Latest news with #ABetterTomorrow
New Paper
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
King Ravana brings up first career win for Khor in Ipoh
IPOH - Khor Peng Hwa was thrilled to be welcoming his first winner at his third meeting as a full-fledged trainer, when King Ravana took out the opener in Ipoh on May 24. Previously known as Gold Rush when trained by Tan Kah Soon in Singapore, King Ravana ran seventh over 1,400m in his first run for the new Malaysian handler in Ipoh on May 11. He then ground out a tough win in the the RM20,000 (S$6,000) Class 5A event (1,600m) second-up. The $27 shot led in the straight under Saddam Saari. But at the 200m, A Better Tomorrow (Harmeet Singh Gill), on his outside, and Circuit Star (Lim Shung Uai), on his inside, drew level with him. King Ravana fought back with every stride to score by ¾ length from A Better Tomorrow eventually. Circuit Star finished third. Before the Ipoh-born Khor - more popularly known as Ah Lek - received his trainer's licence in April 2025, he was an assistant trainer to the late Dutch-Malaysian trainer Evert van Breukelen, and more recently, Peter Lee. The 60-year-old had tasted success regularly while working under his former bosses, but this time, he won it in his own right. Khor did not dream of working in the racing industry, even if he was born into racing, figuratively. "My father, Khor Sun Yam, was a gardener with the Perak Turf Club, and my family stayed in the staff quarters on the racecourse grounds," he said. "I played with horses in the stables as a kid, but I never thought I would be in racing." Khor studied up to Form Six, but had no idea what to do for his first job. It was then when he recalled enjoying the company of the horses and the excitement of seeing the equine athletes in action. He started out as a syce with trainer Mohd Zafir when he was 20 years old. After working under Loh Kit Soon and Johnny Kok, he joined van Breukelen as a stable supervisor. Khor was also granted his B trainer's licence while with van Breukelen, but when his mentor passed away, he joined Lee for four years. King Ravana's victory did not come easy, but Khor praised the Jimmy Choux eight-year-old for his sheer grit in races. "I am elated to finally saddle my first winner. I want to thank the Perak Turf Club for giving me the licence," said Khor, who is single. "Last time, the 1,400m was a bit too short for him. The 1,600m and 1,800m should be his best trips. "I was not so worried even if he looked a bit one-paced (in the last 200m), because he has a big heart and would always find that extra gear. The last time he won (on March 3, under Lee), he fought back to beat his then-stablemate (Char Kway Teow) by a nose. "He should be up in Class 4 next, which is tougher. We'll see what is available on the programme." Unplaced in 12 starts at Kranji, King Ravana broke through immediately in Malaysia in 2022. He had four consecutive wins for Leong Poh Keong, before picking up two more in 2023 and 2024 when under Lee's care. TURFONLINE
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Popular Irish supermarket with 185 locations opens brand new store in busy city as major anniversary celebrated
A POPULAR Irish supermarket chain has opened a brand new store as it celebrates 25 years in business. Lidl Ireland opened a new store in Galway this morning in a major boost to Advertisement 4 Lidl opened a new store in Claregalway, Co Galway today Credit: Xposure 4 Galway county LGFA players Nicola Ward, Kate Slevin and Kate Geraghty joined the Lidl Claregalway store team Credit: Xposure 4 Lidl Claregalway store manager Edgars Juksinskis pictured with Carmel Ní Bhroin, Principal, Claregalway National School S.N. Bhaile Chláir Na Gaillimhe to give donation of €500 in Lidl vouchers and Neil McLoughlin, Lidl Area Manager Credit: Xposure Located in Claregalway, this is the retailer's 100th store to feature a solar PV system that will generate more than 20 per cent of the building's energy requirements. This takes And it is set to create 30 new jobs in the local area in a boost to residents. It represents a €7million investment into the community by the retailer, and is located right in the centre of the village. Advertisement READ MORE IN LIDL It has state-of-the-art facilities including a spacious shop floor with wide aisles, self-service checkouts, long tills, an off licence, and an in-store bakery. The Claregalway branch is the retailer's 186th store in the Republic of Ireland, and 229th store on the entire island. Lidl has committed to reducing operational emissions as part of it's A Better Tomorrow sustainability strategy. To date, Lidl has invested more than €12million into solar panel installation and is currently the owner of the largest array of rooftop solar panels in the country. Advertisement Most read in Money The shop also has a range of additional sustainability features in this new store, including LED lighting with Dali control, high performance building fabric, heat recovery and electric vehicle charger spaces for customers. The store was opened this morning alongside Galway county Shoppers go wild as Dubai chocolate dupe drops in Lidl To mark the opening, the team at Lidl Claregalway donated €1,000 in Lidl vouchers to Anam Croí and Claregalway National The first ten shoppers through the door got to be the first to enjoy opening day discounts and received a complimentary Lidl gift voucher. Advertisement Commenting at the Claregalway store opening, Lidl Ireland's Regional Managing Director Tara O'Connor said: "On behalf of Lidl Ireland I am delighted to open our new Claregalway store. "This year Lidl celebrates its 25th Anniversary in Ireland and it's a great way to begin our celebrations in "We have been with the Galway community since the beginning of our Lidl journey here in Ireland back in 2000, and it's great to see the ongoing support the Galway community has offered us along the way. MILESTONE "Lidl Claregalway has been highly anticipated in the area and we're delighted to finally welcome customers to the brand new, state-of-the-art store. Advertisement "Lidl is rooted in communities throughout Ireland, and we pride ourselves on operating in a way that is sustainable with the least impact possible on the environment. "As part of this commitment, Lidl Claregalway marks a milestone in our sustainable journey as it is our 100 th store to feature solar panels which generate more than 20 per cent of the store's energy and reduces our impact on the local environment." At the opening, Local Claregalway Ladies Gaelic Football player Kate Slevin said: "Through its longstanding partnership with LGFA, Lidl has been hugely supportive of its communities and it's great to see them further investing in the Galway area by bringing a state-of-the-art store to Claregalway, creating employment for local people. "It was great to be a part of the store opening this morning and to see all the work that goes in to opening a store, as well as meeting the local community and enjoy the store opening." Advertisement 4 Edgars Juksinskis pictured with Geraldine Carr, Operations Manager at Anam Croí to give donation of €500 in Lidl vouchers and Neil McLoughlin, Lidl Area Manager Credit: Xposure THE HISTORY OF LIDL IN IRELAND LIDL first opened in Germany in 1973. Back then, it employed just three people, stocking 500 product lines. The first Irish store, located just off Molesworth Street in Dublin, was opened in 1999. This was Lidl's first entry into the Irish grocery market. Then, Lidl opened more stores in 2000, in Limerick, Letterkenny, Mullingar, Athlone, Cavan, Ballinasloe and Portlaoise. Now, the retailer has over 180 stores and three distribution centres, employing over 6,000 people. They work with a network of more than 260 Irish suppliers from the communities they operate in.
Cision Canada
16-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
CRACKING DOWN ON CONTRABAND: IMPERIAL TOBACCO COMMENDS ONTARIO'S LEADERSHIP Français
MONTREAL, May 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Imperial Tobacco Canada (Imperial) congratulates Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy on taking decisive action against contraband tobacco products in the 2025 Budget. Reducing the prevalence and accessibility of contraband tobacco products in the province will not only have a positive impact on the safety of local communities but will also have considerable positive outcomes on the province's finances by recovering millions of dollars of lost tax revenue, which can be used to support key government initiatives. "It is encouraging to see that the Ford government is acknowledging that the fight against contraband tobacco is essential to the safety and wellbeing of communities across the province", says Eric Gagnon, Vice President of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs at Imperial. "We thank the province for their leadership on this important file and look forward to working together to combat contraband tobacco, undermine organized crime and keep people safe." Imperial is especially pleased to see the following key elements of the Budget reflecting this ambition: Expanded Penalties: Ontario is extending fines under the Tobacco Tax Act to cover the possession of illicit tobacco products other than cigarettes, including cigars, pipe tobacco, and chewing tobacco. Also, the government will strengthen fines for other offences related to contraband tobacco. Stronger Enforcement: The province is boosting support for the Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Team (CTET), enhancing coordination with the OPP to target links between illicit tobacco, drugs, and firearms. Online Sales & National Action: Ontario is tackling the rise of online contraband tobacco sales and urging federal cooperation to build a national enforcement framework—joining Alberta in pushing for cross-country action. The Ontario Budget highlights online sales and distribution as a major driver of the illicit tobacco trade and urges the federal government to take strong national action to address this threat. "The provinces need the support of the federal government when it comes to illicit trade, so we are encouraged that Ontario is calling for much-needed federal leadership on an issue that affects all provinces and communities across the country", noted Eric Gagnon. Imperial calls on other provincial governments and Ottawa to follow Ontario's lead and tackle Canada's contraband tobacco trade through collaboration and smart policy for the good of Canadians, and for the long-term benefit of government coffers. Imperial Tobacco Canada is the leading tobacco and nicotine company in Canada, part of the global BAT group. Our mission at BAT is to create A Better Tomorrow™ by promoting a Smokeless World. We envision a future where smokeless products replace cigarettes, encouraging smokers to make a Switch to Better.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CRACKING DOWN ON CONTRABAND: IMPERIAL TOBACCO COMMENDS ONTARIO'S LEADERSHIP
MONTREAL, May 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Imperial Tobacco Canada (Imperial) congratulates Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy on taking decisive action against contraband tobacco products in the 2025 Budget. Reducing the prevalence and accessibility of contraband tobacco products in the province will not only have a positive impact on the safety of local communities but will also have considerable positive outcomes on the province's finances by recovering millions of dollars of lost tax revenue, which can be used to support key government initiatives. "It is encouraging to see that the Ford government is acknowledging that the fight against contraband tobacco is essential to the safety and wellbeing of communities across the province", says Eric Gagnon, Vice President of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs at Imperial. "We thank the province for their leadership on this important file and look forward to working together to combat contraband tobacco, undermine organized crime and keep people safe." Imperial is especially pleased to see the following key elements of the Budget reflecting this ambition: Expanded Penalties: Ontario is extending fines under the Tobacco Tax Act to cover the possession of illicit tobacco products other than cigarettes, including cigars, pipe tobacco, and chewing tobacco. Also, the government will strengthen fines for other offences related to contraband tobacco. Stronger Enforcement: The province is boosting support for the Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Team (CTET), enhancing coordination with the OPP to target links between illicit tobacco, drugs, and firearms. Online Sales & National Action: Ontario is tackling the rise of online contraband tobacco sales and urging federal cooperation to build a national enforcement framework—joining Alberta in pushing for cross-country action. The Ontario Budget highlights online sales and distribution as a major driver of the illicit tobacco trade and urges the federal government to take strong national action to address this threat. "The provinces need the support of the federal government when it comes to illicit trade, so we are encouraged that Ontario is calling for much-needed federal leadership on an issue that affects all provinces and communities across the country", noted Eric Gagnon. Imperial calls on other provincial governments and Ottawa to follow Ontario's lead and tackle Canada's contraband tobacco trade through collaboration and smart policy for the good of Canadians, and for the long-term benefit of government coffers. About Imperial Tobacco Canada Imperial Tobacco Canada is the leading tobacco and nicotine company in Canada, part of the global BAT group. Our mission at BAT is to create A Better Tomorrow™ by promoting a Smokeless World. We envision a future where smokeless products replace cigarettes, encouraging smokers to make a Switch to Better. SOURCE Imperial Tobacco Canada View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New Paper
08-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Team Asogan ready to assert power at upcoming Ipoh races
With the races at the Perak Turf Club coming up on May 11, slow work on the Ipoh training track was the order of the day as trainers sought to add the finishing touches to their runners. The hard stuff had been done - mostly on the morning of May 6. But knowing that the runners needed a good stretch-out to keep their minds on the job ahead, the track was taken over by horses doing either serious cantering or some trotting on May 7 and 8. Prominent among them were the runners from the stables of Asogan Thangaraju. The Ipoh-based trainer cannot be faulted for a lack of effort. He has posted six wins from 62 starters for the 2025 season, and will saddle 10 racers this weekend. Asogan and his staff were busy people on the morning of May 7 when most of his entries were put through their paces. Two, in particular, caught the eye - A Better Tomorrow and A Beautiful Mind. A Better Tomorrow is one of a quartet of runners from Asogan's barn who will face the starter in Race 3 - the Class 5 (A) race to be run over the 1,600m. Formerly with English trainer James Peters in Singapore, but now with the Malaysian handler, the Awesome Rock five-year-old won a very competitive Open Maiden event by two lengths at Kranji on March 17, 2024. He has since been winless - but, again, not from a lack of trying. Indeed, his subsequent runs going back until June 16 produced three second-place finishes. Sent over to Asogan's yard when racing ended at Kranji in October, he raced three times and his last-start third to Boss Heng Heng on March 30 would have had the Super Singh Stable hoping their runner had, at last, turned the corner. They have every right to feel optimistic. Until that run on March 30, A Better Tomorrow won a trial in a nice time of 1min 1sec. His work leading up to the contest on May 11 has been decent and there is nothing to suggest that he is incapable of running a bold race. Also previously prepared by Peters and raced by the same connections, A Beautiful Mind is a four-year-old whose recent form has not been shabby. Much like A Better Tomorrow, he too was sent out for some light work on May 7 and 8 and, hopefully, he is now in a good frame of mind for that next assignment. In his case, it will be in Race 1 on May 11, a Class 5B race over 1,600m, and up in the saddle he will again have regular partner Harmeet Singh Gill doing the steering. The jockey knows him all too well, having ridden him in all his eight runs since being relocated to Ipoh, including his two victories. The first was on Nov 13 when the Eminent four-year-old scored a stylish win over the Ipoh 1,400m. Following two unplaced races in November and December, the pair returned and A Beautiful Mind opened his 2025 campaign with a neat win over the Ipoh 1,600m at Class 5B level on Jan 11.. What followed was a third placing on Feb 8. He then ran a shocker of a race on March 2 - finishing last of 12. A post-race veterinary inspection revealed "nothing abnormal". A Beautiful Mind carried stable confidence at his last start on April 13 and finished a creditable third after being "awkwardly away" and bumped just after the start. In the big race of the day, the RM100,000 (S$30,500) Perak Turf Club Community Shield (1,200m), pay special attention to Vincent's Star. Undoubtedly the star in trainer Ismadi Ismail's yard, the four-year-old is gunning for a fifth success in a row and what will be his sixth career victory. Well, he just might do it as Ismadi has been thorough in getting Vincent's Star buffed up and ready for the 1,200m sprint. He sent his star out for a gallop on May 6. Not out to break any record, he clocked a breezy 44sec for the 600m. Then, on May 7, trackwatchers saw Vincent's Star stretch out nicely when trotting on the grass of the Perak Turf Club's track. And, possibly to make doubly sure that his runner knows that there is serious business coming up, he had Vincent's Star saddled up again on May 8 and sent out for yet another trot on the track. After all, he will be doing battle with two interstate heavyweights in Super Salute and Noah Khan, both proven performers from Kuala Lumpur. Yes, come Race 5 on May 11, Ismadi will be expecting a big showing from this son of Epaulette - and why not? By the looks of things, he has left no stone unturned in getting his stable flagbearer topped up and ready for business. brian@
