Tourism bosses have formed an alliance to help market the county to visitors

A new tourist organisation has been established to help champion Cornwall’s visitor economy. The creation of Cornwall Visitor Alliance follows the the liquidation of Visit Cornwall – the county’s official tourist board – last year.

The alliance is a not-for-profit that was developed by bosses from Cornwall’s tourism and hospitality hospitality sector, and will be an “influential voice” for tourism in the Duchy, according to those behind it.

The organisation will focus on business-to-business activities including destination marketing and management, business representation, research and insight, strategic partnerships and advocacy, it said.

It is understood the organisation will use the term ‘Visit Cornwall’ for consumer-facing marketing. But the licence of the Visit Cornwall brand, and its respective assets, including the website, reverted back to owner Cornwall Council when the organisation collapsed in 2025.

Councillor Sarah Preece, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for tourism, said: “We have reached an important milestone following months of productive collaboration between the council, private sector partners, and key stakeholders across our visitor economy.

“The Cornwall Visitor Alliance company can now begin its journey as a private organisation, leading the delivery of a sustainable and thriving visitor economy for Cornwall.”

Five Cornwall-based volunteer founding directors have been appointed to help launch Cornwall Visitor Alliance including: chair Katie Warren, founder of Fixer Property and Management; vice chair Laura Plum, marketing and communications director of St Austell Brewery; Veryan Palmer, family director of Headland Hotel; Andy Jasper, chief executive of Eden Project; and Patrick Langmaid, managing director of Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park.

Tim Fryer, who has headed up the project since April, has also been appointed as commercial director.

“Our ambition is to build an organisation that businesses genuinely feel belongs to them, one that listens, represents their interests and brings the sector together around a shared vision for Cornwall,” said Ms Warren.

“By working collaboratively, we can help ensure Cornwall remains a brilliant place to visit, while also being a great place to live, work and build a business. Our role will be to unite businesses and partners, strengthen Cornwall’s destination offer and ensure the visitor economy is represented in the decisions that shape its future.”

Cornwall Visitor Alliance is funded through membership, partnerships and commercial activity, with no reliance on the public sector, it said.

“Cornwall Visitor Alliance will be a constructive but independent voice,” added Mr Fryer. “We want decisions affecting the visitor economy to be based on evidence, with businesses and stakeholders widely consulted and genuinely listened to and with a clear understanding of the impact those decisions may have on businesses, employees, communities and visitors.

“Immediately following a launch event in the early autumn, we will set out details of membership options and strategic partnerships, alongside our plans and initial programme of marketing campaign activity.”

Thailand’s new visa framework, effective 15 September 2026, reduces the 60-day visa exemption to 30-day and 15-day categories, affecting 60 countries, with specific rules for Seychelles, Mauritius, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia.

Introduction of New Visa Framework

Starting from 15 September 2026, Thailand will implement a revised visa policy that introduces significant changes. This new framework modifies the current visa exemption duration, replacing the 60-day exemption period with two new categories: 30-day and 15-day stays. The updated visa rules are designed to streamline the entry process while adapting to the evolving needs of travelers and the tourism industry.

Changes in Visa Categories

The modified visa exemptions will affect travelers from 60 countries and territories who will now be eligible for a 30-day stay in Thailand. Additionally, visitors from Seychelles and Mauritius can benefit from a 15-day visa exemption period. These changes reflect Thailand’s effort to foster tourism by providing more flexible options that cater to diverse travel needs while maintaining regulatory standards.

Visa on Arrival Updates

Under this new framework, specific updates have been made regarding the Visa on Arrival (VOA) eligibility. Citizens from Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia will now be able to take advantage of the VOA option. This initiative is expected to enhance travel convenience and boost international visits by accommodating more varied visitor origins, aligning with Thailand’s strategic tourism development goals.

Source : Thailand introduces new 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules from 15 September

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Schwartz’s, one of Montreal’s most famous delis, has stopped serving the iconic US-made black cherry soda that has been a fixture at the restaurant for decades.

The sandwich shop had struggled to maintain supply of the cola for the last eight years as the distributor cut back production due to the rising cost of aluminium.

But it didn’t expect the cans to vanish permanently. Now it has switched to a locally-made version, which the venue’s customers have largely embraced.

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The National League South side says the proposals will provide ‘a solid foundation’ for its future

Truro City Football Club has unveiled major plans to develop its stadium and surrounding grounds. The scheme – named the Milestone Project – will see capacity increased at Truro Community Stadium and a new clubhouse built.

Under the proposals, land around the ground will also be developed with new homes, a community centre, shops, food and drink outlets and a 3G pitch.

The current stadium site already has use of a 1,250-space car park that is operated by Cornwall Council under its park and ride scheme.

The National League South side is working with Truro-based developer LGV Property Holding on the plans, alongside Cornwall Council and Treveth Holdings.

The club said on Thursday (September 10) the plans have the potential to create a “durable, long-term income stream” for the club and its charity arm – Truro City Community Trust.

“Truro City is on a journey of continual improvement in everything we do,” said club chief executive Robin Karkeek.

“Part of that journey is the aspiration to provide a solid foundation for the club’s future success, both on the pitch and in the community.

“We have reached a real ‘Milestone’ opportunity for development in and around the Truro City Stadium site, that will underpin the needs of the club for future generations.

“We still have a long way to go, but with the continued support of fans, sponsors and stakeholders, working with Treveth Holdings and Cornwall Council we will get there. Truro City Football Club is an exciting place to be right now, and we are driven to succeed.”

The Cornish side moved into their new stadium in 2024 and won the National League South title after beating St Albans City 5-2 at the Truro Community Stadium last year.

Last week, the BSE benchmark Sensex declined 276.32 points, or 0.35 per cent, and the NSE Nifty dipped 76.35 points, or 0.31 per cent.

“Indian equity markets ended the week on a cautious note, extending their recent corrective phase as concerns over global interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty and volatility surrounding the new closing auction session weighed on investor sentiment,” Ajit Mishra — SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said.

Although markets recovered sharply on Friday, supported by strong buying in IT stocks following upbeat global technology cues, the benchmark indices remained under pressure for the third consecutive week, he added.

While Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), and Hindustan Unilever faced erosion from their market valuation, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) were the winners.

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The valuation of Bharti Airtel tumbled Rs 40,500.85 crore to Rs 11,74,462.30 crore.
Reliance Industries’ valuation eroded Rs 40,056.32 crore to reach Rs 17,38,119.27 crore.The market valuation of HDFC Bank dropped Rs 11,558.35 crore to Rs 11,09,600.70 crore and that of Bajaj Finance fell Rs 10,086.05 crore to Rs 6,70,535.57 crore.

Larsen & Toubro’s market capitalisation (mcap) declined Rs 6,473.45 crore to Rs 5,55,987.49 crore and that of LIC dipped Rs 3,162.5 crore to Rs 5,32,817.81 crore.

The mcap of Hindustan Unilever edged lower by Rs 1,550.73 crore to Rs 4,72,361.83 crore.

However, the mcap of TCS jumped Rs 16,643.2 crore to Rs 8,48,079.71 crore.

The valuation of ICICI Bank climbed Rs 4,475.28 crore to Rs 10,22,805.73 crore and that of State Bank of India went up Rs 599.99 crore to Rs 9,65,568.75 crore.

Reliance Industries remained the most-valued firm, followed by Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, TCS, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro, LIC and Hindustan Unilever.

DALLAS — President Donald Trump pledged Wednesday to send every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in November’s midterm elections, an extraordinary gambit aimed at reversing his party’s sagging fortunes ahead of the vote.

Speaking during a lengthy speech at the Republican Party’s midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Trump framed the proposed payment as a reward directly tied to Republican electoral success.

“If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000,” Trump told the crowd. “It will be called the Trump dividend.”

Trump elaborated further on the promise, comparing the payment to a corporation distributing profits to its shareholders.

“Here is my promise: If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000, very much like a successful company will do a cash distribution to its shareholders,” Trump said.

The president said the money would need to be spent within the United States, though he did not offer specific details on how that requirement would be enforced. He attributed the source of funding for the proposed dividend to what he described as the “tremendous economic success” of his administration’s policies, drawing a contrast with Democrats.

“The reason the Democrats can’t do that is because they don’t do tariffs, they don’t take in money, all they know is poverty,” Trump said.

Within an hour of Trump’s remarks, Vice President JD Vance appeared to narrow the scope of the proposal, suggesting the dividend payments would not extend to wealthy Americans. Vance indicated the payments could be financed through tariff revenue, which totaled approximately $154.5 billion during the first 10 months of fiscal 2026, according to figures cited by Time magazine.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, publicly endorsed Trump’s proposal following the speech, saying he would prepare legislation to advance the dividend payments after the midterm elections.

Any such payment would require formal congressional approval before it could be implemented, and analysts have raised significant questions about the plan’s fiscal feasibility. The proposal would likely cost more than $1 trillion to fully fund, further straining a federal budget that already runs an annual deficit of nearly $1.8 trillion. The proposed dividend amount would also far exceed total U.S. tariff revenue collected to date, a gap made even more pronounced after the Supreme Court struck down much of the president’s broader tariff program last year.

Wednesday’s proposal follows a pattern of similar cash-payment pledges Trump has floated since returning to office, none of which have yet resulted in actual payments being issued to Americans. Earlier in his second term, during efforts led by Elon Musk to cut federal government spending, Musk proposed a “DOGE dividend” of $5,000 per person, an idea Trump said at the time he supported, though it never materialized into an actual program. Trump has separately floated $2,000 stimulus payments tied to tariff revenue, and discussed potential payments exceeding $1,000 tied to savings from expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. Earlier this year, more than 1 million U.S. military service members received a one-time “warrior dividend” payment of $1,776, tied symbolically to the year of American independence.

Trump made his latest promise amid a challenging political environment for his party heading into the midterms. Public opinion polling has shown his approval ratings sitting in the low 30s, with voters expressing growing frustration over elevated prices and the ongoing military conflict involving Iran that Trump’s administration has pursued.

Trump directly acknowledged the political stakes of the upcoming election during his Dallas remarks, framing the midterms as effectively a referendum on his own leadership even though he is not personally on the ballot.

“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said.

Historical trends have generally worked against the party controlling the White House during midterm elections. Since 1938, the president’s party has lost seats in the House of Representatives in all but two midterm cycles, with 1998 and 2002 standing as the lone exceptions. The Senate has offered somewhat better historical odds for the incumbent president’s party, which has gained seats in that chamber during midterms on six occasions over the same period, including in 2018 and 2022.

Trump has continued raising substantial campaign funds ahead of November’s elections, having secured approximately $1.4 billion in financial commitments since winning the 2024 election, according to a source cited by the New York Post, drawing on contributions to the Republican National Committee and his affiliated super PAC, Make America Great Again, Inc.

Wednesday’s dividend announcement adds to a broader pattern in which Trump has repeatedly floated large-scale direct payments to Americans throughout his second term without any of the proposals ultimately being enacted into law. Critics have pointed to that pattern as evidence the latest $5,000 pledge should be viewed skeptically, given both the significant fiscal obstacles standing in the way of its implementation and the requirement that any such payment first clear Congress, a body Republicans would need to retain control of in order for the pledge to even become a live legislative possibility.

With the midterm elections set for Nov. 3, the coming weeks are likely to bring further scrutiny of Trump’s proposed dividend, along with continued debate over its feasibility, funding source and the practical mechanics of how such a payment might actually be distributed and enforced, should Republicans succeed in maintaining their current control of both the House and Senate.