Latest news with #Adore
News18
25-07-2025
- News18
Rs 100 core drug cartel busted by Delhi Police spans across continents
New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) A drug cartel that operated like a call centre from Africa with online delivery based mechanism, and was busted here had links to several countries including Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United Kingdom, Delhi Police claimed on Friday. Five African nationals have been arrested so far and drugs worth more than Rs 100 crore in the international market were seized in the operation, police said. The syndicate allegedly headed by Nigeria-based kingpin Callistus alias Kalis spanned across continents, they added. Additional Deputy Commisioner of Police (Crime) Mangesh Kashyap, the cartel received operated through a central command in Nigeria, where handlers received orders from Indian-clients via fake call centre numbers and social media and they relayed them to delivery agents based in Delhi. 'Cocaine, MDMA and ganja were trafficked using encrypted messaging apps, forged documents and a structured distribution network of Indian-based African nationals. The cartel's Indian arm operated using a logistics model inspired by food delivery apps. Deliveries were made based on customer's live locations," he said. Investigations revealed that the syndicate maintained detailed ledgers of transactions, with records dating back to 2019 showing monthly sales exceeding Rs 1 crore in areas like Vasant Kunj alone, the officer added. Delivery and cash handoffs were designed to maintain multiple operational layers, insulating the top brass from exposure. To maintain anonymity, delivery agents wore specific markers such as checked shirts and black helmets. Orders were processed through a centralised 'call centre" run from Nigeria, with arrested operatives revealing that if one delivery agent was caught, they were quickly replaced to avoid disruption in the chain. The case came to light on June 13, when police intercepted a suspicious parcel at a courier facility in Moti Nagar and seized 895 grams of MDMA. This led them to Kameni Philipp, who had a fake Cameroonian passport, and he was found in possession of more than two kilograms of pure cocaine molded into waterproof bricks. During interrogation, Philipp revealed that the internal functioning of the cartel, including how UK-based phone numbers were used to mask the origin of instructions and how vehicles were identified using car registration numbers for swift handovers. Philip alias Tall Guy, another delivery agent, operated in South Delhi and Saket and followed instructions received over social media calls. He also disclosed that payments and stock pickups were managed through anonymous drop locations to shield higher-ups. Based on further leads, police arrested three more foreign nationals — Adore, Kelechi Chikwe alias Victor and Ibe Chinedu Austin — from various locations across Delhi A total of 2.7 kilogram of cocaine, 1 kilogram of MDMA, more than 1 kilogram of cannabis and Rs 2.7 lakh in cash were seized from the accused, police said. Adore, who ran the drug hub from a makeshift kitchen in Chhatarpur, disclosed that he had received more than seven kilograms of cocaine from Kalis and laundered the proceeds through through Nigerian shell firms and hawala channels. Forged passports from Nigeria, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire were also recovered by the police team. The syndicate allegedly smuggled Colombian cocaine into India using Indian women couriers — believed to have lower risk profile at International airports — and then adulterated the drugs locally to increase yield five fold. Police said the cartel had generated more than Rs 85 crore through its India operations in just the past six months. Separate courier-based channels were used to export MDMA abroad, while hawala networks were employed to launder and remit drug proceeds to Nigeria, police added. Efforts are on to trace other operatives and financial links. Delhi Police has also initiated communication with foreign law enforcement agencies for international coordination, officials said. PTI SSJ SSJ SHS OZ OZ First Published: July 25, 2025, 21:00 IST News agency-feeds Rs 100 core drug cartel busted by Delhi Police spans across continents Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Perth Now
14-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Popular online retailer opening two Perth stores
Online cosmetics retailer Adore Beauty is ramping up its bet on bricks-and-mortar by opening two stores in Perth just weeks apart. Adore will open the 180sqm store in Westfield Carousel on Thursday, with the second location at Booragoon — slightly bigger at 189sqm — coming two weeks later on July 10. It marks Adore's first venture outside its home State of Victoria, where it opened two shopfronts in Southland and Watergardens earlier this year. Adore chief executive Sacha Laing said WA was its fastest growing market in terms of sales. He teased of at least two more stores in Perth over the next 18 months. 'WA was a focus for us, particularly given the speed of the growth in that market,' Mr Laing told The West Australian when asked why Perth beat Sydney. Adore opens its first Sydney store in August. 'When I had the opportunity to secure two locations in the Westfield centres in Booragoon and Carousel, I was like, 'Great, Perth will be our next market that we open in'.' Adore opened its first retail store this month at Westfield Southland. Credit: Supplied The ASX-listed retailer launched as online-only in 2000 and last November first unveiled plans to open more than 25 stores in the next three years. Mr Laing said it was on track to have 20 stores nationally by the end of 2026 after penning deals with 'several of the country's largest landlords'. He is confident about Adore's push into bricks-and-mortar despite social media platforms, like TikTok, becoming an increasingly popular storefront, especially for young consumers. 'In Australia, only 13 per cent of retail sales in the beauty category are done online, so 87 per cent of retail sales in the beauty category are done in physical stores,' Mr Laing said. 'When we look at the opportunity to grow the Adore network . . . there's this huge market that we haven't previously addressed.' Adore Beauty chief executive Sacha Laing at the Watergardens store in Melbourne. Credit: Nicole Squelch While Adore has more than 14,000 products available across 300 brands online, customers will be offered a smaller, curated selection from about 90 brands at Carousel and Booragoon. But for customers who are after a product that is out of stock or only available online, the store's digital kiosk — or what Adore calls the endless aisle — will allow them to pay for it in-store and delivered to their homes. Mr Laing said the stores were deeply immersed in digital, meaning it will mostly be paperless, with screens displaying product descriptions and prices on shelves. '(Being digitally-led enables Adore to) expand ranges really quickly,' he said. 'We could double the size of a brand overnight if we wanted to. We could double the size of a category overnight if we wanted to.' The Perth stores will also offer in-store treatments and dermal therapists. Adore's physical stores are set to challenge major industry players Mecca — which holds the biggest market share in cosmetics in Australia at about 21 per cent — and Sephora, the beauty chain owned by French luxury goods giant LVMH. Sephora and Mecca already have stores in Carousel, with the latter also in Booragoon. According to IBISWorld, Australia's $6 billion cosmetics industry is forecast to grow 2.5 per cent over the next five years. Mr Laing reckons the market is 'big enough for us all'. 'Our product mix and our category mix are quite different. When we think about the competitive set or the overall landscape, there's department stores, there's the value offerings of some of the other mass market beauty retailers, and there's specialty beauty retailers . . . but the market is quite fragmented and what that enables us to do is find our own space,' he said. Adore — founded by Kate Morris — reported revenue of $195.7 million in the 2024 financial year, with net profit hitting $2.2m. That compared with a loss of $559,000 the prior year. Meanwhile, Mecca's latest accounts released earlier this month revealed it had raked in just over $1.2b in revenue in the year to the end of December 2023, up from the $971.5m recorded the previous year. Adore has had a troubled life on the Australian Securities Exchange, with its share price tumbling since listing in October 2020 from $6.91 to 64¢ on Tuesday. Asked if he watched the share price, Mr Laing said 'absolutely'. 'My job is to create shareholder value and to attract new investment interest in the business as well,' he said. 'Acquiring new customers through our online channels and through our physical stores, improving the frequency of new customers and growing the overall revenue line of the business, will inevitably create great profit growth. 'Growing profitability, fundamentally, is what will drive the share price.' Mr Laing took on the top job at Adore last September, replacing Tamalin Morton. He has more than 25 years of experience in the retail industry, having held executive roles at David Jones and Country Road Group. He also led youth fashion retailer General Pants Co and accessory brand Colette by Colette Hayman, which was saved from administration early last year. The reporter travelled to Melbourne as a guest of Adore Beauty.
Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Celebrity-loved viral lip stain that 'doesn't transfer' has 24% off on Amazon
Wonderskin's Wonder Blading Lip Stain Peel Off Masque applies with a blue, metallic formula that is then peeled, or rubbed, off to reveal a lovely transfer-proof lip colour- and it's on sale One of the most annoying things about wearing lipstick is the need to reapply every few hours. But viral brand Wonderskin has challenged this habit by creating a lip stain that has had the seal of approval from celebrity make-up artists and beauty buffs alike. Plus, in Amazon's Prime Day sales, which are running from July 8 to July 11, the Wonder Blading Lip Stain Peel Off Masque is reduced from £18 to £13.68. With 36 different shades to choose from with options like nude Adore, rosey Beautiful or the deeper pink Whimsical Stain & Go, the Wonderskin product gives its wearer the appearance of a lipstick without the faff of needing to reapply, nor having to deal with dry textures and feathering - no wonder it was so popular on social media. How it works is the smudge-proof, transfer-proof, water-proof formula is made with patent-pending Liquid Blading technology which infuses colourants and pigments into the top layer of lips. It's then sealed in to 'prevent feathering, fading, or budging'. It requires no more effort than any other lip products - simply apply the Lip Stain Masque and let it set for 10 - 30 seconds, then wipe away with a damp towel or tissue - or peel it off if it's not cracked. What is left is a natural lip colour that won't budge. For those who want a more dramatic lip, the formula is buildable: just reapply it, let it set and then wipe off. At the end of the day, it's easy to take off too as it only requires an oil-based make-up remover to tackle it. Costing less than £15 in the Amazon sale, the Wonderskin Lip Stain rivals the likes of HUDA BEAUTY's Lip Contour Lip Stain which retails at £22 on Sephora and acts as a lip stain and lip liner hybrid. With eight colours to choose from, shoppers say it's 'worth the hype', however others were left underwhelmed, stating it 'dries out too fast' Elsewhere, beauty fans can try e.l.f's more budget friendly Glossy Lip Stain, which costs £6. With a 'glossy' finish, the stain comes in 10 colours with a hint of sheen. With over 4,000 ratings on Amazon alone and the seal of approval from the likes of celebs and their make-up artists such as Aimee-Lou Wood's sister, Emily (a professional make-up artist), and Katy Perry's MUA (as confirmed on the brand's Instagram) the Wonderskin Lip Stain has impressed shoppers with its 'stunning quality' and 'long-lasting' colour. One beauty buff who left a five-star review raved: "I was a bit wary of trying this. Must say I'm so glad I did! It's a great product. Lovely to have the look of lipstick all day and it not transferring onto anything. I'll definitely be buying this again!" Another happy lip-colour lover added: "Why it has took me so long to purchase this is beyond me! Absolutely in love and amazed by how the review videos were spot on, not wasting money on lipsticks that last an hour anymore. Will happily pay the £18 for a product that gives me exactly what I want and need." A third raved: "I have bought this product in many different shades. My favourites are whimsical (for the day-day kissed lips look) and divine (for events, date nights, etc). These are absolutely amazing! If you hate carrying your lipstick around and re-applying it, if regular lipsticks dry your lips or make them sticky, if you hate getting lipstick on your teeth or on people you kiss - these lip stains are the answer. "I have never tried with the applicator spray, just the lipstain itself, leave it for 2min and get a beautiful shade that lasts me on average 6h. It doesn't dry my lips but it also doesn't hydrate them so i then apply a regular Vaseline based lip balm that hydrates my lips and gives them a shiny appearance." Others find the lip stain to be rather fast-drying, meaning if the application goes awry, users must tidy it quickly to avoid the stain remaining incorrect. However, some people didn't find the stain sticking for long enough with one person citing: "Nice colour but didn't stay all day." It's also recommended to scrub lips before hand to ensure a silky smooth finish.
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Popular retailer opening stores in Perth shopping centres
Online cosmetics retailer Adore Beauty is ramping up its bet on bricks-and-mortar by opening two stores in Perth just weeks apart. Adore will open the 180sqm store in Westfield Carousel on Thursday, with the second location at Booragoon — slightly bigger at 189sqm — coming two weeks later on July 10. It marks Adore's first venture outside its home State of Victoria, where it opened two shopfronts in Southland and Watergardens earlier this year. Adore chief executive Sacha Laing said WA was its fastest growing market in terms of sales. He teased of at least two more stores in Perth over the next 18 months. 'WA was a focus for us, particularly given the speed of the growth in that market,' Mr Laing told The West Australian when asked why Perth beat Sydney. Adore opens its first Sydney store in August. 'When I had the opportunity to secure two locations in the Westfield centres in Booragoon and Carousel, I was like, 'Great, Perth will be our next market that we open in'.' Adore opened its first retail store this month at Westfield Southland. Credit: Supplied The ASX-listed retailer launched as online-only in 2000 and last November first unveiled plans to open more than 25 stores in the next three years. Mr Laing said it was on track to have 20 stores nationally by the end of 2026 after penning deals with 'several of the country's largest landlords'. He is confident about Adore's push into bricks-and-mortar despite social media platforms, like TikTok, becoming an increasingly popular storefront, especially for young consumers. 'In Australia, only 13 per cent of retail sales in the beauty category are done online, so 87 per cent of retail sales in the beauty category are done in physical stores,' Mr Laing said. 'When we look at the opportunity to grow the Adore network . . . there's this huge market that we haven't previously addressed.' Adore Beauty chief executive Sacha Laing at the Watergardens store in Melbourne. Credit: Nicole Squelch While Adore has more than 14,000 products available across 300 brands online, customers will be offered a smaller, curated selection from about 90 brands at Carousel and Booragoon. But for customers who are after a product that is out of stock or only available online, the store's digital kiosk — or what Adore calls the endless aisle — will allow them to pay for it in-store and delivered to their homes. Mr Laing said the stores were deeply immersed in digital, meaning it will mostly be paperless, with screens displaying product descriptions and prices on shelves. '(Being digitally-led enables Adore to) expand ranges really quickly,' he said. 'We could double the size of a brand overnight if we wanted to. We could double the size of a category overnight if we wanted to.' The Perth stores will also offer in-store treatments and dermal therapists. Adore's physical stores are set to challenge major industry players Mecca — which holds the biggest market share in cosmetics in Australia at about 21 per cent — and Sephora, the beauty chain owned by French luxury goods giant LVMH. Sephora and Mecca already have stores in Carousel, with the latter also in Booragoon. According to IBISWorld, Australia's $6 billion cosmetics industry is forecast to grow 2.5 per cent over the next five years. Mr Laing reckons the market is 'big enough for us all'. 'Our product mix and our category mix are quite different. When we think about the competitive set or the overall landscape, there's department stores, there's the value offerings of some of the other mass market beauty retailers, and there's specialty beauty retailers . . . but the market is quite fragmented and what that enables us to do is find our own space,' he said. Adore — founded by Kate Morris — reported revenue of $195.7 million in the 2024 financial year, with net profit hitting $2.2m. That compared with a loss of $559,000 the prior year. Meanwhile, Mecca's latest accounts released earlier this month revealed it had raked in just over $1.2b in revenue in the year to the end of December 2023, up from the $971.5m recorded the previous year. Adore has had a troubled life on the Australian Securities Exchange, with its share price tumbling since listing in October 2020 from $6.91 to 64¢ on Tuesday. Asked if he watched the share price, Mr Laing said 'absolutely'. 'My job is to create shareholder value and to attract new investment interest in the business as well,' he said. 'Acquiring new customers through our online channels and through our physical stores, improving the frequency of new customers and growing the overall revenue line of the business, will inevitably create great profit growth. 'Growing profitability, fundamentally, is what will drive the share price.' Mr Laing took on the top job at Adore last September, replacing Tamalin Morton. He has more than 25 years of experience in the retail industry, having held executive roles at David Jones and Country Road Group. He also led youth fashion retailer General Pants Co and accessory brand Colette by Colette Hayman, which was saved from administration early last year. The reporter travelled to Melbourne as a guest of Adore Beauty.
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First Post
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
'Materialists' star Dakota Johnson on having an intimacy coordinator on the sets: 'If I am showing my body...'
Intimacy coordinators have become a norm on Hollywood sets in the post #MeToo era as they ensure actors feel safe while shooting sex scenes. read more 'Materialists' star Dakota Johnson says she found it great to work with an intimacy coordinator during a movie shoot as doing intimate scenes is 'not sexy'. Intimacy coordinators have become a norm on Hollywood sets in the post #MeToo era as they ensure actors feel safe while shooting sex scenes. Johnson, who worked on the racy trilogy 'Fifty Shades', shared her experience of working with an intimacy coordinator on Amy Poehler's 'Good Hang' podcast. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The actress said, 'First, I think it depends on, who is the character, and who is the character supposed to be to the audience,' she explained. 'Is she a super idolized hot girl? Is she a housewife? Is she lonely? Is she scared? Is she conservative?' She added, 'So, that's obviously character work, but then certain prep would go into it. I want to feel good in my body if I'm showing my body. My mom raised me to be really, really proud of my body and love my body. So, I've always felt so grateful for that, especially in my work because I can use it and it feels real.' After impressing with her directorial debut Past Lives, director Celine Song has managed to get a great star cast for her rom-com Materialists in the form of Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. While the promotional material has garnered excitement among the audience, let's find out whether Materialists has struck the chord with cinegoers or not. In today's world, the majority of people have a practical mindset for every aspect including marriages, relationships and others. Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a sharp and smart individual works as a matchmaker for an agency named Adore. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
