FirstFlight Management, with home offices in Horseheads, N.Y., has opened an aircraft charter service, at the Napa County Airport.

Heading south on Highway 29 toward American Canyon, just before Green Island Road, drivers see a huge billboard that reads, “Please stick your nose in our business.” The sign features a nose in a large glass of wine.

Napa’s single largest parcel of land — 218 acres south of Napa Airport  has sold.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit improved in September after hitting an all-time high, helped by lower oil prices. The imbalance with China, however, soared to a record as retailers stocked their shelves for Christmas.

DES MOINES, Iowa — With new ethanol and biodiesel plants going online monthly and increasing demand for the homegrown fuel additives, transportation companies are scurrying to provide the needed trains, trucks and storage tanks to keep up with the rapidly growing industry.

KINSHASA, Congo — Patrons heading to an outdoor bar in Congo’s capital often stop first at a nearby moneychanger, where they fork over just enough U.S. dollars for a beer. Then they sit down to enjoy their bottle, confident the value of what’s in their wallets won’t depreciate — at least not while they drink.

ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines Inc., the nation’s third-largest carrier, said Thursday it swung to a $52 million profit in the third quarter thanks in part to a one-time gain due to a decrease in previously estimated pre-bankruptcy claims for restructuring of aircraft financing deals.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Czech brewery Budejovicky Budvar NP said Thursday the patent office in Portugal has registered its “Budweiser Budvar” trademark in that country, despite objections from its rival, U.S. beer giant Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc.