Latest news with #Hooters
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Augusta Hooters, popular location for John Daly during Masters week, has closed
A post shared by Hooters (@hooters) One of the most popular sports bar chains in America is further decreasing its footprint. Two more Georgia Hooters locations have abruptly closed. As of Friday, we cannot confirm if Hooters locations in other parts of the U.S. have also shuttered their doors: Which Hooters in Georgia have closed? This week, calls to the Augusta and Cumberland Hooters play a pre-recorded message confirming they have permanently closed. No reason is given. This comes about a month after locations in Atlanta, Douglasville, Gwinnett, and Valdosta closed as part of the company's transition to a "pure franchise business model." Did Hooters file for bankruptcy? Hooters submitted a bankruptcy filing in March after accumulating $376 million in debt, agreeing to sell all of its 151 company-owned restaurants, according to USA Today. A Masters Week hot spot gone If you've ever been in Augusta during the Master Tournament, you've probably seen how popular the Hooters was. A massive tent is put up outside for people to eat, drink, and watch golf. Multiple celebrities have also been known to make appearances, particularly pro golfer John Daly who is regularly there selling merch, signing autographs, and taking pictures with fans. How many Hooters are in Georgia? Following the closures, there are now 10 open Hooters locations in Georgia: Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Who's afraid of ‘alpha male' Adams?
YOU know that guy whom President Donald Trump has nominated as his ambassador to Malaysia, Nick Adams? Prior to his nomination announced on July 9, I doubt many Malaysians had heard of him. I hadn't. But we sure learned fast and what we found out, like from his March 13, 2023, tweet that went viral, caused much consternation: 'I go to Hooters. I eat rare steaks. I lift extremely heavy weights. I read the Bible every night. I am pursued by copious amounts of women. I am wildly successful. I have the physique of a Greek god. I have an IQ over 180. I am extremely charismatic.' Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Full access to Web and App. RM 13.90/month RM 9.73 /month Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter. RM 12.39/month RM 8.63 /month Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Trump's Controversial Pick for Malaysia Envoy to Get Anwar's ‘Due Consideration'
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his government will give 'due consideration' to President Donald Trump's pick as ambassador, seeking to balance relations with Washington and domestic ire over some of the potential envoy's political commentary. Anwar has faced pressure to reject the nominee, Nick Adams, an Australian-American commentator and a self-described 'alpha male' Trump supporter. Critics within the Muslim-majority country have labeled him Islamophobic, citing his social media posts supporting Israel, and pointed to his enthusiasm for racy restaurant chain Hooters as out of sync with its cultural norms. 'The government will give it due consideration while maintaining good relations between Malaysia and the United States,' Anwar told reporters Friday, state-run Bernama reported. He added it was too early to comment further. Rejecting Adams risks complicating Malaysia's efforts to negotiate with the Trump administration to lower its threatened 25% levy, scheduled to start Aug. 1. The Southeast Asian nation is also seeking to ease Washington's concerns over suspicions it's been used to divert sensitive technology to China, circumventing US regulations. Adams has sought to assuage concerns, addressing Malaysians in an X post last week, saying 'I can't wait to experience your noble culture and learn much from you.' His appointment still needs to be confirmed by the US Senate, where Trump's Republican party holds a slim majority. He could face a rocky hearing there, where the president's pick to serve as ambassador to neighboring Singapore struggled to answer questions about the city-state and its ties to Washington. Malaysian government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil has said that the country has the right to reject the ambassador, but that it hasn't received an official notice regarding the nomination, according to Bernama. 'Malaysia deserves better,' Kasthuri Patto, a Malaysian lawmaker in the ruling Democratic Action Party, allied with Anwar, said in a statement Wednesday, accusing Adams of 'sexism, misogyny and religious bigotry.' This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
US ambassadors wanted: Diplomatic experience optional
IN diplomacy, it's not always what you know – it's who you serve. The White House has tapped a self-professed Hooters fan and an orthopaedic surgeon for two key postings in South-East Asia, a front line in the battle for influence between the United States and China. The inexperienced candidates for Singapore and Malaysia are raising eyebrows in a region Washington is already alienating with its trade war. In the short term, a political appointee close to US president Donald Trump could be positive. Longer term, Washington risks losing out on decades of carefully crafted diplomacy and relationship-building that have served to advance American interests. The nominations came as Secretary of State Marco Rubio made his first official visit to Asia, where he attended the 10-member Asean gathering in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month. His trip also coincided with the renewal of tariff threats on regional economies, which Trump would impose on Aug 1, Rubio confirmed, if countries don't strike agreements by that deadline or shortly after. An ambassador who has the president's ear could – in theory – help carve out a better deal. But are bonhomie and being a golf buddy all that matter? Diplomacy is a blend of analytical thinking, meticulous attention to detail, and historical knowledge – along with many other attributes. Anyone watching the often-comical exchange between Singapore envoy-nominee Anjani Sinha and Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois at his recent confirmation hearing would've struggled to find these qualities. Sinha, who has been described as 'a friend of President Trump for over a decade,' couldn't answer Duckworth's questions about trade surpluses, military exercises or tariff rates. Videos of the exchange have gone viral in South-East Asia, with the senator chastising him for not doing his 'homework,' and accusing him of treating Singapore like a 'glamour posting.' Despite the pushback, Republicans hold the majority in the Senate and have enough votes to approve the nomination. But probably the more contentious nomination is that of Nicholas Adams, Trump's pick as ambassador to Malaysia. The 40-year-old, originally from Australia, became a US citizen in 2021. In his native country, Adams courted some controversy: He was the youngest-ever deputy mayor when he served on a council in Sydney's inner western suburbs, where he made headlines for calling for the eradication of pigeons and proposing DNA testing dog poo. The right-wing influencer has a strong conservative following, many of whom adore him for his alpha-male persona. 'Nick is an incredible Patriot and very successful entrepreneur, whose love of, and devotion to, our Great Country is an inspiration,' Trump wrote in a June 10 Truth Social post. 'Nick graduated from the University of Sydney and, since then, has made it his life's mission to extol the Virtues of American Greatness. Congratulations Nick!' In his enthusiasm, the president may have overlooked Adams's history of Islamophobic remarks, which is already raising concern in Muslim-majority Malaysia. His nomination has to go through the Senate confirmation process before the appointment can be formalised, but many in Malaysia are calling for Adams to be rejected because he's viewed 'as an insult to the country's dignity and foreign policy.' The decision is being seen as a broader erosion of American soft power in the region, Shahril Hamdan, a former visiting fellow with the Malaysia Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, and host of a popular podcast, told me. 'It reinforces the perception that South-East Asia remains an afterthought in Washington's strategic calculus – which only plays into the hands of its great rival, China.' Political appointees aren't unusual in US diplomacy. It's been common practice for decades for presidents to fill roughly 30% of chief-of-mission positions with them – far higher than any developed country. (The last ambassador to Singapore, appointed by the Biden administration, was Jonathan Kaplan, a wealthy businessman with no prior foreign policy experience.) That's despite research showing that career officials are on average more effective leaders who oversee higher performance. If confirmed, Adams will replace Edgard Kagan, a seasoned diplomat who has only served in the position for about 16 months. This decision comes at a difficult time for US-Malaysian relations, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim criticising Trump's long-threatened tariffs as 'sharpened instruments of geopolitical rivalry.' South-East Asia has long been wary of being caught in the geopolitical power play between the US and China. These nominations will cement the view that Beijing is a better partner – notwithstanding concerns over the muscle it's been flexing in the Indo-Pacific and the South China Sea. So far, the reactions from Asian capitals have been restrained. But privately, some diplomats have expressed no small degree of bewilderment. Ultimately, the choices reflect the priorities of the White House. In the Trump era, it's not expertise in a region that lands you the job – it's access to the man at the top. — Bloomberg Opinion/TNS
Business Times
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
Trump's controversial pick for Malaysia envoy to get Anwar's ‘due consideration'
[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his government will give 'due consideration' to President Donald Trump's pick as ambassador, seeking to balance relations with Washington and domestic ire over some of the potential envoy's political commentary. Anwar has faced pressure to reject the nominee, Nick Adams, an Australian-American commentator and a self-described 'alpha male' Trump supporter. Critics within the Muslim-majority country have labelled him Islamophobic, citing his social media posts supporting Israel, and pointed to his enthusiasm for racy restaurant chain Hooters as out of sync with its cultural norms. 'The government will give it due consideration while maintaining good relations between Malaysia and the United States,' Anwar told reporters on Friday (Jul 18), state-run Bernama reported. He added it was too early to comment further. Rejecting Adams risks complicating Malaysia's efforts to negotiate with the Trump administration to lower its threatened 25% levy, scheduled to start Aug 1. The South-east Asian nation is also seeking to ease Washington's concerns over suspicions it's been used to divert sensitive technology to China, circumventing US regulations. Adams has sought to assuage concerns, addressing Malaysians in an X post last week, saying 'I can't wait to experience your noble culture and learn much from you.' His appointment still needs to be confirmed by the US Senate, where Trump's Republican party holds a slim majority. He could face a rocky hearing there, where the president's pick to serve as ambassador to neighbouring Singapore struggled to answer questions about the city-state and its ties to Washington. Malaysian government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil has said that the country has the right to reject the ambassador, but that it hasn't received an official notice regarding the nomination, according to Bernama. 'Malaysia deserves better,' Kasthuri Patto, a Malaysian lawmaker in the ruling Democratic Action Party, allied with Anwar, said in a statement on Wednesday, accusing Adams of 'sexism, misogyny and religious bigotry.' BLOOMBERG
