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A nationwide grassroots campaign will culminate today, October 24th with the celebration of Food Day. The Food Day campaign now in its third year, builds momentum all year with a final event day on October 24th, when thousands of schools, businesses, and communities participate by setting up their own events and pledging to “eat real.”
The goal of the movement is to encourage schools, families, and businesses to eat local, sustainable, and healthy food while simultaneously ensuring that no food goes to waste and that conditions for both farm industry workers and farm animals are humane. Another goal is to find ways to provide affordable healthy food to lower income families and individuals and end the hunger problem in the United States.
One in five families in the U.S. doesn’t know where their next meal will come from, and yet one third of children are overweight or obese. Food Day has recently launched the “Get Food Education in Every School” initiative to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy diet for a health life, and to work with associations to bring affordable food to families and schools in low-income areas. The initiative has been successful so far, with thousands of schools across the country pledging to participate in this year’s Food Day.
The Food Day campaign is organized by the Center for Science in the Public Interest but is run by citizens, as anyone can pledge to host an event and spread the word. The website has a list of Food Day 2013 coordinators for anyone who wants to take the lead and coordinate a committee or event or simply volunteer. It’s also easy to locate events near you using an event map on the campaign’s website.
Rhode Island is participating in the campaign, with Roger Williams University hosting a four day long Food Day scavenger hunt and various elementary schools in the state pledging to participate by organizing Food Day-related activities. For a list of all events in Rhode Island and surrounding areas, click here.
Short notice? If you can’t participate in an event this year, take the pledge to “eat real” yourself! Go one day eating only local and organic food, visit a farmer’s market once a week to support your local farmers, or commit to eating only sustainable produce for the rest of the year.
And be sure to spread the word through social media. It’s easy to share Food Day, and the website even gives you sample social media posts you can just copy and paste onto your Facebook or Twitter. The best way to help the Food Day campaign grow and to promote a healthier lifestyle across the country is to get the word out, so tell your friends and family about the Food Day campaign and take the pledge to “eat real” today.


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Weight Watchers founder Jean Nidetch has passed away: here are 10 interesting facts about the world’s most popular diet
UK members have lost over eight million stone between them
Weight Watchers claim that between 2004 and 2014, UK members together lost eight million stone.
Two million people signed up to Weight Watchers lost a total of 11 million pounds in 2011 alone.
It was founded May 15th 1963
Weight Watchers was founded by Jean Nidetch, who died today. She was spurred on to lose weight after a neighbour assumed she was pregnant instead of overweight.
After attending health clinics and deciding their approach was boring, she set up her own meeting with friends in her flat in Queens, New York.
The first UK meeting was held in 1967
It took place near Windsor and since then there have been over 6000 meetings a week in the UK.
It’s the worlds most popular slimming brand
Since being founded 52 years ago, Weight Watchers has gained over 1 million members. A recent study found that joining Weight Watchers is five times more effective than dieting alone.
Average weight loss after three months with Weight Watchers was 8.6lbs, the study said, whereas those who dieted alone only lost an average of 1.8lbs.
It has the NHS stamp of approval
Due to its success, since 2007 the NHS has provided over £4 million to Weight Watchers in order to help their patients lose weight. It has the highest number of referrals of any diet plan with over 2000 GP’s referring people to the company.
In 2014, the NHS announced that two thirds of the population should be sent to state-funded slimming classes like Weight Watchers, which sparked controversy.
• Diets work better with WeightWatchers than the NHS: research
They make millions
Unsurprisingly, Weight Watchers is an extremely profitable company. In 2013, Weight Watchers posted profits of over £18 million.
Sarah Ferguson says Weight Watchers “saved” her (AP)
The Duchess of York is a fan
The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson spent eleven years as the spokesperson for the brand, and wrote five lifestyle books. She once told The Telegraph that Weight Watchers saved her life: For ages you say you don’t need help, and then eventually you get some, and then it becomes a way of life. Weight Watchers literally saved me.”
Currently the spokesperson is singer and actress Jennifer Hudson.
The biggest success story comes from America
In 2008, 42-year-old Kim revealed she’d lost 211.8lb in two years following the Weight Watchers diet.
A floor once collapsed at a meeting
In 2010 the floor of a Weight Watchers clinic in Sweden collapsed beneath a group of 20 members of the weight loss programme who were gathered for a meeting.
It took till 2011 for them to dismiss calorie counting as “ineffective”
In a statement, former president of the company David Kirchoff said: “calorie counting has become unhelpful.”
“When we have a 100-calorie apple in one hand and a 100-calorie pack of cookies in the other, and we view them as being ‘the same’ because the calories are the same, it says everything that needs to be said about the limitations of just using calories in guiding food choices.”

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China’s economic recovery underlined as manufacturing, services outlook remains positive
- China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was 51.5 for September, while the non-manufacturing PMI was 55.9
- Within the manufacturing PMI, new export orders rose to 50.8 in September from 49.1, above the watershed mark of 50.0 for the first time since December of 2019
Both China’s manufacturing and services industries continued to show recovery in September, data released on Wednesday showed.
The official non-manufacturing PMI, which measures sentiment in the services and construction sectors, stood at 55.9 in September. This was an above the reading of 55.2 for August, and also above the median expectations in a Bloomberg survey for a decline to 54.7.
The official manufacturing and non-manufacturing indices have showed positive economic activity for seven consecutive months.
The official composite PMI was 55.1 in September compared to 54.5 in August.
Within the official manufacturing PMI, the subindex for new export orders rose to 50.8 in September from 49.1 in the previous month, above the watershed mark of 50.0 for the first time since December.
The subindex for imports also returned to expansion territory, rising to 50.4 in September from 49.0 in August.
But the subindex for employment remained below 50.0, although it rose slightly to 49.6 from 49.4.
Within the official non-manufacturing PMI, the business activities subindex for the construction sector was 60.2, unchanged from August, while the subindex for the services sector rose to 55.2 from 54.3.
“Although the overall manufacturing demand has improved, the industry’s recovery is still uneven. The survey results show that over 50 per cent of companies in the textile, clothing and apparel, wood processing and other manufacturing sectors reported insufficient market demand, which was higher than the overall level of the manufacturing industry, and the recovery momentum was still insufficient,” said Zhao Qinghe, a senior statistician at the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
“In addition, the global pandemic has not yet been fully and effectively controlled, and there are still uncertain factors in China’s imports and exports.”
“The recovery of the service sector has accelerated. The policies of boosting consumer spending in various regions have shown results, residents‘ willingness to consume has been increasing and market demand has been effectively released.”
Within the Caixin/Markit manufacturing PMI, manufacturers recorded a sharp and accelerated increase in total new work during September, while the rate of new order growth was the steepest recorded since the start of 2011.
Stronger external demand also helped to lift sales, with new export business expanding at the quickest pace since August 2017, while employment levels were broadly stable. The degree of positive sentiment also improved to a three-month high, with manufacturers generally confident that production will rise over the next 12 months.
“The recovery in manufacturing has maintained its momentum in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic, with both the supply and demand surging,” said Wang Zhe, senior economist at the Caixin Insight Group.
“The subindex of total new orders rose to the highest since January 2011, helped by sharply rebounding overseas demand. The gauge for new export orders climbed to the highest in three years. The strong demand facilitated a recovery in production, with the output subindex staying high. It has been in expansionary territory for seven months in a row. Surveyed enterprises said that the fallout from the epidemic was gradually fading, and orders were rapidly increasing.”
“The higher official PMIs for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing, together with the still-solid Caixin manufacturing PMI, suggest China’s growth recovery is on track, lending support to our forecast for real [gross domestic product] growth of 5.2 per cent year on year in quarter three, up from 3.2 per cent in quarter two,” said analysts from Nomura led by chief China economist Lu Ting.
“As growth headwinds remain strong amid elevated uncertainties stemming from Covid-19 and US-China relations, we expect China’s official manufacturing PMI to stay around 51.0 in the near term, while the official non-manufacturing PMI may soften a bit.
“Beijing will most likely maintain its wait-and-see policy approach through the remainder of this year by neither easing further nor tightening.”
Still, in the first eight months of the year, industrial profits at China’s biggest firms fell by 4.4 per cent compared to a year earlier.
“In the near term, we think fiscal support and improving foreign demand will keep activity in industry and construction strong, which in turn should shore up consumer sentiment and household spending,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics.
“The upshot is that we are entering a period of above trend growth, which should help absorb the remaining slack in the labour market and allow for some policy tightening next year.”


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The Spanish Bathroom Manufacturer has created a completely unique experience for their trade, retail and end-user customers.
Ideal Standard has appointed two new Retail Sales Managers. The appointments are part of a wider investment by the brand.
The Cascade, Smart Lime Clean (SLC), retrofit tap aerator from Neoperl has been created to ensure a long-lasting quality flow stream, whilst protecting the tap from limescale build up.
New research into the long-term implications of IR35 shows that more than half of managers in the construction industry are concerned about how the legislation will affect its workforce.
Interior design studio Goddard Littlefair has unveiled its latest creation with a luxurious design of Southbank Place’s Spa.
Bette is expanding its popular BetteUltra shower tray range with four new formats, with which XL and XXL shower areas can be created.


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Monday 18th February 2013
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Freightways, the courier and data management company, posted an 11 percent gain in first-half profit to a record, meeting estimates, and said the outlook is for a slow pace of growth.
Profit rose to $21 million in the six months ended Dec. 31, from $18.97 million a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. Sales rose 8 percent to $206.7 million.
The biggest contribution to revenue growth in the latest period came from acquisitions, which lifted sales by 2.9 percent including the full-service mailhouse acquired in July last year, while pricing and volume increases both contributed 2.3 percent.
The earnings margin on its express package and business mail unit, which accounts for about 75 percent of the business, held steady at 17 percent, while the earnings before interest, tax and amortisation margin for information management rose 1 percentage point to 18 percent.
Shares of Freightways were unchanged at $4.50 and have climbed by 25 percent in the past 12 months. The shares are rated 'hold' based on the consensus of six analyst recommendations compiled by Reuters, with a median price target of $4.39.
Freightways will pay an interim dividend of 9 cents a share, up from 8.5 cents a year earlier, on April 2, with a record date of March 15.
Operating revenue from express package and business mail rose 6 percent to $158 million and EBITA gained 2 percent to $26 million.
"The positive momentum that we have been achieving in our express package businesses is expected to continue at similar levels for the foreseeable future," the company said. Letter volumes within business mail will continue to decline though that will be offset by market share gains, it said.
Information management sales climbed 15 percent to $50 million and EBITA jumped 23 percent to $9 million.
Freightways said growth in that unit will continue apart from in its recycled paper business, where prices were lower than a year earlier.
The results include a one-time pretax gain of $1 million for the reversal of an earnout on the company's acquisition in November 2010 of Universal Mail, a New Zealand-based international postal service provider because it didn't meet agreed targets.
Managing director Dean Bracewell said Universal Mail had been affected by the Christchurch earthquakes and disruptions to large tourist outlets in the city, though the business is "going well."
"We remain optimistic about the future," he said on a conference call.
No comments yet
Freightways meets guidance with 6 percent gain in profit before items, sees similar 2014 growth
Freightways profit to increase 6 percent in 2013 and 2014, lagging expectations; shares drop
Freightways lifts September quarter profit by 14 percent
Freightways beats estimates gain 24% in FY profit, sees growth in 2013
Freightways buys Dataprint for up to $6.5 million
Freightways first-half profit jumps 20%, lifts dividend
Freightways continues buy-up of info management firms with Australian acquisition
Freightways reports strong first quarter, seeks directors' fee hike
Freightways' directors seek 29% pay rise, first increase in four years


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Olam International Limited has announced that its grains platform plans to expand into animal feed and related businesses in Nigeria. The expansion involves investments in setting up poultry and fish feed mills.
The global animal feed industry has attractive returns and a strong growth outlook, particularly in emerging markets. Olan has chosen Nigeria, as the country’s increasing urbanisation and a change in consumer preference towards more protein-rich diets is driving a strong demand for poultry and aquaculture products and the commercial feed market is expected to grow at over 10% CAGR over the next 5 years.
The investment builds on Olam’s existing strengths in origination, and its expertise and execution capabilities in Nigeria, where it has been successful in executing cost-competitive projects, and operating them at world class efficiency levels. For example, Olam has a profitable and growing wheat milling business.
In addition to bran from its flour mills, Olam will leverage its local procurement network to source a majority of other inputs required for producing poultry and fish feed. This will reduce import dependence, benefit local farming communities and generate youth employment, which are key priorities for the Nigerian economy today.
The investments will also contribute to the development of the Nigerian poultry and aquaculture sectors by providing competitively priced inputs and technical support to local poultry and fish farmers, thereby improving productivity and returns for the sector.


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Albertsons to Go Forward With $24 Billion IPO Despite Haggen Lawsuit
BOISE, ID - It looks like legal woes won’t be getting in the way of Albertsons' planned $24 billion IPO, sources are reporting.
According to Reuters, sources have confirmed that Albertsons' majority owner, Cerberus Capital Management, will continue its plans to carry out the IPO despite the recent $1 billion lawsuit from Haggen and increasing volatility in the stock markets. Confidence remains high that the firm will be able to retain Albertsons’ high valuation.
As we’ve previously reported, Haggen accused Albertsons of misrepresenting the financial health of stores that Albertsons sold to the retailer. Albertsons sold the stores as part of an effort to win approval for a $9.2 billion merger with Safeway. As part of the merger, Albertsons divested 168 stores, 146 of which were to Haggen.
Despite these allegations, which Albertsons vehemently denies, Cerberus sees an IPO as a way to capitalize on the strong performance of rivals like Kroger, the sources told Reuters. Kroger's most recent financial report, announced last week, beat analysts' expectations in both profit and same-store sales and has been trading at approximately 8.23 times its projected 12-month EBITA, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Albertsons will use its “still unrealized synergies” from the Safeway merger and potential acquisition opportunities to gain investors attention, the sources said, while also confirming that the listing date could change based on market conditions.


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The Directorate of MESS Festival announced that reservations and ticket sales will begin on Monday, 16 September. The festival intends to implement and organize several sales and ticket bookings this year as well.
From 16-23 September, tickets can be reserved with a 50 percent discount from the total price for group tickets, which is 118 KM or 112 KM without children’s plays, while individual tickets will be sold with a 20 percent discount.
From 23-27 September, group tickets can be bought at the regular price of 236 KM, or 224 KM (set without children’s shows), and individual tickets will be sold at a 20 percent discount.
MESS provides a discount for group tickets to students, theatre employees and retirees with a 50 percent discount of the total price, which amounts to 118/112 KM, while the sale of individual tickets has a 20 percent discount.
Tickets will be sold on the premises of MESS Festival at Maršala Tita 54/I from 10:00-19:00 or via phone at 062 011 661.


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Apple has a lot of explaining to do.
While the tech giant showed off the Apple Watch at its iPhone launch in October, the company has since held its cards close, revealing only minimal information about the wearable device.
And even though its now known that the device will begin shipping in April, there's still plenty of things investors and consumers are waiting to learn about the smartwatch. But they may not have to wait much longer.
Earlier this month it was reported that Apple was planning an event on Feb. 24. While Apple has not confirmed that date, it is expected the company will announce a launch event in the near future, industry experts said.
Investors, as well as consumers, may expect to get an earful about the Apple Watch at the event, but the company may also have a few surprise announcements in store, those experts said.


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The discussion kind of went off on a tangent of big brands having an unfair advantage, but the core of the discussion was originally around how these big brands are abusing their clout.
1.Google News decides the topic "widgets" is now relevant and begins featuring stories related to topic "widgets" on the front page of GNews.
2. BigBrandX notices that Google News is featuring "widgets" as a topic and quickly writes a story on "widgets" and publishes it.
3. Google News sees BigBrandX's story on "widgets" and immediately features it as the top story on the GNews front page. It stays there for 20 - 45 minutes after which GNews rotates in another story from someone else.
4. BigBrandX sees that its "widgets" story has now been bumped off the front page by someone else and then republishes exactly the same story with the same title all over again.
5. GNews sees that BigBrandX has a new story on "widgets" and immediately pushes it to the top above all the other stories.
6. The same story from BigBrandX has now been re-featured and gets another 45 minutes as the top story.
7. Process repeats over and over until the topic is no longer on GNews.
Many have said they have seen this also but many said they are unsure.
Then senior member, wheel, steered the discussion into the brand debate:
First, kudos to any 'big brand' that has an SEO on hand that's bright enough to do this. I expect that most companies that qualify as a big brand are simply to stuck in beauracracy to do anything even close to this. If they've got someone kicking butt on this, give the SEO a raise.
Secondly, the only thing stopping any one of us from doing the very same thing is nothing other than having Google evaluate us as a brand.
Rather than complaining that 'brands' or some other identifiable trait of your competitors have an edge, don't we see the opportunity to do the same thing ourselves?
Even if these media outlets do well in Google News, if they abuse it, they should be treated with less authority.


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SchmiRmaL, Leclanché, Drive EO, Momentum Dynamics.
Conductive lubricants: The Bosch-led project “SchmiRmaL,” is working on innovative lubricants for ball bearings in electric motors. The addition of ionized liquids, researchers say, could reduce friction some ten million times. Enough to counter unwanted discharging of electricity.
Researching ceramic separator: Swiss battery-maker Leclanché and French company Saint-Gobain want to develop a new ceramic separator for lithium-ion cells. If successful, Leclanché will use it in its stationary product range; Saint-Gobain will be in charge of marketing.
Tesla with new peak power: The Lithuanian engineering company Drive EO will compete in this year’s Pikes Peak using an electric racer based on the Tesla Roadster. It features a 360 kW modified drivetrain and 40 kWh battery pack.
gas2.org, technologicvehicles.com, youtube.com (Video)
New inductive player? Momentum Dynamics is working on an inductive charging system for EVs that, in terms of price, could compete with plug-in systems. According to the company, it currently delivers as much as 50 kW at a 90% efficiency rate.


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On Wednesday the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced it will no longer make mail deliveries on Saturday, ending years of rumors that this would be the next step for the financially-burdened postal service. Officials cite that the transition to electronic mail and online bill payment has drastically reduced the number of physical letters and mailing materials being sent through the service. (Although package delivery – which remains Monday through Saturday – is up 14 percent, which we bet is due to more online shopping!)
So no more Saturday post – but then again, when did you really see a lot of mail in your box that wasn’t junk? Where are consumers getting all their communications? The Internet of course!
Electronic Communication Isn’t All E-mail Anymore
You can’t just say e-mail is the death of the mailed letter, because e-mail itself is on its last legs as well. Back in 2010, then-Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was quoted at a press conference saying, “E-mail is probably going away,” and citing a statistic that 11 percent of teens use e-mail on a daily basis.
Flash forward to a recent 2012 article in the Huffington Post and you’ll see that many companies are considering removing e-mail as the “go-to” means of communication. International IT service company Atos has a goal to eliminate e-mail from its internal communication plan by 2014.
So what’s killing e-mail? According to Atos’ CEO and Chairman, Thierry Breton, it’s collaboration tools like Microsoft Communicator and social community platforms.
How Companies Are Communicating Outside of Postal Mail
When was the last time your company sent out a physical advertisement like a post card or brochure? Most businesses are forgoing the postage and print costs for digital marketing like eNewsletters and social media campaigns.
But wait – eNewsletters are e-mail, isn’t that dying? Yes and no. While e-mail isn’t as popular as before, it’s still going to stick around. Look at the history of technology evolution – when television came out, everyone said radio would be gone, but it’s still here. Magazines and books still exist in the glow of eReaders. People still go to concerts even though they can watch the entire performance on DVD.
eNewsletters still thrive because they’re something different. They’re an indirect method of marketing that’s first and foremost a method of sharing information. So while we’re expecting a continuing shift from mailed newsletters to eNewsletters, we don’t think the lower popularity of e-mail will reduce their success – as long as they have great content!
Social media syndication and marketing are also the big players in reducing the popularity of postal mail communication. Why wait days to send a letter or flyer through the mail when you can instantly message your clients? Social media allows for more direct, personal contact with your clients, allowing you to be a much more responsive company.
Go Electronic With Your Business Marketing
Nearly every type of postal marketing communication has an electronic counterpart. Postcards and newsletters? ePostcards, eGreetings and eNewsletters. Brochures and catalogs? Interactive PDFs. Video DVDs? YouTube channels.
Aside from physical items like product samples, there are very few reasons your business should still be marketing with snail mail. If you’re still stuck in the postal age, We Do Web Content can get your marketing digital well before the August mail schedule switch occurs!
Learn more about social media content marketing, eNewsletters, and other Internet marketing solutions – contact us on our website or give us a call, 888-594-5442.


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MTV has re branded with a bigger logo and new tagline – ‘Stay Raw’ and will promote its new look through a 360-degree campaign.
Says MTV India channel head Aditya Swamy, “What we have started is not an ad campaign or new tagline. It’s a philosophy. It’s an idea that is based on what young people today believe, express
For promoting its new ‘raw’ look, the channel is going ad free over the weekend for the first time, doing a “roadblock for itself.”
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7 December 2020
Audio branding in 2020: the best bits
Despite the unpredictable nature of the last 12 months, one branding element, in particular, has emerged as a sure-fire way to capture the attention of an audience: audio.
Not only have we seen high-profile projects from globally recognised names like Netflix and CBS, but companies at of all sizes have put sound at the top of their agenda to foster stronger connections with consumers.
A sonic logo for the silver screen
Despite only lasting four seconds, Netflix’s sonic logo has become one of the most recognisable in the world – a ‘Ta-Dum’ that promises entertainment without limits, literally. But with a planned move into original cinematic releases, the streaming giant felt their sound could benefit from a Hollywood makeover – so they enlisted the help of Hollywood legend, Hans Zimmer.
In August, Netflix debuted the brand new 16-second production – a powerful, orchestral piece that rises with strings and percussion before settling into the familiar ‘Ta-Dum’ sound we’re all so accustomed to. The finished result became one of the most talked-about audio campaigns of the year – and showcases just how adaptable audio can be as a brand asset.
A captive audience
YouTube has historically been a predominantly visual platform, but this year, the brand noticed a rise in users listening to music while going about their daily lives. This growing audience is primed and ready to listen to advertisements – a trend YouTube is capitalising on with the introduction of audio ads in beta.
The audio soundtrack takes centre stage in delivering a brand’s message, alongside a still image or simple animation that’s almost been designed to stay unseen. And early reports show people are listening up, with Shutterfly – a tester of the campaign – reporting a 14% lift in ad recall and a 2% lift in favourability among its target audience.
We’ve seen how accessible audio has been this year, as people strive to take a break from the screen and consume content on the go, but we’ve also witnessed just how powerful audio can be in helping brands tell their story in an authentic voice.
National Public Radio (NPR) has amassed a loyal following of people searching for unbiased, fact-based journalism and programming – attracting 60 million more users per month than at the start of the year. NPR offers a platform for brands to tell stories of their own, with the spoken-word environment providing the perfect space for a company to speak conversationally and authentically, with a focus on the human aspects of technology.
A recent Chipotle campaign on NPR’s Soundscapes solution featured young farmers sharing the challenges they face as they carry on the tradition of their family business. The brand recognised how much more impactful and emotive these stories would be if they were delivered by real people, in their own words, right to the ears of the listener – and NPR provided the ideal vehicle for this. Not only was the campaign well-received by consumers (with a 25% click-through rate to the young farmers landing page), but it also allowed Chipotle to further their brand message of cultivating a better world.
Audio developments of our own
We pride ourselves on staying at the forefront of developments in the world of audio and technology – and 2020 proved to be a huge year in this area. This year, we uncovered how audio branding could be used to maximise the power of a cloud telephone system – and helped our clients around the world to create a more streamlined and engaging caller experience as a result.
Ramos Center, a highly-respected healthcare provider, was an early pioneer of this technology, with a cloud-based Ring Central system providing some of the greatest opportunities to perfect call handling processes. The PHMG team crafted engaging audio content to play at key touchpoints throughout the caller journey, replacing impersonal robotic greetings and putting callers instantly at ease. The finished result has greatly enhanced Ramos Center’s caller experience – allowing for increased support and efficiency throughout every interaction. With such a strong foundation to build upon, we look forward to helping many more brands use cloud technology to their advantage in 2021.
The past 12 months have proven that audio continues to be important to customers, making it an area companies should seriously consider investing in for the year ahead. With people looking for ways to spend more time away from the screen – while still consuming informative, engaging content – audio will only continue to grow as a key branding tool to appeal to customers.Read the guide
Brand spotlight: Airbnb
The latest in our series of deep-dives into brands successfully using audio looks at the phenomenally successful vacation rental platform.
Research & analysis
Why do we find the sound of rain comforting?
And how can you leverage our collective love a good night’s sleep to your advantage?
Eurovision Song Contest 2023: Our experts’ picks
Our Music team have given all 37 of the runners and riders a spin, so you don’t have to. (You’re welcome.)


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Boulevard Brewing Co.’s newest concoction will hit shelves later this month, the Kansas City craft brewer said Thursday.
The 80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer — into which Boulevard poured more than two years of work — will be available year-round. It is Boulevard’s eighth year-round beer and its first since 2010, spokeswoman Julie Weeks said.
The potential sales impact of the new offering will take several months to determine, she said.
Boulevard describes the beer as “a distinctive ale with the aroma of an I.P.A. and the refreshing taste of a wheat beer.” Read more about the new beer.
80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer will be sold in six-packs of 12-ounce bottles in most Boulevard markets later in August. The first ones hit shelves Tuesday, but it could take a week for other establishments to get their shipments, Weeks said.
“I’m very proud of our brewers and their ongoing creativity and innovation,” John McDonald, Boulevard founder and president, said in a written statement. “They’ve been working on this beer for a long time, taking it to festivals and sampling it for guests in our tasting room. The reception was so enthusiastic, we knew it would eventually find a place in our line-up.”
Boulevard, the nation’s 10th-largest craft brewer, sells its beers in 23 states and the District of Columbia. It controls more than 5 percent of the Kansas City-area beer market and sells 40 percent of its beer locally. Boulevard reported 2011 revenue of $32.01 million, up 11.2 percent from 2010.


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Guilford-Based Group Buys Guilford Food Center
Guilford Food Center owners Ray and Ron Rosa are readying to hand over ownership of the family’s landmark Guilford Green shop to Guilford residents Dee Jacob and Jason Iglesias, who will run the store as The Marketplace at Guilford Food Center. Both Rosas will remain involved with the store, which will be remodeled and will add an indoor café area. (Photo courtesy of EJ Vongher)
Good news for those who love their local: Longtime Guilford residents Dee Jacob and Jason Iglesias have bought the Guilford Food Center and plan to re-open it later this spring as an expanded marketplace with an indoor café.
Additionally, the new owners plan to retain Ron and Ray Rosa, owners of the Food Center, as part of the new operation, which will be called The Marketplace at Guilford Food Center.
Ron Rosa will direct operations in the meat and delicatessen departments. Ray Rosa will direct operations in the catering department.
Jacob, chief operating officer of the new business, would not disclose the price paid for the Food Center “because it is not yet final,” but did state, “We got it for a great price.”
The Whitfield Street store, which has been in business for 45 years, had been on the market for $1.175 million. The Village Chocolatier, next door at 79 Whitfield Street, which currently rents space from the Food Center, will continue to operate as is, according to Jacob.
The new business, the owners said, will retain many aspects of the Food Center, but will expand to not only include on-premise seating, but also will have a variety of hot and cold beverages, as well as marketplace-style food kiosks in partnership with local fruit, vegetable, cheese, and bakery providers.
“Bill Rosa and the Rosa family created a shoreline institution in the Guilford Food Center,” said Jacob. “We could not be happier that they have agreed to stay with us as we shape this new marketplace and café for the people of Guilford and surrounding shoreline towns.
The new owners said that staffing will be one place in which their respect for what the Rosas have accomplished will be shown.
“The Marketplace at Guilford Food Center will feature many familiar faces to current customers as well as some new faces to help expand on the vision of Bill Rosa and his family,” said Jacob.
The seating area in the reopened store will accommodate up to 40 patrons for breakfast, lunch, dinners, and snacks.
“We want to create an environment where local residents and visitors alike can shop for quality food, gather for a bite, or to just meet and enjoy a drink in a casual yet comfortable environment,” said Iglesias, who will be the general manager of the store. “Guilford is about community, and we’re offering a spot at the center of this community for both casual, spontaneous get-togethers or more formal gatherings.”
Ron Rosa said, “I am happy that my family and I will continue to serve our many dedicated customers for their meal and deli needs. I am very excited to be part of The Marketplace at Guilford Food Center.”
His brother, Ray Rosa, added, “I’m so glad that The Marketplace and I will continue to serve the community for their catering needs. I look forward to our expanded offerings.”
The agreement that will keep this local landmark in local hands has made quite a few people happy.
“I am extremely excited to learn about The Marketplace at Guilford Food Center, a new concept for an established Guilford business,” said First Selectman Joseph Mazza. “This is a wonderful transformation of an existing Guilford enterprise that will bring new vitality to downtown Guilford and the surrounding area of the Green.”
“It’s a win-win for all involved,” said Economic Development Director Brian McGlone. “It is fortunate to have the Rosa family remaining involved. It is also fortunate that the new owners are Guilford residents and committed to our community.”
Space will be set aside in the new store, Jacob said, for local civic and school organizations to use for a variety of purposes. Groups like the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, local sports teams, or school organizations and clubs will be able to use the space to promote events.
Jacob said the marketplace concept will provide a number of market-style kiosks featuring a variety of food offerings from local providers.
Jacob, who has lived in Guilford since 1991, has had a two-decade tenure in the food manufacturing, supply chain, and continuous improvement functions at Procter & Gamble. She moved to Connecticut to become a partner at the Avraham Y. Goldratt Institute, at which she focused on constraint management business strategy and supply chain and project management with a variety of businesses ranging from small to Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. Air Force and Navy. She was elected as managing partner from 2006 to 2012.
In 2013, she founded a new business, consultancy VelosCT, for which she serves as chief executive officer. Over the years, she has consulted with numerous retail chains, including many of the smaller food stores of the D’Agostino chain in New York.
Many insights and observations from her years as a business consultant can be found in the business novel she co-authored, Velocity—Combining Lean, Six Sigma and the Theory of Constraints to Achieve Breakthrough Business Performance.
In her spare time, Jacob is heavily involved in the Guilford community with the Girl Scouts, St. George Church, Guilford Fund for Education, DAY, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the initial Soundview Y capital campaign.
Iglesias was born and raised in Guilford. He began working at age 15 as a busboy at Bistro on the Green in Guilford; coincidentally, this was also his introduction to the Guilford Food Center, where he periodically had to purchase produce for the restaurant.
After working New York and New Haven restaurants, he moved to Texas, where he worked at the landmark Austin restaurant Manuel’s.
He left the food industry in 2000 for retail management positions at Tumi and Kenneth Cole, wherein he ultimately became a troubleshooter and turn-around manager at problematic locations.
In 2007, he returned to the food industry, working the front of the house for a variety of New York City restaurant groups including BR Guest Hospitality, Craft Restaurants, the Standard Hotel group, and, most recently, at Major Food Group, at which he was part of the team to open Dirty French in Manhattan’s trendy Lower East Side.


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By Gillian Tan and Ross Kelly
The founding family of Westfield Group, which owns more than 100 malls globally, has raised 663.7 million Australian dollars (US$681.6 million) by selling its stake in a trust created to hold more mature assets in Australia and New Zealand.
A spokesman for the Lowy family provided scant detail on why it had sold its entire 7.1% holding in the Westfield Retail Trust, a separately listed company created just over two years ago to hold interests in dozens of Westfield-branded malls.
“The sale was made as part of a broader investment strategy to diversify its investments internationally,” the Lowy Family spokesman said in a statement. It didn’t elaborate.
Westfield’s first mall was opened by current Chairman Frank Lowy and business partner John Saunders in 1959 in the western Sydney suburb of Blacktown. The company was floated on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1960 and now owns malls or mall developments in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Brazil and Italy.
It spun off half of its Australian and New Zealand assets into the Westfield Retail Trust in December 2010 to raise as much as US$3.5 billion to invest in larger projects including the new World Trade Center retail development in New York, and provide flexibility to expand in emerging markets such as Brazil.
The Lowy family’s stake in Westfield Retail Trust was being sold late Thursday to institutional investors through a process run by UBS, a person familiar with the matter said.
The stake was sold to UBS at A$3.09 a share in a block trade after the market closed. That represents a 9 cent discount to Westfield Retail Trust’s A$3.18 closing price in Sydney, but is nevertheless higher than the original price at the time of its 2010 listing of A$2.75.
The spokesman said the Lowy family’s 8% interest in the larger Westfield Group, the largest of any shareholder, remains unchanged as does its “continuing commitment” to the company.
The Lowy family is well known for its philanthropy, including the establishment of the Lowy Institute, a foreign policy think tank based in Sydney. Frank Lowy also led Australia’s failed bid to host the 2022 soccer World Cup.
J.P.Morgan cut the stock to Neutral from Overweight following the Lowy family’s sell down.
“The decision of a long-term and wise investor to reduce its exposure to Australian shopping centers raises the questions about the future direction of capital values,” J.P.Morgan analyst Richard Jones said in a note.
Stuart Cartledge, managing director of fund manager Phoenix Portfolios, which owns shares in both Westfield Group and Westfield Retail Trust, said he wasn’t surprised to see the family selling their stake in Westfield Retail Trust.
“It’s logical because they’ve historically held their stake in the more active business,” he said. “The trust is still trading at a discount to the value of the underlying assets, so it’s still an attractive price to us.”
Westfield Retail Trust this week booked a 2.2% fall in 2012 annual profit to A$572.6 million, underperforming an 18% profit jump at Westfield Group that was driven by the London Olympics boosting traffic through its malls and stronger U.S. consumer confidence.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch on Thursday upgraded Westfield Retail Trust to a buy recommendation with a A$3.30 price target due to its attractive dividend yield and steady earnings potential, while Credit Suisse cut it to a neutral call with a target price of A$3.31.


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Fast-food giant McDonald’s Corp. is hoping its first-ever sponsorship of the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, will “generate awareness” of its digital initiatives and will help it build relationships with entrepreneurs and “influencers,” according to spokeswoman Becca Hary.
Hary declined to specify how much McDonald’s
That SXSW attendees are likely to skew millennial is not lost on the Oak Brook, Ill., burger chain, which has witnessed slowing U.S. sales as more youthful consumers have expressed a preference for fast-casual eateries like Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.
Don’t miss:10 things Chipotle won’t tell you
Hary would not say whether the company’s new CEO, Steve Easterbrook, will make the trip. Easterbrook took over this month after serving as McDonald’s chief brand officer. As the company’s brand chief, he helped spearhead the “I’m Lovin’ It” brand campaign and a transparency campaign to show consumers how McDonald’s sources and prepares its food.
“It is quite surprising to me” that McDonald’s is going to SXSW, CEO Wendy Liebmann of the consultancy WSL Strategic Retail told MarketWatch. “The usual SXSW crowd is not the [McDonald’s] crowd. [Attendees are] usually edgier, healthier, more techy, definitely more millennial. McDonald’s may see this as an opportunity to show it’s become hipper, trendier and [be] using SXSW as a platform to be seen differently.”
At the event, McDonald’s plans to install several mobile restaurants featuring customer favorites from its breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, Hary said — and it will be serving them free of charge.
It also plans to host three sessions at which panels of judges will hear 15-minute pitches on how the chain can reinvent the customer experience and create content that speaks to today’s digitally connected consumer. Such ideas as drone delivery of customer orders and the deployment of customer-recognition software — which could one day store not only regular orders but mobile payment data — are expected to be on the table.
The company said conventional door-to-door delivery and drive-through could become obsolete as “connected technology” changes the nature of transportation.
The first-place pitch will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to McDonald’s headquarters near Chicago — and an opportunity to pitch senior management.
“We want to be in the flow of ideas, offering our scale to interesting partners, with the intent to make the lives of millions of people who use McDonald’s a bit simpler and even more enjoyable,” said McDonald’s chief digital officer, Atif Rafiq, in a guest blog post at the South By Southwest website.


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The investor in BigLion and a former partner at Russian VC fund ru-Net, Dmitry Alimov is launching a $50 million fund Frontier Ventures to invest in early stage Russian startups. By early stage, Alimov means up to $10 million per startup, according to Reuters. I suppose given the flood of funding news from Russian Runet the stakes have been raised. The fund plans to invest into two to five deals per year.
The co-owner (does it mean co-founder?) of the online video content provider ivi.ru Oleg Tumanov is a venture partner at the Frontier Venture Fund and a member of its investment committee.
For the record, BigLion has surpassed Groupon Russia as the largest daily deals industry player, which we covered recently. Ivi.ru is the second most popular online video streaming service after Vkontakte (Russian Facebook), according to the survey by Movie Research and ROMIR published earlier this month (in Russian). ru-Net is Russian investment fund, which has recently led the $100 million funding round in Ozon.ru, Russian Amazon.
Looks like the Runet funding news ticker is going to scroll faster.
+44 (020) 3290 3544
vita at goaleurope dot com


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As the logistics industry continues to thrive, and with mobility being a key pillar of Expo 2020, our latest edition of Law Update looks at the Transport and Logistics sector. An area that is integral to the business and consumer supply chain because it impacts all aspects of the products and services we consume.
From expert commentary to great insights, this edition of Law Update is brimming with an interesting mix of articles ranging from maritime, aviation, insurance, and other industry insights that you don’t want to miss.
We hope this edition of Law Update provides some valuable food for thought – enjoy the read!Take a read of the edition
As of February 2011, Sharjah Department of Economic Development (“SDED”) has established a new Intellectual Property Rights Protection Department (“IPRD”) in a show of commitment to the enforcement of IP rights in Sharjah in a more organised and streamlined manner.
Sharjah is one of the seven emirates forming the federation of the United Arab Emirates and its Department of Economic Development is the governmental authority charged with powers of enforcement of IP rights.
Previously, complainants seeking to file complaints against IP infringements had to pursue their complaints through the Complaints and Dispute section, a part of the Legal Affairs department of the SDED, and raids would be conducted through them. The creation of the IPRD means that complainants can now route their complaints directly to the IPRD, which acts as a one stop shop for conducting raid action against infringers in the emirate of Sharjah.
This important development is a boon to trademark proprietors in the combat against counterfeits as it demonstrates a consolidated and focused approach taken by the UAE government at the emirate level to win the war against IP infringements. With the IPRD entrenched as part of the government’s artillery in IP enforcement, it is expected that it will provide a platform for the launch of public awareness programs on IP rights and its enforcement as well for facilitating engagement with other public authorities such as the Police as well as the private sector.


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OXFORD United will be backed by a sold out away section when they visit AFC Wimbledon next weekend.
All 900 terrace and seating tickets made available for the clash on Saturday, February 27, have been snapped up.
No more will be made available by Wimbledon.
It surpasses the 780 United took to Kingsmeadow for a goalless draw last April.
- Josh Ashby to stay at Oxford City for season after Oxford United agree extension
- Oxford United sell a third of their tickets before FA Cup opponents are confirmed
- Silly errors cost us dear, says Oxford United boss Michael Appleton
- We studied them all week, but failed to deliver, says Oxford United skipper John Lundstram after AFC Wimbledon defeat
- Neal Ardley disappointed AFC Wimbledon did not score more
Meanwhile, tickets continue to sell strongly for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley.
At the latest update, which includes sales up to 8pm last night, United had sold just over 23,500 seats for the Barnsley clash on Sunday, April 3.


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Root and Owlcam enter pilot
Root announced a partnership and pilot program with Owlcam that will utilize Owlcam’s video security and safety system to streamline insurance claims.
“At Root, we’re dedicated to promoting driver safety. Owlcam is a leader in in-car video, and we know that video can help drivers protect their vehicle 24/7, and simplify the process of filing claims. We are looking forward to growing this partnership over time.” – Kumi Walker, Chief Corporate Development & Strategy Officer at Root.
During the pilot program, select Root customers are testing how Owlcam services can impact driving safety and car security while simultaneously simplifying the claims process. The results could help to inform future Root discounts for consumers who use Owlcam. Additionally, Owlcam’s features allow testers to quickly send video to Root to support any claims.
When a crash or break-in is detected in a vehicle with Owlcam, a video clip is instantly sent to the driver’s smartphone. Within the Owlcam app, customers can live view footage captured by the camera to see what is happening in real-time from anywhere. The video proof can immediately be shared with Root as well as police arriving on the scene. Owlcam also offers 911 Assist, a live operator emergency call response service, as part of its service plan.
While this pilot program is currently available to a limited number of Root customers, the feedback could lead to a broader partnership between the two companies.


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South African Research Team Says Cannabis is ‘Very Promising’ as an Opioid Replacement
by Bethan Rose
Some 46 million people across the United States are believed to suffer from rheumatic diseases. Triggered by imbalances in the immune system, rheumatology cases are typically identified as autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that attack the organs, muscles, joints, and bones.
Although rheumatism can have a detrimental impact on a person’s day-to-day life, the good news is that cannabis may offer a natural solution for patients of all ages and walks of life. Typically, rheumatic diseases are grouped under the umbrella term “arthritis.” Since cannabis has been shown to produce analgesic, or pain-relieving, effects, it’s no wonder why so many patients diagnosed with rheumatism are capitalizing on the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis across the U.S.
Notwithstanding the emerging sphere of evidence highlighting cannabis’ arthritis-fighting effects, such as this 2015 study, the use of cannabis in rheumatology is still a gray area that’s in the process of being explored. On the other hand, fresh data suggests that more patients with arthritic conditions are enjoying herbal cannabis-based remedies.
In a recently published study that was featured in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, a team of researchers carried out a trial with 11,006 patients. Each subject of the study (which included participants in FORWARD, The National Databank for Rheumatic Diseases) had been diagnosed with a certain type of arthritic condition.
Patients were asked about their consumption habits in 2014 and 2019. Based on the results, cannabis consumption rose from 6.3% in 2014 to 18.4% in 2019. Predictably, the most significant jump in cannabis consumption occurred in states with legal recreational cannabis markets.
The outcome of this study mirrors the results of a similar investigation that was carried out by a senior physician in the rheumatology division at the Louise and Alan Edwards Pain Management Center at McGill University Health Center Montreal. Alongside a team of colleagues, Mary-Ann Fitzcharles, MD, conducted an online survey of 1,047 Canadian patients with rheumatological conditions. After Canada enacted a legal adult-use cannabis market in October 2018, each of the recipients answered a specific set of questions about cannabis use.
According to the findings, which were featured in ACR Open Rheumatology, cannabis use tripled among patients in a post-legalization world. While further research is needed to fully understand the use of cannabis in rheumatology, Fitzcharles noted, “The preclinical models of pain and inflammation, even joint inflammation, have shown excellent effects of cannabinoids.”
In an effort to better understand the complex phenomenon of cannabinoid treatment for patients with rheumatic diseases, Donald Abrams, MD, professor at the University of California San Francisco’s department of medicine, fronted a research effort at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Abrams conducted a comprehensive review of recent literature on cannabis and cannabinoids, analyzing 10,000 abstracts to determine the impact of cannabis on rheumatology patients.
“In the therapeutics chapter reviewed here, the report concluded that there was conclusive or substantial evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids are effective for the treatment of pain in adults,” Abrams wrote. “Moderate evidence was found for secondary sleep disturbances.”
Unfortunately, previous efforts to study the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for rheumatology have been severely stunted due to stringent laws across the U.S. “It is an impossible effort to try to study anything about cannabis because of the laws in this country,” said Abrams. Despite room for much more research on the subject, Abrams feels that cannabis is a “useful botanical” and, in comparison with alcohol and tobacco, could be a much safer alternative.
“Stop demonizing it,” said Abrams, who told reporters that further research must be carried out into the green plant as a way of exposing its true medicinal qualities—not only for rheumatology patients but also for patients with various other types of medical conditions and diseases.
Perhaps one of the best places to start regarding the study of cannabis’ therapeutic effects is the endocannabinoid system (ECS). As maintained by Ronald J. Rapoport, MD, FACR, the ECS may be closely related to a broad scope of medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and dementia.
“The cannabinoids that are made in our body’s endocannabinoid system are involved in the normal functioning of such things as the nervous system,” said the chief of the rheumatology division at nonprofit, community-focused hospital Southcoast Health in Massachusetts. Rapoport stated that there are two confirmed receptor subtypes for cannabis in humans: CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB2 is not found as commonly in the ECS as CB1, but certain proof exists to suggest that CB2 attaches to immune cells.
“The cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonists may act on nociceptors in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and may reduce pain because of this. The CB2 receptor may have a positive effect on reducing inflammation and autoimmunity,” Rapoport said. “The CB2 receptor has a high density on immune-modulating cells and may influence such things as immune cell migration and cytokine release,” he clarified, before turning his attention to a separate component of the ECS that may pique the interest of rheumatologists.
According to Rapoport, the CB2 receptor appears to be strongly associated with the nurturing of skeletal integrity since it is found abundantly in osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. “We have to emphasize that the CB2 selective agonist may be helpful not only in reducing inflammation but also potentially in reducing established hypersensitivity in such things as skin disorders and peripheral pain,” continued Rapoport, as he explained a method that the ECS executes to influence feelings of pain.
Regardless of the rise in cannabis use among rheumatology patients residing in recreational cannabis states, Fitzcharles admitted that it remains uncertain as to whether or not the results of the recent analysis are real or placebo-related.
“Most patients with rheumatic diseases are using cannabinoids primarily for pain management, with some experiencing added benefits of improved sleep,” Fitzcharles said. “However, while the effect on sleep is reported by many patients, the systematic reviews do not support an important effect on sleep. This may be in part explained that the formal studies have not been done or published.”
Rapoport believes that the preclinical evidence supporting cannabis use in rheumatology is “still not totally convincing.” Keeping this in mind, Fitzcharles warns rheumatology patients that cannabis (whatever form it comes in) should not be used to replace doctor-prescribed anti-rheumatic drugs.
As with many aspects of cannabis research, the study of cannabis and rheumatology is still in an early stage. Nonetheless, these initial findings are encouraging for the millions of people suffering daily from rheumatic diseases. Will cannabis ever be able to take the place of certain medications prescribed for these conditions? Only time will tell.
Is there anything that cannabis cannot do? As more research is conducted, the list of health benefits grows. One recent discovery indicates that the cannabinoid CBD (cannabidiol) might just be the next big thing for treating testosterone imbalances. Studies have outlined that CBD — a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, rich in anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic properties — may…
Chicken soup for the soul? Well, if it’s infused with cannabis, it’s going to do more than soothe the soul! Whether you consider yourself a talented cook or someone who merely enjoys dabbling with different dishes in the kitchen, this cannabis-infused chicken soup recipe will have you yearning for another spoonful after each gulp. But…
A Black-owned farm in Florida received a cannabis license for the first time, German officials are looking to California for cannabis industry inspo, and Sen. Booker made a case for federal legalization. Let’s dive into this week’s cannanews. Gwinn Brothers Beat Florida’s Rigid Application Process After years of delays, Florida finally awarded its first Black…
Everyone knows that alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis are three of the most commonly used substances in the world. While it is nearly impossible to measure the exact extent to which those substances are consumed, a recent study interestingly found that more Americans are now smoking cannabis than tobacco. Considering all the controversy surrounding cannabis, it…
Can you fail a drug test from secondhand smoke? Many will say it is unlikely for you to fail a drug test because of secondhand cannabis smoke, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen. There are a few factors that could contribute to someone failing a drug test due to secondhand cannabis smoke including:…
Even if you’re new to the cannabis scene, you’ve probably heard people refer to a product known as a “pre-roll.” But what…


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Simon Property Group, Inc. (SPG) Earns Hold Rating from Stifel Nicolaus
Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE:STNG) Experiences Light Trading Volume
Retailer pulls Anne Frank Halloween costume amid complaints
Tickets for 'Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire' VR experience now available
12 October 2017, 04:06 | Elsie Buchanan
Star Wars VR attraction takes you on 'Rogue One'-style undercover mission
Whilst it may not have been the best time to make a virtual reality (VR) announcement during the Oculus Connect 4 (OC4) keynote address, The VOID, ILMxLAB and Lucasfilm have just revealed that tickets for Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire are now on sale ahead of the experience's opening later this year.
"We are so excited about this magical collaboration between three first-to-market companies in the burgeoning out-of-home VR entertainment sector". But we now have a clearer idea of the virtual reality experience one Disney resort plans to offer this December.
Hurricane Ophelia moving northeast in the Atlantic
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles. It is now around 760 miles south-west of the Portuguese Azore islands, whipping up 75mph winds as it trundles eastwards.
Come January, visitors to Downtown Disney will have a chance to virtually experience what it's like going through a mission inside the Star Wars universe. And we all got a first peek at the experience as well, thanks to a new trailer (embedded above). In the story, groups of four, teams will go undercover as Stormtroopers to capture Imperial intelligence vital to the budding rebellion's survival. You and your squad must navigate an enemy facility disguised as Stormtroopers, with Rogue One's K-2SO at your side.
By combining Lucasfilm's storytelling expertise with cutting-edge imagery, and immersive sound from the team at Skywalker Sound, while invoking all the senses, we hope to truly transport all those who experience Star Wars: "Secrets of the Empire to a galaxy far, far away". You'll grab your blaster, solve puzzles, and fight giant lava monsters in an effort to fulfill the rebellion's orders.
Taika Waititi wants to adapt Akira with all-Asian cast
I would do an adaptation of the books", he said. " And, yeah, so anyway there's been some chats [about him directing it ]". This actually makes the most sense, despite the fact that the anime is probably more well known internationally.
The 30-minute attraction, originally announced in early August, will include groups of four participants taking on the roles of undercover rebels on an Imperial base.
Tickets have just been made available at thevoid.com, with admission for both the Anaheim and Orlando locations costing $29.95 per person plus applicable fees.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Kennedy Space Center
U.S. space firm SpaceX has launched a commercial communications satellite into space with its third partly reused rocket. This is the second launch this week for SpaceX , after it competed its Iridium-3 mission on Monday morning.
Jony Ive says Apple's iPhone X design is only the beginning
Apple has also put an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel and the iPhone X will support HDR, TrueTone and 3D Touch display. Even then, this will only happen if LG Display can produce the screens reliably and in the massive scale Apple would require.


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Pretty sure Borat’s people have a lawsuit here.
A new line of bathing suits for guys called the “brokini” has launched, just in time for the end of summer.
Seriously, guys, April is when you should have dropped these. Do you know nothing about the clothes selling industry?
Calling it a bikini is generous, since it’s more of a once-piece, but the Bro-piece sounds…nasty. Still, if you’re wanting to rock a Speedo, but yet make sure it’s not going to fall off, the Brokini is for you!
It’s on sale at Brokinis.com in two varieties shown below. Each suit is $40.


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Food and drink in Wales is to get a £21M boost, as the Welsh government launches a programme to fund research into food production and safeguard thousands of jobs.
A £1M Scottish aquaculture programme has been launched to boost supply chain innovation, increase industry turnover by about £8M, and create up to 50 jobs.
Scotland Food & Drink has launched a £10M strategy to double the size of its sector to £30bn by 2030.
Food ingredients producer Kent Foods is to move into Symingtons’ former noodle factory in Leeds, as part of plans to expand its operations.
2 Sisters Food Group’s parent company, Boparan Holdings, reported a 17.8% drop in like-for-like operating profit in its second quarter trading update, blaming currency fluctuations and the “very tough” trading environment....
Potato processing firm M&F Ltd has appointed administrators to sell the company’s assets, with the loss of 90 jobs.
Premium own-label cakes and desserts manufacturer Park Cakes has been bought by its management team from private equity owner Vision Capital.
Food manufacturer Apetito has invested £31M in its south-west factory to increase capacity and efficiency, creating about 40 jobs.
Whisky workers are seeking “honest answers” from EU officials in Brussels today (March 22) over the security of their jobs once the UK quits the EU.
Scottish food and drink exports achieved record sales of £5.5bn last year, up 8% on the total achieved in 2015.
Speciality cake and bread manufacturer Finsbury Food Group reported a 4% rise in operating profit to £8.3M in its half-year trading update, as the business continues to transform “into a diverse,...
North Somerset Council has secured £9.36M of funding to build a food and drink innovation centre, FoodWorksSW, which will create 250 jobs.
A blaze that killed about 16,000 chickens in Carlisle has sparked a wave of response on social media site Twitter.
Unilever may sell its Flora, Stork and Bertolli brands as part of its comprehensive review, according to reports, prompting the GMB union to urge the manufacturer to avoid a cost-cutting “slash...
The Food and Drink Federation is to launch a new small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) membership scheme at a trade event this week.
Dawn Meats is close to sealing the takeover of Northern Ireland meat firm Dunbia, an industry expert said.
Sainsbury, Britain’s second largest retailer, has warned of turbulent times ahead related to Brexit, as it reported a 0.5% drop in like-for-like sales.
Arla Foods UK’s added-value milk sales hit £95M last year, as 1.5M consumers chose its branded products over standard fresh milk.
Hundreds of food producers from across the UK have responded to Morrisons’ search for the best local food, in a bid to boost British supply on shelves across the retailer’s...
Biscuit and confectionery manufacturer Pladis has revealed plans to double its chocolate sales this year, after posting revenues of £2.2bn in its first year of trading.
Seabrook Crisps has set its sights on expansion overseas, with planned export deals in Australia and the Middle East.
Local British food and drink has seen a boost in the past year, according to supply chain standards organisation GS1.
An egg producer in North Yorkshire is set for expansion, after receiving an £800,000 investment to grow the business.
Major players in the food and drink industry have called on the government to reach an early trade deal with the Republic of Ireland – its biggest export market –...
A gourmet food business that fell into insolvency has been taken over by its current md and the former boss of Ragu and Aunt Bessie’s maker Symingtons.


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China to boost domestic consumption of cars and home appliances
China will introduce policies to boost domestic consumption of automobiles and home appliances this year, according to a senior official from the country's top economic planner.
In the past year, car sales in China almost reached 30 million, but the market still has potential, Ning Jizhe, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), told CCTV in an interview.
Automobiles have become increasingly popular in rural China, and the NDRC is considering mapping out measures to encourage rural residents' consumption, he said.
In 2018, China's middle-class population hit 400 million for the first time. And China will further reform of its income distribution system to enhance residents' spending power, Ning said.
China will also further expand the scope of foreign investment, he said, as the country plans to remove more restrictions on foreign investment other than those covered in the negative list.
In the first quarter of 2019, China will also speed up the implementation of the second batch of major foreign invested projects, mostly in the new energy sector. The investment amount of each project will reach several billion or even hundreds of billion U.S. dollars.
China has already advanced the first batch of seven major foreign invested projects in the past few months, including BMW's new joint venture in northeast China's Shenyang City and Tesla's new plant in Shanghai.


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It seems that Apple is not it is not the staunch defender of user privacy that it wants to be known. There is evidence that iPhones are sending call history to Apple without the knowledge of the users. If true, that could be a serious breach of privacy.
Apple the Defender of User Privacy
Apple has tried very hard to become known as a company that places great emphasis on privacy for their users and customers. They fought against government pressure after the San Bernardo case, where it refused to unlock an iPhone that might have helped investigators. That decision was hailed by those who value privacy in technology.
But it seems that Apple is not practicing what it preaches. According to reports, experts from Elcomsoft have found out that Apple devices are automatically sending information, particularly call history, to servers when iCloud has been enabled. The information is being uploaded without any kind of permission from the user. There are no notifications being sent out that such an action is being taken. Elcomsoft is a digital forensics firm from Russia.
According to the report, the information includes the calls made and received when using an iOS device. That means important details like phones numbers, call duration, and dates are being stored without the knowledge of the people making those calls.
The data stored in iCloud is retained up to four months. That means other people and even the government can gain access to those data even if the device used for making the calls remain encrypted. That also means that law enforcement agencies can get court orders that would unlock the accounts since the keys to unlocking the data are owned by Apple. It seems that activities for third party apps like Viber, Skype, and WhatsApp are also being logged for those who use iOS 10.
Some iPhone users have already figured out that there is actually a problem with iPhone saving history on the iCloud. Users who have family members using Apple devices have complained of call history appearing on multiple devices which compromises their privacy. Elcomsoft's findings have just confirmed their fears.
Those who have who have figured out that there call logs are being stored say there is no way to turn it off or to stop it from happening. If true, then this could be a serious blow to Apple's credibility. It also means that the privacy of millions of their loyal customers are compromised.


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The event which benefits a range of charities in the California county, brings together wine superstars, celebrity chefs and honored guests.
Over $30 million has been raised since the event’s inception
Fractional share, lease and jet card operator Flexjet will
be part of the all-star line-up during The Sonoma County Vintners Foundation.
Last week honorary co-chairs Gina Gallo and Christopher Jackson unveiled the full list of one-of-a-kind auction lots available at the 2019 Sonoma County Wine Auction, presented by Visa Signature. The auction lots are an exclusive way to procure sought-after wines, private experiences, dinners with America’s top chefs, and excursions not typically available to the public. The event takes place Sept. 19-21, 2019.
The two largest private jet operators in the world are headquartered 21 minutes from each other as the private jet flies. Judging by Flexjet’s current ad campaign, the gloves are off…
It’s 114 nautical miles as the private jet flies from John Glenn Columbus International Airport in central Ohio north to Cuyahoga County Airport in Cleveland. The former is home to Warren Buffett-owned NetJets, the largest operator of private jets in the world, and the undisputed leader in fractional ownership. The latter is the home turf of Golden Domer, Kenn Ricci, whose wide smile and neighborly demeanor belie that in his own right he has made a mark in aviation, acknowledged in 2017 with the Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award at the 14th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards.
We wanted to poke the bearChristopher Bero, vice president of global marketing, Flexjet
Flexjet fractional, lease and jet card customers will be getting VIP access and invites to during the car lovers bonanza
Flexjet is rolling out the red carpet for its customers via a
series of events available during at Monterey Car Week, the ultimate mecca for
automobile enthusiasts, for the 17th consecutive year.
From dinner invitations to events previously closed to the public to branded entertainment and exclusive driving experiences, Flexjet, its partner brands, and friends will offer jet card customers and fractional shareowners what it describes as “a Monterey Car Week like none they have ever seen before.”
Flexjet is already a significant Gulfstream operator and has been ramping up its expansion plans for Europe
A report last Friday by Corporate Jet Investor (CJI)
speculated that Flexjet might be readying a billion-dollar order with
Gulfstream. The item came after Phebe Novakovic, CEO of General Dynamics,
parent of the business jet manufacturer, told analysts the division was working
on a big deal and it was with an existing customer.
Fractional share and jet card provider Flexjet will increase pilot ranks by 25% this year
Directional Aviation’s Flexjet LLC, a leading provider of fractional jet ownership, leases and jet cards, announced today “substantial salary increases” for Red Label pilots, making them, according to the company, the highest paid in the industry. Red Label pilots’ total compensation is greater than that of competitors by 25% or more, Flexjet said in a press release received by Private Jet Card Comparisons. Red Label by Flexjet is the carrier’s premium offering.


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KATHMANDU, NEPAL — Colorful bags made of traditional Nepalese fabrics line Ganga Kumari Rana’s stall at the 28th Industrial Products and Technology Expo in this country’s capital city.
Rana came all the way from Syangja district, a trip of more than 230 kilometers (more than 140 miles), to show off her products. Such an experience would have been unthinkable in the past.
“In the beginning, nobody in the village used to believe that we could earn money from making bags in this way,” Ranasays.
Now, she earns a profit of about 30,000 Nepalese rupees (about $293) a month – a healthy sum in rural Nepal. Her bags are shipped internationally, and her business, Shreesha Bag Industry, is valued at about 300,000 rupees (about $2,927).
Rana started her business in 2014 after she took a month-long bag-making workshop. But its increasing success is due at least in part to a new emphasis by the government on helping women who start their own businesses.
The Industrial Enterprises Act, passed in 2016, launched a series of subsidies and tax waivers for female entrepreneurs.
The government, for the first time, now legally recognizes micro-entrepreneurs, and female micro-entrepreneurs can register their businesses for free, avoiding the usual 50,100-rupee (about $489) fee. There’s also an income tax waiver that’s available for at least five years, says Purusottam Nepal, a spokesperson at the Ministry of Industry.
Any woman-owned business can now get a 35 percent waiver on registration and a 20 percent waiver on the registration fee for intellectual property rights, he says.
Nepalese women have long been confined to their kitchens, says Krishna Hari Baskota, chief information commissioner of the National Information Commission. Now, he says, they’re gaining economic independence.
The waiver policy for female entrepreneurs reflects Nepal’s new constitution, which ensures equal rights for women, Baskota adds.
There’s no data on the exact number of female entrepreneurs in Nepal, but Bhawani Rana, president of the Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs’ Associations of Nepal, estimates there are about 30,000 across the country right now.
Women say programs to aid their success could lead to more men staying in Nepal, rather than moving abroad for work.
Ramila Khadka, 37, a native of Abu Khaireni, in the Tanahun district, came to the 28th Industrial Products and Technology Expo with plastic handicraft items made through her business, Chimkeswori Plastic Handicraft Industry, which she launched two years ago. Khadka and her partners each earn 15,000 to 20,000 rupees ($146 to $195) a month from this business, she says.
Her husband has worked in Oman for the last eight years, Khadka says, leaving her with their two children.
“My husband has to spend the prime of his life working overseas just to look after the family,” she says.
If she’d had her business when her husband first left, she says, he wouldn’t have had to go.
Sagar Ghimire, GPJ, translated this story from Nepali.
This article was originally published on Global Press Journal.


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San Diego Comic Con
Nintendo will be bringing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
Overwatch, StarCraft, World of Warcraft, and Hearthstone will be featured by Blizzard during this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
The latest trailer for Thor: Ragnarok was easily one of the highlights of Comic Con 2017. Similar to the first trailer, which uses Led Zepplin’s Immigrant Song to great effect, … Read more
Rebellion has revealed a new trailer for Rogue Trooper Redux, a remaster of the critically acclaimed third person shooter from 2006.
Frank Miller will be signing “Xerxes” Lithographs at the Dark Horse Booth at San Diego Comic-Con 2017 Dark Horse is celebrating the return of Frank Miller and his seminal work, … Read more


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Posted 02/26/2013 at 12:29 PM
Posted 4 years ago
The free IP instant messaging market is booming at the moment, what with Skype, Whatsapp and Line all boasting user numbers in excess of 100 million. Speaking at the Mobile World Congress, Talmon Marco, CEO of Viber, confirmed that his company’s app – released in early 2011 – is also proving as popular as ever, with users numbers having reached 175 million.
The Viber app runs on all the major operating systems and has seen quite the rise in numbers over the past twelve months, jumping from 50 million in February of last year to 175 million today. Back in December the app passed 140 million users and claimed that it was growing at a rate of 400,000 users a day, so what is it that makes Viber, and other apps like it, so popular with consumers?
Well, according to Talmon Marco, free instant messaging has the edge over operators because consumers want innovation over interoperation. “Operators are at a disadvantage when it comes to innovation due to their need to persuade their rivals to co-operate on interoperability,” said Marco during his keynote speech at MWC. “It will be the OTT vendors that provide them with innovative services, which turns the operator into an ISP – which is not good news.”
OTT (Over-the-Top) vendors such as Viber are not all that liked by carriers, who accuse them of luring their customers. However, Marco feels that carriers and OTT providers can not only co-exist, but also work together.
“By working together we can make the OTT service perform better on the network. We can also help to differentiate blended services. We’re already working with a number of operators on this, and expect to see some results later this year.”
One of the operators that Marco’s company is working with is Axis – Viber having signed a partnership with the Indonesian carrier to provide reduced price packages for consumers using the free messaging service.
Marco also pointed out that operators could improve things for consumers by simplifying data tariffs, making it easy for people to compare plans between carriers. Having built such a successful app that continues to grow at a staggering rate, operators are well advised to take heed.
Asked why Viber has captured consumer attention, Marco gave his thoughts, “Sometimes services take off because of pure luck… sometimes it’s timing. It’s the soul that you put into this. The proof is in the pudding.” With 175 million users worldwide, that pudding must taste pretty sweet for Viber right now!


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Business conditions in the Chicago area plummeted in August, but not because of the delta: most companies said they still weren’t getting enough supplies or manpower to keep up with new orders.
The Chicago Business Barometer, also known as the Chicago PMI, fell from 73.4 in July to 66.8 last month.
Just a few months earlier, the index had hit a 47-year high.
A surge in demand after the economy largely reopened this year has forced companies to strive to keep up. But many cannot procure enough material in time to keep the assembly lines running at full speed. And finding enough workers to get the job done has also become a major headache.
These problems are not unique to the Chicago area. These are damaging the entire US economy.
As a result, companies have large backlogs that are not being executed. These issues are expected to resolve at some point when the US and world economies return to normal, but it could take months or even longer.
Meanwhile, the increase in delta cases has not caused a significant drop in orders. However, it could exacerbate supply chain bottlenecks and discourage some people from getting back to work.
Companies pay higher prices for many materials and even raise wages to attract more workers. They also try to pass these additional costs on to customers in the form of higher prices.
The result? US inflation is at its highest level in 30 years based on the Federal Reserve’s preferred price barometer.
The decline in August was worse than expected. Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had forecast the index to drop to 69.4.
Measured values over 50 signal expansion and numbers over 60 are considered exceptional.
Read: Consumer confidence drops to 6-month lows on delta fear and high inflation
The index is created by ISM-Chicago with MNI. It is the last of the regional production indices before the national ISM report for August is released on Wednesday.
The ISM factory index was 61.2% in July. It’s been extremely strong for months, but it also reflects the ongoing backlog of supplies and manpower.
Shares DJIA, -0.07% SPX, -0.09% fell slightly on Tuesday.


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|Wikileaks:||View 04MADRID606 at Wikileaks.org|
|Tags:||KIPR ETRD ECON SP|
|Redacted:||This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.|
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS MADRID 000606 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR, ETRD, ECON, SP SUBJECT: SUCCESS! NIKE WINS IN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REF: A. 2002 MADRID 2134 B. 2003 MADRID 780 1. (SBU) SUMMARY: After more than 14 years of court battles, Nike has won a major victory in the Spanish Constitutional Court that once again allows the company to use its trademark (both the name and the swoosh) on apparel sold in Spain. On February 16, in response to Nike's appeal of a negative 1999 Supreme Court ruling, the Spanish Constitutional Court sided with Nike, annulling the other court's decision. It returned the decision to the Supreme Court asking that it revise its decision based on the findings of Constitutional Court justices. Nike is hoping that the new Supreme Court ruling, expected to be issued within the next 12 months, will be fair and objective. They fear the new decision could be colored by an ongoing battle for power between the two Spanish courts. END SUMMARY 2. (SBU) For over fourteen years, Nike has been pursuing a former Spanish business partner, Cidesport, in court in an attempt to gain control of the Nike trademark in Spain. The problem stems from Cidesport's surreptitious acquisition in 1981 of a trademark containing the Nike name. Nike neglected to register its own trademark at that time. After several unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a settlement, Nike finally began litigation at the end of 1989. Nike was successful with a string of lower court case victories, but in 1999 lost a decisive appeal in the Civil Chamber of the Spanish Supreme Court. (Note: The court has a Civil and an Administrative Chamber.) The Supreme Court decision allowed the former business partner to sell clothing in Spain with the Nike name. Nike was also allowed to sell clothing, however, the clothing could not bear the name Nike --- only the swoosh. 3. (SBU) Nike was successful in convincing the Spanish Constitutional Court to accept an appeal of the Supreme Court decision. The case had been pending over 3 years -- an unusually long wait, partly due to the serious illness and subsequent death of the justice assigned to the case. In the interim, the Supreme Court issued other rulings harmful to Nike including a 2002 Administrative Chamber ruling that took the 1999 decision one step further and gave Cidesport the right to use a "Nike Sportswear" logo on both footwear and apparel. 4. (SBU) On February 16, 2004, the Constitutional Court finally reached a decision favoring Nike. The Constitutional Court annulled the Supreme Court's prior rulings, outlined the various legal errors made by the Supreme Court, and sent the 1999 decision back to the Supreme Court for a new and "properly reasoned" decision. Industry insiders estimate it will likely take a year for the Supreme Court to issue a new decision, though some "returned cases" have been considered in just a matter of weeks. In the meantime Nike has regained use of its entire logo, both name and swoosh. Nike lawyers and officials are cautiously optimistic. They say the Constitutional Court's decision reflected a good part of the reasoning they had used in their legal brief. They are hoping the Supreme Court response will be objective. 5. (SBU) One final twist in the Nike case involves an inter-court struggle for power between the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court that has been going on for years. In at least one example in the past few years, the Supreme Court took umbrage that the Constitutional Court returned a decision for reconsideration. The Supreme Court revised its decision, but did so in a way that met the Constitutional Court's requirements, but essentially gutted the victory. Tensions between the two courts escalated this month when the Supreme Court accused the Constitutional Court of a judicial misstep and humiliated the justices by requiring them to pay restitution to a local lawyer. 6. (SBU) The 1999 Supreme Court decision barring Nike from selling clothes with its logo in Spain has cost the company tens of millions of dollars in separate production runs and lost sales. Throughout the legal struggle, the company has asked us on numerous occasions to advocate on their behalf to various GOS ministries. While we have not wanted to interfere in independent judicial proceedings, we have on many occasions spoken and written to various GOS officials to underscore the importance of intellectual property rights and the negative implications of Nike's ongoing court troubles. This week, in view of the latest judicial ruling, we have been delicately asking relevant contacts if they believe the inter-court feud could prejudice the final Nike Supreme Court ruling. MANZANARES
Latest source of this page is cablebrowser-2, released 2011-10-04


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ADIDAS has refused to guarantee that shoppers who made Black Friday purchases will get their items by Christmas.
The sports giant has been forced to apologise for taking weeks to carry out deliveries on gear bought on the busy 24 November weekend.
It had offered discounts of 30 per cent on sought after sportswear — like the new Predator football boots endorsed by Man United ace Paul Pogba and David Beckham.
But after a slew of complaints the company contacted customers to explain shipping delays.
Metro reported an email on 29 November that read: "You may have beaten thousands of others to the checkout on Black Friday but your commitment to the cause has left us drowning in boxes!
"We’ve been packing, stacking and shipping around the clock to clear the Black Friday backlog."
It added: "Our warehouse team are doing everything they can get your order to you as soon as possible.
"We hope to ship your order in the next few days.
"Once shipped, we’ll send you an email with your track and trace code."
After further delays, the company is still being bombarded with complaints online — amid fears they won't arrived before 25 December.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Customer Lewis Phillips said: "FAO: @adidasEUhelp - any chance of getting my order before Christmas, or should I cancel it and order from @NikeUK instead?"
When questioned about assurances over Christmas orders, a company spokesman could only say: "Due to the unprecedented volume of orders during the Black Friday period, we are aware that some consumers experienced delays with their orders.
"Our warehouse team are working to dispatch all remaining orders as soon as possible."


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Kwara, a Kenyan fintech startup, has secured a $4 million investment to build a digital bank for credit unions.
The funding round was led by Breega, and also includes SoftBank Vision Fund Emerge, Finca Ventures, New General Market Partners, Globivest, Do Good Invest, Rabacap, Launch Africa, Norrsken Impact Accelerator, Future Africa, Samurai Incubate and DOB Equity, as well as several fintech executives, including founders of Meltwater, The Flex Company and ComplyAdvantage, and executives from Salesforce and PayPal.
Founded in 2018 by Cynthia Wandia and David Hwan, Kwara offers a secure, simple and affordable digital banking platform for Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) and their members, who are often excluded by traditional banks.
Kwara will use the funding to build the next-generation neobank that will give credit union members access to instant loans and third-party services such as insurance, as the start-up prepares to offer end-to-end solutions to its customers.
In the past year, Kwara has launched in South Africa and the Philippines as demand for his services increased beyond Kenya. It hopes to triple the number of credit unions using its software to 150 by the end of 2022. The startup currently serves 60,000 Sacco members but also seeks to cross the 100,000 mark by the end of the year. The startup’s goal is to serve 1 billion people by 2030.
“We are building a solution for people – an estimated one billion – who do not currently have access to personalised banking services. This is the result of a gap in banking-grade technology and the lack of neobank-like experiences for the end clients. We’ve been thrilled to see the excitement around the Kwara brand among credit unions and their members, which is fast becoming synonymous with a superior user experience and the future of banking,” said Kwara CEO Cynthia Wandia.
“Thanks to our investors, we will now be able to offer an end-client experience that is 100 times better than what they previously had access to.”
“Over the years, we have seen a growing interest in how to build wealth through community, as well as a shift in consumer preferences towards digital banking. Kwara’s unique approach is a catalyst for a new way of retail banking through digitally-driven credit unions, ”said Ben Marrel, founding partner of Breega.


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Mike Griffith cited Guitar Hero as a sign of the influence of gaming
Video games are poised to "eclipse" all other forms of entertainment, according to games studio boss Mike Griffith.
The Activision chief made the bold call during a keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
He said video games were prospering as interest in almost every other category of entertainment declines.
Mr Griffith said social gaming, more interactivity and better technology would help gaming dominate the entertainment landscape in future.
He said: "Movies, recorded music and TV - these are all stagnating or contracting entertainment sectors."
He quoted US market statistics which showed that between 2003 and 2007 sales of movie tickets fell by 6%; the number of hours of TV watched dropped by 6%, sales of recorded music slumped 12% and purchases of DVDs remained flat.
Over the same four-year period, said Mr Griffith, the video game industry grew by 40%.
"Video games are poised to eclipse all other forms of entertainment in the decade ahead," he said.
Gamers will spend longer with James Bond than moviegoers
The success of Guitar Hero, said Mr Griffith, showed how influential gaming had become on many other entertainment sectors.
He quoted Nielsen SoundScan data which showed that artists whose music featured on Guitar Hero had seen a rise in download sales of 15-843%.
The game had proved so popular that some bands, such as Metallica and Aerosmith, were bringing out a version of the game that only features their music.
"Music has a history of evolving through technology and we are at the beginning of the latest chapter in that story," he said.
Technology, community and interactivity were the three factors that would help the video game industry become the driving force in entertainment, said Mr Griffith.
The powerful processors in consoles such as the PS3 and Xbox 360 meant that games were getting ever more realistic and immersive, he said.
"Games are no longer pre-set trips through linear mazes," said Mr Griffith. "They are becoming a legitimate story-telling medium that rivals feature films."
He cited the video game of the latest James Bond film Quantum of Solace (QoS) as an example of how games were taking over.
Guitar Hero players are sharing their own musical creations
"The moviegoer is passive whereas the gamer is active and part of the game itself," he said, adding that anyone who played QoS would spend more than 50 hours in the company of James Bond compared to only 106 minutes if they watched the movie.
The communities growing up around titles such as Guitar Hero World Tour also showed how entertainment was changing, he said.
Owners of the game had created 141,000 tracks of their own using its in-built mixing studio and uploaded them to the Guitar Hero community site, which now has more than 600,000 members, he said.
More interactive controllers such as the guitars and drums in Guitar Hero and the Wiimote on Nintendo's gaming console were also helping encourage more people to take up gaming, said Mr Griffiths.
"Those new controllers are encouraging new ways to become more socially active in gaming," he said. "They are bringing in a whole new group of consumers that have never before been involved in gaming."
He concluded: "The one thing that is for sure is entertainment is changed forever with gaming."