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The price of bitcoins has gone through cycles of appreciation and depreciation referred to by some as bubbles and busts. In 2011, the value of one bitcoin rapidly rose from about US$0.30 to US$32 before returning to US$2. In the latter half of 2012 and during the 2012–13 Cypriot financial crisis, the bitcoin price began to rise, reaching a high of US$266 on 10 April 2013, before crashing to around US$50. On 29 November 2013, the cost of one bitcoin rose to a peak of US$1,242. In 2014, the price fell sharply, and as of April remained depressed at little more than half 2013 prices. As of August 2014 it was under US$600. During their time as bitcoin developers, Gavin Andresen and Mike Hearn warned that bubbles may occur.
The proof-of-work system, alongside the chaining of blocks, makes modifications of the blockchain extremely hard, as an attacker must modify all subsequent blocks in order for the modifications of one block to be accepted. As new blocks are mined all the time, the difficulty of modifying a block increases as time passes and the number of subsequent blocks (also called confirmations of the given block) increases.
Bloomberg reported that the largest 17 crypto merchant-processing services handled $69 million in June 2018, down from $411 million in September 2017. Bitcoin is "not actually usable" for retail transactions because of high costs and the inability to process chargebacks, according to Nicholas Weaver, a researcher quoted by Bloomberg. High price volatility and transaction fees make paying for small retail purchases with bitcoin impractical, according to economist Kim Grauer. However, bitcoin continues to be used for large-item purchases on sites such as Overstock.com, and for cross-border payments to freelancers and other vendors.
According to the Library of Congress, an "absolute ban" on trading or using cryptocurrencies applies in eight countries: Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates. An "implicit ban" applies in another 15 countries, which include Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Lesotho, Lithuania, Macau, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.
The first cryptocurrency to capture the public imagination was Bitcoin, which was launched in 2009 by an individual or group known under the pseudonym, Satoshi Nakamoto. As of February 2019, there were over 17.53 million bitcoins in circulation with a total market value of around $63 billion (although the market price of bitcoin can fluctuate quite a bit). Bitcoin's success has spawned a number of competing cryptocurrencies, known as "altcoins" such as Litecoin, Namecoin and Peercoin, as well as Ethereum, EOS, and Cardano. Today, there are literally thousands of cryptocurrencies in existence, with an aggregate market value of over $120 billion (Bitcoin currently represents more than 50% of the total value).
Various journalists, economists, and the central bank of Estonia have voiced concerns that bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme. In April 2013, Eric Posner, a law professor at the University of Chicago, stated that "a real Ponzi scheme takes fraud; bitcoin, by contrast, seems more like a collective delusion." A July 2014 report by the World Bank concluded that bitcoin was not a deliberate Ponzi scheme.:7 In June 2014, the Swiss Federal Council:21 examined the concerns that bitcoin might be a pyramid scheme; it concluded that, "Since in the case of bitcoin the typical promises of profits are lacking, it cannot be assumed that bitcoin is a pyramid scheme." In July 2017, billionaire Howard Marks referred to bitcoin as a pyramid scheme.
Though transaction fees are optional, miners can choose which transactions to process and prioritize those that pay higher fees. Miners may choose transactions based on the fee paid relative to their storage size, not the absolute amount of money paid as a fee. These fees are generally measured in satoshis per byte (sat/b). The size of transactions is dependent on the number of inputs used to create the transaction, and the number of outputs.:ch. 8
You don‘t need to understand the details about SHA 256. It‘s only important you know that it can be the basis of a cryptologic puzzle the miners compete to solve. After finding a solution, a miner can build a block and add it to the blockchain. As an incentive, he has the right to add a so-called coinbase transaction that gives him a specific number of Bitcoins. This is the only way to create valid Bitcoins.
Despite the fallout from The DAO hack, Ethereum is moving forward and looking to a bright future. By providing a user-friendly platform that enables people to harness the power of blockchain technology, Ethereum is speeding up the decentralization of the world economy. Decentralized applications have the potential to profoundly disrupt hundreds of industries including finance, real estate, academia, insurance, healthcare and the public sector amongst many others.
“A DAO consists of one or more contracts and could be funded by a group of like-minded individuals. A DAO operates completely transparently and completely independently of any human intervention, including its original creators. A DAO will stay on the network as long as it covers its survival costs and provides a useful service to its customer base” Stephen Tual, Slock.it Founder, former CCO Ethereum.
1) Irreversible: After confirmation, a transaction can‘t be reversed. By nobody. And nobody means nobody. Not you, not your bank, not the president of the United States, not Satoshi, not your miner. Nobody. If you send money, you send it. Period. No one can help you, if you sent your funds to a scammer or if a hacker stole them from your computer. There is no safety net.
China banned trading in bitcoin, with first steps taken in September 2017, and a complete ban that started on 1 February 2018. Bitcoin prices then fell from $9,052 to $6,914 on 5 February 2018. The percentage of bitcoin trading in the Chinese renminbi fell from over 90% in September 2017 to less than 1% in June 2018. On August 1, 2017 a fork of the network created Bitcoin Cash.


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“Imagine if you could switch on the heating, close the blinds and even control what your children are watching on TV — all from the touch of a button on your iPad.
Today a London company demonstrated how it could be commonplace in the future by creating the capital’s ultimate techy home.
The Evening Standard was given a sneak preview of the two-storey showhouse in Fitzrovia, which cost £1.4 million to create and features about £500,000 worth of equipment. It has been created to show how technology can simplify people’s lives.
Everything — including music, coffee machines, CCTV, heating and cinema — is synced to a centralised system controlled from an app on a phone or iPad. To use it, owners select which room they want to control from a plan of the 4,000 sq ft house.
Touch screen: the creators say the iPad brand gives people confidence in the technology. It can be operated remotely, from work or when the owners are out, so they can see what is going on, prepare the house for when they get home or control what their children are watching on television.
The operating system was designed and created by home automation company Cornflake, which built the house as its showroom.
It also features pop-up TV screens, an iPad-controlled coffee machine, a revolving dance floor, a cinema, mirror TVs and the world’s first ultra-HD TV.”

domain: news


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Sega pegged the Dreamcast classic Jet Set Radio for an HD remake earlier in 2012, and now the publisher confirms that the upcoming release will be available for iOS and Android platforms in addition to the others that were already confirmed. The mobile version of Jet Set Radio will use the OpenFeint social platform for leaderboards and the like. It will also support Apple's Retina Display and will include a feature for converting photos taken with your device into in-game graffiti.
There's no release date listed, but the Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network (PS3 and Vita), and PC versions were previously pegged for a summer 2012 release. The game is awesome and well worth your time if you haven't played it before. The question now is: which platform will you be getting it for?


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Due to high levels of consumer demand, IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and HBO today announced that the first-ever presentation of a television program in IMAX® theatres, featuring two episodes from season four of Game of Thrones followed by the worldwide debut of the series’ season five sneak-peek preview created exclusively for IMAX, will now launch one week later on beginning at and extend through . The date change allows for an expanded roll-out of screens to upwards of 200 IMAX theatres.
Tickets will officially go on sale on www.imax.com/gameofthrones starting . To date, confirmed cities include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, New York, San Antonio, Seattle, Toronto and Washington, D.C., to name a few. A full list of venues is available on the website and fans can check local listings in the coming days for more available IMAX locations.
The move from , prompted by extraordinary consumer response that drove online mentions for IMAX to record heights, will allow for an expanded domestic roll-out from the originally planned 150 IMAX theatres.The episodes will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX® format and will be released for an exclusive one-week engagement.
Moreover, the first 300 IMAX ticket holders for the www.beautifuldeath.com), who designed interpretive images of the most iconic deaths in each episode. night opening show time at participating IMAX theatres will receive a commemorative Game of Thrones poster from well-known illustrator Robert Ball (
The IMAX® release of Game of Thrones will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.


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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) launched on a trial basis an online Complaint Management System (CMS) app and portal that will help consumers to register complaints related to Value Added Services (VAS).
Apple has removed an app called Rewound from its App Store that turned an iPhone into a virtual iPod with a click wheel like an old-era MP3 player.
Over 480 million mobile VPN apps were downloaded globally in the last 12 months, which was 54% more than the year before
TikTok with 614 million downloads currently is the third-most downloaded non-gaming app of the year, behind WhatsApp at the top with 707.4 million installs and Facebook Messenger at second spot with 636.2 million.
Apple has pulled 181 vaping-related apps from the App Store worldwide.
After facing flak for pulling a Hong Kong protest tracking app from its App Store, Apple has now reportedly urged Apple TV Plus show runners to avoid portraying China negatively.
Apple is a company, however, that at times is not Apple when it comes to China. Events of the last few days have once again reasserted that.
Arcade on App Store will be available in over 150 countries with iOS 13 for Rs 99 per month.
The proposed bill which talks about data localisation, had entailed that a copy of all personal data be stored in India, while critical information, as the government defines it, had to be mandatorily stored only in the country.
Two app developers on Tuesday sued Apple Inc over its App Store practices, making claims similar to those in a lawsuit brought by consumers that the U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed to proceed.
Users can now download apps weighing upto 200MB on iOS devices
Tik Tok said it has launched #ReturnOfTikTok, its latest brand campaign and that #ReturnOfTikTok is already trending with over 504 million views on the app.
Only those apps which failed to meet Apple's revised guidelines were removed from the App Store.(ANI).
Supreme Court bench posted the matter for hearing to April 22 as the case will be heard in Madras High Court today.
Japan's leading mobile operator Docomo has invested in Hatch, a spin-off of Angry Birds game maker Rovio, to bring 5G gaming to Japanese consumers, Rovio said on Wednesday.
Lawmaker Rajeev Chandrasekhar Monday said that the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has done “very little” to crackdown digital child sexual abuse, and in a letter to Law and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad urged to shut down mobile apps threatening children’s safety.
TRAI and Apple have been at loggerheads for nearly two years over the so-called privacy details sought by the country's regulator while flagging spam calls
When iPhone users want to edit blemishes out of their selfies, identify stars and constellations or simply join the latest video game craze, they turn to Apple Inc's App Store, where any software application they buy also includes a 30 percent cut for Apple.
Apple Inc on Thursday warned that sales for the crucial holiday quarter would likely miss Wall Street expectations, which Chief Executive Tim Cook blamed on weakness in emerging markets and foreign exchange costs.
Grumbling about app store economics isn’t new. But the number of complaints, combined with new ways of reaching users, regulatory scrutiny and competitive pressure are threatening to undermine what have become digital goldmines for Apple and Google.


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SOL Global To Change Name To 'Bluma Wellness' As It Transitions To US Cannabis Multi-State Operator
The company’s common shares will still trade on the CSE under the symbol SOL, while it expects the name and ticker symbol changes to happen in the upcoming weeks, the company said.
Furthermore, SOL Global declared that it has also received shareholders’ approval to change the business of the company from an “investment company” to a “life sciences issuer” that will run its business as a multi-state cannabis operator.
Click here for more information about the upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference Oct. 22-23 in Chicago.
"All of the strategic investments into cannabis brands and operations in Florida and the proposed investments in California and Michigan that were made by our team over the past year will pave the way for this transition to becoming a MSO," Brady Cobb, Bluma Wellness' interim chair and CEO, said in a statement.
The company also provided some corporate updates, including the beginning of the integration of the One Plant branding with their Florida customers, which the company plans to make the brand name of all of Bluma Wellness’s retail stores. It also anticipates for cannabis company Northern Emeralds, once fully acquired to become part of Bluma Wellness.
© 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.
Can I miss work if it snows and what is lowest Irish working temp?
Lidl to close early tomorrow as IKEA remains shut today over Storm Emma
Met Eireann issue red warning for number of counties due to Storm Emma
Public transport companies issue notices to customers over Storm Emma
Three weather warnings in place as 'Beast of the East' blasts Ireland
Red weather alert does not mean Irish businesses have to close, Minister says
The polar vortex is HERE - but what is it and does it mean snow storms?
Applegreen Ireland selling two sleds for €5 in stores around country
Tesco Ireland says extra bread and milk in stores before Storm Emma
ESB warn of widespread power outages across the country ahead of Storm Emma
Education Minister says 'situation will be monitored' ahead of Storm Emma
Met Eireann poised to issue Red alert as Ireland gears up for Storm Emma
Irish shoppers empty supermarket shelves amid three Storm Emma weather alerts
Dublin Airport give update on Irish flights operating during Storm Emma
Irish animal charity says 'Beast from the East has claimed its first victim'
Transport Department 'expect Storm Emma to cause travel disruptions'


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In honor of Clovis’ 115th birthday on May 1, 2022, the Clovis Action Team – the group spearheading the Clovis community branding initiative – is organizing the city’s first-ever Founder’s Day celebration. From May 1-8, citizens are invited to come together to celebrate the city’s longevity, recall Clovis’ rich history, and support the vision for our shared future and promise of “heartfelt connections. endless horizons.”
In 1906, when Santa Fe Railway engineers were ordered to locate a town-site in the newly-developing ranch and farm land of eastern New Mexico, they chose the site formerly known as Riley’s Switch. There, the town-site of Clovis was established one year later on May 1, 1907.
On Friday, April 29, Mayor Mike Morris will issue a proclamation officially announcing May 1 as Clovis Founder’s Day. The public will be able to watch the official announcement on Facebook @CityofClovis. Throughout the week, citizens are encouraged to show community pride by wearing items that display the Clovis logo. Clovis merchandise is available for purchase online or at a variety of local stores.
Additionally, a Founder’s Day Coloring Contest serves as a fun way to increase Clovis pride for kids in preschool through 12th grade. Running now through Sunday, May 8, contest details are available at VisitClovisNM.org/FoundersDay. Winners will be awarded for numerous age categories and the winning designs will be publicly displayed and featured on limited edition postcards.
Clovis Founder’s Day will recur annually on May 1, and the Clovis Action Team plans to add more events and activities in future years. For more information, visit allinclovis.com or contact the Clovis Action Team (575-935-2114, email@example.com).


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US-based private equity firm Acon Investments has bought a majority stake in Sola de Antequera (Alsur), a Spanish producer and distributor of preserved and canned vegetables, for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 1988, Alsur produces and distributes preserved vegetables such as peppers and artichokes in Spain and the US under the Alsur brand and private label brands, in partnership with retailers.
The company’s production and packaging facilities are located in Antequera (Spain), Arequipa (Peru) and Cusco (Peru).
With its acquisition, Acon intends to focus on expanding Alsur’s geographic footprint in Spain, continue to drive its sales in the US, as well as develop new product lines.
Following the transaction, the various subsidiaries of the company which previously operated independently will be integrated into one multinational holding company.
As part of the deal, Acon partnered with Quarza Inversiones, a Madrid-based private investment vehicle. The founders of Alsur, the Jiménez Family, and Mario Mustafá Aguinaga, the company’s business partner in Peru, will retain a significant minority stake in Alsur.
The acquisition marks Acon’s fourth investment that has leveraged its presence in Madrid and Alsur will join its other portfolio companies in Spain such as Contenur, a manufacturer of large format containers for the waste management industry.
Marcos Semmler, managing partner of Acon Southern Europe, said: “We are looking forward to working closely with Jorge Mañas, Mario Mustafá and the Jiménez Family to further expand Alsur’s value proposition of high-quality, innovative and easy-to-serve vegetable products for consumption in households across Europe and the United States, which are increasingly focused on healthy living.”
In connection with Acon’s acquisition, Jorge Mañas Avisbal has been appointed CEO of Alsur. Prior to joining Alsur, Mañas spent 15 years as the commercial director of the Ángel Camacho Group, a Spanish exporter of canned olives and fruit jams, and has also held senior positions at Danone and Grupo Mueal.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2020


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There’s new products coming from Subaru soon. Subaru’s 2020 Vision Plan calls for further expansion through 2020 which will include new products, better engines, increased production and cost cutting. Starting with next year’s models (2017-2018), Subaru will introduce a new modularized platform called the Subaru Global Platform that will support every model from the 2017 Impreza compact to the SUV-alternative Outback.
It will make its debut in the next-generation Impreza starting in 2016. We will also likely see changes to the Crosstrek crossover in the models refresh that is due in 2016-2017. We saw a mystery hatchback earlier this year and it looked the the Crosstrek’s body and the WRX front end. It even had a cutout in the bonnet for a hood scoop.
A source close to Subaru told us that XV fans, dealers and Subaru of America want a turbo model, but nothing has been...read more.
Subaru fans around the globe would like to get their hands on a Crosstrek with a 2.0-liter turbocharged model like the Forester XT. Crosstrek would be a good platform for a performance model with its sporty looks and with the absence of a hatchback WRX/STI. It would fill in the void with the 5-door WRX/STI being discontinued.
Subaru is appealing to a new younger adventurous consumer and the new-generation 2018 Subaru Crosstrek fits right into this new group of buyers. Stay tuned.
Image source: AutoGuide-used by permission


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Legos. What’s not to love?
Those little colorful plastic interlocking bricks represent hours of fun and creativity. And if you love building with Legos there is an area event that lets you play with other enthusiasts.
Brick Fest Live runs Saturday and Sunday at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Montgomery County.
The event runs in tandem with a convention for Fans of Lego (FOL). That event, through Sunday, consists of games, seminars, building activities, giveaways and more. Participants will display their creations.
At Brick Fest Live you can see the creations and participate in activities such as collaborative Lego displays, Lego car racing down a 35-foot long track at the Brick Fest Derby and trivia contests.
Brick Fest will fill the 90,000 square feet of the Expo Center with huge displays, including two layouts with working trains and lighted buildings.
Representatives from 30 groups, including Lego vendors and clubs, will offer materials and information on the latest Lego toys.
Chad Collins, founder and owner of Learn With Bricks, which organized the event, created the festival out of a love for Legos. He says it all started when his 7-year-old daughter Jordyn wanted to create a Lego YouTube channel after watching other videos. In 2011, father and daughter began posting videos, news, reviews and information for other enthusiasts.
Now, they have a couple million viewers on Your Creative Friends, their YouTube channel, and created an independent production company and Lego fan base not affiliated with The Lego Group.
Ultimately, Collins says, they connected with The Lego Group, which became a sponsor. Their first event was a year ago at the Philadelphia Expo Center, and now they have put on a dozen shows, from Massachusetts and New Jersey to California and Wisconsin.
“This is our flagship event, the biggest one we do all year. We got our start in Philadelphia. This is our own back yard,” says Collins, a native of Warwick, Bucks County.
The focus, he says, is on family-oriented fun and entertainment.
“We attract ages 6 to 12. But we also attract the young and the young at heart, such as someone my age [30s] who is now creating with their children.”
The Lego Group made its first simple interlocking toy bricks in 1949 in Billund, Denmark. Its motto, “det bedste er ikke for godt,” translates roughly as “only the best is the best” or “the best is never too good.”
Since then, Lego has expanded into movies, games, competitions, and six themed amusement parks built around simple plastic toys.
“Lego is the No. 1 toy company in the world,” says Collins. “It’s why events like ours are so popular. Our attendance was over 20,000 for that April show. We expect similar numbers this year.”
Through his company Collins offers something called Brick Swag — a monthly box of assorted Lego stuff — and through his Brick Builders Club he offers magazines, T-shirts and trading cards.
At Brick Fest there will be an arena to play your favorite Lego video game and even a mini golf area called the Brick-Links. You can build a masterpiece in mosaic using a variety of colored 1-by-1 inch Lego bricks. The 501 Legion of Star Wars costume role players will be there as well, along with celebrities from the popular YouTube show “The Brick Show,” a Lego fan program that Collins says has some 300,000 viewers.
There will also be dozens of vendor tables with lots of Lego merchandise to purchase, including buckets of Lego bricks, custom mini-figures, mini-figure accessories and Lego jewelry. Shop for new, vintage, rare and custom Lego sets and merchandise from vendors.
You may even find Collins’ favorite Lego toy, a Giant Pirate Ship. “It’s one of the new ones,” he says, “but I really like it because it reminds me of one I had as a kid.”
Tim Higgins is a freelance writer.
Jodi Duckett, editor
BRICK FEST LIVE
*What: Festival for Lego lovers to build, interact, shop.
*When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday
*Where: Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks
*How much: $22
*Info: brickfestlive.com, http://www.PhillyExpoCenter.com


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Last week, ACAPMA released the findings of the 2017 Monitor of Fuel Consumer Attitudes. Conducted every two years, this national research gives insights into whether consumer trends in fuel buying behaviour are changing over time.
The 2017 results suggest that while fuel price remains a dominant consideration in site selection, Australian motorists appear to be less sensitive to fuel prices than they were in 2015 and that they are increasingly selecting sites based on the total petrol-convenience offer.
The research found that 48 per cent of survey respondents ranked price the number one factor in deciding where to fill up. However, this figure is significantly lower than the 60 per cent result recorded in the same research two years earlier.
“At first, we were surprised to learn that just below half of all respondents had nominated fuel price as the most important factor in their choice of a service station,” ACAPMA CEO Mark McKenzie said.
The results, however, appear to be consistent with research recently released by CommSec, which shows that Australian household expenditure on fuel is at the lowest level it has been for 30 years in real terms – and the ACCC’s June 2017 quarterly report on the Australian Petrol Market (June 2017), which found that fuel prices in 2016/17 in real terms were the lowest in 15 years.
“We believe that part of the explanation for reduced fuel-price sensitivity lies in the fact that, like consumers throughout Europe and North America, an increasing proportion of Australian fuel consumers are visiting service stations to buy convenience and grocery items – often without buying any fuel,” Mr McKenzie said.
While fuel remains the dominant reason for visiting a service station, the 2017 research reveals that the convenience offering is becoming more significant in the increasingly busy lives of most consumers.
“Analysis of the survey results revealed that there was a significant group of respondents who visited a service station to make convenience purchases without actually buying fuel,” Mr McKenzie said.
“It is worth noting that these results do not indicate that fuel price will not continue to be an important consideration in the decision of a motorist to frequent a particular service station. But there is a growing body of evidence – including this research – that the purchase behaviours of around 50 per cent of fuel consumers are no longer based solely on fuel price.
“The challenge for our industry is to accommodate this increasing trend away from ‘fuel-only’ customers to customers who are seeking a ‘fuel-and-convenience’ offering that helps them successfully navigate their increasingly busy lives.”
A copy of the 2017 Monitor of Consumer Attitudes can be downloaded here.


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(Paul Ausick) Update: The Illinois-based firm, privately held OSI Group Inc., that supplied the questionable meat products to McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) and KFC restaurants owned by Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) has been suspended from supplying further products to the two fast-food giants. For its part, OSI said it is “appalled” by the Chinese report. Like McDonald’s and KFC, OSI has apologized to its customers and said it takes full responsibility for the situation while promising swift action to fix it. KFC and McDonald’s have found other sources of supply, according to a report.
Chinese regulators have closed down a local meat supplier following a TV report that the company was mixing meat that had passed its expiration date with fresh meat and using other unsanitary practices. The supplier provided meat to both McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) and Yum! Brands Inc.’s (NYSE: YUM) KFC restaurants. The two firms have issued an apology and said that they will stop using the supplier.
Oh, if it were that easy. In early 2012, both McDonald’s and Yum were hit with a similar scandal in which suppliers were providing chicken pumped full of excess antibiotics. The scandal hammered Yum’s revenues in China, the company’s largest market, cutting revenue growth in the Middle Kingdom from 35% year-over-year in 2011 to 25% in 2012 and -1% in 2013.
McDonald’s may depend less on China for total revenue, but revenue growth slipped from 6% year-over-year in 2012 to just 1% in 2013. Total revenue growth for the company in both years was 2% in local currency. In its annual report for last year, McDonald’s acknowledges that expansion in China was a primary reason for growth in the company’s APMEA division.
Earlier this year Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) was hit by a report that a supplier was mixing fox meat with donkey meat, and in 2011 some Walmart stores were closed by the government for mislabeling some pork products.
If the past is any guide, KFC and McDonald’s are in for some tough times, and neither is likely to get by with just an apology.
Shares of Yum traded down about 3.8% Monday, at $74.52 in a 52-week range of $64.08 to $83.58.
McDonald’s shares were down about 1%, at $97.99 in a 52-week range of $92.22 to $103.78.


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Bakery Warburtons has created the UK's first ever crumpet beer using ingredients from leftover confectionary.
The leading bread brand has partnered up with eco-friendly Toast brewery to create the light session IPA, which is made with surplus mis-shaped crumpets that cannot be sold.
The limited-edition 4.2% Toasted Crumpet IPA uses crumpets in place of some malted barley, extracting starches and sugars and breaking them down into fermentable sugars.
The beer invention is part of Warburtons' mission to give food waste a second life.
Darren Littler, head of product innovation at Warburtons, says: " We’re thrilled to announce an innovative way of utilising our ‘wonky’ products whilst celebrating the nation’s love of crumpets in a whole new way.
"Not only are we proud that Crumpet Beer is our first non-baked product we’ve ever launched, there’s nothing ‘butter’ than this cold brew teamed with a plate of warm crumpets!"
London-based Toast Brewery uses surplus bread products to make its beers with profist going to various worldwide charities.
James King, marketing and brand manager at Toast Ale, comments: "Our mission remains to brew beer that is planet-saving and palate-pleasing, and we couldn’t be more excited to venture into the world of crumpets.
"As a British staple, they bring something hole-y different than our bread brewed beer, with a unique taste.
"We will continue to toast change and hope everyone loves this new Crumpet Beer as much as we’ve loved brewing and tasting it!"
The beer will be available from today from the Toast website , priced at £28 for a pack of 12 x 300ml bottles.


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Cumberland Extracts, located in Clarksville, Tennessee, today announced that the company is officially certified as 100 percent organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The certification (USDAOC) extends to the Cumberland’s farm, biomass, and modern extraction facility.
To acquire USDA Certification from farm to finished product, Cumberland Extracts implemented conservation practices and strict procedural methods, adhering to and exceeding organic guidelines defined by the Department, a step that Cumberland says most CBD companies have yet to take.
According to Cumberland, the company’s business model and level of accreditation are virtually unheard of in the hemp industry.
“We have the public in mind with this effort to achieve USDAOC status across the board,” says Cumberland Vice President Bradley Ray. “While large agencies look to create a regulatory framework to shape the broader hemp industry, our team is striving to apply more controls and regulations internally.”
Ray says that these efforts can move the CBD and industrial hemp markets forward into mainstream products and recognizable, established brands, which require stable and consistent material
Cumberland Extracts processes, distills, and quality-tests USDAOC hemp at its 9,000 square-foot facility in Clarksville before selling it as CBD isolate, distillate, or crude to wholesale and product manufacturers to use in their CBD lines.
The company believes that obtaining USDA Organic Certification in hemp growth, tracking, testing, and product transparency opens the door for more CBD oil products that are lab-verified and more-uniformly high in quality.


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From writing a single letter, financier Carl Icahn made a paper profit of more than $64.3 million on his stake in Nabisco Group Holdings yesterday.
Shares of the company shot up 11.7 percent yesterday after Icahn outlined in a letter to the board how he would like to sweeten his offer for more control of Nabisco Group Holdings.
He stopped short of making an actual bid in the letter.
Icahn already owns 9.6 percent of it and proposed offering $22 a share – including $19 in cash and $3 in debt – for the rest of the company.
The value of Icahn’s stake in the company has more than doubled since he began his takeover ploy two months ago at around $10 a share. He bought a $312 million stake that is now worth about $612.1 million.
“If I get it at this level, I’d love to buy it here,” Icahn told Bloomberg. “It was a good ride either way. It’s sort of like bidding on a painting you already own 10 percent of. If the price goes higher, great.”
It’s the fourth time in five years that Icahn has tried to win control of Nabisco Group – each time cashing out for a gain.
Some investors think Icahn is trying to raise the price by bidding against several unidentified suitors in the wings for Nabisco Group.
Among potential buyers mentioned by analysts are Philip Morris, France’s Groupe Danone, PepsiCo Inc. and Procter & Gamble.
“A lot of other bidders (are) involved,” Icahn said. “I just wanted to get in the second round.”
Nabisco Group has confirmed that it’s received “interest” from suitors other than Icahn, but it wouldn’t identify any of them.
Nabisco Group said last month that it will consider options such as selling itself or its only asset: the 80.5 percent stake in Nabisco Holdings Corp., which makes Ritz crackers, Oreo cookies, Lifesavers and Planters nuts.
Salomon Smith Barney analyst Martin Feldman estimated that Nabisco Holdings will be sold for more than $50 a share by late June or early July.
Nabisco Group closed at $19.75, up $2.19.


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Nvidia has teamed up with Chinese genomics institute BGI to create what's being described as an "affordable, cloud-based DNA sequencing service" called EasyGenomics. The service will feature a hybrid computing system that's powered by Nvidia's Tesla M2070 and M2075 GPUs, which can reportedly speed up the DNA analysis process from a few days to a few hours. The enhanced speed combined with BGI's sequencing platform (which just so happens to be the largest in the world) is expected to provide not only an easy to use platform, but also a relatively inexpensive one. "This could be the year of the $1,000 genome due to rapid decline in sequencing costs," Nvidia's Sumit Gupta explained. EasyGenomics will eventually expand the system with hundreds of Tesla GPUs, and when the service is fully deployed it's expected to support thousands of users with automated DNA sequence analysis — including biologists, bioinformaticists and, physicians.
Nvidia Tesla GPUs to power EasyGenomics service for affordable DNA sequencing
Nvidia Tesla GPUs to power EasyGenomics service for affordable DNA sequencing/
A new DNA sequencing platform from BGI is powered by Nvidia's Tesla GPUs to cut waiting times from days to hours.


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Pabst Blue Ribbon received criticism on Jan. 3, 2022, for its tweets about “Dry January” which were seen as heartless and improper. Even though Pabst Blue Ribbon deleted its series of butt-centric tweets and replies.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Apologizes and Deletes Weird Tweet about Dry January:
Three days into the new year, we already have our first brand mea culpa of 2022. Pabst Brewing Company apologized today for a string of wild tweets and replies taking aim at the annual Dry January nondrinker movement.
While many would-be drinkers are starting off “Dry January” with something alcohol-free, Pabst Blue Ribbon is ringing in the new year with an apology.
The fuss started early this morning with the beer brand’s official Twitter page an initial tweet on Pabst Blue Ribbon’s verified account.
Earlier today, the beer brand’s official Twitter account posted a series of questionable tweets criticizing the month designated for abstaining from alcohol, said:
“Not drinking this January? Try eating A$$!”
The tweet went viral, as users expressed their shock the official brand would use such unrefined language to discuss those trying to cut back their alcohol intake in the New Year.
The official Twitter account posted a series of questionable tweets criticizing the month designated for abstaining from alcohol.
Another tweet pointed to a marketing program called
announced with a tacky testosterone-fueled piece of artwork featuring dolphins and a jet ski, as PBR’s apparent counterpoint to Dry January.
Within a few hours, the tweets were deleted, along with replies that continued the coarse commentary.
Pushing boundaries and polarizing fans:
The Twitterverse responded quickly, with many of Pabst’s fans celebrating the edgy approach while others criticised the brand for poor taste.
Some felt it was a tone-deaf attack on the New Year’s sobriety trend that has become increasingly popular in the U.S.
One user took the opportunity to make fun of the beer company, writing,
“PBR or A$$? What’s the difference?”
The brand replied,
“Ask your mom.”
and in the next Tweet, PBR replied,
As Twitter users shared Pabst’s polarizing tweet, the brand responded to many of them, though the replies such as the one below were eventually deleted as well.
Pabst Blue Ribbon’s “Wet January” campaign began on Jan. 1 when it wrote “what if January wasn’t dry” along with a photo of beer-carrying people in rain jackets.
The next day, PBR tweeted again,
“Most months have 30 days. Some have less. Only one month has 31 days. Wet January.”
What is Dry January:
Dry January dates back to a decade ago when in 2012 the British charity Alcohol Change UK came up with the idea to challenge people to avoid alcohol for the entire month after the holiday season.
In 2013, the organization launched its first Dry January campaign starring British journalists Alastair Campbell and Peter Osborne.
Although just 5,000 people participated the first year, the organization says 130,000 signed up to go dry last year.
Major brands including Budweiser, Heineken and Brooklyn Brewing have been increasingly releasing alcohol-free options.
PBR even released its own 0% beer back in 2019 on the company’s 175th anniversary. Meanwhile, a newer brewer, Athletic Brewing, has gained quick traction with its entire lineup of non-alcoholic beers.
When someone on Twitter asked the company what the tweet against “Dry January” was about, it said, “it’s about A$$ and eating it.”
Pabst Blue Ribbon Apologizes For Inappropriate ‘Dry January’ Tweets:
While PBR’s Twitter account didn’t publicly address the inappropriate posts, they were deleted by Monday afternoon.
Boundary-pushing is nothing new for Pabst Blue Ribbon’s social media voice, though this is the first time the marketing team has walked itself back.
When asked for comment, the company wouldn’t elaborate on its social media strategy or the “Wet January” campaign.
However, Nick Reely, Pabst Blue Ribbon’s vice president of marketing, said
“We apologize for the language and content of our recent tweets.”
“The tweets in question were written in poor judgment by one of our associates.”
He also said,
“In no way does the content of these tweets reflect the values of Pabst and our associates. We’re handling the matter internally and have removed the tweets from our social platforms.”
The brand frequently aligns itself with rats on Instagram and even gave out its own “Ratty Awards” at the end of 2021.
The brand, which dates back to 1844, has worked in the recent past with Los Angeles-based 72andSunny and has made noise with stunts like its 1,776-pack of beers for the Fourth of July.
PBR also has excelled at product creation and elegant marketing, enlisting a number of content creators to help promote its Pabst Hard Coffee and licensing its name to Pabst Labs for a line of THC-infused drinks.
PBR did not respond to a request for comment.
Since this morning, PBR’s Twitter hasn’t posted anything other than the word “Beer” and retweet a 2012 tweet that says “Pabst truck full of bees.”
Twitter Users Responds to PBR Tweet:
Twitter users quickly memes the tweet, making fun of the thought process behind the social media campaign gone wrong.
While many Twitter users were quick to comment and create related memes of their own, at least one non-beer brand also weighed in:
Slim Jim’s official account replied this morning to PBR’s now-deleted tweet, writing that “Legal must have off until the 4th.”


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As the nation's economic recovery repeatedly jerks forward and then stumbles, here's some good news: 11 of 12 major industries are posting more jobs online than a year ago, according to data gathered by Indeed.com. Indeed.com, which aggregates online job postings, found that the transportation, hospitality and retail industries are posting the largest increases in job listings over last year. Each had at least 40% more job listings in June 2010 than in June 2009, despite the weak improvement in overall employment numbers recently.
Transportation industry job postings are up 73% from a year ago, including 20,000 new ones since April, making the industry by far the fastest growing of the 12. The top transportation job titles: driver, stocker and similar shipping- and freight-related positions.
The U.S. Department of Labor considers transportation a high-growth industry. It has benefited from new technology that allows cargo to be tracked and delivery times to be more precise, but also it is cyclical and often mirrors trends in the national economy. In fact, transportation job postings have increased substantially since January, coinciding with modest improvements in unemployment.
Hospitality has also experienced a jump in online job postings over the last year, specifically in the food service sector. The old saying that people will always need to eat is backed up by Indeed.com's findings.
"The industry's recent job growth was driven by an uptick in restaurant sales in recent months. Eating and drinking place sales rose each month from February to May," according to Bruce Grindy, chief economist at the National Restaurant Association, writing in an e-mail. "Restaurant industry job growth generally coincides with industry sales growth, so when sales pick up as a result of pent-up demand, the jobs will typically follow."
Another winner in Indeed.com's survey is the retail industry, whose already numerous job postings increased 41% in the last year. Customer service positions are by far the most posted jobs in retail, because of the importance to businesses of cost-efficiency and loyalty, says Bill Gessert, president of the International Customer Service Association. "There's always been growth in our industry, but it is accelerating in a down economy," he adds. "It is less expensive to keep the customers you have than to try to go out and win new customers."
The one industry that failed to report employment growth over the past year is real estate, which saw its job postings decline by 4%. Real estate also has the fewest postings of any industry, a full 15,000 less than the next-lowest industry, media and newspapers.


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APPLETON, Wis.— Wisconsin-based Book World said it's closing all of its 45 stores in seven states, citing a shift in consumer preference to online shopping.
The company's senior vice president, Mark Dupont, said 325 employees will lose their jobs as a result.
The book retailer plans to begin liquidation sales today. Dupont said the company timed the closures and liquidation to coincide with the holiday shopping season.
Sales will continue until all inventory is sold. Dupont expects that process to be complete by January.
The company has 20 stores in Wisconsin. It also has stores in Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Illinois, North Dakota and Iowa, including one in West Burlington.


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The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has evoked mixed opinions. Some European experts view it positively, while others see it as a possible risk. Morning Consult Pro conducted a survey of 1,000 adults in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK to evaluate European consumers’ perspectives on AI.
The survey revealed that AI-powered online search is among the top three most desired applications in all countries except Spain. Consumers are also excited about AI’s integration into healthcare diagnostics, road assistance, and flight and hotel recommendations.
However, the majority of European consumers believe that society is not yet prepared for AI. This sentiment is strongest in France and Germany, with 74% and 70% of respondents expressing their concerns, respectively.
Issues such as the spread of misinformation, child protection, and personal data privacy contribute to consumers’ hesitation. Only a small percentage of respondents trust generative AI with their personal data. In the UK and Spain, the main fear is the irresponsible development of AI by technology companies.
These concerns have prompted European consumers’ overwhelming call for government regulation. Over half of the respondents in all markets agree that AI should be heavily regulated. Specifically, 66% of respondents in Spain and 64% in the UK support regulation. However, the UK government favors an innovation-based approach, unlike the stricter and more risk-based AI Act of the EU.
The whytry.ai article you just read is a brief synopsis; the original article can be found here: Read the Full Article…


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Silvr, a Swedish fintech startup that specializes in buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions, has raised $18 million in a Series A funding round. The funding was led by 112M, a European venture capital firm, with participation from existing investors, such as SEB Venture Capital and Citi. The latest funding brings Silvr’s total funding to $24.6 million.
Silvr was founded in 2020 by a team of experienced fintech professionals with the goal of revolutionizing the way consumers access credit. The startup’s BNPL solutions allow consumers to split purchases into smaller, interest-free payments over time. Silvr partners with merchants to offer BNPL options at checkout, and the company’s proprietary technology assesses consumers’ creditworthiness in real-time, making it quick and easy for them to access urdughr credit.
The BNPL market has exploded in recent years, with many consumers turning to these services as an alternative to credit cards and traditional loans. Silvr’s focus on providing flexible and accessible credit options has proved to be a successful strategy, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many consumers have struggled to access credit during the pandemic, and Silvr’s BNPL solutions have provided a lifeline for those who need it most.
The latest funding round will be used to accelerate Silvr’s growth and expand its services. The company plans to invest in its technology infrastructure, including AI and machine learning capabilities, to improve the user experience and streamline its services. Silvr also plans to expand its team and increase its marketing efforts to reach more consumers in the European market.
Silvr’s success has not gone unnoticed in the fintech industry. The company was named one of the top 100 fintech startups in Europe by Forbes in 2021, and it has been recognized for its innovative approach to BNPL solutions. Silvr’s platform has also been praised for its ease of use and user-friendly interface, making it accessible to consumers of all ages and levels of technical expertise.
The latest funding round is a testament to Silvr’s success and the potential for fintech startups to disrupt traditional banking and credit systems. The company’s focus on providing flexible and accessible credit options has proved to be a valuable resource for many consumers, particularly those who are underserved by traditional banks and lenders. With its latest funding, Silvr is well-positioned to continue its growth and expansion in the coming years, and to continue to innovate and improve its services for its users whotimes.
In addition to its BNPL solutions, Silvr has also developed a range of value-added services for its customers. The company offers a range of analytics tools and reporting capabilities, allowing consumers to track their spending and make informed financial decisions. Silvr’s platform also integrates with a range of third-party services, including e-commerce platforms and financial management tools, to provide a seamless experience for its users.
The latest funding round is a significant milestone for Silvr and the BNPL market as a whole. As more consumers turn to BNPL solutions as an alternative to traditional credit options, the market is poised for significant growth in the coming years. With its innovative approach to credit and its commitment to providing a user-friendly experience, Silvr is well-positioned to continue its success and to disrupt traditional banking and credit systems.
In conclusion, Silvr’s latest funding round is a significant milestone for the Swedish fintech startup. The company has experienced rapid growth since its launch, and its focus on providing flexible and accessible credit options has proved to be a successful strategy. The funding round will allow Silvr to accelerate its growth and expand its services, including investing in its technology infrastructure and expanding its team. With its innovative approach to BNPL solutions, and its commitment to providing a user-friendly experience, Silvr is well-positioned to continue its starsfact.


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By Nick Benefield / December 5th, 2018
Another online, digital game distribution platform looks to join the current list of contenders. Taking notes from companies like Valve, EA, and CD Projekt Red, Epic Games has announced that it will soon launch the Epic Games Store. According to their official announcement yesterday, the Epic team has been steadily working over the past 5 years to bring this idea to fruition. The platform is set to launch with “a hand-curated set of games” with a broader selection becoming available throughout 2019. The first set of games will be tailored for PC and Mac, but options for Android and other platforms will be made available as time progresses.
They also highlighted the two key pillars of their operating model: 1) A store with Fair economics 2) A store that allows for a direct relationship with players. To reinforce the sentiment of that first principle, all developers will earn 88% of the revenue that their games generate. All games will see a 12% cut passed on to Epic, but those built using the Unreal Engine will have 5% of their engine royalty costs covered. This 5% will be taken out of Epic’s aforementioned 12% fee. The bar chart below better illustrates these percentages.In terms of having a more direct relationship with the players, Epic will automatically subscribe players to the newsfeeds of developers whose game’s they purchase. The thought process here is that this will allow developers to easily reach their players to make them aware of game updates, news, and upcoming releases. This newsfeed will be prominent within the new storefront and developers will be given full control of their pages (this includes game-specific pages as well). Epic made it clear that no ads or cross-marketing will occur on these pages.
In an effort to appeal to the YouTube and Twitch scenes, developers will also have the option of opting into the “Epic Games Support-A-Creator” program. This program will allow content creators and streamers to earn certain percentages of game revenue from sales that they refer to their audiences. To further entice these developers, Epic will cover this 5% shared revenue for the first 24 months.
The last detail that Epic chose to stress was the fact that this store will not just be reserved for Unreal or Unity-based games. All games are welcome to set up shop with Epic’s new storefront as it begins its journey. Epic boasts a strong system for storing payments, serving bandwidth, and supporting customers. They specifically reference the success of Fortnite in relation to these claims. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Will this new platform soar above it’s competitors or fail to generate enough Steam?
SOURCE: Press Release
Epic Games Storegame distributionUnreal Engine


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In an interview with NBC News, released on Thursday, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell said he had “lost everything, every dime” because of his vocal support for the discredited conspiracy theory that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump by fraud.
Joe Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 contest, but the former president is still refusing to concede. He repeatedly said the election was rigged against him, despite these claims being repeatedly dismissed in the courts and by independent polling experts.
Lindell has enthusiastically backed Trump’s claims, telling the conservative Right Side Broadcasting Network in May that he had spent $40 million trying to overturn the result. After the election, the MyPillow logo was included on TrumpMarch.com, a website promoting the January 6 rally in 2021 that led to the storming of Congress by hundreds of Trump supporters. On August 16 and 17 2023, Lindell hosted what he called the Election Crime Bureau Summit in Springfield, Missouri, which he said was called to “plan to secure our elections immediately,” though the attendance was mocked online.
These accusations of electoral fraud have had a dramatic impact on MyPillow, Lindell’s Minnesota-based company that he founded in 2009. Speaking to Minnesota newspaper Star Tribune, Lindell said MyPillow was hit with “massive, massive cancellation” in response to his election-fraud claims. This saw the company’s products dropped by a number of major retailers, including Bed Bath & Beyond and Kohl’s. Lindell said: “We lost $100 million from attacks by the box stores, the shopping networks, the shopping channels, all of them did cancel culture on us.”
In response, Lindell said MyPillow shifted its focus to direct sales via television and email marketing, but its financial troubles would continue. In July, MyPillow attempted to sell over 800 items on online auction site K-BID, though a number failed to find a buyer, while some pieces of industrial equipment were sold at what appeared to be significantly below market prices.
In September, Lindell said American Express had cut MyPillow’s credit line “from a million dollars down to $100,000” during an appearance on Steve Bannon‘s “War Room” podcast. He add that this was part of an all-out attack, which “just cripples MyPillow.”
An American Express spokesperson told Newsweek: “We can’t comment on specific customer accounts or applications, but I can tell you that American Express does not make customer decisions based on personal views or political affiliations.”
On September 30, Lindell told Bannon that MyPillow is facing five IRS audits over its employment practices, though he denied any wrongdoing.
Lindell said: “They’re going after my employees. During the China virus [COVID-19 pandemic], we had all these at-home moms and stuff, everybody out there taking calls at our call center under contract labor across the country. Now they’re doing employee audits. They’re trying to take away their jobs that you all call in your orders on… And it’s disgusting.”
Three defamation lawsuits have been brought against Lindell by voting-machine manufacturers Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic and Eric Coomer, a former Dominion employee. Both Dominion and Smartmatic produced electronic voting machines used in the 2020 election, which some Trump supporters have falsely linked to election fraud. Fox News settled a $1.6 billion lawsuit with Dominion in April, agreeing to pay $787.5 million, after some of its presenters and guests endorsed these conspiracy theories.
In a court motion filed on Thursday, legal firm Parker Daniels Kibort LLC [PDK], which had been representing Lindell in a number of cases, asked for permission to withdraw citing the non-payment of fees. This request was granted by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols.
Lindell told Newsweek on Thursday: “We haven’t been able to pay them [lawyers] for the past couple of months.
“These lawyers were courageous,” Lindell said. “They took on a case where every other lawyer in this country are afraid to take on any case against the electronic voting machines and the evil that’s out there. This was a great group of attorneys… and they need to get paid; and if there’s no money to pay them, they can’t keep going.”
Newsweek has contacted MyPillow for comment by email.


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Africa has been a key region of belly route network development for IAG Cargo – the freight division of British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia – and it has added new connections on the continent.
British Airways has added capacity via a Boeing 787-8 to operate four extra rotations a week between Johannesburg and London Heathrow, and three brand new rotations a week between Durban and Heathrow.
IAG Cargo’s regional commercial manager for Africa, Graham Tufft spoke to CAAS online about the region.
How has the start to the year been for IAG Cargo in Africa?
We have had a very positive start to 2019 out of Africa at IAG Cargo, achieving double-digit growth in our overall volumes for January, with Constant Fresh, our bespoke product proposition for the movement of perishable goods performing particularly well.
UK supermarket demand for fresh produce has been a major driver behind this, with South African perishable exports proving extremely strong. In January for example, the volume of prepared fruit salads that we carried out of Johannesburg was up by around 50% on last year.
As expected, we have also seen a huge resurgence of fruit exports from Cape Town into London, particularly berries and stone fruits, as growing conditions have improved across the Western Cape following last year’s severe drought.
Our network of over 350 global destinations has also supported strong and widespread demand for Kenyan grown flowers to serve the global Valentine’s Day peak, as well as an upturn in Africa-manufactured garments flying into North America.
How has network growth boosted freight opportunities?
We’ve bolstered our capacity in Africa this year to support these strong market conditions. Deploying a 787-8 to operate four extra rotations a week between Johannesburg and London Heathrow, and three brand new rotations a week between Durban and Heathrow, has raised IAG Cargo’s presence in South Africa alone to 43 flights a week. As a result, we’re better placed to serve our customers wherever and whenever they need us.
Is IAG Cargo seeing any particular trends in the region? Any growth markets?
Zimbabwe is a market we’re very excited about this year. Driven largely by UK demand, the country’s fruit and vegetable exports are continuing to grow each year and IAG Cargo’s 18 flights a week from Johannesburg to London provide an unrivalled gateway for Zimbabwean exporters to reach the UK and Europe.
We are also seeing a marked rise in volumes out of Mauritius, driven largely by growth in garment exports to both the UK and US – a growing portion of which consists of apparel manufactured in Madagascar, which travels by ocean to Mauritius for uplift by air.
IAG Cargo’s five rotations a week from Mauritius provide our customers with frequent, direct access to the UK market, along with an array of services connecting onto our 26 North American gateways.
The trend amongst international flower buyers, particularly from Asia and North America, preferring to source directly from the growers in Kenya, as opposed to from the auctions in the Netherlands has also continued.
In the lead up to Valentine’s day this year for example, we carried 90 tonnes of roses into Japan alone, and saw strong demand from the likes of Miami, Toronto, and New York.


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(TNS) — Calhoun County, S.C., officials are worried other counties may be getting some of its sales tax money.
Council approved a resolution Monday requesting legal assistance from the S.C. Association of Counties.
“I think we need to get every nickel we can get,” Calhoun County Council Chairman David Summers said.
County officials claim taxes from online purchases made in Calhoun County are being collected by bordering counties, such as Lexington and Orangeburg, due to incorrect zip code information.
“This particular issue came about, I believe it was a gentleman in town who was remitting his sales tax form and noticed that the location for the (S.C. Department of Revenue) distribution was an Orangeburg County location,” attorney Lawrence Flynn of Pope Flynn Group said.
Geolocation software can prevent such problems, Flynn said.
But online retailers without geolocation software can send sales taxes to the county associated with a buyer’s zip code.
Flynn noted that the issue exists with many smaller online retailers.
“This is not, say, an Amazon issue who does geolocate the actual point of sale of a particular transaction, but there are other online retailers that are required to remit sales taxes that are not actually going through the geolocate process,” Flynn said.
“The hope would be that DOR would pass a regulation or pass some requirement to make online retailers update to geolocation software,” Flynn said.
Calhoun County Administrator Ted Felder stated that the county has five areas with zip codes associated with other counties.
“As a result of that, you could be missing out on some collections of both your capital projects and your local option sales tax,” Flynn stated.
Flynn said there is no direct way to quantify how much the county has lost. He believes the problem will only become worse as the number of online retailers increases.
County officials are hoping that a letter will notify DOR that the issue has a direct effect on its tax collection.
“The hope is the director of DOR would take this and appreciate the fact that in a small county, every dollar that could otherwise be generated and raised is beneficial, and it largely is going to affect the smaller counties,” Flynn said.
©2020 The Times and Democrat (Orangeburg, S.C.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


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Apple is ready to tackle one of the most ambitious sci-fi projects in the history of Hollywood after the company greenlit a new TV series based on Isaac Asimov’s Foundation.
The new TV show is being produced by Skydance Television with David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman signed on to write the series that’s about a galactic empire of humans living on multiple planets across the galaxy.
Popular Star Wars characters will pop up in Apple stores and other retail outlets around the world next week in a promotional event powered by augmented reality. Apple and Disney teamed up for the Star Wars promo, which coincides with the release of new toys for the upcoming movie Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Apple’s retro IIc computer that was released in 1984 has been obsolete for 30 years, but an NYC-based illustrator has just proven that it is still capable of creating amazing stuff, if you’re willing to put in the time.
Animator Wahyu Ichwandardi unveiled his Apple IIc masterpiece on Twitter by re-creating the latest Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer in using software from the early 80’s.
“Sketchnotes” are an increasingly popular form of visual note-taking. By combining text and images, sketchnotes are not only beautiful, but often easier to recall than text alone. The technique is an effective way of capturing notes and ideas in the classroom, meetings and conferences.
All next week, illustrator and senior UX/UI designer Andy McNally will be sketchnoting Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) for us, starting with the big keynote on Monday.
Andy has been covering Apple’s events as sketchnotes for some time. We ran some of his sketchnotes from last year’s event, which proved very popular. He’s back again this year, and is planning to publish sketchnotes from a variety of sessions at the conference.
Before he gets started, Andy shared some tips and techniques for getting started on sketchnoting yourself. Let’s take a look:
There’s been an awakening. Have you felt it? Star Wars is back, and the return of the year’s biggest nerdfest is upon us. May the 4th is when fans of the galaxy far, far away get a chance to revel in their fandom with their fellow fans around the world. And with the next Star Wars movie mere months away, the Force is strong with this one.
Part of the festivities is the chance to get great deals on Star Wars swag, and the Cult of Mac Store is no exception. We’ve got deals on a bundle of some of the best Star Wars games ever made, a treasure chest of Rogue One collectibles, and a floating speaker worthy of Darth Vader’s desk. Everything is dramatically discounted and worth nerding out over.
Disney dropped a brand new trailer for the upcoming movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story during the Olympics tonight, giving fans of the Force their first glimpse at Darth Vader’s return to the big screen.
The action-packed trailer is full of new bad guys, droids, and rebels, some of which have teamed up to steal plans from the Empire right before it begins testing the dreaded Death Star. James Earl Jones is returning to provide the voice of the Chosen One who is probably not going to be happy by the end of the film that’s set before the events of A New Hope
Star Wars has given fans a behind the scenes of the upcoming movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story which is due out later this year.
As part of the Star Wars 2016, director Gareth Edwards and Kathleen Kennedy and unveiled a new clip detailing the making of the new film that looks like an massive war film set at one of the most beautiful locations in a galaxy far far away. Star Wars nerds can get an early look at many of the new aliens, droids and troopers that are set to land in theaters later this year.


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If Disney Consumer Products has its say, the answer will be orange creamsicle this fall. That's the scent of the debut High School Musical fragrance, which is hitting shelves in wide release timed to profit from the mania surrounding the Aug. 17 airing of the popular Disney Channel original movie's sequel.
"There is definitely a bigger window of opportunity now [because of the] momentum the Disney Channel started garnering with the That's So Raven franchise and is building up with Hannah Montana, High School Musical and Cheetah Girls," said Johanna Mooney, director of food, health and beauty at Disney Consumer Products. "We are trying to respond to those girls' needs to have products that feed the lifestyle they aspire to."
Disney Consumer Products cracked the tween perfume market two years ago with That's So Raven and continued to expand its presence earlier this year by launching the Hannah Montana fragrance at Club Libby Lu in March. According to Rebecca Killian, senior vice president of creative and marketing for Boom LLC, the Disney Consumer Products licensee that develops the fragrances, thousands of Hannah Montana units are sold per week.
"Hannah Montana has surpassed our expectations. We are cautiously excited to see how High School Musical performs," said Killian. "With all that Disney is doing with that [High School Musical] brand, it is hard to think it is not going to be just as successful." Disney Consumer Products declined to project sales for the High School Musical fragrance.
The High School Musical items have begun to be shipped to Claire's Stores Inc. locations and will be introduced in Kmart and Wal-Mart for back-to-school and holiday, when gift sets are critical to the merchandising strategy. The High School Musical fragrance is $12 for 1 oz. and $7.50 for 0.5 oz.
After That's So Raven rolled out, Disney Consumer Products evaluated its approach to the beauty industry last year by conducting a study of 150 tweens to determine their preferences. Mooney outlined several fragrance findings: girls gravitate toward fruity notes; they typically mirror their adult women counterparts in having 2.7 fragrances on rotation and they desire age-appropriate products. Clinique Happy, New York Chic and L.A. Style by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Britney Spears' Curious are often among the perfumes in girls' fragrance stockpiles."We knew that moms were very careful about what they let their girls wear, but we were pleasantly surprised to know the girls also want that," said Mooney. "It is important that the girls feel the moms will approve."
In the pricing, Disney Consumer Products discovered that, although a few girls will buy $50 perfumes, sticking to around the $12 mark drives volume. And in packaging, featuring images of the Disney Channel show's cast members — stars of "High School Musical" include Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens — is important for customers to identify with the products.
"They see the High School Musical kids jumping up in the air [on the box] and are like, 'Grab that,'" said Killian.
@fearofgod and @maxfieldla have teamed up on a pop-up installation. The store, located in the gallery space across from Maxfield’s Melrose Ave location, is the site of the brand’s House of God pop-up in which Fear of God founder @jerrylorenzo has created a church-inspired installation. A dozen vintage church pews sit in front of an LED screen playing 90s gospel singers in an effort to re-create an environment akin to a Southern Baptist Church, Lorenzo explained. Read more about the pop-up on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: Jennifer Johnson)
Known for his sleek, sophisticated American glamour, Norman Norell is the subject of an upcoming exhibition at @fitnyc. “Norell: Dean of American Fashion,” which runs from February 9 through April 14, will feature approximately 100 ensembles and accessories. His best work is exemplified by the designer’s glittering “mermaid” gowns frosted with thousands of hand-sewn sequins – like the one pictured. (📷: William Helburn) #wwdfashion
For pre-fall 2018, @balmain didn’t let go of the glitz. A crystal embroidered baseball jacket priced at around $40,000 hangs in the “couture” section of the brand’s first men’s pre-collection. Sporting the words “Balmain Army” across the back, the item took around two months to make. “When it was completed, it was like Christmas, it was like, ‘It’s done, it’s exactly what I wanted,’” said Balmain’s creative director @olivier_rousteing during a tour of the collection in a Paris showroom on Monday. #wwdfashion
Eighty degree temperatures and outdoor installations at the annual Art Basel Miami Beach called for bright, elevated beachwear. See more street style pictures on WWD.com. #theyarewearing #ABMB (📷: @lifeinreverie)
Following September’s emotional tribute to her brother Gianni, Donatella Versace wanted to bring the spring show’s deep sense of intimacy to her @versace_official pre-fall collection. Donatella found inspiration in Versace Palazzo in Milan and from Gianni’s opulent apartment. Archival patterns and new motifs were splashed on silk shirtdresses and fitted jersey frocks. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com. #wwdfashion
Demna Gvasalia continues to shake up the Paris fashion calendar — and experiment with new runway timetables for his @vetements_official brand. WWD has learned that Vetements plans to stage its next coed show for the fall 2018 season on January 19 during Men’s Fashion Week in the French capital. Details about the timing and venue have not been confirmed — stay tuned on WWD.com to catch the latest. #wwdnews (📷: @giovanni_giannoni_photo)
@zacposen's go-to holiday gift? Cookies! "I'll usually bake cookies and send them as a gift," said the designer, who recently released his cookbook "Cooking With Zac: Recipes from Rustic to Refined." Get the recipe for his Brown Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies via link in bio 🍪🍪🍪 #wwdeye #cookingwithzac
For @monsemaison’s pre-fall 2018 collection, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim honed in on the brand’s many signatures — men’s wear, which was tweaked and feminized through deconstruction, proportion play and lots of bare shoulders. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)
On Friday night, @yohjiyamamotoofficial received the Design for Asia Lifetime Achievement Award in Hong Kong. The 75-year-old designer has been celebrated for many years and is best known for his dark and avant-garde tailoring. “In my long career, in design, architecture, [I’ve been to] so many parties, this is the very first time that I have such a warm feeling, I really appreciate this,” Yamamoto said. #wwdfashion (📷: @dominiquemaitre)


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By Kelly Aaron, President, EverLights
Last year more than 3.3 million tons of electronic waste, better known as e-waste, was produced in the United States alone. With e-waste numbers on the rise each year, the state of Illinois decided to join 24 other states with e-waste laws to help decrease the amount that ends up in landfills.
Since January 1, 2012, businesses in Illinois are now prohibited from sending old electronic equipment to landfills. While there is currently a law in effect that requires some of that electronic material to be recycled, the new regulation adds more equipment to the list, and it creates larger penalties for businesses that do not comply.
How big are these penalties? Fines have increased to $7,000 per violation from $1,000. It seems foolish to accept a penalty when it is so simple to safely and lawfully dispose of your material.
The hardest part of the e-waste recycling process is finding a recycling company that is both trustworthy and affordable.
Seek Out A Qualified E-Waste Recycling Company
What you should be looking for is a company that handles e-waste according to state and federal regulations. This includes keeping the materials in the U.S., sending them to licensed recycling facilities, wiping all personal information from hard drives and tracking the materials from start to finish. If requested, the company you select also should be able to provide documented information about how your e-waste was recycled.
As a heads up, you will probably be tempted to consider working with a recycling company that will pay you for your e-waste during this process. While that may seem like a good idea, it is almost guaranteed that your e-waste will end up in the wrong place, and will not be tracked according to established guidelines. It would be in your best interests, as a business, to stay away from that practice.
Once you’ve picked a recycling company, the rest practically does itself. The recycling company should offer a few options on how to recycle e-waste. The most common services offered are dedicated pickups and on-site drop-offs. For a pickup, all you have to do is call the recycling company and schedule a time that works for both parties. If you choose to drop materials off, simply show up to the recycling location with your e-waste and the recycling company will handle the rest. Both options make the recycling process quick and painless.
All of this brings us right back to where we started. Is it worth paying a $7,000 fine that could have prevented for a couple hundred dollars? Do yourself, and your business, a favor and find an affordable recycling company that plays by the rules. It will save you from dealing with future problems that could easily be avoided.
If you have further insight on recycling e-waste, please feel free to share that information by replying to this post.


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Back in 2015, Trinity Mirror’s unique portfolio of national and regional news titles was not valued by the media agency community, and our sales team was not highly regarded. Rapid audience growth in digital and mobile, combined with an expanded footprint in regional and local news titles, was giving us scale but not credibility with the agencies.
We set out to bring to life the audience behind all of our titles and platforms, a modern mass market that we called “Modal Britain”. It has been the theme of all of our interactions with agencies — roadshows, presentations, infographics, proprietary research, events, and PR — and the foundation of our step-changed revenue growth across digital, mobile, and creative solutions.
The UK’s population has a strong tradition of reading national newspapers, a marketplace segmented into tiers known in the industry as “qualities, mids, and pops.” Our national Daily Mirror title is in the lowest tier — a newspaper for the traditionally industrial and manual working class.
But our regional and digital audiences are growing, and are demographically much wider.
We needed to shake the “downmarket” tag. Our task was to build a research-led, thought-leadership platform that showed society is rapidly changing shape under parallel forces of recession and digitisation, and a valuable mass-market audience is emerging. We challenged agencies and advertisers to wake up to this opportunity.
In the era of Brexit and Trump, it’s well documented that the political establishment lost sight of the experiences and changing views of ordinary people, but so did the marketing and agency world.
Since early 2015, we have been challenging media agencies to recognise the emergence of Modal Britain (our largest demographic) — not downmarket (and seemingly undesirable) but mass-market (and crucial for scaling communications and achieving brand growth).
Modal Britain has been the consistent theme of all of our stakeholder contact for the past two years and a crucial element in evolving our reputation in the media agencies and unlocking new revenues.
In spring 2015, “Welcome to Modal Britain” was a 20-week roadshow around the UK’s 16 biggest media buying shops, featuring our sales leaders, editor-in-chief, and the company CEO. A smartphone-based quiz challenged attendees to demonstrate their knowledge of “modal” consumers.
The roadshow stimulated great feedback from the agencies (“really resonated,” “amazing feedback,” “interesting, insightful, and useful”) and now 72% of agency people say we are “well known.”
Modal Britain gained industry coverage in Media Week’s 30th-anniversary issue and with a topical general election piece. We were awarded silver at the Media Week Awards in 2016, and we created “Modal Britain’s Best,” a moment when we revealed the nation’s favourite ad from a poll of the shortlisted campaigns.
From scratch, we built Modal Mouthpiece, an online community of readers drawn from across our titles and platforms, which is now 5,500 members strong. We’ve investigated how Modal Britain experiences big sporting occasions, prepares for the festive season, feels about “community” and Brexit.
A Mouthpiece study for pharmacy retail giant Boots helped win us the pitch for a significant editorial partnership, while our Modal Mouths (vloggers) have given agencies a direct glimpse into Modal lives, and colourfully represented mainstream views in video form.
Modal Britain drove £2 million incremental revenue for Invention, our content solutions hub, which has handled more than 200 briefs. We’ve grown market share versus national newspaper market leader The Sun, and we’ve been consistently ahead of our regional sales rival Mediaforce, with 75% share. Our digital revenue growth of 25% has outstripped our traditional publisher rivals.
Now in 2017, agencies and advertisers are turning to Trinity Mirror as the authority on what real people are thinking and feeling.


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FRANKFURT/SAN FRANCISCO -- First there was derision. Then mockery turned into admiration. Now a battle is unfolding between two powerful names in the automobile world, Porsche and Tesla.
The venue of the showdown: Germany’s Nurburgring, the race track considered the most challenging in the world. The circuit boasts 73 tight turns (Silverstone in the U.K. has 18), changing elevations and a brutal length of more than 12.4 miles winding through leafy forest, earning it the nickname Green Hell.
It’s here that Porsche’s new Taycan Turbo S set the record as the fastest four-door electric car last month, clocking in at 7 minutes and 42 seconds. The feat wasn’t lost on a rival sitting thousands of miles away in California: Tesla Inc.’s Elon Musk. Always one to relish a good fight, Musk picked up the gauntlet and has dispatched a Model S to the German hinterland to reclaim the bragging rights as king of the electric sedan.
The car confrontation has all the ingredients of an epic battle between incumbent and upstart, infused with social-media feeds that have energized die-hard fans on either side of the Atlantic wondering which of the two cars can shave those vital extra seconds off their lap time. Adding to the frenzy is former Formula One racing champion Nico Rosberg, who chimed in on Twitter to pilot the Tesla, an offer that Musk happily accepted.
“We welcome competition, it helps you to get better step by step. But of course you always have to compare apples with apples,” Porsche CEO Oliver Blume told Bloomberg Friday on the sidelines of a panel discussion near the Frankfurt auto show.
Porsche’s Blume said Tesla had selected another driver “who knows the Nurburgring well,” but he declined to provide a name.
Musk has a lot riding on the challenge. After Porsche unveiled the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S as its first electric cars last week, Musk teased the brand for its “turbo” nomenclature because a turbocharger is only found in a combustion engine. Following the initial ribbing, he found more charitable words in a later tweet, acknowledging that the Taycan “does seem like a good car” and that the Nurburgring track time “is great.”
Blume said Friday the respect is mutual, but was careful to note the Taycan’s record was achieved with a normal series production car that came straight from the assembly line and can be purchased by customers. Tesla, by contrast, has already been working for about two weeks near the track to modify a Model S for racing purposes to achieve the fastest-possible time, the Porsche CEO said.
While a series version Model S wouldn’t be able to beat the Taycan’s lap time, a modified race version with tweaked suspension and brakes “could go in that direction,” Blume said. “We have a lot of respect for Tesla. They have achieved a lot and Elon Musk built this company from scratch.”
The stakes are equally high for Porsche, which has watched Tesla turn itself into a veritable alternative for customers seeking a high-performance car but with an electric engine, an open flank that the Stuttgart-based manufacturer now hopes to protect with the Taycan.
Musk posted on Sept. 6 that a Model S would make an appearance at the track “next week.” Indeed, a modified Model S has been spotted testing on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, according to Car and Driver, which appeared to show the car on the track as part of a general driving session open to others. The model sported flared fenders and an enlarged opening at the front, probably for extra cooling.
When exactly the car might attempt to break the Taycan’s record remains shrouded in mystery. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on its plans for the Nurburgring.


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How HBO is using a dating app to market itself
HBO may be known for its original shows, but its latest marketing push focuses on its collection of studio films.
The company has teamed up with dating-app-turned-lifestyle-brand Bumble to host a two-night event called “Stay home to the movies” on August 15 and 16. Guests, including Bumble users who received an in-app invite for the experience, visited an approximately $30 million apartment near Washington Square Park in New York. Attendees were divided into six different movies, such as “Girls Trip,” “Back to the Future” and “It,” based on a personality quiz. There were 65 guests each night, with the waitlist at 1,200 per night.
As HBO competes with the rise of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and soon-to-come Disney streaming service, HBO is promoting its selection of movies to offer customers along with exclusive shows. HBO is still among the top streaming services with 5 million streaming customers in the U.S. and 142 million subscribers through cable and streaming worldwide, as of February 2018. Netflix reported 130 million subscribers for the second quarter of 2018.
HBO is also competing with the rise of theater subscription services, notably MoviePass along with AMC A-List and Sinemia, to bring people to watch new films. Meanwhile, Bumble is looking for a point of differentiation with other dating apps, including Facebook’s new product.
Both brands have chosen to invest in experiential marketing, separately, and now together, to help with retention of old users and lure new ones. HBO regularly hosts experiential events for the launch of new shows, while Bumble has hosted pop-ups in certain markets to celebrate its community. The theme of the combined event was a movie date night, where the idea was that Bumble users could have a first date that was a movie, without having to pay to go to the theater and without the uncomfortable ask of inviting somewhere. It’s what another brand — aka not HBO — may call a “Netflix and Chill.”
“We felt like the brands and our key audiences were a good alignment, younger, influential, socially connected and looking for something to do,” said Jason Mulderig, vp of brand and product marketing at HBO.
Bumble’s director of partnerships Andee Olson said the company knew there was crossover between its audience and HBO’s ahead of the event.
To promote their value and earn some impressions on Instagram and Snapchat, the brands hired Giant Spoon to create the program along with creative agency Mekanism. HBO also worked with Giant Spoon on its Westworld activation during South by Southwest this past year.
Part of the joint brief included equal representation of the brands, which Giant Spoon achieved through yellow accents (Bumble’s color) throughout the movie-watching rooms. For example, one of the rooms had a tub full of candy with yellow wrappers and rubber ducks, ideal for an Instagram photo or Boomerang.
“Both [brands] need people to sign up for their services and brand awareness and brand love. We were trying to balance all of that and make it seem like a true collaboration, felt like the two of them were coming together,” said Marc Simons, cofounder of Giant Spoon.
When it comes to tracking return on investment for clients, Giant Spoon’s Simons said the agency doesn’t actually guarantee anything. Part of its strategy is extreme attention to detail which includes fitting in as many elements as possible in hopes of organic impressions on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.
“There are no guarantees in our business. We need to take a chance on this stuff and make it as good as it can be and fill it with as many possible ways to get a return. We’re making sure we’re holding the bar that it’s something that will truly cause FOMO,” Simons said.
For a recent event with STX Entertainment, they sold out the experience with about 300 to 400 people a night. Due to demand, Simons said they chose to add three more nights.
While the agency works mostly with entertainment companies on experiential marketing, Simons said he’s seen a growth of interest from clients in tech and CPG brands.
“We’re trying to make sure we’re working on projects with the clients that truly want to create experiences versus a little stunt or an event marketing execution,” Simons said.
Giant Spoon also has been focused on growing its businesses beyond experiential. For example, Giant Spoon recently worked with HP on long-form videos about esports and gaming. For now, about 2o to 25 percent of the company’s revenue comes from experiential.
‘More dollars to experiential’: Why Walmart is still using experiential marketing to pitch Walmart+ — even during coronavirus crisis
The company is working with influencers and media partners to bring some of the missed “special moments” that had been canceled throughout 2020 to life.
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Tuesday 3rd June 2014
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Postie Plus, the worst performing stock on the New Zealand stock market, has appointed administrators after its lenders withdrew support as the company continued to make ongoing losses.
The Auckland-based retailer appointed David Bridgman and Colin McCloy of PwC as administrators, saying attempts to recapitalise the business had been unsuccessful. The retailer's board also sought to sell the business outright, or find a new cornerstone shareholder. The administration should allow Postie Plus to keep trading so it can be sold as a going concern.
"Despite restructuring, optimising of the existing DC (distribution centre),and recent improvements to gross margin and market share, the company has continued to make ongoing trading losses," the company said in a statement. "The company's bank has been supportive through this period, but has decided it cannot extend its facilities further to cover ongoing losses."
In April, Postie Plus said it was in breach of its lending covenants and expected to remain so “for the foreseeable future,” meaning its bank funding is repayable on demand, though the arrangements it had in place with its bank were sufficient to meet the company’s forecast funding requirements up to July 30.
The company was hit by supply chain disruptions in the summer of 2012 and 2013 after outsourcing its distribution centre to a third party, while shifting its headquarters to Auckland, where it anticipated growth. After receiving legal advice, Postie Plus said it intends to "vigorously" pursue a damages claim.
The shares were halted on Thursday at 7.3 cents, valuing the company at $2.9 million. The shares have,slumped 72 percent since the start of 2012.
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Premium video-on-demand, the expensive version of transactional digital movie rentals offering consumers in-home early access to theatrical titles, continues to see a renaissance.
With 65% of major theatrical markets shuttered due to the pandemic, new data through Feb. 1 saw $19.99 PVOD releases Greenland (STX Entertainment), News of the World (Universal Pictures), Promising Young Woman (Focus Features), The Croods: A New Age (Universal/DreamWorks Animation), Our Friend (Gravitas Ventures) and Fatale (Lionsgate) rank among the Top 10 digital movies rented by consumers across Apple TV, FandangoNow, Spectrum TV and Google Play.
After a failed 2011 attempt by Universal Pictures to jumpstart PVOD by offering actioner Tower Heist directly in the home for $59.99, the distribution channel made a less-expensive ($19.99) comeback last year early in the pandemic when the studio disclosed it had generated $100 million in revenue from 5 million transactions in 28 days offering erstwhile theatrical sequel Trolls World Tour directly to consumers at home.
Thus, Universal took PVOD firmly by the horns, hammering out shortened theatrical window agreements with AMC Theatres and Cinemark in order to get its movies into home entertainment channels faster — and with good reason. Studios keep about 80% of all digital transactions, compared with 50% of theatrical.
“The results for Trolls World Tour have exceeded our expectations and demonstrated the viability of PVOD. As soon as theaters reopen, we expect to release movies on both formats,” said NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell.
Indeed, Universal released the Judd Apatow comedy The King of Staten Island on PVOD in June. It also rushed out early transactional VOD access to The Invisible Man, The Hunt, Emma and Never Rarely Sometimes Always, among others.
Other studios have tepidly followed, with Warner Bros. Pictures debuting Scoob! on May 15, and Disney launching Mulan into the home on Labor Day weekend — the latter initially as a $29.99 purchase-only option to Disney+ subscribers.
“The silver lining to 2020 from a theatrical perspective is that studios have had the opportunity to test the feared PVOD window, with the results not as compelling as many had expected, and not as damaging to the exhibitors as feared,” Michael Pachter, media analyst with Wedbush Securities in Los Angeles, wrote in a note.
Indeed, as PVOD has become normalized, scant information exists about actual sales generated by consumers. Nielsen recently announced it would begin tracking PVOD across living room televisions. Just released industry data from DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group did not include PVOD transactions among the $2.3 billion consumers spent renting movies and other filmed content through digital retailers in 2020 — up from less than $2 billion in 2019.
“We think that PVOD is here to stay, and it really is a big part of our business,” Fandango SVP Mark Young told a recent industry panel. NBCUniversal-owned Fandango operates transactional VOD services Vudu and FandangoNow.
Yet major theatrical distributor Imax believes PVOD remains a fluke driven by rollercoaster consumer behavior during a pandemic.
“To be unequivocal, PVOD is a failed experiment,” CEO Rich Gelfond told a virtual investor confab last September. “The numbers haven’t worked in a pandemic, so how would they work in a non-pandemic? Of the movies that were postponed, very few went into PVOD or streaming, and I should be clear I’m talking about the blockbuster movies — the movies that Imax does.”
Wedbush’s Pachter contends studios largely agree, continuing to postpone major releases into 2021 and later, showing they prefer a theatrical release over PVOD.
In the meantime, more movies are likely to go to subscription VOD platforms flush with cash and willing to spend it licensing content.
“We expect more films to shift to streaming as subscription services seek more video content after heightened consumption [and subscriber growth] coupled with several months of halted productions in the pandemic,” Pachter said.


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Back in early February, reports were suggesting that Kia and Apple were close to finalizing a deal to produce the long-mooted Apple Car. Hyundai Motor Group quashed that speculation a few days later, informing investors they were not in negotiations with Apple about producing an autonomous vehicle. But according to a report from the Korean outlet Chosun Biz, an Apple Car built by Kia could still be in the works...or, the companies could be collaborating on something else entirely.
The new report says Apple and Kia signed a memorandum of understanding last year in order to cooperate in eight different areas. An autonomous vehicle may merely have been one of those areas. The EV negotiations, as per the report, are "experiencing difficulties" but "have not completely collapsed."
According to the report, another potential cooperation area between Hyundai Motor Group and Apple could be "last-mile mobility." Picture an electric scooter or some other form of vehicle you would take to home or work after leaving the train/subway/bus.
Hyundai, it should be noted, recently bought robotic dog-maker Boston Dynamics. Such technology would be more useful for things like food and package delivery than having a new version of "Smaht Pahk" where your Sonata clambers around like a dog.
Remember, Apple putting any vehicle on the road by 2024 would be incredibly ambitious. That's especially true for an autonomous one, since the technology doesn't exist yet. If Apple does reach self-driving first, putting it in a hyper-expensive niche Apple car would be one of the least profitable ways to apply it. An Apple EV built by Kia with new battery technology and advanced driving assistants that seamlessly integrates with your iPhone and other devices, however? That seems more reasonable.