With the recent acquisition of the news app company, Summly, Yahoo continues its current trend to purchase innovative offers rather than design its own. Over the course of the last year, it acquired six start-up companies: Snip.It, OnTheAir, Jybe, Stamped, Alike, and Propeld. These companies add to Yahoo’s strategy to develop its mobile social marketing…
The Economist presents the latest Barbie Paradox index first formulated by economist, Matthew Notowidigdo. The “Barbie I can be” collection offers a wide variety of “dressed for success” career dolls that include the necessary accessories for participating in the related career. In theory, the dolls cost the same to make and have equivalent accessories. As…
The Eurozone economy continues to wallow in dismal results. Inflation fell to 1.8% in February, but unemployment overall rose to 11.9% in January, which represents 19 million people out of work. The unemployed include 23.6% of youth under 25 years of age. Consumer demand dropped and the Markit Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, at 47.9…
Seeking to do its part to boost the American economy, Walmart announces a significant, ten year investment in U.S.-made products worth $50 billion that will include sporting goods and high-end appliances. This follows on its previous campaigns that included products in sporting goods, basic apparel, storage containers, games and paper products. To further its commitment…
Gold-mining returns to California after a six decade hiatus. Canadian company, Sutter Gold Mining Inc., controls mining rights to approximately 3.6 miles of the California Mother Lode Gold Belt in Amador County, California. The primary focus today is the Lincoln-Comet zone of the Lincoln Project that is at the heart of the Mother Lode region. …
Iron ore mining costs rise beyond control for Anglo American’s Minas-Rio Brazil project. Permit and licensing difficulties with the Brazilian government led the company to write down $4 billion in the project value this month. This may be the first of other write downs, as costs continue to rise over three times beyond the original…
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published its findings for 2011. While global total filings are increasing (2.13 million patents/ 4.2 million trademarks), China now files the most patent and trademark applications in the world. France is responsible for the largest number of repeat patents being filed for the same technology in different parts of…
After five years of stiff competition for its Fresh & Easy brand in the US, Tesco Plc. announced in December that it is reviewing its commitment to staying in the US market. Returning to its roots in the UK, Tesco CEO, Phil Clarke is positioning the firm to service its home market first and then…
Silicon Valley companies listen to Clayton Christensen, HBS professor, when he discusses his theories on disruptive innovation. The Health Trust, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to the protection of health in its community, centers its work on three initiatives: the healthy living initiative, the healthy aging initiative, and the healthy communities’ initiative. Through grants, it…
Egypt lies at the mouth of the Nile River, where it joins the Mediterranean Sea. The source lies in countries to the south including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and North and South Sudan. Egypt depends upon the river for 95% of its water needs, thus making it a critical resource for the country’s…