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Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

India decides no boarding pass stamping at airports for international travellers from Sep 1

Passengers flying out of Indian airports will no longer be required to carry a physical boarding pass as immigration authorities have decided to do away with the stamping of this document from September 1, officials said on Saturday. Instead, passengers travelling abroad will have to produce an e-boarding pass on their smartphones for immigration clearance, the officials told PTI. The Bureau of Immigration (BOI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recently communicated the official directive to airport authorities after the agency found that the physical stamping of boarding passes for immigration purposes was causing "inconvenience" to passengers. Instances of errors in reading boarding passes due to "improper or incorrect" stamping were also being reported and, hence, it was decided to do away with this procedure, the officials said. "The matter has been examined by the BOI and it has now been decided to do away with the mandatory requirement of physical boarding passes and the stamping of boarding passes at immigration counters at all international airports in the country," the officials said quoting the directive. They, however, said physical boarding passes will continue to be accepted but will not be stamped by the immigration authorities from September 1. Security officials added that boarding passes of international travellers were also not being stamped by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) during individual frisking and they were supposed to be only produced for clearance by immigration authorities. The boarding pass stamping by CISF for both domestic and international passengers was stopped many years ago, they added. The officials said a pilot project to do away with the stamping of the immigration entry and exit for Indian passport holders is also planned to be done away with after a pilot exercise in this context is completed. The measure is soon expected to be operationalised across Indian airports, they said. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

India decides no boarding pass stamping at airports for international travellers from Sep 1
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

No more 12-minute ad limit for TV channels as Centre notifies rule changes

The Centre has now officially notified the amendments in the Cable TV Network Rules removing the 12 minute ad duration cap for television channels. Earlier the Information & Broadcasting Ministry had said this decision was taken to enable a level playing field, fair competition and ease of doing business. Analysts said this is directionally positive for television broadcasters, providing greater flexibility to monetise inventory and to some extent address the regulatory disadvantage compared to digital platforms. The official notification from the Ministry said, “In the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, in rule 7, sub-rule (11) shall be omitted,” which refers to the amendment that capped television advertisements at 12 minutes per clock hour. The advertisement duration cap for Television channels was introduced in 2006, when there were only 62 TV channels. The number has now increased to over 900. “In view of the changes that have occurred in the TV broadcasting sector, a need was felt to revisit the stipulations relating to advertisement duration. In India, the sector is heavily dependent on advertising, irrespective of whether a channel is ‘pay’ or ‘free-to-air’. Furthermore, there was a non-level playing field for traditional TV channels vis-à-vis digital media, where no such stipulation on advertisement cap regulation exists,” the Ministry said in its statement earlier. Elara Capital in a report noted that this move is “directionally positive” and could lead to a revenue benefit in the range of 1-3 per cent. “Most of the industry already operates at or above the cap, with news channels carrying 16– 18 minutes/hour, while live sports offers limited scope to additional inventory. Fundamentally, television’s key challenges relate to declining viewership and content engagement,” Karan Taurani, EVP, Elara Capital stated in the recently released report. Pay -TV households fell at nearly 4 per cent CAGR during FY20–25, while connected -TV, (CTV) households are expanding. “Where demand and inventory utilisation remain healthy, broadcasters can monetise additional minutes while protecting yields; where demand is weak, higher supply increases advertiser negotiating leverage and pressures rates,” he added. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

No more 12-minute ad limit for TV channels as Centre notifies rule changes
Europe
BBC Business

Protein or pickled garlic? What's new in ice cream

I'm at the research and development centre of the world's biggest publicly listed ice-cream maker, Magnum. Near Bedford in the UK, it's where the company's researchers dream up new recipes and develop their production processes. What really catches my eye is a pale yellow glow in the corner of the room. The light emanates from a glow-in-the-dark ice lolly. Launched in the clubbing capital of Ibiza, it's targeted toward clubbers and festival-goers, and one of its ingredients, vitamin B2, is naturally luminescent and glows under UV club lights. While a luminescent product may seem a bit of a gimmick, ice cream is a serious business and innovation is crucial to staying ahead of the game. There's tough competition from other giants including Häagen-Dazs owner, Froneri, and Baskin-Robbins, the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, not to mention smaller artisan ice cream makers that are popping up all the time. They're all dealing with a notoriously unpredictable market and with fluctuating commodity and energy prices. No one can afford to stand still. "We've had five years of price volatility impacted by war in Ukraine, Covid, the cost of living crisis. We've now got the Strait of Hormuz. We've just been in this constant state of instability when it comes to pricing," says Georgia Rose, principal analyst at global market research company, Kantar Retail IQ. And those price fluctuations affect multiple areas of the ice-cream making process. "Manufacturers have been hit by higher prices for dairy, cream, eggs; the ingredients that make ice-cream bases. And then you've got the flavours; vanilla, chocolate, sugar, fruit. And something that often gets forgotten is the cold-chain energy costs and storage," she says. Rising costs are something The Magnum Ice Cream Company is battling with. It was spun off from parent firm Unilever last year and owns brands including Cornetto, Twister, Solero and of course, Magnum. As the largest stock market-listed ice cream company in the world, with a market capitalisation of around £8bn, it has the funds to innovate. One area under constant development is refrigeration - globally Magnum owns three million fridges, (designed and built by a third party), and some are fitted with cameras taking images to be uploaded to data centres.

Protein or pickled garlic? What's new in ice cream
Asia
The Economic Times

Vijay Kedia Portfolio: 5 stocks surge up to 55% in CY26; 1 new addition in June quarter

Investors often track the portfolios of seasoned market veterans for insights into their investment strategies. In this context, ETMarkets reviewed the investment holdings of veteran investor Vijay Kedia. According to the latest available data for the June 2026 quarter, Kedia has publicly disclosed stakes in around 23 companies, with a combined market value of approximately Rs 1,415 crore as of August 21. This marks an increase of 21% from Rs 1,170 crore recorded in December 2025.In terms of CY26 price performance, the portfolio has more negative performers than positive ones. ETMarkets has highlighted five stocks that gained between 10% and 55% in CY26, along with five major laggards that slipped more than 20% during the same period. The analysis also points to one new addition to Kedia’s portfolio during the June 2026 quarter. (Data Source: ACE Equity, Trendlyne) In CY26, the stock surged 53%, rising from Rs 15,190 to Rs 23,295. As of the June 2026 quarter, Vijay Kedia held a 1.01% stake in the company, currently valued at around Rs 303 crore. In CY26, the stock surged 43%, climbing from Rs 1,456 to Rs 2,086. As of the June 2026 quarter, Vijay Kedia held a 1.14% stake in the company, currently valued at around Rs 26 crore. In CY26, the stock surged 37%, rising from Rs 1,598 to Rs 2,187. As of the June 2026 quarter, Vijay Kedia held a 1.45% stake in the company, currently valued at around Rs 18 crore. The stock was newly added to his portfolio during the June 2026 quarter. In CY26, the stock gained 28%, rising from Rs 948 to Rs 1,213. As of the June 2026 quarter, Vijay Kedia held a 1.27% stake in the company, currently valued at around Rs 121 crore. In CY26, the stock surged 25%, climbing from Rs 682 to Rs 855. As of the June 2026 quarter, Vijay Kedia held a 1.00% stake in the company, currently valued at around Rs 82 crore. In CY26, the stock declined 22%, falling from Rs 167 to Rs 130. As of the June 2026 quarter, Vijay Kedia held a 1.05% stake in the company, currently valued at around Rs 13 crore. In CY26, the stock declined 22%, falling from Rs 196 to Rs 153. As of the June 2026 quarter, Vijay Kedia held a 4.9% stake in the company, valued at around Rs 10.4 crore. In CY26, the stock declined 28%, falling from Rs 310 to Rs 223. As of the June 2026 quarter, Vijay Kedia held a 1.00% stake in the company, valued at around Rs 45 crore. In CY26, the stock declined 30%, falling from Rs 462 to Rs 321. As of the June 2026 quarter, Vijay Kedia held a 6.32% stake in the company, valued at around Rs 29 crore. In CY26, the stock declined 37%, falling from Rs 184 to Rs 116. As of the June 2026 quarter, Vijay Kedia held an 8.71% stake in the company, valued at around Rs 19 crore.

Vijay Kedia Portfolio: 5 stocks surge up to 55% in CY26; 1 new addition in June quarter
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Two killed, 9 injured in a blast at Hazelo Pharma Unit in Telangana

Two workers were killed and nine others were injured in a reactor blast in the company. Two workers were killed and nine others were injured in a reactor blast at a pharma company in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, Telangana. The incident happened at the Hazelo Pharma industry located in Dothigudemin Pochampally mandal, when the workers were changing shift. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Two killed, 9 injured in a blast at Hazelo Pharma Unit in Telangana
Europe
BBC Business

Temporary ban on disposable BBQs as military deployed to help battle wildfires

Disposable barbecues have been temporarily banned from sale over fears they pose a "significant risk to the public" as drought and heatwave conditions continue to grip the UK. They have been the cause of "a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months", the government said. A potential ban was first discussed at an emergency Cobra meeting in response to record temperatures earlier this week. The public have been urged not to light an open fires and to dispose of cigarettes carefully. Meanwhile Prime Minister Andy Burnham says the country is like "a tinderbox" as fire crews in England and Wales tackled multiple blazes and an emergency alert was sent to millions of phones. A total of 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year, according to data shared by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), which matches last year's record. As well as devastating blazes in the West Midlands which saw dozens of homes destroyed, fire crews have been in action across the two countries. In Wales, a major incident was declared near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, after dozens of homes were evacuated and roads closed. In Hampshire, firefighters have spent a sixth day tackling a wildfire in the New Forest, which broke out on Sunday. Sixteen emergencies were tackled by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service on Thursday afternoon, including a fire at Mousehold Heath in the city. On Friday evening, an emergency alert was sent to mobile phones warning of a "very high risk of wildfires nationally" across England and Wales. The message asked residents, landowners and visitors to not undertake any activity that could cause a fire "including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators of fireworks". It was the most extensive use of the system to date, according to the government.

Temporary ban on disposable BBQs as military deployed to help battle wildfires
North America
CNBC Finance

Baby products company Frida is expanding into kids’ personal care

Baby products company Frida is expanding into a line of personal care products for kids ages 6 to 11 that will be sold in Walmart and on Amazon, the company told CNBC exclusively. CEO Chelsea Hirschhorn said the launch marks the next natural step for the company, which has seen its first customers age into new categories, and offers an opportunity to secure shelf space in a category that's largely untapped and unexplored. "It really wasn't necessarily only that there was this opportunity created in the retail environment or in culture, but it was really the dearth of genuine, thoughtful innovation for this stage of parenthood that felt like a rinse and repeat of our playbook in mother care and baby care," Hirschhorn told CNBC. Hirschhorn, who created the company when her first child was a baby, said the gap in the market is one she's seen firsthand as a mother of four children. As her eldest child has grown, she said there were plenty of options in the baby aisle and teen aisle, but nothing in between to address the needs of young kids' personal care. While the new category marks a significant step for the company, she said it's ensuring it's not alienating core customers looking for baby products. Since its launch, Frida has generated more than $2 billion in retail sales and grown roughly 30% annually over the past five years, the company told CNBC exclusively. Though it began as a baby products company, it's now branched out into products for pregnancy, postpartum and now kids. According to a report from Kings Research, the kids' personal care market was valued at roughly $82 billion in 2022 and was expected to reach $137 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 7%. Hirschhorn said Walmart has been curating and launching a new aisle dedicated to kids' care, where parents can find products in between baby and adult options. That dedicated shelf space, along with Walmart's reach across the country and emphasis on value, made it an ideal destination for Frida for kids, she added. "Walmart came to the table in a really exciting way and said, 'We see an opportunity in a dedicated spot for everything from tween deodorant to shampoo, nail care and oral care because this parent deserves convenience above all else,'" she said. The new products span categories including body wash, deodorant, electric flossers and more, in the price range of $6.99 to $19.99. Hirschhorn said each of the products was designed specifically for kids in this age cohort without relying on certain ingredients that might not be appropriate for their age. "It's a glaring gap," she said. "When I'm done with tear-free baby shampoo, strolling the aisles of the personal care section, the only thing that jumps out is … the section for men." Retail innovation in the tween space has been expanding over the past few years. Companies like Sephora have seen explosive growth in kids' interest in beauty, while apparel retailers have created more dedicated sizing for tweens.

Baby products company Frida is expanding into kids’ personal care
Europe
BBC Business

Selena Gomez sued for alleged fraud over mental health company

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesByOsmond Chia, Business reporter and Lucy Hooker, Business ReporterPublished25 minutes agoHollywood actress and singer Selena Gomez is being sued by five investors who backed Wondermind Global, a mental health business she founded with her mother. Shareholders are claiming the pop star failed to fulfil promises that she would be "actively building" the brand, saying her "abject dereliction of her duties" has left the company in a "state of financial calamity". The lawsuit seeks to recover around $1.2m (£890,000) it claims was invested as well as costs and damages. Gomez, who rose to fame as a child actor before moving into pop music, set up the mental health platform five years ago with her mother Mandy Teefey and businesswoman Daniella Pierson. It came after Gomez publicly discussed her own mental health struggles, including with bipolar disorder. The 34-year-old is one of the most-followed women in the world on social media, with over 500 million followers, and an estimated net worth of nearly $1bn. She also founded cosmetics company Rare Beauty, in 2020, which is closely associated with her name and image. Wondermind aimed to make mental health-related content more accessible through a digital platform, recruiting investors to back the venture. But the lawsuit claims Wondermind's founders "falsely represented" their position by suggesting "a full slate" of ad deals, celebrity cover stories, an app and other initiatives were already underway and promising that Gomez would take an active role as its head of marketing. "Gomez purported ‌to ⁠sign a contract obligating her to perform and then ignored it," the lawsuit claims. Gomez is currently listed as a co-founder on Wonderminds website, below her mother who is now in the chief executive role, following Pierson's departure from the company. The individuals behind the suit, based in New York and Florida, include Brent Saunders, chief executive of eye-health company Bausch + Lomb. The claimants' lawsuit alleges Wondermind failed to meet "even its most basic obligations, such as timely paying its employees and vendors". Promises including Wondermind's partnerships and app never materialised, according to the claim.

Selena Gomez sued for alleged fraud over mental health company
Asia-Pacific
The Straits Times

Oil prices rally, US data dents chances of Fed rate hike

The US threatened to ramp up economic pressure on Iran, including extending a naval blockade. NEW YORK/LONDON - US and European shares fell on Aug 14 and oil prices rose more than US$1 a barrel as markets monitored tense US-Iran talks and digested new data that dented expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike next month. Faltering talks to end the Iran war left oil and gas prices poised for sizeable weekly gains. The US threatened to ramp up economic pressure on Iran, including extending a naval blockade. US consumer sentiment deteriorated in early August amid the rising cost of living because of the Middle East conflict, a survey showed on Aug 14. The US dollar fell on a surprise drop in US retail sales, supporting gold prices. The data further reduced expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike at next month’s meeting. US Treasuries fell on Aug 14 after an initial rally driven by the retail sales data lost momentum. The S&P 500 fell from record highs, under pressure as shares in chip equipment maker Applied Materials declined, to end the session down 0.17 per cent at 7,785.76 points. Chipmakers including Broadcom and Intel also dropped. The Nasdaq declined 0.28 per cent to 26,729.16 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.20 per cent to 53,732.41 points. “A lot of the drivers in the market right now are around various parts of AI,” said Thomas Martin, senior ⁠portfolio manager at GLOBALT Investments in Atlanta. European shares finished lower on Aug 14 and snapped a four-week winning streak, as rising crude prices and renewed geopolitical tensions offset support from a resilient earnings season. MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe fell 0.79 points, or 0.07 per cent, to 1,160.01. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan closed 0.29 per cent higher at 1,640.08.

Oil prices rally, US data dents chances of Fed rate hike