
REI accused of widespread labor law violations at unionized US stores
By Daniel Wiessner REI, the camping and outdoor sports equipment retailer, was accused on Wednesday of dozens of
1970-01-01 08:00

Iceland volcano – live: Eruption could obliterate town after thousands of earthquakes
A volcanic eruption could destroy the Icelandic town of Grindavik or lead to extensive ash clouds, experts have warned. The country has been shaken by more than 800 small earthquakes today alone, prompting fears that the tremors could disrupt the Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of the country. Almost 4,000 people were evacuated from Grindavik over the weekend as authorities feared that molten rock would rise to the surface of the earth and potentially hit the coastal town and a geothermal power station. Select residents of the town have been allowed to return briefly this week to save valuables and care for animals and pets. Ragga Agustsdottir, who lives close to Grindavik, said residents were fearful of what could happen if an eruption struck. “The scenario on the table now is that it will happen in or just north of the town of Grindavik. There’s no good option here,” she told The Independent. On Tuesday authorities scrambled to build a defence wall around the Svartsengi power plant, located just over six kilometers from Grindavik, to protect it from lava flows amid fears of an eruption. Read More Iceland earthquakes: Huge cracks appear on roads in volcano-threatened town Iceland earthquakes: Are flights still running amid fears of volcano eruption? Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked Could an Icelandic volcano ground flights like in 2010?
1970-01-01 08:00

Gabriel Martinelli tested in new Brazil role that could also help Arsenal
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has been asked to perform a different role for Brazil upon reporting for international duty, which could also be of benefit to the Gunners when he returns.
1970-01-01 08:00

Manchester aid worker shot dead in gun battle with 'bandits'
Faye Mooney, 29, was caught in the crossfire between police and gunmen in Nigeria, an inquest hears.
1970-01-01 08:00

Balenciaga divides with release of ‘absurd’ $925 bath towel skirt
People can’t decide whether Balenciaga’s new $925 bath towel skirt is an example of clever marketing or just a ploy to wipe wallets. The unparalleled high fashion house, piloted by long-time creative director Demna Gvasalia, regularly releases peculiar designs, made to look beaten down and wrecked, with purposeful outlandish price tags – see its $1,850 fully destroyed sneakers or $1,800 trash bag tote. But this particular pick from the brand’s Spring 2024 collection sparked widespread debate online as soon it became available for pre-order on 14 November. A $927 terry-cloth towel, fashioned to be a wrap skirt, comes after the Georgian designer faced backlash for a controversial 2022 holiday ad featuring children holding teddy bears in leather bondage. Following the extensive criticism, Demna said he planned on tapping into his “roots in fashion as well as to the roots of Balenciaga, which is making quality clothes – not making image or buzz”. He told Vogue his plan in February a few weeks ahead of his fall 2023 debut. But while the designer intended to find motivation from Balenciaga founder Cristóbal moving forward, this quirky bathroom garment prompted further conversation about the brand’s continued desire to offer “absurd” luxury items. One riled up fashion enthusiast took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to make a larger generalisation. “This is absurd, These brands will sell anything and everything at such ridiculously high prices,” they wrote. “Balenciaga is so unserious,” another critic commented, while someone else said: “I’ll say it again... Balenciaga is conducting an experiment. It’s a behavioral science study. You can’t convince me otherwise.” Amid the flock of immediate criticism, brand supporters pointed out the platform and intended buyers Balenciaga targets. “In economics we’d say they are discovering the true demand curve. They are checking their customer base to see how elastic they are. If it’s a fairly inelastic demand curve of which it’s very likely to be. They won’t lose anything by being selling s*** like this, in actual fact…” one person wrote. “I need customers like theirs,” another fan proclaimed. One candid reviewer wrote: “What kind of madness is this? At least I’m not their target market.” Other X users added remarks about how they could make their own towel skirt with their fluffy fabric at home. “I already got a towel skirt, it cost $10 and it’s from Walmart,” one individual commented. Playing off the high-end fashion brand’s current visibility, Ikea, the Swedish homewares and furniture brand, dropped a similar advertisement, highlighting its $10 VINARN bath towel. In promotional photos, a model could be seen with the towel wrapped around his waist, layered over a pair of construction pants. On top, the man donned a common Balenciaga identifier with a black hoodie and wrap-around moto sunglasses. Read More Women’s scarves and crocheted ties - what is Robert Peston wearing now? McDonald’s and Crocs collaborate on new Grimace shoes Jacob Elordi reveals why he always carries a purse Women’s scarves and crocheted ties - what is Robert Peston wearing now? McDonald’s and Crocs collaborate on new Grimace shoes Jacob Elordi reveals why he always carries a purse
1970-01-01 08:00

Rishi Sunak says Rwanda merry-go-round must end
It follows a Supreme Court ruling that a policy to send illegal migrants to Rwanda was unlawful.
1970-01-01 08:00

MLB Rumors: Cardinals ace connection, Surprise Yankees-Astros trade, Red Sox trade buzz
MLB Rumors: Cardinals could have a head start signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency, Yankees and Astros could shock baseball by striking a deal, Red Sox could address major need with blockbuster trade.
1970-01-01 08:00

Finance Firms Acknowledge ‘Awful’ Culture in UK Sexism Inquiry
Representatives from finance firms across the City of London said more work was needed to tackle gaping gender
1970-01-01 08:00

Newcastle rocked by severity of Callum Wilson injury
Newcastle may be without Callum Wilson for up to six weeks because of a hamstring injury, adding to the woes of manager Eddie Howe.
1970-01-01 08:00

12 Great Thanksgiving TV Episodes You Can Stream Right Now
From ‘The Sopranos’ to ‘It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,’ these TV shows capture all the things you love (or hate) about Thanksgiving.
1970-01-01 08:00

Senators demand documents from Meta on social media harm to children
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has written to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding documents about its
1970-01-01 08:00

Britain's Ocado secures first deal beyond grocery retail
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's Ocado Group has secured its first deal outside grocery retail to provide its robotic warehouse technology to
1970-01-01 08:00