Latest news with #Liu
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Exposé sheds light on shocking truth behind popular fashion brand's operations: 'We have no choice'
Workers making ultracheap Shein clothing in Guangzhou, China, face grueling 14-hour shifts with just one day off per month, despite earning fair wages compared to local standards, reported NZZ. In an area nicknamed "Shein Village" on the outskirts of Guangzhou, over a thousand factories operate almost exclusively for the popular online retailer. Workers earn about 8,000 yuan ($1,100) monthly — three times the local minimum wage — but must work more than twice the legally permitted hours to meet production quotas. "We have no choice," said Liu, a 42-year-old worker who irons clothing and stands for more than 10 hours daily. "What should my family eat and drink?" Chinese authorities are aware of these labor violations but ignore them to preserve jobs in an economy facing rising unemployment. Han Dongfang, who heads the Hong Kong-based China Labor Bulletin, fights for workers' rights but faces resistance from officials who prioritize economic activity over regulations. The working conditions in Shein factories reflect the fast-fashion business model's faults. Shein's "small batches, quick turnaround" strategy puts immense pressure on suppliers to deliver rapidly when designs sell well. This approach lets the company keep inventory costs low and pass savings to customers through rock-bottom prices. When you buy a $7 top or $12 jeans from Shein, that affordability comes at a human cost. While workers receive decent pay by local standards, they sacrifice their health and family time to keep up with production demands. This model also creates massive textile waste. Fast-fashion companies design clothing to deteriorate quickly, sending garments to landfills after just a few wears. The industry's focus on constantly changing styles and low-quality materials means millions of tons of textiles are wasted each year. The environmental impact is more than waste. Textile production requires significant water usage and often involves harmful chemicals that pollute local water sources when factories don't properly treat wastewater. You can make choices that support workers and the planet. Consider buying fewer but higher-quality garments that last longer. This approach might cost more upfront but saves money over time as pieces don't need frequent replacement. Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to recycle old clothes and electronics? Giving me money back Letting me trade for new stuff Making it as easy as possible Keeping my stuff out of landfills Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Thrifting offers another great solution with substantial financial benefits. You can find unique items at a small fraction of retail prices while giving clothing another life and keeping it out of pollution-spewing landfills. Some companies are now embracing more sustainable practices. Brands that openly share information about their supply chains and worker conditions give you the power to make informed choices about where your money goes. Supporting policies that require fashion companies to implement fair labor practices and environmental standards can drive industry-wide change. Your purchasing decisions send a powerful message about the kind of fashion industry you want to support. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
No camera? No problem: US engineers bend quantum rules to create 3D holograms
Holographic imaging just got a quantum at Brown University, including two undergraduate students, have developed a groundbreaking imaging technique that uses quantum entanglement to produce detailed 3D holograms without relying on traditional infrared cameras. By pairing invisible infrared light to illuminate microscopic objects with visible light entangled at the quantum level, the novel technique captures not just intensity, but also the phase of light waves—an essential ingredient for true holographic imaging. The result is sharp, depth-rich 3D images created using light that never actually touched the object. 'It sounds impossible, but they did it,' said Professor Jimmy Xu, a professor in Brown's School of Engineering and one of the supervising researchers, in a press release. Dubbed Quantum Multi-Wavelength Holography, the technique overcomes longstanding challenges like phase wrapping, using dual entangled wavelengths to dramatically expand depth range. 'The technique allows us to gather better and more accurate information on the thickness of the object, which enables us to create accurate 3D images using indirect photons,' said Moe (Yameng) Zhang, a junior concentrating in engineering physics at Brown who co-led the work with fellow undergraduate Wenyu Liu. Zhang and Liu presented their work earlier this month at the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics. Along with Xu, the work was supervised by Petr Moroshkin, a senior research associate. 'You could call this infrared imaging without an infrared camera,' Xu said. 'It sounds impossible, but they did it. And they did it in a way that enables great depth resolution in the images it produces.' Traditional imaging methods, like X-rays or regular photographs, work by capturing light that bounces off an object. Quantum imaging, on the other hand, relies on the strange but powerful phenomenon of quantum entanglement—what Einstein once called 'spooky action at a distance.' When two photons are entangled, a change in one instantly affects the other, no matter how far apart they are. In this technique, one photon—called the 'idler'—interacts with the object, while its entangled partner—the 'signal' photon—is used to actually form the image. In the Brown team's new approach, they used a special crystal to generate pairs of photons: infrared photons to scan the object and visible-light photons to create the image. This setup offers a big advantage: Infrared light is ideal for probing delicate or hidden structures, while visible light allows imaging using standard, affordable detectors. 'Infrared wavelengths are preferred for biological imaging because they can penetrate skin and are safe for delicate structures, but they require expensive infrared detectors for imaging,' said Liu. 'The advantage of our approach is that we can use infrared for probing an object, but the light we use for detection is in visible range. So we can use standard, inexpensive silicon detectors.' The major breakthrough in this work is bringing quantum imaging into the 3D world by solving a common problem called 'phase wrapping.' This issue comes up in imaging methods that rely on the phase of light waves—their peaks and valleys—to measure the depth of an object. When the features on an object are deeper than the light's wavelength, the wave pattern can repeat, making it hard to tell apart shallow features from deeper ones. To navigate this, the Brown team used two sets of entangled photons with slightly different wavelengths. This small difference creates a much longer 'synthetic' wavelength, allowing the system to accurately measure much deeper contours and produce more reliable 3D images. 'By using two slightly different wavelengths, we effectively create a much longer synthetic wavelength — about 25 times longer than the originals,' Liu said. 'That gives us a much larger measurable range that's more applicable to cells and other biological materials.' The team successfully created a holographic 3D image of a tiny metal letter 'B' about 1.5 millimeters wide to demonstrate the technique in a nod to Brown University. They say it's a strong proof-of-concept that shows the potential of quantum entanglement for generating high-quality 3D images. Both Liu and Zhang said they were excited to share their work at an international scientific conference. 'We had been reading papers by pioneers in this field, so it was great to be able to attend the conference and meet some of them in person,' Zhang said. 'It's really an amazing opportunity.' The research was funded by the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Nissan's struggles open door for Chinese carmakers in SA
Chery SA CEO Tony Liu said the Chinese automaker is exploring all available avenues to establish its first production facility in the country. Liu was responding to a question from TimesLIVE Motoring about whether an established plant, such as the Nissan Rosslyn operation whose future is under doubt, might be of interest. News agency Reuters reported in May that Japanese manufacturer Nissan was considering global plant closures, potentially including shutting the doors of its Tshwane facility. 'SA boasts a proud legacy of local vehicle manufacturing, and Chery is committed to strengthening the industry for generations to come. This would also allow us to enhance our contribution to local communities,' he said. According to Liu, the brand's outlook features two potential pathways: partnering with an existing manufacturer to 'help address current production gaps' or set up its own, dedicated manufacturing plant, realising the 'full production capabilities' of Chery. The CEO said the manufacturer's customer base, which grew to 55,000 over the three years since market re-entry, represents critical mass that has justified a feasibility study to assess how local manufacturing could support its long-term volume aspirations. 'Beyond market size, SA being the largest new car market in Sub-Saharan Africa, Chery recognises SA's role as a gateway into Africa through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.' Liu said local manufacturing would also enable contribution to the domestic supply chain, with commitment to broad-based black Economic empowerment requirements. Meanwhile, Nissan SA representatives have countered the notion that the Rosslyn plant is on borrowed time. 'Nissan wants to clarify the news is not based on any official information of the company,' said head of communications Ramy Mohareb. 'At this stage we are not able to inform you which plants will be affected. Our focus remains on our operations and the dedicated workforce that drives our success,' he told TimesLIVE Motoring. The Rosslyn plant employs 1,080 people and has been operational since 1966. Mohareb was unable to comment on the facility's output, or elaborate on plans to sustain its business and protect local jobs and retailers. In 2024 the brand's top-selling NP200 half-tonne bakkie, produced at Rosslyn, was discontinued. The plant only produces the one-tonne Navara. A well-placed industry insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed the view that Nissan SA, in its present guise, would struggle to find longevity. 'The key to being a successful manufacturer in SA is sufficient export volume, which Nissan never had. The best-selling SA cars and light commercial vehicles only manage about 25,000 units per year, insufficient for competitive manufacturing. This needs to be complemented with a proper export programme to reach a viable volume,' the source said. 'Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Ford have the programmes but Nissan, with a few thousand Navara exports into Africa, aren't close. Getting there is a parent company decision. The SA factory needs to be part of the global supply chain, not a local market factory with a handful of exports to small regional markets.' According to the insider, the peak of Nissan SA's sales dates as far back as the period of 1976 to 1978 when it was the leading manufacturer in SA. 'Its most successful models included the original Datsun 1200s and the B120/140 bakkie, the original Datsun 1600s and the Skylines. The first Maxima and Primera were great cars but not quite the sellers they should have been. On the bakkie side, the Hardbody took the fight to the Hilux, but this faded as the last Hardbody's life was extended, ultimately a life of more than 20 years.' 'In my view, Nissan's product offering didn't keep up with the changing demands of the SA buyer. As the market evolved, moving from sedans to SUVs and crossovers, Nissan's range reduced significantly and the individual products were less competitive within their respective segments.' Mikel Mabasa, CEO of Naamsa, the national automotive business council, said the organisation was waiting for Nissan SA to provide an outline of its local plans. He said Naamsa was concerned by media reports casting doubt over the brand's future in SA. 'Any [possible] closure is not something we take lightly. We have a lot of people employed through such plants, not only those on the production line, but the value chain, including those who support the plant with components. If Nissan decides to discontinue operations, we will activate discussions with them directly, understanding their position and identifying how we can support the future of the facility,' Mabasa said. 'Naamsa will be at the forefront in working with partners to see what can be done to safeguard the plant for future operations,' he said, referencing the 2017 disinvestment of General Motors, where similar conversations were had. 'Isuzu was able to raise their hand and the Gqeberha plant was saved.' Separately, Mabasa confirmed Naamsa had been in discussions with brands who are importers, eyeing SA as a destination for manufacturing operations. He said Naamsa welcomed intentions for new operations by brands, whether it involves repurposing existing plants or establishing a greenfield investment from the ground up. Spokesperson for the department of trade, industry and competition, Bongani Lukhele, said Nissan had not provided formal communications on the issue, and the department was therefore not in a position to respond to queries.
India Gazette
a day ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Foxconn projected sales to hit NTD 7 Trillion in 2025
ANI 30 May 2025, 11:42 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Taiwan's Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry and the world's largest electronics manufacturer, forecast revenues to reach NTD 7 trillion (approximately USD 234.5 billion), marking a nearly 3 per cent increase compared to last year. Last year, Foxconn registered a total of sales of NTD 6.8 group expects solid growth this year despite ongoing uncertainties, including U.S. tariffs, currency fluctuations, and a shifting global political and economic landscape, said Young Liu, Hon Hai Chairman, while addressing the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), according to Focus said he was confident that the annual revenue of the company would surpass NTD 7 trillion, with a strong chance of hitting a new forward, the company sees information and communications technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), and electric vehicles (EVs) as the three main focuses of the company. According to the company's chairman, Foxconn has developed nine prototypes for EVs and is expanding global partnerships through its contract design and manufacturing service (CDMS) model. Young Liu also highlighted at the AGM that the next board of directors will separate the roles of chairman and CEO. Over the next three years, the company plans to move from a rotating CEO system to appointing a permanent chief Thursday's shareholders meeting, Hon Hai completed the re-election of its board. Among those newly elected were Liu and Chang Ching-ray, a consultant at the Hon Hai Research Institute and honorary professor at National Taiwan Chiang Shang-yi, chief strategy officer at Hon Hai and chairman of its affiliate ShunSin Technology Holdings, joined the board for the first time. Christina Liu, a current board member and managing director at the Hong Kong-based Bellwether International Group, secured company noted that five out of the nine board members are independent AGM, Hon Hai shareholders approved the board's recommendation to pay a cash dividend of NTD 5.80 per share, the highest since the company's 1991 initial public offering. This marks the sixth consecutive year the payout ratio has exceeded 50 per cent. (ANI)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hudson's Bay Signs Lease Deal With Chinese Billionaire
Hudson's Bay has entered into a definitive agreement to sell up to 28 leases in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia to Ruby Liu Commercial Investment Corp., a company operating shopping centers in Canada and Asia and controlled by billionaire Ruby Liu. According to information from the Toronto-based Hudson's Bay, Liu intends to launch 'a new modern department store concept' in Canada. She would, however, be unable to operate the stores under the Hudson's Bay banner considering earlier this month the intellectual property of Hudson's Bay was purchased by Canadian Tire Corp., one of Canada's largest retailers, unless some agreement was worked out. Canadian Tire spent 30 million Canadian dollars to own the time-honored HBC stripes and various company names, logos, designs, coat of arms and brand trademarks. More from WWD 'Blooms' Installation on Fifth Avenue to Debut a New Rose Variety New York's Fifth Avenue Transformation Gets Fully Funded With $400 Million Resurrecting Hudson's Bay, in a Limited Way Hudson's Bay filed for creditor protection under the CCAA in March, citing over $1.1 billion in debt. Despite efforts to restructure, the company initiated full liquidation after failing to secure necessary financing. Liu is the chairwoman of Central Walk, which develops and operates commercial real estate in Asia and Canada, including the Mayfair Shopping Centre in Victoria, and Tsawwassen Mills Outlet Shopping Mall and Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Three of the leases sought by Liu are in those three shopping centers in Canada. The locations of the other leases as of yet have not been disclosed. Terms of the agreement were also not disclosed. Liu has a reputation for bringing a variety of events and experiences to her company's mall properties, which offer more than just dining and shopping. She entered Canada's commercial real estate market five years ago by purchasing the Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo. It is believed that the mall is up for sale. In 2021, Liu purchased the Mayfair Shopping Centre in Victoria. A year later she bought Tsawwassen Mills mall in Vancouver. Liu's pending acquisition of the leases is the result of a bidding process where the court determined that the transaction would be in the best interests of Hudson's Bay and its stakeholders and creditors. The company remains in discussions with other bidders regarding certain other lease locations. The deal with Liu requires the approval of the court and the landlords. Currently, Hudson's Bay is liquidating all of its 80 stores, a process expected to be completed next month. The liquidations will cost approximately 8,000 workers in Canada their jobs. Among Hudson's Bay's key locations are those in downtown Toronto on Queen Street; the Yorkdale Shopping Center in Toronto; the Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill, Ontario; in downtown Montreal; in Laval and in Pointe-Claire, both cities in Quebec. Hudson's Bay was part of the same retail group that was led by Richard Baker and owned Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Off 5th. But when Saks purchased the Neiman Marcus Group in December in a $2.7 billion deal, Hudson's Bay was separated from the operation. Baker's NRDC Equity Partners bought Hudson's Bay in 2008 for around $1 billion from the widow of South Carolina industrialist Jerry Zucker, who bought Hudson's Bay two years before for $1.1 billion. Best of WWD Macy's Is Closing 66 Stores in 2025 — Here's the List, Live Updates Inside the Demise of Lord & Taylor COVID-19 Spikes Elevate Retail Concerns
