Author: Press Room

Rolls-Royce sold a record number of cars last year, driven by demand in the US — its biggest market. The UK-based carmaker sold 6,021 cars, an 8 per cent rise on 2021 — and the highest annual figure in its 119-year history.The company expects to deliver record profits when it discloses financial figures in the coming weeks. About a third of its sales are in the Americas, while a quarter are in China and a fifth in Europe. Sales in China fell slightly because of lockdowns and the government’s zero-Covid-19 policy. The overall sales boost was helped by customisation, which…

CNN  —  Pentagon officials have held multiple high-level meetings in recent months in preparation for a barrage of Republican-led House investigations into issues varying from the US withdrawal from Afghanistan withdrawal to what conservative lawmakers have deemed “woke” military policies, according to a senior defense official. House Republicans have long signaled their intent to launch a series of probes if and when they gained the majority. Some of those priorities were flagged by Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee in November last year, when they released a 1,000 page report on what they said was the politicization of the Justice…

The shift to electric vehicles and renewable power is utterly reliant on metals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt.So as China reopens and Joe Biden’s bumper green spending package boosts EV demand in the US, the boom in metal prices should be a win-win for sustainable investors.But mining supply chains are still riddled with environmental, social and governance risks that new disclosure frameworks are seeking to quantify. For our special edition on battery metals today, the FT’s commodities correspondent, Harry Dempsey, and I report on mining companies’ efforts to reduce their water consumption and carbon emissions, and the ESG rating…

Often, much of the interesting drama at CES happens off the floor by firms that aren’t directly participating in the show. That was true again this year when Lenovo and Nvidia stood out from their peers by aggressively moving in a variety of directions and showcasing a depth of products that were largely unmatched in their segments. Let’s talk about how these two vendors differentiated from their peers at CES last week, and we’ll close with my Product of the Week, a new monitor from Acer that is suddenly at the top of the products I’m already lusting for this…

You want that glitz and glam of vintage? Look no further than this East Village store. There’s a flash of Vivienne Westwood, a glint of Dolce & Gabbana, and a glimmer of Alaïa. Lily et Cie, USThis celebrity-beloved hub in Los Angeles boasts pieces from vintage Chanel, John Galliano, and Alexander McQueen. Perfect for a red carpet moment.  Melet Mercantile, USA hot spot for rare and hard-to-find vintage and antique goods in Los Angeles. Find anything from a retro leather jacket to a box of ornate buttons. Desert Vintage, USThis cool girl-beloved spot features an elegant curation of polished and glamorous vintage…

Make Nu, UK Doing exactly what it says on the tin, Make Nu founders Daisy Marlow and Laura Johnson work with local embroiderers, darners and seamers to breathe new life into old clothes while keeping craftsmanship alive.John Lobb Concierge Service, Global The British bootmaker’s concierge service is designed to pamper its shoes created using the brand’s signature 190-step manufacturing process. From reheeling and resoling to polishing, this leather spa promises serious results.Brunello Cucinelli Care, Global The luxury Italian brand offers up the services of its Solomeo-based artisans to customers wanting to take extra-special care of their garments. Repairing, says Brunello Cucinelli, is not…

Ahluwalia Circulate, UK Designer Priya Ahluwalia launched an app in partnership with Microsoft in 2021 that enables members of the public to donate their used clothes in exchange for store credits for her brand’s e-commerce site.Future From Waste Lab, Australia This retail space specializes in turning one’s waste into futuristic fashion, by breathing new life into pre-loved clothing.H&M Garment Collecting Program, Global First launched in 2013, H&M’s Garment Collecting program aims to keep used clothing in circulation for longer. Simply hand in your old clothes, by any brand and in any condition, and receive a thank you voucher to use towards your next purchase.…

CNN  —  The advancement of smartphones and internet search engines has left human phone operators virtually extinct. Still, millions of calls are placed annually to “411” and “0” to request directory assistance or operator help, according to the FCC. That could change this year, however, as more major phone carriers are taking the operator off the hook or offering the service for a fee. Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. (You can get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.) President…

Cage the Elephant singer Matt Shultz has been charged with criminal weapons possession after police found two loaded guns at a New York City hotel, authorities said.Shultz, 39, of Nashville, Tennessee was arrested Thursday after police were called to investigate a report of a person with a firearm at Manhattan’s Bowery Hotel. Shultz was seen in the hotel lobby bathroom between midnight and 1 a.m. pulling a gun from his front pants pocket, according to a criminal complaint.A search warrant turned up two loaded .45-caliber handguns in a bag in a hotel room, the complaint said.Shultz was arraigned Friday and…

 A Prague court has acquitted former Prime Minister Andrej Babis of fraud charges in a €1.8m case involving European Union subsidies.A prosecutor had requested a three-year suspended sentence and a fine of 10 million Czech koruna (€416,000) for the populist billionaire. The prosecution can still appeal.Babis pleaded not guilty and repeatedly said the charges against him were politically motivated.He wasn’t present at Prague’s Municipal Court on Monday. His former associate, Jana Nagyova, who signed the subsidy request, was also acquitted.“INNOCENT!” Babis tweeted after the verdict. “I’m really glad that we have an independent judiciary and the court confirmed what I…