Richard Selby and Gareth Jarman has been recognised for their exceptional contribution to the business organisation

Two of Wales’ most respected business leaders have been awarded fellowship of the Institute of Directors (IoD),

Richard Selby, Wales chair of the IoD and Gareth Jarman, chair of IoD Mid Wales, have both been recognised for their exceptional contribution to the business organisation, its members and the wider business community in Wales.

Awarded by invitation only, fellowship is reserved for senior directors who have demonstrated sustained leadership, championed good governance and made a significant contribution to business and society. Fellows are recognised as ambassadors for the values of the IoD and are entitled to use the professional designation FIoD.

Mr Selby, director and founder of Pontypool-based Pro Steel Engineering, has led IoD Wales as chair since 2020 and will step down from the role in November.

Throughout his tenure, he has played a leading role in strengthening relationships with both the Welsh Government and UK Government, helping to ensure the voice of Welsh business is represented at the highest levels. He has also been instrumental in supporting membership growth and providing strong leadership as a new Wales team was established.

Gareth Jarman, founder and director of international HR consultancy Gentium International, has been an IoD member for eight years and has served as chair of IoD Mid Wales for the past five.

During that time, he has built a strong reputation for bringing together business leaders across the region while encouraging greater collaboration between all four Welsh regions.

He has represented the IoD at international events alongside ministers, ambassadors and visiting trade delegation. A military veteran, he is also a passionate advocate for the Armed Forces covenant and Reserve Service across Wales.

Mr Selby said:“It is a tremendous honour to be awarded Fellowship of the Institute of Directors. The IoD has played an important role throughout my career and it has been a privilege to serve our members in Wales over the past six years.

“The strength of the institute has always been its members and volunteers, who freely give their time and expertise to support one another and strengthen the wider business community. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and look forward to continuing to support the Institute in the years ahead.”

Mr Jarman said: “Receiving fellowship is both a privilege and a humbling recognition. Throughout my time with the IoD I have been passionate about creating meaningful connections between business leaders, encouraging collaboration and ensuring directors across Wales have opportunities to learn from one another.

“It has been an honour to represent the Institute both in Wales and internationally, and I hope to continue supporting the next generation of business leaders while championing the values of good governance, integrity and responsible leadership.”

Jo Price, nations manager, IoD Wales, said:“Richard and Gareth have each made an outstanding contribution to the Institute of Directors in Wales and this recognition is thoroughly deserved.

“Both have given countless hours to supporting our members, strengthening the organisation and championing Welsh business. Their leadership, commitment and willingness to go above and beyond have helped shape the Institute in Wales and inspired many directors along the way. On behalf of everyone at IoD Wales, I would like to congratulate them both on this well-deserved honour.”

LONDON — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were “surprised” by a letter issued under King Charles III’s direction confirming their status as private citizens, according to a spokesperson for the couple, after the guidance was distributed to government and military officials without advance notice to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The letter, sent Monday under the direction of the Lord Chamberlain, a senior palace official, was addressed to “senior stakeholders” across the U.K. government, military and those who represent the British royal family. It confirmed that Harry and Meghan will remain non-working royals following their return to Britain last month, that they will not use the titles of His and Her Royal Highness, and that the pair’s position is comparable to that of private citizens.

According to the BBC, the letter stated plainly that “there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.” It further clarified that the couple’s charitable work “is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity,” adding, “In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.” The letter also specified that all correspondence and administrative questions related to the couple should be directed to their own office, which the letter noted will continue operating separately from the Royal Household.

Despite the letter directly concerning their own status, Harry and Meghan were not informed of its contents before it was distributed and later made public. A spokesperson for the couple addressed the situation in a statement Tuesday.

“They were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance,” the spokesperson said.

According to reporting cited by Hello! magazine, the letter was sent to Harry’s team before being made public Monday afternoon, though it’s understood the couple did not have adequate time to seek clarification on the guidance before it circulated more widely. The document was addressed specifically to government departments, military officials and Lord Lieutenants, the monarch’s representatives in individual counties across the U.K.

Buckingham Palace indicated the letter was prompted by a wave of inquiries seeking clarity on the couple’s official standing following their return to Britain. According to the BBC, the letter was created after “a number of requests” were received asking for clarification on Harry and Meghan’s status.

The letter’s release came shortly before a reported meeting of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as Ravec, the body responsible for making decisions regarding royal security arrangements in the U.K. That timing raised questions among some royal commentators about whether the letter’s issuance was connected to ongoing deliberations over the couple’s taxpayer-funded security now that they are living in Britain. According to reporting from Hello!, Harry is currently awaiting the conclusion of a Risk Management Board threat assessment, with Ravec expected to determine at its meeting whether the Sussex family should receive expanded security protections.

Royal aide Lord Benyon, whose office is responsible for organizing the King’s ceremonial and public-facing events, indicated that any specific operational security questions arising from the letter should be directed to the relevant police authorities rather than to the palace directly.

Harry and Meghan returned to the United Kingdom with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, last month, more than six years after the family relocated to the United States following their 2020 departure from senior royal duties. The couple is believed to have flown into Britain privately from California, according to the BBC. Archie and Lilibet are set to begin school in Britain this month, having already been enrolled according to a person close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex cited in earlier reporting.

Despite their relocation to the U.K., the couple has retained their existing properties abroad, including their Montecito, California, estate and a separate vacation property in Portugal, according to reporting from E! News, suggesting the family’s move to Britain, while significant, does not represent a complete and permanent departure from their prior base in the United States.

The clarification of Harry and Meghan’s status echoes the terms the couple originally agreed to when they first stepped back from royal duties in 2020, formalizing an arrangement in which they retained their titles as Duke and Duchess of Sussex while relinquishing their status as working royals and the associated use of “HRH” honorifics in an official capacity.

The letter’s release adds another layer to the broader public conversation surrounding the family’s return to Britain, which has already generated extensive coverage of the couple’s motivations, their children’s educational arrangements, and the current state of relations between Harry and other senior royals, including his brother, Prince William. Harry and Meghan made what was described as their last-ever formal royal appearance together at a Commonwealth Games service at Westminster Abbey, according to Hello!’s coverage of the family’s recent public engagements.

With the palace’s letter now formally clarifying the couple’s official position for government and military stakeholders, attention is likely to remain focused in the coming days on the outcome of the Ravec security review, along with continued questions about how visibly Harry and Meghan intend to engage in British public life going forward, given their now-clarified status as private citizens with ongoing commercial and charitable interests rather than active members of the working royal family.

The membership group said it felt the effects of a challenging economic climate but addressed them via a small restructure to put itself on a stable footing

The North East Chamber of Commerce says its business model remains strong despite a fourth consecutive year of losses and a fall in membership numbers.

New accounts for the prominent regional business group show operating losses narrowed to £189,000 in 2025, compared with £278,000 the year before, as turnover increased to £3.09m from £2.97m. Chief executive John McCabe told the group’s annual general meeting that income gains had been outpaced by rising costs – including Employer’s National Insurance Contributions – that were also impacting many of its members.

He said: “By the midway point in the year, we took the decision to enter a consultation with staff which saw four senior management roles being made redundant. Redundancy packages added to the costs incurred in 2025 but this decision to reduce our headcount in a limited way has contributed significantly to a much-improved cost base in 2026.

“Having taken this step and despite the economic headwinds, the fundamentals of the Chamber’s business model remained strong and have continued to improve in 2026.”

The Chamber said its net operating loss of £315,000 was within board expectations and was covered by its cash reserves. Membership numbers were down from 2,009 to 1,830 – which bosses put down to significant uncertainty in the economic environment – however, membership subscriptions increased from £1.99m to £2.18m as new packages including ‘start-up and grow’, ‘solo’ and ‘enterprise’ were said to have performed well.

There was also significant investment in its Newcastle and Durham offices, with its Westgate Road site in Newcastle now full of tenants and licence holders, generating more than £400,000 in revenue. Refurbishment of the group’s Aykley Heads office at Durham is almost complete.

The Chamber pointed to the success of its events programme. In 2025, more than 8,000 people attended at least one of its 250 events.

Other notable work included the delivery of phase two of a Local Skills Improvement Plan in partnership with the Tees Valley Combined Authority. And its appointment by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority to deliver the joint employer pilot as part of the ‘Get Britain Working Trailblazer’, looking at the pathways to work for those currently economically inactive due to ill health.

At the annual general meeting, attended by members in Newcastle Cathedral, Natasha McDonough, founder and managing director of MMC Research was elected Chamber president, succeeding Deborah Walton of Palintest, who came to the end of her two-year term in office. Northumbrian Water’s Louise Hunter was appointed Chamber vice president.

Mr McCabe said the Chamber is on course to end 2026 with a £160,000 revenue improvement on 2025. He added: “Last year we took difficult decisions to control our costs but remained focused on the delivery of our long-term objectives of membership growth and diversified income. I’m delighted to report that on the evidence of 2026 so far, the strategy is working and growth is returning to the Chamber.

“We are continuing to build strong foundations of a successful business; an ambitious, modern Chamber of Commerce that remains in the service of its members and region. We’re widely seen as an anchor institution at the heart of the North East, championing our region at the highest levels of power, promoting our shared potential on the international stage and standing shoulder to shoulder with our members at every stage on their growth journey.”

NEW YORK — Girl Scouts of the USA has launched its first-ever allergy friendly cookie, Girl Scout Sparkables.

Developed in collaboration with Partake Foods, the new oatmeal cookies are produced in a facility designed to avoid the nine major allergens, Girl Scouts said. The cookies also contain a mix of chocolate chips and colorful sprinkles.

Girl Scout Sparkables will be available to purchase online starting Jan. 12, 2027, alongside Patch Pals, the company’s first ever dog cookies. Both items will launch during the 2027 cookie season, which lasts from January until April.

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of OBDC either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ORCL, DELL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

I am not a registered investment adviser, broker, dealer, or tax professional. This article, including any comments or replies I post, reflects my personal opinions only and is provided for informational and educational purposes. Nothing I write is investment, legal, tax, or financial advice, or a personalized recommendation to buy, sell, hold, or short any security. My views may change without notice. Nothing I write is tailored to any reader’s objectives, financial situation, risk tolerance, or portfolio. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Readers should conduct their own research and consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.