Early Briefing: Preparing for Guests

Since opening her European-style Chez Hareg bakery in the District's Shaw neighborhood last year, Haregewine Messert, an immigrant from Ethiopia, had neglected the backyard lot behind her shop, allowing it to become overrun with weeds. But this week new gravel is on the ground. Patio tables have been arranged. And a fresh coat of paint covers a wooden fence that encloses the area. The reason for the renovation? Twenty thousand soccer fans are expected in the Washington area this week to watch teams of Ethiopian immigrants from the United States and Canada compete. The annual tournament has become one of the largest gatherings of Ethiopians outside their homeland. *Suddenly having Google as a competitor could quickly spell death for a smaller firm. When the search giant last week unveiled a tool that measures audiences for... [read full story]