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E-commerce companies twisting new MHA rules: CAIT

Offline traders' body CAIT has argued that e-commerce companies are misinterpreting MHA's new lockdown guidelines and "twisting (them) in their favour to misguide the various state governments and authorities and to create unnecessary confusion." The government has extended lockdown till May 17. It, however, gave some relaxations for business activities and people's movement within areas with limited or no COVID-19 cases.




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Grofers is in talks to raise $60-70 million

The funding comes at a time when the company’s sales and margins have doubled, compared to the same period last year.




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COVID-19: Amazon to deliver essential items in containment zones in Mumbai

Under the initiative, Amazon will deliver orders to a designated delivery point in the vicinity of the containment zone, from where volunteers will further deliver the packages to customers' doorstep, the company said in a statement.




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Provide level playing field to e-commerce companies in red zone: IAMAI

The Centre, in its revised guidelines on May 1, had allowed “standalone shops” to operate in the red zones, while it restricted operations of e-commerce companies to sale of essential items only.




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Ecommerce: Covid-19 highlights the urgent need to digitise the supply chain

Companies need to come up with strategies to keep the lights on, both by keeping control on the cash burn as well as generating revenue in these difficult times.




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VLCC to raise funds for expansion: Syed Safawi

The business is split in three verticals, services, products and skilling. The services which include slimming and diet planning is the oldest and most known.




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Demonetisation: Old money can still buy you hairdos and spa sessions

Salon chains and wellness providers look to spur sales and attract new clients.




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Twinkle Khanna to endorse salon hair brand L'Oreal Professionnel for India

The announcement was made at the L'Oreal Professionnel Indian Hairdressing Awards, held in Bambolim on Wednesday.




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Salon chain Be U Salons raises Rs 4 cr in seed funding

The chain which currently has 20 outlets operating across Delhi-NCR aims to open over 100 outlets in financial year 2017 across multiple cities in India.




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WestBridge buys 65% stake in salon chain Enrich

Enrich founder & director Vikram Bhatt said for the year ending March 31, 2018, the salon chain clocked Rs161crore in revenues and Rs 16.5 crore of positive ebitda.




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L’Oréal India appoints Amit Jain as new MD

Jain, who will join from August this year, will be L’Oréal India’s first Indian managing director after the French cosmetics giant entered in 1991.




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Nykaa raises Rs 75 crore as valuation touches Rs 3,000 crore

This is the fourth round of fund-raising by Nykaa, which last raised about Rs 100 crore in 2016 from Max India, the Sunil Munjal family office and Harsh Mariwala.




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Personal care startup MCaffeine raises $500,000 in pre-Series A round

The latest round of funding was led by the startup’s existing backer Harminder Sahni, founder of consultancy firm Wazir Advisors, Lets Ventures’ Mohit Bajaj and Calcutta Angels.




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Fogg-maker launches Pretty 24 that debunks fairness proposition

There is no market for me today because every brand in the category has convinced the consumer that they need to look fair to be successful in life.




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Cosmetics brand Flormar ties up with Rel Retail to begin India journey

Reliance Trends is the fashion and accessories arm of Reliance Retail.




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LA fashion and beauty retailers take steps to contain coronavirus spread

A shopping mall in LA called 'The Grove and Beverly Center' has added more hand sanitizing stations, while Glossier, a cosmetic store, is closing all stores: "We are ready to put public health before our results.".




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L'Oreal donates 60,000 litres of hand sanitizers to aid coronavirus fight

L'Oreal India's operations team will donate hand sanitisers to public health institutions, police forces and NGOs, who are at the forefront of the fight against the virus, said a statement.




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Masks, sanitisers can be sold at fair price shops: Delhi food minister

Officials are already taking necessary action against black-marketers and hoarders as per law under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act. The minister said the practice of social distancing must be followed while distributing ration among beneficiaries, who should be asked to maintain a distance of at least one metre between them.




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Govt caps maximum retail price of 200ml hand sanitizer at Rs 100 till June

"The price cap has been imposed taking into account the sharp increase in prices of raw materials used in making of face masks and hand santizer," Paswan said.




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Hand sanitizers vanish the shelf again, 50% couldn't find it: LocalCircles survey

“50% of those surveyed said they were not able to buy at all due to no availability while 26% said they had to buy an unknown brand as reputed brands were out of stock. 8% said they were able to buy reputed sanitizers at a general retail store and 15% said they were able to buy reputed brand sanitizers at a chemist,” LocalCircle survey said.




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SJM’s Ashwani Mahajan raises concern over foreign funded e-pharmacies

SJM national co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan tweeted on this issue, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to flag his concern. . Mahajan had shared screenshots that said Aarogya Setu now brings to you online medical consultations (call and video), home lab tests and e-pharmacy.




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Fit and fine: Retail market for fitness in India likely to touch Rs 7,000cr by year-end

The value of the market in India is Rs 4,579 crore at present.




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VLCC to organise campaign against obesity

To mark the occasion of Anti Obesity Day on November 26, the company would provide DNA scan to individuals at its centres countrywide and also educate them on issues leading to the problem such as weight gain, exercise and food habits etc.




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Mukesh Bansal’s Cure.fit acquires Fitness First chain




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Curefit may enter online retailing of sportswear

Selling sportswear online will open up an additional revenue stream for Curefit, which currently offers four products such as gyms under Cultfit, yoga and meditation centres under Mindfit, health food under Eatfit and primary care with Carefit.




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Curefit raises Rs 832 crore from Temasek, Unilever

The deal would value the company at close to Rs 4,300 crore, a premium of about 15% to its previous round of funding which valued the company at over Rs 3,700 crore, according to filings from ministry of corporate affairs sources by TOI.




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OP Munjal chairman Hero Cycles is no more

Om Prakash Munjal Chairman Hero Cycles died at the age of 86 at Ludhiana in the Hero Heart Institute of Dayanand Medical College and hospital on Thursday morning.




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Mahesh Bhupathi backed Sports365.in to raise up to Rs 53 crore

Sports365 plans to use the funds to build technological capacities, launch its own private label and increase manpower.




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Nike's incredible road to becoming the world's dominant sneaker retailer

Nike is the dominant athletic apparel brand in the world, with $30 billion in annual revenue.But it wasn't always that way.Here's a look at Nike's history.




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Mahesh Bhupathi's Sports365 aims to be Rs 1,000-cr firm in 5 years

Sports365 is also supported by icons as Yuvraj Singh, Deepika Pallikal and Bhupathi's wife Lara Dutta and is partnering with foreign sports brands as their exclusive partners in India.




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Consignments of sports goods from Pakistan unclaimed at the border post after high import duty

With 200% duty, Indian importers aren’t taking delivery of sports goods and other consignments.




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Decathlon overtakes Adidas, Nike in sports gear retailing

With 70 large, warehouse-like stores, Decathlon's product pricing is about 30-40% lower than competing products.




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Heart failure patient hits out at AXM defibrillator vandal

Jim Tees should check his facts before jumping in with both feet and looking foolish.




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Cyclists already think pavements are fair game - we don't need lanes

INTERESTING to hear that the level of traffic is steadily increasing despite the restrictions.




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Week In Sports: Competitive Cornhole To Air On ESPN, NASCAR Slated To Return

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




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U.K. Airlines, Airports Fear 'Devastating Impact' Of Possible Quarantine Rules

Airlines and airport operators in the United Kingdom are not waiting for the British government to publicly confirm their fears. Already, the groups representing major players in the U.K.'s air travel industry are pushing back on a proposal that would require travelers to quarantine after arriving from outside the country. A spokesperson for Airlines UK — a trade body with British Airways, EasyJet and Ryanair as members — says the group understands from government officials that plans for a quarantine are in the works, but that details remain scarce at the moment. "We need to see the detail of what they are proposing. Public health must of course be the priority and we will continue to be guided by Sage advice," the group said in a statement emailed to NPR, noting that support measures will be necessary to ensure "that we still have a UK aviation sector once the quarantine period is lifted." "We will be asking for assurances that this decision has been led by the science and that




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Virtual Art Sales To Replace Some Art Fairs During COVID-19

Art fairs are common around springtime but for a lot of vendors this year, it’s not business as usual. That’s due to COVID-19 and social distancing. Two Fox Valley Area artists found a way to help bring in revenue, despite what's going on. Kelsey Rankin is the founder of Hemp Club Jewelry . She worked with her friend Laura Lynne to create a Virtual Artisan Market. “We kind of handpicked our vendors that we wanted to participate. It was an invite only, artisan handmade is what we wanted to stick with,” she said. “Because there’s a ton of people that we know out there but we wanted to keep it small in manageable for this first one.” Rankin said she understands that people are hesitant about receiving packages in the mail. She refers to advice from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. “So just wash your hands. Make sure you are being careful with any foreign object coming into the house. And if you feel like you need to wipe it down, do so. Just follow the




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Ailing Marchionne Out At Chrysler: Head Of Jeep To Replace Him

Fiat Chrysler Automobile announced Saturday that CEO Sergio Marchionne's health had suddenly deteriorated following surgery and that its board of directors had chosen Jeep executive Mike Manley to replace him. Marchionne, a 66-year-old Italian-Canadian, joined Fiat in 2004 and led the Turin-based company's merger with bankrupt U.S. carmaker Chrysler. Manley, 54, had been heading the Jeep brand since June 2009 and the Ram brand from October 2015. The announcement, at the end of an urgently convened board meeting, marked the end of the Marchionne era, which included the turnaround of failing Fiat, the takeover of bankrupt U.S. automaker Chrysler and the spinoffs of the heavy machinery and truck maker CNH and supercar maker Ferrari. Fiat Chrysler said in a statement that due to his deteriorating health Marchionne "will be unable to return to work." Marchionne, 66, had already announced he would step down in early 2019, so the board's decision, to be confirmed at an upcoming shareholders'




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Rochelle Development Riding The Rails Into Lee County

Rochelle has leveraged its location, and resources like its municipal railroad, to spur a lot of business activity in its corner of Ogle County . Now it’s set to move into neighboring Lee County in a big way. You don’t have to go far anywhere in Rochelle to hear the sound of a train. Tracks belonging to the country’s two largest railroads, BNSF and Union Pacific, intersect here. Union Pacific also has an intermodal facility in Rochelle to move cargo between trains and trucks, taking advantage of the city’s proximity to Interstates 88 and 39. Moving around Rochelle’s business parks, there’s another sound you might hear: a switch engine, a small locomotive used in railyards, releasing cars loaded with material for use in one of the many businesses served by the city’s municipal railroad . That city line links those companies with the big railroads, providing a direct connection to and from markets across North America, and eventually the world. Jason Anderson is Rochelle’s Economic




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Cargo Flights And Airplane Repair Keep Rockford's Airport Flying High

When you think of passenger air travel in northern Illinois, O'Hare often comes to mind. But Rockford's facility, officially known as Chicago Rockford International Airport, is making a greater name for itself, particularly in the realm of cargo. In 1994, officials with United Parcel Service, better known as UPS, made a deal with airport authorities to set up a sorting hub. Since then, it's become the company's second largest air operation in the world. Earlier this month, airport officials presented the president of UPS Airlines with the Rockford Award. It recognizes businesses that contributed to economic development in the area. UPS Rockford Transportation Director Mike Nepaul says the company made several expansions over the years--which increased the number of packages it can sort. "We're putting a new small sort mezzanine in right now, so that will expand our flow-per hour within the building from 89,000 per hour to over 120,000 an hour," he said. "So that's a big expansion for




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Amazon Expands Air Operations To Rockford

Amazon is a leader in online shopping. It has warehouses across the country to sort and deliver its products. Recently, Amazon Air announced it will expand its delivery network into Rockford. Chicago Rockford International Airport is already a major hub for UPS. The airport also has maintenance facilities capable of repairing the world's largest aircraft. But Amazon took particular interest due to the airport's cargo operations. Director Sarah Rhoads says it's part of the retailer's "Middle Mile" network for two-day deliveries. "That package would go from a fulfillment center to one of our 21 air gateways that we have throughout the United States for transport to then another air gateway for downstream transit to a sort center where that package would be sorted for final delivery to your location," she explained. Amazon has been operating at Rockford's airport in some capacity since September 2016. Airport executive director Mike Dunn says they operated under a different corporate name




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Rockford Airport To Add 500+ Cargo Jobs

Pinnacle Logistics and the Chicago Rockford International Airport announced 500 new jobs to support additional cargo flights at the airport. According to a news release, Pinnacle Logistics provides scheduled surface transportation, supply chain management, cargo, aircraft handling and parking services. The release says more positions will be added in coming months. The jobs include entry level positions, leads, supervisors and managers on duty, as well as dockworkers, forklift drivers, and ramp and cargo warehouse handling agents. The available positions are seasonal and permanent. “We knew our cargo growth would produce more jobs in 2019 and this is just the beginning,” said Mike Dunn, executive director at RFD. “We are glad to partner with Pinnacle Logistics and proud that our job creation continues to put us on the map for our exceptional cargo operations.” In July, the airport announced its rank as the 22nd largest airport in the nation for air cargo volume, up from a ranking of 31




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State Gas Tax Hike Raises Average Fuel Prices

Illinois raised its per-gallon gasoline tax at the beginning of July and it’s already having an effect on state prices. AAA reports the current state average is around $3.14 per gallon, and may be driving some border residents to get their fuel in other states. GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says the change came quickly. “Average prices shot up noticeably within the first 24 hours but it took almost 48-72 hours for stations to fully pass along the state’s 19 cent per gallon increase in gasoline tax,” he said. DeHaan says prices also remain high because of increased oil costs. This, he says, is due to tensions between Iran and the West in the Persian Gulf.




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Illinois Church Continues Court Fight Against Covid-19 Limits On Religious Gatherings

An Illinois church is appealing a decision that upholds Governor J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order for religious gatherings. Pastor Stephen Cassell with the Beloved Church of Lena sought a temporary restraining order so it could hold in-person services. Over the weekend, a judge ruled the governor’s order is constitutional in order to prevent mass infections and death. Senior Counsel Peter Breen is with the Thomas More Society, which is representing the church. He said the current limit on attendees in the coronavirus executive order violates religious freedom. “There’s no other essential business or operation in the state that has to follow a 10-person hard cap," he said. "We want to have that reversed so that Pastor Steve and the Beloved Church are able to have their services unmolested by local law enforcement or state law enforcement.” Breen said he also has qualms about the governor's recent comments. “Governor Pritzker in his most recent press conferences is saying that people




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The DeKalb Community Shows Support Through Fundraising

The coronavirus crisis has changed the way we congregate but it hasn’t changed the way we come together. The DeKalb community is supporting nonprofits that provide much needed services to the community. The Give DeKalb County campaign, a 24-hour fundraiser, takes place May 7. Ben Bingle is the director of the DeKalb County nonprofit partnership. He said they’ve had to cancel their walk-in donation option due to COVID-19. This option was replaced with a mail-in one. Bingle said this change hasn’t impacted the generosity of the community. “We’ve seen a really strong response so far through the mail,” he said. “And so, we believe we’re going to have a very strong turnout.” Bingle said donors can also support by using the Give DeKalb County website or their mobile phones. He said the website will include profiles for each organization. Bingle suggested that the community may not even know what services are out there for them and the profiles allow them to see what’s available. “It’s




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Grassie to step down as SRU chairman

Colin Grassie is to stand down as chairman of the board of Scottish Rugby at August’s AGM.




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Watch Marti Pellow sing Angel Eyes for Clydebank carers who are raising money for PPE

WET WET WET singer Marti Pellow has performed a song in tribute to carers who are raising money for personal protection equipment (PPE) in his hometown of Clydebank.




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Love Island star Paige Turley reveals Finn has discovered a love of haggis during lockdown

SMITTEN Paige Turley has been feeding her hunky Love Island boyfriend Finn Tapp with the finest of Scottish cuisine while in lockdown - and it seems he can’t get enough of haggis.




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University of Florida continues to make gains in U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings




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UF students on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19