
Headlines: new swimming pool plans and stunt pilot views
Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.
Our pick of local website stories
Gloucestershire Live has a behind-the-scenes look at a new M&S in Cheltenham, with the store's bosses promising "surprises" on opening day.And a bid to open a community-owned swimming pool in Minehead has secured a £6,000 funding boost, according to the Somerset Leveller. The town's last swimming pool closed in 2006.Bristol Live has reported on revised plans to demolish a block of shops on Filwood Broadway in south Bristol, with new shops and flats planned for the site.
Our top three from yesterday
M4 death investigated after online 'predator' stingRed reusable bag trial to simplify recycling sortingNew home sought for dog left tied up in graveyard
What to watch on social media
Bristol City's Yu Hirakawa has made a permanent move to the club, and lots of fans are delighted with the news.A nine-year-old from Swindon has learned all about recycling after she wrote a letter to the council saying soft plastics were difficult to recycle.People also had a lot to say about Gloucestershire County Council consulting on new plans for cycle paths through Gloucester.Finally, the team from the Royal International Air Tattoo has posted some impressive footage showing what the pilots of stunt planes see when they're flying through the air.

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The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Asian shares gain as investors keep an eye on China-US trade talks
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Auto Blog
10 hours ago
- Auto Blog
Rivian Is Missing Out on a Key Demographic
The numbers tell a story In a crowded landscape that includes legacy automakers, as well as rival startups like Rivian and Lucid, Tesla is still top dog when it comes to American electric vehicle sales. According to data from Kelley Blue Book and Cox Automotive, Tesla sales are eclipsing those of its competitors, even as it records an 8.6% year-over-year drop from last year. In Q1 2025, Tesla managed to move 128,100 of its EVs, while its closest competitor; Ford, sold just 22,550 vehicles in the same period. 0:03 / 0:09 Audi A5 replaces A4: So, what's changed? Watch More However, one brand that has posted lower growth numbers than Tesla is the outdoorsy-focused Rivian. According to KBB and Cox, its meager 8,553 sales in Q1 2025 means that it recorded a whopping 37.1% year-over-year sales drop, higher than established names like Kia. In 2024, it managed to sell 51,579 vehicles, a 3% jump from that in 2023, but at the same time, Tesla managed to move over 1.8 million vehicles. Source: Rivian Study: Rivian is struggling with a key EV-buying demographic According to a recent study by S&P Global Mobility, Rivian's is struggling to connect and resonate with Asian-American buyers in the United States. According to results from Q1 2025, Asian households represent just 7.2% of all the new cars that were registered. However, what stands out is that Tesla and Tesla alone captured a huge chunk of this key demographic, with its vehicles capturing nearly 27.2% of Asian-American drivers. Additionally, Asian-American households made up 12.7% of all electric vehicle (EV) sales that aren't from Tesla or Rivian. Asian-Americans are buying EVs, and the majority are buying Teslas. However, this shows that Rivian struggles to gain a foothold with this demographic, as just 13.7% of its sales are made to Asian-American households. Source: Getty Images One significant factor that S&P researchers Kent Chiu and Steve Giordano identified is the lack of diverse models on the Rivian lineup. Though the more compact R2 SUV is on the way and the hatchback-styled R3 is set to release in the future, Rivian only sells two models, the R1T and the R1S; the former being a pickup truck, a segment where Asian buyers are close to nonexistent. According to S&P data, Asian-Americans accounted for just 2.3% of all full-size pickup truck sales in the U.S., the same segment that the Rivian R1T and contemporary gas-powered rivals like the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 compete in. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. But even in the electric pickup market, Rivian falls short. Despite the Tesla Cybertruck's unconventional design alienating 'real truck guys' and 'truck bros,' it's hitting with Asian-American Tesla fans. According to S&P, nearly a quarter (24%, to be exact) of Cybertrucks were sold to Asian-American buyers, while just 8% of Asian-Americans bought a Rivian R1T. The gap extends beyond style and substance Despite this, S&P identified that Rivian faces challenges that extend beyond what kind of cars it wants to sell, as Tesla's deeper appeal is something much more skin-deep. According to data scraped by S&P researchers, some Asian-American buyers are particularly drawn to brands with a very strong premium brand image and companies known for their technological capabilities, which not only explains a gravitational pull towards Tesla but also established luxury car names in the gas-powered space. Their data shows that Asian-American buyers also like some of Tesla's German luxury rivals; 28.3% of sales for the Mercedes EQS SUV can be attributed to Asian households, while 25.5% of BMW iX sales came from the same demographic. More remarkably, S&P also found that 33% of Tesla Model X sales were made to Asian-American buyers. Final thoughts I am Asian-American, and even as someone within this large and diverse diaspora that lives in the NY Metro Area, one of the largest hotbeds for EV ownership growth in the United States, this study does ring somewhat true from an anecdotal point of view. I slightly disagree with the idea that vanity or a perceived luxury image significantly influences Tesla's reputation within the Asian-American community. However, the appeal of a practical car with low maintenance costs, the widespread and convenient Supercharger network, and a buying experience without traditional franchised dealers are significant advantages for people of all walks of life, Asian or not. About the Author James Ochoa View Profile


Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Tesco shoppers reveal why they ALWAYS ask for receipts – and it's not for pricing errors
Tesco shoppers have shared a little known trick to bag discounts SHOP TO IT Tesco shoppers reveal why they ALWAYS ask for receipts – and it's not for pricing errors Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TESCO shoppers are sharing the savvy reason they always check their receipts One customer took to social media to reveal the trick and shoppers were left stunned. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Eagle eyed customers have managed to bag bargains Credit: Getty 3 Shoppers are urged to check their receipts for offers and freebies at the checkout Credit: Facebook/ Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Tesco customers aren't checking their receipts for errors but so they can claim free items and discounts. Money off and even free items can sometimes be claimed from receipts from Tesco and other big retailers. One customer recently managed to bag kilograms of rock salt for almost nothing after spotting an impressive discount offer on their receipt. They shared their bargain on social media so other customers could use the trick to claim their own freebies and discounts. 3 The shopper went home with tens of kilograms of rock salt costing them just £2 Credit: Facebook/ Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK In the past Eagle eyed customers have managed to nab free nappies just by properly checking their receipt. If you spot a freebie on your receipt you can hand it over to a member of staff to claim the item. Sometimes to get the free items on offer you need to be a Clubcard holder. The free loyalty program allows members to earn points for money off shopping at Tesco. Free items on receipts will be clearly displayed in plain writing and should be easy to spot. The free items come from personalised coupons for targeted promotions, usually awarding Clubcard holders. Offers will usually have an expiry date so it is important to check that the discount or freebie is still valid before trying to claim it. Other supermarkets offer similar money saving deals and loyalty programmes to customers. M&S shoppers could not believe their luck after learning they could pick up a packet of their Outrageously Chocolatey Milk Chocolate Biscuits for nothing. Savvy shopper reveals the secret way to get epic discounts and hundreds of points for 'no reason at all' in Tesco The biscuits would usually cost customers a whopping £6 at M&S stores. To qualify for the offer customers need to be a Sparks Member, which is M&S's free loyalty scheme and also signed up to its parenting club. Sainsbury's has also given vouchers to its Nectar Card holders to pick up free items such as fabric softener. Vouchers for freebies and discounts print out at the till alongside your receipt. Shoppers have been urged to keep an eye out for the deals when they're paying for their shop. Social media users were left stunned after discovering they had been missing out on freebies and discounts. One user shocked them all when they revealed the reason they always took their receipt.