Latest news with #IRC
Belfast Telegraph
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Kris Meeke reveals the two things he's relying on to help banish his Rali Vinho da Madeira hoodoo
The 46-year-old makes his fifth start at the island-based event this evening, determined to banish past disappointments and return to the podium's top step with Stuart Loudon. Meeke's single best performance on Madeira came in 2009 during his Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) days when he finished fifth overall as a Peugeot UK-backed driver. Retirement beckoned the following year when his car developed an oil leak, followed by a bad accident in 2023 that left him injured, and a ten-minute time penalty last season. 'Madeira has not exactly been a happy place for me; the first time was in 2009 and it was tough,' said Meeke, who currently holds a slim five point lead over Armindo Araujo in the Portuguese Rally Championship points' standings after the opening five rounds. 'Since then, I have had two more attempts where, again, luck was not on my side. This year, however, I am bringing more experience and – above all – I am bringing a car that I love.' Meeke has quickly gelled with the GR Yaris Rally2 since his switch to it after two spells in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, beginning the defence of his crown with three consecutive wins. Since then, late suspension damage meant he failed to finish Rally de Portugal and lost maximum points in the process, with a retrospective time penalty on last month's Rali de Castelo Branco handing the win to his close friend and rival, Dani Sordo. 'The GR Yaris Rally2 was incredible in Castelo Branco, perhaps even better on asphalt than on dirt,' said Meeke. 'Of course, I know that the Portuguese drivers know all of these stages very well, as they have been doing this race for 20 years, so the challenge will be enormous – but I am very happy to be back in Madeira and to give my all for a good result.' He added: 'It was really tough to lose in Castelo Branco like that, but I am very happy with the performance. The duel with Dani was excellent – he is one of the best asphalt drivers in the world – so I really had to give it my all to stay ahead of him. When the battle is like that, decided by tenths of a second on such fast stages, it is a real pleasure to compete.' Comprising 13 special stages, the first is the short Cidade do Funchal street stage this evening (7.30pm) followed by six on Friday and a further six on the Saturday.
Business Wire
16 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Independent Restaurant Coalition and Chase Launch New Multi-Year Partnership and Announce $4 Million in Grants to Restaurants
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) and Chase today announced a multi-year partnership to offer meaningful support to independent restaurants and bars as they continue to be vital employers and leaders in communities nationwide. This new partnership includes two grant programs – the IRC and Chase Disaster Relief Fund and the IRC and Chase Innovator Awards – that together will award $4 million in grants to independent restaurants and bars across the country this year. Beginning today, the IRC and Chase Innovator Awards will open for grant applications to provide $1 million in funding for independent restaurants and bars that use innovative business practices and positively impact their communities. Examples include prioritizing sustainability, utilizing local products and services, and supporting the health and well-being of their teams. will open for grant applications to provide $1 million in funding for independent restaurants and bars that use innovative business practices and positively impact their communities. Examples include prioritizing sustainability, utilizing local products and services, and supporting the health and well-being of their teams. On September 3, the IRC and Chase Disaster Relief Fund will begin accepting applications to award $3 million in grants to support independently owned restaurants, bars, cafés, and food trucks recovering from natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, ice storms, flooding, and more. 'Restaurants are often among the first in their communities to lend a hand. Thanks to Chase, we can finally do something to help businesses who have sacrificed so much for their neighbors,' said Bobby Stuckey, Partner and Master Sommelier of Frasca Hospitality Group and IRC co-founder. 'Independent restaurants support first responders, feed the hungry, and support other businesses in the communities they serve. Chase understands that, which is why we are proud to collaborate with them on programming that advances the work of these vital businesses and helps educate the public on their importance.' Independent restaurants and bars are both significant drivers of the U.S. economy and essential parts of their communities. They make up 69% of the restaurant industryi, but as most are operating on pre-tax profit margins of 3%-5%ii, they are under increasing pressure. To continue fulfilling their essential economic and cultural roles, these restaurants urgently need access to solutions that can help them manage costs and stay afloat. 'It is an honor to support the people who make our communities stronger every day,' said Erika Polmar, Executive Director of the Independent Restaurant Coalition. 'Independent restaurants and bars are first jobs and second chances—the place where people gather, celebrate, and find comfort—and the people behind them are often the first to show up when their neighbors need help. Just this month, we've seen independent restaurants in Texas feed first responders. Their generosity, resilience, and creativity are unmatched. Thanks to Chase, we have an opportunity to lift more of these businesses up and ensure they have the resources to keep doing what they do best. As the official financial services partner to the IRC, Chase will provide financial and educational resources to IRC members, as well as access to research and data and marketing support through industry activations and sponsorships. Together, Chase and the IRC will continue to educate the industry and the general public on the importance of independent restaurants nationwide. 'We are proud to partner with an organization that shares our belief that restaurants and bars are more than just kitchens—they are vital parts of the communities they serve,' said Chris Stang, Head of Lifestyle and Dining at Chase. 'Independent restaurants bring people together, drive local economies, and give neighborhoods their unique character. Through the establishment of the Innovator Awards and Disaster Relief Fund, we will work with the IRC to make an investment in the future of this industry and help ensure small businesses have the resources they need to grow while continuing to serve their communities.' About IRC and Chase Disaster Relief Fund Launching in September, the IRC and Chase Disaster Relief Fund aims to provide independent restaurant and bar owners with essential financial relief so they can address immediate needs to stay in business, including property damage, temporary operating expenses, lost inventory, and more. The scale of natural disasters in recent years, including the devastating flooding this month in Central Texas, underscore the urgent need for this support: Southern California Wildfires (2025): Many restaurants throughout Los Angeles County were destroyed or had significant interruptions to their businesses. One month after the fires, businesses in Malibu that reopened were losing 50% to 85% of their revenue due to fire damage and road closures. iii Many restaurants throughout Los Angeles County were destroyed or had significant interruptions to their businesses. One month after the fires, businesses in Malibu that reopened were losing 50% to 85% of their revenue due to fire damage and road closures. Midwest Tornadoes (2024-2025): Dozens of restaurants across multiple states reported significant inventory and property loss, totaling tens of millions of dollars in damages . The Minden–Harlan (Iowa) tornado alone inflicted $12.2 million in damages, decimating 90% of the business district. iv Dozens of restaurants across multiple states reported significant inventory and property loss, totaling . The Minden–Harlan (Iowa) tornado alone inflicted $12.2 million in damages, decimating 90% of the business district. North Carolina Hurricanes (2024): Coastal and inland restaurants faced closures and lost revenue due to flooding and storm damage, with recovery costs exceeding insurance coverage for many small establishments. One month after the storms, nearly 80% of Asheville's businesses and homes did not have drinking water.v The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that 40% of small businesses never reopen after a natural disaster, and within one year, an additional 25% shut downvi. A study conducted by Chase and the IRC showed that as independent restaurants are already operating on slim margins, unexpected costs have an outsized impactvii, further emphasizing the critical need for funding after a disaster strikes. Administered by the Edward Charles Foundation, the IRC and Chase Disaster Relief Fund will open for applications on September 3, 2025. Restaurants interested in applying must complete an eligibility screener to confirm they meet basic requirements, including being independently owned, operating fewer than 20 locations nationwide, and having sustained direct disaster-related damage within the past 12 months. Businesses affiliated with national chains, franchises, or publicly traded companies are not eligible to apply. Additional details, eligibility requirements, and application materials will be available at About the IRC and Chase Innovator Awards The IRC and Chase Innovator Awards will recognize 40 independent restaurants and bars with $25,000 grants to strengthen the ideas, practices, and business models that promote sustainability and environmental innovation. This includes zero-waste kitchens and low-carbon menus, as well as workforce and industry innovation like childcare support and leadership or culinary training. Applications for the IRC and Chase Innovator Awards are open through August 27, 2025, and recipients will be announced in October. Eligibility requirements1 and link to apply can be found at Since its founding, the IRC has successfully advocated for over $28.6 billion in federal aid, providing critical support to restaurants nationwide. This latest initiative continues the IRC's commitment to supporting independent restaurants facing ongoing challenges. Chase's support for and involvement in the restaurant industry is vast. In 2021, Chase acquired The Infatuation, the popular restaurant discovery platform, and Zagat, the iconic restaurant review brand, to further its commitment to meeting customers' interest in dining. Since then, Chase has added more dining opportunities, recommendations and experiences for its more than 85 million customers, from celebrated events like EEEEEATSCON food festivals in the U.S. to unique partnerships, promotions and involvement in dining events and experiences across the globe. About Independent Restaurant Coalition In March 2020, the restaurant and bar community formed the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) to save the independent restaurants and bars from the devastating impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic. We continue to fight to create meaningful change for independent restaurants and bars nationwide by providing strong advocacy centered on making sure that independent businesses are being seen, heard and supported by federal policy makers. For more information or to sign up for newsletters, please visit About Chase Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America with assets of $4.6 trillion and operations worldwide. Chase serves more than 85 million consumers and 7 million small businesses, with a broad range of financial services, including personal banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment advice, small business loans and payment processing. Customers can choose how and where they want to bank: Nearly 5,000 branches in 48 states and the District of Columbia, nearly 15,000 ATMs, mobile, online and by phone. For more information, go to ___________________________________ 1 No purchase, payment, or obligation is necessary to submit an application or receive a grant. A purchase/payment will not increase your chances of being selected for a grant. The Independent Restaurant Coalition and Chase Innovator Awards Grant Program submission period begins on 7/30/25 at 9:00:00 a.m. Eastern Time ('ET') and ends on 8/27/25 at 9:00:00 a.m. ET. Who may apply for the grant: a small, independent business whose primary purpose and profit comes from preparing, serving, and selling of food and/or beverages to the public, such as, but not limited to, full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants with counter service, cafes, bars, pubs and food carts. The business must have a physical public facing location that customers can either dine or drink onsite or carry food out. Additionally the business must be: [1] be a for-profit only business (corporation, LLC or sole proprietor) located/headquartered in the 50 US, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam; [2] have been actively engaged in its current business activity for at least two (2) consecutive years immediately preceding the start of the Program; [3] be owned by natural persons who are legal residents of the 50 US, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam, and who are at 18 years old; [4] have a valid employer identification number or taxpayer identification number; [5] have no more than a maximum of 20 locations in the 24 months prior to submitting an Application; [6] total annual revenue of less than $13,000,000 (13 million) for tax year 2024 (or tax year 2023 if information is not yet available for 2024); and [7] not be owned by an employee of Sponsors or a company wholly owned by a Sponsor or Sponsor's parent company. The total maximum retail value of all grants is $1,000,000.00. Limit: One (1) grant per small business. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. For complete details and Official Terms and Conditions and Program Rules go to SPONSORS: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 201 N. Walnut Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 and Independent Restaurant Coalition, PO Box 480, Joseph, Oregon, 97846. Expand i ii iii iv v vi vii
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
North Texans mobilize, deliver aid for Gaza crisis amid challenges
Despite being thousands of miles away from Gaza, North Texans have been mobilizing for months, helping get humanitarian aid to those who need it most. For the Baitulmaal organization, which is based in Irving, the humanitarian crisis hits close to home. Baitulmaal has been embedded in the war-torn region since 2023, contributing food, water, medical supplies, and even mental health support and education to children. Since the war began, getting aid in has been a challenge, but the last few weeks, even more so. "The situation in Gaza right now is terrible. It really is as bad as you hear in the news," said Mazen Mokhtar, the Baitulmaal CEO. "We had to be creative; we had to look for ways to help those who so desperately need the help, despite the fact that we're not able to send things in. So we have been able to deliver food from the local market." Getting supplies into Gaza has also been challenging for larger organizations like the International Rescue Committee (IRC). "We have a very determined team in Gaza, who are still there and doing their best to provide services, despite the considerable challenges that are also now impacting them personally," said Elinor Raikes, the IRC VP of Program Delivery. On Monday, President Trump acknowledged the humanitarian crisis, pledging to bring more aid into Gaza. Raikes said that while there are many barriers, North Texans are helping make a difference through donations. "I see the data coming in, and I see how those funds sustain our ability to respond and stay in places like Gaza," she said. Like the IRC, Baitulmaal also relies heavily on donations from the community, which not only helps with getting aid there, but also manpower. "We have physicians who have come to us saying I want to go if you have a mission," Mokhtar said. "Don't be powerless, don't feel powerless, make a difference, and the little aid that you give absolutely changes people's lives."
Time Magazine
a day ago
- Health
- Time Magazine
How To Stop Gazans From Dying of Starvation Right Now
Today, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)—the global gold standard initiative charged with assessing hunger and food insecurity—released a devastating but predictable analysis: famine, the worst case scenario humanitarian actors have been warning about for the past 21 months, is unfolding in Gaza. According to the IPC, a body which prides itself on technical expertise and is not given to hyperbole, two of the three thresholds required to classify famine in Gaza have been surpassed. Food consumption and acute malnutrition, particularly in northern Gaza and Gaza City, have reached catastrophic levels. The third threshold, mortality from starvation and related causes, remains unverified. This is not because people are not dying. This is because the conditions on the ground—lack of humanitarian access, raging conflict, and the collapse of the health system—make data collection very hard. The choice is deadly and clear. Why wait for a post-mortem when we can save these lives now? The IPC analysis is not a warning. It is a photograph, together with those of the emaciated children that have shocked the world. I have heard it myself from International Rescue Committee (IRC) staff on the ground in Gaza. We must believe our eyes and ears: this is not a theoretical risk. It is a lived reality and it is happening now. The government of Israel's restrictions on aid have created the conditions for famine—and the window to prevent mass death is rapidly closing. This famine is a man-made catastrophe. It is not a consequence of natural scarcity, but of political choices. And historical precedent paints a stark picture of the cost of inaction. In Somalia in 2011, famine was only officially declared after more than 250,000 people had already died, half of them children under five. Despite months of warnings and worsening drought, the global response surged only after the declaration—and long after it could save the most vulnerable. It was the single most fatal food crisis of the 21st century. The risk before us is history repeating itself. At the IRC, we are already seeing the consequences of inaction. One in five children in Gaza City is now acutely malnourished. Our Palestinian partners and IRC staff are delivering nutrition, child protection, health and hygiene support under relentless pressure—and often without food or electricity themselves. I have heard from staff who stretch one meal across an entire day. They tell us of children too weak to walk, and of emaciated people collapsing in the street. The IRC knows all too well what severe acute malnutrition does to children's bodies. It destroys immunity, making common illnesses like diarrhea or pneumonia lethal. It halts brain development, impairs physical growth, and leaves lifelong consequences. A child suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition is 12 times more likely to die from disease than a well-nourished child. Even those who survive will bear the scars of this crisis for decades. Despite the overwhelming evidence of rampant malnutrition and growing deaths from starvation, Gaza remains all but sealed off. At the IRC, we have several tons of life-saving medical supplies ready and waiting to enter—enough to treat thousands and bolster a health system that is collapsing under the weight of war and deprivation. These supplies sit idle. Hospitals are either destroyed or overwhelmed. Fuel is scarce. Food prices have surged by 700%. Gaza's essential services have collapsed. Instead of opening land routes, the international community has turned to airdrops and maritime routes, stopgaps that, while well-intentioned, are no substitute for safe, sustained access. Airdrops are inefficient, limited in scale, dangerous, incapable of delivering the specialized food and medical care required to save malnourished children. Land routes are not only the most efficient option, they are the only realistic option at the scale and speed this crisis demands. The IRC knows this from experience. In every major food crisis we've responded to—from Ethiopia to South Sudan—it is timely, coordinated and unimpeded access that makes the difference between life and death. The solution is tragically simple. First, open all viable land crossings—not for hours and not with caveats, but at scale, with fast screening and consistency, to flood Gaza with aid immediately. We know that in the ceasefire months of January and February this year, the flow of humanitarian and commercial goods made a difference immediately. Second, ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations to reach children and their families—from Rafah to northern Gaza. Third, the political track still matters. A ceasefire remains vital. Without an end to hostilities, no humanitarian corridor can function safely, Palestinian civilians cannot be reached at scale and the hostages will not return home. This is not a crisis that demands more data. It demands more determination, not from those struggling to survive, but from national and international leadership that needs to speak out against the blockade that is driving people to more death. The world knows what is happening in Gaza. The cost of delay will be measured in the lives of children lost. It is too late for too many, but not for all. The choice is ours and the time is now.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
'Worst-case scenario' of famine unfolding in Gaza, watchdog warns as war death toll crosses 60,000
The worst-case scenario of famine is rapidly unfolding in Gaza, a global hunger monitor warned on Tuesday as the Palestinian death toll from Israel's war in the territory crossed 60,000. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued an alert over the rise in hunger-related deaths in the enclave, saying that access to food and other essential items has plummeted to unprecedented levels. "Famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip," the IPC said in a report. "Immediate action must be taken to allow for unimpeded, large-scale, life-saving humanitarian response. This is the only path to stopping further deaths and catastrophic human suffering," it added. The IPC's alert over the dire situation in Gaza has been echoed by other humanitarian organisations. On Tuesday, David Miliband, President of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), issued a "stark warning" over deteriorating conditions in the strip. 'The images, testimonies, and statistics from Gaza leave no room for doubt... what we are witnessing is a man-made catastrophe unfolding in real time," wrote Mr Miliband in a statement. "Children in Gaza are not just hungry; they are starving to death... In the coming days, thousands of Gaza's children will either be rescued — or allowed to die. That is the choice before us," he continued. The UN's World Food Programme also warned on Tuesday that the disaster unfolding in Gaza was "unlike anything we have seen in this century". Faced with mounting international alarm over the situation, Israel said at the weekend its military would observe "tactical pauses" to facilitate the delivery of food to Gaza. However, the WFP says none of the supplies entering Gaza were able to reach the agency's warehouses, from where they are sent out for distribution. "We have not had any trucks make it to the warehouse on July 27; yesterday - July 28 - nothing went through," a WFP official told The National. "All trucks that went out on July 27 were offloaded en route. We believe it is hungry civilians [who are] desperate and do not trust the system and that they will be able to get anything through distributions." On Monday, US President Donald Trump admitted for the first time that children in Gaza are suffering "real starvation", amid mounting international criticism of Israel's actions in the strip. "That's real starvation stuff, I see it, and you can't fake that,' Mr Trump said. 'We have to get the kids fed." His statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied that starvation is happening in the Palestinian territory. 'There is no policy of starvation in Gaza and there is no starvation in Gaza,' he claimed in a speech. The IPC defines famine as a situation in which "at least one in five households have an extreme lack of food and face starvation and destitution, resulting in extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition and death". Its assessments are a critical tool used by the international community to identify and tackle famine conditions worldwide. In an analysis published in May, the IPC had projected that the entire population in the Gaza Strip would face high levels of acute food insecurity by September, including half a million people in catastrophe levels, characterised by an extreme lack of food, starvation, destitution and death. A risk of famine was detected in all areas of the Gaza Strip. Since then, Israeli aerial bombardment and ground operations have intensified, making people's access to food across Gaza "alarmingly erratic and extremely perilous", the IPC said. Between May and July, the proportion of households experiencing extreme hunger has doubled. One in three individuals have been going without food for days at a time, it said in its report. More than 3,000 children are severely malnourished in Gaza. Hospitals have reported a rapid increase in hunger-related deaths of children under five years old, with at least 16 reported deaths since July 17, according to IPC figures. The hunger watchdog has also criticised the food distribution mechanism of the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). It said distribution sites are located in militarised zones where less than a quarter of the population is located, forcing Palestinians to embark on long, high-risk journeys to collect food items that are not ready-to-eat and require water and fuel to cook, which are largely unavailable. Since late May, more than 1,000 people have been killed while trying to access food in Gaza, the majority of them near GHF aid sites, according to the IPC and UN figures. Israel says it is committed to allowing in aid but must control it to prevent it from being stolen by Hamas, as a justifoication for launching the GHF's operations. An internal US government analysis found no evidence of systematic theft by Hamas of US-provided humanitarian supplies, challenging Israel's claims. On Sunday, Israel declared a 'tactical' pause in military operations in parts of Gaza and promised to open secure routes for aid. It claimed that more than 120 lorry loads of food aid were distributed by the UN and aid agencies in Gaza. However, UN agencies did not confirm the amount of aid, while residents reported supplies being taken from trucks before reaching warehouses. The International Rescue Committee has warned that limited 'tactical pauses', air drops and other symbolic gestures are "dangerously inadequate in the face of Gaza's accelerating hunger crisis". "With child deaths from malnutrition surging and famine conditions prevalent, to be meaningful, any halt in fighting must end Israel's near-total blockade and allow sustained, large-scale aid and commercial supplies through safe land routes. Fuel, food, clean water and electricity must reach all areas of Gaza — brief pauses won't cut it," the IRC said.
