Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks Picnic will open a 33,000 m² distribution center (DC) for fruit and vegetables at business park Hogeweide in Geldermalsen in early March fresh products will be delivered to Picnic's own distribution centers in the Netherlands giving the online supermarket more control over the supply chain and further improving the freshness of its products Picnic will collaborate with partners in the DC Picnic's distribution centers will receive their first deliveries from Geldermalsen and the DC is expected to provide employment for 100 to 150 people from the region Picnic will begin recruiting and hiring order pickers Full control over operations "Especially with fruit and vegetables quality is extremely important," says Picnic co-founder Michiel Muller "Conditions must be optimal to deliver perfect products which shortens the supply chain and allows us to guarantee even higher quality The different storage zones also enable us to keep each product at the ideal temperature." The facility will be Picnic's largest fruit and vegetable distribution center the company will work directly with Everest Groenten & Fruit the German supermarket chain that is also an investor in Picnic The new facility has been designed to the highest sustainability standards and has achieved the BREEAM 'Excellent' certificate A key feature of the distribution center is the use of 100% circular steel which helps minimize its ecological impact the entire roof is covered with solar panels to generate sustainable energy and the building has been fitted with an extra insulating shell resulting in an insulation value above the legal standard Special attention has also been given to green spaces around the building ensuring they blend into the environment while promoting local biodiversity Source: Picnic FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com Blokker has set up a new omnichannel operation in its distribution centre in Geldermalsen there have been developments in logistics in the household goods retail chain One thing remains unchanged: the use of Locus WMS John Schollink at Blokker: “We’ve never lost a day of operations due to a software problem.” Blokker’s logistics underwent a massive overhaul Its distribution centre in Geldermalsen no longer met the requirements of a modern retailer having been built at a time when few people had heard of e-commerce management decided to close our existing distribution centres in Mijdrecht and Gouda and merge these operations in Geldermalsen where practically the entire distribution centre was refurbished in a short space of time We stripped and remodelled the distribution centre hall by hall while operations continued,” says John Schollink “We deliberately chose Locus to handle the intelligence That controls the overall operation.” There was one crucial mainstay while the distribution centre was being transformed: Locus WMS Blokker’s logistics operations have been running on this warehouse management system (WMS) since time immemorial Replacing it wasn’t considered even for a moment it’s a stable system that we can rely on to drive our operations Replacing this would be no less risky than performing open-heart surgery,” says Schollink who is supported by IT Director John de Keuning “We know plenty of retailers whose logistics were brought to a halt after replacing the WMS But Blokker has considered implementing a new version of Locus WMS The retailer had two different versions with different features: one version for retail distribution and another for e-fulfilment we would have replaced it with a single new version without all the customisation but that wasn’t feasible in terms of planning That’s why we’ve transferred the e-fulfilment function from one version to another to continue supporting our online business.” the necessary adjustments have been made in Locus WMS particularly to order picking and dispatching ensuring both channels operate efficiently “Online customers tend to only order one or two units Both order flows are in fact part of the same order picking process but have a different final destination; the stores orders go directly to the trucks the online orders head to the packing line,” explains Schollink When the new ERP system reads the store orders in the morning Locus calculates how many roll containers and boxes every store gets This calculation is sent to SNEL Shared Logistics – our logistics service provider – to determine which roll containers and which boxes need be ready for dispatch when Locus then ensures that the right store orders are picked on time “The WMS divides the stores orders between different waves taking into account the departure time of the trucks Online orders also come into Locus throughout the course of the day these orders will also be combined into a wave and released for picking.” many of the old mechanisation was replaced with new especially in the hall where the smaller items are picked “These are the items that fit in a standard plastic picking bin Order pickers walk around here with picking carts that can take up to eight bins each linked to a single store order or a group of online orders Put-to-light screens show how many units of each item need to be put in which bin,” says Schollink the order picker places it on a roller conveyor which takes the bins to an automatic buffer system Shuttles take care of the input and output we pick up the bins containing store orders from the buffer system The bins are automatically stacked on dollies for each store The bins with online orders remain in the buffer system until the orders are complete and we’re ready to pack and ship them.” The new mechanisation was supplied by Inther which also provided the software to control the hardware but that’s where the systems integrator’s role ends “We deliberately chose Locus to handle the intelligence and control Locus is still what controls the overall operation,” explains De Keuning Inther’s software knows which bin is in which location but Locus tells us which bins should be taken out at what time.” The fact that the intelligence has been entrusted to Locus alone keeps the operation flexible and agile Schollink mentions the deployment of a new packing machine and sorting system by way of example All online orders that consist of only one product go to the packing machine which folds a box to fit perfectly around the product The sorting system will soon offer more capacity and higher productivity when processing online orders “When rolling out this new automated solution we only needed to make adjustments to Locus WMS.” Even since the distribution centre was restructured a new ERP system was integrated and the new automated machines were installed logistics processes are still in a constant state of flux which means the WMS needs to continually adapt too “The last change concerns relocating stock from sister company Big Bazar to our distribution centre in Geldermalsen That means we get a second stock owner in the WMS,” explains Schollink “Throughout the whole metamorphosis and all the changes that followed Locus proved to be a beacon of stability and reliability We’ve never lost a day of operations due to a software problem.” The power of Locus lies not only in the software “Centric has people who understand what is really needed in retail logistics what developments are happening in the market and what opportunities are out there to respond to them That will be even more crucial in the future.” What next for Indonesia’s underwater cultural heritage Thirty years since the Geldermalsen cargo was sold off Indonesia’s underwater cultural heritage legislation remains inconsistent and ambiguous with serious implications for its many shipwrecks The Indonesian archipelago is the final resting place for at least 400 known shipwrecks. The diverse wrecks constitute a snapshot of Indonesia’s rich histories: ancient dhows that plied the maritime ceramic route between the Middle East and China, Dutch East Indiamen laden with tea and spices, watery World War II graves and crowded ferry disasters of the present day Scholars speculate that many more remain undiscovered Yet Indonesia is aware of the significance of its underwater cultural heritage – and the inadequacy of its legislative framework – for at least three decades One of the most prominent examples of the destruction of Indonesia’s underwater cultural heritage was the 1986 auction of objects removed from the Geldermalsen wreck The Geldermalsen was a Dutch East India Trading Company cargo vessel that sank near Riau British treasure hunter Michael Hatcher salvaged the vessel for profit saving only valuable objects and destroying what was left Although Hatcher had a contract with the Dutch Government to excavate the wreck it is clear that there were other interests deserving of attention ‘…it was a race to get what [we] could before being interrupted by weather The salvage process has been likened to swimming in a gigantic teapot the salvaged porcelain and gold was auctioned by Christie’s in Amsterdam for more than £10 million even though the wreck was in Indonesian waters Indonesia received nothing from the sale proceeds Hatcher’s actions revealed the vacuum that existed in relation to the ownership and management of underwater cultural heritage in Indonesia legislation was introduced in 1989 that formalised state ownership of all wrecks in Indonesian waters It also established the National Committee for Salvage and Utilisation of Valuable Cargo Objects from Sunken Ships (PanNas BMKT) which was authorised to issue commercial excavation permits to third parties through an Indonesian licensee The consequence of this legislation was that ships and their cargoes were constituted primarily as economic resources – resources that now belonged to the state Poor visibility limits clear photos of HMAS Perth. 2014 - Credit: Shinatria Adhityatama / Pusat Arkaeologi Nasional (Arkenas) Indonesia introduced new cultural heritage legislation (Law No It provided for objects of historical and cultural significance but did not directly address the issue of underwater sites and objects This law did not replace the 1989 legislation the activities of Seabed Explorations and other such commercial excavation companies operating in Indonesia are currently on hold the same year as new heritage legislation (Act No Indonesia placed a five-year moratorium on the issuing of all new licences to commercial excavation companies even though the time limit on this moratorium has lapsed This delay can be attributed to differences of opinion within the Indonesian government about the management of underwater cultural heritage The Tang Shipwreck Collection on display at the Asian Civilisations Museum A commitment to the protection and preservation of these sites could be achieved by signing the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage The Convention preferences in situ preservation of wrecks it is unlikely that Indonesia will consider this as an option due to the resource burden it places on countries It is more likely that Indonesia will manage its underwater cultural heritage through the introduction The ongoing legislative delays point to an unresolved tension within Indonesia about how its underwater cultural heritage should be valued – as a resource for exploitation or as a cultural legacy worth protecting and preserving Natali Pearson (natali.pearson@sydney.edu.au)http://SEAsiaPasts.com) Receive Inside Indonesia's latest articles and quarterly editions in your inbox © Copyright Indonesian Resources and Information Program (IRIP) 1983 - 2025 We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the stolen lands on which Inside Indonesia is based and we pay our respects to Elders past and present We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The man wanted in connection with the death of a woman and 6-year-old boy in Geldermalsen on Monday was arrested in Germany overnight The German police found the black Renault Megane the police were looking for The man was inside and arrested on the spot The 38-year-old Russian woman and her 6-year-old son were found dead in their home on Emmalaan early on Monday morning Emergency services discovered their bodies after responding to a fire in the house where the family had lived for about six years Sources close to the investigation told De Gelderlander that the woman and child were stabbed to death Later on Monday, the police said they were looking for a man driving a black Renault Megane in connection with the deaths the man sought by the police is the child's father Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker An antique wine bottle from the ‘Nanking Cargo’ raised from a shipwreck in the depths of the South China Sea is due to go on sale in London on 8 November with an estimated selling price of £300-£500 The bottle was aboard the Dutch ship Geldermalsen sailing toward Europe to transport porcelain from China when it struck a reef in January 1752 and was lost to the seabed until being rediscovered in 1985 which was recovered by British explorer and marine salvor Michael Hatcher was initially sold in its entirety at Christie’s Amsterdam Roseberys auctioneers is offering the shipwrecked wine bottle in its Chinese, Japanese & South Eastern Asian Art sale Japanese & South East Asian Art at Roseberys London told the drinks business that much of the artefact’s value is “historical as opposed to monetary” “Though this shipwreck was most famous for the Chinese porcelain being transported this bottle of wine is understood to have been enjoyed by the vessel’s crew,” he said “Dutch onion wine bottles of this age can go for relatively little, depending on condition, and given this one is covered in a sea of barnacles and shells– it requires a specific buyer, one with an interest in the wider story of the Nanking Cargo porcelain. We hope that the enduring appeal of the infamous shipwreck, and this most unusual bounty Forrest stressed the “fascinating” nature of discoveries like this one as “they give a glimpse into trade routes of the day and as such an intriguing insight into the history of international trade” he said: “Part of the Dutch East India Company the endeavours of the Geldermalsen were essential in establishing mercantile relationships between East and West.” We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again More than 2,000 residents of the small town of Geldermalsen take to the streets tearing down fences and chanting anti-immigrant slogans Dutch police have fired warning shots in an effort to disperse a crowd, as a protest against plans to house asylum seekers in a small town turned into a riot. Police in Geldermalsen, near Utrecht, said via their official Twitter account they had “so far made numerous arrests, it’s is not clear yet how many”. No serious injuries were reported. Read moreImages and videos of the incident showed dozens of youths tearing down fences throwing beer bottles and fireworks at police and chanting slogans against the proposed centre for asylum-seekers around 2,000 people joined the protest in a town of 27,000 A meeting of the town’s council to decide on whether to build the centre to house 1,500 asylum seekers had to be halted A regional broadcaster showed footage of the meeting being evacuated by shouting policemen as rioters sought to force their way into the building Police said late on Wednesday the crowd had still not dispersed and officers were sporadically being pelted with debris They said the meeting would not resume and called on protesters to leave the town centre The incident was the biggest display of anti-migrant sentiment in the Netherlands since hooligans attacked a Syrian refugee centre in October who oversees immigration and asylum policy called the incident in Geldermalsen “un-Dutch” Police forces stand in front of protestors in Geldermalsen Photograph: Jeroen Jumelet/AFP/Getty ImagesEuropean countries are struggling to cope with the largest movement of migrants since second world war many of them Syrians who have come via Turkey Capp-Plast NL delivered a second large shipment of plastic pallet boxes to FruitMasters in Geldermalsen explains: "My first contact with FruitMasters was at the Fruitteeltvakbeurs in Houten in 2020 we have been familiar with Capp-Plast's boxes for many years They are extremely durable—some have been in use for over 30 years and are still heavily utilized in our sorting and packing stations Another key advantage is that the Capp-Plast boxes we prefer are manufactured in the Netherlands With a significant amount of internal return transport within the Netherlands FruitMasters is focused on the sustainable growth of its operations and is building a future-proof organization with the Masterplan A new high-rise warehouse has been constructed for the automated storage of 11,000 bins All activities take place within a fully controlled cold chain For more information:FruitMastersDeilseweg 74191 NX Geldermalsen+31 (0)345 578 800[email protected]www.fruitmasters.com Gerald LangerakCapp-Plast NederlandTel: +31 06-5191 4888 [email protected] You can read this article in 2 minutesPölös Zsófia the world's largest fast-charging plaza for electric lorries and off-highway vehicles in Geldermalsen The facility features a total charging capacity of 3.6 MW utilizing Kempower’s fast charging solutions including six 600 kW Kempower Power Units and 36 Kempower Satellites The satellites are controlled in groups of six and provide between 25 and 400 kW of maximum charging power – the fastest charging speed available anywhere in the Netherlands WattHub operates entirely on wind and solar energy and serves as a significant milestone in transitioning the construction industry to renewable energy technologies with zero emissions The location’s strategic placement between Rotterdam and the German highway makes it an ideal stop for electric lorry drivers while Kempower’s ChargEye Depot Master charge management software ensures secure charging monitoring and efficient power distribution “We are pleased that WattHub is now open and accessible to Dutch electric vehicle drivers and that its impressive charging capacity is being fully utilized. The charging plaza has already played an important role in the electrification of fleets and heavy construction equipment in the region and has provided a solution to the previous lack of sufficient infrastructure for charging electric trucks,” said Kempower CEO Tomi Ristimäki Business Development Manager EV at TSG Nederland adds: “The construction of the first WattHub location is a great achievement that we have completed together with Kempower. We are very proud that we can use our decades of experience in (E-)mobility to contribute to zero emissions in construction projects and the charging of heavy equipment.” Agnieszka Kulikowska - Wielgus Journalist Trans.info | 6.05.2025 Pölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Fragrance on the Fly: Why Pocket Perfumes Are Perfect for Airplane TravelSponsored Article 6.05.2025 Bike Europe is a part of VMNmedia. The following rules apply to the use of this site: Terms of Use and Privacy / Cookie Statement | Privacy settings In a world of diminishing resources and rising demands land increasingly comes at a premium for energy and food production Could the answer be as simple as combining both 122TWh in France and 162TWh in Italy – heading into the worst energy crisis since the 1970s one strange source of consensus between rivals Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss was a shared distaste for solar panels – particularly those parked on British farmland “I am somebody who wants to see farmers producing food… not filling fields with paraphernalia like solar farms,” Truss told party members in Darlington Sunak meanwhile promised Telegraph readers that Britain would “not lose swathes of our best farmland to solar farms” and that he was committed to “making sure our fields are used for food production and not solar panels” if either of the candidates’ army of researchers had typed “solar” and “farming” into Google they would have come across a handy solution that could combat the food and energy crises simultaneously: agrivoltaic farming Coupled with the devastating effects of climate change and the resultant diminishing yields of upcoming harvests all this means that food and energy insecurity is fast increasing around the world agri-food systems could become one of the world’s most hopeful solutions to climate change as well as reduce poverty and provide nourishment for all,” says Sean de Cleene head of the Food Systems Initiative at the World Economic Forum (WEF) there are several agri-food technologies – including digital and data advances off-grid renewable energy solutions and alternate proteins – that could “support a more positive food future and improve food system efficiency the WEF estimates precision agriculture could reduce water use by more than 5% and off-grid renewable energy production could generate up to $100bn in additional farmer income by 2030 Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis There is, however, an estimated $15.2bn financing gap for food systems innovation, according to the final report from the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification This brought together Global South scientists policymakers and experts to solve global agri-food systems challenges “Investing in and financing [the roll-out of] agri-food technologies will support the scale and adoption of appropriate innovation and drive progress in the food systems,” says de Cleene “The hallmark characteristic of agrivoltaics is the sharing of sunlight between the two energy conversion systems: photovoltaics and photosynthesis,” says Jordan Macknick lead energy-water-land analyst at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory “It essentially mimics what humans have been doing for hundreds of years with agroforestry – think shade-grown coffee – intentionally creating partial shade to create multiple layers of agricultural productivity on the same piece of land.” “We don’t have to ‘struggle for land’ anymore and we can increase renewable energy generation and agricultural production at the same time: it’s a win-win,” says Kristian Ruby secretary-general of European electricity trade association Eurelectric There are various types of agrivoltaics which combine with different types of crops The best approach depends on the area’s climate and land-use patterns can be coupled with larger crops and harvests such as fruit trees or vineyards can be matched with low-height crops and livestock The panels can increase animal welfare by providing easy access to shade while enabling permanent vegetation to be planted between and below them for grazing Agrivoltaics also offer the opportunity to intentionally provide a variety of ecosystem services such as habitat creation, support for beneficial insects such as bees, natural vegetation restoration, and cover cropping for soil health benefits and carbon sequestration “As agrivoltaics involve strategic shading of the ground it can often make the most sense in areas where you have an excess of sunlight and not enough water – in the US south-west “We have particularly noticed improvements in agrivoltaic settings for peppers and tomatoes in the US south-west In Europe, one of the leading examples of the approach is an agriphotovoltaic demo project designed by Italian utility Enel Green Power Enel has identified different types of land for arable and pastoral farming across Italy Greece and Spain that can coexist with solar power plants without having to significantly modify plant layout – thereby containing costs and boosting competitiveness Nine PV installations were built in different climate regions together with a network of remote and nearby sensors The testing under way is evaluating the impacts of different agricultural activities with a variety of solar technologies (fixed and trackers panels (monofacial and bifacial) and layouts fodder plants and flowering plants to attract pollinators “The data gathered from these experimental installations will tremendously help future integrated projects improve local farming competitiveness by modernising and integrating it with solar tech so that we can improve local agriculture resilience while decarbonising the sector by increasing the renewable energy capacity,” says Ruby installing agrivoltaics on 10% of farms with particularly beneficial conditions could provide around 9% of the country’s electricity demand according to a recent study by the University of Hohenheim (Stuttgart) and the Thünen Institute (Braunschweig) That would consitute just 0.7% of German arable land – around 85,000 hectares The road ahead for agrivoltaics is not without its obstacles Many of the promising projects are still in their experimental phase; the main challenge will be coming up with an optimal model of integrated management for the farming activities and PV plants' operation and maintenance that can easily be reproduced and scaled up Public incentives will be required to attract commercial interest and scale up the sector “[And] it goes without saying that faster permitting should be a must to enable agrivoltaic implementation,” adds Ruby For Macknick, one of the major barriers is cost, as it can be increasingly expensive to elevate PV panels due to the rising prices of steel and installation labour A second major issue he sees is the compatibility of the agrivoltaic system with existing farming practices Agrivoltaics will only be successful if the farmer is both motivated (typically financially) and has a practical ability to farm the plot without major inconveniences Most solar installations today are not designed to be farmer-friendly and Macknick points out that even many existing agrivoltaic installations have not incorporated as many farmer-friendly aspects as farmers would like “Getting farmers more involved in the design phase of agrivoltaics and having them contribute to modifications could be really useful for overcoming that barrier,” he says By enabling even broader development of solar power agrivoltaics are destined to play “an essential role in the net-zero transition” They allow for solar power to be developed in areas where there would otherwise be pushback against renewable energy development such as the rural British communities Truss and Sunak tried to court with their shortsighted attacks on solar farms Agrivoltaics actually offer the opportunity to support both agriculture and energy on the same piece of land The different types of agrivoltaics will likely end up suiting particular niches projects with pollinator habitats and sheep grazing would be better suited to larger installations of more than 300MW whereas crop production agrivoltaics would be best applied to installations no larger than 5MW “unless there are innovations in how agrivoltaics crop production can be implemented at scale without drastically increasing the costs of solar construction” he foresees these crop production sites becoming increasingly important near urban centres where the produce can readily enter high-end food distribution markets such as farmers markets restaurants and community-supported agriculture programmes the future looks bright for agrivoltaic farming if agrisolar was deployed on just 1% of Europe’s arable land its technical capacity would amount to more than 900GW more than six times the current installed PV capacity in the whole of the EU “There is a huge opportunity here and the market is really starting to develop,” says Ruby Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network What is all our screen use really doing to us Pete Etchells's new book counters the scare stories by sticking to the science By Chris Stokel-Walker schoolchildren must leave their smartphones outside the classroom onto which I typed this text; there was my phone pinging and buzzing with messages from friends and colleagues; my iPad But what do all those screens and the time spent with them do to us Plenty of books and articles scream warnings about the impact of… Fruit Growers Cooperative FruitMasters achieved a positive result in the fiscal year 2023 This was announced during the annual General Members Meeting held on Thursday evening a turnover above €300 million was achieved €1.1 million in restitution was paid out to members FruitMasters introduced the ambitious 'Healthy Growth 2030' strategy in 2023 This plan serves as a roadmap for developing a future-proof organization At its core remains a cooperative characterized by a strong sourcing function and market-oriented sales strategy One that can operate flexibly within a rapidly changing market The approach focuses on responsible growth of commercial activities while simultaneously improving the returns for affiliated members This is crucial as growers' earning capacity is under pressure due to enormous cost increases and digitalization are essential for additional savings Carin van Huët was appointed as Chief Financial Officer consisting of Carin van Huët & Adriaan Vis Investing in the central service centerOne of the key pillars in the strategy is the large-scale new construction project 'The Masterplan' and centralizing operational activities within a single closed cold chain on the premises in Geldermalsen is progressing smoothly and is scheduled to be completed at the beginning of 2025 The expansion and modernization enable the organization to better meet customer-specific requirements and availability with the goal of providing the best service with the best return for growers and trading partners Market in focusProviding the best service is crucial in a global market that is significantly in flux there is a demand for reliable partners with sufficient product availability FruitMasters has made significant progress by strengthening existing strategic partnerships and entering into new ones both domestically and internationally This has led to sustainable growth across all markets after a turbulent 2022 due to the war in Ukraine a positive trend is visible with an optimistic market for many product groups Despite a mild summer with significant rain the heat at the end of the season brought surprisingly early harvest times The production of soft fruit started slowly partly due to the cold and rainy spring with a lot of frost relatively high gas prices were still seen in the spring Cultivation remains challenging due to difficulties in protecting the crop Insects cause a lot of damage because growers do not have or receive the right means too late As the largest fruit growers' cooperative in the Netherlands FruitMasters calls on the government for dialogue and to work together on a solution that guarantees the future of Dutch fruit cultivation This all provides growers with a future perspective and encourages them to cultivate even more sustainably without endangering our food supply it was also announced that FruitMasters is exploring a possible collaboration with Cooperative Hoogstraten forms of cooperation will be further investigated BioMasters has been operating entirely under the FruitMasters flag since the fall of 2023 The integration aims to develop a 'Best in Organics' platform focused on research A group of enthusiastic growers has already joined The first year without the auction clock has shown that extended opening hours and improved service with a wholesale approach lead to stable growth significant steps have been made with the market-oriented variety portfolio the Wurtwinning variety has been launched under the brand name Bloss® in the 'Best of Berries' innovation program for soft fruit promising varieties are included that will be introduced to the market for the first time in 2024 For more information:FruitMastersDeilseweg 74191 NX Geldermalsen+31 (0)345 578 800[email protected] www.fruitmasters.com 28.9.2023 16:00:00 EEST | Kempower Oyj | Press release Kempower has supplied its fast-charging solutions for WattHub which has officially opened in the Dutch town of Geldermalsen the world’s largest fast-charging plaza for electric trucks and off-highway vehicles attended the opening event of the charging plaza on Thursday has officially opened in the Netherlands.   The site features six 600kW Kempower Power Units and 36 Kempower Satellites delivering a total capacity of 3.6MW.  TSG Netherlands designed and built the entire WattHub charging plaza including supplying and installing the Kempower chargers.  THE NETHERLANDS - Kempower has supplied its fast-charging solutions for WattHub The development of WattHub marks a crucial step towards transitioning the construction industry to technologies based on renewable energy that produce zero emissions The Kempower charging system at WattHub has a total capacity of 3.6MW featuring six 600kW Kempower Power Units and 36 Kempower Satellites The satellites are controlled in groups of six offering between 25-400kW of maximum charging power - the fastest charging speed available anywhere in the Netherlands The site in Geldermalsen is ideally located between Rotterdam and the highway road to Germany making it a perfect stop for electric truck drives in the years to come.  Kempower has also provided its Kempower ChargEye Depot Master charging management software for the WattHub plaza This cloud-based system offers secure charging monitoring and management minimizes charging electricity costs and dynamically distributes power to the chargers eliminating the potential for overcapacity.  and installing Kempower chargers and transformer stations The company also handled all the associated electric works at the site which runs purely on wind and solar power.  “We’re delighted that WattHub is now open and that its impressive charging capacity is being fully utilized The charging plaza has already played a significant role in supporting the electrification of fleets and heavy-duty construction equipment in the region and has provided a solution to the previous lack of sufficient electric truck charging infrastructure” “The construction of the first WattHub location has been an amazing achievement that we’ve completed together with Kempower We’re very proud that we can use our decades of experience in (E-)Mobility to contribute to zero emission in construction projects and heavy equipment charging” Business Development Manager EV at TSG Netherlands.  Watch a video from WattHub here paula.savonen@kempower.com  We design and manufacture reliable and user-friendly DC fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles Our vision is to create the world’s most desired EV charging solutions for everyone Our product development and production are based in Finland with the majority of our materials and components sourced locally Our modular and scalable charging system and world-class software are designed by EV drivers for EV drivers enabling the best user experience for our customers around the world Kempower is listed in the Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland www.kempower.com  TSG contributes its expertise across all types of energy, providing equipment, construction, maintenance and other services. The activities we specialize in can be divided into 8 categories, with the total solution being the focus in all cases.  TSG Charge: Advice, supplier, installer and maintenance for electric charging station projects  TSG Wash: Partner for construction, installation and maintenance of carwash installations  TSG Systems: Developers of fully integrated payment solutions  TSG Fleet: Fleet (registration) solutions for refueling, washing and electric vehicle charging  TSG Fuel Retail: Turnkey solutions for commercial filling stations  TSG Industry: Certified specialist for various aboveground and underground storage facilities  TSG Gas: Construction and maintenance of gas systems for refueling vehicles (including CNG, LNG and LPG)  TSG Technics: Partner for all techniques in buildings, whether electrical, plumbing or HVAC  Subscribe to releases from Kempower OyjSubscribe to all the latest releases from Kempower Oyj by registering your e-mail address below Johtava DC-pikalatausratkaisujen toimittaja Kempower lanseeraa päivitetyn latausratkaisun Uudistettu latausratkaisu sisältää 600 tai 1 200 kW:n Kempower Power Unit -tehoyksikön joka voidaan yhdistää jopa 12 pikalatauspisteeseen Leading DC fast-charging solutions provider Kempower introduces its enhanced charging solution with more power The improved charging solution features a 600 or a 1,200 kW Kempower Power Unit connected to 12 charging points The enhanced Kempower DC charging solution features new configurations increasing the maximum number of outputs connected to the Power Unit from 8 to 12 Kempowerin DC-pikalatausratkaisuja on asennettu kahdelle uudelle Revelin latausasemalle: New Yorkin John F Kennedyn kansainväliselle lentokentälle (JFK) sekä San Franciscon Mission Districtiin Asennetut latausratkaisut toimitettiin Kempowerin Pohjois-Amerikan tehtaalta Kempower’s DC fast-charging solutions have been installed at two new Revel charging stations in New York at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and in San Francisco’s Mission District at 199 Erie Street The installed charging solutions were delivered from Kempower’s production facilities in Durham Johtava DC-pikalatausratkaisujen toimittaja Kempower kasvattaa läsnäoloaan Kaakkois-Aasiassa Yritys on jo toimittanut useita julkisia latausratkaisuja Malesiaan Maaliskuun 2025 lopussa avataan Johorin Mall of Medinissä yksi maan suurimmista latausasemista Asema palvelee sekä henkilöautoja että sähköbusseja In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases documents and other relevant information about us Tietosuoja Metrics details cysteine-preferring transporter 2 (ASCT2; SLC1A5) mediates uptake of glutamine a conditionally essential amino acid in rapidly proliferating tumour cells Uptake of glutamine and subsequent glutaminolysis is critical for activation of the mTORC1 nutrient-sensing pathway which regulates cell growth and protein translation in cancer cells This is of particular interest in breast cancer as glutamine dependence is increased in high-risk breast cancer subtypes Pharmacological inhibitors of ASCT2-mediated transport significantly reduced glutamine uptake in human breast cancer cell lines leading to the suppression of mTORC1 signalling with ASCT2 transport critical only for triple-negative (TN) basal-like breast cancer cell growth compared with minimal effects in luminal breast cancer cells Both stable and inducible shRNA-mediated ASCT2 knockdown confirmed that inhibiting ASCT2 function was sufficient to prevent cellular proliferation and induce rapid cell death in TN basal-like breast cancer cells Using a bioluminescent orthotopic xenograft mouse model ASCT2 expression was then shown to be necessary for both successful engraftment and growth of HCC1806 TN breast cancer cells in vivo Lower tumoral expression of ASCT2 conferred a significant survival advantage in xenografted mice These responses remained intact in primary breast cancers where gene expression analysis showed high expression of ASCT2 and glutamine metabolism-related genes in a cohort of 90 TN breast cancer patients as well as correlations with the transcriptional regulators This study provides preclinical evidence for the feasibility of novel therapies exploiting ASCT2 transporter activity in breast cancer particularly in the high-risk basal-like subgroup of TN breast cancer where there is not only high expression of ASCT2 but also a marked reliance on its activity for sustained cellular proliferation we aimed to investigate the role of ASCT2 in breast cancer using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches combined with gene expression analysis of clinical TN breast cancer patient samples We show that although ASCT2 is highly expressed in most breast cancer subtypes only basal-like TN breast cancer cells require ASCT2-mediated uptake of glutamine to sustain mTORC1 signalling Targeted knockdown of ASCT2 showed that loss of ASCT2 alone was sufficient to cause rapid cell death in vitro and reduce engraftment and subsequent growth of xenografted cells in vivo These effects were accompanied by significantly altered gene expression which suggested dynamic regulation of ASCT2 and other glutamine metabolism-related genes (GLS GLUL) by a coordinated MYC- and ATF4-driven transcriptional programme in TN breast cancer Absolute mRNA measurements of these genes in TN breast cancer samples showed that these genes were highly expressed across all samples and were significantly correlated in a subgroup of patients Our data provide the first conclusive evidence that ASCT2 represents a novel therapeutic axis in a challenging subset of breast cancers these data indicated a differential reliance on ASCT2 activity across breast cancer cell lines whereby only basal-like cells required ASCT2-mediated glutamine uptake for cell growth Asterisks denote P-values as follows: *P⩽0.05; **P⩽0.01; ***P⩽0.001; ****P⩽0.0001 not significant; two-way analysis of variance f–h are representative of three independent experiments stars under growth curves refer to shCont vs shA28 (top) and shCont vs shA63 (bottom) These are the first data to conclusively show that ASCT2 loss is sufficient to significantly reduce basal-like breast cancer cell growth in vitro Doxycycline (200 μg/ml) was administered ad libitum in drinking water from Day 0 and tumour growth was measured twice weekly until individual shControl tumours reached ~1000 mm3 when all the mice were humanely euthanized in accordance with ethics approval protocol 2013/030 A from Sydney Local Health District Animal Welfare Committee (b) Bioluminescence was detected twice weekly using a Xenogen IVIS Lumina II following intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg d-luciferin all the mice were euthanized and tumours collected for the measurement of size (c) and weight (d; error bars represent mean±s.d.) (e) Tumour RNA was extracted from shCont and shASCT2 (n=4 each) tumours using TRI Reagent then reverse transcribed using SuperScript III (Life Technologies Relative gene expression (GAPDH/ACTB) was measured by RT-qPCR using a custom Taqman Low-Density Array (Taqman Life Technologies) run on a QuantStudio 12 K Flex Real-Time PCR System Heat map of relative expression (compared with the first shControl lane) for each gene was generated in Gene-E (Broad Institute) Average fold-change between the shControl and shASCT2 groups are indicated to the right of the heat-map asterisks indicate significant difference (P<0.05 HCC1806-mCherryhi/GFP+ cells (2 × 106) were injected orthotopically as in a and allowed to establish (tumour size ~100 mm3) before the administration of doxycycline (200 μg/ml) Tumour size was measured twice weekly using digital calipers to calculate mean tumour volume per mouse (g) and individual mice were euthanized when they reached ethical end point (individual tumour size >1000 mm3; h) n=9 (shCont; one mouse was euthanized owing to ulceration at tumour site and is not included in the analyses) or n=10 (shASCT2) mice (with two tumours per mouse) five mice per group in two independent experiments n=10 (shCont) or n=10 (shASCT2) mice (with two tumours per mouse) not significant; two-way analysis of variance (b) Data in c are representative of two independent experiments and is similarly associated with aggressive biological behaviour in clinical disease and subgroups that showed significant correlations (r>0.4 P<0.05; Pearson’s correlation statistic; exact P-values shown inset) were grouped and the correlation shown in c Black line shows the best-fit linear regression (SLC1A5 vs ATF4: r2=0.314; SLC1A5 vs MYC: r2=0.345) Triple-negative breast cancer—current status and future directions Gene expression patterns of breast carcinomas distinguish tumor subclasses with clinical implications Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2001; 98: 10869–10874 Molecular portraits of human breast tumours Phenotypic and molecular characterization of the claudin-low intrinsic subtype of breast cancer Triple-negative breast cancer: clinical features and patterns of recurrence Locoregional relapse and distant metastasis in conservatively managed triple negative early-stage breast cancer Prognostic markers in triple-negative breast cancer Molecular subtype approximated by quantitative estrogen receptor progesterone receptor and Her2 can predict the prognosis of breast cancer Identification of human triple-negative breast cancer subtypes and preclinical models for selection of targeted therapies Expression of glutamine metabolism-related proteins according to molecular subtype of breast cancer Glutamine sensitivity analysis identifies the xCT antiporter as a common triple-negative breast tumor therapeutic target The glutamate/neutral amino acid transporter family SLC1: molecular neutral amino acid transporter Bo from a human placental choriocarcinoma cell line Beyond aerobic glycolysis: transformed cells can engage in glutamine metabolism that exceeds the requirement for protein and nucleotide synthesis Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2007; 104: 19345–19350 Glutaminolysis activates Rag-mTORC1 signaling Targeting glutamine transport to suppress melanoma cell growth SLC1A5 mediates glutamine transport required for lung cancer cell growth and survival Targeting SLC1A5-mediated glutamine dependence in non-small cell lung cancer Targeting ASCT2-mediated glutamine uptake blocks prostate cancer growth and tumour development Inhibiting glutamine uptake represents an attractive new strategy for treating acute myeloid leukemia Ngamma-aryl glutamine analogues as probes of the ASCT2 neutral amino acid transporter binding site Antitumor activity of the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 in triple-negative breast cancer Glutamine synthetase is a genetic determinant of cell type-specific glutamine independence in breast epithelia Target of rapamycin (TOR): an integrator of nutrient and growth factor signals and coordinator of cell growth and cell cycle progression Amino acids and mTOR mediate distinct metabolic checkpoints in mammalian G1 cell cycle Bidirectional transport of amino acids regulates mTOR and autophagy ASCT2 silencing regulates mammalian target-of-rapamycin growth and survival signaling in human hepatoma cells Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2007; 293: C55–C63 Androgen receptor and nutrient signaling pathways coordinate the demand for increased amino acid transport during prostate cancer progression Ragulator-Rag complex targets mTORC1 to the lysosomal surface and is necessary for its activation by amino acids The Rag GTPases bind raptor and mediate amino acid signaling to mTORC1 Inducible antisense RNA targeting amino acid transporter ATB0/ASCT2 elicits apoptosis in human hepatoma cells Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2004; 286: G467–G478 Inducible and reversible gene silencing by stable integration of an shRNA-encoding lentivirus in transgenic rats Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2008; 105: 18507–18512 The Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia enables predictive modelling of anticancer drug sensitivity Regulation of p53 activity by HIPK2: molecular mechanisms and therapeutical implications in human cancer cells PUMA- and Bax-induced autophagy contributes to apoptosis Regulation of glutamine carrier proteins by RNF5 determines breast cancer response to ER stress-inducing chemotherapies Molecular stratification of triple-negative breast cancers MYC-driven accumulation of 2-hydroxyglutarate is associated with breast cancer prognosis Targeting amino acid transport in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: effects on cell cycle ATF4 and N-Myc coordinate glutamine metabolism in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells through ASCT2 activation ATF4 regulates MYC-mediated neuroblastoma cell death upon glutamine deprivation c-Myc suppression of miR-23a/b enhances mitochondrial glutaminase expression and glutamine metabolism Myc regulates a transcriptional program that stimulates mitochondrial glutaminolysis and leads to glutamine addiction Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2008; 105: 18782–18787 Targeting glutaminolysis has anti-leukemic activity in acute myeloid leukemia and synergizes with BCL-2 inhibition Luciferase expression and bioluminescence does not affect tumor cell growth in vitro or in vivo Download references This work was supported by grants from the National Breast Cancer Foundation (ECF-12-05 to JH); Movember through the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (YI0813 to QW; YI0707 to JH); Cancer Institute NSW (WR and MvG); Cancer Council NSW (APP1080503 to JH); University of Sydney (AM); Cure the Future and an anonymous foundation (JEJR); Tour de Cure Fellowship (CGB); Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation and the RT Hall Foundation (SO’T) We thank Michael P Kuligowski from Centenary Imaging Facility for assistance with Volocity image analysis and staff at the Advanced Cytometry Facility The Kinghorn Cancer Centre and Cancer Research Program Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology The authors declare no conflict of interest Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on the Oncogene website Download citation Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article guides and maps to take on your trip to the iconic site of Petra in Jordan Regions and Cities series has a similar layout A ‘Basics’ section gives practical guidance on getting there and around travelling with children and travel essentials to take on the trip Each guide is organised geographically by region with individual sections detailing an extensive range of sights Cultural and historical context is interwoven throughout the text allowing readers to get a more distinct flavour of the destination Each chapter of the guide begins with a Highlights section giving an overview of the main sites and attractions in the area or region Basic street outlines are also included for major cities Information Boxes throughout the text explore local history often providing an alternative and personal view of the area A ‘Contexts’ section is included at the back of each guide offering an insight into the local history and recommended books and films that characterise the country Buy a copy online. Married to a Bedouin is Marguerite van Geldermalsen’s story of how a New Zealand- born nurse became the wife of Mohammad Abdallah Othman a Bedouin souvenir-seller of the Manajah tribe and lived with him – and their children – and a community of about one hundred families – in the ancient caves of Petra in Jordan It was 1978 and she and a friend were travelling through the Middle East when Marguerite met the charismatic Mohammad and decided that he was the man for her Their home was a lofty 2,000-year-old cave carved into the red rock of a hillside She became the resident nurse and learned to live like the Bedouin: cooking over fires hauling water on donkeys and drinking sweet black tea Over the years van Geldermalsen became as much of a curiosity as the cave-dwellers with tourists such as Mary Lovell and Frank McCourt encouraging her to tell this Petra: The Rose Red City is a richly illustrated guide to a part of Jordan that is full of the kind of history you can literally reach out and touch Deep in the desert of Jordan lies the hidden city of Petra one of the greatest marvels of the ancient world dwellings and temples were for centuries the centre of a splendid civilisation Later the city fell into ruin and its location was lost until the Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812 (200 years ago to the day) Petra’s mysterious beauty and dramatic story have long captivated the imaginations of historians and art lovers by the archaeologists Jean-Marie Dentzer and Christian Auge provide new information about this remarkable city Jordan Walks, Treks, Caves, Climbs and Canyons is Di Taylor and Tony Howard’s Cicerone guide to the outdoor possibilities in one of the Middle East’s most remote landscapes Many of the routes that the authors describe were unknown prior to the first edition of this guide and this edition features new climbing areas and other unexplored regions for those wanting to make their own discoveries The guide is organised into seven main sections that explore the outdoor possibilities: North Jordan caving and climbing are all separately described for ease of reference There are 150 routes described in total: half to one-day walks and multi-day treks including 30 canyon routes and five climbing areas The authors also explore Jordan’s newly created nature reserves A detailed introduction provides practical advice on language and accommodation There is also an extensive survey of environmental and cultural awareness wildlife in Jordan and the lie of the land Each route begins with a detailed colour sketch diagram mapping the route ahead in addition to colour photographs illustrating some of the highlights of this ancient land Philip Robins’ survey of Jordan’s political history begins in the early 1920s continues through the years of the British Mandate and traces events over the next half-century to the present day the country’s fortunes were closely identified with its head of state the King’s prospects were often regarded as grim both King and country survived a variety of existential challenges from assassination attempts and internal subversion to a civil war with the Palestine Liberation Organisation and it emerged as an apparently stable and prosperous state and recent political upheavals have plunged the country back into uncertainty about one of the leading players in the Middle East Buy a copy online. 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Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 2023 Stockpiling led to empty shelves at the start of the crisis Photo: Brandon HartleyThe strike may lead to empty shelves Photo: Brandon HartleyWorkers at Albert Heijn distribution centres have gone on strike over pay which may result in empty supermarket shelves Pijnacker and at the AH headquarters in Zaandam downed tools on Sunday following the supermarket’s refusal to agree to a 14.3% raise and an extra net €100 a month Albert Heijn is not prepared to go beyond 6% and another 2% from January Union FNV also wants new workers to be paid double on Sundays whereas Albert Heijn wants to halve the Sunday bonus FNV official Levin Zühlke-van Hulzen said over half of the 500 workers at the Geldermalsen centre went on strike ‘We knew people wanted to take action but we are positively surprised at the turnout,’ he said are expected to join the strike which is projected to last four days Zühlke-van Hulzen said work at the centre had slowed down and that ‘shelves would remain empty’ A spokesperson for Albert Heijn said that supermarkets are well stocked because of King’s Day on Thursday but that no extra goods have been delivered because of the strike Albert Heijn employs some 4,000 people at its five distribution centres We could not provide the Dutch News service without the generous support of our readers Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days We could not provide this service without you Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment University of Sydney provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU View all partners In my article yesterday showing how far Greater Parramatta is from hosting one of three metropolitan CBDs proposed by the Greater Sydney Commission The Sydney metropolis has a very long and bumpy way to go before we can re-imagine it with more than one CBD is required for the Central City to transition to a metropolitan centre I introduce a bold proposal to build a Central CBD for metropolitan Sydney as a real complement to the City of Sydney CBD to the east Central City 2048 is a 30-year strategic plan, which builds on the Greater Sydney Commission’s Greater Sydney Region Plan Central City 2048 presents a vision for a dynamic connected and sustainable CBD at the heart of the Greater Sydney metropolitan region transport and housing targets to be achieved by Central City 2048 are listed in Table 1 Central City’s economy is supported by two pillars: Parramatta CBD and the Westmead health and education precinct There is a key strategic challenge to attract finance while supporting existing health and government sectors Essential to economic growth is the provision of dedicated commercial and retail floor space commuter travel time to Central City from most strategic centres exceeds 30 minutes during morning and afternoon peak periods the number of trips to Central City is predicted to triple during these periods Without more investment in public transport, forecasts suggest the travel-to-work mode split will remain the same, increasing Central City’s congestion problems Regional mass-transit connections and reliable local transport options are a priority for Central City’s future existing infrastructure is limited to copper wire infrastructure Only small pockets are connected to the National Broadband Network A more reliable network with increased capacity is essential for Sydney’s next metropolitan centre Central City’s residential density is much lower than the Harbour City’s 64.8 people/hectare Highly liveable cities such as Vancouver and Copenhagen with residential densities of 167.64 persons/hectare and 61.8 persons/hectare respectively suggest high-density cities can be liveable too Central City 2048 proposes increased employment opportunities and investment in transport It capitalises on Central City’s cultural diversity heritage and landscape to create a vibrant and liveable city Affordable housing targets of 30% are proposed to ensure Central City is an equitable city Central City 2048 proposes one new rail line and a 30% affordable housing target for all new dwellings But it portrays a compelling image of what it takes to build a metropolitan CBD at the geographical heart of the Greater Sydney Region The decision is now ours: are we willing to invest what it takes to make it happen This article is inspired by the work of the students enrolled in the Integrated Urbanism Studio for the Master of Urbanism at the University of Sydney I specifically would like to acknowledge the significant contributions made by Jamie van Geldermalsen Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time "You're going to need a four-wheel drive," quips the dreadlocked Bedouin his bid sounding more like a used-car salesman than an offer for a donkey ride "It comes with air-conditioning." I decline continuing on foot along the steep path to the Monastery as Jack Sparrow gallops off in a cloud of dust While I'd long associated Petra with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade finding cast members of Pirates of the Caribbean with their kohl-rimmed eyes and swashbuckling ways The second surprise was learning that the pillared facade of the iconic Treasury (or Al-Khazneh) is only part of Petra's story – the rest of the sprawling 60-square kilometre "Rose City" is secreted behind it Fragments of Roman Mosaics Ruins at Ancient Byzantine Church in The Lost City of Petra.Credit: Shutterstock Petra was a major caravan centre established in the third-century BC by the Nabateans a group of chisel-wielding nomads who carved their rock-capital out of solid sandstone and grew wealthy from their strategic trade position Through their ability to harness water from the desert they lived a luxurious life – cultivating gardens growing fruits and bathing like Roman royalty Travelling with Bunnik Tours on its 25-day Egypt and Jordan in-depth tour we are enjoying luxury of a different kind – the luxury of time an extravagance not available to day trippers From our accommodation in Wadi Musa we stroll to the entrance of the Siq – the canyon of many colours that guards the entrance to Petra Dwarfed by rose-tinged cliffs we enter the gorge admiring the detail of the water channels we'd missed on the previous evening's Petra by Night tour We arrive at the Treasury ahead of the crowds in time to see the masterpiece as the ancient artisans intended – with the morning light sending its first exploratory beams across the carved surface "The Treasury's original function is still a mystery," says our Jordanian guide Ahmad Hussein especially that spine-tingling moment when you first see it through the keyhole cleft in the canyon hewn by hand and preserved by the facade's indentation in the rock wall Shopping for trinkets while a camel looks on.Credit: Kerry van der Jagt As the space in front of the Treasury fills we follow Hussein's lead away from the touts and into the outer Siq "The Treasury is just the beginning," he says a wave seems to have swept away the masses leaving behind a flinty landscape studded with tombs topped with temples and scratched by trails still trekked by Bedouins as it has been for centuries Overhead a blue sky scribbled with clouds presses on a landscape so brittle I can hear it creaking teaching us to notice the small things as well as the large red and rust looking like ripples from a dried seabed; we crane our necks at tombs carved into the highest cliffs round recesses glaring like the hollowed eyes of a skull; and pause to talk to a man selling frankincense The city of Petra was lost for over 1000 years Legends abound – that the Treasury was built to hide the loot of an Egyptian Pharaoh (false) the Monastery was home to monks (false) and that 85 per cent of the city still lies underground (an estimate) What is known is that the Nabatean city prospered for hundreds of years until it was taken over by the Romans around 106AD A series of earthquakes saw it lost to the western world until 1812 when it was rediscovered by a Swiss explorer From the Street of Facades we reach the Theatre a semi-circle carved into the side of a mountain at the base of the High Place of Sacrifice Built by the Nabateans in the first century AD it held up to 3000 spectators When the Romans moved in they did a little remodelling – taking out some tombs here which was once fed by water channelled from the Siq is a reflection of the city's Nabatean The size of the Treasury at Petra is impressive but it is the detail of the carving that overwhelms Picking our way across stones and sand we pass Bedouin stalls sharing coffee and gossip in equal amounts their button-nosed babies swaddled at their sides "Some of the Bdoul Bedouins are direct descendants of the Nabateans," explains Hussein in 1985 when Petra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site with some choosing to stay in caves rather than make the daily trek from the village while another buys an "antique" camel figurine a pint-sized imposter we eventually see for sale everywhere We pay too much for things we don't need moved by families struggling to make a living out of such a desolate landscape "Since the Syrian crisis tourism numbers have fallen and people are hurting," explains Hussein it's just our neighbours who are bad." Hussein introduces us to a souvenir-seller named Raami a gregarious young man with a faint New Zealand accent It was the summer of 1978 when the young New Zealand nurse fell in love with a Bedouin called Mohammad got married and subsequently published a best-selling memoir as well as selling signed copies of her book Marguerite sells sterling silver jewellery made by women from the village Blending contemporary designs with ancient motifs the jewellery range – Petra Pieces – is part of a project to improve the livelihoods of local women It is lunchtime when we reach the Great Temple complex the largest building in Petra with its own theatre columned courtyard and subterranean drainage system Looking across the monstrous site it hits me; you'd need at least five days to see all of Petra particularly if you wanted to tackle the longer hikes such as the Jabal Harun trail to the Tomb of Aaron or the Al-Khubtha trail to the tomb of Sextius Florentinus With the remainder of the afternoon at leisure our group decides on the relatively short though difficult trail to Ad-Deir – the Monastery It's at the base of the ancient stairway that I decline the services of the dashing donkey man choosing instead to climb the 800 steps on two legs not four struggling up the cliff face like the Nabateans before me It takes almost an hour to reach the 50-metre high facade carved into a wedge of mountain it is equally spectacular as the Treasury though more humbling since we have the place almost to ourselves A final climb brings me to a hand-scrawled sign – "From this view you see all the places" Slumped on the top platform I pull my scarf across my mouth and look across at all the places I never knew or imagined existed This for me is Petra's biggest surprise traveller.com.au/jordan visitjordan.com Emirates Airlines flies to Dubai daily from Melbourne and Sydney, with onward connections to Amman in Jordan. See emirates.com Bunnik Tours' 25-day Egypt and Jordan in-depth tour includes nine nights in Jordan visiting Petra, Amman, Jerash, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and Aqaba from $9595, including international airfares. Phone 1800 286 645. See bunniktours.com Kerry van der Jagt was a guest of Bunnik Tours Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now "You're going to need a four-wheel drive," quips the dreadlocked Bedouin While I'd long associated Petra with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade The second surprise was learning that the pillared facade of the iconic Treasury (or Al-Khazneh) is only part of Petra's story \\u2013 the rest of the sprawling Through their ability to harness water from the desert they lived a luxurious life \\u2013 cultivating gardens Travelling with Bunnik Tours on its 25-day Egypt and Jordan in-depth tour we are enjoying luxury of a different kind \\u2013 the luxury of time From our accommodation in Wadi Musa we stroll to the entrance of the Siq \\u2013 the canyon of many colours that guards the entrance to Petra admiring the detail of the water channels we'd missed on the previous evening's Petra by Night tour in time to see the masterpiece as the ancient artisans intended \\u2013 with the morning light sending its first exploratory beams across the carved surface "The Treasury's original function is still a mystery," says our Jordanian guide Ahmad Hussein hewn by hand and preserved by the facade's indentation in the rock wall As the space in front of the Treasury fills we follow Hussein's lead Legends abound \\u2013 that the Treasury was built to hide the loot of an Egyptian Pharaoh (false) When the Romans moved in they did a little remodelling \\u2013 taking out some tombs here is a reflection of the city's Nabatean We pay too much for things we don't need it's just our neighbours who are bad." Blending contemporary designs with ancient motifs the jewellery range \\u2013 Petra Pieces \\u2013 is part of a project to improve the livelihoods of local women Looking across the monstrous site it hits me; you'd need at least five days to see all of Petra though difficult trail to Ad-Deir \\u2013 the Monastery It's at the base of the ancient stairway that I decline the services of the dashing donkey man A final climb brings me to a hand-scrawled sign \\u2013 "From this view you see all the places" This for me is Petra's biggest surprise Emirates Airlines flies to Dubai daily from Melbourne and Sydney with onward connections to Amman in Jordan Bunnik Tours' 25-day Egypt and Jordan in-depth tour includes nine nights in Jordan visiting Petra 273 The UltiMaker S8 delivers up to 4x more productivity and improved part quality Combined with new materials in the UltiMaker Marketplace and updated features in UltiMaker Digital Factory the UltiMaker S8 offers one of the most versatile professional 3D printing solutions on the market today NEW YORK and GELDERMALSEN, Netherlands, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- UltiMaker, a global leader in desktop 3D printing, today announced the launch of the UltiMaker S8 3D printer its next-generation solution designed to significantly boost productivity while maintaining high-quality precision The UltiMaker S8 was engineered for productivity capable of speeds up to 500mm/s and accelerations up to 50,000mm/s2 Equipped with advanced features like the new UltiMaker Cheetah motion planner the UltiMaker S8 can deliver up to 4x the productivity of its predecessor The combination of these features enables the new printer to deliver parts faster than before making it ideal for businesses that require fast turnaround times Now widely available is Cura Cloud on UltiMaker Digital Factory, the new cloud slicer powered by UltiMaker Cura Digital Factory was designed to streamline every step of the 3D printing process Cura Cloud adds a unique element that enhances the workflow and creates a smoother Digital Factory also provides a range of subscription plans to help users boost production giving them customized options based on their needs Whether producing prototypes or production-ready components the S8 offers flexibility like no other professional 3D printing solution on the market today "We believe that the UltiMaker S8 sets a new standard in 3D printing building on the legacy of the S series with significant improvements," said Marc Uyttenboogaard "We have engineered the S8 to provide faster printing speeds and efficient 3D printing experience." Increased Productivity and Improved Print Quality: At the heart of the UltiMaker S8 is a powerful offering up to 5x the processing power of the UltiMaker S7 resulting in precision of 0.15mm ± 0.15% and eliminating issues such as ringing and mechanical stress which typically occurs at high speeds UltiMaker Cheetah enables the S8 to achieve up to 4x faster print speeds than its predecessor The S8 introduces hot-swappable AA+ and CC+ print cores designed for high-flow to match the printer's increased speed improving efficiency and quality in composite and engineering-grade material printing The newly designed hardened feeder module provides better material control ensuring reliable performance at high speeds This innovation optimizes the printer's ability to handle diverse materials without compromising quality comes with optimized print and material profile settings to streamline the process for users Versatility with UltiMaker Marketplace: At launch is the availability of the new UltiMaker Nylon CF Slide is a breakthrough Nylon 612 CF copolymer designed for industrial applications where tribological performance is key PFAS-free filament delivers excellent wear resistance temperature stability up to 180°C after annealing and a robust Z tensile strength exceeding 40 MPa The new material is ideal for replacing POM in complex with proven ability to reduce friction and extend the lifespan of moving components Compatibility with the UltiMaker Marketplace also gives users the freedom to experiment with the material of their choice Future-proof Production: Powered by a completely revamped electronics platform the S8 is equipped with 5x the processing power of its predecessor This significant increase in processing capacity ensures the printer can handle the demands of the motion planner and support future updates "We are thrilled to add the UltiMaker S8 the next generation in our popular S series to our growing 3D printing ecosystem," said Michiel Alting von Geusau "The S8 reflects our commitment to providing solutions that enable businesses to innovate and grow UltiMaker's ecosystem is designed to enhance production while also providing lasting value for customers and partners." To learn more, join the UltiMaker S8 launch showcase on March 11th at 10:00 ET / 15:00 CET. UltiMaker executives will dive into the S8's advanced features, the new Nylon CF Slide, and the company's journey to continue enabling businesses with 3D printing to drive innovation forward. Watch the showcase here: https://youtu.be/H-JjoWVgbd8 For more information on the S8, visit http://ultimaker.com/3d-printers/s-series/ultimaker-s8/ UltiMaker is a global leader in 3D printing focused on shaping the future of manufacturing With a wide range of cutting-edge 3D printing solutions one of the widest portfolios of 3D printing materials on the market and leading 3D printing software platforms–Cura and Digital Factory UltiMaker is paving the way for innovation across industries UltiMaker also offers MakerBot the only 3D printing brand dedicated solely to education MakerBot offers the most comprehensive ecosystem tailored for classroom learning UltiMaker is empowering customers to push the boundaries of what's possible Learn more at www.ultimaker.com. Cura, Cura Cloud, Digital Factory, MakerBot, Method, and UltiMaker are trademarks or registered trademarks of UltiMaker. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Taipei MRT reminds passengers of drinking water ban Taiwan dollar hits NT$29 per US dollar triggering currency exchange rush Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes off east Taiwan Central Bank steps in as Taiwan dollar posts strong single-day gain Vietjet flight makes unscheduled landing in Taiwan Four Vietnamese residents found dead in northern Taiwan Taiwan ranked 2nd most innovative country in world US tech earnings spark Taiwan stock market rally Taiwan ranks 1st in Asia on World Press Freedom Index US Congress members urge Somalia to reverse Taiwan passport ban Set of 12 Chinese ‘The Nanking Cargo’ plates for sale at Sheppard’s Great Irish Interiors Sale Four Japanese woodblock prints by Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) are included in Sheppard’s sale (est. €6,000 to €9,000 each) Eleanor FleggFri 19 Apr 2024 at 02:30There’s a set of 12 porcelain plates in Sheppard’s Great Irish Interiors sale on 30 April and 1 May. They’ve a history that would put Indiana Jones to shame. The blue and white plates (est. €2,000 and €3,000) were made in China around 1750 and decorated with peonies and pomegranate blossom for the export market. Eighteenth-century Europe was absolutely avid for porcelain. Like silver, furniture, paintings and carpets, it was an essential part of fine furnishing. If everything had gone to plan, the plates would have made their way across the seas and ended up under slices of roast beef in some wealthy person’s home. But everything did not go according to plan. Today's News in 90 seconds - 19th April 2024 In January 1752, the plates set sail on the Geldermalsen, a Dutch East India Company vessel carrying tea, porcelain and gold. The plates were packed into crates of tea. This protected the delicate porcelain when the ship hit a coral reef and sank in the South China Sea. The 32 surviving crew members were strongly suspected of salvaging the gold from the sinking ship and hiding it. At that time in history, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) pretty much ruled the world. Established as a trading company for spices in 1602, it became a global corporation with its own army, its own currency, and the power of a colonial state. According to the company’s records, the Geldermalsen’s cargo included: 171 dinner services; 63,623 teacups and saucers; 19,535 coffee cups and saucers; 14,315 dinner plates; 1,452 soup plates; 299 cuspidors (spittoons); 606 vomit pots; 75 fish bowls; 447 single dishes; 1,000 nests of round dishes; and 25, 921 slop bowls. All of this remained on the sea floor for 233 years. ​Enter Captain Michael Hatcher, adventurer of the high seas. Hatcher (b.1940) is a marine salvage expert, highly skilled in extracting shipwrecked treasure. Unlike the real Indiana Jones, he’s not an archaeologist. In 1984, he salvaged 23,000 pieces of porcelain from the shipwreck of an unidentified 1640s Chinese junk. The collection was sold in a landmark auction that established Christie’s, Amsterdam, as the go-to place for selling stuff from shipwrecks. In 1985, Hatcher did it again. The cargo of the Geldermalsen was extracted under time pressure as his armed crew watched out for pirates. A Reader’s Digest Article (1986) described a diver opening the lid of a crumbled crate: “There sat row upon row of tiny blue-on-white teacups, shiny-bright.” A film of the extraction shows divers reaching into the crates and drawing out pieces of porcelain. It also shows the destruction of the coral reef and the delicate remains of the Geldermalsen. Since then, archaeologists have been loud in their complaints about Hatcher’s smash-and-grab methodology which destroyed the context of the wreck in its haste to extract the valuables for rapid resale. Advertised as “The Nanking Cargo”, the haul went under the hammer at Christie’s, Amsterdam, in April 1986. It sparked a collectors’ feeding frenzy. The Telegraph reported “fights erupted outside Christie’s Amsterdam yesterday as large crowds queued to view the celebrated Nanking cargo” but film footage of the viewing looks more like a department store with historic porcelain stacked like Ikea plates. Chinese art specialist Colin Sheaf oversaw the sale. In 2022, he described it for The Art Newspaper as “the biggest and most successful auction of any kind of decorative art in 1980s.” Now, people would fret about the ethics of extraction. Then, the public were beguiled by sunken treasure and the romance of a shipwreck story. Bloomingdales purchased 3,000 pieces and advertised: “it’s a rare opportunity to bring museum quality artifacts into your home. Look for the Nanking Cargo shop starting today on the second floor.” The plates at Sheppard’s were purchased at Christie’s by an Irish investment banker for 9,000 Dutch guilders (around €4,500). He kept the receipt. The plates are barnacle-free and don’t look like they spent several centuries at the bottom of the sea. The same collector made another, possibly wiser, investment. Four Japanese woodblock prints by Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) are included in Sheppard’s sale (est. €6,000 to €9,000 each). The signed prints are from Yoshida’s Seto inland sea series, showing a sailing boat at different times of day. Original prints from this series have reached very high prices at auction. In March 2021, Sailing Boat, Morning fetched USD 27,500 (€25,700) at Christie’s, New York. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Lanting via WikimediaDiscount domestic goods chain Blokker has said it will consolidate its distribution operations in Geldermalsen as it looks to cut costs will shut its smaller distribution centre in Gouda and move its e-commerce activities to an expanded Geldermalsen facility Blokker said the omnichannel approach will make its operations more efficient The move will mean shorter delivery times for both internet customers and its own stores The integration is expected to be completed by the summer of 2019 The 49 Blokker employees in Gouda will be offered jobs in Geldermalsen Blokker has been undergoing a shift in focus since last year It is selling off its other stores chains including Xenos and Intertoys in order to concentrate on its core business Hundreds of stores will be closed and 2,000 people are set to lose their jobs Blokker Holding posted losses of €344m in 2017 widening from a loss of €180m the previous year The restructuring itself ‘weighed heavily on results’ the company said Storm damage disrupting trains between some Dutch cities BookmarkBookmarkBy Victoria SévenoJul 26, 2023After storms struck most of the Netherlands on Wednesday morning, rail infrastructure manager ProRail has announced that train services between various Dutch cities are delayed or even cancelled as a result of damaged rails The Dutch Weather Institute (KNMI) issued code yellow weather warnings in a number of provinces for the early hours of Wednesday morning, as a storm made its way across the Netherlands. While some parts of the country continue to see rain on Wednesday afternoon, the warnings for bad weather have been lifted Door het onweer dat over ons land trok is zowel bij Oss als bij Geldermalsen de bliksem ingeslagen Hierdoor is er momenteel geen treinverkeer mogelijk tussen Den Bosch en Nijmegen en tussen Den Bosch en Utrecht The track between Den Bosch and Utrecht has since been repaired and train traffic has resumed although some delays could still occur on Wednesday afternoon An update is yet to be made in regards to services between Den Bosch and Nijmegen ProRail has said it is “working hard on the repairs”, but in the meantime, travellers have been advised to double-check their travel plans via the NS website or app Rail replacement bus services have been deployed to help compensate for some of the disruption Thumb: Bjorn Keith via Shutterstock.com. The incident unfolded when Belgian police received a report about a stolen BMW which had subsequently crossed the border and was spotted on the A2 amid Monday’s evening rush hour traffic. Dutch police then gave chase, with the driver of the stolen car changing cars twice. In Geldermalsen he forced a driver out of his car before speeding off in it, police spokesman Thomas Aling told the AD. The man then drove from Utrecht to Amsterdam, where he again changed cars to drive to the Osdorp area where he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Despite the deployment of two police helicopters and a large police search party the man could not be found. “We are continuing our investigations into the identity of the and will do out utmost to find him,’ Aling said. We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day. Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days! We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here. Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey. showing Sydney's CBD and harbour Source: AAP 6 min readPublished 19 October 2018 4:32pm ShareGet SBS News daily and direct to your InboxSign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.Your email address *Morning (Mon–Fri) Wind and solar generated 10 percent of global electricity for the first time in 2021 Fifty countries get more than a tenth of their power from wind and solar sources As the world's economies rebounded from the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 Demand for electricity grew at a record pace The research shows the growth in the need for electricity last year was the equivalent of adding a new India to the world's grid Solar and wind and other clean sources generated 38 percent of the world's electricity in 2021 For the first time wind turbines and solar panels generated 10 percent of the total The share coming from wind and sun has doubled since 2015 when the Paris climate agreement was signed The fastest switching to wind and solar took place in the Netherlands All three have moved a tenth of their electricity demand from fossil fuels to green sources in the last two years "The Netherlands is a great example of a more northern latitude country proving that it's not just where the Sun shines it's also about having the right policy environment that makes the big difference in whether solar takes off," said Hannah Broadbent from Ember particularly in solar which rose by over 300 percent in just one year there was a massive step up in solar generation and it was driven by feed-in tariffs - money the government pays you for generating electricity - which made it very attractive for households and for utilities to be deploying large amounts of solar," said Dave Jones "What we saw with that was a massive step up in solar generation last year which didn't just meet increased electricity demand but it also led to a fall in both coal and gas generation." Despite the growth and the fact that some countries like Denmark now get more than 50 percent of their electricity from wind and solar, coal power also saw a remarkable rise in 2021 A large majority of the increased demand for electricity in 2021 was met by fossil fuels with coal fired electricity rising by 9 percent Much of the rise in coal use was in Asian countries including China and India - but the increase in coal was not matched by gas use which increased globally by only 1 percent indicating that rising prices for gas have made coal a more viable source of electricity "The last year has seen some really super high gas prices where coal became cheaper than gas," Jones said "What we're seeing right now is gas prices across Europe and across much of Asia being 10 times more expensive than they were this time last year He called the price rises for both gas and coal: "a double reason for electricity systems to demand more clean electricity because the economics have shifted so fundamentally." The researchers say that despite the coal resurgence in 2021 and Canada are aiming to shift their grids to 100 percent electric within the next 15 years This switch is being driven by concerns over keeping the rise in the world's temperature under 1.5C this century scientists say that wind and solar need to grow at around 20 percent every year up to 2030 The authors of this latest analysis say this is now "eminently possible" The war in Ukraine could also give a push to electricity sources that don't depend on Russian imports of oil and gas and they offer a solution out of the multiple crises that the world is facing this could be a real turning point," Broadbent said It has partnered with Danish investment firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners to see if such a project would be in the South Taranaki Bight Northland local government is strongly in favour of Tai Tokerau becoming New Zealand's first renewable energy zone pilot The country is to get its first significant solar power generation based in some of the North Island's sunniest centres Meridian Energy is to build a solar farm on 105 hectares next to the Marsden Point refinery A court has overturned a ruling that the country's environment minister must consider harm to children from climate change as part of the approval process for a coal mine Australia is proportionately one of the dirtiest countries It is a massive supplier of fossil fuels and burns coal for most of its electricity World RSS Follow RNZ News