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The public discourse surrounding PFAS, a.k.a. "forever chemicals," continues to gain momentum. Notably, one of the world's biggest brands, 3M, has already committed to stop making PFAS by 2025. Soon, a potential ban on the production, import, and sale of PFAS in Europe could have far-reaching impacts on health and business worldwide.
In this Q&A, Alison Fraser, a chemical engineer on Actalent's Laboratory Services compliance team, provides thoughtful answers to the most common and pressing questions about PFAS.
Here's a few of the topics she'll cover:
- The science, history, and uses of PFAS, a.k.a "forever chemicals"
- Examples of products that may use PFAS
- The effects of forever chemicals on human health and their prevalence in our environment
- The growing public concern, the ongoing risks companies face, and the EU's potential ban on PFAS
- How an EU ban would impact businesses that use, or rely on companies that use, PFAS
- How businesses can not only avoid the harmful implications of PFAS and the potential EU ban, but also improve their products and operations
What are PFAS chemicals, also commonly referred to as "forever chemicals"?
PFAS stands for "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances." These chemicals are carbon chains with fluorine atoms. The carbon-fluorine bond is incredibly strong. That means these chemicals persist and accumulate in the environment, some potentially for hundreds of years. In fact, they last longer than any other synthetic chemical that exists. In cases where larger PFAS do break down, they break down into smaller PFAS that then also persist and accumulate.
Where are PFAS found?
Because PFAS are water soluble, they're extremely mobile in the environment and have been found all over the world. They exist in innumerable products and from there accumulate in drinking water, air, soils, and foods. Thus, PFAS accumulate in people, plants, and animals, too.
Where do PFAS come from?
PFAS don't occur naturally. The first PFAS were manufactured in the late 1940s. More and more (like Teflon) were created in the years that followed. Today, more than 10,000 different kinds exist. There are different groups of PFAS with different purposes. Most all are used in consumer and industrial products.
What are PFAS used for?
They're what make products waterproof, water-repellent, heat-resistant, stain-resistant, non-stick, and/or longer-lasting.
What are examples of products that use PFAS?
Consumer goods that use PFAS may include long-wear cosmetics, non-stick pans, stain-resistant textiles for children, food packaging, ski wax, and water-proof sprays for shoes, clothes, and carpets.
Industrial products may include firefighting foam, military and aerospace applications, artificial turf, chrome plating, and construction. They can also be found in some medical devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators.
Are PFAS harmful to humans?
Research into the effects of PFAS on human health is ongoing. Available U.S. data, however, indicates that elevated levels of PFAS can reduce the body's ability to identify and fight off antigens that cause sickness and disease. According to EU hazard classifications, PFAS are known to be toxic for reproduction and can cause damage to unborn children. High PFAS counts have also been associated with a higher risk of certain cancers, lower infant birth weights, increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, decreased vaccine responses in children, higher cholesterol levels, hormonal interferences, and changes in liver enzymes.
Can we get rid of the PFAS accumulating in the environment?
For now, the answer is no. However, there's a growing push, particularly among regulators and lawmakers in the EU, to prevent the accumulation of PFAS from getting any bigger.
What are regulators and lawmakers in the EU doing about PFAS?
The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) intends to propose a ban on PFAS. If enacted, the ban would prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of approximately 10,000 PFAS in the European Economic Area. This includes banning any products that contain PFAS. The ECHA estimates this measure would prevent 4.4 million tonnes (4.85 million U.S. tons) of PFAS from getting into the environment over the next 30 years.
Is the U.S. taking any action regarding PFAS?
Legislation targeting PFAS in 2019 and 2021 died in the senate. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing regulations that would limit the allowance of six PFAS in drinking water. That leaves approximately 9,994 PFAS that would not be subject to the proposed limitations. It's estimated that 200 million Americans have PFAS in their drinking water. Interestingly, the proposed PFAS limitations would be lower than the current allowance for hexavalent chromium, which is the carcinogenic water contaminant made famous by the movie (and true story) "Erin Brockovich".
If the EU ban on PFAS becomes law, how long would companies have to comply?
The European Parliament is expected to make a final ruling on the proposed PFAS ban in Q4 of 2023. If ratified as currently written, companies making or selling products in the EU would have between 1.5 and 12 years to phase-out the production and use of any banned chemicals. The length of time allowed would depend on the impacted product's purpose and the availability of a non-PFAS substitute (if one exists). Theoretically, products that are important to public health and safety (like a medical device), but without a readily available PFAS substitute chemical, would get the most time to comply. Conversely, less vital products that have readily available PFAS substitutes would get the least time. But keep in mind, if the ECHA gives a company 12 years to find a replacement, it's because all 12 years will be needed (so start now, especially if the PFAS has no known replacement).
What would this ban mean for companies that make or sell products using PFAS in the EU?
If enacted, the ban means companies will lose access to EU markets unless they redesign their products. Furthermore, even if a company doesn't sell products in the EU, it could still lose its European suppliers of PFAS -- and potentially global suppliers as well, if other countries adopt similar EU-style regulations. In addition to market and supplier access risks, there's tremendous liability and reputational exposures that continue to emerge.
If future PFAS bans are likely, when should companies start the compliance process?
Proactive compliance is often exponentially less expensive and more effective than reactive compliance.
Compliance cost savings aside, companies could also view this as an opportunity to differentiate themselves on an issue that has become uniquely personal to many consumers.
What industries would be most affected by PFAS bans?
Given how many different applications PFAS have, almost every industry is affected (a list of impacted industries with analysis starts on page 80). The cautious approach is to assume your industry is affected, and then verify if -- and how -- your company is affected. For example, the cookware industry is affected because of the use of PFAS-based coatings on non-stick pans. If your company is a luxury brand that only makes copper pots and cast-iron pans, you're likely not affected by the PFAS ban. However, if you're a mass-market brand with a wide range of products, you'll have to verify every single product and will most likely find at least some with PFAS.
To learn about industry-specific risks and solutions associated with “forever chemicals”, continue reading the next installments of Actalent’s ongoing PFAS Q&A series:
Are there ancillary benefits for companies to get rid of PFAS?
Replacing hazardous chemicals is a fantastic opportunity for companies to make other improvements at the same time. Think of it like renovating a house: renovations are a pain, but if you're forced to renovate it's a great opportunity to make other improvements. And, in this case, you'll end up with a way better house. Something else to consider: just because a chemical is currently being used and has been for a long time, doesn't mean it's the best option. Companies may find that replacement chemicals for PFAS are less expensive and better performing, in addition to being safer for workers and consumers. Rather than being thought of as an intractable problem, replacing PFAS with safer substitutes could present opportunities to strengthen an operation.
How can Actalent help companies with PFAS?
Actalent has a proven track record of successfully developing and implementing REACH substitution programs for our clients. We've worked on technically challenging substitutions, including the use of hexavalent chromium in aerospace. Our interdisciplinary teams can take on project coordination and prioritization, data acquisition and management, implementation of software tools, training programs, identification of substitute chemicals and/or processes, proposing testing and validation plans, and more.


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Celebrate National Hamburger Day with these metro Phoenix restaurants
May 28, 2022, 5:00 AM
PHOENIX — Saturday is the perfect day for a burger.
It is the weekend, summer is here and it is National Hamburger Day to celebrate the most popular sandwich in the United States.
With help from Yelp, we compiled the above list of the top restaurants to find a perfect burger in the Valley this weekend.
Click through the slideshow above to see the high-rated spots.
We want to hear from you.
Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

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PlayStation 4 Slim Confirmed Real; Watch it Boot Up Here – Check Out Size Comparison in New Images
In case you don’t already know; images of Sony’s upcoming, yet announced PlayStation 4 slim console leaked on the internet last night via an ad on the UK classifieds and community website Gumtree, which was of course, created to attract buyers towards the purchase of the console. Now, thanks to the person who didn’t spare any time in procuring the slimmer, redesigned version of Sony’s eighth generation video game console, and Eurogamer, we have a boot up video and some more images of the system confirming its legitimacy.
Eurogamer Confirms the PlayStation 4 Slim is Real With a Boot Up Video - New Images Show the Console Sitting Next to Standard PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4 slim is real, and we have a video showing the console sitting all set and booting up, thanks to the good folks over at Eurogamer, who were kind enough to visit the buyer’s home in person and verify that the slimmed down PlayStation 4 is legit. You can check out the video below, in which Digital Foundry’s Chris Bratt is checking the console out. Right now, that’s all we have, but Bratt says Eurogamer will have more on the console in coming days.
We also have some images that show the PlayStation 4 slim sitting next to, and on top of the currently available standard white PlayStation 4, courtesy of Twitter user shortmaneighty2, who now owns the console. It isn’t as slim as Xbox One S is compared to the standard Xbox One console, but of course, PlayStation 4 is already quite sleek. You can check out the new images below.
Soon after the leak last night, The Wall Street Journal published a report suggesting we will get to see not one, but two new consoles next month at Sony’s PlayStation Meeting. The second console, according to the site’s source, is a new model of standard PlayStation 4 console (Read more about it here). The first one is, of course, the highly anticipated PlayStation Neo, the mid-generational hardware upgrade that is expected to deliver true 4K gaming and high-quality VR experience.
This PlayStation 4 Slim shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as it is a typical hardware redesign that console manufacturers introduce after few years into the console cycle. It will be, however, interesting to see how Sony will manage to space out the launches of PlayStation 4 slim, and the upgraded, more powerful PlayStation Neo, which is rumored to launch later this year to support PlayStation VR. According to the seller, the streamlined hardware will launch on September 14; we will have to see.


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Lipstick. Nail polish. Shampoo. These are not exactly high tech but they are the kind of beauty staples that come to mind when you think of global beauty brand L’Oréal, which is why people were surprised when the company surfaced at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year.
Global vice-president of L'Oréal's technology incubator, Guive Balooch, and his team were there to demonstrate their latest development: a stretchable, wearable electronic UV monitor – developed in collaboration with La Roche Posay – known as My UV Patch.
What at first glance looks like an ordinary sticker with an image of a blue heart is in fact a printed grid of UV-sensitive dyes that change colour depending on how much sun exposure they receive. This is coupled with an NFC (near field communication)-enabled coil that can communicate with your smartphone.
The idea behind the patch is that it measures UV exposure, which causes sun damage and ageing of the skin and can, in some cases, lead to skin cancer.
And it feels so light it’s like wearing a child’s transfer tattoo that comes with bubblegum.
With a launch date of June for this second skin electronic wearable, I meet Balooch to find out more.
As we shake hands I notice that he is wearing two patches – one on each hand. He points out that they haven’t changed colour much because he’s been stuck inside, working.
Balooch and his team have been busy for the past 3½ years, notching up several beauty tech products and collaborating with both small tech start-ups such as the Manchester-based Image Metrics (who worked on the reverse ageing effects in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and heavy hitters such as the Irish custom design manufacturing company PCH International.
“My UV Patch is the result of a collaboration with PCH and Boston tech start-up MC10, a company working on the future of wearables. They take electronics and materials and make them so thin that they become like a second skin, like what I’m wearing right now.”
The future of wearables, says Balooch, doesn’t have to peak with the smart watch and similar devices. It can be wearable – and disposable – patches that integrate with the body rather than something you have to remember to charge and put on every day.
An interesting development with PCH is the fact that the strip is NFC-enabled. Although this means that at present the patch triggers the camera in your smartphone when the My UV Patch app is open, Balooch hints at future applications: “Today, what it’s doing is automatically taking a picture.”
"Liam Casey [of PCH] is working on this tech through us; he's looking at different areas around payment so there's a lot of potential around being able to put wearables somewhere on your body. There are technological advancements that can be applied outside of the [beauty] industry."
If this sounds like the strategic thinking of a tech start-up rather than a global beauty brand, this is because the tech incubator was designed this way: “L’Oreal came to me internally and said that there was an interest to figure out what technology will mean for the beauty industry for the next five to 10 years.
“They wanted us to work on some select projects around tech that could link to the beauty industry. And I think it was a very smart move because when you look at the health or fitness industry you can see how much technology has enhanced the consumer experience.”
The first project to emerge was a virtual cosmetics app called Makeup Genius. This was developed with Image Metrics using complicated imaging technology to give the makeup a photorealistic appearance while staying on your face as you moved about in front of a smartphone camera.
Anyone who has seen recent episodes of TV comedy Silicon Valley will know what I'm talking about. The makeup moves with your face and can be viewed from all angles, much like the virtual moustache that main character Richard tries on while visiting tech start-up Flutterbeam.
Shortly afterwards, the incubator made the move from software to hardware, culminating in a device called Le Teint Particulier that assesses skin tone and, based upon this, mixes personalised custom foundation.
This is currently only available at the Lancome counter in some US department stores but Balooch says there are plans to expand over the next two years.
“I started thinking about what wearables and personalisation and new supply chain innovations will mean for our consumers in the future. So we did some work around personalisation first: we created this little device that takes a measurement of your skin tone and makes a foundation, right there, on the spot.”
While these innovations have a specific target market, ie women interested in cosmetics, My UV Patch is the first one to appeal to all consumers across the spectrum. Partnering with La Roche Posay, the idea is to educate as many people as possible about the dangers of UV exposure.
Many people think of sunscreen products as something you wear to the beach or by the pool on holiday, when in fact UV rays are hitting our skin every day, rain or shine.
In fact, cloud cover can lead to UV exposure that is just as high as on a bright, sunny day.
We in Ireland are not the best at applying sunscreen. In fact, Ireland has the highest reported incidence rate of non-melanoma, the most common type of skin cancer (NMSC) in Europe.
By 2040 it is estimated that there will be 13,000 females and more than 20,000 males diagnosed with NMSC, which is the greatest projected increase of any cancer in Ireland.
"Educating people on how and when to protect themselves from the sun and harmful UV rays is one of the first preventative measures we can take to tackle skin cancer," says Kevin O'Hagan, cancer prevention manager with the Irish Cancer Society. O'Hagan says that the My UV Patch wearable "could deliver a step change in people's awareness of UV exposure and sun protection" adding that it is "fantastic to see smart technology being used in this way to help with such an important public health issue".
The My UV Patch tells you what level of UV protection you should be wearing based on the UV index for your location, your “skin profile” and the monitoring of the photosensitive dyes on the patch.
It can be worn for three to five days and survives showering and washing of hands. The app chimes regularly on your smartphone reminding you to check in.
“You apply the patch, take a picture from inside the app and it immediately calculates your level of risk. The coloured squares on the patch are changing at different rates: if I’m outside for an hour with a strong level of sun exposure and no sunscreen on it will turn from blue to white,” explains Balooch.
“The entire point behind My UV Patch and the partnership with La Roche Posay is to educate people,” he says. With this in mind, the success of this new wearable may be down to how easy it is to use.
Having tested it for several days, I can attest to its ease of use.
It is so thin and flexible that you forget it’s there (until a friend or colleague asks why you have a blue sticker on the back of your hand).
And of course you tell them it’s because you’re excited about a wearable UV monitor that helps you to protect your skin. And, because you’re worth it.


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We reported a few weeks ago that Apple Pay was set to finally be accepted at Wendy’s fast-food restaurants soon.
At the time of our initial article, there was no timeline for when the fast-food chain would start support for Apple Pay in its restaurants.
According to FlyerTalk Forum, support for Apple Pay in Wendy’s restaurants is set to begin in February 2022. Apple Pay support for its app and website has yet to be said or announced, but we can expect support there to be right before or soon thereafter it launches in the restaurants.
When Apple Pay support officially launches at Wendy’s, you can expect for it to be a gradual rollout, meaning that even the day it launches, it may not be available at your local location. It would be very much like the Dollar Tree or Dollar General rollout of Apple Pay in 2020 and 2021.
Wendy’s Apple Pay support would also mean those that pay with Apple Card with their iPhone or Apple Watch will get 2% in Daily Cash on each purchase they make.
What are your thoughts on Wendy’s getting Apple Pay support? Comment below or let us know on Twitter at @appleosophy.


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A new leak on GeekBench reveals that YU might be planning to launch a more powerful and updated version of the YUPHORIA alongside the YUTOPIA.
The original YUPHORIA was launched earlier this year and came with a 5″ 720p display, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory, 8 Megapixel Camera and a 5 Megapixel front facing camera. It was also powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor. The old YUPHORIA has a model number YU5010 while the new one is said to be called the YU6000. Although the new one has more power and better specs, it is a smaller device.
The YU6000 is expected to pack a smaller 4.6″ display but with a denser 1080p resolution. It will have a 12 Megapixel camera at the back along with an 8 Megapixel shooter at the front. It will be powered by an octa-core Mediatek MT6753 processor and will have 3GB of RAM along with 16GB of built-in memory. Rumors indicate that the new YUPHORIA will be announced alongside the YUTOPIA which is a Snapdragon 810 packed smartphone that YU has been teasing for a while.


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Wedding obsession has some women planning a wedding - without the groom
The wedding industry is a multi-billion dollar industry - and it's not hard to see why.
According to a new survey by BRIDES magazine, the average wedding in 2011 dipped slightly, but still came in at more than $26,000.
That's a lot of money for one day - but for many women the excitement that the industry builds up with shows like "Say Yes to the Dress" and advertisements featuring huge diamonds creates a fairy-tale atmosphere, where the bride should always get what she wants.
But what if you're not engaged - or even dating someone?
Doesn't matter anymore, apparently.
"Single Bridezillas" are hitting the scene, according to Marie Claire and abcnews.com. They are women who may or may not be dating, but have nearly every detail of their big day planned out.
One of the prospective brides featured on the Good Morning America segment has centerpiece samples, wedding magazines by the dozens and two dresses already in tow - even though she doesn't even have an official "boyfriend" yet (she's been dating a guy, but doesn't call it "official" yet).
Now, this woman did say that her pre-planning would lead to big savings in the end. For example, one of her dresses she snagged for just $12.
But I don't know that planning so far ahead is worth the extra savings.
I mean, I like saving money as much as anyone. But to actually make concrete plans or purchase a dress in the name of saving money or being prepared? I just don't think I could go there.
What about you - Would you plan your wedding before being engaged?


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Fight Global Economic Recession
With the ongoing global recession, the US government urged other nations to fight protectionism and to adopt constructive measures that will effectively boost the economy. On the other hand, President Barack Obama continues to discuss with Congress about the importance of passing the $838 billion worth of stimulus package.
The US government urged other nations to adopt constructive measures that will stop the worsening economic condition and appealed to world’s leaders to fight against protectionism.
With the ongoing economic crisis, experts warned that protectionism or the banning of trade and commerce between countries which happened during the advent of the period of Great Depression will likely to happen if world leaders will not prevent this from happening.
Earlier, treasury secretary Timothy Geithner urged finance ministers from G7, a group of rich and industrialized countries, to act swiftly to boost the global economy.
In the coming Friday this week, finance leaders from Italy, Canada, US, Germany, Japan, Britain, and France will meet on Rome to discuss measures which can turn around the effect of the worsening economic condition which is now the major concern of industrialized countries which are greatly hit by its occurrence.
China, a country which used to be the fastest growing economy in the world, has now been battling with recession as importers are cutting orders and businesses are halting productions. These occurrences are further aggravated by thousands of factories and establishments closing for the last few months, which resulted to thousands of unemployed people.
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The former owner of packaging firm Discom Technologies has filed suit against buyer Harding Poorman Group Inc. and subsidiary SPG Graphics, alleging he was shorted a percentage of Discom sales he was to have collected after the sale.
Jeffrey S. Combs also alleges in the suit brought last month in Marion Superior Court that the Indianapolis graphics and publishing company later dissolved Discom, rendering his remaining 20-percent stake worthless.
Combs devised and patented a method to bind compact discs and their sleeves into printed materials. The vinyl compact disc sleeve can run through binding equipment with the disc enclosed, allowing the disc and sleeve to be placed anywhere in a book. According to the suit, he sold 80 percent of Discom to SPG Graphics in July 2005, receiving an initial payment of $1.6 million.
Combs said the sales agreement further required SPG to pay him quarterly “override” payments—essentially a commission—for five years, based on 7 percent of Discom’s sales.
He alleges SPG failed to disclose all of the sales that involved Discom’s patented products, upon which his quarterly commission was based.
“Combs recently learned that SPG failed to credit Discom for a number of substantial sales,” states his suit.
The entrepreneur alleges that after his 2007 termination he attempted to sell his remaining 20-percent interest in Discom to Harding Poorman as the sales agreement stipulated, but did not receive a response. He alleges that SPG told employees that SPG bought the remaining 20 percent, and that it in 2009 “made the unilateral decision to dissolve Discom and liquidate its assets.”
Discom is still listed on Harding Poorman’s Web site as one its business units.
Harding Poorman principal David A. Harding, who was also named as a defendant, denies the allegations.
“We don’t think his claims have any merit and we’re defending those claims in court. Other than that we have no comment,” said Harding.
Among Combs’ allegations are breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, minority member freeze-out and constructive fraud. The suit does not specify a dollar amount of damages.
Harding Poorman lists annual sales of $24.8 million.


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A new look at the demographic breakdown of Twitter users.
Twitter Use 2012, from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life project, provides a demographic breakdown of the 15 percent of online Americans who use Twitter. This percentage is up only slightly from a year ago (when it was 13 percent), but what has changed “dramatically,” according to Pew, is the percentage of online 18-24-year-olds using the platform, both generally and on a typical day. Almost a third of this cohort now uses Twitter, up from 18 percent in May 2011—perhaps not surprising when you consider that Justin Bieber now has almost 23 million Twitter followers worldwide and Rihanna has 20 million. The percentage of adult Millennials using the service is now almost double that of Gen Xers who use it.


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Siri Opens Up
Since its launch Siri has also suffered from stiff competition from other personal assistants with fewer limitations and a more open architecture. In 2014, Amazon launched the widely lauded and increasingly popular Echo speaker, which it paired with a Siri-like personal assistant called Alexa .
Google has turned in the same direction with a planned launch of Google Home, an Echo like device, powered by Google Now, which will include some of the features Siri has lacked (ease of dealing with follow-up queries, compatibility with home devices like thermostats, etc). Even Facebook is getting in the game with its M personal assistant.
Well, yesterday Apple finally took action to address the perceived gap between Siri and her PA competitors. They’ve announced serious upgrades to Siri’s functionality. She’ll be available in the new macOS Sierra, where Mac users will be able to do things like search files and drag results into open windows. Want that vacation photo added to a Word document? Simple now, according to Apple. Upgrades to the Homekit suggest that Siri will more easily control supported home devices.
By far the biggest news in this front, however, is the announcement that Apple will be opening up Siri to developers through an API. Amazon’s Alexa proved so popular in large part because of this feature. Many 3rd-party Alexa-powered smart home technologies, such as smart fridges and smart security systems, are available, with more to come later this year. Also, through the Alexa Skills Kit developers have created more than 1000 “skills” which allow Alexa to interact with other apps.
Apple’s decision opens up Siri to at least some of these possibilities. During the WWDC Siri was shown sending WeChat’s, Slack messages and even ordering an Uber. While the full implications of these changes is unknown it’s clear that an open Siri will give developers expanded opportunities in the enormous iOS market, give users a wider variety of options and give Apple a fighting chance in the increasingly crowded market of PAs.


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Canadian Diamond Mine Sells First Parcel
Aber Diamond Corp. said Wednesday it sold its first parcel of diamonds from the Diavik mine in the Northwest Territories for $4.1 million.
Diavik is Canada's second diamond mine, continuing the growth of an industry expected to become one of the world leaders in upcoming years.
An Aber news release said the total sale of 42,619 carats of diamonds fetched an average price of $96.22 a carat. Tiffany & Co. of the United States bought 23 percent of the first parcel, with the rest sold through the Antwerp, Belgium open market.
"It is the first sale under a 10-year agreement through which Tiffany will purchase a minimum of $50 million per year in Tiffany's exacting standards of color and clarity," the company said.
The Diavik diamonds project is an unincorporated joint venture between Diavik Diamond Mines, which holds 60 percent, and Aber Diamond Mines, which holds the rest.
Diavik Diamond Mines is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto PLC of London, and Aber Diamond Mines is a subsidiary of Aber Diamond Corp. of Toronto.
Diamond industry officials have said the expected 2005 opening of a third Canadian mine by diamond giant De Beers will make Canada the world's third largest diamond producer, worth more than $1 billion a year and 17 percent of the market after 2006.
The first mine _ Ekati in Northwest Territories _opened in 1998 and has so far shipped diamonds worth $419 million into Antwerp, which cuts, polishes and resells them to jewelers and wholesalers. It is run by Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP-Billiton.


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New businesses demonstrate downtown’s continual growth
Published 9:54 am Thursday, December 3, 2015
While the thermometers make their expected decline as we head deeper in the winter months, the buzz and activity around Front Street is heating up.
On Tuesday, local pastry chef extraordinaire Jordan Anderson celebrated the opening of the long awaited storefront for his bakery, The Baker’s Rhapsody, located next to Dowagiac IT3 and The Hairitage near the intersection of Front and Commercial streets. The new eatery offers a dining experience similar to popular coffee houses, with customers purchasing their choice of freshly baked breads, breakfast pastries, cookies, cakes and more, along with a cup of coffee and other hot beverages.
The bakery is the first of a pair of downtown openings being celebrated by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce this week.
On Wednesday, members of the organization officially welcomed Fair’s Gun ‘n Gear into the central business district. The gun store, owned by Eric Fair and several of his brothers, opened for business on Nov. 18. It is located next to Sew Can You sewing school on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Both new businesses have generated their fair share of buzz before and following their openings. Posts about the two establishments on Facebook have received hundreds of likes, with many people commenting that they’d love to visit the stores when they get a chance.
Others have commented how great it is to see these types of businesses return to their hometown.
As 2015 comes to a close, we want to reflect on what a tremendous year it’s been in terms of growth on and around Front Street. In the past 12 months, a number of new businesses have opened or relocated to Dowagiac’s downtown — which offer everything from dog grooming, like Bow Wow Bakery & Bath to tradable cards, like Radiant Rogue Games, to a place to view unique pieces of art, like Art enah Suit.
These new establishments have added some diversity to the already strong offerings located in the area, and have already started attracting a new set of eyes (and wallets) to the city. For a place that was already a great location to eat, shop and live, these new businesses will ensure our beautiful downtown continues to grow and thrive in the years ahead.
We want to congratulate Anderson, Fair and the other owners who have taken the plunge this year with the opening of the stores, and we wish them luck in the years ahead. We also want to thank the members of the Dowagiac chamber and business community who continue to court new entrepreneurs into town and work to create an environment for continuing growth.
With the planned opening of the new Round Oak Revisited in the months to come, we’re optimistic downtown is due for another banner year in 2016.
Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.


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What you need to know
- A cybersecurity firm found a Mail app exploit that Apple confirms.
- Apple says the exploit doesn't bypass security protections.
- The issues will be fixed in a software update soon.
An earlier report from cybersecurity firm ZecOps claims to have found a zero-day exploit in Apple's built-in Mail app for iPhone and iPad. There were two of them, actually. ZecOps claim that one is a remote zero-click exploit, meaning that anyone on the internet could be targeted and infected without knowing about it, while the other could send an email to the Mail app and allow a hacker to execute code on the device. It sounds scary, I know.
Today, Apple issued a response, as shared by Apple analyst Rene Ritchie that it investigated the claims and found that though an exploit does exist, it's not as dangerous as ZecOps makes it out to be.
Apple takes all reports of security threats seriously. We have thoroughly investigated the researcher's report and, based on the information provided, have concluded these issues do not pose an immediate risk to our users. The researcher identified three issues in Mail, but alone they are insufficient to bypass iPhone and iPad security protections, and we have found no evidence they were used against customers. These potential issues will be addressed in a software update soon. We value our collaboration with security researchers to help keep our users safe and will be crediting the researcher for their assistance.
NJ Supreme Court rules you can be forced to give up your phone’s passcode
In a 4-3 decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Fifth Amendment did not protect this particular defendant.
Ooredoo ONE subscribers can now get an Apple TV 4K with their TV plan
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Earlier this month, Microsoft rolled out its latest Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones, build 10051. For the first time, the company opened up the preview to almost its entire range of Lumia Windows Phone 8.x handsets - but there were some notable exceptions.
Perhaps the most disappointing omissions from Microsoft's list of handsets approved to install build 10051 were its 2014 flagships: the Lumia Icon, and its near-identical international counterpart, the Lumia 930. The firm explained that this was due "to a scaling bug we need more time to fix" - an issue that also affected its new Lumia 640 XL.
Unfortunately, it's still not clear when the new preview for phones will land - but there is good news for Lumia 930/Icon owners.
Microsoft's Gabe Aul, head of the Windows Insiders program, responded to an enquiry on Twitter, promising that the next build will include support for both the 930 and Icon, "but it will take a little longer before it's available."
Another Twitter user asked if this meant that 930/Icon owners would have to wait "a little longer" after the release of the next build, or if Aul was actually indicating that everyone would have to wait a bit longer until the new build lands:
Unfortunately, judging by Aul's response, it seems that everyone looking forward to the next Windows 10 preview for phones will have to keep on waiting for now.
Still, while the wait for a new phone build continues, Microsoft released its latest build of Windows 10 for PCs yesterday. In a nod to the legions of people around the world who have been testing the OS ahead of its release this summer, the company designated the new build 10074 as its first 'Insider Preview'.
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Originally published September 4, 2013 at 04:45p.m., updated October 2, 2013 at 04:45p.m.
OMAK – Stampede’s Company Store souvenir stand took in more than $21,000 during rodeo weekend.
Total sales were $21,201.20, Director Cindy Berg told board members during their Aug. 26 meeting. Expenses topped $12,000 for a profit of $8,893.86. Of the total, $2,627 was for pink items for Tough Enough to Wear Pink night Aug. 9.
In other business, the board:
• Set the annual banquet for Nov. 16.
• Heard favorable reports about Stampede’s YouTube channel. Queen Breanna Howell said other royalty at the Moses Lake and Kitsap County Fair rodeos were glued to their smartphones to watch videos.
• Learned several bicycles were given away Aug. 8 during Wrangler Kids Night.
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Low fat Suji RUSK by leading FMCG group BONN could be latest innovation in Rs 1700 crore market
New Delhi, 07th July 2018: India’s leading FMCG food manufacturer, BONN, is all set to cater the need of consumers who are shifting from processed flours to low-fat options such as Semolina (Suji), with the launch of its freshly revitalized Suji Rusk under the flagship brand BONN.
BONN SUJI RUSK is high in fiber content while being low in cholesterol-rich trans-fats. This makes this Rusk ideal as a low-calorie snack alternative with tea.
“We are aware that today’s consumer is continuously looking for low-fat snack options with daily tea while at the same time not compromising on taste. This has given us the opportunity to develop ‘Suji Rusk’ which has plenty of dietary fibers with an Elaichi flavor for better digestive health. We have ensured high-quality ingredients and value for money.” said Mr. Amrinder Singh, Director, Bonn Group of Industries.
The Rs 1700 crore market for rusks is growing at about 16 percent annually, much faster than some of the other bakery products like bread and biscuits. About 40-45 percent of the rusk market is accounted for by organized players. The rest of the market comprises of thousands of small neighborhood bakeries.
“We can employ economies of scale and backward integration to deliver well rounded hygienic resources which are not always available with small bakeries. Proper certification and approval from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is another differentiator between non branded food items and branded ones and consumers have started showing a preference for the latter. As we move forward, we see a scenario where over 75 percent of the rusk market will be with organized players in just a few years. The rusk market itself is growing fast and will be worth Rs 3,000 crore in the next 3-4 years,” Mr. Singh added.
These new rusks are available in pocket-friendly rates and packets. The new packs have been priced at Rs 10 for 80 grams Rs 20 for 150 grams, Rs 30 for 225 grams and Rs 40 for 300 grams. These come in airtight packs to keep freshness intact.
The re-launch is being done in Delhi NCR, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttrakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The company has a range of rusks now. Bonn has been a consistently popular bakery food provider in North India over the last three decades with a variety of healthy fiber and whole grain-rich options in breads, biscuits, footlong and cakes.


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FLSmidth CEO confirms selling Cembrit unit
COPENHAGEN Aug 15 (Reuters) - Danish engineering group FLSmidth has put its Cembrit fibre-cement products unit up for sale and some potential buyers are on the radar, the group's chief executive said on Wednesday.
FLSmidth said in its second-quarter report that it had initiated a sales process for Cembrit and the unit would be reported as discontinued activities from the third quarter.
"We don't know how long this will take but we know that there are interested buyers," Chief Executive Jorgen Huno Rasmussen told Reuters. (Reporting by Ole Mikkelsen)
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Panera Bread stores add free Wi-Fi to menu
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Panera Bread Co. is joining the wireless trend by equipping its bakery-cafes nationwide with free Wi-Fi access.
The company said about 70 of its Panera Bread and St. Louis Bread Co. stores, including those in St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Jacksonville, Fla., and Washington, D.C. areas already have free Wi-Fi, and at least another 60 stores will be wireless by the end of the year. With expansion to the rest of its stores planned, the company said it expects it may eventually operate more than 1,000 hot spots.
"With the rollout off free Wi-Fi access, we are distancing ourselves from the revenue-based model others in the industry are embracing," said Ronald Shaich, chairman and chief executive, in a statement. "By offering this extra amenity, we hope to more fully meet the needs of our sophisticated and diverse consumer base."
St. Louis-based Panera Bread Co. (Nasdaq: PNRA) owns and franchises bakery-cafes under the St. Louis Bread Co. and Panera Bread names.
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Jack Ma’s problems pile up one after the other. First, the IPO of its financial vehicle Ant Group was delayed and a competitive investigation against Alibaba was added. The striking founder of the online shop giant Alibaba contradicts the Chinese government.
“Ma is getting too close to power,” said Chinese correspondent Garrie van Pinxteren. “He has fundamentally different views on how to grow and what the future of China should look like.” These views now clash with those of the Communist Party.
Confrontation with the banks
The problems for Ma started with a speech in Shanghai in the early autumn. That was just before the Ant Group went public. “He said there: it is time for profound reforms of the financial system,” said the China expert Frans-Paul van der Putten from the Clingersael Institute. It’s Ma’s way of paving the way for innovation, he explains.
“He believes that a new system should be introduced where money is provided based on modern technology and big data,” continues Van der Putten. “But he also confronted the banks with this. And this sector is again an important power base for politicians.”
Alibaba has been accused of penalizing brands for also selling their products through competing web stores. Then they are not allowed to participate in important offers so that their products are lower in the search results, they are accused.


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PCI-SIG ® Releases PCIe ® 6.0 Specification Delivering Record Performance to Power Big Data Applications
PCI-SIG®, the organization responsible for the widely adopted PCI Express® (PCIe®)standard, today announced the official release of the PCIe6.0 specification, reaching 64 GT/s.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220111005011/en/
Learn about the market growth and key benefits of PCIe 6.0 technology. (Graphic: Business Wire)
PCIe 6.0 Specification Features
- 64 GT/s raw data rate and up to 256 GB/s via x16 configuration
- Pulse Amplitude Modulation with 4 levels (PAM4) signaling and leverages existing PAM4 already available in the industry
- Lightweight Forward Error Correct (FEC) and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) mitigate the bit error rate increase associated with PAM4 signaling
- Flit (flow control unit) based encoding supports PAM4 modulation and enables more than double the bandwidth gain
- Updated Packet layout used in Flit Mode to provide additional functionality and simplify processing
- Maintains backwards compatibility with all previous generations of PCIe technology
PCI Express technology has served as the de facto interconnect of choice for nearly two decades. The PCIe 6.0 specification doubles the bandwidth and power efficiency of the PCIe 5.0 specification (32 GT/s), while providing low latency and reduced bandwidth overhead.
“PCI-SIG is pleased to announce the release of the PCIe 6.0 specification less than three years after the PCIe 5.0 specification,” said Al Yanes, PCI-SIG Chairperson and President. “PCIe 6.0 technology is the cost-effective and scalable interconnect solution that will continue to impact data-intensive markets like data center, artificial intelligence/machine learning, HPC, automotive, IoT, and military/aerospace, while also protecting industry investments by maintaining backwards compatibility with all previous generations of PCIe technology.”
“With the PCI Express SSD market forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 40% to over 800 exabytes by 2025, PCI-SIG continues to meet the future needs of storage applications,” said Greg Wong, Founder and Principal Analyst, Forward Insights. “With the storage industry transitioning to PCIe 4.0 technology and on the cusp of introducing PCIe 5.0 technology, companies will begin adopting PCIe 6.0 technology in their roadmaps to future-proof their products and take advantage of the high bandwidth and low latency that PCI Express technology offers.”
“There is a growing demand for ever-increasing performance in many segments in the data center such as high-performance computing and AI,” said Ashish Nadkarni, Group Vice President, Infrastructure Systems, Platforms and Technologies Group, IDC. “Within three to five years the application landscape will look very different and companies will likely begin updating their roadmaps accordingly. The advancement of an established standard like PCIe 6.0 architecture will serve the industry well in establishing composable infrastructure for performance intensive computing use cases.”
PCI-SIG is the consortium that owns and manages PCI specifications as open industry standards. The organization defines industry standard I/O (input/output) specifications consistent with the needs of its members. Currently, PCI-SIG is comprised of over 800 industry-leading member companies. To join PCI-SIG, and for a list of the Board of Directors, visit www.pcisig.com.
PCI-SIG, PCI Express, and PCIe are trademarks or registered trademarks of PCI-SIG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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Koraput's caffeine fix: Coffee cultivation mitigates distressed migration among Odisha's tribalsWritten By News Root | Published on Updated: Aug 30, 2022, 15:25 IST | 1661853333073Coffee farming has transformed the lives of adivasis in Koraput, empowering them with dignified employment and livelihood security and also including them in managing the natural resources of their ancestral homeland.
Koraput, Odisha: "Life has transformed due to coffee. Although work was available, it took months to get the money. However, now the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation of Odisha Limited (TDCCOL) comes home and buys coffee berries directly from us. We pluck the berries at night and send them for processing; we also receive the money within the day. This year alone, I earned a profit of Rs 21,500, selling 480kg of coffee berries," says Balram Huntal of Kiramba village, Nandpur block.
Koraput, nestled in the hilly terrain of the Eastern Ghats, at an altitude of 3,000ft above sea level, is ideal for coffee cultivation due to its cool climate and favourable rainfall. However, before coffee became a viable economic possibility, distressed migration was the only option, with most tribal families travelling from Koraput to Odisha's neighbouring states yearly.
The scarcity of employment opportunities, climate change-induced environmental factors, poor agricultural production, lack of irrigation and drought, deforestation, inadequate food security, low working wages, economic deprivation, exploitation by moneylenders or middlemen, deplorable working conditions, excessive debt, and an overall bleak prospect of surviving with dignity forced people to leave their homes and seek better options.
Coffee to the rescue
Keeping these socio-economic roadblocks in mind, the district administration has tried to provide alternative employment through coffee cultivation to those workers who do not hold job cards. The government is extending support to the adivasis from Koraput, Nandpur, Dasmantpur, Laxmipur, and Lamatput; two coffee nurseries have been set up in Nandpur, Lamatput and Dasmantpur, and one each in Koraput, Similiguda and Laxmipur.
District Labour Officer Prasno Panigrahi tells 101Reporters, "As many as 9,940 people migrated for work from the district during the Covid-19 pandemic. Of this, 3,843 migrant construction workers returned. Of these, 2,678 were unskilled and 172 went to work at brick kilns. Many of them are now employed as labourers at coffee plantations."
Manik Kooda of Golur village, Nandpur block, says, "Three self-help groups (SHG) in the villages have been involved in growing and selling coffee, earning more than Rs 40,000 yearly. This year, our profit margin rose by Rs 12,000 per SHG. This crop has, indeed, brought about a remarkable change in the lives of the tribal people, who mainly practised shifting cultivation, or podu, for generations."
"We've been growing coffee since 2012 but did not get much money out of it because traders used to buy from us at Rs 10 to 15 per kg. However, TDCCOL started buying it at Rs 35 per kg. Last year, with the help of the Coffee Board, the Coffee Development Trust, and the district administration, we began to sell at Rs 45 per kg," she says.
"Earlier families were supported through daily working wages. But now, I earn some money by cultivating coffee on 2 acres and selling 294kg of coffee berries. Besides coffee, we cultivate black pepper and dragon fruit, which has led to economic recovery. The Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM) has also provided us employment as labourers working in the coffee nursery for the past eight months," Badnayak adds.
Migration was the only way out
"Every year, the whole family used to go to Andhra Pradesh in search of work. Due to the unavailability of work at the time of Covid, we borrowed a lot of money," recalls one Diba Jani of Punjisil village, Dasmantapur block. "My children even had to drop out of school. But with the help of TDCCOL, we sold 750kg of coffee in 2021 and made a profit of Rs 34,000. Now, I can work on my land in my village, and the children have also resumed school."
Until a few years ago, Sumoni Dami of Ghumar village under Lamtaput block would travel to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh or Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh in October-November in search for work. They were forced to migrate with their entire family, looking for a means to earn a living and escape the looming threat of Naxalites within their native village.
The situation has since improved, as Dami and other farmers from the village are now keen on coffee cultivation after the government gave them incentives. For the past eight months, they have received funds to grow coffee in government nurseries, using scientific techniques prescribed by the Coffee Board and cultivating the crop on their own farmlands.
A life-altering means of livelihood
Sasmita Samantaray, OLM project manager in charge of coffee nurseries says that for the first time, through the cultivation of coffee, people have won their rights. Starting from seedlings, farmers can cultivate in their authorised hill lands and earn a profit through the berries.
"Presently, the government has sanctioned the official papers of the hill forest land under the forest land rights, wherein people receive encouragement and support to cultivate coffee. Beyond the coffee nursery, the sale of fertilisers and garden soil through the efforts of women's SHGs is also paving the path for new employment," she adds. "The collective labour of communities is contributing to operations and increasing dividends. Women from multiple villages — about 100 women from 10 SHGs — have put in many hours for this project, while the men have received gainful employment transporting fodder and building nurseries and plantations."
According to Director, Migration & Education, at Aide et Action International Umi Daniel, in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, around 2 lakh migrant labourers returned to undivided Koraput, of whom, a high number of adivasis had travelled to Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh to work at brick factories.
"It is also not an easy task to acquire work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) because people do not have job cards," he adds. "According to government data for 2017-18, 2,92,549 households in the district had the card under MGNREGA, of which 93,519 (31%) had access to MGNREGA, and only 884 (0.94%) households obtained 100 days of work. So it's heartening to see how coffee cultivation provides work to unskilled labour from tribal households. The district administration should strategise further to give them more work."
Senior Liaison Officer at the Koraput Coffee Board Upendra Saha, too, believes that most adivasis under the Forest Rights Act have become self-sufficient due to coffee cultivation.
"Until 2017, coffee was grown on 1,777 hectares with the help of the Coffee Board and the Soil Conservation Department. Between 2017 and 2022, plantations were set up on 232ha of land. This helps employ 1,500 adivasis under the act," Saha adds. "In the entire state, 3.46 lakh ha is conducive for coffee farming, of which 1.46 lakh ha is in Koraput alone. However, till date, only 3,000ha has been utilised; nevertheless, this has brought much-needed relief to farmers like Dami. Growing coffee offers permanent employment and profitable yields to the farmers not just for a few seasons; it guarantees economic survival for almost 20 years."
Furthermore, in light of its economic profitability and for the advancement of coffee in Odisha, the state government has envisioned the Coffee Mission independently for the first time, under which coffee cultivation will be done on 5,000ha of Koraput district, offering an opportunity for self-reliance to old and traditional farmers. Of this 5,000ha, 2,072ha will be cultivated with the help of migrant labour from the district. Therefore, the TDCCOL, since 2018, has helped and succeeded in building a trusted brand of premium wild forest coffee made by the tribal communities of Koraput, which has gained widespread fame and acceptance as "Koraput Coffee".
Edited by Grace Jayanthi
All photos: Sourced via Detour Odisha
Featured image of a tribal woman in Koraput district, Odisha plucking ripe coffee seeds has been sourced by Prativa Ghosh via Detour Odisha
(The author is a Odisha-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.)


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Johnny Jet says that right now is a great time to buy tickets in advance because there is a lot of flexibility. Airlines are dropping change fees, and business travel isn't coming back for at least six months, if ever. So airlines have to rely on leisure travel. So if you can get a great deal on a flight in July, make sure you read the fine print and can make a free change if you need to, and go for it. Travel prices will go up once the vaccine is widespread. So right now is a great time to buy.
In the last ten days, the TSA has reported around or over 1 million travelers every day. So people are starting to travel again, even though it's still way down.
Websites of the week - Webcam Sidney. There's also the GiveBack Box. You can recycle old clothes and other items by placing them in a box and going to Giveback Box to print a shipping label and UPS will come and pick it up. The cost is $15 per box.


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Sainsbury's in Chippenham has raised more than £3,800 for Dorothy House in the past year.
The hospice, which supports people with a life-threatening illness, was voted by Sainsbury’s customers as their favourite charity, and has received a year of fundraising support from the supermarket.
Phillippa Watson, corporate and events fundraiser for the charity, said: “We’ve enjoyed a great partnership with the team at Sainsbury’s Chippenham. It has worked really well and has been a very positive experience for all of us. And the good news is, they’ve raised £3,862 for Dorothy House and had fun at the same time.”
The store’s colleagues took out their knitting needles to make Easter baskets and chicks, which were filled with chocolate eggs and donated to the charity for a tulip tea party for bereaved children.
The store also held a Dot Cotton day, raffle, cake sale, and a toy donation event.
Sainsbury’s store manager Paul Gunter said: “We know what an important part they play in the community and we hope the year-long partnership has helped remind our customers of the valuable service they provide. We’ll certainly now be looking into ways we can support them in the future.”
The store will choose its next charity partner in July.


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Hyundai Motor America, in collaboration with Amazon, announces a limited-time, first-to-market on-demand vehicle test drive program, “Prime Now. Drive Now.,” in which prospective buyers in the Los Angeles/Orange County areas can book 2017 Hyundai Elantra test drives at the location of their choice through Amazon’s Prime Now service at www.amazon.com/primenowdrivenow. Launched in 2014, Prime Now is a way for Prime members in more than 25 metropolitan areas in the U.S. to get quick delivery on tens of thousands of items.
“Prime Now. Drive Now.” will run for two weekends (August 20-21 and August 27-28) and is available to Los Angeles/Orange County-area residents in the market for a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. Prospective buyers will have the chance to schedule a 45- to 60-minute test drive in which a trained expert conveniently brings a 2017 Hyundai Elantra to their location — front door step, office, local coffee shop — making for a simple and quick test drive experience. After the test drive, participants will be directed to their local Hyundai dealer to finalize the transaction should they wish to purchase.
“With our all-new Elantra and Elantra Eco in dealerships now, we are excited to be the first to team up with Amazon to give customers a tailored test-drive experience,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer, Hyundai Motor America. “We know people are looking for a new way to experience our vehicles, and with the convenience of Amazon’s Prime Now service, ‘Prime Now. Drive Now.’ is an innovative solution we are testing to modernize today’s automotive shopping experience.”
“Prime Now. Drive Now.” test drives can be scheduled between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. at www.amazon.com/primenowdrivenow.


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BRUSSELS (AP) — Solvay, the Belgian chemicals and drugs maker, announced Monday it would sell its entire pharmaceutical business to Abbott Laboratories for euro4.5 billion ($6.6 billion) in cash.
The deal's value could jump to euro5.2 billion ($7.6 billion) if sales targets are met for certain drug products, triggering "potential payments" of up to euro300 million ($439 million). Abbott would also take on liabilities worth about euro400 million ($584 million).
The American company already holds U.S. marketing rights for Solvay's Trilipix and TriCor, drugs which raise "good" HDL cholesterol while reducing triglycerides and "bad" LDL cholesterol.
Solvay said in a statement the sale will let it "refocus" its activities, which also cover chemicals and plastics.
It said the sale will be completed in the first quarter of 2010, pending antitrust approval from the EU and U.S.
"We are building a new refocused group with the financial means to further accelerate sustainable growth," Alois Michielsen, Solvay's chairman, said.
Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive of Abbot Laboratories said the deal "expands our presence in key high-growth emerging markets," and boosts R&D investments.
"In anticipation of future market needs, we are ensuring we have the technologies, products, infrastructure and reach to serve patients globally," White said in a statement.
The North Chicago, Illinois-based company makes and markets pharmaceutical and medical products in more than 130 countries and employs more than 72,000 people. In the last year, it has bought contact lens maker Advanced Medical Optics, India-based Wockhart's nutritional business, eye care company Synchrony and Evalve, a maker of heart repair equipment.
Solvay Pharmaceuticals is a group of companies that employs 9,000 people worldwide and had sales of euro2.7 billion in 2008. The Solvay Group as a whole employs more than 29,000 people in 50 countries. Its 2008 consolidated sales were euro9.5 billion.


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Legendary street style photographer Bill Cunningham, armed with his trusty Nikon.
On Wednesday, online auction site 1stdibs.com put a very unique collection of hats up for sale: a selection of pieces designed by the now iconic photographer Bill Cunningham in the '50s and '60s under the label William J.
Even more amazing: The hats all sold out in a mere 10 minutes, according to WWD, and were reportedly sold for a whopping $20,000 to a single buyer.
WWD reports the buyer is an "arts patron and friend" of Cunningham's who intends to donate the hats to a museum in the photographer's name.
In a video that The New York Times put together, even Cunningham admitted that his creations were "a little too exotic -- you know, for normal people," but we have a feeling that more than a few wonderfully eccentric city dwellers would turn out to see Cunningham's hats on display in the city.


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All through the pandemic, Property Depot turned the King of the Do it yourself fixers. On Tuesday, it added a new jewel to its crown for toppling those who doubted it could maintain up the momentum.
Regardless of shedding buyers in the initially a few months of 2022, the big-box retailer turned in its strongest initially-quarter income numbers on file. Who mentioned you won’t be able to increase above inflation?
Demonstrate Some Manors
In the past two yrs, Dwelling Depot experienced turn out to be a temple of refuge for each housebound home owner. Situations gave keen HGTV fans a lot more time and fewer excuses, and they last but not least put in that deck they’d crafted up in their mind’s eye whilst lumbering close to the yard. No matter whether or not these feats of engineering were degree with expectations, the Depot rode the nationwide wave of newbie residence advancement to a report $150 billion in profits previous year.
The $39 billion in earnings noted Tuesday — perfectly earlier mentioned the $37 billion anticipated by Wall Avenue — was 3.8% greater than a calendar year in the past, increasing earlier mentioned the double whammy of inflation and supply chain disruptions that have driven up the price tag of crucial materials like lumber. Internet money rose to $4.2 billion, from $4.1 billion — and for that Household Depot has the mighty, and mightily capitalized, American homeowner to thank:
- Residence Depot CFO Richard McPhail pointed out US house fairness values are up 40% in the previous two decades, indicating owners still have plenty of paying electricity. To again that up: though the number of transactions at Home Depot fell 8.2% in the very first a few months of 2022, the normal volume put in for each transaction climbed 11.4%.
- “The house owner has under no circumstances experienced a harmony sheet that looks like this,” McPhail claimed on an trader call. “They have observed the price tag appreciation, and they have the signifies to commit.” Property Depot had warned previously in the yr that its product sales development would be minimal now, it is boldly projecting 3% income development.
Purchaser Security: There are other indications that, even as organizations have no alternative but to go on better fees to shoppers, American shoppers are significantly from buckling under the weight of the heftier rates. The Commerce Office explained retail profits rose .9% in April from a month earlier, despite inflation close to 40-yr highs. And while major-box rival Walmart saw its revenue strike by higher expenses, the firm claimed a 3% improve in its most up-to-date-quarter gross sales on Tuesday.


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NEW CANAAN, Conn. -- New Canaan's Gingerbread House Tour is set to celebrate its ninth year, and area residents are invited to create their houses for display next month.
There are 75 gingerbread house kits available on a first-come, first-served basis. The houses will be displayed in local store windows during the annual New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Holiday Stroll on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7, according to a press release. The ninth annual Gingerbread House Tour is underwritten by Halstead Property.
“You don’t have to be Hansel or Gretel to appreciate the creativity and enthusiasm that our young people exhibit each year when building and decorating their own gingerbread houses,” said Tucker Murphy, executive director of the chamber, in the release. “This is a wonderful tradition that our ancestors brought with them to the New World. Keeping it alive is one of the more enjoyable rites of the holiday season.”
The free gingerbread house kits are available at Halstead’s offices at 183 Elm St. The houses will be on display in store windows throughout town during December.
The Holiday Stroll is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7. For additional information, contact the chamber at 203-966-2004.
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MIAMI (AFP) – A Florida manufacturer that pounced on the N95 mask shortage at the start of the pandemic and retooled to churn them out now has 30 million of the coverings going begging.
DemeTech, a factory based in Miami, blames its woes on lower prices for Chinese-made N95s. Wholesale dealers said the problem is Americans are wary of new makers of the devices.
A few dozen other United States (US) manufacturers are reportedly in similar straits. This all began early last year when China, which produced half of all the N95 masks made around the world, was accused of hoarding them amid the initial scare over the coronavirus pandemic, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
In April US hospitals were running short of the masks and reported having just a three-day supply of N95s, said a poll by Premier, a company that supplies equipment to 4,100 hospitals and health care systems in America.
Google, Amazon and Facebook then banned ads for and sales of the masks on their platforms to prevent jittery people from buying up masks needed so desperately by frontline healthcare workers.
So DemeTech, a family-owned company that until then made suture thread, retooled its facilities to manufacture masks.
Nine months and tens of millions of dollars later, DemeTech’s N95s were approved by the federal government. But the company cannot find enough customers.
“There’s an unfortunate disconnect between the manufacturers and the people that want to buy the product,” said company vice president Luis Arguello.
Arguello blames this disconnect on two factors.
First of all, he said, hospitals that buy wholesale prefer cheaper masks from China.
A box of 20 DemeTech N95s costs USD75 retail. The wholesale price is about half of that, but still more expensive than Chinese masks.
“We are considerably more expensive because we use US raw materials and US labour,” said Arguello.
The New York Times reported last week that nearly two dozen companies like DemeTech are struggling to sell their N95 masks despite promises by the government – under Donald Trump at first and now Joe Biden – to support US manufacturers.
Secondly, said Arguello, US companies cannot sell their masks at the retail level because they cannot advertise them online, due to the ban imposed by companies such as Google and Facebook.
“Most of the digital companies think that they’re doing good because they want to reserve the product for the hospital sector and the doctors,” he said.
“But we have an excess capacity. We have a lot of masks in inventory. Here we have around 30 million masks,” said Arguello.
The N95 is considered the gold standard for protecting against the coronavirus because it filters out 95 per cent of particulates in the air.
A year into the pandemic N95s have overcome their initial shortage, but they are still a restricted good, said David Hargraves, senior vice president of supply chain issues for Premier.
Demand for them is high – use of these respirators is up 500 per cent since July. But new manufacturers have also come onto the market and hospitals on average have a 150-day supply.
Still, he said, “we need to be careful about being too optimistic”.


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The Plasticity Forum, held June 24 in New York, was a promising step forward for the plastics industry. The question now: What's the next step? Who's taking the lead to make sure that the debate about the sustainability of plastics does not continue to just be a fight against product bans and taxes?
Our analysts provide insight on business trends, foreign investment, top end markets and plastics processing activity. The report also provides important data on exports, production, employment and value of plastics products manufactured.
January 14, 2015 - January 14, 2015Plastics in Automotive
February 4, 2015 - February 6, 2015Plastics News Executive Forum 2015
June 2, 2015 - June 3, 2015Plastics Financial Summit - Chicago 2015
September 16, 2015 - September 18, 2015Plastics Caps & Closures - September 2015More Events


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Our experts offer thoughtful, personal, clever picks for everyone on your holiday shopping list
Tag: "Christiana Wyly"
It’s not the end of the election, but beginning of what matters; can the country step up to the challenge?
Watch Christiana explain the phrase ‘voting with your dollars’
Christiana Wyly’s solution to waste by creating energy—plus what nukes and cows have in common
Some promising innovators in fish farming are finding ways to sustainably raise fish as the world’s fisheries dwindle, threatening the global food supply.
Sustainable agriculture is the hot topic at Agriculture 2.0 next week; environmental advocate Christiana Wyly on entrepreneurs making a difference in food.
Bieber wants people to donate to his clean water charity as a birthday gift to him
An environmental advocate and successful operating partner at Satori Capital shares how to turn a passion into profits …


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Metro Mining (ASX:MMI) and private company Green Coast Resources Pty Limited have amended an earlier sale agreement struck in June 2013 for the sale of its Hey Point bauxite tenements on Western Cape York.
The revised deed of amendment and termination agreement will see wholly owned subsidiary of Metro Mining, Cape Alumina Pty Limited receive a sum of $250,000 to be paid by GCR today.
The outstanding sum of $750,000 will be increased to $825,000 and paid in two instalments; $275,000 in September 2015 and $550,000 in December 2015.
Additionally, the marketing agreement between GCR and Cape Alumina has been terminated in consideration for a 1% increase in royalty payable by GCR to Cape Alumina on FOB Bauxite sales.
This will now provide Cape Alumina with a right to receive total royalties of 3%-4% of future gross sales proceeds on all bauxite sold from the Hey Point Tenements.
The consideration under the original sale Agreement comprised both cash payments and the grant of a right to receive royalties of 2%-3% of future gross sales proceeds and a final cash payment of $1,000,000.
Bauxite Hills Project
In June, Metro Mining announced a 398% increase in its ore reserve at its flagship Bauxite Hills Project from 12.1 million tonnes to 48.2 million tonnes, enough for a 27 year mine life.
The project at Cape York in Queensland could be in construction mode in second quarter 2016 and producing by fourth quarter 2016, working up to a rate of 2 million tonnes of high grade Direct Shipping Ore bauxite.
Bauxite Hills Project is situated 95 kilometres north of Weipa on Queensland's Cape York Peninsula and five kilometres south-east of the port at Skardon River.
At this pace, Metro Mining would have a producing bauxite mine with exports destined for Asia, one of few Australian independent bauxite companies to do so.
Proactive Investors Australia is the market leader in producing news, articles and research reports on ASX emerging companies with distribution in Australia, UK, North America and Hong Kong / China.


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Motorola appears to be bringing up the rear, finally releasing the Android Wear 5.1.1 update for the Moto 360. The news has come out just this morning, a couple of hours ago, via the Android Wear Developers group on Google+.
The roll-out has started today, and as with all such things, it’ll be a staged affair. This means that your watch may not receive the update today, tomorrow, or even this weekend, but usually within a week or so you should see the system update notification arriving on your Moto 360.
If you’ve forgotten what Android Wear 5.1.1 will bring to the Moto 360, take a look at our platform announcement from back in April. Access to WiFi networks, a better system UI and more await you.


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Following recent rumors, it’s now official: Google’s parent company Alphabet is buying Fitbit (opens in new tab). The deal values Fitbit at around $2.1 billion and is set to close in 2020, subject to Fitbit stockholder and regulatory approval.
That’s likely good news for Fitbit fans, as it puts the might of Google behind it in the contest against the Apple Watch – a contest which Fitbit has been struggling with. But the most exciting part of this deal could be what it means for Wear OS.
Following the announcement, Rick Osterloh (Google’s Senior Vice President of Devices & Services) said in a blog post (opens in new tab): “we see an opportunity to invest even more in Wear OS as well as introduce Made by Google wearable devices into the market.”
That makes it sound a lot like we might see a Wear OS device made by Google – as well as new Fitbit devices. The Google Pixel Watch has long been rumored, and with the expertise and staff gained through acquiring Fitbit it might finally become a reality.
Whether it does or not, it certainly sounds like Google is renewing its commitment to Wear OS and to the wearable space in general. That’s reassuring given that Google’s smartwatch platform has also struggled a little, receiving few meaningful updates, and with most smartphone makers either ignoring the wearable space or using alternative software, such as Samsung with Tizen.
It remains to be seen exactly how much impact this deal will actually have, but it has the potential to reinvigorate the smartwatch landscape. We’ll be sure to let you know once we hear what this means for current and future Fitbit products, and for Wear OS.
- Read our full Fitbit Charge 3 review


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Temenos (SIX: TEMN), the software specialist for banking and finance, announced that industry analyst firm Gartner, Inc., has positioned Temenos as a Leader for the eighth consecutive time in the 2017 report ‘Magic Quadrant for Global Retail Core Banking’ (GRCB).
This report assessed 11 vendors based on the multicurrency products they offer in support of a bank’s financial transaction management in the retail banking market. Temenos is positioned furthest for completeness of vision based on the company’s market understanding, sales strategy, product strategy, vertical/industry strategy, geographic strategy and innovation. In the 2017 Magic Quadrant, Temenos achieves the furthest overall position for its completeness of vision. We believe this reflects our leading product innovation evidenced through our annual Innovation Jams and open banking platform, MarketPlace.
Vittorio D’Orazio, Gartner Research Director and author of the report, states: “The definition of a core banking system hasn’t shifted dramatically over the years. But a number of leading vendors are making progress in some areas that are becoming critical differentiators in the ways core banking functionality is delivered. These include the migration to component-based systems; the embryonic use of microservices, embedded analytics and cloud computing; and the shift to open banking platforms that integrate all stakeholders in a bank’s value chain — fintechs, technology partners, bank employees, clients and other banks.”
Temenos’ Core Banking combines rich functionality with cutting-edge technology in an easily upgradable application. Its customers benefit from real-time embedded analytics, a sophisticated product builder and technology that encourages open banking by creating an open environment where third-parties can cooperate and share. Temenos’ operational activities are strong with product updates provided to our customers in a regular and balanced manner. In 2016, with the help of our well-established partner programs, Temenos led the market in implementations, taking 178 financial institutions live on Temenos technology.
David Arnott, CEO, Temenos, said: “We are thrilled to be recognised for the eighth time in a row as a Leader in the Gartner GRCB Magic Quadrant. As we continue to differentiate from other players, we believe this report shows Temenos as the leader in our market. We further believe being recognized for our vision and product strategy establishes Temenos as the right partner for banks undertaking a transformation journey. We are proud to be working with the most successful banks and investing more in innovation.”


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I’ve said quite a few times in the past that I enjoy using my media centre, in fact, I did a whole series of articles on the topic earlier in the year. The only problem with media centres in general, however, is the fact that you need a separate box to your TV, which of course joins your Sky HD / Virgin set top box, sound system, and other goodies hidden away under your TV set.
Fortunately, it appears that LG and Plex may have come to one hell of a solution to our little problem, in signing an agreement that will bundle Plex with future LG televisions, no box required.
The deal was announced at IFA last week, with Hojun Nam, Director of LCD TV R&D at LG saying that “after considering many alternative solutions, LG Electronics chose to utilize Plex’s media server platform technology as a part of its next generation NetCastâ„¢ enabled home entertainment products because of the breadth of available applications and content and the ease of developing new services. Plex’s capabilities offer our customers’ additional methods of displaying their content on LG’s next generation TVs and that is exciting to us.”
Plex will still be facing competition from other media centre offerings out there, though. Only last week, Apple announced their brand new refresh of the Apple TV which is focused on allowing customers to rent content online, saving them from having to store any content on the box itself. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is yet to be seen, but Apple will be hoping that their new model is a hit with consumers across the world.
Cayce Ullman, CEO and co-founder, Plex commented “Plex was developed to provide a simple solution for navigating an increasingly complex digital media landscape. As our access to a greater variety of high-quality content continues to grow and we create more of our own content, it is clear that we need a new way to enjoy and provide a consistent experience across the expanding universe of disparate content sources. Plex enables LG to more easily offer a wide variety of content sources to consumers using the NetCastâ„¢ services.”
There is no doubt that the media centre world is becoming more and more exciting. Hopefully, Plex’s deal with LG is the start of something big, and manufacturers of other internet enabled TVs will begin to follow suit if LG’s model proves to be successful. I for one would be incredibly excited for a Sony Bravia HDTV to come with functionality similar to this.
Do you think that media centres will become more and more popular in the next few years, or do people just not want to have to worry about having an extra device in their living room? Will the inclusion of such media centre software in TVs encourage the popularity of media centres? Let us know in the comments!


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08 Nov 2018
Ahead of The Beatles' 50th anniversary release for their self-titled album (more commonly known as The White Album) The Beatles shared a new 'Back In The U.S.S.R' video.
The track first appeared on the original album, which celebrates its 50th anniversary on the 22nd of this month. The 2018 mix of 'Back In The U.S.S.R' that has been unveiled will be included in the upcoming anniversary edition.
The White Album reissue was first announced in September, and is due to be released tomorrow, November 9th. The all-new anniversary release will be available in a number of packages via Apple Corps Ltd./Capital/Ume. To find out more about the 30-track re-release, and to watch the full teaser trailer, click here.
Watch the all-new lyric video for 'Back In The U.S.S.R' below:
Since 1974 Genesis has created signed limited edition books on behalf of authors and artists ranging from the Beatles to Buckingham Palace.
Genesis news and special offers direct to inbox.


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America is sick. And it’s not just the economy, or the perpetual state of war … it’s our health. The United States is the most obese country in the world, and the U.S. government is causing the problem. By prohibiting the cultivation of healthy foods in the America, allowing dangerous artificial sweeteners in our food, and putting endocrine inhibitors into our drinking water, the government has cultivated a culture of obesity.
A whopping 67 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. That’s 93 million Americans who are obese and more than 9 million adolescents who are obese. What’s more, obesity disproportionately affects women, minorities and low-income families. In the United States, 73.7 percent of blacks are obese, 69.1 percent of Latinos, yet only 62.8 percent of whites are obese. Low-income families are at a substantially higher risk of developing obesity.
Diabetes rates are growing rapidly, and it is projected that one in three children will develop Type 2 diabetes as adults. How will one-third of the adult workforce having a crippling disease affect the American economy?
All of this fat is expensive. In 2000 obesity cost Americans $117 billion, and diabetes rates have doubled since then. With government-mandated healthcare in our very near future, we the working taxpayers will be stuck with the bills for these obese poverty-stricken citizens who can’t afford their own medicine.
How can this crucial issue be fixed without a heavy-handed government mandating what we serve our children in the privacy of our own homes?
First, let’s look at how we got here. The aspartame (aka “NutraSweet”) used in our “diet” soda in place of sugar actuallyincreases the risk of obesity. Aspartame tricks the digestive tract into thinking that calories are coming, so the body increases insulin in preparation of sugar. When no sugar comes, the cells are now extra-hungry, so the next time the diet soda-drinker sits down for a meal, he eats more that he would had he not drank that diet soda.
A 2005 study conducted by Dr. Sharon P. Fowler and colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center found an exceptionally strong association between diet soda and obesity. Each can of aspartame-sweetened soda consumed each day increases the risk of becoming overweight by 41 percent.
The Food and Drug Administration endangers the health of Americans by allowing aspartame into thousands of food products.
The FDA also allows genetically modified foods into our grocery stores and into our bodies without labels informing the consumer that what they are eating was engineered by Monsanto rather than evolution. How can citizens make healthy choices for themselves and their families when the government does not require clear labeling of foods?
Your food is no longer safe, and neither is your water. The government adds chemicals to your water that slows down your metabolism. Doctors have known for years that fluoride, when ingested, replaces iodine in the thyroid gland, which reduces thyroid activity. Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, affects more than 12 million Americans, most of them women.
Dr. Laura Prestley, a PhD in chemistry, has hypothyroidism. After doing some research she decided to eliminate fluoride from her diet completely – six months later, her hypothyroidism waned, and within a year it was completely gone.
The federal government also prohibits American farmers from growing healthy foods. Hemp seed is a high-protein, high-fiber food and rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, similar to salmon. Hemp seed consumption decreases LDL cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and increases metabolism.
In America we are forced to import our hemp food products from Canada because American farmers are forbidden from growing hemp in the United States. As a result, hemp foods are too expensive for many Americans, especially those at greatest risk of obesity.
The government pollutes our food and water supply with chemicals like aspartame and fluoride while preventing American farmers from growing healthy foods, like hemp, on American soil. Government is responsible for a large part of the obesity crisis in America.
There are several simple solutions to this problem that do not involve government mandates on individuals, but rather corporate responsibility and transparency.
1: Institute clear labeling of all GMO foods and products containing GMO foods.
2: Replace aspartame with a natural sugar substitute like Xylitol or Stevia, both of which are plant-based rather than chemical-based. Xylitol, a natural sugar made from birch trees, is half the calories of sugar, and fights cavities. It's even used by the U.S. Army for soldiers in war zones who can't brush their teeth regularly.
3: Educate parents and children, especially in low-income schools, about the dangers of obesity and what foods can help cause obesity.
4: Stop adding endocrine toxins like fluoride to our drinking water supply.
5: End of the prohibition on growing hemp in these United States.
To see a visual representation of the growth of obesity in the United States of the past 10 years, click here.
Hemp used to be a major cash crop in the United States. To see a movie made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the benefits of hemp, made during WWII, click here.