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The rankings reveal the most positively perceived brands in India
YouGov’s annual brand health rankings reveal that Google is the most positively perceived brand in India. The global search engine giant sits ahead of WhatsApp and YouTube, who are placed at second and third, respectively.
The rankings are based on the Index score from YouGov BrandIndex, which measures overall brand health. The score takes into account consumers’ perception of a brand’s overall quality, value, impression, reputation, satisfaction and whether consumers would recommend the brand to others.
E-commerce giant Amazon lands at four and Uber is at seven, followed by Facebook at eight. The data shows that amidst these global giants, home-grown brands such as Swiggy and MakeMyTrip make an appearance in the list at fifth and sixth, respectively. Even Ola and Zomato appear in the list of top 10 brands, at ninth and tenth, respectively.
YouGov also revealed the brands that have made the greatest improvement to their Index score over the past 12 months. Uber EATS is the most improved brand of 2019, with a change in score of +12, moving from 6 in 2018 to 18 in 2019.
Last year saw Zomato grab a lot of headline for a lot of reasons. These movements have helped the brand strengthen its perception among consumers. On top of making it to the list of top 10 bands, Zomato has recorded a great improvement of +11 to its score in the past 12 months and has become the second-best improver 2019.
Swiggy and Instagram the third and fourth most improved brands. The list of improvers sees a dominance of financial brands such as Kotak Mahindra Bank (3), Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance (2), HDFC Bank (2) and Axis Bank (2).
Amazon (2) and Marriott (2) are the other brands that make up the list of top 10 improvers of 2019.
YouGov also released the global annual brand health rankings for 2019. The global rankings reveal that eight of the top ten healthiest brands in the world are considered tech companies.
Google once again takes the top spot in our yearly ranking, followed by WhatsApp, YouTube, Samsung, and Facebook.
In fact, the only non-tech brands to crack the top 10 in the annual ranking are Nike, the US shoe company that caused a stir with its advertising campaign in 2018, and IKEA, which remains strong just like last year.
For this year’s list, YouGov used data from 29 countries – data from markets that cover three sectors or fewer were not counted in the global top 10.
The 250 brands in YouGov BrandIndex were ranked based on the Index score, which is a measure of overall brand health calculated by taking the average of Impression, Quality, Value, Satisfaction, Recommend, and Reputation.
The Index Rankings chart shows the brands with the highest average Index scores for the 12-month period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019. The Index Improvers chart ranks the brands with the highest increase in Index, comparing scores from the previous 12-month period. All scores are based on a representative sample of the general population of adults 18+.
All Index scores listed have been rounded to a single decimal place; however, we have used additional precision to assign ranks.
All brands must have been tracked for at least 6 months to be included in the rankings and must have been tracked for at least 6 months in the prior year’s period (as well as being currently tracked) to appear in the movers tables.


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UK: GUS To Demerge Burberry On 13 December
Retail and business services group GUS said it plans to demerge its remaining 65 per cent stake in luxury company Burberry on 13 December.
Subject to GUS and Burberry shareholder approval, this will be achieved by way of a dividend in specie and a consolidation of GUS shares.
GUS chairman Sir Victor Blank said: "The demerger of our remaining stake in Burberry is another major step in focusing GUS on fewer activities.
"Distributing our stake to existing GUS shareholders will enable them to participate directly in the exciting growth opportunities we see at Burberry."
Burberry designs, manufactures and distributes Burberry products worldwide, as well as licensing its name to third parties.
The company reported earlier this week that president and chief operating officer Brian Blake is to quit the company, following chief executive Rose Marie Bravo's resignation.
Burberry also reported a dip in first-half earnings but said it remains "cautiously optimistic" for future trading.
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KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) — Serondeng (meat floss) is one of the favourite dishes in the Malay community to be served annually to guests alongside ‘ketupat’, ‘lemang’ and ‘nasi impit’ during Aidilfitri.
Knowing very well that there will be a high demand for the traditional fare, Siti Noorikha Mahbob, 38, decided to use her 65-year-old father, Mahbob Jonid’s recipe, which has a heavy Melakan influence, to honour and keep their 40-year-old family legacy alive.
She is now selling the product under her brand Khaliff Bakery.
“My father’s recipe places a lot of importance on a spicy taste to bring out an aromatic smell and flavour.
“The purpose is to offer a different type of serondeng from the normal ones, especially those from the east coast states. Ours is a balance of salty, sweet and spicy, mixed with suitable spices,” the Bukit Katil-born businesswoman told Bernama.
During Ramadan, Siti Noorikha said her chicken and meat serondeng is being sold at her stall at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR), but will only be available online on normal days.
She said her regular customers were not only from the Klang Valley but also from Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Singapore.
“Usually, I would prepare the serondeng about a month before Ramadan. Sales during the fasting month are very encouraging.
“To ensure its freshness, I would only make it according to demand thus avoiding surplus,” she said.
She said the serondeng could be kept for up to eight months depending on storage.
“To keep the serondeng fresh, store it in an airtight container and avoid exposure to water,” she said, adding that despite facing the problem of rising prices of raw ingredients, her team has maintained the price of the serondeng at RM100 per kilogramme for the past three years.


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Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
An interview with the team from Peli BioThermal on its pharma cold chain predictions for 2022. The pharma cold chain industry grew in 2020 and continues to experience change and challenges – the influence of the pandemic continues.
Join the Cool Community
Join us at Cool Logistics Global conference as we tackle the challenges of the cold chain together


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Nearly five years ago when I first started working with Motorola, the broadband business was a Goliath in the cable industry, but it certainly wasn’t known for being either nimble or aggressive. At the time it seemed almost like senior leadership was letting the division marinate a while to see which direction the market would head.
Times they have a’changed.
Over the last year in particular, Motorola has stepped up the pace on broadband-related acquisitions, with today’s announcement of the intent to acquire Modulus only the latest in a series of buy-outs. Modulus, briefly, is a video encoding company with technology for IP, cable, broadcast and satellite TV. This acquisition follows on the heels of:
- Tut Systems – acquired in March; content processing and distribution technology
- Netopia – acquired in February; broadband consumer premise equipment for the telecom industry
- Vertasent – acquired in September 2006; switched digital video portfolio
- Broadbus – acquired in September 2006; on-demand video solutions
- Kreatel – acquired February 2006; IPTV set-tops
It’s not hard to see that Motorola’s strategic vision includes serious investment and expected financial return in broadband delivery and specifically broadband video. What’s amazing is that, in hindsight, someone at the top had that strategic vision seven years ago. Even while moving slowly on the outside, Motorola has held an ace up its sleeve ever since purchasing General Instruments in the year 2000 to start the broadband business. The acquisitions of the last twelve to eighteen months are just filling out the company’s hand.


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A huge reinvention of Oxford Street will see almost 1 million sq ft of shop space converted to offices over the next five years, a report forecasts today.
Europe’s premier shopping destination “is on the brink of a generational change” according to agents Savills
It says a total of 1.32 million of new office schemes are scheduled for delivery in the next five years, with about three quarters of that coming from former retail space.
West End footfall is still well down on pre-Covid levels and a number of well known retailers such as Debenhams and House of Fraser have withdrawn from Oxford Street. Others such as Marks & Spencer and John Lewis are looking to reduce the retail footprint of their stores and replace some of the space with offices.
Meanwhile demand for large office spaces have never been higher, says Savills.
Key office schemes along Oxford Street include Henrietta Place, the former House of Frasers, the former Debenham’s store, Derwent London‘s 150,000 sq ft scheme at Holden House, and a 80,000 sq ft development at a former Next store 4.
Hunter Booth, head of the West End office agency team at Savills, said: “The very best offices today not only offer cutting-edge design but also strong locations on account of connectivity and transport links and a proximity to amenities and leisure spaces. Oxford Street is already globally recognised as a leading retail and leisure destination and its location lies at the heart of Central London.
“While the area has been hard to imagine as a genuine office sub-market until now, the sheer volume of space available for conversion is a once in a generation moment to transform the street and attract those larger occupiers who may otherwise be pushed out of the West End due to a lack of opportunity.


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Black Screen Records have released a selection of tracks from Desperados III on vinyl. This is a commercial release, but with the same tracks as the 2020 promotional release.
The release is a 180g LP on red and black marble colored vinyl. It is housed in a single-pocket jacket with new artwork by Randis Albion and graphic design by Dane Baudoin.
Preorders opened on December 21, 2021 and it released on February 11, 2022.


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West L.A. patent monetization firm Marathon Patent Group Inc. will merge with Uniloc Luxembourg, a competing European company, in coming months, the companies announced Friday.
The merger, which is subject to approval by stockholders of both companies, the federal government and Nasdaq, is expected to close later this year or in the first quarter next year, according to a press release. Upon completion of the stock swap, Uniloc shareholders will control 55 percent of the new company, to be called Marathon Group SA, and Marathon shareholders will own the balance.
Marathon and Uniloc are both in the business of buying patent rights from inventors, entrepreneurs and existing companies. They pursue, often through litigation, businesses that could be making, using or selling products or services that in some way rely on patent-protected materials.
Marathon owns 381 patents and is involved in litigation with 45 defendants; Uniloc is bolstered with 281 patents and has litigation against 74 defendants, according to information compiled for investors.
Doug Croxall, Marathon’s chief executive, will continue in that role upon completion of the merger.
“This combination positions Marathon Group for greater success than either company could have achieved independently,” Croxall said in a press release. “Our common culture of a lean workforce, commitment to providing a return on innovation and an international platform, are the foundations for the future success of the company.”
Craig S. Etchegoyen, Uniloc’s chief executive, will become the chief intellectual property officer of the combined company.
The principals declined further comment about the merger on Monday.
Marathon’s stock fell more than 13 percent Monday to close at $2.53.
For more information about Marathon, check out recent coverage by the Business Journal here.
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, CLICK HERE.


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Snapchat finally enables publishers to ‘deep link’ to their Discover content
Snapchat’s enabling its publishing partners to promote their channels on Facebook and Twitter with links directly to their content, the company said today.
The media partners, which include Hearst, IGN, Vox, BuzzFeed, CNN and Vice, will share links on social media apps and the mobile Web that will take people directly to their Snapchat content. Publishers run their own channels on the messaging app, posting daily editions filled with video, animations, charts and articles.
Until now, Discover publishers couldn’t link to their Snapchat pages from anywhere outside the app. With the benefit of social media promotion, they are likely to see a boost in traffic. It is similar to how YouTube creators expand their audience by sharing video links to third-party platforms.
“The channels are working on new ways to get people into Snapchat beyond just having to open the Snapchat app,” said one publishing source, who helps run a Discover channel.
The link to social media also is key because it gives publishers another outlet for measuring user engagement with their Snapchat videos and articles. Users will be able to share the social posts with their friends. They also can like and comment on them, actions not available on Snapchat, where there is little insight into the viewer mindset.
With Snapchat mostly closed off from the wider social ecosystem, publishers have had to develop workarounds to post their content from there to the outside world. More and more publishers, not just Discover partners, use third-party tools to post Snapchat videos to Twitter, for instance.
“More people are starting to share their Snapchat content on other social platforms pretty often,” Nick Cicero, CEO of social marketing agency Delmondo.
Vox is expected to start using the links today, Digiday has learned. “[It is] planning to do a promo video for Facebook and Twitter and then link to Snapchat,” another source said. “The link will open in Snapchat.”
When the links appear on desktop computers, they will open QR codes that takes people to Snapchat on their phones. If they don’t have Snapchat, it takes them to a download page to get the app. These links — known as “deep links” — are becoming more integral to weaving together the mobile Internet ecosystem, making navigation as seamless as it has become in the desktop world.
Deep-linking just means that the link points a user to a specific page within an app, in this case the publisher’s Discover channel, and not just to the homepage. The benefit is that publishers send people directly to the content that drew the people from Facebook or Twitter.
“We are launching Snapcode deep-linking for Discover Channels, creating another way for partners to publicize their great content,” Snapchat said in a statement. “Snapcodes are scannable codes that link directly to content on Snapchat.”
The publishers on Discover are a select group of 16 partners. In its first incarnation, the Discover channels were even hidden within Snapchat, on a page off to the side that users had to swipe to find. This summer, Snapchat moved the channels to the main page to give them more prominence. Snapchat’s closed approach has other drawbacks as well, for example, it lacks an easy mechanism for people to search for accounts and subscribe to users if they don’t know the exact username.
Many publishers, particularly ones that don’t have the high profile of Discover partners, have been posting their Snapchat account codes on social media sites so followers can find them.
The new links are a small step in helping grow Discover even further. It works much like how YouTube links on Facebook take people directly to a video, the publisher source said.
“It’s ideal to produce exclusive content for Snapchat and then talk about it on Twitter and Facebook,” said the source. “But it’s been tough to actually drive people there.”
The media companies on Discover split ad revenue with Snapchat. Some publishers have reported success selling out ads and drawing high numbers of visitors. Cosmopolitan, for instance, has said it averages more than 3 million visitors a day. It’s unclear, however, what percentage of channels are finding similar levels of popularity, and some channels are more saturated with ads than others.
Also, the traffic on Discover is not as robust as other areas within Snapchat like the Live Stories, which typically top 10 million views for big events like the MTV Music Awards and NFL games.
Lucia Moses contributed to this report.
More in Media
Year two of Possible is once again being held in Miami Beach, and it will take place from April 15-17 with 3,000 attendees expected to listen to another 200 or so speakers, including Snap’s Colleen DeCourcy, Uber Ads’ Megan Ramm and UM Worldwide’s Matthew Smith.
Last week, tech companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon all announced updates more updates for their cloud and AI efforts
At least 21 different sessions across the three days that Possible takes place — all in the halls of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel— feature the capital letters AI In their headlines. And the topic will be pretty inescapable in most of the conversations that take place onstage or around the event.


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Date: February 12, 2015
Time: 5:00AM - 6:00AM
Location: Austin, Texas
Matt Howsare will be a panelist at the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Asscociation (NRRDA) on February 12th 2015. The topic will be: "Product Recalls – the latest from the CPSC"
The NRRDA Annual Conference provides the chance to learn and share information in one place.
This year’s event is full of educational opportunities on a variety of subjects that range from technology, fraud, surveillance, workers’ compensation, product recalls, crisis communications, indemnity, food borne illness, EEOC strategic enforcement and more.


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Uber has reached a confidential settlement with the family of a girl who was hit and killed by an Uber driver.
Eight years since its debut, Apple's iPhone has changed and conquered the smartphone market. Here are some interesting facts you might not know about the iPhone.
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Microsoft today wrote off billions of dollars related to its Nokia acquisition, saying it's taking an "impairment charge" of $7.6 billion, or nearly the full amount it paid for the Finnish firm's smartphone business and patents last year.
Microsoft is scaling down its mobile phone activities, writing off the entire value of the former Nokia smartphone business it bought last year and laying off almost one-third of that business' staff.
Microsoft plans a new round of layoffs that could affect its hardware and smartphones businesses, besides other parts of the company, according to a newspaper report.
A federal court in Texas has ordered a new trial on damages in a patent infringement dispute between Apple and Smartflash that could modify an earlier US$533 million damages award to the patent-licensing company.
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If you're planning to buy a new smartphone this year, but haven't bought one yet it might be better to wait a bit longer: Apple, Samsung Electronics and OnePlus are all expected to launch new models in the next couple of months.
A consumer protection group in China is suing Samsung Electronics and a Chinese vendor for placing too many preinstalled apps on phones, and is demanding that the whole smartphone industry eschew bloatware.
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For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
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The BlackBerry PlayBook will be launching just in time for tax day. According to BGR, several sources have confirmed that RIM's first tablet will launch on April 10. Interestingly, the OS will have been upgraded since production so BGR says when you open the box you'll be prompted to update the device to a new version of the OS.
BlackBerry PlayBook launching April 10?
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There’s currently little to suggest that the economy is in any immediate danger of tanking. Well, to be more accurate there are mixed signals in relation to a U.S. economic rebound. Back in June, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released data indicating that GDP growth reached 6.4% in the first quarter. That was almost inarguably a positive.
Yet, there are arguments and signals indicating that the economy may not be as strong as it may appear at first blush. By now, most people are aware that the U.S. inflation report for June was rather serious. Inflation increased 5.4% last month relative to the same period a year prior. The Fed is actively trying to characterize that figure as transitory. That alone is leading consumers to worry.
Economic stimulus programs and corresponding money printing figure largely into that aspect of the argument. Time will tell what the effects of such choices will be on the U.S. economy. Housing prices are hot, as are used car prices, and the end of rent moratoriums could spell trouble. None of this even mentions continued pandemic concerns and the threat of the delta Covid-19 variant.
A bearish take on the economy is that it may indeed roll over. That would mean recessionary times could be on the horizon. In that case a shift toward defensive stocks would be in order.
In this theoretical scenario, these stocks make a lot of sense to buy.
- Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO)
- Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM)
- Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ)
- AGNC Investment (NASDAQ:AGNC)
- Diageo (NYSE:DEO)
- The AES Corporation (NYSE:AES)
- UGI Corporation (NYSE:UGI)
Stocks to Buy: Coca-Cola (KO)
The idea here is that in the event that the economy flounders, defensive stocks are a smart choice. Coca-Cola has become almost synonymous with defensive stocks in general. It is noted as a strong, stable choice for investors in the best of times and in the worst of times.
Coca-Cola couldn’t avoid the precipitous price drop that affected the entire market when the pandemic began. But it has performed steadily since. KO stock prices only momentarily faltered for a few weeks at the absolute depths of the pandemic. By the beginning of April 2020 they were near $49.
Prices have marched steadily upward from there and currently sit above $57. That range is testament to the kind of steady, reliable investment that Coca-Cola represents.
Is KO stock one to buy for growth investors seeking rapid price appreciation? Absolutely not. But it is a stock to buy for those investors looking for a steady performer that offers a dividend. That dividend will almost certainly be 42 cents in the fourth quarter. It should rise to 43 cents per quarter next year following the same pattern of progression it has for years.
And Coca-Cola recently reported strong second quarter earnings on July 21. Net revenues grew by 42% in Q2, to hit $10.1 billion. Operating income increased by 52%. That’s why KO stock continues to make sense in just about any economy.
Philip Morris International (PM)
Like Coca-Cola, Philip Morris is another name that has become nearly synonymous with the defensive stock sector. It, too, was unable to escape the gravity of the pandemic onset on the stock market. The good news is that PM stock now sits above pre-pandemic prices which hovered near $87. Share prices are above $99. It does seem that not much can hold Philip Morris down for long.
Philip Morris released second quarter earnings on July 20. Share prices dropped from just under $98, to below $95 on news that “it now expects to earn between $5.76 and $5.86 a share, down from a prior range of $5.93 to $6.03.”
PM stock was already back above $98 a few short days later. The company blamed customs assessments in Saudi Arabia for the decrease in guidance. It had warned of the possibility before.
The other truth that provides testament to Philip Morris’ resilience is the fact that it is transitioning away from smoked tobacco as regulations stiffen. Smoke-free products contributed 29% of revenue in the quarter. PM stock is characterized as a “sin stock” just about as often as it’s call a “defensive stock.” PM shares simply continue to remain steady despite the transition.
Whichever moniker is more apt is irrelevant, it performs and reliably provides a $1.20 dividend.
Mondelez International (MDLZ)
Mondelez International is a snack food and beverage giant. Investors who don’t recognize it based on its current name may know it through its previous incarnation as Kraft, now Kraft-Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC). The two companies split back in 2012. That corporate history lesson aside, MDLZ stock is a solid choice when the economy rolls over.
The company will release Q2 earnings later today. MDLZ stock should remain relatively steady no matter the outcome. Analysts are positive in any case. The 17 analysts who cover Mondelez expect that it should record $6.41 billion in revenue, up 8.5%. They project that the company should post 5.7% and 6.7% growth in the third and fourth quarters of 2021.
One of the few knocks on the consumer staples giant is that it does have a relatively modest 1.94% dividend yield. That equates to 31.5 cents for each share. Nevertheless, Wall Street is undeterred in recommending MDLZ as a buy.
AGNC Investment (AGNC)
REITs, or real estate investment trusts, usually feature regularly on defensive stock lists. Part of the reason that these vehicles perform well as a defensive strategy is the role of real estate within the broader economy.
Generally speaking, rent is one of the least avoidable expenses consumers face. However, REITs come in several flavors but often focus on the residential market or the commercial market. The residential market is arguably the more important of the two as people need homes despite the economy.
That makes residential REITs, including AGNC stock, strong bets in tough times. The company faltered somewhat in early June which coincided with its announcement of a 12-cent dividend.
There is little rhyme or reason as the dividend was very much in line with the previous monthly 12-cent payout that it had issued since April of 2020. Look for the company to approach pre-pandemic levels if Q2 earnings are positive.
The so-called ‘sin stocks’ are often ‘defensive stocks’. And consumer demand for alcohol is generally considered recession proof. However, certain demand dynamics occur within the alcohol industry depending on the prevailing economic conditions. For example, in the 2008 recession beer sales declined but hard liquor sales shot way up.
In the event that a recession does occur, and it follows that same trend I just mentioned, Diageo will be a strong play. That’s because Diageo’s brands are almost entirely hard liquors. They include Johnny Walker, Crown Royal, Tanqueray, Smirnoff, and Bailey’s to name a few. The sole beer brand is Guinness.
Long story short: Hard liquor sales could soon spike, and DEO stock will be very profitable in that case.
Diageo will release earnings at the end of July, so we’ll have to wait a bit to see how that affects share prices. But if short interest is any indication of the direction DEO stock is headed, then it’s probably upward. Short interest sits at 0.11%, meaning almost no one is betting that share prices will go down soon.
The AES Corporation (AES)
The AES Corporation is an electric utilities company. Like all the other sectors represented on this list, utilities tend to do very well regardless of the economic climate. That doesn’t mean that all utilities are investment grade, but it does suggest the sector is worth consideration in tough times.
AES looks like it is among those strong performing utilities worthy of investment. According to the analysts covering AES stock there is growth in front of the Arlington, Virginia-based company. Those analysts anticipate that the power producer will see revenue growth of 2.8% throughout 2021. That figure should rise to 3.6% throughout 2022.
Those growth figures may not seem exceptional. However, in a traditional and predictable sector like utilities that growth corresponds to steady increases in share prices. AES stock prices haven’t been steady this year but they are predicted to rise. The average target stock price for AES stock is $29.83, well above the $24 where it currently trades.
UGI Corporation (UGI)
UGI Corporation is an under-the-radar company that is far from a household name. But the gas utilities company is one worth considering if the economy tanks. Is the company sexy? Not at all. But it is reliable, and reliable is attractive to a certain subset of investors.
In fact, UGI Corp. is so reliable that it has paid a consecutive dividend for more than 134 years. UGI faltered in terms of share price at the onset of the pandemic. It has rebounded nicely and looks to have further to go.
The UGI stock price has increased from under $25 a share at the depth of the market crash to above $46 presently. Prices eclipsed $50 two years ago.
The company markets itself as a balanced growth and income investment. That’s exactly the kind of company that’s prepared to weather an economic downturn. The utilities sector is packed with such companies and UGI stock is a strong candidate among them.
On the date of publication, Alex Sirois did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.
Alex Sirois is a freelance contributor to InvestorPlace whose personal stock investing style is focused on long-term, buy-and-hold, wealth-building stock picks. Having worked in several industries from e-commerce to translation to education and utilizing his MBA from George Washington University, he brings a diverse set of skills through which he filters his writing.


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A look at some of the biggest hits and best scores this week in sports.
A passenger spaceship being developed by Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has crashed.
There are halls of fame for everything from baseball to rock 'n' roll, so why not those with a hairy upper lip?
LISTEN: This week's top country tracks, according to the latest Billboard chart.
Starting Saturday, Walmart will do whatever it takes to rope in holiday shoppers however they want to buy.
Prices at the pump are plunging, thanks mainly to falling oil prices.
Consumer sentiment rose in October to its highest level since in more than seven years.
J.K. Rowling says the much-hated character Dolores Umbridge is based on a teacher to whom she took an instant dislike.
Alcohoot turns your smartphone into a portable, personal breathalyzer.
These songs are scary good!
Actor Paul Reubens is set to reprise his role as suited man-boy Pee-wee Herman in a new movie.
The Grammy-winning singer unveiled a bronze statue of himself at his alma mater, Northwest Classen High School.
A look at the big sports stories you'll be talking about today, Friday, Oct. 31.
You can hear a sneak peak of "Man Against Machine" before its released on Nov. 11.
Los Angeles found a way to launch their season under new owner Steve Ballmer.
Halloween is alive and well on the set of the hit ABC show "Dancing With the Stars."
Lawmakers will resume a debate on the U.S.-led fight against militants in Syria and Iraq.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Technology stocks found little light at the end of the tunnel Friday as the sector closed in the red following chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s weaker-than-expected second-quarter sales forecast.
The losses were highlighted by the Nasdaq Composite Index
falling 25 points to close at 2,130. For the week, the tech-heavy market gauge was down 2%. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index
AMD recouped some of its early losses, but still ended the day down by 27 cents to close at $23.56. Other chip stocks that closed in the red included Intel Corp., Xilinx Inc., Texas Instruments Inc. and Broadcom Corp.
Apple Computer Inc.
Among other big-name tech stocks, losses came from International Business Machines Corp., EMC Corp., Adobe Systems Inc., Dell Inc. and Sun Microsystems Inc.
Business Objects SA BOBJ took one of the sector's biggest hits, falling $5.76 a share, or 21.5%, to close at $21.03.
On Thursday, the business software company said it expects second-quarter earnings, excluding one-time items, of between 25 cents and 28 cents a share. Business Objects had earlier forecast a profit in a range of 30 cents to 33 cents a share.
The company also lowered its revenue outlook, to between $287 million and $291 million, from a previous estimate of $295 million to $300 million.
Digital-monitor chipmaker Genesis Microchip Inc.


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A panel discussion centered on the local economic impact of craft breweries on the Eastern Shore will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Salisbury University Downtown Art Gallery, 212 W. Main St., Salisbury, Maryland.
The panel, moderated by Don Rush, of Delmarva Public Radio, will cover topics ranging from the current legislative environment for craft beer and Comptroller Peter Franchot’s Reform on Tap Task Force to the economic impact of breweries and beer festivals on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
The panel will include area professionals, politicians and brewers including Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce President Bill Chambers; Len Foxwell, of Maryland’s Office of the Comptroller; Shawn Smith, of RAR Brewing; Jason Hearn, of Tall Tales Brewing; Blake Benn, of Hooper’s Tap House; Ann McGinnis Hillyer, of Shore Craft Beer; and Melanie Pursel, of the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.
The hour-long panel discussion will precede a craft beer tasting reception hosted by the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and Shore Craft Beer. February has been deemed “FeBREWary, Craft Beer Lovers Month” on Delmarva and throughout the state of Maryland, and the panel and reception will celebrate craft brewing as a key driver of the local and state economies.
A reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Salisbury University Downtown Art Gallery.
The panel discussion is free to attend; and tickets for the reception, featuring tastes from 12 local craft breweries, are $50 regular admission and $40 members and can be purchased at salisburyarea.com.


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Group travel is seeing a global rebound, with advanced bookings to The Bahamas now climbing to pre-recession levels, according to the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA).
Group travel accounts for a little more than a quarter of the stopover business in The Bahamas, according to BHA president Stuart Bowe. It suffered during the recession, but Bowe told Guardian Business yesterday that advanced bookings for the balance of the year and into the next are heading in the right direction.
“Advanced bookings for groups are up considerably and now approaching pre-recession levels. Group business, predominately comprised of business-related groups, represents just over 25 percent of our business,” Bowe said. “Advanced bookings thru 2012 are promising.”
The group travel business impacts on a hotel’s operations in a meaningful way that goes beyond the percentage of occupancy it accounts for. In a November Guardian Business report, George Markantonis, president and managing director of Kerzner International Bahamas, explained the importance of these travellers to a resort’s operations.
The news of strong advanced group bookings coincides with numbers recently released in GetThere’s Corporate Travel Benchmark Report April 2011. GetThere is a leading provider of travel, expense and meetings management services for international corporate travelers.
According to the report, there were signs of a steady recovery in corporate travel in 2010, a trend that is expected to continue into 2011, according to the report. More corporate travel roughly translates into more group travel business. Around 61 percent of the respondents to GetThere’s survey in the report expected their corporate travel budgets to increase this year compared to last year, by anywhere from one to 10 percent.
A third of respondents in the report noted a slight increase in travel spending in 2010, with another 11 percent reporting a considerable increase, and 22 percent saying spending levels remained about the same.
A tax convention credit for US persons became effective in 2006 and played into how the industry postured itself in regard to this valuable segment of the travel market. As a part of the tax information exchange agreement between the United States and The Bahamas, signed in 2002, a provision was made for US taxpayers to deduct the cost of attending a conference or convention in The Bahamas from income, just like they can if the event was held in the United States. It was a significant development that led many Bahamian hoteliers to upgrade and expand their meeting facilities.
“Hotels like Atlantis took a look at the added potential due to the tax credit and put additional resources into promoting and supporting group business,” Bowe said. “Targeted marketing efforts were undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism and hotels to capture group business, and by 2006 we were well positioned to do this.”
But along came the recent global recession, which Bowe said impacted group business unlike any previous economic downturn. It was exacerbated after American insurance conglomerate AIG hosted a $370,000 retreat in 2008, a week after receiving an $85 billion bailout from the US Treasury. The ensuing coverage made corporate group travel a lot less fashionable.
“We suffered tremendously from the ‘AIG effect’ and not only in terms of corporate budget slashes for travel, but it also became unpopular for businesses to be seen travelling to places like Las Vegas, Orlando and The Bahamas,” said Bowe.
But Bahamian hoteliers and tourism experts may have come out of the experience having learned a few lessons about attracting the leisure traveller. Funds were directed into advertising aimed at the leisure tourist, and value added promotions were rolled out to lure that market to our shores, according to Bowe.
“As a destination we have had to work extremely hard to capture a larger share of the leisure travel market,” the BHA president said. “In the context of understanding our group dependence and what we needed to do to compete globally for a smaller leisure market, a pie which every other destination was vying for, we fared better than most.”
The indicators pointing to a global revival of group travel business and the bookings the industry is already seeing are good signs for hotel operations and profitability. The industry may even be a little stronger in its marketing efforts for both leisure and group travelers after surviving the recent economic downturn.
“We’ve gotten better at capturing market share of the leisure business and have become much more aggressive in attracting new group business,” Bowe said. “This should bode well for the future.”
The Nassau Guardian


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October 24, 2017
Net income leaped 57% to €62.1 million ($73.0 mm) from €39.5 million for the third quarter ended Sep. 30 on a 13% increase in revenue to €1,121.8 million ($1,318.5 mm) from €990.2 million as Puma showed double-digit currency neutral growth in all regions.
CWH filed an S-1 registration on behalf of Crestview Partners and CEO Marcus Lemonis to sell up to 7,705,000 Class A shares worth $333,087,150 at the current price of at $43.23 a share.
Net income fell 24% to ¥28,104 million ($247.1 mm) compared to ¥36,825 million for the nine months ended Sep. 30 on a 2% gain in sales to ¥245,969 million ($2,163.1 mm) from ¥241,677 million.
Six more firms are searching for lead plaintiffs who lost money when SKX shares dropped over 30% in Oct., 2015 after the company fell short of its Q3 guidance.


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Thursday is the last day an Oldsmobile will roll off the line in Lansing Michigan.
In December of 2000, General Motors announced the decision to discontinue the Oldsmobile brand.
It is the oldest brand in automotive history, having been manufactured in Lansing, Michigan since 1897.
On the eve of the company's final day of operation, fans of the Oldsmobile were given one last opportunity to drive the most recent model.
The Alero is the only Oldsmobile still in production and Thursday will be the last day it rolls off the assembly line.
There are only going to be 500-collector edition Aleros made.
A total of 499 will be put up for sale, but the 500th will be part of the "thanks for the memories" exhibit that runs thru May 3 to the end of August 2004.


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Offices are getting deep cleaned, homes are getting regular scrub downs and public transport services are ramping up their sanitation protocols. Cleanliness has become a necessity as the world attempts to wash away COVID-19. Concerned consumers are seeking products that can protect them against viruses and designers are responding by envisioning how a hyper-hygienic future might look.
Mar 25, 2020
From UV lamps to self-cleaning water bottles, the future of design has hygiene at its heart.
London-based design studio Bompas & Parr launched a competition in early March 2020, asking designers to encourage handwashing by rethinking sanitizer pumps as well as envisioning “more creative hygiene solutions.” The Fountain of Hygiene initiative challenges designers to explore new forms and functions to improve behavioral norms when it comes to the simple act of handwashing.
“Design has an important role in helping to solve many of the challenges that we face in daily life, including some of those raised by the recent COVID-19 outbreak,” says Tim Marlow, chief executive and director of the Design Museum, which is closed at the time of writing due to the United Kingdom’s coronavirus lockdown. The submitted designs will be exhibited online, with a physical display planned for when the Design Museum reopens, and will be auctioned by Christie’s with proceeds going to the British Red Cross.
The competition comes at a time when proper handwashing protocols are being promoted by health authorities to help reduce coronavirus cases. Consumers are newly mindful of this simple act of cleanliness, and this is reflected in the uptick in sales for hand sanitizers and soaps worldwide. In the United States, hand sanitizer purchases were up 73% during the four weeks to February 22, 2020, according to Nielsen. In the United Kingdom, hand sanitizer sales saw a year-on-year increase of 255% in February 2020, while liquid hand soap sales increased by 7%, according to Kantar.
In China, design thinking is also being elevated to improve hygiene habits. In February 2020, Beijing-based design studio Frank Chou initiated the Create Cures project, inviting designers to “promote the development of public health in a designer’s way.” Concepts from Create Cures include the Sterilizing Lamp by Frank Chou, which uses an ultraviolet light to disinfect objects such as the user’s keys, mobile phone and wallet in 60 seconds; the easy-to-assemble safe workspace DIY Safe Capsule by Benwu Studio; and the Time-Changing Hand Sanitizer by Pino Wang and Frank Chou—the liquid changes color as the user rubs it into their hands, as a visual representation of the length of time spent on washing.
The quick escalation of COVID-19 has prompted authorities to promote hygienic habits. In the case of handwashing, the common practice is to wash and scrub hands for 20 seconds. The now widely known regulation has encouraged creative methods to make the 20 seconds memorable and even enjoyable. Apart from singing “Happy Birthday” twice to reach the recommended handwashing time, other initiatives include a music video and dance challenge from Vietnam’s Ministry of Health, which have taken the country by storm and become widely recognized internationally. Amazon’s Alexa will now sing a handwashing song if instructed to and Pinkfong, creator of the catchy “Baby Shark” song, has released a 20-second version for hand washing. Released on March 21, 2020, the song had almost two million views as of March 25.
Design innovation is being elevated to create better hygiene habits as well as offer reassurance and security to worried consumers. In our 2019 report “The Anxiety Economy”, companies were already releasing products and tech that helped mitigate pollution and germs, including Larq’s self-cleaning water bottle, which promises to remove “99.9999% of bacteria and viruses” from drinking water, and French startup R-Pur’s mask, which protects cyclists against viruses, bacteria and air pollution. In early 2020 at CES, AO Air debuted its Atmos Faceware, a tech-infused face protection that filters air pollution. As the world strives to cleanse itself of COVID-19, smart products that offer protection and easy sanitization will be promoted to help good hygiene habits survive post pandemic.


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New York City, Holiday sales are expected to rise at their slowest pace in five years as the weak housing market and a credit crunch temper consumer spending, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said on Thursday.
Total holiday retail sales are forecast to rise 4% to $474.5 billion this year, the trade group said. According to the NRF, that would mark the slowest holiday sales growth since 2002, when sales rose 1.3%. It also would fall below the 10-year holiday sales average of a 4.8% increase.
Many retailers have already warned the second half of the year will be more difficult than the first as consumers confront a weaker housing market, and higher fuel and food costs.
Last year, holiday sales rose 4.4%, which was below the NRF’s initial forecast of a 5% gain, as unseasonably warm weather and the slower housing market crimped spending.


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Macy's Inc., under the leadership of chairman, president and CEO Terry Lundgren, has pulled some gutsy moves in the last half decade, and it seems to be paying off. "Wall Street is high on Macy’s (M)" according to the most current Forbes earnings preview. Some of the most recent enthusiasm is possibly being inspired by the announcement earlier this week that the company will invest $400 in a remodel of its flagship Herald Square store.
With the Macy's acquisition of May Department Stores in 2005, the pattern was set for a no holds barred style of management. Under fire from May loyalists across the country for dropping their beloved local banners for the Macy's logo, Mr. Lundgren insisted on sticking to his guns. In actions seemingly designed to convince doubters that Macy's was not killing the regional charm of stores such as Strawbridges, Loehmann's and, most notably, Marshall Fields, it introduced its own, data-driven brand of localization know as My Macy's. Meanwhile, in 2009, it centralized its buying offices, something one might think would homogenize offerings across the country, but the company has been praised by some industry watchers for applying consumer insights in a methodical approach to local merchandising customization.
Now comes news of the mammoth store remodel, demonstrating a distinctly different side of the Macy's brand — tradition.
Macy's Herald Square is perhaps the country's most famous individual department store, high on the list of tourists, and site of the retailer's annual Thanksgiving Day parade.
"The excitement, size and scale of this remodel reinforces our conviction that Macy's Herald Square is and will remain a retail store in a class by itself," said Terry Lundgren in a press releases. "It is our company's most productive store, and experience shows that improvements in this location consistently result in higher customer traffic and sales volume. Our upcoming top-to-bottom remodel represents an investment in the future growth of our business as New York City continues to evolve as a world capital and shopping destination."
Among the changes planned at the Herald Square store are an additional 100,000 square feet of selling space. (The current store is 1.2 million square feet.) Macy's plans to use space currently dedicated for offices and stock while extending the mezzanine level in the store.
Macy's is also looking to create the world's largest women's shoe department, add a new hall of luxury brands, restoring the "great hall" on the first floor with new presentations for cosmetics and jewelry.
The Herald Square store will feature technology and new media upgrades, including interactive store directories, live video feeds of Macy's events and more. The eighth and ninth floors will continue to house home merchandise complete with an upgraded demonstration kitchen and the De Gustibus Cooking School.
"Our design of the new Macy's Herald Square reflects how a new generation of customers prefers to shop. In many cases, product will be organized by lifestyle to help customers create looks and build wardrobes across categories. On every floor and across departments, our shopping environment will be new, fresh, interesting and entertaining," Mr. Lundgren said.
Paying homage to the store's history will be the restoration of the "Memorial Entrance" on 34th Street. Windows along 34th Street, Broadway and Seventh Avenue that have been covered up for years will be reopened. All but one of the store's 43 wooden escalators will be preserved.
In an online discussion this week on RetailWire.com, members of the BrainTrust panel of retailing experts found much wisdom in the move, emphasizing how essential flagships can be to brands.
"There is now a Macy's in almost every major city in the U.S., so it runs the risk of losing some cachet as the most famous New York-based department store in America," wrote Richard Seesel, principal, Retailing In Focus. "It's a smart idea to refresh its flagship store in Manhattan, not only because of the enormous volume driven by the Herald Square store to begin with, but also because of the 'halo effect' on the rest of the company."
"The industry continues to consolidate; most would agree that Macy's has emerged as one of the big winners," commented Mark Baum, partner, MARCAT Group, on RetailWire. "There is much work to be done in upgrading their culture and customer service, but they have already made strides in their designer/celebrity partnerships, assortment, merchandising, and technology capabilities. The flagship store is an iconic destination in American culture, and surely this remodel will be used to herald (no pun intended) in a new era in Macy's history."
Others on the BrainTrust, however, saw irony in the grandiose remodeling plans and, apparently, remain unconvinced of the effectiveness of Macy's localization tactics.
Ted Hurlbut, principal, Hurlbut & Associates, wrote, "It's an interesting juxtaposition, to say the least, to be investing so much in assuring that Herald Square remains unique and distinctive when the rest of the chain settles into a numbing sameness punctuated by poor execution and poor customer service."
Spun in a more positive direction, Mr. Seesel imagines that Macy's might use the Herald Square project as a model for other of its prime locations. "The Union Square store in San Francisco, the State Street store in Chicago and others can use more razzle-dazzle along with some rethinking of the department store experience," he wrote. "Macy's certainly has one eye on Nordstrom and another eye on JCPenney's new management team as it develops innovative new strategies."


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The MINI Urbanaut concept introduced in November last year will likely lead to the launch of a new MINI MPV later this decade. According to a recent report from Autocar UK, the production version will be called MINI Traveller.
It was in 2019 when it was first reported that the BMW Group could relaunch the iconic MINI Traveller. The unveiling of the MINI Vision Urbanaut solidified the speculation that a modern-day Traveller is in the making. The concept sits on a skateboard chassis, the same type of platform as the ‘Neue Klasse’ platform BMW Group announced at its annual press conference this year, as per the report.
That however does not rule out the possibility of the MINI Traveller EV sharing the electric version of the FAAR platform with the first-ever MINI Countryman Electric. The production MINI Vision Urbanaut, not expected to release before 2025, could seat up to seven people.
Consider the MINI Traveller as a smaller alternative to the VW ID. Buzz (VW Microbus electric/VW Bulli electric), which is likely to measure around 5 meters (196.8 in.) in length and scheduled to enter production in 2022. The electric and autonomous vehicle era is creating a new market for leisure vehicles, and the MINI Traveller could be a prominent model in this category.
Here are two lesser-known facts about the MINI Urbanaut, which BMW Group calls “an oasis” amid the urban hustle and bustle:
New MINI design language
The MINI Urbanaut concept debuts the brand’s new design language. The next-gen MINI Hatchback due in 2023 and other future MINI models including the next-gen Mini electric cars will feature design cues borrowed from this concept.
The headlights and grille are positioned under a milled aluminum structure with slotted openings. They become visible only when switched on, and can display multi-colored graphics. These features reflect MINI’s preparedness for the autonomous and highly digital future. The enclosed grille is in an octagonal shape, which is something new for a MINI. The connected tail lights and their shape could also be seen on future MINIs. Some interior elements, like the trims, upholsteries and/or colors could find their way in next-gen MINI models.
Smaller than the VW ID. Buzz
The MINI Urbanaut may appear as a preview of a rival to the ID. Buzz-based VW Microbus (VW e-Bulli) that is set to enter production in 2022. However, it is much smaller than the VW van. While the British electric van is 4,460 mm or 175.6 inches long, the German model, based on the extended MEB-XL platform, is 4,942 mm or 194.6 inches long. The MINI Traveller would be suited mainly for moving people, while the Volkswagen model would serve commercial purposes as well equally.


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March 22 (Reuters) - Billionaire Ryan Cohen's investment company bought 100,000 shares of GameStop Corp (GME.N), according to a regulatory filing on Tuesday, sending the videogame retailer's shares 16% higher in extended trading.
The purchase takes Cohen's stake in the company marginally higher to 11.9%, with the total number of share owned at 9.1 million.
Shares of GameStop closed up 30.7% at $123.14, registering their biggest one-day percentage gain since March 25 last year, with trading volumes soaring and likely squeezing bearish investors who sold the stock short.
There was no clear reason for the rally during normal trading hours, according to analysts.
Cohen, who co-founded online pet products retailer Chewy and is GameStop's chairman, earlier this month said he now owns nearly 10% of Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY.O) and wants the home goods retailer to explore alternatives including a full sale of the company. read more
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – It’s a labor of love for everyone who’s been working on it for the last 22 months, and now the downtown Hyatt Place hotel is ready to show off to the public.
“Our team has shown so much heart and passion and excitement building up to this day and to this moment that we are just ready to unveil and open up to the public and we’re excited to share it with the community,” said hotel general manager Lindsay Jarvis.
A grand opening ceremony will happen Friday, Sept. 6 and reservations will be open for people visiting West Michigan.
The hotel features a pool and fitness center as well, a bar that sells Starbucks coffee around the clock as well as beer, wine, cider and spirits.
A press release said the $35 million hotel has 55 employees hired from the local market, and the influx of guests has made a positive impact on the local area retailers and restauranteurs.
“The lobby has obviously has a lot of natural light. It’s a great meeting space to come dine, to come meet, to come drink, to relax, so there are a lot of options,” Jarvis said.
“We’re also dog-friendly, which is unique for the downtown space, so we’re excited to welcome the four-legged members of the family as well.”
The Hyatt Place has meeting rooms available. Each one is named after a Grand Rapids park and features historic pictures from the park that bears its name.
The hotel is the latest contribution from Orion Real Estate Solutions to the city’s skyline.
“This is our third project on Ottawa Avenue where we’ve taken vacant parking lots and created about a $200 million enterprise between the three,” said company president John Wheeler.
“Arena Place was our first one, then Venue Tower and 20 Monroe Live and then these two buildings. Surface parking lots doing nothing in the city, and getting that energy and that creation and trying to figure out what fits there and how it will be perceived and the long-term value to the city and the community, so it’s been an honor for me.”


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Bioshock Infinite takes players into the balloon-lofted world of Columbia, a floating city-state in an alternate 1912.
2K Games and Irrational Games have released some gameplay footage for their upcoming dystopian adventure.
2K Games has posted a trailer for its upcoming XCOM: Enemy Unknown action strategy title.
2K Games's re-imagining of a classic 1994 video game as due out in stores in October.
The follow-up to cult console hit Borderlands was just made official.
After 15 years, the game that seemed to become nothing more than a joke has finally been released.
After waiting 15 years for the release of Duke Nukem Forever, fans of the series are now gonna have to wait a bit more...
Count this as another reason to never play a PC game again.
It's a game that singlehandedly turned an entire series into a joke. It's become the most mystical title of all time. Duke Nukem Forever is real and will be coming out for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
2K Games has released a new Mafia II PhysX trailer that kicks some serious ass.
2K Games and Firaxis are developing a Civilization game that will feature a new engine, redesigned combat system and hexagon tiles capable of generating organic landscapes.


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New York — The Anti-Defamation League’s National Consumer Technology Industry divisio
Home >> Retail Ramps Up Digital Printing
The trickle of consumers seeking digital prints at retail has swollen to a steady stream in 2004, according to vendors and analysts. But it's not yet a flood.
In 2004, 37 percent of camera owners ordered prints at retail, up from 14 percent in 2003, according to Kerry Flatley, consultant, InfoTrends/CapVentures.
Flatley pointed to aggressive ad campaigns by major national retailers like Wal-Mart, Walgreens and CVS, as having spurred use of the new services, as is an evolving consumer base of digital camera owners — fewer tech savvy early adopters and more “soccer moms” familiar with retail printing. The number of new camera owners who expect to print from home has fallen below 50 percent this year, Flatley noted, down from 79 percent the previous year. Conversely, 33 percent plan to print at retail vs. just 13 percent the year before.
According to Flatley, 11 percent of consumers who print at retail use the store's Web site to upload their photos and print orders for pick up in-store at a later time.
“The growth of retail accelerated quicker than we thought,” said Rowan Lawson, director of home printing, Kodak.
The year ahead will yield further gains for retail, noted Walter Haug, VP, marketing, printing and Web services, Fujifilm. “The demographics favor it,” Haug said.
Indeed, according to the Photo Marketing Association's 2004 Photo Industry Review and Forecast, the volume of digital prints made at retail will eclipse home prints in 2005 with 3.6 billion prints made at retail vs. 3.4 billion made at home. PMA is projecting the gulf to double in retail's favor in 2006.
PMA is also predicting that the overall volume of retail prints (film and digital), which has sagged since 2000, will rebound and eclipse 2000 totals in 2005 and 2006.
This TWICE webinar, hosted by senior editor Alan Wolf, will take a look at what may be the hottest CE products at retail that will be sold during the all-important fourth quarter. Top technologies, market strategies and industry trends will be discussed with industry analysts and executives.


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Pubs across Bradford and Keighley are preparing to welcome back drinkers and diners from Monday April 12.
Pub managers are making special arrangements to allow customers to drink and dine outdoors from that date.
Relaxation of government Covid-19 restrictions means that from April 12 pubs and restaurants can open beer gardens and outdoor areas.
Businesses have been told that the marquees must be open on two sides to be 'Covid secure' and tables must be occupied by one household or social bubble.
To get the latest email updates from MyBradford, click here .
Those without beer gardens have been told they can use their car parks to create new outdoor areas but many have said they will not open until indoor drinking is allowed again on May 17.
Below are some of the pubs making special arrangements for April 12.
The Lord Rodney, Keighley
This popular pub, which is owned by brewery Timothy Taylor, is preparing to welcome customers back on April 12.
Andrea Clymo, the licensee, is already taking bookings for tables outside and reckons she can accommodate around 58 people.
The beer garden is partially covered and Andrea is hoping for some beautiful sunny weather come April.
She is looking for two extra staff to ensure customers can be served promptly.
Extra outdoor lights have been brought in and there's a possibility of a temporary structure being put up to afford people more protection from the elements.
Royal Oak, Keighley
The beer garden has previously been voted the best in Keighley and pub landlord Paddy Gaskin is working hard to make it even better.
There will be a new outside bar and a large gazebo for people to sit inside.
Paddy says customers have already been phoning up to inquire about booking tables so they can watch forthcoming Premier league games on the big screen.
Malt Shovel, Harden
Staff at the Malt Shovel have been busy taking bookings for the reopening.
A pub spokesman said: "We're almost full on the 12th and filling up fast for the rest of the week. We have a 9m X 9m marquee going up."
The pub has 28 tables outside, with each table seating up to six people.
The pub's Facebook page states: "We will be opening on Monday, 12th April for “Welcome Back Drinks”, serving between 4pm and 8pm. We will also have nibbles available for those who would like a bite to eat.
"We will then revert back to our opening hours prior to lockdown - Wednesday to Sunday from 11.30am.
"We are now taking bookings for our outside area. We have our large lawn and patio at the rear with socially distanced tables, and the government legislation of rule of 6, or two households, still applies."
The Stansfield Arms, Apperley Bridge
This popular pub/restaurant is taking bookings for outdoor dining in a large heated marquee.
A spokesman for the family-owned pub said the first evening was almost fully booked.
The spokesman added: "We are excited about the opening. It will be nice to see our customers again as we have missed them."
The Old Dolphin, Queensbury
Staff are looking forward to seeing customers in the beer garden from April 12.
The pub shared the plans on social media, saying: "We are starting to take table bookings. Please dm (direct message) us with date and time and how many people (Max 6 people or 2 households) per booking.
"We really look forward to seeing you all again, please remember it is outside only so wrap up warm or bring a blanket."


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There are new rumours: these now claim that Sony will not hold a significant event in June but much later.
Even though there’s no E3 this year (there wasn’t one in 2020 either), that doesn’t stop most publishers from having an online event to announce a ton of games and/or their release dates/windows (Electronic Arts isn’t one of them: we previously reported them skipping EA Play Live this year). On the other hand, Sony is pretty much rotating their E3-period shows: they had one in 2020, but not in 2019 and 2021… and it looks like they won’t have one in 2022 either.
One of the XboxEra podcast hosts, Shpeshal Nick, talked about how Sony is planning to bring back an older IP in the meantime: “I’ve had a lot of people tagging me on Twitter about Sly Cooper. As far as I know, I wouldn’t expect a Sly Cooper announcement in June. It should still be a 2022 announced thing, but as far as I’m being told, I wouldn’t expect it at a June-rumored event. It would probably be announced later. A September one or something like that.”
Then another insider, AccountNgt, joined the party. On Twitter, he wrote that as early as the beginning of March, he said that Sony’s big game event would probably come in September (and in June, the company would focus on PlayStation VR2…?). He added that the same source had also predicted a bigger show for September. Still, in his third tweet, he caused even more surprise by announcing that this sensibly anonymous person said that InFAMOUS would also be announced during 2022…
Sony’s September show sounds logical, as the company doesn’t have many games with release dates until the end of March next year (the end of the current financial year). If they give developers more time, they should have a much clearer idea of when they’ll be ready with their creations, and with Sony Interactive Entertainment Santa Monica Studio’s next game, God of War: Ragnarok, only saying “2022”, it could be decided by the autumn whether it will come out this year.
Of course, none of this is official.


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SOUTH CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA (WOWK) — Christmas is now just over a week away, and while the holiday season snuck up on some of us, it doesn’t mean your last-minute shipping troubles have to as well.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is expecting to deliver about 900 million packages from now until Christmas.
“This week will be our busiest shipping, mailing, and delivery week. So if you want to avoid the holiday crush, please mail your items as soon as possible,” said Susan Wright, USPS Spokesperson for West Virginia.
Last year, the Charleston Postal Plant processed more than 4.6 million packages in December alone, and they are expecting, even more, this year. The USPS released their deadlines for packages to arrive on time by December 25th.
December 17 is the deadline for first-class mail. That’s things like Christmas cards, newsletters, and small first class packages. December 18 is the deadline for priority mail packages. And then for procrastinators, the deadline for priority mail express is December 23,” said Wright.
The Charleston Postal Plant has made more than 160 seasonal hires and has machines operating 20 hours a day to meet the demand.


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It was almost an eerily quiet day in Austin. With the interactive track of SXSW 2019 -- a multi-day series of conferences and festivals around interactive, film, and music industries -- coming to a close, many participants were today treated to the sights and sounds of brand activations being dismantled.
But it wasn't all equipment tear-downs and sad goodbyes. Today was still full of informative sessions, interactive experiences, and tacos galore. So, while this marks our last daily recap of the week (please, don't cry!) -- we have some great highlights to tell you about.
Want more event coverage? Check out our SXSW 2019 hub here.
Spotify on Its Bet for Podcasts and the Content Creator's Future
From music-streaming platform Spotify's acquisition of narrative podcast network Gimlet and distribution platform Anchor, to this month's launch of Luminary, a subscription-based podcast startup offering premium content -- audio doesn't appear to be bowing out of the entertainment landscape any time soon.
That's why today's session on "The Second Golden Age of Audio: Podcasting" was one of the SXSW 2019 agenda items we were most excited to see. In conversation with Alex Heath of Cheddar, Spotify's Chief Content Officer Dawn Ostroff was joined by Gimlet's Matt Lieber and Anchor's Michael Mignano for a conversation on the growth of podcasting for consumers and businesses.
Spotify has offered a selection of podcasts to users for some time, and even began to produce its own podcasts -- available exclusively on the platform starting in 2017 -- but was, up until recently, primarily known for its music streaming services. So, what was the main catalyst behind its acquisition of Gimlet, a narrative podcast network, and Anchor, a distribution and discovery platform for podcast creators?
"The Second Golden Age of Audio --Podcasting" panelists at SXSW 2019 | Amanda Zantal-Wiener for News & Trends by HubSpot
"If we want to be the world's largest audio platform, podcasting has to be part of that," says Spotify's Ostroff. The combination of Gimlet's quality content, and Anchor's tools to help creators distribute and monetize their podcasts, helps to support that goal.
In a way, this idea of encompassing multiple audio entertainment formats aligns with some of the other items we've seen at SXSW 2019 -- and building new channels where brands can create and distribute audio-driven experiences.
This week, for example, Bose introduced Creator Tools for its Frames audio AR glasses -- which brands can use to create experiences for the Frames in a similar way that developers can create apps or skills for Google Home and Alexa.
Brands need an audio strategy.
- Michael Mignano, Co-founder & CEO, Anchor
For that reason, Anchor's Mignano could be right when he says, "Brands need an audio strategy" -- as we witness a quickly-growing number of audio-specific distribution channels and resources being built for creators and brands to leverage.
"Spotify's mission is really to connect creators to users," says Ostroff. "When you think about what Anchor represents and all the podcasters who can go onto the platform, and then be able to connect them to listeners around the world ... that's what our mission is."
An AI (And American Sign Language)-Powered Coffee Shop
An ongoing theme of conversations happening at SXSW 2019 is how to make technology more inclusive. Today, we saw how one company -- Stradigi AI -- is using artificial intelligence (AI) to make something as simple as ordering a cup of coffee more inclusive to individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate.
Hugo Thibault, Stradigi's VP of Marketing, explains that one in every 20 people in the U.S. have a hearing impairment, pointing to the importance of using technology to create new resources that can improve day-to-day routines and activities within this community -- like ordering a cup of coffee.
Such initiatives in this area include the opening of U.S. store locations where employees are able to communicate using ASL. But what about coffee shops that aren't staffed accordingly?
That's where Stradigi's technology comes in. Using AI and machine learning, systems equipped with cameras are taught to recognize ASL and can process coffee orders accordingly.
At SXSW, visitors can stop by the coffee shop and order a latte strictly using ASL, providing a glimpse into how the camera recognizes the language's movements and gestures.
Making Music in a Cave Without a Light
Entertainment and electronics company Sony also had interactive experiences on display at SXSW, some of which also touched on its efforts to make technology more inclusive.
One of those experiences was its Cave Without a Light exhibit, in which participants were descended into a completely dark cave where they could not see anything at all. The idea: to create music as a group, without the help of eye sight, and navigate the experience based on the sense of sound alone.
The experience, which was curated with the help of an audio engineer who is deaf, was one that Sony says was designed for everyone to experience, regardless of any disability.
Once descended into the cave without the light, participants were guided by an exhibit ambassador to engage with nearby surroundings based entirely on their senses of sound and touch, where they could clap, bang on bongo drums, and with the help of ambient sound effects and music, create a song together.
Thanks to the help of a night-vision camera installed in the exhibit, we were able to catch our own Cave Without a Light experience.
But Sony's interactive experiences didn't end there -- and much of the technology on display in its brand activation was meant to showcase the company's advancements in AI.
One example of the company's AI capabilities was the latest edition of Aibo: an artificially intelligent robot puppy that, with the help of a camera installed on its nose, can start to recognize its human owners after the course of several days. And, thanks to machine learning, Aibo can be personalized to learn a new name assigned by its owner, trained to learn a number of tricks, and taught behavioral reinforcement with voice commands like "good boy," "good girl," or "good puppy."
Playing with Aibo at Sony's SXSW 2019 brand activation | Stephen Fiske for News & Trends by HubSpot
Finally, Sony also had a new generation of robots on display that use AI to form their own language and communicate with each other about -- and based on -- the external stimuli that they see and hear.
What are they saying, exactly? It seems that we mere humans may never know -- but in the meantime, the exhibit incorporated a video element where the words and phrases uttered by the robots were cast onto a screen as they were speaking.
Sony's AI robots on display at SXSW 2019 | Amanda Zantal-Wiener for News & Trends by HubSpot
Much like Aibo, it seems that there's a certain emotional element to how these robots function, in that in some cases, they seem to "follow" and "watch" the stimuli that interest them the most. Case in point: This particular robot seemed to take quite a liking to our video producer, Stephen, and moved around consistently to "see" what he was doing.
A Sony AI robot takes interest in our video producer | Amanda Zantal-Wiener for News & Trends by HubSpot
That's a wrap on this year's daily SXSW recaps. Check back for more reflections and in-depth stories on what we saw here in 2019.


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In 2018, voters in the state of Missouri legalized medical cannabis. Despite this, the sale, distribution and cultivation of cannabis is still illegal in the state under federal law. This has created some challenges for the infant industry. For instance, cannabis companies in the state aren’t allowed to deduct business expenses on their taxes, despite being legal businesses.
During a Senate hearing held earlier in this year, Senator Denny Hoskins raised the issue, noting that cannabis business owners who weren’t allowed to deduct business expenses on their tax returns had to pay…
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Hero Technologies Inc. (OTC: HENC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/HENC
CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.
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People are certanly not happy with Tesco’s plan to ban Ribena as well as Capri Sun.
The plan, which will also see other sugary drinks including Capri-Sun removed from shelves, is being made in a bid to combat childhood obesity.
However, best-selling fizzy drinks, including Coca Cola, will stay.
Tesco, the UK’s biggest supermarket chain will be making the change on September 7, to coincide with the end of school summer holidays, when sugary drinks will either replaced by no-added-sugar alternatives or Tesco no-added-sugar own-label products.
Tesco’s soft drinks buying manager David Beardmore told trade magazine The Grocer that the changes were being made as part of an overhaul of the kids’ juice category.
“This is part of our 10-point plan against obesity and we have decided that from September we will only sell no-added-sugar drinks in the kids’ juice category.
“Most of the suppliers are supportive of it and understand what we are doing.”
A spokeswoman for Lucozade Ribena Suntory told The Grocer: “We believe it is important to offer choice for parents.
“We will have no-added-sugar flavours available in multi-pack cartons.”
So, what’s exactly in these two drinks?
Blackcurrent Ribena 500ml bottle
Capri-Sun 200 Juice Drink
Does Tesco Banning Ribena and Capri-Sun bother you?


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Japan’s electronic conglomerate, Panasonic Co.’s bicycle division, Panasonic Cycle Technology Co., Ltd. has recently announced a collaboration with the Chinese bike sharing firm, Beijing Mobike Technology Co., Ltd., in the field of IoT electric-assist bikes.
Under the agreed terms, the two companies aim to explore opportunities to jointly develop and provide convenient IoT-based electric bikes for bike sharing and rental service users.
Sources suggest that the companies’ internet-connected IoT electric-bikes would allow users to unlock bikes by using their smartphones and enables recording riding based data effectively. Using GPS, users could also achieve high security, navigation and control parking location.
Reportedly, Panasonic Cycle Technology has been in the bicycle segment for 66 years, handling the entire process from designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing bikes and related products. The company has become the leader in market share in Japan’s e-bike market, enjoying strong customer support by offering products that meet user needs.
Incidentally, Beijing Mobike Technology operates its bike sharing service ‘Mobike’, in major cities of China as well as in Singapore, Italy and the UK. The company’s shared bikes feature an electronic lock that unlocks by scanning a QR code.
Sources suggest that the two companies, as a part of the partnership, will provide high value-added products and services to customers by utilizing their management resources and business knowhow in the evolving e-bike market. Moreover, the companies would also aim to achieve a much more safe and comfortable society through e-bike sharing and rental services.
For the record, Panasonic Co. is a leader in the development of various electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, automotive, housing, and B2B businesses. The company has spread globally and now operates 591 divisions and 88 associated companies worldwide, reporting joint net sales of around 7.982 trillion yen in the year 2018.


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As surprised as the personal computer industry was by demand for its products at Christmas, executives and analysts have been shocked at how the momentum has been sustained since then.
In the first quarter of this year, PC shipments rose 23 percent in the United States to nearly 4.7 million computers, according to International Data Corp., a market research firm in Framingham, Mass.
The nation’s largest computer retailer, CompUSA Inc. of Dallas, reported that sales for its fourth fiscal quarter ended June 24 rose 20 percent to $689 million.
All of this has happened amid widespread fears that sales would slow as customers waited for the introduction of Microsoft Corp.’s Windows 95 operating system.
“We’ve been very happy with sales recently, said Lawrence Mondry, CompUSA’s executive vice president for merchandising.
The industry is expected to gather even more steam in the second half of the year with the introduction of Windows 95 in late August and Intel Corp.’s debut of the successor to the Pentium microprocessor chip the P6 in the fourth quarter.
The trend is expected to continue for a long time. Dataquest Inc. of San Jose, Calif., estimated recently that 100 million PCs will be shipped worldwide in 1999, up from 48 million last year. The world market will nearly double to $185 billion in 1999 from $95 billion in 1994.
How big is the boom in PCs? So big that people want one even more than they want a new car.
According to CNW Marketing Research Co., 31.6 percent of American adults surveyed said they want to buy a computer in the next year, more than double the figure in 1990. Only 13.3 percent put new wheels on their wish list, down from 14.7 percent five years earlier.
“Ten years ago, status was a BMW, said Art Spinella, vice president of the Bandon, Ore., firm that tracks consumer spending habits. “Now it’s a 100-megahertz Pentium PC. Instead of putting income tax refunds to a down payment on a new car, today it’s a home computer.
Fueling much of the growth is demand for high-powered multimedia computers for the home, capable of playing the latest games and educational programs that integrate full-motion video and stereo sound. Consumers also want fast modem connections for hooking up with the Internet.
Spinella, whose survey of consumer spending includes a sample of 40,000 people nationwide, said home PC buyers often rationalize the purchase as something for the children’s homework. He said the devices are more often used by the whole family for games.
Home computers accounted for 31.7 percent of the PC market last year in the United States, up from 28.6 percent in 1993, according to Dataquest.
“The industry has been predicting this boom for 15 years, said Richard Shaffer, principal of Technologic Partners in New York. “Sooner or later, if you predict it long enough, you’ll turn out to be right.
The only potential dark clouds for the PC industry have been concerns about the availability of components, including memory chips, high-end disk drives and the fastest model CD-ROM drives.


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How consumer complaints changed during lockdown, according to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman’s (CGSO’s) annual report, is a real eye-opener about consumer behaviour.
Complaints more than doubled and complaints about online transactions increased from 6% in the previous year to 27% for the 2020-2021 financial year.
During this time, the CGSO’s intervention saw a total of R7,746,375.69 paid out to consumers in refunds, ranging from small amounts to more substantial sums, such as a partial refund of R202,886.75 from a timeshare company and R187,952.00 to a beauty salon owner who invested in a hair removal laser machine that was not fit for purpose.
Other refunds included cancelled flights, goods not fit for purpose, defective goods and cancellation of orders due to late deliveries and stock shortages, as well as cancellation of fixed-term agreements and advanced bookings for events that could no longer take place due to Covid-19 restrictions.
More consumer complaints linked to lockdown
According to the annual report, complaints increased by 52%, from 9,529 to 14,438 cases, the highest number ever.
“We attribute this steep rise to a combination of factors, including increased consumer awareness of the CGSO, issues over cancellations and failure to deliver due to the Covid-19 pandemic and problems associated with the unprecedented demand for online shopping,” Magauta Mphahlele, the ombudsman, said.
Mphahlele says as soon as lockdown started, consumers began to flood her office with requests for assistance on situations that the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) was never designed to deal with and for which limited legal precedent existed.
“These issues fell into two broad categories: cancellations of advanced bookings and services due to lockdown and price hiking in response to increased demand and supply chain disruptions. Shortly after that, the nature of complaints began to reflect the challenges that came with the surge in demand for online goods and services.”
A total of 790 (5.4%) complaints received directly related to Covid-19 and 2,321 (16%) to online transactions. The top three lockdown-related disputes involved travel services (32%), weddings (16%) and accommodation (13%) as people rushed to cancel or postpone holidays and big events.
“Other notable complaints involved gym memberships where consumers objected to paying monthly fees for services and facilities that were temporarily closed and retailers that refused to refund customers for items bought in-store, despite fitting rooms being closed.”
The ombudsman’s office also referred 29 companies to the National Consumer Commission (NCC) and the Competition Commission for further investigation into price gouging.
Consumer complaints per sector were about goods (38%), services (28%), agreements (24%), disclosure (3%), deposits (2%), treatment (2%), health and safety (2%) and marketing (1%).
Mphahlele said e-commerce accounted for the most significant number of complaints per sector, while most complaints in the previous year were about the satellite and telecommunications sector, reflecting the dramatic shift to online shopping in the wake of lockdown.
Online transactions made up 27% of the complaints, appliances 15%, furniture 13%, satellite and telecommunication services 13%, clothing 7%, travel services 6%, groceries 6%, fitness 5%, accommodation 4%, timeshare 2% and weddings 2%.
Products and services
Complaints by product or service showed that lockdown generated an unprecedented number of complaints around travel services, accommodation and weddings, which made up 12% of the complaints received.
“The dramatic rise in the number of consumer complaints around online shopping reflects the shift in consumer behaviour in the last 12 months. The most common complaints related to service and delivery about goods not delivered on time (45%), goods and services not meeting expectations and services not provided in time,” said Mphahlele.
Complaints by product or service had 17% of complaints related to online transactions, 10% about cell phones, 10% about electrical appliances, 8% about furniture and 8% about telecommunication and satellite services.
The office of the ombudsman resolved 43% of the complaints received fully in favour of the consumer, 16% were resolved by the supplier, 15% were resolved in favour of the supplier, 13% were dismissed due to lack of cooperation from the supplier, 7% were resolved with assistance provided, 3% were dismissed and referred to the NCC and 3% was resolved partially.


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Pay For Service-Sector Jobs Surpasses Manufacturing
March 23, 1999
In the 1980s, some economists predicted that the increase in service-sector jobs would have a negative impact on the U.S. standard of living -- because they paid less than traditional manufacturing jobs.
Now, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that wages in the service sector surpassed those in manufacturing for the first time last May.
- Overall, service jobs in every category but retailing pay about 10 percent more than manufacturing, according to Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas economist Michael Cox.
- Harvard University's James Medoff reports that roughly 1.5 million high-paying service jobs were created last year in industries such as insurance, telecommunications and computer services -- even as 234,000 well-paid manufacturing jobs were being eliminated.
- Some economists maintain that the manufacturing sector isn't declining -- but simply producing more goods with fewer workers, thanks to productivity improvements.
- Research indicates that service jobs are also beginning to compare favorably to those in manufacturing when rated on the basis of health benefits and pension coverage -- although health benefits vary considerably among service industries.
Some analysts see a parallel between today's manufacturing- versus-services debate and another clash at the start of the Industrial Revolution. Then, the issue was manufacturing versus agriculture.
Source: John Berlau, "More Than Just Flipping Burgers," Investor's Business Daily, March 23, 1999.
Browse more articles on Economic Issues


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Kauai-based Brick Oven Pizza is expanding to Kaneohe
by Kevin Akitake
posted May 28 2013 11:36AM
The newest of what will be a total of four locations will be in the Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center, across from Windward Mall. Corey Aguano, Brick Oven Pizza president said they’re taking about half the space of the old Blockbuster store. They hope toget it open by the end of summer, possibly in mid-August.


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Survey shows Broads tourism rise last summer
Visitors to the Broads increased by 4.2pc last year to 7.4 million with a 2pc increase in spending and jobs in the tourism sector.
The 2011 figures released by STEAM (Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor), the leading model for calculating the volume and value of tourism, show that visitors spent �469 million compared to �437 million in 2010. Jobs dependent on tourism rose to from 6,236 to 6,367. There were 7.1 million visitors in 2010.
Bruce Hanson, the Broads Authority's tourism officer, said that the tourism figures had shown a steady rise year on year.
'Tourism in the Broads has held up well in an extremely difficult economic climate and we should be very proud of this result,' he said.
'This is a tribute to the extremely hard work of many people in the Broads holiday industry who have pulled together and paid particular attention to the need to continually improve the quality of the Broads tourism offer. Broads businesses, working closely with the Broads Authority, have resulted in everyone becoming a winner - the businesses, the environment and the visitors.'
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Mr Hanson strongly believes tourism drives the economy of the Broads and that this success will have a knock-on effect to the wider community.
'The challenge is to maintain this momentum,' he said. 'Broads Tourism, the organisation representing Broads businesses, is committed to this agenda and I am confident it will continue to ensure the prosperity of the region.'
- 1 'An insult to the city': Couple ditch 'hellhole' hotel after 45 minutes
- 2 Travellers camped at garden centre car park
- 3 Road cleared after overturned lorry on A47/A11 Thickthorn roundabout
- 4 Ex-head charged with sex attacks on boys at Norfolk school
- 5 Tattoo studio owner fined after refusing to close in lockdown
- 6 Man arrested on suspicion of murder after woman found dead in flat
- 7 RSPCA shop loses more than £1,000 after 'slamming scam'
- 8 New Lidl stores to open in Norfolk and Waveney in £1.3bn expansion
- 9 Historic railway platform building could be demolished in station revamp
- 10 Former Norwich boxing champion banned from contacting ex-partner
Barbara Greasley, chairman of Broads Tourism, said: 'I have been extremely encouraged by the findings of the STEAM report. Over the last few years Broads businesses have really identified the need to maintain and improve the quality of our tourism offer.
'This has resulted in a great deal of investment being made by individual businesses. These results show that all the investment and hard work has been worthwhile.'
STEAM is funded by STEP (Sustainable Tourism in Estuary Parks) which is part of the Two Seas Interreg Project financed by the European Development Fund.