On March 1st, inside the iconic Prix d’Ami, Tical Europa — the European branch of the brand created by Method Man — officially celebrated its launch with a private and exclusive gathering in Amsterdam.

The event, organized by Tical Europa with the support of W.edy Wonder and CakeZone, brought together fewer than 100 selected guests including internationally recognized artists, entrepreneurs and key figures from Amsterdam’s cultural and creative scene.

Held on the eve of the European tour opening of the Wu-Tang Clan, the evening represented more than a celebration: it was a moment where hip-hop culture, international connections and creative communities met in an intimate setting.

Artists and special guests

The guest list reflected the global reach of the culture. Four members of the Wu-Tang Clan were present: Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon and Masta Killa. Also attending were Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz from Onyx, representing one of the most influential groups in hardcore hip-hop. One memorable moment of the night captured Fredro Starr and Method Man greeting each other while standing on a sofa — a spontaneous moment reflecting the mutual respect between long-standing figures of the culture. The European scene was strongly represented as well. Dutch rapper BlabberMouf — member of the collective Het VerZet and also vocalist of the renowned producer duo L’Entourloop — attended the event, alongside UK lyricist Verb T, a respected figure from High Focus Records and member of The Four Owls. Amsterdam-based singer Gordito (Tribal Kush) also joined the evening. Italian artists were present as well, including MastaFive — founder of the renowned freestyle competition Tecniche Perfette — and Moreno, alongside members of the Italian underground community living abroad such as Tre Fedi and others.

The Italian contribution to the event’s organization

The event also reflected the international nature of the European hip-hop network behind the project. Among the key contributors involved in organizing the evening were two Italian professionals: Roor Connoisseur and DJ Fastcut.

Roor Connoisseur, originally from Southern Italy and now based in Amsterdam, is an entrepreneur and founder of Wonderflow Records. Through collaborations with W.edy Wonder he has helped develop several international initiatives connecting artists and hip-hop communities across Europe. Alongside him, DJ Fastcut — a respected producer and DJ in the Italian hip-hop scene — is known for creating the hip-hop format Dead Poets and for his work in promoting lyric-driven hip-hop culture. Both are active members of Wonderflow Records and CakeZone Entertainment.

Their involvement contributed to shaping the event’s production and coordination, highlighting the collaborative spirit that continues to connect the European and international hip-hop scenes.

Amsterdam as a meeting point for hip-hop culture

With its open and international character, Amsterdam continues to position itself as one of Europe’s natural meeting points for hip-hop culture. The city’s ability to bring together artists, entrepreneurs and creative communities makes it an ideal setting for projects that aim to connect scenes across borders.

The launch of Tical Europa at Prix d’Ami highlighted exactly that spirit: a night where established legends, emerging artists and cultural operators shared the same space, celebrating the past, present and future of hip-hop culture in Europe.

Baar (March 9, 2026) – SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published SafeGuardS 033.26, reporting on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) direct final rule, 16 CFR 1241. This incorporates the latest version of the ASTM F2933 standard for crib mattresses, with retained modifications.

ASTM F2933-25 introduces multiple updates, including new definitions, expanded performance requirements and test methods, to existing provisions and editorial revisions. These improvements provide clearer scope language and strengthen performance and testing criteria to enhance repeatability and reproducibility of test results.

The direct final rule includes several existing CPSC modifications not addressed in ASTM F2933-25. These requirements are maintained to avoid any reduction in safety.

SGS experts publish SafeGuardS to keep stakeholders informed about regulatory changes that could impact their business. SafeGuardS 033.26 provides further information on the retained modifications and a link to a read-only copy of ASTM F2933-25.

Stakeholders are encouraged to refer to the original SafeGuardS 033.26 for more details.

SGS toy and juvenile product services
SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with relevant standards for childcare articles and children’s equipment. They provide consulting, training, product development, testing, audit and inspection services to ensure that products comply with strict regulations worldwide, demonstrating the safety and quality of juvenile products being brought to the market. After all, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s toy and juvenile product services.

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full US CPSC Issues Direct Final Rule for Crib Mattresses SafeGuardS.

Subscribe today and receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information, contact:

Ramiro Mantilla
Laboratory Supervisor, Toys and Juvenile Products, Hardlines
Tel: +1 (973) 575-5252

Piyush Shah
Technical Director, Hardlines
Tel: +1 (973) 461-7953

Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).

Baar (March 10, 2025) – SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is pleased to announce a complimentary webinar, ‘Traceability, Transparency and Digital Product Passport – Status & Solutions for the Textile and Footwear Supply Chain’, taking place on March 19, 2026.

As the EU advances its transition toward a circular economy, new regulations such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) are reshaping expectations for product data, life cycle visibility and verified sustainability information. For textile and footwear businesses, this shift demands stronger traceability systems, enhanced transparency and readiness for the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which will fundamentally change how products are documented and communicated across the supply chain.

SGS’s expert-led webinar will provide a clear overview of the evolving regulatory landscape, explain what traceability and transparency really mean in practice and outline the latest developments in DPP requirements. Presenters Frank Kempe and Nicole Zhu will share insights into key challenges, industry trends and practical approaches for meeting future compliance expectations. Attendees will also learn how enhanced data collection and digital documentation support informed decision‑making and strengthen stakeholder trust.

With examples and solutions tailored to the needs of global apparel and footwear brands, the session will help businesses understand what to prepare for now and how to leverage SGS’s technical expertise to navigate these changes confidently.

This webinar is ideal for brands, retailers, manufacturers, sustainability specialists, compliance managers, product developers, quality professionals and supply chain teams working in the textile and footwear sectors.

Interested parties should register now for more information.

IMPACT NOW for sustainability
SGS‘s sustainability impact services help softlines businesses meet rising environmental expectations and evolving regulatory demands. Through the IMPACT NOW for sustainability initiative, SGS provides innovative solutions built around four pillars – climate, circularity, nature and ESG assurance – which enable organizations to reduce risk, strengthen compliance and drive measurable, sustainable progress. Discover circularity-focused solutions within the IMPACT NOW for sustainability framework.

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 100,000 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).

Crystron Technologies announced a sponsored research collaboration with Drexel University to support the continued advancement of Crystron’s integrated cathode–electrode innovation.

Chesterbrook, PA, USA | February 04, 2026 -- Crystron Technologies Inc. announced a sponsored research collaboration with Drexel University and Wesley Chang, PhD, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics in Drexel’s College of Engineering and director of its Electrochemical Dynamics Laboratory, to support the continued advancement of Crystron’s integrated cathode–electrode innovation.

The collaboration applies the Lab’s system-level battery diagnostics and mechanics-informed analytical methods to evaluate how advanced battery architectures behave under real-world operating conditions. This approach is uniquely aligned with Crystron’s integrated design philosophy, where materials, interfaces, and manufacturability are developed as a unified system.

“Crystron’s integrated approach presents an opportunity to rethink how cathode and electrode systems are evaluated and optimized,” said Professor Chang. “Our laboratory focuses on understanding battery behavior as a coupled, evolving system, which is critical for translating new architectures into reliable, scalable technologies.”

For Crystron, the engagement strengthens independent validation, accelerates development milestones, and reduces scale-up risk—key priorities for investors and public-sector partners supporting domestic battery manufacturing.

“This collaboration directly supports our mission to move integrated battery innovations from lab to factory,” said Rajesh Tripathi, CTO of Crystron Technologies. “Partnering with Drexel enables rigorous evaluation while preserving our proprietary processes and reinforcing U.S.-based innovation.”

The collaboration underscores Crystron’s commitment to disciplined commercialization, workforce development, and strengthening the domestic energy-storage ecosystem.

For more information, visit https://www.crystrontech.com

Press & Media Contact:
Akilesh Kumar
Crystron Technologies
851 Duportail Rd
Chesterbrook, PA 19087
United States
+1 214-315-5925
https://www.crystrontech.com

Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico – February 2026 – Fine-art travel photographer Leslie Brashear announced today the expansion of her North America photography collections, featuring new work from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, along with the launch of a new website dedicated exclusively to fine-art photography prints.

In late 2025 and early 2026, Brashear traveled extensively throughout North America, documenting a wide range of landscapes, cityscapes, and everyday moments. New photographs have been added to multiple collections on her primary website, lesliebrashearphotos.com, including California, Napa Valley, the United States, Mexico, and a newly introduced Canada collection—marking her first time photographing in Canada. Destinations include Napa Valley, San Diego, San Francisco, Lake Almanor, Oregon, Washington, Vancouver, and the surrounding areas of British Columbia, as well as locations throughout Mexico such as Tulum, Guadalajara, Tequila, Chapala, and Mazatlán.

“These travels allowed me to slow down and truly observe how light, color, and daily life shape each place,” said Brashear. “From expansive landscapes to quiet streets and coastal sunsets, each location offered a distinct visual story.”

Photographs on lesliebrashearphotos.com are available in a variety of formats, including fine-art prints, canvas, framed prints, metal, and acrylic, along with select home décor and stationery items such as mugs, pillows, notebooks, and greeting cards.

In addition to expanding her main photography website, Brashear has launched a new online destination focused solely on fine-art photography prints. The new site presents a curated selection of 76 photographs, with additional works planned for release over time. By offering prints only, the site provides a streamlined collecting experience and more accessible pricing while maintaining the same emphasis on archival quality and craftsmanship. Explore the fine-art print collection at https://lesliebrashear.com.

A portion of every purchase made on either website is donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), supporting research and patient advocacy efforts. Donations directly benefit Brashear’s family Purple Stride team, Curt’s Cancer Crushers, established in honor of her late brother, Curt, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in January 2025. Curt’s own photography is also featured in a dedicated collection on Brashear’s primary site.

Explore the photography collections, including recent work from Mexico, at: https://lesliebrashearphotos.com/collections/mexico

About Leslie Brashear:

Leslie Brashear is a fine-art travel photographer whose work reflects a lifelong connection to photography and a passion for exploring new places. After beginning her career as a photo lab technician, she later embraced a full-time travel lifestyle, allowing her to document destinations throughout the world with an emphasis on light, atmosphere, and visual storytelling. Her photography invites viewers to experience both iconic locations and the quieter moments that define them.

For more information, visit https://lesliebrashearphotos.com or contact Leslie Brashear at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Contact:

Leslie Brashear

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Media, gallery, and exhibition inquiries welcome.