Bush signs into law Sudan divestment measure
Guardian Unlimited - The coalition says the Sudanese government uses up to 70 percent of its oil revenues, generated mainly through foreign direct investment, to give arms and supplies to the Janjaweed militia accused of the killings in Darfur.

Groups: Record number of data breaches in 2007 after TJX credit-card
International Herald Tribune - And while companies, government agencies, schools and other institutions are spending more to protect ever-increasing volumes of data with more sophisticated firewalls and encryption, the investment often is too tiny too late. “More of them are

FACTBOX-Investment banks’ 2008 outlooks for European credit
Reuters - “The outlook for credit markets in 2008 will be dominated by a shift away from forced selling, illiquidity and strains in the financial sector as a driver of spreads, to the real economy.” A reluctance of banks to lend, and at higher charges, will

Loan defaults in U.S. at record
News.com.au - Mortgage insurers such as MGIC Investment, PMI Group and Radian Group lost money in the third quarter as more homeowners fell behind on payments. Shares of each lost well over half their value this year. Private mortgage insurance enables people to

Life in Romania - Telegraph Mentor
Daily Telegraph - Though rising quickly, property prices are still low by our standards, and some long-term expats select to brave the bureaucracy and buy a place as an investment. The law still currently prevents foreigners from owning land, but there are ways around

Introduction to Investing (pdf)
Daily Telegraph - Complex financial jargon can confuse many people into inaction but this plain English guide sets out the fundamental facts you need to get started. Tom Stevenson – whose investment column is a must-read in The Daily Telegraph Business section each

Cyprus, Malta Adopt Euro, Spurring Price Anxiety (Update1)
Bloomberg - The Mediterranean islands cut budget deficits and borrowing costs to prepare for the euro, attracting international investment and tourism that has spurred economic growth. Entry will also earn the countries seats on the European Central Bank’s

Now Brown can rediscover his natural political fire
Guardian Unlimited - Housing demand is so intense, as somewhere to live and as investment for those wary of a bumpy stock market, that home prices can’t fall far. Meanwhile, the pensions crisis quietly resolved itself in 2007: most pension fund deficits are now wiped out

Harbinger investment group increases stake in Leap Wireless to 15
Forbes - Management Corp. have increased their equity interest in Leap Wireless International (nasdaq: LEAP - news - people ) Inc. to 15% from 11.4%, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. The investment group acquired an

CBI expects grim year but soft landing
Guardian Unlimited - We believe the economy will slow in the face of a number of persistent headwinds, which will hit consumer spending, business investment and exports. Meanwhile, government spending and investment is starting to become less supportive to growth.” His

Cramer’s ‘Mad Money’ Recap: Tricks for Buying and Selling
Street.Com - Cramer, TheStreet.com or CNBC that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. You must make your own independent decisions regarding any security, portfolio of securities

President Bush signs bill allowing US state, local governments to cut
MSN UK News - President George W. Bush signed legislation Monday to grant states and local governments to cut investment ties with Sudan because of the violence in Darfur. But in doing so, Bush made clear that he’ll construe the law as he chooses to make sure

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The b5media Business Channel has come together to create a list of links to a wide variety of ‘Best of Business in 2007′ posts.  Take a look to follow some of the links below to find lists of wrap-ups from almost every facet of business (adapted from b5media’s Business Channel Editor Kelly Phillips Erb’s TaxGirl blog).

2007 was definitely a newsworthy year for businesses. Some businesses experienced record profits, some businesses spiraled into bankruptcy. Here, in one convenient package, are your top business stories of the year as compiled by the b5media Business Channel:

If you read Behind the Buzz even a little, you knew that Barbie Girl would make the list of the top posts in 2007. Find out what else did.

Brandcurve offers a review of branding and marketing for 2007 along with a look back at what people were talking about this year. Paris Hilton? Red Cross? Disney? It’s all there.

Sure, the hookers got all of the attention but what else did you miss this year on Buzz Networker? Social networking goes under the microscope: what was hot and what wasn’t this year?

Copyblogger doesn’t just offer us a “best of” list - it’s a play by play of what makes Copyblogger a top blog (pick a list, any list).

Doing Biz Abroad reminded us about the pitfalls of assumptions and cultural challenges that you might face in the international business world.

Franchise Pick exposes 10 Terrifying Tales of Fraud, Failure & Franchising.

Greener Assets challenges us all with a year in review. And I wonder: is green the new black?

Home Biz Notes rounds out the year with five popular posts including Mary Emma’s winning country grocer entry and mistakes for the home business owner to avoid.

In a move that stunned many, Alberto Gonzales resigned his post as the top lawyer in the US. Interview Chatter highlights other career and hiring stories of 2007.

For those of you playing along at home, Just Make Money On the web focuses on the very best posts tackling making money on the web for 2007.

Leadership Turn made 2007 about thinking outside of the box when it comes to leading and managing. She offers her top six posts here:
Are Ethical Values Set or Fluid?
The Quandry of Ethics
The Effects of CEO Map
The Number One World’s Best Motivator
More on Comfort Zones
What Leaders Should Do to Have the Perfect Attitude

Pimp Your Work reminds us of the best ways to deal with your boss. Yeah, sucking up made the list.

Project Management 411 wraps up a short year with ten top stories from 2007. Innovation appears to be a common thread.

Small Business Boomers wishes you perspective and humor for 2008 with commentary on why looking back is important.

Start Up Spark gets our attention with the top three start-up stories for 2007 and the site’s most popular posts. They aren’t necessarily the same.

Successful Blog doesn’t make this a year end event. On the site, there’s a whole page of the ideal posts year round.

Taxgirl offers the top ten taxgirl headlines of 2007. Jail, pregnancy and college football - we had it all this year.

The Golden Pencil confirms her most popular post of 2007. Stats don’t lie.

With the end on its way out, the economy is still reeling from the subprime mortgage fiasco and government bail-outs. Yielding Wealth reflects on the biggest stories that affected personal finance.

We wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year! And don’t forget to stop by and check out all of the business goodness here at the b5media business channel in 2008. We can’t give you the details but changes are afoot. And we promise, it’s going to be a very good year!

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(FranchisePick.Com)  Source: Some fitness clubs leave members in bad shape

…Chris Bruno, president of Burlingame-based weight-loss chain Lite for Life, said it’s not uncommon for fitness companies to change their name or shut down in response to lawsuits alleging shoddy business practices. Industry giant Pure Weight Loss, formerly LA Weight Loss, recently announced the closure of all 400 of its locations, including one in San Carlos.

After reading about Inches-A-Weigh’s closure in the Daily News, Bruno offered to honor its former customers’ contracts, saying he wants to show not all weight loss clubs are disreputable.

  YOUR COMMENTS ARE INVITED.

______________________________________________________________

Visit FRANBEST: Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and and business opportunities.

Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

9 out of 10 businesses fail.  Why not get it over with? Franworst.Com  (parody)

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(FranchisePick.Com)  Source: Some fitness clubs leave members in bad shape

…Chris Bruno, president of Burlingame-based weight-loss chain Lite for Life, stated it’s not uncommon for fitness companies to change their name or shut down in response to lawsuits alleging shoddy business practices. Industry giant Pure Weight Loss, formerly LA Weight Loss, recently announced the closure of all 400 of its locations, including one in San Carlos.

After reading about Inches-A-Weigh’s closure in the Daily News, Bruno offered to honor its former customers’ contracts, saying he wants to show not all weight loss clubs are disreputable.

  YOUR COMMENTS ARE INVITED.

______________________________________________________________

Visit FRANBEST: Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and and business opportunities.

Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

9 out of 10 businesses fail.  Why not get it over with? Franworst.Com  (parody)

______________________________________________________________

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(FranchisePick.Com)  Source: Some fitness clubs leave members in bad shape

…Chris Bruno, president of Burlingame-based weight-loss chain Lite for Life, stated it’s not uncommon for fitness companies to change their name or shut down in response to lawsuits alleging shoddy business practices. Industry giant Pure Weight Loss, formerly LA Weight Loss, recently announced the closure of all 400 of its locations, including one in San Carlos.

After reading about Inches-A-Weigh’s closure in the Daily News, Bruno offered to honor its former customers’ contracts, saying he wants to show not all weight loss clubs are disreputable.

  YOUR COMMENTS ARE INVITED.

______________________________________________________________

Visit FRANBEST: Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and and business opportunities.

Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

9 out of 10 businesses fail.  Why not get it over with? Franworst.Com  (parody)

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(FranchisePick.Com)  Source: Some fitness clubs leave members in bad shape

…Chris Bruno, president of Burlingame-based weight-loss chain Lite for Life, said it’s not unusual for fitness companies to change their name or shut down in response to lawsuits alleging shoddy business practices. Industry giant Pure Weight Loss, formerly LA Weight Loss, recently announced the closure of all 400 of its locations, including one in San Carlos.

After reading about Inches-A-Weigh’s closure in the Daily News, Bruno offered to honor its former customers’ contracts, saying he wants to show not all weight loss clubs are disreputable.

  YOUR COMMENTS ARE INVITED.

______________________________________________________________

Visit FRANBEST: Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and and business opportunities.

Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

9 out of 10 businesses fail.  Why not get it over with? Franworst.Com  (parody)

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(FranchisePick.Com)  Source:  PR.WEB

Smart for Life™ Invites Pure Weight Loss Clients to Lose Weight the Smart Way

Smart for Life™ Weight Management Centers is offering Pure customers $100 towards program fees at participating Smart for Life™ Centers*.

Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) December 23, 2007 — Smart for Life™ Weight Management Centers is offering Pure customers $100 towards program fees at participating Smart for Life™ Centers*. The Smart for Life program is the Smart Way to lose weight without contracts or long-term food purchasing. Clients are motivated to stick with the Smart for Life™ program when they see a loss of 12 to 15 pounds a month** and feel great!

“We’re here to help you continue your journey,” states Dr. Sasson Moulavi, Chief Medical Officer of the Smart for Life™ Weight Management Centers. “When people finally make the decision to lose weight and gain superior health, it is imperative that they are able to make progress on a safe, effective program. Especially during this time of year, Smart for Life™ is eager to help the Pure clients achieve success on our program and not lose the momentum they’re experiencing in achieving their weigh loss goals.”

Pure Weight Loss clients are invited and encouraged to call 866-821-THIN or find a location on our Smart for Life™ website at www.smartforlife.com.

The revolutionary Smart for Life™ Weight Management Program is a science-based program for safe, rapid weight-loss. The one-on-one doctor supervised weight-loss program empowers clients with the knowledge, guidance, and motivation they need to lose weight. The experienced medical staff monitors and encourages the client’s progress until the goal weight is reached, and then follows the client on a long-term maintenance plan. Smart for Life™ physicians address metabolic and health-related problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and under active thyroid. The combination of Smart Foods and professional supervision enables the Smart for Life™ client to safely and quickly lose up to 12 to 15 pounds a month**. There are no contracts with the Smart for Life™ program and products are purchased on a weekly basis.

Smart for Life™ Weight Management Centers, the Franchisor with corporate headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida, is an international franchise company with over 40 locations in North America. The company has helped hundreds of thousands of people make positive changes in their lives by helping them reach and maintain their weight loss goals.

*Offer good only at participating Smart for Life™ Weight Management Centers.
**Results may vary.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  YOUR COMMENTS ARE INVITED.

______________________________________________________________

Visit FRANBEST: Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and and business opportunities.

Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

9 out of 10 businesses fail.  Why not get it over with? Franworst.Com  (parody)

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(FranchisePick.Com)  Source:  PR.WEB

Smart for Life™ Invites Pure Weight Loss Clients to Lose Weight the Smart Way

Smart for Life™ Weight Management Centers is offering Pure customers $100 towards program fees at participating Smart for Life™ Centers*.

Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) December 23, 2007 — Smart for Life™ Weight Management Centers is offering Pure customers $100 towards program fees at participating Smart for Life™ Centers*. The Smart for Life program is the Smart Way to lose weight without contracts or long-term food purchasing. Clients are motivated to stick with the Smart for Life™ program when they see a loss of 12 to 15 pounds a month** and feel great!

“We’re here to help you continue your journey,” says Dr. Sasson Moulavi, Chief Medical Officer of the Smart for Life™ Weight Management Centers. “When people finally make the decision to lose weight and gain better health, it is imperative that they’re able to make progress on a safe, effective program. Especially during this time of year, Smart for Life™ is eager to help the Pure clients achieve success on our program and not lose the momentum they are experiencing in achieving their weigh loss goals.”

Pure Weight Loss clients are invited and encouraged to call 866-821-THIN or find a location on our Smart for Life™ website at www.smartforlife.com.

The revolutionary Smart for Life™ Weight Management Program is a science-based program for safe, rapid weight-loss. The one-on-one physician supervised weight-loss program empowers clients with the knowledge, guidance, and motivation they need to lose weight. The experienced medical staff monitors and encourages the client’s progress until the goal weight is reached, and then follows the client on a long-term maintenance plan. Smart for Life™ physicians address metabolic and health-related problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and under active thyroid. The combination of Smart Foods and professional supervision enables the Smart for Life™ client to safely and swiftly lose up to 12 to 15 pounds a month**. There are no contracts with the Smart for Life™ program and products are purchased on a weekly basis.

Smart for Life™ Weight Management Centers, the Franchisor with corporate headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida, is an international franchise company with over 40 locations in North America. The company has helped hundreds of thousands of people make positive changes in their lives by helping them reach and maintain their weight loss goals.

*Offer good only at participating Smart for Life™ Weight Management Centers.
**Results may vary.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  YOUR COMMENTS ARE INVITED.

______________________________________________________________

Visit FRANBEST: Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and and business opportunities.

Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

9 out of 10 businesses fail.  Why not get it over with? Franworst.Com  (parody)

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(FranchisePick.com)

 Source:  PRNewswire
Jenny Craig Offers Help to Stranded Clients 
 
     Weight Loss Leader Offers Free Programs to ‘Stranded’ PURE clients

    SAN DIEGO, Dec. 31 /PRNewswire/ — Due to the high demand for weight
loss programs during the New Year’s resolution season, Jenny Craig is
offering support to clients of newly closed Pure Weight Loss centers.

    Jenny Craig will provide their program — without any service fee –
for the length of time left on all Pure weight loss contracts. Customers
who present their contracts to participating Jenny Craig centers will only
pay for the cost of food on the program for the time remaining on their
current contracts.

    “This new year is a landmark for our Company,” said Scott Parker, Jenny
Craig’s Vice President of Marketing. It marks our 25th year of consistently
helping people lose weight and, when we read comments from disgruntled Pure
customers looking to lose weight without losing what they already invested,
we knew we had to help. These people have already demonstrated a commitment
to losing weight in an effort to improve their lives and, of course, we
want to help anyone who is serious about becoming healthier.”

    Jenny Craig is offering this solution to Pure Weight Loss customers
until June 1, 2008. For more information call 1.800.JENNY20.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  YOUR COMMENTS ARE INVITED. ______________________________________________________________

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Each year on New Year’s Eve more than one ton of confetti falls on New York City’s Times Square.  Do I smell marketing opportunity? 

This year, people from all over the world can have personal messages printed on the confetti for free by visiting the Times Square Information Center or a special Times website that’s being called a New Year’s Wishing Wall Online by the Times Square Alliance who organizes the annual ball drop and New Year’s event.

This year it’s personal messages, but what will it lead to next year?  The marketing opportunities are endless from advertising to branding, I’m sure many companies would be more than willing to pay to have their messages printed on that confetti.

What do you think?

Photo © Bebeto Matthews/AP

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