OPPO Spotlights the Reno7 5G Portrait Photo and Video

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OPPO Spotlights the Reno7 5G Portrait Photo and Video

   ●   The Reno7 Series consists of three 5G models, all equipped with Portrait Expert features and ground-breaking technology
   ●   Flagship portrait camera system and powerhouse setup for an exceptional content capture and 5G experience
   ●   The Reno7 Series is available to purchase from selected retail partner stores across the GCC

Dubai, UAE, 15 June 2022 – Offering an outstanding camera configuration and AI-enhanced imaging features, OPPO’s Reno7 5G is the portrait expert capable of capturing DSLR-like portraits through features like Portrait Mode, Bokeh Flare Portrait Video, and more. Together with powerful performance provided by the MediaTek Dimensity 900, and enhanced efficiency and productivity from newly launched ColorOS 12, the Reno7 5G is the ultimate companion for users to unleash their unlimited style in portrait.

OPPO Spotlights the Reno7 5G Portrait Photo and Video

REVOLUTIONARY AI ENABLES DSLR-LIKE PORTRAITS ON A SMARTPHONE
Leveraging OPPO’s AI capabilities, the Reno7 5G is equipped with powerful portrait functionality that empowers users to express every side of their personality through more professional portraits.

Central to the portrait experience is the Reno7 5G’s AI-enhanced, triple, high-definition camera setup. On the back of the phone, the Reno7 5G features a 64MP HD main camera, a 118-degree Ultra Wide-Angle camera, and a macro camera which can focus on subjects as close as 4cm away. Meanwhile, the front of the phone sees the inclusion of a 32MP ultra-clear camera.

Based on these powerful hardware foundations, the Reno7 5G comes packed with a series of portrait features driven by leading AI technologies:
   ●   Portrait Mode delivers stunning portrait photos with shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh light spots in the background. The advanced AI algorithm is able to simulate different optical focal lengths to create a depth of field effect similar to a wide aperture DSLR lens. Portrait Mode also offers extra photo enhancement features such as detection and preservation of skin texture and skin tone, with retouching effects that deliver high quality, clear images with a natural and professional depth of field effect.
   ●   Bokeh Flare Portrait Video brings exclusive DSLR-like portrait video capabilities to the Reno 7 5G with just a few clicks. Powered by OPPO’s image processing algorithms, Bokeh Flare Portrait Video delivers real-time processing of portrait video while keeping portrait subjects appearing natural and bright.
   ●   AI Highlight Video can capture details in both background and foreground clearly by automatically making optimizations based on the lighting environment. The Live HDR and Ultra Night Video algorithms of AI Highlight Video are enabled automatically when shooting video on the rear camera.

The Reno7 5G is also equipped with a number of creative image features: AI Color Portrait Video can automatically detect the subject in the video and retain its full original color while turning the rest of the image black and white; Dual-View Video helps users tell their stories from different perspectives by shooting video from both front and rear cameras simultaneously; Portrait Retouching detects different people within a video and applies different retouching effects based on identified traits.The Reno7 5G also offers powerful imaging features in different scenarios, including Ultra Steady Video, Focus Tracking, Ultra-Clear 108MP Image, and Flash Snapshot.

ULTRA-SLIM DESIGN FEATURING THE EVER-EVOLVING OPPO GLOW
Continuing the iconic design of the Reno series, Reno7 5G demonstrates unlimited style with its ultra-slim body, which is about7.81 mm thick and approximately 173 g in weight. The Reno7 5G also features the Reno Series’ iconic OPPO Glow, this time brought to life through two all-new colors: Startrails Blue and Starry Black.

On the front of the Reno7 5G, the 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with 90 Hz refresh rate and 180 Hz touch sampling rate provides a more vivid, smoother viewing experience. The screen is also SGS Eye Care Display Certified as a low-blue light screen, which can help to reduce eye strain during extended use. Moreover, the Reno7 5G is also Netflix HD and Amazon Prime Video Certified, allowing users to experience high quality streaming content in even greater detail.

UNLIMITED POWER FOR A MORE IMMERSIVE GAMING EXPERIENCE
At the heart of the Reno7 5G is the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G SoC. Built using 6 nm process technology, it provides support for both 5G and Wi-Fi 6, ensuring faster connectivity during mobile gaming.

The Reno7 5G also comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage as standard. With RAM Expansion technology developed by OPPO, this 8GB of RAM can be further supplemented with an additional 2GB, 3GB, or 5GB of temporary RAM allocated from unused ROM storage. Additionally, with a large 4,500 mAh battery, 65W SUPERVOOCTM charging, Superpower Saving Mode, and Super Nighttime Standby, the Reno7 5G can be charged to 100% in 31 minutes and used all day even if battery is running low.

Building on its powerful performance foundations, OPPO has optimized the Reno7 5G to provide a more immersive gaming experience by integrating the upgraded HyperBoost suite of technologies: AI Frame Rate Stabilizer monitors system performance and temperature changes in real time and keeps frame rate drops at optimal values to ensure a smoother gaming experience; Quick Startup keeps frequently played games alive in the background, enabling users to jump into a game instantly.

UNLIMITED CONVENIENCE WITH BRAND-NEW COLOROS 12
As part of the first series to come with all-new ColorOS 12, Reno7 5G offers smart efficiency, unparalleled smoothness, and strengthened privacy for an unlimited smartphone experience.

Thanks to Air Gestures, users can answer and mute phone calls, or control popular apps by gesturing with their hands without touching the phone. PC Connect offers more convenient ways to work between multiple devices by seamlessly connecting the Reno7 5G to a PC. Once connected, files, notifications and more can be controlled between the two devices with ease.
Security is also enhanced at the operating system level on the Reno 7 5G. Anti-Peeping for Notifications hides notification content if sensing that someone else is looking at the phone. The ultra-secure user experience has been certified by third-party organizations including ePrivacy, ISO, and TrustArc for data security protocols.

MARKET AVAILABILITY
The Reno7 5G is available now on across OPPO’s e-commerce regional websites and retail partner stores, in two finishes: Startrails Blue and Starry Black. Both models will be available for purchase at a retail price of AED 1,799.

The Reno7 Pro 5G can be purchased at a recommended retail price of AED 2,799 and the Reno7 Z 5G for AED 1,499,

COMIN’ IN HOT! PIZZA HUT LAUNCHES NEW SPICY LOVER’S PIZZA

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COMIN’ IN HOT! PIZZA HUT LAUNCHES NEW SPICY LOVER’S PIZZA

New Spicy Lover’s line delivers on top food trend with layers of heat and three trailblazing recipes

Pizza Hut, known for pioneering iconic pizzas like the Original Stuffed Crust® and Original Pan® pizza, is bringing the heat to the masses with one of its biggest bets of the year: Spicy Lover’s Pizza. The new Spicy Lover’s Pizza joins Meat Lover’s®, Pepperoni Lover’s® and Veggie Lover’s® to round out the fan-favorite Lover’s® line of specialty recipes.

Pizza Hut expands its Lover’s line and brings the heat to the masses with its biggest launch of the year: Spicy Lover’s Pizza and its three trailblazing recipes.

The intentionally crafted Spicy Lover’s Pizza, with its perfectly balanced and flavorful layers of spicy ingredients, is Pizza Hut’s take on one of the hottest food trends out there – an increased hankering for heat. This love of spice – coupled with a spicy void in the pizza space – inspired Pizza Hut to create the game-changing Spicy Lover’s Pizza.

Spicy Lover’s Pizza features a new spicy marinara sauce that provides a touch of heat and sweetness, sliced red chilis and Fiery Flakes made from a custom blend of herbs and crushed red peppers. Each layer of heat is balanced with full zesty flavor – the carefully crafted combination performs an intricate dance on pizza lovers’ tastebuds and brings the spice of life we all so desperately need – resulting in a masterpiece of piquant that offers a craveable bold taste, not burn.

Spicy Lover’s comes in three bold & balanced recipes, each purposely tailored for consumers with a proclivity for adventurous flavors:

  • Spicy Double Pepperoni: The Pepperoni Lover’s dream; layered with spicy marinara sauce, two types of pepperonis – classic and crispy cupped – sliced red chilis and Fiery Flakes
  • Spicy Hawaiian Chicken: A delightful mix of spicy and sweet; spicy marinara sauce, chicken, pineapple, sliced red chilis and Fiery Flakes
  • Spicy Veggie: A colorfully vibrant sight to behold (and eat); spicy marinara sauce, green bell peppers, red onions, mushrooms, sliced red chilis and Fiery Flakes

“Pizza Hut has been making iconic pizzas for generations, and that requires adapting for each new wave of pizza lovers,” said Georgeanne Erickson, chief brand officer, Pizza Hut. “As consumer tastes continue getting more adventurous, the launch of Spicy Lover’s Pizza allows Pizza Hut to satisfy the growing craving for well-balanced, spicy flavor. No other national pizza QSR is offering spicy pizza in the space, and we’re excited to bring this thoughtfully crafted spicy pizza to pizza lovers across the country!”

All three Spicy Lover’s Pizza recipes are available now at participating Pizza Hut locations nationwide for a limited time via contactless delivery, carryout, curbside or Hut Lane™ pickup[1]. Click here to find your nearest Pizza Hut location.

About Pizza Hut®  
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), has more restaurant locations in the world than any other pizza company. Founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kan., Pizza Hut operates nearly 18,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. With easy order options including the Pizza Hut mobile app, website, and Amazon and Google devices, Pizza Hut is committed to providing an easy pizza experience – from order to delivery – and has Hut Rewards®, the Pizza Hut loyalty program that offers points for every dollar spent on food any way you order.  

Now more than ever, restaurants have an important role in helping to safely feed families. As the largest pizza brand in the world by store count, Pizza Hut is committed to doing its part. To help keep team members and customers safe, customers can get their favorite Pizza Hut pizza via three contactless offerings: curbside pickup, delivery, or carryout. After becoming the first national pizza brand to offer contactless curbside pickup, Pizza Hut launched The Hut Lane™, a dedicated digital order pick-up window available at more than 1,500 locations across the country.   

Pizza Hut is the creator of The BOOK IT! Program, which is the nation’s longest running corporate supported literacy program. Building on that legacy, the program’s BOOK IT! in the Community Initiative is designed to enable access to books and education resources, empower teachers and inspire a lifelong love of reading. The program is rooted in the foundation set by the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program which impacts more than 14 million students each year.  

Pizza Hut is the Official and Only Pizza Sponsor of the NFL and NCAA®.   

For more information about Pizza Hut, visit www.pizzahut.com or http://www.pizzahut.com/c/content/sitemap   

Contact:
Brett LeVecchio, Pizza Hut
972.338.6730 / Brett.LeVecchio@yum.com

[1] Limited time only. Additional charge for extra cheese, additional toppings, pan and stuffed crust. Product availability, combinability of discounts and specials, prices, participation, contactless options, delivery areas and charges, and minimal purchase required for delivery may vary. Delivery charge is not a tip. 

Air Canada Comments on Aviation Industry Summit with Federal Transport Minister

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Air Canada Comments on Aviation Industry Summit with Federal Transport Minister

“At Air Canada, we know every trip is important, even more so today as many are flying for the first time in years to see loved ones or take an eagerly anticipated holiday. We are determined not to disappoint and have been long preparing for a travel surge this summer, including coordinating with our industry partners. As all businesses worldwide are finding, restarting after COVID is an extremely complex task and we deeply appreciate our customers’ understanding and patience during these often-frustrating times. I also thank our dedicated employees who are working hard to serve our customers and transport them safely,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

Each day, Air Canada currently operates more than 1,000 flights and regularly carries more than 120,000 people, with the vast majority of scheduled flights successfully completed. In recognition of the high importance Canadians place on travel and its value to the Canadian economy, Air Canada has recommitted to keep working alongside its industry partners and with the Federal government to ensure Canadians continue to benefit from a safe, efficient and reliable air transportation system.

Air Canada has been prudently restoring its schedule as it recovers from the effects of COVID-19 and this summer it plans to operate below its pre-pandemic capacity as the industry stabilizes. In support of this, the carrier has recalled employees laid off during the pandemic and continues to hire additional workers. It currently has 32,000 employees, versus approximately 33,000 prior to the pandemic while operating approximately 80 per cent of its June 2019 schedule. To assist customers and better support Canada’s air transport infrastructure, Air Canada is taking a series of steps including:

Customer Initiatives:

  • New Self-Service Re-accommodation tools will allow customers who have schedule changes, delays, or cancellations to request a refund if eligible or rebook their itineraries in a few minutes through its mobile app or website. This includes getting up to 20 alternative flight options (based on availability), choosing to fly to nearby airports instead, and the ability to search for flights in a three-day window. It will be available for customers regardless of how and where they booked their tickets;
  • A goodwill policy has been implemented for passengers traveling via Toronto-Pearson to allow them to voluntarily increase their connection time at no cost for more flexibility when travelling. This policy can be applied within 48 hours of the original travel time;
  • A second new policy will allow customers free, same-day stand-by options for earlier flights within Canada/Transborder regardless of fare brand or booking class;
  • The airline maintains an updated travel readiness page on aircanada.com with the latest information and advice for those preparing to travel, including information about COVID-19 requirements. Customers are advised to consult this page before travelling.

In Airports:

  • In addition to the recall of virtually all available employees, more than 2,000 front-line airport employees (and 774 more people to work in call centres) have been hired and extensively trained over the last six months, with additional overtime and ongoing hiring, including drawing upon recently retired employees with special expertise;
  • Employees have been reassigned from other bases to augment specific airports, including the cross-utilization of cargo employees to assist with airport passenger operations;
  • The airline has redeployed aircraft from its Jetz charter fleet to move delayed baggage, which has increased in large part due to air transport processing and infrastructure issues outside its control;
  • The airline is working closely with airport authorities, government and third-party agencies to enhance and expedite the processing of customers throughout their journey;
  • Additional ground equipment has been acquired to improve airport operations.

Network/Schedule:

  • Minimum Connection Times for flights from international and transborder destinations connecting to domestic destinations have been increased by 30 minutes for new bookings in Toronto and Montreal, giving customers (and their baggage) additional time to connect;
  • The schedule has been refined to reduce peak times at the Toronto-Pearson and Montreal-Trudeau airports by retiming and cancelling certain flights, or reducing frequencies, where protection is available to customers the same day. This will conserve resources and reduce stress on third-party service providers by smoothing passenger flows and be more convenient for customers;
  • Aircraft gating at airports has been reconfigured. For example, widebody aircraft in Montreal travelling internationally and to the U.S. are being more conveniently located to achieve efficiencies during peak hours for added operational flexibility.

The airline continues to evaluate other measures to enhance the functioning and stability of the air transport system and it is committed to working with its partners on further improvements.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 51 airports in Canada, 51 in the United States and 86 internationally. It is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax, which in 2021 gave Air Canada awards for the Best Airline Staff in North America, Best Airline Staff in Canada, Best Business Class Lounge in North America, and an excellence award for managing COVID-19. Through its leading travel loyalty Aeroplan program, Air Canada offers the ability to earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental rewards. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s passenger flights and cargo-only flights with its fleet of Boeing 767-300 freighters. Air Canada has committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050. 

Sign up for Air Canada news: aircanada.com

These small coconut trees are going to be big news

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These small coconut trees are going to be big news

We are introducing a variety of coconut tree and a tech solution for our teams that are set to improve the incomes and livelihoods of smallholder farmers by increasing the productivity of their plantations.

The key ingredient in our popular Bango sweet soy sauce – a staple used every day by millions of Indonesian families – is high-quality coconut sugar.

But as coconut trees typically grow to around 30 metres in height, collecting the sap (which gives us the sugar) requires a lot of effort. Plus, many existing trees are old, which means their productivity is declining. This, in turn, restricts the amount that the farmers can earn from their work.

To tackle these various challenges, we’re introducing an alternative variety of tree.

The Genjah Kuning Bali has a shorter trunk, which means the coconut sap can be collected without climbing the tree, making the process much easier and quicker, and far safer. And since the farmer can collect more sap per day, this increases their output and therefore their income. Also, it enables safer working conditions and incentivises young people – especially women – to join the profession.

Did you know?

Coconut sap comes from the flower of the tree, not the fruit (the hairy coconut). To ‘tap’ the tree for the sap, the farmer climbs to the top, then makes a cut into the stem below the flowers. The sap then drips into a container, ready to be emptied on the next climb. The farmer will typically climb each tree twice a day to collect the sap when it is fresh and then transform it into sugar.

We’re introducing these trees as part of a planting initiative in Indonesia, integral to which is a training and fertiliser distribution programme to equip smallholder farmers with the skills and knowledge they need to care for and nurture the trees. This will enable them to produce an optimum yield per tree – both in terms of volume and quality – and make their plantations more resilient against climate change.

“The way coconut sap is harvested now is difficult. This alternative breed of coconut tree promises to change that,” says Dave Ingram, Chief Procurement Officer at Unilever. “We are seeing smallholders interested in cultivating this new variety of coconut tree, and we expect that this project alone will directly benefit around 5,000 households.”The small coconut trees that are going to be big news

Watch on

The fruits of our labour are now being realised

This initiative is the result of years of hard work. We began researching tree varieties in collaboration with the Indonesian Coconut Institute in 2015. Then we started developing seeds and breeding saplings in partnership with a professional coconut nursery in Bali.

In 2017, we established a 100-hectare pilot plantation, and since then we have been progressively scaling up the project in three growing regions: Lampung in South Sumatra, and Sukabumi and Pangandaran in West Java. As of June 2022, we have planted the equivalent of 3,300 hectares in collaboration with 3,600 smallholder farmers.

This planting is being carried out on existing plantations, replacing either existing old coconut trees or other cash crops. All farms and farmers are registered and mapped using digital technology, so we can track and better understand how to improve their productivity.

The initial batch of short-stemmed coconut trees have started producing sap and we’re now taking delivery of coconut sugar from these farms at our Bango factory.

The output from these plantations will increase year-on-year and peak in 2026. From that point onwards, we’ll be aiming to get half of our coconut sugar supply from this variety of tree.

Round blocks of coconut sugar laid out on a table with a patterned covering.

Using technology to support sustainable farming

This month, we also rolled out a new mobile application to support coconut farmers in Indonesia to increase their yields in a way that’s kinder to the environment.

The app, called Cropin, was uniquely developed for Unilever’s field teams who work directly with coconut farmers. When our teams visit farmers in the areas we buy coconut sugar from, they update the app with information about the plantations. For example, they check how mature the trees are, any issues they are facing and their productivity levels. The app then gathers the data to provide location-specific advice that the teams share with farmers.

In this way, we can track how much coconut sugar we’ll likely be able to receive – strengthening the resilience of Unilever’s supply chain – and more importantly help smallholder farmers become more resilient, get good harvests and care for their land.

Helping to empower those at the heart of this industry

The initiative is part of our wider efforts to help create a more sustainable coconut industry.

We are a signatory to the first Sustainable Coconut Charter, an industry initiative to improve smallholder farmer incomes and livelihoods, enhance supply chain traceability, prevent deforestation and mitigate the climate crisis.

The charter will bring together industry leaders to develop programmes that address the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of smallholder farmers. The aim is to help empower people directly involved and impacted by coconut farming, so they can play a positive role in the sustainable development of their region.

CAAS, Singapore Airlines And Temasek To Launch Sustainable Aviation Fuel Credits In July 2022

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CAAS, Singapore Airlines And Temasek To Launch Sustainable Aviation Fuel Credits In July 2022

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Singapore Airlines (SIA), and Temasek will launch the sale of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) credits in July 2022. The sale of the SAF credits is part of a CAAS-SIA-Temasek pilot announced in November 2021 to advance the use of SAF in Singapore.

A total of 1,000 SAF credits will be available for sale. These are generated from the 1,000 tonnes of neat SAF which are blended, delivered, and uplifted from Singapore Changi Airport, and are expected to cut carbon dioxide emission by 2,500 tonnes. Every credit purchased will help to reduce 2.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The launch of the SAF credits provides customers including corporate and individual travellers, as well as freight forwarders an avenue to do their part for the environment, and reduce their carbon footprint. By purchasing these credits, they can also help to stimulate demand for SAF, support the development of the nascent SAF industry, and advance the adoption of SAF for aviation sustainability. 

The SAF credits will be registered as part of a pilot project within the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)1 Book & Claim System to ensure that the SAF credit transactions are conducted in a trusted and transparent manner, with no double counting of credits. The Book & Claim System is enabled by the RSB which is one of the global leaders in sustainability certification standards.

SIA’s corporate customers and freight forwarders can purchase the SAF credits directly from SIA, mitigating carbon emissions related to their flights. Freight forwarders can in turn also sell the credits to their downstream clients to reduce carbon emissions from their business operations.

From the fourth quarter of 2022, all SIA customers will be able to purchase a mix of SAF credits and carbon offsets, as part of the SIA Group Voluntary Carbon Offset Programme. SIA will also partner Climate Impact X (CIX), a global exchange for quality carbon credits, to introduce a bundled portfolio consisting of SAF credits and carbon credits. The product will be designed to meet corporate demand for SAF while balancing affordability.

Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General, CAAS, said: “The creation of a trusted and vibrant marketplace for the sale and purchase of SAF credits in Singapore will help support the adoption of SAF which is essential for the decarbonisation of the aviation sector and a key element of the Singapore Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint which CAAS is developing.”

Ms Lee Wen Fen, Senior Vice President Corporate Planning, Singapore Airlines, said: “As we progress with the SAF pilot in Singapore, we can now offer more opportunities for our corporate customers and travellers to mitigate their carbon emissions using SAF credits, which are registered and accounted for within the RSB Book & Claim System. This will help to accelerate and scale up the collective adoption of SAF, reinforcing our commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”  

Mr Frederick Teo, Temasek’s Managing Director, Sustainable Solutions, said: “The SAF pilot laid the foundation for SIA and the broader aviation community to operationalise SAF uptake in Singapore. With SAF credits, we can more effectively crowd in financing from corporates and travellers to reduce the cost premiums of SAF. This can help accelerate the adoption of SAF, which is an important pathway for the decarbonisation of the aviation sector in the medium to long term.”

Ms Arianna Baldo, Programme Director, RSB, said: “We are excited to be working with Singapore Airlines on this innovative pilot project, which will enable their customers to access credible claims that are generated through a robust and independent Book & Claim system built by the RSB. Singapore Airlines’ participation highlights how this innovative approach can add value for companies who are serious about decarbonising the aviation sector. We look forward to further supporting Singapore Airlines’ decarbonisation efforts in line with RSB’s trusted sustainability standards.”

Mr Mikkel Larsen, Chief Executive Officer, Climate Impact X (CIX), said: “The current lack of incentives for the adoption of green fuels has meant that prices continue to remain high and economically unviable. SAF credits can help to spur adoption by enabling competitive price discovery, and channelling finance towards projects that can drive the use of sustainable fuels at the scale necessary to support decarbonisation in the aviation sector. Through CIX’s ongoing efforts to curate verified projects for our platforms, we aim to increase access to quality carbon credits worldwide and drive environmental impact at scale.”

BENTLEY ROTTERDAM OFFICIALLY OPENS THE DOORS TO ITS BRAND NEW SHOWROOM

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BENTLEY ROTTERDAM OFFICIALLY OPENS THE DOORS TO ITS BRAND NEW SHOWROOM
  • Bentley Rotterdam inaugurates its latest state-of-the-art showroom in the Netherlands
  • Star of the evening Flying Spur Hybrid Odyssean Edition, alongside the S1 Continental Flying Spur from 1958 
  • Bentley is accelerating its Beyond100 plans and preparing Crewe for the future of mobility 

Bentley Rotterdam has officially opened its doors in the largest seaport in Europe and second biggest city in the Netherlands.     

The new home for Bentley in Rotterdam offers 284 sqm, allowing the display of the full Bentley range and six new models in total. Situated along the A20, in a three storey building, Bentley is situated on the second floor, easily visible and accessible to visitors, while the service centre is located on the ground floor for an easy access. On the top floor of the building is the Rotterdam Carport Hotel, which offers the possibility to owners to valet and store their Bentley. The new building is offering customers a dedicated entrance to drive their vehicle right into the workshop and then get access to the new showroom. An area to the customisation’s department Mulliner is accessible and supports customers and prospects to go through unique samples of colours, leathers and veneers in all different types and forms.    

For this occasion, the Flying Spur Hybrid Odyssean Edition is taking the spotlight, present to give a glimpse into Bentley’s future, and its view on luxury mobility, introducing new sustainable materials as part of its Beyond100 strategy. Reflected through the cabin features which include tweed from 100 per cent British wool and open pore veneers. Alongside the S1 Continental Flying Spur from 1958, the first bespoke interpretation of a four-door Continental, and inspiration for the design team to create today’s Flying Spur range. 

Earlier this year, Bentley provided an update of its Beyond100 plans, on track to become the leader in luxury sustainable mobility and committed to sustainable investment of £2.5 billion in products and to transform Crewe into a ‘Dream Factory’ – a digital, zero environmental impact, flexible and high-value manufacturing facility. This includes the extension of solar panels from 30,000 to 40,000 and the goal of being end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030. Bentley Rotterdam will see more electrified models in the future with Bentley’s ambitious Five-in-Five plan, which commits Bentley to launch a new electric model each year from 2025 onwards.    

Balazs Rooz, Regional Director Bentley Motors Europe, commented: “This is a striking building and I am delighted to inaugurate Bentley Rotterdam in the Netherlands. This is an important market for Bentley Motors and in the last ten years we have seen strong growth and success with the brand. With the Beyond100 strategy we have communicated ambitious plans, while offering the strongest electrified model range today with the Bentayga Hybrid and Flying Spur Hybrid.    

“We are proud to be representing Bentley Motors in the Netherlands and excited about Bentley’s future”, adds Robert Doornbos, Dealer Principal of Bentley Rotterdam. “The brand is bringing a strong electrified range offer to the Dutch market and we are looking forward to advise our customers and provide them with the best service and experience possible.”    

The new showroom is located at: 
Bentley Rotterdam
Giessenweg 91
3044 AK Rotterdam
Phone: +31 (0) 881801919

Further information on the Bentley range and details of the Bentley retail partners can be found on: https://www.bentleymotors.com/

– ENDS –

Notes to editors

Bentley Motors is the most sought-after luxury car brand in the world. The company’s headquarters in Crewe is home to all of its operations including design, R&D, engineering, Mulliner and production of the company’s five model lines, Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible, Flying Spur, Bentayga and Bentayga EWB. The combination of fine craftsmanship, using skills that have been handed down through generations, alongside engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury car brands such as Bentley. It is also an example of high-value British manufacturing at its best. Bentley employs around 3,000 people at Crewe.

Taking Action To Help Promote Better Health Outcomes Through Lower Insulin Costs

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Taking Action To Help Promote Better Health Outcomes Through Lower Insulin Costs

While federal and state efforts to limit insulin copayments will help millions of Americans, it may not solve the problem of high costs for people whose insurance doesn’t cover their insulin or the roughly 28 million* Americans without insurance. Walmart is working to help communities fill this gap.

By Dr. Cheryl Pegus, Executive Vice President, Walmart Health & Wellness

Associate Karina pointing to a ReliOn pen

We know that people living in rural America are 17% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those in urban areas. For many with diabetes, their health depends on having reliable access to insulin to help control blood sugar levels and prevent complications that diabetes causes.

The average cash price for insulins in the United States in late 2021 had risen more than 40% compared to early 2014. Sadly, but not surprisingly, 1 in 4 individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in the United States resorted to rationing their insulin because of the high cost. The consequences of skipping or reducing insulin treatments can be severe, including increased likelihood of complications such as blindness, amputations, heart attack and kidney failure.

Ensuring access to affordable insulin is a goal we can and should achieve collectively. We are encouraged to see lawmakers at the federal and state levels recognize the urgency to make insulin more affordable. In his recent State of the Union address, President Biden called for a nationwide $35 cap on insulin copayments for those enrolled in private health plans or Medicare. The U.S. House approved a bill that does just that this week while the Senate is pursuing bipartisan agreement on a similar measure.

Unwilling to wait for federal action, 16 states across the country – starting with Colorado in 2019 – have enacted their own caps on insulin copayments, ranging from $25 to $100 a month, for consumers with commercial health insurance. Eight more states are considering legislation to do so this year.

While these federal and state laws limiting insulin copayments will help millions of Americans, they still don’t solve the problem of high insulin costs for people whose insurance doesn’t cover their insulin or the roughly 28 million Americans without insurance. Walmart is helping to fill that gap.

At Walmart, we are using our size and scale to bring down costs for our customers who must pay out of pocket for insulin, providing a more affordable option for those who can’t benefit from copay limits. By working directly with insulin manufacturer Novo Nordisk, we are selling insulin products under our own private ReliOn label that saves customers up to 75% off the cash price of branded analog insulin. That translates to a savings of up to $101 per vial or $251 per package of branded FlexPens®.

ReliOn private label of Novolog (insulin aspart) injection analog insulin in vials and FlexPens® as well as ReliOn NovoLog® Mix 70/30 (insulin aspart protamine and insulin aspart injectable suspension) are available at Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies nationwide to anyone with a prescription, regardless of their insurance status. Our suite of more affordable insulin products and diabetes-management devices is part of Walmart’s legacy of introducing innovative solutions that increase access to quality, affordable health care resources, including the industry-leading $4 generic prescription program launched more than a decade ago.

Walmart Health is also looking to better provide for patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and assist employers and other institutions supporting the specific health needs of their employees by launching the Walmart Health Virtual Care Diabetes Program. Available as a standalone or as part of a comprehensive medical and behavioral telehealth program, the Walmart Health Virtual Care Diabetes Program was developed in partnership with the American Diabetes Association for employers and payors to help their employees and members close gaps in diabetes management among employees and their families through early intervention, which could lead to better health outcomes.

While drug pricing in the United States is complicated and involves many stakeholders, the public’s need for life-saving medications like insulin at predictable and more affordable prices should drive all of us to do more and do better.

LG Earns Robot Safety Control Certification From Det Norske Veritas

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LG Earns Robot Safety Control Certification From Det Norske Veritas

First in the World to Receive ISO 13849-1 Certification for Mobile Service Robots,
LG Confirms Its Leadership in the Field of Robot Safety Technology

Logo of LG Electronics

LG Electronics (LG) has again proven its technological capabilities and commitment to creating safe, new innovations for a better life, becoming the first company in the world to receive the ISO 13849-1 certification* for its safety controller module utilized in mobile service robots. The new certification applies to LG’s advanced safety controllers for robots and was issued by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), an international accredited registrar and classification body headquartered in Norway.

LG’s newly developed safety controller for robots ensures the highest level of operational safety and reliability by actively managing robots’ settings, monitoring signals from robots’ sensors in real-time and providing protective deceleration or stop-control whenever any risk is detected.

Composed of only one module, LG’s safety controller boasts a significant advantage over conventional controllers – it can be easily adapted according to the individual specifications of each robot, or to meet the unique requirements of each customer.

Previously, manufacturers had to analyze and evaluate every single aspect of functional safety for each robot they produced, but this is no longer the case thanks to LG’s sophisticated controller. This is expected to help the company authenticate and launch new service robots, such as those from its well-known LG CLOi ServeBot and LG CLOI GuideBot series, more quickly than before.

A leader in the fast-changing robotics industry, LG has accumulated a wealth of data and knowhow through many decades of tireless innovation. The company has introduced a wide variety of robot solutions optimized for settings such as hotels, hospitals and restaurants, and leveraging its diverse technological capabilities, including in the areas of autonomous driving systems, sensors, artificial intelligence and cameras.

Recently, the company announced its full-fledged entry into the next-generation logistics robot market with the launch of LG CLOi CarryBot, developed in collaboration with CJ Logistics, one of South Korea’s largest parcel delivery firms.

“As autonomous robots for both industry and consumer applications are becoming more common, the field of robot safety technology continues to grow in importance,” said Dr. Baek Seung-min, head of the Advanced Robotics Lab at LG Electronics. “We are leading the way in this critical area, leaning on our considerable technological capabilities and real-world experience in applied robotics to provide the highest level of functional safety for the next-generation of autonomous robots.”

Philips awarded top honor by Red Dot jury with Design Team of the Year award

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Philips awarded top honor by Red Dot jury with Design Team of the Year award
  • Prestigious title awarded for the team’s multi-disciplinary and human-centered approach to designing solutions that improve people’s lives
  • Celebratory event accompanied by presentation of awards for Philips’ three Red Dot Design ‘Best of the Best’ product ratings

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced that the company’s Experience Design Team has been awarded the honorary title of ‘Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2022’. The Red Dot design organization awarded the title in recognition of the Philips Experience Design Team’s multidisciplinary approach to creating integrated solutions that address major challenges in healthcare, such as ageing populations, the increase in chronic illnesses, the COVID-19 pandemic, and escalating healthcare costs, together with its strong focus on the user and patient experience.

On behalf of the team, Philips’ Chief Design Officer Sean Carney was presented the award during the Red Dot award ceremony that took place on the evening of Monday, June 20 in Essen, Germany. It is the first time in the history of the Red Dot Design Award (1988) that this award has been bestowed on a design team for the second time.

Philips’ Experience Design Team comprises a multidisciplinary team of designers operating out of 13 design centers across North and South America, Europe and Asia. Applying deep human insights and cutting-edge technologies, the team helps to create healthcare products and services that truly improve lives, making it a key part of Philips’ mission to improve the lives of 2.5 billion people a year by 2030, including 400 million in underserved communities.

The multidisciplinary Philips Experience Design Team has been proving for years that it is a leader in the field of healthcare technology. The Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2022 award is a well-deserved recognition of their work.

Dr. Peter Zec

Founder and CEO of Red Dot

“Philips’ design team has achieved what many wish for, but few manage – holistic solutions that require the interplay of technology and design to make a lasting positive impact on the progress of their own company and the transformation of healthcare,” said Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of Red Dot. “The multidisciplinary Philips Experience Design Team has been proving for years that it is a leader in the field of healthcare technology. The Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2022 award is a well-deserved recognition of their work.”

“For more than a decade we’ve recognized that integrated systems combining smart devices, systems, software, and services with real-time data and patient histories are the only way to deliver on the quadruple aim of better patient outcomes, enhanced patient and staff experiences, and lower cost of care, and do it across the entire patient journey,” said Sean Carney, Chief Design Officer at Philips. “I am immensely proud that my team has been awarded the prestigious title of Red Dot: Design Team of the Year in recognition of the outstanding healthcare solutions they are helping deliver.”

In April, Philips received three Red Dot Design ‘Best of the Best’ awards for ground-breaking design excellence, bringing the company’s cumulative ‘Best of the Best’ total over the years to 27, next to more than 460 Red Dot awards in total. This year’s Red Dot: Best of the Best awards are for its MR 5300 1.5T MRI scanner, a smart, connected and sustainable diagnostic solution that is designed to simplify and automate complex clinical and operational tasks, while offering an industry-unique answer to minimizing the use of scarce helium, the Philips Avent Connected Baby Monitor, a new connected baby/video monitor system to support parents and their baby securely, and the Fresh Air Mask Lite, designed to allow people to comfortably breathe clean air and do it in style.

Selected independently

Red Dot design awards are awarded for submitted products that are judged by the Red Dot jury to be outstanding in terms of their aesthetic appeal, functionality, smartness or innovation. The Red Dot: Design Team of the Year is selected independently from design teams with a consistent track record of innovative, top-class design achievements.

Learn from Philips Experience Design team member Hyelin Lee what it means to put human-centered and sustainable circular-ready design front-and-center in the end-to-end design process.

The work of Title IX isn’t over

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The work of Title IX isn’t over

Picture this: The wind and waves are whipping in a fury. You’re plunged into the frigid North Sea with no coastline in sight. You must escape from a submerged helicopter that has crashed miles from shore.

This was a training exercise when I started my career as a research engineer for utility company British Gas more years back than I care to admit. Most notably, I was the only woman on an offshore oil rig, among a group of more than 40 men.

The instructor facilitating the drill made me go first. After the rest of the group made the same plunge, we did it again and again, but each time he made me go first. After several rounds, I asked why he was singling me out.

“Because if you go first,” he replied, “the 40 men behind you will realize they can do it, too.”

I was young, tiny and blond. The wetsuit they supplied was made for a man because they didn’t make them for women, and I nearly drowned because it didn’t fit correctly and icy seawater gushed in.

I realized a critical life lesson that day that I would carry with me. That lesson would go on to inform and define my career and ambition to drive gender equity in the workplace: Women have long blazed trails and led society to greater feats, but had to work twice as hard while getting half the credit. The truth is, the world was designed by men for men without women in mind or in partnership.

Today is the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, a U.S. law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Designed to address vast inequalities in education, Title IX has had the most dramatic and lasting impact on women’s and girls’ sports. Before Title IX, colleges and universities spent only 1% of their athletic budgets on women’s sports, and only 1 in 27 girls played sports. A funding gap still persists, but today, 2 in 5 girls play sports.

Title IX has had a ripple effect far beyond America, pushing the needle towards greater gender equity across the world. In fact, the movement has morphed and expanded to reflect an intersectional lens, with more nuances and more people, including protecting students from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Today is an apt reminder that we have fought long and hard for gender equity, and yet, the fight is far from over.

Our world is full of brilliant possibilities. But they’re not always open to everyone. And where identities intersect — such as race, sexual orientation or physical ability — those opportunities can slip even further out of reach. This holds us all back.

The last few years have only made this clearer. Is that woman in the perilously ill-fitting wetsuit so different from the lone woman who finds herself in the corporate boardroom or C-suite, trying to make her voice heard in a room of men who still ask her to make the coffee? She is a Black woman entrepreneur trying to get access to capital. And she is a young girl fascinated by science but doesn’t see herself reflected in any of the adults around her. 

The work to ensure equal opportunity is far from done. There is clearly still a need for a great change. It’s why I chair the 30% Club, where we run the largest cross-company global mentorship program in the world with more than 2,600 participants across more than 190 companies. That’s why Mastercard participates in Boards for Impact, which now has more than 60 company executives sitting on not-for-profit boards to ensure that more women find their way into leadership positions.

It’s also why Mastercard has worked to ensure that women earn $1 for every $1 a man earns and why we’ve linked executive and employee compensation to closing the gender pay gap. It’s why Mastercard is one of the largest supports of women’s sports, including soccer and our title sponsorship of the Mastercard Mini 10K, which began in 1972 as the first woman-only road race. It’s also why we’re partnered with Financial Alliance for Women, which works to increase women’s access to bank accounts, loans, investment products and capital, and why we’ve brought Girls4Tech, our award-winning STEM education program for young girls, to 2 million girls in 52 countries and counting. And it’s why we stand up for LGBTQ rights.

The sum total of our efforts, along with that of others driving this work in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, means greater gender equity for all, not just in sports, but wherever women seek to fulfill their potential.  

“I supposed the purpose of my bill,” Patsy Mink, the Hawaii congresswoman who sponsored Title IX, later reflected, “is really to free the human spirit to make it possible for everyone to achieve according to their talents and wishes.”

Whether that means a business suit, a tracksuit or a wetsuit, let us use the 50th anniversary of Title IX as inspiration to create the next chapter of what’s possible, for all women, everywhere.

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