Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of Commerce Launches to Strengthen Business Ties

Business News

@M3 Communications Group, Inc.

In a significant move to boost business relations, ten business leaders in Bulgaria established the first Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of Commerce at a recent event held at the Czech Embassy in Sofia. The gathering was attended by Czech Republic Minister of European Affairs Martin Dvořák and Czech Ambassador to Bulgaria, Miroslav Toman.
The prominent Bulgarian PR specialist Maxim Behar was appointed chairman of the chamber, with Georgi Petkov, head of the Board of Directors of Czech-rooted BTL Industries, serving as deputy chairman.
The chamber’s founding members include companies such as “Ata-Tandem” Ltd., “Biofrog CZ” Ltd., “Ekospot Consulting” Ltd., “Euratek Ltd.”, M3 Communications Group, Inc., the law firm “Peterka and Partners,” “Renomia” Ltd., “Sofia Bull” Ltd., and “Tierra Verde Bulgaria” Ltd., as well as Petkov, who joins in a personal capacity.
Maxim Behar expressed optimism, stating, “The Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of Commerce is set to be a crucial player in fostering strong business relations between our countries. We’ll focus on enhancing economic ties and creating a positive environment for investment. Together, we can unlock new business opportunities between Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.”
Ambassador Toman also remarked on the significance of the event, emphasizing that it would strengthen Bulgarian-Czech cooperation. He expressed gratitude to those involved, particularly Behar, the key initiator, and pledged the embassy’s full support for the chamber’s goals.
The chamber’s mission is to unify Bulgarian and Czech businesses with interests in both countries. Key aims include promoting bilateral business relations, supporting Czech companies looking to invest in Bulgaria, and assisting Bulgarian businesses interested in the Czech market. The organization intends to facilitate collaboration between the business sectors and governments of both nations, aiming to create an environment conducive to business growth and partnership.
Some primary activities of the chamber include offering consulting services for companies, conducting market analyses for Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, organizing business events to foster networking, and supporting cultural initiatives that highlight educational and vocational opportunities in the Czech Republic.
More details, as well as membership inquiries, are available on the chamber’s website: www.bulgariaczech.com.
About the Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of CommerceThe Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of Commerce is a platform for cooperation between Bulgarian and Czech companies. It unites Bulgarian, Czech or other companies that have or are interested in carrying out business activities related to Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. Through its initiatives, the Chamber aims to provide support and consulting services for Czech companies that want to do business in Bulgaria or Czech companies that already operate in Bulgaria, as well as to cooperate with Bulgarian companies that have plans to enter the market in Czech Republic. The main mission of the Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of Commerce is to strengthen economic relations between the two countries, as well as to promote Czech culture in Bulgaria in close cooperation with the Czech Cultural Center and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Sofia.

Western political science professor breaks down U.S. Electoral College process

Science and Health

The U.S. presidential election is Nov. 5, when millions of Americans will cast their vote for the country’s next leader — whoever earns more votes though, may not end up in the Oval Office.

That’s because of the Electoral College, a long-standing group of electors responsible for choosing the U.S. president and vice president.

“Instead of calculating the popular vote and seeing who got the most votes, it’s done on a state-by-state basis,” said Matthew Lebo, a political science professor at Western University.

Every state has a certain number of electoral votes, which all add up to 538. Each state historically assigns all of its electoral votes to the candidate who wins that state. Whichever candidate gets 270 of those votes, or more, wins the presidency.

Lebo pointed out Donald Trump lost the national popular vote in each of the last two elections, but won the presidency over Hillary Clinton in 2016 because of the Electoral College.

“He’s been more efficient in terms of turning votes into Electoral College votes,” said Lebo.

Swing states will play an important role on election day.

“I could tell you who’s probably going to win 43 out of 50 states, but there are seven that are just total coin flips at this point,” said Lebo.

“The three key ones are probably Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Donald Trump won those three states in 2016, but Joe Biden won them back in 2020,” he added. “If Kamala Harris can win those three states this year, then that’s enough for her to win the presidency.”

The Electoral College has long been criticized as a mechanism for choosing the U.S president, because it forces campaigns to focus their messaging on a small number of states that could go either way, rather than campaign to the broader American public.

Any efforts to abolish the Electoral College likely face a difficult task in amending the Constitution. “Right now, it benefits the Republican Party,” said Lebo. “You have one party that sees it as an advantage, and they’re not going to go and change it.”

Some primarily Democrat-leaning states are trying to get around the Electoral College though, with the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Those states include California, New York, and Colorado.

They’re trying to convince enough states to agree to cast all of their electoral votes for whichever candidate wins the national popular vote, instead of their individual state.

“If you get enough states whose total Electoral College votes added up to 270,” said Lebo, “then the Electoral College might become irrelevant.”

A total of 17 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the agreement, totalling 209 of the 270 necessary votes. It’s also currently under consideration in four more states with a total of 50 Electoral College votes. 

Start a food truck business: Tips and advice

Business News

Hicksville resident Kelly Kay said she was inspired to create wontons with creative fillings 12 years ago during a meal in Atlantic City. When she returned home, she said she experimented with different recipes, started selling her creations at farmers markets, opened a storefront in Massapequa and added a food truck to her repertoire in 2022. But getting a food truck on the road was no small feat, she said. “So many people I run into think it would be great to start their own food truck,” said Kay, 37, owner of All American Wontons. “The perception is that it’s exciting and fun. And it is. But getting started is a challenge. And it’s also a lot of work once you get up and running.” For those dreaming of starting a food truck business, Kay and other entrepreneurs warn that there is a long checklist of items to grapple with, including researching permit and license requirements, purchasing and outfitting a vehicle and planning a theme and a menu. Pit master Larry Mondello, 44, of Cutchogue, started his smokehouse on wheels, Meat’s Meat, because he felt there was a lack of good BBQ on the Long Island food truck scene. “I saw there were only a few BBQ trucks out there and thought I could do it better,” he said. He now has three mobile units in addition to a restaurant in Mattituck. Mondello’s day starts early, he said, as food preparation and cooking take several hours. He then hits the road, serves, cleans up and gets ready for the next day. “It’s not an easy job by any means, but you can make really good money following some easy steps,” said Mondello. “You need a small, well-planned menu, and you need to make quality food — fast. We can serve 600 to 900 people a day — we’re 30 seconds per customer. It’s really a numbers game. More meals equals more money.” Mondello, who offers consulting services to potential food truck operators, said he has earned between $1,500 and $9,000 per day. “You really have to love food and the hustle to do this,” he said.RESOURCESReady to start your own food truck business? Here are some sites to check out:Long Island Food Council, longislandfoodcouncil.comNassau County Department of Health Services, nassaucountyny.gov/5363/Food-Truck-ChecklistSuffolk County Department of Health Services, bit.ly/48JVNZv COSTPrices can vary depending on individual circumstance, but Larry Mondello of Meat’s Meat estimated start-up costs for a food truck business to be as follows:Permits and Licensing: Less than $1,500Buying an established food truck: $60,000-$150,000Outfitting a non-established food truck: $40,000-$150,000PERMIT/LICENSE REQUIREMENTSThese are some of the licenses and permits you may need, according to Mondello:Business licenseLocal health department permitDriver’s license and vehicle registration for your food truckEmployer Identification Number from the IRSFood handler’s permitMobile food vendor permitFire code certificate or permitOUTFITTING YOUR TRUCKEquipment that may be needed for a food truck, according to Mondello, includes a stove, hood, fryer, refrigerator, freezer and oven. Trucks will also need electrical wiring, interior framing and fireproofing, a serving window and ventilation, gas/propane tank installation, plumbing and a generator.By

Carers, Agriculture, Innovation Business Views On Budget

Business News

It’s encouraging to see a strong focus on investment and growth for the UK, particularly with dedicated funding into research and development (R&D), alongside the extension of the Innovation Accelerator Fund. These initiatives are pivotal in driving the advancement of industries of the future and it would appear there’s clear momentum to ensure the UK remains a leader in innovative sectors.Clearly businesses will be impacted by tax increases announced by the Chancellor, most notably with regards to National Insurance, but allowances for SMEs are welcomed to help stimulate growth and innovation across the economy.The emphasis on localised investment is also promising, especially with moves to give regional mayors ‘meaningful control’ over funding for their local areas. With Greater Manchester and the West Midlands spearheading this initiative as the first mayoral authorities to be granted integrated settlements, I’m eager to see how this model is rolled out across other regions, including Leeds and the wider North, which have so much potential to contribute to the nation’s innovation landscape.The commitment to improving connectivity outside of London is brilliant, with faster, more reliable rail services in the North and the development of a mass transit tram system for West Yorkshire. Enhancing infrastructure in these regions will only improve the flow of knowledge, talent, and capital. Meanwhile, the rollout of better broadband and phone signals in rural areas will undoubtedly help keep communities connected and facilitate more inclusive innovation opportunities.These measures offer a genuine opportunity to drive innovation not only nationally but also regionally in places like Leeds and the broader North. We’re looking forward to seeing how this translates on the ground.

LIVING 60+: Travel tips for seniors

Travel

Senior travellers should make sure they wear really comfortable shoes, avoid extreme weather, and do their homework before going on a tour.

That’s the advice of Langley retiree and frequent traveller Maria (who asked her last name be omitted), who recently returned from a seven-country tour that included Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.

“You need really good footwear,” Maria told the Langley Advance Times. “You must invest in good, thick, padded footwear, otherwise, you will be sorry – and good, thick socks.”

Check to ensure a tour doesn’t cram too much into a day, she further cautioned.

“Take a look and make sure that you’re not going to be ending up exhausted at the end of the day.”

And avoid bad weather.

“I don’t like travelling in the winter, and I don’t like travelling in the summer, because depending on where you are, it’s too hot.”

A government of Canada site for older travellers agrees, (https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/older-travellers), noting seniors are generally at less risk of altitude sickness, but have a higher risk of non-exercise-related heat stroke, and decreased ability to tolerate cold temperature.

It also advises doing some research in advance, pointing prospective travellers to the Canadian Travel Advice and Advisories page to find out about local safety and security conditions, and areas to avoid, local laws and culture, possible health hazards and health restrictions, and other important information.  

Tour companies that cater to older travellers are adjusting schedules to make their experiences less “frenetic,” said Lise Hines, the owner of Langley-based Chew On This Tasty Tours, who estimates a majority of the people who go on her company’s budget-friendly culinary adventures are 45 or older.

“We have hosted groups who are all in their 70s,” Hines told the Langley Advance Times.

“The walking tours that we have, its always kind of flat, accessible to many abilities, and its always punctuated by nice stops to sit and luxuriate. “

For example, a Chew On This web page post about their “Local Flavour” tour of Fort Langley estimates it will cover about 1.7 kilometres, or “2,371 steps.”

While the number of seniors planning to travel fell during the pandemic, it is rising again.

A recent study conducted by the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) found roughly half of all seniors surveyed reported a desire to return to normal leisure travel in 2024, compared to just eight per cent in 2023, and the same percentage ranked travel and vacation as their number one priority for discretionary income.

More Living 60+ Magazine articles can be found online at https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/e-editions.

READ ALSO: Langley father and son share North America travels online

READ ALSO: Indigenous tourism plays crucial role in promoting Island’s 50 First Nations

LIVING 60+: Travel tips for seniors

Travel

Senior travellers should make sure they wear really comfortable shoes, avoid extreme weather, and do their homework before going on a tour.

That’s the advice of Langley retiree and frequent traveller Maria (who asked her last name be omitted), who recently returned from a seven-country tour that included Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.

“You need really good footwear,” Maria told the Langley Advance Times. “You must invest in good, thick, padded footwear, otherwise, you will be sorry – and good, thick socks.”

Check to ensure a tour doesn’t cram too much into a day, she further cautioned.

“Take a look and make sure that you’re not going to be ending up exhausted at the end of the day.”

And avoid bad weather.

“I don’t like travelling in the winter, and I don’t like travelling in the summer, because depending on where you are, it’s too hot.”

A government of Canada site for older travellers agrees, (https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/older-travellers), noting seniors are generally at less risk of altitude sickness, but have a higher risk of non-exercise-related heat stroke, and decreased ability to tolerate cold temperature.

It also advises doing some research in advance, pointing prospective travellers to the Canadian Travel Advice and Advisories page to find out about local safety and security conditions, and areas to avoid, local laws and culture, possible health hazards and health restrictions, and other important information.  

Tour companies that cater to older travellers are adjusting schedules to make their experiences less “frenetic,” said Lise Hines, the owner of Langley-based Chew On This Tasty Tours, who estimates a majority of the people who go on her company’s budget-friendly culinary adventures are 45 or older.

“We have hosted groups who are all in their 70s,” Hines told the Langley Advance Times.

“The walking tours that we have, its always kind of flat, accessible to many abilities, and its always punctuated by nice stops to sit and luxuriate. “

For example, a Chew On This web page post about their “Local Flavour” tour of Fort Langley estimates it will cover about 1.7 kilometres, or “2,371 steps.”

While the number of seniors planning to travel fell during the pandemic, it is rising again.

A recent study conducted by the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) found roughly half of all seniors surveyed reported a desire to return to normal leisure travel in 2024, compared to just eight per cent in 2023, and the same percentage ranked travel and vacation as their number one priority for discretionary income.

More Living 60+ Magazine articles can be found online at https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/e-editions.

READ ALSO: Langley father and son share North America travels online

READ ALSO: Indigenous tourism plays crucial role in promoting Island’s 50 First Nations

Aduro Clean Technologies Reports Fiscal 2025 First Quarter Results

Technology

(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire – Nasdaq) NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES LONDON, Ontario, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aduro Clean Technologies Inc . (“ Aduro ” or the“ Company ”) (CSE: ACT ) (OTCQX: ACTHF ) (FSE: 9D5 ), a clean technology company using the power of chemistry to transform lower value feedstocks, like waste plastics, heavy bitumen, and renewable oils, into resources for the 21st century, has filed its interim consolidated financial results for the three months ended August 31, 2024, and has provided the following highlights. All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. Ofer Vicus, CEO of Aduro, remarked,“This quarter, Aduro continued to achieve essential milestones that underscore our technical progress towards higher market readiness. We advanced our engagement with TotalEnergies from an extended technical evaluation phase into an augmented research and collaboration agreement. In addition, we continue to make great progress on the design of our Next Generation Process, while filing a new patent application, further strengthening our intellectual property and expanding our addressable market.” “Q1 featured notable financial and structural improvements that strengthen Aduro’s operational foundation,” remarked Mena Beshay, CFO of Aduro.“The successful private placement significantly strengthened our capital structure and bolstered our research and development and scale-up up activities. These steps collectively place Aduro in a stronger financial position to continue advancing our technology applications and customer engagement initiatives.” First Quarter 2025 – Financial Highlights Quarterly revenue was $55,000 for Q1 2025, a slight decrease of 6% compared to revenue of $58,545 generated in Q1 2024. Loss from operations was $2,462,532 for Q1 2025, as compared to loss from operations of $1,570,322 in Q1 2024. Property, plant, and equipment carrying cost as of August 31, 2024, was $3.92 million representing an increase of approximately $0.313 million over Q1 2025, signifying an increased investment in research and laboratory equipment. The Company maintained a strong cash position of approximately $5.95 million as of August 31, 2024. First Quarter 2025 – Corporate Highlights and Subsequent Events Private Placement : Completed a $3.52 million non-brokered private placement, bolstering funds for ongoing R&D and operational growth. Stock Option Grants : Issued 2,685,000 stock options to directors, officers, employees, and a consultant, exercisable over five years with monthly vesting over 24 months, aligning incentives with corporate growth and execution. Investor Engagement : Engaged KCSA Strategic Communications, a leading New York-based communications firm, to provide investor relations and digital services. Using the AmplifIR platform to expand investor outreach and strengthen brand presence, the Company expects that KCSA will be able to facilitate greater awareness and widespread dissemination of the Company’s news and progress. Conversion of Class B Warrants and Share Consolidation : Upon reaching the Second Milestone in the Securities Exchange Agreement between the Company and Aduro Energy Inc. dated October 22, 2020, as amended, the Company converted the Class B Special Warrants and issued 4,102,563 post-consolidation common shares. Additionally, the Company executed a 3.25-to-1 common share consolidation effective August 20, 2024, reducing the common shares issued and outstanding from 88,316,467 shares to 27,174,297 common shares inclusive of the Class B warrant conversion. Entered New Phase of Collaboration with TotalEnergies : After two positive technical evaluation programs with TotalEnergies, Aduro has advanced to a new research and development collaboration phase with TotalEnergies to optimize HydrochemolyticTM technology for complex multi-polymer waste, establishing parameters for potential commercial deployment. Next Generation Process (NGP) : Conducted semi-industrial experiments to finalize reactor configurations for the NGP. Aduro aims to complete NGP design by calendar year-end, advancing its scale-up program and expanding its capabilities to expand collaborations within its Customer Engagement Program. New Patent Filing : Submitted a patent for a cost-effective and efficient process to produce BTX chemicals (benzene, toluene, and xylenes) from waste plastics and renewable oils, strengthening Aduro’s IP and addressing high-demand markets. BTX compounds are essential building blocks for a wide array of high-value chemicals and materials, including plastics, paints, sealants, coatings, and pharmaceuticals. Aromatic chemicals like BTX are key building blocks, accounting for 40% of petrochemical production by volume. The new patent application marks significant progress towards a key objective set out by Aduro at the beginning of 2024, the expansion of the Company’s technology and intellectual property position. Conference Participation : Participated in the International Refining & Petroleum Conference 2024 (IRPC), highlighting advancements and fostering potential partnerships to support ongoing innovation and commercialization efforts. These achievements underscore Aduro’s commitment to scaling innovative technology solutions and positioning itself as a leader in sustainable chemical processing. For a more detailed discussion of Aduro’s Q1 2025 results, please refer to the Company’s condensed interim consolidated financial statements and interim management discussion & analysis for the three months ended August 31, 2024, which are available at . Upcoming Annual General Meeting The Company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for November 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and will be accessible via Zoom and teleconference. Shareholders will vote on important matters, including the election of directors and auditor appointments. The AGM circular, containing the access link and agenda, has been sent to shareholders of record as of October 16, 2024. Shareholders are encouraged to vote by proxy in advance and join the AGM via Zoom or teleconference. To access the Meeting by Zoom, please join via the following link:Meeting ID: 810 8606 1737 Passcode: 010600 To dial-in by phone find your local number here: About Aduro Clean Technologies Aduro Clean Technologies is a developer of patented water-based technologies to chemically recycle waste plastics; convert heavy crude and bitumen into lighter, more valuable oil; and transform renewable oils into higher-value fuels or renewable chemicals. The Company’s HydrochemolyticTM technology relies on water as a critical agent in a chemistry platform that operates at relatively low temperatures and cost, a game-changing approach that converts low-value feedstocks into resources for the 21st century. For further information, please contact: Abe Dyck, Investor Relations…+1 226 784 8889 KCSA Strategic Communications Jack Perkins, Vice President… Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events, or developments that the Company believes, expects, or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect management’s current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. In this news release, the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ongoing progress of the design of the Company’s Next Generation Process, strengthening the Company’s intellectual property and expansion of the total addressable market; the plan to continue strengthening the Company’s capital structure and bolster research and development and scale-up activities; the anticipated stronger financial position and continued advancement of the Company’s technology applications and customer engagement initiatives; the intended use of proceeds from private placement financings for ongoing R&D and operational growth; the issuance of stock options intended to align employee incentives with corporate growth and execution; the engagement of KCSA Strategic Communications with an intention to expand investor outreach and strengthen brand presence, including facilitation of greater awareness and widespread dissemination of the Company’s news and progress; the anticipated collaboration phase with TotalEnergies aimed to establish parameters for potential commercial deployment; the participation by the Company in conferences aimed to highlight advancements and foster potential partnerships to support ongoing innovation and commercialization efforts; the Company’s intention to scale innovative technology solutions and position itself as a leader in sustainable chemical processing; and the Company’s plans for the upcoming annual general meeting. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include, but are not limited to, the various factors that may impede or prevent the Company’s ongoing progress for the design of the Next Generation Process, the strengthening its intellectual property and expansion of the total addressable market; that the Company may for various reasons fail to strengthen its capital structure or bolster research and development and scale-up activities; that the Company’s financial position may not continue to improve as anticipated for various reasons; that the advancement of the technology applications and customer engagement initiatives of the Company may fail to progress for various reasons; that the proceeds from private placement financings may be used for other unanticipated purposes; that the incentive equity awards may not incentivize employees to align with corporate growth and execution; that the engagement of KCSA may fail to expand the investor outreach or strengthen brand presence as anticipated; that the collaboration phase with TotalEnergies may not proceed as anticipated or may fail to establish any viable parameters for potential commercial deployment; that the participation by the Company in conferences may not achieve desired results or foster partnerships supporting commercialization; that the Company may be unsuccessful in scaling its technology solutions and be unable to establish itself as a leader in sustainable chemical processing due to other competing technologies or unforeseen circumstances; and that adverse market conditions and other factors beyond the control of the parties may negatively affect the company and its business. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the content of this news release. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at MENAFN31102024004107003653ID1108837492