Amazon is gearing up to roll out a new budget-friendly storefront aimed at capturing the market of price-conscious shoppers who currently favor discount platforms like Temu and Shein. The initiative is designed to rival these low-cost platforms by introducing strict price caps on hundreds of products, from guitars to sofas, ensuring consumers can find cheaper alternatives to everyday items.

According to reports, Amazon has set price limits on various products, with jewelry being capped at $8, guitars at $13, and sofas at $20. The restrictions are part of Amazon’s broader strategy to offer extremely low prices in a bid to attract customers looking for more affordable goods. Merchants selling on the platform will have to adhere to these guidelines, limiting how much they can charge for certain items.

The new storefront will source many of its products from Guangdong, China, which will allow Amazon to reduce fulfillment fees and offer more competitive pricing to sellers. This cost-cutting measure is expected to help Amazon compete directly with rivals like Shein and Temu, which have gained popularity among consumers for their rock-bottom prices on a wide range of products.

Amazon has provided sellers with a list of over 700 items that will be subject to the price caps, further underlining the company’s commitment to positioning itself as a leader in the low-cost e-commerce sector. These items will range across categories, including home goods, electronics, and apparel, offering consumers an extensive selection at reduced prices.

In a statement to Reuters, an Amazon spokesperson explained, “We are always exploring new ways to work with our selling partners to delight our customers with more selection, lower prices, and greater convenience.” This move marks a significant push by Amazon to gain ground in a competitive retail environment where price is becoming an increasingly decisive factor for consumers.

Coco Gauff is getting love from the biggest names in the world after winning the US Open on Sunday. Tennis legend Serena Williams is among those who congratulated the 19-year-old for her big accomplishment.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Amazing!!!!!!!! @cocogauff,” Williams wrote on her Instagram Story, posting a photo of the young star.

Gauff paid tribute to Serena and Venus Williams as she celebrated her U.S. Open title, Tennis 365 reported.

“Crazy. They’re the reason why I have this trophy today,” she said. “To be honest, they’ve allowed me to believe in this dream. Growing up, there wasn’t too many just Black tennis players dominating the sport. It was literally at that time when I was younger, it was just them that I can remember.”

Many more icons praised Gauff on her big day. Tennis legend Roger Federer said Gauff’s win was inspirational.

“Been watching you and following you for years. It’s great to see so much hard work and passion being rewarded. You shine brighter than ever,” Federer wrote as he posted a side-by-side photo of Gauff lifting the U.S. Open trophy and another pic of himself posing with the star many years ago.

Source: Coco Gauff Receives Praise From Serena Williams And Roger Federer After Winning US Open

NEW YORK – Twenty-five years after the Cadillac Escalade launched General Motors into large, highly profitable luxury SUVs, the Detroit automaker is hoping a new all-electric version of the vehicle will ignite the same success for a new generation of luxury buyers. Today, the leading car company moved closer to its dream with the unveiling of its first-ever-all-electric full-size reimagined 2025 ESCALADE IQ. 

    The great reveal was made on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, in a downtown GM showroom which was the perfect setting. The showroom had wall-to-wall windows providing unobstructed views of New York’s famous skyline and for the new car. Following a lovely networking reception where the conversation was about the reveal and the anticipation was palpable, guests gathered in a capacious room with a stage that had a cloth covering the car. Then GM’s President Mark Reuss greeted the audience and teased about the upcoming reveal of GM’s smartest car to date.  “The importance of Cadillac to our global portfolio can’t be overstated,” stated President Reuss. “You are witnessing the rise of Cadillac.”

    Without further pause, John Roth, vice president, Global Cadillac, removed the cover for the reveal to a frenzy of photographers and cell phone cameras. The first-ever all-electric full-size SUV from Cadillac redefines the luxury SUV experience with a Cadillac-estimated 450 miles of range, Super Cruise driver assistance technology, bidirectional charging capability, reimagined interior, and exterior designs, and zero tailpipe emissions. “For more than 120 years, Cadillac’s bold innovative spirit has defined American luxury, The ESCALADE IQ embodies this spirit in the most sophisticated form,” said Roth. “ESCALADE IQ raises the standard just as the original Escalade redefined luxury a quarter-century ago. This reimagining of an icon marks the next step in Cadillac’s all-electric future.”

    Mandi Damman, the chief engineer of the all-new 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ spoke unabashedly about the newest star car in the roster. “Escalade has always been about being bold, so that’s what we set out to accomplish,” said Damman. “ESCALADE IQ is what you get when you follow your soul instead of the crowd.”

    The design of ESCALADE IQ captures the bold presence of its predecessors, but its dedicated EV architecture provided the design team with a blank-slate approach to its styling. The result is a reimagined yet familiar Escalade — one that makes a statement without compromises. The electric architecture enables a sleeker profile, but one with a silhouette that remains instantly recognizable as an Escalade. It also enables a lower, flatter interior floor that contributes to ESCALADE IQ’s exceptional spaciousness.

    “ESCALADE IQ is first and foremost a Cadillac and delivers on a promise of innovative design supported by spirited performance and cutting-edge technologies,” said Jamie Brewer, executive chief engineer, ESCALADE IQ. “The EV-specific architecture allows us to deliver a driving experience aligned with Cadillac’s philosophy of isolated precision — quiet, smooth and effortless with a strong connection to the road for an engaging experience.”

    ESCALADE IQ will be equipped with Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) bidirectional charging technology with GM Energy’s available Ultium Home products, providing customers with the ability to send power directly from the vehicle to a properly equipped home. This capability will be enabled via an over-the-air software update for the 2025 model year. ESCALADE IQ will also offer the option of Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) offboard power, allowing the vehicle to power external devices. The ESCALADE IQ uses its Ultium battery pack as part of its fundamental body structure. This allows the battery pack to provide the vehicle’s impressive Cadillac-estimated 450 miles of range1 while also protecting the battery in the event of a crash and adding overall strength and rigidity to the vehicle. The powerful electric propulsion configuration — consisting of the battery pack, power electronics and a two-motor eAWD system — offers great power on demand and surprising performance, including:

    “Our intent for the ESCALADE IQ was to amplify the Escalade DNA with a distinctively premium profile and heroic stance, while complementing the Cadillac EV showroom. With the pillar-to-pillar 55-inch-total-diagonal screen, and available executive second row seating, the ESCALADE IQ is another proud expression of Cadillac’s artful integration of leading innovation,” said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director, Global Cadillac Design. ESCALADE IQ’s new design pushed the wheels farther to the corners, for a more powerful-looking and planted stance. The proportions speak to its presence and scale. Starting with a long, dynamic hood and ending with a faster-sloping roofline at the rear, all of which contributes to a sportier aesthetic.

    The vehicle is expected to arrive in dealer showrooms late next summer, starting at around $130,000. That’s a premium compared with its traditional counterparts that have on average been selling for about $115,500 this year (but still lower than a limited-edition performance model of the vehicle that went on sale last year that around $150K. (Photos by Todd Plitt for Cadillac)

Source: Courtesy / Paramount

Showtime secured the U.S. rights for the half-hour series Dreaming Whilst Black. The A24 and Big Deal Films will make their streaming debut on Paramount+ in the fall. Read more about the show’s new home and show description below.

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Co-created and co-written by and starring Adjani Salmon, Dreaming Whilst Black is adapted from the web series and acclaimed Big Deal Films-produced BBC pilot of the same name, which garnered a string of award wins and nominations for Salmon, including the 2022 BAFTA for Emerging Talent: Fiction and Screen International Star of Tomorrow.

Co-produced by UK-based indie Big Deal Films and A24, the series is loosely inspired by real-life events. It follows Kwabena (Salmon), an aspiring filmmaker stuck in a dead-end recruitment job who takes the first step to achieving his dream. However, he is quickly confronted with the tribulations of balancing finances, love and his own sense of reality.

Dani Moseley (Everything I Know About Love) reprises her role as Amy alongside Salmon. They are joined by Demmy Ladipo (We Are Lady Parts) as Maurice, Rachel Adedeji (Champion) as Funmi, Babirye Bukilwa (WE HUNT TOGETHER) as Vanessa, Alexander Owen (Jurassic World Dominion) as Adam and Will Hislop (Gangs of London) as Lewis.

Dhanny Joshi and Thomas Stogdon executive produce for Big Deal Films, along with Salmon. The series is written by Ali Hughes, Salmon and Yemi Oyefuwa, and directed by Jermain Julien, Koby Adom, Sebastian Thiel and Joelle Mae David. It’s produced by Nicola Gregory.

Source: Showtime Acquires US Rights For A24 Series ‘Dreaming Whilst Black’

Zendaya attends the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 26, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

*When it comes to the most influential Black women that are searched on the internet, Zendaya ranks highest on the list.

Zendaya’s name had 2.71 million monthly average Google searches in 2022, making her the most-searched African American woman of the year, Yahoo reports. The second-most Google-searched Black woman in America last year was Serena Williams with 1.65 million monthly searches. Meghan Markle takes the third place spot with 1.56 million Google searches per month.

In related news, Meghan and Prince Harry recently held a small christening ceremony for their daughter Lilibet at the family’s house in Montecito, Calif. Tyler Perry flew out a 10-person gospel choir from Atlanta to perform at the event, NBC News reports.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, King Charles III, and Queen Consort Camilla were reportedly invited to the ceremony but did not attend.

Source: Zendaya is Most Googled Black American Woman of the Year

Lauryn Hill is gearing up for the 25th anniversary of her iconic album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and might be going on tour to celebrate.

The Grammy award-winning singer took to the stage over the weekend to perform at ONE Musicfest in Atlanta and seemingly teased at a 2023 tour. Photographer Julia Beverly shared clips from the show on Instagram as well as Lauryn’s confirmation of an upcoming tour.

“Atlanta, we love you so much. 25 years ago, so we gonna be back with those songs the way you can recognize them, ayyy?” Hill told the crowd.

A post shared by Julia Beverly (@juliabeverly)

In Beverly’s caption, she shed more light on Hill’s tour announcement.

“She announced (last slide) that she will be performing ‘those songs the way you can recognize them’ next year in honor of the 25th anniversary,” Beverly shared before offering a suggestion to whoever will be in charge of the tour’s lighting.

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“(As a photographer I just ask that they please put a spotlight on her on stage, lmao [laughing my a** off], backlighting killing me),” she jokingly noted.

Hill released her solo debut back in August 1998 to critical acclaim. Featuring contributions from Mary J. Blige, D’Angelo, and Carlos Santana, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart after selling more than 422,000 sales in its first week, Complex reported.

The album helped her sweep the 1999 Grammy awards, where she took home five statues, including Album of the Year, Best R&B Album, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “Doo Wop (That Thing).”

In February 2021, The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) confirmed Hill’s debut album went diamond and has sold more than 10,000,000 units. The feat put Hill alongside the likes of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Adele’s 21, Britney Spears’ …Baby One More Time, Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP, and 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me as diamond-certified artists.

Source: Lauryn Hill Teases 2023 Tour to Celebrate 25th Anniversary of ‘Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’