Tupperware Brands Corp., the Orlando, Florida-based consumer goods company that produces the iconic line of containers, said it was seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after struggling to revitalize its core business and failing to secure a tenable takeover offer.Despite enjoying the same cultural ubiquity as Kleenex, Teflon, and other brands …

FIFA teamed up with the World Health Organization (WHO) for a campaign to educate the soccer industry about the risks of concussion injuries."Concussion is a public health issue of concern at all levels of football, and many other sports, requiring greater levels of awareness and action," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a st…

The scene at Kebap With Attitude in Berlin’s trendy Mitte neighborhood is typical of any street-side stand or restaurant where cooks pile the ingredients into pita bread to create the city’s beloved döner kebab.But the snack’s status could be in jeopardy if the European Commission approves a bid by Turkey to regulate what can legally take the döner…

The head brewmaster for Weihenstephan, the world's oldest brewery, has a secret: He really likes alcohol-free beer.Even though he's quick to say he obviously enjoys real beer more, Tobias Zollo says he savors alcohol-free beer when he's working or eating lunch. It has the same taste, but fewer calories than a soft drink, he said, thanks to the brew…

As one of the world’s most popular takeaway snacks, billions of packets of crisps are consumed every year, with most of them unable to be recycled and ending up in landfill.Now, a farm in the U.K. says it’s on a mission to make the humble packet of crisps a more eco-friendly choice, using fully compostable packaging and a production process that po…

A group of youngsters from a community in Kiambu, Kenya is experiencing the world of VR headsets for the first time.Gathered in their village hall, it’s clear many of them don’t know what to expect as the organizer, Paul Simon Waiyaki Wa Hinga distributes the devices.Waiyaki is a former teacher who was looking for a better way to engage his student…

Starbucks’s new chairman and CEO said that he plans to focus on improving service—particularly during the morning rush—and reestablishing stores as gathering places as he takes over at the struggling coffee giant.In an open letter on the Seattle coffee giant’s website, Brian Niccol said Starbucks is a beloved brand, but he found during conversation…

At the center of the circle is Eiko Araki, a master of the Sanuki Kagari Temari, a Japanese traditional craft passed down for more than 1,000 years on the southwestern island of Shikoku.Each ball, or “temari,” is a work of art, with colorful geometric patterns carrying poetic names like “firefly flowers” and “layered stars.” A temari ball takes wee…

Germany's first hobby horsing championship got underway in Frankfurt, with hundreds of young riders competing in time jumping, style jumping and dressage on their wooden stick horses.Roughly 300 riders—mostly youngsters, but there are about 20 adults enrolled—are expected to canter around a gymnasium, watched by 1,500 spectators. The competition is…

Rust-colored piles of mine waste and sun-bleached wooden derricks loom above the historic Colorado mountain town of Leadville—a legacy of gold and silver mines polluting the Arkansas River basin more than a century after the city’s boom days.The Environmental Protection Agency has been cleaning the area up for decades.One fledgling company called C…

Visitors to Tokyo and Kyoto might not realize it, but Osaka—one of Japan's biggest and oldest cities, known more as a business hub than a tourist destination—is gearing up to host next year's World Exposition.The city has been plastered with the Expo's red-and-blue "Myaku-Myaku" mascot for months and is abuzz with preparations. For many here, the e…

Smart homes and AI-powered kitchen appliances were the hot topics at this year’s IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin.But do consumers want to spend their hard-earned money on the latest tech gadgets?The tech event didn’t officially open until September 6, but big brands had already given a sneak peek of what visitors would be able to see.German…

The office dog is nothing new and is always a treat for the owner, dog, and employees lucky enough to have one. But in Tasmania, one insurance firm has made it a policy that employees’ dogs can join the workforce.For many years now, insurer RACT has permitted its Hobart employees to bring their dogs to the office. In the beginning, Fridays were the…

One doesn’t need to know sign language to understand what Michael Connolly feels about his colleagues’ efforts to break down the barriers posed by his deafness.When asked what he thought of his teammates’ decision to learn British Sign Language (BSL), the 45-year-old autoworker at the Nissan plant in Sunderland, England, grinned and flashed a unive…

“Very demure, very mindful” has become the latest vocabulary defining the internet’s summer. TikTok creator Jools Lebron is working to trademark the use of her now-viral words.Lebron filed to trademark “very demure, very mindful” for various entertainment and advertising services, including the promotion of beauty products, with the U.S. Patent and…

While tennis fans savor the last matches of the U.S. Open, a subset of spectators and TV viewers have watched the year's final Grand Slam tournament as a source of fashion inspiration they can use to serve looks off the court.It may have escaped people who don't pay attention to clothing trends, but cities from Australia to America are awash in sho…

The U.S. government has temporarily halted a plan to remove iconic stray cats that live in a historic district in Puerto Rico’s capital until a lawsuit opposing the project is resolved, a nonprofit announced in September.The ruling was cheered by those fighting a decision by the U.S. National Park Service to remove an estimated 200 cats that meande…

The U.K.'s competition watchdog has launched an investigation into the way more than one million tickets were sold for next year's reunion concerts by iconic 1990s Britpop band Oasis.In a statement, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said its investigation into Live Nation Entertainment's unit Ticketmaster will look specifically at "dynami…

“Clean beauty,” the idea of promoting healthy and environmentally friendly beauty products, is all the rage online and in big-box stores. But knowing exactly what’s in most of the soaps, creams and perfumes on shelves today can be nearly impossible, supply chain experts say, because even products that tout natural, sustainable ingredients are so fa…

An Australian app is setting out to help diners tired of battling background noise when they visit restaurants. The app allows users to search and review restaurants based on noise levels.Open-plan kitchens and sparse furnishing are the modern hallmarks of a trendy restaurant. However, some restauranteurs fail to consider the auditory implications …

While many costs have come down for small businesses, rents remain high and, in some cases are still rising, forcing many owners into some uncomfortable decisions.“Every time the rent goes up, we have to raise prices to keep up with the cost,” said Adelita Valentine, owner of HairFreek Barbers in Los Angeles. “But with the cost of living, it makes …

Japan, a nation so hardworking its language has a term for literally working oneself to death, is trying to address a worrisome labor shortage by coaxing more people and companies to adopt four-day workweeks.The Japanese government first expressed support for a shorter working week in 2021, after lawmakers endorsed the idea. The concept has been sl…

The Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning people to immediately dispose of a magnetic game because it poses serious ingestion risks for children.The CPSC posted a warning that "Magnetic Chess Games" sold by JOMO contain magnets that do not comply with U.S. federal safety regulations. As a result, the "loose, hazardous magnets pos…

A private college in the U.K. is about to start its first class taught using artificial intelligence instead of human teachers.David Game College in London is offering an alternative program of study for 20 GCSE students starting September. GCSEs are the general examinations that all students in the UK take at the age of 16.The platforms learn the …

Online reviews and testimonials are key ways that small businesses can attract new customers and boost sales of products.But fake reviews and testimonials have been a persistent problem for small businesses, many of whom rely on recommendations for business. Fake reviews can make it harder for people to trust what they read online and ultimately hu…

A new law means that all Swedes are now legally required to recycle their food waste.Many cities across the country have been doing so for decades, but it means change in the capital, Stockholm.So, the question is: Has this new law made any difference?Stockholm resident Fabian Säll takes care to recycle his potato peel when he’s preparing a meal. H…

Cheap motorcycles in Uganda are both a blessing and a curse for the capital Kampala—they provide employment for the country’s young population but are also seen as an urban menace in the congested streets.It can look like a game of Russian roulette on these roads in the Ugandan capital Kampala. Motorcycles weave between traffic, jump red lights, an…

Cruise’s trouble-ridden robotaxis are joining Uber’s ride-hailing service next year as part of a multiyear partnership bringing together two companies that were once poised to compete for passengers.The alliance is the latest change in direction for Cruise since its California license to provide driverless rides was suspended in October 2023 after …

They often cover just a few square meters of urban space, and now they’re growing across Australia to cool neighborhoods down on hot days.“Tiny forests,” as they are called, also mature in 10 to 20 years, rather than the usual 100 years, because of the way they’re generated. And that could be a big benefit for Australia’s suburbs.A school in Perth …

A pack of four-legged therapists got a break of their own when they were honored at the airport where they dutifully work to ease stress and calm travelers.The event at Philadelphia International Airport marked five years since the 23 members of the Wagging Tails Brigade began greeting people and serving as therapy dogs. Several of them were presen…

Oklahoma City’s police department is one of a handful to experiment with AI chatbots to produce the first drafts of incident reports. Police officers who’ve tried it are enthused about the time-saving technology, while some prosecutors, police watchdogs, and legal scholars have concerns about how it could alter a fundamental document in the crimina…

The notion that online gaming could help players develop charitable habits seemed bold when the anti-poverty nonprofit Comic Relief US tested its own multiverse on the popular world-building app Roblox last year.As philanthropy wrestles with how to authentically engage new generations of digitally savvy donors, Comic Relief US CEO Alison Moore said…

In the 1980s and ’90s, Ron Spitzer played bass and drums in rock bands—Tot Rocket and the Twins, Western Eyes, and Band of Susans. He sang and wrote songs, toured the country, and recorded albums. When the bands broke up, he continued to make music with friends.But a stroke in 2009 put Spitzer in a wheelchair, partially paralyzing his left arm and …

Trekking through this breathtaking scenery on horseback—this is the experience of Mongolia that the country thinks will tempt Western tourists to pay it a visit.One of the people hoping to show them what’s on offer is tour guide Egjimaa Battsooj. She and her assistant are sorting out saddles and riding gear for a small group of European clients who…

Taxpayers are expected to save billions after the Biden administration inked deals with pharmaceutical companies to knock down the list prices for 10 of Medicare’s costliest drugs.But how much older Americans can expect to save when they fill a prescription at their local pharmacy remains unclear, since the list cost isn’t the final price people pa…

Social media influencers got the royal treatment at the White House on August 14 as President Joe Biden gave a nod to their ability to hold sway with millions of loyal followers.The White House played host to a group of more than 100 influencers, also known as content creators, across a range of media platforms—from chefs and makeup artists to fitn…

Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will continue to live with less water next year from the Colorado River after the U.S. government announced water cuts that preserve the status quo. Long-term challenges remain for the 40 million people reliant on the imperiled river.The 1,450-mile (2,334-kilometer) river is a lifeline for the U.S. West and supplies water…

Swedish health officials said they have identified the first case of a person with the more infectious form of mpox first seen in eastern Congo, a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreaks there and elsewhere in Africa to be a global emergency.The Swedish public health agency said in a statement the patient recently sough…

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a bill that would phase out the use of PFAS, a group of toxic industrial compounds, in firefighters' protective gear.The chemicals—associated with health problems including several types of cancer, such as breast, kidney and testicular cancer—are used in gear to repel water and other substances when f…

After more than a century of address-free living, Carmel-By-the-Sea, a California town known for its white-sand beaches is moving ahead with a plan to assign street numbers to homes and businesses. And many long-time residents aren’t happy about it.The town’s residents and visitors must navigate a woodsy 1-square-mile landscape where houses, stores…

Soft and stretchable jelly-like strips could be the key to providing electric power on and even inside human bodies. Scientists at the University of Cambridge say the stretchability of their newly developed ‘jelly battery’ could be used in implants in our bodies where it was previously impossible.Stephen O’Neil, a PhD researcher at the University o…

The unprecedented mental health crisis for children in the United States often surfaces where they spend much of their days: school. With that in mind, Google’s philanthropic arm is directly financing high school well-being projects on a classroom crowdfunding platform.Google.org on August 12 flash funded all mental health-related listings on Donor…

In the name of consumer protection, a slew of U.S. federal agencies are working to make it easier for Americans to click the unsubscribe button for unwanted memberships and recurring payment services.A broad new government initiative, dubbed “Time Is Money,” includes a rollout of new regulations and the promise of more for industries spanning from …

Fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has launched a new alcohol-free perfume for dogs called 'Fefé' in honor of Domenico Dolce's poodle, but not all vets and pet owners agree it's safe or appropriate.The perfume costs 99 euros ($108) for 100 milliliters (3.4 ounces) and has been certified suitable for animal use. It follows a Safe Pet Cosmetics protocol d…

Older adults find themselves at a unique moment in time with artificial intelligence revolutionizing the technology they use.Classes across the U.S. are now teaching seniors about AI’s ability to transform how they interact with the world—and the threat the technology might pose.Experts from the National Council on Aging in the U.S., an organizatio…

U.S. health officials approved a nasal spray to treat severe allergic reactions, the first needle-free alternative to shots like EpiPen.The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it approved the spray from drugmaker ARS Pharmaceuticals Inc. as an emergency treatment for adults and older children experiencing life-threatening allergic reactions kno…

For a long time, Azerbaijan has attracted tourists with its exotic culture. But now, a new type of luxury traveler is being drawn to the country, located on the border between Eastern Europe and West Asia.A golf course, a rarity for the former Soviet republic, appeared on the slopes of Shahdag Mountain, 160 kilometers away from Azerbaijan’s capital…

Access to braille texts remains a major challenge for many visually impaired students in Africa. Slow progress in the advancement of assistive technology has led to many school dropouts. Now, a group of Ugandan developers has come up with a Blind Assistant app that helps read documents aloud.In the central Ugandan district of Mukono, Sir Apollo Kag…

A study by climate researchers at University College London has found that green roofs planted on the top of buildings are effective at cooling temperatures during the day, but then go on to make the nighttime warmer.In London, many rooftops have been transformed to help cool the city down as temperatures soar. Some are covered in gardens and wildl…

Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka-long’s victory over Italy’s Filippo Macchi at the Paris Olympics has sparked an exchange of insults on social media, with Cheung’s supporters celebrating his win with posts about pineapple pizzas—widely considered a culinary blunder in Italian cooking.Cheung made Hong Kong history in July by beating Macchi 15-14 in the me…