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Theater Costume shop students design unusual Derby fashion accessories
University of Louisville students have taken their talents from the theater department’s costume shop to design attire for a different type of stage – the Kentucky Derby – using a cigar box and vintage hat.
“Each year we have a Project Runway design competition with the students,” said costume shop manager Melissa Shepherd. “This year, six students created an original hat and matching purse with a $40 budget limit to reflect the persona of their imaginary clients.”
Those clients included the typical Derby attendees – a rock star, infield fan, high stakes gambler, millionaire’s row lady and horse trainer’s wife.
The students have loaned their unusual creations to the Kentucky Derby Museum. They will be on display through July 30 at the Kentucky Derby Museum.
Regular admission to the museum, which includes the exhibit, is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors age 55 and over, $11 for young adults ages 13-18, $6 for children ages 5-12, free for children age five and under. The Kentucky Derby Museum is at 704 Central Ave.
A photo gallery of "Project Derby" can be viewed on the Kentucky Derby Museum website: Current Exhibit


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Friday, October 4, 2019, 8:26 AM
The US said that neither Indian nor American government has stated that there will be a trade agreement in 'five-minutes' but it does not see any structural reason which might stop both the nations to have a trade agreement "pretty quickly". Talking about US concerns over high trade deficit with India, Ross said that there was confusion about US position on the trade deficit.
Friday, September 13, 2019, 5:39 PM
The US on Friday expressed concern over the trade deficit with India and the challenges being faced by American companies to invest. Addressing the Indo-US Economic Summit here, US Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs Aileen Nandi however hoped to explore possibilities at the US-India Business CEO Forum to strike a trade balance between the two countries.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019, 9:11 PM
India's trade deficit in July narrowed to $13.43-billion from $18.63-billion a year ago, the trade ministry said in a statement on August-14, helped by lower-oil import bill. Oil-imports dived 22.15% to $9.60-billion in July from $12.33 billion in a year-ago period. Merchandise exports rose 2.25% to $26.33-billion in July compared with a year earlier, while imports were down 10.43% at $39.76-billion, the data showed.
Monday, April 15, 2019, 7:58 PM
Recently released data have brought to the fore a whole new-angle in India-China trade tangle. According to a story published in Mint newspaper, China may have found a perfect way to blunt India's charge regarding the ballooning deficit in bilateral trade. Trade numbers for 2018 showed India-China trade deficit falling by a significant $10 billion, mainly because of sizeable increase in exports by India.
Thursday, March 7, 2019, 8:22 PM
The trade deficit between India and the US decreased by USD 1.6 billion, almost seven per cent, in 2018 as compared to the previous year, according to the latest official figures. India recorded a decrease in the deficit from USD 22.9 billion in 2017 to USD 21.3 billion in 2018, according to the latest figures revealed by the Bureau of Economy Analysis on Wednesday.
22 January 2019, Tuesday
What is current account deficit? Current account deficit or CAD, is an assessment of a country's foreign trade, in which the value of goo ...
Saturday, July 14, 2018, 10:08 AM
India's trade deficit has widened to a 43-month high for the month of June despite exports rising 17.57% to USD 27.7 billion in June. The trade deficit figure came in at USD 16.6 billion due to costlier crude oil imports. The country's imports also increased by 21.31% to USD 44.3 billion during the month, suggested the report citing data from the Ministry of Commerce.
28 June 2018, Thursday
The Indian Rupee has hit an all-time low of Rs 69 per US Dollar. This has happened for the first tim ...
This is to inform that Suvision Holdings Pvt Ltd ("IndianMoney.com") do not charge any fees/security deposit/advances towards outsourcing any of its activities. All stake holders are cautioned against any such fraud.

domain: news


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National Football League players train during the offseason – and so does the NFL’s marketing team.
From January through July, Aaron Jones, the NFL’s director for club and international marketing, is busily stress-testing his marketing stack and experimenting with new tools to prepare for August and September, when it’s all about activation.
“Then, it’s like Black Friday for us,” Jones said.
Jones has been testing a feature within Adobe Audience Manager called trait recommendations, which became generally available on Tuesday and uses machine learning to recommend attributes that marketers can add to audience segments in real time to make them perform better.
For the NFL, that means identifying specific qualities that help predict team affinity and determine a person’s level of enthusiasm. Because there are fans – and there are fanatics, and it makes sense for the NFL to recognize the difference in its segmentation strategy.
Jones worked with Adobe to build models for avidity and team personas, which the NFL tested during the last offseason using digital marketing creative and onsite personalization. Targeting team-based ads drove a 90% increase in visitors to the NFL GamePass website over generic NFL ads.
But personalization can fumble when advertisers try to bring the segments they crafted within their demand-side platform into walled garden environments and social networks, where marketers can either use the walled garden’s pixel to build retargeting segments or upload an email list a la custom audiences.
Neither is ideal, said Matt Skinner, a product marketing manager for Adobe Audience Manager.
“You can do all of this great segmentation in your DMP and connect those segments with activation touchpoints across the open web and within personalization engines,” Skinner said. “But there’s been a sort of unspoken understanding that it doesn’t stay consistent when you get them into the so-called walled gardens.”
Adobe’s answer is a tool called people-based destinations, which is set to enter beta in May. It allows marketers to combine their first-party CRM data with online DMP data to inform their paid social advertising. Adobe declined to share which walled gardens it’s planning to partner with but noted that it’s been talking to all the usual suspects.
The NFL, which has been an Adobe shop for the last five years or so, plans to test the feature when the beta opens.
Jones is always looking for new ways to get creative with his segmentation and touch new audiences, he said.
For example, it’s valuable to target people who previously played Fantasy Football on Facebook. But it could be more effective to develop segments of people who previously played Fantasy Football, watched a Fantasy Football video or also visited other Fantasy Football content to see which group is more likely to buy a GamePass or take some other action.
“We could add additional segments and optimize our bids on these platforms,” Jones said. “If we can provide additional context, we can be more intelligent in how we market there.”
But Jones also wants to get smart beyond the walled gardens. He and his team recently started working with LiveRamp to activate a database for non-social programmatic buying, and he’s ramping up that effort during this offseason.
He’s also on the hunt for NFL-related data and collaborations with anyone who has intel about fans that could feed his avidity models, including league broadcasters, advertisers or social platforms.
On that score, the NFL is already partnering with Ticketmaster and has a few other potential partners in the works.
“I’m putting the Bat-Signal out there – we will talk to anyone who has digital NFL data, and I’m willing to share the data I have from all of our club platforms,” Jones said. “I’m willing to do anything I can to improve.”


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The Russian government and logistics firm FESCO have launched a ‘Meat Shuttle’ – a railway service for the delivery of perishable products in refrigerated containers from Russia to China and countries of Southeast Asia. The new route will boost the export potential of the Russian pig industry in the Asian direction.
The service will utilise FESCO-operated intermodal and shipping routes via the ports of Vladivostok and St. Petersburg as well as via land border crossing points.
The Meat Shuttle will give Russian meat companies an opportunity to send their products to China and the countries of Southeast Asia as part of a single end-to-end transportation without changing the refrigerated container along the entire route, according to the Russian export centre, a government agency authorised to facilitate export.
The new transport route will also save delivery time due to the absence of overload at intermediate points. Meat Shuttle clients will be eligible for reimbursement of up to 25% of transportation costs under the Russian state support programme for the transportation of agricultural products, the Export Center unveiled.
“Customers of the service will receive a simple, seamless and fast way to deliver poultry, beef, and now pork to Southeast Asian countries and China. After all, the Chinese authorities have finally lifted the restrictions on the supply of this type of meat from Russia. This was in effect for over 15 years, Andrey Severilov, chairman of FESCO, said.


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The iPad Is Now Apple's Second-Biggest Product (AAPL)
Apple reported iPad revenues of $6.1 billion. That's behind only the iPhone, which took in $13.3 billion.
All Macs combined were only $5.1 billion.
Full stats are available on Apple's site.
Overall, iOS products made up more than 2/3ds of the company's revenue.
The company blew the doors off its Q3 earnings, and sold 9.25 million iPads -- ahead of the most optimistic "amateur" estimates of 8.4 million.
- Wynn CEO Goes On Epic Anti-Obama Rant On Company Conference Call
- RUPERT MURDOCH ATTACKED: Wife Wendi Takes Down Attacker!! (VIDEO)
- Facebook Basically Owns Zynga


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Americans love their Halloween candy: Sales this year are expected to be $ 2.6 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.
50 candies amounted to $ 0.10 per piece e, a little less per piece than if you bought more types candy separately.
Chocolate is more expensive. [Editor’s note: Worth it.] Not all candy is created like: Usually, chocolate costs a little more than sugar-based treat as candy. "When it comes to bang for your money, candy corn is the obvious winner, but there's a risk because it's so controversial," said Clair Robins, spokeswoman for CandyStore.com, CNBC Make It. Halloween treats ranked # 6 on CandyStore's list of most popular candy, but it was the # 2 most hated Halloween candy in a recent survey as well.
Buy in bulk. When tackling the Halloween candy shopping list, remember to buy in bulk, Skirboll says because buying a 100-bag bag is usually better than an agreement to buy more smaller bags.
Do not be afraid to wait. Skirboll says that shops tend to put candy and Halloween decor on sale closer to 31st October, so last minute customers get great deals: "The shops are so busy putting holiday items after Halloween so they want steep discounts to make sure that all the spooky decor and candy are off the shelves. "
If you want to play it safely, stick to crowds. Using CandyStore's sales data on the most popular candy, here are the most popular brands in the US that will cost you the least.


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A trader, Innocent Edward, yesterday appeared before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, charged with stealing 900 crates of beer and drinks worth N2, 404,200.
Edward, a resident of No. 20, Seyifunmi St., Okitipupa, is facing a one-count charge of stealing.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on February 7, at 4.35 p.m., at No. 12, Hospital Road, Okitipupa.
Orogbemi said the accused was a former customer of the owner of the store, one John Emeulomo, adding also that the accused brought a truck to the store and carted away the goods comprising crates of Star, Heineken, Gulder, Maltina and Farouz soft drinks.
The prosecutor said the offence was contrary to Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. The Magistrate, Mr Olalekan Awodeyi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million, with a surety in like sum and adjourned the case till April 28, for further hearing. (NAN)


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CBD Products: Are You Getting Your Cash’s Worth?
Cannabidiol, one of the major chemical components of the marijuana plant, has actually been in very high need these previous couple of years for its purported health benefits such as discomfort relief, aiding with anxiety disorders, bring back cravings, amongst many others. Nevertheless inning accordance with a current research study by the University of Pennsylvania where they tested CBD products from several different purveyors to confirm their effectiveness, over two thirds of the products involved in the study were not effectively labeled with regards to their actual CBD material.
Many of the items tested were shown to have a substantially different concentration of CBD than marketed which brings into question the total quality assurance and efficiency of their items. This is potentially horrible news for marijuana lovers that utilize CBD items regularly and can pose a considerable issue for those that rely on these kinds of products for medical reasons.
The university’s research study evaluated over eighty CBD items acquired online from over thirty different purveyors and concluded that less than one third of them were properly identified. More than a quarter of the items tested, which included oils, casts, and focuses included less CBD than their labels suggested. Some of the other inconsistencies found by the study included:
43% consisted of more CBD than the label claimed
26% consisted of less CBD than guaranteed
31% were within 10 percentage points of the promise
These significant variances in potency can be specifically surprising to those that utilize CBD as a way to deal with a number of various medical conditions. Unfortunately despite the substance not being psychedelic in any way whatsoever, the United States federal government has actually categorized CBD as a Schedule I substance along with marijuana. This status sadly leaves hardly any room for quality control beyond areas where marijuana has been legalized. This truth has many fearing that it will result in additional problems with how the items are being labelled, ultimately resulting in dishonest online merchants potentially making the most of their unknowing customers.
However, like many medicines and supplements that they try to manage, the U.S. Fda has provided warnings to a number of CBD producers regarding their items’ alleged health benefits considering that the FDA presently believes that CBD has not been through adequate clinical overview to be substantiate their claims. This might seem like an action in the right instructions for many other than for the fact that simply recently the United States federal government has called for CBD to be illegal in states where cannabis has actually not been formally legalized, thus significantly curbing the variety of future studies that would finally assist seal CBD’s usefulness and flexibility as a medication.
We highly suggest that you do your research on any CBD purveyors in addition to think about any offered feedback from their customers in order to ensure that you are getting the items you are wanting and spending for. Exactly what do you think can be done by manufacturers to ensure that CBD and associated products are correctly labeled since the FDA will not action in at this moment?


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Updated : September 30, 2015, 10:35 am
Updated : September 18, 2015, 12:45 pm
Android gaming company Ouya now becomes a part of Razer.
Updated : July 30, 2015, 1:54 pm
We know Xiaomi as a smartphone maker, but those who know the company
better know that phones are not the only and everything it makes.
Updated : July 20, 2015, 6:31 pm
Fast-growing Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Inc is strengthening its patents in preparation for its entry into the U.S. market, head of international operations Hugo Barra told Bloomberg Television on Thursday, without offering a time table.
Updated : July 17, 2015, 5:38 pm
Xiaomi launches smart shoes in China with military grade sensors.
Updated : July 16, 2015, 6:37 pm
The company claims that the TVs are a complete overhaul from the previous iteration and have been redesigned from scratch.
Updated : July 16, 2015, 6:09 pm
Xiaomi, the world's third-largest smartphone maker, is developing a full-fledged e-commerce business model for its phones and other devices.
Updated : July 12, 2015, 11:12 am
The new smartphone with fabric textured back design has an integrated IR Blaster which allows the handset to send various commands to IR-enabled devices.
Updated : July 2, 2015, 6:50 pm
Xiaomi is going to organise an event in New Delhi on April 23, where the company is likely to launch its newest smartphone.
Updated : April 12, 2015, 2:34 pm
Chinese mobile maker Xiaomi is growing at a fast. The company reportedly claimed that it has sold over two million phones in a 12-hour period as part of a "Mi Fan Festival."
Updated : April 9, 2015, 12:03 pm
The unveiled gadgets include Redmi 2A
alongside a pink variant of the Mi Note, Mi Smart Scale, 55-inch
Android-powered 1080p smart TV and Mi Smart Power Strip.
Updated : April 1, 2015, 6:02 pm
The device with codename Ferrari was found to run a newer version of MIUI based on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.
Updated : March 25, 2015, 1:34 pm
Contrary to earlier reports, the next gen Mi TV does not seem to be a
successor to the Mi TV 2 that was launched last year. Rather, it's a
toned down variant of the same.
Updated : March 24, 2015, 4:59 pm
Chinese tech company Xiaomi is all set to launch a newer model of its Mi TV on March 24, 2015. The next generation of the Mi TV 2 will most
likely be announced in China.
Updated : March 23, 2015, 4:07 pm


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(PRWEB) March 29, 2014
As a popular online store of wedding dresses and women’s special occasion gowns, DressesCO.com pays close attention to style and quality. Recently, the company has released its new range of 2014 unique prom dresses, and has launched a prom outfit promotion. Now, all customers can get a discounted price, up to 71% off, before April 15.
The development manager for the company says, “We are glad to release our new designs for worldly ladies. The special offer is specially launched to expand our market share, even though our sales turnover has increased sharply in the recent months. Our company has been working in the fashion field for decades. On our website, customers can get their dream outfits at low rates.”
He adds, “Customers from all over the world can place an order at our website easily. I believe that our new customer-oriented items will be hot in the market. We aim to be a leader in the dress industry. Please note that the promotion will come to an end on April 15, 2014.”
The company aims to continue developing more fashionable and cost-effective outfits for worldwide clients.
DressesCO.com is a world-leading company of quality women’s special occasion attire. It provides over 2000 different style options. The company's professional team is comprised of hundreds of qualified workers who have been working in the fashion industry for decades. Now, the company strives to be the best brand in the global market.
For more information, please visit: http://www.dressesco.com.


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Male-centered Yogurt Sets Itself Apart
Columbus, Ohio – A new yogurt marketed specifically towards men called Powerful is stirring up the yogurt aisle's "girly" stigma.
FIC member Tammy Katz, adjunct Professor of Brand Management at Fisher College of Business and CEO of Katz Marketing Solutions, was interviewed in the TODAY.com article "Do men need their own yogurt? New brand bets they do." Katz finds that branding a yogurt with a masculine image and catering the product specifically for men makes sense with the increase of men doing the grocery shopping. Other products such as Snickers used the same strategy with great sucess.
Read the full article.


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Mikes Bike Shop
28 Items in 2 Pages:
Mon, Oct 12, 2020
King Cages now back in stock!
"Time Trial - A Race to the End" at Mountsorrel Memorial Centre
Fri, Feb 8, 2019
Mike's Bikes is happy to be supporting the showing of David Millar's film "Time Trial" at the MMC!
Mike`s Bikes subscription service!
Sun, Jan 20, 2019
We are soon going to be launching what we believe to be a world first - a bike maintenance subscription service!
King Cage Delivery
Fri, Sep 21, 2018
We've just had an order in from America, and now have King bottle cages back in stock!
Huma Gels (normal and caffeine) now back in stock!
Thu, Aug 23, 2018
We've just had an order of Huma Gels - so everything is now back in stock!
We`re now a Skratch Labs stockist!
Fri, May 25, 2018
We're really chuffed to say that we are now an official stockist of Skratch Labs!
OneUp EDC tool installation now available!
Fri, Mar 23, 2018
We are excited to say we can now install OneUp's fork mounted EDC tool for you!
We have moved!
Fri, Mar 9, 2018
We haven't moved too far - we are now on the other side of Barrow from our previous location.
Tubular tyre repair
Fri, Nov 24, 2017
We can now fix and repair tubular tyres, whether that is patching a puncture, base tape repair or a full tube swap.
New wheel builds
Sat, Sep 30, 2017
As winter is fast approaching we're getting lots of requests for wheel rebuilds and new wheel builds - here is one set just finished today.
October deals on CX bike servicing!
Fri, Sep 23, 2016
Fantastic deals on CX race bike servicing - up to 25% off the price of a normal service!
EDIT: Chain-L now back in stock!
Tue, May 10, 2016
As one of the only dealers of Chain-L lubricant, we're pleased to say it is finally back in stock!
Huma Gels currently unavailable
Wed, Aug 12, 2015
Huma gels currently unavailable
New ESI FIT grips and King Cages now in stock
Thu, Apr 30, 2015
Brand new King Cages and ESI Contour grips are now in stock!
Surly Karate Monkey V-Twin build
Sun, Mar 30, 2014
A rather interesting Karate Monkey monstercross Hope V-Twin build.
Titanium Events Belvoir Sportive Offers
Sat, Mar 21, 2015
We have some awesome offers just for riders at the Belvoir Classic sportive tomorrow!
We will be at the Belvoir Classic Sportive
Sat, Feb 28, 2015
We will be at the Titanium Events sportive on the 22nd March for all your servicing needs!
PowerTaps now available for hire!
Fri, Jun 13, 2014
We have now started hiring out PowerTap powermeters!
Huma Gels now in stock
Thu, May 29, 2014
We have been extremely excited about these! Huma gels are all-natural whole food gels based on Chia Seeds, which are in stock in all 4 flavours.
Titanium Events Tour of the National Forest
Tue, May 6, 2014
Tour of the National Forest 2014
Now stocking Halt brake pads
Sat, Feb 1, 2014
We are now stocking coloured Halt Gooey brake pads!
LSCC Tour of the National Forest
Sun, May 5, 2013
The Tour of the National Forest
Wed, Feb 1, 2012
A recent superlight wheel build for a customer.
New (Secret) Project!
Wed, Feb 1, 2012
Exciting new project enroute!


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David Poltrack, president of CBS Vision and chief research officer of CBS, is the visionary who created the Campaign Performance Audit, an initiative on measuring return on ad spend. CPA was first presented at the 2014 ARF and focuses on five components.After three years in the field, Poltrack and his team have completed the fifth and final component, helping to understand creative in context. Here he offers an update on the initiative’s progress.
BS may have launched a new streaming service (and announced a new one for daughter network Showtime on the heels of the Apple press conference where HBO Now was unveiled), but traditional TV is where it’s at, as far as the television company is concerned. Today, the company unveiled a new product designed to demonstrate TV’s reach power to CBS clients, which it’s calling “Campaign Performance Audit,” or CPA.


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Teva’s copycat meds have been in the spotlight this week, with the Israeli drugmaker finally sealing its $40.5 billion deal for Allergan’s generics unit. But it was the blockbuster Copaxone franchise that helped Q2 sales come in ahead of expectations.
Thursday, the Petah Tikvah-based company announced revenues of $5.04 billion that beat out Wall Street’s $4.92 billion expectations--and it had the multiple sclerosis med to thank. Despite generic competition from Novartis' Sandoz, Copaxone generated $1.14 billion for the quarter to top forecasts of $1 billion. A January price increase of 7.9%--as well as lower sales through Medicaid, leading to lower rebates--spurred its performance, Credit Suisse analyst Vamil Divan wrote in a note to clients.
Non-GAAP EPS checked in at $1.25, a shade above analysts’ $1.21 predictions.
Generics outside the U.S. and Europe also topped estimates by about $213 million to reach $742 million, offsetting a “weakness” in U.S. generics that came from a lack of new launches, Evercore ISI analyst Umer Raffat wrote in a research note.
Teva, though, can expect more launches going forward now that it’s swallowed the generics portfolio of Allergan, one of its main competitors. After a year of antitrust delays, FTC-mandated selloffs and investor fretting, the pair got the job done Tuesday.
It followed up the next day with an agreement to buy out Allergan’s Anda distribution business for $500, which has a strong focus on generics.
But Teva isn’t not planning on walking away from the dealmaking table. As execs told investors on the quarterly conference call, the Allergan close will give the company more than $25 billion of free cash flow through 2019--$5 million of which will be for dividend distribution. The rest, though will be set aside for paying down debt and pursuing “attractive” specialty deals, they noted.
“The strategy and vision” for the company are “much broader” than just generics, CEO Erez Vigodman told Bloomberg earlier this week. And while the deal delays have meant that 2016 hasn’t been an “easy year” for Teva so far, “we are ready to go now,” he said.
- read Teva's release
With Allergan deal sealed, Teva turns its attention to branded M&A
Teva expects Allergan deal close any day, it says while lifting guidance
Analyst cuts Allergan generics sales estimates as Teva deal close nears
Teva, Allergan generics deal on track to close in June: Analyst
Teva hits roadblock in Allergan buy, hindering 'Pfizergan'
Teva speeds toward Allergan deal close with EU thumbs up
Teva's Copaxone finally succumbs to copycats, putting a drag on 2015 sales
Forget Mylan: Teva inks $40B-plus pact for Allergan's generics biz


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All you Android users waiting for your Instagram fix, you can be assured that the app is on its way to your mobile device. At SXSW in Austin, Texas, the founder of Instagram, Kevin Systrom, announced that Instagram for Android is nearly ready and is currently in private beta testing. According to Mashable, Systrom teased the mobile photo editing and sharing application, but did not provide a demo. He said that the application for Google's platform is nearly here and will be released "very soon". In a question and answer session, he even compared the Android version of Instagram to the iOS version. He says, “In some ways, it’s better than our iOS app. It’s crazy.” He described the app to say that it looks good on large screens, and of course, social network sharability to Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook etc. is built in.
Coming soon to an Android device near you
The major question, of course is why Instagram took so long to come to the Android platform. The first whispers of the app coming to Android were heard in early December. Systrom announced that there were people working on the Instagram for Android application at an event in Paris. The app was first released for iOS in October 2010 and already has been reported to have 25 million users. Of course, since they are in the business of making money, moving over to Android is a wise choice. Systrom answered the question saying, “I don’t think it took us so long. We just had priorities. Had we tried to be both on Android and iPhone at the same time, it would’ve been tough to innovate in the way that we have.” Systrom added, confirming the report that Instagram currently stands at 27 million users.
Published Date: Mar 12, 2012 10:17 am | Updated Date: Mar 12, 2012 10:17 am


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Haagen-dazs' first cafe coming up in Delhi
The cafe will be opened in the first week of December at Select City Walk at Saket through a franchisee deal with RTC Restaurants, which runs restaurant chains Ruby Tuesday and Italian Sabarro in India. RTC is the exclusive franchisee rights holder for America’s most-loved super premium ice cream in India.
“Depending on the response we get with the first Haagen-Dazs branded cafe, we would like to set up similar such cafes in the country,” said Gaurav Jain, director at RTC. Mr Haldar declined to comment on the brand’s expansion plan.
A person close to the company’s plans said Haagen-Dazs could be setting up a combination of large-format cafes and smaller kiosks, with a national footprint of 30-40 such outlets over the next few years.
As of now, the brand is available in limited select stores such as Sugar & Spice in Delhi, and Nature’s Basket in Mumbai, apart from few 5-star hotels. It sells ice cream bars, sorbets and frozen yogurt. Its existing prices range from Rs 185 for a 100-ml serving, to Rs 625 per 500-ml carton.
The super-premium ice cream segment has not yet been tapped in India. In fact, Nestle, which owns the premium Movenpick ice cream brand globally, has not brought the brand to the country on account of the limited size of the category.
But Haagen-Dazs is confident, after its grand success in China where it operates 80 stores across 20 cities to huge fanfare particularly among young professionals. When it debuted in China in 1996, the market there could have been similar to today’s India.
Established by Polish immigrant couple Reuben and Rose Mattus back in 1961, Haagen-Dazs is today one of the largest super premium ice cream brands in the world. It’s the market leader in the US with about 45% share and is present in 54 other countries.
Starting with only three flavours — vanilla, chocolate and coffee — the company opened its first retail store in Brooklyn, NY in 1976. Today, Haagen-Dazs produces ice cream, ice cream bars, ice cream cakes, sorbets and frozen yogurts.
The $16-billion General Mills markets Pillsbury atta and Betty Crocker cake mixes in India, apart from Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Interestingly, Nestle subsidiary Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc, makes Haagen-Dazs ice creams in the US and Canada although the brand is owned by General Mills.
Haagen-Dazs ice cream is kept at a temperature that is substantially lower than most ice creams in order to keep its intended firmness.
The brand won the Cannes PR Lions award this year for its campaign at the Cannes International Advertising Festival for its high-profile campaign to save vanishing honeybees in North America, ‘Häagen-Dazs loves Honey Bees’. The campaign also received recognition with the Gold Clio title for its Strategic Communications/Public Relations at the global Clio Awards in Las Vegas, besides several other awards and a huge response from consumers.


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International House of Pancakes targets the UK and Ireland for franchise expansion
Building on three years of international growth, International House of Pancakes (IHOP) has announced plans to expand its franchise into the UK and Ireland.
The move comes as the well-known American casual dining brand plans to double its international presence by 2021.
DineEquity, the parent organisation of IHOP, announced plans to continue expansion with the opening of 50 restaurants in partnership with UK-based World Franchise Associates and Propel Hospitality.
“Our franchisees drive our business, and it is our job to make sure they are well prepared and equipped so they have every opportunity to be successful,” said Daniel del Olmo, president of international, DineEquity, Inc.
“We see the United Kingdom as an important growth opportunity for IHOP, especially given the large appetite for our unparalleled all-day breakfast experience, American lunch and dinner entrees, warm hospitality and – of course – our world-famous pancakes.”
IHOP is specifically targeting growth in the UK and Ireland due to the economic stability of the region which is encouraging restaurant operators to consider strong US restaurant franchises.
As well as this, international casual-dining concepts are very popular in the region and the UK has successful franchise operators.
Beyond the business experience requirements, we’re also looking for qualified franchisees that align with our brand identity,” said Dan Lecocq, executive director, international development. “They have to embody an entrepreneurial spirit and a high level of commitment to guest service. But most of all, they need to have a passion for the IHOP brand.”
IHOP is 100% franchise-owned and operated.


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IRI Vs KWT | Match 12 Feb 25, 2020
IRI 44/3 (7.0)
BRN Vs QAT | Match 11 Feb 25, 2020
QAT 24/2 (6.3)
Latest News on Microsoft Edge
Showing of 0 - 10 from 44 results
Microsoft Edge - Total results - 44
Jan 16, 2020
Microsoft starts rolling out stable version of Edge web browser based on ChromiumWindows and macOS users can either manually download the Edge update or wait for an automatic update.
Nov 04, 2019
Microsoft will launch its Chromium-based Edge web browser on 15 JanuaryThe company has launched a release candidate of the Edge browser that can be downloaded right away.
Nov 04, 2019
Microsoft has revealed a new logo for its Chromium-based Edge web browserThe new icon is a fresh take compared to the previous Microsoft Internet Explorer logo.
Oct 31, 2019
Microsoft Edge Canary adds new flag to force Dark Mode on supported websitesThe Microsoft Edge Insider Canary build allows you to force dark mode for certain web content.
Sep 10, 2019
Apple Event at 10.30 pm IST today: From iPhones to Apple Watch, all that's expectedThis year for the first time Apple's iPhone launch event will be showcased on YouTube.
Aug 16, 2019
Microsoft Edge browser’s Read Aloud feature will soon offer natural-sounding voicesThe new neural voices will be powered by Microsoft Cognitive Services in preview builds for now
Jun 28, 2019
Microsoft Edge gets tracking prevention feature to block cookies while browsingThe feature allows you to block tracking cookies at three different levels: Basic, Balanced, or Strict.
Mar 11, 2019
Skype for Web refreshed with new features like HD video calling, call record, moreThe new Skype for Web will be available on Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers.
Jan 24, 2019
Microsoft's mobile Edge browser will now alert you when you consume fake newsMicrosoft mobile Edge browser now includes NewsGuard extension to issue fake news warnings.
Dec 07, 2018
Microsoft Edge is moving to Google's Chromium engine and is also coming to macOSEdge has been struggling to make an impact for a while now, so this may be a good move by Microsoft.


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Posted: June 21st, 2021
The Odwalla corporation, a fruit juice producer based in California has always been a staunch supporter of natural products, though sadly those natural products created a deadly risk to at least 71 people in the fall of 1996. The company was linked to a large number of products containing apple juice that was tainted by the deadly e-coli O157:H7 bacteria.
The death of a 16-month-old child in Evans, Colorado was the first of many illnesses that were directly linked to the company’s products, most of which contained tainted apple juice. In fact the company ended up recalling 70% of its total product on the shelves in the United States and Canada. (Mogel, 2002, p. 222) The outbreak had been swift and the company is often praised for its quick and particularly humanitarian response to the situation. The marketing campaign they embarked on with the help of a marketing crisis management team is actually award winning.
At the time of the crisis, Odwalla appeared to do everything right. It responded to what it called a freak occurrence by pulling the suspect juice and offering to pay medical expenses. The quick recall and its warm and fuzzy image prompted favorable comparisons with Johnson and Johnson for its handling of the Tylenol incident.
The initial response to the problem is crucial to the marketing arena as it is a way in which businesses can see in a recent strategic situation the ways in which marketing can affect crisis management positively for a company in dire straits. Though the eventual court rulings and the findings of an inquiry did not match the public personification associated with the crisis marketing it did save the company from almost sure disaster that would likely lead to the company folding in disgrace. Certainly if the information that was discovered during the investigation, made by the courts had been available to the public during the crisis the company and its founders would have lost everything.
Odwalla pleaded guilty to criminal charges of selling tainted apple juice. It paid a $1.5 million fine, the largest ever assessed in a food industry case by the Food and Drug Administration. Federal investigators now suggest that Odwalla had regularly accepted blemished fruit and ignored warnings by its own safety team. Moreover, as sales plummeted 90 percent, company officials maintained an inside/outside strategy: covering up company malfeasance while positioning Odwalla as a victim along with those who it had poisoned.
Though the ethics of the situation are suspect from a business standpoint they were crucial in the future success of the company. Industry standards have since changed a great deal and Odwalla quickly stepped in line with industry standards for pasteurizing its product, something that they had long resisted but eventually in 2002 became an FDA requirement excluded only by tough labeling laws, warning consumers of the unpasteurized nature of a product. Though there are still suspicions associated with the situation, the right answers to tough crisis marketing can be found in the case studies of the situation.
Odwalla acted immediately. Although at the point where they were first notified the link was uncertain, Odwalla’s CEO Stephen Williamson ordered a complete recall of all products containing apple or carrot juice. This recall covered around 4,600 retail outlets in 7 states. Internal task teams were formed and mobilized, and the recall – costing around $6.5m was completed within 48 hours. What the company didn’t do was to avoid responsibility. On all media interviews, Williamson expressed sympathy and regret for all those affected and immediately promised that the company would pay all medical costs. This, allied to the prompt and comprehensive recall, went a long way towards satisfying customers that the company was doing all it could.
The intended public’s of the communications associated with the e-coli crisis all received the information the company intended to convey, including eventual fault in production, though this was after the crisis had been dealt with and didn’t receive much air time.
The intended publics received notification of the recall and everything that was being done to ensure that the problem would stop there, including new plans of action for flash pasteurization as well as a new policy associated with new industry wide changes eventually implemented by the FDA.
The FDA began implementing further guidelines that required juice producers to show a specific reduction of bacteria in their juice. It is this law that has now, after years of discussion and public comment periods, come into effect. This is not a “pasteurization” law, it is a bacteria reduction law that requires juice producers to reduce the bacteria in their juice and to develop a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) system that ensures they keep records that would among other things, enable proper recalls and trace backs if the need arose.
The industry has since implemented a great deal of the new standards and come into compliance with a system that will greater protect the public. In a sense the outcome could be considered the legacy of the crisis as Odwalla has continued to be a leader in the field of food safety technology implementation that is often used as a model for other crisis situations.
The success of the story can be seen in a recent work detailing the award Odwalla and its crisis management marketing firm received:
An independent AOL survey showed that 86 percent of online respondents supported Odwalla and would return as consumers. Other surveys showed 94% of those polled were aware of the E. coli outbreak; 96% of those aware approved of Odwalla’s handling of the crisis…Odwalla successfully reintroduced products after the recall, and continues to introduce new products at a normal rate… (Mogel, 2002, p. 226)
Additionally the financial as well as consumer confidence issue is still one that is reviewed by industry leaders as they are more likely in today’s climate to create at least a minimal plan for the potential of such a problem within their own business. Odwalla also showed specific crisis management skills, with the help of their crisis consultants in their ability to quickly reach their internal as well as external public’s as they instituted an internal open door policy accompanied by a collective meetings that are still held today to keep the internal public abreast with current needs and shortfalls in the company, as quickly as possible.
“Internal communications were key: Williamson conducted regular company-wide conference calls on a daily basis, giving employees the chance to ask questions and get the latest information. This approach proved so popular that the practice of quarterly calls survived the crisis.” (“CSR case studies in crisis management: Odwalla,” 2006, at: http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr/CSRfiles/crisis05.html)
Financial markets responded to the communications effort; stock price was $19 prior to the crisis, dropped to $9 immediately after, and has risen to $13. (Mogel, 2002, p. 226)
All the intended publics were clearly communicated with the best possible outcome the company could have foreseen at the beginning of the crisis. One point of intrigue is also associated with the avenues that were used in this crisis, during the information age.
One important element in this crisis management situation is that even as early as November 1996, Edelman and Odwalla took full advantage of the Internet to give reporters and consumers immediate access to information about the recall. Although Odwalla did not have a corporate or promotional Web site, the company’s crisis-related site was up and running within 48 hours. Based on its experience in the Odwalla case, Edelman PR has developed an online response product that enables clients to establish crisis preparedness sites on their Intranets. (Mogel, 2002, p. 227)
The technology of the day was utilized to its fullest, in addition to a multimedia campaign explaining to those who had the product that was recalled to dispose of it and also telling customers and those affected of their intention to produce accountability with regard to the crisis.
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After 15 years of existence, Independent Brands Australia (IBA) has inducted its first Hall of Fame member, Anita Grace of Cellarbrations in Newman, Western Australia.
Grace was inducted in a presentation at a farewell gala dinner marking the end of the IBA Trade Workshop for 2019.
Introducing the inaugural award, ALM CEO Chris Baddock explained the judging was carried out by two long serving retailers as well as Metcash’s Scott Marshall, former CEO of ALM for over four years. Baddock said it was the perfect time for the award to be opened as he explained the criteria.
“It’s a great way to celebrate the people that are in our stores. The people who help our stores week in, week out, year in, year out, decade in and decade out. Every state submitted a Hall of Fame nominee and the quality of these nominees were remarkable,” he said.
“The award has been judged over three major criteria: support of IBA, community support and contribution to the broader liquor industry. I’d like to give a warm welcome to Vicki to tell you about the Hall of Fame inductee.”
Vicki is one of Anita Grace’s sisters, and took to the microphone to describe Grace’s history in the community and her career.
From a first taste of the industry through her future father-in-law’s Kalgoorlie pub, Grace eventually found herself in Newman, a town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She first owned a newsagency before buying the local liquor store over 20 years ago, becoming part of the IBA network shortly after.
The presentation also featured a video interview with Grace, talking about the work she has done in the Newman community and setting up a women’s refuge shelter with another local mother. Since its opening, the centre has helped over 3000 women safely get back on their feet after experiencing domestic violence.
Vicki then introduced a segment of pre-recorded messages of congratulations and support, including well wishing from Grace’s daughter Katie, local Newman community elders and those who have worked with Grace in the industry.
CEO of Liquor Stores Association of Western Australia, Peter Peck, said in his message that “if anyone deserves an award like this, its you.”
“When it comes to this industry, you are the Joan of Ark. You are that person who has no fear… I don’t know how you do it, but my god you deserve this and bloody well done,” Peck’s message said.
With a standing ovation from the crowd, Grace joined Vicki and Baddock on stage with other sister Marina, General Manager of ALM Linda Boswell and Metcash CEO Jeff Adams.
Grace’s acceptance speech (pictured below) referenced the struggles and wins in her career, as well as her love of the industry as a whole.
“When I first started, I was probably doing something naïve, working in the liquor industry. I can remember one of the reps saying to me, ‘you’re a woman in a man’s world, you’re not going to survive.’ Well I’m still here,” Grace said.
“I can say now, the strong women that we have in this industry, it’s no longer a man’s world. Not taking anything off the men of course, but our women in this industry show the men how its done.”
“I love this industry. I’m extremely proud, extremely honoured to be part of it.”
Before finishing her speech, Grace commended the next generation in the industry.
“We must be proud of our young people coming up. Talking to some of the young people that are following in our footsteps now, they’re heavily embracing the new technology. These are our future and we need to encourage and embrace this and make them a strong part of our industry and invest in them,” she said.
Images by Adam Creed.


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Posted on 25th March 2012
Ian is giving a live webinar this week as he gives a lecture to pharmacists about managing eye disease.
With his expertise in therapeutic drugs and eye disease, Ian was asked to give a lecture by NHS Education Scotland (Pharmacy) to community pharmacists on managing common eye conditions. The lecture is given online and pharmacists can watch from their own home and even ask questions after the lecture.
If you’re interested to watch and a pharmacist, contact NES for details
04th October 2018
Cameron Optometry is an award-winning optometry practice and eyewear boutique, based in Edinburgh’s New Town. The practice is growing and is soon to open another consulting room, as such we are look...Read more
02nd October 2018
Great news! Cameron Optometry has been shortlisted for the UK Optical Team of the Year category at the AOP Awards. This is a real honour as the award recognises an optical team dedicated to deliv...Read more
27th September 2018
Italian designer FEB31st arrived at the Frame Room in Cameron Optometry in spring 2017. Offering hand-crafted wooden frames, which are entirely unique, the designer has already been a huge hit with ou...Read more


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30 January , 2020 Fdiindia
India-US Likely to Discuss Mega Trade Deal Of $10 Bn Ahead of Trump’s Visit to India
New Delhi: As per recent media reports, India and the United States of America are expected to hold a discussion and subsequently finalise a major trade deal amounting to USD 10 billion in February the visit of Robert Lighthizer, United States Trade Representative (USTR) to the national capital.
Reportedly, the important deal will be signed by both the countries during the visit of the US President Donald Trump to India even as its legal vetting remains pending.
One major hindrance in the finalization of the deal was the restriction on import of medical devices. The deal is said to have been in works for quite a while now with the representatives of the two nations also holding meetings at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos. Apart from this, a 6 member team from the United States visited India over the weekend to meet Piyush Goyal, India’s Industry and Commerce Minister.
The trade deal is significant after the ongoing debate over India’s high tariff rates. Last year in May, Trump’s government had eliminated India from the special trade status that had previously aided zero tariffs on USD 5.6 billion exports to the States.
ET reported that Robert Lighthizer may also meet with Goyal during his visit in order to finalize the terms of the deal. It is being speculated that Trump will stay at ITC Maurya in India. The hotel has been booked from 21- 24 Feb.
It is also being reported that the Modi government is likely to organise an event similar to US’ ‘Howdy Modi’ in Ahmedabad.
Additionally, America was willing to sell another USD 5-6 billion worth of farm goods to India with the aim of restoring India’s GSP Privileges. The deal requested India to reduce tariff rates on US farm goods such as walnuts, almonds, and apples. This request was forwarded to India by the US in December 2019.
If finalized, the deal will be a win-win for both countries. It will aide US in countering China’s economic growth, while also helping India to face up to the growing economic slowdown in the country.


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RHODE ISLAND landed $412,000 to promote small business exporting from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s STEP program.
By PBN Staff Twitter: @ProvBusNews
WASHINGTON – Rhode Island will receive $412,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration as part of the second round of funding from the State Trade Export Promotion program.
Rhode Island is one of forty-seven states, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia receiving a total $30 million from the Small Business Administration.
The Ocean State’s $412,000 in funding is earmarked to help continue to run the STEP program out of the Chafee Center for International Business at Bryant University, which will be responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the program.
“With 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside of the United States, exporting gives small businesses the opportunity to reach new markets, increase sales and create jobs,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills said in a statement. “The second round of STEP funding will be instrumental in helping small businesses start or expand their exporting opportunities so they can create an economy built to last.”

The STEP initiative launched in 2011 under the Small Business Jobs Act with two goals: to increase the number of small businesses that want to export and to increase the value of exports for those small businesses that currently export.
“The STEP program funding is vital to small business in Rhode Island as they look to find ways to expand their business and their borders” SBA Rhode Island District Director Mark S. Hayward said in prepared remarks. “These funds, coupled with the expertise of Chafee Center, help open new doors to international markets for our local business owners.”


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EA has announced FIFA 14 will be released later this year.
The game has been confirmed for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC right now, but additional platforms will apparently be announced in the coming months. There's no word of a next-gen release right now, but this could all change.
A host of new features have made it into the game, which we recently got a chance to see. To discover everything we know, be sure to check out our preview of FIFA 14 when it goes live later today.
Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Junior Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.
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Severe drought conditions in the Southwest won't do much to damper fireworks this Fourth of July weekend—not even in the state that's been hit the hardest.
"The drought is certainly raising concerns for firefighters, but we'll have about 300 towns and cities across the state holding their firework displays which is normal for us," said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
Berlant said that the devastating drought in the Golden State, now in its third year, is not enough of a problem to prohibit firework displays or ban sales of "safe and legal" fireworks to residents.
But he said that fire officials across the state will be on high alert and be ready to put out any fires caused by fireworks.
California has had more than 2,500 wild fires so far this year—far beating the average of 800 a year, according to CAL FIRE.
Low water supplies from the drought as well as parched land have put an extra strain on firefighters in California and in other Western states.
"We are urging people to be safe and make sure people check with their local fire departments to see what fireworks are allowed in their area," Berlant said.
There have been attempts to limit fireworks this year because of drought conditions.
El Paso County in Texas banned the sale and use of fireworks by residents. New Mexico's Doña Ana County banned the use of all fireworks within areas that are covered wholly or in part by timber, brush or native grass.
But officials in Arizona loosened up firework restrictions this year for private citizens. And efforts to impose tougher regulations on fireworks by the governor of New Mexico throughout the state failed.
What's ironic is that of the four states banning all consumer fireworks, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, and Delaware, are not in a drought.
Residents of other states are advised to check their local laws on which firework sales are legal.
In California, illegal fireworks include sky rockets, bottle rockets, roman candles, aerial shells, firecrackers and other types that explode, go into the air, or "move on the ground in an uncontrollable manner."
Reasons for allowing firework sales in drought states range from holiday patriotism to the effect a ban would have on local businesses that sell fireworks.
And firework displays and related sales are often used by charities to raise funds.
And there's little doubt fireworks are big business. Last year, display fireworks revenue in the U.S. totaled $328 million, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. Consumer fireworks revenue totaled $662 million.
As for the drought itself, the United States Drought Monitor said that conditions continue to be harsh in areas like New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California.
Texas and Oklahoma had some some heavier than usual rainfall in areas, but Oklahoma saw flash floods while the state's panhandle had dust storms.
There's been little if any rainfall in the past week in Southwestern states. Extreme and exceptional drought conditions, the two most severe classifications, have expanded in parts of Nevada and Southern California.
—By CNBC's Mark Koba


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Jika Jika!, Other U.K. Festivals See Boost in Spending With NFC
This summer's music festival in Northern Ireland experienced a 23 percent increase in sales per person, thanks to an NFC-enabled cashless payment system from Event Genius.
Oct 12, 2018—
Northern Ireland's Jika Jika! music festival reports that it has boosted spending per attendee by 23 percent this year, compared to at its 2017 event, by employing an NFC RFID-based cashless payment system from Event Genius. The 2018 event took place on Aug. 25-26 in Derry, Northern Ireland. All attendees wore NFC-enabled wristbands for access control, while many also purchased pre-payment vouchers associated with the bracelets so they could make cashless payments onsite. Those who'd created a prepaid account could then simply tap their wristband against a reader with each purchase of a beverage, food or merchandise.
Event Genius, based in Leeds, England, has provided ticketing software in the British Isles throughout the past decade. In 2016, the company launched a cashless solution that could be used at festivals, separate from the ticketing system, says Lauren Lytle, Event Genius's technical operations head. Lytle, who joined the firm that year, had previous experience in cashless payment systems in the United States, which the company has since leveraged at multiple U.K. festivals. "We felt this was a good time to get a foothold on cashless payments in the U.K.," she says.
Guests bought tickets from a separate online ticketing solutions provider, then were invited to create a prepaid voucher for an NFC-enabled ID&C wristband using the 13.56 MHz ISO 14443 protocol. With Event Genius's software, users could enter a credit card number and specify a cash amount, which would then be deducted from their account, after which they were sent a prepaid paper voucher.
Guests presented their vouchers upon arriving at the venue, then were provided with an NFC-enabled wristband. Staff members used a Famoco Android-based device, running an Event Genius app, to scan the printed bar code on the voucher, and to then write the prepayment amount to the bracelet's built-in tag via an NFC transmission.
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The global nonwovens market has undergone significant shifts and challenges, primarily in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of COVID-19 on the global nonwovens market in 2020 was dramatic, and it was followed by a market correction which lowered demand in the second half of 2021 as COVID subsided.
In 2022, the industry witnessed the commissioning of about 239,500 tons of new fine denier capacity, reaching a total global capacity of 5,351.2 kt. Despite this surge, capacity utilization declined by the end of 2022 due to weakening demand post the pandemic peak. It anticipates an additional 191,000 tons in 2023 and 110,000 tons in 2024, resulting in a 10% increase in capacity from 2021 to 2024.
North America: Expects 131,500 tons of new capacity during 2022-2024. Anticipates destocking in medical products throughout 2023.
South & Central America: Foresees moderate demand and additional capacity before 2026.
Greater Europe: Capacity utilization remains low in 2023-2024 as capacity outpaces demand growth.
Middle East & Africa: Anticipates attractive capacity utilization in 2023-2024, pressured by new capacity installations.
Southern Asia: High capacity utilization, expecting more installations before 2026.
Asia-Pacific: Major producers like Mitsui/Asahi and Toray will merge in 2023, with an expected capacity of 512.0 kt by 2024.
China: Despite increasing capacity, expects oversupply and softening demand by 2024.
With a dominance in global nonwoven production, consumption, and exports, China plays a pivotal role. Despite potential oversupply concerns, the country continues to invest in new capacity. The estimated 41,500 tons of new PP SB/SMS capacity in 2023 and an expected 2,003.7 kt nameplate capacity by the end of 2024 emphasize China’s position as a key player in the industry.
China stands as a powerhouse in the global nonwovens market, contributing to approximately one-third of the world’s production capacity. Its role as a major consumer and exporter further solidifies its influence on the industry.
China’s continuous investments in technology and facilities are reflected in the estimated 41,500 tons of new PP SB/SMS capacity commissioned in 2023, followed by 89.0 kt in 2022 and 67.5 kt in 2021. By the end of 2024, China’s nameplate capacity is expected to total a staggering 2,003.7 kt.
China’s dominance extends across various application domains, mirroring global trends. The surge in capacity installations is particularly notable in applications such as surgical gowns, drapes, hygiene products, and medical apparel, emphasizing the Chinese versatility and adaptability to evolving market demands.
In 2022, the production of China’s nonwovens remained stable despite a decrease in investment and a decline in exports. According to the statistics of CNITA, China Nonwovens and Industrial Textiles Association, the output of nonwovens in China in 2022 was 8.14 million tons a year-on-year, representing a decrease of 0.8%, compared with 2019. The average three-year growth rate was 7.9%.
Spunbonded, needle-punched, and spunlaced remained the main processes for nonwovens in China in 2022. Among them, spunbonded nonwovens’ output decreased by 5% year-on-year to 3.9 million tons due to a decline in demand for anti-pandemic products. The demand for needlepunched nonwovens kept growing due to the growth of applications in automotive and environmental protection, and the annual output of needle-punched nonwovens increased 4.9% year-on-year to 1.6 million tons. The production capacity of spunlaced nonwovens continues to be released, with a year-on-year increase of 2.1% in 2022, when output reached 1.43 million tons. The output of meltblown nonwovens in China was 268,000 tons, up 15% year on year, as the market demand for masks remained high in 2022.
China not only leads in production but also consumption, with a significant share of global demand. Despite expectations of softened demand and potential oversupply, China’s position as a major consumer in the industry remains pivotal.
Being a key export hub, China significantly influences the global nonwoven fabric market. The industry’s reliance on Chinese exports contributes to the interconnectedness of regional markets, making China a critical player in shaping the global landscape.
The global nonwovens market stands at a crossroads, with a delicate balance between increasing capacity and evolving demand dynamics. China’s role as a dominant force, both in production and consumption, highlights its influence on global trends, reflecting the nation’s position as a major player in the nonwoven fabric industry. As the industry navigates challenges, such as oversupply concerns and changing demand patterns, China’s strategies and trends continue to serve as a microcosm of the broader global nonwoven fabric landscape.


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AGOA: Suspension will be lifted on arrival of US poultry - South African DTI
PRESS STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S 11TH JANUARY 2016 PROCLAMATION
South Africa wishes to clarify that all its AGOA benefits remain in place and the new proclamation issued by President Obama announcing the suspension of agriculture benefits on the 15th of March will be lifted as soon as the first shipment of poultry enters the South African market.
At the press conference held in Pretoria on the 7th of January, Ministers Rob Davies, Senzeni Zokwana and Aaron Motsoaledi announced the conclusion of the negotiations on all the animal health issues related to US poultry, beef and pork.
It should be recalled that the US Trade Representative, Ambassador Froman confirmed this outcome in his statement later the same day when he stated that: “We are pleased that South Africa and the United States reached agreement to resolve barriers to US poultry, pork and beef.” However, Ambassador Froman did indicate that the US required to see “…American product in local stores” before the final benchmark to lift any threat of suspension is reached.
South Africa’s Departments of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are working closely with the local US Embassy, local importers and US exporters, to facilitate the first shipments of US poultry under the agreed Quota for US bone-in-chicken pieces. We are thus confident that the first shipment will arrive in the next few weeks and the US President will consequently revoke the above proclamation.
A number of queries have been received on the process to access the Quota on US bone-in chicken. The Quota has been implemented by the creation of Rebate Item 460.03/0207.14.9/01.07. A volume of 16 250 MT is available for use until 31 March 2016 on a first come first serve basis for all importers under this rebate item.
The only process required is to clear the goods under this rebate item at the time of entry of the goods into South Africa and for a sufficient portion of the volume of 16 250 MT being available to cover the volume of bone-in chicken pieces being imported. No special forms or permits will be required until 1 April 2016.
A volume of 65 000MT will be made available for use under this rebate item on a twelve month basis from 1 April 2016. This volume will only be accessible by importers that received a quota allocation from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and a corresponding rebate permit issued by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC). DAFF will publish a notice shortly inviting all interested parties to apply for a quota allocation. Once a quota allocation has been received from DAFF, importers will be able to apply for a rebate permit from ITAC as set out in the Guidelines Pertaining to a Temporary Rebate Provision which provides for the Rebate of the Full Anti-Dumping Duty on Bone-In Chicken Pieces Classifiable in Tariff Subheading 0207.14.9.These Guidelines can be accessed on ITAC’s website at www.itac.org.za. [Note: these guidelines are also available here on AGOA.info at the following link: http://agoa.info/downloads/5966.html ]
- Statement issued by Sidwell Medupe - Departmental Spokesperson, DTI, 12 January 2016


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© 2020 MJH Life Sciences and DVM 360. All rights reserved.
As pandemic restrictions ease should veterinary practices get to choose whether they stop or continue curbside care?
Three simple simple steps to ramp up your veterinary practice’s online security.
The insurance company Lemonade has announced that it now offers pet insurance in 33 states.


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Analyzing the Hyper-Competitive Mobile Market in India
The mobile market in India is synonymous with a hypercompetitive combat zone with more than 30 mobile brands competing here. Considering some insights from the world’s 2nd-largest mobile bazaar, it could be learned that India has witnessed a colossal invasion from Chinese mobile brands in the last 4 years.
While some of these brands succeeded in establishing a stranglehold in the market, others like ZTE, LeEco, Meizu, and Coolpad failed to make a mark. While the market bid goodbyes to brands like HTC and SONY, at the same time it welcomed iQOO and Realme in recent months. The competitive mobile market in India is delivering choice, innovation, and value-for-money for consumers.
The competitiveness of the Indian mobile bazaar can be understood by the dipping share of a brand like Micromax, which acquired 18 percent share in 2014 and presently stands at less than 5 percent.
Even a front runner like Samsung, which had a 34 percent market share in 2014, has now dropped to 21 percent, whereas Xiaomi has emerged as a market leader.
The market is highly competitive, which poses a great challenge for the new entrants to sustain and scale up in this scenario.
New entrants in India’s mobile market are listed below
Realme– The brand quickly gained popularity in India after the launch of Realme 1- its first-ever phone, in November 2018. The brand also challenged Xiaomi’s market dominance by becoming the highest online selling brand and reaching a 16 percent market share.
IQOO- In March 2020 the company launched the iQOO 3- first 5 G phone, in the Indian market. The new company falls under Vivo or BBK electronics group, which also owns multiple other brands like Realme, Oneplus, and Oppo.
iVoomi– The company ventured into the Indian market in 2017, with its 10k price slab range, and also has an association with Flipkart.
Tecno and Infinix- Transsion group’s Tecno and Infinix invaded the Indian market in mid-2017 with a focus on low ad mid-range phones falling between a price range of Rs. 5000 to Rs. 12000.
Kult- The brand launched a very aggressively priced Kult Beyond mobile in 2017 and later launched a few more models.
10.OR & Lephone- 10.OR has partnered with Amazon India and exclusively pertains to online commerce, offering phones such as 10. OR D, E, and G. The brand is not very insistent as of now.
LePhone also debuted in 2017 in India, with a prime focus on sub 10K mobiles.
No matter how hard the new entrants have been hustling to establish a strong footing in the Indian mobile market, top brands like Xiaomi are leaving no stone unturned to raise the bar even higher.
Although what’s worth noticing is that there are more failures than successes among Chinese brands. Some of these brands include HTC which finally decided to call it a day in July 2018 and Sony which saw a downfall due to ludicrous prices and inability to fathom the Indian users.
Close to 66 percent of the Indian mobile market share falls under Chinese brands and the smaller players are feeling the heat even more with the increasing competition.
Read more brand and market analysis on various industries from automobiles to fashion at Brandz Watch
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Apple's iPhone screen to boost to 4 inches?
- Staff Silicon Valley Business Journal
Apple has reportedly ordered larger screens for the iPhone it will roll out later this year, growing the display to 4 inches from the 3.5 inches on previous versions of the popular smartphone.
The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sources in a story Wednesday that said Apple ordered the bigger screens for the new phone that is expected in the fall.
It is reportedly working on the screens with with LG Display of South Korea and two Japanese companies, Sharp and Japan Display.
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A fourth new location in the UK in just over a year has been added by holiday lodge operator Landal GreenParks.
Landal Sandybrook Country Park, set on the southern edge of the Peak District, is the latest addition to the UK portfolio.
The unveiling of Landal Sandybrook as the next UK location comes just a few months after Cornwall’s Landal Gwel an Mor joined the portfolio.
Landal Kielder Waterside, in Northumberland’s Kielder Water and Forest Park, was the company’s second UK location when it took on the brand name shortly after Landal Darwin Forest this time last year.
Owner Pinelodge Holidays made the decision to come under the Landal brand having seen another of its Derbyshire locations – Darwin Forest – enjoy success since after becoming Landal’s first UK location last year.
Lyndsey Grayson, Pinelodge Holidays parks director, said: “The beautiful setting, fantastic facilities and proven customer service on offer at Sandybrook make it a natural fit for the Landal GreenParks brand.
“Our commitment to quality and hostmanship shine through at Landal Darwin Forest and we are very much looking forward to continuing this approach at Landal Sandybrook.”
Simon Altham, head of sister brand Hoseasons, said Landal Sandybrook represents another great option for agents looking to capitalise on demand for quality UK breaks.
“Obviously we are delighted that the Grayson family and the team at Pinelodge Holidays have placed so much faith in the Landal GreenParks brand and we are pleased to be welcoming Landal Sandybrook to our ever-growing UK portfolio,” he said.
“It’s another fantastic location and one I’m sure that will go down very well with customers looking to explore their surroundings as part of a back to nature UK break.”
Landal GreenParks UK breaks are available to the trade through Hoseasons.
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Kaspersky Lab Files Antitrust Complaint Against Apple Over App Store Policy
Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab has filed an antitrust complaint against Apple with the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service relating to the company's App Store distribution policy. The action comes less than a week after Spotify filed its own complaint against Apple with EU antitrust regulators over the tech giant's "unfair" App Store practices.
Kaspersky's complaint is specifically to do with Apple's removal of the Kaspersky Safe Kids app. In a blog post on the Kaspersky website, the firm says it received notice from Apple last year that the app, which had been in the App Store for three years, did not meet App Store guidelines owing to the use of configuration profiles.
Kaspersky was told by Apple that it would need to remove these profiles for the app to pass review and remain in the App Store, but the Russian firm had argued this action essentially crippled the app. "For us, that would mean removing two key features from Kaspersky Safe Kids: app control and Safari browser blocking."
The first allows parents to specify which apps kids can't run based on the App Store's age restrictions, while the second allows the hiding of all browsers on the device so that web pages can only be accessed in the Kaspersky Safe Kids app's built-in secure browser.
Kaspersky argues that the change in Apple's policy regarding parental control apps coincided with the release of iOS 12 and Apple's own Screen Time feature, which lets users monitor the amount of time they spend using certain apps and websites, and set time restrictions. Kaspersky calls it "essentially Apple's own app for parental control," and claims that's why Apple changed its tune on the firm's Safe Kids app and other apps like it.
From our point of view, Apple appears to be using its position as platform owner and supervisor of the sole channel for delivering apps to users of the platform to dictate terms and prevent other developers from operating on equal terms with it. As a result of the new rules, developers of parental control apps may lose some of their users and experience financial impact. Most important, however, it is the users who will suffer as they miss out on some critical security features. The market for parental control apps will head toward a monopoly and, consequently, stagnation.
Kaspersky says it wants to continue its "winning relationship with Apple," but on "a more equal footing," and hopes that its application to the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service will "benefit the market at large" and require Apple to "provide competitive terms to third-party developers."
Kaspersky's dispute has parallels with the antitrust complaint brought against Apple by Spotify last week. The music streaming service filed the complaint with the European Commission, accusing the iPhone maker of enforcing App Store rules that "purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience" and "acting as both a player and referee to deliberately disadvantage other app developers."
Apple responded to the complaint two days later, labeling it "misleading rhetoric" and arguing that "Spotify wants all the benefits of a free app without being free." A day later, Spotify fired back, claiming "every monopolist will suggest they have done nothing wrong" and that, consequently, Apple's response was "entirely in line" with its expectations.


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Insight Vacations is envisaging a return to its heyday of 10 or so years ago selling Egypt in Australia. Before the Arab Spring of 2011, Egypt and the guided holiday specialists’ Ancient Civilisations program were huge sellers, especially in the Australian market.
This month, Insight Vacations announced the return of a standalone brochure for its Ancient Civilisations program to Egypt and Turkey. In Sydney this week, Insight Vacations Global CEO Ulla Hefel Böhler kicked off the brochure’s relaunch in an individual format alongside the release of its Europe and Britain core program for 2020/21.
The new 2020/21 Ancient Civilisations brochure may suggest the destination had been completely rested from Insights’ offering, and around the Arab Spring there was a period of time when “essentially our insurance company told us we cannot sell Egypt,” Hefel Böhler revealed to LATTE. But that period elapsed years ago, and Egypt has featured within Insight Vacations’ Europe & Britain program in the years since.
“We’ve never really stopped selling Ancient Civilisations. We’ve always sold Greece, a bit of Turkey, but the volume wasn’t big enough for its own standalone brochure. It’s always had a certain number of itineraries, whereas now, in the last 10-12 months, it’s really been those regions that have come back strongly. Egypt. Turkey as well. Greece has been consistent the past couple of years. Israel is strong, as is Jordan.
“So we felt the time was right to really give it its own separate brochure,” Hefel Bohler told LATTE.
The brochure itself features a striking image of Tutankhamun’s mask on the front cover.
“If someone is looking to go to Egypt, then this cover really jumps out at you, and the brochure provides us with the platform to go into more detail than we can in the Europe & Britain program.”
“Insight Vacations sold huge volumes of Egypt. And Turkey as well,” the former Sydneysider explained, but the anti-government protests, riots and uprising of 2011 “changed it all”.
“But now it’s time to claim that high ground again,” she remarked.
Egypt is not only prominently featured in the Insight Vacations’ portfolio, but also to that of the company’s upmarket sister-brand, Luxury Gold.
Hefel Böhler said she was quite optimistic and that the latest anti-government clashes on the streets of Cairo this week are “just a minor bump in the road”.
“We are in close contact with our local partners on the ground who don’t seem to be concerned at all. Obviously we are staying very up-to-date on the situation, but at this point in time I don’t have any real concerns in that regard,” she said.
Insight Vacations’ Ancient Civilisations program isn’t wholly focused on Egypt and Turkey, with the program also offering options for Greece, Morocco, Jordan and Israel too. What is new though is an expansion into India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
“Luxury Gold has operated trips to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal for a number of years and based on feedback from our customers and agents, they said, ‘It would be lovely to get to Sri Lanka but not everyone has the budget for Luxury Gold. We’d love to have something within the Insight portfolio.’ So we are introducing that for 2020 which is exciting.”
Insight Vacations’ 55-page Ancient Civilisations’ brochure features 18 trips to nine countries. For more information, see insightvacations.com/au


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The YotaPhone has an 4.3-inch HD LCD display on the front and an e-ink display on the back. The idea is that you can use the colour LCD display like a normal Android phone, and receive notifications, read news or send maps to the rear e-paper display to save battery.
The YotaPhone is made by Russian smartphone manufacturer Yota, which also provides mobile broadband services in the country. The YotaPhone won the CNET Best of CES Award for 'Hottest Mobile Device' at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show.
At the time, the device featured 4G LTE, Android 4.1, a 4.3-inch 1280p HD display, a 12-megapixel camera, and a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus (MSM8960) chip. However, it is likely that at least some of these specs will be updated ahead of the launch, which TechCrunch reports will be before Christmas.
The YotaPhone is not the first dual-screen smartphone – earlier this year Samsung launched ‘the Hennessy’, a dual-screen flip phone with a touch-screen on both the outer and inner surfaces. However, it is the first to combine an LCD screen with an e-ink display.
Yota Devices chief executive Vlad Martynov claims that the YotaPhone represents "a whole new archetype in smartphones". As well as saving battery, the e-ink display also provides a more comfortable reading experience and lets users view notifications without having to activate their phone.
Reports in the Russian press suggest that the YotaPhone will ship with a price tag of 20,000 rubles (roughly £380), but the company has so far made no announcements on pricing.


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A recent contribution to tED Magazine. Reprinted with permission.
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently updated its bi-annual report, Energy Savings Forecast of Solid-State Lighting in General Illumination Applications. This major report models adoption of LEDs in the U.S. general lighting market.
In 2015, LED products comprised an estimated 6 percent of the total installed stock, up from 3 percent in 2013. DOE forecasts 30 percent penetration by 2020 and 59 percent penetration by 2025. The forecast is partly based on a revised assumed renovation rate, which DOE increased from 5 to 10 percent. This recognizes the growing market for lighting upgrades in existing construction.
The outdoor stationary market leads in LED penetration, with estimated 19 percent penetration in 2015 and projected 57 percent by 2020. The commercial market is also growing, with an estimated 12 percent penetration in 2015 and projected 36 percent by 2020.
Strongest penetration has occurred in three markets:
• A-type lamps, which accounted for 46 percent of installed LED lighting and 14 percent of the energy savings;
• directional lighting, 18 percent of installed LED lighting and 29 percent of the energy savings; and
• linear lighting, 16 percent of installed LED lighting and 20 percent of the energy savings.
By 2020, annual energy savings from LED lighting will reach about 293 MWh. While direct load reduction will generate the majority of these energy savings, lighting controls will account for a significant portion. By 2035, DOE expects connected lighting and lighting controls to generate one-third of all energy savings.
Let’s look at three submarkets in detail—linear, low- and high-bay, and area and roadway lighting:
• Linear lighting: High-performance LED lighting will have a strong impact on this market. Current penetration is 3 percent. Though fluorescent systems offer efficacies as high as 90 lumens/W, both linear LED luminaires and replacement lamps already exceed that and are continually improving. By 2020, LED luminaires and lamps will penetrate 16 percent of the linear luminaire stock by 2020, according to DOE.
• Low- and high-bay lighting: Fluorescent lighting against dominates in this increasingly popular market. Again, LED is poised for rapid growth. LED luminaires penetrated about 6 percent of the installed stock in 2015, while high-wattage LED retrofit lamps represented less than one percent. Penetration is expected to increase to 38 percent by 2020 (39 percent commercial, 35 percent industrial), according to DOE.
• Area and roadway lighting: LEDs are well suited to these applications because of the directionality, durability and longevity of the light source. Metal halide and high-pressure sodium dominate this market, but LED has already achieved a significant 21 percent share of the installed base. DOE forecasted penetration to increase to 66 percent by 2020. DOE noted that as with other markets, there is an initial uptake in LED replacement lamps followed by their decline relative to LED luminaires.
Click here to download the report.


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In 2010, CDC committed €12m to the AfricInvest Fund II, which in turn made a €6.8m investment in Kiboko Holdings Limited, a manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceuticals.
The benefits of a thriving local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector are manifest – skilled employment, potential for lower-priced products, technology and knowledge transfer. Domestic production in Uganda, however, is limited to just 11 manufacturers.
The pharmaceutical market in Uganda is worth around €150m, but it is estimated that between 80% and 90% of the products are imported from countries such as India and China. The market is essentially generic, with price being the major determinant factor for purchase and use.
In spite of high demand for products, there are several
difficulties involved in setting up a local pharma manufacturer. The key challenges are the high cost of operations, high cost of energy and competition, particularly on price from imported products. Access to capital is also a problem with few credit lines and even less risk capital available.
Following the funding from CDC and AfricInvest, Kiboko has established Abacus Parenteral Drugs Ltd, a new manufacturer of life-saving intravenous (IV) fluids and vials of sterile water for injections and eye drops. This has involved the construction of a 36 acre plant outside Kampala – the first facility of its kind in Uganda – with the capacity to produce 65m units of parenteral drugs per year. The plant will produce IV fluids and sterile water for Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Eastern DRC, South Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania.
Being the first and only IV fluid manufacturing company in Uganda, Abacus provides competitively priced local products that compare favourably to imports. This has enabled low-income customers to have access to affordable pharmaceutical products.
In accordance with CDC’s best practice environmental processes, Abacus has applied innovative solutions to manage costs and improve efficiency. For example, to reduce high fuel costs and mitigate the frequent power shortages, the company will install a biomass boiler at a cost of €400,000 that will burn abundantly available coffee husks for fuel.
Furthermore, to alleviate a shortage of plastic granules used in packaging, Abacus installed a granules recycling plant in the second quarter of 2011. Not only does the recycling plant make use of scrap materials, but it also reduces costs.
Staff and community benefits
Abacus provides educational benefits for its staff to ensure their children can attend school and offers university scholarships to students from poor backgrounds to study for a Bachelor of Pharmacy at a local university.
Each year the company sponsors five students who are taken through their entire university education. In return the students enter into an agreement to work in rural areas for a period after completion of their four year course to facilitate provision of rural health services.
||AfricInvest Fund II
|Date of commitment
|Number of employees


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Ticket windows for a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra have been closed in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country. Visitors can now only book tickets online for a visit to the monument.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has provided the facility for online booking. However, inside the Taj Mahal, the counter on the jasmine floor under the main dome will be operational to buy an additional ticket of Rs 200. Citing COVID-19 protocol, the ASI has closed the counters after tourists were flouting rules by neither wearing masks nor following proper physical distancing.
The Archaeological Survey of India had restarted ticket counters for sale of tickets offline at the Taj Mahal from November 27 and other monuments from December 1, making it easier for people coming from rural India and those who did not have smartphones. Now with the closure of ticket windows at all monuments, tourists will be able to book tickets online only.
ASI sells tickets in Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Sikandra, Etmauddaula, Mehtab Bagh, Rambagh and Maryam's Tomb along with Taj Mahal in Agra.


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At one time or another, I would imagine that most of you have been up close and personal with an insect trap. The insect trap is a pretty basic tool for the farm, and hasn’t changed much over the years…until now.
A new online application developed and launched by Spensa Technologies Inc. will allow you to electronically track the number of insects in the field. MyTraps.com, which was launched this month, lets growers and consultants electronically manage insect data and pesticide records on a secure website by entering the data into the site through a Web browser or smart phone.
According to an article in Farm Industry News, “Once someone has subscribed to MyTraps.com, they can input the insect data, and the online software program will create insect population line graphs so growers or consultants can target their insecticide use where needed and reduce usage in areas where the insect populations are not as high.”
The online application can be used to collect insect data affecting any type of crops including corn, green beans, soybeans, apples, oranges, pears and grapes. It also will store data over time so growers can identify insect trends and access their pesticide data online and analyze past data while planning for future crops.
But that is just the first step. Spensa also is commercializing the Z-Trap, a tool that automatically detects the number of target insects captured by the trap and sends the data wirelessly to the grower’s mobile phone or computer. The technology is being used to collect data on codling moths, Oriental fruit moths and leaf rollers in apple orchards, but will eventually be used to collect insect data from other types of crops. The company expects to launch Z-Trap in 2013.
It’s some pretty neat technology, all designed to give you more complete information, faster and more efficiently. And it just shows how even the most basic of farm tools are going high-tech.
To learn more about the latest product solutions to tackle tomorrow’s farming challenges, subscribe to our new Tool Shed E-newsletter!
What farm apps to you have on your smartphone?


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The whole world is laughing.
The Occupy Black Friday movement, which promises disruptive flash mobs, consumer zombies and carol singing over the course of today’s sales, seems to be no match for the consumer might of thousands of bargain hunters who have turned up at stores in force.
The group, which has formed on the back of the Occupy Wall Street protests, hopes to persuade shoppers to buy local and turn their backs on mega retailers.
But at Macy’s Herald Square in New York, just four activists chanted ‘boycott Macy’s’ and ‘stop supporting big corporations’ as around 9,000 people queued to shop at the landmark department store this morning.
Stores across the U.S. continue to brace themselves for potential unrest as protesters from the Occupy Wall Street movement urge people to either forgo the annual retail frenzy, or to support smaller, local stores.
While there is little evidence of direct action so far today, each mini-protest promises some kind of surprise action on the day after Thanksgiving, which marks the traditional start of the holiday shopping season in the U.S.
But with thousands of shoppers turning out to find great deals this holiday, it looks as though U.S retailers are set to attract the National Retail Federation’s predicted 152 million shoppers over the course of the holiday.
There’s 152 million shoppers and four protesters, yet they still get attention. Pathetic.
Meanwhile, plenty of chaos at the malls nonetheless.


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Firms slapped with Sh13b EU fine
Dutch group Philips and three other consumer electronics companies were fined a total 111.2 million euros (Sh13 billion) by EU antitrust regulators yesterday for imposing fixed or minimum online prices for their products.
The ruling against Philips, Asus, Pioneer and Denon & Marantz followed a 17-month investigation by the European Commission as part of its crackdown on online sales practices such as price restrictions based on a customer’s location or nationality.
The investigation, which began in February last year, was one of three that covered a total of 15 companies in the consumer electronics, video game and hotel sectors. The four companies fined on Tuesday were found to have restricted the ability of online retailers to set their own prices for products such as kitchen appliances, notebook computers and hi-fi products, insisting on fixed or minimum resale prices, the EU said.
Pioneer was also found to have sought to limit the ability of its retailers to sell across borders. It engaged in illegal practices in 12 EU countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain, the commission said, adding that the other companies did so in one or two countries.
“As a result of the actions taken by these four companies, millions of European consumers faced higher prices for kitchen appliances, hair dryers, notebook computers, headphones and many other products,” European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. Asus was fined 63.5 million euros, Philips 29.8 million euros, Pioneer 10.2 million euros and Denon & Marantz 7.7 million euros.
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Pioneer and Denon could not be reached for comment outside business hours. Asus and Philips did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Ms Vestager’s action comes a week after she dished out a record 4.34 billion euro fine against Google. US President Donald Trump has previously complained of unfair treatment of American companies by the EU.
Vestager said the Google decision was not political and that if Google had a complaint it could take the commission to court.