Latest news with #Headline
Edmonton Journal
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton rapper Headline addresses MMA fighter's death on new album
Article content Album single No Diddy (Gotham City) is a braggadocious hype song built over a mosaic of triumphant horns and cinematic strings. Rick Ross also shows up to rap about wearing thousand-dollar jeans and a watch worth a hundred stacks. Dig the way the horns switch up under the Teflon Don's verses, giving it an air of mafioso menace. Closing off The Second Coming is Teezus, perhaps the most personal song Headline has released. On it, he addresses the death of his friend Trokon Dousuah, who died after injuries sustained in a charity mixed martial arts fight in November 2024. 'I knew I had to honour Teezy in a way the both of us knew I could,' says Elechko. 'I put every ounce of thought and heart into creating a song that would be the legacy of his final moments immortalized in song, like the true champions of old.'
Glasgow Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow author Breea Keenan wins prestigious award
Breea Keenan scooped the Debut Romantic Novel Award at the Romantic Novelists' Association's (RNA) Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2025. Published by Headline, an imprint of Hachette UK, Plot Twist impressed judges with its originality and fresh voice in the romantic fiction genre. Read more: 'Emotional rollercoaster': Mum who beat cancer completes challenge in friend's memory Breea, a former journalist with a first-class honours degree in English Literature, Journalism, and Creative Writing from Strathclyde University, now works in marketing and communications. She said: "It was fantastic to attend the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards for the first time this year and meet the amazing authors, publishing representatives, literary agents, and RNA members. "I was absolutely thrilled when Plot Twist was announced as the winner. "It is fantastic to get such positive recognition, especially as a debut author." The prestigious awards ceremony was held at the Leonardo Royal London City Hotel on May 19 and hosted by prize-winning author Brigid Coady. Awards were presented by leading figures in romantic fiction, including RNA President and Sunday Times bestselling author Sue Moorcroft and RNA Chair and award-winning author Seána Talbot. The evening also included the presentation of the Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers, sponsored by the estate of the late Dr David Hessayon, and presented by Maryam Oliver (writing as Melissa Oliver), who won the award in 2020 and now serves as its coordinator. Seána Talbot said: "The RNA is proud to celebrate the work and achievements of these talented authors, whose work represents the extraordinary strength, success, and diversity of romantic fiction as a genre. "Huge congratulations to our worthy winners and many thanks to our respected reader-judges and to the awards volunteers, without whom the awards simply could not happen." RNA winners 2025 (Image: Supplied) Read more: Top five BBQ hacks from Glasgow MasterChef champion Sharon Ibbotson, RNA awards coordinator, said: "I am delighted to congratulate our winners on their well-deserved awards. "Thanks also to our wonderful reader-judges, without whom these awards could not take place.' The RNA Awards, established in 1960, celebrate excellence in romantic fiction across all forms. They are highly respected within the UK publishing industry, with previous winners including bestselling authors Santa Montefiore, Joe Heap, Julie Cohen, and Milly Johnson.
Business Mayor
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
UK is fastest-growing G7 country in Q1 2025, as exports to US jump ahead of trade war
UK was fastest-growing G7 member in Q1 2025 Britain has outpaced major international rivals for growth in the first quarter of this year, by accelerating in January-March. The UK's 0.7% growth in Q1 2025 shows it was the fastest-growing economy in the G7 during the last quarter – a clear boost for the government this morning. In contrast, US GDP contracted slightly due to a surge of imports to beat Donald Trump's trade war. Now, we don't get Japan's GDP report until tomorrow morning (a small contraction is expected), and Canada's data is only an early estimate. But as things stand, here's the G7 growth league table: UK : +0.7% growth Canada : estimated to have grown by 0.4% Italy : 0.3% growth Germany : 0.2% growth France : 0.1% growth US : -0.075% (or -0.3% on an annualised basis) Japan: reporting tomorrow, -0.1% forecast UK GDP growth of 0.7% QoQ in Q1 2025 (+0.5% on a per capita basis) puts the UK at the top of the G7 league table. Encouraging underlying resilience, although recent surveys (PMIs, labour market surveys) since April tax and trade changes do point to a considerable slowdown in Q2. — Simon French (@Frencheconomics) May 15, 2025 Share Updated at 11.08 CEST Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature US retail sales barely rise in April Just in: US retail sales growth slowed sharply last month, after a splurge of shopping to avoid new tariffs. US retail and food services sales rose by just 0.1% in April, the US commerce department reported. That followed a 1.7% surge in spending in March, which was attributed to consumers stocking up on goods before the US trade war kicked in. US Retail Sales (Apr): • Headline: +0.1% (est 0.0%, prev R +1.7%) • Ex-Auto: +0.1% (est 0.3%, prev R +0.8%) • Ex-Auto & Gas: +0.2% (est 0.3%, prev R +1.1%) — Rymond_Inc (@rymondIncKenya) May 15, 2025 US retail sales slowed dramatically to a crawl in April after the surge in front-running purchases in March ahead of tariffs. Spending edged up 0.1% last month. Core sales, however, slipped 0.2% (ex autos, gasoline, bldg mats & food services), which may be an early warning: — James Picerno (@jpicerno) May 15, 2025 Share UK lags behind France for foreign investment, again Phillip Inman Foreign investment in the UK fell below France for the fifth consecutive year in 2024, revealing the failure of successive governments to attract funds from overseas since the 2016 Brexit vote, new data today shows. The UK secured 853 FDI projects last year, according to the EY Attractiveness Index – behind the 1,025 projects registered in France and ahead of Germany's 608. France as gained 50% more projects since 2014 to take the lead on the European leader board, while the UK has seen the number fall. EY, which has monitored foreign-direct investment (FDI) for more than two decades, said the UK secured 352 fewer projects in 2024 than at its high point in 2017, when 1,205 projects were recorded. The study found that all three major European economies – France, the UK and Germany – have struggled to secure foreign investment since the pandemic. Last year they suffered double digit declines on 2023 numbers. The UK's total fell by 13%, France by 14% and Germany by 17%. Europe overall saw a 5% decline in FDI projects in 2024, which EY said was largely due a drought of funds from the US, which declined by 11% for continental Europe and by 7% for the UK. The lack of overseas funding underscores the government's efforts to boost investment from domestic pension funds. Earlier this week the bosses of 17 of the UK's biggest pension funds struck a deal with the government to release up to £50bn worth of investments, with at least half earmarked for British assets including clean energy projects and homegrown startups. EY said there was better news from Greater London, which remained the leading European region for FDI for a second year in a row. The UK also grabbed top spot for technology investment – accounting for 20% of all European tech projects secured last year. Peter Arnold, the firm's UK chief economist, said the UK could bounce back this year. 'Global uncertainty makes it difficult to predict how investment numbers will change this year, but the UK does have some strong fundamentals that could set it apart. 'It now has a government with a large majority in place for the foreseeable future and can project a sense of regulatory and legislative stability. An emphasis on project quality over quantity expressed by policymakers in recent years also appears to be working, with the UK securing a higher number of projects that typically generate greater long-term value such as R&D and manufacturing.' Share Walmart warns it will raise prices because of tariffs US retailing giant Walmart is warning today that it will be forced to raise prices, to pass on the impact of Donald Trump's tariffs to consumers. According to CNN, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon will tell analysts on an earnings call today: 'We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible but given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren't able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins.' This throws a spotlight on the face that tariffs are paid by importers, not exporters, despite Donald Trump's claims to the contrary. Walmart, which declines to issue guidance for operating income growth and earnings per share for the second quarter of the year, reported revenue growth of 2.5% in Q1, and 4.3% growth in operating income growth. Share Donald Trump hits out at Apple over India expansion plans Over in Qatar, Donald Trump has blasted Apple over its plan to move iPhone manufacturing from China to India, to avoid US tariffs on Chinese-made goods. Speaking during his state visit to the Middle East, president Trump revealed he had 'little problem with Tim Cook yesterday.' Trump explained that he had told Cook about his concerns over Apple's expansion in India, saying: I don't want you building in India. You can build in India if you want, to take care of India, because India is one of the highest tariff nations in the world. It's very hard to sell into India. Trump then revealed that India has 'basically' offered the US a trade deal with no tariffs. 'I told Tim Cook we're not interested in you building (Apple) in India, they can take care of themselves, you up your production here (US),' claimed Trump. He added that India was one of the highest tariff-imposing countries & has now made an offer to reduce tariffs significantly… — CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) May 15, 2025 Apple has been aiming to import most of the iPhones it sells in the US from India by the end of next year, as it tries to protect itself from the US-China trade war. Share National Grid relaxed about Trump tariffs Jillian Ambrose When National Grid unveiled plans for £60bn, five-year investment program on both sides of the Atlantic last year, they were simpler times for the FTSE 100 company. Today, Donald Trump's tariffs on imported goods have cast a shadow over the market where it plans to carry out major infrastructure investments, and in the UK high profile power outages at Heathrow and the London underground have raised questions over the resilience of its grids. But John Pettigrew, the outgoing chief executive of National Grid, is confident that the company will continue to deliver after revealing a better than expected 20% hike in pre-tax profits to £3.65bn for the last financial year. He told the Guardian that 90% of its planned spending in the US relies on domestic goods and labour meaning the threat of import tariffs on key grid components is 'pretty marginal' for the business. He is also relatively sanguine about rising concerts over the UK power system's resilience which, he points out, has improved by 50% over the last ten years, according to official measures of unplanned outages. He says: 'As we think about society becoming more reliant on electricity, resilience will become more important. And we have spent a lot of time – particularly when we were owners of the energy system operator – thinking about grid stabilising technologies. But as you've heard me say many times before, the UK is world-leading in grid stability.' Pettigrew will step down from the helm of National Grid in November after almost a decade in the role, and 35 years at the company. He will be succeeded by Zoë Yujnovich, who until recently was a member of Shell's executive committee and the oil company's director for integrated gas and upstream. Share Julia Kollewe Car insurance premiums are coming down, after a turbulent couple of years during which many drivers were hit with record premium hikes and some saw their costs double. The insurer Aviva said its motor prices for new customers fell by 4% between January and March, similar to the rest of the industry. Home insurance prices have been held flat, while other insurers have cut their rates. Claims inflation is running at mid to single digits levels across all areas. Lower speed limits in Wales and parts of England have led to fewer motor claims. However, there is a limit to further price cuts as the cost of claims is still significant – there are more cars on the road and the cost of repairing cars is going up as the incorporate more technology. Aviva is confident that its £3.7bn deal to buy smaller rival Direct Line will be wrapped up this summer, despite the UK's competition watchdog launching an inquiry into the deal yesterday. Put together, Aviva and Direct Line would control 20% of the motor insurance market, similar to market leader Admiral. Aviva's chief executive Amanda Blanc said: 'The acquisition of Direct Line is firmly on track. Direct Line shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of the transaction and we expect to complete the deal in the middle of the year.' Aviva, which operates in the UK, Ireland and Canada, reported a 9% rise in general insurance premiums to £2.9bn in the first quarter. Just over a year ago, it returned to the Lloyd's insurance market when it bought the insurance platform Probitas. Aviva's wealth arm posted net flows of £2.3bn, down from £2.7bn a year earlier, because a large workplace scheme switched to another provider. At the end of April, net flows had risen to £4bn, equivalent to 6% of assets under management. Storm Éowyn, which hit Ireland in January, has cost the industry €300m. Aviva's market share is 10%, implying €30m of claims, according to Jefferies analyst Philip Kett. Aviva is among the UK's biggest pension providers that signed a voluntary commitment on Tuesday to invest at least 5% of their assets in the UK. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves told Bloomberg Television in an interview that she didn't rule out mandating pension funds to allocate money to UK assets, as the government seeks to channel more investment into the domestic economy. However, Blanc does not believe that pension funds should be forced to invest in Britain. Share UK mortgage repossessions rise There's been a worrying jump in mortgage repossessions this year. New data from the Ministry of Justice show that, compared to the same quarter in 2024, there were increases in mortgage possession claims from 5,182 to 6,765 (31%), orders from 3,013 to 4,624 (53%), warrants from 2,919 to 3,517 (20%) and repossessions by county court bailiffs from 769 to 1,092 (42%). This is another sign of the financial pressures on households, despite the recent cuts to UK interest rates. Photograph: Ministry of Justice Adam Butler, public policy manager at StepChange Debt Charity, says: 'This is an incredibly uncertain time for mortgage holders. While last week the Bank of England cut the base rate by 0.25%, which could provide some relief for borrowers, it's unlikely it'll have an immediate, meaningful impact for those who are struggling to keep up with mortgage payments. Although overall mortgage arrears remain low, the rise in possessions raises concerns that those already struggling may be especially at risk of falling into problem debt. 'Last year among our clients with a mortgage, we saw average mortgage arrears jump by a staggering 69% – from £6,054 in 2023 to £10,239 in 2024. At the same time, households are being hit with a fresh wave of cost increases, including higher energy bills, council tax, and water bills, further stretching already tight budgets. 'If you are worried about meeting your mortgage payments, don't hesitate to get in touch with your lender, who can offer support and forbearance options. If you're struggling with debt, know that you're not alone – a charity like StepChange is here to help with free and impartial advice.' Share UK cuts stake in NatWest to 0.9% Newsflash: The UK government has moved a step closer to selling all its stake in NatWest bank. The Treasury's stake in NatWest has now fallen to 0.90%, down from 1.98% previously. The government has been trimming its stake by selling NatWest shares back to the market, cutting a stake which it took when it rescued Royal Bank of Scotland (as it was then called) in 2008. Last year, the then-Conservative government. had planned to sell the stake to the public in a flashy 'Tell Sid'-style campaign (harking back to the Thatcher privatisations of the 1980s), but that plan was scuppered by the general election. Share Eurozone growth lowered to 0.3% Disappointing growth news – the eurozone didn't expand quite as quickly as first estimated in the first quarter of this year. Statistics body eurostat has cut its estimate for eurozone growth in Q1 2025 to +0.3%, down from its initial estimate last month of +0.4% growth. Ireland recorded the fastest rise in GDP – up 3.2% in the quarter, due to increased activity at its multinationals. Contractions were measured in Slovenia (-0.8%), Portugal (-0.5%) and Hungary (-0.2%). This updated data confirms that the UK outpaced Germany (+0.2%), France (0.1%) and Italy (+0.3%). Share Direct debt failures on energy and water bills jump The number of UK customers defaulting on their energy and water bills has jumped, a sign of the pressures on households. The Direct Debit failure rate for 'Electricity and Gas' bills rose by 27%, year-on-year, last month, from 2.13% in April 2024 to 2.71% in April 2025. Water bill direct debit failures rose by 14%, from 0.96% to 1.09%. Overall, the seasonally adjusted 'Total' Direct Debit failure rate for April 2025 decreased by 1% from March 2025, but increased by 5% from April 2024. Illustration: ONS Share
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
$500M supplement brand lands Target and Walmart in 2 years
In an industry crowded with powders, pills, and capsules, one startup decided to take a different route. Instead of packaging wellness in scoops or syringes, it turned it into something more playful - something sweet. Related: Nostalgic candy makes a major move customers begged for Its product doesn't require mixing or measuring. You don't need a shaker bottle, a full glass of water, or the tolerance for a chalky aftertaste. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter You just chew it. That simple concept - transforming daily supplements into gummy bears-has helped this brand skyrocket to a $500 million valuation in just two years. Grüns officially launched its products in August 2023. Now, less than two years later, it ships 4 million gummies a day and boasts annual recurring revenue in the nine-figure range. In April, the company confirmed a $35 million funding round led by Headline, following a report in The Information that pegged its valuation at half a billion dollars. Related: TikTok made this beloved beverage trendy, and supply can't keep up The green gummies - each serving packed with 60+ vitamins and minerals - sell for $59.99 to $65.99 for a 28-day supply. The company says its sweet, shareable format is key to why customers are sticking with it. Grüns now sells in over 5,000 retail locations, including major deals with Sprouts, Target, and, most recently, Walmart. It's also backed by a mix of traditional investors and celebrities, including Anna Kendrick and Shaun White, through its partnership with Plus Capital. The company's growth is drawing comparisons to other wellness hits like AG1 and Bloom Nutrition - but Grüns got to the shelves of national retailers faster than either of them. Founder and CEO Chad Janis, a former investor at Summit Partners, got the idea while pursuing his MBA at Stanford. Frustrated with the ritual of drinking supplement powders each morning, he wanted to find a form that people would actually enjoy -and remember to take. That idea turned into a year-long R&D sprint. His MBA classmates were the first guinea pigs, with over 25% of his class sampling prototypes before the official launch. Since then, the company has evolved its product five times based on direct customer feedback. Taste, Janis says, is the feature most customers rave about - something rarely said about other supplements. Grüns now has a variety of lines, including low-sugar, sugar-free, nootropics ("Nütrops"), and a kid-friendly version called "Grüns Cubs." The brand also just became the "official foundational nutrition partner" of Gotham FC, a pro women's soccer team. TV ads and further influencer campaigns are on the horizon. As the company scales, Janis believes Grüns still has enormous room to grow-especially among the 40%+ of American households that haven't yet tried general health or immunity supplements. "[Grüns] means a lot of different things to different people," he told Modern Retail. "One of the hardest parts is not siloing and ensuring we meet each of our consumers' needs." For now, Grüns is proving that smart branding, savvy influencer marketing, and customer-centric iteration can power massive results, even in a saturated category. If it can maintain its momentum, Grüns could be one of the rare supplement brands that not only wins shelf space, but holds it. With fresh capital, major retail partners, and growing cultural buzz, it's positioned to become a long-term player in the $50 billion U.S. supplement market. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Bloomberg
13-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Restaurant Tech Startup Owner.com Hits $1 Billion Valuation
Inc., a startup making software for restaurants and other small businesses, has raised a new funding round at a $1 billion valuation — quintuple its value a year ago. The company raised $120 million in a funding round led by Meritech Capital and the VC firm Headline, with participation from other investors including Alt Capital.
