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UK Sales Charts: Call of Duty Sinks to 11 Year Low at Retail
But digital marches forward
by Sammy Barker Mon 15th Oct 2018
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 set a new global sales record on the PlayStation Store at launch, while its first weekend at UK retail represented an 11 year low for the franchise. What can we infer from this? Either the British public has fallen out of love with Activision's first-person shooter series (unlikely) or consumers are really starting to switch to digital storefronts now (likely).
Chart-Track only has access to physical data for the time being, though, so the latest UK sales charts tell us that Black Ops 4 sold 59 per cent fewer boxed copies than its 2015 predecessor, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. Not only that, but it's the weakest opening for a Call of Duty game in the British retail sector since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – which is, of course, the game that catapulted the series into the mainstream.
Despite the doom and gloom around the data, it only took a single weekend for Black Ops 4 to become the second best-selling game of the year in the UK – it trails only the untouchable FIFA 19. An impressive 58 per cent of copies were sold on the PS4, while this week's other big new release WWE 2K19 enjoyed 66 per cent of its sales on Sony's system. The wrestling game debuted in fourth position.
UK Sales Charts: Week Ending 13th October, 2018
Super Mario Party
[via gamesindustry.biz]
gingerfrog
Mon 15th Oct 2018
I know I'm just 1 person, but this is the first switch I've made to digital in the series. Having got a 4tb hard drive last year I'm Probably not going to pick up any physical games again. Purley driven by laziness And the hoping that they'll all transfer to the ps5 and beyond when they subsequently release.
Turismo4GT
I still love having a new game as a physical disc. There is nothing like the sound of taking off the plastic wrap and cracking open the case for the first time. The smell of freshly varnished printed artwork on the disc, and the label artwork on the case. The convenience of getting a game without having to leave home, hell, setting it to download from the app while you're away from home, will never replace my love of a tangible disc. Long may it last.
Tasuki
Not surprising. I know alot of CoD players are passing on this game. I wouldn't be surprised if sales are worse then Infinite Warfare.
Every game moving forward is going to be down at Retail.
Horizon_Rover
Is it the first time I do not see GTA5 in a chart of top 10?
Derpie1
@Tasuki CoD needs a break...
get2sammyb
@Tasuki Did you see the other article?
@get2sammyb Ok now I am confused? Did it sell poorly or really good?
Does anyone else feel like this news with physical and digital is more like bitter sweet for Activision? I mean think about it. The lowest in physical sales, but the highest in digital sales. I don't know; if I was a representative of Activision, I will have mixed feelings about this. I mean you can point out that it came out much earlier than past Call of Duty games, but I don't know.
RoyalGuard
I've never bought a digital game in my life that was over 20$ indie. (hollow knight, the messenger, etc) is getting the digital version cheaper on AAA Game? No printed disc , no art work, no retailer cut, etc. If not who do they pass the savings on to?..... hmmm.
@Tasuki Seems the market is moving to digital.
Th3solution
Yeah, I think the market is moving to digital, slowly, but surely. I still prefer physical.
I just don't understand why the digital copy is not discounted at least a little bit vs buying it new at retail, since they are cutting out the middle man and seemingly the profit margin is higher with digital. If they pass a little of that savings on to the consumer, then more people would buy digital. It's a win-win. But I guess this article shows people will move over anyways.
LN78
@Th3solution I think the main reason that is given for digital games not being cheaper in Europe is that there has to be parity of pricing across all territories.Perhaps Brexit will affect this for people in the UK but I'm not sure. I suspect the real reason has more to do with greed,though.Why discount anything that people are already buying in droves?
@gingerfrog Physical disks very rarley save hd space, as game installation copies the entire content to the hd anyway. So I'm buying only digital too, but having a large xtra drive isn't the consideration.
JoeBlogs
@Turismo4GT I know what you mean. I don't feel like I've really got something if I buy digital. I'll buy stuff in sales but when it comes to the big new releases, I'm physical all the way.
@Tasuki
Activision said more people connected to black ops 4 than wwll day one, so it's doing pretty well
RedMan33
Low at retail best ever digital launch on PlayStation, may not be all doom and gloom
MaccaMUFC
@beemo "I used to buy everything digital and I've recently switched back to physical."
That's like saying 'I used to buy discs but recently switched back to VHS'. Your backing the wrong horse, the beginning of the end for physical started awhile ago and eventually when the people who buy physical are in the very small minority, it's not going to be feasible to continue to produce cases, discs, logistics and shipping fees, it's not going to be worth it when developers and publishers stand to gain full profit from people buying their games digitally.
A physical copy for an online-only game is pretty much pointless anyway.
BAMozzy
I always buy Physical where possible and I can see a time when Physical maybe overtaken by digital sales but I still think there is a market for BOTH!
For CoD to be the biggest selling 'digital' game on PS4, that wouldn't require a significant amount of sales. A million or two at most which may sound like a lot, which it is for some games, but for a franchise that normally sells 20-25m, that's a relatively small fraction.
I am sure that CoD may well of lost some of those sales to Digital, BUT I am sure that sales are down too - the lack of campaign for example was a big sticking point for many and its whether or not Battle Royale is a good substitute for them.
From my perspective, this is the first CoD since CoD4 that I haven't bought at release, the first CoD game since MW2 that I haven't pre-ordered the 'special' edition version. If I do buy, it will be when the price drops and it will be a physical disc version.
RainbowGazelle
@MaccaMUFC And that's when I will quit buying games.
bindiana
I prefer physical for new games so if I dont like it or complete it can then sell it and get some money back. But with older games and the very good playstation digital sales buying quite a few of them digital.
@RainbowGazelle If it's that easy for you to just quit playing games over that then you can't be all that bothered about gaming. Just seems to me you'd only be cutting your nose off to spite your face but nobody would care and the developers and publishers certainly wouldn't.
I feel that certain games are moving towards digital, whilst others perhaps aren't.
To use the new Call of Duty (which is ONLY online multiplayer, lest we forget) as an example for all games would be folly. This is a game for which a disc would be pointless because, in ten years once they've shut the servers down, you'll be left with a shiny drinks coaster. At least with the others, keeping hold of a disc has some value, because you can play the campaigns for as long as you've got a working console.
It's an interesting statistic, for sure, but not a damning indictment of the state of modern gaming. Nowhere near.
leucocyte
the UK console market is still dominated by physical discs, ~80% in 2017 according to gameindustry.biz - given the number of pre-owned discs in game/cex etc. that i see, the popularity of cashing in a disc to buy the next thing is still there. and there's the fact that it's 60 quid on PSN, and ~45 on disc if you look around. if CoD physical sales are down 59%, even if digital sales are well up, it would have be up something like 300-400% to match total sales. extremely unlikely, imo.
could be a lot of reasons.. no campaign, or people didn't want to download a 51gb day-1 patch, or it released early in october rather than its traditional november schedule.. sandwiched between spiderman, tomb raider, assassin's creed, fifa and red dead redemption 2.. or maybe people think it'll drop significantly in price for black friday.
Ps4_all_the_way
I haven't bought a COD game this generation which I'm sure no one noticed but I used to buy day 1. They are great fun but my head used to be wrecked. Not exactly relaxing.
The only time I buy digital is if the price is really good, I just don't like it.
@MaccaMUFC I prefer owning the things that I buy and not leasing them long term from the license holder. Simple as that.
AnthonyStark86
@Oizon haha, that's the first thing I look for too in these sales chart articles.
FullbringIchigo
@MaccaMUFC you do know people still buy Books, VHS, Cassette and vinyl right? and how long have they been "dead"
Physical media will never go away due to one simple fact, legacy in 20 years time when all the online servers are off physical will be the only version of these games still available to buy (even if you can't play them)
there is also another thing to remember you NEED retail in order to actually sell your console to the public and look at what happened when MS first released the Game Pass, shops stopped stocking the XB1 for a while because they were afraid they wouldn't be able to sell any games for the system and thus not make any money off them (it was a knee jerk reaction) now just imagine if they went completely digital, what incentive would any shop have to sell your system if they can't sell games and make money and that's another reason Physical wont go away
@MaccaMUFC I simply prefer owning a physical copy that I can sell if I don't want it anymore. If games go all digital, I'm not interested. I've got a big enough backlog now, so it should keep me going for years anyway.
@MaccaMUFC for me personally if digital games (I'm taking the big hitters not indie stuff) charged a price taking out disc, cars, packaging etc.. rather than being more than a physical copy I'd agree with you the rise in digital is there to see but while people still like to own something they can hold it won't go away any time soon. I remember iTunes launching and that being the Death of CDs but a decade and a half later there still around
It's online only title, why gamers buy it on disc? It's like buying fortnite or ff14 on disc.
@wiiware i have FFXIV on disc but that's mainly for collection purposes so i have a complete collection
carlos82
@get2sammyb I'd be curious to see actual copies of the game sold compared with 3, as obviously digital sales will be higher than they used to be and reading the other article they are very clever with their words. Sales could be games sold but is likely a total cash value including multiple editions and other other bits of DLC available at launch. Ubisoft have also gone the cash route and I don't suppose they care of they sell to less people but make more money
Flaming_Kaiser
Why would you even buy a disc with this game nothing is on it. 😑
@Splat Bull this gamedisc is just a coaster though.
@wiiware Final Fantasy has a nice case atleast. 😁 😜
eltomo
I don't find I'll replay a story driven game anymore, so physical always, then if I'm not blown away, it gets traded in.
lixei32
@get2sammyb I don't think this game is the correct medium to face the digital physical argument since its online only just as fortnite and switching off the server will result in no game at all.
However with frequent sales and retailers closing and offering no value benefits it keeps us 30 and 40 years plus to move the physical medium forward. I think younger generations accustomed with apps are digital by a long way as they don't value games like we do.
Dreamcaster-X
@Th3solution They can't discount the digital versions without pissing off the retailers carrying the physical version & they know that lazy players will pay full price for the "convenience" of digital.
@Oizon @AnthonyStark86 Don't worry GTA V will definitely be back in the top 10 again soon.
@FullbringIchigo When you say retail/shops I assume you mean gaming stores? Well I don't think they are really needed to sell consoles now that you can get them direct from the manufacturer or Amazon and other online sites and supermarkets/department stores. The only ones who would really kick up a stink are the gaming stores like GAME, GameStop etc who rely on selling pre owned games. Also the way things are these days with the closures of high street stores, at least here in the UK, there is only one major gaming store company GAME to buy consoles brand new and I wouldn't be surprised if they went under again and gone for good.
@MaccaMUFC it can count to online stores too, why would Amazon or Zavvi stock a console if they can't get sales from games and accessories remember consoles are always sold at a loss because they make the money up from sales of games and stuff
plus like you said there is the pre-owned market, that is HUGE and just stopping physical releases would cause a HUGE vacuum in the market that could end up making the console gaming market a lot worse than it is now
@FullbringIchigo Amazon isn't a multi billion dollar company because they sell games and accessories, they also don't rely on taking a percentage off others selling pre owned games on their site, like you see on eBay and such. So I really doubt they would be too bothered if all games went digital but to make up for not having physical games to sell, they could sell games in digital form by emailing over a code or have it sent in a gift card.
The pre-owned market is huge? To who exactly? Seems to me people buy games new or wait for them to be in a sale and we're constantly seeing digital sales on the rise across the board.
Who stands to be hardest hit if everything went digital? It's the gaming stores and people who sell second hand games. Who cares if it upsets them? I say good riddance when it eventually happens and so will the developers and publishers, they lose out on sales to the preowned market and that's not necessarily a good thing for gamers. Developers having more money could allow them to create more quality games. Also digital prices are higher than in stores because the stores would complain if digital prices were cheaper but if they were taken out of the equation then digital prices could be lowered, I don't see them increasing as people would eventually have something to say about it and hit them where it hurts with their wallets.
@Dreamcaster-X I guess they do have to partner with the retailers, but I think places like GameStop make their money mostly on pre-owned anyways. And placed like Best Buy likely don't make much from game sales, I don't know.
PlayStation Store Sales Charts: Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled Is Top in Europe
But not even on the podium in the US
UK Sales Charts: Nintendo Dominates in a Quiet Week for PS4
CTR still on the podium
UK Sales Charts: Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled Almost Makes Number One in Second Week
But Mario gets the jump
UK Sales Charts: Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled Leads the Pack
Third biggest launch of the year
UK Sales Charts: Days of Play Keeps FIFA 19 Ahead of the Pack


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Home. Travel Guide » New Zealand » Destination Guides » West Coast
West Coast Guide
Cruise the West Coast and discover Westport, the seal colony at Cape Foulwind, pancake rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki, the Monteith's Brewery in Greymouth and pounamu in Hokitika.
The major influx of settlers to the West Coast arrived between 1864 and 1867 when gold fever and the discovery of coal drove the population from 250 to 26,000. Today's main town centres of Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika are all former mining boom towns.
With the gold long gone, the West Coast is now an outdoorsy paradise and adrenaline hub with outdoor adventures ranging from surfing, horse trekking and jet boating to underground rafting, caving, white water rafting and kayaking.
Population: Approximately 33,000 distributed across the entire region.
Vibe: Isolated, rugged wilderness. You'll feel like you've entered a completely different world as you drive through abundant native rainforests squashed between scenic craggy coastline and the towering Southern Alps.
Known as: NZ's own 'wild west'. Originally settled by gold and coal miners in the 1860s, this narrow stretch of coast has maintained a certain wildness to this day due to its relative isolation (mobile phones still don't work throughout much of the area).
Must Do: Watch the amazing full spectrum of colours as the sun sets into the Tasman Sea – the sunsets here are out of this world!
One of the best coastal drives in the world
The Great Coast Road stretches 100km between Westport and Greymouth, following a remarkably rugged shoreline with plenty of rocky beaches, overhanging cliffs and hidden caves to explore, including the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks. It's no surprise that it was dubbed a top 10 coastal drive by Lonely Planet!
Seal spotting at Cape Foulwind
Weather permitting, don't miss a stop at Cape Foulwind to visit the seal colony. Depending on the season, there can be up to 100 New Zealand fur seals relaxing on the rocks. Choose between a short 15min walk to the seal colony viewpoint or carry on for a longer undulating 3.4km walk leading to the Cape Foulwind lighthouse that includes breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains and coast.
Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes
Without a doubt, the most famous feature of the Paparoa National Park is Punakaiki's fascinating limestone rock formations shaped by wind and sea to look like stacks of pancakes. A short 20min loop track from the road will take you through this impressive natural phenomenon, and you can finish your walk with fresh, hot pancakes from the cafe across the road!
Search for a pounamu (greenstone) souvenir in Hokitika
Whether you stop in one of the pounamu galleries in town or happen to find a piece washed up on the beach, Hokitika is the best place to find an authentic NZ greenstone. Highly valued by the Maori for its spiritual significance, it is most often used in place of metal to make carving tools, weapons and jewellery. As something unique to New Zealand, many visitors opt for a carved greenstone as a meaningful souvenir from their trip – just keep in mind that Maori tradition says it's bad luck to buy pounamu for yourself!
After working up a hunger visiting the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, the Pancake Rock Café is located just across the road from the track access point and ready to cater to your pancake cravings, with stacks available all day.
The West Coast is home to some stand out craft beer breweries. The West Coast Brewery in Westport is a town highlight, offering two-hour brewery tours followed by tastings of their all-natural beers. If you find yourself with downtime in Greymouth, don't miss a stop by the Monteith's Brewing Company Brewery, a West Coast original and one of NZ's oldest brewing companies that produces some of the country's best beers.
Fancy sampling a local delicacy? With the largest concentration of whitebait (tiny, translucent fish) in the country, the West Coast is one of the best places to sample whitebait fritters. Fishing for whitebait is only permitted during certain times of year, but you can find whitebait fritters on many pub menus up and down the West Coast or during one of the autumn whitebait festivals.
If you want to try something wilder than whitebait, the annual Hokitika Wild Foods Festival is a highlight event for foodies. Usually taking place in March, the festival features an array of wild foods ranging from gourmet local game to bizarre bites for the bravest taste testers. Think things like grubs, snails and mountain oysters – yum!
Find a New Zealand Tour
West Coast Brewery Tour
The 2 hour brewery tour covers the basics of beer/brewing and the complete process from st...
Cape Foulwind
Cape Foul wind has a walkway that takes you past a seal colony and a lighthouse.
Pancake Rocks and Blowholes
The Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Punakaiki were created when the sea bed was raised abov...
Coal Creek Walk
The Coal Creek Walk takes about an hour. The path takes you down through the Coal Creek va...
TripInn Hostel - YHA Westport
YHA Westport TripInn Hostel is located close to the main street of shops and evening entertainment.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Speakers announced for National Medicines Symposium 2018
NPS MedicineWise is pleased to announce the keynote speakers for the 10th National Medicines Symposium (NMS) - Population to Personal Health Care: The Future is Now.
The conference will deliver key industry speakers to discuss healthcare innovation, advancements and best practice in medication management and policy.
A broad selection of local and international speakers are scheduled for the conference agenda, including; Dr Hans-Georg Eichler, Professor Jeremy Nicholson, Dr John Skerritt, Jo Watson, Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver and Professor Andrew Wilson.
Topics the speakers will discuss will cover a diverse and meaningful range of concepts and ideas. Prof. Nicholson will be discussing molecular phenotyping and systems medicine approaches, while Dr Eichler will share his perspectives on adaptive pathways and contemporary regulation.
NPS MedicineWise Executive Manager and Chair of the NMS 2018 Program Committee Ms Kerren Hosking says she is looking forward to hosting such a diverse range of respected health professionals.
We have a stellar line-up of insightful speakers for NMS 2018 who have all been responsible for innovative initiatives in clinical settings. Their presentations will challenge perceptions and provide useful insights for fellow health care professionals."
Ms Kerren Hosking
The keynote speakers for NMS 2018 are as follows:
Dr Hans-Georg Eichler, Senior Medical Officer, European Medicines Agency.
Hans-Georg Eichler, MD, MSc, is the Senior Medical Officer of the European Medicines Agency in London, United Kingdom, where he is responsible for coordinating activities between the Agency's scientific committees and giving advice on scientific and public health issues.
Professor Jeremy Nicholson, Director, Clinical Phenotyping Centre and Chair in Biological Chemistry, Head of Department Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery & Cancer.
Jeremy K. Nicholson is a professor of biological chemistry and head of the Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and Anaesthetics at Imperial College London.
Nicholson is known for having developed metabonomics, also referred to as metabolic profiling. His research interests include spectroscopic and chemometric approaches to the investigation of disturbed metabolic processes in complex organisms.
Professor Andrew Wilson, Professor and Director, Menzies Centre for Health Policy School of Public Health, University of Sydney.
Andrew Wilson is the chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and co-director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney. He leads the Australian Prevention Partnership Centre.
His research interests concern the application of epidemiology to informing decision making in clinical medicine, public health, and health service policy and planning especially in chronic disease prevention and management.
Dr John Skerritt, Deputy Secretary for Health Products Regulation, Department of Health.
John Skerritt is Deputy Secretary for Health Products Regulation in the Commonwealth Department of Health, covering both TGA and the Office of Drug Control.
He has extensive experience in medical, agricultural and environmental policy, regulation, research management, technology commercialisation, and is an Adjunct Full Professor at two Australian universities.
Jo Watson, Deputy Chair, Consumers Health Forum (CHF).
Jo Watson has been a consumer advocate in health for several decades. She is the Deputy Chair of the Consumers Health Forum and the Chair of the HTA Consumer Consultative Committee, established within the Commonwealth Department of Health. Jo is a member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and became the first Deputy Chair in 2017.
Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver, Pro Vice-chancellor Engagement & Pro Vice-chancellor Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Leadership, Western Sydney University.
Lisa Jackson Pulver is a proud Wiradjuri Koori woman. She is an academic leader, a recognised expert in public health and prominent researcher, educator and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and education.
As the inaugural Pro Vice-chancellor, Engagement and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Leadership, Professor Jackson Pulver leads the University of Western Sydney's work relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outcomes.
Posted in: Medical Research News | Healthcare News
Tags: Cancer, Chronic Disease, Education, Epidemiology, Health Care, Healthcare, Medicine, Metabolic Profiling, Oncology, Public Health, Research, Surgery
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Application of machine learning methods to healthcare outcomes research
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Teravista
Search All Teravista Homes
Teravista is a neighborhood in Round Rock, Texas. Round Rock is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Williamson County, which is a part of the Greater Austin, Texas metropolitan area. The city straddles both sides of the Balcones Escarpment, a fault line in which the areas roughly east of IH-35 are flat and characterized by having black, fertile soils of the Blackland Prairie, and the west side of the Escarpment which consists mostly of hilly, karst-like terrain with little topsoil and higher elevations and which is part of the Texas Hill Country. Located about 20 miles north of downtown Austin, Round Rock shares a common border with Austin at Texas State Highway 45.
In August 2008, Money magazine named Round Rock as the seventh-best American small city in which to live. Round Rock was the only Texas city to make the Top 10. In a CNN article dated July 1, 2009, Round Rock was listed as the second fastest-growing city in the country, with a population growth of 8.2% in the preceding year.
Round Rock has a strong public education system. According to the 2008 ratings from the Texas Education Agency, the Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD) ranks among the best in the state. Of 42 schools within it, twelve were rated exemplary and eleven are recognized.
Round Rock is perhaps best known as the international headquarters of Dell, which employs approximately 16,000 people at its Round Rock facilities. The presence of Dell along with other major employers, a strong economic development program, favorable tax rates, and major retailers such as IKEA and a Premium Outlet Mall, and the mixed use La Frontera center, have changed Round Rock from a sleepy bedroom community into its own self-contained "super suburb."
source: wikipedia.org
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LVMH to buy luxury jeweller Tiffany for $16bn
Lianna Brinded
·Head of Yahoo Finance UK
Window display at Tiffany's flagship store at the 5th Avenue in New York City, US. Photo: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto
Luxury goods giant LVMH (MC.PA) has agreed to buy one of the world's most iconic jewellers — Tiffany — for $16.2bn (£12.6bn).
LVMH, which owns 75 prestigious brands including Christian Dior and Givenchy and has 4,590 stores worldwide, confirmed in a statement that it has agreed to buy the jeweller for $135 (£105) per share in cash.
Bernard Arnault, France's richest man and owner of LVMH, said in a statement: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to welcome Tiffany, a company with an unparalleled heritage and unique position in the global jewelry world, to the LVMH family.
"We have an immense respect and admiration for Tiffany and intend to develop this jewel with the same dedication and commitment that we have applied to each and every one of our Maisons. We will be proud to have Tiffany sit alongside our iconic brands and look forward to ensuring that Tiffany continues to thrive for centuries to come."
Tiffany & Co shopping bag, box and jewelry pouch. Photo: James Keyser/Life Images Collection via Getty
In 2018, LVMH made €46.8bn (£401.bn, $51.5bn) worth of revenue. LVMH said in its statement today that the acquisition will help it increase its presence in the US and "strengthen" its position in jewelry.
Tiffany has been around for more than 180 years and was key in establishing the diamond ring as "an enduring symbol of commitment." Even the blue Tiffany box is recognised across the globe worldwide as "an icon of refinement and desirability."
The deal has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and "the Tiffany Board of Directors recommends that Tiffany shareholders approve the transaction with LVMH."
The transaction is expected to close in the middle of 2020 and is subject to conditions, including approval from Tiffany's shareholders and the receipt of regulatory approvals.
"Tiffany has been focused on executing on our key strategic priorities to drive sustainable long-term growth," said Alessandro Bogliolo, CEO of Tiffany.
"This transaction, which occurs at a time of internal transformation for our legendary brand, will provide further support, resources and momentum for those priorities as we evolve towards becoming the Next Generation Luxury Jeweler. As part of the LVMH group, Tiffany will reach new heights, capitalizing on its remarkable internal expertise, unparalleled craftsmanship and strong cultural values."


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Home /Recent Post/Zee attack: Sena activists ransack Godbole`s residence
Zee attack: Sena activists ransack Godbole`s residence
FascismFebruary 11, 2006
Pune, Feb 11: At least 10 Shiv Sena activists today barged into the residential premises of Shrigan Godbole here, the script writer of the controversial skit "kaka Mala Vachwa" (uncle, protect me) and three of them have been arrested for ransacking and trespassing, a senior police official said.
Taking a cue from the recent editorial in party`s mouthpiece "Saamna" which justified the recent attack on Zee Television channel`s Mumbai office for staging the controversial skit on the Thackeray family feud at an award function organised by the media company on February five, the Shiv Sena activists stormed into the house of Godbole at Fergusson College Road here.
When the Shiv Sena activists tried to forcibly enter the house of Godbole, his mother shut the door on them, following which they indulged in ransacking a dressing table and flower pots lying in the verandah, Dilip Shepal, Assistant Commissioner of Police, told media persons.
He said a case has been registered at the Deccan police station in this connection and three of those involved in the attack have been arrested.
Others have been identified and would be soon nabbed, the police official said.
Incidentally Godbole, who happens to be the script writer of the controversial skit, is a regular columnist of "Saamna".
Meanwhile, noted actor Mohan Agashe said attack by Shiv Sainiks at the residential premises of Shrirang Godbole, who scripted the satirical skit on Thackeray family feud was "unacceptable."
Agashe, who happened to be a witness to the ransacking of Godbole`s residential premises told media persons "this is not done. With violence nothing is achieved."
The well-known actor denied rumours that he was manhandled by the Shiv Sena activists.
"I just happened to be visiting Godbole's when I saw the commotion outside their house. His mother was talking to some persons at the gate. When I enquired what was the matter I came to know they were Sena activists. I told them to hold on and that things could be sorted out through talks. However, a few among them began throwing stones at the house and in the meantime police too arrived," Agashe added.
Bureau Report, ZEE News
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=274938&sid=REG&ssid=
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Throwing Muses To Play First Shows in 5 Years in Boston, San Diego, and Pasadena
Celebrated art-punk trailblazers Throwing Muses have announced three shows this summer – their first live dates since their 2014 American tour. August brings performances in Boston, San Diego and Pasadena, California. The first date is August 23 at Boston's City Winery, followed by August 20 at San Diego's Soda Bar and August 31 at the Pasadena Daydream Festival.
Fred Abong, formerly also of Throwing Muses during the 'Real Ramona' period will open the Boston and San Diego shows in support of his new 'Pulsing' EP. His music is alternately described as "ragged Replacements" and "Elliott Smith with balls".
These Throwing Muses dates follow Kristin Hersh's current tour as an electric trio, together with Fred Abong and Rob Ahlers, drummer in Hersh's other band 50FOOTWAVE. For the remainder of June, Hersh is touring the U.S. East Coast in support of her album 'Possible Dust Clouds', with Fred Abong also playing an opening solo set.
Comprised of Kristin Hersh, David Narcizo and Bernard George, Throwing Muses is a groundbreaking band who tossed out every rule in the book and effortlessly changed the face of alternative music. The Muses first gained traction in the early '80s, playing with similar artists, such as The Pixies and Dinosaur Jr.
Throwing Muses continue to release groundbreaking music, most recently with 2013's double CD masterpiece 'Purgatory/Paradise', an epic, 32-song CD/book combination with photographs and essays by Kristin—also an acclaimed author—and artwork by David Narcizo. Played as a series of movements dovetailing into a powerful statement, this artful piece outdoes everything in this band's long, illustrious career, proving that the Muses has only peaks, no valleys, unbelievably continuing to outdo themselves with every record.
Signed to Britain's 4AD and Sire/Warner Brothers in the U.S. as teenagers, Hersh quickly realized she was not interested in playing the corporate recording industry game and traded her first solo record (the highly acclaimed 'Hips and Makers', featuring 'Your Ghost' featuring Michael Stipe) for her band's freedom. Released from their contractual obligations, Hersh and her musical projects—including 50FOOTWAVE, who pioneered the 'pay what you want' model—are now entirely listener-supported.
Hersh describes her band as "Three shy friends from a little island, freaking the f*** out. We play because we're addicted to the noise and because we love each other. We've never stopped playing. Thirty years on a bus together only encouraged us to play more and no one has told us to shut up yet."
The Boston show is an all-ages event. Tickets go on sale to the public as of June 24 at 3 pm EST and are now available to City Winery members and Strange Angels. Doors open at 6 pm. A Meet & Greet Soundcheck Party with Kristin Hersh's trio takes place at 5 pm with tickets limited to 40 persons.
On August 30, the San Diego show at Soda Bar starts at 9:30, doors open at 8:30 pm. The next day, Throwing Muses appear at the Pasadena Daydream Festival, curated by Robert Smith. Of nine handpicked groups slated to perform, Kristin Hersh is among just four artists to be invited back to perform at this event from last year's London Meltdown Festiva (the others being Mogwai, The Joy Formidable and The Twilight Sad).
Ticket info and sales links for Throwing Muses and Kristin Hersh shows can be found HERE.
[table caption="THROWING MUSES / KRISTIN HERSH 2019 TOUR DATES" width="100%" colwidth="100|100|50|200|200″ colalign="left|left|left|left|left"]
June 21,Hamden, CT,Space Ballroom,
June 22,New York, NY,Mercury Lounge,
June 23,Washington, DC,Union Stage,
June 24,Philadelphia, PA,Boot & Saddle,
June 25,Harrisonburg,VA,Golden Pony,
June 26,Carrboro, NC,Cat's Cradle,
June 27,Atlanta, GA,Terminal West,
June 28,Athens, GA,40 Watt Club,
June 30,Charlotte, NC,Neighborhood Theatre,
Aug 23,Boston, MA,City Winery,as Throwing Muses
Aug 30,San Diego, CA,Soda Bar,as Throwing Muses
Aug 31,Pasadena, CA,Pasadena Daydream Festival,as Throwing Muses
http://www.kristinhersh.com
http://www.facebook.com/strangeangels
http://50footwave.cashmusic.org
http://twitter.com/kristinhersh
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTdtvPp4IiPDDZqX-4No5Uw/playlists
http://soundcloud.com/kristinhersh-official
http://kristinhersh.bandcamp.com
Fred Abong
Kristin Hersh
Rob Ahlers
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Classical Editor: Rob Barnett Founder Len Mullenger: Len@musicweb-international.com
Wilhelm PETERSON-BERGER (1867-1942)
Symphony No 4. in A major 'Holmia' (1929)
Törnrossagan, Orchestral Suite (The Story of the Sleeping Beauty) 1903; 1934
Frösöblomster, Suite No. 1 (The Flowers of Froso) 1896; 1934
Nörrköping Symphony Orchestra/Michail Jurowski
Recorded May 31st - June 4th 1999 De Greer Hall, Nörrköping
CPO 999 669-2 [65.55]
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There is no doubt that the 4th Symphony 'Holmia' by Wilhelm Peterson-Berger is not one of his best; although there is little scholarly consensus as to whether this accolade goes to the gorgeous 2nd 'The Journey to the South' or to the 3rd 'Lapland'. Yet it is easy to write off a piece of music simply because it is not a masterpiece or because it does not move the symphonic art on by leaps and bounds. To try to understand what Peterson-Berger has achieved it is necessary to look at the scope of the piece. It is always assumed that a composer when writing a symphony wishes to produce a profound work; something that will be regarded as a major contribution to the genre. However, it may well be the case that what Peterson-Berger wanted to do was write a work that was essentially 'light' in character. In fact there is a debate as to whether he actually composed a symphony at all; some critics argue that what we have are three 'character' pieces making up a suite. It was around this time that Eric Coates composed his excellent London Suites. Perhaps the Swedish composer wished to do for Stockholm (the title refers to Stockholm, by the way) what Coates had done for London.
Peterson-Berger was a great portrayer of landscapes - at least as far as the programmes of his works went. In many ways this can be an off-putting feature of his music. Some of these programmes are so specific as to endanger the progress of the music. I have a marked preference to ignore most of Peterson-Berger's programmes. I read them, and then forget them. My approach to his symphonies is to regard them as absolute. If I had to keep his specific thoughts in my mind whilst listening it could totally spoil the work for me. Yet music of his symphonic output is too good to lose simply because the listener does not relate to the chosen verbal images. However, for the purposes of this current CD I am quite prepared to hold an image of Stockholm in my mind's eye as I listen; just as I will keep London in my sights when listening to Vaughan William's essay on that city.
A brief overview of the composer's career will not come amiss - especially as he is still a relatively unknown quantity outside of Sweden.
The basic facts are quite straightforward. He was born on 27th February 1867 in the district of Ullånger. After some private musical education, he studied organ at the Stockholm Conservatory in 1886. Lessons in composition, counterpoint and piano followed. He put many of these skills into practice as a teacher at a teacher training college and at Umeå High School. He taught at the Dresdener Musikschule for a couple of years.
But perhaps he was best known for his long association with the newspaper Dagens Nyheter. He was their main music critic from 1895 until 1930. He retired to the island of Frösen and there he died on 3rd December 1942.
Wilhelm Peterson-Berger was well able to combine the three sides of his musical personality - that of the critic, of the teacher and educationalist and that of the composer. Yet it was as a critic that he gained a tremendous notoriety, which may actually have caused a deal of harm to his composing career. He was noted for virulent attacks on composers, compositions and players. These attacks were met with either amusement or anger. However, this meant that people who may have been favourable to his compositions, tended to be put off by his reputation as a cantankerous old man.
His catalogue of works is quite extensive. The five symphonies form the major part of the orchestral repertoire. However, much of his output was in fact choral, some works being composed for male voice quartet, a genre which seems so popular in Scandinavian countries. There is a considerable corpus of chamber music and piano solo. We are fortunate in having most of the orchestral music available on CD. However, there appears to be little else available in the United Kingdom.
Wilhelm Peterson-Berger had already done some justice to the city of Stockholm back in 1893 with a symphonic poem called 'May Carnival in Stockholm'. For his 4th Symphony he tried to be somewhat more ambitious. He was writing what was essentially a travelogue - a visitor from the 'sticks' viewing the big capital city. Yet in many ways this is no piece of descriptive music. In spite of the naivety of the material, it is better to regard it as an impressionistic essay: the way the visitor felt rather than what he actually saw. It is quite difficult to piece together the sense-impressions throughout this work. There are allusions to 'Americanisation', which was so prevalent at the end of the 'Twenties, not only in Stockholm but also throughout much of Europe. Some use is made of national music - but this is definitely not a folk-music symphony. In the first movement we are introduced to the city itself - a sweeping gesture, an overview. The slow movement that includes a scherzo-like passage is an attempt to give the idea of the night-life in the city. We are conscious of church, café and nightclub. The critics have slated the last movement for its 'populist' form. In the last movement there are hints of jazz - not overt like Gershwin but quite restrained. It is, I think, quite naïve of the composer to have ended with a hymn tune - even if it is Bishop Thomas' 'Freedom Song'.
What are we to make of all this? Well, it makes pleasant listening; nothing too hard. It is quite definitely 'light' music. However it is exceptionally well-crafted light music. The orchestral texture is quite varied and, I think, quite attractive. I applaud CPO for including this work in their catalogue of the composer's works. We need it for completeness; yet compared to the 2nd Symphony 'Journey to the South' it is a little bit of an anti-climax.
Included on this CD is the Törnrössagan - Orchestral Suite in ten parts from the Fairy Tale 'Lyckan.' This work dates from the year 1903. The programme notes give a synopsis for this rather quaint reworking of the story of Sleeping Beauty. In 1934, some thirty years after the music drama was originally composed, Peterson-Berger decided to arrange much of the music as an orchestral suite in ten sections. Each item has the usual 'Fairy Tale', almost 'Rimsky-Korsakovian' titles e.g. - To the Sleeping Beauty's Castle; Flight through the Night and The Dawning of the Day. This is a lovely work. I actually like it better than the 'Holmia' Symphony. It most certainly deserves the occasional airing.
In 1896 Peterson-Berger had composed what is possibly his best-known work - the Flowers of Frosa, or Frösöblomster. These were originally composed for piano solo. There is no doubt that the composer saw them in the same light as much of Edvard Grieg's piano pieces; miniature tone poems describing the sights and sound of the Swedish landscape.
Some of these pieces are extremely beautiful and deserve to be well known in this country. They are ideal candidates for Classic FM. In 1934 the composer chose to orchestrate five of the 'better' numbers from the original suite. This was done with consummate skill. The music lives up to their titles; Summer Song, To the Roses, Congratulation, At Fröso Church and Greeting. These are five exquisite miniatures that are a joy and a pleasure to listen to. Although I have known the piano pieces for some time - they are available on Naxos 8.554343 - this was the first time I had heard the orchestral transcriptions. These are almost worth the price of the CD in their own right.
The Nörrköping Symphony Orchestra has a fine pedigree. It was founded in 1912 and has developed into a full-blown professional orchestra. It is noted for the many fine young players in its ranks. Michail Jurowski has a fine CV behind him. He has conducted orchestras throughout Europe, including the Northern German Philharmonic, Berlin Radio Orchestra and the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has experience of conducting Swedish music especially Ture Rangstrom. Both conductor and orchestra bring enthusiasm to these works that do not really require the orchestra to perform any kind of fireworks. They play with a considerable degree of nuance and subtlety.
The CD is beautifully produced. The sound quality is perfect. However the greatest compliment must be paid to the excellent programme notes. This is a veritable essay on the composer. Although the main part of the text is given in all the symphonies so far released, there is extensive additional information on the present pieces. CPO is to be congratulated on this symphonic cycle. One has to hope that they will soon bring out the final symphony -'Solitudo.' Furthermore the 'Italian Suite' and the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra are ideal candidates for recording. Perhaps they will be included on the disc with the final symphony? Oh, and what about the very first piece inspired by the capital of Sweden - the 'May Carnival in Stockholm'.
John France
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Sharjah book fair secures record-breaking radio deal
Middle East Business
Tue, 29 Oct 2019 Tue, 29 Oct 2019
Sally Mousa, Pulse 95 Radio presenter is set to host her<br>Life Beats show live at the fair
Sharjah International Book Fair has secured a record-breaking radio deal that will see 22 hours of coverage during the 11 day-long iconic event.
Pulse 95 Radio, part of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority will do 22 hours live and another 40 hours of recorded interviews and features from the third largest book fair in the world, which is on from October 30 to November 9 at the Sharjah Expo Center.
Highlights will include appearances from Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, American comedian Steve Harvey and Canadian writer, Robin Sharma.
Never before has radio run so much material for a single event. Radio coverage will include live broadcasts, hourly news bulletins, special coverage reports and interviews with authors.
The Sharjah Book Fair will also have its own specially created and dedicated radio show "From Cover to Cover" which will be broadcast by Pulse 95 Radio. The show will broadcast on both weekends from 4-6pm. Besides special live weekday coverage on 'Life Beats' show 10am-12pm with Sally Mousa and a live broadcast of Steve Harvey's session which will take place on 31st October from 10-11am.
"This coverage represents the most radio coverage a UAE radio station has ever done for an event. The Sharjah International Book Fair is the third largest book fair in the world and we want to further encourage and promote the benefits of reading to our listeners," said Saif Juma, station director, Pulse 95 Radio.
"We'll be giving comprehensive coverage of the book fair so all our listeners can tune in and find out what is going on. We're excited to have some leading authors being interviewed on the show including Robin Sharma and Steve Harvey. Our radio presenters and crew of 15 will be active throughout the event interacting with visitors and moderating sessions."
The Sharjah International Book Fair will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. There are 173 leading authors from 68 countries and 90 cultural figures from 28 nations taking part at the event which is set to be the biggest one yet. – TradeArabia News Service