Divergent Filmmaker Reflects on His Time with the Franchise

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Posted in: Lionsgate, Movies | Tagged: divergent, film, lionsgate, neil burgerThe director of the Divergent film shares his thoughts on the future of the franchise and reflects on his experiences working with it.Published Sun, 26 Jan 2025 16:47:07 -0600 by Aedan Juvet | Article Summary
Neil Burger discusses possible reboot ideas for the Divergent franchise.
The Divergent films didn’t match the book series’ popularity, leading to cancellation of the fourth film.
Director reflects on the impact of casting Shailene Woodley and others in their roles.
Speculation about the future of Divergent remains as fans wonder about potential revivals.
[embedded content]The Divergent book series has enjoyed substantial popularity over the years. However, its live-action film adaptations haven’t quite mirrored that success despite its cult audience, noteworthy budget, and recognizable cast. As a matter of fact, each of the three films generally underperformed, and the planned fourth film was ultimately canceled, suggesting that Hollywood adaptations of the franchise might be at an impasse for now. Now, the filmmaker behind the Divergent films is opening up about where the franchise could go next and what that might entail.
Divergent: Lionsgate
Divergent Director on the Future of the Franchise
When talking to Screen Rant, Divergent filmmaker Neil Burger shared his thoughts on the idea of a possible future of the franchise, with Burger noting, “And they just kind of reboot everything. I have not thought about that; I’m sure that’s crossed Lionsgate’s mind to do it in a different way. I’m really proud of that movie, and I’m particularly proud of the cast that I got together for it, whether it be Shailene Woodley, or Theo James, or Miles Teller, or Kate Winslet. Many of them, it was sort of an early, important role for them, and they were so fun to work with. So, it was great, I always will be part of that franchise and am happy to be part of it in some way.”
Divergent official plot summary: In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she’s Divergent and won’t fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it’s too late. The first film stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Tony Goldwyn, Maggie Q, and Kate Winslet.
Would you be interested in a possible Divergent revival? It kind of seems like it’s only a matter of time anyway, right?
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Why are Southeast Asian tourists enchanted by Harbin’s ice and snow?

Travel

This screenshot shows the short dancing video posted by Indonesian TikTok influencer Ria Ricis, which has amassed 1.5 million likes. — Xinhua photo
CHINA (Jan 27): Nadia Jovita Injilia Riso, a tourist from Indonesia, had her long-cherished dream fulfilled when she visited the St. Sophia Cathedral in Harbin. She said that her trip here this winter was full of unexpected surprises, with the melodies, food, and welcoming locals leaving an unforgettable impression.
Harbin, located in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, has emerged as one of China’s most popular winter travel destinations, drawing visitors worldwide. This year, it has seen a new wave of international tourists, with travelers eager to experience the city’s historical and winter wonders, especially from Southeast Asian countries.
Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin. — Xinhua photo
“Everything is a great experience because Indonesia is a tropical country and we don’t have snow,” Riso said, adding that the Harbin Ice-Snow World is on a friend’s wish list, and she would recommend it to her, alongside other friends.
The Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, has welcomed over 1 million visitors in just 20 days since opening for the season on Dec. 21. Known for showcasing stunning ice sculptures and light displays, it has become a must-visit destination for travelers from the tropics.
Tourists pose for photos at an architecture art square in Harbin. — Xinhua photo
Phichaya Panjama, from Thailand, gasped in front of an ice sculpture replica of the Grand Palace, which is the quintessence of Thai architecture, painting, sculpture, and decoration. “Unlike the golden palace back in my home country, this one is crystal — pure and dreamlike,” Phichaya said as she explored the Ice-Snow World, “I can truly feel China’s respect for different cultures.”
Southeast Asia’s burgeoning interest can be attributed to China’s recent visa-free agreements with countries, including Singapore and Malaysia. Since February 2024, Singaporeans have been able to stay in China visa-free for up to 30 days. Malaysia and Thailand have also established mutual visa exemption policies with the country, making spontaneous trips a reality.
Since Dec. 25, more than 20 chartered flights have shuttled between Harbin and Southeast Asia, and new regular flights on these routes have also brought more visitors.
Moreover, social media platforms like RedNote, TikTok and YouTube have been instrumental in showcasing China’s attractions. An Indonesian internet celebrity, Ria Ricis, who boasts over 46 million TikTok followers, posted a dancing video on TikTok. Shot right in front of the Ice-Snow World, the video has amassed a staggering 1.5 million likes. Among the comments, one reads, “Harbin is my favorite city! I must go this winter!”
Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin. — Xinhua photo
Internet celebrities such as Ria Ricis play a pivotal role by sharing their experiences online. Their posts not only spotlight Harbin’s unique charm but also expand the city’s allure, making Harbin increasingly appealing to a global audience.
Nga Kor Ming, Minister of Housing and Local Government of Malaysia, expressed his admiration for Harbin in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. He said he was impressed by the city’s thriving ice and snow economy and its rich cultural heritage, looking forward to fostering closer ties and deeper connections.
According to statistics of Harbin Cultural and Tourism Bureau, from Nov. 1, 2024 to January 7, 2025, the city received 18.6 percent more visitors than the same period last year with the surge of foreign tourists up by 41.1 percent year on year. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, ROK and Indonesia are currently the top five sources of international tourists in Harbin, according to Ctrip, one of China’s leading online travel agencies. — Xinhua
An aerial drone photo shows a giant snowman in Harbin. — Xinhua photo

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Why are Southeast Asian tourists enchanted by Harbin’s ice and snow?

Travel

This screenshot shows the short dancing video posted by Indonesian TikTok influencer Ria Ricis, which has amassed 1.5 million likes. — Xinhua photo
CHINA (Jan 27): Nadia Jovita Injilia Riso, a tourist from Indonesia, had her long-cherished dream fulfilled when she visited the St. Sophia Cathedral in Harbin. She said that her trip here this winter was full of unexpected surprises, with the melodies, food, and welcoming locals leaving an unforgettable impression.
Harbin, located in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, has emerged as one of China’s most popular winter travel destinations, drawing visitors worldwide. This year, it has seen a new wave of international tourists, with travelers eager to experience the city’s historical and winter wonders, especially from Southeast Asian countries.
Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin. — Xinhua photo
“Everything is a great experience because Indonesia is a tropical country and we don’t have snow,” Riso said, adding that the Harbin Ice-Snow World is on a friend’s wish list, and she would recommend it to her, alongside other friends.
The Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, has welcomed over 1 million visitors in just 20 days since opening for the season on Dec. 21. Known for showcasing stunning ice sculptures and light displays, it has become a must-visit destination for travelers from the tropics.
Tourists pose for photos at an architecture art square in Harbin. — Xinhua photo
Phichaya Panjama, from Thailand, gasped in front of an ice sculpture replica of the Grand Palace, which is the quintessence of Thai architecture, painting, sculpture, and decoration. “Unlike the golden palace back in my home country, this one is crystal — pure and dreamlike,” Phichaya said as she explored the Ice-Snow World, “I can truly feel China’s respect for different cultures.”
Southeast Asia’s burgeoning interest can be attributed to China’s recent visa-free agreements with countries, including Singapore and Malaysia. Since February 2024, Singaporeans have been able to stay in China visa-free for up to 30 days. Malaysia and Thailand have also established mutual visa exemption policies with the country, making spontaneous trips a reality.
Since Dec. 25, more than 20 chartered flights have shuttled between Harbin and Southeast Asia, and new regular flights on these routes have also brought more visitors.
Moreover, social media platforms like RedNote, TikTok and YouTube have been instrumental in showcasing China’s attractions. An Indonesian internet celebrity, Ria Ricis, who boasts over 46 million TikTok followers, posted a dancing video on TikTok. Shot right in front of the Ice-Snow World, the video has amassed a staggering 1.5 million likes. Among the comments, one reads, “Harbin is my favorite city! I must go this winter!”
Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin. — Xinhua photo
Internet celebrities such as Ria Ricis play a pivotal role by sharing their experiences online. Their posts not only spotlight Harbin’s unique charm but also expand the city’s allure, making Harbin increasingly appealing to a global audience.
Nga Kor Ming, Minister of Housing and Local Government of Malaysia, expressed his admiration for Harbin in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. He said he was impressed by the city’s thriving ice and snow economy and its rich cultural heritage, looking forward to fostering closer ties and deeper connections.
According to statistics of Harbin Cultural and Tourism Bureau, from Nov. 1, 2024 to January 7, 2025, the city received 18.6 percent more visitors than the same period last year with the surge of foreign tourists up by 41.1 percent year on year. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, ROK and Indonesia are currently the top five sources of international tourists in Harbin, according to Ctrip, one of China’s leading online travel agencies. — Xinhua
An aerial drone photo shows a giant snowman in Harbin. — Xinhua photo

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Archaeology breakthrough as scientists left stunned by ‘marvel of engineering’

Science and Health

Petra, an ancient city nestled within the harsh deserts of Jordan, continues to captivate archaeologists and historians alike with its stunning architecture, rich history, and particularly its remarkable water management system.Once a thriving hub of trade, politics, and culture, Petra’s strategic importance in the ancient world has drawn scholars’ attention for centuries. Inhabited as early as 7000 BC, the city reached its zenith only when the Nabataeans arrived around the 4th century BC.At its peak, Petra served as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, a major player in regional commerce, linking the Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula. However, despite its prosperity, Petra faced numerous challenges throughout its history.In 312 BC, the Greek Empire unsuccessfully attempted to lay siege to the city. Eventually, in 106 AD, the Roman Empire took control of Petra, which would remain under Roman influence for several centuries.However, the city’s fortunes would decline after a devastating earthquake in the 4th century AD. Although the Byzantines tried to revive Petra by constructing several Christian churches, the city’s once-thriving population dwindled, and it eventually became a shelter for wandering nomads.Yet, Petra’s most remarkable feature lies not in its architectural grandeur but in its water management system, which allowed this desert city to flourish for centuries. The Smithsonian Channel’s documentary “Secrets: Riddle of Petra” highlighted the ingenuity of the Nabataeans in turning an inhospitable environment into a sustainable, thriving urban centre.Despite the extreme, arid conditions of the surrounding desert, with temperatures soaring above 40°C (104°F), Petra’s complex network of cisterns, dams, and water channels allowed the city to thrive. The region receives a meagre four inches of rainfall annually, yet the Nabataeans designed a sophisticated water system to capture, store, and distribute every precious drop. The documentary’s narrator notes that “Petra thrived thanks to the Nabataean skill in managing the scarce resource of water.”The city’s location in a narrow canyon, known as Al Siq, added to the challenge. Petra’s water infrastructure began in the hills surrounding the city, where a series of reservoirs collected rainwater, providing a vital supply for the population.Dr. Christopher Tuttle, an expert from the Council of American Overseas Research Centres, praised the system, noting it was “a testament to the resilience of the Nabataeans and their ingenuity.” The water would then flow into the city through a complex grid of channels, carrying the life-sustaining liquid to the urban areas.Meanwhile, Dr Thomas Paradise, a geoscientist from the University of Arkansas, emphasised the extraordinary sophistication of Petra’s water management system, saying, “We’d be pretty hard-pressed in the 21st century to create a city that was sustainable and lived very well in such an environment.”The system began in the highlands surrounding Petra, where cisterns captured the rainwater from winter storms. One notable cistern, located at the highest point in the valley, was large enough to store the water from the entire summit area. Dr Paradise described this as “so successful in holding water that we can see how high and rich the water was that was being collected.”Water from these reservoirs then travelled down into the city through a network of more than 100 miles of terracotta pipes. Dr Paradise remarked that the pipes used by the Nabataeans were “very much like the exact same terracotta pipes we use across the planet two thousand years later.”These pipes, gently angled to regulate the flow, fed water into Petra’s cisterns and reservoirs, ensuring a steady, slow water delivery. The slow flow prevented water from rushing too quickly or pooling too slowly, optimising the distribution across the city.This intricate system allowed Petra to collect and distribute an astonishing 12 million gallons of water per day, and this water was used for everything from domestic needs to irrigation, supporting the city’s residents and its agriculture.The advanced engineering of Petra’s water system enabled the city to boast luxuries seldom found in other desert cities. Archaeologists have found evidence of a 140-foot public swimming pool in the Royal Gardens, a “luxury in the middle of a desert,” as the documentary’s narrator describes it. The ability to provide such amenities demonstrates the ingenuity of the Nabataeans, whose resourcefulness turned a harsh environment into a flourishing metropolis.Dr Paradise reflected on the system, saying, “We’re looking at a 2,000-year-old engineering feat that is nothing short of brilliant.” The city’s ability to thrive in the middle of a desert, supported by an unparalleled water system, remains one of the most impressive achievements of ancient engineering.Today, Petra’s ancient water system reminds us of the Nabataeans’ ingenuity and determination. As scientists continue to study the remnants of Petra’s infrastructure, they gain new insights into how this ancient civilisation harnessed the environment to support a vibrant city in one of the harshest regions on Earth.

Returning political science to Nigeria’s public admin practice

Science and Health

When the politics-administration dichotomy inaugurated the practice of public administration, what was intended was a critical need to bifurcate the logic of the two in ways that would extend the relationship between the politicians and the administrator and make it more efficient. The politician is then, within the logic of the dichotomy, restricted to policy formulation while the administrator is confined to the realm of policy implementation. Reality, however, defeats the neat boundary between the two. Politics and administration, in practical reality, are almost inseparable. And one would expect that the relationship between political science and public administration discourse will reflect this inseparability. Unfortunately, it does not. The separation undermines the fundamental urgency of addressing the political foundation of administrative research and practices, especially as they relate to power, governance, politics and democracy.
Political science descriptively and critically studies political phenomena and how they contribute to our understanding of the political community. Significantly, political science analyses the fundamental role that power plays in the articulation of politics, especially in the attempt to unravel the dynamics of the political community and its social and political circumferences and trajectories.
Public administration is the very embodiment of the state as the most critical embodiment of politics. The state is made most visible within the frameworks and institutional workings of public administration, especially through the public sector and the public services. The straightforward argument is that the political and administrative reality of any state cannot be studied in isolation from each other. This seems obvious enough given that each of political science and public administration reinforces each other in terms of shedding light on the complex and intricate workings of the state and its response to the citizens and the commonwealth. In other words, there is no way the concepts of power and governance, for example, would not intersect political and administrative questions, and complicate them. The issues of democratic governance, innovation, and collaborative governance demand thinking of the interplay between politics science and administration.
In my many years as a deep insider career bureaucrat in the public service, I have been aware not only of the role that politics play in administrative matters, and vice versa. I have also been apprised of how political acts of commission and omission actively promote or undermine the public service. Indeed, my theoretical and practical research into the dynamics of government business and institutional reforms highlights how political and administrative factors interact. My deep worry, however, is that political science and public administration discourses in Nigeria carry on as if these interactions and interrelations are at best trivial or at worst non-existent. For instance, in institutional terms, there is nothing to write home about in the existence and possible cross-fertilising relationship between the Nigerian Political Science Association and the National Association for Public Administration and Management. Indeed, there cannot be such a cross-fertilisation because while NPSA is active, NAPAM has remained comatose. And the vision and mission statement of NPSA is not broad enough to take in administrative matters and concerns, or the interplay of politics and administration.
The most fundamental observation that my status as a scholar-bureaucrat in the federal civil service afforded me is a practical understanding of the nature of the fundamental disconnections in public administration practices and the consequences on the state’s responsibility to its citizens. All due to crucial assumptions and principles that have been left lying fallow and unattended to in interdisciplinary discourse and cross-fertilisation between political science scholarship and public administration theories and practice.
A few examples suffice. In 1966, Nigeria shifted away from the parliamentary system of government and, after the long interregnum of military administrations, resumed with the presidential system, enshrined in the 1979 Constitution. This move was preceded by the Dotun Phillips studies report of 1985, and the Civil Service Reorganisation Decree of 1988, which aligned the civil service with the presidential system of government. However, even with the reversal of the reform frameworks by the Ayida reform of 1995, it is still clear that many of Nigeria’s administrative practices still retain aspects of parliamentary elements that could be one source of unresolved structural troubles necessitating performance inefficiency.
This has some other implications for the practice of federalism and the stabilisation of Nigeria’s governance structure. Since the intervention of the military in 1966 and the subsequent militarisation of Nigeria’s political and governance structure of the Nigerian state, the federal arrangement that ought to have been the natural remedy for the unruly ethnonational diversity became compromised. For instance, inter-governmental relations and the critical need for fiscal federalism became caught in the cracks of constitutional and institutional dysfunction. The Babangida administration, through the recommendation of the IBB’s Presidential Advisory Committee, established the National Council for Inter-Governmental Relations as one in a series of government efforts—like the Centre for Democratic Studies, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, etc.—to rehabilitate Nigeria’s governance and administrative structures. Related News
All this goes to demonstrate a cogent reason the political and the administrative in Nigeria’s governance context cannot be separated, even in terms of theoretical argumentation. Political science scholarship, in longing for an interdisciplinary relationship with public administration, must recognise how the latter has evolved first as a sub-discipline of political science, and later as a multidisciplinary endeavour that encompasses insights drawn from management science, organisational psychology, sociology, statistics, industrial engineering, computer science, etc., from which it draws to invigorate its curriculum and pedagogy. This point is still not demonstrated in the disciplinary silos that define the existence of political science on the one hand and public administration on the other in Nigerian universities.
In some universities, public administration functions in a different faculty, or is its own faculty, as different from the faculty of the social sciences. And so, scholars carry out their scholarly discourses in different contexts, oblivious to the grave challenges that the Nigerian administrative and governance predicament poses to their theoretical and practical separation.
In what follows, I will point attention to a few contentious institutional matters to which I have gestured in many of my works, but which I contend require the critical interrogation of political scientists.
First, there is the recurrent issue of the need to keep clarifying the nature and the role of the state in terms of administrative efficiency.
While the state is central to the analysis of power and constitutes one of the central thematic focuses of political science scholarship, the fundamental need to redefine the role of the state has often not been taken up in terms of its significance for the restructuring of the ministries, departments and agencies that are the critical engine room for measuring the developmental successes of the state. Aligning the role of the state to the understanding of the MDAs becomes crucial as it facilitates the reform of the MDAs in terms of the need to remodel and strengthen their core vis-à-vis their non-core functions as both relate to the service delivery function of government. This could also instigate the urgency of conducting an institutional audit that is crucial not only to determining the performance status of many state agencies but to also jumpstart organisational development dynamics that are meant to motivate the movement of structures to institutions. It is institutions, rather than mere structures that government requires to undermine governance failure.
Second, political science scholarship in Nigeria is necessarily confronted by the need to clarify and explicate the thorny issue of the relationship between the administrative operational dynamics of the executive arm of government in terms of its apparatuses—like the Federal Executive Council—and the working of the American-styled presidential system of government. This is a key concern given that Nigeria’s adoption of many institutional dynamics has remained problematic in terms of relating them to her political and administrative realities. For instance, acute and critical attention needs to be paid also to the political economy involved in the executive-legislature relations, and the implications deriving from the planning and budgeting processes from legislative oversight to appropriation and budget implementation. Peter Ekeh’s analysis of migrated structures alerts us to the danger of adopting these structures without paying critical attention to their value orientation and the political realities of where they are coming from.

$1.5M needed for Valemount business recovery: report

Business News

President of Strategies North Grant Barley met with several Valemount business owners on November 27th. The meeting, along with surveys and other conversations, informed the firm’s recovery strategy for local businesses, he said. /Abigail PoppleBy Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMGThe knock-on effects of the Jasper wildfire have dug a $1.5M hole for Valemount businesses, says consulting agency Strategies North. The Village hired the agency in November to evaluate the economic impacts of the three-week closures of Highway 93 and Highway 16 following the evacuation of Jasper. Soon after, Strategies North consultants held a meeting in Valemount to talk with local business owners about their concerns and potential solutions. These conversations – along with 11 one-on-one conversations with business owners, a survey distributed by the Village in August, and a second survey made by Strategies North in December – culminated in the agency’s Economic Recovery Strategy, presented to Council on January 14th.The report recommends promoting tourism in Valemount to wider audiences – and pitching Valemount as an alternate location to would-be Jasper visitors – to strengthen the village’s tourism sector. Additionally, consultants recommended working with the provinces of B.C. and Alberta, as well as the federal government, to create a funding stream that would allow businesses to apply for grants to cover their losses from the highway closures.Average losses over $35KThe initial business impacts survey circulated by the Village from August 13th through the 19th found that the 64 respondents saw an average loss of $35,000 and a median loss of $15,000 due to the highway closures, according to the Strategies North report. The second business impacts survey, developed by Strategies North and distributed from December 6th through the 16th, found higher numbers: an average loss of $46,520 and a median loss of $35,000. However, this survey had 16 respondents – one quarter of the amount that responded to the initial survey – which made the average more sensitive to outliers, such as one business that reported a $250,000 loss, according to the report. The numbers may also be higher because the August survey circulated while both highways were still closed, so businesses have incurred more losses since then, the report says.Consultants also estimated the total revenue lost from a reduction in tourism. In summer 2023, Valemount saw 8,494 tourists, according to statistics the firm obtained from Destination BC – in summer 2024, that number fell to 5,738. Based on estimates of how much money is spent per visit – somewhere from $380 to $700, according to Destination BC and Tourism Valemount – that puts the revenue loss from the lack of tourists at $1,041,768 to $1,929,200, the report says.Loss of revenue isn’t the only factor hurting Valemount businesses. Half of the respondents to the December survey said they incurred additional expenses during and immediately after the highway closures. Those with the highest additional expenses attributed the costs to support they provided to Jasper evacuees, according to Strategies North.“When the evacuation order was given, Jasper and Alberta directed people to British Columbia,” the report reads. “The fact that the businesses and organizations in Valemount opened their doors at their own expense should not disproportionately burden them for their generosity.”Besides additional expenses, businesses also suffered from cancellations and delays in shipping or receiving items. This could create further problems for businesses that may now be seen as unreliable due to shipping delays, and clients may have found new suppliers during the highway closures, according to the report.These losses resulted in several layoffs, the report says. According to the survey, business owners reduced hours for 33 positions total, and five positions were laid off entirely.To recover from these losses, respondents suggested an average of $33,340 in funding assistance. Respondents suggested increased tourism marketing efforts and a low-interest loan as other potential solutions. Threat of a downward spiralThe village’s biggest threat is a spiralling economic decline, the report says. “In a small town, losing one business means potentially losing the ability to buy a good or service within the community,” the report reads. “This can mean less money being spent in the community … potentially creating a cycle that challenges recovery and eliminates job opportunities.”This vicious cycle would be difficult to end, according to the report. Residents who lose their jobs may move away, investors may be reluctant to support businesses, and the community will have difficulty attracting tourists and new residents, it says.However, an early recovery from the highway closures could prevent this worst-case scenario, the agency believes. It suggests promoting the community to a broader audience: in the past, the village has relied on neighbouring communities for most of its visitors, but promoting Valemount to would-be Jasper visitors internationally and in other parts of Canada may expand the village’s tourism market. In an email to The Goat, president of Strategies North Grant Barley said he believes $1.5M, along with enhanced marketing, could provide sufficient funding for recovery. When asked how the firm calculated the figure, Barley said consultants engaged with businesses and community groups to assess losses and determine what businesses’ financial needs were. The firm also examined recovery support provided to communities in similar situations, according to Barley, though he did not specify which communities these were.Next stepsFinancial support will likely have to come from the B.C., Alberta and federal governments, according to Strategies North. “As a municipality, Valemount cannot provide direct support such as grants, loans, or tax breaks to businesses,” the report reads.Instead, it recommends working first with the B.C. government to procure funding for a grant program geared towards businesses suffering from the financial impacts of the Jasper wildfire.As of writing on January 20th, the B.C. Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists did not have any recorded lobbying activity on behalf of the Village of Valemount. However, Strategies North registered with the federal lobbyist registry on January 14th. According to the registry, the firm has not filed any communication reports with the federal government so far.Consultants will also discuss the report and their next plans with Valemount Council, Barley said. He declined to comment on the agency’s plans to work with provincial and federal levels of government.“The people and businesses of Valemount deserve immense praise for their generous response to the Jasper fire,” Barley wrote. “Our aim is to ensure that their support does not result in an unfair burden on the community.”Related Posts:

AI Targets Shoplifters | Mass Car Recalls | CA Business News

Business News

CALIFORNIA — This week in California business news, how artificial intelligence is helping retailers stop shoplifting; more than 300,000 cars recalled because of sudden stops; a luxury grocery chain is expanding in the Golden State, and tax season starts soon.Additionally, a historic piece of California business history, a mansion built by the Sun-Maid raisin founder, is selling for less than $4 million. Check out this week’s top headlines for California business news on Patch: Freebie of the Week Those who sign up for Club Applebee’s, the restaurant’s reward program, can enjoy a free appetizer with the purchase of an entrée and a free birthday gift.

Pak pavilion wins award at NY travel show

Travel

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tourism Pavilion received the Best Partner Pavilion Award at the Travel & Adventure Show 2025, which kicked off in New York on Sunday, according to a statement. The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) jointly set up the Pavilion in collaboration with the Consulate General of Pakistan, New York.

A total of 13 Pakistani companies, all provincial tourism departments and the PTDC set up their booths at the pavilion under the banner of the national tourism brand “Salam Pakistan”.

The pavilion was inaugurated by Pakistan’s Ambassador to US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Chief Minister Gulbar Khan. The event was attended by G-B Tourism Minister Ghulam Muhammad, and the Planning Minister Raja Nasir Ali Khan. The pavilion showcased Pakistan’s breath-taking tourist destinations, rich cultural heritage, and a wide range of tourism services. A large number of visitors attended the pavilion on the first day of the show, expressing keen interest in mountaineering, adventure tourism, and religious tourism.