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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
British horse racing heading for crisis unless BHA gets house in order
Horse racing in this country is staring down a gun barrel. The sport is facing massive contraction and structural meltdown as the factions within the industry fight to protect their own interests. Some are estimating that 40 per cent of racecourses, studs and training yards may have to close in the next five years. The cost of producing horses has spiralled to the extent that commercial breeders, who farm horses in the same way others rear sheep or cattle, can no longer make it pay. Only 28 per cent of yearlings sold make a profit. So if one takes into consideration years when a mare might not get into foal, a breeder needs to cover the cost of 15 mares to produce three profitable yearlings. Recently, production costs, such as energy, insurance and National Insurance contributions, have outrun prices that horses in the mid-price range are making. Best estimates are that the foal crop in this country will drop from 20,000 this year to 14,500 by 2030. The main reason why sales-ring prices have not kept up are twofold. First, there are much more enticing tax breaks in countries such as the United States to buy mares, and secondly, betting turnover, which funds prize money, is falling. Betting turnover has collapsed because, first, bookmakers in Britain have been shutting down successful punters for years. And secondly, puritans in successive governments have emboldened the Gambling Commission to use affordability checks to hinder people from betting. Significant 'Yes Minister' consequences are that the gambling black market has had a bonanza which puts vulnerable punters at risk, while payments to racing via the levy have collapsed and the government will consequently receive less tax. Anyone who doubts the link between those two has only to look at the numbers in Hong Kong. Betting turnover is increasing, which leads to bigger prize money and more runners. Racing is always in a spiral. In Hong Kong it is going up, here it is going down. It is the job of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to correct that and manage the contraction of the business so that it can flourish again from a sound base. But in its current structure, where factions vote to protect their own interests, it is unable to do so, which is why Lord Allen is refusing to take up the chairman's role until a restructure takes place. He is, however, like a new teacher trying to get control of an unruly classroom. The kids in the back row are fighting, the ones in the front row are flicking ink at him every time he turns his back to them and the rest are on their mobile phones. He now has to persuade all the factions to give up their seats and allow him to run the sport with an entirely independent board. To make hard decisions for the general health of the sport. All sides know that the first thing an independent board would do is reduce the number of race meetings, to match the falling horse population. The Racehorse Owners Association, which mainly represents the 'all-hat-and-no-cattle owners', does not like that reduction of opportunities at the lower end while the racecourses, which come together under the umbrella of the Racecourse Association (RCA), consider these meetings to be capital assets that their shareholders are unwilling to have struck off the balance sheets. There is one option not floated so far that may have to be considered should the BHA be brought to its knees if Allen walks away. The smouldering wreckage of the BHA could run up the white flag and hand the responsibility of running and regulating racing to the RCA, with a covering note along the lines of 'you should have thought harder about what you wished for… good luck getting your 58 members to sort this mess out'.
Business Recorder
14-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CDWP approves eight development projects
ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved eight development projects at a cost of Rs25.191 billion and recommended a project at cost of Rs10.671 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval. The CDWP met here with Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal in the chair. The meeting was attended by Awais Manzur Sumra, Secretary Planning, along with Chief Economist, VC PIDE, other members of the Planning Commission, federal secretaries, heads of Provincial Planning and Development (P&D) boards/ departments, and senior representatives from relevant federal ministries and provincial governments. CDWP approves 15 uplift projects worth Rs422.704 billion The agenda focused on development projects across key sectors, including food and agriculture, higher education, information technology, power, and transport and communications. A project related to food and agriculture presented in the meeting namely, 'Speed Breeding Platform for Development of Climate Smart Hybrids Crops' worth Rs990 million approved by the CDWP. The minister directed that all stakeholders including private sector should be engaged in setting research and seed development agenda at NIAB. 'We need to develop high weather resistant and productivity seeds using hybrid technology,' he said A project related to higher education sector presented in the meeting namely, 'Dr A Q Khan Institute of Materials & Emerging Sciences' worth Rs3,538.364 million was approved by the CDWP forum. Dr AQ Khan Institute of Materials & Emerging Sciences will be established in Quaid-i-Azam University and provide state-of-the-art education and research facilities in material and emerging sciences. University of Cambridge, UK, agreed to provide technical assistance when Minister Planning visited that university last year. A project related to information technology sector presented in the meeting namely, 'Digitalisation of In-House Processes & Automation of Examination System of Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC)' worth Rs3047.772 million approved by the forum. The project shall improve the overall governance paradigm of the federal government through speedy recruitment process, provision of quality human resource to the Federal Ministries/ Divisions/ Departments in minimum possible time with ease and transparency. Moreover, the project has been designed keeping in view the vision of the federal government for e-governance under the digitalisation drive. This project also serves the objectives as envisioned in Digital Pakistan Policy & Vision 2025. The project shall enhance the functional capacity of FPSC and modernise its processes through business process reengineering (BPR). The minister emphasised that this step is essential for achieving long-term operational efficiency which will benefit the entire government by cutting delays in recruitment processes and aligns with the broader government's governance reform agenda. A project related to science and technology presented in the meeting namely, 'NILOP - PIEAS Emerging Technologies Centre' worth Rs.3385 million approved by the forum. The minister said it is vital that we develop strong technological capability for meeting challenges of the new digital and industrial revolution 4.0 and 5.0. A project related to Special areas (GB) presented in the meeting namely, '16-MW Hydropower Project Nalter-III Gilgit' was recommended to ECNEC at revised cost of Rs.1,0671.357 million. The scope of work includes construction of a 54-meter-long connecting canal linking the weir to a single-chamber sedimentation basin, which is 84 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 5 meters deep, designed to remove sediment particles larger than 0.2 mm. A gravel trap is provided at the end of the canal. This project will help in addressing energy shortages in GB. Four projects related to transport and communications were approved by the forum during the meeting. The projects named 'Widening/ carpeting of Booni Buzund Torkhow Road in District Chitral Upper- 28Km' worth Rs1,894.148 million, 'Constriction of Black Top Northern Bypass Road Loralai (15.50 Km)' worth Rs3828.165 million, 'Extension of Margalla Highway from GT Road (N-5) to Motorway (M-1); (Punjab Limits), (Length: 2.5 Km)' worth Rs7106.374 million and 'Feasibility Study for Trans Afghan Rail connectivity from Kharlachi (Pakistan) to Mazar-e-Shairf (Afghanistan) via Logar (677 Kms Approx.)' worth Rs1401.400 million, which is part of multi-modal regional connectivity framework under URAAN Pakistan initiative were presented. The forum also cleared the concept paper related to the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training titled, 'Action to Strengthen Performance for Inclusive and Responsive Education', funded by the World Bank. While reviewing the project, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Ahsan Iqbal, emphasised the need to transform Islamabad's education system into a model for other provinces. He questioned whether the current system in the federal capital is exemplary enough to be replicated nationwide and stressed that educational reforms in Islamabad should serve as a benchmark across the country. Ahsan Iqbal expressed concern that education offices have become centres for issuing transfer orders, rather than hubs of innovation and technological integration. While acknowledging improvements in some urban schools of Islamabad, he pointed out that rural schools in the capital territory remain in poor condition. The minister gave the Ministry of Education a one-month deadline to present a comprehensive roadmap for educational reforms in Islamabad, with the goal of setting an example that can be replicated across all provinces. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Two more snow leopard cubs, a vulnerable species, born in Darjeeling Zoo
admaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, also known as the Darjeeling Zoo, now boasts two new snow leopard cubs, continuing its status as the zoo with the largest captive population of the species in the world. 'The cubs are a month old. We are taking special care of them,' said Basavraj S Holeyachi, director of PNHZP, speaking to The Indian Express over the phone. 'This is good news. We have planned to ask Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to name the two cubs,' said Birbaha Hansda, state forest minister. At present, the zoo houses seven female and four male snow leopards, in addition to the two cubs. The cubs were born to Rare (female) and Namka (male) about a month ago. They are currently housed at Togbey Danra, an off-display conservation breeding centre located around 20 km from Darjeeling town. The births mark another success for the zoo's 'Conservation Breeding Programme' for snow leopards. The programme began in 1985, with the first successful birth recorded in 1987. In 2007, PNHZP was designated the coordinating zoo for snow leopards in India. According to authorities, a key element of the programme's success has been maintaining a wide genetic pool in breeding pairs. 'If those paired are closely related, there is a chance of developing disease. We were careful to use a wide genetic pool. Snow leopards brought to the zoo were not only from different parts of the country but also from zoos outside India,' said an official. The Conservation Breeding Centre (CBC) at Togbey Danra spans five hectares. It is designed to replicate the natural environment of the snow leopard, and breeding pairs are carefully selected. 'Five naturalistic enclosures of 1,000 square metres are there. A dry mountainous region has been artificially created within parts of the enclosures, closely resembling the snow leopard's natural habitat,' said an official. 'Once the female leopard is pregnant, special care is taken. She is separated and kept under CCTV surveillance 24/7. Regular blood tests and body weight measurements are conducted. After birth, both mother and cub are checked and closely monitored,' the official added. Snow leopards bred at the Darjeeling Zoo have been sent to zoos in Nainital, Shimla, and Sikkim. Snow leopards are listed as 'Vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, with an estimated global population of 4,000 to 7,500.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
13 people rescued after being trapped in Burger King bathroom during tornado in Missouri
VILLA RIDGE, Mo. – A small town about 45 miles southwest of St. Louis, called Villa Ridge, suffered damage when an EF-2 tornado damaged several buildings, including a Burger King. Villa Ridge has a population of about 3,000 people and sits between Interstate 44 and Highway 100 in Franklin County. Off the exit to Washington, Missouri, on Interstate 44, is a Burger King restaurant with a connected gas station next door. Across the way is a bank, another gas station and a rest stop for large trucks. See It: Plane Takes Off As Apparent Tornado Spins Near St. Louis Airport Video from Friday night shows the tornado illuminated in the background during the severe weather, where the sign for the gas station and Burger King sits off the interstate. The tornado ended up partially destroying the Burger King and gas station, trapping 13 Burger King employees and customers inside a bathroom where they were taking shelter. This Is What You Should Do If You Are Driving And There Is A Tornado On The Ground Gabriella Breeding, Burger King's general manager, was on the phone with employees trapped inside the building as she rushed to the store, also calling 911 on the way. She arrived about the same time as local firefighters, who checked the building and didn't believe anyone was inside. Breeding insisted people were in the building. When they heard people calling out and saw the light of a flashlight, firefighters were able to find and rescue all the people inside. None of the 13 people stuck inside were injured. Watch: Tornado Lashes Truck As Men Ride Out Storm At Rolla, Missouri Gas Station One of the employee's cars was totaled in the parking lot outside. Five semi-trucks were flipped over nearby. It's estimated the Burger King location in Villa Ridge will be closed for three to six months while the extent of damage is investigated and a determination is made about whether the building can be repaired or if it needs to be rebuilt entirely. During that time, the approximately 20 people who work at that Burger King location will be offered a temporary transfer to one of the chain's locations in neighboring cities. At least 12 people were killed in Missouri during the severe weather on Friday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed. The EF-2 tornado that touched down in Villa Ridge tracked 13 miles from Villa Ridge to Wildwood, Missouri, the National Weather Service article source: 13 people rescued after being trapped in Burger King bathroom during tornado in Missouri
Associated Press
21-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Iconic American Vistas Grace Postage Stamps
New Presorted Standard stamps display beautiful American landscapes SAN DIEGO, Feb. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Postal Service released America Vistas, two new Presorted Standard stamps, at the San Diego Stamp Show. These two stamps, intended for use by business mail users, evoke the beauty, variety and vastness of our country's natural spaces. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using art from DKNG Studios. 'For Presorted Standard stamps, we like to showcase broadly appealing imagery from across America,' says Breeding. 'These two paintings have a kind of Americana feel by displaying both mountains and the shore, both iconic to the American landscape. Because of their unique design style and use of color, the images come off as very fresh and engaging.' To the American mind, nature has been seen as a healing force. The landscape has often symbolized freedom, individualism and unlimited possibility. Perhaps that is why two favorite vacation destinations for Americans are the wide-open spaces and long vistas of the beach and the mountains. These stamps highlight both. Seen side by side, the two stamps form a pleasing pattern of spare, curving lines; triangular forms; and alternating colors. One stamp depicts a sandy shoreline at sunset, with a lone sailboat in the distance. The other is a nighttime mountain scene, featuring a small, secluded cabin overlooking a lake. The sweeping sky filling the upper half of the beach scene matches the lake in the bottom half of the mountain scene. The stamps share a horizon line at a halfway point in each design, which 'in turn helps to create a balanced composition, and a sense of calm in the art,' says Nathan Goldman, a principal with DKNG Studios. The American Vistas Presorted Standard stamps will be sold in self-adhesive coils of 3,000 and 10,000. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #AmericanVistasStamps. Postal Products Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, First Day of Issue Ceremonies and stamp inspired products can be found at Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
