IBIS World releases list of best and worst industries for 2014

Source: News.com.au

The world is your oyster, unless you want to own a DVD store, according to IBISWorld. Picture: Thinkstock

The world is your oyster, unless you want to own a DVD store, according to IBISWorld. Picture: Thinkstock Source: ThinkStock

IT’S a great time to be in gemstones or online shopping, but if you dream of starting your own video store, look out.

That’s according to the latest list of industries set to fly and fall in 2014 released by research company IBISWorld.

General manager Karen Dobie said it’s forecast to be a great year for diamond and gemstone mining, which is set to receive a 24 per cent boost taking revenue to $821.9 million, amid strong demand from South-East Asia.

“High-quality stones as a share of total output is expected to increase, which will have a positive impact on total industry revenue,” she said.

Superannuation funds will also be big business as sharemarkets return to levels seen before the financial crisis. The sector is expected to grow 23 per cent to take revenue to $356.6 billion due to the increased super guarantee and stable labour market.

“Characterised by a growing labour force, the conditions in our employment market mean more people are contributing to superannuation than before,” Ms Dobie said.

Aussie super funds are in for a good year as sharemarkets recover and the labour force stays steady. Picture: Thinkstock

Aussie super funds are in for a good year as sharemarkets recover and the labour force stays steady. Picture: Thinkstock Source: ThinkStock

Organic farmers will also be in for a boost as organic products become more mainstream. Revenues in the sector are expected to rise nearly 14 per cent to more than $707 million.

“A broader selection of organic foods in supermarkets, independent retailers and markets should assist in increasing sales and driving revenue for primary producers. This will include more private-label organic products available at lower pricepoints”, Ms Dobie said.

Online shoppers and internet publishing are also expected to take off as people increasingly live their lives online.

The online retailing sector will rise 13 per cent to become a $13.2 billion industry while internet publishing will grow by 11 per cent to become a $1.7 billion sector, IBISWorld forecasts.

Organic farming is set to be a high growth area in 2014. Picture: Thinkstock

Organic farming is set to be a high growth area in 2014. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

However it’s not such a rosy picture for other industries, with some set to experience major downturns.

Video and DVD hire shops will suffer due to competition online with the industry contracting 15 per cent to $534.2 million, while sugar cane growers will also have it tough due to extreme weather conditions.

After years of booming mineral exploration, this sector will shrink nearly 8 per cent as the Chinese economy slows down and companies shift their focus from exploration to production.

Newspaper publishing will also take a hit with more people getting their news online, IBISWorld reports.

Horse and dog racing will also suffer, with $1.6 billion in revenue down nearly 4 per cent on the previous year due to tighter regulations and falling attendance.

IBISWorld’s industries set to rise in 2014

• Diamond and gemstone mining

• Superannuation funds

• Organic farming

• Online shopping

• Internet publishing and broadcasting

Industries set to fall in 2014

• Video and DVD hire outlets

• Sugar cane growing

• Mineral exploration

• Newspaper publishing

• Horse and dog racing

The Other Woman, the latest film from Greek American director Nick Cassavetes

the other woman trailer

The Other Woman 2014 trailer – Official movie trailer in HD 720p – starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton, Nicki Minaj, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau – directed by Melissa Stack – After realizing that her boyfriend is married and has another girlfriend, she teams up with the wife and the new girlfriend to plot revenge.

“The Other Woman” movie hits theaters on April 25, 2014.

After discovering her boyfriend is married, a woman (Cameron Diaz) tries to get her ruined life back on track. But when she accidentally meets the wife he’s been cheating on (Leslie Mann), she realizes they have much in common, and her sworn enemy becomes her greatest friend. When yet another affair is discovered (Kate Upton), all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on their cheating, lying, three-timing SOB. The Other Woman movie trailer 2014 is presented in full HD 720p high resolution.

THE OTHER WOMAN 2014 Movie
Genre: Comedy
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kate Upton, Taylor Kinney, Nicki Minaj
Writers: Melissa StackThe Other Woman official movie trailer courtesy 20th Century Fox.

So you find out your fella has a wife. Then you conspire against your fella with said wife, only to discover he has a second mistress as well. Oh, and that mistress happens to be Kate Upton. That’s the tragic predicament that’s befallen Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann in “The Other Woman.” They play the original mistress and wife, respectively, of the philanderer in question (“Game of Thrones” star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). BUT WAIT. They spot another mistress as well, and now all three of them are joining forces to sabotage their fella’s life.

It’s the ultimate Broken-Hearts Club, replete with heavy drinking, champagne-brunch toasts to taking fidelity by the horns and strolls through Central Park to plot revenge. Along the way, Nicki Minaj makes her live-action film debut as Diaz’s advice-lending assistant.

“The Other Woman” is directed by Nick Cassavetes (“The Notebook,” “My Sister’s Keeper”). Vengeance will be theirs on April 25, 2014.

Field Museum plans major exhibit of Greek antiquities

Source: ChicagoBusiness.com

The Field Museum's exhibit will include a replica of the golden mask of Agamemnon

The Field Museum’s exhibit will include a replica of the golden mask of Agamemnon

The Field Museum is planning a major exhibition with the government of Greece and 17 museums from that country to showcase some of the world’s oldest antiquities, including a replica of the golden mask of Agamemnon and a bust of Alexander the Great.

“It will be a blockbuster. It will have materials that have never left Greece before. It’s a real coup,” Field Museum President and CEO Richard Lariviere said during a presentation today about the museum’s strategic plan before members of the City Club of Chicago.

The 2015 showcase of Greek antiquities (being done with the National Hellenic Museum) and other upcoming exhibits are part of a larger effort to attract visitors, especially Chicagoans, Mr. Lariviere said. Of the 1.3 million visitors to the museum last year, he said 1 million came from out of state.

Mr. Lariviere, who was hired for the top job at the Field in 2012, spent much of last year dealing with the effects of the recession and a goal to cut $5 million in costs from the museum, or about 8 percent of its $65 million operating budget. The museum also has taken heat for borrowing irresponsibility and for selling Western artifacts in 2004 as a result of financial stress. Mr. Lariviere glossed over the museum’s finances today, except to say it was financially healthy and that its bond rating had been boosted.

After the event, he said it was on track to eliminate $5 million from its operating budget, which was reported last year.

In a Q&A period of the discussion, Mr. Lariviere was asked, “Did you do the right thing when you sold the Indian paintings?” The reference was to those works sold in 2004.

“I wasn’t there,” Mr. Lariviere said.

He spent much of his time today talking about the behind-the-scenes work in research that goes on at the museum, which is ranked among the world’s top scientific institutions, next to the Smithsonian in Washington, the American Museum in New York and the London Museum of Natural history.

“The real value, the lasting impact (of the museum) lies in its collections and its efforts to translate science into action,” he said.

He pointed to the Field’s vast collection of peregrine falcon eggs determining that DDT was the cause of the bird’s near demise, which ultimately prompted the federal government to ban the use of DDT. “It was the salvation of the bald eagle and the falcon and who knows how many other birds that were saved as a result,” he said.

And when a panda was born recently at the Smithsonian Zoo, its DNA was compared to the DNA of pandas, snow leopards and other endangered species that were shot by explorer Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt, and stored at the Field.

The costs of such research and the storage of those species are great and require the museum to rethink how it does business.

To address that, the Field is going to open up behind-the-scenes tours for the public into its treasures. Of the museum’s 1.3 million square feet, only 300,000 is open to the public now.

Mr. Lariviere says the Field will open new labs that will allow the public to see scientists in action, similar to ones now open that show DNA sequencing and fossil extraction.

Other additions to the museum include bringing out rare objects in the museum’s collection and a soundscape exhibit that will take visitors on an audio tour back in time. The museum also will continue showcasing exhibits like the recent display of a meteorite that was found in Russia.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to clarify that the mask of Agamemnon is a replica.

Australian Open R1: Denis Istomin defeats Marcos Baghdatis 6-4 7-5 6-4

Source: ausopen.com

Marcos Baghdatis

Can it really be eight years since Marcos Baghdatis took the Australian Open by storm and, cheered on by every Greek in Melbourne (and there are a lot of them in this town), made his way to the final? Eight years? It cannot be.

As Baghdatis has discovered to his cost since that magical two weeks in 2006, living up to your past is never easy. The loveable Baggy has done his best every year but it has been getting progressively harder – his best result in the intervening years is fourth round appearance in 2009 – and on the opening day of this year’s tournament he was undone by Denis Istomin 6-4 7-5 6-4. Melbourne Park sighed; the owners of a well-known Greek hostelry in Lonsdale Street groaned (they had received two weeks of free publicity back in 2006 when the young Mr B admitted that his run to the final had been fuelled almost exclusively by their souvlakis and they look forward his return every January).

Alas, the Baggy of 2014 is now 28 years old, and his ranking has slumped to No.108 in the world. His supporters are still as enthusiastic as ever – and they were in fine voice in Margaret Court Arena on Monday night – and while he tries as hard as he ever did, age and a string of injuries have taken their toll. Baggy is not what he was.

He ran and he fought and he pulled off the occasional stunning winner, but it was not enough. The crowd tried to lift their man but no amount of cheering, clapping and singing can turn back the clock. Istomin, hardly a spring chicken himself at the age of 27, just did everything a little more solidly, a little more patiently and, ultimately, a little bit better than the crowd’s darling. With a handful more winners and a few less errors, the world No.49 from Uzbekistan was edging his way to a second-round appointment with Dmitry Tursunov, and Baghdatis was facing his first-ever opening-round defeat at the Australian Open.

A couple of years ago while he was losing in the second round here to Stanislas Wawrinka, Baggy blew a gasket and managed to smash four rackets in the space of just 25 seconds. So angry was the Cypriot that he did not even bother to take the last two rackets out of their plastic wrapper. Losing hurt. It hurt lots, and Baggy could not bear it. This time around, Baghdatis could not even dredge up that level of fury and, instead, took his beating squarely on the chin. Istomin was just too good on the night, and there was absolutely nothing the former finalist could do about it.

After two hours and 36 minutes, the crowd filed out of the arena, making a note in the diaries to come back this time next year for another bout of Baggy-mania, but they know there cannot be many more. Injuries and ranking permitting, their man will be back, but it will never be like it was all those years ago. No, living up to your own past is never easy.

Birmingham City: Darren Ambrose to leave Blues for Greek club

Source: BBC.com

Birmingham City midfielder Darren Ambrose

Birmingham City midfielder Darren Ambrose is set to leave Blues for Greek Super League side Apollon Smyrni.

The 29-year-old has made just 10 appearances since signing for Blues from Crystal Palace on a two-year contract in the summer of 2012.

Subject to passing a medical on Monday afternoon, he will move to Athens on loan until the end of the season.

“For whatever reason, it hasn’t worked out here. That can happen in a player’s career,” said Blues boss Lee Clark.

“I’ve no doubt there’s a talented player there.

“It’s a fresh start for his family and the weather will be a bit warmer there.”

Ambrose’s move, which takes him to the end of his Blues contract, may yet be offset by additions to Clark’s injury-weakened squad.

“We’re still pursuing it. We haven’t given up on hoping that he might come back to us”

Blues boss Lee Clark on Jesse Lingard

The Blues boss is down to using the experienced duo of midfielder Hayden Mullins and defender Paul Robinson in unfamiliar positions, and is hopeful that he will be allowed centre-back Dan Burn back on loan from Fulham later this week.

But he knows that he will have limited funds in the January transfer window.

“I’ve got a budget that’s been set out for me as to what I can do in the January window and Darren’s departure doesn’t really add to it,” he told BBC WM.

“I’m just trying to juggle where we most need to strengthen.

“We’ve only got two fit strikers in Nikola Zigic and Lee Novak and I’ve only got Hayden Mullins and Paul Robinson at centre-half, with Will Packwood as back-up.

“Tom Adeyemi has a back problem and Peter Lovenkrands picked up a groin injury with the last kick of training.

“But I read [Fulham boss] Rene Meulensteen’s comments that Dan will be involved for Fulham in their FA Cup replay with Norwich and that he will probably then go back to Birmingham as his development has come on so quickly.

“Dan has gone back to them and looked a different player. So we’re hoping that he’ll be ready for us against Yeovil this weekend.”

Clark has also not given up on bringing Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard back to St Andrew’s, despite him earning a first-team call-up for his parent club on Saturday evening against Swansea.

“He was in the 18 on Saturday and that makes it a bit more difficult,” said Clark. “But we’re still pursuing it. We haven’t given up on hoping that he might come back to us.”

Bruised Greek Socialists Face Polls Under New Name

Source: Associated Press

Greece’s once-dominant Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement, or Pasok, will participate in May’s European Parliament elections as part of a new center-left alliance and not independently, after popular support for the party collapsed during the country’s painful economic bailout.

Pasok officials said Monday that its candidates would seek election in the May 22-25 polls under a newly formed Progressive Democrats’ Party, created by center-left politicians and academics. A similar alliance is also planned for local government elections, also planned for May.

The Socialists dominated Greek politics for decades, but their popularity has been hammered as voters blamed the party for the country’s severe financial crisis and grew angry at austerity measures imposed under the country’s bailout.

Support for Pasok fell below 5 percent in a December tracking poll, tumbling from nearly 44 percent in a landslide general election victory in 2009.

“We would like to see our cooperation extended to national elections … Our party salutes the decision to create a broader alliance,” Dimitris Karidis, a Pasok spokesman, told the AP.

Pasok is currently the junior coalition partner in government with its traditional rivals, the center-right New Democracy, as the two parties face a growing challenge from anti-bailout political groups.

The Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement was founded 40 years ago by charismatic late prime minister Andreas Papandreou, months after the collapse of a military dictatorship, and swept to power in 1981. The party presided over extended periods of economic growth, spending 24 years in one-party governments and coalitions, but has been criticized for patronage in the public sector and cronyism.

The party currently dominates local government as well as the country’s representation in the European Parliament.

Analyst George Tzogopoulos said Pasok’s decision could limit the extent of its expected punishing defeat in the upcoming elections.

“The more the center-left is united, the better for them,” said Tzogopoulos, a senior researcher at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy.

“Although the main challenge for them remains their alienation from voters, wider cooperation could soften the expected blow at the ballot box.”

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