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Yahoo's ad network sent malware to the computers of people who visited the company's popular family of sites for a week, the New York Times reported.
The attack leveraged a bug in Adobe Flash — a graphics program with a history of security problems that many developers have urged users to dump.
The type of scheme used, known as "malvertising," takes advantage of the online advertising system that supports much of the Web: The bad guys buy up digital ad space, then use it to serve up malicious software to visitors of legitimate sites. In this case, those sites included Yahoo's sports, news and finance sites, according to the Times.
When people using Windows computers visited the site, the infected ads sent them malicious code that checked to see if their computer had an out of date version of Flash — which the bad guys could then potentially use to hijack the computer.
"As soon as we learned of this issue, our team took action to block this advertiser from our network," a Yahoo spokesman said in a statement. "Unfortunately, disruptive ad behavior affects the entire tech industry. Yahoo has a long history of engagement on this issue and is committed to working with our peers to create a secure advertising experience."
It's unclear how many people may have been hit by the attack, which did not require users to do anything other than browse to a page featuring the malicious advertisements. But MalwareBytes noted that Yahoo's home page receives billions of visits a month, and its other news and entertainment sites receive hundreds of millions of visits.
Yahoo declined to comment on how many people were caught up in the advertising attack, but said "the scale of the attack was grossly misrepresented in initial media reports."


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Overdraft fees are a prickly subject. Consumers complain about them constantly, and now more than ever, it seems they’re doing so with unregulated vehemence. On the other hand, financial institutions rely on fee income — it’s how they make money on deposits — now more than ever.
Consumers pay an average
of 18-24% on credit cards,
400-500% on payday loans
— Columbia University
The New York Times reports that financial institutions stand to take in $27 billion in overdraft fees this year alone. The Financial Times puts the number at $38 billion. And this isn’t just a fee stream privy to banks. Credit unions pull in about 25% of the total haul — $6.6 billion in overdraft fees last year — while grumbling about “the regulatory burden” overdraft reforms might entail.
Financial institutions staunchly defend their policies, saying that it is ultimately each person’s responsibility to keep track of their own finances (which it is). But many of the other explanations they offer don’t settle well with consumers. For instance, financial institutions assert that larger items are processed first because those are frequently important items like the mortgage, even though most people know (or at least believe) that by processing the largest items first, a financial institution is more likely to trigger overdraft fees.
One of the more common arguments is that customers prefer their purchases be processed rather than suffer impromptu embarrassments.
Reality Check: Out of 2,023 adults polled, approximately 73% would prefer their bank decline transactions of $5 to $40 if it were to cause an overdraft fee.
If you want to see how consumers feel and what they know about overdraft, just Google it. Or search Twitter. Or YouTube. It’s all over the news. And people aren’t bashful, as this f-word laden query with 391,000 results proves.
So despite all the explanations and rationalizations, financial institutions don’t seem to be fooling anyone. People don’t feel like financial institutions are doing them any favors with today’s overdraft tactics. No matter how many ways financial institutions try to justify it, what consumers are hearing financial institutions say is this: “We know this pisses you off, but we make a lot of money off it. You’re broke. We’re greedy. Too bad.”
Considering how angry people get about overdraft fees, it’s surprising how few financial institutions have attempted to offer any kind of alternative. Yes, overdraft fees may be a balance sheet necessity for financial institutions. But do financial institutions have to be so stereotypically defensive and uncreative?
Assuming overdraft fees are an inescapable reality, at least consider these few ideas (in order of increasing difficulty). Then feel free to suggest your ideas in the comments below.
#1 – Make Overdraft Opt-In
82% of those polled by Opinion Research want to choose whether overdraft protection gets added to their account or not. So why does the financial industry seem to turn a deaf ear, when many companies in other industries would rush to address consumer concerns? Some companies would feel fortunate simply to know what those concerns actually are.
Have you tried to find a checking account without overdraft protection these days? Instead of mandating “complimentary overdraft protection,” why not let consumers make a voluntary choice? Are financial institutions so addicted to overdraft fees that it will take an Act of Congress to make the service optional? Why wait?
#2 – Free Pass(es)
Some financial institutions are offering a free pass — a coupon, of sorts — that gives people one free overdraft. This type of “get-out-of-jail-free” card is becoming increasingly common with Gen-Y and student checking accounts, but why not implement it for everyone on all accounts? If you sent one in the mail to all your existing customers today, you be a P.R. hero tomorrow.
And if you’re going to make overdraft protection mandatory, why not give people one penalty-free opportunity to see how the system works?
Option: You could offer three lifetime overdraft fee passes instead of a single, one-time coupon good for one year.
#3 – Restructure & Reprice
There are options to the standard, flat $35 fee. Bank of America has started charging only $10 if you overdraft by less than $5 (hey, it’s a start). Chase has tiered overdraft fees, with the first one starting at $25 and rising to $35 for the fifth.
Some financial institutions have started capping the number of overdraft transactions that someone can make in a single day. BofA draws the line at ten, but most customers would probably prefer to cap overdrafts at three — no more than five. $300 (or more) in overdraft fees isn’t likely to be appreciated by most customers.
UPDATE: Right as this article was published, a New York Times piece broke a story, “Chase and Bank of America Revise Fee Policies.” From the article:
“Bank of America said it would allow current customers to turn off the ability to spend when their account hits zero, starting Oct. 19. Next June, the bank plans to limit the number of times each year that current customers can overdraw their accounts when using a debit card at a store. It will let new customers choose whether they want overdraft protection when they are opening their account.
“Chase plans to eliminate by the first quarter of next year a common industry practice that enraged many consumers. Instead of lumping a day’s worth of debit card and A.T.M. transactions together and then processing the highest amounts first — a practice that has caused large numbers of consumers to overdraw more quickly and pay more fees — it will credit the transactions chronologically. Chase also plans to allow customers to opt out of overdraft coverage.”
And why not consider going back to the days when overdraft protection was tied to a savings account, credit card or other line of credit? For this kind of service, do you need to charge $35 per transaction? Or can you charge something a little easier for consumers to swallow?
#4 – Balance Alerts
People are less likely to spend more than they have… provided they know how much they have in the first place.
You don’t need to include any sensitive information in balance alerts. Just send a message that says, “This is an automatic alert that you requested to receive whenever your account drops below the amount you specified.” If the person wants to know when they’re below $20, $200 or $2,000, it’s up to them. If your balance alerts include a blurb about being able to “check your balance online,” you should be able to improve online banking adoption rates.
Balance alerts can be delivered with a text message to people’s mobile phones, but they can also be sent by email. Even the good old telephone with a pre-recorded message that simply says (paraphrasing), “FYI, you’re overdrawn.”
At the very least, a financial institution offering “courtesy pay” should attempt some form of courtesy contact by the end of the day.
#5 – Accept/Reject Overdraft Purchases
Why not implement an accept/decline option right at the point-of-sale? “Continuing with this transaction will result in a $XX overdraft fee. Accept/Decline?” The moderate technological challenges with such a solution seem surmountable.
Then it wouldn’t really matter what you charge, nor if people have opted into your overdraft program. The consumer would have the choice. If they think paying $34 in fees for a $4 cup of coffee is worth avoiding shame and embarrassment, they’ll pay it. They may even thank you for it.
Even if you don’t like this idea, just keep in mind that Congress does, along with 85% of America. The other 15% probably doesn’t incur overdraft fees.

domain: news


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Despite yet another report about users under 25 fleeing Facebook, ad agencies appear to be staying the course, regardless of whether they’ve been bullish or bearish on the world’s largest social network.
According to new research from eMarketer, Facebook will lose 2 million monthly U.S. users under 25 this year, and it sees Snapchat picking up more of those lost users than Instagram. The research firm said 2018 will be the first year less than half of U.S.


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Gina Hunt examines the megatrend of local living, brought on by Covid-19, causing people to stay at home or in their own locality, increasing homeworking and spending money locally in their neighbourhoods. This article is part of larger project looking at Megatrends in the West Midlands. Megatrends are major movements or patterns or trends that are having a transformative impact on business, economy, society, cultures and personal lives. The project examines some of these megatrends in a series of provocations, podcasts and a report. View the full provocation.
Working from Home
The pandemic is predicted to have a dramatic effect on pre-lockdown working habits, with 74% of businesses intending to continue remote working (Gartner, 2020). With up to 29% of workers in Birmingham being able to work from home (Magrini, 2020), city centres will see a sustained decrease in footfall during the week. Even for those still commuting, the pandemic has restricted the spatial scale of daily life, confining exercise and leisure time to the home and its immediate vicinity. These new modes of living entail shorter distances – what the French call ‘hyper-proximity’ – that could redefine our cities. Localised service delivery and increased pedestrian and bike infrastructure are central design principles of the ’15-Minute City’, and they hold the potential to restructure our neighbourhoods into active, self-sufficient and community-oriented spaces.
40% of global transport emissions come from cities, and continued car dependence would see urban growth add another 26% to global CO2 emissions in the next 30 years (International Transport Forum, 2018). Yet the 2020 lockdown saw swathes of cars removed from our streets, with temporary activations increasing pedestrian space, and bike lanes and low-traffic neighbourhoods giving citizens new ways to travel and explore their city. The smart mobility solution of the post-pandemic city will not be electric vehicles or public transport solutions, but instead the creation of a city where walking and biking are the easiest and fastest ways to get around. Short car trips under 5 miles made up 70% of all UK car journeys pre-pandemic, proving the feasibility of this large-scale transition to human-powered mobility (Living Streets UK, 2021).
Risk to city centre economies
However, this transition to local living does present risks for city centre economies. Increased reliance on online shopping and the forcible closure of retail and hospitality have accelerated the already worrying decline of British high streets. According to the Centres for Cities High Street Tracker, Birmingham is in the bottom 10 UK cities for footfall recovery in the city centre, with an overall city centre recovery index of just 16% compared to pre-lockdown levels (Centre for Cities, 2021). The mixed-use development will be key to keeping Birmingham’s city centre vibrant and diverse, as retailers will have to appeal to increasingly ethical consumers, keen for a unique shopping or dining experience that they can’t buy online. This trend suggests that independent and bespoke local urban centres may see a post-pandemic upswing, whilst shopping centres and out-of-town retail parks may lose out to online retailers.
The majority of citizens think that the pandemic has strengthened our communities, with the number of respondents who believe that Brits ‘look after each other’ rising from 24% to 46% between February and September 2020 (More in Common, 2020). Two-thirds of Brits now believe that they can make a difference in their community – a 16% increase from pre-pandemic levels – evidencing a growing desire for local-level political action. The pandemic has seen an increase in political support for local government initiatives that prioritise the local community, most notably the imposition of rent controls and the provision of housing for the homeless. Demand for political decentralisation and stronger local institutions have gained high-profile status, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham highlighting the imbalanced postcode lottery of the UK’s tier system. There is an opportunity for post-pandemic communities to sustain this momentum, prioritising local community interests above centralised government objectives.
Key Policy Messages
- Local living means shorter journeys, creating more opportunities for walking and cycling and reducing dependence on automobiles. As well as being environmentally beneficial, active travel brings dramatic physical and mental health benefits. Improving bike lanes and pedestrian spaces will be vital to recovering from the inactivity and mental strain of lockdown, securing a green, healthy, and happy recovery.
- However, fears over the safety of public transport could see the pendulum swing back towards personal car use. Disincentivising car dependency will be crucial in preventing an environmentally damaging and socially harmful recovery from the pandemic.
- The steep increase in home working has bought local high streets and urban centres new custom, whilst large city centres have seen a dramatic decline in footfall. High streets will need to become interactive and experiential mixed-use venues, with independent commercial offerings that can rival online megabrands. A high-quality public realm will be key to creating high streets and urban centres that people want to spend time and money in.
- Spending more time at home has increased local consciousness and camaraderie among neighbours. Covid-19 has reminded us why our local community is vital, and this strong neighbourhood identity should be carefully nurtured to ensure a localised social support system to assist our pandemic recovery.
This article is part of a larger project looking at Megatrends in the West Midlands. Megatrends are major movements or patterns or trends that are having a transformative impact on business, economy, society, cultures and personal lives.
The project examines some of these megatrends in a series of provocations, podcasts and a report.
This blog was written by Gina Hunt.
The views expressed in this analysis post are those of the authors and not necessarily those of City-REDI / WMREDI or the University of Birmingham.


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In a world characterized by unprecedented upheavals, current as well as potential pandemics, climate change crisis, attempts to rewrite the principles on which the international economic relations are premised, the role of trade as a cornerstone of economic self-determination of the African people in the African continent and diaspora cannot be overemphasized. As the world tithers towards being a melting pot of crisis after crisis, the ramifications on trade, economic growth and development of the African continent will be significant. The AfCFTA in this context provides the African countries a lifeline to undo the decoupled economic regimes at national and regional levels and steer intra-Africa trade growth. The commemoration of the AfCFTA as mandated by the 12th Extraordinary Summit of AU Heads of States and Government is therefore a seminal event that marks the beginning of the fulfilment of the vision of the founding fathers of the African unity.
Navigating perilous global economic upheavals
The commemoration of the AfCFTA must inspire, energize and speed up efforts of the African countries towards realizing a long held vision of economic self-determination of the continent. Notably, the context within which AfCFTA was contemplated has drastically changed as underlined by efforts to redefine, redesign and rebalance the global economic relations. The affront against the onslaught of climate change, growing scepticism against free trade and an embrace of nationalist and inward- looking trade policies, fierce bids to shape global regulatory framework for 21st– century industries as well as the blurring of a line between national security and trade policy – all represent a new context in which the commemoration of African integration in the context of the AfCFTA has to be appreciated. The AfCFTA is therefore that sole spark of light that has a potential to hedge African countries against potentially rapturous outcomes from turbulent times of economic challenges facing the world.
Deconstructing fragmented regulatory architecture
There is no doubt that market size matters a lot when it comes to various African regional economic communities’ ability to exercise their economic muscle at the global market place. Fragmented regulatory regimes across the Continent while legitimate in their own right, do not in the long haul facilitate the consolidation of these regimes into a sizeable market that can foster commercially meaningful participation of African countries in the global economy.
Commemoration of the AfCFTA is, therefore, recognition of the firm foundation this Agreement represents, particularly as a pathway to defragmentation of African regulatory regimes as well as an enabler of final achievement of the objectives of the Abuja Treaty. It sets the opportune conditions to reset the African trade patterns from being predominantly driven by the booms and busts of commodity markets of third countries. By deconstructing fragmented regulatory regimes, the AfCFTA holds significant potential to redraw Africa’s economic map, rescind the Continent’s overreliance on exports of primary commodities and broaden the export market base.
Moving from Theory to Practice
The commemoration of the AfCFTA represents a reminder that the African Continent is adopting “a business unusual” approach as the basic ethos through which aspirations of over a billion inhabitants of the Content will be realized. It further represents a reminder that the success of an effective trade regime is not only measured by trade statistics but also visible changes in the standards of living of scores of indigent people across the continent. The promise of the AfCFTA to foster regional value chains and foster inclusive trade entails a commitment to “a business unusual approach”. While global partners are indispensable in their trade with the continent, there is no doubt that Africa’s upgrading in global supply chains will be only as strong as its ability to upgrade its participation from the bottom of the value chain and supply chain ladder. The impending implementation of the AfCFTA, as well as on going negotiations represent a once in a lifetime opportunity to obliterate the economic fault lines that characterize the fragmented economic expanse of the continent.
The future of Africa lies in the fate of the AfCFTA and ultimate realisation of the objectives of the Abuja Treaty. As the Continent and the world microscopically set sights on Africa as the next frontier of economic take- off, the AfCFTA is the sole continent wide insurance policy that will ensure that the Africa shapes the terms of engagement with third parties and trade with the world in value added goods. It is further an insurance policy that will guarantee that Africa secures its fair share of global economic pie while also maximizing benefits that come with continental integration. The AfCFTA commemoration is a significant milestone in a long-held dream of the founders of African unity.
As we commemorate the AfCFTA it worth remembering Africans who fell prey to COVID-19. With the potential onslaught of pandemics in the future looming on the horizon and drawing from hefty economic losses resulting from the impact COVID – 19 on all African countries, there is no shadow of doubt that, while AfCFTA is not the panacea for all problems, dividends therefrom will position the continent to better deal with future challenges.
TRAPCA’s contribution to the AfCFTA through building abiding trade and trade-related capacities of African countries through advanced training and research will ensure that as the Continent celebrates this important day, all hands will be on the deck to foster effective implementation and enforcement of the Agreement. AfCFTA represents “a business unusual” for the continent and all hands must be on deck to ensure that manifests as a step that leads to realising the objectives of the Abuja Treaty.
Written by Tsotetsi Makong
Tsotetsi Makong lectures in trapca’s MSc in International Trade Policy and Law. He is a resident faculty member and a legal expert in the field of international trade. His expertise spans a number of subject matter including intellectual property and competition law, international trade negotiations, trade facilitation and regional integration and international economic law. He is a former chief negotiator of UNCTAD Based G77 and China and WTO based Africa Group. Makong contributed in the drafting and legal scrubbing of the AfCFTA. He is currently part of SADC-EU EPAs roster of arbitrators.


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Juniper disappointed by skittish service providers
Gets in bed with Riverbed for optimization
Switch and router maker Juniper Networks, like rival Cisco Systems, has been adversely impacted by the skittish economy and has now been rattled by VMware's $1.26bn acquisition of network virtualizer Nicira. The conversation will quickly shift from what Juniper is doing to get an edge on Cisco to what it is going to do to blunt the attack by VMware.
To help that shift along a little, on the day that it announced preliminary results for its second quarter ended in June, Juniper decided to also announce a partnership with WAN and application optimization appliance maker Riverbed Technology.
With its net income chopped in half, you can't blame Juniper for trying. In the quarter, Juniper's product sales fell by 9.7 per cent to $804.7m, but services sales were up 17.5 per cent to $269.1m. The bump in services was just not enough to fill in the product revenue hole.
Overall sales dropped by 4.2 per cent, to $1.07bn, and with operating expenses up across the board and $3.2m in restructuring costs, Juniper posted net income of $57.7m, off 50.1 per cent.
If you want to break Juniper down by hardware and software, then the company's Platform Systems division had routing hardware revenues of $487.4m (down 16.1 per cent), while switching hardware sales were $139.9m (up 19.4 per cent). Security appliance sales were $41.8m (off 22.2 per cent). Services revenues across all hardware products came to $202.4m (up 22.4 per cent).
Juniper's Software Solutions division, which makes the software than runs on its gear, had $202.3m in revenues in the quarter, nearly flat with a year ago and with the bulk of software license sales coming from security products and some from routing.
By product type, routing accounted for just under $506m in sales, down 17.8 per cent, while switching comprised $139.9m in total revenues, up19.5 per cent. Security and other products sold by Juniper had flat sales at $158.8m, and services across all products accounted for $269.1m, up 17.5 per cent.
Juniper said that its sales to enterprise customers was up a smidgen, at $392.8m (up four-tenths of a point), but service providers held back, with revenues declining 6.6 per cent to $681m.
On a call with Wall Street analysts, Juniper CEO Kevin Johnson, a former top Microsoft executive who has been running the networker for the past several years, said that the company was still going through product transitions for both its switching and routing products, and that he expected products to ramp in the second half of 2012 and into 2013.
Johnson added that Juniper was focusing on projects that help this ramp and also generate revenues, and is aligning the cost structure of the company to its revenues. Johnson did not say there would be layoffs, and in fact the company added 155 employees in the quarter, boosting its workforce to 9,373 people.
Robyn Denholm, Juniper's CFO, didn't say anything about layoffs either on the call, but she did tell Wall Street that the company would be eliminating $150m in costs during 2013 and would also be accelerating its authorized $1bn in stock repurchases.
Rival Cisco Systems announced 1,300 layoffs yesterday, which is about 2 per cent of its workforce. It also announced 4,400 layoffs a year ago, in addition to giving early-retirement agreements to 2,100 employees and shedding another 5,000 workers in its Mexican set-top box manufacturing plant when it sold that business to Foxconn.
Getting in bed with Riverbed
Riverbed also reported its financial results for the second quarter today. Revenues were up 16.5 per cent to $198.5m, with product sales up 10.7 per cent to $129.4m and support and services revenues rising 29.3 per cent to $69.1m. Riverbed's profits grew nearly four times as fast as sales, rising 60.7 per cent to $18.1m. That works out to 9.1 per cent of revenues being converted to profit.
Riverbed exited the quarter with $182m in cash, $242.5m in short-term investments, $122.7m in long-term investments, $134m in deferred revenues and no debt. The company's stock rose 15 per cent in after-hours trading and if this holds tomorrow, that will give Riverbed a market capitalization of $2.32bn.
Add in that cash, and even without any profit on the deal, you'd have to shell out $2.87bn to acquire Riverbed – which is the best reason why Juniper has partnered with Riverbed rather than acquiring it outright.
Juniper is, of course, the larger of the two companies, with around five times the revenues, a market cap at around $8.1bn, and net cash and investments of $3.27bn.
If it really wanted to, Juniper could buy Riverbed. But it would empty the cash tanks doing so, which makes El Reg wonder why the companies don't decide to merge instead of having one acquire the other. Juniper needs extra goodies that Riverbed can supply, but it can't burn its cash.
Under the terms of the deal, Juniper is shelling out $75m to license Riverbed's application delivery controller (ADC) software, which it runs in its Stingray software appliances (including software it got through its acquisitions of Zeus Technology and Aptimize last year) and uses in conjunction with its Steelhead WAN optimization appliances.
Riverbed and Juniper are also going to integrate Steelhead's Mobile accelerator into the Junos Pulse client to create an acceleration stack for pushing apps to smartphones and tablets, and they are going to work together in some unspecified ways on WAN optimization.
Bob Muglia, the ex-Microsoftie who is executive VP in charge of Juniper's software solutions division, said on the call that the company was particularly interested in Riverbed's Layer 7 application delivery software, and added that although the products Juniper will create based on this technology "won't ship for some time," they are critical, as the network and application layers are converging.
Muglia said that there are no plans for the two companies to resell each other's wares in the meantime, and that Riverbed's ADC wares would be mashed up with Junos for switches and routers and would be sold as Juniper products.
Looking ahead, Denholm said that Juniper was expecting revenues between $1.04bn and $1.075bn in the third quarter, with gross margins expected to be flat at the high end of the range and non-GAAP earnings per share being somewhere between 15 and 18 cents, which is a bit lower than the 19 cents at non-GAAP EPS in the second quarter. ®


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Apple’s rumored announcement of at least one new iPhone 14 color option is ‘closer’ BloombergMark Gurman said today in a tweet.
It was rumored last week that Apple plans to do so makes iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus available in a new yellow finish. Several sources informed MacRumors that Apple’s PR team is planning a product briefing with reporters this Tuesday, March 7, which may be related to the launch of a new iPhone color, but we have not confirmed the topic.
Apple often introduces new iPhone colors in the spring to boost sales in the middle of the product cycle. On Tuesday, March 8, 2022, Apple introduced a new green color for iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, and a new Alpine Green color for the iPhone 13 Pro models. In April 2021, Apple produced the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini available in purple.
The new iPhone 14 color option is likely to be announced with a press release on the Apple Newsroom website on Tuesday morning, possibly alongside the introduction of new iPhone case and Apple Watch band colors til spring.
Almost a year to the day after the announcement of the green iPhone 13, a new iPhone 14 color is indeed imminent. — Mark Gurman (@markgurman) March 6, 2023
Apple first launched the iPhone 14 series last September. The new color would be a purely cosmetic change, with the hardware otherwise remaining the same. The new iPhone 15 series is expected to be announced in about six months from now.
iOS 16.4 for iPhone is coming soon with these 5 new features
Apple is currently beta testing iOS 16.4, which includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhone. Apple says the software update will be released to the public in the spring, meaning it will likely be available in March or April. Below, we’ve rounded up five new features coming to iPhone with iOS 16.4, including additional emoji, web push notifications, and more. 1. New…
iPhone 15 Pro front glass leak reveals ultra-thin bezels around the screen
While the iPhone 15 series is still about six months away, front glass panels for the devices are allegedly leaked today in a pair of videos shared on Chinese websites Bilibili and Douyin. The videos were later posted on Twitter by ShrimpApplePro and Unknownz21. iPhone 14 Pro front glass (left) vs iPhone 15 Pro front glass (right) via Bilibili As previously rumored, the videos seem to…
Rumor summary: New Apple products to expect in March to April, including yellow iPhone 14
The calendar has turned to March, and Apple is rumored to have at least three product announcements planned between now and the end of April, including a 15-inch MacBook Air, a new Mac Pro tower, and a new color option for the iPhone 14. Below, we’ve summarized what we can expect from Apple in March and April based on rumors. This story was originally published in February and has been updated with new…
Top Stories: Yellow iPhone 14 Next Week?, iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 15 Rumors and more
It looks like we could see another Apple product introduction as soon as next week, and based on rumors and timing, it appears to be a new iPhone color. We also continue to hear rumors about the iPhone 15 lineup coming later this year and even a fourth-generation iPhone SE, so read on for all the details on these stories and more! Sources: Apple Planning Product…
New iMac reportedly in advanced development stage
Apple’s next iMac has reached an “advanced stage of development,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In his newsletter today, Gurman said the new iMac will have the same 24-inch screen size and color options as the current model. The new iMac will likely include Apple’s upcoming M3 chip, internal design changes and a new manufacturing process for the stand, according to Gurman. M3…
Gourmet: New 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs likely to launch in summer
Apple is likely to launch both an updated 13-inch MacBook Air and a larger 15-inch MacBook Air “between late spring and summer,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. However, he said the chips these models will use are a “big remaining question”. Gurman said it is “likely” that at least the next 13-inch MacBook Air will be equipped with the as-yet-unannounced M3 chip, which will reportedly …
#Apples #announcement #iPhone #color #options #imminent
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There’s a difference between being a “tourist” and being a “traveller”. A traveller respects their surroundings and endeavors to partake in them without leaving a negative footprint. A tourist brings a six pack of beer, seven towels, and leaves at least half those things on the beach. Yet another idyllic beach in the world will now be temporarily shut down to combat the impact of rampant tourism – and this time, it’s in the Philippines.
Boracay, Philippines is one of the most sought after destinations in Southeast Asia. If you could do a weight loss style “before and after” however, you’d see two entirely different destinations. One, the former, looks like a brochure for a priceless vacation. The other, the latter, looks like low tide in the worst parts of New York City. The island is a massive draw for tourists, bringing in 1bn to the Philippines, but to salvage and rejuvenate, the island will close to tourists. Apparently tourist related businesses have not respected the environment, and have been accused by the President of dumping waste water into surrounding waterways. Gross!
First it was Thailand temporarily shutting down Maya Beach, the famed beach from the movie “The Beach”. Next, it was Italy banning towels at a Sardinian beach. Now, it’s the Philippines saying – enough is enough. Boracay will close to tourists at the request of President Rodrigo Duterte, who recently called the island a “cesspool”. The closure will begin on the 26th of April, 2018 and last six months at a minimum. Local businesses hope Duterte will change his mind, but it seems highly unlikely at this point. A short term loss may pave the way for a long term future.
This is yet another fascinating example of ethical tourism. The idea of a perfect beach has never been a place littered with tourists (and actual litter). The ideal beach is a place with few people, brilliant turquoise blue water and impeccably clean sand. Governments and tourism boards must constantly battle the short term satisfaction of “record numbers” with the long term sustainability and higher end customers which a perfectly maintained beach and “vibe” bring in. Let’s hope the Philippines can manage to salvage this remarkable island for future generations.


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Trade among African countries essential to sustainable growth in the continent – Ban
“African economies are among the fastest growing in the world, yet intra-regional trade accounts only for 10 per cent of the continent’s commerce – significantly less than in other regions,” Mr. Ban said in his message for the Day, the theme for which this year focuses on accelerating industrialization by boosting trade within the continent.
“Many constraints impede trade expansion in Africa: obsolete infrastructure, fragmented economic space, low production capacities, limited investment financing and high transaction costs,” Mr. Ban added. “Eliminating these obstacles is a prerequisite to fully realizing Africa’s economic potential and helping to address the continent’s socioeconomic and developmental challenges.”
The General Assembly proclaimed 20 November as Africa Industrialization Day in 1989 to mobilize the commitment of the international community to support industrial development in Africa.
Intra-African trade, Mr. Ban underlined in his message, can help free the continent from its reliance on international aid and improve its resilience to macroeconomic and other external shocks. In turn, industrialization can boost this type of trade by helping diversify exports.
In particular, he noted, the development of rural and food processing industries could help lift people from poverty. Facilitating trade however, requires the improvement of road, rail and other communications infrastructures.
“Industrial growth will require greater and more reliable supplies of energy. Improved energy infrastructure – including investments in renewable power generation and energy efficiency – would allow countries to produce more, and more competitively,” Mr. Ban said.


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Houston, Texas -- LaPolla Industries Inc., a maker and distributor of insulation foams and coating products for the construction sector, had "unprecedented sales growth" in 2008, according to a recent announcement from the firm. LaPolla is also expecting sales „to continue to grow to record levels in 2009.
"This outlook is based on market-share increases in the construction insulation markets which are driven by growing consumer awareness about energy efficient foams and coatings," the firm explained in an April 15 statement.
Sales were up 49 percent, to $47.6 million in 2008 while gross profit soared 86 percent, to $4.2 million on the back of this substantial sales growth, according to a 15 April announcement from the firm. Lapolla added that its operating loss decreased to $3.5 million in 2008, 30 percent down from the loss in 2007.
"LaPolla had unprecedented sales growth, a full year of manufacturing its own in-house foam resins, attained essential industry approvals, credentials and certifications for its own products, and integrated AirTight's equipment, distribution and training programmes during 2008,‰ said Douglas Kramer, the firm's ceo and president.
Nevertheless, "we were not able to fully optimise this value in 2008 as a result of an extraordinary spike in petroleum related raw material costs," he explained.
"LaPolla is now positioned to bring the full value to our bottom line in 2009 and beyond," Kramer concluded.
Key to the improvements were an 80-percent increase in foam sales, to $37.3 million in 2008, "as energy-conscious building owners and consumers continued to seek relief from volatile energy prices and polyurethane spray foam (SPF) continues to gain market share from traditional insulation systems such as fibreglass," the firm's statement explained.
LaPolla bought the AirTight company, a training, start-up and rig building operations provider, which furthered its market penetration in the foam segment. "By providing new market entrants as well as existing insulation companies with the equipment and training to successfully market foam, revenue growth from equipment has escalated and the ongoing sales of LaPolla foam has followed," the firm'‚s statement added.


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The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is without a doubt the tech giant’s flagship phone to date, selling at about $1,000. The price tag does not necessarily mean that the phone is immune to all kinds of issues, and it’s far from being perfect.
One of these issues was reported by SamMobile which wrote that more users have been noticing that the camera is freezing while they’re taking pics or is lagging while they are recording videos.
It seems that only Snapdragon phones are affected
Another strange thing is that it looks like this only seems to affect users who own the Snapdragon variant of the phone which is currently sold in the U.S., Korea, and a few other markets as well.
The Exynos variant is used in the rest of the world, and fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be suffering from such annoying problems.
Users hopped on forums to address the issues, and some of them have been suggested that you should clear the phone’s system partition cache, but this is only a short-term solution.
A fix is on its way
The good this is though that Samsung acknowledged the problem and they are currently working hard to find a fix. Here’s their message to all users affected:
“Our specialists have given us the directive that an update is coming out to fix this issue specifically. However, due to us being unable to speculate on the release of future updates, I don’t have an exact date for when to expect this,” a Samsung moderator noted in the company forum.
Everyone is hoping that this fix comes as soon as possible because the last thing a smartphone owner needs is to spend the winter holidays with a broken camera.
Other than this, Samsung’s phone is packed with great features into its elegant glass body which ranges from “wireless charging and a Bluetooth-powered S-Pen to IP68 water/dust resistance and a headphone jack, (…)128GB or 512GB of expandable storage, a 12MP+12MP telephoto camera setup, a class-leading OLED display, and a 4,000mAh battery,” as described by the Android Police.
After finishing Theatrical Journalism at the Faculty of Theatre and Television in Cluj-Napoca, Rada reviewed movies, books, theatre pieces and she also wrote articles from the IT niche as a content editor for software producers. At the moment, she is working with various online advertising firms.


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If you want to learn how to run a mind-blowing virtual event, here’s what the masters at the Internet Marketing Association are doing to build buzz. Starting with a giveaway of a Tesla and $100,000 in prizes.
Who wouldn’t be up for the chance to win a Tesla?
That’s just one prize being given away during the Internet Marketing Association’s virtual conference, IMPACT20, presented by the Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School, on October 2.
Its theme? “The Year of Reinvention”
“2020 has upended life as we know it, including the way we do business. But it has also generated new ways of thinking. Our emphasis at IMPACT20 with The Year of Reinvention is on innovation and proactivity as private individuals, professionals and organizations,” said IMA Chairman Sinan Kanatsiz. “We will focus on hope, enthusiasm, reinvention and opportunity. It will be a unique experience, uplifting and empowering.”
The organizers are expecting 100,000 attendees as a result of their marketing efforts.
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OTTAWA (AP) -- The head of the Canadian meat company linked to a deadly bacterial outbreak said Sunday that the Toronto plant at the center of the outbreak may reopen as soon as Tuesday.
Maple Leaf Foods CEO Michael McCain told reporters Sunday that efforts to sanitize the facility were going well, and the plant could reopen, pending test results.
"We have an unwavering commitment to keeping our food safe with the standards that go well beyond regulatory requirements," he said. "But this week, our best efforts failed and for that, we are deeply sorry."
The outbreak has resulted in 21 confirmed cases of listeriosis, including four deaths. Of the deaths, listeriosis was found to be the cause in three cases and a contributing factor in the remaining case.
Listeriosis is a type of food poisoning that can be dangerous to the elderly, newborns, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Maple Leaf Foods has launched a widespread recall of many of its products, including everything made at the company's Toronto plant.
McCain also said Sunday the recall will cost the company an estimated $20 million -- 10 times more than was previously estimated.


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Mermade Seafoods swims in cell agriculture waters to make cultivated scallops
Mermade Seafoods' circular approach uses biowaste to feed algae, which is then used as the growth media to feed the cells. The company calls this interpretation of aquaponics “cytoponics."
Your future shrimp meal could come from Atarraya’s farming technology
The company's three-pronged technology includes creating ideal environment for the shrimp, remote operations management and AI-powered automation to monitor and feed them.
Kenya-based aquaculture tech Victory Farms nets $5M funding to expand into new markets
Victory Farms, an aquaculture startup and farm for tilapia fish comprising hatcheries, nursery ponds and deep-water cages, has raised $5 million in new funding. The investment was led by Ed Brakeman,
Indonesia’s eFishery raises $90M from Temasek, SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Sequoia Capital India
Indonesia-based eFishery announced today that it has raised what it claims is the largest round of funding by an aquaculture tech startup in the world. The company, which provides feeding devices, sof
Vertical Oceans aims to grow sustainable shrimp in huge ‘aqua towers’ inside cities
John Diener, the CEO of an aquaculture nutrition and genetics company, would visit hundreds of shrimp farms as part of his job. But gradually he became frustrated by some of the environmentally unsust
Bluu Biosciences raises cash to become Europe’s first purveyor of lab-grown salmon, trout and carp
A startup from Europe is joining the race to become the first big provider of lab-grown fish. Bluu Biosciences has raised €7 million in a round of financing from investors including Manta Ray Ventur
There’s an ocean of opportunity for startups targeting the seafood industry
Seafood has blown past its iceberg lettuce stage and entered trendy greens territory, with eaters loading up on oceanic superfoods and falling in love with previously unknown species as fast as daters
Fish replacement may be the next big wave in alternative protein development
Fish make up 16% of animal protein consumed globally, and demand is set to rise. But overfishing is hugely problematic -- and it’s not sustainable to continue with the way things are.
Tech investors see bugs as a big business as Ÿnsect raises $125 million
A company using advanced technologies to grow and harvest mealworms (larval beetles) at scale is on track to become one of the venture capital industry’s oddest billion-dollar investments. Ÿnse
Entocycle uses larvae to fuel a more sustainable food chain
No matter how many tears are shed watching “Okja,” people are still going to eat meat—and the raising of meat is hard on the planet. Even feeding livestock and fish has an ecological cost. Soybe
SeaDrone simplifies underwater exploration and inspection
It's the year, or perhaps the decade, of the drone, and the popular craft are only getting cheaper, better and easier to control — but why should drones be limited to the air? The SeaDrone, demonstr


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(Provides particulars and background)
By Aditya Kalra
NEW DELHI, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Google mentioned on Friday it’ll cooperate with India’s competitors authority after the nation’s prime courtroom upheld an antitrust order forcing the U.S. agency to alter the way it markets its in style Android platform.
The Competitors Fee of India (CCI) dominated in October that Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, exploited its dominant place in Android and informed it to take away restrictions on gadget makers, together with these associated to pre-installation of apps and making certain exclusivity of its search. It additionally fined Google $161 million.
On Thursday, Google misplaced a problem within the Supreme Court docket to dam the directives, getting seven days to conform.
“We remain committed to our users and partners and will cooperate with the CCI on the way forward,” a Google spokesperson mentioned in a press release to Reuters, with out explaining the steps it might take.
“We are reviewing the details of yesterday’s decision which is limited to interim relief and did not decide the merits of our appeal,” Google mentioned, including that it will proceed to pursue its authorized problem to the Android choice.
India’s highest courtroom has mentioned a decrease tribunal – the place Google first challenged the Android directives – can proceed to listen to the corporate’s enchantment and should rule by March 31.
About 97% of 600 million smartphones in India run on Android, in response to Counterpoint Analysis estimates. Apple has only a 3% share.
Hoping to dam the implementation of the CCI directives, Google had challenged the CCI order within the Supreme Court docket by warning it might stall the expansion of the Android ecosystem. It additionally mentioned it will be compelled to change preparations with greater than 1,100 gadget producers and 1000’s of app builders if the directives kick in.
Google has been involved about India’s choice because the steps are seen as extra sweeping than these imposed within the European Fee’s 2018 ruling. There it was fined for putting in what the Fee known as illegal restrictions on Android cellular gadget makers. Google remains to be difficult the file $4.3 billion advantageous in that case.
In Europe, Google made modifications later together with letting Android gadget customers decide their default search engine and mentioned gadget makers will be capable to license the Google cellular utility suite individually from the Google Search App or the Chrome browser.
Some analysts say Google will now must make related modifications in India to adjust to directives.
Faisal Kawoosa, founding father of Indian analysis agency Techarc, mentioned Google might have to think about different enterprise fashions equivalent to charging an upfront payment to startups to offer entry to the Android platform and its Play Retailer. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi; Enhancing by Janane Venkatraman, William Mallard and Jacqueline Wong)


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American designer Jeremy Scott, the pop-art bad boy of fashion, is stepping down as creative director of Moschino after a decade, the Italian luxury label said Monday.
"Scott has penned a fundamental chapter in the legacy of the brand with his fearless and show-stopping pop-camp style and incisive humor," Moschino said in a statement.
Scott was beloved among his Moschino-wearing followers for his bold, colourful and witty designs since taking the role of creative director in 2013.
View this post on Instagram
He said the ten years had been "a wonderful celebration of creativity and imagination" and he was "proud of the legacy" he leaves behind.
Neither the label nor Moschino's parent company Aeffe said who will succeed him. (AFP)


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Nclude, an Egyptian fintech-focused VC firm founded earlier this year in partnership with Egypt’s leading national banks – Banque Misr, National Bank of Egypt, and Banque Du Caire – has received an undisclosed investment from Mastercard to help accelerate Egypt’s evolving fintech ecosystem and support the country’s digital transformation journey. The partnership will increase financial inclusion in Egypt by investing in promising early- and growth-stage fintech and fintech-enabled businesses.
The investments will benefit early- and growth-stage fintech companies tackling financial inclusion in Egypt, as well as the Central Bank of Egypt’s vision of making Egypt an innovation hub for fintech across the Middle East and Africa region.
Giving reason for the investment, Khalid Elgibali, Division President, MENA at Mastercard said “Our contribution to Nclude stems from our longstanding commitment to accelerate the country’s digital transformation, drive financial inclusion rates and reinforce Egypt’s position as an innovation hub for the fintech industry in the wider region. We see a new door for an opportunity in our collaboration with Nclude fund, where Egyptian fintech can be offered an enabling environment to achieve their full potential.”
Basil Moftah, General Partner at Nclude on his part said “Mastercard’s global platform and commitment to fintech is a great complement to the Nclude strategy. We are super excited to welcome their global expertise to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Egypt. Fintech and fintech-enabled companies are witnessing exponential growth in the market and we look forward to partnering with Mastercard to continue to fuel this growth and position Egypt as a regional center of excellence for fintech innovation.”
What You Should Know
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) is driving a vision to position Egypt as an Innovation Hub for fintech across the Middle East and Africa by upskilling youths, improving access to capital, and developing technology infrastructure. These efforts are aimed at quickly increasing the rate of financial inclusion in order to benefit all Egyptians, only 56% of whom are part of the formal economy. It also focuses on closing Egypt’s massive SME lending gap and improving the quality of financial services available to businesses and individuals.
Additionally, Eslam Darwish, Founding General Partner at Nclude on his part said “Having Mastercard invest in Nclude is a milestone for us. This fund will enable us to further support entrepreneurs in Egypt’s vibrant startup ecosystem who are driving fintech innovation and helping transform the country into a digital and financially inclusive economy. The partnership with Mastercard will also help us provide ambitious founders with the tools they need to succeed and compete at local, regional, and global levels.”
Furthermore, Adam Jones, Country General Manager, MENA Central at Mastercard said “We are excited to collaborate with the Nclude Fund in continuation of our efforts to increase financial inclusion in key markets like Egypt, underscoring our global goal of connecting one billion people to the digital economy. Through this partnership, we aim to empower Egypt’s rapidly evolving fintech ecosystem to allow individuals and businesses to have access to quality financial services, thus promoting the growth of the country’s digital and formal economy.”
Nclude was launched in March 2022 upon approval by the CBE, and initially saw an investment of $100 million from the 3 national banks as well as Egyptian Banks Company (EBC) and e-Finance. With Mastercard, a pioneer in advancing financial inclusion in Egypt and the world, joining in, Nclude Fund is quickly becoming a go-to fund for fintech startups looking to grow their operations and services.
Mastercard’s dedication to supporting financial inclusion globally saw the company pledge to connect 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses, including 25 million women entrepreneurs, to the digital economy by 2025.


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Spend it even if you don’t have itOn the weekends young women often go on a spree, having pizza, taking in a movie and visiting the beauty parlor and then a karaoke room, paying full price at none of those stops. They are not good negotiators, but rather, good consumers, taking advantage of discount programs offered by mobile phone service providers.
But there is a down side to their savvy ― overspending, a condition that has snared many Koreans in a debt trap.
Choi Ye-nyang is a typical member of Korea’s youth market. Ms. Choi, 23, is a college student living with her parents, who help her pay her bills, including her tuition. But she struggles at the end of each month with anxiety over money. “It does not matter how much I earn,” says Ms. Choi, who tutors high school students part-time. “The money is never enough. I eat out a few times, buy a card to ride the subway, have a few drinks with friends and pay my mobile phone bill; the money is gone like that.”
Ms. Choi, who says she spends an average of 400,000 won ($350) a month, provided the JoongAng Daily with a detailed accounting of her monthly finances:
Meals outside school cafeteria: 60,000 won
Miscellaneous (gifts, etc.): 90,000 won
Transportation: 150,000 won
Last month Ms. Choi engaged in a budget buster: buying on impulse. She spent an extra 300,000 won on a digital camera, using money she earned working at a children’s summer camp for six weeks. She has no savings, and she apparently has no plans to start setting aside money. Ms. Choi says there are a lot more things she wants to buy. And there are a lot more things stores would like to sell her.
Just 10 years ago, college students had a narrow number of choices when it came to spending. Inexpensive jewelry sold at street stalls or low-priced cassette players were about all that was available. Today the youth market overflows with choice -- the latest models of mobile phones, MP3 players, handheld computers, digital cameras and luxury clothing and accessories.
The nation’s youth have enriched many Korean companies, from apparel makers to health clubs, which are especially adept at separating teenagers and twentysomethings from their money.
According to a recent survey by Yonsei Annals, a weekly campus newspaper published by Yonsei University, about 28.4 percent of 1,086 respondents said they spend 300,000 won a month. Fifteen percent said they spend 400,000 won, whereas 18 percent said they spend up to 600,000 won or more. Almost half of the respondents said they had no savings.
With lifestyles practically guaranteed by doting parents and free of obligations that knife through most household budgets, such as dental care and mortgage payments, Korean students wield consistent economic influence. One factor behind the dramatic increase in student spending is the expanding number of retailers setting up shop around colleges. A walk through any one of these areas is to steer through an obstacle course of hawkers for coffee shops, clothing stores, bars and mobile phones. In the carnival atmosphere, not much is needed to pry open a wallet or purse. The lack of university regulations for merchants and advertisers encourages them to wade onto campuses to promote their products, some retail booths are even sponsored by the student union or other campus organizations.
“The campus sometimes seems like a commercial Disneyland,” says Ha Hae-jung, a senior at Yonsei. “More and more companies see universities as one big trade center, and in reality the discount prices are just about the same as shops elsewhere.”
Kim Go-eun, a student reporter at the Korea National University of Education, says students in Korea lead an unhealthy financial lifestyle due to an academic setting that leaves them vulnerable to the evils of crass commercialism.
Indeed, what appeared to be a gold mine for marketers has turned into a tar pit lined with the misuse of credit, which is practically given away.
According to the Financial Supervisory Service, there are 100 million credit cards in use in Korea, more than two cards for every man, woman and child in the nation. As of the end of May, about 3 million card users had been blacklisted by the Korean Federation of Banks for failing to meet payments on debts of more than 300,000 won for three months. Of these scofflaws, more than half were in their 20s and 30s.
Another problem is the complete absence of consumer education at the nation’s schools. Personal history has taught most students that mom and dad will wipe their child’s financial slate clean.
In another survey, up to 47 percent of university students said they turn to their parents to bail them out financially. Only 15.3 percent of Korean students said they are financially independent from their parents, a striking contrast compared with 51.9 percent of college students in the United States who say they pay their own way and 24.2 percent of Japanese students who make that claim.
“Students are bombarded with all sorts of purchasing possibilities even before they have been trained to control their spending,” says Ms. Kim, the student reporter.
“It’s a vicious cycle,” says a 23-year-old Seoul student. “When the end of the month arrives there are just too many bills for me to pay at once, including all the installment purchases from the previous months, mobile phone bills and subway cards. Once I make the payments, I am broke again for the rest of the month, so I start from the beginning.”
Parents used to feel the home shielded their children from bad influences, and that they would take an assortment of caveats with them when they went out the door. But today trouble lurks under the most financially secure roof in the form of the Internet. Marketing research by the National Statistical Office in 2002 shows that about 25.2 percent of Internet users have made online purchases -- about 9 percent more than in the previous year -- for goods valued at less than 100,000 won. Of that number, 32 percent were consumers between the ages of 20 and 29.
In a generation knitted together by digital appliances, the latest trend can propagate in literally seconds, and usually the cutting-edge of fashion is luxury items.
Choi Sun-hwa, a senior researcher at the Samsung Economic Research Center, notes what she calls the tendency for female university students to imitate the fashion and lifestyles of people they admire, usually pop stars and actresses.
From clothes to electronic devices, Ms. Choi says, this “bandwagon effect” among the younger generation reflects a strong desire to express a sense of belonging and cultural identity through consumption.
While alarms have been sounded over misguided capitalist youth, Park Tae-il, a senior researcher at the Hyundai Research Institute, sees this trend among young Koreans as a positive sign.
“Students today tend to care less about a grand political theory or historical insights. But they place meaning on what they spend their money on. For them it is a way of expression, a sign that they care about themselves,” Mr. Park says.
Others, however, contend that companies are promoting over consumption among the jejune young to fatten their bottom lines.
Ms. Choi at Samsung writes in her report, “Duality of Consumption,” that companies encourage teenagers to follow the crowd.
The Financial Supervisory Service published “Know-how for Credit Management” earlier this year for students between the ages of 20 and 30.
“It’s important to understand the proper use of credit cards before you sign up for one,” it says. “Check regularly on your credit status, and spend reasonably.”
Kang Jung-hwa, a director at Consumer Unions of Korea, says many Korean students are taking a passive role in planning their expenditures.
“Many of them are not trained to make practical decisions on consumption,” Ms. Kang says.
“Indeed many students are not even aware of their own spending patterns, because their parents pay all the bills. They rely on their parents to take care of them. And that’s a problem concerning many facets of the students’ lives, not just the way they spend their money.”
by Park Soo-mee
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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Welcome to the April edition of Bord Bia's Ireland Market Foodservice Newsletter.
Bord Bia’s 2023 Dairy Markets Seminar is taking place on Tuesday, April 18th at the Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare.
This is a dedicated event for Irish dairy exporters and stakeholders, informing the sector on latest market trends and developments.
We’re delighted to confirm that Peter Jackson, CEO with Sysco (Brake) GB will participate on the customer panel session taking place pre-lunch.
For a detailed agenda and to register your attendance, please visit this link. Note that this event is open to Bord Bia client companies only.
Date announced for Foodservice Lunch&Learn Webinar
Delighted to confirm that Bord Bia is arranging a Foodservice Lunch&Learn webinar on Monday, May 8th from 1-2PM.
Maria Castroviejo, Senior Analyst with Rabobank’s Rabo Research Food & Agribusiness department will introduce findings from their Foodservice in 2023 report in the context of consumer uncertainty and continued cost volatility.
We will also be joined by Grace Binchy, Consumer Insights Specialist with Bord Bia. Grace will introduce Bord Bia’s recent Striking the Balance report, reflecting on the macro drivers that will impact upon our future dietary choices. This research included a mix of in depth interviews with thought leaders and a quantitative consumer study across seven markets. Grace will highlight examples of plant based activity taking place at foodservice level and outline potential future opportunities for the food and drinks industry.
Finally, Maureen Gahan will close the webinar with an update on some of the broader themes taking place at a global foodservice level – building on my presentation from our 2022 Irish foodservice seminar.
To book your place at this event, simply click on this link and submit your contact details.
General Industry News
Euro zone inflation falls more than expected to 6.9% in March
www.rte.ie – 31.03.2023
Inflation across the euro area is estimated to have moderated to 6.9% in March from 8.5% in February, according to an initial "flash" estimate from Eurostat. However, the rate of food inflation has increased again to an annual rate of 15.4%. Energy inflation declined by 0.9% over the month lowering its annual rate to 13.7%. There is now a considerable spread in inflation rates between member states of the euro area. Ireland's estimated annual rate in March was 7% while Spain's was 3.1%. The Baltic states all continue to have double-digit inflation rates.
Dublin Airport promises cleaner toilets, family areas and faster WiFi after summer chaos last year
Independent.ie – 28.03.2023
A range of new measures and improvements to facilities at Dublin Airport are being introduced in time for this summer designed to make the country’s biggest gateway cleaner, more efficient and more comfortable for passengers. Semi-state DAA, which operates Dublin and Cork Airports, confirmed the 15-point plan as it prepares for the beginning of the busy summer season. It includes family seating areas, faster WiFi, more charging points, cleaner toilets and new food and beverage offerings. The airport expects to handle 31.1 million passengers this year. That compares to the 32.9 million it saw in 2019, before the pandemic struck.
Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) & Pub Sector
Dublin’s Virgin Mary Bar Announces Closure
Hospitality Ireland – 28.03.2023
The Virgin Mary bar – the Irish capital’s first non-alcoholic bar – has announced the closure of its venue and a transition to mobile trading. A statement posted on the official Virgin Mary Instagram account read, ‘Dear friends, our time at 54 Capel Street has come to a close. ‘But this marks an exciting new chapter for us…‘The Virgin Mary Bar is going mobile!! ‘As part of the wider @tvmcollective franchise operation, we are thrilled to be bringing our new “TVM On The Road” concept to events, festivals, pop-up venues and much more around the island of Ireland!
Over 65% of restaurants concerned they could have to close in the coming 12 months
www.drinksindustryireland.ie – 29.03.2023
Fears are mounting that restaurants and other businesses in the hospitality sector may be forced to close in the coming 12 months as a result of inflationary and staffing pressures. The Kroll Business Sentiment Survey of Restaurants & Hospitality, carried out in partnership with the Restaurants Association of Ireland, revealed 67% of businesses are concerned for the coming year. These findings follow news of the extension to the reduced VAT rate for the hospitality sector, but at a time when businesses are no longer able to warehouse additional revenue liabilities.
Hotel & Restaurant Sector
Two Cork restaurants awarded stars in prestigious Michelin Guide
Two Irish restaurants have been added to the Michelin Guide, securing both a one Michelin star and a two Michelin star rating for the country. The announcement was made as the full list of this year's Michelin stars were awarded across the UK and Ireland. Dede in Baltimore, Co Cork received a second star for its Turkish-inspired dishes, Terre, an intimate and modern restaurant at Castlemartyr Resort in East Cork, was awarded one Michelin star, its first star, and winning praise for maximising what it does with local Irish ingredients.
Dalata Revenue Tops €500M
Hospitalityenews.ie – 01.03.2023
Dalata Hotel Group's annual revenues exceeded €0.5 billion for the first time in 2022 as the company opened six new hotels, including its first hotel in continental Europe - the Clayton Hotel Dusseldorf. Profits after tax came to €96.7m, up 24% on 2019. “We're delighted to exceed revenue of over half a billion for the first time,” said Dalata CEO Dermot Crowley. “That's been helped hugely by opening six new hotels last year and taking over our first hotel in Europe, and our RevPAR on a like-for-like basis is up 14% on 2019.”
Contract Catering Sectors
A Taste of Home: the Irish food world unites in the fight against homelessness
Irish Times – 25.03.2023
Catering company Gather & Gather Ireland, has published a collection of 55 excellent recipes contributed by representatives of the food world in Ireland, and all proceeds will be donated to the Peter McVerry Trust to support their work with the homeless across the country. It is called The Gathered Table: A Taste of Home, and among its pages you will find favourite home-cooking recipes from chefs, farmers, food producers, retailers, and more. To order a copy of the book visit www.ninebeanrowsbooks.com
Sysco Launches its own coffee brand, Citavo
Hospitality Ireland – 13.03.2023
Foodservice provider Sysco has launched its own coffee brand, called Citavo, extending its offering to its 10,000+ customers across the island of Ireland. The barista-style coffee marks Sysco’s first step on a journey to bring an extensive range of own-brand products to the Irish market. The launch of Citavo, which is to be followed by more Sysco brand products, marks a significant extension of the company’s offering, helping to continue to accelerate sales across the island.


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The Toonmax Cartoon Shopping Center covering 10,000 square meters of floor space in Shanghai's downtown business district is a joint project of the Shanghai Xuangdong Toonmax TV (Toonmax TV) and Songyu Group.
Toonmax TV is China's first full-time cartoon company and channel for all ages. The company has already established cooperative relations with more than 30 Chinese and international cartoon brands such as Disney and Toys & Wonders Ltd. for the shopping center.
The shopping center is expected to link up the industry chain of cartoon production, cartoon TV broadcasting, and cartoon products sales, said industry insiders.
The investors have already planned to build chain outlets of cartoon-theme shopping malls in other cities.
Source : Xinhua


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The U.S. economy is very likely to shrink this year and next, an economic model used by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates.
The model predicts the economy will shrink 0.6 percent this year and 0.5 percent next. This is considerably more pessimistic than the outlook in March, when the model predicted the economy would grow 0.9 percent this year and 1.2 percent in 2023.
“According to the model, the probability of a soft landing — defined as four-quarter GDP growth staying positive over the next ten quarters — is only about 10%,” the economists who manage the model wrote in a blog post on the bank’s Liberty Street Economics website. “Conversely, the chances of a hard landing — defined to include at


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Little Caesars tries bacon-wrapped crust pizza
Little Caesars has devised a brand new place to feed the public's obsession with bacon: wrapped around the pizza crust.
More specifically, 3 1/2 feet of bacon wrapped around the pizza crust.
Today, the innovative budget pizza chain will unveil plans to nationally roll out on Feb. 23 the Bacon Wrapped Crust Deep! Deep! Dish Pizza. At $12, the limited-time offer will be one of Little Caesars' priciest pizzas.
"Every time you take a bite out of the crust, you'll get bacon," says David Scrivano, CEO at Little Caesars. The pizza also comes with pepperoni and has bacon sprinkled on top. The promotion replaces the chain's Soft Pretzel Crust Pizza.
Like many food makers and food sellers, Little Caesars is looking for a new way to cash in on the nation's continued infatuation with all things bacon. Domestic bacon sales have climbed for five consecutive years, recently hitting the $4 billion mark, reports research specialist Information Resources. Bacon has shown up in recent years in everything from sundaes at Burger King to milkshakes at Red Robin.
Its popularity is sizzling.
"Bacon has become the ultimate indulgence," says Darren Tristano, executive vice president at Technomic, a research firm. As a comfort food, bacon has emotional connections for many consumers with Mom-made breakfasts and weekend morning family occasions."
But there's another silent driver, says Tristano. "It's a rebellious show of strength by many consumers to show that the health and wellness traction is like car tires spinning on ice."
Even then, if you want to enjoy that slice of bacon-crusted pizza, you might not want to look at the nutritionals. A single slice weighs in at 450 calories; 23 grams of fat; 830 milligrams of sodium and 40 milligrams of cholesterol.
"You can always get a plain, cheese pizza or a veggie pizza," points out Scrivano. "This is a more indulgent offering for a demographic that craves premium quality."
The concept, says Scrivano, came from Little Caesars' R&D team. A team member was dining out a few years ago and ordered a bacon-wrapped filet. That dining experience spurred the team to figure out a way to wrap bacon around the pizza crust, he says.
But there could be some challenges, says Tristano.
Among them, it could slow things down in the kitchen. The added complexity of wrapping bacon around the crust could disrupt efforts to sell other products, he says. Also, much like fast-food items like french fries and burgers, bacon wrapped around pizza crust might not "travel" so well, he warns.
At the same time, this is a bit of a stretch for Little Caesars, which typically appeals to a budget-minded customer, says Tristano. But with gas prices down and disposable incomes rising, the timing could work in the chain's favor, he adds. "Timing is everything," says Tristano, "and the timing for consumer spending and bacon's popularity may align for Little Caesars."


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As all of us can agree, one of the most popular apps in 2016 was Pokémon Go. Now we can finally see the numbers behind such a huge success. This figure was revealed by market researcher App Annie in its annual report. Namely, since it was released on July 5 of last year, it earned $950 million until the end of 2016.
However, it doesn’t come as a big surprise since it is the most downloaded game of 2016 for iOS and Google Play, although it was banned in China and released in India a bit later. It also comes third, right after Monster Strike and Clash of Clans when it comes to the monthly active user’s chart.
These striking statistics is attributed to Pokémon Go simple mechanics, reality gameplay and, beyond all, its social nature, according to App Annie. It succeeded in attracting millions of non-gamers but also lured people into using smartphones in some uncommon situations, such as a simple walk in the park. According to a video uploaded by Niantic, last month players covered more than 4.5 billion miles or 8.7 billion kilometers while chasing their favorite Pokemon.
Nonetheless, its greatest success is reflected in the fact that it reached $800 million in consumer spend in 110 days, which is faster than any game on the market. For example, Candy Crush Saga hit the peak in more than 250 days, whereas it took Puzzle & Dragons and Clash of Clans more than 400 and 500 days respectively. This creation of Niantic Labs might have caused other publishers to be a bit worried, but as we find out from App Annie, the success of the game didn’t jeopardize any other apps’ usage and revenue.
Some researchers from the company in San Francisco compared the global consumer spend in 2016 of Pokémon Go to the worldwide box office gross of Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice in order to make it easier for us to comprehend how enormous success it is since it was bigger than that blockbuster movie.


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From a JupiterResearch press release on a new report “Corporate Weblogs: Deployment, Promotion, and Measurement“:
“By engaging prospective customers in active dialogue, companies can showcase their expertise and domain knowledge, creating a forum for communication of their strategies and visions.”
A couple of figures from the press release:
- 35 percent of large companies plan to institute corporate weblogs this year.
- Combined with the existing deployed base of 34 percent, nearly 70 percent of all site operators will have implemented corporate blogs by the end of 2006.
- Currently 64 percent of executives spend less than $500,000 to deploy and manage corporate weblogs.
- Weblogs are underused for generating word-of-mouth (WoM) marketing opportunities. Only 32 percent of marketing executives said they use corporate weblogs to generate WoM around their company’s products or services.


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Morrisons cuts 1,500 managers to focus on customer service
The country's fourth-largest supermarket chain joins rivals in seeking to cut costs in a restructuring of store staff.
Thursday 1 February 2018 13:40, UK
Morrisons has announced plans to axe 1,500 managerial jobs to allow investment in bolstering its customer experience.
Morrisons said that while it was cutting managerial positions, it was planning to hire 1,700 customer assistants - lower paid jobs.
It said that the 1,500 staff affected by the decision would not all necessarily lose their work as the chain currently had 800 managerial vacancies they could apply for.
Gary Mills, Morrisons retail director, said: "Our aim is to serve customers better with more frontline colleagues in stores improving product availability and helping customers at the checkouts.
"Very regrettably, there will be a period of uncertainty for some managers affected by these proposals and we'll be supporting them through this important process.
"Our commitment is to redeploy as many affected colleagues as possible."
Morrisons - like its so-called 'big four' rivals - has not been immune from the challenge posed to their dominance by discounters such as Aldi and Lidl which have been growing their market shares rapidly since the financial crisis.
Supermarket margins have been placed under pressure by the competition - exacerbated since 2017 by the Brexit-linked fall in the value of the pound which forced up import costs - costs which have been partly passed on to shoppers.
Morrisons has been among the strongest performers, in terms of its recovery under chief executive David Potts who reported stronger Christmas sales after a previously poor festive season, in 2014, saw his predecessor lose his job.
Joanne McGuinness, from the USDAW shopworkers' union, said: "This is a further big upheaval for the Morrisons store management team after the restructure in 2014/15.
"We will be entering into consultations with the company on behalf of our members affected by these changes, which the company proposes to implement in April."
She added: "Our priorities are to avoid redundancies and help our members stay employed within the business.
"We have secured from Morrisons a commitment to offer redeployment opportunities for all affected managers."


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Maine town OKs reading of law that would block pot sales, clubs
OAKLAND, Maine (AP) — Oakland officials have approved the first reading of an ordinance that would block marijuana retail stores and social clubs in the town.
The Morning Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/2hzbHfk ) the town council wants to make Oakland a "dry" town for recreational marijuana to buy time as the state figures out regulations and rules.
Unofficial results from the Maine secretary of state's office indicated the state referendum legalizing pot for people 21 or older narrowly passed. The vote is being recounted. Most Oakland residents voted against the measure.
Town officials say Oakland can't enforce a pot moratorium because its comprehensive plan hasn't been updated and the town doesn't have zoning.
Town Manager Gary Bowman says officials don't yet know if the ordinance would take away potential state funding to Oakland.


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03 Apr, 2020 ‘The COVID-19 International Travellers Guide’ app, just one of the initiatives travel companies are taking to build deeper relationships with their consumer base, says GlobalDataPosted in Coronavirus
The uncertainty of the times threatens the future of the travel industry, however, operators that continue to touch base with their consumers now will emerge from this pandemic in a stronger position.
Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, offers her view on the way forward:
“After a long period of social distancing and self-isolation, consumer attitudes and the dynamics of the outbound travel market will undoubtedly have changed dramatically when we emerge from this crisis. Simple initiatives that travel businesses can offer now to sustain their brand awareness and visibility over the coming months will help them maintain a competitive advantage in the future.
“In collaboration with Netflix, Contiki a worldwide coach tour operator, recently started a ‘movie club’, which plays a travel-related film every Thursday which is undoubtedly helping them support the community and reach out to consumers.
“C-trip, a leading online travel agency (OTA) in China, launched a ‘COVID-19 International Traveller’s Guide’ app which allows Chinese tourists to identify what travel restrictions are in place in their desired destination and what the immigration policies are there. When restrictions begin to lift, a tool like this will offer tourists an easy way to find the information they need.
“Tour operators are also introducing online streaming content for travellers to experience different attractions and activities from the comfort and confinement of their own home. GetYourGuide for example, is an online marketplace that has now launched virtual experiences across hotspot destinations such as a virtual tour through the Vatican or a cooking class specializing in Italian cuisine, in efforts to maintain the desire and interest for future travel.
“Operators will be hoping for the ‘ultimate travel boom’ when restrictions are lifted; and those that continue to build deeper relationships with their customer base now will have a clear competitive advantage when the travel world starts turning again post-COVID-19’.


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NEW DELHI: The government has set up a committee to regulate online gaming and to identify a ministry to oversee it, according to documents HT has examined. The panel will include the chief executive officer of government think tank NITI Aayog and secretaries of the ministries of home, sports and youth affairs, information and broadcasting, electronics and information technology, etc.
The committee has been mandated to study global best practices and recommend a regime for a uniform regulatory mechanism. It will take into account ease of doing business as well as compliance, a level playing field, and protection of gamers from user harms such as addiction. The panel will also develop a broad structure of the proposed central laws required, consult experts and submit a report in three months.
A group of ministers has found merit in imposing 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on online gaming to bring it at par with levies on casinos, racecourses and gambling. It is, however, yet to formally submit its report to the GST Council, the final decision-making body
Global fantasy sports revenues were estimated to be around $20.36 billion in 2020. They are expected to reach $38.60 billion in 2025. Almost all major sports across the globe have fantasy leagues attached to the dominant leagues.
State laws in the US regulate what constitutes gambling and how gambling is regulated. Many states consider fantasy sports as a “game of skill” rather than a “game of chance” and as such, they do not come under gambling legislation. Some states consider them gambling others do not. Therefore, it creates inconsistent regulation.
Kazim Rizvi, the founder of the tech policy think-tank The Dialogue, said fantasy sports are fast becoming a trend and played a significant role in leading the digital gaming movement in the country. “It is a country with a mobile-first population and a mobile gaming market worth $2.4 billion in 2020. Asia is the top region in the mobile gaming industry and India is the biggest fantasy sports market with over 200 companies and 130 million users, and a market of ₹34,000 crore.”
Rizvi said India needs to regulate fantasy sports and have central legislation or central guidelines. “An enabling uniform national regulatory environment by the Centre can encourage responsible gaming, and ensure consumer protection through measures such as age-gating and regulatory certainty.” He said such a regulatory environment will allow for the growth of the fantasy sports industry and allow India to maximise the potential of this sector. “Moreover, we need a parent or a nodal ministry that enforces the regulations.”
Rizvi said as part of a light-touch regulatory approach, a self-regulatory organisation can play a significant role in setting and enforcing rules and standards relating to the conduct of companies that operate in the fantasy sports and online gaming industry.


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It may already feel normal to walk into a store and see the “Help Wanted” sign on the door. Or you may have gone to your favorite restaurant one evening and found it closed, with an apologetic “Sorry, we couldn’t open tonight for lack of staff” note pasted somewhere.
America is suffering from a labor shortage.
While this may be an inconvenience in our everyday lives, our first question should be how the ongoing labor shortage might affect monetary policy and financial markets. The second question should be how it might affect our financial and retirement planning.
True causes of the labor shortage: what factors drive it?
Ask anyone what’s causing the labor shortage, and they’ll point to the extra $300 per week that’s been added to unemployment insurance payments. Companies trying to staff up this year to meet pent-up consumer demand have had trouble hiring. That difficulty has triggered higher wages, hiring bonuses and even bonuses for showing up for interviews.
The theory is that lower-wage workers are earning more by staying home (between unemployment pay and the $300 add-on) than by working. And that may explain part of the shortages. But investors may be disappointed if they think ending the $300-per-week stipend – possibly in September – will resolve the problem.
Workers, in general, are undoubtedly taking advantage of the high demand; they’re holding out for better, safer jobs and larger paychecks. As a result, by June 2021, the labor report confirmed more job openings than unemployed workers.
Health issues could be a factor. Where the number of Covid cases drop and restrictions loosen, labor shortages ease somewhat, too. If the Delta variant fades in September, we will see if better virus statistics motivate the unemployed to venture out.
And when children go back to in-school learning in September, we’ll see if working parents who left the workforce to care for their children will return to work.
If the labor situation does move closer to normal, then the shortage will have been transitory. But if it continues beyond that, then it could be more structural. And that would justify making the labor shortage a factor in your planning.
Is the labor shortage structural?
Structural labor shortages can have ramifications for inflation and economic growth. Those, in turn, could affect the timing and pace of the Federal Reserve tightening monetary policy, for example.
So, let’s look at its structure.
A U.S. Chamber of Commerce report, “The America Works Report: Quantifying the Nation’s Workforce Crisis” (dated June 1, 2021), looks at the Worker Availability Ratio. This ratio compares the number of available workers to the number of job openings. Over the past 20 years, the ratio has averaged 2.8 workers for every job opening, but the ratio has recently dropped to 1.4.
In a U.S. Chamber survey of local chambers and industry associations, 90% reported “lack of available workers” as the main factor slowing their local economy. “Covid-19 issues” came in a distant second, at 45%.
Other surveys point to the difficulty in finding enough “qualified” workers to fill jobs, indicating a mismatch between available workers and required skills. An overwhelming 83% of the surveyed businesses said hiring was either “harder” or “significantly harder” than five years ago.
The labor shortage appears structural.
How can a labor shortage affect the economy?
A labor shortage can affect an economy in countless ways. Let’s look at the major ones.
Supply chain disruption – Labor shortages are the primary cause of supply chain disruptions. They affect the entire supply chain, starting with a lack of factory labor, then insufficient truck drivers, warehouse workers in distribution centers, local delivery drivers and retail salespeople.
Today we pay for the tight labor market with pervasive shortages of goods and services. In the future, we will pay for these shortages in the form of inflation.
Inflation – Inflation is the rate at which prices for goods and services increase in an economy. Prices rise when the money supply increases relative to the size of the economy through excess government spending or central bank money printing. Events that raise production costs or disrupt the production of goods also push up prices. (Too many dollars chasing not enough goods.) Inflated prices of inputs into goods and services will also raise the prices of final goods and services.
Today’s excess government spending and money printing could lead to inflation, despite the Federal Reserve’s claim that it will only be transitory. And the supply chain disruption caused by the global pandemic will continue to raise production costs.
GDP – High inflation pushes consumers’ purchasing power down as their dollars can buy less and less. If wages don’t keep up, basic living costs will consume more of their available money, and consumers will reduce their spending.
Inflation makes forecasting harder, which leads to uncertainty. Businesses hold back on hiring decisions in the face of rising costs for labor and materials, and consumers spend less. The result is slower economic growth.
Markets – Higher inflation can be positive for stock markets if the higher revenues outpace the growth of expenses and result in greater profits. But eventually, too much inflation can be detrimental. As costs grow for non-discretionary items (rent and food, for example), the demand for discretionary goods falls.
The impact of inflation on bond markets is also a factor. Bond market watchers are looking for clues of the Federal Reserve’s intentions to dial back its bond purchases. This act will be seen as the first step that could then lead to higher interest rates.
Monetary policy – The central bank tries to target an annual inflation rate of 2%. However, the year-over-year inflation rates in recent months have been nearly three times that much.
The method most used by the Federal Reserve to influence and contain inflation is the federal funds rate (the interest rate one bank charges another for overnight borrowing). A higher fed funds rate trickles down to borrowing costs for businesses and consumers alike. Borrowing becomes more expensive. Economic growth and demand fall, and inflation goes down.
However, increased interest rates have direct consequences for financial markets.
How can inflation affect your retirement portfolio?
It is essential to understand the contents of your retirement portfolio to know which assets are at risk and which are not.
Assets with fixed, long-term cash flows are likely to perform poorly in inflationary times as their future cash flows’ purchasing power falls over time. Conversely, commodities and assets with adjustable cash flows are more likely to perform better with increased inflation.
In general terms, in inflationary times, money held in savings will shrink. Interest payments from fixed-income securities (such as treasuries, bonds, and CDs with fixed interest rates until maturity) will lose purchasing power. Some categories of stocks tend to hold up relatively well. Commodities and real estate (real assets) usually align with inflation.
In short, labor shortages – that were initially seen as an inconvenience – could present a threat to your retirement portfolio. It makes sense to keep a watchful eye.
This article originally appeared in Old Colony Memorial.


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We’re busy attending a couple of events this month, including the Retail Design Expo and Retail Week Live.
The inaugural Retail Design Expo (10 – 11 March) is set to bring together retailers, brands, designers, architects, fitters and leading suppliers under one roof, for two days of over 50 conference sessions with a star studded line up, live action VM demonstrations, student awards, designer pavilion and networking opportunities.
Our Founder, David Dalziel, and Associate Design Director, Digital, Ross Phillips will be co-presenting the future of Digital integration in retail. David will also be sat on a panel of judges scouting the very best emerging talent in the Retail Design Student Awards.
Taking place during the same week, the Retail Week Live (11 – 12 March) is an event where business leaders gather to exchange experiences and ideas to shape the future of the retail industry. David will be up on stage with Simon Dixon, Founder of Rockar and co-presenting the seminar Transforming a sector; using digital to elevate the in-store customer experience.
Please drop by ‘The Hub’ where we will be on hand to answer any questions.
We can’t wait to see you there…
Take a look at our BrandBox in motion.


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1,000 Subsidized Cat Spay/Neuters available in 2020, thanks to
PetSmart Charities® of Canada Grant!
The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA is thrilled to announce that once again we have received a PetSmart Charities of Canada grant! This amazing grant program will allow us to provide 1,000
cat spay/neuter surgeries at a cost of just $20 to the pet parent in 2020/2021.
Our 2020/2021 PetSmart Grant is now closed. Thank you to everyone who made the responsible choice to have their cat fixed. With the help of PetSmart Charities we were able to spay/neuter 1000 cats with the funding provided through this grant.


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The Trilj Tourist Board invites everyone to the 6th Christmas Fair, to be held on December 16, 2018, from 11:00 am in the atrium of the “Trilj” school.
From a variety of Christmas decorations and handicrafts, honey and jewelry products, and traditional delicacies, visitors will surely find Christmas gift ideas for their loved ones, thus supporting the work and effort of all exhibitors.
For all the visitors, in the good spirit of Christmas, the Trilj Tourist Board has prepared sweet delicacies of the Trilj region including a glass of mulled wine, while Christmas songs and customs will be led by the parish choir “Sv. Mihovil” Trilj and Society “Košute” – and it wouldn’t be a good party without the entertaining Trilj Majorettes!
As a special part of this event, at 12:00, Santa Claus will greet the youngest, who will also enjoy a surprise program.
As part of the 6th Christmas Fair, the students, parents, and teachers of the “Trilj” school have organized a fashion show starting at 16:00 under the title “Advent on the Bridge”, where the students of the Trilj school and PŠ “Velić” and will present their Christmas creations – and best yet, every mother will wear dresses to liven up the Advent spirit!