Coca-Cola, a major force in global advertising, announced Friday it would suspend ads on social media for at least 30 days, as platforms face a reckoning over how they deal with racist content.

"There is no place for racism in the world and there is no place for racism on social media," James Quincey, chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, said in a brief statement.

He said social media companies -- which other major brands have boycotted to force changes in how they deal with hateful material -- need to provide "greater accountability and transparency."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-to-flag-all-newsworthy-posts-from-politicians-that-break-its-rules-308909">Also read:&nbsp;Facebook to flag all 'newsworthy' posts from politicians that break its rules</a>

Coca-Cola will use the pause to "reassess our advertising policies to determine whether revisions are needed," Quincey said.

The beverage giant told CNBC that the "break" does not mean it is joining the movement launched last week by African American and civil society groups.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-hides-trumps-tweet-targeting-protestors-in-washington-dc-labels-it-as-abusive-content-308136">Also read:&nbsp;Twitter hides Trump's tweet targeting protestors in Washington DC; labels it as 'abusive content'</a>

The coalition, which includes the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), has been urging companies to stop advertising on Facebook, using the #StopHateForProfit hashtag.

It aims to achieve better regulation of groups inciting hatred, racism or violence on the platform.

Unilever, home to brands including Lipton tea and Ben and Jerry's ice cream, said it would stop advertising on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in the US until the end of 2020 due to the "polarized election period."

Facebook said Friday it would ban a "wider category of hateful content" in ads as the embattled social media giant moved to respond to widening protests over its handling of inflammatory posts.

Coca-Cola, a major force in global advertising, announced Friday it would suspend ads on social media for at least 30 days, as platforms face a reckoning over how they deal with racist content.

Coca-Cola, a major force in global advertising, announced Friday it would suspend ads on social media for at least 30 days, as platforms face a reckoning over how they deal with racist content. "There is no place for racism in the world and there is no place for racism on social media," James Quincey, chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, said in a brief statement. He said social media companies -- which other major brands have boycotted to force changes in how they deal with hateful material -- need to provide "greater accountability and transparency." Also read: Facebook to flag all 'newsworthy' posts from politicians that break its rules Coca-Cola will use the pause to "reassess our advertising policies to determine whether revisions are needed," Quincey said. The beverage giant told CNBC that the "break" does not mean it is joining the movement launched last week by African American and civil society groups. Also read: Twitter hides Trump's tweet targeting protestors in Washington DC; labels it as 'abusive content' The coalition, which includes the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), has been urging companies to stop advertising on Facebook, using the #StopHateForProfit hashtag. It aims to achieve better regulation of groups inciting hatred, racism or violence on the platform. Unilever, home to brands including Lipton tea and Ben and Jerry's ice cream, said it would stop advertising on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in the US until the end of 2020 due to the "polarized election period." Facebook said Friday it would ban a "wider category of hateful content" in ads as the embattled social media giant moved to respond to widening protests over its handling of inflammatory posts.

Coca-Cola says pausing social media advertising

Take a look at how global brands are endorsing social distancing to battle COVID-19

Tens of thousands of pieces of plastic littering the planet come from just a handful of multinational corporations, an environmental pressure group said Wednesday.

Coca Cola, Nestle and PepsiCo were named by Break Free from Plastics, a global coalition of individuals and environmental organisations, who warned the companies largely avoid cleanup responsibility.

The coalition's volunteers collected nearly half a million pieces of plastic waste during a coordinated "World Clean Up Day" in 51 countries a month ago, of which 43 per cent were marked with a clear consumer brand.

For the second year in a row, it said Coca-Cola came out on top, with 11,732 pieces of plastic collected from 37 countries across four continents this year, more than the next three top global polluters combined.

"Many of them have made commitments that they claim will make their products more sustainable, but largely protect the outdated throwaway business model that got us into this mess in the first place," said the report, released in Manila.

China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka dump the most plastic into the oceans, but "the real drivers of much of this plastic pollution in Asia are actually multinational corporations headquartered in Europe and the United States", it said.

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle, responsible for the most pieces of plastic collected,&nbsp;did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment.

Others in the top ten polluters include Mondelez International, Unilever, Mars, P&amp;G, Colgate-Palmolive, Philip Morris, and Perfetti Van Mille, the report added.

While global consumer brands now acknowledge their role in perpetuating the crisis, the report said they "have been equally aggressive in promoting false solutions to address the problem".

Promoting recycling is their way of shifting the responsibility to consumers, it said.

Just nine per cent of all plastic produced since the 1950s has actually been recycled, the report said.

The report deems single-serve multilayered sachets, common in Southeast Asia and aimed at low-income families that cannot afford bigger volumes of consumer products, as "the most damaging type of plastic packaging".

Coca-Cola's promotion of a single-use plastic bottle using plastic collected from the oceans, as well as PepsiCo's efforts to promote recycling, "do not get to the heart of the problem and all but guarantee the plastic pollution crisis will grow worse".

Nestle sells over a billion products a day in single-use packaging "but has no clear plans for reducing the total amount" it puts into the world", the report alleged.

"As companies continue to profit by pumping out excessive single-use plastic, communities all over the world are being forced to shoulder the burden," it said, calling the situation "unacceptable".

The report said companies should veer away from promoting "false solutions", such as recycling and 'bioplastic', and instead transition from a throwaway economy.

All the companies named have made public commitments to reduce plastic waste and increase recycling.

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have pledged to make their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. The beverage giants have also pulled out of a US lobbying organisation that represents the plastics industry.

Similarly, Nestle says it wants to make 100 per cent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and to increase the proportion of recycled material in its plastic bottles to a third.

Break Free from Plastics counts 6,118 individuals and 1,475 organisations around the world as its members, including Greenpeace.

Tens of thousands of pieces of plastic littering the planet come from just a handful of multinational corporations, an environmental pressure group said Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of pieces of plastic littering the planet come from just a handful of multinational corporations, an environmental pressure group said Wednesday. Coca Cola, Nestle and PepsiCo were named by Break Free from Plastics, a global coalition of individuals and environmental organisations, who warned the companies largely avoid cleanup responsibility. The coalition's volunteers collected nearly half a million pieces of plastic waste during a coordinated "World Clean Up Day" in 51 countries a month ago, of which 43 per cent were marked with a clear consumer brand. For the second year in a row, it said Coca-Cola came out on top, with 11,732 pieces of plastic collected from 37 countries across four continents this year, more than the next three top global polluters combined. "Many of them have made commitments that they claim will make their products more sustainable, but largely protect the outdated throwaway business model that got us into this mess in the first place," said the report, released in Manila. China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka dump the most plastic into the oceans, but "the real drivers of much of this plastic pollution in Asia are actually multinational corporations headquartered in Europe and the United States", it said. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle, responsible for the most pieces of plastic collected, did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment. Others in the top ten polluters include Mondelez International, Unilever, Mars, P&G, Colgate-Palmolive, Philip Morris, and Perfetti Van Mille, the report added. While global consumer brands now acknowledge their role in perpetuating the crisis, the report said they "have been equally aggressive in promoting false solutions to address the problem". Promoting recycling is their way of shifting the responsibility to consumers, it said. Just nine per cent of all plastic produced since the 1950s has actually been recycled, the report said. The report deems single-serve multilayered sachets, common in Southeast Asia and aimed at low-income families that cannot afford bigger volumes of consumer products, as "the most damaging type of plastic packaging". Coca-Cola's promotion of a single-use plastic bottle using plastic collected from the oceans, as well as PepsiCo's efforts to promote recycling, "do not get to the heart of the problem and all but guarantee the plastic pollution crisis will grow worse". Nestle sells over a billion products a day in single-use packaging "but has no clear plans for reducing the total amount" it puts into the world", the report alleged. "As companies continue to profit by pumping out excessive single-use plastic, communities all over the world are being forced to shoulder the burden," it said, calling the situation "unacceptable". The report said companies should veer away from promoting "false solutions", such as recycling and 'bioplastic', and instead transition from a throwaway economy. All the companies named have made public commitments to reduce plastic waste and increase recycling. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have pledged to make their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. The beverage giants have also pulled out of a US lobbying organisation that represents the plastics industry. Similarly, Nestle says it wants to make 100 per cent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and to increase the proportion of recycled material in its plastic bottles to a third. Break Free from Plastics counts 6,118 individuals and 1,475 organisations around the world as its members, including Greenpeace.

Coca Cola, Nestle among big firms to top worst plastic litter list: Report

Plastic bottles versus aluminium cans: Who'll win the global water fight?

The growing influence of Think Tanks in public policy-making is a problem because these groups have not covered themselves in glory.

Moreover, should policy making be outsourced? Is that even democratic and lawful?

On WION Edit, we explore these issues that are inherent in the conception and functioning of a modern Think Tank. Corporations are making huge benefits from their association with Think Tanks. The story of Lennar Corporation and Brookings Institution is just a sample.

Powerful Think Tanks like American Enterprise Institute, Centre for Strategic and International Studies get funded by big corporates.

The likes of JP Morgan Chase, KKR, Hitachi, Coca-Cola and Lockheed Martin are all deeply entrenched in this game. As we speak, the democratic State Attorney General is investigating whether Exxon Mobil influenced policy decisions in its favour through prominent Think Tanks.

Be it elections, sugar tax, oil tax, cigarettes, even climate change or defence - Think Tanks have shown that their allegiance lies entirely with their donors. Over the years, they have published research articles which slammed the sugar-tax and rooted for the oil industry. A Think Tank called The Institute of Economic Affairs even said that sugar tax ruins soft drink manufacturers without causing any effect on overall sugar-consumption.

Another institute in South Africa called IRR recently conducted research on the same issue - sugar tax. Guess who funded it? Coca-Cola.

So should we dismiss all Think Tanks?&nbsp;

That would be a knee-jerk reaction. Let's look at the other side of this coin. Government needs outside opinion and independent view on various issues.

The problems are specific. You need domain experts to solve them and you need these experts to conduct independent, unbiased research.

That's the tricky part-independent and unbiased. Plus, democracy does not and should not function on the advice of shadow policy makers, representatives elected by people must debate and take policy decisions. So where do we draw the line?&nbsp;

The government must hire domain experts on a contractual basis to conduct such studies. Or the government could come up with progressive, unobtrusive laws to ensure that Think Tanks are transparent.

Go and check the books. Good audit is the solution. There is another solution that is suggested by politicians like Elizabeth Warren. She is rooting for a tax on lobbying. Though it may help in a modest way, it will not root out biased research with vested interests.

Independent Think Tanks add value to democracy,&nbsp;but reliance on Think Tanks comes with its own constraints. The question is - who is the Think Tank thinking for?

Fix them now. Because misleading information is called information corruption and this is a dangerous problem that could derail democracy. 
 
(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

The growing influence of Think Tanks in public policy-making is a problem because these groups have not covered themselves in glory. Moreover, should policy making be outsourced?

The growing influence of Think Tanks in public policy-making is a problem because these groups have not covered themselves in glory. Moreover, should policy making be outsourced? Is that even democratic and lawful? On WION Edit, we explore these issues that are inherent in the conception and functioning of a modern Think Tank. Corporations are making huge benefits from their association with Think Tanks. The story of Lennar Corporation and Brookings Institution is just a sample. Powerful Think Tanks like American Enterprise Institute, Centre for Strategic and International Studies get funded by big corporates. The likes of JP Morgan Chase, KKR, Hitachi, Coca-Cola and Lockheed Martin are all deeply entrenched in this game. As we speak, the democratic State Attorney General is investigating whether Exxon Mobil influenced policy decisions in its favour through prominent Think Tanks. Be it elections, sugar tax, oil tax, cigarettes, even climate change or defence - Think Tanks have shown that their allegiance lies entirely with their donors. Over the years, they have published research articles which slammed the sugar-tax and rooted for the oil industry. A Think Tank called The Institute of Economic Affairs even said that sugar tax ruins soft drink manufacturers without causing any effect on overall sugar-consumption. Another institute in South Africa called IRR recently conducted research on the same issue - sugar tax. Guess who funded it? Coca-Cola. So should we dismiss all Think Tanks? That would be a knee-jerk reaction. Let's look at the other side of this coin. Government needs outside opinion and independent view on various issues. The problems are specific. You need domain experts to solve them and you need these experts to conduct independent, unbiased research. That's the tricky part-independent and unbiased. Plus, democracy does not and should not function on the advice of shadow policy makers, representatives elected by people must debate and take policy decisions. So where do we draw the line? The government must hire domain experts on a contractual basis to conduct such studies. Or the government could come up with progressive, unobtrusive laws to ensure that Think Tanks are transparent. Go and check the books. Good audit is the solution. There is another solution that is suggested by politicians like Elizabeth Warren. She is rooting for a tax on lobbying. Though it may help in a modest way, it will not root out biased research with vested interests. Independent Think Tanks add value to democracy, but reliance on Think Tanks comes with its own constraints. The question is - who is the Think Tank thinking for? Fix them now. Because misleading information is called information corruption and this is a dangerous problem that could derail democracy. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION  Edit: Is it right to outsource policy making?

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-led-forces-israel-among-states-rapped-by-un-for-killing-children-239735">Saudi-led forces, Israel among states rapped by United Nations for killing children</a> 
 
The UN report said the Houthis killed and injured 398 children and Yemeni government forces were responsible for 58 child casualties.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-takes-up-killing-of-indian-civilian-in-ceasefire-violation-by-pakistan-239696">India takes up killing of Indian civilian in ceasefire violation by Pakistan</a> 
 
Rahme Begum, resident of Dassi Baktoor, died after shelling by Pakistani army in Gurez sector of North Kashmir.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-continue-to-reduce-nuclear-deal-commitments-unless-europe-protects-iran-from-us-sanctions-javad-zarif-239698">Iran to cut nuke deal commitments if Europe doesn't protect from US sanctions</a> 
 
Iran has said it will reduce its commitment to the nuclear accord in stages and may even withdraw from the pact unless the Europeans find ways to shield its economy from the US sanctions.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-bid-to-curb-plastic-pollution-pepsi-and-coca-cola-sever-ties-with-plastics-industry-association-239706">Pepsi and Coca Cola sever ties with Plastics Industry Association</a>&nbsp; 
 
According to American media reports, both the companies are trying to ensure that their packaging is recyclable.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/s-jaishankar-likely-to-meet-mike-pompeo-in-bangkok-239751">Foreign minister S Jaishankar likely to meet Mike Pompeo in Bangkok</a> 
 
Jaishankar-Pompeo pull aside will be the first high-level engagement between US and India since President Donald Trump's remarks on Kashmir.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Saudi-led forces, Israel among states rapped by United Nations for killing children The UN report said the Houthis killed and injured 398 children and Yemeni government forces were responsible for 58 child casualties.

Saudi-led forces, Israel among states rapped by United Nations for killing children The UN report said the Houthis killed and injured 398 children and Yemeni government forces were responsible for 58 child casualties. India takes up killing of Indian civilian in ceasefire violation by Pakistan Rahme Begum, resident of Dassi Baktoor, died after shelling by Pakistani army in Gurez sector of North Kashmir. Iran to cut nuke deal commitments if Europe doesn't protect from US sanctions Iran has said it will reduce its commitment to the nuclear accord in stages and may even withdraw from the pact unless the Europeans find ways to shield its economy from the US sanctions. Pepsi and Coca Cola sever ties with Plastics Industry Association According to American media reports, both the companies are trying to ensure that their packaging is recyclable. Foreign minister S Jaishankar likely to meet Mike Pompeo in Bangkok Jaishankar-Pompeo pull aside will be the first high-level engagement between US and India since President Donald Trump's remarks on Kashmir.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Global soft drink-making giants <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/coca-cola-hbc-targets-up-to-6-annual-revenue-growth-for-next-six-years-223940">Coca Cola</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/reckitt-picks-pepsico-executive-as-ceo-going-outside-for-first-time-226588">Pepsi</a> have decided to abandon the plastic lobby and are reportedly trying to increase the volume of recycled plastic in the manufacturing of their packaging.&nbsp;

According to American media reports, the companies are trying to ensure that their packaging is recyclable - a move to ensure stepping away from single-use plastic.&nbsp;

Pepsi and Coca Cola are among the newest beverage-making giants to have hopped onto the bandwagon of companies that have severed ties with Plastics Industry Association - a trade association that represents the plastics industry.

Clorox, Becton Dickinson and Ecolab were among the companies that had ended their association with the PIA last year.&nbsp;

In a statement issued last week, Coca Cola said that the company's commitments and goals are not consistent with PIA's position.

There seems to be an increase in mounting pressure on companies across the globe to limit the use of plastic - or initiate using more recycled plastic - in the wake of escalating <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/company-fined-254000-for-shipping-plastic-waste-to-cambodia-239515">plastic pollution</a>.&nbsp;

According to UN Environment, single-use or disposable plastic has "severe environmental consequences".

"Around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once — and then thrown away," the UN body says on its website, adding that today around 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is being produced annually which equals to the total weight of the entire human population on the planet.&nbsp;

Global soft drink-making giants Coca Cola and Pepsi have decided to abandon the plastic lobby and are reportedly trying to increase the volume of recycled plastic in the manufacturing of their packaging.

Global soft drink-making giants Coca Cola and Pepsi have decided to abandon the plastic lobby and are reportedly trying to increase the volume of recycled plastic in the manufacturing of their packaging. According to American media reports, the companies are trying to ensure that their packaging is recyclable - a move to ensure stepping away from single-use plastic. Pepsi and Coca Cola are among the newest beverage-making giants to have hopped onto the bandwagon of companies that have severed ties with Plastics Industry Association - a trade association that represents the plastics industry. Clorox, Becton Dickinson and Ecolab were among the companies that had ended their association with the PIA last year. In a statement issued last week, Coca Cola said that the company's commitments and goals are not consistent with PIA's position. There seems to be an increase in mounting pressure on companies across the globe to limit the use of plastic - or initiate using more recycled plastic - in the wake of escalating plastic pollution. According to UN Environment, single-use or disposable plastic has "severe environmental consequences". "Around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once — and then thrown away," the UN body says on its website, adding that today around 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is being produced annually which equals to the total weight of the entire human population on the planet.

In a bid to curb plastic pollution, Pepsi and Coca Cola sever ties with Plastics Industry Association 

After treating fans to 'Poster Lagwa Do' from Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon-starrer ‘Luka Chuppi`, the makers have now dropped another dance number from the film titled ‘Coca Cola’.&nbsp;

The song is a revamped version of Tony Kakkar’s 2018 hit song 'Coca Cola Tu'.

Kartik and Kriti can be seen showing off some killer dance moves in the upbeat number.

Kriti took to her Twitter handle to share the foot-tapping track, writing, “Since u guys were so excited..The Party anthem is here!! Sip &amp; sing with #CocaCola from #LukaChuppi.”

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Since u guys were so excited.. The Party anthem is here!! Sip &amp; sing with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CocaCola?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CocaCola</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LukaChuppi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LukaChuppi</a> 🥤🥤<a href="https://twitter.com/TheAaryanKartik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAaryanKartik</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DineshVijan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DineshVijan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Laxman10072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Laxman10072</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MaddockFilms?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaddockFilms</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JioCinema</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TSeries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSeries</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tanishkbagchi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tanishkbagchi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/iAmNehaKakkar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iAmNehaKakkar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyKakkar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TonyKakkar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MellowD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MellowD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YoungDesi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YoungDesi</a> <a href="https://t.co/GVraPTXdlI">https://t.co/GVraPTXdlI</a>
— Kriti Sanon (@kritisanon) <a href="https://twitter.com/kritisanon/status/1092312306329911296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The song starts with the message, ‘Sip and Swing with Coca Cola’, and the audience is then introduced to the lead pair on screen.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_cPHiwPqbqo" width="1280"></iframe>

Both Kartik and Kriti can be seen sporting bright and stylish outfits, all set to hit the dance floor. The actors set the screen on fire with some kick-ass dance steps and sizzling chemistry.&nbsp;

The remixed version has been sung by Neha Kakkar, Young Desi and Tony. The lyrics have been penned by Tony and Mellow D.

The recently released trailer of the film received an overwhelming response from the audience. The trailer features, Kartik and Kriti Sanon as a couple who are in love and inspired by the concept of live-in relationship, decide to live together without actually tying the knot.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-JLewvWBkCw" width="1280"></iframe>

Everything seems to be working out fine till their respective families get involved and Kartik’s parents start living with them.

Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan, the film also features Vinay Pathak, Pankaj Tripathi, and Aparshakti Khurana in key roles. The film is slated to release on March 1, 2019.

Besides `Luka Chuppi`, Kartik will also be seen in the Hindi remake of Kannada blockbuster `Kirik Party`. He will also star opposite Ajay Devgn in Luv Ranjan`s next. Kartik will also be seen sharing the screen space with Ananya Panday and Bhumi Pednekar in the movie ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’.

Kriti has four other films in her kitty, including `Arjun Patiala`, `Kalank`, `Housefull 4` and `Panipat`.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

After treating fans to 'Poster Lagwa Do' from Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon-starrer ‘Luka Chuppi`, the makers have now dropped another dance number from the film titled ‘Coca Cola’.

After treating fans to 'Poster Lagwa Do' from Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon-starrer ‘Luka Chuppi`, the makers have now dropped another dance number from the film titled ‘Coca Cola’. The song is a revamped version of Tony Kakkar’s 2018 hit song 'Coca Cola Tu'. Kartik and Kriti can be seen showing off some killer dance moves in the upbeat number. Kriti took to her Twitter handle to share the foot-tapping track, writing, “Since u guys were so excited..The Party anthem is here!! Sip & sing with #CocaCola from #LukaChuppi.” Since u guys were so excited.. The Party anthem is here!! Sip & sing with #CocaCola from #LukaChuppi 🥤🥤@TheAaryanKartik #DineshVijan @Laxman10072 @MaddockFilms @JioCinema @TSeries @tanishkbagchi @iAmNehaKakkar @TonyKakkar #MellowD #YoungDesi https://t.co/GVraPTXdlI — Kriti Sanon (@kritisanon) February 4, 2019 × The song starts with the message, ‘Sip and Swing with Coca Cola’, and the audience is then introduced to the lead pair on screen. Both Kartik and Kriti can be seen sporting bright and stylish outfits, all set to hit the dance floor. The actors set the screen on fire with some kick-ass dance steps and sizzling chemistry. The remixed version has been sung by Neha Kakkar, Young Desi and Tony. The lyrics have been penned by Tony and Mellow D. The recently released trailer of the film received an overwhelming response from the audience. The trailer features, Kartik and Kriti Sanon as a couple who are in love and inspired by the concept of live-in relationship, decide to live together without actually tying the knot. Everything seems to be working out fine till their respective families get involved and Kartik’s parents start living with them. Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan, the film also features Vinay Pathak, Pankaj Tripathi, and Aparshakti Khurana in key roles. The film is slated to release on March 1, 2019. Besides `Luka Chuppi`, Kartik will also be seen in the Hindi remake of Kannada blockbuster `Kirik Party`. He will also star opposite Ajay Devgn in Luv Ranjan`s next. Kartik will also be seen sharing the screen space with Ananya Panday and Bhumi Pednekar in the movie ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’. Kriti has four other films in her kitty, including `Arjun Patiala`, `Kalank`, `Housefull 4` and `Panipat`.

'Coca Cola' from 'Luka Chuppi' all set to be this season’s dance anthem!

Unilever is to buy GlaxoSmithKline's&nbsp;Horlicks&nbsp;nutrition business for $3.8 billion, boosting the Anglo-Dutch group's position in India by adding the popular malted drink.

The deal, announced on Monday, increases the consumer goods giant's reach in one of the world's fastest-growing economies and marks a notable addition to the portfolio by outgoing Chief Executive Paul Polman, who steps down in January.

Even though many of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/kraft-heinz-withdraws-143-billion-unilever-bid-12574">Unilever's recent acquisitions</a> have focused on beauty and personal care products, buying&nbsp;Horlicks&nbsp;is a rare opportunity for Unilever to increase its scale in India, particularly in food and drinks.

For GSK boss Emma Walmsley, it is a chance to further streamline operations and generate cash for increased investment in pharmaceuticals. A few hours later, GSK announced it had agreed to buy US&nbsp;cancer drug specialist Tesaro for $5.1 billion, marking a major biotech investment by the drugmaker.

The&nbsp;Horlicks&nbsp;deal follows a competitive auction in which Unilever saw off rival Nestle, as well as earlier interest from Coca-Cola.

The transaction covers GSK's health food and drinks portfolio in India, Bangladesh and 20 other predominantly Asian markets. The business has annual sales of around 550 million euros, primarily through the malt-based&nbsp;Horlicks&nbsp;and Boost brands.

Horlicks&nbsp;comfortably dominates the health-drinks market in India and Unilever is expected to try to give it a fresh lease of life, following a slowdown in recent years as urban Indian consumers turn to healthier, less-sugary alternatives.

Bernstein analysts have said the business's growth slowed from 15 per cent to 4 per cent between 2013 and 2017, leading to lost market share, though management has indicated that performance has started to pick up in recent quarters.

Srinivas Phatak, finance head of Unilever's Indian unit, told reporters on Monday he expected the business to grow at a double-digit percentage rate in the medium term, boosting both earnings and profit margins. That would be well beyond Unilever's overall sales growth, this year forecast at the bottom end of a 3-5 per cent range.

"Growth has been a challenge in the recent periods," Liberum analyst Robert Waldschmidt said. "They're clearly expanding their emerging market footprint further and buying growth."

Unilever will seek to leverage its formidable distribution network to boost sales of&nbsp;Horlicks&nbsp;in smaller cities and rural areas.

The price is broadly in line with expectations. People familiar with the process had told Reuters it was likely to be sold for less than $4 billion.

Indian market

GSK's decision to sell the business follows its $13 billion acquisition of Novartis's stake in the two groups' consumer health joint venture this year. GSK said at the time that sellingHorlicks&nbsp;could support the funding of the Novartis buyout.

The main asset being sold is GSK's 72.5 per cent stake in Indian-listed GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.

Unilever said its 3.3 billion euros ($3.75 billion) consideration would be paid in cash and shares in its subsidiary in India, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL).

Shares in both Indian companies rose more than 4 per cent on Monday, highlighting a "win-win" deal for both sides, according to Anand Shah, senior vice-president, consumer at Axis Capital.

"GSK's portfolio gives HUL a strong foothold in foods and beverages, space which it has been clearly lagging," he said.

It also gives the company greater access to India's middle-class parents who increasingly have more discretionary wealth and are willing to pay a premium for children's products.

But it may need to refresh&nbsp;Horlicks' traditional brand image and slogan, which promises that the drink makes children "Taller, Stronger, Sharper," marketing and brand experts said.

GSK said its net proceeds from the sale, after tax and hedging costs, were expected to be around 2.4 billion pounds ($3.1 billion).

Following the closure of the deal, which is expected in around 12 months, GSK will own approximately 5.7 per cent of HUL and the British drugmaker intends to sell this down in tranches.

As part of the agreement, HUL will also distribute GSK’s over-the-counter and oral health brands for an initial period of five years.

The deal comes a day before Unilever hosts a two-day investor event in Mumbai.

GSK was advised by Morgan Stanley and Greenhill, while BofA Merrill Lynch worked with Unilever.

Unilever is to buy GlaxoSmithKline's Horlicks nutrition business for $3.8 billion, boosting the Anglo-Dutch group's position in India by adding the popular malted drink.

Unilever is to buy GlaxoSmithKline's Horlicks nutrition business for $3.8 billion, boosting the Anglo-Dutch group's position in India by adding the popular malted drink. The deal, announced on Monday, increases the consumer goods giant's reach in one of the world's fastest-growing economies and marks a notable addition to the portfolio by outgoing Chief Executive Paul Polman, who steps down in January. Even though many of Unilever's recent acquisitions have focused on beauty and personal care products, buying Horlicks is a rare opportunity for Unilever to increase its scale in India, particularly in food and drinks. For GSK boss Emma Walmsley, it is a chance to further streamline operations and generate cash for increased investment in pharmaceuticals. A few hours later, GSK announced it had agreed to buy US cancer drug specialist Tesaro for $5.1 billion, marking a major biotech investment by the drugmaker. The Horlicks deal follows a competitive auction in which Unilever saw off rival Nestle, as well as earlier interest from Coca-Cola. The transaction covers GSK's health food and drinks portfolio in India, Bangladesh and 20 other predominantly Asian markets. The business has annual sales of around 550 million euros, primarily through the malt-based Horlicks and Boost brands. Horlicks comfortably dominates the health-drinks market in India and Unilever is expected to try to give it a fresh lease of life, following a slowdown in recent years as urban Indian consumers turn to healthier, less-sugary alternatives. Bernstein analysts have said the business's growth slowed from 15 per cent to 4 per cent between 2013 and 2017, leading to lost market share, though management has indicated that performance has started to pick up in recent quarters. Srinivas Phatak, finance head of Unilever's Indian unit, told reporters on Monday he expected the business to grow at a double-digit percentage rate in the medium term, boosting both earnings and profit margins. That would be well beyond Unilever's overall sales growth, this year forecast at the bottom end of a 3-5 per cent range. "Growth has been a challenge in the recent periods," Liberum analyst Robert Waldschmidt said. "They're clearly expanding their emerging market footprint further and buying growth." Unilever will seek to leverage its formidable distribution network to boost sales of Horlicks in smaller cities and rural areas. The price is broadly in line with expectations. People familiar with the process had told Reuters it was likely to be sold for less than $4 billion. Indian market GSK's decision to sell the business follows its $13 billion acquisition of Novartis's stake in the two groups' consumer health joint venture this year. GSK said at the time that sellingHorlicks could support the funding of the Novartis buyout. The main asset being sold is GSK's 72.5 per cent stake in Indian-listed GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. Unilever said its 3.3 billion euros ($3.75 billion) consideration would be paid in cash and shares in its subsidiary in India, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). Shares in both Indian companies rose more than 4 per cent on Monday, highlighting a "win-win" deal for both sides, according to Anand Shah, senior vice-president, consumer at Axis Capital. "GSK's portfolio gives HUL a strong foothold in foods and beverages, space which it has been clearly lagging," he said. It also gives the company greater access to India's middle-class parents who increasingly have more discretionary wealth and are willing to pay a premium for children's products. But it may need to refresh Horlicks' traditional brand image and slogan, which promises that the drink makes children "Taller, Stronger, Sharper," marketing and brand experts said. GSK said its net proceeds from the sale, after tax and hedging costs, were expected to be around 2.4 billion pounds ($3.1 billion). Following the closure of the deal, which is expected in around 12 months, GSK will own approximately 5.7 per cent of HUL and the British drugmaker intends to sell this down in tranches. As part of the agreement, HUL will also distribute GSK’s over-the-counter and oral health brands for an initial period of five years. The deal comes a day before Unilever hosts a two-day investor event in Mumbai. GSK was advised by Morgan Stanley and Greenhill, while BofA Merrill Lynch worked with Unilever.

Unilever to buy GSK's Horlicks India business in $3.8 billion deal

Coca-Cola Co reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and sales on Friday as it sold more teas, coffees and vitamin water, sending its shares up 2.4 per cent.

Organic sales, which exclude the impact of the company&#39;s ongoing efforts to franchise its bottling operations, rose 6 per cent, helped by demand for products such as Georgia Coffee and Glaceau vitamin water.

Net operating revenue fell to $7.51 billion from $9.41 billion a year earlier, but beat the average analyst estimate of $7.36 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Global volume growth remained unchanged even as North America volumes increased 1 per cent.

The Fanta and Diet Coke maker reported a net loss of $2.75 billion, or 65 cents per share, in the fourth quarter ended December&nbsp;31, mainly due to a $3.6 billion charge related to the new tax law. A year earlier the company had posted a profit of $550 million, or 13 cents per share.

The company&#39;s margins improved by 3.15 percentage points, largely due to divestitures of lower-margin bottling businesses.

On an adjusted basis, the company reported earnings per share of 39 cents, beating analysts&#39; average estimate of 38 cents.

Coca-Cola Co reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and sales on Friday as it sold more teas, coffees and vitamin water, sending its shares up 2.4 per cent

Coca-Cola Co reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and sales on Friday as it sold more teas, coffees and vitamin water, sending its shares up 2.4 per cent. Organic sales, which exclude the impact of the company's ongoing efforts to franchise its bottling operations, rose 6 per cent, helped by demand for products such as Georgia Coffee and Glaceau vitamin water. Net operating revenue fell to $7.51 billion from $9.41 billion a year earlier, but beat the average analyst estimate of $7.36 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Global volume growth remained unchanged even as North America volumes increased 1 per cent. The Fanta and Diet Coke maker reported a net loss of $2.75 billion, or 65 cents per share, in the fourth quarter ended December 31, mainly due to a $3.6 billion charge related to the new tax law. A year earlier the company had posted a profit of $550 million, or 13 cents per share. The company's margins improved by 3.15 percentage points, largely due to divestitures of lower-margin bottling businesses. On an adjusted basis, the company reported earnings per share of 39 cents, beating analysts' average estimate of 38 cents.

Coca-Cola sales beat as consumers drink more vitamin water, coffee

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