Latest news with #Polish-based
Observer
24-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Airborne Wind Energy set to make Oman debut
MUSCAT, MAY 24 A Polish-based clean energy company specializing in harnessing wind energy through the deployment of kite sails, has been tapped to introduce this technology in Musandam Governorate for the first time in Oman. The renewable energy technology, formally known as Airborne Wind Energy (AWE), will be deployed by Njord Energy Inc, headquartered in the Polish city of Wroclaw, under a partnership agreement signed with Musandam Global Investment Co SAOC, a community-owned, publicly-listed closed joint stock company. 'This initiative is a bold step forward in aligning with Oman Vision 2040, promoting energy diversification, environmental stewardship, and technological localization. By supporting the local development and future manufacturing of AWE components, we aim to stimulate regional innovation, create high-value jobs, and open export opportunities for homegrown solutions,' said Musandam Global Investment Co in a post. The partnership will pave the way for the development of a pilot project that 'leverages high-altitude wind and AI-powered systems to deliver clean, sustainable energy to Musandam's remote and mountainous areas,' it added. Njord Energy says its Airborne Wind Energy system utilizes kite sails to capture wind energy efficiently at altitudes up to 1,000 meters. 'This plug-and-play system operates autonomously, generating power from 10 kW to over 500 kW with minimal environmental impact and at a significantly lower cost than traditional turbines,' it noted on its website. Given the Musandam's remote and rugged mountainous settings, Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) technology – a term also associated with Kite Wind Power or Tethered Wind Energy Systems – is seen as cost-competitive in supplying clean electricity to small, isolated communities distributed across the governorate. These systems typically harness wind energy at higher altitudes (between 200 and 1,000 meters) using tethered flying devices such as kites, drones, or gliders. They can access stronger and more consistent wind currents than conventional wind turbines, which are typically limited to around 100–150 meters in height. The commercialization of Airborne Wind Energy in Musandam can potentially drive the deployment of this technology in supporting the sustainable energy requirements of remote communities located elsewhere along coastal or mountainous parts of the country.
The Herald Scotland
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
New Ferguson Marine CEO Graeme Thomson begins work
The state-owned ship yard has adopted a five-year recovery strategy following delays and cost overruns in the construction of two large ferries for CalMac. The first, MV Glen Sannox, was finally delivered for service to and from Arran earlier this year, operating from Troon rather than Ardrossan as the harbour in the latter is unable to accommodate the vessel. Read More: A second ferry, MV Glen Rosa, is also late and over-budget, with delivery planned for September, more than seven years overdue. Ferguson Marine said its immediate priority under Mr Thomson's leadership is the build and delivery of MV Glen Rosa along with its efforts to secure work for the shipyard and modernise its infrastructure and equipment. In March it was announced that a contract to build seven small electric ferries for CalMac had been awarded to Polish-based Remontowa Shipbuilding following a tender process. Graeme Thomson, CEO of Ferguson Marine, said: 'It is a real privilege to officially join Ferguson Marine as Chief Executive Officer. The yard has a proud history and legacy, and its people are central to its future success. Over the coming months, I look forward to spending more time with colleagues across the business to see what we can do jointly to make things better for Ferguson Marine and, most importantly, secure some new opportunities. 'I've already been really impressed by the overwhelming sense of community here and the passion people speak with – it's a great yard, in a great site and with a great local community supporting it. We just need to turn it into success.'
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major charity shop chain to shut another store ahead of 47 more closing for good
A MAJOR charity shop chain has revealed it will shut down another store ahead of 47 more closing for good. Its branch in Kendal is due to close later this year, after its branch in neighbouring Workington closed earlier this year. 1 That leaves just one Scope branch in Cumbria in Windermere, which will remain open. The news has come as a blow to locals, who moaned: "It says something when the charity shops are failing." While another shopper cried: "Another closed shop on our main street, such a shame." Debbie Boylen, head of retail at disability equality charity Scope, said: "Our charity shop in Windermere remains profitable and will continue to trade. "We're very sad to confirm, our charity shop in Kendal will be closing, with the date is to be confirmed. " She added: "Our Workington charity shop closed in March 2025. We've had such incredible support from the wonderful and generous communities. We never take the decision to close our stores lightly. " Scope, a disability charity in England and Wales, warned back in January that it could close a number of its 138 stores. At the time, the charity's bosses said the decision was being considered in the face of declining footfall on high streets and spiralling costs. Chief executive Mark Hodgkinson said external factors had 'made trading harder'. The chain has faced rising rents, soaring energy costs, increased staff costs and the cost of living squeezing customers. Pull&Bear Opens New Flagship Store at Silverburn: Fashion Fans Celebrate in Glasgow! It comes as the charity has already closed four locations this month across Newport, Southampton, Atherstone and Welling. Five stores will also be closing down in May, with the locations yet to be revealed. This is on top of 18 closures made in March, which are listed below: Amersham Barking Bangor Birkenhead Bishop Auckland Castleford Devizes Dewsbury Eastbourne Haywards Heath Lewisham New Milton Orpington Parkstone Scunthorpe Shirley (Southampton) Skipton Workington These are the six shops that closed during the consultation period: Bexhill Hertford Mitcham Petersfield Scarborough Worthing TROUBLE ON THE HIGH STREET Plenty of other discount and charity shops are struggling as shoppers have less cash to part with at the till. In March, Poundland's parent company, Pepco, enlisted advisory firm Teneo to oversee the potential sale of its UK business. The decision followed Pepco's announcement that it is exploring "all strategic options" to separate Poundland from its portfolio of brands. The Polish-based group had hinted that it may shift its focus towards its more profitable operations across Europe. It is gearing up to close a handful of stores this May. The Centre for Retail Research's latest analysis suggests 13,479 stores, the equivalent of 37 each day, shut for good in 2024. Of those, 11,341 were independent shops while 2,138 were shut by larger retailers. The data also showed over half the stores that closed last year were shut due to the store or retailer going through insolvency proceedings. This is when formal measures are taken to deal with tackling a business's debt. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
Scottish Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major charity shop chain to shut another store ahead of 47 more closing for good
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR charity shop chain has revealed it will shut down another store ahead of 47 more closing for good. Its branch in Kendal is due to close later this year, after its branch in neighbouring Workington closed earlier this year. 1 Scope is closing down a number of stores Credit: Alamy That leaves just one Scope branch in Cumbria in Windermere, which will remain open. The news has come as a blow to locals, who moaned: "It says something when the charity shops are failing." While another shopper cried: "Another closed shop on our main street, such a shame." Debbie Boylen, head of retail at disability equality charity Scope, said: "Our charity shop in Windermere remains profitable and will continue to trade. "We're very sad to confirm, our charity shop in Kendal will be closing, with the date is to be confirmed. " She added: "Our Workington charity shop closed in March 2025. We've had such incredible support from the wonderful and generous communities. We never take the decision to close our stores lightly. " Scope, a disability charity in England and Wales, warned back in January that it could close a number of its 138 stores. At the time, the charity's bosses said the decision was being considered in the face of declining footfall on high streets and spiralling costs. Chief executive Mark Hodgkinson said external factors had 'made trading harder'. The chain has faced rising rents, soaring energy costs, increased staff costs and the cost of living squeezing customers. Pull&Bear Opens New Flagship Store at Silverburn: Fashion Fans Celebrate in Glasgow! It comes as the charity has already closed four locations this month across Newport, Southampton, Atherstone and Welling. Five stores will also be closing down in May, with the locations yet to be revealed. This is on top of 18 closures made in March, which are listed below: Amersham Barking Bangor Birkenhead Bishop Auckland Castleford Devizes Dewsbury Eastbourne Haywards Heath Lewisham New Milton Orpington Parkstone Scunthorpe Shirley (Southampton) Skipton Workington These are the six shops that closed during the consultation period: Bexhill Hertford Mitcham Petersfield Scarborough Worthing TROUBLE ON THE HIGH STREET Plenty of other discount and charity shops are struggling as shoppers have less cash to part with at the till. In March, Poundland's parent company, Pepco, enlisted advisory firm Teneo to oversee the potential sale of its UK business. The decision followed Pepco's announcement that it is exploring "all strategic options" to separate Poundland from its portfolio of brands. The Polish-based group had hinted that it may shift its focus towards its more profitable operations across Europe. It is gearing up to close a handful of stores this May. The Centre for Retail Research's latest analysis suggests 13,479 stores, the equivalent of 37 each day, shut for good in 2024. Of those, 11,341 were independent shops while 2,138 were shut by larger retailers. The data also showed over half the stores that closed last year were shut due to the store or retailer going through insolvency proceedings. This is when formal measures are taken to deal with tackling a business's debt.
Russia Today
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ex-Russian MP probed over attempted coup
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal case against former State Duma MP Ilya Ponomarev, accusing him of plotting a coup and forming a terrorist organization. The announcement was made by the agency in a press statement earlier on Wednesday. Ponomarev began serving as a State Duma MP in 2007 but fled Russia in 2014 amid embezzlement accusations. A year later, he was stripped of parliamentary immunity when Russia's Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against him, accusing Ponomarev of stealing 22 million rubles ($241,000) from the Skolkovo research center. He was placed on the federal wanted list. Since leaving Russia, the former MP has been a radical opponent of the Russian government and a self-styled representative of the 'Russian resistance'. He moved to Ukraine, where he obtained citizenship in 2019, and has repeatedly called on Russian citizens to join Kiev's forces and violently seize power in Russia. Last year, the FSB launched a criminal case against the former lawmaker on charges of terrorism and treason. The new case against Ponomarev was opened in connection with his ties to the Congress of People's Deputies (CPD), a Polish-based group whose aim is 'a violent seizure of power and change of the constitutional order in the Russian Federation,' according to the FSB. The agency says the former lawmaker has described the group, which he founded in 2022, as 'the new government of Russia in exile.' In footage accompanying the FSB statement, which features a number of interviews with Ponomarev, the former MP himself calls his organization Russia's 'proto-parliament.' According to the security service, Ponomarev has been working on getting the CPD recognized as the legitimate power in Russia by the Ramstein group, a bloc of Western nations supporting Kiev in the conflict with Moscow, also known as the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG). The FSB stated that the CPD has attracted over 60 former Russian politicians to its ranks since its inception, while developing and adopting more than 30 normative acts, such as the Constitution of the 'New Russia', as well as acts 'On the Transitional Parliament' and 'On the Resistance Movement', which are all illegal under Russian law. The FSB alleges that Ponomarev's plans involve seizing power in Russia by force. In order to accomplish this, the former lawmaker has been collaborating with one of Kiev's paramilitary units, which is considered a terrorist group in Russia, the FSB stated. The agency did not mention the name of the unit in its statement but accompanied it with footage of Ponomarev taking part in activities of the 'Russian Freedom Legion', a Ukrainian paramilitary association that has been officially recognized as a terrorist organization by Russia's Supreme Court. The FSB opened a criminal case against Ponomarev on two charges – 'Violent Seizure of Power or Violent Retention of Power' and 'Organization of a Terrorist Community and Participation in It'. He is facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The former lawmaker has authored a book titled 'Does Putin have to Die?', in which he puts himself forward as a candidate for interim leader of Russia. In footage provided by the FSB, one of his supporters claims that Ponomarev 'personally urged' them to 'physically eliminate Putin.'
