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Federal regulators have charged two major US food companies, Kraft and Mondelez, for manipulating prices for wheat and wheat futures in a scheme that earned profits of more than $5.4 million.

The civil charges against the companies were announced by the Commodity Futures trading Commission yesterday.

The agency also said that both the companies also used manipulative trading strategies in December 2011 in an attempt to artificially lower wheat prices on the spot market.

Northfield based company, Kraft, is a producer of Oscar Meyer cold cuts, Jell-O pudding and Velveeta cheese that are among other well-known brands.

Oreo cookies, Cadbury chocolate and Trident gum are among the brands of Mondelez, in Deerfield, Ill.

A report has been released by a group of Western-state governors on voluntary efforts in 11 states, aimed at conserving the habitat of sage grouse.

This is a part of an attempt to avoid a federal listing of the bird under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Western Governors' Association released the 32-page '2014 Sage-Grouse Inventory' on Thursday.

Idaho Gov. C. L. 'Butch' Otter said that the states have surely completed work that was asked of them to help the federal government understand that a listing is not required. Otter has also suggested ideas to protect habitat incorporated by federal planners.

On Wednesday, McDonald's announced that it will increase wages and offer new benefits to its 90,000 employees in the 1,500 outlets in America. The unveiling acts as a solution to protests made by workers and also to lessen competitive pressure.

McDonald's said that the pay rise will be applicable from July 1 in which the average hourly pay rate of employees will increase to $1 above the required minimum wage. By the end of 2016, the company will increase the hourly pay rise more than $10.

The company also said that it is planning to come up with new vacation benefits for its employees. Those who will not be taking the vacation will receive the payment for the value of time. But a fast food workers organization is not happy and affirmed that the increase is not sufficient.

On Wednesday, Walmart praised Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson for refusing to sign a bill that could encourage discrimination by allowing business owners to refuse service to LGBT customers.

A similar disputed bill, known as Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), was signed last week in Indiana by Gov. Mike Pence.

It says that governments can't interfere on a person's religious rights unless it has a compelling government interest and is acting in the least intrusive way possible.

Since he signed the law, several public figures and businesses have come out against it since the legislature would legally protect employers, landlords and business owners who discriminate against LGBT people on religious grounds.

Some people look older than their age and some look younger than they really are. A new 3D technology will help if a person is aging at right pace or faster.

The researchers said when they were studying aging they found many several biological markers in blood that provided hint of aging visible on the faces of people. To cite an example, women who look older have higher levels of bad cholesterol in their body, while men having lower levels of albumin in their blood plasma.

A special camera called 3dMDface System was used to assess the facial scans of 332 Chinese people. The researchers also took blood samples from the participants aged between 17 and 77 years of age. Main aim was to identify common markers present in blood which are associated with aging.

The Windham man who is planning to donate a kidney to a 24-year-old South Portland woman does not have to worry about money when he will take off from work due to the surgery.

Through a Go Fund Me campaign, he has been able to raise up to more than $40,000 and more contributors are coming in. Local, national and international media focused on the story after it was published in a Portland Press Herald article.

The article and video unveiled about Josh Dall-Leighton's decision of giving his kidney to Christine Royle. Last fall, Dall-Leighton saw a sign on Christine Royles' car, which read: "Looking for someone to donate me their kidney. Must have type O blood".