol and Bath Growth Zone, and our ten-year strategy to secure and accelerate investment in our part of the world. We can create a thriving place that people can be really proud of, another place where everyone can contribute to, and share in, the West’s success.”

    Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said:

    “Bristol Temple Quarter will be a new town in the heart of our city opening up new opportunities and new possibilities. Selecting a partner is a major step forward in realising our ambitions and adds further momentum towards delivering on our shared vision at pace for people across the city.”

    Amy Rees CB, Chief Executive of Homes England, said:

    “Selecting a development partner for Temple Quarter is a landmark moment in one of the most ambitious regeneration projects in Europe. This partnership will unlock thousands of new homes, create jobs, and deliver world-class public spaces in the heart of Bristol. Homes England is proud to play a central role in driving this transformation – working with local partners to turn shared ambition into reality and ensure Temple Quarter becomes a thriving, inclusive destination for generations to come.”

    There is already significant investment underway at Bristol Temple Quarter, including the new £23m eastern entrance to the station, supported by a £95m government grant, which is set to open in September 2026 alongside the University of Bristol’s £500m Enterprise Campus, and Network Rail’s £130m station transformation programme.

    In November, the BTQ LLP received a resolution to grant planning permission for the new Southern Gateway transport hub. The BTQ LLP will progress this development in 2026, with a contractor set to be announced in January and works expected to start on site in July.

    Bristol Temple Quarter is being brought forward by a partnership of Homes England, Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority, who came together in 2024 to form the BTQ LLP. The scheme aims to regenerate 135 hectares in central Bristol to deliver 10,000 homes, thousands of new jobs, and an estimate £1.6bn annual boost to the regional economy.

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  • UK offers to mediate in unions’ complaint against McDonald’s – report

    UK offers to mediate in unions’ complaint against McDonald’s – report

    A governmental body in the UK has offered to mediate after a group of trade unions accused McDonald’s of failing to properly handle harassment allegations across its restaurants and franchises, BBC has reported.

    This comes after five unions lodged a complaint with the UK National Contact Point (NCP), an independent body within the Department for Business and Trade staffed by civil servants and external advisers.

    The unions allege the fast-food chain breached international labour standards by not adequately addressing sexual harassment nationwide.

    The report stated that following an initial review, the NCP said the case should proceed and offered to mediate between the unions and McDonald’s.

    The complaint follows a BBC investigation that detailed allegations of a toxic workplace environment at the fast-food chain, with workers reporting harassment.

    The trade unions, alongside the Corporate Justice Coalition, said their complaint was filed in response to that reporting.

    In its submission, the group points to “further evidence of persistent, deeply rooted gender-based discrimination” and argues this breaches Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines.

    It also cites “repeated episodes” of harassment involving McDonald’s staff, “most of them teenagers”, and alleges managers did not act to stop the behaviour.

    The UK Department for Business and Trade said accepting the complaint does not represent a finding against McDonald’s and does not indicate it believes the company has failed to follow OECD guidelines.

    It added that the offer of mediation is voluntary, and if either side refuses to participate, the NCP will move to a further examination of the complaint.

    After the BBC report, McDonald’s apologised and set up a new team to handle complaints.

    More than 160 people have since contacted the BBC with allegations while the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has received 300 reported incidents of harassment.

    In addition, over 700 current and former junior employees are taking legal action against the company.

    Commenting on the latest developments, a McDonald’s spokesperson told BBC: “We are aware of the NCP’s initial assessment and continue to engage constructively with the OECD process. We are reviewing the information and considering next steps.”

    “UK offers to mediate in unions’ complaint against McDonald’s – report” was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.

     


    The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

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  • Approval for Cefiderocol in China｜ 塩野義製薬

    OSAKA, Japan, January 8, 2026 – Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; Chief Executive Officer: Isao Teshirogi, Ph.D.; hereafter “Shionogi”) announced that its group company, Shionogi China Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shanghai, China; Chairman: Hirofumi Nagatome), has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China for cefiderocol (generic name: Cefiderocol Sulfate Tosylate for Injection; hereinafter “cefiderocol”) for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections including pyelonephritis caused by Gram-negative bacteria.

     

    This approval is based on positive results from an international multicenter clinical study¹ and a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study² conducted in China. In both studies, which aimed to verify non-inferiority to the comparator drug, cefiderocol demonstrated non-inferiority to imipenem/cilastatin and achieved the primary endpoint. Furthermore, no new safety concerns were identified, and cefiderocol was well tolerated.

     

    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics, making infections harder to treat. AMR is often referred to as a “silent pandemic” and is recognized as one of the most pressing global public health threats requiring urgent action3. In 2021, AMR was estimated to have caused 1.14 million deaths worldwide4. Without coordinated international efforts, it is projected that more than 39 million lives could be lost over the next 25 years5. Meanwhile, treatment options remain limited, making this an area of high unmet medical need. With this approval, cefiderocol is expected to provide a new treatment option for patients in mainland China suffering from difficult-to-treat complicated urinary tract infections.

     

    Shionogi has identified “Protecting people from the threat of infectious diseases” as a material issue and is committed to realizing total care for infectious diseases. We will continue to work toward delivering essential anti-infective treatments to patients worldwide as quickly as possible, contributing to global efforts to combat AMR. For more information on Shionogi’s initiatives against AMR, please visit.

    Clich here to learn more about our efforts to address antimicrobial resistance.

     

     

    About Cefiderocol

    Cefiderocol is an antibiotic that penetrates the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains, to exert its antibacterial activity. As of December 2025, cefiderocol is marketed in 27 countries and regions, including Japan, Europe, U.S., Taiwan and China. It is listed on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, demonstrating its continued importance in improving outcomes for patients with some of the most difficult-to-treat Gram-negative infections. Prior to this approval, the Hainan Provincial Medical Products Administration had authorized its clinical use in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in China6.

     

     

     

    References

    1.       Press release: January 12, 2017

    2.       Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: Phase III clinical trial registration number CTR20223300

    3.       Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. Lancet 2022; 399: 629–55.

    4.       GBD 2021 Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance 1990-2021: a systematic analysis with forecasts to 2050. Lancet. 2024 Sep 28;404(10459):1199-1226. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01867-1. Epub 2024 Sep 16. PMID: 39299261.

    5.       Antimicrobial resistance (who.int) WHO. Antimicrobial resistance. Who.int. Published October 13, 2020.

    6.       Press release: August 5, 2024

     

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on expectations in light of the information currently available, assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Risks and uncertainties include general domestic and international economic conditions such as general industry and market conditions, and changes of interest rate and currency exchange rate. These risks and uncertainties particularly apply with respect to product-related forward-looking statements. Product risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, completion and discontinuation of clinical trials; obtaining regulatory approvals; claims and concerns about product safety and efficacy; technological advances; adverse outcome of important litigation; domestic and foreign healthcare reforms and changes of laws and regulations. Also for existing products, there are manufacturing and marketing risks, which include, but are not limited to, inability to build production capacity to meet demand, lack of availability of raw materials and entry of competitive products. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

     

    For Further Information, Contact:

    SHIONOGI Website Inquiry Form: https://www.shionogi.com/global/en/contact.html

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