What people are talking about this week in Expo-related news.

Preparations on track (sort of) ... It's down to the wire, folks. Preparations for the Expo are now in the final stages, said Yang Xiong, deputy director of the Shanghai Expo's executive committee and Shanghai's vice mayor. At a Beijing press conference last week, Yang also announced that 90 percent of the pavilions' construction was complete, and that 80 percent of the 42 pavilions built by foreign countries were in decorating stages.

But it seems someone isn't doing their math right. Over the weekend Hong Hao, director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, stated that nearly a fifth of the 100+  Expo pavilions might not be ready to receive visitors when the big show kicks off in May.

Norway Pavilion uniforms ... We wouldn't mind snatching up one of these ourselves. With Norway's Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Trond Giske, paying a visit to Shanghai, the Norwegian Pavilion launched their uniforms with a fashion show earlier this month at the Pudong Shangri-La. Haute couture designer Wenche Lyche was also here to show off the red hot uniforms, which she says were inspired by the classic Norwegian mountain anorak.

Check out TALK's February issue (which hits stands next week!) for an exclusive interview with Lyche in our new Expo Talk series.