International trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

International trade - Essay Example China is fast approaching the value of the United States in terms of exports and is an important destination for imports. India and the Asean countries have also shown export growth in these years. India’s export growth is fast growing that is already similar to China. In the same way, Asean countries take action to China’s competition as its merchandise exports particularly in manufacturing grew by 18% in 2006. Likewise, European’s growth is inspired by the rising business and consumer confidence. European Union is the second world biggest exporter and importer of goods and services. Second, the strong economy is boosted by demand for commodities needed for industrial manufacturing and infrastructure development, such as metals and oils and is highest in 2007 that displayed the highest price movement (Chart 4) Chart 4: Export prices of selected primary products, 2005-2007 Annual % change a Comprising coffee, cocoa beans and tea. Source: IMF, International Financ ial Statistics. Source: World Trade Organization, 2008 Third, the strong regional developments have been accompanied by strong growths in merchandise trade as Table 1 would show. The strong economy of the emerging countries is accompanied by strong exports and imports. Fourth, export growth receives continued support from the world economy. As table 1 below shows, the combined merchandise exports of major economies integrate into the strong export growth of the world of 6.5% in 2005, 8.5% in 2006 followed by a decline of 5.5% in 2007. In 2007, effect of recession is starting to appear as trading slows down in most of the countries, with exception of the emerging economies that displayed its strength beyond crisis. We have seen China, Asia and India emerged as strong exporters. Table 1: GDP and merchandise trade by region, 2005-07 Annual % change at constant prices    GDP Exports Imports    2005 2006 2007 2005 2006 2007 2005 2006 2007 World 3.3 3.7 3.4 6.5 8.5 5.5 6.5 8.0 5.5 Nor th America 3.1 3.0 2.3 6.0 8.5 5.5 6.5 6.0 2.5 United States 3.1 2.9 2.2 7.0 10.5 7.0 5.5 5.5 1.0 South and Central America a 5.6 6.0 6.3 8.0 4.0 5.0 14.0 15.0 20.0 Europe 1.9 2.9 2.8 4.0 7.5 3.5 4.5 7.5 3.5 European Union (27) 1.8 3.0 2.7 4.5 7.5 3.0 4.0 7.0 3.0 Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) 6.7 7.5 8.4 3.5 6.0 6.0 18.0 21.5 18.0 Africa and Middle East 5.6 5.5 5.5 4.5 1.5 0.5 14.5 6.5 12.5 Asia 4.2 4.7 4.7 11.0 13.0 11.5 8.0 8.5 8.5 China 10.4 11.1 11.4 25.0 22.0 19.5 11.5 16.5 13.5 Japan b 1.9 2.4 2.1 5.0 10.0 9.0 2.5 2.5 1.0 India 9.0 9.7 9.1 21.5 11.0 10.5 28.5 9.5 13.0 Newly industrialized economies (4) c 4.9 5.5 5.6 8.0 12.5 8.5 5.0 8.5 7.0 a Includes the Caribbean. b Trade volume data are derived from customs values deflated by standard unit values and an adjusted price index for electronic goods. c Hong Kong, China; Republic of Korea; Singapore and Chinese Taipei. Source: WTO Secretariat. 1.2 Distinction between tariff and quota and why tariffs are preferable to q uotas (i.e. quantitative restrictions) as a method of controlling imports Tariff and

Secure Data Aggregration in Wireless Sensor Networks

Secure Data Aggregration in Wireless Sensor Networks 4. SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT Before programming can be built the framework in which it lives must be caught on. To fulfill this, general goal of the framework must be resolved; the part of fittings, programming, individuals, database, strategies and other framework components must be distinguished and operational prerequisites must be dissected, detailed, displayed, accepted and oversaw. These exercises are the establishment of framework designing. Framework examination is an essential movement that happens when we are building new data existing framework. It is important to invest extensive time to comprehend the framework and its issues. Once the framework examination is finished framework configuration begins. 4.1 Necessity Examination Necessity examination is the period of correspondence between the customer and the client. Necessity expectation and prerequisite determination are the real exercises performed amid the prerequisite investigation stage. Prerequisite examination serves to conquer any hindrance between level programming designation and programming configuration. It is the first specialized venture amid programming building methodology. Amid prerequisite investigation a module of the necessity, control stream, operational conduct and substance are made. This movement gives presentation of data and capacity that can be meant information compositional and procedural configuration. Necessity investigation builds up and finally finishes being developed of prerequisite particulars. The accompanying are the usefulness prerequisites and framework necessities relating to our task as a piece of necessity investigation. The following is the list of minimum requirements to run this package. 4.2 Hardware requirements: System :Pentium IV 2.4 GHz. Hard Disk:40 GB. Monitor:15 VGA Colour. Mouse:Logitech. Ram:256 Mb. 4.3 Software Requirements: Operating system :Windows XP Professional. Platform:JDK 1.5 and Above. IDE: Eclipse. Front End Java is an abnormal state, third era programming dialect like C, FORTRAN, Perl and numerous others. Java can be utilized to compose machine applications that crunch numbers, methodology words, play recreations and store information or do any thousands different things machine programmings can do. The unique thing about Java is that it permits you to compose extraordinary projects called Applets that can be downloaded from the web and played securely inside a web program. It additionally makes it conceivable to keep the framework infection free. As we all trust the maintainers of the different FTP documents to do the essential infection checking and not to post damaging programmings still a considerable measure of those infections escape everyones notice or potholes. We have no real way to check those projects for bugs or infections while downloading or running them. Java turns out to be productive in tackling this issue through its Applets. A Java applet cant keep in touch with your hard plate without your consent. Consequently Java keeps the framework from slamming. Java has a significant effect on the web. It stretches the universe of items which can move unreservedly in the internet. There are two general classifications of item transmitted between the server and the PC in a system. They are aloof data and dynamic, dynamic projects. Case in point, when we read an email, we are review latent information. In any case, a second kind of article can be transmitted to our machine i.e., a dynamic, self executing project. This project is a dynamic executor on the customer machine, yet is launched by the server. Case in point, a system may be given by the server to show appropriately the information which the server is sending. Element arranged projects present genuine issues in the zones of security and versatility. Java addresses these issues and in this manner opened the avenue to an energizing new manifestation of project called applet. Java is a programming dialect initially created by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems (which is presently a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation) and discharged in 1995 as a center part of Sun Microsystems Java stage. The dialect determines much of its linguistic structure from C and C++ yet has an easier article model and less low-level offices. Java applications are ordinarily accumulated to byte code (class document) that can run on any Java Virtual Machine (JVM) paying little mind to machine building design. Java is universally useful, simultaneous, class-based, and article arranged, and is particularly intended to have as few usage conditions as would be prudent. It is expected to let application designers compose once, run anyplace. Java is considered by a lot of people as a standout amongst the most compelling programming dialects of the twentieth century, and generally utilized from application programming to web application. The first and reference usage Java compilers, virtual machines, and class libraries were produced by Sun from 1995. As of May 2007, in agreeability with the particulars of the Java Community Process, Sun relicensed the vast majority of their Java innovations under the GNU General Public License. Others have likewise created option executions of these Sun innovations, for example, the GNU Compiler for Java and GNU Class way. Swing is a graphical client interface library for the Java SE stage. It is conceivable to point out an alternate look and feel through the pluggable look and feel arrangement of Swing. Clones of Windows, Gtk+ and Motif are supplied by Sun. Fruit additionally gives an Aqua search and feel for Mac OS X. Where former executions of these looks and feels may have been viewed as needing, Swing in Java SE 6 addresses this issue by utilizing more local GUI gadget drawing schedules of the hidden stages. This example Swing application creates a single window with Hello, world! inside: // Hello.java (Java SE 5) import javax.swing.*; public class Hello extends JFrame { public Hello() { set Default Close Operation(Window Constants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE); add(new J Label(Hello, world!)); pack(); } public static void main(String[] args) { new Hello().setVisible(true); } } The principal import incorporates the majority of the general population classes and interfaces from the javax.swing bundle. The Hello class augments the Jframe class; the Jframe class executes a window with a title bar and a nearby control. The Hello() constructor instates the edge by first calling the super class constructor, passing the parameter hi, which is utilized as the windows title. It then calls the setdefaultcloseoperation (int) strategy inherited from Jframe to set the default operation when the nearby control on the title bar is chosen to Windowconstants.exit_on_close. This causes the Jframe to be discarded when the edge is shut (rather than simply concealed), which permits the JVM to passageway and the system to end. Next, the format of the casing is situated to a Border layout; this advises Swing how to orchestrate the segments that will be added to the edge. A Jlabel is made for the string Hi, world! and the add(component) strategy inherited from the Container super class is called to add the mark to the edge. The pack() strategy inherited from the Window super class is called to size the window and lay out its substance. The principle ( ) technique is called by the JVM when the system begins. It instantiates another Hello casing and makes it be shown by calling the set visible(Boolean) technique inherited from the Component super class with the Boolean parameter genuine. When the casing is shown, leaving the principle system does not result in the project to end on the grounds that the AWT occasion dispatching string stays dynamic until the majority of the Swing top-level windows have been arranged. SWING IN JAVA: Swing Model/perspective plan: The perspective part of the MV outline is executed with a segment object and the UI object. The model part of the MV configuration is actualized by a model article and a change audience object. Swing is based on top of AWT and is completely composed in Java, utilizing AWTs lightweight part help. Specifically, dissimilar to AWT, t he construction modeling of Swing parts makes it simple to redo both their appearance and conduct. Parts from AWT and Swing can be blended, permitting you to add Swing backing to existing AWT-based projects. For instance, swing parts, for example, Jslider, Jbutton and Jcheckbox could be utilized as a part of the same system with standard AWT names, textfields and scrollbars. You could subclass the current Swing UI, model, or change audience classes without needing to reexamine the whole usage. Swing additionally can supplant these articles on-the-fly. 100% Java implementation of components Pluggable Look Feel Lightweight components Uses MVC Architecture Model represents the data View as a visual representation of the data Controller takes input and translates it to changes in data Three parts Component set (subclasses of JComponent) Support classes Interfaces In Swing, classes that speak to GUI segments have names starting with the letter J. A few samples are Jbutton, Jlabel, and Jslider. Inside and out there are more than 250 new classes and 75 interfaces in Swing — twice the same number of as in AWT. Java Swing class hierarchy The classJComponent, descended directly from Container, is the root class for most of Swing’s user interface components. Figure 4.3.1: Hierarchy of java Swing GITAMCSE Page:1

Abortion :: essays research papers

To Whom It May Concern:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My name is bubba smith, and I am a freshman male at the University of Florida. It has come to my attention that our wonderful state has done something terrible. That something is the allowance of abortions. What is an abortion you might ask? Well it is the termination of a pregnancy, or the killing of a baby, to be simply put. This issue has split our country for years, and I think that we as a state should step and make an example to the rest of the world and stop abortions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is nearly impossible anymore to find someone who doesn’t have an opinion about abortion. Yet the endless debates on the topic usually go nowhere, leaving the opponents even more stuck to their positions, and the open-minded observers even more confused, but both sides have a good case. For example an unwanted child is a pitiful thing, and the apparent social problems like child neglect, and financial burden that comes with it don’t have easy solutions. On the other hand, the thought of killing a little baby is disgusting and unthinkable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This is where I stand, and the only solution I can come up with is the total ban of abortions altogether. This task should not be a hard one, but it might take some time. My plan calls for the closing and the illegalizing of abortion clinics, and the prosecution of people who perform these deeds.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As with any big descion we must consider the opposing views. One reason that the debate on what we should do about abortions doesn’t go anywhere, is because each side focuses on a different topic. We make no progress because we are not talking about the same thing. The anti-abortionists are focused on the fetus’ rights, and the pro-abortionists are focused on the women’s rights. Though these issues are basically interrelated, they are different topics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The issues of the social problems like child neglect and financial burden, and even the issue that it is the woman’s exclusive right to make decisions concerning her body; they are not the problem. It all comes down to one thing: Is the fetus a person? That is the issue that cannot be agreed upon. Medical science has overwhelmingly demonstrated that biological life begins at conception. Furthermore, the developing embryo isn’t simply part of the mother, it’s a separate being that just inhabits the mother.

Business Plan for Salon & Spa

Introduction People seek beauty. They are constantly looking to give themselves a whole new look or improve what they have. They drop by the nearest hair and beauty salon to be pampered by stylists and beauticians to style their tresses, shape their eyebrows, and color their nails – all for a few (or more) bucks. An hour in a hair and salon shop every month and one emerges confident and ready to take on the world. Beauty salon and spa business has grown rapidly over the past decade. Latest extrapolations from U. S. census data place the salon and spa service industry at over $35 billion annually.And that figure doesn't include the retail sale of professional beauty products which is at least another $7 billion annually. While traditional barbershops, hair salons and nail salons have experienced moderate growth, high end beauty salons and day spas have seen significant spikes of revenue in recent years. In the recent years, this business has seen redundant profits in Bangladesh . In this moment introduction of â€Å"Trendster† a full-service beauty salon to the Bangladeshi market is an exciting new development for us.Our Mission: â€Å"Trendster† is dedicated to consistently providing high customer satisfaction by rendering excellent service, quality products, and furnishing an enjoyable atmosphere at an acceptable price/value relationship. We will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, ideas, and hard work. Owners and source of finance â€Å"Trendster† is a partnership business owned by several owners. Ms. Farzin Ahmed, co-owner with Kabir ahmed, her husband, has worked in a prestigious, upscale salon in Gulshan, Dhaka for the past two years.Ms. Farzin has created a large client following through hard work and dedication. She and her talented team of beauticians, has what it takes to make this venture an extremely successful one. We expect our growing reputation to lead to new clients and beauticians to support our anticipated growth. To achieve our objectives, Trendster is seeking additional loan financing. This loan will be paid from the cash flow from the business, and will be collateralized by the assets of the company, and backed by the character, experience, and personal guarantees of the owners.Address: The salon will be located at House 25, Road 5, Block A, Bashundhara Residential Area, Dhaka. The salon will utilize 1,540 square feet. The location is strategically situated on one of the high profile area, with easy access from all parts of town. Justification As we have said before, the owner has created a large client following through hard work and dedication. So, the rising demand from the owner's clients, as well as the ambitions of the owner to one day start her own salon, and the procurement of highly professional and qualified beauticians to support the salon, has made this business one of great potential.Moreover, the salon business in Bangladesh is raising potential. The keys to success in our business are: * Location: Providing an easily accessible location for customers. * Environment: Providing an environment conducive to giving relaxing and professional service. * Convenience: Offering clients a wide range of services in one setting, and extended business hours. * Reputation: Reputation of the owner and other â€Å"beauticians† as providing superior personal service. Target Market: A target market is a specific, well-defined segment of consumers that a company plans to target with its products, services and marketing activities.Target marketing orients all of the various components of the marketing function toward a single group, maximizing the appeal of brands to specific markets. The term â€Å"target audience† is a bit narrower; it refers specifically to the group of consumers targeted by advertisements. Now we are going to describe the segments of our salon’s target market: Category of segmentat ion: 1. Geographic segmentation 2. Demographic segmentation 3. Psychographic segmentation 4. Behavioral segmentation Geographic segmentation:City : Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh . Gulshan , Banani, Baridhara , Uttara , Dhanmondi are most popular area in Bangladesh and most of the rich people are living in these areas. That is why, people of these areas are our target customers of Dhaka city. Other than Dhaka, we want to open some branches of our salon in other divisions where the market is promising, such as, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Sylhet. Because, a huge number of people of these cities are wealthy enough to bear the cost of spa services. Moreover, people of these areas are educated and style conscious.So, they deserve a spa shop where they can meet their demand. If we launch our Salon in those areas then it will carry a good profit that’s really the main cause. Another city, which will become another large market after Dhaka, is Cox’s bazar. No doubt, the long est sea-beach has a very large amount of foreigners who come to enjoy the holidays, must seek the heavenly pleasure of spa service. It will be our best chance to start our business there considering both local and foreign visitors comfort to enjoy the sea-sight with full satisfaction.And no doubt, a huge amount of profit will come from this target market for future. 2. Density: Certainly we are targeting the urban areas. No doubt, the poor and uneducated villagers will not agree for getting those benefits of spa and they also cannot bear the cost too. That is the main cause to target the urban area as a target market. Demographic segmentation: 1. Income: We want to give better service to the customer than the others. We will provide services to the people of different kinds of income.But the main condition will be the customer himself/herself must have that capacity to pay for the service. So, we have planned to make target customers those who are well-off to pay such as, middle and top level employees, business persons, university faculties etc. we are also offering reasonable price for the students whose income ranges 6000-12000 with discounts. 2. Education: Students of different universities who are fashion conscious are our target customers. We are offering discounts for the students. Now, it is not possible to target the students of whole Bangladesh, or outside the Dhaka city.In this respect, we are focusing on those who are near to our shop, such as, students of NSU, IUB, AIUB etc. it is sure that targeting this segment, we are going to get a huge number of customers who are students. 3. Age and education: Though our target market is different employees of good amount of income, business persons and students, but we cannot ignore others beside these customers who too take the services either only haircutting or spa service with barber services. The details of these customers, their potentials, occupations are stated below with target customers.Age| Occup ation| Details | Market potential| 5 to 12 (children)| Kindergarten students or primary students | Do not have so much knowledge on hair-stylingBirth rate in Bangladesh is increasing| Weak| 13 – 18 Teenagers| Secondary school students| Begin to follow the current trendStrict rules in secondary schoolSmall consumption power | Medium| 18 -25(young adults)| University students| Normally no rules restricting their hair style Have income sources because can be a home tutor or doing so work through internet like as free launching etc. Strong| 25 to 40 (mature adults )| Doctor , engineer, teacher, banker , marketing officer, business man ,| Do not communicate with customers Income sources | Medium | 40 -60(Middle aged adults )| Doctor, engineer, teacher, banker, marketing officer, business man. | Problems of having less hair Willing to pay more on hair treatment| Quite strong | Above 60(old aged adults)| N/A| Normally do not have so much hair| Weak| Psychographic segmentation: 1. Li festyle: From achievers and striver obviously it is possible to make good profit because they are really so careful about their lifestyle.But from the survivors the market potential is so weak that we were forced to target the achievers. 2. Social class: The upper class people is always careful about their life. So, it’s obvious that they will agree to spend much money if they get quality services. So from this segment our main target will be upper class people. The middle class people also careful about their hair and other elements of fashion, but not as the upper does. Behavioral segmentation: 1.Occasion: In Bangladesh Eid, Pahela Baishakh, puja, Valentine’s day are the occasions people celebrate with great joy. In this time we can give some special offers or discounts for the customer for building a good relationship with the customers. We will give same facility like as another salon like as ours but will give service lower rate than them for marriage ceremony occ asions. 2. Benefit: We will provide good quality products to give the service of the customer to attract them to this salon. If we do this then we will get some regular customers who will be profitable for us. User Status: We will provide discount for the regular and first time user that will help us to attract them to this salon which is essential to make good relation with the customers and to attract the customers for our salon. Positioning strategy: Positioning strategy is the process by which marketers try to create an image or identity in the minds of their target market for its product, brand, or organization. Core Idea Concept simply describes the product or service. Its purpose is merely to determine whether the idea has any interest to the end buyer.Positioning Concept attempts to sell the benefits of the product or service to a potential buyer. The positioning concepts focus on the rational or emotional benefits that buyer will receive or feel by using the product/service . A successful positioning concept must be developed and qualified before a â€Å"positioning statement† can be created. The positioning concept is shared with the target audience for feedback and optimization. Brand positioning process Effective Brand Positioning is contingent upon identifying and communicating a brand's uniqueness, differentiation and verifiable value.It is important to note that â€Å"me too† brand positioning contradicts the notion of differentiation and should be avoided at all costs. This type of copycat brand positioning only works if the business offers its solutions at a significant discount over the other competitor(s). Generally, the brand positioning process involves: 1. Identifying the business's direct competition (could include players that offer your product/service amongst a larger portfolio of solutions) 2. Understanding how each competitor is positioning their business today (e. g. laiming to be the fastest, cheapest, largest, the #1 provider, etc. ) 3. Documenting the provider's own positioning as it exists today (may not exist if startup business) 4. Comparing the company's positioning to its competitors' to identify viable areas for differentiation 5. Developing a distinctive, differentiating and value-based positioning concept 6. Creating a positioning statement with key messages and customer value propositions to be used for communications development across the variety of target audience touch points (advertising, media, PR, website, etc. )Product positioning process Generally, the product positioning process involves: 1. Defining the market in which the product or brand will compete (who the relevant buyers are) 2. Identifying the attributes (also called dimensions) that define the product ‘space' 3. Collecting information from a sample of customers about their perceptions of each product on the relevant attributes 4. Determine each product's share of mind 5. Determine each product's current locati on in the product space 6. Determine the target market's preferred combination of attributes (referred to as an ideal vector) 7.Examine the fit between: * The position of your product * The position of the ideal vector Product Positioning for salon Product positioning refers to all â€Å"products and services,† not just the physical products that we use (and sell) in our spa. Product decisions include: * Brand * Quality * Styling * Safety * Packaging * Guarantees * Support Price Positioning for salon: Pricing spa products and services is a key element of the marketing mix. Pricing decisions influence all your other marketing decisions. Pricing decisions include: * Skim pricing (to maximize profits) Penetration pricing (quantity maximization) * Suggested retail price * Discounting * Bundling * Seasonal pricing We have considered the following: To maximize profits, should we price our services and to â€Å"skim the cream† off the top of the market, to those who are less â€Å"price sensitive†? Will our target customers support that strategy? Will we and our employees be better served if we keep prices low, to reach a broader market? Will we sell at (or below) suggested retail price? Will we offer discounts by bundling products and services? Do we run seasonal promotions?When clients buy spa packages, do we offer discounts on products and/or future services. Selecting an overall positioning strategy : Consumers typically chose products and service that give them the greatest value. Marketers want to position their brands on the key benefits that they offer relative to competing brands. The full positioning of brand is called the brands value proposition the full mix of benefits upon which the brand is positioned. More for more: â€Å"More for more† positioning involves providing the most upscale product or service and charging a higher price to cover the highest cost.Black cut hair salon, so much included instrument. Each claims superi or quality, durability, performance, or style and change a price to much. Not only is the marketing offers high in quality. It also offers prestige to the customer. It symbolizes status and a loftier lifestyle. Often the price difference exceeds the actual incrementing quality. In general , companies should be on the lookout for opportunities to introduce a much-more-for-much-more brand in any underdeveloped product or service category yet more-for-more brands can be vulnerable.More for the same: Hair salon can attack a competitors more for more positioning by in traducing a brand offering comparable quality but at a lower price. Black cut hair salon its Lexus line with a â€Å"more for the same† value proposition. The same for less: offering â€Å"the same for less† can be powerful value proposition everyone likes a good deal. For example ,fair and care salon offers equivalent service at a lower price for performance . Discount stores such as spa service. Less for muc h less: A market almost always exist for products that offer less therefore cost loss.Few people need , want , or can afford â€Å"the very best† in everything they buy. In many cases , consumers will gladly settle for less than optimal performance or give up some of the bells and whistles in exchange for low price . â€Å"less-for-much-less† positioning involves meting consumers lower performance or quality requirements at a much lower price. For example fair care hair salon general stores offer more affordable goods at very low price. More for less: of course, the winning value proposition would be the offer â€Å"More for less†. Many salon claim to do this.For example, fair and care salon claims to have better products and lower prices for a given level of performance. In the short run , some companies can actually achieve such lofty positions. Yet in the long run, companies will find it very difficult to sustain such best –of-both positioning. Offerin g more usually costs more , making it difficult to deliver on the â€Å"for less† promise. Fair and care salon that try to deliver both may lose out to more – focused competitors. The important thing is that each company must develop its own positioning strategy, one that makes it special to its target consumers.Offering only â€Å"the same for the same† provides no competitive advantages . leaving the firm in the middle of the pack . salon offerings one of the three losing value propositions_ â€Å"the same for more,† â€Å"less for more†, â€Å"less for the same†_ will inevitably fail. Here, customers soon realize that they’ve been underserved , tell others and abandon the brand. Positioning statement: Company and brand positioning should be summed up in a positioning statement. The statement should follow this form: To target segment and need our brand is concept that point of difference.The positioning first states the product mem bership in a category (spa or salon business) and then shows its point of difference from other members in category has more salon. Placing a brand in a specific category suggests similarities that it might share with other products in category but the case for the brand in a surprisingly different category. Differentiation Strategies of Salon Differentiation Strategies This strategy involves selecting one or more criteria used by buyers in a market – and then positioning the business uniquely to meet those criteria.This strategy is usually associated with charging a premium price for the product – often to reflect the higher production costs and extra value-added features provided for the consumer. Differentiation is about charging a premium price that more than covers the additional production costs, and about giving customers clear reasons to prefer the product over other, less differentiated products. Top of Form * Complementary Services: This will encourage additi onal customer purchases. For example, If you offer facials, offer a free make up consult with every facial.Customers who like to pamper themselves will appreciate the additional offers and your salon will make more money. * Products: Sell products that relate to the services you offer. For example if you offer braiding, you can sell hair maintenance product such as braid spray, hair food e. t. c. You could also create your own product; you could have different beauty services put together as a package deal. * Atmosphere: Create an atmosphere in your beauty salon that allows you to charge a premium price for your services. For example, make your beauty salon feel like a spa with, soothing music and soft lighting.When customers feel rejuvenated and look great after they leave your salon, they will pay more and return more frequently. * Target group: Differentiate your beauty salon from your competitors. For example, if your primary competitor focuses on high-end appointment-based clie nts, you should focus on basic services and walk-in clients. On the other hand, you could offer services that are not available at your competitor's salon. If your competitor only offers hair services, you should offer nail services, facials and makeup services. Strategy – Differentiation FocusIn the differentiation focus strategy, a business aims to differentiate within just one or a small number of target market segments. The special customer needs of the segment mean that there are opportunities to provide products that are clearly different from competitors who may be targeting a broader group of customers. The important issue for any business adopting this strategy is to ensure that customers really do have different needs and wants – in other words that there is a valid basis for differentiation – and that existing competitor products are not meeting those needs and wants.Strategy – Cost Focus Here a business seeks a lower-cost advantage in just on or a small number of market segments. The product will be basic – perhaps a similar product to the higher-priced and featured market leader, but acceptable to sufficient consumers. Such products are often called â€Å"me-tool’s product differentiation (also known simply as â€Å"differentiation†) is the process of distinguishing a product or offering from others, to make it more attractive to a particular target market. This involves differentiating it from competitors' products as well as a firm's own product offerings.Rationale Differentiation can be a source of competitive advantage. Although research in a niche market may result in changing a product in order to improve differentiation, the changes themselves are not differentiation. Marketing or product differentiation is the process of describing the differences between products or services, or the resulting list of differences. This is done in order to demonstrate the unique aspects of a firm's product a nd create a sense of value. Marketing textbooks are firm on the point that any differentiation must be valued by buyers .The term unique selling proposition refers to advertising to communicate a product's differentiation. * Ignorance of buyers regarding the essential characteristics and qualities of goods they are purchasing * Sales promotion activities of sellers and, in particular, advertising * Differences in availability (e. g. timing and location). Marketing mix: Marketing mix is the set of controllable tactical marketing tool- product, price, place and promotion- that the firm blends to produce the response it wants in the target market. The marketing mix is everything we can do to influence the demand for our service.The four groups of variables known as â€Å"the 4 Ps†: product, price, place, promotion. The marketing mix of our salon is stated below: Product: Product is actually the services we will provide to the target customers in our salon. There are different ty pes of services in our salon starting from hair cutting of male and female, hair coloring service, skin care treatment, different types of massages to sooth the people from different types of pressures and other different kinds of salon and spa services. All these services are to be given with great care keeping the customers satisfaction in the mind.In the following, the list of services is given: Salon and Spa Services:Hair Salon Business Services:? Haircuts, styling and trims. ? Hair coloring and highlights ? Hair and scalp treatments. ? Hair shampoo and conditioning. ? Hair relaxers and perms. ? Hair curling, reconstructing and waving Nail Salon Business Services:? Manicures. ? Pedicures. ? Nail polish. ? Nail repair and sculpting. ? Hand conditioning. Day Spa and Beauty Business Services:? Body scrubs. ? Body wrapping and herbal wraps. ? Massage and aromatherapy. ? Hot stone therapy. ? Acupuncture and Reflexology. ? Derma abrasion. ? Anti-aging. Facials. ? Makeup and makeovers. ? Skin cleansing and care. ? Body waxing.? Polishing, buffing and bronzing. ? Tanning. ? Piercing. | Salon and Spa Products:Hair Salon Products:? Shampoos. ? Conditioners. ? Extra hair treatment. ? Pre-styling products. ? Hair styling products. ? Hair finishes. ? Brushes and hair tools. Skin Care, Nail and Beauty Products:? Face skin care products. ? Body skin care products. ? Makeup. ? Makeup tools. ? Nail polish products. ? Nail finish products. ? Nail tools. ? Perfumes. ? Bed and bath products. | The list tells that how our shop is and how its work quality will be.Price: Now, we will discuss about the second variable of marketing mix of our shop. In every business farm, one of the major activities is to set price of the services. The price must be fair and within the budget of the people. Also, it is also important to set price in such a way that, a farm can attend its profit. So, we have tried our best to set a fair price which meets the customer vale and our profits. The price list of our services is given below: Service providing Price (BDT) Hair Salon Business Services:Haircuts, styling and trims. 200 Hair coloring and highlights 350 Hair and scalp treatments. 500 Hair shampoo and conditioning 350 Hair relaxers and perms 400 Hair curling, reconstructing and waving 400 Shaving (foam) 100 Shaving (gel) 150Day Spa and Beauty Business Services: Body scrubs 1000/hr Body wrapping and herbal wraps 1000/hr Massage and aromatherapy 000/hr Hot stone therapy 1000/hr Facials (Men) 600 Facials (woman) 1000 Makeup and makeovers 2000-3000 Skin cleansing and care 800 Body waxing 500 Polishing, buffing and bronzing 800 Nail Salon Business Services: Manicures 500 Pedicures 500 Nail polish 200 Nail repair and sculpting 200 Hand conditioning 300Place: Place include the farm’s activity that makes the service available to the target customers. Place must be a suitable site or location where people can easily get access without any hazards. Since, we are new i n the salon market service and also in introduction stage, so it is actually not possible for us to open more than one branch in the city. Certainly our target market is the people of Dhaka and our shop will also be in Dhaka, but it seemed a great hectic job for us to find out a suitable place to open the salon. We thought, since Persona has its branch in Gulshan, Banani and Uttara, it will not be profitable for us to open a new salon and spa business in those busy and royal areas.But there is a place where Persona still did not open their branch. The place is Bashundhara Residential Area. So, this was the best chance for us to open and grab a whole market of Bashundhara where different University students, business persons, employees of different big corporate giants live. Promotional strategy 1. Stealth marketing: Viral marketing is used to build brand awareness. Viral marketing is done through Facebook, twitter and other different blogs. 2. Referral program: Referral program is a very powerful word of mouth advertising and more believable than any other form of endorsement. It is done mainly by endorsements or reference. Reference can come from friends and clients.The most powerful recommendation is the recommendation of clients who will tell to his/her friends about the service we will provide him/her. For this reason, we have to identify those people who can influence our target market and get them endorse our service. 3. Telephone marketing: Everything should be about increasing perceived value of the service in the eyes of the clients. Now the question arise how telephone marketing helps us? Every single contact clients has with the business forms a perception, either good or bad. In telephone marketing, we have to call our clients and let them know about our new promotions. Not only that, we have to ask them questions that what he/she thinks about our service according.Another part of telephone marketing is, if the clients ask us about any problems and solutions, then we will solve the problems by providing them guidelines. 4. Keep in touch: It will be very important for our business to give emphasis the existing clients and customers. For this, we have to maintain a good relationship by remaining in touch with them. We can be in touch with them by sending promotional materials, greeting cards, birthday wishes and by e-mails. E-mail marketing is highly effective to build and maintain relationship with existing customers and also to build loyalty and trust. 5. The power of free: The customers who regularly take the service of salon and spa, mainly they get some gifts from the salon. But as we are new in the market, we are giving gifts to the customers from now.Those who would have already arrived to us for taking our service more than three times, we will actually offering them different kinds of gifts. The gifts are cosmetics, skin care products, hair care products, salon voucher, product samples etc. this system is called Ã¢â‚¬Ë œGifts with purchase (GWP). ’ 6. Perform SWOT analysis: SWOT analysis too plays a great role in promotion. SWOT analysis helps to know which are our strengths, our weakness, and what is our opportunities and threats and considering these four variables, to check and analyze our strengths, weakness, threats and opportunities. By researching these four, we can promote our business easily with practical logics.Our strengths are, we are placing our business in such a place where there is no salon and spa which can provide the services as we are providing. Not only that, we are charging comparatively cheaper than other salon and spa shops in Dhaka city with qualified manpower. By doing our SWOT analysis, we got some weakness in our business which is not surprising because, we are new in the market and weakness will be there. These weakness are since we are new, we don’t have that much manpower, but the good news is that the existing manpower are as good as other reputed sal ons and spas. Another weakness is we cannot charge more than other salons and spas in our every service since we are still in introducing stage and people are lacking about our brand.Our management is not consists of experts like persona or women world, the employees are still learning, so it is sure that we have to wait for a long time to take our salon in the top. We have got huge opportunity to take ourselves in a class of reputed salon and spa shop. Salon and spa shop market is not that much widespread in our country, only in Dhaka there are some spa shops and in Chittagong too, there are may be 2 or 3 salon and spa shops, but those are very costly, actually located in five star hotels. In other cities, there are no salon and spa shops. So we can extend our business throughout Bangladesh and can create an opportunity for those people who cannot afford the huge cost of salon and spas and we can increase our brand image.There are some threats for us in this market. We are not thin king that we will be dissolved in this market, but there is a threat of not reaching in our vision. Because other salon and spa like Persona, Women’s World are so popular, strong and wide that, we may remain under them, ie, the competition is intense though the competitors are small in number. Another thing is that since our services are cheaper than others, so we may face losses in first few years which may create problems for us to attain a good return on investments (ROI). However, we are confident that despite weakness and threats, we will be the best salon and spa service institution in Bangladesh. Advertising mediaMedia is the most important medium of conveying the messages to the people. people come to know about a product or service at first through media. So media plays a big role in a product or service development. We considered some major steps in selecting advertising media. These major steps are: 1. Deciding on reach, frequencies and impact. 2. Choosing among ma jor media types. 3. Selecting specific media vehicle and 1. Deciding on reach, frequencies and impact: To select the media, the advertiser must decide on the reach and frequency needed to achieve advertising objectives. We are not unaware of this fact. So we also decided on reach, frequency and impact.Reach is the measure of percentage of people in the target market who are exposed to the advertisement campaign during a given period of time. Frequency is a measure of how many times the average person of the target market is exposed to the message. The media impact states whether our advertisements are of that quality which can attract person or convince a person to come in our salon. 2. Choosing among major media types: We had to see advantages and limitations each and every media types when we had to select the medium. We have chosen those mediums that effectively and efficiently present the advertising message to target customers within our budget. Thus we considered the mediums i mpact, effectiveness and cost. The mediums are: 1.Newspaper: Advantages are flexibility, timeliness, can cover the local market very well and high believability. The limitations are, short life, where people can surely forget about the promotions. 2. The internet: High selectivity, low cost, immediacy, interactive capabilities are advantages. Limitations include relatively low impact than the television. 3. Direct mails: High audience selectivity, flexibility, no advertisement competition etc. limitations include relatively high cost exposure, â€Å"junk mail† image. 4. Magazines: High geographic and demographic selectivity, long life and good pass-along readership. 5. Billboards: Flexibility, high repeat exposure, low cost, low message competition, good positional selectivity.Limitations are little audience selectivity. Selecting specific media vehicles: Since it is important to select the best medium, it is also necessary which brand or vehicle in that medium will gain the attention of the people. The media vehicle makes the product or service believable to the customers; certainly that vehicle does which has huge popularity, good reputations. As newspaper is the medium, we have planned to put our advertisements in the most popular newspaper which is sold in the highest numbers and which is also holds the position of no. 1 in presenting reliable newspaper and magazines. The Daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. People will surely response.In the internet, we are mainly targeting to put our advertisements in Facebook. Since Facebook is very popular social networking site and also more used than Twitter and other social blogs, so people will come to know about our service easily. Competitors Analysis: In salon and spa marketing, though the competitors are few in number, but the competition is still high. This is because of the brand image of the competitors. People trust them and easily convinced by their offers. People don not hesitate to take their se rvices despite knowing that they will charge high. Competitors like Persona, Women’s World, Studio Menz did not create their brand image in one day.They did it with hard labor and patience, providing high quality service by qualified men power. They charge high too for the services they provides. A short price list is given below: Service| Competitors (BDT)| Trendster (BDT)| Haircut | 300-600| 100-200| Hair color and treatment| 500-1000| 200-500| Makeovers | 3000-6000| 2000-3000| Facials | 800-1500| 600-1000| Nail treatments| 300- 700| 300-500| Aroma therapy| 1000-1500| 800-1000| Other spa services| 1000-10000| 800-2500| So these are the competitors price list differs from us. Though it looks that, we are better than us in respect of pricing, but there are some things which make them better than us.In the following, the points are given: 1. Our competitors like Persona, studio menz have more qualified manpower than us. 2. Their target market is stronger than us. 3. They have more than 3 branches in the Dhaka city, even some of them has outside of Dhaka. 4. Their ROI is surely better, and they earn good amount of profits. 5. They placed their shops in the suitable places where people can comfortably access. 6. The most important factor is that, they have a very strong brand image, for eg: Persona. If we have to sustain in the market and create a brand image of our own, then we must do whatever our competitors are doing and try to do better than them.Our competitors are strong and popular among the people, but we are also determined to be like them and within few years, we will be at the same shoulder height. Conclusion: So, after seeing all the relevant factors, we can say that, Trendster will be one of the leading salon and spa business holder in Bangladesh. Our strategy, considering the fact that we are in introducing stage, is right and practical. Though in the initial stage it is not possible to gain profit, even it is not possible to flourish the bu siness like Persona as it is now in. Everything needs time to get set, so as our business. We need time to get set ourselves in the market. As time will gradually pass, we will be near to our goal if we remain on the right track.

Boko Haram

Boko Haram From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Boko Haram People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad | Participant in the Nigerian Sharia conflict| Active| 2002–| Ideology| Islamism Islamic fundamentalism Oppose man-made law Support strict sharia law| Leaders| Mohammed Yusuf Abubakar Shekau[1] Mallam Sanni Umaru[2][3][not in citation given]Abu Qaqa – spokesman[4] Abu Zaid – spokesman[3]| Headquarters| Kanamma, Nigeria|Area  of operations| Northern Nigeria| Opponents| Nigerian State| Battles/wars| Nigerian Sharia conflict 2009 Nigerian sectarian violence| Map of Nigerian states that currently implement Shariah (in green) People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad[5] (Arabic: , Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad), better known by its Hausa name Boko Haram, is a jihadist terrorist organization based in the northeast of Nigeria. 6] It is an Islamist movement which strongly opposes man-made laws. Founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2001[7] or 2002,[8] the organisation is a Muslim sect that seeks to abolish the secular system of government and establish sharia law in the country. [9][10] The group is also known for attacking Christian churches. [11] The movement, whose name in the Hausa language, Boko Haram, translates as â€Å"Western education is sacrilege†[9] or â€Å"a sin†,[12] is divided into three factions, and in 2011, was responsible for more than 450 killings in Nigeria. 9] Though the group first became known internationally following sectarian violence in Nigeria in 2009, it does not have a clear structure or evident chain of command. [13] Moreover, it is still a matter of debate whether Boko Haram has links to terror outfits outside Nigeria and its fighters have frequently clashed with Nigeria's central government. [9] Contents * 1 Etymology * 2 Ideology * 2. 1 Criticism * 3 History * 3. 1 Background * 3. 2 Origin * 3. 3 The beginning of violence * 3. 4 Reemergence * 4 Assessment * 5 Funding * 6 See also * 7 References * 8 External links| EtymologyThe group has adopted its official name to be People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad, which is the English translation of Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad ( ). In the town of Maiduguri, where the group was formed, the residents dubbed it Boko Haram. The term â€Å"Boko Haram† comes from the Hausa word boko meaning â€Å"western education† and the Arabic word haram figuratively meaning â€Å"sin† (literally, â€Å"forbidden†). [14][15][16][17] The name, loosely translated from Hausa, means â€Å"western education is forbidden†.The group earned this name due to its strong opposition to anything Western, which it sees as corrupting Muslims. [18] Ideology Boko Haram is an indigenous Salafist group which only turned itself into a Salafist Jihadist group in 2009. [6] It propagat es that not only interaction with the Western World is forbidden, but it is also against the Muslim establishment and the government of Nigeria. [19] The group publicly extols its ideology despite the fact that its founder and former leader Muhammad Yusuf was himself a highly educated man who lived a lavish life and drove a Mercedes Benz. 14] The members of the group do not interact with the local Muslim population[20] and have carried out assassinations in the past of any one who criticises it, including Muslim clerics. [18] In a 2009 BBC interview, Muhammad Yusuf, then leader of the group, stated his belief that the concept of a spherical Earth is contrary to Islamic teaching and should be rejected, along with Darwinian evolution and the concept of rain originating from water evaporated by the sun. [21] Before his death, Yusuf reiterated the group's objective of changing the current education system and rejecting democracy. 22] Nigerian academic Hussain Zakaria told BBC News that the controversial cleric had a graduate education, spoke proficient English, lived a lavish lifestyle and drove a Mercedes-Benz. [21] In the wake of the 2009 crackdown on its members and its subsequent reemergence, the growing frequency and geographical range of attacks attributed to Boko Haram have led some political and religious leaders in the north to the conclusion that the group has now expanded beyond its original religious composition to include not only Islamic militants, but criminal elements and disgruntled politicians as well. Boko Haram has become a franchise that anyone can buy into. It's something like a Bermuda Triangle,† said Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima. [23] Criticism Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, the Niger State governor, has criticised the group saying â€Å"Islam is known to be a religion of peace and does not condone violence and crime in any form† and Boko Haram doesn't represent Islam. [24] The Sultan of Sokoto Sa'adu Abubakar, the s piritual leader of Nigerian Muslims, has called the sect â€Å"anti-Islamic† and, as reported by the website AllAfrica. om, â€Å"an embarrassment to Islam. â€Å"[25] The Coalition of Muslim Clerics in Nigeria (CMCN) have called on the Boko Haram to disarm and embrace peace. [26] The Islamic Circle of North America,[27] the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada,[28] The Muslim Council of Britain,[29] the Organization of Islamic Cooperation[30] and the Council on American Islamic Relations[31] have all condemned the group. History Background Main articles: Islam in Nigeria and Colonial NigeriaBefore colonisation and subsequent annexation into the British Empire, the Bornu Empire ruled the territory where Boko Haram is currently active. It was a sovereign sultanate run according to the principles of the Constitution of Medina, with a majority Kanuri Muslim population. The Bornu Sultanate emerged after the overthrow of the Kanem-Bornu Empire ruled by the Saifawa dynasty for over 2000 years. The Bornu Sultanate of the Kanuri is distinct from the Sokoto Caliphate of the Hausa/Fulani established in 1802 by the military conquest of Usman dan Fodio. 6] Both the Bornu Sultanate and Sokoto Caliphate came under control of the British in 1903. However, due to activities of early Christian missionaries who used Western education as a tool for evangelism, it is viewed with suspicion by the local population. [18] Increased dissatisfaction gave rise to many fundamentalists among the Kanuri and other peoples of northeast Nigeria. One of the most famous such fundamentalists was Mohammed Marwa, also known as Maitatsine, who was at the height of his notoriety during the 1970s and 1980s.He was sent into exile by the British authorities, he refused to believe Mohammed was the Prophet and instigated riots in the country which resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. Some analysts view Boko Haram as an extension of the Maitatsine riots. [32] Origin The group was founded b y Mohammed Yusuf in 2002 in the city of Maiduguri with the aim of establishing a Shari'a government in Borno State under former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff. [7][32] He established a religious complex that included a mosque and a school where many poor families from across Nigeria and from neighboring countries enrolled their children. 18] The centre had ulterior political goals and soon it was also working as a recruiting ground for future jihadis to fight the state. [18] The group includes members who come from neighbouring Chad and Niger and speak only Arabic. [33] In 2004 the complex was relocated to Yusuf's home state of Yobe in the village Kanamma near the Niger border. [22] Human Rights Watch researcher Eric Guttschuss told IRIN News that Yusuf successfully attracted followers from unemployed youth â€Å"by speaking out against police and political corruption. Abdulkarim Mohammed, a researcher on Boko Haram, added that violent uprisings in Nigeria are ultimately due to â€Å"t he fallout of frustration with corruption and the attendant social malaise of poverty and unemployment. â€Å"[34] The beginning of violence Timeline of incidents| 7 September 2010| Bauchi prison break[35]| 31 December 2010| December 2010 Abuja attack[36]| 22 April 2011| Boko Haram frees 14 prisoners during a jailbreak in Yola, Adamawa State[37]| 29 May 2011| May 2011 northern Nigeria bombings[38]| 6 June 2011| The group claims responsibility for the 2011 Abuja police headquarters bombing[39][40]| 26 June 2011| Bombing attack on a beer garden in Maiduguri, leaving 25 dead and 12 injured[41][42]| 10 July 2011| Bombing at the All Christian Fellowship Church in Suleja, Niger State[43]| 11 July 2011| The University of Maiduguri temperory closes down its campus citing security concerns[44]| 12 August 2011| Prominent Muslim Cleric Liman Bana is shot dead by Boko Haram[45]| 26 August 2011| 2011 Abuja bombing[46]| November 2011| 2011 Damaturu attacks[40][47][48]| 25 December 2011| December 2011 Nigeria bombings[49]| 5–6 January 2012| January 2012 Nigeria attacks[50]| 20 January 2012| January 2012 Kano bombings[51]| 28 January 2012| Nigerian army says it killed 11 Boko Haram insurgents[52]| 8 February 2012| Boko Haram claims responsibility for a suicide bombing at the army headquarters in Kaduna. [53]| 16 February 2012| Another prison break staged in central Nigeria; 119 prisoners are released, one warder killed. 54]| 8 March 2012| During a British hostage rescue attempt to free Italian engineer Franco Lamolinara and Briton Christopher McManus, abducted in 2011 by a splinter group Boko Haram, both hostages were killed. [55]| The group conducted its operations more or less peacefully during the first seven years of its existence[6] That changed in 2009 when the Nigerian government launched an investigation into the group's activities following reports that its members were arming themselves. 56] Prior to that the government reportedly repeatedly ignored warnings about the increasingly militant character of the organisation, including that of a military officer. [56] When the government came into action, several members of the group were arrested in Bauchi, sparking deadly clashes with Nigerian security forces which led to the deaths of an estimated 700 people. During the fighting with the security forces Boko Haram fighters reportedly â€Å"used fuel-laden motorcycles† and â€Å"bows with poison arrows† to attack a police station. [57] The group's founder and then leader Mohammed Yusuf was killed during this time while in police custody. 58][59][60] After Yusuf's killing, a new leader emerged whose identity was not known at the time. [61] Reemergence After the killing of M. Yusuf, the group carried out its first terrorist attack in Borno in January 2010. It resulted in the killing of four people. [62] Since then, the violence has only escalated in terms of both frequency and intensity. In January 2012, Abubakar Shekau, a form er deputy to Yusuf, appeared in a video posted on YouTube. According to Reuters, Shekau took control of the group after Yusuf's death in 2009. [1] Authorities had previously believed that Shekau died during the violence in 2009. 63] By early 2012, the group was responsible for over 900 deaths. [64] Assessment Boko Haram is considered a major potential terrorist threat affecting Nigeria and other countries, and U. S. officials believe it is potentially allied with Al Qaeda. U. S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander General Carter F. Ham stated in September 2011 that three African terrorist groups – Shabab of Somalia, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb across the Sahel region, and Boko Haram – â€Å"have very explicitly and publicly voiced an intent to target Westerners, and the U.S. specifically† and that he was concerned with â€Å"the voiced intent of the three organizations to more closely collaborate and synchronize their efforts. â€Å"[65] General Ham reitera ted his concern after the Christmas Day 2011 bombings of churches in Nigeria: â€Å"I remain greatly concerned about their stated intent to connect with Al Qaeda senior leadership, most likely through Al Qaeda in the lands of the Islamic Maghreb. †[65] The US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence urged the Obama Administration and U.S. intelligence community in November 2011 to focus on Boko Haram as a potential threat to United States territory. [66] Nigeria's National Security Adviser, General Owoye Andrew Azazi, has been working with other African governments, European and Middle Eastern governments, and the U. S. government to build cooperation against Boko Haram. He met in 2010 with then-CIA Director Leon Panetta, and in 2011 with AFRICOM Commander General Ham, and other U. S. fficials, and was in the United States when the congressional panel was preparing its report on Boko Haram. He participated in a CIA conference at about the sam e time. [67] After the Christmas 2011 bombings carried out by Boko Haram, President Barack Obama's office issued a statement that confirmed that the U. S. and Nigeria were cooperating at a senior level against the terrorist group. [68] Funding A spokesman of Boko Haram claimed that Kano state governor Ibrahim Shekarau and Bauchi state governor Isa Yuguda has paid them monthly. [69][70]