Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
China has accused the parent company of Calvin Klein of boycotting cotton from its western Xinjiang region, threatening for the first time to put a US company with significant interests in the country on a national security blacklist.
Beijing’s threat to include PVH, a clothing maker whose brands include Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, on its “unreliables list” is likely to alarm international companies at a moment when China is struggling to attract foreign investors.
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The Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that PVH had 30 days to explain to authorities whether it had discriminated against Xinjiang-related products over the past three years.
In a separate notice, the ministry accused the group “of violating normal market trading principles and unreasonably boycotting Xinjiang cotton and other products without factual basis”.
International clothing companies have faced increasingly conflicting pressure from China and western governments over sourcing from cotton-rich Xinjiang. Beijing strongly rejects accusations by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and independent watchdogs that it is responsible for human rights abuses against Xinjiang’s mainly Muslim Uyghur ethnic group that include widespread use of forced labour.
China’s commerce ministry said PVH would be investigated by its “Unreliable Entity List Working Mechanism Office” — a national security-related body set up five years ago after the eruption of a trade war with the US.
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The unreliables list mirrors the US commerce department’s “entities list”, which targets companies accused of human rights and other violations of American law.
Beijing’s implementation of the blacklist followed tightening US restrictions and sanctions on Chinese technology and exports, particularly on its telecom equipment maker Huawei.
But foreign lawyers argue that provisions of China’s blacklist are too vague, targeting companies accused of “endangering national sovereignty, security or development interests of China”.
China has publicly placed five US companies on the list, including military suppliers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies for selling weapons to Taiwan, but these groups do little or no business in China.
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PVH could face fines, have its activities in China restricted or face other unspecified penalties. In a prepared statement, the New York-based company, which has subsidiaries registered in China and stores and warehouses in the country, said: “As a matter of company policy, PVH maintains strict compliance with all relevant laws and regulations in all countries and regions in which we operate. We are in communication with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and will respond in accordance with the relevant regulations.”
The ministry statement said PVH’s alleged discrimination against Xinjiang products “seriously damages the legitimate rights and interests of relevant Chinese companies and endangers China’s sovereignty, security and development interests”.
Under the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the US bans goods made in Xinjiang unless importers can prove they were not made using forced labour.
In a company filing this year, PVH said it had made “efforts” to confirm that materials covered by measures such as the US act “are not present in our supply chain”.
China’s commerce ministry rejected any suggestion the use of its blacklist might deter foreign investors.
China was “prudent in handling the issue of the Unreliable Entity List, targeting only a very small number of foreign entities that undermine market rules and violate Chinese laws”, it said. “Honest and law-abiding foreign entities have nothing to worry about.”
Last December, a social media ad featured a pair of trainers against a plain white background and the caption “Now just £26 at Nike!”
But when shoppers clicked through to find the shoes, they were only available in older children’s sizes.
On Tuesday, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned the Nike advert and another from Sky which the regulator said was similar.
The ASA is cracking down on online ads like these, saying their structure misleads customers. Both companies defend the adverts.
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Nike’s ad featured an exploding head emoji and a black heart emoji, to emphasise what a great deal was on offer.
The ASA said this would lead browsers to expect a significant discount and assume the shoes must be available in a range of sizes.
In fact, the trainers were only available in sizes UK3 to UK6. And, because children’s shoes attract no VAT, the discounted price is less of a bargain.
The ASA said it was investigating the way firms used this kind of “online choice architecture” after receiving complaints.
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Brands often use strategies that prompt people to click on an ad, but hide or delay key information until later in the process, a set of tools dubbed “dark pattern” tactics.
These can include the charging of small fees added along the purchasing process known as “drip pricing” and other ways that reduce price transparency for customers.
Sometimes ads refer to limited supply or limited time on a deal, to increase the pressure to buy.
Consumer group Which? said last year that “dark patterns can leave consumers feeling manipulated or annoyed and in some cases may cause financial harm”.
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In the case of Sky, the ASA criticised the way subscription options were presented to customers signing up for streaming service Now TV, which belongs to Sky.
Customers who signed up found that free trials for its Cinema and Boost services were automatically added to their basket and would auto-renew for a fee unless cancelled at the end of the seven-day free trial period.
Although the conditions of the free trial were stated, the ASA said the information was in a smaller font and a less prominent colour.
The text was also underneath the button to proceed, making it likely that people would miss it, the ASA said.
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Sky said it believed the presentation of the ad was clear, legible and immediately visible.
It added that the concept of a seven-day free trail was so widely understood that it was not misleading.
Nike said the ad for its shoes had been created and published by The Sole Supplier, an online footwear marketplace, without any input or oversight from the sportswear giant itself.
However, Nike argued a reasonable consumer would assume there would be a limit on availability in some way.
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The ASA also banned an ad from the food replacement firm Huel, the third of their ads to be banned in the last two months.
The ASA said the health benefit and cost savings claims made in the ad could not be substantiated.
The mega deal starts online and in stores tomorrow, Wednesday September 25.
Customers will need a Clubcard to bag the discount – which will see Cadbury Heroes, Celebrations, Cadbury Roses and Quality Street reduced from £6.00 to £3.95.
This means shoppers will be pocketing a 34 per cent discount on the sweet treats and saving £2.05.
She said: “Asda often has an alcohol offer on: buy six bottles and save 25%.
“The offer includes selected bottles with red, white and rose options, as well as prosecco. There are usually lots of popular bottles included, for example, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot and Freixenet Prosecco D.O.C.
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“Obviously, the more expensive the bottles you choose, the more you save.”
Join Facebook groups
The savvy saver also recommends that fans of Asda join Facebook groups to keep in the know about the latest bargains in-store.
Eilish said: “I recommend joining the Latest Deals Facebook Group to find out about the latest deals and new launches in store.
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“Every day, more than 250,000 deal hunters share their latest bargain finds and new releases.
“For example, recently a member shared a picture of Asda’s new Barbie range spotted in store.
“Another member shared the bargain outdoor plants she picked up, including roses for 47p, blackcurrant bushes for 14p and topiary trees for 14p.”
A SMALL family-owned restaurant in Edinburgh with nine types of mashed potato on its menu has just been announced as the winner of best restaurant in the UK for casual dining.
Makars Gourmet Mash Bar, located a stone’s throw away from Edinburgh Old Town, specialises in traditional Scottish comfort food, dishes like haggis, neeps and tatties and chicken in whisky sauce.
But what makes this eatery unique, is everything comes with your own choice of mashed potato.
There are nine flavours to choose from:
Classic Scottish dairy butter
Mature Scottish cheddar cheese
Mild smoked applewood cheese
Wholegrain mustard
Smoked bacon and spring onion
Scottish black pudding
Chilli smoked bean medley
Creamed horseradish
Olive oil mash
Of course, if you’re not a fan of the smooth and silky side, you can opt out of having it – purple-sprouting broccoli is served up instead.
Makars was given the accolade in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Restaurants 2024.
Tripadvisor chose its winners by looking at the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings for restaurants from travellers over a 12-month period.
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Makars was described by reviewers as an “Edinburgh legend” and “local gem”.
As well as serving up delicious food in a cosy, relaxed atmosphere, the restaurant focuses on using local ingredients and is moving towards plant based cooking.
Alongside slow cooked lamb shank, slow cooked beef shoulder, and wild board sausage, it offers vegetarian haggis and vegetarian sausage made from skirlie (a traditional Scottish dish made from oatmeal and onion).
Makers also has dishes with lions mane mushroom on offer for its vegan and vegetarian customers, an ingredient known for being packed with potent antioxidants to fight disease, with claims it can boost brain cell production.
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You’ve been making mashed potato all wrong – stop boiling them in water if you want it extra creamy
The mushroom is described as having the taste of lobster and crab, with the look of a lion’s mane.
Typically, they’re quite expensive, but Makers has developed an advanced lions mane grow facility in Edinburgh, allowing them to offer them at a cost they think is fair – that’s dedication.
Prices at Makers range from £18 to £23, not including sides or dessert.
One customer who visited the restaurant this month described their meal as a “feast to remember”.
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They wrote in their review on Tripadvisor: “Quite simply – the best dining experience I’ve had in months! The place is buzzing, but not crowded.
“The staff were superlative, offering friendly assistance throughout the meal, without being obtrusive.
“The food was first class. Loved the black pudding mash. A feast to remember.”
Another penned: “Friendly and relaxed atmosphere for a truly gourmet experience.”
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Makers also came in the top 10 restaurants for casual dining worldwide.
Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Restaurants 2024 (UK)
During my 22 years owning and running a large TV and film production company, conducting interviews for specific jobs never worked for me (“Has finding a job become harder than ever?”, Opinion, Work & Careers, September 23). Instead, I ran a pre-work “clinic”. If people interested in joining us could make it to my Chelsea office by 7.58am I would give them 45 minutes of my time, face to face, so I could learn about them and note their aspirations.
These notes I would bank along with their CVs — invaluable in building future teams to make our products.
I must have met thousands of candidates, some talented, others not so talented. But all, once trained, could become talented, so much so, that other companies would call me for recommendations.
My key question when meeting aspirants: “What do you do when you’ve nothing else to do?”
BARGAIN hunters are rushing to fill up their baskets as Iceland brings back a “favourite offer”.
The frozen food retailer has launched it’s 10 for £10 deal – and shoppers can’t wait to get their hands on the goods.
Many families are desperately on the lookout for cheap buys.
Luckily, supermarket chain Iceland has introduced its bargain deal where you can nab 10 frozen goods for just £10.
Taking to Facebook, the retailer said: “Your favourite offer is back! Grab any 10 for £10! Stock up your freezer for less!”
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Foodies can choose from a variety of ready-made dishes – including delicious fish fingers, chicken, fries or sausages.
Pizza lovers will also be delighted to hear that the bargain offer also included the customer favourite Goodfella’s Stonebaked Thin Pepperoni Pizza which would set you back by £3 at other stores.
Customers can also nab Green Cuisine’s Veggie Fingers – which are typically selling for £2.
And Birds Eye Cod Fish Fingers that are around £2.10 at rival Sainsbury’s.
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Other items included are Birds Eye Southern Fried Chicken normally costing £2.50.
And a pack of four Birds Eye Breaded Cod Fish Cakes are included in the amazing deal too.
The deal has left dozens of money-savers amazed – with many flocking to the comments section to tag their pals and share their thoughts.
ICELAND has updated its iconic slogan – as ITV star Josie Gibson becomes the new face of the supermarket
Praising the deal, a savvy user said: “Wow extremely cheap!”
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Another said: “I got this today.”
A shopper tagged their friend and commented: “Look what’s in the 10 for £10!”
And: “Need to go back to get this deal.”
It comes as Iceland revealed its Christmas 2024 range and it includes a pigs in blankets Yorkshire pudding.
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The big day is still a while away, but it’s always good to plan ahead for the merry season.
Luckily, Iceland has unveiled its Christmas menu which will be available in stores and online from November 12.
Iceland‘s menu this year offers customers everything they’ll need for Christmas lunch or dinner, but there are some quirky items included as well in case you’re after something a bit different.
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Shoppers will be able to feast on mini fish, chip and ketchup sarnies, prawn tacos and an unbelievable XXL pigs in blankets Yorkshire pudding.
The supermarket is also launching battered lobster tails, mini garlic and herb kievs and even some exclusive brands items like Harry Ramsden’s battered mini sausages.
Also returning are familiar favourites such as the turkey crown, mince pies, Christmas pudding and of course all the trimmings like roast potatoes and veg.
Those who want to feast on the exclusive brands range like Galaxy, TGI Fridays and Harry Ramsden’s can do so with the mix-and-match deals like three items for £10.
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Iceland’s head of development David Lennox said: “We’ve focused on perfecting the classics and making them the best and most delicious yet, as well as offering our customers a range of innovative and affordable new Christmas products which are sure to delight everyone at the dinner table.
“Iceland has some extra special products on offer this festive season.”
And here’s the full list of festive items Iceland shoppers can get their hands on.
Iceland is yet to confirm some of the prices so keep your eyes peeled when you visit its stores later this year.
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Christmas traditional favourites:
Iceland Xmas Dinner in a box – £25.00
Iceland Battered Lobster Tails – £20.00
Butterball Turkeys – £35.00
Iceland Beef Wellington – £26.00
Iceland Ultimate XL Cooked Lobster – £15.00
Iceland Pigs in Blanket Pinwheel – £5.00
Exclusive Brands Party:
TGI Fridays Loaded Fries X2 Flavours – £5.00
Harry Ramsden’s Battered Mini Sausages 16 Pack with Chip Shop Curry Sauce – £4.00 (3 for £5)
TGI Fridays Hunters Chicken Potato Bites – £4.00
Luxury Party:
Iceland Doughball Xmas Tree – £4.00
Iceland Mini Cottage Pies / PiBS Yorkshire Puddings – £4.00
Iceland Prawn Tacos – £4.00
Mini Lemon Meringue Pies – £4.00
Innovation products:
Iceland Beechwood Smoked Treacle Gammon – £14.00
Iceland Lobster Thermidor – £15.00
Iceland Pigs in Blanket Yorkshire Pudding XXL – £4.00
Iceland Hunters Pigs in Blankets – £4.00 (3 for £10)
Iceland White Chocolate Snowman – £8.00
Luxury Mince Pies – £2.75
Iceland Lemon Meringue Baked Alaska – £6
Iceland Mini King Prawn Ring – £2.50
Iceland Chicken Nugget Lollipops – £2.50
Iceland Spring Roll Platter – £6.00
Iceland Cheesy Potato Swirls – £1.00
Iceland Potato Trees and Stars – £1.00
Iceland Duck Skewer with Hoisin Sauce – £4.00
Iceland Mini Cheesecake/ Cake Selections – £4.00
Buy Two, Get One Free Party Food:
Iceland Mini Fish & Chip Butty – £2.50
Iceland Crispy Duck Nuggets – £2.50
Iceland 8pk Mini Orange Choc Ices – £2.50
Iceland Choc Hazelnut Churro Bites – £2.50
Iceland Onion Bhaji Rings – £2.50
Embrace picky bits – Greggs and TGI Fridays:
TGI Fridays Coated Skewer with Tennessee Glaze and Sesame – £4.00
Cathedral City Cheddar with Caramelised Onion – £3.75
Cathedral City Cheddar with Triple Cheese Bite – £3.75
TGI Fridays Bacon Mac Cheese Bites – £3.75
TGI Fridays Jalapeno Poppers – £4.00
Cathedral City Mac n Cheese Bites – £3.75
Mozzarella sticks 60 Pack – £6.00
No Meat No Meat Turkey Roast (vegan offering)
No Porkies 6 Pack Sausage Roll (vegan offering)
Iceland Vegan Mac & Cheese Bites (vegan offering)
If you are keen to snap up some of the items from Iceland’s Christmas range, most of its stores are usually open from 7am or 8am until 7pm, and in some cities, they are open until 9pm.
However, hours might vary depending on where you are in the country.
You can find your nearest Iceland store by using the store locator tool on its website.
How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
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Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
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Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
The cryptocurrency industry is “rife with fraud and hucksters and grifters”, one of the United States’ top financial regulators has told the BBC.
The chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, says the “investing public around the globe has lost too much money” because of crypto companies not following the laws his agency tries to enforce.
It comes as the industry is spending millions of dollars on political donations, trying to influence the outcome of November’s US elections in the hope of more favourable future laws.
In addition to the presidential battle between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, all 435 districts in the House of Representatives are up for re-election, as well as 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate.
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The future of cryptocurrency, one of the world’s most hotly-debated technologies, is an issue where there appears to be a clear dividing line between Donald Trump and the outgoing Biden administration.
Trump has been courting the votes of crypto enthusiasts by promising to make America “the crypto capital of the planet”, and creating a “strategic national bitcoin stockpile” similar to the US government’s gold reserves.
This week he launched a new crypto business called World Liberty Financial, and although he provided few details, he said “I think crypto is one of those things we have to do”.
It’s a huge turnaround from three years ago, when he dismissed Bitcoin as something that “seems like a scam” and a threat to the US dollar.
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Trump’s new-found enthusiasm is a stark contrast to the Biden administration, of which Harris is the vice president. The White House has led a sweeping crackdown on crypto firms in recent years.
In March, Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and boss of FTX was jailed for 25 years for fraud, after he stole billions of dollars from customers around the world, many of whom are still trying to recover their money.
Then in April, the founder of the world’s biggest crypto exchange, Binance’s Changpeng Zhao, got four months in prison, and the company paid a $4.3bn (£3.2bn) fine. He admitted to allowing criminals, child abusers and terrorists to launder money on his platform, in a case brought by the US Justice Department.
The SEC also has a case against Binance going through the courts. It is one of a record-high 46 enforcement actions the financial regulator took last year against firms trying to profit from what is still an emerging technology.
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“This is a field that has come along, and just because they’re recording their crypto assets on a new accounting ledger, they [wrongly] say ‘we don’t think we want to comply with the time-tested laws’,” says Mr Gensler.
He explains that rules that force companies that want to raise money from the public to “share certain information” with them have been in place to protect investors since the SEC was created.
This was back in 1934, in the aftermath of the infamous Wall Street crash of 1929 that heralded the Great Depression.
“Crypto is just a small piece of the US and worldwide capital markets, but it can undermine trust that everyday investors have in the capital markets,” says Mr Gensler.
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Whilst fans argue that crypto offers a fast, cheap and secure way to move funds, a survey by the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, found that the number of Americans using it has dropped from 12% in 2021 to 7% last year.
Harris hasn’t said much about cryptocurrencies, but one of her advisors did say last month that she would “support policies that ensure that emerging technologies, and that sort of industry, can continue to grow”.
Recent meetings between her team and industry executives have been trying to build trust, and given crypto bosses hope of a brighter future whoever wins in November.
“I can’t underscore enough how important this is, not just for the US, but for the for the world,” according to Paul Grewal, who is chief legal officer at crypto firm Coinbase. He has been at these meetings.
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“Not only is the US an important market for crypto, but so much of the important technology surrounding has been developed here. And I think it’s also critically important that we not lose sight of the fact that the rest of the world is not simply waiting for the US to get its act together.”
He adds that given how tight the race for the White House is, “every vote is going to count, and crypto votes are no exception”.
The clampdown on cryptocurrencies in the US this year has been mirrored in Europe. In April, the European Union agreed new laws to try to reduce the risk of crypto being used by criminals.
However, other regulators are being slower to act. The G20 group of leading economies is working on minimum standards for cryptocurrencies, but they are not legally binding, and uptake has been slow.
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Back in the US, a bill to regulate cryptocurrencies has been passed by the House, but not the Senate. Its critics argue it will give less protection to consumers.
Coinbase’s Mr Grewal backs the bill, and says: “This is not an industry that is shying away from regulation.” He adds that the sector just wants the same standards applied to crypto as are applied to other assets, “no tougher, but no weaker”.
With November’s US elections on the horizon, the crypto industry has sensed an opportunity to help elect lawmakers who take a sympathetic view of the businesses.
By last month, the sector had already spent an unprecedented $119m on donations, according to research by the non-profit Public Citizen.
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The consumer advocacy organisation’s research director Rick Claypool says the money is being used “to help elect pro-crypto candidates and attack crypto critics, this is regardless of political affiliation”.
They’ve spent more than any other industry when it comes to corporate donations, because they “are attempting to discipline the US congress to give in to their demands for less oversight, and to weaken protections for consumers,” he adds.
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