The first Hello Kitty theme park outside Japan — 150 acres, in China, which cost over $300 million to construct — will open to the public on January 1 to a predicted one million visitors a year.

A pilot programme aimed at rehabilitating drink and drug addicts persistently in trouble is to be set up in the East Cork town of Youghal.

More than 40 consultants have called for the long-delayed national children’s hospital — set to be based at St James’s — to be directly linked to a leading maternity site.

The Mater Hospital claims it remains the best site for the location of a national children’s hospital after it unveiled plans for a redesign of the original project which was unexpectedly rejected by An Bord Pleanála last February.

NEWORLD ASSOCIATES managing director Pat Kinsley will present a talk entitled ‘Does your brand take you for granted?’ at The Marketing Breakfast on February 22.