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In my previous blog on food service giants, we looked at examples of some great initiatives towards a more sustainable food service sector, but it is clear that there is still a long way to go.
One of the key challenges remains that with the vast majority of food service consumed on-the-go, a lot of it ends up as litter either due to lack of available disposal facilities or poor consumer behaviour.
This was highlighted by a 2021 study by Morales-Caselles et al which found that:
Takeaway food and drink items dominated global ocean plastic litter, with 4 of the most commonly used takeaway single use plastic items making up more than 50% of all ocean pollution.Morales-Caselles et al, 2021
This is a stark statistic, but unfortunately not at all surprising.
Even big players in the food service industry are completely reliant on public area / on-the-go recycling and disposal facilities once the product has left the premises, and this isn’t consistent at all. Consumers are unlikely to take this type of packaging home, so how do we tackle this issue and how do food service retailers make responsible decisions in this area?
Although there is clearly a challenge, it’s not all bad news, as governments and local authorities are starting to do more to support. We have seen three key priority areas when it comes to street waste and recycling initiatives:
In recent years, there has been an increased focus on street waste and recycling initiatives. DEFRA in the UK has dubbed this ‘binfrastructure’, with strategies aiming to have the right bin available in the right place to correctly sort and recycle on-the-go waste.
A local example to me of a project in this area is Edinburgh’s #intheloop campaign by Hubbub. This pilot campaign introduced 58 new recycling points and 16 coffee cup bins in Edinburgh city centre, with bright, clear messaging to direct consumers to the correct recycling behaviour.
The campaign resulted in a massive 46% uplift in recycling in Edinburgh, with similar statistics in other cities such as the #Leedsbyexample initiative. This is of course a great achievement and proof of concept, but to truly change behaviour and increase on-the-go recycling rates we need permanent solutions and the sustained investment that goes with it.
2. Recycling / reuse – beyond kerbside
More recently, we have also seen an increase in recycling and reuse options in other public settings. On a recent flight, I was heartened to see that at least one thing has changed. Where previously, cabin crew would whizz down the aisle collecting rubbish without a second thought, for the first time, they had 2 different bags: one for recycling and one for general waste.
There are also several other examples of bringing reusable and recyclable options into hospitality and food service, including deposits / reusable cups at sports fixtures and gigs and recycling promotions and installations such as Every Can Counts. A small step, I know, but to really drive a circular economy, it is imperative we move beyond household waste and think of all types of consumption: be it gigs, festivals, hospitality or travel.
Last but by no means least, legislation of course has a significant part to play in supporting a circular and sustainable waste strategy in the food service industry. For example, bans across Europe and beyond of problematic single use plastics such as straws, cutlery and expanded polystyrene food containers.
Other countries have gone further still, such as France’s Circular Economy Law (AGEC) requiring restaurants with over 20 covers to provide reusable packaging for eating in, changing the entire consumer experience to a more circular one.
The UK’s upcoming EPR framework also goes some way to address this kind of packaging waste, although refinement has still to be made. Companies producing packaging deemed to be in ‘commonly littered’ categories must report these as ‘street bin waste’, allocating the collected EPR fees to appropriate management of this waste and also funding anti-littering communication.
This is a valiant effort to tackle this category and channel funding more appropriately, and although it is a steep hill to climb within the complex realms of a new EPR scheme, it is one that needs to be tackled. We collectively need to move beyond the focus on kerbside recycling, as this is only one part of the problem.
Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, a joined-up approach to packaging and packaging waste is imperative to truly work towards a better future, and we have to work together to face these challenges head on.Gillian Orr, Aura
Here at Aura, our partnership with the National Oceanography Centre helps us to inform and educate our clients. The NOC combats the challenge of ocean pollution by combining scientific understanding with education, conducting research projects to truly understand the effects of plastic contamination in our ocean ecosystem and taking action towards cleaner, safer and sustainable oceans.
Our next blog in this series will look at legislation in more detail, and whether current measures alone are enough to tackle the complexity of packaging in food service.


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The Emeryville, Calif.-based company said Wednesday that it will sell its Jeeves Solution unit, which provides search technology to corporations for their Web sites and internal networks, to Kanisa, a provider of customer service software. Kanisa will pay $3.5 million upon closing of the sale, which is expected in July, and another $750,000 in promissory notes, due to be paid within a year.
The Cupertino, Calif. company plans to incorporate Jeeves Solution's analytics technology into its customer service solutions for corporate customers. Under the deal, it acquires roughly 40 corporate accounts from Ask Jeeves.
Shedding the division allows Ask Jeeves to concentrate on its recently updated Web search technology and site, a moveby analysts.
"Ask Jeeves will now be in a position to focus entirely on pursuing the high-growth Web-wide search market," Skip Battle, CEO of Ask Jeeves, said in a statement.
The deal comes at a time when many Internet companies are jockeying for dominance in the, which Google has come to dominate. Earlier this year, company Inktomi, and commercial search company the Web search software of AltaVista and Fast Search & Transfer.
In the announcement, the company also said that it is raising earnings guidance for the quarter and the year based on growth in its Web search business. For the second quarter, it expects revenue of $23.5 million and a profit of 7 cents per share from continuing operations. Earlier in 2003, Ask Jeeves predicted revenue of $22.5 million and a profit of 5 cents from continuing operations for the quarter.
For the year, it expects sales of $94 million and a profit of 26 cents a share from continuing operations. It had been expecting revenue of $92 million and a profit from continuing operations of 25 cents.

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Plant puts Petersburg on medical map
It was not only a large economic development for the area, but it is putting Petersburg on the medical map.
A new chemical plant is making Petersburg a world center in the production of a leading medication for the treatment of high blood pressure.
The new plant at the Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals Inc. complex on Normandy Drive, called Synthesis 5, or S5, represents a $150 million investment and already has created 150 new jobs locally.
The plant will produce Telmisartan, the active ingredient in Micardis, a hypertension drug that is the company’s second-best-selling product.
The five-story, 96,000-square-foot plant includes about 50,000 square feet of production space, with the remainder taken up by laboratories and other support functions. The added capacity means the Petersburg location is now a “sponsor site” for Telmisartan, which means it will supply the majority of the chemical for Boehringer Ingelheim worldwide.
Boehringer Ingelheim has already been a huge corporate citizen in the region.
Over the past decade, Boehringer Ingelheim has invested $355 million in the 200-acre campus off Wagner Road near Prince George County and the number of employees has doubled since 1998.
And further expansion of the Boehringer Ingelheim complex is expected in the future. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick Gottschalk recently said that the recent $150 million plans is a “down payment” on a projected $260 million in improvements the company plans to make at the Petersburg complex.
That is indeed more welcome news from Boehringer Ingelheim.
G. Michael Laidlaw, president of the Petersburg-based subsidiary Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals, said the company’s growth here is a testimony to local workers’ commitment to safety and quality. “Patients around the world rely on the products we produce here,” he said. “We take that responsibility seriously.”
The Petersburg operation was started in 1976 as Lee Laboratories Inc., a joint venture between A.H. Robins and Pharma-Investment Ltd. Pharma-Investment transferred its stake in Lee to Boehringer Ingelheim in 1984, and BI bought out Robins’ stake in 1991.
Since then BI has constantly grown in Petersburg. And in today’s climate, that fact was not lost on those attending the recent grand opening of the latest addition to the chemical complex.
Gottschalk, the Virginia secretary of commerce and trade, said that “in these economic times, having a company that’s growing is very, very significant.”
We couldn’t agree more.


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7 Mar 2014
A new expose by Mother Jones magazine may shock anyone who drinks out of plastic bottles, gives their children plastic sippy cups, eats out of plastic containers, or stores food with plastic wrap. For years, public campaigns have been waged against plastic containing bisphenol-A (BPA), a controversial plastic additive, due to concerns about adverse human health effects caused by the exposure to synthetic estrogen. But a new investigation by Mother Jones reporter Mariah Blake has revealed that chemicals used to replace BPA may be just as dangerous to your health, if not more.
Plastic products being advertised as BPA-free — and sold by companies such as Evenflo, Nalgene and Tupperware — are still releasing synthetic estrogen. The Mother Jones piece also reveals how the plastics industry has used a "Big Tobacco-style campaign" to bury the disturbing scientific evidence about the products you use every day.
Blake joins Democracy Now! to discuss her findings.
© Democracy Now!


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Google Cloud Helps Lowe’s Build a True ‘Channel-less’ Customer Experience
Google Cloud and Lowe’s recently announced they are creating “a best-in-class technology foundation to help Lowe’s deliver exceptional customer experiences and empower store associates with tools to better serve customers, regardless of how they shop,” according to a Google release. This will include new investments toward modernizing Lowes’ e-commerce, merchandising, supply chain management, and pricing systems, with the goal of providing a more fluid, “channel-less” customer experience. “We are making substantial investments in technology to modernize our platforms and advance our digital capabilities to better serve customer needs and deliver the best service and value across every channel,” Seemantini Godbole, executive vice president and chief information officer of Lowe’s, said in the release. “Partners like Google Cloud provide the innovative tools and support we need to execute our digital transformation.”
Love’s Travel Stops previews 2020 growth, customer-experience initiatives
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores recently announced it plans to open up to 40 stores and add about 3,000 parking spots and 2,500 jobs this year. Love’s opened its 500th store and raised a record $3.75 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals during its annual campaign in 2019. “We enter 2020 with lots of momentum that we'll continue through customer-experience enhancements, product offerings and the best value on the road,” Love's President Shane Wharton said in a company release. “We'll open stores from coast to coast, continue to provide products and services that our customers depend upon and enhance our reputation as the company known for Highway Hospitality.” Additional expected plans include continuing to enhance the Love's Connect mobile app and unveiling a mobile app for Love’s Financial.
Amazon working to connect credit card information to your hand
According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon is attempting to turn your hand into a credit card. Amazon, working to allow customers to connect their credit card information to their palms, has filed a patent for a "non-contact biometric identification system.” Similar technology already is in use in financial services, with iProov introducing a palm verification service in February 2019. The WSJ reported Amazon is working with Visa on the project, with Mastercard, JPMorgan and Wells Fargo also involved in preliminary discussions.
Pandora to set up new digital group
Pandora is creating a group to boost its digital presence, omnichannel expertise and use of data. Software engineers, designers and analysts, located at the company’s Copenhagen headquarters, will focus on digital customer experience and driving sales through digital channels. The group also will improve Pandora’s ability to gather customer data and use it for better personalization of the customer experience. “How we derive the benefits from technology and data to create a great customer experience is key for us as a global brand. Today marks the next stage in Pandora’s digital transformation, as we make this significant investment in our technological capabilities,” David Walmsley, Chief Digital and Omnichannel Officer, said in a company release. Pandora expects to hire around 80 new employees in 2020 and expand further in 2021.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Greif Earns Two Recognitions for Corporate Social Responsibility Performance
Greif, Inc., an industrial packaging products and services company, was recognized twice in December 2019 for its corporate social responsibility efforts. MSCI gave Greif an “A” rating in sustainability performance – reflecting the company’s attempt to reduce its environmental impact and advancing responsible business practices. Additionally, Newsweek placed Greif on its premiere list of America's Most Responsible Companies 2020. “We are proud that Greif was again recognized for our leadership in corporate social responsibility," Pete Watson, Greif's President and Chief Executive Officer,” said in a company release. “Our global team is focused on being a leader in sustainable business performance and we appreciate that our progress is being recognized by respected outside organizations.”
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An Illinois family was arrested for being part of a shoplifting spree which totals to $7 million. According to Epoch Times, a father, mother, and daughter stole merchandise for over a decade. They traveled to stores nationwide and targeted dolls, toys, cosmetics and other valuables.
Within a 20-page federal complaint, the three were arrested earlier this week at their Northbrook home. They just returned from a three-day trip through Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Authorities say they shoplifted from stores during that time. They also traveled far to hit businesses in other states, including Maryland, Tennessee and Florida.
Branko Bogdanov, 58, Lela Bogdanov, 52, and their 34-year-old daughter, Julia Bogdanov, are charged with a single account of interstate transportation of stolen property each. On Wednesday, they made their initial appearance in a U.S. District Court in Chicago. They did not enter pleas and will be held, at least until a detention hearing next week. Someone who answered a phone at their Northbrook residence declined to comment.
In another report by The Chicago Tribune, the suburban Chicago family stole with startling efficiency from toy stores, booksellers and coffee shops. The family matriarch often dressed in a bulky black dress outfitted with compartments for stuffing large merchandise. The three family members were able to make off with millions of dollars of merchandise from well-known retailers, such as Barnes & Noble and Toys “R” Us, selling the thousands of items on the online auction site eBay.
The Bogdanov Family, with a cooperating individual who acted as its fence, sold merchandise with a retail value of $7.1 million for a total of $4.2 million through their eBay accounts. Many of the items were sold in bulk and in their original packaging.
This case is also considered to be noteworthy, not only for the extensive financial losses, but also for the old-school manner in which the family operated. Also, despite its simplicity, it is considered a major operation, more intricate and grander than the teenagers stealing from Victoria’s Secret, which was earlier reported by The Inquisitr.
Frank Benedetto, the head of the U.S. Secret Service in Chicago, had this to say about the family and their shoplifting spree.
I think they had a system over a significant period of time where I guess they thought they were minimizing their risk, but eventually law enforcement caught up with them.
The Bogdanov Family was scheduled a detention hearing by the U.S. Magistrate, Judge Michael Mason, for this coming Monday. It seems there may be more that needs to be learned about the family. Originally they are from the former Yugoslavia, and it is unclear if any of them are U.S. citizens.
[Image courtesy of womenspk.com]


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You probably bought yourself a recipe book in January, using the Waterstones voucher from your aunt, to support your New Year’s resolution to take a break from those 3am Subways, and chances are it was either Deliciously Ella (495,191 books sold as of Jan 2017) or Lean in 15 (over 1.1 million books sold as of Jan 2017). Wellness is a $3tr economy, so who can blame the publishing industry for wanting a slice of that gluten-free, sugar-free, paleo avocado and cacao cake, ,right? However, after the recent backlash against the clean eating trend, perhaps it’s time for us all to step away from fitspo and wellness Instagrams, and look up the latest Dominos deals instead.
[Ella’s] part of the trend of beautiful, thin, young, white women who advocate eating chai pots for breakfast and cutting carbs
Fad diet guides are nothing new (in fact, the first known diet publication was circulating in 1797, a small pamphlet, followed by a book in 1862 which sold 63,000 copies). Since then, the popularity of dieting books has gone from strength to strength, now having mutating into the grotesque – albeit #aesthetic – monster of the wellness cult.
Yesterday Ella Woodward, of the ‘Deliciously Ella’ fame, will hold a book signing at Exeter’s Barnfield Theatre for the release of her newest wellness recipe book, ‘Deliciously Ella With Friends’ (which sounds more like a children’s TV show than a thick recipe book filled with obscure middle-class ingredients like medjool dates and manuka honey). She’s part of the trend of beautiful, thin, young, white women who advocate eating chai pots for breakfast and cutting carbs; while avo-on-rye is great for the gram, is it actually that great for the gut?
Sales, rather than science, seem to be the motivator for the sheer number of wellness guides
In the last year, the BBC has released two documentaries (Clean Eating’s Dirty Secrets in July 2016) and Horizon: Clean Eating – The Dirty Truth in January 2017) about the dangers, pseudo-science, and miscommunication of wellness gurus through their websites and books. Perhaps the blame lies at the feet of the publishers, who have jumped upon the Instagram popularity – around 30,000,000 posts use #cleaneating – to make a profit. Clean Eating Alice, for example, was offered a six-figure deal from HarperThomas for her second book, The Body Bible. With Kayla Itsines’ 10 million Facebook fans and 6.3 million followers on Instagram, Bluebird’s decision to publish a hard copy of her iconic Bikini Body Guides comes with a massive guaranteed audience. Sales, rather than science, seem to be the motivator for the sheer number of wellness guides filling the non-fiction bestsellers lists.
Spending a day hunting through Holland and Barratt for obscure seeds only to spend hours decipher the steaming, broiling, and slow-cooking of a glossy recipe book doesn’t quite seem as exciting a Two-For-Tuesday Dominos. The publishing industry has (coconut and almond) milked the wellness trend for the past four years, but as the warmth and faith for wellness gurus fade in response to the reported scandals and falsities of those involved, it’s about time we – and the publishers – put down the kale and refused to let ourselves be enchanted by pastel-coloured pages, a big social media following, and ingredients we can’t pronounce.


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A new report claims that Apple is prepping an updated tablet to join its fourth-generation line, and it may be a 128GB device.
Just in time for Valetine's Day, Samsung is offering a garnet red version of its Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0).
It's a new year, and you know what that means ? new iPhone and iPad rumors!
The Kobo Arc is a great small-screen Android tablet, with strong performance, a crisp display, and, unlike some higher-profile competitors, access to the Google Play app store.
Sony has quietly unveiled a tablet competitor called the Xperia Tablet Z.
Samsung was handed a victory in a Dutch court today, when a judge found that the company's Galaxy tablets do not infringe on an Apple-held design patent.
Apple today announced that the cellular version of the iPad mini, as well as the fourth-generation iPad will be available in China this Friday, Jan. 18.
More supply checks suggest that Apple's prepping an iPad refresh in just two months.
Archos today introduced four new Google Android-based tablets, priced from $119 to $249, at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The Microsoft Surface Pro is the Windows 8 Tablet many people have been waiting for. We got a sneak peek; find out what we thought.
Coby is showing its first Google-certified, sub-$130 7-inch Android Tablet at CES. We got to take a look.
A year in the making, Project Fiona comes to fruition as the Razer Edge gaming tablet.
This 20-inch tablet has a breathtaking 3840 by 2560 screen, but it's definitely not yet ready for prime time.
Processor maker Ingenics reveals a new tablet running on Verizon Wireless's LTE network.
A new report from Nielsen indicates that print books continue to remain a viable format despite the growth of e-books.
"Project Fiona" goes from concept to reality as Razer Unveils its new Edge gaming tablet.
Amazon on New Year's Day launched a new promotion cutting $50 off the 8.9-inch version of its Kindle Fire HD tablet for college students.
The Zagg ZAGGkeys Mini 7 will add a full physical keyboard to your iPad mini, but it's not the best typing experience and you add substantial bulk in the bargain.
Unless you absolutely need microSD and HDMI out on your 7-inch tablet, there's no reason to choose the Acer Iconia Tab A110 over the less expensive Google Nexus 7.


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How to Evolve In-Store Marketing Amid a Pandemic
Statista recently published a statistic that drives home the impact COVID-19 has had on virtually every facet of our lives. Since the pandemic, only 3 percent of Americans say they have not made any changes to their lifestyle.
For retailers, their journey to reopen will also include changes; changes that will elevate awareness and encourage dialogue around customer and employee health.
Retailers know in-store marketing will be a key driver in this. The hard part? Determining how to evolve your signage to not only meet present day expectations, but keep pace with future regulatory guidelines. To do this effectively, consider the following practices essential to keeping your doors open.
If Safety and Health is a Priority, Prove it
A Numerator survey late last month found “84 percent of shoppers said they consider increased sanitation procedures at retailers to be important or extremely important in selecting where they shop.”
The current climate requires a hyperfocus on doing everything necessary to appear and operate as a risk-free destination. From behind the scenes to out in the aisles, how will you prove that it is?
A risk-free customer experience, first and foremost, starts with the health and safety of your employees, who will depend on back-of-house signage to improve their adherence to new safety measures and CDC guidelines. This signage must be visible, up-to-date, and easy to digest. For peace of mind, consumers will also expect retailers to be transparent on what exactly they're doing to create and maintain a safe environment.
Go Local Using Fact-Based Data
From state to state and city to city, the pandemic has hit every nook and cranny of this country differently. For retailers with store footprints in a variety of markets, it’s critical those differences are acknowledged at a corporate level, but also reflected at the community level.
This is where variable composition and store profiling comes in to provide retailers a better sense of what a community needs from a communication standpoint. Retailers should rely on active listening, engagement, and sentiment to better understand specific needs and local consumer attitude.
By coupling widely available, fact-based information around COVID-19 with sentiment and key store characteristics — e.g., store size and layout, fixtures available, customer demographics, local laws and regulations — retailers can create localized, highly relevant messaging at the community level.
Let the Seasons Inspire Your Signage
In a survey by Unruly, consumers were asked the best way for brands to advertise during the pandemic. As it relates to in-store marketing, retailers can glean a few things from the top four responses. Ultimately, consumers want brands to:
- share information on how they're supporting their staff and customers during this time;
- include information about COVID-19;
- provide a sense of continuity and normalcy; and
- be funny/positive in an effort to distract from what’s going on.
As summer approaches, retailers should manifest everything positive we associate with that season through the in-store experience. Think vibrant color palettes, sun-soaked images of friends and family together, and messaging that reassures us “normal” isn’t far away.
The Role of a Lifetime
Humans are intuitive. It didn’t take long for them to see large dots on the ground and connect it to social distancing measures. With heightened sensitivities around in-store communications, consumers are ready for retailers to step up in a new, more conscientious way.
Right now (and in the foreseeable future) in-store signage has this incredible opportunity to play a front-and-center role in what we might consider calling retail’s grand reopening. Performed well, this role will reduce risk, drive connection, and uplift in ways you may never have expected it to.
Toni Thompson is president of retail solutions at RR Donnelley, a leading global provider of multichannel solutions for marketing and business communications.
Related story: Top Retail Trends This Holiday Shopping Season and Beyond


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Green Caffeen is bringing an eco-friendly coffee solution to the NSW South Coast through a partnership with the Eurobodalla Shire Council. Businesses, visitors and locals alike can get involved with the free swap and go reusable cup program, which will help reduce the community’s reliance on single-use coffee cups. As part of a wider agreement with the Canberra Region Joint Organisation (CRJO), Eurobodalla is one of many councils getting involved. The sustainable swap and go cup system has already launched in multiple neighbouring local government areas this year, including Queanbeyan-Palerang, Wingecarribee and Snowy Valleys. This partnership signifies an expansion of Green Caffeen’s already strong presence across NSW. With over 700 cafes across the country already proudly sporting Green Caffeen cups, there is no shortage of locations to pick up a coffee or drop off a cup, helping to provide a simple solution for a reusable alternative between work, home and holidays. Green Caffeen Director, Martin Brooks, knows that convenience often wins out, with an estimated one billion single-use coffee cups making their way to landfill each year in Australia alone. “Green Caffeen removes the two common excuses for not using a reusable coffee cup – ‘I forgot to bring it with me’ and ‘I haven’t washed my cup yet’,” Mr Brooks said. Cafes using the system have cups in stock at the cafe and wash the cups between uses, so there are clean, green, reusable cups always ready for your coffee to go. “We’re excited to see the continued growth of the program in what will be an exciting year for cafes as they transition away from their reliance upon single-use packaging. A legislative ban on single-use plastics is on its way, and we’re working hard to provide cafes and coffee lovers with a convenient on the go option. We’ve designed Green Caffeen to be a complete no-brainer, like a local library service. You check a cup out and check it back in again later using the Green Caffeen app. You can have two cups out at once, so it doesn’t matter if you forget your cup; you’ve got another one built into your phone wherever you go.” Eurobodalla Council’s waste services manager Nathan Ladmore said he was thrilled to help bring Green Caffeen to Eurobodalla. “We love our coffee here on the coast, and so many wonderful local cafes are already supporting the bring-your-own-cup revolution,” he said. “Green Caffeen takes it to a new level, making it even easier for residents to kick the single-use habit once and for all.
“The swap-and-go-system is convenient for customers, it saves businesses serious dollars, and it has a real impact on numbers of cups heading to landfill. “Green Caffeen really is a no brainer and we hope to see as many cafes as possible get on board.” Free to cafes and customers, businesses can register their interest online and individuals can download the app from the website or app stores, ready to simply scan, swap and go. To celebrate this exciting partnership, on Wednesday 8th June, Green Caffeen will be shouting free coffee at all participating Eurobodalla cafes. Applications are now open for cafes to join and cafes are being encouraged to register prior to the 8th June to be part of the upcoming Eurobodalla launch. Find out more at https://greencaffeen.com.au/


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For the second time this week, Sony's PlayStation Network servers appear to be down for the count.
Following a brutal DDoS attack that took the servers down over the weekend, Sony's PlayStation Twitter account posted yet another issue that's affecting connectivity today. Not a good time for it, especially considering that Madden NFL 15 is available and people want to get their online football on.
"Network update: engineers are aware of connectivity issues, are working to resolve. We'll keep you posted – apologies for any inconvenience," reads the update.
No word yet on when the service will be updated, but here's hoping it's in time for the company's weekly store update, which should happen later today. Note the word "should."
UPDATE: Fortunately, it does look like progress is being made, as Sony has posted, "Network connectivity is being restored. Thanks for your patience." No word yet on a time frame.


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Laumont, a company that produced truffles and mushrooms, has announced the construction of a new 4,000 sq. mt facility centre in Tarrega, Spain.
According to a statement released by the firm, the new facility will increase the production capacity to answer the increasing demand of the business and it will allow the production of new truffle-based products. Additionally, there will be an investment in new machinery and in the creation of a space where people can enjoy experiences related to the world of truffles.
The company is becoming a national reference in the mushroom and truffle industry and an important player on a global level, having achieved a 30% turnover growth record in the financial year of 2021.
“Training the entire industry is very important so that the different qualities and gastronomic applications of the truffle are understood. By improving this knowledge, we will be able to increase consumer satisfaction and demand for this very select product, something that will undoubtedly benefit us all”, said Jordi Serentill, Laumont’s CEO.
The new plant is expected to be operational by 2024.


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Verizon is expected to get on the Android bandwagon soon, with a smartphone designed by Motorola. An official announcement is reportedly a couple of weeks away, but some additional details on this upcoming device have come to the surface.
The code-name is supposedly the Sholes, but sources disagree on the actual name. Earlier this week an unconfirmed report said it would be called the Motorola Tao, but a new report says it will be the Motorola Droid.
Some images of this model have leaked out, but they have been missing at least one important detail — according to the latest report, it will have a 3.7-inch screen at a resolution of 480 by 854 pixels (WVGA+).
The Droid — or whatever it’s called — will supposedly use Google’s standard Android user interface, not one created by Verizon. Neither will it have MotoBlur, Motorola’s social-networking service that will debut on the Motorola Cliq.
This source indicates that this model will have a 500 MHz processor, which contradicts earlier reports that it will employ a 600 MHz one.
An Overview of the Motorola Sholes/Tao/Droid
The images of this model have leaked out reveal that it will be a slider with a horizontally-oriented QWERTY keyboard.
As an Android-based phone, this device will have a highly-functional web browser, and include tie-ins to a number of Google’s online services, like Gmail and Google Maps. There is also a rapidly growing collection of third-party software available for this operating system.
According to earlier reports, this smartphone will have 256 MB of RAM and will ship with a 16 GB microSD card, which can be swapped out for a larger one when available.
This Motorola model will also reportedly include a 5 megapixel auto-focus camera, a GPS receiver, and a 1400 mAh battery.
Overall, it will be 4.6 inches wide, 2.3 inches tall, 0.54 inches thick, and 6.0 ounces (115.8 mm wide, 60.0 mm tall, 13.70 mm thick, and 169 g).
Launch Date Unknown
Exactly when that debut will be is not yet known, but the Motorola Droid will supposedly be announced around the middle of this month.


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Mobile cloud platform provider Macheen has instituted a round of layoffs and reversed its CEO switch involving its founder and chairman.
The Austin, Texas, startup laid off an unspecified number of workers, reports the Austin Business Journal. Additionally, its founding CEO Richard Schwartz told the journal that the company is “redirecting resourcing,” as part of internal changes and a greater focus on a software-as-a-service strategy. The company has also reportedly decided to focus on end users, rather than OEM clients
“The changes make the company significantly better off financially and stronger in the market,” Schwartz says. He did not disclose the number of workers affected by the layoffs, nor the company’s total headcount.
Meanwhile, Macheen has undone the CEO switch from last April. Founding CEO Schwartz is back in that position, after switching jobs with Chairman Greg Stock.
Macheen provides Internet connectivity to laptops, tablets, and other devices in an “a-la-carte” fashion, letting clients choose to receive services such as email without subscribing to more expensive broadband and cellular data plans.
A November filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said the company had received $10.2 million of a planned $12 million financing. The company’s investors include California tech giant Qualcomm.


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Ripley’s: Marilyn Monroe dress was not damaged by Kim Kardashian at Met Gala
The franchise acknowledged the controversy caused by loaning the historic dress to the reality TV star for the event.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! says it is “confident” that it did not cause damage to the historic Marilyn Monroe dress worn by Kim Kardashian at this year’s Met Gala.
The franchise said despite the controversy over the reality TV star’s wearing of the dress at the exclusive fashion event in New York, the garment was “in the same condition it started in”.
Outrage was sparked online after photos posted online by collector Scott Fortner appeared to show damage to the back of the gown following the gala.
Mr Fortner told the PA news agency that Ripley’s had been “irresponsible” to loan the dress to Kardashian and that its only intention had been “publicity” rather than preserving the historical item.
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In a lengthy response posted on its website, Ripley’s said that the row had in fact “highlighted” the dress’s importance.
“Kim Kardashian’s walk up the Metropolitan Museum’s stairs at this year’s Met Gala caused quite the stir, but one thing Ripley’s Believe It or Not! can say with confidence is that it did not cause damage to Marilyn Monroe’s famed ‘Happy Birthday’ dress from 1962.” the franchise wrote.
“Our mission is to both entertain and educate visitors and fans, and sparking conversations like the discourse around Marilyn Monroe’s dress does just that.
“No matter which side of the debate you are on, the historical importance of the dress has not been negated, but rather highlighted.
“An entirely new group of young people has now been introduced to the legacy of Marilyn Monroe.”
One thing Ripley’s Believe It or Not! can say with confidence is that it did not cause damage to Marilyn Monroe’s famed ‘Happy Birthday’ dress from 1962.
Statement from Ripley's Believe It or Not!
It continued: “Kim Kardashian wearing the ‘Happy Birthday’ dress has been hotly contested, but the fact remains that she did not, in any way, damage the garment in the short amount of time it was worn at the Met Gala.
Ripley’s said its vice president of publishing and licensing, Amanda Joiner, who had overseen the dress’s transport to and from the Met Gala had noted that “from the bottom of the Met steps, where Kim got into the dress, to the top where it was returned, the dress was in the same condition it started in.”
The company added that it had not paid Kardashian to wear the dress, nor had she paid them, but she had made a charitable donation to two charities in the greater Orlando area on behalf of the company.
“Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will continue to exhibit the dress — in as-is condition — at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Hollywood through Fall 2022,” it said.
EXCLUSIVE | Kinahan cartel used tiny Iranian island to launder dirty money and for holidays
REMOVED | Email address at centre of Nicola Gallagher abuse claims controversy deleted
scandal | Eamonn Holmes defiant over explosive Phillip Schofield claims
CROOKED CARER | Nurse who raided vulnerable patients’ bank accounts to fund lavish lifestyle avoids jail
High Court action | Irish mother to use Infowars ruling in Gemma O’Doherty emotional distress case
LAtest | Seven men charged with attempted murder of DCI John Caldwell
Incredible | Rhasidat Adeleke smashes Irish 400m record with sensational run in California
Tragedy | Man (50s) dies in early morning collision in County Offaly
Vicious | WATCH: Michael Conlan’s world title bid ends with brutal knock-out
heartbreaking | Tributes paid to brave Ava Barry (13) who inspired the nation


text: By John S. McClenahen Although far less ambitious than the series of free-trade agreements the U.S. has recently reached with a number of nations, a new pact between the U.S. and five central Asian nations -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -- promises to provide a forum for discussing intellectual property, labor and environmental issues. The six countries signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in Washington, D.C., on June 1. "The objective of the TIFA is to increase and diversify trade and investment opportunities between the United States and Central Asia," says Robert B. Zoellick, the U.S. Trade Representative. U.S. trade with Central Asia totaled nearly $1.12 billion in 2003. Machinery and equipment, chemicals, aircraft and agricultural products are among the U.S.'s major exports to the region. Major U.S. imports from Central Asia include mineral fuels, chemicals, textiles, metals and cotton.


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FreshPaper now available in Australia
A piece of biodegradable paper that is said to keep fruit and vegetables fresh longer is now available in Australia.
‘FreshPaper’ is a piece of paper that is infused with organic spices which prolong the life of fresh produce. The paper is described as helping keep produce fresh two to four times longer.
FreshPaper was created by Kavita Shukla who first came across that paper’s ingredients after drinking tap water in India as a teenager. After drinking the water her grandmother gave her a mixture of spices which Shulka says stopped her from getting sick. These spices inspired the creation of FreshPaper that was developed in Shulka’s garage.
The paper was original designed for use in the developing world but is now available for consumers in Australia to place them in their fruit bowls, fridges or existing packaging.
The spices in the paper inhibit bacterial and fungial growth and enzymese that cause over-ripening.
FreshPaper says its product can help tackle food wastage with 40 per cent of the average household garbage bin filled with food.
- Australia’s top 5 wasted food ingredients
- Aussie farmers reduce waste with carrot vodka
- Two Australian food wastage start-ups take the cake


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» View Os Android Terbaru 2013
View Os Android Terbaru 2013
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The launch of Apple’s tiny tablet, iPad Mini, Tuesday (10/24) morning was really a magnet for lovers of the gadget world, to the extent that the presence of a fourth-generation iPad was released simultaneously ignored.
The fourth generation of [...]
Given the importance to always be vigilant when surfing the internet, here are some practical tips from Microsoft Indonesia.
- Lock your computer and other accounts with strong passwords, as well as a unique four-digit PIN on the mobile phone.
- Do not [...]
Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut, plans to sell graffiti sheets contains instructions and guidelines that he uses when for the first time landing on the Moon.
Sheets of paper that contains guidelines used Aldrin when Neil Armstrong was driving the Lunar [...]
Good news came over the user’s smartphone Sony Xperia J. That is because, the smart phone made by Sony’s got a release update 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.
Through the release of this time, the Xperia J users can now be able to enjoy the advantages [...]
Offered at a price of about $0.9 per download on the Apple App Store.
Game featuring one of the founders of Apple, Steve Wozniak, entitled “Danny Trejo’s Vengeance : Woz with a Coz ‘officially began circulating on the Apple App Store [...]
AMD (03/13) announced the first time the presence of AMD Elite A-Series Accelerated Processing Units (APUs), which was given the code name of “Richland”.
AMD A-Series APUs will present the latest innovation for users, such as log-in using [...]
Detailed smartphone from Nexus 4 owned by Google and produced by LG leaked by British mobile phone retailer websites, Carphone Warehouse’s.
At Carphone Warehouse’s website it is mentioned clearly that they offer LG Nexus 4 with a contract [...]
Apple has recently released iOS 6 operating system update to the new version, the iOS 6.1.4.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Friday (3/5), strangely this update is only intended for those users of the iPhone 5.
It is something that is not unusual for Apple to [...]
Increasingly sophisticated technology. Now charger technology created without cable. Wireless Charger technology names.
Another name Wireless Charger is Inductive Charging. This technology utilizes magnetic force to deliver power between the two objects.
CloudFlare, a Web accelerator is having network-wide DNS problems as reported ubergizmo.com (03/03).
“We are experiencing a network-wide issue,” said the CloudFlare via the company’s official Twitter account.
For those of you who [...]
Facing the war in the “second front”
The Israeli government on Sunday (11/18), admits millions have been subjected to attacks in cyberspace since the country launched an offensive on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run Palestinian territory last [...]


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Drug Store News editor in chief Rob Eder sat down with Randy Edeker, chairman, president and CEO of Hy-Vee and recently appointed National Association of Chain Drug Stores chairman, to discuss the current state of retail pharmacy, the big challenges facing the industry, his top priorities as NACDS chairman and the role a regional supermarket pharmacy chain like Hy-Vee can play in innovating health care and being a catalyst for change.
Pharmabox has become the latest kiosk operator of health and beauty supplies.
Sycamore Partners is set to operate 330 former Family Dollar locations as Dollar Express.
Juliette, Ga. marks location No. 12,000 for Dollar General.
GMDC and RetailNet Group have partnered on a new partnership tool called the GMDC/RNG Insights Portal.
Fred's is retooling all categories across the front-end in an effort to improve overall performance.
Industrial auctioneer Ritchie Bros. has announced that Rexall CFO Sharon Driscoll will be joining the company as CFO, effective July 6.
Type-2 diabetes patients do better when a pharmacist is a part of their care team.
Recognizing that onsite health facilities can be an integral component of a successful health care program, employers are seeking to expand their use of such centers in the coming years, according to new research by global professional services company Towers Watson.
As GMDC’s annual General Merchandise Conference gets underway in Orlando, Fla., spirits are running high as the association will unveil several new initiatives and will celebrate the appointment of Patrick Spear as the new CEO during the event.


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San Diego-based restaurant and nightclub operator Enlightened Hospitality Group LLC has closed its Gabardine restaurant in Point Loma and its Searsucker location in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“In an effort to remain focused on the national rollout of Enlightened Hospitality Group’s ‘fabric of social dining’ restaurant concepts, we have decided to close our Searsucker Scottsdale and Gabardine San Diego locations,” CEO James Brennan said in a statement.
Enlightened Hospitality Group was started in 2009 and is led by Brennan and celebrity chef Brian Malarkey. Gabardine opened at 1005 Rosecrans St. in 2012, the same year the Scottsdale Searsucker debuted.
Enlightened Hospitalilty currently operates Searsucker restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter and Carmel Valley, with an additional Searsucker in Austin, Texas. Its other local restaurants include Herringbone in La Jolla and the Green Acre farm-to-table eateries in Torrey Pines and University Towne Center.
The company also owns Stingaree nightclub in downtown San Diego. It closed its Gingham restaurant in La Mesa last year.
Enlightened in recent months has been working to expand the Searsucker and Herringbone restaurant concepts outside of the San Diego region. It will soon open a new Herringbone location in West Hollywood.


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While today’s “Snapchat’s racially questionable lens” news is being dominated by their 4/20 “Bob Marley” filter—which literally gives the user blackface and dreadlocks—let us turn our attention to another appropriative look the app is providing: the bindi lens.
The lens seems to be labeled more as a “third eye,” or a “chakra” filter, which gives users an animated flower in the middle of their forehead that morphs into a blinking eye and something that resembles paint streaks.
Adelaide via Snapchat | Third eye is lit pic.twitter.com/h0jLQjuNdS— All Things Adelaide (@Adelaidesnaps) April 19, 2016
The imagery used in the lens is reminiscent of the bindi, a dot commonly placed in the middle of the forehead during Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain worship. The dot represents the sixth chakra, the site of “concealed wisdom,” and the third eye, which is represented with a lotus flower. The bindi is also commonly worn by South Asian and Southeast Asian women as a symbol of their marriage. Though, recently, sticker bindis in different designs have made it more of a cosmetic choice.
Bindis have also become the head adornment of choice at America’s Largest Cultural Appropriation Festival: Coachella. However, this trend is not new. Two years ago, Isha Aran wrote on Jezebel about the music festival and the fashion choices it inspires, saying:
The bindi is not your music festival fashion accessory. It’s not something to be integrated into a tribal fringe mosaic of a get-up. Taking a symbol from a culture that is thousands of years old and divorcing it from its meaning — or even embracing its meaning for the express purpose of looking cool (bro, do you even chataranga?) — does not lend you any cred — street, worldly, or otherwise. And wearing a bindi to Coachella certainly is not a genuine celebration of Hindu culture, so please don’t even start with that.
shit @Snapchat has done:— EZRA MOVED – CHECK BIO 击 (@coffinpuppy_old) April 20, 2016
Filter seeming to mimic a bindi or some type of 3rd eye concept
Reducing Bob Marley to 4/20
can snapchat remake that cute flowercrown filter and make it so it doesnt whitewash me that would be real neato— yee(haw) (@mitskeen) April 16, 2016
We’ve contacted Snapchat about what inspired them to make this filter and have not heard back.
But this is not the first time Snapchat has been in hot water over a racially insensitive lens. The “kawaii” lens that gives users “anime” eyes is seen as enforcing stereotypes of Japanese culture; their “flower crown” filter automatically gives users blue eyes and whitewashes those with darker complexions; and today’s Bob Marley filter may finally be the last straw.
And yet no matter how much backlash Snapchat receives over these filters, you probably can’t stop white girls from wearing bindis to Coachella.


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Everbright Securities’ net profit down 79% in 2013
The net profit of Everbright Securities was only 212 million yuan ($35 million) in 2013, down 78.79 percent year-on-year with earnings per share dropping to 0.0622 yuan, according to the company’s estimate released on Wednesday. Everbright Securities had total sales revenue of 4.06 billion yuan in 2013, up 11.3 percent year-on-year. Its total profit was 504 million yuan, down 62.89 percent. The company’s total assets are now worth some 53 billion yuan, down 9.07 percent.


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State Fair Offers Hundreds Of Free Acts, Shows And ExhibitsState Fair organizers say there are hundreds of free things to do.
Free Air Travel, Cowboys & Mavs Tickets Among Dallas Chamber Giveaways In COVID Vaccine SweepstakesAcross the country incentives are being offered for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Now the Dallas Regional Chamber is getting in the mix with offers that include free air travel and professional game tickets.
Starbucks Thanking Customers With 10 Days Of Free DrinksStarbucks aims to drum up holiday sales with promises of free espresso drinks this season — as long as you're in the right store. Starting today, select Starbucks stores will host 1,000 Pop Up Cheer Parties over 10 days.
Rangers Announce 2016 Give-Away Promo ScheduleThe Rangers have announced its complete 2016 Promotions Schedule (aka fun, free stuff giveaways - like Bobbleheads) and the list of 2016 regular season concerts, events and ticket specials.
Top 5 Surprising Things You Can Get For FreeRemember, when you sign-up for the free samples be prepared to have your inbox and mailbox full of ads.
Free Friday: August 2, 2013This weekend Dallas and Fort Worth has lots of events that are fun for everyone, and the best part about these events... they're FREE!
Voters Taking Advantage Of Election Day FreebiesYes, it’s your civic duty and participating in the democratic process should be reward enough! Some people call it an abomination, others a pleasant byproduct, but there are a lot of businesses offering Election Day freebies.
Local Auction House Holding Free Appraisal EventImagine an appraisal event… similar to the Antiques Roadshow. Now stop imagining and gather all your treasures for an upcoming event in Dallas. Heritage Auctions will be appraising treasures during a free event in Dallas this weekend.
Hurst Unveils Recycling Incentive Initiative For ResidentsAs a mother of two, Amy Bilbo and her family can accumulate a lot of trash in a week’s time, but most of what they throw out doesn’t end up in a landfill. Thanks to a new recycling initiative in the city of Hurst, the family is recycling much more.


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If you're looking to work from home, some companies are going to give you a better chance at it than others.
TeleTech, Convergys, Sutherland Global Services and Amazon head this year's top 100 companies for telecommuting and remote jobs from FlexJobs, a job-posting service specializing in remote and flexible job opportunities.
The rankings feature a range of small- to large-size companies across an assortment of career categories. The research revealed that the top seven career fields for remote workers are medical and health, customer service, sales, computer and IT, administrative, education and training, and marketing.
Job titles likeconsultant, case manager, sales representative, writer, engineer, marketing manager, account executive, interpreter, translator and developer are some of the most commonly found when you're searching for jobs that offer remote work.
“The positive impact remote work options can have on a company’s bottom line and culture is increasingly being acknowledged by smart employers," Sara Sutton Fell, founder and CEO of FlexJobs," said in a statement. [Is Telecommuting Right For You? ]
This year's top 100 list is based on the companies that had the most jobs posted on FlexJobs with remote work options, such as telecommuting, the ability to work from home and virtual jobs, in 2014. The top 25 companies on this year's rankings are:
- Sutherland Global Services
- Kelly Services
- First Data
- UnitedHealth Group
- Working Solutions
- American Express
- HD Supply
- Forest Laboratories
The complete list of rankings can be reviewed on the FlexJobs website.
"The Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2015 is also intended to guide job seekers in their quest to find legitimate work with trusted companies that have a successful track record recruiting and hiring telecommuters," Fell said.
Overall, FlexJobs discovered a 27 percent increase in the number of remote jobs posted on its site over the last year.


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Calling all N64 fanboys and girls (and I know there are a lot of you): get yourselves ready.
The Nintendo 64 Classic Edition might just finally be on its way.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let me make it clear that this is speculation, and nothing has been confirmed by Nintendo or any other outside source. However, some interesting news in the trademark space has just recently been discovered.
Last summer, Nintendo filed a trademark for the Nintendo 64 controller, in the form of a simple outlined art style, but it’s only just been found out that the trademark was finally accepted this year, on August 30th, 2018. And while some people, might argue that trademarks can be filed for any number of reasons, what’s significant about this one is that it closely resembles the trademarks for the NES Classic and SNES Classic logos, as well.
If this were the case, and this was Nintendo’s attempt at branding the next Classic console, then it’s not far off to believe that, with the trademark finally accepted, we could see the nostalgia return fairly soon — perhaps even soon enough to compete with Sony’s PlayStation Classic.
It’s easy to see the similarities between this trademark and the NES and SNES ones from the past couple years, and Nintendo has hit a goldmine with their Classics brand, so re-creating the N64 — one of their most beloved consoles of all time — would certainly be a lucrative business decision. But has Nintendo deemed it been enough years for them to put it out? It’s just a matter of time before we see if this comes to anything significant, so stay tuned for more info!
In the meantime, feel free to hype yourself up for the potential new console with Nintendo Wire’s wishlist of 32 games for the N64 Classic Edition!
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The economic data that was postponed due to the partial government shutdown has yet to be released, and most of the backlog is scheduled to be released within the coming weeks. But no official dates have been set.
Meanwhile, earnings season is more than halfway through with 60% of the S&P 500 stocks having already reported earnings, and the names bringing good news are being rewarded by investors.
“Earnings triple plays this season (companies that beat EPS, beat revenues, and raise guidance) have averaged a huge one-day gain of 9.15% on their earnings reaction days. Throughout history triple plays have averaged a gain of 5.32%,” according to Bespoke Investment Group.
This week, investors can expect several earnings reports from the remaining tech heavyweights. Alphabet (GOOGL) reports Monday after the bell, Snap (SNAP) will also report after the bell on Tuesday and Twitter (TWTR) reports before the bell on Thursday.
Bank of America explained in a note to clients on Tuesday that while Alphabet has been underperforming its other tech rivals this year, the bank remains optimistic longterm. “Direct response ad checks are generally positive in the US, but we think some [international] macro pressure is possible, the bank said. “Overall, we like the set up into the print given recent margin comps, regulatory and Amazon concerns and recent stock performance.”
Mark Mahaney of RBC believes that Google’s hardware business will continue to impress. “Google has over the past few years made hardware development and innovation a bigger strategic and engineering focus for the company, via both acquisitions (Nest, HTC) and organic efforts. The result has been a relatively impressive slate of products that have gained critical success and are starting to gain material commercial traction. In FY18, we estimate that Google’s Hardware segment will generate a combined $8.8B in Revenue (6% of Gross Revenue) and $3.0B in Gross Profits (4% of Gross Profits),” Mahaney wrote in a note on Friday.
Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expect Alphabet to report earnings of $13.04 per share on $31.32 billion in revenue.
Meanwhile, Snap has been attracting a lot of attention for yet another recent C-suite shake up. The lack of stable leadership has been raising concerns for investors and analysts. Snap’s Chief Accounting Officer Laura Sweet has been serving as interim CFO until a more permanent option is found.
“We downgraded shares of SNAP to Sector Perform in the wake of mixed pre- release results, but more importantly, in the wake of a surprise resignation by the CFO. This increased our concern over management execution,” Mahaney said.
Snap is expected to report an earnings loss of 8 cents per share on $376.66 million in revenue.
Additionally, President Trump is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address Tuesday evening.
Wednesday: Eli Lilly (LLY), General Motors (GM), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Humana (HUM), New York Times (NYT), Regeneron (REGN), Spotify (SPOT), Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) before market open; Chipotle (CMG), FireEye (FEYE), GoPro (GPRO), Match Group (MTCH), NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), O’Reilly Automotive (ORLY), Sonos (SONO) after market close
Thursday: Dunkin (DNKN), Fiat Chrysler (FCAU), GrubHub (GRUB), Kellogg (K), Marathon Petroleum (MPC), Philip Morris (PM), S&P Global (SPGI), Sanofi (SNY), Tapestry (TPR), Twitter, Yum Brands (YUM) before market open; ANGI Homeservices (ANGI), Expedia (EXPE), IAC/InterActiveCorp (IAC), Lions Gate (LGF-A), Mattel (MAT) after market close
Monday: Factory Orders, November (+0.3% expected, -2.1% prior), Durable Goods Orders, November (+1.7% expected, +0.8% prior), Durable Goods excluding Transportation, November (+0.2% expected, -0.3% prior), Capital Goods Orders Nondefense excluding Air, November (+0.1% expected, -0.6% prior)
Tuesday: Markit US Services PMI, January (54.2 expected, 54.2 prior), Markit US Composite PMI, January (54.5 prior), ISM Non-Manufacturing Index, January (57.0 expected, 58.0 prior revised)
Wednesday: MBA Mortgage Applications, week ending February 1 (-3.0% prior), Trade Balance, November (-$54.0B expected, -$55.5B prior), Nonfarm Productivity, 4Q (+1.7% expected, +2.3% prior)
Thursday: Initial Jobless Claims, week ending February 2 (220,000 expected, 253,000 prior), Continuing Claims, week ending January 26 (1.782 million prior), Bloomberg Consumer Confidence, week ending February 3 (57.4 prior)
Delayed economic data
Sometime between 2/4-2/8: Personal Income, December (+0.5% expected, +0.2% prior), Personal Spending, December (+0.3% expected, +0.4% prior), GDP Annualized quarter-on-quarter, 4Q (+2.6% expected, +3.4% prior), Personal Consumption, 4Q (+3.8% expected, +3.5% prior), GDP Price Index, 4Q (+1.7% expected, +1.8% prior), Core PCE quarter-on-quarter, 4Q (+1.6% expected, +1.6% prior),
Sometime between 2/5-2/15: Building Permits, December (1.290 million expected, 1.322 million prior revised), Retail Sales Advance month-on-month, December (+0.1% expected, +0.2% prior), Retail Sales excluding Auto month-on-month, December (+0.1% expected, +0.2% prior), Retail Sales excluding Auto & Gas, December (+0.4% expected, +0.5% prior), Housing Starts, December (1.253 million expected, 1.256 million prior), Wholesale Inventories month-on-month, December (+0.3% prior), New Home Sales, December (575,000 expected, 657,000 prior), Durable Goods Orders, December (+1.7% expected), Durables excluding Transportation, December (+0.2% expected), Capital Goods Orders Nondefense excluding Air, December (+0.1% expected)
Heidi Chung is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @heidi_chung.
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There is a lot going on in the world of finance and investment. Here are some noteworthy news nuggets you need to know:
Happy belated birthday to the U.S. Social Security program, which turned 86 years old this past Saturday. Luckily for many older Americans, it hasn't been gutted or dismantled yet. Stocks overall climbed to a new record last week despite mixed signals from a pessimistic consumer sentiment index and an optimistic jobless claims report. But markets are very volatile in Europe and the Middle East after recent events have caused further instability. The economy and markets may fluctuate due to this transition and future implications.
Fintech garners the most attention from top VCs in Q2 Our Emerging Tech Indicator report provides a quarterly overview of startups receiving seed and early-stage investments from a select group of top-performing VC firms, and is meant to offer perspective on the products and technologies driving growth opportunities. In the second quarter of 2021, our analysts tracked 211 such deals involving the top 15 VC firms. Key takeaways from the report include: The top five areas of technology investment in Q2 included fintech at $920 million, followed by enterprise SaaS, health and wellness tech, decentralized finance, and ecommerce. ETI deal activity reached $5 billion across the 211 deals, compared with the $6 billion raised across 197 deals in Q1. Our analysts recorded eight ETI deals of over $100 million in Q2, compared with 12 in the previous quarter. The largest deal in Q2 was a $185 million Series A for Forte, the developer of a blockchain-based economic platform.
The past year has made the M&A space more exciting and dynamic than ever. Mergers and acquisitions is on the rise and providing a home for businesses amid the uncertainty, volatility and disruption surrounding global markets. Organizations are focusing on stability and growth when looking at their strategic goals. Many business processes can be outsourced, allowing the key players to focus on the core objective of a merger or acquisition. These include customer service, accounting, payroll, human resources management and compliance. Read Elements Global Services' new white paper, BPO in Mergers & Acquisitions, to gain a better understanding of these points: M&A in today's modern market The benefits of business process outsourcing for M&A BPO in global mobility and compliance
Pandemic puppy boom fetches big deals in Silicon Valley. Pet startups have snatched up more than $1.1 billion of venture capital investment so far this year, easily surpassing a high-water mark set in 2019. The pandemic added to a banner year for new pets: About one in five US households took in a dog or cat between March 2020 and May 2021. Pet-crazy millennials are also driving a long-running trend of more—and more expensive—pet ownership. Pet insurance is a particularly hot category. London-based Bought By Many raised $350 million in the largest pet-related VC deal of 2021. Don't call it a blip: Investors believe that demographic forces and shifting consumer preferences spell robust growth for pet startups.
How farmers are battling sustainability challenges with agtech It's getting hot out there. News this summer has been filled with stories about drought, wildfires and other effects of climate change on our health, safety and livelihoods. The food system, in particular, is gaining attention for its role as both a significant contributor to and recipient of these changes. For example, a recent UN study linked food systems to one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. So, what technologies are being developed to address these challenges? Click for a larger version of our visual agtech overview. In a report last quarter, we introduced sustainability challenges and investment opportunities throughout the food system. Our latest research focuses on the sustainability challenges facing farmers and the emerging technologies transforming the agriculture industry. In the note, we find that global food demand is increasing along with population growth, which is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. At the same time, extreme weather events, water shortages and harsh industrial agriculture practices are threatening productivity and long-term farm fertility. To fight back, farmers and other agriculture stakeholders are turning to diverse agtech solutions that mitigate sustainability challenges or help adapt to shifting conditions. Here are a few highlights: Emerging technologies, including biotech feed additives, field monitoring and analysis tools, and advanced farm equipment are addressing pollution challenges. Innovative irrigation solutions, indoor farming strategies, and ag biotech inputs are helping agricultural operations adapt to drought. Farms are tackling food waste challenges by identifying new ecommerce sales channels, deploying robotics and automation to perform agricultural tasks, and optimizing farm planning and management with new software tools.
Plant-based patties get all the love, but fake fish is growing out the gills and Big Food wants Plenty of fish in the sea. Plant-based foods have become so mainstream that alt-meat patties are regulars at Burger King, Dunkin’, Starbucks, and Walmart. Oat explosion: The global market for plant-based foods could grow to $450B by 2040, which would represent roughly a quarter of the $1.8T meat market. Soy stars: The growth has been driven by alternative milk and meat, which together make up 55% of total plant-based sales. But in the shadow of Oatly, Beyond Meat, and Impossible Foods, another alt is growing fast: fake fish. Friend keeps telling you to watch “Seaspiracy”... as you inhale spicy tuna rolls. Alternative seafood is one of the fastest growing segments of the plant-based market. Think: tuna made from tomatoes, and artichoke crab cakes. Investment in US plant-based seafood hit $70 million in the first half of 2021 — as much as in the past two years combined. But it still makes up only $12 million, or 0.1% of the $15 billion US seafood market. That’s partly because real seafood has a strong health halo. Cry me a freshwater river… Big Food may have missed the fake meat boom, but it’s not about to miss the fake fish fiesta. Tyson invested in plant-based shellfish company New Wave Foods, which launched its seaweed based shrimp this year. Nestle launched Vuna, a plant-based tuna alternative, last year. It cited stats that 90% of global fish stocks are now fully or nearly depleted. Thai Union Group, which owns tuna legend Chicken of the Sea, already makes plant-based fish and crab, and plans to launch plant-based shrimp this year. You can be late to new trends, but early to the overall opportunity… Big Food was late to plant meat and milk — but early to fake fish. There isn’t yet a dominant player in plant-based seafood, like there is for alt-meat and milk. Plus, the faux meat giants aren’t going after seafood yet. If companies can make plant-based seafood as tasty and nutritious as real fish, they could be early to a big opportunity.
In Q2, Blackstone reported record appreciation in the value of its investments. KKR raised $59 billion last quarter alone, having raised $44 billion in all of 2020. Everything, it seems, is getting easier for public PE giants these days—and the performance shows it. One trend: the timeline for everything has been truncated. Whether it's deploying funds, realizing investments, or the fundraising process in general, everything has shortened and many large funds come back to market quicker than ever. There's a lot more covered in our latest research on public PE firms, including a thorough breakdown of their latest financials.
After back-to-back record quarters for VC activity, enterprise healthtech investment dropped in Q2. Cause for concern? Not according to our analysts, as pressure persists to improve patient outcomes while decreasing costs. Those solutions will largely come from technologies that improve treatment discovery and delivery methods. Highlights from our latest research: Health insurance tech companies are racing to market and require large amounts of capital to meet regulations and invest in value-based care technology to decrease long-term costs. Consumer demand for patient engagement software is high, and these tech-enabled tools enable providers to deliver a robust and flexible experience while limiting labor costs. Real-world evidence has the potential across the entire healthcare ecosystem—including for clinical trials, care provision and determining treatment outcomes.
A record pace of exit activity continues to showcase the maturity of the foodtech sector. Indian food delivery company Zomato went public last month at an $8 billion valuation, and companies like Instacart and Eat Just are also primed for multibillion-dollar listings—perhaps by the end of the year. Our latest sector research offers a look into emerging opportunities in the foodtech space: VC investment of $6.2 billion across 280 deals in Q2 was actually down on a quarterly basis but still very strong historically. Activity was driven by ecommerce and delivery companies. Ultrafast delivery, whereby providers promise deliveries of groceries and high-demand convenience items within 20 minutes (and sometimes even 10 minutes!), has seen a massive surge of investment. Another early category gaining traction is microalgae, a segment within the alternative protein industry, as food scientists continue to explore new technologies that offer health and environmental benefits.
Mobility tech analyst Asad Hussain weighs in on recent developments in the carsharing industry, including the news that Turo has confidentially filed for an IPO: "Carsharing apps offer a significant layer of convenience and accessibility and provide an attractive alternative to the typically cumbersome process of renting a car. "Relative to traditional car rental agencies, P2P providers do not own and operate vehicles, eliminating the costs of fleet procurement and management. This creates a more easily scalable business model that has the potential to drive higher margins. "P2P carsharing is typically less expensive than traditional car rentals and creates a low-touch, seamless digital experience. "As a result, P2P carsharing startups Turo and Getaround are taking market share from the traditional car rental industry, which has struggled from its operations-heavy approach and dependence on business travel. "Turo, in particular, has benefited from pandemic conditions as consumers shy away from air travel in favor for road trips and renting local cars. As consumers can rent vehicles for multiple days, Turo is a great option for socially distanced vacations. "Turo's listing would mark the latest of a swathe of EV/mobility companies to go public, mostly through SPAC mergers. The company's decision to forgo a SPAC in favor of a traditional IPO is indicative of a broader cooling of sentiment toward SPACs. "Our EV/Mobility Price Change Index recorded a 9% loss in the first half of 2021, significantly underperforming the S&P 500's gain of 15.3% over the same period—even as several newly public mobility companies such as Nikola, Lordstown, and Canoo have hit snags."
Our insights and data featured in the press: DoorDash continues to expand into new verticals as the world of on-demand evolves. "Amazon can't handle the delivery needs of everyone." [Bloomberg] But…the FTC's scrutiny over Uber's Drizly acquisition and Gopuff partnership indicates concern over power consolidation. "For food delivery companies, there's only so many levers they can pull to make money." [Quartz] What are the factors supercharging M&A activity? "The combination of cheap financing, high stock prices, and highly confident executives is a recipe for dealmaking." [Private Equity Wire] VC investment is growing at the intersection of AI and medical imaging, "but there's still uneven adoption overall and a degree of skepticism from health care providers."
Green is the new black and cannabis is on a tear with sales at the top 10 publicly traded cannabis companies more than doubling over the last year. Scotts Miracle-Gro, the garden company whose cannabis subsidiary boomed last quarter, launched a cannabis investment arm last week. The new division already invested $150 million in a Canadian cannabis company. Also: last week, a $500M ecomm site Leafly announced plans to go public via SPAC later this year. After an infrastructure appetizer… it’s time to discuss the entree. Last week, a bipartisan group of Senators passed a historic $1T infrastructure bill to improve roads and rail, internet access, and EV networks. The tab will be partly funded by crypto taxes and Covid funds. But there’s a hook — House Dems plan to stall unless they can also tack on a $3.5T social and climate package. If the bills pass, they could kick off a new era of big government.
The DIY boom is ending, but someone still needs to fix the faucet. DIY-mania powered strong 2020 sales at Home Depot and Lowe’s. But last quarter, sales of “pro” products for contractors exceeded sales from DIYers at both companies — and helped their sales continue rising year-over-year. We’ll see if their new focus on pros through everything from tool rentals to supply chain improvements has paid off when both companies report earnings this week. Shop until the stimmies stop! After a spring of up-and-down consumer spending, retail sales rose above pre-pandemic levels in June as people spent padded savings and leftover stimulus cash on electronics, cars, and online classes. But inflation, the spread of Delta, and the end of stimulus payments could dampen the buzz. We’ll get a pulse check on America’s shopping spree when the July retail sales report, which tracks retail and restaurant spending, drops on Tuesday to see the results of the stimulus checks so far.
Seeding and anchoring: Options for accelerating the first-time fundraise. Competition to raise new personal equity funds has never been fiercer. Despite the quality of new managers seeking capital, first-time vehicles as a proportion of closed PE funds declined in 2020 and again in H1 2021. Our new data breaks down how seed and anchor commitments can help accelerate fundraising processes for new managers. A few key takeaways include: An anchor is a large LP commitment accompanied by fee-and-carry discounts. In a seed deal, in exchange for a substantial fund commitment and, in some cases, providing operating capital, the seeder receives an economic share in the GP, the management company or both. Most LPs that seed or anchor first-time funds fall into one of five categories: sponsors, large institutional LPs, funds-of-funds, family offices or endowments. The decision to take a seed or anchor is unique to each manager. First-time fund managers need to weigh the economics they'll be giving up against the potential benefits. Seeders must be highly selective in the managers they choose to back in order to avoid adverse selection effects.
WeWork is partnering with Saks Fifth Avenue to launch in-store working spaces – this time it doesn't own the leases. Can this help rescue the ravaged company and its downtrodden investors? Disney shares jumped last week after its theme parks returned to profit – but its real focus is Disney+ and its Great Media Experiment. #Benefits: Walmart and Target offer to pay 100% of college tuition for workers as companies amp up benefits to lure workers. Focus: Charles Darwin, Virgina Woolf, and Thomas Jefferson all used this three-or-four hour rule to fuel their best creative work. Make the most of your well-earned time off by planning ahead. The Ford F-150 is the best-selling car in the US — but the rest of the world has different tastes for trucks. Royal Dutch Shell finally paid an $111 million fine last week for an oil spill that happened 54 years ago in the country of Nigeria. Better late than never? Upwork CEO Hayden Brown shares her thoughts on how freelancing is changing the world of work. How can we protect outdoor workers facing heat, smoke and humidity? Technology might have the answer. How following the venture capital dollars provides insight on the next big real estate booms.
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At the start of July, Facebook announced that it would begin to pay video content creators a percentage of video ad sales. Facebook's new undertaking and foray into the YouTube-dominated world of online video publishing will feature two new initiatives: Suggested Videos and their accompanying Ad Revenue Share Program.
In the past, YouTubers have used Facebook's massive reach to successfully promote and drive views to their YouTube-hosted videos. With the advent of Facebook's new video ad share program, content creators will not only be able to leverage Facebook's immense exposure, but also get paid directly for their video views.
Presently, Facebook is offering these new initiative opportunities only to a few select major publishers including NBA, Hearst Corporation, Fox Sports, Funny or Die, and Tastemade. At this point, it is unclear when Facebook will begin to offer this new revenue share program with individual content creators. Nevertheless prominent YouTubers like The Young Turks (part of the MCN TYT Network), Viner Arron Crascall, and multi-platform creator The Eh Bee Family all have seen success sharing their videos on Facebook.
Facebook's new Suggest Video platform will debut first to iOS in the upcoming few weeks.
What's New? Dedicated Video Feed + Ad Share Split
With Facebook's new Suggested Videos, the user will be redirected to the new feature after playing a video on their News Feed. Unlike YouTube, which features it's video ads at the start of each video viewed, Facebook's video ad content will autoplay (with sound) interspersed among creator content in the new Suggested Video feed.


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CBGB CLOTHES: CBGB, the downtown club best known for its part in shaping the punk music scene, will launch an apparel line to be produced by junior firm One Clothing.
One Clothing has been making CBGB T-shirts for five years, but this is the club’s first effort at a full line.
The premier offering will consist of animal prints in stretch twill, microfiber pieces, pinstriped bell-bottoms and long-sleeved cotton shirts, all featuring the club’s logo. One Clothing will work in partnership with CBGB to develop the line, which is slated to bow this summer.
Initial distribution will be at the club, located at the corner of Bleecker Street and the Bowery in Manhattan, and on the CBGB Web site, although distribution may be expanded at a later date, One Clothing said. Retail prices will range from $19.99 to $89.99.
FUBU FILM: Fubu is branching out into Hollywood.
The giant sportswear company has signed a deal with Artists Television Group to develop television programming, feature films and videos.
Under the agreement, ATG will have first rights to develop all Fubu’s properties, and Fubu executives will be executive producers on all properties produced through the deal.
Leslie Short, Fubu’s vice president of marketing, said the deal was part of the company’s plan to be a lifestyle firm.
“This is something the company’s principals have always wanted to do, and it is part of our whole lifestyle concept,” Short said.
She noted that Fubu’s principals, Daymond John, Keith Perrin, Carl Brown and J. Martin, are currently working on projects, and the first joint effort will be a movie.
“ATG and Fubu share the same vision — to be innovators who can reach out to new audiences and into new communications channels,” said Eric Tannenbaum, president and chief executive officer of ATG. “We know the Fubu creativity will successfully translate into a wide range of entertainment-based endeavors, and we’re thrilled to partner with them on those activities.”
Daymond John, Fubu’s chief executive officer, said, “Both companies enjoy strong ties with entertainers, and we look forward to an exciting and productive partnership as we move forward on our joint projects.”
CANDY TIME: Candy Rain Sales has opened a new showroom at 1411 Broadway in New York.
The junior sportswear firm, which opened late last year, had been sharing a showroom at 1407 Broadway, but decided to move into its own space based on strong initial sales, said Scott Eisenberg, president of Candy Rain Sales.
Candy Rain primarily makes trendy, novelty items such as stretch denim and faux leather and suede under private label, and expects to have a volume of about $5 million this year, according to Eisenberg.


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In anticipation for the big demand on its all-new G2 Smartphone model that will hit the local market soon, LG Jordan has launched a limited pre-ordering campaign on its 'LG Jordan' page on Facebook.
With the pre-order option launched, LG G2 fans will be able to register their names and pre-book units of the iconic smartphone on the Facebook page.
The one-week offer will allow the first 100 pre-bookers to win a free 'Quick Window' cover specially designed to protect their valuable device while enjoying its complete features.
The LG Jordan campaign is expected to draw a great number of Jordanian buyers, who reviewed the beautifully designed G2 features online, as it gained attention worldwide within the tech community.
The concept of G2 is based on the company's research of consumer lifestyle and trends, while providing its buyers more real-life benefits such as practical utilities, a slick design and above all: an intuitive user experience.
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Square Enix has officially released information about its upcoming Tomb Raider game and released a new teaser trailer for the game as well!
Called Shadow of the Tomb Raider, this will be the third Tomb Raider game to come out from the studio and it could potentially be set around the Mayan pyramids in South America!
Check out the full teaser below!
Shadow of the Tomb Raider will release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on September 14 with more details on the game to come on April 27!
There also is apparently a puzzle that you can solve on the game's website that may get you an invite to the reveal event if you solve it!


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Holden has partnered with SBS to launch its latest masterbrand campaign, focused on recognising and rewarding Australians driving positive social and cultural change in their communities.
The campaign, ‘Supporting Drivers of Change’, features six notable Australians from all walks of life.
Among them is Auburn Giants AFLW team founder Amna K Hassan, journalist Patrick Abboud (pictured above), ‘Queen of Resilience’ Stacey Copas, hip-hop artist L-FRESH The Lion, orthopaedic surgeon and activist Munjed Al Muderis, and blood cancer researcher Louise Purton.
Each of the ambassadors have been selected based on the inspiring work they’re doing to advance the issues that matter most to modern Australians, including diversity, social responsibility, equality, and innovation.
They are featured in a series of integrated TVCs currently being broadcast across the SBS network, sharing their stories and what drives them to do what they do.
To inspire others seeking to make a difference, Holden is also running a competition in conjunction with the campaign, asking all Australians to share how they would drive change, for the chance to win a $50,000 grant to bring their initiative to life.
Holden’s executive director of marketing, Mark Harland, said the campaign is about seeking out those in the community who are driving meaningful change on topical issues that Australians are discussing.
“SBS and the ‘Drivers of Change’ ambassadors are passionate about creating a better future for all Australians – we’re proud to be part of that and can’t wait to tell those stories.”
Holden and SBS worked closely with media agency Carat to bring the campaign to life.
Natalie Kean, head of Carat’s partnerships and integration department, Connect, described the campaign as great example of a brand understanding society’s role as a major stakeholder in their business.
“This campaign is a marked departure from most automotive brand campaigns, most notably for the fact there isn’t a single car visible anywhere. Holden were truly committed to focusing on the story-telling aspect,” she said.
“When connected with the right partner, in SBS, the result’s been really powerful from a content perspective.”
The TVCs are currently running across SBS, including broadcast, digital and social, with the campaign further amplified in cinemas nationally and via a partnership with Joy FM.
The competition closes 15 April.
In this opinion piece, Jess Miles, Country Manager ANZ of Integral Ad Science, reflects on the questions surrounding consumer data. The ability to collect consumer data online has revolutionised digital advertising by enabling customised targeting strategies and data collection. This reliance on data has been the cornerstone of many audience targeted strategies enabling marketers to […]
After ten years of board leadership of the young entrepreneurial collective Vibewire, Founder & Co-CEO of Disruptors Co. Gavin Heaton is passing the torch to fellow strategy and creative leader Jye Smith, Founder and Director of branding and design studio DOUBLESTAR CO, who will now take over as Board President.
Lexer, the Customer Data Platform for brands and retailers, today announced it has raised AU$33.5 million in Series B funding, bringing its total funding to AU$43 million. The round was led by Blackbird Ventures and King River Capital, with Series A investor January Capital also participating. Blackbird’s Rick Baker will join the Lexer board. The […]


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Plague.Inc Got A Massive Popularity because Corona Virus Outbreak!
Wuhan Resident is currently dealing with one of the worst virus outbreak called Corona Virus. Not only Wuhan but also China and other nearby country are dealing with the outbreaks. Taking measurements regarding the outbreaks, and helping one another. However, there are many victims that are being held by the virus.
But as the outbreak continues to expand and spread, a game that is wildly popular about virtual outbreaks, Plague.Inc had a massive growth in popularity. The game that is made by Ndemic Creation and Miniclip SA. The game is gaining one of the massive growth in sales on iOS.
In China that is the source of the outbreak, the game got into the top chart of the week in App Store, while the free version of Android also got a massive download growth on the site.
The real-world virus outbreak also brought out the black humor in gamers. 2012’s Plague Inc. — where players evolve a pathogen to wipe out humanity — is now China’s top paid iOS game. https://t.co/JdYrVJzwZX pic.twitter.com/inJ5jGvEJ2
— Zheping Huang (@pingroma) January 22, 2020
For those that are unfamiliar with the game, It is about a mad scientist that is trying to infect the entire world with a deadly virus. It is not surprising since there is a meme regarding the game and the massive outbreak which makes this game experienced a surge in popularity last week.
But it seems that it is not the first time this type of thing happened. Since James Vaughan, founder of Ndemic Creation and creator of the game said that “Whenever there is an outbreak of disease we see an increase in players, as player seek to find out more about how the disease spread and to understand the complexities of the viral outbreak”
Of course, the player needs to note that it is just a game. It doesn’t represent the outbreak itself, and Ndemic Creation also urges players concerned about the coronavirus to check the WHO (World Health Organization) site for the latest information!


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Telecoms regulator Ofcom has finally revealed plans for the auctioning off of the fourth generation bandwidth (4G) for mobile phone services. Although the announcement was greeted with some small sense of enthusiasm, it has to be said that it’s been a long time coming. There has been repeated criticism from telecommunications companies and businesses that Ofcom has been too slow getting its act in order, and that while it dithered in setting up the auction, our European counterparts have been forging ahead and creaming off a large slice of the new market. Ofcom, by contrast has blamed external factors like internal telecom litigation for the delay, and is at pains to point out that the roll out of the 4G service will still in line with its previous timetable.
The sales process for the auction will start later this year, but it is believed that bidding will not actually begin until early 2013. The regulator maintains that consumers will start to see the service rolled out between late 2013 and early 2014. The auction will offer the equivalent of three-quarters of the mobile spectrum currently in use – some 80 percent more than released in the 3G auction which took place in 2000.
However, Ofcom has also stipulated that it wants to see greater competition in the market which will drive lower prices. To that end it has suggested a new market entrant, Hutchinson 3G as a potential new operator, although this is not as yet set in stone. There are currently only 3 major players in the market: Everything Everywhere, (the merged operator of Orange and T-Mobile) Vodafone and Telefónica, which owns O2. A spokesperson for Ofcom told the BBC:
“In the interests of competition, Ofcom has decided to reserve a minimum amount of spectrum in the auction for a fourth operator. This could be either Hutchinson 3G or a new entrant altogether.”
During the auction period Ofcom will sell chunks of the radio spectrum to support future 4G mobile services: these will allow users to download data like music and video at considerably faster speeds. However, although the infrastructure is in place to use these services sooner, the regulator has insisted that the spectrum to support 4G services will not be made available until the latter end of 2013. Ofcom believes its plans should see mobilerolled out to at least 98 percent of people in rural areas across the UK by 2014.


text: Meredith Corporation's Southern Living reports that its December issue ad revenue is up 51% from last year, its monthly year-to-date audience across digital, print and online has averaged 25.5 million, up 2% from 2019 (AAM, Sept. 2020) and its website experienced its highest trafficked November in its history with nearly 19 million visits, up 23% year over year. The December issue, on newsstands now, marks the 25th year of the brand's popular annual holiday white cake cover and feature story. Continuing to advance the brand's momentum, Southern Living will introduce enhanced paper stock, along with a refreshed design, beginning with the January/February 2021 issue. A new front-of-book section called "In Season" will debut to reflect readers' passionate interest in seasonal moments, experiences and celebrations, and a range of new columns will roll out in various issues throughout the year covering topics ranging from home and cooking to travel and beauty. Doug Olson, President of Meredith Magazines, said, "Southern Living's success underscores the brand's resonance with people across the South and beyond. The brand's rich heritage coupled with its modern take on the Southern lifestyle continues to appeal to marketers seeking the right environment to reach engaged consumers across the country. With our investment in improved paper, we're excited to provide an even better reader experience."