About 500 people protested outside a Cape Town venue where Pharrell Williams was due to perform yesterday, demonstrating against the US pop star’s promotional deal with South African retailer Woolworths and its trade ties with Israel.

Cathy Desmond loves Munich and says there’s much more to the Bavarian capital than Oktoberfest —it’s a great place to visit now, especially with direct flights from Cork and Limerick.

Poundland is set to buy rival 99p Stores in a £55 million cash and shares deal 14 years after the family-run chain was founded.

An Irishman has been killed in an explosion at a shopping centre in Perth, Australia.

EATER DEFEATED

A European drinks group has bought an Irish producer of Irish cream liqueurs and Irish country creams.

Tommy Barker visits a fine, venerable Bandon property, once home to a swashbuckling adventurer, now home to a doyenne of cafe business

An Australian election candidate who thought Islam was a country has stepped down.

THERE was an air of vultures circling a still-breathing carcass yesterday in my local HMV.

Comet appeared to enter its final death throes today as administrators announced 125 store closures in a move expected to trigger around 3,000 job losses.

The entrepreneur behind Appliances Online has tabled a bid for Comet in a move that could see the failed electrical chain disappear from retail parks and high streets.

Around 6,500 UK retail jobs were under threat today as electricals chain Comet became the latest casualty on the high street.

World stocks rose today amid growing optimism that European leaders will approve aggressive plans by the end of the week to rescue the region from a debt crisis that has rocked financial markets for months.

THE customer might be king, but don’t get Mary Rose going on the royal pain that is coffee choices.

Struggling retailer HMV could put its book store chain Waterstone's up for sale as part of turnaround plans to be revealed to its banks this week, it has been reported.

HMV received a boost from the music industry today after the bosses of several major record labels pledged their support for the under-pressure chain.

Embattled music and books retailer HMV Group today confirmed its suppliers were being hit by a reduction in credit insurance amid fears over the chain’s trading woes.

Supermarket giant Tesco today unveiled a 10.1% rise in annual profits to a record £3.4bn (€3.86bn).

A more detailed picture of trading conditions in the UK over the Christmas period will emerge this week when high profile retailers including Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s post trading updates.

Computer games retailer Game today said the decline in its sales had slowed following a number of blockbuster software releases.

Chocolate retailer Thorntons today offered some cheer after a tough year as it said its performance had improved “substantially” in recent months.

Banking stocks rallied higher today amid reports over UK government plans to offload its bank stakes.

The London market clawed back lost ground today as major news in the mining sector from Rio Tinto spurred on stocks.

A Woolworths-style chain could return to Britain’s high street under plans by the failed retailer’s former boss to buy back its vacant stores, it was reported today.

The boss charged with reviving the Woolworths brand as an online venture today said he was confident the reincarnation would go down well with consumers.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen, speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil yesterday morning, assured us that he does not know who the 10 businessmen who were lent e300 million by Anglo Irish Bank last year so they could buy shares in the bank are.

British high-street brand Woolworths is to be relaunched as an online store after the name was today bought by the UK’s biggest internet and home shopping retailer.

Woolworths Group was granted an administration order in the British High Court today.

At least 400 new jobs will be created when Asda opens a flagship store in Antrim, it was revealed today.

The Bank of England made history today by slashing interest rates to an all-time low of 1.5%.

The Bank of England was set to make history today by slashing interest rates to an all-time low to battle a deepening recession.

The last remaining stores of UK high street retailer Woolworths will close their doors for the final time at the end of trading today.

THE collapse of British retailer Woolworths is expected to result in a windfall in penalty fees for Bank of Ireland.

Around 60 jobs could be saved after administrators said some Adams Childrenswear stores would stay open in the North, it was revealed today.

The last remaining Woolworths stores will close their doors for the final time across the UK at the end of trading tomorrow.

Two hundred more Woolworths stores will close across the UK today after being given a one-day reprieve by administrators.

Woolworths stores that were expected to close today will remain open for another day of business, the firm’s administrator said.

Up to 1,400 retailers are expected to fail this year in the UK as the battered sector suffered its worst December for 30 years, it was warned today.

Woolworths will continue its slow demise today with more than 150 branches closing, as the crisis gripping the British high street spreads.

The British high street was dealt another blow today when fashion retailer USC went into administration, putting 300 jobs at risk.

There will be more emotional scenes on high streets across Britain today when a further 37 Woolworths branches pull down the shutters for the last time.

SHOP closures at iconic high street retailer, Woolworths began at the weekend, with more than 200 outlets across Britain and Northern Ireland being affected.

A quarter of Woolworths stores will close today as the end looms for the failed British retailer.