jili fortune gems 3 A Nabat, Abu Dhabi új klímatechnológiai vállalkozása mesterséges intelligenciát és robotokat használ a mangrovefák helyreállítására és a klímaváltozással szembeni ellenálló képességük javításáraFranklin financial SVP Karen Carmack reports stock purchase

Longtime Biden Adviser Admits Hunter Biden's Pardon Was 'Attack on the Judicial System'The home furnishings sector in Davie County is expanding with a Lithuanian wooden-furniture manufacturer committing Tuesday to create 250 jobs within four years as part of a proposed $70 million capital investment. SBA Group, based in Vilnius, Lithuania, plans to lease for its SBA Home division a 500,000-square-foot plant at 187 Gildan Drive in the Davie Industrial Center that has a 324,000-square-foot Hayward Industries distribution center as a neighbor. SBA debuted in 1990 and has four home furnishings plants in its home country with about 3,000 employees overall. It has been a major supplier to Swedish retailer Ikea since 1996, and exports home furnishings products to 50 countries. The company said the Mocksville plant will serve as an "innovative production facility to manufacture and distribute trendy furniture products to meet the demand of its U.S. customer bases." People are also reading... “With its wide talent pool, excellent infrastructure and logistics, support from the state, combined with SBA Home’s modern manufacturing expertise and humancentric organizational culture, we are confident this venture will create high-quality jobs and give positive impact to the region," said Jurgita Radzevičė, SBA Home's chief executive. "We believe it further bolsters partnership between Lithuania and the United States, paving the way for innovation and shared success.” Terry Bralley, president of Davie Economic Development Commission, credited the foresight of constructing speculative buildings in the center for landing SBA. "Without the speculative building and private investors, we would have never had a look at this project," Bralley said. "This project fits nicely because it's highly automated with incredible technology, and it manufactures product for the largest furniture retailers in the world." The job positions will include manufacturing and warehousing positions, as well as administrative and managerial roles. Bralley said SBA will create 200 jobs and spend $37.6 million on capital investment in phase 1, while phase 2 will include the remaining 50 jobs and $13.6 million capital investments. The jobs will pay an average annual wage of $53,470, according to N.C. Commerce Department. Home furnishings is one of six product groups for SBA that also includes apparel, investment management, modular construction and real estate. Among SBA's more than 800-product line are armchairs, cabinets, sofas and wood veneer-covered plywood furniture. SBA disclosed in November plans to open a U.S. plant by October 2025 , saying "a team of executives and professionals from SBA Home has been assembled to execute the project." At that time, the manufacturer choosing between three East Coast options that included Cherokee County, S.C. Bralley said Davie and state Commerce officials had negotiated with SBA for about a year on the project. Radzevičė described the planned investment in a November blog posting "as a significant moment not only for SBA Group, but also for the entire Lithuanian manufacturing business." "We have already purchased the equipment shipped in 300 containers from Germany to the USA. It will be a highly robotized factory with more than 200 employees." According to its website, SBA currently utilizes 62 manufacturing robots. Radzevičė said the ideal U.S. plant site would be close to "raw material suppliers, the best logistical location, the most promising labor market and the most favorable attitude towards investors." "A team of around 30 professionals from Lithuania will work on the project in the U.S." Bralley said that landing SBA could have economic benefits beyond just the plant for Davie and the Triad. "When you are dealing with an international company, if they have a positive experience in your community, they tend to tell their friends." Bralley said. SBA has been made eligible for up to $1.42 million in performance-based economic incentives from state's Job Development Grant program. Bralley said the town of Mocksville and Davie Board of Commissioners plan to provide a combined $776,734 in performance-based incentives. “The company will join the ranks of the region’s finest furniture makers that enjoy a strong supply chain and great quality of life when they invest in our community,” said N.C. Sen. Steve Jarvis, R-Davie. SBA will join Ashley Furniture Industries LLC, the nation's largest home furnishings manufacturer and retailer, with a Davie plant. Ashley has close to 1,000 full-time employees for its 3.8 million-square-foot upholstery production and distribution operation in Advance. Ashley had a workforce peak of about 1,600 when it also made wooden furniture at the plant that has been shifted to other plants. rcraver@wsjournal.com 336-727-7376 @rcraverWSJ Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

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Franklin financial SVP Karen Carmack reports stock purchaseDismiss Trump taunts, expert says after 'churlish' social media posts about Canada OTTAWA — U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and those in his corner continue to muse about annexing Canada, though Canadian officials have largely sidestepped those comments. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press Dec 24, 2024 12:02 PM Dec 24, 2024 12:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message President-elect Donald Trump speaks at AmericaFest, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) OTTAWA — U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and those in his corner continue to muse about annexing Canada, though Canadian officials have largely sidestepped those comments. In a post on the social media platform X, Eric Trump shared a doctored photo of his father purchasing Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal on Amazon, with the phrase "We are so back!!!" Since winning the presidential election in November, Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the "51st state." On Trump's Truth Social platform, he's also repeatedly referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the "governor" of Canada. Trump has also threatened 25 per cent tariffs against Canada, which has prompted discussions at both the federal and provincial levels on the best way to deal with the incoming Trump government. Carleton University professor Aaron Ettinger said federal officials have rightly been dismissing the social-media posts and maintained a "focus like a laser beam" on the real and "existential threat" of tariffs. "This strikes me as being profoundly unserious," said Ettinger, who has studied Canada-U.S. relations during the first Trump presidency. "These are taunts; these are churlish provocations that are not mature, and do not reflect just how serious the coming trade war is," he said. Ettinger said Trump is likely continually posting about Canada because it plays well to his supporters, without being seen as a real threat of annexation. "We know his moves. He makes fun of, he belittles, he mocks, because he can," he said. But he said that a vacuum of leadership in Ottawa from embattled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is spurring "the freelancing of some of the provincial leaders" in response to Trump's comments. For example, Ontario Premier Doug Ford weighed in on Trump's postings on Dec. 18, telling media that "we'll never be the 51st state. We're Canada; we're proud to be Canadians. We'll always fight for that." Ettinger said civil society is similarly better to focus on convincing Americans to not impose damaging tariffs on Canada, instead of amping up anti-Trump rhetoric. "Canadians should worry first about what Canada's actual national interests are," he said. "We're not going to out-trash talk Donald Trump, so don't even bother trying and focus instead on the core stuff that really matters." In response to Trump's threats, the Trudeau Liberal government has unveiled a $1.3 billion spending package over six years to address Trump's threats, which concern border security and the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. Canada's ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman has repeatedly characterized Trump's comments as gentle ribbing between two close countries. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said on Dec. 13 that she has quipped to Republican senators that they could join Canada as the eleventh province. Greenland's head of government, Múte Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump's latest calls to purchase the territory from Denmark would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale," he said in a statement. "We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom." Panama President José Raúl Mulino has also rebuffed Trump's musing about taking over the Panama Canal. "Every square metre of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to," he said in a video, to which Trump fired back on his social media site, "We'll see about that!" This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National Business S&P/TSX composite up on shorter Christmas Eve session, U.S. markets also rise Dec 24, 2024 11:44 AM CPKC exceeded grain revenue limit: Canadian Transportation Agency Dec 24, 2024 11:21 AM Stock market today: Wall Street rallies ahead of Christmas Dec 24, 2024 10:12 AM Featured Flyer

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This Christmas, put fear aside and rise above to realise your potential

Franklin financial SVP Karen Carmack reports stock purchaseAs New York City prosecutors worked Thursday to bring murder charges against Luigi Mangione in the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , supporters of the suspect are donating tens of thousands of dollars for a defense fund established for him, leaving law enforcement officials worried Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Several online defense funds have been created for Mangione by anonymous people, including one on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo that as of Thursday afternoon had raised over $50,000. The GiveSendGo defense fund for the 26-year-old Mangione was established by an anonymous group calling itself "The December 4th Legal Committee," apparently in reference to the day Mangione allegedly ambushed and gunned down Thompson in Midtown Manhattan as the executive walked to his company's shareholders conference at the New York Hilton hotel. "We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation," the anonymous group said in a statement. The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from more than 1,500 anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves "A frustrated citizen" and thanked Mangione for "sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation." The GiveSendGo fund for Mangione appeared to be briefly taken down before it was restored on Thursday. GiveSendGo did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment. Other crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe have also taken down campaigns soliciting donations for Mangione's defense. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes," the crowdfunding website said in a statement. "The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded." Amazon and Etsy have removed from their websites merchandise featuring Mangione, including T-shirts and tote bags reading "Free Luigi" and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," words police said were etched in the shell casings discovered at the scene of Thompson's homicide. "Celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. It's deeply disturbing," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told ABC News senior investigative reporter Aaron Katersky in an interview Wednesday night. "And what I would say to members of the public, people who as you described are celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable. We are at the ready." Prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney's office have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury as they work to try to secure an indictment against Mangione, sources told ABC News on Thursday. Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested Monday following a five-day manhunt, said his client is presumed innocent and will plead not guilty to any charges filed against him. Mangione is contesting extradition to New York. Asked about people contributing to Mangione defense funds that have popped up, Dickey said, "People are entitled to their opinion and, like I said, if you're an American and you believe in the American criminal justice system, you have to presume him to be innocent and none of us would want anything other than that if that were us in their shoes. So, I'm glad he had some support." But law enforcement officials have expressed concern that Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Someone this week pasted "wanted posters" outside the New York Stock Exchange naming other executives. A bulletin released Wednesday by the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, a multi-agency law enforcement intelligence-sharing network based in Philadelphia, included a photo of a banner hanging from an overpass reading, "Deny, Defend, Depose." "Many social media users have outright advocated for the continued killings of CEOs with some aiming to spread fear by posting 'hit lists,'" the bulletin, obtained by ABC News, reads. Meanwhile, New York Police Department investigators continue to build a murder case against Mangione, who is being held in Pennsylvania on charges stemming from his arrest there, including illegal possession of ghost gun and fraudulent identification. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the three shell casings recovered at the scene of Thompson's shooting matched the gun found in Mangione possession when he was arrested. She also confirmed that Mangione's fingerprints were recovered from a water bottle and the wrapper of a granola bar found near the crime scene.Franklin financial SVP Karen Carmack reports stock purchase

Rob Cross has apologised for the gesture he made during his loss to pal Scott Williams on Monday - as he hopes to avoid punishment from the Darts Regulation Authority. The 2018 world champion was dumped out of this year’s World Darts Championship in the second round as he became another big name to be eliminated early from the competition. Cross fell to a 3-1 loss to Williams, becoming the 14th seeded player to have already been knocked out, following the likes of Michael Smith, Dave Chisnall, James Wade, Gian van Even and Raymond van Barneveld. But Cross, 34, could be in hot water after appearing to imitate a sexual act during his defeat - a gesture caught live on camera during Sky Sports’ coverage. Cross has now broken his silence on both his defeat and that moment, taking to social media to declare: “Massively disappointed to lose out to my friend Scott Williams. Good luck to him for the rest of the tournament. “I made a gesture to my manager about how annoyed I was with my performance. If it offended anyone, I apologise. Merry Christmas .” Williams is now set to take on Germany's Ricardo Pietreczko in the third round and he is feeling confident about his chances. "It's so tough, because Rob is one of my closest friends," Williams admitted after beating Cross. "Neither of us were great tonight, but Rob missed doubles and gave me a chance, so when you get given opportunities, you've got to take it. I'm always confident, regardless of who I'm playing, but I'm just looking forward to having Christmas with the family now." Williams was a semi-finalist 12 months ago, before losing to eventual winner Luke Humphries. And certainly, he saves his best performances for the major events. He said pre-tournament: "People have joked, calling me the Michael Buble of darts because I only turn up in October, November and December! Over the last couple of years, that is about right. "I want to try and change that next year by getting into a couple more TV events, just to take my game to the next level. It's about finding consistency with my practice.”