Latest news with #Alavi
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Muharram observed with communal harmony in Belagavi
People of various faiths joined Muharram observation across North Karnataka on Sunday. In Halaga village of Belagavi district, villagers, young and old alike, gathered at the Fatima Dargah and paid their obeisance to the Alavi deities and participated in rituals like Majnu community dances. People from Hindu and Muslim families joined the observation. Workers who earlier migrated to Belagavi, Bengaluru and Mumbai returned to the village for the annual ritual. They took out a procession of the panjas through the main roads of the village and meets in front of the Hazrat Bibi Fatima Dargah in Halaga. Village elder Neelkanth Patil said that Muharram is being observed for centuries in Halaga. It symbolizes the unity of Hindu and Muslim brothers. 'We have been doing it together. Our Muharram gives a message of unity to all. It is the tradition of our ancestors to take out a procession in the village and dance to the beating of drums. We are happy that this is being continued by this generation. It is the desire of the villagers that the future generation too should continue it,' he said. In Ramdurg, people slept with their face to the ground and let the panja carriers walk through the gaps between them. Writer Yallappa Himmadi said that Muharram was observed in villages like Bhojwadi and Bedkihal that have no Muslim families or only a few families from the community. It is a day for mourning. But it is a festival to celebrate communal harmony, Prof. Himmadi said. In Dharwad, it was celebrated as an occasion of grief and mourning. The rituals began in front of dargahs and mosques where panjas were kept on Saturday night itself and taken out on a procession on Sunday. Irani youths belonging to the Shia sect took out their own procession near Kalghatagi Road and indulged in self-flagellation till their chests bled.
Daily News Egypt
01-06-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Haleon captures over 20% market share in Egypt, locally manufactures 90% of product portfolio
Haleon, the global consumer health leader, has reinforced its footprint in Egypt following its demerger from GSK in July 2022. The company now holds over 20% of Egypt's consumer health market and manufactures approximately 90% of its flagship brands locally, according to Asif Alavi, General Manager for North Africa at Haleon. Speaking to Daily News Egypt, Alavi said that local production covers trusted household names such as Sensodyne, Parodontax, Panadol, Otrivin, and Voltaren Emulgel, underscoring Haleon's commitment to supply chain resilience and economic contribution through technology transfer and export capabilities. Egypt serves as a key regional base for exports to the Maghreb, Gulf countries, and Saudi Arabia. Alavi emphasized that local manufacturing has helped shield the company from global economic volatility, including inflation, currency fluctuations, and supply chain disruptions. 'Our strategy has significantly minimized exposure to global shocks, enabling us to maintain stability and accessibility in the Egyptian market,' he noted. Globally, Haleon is advancing its innovation pipeline, including a £130m investment in a new Global Oral Health Innovation Centre in Weybridge, UK, slated to open in 2027. The facility will support Haleon's category leadership in oral health and accelerate R&D for key brands like Sensodyne, which Alavi described as resilient due to its therapeutic value and strong dentist recommendations—even during economic downturns. Recognizing the price sensitivity in emerging markets, Haleon has adopted a multi-format, tiered pricing strategy to ensure broad accessibility. The company also champions self-care as a cornerstone of sustainable healthcare. Alavi cited research by the Global Self-Care Federation, which estimates self-care interventions have already delivered $119bn in global healthcare cost savings and $1.9trn in welfare gains—figures projected to rise to $179bn and $2.8trn, respectively. Looking ahead, Alavi reaffirmed Haleon's long-term vision in Egypt: 'We are committed to being a core contributor to the Egyptian healthcare ecosystem—by making everyday health more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable.'
