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October 27, 2010
Public health benefits of proper medication use – or “medication adherence” – include improved lives and reduced healthcare costs.
October 7, 2010
Bringing together a diverse group of representatives of labor unions, advocates, legislators, organizations, and industries, NCL will honor ‘Compensation Czar’ Kenneth Feinberg and United States Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, M.D. with its highest honor, the 2010 Trumpeter Award, this week in Washington, DC.
September 23, 2010
Consumers may consider gold and precious coins to be an effective investment hedge against inflation, but recent investigations by federal, state and local enforcement agencies suggest that some gold dealers may be leveraging recessionary fears to steer consumers into buying gold and precious coins at inflated prices. NCL is weighing in.
September 22, 2010
Hours before a Congressional hearing on the largest egg recall in U.S. history, the National Consumers League, the nation’s oldest consumer organization, and The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, joined forces to call on the egg industry to phase out the cage confinement of laying hens in order to reduce food safety risks and animal cruelty.
September 18, 2010
NCL has issued a statement of support for President Obama's appointment of Elizabeth Warren as interim director of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
September 13, 2010
The 2010-2011 LifeSmarts season is officially underway this week, with a new competition year going live at the program’s online home, www.lifesmarts.org, along with a variety of new resources for adult and youth participants.
August 25, 2010
Linking disreputable labor, animal treatment, environmental practices to Salmonella egg recall, NCL demanding transparency, reform.
July 16, 2010
The National Consumers League hails the passage of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill in the Senate as major victory for American consumers.
July 15, 2010
During the first six months of 2010, fake check scams were no longer the most-reported scam to the National Consumers League’s Fraud Center. Internet merchandise scams, where consumers are conned into buying non-existent or misrepresented products online, have had the dubious “distinction” of being the most-frequently-reported scam at the mid-year point.
June 24, 2010
Según una encuesta publicada por NCL, a alrededor de tres cuartas partes de las personas que toman medicamentos con prescripción les preocuparía mucho si se les cambiara el medicamento que se les recetó por otro elaborado para tratar el mismo padecimiento, sin el conocimiento de su médico.


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Third-Generation AirPods Still Rumored to Be on Track for 2021 Launch
The third-generation AirPods are still on track to be launched before the end of this year, despite their lack of appearance during the iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7 event earlier last month, according to DigiTimes.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported the weekend before Apple's September 14 "California streaming" event that the third-generation AirPods would make an appearance during the fully digital event. While that did not happen, the new AirPods are rumored to already be in mass production, and Apple is seemingly gearing up to launch them before the end of the year.
The new AirPods will be the first significant update to the AirPods lineup since the AirPods Pro three years ago. The new AirPods are expected to feature an updated design that takes inspiration from the higher-end AirPods Pro but lacking in "Pro" features. Rumors are unclear on whether the new AirPods will feature silicone ear tips or not, as leaked images and renders depict both possibilities.
Apple announced its AirPods Pro via a press release in 2019, and besides their initial announcement on stage in 2016, AirPods have not yet been given dedicated airtime during an Apple event. Apple could announce the new third-generation AirPods via a press release in the coming weeks, or alternatively include them in its rumored second event for the fall, expected to take place later this month or in November.
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What the fashion world talked about this week:
CYRUS AND COHEN AGAINST AIDS
The amfAR sixth annual Inspiration Gala in New York was held last Wednesday. Andy Cohen and Miley Cyrus were both honoured for their exceptional efforts in the fight against HIV and Aids. Cohen received the award for his long term commitment to amfAR – he has been a supporter for ten years. In his accepting speech Cohen said that “complacency is the enemy, and that is why we still need amfAR”. Cyrus, who is currently the spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics’ VIVA Glam campaign that has already raised $25 million since January for the MAC Aids fund, was presented with the award, for her outstanding commitment to raise AIDS awareness and end HIV-related stigma. As part of her Happie Hippie foundation she has also started the #InstaPride campaign this week which celebrates transgender and “gender-expansive” individuals. In her speech she said she hopes this makes her parents proud and “somehow makes up for all the shit that I did”. We feel it definitely does.
ISABEL MARANT A PLAGIARIST?
Isabel Marant is under fire after the Mixe community in Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico has sued her for copyright infringement. The Etoile Spring/Summer 2015 collection contains graphical elements which are specific to the Tlahuitoltepec blouse (which can be seen above). Marant will be fighting the allegations in Paris’s district court. The fashion house brought out a statement saying that she has presented submissions which expressly pointed out that these designs come from the village of Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec in Mexico and that she does not claim to be the author of the tunic and the designs. This is not the first case of potential plagiarism for Marant. Earlier this year the fashion house got into legal conflict with Adidas due to the likeliness between Adidas’s Stan Smith and Marant’s Bekket trainers.
‘THE TRUE COST’ OUT NOW
Released on 29 May, Andrew Morgan’s fast fashion documentary ‘The True Cost’ has been generating some buzz recently with screenings across the world. Morgan insists that the film is not meant to make us feel bad or guilty, but is only supposed to pose the simple idea: ‘There are humans who make what we wear’. It is a topic that will inevitably change your perception of how you shop and why. We, at Impact Style, feel very strongly that for there to be change we need to change. This is especially so for fast fashion, which has its target customers in students and young professionals who cannot yet afford ‘high fashion’. Are we willing to accept that somewhere across the world people are suffering, risking their lives even, so that we can wear a new dress every month? Whatever your opinion might be, ‘The True Cost’ is a documentary not to be missed.
FINALISTS FOR THE MIDDLE EAST’S INAUGURAL FASHION PRIZE ANNOUNCED
The top 10 finalists for the Middle East’s next great womenswear design star launched by a collaboration between Style.com/Arabia and the Dubai Design & Fashion Council (DDFC) and in partnership with Farfetch, have been announced. The finalists hail from six different countries from the Middle East and are: The Emperor 1688 (UAE), Zayan the Label (UAE), Hussain Bazaza (Lebanon), Matar (Bahrain), Nafiska Skourti (Jordan), Amine Bendriouich (Morocco), Taller Marmo (UAE), Reemami (UAE), Rami Kadi (Lebanon) and Aziz Humaid (Saudi Arabia). One of the committees’ member Shashi Menon said: “For so long, this region has been so misunderstood. Fashion can really be a storytelling vehicle. There are such big differences between the fashion trends and preferences of people geographically, and you can see that through the clothes”. The winner, who will receive a $250,000 financial grant, the opportunity to sell a capsule line on Farfetch.com, a year of mentorship and an advertising campaign, will be announced this fall in Dubai where all ten have to present a five-piece capsule collection. Great things can be expected.
EMMA HILL TO LAUNCH ACCESSORIES LINE
Emma Hill has finally announced her next move. The much celebrated, former creative director of Mulberry will be launching her own accessories line called ‘Hill & Friends’. The label will make its first appearance at London Fashion Week and the first collection will be available online from both its own website and Net-A-Porter the following day. It has been two years since Hill has left Mulberry and coincidently the announcement comes at the same time as Mulberry gets ready to welcome the first new creative director since her departure: Johnny Coca. We are excited to see what Coca is going to do at Mulberry and cannot wait to see what Hill has created!
Images: Vogue, Twitter/GuardianGDP, thetruecostmovie.com, style.com


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Joel Palix, president of Clarins Fragrance Group and director general of Mugler, is expected to soon unveil a new strategic plan for Mugler “that builds on its highly successful legacy in fragrance and its new momentum in fashion.”
“Nicola has accomplished our original mission of bringing his energy to the brand,” Palix said. “With his talent for communication and understanding modern imagery and design, Nicola has been instrumental in attracting a new audience, which is undeniably crucial for the future strategy of the house. He will be a historical part of the Mugler legacy and known as the force that catapulted us forward.”
Formichetti — who collaborates with magazines such as V; styles celebrities including Kim Kardashian; is creative fashion director at Uniqlo, and has a line of T-shirts and trinkets under the Nicopanda label — is expected to shortly reveal a major collaboration with Italian denim giant Diesel.
Diesel executives declined to comment Tuesday.
A frenetic presence on the Internet who had live-streamed his preparations for the Mugler show and invited design input via crowdsourcing, Formichetti tweeted on Monday, “Big announcements coming this week!!”
For his part, Formichetti called his Mugler stint “a challenge to reinvigorate the house for a new generation and audience, particularly one that has grown up exploring fashion through the Internet.
“I really hope the audience has enjoyed what we have done and appreciated our push to democratize high fashion, not only through the enjoyment of clothing but also through a total, inclusive fashion experience,” he added.
Pressed for his reasons for leaving Mugler, he told WWD, “I wanted to do something else, even bigger, more global.”
While Formichetti carried the creative director title at Mugler, he is not a trained fashion designer and instead oversaw two seasoned talents: Sébastien Peigné, a 10-year veteran of Balenciaga, head designer of women’s at Mugler, and Romain Kremer, who had shown experimental looks for men under his own Paris label, head designer of men’s.
To be sure, Formichetti brought noise and editorial attention to Mugler with his celebrity connections, Gaga runway soundtracks and his constant feed of editorial credits and Mugler-related imagery on his Web site and Tumblr page.
During Formichetti’s tenure, Mugler fashions did not ignite a maelstrom of demand, but made some business inroads.
According to a Mugler spokesman, the women’s line is sold to about 45 retailers worldwide, including ones in the U.S., the U.K., Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Italy and Holland.
The men’s line is sold in 25 stores, including Maxfield, Opening Ceremony, Patron of the New, Isetan, Joyce and Antonioli. The bag line, introduced in February, is carried at a range of retailers in the U.S., the U.K., Japan, China, Italy and Canada, and online.
Owned by Clarins Group and best known for its best-selling scent Angel, Thierry Mugler lost momentum with fashion in the minimalist Nineties, and in 2003, Clarins shuttered the money-losing fashion business, selling its remaining four stores and Anger, France-based factory to Balmain.
Mugler subsequently licensed out its men’s wear to focus mostly on building its fragrance portfolio, which includes the scents Alien, Womanity, Cologne and Amen.
Mugler quietly resuscitated its women’s wear line in 2008, tapping Rosemary Rodriguez, an alumna of the house who had previously been at Paco Rabanne, as creative director for women’s wear and men’s wear. Formichetti, a half-Italian, half-Japanese wunderkind who was touted by Mugler as being “on the cutting edge of international pop culture,” succeeded her.
According to Formichetti, sales of Mugler perfumes increased since he started at the firm, suggesting fashion and perfume remain good business bedfellows.
He said his proudest achievement was giving the Mugler name fresh currency with young people, especially via his collaborations with Gaga and Genest.
“In a way, we had to start from scratch. What we had was a great legacy and DNA,” Formichetti mused. “We were all new to the project, so we were all fearless. We just did it.”
There'll be no rest for those headed to Europe for men's, as Paris just closed the gap with Milan. According to a provisional calendar released by the Chambre Syndicale, Paris Men's Week will now open a day earlier on January 16. See new highlights on the official lineup on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)
BREAKING: Jonathan Saunders is leaving @DVF. The designer has resigned from his position as chief creative officer of Diane von Furstenberg, the company said in a statement on Friday. At the time of his hire, von Furstenberg said Saunders’ arrival symbolized and facilitated her stepping back from the day-to-day duties that occupy the work of a full-time creative director. The British designer joined DVF in May 2016 and was in charge of all product categories. #wwdnews
For @versace_official’s spring ad campaign, the brand emphasized the archival prints from the spring tribute collection dedicated to the late Gianni Versace. Closing out the show were five of Gianni’s favorite models: Cindy, Naomi, Carla, Helena, and Claudia. Bowing on December 18, the new campaign is yet another tribute to supermodel-dom as the images by Steven Meisel are fronted by @iamnaomicampbell, @cturlington, @gisele and more. #wwdfashion
Four-time Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening has been waiting 20 years to play Gloria Graham in "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool," which will be released on December 29. The movie about Graham – a Hollywood star known for her controversial relationship with a younger Englishman named Peter Turner – is based off a memoir Turned wrote. "She felt vulnerable to him, because she loved him, she really did love him. And anyone that we really truly are in love with, we re vulnerable to in a very deep way," said Bening. Read our full interview with the modern icon of an actress on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @ninebagatelles; Styled by @cristinaehrlich)
The crisp white button down: a staple that can be dressed up or down and accessorized throughout the decades. Here, on a Art Basel-goer in 2017 on the left and on the iconic Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday” in 1953 on the right. #tbt #wwdfashion (📷: Andrew Morales)
Known for her work with @victoriassecret, 25-year-old model @georgiafowler is raising her profile in Hollywood. Fowler stars in @vincecamuto’s holiday campaign, which launched in partnership with “Pitch Perfect 3.” “Almost every shoot with Vince Camuto, I’ve had to face a fear…It was definitely a challenge. I’m so grateful for it, though. I’ve always wanted to be a pop star, so that was the perfect chance,” Fowler said. Head to WWD.com to read about Fowler’s experience modeling, including at the #VSFashionShow, and her relationship with Nick Jonas. #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
EXCLUSIVE: Huda Kattan just became the first beauty influencer to land a major beauty deal. Kattan's business, @hudabeauty, has received a minority investment from private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners. The brand, which industry sources say is on track to do $200 million in retail sales for 2017, will receive support on product, retail and geographic expansion through the deal. Get all the details on the deal and read @_a_collins' interview with Kattan on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: @jgreenery) #wwdbeauty #wwdnews
Peruvian model @juanaburga_official – who is known for walking the runways of @rodarte, @viviennewestwood and @torybuch – is making the move to the big screen with drama “Los Últimos.” The film premiered in Argentina in November and arrives in the U.S. and Europe in 2018. On making the switch from modeling to acting, Burga told WWD: “It’s a completely different thing – a lot of people think it’s similar or try to connect things, especially like getting used to the camera or being looked at all the time or playing these different characrers, but film is a completely different story.” #wwdeye (📷: @jgreenery)
London’s newly opened @designmuseum will look back on the life and work of Azzedine Alaïa in a show that the designer helped to curate before he died of heart failure last month. The retrospective, which Alaïa had worked on with Mark Wilson, chief curator of the @groningermuseum, will look at the impact of his work worldwide. The show, “Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier,” will run from May 10 to October 7. Read more about the exhibit on WWD.com #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @zefashioninsider)


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Volvo claims its new infotainment system, based on Google’s Android operating system (OS) and developed with the help of the American tech giant, will “be as good to use as your mobile phone”.
The new system will make its debut in the Volvo XC40 Recharge and Polestar 2 electric cars and then be rolled out across the Swedish brands' model line-ups. It replaces Volvo’s bespoke system with an Android-based OS that uses apps such as Google Maps to offer sat-nav with real-time traffic information.
Users will be able to download third-party apps – such as Spotify or Amazon Music – for functions including navigation and media streaming. The aim is to offer a suite of online services without the need for a smartphone to be connected.
The system can be controlled via touchscreen or voice control, with the latter powered by the Google Assistant system that also operates on devices such as smartphones and smart speakers.
Volvo’s software boss, Ödgärd Andersson, said the new system offers “a radical improvement” and has voice control software “well above anything that’s in any car right now”.
The system is permanently online and so will be able to transmit the car's location and other data, but Andersson suggested that drivers shouldn't have privacy concerns, because they will have to opt in to sharing information through third-party apps.
“It will work fine if you don’t want to share anything with Google," she said, "but there’s great personalisation if you do. Users can customise it to their own needs and wishes.”


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German automaker Mercedes-Benz will launch 10 electric vehicles within 2025 under its new EQ sub-brand. This brand will start the pure-electric push with the production version of the Generation EQ concept revealed at Paris.
Thomas Weber, Merced-Benz head of research and development believes the tipping point will come for electric vehicles. He also said currently fewer than 1.0 percent of new vehicle buyers choose electric.
He added, "During one year on average there is 14 percent increase in energy density of the battery, that means in five years we saw a double energy density than five years before and we believe we are not at an end.
"That is the biggest change in the overall scenario for why we see the tipping point coming. The energy density is much better, the economies of scale and all the others of overall investment makes us confident."
Weber also said that the 14 kWh battery pack powering the Smart electric drive that launched globally was INR 7,46,268.
He continues, "But now we see on the horizon €100 (Rs 7,462) per kiloWatt hour and if that is the case in the ideal combination package ... we will see a situation where the high-tech EV powertrain place in the same magnitude as a comparable internal combustion energy."
"We believe these forecasts, our own interpretation of what the future looks like and 15 to 25 percentage points [of total sales] is linked to the expectation that we will see a cost development and energy density development in this direction which gives us a chance to announce that such a vehicle, size-wise comparable to [Mercedes-Benz] GLC can be offered in the same price range than a fully loaded GLC with conventional drivetrain."
He also said, "At the moment we can offer vehicles with a range of 500km ... and some others have 500km, or 600km, or 400km so it's clear how huge the battery packs are, but we have to find the optimum combination of battery size.
"We believe 500km is what customers expect before they say 'oh, that's too less'."


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Here’s a teaser of what to expect, courtesy of Tyler, the Creator, as the Odd Future crew prepares to team up with Vans Syndicate. ”Golf” and “Wang” is appropriately embroidered across the heel and a special red Vans rubber logo is used to mark the collaboration. It will also feature gum soles and will be available in red, tan and black. In the meantime, check out their online shop.
Hopefully they can make some new iPhone 5 cases, but this will do for now. Building off the success of the recent OFWGKTA Carnival held in collaboration with Incase, Odd Future have teamed up for a release of iPhone 4s snap cases. The cases enriched with the crew’s trademark visuals including the all-over-print cat motif, a tie-dye case as well as a ‘CAMP FLOG GNAW’ cream-colored case. The cases are available now in the Incase online store.
Before the sold-out OFWGKTA show at the Hammerstein Ballroom, we went down to the LES in Manhattan to check out the new Odd Future pop-up shop, where they sling self-described “ugly, tacky shit.” – Noisey
Odd Future Records
Released 3/20/2012 Rating 2.5/5
It is extremely difficult to escape the collective known as Odd Future. Whether its’ Tyler the Creator’s antics at MTV award shows, one of the many headlines detailing incidents at their shows, or the silky voice of Frank Ocean opening up Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Throne LP , these guys seem to be everywhere these days. Their music has been polarizing to say the least, but there is talent among them. They aim to prove that once again with the release of The OF Tape, Vol. 2.
From the outrageous intro “Hi,” you know that their IDGAF tone is firmly cemented as the LP commences. “Bitches” is a sparse track, with Domo Genius and Hodgy Beats trade bars, as they do as well on “Lean.” Wolf Gang Leader Tyler, The Creator chimes in alongside Hodgy on “NY (Ned Flander)” The Internet offers “Ya Know,” which sounds a little too much like something N.E.R.D. would do. “Analog 2″ features the in-demand Frank Ocean, who invites a lady friend to have a “good time.” Oh, and Tyler’s also there doing what he does best. Mellowhype is a train wreck on “50,” If you’ve seen the video for “Rello,” then you may have already made up your mind about the track, but it’s not that bad. Things fare better when the guys rely less of shock value and more on their talent. That said, “White,” the solo offering from Frank Ocean, would be a standout. “Sam (Is Dead)” shows Tyler displaying the same lyrical ability that made those less familiar with him pay attention on Game’s “Martians and Goblins.” last year.
The moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived. OK, maybe I’m alone in this but a few hours ago Domo Genesis dropped his Under the Influence tape. I ain’t peep it yet ’cause I was at work, but I’m about to redeem myself in, like, um…now. You should too.


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Growth in UK retail sales slowed markedly in the first three months of this year as Brexit uncertainty made shoppers more cautious, an industry body said (Financial Times £). Retail sales rose 0.6% in the first quarter of 2019 compared with a year earlier, far below the 1.8% growth rate recorded for the start of 2018, according to data from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG representing three-fifths of the sector. The BRC said the timing of Easter, on 21 April this year after falling on 1 April in 2018, was likely to have distorted the sales figures, as many shops were yet to experience a rush in sales ahead of the holiday period (The Guardian).
“Tesco’s results for last year are set to confirm the UK’s biggest grocer has staged a strong recovery under Dave Lewis,” writes Ruth Sunderland in the Daily Mail. “Tesco is expected to report pre-tax profits of £1.6 billion, compared with £1.3bn a year ago, according to stockbroker AJ Bell. This is a remarkable revival, considering that in 2014 the company reported its worst results ever, with a loss of £6.4bn.”
The small business commissioner and senior MPs have taken the highly unusual step of publicly criticising the health food chain Holland & Barrett for treating its suppliers “shabbily”, as part of a crackdown on companies that take months to pay suppliers (The Guardian).
The administration of Patisserie Valerie has been obstructed after creditors to the collapsed café chain rejected plans by KPMG to wind down the business (The Times £). In a rare move, creditors voted against the professional services firm’s proposals on how to handle the administration, as it warned it was “uncertain” whether there would be enough money to repay them.
Waitrose has apologised over “racist” Easter ducks after customers complained that the dark brown one was labelled as “ugly” (Telegraph £). An £8 trio of white, milk and dark chocolate Easter ducklings caused offence among a “small number” of customers for being labelled as “fluffy”, “crispy” and “ugly”.
Shoppers merrily spent more money last month on eating out and entertaining, suggesting consumers will keep on supporting the economy despite fears of a global slump (Telegraph £).
The price of pork is likely to rise worldwide after African swine fever took a heavy toll on livestock in China (The Times £). Since last year, China, which produces half the world’s pork, has reported about 115 outbreaks of the fever to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Britons are throwing away more than 720 million edible eggs a year because they follow “best before” dates too stringently, research has found (The Times £). The wastage is three times more than in 2008 and comes at a cost of £139 million, according to the campaigning organisation Too Good To Go.
Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, has broken a pledge to end the use of vanilla flavourings in baby milk powders, according to a report. The Swiss multinational has continued to sell vanilla-flavoured infant formulas in Hong Kong, even though it advertises infant products in mainland China as healthy options because they do not contain the flavouring, the report by the Changing Markets Foundation (CMF) found (The Guardian).
Burger King has been forced to delete a “culturally insensitive” advert which depicted a westerner struggling to eat a burger with chopsticks, the latest western brand to be accused of mocking Asian food customs (The Guardian).
The woes afflicting midmarket restaurants will be underlined today when the company behind Café Rouge and Bella Italia reports a £242 million loss in the wake of a financial restructuring (The Times £). Accounts due to be filed by Casual Dining Group include a £209.6 million goodwill writedown reflecting the fall in the value of the business because of soaring costs and tough trading conditions.
A glowing review of Burger King’s new plant-based Whopper comes from an unlikely source: a senior meat industry lobbyist who admitted the surprisingly realistic taste of modern fake meats is a “wake-up call” to livestock farmers (The Guardian).
Nestle’s sale of its Herta lunch-meat business may attract interest from bidders including U.S. packaged meat company Smithfield Foods Inc. and agricultural commodities giant Cargill Inc., according to people with knowledge of the matter (Bloomberg).
Debenhams looks increasingly likely to be placed into a pre-pack administration after the struggling department store group’s lenders rejected major shareholder Sports Direct’s recapitalisation plan (Financial Times £).
Shares in Kweichow Moutai climbed to a new record high on Monday after the Chinese distiller’s preliminary first quarter profits were stronger than expected (Financial Times £).


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Donald Trump says that after he meets his Chinese counterpart later this week, the "theft of American prosperity will end".
"Thousands of factories have been stolen from our country," he said on Friday, and the jobs have gone with them.
It's true that China has played hard and dirty in its breakneck catchup with the West. It's stolen technology and used it relentlessly to put its foreign competitors out of business.
But what about the factories the Chinese bought? And dismantled. And shipped back to China. And reassembled. Legally.
Few outside the industries themselves have ever heard about this; it was China's headstart to global manufacturing dominance in one sector after another. And it was done with factories that Western countries wanted to get rid of.
For 30 years or more, Chinese firms have bought cast-off factories from Australia, the US, Japan, Germany, Britain and other developed countries and taken them home.
"It was the first step and the essential foundation for all the other policies they adopted later," says an Australian expert, a former Rio Tinto executive who's written a major new report on the subject, Michael Komesaroff.
"If they had not stolen technology, they still would have got there" to become globally dominant, he tells me. "The stolen technology was the icing on the cake."
The story of how China bought the cake itself is a revealing look at Chinese ambition and strategy, told in Komesaroff's report titled: "Make the Foreign Serve China," published by the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The title is a quote from the founder of modern China, Mao Zedong.
When China began modernising, it made 4 per cent of the world's steel. Today it makes more than all the other countries of the world combined. It got its start with smelters it bought from abroad, and then kept upgrading with newer offcasts.
So when the leading German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp decided to shutter one of its plants in 2001 because of rising labour and environmental costs, the Chinese snapped it up in under a month.
China's Shagang Group bought the Dortmund-Höorde steel plant for the bargain price of $US24 million. That was less than its value as scrap.
Shagang sent 1000 workers to Germany; it took them a year to painstakingly dismantle and pack the plant for its 10,000 kilometre journey. It was the biggest such transplant yet: "It included a complete steel mill with blast furnaces," the report notes.
"The dismantled plant comprised 250,000 tons of equipment and 40 tons of documents that explained the intricacies of the reassembly process."
If Trump wants an example of how China legally bought industrial advantage from America, he could look at how China clinched its global dominance in rare earths. These are essential components in many high-tech products, military and civilian.
General Motors built a state-of-the-art rare earth plant in the US state of Indiana, with the generous support of the American taxpayer. The Magnequench business, as it was known, had unique know-how for making magnets that retain magnetic strength at high temperature.
This makes them valuable for civilian uses like airbags and mechanical sensors, but also for military ones in "smart bombs" and guided missiles. GM sold the plant in 1995 because it said it wanted to divest its "non-core" businesses.
A Chinese consortium bought the plant after promising to keep it running in Indiana for five years. The new Chinese owners, including two state-owned enterprises, shut the plant in 2002, the day after the five years were up. They shipped it to China.
"Not only did the US lose its rare earth elements production capability," reports Komesaroff, "but it also abdicated its technological lead." China's share of the global output of rare earths today? Ninety-five per cent.
Surely Australia wouldn't be so foolish? We wouldn't allow a cutting-edge, taxpayer-subsidised manufacturing plant to be sold and shipped off, bolt by bolt, to China?
Oh yes we would.
Rio Tinto spent 20 years and a billion dollars developing a revolutionary iron ore smelting technique, HIsmelt.
Australian taxpayers contributed $125 million to help Rio build its pioneering demonstration plant at Kwinana, south of Perth. The WA government gave an additional $30 million. The new technology was exciting – it offered commercial and environmental advantages over the traditional smelting process.
"But when the financial crisis hit in 2008, the company decided to abandon the development of HIsmelt," writes Komesaroff in his report. The plant was sold to a Chinese firm for an undisclosed sum, dismantled and shipped off to Shandong.
It's been reassembled by Molong Petroleum Machinery Co Ltd, which is doubling its size. It's going to use it to make high-quality, specialised pipe to sell to the global oil and gas industry.
This deal didn't get a lot of attention in Australia. "Rio didn't put out a press release saying 'We had millions of dollars from the Australian taxpayer, we're now selling to the Chinese'," explains Komesaroff. "People don't like to advertise their failures."
These are just a few of the many examples of how China caught up, on the cheap and at light-speed, with the West. Most, but not all, were purchased by state-owned enterprises.
Surely Trump is right – it must be past time to claw back some of this advantage? Komesaroff likens this thinking to generals planning to win the last war.
The world has moved on. The Chinese bought – and stole – Western techniques, much as the US did as it was establishing industrial dominance more than a century ago.
But they then improved on them. Chinese firms are now forging new high-tech frontiers. They are now declaring obsolete some manufacturing technologies that are still considered standard in the West.
"Although trade remedies [restraints or tariffs] may be appropriate in some circumstances," Komesaroff concludes, "more generally Western industry should focus on their evolving technological comparative advantages and co-operating with Chinese producers."
Don't waste time getting angry, in other words, get active.
Peter Hartcher is international editor.


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Some good news may be coming for animals: the Humane Cosmetics Act, introduced by Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) as "HR 4148." If passed, the Act would eliminate animal testing for cosmetics made or sold in the U.S. It would also make it illegal to sell or transport cosmetics across state lines if any part of that product has been manufactured by testing on animals after the ban is implemented. The bill has bipartisan support and recently Michael Grimm (R-NY) signed on as a co-sponsor, along with nearly 50 other members of Congress.
Animals -- most commonly rabbits and rats -- are used in acute toxicity tests where they are force-fed or forced to inhale massive doses of a chemical ingredient, and as a result will suffer severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, convulsions, paralysis, seizures or bleeding before death. Other tests include eye and skin corrosion tests, in which rabbits are fully restrained while chemical substances are dripped into their eyes or rubbed into their shaved skin, creating ulcers, scabs, swelling or blindness. These results are subjective at best and can only predict human reaction with approximately 65 percent accuracy in most cases.


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Tempe, AZ October 23, 2001 Hewlett-Packard and i2 Technologies today announced a co-marketing agreement under which the computer company and the supply chain software provider will offer their enterprise customers a "one-stop" solution for creating a private online marketplace and for managing their supplier relationships.
Private marketplaces give companies the ability to work online with their suppliers to reduce overall inventory costs and promote visibility throughout the supply chain. Supplier relationship management (SRM) enables companies and their suppliers to collaborate to design and manufacture products faster.
Under the agreement announced today, the two companies will offer Dallas-based i2's supply chain collaboration and SRM applications running on HP infrastructure as the foundation for an enterprise's private marketplace. "It's a go-to-market strategy that's targeted at providing customers with an easy, one-stop shop for private marketplace and supplier relationship solution needs," said Nigel Ball, vice president and general manager of the e-Services Partner Division at Hewlett-Packard.
As part of the agreement, the two companies say they have committed resources to develop solution centers and establish joint selling and delivery models. Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP also will deliver financing, support, hosting and implementation services for these solutions.
At the same time, Hewlett-Packard will use i2's supply chain collaboration software to set up its own private marketplace. The companies will use the experience and expertise gained from this implementation, which is just getting underway, to the benefit of their shared enterprise customers, according to Ball. "By using that expertise, we can help reduce the risk to that customer in terms of their implementation and accelerate the time that it takes for them to derive benefit from this type of solution offering," he said.
The two companies have a relationship stretching back almost eight years, and the new agreement will build on that long-standing relationship, according to Ball, who noted that the majority of i2's installed base of supply chain management (SCM) implementations are running on an HP platform.
Also as part of the expanded relationship between the two companies, i2 has agreed to standardize its solutions on HP's OpenView software as the monitoring component for i2-certified platforms running UNIX and Windows.
In addition, the two companies will be leveraging an agreement signed in August enabling HP to host and operate i2 enterprise solutions for dynamic value chain management. HP is an authorized hosting provider for i2 in both North America and Europe.
HP and i2 will target their marketing efforts at customers in the automotive, industrial, retail and high-tech industries, "where the need to collaborate with suppliers is very important," said Darryll Dewan, senior vice president for strategic channels at i2.
Commenting on the HP-i2 announcement today, Karen Peterson, research director for technology consultancy Gartner, said the agreement particularly HP's use of i2 technology for its private exchange represented a vote of confidence for i2, which last week reported a $5.53 billion third-quarter loss, primarily resulting from a $4.7 billion write-off stemming from its March 2000 acquisition of Aspect Development.
Peterson noted that HP had announced in May a deal with Germany's SAP to offer joint supply chain and supplier management solutions. "The most interesting piece of this is that HP is going to use i2 instead of SAP for this functionality," Peterson said. "This is kind of i2 getting its foot back in the door there."
On the other hand, Peterson said that today's announcement was notable from Hewlett-Packard's perspective because it represented a move by the computer company into providing application implementation services. "It remains to be seen if they have the competency of understanding business processes," Peterson said, "because that's really necessary for implementing an application such as i2's supplier relationship management application."
For its part, i2 will benefit from access to HP's local sales force and from the ability to focus on delivering a solution in conjunction with a major partner like HP, according to Dewan. "In order to really fine-tune a footprint and a solution, and to gain the kind of success we want in the marketplace ... you have to have a tight solution," he said. "You have to have a whole lot of trust and confidence that we're going to help each other. It enables us to go to market faster with a credible message."
Also Tuesday, i2 announced an extended relationship with IBM under which the latter's database application, DB2, will be i2's preferred data management platform for AIX. i2 also will resell the DB2 family. The two companies have been working together since 1998.
Rounding out its news for this week, i2 is set to unveil version 5.2 upgrades to its solutions during a Webcast on Thursday, October 25. "i2 Five.Two is designed to help businesses improve value chain efficiencies and slash operating expenses, detect and respond to supply and demand needs in real time, collaborate with trading partners to maximize profits, and reduce the complexities of value chain integration," the solution provider promised in announcing the Webcast.
i2 has been in the spotlight because of its poor earnings report last week, but the company remains financially viable, according to a research alert from technology consultancy AMR Research. "The company has a strong balance sheet," AMR analysts wrote in the note, released on Monday. "i2 remains the acknowledged thought leader in SCM."


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Monday, March 5, 2012
Hair: Willow Smith and Pharrell Williams Go Green
Just when we thought Willow was going to leave her hair alone after she shaved it, she went GREEN over the weekend. She aint the only one tho. Pharrell Williams took his hairdo to a whole new level too. The two must have been on the same wavelength this weekend as they decided to change the game and unleash some green-haired swag on the world.
Willow decided to show off some pictures of her new green do to her 140k+ instagram followers over the weekend.
While Pharrell Williams was busy debuting his own green post-Oscars look during the Lanvin show at Paris Fashion Week.
Hot or Not?


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More than 307,000 business and groups across the UAE have registered for VAT.
That's according to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), which says the system has started achieving many of its main objectives including diversifying the country’s resources.
They revealed that the number of retail outlets linked to the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme has exceeded 10,000 stores.
The FTA says the number of tax refund applications processed per day has doubled to more than 7,500.
The figures were revealed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) at the 9th meeting of the Board of Directors of the FTA at the headquarters of the Ministry of Finance in Dubai.


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Cloud gaming is getting more and more viable every year, even in Australia. We’ve already got Xbox’s streaming service, and by October Aussies can add another provider to that list: GeForce Now.
Nvidia has been looking at ways to make its cloud platform available in tier-2 regions like Australia for a while now, and earlier this year the company announced it was working with Pentanet to make it happen. In a livestream earlier this week, Pentanet managing director Stephen Cornish provided firmer timelines on the Australian rollout.
After stressing that the full service won’t launch until the experience is satisfactory, it was revealed that GeForce Now will be first playable to the public via a beta (run through Pentanet’s Cloud.gg web portal) from September. Users will be selected after a mix of completing various quests through the portal, which at the time of writing include things like answering reader surveys, watching videos through the site, and so on. (The launch video below indicated that more quests will be added on a weekly basis as the portal grows and more games become accessible.)
“A staged release to Beta Play will see a limited number of players onboarded in September 2021, with new users added to the testing pool every week,” the Cloud.gg portal says.
If the beta runs according to plan, the full GeForce Now service should go live in Australia sometime in October. That’s a malleable date though: if the beta phase reveals more testing or work is needed to shore up the service’s infrastructure, then the public release could be pushed back.
It’s worth adding that Pentanet are still working out what the cost for GeForce Now will be in Australia as well. “The upcoming Beta Play program will give us the insight we need to deliver GeForce NOW Powered by Pentanet in the most cost-effective way for all Aussie gamers,” the site’s FAQ adds.
“We intend to release plan options in the coming months, including options for casual play and subscription bundles.“
For those interested, a full list of games compatible with the GeForce Now service through Australia can be found on a separate page here. Pentanet recommends users play via an Ethernet connection or a 5GHz capable router, with an internet connection of at least 25Mbps for a 1080p/60 FPS experience. And, as has always been the case with Nvidia’s cloud service, GeForce Now can only play free-to-play titles or games that you currently own through a platform like Steam (provided game publishers are OK with it, which hasn’t always been the case).


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New Delhi, Aug 24 (Agency) Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur on Wednesday launched ‘Azadi Quest’, a series of online educational mobile games developed in collaboration with Zynga India, as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Also present at the occasion were Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Apurva Chandra, and Country Head of Zynga India, Kishore Kichli. Speaking on the occasion, Thakur said that this was another in a series of efforts by the Government to acknowledge the contribution, of our freedom fighters and unsung heroes, to the freedom struggle. “These games are an effort to tap into the huge market of online gamers and to educate them through games. Various arms of Government of India have collected information about unsung freedom fighters from the corners of the country. Azadi Quest is an effort to make this learning of this knowledge engaging and interactive,” the Minister said.
Thakur expressed confidence that people of all age groups will be hooked on to these games and they will become household favourites quickly. Thakur said in the past few years India has risen to stand among the top five countries in the gaming sector. “The gaming sector has grown by 28 per cent in 2021 alone. The number of online gamers has risen by eight percent from 2020 to 2021 and by 2023 the number of such gamers is expected to reach 45 crores,” the Minister added. He said that these apps will bolster the capabilities of India’s AVGC sector and at the same time take our glorious history to the corners of the world. The Publications Division also signed an MoU with Zynga India to develop a series of games under the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Azadi Quest games are available for android and iOS devices in English and Hindi for the people of India and will be available worldwide from September 2022. The online gaming company Zynga India was established in 2010 in Bengaluru and has developed some of the most popular game franchises across mobile and web.


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Sydney’s Bondi Junction property market is on the rise, with local and overseas buyers driving up demand for luxury apartments.
Luxury apartments in Bondi Junction have been selling fast and generating a huge level of enquiry, according to CBRE.
Barry Goldman, co-principal of Raine&Horne Double Bay said the “red-hot apartment action” was being driven by ‘The Junction’s’ retail appeal and proximity to beaches.
“Bondi Junction is the CBD of the eastern suburbs and is rapidly changing and, as a consequence, the new and off-the-plan apartment market is booming with almost four times as many bidders at auctions for apartments compared to this time last year,” he said.
Raine&Horne Double Bay’s Martin Maskin said this area of Sydney was increasingly popular with Asian buyers.
“Many cashed-up Asia-based buyers identify Bondi Junction as an inner-city suburb where they can find excellent shopping, transport and schools, and as a result have become big players in the suburb’s luxury apartment market,” he said.


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This summer, fans of Capcom, NAMCO Bandai, and Sega will be getting their strategy-RPG on. Project X Zone, a 3DS title created by Monolith Soft and released in Japan last October, is now slated for release in Western territories such as Europe, Australasia, and North America this summer. Take note: the press release only mentions Europe and Australasia, but “Brelston,” an employee of Capcom, specifically posted about the game’s North American release in his Capcom Unity blog.
Combining hundreds of characters from almost 30 distinct franchises, Project X echos earlier mash-ups such as Namco X Capcom, which never made it stateside. Licensing for these cross-publisher games is always something of a trial in international release, but it appears that Namco Bandai, Capcom, and Sega are all willing to work together to make it happen this time out.
Perhaps one of the most exciting things about the game is that both Mega Man X and Zero have been confirmed as usable characters in Project X Zone. Summer can’t come soon enough.
Source: Capcom Unity


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A main new Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) Client and Current market Insight report titled Cellular Monetary Expert services on the Increase reveals that nearly 50 percent of all buyers in Sub-Saharan Africa use mobile fiscal providers in 2021 – a a lot more-than 3-fold improve in the past 6 decades.
The Cell Economical Solutions on the Rise report also highlights the impression of the Covid 19 pandemic on mobile money services uptake, with 54 % of buyers expressing that they use cellular financial services transactions far more now. About 70 p.c are far more constructive in direction of cell economical products and services as a desired contactless alternate to dollars.
The report analysis was executed by Ericsson Shopper & IndustryLab in early 2021. It surveyed 3,200 people across 6 Sub-Saharan African nations around the world – Senegal, Angola, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Ethiopia – to evaluate the progress of mobile monetary companies in light of technological know-how and infrastructure gains across the region, as perfectly as the Covid-19 pandemic impression on monetary conduct.
The report highlights that end users list a lot quicker transactions as the number one aspect that would motivate them to use mobile funds providers additional normally in the in the vicinity of potential. About 70 % believe that faster transactions would persuade them to use cellular cash providers additional even though 51 percent highlighted higher security.
Most non-people are now conscious of mobile economic providers, with as several as 8-in-10 stating they are really intrigued to start working with it.
Lucky La Riccia, Vice President and Head of Electronic Expert services, Ericsson Middle East and Africa, states: “This new investigation underlines the significant empowering position that cellular money providers engage in in Sub-Saharan Africa, both of those in combating the effect of the pandemic and in fuelling economic progress across Africa by means of the transformational possible of expanded and very affordable obtain to economical alternatives.”
He provides: “Our purpose is to guidance the digitalization of Africa by means of technologies such as cellular broadband. Ericsson’s mobile fiscal alternatives support this goal as we speed up fiscal inclusion.”
Communications Provider Vendors (CSPs) are the most common cell money services provider, with up to 90 percent of Sub-Saharan African cellular economic services users now employing the technologies by way of these firms.
Cellular money expert services are now enabling standard economical expert services such as withdraw, transfer, storing income, as properly as highly developed companies these types of as microfinance and insurance plan.
Ericsson’s cell economical answers are aimed at creating management of financials as uncomplicated as sending a textual content so that banking can be conveniently introduced to billions around the world.
The Ericsson Wallet System is previously utilized by several CSPs globally to serve nearly 300 million registered consumers. Ericsson’s Wallet System supplies secure, trusted, and versatile platforms that support make an interconnected and transparent fiscal ecosystem, supporting CSPs and nations around the world in the region to fulfil financial growth.
Mobile Money Solutions on the Increase – Checking out the Buyer Standpoint in Sub-Saharan Africa.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Ericsson Buyer & IndustryLab
Ericsson Buyer & IndustryLab delivers globe-class analysis for innovation and sustainable business enterprise enhancement. The future of connectivity for individuals, industries and society is explored via scientific solutions, offering special insights on markets and customer traits.
The knowledge is obtained from world wide purchaser and field study programs, together with collaborations with renowned sector organizations and planet-primary universities. The research plans deal with interviews with in excess of 100,000 people today in much more than 40 international locations every calendar year – statistically symbolizing 1.1 billion people’s views.
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Ahead of Riccardo Tisci’s debut later this month, Burberry is making its presence known. The British brand – and its spanking new Peter Saville x Riccardo Tisci-created monogram – has popped up across the globe. It is on beaches in New York (Burberry took over Sunset Beach on Shelter Island with branded umbrellas) and the facade of the brand’s Cheongdam-dong, Seoul flagship, a 13-story outpost known for its gabardine plaid-inspired exterior. Cable cars in Hong Kong are wrapped in the new print, while a giant inflatable teddy bear is decked out in the Burberry monogram beside the Xintiandi Taiping Lake in Shanghai.
New locations and imaginative uses of the Thomas Burberry print, as it is called, are being rolled out by the day in an aim to build hype for the brand’s upcoming runway show and collection, Tisci’s first since jumping ship from LVMH-owned Givenchy to Burberry early this year.
More than merely serving as an sure-fire Instagrammable marketing stunt, though, Burberry’s world domination by logo has another – and maybe even more important – aim: A legal one.
Burberry has been using its name for more than 150 years in connection with outdoor attire, ultimately building out a global empire of fashion, accessories, and cosmetics. Such consistent and expansive use of its name – whether it be in ad campaigns, in connection with seasonal runway shows, on store fronts all over the world, and its products, themselves – has meant that Burberry has amassed significant rights in its name. The same goes for its trademark-protected “check” print, which has come to serve as an indicator of the Burberry brand in the minds of the average consumer.
Such identification-by-logo is at the core of trademark law. Names, logos, and in some cases prints and colors, are affixed to products and services to enable consumers to easily identify the source of the product/service. With that in mind, in the U.S. and many other countries (save for China, most notably), trademark rights are gained by actual use of a trademark, and are dependent on consumers being able to recognize a trademark and tie it to a single source.images: Burberry
These rights are jurisdiction specific, meaning that in order to claim trademark rights in the U.S., you have to use your mark in the U.S., the same goes for other countries.
Back to Burberry. The Thomas Burberry print is new – it has just barely been a month, in fact, since it was unveiled. That means, as of now, the level of consumer recognition associated with the print is low and Burberry must get consumers acquainted with it in order to reap the benefits of trademark law. By putting up large-scale monogrammed campaigns in cities around the world, the brand is – intentionally or otherwise – doing just that. It is laying the foundation to claim rights in that monogram on a grand scale.
For the legally minded, putting the monogram on a billboard or cable car, i.e., using it in a promotional way, would not likely be considered sufficient “use” in connection with the sale of goods. However, in accordance with the Lanham Act (the central trademark statute in the U.S.), “use in commerce” for services – such as retail services – occurs when the mark is used on promotional materials and the services are rendered in commerce. So, Burberry is almost certainly on its way to amassing rights in that sense.
In short: There is more to Burberry’s tour de monogram than meets the eye.


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21 Apr 50 years of Earth Day
Read time: 2 minutes
Apr 21, 2020
The companies tackling today’s environmental challenges
The first Earth Day was in 1970, and today, we must rise to meet these dual crises again as Earth Day marks 50 years.
The theme this year is ‘climate action’. The enormous challenge — but also the vast opportunities — of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary.
Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable.
On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans — 10% of the U.S. population at the time — took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet.
The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event. The first Earth Day, in 1970 launched a wave of action. The passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States. The Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts were created in response to the first Earth Day in 1970, as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many countries soon adopted similar laws.
Earth Day continues to hold major international significance: In 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day when the historic Paris Agreement on climate change was signed into force.
Here’s a quick introduction to some of the businesses within our collective who are tackling environmental challenges.
Meet the pioneers
Working to reduce the global use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser via their product N-Fix ®.
“Our team of scientists at BioCity are developing N-Fix® as a platform technology based on enabling plant cells with the ability to fix their own nitrogen. The bacteria are essentially giving nature a helping hand to transfer this naturally occurring bacteria derived from sugarcane into other crop species. The Company will commercialise a variety of technologies based on this platform.”
Created a process that can recycle non-reusable textiles, PET bottles and packaging into a new textile as a raw material
“Worn Again Technologies’ pioneering polymer recycling technology can separate, decontaminate and extract polyester polymers, and cellulose from cotton, from non-reusable textiles and PET bottles and packaging and turn them back into new textile raw materials as part of a continual cycle. “
Deep Branch Biotechnology
Developing a gas-fermentation technology to transform the polluters of today into the producers of tomorrow.
Generating clean, nutritious, and sustainable single-cell-protein directly from the carbon dioxide in industrial waste gases, we are looking to reduce the carbon footprint of emitters and to provide a sustainable protein alternative to soy and fishmeal in the feed industry.
Creating environmentally friendly cleaning products for industry.
“Bio Cleansers Ltd are a manufacturer of plant-based, environmentally friendly cleaning products for Industry. Our fully biodegradable products are designed to give the industry a choice to move away from hazardous cleaning products that include caustic and chlorine. Our products which are equally as effective as their hazardous alternatives are derived from sustainable resources and are competitively priced. What’s not to like!”
Take unused and low-value organic sources to create plant-based ingredients for cosmetics and nutraceuticals.
“Activatec develops biobased ingredients from renewable sources. We are specialised in the evaluation, scale-up and commercialisation of processes to produce biotechnological and plant-based ingredients for cosmetics, nutraceutical and pharma and from currently unused and low-value organic sources. We count on a proficient team of chemical and biochemical engineers and researchers with experience in the industrial biotech that works to provide a confidential service with an efficient and high-quality product output.”
Tackling food waste by creating colour-changing labels for food packaging
“Insignia Technologies offer unique and innovative labelling solutions designed to indicate the quality and freshness of goods and products. These smart labels act as time-temperature indicators (TTIs) and are cost-effective, easy to apply smart packaging solution for improving food freshness and quality.”
Developing antimicrobial, biodegradable, compostable food packaging from by-products of fisheries to extend shelf-life of fresh food and to help reduce food waste, packaging waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
“CuanTec’s mission is to work in harmony with our natural environment to reduce the human impact that food waste and plastic pollution have on our world. We’ve developed a gentle, biological method to extract the natural product chitin from different sources of waste from the food industry. We use this chitin to develop our formulations to create alternatives to single-use plastic, creating new materials that work in harmony with the environment.”
Developing Clean and natural colourant solutions for food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
“At ScotBio, we use biotechnology to reshape what’s possible. Revolutionising how we create all-natural food colourants and proteins to achieve a level of purity and consistency never seen before. Our unique, controlled indoor GMP production process ensures we can grow spirulina safely and consistently, every single day of the year. It means we can produce high-quality natural ingredients at almost any scale.”
Designing and manufacturing of nanoparticles which deliver the micro-nutrients essential for healthy plant growth, supporting vertical farming.
“Pharm2Farm has developed and patented a process to increase the bioavailability of trace minerals in plant fertilizer. This patented process uses nanotechnology and amino acid coatings to dramatically improve trace element take-up by plants in hydroponics, horticulture and agriculture. Pharm2Farm produce and sell these products through an exclusive licence to this technology from Nottingham Trent University, UK.”
TAGS: Agtech, Azotic, BioCity, BioCity company, Blog, Cuantec, Environmental sustainability, Life Science


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Ploughing rice fields in Đồng Tháp Province’s Thanh Bình District. Đồng Tháp is expanding the use of advanced farming techniques and machinery in agricultural production. VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Văn Trí
ĐỒNG THÁP – The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Đồng Tháp is expanding its use of information technology (IT) and advanced farming techniques to restructure agricultural production and achieve sustainability.
Among the models being used is an "ideal rice farming model" with modern facilities and smart fertiliser.
The "My home mango tree” model and the “My orchard orange tree” farming models sell fruits of a whole mango tree or orange tree to consumers online.
Other initiatives include computer chips to manage parent tra fish to produce fry, an app with information about diseases of animals, fruit-growing areas with production unit codes for export purposes, and cultivation of organic vegetables.
Đồng Tháp is the country’s first province chosen to implement the country’s agriculture restructuring plan. It has developed many effective farming models, which have improved incomes for farmers.
Nguyễn Hồng Sự, chairman of the Cao Lãnh District People’s Committee, said the district is Đồng Tháp’s first locality applying IT in agriculture. It uses the “My home mango tree” model and ideal rice farming model.
Launched in 2016 by the Mỹ Xương Mango Co-operative in Cao Lãnh District, the “My home mango tree” model sells fruits of a whole mango tree planted to Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) standards directly to customers through its website.
Each mango tree is identified by a number, and customers can view the current status of the mango tree on the website.
Buyers have to pay VNĐ3- 5 million (US$130 - 216) a year to buy a mango tree sold under the “My home mango tree” model. The price is calculated based on the yield in previous years of the sold mango tree.
Buyers can get 100 – 150kg of mangoes for a year from their tree, or 70 per cent of the quantity guaranteed in the contract if there is a poor harvest.
When a tree is sold, the owner of the mango tree tends the tree, harvests the ripe fruits and sends them to the buyer.
The selling of mango trees on the website offers co-operative members a profit 1.5 – 2 times higher than selling mangoes to traders.
The Mỹ Xương Mango Co-operative has sold 420 mango trees to buyers in Đồng Tháp and other provinces and cities nationwide, including HCM City and Hà Nội.
Last year, the province started its first advanced rice farming model that uses modern techniques in all production stages and irrigation water efficiently.
The model is being implemented by the Mỹ Đông 2 Commune Co-operative in Tháp Mười District. The co-operative is growing 570ha of rice.
Under the model, the co-operative’s farmers use machines and smart devices for sowing seeds, fertilising, harvesting and post-harvest handling.
The co-operative’s farmers also use slow -release fertiliser in soil and use smartphones to monitor and control the irrigation of their fields to save water.
They also use smart devices to monitor brown plant hoppers in rice fields and drones to spray pesticides.
The model has helped farmers increase profit by VNĐ10 million ($430) per hectare a crop compared to traditional rice farming methods.
Bùi Văn Sơn, head of the Tháp Mười District Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the model has helped farmers cut production costs by reducing the quantity of seeds, fertiliser and pesticides.
“The model also protects the natural enemies of rice pests and minimizes the adverse impact on the environment,” he said.
Ngô Phước Dũng, director of Mỹ Đông 2, said: “The model is being expanded in many localities.”
The province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is co-operating with localities to train farmers in advanced techniques so they can expand these farming models.
The department has encouraged farmers to grow their crops to VietGAP standards. The province has 100ha of vegetables and 444ha of fruits grown under VietGAP, global GAP, or other food safety standards, according to the department.
Around 5,870ha of fruit growing areas have been granted production unit codes for export purposes. Most of these areas grow mango, longan, dragon fruit, jackfruit and rambutan.
Each fruit growing area with a production unit code has a minimum of 10ha, and grows only one type of fruit to VietGAP or other equivalent standards.
As an agrarian province, Đồng Tháp has identified rice, mango, flowers, ornamental plants, tra fish and ducks as key agricultural products in its agricultural restructuring plan.
Đồng Tháp is the largest producer of mango, flowers, ornamental plants, tra fish and ducks in the delta. It is also one of the delta’s largest rice producers.
In rice production, the province reached a production value of VNĐ21 trillion ($911 million) last year, up VNĐ3 trillion against 2017, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The province’s average rice yield last year increased by 383kg per hectare compared to 2017.
The province’s key products are exported to many markets. Fresh mangoes are exported to the US, EU, Russia, South Korea, Australia, and Japan, among others.
The province’s mangoes are processed into many products like dried mango, frozen mango, mango wine and mango glutinous rice paper.
The value of agricultural production accounts for 30 per cent of the province’s total economic value. Agriculture has an average growth rate of 3 per cent each year and creates jobs for 50 per cent of the province’s total workforce. – VNS


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Christine Taylor Collection Seeks Partner, Buyer
December 6, 2016
Doylestown, Pa.-based retail space designer Christine Taylor Collection (CTC) has enlisted Equity Partners HG to assist in its search for a partner or buyer for the business. Launching in 1990, the visual merchandising solutions provider has collaborated on projects for brands like Starbucks, Nordstrom, REI, Kohl’s, and Brooks Brothers. The company also has offices in Hong Kong.
“This is an excellent opportunity to invest in a deep history of creativity and strong retail relationships with some of the country’s biggest name retailers,” says Fred Cross, managing director for Equity Partners HG. “CTC’s enviable reputation provides a strong foundation to build upon. There is a significant opportunity to expand on and grow multiple revenue streams if properly capitalized.”
EYELEVEL, ECOR Announce Collaboration
June 22, 2018 • Industry
Dutch ECOR and EYELEVEL have announced the launch of a new strategic partnership focused on their shared vision to create circular retail environment solutions.
Full Story ›


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Update: PAX West and PAX Australia have both been cancelled and replaced by the digital event PAX Online.
PAX organizer ReedPop announced the cancellation of PAX West this afternoon, hours after the confirmation that PAX Australia would skip the year. PAX West had been scheduled for September in Seattle, while PAX Australia was going to take place the following month in Melbourne.
Instead, the organizers will hold a nine-day entirely online event from September 12 through September 20 called PAX Online. It will be free and open to the public.
"PAX Online is the result of the convention-organizing supergroup made up of the people responsible for PAX West, PAX Australia, as well as our new friends at EGX to create our new PAX Online and deliver a steady 24/7 stream of content, events, discussions, and gameplay," organizers said on the PAX Online site.
EGX is another ReedPop-owned event, but it has yet to be cancelled. At present, it is scheduled for September 17-20 in London.
Original story: PAX Australia is the latest consumer games event to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual event was due to take place in Melbourne, Australia from October 9 to 11 this year. However, the organiser has confirmed a "postponement" due to the impact of COVID-19.
While the statement released by the PAX Australia team describes it as postponed, it makes clear that the "next edition of PAX Aus will now take place in 2021."
"While we can't move forward with PAX Aus 2020 in the way we normally would, we are finding new and exciting ways to connect you and the PAX community with your favourite content and creators," the statement read.
At the time of writing, PAX West was still due to go ahead despite taking place in early September, and being held in the US, which has a substantially worse record with COVID-19 than Australia.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused huge problems for virtually every games event on the calendar since the start of March this year.
GDC, E3, Gamescom, EGX Rezzed and many more have been forced to cancel, reschedule, or migrate online while countries across the world struggle to bring the virus under control.
Disclosure: PAX Australia is operated by ReedPop, the parent company of GamesIndustry.biz.
Additional reporting by Brendan Sinclair.


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The software company is cutting 60 local jobs at the end of this month with the closure of a local call center.
With a handful of locations open outside of Denver, a burger restaurant is taking on the local market with a spot in LoDo.
With a $10 million land deal closed, a developer is moving forward with phase three of a Cherry Creek apartment complex.
The Mediterranean fast-casual chain recently unveiled an updated logo and menu, and is now looking forward at further expansion in Colorado and nationwide.
With help from a New York investment deal and access to new technology, a store that sells marijuana grow supplies is looking to expand beyond Denver.
The former manager of a Denver hedge fund and star football player at Kent is betting big on the growing craze of fantasy sports with a Vegas conference. And he has some big players on his starting lineup.
Real estate firms report more than $21 million in property sales, and several companies scoop up industrial and office space in Englewood.
A gas station site was recently sold for $4.5 million, and the buyer said he is planning a retail redevelopment to accommodate the massive apartment projects going up nearby.
A new program for area high school students kicked off this week, bringing 20 teenagers and three entrepreneurs together for a week-long camp in building a business.
A Denver restaurant chain sold its Uptown real estate for more than $11 million to an apartment developer, but it will come back bigger and better alongside the new project.


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American consumers are really lukewarm to buying all-electric vehicles (EVs) and even cooler to the idea of self-driving vehicles. A new quarterly survey from J.D. Power and SurveyMonkey released Wednesday showed no improvement in the Mobility Confidence Index for either type of vehicle.
The index score of 55 (out of 100) for EVs was identical to the second-quarter score, and the score of 36 for self-driving cars was unchanged as well. The survey included responses from 5,000 consumers and industry experts polled for each index, and sentiment was segmented as low (0 to 40 index), neutral (41 to 60) and positive (61 to 100).
Kristin Kolodge, executive director, driver interaction and human machine interface research at J.D. Power, commented, “It was a little surprising to find consumer sentiment about self-driving vehicles and electrification has stayed flat, but it shows that consumers are really steadfast in their opinions about new mobility technologies right now, regardless of how close they are to being available for purchase.”
Consumer confidence in EVs remains neutral, with the lowest scores coming in response to questions about the likelihood of purchasing an EV and the reliability of EVs compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. Regarding the first, sentiment is split between previous owners and non-owners of EVs.
More than half (60%) of previous EV owners are “extremely” or “very” likely to purchase another one. A similar percentage (59%) of non-owners are “not too likely” or “not at all likely” to purchase an EV.
More than three-quarters of previous owners (77%) and non-owners (76%) said that tax credits would factor into their purchase decision, but because only 4% of respondents have owned an EV (compared with 68% who haven’t even ridden in one), the total score tumbled.
Both, however, acknowledge the environmental benefit of EVs (63%), and half believe that electricity will be a cheaper fuel than gasoline. But availability of charging stations and worries over driving range continue to dampen consumers’ desire to purchase an EV.
It’s worth noting that European consumers are also cautious about committing to an EV purchase. The continent’s automakers are pleading with policymakers to build out a charging station infrastructure and provide more consumer subsidies to boost EV sales. European carmakers are under considerably more pressure than their U.S. counterparts to meet stringent emissions cuts by 2030: a reduction of 37.5% by 2030, on top of a 40% reduction required by 2021.
When it comes to self-driving cars, Americans are decidedly cool. They are uncomfortable both with self-driving cars and self-driving public transit, even though about two-thirds (68%) say they have little or no knowledge about self-driving technology. The possibility of technology failures or errors causes the most worries.
J.D. Power’s Kologe noted, “Charging, cost and range are unavoidable challenges for battery-electric vehicles when compared with traditional vehicles. Automakers should focus as much on developing some overriding advantages instead of just working on minimizing the disadvantages. Consumers don’t know what to ask for but there are all sorts of possibilities. The first automakers to solve this will have a huge advantage.”
If that were easy to do, we’d all be driving EVs already.
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Spanish contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) Idifarma has announced its plans to meet forthcoming EU serialisation regulations with a €200,000 investment
The investment will see the installation of the Antares Vision Print&Check EVO-TE carton serialisation station at its EU-GMP approved plant in Pamplona, Spain and comes ahead of the EU Falsified Medicines Directive’s (EU FMD) February 2019 deadline for the serialisation of licensed drug products.
The industry-wide EU FMD regulation is a legal requirement for all pharmaceutical companies intended to improve traceability of drugs, help in the fight against counterfeit products entering the supply chain and ultimately improve patient safety.
Luis Oquiñena, General Manager and co-founder of Idifarma, said: “Recognising our role in combatting counterfeit medicines and supporting our customers with new regulatory requirements, we have taken a proactive approach and have been preparing for the arrival of this legislation for a long time now.”
“We have worked closely with the manufacturers of this machine and track and trace software vendors to specify our requirements according to our clients’ needs across the world.”
“This machine offers us the flexibility to upgrade for future regulatory or client requirements and will enable us to help protect our clients’ products and the public against counterfeit pharmaceuticals.”
The company anticipates that the equipment will be operational six months ahead of the EU FMD deadline.
Oquiñena said: “Our investment will offer real support to our clients as they too prepare to meet the regulations. We will be able to serialise commercial batches manufactured by Idifarma for clients, but we will also be able to offer standalone serialisation services as an outsourcing partner.”
“As the deadline draws closer we fully expect to see demand for these specialised outsourced services to increase.”
The investment in serialisation follows the expansion of its capsule filling capabilities in 2017 and strengthens Idifarma’s position as a specialised contract partner for the development and manufacturing of oral solid dosage forms, including high potency compounds and niche pharmaceuticals requiring small batches.


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The beauty industry makes bank in the United States. According to a report by Nielsen, “Americans spent over $12 billion on beauty and personal care products online over the last year.” But while the money continues to flow, there’s still a disconnect between brands and shoppers when it comes to making sure everyone feels “represented in the beauty community.”
Yahoo Lifestyle asked seven individuals to define beauty and explain why “diversity is not a trend.”
According to stylist and editor Derek Du Jour, if brands, companies, and influencers used their “massive platforms” to promote and use diverse casts, “it can help alleviate hate, racism, transphobia, and homophobia.”
Plus-size model and Yahoo Lifestyle contributor Natalie Hage agrees, noting, “If it was absolutely normal to see somebody in a wheelchair be the star of the show or somebody who is a size 22 to go down a runway, I think people would be less judgmental overall.”
Watch the video above to learn exactly why the beauty industry can stand to learn a lot from influencers Arshia Moorjani, Leah Vernon, Derek Du Jour, Monicastylemuse, Al Malonga, Natalie Hage, and Valerie Eguavoen on how to make diversity and inclusion a part of its DNA.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:


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- US stocks popped higher Thursday, cementing a gain of 3% for the Nasdaq Composite.
- Investors piled into Meta Platforms’ shares after the social media company reported results on Wednesday.
- Apple and Amazon shares gained before quarterly results were released late Thursday.
Stocks soared Thursday, paced by tech shares after Meta Platforms’ quarterly report raised expectations for upbeat results from other giants in the sector just before investors close the books on a losing month.
The tech-concentrated Nasdaq Composite scored its second consecutive rise of at least 3%. The session’s star was Meta Platforms as the company posted a first-quarter rise in daily active users by 3 million from the last quarter to 1.96 billion, beating analyst expectations of 1.95 billion. Qualcomm also jumped following a solid sales forecast from the smartphone chips maker.
Meta’s stock surge inspired gains for Amazon and Apple ahead of quarterly results due late Thursday from the tech giants.
was the best performing on the S&P 500 Index and lead gains among 10 other groups. Thursday’s gain for the Nasdaq Composite helped tug the index modestly away from
Here’s where US indexes stood at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday:
Investors appeared to set aside the Commerce Department’s report that US gross domestic product shrank by 1.4% in the first quarter of 2022, a contraction that was unexpected. “Volatile inventory and net exports were the primary contributors, partially offset by strong private final domestic demand. That said, strong consumer spending momentum will provide a solid take-off point for growth in Q2,” said economists at Barclays in a note.
Around the markets, bearish sentiment in the stock market has surged to its highest level since the great financial crisis.
Twitter rose after its first-quarter report was released, with the social media platform in focus this week after it agreed to sell itself to billionaire investor and Tesla boss Elon Musk for $44 billion. The FTC reportedly is looking at whether Elon Musk’s initial 9% stake in Twitter violated antitrust rules.
Elsewhere, Teladoc tanked more than 40% during the session after a massive first-quarter loss, costing Cathie Wood’s ARK more than $400 million.
Oil prices turned higher. West Texas Intermediate crude notched a 3.2% increase to $105.33 per barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 2.2% to $107.68.
Gold added on 0.1% at $1,891.40 per ounce. The 10-year yield flipped up, gaining 3 basis points at 2.87%.
Bitcoin rose 1.5% to $39,690.35.


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Google's previous flagship is still worthy of consideration, especially at this mid-range price.
The charger is a $99 value, so if you wanted to grab one anyway, the phone has just become that much cheaper.
Yes, it's yet another Facebook related scandal.
The camera mostly does okay in good light, but it runs into trouble in low light and high contrast scenes. Corner softness is a constant issue too.
It fixes the battery misreporting and delivers a more stable Bluetooth connection.
Samsung Indonesia posted a page with details on the Galaxy A-series, ahead of the April 10 event.
An "unreleased smartphone" was used by a pro filmmaker to shoot beautiful video in Cancun, Mexico.
Oppo will launch the device in the first half of this year. There's also a 4G-only version of the Reno.
The phone with a model number XT1970-1 appeared at the Wi-Fi Alliance website.
More specs and renders were spotted, including from Huawei’s own website.
The phone will cost CNY3,699 ($550) and will start shipping in three weeks.
The update is currently only rolling out in a single country and a wider release is expected next month.
It is powered by Kirin 710 SoC and rocks a triple camera setup at the back.
It's been available for Android users since January last year.
The Moto Z4 and Z4 Play might both have single main cameras but the Z4 Play might be launching first.


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By Shermain Bique-Charles
A ‘no-sail order’ announced by the world’s largest cruise industry trade body is not expected to significantly impact Antigua and Barbuda’s beleaguered tourism sector.
That is the belief of Tourism Minister Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez who spoke to Observer yesterday following the announcement from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Friday’s press statement said major cruise lines, including Carnival, Norwegian, Disney and Royal Caribbean, had voluntarily extended their suspension of voyages out of US ports from July 24 until September 15.
“Traditionally, that season is normally slow. Few, if any calls, would come at this time,” Fernandez said.
He continued, “The season really ramps up around November and December. We won’t be missing out in any great extent.”
The country’s tourism industry has been slowly rebounding following a decision to reopen the boarders but much remains stalled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Fernandez said the decision by leading cruise companies had both pros and cons.
“It gives me confidence that they want to make sure that everything is right in terms of health protocols before they leave the port,” he said.
It also allows Antigua and Barbuda ample time to put its own regulations in place, he explained.
“The Ministry of Health would have to approve their protocols and we will also be able to add our own protocols. We are pleased to see that there is very rigid protocols placed on the cruise industry,” he said.
With more than 50 cruise line members, CLIA represents more than 95 percent of the global cruise industry, serving over 24 million passengers each year.


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Beware! you’ve got spam
Today, India might have reached 100 million internet users, but the country also tops the list when it comes to spam emails and phishing crimes. More than 35% of the cyber crime cases in our country are related to spams and there have been only three convictions till date.
The situation is going from bad to worse when one talks about spam victims in India. Last week, authorities arrested six foreign nationals suspected of defrauding hundreds of people using text message and email scams. Last month, Nasscom revealed that 50% of the 6,00,000 fresh engineers every year are soft targets for fake job letters. “At least five tech companies amongst the top ten have showed concerns that fresh candidates are being conned through fake emails offering job letters to them,” says Sangeeta Gupta, senior vice-president, Nasscom.
According to Symantec, phishing on non-Indian brands with Indian geo-location saw a huge increase of around 61.47% in November last year on a monthly basis. Between October 2010 and October 2011, all Indian brands targeted in phishing attacks were in the banking sector. 37 non-Indian brands were attacked that were hosted in India. Bangalore tops the list of cities that hosted phishing sites in India followed by New Delhi. Mumbai and Hyderabad are on the 3rd and 4th place respectively.
Symantec India managing director Shantanu Ghosh says, “Over 70% of all the emails that go around the world
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Every year, about 1,000 FIU students work hand in hand with celebrity chefs and hospitality professionals (many of whom are FIU alumni) to put on one of the biggest wine and food festivals in the nation – The Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival presented by Food & Wine. In 2012, FIU News followed student coordinators during the four-day festival. See their stories in the video above.
This year, FIU News is following FIU interns and alumni who run many of the events and are responsible for sponsorship, logistics and operations. Visit FIU News on Feb. 18 for the first of a two-part video series featuring their stories. The 2014 festival begins Feb. 20–23. Tickets are still available at sobefest.com.
Going into its 13th year, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival began as a one-day festival known as the Florida Extravaganza held at Biscayne Bay Campus. For five years, from 1997-2001, the Florida Extravaganza showcased wines from national and international wineries paired with food from local restaurants and chefs working with students of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. In 2002, Lee Brian Schrager, then director of Special Events and Media Relations at Southern Wine & Spirits of America, took the reigns of the one-day festival and brought his vision for the festival to life by relocating it to South Beach.
To date, the festival has raised more than $18 million for FIU.


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Marvell Technology, a semiconductor manufacturer and networking chips designer, is set to release its Q4 earnings report after the market closes tomorrow. Last quarter, the company reported revenues of $1.42 billion, which was a 7.7% decrease year-over-year. However, this beat analyst expectations by 1.3%, indicating some strength in the business despite underwhelming revenue guidance for the next quarter and a decline in gross margin.
Heading into the earnings report, analysts are expecting Marvell Technology’s revenue to grow by 0.3% year-over-year to $1.42 billion. This is a slower pace compared to the 5.6% increase the company saw in the same quarter last year. Adjusted earnings are expected to be $0.46 per share.
Many analysts covering the company have maintained their estimates over the last month, indicating stability in expectations for the business. However, Marvell Technology has missed Wall Street’s revenue estimates twice over the past two years. Despite this, investors have shown positive sentiment towards the stock with shares up on average by 8.7% over the last month and an analyst price target of $75.1 compared to a share price of $79.6 as of now .
Looking at the performance of peers in the semiconductor manufacturing segment who have already reported Q4 earnings, it seems that there are challenges facing this industry as a whole . However, there has been positive sentiment among investors in this sector with stocks up on average by 8


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DETROIT - Twinkie lovers, relax.
The tasty cream-filled golden spongecakes are likely to survive, even though their maker will be sold in bankruptcy court.
Hostess Brands Inc., baker of Wonder Bread as well as Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho Ho's, will be in a New York bankruptcy courtroom Monday to start the process of selling itself.
The company, weighed down by debt, management turmoil, rising labor costs and the changing tastes of America, decided on Friday that it no longer could make it through a conventional Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring. Instead, it's asking the court for permission to sell assets and go out of business.
But with high brand recognition and $2.5 billion in annual revenue, other companies are interested in bidding for at least pieces of Hostess, like rights to the names of popular snack cakes as well as recipes.
Strikers in Lenexa have abandoned their post, leaving behind a windblown tent, soggy posters and a handful of chairs.
Friday Hostess sent home letters with18,000 employees across the country, including those in the Kansas City metro, explaining the company won't pay employees' severance pay.
In most states, employees will be offered unemployment benefits, but in Kansas those that went on strike could even be denied those state benefits, according to rules set out by the Kansas Department of Labor.
As for Hostess, the company will be forced to sell off its assets. A judge is now expected to appoint a company to help hostess through liquidation which could take up to a year.
Hostess' 500 bakery outlets across the country and here in the metro will stay open for the next few weeks as the company sells its remaining products. News of Hostess' bankruptcy caused sales of Twinkies and other snacks to be sold at inflated prices online.


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Mega Man #1 Cover Reveal Exclusive
Your exclusive first peek at Archie Comics' variant for issue #1
Archie Comics is set to add another video game icon to their stable of books when the brand new Mega Man #1 debuts this May. Joining their successful Sonic the Hedgehog comic books is Capcom's Blue Bomber as he sets out on a quest to bring Dr. Wily's latest evil scheme to a halt.
Written by Ian Flynn (Sonic the Hedgehog) with art by Patrick "Spaz" Spaziante, John Workman, and Matt Herms, Mega Man #1 debuts with a cover by Spaziante and a 1-in-5 Variant Cover by Chad Thomas, which we've got the exclusive reveal of below!
Mega Man #1 will be on shelves May 4, 2011.