Latest news with #Patron
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Wexford's ‘forgotten ones' to be honoured at annual patron in paupers' graveyard
Wexford People Today at 05:00 The annual patron at the Paupers' Graveyard, Coolcotts, Wexford will take place on Friday, June 6 at 7.30 p.m. The patron honours the memory of the Wexford men, women and children buried in the Paupers' Graveyard between 1852 - 1939. Many of 'The Forgotten Ones' buried in the graveyard were inmates of Wexford Union Workhouse - known today as the old Wexford Hospital. Also 27 victims of the 1859 'Pomona' shipwreck were laid to rest in the Paupers' Graveyard. 'Our committee is very grateful to Wexford's HFC Band with their musical director Dara Pender and Wexford Male Voice Choir with their musical Director Fiona Kelly who will be in attendance at the Patron,' said Helen Corish. Light refreshments will be served immediately after the ceremony at the nearby Coolcotts Community Centre, O'Leary Road and all are welcome.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Vacaville inmate investigated in attempted homicide of peace officer
(KRON) — The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it is probing the alleged attempted homicide of a peace officer at California Medical Facility in Vacaville on Wednesday. Nicaraguan man charged with assaulting ICE officer in San Jose CDCR said the incident happened at 10:10 a.m. when the inmate, identified as 38-year-old Dannunzio Patron, 'allegedly attacked a correctional officer with an improvised weapon during a cell extraction.' One officer who tried to break up the incident was injured by the weapon in his left forearm and two responding staff members said they suffered knee pain, according to CDCR. The injured officers were all taken to an outside hospital for treatment. 'Patron was most recently received from Fresno County on Dec. 30, 2024. He was sentenced to eight years for assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury as a second striker,' confirmed officials in a news release. Following the incident, Patron was transferred to another institution for restricted housing, said officials. The investigation will be handled by the Solano District Attorney's Office for possible felony prosecution. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said peer support and employee assistance program services are being offered to employees. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Queen seen with new pet dog ‘mischievous Moley' for first time after Camilla adopted rescue puppy from charity
QUEEN Camilla has shared a fresh gorgeous picture with her new pet dog Moley for the first time since adopting her from a rescue centre. The Queen got the "mischievous" pooch from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London around three months ago. 3 3 Camilla wanted another dog after her beloved Jack Russell Terrier Beth, who also came from the same charity, died aged 13 in November last year. Moley, now around 20 weeks old, has been seen for the first time after Camilla shared a cute snap of her alongside the pooch ahead of a visit by the royal to the Dog Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday. In the sweet picture, Camilla, donning a summery dress, can be seen holding Moley in her arms as she sits in a garden space. The post on The Royal Family's Instagram page was captioned: "Meet mischievous Moley, The Queen's new much-loved canine companion who was recently adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, where Her Majesty is Patron. "Tomorrow, The Queen will visit The Royal Horticultural Society and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show." Buckingham Palace also shared a second adorable picture of Moley standing tall on a wooden chair, with her ears perked up. The Queen had jokingly revealed in February, while on a visit to a museum in Canterbury, Kent, how she had chosen Moley's name. Speaking to a fellow dog owner, she said: 'I've just got a new puppy, she's eight weeks old.' When asked what breed Moley was, Camilla laughed: 'A bit of everything. 'It's a rescue dog. It's called Moley — it looks just like a mole.' King Charles and Camilla spotted in matching tartan outfits as they mark 20th wedding anniversary at church service Moley was born on Boxing Day to a Jack Russell mum and unknown dad at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Camilla has served as a patron for the animal rescue charity since 2016, succeeding the late Queen Elizabeth II. In addition to adopting Beth and Moley, Camilla also adopted her Jack Russell Terrier Bluebell from the same charity in 2012. After Beth was put down last year, the King told TV star Amanda Holden at the Royal Variety Performance that they had planned to get a new dog. On Monday, the Queen will attend RHS Chelsea Flower Show and visit a special Dog Garden. In the Instagram post which shared Moley for the first time, the family explained: "The garden, designed with dogs in mind, features grass areas for dogs to enjoy and a large tree providing shade. "The brick paths are inscribed with the names of dogs belonging to Radio 2 presenters and RHS ambassadors, as well as Monty Don's beloved dog Ned, to reflect the special place dogs hold in the nation's hearts and gardens. "The names of The Queen's adopted Jack Russell Terrier, Bluebell and her new puppy, Moley will feature on the path, alongside that of her much loved dog Beth, who passed away last year. "The name of The King's dog, Snuff, is also included on the path. The Garden for Dogs will live on after RHS Chelsea, at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home."
Mint
07-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Tequila sees a sunrise as Indians move on from gin. The whisky love affair continues
Gin may have lit up cocktail menus over the past few years, but drinkers may be moving on. Agave spirits, tequila and mezcal are taking the spotlight even as vodka makes a quiet comeback. Yet, whisky, India's long-time favourite, still dominates. Whether at a rooftop bar or house party, tequila shook off its old party-shot image with affluent urban consumers taking to cocktails like Picante and Paloma. Agave spirits, tequila and mezcal grew the fastest at 36% by volume in the country last year, according to the latest consumption numbers for 2024 that international drinks consultant IWSR shared exclusively with Mint. Vodka volumes rose 5% across price levels, making it one of the stronger performers this year. But brandy and rum stayed mostly flat, with just 2% volume growth, IWSR said. The biggest surprise was gin. While the rise of gin seemed unstoppable until now, its volumes grew just 1% in 2024—a sign that the buzz around many homegrown craft gins may be wearing off, or at least slowing down. Tequila's rise mirrors a growing tendency among India's younger consumers to try out premium spirits, which has bolstered the industry's growth amid rising incomes and social acceptance. IWSR estimates the country's $32-billion liquor industry to expand by an incremental $7 billion by 2028. Also read | Following listing, beer maker Kati Patang plans to acquire and incubate small alcohol businesses to expand In December last year, Bacardi, the company behind Patron tequila, said it would expand its range of agave spirits in India. A year earlier, Diageo-owned United Spirits Ltd introduced Don Julio tequila in the market. The company said Don Julio, which is now available in 20 cities and with newer variants, has received encouraging consumer response. The country now consumes about 150,000 cases (of nine litres each) of agave spirits, including imported tequila and agave spirits produced in India, according to Conrad Braganza, chief operating officer of Agave India, a homegrown brand better known as Desmondji. Agave India sells its spirits to consumers as well as several local companies, including Maya Pistola Agavepura. 'Post the pandemic, the market really opened up with a bang, at full capacity. It's become a "sexy" category to be associated with both in the US and in markets like India," said Braganza. 'Agave-based cocktails like the paloma and picante have become as mainstream as the classic gin and tonic." Picante is made with tequila, lime juice, agave syrup and fresh chillis, while the paloma blends tequila with soda, lime juice, and a salted rim. Industry estimates suggest that craft gin as a category, at its peak two years ago, was selling about 350,000-odd cases in India. These volumes have remained constant, say those in the know, suggesting other white spirits may be gaining at its expense. 'There's been some consolidation—a few local brands have shut shop—but we're also seeing new launches simultaneously. Also, gin now has a much wider base of consumption than some years ago," said Vikram Achanta, founder of Delhi-based drinks consultant Tulleeho. 'Despite that, mid-sized players are still entering and investing and gin continues to hold its own in cocktail culture, and slower growth isn't a concern yet." Read this | Spirits up: Premium alcohol sales to grow up to 25% year-on-year in Q3 Tequila, meanwhile, is gaining traction among affluent consumers. 'Top-shelf tequila is making inroads with the highest socioeconomic drinkers, and it's more likely taking share from luxury vodka than gin," added Achanta. Whisky remains India's go-to alcoholic drink. It still accounts for two-thirds of all spirits sold, IWSR said, although its growth has slowed from an average of 3% a year between 2018 and 2023, to 2% in 2024. According to consultants, that's because drinkers are moving towards more refined options. Malt whiskies—whether Indian, Scotch, Irish or Japanese—grew rapidly and volumes rose 32% annually from 2018 to 2023. While the 2024 numbers for malts aren't out yet, the trend toward sipping, rather than mixing, appears to be holding. "Whisky in India is a self-investing and aspirational category — it keeps growing on its own through consumer demand, innovation and brand investments," said Sandeep Arora, Delhi-based drinks consultant who runs Spiritual Luxury Living, a spirits advisory and marketing firm. 'It's now much wider as a category and much bigger than ever before." Despite the marginal dip, he expects a significant growth in 2025 as well and sub-category growth within the whisky gamut. Also read | Why India is the toast of the global alcohol market: Its young voters "People are becoming more experience-driven — they're not just sticking to single malts," Arora added. The category is also benefiting from cultural shifts. 'Drinking is now part of the social fabric in India, with less taboo and more responsible consumption," he added. 'Home bars, rising female participation, and innovation across price points will further fuel the growth of whisky." Spirits priced between ₹ 1,100 and ₹ 2,449 per 750ml—known in the industry as the 'standard" segment—grew 12% in 2024, making it the fastest-growing price tier. Even premium labels ( ₹ 2,950 to ₹ 4,549) saw a healthy 10% jump. But growth slowed at the very top. Super-premium and luxury spirits—priced at ₹ 4,550 and above—grew by 6%, suggesting that the high-end splurge is becoming more selective. While these top-shelf bottles still carry cachet, they are no longer driving the overall market in the way mid-range spirits are. At the other end, entry-level bottles under ₹ 1,099 barely grew at 2%, in line with the broader market average. Still, the broader Indian spirits market is poised to expand in 2025, according to IWSR. And a potential tariff reduction, especially with the UK, could also bring more international brands to the country to cater to the widening Indian palate. And read | Zero-alcohol companies look to capture millennial and 'sober curious' drinkers In a growing market like India where people now have more disposable income, consumers are spending on better-quality products and services. 'This is dovetailing into the need for a lot of alcohol companies to premiumize to keep bottom lines evolving," said Shekhar Swarup, joint managing director of Globus Spirits Ltd, known for its Terai gin and Doaab single malt. While expensive bottles like theirs still have takers, most of the action is happening in the mid-range. United Spirits, in its third-quarter earnings, had highlighted the continuity of the long-term premiumization trend. Even though the top end might take a few more quarters to regain its historical momentum , the company saw no major signs of downtrading and consumption during social occasions was only going up.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Georgia businesses try to make sense of tariff changes
ALBANY – Georgia businesses are preparing for higher prices and less competitive market products as the countdown to the Trump administration's 'reciprocal tariffs' ticks on. The state's railroads and highways, shipping containers and tractor trailers spent April trucking along, carrying a surplus of goods to meet the needs of inventory stockpiling amid the ongoing trade war. The U.S. is nearing the halfway point of a 90-day pause on hefty 'reciprocal tariffs' announced by President Trump on April 2. China was exempt from that pause, with Trump placing tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese goods. China fired back with a 125% tax on U.S. goods, but began evaluating trade negotiations with the U.S. at the start of May. Chris Clark, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce CEO, said the Chamber is seeing impacts on every sector in the state, from agriculture to film to small businesses, especially those retailers who get their supplies from Chinese distributors. In a mid-April report, the Georgia chamber listed recommendations for manufacturing, retail, agribusiness, the technology sector, and logistics and distribution. Some of these recommendations included using Georgia foreign trade zones, using Georgia ports, using technologies like AI to lessen supply chains for larger employees as well as stockpiling goods while prices are still down. 'No, 90 days is not enough time to insulate,' Clark said during an April 16 briefing. 'I think businesses need to be smart. If you can do just-in-time ordering, do it. If you can develop new domestic suppliers, do it.' The chamber CEO acknowledged that small businesses don't have the same resources to do this. 'We're suggesting that they go ahead and talk to their banks, develop a plan, and then try to secure additional capital so that they can stockpile or they can absorb some of the costs that they are considering passing on to consumers,' he said. Clark said it's a confusing time for everyone. He encouraged Georgian business owners to reach out to the chamber and their Congressman about impacts. 'We are asking the administration and members of Congress and our global partners to work quickly to re-establish stability, to lower barriers and to make it easier for us to sell our goods and products around the world,' he said. Industries across the country most affected are electronics, automobiles, furniture, wine and spirits, and clothing companies. Milan Patel, a local businessman who owns Bottom's Up! Wine & Spirits Boutique, among other businesses, said he's already begun stockpiling inventory, especially on liquors imported from Mexico. This includes many popular tequila brands, like Don Julio or Jose Cuervo. Patel said tariffs will have a downstream effect, even shifting consumer tastes. 'If tequila, let's say Patron, costs $45 and it has a 24% tariff, it's gonna be closer to $60,' he said. 'Well, people may not drink Patron anymore. So then what they do because you can't buy an American-made tequila, you then switch your taste … you'll drink a spirit that's made in this country.' Patel, who studied economics at the University of Georgia, said the current administration is using tariffs as a negotiating tool so it can reset trade terms for the betterment of America in the long-run. Although, he said, this doesn't come without consequences and 'short-term' pain. Construction at Patel's new Academy Sports location next to the Albany Mall has been steadily progressing, amid the panic around price increases. He said this project wasn't affected by tariffs because construction materials were purchased more than a year ago. He said construction projects that haven't taken off will most likely become more expensive. 'It's not going to stop construction,' he said. 'It's just going to be a little bit more of a Made in America construction product, and typically a Made in America construction product is a little bit more expensive.' Jud Savelle, the president of Bishop Clean Care, a local cleaning service, said tariffs have created instability in part of his business. In 2022, his business began distributing and selling commercial robotic vacuums under the brand 'Cobotics by Bishop Clean Care.' 'We moved in this direction because of the shift in labor trends in the cleaning industry,' he wrote in an email. 'As wages rose and interest in cleaning careers declined, we saw a need for automation.' However, Savelle said all robotic cleaning equipment is manufactured in China – good products with advanced AI systems. He said commercial robotic cleaning is still somewhat novel in the U.S., which means limited stock in this country. This makes new orders that are mostly imported, subject to any new tariff announcements at any time. 'Recent tariff announcements have created much instability in this industry, with most distributors unclear on how to quote prices for future orders,' Savelle wrote. 'Both our domestic and international partners have communicated their challenges with us, and we are all working very hard to adjust our business models to account for these wild swings.' Savelle said local businesses will be impacted based on their product categories and industry stability. Businesses that trade in low-value products with high-frequency sales are still able to acquire inventory that's been in the U.S. and won't see price increases yet. 'I expect they will begin to see the increase by mid-summer if healthy trade deals aren't met soon,' Savelle wrote. On the flip side, he said businesses like Bishop Clean Care, which trade in novel technologies or high-value items like equipment and vehicles, are already seeing an impact. Tariffs make Georgia's farmers more vulnerable as well, especially top exports like poultry, cotton, peanuts and pecans. Southwest Georgia is known as the pecan center of the world. However, pecan producers saw that title dip during trade wars between the U.S. and China in 2018 when Trump first imposed tariffs on the country. Then, the tariff was 10%, increasing to 25% by the end of 2018. Scott Hudson, president and CFO of Hudson Pecan Company, said at the time 90% of his pecans were going into China. Tariffs meant he lost the majority of that market to South Africa, as most of his customers began replacing Georgia pecans with South African or Mexican pecans. He said it got better two years later when the South African crop was were one of Georgia's largest agricultural imports to China before the 2018 trade war. Staff Photo: Lucille Lannigan'We have not had the China market since 2018 unless one of our competitors didn't have a crop,' Hudson said. 'So the tariff essentially killed us then. But right now, it's essentially completely dead. We're not a market of opportunity. We're not a market of anything in the China market.' Hudson said it was a disaster in 2018 that taught him not to 'put his pecans all in one basket.' His company has diversified across other areas to make up for the loss of the Chinese market – starting a retail market, tapping into the Middle East or Europe, and holding back as much crop as possible to sell to the end consumer in local spots like grocery stores. Hudson said he's holding onto faith that U.S. leaders are making the best decisions for its farmers and businesses. 'Let's just hope that it's short-term pain that will help us a lot,' he said. 'We've got other markets that have charged import tariffs on American Ag products for centuries, and that's not fair. Maybe it's time we hold some of these folks accountable.' However, pecan farmers have been on a continuous uphill battle since 2018, not only with trade wars, but with the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters like Hurricane Helene. During Helene, pecan farmers lost as many as 40 to 90% of their trees. Hudson said farmers are still waiting on crop and disaster payments. 'It is a tough time to be a farmer,' he said. 'We're not asking for handouts and favors. We're just asking for some help that is due us.' Hudson said he hopes both sides of Congress can come together to address tariffs and trade deals. 'It's across multiple administrations and has not changed one single bit,' Hudson said. 'It shouldn't be a Democrat or Republican thing. It needs to be an American thing, and let's just get it figured out.'
