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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How a US holiday hotspot could be crippled by Trump's Canada trade war
Overlooking picturesque Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, southern Maine, Barnacle Billy's has welcomed presidents, prime ministers and princes over the past six and a half decades. George HW Bush used to ferry world leaders, including Bill Clinton and Mikhail Gorbachev, on his speedboat across the bay to the seafood restaurant from his summer residence at Walker's Point. But now Tim Tower, the owner of the business, is more focused on a more prosaic clientele, Canadians. Nearly 800,000 Canadians crossed the border last year, spending almost half a billion dollars in the US. This year, Maine's businesses are bracing themselves for a 25 per cent drop, largely thanks to Donald Trump. His repeated suggestions that Canada should become America's 51st state coupled with his tariff war, saw the number of tourists crossing over the Canadian border to holiday in the States drop by 157,000 in the first four months of the year. Canadians also did not take kindly to Mr Trump berating Justin Trudeau, the former prime minister, belittling the country on Truth Social and antagonising Mark Carney, Mr Trudeau's replacement, throughout the general election earlier this year. Sporadic reports of Canadians getting interrogated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, having their phones searched, and even being detained at the border has many Canadians under the impression that Trump's America is not putting out the welcome mat for its friendly northern neighbours. One of the most popular spots for summering Canadians in the US is the northeastern state of Maine, home to a rugged, rocky coast, tranquil lakes and rolling, green mountains. With traditional industries like paper manufacturing and textile mills having gone long ago, tourism is vital to the state's economy. It even has 'Vacationland' emblazoned on number plates. It is Maine's business owners like Mr Tower who are at the sharp end of Mr Trump's falling out with Canada. The son of the restaurant's founder, 'Barnacle Billy' Tower, trusts that generations of goodwill should shield the business from some of the fallout triggered by the US president's invective. But the future is uncertain in the town and southern Maine as a whole with fears that the once steady stream of Canadian cars heading south is slowing down to a trickle. Fewer Quebec and Nova Scotia number plates are being spotted on the roads down from Canada and far less French is being heard in restaurants and stores this spring, locals say. Like many business owners, Mr Tower is somewhat apprehensive about what the summer holds. 'Revenue will be down. And hopefully there'll be something to counterbalance it if indeed the Canadians don't show up in the numbers we expect,' he told The Telegraph. 'But I'm worried about Canadians in general [not] coming because of a negative feeling they might have.' Hoteliers have told him that Canadians who come to the seaside town of Ogunquit every year are giving Maine a miss this summer. The fear is that some may never return. 'If you were going to choose any country to have a border with, of all the countries in the world, Canada would always be number one,' Mr Tower continued. But he fears that the neighbourly goodwill has dissipated. 'I'm disappointed that one man or one administration could do something like that,' he added. John Clancy, who owns the Perkins Cove Pottery Shop – which has been in business for 41 years, fears the predicted 25 per cent drop in tourists to Maine could be an underestimate. 'I had a conversation with a [Canadian] tour operator,' he told The Telegraph. 'This past season, they usually were scheduled like about 100 trips a season all over the US. And this year, they were down from 11 to five . And I think once they were at five, they just decided to cancel all trips for 2025. 'All this sort of ridiculous talk of Canada becoming another state, the rhetoric is just dismissive of our friends in Canada. So I could clearly see that Canadians were just not coming to visit.' About 13 miles to the north, Ken Mason felt the cold blast of Canadian antipathy towards Mr Trump before the summer season even started. Canadians account for around 40 per cent of springtime guests at the Seaside Inn on Kennebunk Beach, which has been in the same family since 1667. 'Traditionally, we have quite a few of the same Canadians come back each year; we have about an 82 per cent return rate,' he told The Telegraph. 'Each year in November, I send letters to returning guests offering them first refusal to come back the following season.' 'Starting about the end of January, beginning of February, I ended up having enough Canadians cancel that I had to refund just under $7,000. 'The only reason that any of them gave us was they just didn't like the rhetoric towards Canada and they didn't feel that they were welcome this year to come down to the States. 'They didn't like being called a little brother, they didn't like being called to the 51st state,' Mr Mason said. He added: 'And these are people that have been coming for decades and I know them and I call them back and try to let them know that they're more than welcome in the area. 'They're more welcome anywhere in the States to come but they just said this year because they didn't feel like they were being welcome, they just went to pass and go someplace else.' Old Orchard Beach, a seaside resort with an old-fashioned funfair, has been popular with Canadians for decades. It was singled out for a boycott by Mr Trudeau earlier this year. In early March, as Mr Trump launched his trade war, the former prime minister pinpointed the Maine resort as a target for Canadian retaliation. 'This is a trade war,' Mr Trudeau said. 'Canadians are hurt. Canadians are angry. We're going to choose to not go on vacation in Florida or Old Orchard Beach or wherever.' Canadians also boycotted other US products from Bourbon to wine as feelings ran high. 'We definitely did have a bunch of cancellations in January and February,' Sean Nickless, who runs the Crest Motel, told The Telegraph. 'Some Canadians are still coming. At the beginning, I was a little more pessimistic, but now I'm more hopeful.' This is not the first time that Maine has fallen victim to Mr Trump's administration. During his first term, his trade war with China saw Beijing slap a 40 per cent tariff on US lobsters, dealing a mortal blow to one of the state's other key industries. Janet Mills, Maine's governor, who had a spectacular Oval Office row with Mr Trump over a transgender athlete, has tried to limit the damage to its tourist industry. To make Canadians feel wanted in Maine, the state has put up signs in English and French welcoming them to the state. She admits it is a small gesture. 'A sign can't stop harmful policies or rhetoric coming from Washington, but it can send a simple but powerful message — here in Maine, we value our neighbours, we will always treat them with respect, and we welcome them warmly to our state.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Wyden, Merkley join effort creating binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley helped reintroduce a bill on Thursday that would create a binding code of ethics for Supreme Court justices. The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a binding code of conduct and create a system to investigate alleged violations of the code and other laws. Democratic lawmakers behind the bill note that Congress, the executive branch, all lower federal courts and every state supreme court all have ethics guidelines and rules enforcing them. Residents appeal Oaks Amusement Park's plan to install 135-foot Drop Tower ride Led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA), the SCERT Act would improve disclosure laws when a justice has a connection to a party, or a brief filed in the court, the lawmakers said. Additionally, they argue the bill would end the practice of justices determining their own conflicts of interest and would require justices to explain their recusal decisions to the public. 'All Supreme Court justices should be held to a binding code of ethics, just like all other federal judges, the executive branch, and Members of Congress,' said Sen. Merkley. The senator pointed to the Federalist Society, a conservative organization that has influenced Supreme Court nominations, as reported by . Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'Thanks to the Federalist Society, the highest court in the land has become compromised, pushing a right-wing, corporate viewpoint above all else,' Merkley said. 'To restore a government in service of the people—not the powerful—it's clear we need to pass the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act.' Other provisions in the bill would require the court the adopt disclosure rules for gifts, travel and income received by justices and law clerks and would restrict what gifts they can accept to be as restrictive as rules for members of Congress. Additionally, the bill includes new recusal requirements for a party's lobbying or spending to campaign for a judge's confirmation. The bill would also require the Federal Judicial Center to study and report to Congress if the Supreme Court is complying with recusal requirements. Portland has the worst housing crisis outlook, LendingTree finds 'It's imperative the U.S. Judicial Branch serve its Constitutional duty to uphold laws set by Congress, not accept lavish gifts from constituents scheming to curry favor with the court,' Wyden added. 'I've been watchdogging Clarence Thomas' unethical acceptance of gifts and sounding the alarm that he and any other judge who won't recuse themselves in cases where they have a vested interest are compromising their oaths to defend the Constitution. If they won't recuse themselves, we must prevent any egregious breach of ethics by passing the Supreme Court Ethics, Recuse and Transparency Act.' The bill comes after reporting from ProPublica and The New York Times revealed Justice Clarence Thomas' record of accepting undisclosed gifts from billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow. Democratic lawmakers backing the SCERT Act also pointed to reporting from ProPublica finding Justice Samuel Alito accepted private jet travel and an all-expenses-paid vacation from a hedge fund billionaire who gave more than $80 million to Republican organizations and had businesses before the high court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Mainichi
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Osaka Gov. wants 1970 Osaka Expo symbol Tower of the Sun listed as World Heritage
OSAKA -- Japan's Council for Cultural Affairs on May 16 recommended to the education and culture minister that the Tower of the Sun, a symbol of the 1970 Osaka Expo that embodied the design of famed artist Taro Okamoto, be designated an important cultural property. The approximately 70-meter-tall tower, located in the Osaka Prefecture city of Suita, combines ferroconcrete and steel-frame structures, with scholars and architects infusing the cutting-edge technology of the time. Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters on May 16 about the anticipated designation, "It is of great significance that the Tower of the Sun, a symbol of the Osaka Expo in 1970, will be designated an important cultural property. We'd like to aim for the tower to be listed as a World Heritage site next." While the Tower of the Sun had initially been scheduled to be dismantled after the Expo, formally the Japan World Exposition, Osaka, 1970, requests from local residents and others led to a decision to preserve the monument. Following seismic reinforcement work, the Osaka Prefectural Government has opened the tower's inside to the public since 2018. The prefecture began academic surveys by experts in 2021 with the aim of having the tower designated an important cultural asset. Regarding the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Yoshimura remarked, "I was reminded once again that we are carrying out a project of extreme significance." As discussions are underway regarding the preservation and utilization of the Grand Ring, a symbol of the current Expo, after the event, the governor enthused, "The Tower of the Sun, which had been slated to be taken down, is now set to be designated an important cultural property. The Grand Ring has also been appreciated by many people as an amazing piece of architecture. I'd like to pursue the possibility of preserving part of it in its current form." Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary-general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, released a comment on May 16 regarding the likely designation, stating, "It will be an event that symbolizes the (1970) Osaka Expo, which still lives on in the memory of so many people, and I think it's wonderful." The Tower of the Sun was designated a national registered tangible cultural property in 2020. In recommending the tower to the culture minister for the designation, the Council for Cultural Affairs highly rated the structure, stating, "It is valuable as a legacy symbolizing Japan in its high economic growth period" that spanned from the mid-1950s through the early 1970s.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
'Super convenient' Amazon air fryer now £50 as shoppers 'wish they bought it sooner'
"Wow. Who knew that a product like this could virtually defunct your cooker." It is fair to say that air fryers have revolutionised the way we cook. With some UK households owning more than one of these cooking devices, many of us have forgotten that our old ovens exist. Saving users both time and energy, air fryers have become significantly popular due to being able to cook different parts of your meals at the same time but at different temperatures. This also means meals can be eaten while they are piping hot as all the different foods can be ready at the same time. For those who still haven't hopped onto the trend, or are looking to upgrade their well used air fryer, Amazon has slashed the price of one of their top choice air fryers as part of a limited time deal. Normally retailing for £89.99, shoppers can now grab the Essen by Keplin 9L Dual Zone Air Fryer for £50.99 after a 43 per cent price cut. Claiming to be a great alternative to Tower and Ninja air fryers, Keplin's device is said to save 55 per cent on energy bills and cook 50 per cent faster than conventional ovens. With six preset cooking functions, including air fry, roast and bake, this air fryer lets users prepare a variety of meals effortlessly with 'gourmet precision'. While being able to start cooking in under 10 seconds from just three taps of the digital touch screen, this air fryer lets you cook more as it boasts a capacity of 9L. Essen by Keplin 9L Dual Zone Air Fryer £89.99 £50.99 Amazon Buy Now Product Description Using an air fryer also means users can enjoy guilt-free fried food as the appliance uses 85 per cent less oil than traditional frying methods. Keplin has said that this air fryer can deliver 'the perfect balance of crispy exteriors and tender interiors for healthier, delicious meals.' And when it comes to the dreaded clean up, this air fryer will provide a hassle-free experience. Equipped with non-stick baskets, all that is needed is a quick rinse or a gentle sponge to remove any excess mess. Another relatively cheap air fryer on Amazon is the Innsky Dual Zone Hot Air Fryer. Normally retailing for £79.99, this 8L air fryer has been reduced down to £64.99. With eight present food programs and two 4L baskets, this air fryer is said to be able to cook for up to eight people. Alternatively, for those who are looking for a more well-known brand, Argos has included the Tower Vortx Vizion 11L Dual Air Fryer in its Big Red sale. Retailing for £110, shoppers can reduce the price by adding the code Red20 at checkout, meaning they will only need to spend £88. This deal is set to end on June 3. Back to the Essen Air Fryer, many Amazon shoppers have been left amazed by the device. With a 4.6 star rating and over 1,000 people buying it in the last month, one shopper admitted that they wished they had "bought it sooner". One happy five-star reviewer wrote: "The quality is very good and touch-operated. It is simple and clear to learn how to operate quickly. The non-stick pan is very easy to clean and has a large capacity so you can explore the fun of cooking with good friends." With another adding: "This 9L air fryer is great so far! It's easy to use, with clear instructions and very simple to clean. It cooks chicken really well and is definitely energy-efficient, saving time compared to a normal oven. I'm especially pleased with the dual drawers — super convenient for cooking different items at once. Overall, it's excellent value for money!" However, one reviewer didn't have the best experience with the air fryer, noting: "This is the second one I have ordered and they've both been faulty in some way or the other." While a four-star review had a slight niggle with the device, saying: "Removed one star as I did find the drawers to be quite stiff when lifting them in and out of the air fryer itself but overall it cooked my food well and I am very pleased with it. One the flip side, another shopper gushed: "I am loving this and wish I had bought it much sooner. I am getting more and more confident using the air fryer. Saves time and saves energy costs!" A further shopper also chimed in: "Wow. Who knew that a product like this could virtually defunct your cooker. Quality of food once cooked is another level. Quick. Less energy usage. Top tip though.... don't use any oil/or little oil.. not needed. The clue is in the title." For those who want to buy the Essen by Keplin 9L Dual Zone Air Fryer while it is on deal, click HERE. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
National Business Review
22-05-2025
- Business
- National Business Review
Quick Takes of the Week to May 23
Monday May 19 Gentrack's HY profit up 34.7% on continued expansion Gentrack has seen its half-year profit rise 34.7% to $7.2 million on a 9.8% increase in revenue. The NZX-listed utilities software provider said recurring revenues grew by 17%, but nonrecurring revenue was 12% lower than in the first half of FY24. It said it expected strong levels of non-recurring revenues going forward. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (ebitda) was 5.1% higher the prior corresponding period. It had cash of $70.7m as of 31 March – a $4m increase over the start of the year and up from $39.3m at the end of March 2024. The company expected revenue at or above $230m in FY25 and earnings margin to be above 12%. It remained "confident" of its mid-term guidance of growing revenue at a more than 15% compound annual growth rate and an ebitda margin of 15-20%, after expensing all development costs. Tuesday May 20 First half profit gain at Tower Insurance Listed insurance company Tower has recorded a first-half net profit rise after further improvements in business-as-usual claims and gross written premium growth. Its profit in the six months ended March 31 was $49.7m, up from $36m last year. That included provisions for ongoing customer remediation-related costs and an increase in Canterbury earthquake costs. Tower's 'large events' costs were $3m over the period after Dunedin flooding in October last year. April's Cyclone Tam will be recorded as a large event in the second half, with an estimated cost of $4m. Elsewhere, customer numbers grew to 312,000, up from 309,000 last year. Interim chief executive Paul Johnston said the results were positive as the company focused on 'robust' risk-based selection and pricing. 'This year we will expand risk-based pricing to include sea surge and landslide risks, helping our customers better understand their risks and how these factors impact their insurance pricing." Serko's product. Serko meets bottom end of annual income guidance Serko has reported a 27% increase in annual income to $90.5m, including $4.8m of income from the acquisition of GetThere, which settled in January. Excluding GetThere's revenue, Serko turned over $85.7m – only reaching the bottom end of its forecast income for the year, of between $85m and $92m. The NZX and ASX-listed travel booking software provider's net loss after tax was $22m, increased from $15.9m in FY24. Its FY25 result was driven by continued demand in its for Business (B4B) product, with completed room nights and active customers both increasing 29%. B4B saw completed room nights jump from 2.5 million to 3.3 million in the year, and active customers rise from 172,000 to 222,000. In its managed travel segment, Serko said that, in Australasia, online bookings were up 6% and average revenue per booking was up 12%. It said it expects total income of between $115m and $123m in FY26, and total spend in the range of $127m to $133m. Wednesday May 21 Napier Port pays out special dividend, ups forecast Napier Port will add a special dividend of 2.5 cents to its half-year payment of 4c to shareholders, up from the 3c paid last year. The NZX-listed port upped net profit after tax by 40.8% to $20.2 million for the six months to March, from $14.3m for the comparable period, after banking the final insurance settlement of $7.5m for damage from Cyclone Gabrielle. Container volumes also improved by 13.9% on Pan Pac's return to full pulp and paper operations, as well as an earlier apple picking season and increased transhipment activity, the port said. Chief executive Todd Dawson said the port expected to sustain healthy volumes and earnings on the back of continued strong food and fibre export demand, with the underlying result from operations now forecast to be in a range between $59m and $63m, assuming a "continuation of current operating conditions". The payment of the interim and special dividends will be on June 26, to those shareholders registered on June 13. PaySauce stays in profit as customer numbers rise NZX-listed payroll software provider PaySauce has reported its second consecutive annual profit before tax, up $270,000 on last year, to $460,000. The company's after-tax profit dipped $550,000 to $680,000, due in part to $320,000 recognised as a deferred tax asset for prior losses carried forward. Earnings before tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebtda) grew $290,000 to $1.35 million, as total operating revenue rose 17% to $9m, from $7.7m in the prior year. Total customer numbers were up 11% at year-end compared with March 2024. Processing fee income was up 18% due to the increase in customers and average fee per user. Interest income grew just 6% due to easing wholesale interest rates over the year, particularly in the fourth quarter ending in March. Average revenue per user fell 5% to $86 at the end of the period, with the increase in processing fee income diluted by the fall in interest rate income. Smith & Caughey's to close The iconic Smith & Caughey's building. Auckland retailer Smith & Caughey's will shut entirely, causing 98 job losses. Smith & Caughey's acting chief executive, Matt Harray, said, "Every attempt has been made to achieve this and every feasible option investigated; no stone left unturned. However, it's sadly clear it is no longer viable for us to keep the doors open." The department store with roots back to 1880 downsized its Queen St operations earlier this year, and closed its Newmarket store in September 2024. Harray said it was hoped the changes would result in an improved financial position for the company. "Unfortunately, this has not been the case." All operations will close by the end of July, with the online store closed from the end of May. Thursday May 22 Zespri revenue passes $5 billion Zespri revenue has surpassed $5 billion in the 2024/2025 season. Global operating revenue for the kiwifruit marketer tallied $5.14b, up 22% from $4.21b during the previous corresponding season. Net profit after tax fell 10.4% to $155.2 million from $173.3m. Zespri sold a record 220.9 million trays of kiwifruit in 2024/25, up from 164.2 million trays in 2023/24. Zespri chief executive Jason Te Brake said, '2024/25 was a really positive year for the industry and we're excited to build on this momentum as we progress further into our 2025/26 season." Blis Technologies optimistic after positive result NZX-listed Blis Technologies, a maker of probiotic dietary supplements, has reported net profit up 30% to $838,000 for the year to March. Revenue rose 9% to $13.2 million. In a statement to the NZX, the company said it was optimistic about the coming year. 'While macroeconomic conditions remain mixed, demand for science-backed probiotics continues to grow,' it said. The company said a European customer had filed patent applications in September 2024 that it believed contained confidential Blis information and it was in talks to resolve the dispute. The annual report also noted supplies of fermented probiotic ingredients from Fonterra were becoming restricted and increasing in price, so Blis was seeking another supplier. FMA warns about managed investment scheme The Financial Markets Authority has issued a warning about a managed investment scheme operated by Jesse Joseph Vaughan and former NZ company Crypto Partners Limited (CPL). FMA response and enforcement executive director Louise Unger said, 'We understand that Mr Vaughan, the sole director and shareholder of formerly registered company CPL, has offered investments in a managed investment scheme (MIS) operated by CPL. He did so without holding an MIS manager licence, and without providing the required disclosure, which are both contraventions of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.' Vaughan also told his investors in a newsletter that he had applied for an MIS manager's licence, and that it was being reviewed by the FMA. Unger confirmed neither Vaughan nor CPL had ever applied to the FMA for any form of market services licence. The FMA is concerned "investors are likely to have experienced significant detriment" due to Vaughan's conduct, and urged those affected to contact them. Savor Group's Bivacco restaurant. Savor Group reports reduced revenue Savor Group revenue fell 8% to $56.6 million from $62m, for the year ending in March. The Auckland hospitality group reported $7.3m in operating earnings, down from an ebitda of $8.8m, and a net loss after tax of $1.2m, down from an after-tax net profit of $700,000 in the year prior. The net loss was largely attributed to a one-time accounting write-off from its discontinued Seafarers venue. Operating cash flow rose to $7.1m for the year, up from $6.4m last year. Savor chief executive Lucien Law said, "With the market stabilising and our new bar and entertainment venue in Britomart under construction, we're looking forward to growth again.' The trading environment remained uncertain with persistent economic pressures, the company said. However, it hoped gradual relief in cost-of-living pressures would benefit the business. "Our strengthened balance sheet, with improved cash reserves and declining leverage, provides flexibility to navigate challenges or pursue growth." WasteCo lands $40m contract, resumes trading NZX-listed WasteCo says it has landed a nine-year, $40 million contract with the Ashburton District Council to deliver waste management services to more than 12,000 households. The contract, which includes kerbside rubbish and recycling for both the council and 21 mid-Canterbury schools, has the option of a nine-year extension. The company placed itself in a trading halt this morning ahead of the announcement and resumed trading after 4pm. The contract, which will support 23 full-time employees, will start on September 1. WasteCo shares remained at 2 cents per share in late afternoon trading. Paul Silk appointed interim chief for new ferry company Paul Silk has been appointed interim chief executive of the company that will procure two new ferries for the Government. Silk was most recently acting chief executive at Christchurch City Holdings, the wholly owned investment arm of Christchurch City Council. Ferry Holdings chair Chris Mackenzie said Silk's experience managing public-owned infrastructure, as well as capital and risk management in financial markets, made him the 'ideal candidate' to lead the company during its establishment phase. The appointment is effective from May 26. Silk will be responsible for overseeing the commercial negotiations to procure the two ferries, as well as port infrastructure agreements with CentrePort in Wellington and Port Marlborough. The agreements are due to be completed by the end of this year, by which time the company hopes to have a permanent chief executive.
