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Quantum memory for flying optical qubits is a key enabler for a wide range of applications in quantum information. A critical figure of merit is the overall storage and retrieval efficiency. So far, despite the recent achievements of efficient memories for light pulses, the storage of qubits has suffered from limited efficiency. Here we report on a quantum memory for polarization qubits that combines an average conditional fidelity above 99% and efficiency around 68%, thereby demonstrating a reversible qubit mapping where more information is retrieved than lost. The qubits are encoded with weak coherent states at the single-photon level and the memory is based on electromagnetically-induced transparency in an elongated laser-cooled ensemble of cesium atoms, spatially multiplexed for dual-rail storage. This implementation preserves high optical depth on both rails, without compromise between multiplexing and storage efficiency. Our work provides an efficient node for future tests of quantum network functionalities and advanced photonic circuits.
Quantum memories enabling the storage of an input photonic qubit and its later retrieval with a fidelity beating any classical device constitute essential components in quantum communication networks and optical quantum information processing1,2. Over the past years, storage of optical qubits has been demonstrated in a variety of physical platforms, including individual atoms in high-finesse cavities3, ion-doped crystals,4,5,6 and large ensembles of neutral atoms7,8,9. Quantum memories capable of storing qubits encoded into multiple degrees of freedom of light have also been achieved recently10.
The storage and retrieval efficiency of such devices is a stringent parameter for the envisioned applications2,11,12,13 and boosting this parameter has been a long-standing quest. This figure of merit is crucially important to reduce the entanglement distribution time in quantum repeater architectures and thereby develop scalable communication links9,14,15. It is also essential for increasing the success rate of gate operations16 or for building up iterative quantum state engineering schemes in optical quantum circuits17. A memory efficiency exceeding the important 50% threshold would as well enable protocols to perform in the no-cloning regime without post-selection18 or error correction for qubit losses in linear optics quantum computation19. However, to date, the highest storage and retrieval efficiencies achieved for qubits, independently of the photonic degrees of freedom, are below 30%10,20,21,22,23,24.
These limited values contrast with the recent progresses achieved in the demonstrations of optical memories. Ultra-high optical depths (OD) have indeed been obtained in laser-cooled elongated ensembles of neutral atoms25,26 and then used to realize high-efficiency single-mode optical storage27,28 based on long-lived collective excitations. However, the increase in OD, which is a strong prerequisite for large efficiency29, often comes at the expense of spatial multimode capacity as the atomic cloud is elongated along a direction and radially compressed. It results in a reduced transverse size that may render some strategies such as dual-rail storage arduous. Qubit storage with large efficiency remains thereby a challenging goal.
Here we demonstrate a faithful quantum memory for polarization qubits with a storage and retrieval efficiency close to 70%. Our realization is based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a single spatially -multiplexed ensemble of cold cesium atoms featuring a large OD. The qubits are implemented using attenuated coherent states at the single-photon level. The reported efficiency approaches the maximal performance achievable on the D2 line used here, as shown by a comprehensive model that includes all the involved atomic transitions. Relative to previous works, this advance has been made possible by combining a high OD medium, efficient spatial multiplexing and low -noise operation.
Preparation of high-OD cold atomic ensemble
To obtain an ensemble with large OD, our experiment is based on an elongated 2D magneto-optical trap (MOT) of cesium atoms25,26,30. As sketched in Fig. 1a, the MOT relies on two pairs of rectangular-shaped coils and three retro-reflected trapping beams with a two-inch diameter and a total power of 350 mW. The resulting cigar-shaped ensemble has a length of 2.5 cm.
The experiment cycle is completed with a repetition rate of 20 Hz (see Supplementary Note 1). After a 37.5-millisecond-long MOT loading, the OD is further increased by linearly ramping up the magnetic field gradient in the transverse directions to radially compress the ensemble. For this purpose, the trapping coil current is increased from 4 to 16 A over 8 ms. After switching off the MOT coils, polarization gradient cooling is performed for 1.95 ms by ramping down the power of the trapping and repump beams following an exponential profile, while ramping up the detuning of the trapping beam from −17 to −107 MHz.
The atoms are prepared in the \(\left| g \right\rangle = \left| {6S_{1/2},F = 3} \right\rangle\) state by turning off the repump light earlier than the trapping light, as well as sending an additional depumping light resonant on the \(\left| s \right\rangle = \left| {6S_{1/2},F = 4} \right\rangle\) to \(\left| e \right\rangle = \left| {6P_{3/2},F{\prime} = 4} \right\rangle\) transition. This transfer is required as no perfect EIT can be obtained in the absence of Zeeman optical pumping if \(\left| s \right\rangle\) is used as the initial ground state. Finally, experiments are started 2 ms after the MOT coils are turned off to allow sufficient decay of the magnetic field. Three pairs of coils are used to compensate residual magnetic fields and to limit the inhomogeneous broadening to 50 kHz, as measured by microwave spectroscopy.
At the end of the preparation stage, the OD for a probe resonant to the \(\left| g \right\rangle \to \left| e \right\rangle\) transition reaches a value of about 300, as shown in Fig. 1b. The temperature of the atoms is measured to be 20 μK with a time-of-flight technique.
Realization of high-efficiency memory
Having prepared a large OD ensemble, we now turn to the memory protocol. The reversible mapping is based on EIT that enables the conversion of a signal photon into a long-lived collective excitation by dynamically changing the power of an auxiliary control field31,32,33,34. The signal and control beams, which are tightly phase locked (Supplementary Note 1), have waist diameters of 250 μm and 2 mm, respectively, and they intersect at the center of the MOT with a small angle of 1°. The control beam on the \(\left| s \right\rangle \to \left| e \right\rangle\) transition has the same circular polarization as the signal, as shown in Fig. 1c, to avoid absorption in an atomic system involving various EIT channels due to the presence of Zeeman sublevels. Proper alignment for the light polarization is especially important for a high OD medium, as only a small residual fraction of OD would lead to a significant absorption for the signal. Figure 1d gives a typical EIT spectrum. A transmission close to 80% is obtained at large OD.
To ensure negligible leakage during the storage process, the power of the control beam is chosen to provide a slow-light delay equal to twice the probe pulse duration when the control is continuously on. Figure 2a gives a single-photon level measurement of the slowed pulse and an example of a dynamic memory operation with a few microseconds storage. Before detection, the signal passes through a home-made atomic filter and a commercial lens-based cavity for spectral filtering (Quantaser FPE001A), with an overall rejection of 70 dB for the control field.
Thanks to the large OD achieved here, we could investigate the scaling behavior of the storage and retrieval efficiency. Figure 2b shows the efficiency as a function of the OD, which is varied by adjusting the power of the trapping beams during loading. At each value, the time delay is maintained constant by adapting the control beam power. As can be seen, the memory efficiency saturates at an OD of around 200 before decreasing. The maximal efficiency achieved here reaches (69 ± 1)%. This represents a record on the cesium D2 line and, more importantly, the highest achievable value in this configuration.
To understand this scaling and OD tradeoff, the complex level structure has to be taken into account. In the alkali-metal atoms, hyperfine interaction in the excited state indeed introduces several levels and EIT features can differ from the usual three-level Λ approximation, as previously studied in our group in various contexts35,36,37,38. Even for cold atoms, the off-resonance excitation of multiple excited levels can have a strong effect on the medium susceptibility. This is especially true for the D2 line of cesium atoms, for which the levels are only separated by 30 to 50Γ, where Γ denotes the natural linewidth of the excited state. These off-resonant excitations result in AC Stark shifts and effective additional ground state decoherence proportional to the control power. This decoherence rate limits the achievable transparency and therefore the storage efficiency at large ODs28. In addition, the atoms can be distributed in the ground state over many Zeeman sublevels, as it is the case in our experiment, and this configuration can lead to further inefficiency.
In Fig. 2b, experimental results are compared with a full model based on the Maxwell-Bloch equations and that takes into account the interaction of the probe and control field not only with all the excited levels but also with the Zeeman states (Supplementary Note 3). The theoretical lines correspond to the case with a single Zeeman level of the ground state \(\left| g \right\rangle\), e.g. m = +3, and to the case with an equal population in all the Zeeman levels. As can be seen, the experimental results are in strong agreement with this second case. The efficiency would only be slightly increased to 75% by optical pumping, which is a challenging task for atomic ensembles with very large OD. The model also confirms that the intrinsic ground-state decoherence γ0 = (1.0 ± 0.5) × 10−3Γ estimated in our experiment is not the limiting factor for the memory performance.
Implementation of a dual-rail memory
Next we present the extension of the setup to the qubit storage. The polarization mapping is implemented by using a dual-rail strategy in a single ensemble39,40. This method has been used in various implementations10,41,42,43, but the challenge was here to maintain a large OD and a strong noise cancellation despite this multiplexing in an elongated ensemble with a very reduced cross-section.
For this purpose, as illustrated in Fig. 1a, the signal beam passes through a beam displacer based on a birefringent calcite crystal (Thorlabs BD40) that provides a large 4-mm separation between the two orthogonally polarized beams. The two paths are then focused on the center of the MOT44 with a 500-mm focal length lens. Their transverse separation at the MOT edge is estimated to be 100 μm, which is much smaller than the 1-mm transverse size of the MOT. In contrast to the usual parallel scheme, i.e., without focusing the signal beam, here both beams cross the center of the MOT, enabling the attainment of a large and similar OD for the two paths. In the experiment, the OD is chosen to be around 200.
At the memory output, the two paths are recombined into a single spatial mode with a second beam displacer. The position of the second lens is optimized to obtain a visibility over 99% between these two paths, which is a critical step to achieve high fidelity. The two displacers form a passively stable Mach-Zehnder interferometer, where the relative phase is set to zero by adjusting the tilt of the second beam displacer.
Highly efficient and faithful polarization qubit storage
We now proceed to the qubit storage in this dual-rail setting. Polarization qubits are implemented with weak coherent states with a mean photon number per pulse \(\bar n\) = 0.5 and subsequently stored into the memory. The retrieved states are then characterized by usual quantum state tomography45. Figure 3a gives the reconstructed density matrices in the \(\left\{ {\left| H \right\rangle ,\left| V \right\rangle } \right\}\) logical basis. From the measured matrices, one can estimate the conditional fidelity of the output states with the initially encoded state. The values for the complete set of inputs are listed in Fig. 3b. The average fidelity is 97.7 ± 0.8% and raises up to 99.5 ± 0.5% after correction for background noise that mainly comes from residual control leakage and detector dark counts. In the absence of an input signal, the background floor corresponds to 5 × 10−4 events per detection window.
In order to conclude about the quantum performance of the storage, we need to compare our fidelity with the maximal one achievable using a classical memory device, based for instance on the so-called measure and prepare strategy. It can be shown that the classical benchmark is given by a fidelity equal to (N + 1)/(N + 2) for a state containing N photons46, which is equal to 2/3 for the particular case of a single photon. In our case, the bound has to be modified to take into account the Poissonian statistics of the probe state and the finite memory efficiency, as done in refs. 3,4. Figure 4 presents the achieved fidelities as a function of the mean photon number per pulse \(\bar n_{}^{}\). The measured fidelities are largely above the classical benchmark for \(\bar n_{}^{}\) as low as 0.02. As shown in the inset of Fig. 4, the memory time for maintaining the quantum nature of the storage reaches more than 20 μs. In our experiment, the lifetime is mainly limited by the residual magnetic field along the elongated atomic cloud (Supplementary Note 2).
For these measurements, the average storage and retrieval efficiency reaches (68.5 ± 2)%, as detailed in Fig. 3b. This value is the highest efficiency reported so far for a reversible memory that demonstrates the quantum storage of photonic qubits. Moreover, we have shown that, because of the multiple level structure of the cesium D2 line, the achieved efficiency is the highest attainable in this configuration. Direct extension of our setup to the D1 line where excited levels are much more separated should enable to reach an efficiency above 90%28, although this has yet to be demonstrated in the quantum regime.
In our realization, the pulse duration of the qubits has been chosen around 400 ns to obtain the highest efficiency after one pulse-width delay. It corresponds to a memory bandwidth of a few MHz, as expected from EIT storage2. Single-photon sources with sub-MHz bandwidths have been demonstrated47,48,49 and can be adapted to our reported quantum memory.
In summary, we have demonstrated a highly efficient memory for optical qubits by successfully operating a large OD elongated atomic ensemble in a dual-rail configuration. This combination enables the reversible mapping of arbitrary polarization states not only with fidelities well above the classical benchmark but also with an overall storage and retrieval efficiency close to 70%. This value represents the highest efficiency to date for the storage and readout of optical qubits in any physical platform and is more than double of the previously -reported values. It also outperforms the important 50% threshold required to beat the no-cloning limit without post-selection.
Besides the aforementioned network architecture scalability and potential loss-tolerant schemes, the achieved efficiency opens the way to tests of advanced quantum networking tasks where the storage node efficiency plays a critical role, such as in certification protocols or unforgeable quantum money50,51. Moreover, the designed platform is directly compatible with recent works based on spatially -structured photons and multiple degree of freedom storage10 and can now yield very efficient realizations to boost high-capacity network channels.
Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors on request.
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We thank V. Parigi and C. Arnold for their contributions in the early stage of the experiment. This work was supported by the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant HybridNet). M.C. and A.S.S. are supported by the EU (Marie Curie Fellowship). J.L. is a member of the Institut Universitaire de France.
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Vernaz-Gris, P., Huang, K., Cao, M. et al. Highly-efficient quantum memory for polarization qubits in a spatially-multiplexed cold atomic ensemble. Nat Commun 9, 363 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02775-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02775-8
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Last summer during our fieldwork in Africa our team collected a lot of GNSS measurements (format: .axf or .shp files, each with associated .ssf file) using ArcPad software installed on hand-held Trimbles (GeoExplorer 6000). Because we were working in a very remote area, we planned a postprocessed differential correction using data from a base station nearby. At the end of the campaign it turned out that the base station had unfortunately not been working properly, resulting in only a few days of base data being available.
Within the Trimble GPS Analyst extension for ArcGIS I successfully used the available base data to correct our GNSS measurements for these limited number of days. Particularly for the elevation these corrections make an important difference.
This, however, this still leaves me with a lot of uncorrected GNSS measurements which I would also like to correct (or at least get an idea of the vertical error). I tried downloading data from a different base station (located further away) available on http://www.unavco.org/, but the Trimble GPS Analyst extension is somehow not able to execute the corrections. After going through the whole differential correction procedure I get the end message: "100% total coverage; Selected 4827 positions for post-processing; Corrected 0 positions; Failed to correct 4827 positions" (no specific error type is mentioned).
A colleague suggested trying the differential corrections in Leica GeoOffice instead, but a conversion from .axf/.shp and .ssf files to a format compatible with the Leica software does not seem straightforward as I have not yet been able to find a conversion tool.
The only remaining option to somehow get a coarse estimate of the error of the currently uncorrected measurements would then probably be to develop some sort of algorithm.
I was therefore wondering
All suggestions are welcome! Thank you in advance!


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Andrew Waugh believes architecture should never not be politically and socially relevant. It is one reason why, when he opened his architecture practice straight out of university more than 20 years ago, timber was on his radar.
Even back then, the idea of slapping a solar panel on the roof or installing double glazing to mitigate climate change – or as he refers to it, "the greatest calamity ever to befall our species" – felt a little half-hearted.
Taking the problem seriously meant considering the embodied carbon footprint of the materials he was using to construct a building, an approach that has come to define his practice over the past two decades.
At the same time, while he and his business partner Anthony Thistleton were setting up their business, they were both working as model makers for other practices during evenings and weekends. It got them thinking about pre-fabrication and how different elements of buildings fit together.
When they came across cross-laminated timber (CLT), a material that brought both approaches together, Waugh remembers feeling like they had apples falling on their heads.
They designed their first small CLT building in 2003 and have since built 25 across the UK and France, with another 15 or so in the design phase all over Europe, including a master plan in Norway and a half million square foot office space in Italy. Slowly but surely, other architects have followed suit.
This was driven by timber's technical benefits (wooden buildings are lightweight and quick to erect thanks to the potential for off-site prefabrication), environmental benefits (harvested timber is a replenishable material that absorbs and sequesters carbon dioxide over time) and consumer demand (there have never been more studies focused on the emotional benefits of living in more natural environments).
In France, any new public construction project financed by the state must contain at least 50% wood or other organic materials. In Germany, firm Mad Arkitekter has been commissioned to design the country's tallest wooden tower, while Mei Architects and Planners recently designed a fully wooden, 50m-tall residential building in the Netherlands, named SAWA.
Even that formidable accomplishment pales in comparison to the current reigning global champion: Voll Arkitekter's Mjøstårnet building, which rises some 85.4m.
Timber experimentation isn't confined to the continent either. Previously the title of the world's tallest timber structure was held by the 53m-high Brock Commons Tallwood House in Vancouver, a hybrid wood and concrete structure.
A leading manufacturer of CLT, New Zealand has ambitious plans for wooden highrises, integrating them into its green agenda. Tokyo, meanwhile, will see a 70-storey block made from 90% wood rise to completion in 2041.
Using the right timber
One of Waugh Thistleton's most high-profile recent timber projects was a flexible working space for British Land on 6 Orsman Road, London, a hybrid CLT and steel building that can be adapted to the needs of its tenants and demounted at the end of its life.
The architect prides himself on only using timber that has been certified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) or the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which means the forests it comes from are managed to the highest possible standards, taking into account everything from the rights of indigenous communities to the conservation of rare animal and bird species.
Anand Punja, the FSC's regional director for Europe, says the body is actively promoting the benefits of working with timber – and specifically FSC-certified timber – to the architecture and construction communities and has been pleased to see interest growing.
"A lot of FSC wood or fibre currently goes into pulp or paper value chains and we're trying to change that a little to get higher-value products out of the forests," he explains.
"If the timber coming out of these forests get valued highly, that forest is valued for being a standing forest. It's not going to get torn down to make way for a palm oil plantation. Our goal is to figure out where the bottlenecks are – whether it's in supply or demand – in getting FSC wood from an FSC forest to an FSC building site."
Designing with long-term flexibility
Because of the way it was put together with CLT and a lightweight steel frame, 6 Orsman Road can be adapted over time and disassembled at the end of its life.
"You can get a saw and a screwdriver out and fit stuff to it or cut stuff away from it," Waugh explains. In fact, halfway through the construction process, the decision was made to change the concept from a regular office building to a co-working space.
"We got out our chainsaw, cut a big hole in a slab across seven storeys and then used that floor slab to build a new staircase," Waugh says. "Designing for long-term flexibility is wonderful. You can start thinking about making demands of our buildings to be used and adapted many decades into the future."
It's an approach of which Robert Winkel, the founder of Mei Architects and Planners, approves. He is the designer and developer of SAWA, which will be the first fully wooden residential building in Rotterdam. Construction is slated to start in 2021 and, when completed, it will also have the potential to be dismantled.
Designing for long-term flexibility is wonderful. You can start thinking about making demands of our buildings to be used and adapted many decades into the future. Andrew Waugh, Waugh Thistleton Architects
Where most architects would include a concrete layer under the wooden floor for pipes and electricity ducts, Winkel plans to use a layer of dry ballast. "After 100 years, you can take these pebbles or small stones out, take the pipes out and then you have the raw material – the wood – left over as a pure product," he explains.
Solving this century's problems
For Winkel, timber is just one part of the equation he's working to solve: how to design buildings that address today's societal and environmental problems. SAWA will also be home to 1km of planters, abundant communal spaces where building inhabitants can plant vegetables, shared e-bikes, cars and scooters and a cross-ventilation system fed with fresh air from outside. In addition, 50 of its 109 apartments will be affordable for renters.
"Wood is not the purpose," he says. "The purpose is to solve the problems we have this century – less biodiversity, exhaustion of CO2, loneliness. It's a medicine against the problems we have now and wood is one part of this cocktail."
Waugh believes that the coronavirus pandemic has the potential to trigger a paradigm shift in building design like the 1918 flu did just over 100 years ago. "We came out of that pandemic saved by science, cleanliness, modernity and expertise, and fundamentally our architecture was transformed within a generation," he says.
"I think the pandemic we're going through now will bring similar results in terms of a yearning for natural materials, fresh air and health and well-being benefits. The paradigm shift we need in architecture is about rethinking what we're looking for in buildings and it's going to be simple values like materiality, space and light."
While timber use in architecture is no doubt increasing, there are two main barriers, according to Waugh: perception and profit. "You have a risk-averse system where a lot of people make a lot of money and don't really want to change, thank you very much," he says. "They can get people to work on construction sites with jackhammers, cement mixers and grinders, pay them little money and charge a lot for it."
Things have to be changed at government level, but what really needs to happen is the consumer has to ask for this and say 'we don't want concrete buildings anymore. Robert Winkel, founder of Mei Architects and Planners
In addition, there's no urge for innovation from the supply side. "There's a lack of apartments so everyone wants to take what there is; there's no urge for innovation," Winkel remarks. "Things have to be changed at government level, but what really needs to happen is the consumer has to ask for this and say 'we don't want concrete buildings anymore'," he adds.
Appetite from investors
The good news, Waugh says, is that demand is increasing, not from architects, engineers or governments, but from investors. In 2021, most of his practice's new projects came directly through investors who wanted visibly sustainable results for their investments.
"Whereas developers and contractors have their own way of doing things, investors are saying, 'this matters to our shareholders'," he says. "In the commercial market things are changing a bit and office users are saying, 'the space we inhabit needs to be representative of the ethos of our company' and that needs to be driven by sustainability."
Punja has seen a similar push. "Investors are greening their investments and passing that pressure onto developers. Developers are also interested because consumers are asking them these questions," he says.
"Having an FSC plaque on your building might not add an extra 10–15% to the price of a flat, but it does make them more attractive to buyers and renters, and allows them to tell their sustainability story in a bit more of a fun way."
It may be early days, and there may be a little bit of wishful thinking in Waugh's final comment. But he believes now is the time for architects to demonstrate real social agency. "For the first time in a long time, we can demonstrate how useful we are as a profession," he concludes.
Just as doubters ridiculed the construction of the Ingalls Building in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1903, cynicism over timber structures and their structural solidity remain. But travel to East 4th Street and Vine Street in the Cincinnati business district and gaze upwards, and the world's first concrete skyscraper looms back at you, still capable of weathering storms and the inevitable passing of time.
This article originally appeared in LEAF Review.


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On the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Bellingen is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, just half an hour's drive from Coffs Harbor. The area is a nature lover's dream. Bellingen sits along the stunning Waterfall Way, which traverses five national parks, so there's an abundance of waterfalls, bushwalking tracks, and animal spotting opportunities. The town is small but friendly with a rich heritage and a robust cafe scene. There are marvelous places to eat, as well as shop and stay. Plus, there are day trip opportunities galore to the national parks and surrounding towns, both inland, and back towards the coast.
1. Bushwalk at Dorrigo National Park
Explore exciting bushwalking tracks, incredible waterfalls, beautiful picnic spots, and excellent birdwatching in Dorrigo National Park. The park forms part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, and its beauty has been millions of years in the making. There are plenty of bushwalking tracks, which vary in length and difficulty. Check out the Crystal Shower Falls, Lyrebird Link Track, Blackbutt Track, Casuarina Falls Circuit, Red Cedar Falls Track, Rosewood Creek, Satinbird Stroll, or Wonga Walk. You can do them all or choose shorter sections that make up part of the larger walks. Stop at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre to learn more about the park, and stroll along the Skywalk. There's also plenty of beautiful picnic spots around for rest and refreshment. The Food Angel Cafe in Dorrigo is an excellent place to stop for lunch after an energetic morning walk.
2. Skywalk at Dorrigo National Park
Wander among the treetops as you head out along the Skywalk to enjoy breathtaking views over the Dorrigo National Park and all the way out to the coast. The Skywalk is attached to the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and is a 70-meter, fully wheelchair-accessible boardwalk. The beginning of the walk starts among the treetops, however as you get further out, the end of the path soars an incredible 21-meters over the canopy. From here, you can take in views of the deep gorges and lush trees of the Rosewood rainforest basin and Bellinger Valley. You can also admire the impressive peaks of McGraths Hump, also known as Old Man Dreaming. If you're an avid birdwatcher, make sure to take your binoculars. Be on the lookout for regent bowerbirds, topknot pigeons, and grey goshawks.
3. Take a Swim at Dangar Falls
After visiting Dorrigo National Park, make sure to stop in at Dangar Falls, just a few kilometers north of the town of Dorrigo. These beautiful 30-meter falls have a car park, picnic tables, playground, toilets, and a viewing platform. It's the perfect place to stop and stretch your legs and admire the view. There's also a walk to the base of the falls, which is not too strenuous. The waterhole at the bottom is perfect for a swim, though it can be a bit chilly.
4. Stay the Night at Promise Land Retreat
Escape the daily grind and stay a night or two at the Promised Land Retreat. Once you're there, you'll realize exactly why it's called Promised Land. With incredible views over the Great Dividing Range and private chalets tucked away in 100 acres of bushland, you'll feel a million miles from everywhere. The property has only three cottages — one which is perfect for couples, and two which fit up to four people, making it great for families. The simple but elegant villas are fully self-contained and enjoy 180-degree views. The retreat's facilities are also excellent. Borrow a mountain bike and go for a cycle along the Promised Land loop, taking in the stunning nature and swimming holes along the way. You can also hit a few sets on the tennis court, or wander down to the Angel Gabriel Capararo Reserve for a relaxing swim in Never Never River.
5. Swim in Bellingen's Never Never River
The Never Never River, with its clear, cool waters, is perfect for a refreshing swim. There are several great swimming spots along the river; however, one of the best locations is the Angel Gabriel Capararo Reserve. Pack your swimmers and a picnic rug, and while away the hours lazing in the sunshine and swimming in the crystal clear waters. Another lovely spot is near the old Tallowwood Bridge, further along Promised Land Road.
6. Waterfall Way Scenic Drive
Pack the car up and go on a full-day trip along the Waterfall Way Scenic Drive. This 185-kilometer journey links Coffs Harbour on the coast, with Armidale, taking you via five stunning national parks. You can drive the route straight in about two and a half hours, however, allow a full day, so you don't miss any of the scenic stops. Marvel at Ebor Falls, or see the granite tors in Cathedral Rock National Park. Stretch your legs and get the blood flowing with one of the many scenic bushwalks in the Dorrigo National Park. Alternatively, stop for a picnic and see the mighty Wollomombi Falls in the New England National Park. Also in that same park is Point Lookout, another must-see with panoramic views over the World Heritage rainforest. This drive is a delightful day out and is perfect for nature lovers and families.
7. Drive to Ebor Falls
Watch as the waters of the Guy Fawkes River cascade 100 meters over two tiers of rocks at Ebor Falls. The falls are located in the Guy Fawkes River National Park, just over an hour's drive from Bellingen. There are three viewing platforms for the falls and surrounding gorge country — the upper, lower, and valley view lookouts. All of them are a short walk from the car park, and there's an easy track that links the upper and lower platforms. Take a picnic and relax in the grassy woodlands next to the falls, as you listen to the sounds of the powerful water flow. During the warmer months, keep an eye out for blooms of golden everlasting daisies and rare ground orchids.
8. Eat at Bellingen's Most Popular Cafe — Hyde
Set in a grand old building on the main street, Hyde is one of Bellingen's most popular cafes. Owned by mother and daughter Jenni and Elyse, the cafe is a welcoming and relaxed meeting place, where you can enjoy excellent coffee and a sweet treat. You can sit inside at one of the large communal tables, or dine alfresco, and watch the world go by. In addition to incredible coffee, the store also showcases a beautifully curated collection of homewares, clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, furniture, baby, and skincare products. You'll easily be able to pick up a new outfit, stylish gifts, or even some beautiful bed linen.
9. Walk the Iconic Boardwalk and Beaches in Urunga
Head out to the coast at Urunga for some refreshing sea air and walk along the Urunga Lagoon boardwalk. It runs for one kilometer and is fully wheelchair accessible the entire way. You'll get to take in stunning views inland to the Great Diving Range, as well as along the coast from Mylestorm Spot to Nambucca Heads. Along the way, there are rest spots as well as interpretive signage so you can learn more about the environment. The end of the walk takes you to Hungry Head Beach, which is perfect for continuing your stroll, or even casting a line off the rocks if you're into fishing. Once you've worked up a good appetite, head back into Urunga to enjoy a fantastic smoothie, coffee, or jaffles at the Liberty Providores Cafe.
10. Indulge in Bellingen Award Winning Gelato
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a trip to Bellingen Gelato. Their award-winning and innovative gelato are made onsite from the highest quality ingredients. The business has been in the Sebes family since 2006 when they first opened the store in Bellingen. Since then, it's become a staple in the community, fulfilling sweet cravings of both locals and visitors alike. Indulge in milk-based creations such as burnt caramel, black sesame, lemon mascarpone, or fig and port. If creamy treats aren't your preference, opt for fat-free and diary-free fruit sorbets like stewed plum with cinnamon & cloves, strawberry and balsamic, and blood orange.
11. Dine-in at Bellingen's Qudo Cafe and Sake
Indulge in a really cool dining experience at Qudo Cafe and Sake. Located in a beautiful and nostalgic 107-year-old Masonic Lodge, this restaurant serves a delicious fusion of Japanese and Australian cuisine. The menu changes regularly but features dishes such as sushi, karaage, tempura bowls, and seared salmon salad. Plus, they have an incredible sake menu, which is the perfect accompaniment to Japanese food. If sake's not to your taste, they also have a good selection of beer, wine, spirits, and soft drinks. You can dine indoors, outdoors, or on the lovely balcony overlooking the grounds. It's a peaceful escape with delectable food.
12. View Bellingen from Point Lookout
Point Lookout is a must-see in New England National Park. The walking track follows the edge of the Great Escarpment, which is 1500 meters above sea level. It only takes 20 minutes to complete the 500-meter walk, and the first 100 meters are wheelchair accessible. There are several lookouts along the way, offering panoramic views of this World Heritage Area. On a clear day, you can even see 70-kilometers out to the Pacific Ocean. You'll wander through bush comprised of spectacular snow gums, and other native Australian flora. In summer, you'll also be able to see the bright red foliage of the flame trees further down the valley. If you're into birdwatching, make sure to pack your binoculars and keep a keen eye out for spine-tailed swifts and grey goshawks.
13. Listen to Live Music and Eat Pizza at The Bellingen Brewery
The Bellingen Brewery is a quirky little bar, in the center of town. Like many craft breweries, the venue is basically a tin shed with a fabulous rustic ambiance, using reclaimed timber and salvaged material in the construction. They brew their own beer and ginger beer onsite and also have a great selection of organic, bio-dynamic, and preservative-free wines. If spirits are more your thing, then try one of their unique cocktails that are inspired by the tastes and sights of the local area. When it comes to food, there's a menu of delicious wood-fired pizzas, with classic flavors like Margherita and spiced salami. Finally, the regular lineup of live music will keep you entertained and staying for one more round.
14. Go Horse Riding at Valery Trails
Explore the majestic forest, creeks, and rivers of Valery with a horseriding adventure. The 400-acre farm is located about halfway between Coffs Harbour and Bellingen and makes a great day trip. Valery Trails offer one and two-hour guided rides, which are suitable for everyone from absolute beginners to veteran cowboys. The tours depart at 10 am and 2 pm daily, so it's easy to fit into your vacation itinerary. They have 40 horses, all with friendly temperaments, as well as three dogs who love a game of fetch. Non-riders can walk or cycle some of the closer trails, or simply hang out by the pool.
15. Visit Bellingen Community Markets
If you love a good community market, then Bellingen is the place for you, as there are two in town. The showgrounds play host to the Bellingen Grower's Market each Saturday from 7.30 am to 11:30 am. Here you'll find an incredible array of locally grown fruit and vegetables, fresh bread, honey, and health products. It's also an excellent opportunity to grab a cup of coffee and have a chat with the locals. Just make sure to get there early, as the farmers regularly sell out of their produce. Then, on the third Saturday of each month is the Bellingen Community Markets. Discover a world of handmade products, arts, crafts, soaps, jewelry, pottery, and upcycled creations. Indulge in a delicious snack from one of the many food stalls, and enjoy live music from 10 am to 2 pm, which adds to the festival feel of the market.
16. Discover the Old Butter Factory
Originally built in 1906, The Old Butter Factory on Doepel Street has had a varied history. From butter production to a private home, nowadays, it serves as a tourist attraction with shops that showcase local wares. There's Cargo Lane, which specializes in furnishings, home decor, and gifts. The Nexus Community Gallery displays artworks, sculptures, and paintings from local artists, and the exhibition schedule is full for the next three years. Take in the wonderful smells of the Woodcraft Gallery, which sells timber products made by local woodworkers and craftspeople. Then, continue with good smelling gifts in the AWL Leather store, where you can pick up leather shoes, art, bags, wallets, holsters, and whips. Finally, you can soothe away any aches and pains at Robins Massage. Once you're shopped out, enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch at the idyllic Old Butter Factory Cafe.
17. Have a Picnic at Griffith Lookout
If you're traveling along Waterfall Way, make sure to stop in at Griffith Lookout. It's located on the opposite side to Dorrigo National Park, down on Mountaintop Road. Once you're there, you'll be rewarded with incredible views of the Great Dividing Range to the south and the Coffs Coast to the east. On a clear day, you'll even be able to see the Pacific Ocean. The lookout has an interpretive display so you can learn more about the area. Plus, there's a picnic area with tables, so pack a snack and a blanket to soak in some sunshine along with the views.
18. Visit Wollomombi Gorge
The Wollomombi Gorge is home to the incredible Wollomombi Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Australia. You can explore the edge of the gorge by taking the grade three Wollomombi track, which is a four-kilometer return walk. Allow two hours to give you plenty of time to admire the falls from the lookout, as well as spot wildlife and take in the rugged wilderness. You can spot wedge-tailed eagles surfing the gorge thermals or see paddling platypus and Eastern grey kangaroos as your cross the Wollomombi River. Once the mountain air has cleared your head and you've worked up an appetite, head back to the picnic area and enjoy a bite to eat under the shade of the red gum and yellow box trees. You'll find the gorge in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, which is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
19. Drive to Sawtell and Relax on the Beach and Rockpools
The small coastal town of Sawtell is just a half an hour drive from Bellingen. Here you'll find an idyllic getaway complete with stunning beaches, great cafes, and a beautiful national park. Sawtell Beach is the main beach, and it stretches from Bonville Headland to Boambee Head. You can relax in the sun, go for a swim, or even catch a wave with excellent surf conditions a regular occurrence. Just south of Bonville Headland is the Sawtell Memorial Rock Pool. It's well protected from the current that runs out of the Bonville Creek and is the perfect way to cool off from hiking over the headland. If you've worked up an appetite, the town itself has an excellent coffee and cafe scene, as well as cute boutique stores and a thriving arts scene.
20. Discover Armidale
Take the 2-hour drive from Bellingen to discover Armidale in the New England High Country. This elegant regional town is lovely to visit year-round and has so much to do. Nature lovers will enjoy outdoor adventures such as bushwalking, mountain biking, fishing, or kayaking. Meanwhile, foodies will appreciate the cool-climate vineyards that dot the countryside, as well as the abundance of local produce, including fruit, lamb, and other gourmet delights. Much of the local produce ends up on the plates in local restaurants in true farm-to-table style. Then, get a taste of the local culture with a stop at the New England Regional Art Museum, or visit the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place to learn about Indigenous arts and culture. Finally, explore the European history of the town on a self-guided heritage tour, which takes in the many cathedrals and colonial buildings.
21. Hike at Cathedral Rocks
Get out and about among nature with a day trip to Cathedral Rocks National Park, just an hour and a half drive from Bellingen. The tracks in this park are more challenging grade four and five walks, which are best suited to seasoned bushwalkers with bouldering experience. However, anyone who does take them on will enjoy the sights of wildflowers, idyllic creeks, and the iconic granite tors, which are especially alluring in the late afternoon. Hike to Cathedral Rock, an enormous stone perched upon a 200-meter-tall pile of granite rocks. Alternatively, Woolpack Rocks, another large rock formation, are accessed via an 8-kilometer return track, which starts at the Native Dog campground. If you like birdwatching, pack your binoculars because you might spot black cockatoos, wedge-tailed eagles, or even the endangered turquoise parrot. The Warrigal walking track is particularly great for bird watching.
22. Visit Gostwyck Chapel in Uralla
A visit to church might not be what comes to mind when you're on holiday. However, no matter your faith, a trip to the beautiful Gostwyck Chapel in Uralla is worth adding to your itinerary. Officially known as the All Saints Anglican Church, it sits on the grounds of Gostwyck Station. It was built in 1921 in honor of Major Clive Collingwood Dangar. The construction used only bricks made and fired at the station. The building is also surrounded by a short stone wall to protect it from flooding. What really makes this church unique, though, is both the breathtaking elm tree-lined avenue and the thick growth of Virginia Creeper that covers the walls of the building. During the autumn months, the creeper turns a vibrant red, while the leaves of the elm trees turn gold. This impressive display of nature's beauty is a photographer's dream.
What are the top attractions to visit in Bellingen?
The top attractions in and around Bellingen include The Waterfall Way Scenic Drive (and all its associated waterfalls), Dorrigo National Park, the fabulous local cafes, and the New England National Park.
What are the most popular things to do in Bellingen with kids?
Some of the most popular things to with kids in Bellingen include the Skywalk at Dorrigo National Park, horse riding at Valery Trails, and the Bellingen Community Markets. If your kids don't mind being in the car, chasing waterfalls along the Waterfall Way can also be a great way to spend a day exploring the area. Stop for a scenic picnic and a refreshing swim at Dangar Falls.
What is Bellingen famous for?
Bellingen is famous as a quaint, bohemian town along the Waterfall Way.
How far is Bellingen from Coffs Harbour?
Bellingen is about a 30-minute drive from Coffs Harbour or just under 35km.
How far is Dorrigo from Bellingen?
Dorrigo is just under 30km from Bellingen, which takes just over half an hour in the car.
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Yella Beezy – "Keep It In The Streets"
The HITCO Artist Takes Us Home To His Neighborhood of Oak Cliff in His Latest Video
He's an emerging star with a passionate legion of fans and a national presence on rap radio, but Yella Beezy will never forget where he came from. Returning to his Dallas roots, Yella Beezy shares "Keep It In The Streets," his new music video. With glistening piano and twangy guitar, "Keep It In The Streets" echoes the soulful tradition of Texas titans like UGK, laying down the code of the streets and the dire consequences for those who break it: "I fire my strap and you can fire your strap/But n****, keep it in the streets/Them folks attack and we don't say shit back/We don't talk to the police." Directed by David H. Nguyen, the video paints a poignant picture in stylish black-and-white, focusing on the figures who populate Beezy's Oak Cliff neighborhood and shining a light on their daily struggles.
With over 100k streams since its release on Friday, "Keep It In The Streets" is the HITCO-signed rapper's first new song of 2020. The street-savvy single follows "Ay Ya Ya Ya," a guitar-inflected ode to club-going baddies, which dropped late in 2019. Earlier this year, Beezy and guest singer Ty Dolla $ign appeared in the song's James Bond-inspired video. "Ay Ya Ya Ya" came hot on the heels of "Restroom Occupied," the Chris Brown-featured radio hit that reached the top 10 of Billboard's Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
Yella Beezy made his name in the industry the traditional way, building up a massive local fanbase in his hometown before winning the support of DJs across the country. He emerged in 2017 with the Gold-certified hit "That's On Me," which peaked at #1 on Urban radio, eclipsing Drake's "In My Feelings" for the top spot. Later that year, Yella Beezy opened for Beyoncé and Jay-Z on the On The Run Tour, and in summer 2019, he had a prominent spot supporting his "Restroom Occupied" co-star Chris Brown on his Indigoat Tour. In Summer 2019, he shared Baccend Beezy, the latest chapter in the Dallas native's independent rise from obscurity to stardom. Featuring the Urban Radio Top 10 hit "Bacc At It Again" ft. Quavo & Gucci Mane, Baccend Beezy peaked at #91 on the Billboard 200 and boasted guest spots from Young Thug, Chris Brown, NLE Choppa, Too $hort, and more.


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Report #2006-P-00005, December 14, 2005
What Was Found
Controls needed to be improved in areas such as visitor access to facilities, use of contractor access badges, and general physical access to the National Computer Center (NCC), computer rooms outside the NCC, and media storage rooms.
Report MaterialsYou may need a PDF reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's About PDF page to learn more.
- Report At A Glance (PDF)(1 pg, 52 K)
- Full Report (PDF)(50 pp, 264 K)


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Angel Air SJPCD121.
Another day, another Mott The Hoople compilation... I'm sure many fans will be asking "Do we need another one?" The answer is a qualified "Yes, but..."
There have been two major live 2-CD sets released on Angel Air in recent years, Stockholm To Philadelphia and Two Miles From Live Heaven. Fans will, of course, have bought both sets but the casual buyer may not have been tempted. Hence this compilation, which is a supposed "best of" those two releases and is meant to tempt the casual purchaser into investigating further.
Fans can argue over the track selection (chosen by MTHAS editor Keith Smith) - I would have left off Golden Age in favour of, say, Marionette - but there's no doubting the power of Mott The Hoople is represented well here. Angel Of 8th Avenue is beautiful while Mick Ralphs delivers a great guitar solo in Ready For Love. Sucker broods with power and menace, while Roll Away The Stone/Sweet Jane is a killer combination that would remain in the live set till the end.
Rather than provide another biog of the band, the booklet instead wisely details each track, with comments from one or more band members. One omission though is the failure to mention which set the tracks come from, so the casual purchaser is left none the wiser if they wish to investigate the Mott The Hoople back catalogue further.
The booklet contains a few rare/previously unpublished photos, but apart from that the dedicated fan will already have everything on offer here. But for the casual fan, this is as good a way as any of dipping his toe into the water. Who knows, we may even pick up a few more converts...


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Senate Will Vote to Protect American Retirement Account Decisions
'By blocking this state-run retirement plan regulation — like we already did with a similar regulation aimed at municipalities — we can empower families in making their own decisions when it comes to saving for the future.'
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding action through the Congressional Review Act to undo an Obama-era retirement regulation:
"In recent months, the Republican Congress has voted to provide much-needed relief to the American people from Obama Administration regulations pushed out the door at the 11th hour. We've voted to eliminate 13 harmful regulations already, using the tools contained in the Congressional Review Act, and we'll vote to eliminate another later today.
"Too often, the Obama Administration pursued regulations that grew government at the expense of jobs, wages, and economic growth. Too often, under the guise of helping ordinary Americans, the administration was really just helping to expand the reach of government. That is certainly the case with the regulation we are considering today. President Obama's Department of Labor issued regulations that would impose new burdens on employers and employees when it comes to saving for retirement.
"These regulations would give state officials the power to force employers to enroll their employees into government-run savings plans. Though these state-run plans might not seem too bad on the surface, what they really add up to is more government at the expense of the private sector and American workers. They would provide government-run retirement plans with a competitive advantage over private sector workplace plans, while providing fewer basic consumer protections to the workers who would be forced to contribute to them.
"As I mentioned when we voted on a related regulation concerning municipalities, states always had the power to set up these plans — but until this regulation, they had to actually follow federal laws that protect the workers who would be automatically enrolled. In other words, states preferred that the basic retirement protections that apply to those who manage private sector retirement plans not apply to the government too.
"As a coalition of employers and human resource managers recently pointed out, the Obama Administration was 'encouraging state governments to provide private sector employees retirement programs that do not have the same high-level protections as other private employer-sponsored plans.' So, as they put it, 'passage of [the legislation before the Senate] would ensure that all retirement plans for private sector workers are subject to equal consumer protections under the law.'
"That's why we'll vote today to overturn this regulation, which undermines a private retirement savings-system that millions of Americans have counted on for decades. By blocking this state-run retirement plan regulation — like we already did with a similar regulation aimed at municipalities — we can empower families in making their own decisions when it comes to saving for the future.
"I want to recognize Senator Hatch, the Finance Committee Chairman, who's been leading the charge on this important issue. I look forward to sending the bill to the president's desk soon."
Related Issues: Regulations
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Dubrow Group is on the lookout for talented motivated individuals who are experienced in real estate development and construction projects to help grow our team. We focus on high-end residential properties for both end users as well as investors and are currently expanding our work in commercial projects. As a modern company we are technology driven and have partnered with some of the leading tech providers in our industry allowing us to stay at the forefront of the industry. Proactively monitoring projects we provide data based intelligence along with years of experience enabling our clients to control the outcomes of their projects. We place emphasis on strong leadership skills and team players who have the ability to think outside of the box to solve complex problems.
If you would like to apply please include a detailed resume with examples of projects you have completed. We look forward to hearing from you.


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Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji, is a former Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State in the North Central Nigeria, in this short interview with OBIOMA C. APPOLOS, he briefly bare his mind on the much discussed issue among workers in Nigeria, which is the nonpayment of salaries.
The new trend especially among the States in Nigeria, is nonpayment of salaries. Why does it seem to be a difficult task for employers (public and private) to pay workers as at when due?
"Corruption and materialism among employers of labour are the major reason behind the monstrous trend of nonpayment of salaries in Nigeria. And nonpayment of salary as at when due attacks a worker's psychologically and causes depression and also could lead to suicide.
"It singularly causes a lot of depression. There is nothing as devastated to one as not being in position to do one's responsibilities, as a father or a family man. So it can really cause high level of depression. It is also an abuse of human right; because the person that does not have money will lose every sense of dignity, and I think it also reduces human being to sub-human level.
"This is because a person who is in dire need and cannot afford to meet his needs due to non availability of resources, will go borrowing or lend from people otherwise he or she wouldn't have gone borrow from. Because what would be important to such a person is just to solve his/her immediate need. And such a person can think or act like an animal, because once an animal have a biological need it does not apply restriction…the instinct is just to fulfill that basic need. This is actually why people say people are going mad."
In his further explanations, he said; "The trend of worker's not paid as at when due. I can adduce three factors to that. The major ones are corruption and materialism. The first which is quiet obvious is corruption. I was just discussing something with someone, and he made me realize what is really mean for somebody to just keep a particular amount of money in the bank for two to three months. And then I just found it unbelievable that such amount as N500 million can yield such a huge amount of money within a short period of time. So it is corruption. Some people that are responsible to paying salaries know that if they fix such money in a bank, the money will yield certain dividend to them within a short period of time. This is actually what they do before they eventual pay the salary to workers. Governors do that and employers of labour also do that.
"The second reason I can also allure to it is materialism. We have become increasingly materialistic as a country. Hardly you see people use a garget more than a year before they change it. The fan that my father bought as far back as 1935 is still working now because nobody finds a need to replace it. But you find a situation in which people discard things just because they have used it for about a year. For example, you can only find few people who use the phone they bought in 2016 today. So our materialism has so much increased that the people in charge of payment of salaries want to live up to what the society expects from them. They want to use the latest phone, car, computer etc. So because of that; people that suppose to be depending on them are not getting the resources that they should be getting from them, even when it is paying a worker his wage.
"The third reason I can adduce to it is just the state of the economy itself. It is said that he who have not something cannot give it. What is Nigeria producing to the world. We are not producing rather we are importing even what we have. The resources people use to have has become seriously limited. All these are the reasons workers are suffering the more particularly in Nigeria. So until government take decisive measure towards reversing the trend, the situation might even get worst."
The Two Monsters Responsible for Nonpayment of Salaries in Nigeria – Dr. Adedimeji
Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji, is a former Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State in the North Central Nigeria, in this short interview with OBIOMA C. APPOLOS, he briefly bare his mind on the much discussed issue among workers in Nigeria, which is the nonpayment of salaries.


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How Al Rabie brought IT and business together to weather a changing beverage market during pandemic conditions
- Summary:
- Never mind COVID-19, a sugar tax changed the business landscape for drinks manufacturers – but an ERP upgrade helped change the dynamics, writes Michael Ouissi of IFS
Adjusting to change is supposed to be easier for companies running on an integrated system. But the ERP systems of the past have not been responsive enough to keep up with the pace of change today. At Mindfuel 2020, we heard from customers adapting to some of the most challenging market conditions companies have ever faced. Diginomica documented a number of these use cases during the IFS Mindfuel event.
One standout is the story of Al Rabie, and how it has adapted to a flurry of disruptive changes, including a sugar tax that changed the landscape for drink manufacturers.
In his MindFuel interview with IFS Vice President of Manufacturing Colin Elkins, Al Rabie CEO Monther Alharthi accompanied by CFO Nisar Ahmed discussed how their enterprise systems have buttressed the organization. Reliable information, systems and processes are required if an organization is to keep its footing even as the Saudi economy, which had already shrunk by 1% in the first quarter of 2020 due to plummeting oil prices, was thumped by the coronavirus pandemic.
But Al Rabie was also affected by a number of government policy changes that increased business operational costs. Between a reduction in oil and gas exploration and production and reduced travel and commercial activity due to the pandemic, Al Rabie was facing a serious demand shock.
As the leading juice and nectar vendor in the Middle East and the single largest in Saudi Arabia, Al Rabie Saudi Food Products Co. produces more than one million liters of beverages per day. The diverse distribution model, large number of stock-keeping units (SKUs), packaging configurations, traceability requirements and perishable inventory all contribute to a business environment that requires consistent, documentable processes, good data integrity and visibility. Changes across all those SKUs is a potentially major project. Alharthi explained:
Most of our product is purchased on the go-people buy it on the road. With the curfew and the hospitality business almost nil, the airline business being affected, we are not out of the woods yet. And a number of expatriates living in Saudi will be leaving because a lot of (oil and gas) projects are stopped. So that means between one and two million inhabitants will be leaving the country.
Adapting to new conditions required a fresh approach to ERP
A business of this scale cannot adapt, unless its IT systems and processes are aligned. When Ahmed joined Al Rabie, he faced that challenge head on:
Al Rabie is a household name and it does really well as a business. But when I joined, I realized the systems and processes were in quite a state. The company's IFS software solution was not implemented well enough to accomplish what he thought the company required, and users were not engaging with the system.
The IT-business disconnect was a genuine concern:
The observations we made was business was blaming IT, and IT was blaming business. The root of the problem was an arm's length implementation and an arm's length design without ample support.
Ahmed's team almost did a rip-and-replace of its core ERP system, but ultimately, they realized the problem was not just a technology problem. It was a business user alignment and trust problem - one that a modern ERP platform could help to solve. After an assessment of their situation, Al Rabie decided that IFS was the right platform - but they did need to upgrade. Otherwise they would be stuck with an IT/business disconnect.
After the decision to stay with IFS was made, selling the idea internally was still hard, said Ahmed.
The biggest challenge for me personally was to engage the users to win their trust and involvement. Without that, no matter how good the product or how good the intentions, it would not work regardless. The key users - the finance and supply chain users - were totally disconnected from the system and using Excel.
Innovation in time
Al Rabie had some practice absorbing serious blows to the business thanks to a new excise tax on sweetened beverages that went into effect December 1 of 2019 - adding 50% to the retail cost of sweetened beverage products. Al Rabie went live on their upgraded system of record in that same month, just in time to handle the fallout from the excise tax. Ahmed recalls:
Overnight, the price of the product will have to go up 50%, and that will have a significant effect on the volumes that we produce and sell in the marketplace. The timing of the project could not have been more perfect. Only a super agile, super-efficient company will survive. The volumes will drop and that will impact the cash flow, and the average company could not survive. Being agile, cost efficient and eliminating manual processes, automation - all essential to survive.
Altering course for the pandemic
In the MindFuel interview with Elkins, Ahmed outlined the shifts to commercial practices and strategies the company is making in light of the pandemic.
With the market shrinking and traffic to Al Rabie's channels of distribution decreased, the company then had to adjust to additional taxes levied by the Saudi government to offset reduced oil revenues and an economic downturn brought about by the coronavirus. Alharti explains:
They are increasing the value added tax (VAT) from 5% to 15% as of tomorrow and in addition to that, customs duty has been increased from an average of 5% to 15%. Living costs will be higher on the general public. Purchasing power will be down.
So how has Al Rabie responded? Ahmed continues:
We are pretty much diversified. We have a quarter of our business in exports. That gives us some breathing space in how we run our organization. We have started reorganizing our departments, how we do our research and development and rolling out a new five-year plan. Cash is the name of the game, and so far, we are managing it. We are focusing more on multiple new products where there is no excise tax, placing more emphasis on our export market and pursuing new countries. That is helping us.
Alharthi suggested that, if anything, crises like the ones they have seen both before, and now with the pandemic, mean Al Rabie must step up innovation efforts rather than slow down:
We have strategic priorities we are working on, but the time scale has changed. Things we wanted to do in two or three years we have to do now. With digitalization you can base your judgement on current information. Whatever tools we can we need to apply quickly. We have to accelerate this. There is a need to automize or automate - we have to look into it. Things that used to take us a couple months to make a decision, now we have to take a couple weeks. We have to react faster than what the environment is hitting you with.


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A new idea to offer more books to new Northland readers is proving to be a resounding success.
The WhangÄrei Hidden Books initiative is pretty much what it sounds – children's books are hidden in places across town for budding bookworms to discover.
Thousands of stories have been collected over the past two years, all thanks to Heather Edmeades.
Edmeades started distributing the books about two years ago after seeing a friend in Taranaki do the same.
She estimates that she hid around 2,000 books around this time – picture books and chapter books – some from local authors, others from around Aotearoa and classic international readings.
The books are picked up from thrift stores, and Heather checks to make sure they're in good condition (without too many doodles), before wrapping them in resealable plastic bags with a note.
It reads: "Free to a good home – congratulations on finding me." Please read and hide. Tell us on the WhangÄrei Hidden Books page on Facebook where you found it or where you have hidden books. Good reading!'
On Wednesday, she was storing around 15 books in slides, swings and seats in a WhangÄrei playground.
Sneaking between the equipment, she said she tries to be unobtrusive in hiding it so the kids have a nice surprise when they find it.
The bright and colorful books – some Dr Seuss and Spike Milligan alongside Northland authors – have been snapped up by young readers.
Eight-year-old Alexis was at the park with her grandmother Donna Housham when they discovered "Green Eggs and Ham".
Donna said it was a classic that she planned to read to the grandchildren as soon as possible.
"This book is a legend."
Donna noted that books don't come cheap and good page turners can be hard to find, so she praised the project.
"It's a good thing and it gives children the opportunity to read books, to read different books, not the same books over and over again."
Heather Edmeades said she has had great reviews of the books over the years – including a woman who said the book she discovered was the first her baby has ever had.
She has since been contacted by another âHidden Booksâ organizer in KÄpiti, who set up the program there.
"I like to think that this hopefully promotes reading in the community a bit. And the love of books."
For all those who wish to be inspired by Heather's book, do not hesitate to consult the WhangÄrei's Hidden Books The Facebook page.


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Access to records on the suspension or revocation of a foster home license — procedure for release of information. — Any parent or legal guardian may have access to investigation records kept by the division regarding a decision for the denial of or the suspension or revocation of a license to a specific person to operate or maintain a foster home if such specific person does or may provide services or care to a child of the person requesting the information. The request for the release of such information shall be made to the division director or the director's designee, in writing, by the parent or legal guardian of the child and shall be accompanied with a signed and notarized release form from the person who does or may provide care or services to the child. The notarized release form shall include the full name, date of birth and Social Security number of the person who does or may provide care or services to a child. The response shall include only information pertaining to the nature and disposition of any denial, suspension or revocation of a license to operate a foster home. This response shall not include any identifying information regarding any person other than the person to whom a foster home license was denied, suspended or revoked. The response shall be given within ten working days of the time it was received by the division.
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lizvlx (AT, b. 1973) and Hans Bernhard (CH/USA, b. 1971) are European artists and net.art pioneers. They tenaciously convert code & language and concept & aesthetics into digital objects, software art, net.art, installation, new painting, videos, press-releases and actions. CNN described them as 'maverick Austrian business people' during their Vote-Auction action and the New York Times called Google Will Eat Itself 'simply brilliant'. Their main influences: Rammstein, Samantha Fox, Guns N' Roses & Duran Duran, Olanzapine, LSD & Kentucky Fried Chicken's Coconut Shrimps Deluxe. The have shown their work in major international institutions such as the Centre Pompidou, MoMA/PS1, Sydney Biennale, MACBA Barcelona, New Museum New York, SFMoma, ICC Tokyo, Gwangju Biennale and were commissioned by Serpentine Galleries London & Whitney Museum New York. UBERMORGEN currently hold the Professorship for Digital and Net-based Art in the Faculty of Art at the University of Art and Design Offenbach/Frankfurt.
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Bella Hadid is new Charlotte Tilbury muse in anniversary year
High-profile model Bella Hadid has become the latest muse for Charlotte Tilbury, the upscale mega-beauty brand majority owned by Puig.
She joins a number of other big names on Tilbury's muse list, including Kate Moss, Jourdan Dunn, Twiggy, Lily James, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, and Han So-hee.
It's the brand's 10th anniversary this year and Hadid will be a big part of that, fronting "standout product and digital beauty innovations, iconic campaigns, original content creation and disruptive global moments".
In a statement, Hadid said she's a long-time user/admirer of the brand and hailed the "quality and technology of Charlotte's formulas [meaning] I can look and feel my most confident self, from red carpets to fashion shows, to shoots".
The company also called her a "modern-day beauty icon — and a digitally native, digitally creative innovator".
Regardless of the hyperbole, it's undeniable that Charlotte Tilbury is a hugely popular and growing brand that has carved out a major market share in a relatively short period. And Hadid is a global superstar whose beauty (and fashion) choices are endlessly discussed on social media and imitated in the real world.
The company had been teasing the announcement on its social media earlier this week, simply showing a silhouette, with plenty of commentators guessing correctly that it was Bella Hadid.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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Scunthorpe Zumba Classes: You should not take it for granted that fitness workouts have to be a chore. In fact, when you attend a Zumba class in Scunthorpe, you can expect an atmosphere which is more like a fun and high energy party. You will be enjoying yourself so much most of the time, that you will hardly notice that you are working out. You will raise your cardiovascular fitness, tone your body and greatly improve your social life, all at the same time.
You could essentially say that Zumba is exercise in disguise, because while you are having fun, it is giving your body a total workout. Burning off between five and nine hundred calories is not exceptional during a standard Zumba class in Scunthorpe. It's not just a fitness class, but also a dance class, so you will be taught some dance moves without having to think about it.
It is very difficult for anyone at a Zumba class to stand still once the music starts playing, because it is fast paced, upbeat and invigorating. You will struggle to stop yourself joining in the fun and moving to the music. In fact your Zumba class in Scunthorpe will seem more like a party with a wonderful atmosphere and everyone enjoying themselves.
There are a number of styles of Zumba that you can try in Scunthorpe, for example Zumba Gold, Zumba Kids, Zumba Gold Toning, Zumba in the Circuit, Zumba Sentao, Zumbini, Zumba Toning, Plate by Zumba, Aqua Zumba and Zumba Step.
Zumba was invented in Colombia during the mid-1990's by a dance teacher and choreographer called Alberto Perez. This ever popular exercise program incorporates a fusion of dance and aerobic movements which are accompanied by energetic music. Among the many dance styles from which Zumba moves and music are taken are hip hop, axe music, mambo, salsa, samba, cha-cha, merengue, flamenco, bachata and reggaeton.
Scunthorpe Zumba classes can impart a number of benefits including helping you to develop a finely sculpted body, learning to dance, helping you to shed some pounds, getting a total body workout, boosting your fitness levels, revitalising your social life, improving your self-confidence and hopefully, having lots of fun.
Your local Scunthorpe Zumba class may provide Zumba training, Zumba moves, Zumba for the over 40's, Zumba instruction, Zumba tuition, Zumba fitness classes for kids, Zumba classes for newbies, Zumba workouts for dogs, Zumba fitness classes for beginners, over 60's Zumba classes, Zumba classes for adults, Zumba workouts for the elderly, Zumba workouts for the obese, Zumba arm workouts and other Zumba related stuff in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.
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Leaside's Big Bird takes first place despite show being shut down
Members of the Leaside Garden Society had already brought together all the material for their entry in the Canada Blooms open design category and had just started setting it up, when a representative of the garden show came around to give them the bad news.
The show, scheduled to open on March 13, was being cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. Their display would not be seen by thousands of showgoers.
But they continued putting it together and they eventually got some good news.
Their "Big Bird" entry won first prize in the judging that took place before the show was to open.
They were surprised, said Rick Hutchings, a member of the team who created Big Bird.
"We thought the other entries were more artistic," he said. The show theme was "Birds of a Feather" and most entries interpreted this abstractly, while the Leaside display was quite literally a depiction of a famous bird, taking inspiration for the Sesame Street creature.
And despite the show being cancelled, it turned out the garden society's design was seen and appreciated by quite a few. Hutchings said he had many would-be show exhibitors and members of other garden clubs tell him how much they enjoyed the Big Bird exhibit.
He and his fellow committee members who created Big Bird were hoping to move it from the Canada Blooms site and display it at the library to show more local people their achievement, but the library was unable to accommodate it.
And then a couple of days later all the city's libraries were closed anyway.
If the library had been able to accept the exhibit, it would have been the second time Big Bird had been shut down, Hutchings noted wryly.
The other members of the LGS team were Margaret Rousseau, Eileen Fitzpatrick and Karen Kaey who came up with the original design.
The group has been entering the garden show judging event for about 20 years, Hutchings said, and has often taken one of the top three prizes in the open category, Hutchings says. He attributed this success to the members' ability to work together.
"We have very artistic people. You get a team with all different ideas but eventually they come up with an idea that works for all four of them."
LGS board member Deborah Browne expressed the group's disappointment when the show was cancelled and pride in the team's accomplishment.
"It was a disappointment at first, but everyone understood that in order to combat this world wide pandemic outbreak we must all do our part and follow the guidelines" set by the World Health Organization and the City of Toronto, she said.
"Although only a few persons actually saw the design talents this year, the team can be proud that they continued the tradition, had fun in the process and did a great job for the Society and its members."
The Big Bird design is also featured in a video by Sayeh Sun Studio about the 2020 Toronto Flower Show part of Canada Blooms, shot before the show was shut down.