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Interior Minister Pledges Compliance To ECS
Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.
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With Matt Gaetz's withdrawal, Trump's 'retribution' campaign hits the harsh reality of governing in Washington
MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J., Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. ("OPT" or "the Company") (NYSE American: OPTT), today announced preliminary financial results for the second quarter ended October 31, 2024 (Q2FY25). The preliminary results included in this press release are subject to change and have not been audited or reviewed by our independent auditor. The Company expects to file its second quarter financial results and update in mid‐December. Preliminary Q2FY25 Financial Highlights (All figures are preliminary, unaudited, and subject to finalization): Revenue : Estimated to be greater than $2 million, compared to $0.9 million for the same period last year, representing a more than 2x increase. Net Loss : Anticipated net loss of approximately $4 million, compared to $7.2 million in the prior year period and representing a year-over-year decrease in net loss of more than 40%. Operating expenses have been reduced by approximately 40%, including reduced external expenditures leading to a material reduction in third party spend. Cash Used in Operating Activities : Estimated to be less than $4.7 million, compared to $7.5 million in the prior-year period and representing a year-over-year decrease of approximately 40%. Business and Operational Highlights During Q2FY25, the Company completed the second set of exercises of the previously announced follow-on contract as a subcontractor to EpiSci and successfully deployed several WAM-V autonomous surface vehicles during the Mission Autonomy Proving Grounds (MAPG) as part of Project Overmatch. Project Overmatch is a United States Navy initiative aimed at achieving a seamless and highly integrated warfighting capability by leveraging advanced data networks, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning. Under this contract, OPT continues to ruggedize and enhance the operational capability of its autonomous maritime technologies to support the U.S. military and its allies. The first set of exercises was concluded over the summer and the completion of these most recent exercises contributed to the revenue recognition noted above. The Company delivered several vehicles to customers in Latin America for commercial survey services. The Company signed its first service contract for multi-year support services for vehicles. Since the end of the quarter, OPT has received the final permits to install the previously announced PowerBuoy equipped with AT&Ts 5G equipment in Monterey Bay. The Company reaffirms its previously issued guidance that it believes it will reach profitability (excluding unanticipated extraordinary expenses) during the fourth quarter of calendar 2025. Performance to date reflects strong demand for products, effective cost management, and progress in strategic initiatives. Recent achievements, including recently announced partnerships and operational milestones regarding successful exercises and continued customer deliveries, further support the Company’s trajectory toward achieving this stated objective. Philipp Stratmann, OPT’s CEO and President, stated “We believe our preliminary results underscore the success of our strategic initiatives, such as focusing on national security and critical infrastructure solutions, coupled with targeted international expansion and our ability to execute for our customers. We have seen a recent uptick in demand for our services domestically and overseas and will continue to convert our pipeline to bookings and ultimately to revenue through future deliveries and additional opportunities to deploy our assets, and we remain committed to delivering long-term value for our shareholders. The success of our most recent quarter leads us to reconfirm our pathway to profitability in late calendar 2025.” CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION A conference call to discuss OPT’s financial results will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 9:00 AM EDT. Philipp Stratmann, CEO, and Bob Powers, CFO will host the call. The dial-in numbers for the conference call are 877-407-8291 or 201-689-8345. Live webcast: Webcast | Ocean Power Technologies FY2025 Q2 Earnings Conference Call (choruscall.com) Call Replay: Call replay will be available by telephone approximately two hours after the call's completion. You may access the replay by dialing 877-660-6853 from the U.S. or 201-612-7415 for international callers and using the Conference ID 13748550. Webcast Replay: The archived webcast will be on the OPT investor relations section of its website. INDIVIDUAL MEETING INFORMATION In an effort to increase relations with institutional investors, OPT management has dedicated time to hosting individual meetings with portfolio managers and analysts. If you are interested in scheduling a meeting with OPT management, please contact: Email: InvestorRelations@oceanpowertech.com , or Call: 609-730-0400 x401 ABOUT OCEAN POWER TECHNOLOGIES OPT provides intelligent maritime solutions and services that enable safer, cleaner, and more productive ocean operations for the defense and security, oil and gas, science and research, and offshore wind markets, including Merrows, which provides AI capable seamless integration of Maritime Domain Awareness Systems across platforms. Our PowerBuoy® platforms provide clean and reliable electric power and real-time data communications for remote maritime and subsea applications. We also provide WAM-V® autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) and marine robotics services. The Company’s headquarters is in Monroe Township, New Jersey, with an additional office in Richmond, California. To learn more, visit www.OceanPowerTechnologies.com . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release may contain forward-looking statements that are within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are identified by certain words or phrases such as "may", "will", "aim", "will likely result", "believe", "expect", "will continue", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "contemplate", "seek to", "future", "objective", "goal", "project", "should", "will pursue" and similar expressions or variations of such expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations about its future plans and performance. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions and estimates that could be inaccurate and subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from those anticipated or expressed in any forward-looking statement made by the Company. Please refer to the Company's most recent Forms 10-Q and 10-K and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. The Company disclaims any obligation or intent to update the forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to provide further interim updates in the future.Published 5:37 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2024 By Associated Press NEW YORK — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. “Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith, life will not be the same without him,” Young wrote. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. In 1983, Woolery began an 11-year run as host of TV’s “Love Connection,” for which he coined the phrase, “We’ll be back in two minutes and two seconds,” a two-fingered signature dubbed the “2 and 2.” In 1984, he hosted TV’s “Scrabble,” simultaneously hosting two game shows on TV until 1990. “Love Connection,” which aired long before the dawn of dating apps, had a premise that featured either a single man or single woman who would watch audition tapes of three potential mates and then pick one for a date. A couple of weeks after the date, the guest would sit with Woolery in front of a studio audience and tell everybody about the date. The audience would vote on the three contestants, and if the audience agreed with the guest’s choice, “Love Connection” would offer to pay for a second date. Woolery told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003 that his favorite set of lovebirds was a man aged 91 and a woman aged 87. “She had so much eye makeup on, she looked like a stolen Corvette. He was so old he said, ‘I remember wagon trains.’ The poor guy. She took him on a balloon ride.” Other career highlights included hosting the shows “Lingo,” “Greed” and “The Chuck Woolery Show,” as well as hosting the short-lived syndicated revival of “The Dating Game” from 1998 to 2000 and an ill-fated 1991 talk show. In 1992, he played himself in two episodes of TV’s “Melrose Place.” Woolery became the subject of the Game Show Network’s first attempt at a reality show, “Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned,” which premiered in 2003. It shared the title of the pop song in 1968 by Woolery and his rock group, the Avant-Garde. It lasted six episode and was panned by critics. Woolery began his TV career at a show that has become a mainstay. Although most associated with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, “Wheel of Fortune” debuted Jan. 6, 1975, on NBC with Woolery welcoming contestants and the audience. Woolery, then 33, was trying to make it in Nashville as a singer. “Wheel of Fortune” started life as “Shopper’s Bazaar,” incorporating Hangman-style puzzles and a roulette wheel. After Woolery appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” singing “Delta Dawn,” Merv Griffin asked him to host the new show with Susan Stafford. “I had an interview that stretched to 15, 20 minutes,” Woolery told The New York Times in 2003. “After the show, when Merv asked if I wanted to do a game show, I thought, ‘Great, a guy with a bad jacket and an equally bad mustache who doesn’t care what you have to say — that’s the guy I want to be.’” NBC initially passed, but they retooled it as “Wheel of Fortune” and got the green light. After a few years, Woolery demanded a raise to $500,000 a year, or what host Peter Marshall was making on “Hollywood Squares.” Griffin balked and replaced Woolery with weather reporter Pat Sajak. “Both Chuck and Susie did a fine job, and ‘Wheel’ did well enough on NBC, although it never approached the kind of ratings success that ‘Jeopardy!’ achieved in its heyday,” Griffin said in “Merv: Making the Good Life Last,” an autobiography from the 2000s co-written by David Bender. Woolery earned an Emmy nod as host. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, Woolery served in the U.S. Navy before attending college. He played double bass in a folk trio, then formed the psychedelic rock duo The Avant-Garde in 1967 while working as a truck driver to support himself as a musician. The Avant-Garde, which tourbed in a refitted Cadillac hearse, had the Top 40 hit “Naturally Stoned,” with Woolery singing, “When I put my mind on you alone/I can get a good sensation/Feel like I’m naturally stoned.” After The Avant-Garde broke up, Woolery released his debut solo single “I’ve Been Wrong” in 1969 and several more singles with Columbia before transitioning to country music by the 1970s. He released two solo singles, “Forgive My Heart” and “Love Me, Love Me.” Woolery wrote or co-wrote songs for himself and everyone from Pat Boone to Tammy Wynette. On Wynette’s 1971 album “We Sure Can Love Each Other,” Woolery wrote “The Joys of Being a Woman” with lyrics including “See our baby on the swing/Hear her laugh, hear her scream.” After his TV career ended, Woolery went into podcasting. In an interview with The New York Times, he called himself a gun-rights activist and described himself as a conservative libertarian and constitutionalist. He said he hadn’t revealed his politics in liberal Hollywood for fear of retribution. He teamed up with Mark Young in 2014 for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and soon became a full supporter of Donald Trump while arguing minorities don’t need civil rights and causing a firestorm by tweeting an antisemitic comment linking Soviet Communists to Judaism. “President Obama’s popularity is a fantasy only held by him and his dwindling legion of juice-box-drinking, anxiety-dog-hugging, safe-space-hiding snowflakes,” he said. Woolery also was active online, retweeting articles from Conservative Brief, insisting Democrats were trying to install a system of Marxism and spreading headlines such as “Impeach him! Devastating photo of Joe Biden leaks.” During the early stages of the pandemic, Woolery initially accused medical professionals and Democrats of lying about the virus in an effort to hurt the economy and Trump’s chances for reelection to the presidency. “The most outrageous lies are the ones about COVID-19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, media, Democrats, our doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it’s all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I’m sick of it,” Woolery wrote in July 2020. Trump retweeted that post to his 83 million followers. By the end of the month, nearly 4.5 million Americans had been infected with COVID-19 and more than 150,000 had died. Just days later, Woolery changed his stance, announcing his son had contracted COVID-19. “To further clarify and add perspective, COVID-19 is real and it is here. My son tested positive for the virus, and I feel for of those suffering and especially for those who have lost loved ones,” Woolery posted before his account was deleted. Woolery later explained on his podcast that he never called COVID-19 “a hoax” or said “it’s not real,” just that “we’ve been lied to.” Woolery also said it was “an honor to have your president retweet what your thoughts are and think it’s important enough to do that.” In addition to his wife, Woolery is survived by his sons Michael and Sean and his daughter Melissa, Young said.
Tweet Facebook Mail On November 8, Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi boarded a flight from Maui to New York City, with a short layover in Los Angeles. But after missing her connecting flight, Hannah vanished. There were a few brief sightings of the 31-year-old in LA and family members have received concerning, out-of-character texts from her phone, but weeks later Hannah remains missing. READ MORE: Lurking weather system could become Australia's first tropical cyclone of the season Hannah Kobayashi is missing in the USA. (Nine) Now the body of her father, Ryan Kobayashi, has been found in LA after he spent almost two weeks desperately searching for his daughter. Here's everything you need to know about Hannah's disappearance and the timeline of events since. November 8 Hannah flew from Maui to Los Angeles, landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 9.53pm local time. She was seen on surveillance footage exiting the aircraft in a black hoodie and colourful leggings but never made it onto her connecting flight to New York City. Her family said she missed it due to a tight 42-minute layover and was put on standby for a new flight. Her sister Sydni Kobayashi told CNN that Hannah had the same itinerary as an ex-boyfriend but they intended to part ways in New York City. READ MORE: Keeping cool is Cass' 'full time job' as heatwave puts the health of 122,000 Aussies at risk November 9 The following day, Hannah was seen at The Grove, a popular shopping mall in downtown LA. Her family said she spent time at a bookstore there. Hannah's aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told Fox News that her niece spent an hour and a half charging her phone at a Taschen bookstore and filled out a mailing list. "It's in her handwriting," she told the outlet on November 21. Sydni told CNN that Hannah also sent Venmo payments to two people that day. Hannah's family did not recognise the individuals' names. November 10 Hannah returned to the mall the following day and was visible in the background of footage from an event hosted at the Nike store there. She also posted a photo from the event on Instagram with a single emoji of a speech bubble showing an eye inside as the caption. The last photo Hannah Kobayashi shared to her Instagram account before her disappearance. (Instagram/Hannah Kobayashi) November 11 Three days after Hannah landed in LA, her family and friends began receiving concerning texts from her phone. In the messages, Hannah said she felt unsafe and claimed that someone was trying to steal her money and identity, according to her family. "I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds," one text to a friend read, followed by a second saying, "For someone I thought I loved." Another text sent to her aunt reportedly said: "I just finished a very intense spiritual awakening." READ MORE: Sydney man charged with running over, torturing kangaroos The texts used language that seemed out of character, according to Hannah's family, and were devoid of the emojis Hannah typically used. "It's weird to me because it doesn't sound like her, like there's just something off about it ... I don't know if it's her or if someone else was texting." Hannah Kobayashi's phone last pinged at LAX on November 11. (Courtesy Sydni Kobayashi via CNN Newsource) Hannah was reportedly seen at LAX that same day, where Pidgeon said she spoke with an American Airlines ticketing agent in the hopes of getting a direct flight to New York City. The family later shared that they also sighted surveillance footage that placed Hannah at the Pico Metro Station near the airport just after 10pm that night. She reportedly left the station with an unidentified person and the family claim she did "not appear to be in good condition". Hannah's phone last pinged at LAX on November 11 and has been turned off ever since. November 12 Four days after Hannah touched down in LA, her family filed a missing person report with the Los Angeles Police Department. A social media campaign was launched and police petitioned the public for any information about her whereabouts. A post shared online described the 31-year-old as having brown hair and hazel eyes, freckles on her face and a tattoo of a knife on her arm. She's 5'10" (177cm) and weighs 140lbs (63kg). November 24 Hannah's father was found dead on Sunday, November 24, after almost two weeks spent searching the city for his missing daughter. LAPD confirmed his body was discovered in a carpark at a business near LAX around 4am local time. The suspected cause of death was not made public. Ryan Kobayashi, centre, during an interview before his death. (CNN via CNN Newsource) "I wasn't too close with her ... growing up. We haven't had contact for a while," he had told CNN days before his death. "I'm just trying to make up. I'm trying to get her back. "That's my main focus." Pidgeon told CNN the family was devastated by Ryan's death and said: "We also want to make it clear that Ryan died of a broken heart." DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .Full Trailer: "Squid Game" Season 2 - Dark Horizons