Insight
I’m not sure if the term New New World wine has much of a ring to it, but it might be an appropriate term of reference for wines from Central and Eastern Europe. The region, which actually has a long tradition of viniculture, is a treasure trove of wines, offering great diversity and a strong connection to land and history. Wines from Central and Eastern Europe are more and more modern and consumer-friendly in style, and Croatia is arguably the producer with the most sparkle.
How many people have you heard nostalgically remembering those halcyon days when a mobile phone would run for days on a single charge? Now, with speculation growing that Apple is set to launch a smart watch, get ready for a new version of that conversation: “I’m getting the Fear again. The battery in my iWatch might not get through the day! I used to get five YEARS out of my old watch”. You just know that Apple will turn out another sexy piece of kit with this watch, and if you feel you haven’t already got enough devices that need regular charging, then it could be for you.
With the global financial system remaining fragile and unstable, banks are struggling to restore public trust, much of which was destroyed by the financial crisis and successive scandals. The political agenda, driven both by public anger and analyses of the causes of the crisis, has focused on putting in place new laws and regulatory frameworks. This regulatory agenda rumbles on more than five years after the financial crisis began in the summer of 2007. With this in mind, KPMG’s February 2013 report Evolving Banking Regulation, highlights the strategic and operational challenges that the waves of regulatory reform will pose for banks in Europe in 2013 and beyond.
Russians determined to show off their surging affluence have helped make imported whisky the fastest-growing spirit in Russia. The spurt in whisky consumption comes amid a wave of alcohol tax hikes, more stringent licensing procedures and tightening advertising legislation. Big spending drinkers with a fondness for Western culture and money to burn are bringing about this sales boost for imported whisky in Russia, which is the fourth-hardest-drinking nation in the world per capita. (Moldova, Czech Republic and Hungary – if you must know!)
The Danish remain as innovative as ever. They don’t do things by halves, least of all design. Sanitov Studios introduced their floating home ‘Inachus’ at the London Design Festival 2012. The ‘sustainable floating home’ was launched in the UK by the Danish design studio with consumer electronics brand Samsung. This river boat (floating house) is part of Sanitov Floating Homes Future Cities project which hopes to incorporate the River Thames into London’s city living by adopting a more sustainable living approach. As cities become crowded and space becomes even more expensive, there is no better time to take to the waterways and canals to set up home. There were great expectations for ‘Inachus’ even before the London Design Festival. So how was it received? 
Once upon a time, funding a start-up business was done by using savings or getting a bank loan. Asking friends or family was the next port of call. Perhaps then an entrepreneur might consider pitching to an angel investor or venture capital firm. Dragons’ Den, anyone? Failing these options, and with the economic downturn causing many institutions to tighten their purse strings, it may be necessary to find alternative sources of funding to get a start-up off the ground. 
Do you like to stand out from the crowd? Are you more likely to be a trailblazer as opposed to a fashion follower? If so, think Mutewatch when you are looking to buy your next time teller. Long gone are the days when watches merely told you the time. They moved quickly onto being fashion accessories and statements – think Swatch watches and fashion brands such as Fendi and Chanel. Now technology plays a vital role in modern design and should be a deciding factor when choosing your next watch. Since 9th July, 2011, the world of watches momentarily stopped ticking – the Mutewatch was available for sale. Out with the old-timers, and in with the new. More Articles...
