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Seattle, WA, United States (AHN) – Get ready to peel off more bucks for your Starbucks lattes, frappuccinos, espressos and standard brews.

The Seattle coffee chain announced Tuesday that it is raising prices an average of 1 percent in the Northeast and Sunbelt regions. Cities that will see higher prices include Boston, New York, Washington, Atlanta, Dallas and Albuquerque. Prices will remain unchanged in California and Florida.

The increase comes as Starbucks faces higher commodity costs. The company will not raise prices for its packaged coffee sold in its cafes and at grocery stores. That increase came last year when Starbucks raised prices of packaged coffee 17 percent at its cafes and 12 percent at grocery stores.

The coffee giant believes the increases will have little effect on its consumer base, which is less sensitive to prices than some of its rivals.

In early afternoon trading Wednesday, shares of Starbucks were trading higher by 2 percent at $46.21 per share.

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Kathmandu, Nepal (AHN) – As protracted political deadlock continues in Nepal, the Department of State is warning U.S. citizens of the potential risks of traveling to Nepal and urges caution when traveling in that country.

“The Department of State remains concerned about the security situation in Nepal. U.S. citizens are urged to obtain updated security information before traveling and they should be prepared to change their plans on short notice,” said the travel alert issued Wednesday.

Nepali officials objected to the designation.

“Nepal is safe, reliable and unique destination for the tourist,” Lila Mani Poudel, the prime minister’s secretary, told All Headline News.

“We will host tourists successfully where they will enjoy their stay in Nepal with lesser fear,” he said.

The warning comes as Nepal is planning to unveil their ambitious Nepal Tourism Year- 2011 that begins Friday. President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav will inaugurate the campaign that aims to host more than 1 million tourists to the Himalayan nation.

Nepal has experienced significant political violence in the past and, although there have been markedly fewer major disturbances in recent months, political tensions remain. Protests, demonstrations, and disruptions continue to occur, often without advance notice, according to the advisory.

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Dutch food group Wessanen said today (3 December) that CFO Frans Eelkman Rooda will step down from his role next year.

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Tesco has revealed plans to quadruple its sales in China to GBP4bn (US$6.41bn) a year over the next five years.

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London, United Kingdom (AHN) – Prince William is engaged to longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton, it has been officially confirmed Tuesday. The prince’s official residence, Clarence House, announced that the couple, who have been together for eight years, will be married next year.

Speculations abound that the couple are set to wed following Kate’s parents visit to the Queen’s Scottish estate last month. The wedding is expected to be the biggest royal event since Prince William’s parents, Prince Charles and the late Diana, wed in 1981.

The statement reads: “The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton. The wedding will take place in the Spring or Summer of 2011, in London.”

“Prince William and Miss Middleton became engaged in October during a private holiday in Kenya. Prince William has informed The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton’s father.”

The couple, who met while studying at St. Andrews University, will live in north Wales so William can continue to serve with the Royal Air Force.

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A taste of Europe: Seeking a better life for their family, Shandor and Evi Frenssen left successful culinary careers in California to open a restaurant in Medicine Lodge’s 100-year old Grand Hotel

Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – Higher prices for turkeys will make Thanksgiving dinner more expensive and means some people who rely on food banks will have to do without a traditional holiday dinner.

The culprit is higher feed prices that have caused an approximate 2 percent drop in production, leading to a 28 percent jump in the wholesale price of turkey over a year ago. Frozen turkeys rose to $1.09 a pound on average Thursday, which was the highest price ever recorded.

Corn is the main ingredient in turkey feed, accounting for 70 percent of the ingredients. Therefore, the fact that corn prices rose by 47 percent in the past year had a huge impact on the cost of raising turkeys.

Look for prices to rise further as competition for corn is heating up because corn is not only used in food for human consumption and in animal feed, but also in the manufacturing of ethanol fuel for vehicles.

U.S. Department of Agriculture officials expect turkey production to fall 1.3 percent this year to 5.514 billion pounds.

Although retailers usually discount turkey prices around holiday time, analysts do not expect to see deep discounts this season because there is not much wiggle room for retailers to sell birds at a steep discount without taking severe losses.

Agriculture Department officials estimate wholesale turkey prices for eastern markets will run about $1 to $1.04 during the fourth quarter of this year compared to 84 cents per pound for Q4 2009. Retail prices for frozen turkeys were $157 per pound in September, the highest prices since 1980 and 7.7 percent higher than a year ago.

Food banks around the country, including some in California and Texas, are already saying they do not expect to have enough turkeys to hand out to poor families this year.

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A poor harvest in Hawaii and the strength of the Australian dollar has caused nut processor Buderim Ginger to warn that its losses will widen this year.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Y100, Miami’s biggest music station and one of the most popular in the country, has assembled the year’s biggest radio chart-toppers for this year’s “2010 Y100 Jingle Ball.” This year’s show will feature headliners Katy Perry and Adam Lambert, among others.

Katy Perry is sure to perform some of her biggest hits from her new “Teenage Dream” album, including the #1 title track and “California Gurls.” She last performed at the Y100 “Jingle Ball” in 2008, in support of her “One of the Boys” album. The “Jingle Ball” is just one of the many appearances she has lined up this year before she kicks off her “California Dreams” world tour in February.

Adam Lambert is currently on his own successful world tour in support of his “For Your Entertainment” album. He’ll take the stage in South Florida for the second time in less than three months as part of the “Jingle Ball,” and by popular demand too. He was #1 on the radio station’s poll as to who listeners wanted to see at the show. He hosted last year’s “Y100 Jingle Ball” along with “Gossip Girl” star Leighton Meester, but did not perform.

Selena Gomez will take the stage for the first time to perform hits from her album “A Year Without Rain,” while B.o.B. will also make his “Jingle Ball” debut performing his smash debut singles from this year, including “Airplanes” with Hayley Williams and “Nothin’ On You” with Bruno Mars.

Taio Cruz also makes his first “Jingle Ball” appearance, thanks to his hit singles off his “Rokstarr” album, including the #1 “Break Your Heart” and “Dynamite.” Jay Sean is also “Down” for the party for the first time, sure to party like its “2012.”

Flo Rida returns for another year, having performed at last year’s concert, while Enrique Iglesias makes his return to the “Jingle Ball” this year. Train and The Script, offering some much-need rock sounds to the proceedings, will also perform.

Tickets for the 2010 “Y100 Jingle Ball” are currently in pre-sales and will go on sale to the general public this weekend.

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The European Commission today proposed a five year ban on the use of cloned animals in food production within the European Union (EU) and the sale of such food. Meanwhile, further assessments will be made about its safety and ethics, especially as regards animal welfare.

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