Latest news with #ASCA
Time Out
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A local Melbourne barista just made history at the 2025 Australia Barista Championship
If you haven't had your second coffee of the day yet, here's a triple shot of good news to put a spring in your step. For the third year in a row, local Melbourne barista Jack Simpson from Axil Coffee Roasters has just been crowned the Australian Barista Champion at the nation's fiercest espresso-fuelled competition: the ASCA (Australian Specialty Coffee Association) National Coffee Championships. With talent like this working in our cafés, it's no wonder Melbourne is consistently ranked among the world's best cities for coffee. The final verdict was handed down after 5pm on Sunday, June 15, after the judges spent an entire day pondering expertly prepared brews from Australia's top six competitors. Every year, each entrant has only 15 minutes to impress the judges through creating their very best milk-based coffee, espresso, and signature drink. The latter aspect of the challenge, in particular, is a chance for the baristas to showcase their creativity. This year, Jack rose to the occasion with a coffee from Colombian specialty producer Jonathan Gasca, leveraging its natural notes of pineapple, raspberry kombucha, cola, and peach, as well as honey vinegar, cascara and passionfruit husk in order to highlight the utility of so-called 'waste' products. Jack tells Time Out that while Melbourne's coffee culture is thriving, he believes specialty coffee is booming everywhere around the world right now. "I've noticed the emerging coffee scene in Montréal, Paris and Spain recently," he shares, crediting the dedicated producers for the growing love. " The work they put in to get specialty coffee to taste as good as it does is amazing! It's their livelihood and the risks they have to take to make it work inspires me daily." Not only is it the third win for this young barista (who simultaneously serves as Axil's head of innovation), it's also the fourth time a barista from Axil has carried the Aussie torch on the global stage. In 2022, Anthony Douglas won the Australia Barista Championship before going on to win first place in the World Barista Championship. Jack will now go on to represent Australia at the 2025 World Barista Championship in Milan, Italy, in October. He came runner-up in the 2024 global championship, missing out on the title by just one point! So let's stand behind our nation's homegrown bean genius as he competes with some the world's brightest and most brew-obsessed. Learn more about the ASCA here.
Calgary Herald
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: Our kids schools are too hot and too smoky for learning
Picture yourself inside a science classroom so hot that the students have to decamp to another part of their Calgary middle school. Now imagine being inside a Calgary math class where a Grade 12 student vomits from the heat, and then put yourself inside an Edmonton classroom that a Grade 4 student describes as 'sweltering' and 'unsettlingly hot.' Article content These scenarios aren't hypothetical — they happened at our sons' schools when temperatures spiked earlier this month. Article content Article content Article content The experiences are all too common across Alberta, where classrooms are both hot and smoky. May and June now regularly bring heat waves and wildfires, and many of our province's schools — especially older ones like our sons attend — are simply not equipped to handle these high temperatures and poor air quality. Article content Article content On the worst days, extreme heat and wildfire smoke events coincide, meaning teachers cannot even open windows to cool their classrooms. Article content Last year, the Alberta School Councils Association (ASCA) passed a motion calling for modern HVAC systems in schools, including retrofits for older schools. Yet, while this change is one that Alberta parents have formally demanded, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides has ignored the ASCA motion and is instead holding news conferences about banning books after meeting with members of conservative Christian organizations. Article content Article content Nicolaides would do well to note that the vast majority of Alberta parents are far more concerned about hot, smoky classrooms — and we've used the appropriate school council body to voice that concern. Article content Kids suffer when their classrooms are sweltering. Research shows that extreme heat negatively affects children's mental and physical health. Kids sweat less than adults, which limits their ability to cool down, and their faster metabolisms bring an increased risk of dehydration. Article content We want our kids to run around and play, but that physical activity heats their bodies and increases their health risks on hot days. Overheated kids suffer heat rashes, cramps, swelling, and even heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Kids with asthma are at an even higher risk of heat-related illnesses. Our kids depend on adults to keep them cool, as they are not always able to explain that they are overheating.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thunderful Group AB (OSTO:THUNDR) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Stability Amidst ...
Release Date: May 15, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Thunderful Group AB (OSTO:THUNDR) reported a slight increase in net revenue to 62 million SEK, indicating stability despite not having major new releases. The restructuring programs have led to significant cost reductions, particularly in personnel costs, which decreased by 27 million SEK. The company signed a new publishing contract with a talented developer, Plot Twist, indicating future growth potential. The existing game catalog continues to perform well, providing a stable revenue backbone. The co-development and services segment saw an 11% growth, driven by project milestone deliveries and stable costs. Cash flow from operations was negative at minus 12 million SEK, partly due to restructuring costs. The liquidity position decreased significantly from 150 million SEK to 83 million SEK. The company is still facing challenges in achieving positive cash flow and long-term commercial sustainability. There were delays in some co-development projects, affecting the average billing rate and revenue. The game 'Rainbreaker' had a muted sales impact, aligning with limited financial expectations. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with OSTO:THUNDR. Q: What are you most satisfied with in the publishing segment this quarter? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Despite not having any major new releases in Q1, the stability of our existing catalog was the best performer. This stability is crucial for our business, supported by the efforts of our sales and marketing teams. Q: Did you conduct any specific events in the quarter that boosted transactional sales? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: We didn't have any specific events this quarter, but we did various activities for games like ASCA, which helped increase revenue. Q: How did Rainbreaker perform in terms of sales, and was it in line with expectations? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Rainbreaker received good reviews but had a muted sales impact, which was in line with our limited financial expectations for the game. Q: Can you provide details about the games pipeline, especially regarding the new contract with Plot Twist? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: We have an exciting pipeline for this year and are signing new titles for 2026 and beyond. The publishing contract with Plot Twist is part of this, and more details will be visible in the Q2 report. Q: How has productivity improved since the organizational changes? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Productivity has improved, though it's hard to quantify. The focus is on operational excellence, and improvements are ongoing, which will reflect in our commercial performance. Q: How should we think about the co-development and services segment's growth and profitability? A: Miguel Faulkner, CFO: The segment saw an 11% growth, and profitability improved. We aim to maintain a strong EBIT margin, but fluctuations are expected. The segment should be viewed like a consulting business with potential revenue share boosts. Q: Is the current cash position sufficient to reach positive free cash flow? A: Miguel Faulkner, CFO: Our goal is to reach positive cash flow without needing additional investments, but this depends on the performance of our releases this year. We constantly evaluate our cash position with the board. Q: What impact do you hope the new creator program, Thunderful Insiders, will have? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: The program aims to engage more influencers and enhance community activity around our games, potentially improving marketing efficiency and community engagement. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thunderful Group AB (OSTO:THUNDR) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Stability Amidst ...
Release Date: May 15, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Thunderful Group AB (OSTO:THUNDR) reported a slight increase in net revenue to 62 million SEK, indicating stability despite not having major new releases. The restructuring programs have led to significant cost reductions, particularly in personnel costs, which decreased by 27 million SEK. The company signed a new publishing contract with a talented developer, Plot Twist, indicating future growth potential. The existing game catalog continues to perform well, providing a stable revenue backbone. The co-development and services segment saw an 11% growth, driven by project milestone deliveries and stable costs. Cash flow from operations was negative at minus 12 million SEK, partly due to restructuring costs. The liquidity position decreased significantly from 150 million SEK to 83 million SEK. The company is still facing challenges in achieving positive cash flow and long-term commercial sustainability. There were delays in some co-development projects, affecting the average billing rate and revenue. The game 'Rainbreaker' had a muted sales impact, aligning with limited financial expectations. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with OSTO:THUNDR. Q: What are you most satisfied with in the publishing segment this quarter? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Despite not having any major new releases in Q1, the stability of our existing catalog was the best performer. This stability is crucial for our business, supported by the efforts of our sales and marketing teams. Q: Did you conduct any specific events in the quarter that boosted transactional sales? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: We didn't have any specific events this quarter, but we did various activities for games like ASCA, which helped increase revenue. Q: How did Rainbreaker perform in terms of sales, and was it in line with expectations? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Rainbreaker received good reviews but had a muted sales impact, which was in line with our limited financial expectations for the game. Q: Can you provide details about the games pipeline, especially regarding the new contract with Plot Twist? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: We have an exciting pipeline for this year and are signing new titles for 2026 and beyond. The publishing contract with Plot Twist is part of this, and more details will be visible in the Q2 report. Q: How has productivity improved since the organizational changes? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Productivity has improved, though it's hard to quantify. The focus is on operational excellence, and improvements are ongoing, which will reflect in our commercial performance. Q: How should we think about the co-development and services segment's growth and profitability? A: Miguel Faulkner, CFO: The segment saw an 11% growth, and profitability improved. We aim to maintain a strong EBIT margin, but fluctuations are expected. The segment should be viewed like a consulting business with potential revenue share boosts. Q: Is the current cash position sufficient to reach positive free cash flow? A: Miguel Faulkner, CFO: Our goal is to reach positive cash flow without needing additional investments, but this depends on the performance of our releases this year. We constantly evaluate our cash position with the board. Q: What impact do you hope the new creator program, Thunderful Insiders, will have? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: The program aims to engage more influencers and enhance community activity around our games, potentially improving marketing efficiency and community engagement. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Hype Malaysia
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Concert Review: FLOW Gave Fans A Night To 'Re:member' At Their Final Tour Stop In KL
In February 2024, SACRA MUSIC FES brought an electrifying atmosphere to Zepp Kuala Lumpur. The event featured some of Japan's leading musical acts, including ASCA, Mikiha (幹葉) of Spira Spica (スピラ・スピカ), Who-ya Extended, and FLOW. Notably, the rock band returned to Malaysia for the first time in over a year, performing once again at the very venue where it all began. What made their concert on Monday (12th May) particularly special was that Malaysia was the final stop on the band's year-long ANIME SHIBARI 2024–2025 World Tour. Kicking off in July 2024, this marked the largest world tour of their career to date. It was an unforgettable evening – here's a look at what went down at their KL show: As an anime-themed concert, it was no surprise that FLOW's performance incorporated audio clips featuring familiar character voices from beloved anime series. The crowd erupted with excitement the moment the lights dimmed and the voices of Naruto and his friends from the iconic series 'Naruto' echoed through the venue. The band then took to the stage to open the night with 'Re:member', the eighth opening theme from the 'Naruto' series, followed by '⾵ノ唄' before pausing the performance to thank their fans for their overwhelming support over the years. On behalf of bassist Got's, who was unfortunately unable to attend the show, the band apologised for his absence but assured fans they would still deliver an unforgettable performance for everyone. FLOW continued with 'LOVE & JUSTICE', the opening theme for 'Kinnikuman Perfect Origin Arc', followed by 'Steppin' out', the opening for 'Durarara!!x2 Ketsu', and the iconic 'CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA' from 'Dragon Ball'. Throughout the show, each member demonstrated impressive stamina, jumping and running across the stage while singing or playing their instruments. That energy was infectious, with fans equally energised and hardly able to stay still. The concert maintained a high-octane pace throughout, with no slow numbers in sight. FLOW kept raising the energy with each song, and neither the band nor the audience showed any signs of fatigue, even after delivering the adrenaline-charged 'HERO 〜希望の歌〜', from 'Dragon Ball Z: Kami to Kami'. After performing several songs from the 'Eureka Seven' and 'Code Geass' series, including 'DAYS', 'ブレイブルー', 'COLORS', and 'WORLD END', the band introduced fans to one of their newer tracks, 'Alright!!! (新曲)', from the 2025 anime series 'From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman'. At last, the moment fans had been eagerly waiting for arrived. As the lights dimmed, character voices from 'Naruto' echoed through the venue once more, prompting the audience to erupt in screams of excitement and anticipation. FLOW then launched into a medley of tracks from the popular anime series, which included 'ビバ★ロック', 'シルエット', and '遥か彼方'. Fans can be heard singing along to every word of one of the band's most iconic tracks, 'Sign', while waving their lightsticks in the air. Sadly, the concert was drawing to a close. After thanking the audience once again for making the final stop of their tour an unforgettable one, FLOW ended the night on a high note with 'GO!!!' followed by 'GOLD'. Of course, no concert would be complete without a group photo with the fans, and thankfully, the band came prepared. In a light-hearted gesture, they brought out a cardboard cutout of their missing member, Got's, so he could still be part of the moment. We personally had an amazing time at the ANIME SHIBARI 2024–2025 World Tour, and we hope to see FLOW return to Malaysia in the future for another concert or music festival.
