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Toys R Us is back and opening 37 new stores in the UK – see full list
The much-loved toy shop brand is opening 37 new stores inside WH Smith locations in the UK
Australia’s consumer watchdog is suing the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, alleging they falsely claimed to have permanently dropped the prices of hundreds of items.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) alleges Coles and Woolworths broke consumer law by temporarily raising prices before lowering them to either the same level or higher than originally.
Coles said it would defend itself against the allegations, while Woolworths said it would review the claims made against it.
The grocery giants, which account for two thirds of Australia’s grocery market, have come under increasing scrutiny in the past year over alleged price gouging and anti-competitive practices.
After years of marketing campaigns, Australian shoppers have come to understand that Woolworths’ ‘Prices Dropped’ promotion and Coles’ ‘Down Down’ branding mean a sustained reduction in the regular prices of supermarket products, ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
But in many cases “the discounts were, in fact, illusory”, she added.
The watchdog’s investigation – sparked by complaints and the ACCC’s own social media monitoring – found Woolworths had misled customers about 266 products over 20 months, and Coles for 245 products across 15 months.
The products included everything from pet food, sticking plasters and mouthwash, to Australian favourites like Arnott’s Tim Tam biscuits, Bega Cheese and Kellogg cereal.
The ACCC estimated that the the two companies “sold tens of millions” of the affected products and “derived significant revenue from those sales”.
“Many consumers rely on discounts to help their grocery budgets stretch further, particularly during this time of cost of living pressures,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
“It is critical that Australian consumers are able to rely on the accuracy of pricing and discount claims.”
It is seeking that the Federal Court of Australia impose “significant” penalties on the two firms, and an order forcing them to fund a charity to deliver meals to Australians in need – on top of their existing food aid programs.
In a statement, Coles said the company’s own costs were rising which led to an increase in product prices.
It had “sought to strike an appropriate balance” between managing that and “offering value to customers though the recommencement of promotional activity as soon as possible after the establishment of the new non-promotional prices”, it said.
The company takes consumer law “extremely seriously” and “places great emphasis on building trust with all stakeholders”, it added.
Woolworths said in a statement that it would engage with the ACCC over the claims.
“Our customers are telling us they want us to work even harder to deliver meaningful value to them and it’s important they can trust the value they see when shopping our stores.”
By James Greig
Sometimes, clients come to Ultimate Library with a simple request: make me look smart. “We received this as feedback in a recent questionnaire,” explains Mollie Wood, marketing and sales boss at the bespoke book-curation service based in London. “This was obviously not an avid reader, but someone who wanted to look authoritative, to reflect an interest in books they might not actually have.” The decline of reading may be a perennial concern, but the bookshelf has lost none of its power to convey status and refinement.
That’s not to say the company caters only to those trying to convince acquaintances that they’re keen fans of Henry James. On the contrary, many clients arrive at their first consultation with a highly specific set of preferences. “It’s always good to work with somebody who is really engaged in the process and sets us interesting challenges,” says founder and director Philip Blackwell. Ultimate Library designs book collections for hotels, resorts, spas and co-working spaces, but its work on private homes can be divided into two main categories: people for whom their property is their main residence, who may be looking to enhance an existing collection; and those buying a luxury property — sometimes one of many — who are looking to start from scratch.
In either case, it’s about connecting people with the books that best reflect their taste. “We’ll ask a number of leading questions designed to tease out someone’s interests and reading preferences, which may involve where they spend their time, things about their background, where they travel, what their passions are, their favourite genres and writers,” says Blackwell. “To give you an example, if somebody is very interested in crime and thrillers, and their property is going to be in a specific city, there’s usually a great thriller series set there.”
The briefs are often far more niche and idiosyncratic than an attempt to look clever. One client was looking for novels about war which had been adapted into films; another wanted a library dedicated to books about Manchester City Football Club — among more contemporary titles, the team tracked down an obscure but fascinating biography of Bert Trautmann, a German goalkeeper who played for the team in the postwar era. “He was just the most amazing character, a truly remarkable figure,” says Blackwell. “Being able to surprise and delight a client by finding that sort of book is wonderful.”
The owner of a private apartment in north London requested a library devoted entirely to witchcraft. “Among the team we’ve got around 100 years of combined bookselling experience. When it comes to witchcraft, there are older people like me who will think of [occult novelist] Dennis Wheatley, and younger ones who are perhaps more into Dungeons & Dragons,” says Blackwell. Drawing from this combined knowledge, the resulting library covered witchcraft from just about every conceivable angle.
Prior to founding Ultimate Library in 2008, Blackwell spent decades working in bookselling and the publishing industry, and the expertise he acquired is integral to the service he now provides. “If someone is looking to build a book collection for a property in Bulgaria, what do we know about that? Well, we know about their leading poet, we know about the International Booker Prize-winning author Georgi Gospodinov, and we know about the people who’ve travelled there who will be able to provide a cultural insight,” he says.
As well as this insight into subject matter, Blackwell’s knowledge of the industry itself allows Ultimate Library to work with the entire spectrum of publishers, from the largest and most established houses to independent start-ups and boutique specialists. “We were looking for a book on the history of Japan the other day, and we came across Old Street Publishing — they produce these very good, shortish histories that you can read in a day and remember for a lifetime,” he says. “We are able to identify books that not only cover the subject, but do it in an amusing and engaging way.”
Ultimate Library’s work often has to take into account design alongside curation: “One of our skills is being able to tick the aesthetic box while ensuring that the content is good, so it’s about style and substance”, says Blackwell. The interior designers they work with may have detailed requirements, particularly if it is a development site and the ultimate purpose is to sell the property. “A brief will often say ‘it’s a New York apartment, we’ve got 10 linear metres of shelving to fill, we want a muted colour palette, greys and blacks and beiges, and books on art and architectural photography’,” says Blackwell.
When it comes to ensuring that a client’s needs are met, the installation process is vital. The curators spend a lot of time thinking about how a book collection — whether library, snug or single bookshelf — can best match the surrounding space. The collections are designed according to a preprogrammed grid, which has occasionally led to some last-minute surprises. During one project, the team had prepared a selection of classic titles with dark spines to complement a square space in the middle of a room, which they had been told would surround a black, rectangular television. When it turned out the space actually featured a bright, fluorescent art installation, they had to go back to the drawing board, completely refiguring the collection with bright-spined books about art and architecture.
According to Blackwell, there is no single secret to a great personal library — it very much depends on character and taste. “When we’re curating a collection, whether it’s private or institutional, we try to find interesting, quirky books that people don’t necessarily know about, where the titles will leap off the shelf and make people say, ‘Oh, I never knew there was a book about that.’ ”
Leatherbound classics have their place, but it’s the surprising and unexpected choices that transform a collection of books into a truly unique library.
Photography: Studio Vero; Tiberio-Sorvillo
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Cloudland at McLemore
Cloudland at McLemore Resort has a backstory that is as good as its accommodations, restaurants, spa, and golf courses. Tucked away on a 2,000-foot elevation in northern Georgia, the resort has become a vacation magnet for travelers seeking fresh mountain air, world-class golf, to die-for views, and a touch a luxury throughout their stay.
The name McLemore claims a rich history for those calling Rising Fawn, GA, home. Located 30 miles south of the Chattanooga Regional Airport, the resort based the McLemore name on the mystical legend of a true 18thcentury Scot, who settled in Georgia, and rose to the position of Cherokee chief, as well as a captain in the U.S. Army. This Scottish link lends itself well to the three McLemore golf courses whose reputations grow by the day.
Today’s Cloudland at McLemore Resort is the perfect hub for those looking to explore the region’s climbing, hiking, and paragliding, as well as visiting the national park, and a museum. For guests wishing to simply relax, consider that Cloudland at McLemore is home to 245 hotel rooms, 20,000 square feet of event space, a spa, four restaurants, an outdoor pool, and views that soar all the way to Lookout Mountain.
Cloudland at McLemore
Golf with an Altitude
If you like golf, you’ll love The Highlands, The Keep, and The Cairns golf courses. The Bill Bergin and Rees Jones-designed Highlands Golf Course placed McLemore firmly on the world map when the golfing public became aware of the course’s 435-yard, Par 4, 18th hole. The hole’s entire left side sits on a cliff, and the vista view of Lookout Mountain is stunning.
This fall, there is great anticipation for The Keep, the Cloudland at McLemore’s newest 18-hole course. Positioned on the eastern cliff’s edge of Lookout Mountain, this 7,700-yard links layout is a walking course with caddies. A real-life painting of mountain views, limestone outcroppings, Billy bunkers, and a blanket of Zoysia grass, The Keep is sure to become an international draw.
Cloudland at McLemore
Dining with a View
Situated next to the Cloudland at McLemore infinity pool, the Skyside open air restaurant stretches out from a cliff. The panoramic views from this al fresco dining and cocktail venue gives new meaning to the term “happy hour.”
The restaurant Auld Alliance’s name pays homage to a pact between Scotland and France in 1295. Dining guests can expect exquisite cuisine, the best wines and bourbon, top shelf service, and Cloudland at McLemore’s signature views.
Cloudland at McLemore
Say Ahhh at Selah Spa
A mountain vacation is a chance to rejuvenate, reflect, and reset your mind, body, and soul. At Selah Spa, guests choose from a wealth of massage, facial, and body treatments. Steam, sauna, and hydrotherapy are also at your fingertips.
Cloudland McLemore
Hilton’s Highest Standards
Cloudland at McLemore Resort is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. This means that the resort was handpicked by Hilton to deliver one-of-a-kind moments. From driving the winding mountain roads in a Porsche, to hang gliding above the mountains, or attending a special singer-songwriter concert, guests staying at Cloudland at McLemore discover a resort destination where there’s every opportunity for making a magic moment.
Cloudland McLemore
Write Your Own Mountain Story
Your stay at the Cloudland at McLemore Resort may start out as a well-deserved escape with the goal of breathing the freshest mountain air. There’s a good chance that by the time you checkout, this resort featuring a front-row seat with nature will become your new vacation favorite. Come to Cloudland for the mountain views and its fascinating backstory, return to this above the clouds resort to make a story all your own. https://www.staycloudland.com/
Getty ImagesThe Metropolitan Police has set out plans to try to rebuild trust with London’s black communities which it says have been “let down” over a number of years.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said “there remains a long way to go and there is a lot more work to do”, but added the Race Action Plan “was a step in the right direction”.
It includes a new stop and search charter, an overhaul of its policy on intimate searches on children and measures to help black victims of crime.
The plans were made with input from black communities across London as well as black officers within the Met.
The new stop and search charter aims to reset how the procedure is carried out.
Tensions over stop and search have included the treatment of two black athletes, Team GB runner Bianca Williams and her partner, Portuguese sprinter Ricardo Dos Santos.
Two Met constables were sacked in October 2023 after a disciplinary panel found their actions during a “highly distressing” stop and search amounted to gross misconduct.
Trust in the force was also damaged after a 15-year-old black girl – known as Child Q – was strip searched while on her period at her school in Hackney in 2020.
Getty ImagesThe new policy on intimate searches of children, would, the plans said, increase the “threshold and oversight, ensuring they only occur when necessary and proportionate”.
Other changes include improving how black victims of crime are treated.
The measures will range from using new imaging devices to identify bruising on victims of crime, building trust by “improving our empathy and cultural awareness” and working with its partners to reduce delays in the criminal justice system.
The Met says it wants to better represent the communities it serves and is working to recruit and retain a more diverse workforce.
All new recruits are being trained to understand the experience of black Londoners and other communities across the capital, according to the Met.
There will also be better support and protection for those calling out unacceptable behaviour.
Disparities in the Met’s misconduct system are also being tackled, while new workshops to improve promotion rates have helped to raise pass rates for black officers from 68% to 75% since 2021.
Updates on the progress of the plan will be given twice a year.
The aim is for the Met to become “a truly anti-racist and inclusive organisation”, according to Sir Mark.
He said: “Black Londoners have been let down by the Met over many years and while we continue to take steps in the right direction, there remains a long way to go and there is a lot more work to do.
“Action, not words, will rebuild trust in our service, so we must now remain focused on delivering real change that is seen and felt by our communities and our workforce.”
Sir Mark added the force is changing “our systems, our processes, culture and our leadership” and working closer with communities.
He added: “To achieve this critical change once and for all will take time, but I am determined that we will continue to strengthen our relationship with black Londoners – whether that be members of the public or our own colleagues – and renew the principle of policing by consent.”
Monday: Malaysia and Singapore announce August inflation data while New Zealand publishes its latest trade figures. Financial markets in Japan will be closed for the Autumn equinox.
Tuesday: Former Singaporean transport minister S Iswaran’s corruption trial is scheduled to begin. The Reserve Bank of Australia announces its interest rate decision.
Wednesday: The EU is set to vote on proposed tariffs for Chinese electric vehicles. Australia publishes August inflation data. Nine Dragons Paper, Asia’s largest paperboard producer, announces quarterly earnings.
Thursday: The Tokyo Game Show, one of the world’s largest gaming exhibitions, begins. Hong Kong property developer New World Development announces earnings.
Friday: Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party votes to choose its next leader. Chinese industrial profits figures for August are due. Sri Lanka’s central bank announces its interest rate decision.
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