Apple has been replaced by Google as the world’s most valuable brand, according to new rankings.
The Global 500 research, compiled annually by business valuation company Brand Finance, looks at how much a firm's brand is likely to be worth in terms of money and power over the coming months, based on categories including emotional connection, financial stability and sustainability.
It found that Google's value had jumped 24% in the past year while Apple's dropped 27% - allowing the search engine to take the top spot.
Google's brand value is estimated at $109,470m, while Apple is just behind at $107,141m.
This is despite new company figures released on Tuesday which showed iPhone sales returned to growth at the end of 2016 following three previous quarters of decline.
Speaking to Sky News, Brand Finance's chief executive David Haigh said the Global 500 report looks at the future of a company, rather than the past.
"Our valuation reflects a consensus view among analysts that [Apple] have reached a zenith, and they appear to be plateauing or possibly going downwards."
Online retail giant Amazon maintained its third place position with a brand valuation of £106,369m.
Microsoft, Samsung and Facebook all made the top 10, clinching fifth, sixth and ninth places respectively.
When looking at the power a brand possesses, however, Lego has overtaken Disney to regain the number one position it lost last year.
Haigh points to the fact that Lego has recently diversified outside of its traditional market as a reason for its success, branching into areas such as film and gaming.
Ferrari, Visa and Nike are among the other companies to feature in the list of the top 10 most powerful brands.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Bank of England raises UK growth forecast again to 2% for 2017
The Bank of England has sharply upgraded its forecast for UK growth again, predicting that economic output will expand as fast this year as it did last year and that unemployment will be just as low as it predicted before the Leave vote.
It predicted Britain's consumers will run down their savings and borrow at a record rate, fuelling a solid increase in gross domestic product of 2% this year - the same rate the Office for National Statistics reported for 2016 only last week.
The upgrade is only the latest in a series from the Bank.
Before the referendum last year it expected the economy to grow by 2.3% this year.
After the vote, it cut the forecast to 0.8%.
In last November's Inflation Report it raised the projection to 1.4%.
It predicted Britain's consumers will run down their savings and borrow at a record rate, fuelling a solid increase in gross domestic product of 2% this year - the same rate the Office for National Statistics reported for 2016 only last week.
The upgrade is only the latest in a series from the Bank.
Before the referendum last year it expected the economy to grow by 2.3% this year.
After the vote, it cut the forecast to 0.8%.
In last November's Inflation Report it raised the projection to 1.4%.
Zimbabwe pastor facing 20 years in jail over anti-Mugabe protests
A Zimbabwean cleric who organised protests and started a social media campaign against president Robert Mugabe is facing up to 20 years in jail.
Evan Mawarire was arrested at Harare International Airport on Wednesday, accused of subverting a constitutionally-elected government.
His lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, said the allegations come partly from his role in organising protests against Mr Mugabe in New York during the UN general assembly in September last year.
The Baptist cleric is also accused of using social media to incite "violent demonstrations".
It follows a Facebook video posted in April last year, in which Mr Mawarire wrapped himself in a Zimbabwean flag and complained about the state of the nation - sparking the #ThisFlag protest movement against the country's leadership.
He left Zimbabwe soon after, taking his family to America.
It is not clear why he chose to return home.
Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for southern Africa, has described the allegations against Mr Mawarire as "absolutely ridiculous and a total sham", saying he was being punished "for speaking out about the declining human rights situation".
Mr Mugabe has said Mr Mawarire and other protesters should leave Zimbabwe if they are unhappy with the country's situation.
Evan Mawarire was arrested at Harare International Airport on Wednesday, accused of subverting a constitutionally-elected government.
His lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, said the allegations come partly from his role in organising protests against Mr Mugabe in New York during the UN general assembly in September last year.
The Baptist cleric is also accused of using social media to incite "violent demonstrations".
It follows a Facebook video posted in April last year, in which Mr Mawarire wrapped himself in a Zimbabwean flag and complained about the state of the nation - sparking the #ThisFlag protest movement against the country's leadership.
He left Zimbabwe soon after, taking his family to America.
It is not clear why he chose to return home.
Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for southern Africa, has described the allegations against Mr Mawarire as "absolutely ridiculous and a total sham", saying he was being punished "for speaking out about the declining human rights situation".
Mr Mugabe has said Mr Mawarire and other protesters should leave Zimbabwe if they are unhappy with the country's situation.
Snooker star Jimmy White: 'Everything gone' after flat fire
Snooker star Jimmy White says he is "gutted" after he lost most of his possessions in a fire at his Surrey home.
The former Masters and UK Championship winner posted a picture on Twitter of smoke at the Epsom building where he has a flat.
He wrote "everything gone" after the blaze but said his snooker cue was fortunately in his car.
White, 54, added that "most importantly" no one was injured.
Despite the damage to his apartment, the six-time World Championship finalist was thought to be travelling to Germany to play in the country's masters tournament this week.
The former Masters and UK Championship winner posted a picture on Twitter of smoke at the Epsom building where he has a flat.
He wrote "everything gone" after the blaze but said his snooker cue was fortunately in his car.
White, 54, added that "most importantly" no one was injured.
Despite the damage to his apartment, the six-time World Championship finalist was thought to be travelling to Germany to play in the country's masters tournament this week.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Health tourism 'chaos' costing NHS millions every year, MPs say
The NHS is missing out on millions of pounds a year because of a "chaotic" system for recovering cash from overseas patients, MPs have warned.
In a report, MPs from the Commons Public Accounts Committee said they were "not confident" the Department of Health is taking the required steps to recover money from people who leave the NHS with unpaid bills after treatment.
The committee warned the NHS was failing to identify patients who should be charged and said the Government was not recouping enough money from European countries where reciprocal agreements are in place.
In 2014/15, the UK recovered just £50m from these countries but paid out £675m.
In a report, MPs from the Commons Public Accounts Committee said they were "not confident" the Department of Health is taking the required steps to recover money from people who leave the NHS with unpaid bills after treatment.
The committee warned the NHS was failing to identify patients who should be charged and said the Government was not recouping enough money from European countries where reciprocal agreements are in place.
In 2014/15, the UK recovered just £50m from these countries but paid out £675m.
Police investigate after battery found in Co-op Easter bunny chocolate
A criminal inquiry is under way following the discovery of a battery inside a Co-op chocolate Easter bunny.
Police and the National Crime Agency are investigating the alleged tampering following the incident in Nottingham, the supermarket said.
It comes after an incident at Christmas when batteries were found inside two of the store's chocolate Santas.
A nationwide recall of the hollow milk chocolate bunnies has been issued as police investigate.
Tammy-Louise Dundon, from Bulwell in Nottingham, bought the Easter bunny for her daughter Sophia Wood.
The three-year-old saw the single-cell battery, similar to those found in hearing aids, as she bit the ears off the rabbit.
Ms Dundon, 26, told the Nottingham Post: "If my daughter had swallowed it, it doesn't bear thinking about.
"This isn't just a choking hazard. It's corrosive - she could have lost her life.
A Co-op spokesman said: "We are concerned about one incident of alleged product tampering involving our hollow milk chocolate Easter bunny foil figure, which has been found to contain a small battery inside.
"This follows an incident at Christmas when two similar products were targeted and contaminated."
Just over 3,000 of the foil figure bunnies have been sold, at a cost of £1 each, and customers have been told they can return them to stores for a refund.
Police and the National Crime Agency are investigating the alleged tampering following the incident in Nottingham, the supermarket said.
It comes after an incident at Christmas when batteries were found inside two of the store's chocolate Santas.
A nationwide recall of the hollow milk chocolate bunnies has been issued as police investigate.
Tammy-Louise Dundon, from Bulwell in Nottingham, bought the Easter bunny for her daughter Sophia Wood.
The three-year-old saw the single-cell battery, similar to those found in hearing aids, as she bit the ears off the rabbit.
Ms Dundon, 26, told the Nottingham Post: "If my daughter had swallowed it, it doesn't bear thinking about.
"This isn't just a choking hazard. It's corrosive - she could have lost her life.
A Co-op spokesman said: "We are concerned about one incident of alleged product tampering involving our hollow milk chocolate Easter bunny foil figure, which has been found to contain a small battery inside.
"This follows an incident at Christmas when two similar products were targeted and contaminated."
Just over 3,000 of the foil figure bunnies have been sold, at a cost of £1 each, and customers have been told they can return them to stores for a refund.
Snooker star Jimmy White: 'Everything gone' after flat fire
Snooker star Jimmy White says he is "gutted" after he lost most of his possessions in a fire at his Surrey home.
The former Masters and UK Championship winner posted a picture on Twitter of smoke at the Epsom building where he has a flat.
He wrote "everything gone" after the blaze but said his snooker cue was fortunately in his car.
White, 54, added that "most importantly" no one was injured.
Despite the damage to his apartment, the six-time World Championship finalist was thought to be travelling to Germany to play in the country's masters tournament this week.
The former Masters and UK Championship winner posted a picture on Twitter of smoke at the Epsom building where he has a flat.
He wrote "everything gone" after the blaze but said his snooker cue was fortunately in his car.
White, 54, added that "most importantly" no one was injured.
Despite the damage to his apartment, the six-time World Championship finalist was thought to be travelling to Germany to play in the country's masters tournament this week.
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