Category: 3. Business

  • DXC Introduces Next-Gen Automotive Software Platform AMBER at CES 2026

    DXC Introduces Next-Gen Automotive Software Platform AMBER at CES 2026

    DXC is a trusted automotive partner to eight of the world’s 10 largest vehicle manufacturers, powering the future of mobility and manufacturing. DXC Luxoft software powers over 50 million vehicles and helps automakers, like Mercedes-Benz AG, Ferrari, and CARIAD, build a vehicle every three seconds.  AMBER is showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 6-9, 2026, with live demonstrations available. Learn more about AMBER here.

    About DXC Technology

    DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) is a leading enterprise technology and innovation partner delivering software, services, and solutions to global enterprises and public sector organizations — helping them harness AI to drive outcomes at a time of exponential change with speed. With deep expertise in Managed Infrastructure Services, Application Modernization, and Industry-Specific Software Solutions, DXC modernizes, secures, and operates some of the world’s most complex technology estates. Learn more on dxc.com.

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  • Westminster Council launches Retrofit First policy and boosts affordable housing in City Plan Partial Review

    Westminster Council launches Retrofit First policy and boosts affordable housing in City Plan Partial Review

    Westminster City Council has published its City Plan Partial Review, setting out strengthened planning policies on retrofitting, affordable housing, and identifying four new, large development sites, following three years of engagement with residents, businesses, developers and local stakeholders.

    At the centre of the review is Westminster’s new Retrofit First policy, placing the city at the forefront of local government action on climate change. The policy requires developers to fully explore all reasonable options for retrofitting and adapting existing buildings before seeking permission for demolition and redevelopment. It recognises that not all buildings can be retrofitted, and therefore takes a retrofit-first, not retrofit-only approach. 

    The urgency behind the new policy is clear: the built environment accounts for 90% of Westminster’s total CO₂ emissions, compared with around 40% for a typical local authority. 

    In the first half of 2025, the council’s Sustainability Team tracked the carbon performance of 19 schemes which went through planning, collectively delivering over 143,000sqm of high-quality new and refurbished office, hotel and retail floorspace. Working with applicants closely, the council has achieved a 24% reduction in construction-related carbon emissions compared to the average emissions when the policy was published in 2023. This equals 27,500 tonnes of CO2 saved, the same as the annual energy usage of nearly 3,700 homes.

    In addition to its sustainability measures, the City Plan Partial Review introduces tougher requirements to deliver genuinely affordable homes. The affordable housing split in new developments will shift from 40% to 70% social rent, and from 60% to 30% intermediate homes. For the first time, sites proposing fewer than 10 homes will also be required to contribute to affordable housing delivery.

    The review also identifies four strategic sites with significant potential for mixed-use development: St Mary’s Hospital, Westbourne Park Bus Garage, land adjacent to Royal Oak, and Grosvenor Sidings. These allocations provide developers and landowners with clear planning guidance to unlock new homes, modern workspaces, improved public spaces, and a new, state-of-the-art St Mary’s Hospital.

    Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said:

    “The City Plan Partial Review focuses our efforts on the most important challenges facing Westminster: tackling the climate crisis and delivering more genuinely affordable homes.

    “Our Retrofit First policy sets a new benchmark for local authorities. It will help reduce carbon emissions from today’s buildings and has the potential to be the biggest single emissions-reduction initiative undertaken by any council in the country.

    “We are also strengthening our commitment to affordable housing by increasing the proportion of social rent homes in new developments and ensuring smaller sites also play their part.

    “Taken together, these policies create a roadmap to a fairer, healthier and more welcoming Westminster – one that works for today’s residents and for generations to come.”

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  • The Government of Canada announces the theme for Black History Month 2026

    The Government of Canada announces the theme for Black History Month 2026

    CHERRY BROOK, Nova Scotia, January 7, 2026

    Each year, Black History Month honours the experiences, achievements and enduring contributions of Black communities in Canada, while deepening our collective understanding of their history and impact on Canadian society.

    Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, unveiled this year’s theme: “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.” This theme celebrates three decades of Black History Month in Canada and recognizes the enduring legacy of Black Canadians, whose leadership, creativity, innovation and resilience have shaped our past, continue to influence our present, and will inspire future generations.

    Minister Miller announced the theme at the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, a hub that showcases and preserves, promotes and celebrates the history, culture and contributions of African Nova Scotians. During his visit, he also announced funding of more than $280,000 for nine projects in the Atlantic Region that will highlight Black History Month.

    Throughout February, Canadians are invited to learn more about and celebrate the diversity and accomplishments of Black Canadians across the country. Black History Month is also a time to reflect on Canada’s painful history and the systemic barriers that Black communities continue to face, including anti-Black racism and discrimination, and to reaffirm our shared responsibility to address them.

    As we prepare to celebrate 30 years of Black History Month in Canada, communities across the country are invited to join in honouring Black excellence in Canada and celebrating the remarkable contributions that Black Canadians make to Canadian society every day.

    Data Tables

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  • Essential lift and escalator repair work begins at Fleet Walk

    Essential lift and escalator repair work begins at Fleet Walk

    Repair works to lifts and escalators at Fleet Walk have started this week (week commencing Monday 5 January) with the repair and refurbishment of the escalator serving Sports Direct and the gallery.

    We have worked closely with Milligan, the strategic asset manager for Fleet Walk, to deliver these works which will improve access for visitors by helping to ensure a reliable and efficient system that seamlessly connects all levels of the car park with the shops, Fleet Street, and surrounding areas.

    Work on the escalator that serves Sports Direct and the gallery started this week (week commencing Monday 5 January) and is due to be completed by Saturday 21 February 2026. It will include a full mechanical overhaul and specialist refurbishment of all the major components.

    The escalator is expected to return to service immediately once the work has been completed.

    The next phase of work will focus on repairs to Lift seven which is situated towards the harbour end of Fleet Walk and serves all levels of the car park, the gallery, and Fleet Street. Repair work on the lift is scheduled to begin in March, and further information will be available nearer the time.

    Councillor Chris Lewis, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Place Development and Economic Growth at Torbay Council, said:

    “I’m pleased to see essential repair and refurbishment work beginning on the lifts and escalators at Fleet Walk shopping centre. The planned work will help to ensure reliable connections between the shopping centre, car park, and surrounding areas, improving access for all visitors and supporting nearby businesses to thrive.

    “The first phase has already begun, and I’d like to thank visitors for their patience while these essential works are carried out.”

    Whilst work is in progress, the following measures are in place to maintain safe and accessible access to both Fleet Walk and the adjoining multi-storey car park where possible:

    • Step-free access is available from levels two and three of Fleet Walk car park via Cary Bridge which spans the road (Cary Parade) to ground level.
    • TK Maxx has operational lifts and escalators providing access to and from the high street level on Fleet Street. This route is signposted.
    • There is adequate car parking capacity to safely accommodate users, including those requiring accessible parking or assisted movement via the lower levels (levels two and three) of Fleet Walk car park.

    Having listened to customer feedback, we have also recently updated and significantly improved signage throughout both the shopping centre and car park.

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  • Statistical Notice 2026/01 – Bank of England Levy: Deadline for Eligible Liabilities Return form submission for the Levy Year 2026/27

    Statistical Notice 2026/01 – Bank of England Levy: Deadline for Eligible Liabilities Return form submission for the Levy Year 2026/27

    Statistical notice

    Background

    The contribution of an eligible institution to the Bank of England Levy is calculated using eligible liability data for the Reference Period (the period from 1 October to 31 December prior to the start of the Levy Year), submitted to the Bank, as per the form Eligible Liabilities Return (Form EL).

    The deadline for submissions relevant to the Reference Period is 15 January 2026. The final deadline for any revisions to previously submitted data (relevant to the Reference Period), is 5pm on 30 January 2026.

    Next steps:

    An indicative annual timetable for the Levy Year can be found in Table B of the Bank of England Levy Framework Document. This table provides an indicative date of June for the Notification Document to be published (which contains the Anticipated Levy Requirement).

    Any questions on the above should be sent to BoELevy@bankofengland.co.uk.

    Footnote

    A summary of all Statistical Notice items that are yet to come into effect are also available to view on the Statistical notices page. Statistical Notices should be received by all those responsible for the completion of Bank of England returns. To amend the circulation list please subscribe.

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  • Food Safety: Further Action Needed to Implement Foodborne Illness Prevention Law and Assess Its Results

    Food Safety: Further Action Needed to Implement Foodborne Illness Prevention Law and Assess Its Results

    What GAO Found

    Since 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued nine rules (regulations) that establish a framework for preventing foodborne illness under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) enacted in 2011. Separately, FDA has completed most but not all requirements that GAO identified in the law.

    The nine rules are significant because they help clarify the specific actions that industry must take at different points in the global supply chain to prevent contamination of human and animal food. For example, one rule sets standards for businesses that grow, harvest, pack, or hold fruits and vegetables. Another rule addresses hazards that could cause illness, death, or economic disruption of the U.S. food supply.

    In addition to issuing the rules, FDA has completed 41 of 46 requirements GAO identified in FSMA. For example, FDA has issued guides that are intended to describe in plain language what businesses need to do to comply with rules, and conducted various studies FSMA required. The requirements FDA has not completed are to

    • issue guidance on hazard analysis and preventive controls for human food;
    • issue guidance to protect against the intentional adulteration, or tampering, of food;
    • report on the progress of implementing a national food emergency response laboratory network;
    • publish updated good agricultural practices for fruits and vegetables; and
    • establish a system to improve FDA’s capacity to track and trace food that is in the U.S.

    FDA officials cited competing priorities and an October 2024 agency reorganization as reasons for not fully completing these requirements. In March 2025, FDA officials told GAO they intend to establish the system FSMA requires to help track and trace food by July 2028. However, they did not provide specific time frames for completing the other requirements. Doing so, and then taking action to complete them, would help ensure that industry and others have the information they need to effectively implement FSMA’s preventive framework.

    FDA’s efforts to assess how the nine rules are helping to prevent foodborne illness have largely focused on monitoring industry compliance with three rules. This includes overseeing hazards that could affect food safety. However, FDA has not developed a performance management process to guide the agency’s efforts to assess the results of the nine rules.

    Key practices for federal performance management emphasize the need for agencies to define what they are trying to achieve, collect relevant information, and use that information to assess how well they are performing and identify how they could improve. FDA officials said the agency prioritized implementing the rules over assessing the results. But developing a performance management process would better position FDA to assess the results of the rules, with the ultimate goal of helping prevent foodborne illness.

    Why GAO Did This Study

    Each year, foodborne illnesses sicken millions of Americans and cause thousands of deaths. In 2011, Congress enacted FSMA, which shifted the focus of FDA’s food safety program from reacting to, to preventing those illnesses. FDA helps ensure the safety of 80 percent of the U.S. food supply, including fruits and vegetables, processed foods, dairy products, and most seafood.

    GAO was asked to review FDA’s efforts to implement FSMA’s preventive framework. This report examines the extent to which FDA has (1) issued rules and completed requirements included in selected sections of FSMA and (2) assessed how the rules are contributing to preventing foodborne illness.

    GAO focused on sections of FSMA that provide a foundation for creating a modern, risk-based framework for food safety. GAO compared FDA’s efforts with requirements in FSMA and key practices for federal performance management, which GAO developed based on federal laws, guidance, and past GAO work. GAO also interviewed agency officials and 17 selected stakeholders, representing industry associations, consumer advocacy groups, and state and local regulators.

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  • Joby to Expand Manufacturing Footprint with Acquisition of Second Ohio Facility :: Joby Aviation, Inc. (JOBY)

    Joby to Expand Manufacturing Footprint with Acquisition of Second Ohio Facility :: Joby Aviation, Inc. (JOBY)





    • 700,000 square-foot facility adds significant manufacturing capacity for aircraft production

    • With manufacturing lines in California and Ohio, additional facility will expand Joby’s dual-site manufacturing strategy and leverage Ohio’s deep aerospace talent

    • Marks a major step towards Joby’s commitment to double aircraft production in 2027

    DAYTON, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
    Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY), a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire a manufacturing facility in the Dayton, Ohio area spanning more than 700,000 square feet. The facility, which is ready for immediate use, will initially support Joby’s plans to double production to four aircraft per month in 2027, while also providing space for significant future growth. The factory complements Joby’s existing production facilities in California and Ohio, with operations in the new facility expected to begin this year.

    This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260107709154/en/

    Joby to acquire a second manufacturing facility in the Dayton, Ohio area, which spans more than 700,000 square feet. Credit: Joby Aviation

    “This site will not only support our near-term plan to double production, it can also serve as a base for significant future growth, as we turn a decade of engineering into the manufacturing scale the market is now demanding,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, Joby Aviation.

    “From the world’s first aircraft factory to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton has long been the epicenter of aerospace innovation and we’re proud to be building the next generation of flight right here,” Bevirt added. “The reindustrialization of Ohio has become central to Joby’s story and with unmatched governmental and policy support, we’re ready to make sure that the commercial and defense aircraft that define the future of flight are built right here in America.”

    In July 2025, Joby announced the completion of an expanded manufacturing facility in Marina, CA and in October, confirmed the start of propeller blade production in Ohio. To support the planned doubling of production, Joby began procurement of the capital equipment required to double manufacturing capacity last month. At Joby’s site in California hiring is underway to support round-the-clock manufacturing operations.

    Ohio Welcomes Joby’s Continued Investment

    “From the Wright Brothers to Joby Aviation, Ohio has always been where the future of flight takes shape,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Joby’s expanded manufacturing presence in Vandalia and the Miami Valley brings together our state’s rich aviation heritage with our world-class advanced manufacturing workforce to build the aircraft that will redefine how people and goods move through our cities.”

    “Joby’s investment in Dayton, bringing thousands of good-paying blue collar jobs back to Ohio, is an incredible testament to Ohio’s long history as a leader in aviation and to the manufacturing renaissance happening all across the states. Thanks to President Donald Trump and private sector leaders like Joby, the United States is finally getting serious about reindustrializing and investing in American jobs after decades of outsourcing and neglect,” said Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).

    “Joby’s expansion builds on Dayton’s legacy as the birthplace of aviation while shaping the future of flight. This new, more than 700,000 square-foot facility will create new jobs for Ohioans and allow Joby to increase its aircraft production. Ohio remains proud to be a hub for companies investing in innovation. Ohio makes the things the world needs, and Joby’s work is an example of that. I’m excited to see what Joby accomplishes with this new facility and will continue advocating for their success,” said Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio).

    “The announcement of the second Joby facility here in Ohio is great news for the Dayton area. Over 5 years ago I worked to ensure the FY22 NDAA included language to allow the Springfield Airport to apply for a program that brought Joby Aviation to our region. I had no doubt that this company would bring high-skill jobs and incredible innovation to our area. Joby Aviation continues to carry on the rich tradition of aviation innovation here in Dayton, Ohio that goes back to the time of the Wright Brothers, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds,” said U.S. Representative Michael Turner (OH-10).

    “As the world’s leading advanced air mobility company, Joby’s decision to double down in Ohio speaks to the speed at which advanced technologies can scale in our state and the powerful and collaborative environment Team Ohio and the Dayton Development Coalition have built to support growth of emerging industries in the region,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “Since Joby first announced its massive air taxi facility in 2023, it is again demonstrating how this state delivers what companies need to move from innovation to production at scale.”

    Joby’s manufacturing growth in Ohio comes at a time of significant policy momentum for advanced air mobility (AAM). US Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, recently announced a national strategy for advanced air mobility that provides a clear policy roadmap to accelerate AAM deployment and integration. This alignment comes as the Federal Aviation Administration and DOT prepare to deploy the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) in 2026. By validating operational use cases and flight routes across the country ahead of final Type Certification, the eIPP – paired with the strategy’s policy recommendations – enables regulators, local communities, and industry leaders to prepare for the arrival of advanced air mobility.

    About Joby

    Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxi. Joby intends to both operate its fast, quiet, and convenient air taxi service in cities around the world and sell its aircraft to other operators and partners. To learn more, visit www.jobyaviation.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements ​​

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding the development and performance of our aircraft, the growth of our manufacturing capabilities, our regulatory outlook, progress and timing; our plans to acquire an additional facility near Dayton, Ohio and planned manufacturing capacity at that location; our business plan, objectives, goals and market opportunity; plans for, and potential benefits of, our strategic partnerships; and our current expectations relating to our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, capital needs and growth of our operations, including the expected benefits of our vertically-integrated business model. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “can have”, “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. All forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including: our ability to launch our air taxi service and the growth of the urban air mobility market generally; our ability to produce aircraft that meet our performance expectations in the volumes and on the timelines that we project; the acquisition of the additional facility in Dayton, Ohio is subject to certain closing conditions; the competitive environment in which we operate; our future capital needs; our ability to adequately protect and enforce our intellectual property rights; our ability to effectively respond to evolving regulations and standards relating to our aircraft; our reliance on third-party suppliers and service partners; uncertainties related to our estimates of the size of the market for our service and future revenue opportunities; and other important factors discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 27, 2025, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8, 2025 and August 7, 2025, and in future filings and other reports we file with or furnish to the SEC. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates and beliefs as of the date of this release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.

    Media:

    Charles Stewart

    press@jobyaviation.com

    Investors:

    investors@jobyaviation.com

    Source: Joby Aviation, Inc.

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  • How I Earned Money on Cash-Back Apps

    How I Earned Money on Cash-Back Apps

    Here are some more pointers I picked up in my month of cash-back app shopping.

    Read the fine print

    A week into my experiment, I was ready to throw in the towel after spending nearly 30 minutes carefully aligning my phone camera to capture a lengthy grocery store receipt and uploading it repeatedly to Ibotta, without getting credit for my purchase. On closer inspection, I discovered that the cash-back offer couldn’t be combined with the coupons I had used.

    I had failed to heed an important tip from Strauss: “Pay attention to exclusions.” The apps’ retail and brand partners establish the parameters for cash-back offers, he says. For example, you might be able to earn cash back only on certain products rather than everything sold on a retailer’s site. And product-specific offers often require you to buy a certain quantity, dollar amount, size or variety of an item to earn the rewards.

    Compare offers to find the best deal

    Before making a purchase, I checked each app to see if it offered a cash-back reward for the retailer where I wanted to shop. Comparing offers paid off because cash-back amounts can vary greatly. 

    For example, a recent check of offers showed that users could earn up to 12 percent cash back on purchases at Macys.com through RetailMeNot, 2.5 percent through Ibotta, 15 points per $1 spent through Fetch and four kicks per $1 spent through Shopkick.

    Double-dip

    There are ways to earn cash back from multiple apps on the same purchase. For example, I bought Native brand body wash and earned $2 from Ibotta and 3,750 points from Fetch by submitting the receipt on both apps. 

    Natalie Van Raalte, senior business development manager at Ibotta, offers another strategy: When you purchase retail gift cards through Ibotta, you instantly receive the gift card numbers and PINs. This allows you to essentially double up on rewards when you use those gift cards to make purchases from online retailers that offer cash back through the app. More than half of my cash-back earnings on Ibotta came from purchasing gift cards.

    Rack up rewards without shopping

    You don’t have to make purchases to earn points through some cash-back apps.

    Fetch lets you earn points by downloading and playing games. You have to allow the app to track your activity on the games so it knows what levels you’ve achieved and can award you accordingly, but if you’re OK with that, answer “yes” when Fetch asks you about tracking.

    Shopkick also offers ways to earn points without making purchases. You can click on the “discover” tab and interact with content provided by retailers to unlock kicks. Or, you can get out of the house while earning points by entering select stores and scanning product barcodes; it’s the most common way Shopkick users earn points, Strauss says.

    Know your privacy rights

    To be clear, all of these apps collect data about you to evaluate your shopping habits and provide you with cash-back opportunities, personalized product recommendations and targeted ads from their brand and retail partners.  

    Their privacy policies, available on their websites and in the apps (check the account settings), provide detailed information about the data they collect and how they use it. All four apps I tried allow you to customize your privacy settings. Fetch, Ibotta and RetailMeNot have easy-to-use forms to opt out of letting them sell or share your personal information. Shopkick allows you to opt in or out of information sharing, depending on the privacy laws in your state.

    The apps claim to use security measures to protect users’ personal information from unauthorized access, but they acknowledge that data breaches can occur.

    A worthwhile experiment

    After my monthlong experiment, my husband asked why I was still scanning receipts using the apps. My response: “Why not? It’s an easy way to earn cash.”

    I don’t expect to earn anywhere close to $50 a month through RetailMeNot going forward, but I plan to keep using the app to make a few bucks with eligible online purchases. Buying gift cards through Ibotta to pay for purchases has become one of my favorite shopping hacks. I also plan to continue using Fetch, as the app makes it easy to accumulate points by submitting receipts. And Shopkick, while not my favorite, could be great for retirees who have the time to visit multiple stores and scan barcodes to earn cash back without spending a dime.

    A word of caution, though: It’s easy to get caught up in the appeal of earning cash back through these apps. If you’re not careful, pursuing rewards can lead to buying things you don’t need.

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  • Alaska Airlines announces largest fleet order in airline’s history

    Alaska Airlines announces largest fleet order in airline’s history

    About Alaska Air Group

    Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. We’ll serve Europe beginning in spring 2026. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska is a member of the oneworld alliance, with Hawaiian scheduled to join oneworld in spring 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem points for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations with Atmos Rewards. Learn more about what’s happening at Alaska and Hawaiian at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “ALK.”

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  • City of Toronto opens applications for the 2026 CaféTO curb lane outdoor dining program – City of Toronto

    City of Toronto opens applications for the 2026 CaféTO curb lane outdoor dining program – City of Toronto

    News Release

    January 7, 2026

    The City of Toronto has officially opened applications and renewals for the 2026 CaféTO curb lane program, inviting restaurant and bar operators across the city to participate in one of Toronto’s most impactful initiatives supporting local businesses, vibrant main streets and neighbourhood life. 

    Launched in 2020 as a rapid pandemic response, CaféTO has grown into a permanent annual program that expands outdoor dining on curb lanes, sidewalks and private patios. In 2026, a year expected to bring increased activity and visitors to Toronto, CaféTO will play an important role in showcasing the city’s diverse local food scene while supporting restaurants, workers and neighbourhood economies. 

    In 2025, CaféTO supported approximately 1,500 outdoor dining spaces citywide, including 285 curb lane cafés, 579 sidewalk cafés, many of which can remain in place year-round, and 703 private patio endorsements that allow businesses to have a patio on private property. Participation continues to grow beyond the downtown core, with restaurants across Toronto using outdoor dining to attract customers, strengthen local main streets and create welcoming public spaces. 

    As the City prepares for a vibrant year ahead, CaféTO remains part of a broader suite of programs supporting Toronto’s restaurant sector and main streets. The City is building on the success of the 2025 season by continuing to improve efficiency, streamline process and provide earlier application timelines so that most curb lane cafés can be ready for the Victoria Day long weekend. 

    Applying for CaféTO  

    Restaurant operators interested in participating in the 2026 CaféTO curb lane program can learn more by visiting toronto.ca/cafeTO, where they can review program requirements, sign up for virtual information sessions or request one-on-one support before applying. 

    Details:  

    • CaféTO curb lane applications are open until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11. 
    • First-time applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow sufficient time for review and approvals. 
    • Returning operators will be contacted by City staff with instructions on renewing through a streamlined process. 

    Once applications are submitted, City staff will work closely with operators and local Business Improvement Areas to develop traffic management plans that balance the needs of businesses, residents and road users, including loading zones, waste collection, cycling infrastructure and pedestrian access. 

    Experience CaféTO 

    The City encourages residents and visitors to explore CaféTO patios and support local restaurants from May through October. With expanded outdoor dining across Toronto, CaféTO helps ensure local businesses are ready to welcome increased activity and visitors, while continuing to create dynamic, inclusive public spaces in neighbourhoods across the city. 

    More information about the CaféTO program, including other outdoor dining options such as sidewalk cafes and private patios, is available at: toronto.ca/cafeTO. 

    Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on X, Instagram or Facebook.


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