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☆ Ikea is spending over $2 billion to open 8 new US stores, with an eye on locations in the South, plus 9 design centers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The furniture retailer will open eight new stores and nine smaller locations over three years. Ikea's expansion comes as other big-box retailers are cutting jobs or closing stores. The Swedish furniture retailer announced plans to open eight new stores and nine new "plan-and-order points," smaller locations where customers can design kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms and select furnishings. Ikea will also upgrade its existing US stores and add 900 customer pick-up locations nationwide as part of a three-year plan. The investment comes at a time when other big-box retailers, including Bed Bath & Beyond and Walmart, are closing locations across the country.

☆ Ikea stores coming soon to 8 new locations in the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Ikea plan and order points are aimed at customers who want to speak with a consultant on how to design their homes, as well as place orders. Tolga Öncü, head of Ikea Retail, said the company saw “endless opportunities to grow” in the United States. Ingka also said it planned to use part of its bumper investment to modernize its existing US Ikea stores to enable them to send out more parcels. Ingka Group reported sales of €5.5 billion ($6 billion) in the United States in the last financial year, which ended in August 2022. It took €5.7 billion ($6.2 billion) in sales in Germany over the same period.

☆ IKEA plans new U.S. stores in $2.2 bln push to challenge Walmart and Wayfair
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Helen Reid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The company's logo is seen outside of an IKEA Group store in Saint-Herblain near Nantes, France, March 22, 2021. Ingka plans to open eight new big IKEA stores and nine smaller stores as well as upgrading existing stores in the U.S., which is IKEA's second-biggest market by sales after Germany, the company said on Thursday. As consumers spend less, big-box retailers Walmart and online furniture retailer Wayfair are cutting jobs and shutting stores, creating an opportunity for IKEA to pick up cheaper store and warehouse space. The planned stores would increase the number of IKEA locations in the U.S. by around a third, from 51 stores and two "plan and order points". Ingka Group had revenues of 5.5 billion euros ($6.03 billion) in the U.S. in its 2022 financial year.

☆ How TikTok is trying to become the music industry's everything app, even if it risks 'pissing off' record labels
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Its music ambitions could ruffle feathers at record labels and publishers — unless it pays out. TikTok's app regularly sparks trends that help songs go viral, making it a favorite of marketers at major labels and independents. TikTok works closely with record labels and artists on promotional efforts like livestreamed concerts, in-person performances, and private listening parties with TikTok stars. Spotify has maintained a tenuous relationship with the labels over the years as it's sought to balance profit margins while splitting revenue with artists, labels, and publishers. Still, even as record labels and publishers push TikTok to pay more to music rights holders, they're investing more in the app.

☆ ‘This Is Our Fate’: A Syrian Family Is Displaced in Southern Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Tolga Ildun | Yousur Al-Hlou | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

new video loaded: ‘This Is Our Fate’: A Syrian Family Is Displaced in Southern TurkeyBy Tolga Ildun and Yousur Al-Hlou • February 9, 2023‘This Is Our Fate’: A Syrian Family Is Displaced in Southern TurkeyRecent episodes in Latest VideoWhether it’s reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, Times Video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world. Whether it’s reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, Times Video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world.

☆ Central banks are fighting a war on inflation. They're not done yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —One of the main jobs of central banks is to keep prices under control, allowing households and businesses to plan for the future with some certainty on what things will cost. Tolga Akmen/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockPolicymakers face difficult questions about exactly when to pause interest rate hikes. The European Central Bank’s main rate is 2%, while the Bank of England’s is 3.5%. Still, investors are becoming increasingly confident that major central banks will change course soon. “Central banks are relatively close to the end,” Sels said.

☆ Harry and Meghan renew clash with British royals, media in Netflix doc
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Henry Austin | Henry Austin Is A London-Based Editor For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

Prince Harry with Meghan Markle appeared in public together for the first time at the Invictus Games in Toronto. Aside from showing the story of their courtship, the six episodes of “Harry & Meghan” also look set to highlight long-running grievances that have roiled Britain's royal family for years. The British tabloids have intensely scrutinized Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, publishing stories about her estranged family following her engagement and marriage to Harry in May 2018. In addition, Harry is challenging in court a decision by the British government to deny him police protection while in Britain. “In the Netflix trailer it’s implied the photographers, including me, were trying to get a shot of the royal couple — but that’s nonsense,” he told the tabloid.

[1/4] Tolga Oncu, head of retail at Ingka group which owns most IKEA stores worldwide, poses for a photograph after his interview with Reuters inside an IKEA store in Mumbai, India, November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Abhirup RoyMUMBAI, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Ingka Group, the owner of most IKEA furniture stores, is planning additional price cuts as some input costs ease, its retail manager told Reuters on Monday, a reversal from price hikes introduced last year to counter soaring inflation. The moderation of some input costs, such as metal and sea transport, will allow the company to continue the reductions, Oncu said. Opportunities for efficiencies in operations will continue to help IKEA deliver profits while lower prices should attract new cost-conscious customers, he added. Brand owner Inter IKEA, which is in charge of supply, said this month input prices had begun to stabilise, and that promotional campaigns and lower prices on some popular products would be key to attracting cash-strapped shoppers.

☆ Britain’s Big Swing Back to Austerity Isn’t Market-Friendly
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Jon Sindreu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt departs Downing Street with his Autumn Statement for parliament in London on Thursday. TOLGA AKMEN/EPA/SHUTTERSTOCKInvestors hated how former British Prime Minister Liz Truss rushed out a half-baked fiscal-stimulus plan in September, triggering a violent selloff in sovereign bonds. But belt tightening as the economy heads into a recession, based on the premise of dubious debt forecasts, isn’t quite what they ordered either. Financial markets were eagerly awaiting Thursday’s end-of-year update by the U.K.’s new Treasury chief, Jeremy Hunt . Much recent analysis of Britain’s economy has focused on a “black hole” in the government coffers, which Mr. Hunt gauged at around £55 billion ($66 billion).

☆ UK media companies are left with an estimated $100 million-plus shortfall due to an advertising blackout after the Queen's death
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Many UK media companies pulled advertising after the Queen's death and during her funeral. Analysts estimate the ad blackouts could cost media companies more than $100 million in lost revenue. Experts also said media companies could benefit from extra print sales and pent-up advertiser demand. Douglas McCabe, CEO and director of publishing and tech at Enders Analysis, estimated the lost advertising could equate to around 15 million pounds ($17 million) a day for TV companies, 2 million pounds ($2.3 million) for radio, 2 million pounds for billboard owners, and 1 million pounds ($1.1 million) for newspapers. But even when advertising returns, UK media companies remain in a tight spot due to soaring inflation and a gloomy economic outlook.

☆ Malta is the only EU country that still sells 'golden passports.' Here's what the controversial immigration schemes are and why the EU wants to ban them.
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-26 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Russia-Ukraine war triggered a crackdown on "golden passport" schemes across Europe. Malta is the only EU country with a golden passport program and is under pressure to shut it down. In recent years, countries including Bulgaria and Cyprus have shut down their golden passport programs following accusations of corruption and pressure from the European Union. The European parliament estimates that Russian nationals account for about half of approved golden passport applications in the EU. "The concern is that unsavory and possibly criminal individuals will secure EU passports, which then entitles them to mobility and settlement rights."

Experții în sănătate publică consideră că sunt suficiente motive pentru care ar trebui să ne punem măști în spațiile publice aglomerate cel puțin până în vară. În continuare, îți prezentăm trei motive de ce trebuie să continui să porți masca în spații publice. 1) O mulțime de oameni rămân vulnerabili la infecții pentru că nu pot primi încă un vaccin – inclusiv bebelușii și copiii. Așadar, deocamdată, purtarea unei măști – chiar dacă ești vaccinat – îi poate ajuta pe cei din jur să se simtă mai în siguranță. Dacă toată lumea, indiferent de statutul lor de vaccin, poate purta în continuare măști în spațiile publice, lucrurile sunt mult mai simple.

Persons: Brandon Guthrie, Monica Gandhi Organizations: Organizația Mondială a Sănătății, Forbes, Universitatea Washington ., Universitatea California, Sănătății, Muncii, Protecției Sociale Locations: San Francisco, Republica Moldova

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