Latest news with #Hardee
New Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
SME Bank integration yields synergies, unveils RM211mil initiatives for MSMEs
KUALA LUMPUR: The integration of Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Bhd (SME Bank) with two other entities has proven to be a strategic success, fostering strong synergies and enhancing the bank's capacity to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country. "The integration has been very positive so far. Starting from the legal processes, we are now developing the business framework. The synergy among the three entities is evident," said SME Bank acting group president and chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim. Although it is still too early to quantify specific cost savings, he noted that tangible benefits from resource sharing are expected to emerge by 2026. For now, each entity will continue operating under its own budget until the end of 2028. In tandem with the integration efforts, SME Bank has launched RM211 million worth of new strategic programmes aligned with the government's MADANI economic framework. These initiatives aim to boost the inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability of Malaysia's MSME ecosystem. The launch was officiated by Finance Minister II, Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, alongside Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick. Targeting high-impact areas such as technology, tourism, halal industries, and ESG-focused businesses, the programmes also place strong emphasis on empowering underserved communities, particularly B40 and Asnaf entrepreneurs, to ensure broader participation in economic development. These initiatives represent a significant step in revitalising the MSME sector, said Hardee, adding that the programmes form part of SME Bank's RM1 billion strategic allocation under the upcoming National Budget 2025. Key programmes include MySMELady 2.0, which offers up to RM3 million financing to support women entrepreneurs in expanding operations, boosting productivity, and enhancing market competitiveness; Umbrella Ecosystem Financing, offering up to RM1 million in funding to assist Bumiputera MSMEs and startups; and Dana Kelestarian Alam, allocating up to RM5 million in green financing for MSMEs involved in renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building, and sustainable transportation projects. Maju Usahawan Madani aims to support 3,000 entrepreneurs with skills for sustainable growth, while SME Bank iTEKAD ISHRAF targets to increase sales by at least 10 per cent for 400 B40 and Asnaf entrepreneurs through training and resources. As of May 2025, SME Bank has already approved RM2 billion in financing and is on track to meet its RM3 billion financing target for the year, Hardee said. Beyond the new programmes, SME Bank continues to roll out a range of existing financing solutions such as the SME Technology Transformation Fund, HalalBiz Financing, and the Business Accelerator Programme under RMK-12.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Small Illinois town becomes the set of a John Goodman movie overnight
MONTICELLO, Ill. (WTVO) — Monticello, a small town near Champaign, became the set of a film called 'Chili Finger' overnight. John Goodman and Bryan Cranston, among many more celebrities, filmed inside a former Hardee's. The movie, based on a true story, follows the efforts of a woman who found a finger in her bowl of chili to leverage the situation for a payout. Goodman's likeness replaced the fast food chain's sign. Residents have been in a frenzy to get a look at some of the nation's most well-known celebrities. 'John Goodman and Sean Astin, and I can't remember who else was in it, but I was like, these are like legit stars,' said Monticello resident Andrew Bailey. 'It's so cool. I've seen tons of movies with them.' 'I looked up and I said, 'That woman in line looked so familiar,' and we waited for her to speak,' said Owner of the Brown Bag, Leslie Sims. Sims could not believe her eyes when she saw actress Judy Greer standing in front of her ordering a sandwich. Business owners around the area have cited an uptick in the local economy. 'The restaurants were full last night. The parking lot was full,' said Monticello resident Susan Chumbley. Film crews will be moving from Monticello to Paxton on Friday to shoot the next portion of the movie. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
School year coming to end for 16 Florida counties. Others have to wait a little longer. See list
The last day of the 2025-2026 school year has arrived for students in 16 Florida counties, who will bid farewell to their teachers and classrooms either May 22 or May 23. Most counties will keep students in school until next week, with the school year ending sometime during the week following the Memorial Day holiday. Students in seven counties will stay in school until early June. For counties where school is still in session, all students will be off for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 26. Meanwhile, a state law that required later start times for middle and high school students beginning in the 2026-2027 school year may not happen. Columbia: May 23 last day of school Escambia: May 23 last day of school Gadsden: May 23 last day of school Hamilton: May 23 last day of school Hardee: May 23 last day of school Highlands: May 23 last day of school Jackson: May 23 last day of school Jefferson: May 23 last day of school Lafayette: May 23 last day of school Leon: May 23 last day of school Madison: May 22 last day of school Suwannee: May 23 last day of school Taylor: May 29 last day of school Union: May 23 last day of school Wakulla: May 23 last day of school Washington: May 23 last day of school Alachua: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 3 last day of school Baker: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Bay: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Bradford: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Brevard: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Broward: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 5 last day of school Calhoun: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Charlotte: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Citrus: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Clay: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Collier: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Columbia: May 23 last day of school DeSoto: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Dixie: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 2 last day of school Duval: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Escambia: May 23 last day of school Flagler: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Franklin: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Gadsden: May 23 last day of school Gilchrist: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Glades: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Gulf: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Hamilton: May 23 last day of school Hardee: May 23 last day of school Hendry: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Hernando: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Highlands: May 23 last day of school Hillsborough: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Holmes: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Indian River: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Jackson: May 23 last day of school Jefferson: May 23 last day of school Lafayette: May 23 last day of school Lake: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Lee: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 3 last day of school Leon: May 23 last day of school Levy: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Liberty: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Madison: May 22 last day of school Manatee: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Martin: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Miami-Dade: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 5 last day of school Monroe: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Nassau: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Okaloosa: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Okeechobee: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Orange: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Osceola: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Palm Beach: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Pasco: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Pinellas: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Polk: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Putnam: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Santa Rosa: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Sarasota: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Seminole: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school St. Johns: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school St. Lucie: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 2 last day of school Sumter: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 3 last day of school Suwannee: May 23 last day of school Taylor: May 29 last day of school Union: May 23 last day of school Volusia: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Wakulla: May 23 last day of school Walton: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Washington: May 23 last day of school In 2023, a law was passed in Florida that said high schools could not start earlier than 8:30 a.m. and middle schools could not start earlier than 8 a.m. The law is supposed to take effect in the 2026-2027 school year. That new law is now coming under fire and may not happen. "Overwhelming" feedback from school districts revealed that implementing the change could cost the districts big to buy new buses and hire more, already-hard-to-find bus drivers. Senate Bill 296, which will go before Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature, provides an exemption from the required change to later school start times if the local school board or district submits a report to the state by June 1, 2026 with the following information: Current school start times of schools in the district Documentation of strategies considered to implement later start times for middle and high schools Description of the impacts of implementing later start times. What the "unintended consequences" of implementing the later start times would be. SB 296 passed unanimously in both the House and the Senate. in 2025, there are 12 instead of the usual 11 federal holidays, although two — Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day — fell on the same day. Here are 2025 federal holidays: Jan. 1: New Year's Day Jan. 20: Inauguration Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 17: Washington's Birthday. Many state and local governments designation it as Presidents Day. May 26: Memorial Day June 19: Juneteenth July 4: Independence Day Sept. 1: Labor Day Oct. 13: Columbus Day Nov. 11: Veterans Day Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day Dec. 25: Christmas Day The Florida Department of Management Services lists the following days observed as paid holidays by state agencies: ➤ See list of 2025 Florida, federal holidays, including new one for Sunshine State Jan. 1, Wednesday: New Year's Day Jan. 20, Monday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day May 26, Monday: Memorial Day July 4, Friday: Independence Day Sept. 1, Monday: Labor Day Nov. 11, Tuesday: Veterans Day Nov. 27, Thursday: Thanksgiving Nov. 28: Friday after Thanksgiving Dec. 25, Thursday: Christmas Day This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: When is the last day of school in Florida? See list by county
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis highlights need for screenings, survivors and experts say
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Former President Joe Biden's recent prostate cancer diagnosis has sparked concern among Americans, but experts say it's also an important opportunity to raise awareness about one of the most common cancers affecting men. Biden, 82, is reportedly in good spirits following the announcement, though his office confirmed that the cancer has spread to his bones. Doctors say that while late-stage diagnoses are more difficult to treat, early detection dramatically improves survival rates. Former President Biden diagnosed with aggressive form of prostate cancer 'It was a complete shock,' retired U.S. Army Colonel Jim Williams, a prostate cancer survivor said. 'A young doctor arbitrarily included a PSA in my bloodwork—and that's how we caught it.' The PSA, or prostate-specific antigen test, is one of the most common ways prostate cancer is detected. According to CARTI, an Arkansas-based cancer treatment center, nearly one in eight American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Williams, now more than 30 years cancer-free, credits not just the PSA test, but also a digital rectal exam with helping detect his cancer early. Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer: What is it? 'Prostate cancer typically is one of these cancers that is asymptomatic for quite a while, until it becomes more advanced,' Dr. Matthew Hardee said. 'That's why screenings are so important.' Hardee explained that men without a family history should begin routine screenings between the ages of 55 and 70, a relatively narrow window. Biden, at 82, is past that range. Still, Hardee emphasized that treatment options for prostate cancer have expanded in recent years—even for cases that have metastasized. 'There are many more options now than ever before,' he said. 'Even in situations like President Biden's, where the cancer has spread, there's still hope and a lot of ways to manage the disease.' Biden's sudden diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer is unfortunately all too common Prostate cancers are assigned a Gleason score from 1 to 10, indicating how abnormal the cancer cells appear under a microscope. Biden's office confirmed his score was 9, signaling an aggressive form of the disease. Doctors and survivors alike are urging men not to wait for symptoms, which may not appear until the cancer is advanced. With regular screening and early intervention, many cases can be treated successfully. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Campaign ME
13-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Horizon FCB packages Hardee's new steak sandwich for Gen Z
Hardee's Kuwait has launched its new Frisco Philly Steak Sandwich with a campaign that intends to resonate strongly with Gen Z audiences in the country. The campaign was brought to life by Horizon FCB in partnership with Sora Films Production and Cloudy Production. Tasked with creating buzz around the launch, Horizon FCB Kuwait developed the Frisco Philly Steak Sandwich film, blending humour, attitude and music to reflect the brand's fearless personality. The bold campaign was carried across out-of-home (OOH) advertising, digital-out-of-home (DOOH) billboards, at the point of sale (POS), and across below-the-line (BTL) materials provided regionally. The campaign's hero film was launched across digital and social media platforms, as these channels were found to receive the most Gen Z engagement. The campaign is running through the month of May 2025. Hardee's tasked each market with creating its own localised content to better connect with the target audience. In Kuwait, Horizon FCB Kuwait developed a dedicated local film to bring the Frisco Philly Steak Sandwich to life. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hardee's Kuwait (@hardeeskuwait) Featuring shredded Philly steak and beef patty layered with melted cheese, grilled onions, and a punch of flavour all tucked inside Hardee's iconic square-shaped bun, the campaign delivered a fresh, high-energy piece that captures Hardee's unapologetic tone while resonating with a younger generations. The campaign film has already gained more than 1 million views on Hardee's Kuwaiti digital platforms. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hardee's Kuwait (@hardeeskuwait) CREDITS: Client: Hardee's Kuwait Agency: Horizon FCB Kuwait Horizon FCB Kuwait Managing Director: Elie Farah Horizon FCB Kuwait Creative Director: Ahmed Zedan Horizon FCB Kuwait Senior Account Director: Sara Zakhari Horizon FCB Kuwait Senior Account Executives: Asma Salem, Ahmad Ibrahim Horizon FCB Kuwait Social Media Account Executive: Reem Al Zaghir Production House: Sora Films Production and Cloudy Production Producer: Ahmed Shoaib Film Director: Mohamed Maged
