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Posted by Cole JonesFebruary 08th, 2012 at 3:53 PM Filed Under Latest News
Time Added to the Hourglass: XPERIA Ion uses NFC to Save Consumers Time
Let’s chat it up about the Sony Xperia Ion, the LTE version of the Xperia S, available on the AT&T 4G network. Earlier this year in January, following CES we did a piece on Sony’s NFC speakers for Xperia NFC smartphones, which you can find here. With 4G compatibility, the phone can be used on GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ where LTE is not available on AT&T. The device is part of the new generation of NXT series (next generation) smartphones and displays a 4.6-inch 720p HD Bravia Engine screen. A 12MP camera that goes from having the device off to snapping a picture in 1.5 seconds by holding down on the dual-stage camera shutter button and 1.5 GHZ dual core processor with Android Gingerbread this quarter to upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich during the second quarter. In holding the device, we notice the Sony Ericsson’s signature human curvature back (metal, not plastic like the XPERIA S) that allows users to grip the XPERIA Ion comfortably in their hands.
Posted by Seth PlanckFebruary 06th, 2012 at 1:36 PM Filed Under Latest News, NFC Infographics
Narian compares NFC to Barcodes with infographic
The NFC and Barcode battle still looms on, and Narian Technologies has been determined to settle the dispute once and for all with an insightful infographic. QR codes are finally being accepted everywhere with marketers barely putting out a piece of printed collateral without the aforementioned QR code winging its way along for the ride. However, NFC tags have many advantages that QR codes simply can’t attain. Narian builds a strong case for NFC in its infographic that points out the many advantages that NFC holds over barcodes of any description, but that doesn’t mean that barcodes are dead yet. Obviously we favor NFC tags, NFC devices and the ecosystem that is building around the technology. However, we would be remiss if we didn’t play devil’s advocate a little and point out some of the advantages that barcodes have over NFC. So, we will endeavor to give a balanced approach as we go through Narian Technologies’ infographic.
Posted by Seth PlanckFebruary 01st, 2012 at 2:43 PM Filed Under Latest News
NFC Forum members show of NFC solutions in Frankfurt
The NFC Forum and some of its members are showing off some NFC solutions over in Frankfurt, Germany this next week. But why? At the end of the day, NFC is just another secure little protocol that has the added ability to work with tags just like its older brother, RFID. It is pretty cool in and of itself, but really nothing to get overly excited about. Strange that coming from us? Not really. We have never been enchanted by the actual technology as it is nothing new or remarkable outside of the fact that a radio frequency can power a small chip and antenna with nothing more than a radio field. NFC operates at 13.56 MHz. Data speeds range from 106 kbit/s to 848 kbit/s. NFC Tags only store small amounts of information, currently between 96 and 512 bytes of memory. Kind of a dry subject matter, eh? It isn’t that NFC isn’t an interesting technology, but it is hardly as bleeding edge as quantum computers and hadron colliders.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 30th, 2012 at 2:46 PM Filed Under Latest News, Videos
SITA Lab and Orange get together to trial NFC at airport models
SITA Lab and Orange have recently got together to look further into the use cases for NFC for passengers, airlines and the security at airports. The thought of giving an NFC ticket at the airport is not a new concept. However, apart from a couple of airlines trialling NFC with stickers and apps, we are yet to see anything truly ubiquitous and usable for users across the globe. The SITA and Orange research project developed NFC apps for smartphones that allow NFC boarding passes, security check-ins, lounge check-ins and checked them out with real technology to show how NFC holds the possibility to streamline airport processes, improve security and generally make travel less frustrating for flyers. This is in part because IATA and the GSMA have developed industry use cases for NFC that cover check-in, security access, boarding and lounge access. NFC boarding pass information can be loaded securely to the travel wallet from online, over the air or at a kiosk.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 27th, 2012 at 12:32 PM Filed Under Latest News
Nintendo Wii U controller to rock NFC to enhance gaming
NFC got another boost today as Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo, announced that the Wii U controller would feature NFC “function”. The Wii U controller is set to be compatible with both FeliCa for its home audience and MIFARE for the rest of the world. The President of Nintendo even acknowledged that NFC “is expected to be widely used around the world in the near future.”
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 26th, 2012 at 2:51 PM Filed Under Latest News
Galaxy Note has NFC onboard AT&T locks it, Ma’Bell’s Galaxy Note Fails
Just a couple of weeks ago at CES, Samsung told NFC Rumors that the Galaxy Note did not have NFC capabilities. We took a spin around the Android OS and at the software level at least, this appeared to be confirmed. However, Samsung has now done its own tear down on the LTE device and what do we see? Yep, NFC is there. The IC can be clearly seen and the back cover sports an NFC antenna. This means Samsung was either not telling the full truth at CES or their show staff had no idea what was going on. Samsung Tomorrow reports that the specs of the torn down device exactly match the version heading to AT&T. So what gives?
Posted by Cole JonesJanuary 25th, 2012 at 12:27 PM Filed Under Latest News
Duly Note[d]: Something the Galaxy Note failed to “note”
The rumors were answered at CES about the new Samsung Galaxy Note LTE for AT&T. The smartphone-meets-tablet device, or “superphone”, definitely created something to talk about. The two-in-one is available in carbon blue and ceramic white with AT&T. The highly talked about 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED touchscreen display crushes its competitors (HTC Titan and Nexus S) in size and appearance. The touch of 4G LTE is an added bonus especially for the U.S. market.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 23rd, 2012 at 2:35 PM Filed Under Latest News, Videos
OpenWays launches NFC hotel key without SWP carrier costs with a little help from Nokia and NXP which can be added to existing hotel locks
OpenWays isn’t the first time we have seen an NFC hotel key system. If you remember VingCard, an ASSA ABLOY company launched a pilot in Stockholm last year. However, the emerging mobile network operator joint ventures and associated costs to firms that want to provision secure data over networks to secure elements has become costly at best. In essence, launching an NFC based company that needs to access a secure element has had costs added that prove too expensive for many firms to turn a profit.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 20th, 2012 at 4:30 PM Filed Under Galleries, Latest News, Videos
Yale demos NFC door locks solutions at CES for Android, iOS and BB
We have reported on Yale and their NFC door locks before. However, we have now seen the locks in action and have far more details about how Yale (an ASSA ABLOY company) plans to bring their solutions to market. The Yale NFC door locks are an exciting prospect because they represent quality products for access control that are built for consumers. Yes, later this year we will be able to cost effectively buy NFC door locks for our homes, offices, and anywhere else we would like to secure and use access control facilities.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 19th, 2012 at 5:16 PM Filed Under Latest News
Narian shows off NFC retail experience solutions at NRF show
Yes, the NRF show has just finished up and Narian Technologies was on the floor showing off its full suite of non-payment NFC services that help retailers maximize profits cost effectively. If you are an NFC enthusiast and haven’t heard of Narian Technologies we only have one thing to say to you – Have you been living under a rock for the last year or so? Narian is far older than a year old though, and led by industry expert, Einar Rosenberg. When Narian isn’t helping the top names in NFC develop new products, services or simply giving consulting services, the firm is hard at work developing and deploying its own full suite of retail services that use NFC to prevent lost sales and maximize profit in retail situations.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 19th, 2012 at 11:48 AM Filed Under Latest News
Open NFC stack supports Android Ice Cream Sandwich
INSIDE Secure has had a busy week in supporting NFC based systems which now includes Android 4.0, or as we like to call it Ice Cream Sandwich, in its Open NFC stack. Google elected sometime ago to develop NFC based solutions with NXP, and so NXP chips and secure elements are supported straight off the bat. However, other semiconductor firms that have NFC based products need to add support for Ice Cream Sandwich and INSIDE Secure has done just that for devs with any hardware platform.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 17th, 2012 at 10:03 PM Filed Under Galleries, Latest News, Videos
Kids going crazy for Activision Skylanders NFC game, shown off at CES by NXP
NFC gaming is becoming big and Activision is currently benefiting from this new craze with its Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure game that uses an NFC reader / writer and game characters that hold NFC tags. The whole concept of the game is that an evil overlord named Kaos is invading the Skylanders’ world and turned the characters into toys and banished them to Earth. Luckily, kids who own the game and portal (read USB based NFC reader/ writer) can get the characters back to the Skylanders’ home and help them defeat Kaos. There are battles, puzzles and opportunities to add strength and attributes to each character. You can also collect attributes for characters you do not own for if and when you do purchase that NFC tag based character.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 17th, 2012 at 2:51 PM Filed Under Galleries, Latest News
Sprint Galaxy Nexus and LG Viper hands-on during private CES event
As you may or may not have heard over at CES, Sprint announced that it is going to carry the Galaxy Nexus and the LG Viper NFC smartphones. Well, photographs and details have been very thin on the ground. This is especially true of the LG Viper, which wasn’t even present at the LG booth at CES. What many people didn’t know is that Sprint held a private event over at CES and we were invited. The Galaxy Nexus and the LG Viper were there for some hands-on time and we had the opportunity to play a little.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 16th, 2012 at 11:53 PM Filed Under Galleries, Latest News, Videos
BlackBerry Tag deployed already in OS 7.1 update with NFC goodness all round
You have probably heard of BlackBerry Tag and its NFC capabilities. We popped over to the Blackberry booth at CES to see Blackberry Tag in action so we could see improvements made to the way the OS deals with NFC. Although we couldn’t see how the new 7.1 OS deals with NFC tags, which was a major issue when the NFC capable BlackBerry smartphones launched, we did see its beaming or sharing features in action. We must say that BlackBerry Tag worked flawlessly in the demo we received from Annu Dawar, who is a Product Manager for Research in Motion.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 16th, 2012 at 1:09 PM Filed Under Galleries, Latest News
Sony Xperia S NFC smartphone launches 2nd quarter
While at CES, we hit up the Sony booth to see their couple of new NFC smartphones, which included the Sony Xperia S. Whereas its stablemate, the Xperia ION (read Nozomi), has been announced to launch on AT&T, the Sony Xperia S is yet to have carriers announced. However, we took a sneak peak under the cover of the Xperia S and saw that the NFC smartphone has an AT&T SIM card lurking inside. Whereas that is far from conclusive proof that the Sony Xperia S will launch on AT&T, it does suggest that it is probably very likely that Ma’Bell will get its hands on the svelte HSPA+ Android phone.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 09th, 2012 at 2:17 PM Filed Under Latest News
Intel announces NFC support in Ivy Bridge
We are here at CES and Intel has announced that all Ivy Bridge chips will support NFC. Ultrabooks have a massive presence at CES this year and Intel has thrown its weight fully behind NFC, and more specifically for payments in its Ivy Bridge chipset. NFC just got a boost beyond the reach of carriers and MNOs, which will no doubt spur a new line of innovation that extends beyond hardware and is very likely to change e-commerce forever. Intel announced that its Ivy Bridge chips will featured within 50 – 75 Ultrabooks hitting the market in 2012, and we can only expect this figure to grow as the year goes on.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 07th, 2012 at 1:56 PM Filed Under Latest News
Cirque to show NFC laptop at CES NXP booth that uses an NFC antenna built into a trackpad
We have been following Cirque and their NFC products built into innovative form factors for sometime. The firm has built NFC antennas into screens and trackpads, but until now we haven’t seen an actual working prototype outside of a YouTube video – that looks set to change at this year’s CES. NFC has the ability to share information effortlessly, and building NFC antennas into screens and trackpads really starts to show how useful Near Field Communication is likely to be this next year when it is build into laptops, PCs and tablets.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 06th, 2012 at 2:46 PM Filed Under Latest News
Shots of AT&T LTE Samsung Galaxy Note outed, no official word on NFC but tipsters show a board that is rumored to be from the Note with an NFC IC onboard
These are official leaked shots of the jumbo sized AT&T LTE Samsung Galaxy Note. Last week Sam Mobile reported that it had proof that the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note would harbor an NFC chip. A recent trend with NFC smartphone announcements is to not feature NFC at all. AT&T and other Isis members have attempted to keep the NFC ability just until Isis is ready to roll, and hence we see a lot of NFC smartphones launching and have to wait until they get tear downs to see whether NFC is actually onboard.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 05th, 2012 at 2:09 PM Filed Under Latest News
Google Nexus NFC tablet to cost just $199 suggests rumors
We reported a couple of weeks ago about Eric Schmidt’s comment to an Italian newspaper that suggested that Google was prepping a Google Nexus NFC tablet that would sport Ice Cream Sandwich. Schmidt told the newspaper in an interview that ”[In the] next six months we plan to market a tablet of the highest quality.” At that time we reached out to Google for clarification of what Eric meant when he made the comment and we hit the steely wall of silence from Google. Generally when we speak with Google we get responses pretty promptly with some pretty helpful information, so to not even get a no comment statement was a little odd.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 04th, 2012 at 1:25 PM Filed Under Latest News
Broadcom brings NFC and apps to 2 billion existing TVs by converting them to Smart TVs
This morning sees Broadcom make an exciting announcement that is likely to change the way we use TV and, of course, incorporates NFC. We have seen the Boxee Box, we have seen Apple TV and we have seen Google TV and the Roku box. Many consumers are abandoning the airwaves in preference to connected apps on Smart TVs, but as yet there has been no NFC incorporated. That is set to change with this morning’s announcement from Broadcom, who are probably one of the largest semiconductor firms in the US.
Posted by Seth PlanckJanuary 03rd, 2012 at 5:02 PM Filed Under Latest News
VeriFone completes Point acquisition solidifying the firm’s position in Northern Europe and also refinances some debt ready for NFC adoption by retailers
VeriFone appears to be growing larger and larger as today’s news announces that the firm has just completed its merger of Northern European payment gateway company Point. VeriFone has taken some stick lately when the expected NFC bonanza didn’t come in the 3rd quarter of last year. That fact is that NFC adoption by retailers is largely out of VeriFone’s hands as the wallet wars obstruct earlier deployment and therefore the need for NFC POS terminals. However, that isn’t preventing VeriFone from readying itself for the expected new NFC payments landscape as the firm continues to buy up competitors in strategic markets.
Posted by Seth PlanckDecember 23rd, 2011 at 12:39 PM Filed Under Featured, Latest News
Merry Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) and an NFC New Year
Our team over here at NFC Rumors want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who swings past the site and wish them a great holiday season. It has been our first year and we have grown massively during that time because of your support for what we do. Over this year we have met some really great people, had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in great innovation and have been supported by our visitors and the companies who have come to embody Near Field Communication. We love bringing you the latest NFC news, adding our own opinion and starting conversations about the opportunities and challenges that NFC brings with it.
Posted by Seth PlanckDecember 21st, 2011 at 2:21 PM Filed Under Latest News
Verifone takes an NFC stock beating, perhaps unfairly, due to unrealistic market expectations
We all know who Verifone is if we are interested in NFC mobile wallets and NFC payments. They are undoubtedly the largest player in the NFC point-of-sale business globally, and they are involved in most NFC payment projects on some level in the very complex ecosystem. However, Verifone has recently taken a painful beating on its stock price, which we can see between December 5th, when it traded at $44 a share, to December 14th, when it had fallen to just $35 per share. Ouch! Their fourth quarter earnings call wasn’t even until December 14th, so something is happening in the perception of Verifone’s viability to turn a profit. We are not going to go into P/E growth and other associated investment indicators in this post; we want to concentrate more on why this has happened to Verifone versus the reality of the situation. This perception that investors are adopting also has larger scale impacts on the rest of the NFC industry and Verifone may just be the fall guy that kicks off something grander in scale.
Posted by Seth PlanckDecember 21st, 2011 at 12:13 PM Filed Under Latest News
Commonwealth Bank makes Kaching NFC mobile wallet official
We already knew that Commonwealth Bank in Australia was trialling the Kaching NFC mobile wallet app for the iPhone, but the financial institution has now gone live with its app for all customers. You have to hand it to Australia, they struggled to find the value chain and ownership model for NFC just like the rest of the world, aside from perhaps Japan. There were endless, fruitless NFC mobile wallet trials too.
Posted by Seth PlanckDecember 20th, 2011 at 8:24 PM Filed Under Latest News
PayPal tests NFC mobile wallet at a couple of Swedish retailers
We first reported in September about the PayPal NFC mobile wallet called PayPal Instore in Sweden, where the firm got together with startup Accumulate to test out some NFC retail therapy. PayPal have been vocally cautious about NFC payments, NFC mobile wallets and anything else with the “N” word involved. In fact, eBay CEO, John Donahoe, went as far as saying that NFC stands for “not for commerce” earlier this year. Some have gone as far to suggest that PayPal’s opposition is a corporate policy to play down the role NFC is due to pay in payments in the next year or so and more strangely stifle its own NFC mobile wallet efforts. However, that opposition hasn’t stopped PayPal launching an NFC app for peer-to-peer money transfers or from conducting NFC mobile wallet tests in Sweden.


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Scottish Small Business Confidence Lowest in Three Years
The FSB hinted a North-South divide as small businesses in Scotland, North East, and Wales lose out on jobs, revenues and productivity
Small business confidence in Scotland is at a three year low as the UK’s North-South divide worsens, according to a new report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
The study of 3,000 small businesses, conducted over the last three months of 2015, found that the fall in confidence was due, in part, to a downturn in the oil and gas sector and adds to growing concerns over the impact of the falling oil price on the broader Scottish economy.
The report also hints that small businesses in the North East, Scotland and Wales are being “left behind” in terms of job creation, increasing revenues and improved productivity.
Issues of concern for small businesses in the North include the recent flooding and the introduction of the National Living Wage this April.
FSB Scottish policy convener, Andy Willox, said: “The creeping gap between Scottish small business confidence and the UK average is a cause for concern.
“Many analysts have highlighted the impact of the falling price of crude on Scotland’s oil and gas industry.
“As you might expect, this decline looks to be having an impact on the local economies dependent upon this trade.’’

domain: news


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The pet food brand created shareable and viral content through its pet lifestyle website, gaining fans and deeper mobile penetration.
Nestlé’s pet food brand Purina aims to generate a culture
around pet ownership via its Petcentric.com site.
However with its audience shifting the way it consumes
content, and in particular sharing it between themselves, it needed a new
strategy to reflect that.
Deep Focus’s Moment Studio devised a ‘feed-first’ strategy
for Purina, which focused on creating lighter and more shareable content, (much
like Buzzfeed.) This content would then appear on the news feeds of social
media sites like Facebook and Twitter, which can easily be read on mobile
It also built a strategy around creating real-time content
with a focus on shareable images. For example, it posted an image of a kitten to
Twitter during the Oscars to highlight all the noise other brands were making
around the event.
As a result, Petcentric.com more
than doubled its mobile penetration, from 20% of its total audience to 44%.
Since October last year it has seen a 49%
increase in fans, without paid acquisition ads, and a 395% increase in monthly


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What a difference five years make.
For over half a century, the United States was the world's leading manufacturer. That all changed in 2010 when China overtook the U.S. with the help of inexpensive labor.
But the tide appears to be shifting back in America's favor. Bloomberg reports that Chinese and U.S. manufacturing costs are largely equal now; 96¢ for every dollar spent at home. That's before considering the price of transporting goods halfway around the world, a costly and time‑consuming proposition that's prompted a growing number of producers to re‑embrace domestic manufacturing.


text: THE GALAXY S6 was unveiled at this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC), a smartphone that Samsung has designed from the ground up in a bid to turn around its fortunes. The Galaxy S6, which was launched alongside the Galaxy S6 Edge, features a redesigned metal and glass casing, a 5.1in QHD screen and a stripped-back version of Samsung's TouchWiz UI, which the firm is no doubt hoping will help it woo buyers away from the likes of the iPhone 6 and HTC One M9. Release date Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S6 will be available in 20 countries, including the UK and the US, from 10 April. Price Samsung has yet to reveal the price, but that hasn't stopped retailers doing so. Unlocked-Mobiles hasn't yet started taking pre-orders, but has outed the price for the 32GB Galaxy S6 as £549.08 SIM-free. Specs -The smartphone has a metal body clad in Gorilla Glass 4, much like the Sony Xperia Z3, which is 50 percent tougher than those used in other smartphones on the market, according to Samsung. -The firm took a dig at Apple with the claim that the S6 "will not bend". In terms of size, the Galaxy S6 6.8mm thick and weighs 138g. -The Galaxy S6, according to Samsung, features the best smartphone display available today, with the AMOLED screen measuring in at 5.1in with a 2560x1440 resolution and 577ppi. -The Galaxy S6 features a Samsung-branded Exynos processor, which is the first 14nm smartphone chip. This comes with 3GB RAM. - the Galaxy S6 features a 16MP sensor on the rear, similar to that found on last year's Galaxy S5, complete with optical image stabilisation, 4K video recording and a new feature called object-tracking autofocus. -A 5MP camera on the front, improving on last year's 2MP offering. -The Galaxy S6 ships with a 2,560mAh battery, although Samsung has yet to say how long this will last. -Support for wireless charging is also included, Samsung boasting that the device can charge fully in "half the time of the iPhone 6" and to 40 percent in just 10 minutes. -An upgraded version of Samsung's Knox security suite is also included on the Galaxy S6 as the firm looks to tackle iOS and Windows Phone in the enterprise. -The Galaxy S will be made available in gold, black, white and blue, and will ship with 32GB, 64GB or 128GB internal storage.


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Android Central had spilled the beans that the Chinese smartphone maker is prepping yet another...Read More
Samsung Galaxy M21s landed in the Brazil market and it comes in two colors like black and blue, is priced at BRL 1,529 (~$275 / Rs. 20,500) in Brazil.Read More
OPPO has been announced OPPO K7x comes in Mirror Black & Shadow Blue colors, prices 1499 yuan, key specs 6.5″ FHD+ display, Dimensity 720, 48MP camera, 5000mAhRead More
Moto G 5G price in Europe starts from EUR 299 (approx Rs 26,150) Specs include the Snapdragon 750G, 5,000mAh battery, 6.7-inch Full HD+ LCD 20:9 aspect ratio…Read More
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Fantasy Flight Games has announced new Force Awakens solo packs aimed at giving gamers more options for purchasing the game's latest ship expansions.
The past few weeks have been an exciting time for fans of Fantasy Flight's X-Wing miniatures game. Back in August, leaked photos revealed that the company had plans to release a new version of its Core Set complete with revamped X-Wings and TIE Fighters based on the ships featured in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This leak was shortly after confirmed by Fantasy Flight itself in announcements and previews detailing how the new fighters would differ from their older counterparts. As nifty as all of this was however, the news was somewhat marred by the fact that the Force Awakens fighters were only available in the new Core Set. Priced at 40 dollars, it was potentially too expensive for players looking to invest a bit less.
Lucky for those gamers, Fantasy Flight, in an announcement this past Friday, revealed plans to release a pair of solo expansion packs aimed at providing a smaller scale option for fans looking to bring home the Force Awakens fighters. The T-70 X-Wing and Tie Fighter/fo solo packs will be sold as a part of the game's Wave 8 unit expansion which, as previously reported, will also add spacecraft drawn from Star Wars: Rebels and other places in the franchise. The new X-Wing pack will come with five upgrade and four ship cards while the TIE Fighter/fo will be packaged with two upgrades and six ship cards. The new cards will also be use-able with the Empire-era X-Wings and TIE Fighters, meaning they'll have even more value for veteran players with established squadrons. Both expansions will cost $14.95.
Speaking personally, this news is really welcome for me. I really enjoy X-Wing and I want these new fighters. The thing is, even if $40 is actually a pretty good deal for three fighters and the goodies that come with the Core Set, it's still a considerable chunk of change to dish out all at once. 15 dollars, though? It might not be as economical in the long run, but it's easier for me to justify in the moment. Check out the new solo packs yourself and let us know what you think. Will you be buying these or would you rather pick up the bigger Core Set?
Source: Fantasy Flight Games


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The 12th edition of the Soweto Wine and Lifestyle Festival kicked off on Friday. The three day event which runs till March 5th is being held at the Soweto Theatre in Soweto, South Africa.
This event showcases products like various kinds of wines, champagne, delicatessen, oils and vinegars, beer products and much more in the wine industry.
The event also brings together businesses related to the industry such as hotels, airlines and tourism authorities. However those in the wine business have had their own fair share of challenges.
Malmsey Rangaka, is the CEO of M’Hudi Wines, a wine farm run by an inspirational family in Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands. She says: “Challenges have been many. Firstly when I arrived in the wine industry as a woman, they laughed at me and said that no a woman cannot do this job; it’s a very difficult job.”
“And they also looked at me as a worker because mostly in the wine industry, traditionally it is black people who do the work. But as soon as they realize that actually this is really happening, this woman is here, she has bought this farm and she is here to stay, attitudes started changing.”
South African wine has a long history dating back to 1659. The rainbow nation is now the world’s 7th largest wine producer. Its vineyards account for 4% of global wine output, and volumes have increased 20% over four years to about 420 million liters annually, according to CNN Money.
The industry contributes 2% to South Africa’s GDP and employs 300 000 people, making it the biggest permanent employer in agriculture.Follow @Muisyo_


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GEMFIELDS CONSIDERING BID OFFER FROM FOSUN GOLD
Coloured gemstone miner Gemfields has confirmed that it is “considering an offer by Hong Kong-based Fosun Gold to buy out the minority shareholder stake”, according to Gem Konnect.
In May, it was reported that Pallinghurst Resources, which holds 47% of Gemfields stock, had made an unsolicited bid to buy out the minority shareholders and take the company private. In early June, it was reported that an independent committee appointed by Gemfields to review the offer, concluded that it “significantly undervalues the company”. The bid valued Gemfields at £211 million ($274 million), while analysts claim that “a reasonable valuation” would be in the £250-£275 million ($325-$357 million) area.
In contrast to Pallinghurst’s bid, the Fosun Gold bid is a solicited one “that resulted from the deliberations of the advisors and the committee”, according to Gem Konnect.


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Eco cleaning brand Clean Living International has entered into a partnership with wildlife charity The Born Free Foundation to highlight the impact consumers’ purchasing decisions have on global biodiversity.
The partnership aims to encourage people to make simple changes to their shopping habits and help make a significant difference to the planet, and in addition to donating 1% of its revenue to the animal welfare organization, Clean Living will also share regular tips, news and information on how to live more sustainably via the Born Free blog.
The brand’s products will also feature on the charity’s new Products with Purpose directory – a digital hub for conscious consumers looking to make more planet-friendly choices in their daily lives.
We hope the partnership will raise awareness of the devastating effect humans can have on biodiversity
“We’re delighted to announce our collaboration with Born Free Foundation; a well-respected organization which has carried out vital work to protect wildlife around the world for many years,” says Helen Bee, founder and CEO of Clean Living International.
“Their ethos and mission has similarities to ours. We hope the partnership will raise awareness of the devastating effect humans can have on biodiversity, whether that’s in the UK or Africa, and how some small and simple switches to our everyday lives can make a big difference.”
Adds Hitesh Patel, head of sustainable partnerships for Born Free: “Conscious consumerism is an important element to our organization, so it’s fantastic to partner with such a likeminded company. It’s not just about the impact our choices have on wildlife here in the UK, but the knock-on effect every purchase or decision we make has on biodiversity around the world.”
The post Clean Living highlights conscious consumerism with Born Free appeared first on www.naturalproductsonline.co.uk.


text: Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses nationwide. Saturday, Nov. 24 is officially Small Business Saturday, a day started in 2010 by American Express to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. Last year, over 100 million people came out to shop at independently-owned small businesses on the day and this year it’s sure to be even bigger. American Express is offering free and easy-to-use tools to help small businesses get the most out of the day and tools for consumers to show their support. Tools available to small merchants can be dowloaded here.


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New BMW X3 replacement to grow in size and feature a minimalist dash
BMW’s first Neue Klasse electric SUV could carry the iX3 nameplate and our exclusive images preview how it might look
BMW grabbed headlines at this autumn’s Munich Motor Show with its preview of the next-gen 3 Series, the Vision Neue Klasse concept. But Auto Express can reveal that the radical rethink of the iconic executive saloon could actually be beaten in the race to showrooms by a Neue Klasse SUV, potentially carrying the iX3 badge.
BMW teased the vehicle in a video issued earlier this year, and recent spy images have shown that the company’s engineers are indeed hard at work on a new family-sized SUV that features a slightly different profile from the existing X3.
The more rakish roof and lengthened wheelbase are signs that this car sits on the Neue Klasse platform. This incorporates a more efficient battery-cell configuration that allows its floor to be slightly thinner than existing EV layouts, which in turn helps the roofline to be lower, reducing the frontal area and improving the car’s efficiency.
The longer wheelbase – facilitated by repositioned bulky hidden items like the heating and ventilation systems, without compromises for combustion-engine cooling – should increase cabin space, allowing this X3-sized model to deliver passenger accommodation more in line with that of the larger X5.
BMW boss Oliver Zipse has previously said that we should expect six models based on the Neue Klasse architecture to appear by the second half of the decade – and sources indicate that the SUV will arrive at roughly the same time as the saloon. There’s even a chance that the iX3 could be on sale first, with a debut in late 2025.
Our exclusive images interpret the camouflaged test car’s looks, along with those of the Munich show car, which was said to be around 80 per cent of what we should expect in production form. Radical elements like the side cameras may be replaced by mirrors, but our images show how the concept’s adventurous reworking of BMW’s double-kidney grille could be reworked for a higher-set bonnet line.
BMW development boss Frank Weber has told us to expect Neue Klasse models to have “30 per cent more range, 30 per cent faster charging and 25 per cent more efficiency” than existing vehicles. Based on the current iX3’s claimed range of up to 285 miles, the Neue Klasse SUV could deliver over 350 miles between recharges, around 80 miles down on the lower and more aerodynamically efficient saloon. The taller model should get the same fast charging speed, though, of up to 270kW.
Inside, we can expect the Neue Klasse SUV to feature a bespoke version of the Vision Neue Klasse’s minimalist dash, complete with a wider Panoramic Vision set-up. This new 3D head-up display projects info onto the base of the windscreen and runs the entire width of the vehicle, allowing the front-seat passenger to interact with elements like infotainment and navigation, while keeping relevant data in front of the driver.
This display is paired up with a large touchscreen, and widgets can be transferred between this and the windscreen strip. BMW’s project lead on user interfaces, Oliver Pitrat, has told us that the new system is scalable for different widths and screen angles, so it’s all but certain to feature in the upcoming SUV.
Regular versions of the Neue Klasse SUV are likely to feature a single rear motor, but key officials from BMW’s M performance division have already flagged up that Neue Klasse could offer them scope for a quad-motor, four-wheel-drive configuration. It’s unlikely that this will appear in the first wave of Neue Klasse SUVs, though, with a debut beyond 2027 more likely.
As well as this SUV and the saloon, BMW is likely to bring a coupé, an estate and a larger X5-sized SUV to market as part of its initial Neue Klasse push. The company’s target is for at least 50 per cent of its sales to be pure electric by 2030, but it suggested earlier this year that it is on track to achieve this goal earlier than that.
Click here for our list of the best electric SUVs on sale right now...


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New tri-core and quad-core chips from AMD cut the Phenom II processor energy bill in half – and they will spread from consumers to the enterprise later this year.
Advanced Micro Devices has launched five new Phenom II processors for high-end desktops, including a set of tri-core and quad-core chips that AMD claims will cut power use in half – and which will be positioned against the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 and the Core 2 Quad Q8200.
The new high-performance chips, which include the X3 710 and 720, and the X4 805. 810 and 920, are designed for gaming and high-end business use, and designed for energy efficiency so they can be overclocked without overheating, said Bob Grim, a senior marketing manager at AMD.
The Phenom uses 50 percent less power than previous versions, said Bob Grim: “We’re seeing a transition in the marketplace to sleekness and energy efficiency,” he said. “Smaller is becoming more important; energy efficiency is more important. Over time we’ll be developing more energy-efficient parts that can fit into sleeker [systems].”
The enterprise will use these processors, but not immediately, said Dean McCarron, an analyst with Mercury Research: “In this market, [the enterprise] doesn’t get the rapid adoption you see in the consumer side. What I would expect to see happen is corporate clients looking at this technology as the next major refresh opportunity. The next refresh happens right around April, so we’ll probably see it show up in June or July.”
The Phenom II represents “a significant improvement in the level of AMD’s competitiveness, and anything that improves their position is a good thing,” McCarron said.
The products, announced on the 9th February, come at a time when AMD has been battling other chip makers, in particular Intel and Nvidia, for market share in the face of declining shipments industrywide. On the 21st January, AMD confirmed that the prices of some of the new Phenom II processors would be cut by 18 percent.
Over time, the energy abilities of the chips should tell, said Grim: “We expect Phenom II to be in the market for awhile. If you’ve seen the frequencies that we’ve seen, we can overclock at over 6[GHz]—this shows we have a lot of headroom, so we can scale significantly over time.”
The new chips join the Phenom II X4 940 and X4 920 processors, launched at January’s CES event, as part of the “Dragon” platform, which also includes ATI Radeon graphics. The X4 940 has a clock speed of 3GHz, while the X4 920 has a speed of 2.8GHz.
The new chips, invclude the X3 710 (2.6GHz) and the X3 720 “Black Edition Processor” (2.8GHz) to the X4 805 (2.5GHz), X4 810 (2.6GHz) and the X4 910 (2.5GHz). Prices include $145 (£99) for the X3 720 and $175 (£120) for the X4 810 processor, both of which are being boxed and sold as components.
The chips support older DDR2 memory as well as the newer DDR3 (double data rate 3) memory.


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"You never know which way 2013 NCAA Final Four ticket prices will go",
says Greg Cullen of Preferred Seating Tickets. "But more often than
not they go up after the teams are determined."
Sacramento, Ca (PRWEB) April 01, 2013
It didn't take long after Louisville and Michigan locked in their spots for prices for 2013 NCAA Men's Final Four tickets to take off. Preferred Seating Tickets experienced a spike in demand for the cheapest seats at the Georgia Dome for the game late Sunday afternoon as ticket prices soared enough that fans were paying up to 50% more by the end of the day just to get in the door.
There was a slight change in Final Four ticket prices after Wichita State beat Ohio State and Syracuse took out Marquette on Saturday. But the interest took off after the games on Sunday with Louisville taking out Duke by 23 points and Michigan posting a 20 point win over Florida. Some lucky fans that reserved seats on Saturday and Sunday morning through Preferred Seating enjoyed the early bird savings.
"You never know which way 2013 NCAA Final Four ticket prices will go," says Greg Cullen of Preferred Seating Tickets. "But more often than not they go up after the teams are determined."
Right now there is a big shortage of 300 level seating and that's driving up the ticket prices. That may change as the week goes on and fans that can't lock in travel arrangements opt to sell their tickets instead. The cheapest Final Four tickets are for the Championship game on Monday and those don't appear to have been affected by rising prices that have hit the semifinal games.
Preferred Seating Tickets has been providing fans tickets for the NCAA Final Four games since 1987 and they sell both single session and all session strips.


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FOS online auction set for Oct. 8-22
August 25, 2022
The Friends of Skamokawa will host an online auction, “A Cornucopia of Treasures” via 32auction.com on Oct. 8 at 6 p.m., and run through Oct. 22 until 6 p.m. Great gifts are available for the holidays and special getaways. A “Sneak Peek” will be available on October 7 from 5-7 p.m., at the River Life Interpretive Center.
Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to operate and maintain the historic River Life Interpretive Center at Redmen Hall-1894 Central School. This is their 31st auction and their second online auction.


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According to Braemar Seascope’s latest Containership Fleet Statistics, 2012 looks set to be the biggest year for containership newbuilding deliveries in history, in terms of TEU capacity entering the cellular fleet. Boxship deliveries from world shipyards in 2012 are expected to reach 1.55 million TEU – beating the previous record of 1.52 million TEU achieved during 2007. Braemar Seascope expects a cellular fleet expansion in the region of 9.5% for 2012, increasing the available capacity to 16.8 million TEU.
Of the 230 ships due for delivery from shipbuilders next year, 59 have a nominal container capacity of 10,000 TEU or more. This will introduce an additional 0.8 million TEU to this segment. Fleet growth for the 10,000 TEU plus size bracket is expected to reach 70% year on year for 2011 and a further 57% in 2012. Bearing in mind that the vast majority of ultra-large containerships are currently deployed on Asia – Europe services, next year’s delivery influx would be sufficient tonnage to create another five loops deploying ten x 13,000 TEU vessels.
For vessels up to and including 5,100 TEU capacity, it is a very different story: the lower level of investment in newbuilding projects is apparent as growth is expected to reach only 2.9% this year before hitting 3.0% in 2012.
Since January 2010, owners have ordered 1.7 million TEU capacity of boxships with a capacity of 5,100 TEU or more compared with 0.4m TEU of smaller ships (below 5,100 TEU).
Containerships of 10,000 TEU or more comprise 49% of the global orderbook by capacity whereas containerships up to 5,100 TEU represent only 20% of the global orderbook. Since the KG market has largely exited the newbuilding arena, investment in smaller containerships has been lackluster However, Braemar expects renewed interested in feedermax tonnage once the current cycle of investment in post panamax ships has waned.
July 8, 2011


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Home sales in Southern California grew 5.6 percent in May compared to April of this year, and were 3.3 percent higher than sales in May 2015, reports CoreLogic, which gathers and analyzes data on property sales.
The growth number is nearly on the mark of the average change in sales between April and May, 5.7 percent, since CoreLogic began gathering those numbers in 1988.
There were 22,466 new and resale houses and condos last month in Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, San Diego, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
The median price for home in all those counties was $459,500, the highest median price for any month since since September 2007, on the eve of the Great Recession, when the price was $462,000.
For the Inland area, there were 2,642 sales in San Bernardino County, an increase of 6 percent over May 2015, and 3,825 sales in Riverside County, up 2.4 percent over year-ago sales.
The median sale price was $285,000 in San Bernardino County, a nearly 12 percent increase from May 2015.
The median sale price for Riverside County for May was $330,000, a 6.5 percent increase over the same month in 2015.
While the resale price of homes is becoming more normal, “the inventory of homes for sale remains unusually low in many markets, especially in the lower price ranges,” Andrew LePage, a research analyst with CoreLogic, said in a statement.
“The low inventory stems from new-home sales that remain more than 40 percent below average, as well as a lingering supply of underwater homes in inland areas and a variety of other factors that have made some potential sellers reluctant to move,” he said.
Those include concerns about job security, the future of the economy, and continued mending of finances following the recession, he said


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Early-bird shoppers know that Black Friday doesn't start on Friday anymore.
"If you're here at 5 a.m. Friday, you're late to the party. Everyone else has been shopping for eight hours already," said Clinton Fain, 27, standing at the front of a crowd that waited for Sears to open at the Augusta Mall early Friday morning. Like many shoppers, he had been shopping through the night to make the most of Black Friday sales that started on Thanksgiving.
"We started at Walmart at 9 p.m. (Thursday)," the Augusta resident said. "It was crazy. People got angry. Stuff went fast."
His fiancÃ©e, Brooke Gilmer, said they stood in line for two hours to check out. After Walmart, they hit Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, then Sears.
"I feel like a zombie," Fain said. "I could drop right now."
Andrea Skywark of Grovetown is a seasoned Black Friday shopper, and says this is the first year she's pulled an all-nighter.
She and her friend Tara Mason started at Kohl's, then went to Walmart Thursday evening.
"We didn't head out until 11 p.m.," Mason said. "We like to eat our Thanksgiving dinner."
"Let Thanksgiving be Thanksgiving," she said. "I wish they'd push back the sales to 4 a.m., like they used to be."
The two also shopped Macy's, where they found good deals on kitchen supplies, Bath & Body Works, and the food court at the mall, which was packed with shoppers.
Nearly half of Americans - an estimated 152 million people - will shop today, Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Retail Federation. That's up from 138 million last year.
"Last year, I don't think there were as many people," Skywark said. "There weren't as many mall stores open this early. This year, 75 percent of the stores are open and it's only 4 a.m."
The pair decided to hit a few more shops before calling it a night.
"I can assure you that my butt will be in bed by 8 a.m.," Skywark said. "You can only shop for so long."
Falon Wren and her family shopped the mall before lining up for the 5 a.m. opening of Dick's Sporting Goods.
They started shopping at Walmart at 6 p.m. Thursday, but didn't check out until past 11 p.m.
"We were there forever," said Wren, who shopped with her 10-year-old daughter, BreAnne Page.
"We did find good deals on toys, games, movies, those kinds of things."
They also visited Old Navy, where they waited in line at 11 p.m. Thursday, but weren't able to enter the stores due to crowds until 12:45 a.m. Friday.
"We bought scarves for $1," Page said.
The family planned on brunch at Golden Corral before calling it quits.
"I feel like I've been shopping for days," Wren said.
Outside Staples at the Augusta Exchange, Kerry Towne of Barnwell, S.C., lined up at 1:30 a.m. today to be the first in line for the store opening at 6 a.m. She hoped to save several hundred dollars on laptops, Kindles and tablets.
An hour before opening, store employees handed out Krispy Kreme doughnuts and orange juice.
Towne started her shopping Thursday evening at Kohl's in Evans, where she bought gifts for family and a $400 pair of earrings for herself, on sale for $99.
"I think I saved a total of $720 at Kohl's," she said. "I should be able to save at least that much at Staples, too."
After checking out, Towne said she might hit a few more stores, but most likely, she'll make the drive back to Barnwell.
"I'm getting some coffee and going home," Towne said. "It's time for bed."


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Officials in Missouri, US, continue to maintain some business restrictions due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) activity as of Oct. 19. Although most statewide restrictions were lifted June 16 under Stage 2 of the state's economic recovery plan, businesses that have reopened must still comply with certain mandates aimed at preventing new spikes in disease activity, such as performing temperature checks, enhancing sanitation procedures, enforcing social-distancing guidelines, monitoring employees for symptoms, and minimizing business travel, among others. Moreover, state directives empower city and county officials to implement stricter restrictions within their jurisdictions if they consider it necessary to protect public health.
The local governments of the largest cities and counties in Missouri also have their own COVID-19-related measures in place. Officials in the city of Saint Louis have capped the operating capacity of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs which serve alcohol at 50 percent while mandating that such businesses close at 2300 nightly. The operating capacity of large event venues and cultural facilities in the city has been reduced to 50 percent. All establishments must continue to enforce social distancing and hygiene guidelines. The city maintains a requirement that protective face coverings be worn in all indoor public spaces and outdoors where social distancing is not possible. The new directives will remain in force until further notice.
Authorities in Kansas City, on the other hand, have extended that municipality's state of emergency and protective face covering requirement through at least Jan. 16. Under the extended Kansas City regulations, bars may only operate at 50 percent of their normal capacity; restaurants must enforce social-distancing guidelines and require patrons to wear protective face coverings until they are seated and dining. The order also suggests that businesses where patrons may come into contact with furniture for more than ten minutes keep a log of customers they have served; such logs will be used for contact tracing purposes. Protective face coverings are required in all indoor public spaces where social distancing cannot be maintained; this includes grocery and retail stores, salons, and gyms. Otherwise, most businesses are able to operate without capacity limits, provided they enforce social distancing measures.
Saint Louis County also continues to maintain certain regulations. Businesses and churches are limited to operating at 50-percent capacity, and bars must close at 2200 nightly. Gyms and fitness centers are limited to 25-percent capacity. Businesses that are allowed to operate must enforce social distancing guidelines and implement enhanced sanitation procedures. Establishments found in violation of the health rules can be shut down for two weeks. Gatherings are capped at 50 people. Residents must continue to wear face coverings at indoor public spaces; face coverings are also required while outdoors whenever social distancing is not possible. In Jackson County, most businesses may operate at 50-percent capacity; face coverings must be used in indoor public locations and on public transportation.
Some business disruptions are likely to persist. Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.
Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.


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British carmaker Vauxhall and its German sister brand Opel have teased the next-generation 2022 Astra small hatchback – a car which, had the events of the last five years played out differently, could have made it to Australian showrooms wearing Holden badging.
In 2017, American car giant General Motors sold its European-market Opel and Vauxhall brands to French conglomerate (and owners of Peugeot and Citroen) Groupe PSA – a firm now known as Stellantis, following its merger with the US's FCA.
Full range of 2021 Opel and Vauxhall Mokka twins revealed overseas
Opel and Vauxhall have revealed their petrol and diesel powered variants of the Mokka SUV range, filling out the range alongside the Mokka-e electric version.
Following in the footsteps of the Corsa hatch, the design of internal combustion and electric versions has been kept the same. A design initiative also seen of the related Peugeot 208 hatch and 2008 SUV.
The newest release also adds a slightly sportier GS trim for Opel versions or SRi variant for the Vauxhall range.
Holden Commodore future in doubt as General Motors axes its US twin
The future of the Holden Commodore is in doubt, with insiders claiming it is likely to come to an unceremonious end about 12 months from now, bringing down the curtain on a tumultuous 42-year run.
However, Holden says the Holden Commodore is here to stay despite the shock announcement in the US overnight that its identical twin, the Buick Regal, will be phased out next year due to weak sales driven by a buyer shift to SUVs.
A large Buick crossover has been spied undergoing hot weather testing in southern Europe.
Up front the car sports a prominent set of LED driving lights in the shape of a tipped over L. These lights sit above a wide chrome bar joined to an oversized grille.
The main headlight unit sits lower in the front fascia, and will likely be disguised to some degree. The crossover has smooth flanks, while the rear features a wide chrome bar joining up the two sets of tail-lights.
2021 Opel Astra to be built in Rüsselsheim, will offer electrified model
Opel has announced the next-generation Astra small car will be built at its Rüsselsheim facility in Germany from 2021, also confirming an electrified variant.
Currently, the Astra is assembled at Ellesmere Port in the UK, and Gliwice in Poland – the former supplying Australia’s now-axed Holden Astra Sportwagon, and the latter the source of the Holden Astra hatchback which remains on sale.


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A whiskey maker which revived Ireland’s almost-forgotten traditions has beaten some of the biggest names in the business to be named the world’s best.
The Cooley Distillery, opened only 21 years ago in Riverstown, Co Louth, was praised for bringing back the peat smoking technique giving its spirits a virtually unique flavour.
It is the first Irish drinks firm to win the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition.
David Hynes, Cooley managing director, said: “This success has been built over 20 years by our focus on innovation and quality,” he said.
“This focus has led to new products, new finishes and the reintroduction of the concept of peated malt to Ireland.”
Cooley won world and European best at an awards ceremony in London with the winner picked for demonstrating the highest quality across a range of spirit brands.
The distillery opened in 1987 in an old industrial alcohol plant on the Cooley peninsula which had been turning potato into ethanol.
Owners revived the traditional turf smoked barley technique to give its whiskey the old-fashioned Irish flavours. They also brought in bourbon casks from Kentucky in the US and oak casks used to hold Madeira and Sherry to develop new styles.
The company is considered a relative novice in the distilling trade competing with producers who have been making whiskey for hundreds of years.
Frances Horder, IWSC competition director, said: “Cooley should be applauded for their work in re-establishing whiskey varieties that have lain forgotten for many years.
“Their diligence has certainly paid dividends.”


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Rangamati is a district in south-eastern Bangladesh. Recently, organic mangoes produced in its Naniarchar region are being exported to several European countries -including Italy and the United Kingdom- for the first time. The export was a joint initiative of the district's Department of Agricultural Extension and Horticulture Centre.
The authorities have set a target of harvesting 50,550 tonnes of mangoes from 3,370 hectares of orchard, sources said, adding that so far 2,600 kg of mangoes were exported to Italy and 500 kg to UK. There is demand for about eight tonnes of mangoes in several other countries, sources say.
"Mangoes produced in the country's hilly areas have different taste than those produced in other areas. Earlier, we found difficulty to even take our mangoes to local markets due to poor communication. From this year, we have started exporting the mangoes produced in Rangamati. We are hopeful that we would be able to export a thousand tonnes of mangoes from the hills every year," said Paban Kumar Chakma, deputy director of DAE in Rangamati.
"We are also providing regular trainings to the cultivators on how to nurture the trees for better harvest of the fruit to this end," the official added.


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ASHLAND, Miss. (AP) — Search teams are combing through damaged homes and businesses for people still missing after a series of strong storms barreled across several southern states on Wednesday. Tornadoes and other violent weather killed at least 14 people and damaged or destroyed dozens of homes in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say there's no indication that a Christmas Eve dispute which turned violent at a crowded North Carolina shopping mall was gang-related. But police say one person brandished a handgun and was killed by an off duty Charlotte officer. Police say no one else was shot and there were no other injuries.
TORONTO (AP) — A New York City man is charged with attempted murder in a machete attack in downtown Toronto on the busiest shopping day of the holiday season. Police say they do not yet have a motive behind the attack, which they believe was unprovoked. The attack Wednesday evening near Canada's largest retail mall caused serious injuries to the victim's head and leg.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is sounding a cry to right injustices in the world. In his Christmas Eve homily at the Vatican, Francis said "In a world which all too often is merciless to the sinner and lenient to the sin, we need to cultivate a strong sense of justice."
UNDATED (AP) — Federal Express says it won't be able to make all its scheduled deliveries on Christmas Eve because of inclement weather in parts of the U.S. and a last-minute surge of holiday shopping. But FedEx is hoping to ease the disappointment by delivering packages on Christmas Day and opening counters at its Express offices so customers can pick up the gifts themselves.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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by Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Jan 16, 2012
Despite a major safety scandal in 2008, China's demand for milk is surging as people grow wealthier, but the country's poorly kept and often undernourished dairy herds are struggling to keep pace.
Mass milk consumption has grown rapidly in China over the past three decades and today yoghurts and dairy smoothies -- particularly with an Asian twist, such as green tea or peanut flavours -- are hugely popular.
More than three years after the melamine scandal dealt a major blow to confidence in the dairy industry, the country's appetite for milk continues to grow.
Milk has not traditionally formed part of most Chinese people's diets. But rapid rises in income, greater exposure to Western products and improvements in storage and distribution capacity have driven a rapid growth in demand.
One study showed urban Chinese consumers' spending on dairy products as a proportion of their budget had jumped by 40 percent since 2006, while industry analysts Euromonitor predict the dairy market will nearly double between 2010 and 2016.
As a result, the country's annual production of around 35 million tonnes of milk per year -- much of it UHT, or longlife milk, which is easier to store and transport -- is failing to meet demand.
China imported a record 406,000 tonnes of powdered milk in 2010, a figure that is expected to rise to 550,000 tonnes -- equivalent to a year's production from 900,000 cows -- when 2011 figures are compiled.
Experts say the low quality of China's dairy herds and poor standards of care means that milk yields are often much lower than in the West, although the growing industrialisation of dairy farms is bringing improvements.
The average cow in China produces just 4,000 to 4,600 kilogrammes of milk per year, one third of the standard yields in the West, according to Ezra Shoshani, an Israeli specialist who advises Chinese producers.
Karen McBride, head of sales and marketing at Wondermilk, a large American-owned dairy farm near Beijing with 7,000 cows, said the industry had suffered from inbreeding and over-use of antibiotics.
"There are no minimum standards for anything, or when there are, the government will move them around to suit the circumstances," said McBride, whose Wondermilk product is marketed on its antibiotic- and hormone-free credentials.
Around 30 percent of cows in China suffer from mastitis, an infectious udder inflammation, which McBride said was typically treated with antibiotics.
"A lot of that probably just goes into the milk," she said. "The idea of a foreign investment or foreign ownership provides to everybody a degree of safety and security and trust."
Many Chinese people remain suspicious of domestically produced milk after the 2008 melamine scandal in which six children died and 300,000 others fell ill.
The industrial chemical was found to have been illegally added to dairy products to give the appearance of higher protein content.
There have also been accusations the government, keen to ensure China's growing demand for milk is catered to, is giving in to an increasingly powerful dairy industry, dominated by dairy giants Mengniu and Yili.
Critics say the hygiene standards China's dairy farms must adhere to are among the world's lowest, with the levels of bacteria permissible in milk four times as high as in most Western countries.
In December, the health ministry was forced to deny that it had been taken hostage by the dairy industry, as a series of fresh scandals emerged, including the discovery of potentially cancer-causing toxins in Mengniu milk products.
Nonetheless Alastair Pearson, who managed the first of China's new wave of large-scale dairy farms, says there has been substantial progress as the industry moves from small family-run operations to industrial-scale farming.
In 2004, 90 percent of cows in China were in herds of less than ten. Today this has fallen to 40 percent, and already eight percent of cows are in herds of more than 1,000.
"In the last four or five years things have come on quite a bit in terms of quality," he said.
"There's been a quantum leap in progress as the industry has gone from the small homes where animals were not well looked-after to these new farms where animal welfare is light years ahead of what it was."
Underscoring the recent progress, US food giant General Mills will soon launch a locally produced version of its Haagen-Dazs ice cream, using Chinese milk.
And Swiss food giant Nestle announced last week it would invest 2.5 billion yuan (around $400 million) in a new dairy institute in Shuangcheng in northeast China's Heilongjiang province that will offer professional training to the farmers that supply it with milk.
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Health and Food Security Benefit From Climate Change Actions
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jan 13, 2012
A new study led by a NASA scientist highlights 14 key air pollution control measures that, if implemented, could slow the pace of global warming, improve health and boost agricultural production. The research, led by Drew Shindell of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, finds that focusing on these measures could slow mean global warming 0.9 degrees F (0.5 d ... read more
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HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, a tougher-than-expected hit from a U.S. prohibition, the company’s founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei said, ” and it cut sales guidance for the year.
Huawei’s founder Ren Zhengfei, participated in a panel discussion at its headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, and the 17th of June, 2019 at the latest. REUTERS/Aly Song
Given the downbeat assessment of the ban, it will hit revenues of $30 billion, which is the first time that Huawei has quantified the impact of the US action comes as a surprise after weeks of defiance, the responses of the managers who are maintaining and Huawei were technologically self-sufficient.
In the United States of america has a Smartphone and a to export a black list entry to the national security of the lock by the U.S. third-party sales of the world’s largest telecom equipment maker and No. 2 maker of smartphones, with no special permission.
The company has denied that its products pose a serious threat to the safety and security.
The ban has forced companies, including Alphabet, Inc., Google, and British chip designer ARM, to limit or terminate their relationship with the Chinese company.
Huawei did not think of the US’s determination to “crack”) of the company, it would have to be “so strong and so all-pervading”, ” Ren said, speaking at the company’s Shenzhen headquarters on Monday.
Two of the US-based tech experts, George Gilder, and Nicholas Negroponte, is also a member of the session.
“We did not expect that she was going to attack us on so many aspects,” Ren said, adding that he expects to see an upturn in business in 2021.
“We are able to supply parts, could not take part in a wide range of international organisations do not work closely with many of the universities are not allowed to use anything with U.S. parts, and you can also be able to connect to the networks that make use of these types of components.”
Huawei, which turned into a turnover 721.2 billion yuan ($104 billion) last year, expects sales of about $100 billion this year and the next, Ren said. This is compared to a first target for a growth rate in 2019 is in the range of $125 billion to $130 billion depending on the exchange rate.
THE TRADE WAR
The Trumpet of the administration slapped sanctions on a Smartphone, in a time when the U.S.-china trade relations hit rough waters, and that the statements of the leaders of China and the progress of the nation in achieving self-sufficiency in the most important sector.
Huawei has also said that it could be the roll-out of its Hongmeng operating system (OS), which is to be tested, within a period of nine months, if need be, if the phone before being cut off by the updates of Google’s Android operating system, in the wake of the ban.
But insiders remained sceptical that the Chinese chip makers will soon be able to meet the challenges of the supply of Huawei’s requirements and those of other domestic technology companies.
Negroponte, founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (mit) Media Lab, has said that the US ban was a mistake.
“Our president has already said publicly that he could think of for Huawei, if we have a trade agreement (ceta). So, clearly, this is not about national security,” he said.
“It’s going to be about something else,” Negroponte added.
Huawei smartphone sales, however, will be affected by the high level of uncertainty. Ren said that the company is in the international smartphone shipments fell 40%. While he did not have the time, it is necessary to have a spokesperson of the CEO over the past few months.
The international monetary fund said on Sunday that Huawei was preparing for a 40 to 60% drop in international smartphone shipments.
The CEO, however, said the Smartphone will not cut research and development spending, despite the expected hit-out in the wake of the company’s funds, and not on the large-scale lay-offs.
($1 = 6.9239 Chinese yuan)
Reporting by Sijia Jiang of Hong Kong and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Writing by Sayantani Ghosh; Editing by Himani sarkar and Muralikumar Anantharaman


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Partnership with b8ta
Department store chain Macy’s (M) recently announced its partnership with b8ta, a technology retailer, to enhance its in-store customer shopping experience. Macy’s plans to leverage b8ta’s software platform to expand its The Market @ Macy’s concept, which it launched in February. The Market @ Macy’s is an in-store pop-up retail concept that aims to expand the reach of emerging and established brands to new customers.
Macy’s also disclosed its acquisition of a minority stake in b8ta. Currently, b8ta operates nine freestanding stores, which help customers discover new products, including those of emerging brands.
Home-improvement retailer Lowe’s (LOW) has also collaborated with b8ta to operate SmartSpot locations within Lowe’s stores.
Benefits of the new deal
b8ta’s customized technology platform for Macy’s is expected to help in the management of the rotating brands at The Market @ Macy’s. It will also help in scaling The Market @ Macy’s pop-up store concept to new locations.
Macy’s also expects to enhance its product offerings with the help of b8ta’s ability to promote new products in the home merchandise and consumer electronics categories.
Macy’s has been taking several initiatives to bring its sales back on track amid a highly competitive retail market, in which Amazon (AMZN) and other online retailers are grabbing market share from traditional retailers. A focus on the expansion of its off-price Macy’s Backstage concept and its Bluemercury beauty business are some of the growth strategies that have helped the company to deliver sales growth in the past two consecutive quarters.
In May, Macy’s announced its acquisition of Story, a concept store in New York City, and appointed Story’s founder and CEO, Rachel Shechtman, as the company’s brand experience officer.
To learn more about Macy’s performance in the first quarter, read Macy’s Dresses to Impress with Q1 2018 Results, Upgraded Guidance.


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Calling all wizards and witches: Newton is the place to be this holiday season.
On November 25, Spring Street in Newton will be transformed into Diagon Alley, the magical market from the famous Harry Potter series.
Organized by Spring Circle, a collective made up of four Newton businesses, the event will feature about 25 shops up and down Newton’s main business district taking on a Harry Potter theme for the evening.
Shopping isn’t the only attraction: aspiring Hogwarts students will be placed in one of the school’s four houses by …read more
Source: NJ.com Sussex


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VAT increase would be short-sighted
Irish Hotels Federation Kerry Branch Chairperson Niamh O’Shea argues that the retention of the nine per cent VAT rate is vital for the future of tourism in Kerry.
IN 2011 when the live register reached almost 450,000 nationally, the Government had the foresight to introduce a tourism VAT rate to promote much-needed job creation. That measure has been of enormous benefit to the local economy in Kerry by supporting growth and making our tourism offering more competitive internationally. Bringing the rate in line with the VAT rates of other competing European countries was the correct decision.
It is allowing tourism businesses in Kerry to restore investment in product development and service levels whilst also aiding increased capacity – all critical for the long-term success of the industry. And as the biggest investor in Irish tourism, the hotels sector is playing a critical role. Hotels and guesthouses not only provide local employment opportunities, we buy local services, source locally produced food and provide a vital infrastructure in support of local business and communities.
The return to the exchequer has exceeded expectations. This year, Irish tourism will yield over €2 billion in various taxes, equivalent to 23 per cent of tourism revenues and up more than €500 million per annum on 2011. Given the right conditions, the tourism tax take is projected to continue to grow strongly, reaching €2.7 billion per annum by 2025.
On the employment front, the nine per cent VAT rate continues to be one of the most successful job-creation initiatives in modern times having created over 65,000 new jobs across the country since 2011. Tourism now supports employment for approximately 235,000 people – including 15,700 jobs in Kerry. The profile of these jobs is diverse and inclusive, ranging from highly skilled roles to entry-level employment that provides great opportunities for advancement. We are now on track to create a further 40,000 jobs over the next five years and it is vital that Kerry sees its share of these new jobs.
What is sometimes lost in discussions about the economy is that tourism growth is one of the most effective ways to spread employment opportunities and prosperity across the entire country. With 70 per cent of tourism jobs based outside of Dublin, tourism’s wide geographic distribution is critical to sustaining regional economies. This is particularly true for Kerry, where tourism contributes €533 million to the local economy each year.
It is essential that economic policy does not become detached from the realities facing businesses in the regions – the engine behind Irish tourism. We know in Kerry how tourism remains very seasonal and a lot of our local hospitality businesses struggle to break even outside the peak seasons. The much-heralded recovery has been very uneven with many parts continuing to lag behind following a severe loss of ground during the downturn.
Our focus should therefore be on creating the right environment to sustain further tourism growth. Appropriate taxation policy that supports competitiveness is a key element of this. Tourism should be treated as an indigenous export industry given that 78 per cent of tourism revenue is generated by visitors coming into the country and spending money in our economy. This activity is discretionary and would be put at risk by an increase in VAT and imposing hundreds of millions of euro in additional costs on visitors.
The financial crisis showed just how vulnerable we are to external economic events beyond our control. Today we face enormous risks and uncertainty with Brexit. Some of the scenarios being forecast would have grave knock-on effects for our own economy, particularly at a regional level. The implications for tourism are stark given our heavy reliance on the UK – our largest market, accounting for over 45 per cent of inbound visitors.
Since the 2016 referendum, the drop in value of Sterling has resulted in a marked reduction in the spending power of UK visitors and a significant drop in numbers. This is a particular worry for the tourism sector in Kerry. Added to the poor Sterling exchange rate, any increase in VAT could result in a tipping point that risks a significant loss of market share to other destinations.
At a time of increased uncertainty it makes no sense therefore to jeopardise Irish tourism further and hinder our capacity for growth. The nine per cent VAT is a key part of the overall competitiveness of our tourism product. It has been a tremendous catalyst for growing tourism in Kerry. In light of the serious challenges facing the industry, any increase in VAT would be short-sighted in the extreme.
Niamh O’Shea is the General Manager of Killarney Park Hotel and Chair of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation.
TOURISM GROWTH IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO SPREAD EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Niamh O’Shea, General Manager, Killarney Park Hotel, Chairperson of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation.


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It seems a lot of Americans still have an appetite for burger combos. According to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, roughly 36.5% of adults consume fast food on a typical day, accounting for 13.8% of daily calories (about 309 calories each day). This lofty intake does not just expose people to high amounts of saturated fat, sodium and sugar, but also to potentially harmful chemicals in fast food.
An investigation in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology by researchers at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health discovered that 70%–81% of the tested 64 fast-food samples from various fast-food chains in the U.S. had traces of phthalates, compounds that may disrupt hormone patterns in adults and hinder children’s neurodevelopment. Phthalates leach into food from the food packaging they are present in.
The findings also revealed that chicken burritos, cheeseburgers and other meat products had the most amount of phthalate, compared with cheese pizzas or French fries, so it’s something about the meat that increases the leaching from packaging.
Finally, 86% of food items contained another plasticizer known as DEHT that was invented to replace phthalates, though research hasn’t established yet whether this is any safer. The study also raises the concern that certain racial/minority groups may be disproportionately affected by these chemicals in fast food. Of course, it remains to be determined how much fast food you would need to eat to soak up chemical levels that would pose a health risk, but this research is another reason why home cooking should be more appetizing.
See also: Fast Food Nation
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Apple is looking to hire a “Wifi Software Engineer” to work full time on what appears to be 802.11n for the iPhone.
From the job description:
We are looking for a talented and energetic software engineer for the iPhone WiFi team to help develop the next generation of mobile Wireless LAN technologies.
There have been rumors of 802.11n support in the current iPhone and iPod touch but the only references to such functionality I’ve been able to find have been in rumors before the device’s launch.
10/15/09: Apple Developing FM Tuner App for the iPhone
4/9/09: iPhone 3,1 Parts Shipping, 802.11n, Video Editing, and More


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The research department of Concord Securities has reportedly predicted that the MacBook Air will account for 17 percent of an estimated 4.1 million Mac shipments this fall. In addition, Mingchi Kuo, vice president of the firm's research department, believes the new, smaller model with an 11.6-inch screen will account for 60 percent of MacBook Air sales.
Sales of 4.1 million Macs in the quarter would be yet another record for Apple. Just this week, the company revealed it sold 3.89 million Macs in the previous quarter, the best three-month frame for the company yet.
Apple's Mac business was on display this week at the "Back to the Mac" event, where the new MacBook Airs with instant-on capabilities were unveiled. The notebooks start at $999 for the 11.6-inch model.
Analyst Brian Marshall of Gleacher & Company said in a note to investors this week that he believes Apple's new MacBook Air models carry a gross margin profile of greater than 30 percent. If true, that would be greater than his estimated blended margins of more than 20 percent for the rest of Apple's notebook line.
Marshall estimated that the blended gross margins for the new MacBook Air models will be 32.1 percent. He sees the low-end $999 model with a total cost to Apple of $718, while the high-end 13.3-inch model with 256GB of storage retailing for $1,599 likely costs Apple $1,007.40.
Marshall said he has not yet changed his forecast for just over 4 million Macs in the December quarter, though he added the new, lower priced MacBook Air models could add a "kicker" in the future. Gleacher & Company has maintained its price target of $355 for AAPL stock.


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Bullet PR are proud to announce we will be working with Brighton Museum and Art Gallery this year – supporting the museum on the launch of Fashion Cities Africa, the first major UK exhibition dedicated to contemporary African fashion.
The exhibition will explore fashion and style in four cities at the compass points of the African continent – Lagos in Nigeria, Nairobi in Kenya, Casablanca in Morocco and Johannesburg in South Africa and will consider recent and contemporary fashion practices in these distinctive metropoles, from couture to street style.
- New commissions, including by Nairobi-based brother and sister duo 2Many Siblings (http://2manysiblings.tumblr.com/)
- Controversial high-fashion outfits worn by one of Kenya’s hottest bands, Sauti Sol (MTV Europe’s Best African Act 2014)
- Garments and accessories associated with The Sartists, a Johannesburg-based creative collective documenting their lives and style in post-apartheid South Africa (https://instagram.com/thesartists)
- Exquisite hand-crafted ‘caftan couture’ pieces by Casablanca-based designer Zhor Raïs
- Apparel by Maki Oh, the internationally acclaimed Lagos-based label worn by Beyonce, Solange Knowles and Michelle Obama.
Fashion Cities Africa opens on April 30th and runs until January 2017.


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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 – Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad (Astro) today announced its financial results for the first six months of the financial year ending January 31, 2015. Revenue grew 12% to RM2.6 billion, Ebitda rose 15% to RM903 million and PAT increased by 25% to RM266 million. “The company delivered strong results with significant free cash flow. “Based on the performance, the board of directors is pleased to declare a second interim dividend of 2.25 sen per share, bringing the total dividend for the first six months of the current financial year to 4.5 sen per share, 12.5% higher compared to 4.0 sen per share in the same period last year,” said chairman of Astro Tun Zaki Azmi. Meanwhile, chief executive officer Datuk Rohana Rozhan said, “We continue to execute against our key strategies of growing our customer base, increasing ARPU, and driving advertising share.
“We are offering more choices in content and consumer packages, including Astro Superpack, Astro Valuepack and Astro Family Pack, as well as NJOI, Malaysia’s first subscription-free satellite TV service. “Our customer base is growing, for both Astro and NJOI and at lower customer acquisition cost. Total customer base has grown by 491k y-o-y to 4.2 million, an increase of 127k for Astro and 364k for NJOI. The growth in customer base is across all demographics and we are particularly pleased with the growth in our Chinese base, driven by Astro packages like Chuen Min Pack and Dynasty Pack, as well as higher take up of NJOI.” Astro’s penetration of the Malaysian TV households has increased from 54% to 60%. Astro Radio has retained its position as the number one radio station in all 4 languages. The growing share of TV has resulted in higher advertising revenues, up by 7% to RM290 million.


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On December 28, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Navoi region and got acquainted with projects in Navoi Free Economic Zone.
The activities and opportunities of the FEZ founded in 2009 were expanded in accordance with the resolution of the President of June 5, 2018.
During a trip to the region on March 13 this year, Shavkat Mirziyoyev forwarded an initiative to turn the entire Navoi region into a free economic zone. Therefore, by the decree of the Head of the state of May 15 this year, the region was defined as a free economic zone for innovative, high-tech, export-oriented and import-substituting industries for a period up to January 1, 2030, and the enterprises engaged in such production in the region were granted the status of a participant of Navoi Free Economic Zone.
This year, the number of residents of this zone increased by 27 and reached 66. The total cost of projects exceeded 437 million USD.
Among the entities of the economic zone is National Plast LLC. The company, with a total value of almost 16 million USD, produces PVC profiles. This year, more than 10 thousand tons of products have been produced here.
The Head of the state observed the process of the enterprise, became interested in the quality of products. He gave instructions on expanding the production of import-substituting goods, providing the population with affordable and qualitative building materials.
The President was provided with information about the second phase of the enterprise, which is planned to be put into operation in the third quarter of 2020. As a result, production capacity will increase by 40 thousand tons, export volume – up to 10 million dollars.
During the visit to the FEZ, Shavkat Mirziyoyev also visited the sites of the Green Line Profil LLC in the territory.
The company, with a total value of almost 40 million USD, was launched in 2018. 650 jobs were created. This year, 18.6 thousand tons of products were produced and products worth 10 million USD were exported. Next year it is planned to increase production to more than 22 thousand tons and increase exports to 14 million USD.
The Head of the state got acquainted with the samples of products manufactured here, its quality and export geography.
“Today, the most important task is creation of added value and jobs. Each industrial enterprise must form a value chain using modern technologies and a reasonable approach. It is necessary to study foreign markets and expand exports by reducing costs”, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.


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SJP's unexpected strategy to face celeb fragrance fallout.
August 26, 2016
• Rachel Strugatz
Sticking to Fundamentals
Pepe Jeans London recently unveiled its fall print ad campaign, which takes the simple tack of showing models in jeans and nothing else. The ads, which will break in August magazines, were developed by Steven Baillie, creative director of the New...


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A new report has heaped criticism on Britain’s pay-as-you-go airport lounges for their “low-rent” decor and bad food.
Those flying from UK airports can now pay as little as £18 for entry to one of dozens of airport lounges - with the promise of peaceful surroundings, fast Wi-Fi, and all-you-can-eat food and drink convincing many to cough up the extra cash and ditch the crowded main terminal.
But a Which? study, which saw it inspect 17 lounges at seven airports, highlighted a distinct lack of value for money and basic facilities.
None of the lounges it visited was awarded more than 3.5 stars out of five, while the worst of all, Gatwick My Lounge North, which charges £24 for entry on the door, was criticised for its “grubby” floors, “unappetising” food, and lack of power sockets for laptops.
The most expensive options, Heathrow Skyteam T4 and Heathrow Aspire T5, both of which charge £40 for entry on the door, were awarded just two stars. Gatwick No1 North and Manchester Aspire T1 earned just 2.5.
“When we sent our reviewers to 17 pay-as-you-go airport lounges, they weren’t very impressed – the average score they awarded was just 2.6 out of 5,” said the report. “The decor was often low-rent rather than ritzy, and the buffets were basic. And, having paid an average of £25 to enter, the consensus was that you would need to eat and drink an awful lot to get your money’s worth.”
The best lounge, according to Which?, was Gatwick No1 South, which was praised for its runway views and “slightly more exclusive environment”, but reviewers were still unimpressed with the “uninspiring” food on offer. “Worth paying the little extra for, if only to avoid the North Terminal’s My Lounge,” it added.
Nick Trend, Telegraph Travel's Consumer Editor, said: “I'm not surprised by the findings - I've never found pay-as-you-go lounges to be of the same standard as those operated by top international airlines. They may suit some travellers who know they will have a long wait, or whose flight gets badly delayed, but you might also do better to spend the money in a meal in one of the departure lounge restaurants.”
“We are of course disappointed by the review for My Lounge,” said a spokesperson for No.1 Lounges. “Cleanliness and hygiene are of the utmost importance to us and we’re sorry that on this occasion we fell below the standards we, and our guests, expect. We have addressed the issue and have also put a focus on creating a more comprehensive food offering.”
10 more ways you’re being ripped off at the airport
Which? highlighted 10 more airport rip-offs, many of which will be all too familiar to Telegraph Travel readers.
1. Airport parking
“Turn up at Birmingham airport and you may pay a staggering £235 to park your car for a week,” says Which? “At London Heathrow T5, the drive-up price for seven days’ parking could be as high as £417.”
2. Rail fares
Getting to the airport by public transport can cost as much as the flight itself. Which? says: “The cost of a cheap break departing from one of London’s airports can soon soar when you add on public transport fares. A 15-minute single journey on the Heathrow Express will set you back £25, while turning up at Victoria station and boarding the Gatwick Express costs £19.90 one way.”
3. Drop-off fees
“Dropping off a loved one? While some airports don’t charge, 10 minutes at Stansted costs £3.50. Stay longer and you’ll face a £50 fine. Pick-ups can be equally pricey: you’ll pay £3.90 for 15 minutes at Edinburgh and £2 for 10 minutes at Glasgow, where the same fee will soon apply for drop-off.”
4. Trolley charges
“While some airports charge a refundable £1 or €1 to use a trolley, at both Bristol and Luton airports, where they charge £2 or €2, you won’t see your coin again. Beware of using a credit or debit card at the trolley vending points at Birmingham airport – there’s a 40p charge for using a card.”
5. The £1 plastic bag
Supermarkets want 5p for a plastic bag - but some airports charge far more. Which? says: “Transparent plastic bags, required for carrying liquids in hand luggage, are not always free. Forget a bag at Luton airport, for example, and you’ll pay £1 for two. At Newcastle, a quid gets you only one bag.”
6. Overpriced water
The liquids rule also means passengers must purchase water and other drinks after they've passed through security (very few airports have installed drinking fountains, despite calls from MPs, and in those that have they are very hard to find). Which? says: “No liquids over 100ml are allowed through security, but a 75cl bottle of Evian can cost £2.09 airside, double what you would pay in a supermarket.”
7. Mini toiletries, maximum mark-up
Yet another way that retailers have cashed in on heightened airport security post 9/11. Those tiny toiletries might beat the 100ml liquids rule, but they cost a small fortune. “Travelling hand luggage only? Don’t wait until you get airside to buy toiletries,” says Which? “At WH Smith after security, a 50ml travel-sized bottle of Original Source shower gel typically costs £2.49, whereas the same size is less than half this price in high street supermarkets.”
8. Sky-high Wi-Fi
In 2014, Skyscanner revealed how Britain's airports are lagging behind their European counterparts when it comes to offering free Wi-Fi. None of the UK’s six busiest airports – Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Edinburgh and Luton – were found to offer unlimited free internet access. By contrast, almost half (24) of Europe’s 50 busiest airports – including Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Munich, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Prague and Rome – were. The situation has improved slightly since then: Heathrow began offering unlimited free access last year. But at Edinburgh you only get two hours before charges apply, at Gatwick it's 90 minutes, at Stansted and Manchester it's an hour, and at Luton it's just 30 minutes. “While Birmingham and Heathrow offer unlimited free internet access, at Bristol and Glasgow, anyone still logged on after an hour will have to pay £5 for an additional two hours,” said Which?
9. Currency exchange
Research by the Post Office in 2014 found that 1.6m Britons still persist in buying their holiday money at the airport each year, despite the notoriously bad exchange rates on offer. Which? adds: “Yes, it’s convenient to exchange currency at the airport, but you’ll pay top dollar for the privilege. Hand over £500 to ICE at Edinburgh airport, and you’ll receive just $529. Exchange to euros at Moneycorp at Stansted airport and you’ll fork out £511 for €500.”
10. Airport shopping
“There are savings to be made at airport shops – we found the iPad mini 2 and Fitbit Flex 2 both £10 cheaper at Dixons Travel at Glasgow International airport than online at John Lewis,” says Which? “However, we were stunned to see memory cards for cameras almost 200% more expensive than online at Currys.”