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In context: Call of Duty is one of the most successful gaming series ever, with hundreds of millions of copies sold for PC and several console generations. Publisher Activision is joyfully milking this popularity by releasing a new game every year, while giving the modding community a chance to "refresh" and keep supporting older titles many years after official support is gone for good.
Even after many years and several new iterations of the series, however, Activision is still aggressively defending its intellectual property when the modding efforts try to go beyond simple graphics updates or compatibility fixes. Case in point: the Santa Monica-based corporation has just shut down two promising modding projects for COD: Modern Warfare 2 and other games released more than ten years ago.
The first victim of Activision's renewed anti-modding effort is SM2, a major reworking project for Modern Warfare 2, which began over two years ago. The SM2 team wanted to bring the 2009 FPS to modern times with new weapons, in-game perks, a new UI, a new progression system and even a new graphics engine backported from the remastered edition of Modern Warfare released in 2016.
The huge undertaking didn't even have the chance to release its first public version, however, as Activision Publishing lawyers contacted a member of the SM2 team first with a cease & desist letter. The team said it is complying with the legal order, effectively shutting down all operations related to SM2.
Today, a team member received a Cease & Desist letter on behalf of Activision Publishing in relation to the sm² project. We are complying with this order and shutting down all operations permanently. Thank you all for your support over the past 2 years.– sm² (@sm2game) May 17, 2023
The official site is gone (even though it's been saved on the Internet Archive), and the official Discord channel has been shut down as well. COD fans and gamers can still see what the SM2 project was aiming for, as the official YouTube channel is still up with some lengthy videos showing MW2 upgraded weapons, gameplay and graphics.
A week after threatening SM2, Activision went against X Labs. The team was responsible for creating some custom client and server components for classic COD games, including Modern Warfare 2, Ghosts, and Advanced Warfare. The updated clients gave new and old COD fans the chance to play with new features and quality-of-life improvements, while providing a method to access the COD gaming community in a way that was deemed safer from hackers and cheaters compared to the official versions.
X Labs was the "only safe way to play" older Call of Duty titles online, streamer ModernWarzone remarked, and now that opportunity is gone too. Compared to SM2, however, the X Labs case seems to involve actual piracy activities such as offering torrent downloads for game files. As for Activision Blizzard's anti-modding crusade, the publisher could still decide to go after Plutonium and their custom servers for Call of Duty older titles.


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Just two days after a copy of NES classic The Legend of Zelda sold for nearly $900k dollars, an original N64 Super Mario 64 cartridge was auctioned off for $1.56 million dollars, cementing itself as the most expensive video game ever sold.
A fond trip down memory lane for many video game enthusiasts, NES and N64 titles are often hailed as some of the most timeless video games ever made, even despite their old age.
Whether they’re bought to play, or to show off as display pieces, copies of older titles like the first few Zelda and Mario games can fetch incredible prices when they hit the market, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Now, just two days after a copy of The Legend of Zelda set the record on July 9, a sealed Super Mario 64 cartridge stole the title of the most expensive video game ever sold at auction with an eye-watering price tag of $1.56 million dollars.
On July 11, Heritage Auctions — the online auction house where the sale took place — shared on Twitter that the copy of Super Mario 64 in question had sold for a jaw-dropping final price of $1,560,000 dollars, nearly doubling the previous record of $870,000.
The copy in question was graded by Wata — a well-known and respected video game grading service — as 9.8 A++ (the highest possible rating the service hands out) which certainly boosted the piece’s value substantially.
🎉#HERITAGELIVE #WORLDRECORD!! Super Mario 64 – Wata 9.8 A++ Sealed, N64 Nintendo 1996 USA just sold for $1,560,000 at #HeritageAuctions, smashing previous mark of $870K, set Friday at Heritage for The Legend of Zelda! https://t.co/SUgiijkkzL#SuperMario #Nintendo #N64 #WATA pic.twitter.com/rHpTuZl95l
— Heritage Auctions (@HeritageAuction) July 11, 2021
In addition to sharing the result of the auction on Twitter, Heritage also pointed out the significance of the piece in their listing, calling it “the highest graded copy of the single best-selling video game on the Nintendo 64 — the first 3D adventure of Nintendo’s mascot, Mario.”
“The cultural significance of this title and its importance to the history of video games is paramount,” they continued, and went on to confirm that even their staff were blown away by the piece: “the condition of this copy is just so breathtaking that we’re really at a loss here.”
While some might question the lofty price tag, the praise from Heritage and the impressive grading from Wata certainly justified the cartridge’s price tag to someone — and that someone is now in possession of what might be the most pristine copy of Super Mario 64 ever seen.

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Fonio, a cereal grain imported from West Africa, was once relegated to the shelves of tiny grocery stores frequented by immigrants primarily from Senegal and Mali. But it has gradually made its way to Whole Foods, where pouches decorated with a painted map of Africa are nestled amid packages of rice and lentils, aimed at a broader range of American consumers.
That journey was pushed in part by a New York City company, Yolélé, which roughly means "let the good times roll" in Fula, a West African language. Yolélé also offers seasoned fonio pilafs, a line of fonio chips and, coming soon, fonio flour.
The company was founded in 2017 by Philip Teverow, a food-industry veteran, and Pierre Thiam, a chef from Senegal who grew up eating fonio. Thiam is confident that Americans would eat fonio, too, if they had better access to it.
The nutritious grain is gluten-free and has a slightly nutty flavor. It is also easy to prepare: "Fonio never embarrasses the cook," Thiam said.
But critical to their effort to appeal to the average American consumer was the packaging. Innovative package design and brand identity are vital when selling unfamiliar foods to mainstream markets, industry experts said.
"People really do shop with their eyes," said Chris Manca, a buyer at Whole Foods Market focusing on local products for the company's stores in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. "If your product doesn't really jump off the shelf and catch your eye, it's going to get overlooked."
In 2019, 182,535 immigrant-owned food businesses, from manufacturing to restaurants, were operating in the United States, according to an analysis of the American Community Survey by the New American Economy, a research organization.
Chinese and Mexican immigrants owned most, selling cuisines familiar to American palates. But entrepreneurs from countries such as Guinea, Kazakhstan and Senegal are gaining a foothold with less well-known cuisines.
Marketing these foods in the United States has its challenges, like cultural identity and consumer perception. The savviest entrepreneurs work with designers and brand strategists to make their products more approachable.
One of the biggest hurdles is choosing visual clues — fonts, colors, illustrations and photographs — that channel a product's physical or conceptual provenance. A brand identity that's too sleek and polished might appear inauthentic and lose credibility. Yet folksy designs or a reliance on regional symbols can look cliché and dated.
Creating the right visuals is a "subtle balance," said Paola Antonelli, senior curator of the department of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art. A new foreign food's packaging must stimulate curiosity and radiate authenticity, "making you feel like there's some sort of familiarity that maybe you had not yet discovered in yourself," she said.
Cultural heritage is critical for a new product, said Phil Lempert, a food-industry analyst known as the Supermarket Guru.
"You have to stand out," he said, adding that there is a strong appetite for foreign cuisines and products, especially among younger generations: "They love to experiment with food."
The global food industry has changed substantially over the past several decades, Lempert said.
New foreign-food brands today tend to celebrate their origins, whereas businesses just 10 years ago might have pushed to Americanize their products.
"There was a stigma there," he said.
Supermarket distribution has also changed.
"A lot of these smaller ethnic brands used to be distributed by ethnic-food distributors," Lempert said. "Now, these companies are going direct to the supermarket."


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The US state of California has added an ingredient found in Roundup pesticide, manufactured by Monsanto, to its list of cancer-inducing chemicals, requiring the product to start carrying a warning label by January 2018.
Products containing the herbicide, glyphosate, would have to carry a warning label indicating that they are “known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects and other reproductive harm”, the Los Angeles Times reported on 27 June.
However, the decision would not ban the chemical from being used on the fields or sold in stores as the proposal did not set rules on how the listed products could be used.
The Los Angeles Times said that while federal and state officials had the power to ban glyphosate nationwide, they had not done so as, in their opinion, the chemical had so far been found to have low toxicity and it could be safely used on crops, in garden, park and golf courses, provided safety instructions were followed.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) arrived at a similar conclusion last year when it ruled glyphosate was not a carcinogen.
The EPA decision drew criticism from environmental organisations, which claim that Monsanto – which markets GM seeds modified to be resistant to its glyphosate-containing Roundup product, including soyabeans – is attempting to boost its profits by continuing to use the product.
The agency began the process to require a warning label on glyphosate two years ago, but it was brought to a halt when Monsanto sued the EPA.
The company may again resort to litigation as a Monsanto spokesman told the Los Angeles Times that it would “continue to aggressively challenge” the decision in California.


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Texas Instruments Inc (TI) reported on Monday its second-quarter earnings fell 56 percent as sales were clipped by a weak economy that the company expects will “take some time” to strengthen.
But TI was heartened by an improvement from the first quarter, as customers started ramping up their inventory to more closely reflect demand.
“For us, it’s encouraging to see that revenue appears to have bottomed,” said Ron Slaymaker, vice president of investor relations.
However, “we don’t necessarily see a significant strengthening in the broader economy,” he said.
The Dallas-based chip maker earned US$260 million, or US$0.20 per share, compared with US$588 million, or US$0.44, in the same period a year ago.
Revenue fell 27 percent to US$2.46 billion from US$3.35 billion.
The results were better than what analysts had been expecting. In a survey by Thomson Reuters, analysts on average were forecasting a profit of US$0.18 per share on sales of US$2.41 billion.
Looking ahead, TI said it expects third-quarter earnings to come in at between US$0.29 and US$0.39 per share, and revenue to range from US$2.5 billion to US$2.8 billion.
Analysts are forecasting earnings of US$0.27 per share on revenue of US$2.52 billion.
Slaymaker said he doesn’t expect the company to cut any more jobs beyond what was announced in January. TI has said it plans to cut 3,400 jobs, or 12 percent of its work force, through layoffs or attrition. That’s on top of the 650 job cuts announced in October.
The two rounds combined are expected to save the company US$700 million a year.


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By MIKE FINNEY, Delaware State Information
DOVER, Del. (AP) — The selling price of lumber in the United States skyrocketed in early May, when lumber price tag as significantly as $1,700 for every thousand board toes.
Even so, Kolby Dukes, a manager at Dukes Lumber Co. in Laurel, is hopeful for lowered pricing in the tumble and extra stability in the lumber business.
“In terms of lumber potential pricing, which is the most effective way to generically explain what lumber prices ended up pre-pandemic, they were being wherever from $350 to $400, and that is for a thousand board feet of lumber,” Mr. Dukes said. “They bought up as significant as $1,700 in Might.
“It is definitely ridiculous. We’ve by no means witnessed that sort of fluctuation. For us, factors have been pretty regular for 15 years. It’s not been wild swings like this.”
A combination of issues appear to be to have pushed the higher lumber prices, these types of as pandemic offer chain constraints, the long-lasting closure of quite a few mills through the Fantastic Economic downturn and a enormously enhanced desire for new properties.
Furthermore, many lumber supply firms complain they are battling with getting products due to a employee lack, with numerous truck drivers stepping away from their employment.
Mr. Dukes reported things are beginning to get superior, but lumber nonetheless costs 2 times as substantially as it did prior to COVID-19.
“The current market is even now incredibly large, and people today are nonetheless creating, and I assume that demand from customers has authorized price ranges to remain elevated for so long,” he reported. “I don’t know as an industry as a full if the demand has slowed down, but we’re even now very chaotic. But it could be since the market place has began to soften.
“Overall, the issue to take note is, everyone is tickled simply because lumber has fallen $1,000 in the past 10 weeks. But the point to notice is that lumber applied to be $350, and now, it’s investing at $700, so lumber is double what it was pre-pandemic, and everybody’s tickled to death. Insane.”
Mr. Dukes extra that oriented strand board is 1 of the crucial building supplies that has not dropped in cost nonetheless. The Worldwide Association of Certified Household Inspectors stated OSB has come to be a lot more well-known than plywood in North America.
The selling price of OSB for every sheet 18 months ago was about $9, but it has risen drastically to about $63 per sheet.
Price ranges for concluded items like doors and home windows have also gone up greatly.
As significantly as the rate of lumber is worried, it went by way of the roof Might 7 and is now on the decline but however far over pre-pandemic degrees.
“We saw a spike again in the thirty day period of Could, which bled into June, and lumber bought really highly-priced, but we are now viewing price ranges occur down,” claimed Mr. Dukes. “But May well 7 is type of when it all peaked, and considering that May perhaps 7 — when it was $1,700 (for a thousand board toes of lumber) — now lumber futures are at $700, so it has dropped above 50% in the futures marketplace.
“Now, the futures industry usually takes a long time to translate into lumber obtaining to our property and the client buying it. What they are offering is … their foreseeable future output, so they’re advertising what they are going to make in September and October,” he extra.
“The cost of lumber has dropped by $1,000 on what will be generated in September and October, so we hope to see rates falling fast around the up coming couple months.”
Amid the uncertainty of the lumber market, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Advancement and the U.S. Census Bureau explained that sales of freshly constructed, solitary-relatives houses fell 5.9% in May to 769,000.
In the meantime, the median revenue price for a new dwelling in May possibly was $374,400, up 18% from $317,100 in May 2020.
Robert Dietz, main economist for the Countrywide Affiliation of Household Builders, stated the slowdown in revenue came from a blend of aspects.
“While increased selling prices have shifted some consumers to the sidelines, NAHB survey facts implies that roughly 20 percent of builders have confined income activity in latest months in purchase to regulate offer chains of products and labor availability,” Mr. Dietz mentioned in a push launch.
“Entry-stage potential buyers are remaining most afflicted by bigger rates. Just a calendar year in the past, shares of income priced under $300,000 accounted for 44 % of gross sales, although this May well it has dropped to 26 percent.”
The range of new homes bought for which building has not started off yet is up 76% more than the past calendar year. The rely of new houses offered that are finished and ready to occupy is down 33%, NAHB said.
Soaring lumber costs are including 1000’s of dollars to the expense of a new house, excluding thousands and thousands of potential homebuyers and impeding the household construction sector from moving the economic climate ahead, in accordance to the association.
Alicia Huey, a significant-finish personalized homebuilder from Birmingham, Alabama, and 2nd vice chairman of NAHB, reported that the rate of her lumber framing deal on an identically sized house has much more than doubled about the past 12 months, from $35,000 to $71,000.
“This raise has definitely hurt my enterprise,” she mentioned. “I’ve experienced to take up significantly of this added price and even put some design on keep due to the fact I would be shedding dollars by shifting forward.”
The similar crunch is getting felt locally. Maria Lopez experienced been striving to have a household constructed in a 55-additionally local community in north Dover. Even so, she reported the lumber value maximize pushed the value up about $50,000 — a value tag she could not afford.
“It’s actually a shame,” Ms. Lopez explained. “We imagined we had found the best residence, and then, this lumber scarcity takes place and forces the property that we were going to have crafted out of our rate range. But we’re not supplying up yet. With any luck ,, the value of lumber and making elements will tumble back down to a extra fair charge shortly.”
Soon after May’s spike in lumber pricing, NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke, a personalized homebuilder in Tampa, Florida, referred to as on the federal govt to lend some help to control the price tag will increase.
“NAHB is urging President (Joe) Biden and Congress to enable mitigate this developing risk to housing and the overall economy by urging domestic lumber producers to ramp up production to ease developing shortages and to make it a precedence to close tariffs on Canadian lumber shipments into the U.S. that are exacerbating unprecedented cost volatility in the lumber sector,” Mr. Fowke reported in a press launch.
He extra that May’s value spikes not only sidelined purchasers all through a period of time of significant demand, but they brought on many gross sales to drop by way of and compelled builders to put tasks on keep at a time when residence inventories were by now at a history very low.
Mr. Dukes explained most men and women building new households in Delmarva are looking at a monetary trade-off.
“People are coming in, and the value of their house has gone up by $40,000 or $50,000 (because of to the lumber rates), and they really do not care mainly because their desire fee is so lower that, about 30 many years, they’re heading to conserve $60,000 in comparison to what costs were,” he mentioned.
“So to them, they are obtaining the identical or maybe even a minor superior deal around the lifetime of their home loan centered on the fascination price.”
WHY NOT Improve Constructing Supplies?
Though builders have been grappling with document-large lumber price ranges and source shortages about the previous year, several are willing to switch absent from standard wooden.
A June study for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Sector Index unveiled various factors for that, but one stood out higher than the rest.
More than four out of 5 builders (82%) cited a deficiency of staff and subcontractors with the essential practical experience as a major barrier to switching absent from wood framing, which stays the dominant construction method for solitary-household homes in the United States, accounting for 91% of new homes done in 2020.
The examine indicated that the regular framing crew is not completely ready to promptly get started building properties out of concrete or steel.
Following a lack of experienced staff, the No. 2 hurdle to swap from wood framing was the relative cost of elements, cited by 42% of builders. Not only have elements like metal and concrete tended to be extra highly-priced than lumber historically, they have also lately been matter to their personal shortages and selling price hikes.
The charges of redesigning and reengineering houses to conform to a new building technique, purchaser resistance and problem getting inspections and approvals from area making departments were being also every single cited by more than 25% of homebuilders as important barriers to switching away from wooden framing.
Only 5% of the builders indicated that none of the likely problems stated in the survey was a considerable barrier.
However, if lumber charges keep on to fluctuate, some builders are taking into consideration shifting away from wooden. In particular, 17% of the builders surveyed are taking into consideration switching to steel, 16% to structural insulated panels, 14% to insulated concrete types and 8% to concrete masonry.
Mr. Fowke explained one thing is going to have to give about setting up elements — and quickly.
“Clearly these rate boosts are unsustainable, specially in light of a continued housing affordability disaster,” he reported. “Given this ongoing time period of high demand, the Commerce Office really should be investigating why output from lumber producers and lumber mills are at these types of small amounts.”
Mr. Dukes agreed that it is all pretty difficult to figure out.
“I don’t fully fully grasp it all,” he reported. “Demand is absolutely high, and interest fees are minimal. To us, these price ranges really don’t make sense. I have acquired jobs at house that I’m not accomplishing due to the fact I’m not likely to pay this a lot for lumber mainly because I know what it should be — and it should not be this.”
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It’s still eight years away, but the City of Montreal is already touting the economic benefits of hosting a handful of World Cup games.
On Wednesday, city councillor Rosannie Filato said the games would bring $200 million in economic benefits to Montreal.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
But economists say that’s unlikely.
“The World Cup, generally, doesn’t make money, it’s not a profitable endeavour,” said Moshe Lander, a Concordia University economics professor who studies the economics of sports.
Previous hosts, including Brazil, lost money hosting the World Cup, he said.
As for the estimated economic benefits, Lander said those types of calculations tend not to look at the full picture.
“They are always overstated,” he said.
That’s because economic impact calculations rarely consider how people would have spent their money if the event wasn’t taking place, he said. Much of the economic activity “generated” by events is money that would have been spent elsewhere.


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It has achieved growth of this scale by relentlessly focusing on offering customers the lowest fares – its average tickets costs €46 compared to €84 on easyJet and an EU average of €163.
But Jacobs said that if Ryanair is to achieve aggressive growth targets of 40% in the next five years then it needs to offer more than just low fares.
New focus on customer experience
Prior to the rebrand Jacobs described that Ryanair brand image as “straightforward, rough and ready, and we never took ourselves too seriously.”
Though it will maintain that light-hearted tone in its communications, it will drop the antagonism and become more customer-friendly.
Jacobs said the new marketing plan is very simple. Ryanair needs to be likeable, useful and different.
Our low fares mean we’re very useful, but we need to become more likeable. And we’ll always be different.
To achieve this Jacobs wants to take the company’s relentlessness and refocus on the customer experience.
This entails several key elements:
- Need to start to listening to customers.
- Stand for low fares and better service.
- Use data and digital to drive conversion, not just retention.
- Develop product without losing the low cost leadership.
- Innovate: mobile, Google, content.
- Add new capacity, bases and route.
The focus on customer retention is something that Ryanair has neglected in the past in favour of acquisition.
This will be improved by utilising data to provide more targeted communications and offers, but also by improving the entire customer journey from discovery through to the day of travel and post trip.
These are the metrics that Jacobs uses to measure whether the marketing plan has been a success:
- Bookings and load factors.
- Visits and conversions.
- % margin.
- Retention rates.
- Brand perception.
Refocus on digital
Digital has been a major part of Ryanair’s rebranding project.
It launched a new website in 2013 and has adopted an agile way of working in order to roll out weekly updates and improvements.
In addition the airline launched a new app in August, which now accounts for 4% of overall bookings.
Other digital initiatives include working more closely with Google flight search, producing new content and selling seats through corporate booking tools.
Obviously the focus on CX hasn’t only included digital channels. Ryanair has also introduced new routes, allocated seats, cut its fees, increased baggage allowance and offered a new business service.
According to Jacobs:
These are the right things to do as it’s what matters to customers. But we won’t do the traditional airline tactics such as a loyalty scheme, or installing a blue curtain halfway down the cabin with smaller seats behind it.
We will always be different.
Despite being less than a year into the rebranding project, Ryanair has already begun to see a positive impact on the business goals.
Jacobs admitted to being surprised at how quickly the changes had taken affect, with the most recent financial results showing that traffic is up 4%, revenue up 9% and profit after tax up 32%.
Furthermore, Ryanair is the most-searched airline in the UK (accounting for 21% of searches) and since December 2013 it has leapfrogged British Airways and easyJet to become the most-visited airline website.


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The pandemic has been a significant catalyst for driving digital transformation and adopting intelligent technologies that enable enterprises to improve their speed, agility, and efficiency. In fact, by 2025, it is estimated that 97% of global enterprises will have implemented digital transformation through intelligent upgrades, according to Huawei’s Global Industry Vision (GIV) 2025 predictions.
Drawing from Huawei’s quantitative data and real-world use cases of how intelligent technology is permeating every industry, the GIV report predicts that data utilization will reach a rate of 86%, a staggering 90% of the world’s population will use smart devices with smart assistant functions, and the number of global smart home appliances will increase to 20 billion.
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- Starbucks invested $325 million in an Illinois wind farm to power 340 stores in the state, according to Restaurant Business.
- The investment will allow the wind farm to generate 48,000 megawatt hours of wind power, enough energy to brew about 100 million cups of coffee.
- Starbucks previously invested in a solar farm in North Carolina that produces enough energy to power more than 600 stores across the South and Mid-Atlantic. It also is working with Puget Sound Energy in Washington to power 100 stores and its roasting facility in Kent using wind power, according to the company’s latest sustainability report.
As consumer demand for sustainability rises, more restaurants are exploring renewable energy to power individual locations and reduce energy consumption. Starbucks has quickly become a leader in this category and was named the top buyer of renewable electricity in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership Retail Top 30 in October. No other coffee chains have put such a huge focus on renewables. The only other company to purchase a significant amount of renewable energy this year was Panera, but it was for Maryland locations only.
Starbucks invested an additional $140 million over the last two years in renewable energy and currently purchases enough renewable energy to power its 9,000-plus stores in the U.S. and Canada with clean energy. Globally, 62% of its stores use renewable energy.
Other coffee chains typically highlight sustainably sourced farming and greenware packaging, likely because it is a much better visual representation of a company’s environmental efforts. Last week, McDonald’s set up a pop-up farm on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue to highlight that 84% of its McCafe coffee is sustainably sourced, and it is on its way to have 100% sustainably sourced coffee globally by 2020.
Still, restaurant companies across categories are catching up when it comes to renewable energy use. U.K. fast food chain Leon uses a mix of renewable energy to power its sites. Wendy’s has been focusing on energy reduction and plans to reduce energy consumption at its company-owned restaurants by 2025. McDonald’s also is focused on increasing energy efficiencies by 2020.
Yum Brands also said in its 2017 sustainability report that KFC restaurants are looking into how to use solar energy to power its sites. In Australia, more than 50 locations are looking at a solar rollout while four sites in South Africa have installed solar panels. In El Paso, Texas, a Taco Bell has a 3 kilowatt photovoltaic system producing 7 megawatts of energy annually. Sonic Drive-In has a fleet of solar-powered food trucks and partners with local energy providers.
The trend makes sense, as sustainable energy use can serve as a boost to brand halos and bottom lines in an increasingly competitive industry, and Starbucks' most recent investment could spark similar spending from major chains.


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Bethesda and Splash Damage's multiplayer FPS Brink has entered the All Formats All Prices UK video game chart at No.1.
The UK-developed title managed to outpace LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean at No.2, itself developed in Britain by Traveller's Tales.
Zumba Fitness is bumped down to No.3, but only saw a three per cent drop off week on week. Portal 2 is down to No.4, Black Ops slips to No.5, Mortal Kombat finds a new home at No.6 and THQ's MX vs ATV Alive is new at No.10 - two third of all sales on the Xbox 360.
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2011 UKIE Ltd (All Prices) Week 19, 2011
2. LEGO PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
3. ZUMBA FITNESS
4. PORTAL 2
5. CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS
6. MORTAL KOMBAT
7. LEGO STAR WARS III: THE CLONE WARS
8. FIFA 11
9. CRYSIS 2
10. MX VS ATV ALIVE
11. JUST DANCE 2
12. OPERATION FLASHPOINT: RED RIVER
13. WII FIT PLUS
14. SNIPER: GHOST WARRIOR
15. RED DEAD REDEMPTION
16. POKEMON BLACK VERSION
17. SHIFT 2: UNLEASHED
18. ASSASSIN'S CREED: BROTHERHOOD
19. POKEMON WHITE VERSION
20. LEGO HARRY POTTER: YEARS 1-4
According to Eurogamer, 69 per cent of Brink sales were on Xbox 360, 23 per cent on PS3 and the remaining eight per cent on PC. The skewed sales are no doubt a direct result of PSN's downtime, preventing gamers from getting online when Brink was released last Friday.
LA Noire hits stores on Friday and we fully expect Rockstar's latest to storm to the top of the UK video game chart, although perhaps not with the same gusto seen by last year's Red Dead Redemption.
Namco Bandai's The Witcher 2 also hits stores for PC, but will a push for digital sales damage its chart presence.


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Durex owner Reckitt Benckiser has reported double-digit growth in condom sales after couples celebrated a relaxation of social distancing rules around the world.
Reckitt said demand for condoms and sexual health products was particularly strong in China, where Covid has all but vanished, but rose in many countries as lockdowns were eased and people from different households were allowed to meet again.
The consumer goods behemoth posted overall like-for-like sales of £3.5bn in the third quarter, up 13.3pc from a year earlier as it continued to benefit from booming demand for Dettol and its other cleaning products due to the Covid crisis.
This strong sales performance beat analyst expectations and means Reckitt now expects revenues to rise by at least 10pc this year, better a previous forecast of high single digit growth.
Laxman Narasimhan, chief executive of Reckitt, said: “We've had a few quarters where we've had a challenge with [Durex], largely because of social distancing and the lack of social interaction.
“My sense is this is a business that will continue to grow and it's a business that you know as a human need and the human desire, so I think it's going to play itself out over time.”
Sales at the FTSE 100 firm’s hygiene division jumped 19.5pc to £1.5bn for the period, driven by strong demand for Air Wick air fresheners as workers look to spruce up their new home offices.
Health product sales were up 12.6pc to £1.2bn, which Reckitt said was largely powered by strong sales of Dettol products such as antibacterial spray and wipes.
However, Mr Narasimhan admitted that the global birth rate is likely to fall next year due to widespread anxiety over the pandemic and the consequences of lockdowns. This could have a knock-on effect on its baby formula business.
The company said: "There is also evidence that birth rates will be further lowered in coming quarters as a result of behaviour changes related to the pandemic.
“This is expected to have an impact on market growth for our infant nutrition business in 2021.”
Sales within Reckitt’s nutrition arm rose 4.1pc to £806m in the third quarter as the crisis boosted demand for vitamins, minerals and supplements. But sales of its infant formula products were the same as a year earlier.
Mr Narasimhan said there had been a small amount of stockpiling by shoppers in certain parts of the UK where restrictions have been tighter in recent weeks, but added that he has not yet seen a dramatic shift in consumer behaviour.
He said: “I think consumers have learned to trust more than products will be available.
“My sense is, not that anybody wants a lockdown, but if there was to be selected lockdowns then I think consumers are better prepared for it, as are our customers.”
Reckitt shares rose 1.6pc in morning trade to £73.10, valuing the company at £52bn. They started the year at £52.


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Capcom today unveiled more of the upcoming title, Umbrella Corps.
Available digitally for Windows PC and PS4, we’ve been told to expect Umbrella Corps in May this year.
A new trailer was also released today:
What do you think of Umbrella Corps?
This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.


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To celebrate this year's Catholic Schools Week, Msgr. Torgerson took the opportunity to chat with some of our St. Monica students. Join us in watching this engaging and light-hearted conversation between our students and their pastor. Our students are Monsignor's inspiration for the future.
St. Monica Catholic High School Home
Home Page Main Image Shuffle
The Thrift for Change Club drive-thru clothing drive was a huge success! In two hours, 310 bags of used clothing were #donated and delivered to the Salvation Army. The Drama Club collected an additional 30 new toys for their toy drive, which will be delivered to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. We thank you for helping those in need! 💚💛⚓ #WeAreSMCHS
Virtual SMASH 2020 is Saturday, May 30. See our featured video as to why this event is so important to the St. Monica Catholic Community.
Guest Speaker Ben Smith - DEUCE Nutrition


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Citigroup, which last week unveiled its biggest restructuring plan in a decade, reported Monday that its first-quarter profit slipped 11% as the bank added cash to boost credit reserves for the first time in more than a year and took a big charge related to its plans to revamp and cut costs.
Investors liked the news and bid up the shares, but analysts worried that weak spots remain, and they highlighted softness in the important consumer businesses and rising credit-loss provisions.
The firm reported extremely strong results in its investment banking and trading businesses, but its consumer business, one of the main drivers of the stock, came in weaker than some analysts expected.
The 2007 results include a previously disclosed charge of $1.38 billion, or $871 million after tax, related to a structural expense review conducted during the quarter.
"Although Citi beat us by 8 cents on Capital Markets and Banking, the Consumer business is the main driver of the stock and Citi came in 7 cents light of expectations," Morgan Stanley analysts said in a Monday research report.
On an operating basis excluding the charge, net income was $5.88 billion, or $1.18 a share. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had expected the company to earn $1.09 a share.
"Overall, top-line growth was better than expected, driven by solid trading results," Goldman analysts said Monday.
Citigroup last week unveiled a restructuring plan that would eliminate about 17,000 jobs worldwide and save an estimated $1.7 billion this year. See full story.
"[V]ery strong results at the investment bank were the big highlight, as global consumer trends are still mixed but soft overall," UBS analysts said in an early research report Monday.
Revenue in the quarter rose 15% to a record $25.46 billion from $22.18 billion.
The firm's markets and banking revenue climbed 23%, reflecting record revenue in fixed-income and equity markets, investment banking and transaction services.
Citi's investment-banking and trading results recalled the trend reported earlier this year by large Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers: Investors' appetite for stocks is returning following a scare in February and the mergers-and-acquisitions business remains strong.
Despite the strong revenue growth at the markets and banking division, overall revenue growth of 15% trailed expense growth of 17%, and the company continued to have negative operating leverage, which is the primary concern that sparked the recent restructuring.
But excluding the $871 million charge this quarter, the company would have had positive operating leverage.
Operating costs up 17%
The firm's operating expenses rose 17% in the quarter, to $15.57 billion from $13.36 billion.
As the financial industry recorded record profits for 2006, Citigroup was left with lackluster results. While peers such as J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp., and Merrill Lynch & Co. turned in quarter after quarter of stunning profits, Citigroup expenses were growing at a 9% annual rate, but revenue was rising at only 6%.
Revenue at Citi's consumer segment rose 6.2% in the first quarter, the company said.
The bank said its first-quarter credit costs rose by $1.26 billion, lifted primarily by credit losses of $509 million and a $597 million jump in loan-loss reserves across the company.
The addition to loan-loss reserves compares with a $154 million reserve release in the year-earlier period. In the U.S. consumer segment of Citi's business, net credit losses were $164 million and the company took a $182 million charge to boost loan-loss reserves, compared with a net reserve release of $196 million a year earlier.
"Credit costs increased primarily in U.S. consumer lending and U.S. retail distribution, reflecting portfolio growth, an increase in delinquencies in second mortgages, and a change in estimate of loan losses inherent in the portfolio," Citi said.
At the consumer unit, revenue rose 6% but earnings slipped 12%. Citi's credit-card unit was weak, with just 2% revenue growth, primarily from a $161 million pretax gain from selling MasterCard shares.
Retail banking was also not a great performer, as expenses rose 8% and revenue rose just 6% after the bank said it was hurt by a flat yield curve.
The firm said credit costs at its markets and banking division increased. That's primarily due to a net charge of $286 million to boost loan-loss reserves due to portfolio growth, "which includes higher commitments to leveraged transactions and an increase in average loan tenor."
Citi said the global corporate credit environment remained "stable" in the first quarter.
At Citi's global wealth management business, earnings rose 56% while revenue rose 13%. That unit includes Citigroup's retail brokerage business and private bank.
The alternative investments arm, which includes Citigroup's hedge-fund business, posted a 37% earnings drop as revenue fell 17%.


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Georgiadis: Santa's basket was 'a good idea' and 'worked'
Earlier, Georgiadis visited the open-air street market in Aghia Paraskevi, Attica, noting that consumers can find low prices and good quality in the street markets.
Regarding 'Santa's Basket' - a measure designed to ensure access to more affordable toys ahead of Christmas - he noted that it was very popular in all toys shops, adding that originally the idea had been to create a basket of roughly 100-150 products. "But now they are approaching 3.000 and this is impressive," he added.
Georgiadis also said that there has been no increase in prices from week to week but a number of price reductions in various toy store chains. "There is competition, as in the 'household basket', and I feel very happy that we contributed with this initiative so that our smaller but also slightly older friends can buy toys at better prices. It turns out that it was a good idea, it worked," he said.


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Who wouldn't want South Coast Plaza all to themselves for a dreamy party? After the stores closed, 500 hundred children in need were allowed to stay up until midnight earlier this month and treated to gift bags filled with toys, school supplies, gift cards, clothes and shoes at the Sharing the Spirit Holiday Party. There were games and activities and a visit from Santa. The event was hosted by the Festival of Children, founded in 2002 by Sandy Segerstrom Daniels to strengthen children's charities, and the Happiness Project, another organization that focuses on helping kids.
- 136 O.C. library workers will lose their jobs
- Readers support woman who was booted from plane seat
- Friday night football: Here's a look at the spirited fans, bands and cheerleaders in Week
- Man, woman get prison time for human trafficking in O.C., other crimes
- With his food truck, gourmet chef serves up high-end meals to those most in need


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Sep 13, 2019 | By Athena Chen
Big data meets consumer insights. Experience WGSN.
Nov 13, 2015
By Petah Marian
Accessories brand Fossil has cut its full-year earnings guidance as third-quarter earnings fell 45% on weaker sales, particularly of its watches.
It revealed that it has also agreed to acquire wearable technology firm Misfit for $260m, a deal that will see it expand its presence in the smartwatch sector.
For the full year, the brand now expects net sales to decline 8-10.5%, and diluted earnings to be in the range of $4.15-4.75 from its previous estimates of $4.80-5.60 and a sales decrease of 4-8%.
The brand posted a profit of $57.5m, down from $103.7m a year earlier during the third quarter. Revenue decreased 14% to $771.3m. Gross margin fell to 54.2% from 56.9%.
CEO Kosta Kartsotis said: “While our results for the third quarter were within our expectations, we are not satisfied with our overall performance. Currency aside, our Skagen and Fossil brands performed well in a challenging environment as our initiatives in branding and innovation resonated with consumers around the world. Our branded jewelry and leathers business increased but were more than offset by a decline in our watch business, reflecting general weakness in the category.”
STAY UP TO DATE: You want the need-to-know news, right? Our journalists deliver a daily curation of the most important industry happenings. Sound good? Join WGSN.
Know what’s next. Become a WGSN member today to benefit from our daily trend intelligence, retail analytics, consumer insights and bespoke consultancy services.


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Pennsylvania’s revenue collections for the month of November were down a bit, although they remain slightly above projections for the first five months of the fiscal year, all totaled.
If you would pay sales tax on an item in a brick-and-morter store, Pennsylvania wants you to pay sales tax when you make a purchase online.
Chris remembers Actor Larry Hagman, who died over the weekend and previews tonight’s Eagles/Panthers game and debates whether a woman should’ve been fired for posting offensive pictures on Facebook. He also talks to Jeff Roe and Michael Bronstein about the fiscal cliff on this week’s Monday Morning Matchup.
You might be paying more than you should when shopping online, and it’s all because of a new law. Consumer reporter Jim Donovan explains the problem and has information on how to protect yourself.
City controller Alan Butkovitz says it was the highest level of sales tax receipts since the city started keeping track.
- Tractor Trailer Carrying... Operation Brotherly Love: ... Namaste: Yoga Poses For... WANTED
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- WIP Morning Show Intern... Baseball Shots Of The Week –... 138th Preakness Stakes Italian Market Festival
- Celebrity Photobombs GHI @Home - Copper Roofing Students Protest Budget Cuts... Barn, House Engulfed In Blaze...


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LAS VEGAS -- Musicians promoting audio companies are a big part of the celebrity contingent at the International CES electronics show, and several were representing on the show floor on Tuesday.
The Rev. Run, a founding member of Run-D.M.C. who also starred on MTV reality show "Run's House," was signing autographs at the booth for Jabra, a Danish headset manufacturer. DJ Franzen played classic rap tunes, including Run-D.M.C.'s "Walk This Way," as Run, whose real name is Joey Simmons, mugged for photos with fans and signed Jabra promotional fliers, as well as Adidas shoes and Run-D.M.C. records.
Stephen Ayada of Henderson, Nev., had several records that he estimated were 10 to 15 years old signed by Simmons. "He's a great guy, friendly," Ayada said of meeting Simmons.
Simmons' sons Diggy, 17, and Russy, 16, also joined him. Diggy, a rapper, said the SoleMate wireless speaker is "really dope." Of Las Vegas, he said, "We love it here," even though he and his brother are not yet 21.
Jabra, which dates to 1869, was also showcasing its Revo wireless headphones, which Simmons and Diggy both wore on Tuesday. The company also makes a "tangle-free" in-ear set of headphones, which features a square cord and small magnets to keep the cords together.
Simmons, a practicing minister, has a popular Twitter account, @RevRunWisdom, where he shares pithy observations and "wisdom non-stop," according to the Twitter bio. On Tuesday, he said his wisdom for the day was, "How people treat you is their karma; how you respond is yours."
"A little lesson on how to get on in this world," he said.
At the Pioneer booth, former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker was signing autographs with son Landon by his side.
Barker, who also starred on an MTV reality show, "Meet the Barkers," had his classic 1951 Chevy truck on display, packed with Pioneer products. "They always made awesome stereos," he said.


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Any attempt to remedy a lack of interest in voting by increasing the involvement of marketers would, I fear, make matters worse (MW last week).
Widespread disengagement from the electoral process is largely a result of the increasing use of marketing techniques by political parties. By adopting the slick methods of the advertising world, politicians have inadvertently turned themselves into the same depersonalised products that those techniques were initially designed to sell.
By adopting the behaviour of brands, politicians and their parties have forced themselves into a straitjacket of homogeneity, over-simplification and safety. When people wonder where the passion has gone in modern politics, or ask why people cannot tell it straight any more, what they are effectively saying is that our politicians are more worried about style than substance.
It is all very well having a recognisable logo, image and message, but the price of image is detail: we get a polished product, but we also get vacuity.
Marketers in politics are a fact of life, and in some senses a welcome one: it would be futile and wrong to complain about that. But the answer to apathy is fewer marketing techniques, not more.
Fleishman Hillard Public Affairs


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- 2013-14 Australian beef production boosted by high cattle slaughter
- Global Hilton Quota usage higher in 2013-14
- Brazilian steer prices ease, as exports surge in July
- Thursday daily cattle summary
- Beef consumption in Japan improves in June
- US red meat production forecasts increased, but still low
- Cattle market alert
2013-14 Australian beef production boosted by high cattle slaughter
14 August 2014
According to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian beef and veal production for the 2013-14 fiscal year increased 10pc year-on-year to a record 2.46 million tonnes, driven by sustained drought-induced high slaughter levels.
There was increased beef production recorded across all states for 2013-14, with Queensland totalling 1.18MT and NSW reaching 541,000t –up 6pc and 11pc respectively compared with 2012-13. Victorian levels were 25pc above the corresponding fiscal period, to 459,000t, while SA and WA totalled 117,000t and 106,000t – up 2pc and 6pc, respectively. Beef production in Tasmania was up 11pc in 2013-14, at 64,000t.
Adult cattle slaughter surged during the year, with the national level reaching 8.76 million head – up 12pc year-on-year and 16pc on the five-year average. Queensland registered its highest slaughter level, at 4.06 million head (+9pc on 2012-13), while NSW and Victoria were up 13pc and 24pc, respectively, to 1.89 million and 1.75 million head.
Interestingly, average adult cattle carcase weights declined 2pc year-on-year and were 1pc lower than the previous five-year average, at 276.44kg. In addition to a significant number of store cattle slaughtered, the reduced weights was also due to the increase in female cattle killed, which totalled 4.29 million head for 2013-14 (up 21pc year-on-year). Over the past three fiscal years, the proportion of females contributing to the overall adult kill has gradually increased (2011-12 43pc; 2012-13 45pc and 2013-14 at 49pc), highlighting the impact of the current drought on producers ability to retain breeding stock.
Global Hilton Quota usage higher in 2013-14
14 August 2014
According to the EU Commission, global usage of the Hilton Quota increased 3pc in 2013-14, to 42,892 tonnes, out of a total 67,250t available. The Hilton Quota is a country-specific beef quota, with access allocated to Argentina, Australia, Uruguay, New Zealand, Brazil, US/Canada and Paraguay.
Australia has been a consistently high user of its allocation and improved the utilisation of its EU Hilton beef quota in 2013-14, with utilisation at 99pc (7,061t) up from 90pc the year before. New Zealand and Uruguay continued to use all of their annual allocation; both countries have recorded high usage since 2009-10.
Argentina has the largest quota allocation, at 30,000t, but has consistently fallen short, shipping 79pc of its total allocation in 2013-14. Although Brazil raised its quota usage to 41pc in 2013-14 (4,079t) from 30pc in 2012-13, it remained low for a fifth consecutive year. The US and Canada share a quota of 11,500t and its quota utilisation remained unchanged year-on-year, at 3.8pc (432t). Disappointingly for countries that regularly fill their allocation, including Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay, unused quota cannot be redistributed to other supplying nations.
Brazilian steer prices ease, as exports surge in July
14 August 2014
Brazilian steer prices (Sao Paulo state) eased in July, down 2.2pc on the previous month, averaging R3.97 kg/lwt – approximately US$1.78 kg (Cepea/Esalq). However, prices in Real terms remained 16pc above the corresponding period in 2013. Beef exports for the same period rose 12pc, to 117,607t, driven by higher volumes shipped to Russia and Venezuela, with the average export price at U$4.86/kg – the highest since April 2012.
Although domestic consumption increased during the World Cup period, more specifically from the second fortnight of June to the first fortnight of July, beef sales in the retail market have been reportedly below initial expectations. In late July, sales in the wholesale market in Sao Paulo state were reported weak, returning to levels observed before the World Cup.
The strong international demand drove Brazilian beef exports to their highest monthly volume in 2014, at 117,706t. A significant increase in shipments to Russia (up 78pc year-on-year, to 41,000t) and Venezuela (up 40pc, to 16,000t) were the catalyst for the rise. In contrast, beef exports to Hong Kong (proxy for China) declined 4pc, to 23,303t, while shipments to Egypt dropped 28pc, to 9700t. The decline on shipments to Egypt is mainly due to the ban temporarily placed on Mato Grosso state, result of a positive atypical BSE case earlier this year.
Thursday daily cattle summary
14 August 2014
Yardings at Dalby were up 23pc on last week, at 4367 head, with good representation from most classes. Demand was strong with many export processors and feeder buyers present, along with a good representation of restockers encouraged by useful rain forecast for Queensland. Light C2 yearling steers to restockers gained 16¢ on last week, to average 184¢, while light C2 yearling heifers to processors averaged 155¢, selling from 144¢ to 158¢/kg. The C4 bullocks to slaughter were up 11¢ on 176¢, while medium D2 cows increased 3¢ and averaged 117¢, selling from 103¢ to 125¢/kg.
Numbers at Casino were down 15pc week-on-week, at 1188 head, with plenty of young cattle offered, however quality was mixed. Light D1 calves returning to the paddock were up 15¢ on last week, averaging 150¢, while light D2 vealer steers to restockers were down 1¢ on 173¢/kg. Medium C2 vealer heifers to processors averaged 4¢ dearer on 167¢, making from 155¢ to 178¢, and medium D3 cows to processors were up 3¢ on last week, averaging 133¢/kg.
Warrnambool had greater numbers this week, up 35pc on 700 head, and while lotfeeders were active across most grades, some buyers were absent at the market. Heavy C2 vealer heifers to slaughter averaged 1¢, ranging from 180¢ to 182¢, while heavy D3 yearling heifers to processors were down 5¢ on 167¢/kg. Medium C3 grown steers to processors averaged 181¢, down 20¢ week-on-week, while medium D2 dairy cows averaged 145¢, up 13¢/kg.
Beef consumption in Japan improves in June
13 August 2014
Increased consumption was underpinned by the firm performance of the major foodservice users including yakiniku (Japanese/Korean style barbecue) restaurants, Japanese style fast food (mostly gyudon beef rice bowl), and Western style family restaurants (sales data by the Japan Foodservice Association). Meat sales in the retail sector also registered strong growth during the month, according to the Japan Chain Store Association.
Brisk demand, combined with increases in both imports (up 23pc year-on-year) and domestic production (up 1pc), resulted in a 28pc improvement in imported beef consumption, to 38,262 tonnes, and a 4pc increase in domestic beef consumption, to 27,000t.
US red meat production forecasts increased, but still low
13 August 2014
Higher feedgrain production, and resultant lower prices, is likely to see more beef and pork produced in the US in 2014 than was previously expected, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s August World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
The USDA has raised its forecasts for 2014 beef and pork production in response to better than expected feed grain forecasts. While the number of cattle and pigs likely to be slaughtered is relatively unchanged, producers are expected to take advantage of cheaper feed to grow their livestock to heavier weights. Chicken producers, on the other hand, are more likely to be able to both increase numbers and increase their use of feed.
The US beef production forecast is now for 24.632 billion lbs (11.2 million tonnes) in 2014, down 4.5% on last year, and 24.396 billion lbs (11.1 million tonnes) in 2015. Pork production is forecast to decline 1.8% on last year, to 22.793 billion lbs (10.3 million tonnes) in 2014, before increasing in 2015, to 23.293 billion lbs (10.6 million tonnes). Chicken production is expected to increase 1.5% in 2014, to 37.988 billion lbs (17.2 million tonnes), and again in 2015, to 38.924 billion lbs (17.7 million tonnes).
In 2015, US cattle prices are forecast to increase compared with 2014, while pig and poultry prices are expected to be slightly lower.
Cattle market alert
13 August 2014
Overall consignments increase
Total national cattle throughput so far this week increased 6pc compared to last week, to 34,819 head, as most states penned greater numbers. Overall consignments across Queensland were 14pc lower week-on-week, at 6595 head, while cattle supply throughout NSW increased 6pc, to 16,625 head, with Wagga (5700 head) and Forbes (3073 head) up 15pc and 12pc, respectively. Throughput in Victoria was up 37pc on last week, at 7617 head, with Wodonga (2600 head) and Shepparton (2679 head) yarding ample numbers, while SA increased 37pc, to 1686 head. Consignments at WA’s Muchea market (2144 head) and in Tasmania (152 head) declined 6pc and 26pc, respectively.
Quality mixed for most categories
Markets across the north this week saw good supplies of young cattle come forward, with well-bred steers and heifers suited to feeders and restockers available at Toowoomba. Feeder buyers were the main operators on lightweight cattle reported at Warwick, while restocker activity assisted prices at Roma Store, with increased numbers of buyers from Southern Queensland and NSW.
Further south, Wagga saw increased numbers of well-finished yearlings off winter wheat and oat crops, while there was a larger proportion of plainer lines penned at Forbes compared to last week. There were quality related price variations seen across categories at Shepparton, while export cattle yarded at Wodonga lacked the quality of previous sales.


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The Canadian cannabis market is in big trouble. Canopy Growth (NASDAQ: CGC) was once seen as the industry leader, and now it's in what appears to be an endless spiral downward. Tilray Brands (NASDAQ: TLRY) withdrew a lofty $4 billion forecast this year after realizing the strength of the headwinds it's facing both internationally and in the Canadian market.
Just how bad is the pot market in Canada? Here are four numbers from cannabis data analytics company Headset that summarize the problems.
Average monthly sales per store are down 20% in Ontario
Headset tracks cannabis data for multiple Canadian provinces, with Ontario being one of them. Ontario is Canada's largest province and is a good gauge of how the industry is doing. And one of the most troubling numbers in Headset's recent data from last month is that average monthly store sales in the province have fallen by 20% over the past year.
Even as cannabis prices have been coming down, the illegal market continues to pose a problem, especially as people have less money to spend amid inflation. But there's another reason store sales aren't doing well, and it has to do with the next data point.
The store count in Ontario has risen by close to 40%
There has been an influx of people looking to open up pot shops and take advantage of the new industry's growth opportunities. But by doing so, markets become saturated and there isn't enough demand to go around, leading to worsening store sales. Headset's data says that the number of stores in Ontario has risen by roughly 40% in the past year.
The situation may only get worse. Mississauga, which neighbors Toronto and is itself one of the largest cities in Ontario, recently lifted its ban on pot shops, which could result in even more stores opening up in the near future.
The number of brands in Canada has risen 369% in the past three years
It's not just the number of pot shops that's problematic. According to Headset, in just three years, there's been a mammoth 369% increase in brands as well, giving users perhaps too many options to choose from.
It's that level of competition that makes it difficult for large companies such as Canopy Growth and Tilray Brands to dominate market share. Even though they are large businesses, without a way to legally advertise and reach consumers, it becomes difficult to stand apart from all the other brands. Previously, Tilray's CEO Irwin Simon infamously referred to some of his company's smaller rivals as "ankle-biters," as they have made it difficult to grow market share.
The growth rates for both Tilray Brands and Canopy Growth have been on a downward trend for multiple years.
Sales per brand have declined by 70%
As with average store sales coming down due to an influx of pot shops, Headset reports that individual brands are also seeing their revenue decline, with the median sales per brand down 70% over the past three years. That is likely due to the heavy competition and the illegal market, which remains popular.
The CEO of the Ontario Cannabis Store, which distributes pot in the province, says it is effectively a "race to the bottom" with companies slashing prices in order to be more competitive. And even with lower prices, the OCS estimated that last March, the illegal market represented 43% of cannabis revenue. While that's down from 75% a few years earlier, it underscores just how much of an uphill battle cannabis companies such as Tilray and Canopy Growth still face right now.
Canadian pot stocks make for ultra-risky investments
Cannabis stocks have been struggling over the past few years, to say the least. Tilray Brands stock is down 76% since 2022, and Canopy Growth's losses are even deeper at 93%.
The problem is that unlike the U.S. cannabis market, where new states are legalizing marijuana and there are more opportunities for companies to pursue, Canadian federal legalization has already taken place. There are no big new opportunities out there -- but there is much more competition.
As long as companies are dependent on the Canadian cannabis market for growth, they're going to remain risky investments due to all that congestion and market saturation. It's a key reason why both Tilray Brands and Canopy Growth are eager to enter the U.S. cannabis market, even though there's no reason to believe that legalization is imminent at the federal level.
Although these and other Canadian pot stocks may seem cheap right now, investors should tread carefully, as the data suggests there's still plenty of risk out there.
Here's The Marijuana Stock You've Been Waiting For
A little-known Canadian company just unlocked what some experts think could be the key to profiting off the coming marijuana boom.
And make no mistake – it is coming.
Cannabis legalization is sweeping over North America – 19 states plus Washington, D.C., have all legalized recreational marijuana over the last few years, and full legalization came to Canada in October 2018.
And one under-the-radar Canadian company is poised to explode from this coming marijuana revolution.
Because a game-changing deal just went down between the Ontario government and this powerhouse company...and you need to hear this story today if you have even considered investing in pot stocks.
Simply click here to get the full story now.


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CASCADEKysor/Warren, a Manitowoc Foodservice company, announced installation of a CO2 refrigeration system in the recently opened Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market in Southern California, making this the second major U.S. grocery retailer to feature such a system. With the installation of the naturally occurring CO2 system, Fresh & Easy expects to reduce the impact of the store’s refrigeration on the ozone layer by nearly 70 percent as compared to industry standards, officials said.
“With the growing concern over the impact of refrigerant leaks into the environment, Kysor/Warren takes seriously its efforts to create green solutions within the supermarket industry,” said Jim Laycock, president of Kysor/Warren. “We are honored to partner with Fresh & Easy in their commitment to doing what is right for the Earth.”
By utilizing a natural refrigerant in conjunction with R-134a, the system lowers the global warming potential by approximately 50 percent, creating a significantly less harmful impact on the environment, he said.
“We have worked hard across our business to lessen our impact on the environment. Kysor/Warren has been a fantastic partner and we’ve worked closely with them to find innovative ways to help us achieve this mission,” said Roberto Munoz, Fresh & Easy director of neighborhood affairs.
The newly opened Fresh & Easy store, located in Rosemead, Calif., earned a silver certification award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) GreenChill Partnership.
Fresh & Easy operates 163 stores in California, Arizona, and Nevada. On average, Fresh & Easy stores use 30 percent less energy than a typical supermarket, the company said. Fresh & Easy uses LED lighting in external signs and freezer cases, offers customer recycling in every store, and uses advanced refrigeration and freezer units to cut back on energy usage.
“An important part of our business operations at Kysor/Warren is to develop environmentally responsible products,” said Travis Lumpkin, vice president and systems business unit leader for Kysor/Warren. “We believe that being good stewards of the environment includes continuously seeking new processes to reduce our impact on the planet while creating long-term value for our customers to assist them in meeting their green-initiative goals.”
In October 2009, Kysor/Warren unveiled its first CO2 cascading system with grocery retailer Food Lion, in Columbus, Ga.
RECOGNITIONSSupermarket retailer Giant Eagle® Inc. recently received four awards from the EPA for its green practices and sustainability efforts, as well as special recognition for its environmentally friendly transportation initiatives.
“Our multiple partnerships with the EPA are a significant piece of our overall sustainability strategy, which also includes our energy management efforts and recycling initiatives,” said Giant Eagle Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Development Shelly Sponholz. “We truly believe that our environmental commitment is a vital part to the success of both our communities and our business, as so many of the sustainable projects we undertake produce tangible benefits to each.”
The U.S. EPA Montreal Protocol awards honor achievements in ozone layer protection, climate protection, and human health protection. Giant Eagle was honored for its track record and leadership in installing environmentally sustainable business practices throughout its operations.
Montreal Protocol Award honorees include scientists, federal investigators, international government officials, and a pop music artist as well as those in the supermarket industry.
“Giant Eagle continues to achieve what was thought to be impossible just a few short years ago,” said Keilly Witman, manager of EPA’s GreenChill Partnership. “(It was) the first supermarket partner to reduce their corporate-wide refrigerant emissions rate to below 10 percent, a feat that most in the industry said couldn’t be done.”
In addition, the chain was recognized with GreenChill’s 2009 Best Leak Rate Award for its efforts to reduce refrigerant leaks; GreenChill’s 2009 Exceptional Goal Achievement Award for meeting GreenChill standards for stretch refrigerant emissions and, finally, GreenChill’s 2009 Superior Goal Achievement Award for achieving GreenChill’s target rate for refrigerant emissions. “Giant Eagle has won GreenChill’s Best Emissions Rate Award every year since the GreenChill Partnership was founded in 2007, for having the lowest corporate refrigerant emissions rate of all GreenChill partner companies,” said Witman.
Giant Eagle’s flagship Market District® store, located in Robinson Township, Pa. received an EPA GreenChill Gold Level Building Certification.
The Robinson Market District was noted for its numerous sustainable features, including refrigerant leak rates well below the industry average, the use of secondary loop refrigeration system eliminating sales floor piping and significantly reducing the number of leak points, and the use of CO2 and glycol refrigerants in the secondary loop refrigeration system.
Giant Eagle received a score of 1.25 from the EPA’s Smartway Transport Partnership program, tied for highest among all other participating retailers. The score indicates the relative fuel efficiency and general environmental performance of transport fleets. The program was created to help companies utilize the newest trucking and transport technologies in order to reduce fuel usage as well as emissions.
Publication date: 11/01/2010


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- What's On At The Waterhole? (5)
- KLM returns to SA
- BA reopens Joburg-Harare route
- Qatar Airways increases Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg flights
- Direct Cape Town to Lisbon flight to launch November
- Ten hotels join the “beyond Green” label for sustainable tourism
- COVID rapid tests available at OR Tambo, Cape Town International Airport
- SAA Cancellation of International flights until 30th of October, Regional and Domestic Services until 30th of April 2021.
- Emirates extends travel ban on South Africa
- Airlink launches fourth Namibian route
International Travel to Resume from England no earlier than 17 May following taskforce reportBy ATTA®
After announcing his “irreversible” roadmap out of lockdown, prime minister Boris Johnson said the resumption of international travel, “vital for many businesses which have been hardest hit including retail, hospitality, tourism and aviation”, would be subject to a separate review to resolve “key questions”.
The Global Travel Taskforce’s recommendations (due to be announced on 12 April) are aimed at facilitating a return to international travel as soon as possible "while still managing the risk from imported cases and variants of concern". Following that, the government will determine when international travel should resume, which will be no earlier than 17 May.
According to the four-step plan – with at least five weeks between each step and subject to the impact of data – no earlier than 12 April non-essential retail will reopen as well as holiday lets, but this will be limited to individuals and households.
No earlier than 17 May, most restrictions on meetings outdoors will be lifted subject to a limit of 30. Hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts will also reopen.
No sooner than 21 June, all legal limits on social contact will be lifted, allowing weddings to take place and nightclubs and large events to reopen and take place.
Rapid testing will be rolled out more widely, with free test kits for work places until the end of June for small businesses and the self employed, available from local testing sites.
More detail on financial support protections will be outlined in the Budget next week.


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The inquiry has considered a range of issues related to the digital landscape
Working towards a sustainable future for the production of news media
Learn how to avoid doing the wrong thing this election season
How to avoid misleading or deceptive electoral advertisements and other communications
The British government has announced that it will probe the impact of Google and Facebook on the media
To allow traceability of sellers of pets, it is an offence to advertise the sale of a dog or cat unless the microchip identification number...
“Compliance…will build consumer confidence in online reviews, and help review platforms, traders and digital influencers avoid regulatory action.”
NewsMediaWorks response to policy documents regarding sustainability
NewsMediaWorks responds to the NSW EPA’s discussion paper on the circular economy, Too Good To Waste.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull added his support for the proposed $4.2 billion merger of the Nine Network and Fairfax Media, which he credited to...
The Australian government has extended the deadline to apply for the Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund to Friday, August 10.
The print publishing industry is resisting regulation on its recycling scheme in light of an Australian government review of the Product Stewardship Act, and instead...


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Airbnb 'ghost hotels' keep 1,000+ homes from rental market, report suggests
Airbnb says flawed report shouldn't be used to craft city's new rules
More than 1,000 homes and apartments are being kept off Ottawa's red-hot rental market by landlords listing them on short-term home rental website Airbnb, according to an advocacy group highlighting the issue in Canadian cities.
"The saturation of commercial Airbnbs in Ottawa is higher than we've seen anywhere else in Canada," said Thorben Wieditz of the coalition Fairbnb Canada.
Eighty per cent of the Airbnb listings in the downtown wards of Somerset and Rideau-Vanier are Airbnb "ghost hotels" with no long-term tenants, according to the coalition.
- Airbnb draining 6,500 homes from Toronto housing market, group says in new report
- 'Fairbnb' urges Vancouver to enforce short term rental rules
It analyzed Ottawa's listings in February.
Of the 2,830 short-term rentals available to tourists, Fairbnb decided that 1,054 entire homes were being offered for overnight stays by someone who had at least two listings more than 90 days a year.
Those are units that would be available to students [and]professionals. They'd be available to families and and seniors.- Coun. Mathieu Fleury
The group chose those criteria to try to parse out the Airbnb hosts who were running businesses from those homeowners who rent while they're away.
Alexandra Dagg, a spokesperson with Airbnb, challenged the report's conclusions.
"Ottawa is home to many responsible Airbnb hosts who share their homes a few nights each month to help make ends meet," she said in an email to CBC.
"This report is based on faulty assumptions and poor research, and is yet another example of a hotel-funded front group villainizing Ottawa families so hotels can continue to protect their ability to price gouge consumers."
Dagg said the company isn't against regulations, but this report shouldn't be the driver.
"To be clear, Airbnb wants to be regulated. We have always advocated for fair, sensible home-sharing regulations and look forward to continuing to work with the City of Ottawa."
Airbnb drives out renters: Fleury
It came as no surprise to city councillors Mathieu Fleury and Catherine McKenney that their central wards have the most Airbnb listings run for commercial purposes.
Fleury said residents regularly complain of noise and garbage that short-term visitors create in condo buildings and neighbourhoods.
I think that for anybody who is investing in a commercial business that is not allowed, they have to be prepared for those consequences. The city is going to regulate them.- Coun. Catherine McKenney
Moreover, Fleury is concerned about Airbnb "hosts" renting to tourists because it's more lucrative than leasing on the traditional rental market.
"We're losing long-term rental for the community," said Fleury.
One individual named Geneviève had 76 "ghost hotels", the report found.
"That drives out a lot of folks from our area," said Fleury.
"Those are units that would be available to students. They would be affordable to professionals. They'd be available to families and and seniors."
McKenney, who is the city's housing and homelessness liaison, says the Airbnb phenomenon is affecting the city's ability to make any dent in the waiting list, even as it puts millions in taxpayer money into affordable housing.
"People have a human right to housing, housing stability and housing affordability and we are allowing it to be commercialized. That has to stop," she said.
Regulations coming for Airbnb operators
Currently, operating any rental for less than 28 days in a residential area where hotels aren't allowed is against zoning laws in Ottawa.
Both councillors are looking forward to a wide-ranging review of everything from short-term vacation rentals, to student housing demand, to possible protections for renters evicted because of gentrification.
The city has commissioned a report from Maclaren Municipal Consulting Inc., to be completed by September, which could see recommendations for extra regulations to deal with short-term rentals like Airbnb. Staff will, in turn, provide their advice to councillors before the end of the year.
- Ottawa hotels ask city to regulate Airbnb
- City considers rules for Airbnb, short-term rentals in Ottawa
Fairbnb advocated that Ottawa adopt rules similar to Toronto's, but reduce the number of nights allowed through sites like Airbnb from 180 to 90.
McKenney says coming up with a new regulatory regime will be difficult, but Ottawa can learn lessons from other cities.
"I think that for anybody who is investing in a commercial business that is not allowed, they have to be prepared for those consequences," said McKenney.
"The city is going to regulate them."


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Reduction in cost of food eases inflation to 6pc
Posted Saturday, September 1 2012 at 10:48
- Falling food prices have been a major contributor to the drop in overall inflation.
Inflation declined further to 6.09 per cent in August from 7.74 per cent in July due to decreases in price of a number of food products across the country, the national statistics bureau said on Friday.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) noted that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), computed using the geometric mean approach, decreased by 0.31 per cent from 131.92 per cent in July to 131.52 per cent in August.
Prices of food items have declined to the lowest level in the past 12 months, thanks to harvesting that is ongoing in various parts of the country.
Falling food prices have been a major contributor to the drop in overall inflation, which stood at 19 per cent in January. Some of the food items whose prices have significantly declined to a record low include sukuma wiki (kales), potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages, onions, carrots and fruits.
ALSO READ: Relief as inflation drops to 17-month low
“During the review period, the food and non alcoholic drinks’ index decreased by 1.09 per cent as a result of decreases in their prices. Though notable price rises were observed in respect of some other food products in the same period, the net effect was a reduction in the food index,” read a statement from KNBS.
The statistics bureau said housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels' index went up by 0.80 per cent between July and August.
However, the transport index went down by 0.82 per cent between July and August mainly due to falls in matatu, bus and taxi fares that reflect the continued trend in the reduction of petrol and diesel prices.


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Get unrestricted access to the best marketing content out there. Written for marketers, by marketers.
Facebook Marketing Experts work for Meta and do cold outreach to Facebook Ads users. Like, a lot of it. Here’s how agency owner Nick Shackelford deals with it.
Freelancers love to promote themselves on Facebook, but YouTube and LinkedIn are hot on its tail, according to a Payoneer study of 2,000 freelancers.
Influencers who spotlight their creativity — not themselves — are often more relatable and trusted than the ubiquitous lifestyle influencer, according to a new Imgur report. We dug into why, and why it matters for marketers.
MIT has a bigger social following than schools 3X its size. How did they accumulate such internet fame? We asked MIT’s director of social strategy, Jenny Fowler.
“Follow and comment for a chance to win!” We’ve all seen brand accounts (and Kardashians!) push messages like this — but this growth hack is on the outs.
YouTubers are the most trusted public figures for Millennials and Gen Z. What makes them stand out as reliable sources? We dug into it, and what it means for marketers.
Influencer marketing is growing at a faster rate than social media marketing. But influencer partnerships actually work best *with* social media. Here’s why.
Eterneva makes memorial diamonds from people’s (and pets’) ashes. Not your typical TikTok brand — but they’ve gotten more likes on the platform than Nike.
Yubo started in France, but the app is now most popular among teens in the United States. We asked Yubo’s head of brand how the company successfully exported itself.
Facebook’s algorithm served iOS devices fewer advertisements in Q3, according to data from 20 Facebook Ads accounts that spent a combined total of $37.1 million.
Every other tweet last week poked fun at Facebook’s new name — but one brave tweeter noticed some silver linings. Let’s examine the two main ones he found, and a few others we brainstormed at MarketerHire.
Where do bestseller lists get made? Increasingly, on TikTok, according to a creator who catapulted a 2019 novel onto the 2021 bestseller lists. Here's everything you need to know about #BookTok.
It used to be that only the Nikes of the world could partner with athletes. But now nearly every business can, thanks to new NCAA rules. Here’s how to dip a toe into this new market, according to experts.
TikTok has joined the selective group of apps with more than 1B monthly active users — alongside Instagram. Which of the apps are users more obsessed with?
The new rain in the weather app is definitely really cool. But for marketers, the buzziest feature is something less visible: Mail Privacy Protection.
Pinterest ads can unlock a secretly SEO-friendly channel and reach an audience with intent to shop. But its ad platform is also relatively new, so it takes some tricks to make it perform.
Influencer campaigns have done a lot. But can they make COVID-19 vaccines cool? We walked through the pros and cons of the White House's new "influencer army" with an expert in the field.
How does one master social media? Well, you could use it... or apparently go to school for it. But should you? That's a hot topic on #MarketingTwitter.
Now that iOS 14.5 has launched, Facebook's ad targeting algorithm has less data to train on. How will that impact its performance? Surge AI founder and data scientist Ferris Jumah gave us his predictions.
Time spent on Facebook is falling, a recent report says. Meanwhile, ad budgets are still reeling from the pandemic, but Facebook CPMs are also on the rise.
Snapchat isn’t just for teens — nearly half its users are over 29. Plus, its CPMs are far lower than Facebook’s, which makes it a great place to test out-there ad creative.
TikTok ads have helped brands capitalize on organic virality, and the right campaign can bring in super-strong engagement — think 1M+ UGC videos, and an unpaid video from Lizzo.
Paid social is a powerful growth engine, and there are a few key signs you’re not making the most of it. For example: If you’re routinely breaking the 80/20 rule, you’re probably wasting money.
Instagram has been testing hiding like counts on posts. What would this mean for brand accounts — and Instagram ads? We asked Ben-Nun, a digital marketer who's spent $10M+ on Instagram.
Even on the privacy-first web, paid social ads are too effective to quit — especially when a skilled professional leads strategy and spend. Here's what "skilled" means in this field, according to experts.
In a survey taken on a random day in 2020, eMarketer found that the majority of Gen Z-ers, and about a third of all respondents, had seen a meme that day.
"People spend all day, every day" on social media platforms. But too many companies still treat organic social like a hobby, instead of a pillar of digital marketing.
The best social media management tools depend on your company size, budget, and more. For this article, we asked social media managers from startups, agencies, and enterprises about the time-saving free and paid social media software they use daily.
An expert social media manager does a lot more than post, experts tell us. SMMs are creative strategists, storytellers, editors, community-builders and more — and they can level up your brand’s online presence.
In 2020, SMS marketing saw shocking engagement numbers, further propelling adoption. That trend carried over into 2021. We rounded up the most accurate, up-to-date SMS statistics to help you make better marketing decisions.
We asked Browned 2 Perfection's Junae Brown and former Toptal community lead Ethan Brooks what community means to them — and why marketers can't get enough of it.
High return on ad spend isn't enough to guarantee a successful digital ad campaign. Context matters, and so does profitability, according to a paid social media marketer and Facebook alum.
The update doesn’t even have a release date, but we spoke to three digital marketing professionals who are already feeling its effects in their Facebook campaigns and beyond.
Does influencer marketing actually work? Absolutely. Better yet, it doesn't have to be incredibly expensive. Here's how to tap into influencer marketing now.
The dust is settling. The analytics have arrived. We took a look back at the marketing hits and misses of election week 2020 with VC Jeff Cantalupo, a long-time investor in one of the week’s big winners: Calm.
Snapchat advertising is the new frontier for DTC marketers. It's cheap, it's easy to target, and it's way more entertaining. Learn more about it here.
By Raisin Bread Editors
How do you know the type of campaign to choose when running Facebook ads when you want to drive sales? These few tricks can help e-commerce brands scale ROAS.
Social media is a powerful marketing tool — when used correctly. Here are six big ways to improve the social media strategy for the health and viability of your business and brand.
Do you know why your social media ads fluctuate in cost? For right now, the upcoming election could be to blame. Here's what you need to know to educate your clients and brand.


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Al-Futtaim Toyota has launched the all-new Toyota C-HR in the UAE, which sets new standards that will change the rules underlying the design of compact SUVs.
The car combines bold design, with super-responsive driving features, and a class-leading eco-friendly technology, to offer customers a compact SUV that reshapes the concept of future cars for this class of vehicle.
The ultra-modern Toyota C-HR 2020 stands out as the most controversial segment in the automotive sector as the only hybrid vehicle in its class, with a bold high-profile design coupled with technical innovation. With the new design ‘bold appearance’, C-HR embodies the intrepid future in line with the development in Toyota, as well as the company’s core philosophy of vehicle development to the fullest.
Toyota’s development team embodied its vision by providing an attractive and eye-catching vehicle, combining a top that mimics the elegance of the Coupé and a solid base with the toughness of a multi-purpose sports car, to enhance driving pleasure and take it to an unprecedented height.
Saud Abbasi, Director of Al-Futtaim Toyota General Administration said: When the C-HR was presented to the public for the first time as a concept car, the vehicle managed to attract attention and dazzle the audience, thanks to its innovative leadership design. Toyota designers have embodied the concept by converting it into a ready-to-move car to the production line while at the same time maintaining the special luster of the show car. We are confident that this exceptional car will be highly appreciated and appreciated by customers here in the Emirates, with an unrivaled array of innovations and modern technologies, not to mention its stylish modern design.


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During the past six weeks, our product teams worked hard to build two new major features and achieve a large number of improvements to the Highstreet platform. We wanted to kickstart this year, as we concluded greatly the last, and we believe we did! Platform Update – February 2021 🚀 New features Video Lookbooks App Speed measurements Distributed […]
Over the past six weeks our product teams worked hard to bring a large number of innovative features to the Highstreet app platform. Enjoy finding out!
Every few weeks you can look forward to new features on the Highstreet platform. Over the past six weeks our product teams worked hard to bring a large number of innovative features to the Highstreet app platform. All these features are available in our mobile platform and we’re super excited to share them with you! Enjoy finding out!
Early May, Apple announced that Apple Pay will finally arrive in The Netherlands. Since the launch of Apple Pay in the US and Europe, the dutch consumer has been very vocal about wanting to adopt this feature. This doesn’t come as a surprise, because the dutch e-commerce market is among the biggest of Europe and features like contactless payments in stores are widely adopted.


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easyJet has confirmed a strategic partnership with Spanish hotel brand, the Paradores de Turismo de España.
In the first collaboration of its kind for the hotel group, all of the Paradores, a collection of 94 uniquely individual properties, will now be available to book as air-inclusive short breaks and holidays via the easyJet Holidays website.
Located across mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, the Paradores offer a unique and authentic take on tourism.
Spanning the many diverse regions and landscapes that Spain has to offer, no two Paradores are the same; ranging from mountainside estates to coastal retreats, many in buildings of historic significance, others sleek and contemporary, they offer year-round opportunities for a stylish and quintessentially Spanish getaway.
The Paradores experience offers a sense of place like few others; visitors have the opportunity to enjoy an in-depth appreciation of the country and the region they are visiting through its culture and cuisine, in chic, stylish surroundings.
easyJet carries almost 60 million passengers each year and 13 million of these to Spain.
This partnership will showcase a truly authentic side of Spain to those passengers, giving unprecedented access to an almost unlimited treasure trove of travel experiences.
Paul Simmons, easyJet UK director, said of the partnership: “We are extremely excited to be the first airline to bring Paradores to our customers via this partnership.
“It further strengthens our presence in Spain and is a part of a strategic decision which we’ve actively made to offer even more choice via a well respected and sought after hospitality brand that is synonymous with Spain.”


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North Miami, FL, October 25, 2008 --(PR.com
)-- In response to the recent infant drowning incidents in Broward county, two South Florida-based businesses are teaming up to help raise awareness throughout the tri-county area about swimming pool safety. With the highest accidental drowning death rate in the U.S. for children aged 1 to 4, Florida homeowners are being strongly encouraged to ensure their pools are 100% childproof.
Water Warden Pool Safety Products, a Fort Lauderdale-based manufacturer of pool safety fences and nets, and ThePoolZone.com, a North Miami-based online retailer of pool products, have launched a joint effort aimed at providing South Florida pool owners with information, guidance and assistance in ensuring that their pools are properly secured.
Pool owners with questions about pool safety are encouraged to contact ThePoolZone.com via their website, phone or email and learn about securing their pool properly and affordably. Homeowners can receive:
A free pool safety assessment
Free pool safety literature
Free price quotes for safety fences and custom safety nets
Limited time discounts on safety nets
Families that cannot afford the cost of a safety fence or net will be able to request financial assistance or arrange payment plans.
“Any death is sad. A death of a child is tragic. The death of a child that could have been avoided is devastating, says Aaron Gewirtz of ThePoolZone.com. Many homeowners simply do not understand the risks involved in owning a pool. The unfortunate reality is that people usually think that it can’t happen to them – until it does.”
“Of course everyone wants to save money these days. But the cost of losing a child to drowning is far greater than the cost of a safety fence or net,” says Ari Green, the owner of Water Warden Pool Safety Products. “While there is no substitute for adult supervision, a safety fence or net adds another layer of protection. Any homeowner can install our affordable DIY safety products easily and securely.”
The Do-It-Yourself Safety Fences and Nets manufactured by Water Warden meet or exceed the safety requirements of the ASTM Standards F 1908-6 and F 1346-91.
For information, contact ThePoolZone.com: http://www.thepoolzone.com or firstname.lastname@example.org. Phone: (305) 981-4132.


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MIAMI — CamCon 2016, the camming industry's top trade show, has set a new attendance record, selling out weeks in advance of the B2B and fan event taking place May 31 to June 3, 2016 at SLS South Beach in Miami, Florida.
Interest in the expo, now in its third year, has hit an all-time high: cam work is currently a major attraction of internet entertainment and a significant growth industry where fans can interact in real-time with their favorite models. This delivers a level of interactivity not typically found in DVD and subscription-based offerings.
"CamCon encourages a strong networking system of our growing community, which in turns brings more energy and excitement to the industry as a whole," said Clinton Cox, co-founder and organizer of CamCon, who adds that live content businesses, performers and camming devotees recognize CamCon's importance as a central gathering place for this rapidly-growing industry.
The convention will feature over 150 cam entertainers, social media stars and the top companies in the industry, such as LiveJasmin, FreeWebCams, Chaturbate, Naked, Camster, ModelCentro, Vuier and many more. They will be exhibiting alongside card payment processing, hardware and software providers and web advertisers, seeking to network with new talent and up-and-coming businesses within the camming industry.
"Camming is still in its infancy with an endless future of opportunities," Cox said. "And, business in this booming industry needed CamCon, which delivers a platform to integrate and network alongside the performers, fans and the industry.”
The new CamCon 2016 event dates will coincide with XBIZ's summer show at SLS to ensure maximum efficiency for those looking to get as much out of their conference time in Miami as possible. Tickets are $125 per day, $225 for two days, plus seminars (18 and over only). SLS South Beach is located at 1701 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, Florida 33139. For more information, visit CamCon.com.


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By Helen Partz,
In 2018, Bitfury raised $80 million from investors like Michael Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital at a $1 billion valuation.
Bitfury, one of the world’s largest companies in the blockchain industry, is mulling a potential initial public offering, or IPO, as part of the company’s global growth plans, the company’s CEO confirmed to Cointelegraph.
“As Bitfury and its portfolio of companies continue their global expansion in the digital assets space, Bitfury will be considering an IPO as part of its broader expansion and growth plans,” Bitfury co-founder and CEO Valery Vavilov said.
According to the executive, Bitfury has not yet determined when and on what exchange the company is willing to proceed with an IPO. The company’s last funding round took place in 2018, with Bitfury raising $80 million at a $1 billion valuation.
Bitfury’s investors include European venture capital fund Korelya Capital, South Korean internet giant Naver Group, Asian institutions Macquarie Capital and Dentsu Japan as well as Michael Novogratz’s crypto investment company Galaxy Digital.
British news agency The Telegraph originally reported on Bitfury’s potential IPO plans on Oct. 10, citing anonymous sources claiming that Bitfury tapped Big Four accounting firm Deloitte to review its readiness for going public. The publication noted that Bitfury operates its main headquarters in the Netherlands even though it is legally based in the United Kingdom. Bitfury did not immediately comment on its legal headquarters to Cointelegraph.
Founded back in 2011, Bitfury is a major company in the industry, operating a wide number of services like crypto mining hardware design, software and semiconductor chips’ manufacturing as well as running mobile data centers. The company’s United States-based Bitcoin mining subsidiary, Cipher Mining, was valued at over $2 billion as of March 2021.
Related: Bitcoin miner Stronghold will list almost 6M shares in its $100M IPO
Apart from focusing on cryptocurrency mining, Bitfury has been actively working on cryptocurrency security, blockchain research and compliance, running platforms like Crystal Blockchain, LiquidStack and the most recent spin-off Axelera AI. The firm is also a software provider for some global applications through its Exonum private blockchain framework, which was trialed for Russia’s blockchain-based voting system in 2020
Source : https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitfury-ceo-confirms-ipo-considerations-are-part-of-expansion-plans