Entertainment
Coke And Pepsi Forced To Join Forces At Last, After Being Sued
By Matthew Swigonski
| Published
For decades, Pepsi and Coke have engaged in a bitter and bubbly rivalry, duking it out in an attempt to see which of the two beverage companies is able to come out on top and claim the soft drink throne as their own. But finally, after all of these sugar-filled years, the two companies have something in common that will force them to set aside their differences and work together to defeat a foe. In a lawsuit filed on October 30 in a Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles County has alleged that Pepsi and Coke have purposefully misled the public regarding just how recyclable their plastic bottles are, leading to a negative impact on the environment.
Soft Drinks And The War On Pollution
According to the Coke and Pepsi lawsuit, Los Angeles County argues that the two companies have not only downplayed their role in the increasing pollution across the globe, but impacting the health of millions of people due to the prevalence of microplastics.
In a statement regarding the lawsuit, Los Angeles County supervisor Lindsey Horvath pointedly accused each company of not acting in good faith. “Coke and Pepsi need to stop the deception and take responsibility for the plastic pollution problems your products are causing,” Horvath said. “Los Angeles County will continue to address the serious environmental impacts caused by companies engaging in misleading and unfair business practices.”
Los Angeles County’s lawsuit claims that Coke and Pepsi should be held liable due to the companies’ stranglehold on the bottled beverage market, making up an overwhelming percentage of the plastic pollution currently afflicting many areas in the world, specifically in Los Angeles. As of 2024, Coke owns beverage brands such as Dasani, Fanta, Sprite, Vitamin Water, and Smartwater. Meanwhile, Pepsi currently owns brands like Gatorade, Aquafina, Mountain Dew, and Lipton.
Make Up A Hefty Amount Of Plastic Pollution Combined
According to a recent study by a research team led by data scientist Win Cowger, Coke and its stable of brands are responsible for 11 percent of all plastic pollution plaguing our environment, with Pepsi accounting for an additional 5 percent of the pollution.
Over the last five years, the two beverage companies have been ranked as the world’s top plastic polluters, with Coke continuously owning the top spot. In the research team’s analysis, they concluded that Coke produces around 3.224 million metric tons of plastic annually, with Pepsi producing about 2.5 million metric tons each year.
As of November 2, neither Coke or Pepsi have commented on the allegations inside the lawsuit, though they have rebuffed previous claims that their plastic products were not recyclable. William Dermody, the vice president for media and public affairs for the American Beverage Association, whose members include Coke and Pepsi, denied that beverage companies purposefully mislead the public. “The allegation that our packaging is not and will not be recycled is simply not true,” Dermody said.
Won A Similar Lawsuit In New York
This isn’t the first time that Pepsi or Coke have each faced a lawsuit over the prevalence of their plastic waste polluting the environment. On October 31, Pepsi won the dismissal of New York’s lawsuit accusing the beverage company of polluting the environment with single-use plastic packaging. New York Attorney General Letitia James was seeking to hold Pepsi liable for endangering Buffalo’s water supply by generating 17 percent of the plastic waste found in and near the Buffalo River, but the judge presiding over the case threw the case out, claiming that the pollution was the responsibility of the consumers, not the company to adhere recycling guidelines.
Source: AP News
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
