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Thursday 31 May 2012

London 2012 Olympics: The businessmen backing Team GB - Daily Telegraph

London 2012 Olympics: The businessmen backing Team GB - Daily Telegraph

David Ross, the co-founder of Carphone Warehouse and BOA non-executive, says the £20m is like the “cream at the top of milk”. Given that at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, four of Great Britain’s golds were won by a total of just 0.87 seconds, this cream could be pivotal.

“If someone gave us £50m, we could spend it in 60 days,” says Pinsent.

The appeal has attracted support from Visa, adidas and Deloitte but is being anchored by 30 donors, 30 ambassadors and six patrons – the highest rank of supporter of whom only two are named, Lord Fink and Patel.

“We are being very British about sharing the stadiums,” says Lord Fink. “We are being entirely fair so we need to find fair ways to gain an advantage.”

Lord Fink was introduced to the Team 2012 Appeal by Patel and decided to donate following his experiences at previous Olympics. He attended the 2000 Sydney Olympics with a close friend who later died suddenly, and then had to watch the 2004 Olympics in Athens from a hospital bed after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Robert Swannell, the chairman of Marks & Spencer, is an ambassador, The former Schroders investment banker says he has always been “extremely interested” in the Olympics because of his family history – his grandfather competed in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics.

“I understand that success and failure is separated by fractions of a second, so I wanted to give what help I could,” he explained.

Rex Woods, Mr Swannell’s grandfather, competed in the shot-put for Great Britain in Paris and Amsterdam while also practising as a doctor. “He was a remarkable man,” says the M&S chair.

Donating to the London 2012 team has allowed Swannell to get close to the modern-day Olympians. The supporters are invited to watch training days, attend dinners, and go to sporting events with the athletes.

“They are risking all of their life for a very short period of time, you can’t help but be on their side,” he adds. “If you see them train and what they put themselves through it is astonishing.”

Swannell says a key part of the programme has been getting athletes to talk to staff at Marks & Spencer, which also donated as a company. “The message is that if you are sufficiently determined you can achieve what you want,” Swannell adds.

John Ayton, the founder of Links of London with his wife Annoushka, says the programme has led to modern pentathlete Katy Livingston and women’s handball player Britt Goodwin addressing staff at his new luxury jewellery business Annoushka, named after his wife.

“This [hosting the Olympics] could set a tone for the new generation,” he explains.

Ayton is now keenly following the progress of Mo Farah, the 5,000m and 10,000m runner, and Tina Cook, the event rider ahead of the Olympics.

The funds raised by the Team 2012 Appeal mean Cook, who has two young children, has been able to afford a nanny and spend more time with her horse before competing.

Ayton and the contributors to the appeal have no say over which sport or which athlete receives their funds – that is determined by the BOA and other sporting bodies – but their involvement in the programme has led to them developing attachments with certain sports.

“Through Team 2012 I feel I have played some small part and I’m sure our athletes will really do us proud this summer,” says Sir Stuart Rose.

“You should have heard me screaming at the curling in Vancouver [for the 2010 Winter Olympics],” Chai Patel adds. “If Vancouver is anything to go by the celebrations for even one medal is great.”

One of the reasons Patel became involved in the programme is that he believes success at London 2012 for British athletes will be a huge boost to the UK.

“As a nation we are a bit lost in a competitive sense,” he says. “We can’t do the 'Rule Britannia’ thing anymore and people find inspiration in difference ways these days. Sport acts as a great catalyst. It is not a substitute for education, but it represents a set of core values.”

With just weeks to go until the Olympics, success for Britain and the contributors to the appeal is fourth place in the Olympic medal table and more golds than the 19 won in 2008. Pinsent says the £18m raised so far is a “good job”, but is still targeting £20m to help achieve that goal. “Look at this pencil,” he says in the BOA offices. “It says Team GB, Better Never Stops.”

For further information on the Team 2012 Appeal contact appeal@teamgb.com or visit www.team-2012.com


Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Hammersmith Apollo in London sold by HMV to Stage C - BBC News

Entertainment venue Hammersmith Apollo which has held concerts by bands from The Beatles to Queen, has been sold by its owner HMV.

HMV agreed to sell the west London art deco venue to American-German joint venture Stage C for £32m.

The 9,000-capacity venue was taken over by entertainment retailer HMV in 2010.

HMV chief Simon Fox said: "The Hammersmith Apollo is an iconic London venue and it has been a privilege to own it over the last three years."

The venue opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema, as part of a wider turnaround.

It has played host to many famous performances, including David Bowie's last concert as alter-ego Ziggy Stardust in 1973.

It is also the eponymous venue in the BBC stand-up comedy series Live at the Apollo.

Stage C is jointly owned by London's indigO2 operator Ansco Music Club, a subsidiary of US company Anschutz Entertainment, and a subsidiary of Munich-based CTS Eventim.

The sale is conditional on banking approvals, shareholder approval and Stage C securing regulatory approvals.

With 252 stores in the UK, HMV said the sale allowed it to focus on its core retail business, while the proceeds from the disposal would be used to reduce the group's outstanding debt.

The sale follows a decision to place its HMV Live division, which runs 13 venues and a number of festivals including Lovebox in London and Global Gathering near Stratford-upon-Avon, under review.

The entertainment retailer recently surprised the City by forecasting a return to profit in 2013 despite estimated losses of about £19m for the past financial year.


Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Made In London: the capital’s boom in entrepreneurship - Daily Telegraph


Natasha Faith, the founder of La Diosa. Image: Philip Hollis

Despite the demands of running your own business, it seems to be an increasingly appealing option for many. The rise in university fees means larger numbers of young people are considering alternatives to a traditional third-level education and setting up their own businesses instead.

The internet has provided both the inspiration and the means for many young entrepreneurs to prosper. In London, a frenzied media storm has been whirling around Old Street in Shoreditch. Nicknamed the Silicon Roundabout, the area is home to numerous new tech start-ups, including Moshi Monsters (an online children’s game), Last.fm (an online music platform) and TweetDeck (a social-media profile manager).

Jon Penn is the 32-year-old co-founder of Spinning Hat, a quirky gift company, and is based there. For him, the attention the locality is receiving is well-deserved: “It’s very much the place to be for creative minds. A lot of new businesses are moving over from Soho to the Shoreditch area now, so it’s a buzzing place at the moment. There are lots of bars as well!”

Yuvraj Jatania is the 25-year-old co-founder of Pockit, a prepaid card that provides discounts and cashback on household essentials, and shares Jon’s enthusiasm for the area’s nightlife: “For a young entrepreneur interested in making it in the tech business, I’d say get involved in the meet-ups around Silicon Roundabout. There are lots of young entrepreneurs who meet up for informal drinks in various bars and pubs around the area. I went to a similar networking event myself and I met so many people who are doing tech businesses; you learn so much from them.”


Virraj and Yuvraj Jatania. Image: Philip Hollis

The term “networking” frequently crops up during our discussion and is considered crucial, despite the word’s “elitist” connotations being acknowledged by all present. Venues throughout London such as the Adam Street Club, Soho House and Shoreditch House are popular venues for industry get-togethers and should be visited by any would-be London entrepreneurs eager to make contacts.

Despite the internet providing new opportunities for business development and ample opportunities to meet like-minded people, emerging entrepreneurs will inevitably flounder. Faith doesn’t think this should dissuade anyone from pursuing their goals: “Failure is a good option. I think we have a notion, especially in British culture, that it’s terrible to fail, which stunts a lot of growth and a lot of potential in young people.”

So have any of them actually failed?

The other half of Pockit, 23-year-old Virraj Jatania admits his business didn’t get everything right: “One thing we did – we’re a tech business, with a big online platform – was to use an outsourced company for all our technology. I think doing it in-house is very important, and it’s actually cheaper.”

Smruti also recalls schools dropping out of her award scheme. A “fickle” demographic, school students that participated in the schemes were prone to apathy if they didn’t see quick results and needed “quick wins” to remain involved. She canvassed students for feedback and made changes to the structure of her programme. Now she has 400 schools across the country participating in Wings of Hope, and has had the support of PWC, Saatchi & Saatchi and the House of Lords.

Shalini Khemka, CEO of the London Entrepreneurial Exchange, suggests that the boom in entrepreneurship also owes much to the economic downturn: “What we’re finding is that the lack of jobs is shifting people into the private sector; unemployment is actually encouraging people to go off and do their own thing so a lot of individuals are setting up their own businesses.”

Faith decided to set up her company as a result of the recession: “It pushed me to start my own business. I felt an urge to start my own thing because money just wasn’t coming in. So I didn’t go to university and had the impetus to really push harder than I probably would have if the recession hadn’t hit.” Instead of pursuing a degree as her peers did, Faith decided to travel the world for a year and learned how to make jewellery in Mexico. That skill provided the foundation for her business.

Alexander Amosu, 36, is another entrepreneur who decided against completing a university course. After learning how to compose Jay Z’s song Big Pimpin’ on a rudimentary composer programme on his mobile phone when he was 21, he set up the company R&B Ringtones and sold ringtones to others. He was a millionaire by the time he was 25. He then founded Amosu Luxury Ltd, which sells high-end bespoke products; it’s famous for selling the world’s most expensive suit, yours for £70,000.

Faith and Amosu’s rejection of a third-level education is something that Khemka frequently encounters: “The majority of entrepreneurs I’ve come across haven’t had that education – they’ve had a bit of a tough life and learned how to make themselves focused.”

With the recession continuing, Khemka and the entrepreneurs are confident some of the country’s young people will tackle the threats of unemployment and debt with creative solutions. The Apprentice and Dragons' Den have made businessmen Lord Alan Sugar and Duncan Bannatyne household names; the increasing number of entrepreneurs looking to emulate their achievements means there should be plenty more British success stories to come.

Read Anoosh Chakelian's profiles of the entrepreneurs here.


Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Tesco boss warns locals of limits to private labels - Sydney Morning Herald

Tesco boss warns locals of limits to private labels - Sydney Morning Herald

ONE of the world's most successful supermarket bosses, Sir Terry Leahy, who took the British chain Tesco from a struggling, third-ranked competitor in its home market to one of the biggest grocers in the world, has a message for Woolworths and Coles: there is a limit to how much private label goods can dominate their shelves.

Sir Terry knows what he is talking about. Tesco helped drive the proliferation of private labels in Britain's supermarkets, and when Woolworths revealed its new strategy last year to match a resurgent Coles and improve its own bottom line, it named Tesco as the world's leading supermarket when it came to house brand penetration as a proportion of total sales.

''Like so many strategies it depends on how you execute,'' Sir Terry told BusinessDay from London. ''The UK consumer has always trusted private label, as much as anything because of Marks & Spencer, and Marks & Spencer is 100 per cent private label, and so the UK consumer were used to that offering and then Tesco developed it for a wider market and has had a lot of success.

''But there is a natural level, or natural limit, from sector to [supermarket] sector, between 30 and 50 per cent, and it's very important that you let the consumer choose. Don't force the choice for the customer.''

For Tesco, that limit is roughly 40 to 45 per cent of all sales, and the retailer stands out among its global peers in the penetration of unbranded groceries. Woolworths and Coles are believed to have a private label penetration of only 10 to 15 per cent - but are keen to increase that quickly. Kroger and Safeway in the US have closer to 25 per cent private label penetration, Walmart (US) and Britain's Sainsbury's more than 40 per cent.

Sir Terry sounded a note of caution to manufacturers and suppliers who have been grumbling as their branded goods are replaced by supermarket-owned groceries on shelves. ''That's not necessarily a bad thing for manufacturers. Some manufacturers will concentrate on brands only and some will concentrate on private label supply.''

He said supermarkets needed to have close relationships with these suppliers. ''The entire reputation of that organisation [supermarket] is dependent on those [private label] products and therefore you have to make sure the product you buy is safe, high quality and attractive.

''Therefore you have got to make sure you are paying the suppliers enough so that they can invest in their business. It just makes no commercial sense for a supermarket like Coles or Woolworths to press down on costs so much, because it's their name on the label.''

Under Sir Terry's guidance, Tesco increased the number of its British stores from 568 in 1997 to 2482 in 2011, when he retired. It increased the number of foreign stores from 190, mostly in France, to 2329 in 13 countries. Annual sales rose from £13.8 billion to nearly £60 billion in 2010.

Sir Terry said online sales would be a key driver of growth for supermarkets in the future.


Source: www.smh.com.au

Tesco Bank cuts personal loan rate to just 6% as battle for best borrowers heats up - This is Money

By Joanna Robinson

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Tesco Bank has reduced the interest rates on its personal loans, offering borrowing between 7,500 and 15,000 at just 6 per cent.

While this does deliver one of the best rates on the market, supermarket rival Sainsbury’s just pips Tesco to the top spot with an interest rate of 5.9 per cent. 

The rate cut from Tesco increases the pressure at the top end of the personal loans market, where lenders are competing for the best borrowers.

Rate cut: Tesco Bank loans get more competitive thanks to new interest rate cuts

Rate cut: Tesco Bank loans get more competitive thanks to new interest rate cuts

While both Tesco and Sainsbury’s loans are available to new and existing customers, Sainsbury’s bank does require customer to hold a Nectar card. Since getting the supermarket loyalty card is free, it’s worth the effort of applying if you want the very best rate.

But those enticed by the low rates should remember that they will only be offered to borrowers at the top of the credit rating tree, rules allow up to 49 per cent of applicants accepted for loans to be offered higher interest rates than the representative one advertised.

Tesco has cut rates for all loans ranging from 5,000 and 25,000, but the keenest rates from both providers are found between 7,500 and 15,000.

Borrowing 7,500 from Sainsbury’s over 36 months at the representative 5.9 per cent would see customers paying 682.80 in interest, while the equivalent loan with Tesco would cost 694.68.

However, if you’re looking to borrow between 15,000 and 25,000, Tesco’s rate cuts put it ahead of Sainsbury’s, offering 7.8 per cent interest compared with 8 per cent.

But in this category it is Clydesdale Bank that beats them both, offering a market leading 7.7 per cent. 

Customers should bear in mind that borrowing over a longer period than three years will see the interest rates rise.

Consider a low rate card

For borrowing smaller amounts, it is worth considering a low rate credit card as an alternative to a personal loan. Borrowing 2,500 from a loan provider would incur an interest rate of 18.5 per cent over 36 months, even with the most competitive loan currently on the market. That would mean paying back 713 in interest over the life of the loan.

Borrowing the same amount over the same period on Sainsbury's market-leading low rate credit card would mean paying interest of 6.9 per cent, and paying back 274.83 over the life of the loan. That's a saving of 438.17.

Sainsbury’s Bank has its own standard low-rate card; a market-leading 6.9 per cent APR card on both new purchases and balance transfers. The offer is only available to Nectar Card customers and to those who do not have an existing Sainsbury’s credit card.

Barclaycard Platinum Simplicity offers a rival low rate card with a 7.9 per cent APR.


Source: www.thisismoney.co.uk

Asda to roll out in-store summer marketing programme - Brand Republic

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Asda is rolling out a nationwide programme of retail events to support this summer's key summer occasions, beginning with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Asda: invites customers to write messages to the Queen The Jubilee-based activity, which kicks off next ...
Source: www.brandrepublic.com

Aldi selling $249 Android 4.0 tablet next week - Australian Techworld
Aldi's 9.7" Android Tablet will go on sale Wednesday 6 June for just $249

Aldi's 9.7" Android Tablet will go on sale Wednesday 6 June for just $249

German supermarket chain Aldi will next week begin selling an Android tablet running Google's latest Ice Cream Sandwich software for just $249.

Set to go on sale next Wednesday 6 June, the Android tablet has a 9.7in display, 16GB of internal memory and a 2-megapixel rear-facing camera but does not include GPS. The device will be powered by a 1GHz single-core Amlogic Cortex A9 processor, has 1GB of RAM and a microSD card slot that allows users to expand the memory.

The Aldi advertisement links to the brand Bauhn, which says the product will allows users to "a beautifully designed, 9.7" slimline tablet running Android 4.0."

"Enjoy the latest Android technology with the Bauhn Tablet including a large 9.7" capacitive multi touch screen, 16GB Hard Drive, Wi Fi connectivity and HDMI output," the product page states. "The Bauhn tablet is perfect for all your entertainment and online needs including watching movies, listening to music, emailing friends, surfing the web and using social media such as Facebook and Twitter."

Other features of the Bauhn tablet (model number AMID-971R) include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a VGA front-facing camera for video calls and a range of ports including mini-USB, mini-HDMI, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. The tablet will be bundled with a a mini-HDMI cable for connecting the device to a high-definition television and will also come with a carry bag.

The Bauhn-Aldi tablet comes on the back of cut price Australian manufacturer and retailer Kogan unveiling two budget Android tablets earlier this week. Like the Bauhn device, both of Kogan Agora's tablets run the latest 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich version of Google's Android operating system.

The Bauhn 9.7in Android tablet will be available through Aldi stores in limited stocks. The company says stocks of the device will vary between stores and may sell out on the first day due to "unexpected high demand."

Related content

New Kogan Agora tablets run Android 4.0


Source: www.techworld.com.au

Lovely Jubilee: All the tiaras, tat and treasures you need in your life (now) - Daily Mirror

The Queen is celebrating 60 years as Monarch this year, with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations spread over a double Bank Holiday weekend, this weekend!

Diamonds! The Queen! Jubilation! Days Off! Hoo-HRH-ah etc!

The long weekend doesn't just give you ample opportunity to perv on Prince Harry some more though - oh no - it's a perfect excuse to shop like a Queen (and dress like Ma'am too).

3AM's ROYALLY BIG SHOP!

L-R:  Motel £25; Linea @ House of Fraser £1043; Poppy Delevingne models Nails Inc Jubilee varnish £15; Nodding corgi @ Urban Outfitters £6;  River Island watch £15 & Topshop dress £45

 

L-R:  Joules £44.95; Topshop £6; Nails Inc Jubilee varnish £15; Joules £36.95; Topshop £35 & Liberty £150

L-R:  HRHis & HRHer tats @ Urban Outfitters £5; Elemis British Collection £45 (save £34) 0117 316 1888; Jou Jou @ John Lewis £40; John Lewis £15; John Lewis £28 & John Lewis deckchair £44

Prince Harry meets with British and US wounded warriors at the British Embassy in Washington, DC
Spot the gratuitous shot of His Royal Fine-ass Prince Harry

L-R: Urban Outfitters tea caddy £10; Jumper Topshop £38; Prince Phillip mask @ Urban Outfitters £5; cake decorations Urban Outfitters £6; Tea cup fascinator Topshop £12 & Ted Baker make up bag £19

L-R: Prince HUBBAHUBBAHRNKHRNK Harry mask @ Urban Outfitters £5; Berkley Girl Fashionista pampering pack; Dorothy Perkins £25.20 & corgi bag Topshop £18

L-R: Topshop £15; Clarks @ ASOS.com £71; ASOS £22; Topshop pump £22 & ASOS shades £12...

Long weekends were made for shopping! Let the countdown commence... x


Source: www.mirror.co.uk

Asda parking still causing problems - Luton News

AN irate Asda customer has contacted the Herald&Post to say that parking is still an issue at the Wigmore store.

Phill Upton, who lives behind the supermarket, received a parking fine of £60 last week which stated he had been on the site for almost six hours.

“This is disgusting,” he fumed. “I live at the back of Asda so wouldn’t need to park there that long.”

He claimed he made two separate credit card transactions on the day in question and added: “If the cameras are incorrect, it’s not the customer’s fault.”

The Herald&Post highlighted a similar problem in July last year.

Several customers complained that they had received penalty charge notices (PCNs) of £60 after they had visited the store twice in one day.

National parking enforcement company Town and City Parking was forced to apologise, blaming a “system glitch”.

We were unable to get in touch with the firm yesterday, but an Asda spokeswoman said: “We introduced number plate recognition in our Luton store to ensure our 8,000 valued weekly customers could find a space.

“The system is designed to deter people who aren’t using the car park for shopping from taking a space from a customer. If anyone feels they have been issued a parking notice in error, then we’d encourage them to contact the store directly so that we can investigate on their behalf.”

> Have you had problems parking at Asda? Our contact details are on page 2.



Source: www.lutontoday.co.uk

Mobile site review: Asda - Econsultancy

Posted 31 May 2012 11:09am by David Moth with 0 comments

Asda has recently put the finishing touches to a mobile strategy that it predicts will help double its m-commerce revenues in the next six months.

More than 6% of the retailer’s orders are currently placed on a mobile device, so it has launched smartphone apps and a mobile optimised site to cater for this demand.

The iPhone app has already been downloaded by more than half a million people in six months and its new Android app has clocked up 75,000 downloads since last month.

With more than 10m customers registered online, the mobile site is also a major opportunity for driving sales.

We recently reviewed the mobile checkouts for the top 20 online retailers, so how does Asda’s stack up?

As with most major grocery stores, Asda has branched out into selling clothes and electronics. For the purposes of this review, I’ll focus on the groceries section of the mobile site.

Homepage

When you initially land on the homepage it looks a bit too busy. A pop-up tries to get you to download Asda’s mobile app and you are asked to register before you even see any product options.

                          

Asking users to register at the checkout is known to cause customers to abandon purchases, so hitting them with it as soon as they arrive on the homepage can be off-putting.

Furthermore, when you scroll down the page you are given options for ‘Amazing deals’ and ‘Great deals on’, but no product categories.

Mobile sites need to make purchases as simple as possible, so the fact that you have to navigate past two pages before you see any product categories risks causing impatient customers to go elsewhere.

On the plus side, the search function is prominently displayed and a banner ad links directly to barbecue food, which will make the purchase journey quicker for a lot of customers.

Navigation

To start browsing products you need to click the ‘Shop’ icon at the top of the page. The search function remains at the top of the page and product categories are displayed in a list below. While the layout is easy to use, the dropdown menus contain a huge amount of sub-categories

Also, the top sub-category on each list is ‘We think you’ll love’, which offers product suggestions. Mobile customers tend to be impatient and are unlikely to want to browse product ideas so this tab seems like another unnecessary obstacle.

When you select a sub-category you are then linked to another list of products options. This can be filtered by brand, type or price/kg, which is a useful tool for narrowing the product range.

Product Pages

These are well laid out, with all product information hidden in dropdown lists to make the page compact and reduce load times. 

It includes a huge amount of information, including the ingredients, nutritional values, storage and packaging information, country of origin and even a customer care phone number.

                          

However the images should be larger, or at least allow you to click on them to view a bigger photo.

Adding items to the basket

The process of adding items to the basket is dreadful for non-registered customers. If you are on a product page and click ‘Add to basket’ you are linked to a page that asks you to sign in or register.

There is no link back to the product you were last viewing and if you click on the basket icon the product you tried to add in has disappeared.

Although the site doesn’t point this out, you first need to use the postcode tool to find out if you are eligible for online shopping. This should be made clearer.

                          

If you are, you can then click ‘Continue Shopping’ and you are routed back to the product you were viewing and can then add it into your basket. This was a total inconvenience, and if I weren’t reviewing the site I would definitely have gone to shop elsewhere.

After I had added the chicken breasts to my basket and gone to the checkout, some small print notified me that the minimum order amount is £25...

This sort of information should really be shown up front on a mobile site to avoid annoying customers.

Checkout

Asda uses forced registration for its mobile checkout, which is a common cause of basket abandonment. Thankfully the amount of information required is fairly limited. It only needs your name, address, mobile number and email address.

It also uses a postcode lookup tool to make entering the postal address more convenient. The next screen asks you to select a delivery slot – it’s a relatively simple process, although once you have clicked the time you want you then have to scroll back up to the top of the screen to confirm it.

This is a small point, but most users will expect to have to scroll to the bottom of the screen to confirm.

                          

On the following screen you need to enter your card details. Asda makes this process easier by assuming the billing address is the same as the delivery address, and it also offers to save your card details.

While I didn’t continue with my purchase, a progress bar at the top of the page shows that there are three more pages before the transaction is complete.

Conclusion

Asda’s mobile site is riddled with design flaws that could lead to a large number of abandoned purchases. While the overall look of the site is OK, at every stage of the purchase journey you are presented with barriers that slow the purchase down and frustrate the user.

It takes far too long to find the products you are looking for and add them to your basket. If Asda needs to know your postcode upfront then this should be made obvious to the consumer. Similarly it shouldn’t wait until the checkout process to inform customers of the £25 minimum spend.

Asda’s marketing blurb says its mobile site was created in partnership with Wal-Mart Labs, so presumably the design is based on a huge amount of user data.

But the overall process is frustrating and slow, and there are no signposts to make it easier for consumers to navigate.


Source: econsultancy.com

NGOs appeal to Mepa to refuse permit for Lidl supermarket in Xewkija - Times of Malta

NGOs appeal to Mepa to refuse permit for Lidl supermarket in Xewkija - Times of Malta

An application for the construction of Lidl supermarket on unbuilt fields in Xewkija Valley is to be decided tomorrow, the NGOs Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar , Friends of the Earth, Gozo University Group, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Nature Trust Malta and Ramblers' Association said.

They said the decision on this case had been deferred in spite of the fact that members of Mepa's Environment and Planning Commission found the site too small to accommodate an outlet this size, with adequate parking and maneuvering space.

The organisations said that during the last hearing, FAA raised the point that Mepa regulations recommended that impact retail assessment was carried out for the opening of large supermarkets such as this one in Gozo.

However, this was ignored by the Mepa EPC board, even though the supermarket would have significant impact on other retail outlets in Gozo and on local residents, especially elderly ones, who would be the most affected by the closure of small local grocers.

Registered objectors, they noted were not informed of the submission of new plans, as was their legal right.

The six environment groups said they always maintained that open agricultural land should not be built upon when empty buildings were available, alternatively by demolishing disused or dilapidated structures in urban areas.

This was also raised by the EPC board which also pointed out that the local plan guidelines for this area did not include retail outlets.

"The proposed site on the way to Victoria was a highly visible valley with Xagħra hill as a backdrop. What ruins the environment also ruins Gozo's tourism potential, and must at all costs be avoided.

"Mepa has already blighted Malta with past mistaken decisions, as we have recently seen in the cases of Wied il-Ghasel and the Madliena Ridge project.

"Since MEPA maintains that these past permits cannot be revoked, let us not repeat such mistakes.

"Building a supermarket in Xewkija valley next to an ECO-Gozo water catchment area, instead of in existing empty building, violates the principles of the National Environment Plan and every tenet of sustainability: environmental, social and economic.

"The outcome of this application will indicate whether all the talk of sustainability and ECO Gozo is to remain talk, or to become a genuine political commitment," the organisations said.


Source: www.timesofmalta.com

Sussex doctors' day of pensions protest - The Argus.co.uk

Sussex doctors' day of pensions protest

Hundreds of doctors across Sussex are to take industrial action for the first time in almost 40 years in a row over pensions.

Hospitals and GP practices around the county are expected to be affected by the day of action on June 21.

The British Medical Association (BMA) announced the move after a ballot of more than 100,000 doctors showed a clear majority in favour of protests.

Non-urgent work will be postponed and although this will be disruptive, doctors say they will ensure patient safety is protected.

This could include hospital outpatient appointments or routine check-ups. All urgent and emergency care will be provided.

The BMA said doctors will see anyone who is ill, or who believes they are ill, on the day of action, but will not do paperwork.

Health bosses in Sussex said it was too early to assess the impact the action would have.

Patients' safety

A spokeswoman for NHS Sussex said: “We will work with our provider partners to ensure clear information is available for patients regarding the proposed industrial action, and that all urgent and emergency care is maintained.”

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust chief operating officer Jane Farrell said: “We are still assessing the impact of this decision by the BMA but we will be working hard to ensure that disruption is minimised wherever possible, and that patient safety remains the overriding priority.”

Further details about what will happen in Sussex are expected in the coming weeks.

Medics are angry at the government’s plans to shake up pensions, which would see younger doctors paying more than £200,000 extra over their lifetime in pension contributions and work eight years longer, to 68.

BMA chairman Hamish Meldrum said: “We are taking this step very reluctantly, and would far prefer to negotiate for a fairer solution.”

The big vote for action shows the strength of feeling among doctors, who are “acutely aware” of the impact of any action on patients.

Dr Meldrum said: “There will be some inconvenience, but the last thing we want to do is harm patients when our real bone of contention is with the Government.”

Doctors say they have been hit by a pay freeze and increased workload so the increased pension contributions were the final straw.

Comments(5)

rolivan says...
3:05pm Thu 31 May 12

"Medics are angry at the government’s plans to shake up pensions, which would see younger doctors paying more than £200,000 extra over their lifetime in pension contributions and work eight years longer, to 68" So going on that basis it could cost them an extra £5,000 a year over 40years which is not a big percentage of Their Salary. If they have to work that long anyway they are doing something wrong. They do not need all of their income to live and are able to invest in Tax minimalisation projects. rolivan

cvs says...
4:53pm Thu 31 May 12

Not to mention the fact they are among the largest property owning group of professionals. cvs

mimseycal says...
9:09pm Thu 31 May 12

Doctors have invested a lot of time and effort in gaining their qualifications. They are also required to continually update their skills throughout their working life. Good luck to them. Many of us wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for this group of professionals. mimseycal

The Real Phil says...
10:54pm Thu 31 May 12

[quote][p][bold]mimseycal[/bold] wrote: Doctors have invested a lot of time and effort in gaining their qualifications. They are also required to continually update their skills throughout their working life. Good luck to them. Many of us wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for this group of professionals.[/p][/quote]Well said. Along with the immigrants, public service workers, travellers and the disabled, our Government wants to demonise the medical profession for wanting a decent pension. The press will go along for the ride and the mindless will swallow every word. If there is anyone who has not benefitted from the services of a doctor (or a member of their family) then let them complain, otherwise support anyone who stands against this evil coalition. The Real Phil

mickeymonkeyman says...
4:23am Fri 1 Jun 12

i was a self employed art dealer worked 42 yrs gor extra 2 a week pesion,was taxed 1 year 40k,these dr surgeons earn incredible money,my prostate cancer op cost 20k,they do 6 a day,time per op 1 hour,lady in argus last week dog operation 2k,for what half an hour surgery,my daughter has a masters degree in law,far harder than to be a dr,gets 25an hour teaching a level law,what are they complaining about,greedy lot,dog surgeon should have done operation free with compasion,if he,s a dog lover,and the girls situation,thanks to argus readers they paid from there heart,the dr,wanted to put the dog down,nice man.
i was a self employed art dealer worked 42 yrs gor extra 2 a week pesion,was taxed 1 year 40k,these dr surgeons earn incredible money,my prostate cancer op cost 20k,they do 6 a day,time per op 1 hour,lady in argus last week dog operation 2k,for what half an hour surgery,my daughter has a masters degree in law,far harder than to be a dr,gets 25an hour teaching a level law,what are they complaining about,greedy lot,dog surgeon should have done operation free with compasion,if he,s a dog lover,and the girls situation,thanks to argus readers they paid from there heart,the dr,wanted to put the dog down,nice man. mickeymonkeyman

Source: www.theargus.co.uk

Rogers puts Sussex to the sword - ECB

Click here for exclusive match highlights from every day's play, latest scores, reports, news and interviews during the LV= County Championship campaign

Chris Rogers put Middlesex in a position of strength after the second day of their LV= County Championship Division One encounter with Sussex at Lord’s.

The Middlesex captain made an unbeaten 93 while half-centuries from Joe Denly and Eoin Morgan - with 67 and 52 not out respectively - moved the hosts to 229 for three at the close.

Rogers added 145 with Denly and 77 alongside Morgan to take Middlesex within 54 runs of Sussex’s first-innings total with seven wickets remaining.

Earlier, Tim Murtagh completed his first five-wicket haul of the season as Sussex were bowled out for 283.

That was a good effort considering they were 33 for four at one stage, and their tailenders continued the recovery by adding a further 41 to the overnight score of 242 for eight.

Steve Magoffin and James Anyon secured a second batting point before their partnership of 36 came to an end as the latter became Murtagh’s fifth victim; he chopped a short ball on to his stumps.

Chris Rogers

Chris Rogers puts Middlesex in command against Sussex by edging towards a second successive championship century

Monty Panesar made an entertaining 15 to add to Middlesex’s frustration before the England spinner steered a short ball from Gareth Berg to Ollie Rayner at second slip.

Magoffin ensured it was Sussex’s morning by trapping Sam Robson lbw for a duck in the second over as Middlesex reached lunch on 32 for one.

It could have been worse for the hosts, with Denly dropped twice in the slip cordon by Joe Gatting and Ed Joyce - both times off Anyon - when still in single figures.

The former Kent batsman continued to ride his luck as Anyon beat the bat numerous times during a fiery opening spell.

Denly made the most of the good fortune, reaching his half-century off 85 balls with eight fours.

Rogers followed in the next over with his fifty coming from 79, including five fours, as the pair brought up their 100 partnership.

Panesar made the breakthrough just before tea when Denly offered no shot and was given lbw for 67.

Dawid Malan went three balls later, caught at second slip by Joyce for one to give Anyon the wicket he deserved.

Normal service resumed after tea, however, with Rogers rarely looking troubled as he sought a second consecutive championship century.

He was denied the chance to complete it before the close when bad light brought an end six overs early.

Morgan reached his half-century with consecutive fours off Anyon in the final over before play was suspended; the England batsman hit six fours and a big six off Panesar.

Want to know what's happening at your county? Interested in how your rivals are faring? Look no further than ecb.co.uk's county-by-county page


Source: www.ecb.co.uk

Hammersmith Apollo in London sold by HMV to Stage C - BBC News

Hammersmith Apollo in London sold by HMV to Stage C - BBC News

Entertainment venue Hammersmith Apollo which has held concerts by bands from The Beatles to Queen, has been sold by its owner HMV.

HMV agreed to sell the west London art deco venue to American-German joint venture Stage C for £32m.

The 9,000-capacity venue was taken over by entertainment retailer HMV in 2010.

HMV chief Simon Fox said: "The Hammersmith Apollo is an iconic London venue and it has been a privilege to own it over the last three years."

The venue opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema, as part of a wider turnaround.

It has played host to many famous performances, including David Bowie's last concert as alter-ego Ziggy Stardust in 1973.

It is also the eponymous venue in the BBC stand-up comedy series Live at the Apollo.

Stage C is jointly owned by London's indigO2 operator Ansco Music Club, a subsidiary of US company Anschutz Entertainment, and a subsidiary of Munich-based CTS Eventim.

The sale is conditional on banking approvals, shareholder approval and Stage C securing regulatory approvals.

With 252 stores in the UK, HMV said the sale allowed it to focus on its core retail business, while the proceeds from the disposal would be used to reduce the group's outstanding debt.

The sale follows a decision to place its HMV Live division, which runs 13 venues and a number of festivals including Lovebox in London and Global Gathering near Stratford-upon-Avon, under review.

The entertainment retailer recently surprised the City by forecasting a return to profit in 2013 despite estimated losses of about £19m for the past financial year.


Source: www.bbc.co.uk

RFU Championship final: London Welsh 29-20 Cornish Pirates - BBC News

London Welsh sealed the Championship title and a chance of securing a Premiership place after beating Cornish Pirates 66-41 over two legs.

Welsh are now expected to take legal action over the Rugby Football Union's ruling that they are not eligible for promotion to the top flight.

Matt Evans went over for Pirates but Alex Davies' fifth penalty put Welsh ahead before Hudson Tonga'uiha's try.

Ryan Storer reduced the deficit but Jack Moates rounded off Welsh's win.

An RFU report said the Exiles had not achieved the minimum standards criteria to go up but the Richmond-based side are expeted to explore "all possible avenues" to gain promotion after seeing off Pirates in the final.

Having proposed to play their matches next season at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium, where the second leg of the final was played, an RFU statement said that not having primacy of tenure at their chosen ground was one of "various failures" in Welsh's promotion bid.

Three Premiership sides share grounds with football clubs; London Irish with Reading, London Wasps with Wycombe and Saracens with Watford, while Sale will share with Super League side Salford City Reds next season.

On Wednesday club president John Dawes said chairman Bleddyn Phillips would take the "ultimate" action to ensure Welsh do go up .

Having won at Pirates 37-21 last week , Welsh fought back from a seven-point deficit which threatened their first-leg advantage, to secure the Championship title having finished the regular season in fourth place.

Aaron Penberthy's drop goal had put Pirates ahead, Alex Davies then levelled for Welsh before Rob Cook's penalty and a second from Davies made it 6-6.

Evans gave Pirates a clear lead with the opening try of the match, picking up on a loose ball after Cook's punt forward bounced into open space deep in the Exiles' half.

Cook then added the extras before Davies failed with a penalty attempt on the stroke of half-time.

The Exiles fly-half was successful with his next two attempts with the boot after the break, closing the gap to one point and putting the hosts nine points ahead on aggregate.

Davies added a fifth penalty before Tonga'uiha, who had scored in the first leg, broke through the Pirates defence to touch down and Davies then added his first of two conversions.

Pirates responded with a consolation try as replacement prop Ryan Storer forced his way over after a scramble on the line before Cook added the extras.

But Welsh were not yet done as a fine move saw Ed Jackson feed the ball to Jack Moates, who crossed over to add the gloss to their victory.

LINE-UPS

London Welsh: A. Davies, Ajuwa, J. Lewis, Tonga'uiha, Scott, Ross, R. Lewis, Lahiff, George, Tideswell, Mills, Corker, Beach, Denbee, Jackson.

Replacements: Ma'asi, Moss, Bateman, Purdy, Russell, Moates, Jewell.

Cornish Pirates: Cook, Evans, Pointer, Locke, D. Doherty, Penberthy, Cattle, Rimmer, Ward, Paver, McGolone, Nimmo, D. Ewers, Burgess, Maidment.

Replacements: Storer, Elloway, Myerscough, Marriott, Kebsel, Cooper, McAtee.

Referee: David Rose (RFU)


Source: www.bbc.co.uk

ALDI Ranks Sixth on Greenpeace Annual Seafood Retailer Scorecard - Yahoo Finance

BATAVIA, Ill., May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ALDI is ranked sixth on the Greenpeace 2012 Seafood Retailer Scorecard, climbing from seventh place on last year's ranking. The scorecard rates the seafood sustainability of grocery retailers nationwide.

The scorecard is part of Greenpeace's Carting Away the Oceans report, which has analyzed the practices of 20 top grocery retailers by measuring key seafood sustainability metrics since 2008. The report says that ALDI "continues to push forward in the development of what is becoming one of the country's leading sustainable seafood programs." It also recognizes ALDI as the first grocer in the United States to introduce comprehensive Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations catch area labeling on all fresh and frozen seafood products.

"We are so proud and honored to be named among the top 10 on Greenpeace's scorecard," said Jason Hart, president, ALDI.  "We work closely with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and Global Aquaculture Alliance, and we are committed to continuing to find the most effective ways to source sustainable seafood."

Like all ALDI food products, ALDI seafood is also backed by the company's Double Guarantee. If for any reason a customer is not 100 percent satisfied with a food product, ALDI will gladly replace the food product AND refund the customer's money.

About ALDI Inc.
A leader in the grocery retailing industry, ALDI operates more than 1,200 U.S. stores in 32 states, primarily from Kansas to the East Coast. More than 20 million customers each month save up to 50 percent* on their grocery bills, benefiting from the ALDI simple and streamlined approach to retailing. ALDI sells more than 1,400 of the most frequently purchased grocery and household items, primarily under its exclusive brands, which must meet or exceed the national name brands on taste and quality. ALDI is so confident in the quality of its products, the company offers a Double Guarantee: If for any reason a customer is not 100 percent satisfied with any ALDI food product, ALDI will gladly replace the product and refund the purchase price. For more information about ALDI, visit www.aldi.us.

*Based upon a price comparison of comparable products sold at leading national retail grocery stores.


Source: finance.yahoo.com

Eurozone crash to push London property prices down by 50%? - money.aol.co.uk
A eurozone currency crash could take a wrecking ball to London house prices, claims one investment operator. Although some European investors have been piling money into London real estate as the eurozone crisis worsens, demand would ebb once the currency break-up was well under way.

Should you be worried at all - especially if you live in the Capital?


Big fall?

If you're well-off with a fashionable high-end London property or two to your name, you might feel a mite tremor. "In our judgment, a collapse of the single currency area could ultimately produce a 50% fall in the value of PCL [prime central London] property," Fathom Consulting for Development Securities claims in a Telegraph article today.

Property prices in central London however have already been driven disproportionately higher as eurozone investors pile money into the Capital. Fathom is also claiming UK house prices - in certain prime spots of central London - could extend even higher in the short-term.

Berlin bargains

Much of the concern is premised on a sharp rise in sterling - the pound is already increasingly buoyant - against the euro, putting pressure on European investors (the London property market, note, is a traditional safe haven for many Greek investors).

Claims, then, of a possible shock price bump should be seen against unusually high recent price rises. In other words, it depends when and where you draw a line in the sand.

Some property sources are suggesting international investors are increasingly looking at alternatives to London - Berlin and Paris, for example - given the UK's high house values, and the deteriorating value of the euro. There could be bargains, very likely, for some wealthy investors putting money in European property.

But not for the moment in London.

More stories


Source: money.aol.co.uk

London 2012 Chairman sees enthusiasm of athletes on forthcoming Games - Xinhua News Agency

FRANKFURT, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The London 2012 Chairman Thursday said the levels of efforts and enthusiasm among elite athletes to compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games were among the highest he had seen.

He made the remarks at a news conference here with Thomas Bach, German National Olympic Committee President and International Olympic Committe vice president. Bach announced the selection of the first athletes to represent Germany at the London 2012 Games.

Coe said the interest and desire to participate at the London Olympic Games was sky high. The triathletes in Tokyo, runners in rabat, swimmers in Los Angeles and gymnasts in Beijing have an unprecedented appetite among elite level competitors around the world to get to London, he said.

Bach expects an exciting and inspiring atmosphere and brilliant games in London. "On the sport side they will be the stage for the toughest Olympic competition ever," he said.

China and the U.S. will compete for the first place in the medal tally in London Olympics, probably followed by Russia in the third place, Bach predicted. He also added that the U.K., which is the host country of the Games, will probably take the fourth place in the medal tally.

There will be fierce competition for the fifth place, he said.

The news conference was attended by a popular German Olympic gold medalist fencer, Britta Heidemann who told Xinhua that she will try to secure a medal in London, pointing to strong competition from her Chinese and French competitors.

Coe said the Torch Relay is building momentum and excitement is continuing to increase in the countdown to the Games.

"We are on track to provide a memorable welcome that will inspire the athlete and the world," he added.


Source: news.xinhuanet.com

Councillor Ken Gregory cautioned for 'get Aids' voicemail - BBC News

A Tory councillor who left a message saying "with a bit of luck you'll get Aids" on another councillor's phone has been cautioned by police.

Ken Gregory, a member of Thanet council in Kent, received a caution for malicious communications on Wednesday.

John Worrow, who is bisexual and an Independent on Thanet District Council, received the voicemail message on his mobile phone earlier in May.

Mr Gregory has been suspended from the Thanet council Conservative group.

'Cannot possibly remain'

Mr Worrow said: "Last night I received a telephone call from an inspector from Kent Police confirming that Councillor Ken Gregory is the person who committed a homophobic hate crime against me in the form of a voicemail.

Start Quote

There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for that kind of behaviour”

End Quote John Worrow

"As Mr Gregory cannot possibly remain a member of the Conservative Party or a member of Thanet District Council after saying 'With a bit of luck you'll get Aids', I feel that a caution should be punishment enough.

"My colleagues and I hope that this has not triggered a hate campaign.

"There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for that kind of behaviour towards anyone regardless of their race, religion, gender or sexuality and I expect a full apology at the next council meeting."

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "A 59-year-old man from the Ramsgate area was given a caution yesterday for an offence of malicious communications."

In April, Thanet District Council became the first local authority in Kent to officially support the government's proposals for same-sex marriage.

Independent Councillor Ian Driver moved the motion in support of equal marriage and said he hoped it would encourage other Kent councils to follow its lead.

'Complete ignorance'

A statement issued by Conservative Councillor Bob Bayford, shadow leader of the hung council, said: "It has come to my attention that Councillor Ken Gregory has received a police caution for an offence against another council member.

"The Thanet District Council Conservative group demands the highest standards of conduct from its members and I have decided to suspend group membership from Councillor Gregory with immediate effect, pending further consideration of the situation."

Paul Rollins, from the gay campaign group Thanet Pride, said Mr Gregory's comments showed "complete ignorance of the Aids issue".

He said: "This sort of homophobic behaviour is an insult to the general community rather than people who are just gay and lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

"I find it appalling that an elected representative would use a cowardly and illegal phone message to try to get some strange point across."


Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Aldi selling $249 Android 4.0 tablet next week - Australian Techworld
Aldi's 9.7" Android Tablet will go on sale Wednesday 6 June for just $249

Aldi's 9.7" Android Tablet will go on sale Wednesday 6 June for just $249

German supermarket chain Aldi will next week begin selling an Android tablet running Google's latest Ice Cream Sandwich software for just $249.

Set to go on sale next Wednesday 6 June, the Android tablet has a 9.7in display, 16GB of internal memory and a 2-megapixel rear-facing camera but does not include GPS. The device will be powered by a 1GHz single-core Amlogic Cortex A9 processor, has 1GB of RAM and a microSD card slot that allows users to expand the memory.

The Aldi advertisement links to the brand Bauhn, which says the product will allows users to "a beautifully designed, 9.7" slimline tablet running Android 4.0."

"Enjoy the latest Android technology with the Bauhn Tablet including a large 9.7" capacitive multi touch screen, 16GB Hard Drive, Wi Fi connectivity and HDMI output," the product page states. "The Bauhn tablet is perfect for all your entertainment and online needs including watching movies, listening to music, emailing friends, surfing the web and using social media such as Facebook and Twitter."

Other features of the Bauhn tablet (model number AMID-971R) include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a VGA front-facing camera for video calls and a range of ports including mini-USB, mini-HDMI, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. The tablet will be bundled with a a mini-HDMI cable for connecting the device to a high-definition television and will also come with a carry bag.

The Bauhn-Aldi tablet comes on the back of cut price Australian manufacturer and retailer Kogan unveiling two budget Android tablets earlier this week. Like the Bauhn device, both of Kogan Agora's tablets run the latest 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich version of Google's Android operating system.

The Bauhn 9.7in Android tablet will be available through Aldi stores in limited stocks. The company says stocks of the device will vary between stores and may sell out on the first day due to "unexpected high demand."

Related content

New Kogan Agora tablets run Android 4.0


Source: www.techworld.com.au

Kent man jailed for alleged rape of minor - Akron Beacon Journal

A Kent man was arraigned on Tuesday for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old on Sunday.


Source: www.ohio.com

London 2012 Olympics: Aaron Cook handed reprieve as BOA refuses to ratify British Taekwondo's nomination - Daily Telegraph

London 2012 Olympics: Aaron Cook handed reprieve as BOA refuses to ratify British Taekwondo's nomination - Daily Telegraph

The BOA panel found that the selection procedure was flawed and potentially biased. Of particular ­concern was a sense that Cook’s coach may not have had a fair chance to make his case because he is ­outside the STUK high-performance programme. It was also concerned that too much weight was applied to a perceived change in the rules concerning head shots, which STUK believe favours Muhammad, but the world governing body says is not a significant change.

The BOA panel called on STUK to give equal weight to all criteria, and said Muhammad and Cook should have “equal and in-person representation before the selection committee, preferably by their personal coach”. It also called on all members to vote.

Performance director Gary Hall said: “It was a very tough decision between two exceptional athletes, but it was made by an expert panel of selectors in line with our selection procedures. The fact Aaron is outside our system had nothing to do with it. Our job is to win medals, so if you do the job you get the call regardless of where you train. We have no problem with Aaron at all.

“In terms of rankings, some people have an ambition to be ranked highly but we don’t chase rankings because the system is inaccurate.”


Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

London 2012 Chairman sees enthusiasm of athletes on forthcoming Games - Xinhua News Agency

FRANKFURT, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The London 2012 Chairman Thursday said the levels of efforts and enthusiasm among elite athletes to compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games were among the highest he had seen.

He made the remarks at a news conference here with Thomas Bach, German National Olympic Committee President and International Olympic Committe vice president. Bach announced the selection of the first athletes to represent Germany at the London 2012 Games.

Coe said the interest and desire to participate at the London Olympic Games was sky high. The triathletes in Tokyo, runners in rabat, swimmers in Los Angeles and gymnasts in Beijing have an unprecedented appetite among elite level competitors around the world to get to London, he said.

Bach expects an exciting and inspiring atmosphere and brilliant games in London. "On the sport side they will be the stage for the toughest Olympic competition ever," he said.

China and the U.S. will compete for the first place in the medal tally in London Olympics, probably followed by Russia in the third place, Bach predicted. He also added that the U.K., which is the host country of the Games, will probably take the fourth place in the medal tally.

There will be fierce competition for the fifth place, he said.

The news conference was attended by a popular German Olympic gold medalist fencer, Britta Heidemann who told Xinhua that she will try to secure a medal in London, pointing to strong competition from her Chinese and French competitors.

Coe said the Torch Relay is building momentum and excitement is continuing to increase in the countdown to the Games.

"We are on track to provide a memorable welcome that will inspire the athlete and the world," he added.


Source: news.xinhuanet.com

RFU Championship final: London Welsh 29-20 Cornish Pirates - BBC News

London Welsh sealed the Championship title and a chance of securing a Premiership place after beating Cornish Pirates 66-41 over two legs.

Welsh are now expected to take legal action over the Rugby Football Union's ruling that they are not eligible for promotion to the top flight.

Matt Evans went over for Pirates but Alex Davies' fifth penalty put Welsh ahead before Hudson Tonga'uiha's try.

Ryan Storer reduced the deficit but Jack Moates rounded off Welsh's win.

An RFU report said the Exiles had not achieved the minimum standards criteria to go up but the Richmond-based side are expeted to explore "all possible avenues" to gain promotion after seeing off Pirates in the final.

Having proposed to play their matches next season at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium, where the second leg of the final was played, an RFU statement said that not having primacy of tenure at their chosen ground was one of "various failures" in Welsh's promotion bid.

Three Premiership sides share grounds with football clubs; London Irish with Reading, London Wasps with Wycombe and Saracens with Watford, while Sale will share with Super League side Salford City Reds next season.

On Wednesday club president John Dawes said chairman Bleddyn Phillips would take the "ultimate" action to ensure Welsh do go up .

Having won at Pirates 37-21 last week , Welsh fought back from a seven-point deficit which threatened their first-leg advantage, to secure the Championship title having finished the regular season in fourth place.

Aaron Penberthy's drop goal had put Pirates ahead, Alex Davies then levelled for Welsh before Rob Cook's penalty and a second from Davies made it 6-6.

Evans gave Pirates a clear lead with the opening try of the match, picking up on a loose ball after Cook's punt forward bounced into open space deep in the Exiles' half.

Cook then added the extras before Davies failed with a penalty attempt on the stroke of half-time.

The Exiles fly-half was successful with his next two attempts with the boot after the break, closing the gap to one point and putting the hosts nine points ahead on aggregate.

Davies added a fifth penalty before Tonga'uiha, who had scored in the first leg, broke through the Pirates defence to touch down and Davies then added his first of two conversions.

Pirates responded with a consolation try as replacement prop Ryan Storer forced his way over after a scramble on the line before Cook added the extras.

But Welsh were not yet done as a fine move saw Ed Jackson feed the ball to Jack Moates, who crossed over to add the gloss to their victory.

LINE-UPS

London Welsh: A. Davies, Ajuwa, J. Lewis, Tonga'uiha, Scott, Ross, R. Lewis, Lahiff, George, Tideswell, Mills, Corker, Beach, Denbee, Jackson.

Replacements: Ma'asi, Moss, Bateman, Purdy, Russell, Moates, Jewell.

Cornish Pirates: Cook, Evans, Pointer, Locke, D. Doherty, Penberthy, Cattle, Rimmer, Ward, Paver, McGolone, Nimmo, D. Ewers, Burgess, Maidment.

Replacements: Storer, Elloway, Myerscough, Marriott, Kebsel, Cooper, McAtee.

Referee: David Rose (RFU)


Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hammersmith Apollo in London sold by HMV to Stage C - BBC News

Entertainment venue Hammersmith Apollo which has held concerts by bands from The Beatles to Queen, has been sold by its owner HMV.

HMV agreed to sell the west London art deco venue to American-German joint venture Stage C for £32m.

The 9,000-capacity venue was taken over by entertainment retailer HMV in 2010.

HMV chief Simon Fox said: "The Hammersmith Apollo is an iconic London venue and it has been a privilege to own it over the last three years."

The venue opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema, as part of a wider turnaround.

It has played host to many famous performances, including David Bowie's last concert as alter-ego Ziggy Stardust in 1973.

It is also the eponymous venue in the BBC stand-up comedy series Live at the Apollo.

Stage C is jointly owned by London's indigO2 operator Ansco Music Club, a subsidiary of US company Anschutz Entertainment, and a subsidiary of Munich-based CTS Eventim.

The sale is conditional on banking approvals, shareholder approval and Stage C securing regulatory approvals.

With 252 stores in the UK, HMV said the sale allowed it to focus on its core retail business, while the proceeds from the disposal would be used to reduce the group's outstanding debt.

The sale follows a decision to place its HMV Live division, which runs 13 venues and a number of festivals including Lovebox in London and Global Gathering near Stratford-upon-Avon, under review.

The entertainment retailer recently surprised the City by forecasting a return to profit in 2013 despite estimated losses of about £19m for the past financial year.


Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Kent man jailed for alleged rape of minor - Akron Beacon Journal

A Kent man was arraigned on Tuesday for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old on Sunday.


Source: www.ohio.com

Turner's Kent 'Very Unhappy' With Ratings Dive at CNN - Broadcasting Cable

Backs Cooper, Morgan, Burnett, but other shows may be replaced

By Jon Lafayette -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/31/2012 1:14:53 PM

Turner Broadcasting CEO Phil Kent admitted to being "very unhappy" with CNN's primetime ratings, but said it won't resort to tricks to increase viewership.

CNN ratings hit a 20-year low in May and speaking at the Nomura U.S. Media & Telecom Summit Thursday, Kent said the company had plans to improve the quality of its broadcasts and increase viewership.

Kent said the ratings problems had two causes, some he called environmental and the others "self-inflicted."

Over the years, CNN has benefited from breaking news and in the first five months of this year, there have been few big stories, especially compared to last year's rush of unrest in the Middle East, tsunamis, reactor meltdowns and earthquakes.

Even the election has been "pretty boring to people," said Kent, who expects interest in politics to heat up.

"This is not an excuse. It's just a fact," said Kent, calling those factors about half the problem.

The self-inflected problems stems from the fact that "we haven't put the best shows on the air," he said.

Kent said CNN's current primetime lineup still has "very high potential." He called Anderson Cooper a television news star who "at this moment is not getting a star's ratings and that's because of lead-ins."

But Kent also offered support for Erin Burnett and Piers Morgan, whose shows lead in to Coopers'.

He calls Burnett "a great get for us," but said "that show should be doing better. I think that show can do better. I think it's just a question of a terrific talent with the right staff around her playing as much to her strengths as possible."

Kent also said the company believes strongly in Morgan, who replaced CNN mainstay Larry King. "I think he's a tremendous interviewer," he said, adding that "it seems to be that when he is interviewing people that are in the news in a meaningful way, the show works better than a typical celebrity interview.  I don't really know what to make of that yet."

Of the rest of CNN's lineup, "we have some other shows that probably need to be replaced. This is an execution issue and to me, this is TV 101."

Kent said the challenge of raising CNN's ratings is unique because "there are lots of ways to get ratings and every local news director has some tricks up their sleeve to get ratings. We choose not to do that."

He said that, contrary to some published reports, his boss, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes has not been hammering him about CNN's ratings.

"The pressure on all of us, on me, on the CNN management from me is to raise the quality and the consistency of the quality," he said. "I am a firm believer that if we raise the quality of these shows and make them a little surprising -- sometimes also  it's also a little repetitive throughout the day -- if we raise the quality and we do it with consistency  the ratings will be just fine. I can't tell you that we'll beat this one or that one. But they'll be a hell of a lot better than they are right now and we'll be fine."

Kent said CNN ratings have not been a factor in recent carriage negotiations with distributors.

He said he's expecting TNT's ratings to rebound in the second half of the year, as TBS' already have, and that the company will be recording significant increases in carriage fees as its deals with cable operators expire between 2014 and 2016.

 Turner's fees have been undervalued since it gave up the NFL. Now after increasing spending on original programming and sports deals for key events like the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament, it has more must-have programming, Kent said.

But Turner prefers not to negotiate in public or take out ads telling consumers that they might lose some of their favorite channels.

"That's led to a misperception we're too passive," Kent said. But he said Turner has already gotten "significant growth" in sub fees on the back of the NCAAs and other programming investments.


Source: www.broadcastingcable.com

Made in London: the city's local entrepreneurs in profile - Daily Telegraph

Jon Penn, 32; Creative Design Products

Jon is the director and co-founder of Spinning Hat, a London-based company that designs gifts and toys, and of recently launched Goodfibres, a company that prints T-shirts with designs chosen by members of its online community. His first success came after he designed the Bottle Spy, a bottle opener with an electronic dial that logs the number of bottles it has opened. It won the eco-friendly Gift of the Year award in 2008 and Jon has been designing products ever since. Spinning Hat's products have been made available in over 30 countries; major stockists include Next, John Lewis and Paul Smith. Penn now has offices in Hong Kong and the US, as well as a main base at the Silicon Roundabout at Old Street. He attributes part of his companies’ success to their London base: “It’s certainly good for creativity; it’s very much the place to be for creative minds. It’s a buzzing place at the moment.” Global sales for Spinning Hat are this year forecast at over £3.5 million.

Preston Benson, 31; Real Estate

A business studies graduate of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, American Preston Benson quit his unfulfilling job at a Chicago accountancy firm to move to London and pursue a career in real estate. Without any contacts, he began working directly with individual families and concentrated on negotiating high-end property deals. He ultimately developed Go Native, a company that provides temporary housing solutions to businesses operating internationally; it turns over more than £29m annually. Preston is now commercial director of Bursha Holdings, a property investment company with a portfolio estimated at around £60m. Preston’s entrepreneurial drive began at the age of six. His parents were strict with pocket money and so he set up his first business “literally the cliché of selling lemonade on the street in America”. He links his success as an adult to his childhood desire to earn enough money for “that WWF action figure”.

Yuvraj Jatania, 25, and Virraj Jatania, 23; Discount and Cashback Card Business


Virraj Jatania, left, and Yuvraj Jatania.

Brothers Yuvraj and Virraj Jatania are co-founders and managing directors of Pockit, the first prepaid card provider, which enables users to make savings on household essentials in high-street stores by providing discount codes and cashback on purchases. Virraj began the business directly after leaving university and his elder brother left Ernst & Young to join him. Together, they took six months to put together a business plan and Pockit launched officially in November 2011. They currently have approximately 2,000 cardholders and expect to have around 40,000 members by the end of the year. They have already secured discount deals from companies such as Aviva, TalkTalk and M&S. The recession has proved a blessing of sorts for the brothers. It has meant that consumers are looking for new ways to save money and the company is securing large numbers of new members every day, Virraj is optimistic about Pockit’s future: “it’s very exciting times.”

Smruti Sriram, 25, Charity Student Award Scheme

Smruti founded the Wings of Hope achievement award in 2004 when she was 18 and on a gap year. The award scheme assists school students in setting up businesses that make contributions to good causes; it earns proceeds from these businesses and corporate sponsors. Smruti pitched the idea to countless head teachers and the project was accepted by 25 schools. It is now active in 400 schools and 20,000 students have participated in the programme over the course of five years. Current corporate sponsors include PWC, and Wings of Hope workshops have been led by individuals such as the CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi. Students are allowed free rein in the types of endeavours they undertake and the structure of the scheme has been redeveloped to take the participants’ ages and interests into account: “When we used to get dropouts of different schools participating in the scheme, we had to really analyse, because students can be quite fickle, and can’t be bothered if they don’t see quick wins”.

Alexander Amosu, 36; Luxury Products

Alexander is the founder of Amosu Luxury Ltd, a company that sells high-end bespoke exclusive products for “the elite”. It is most famous for making the world’s most expensive suit at £70,000 and a diamond-encrusted mobile phone costing £125,000. He has also recently ventured into Africa with a company called Kamson Luxury Group, which is introducing established brands into the African market. It is currently involved in the Nigerian launch of OK! magazine. Alexander moved with his family to the UK from Nigeria when he was three years old and grew up on a council estate in Kilburn. Aged 18, he set up a cleaning company for pregnant women. It generated revenues of £3,500 a month and provided him with capital for his next enterprise, R&B Ringtones. He founded the company after he learned how to compose ringtones on his mobile phone at the age of 21. Selling ringtones that resembled popular songs, the company earned £6.6m over four years and was sold for £9m in 2004. Alexander was a millionaire by the time he was 25.

In conversation: read about the group's thoughts on why London is an exciting place to do business and what makes a successful entrepreneur here.


Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

London Underground | Digging the Serpentine Pavilion - New York Times Blogs

The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion has, over the last 13 years, established itself as a must-see architectural event of the London summer season, not only for its experimental structures — which have allowed A-list architects like Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry and Jean Nouvel to realize their first built projects in this city — but also for the glitzy parties and intellectually rigorous event marathons that accompany the structures.

The latest pavilion, which opens to the public tomorrow, responds to the history of previous pavilions on the site (a lawn adjacent to the gallery, in Kensington Gardens) and imagines an archaeological dig through the remnants of structures past to reach groundwater, celebrating the unseen natural water level below the city. Humble but daring, this romantic approach is the result of a collaboration between the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who are known for their design of the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games. (While this is not, in fact, Herzog & de Meuron’s first completed work in London — their Tate Modern opened in 2000 — it is Ai’s first building project there.)

The landscape created by the dig — the interior of the pavilion, which contains seating for visitors and events — is lined in cork to create a soft, surreal environment shaped by the “ghosts” of pavilions past. Eleven columns, each of which represents a previous pavilion (there was no pavilion in 2004), and one that represents the new structure, support the roof, a floating platform with a circular pool of water that reflects the sky (and which can be drained for special events). As in past years, the pavilion will be the site of Park Nights, the gallery’s public events program, as well as its annual Serpentine Marathon, a series conceived by the gallery’s co-director Hans-Ulrich Obrist. A new twist, however, is that the gallery, which has sold past pavilions to recoup the costs of their construction but has never publicly identified the buyers, announced that this year’s pavilion has been purchased by the billionaire Indian steel magnate Lakshmi N. Mittal and his wife, Usha.

The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012 will be on view through Oct. 14.


Source: tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com

London students demonstrate in solidarity with Quebec protests - Socialist Worker

Issue: 2305 dated: 2 June 2012 News online only
posted: 5.41pm Thu 31 May 2012

This article should be read after: Half a million march to defy Quebec's Bill 78 anti-protest laws

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A banner tied to the entrance to the Canadian Embassy<span class='black'> (Pic: Nina Power)</span>

A banner tied to the entrance to the Canadian Embassy (Pic: Nina Power)


As huge student protests continued to rage in Quebec, over 100 people demonstrated in solidarity outside Canadian government buildings in London last night (Wednesday).

The solidarity event, organised by Defend the Right to Protest (DTRTP), began at Canada House in Trafalgar Square with a noisy demonstration. It then wove its way through central London to the Quebec Government Office off Regents Street and the Canadian Embassy in Grosvenor Square.

Over 300,000 students in Quebec have been on strike for three months now against increases in tuition fees. The Quebec authorities have responded with draconian restrictions on the right to protest.

Rachel Harger, a DTRTP activist, told Socialist Worker that students who had protested against tuition fees in Britain understood the experiences of police intimidation and violence.

“People wanted to show support for the thousands arrested on the Quebec protests and those who have suffered injuries from the police,” she said. “Students in Britain received solidarity from around the world when we took to the streets. So it comes naturally for students here to do the same.”

The following should be read alongside this article:

Half a million march to defy Quebec's Bill 78 anti-protest laws

© Socialist Worker (unless otherwise stated). You may republish if you include an active link to the original.


Source: www.socialistworker.co.uk

London house prices could be halved by Euro crisis - The economic choice

The recent rush of money seeking a safe haven has pushed the price of luxury London homes up during the recent financial crisis, but this could quickly be reversed if the Eurozone breaks up leaving many with homes worth 50% of what they paid for them.

The research by the property firm Development Securities (Prime Central London: In a Class of its own?) covers seven postcode areas where the average house price is a cool £1.2 million.

The inflow of money into the capital by safe haven investors has pushed the price of PCL property up by 75% says the report, with 60% of them going to foreign buyers. But this could all change should the Euro fail. “A break up of the single currency is perhaps the single greatest threat to PCL” says the report.

Now, if a particular PCL house was worth say £1 million a few years ago and it went up in value by 75% it would now be worth £1.75 million. If it then drops in value by 50% it will be worth just £875,000. That is it will be worth less than the buyer paid for it! The later 50% drop is greater than the earlier 75% gain. Food for thought?

The report argues that the PCL property market is different from the rest of the country for several reasons.

It says that PCL property attracts investors from around the world, including the UK, who would never consider buying in any other part of the country. Because of this 90% of their price movement is caused by “…a combination of: changes in global equity prices; changes in the sterling exchange rate; and changes in those factors to do with risk and uncertainty that underpin the relative attractiveness of sterling assets more widely.”

This means that a Euro collapse, which would bring with it strengthened sterling and a collapse in global equity prices, would ‘undermine’ the wealth of those that would normally buy PCL property. But the report does say that after a time this trend would begin to reverse as the markets began to settle after the turmoil.

Michael Marx, Chief Executive of Development Securities, said “Safe-haven flows associated with fears about a messy end to the euro debt crisis have boosted PCL property prices over the past two years. And yet we end this report by arguing that a break-up of the single currency area is perhaps the single greatest risk to PCL prices. In the worst-case scenario, we estimate that PCL prices could fall by 50% following a break-up of the single currency area.”

Then we could see house prices across the country eventually following suit, despite PCL prices being ‘different’.

Queens Grove St Johns Wood   geograph.org.uk   549183 300x225 London house prices could be halved by Euro crisis

Queen's Grove, St John's Wood - by Stephen McKay

Image by Stephen McKay [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
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Source: www.economicvoice.com