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May 26, 2011
Road Safety: Renault celebrates the 10th anniversary of its “safety for all” program
Photo: Renault Dacia Duster. The Renault Group brand Dacia has decided to take on the world’s most famous and most challenging hill climb - the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb - which will take place in Colorado, USA, on June 26. Dacia will enter the American event with a purpose-built 850hp prototype, Dacia Duster ‘No Limit’. The car will be driven by three-time Trophee Andros champion Jean-Philippe Dayraut whose ambitious target is quite simply to challenge for the win. (Photo Credit: B.Bakalian/Renault).
Photo: Renault — Road Safety for all 2011, in a school in Morocco. (Photo Credit: Mustapha Ennaimi/ Renault).
On Friday, May 27, Renault is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its “Safety For All” program.
Starting in the 2011-2012 school year, program content will include a section on eco-mobility.
More than 12 million children, as road users and future drivers, have taken part in Renault’s international “Safety For All” program, which is celebrating its 10th birthday this year. “Safety For All” is the biggest road-safety awareness-raising operation ever undertaken by a car manufacturer.
For this edition, the Renault teams and the schools willing to participate implemented the “Safety For All” program in 11 countries. 7 of them will come to Renault’s Technocentre outside Paris on May 27 for a program of festive activities. Around 100 children from Austria, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, France and Switzerland will present their drawings and take part in a performance and road safety activities before spending the weekend at Disneyland.
From September this year, Renault is expanding the content of the awareness-raising kit to include the environmental awareness alongside road safety issues. The educational kits, which Renault supplies to teachers, will be adapted to cover renewable energy use during vehicle manufacture, types of transport that reduce carbon emissions like electric vehicles, and responsible group actions such as “walking buses”. The kits will also be redesigned to be more modular for teachers and better suited to the different age groups of pupils.
Through the new decade that is opening up for “Safety For All”, and in connection with the Decade of Action for Road Safety launched by the United Nations on April 11, of which Renault is a partner, the company is pursuing its commitment in favor of road safety.
Based on an approach both educational and fun, the “Safety For All” program consists of two separate courses developed specifically for school pupils of different ages. The countries participating choose one or both of the courses.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:31 PM | View the original post
May 23, 2011
French Carmaker Renault launches product offensive in India
Photo: Renault Fluence Z.E.
Photo: Hafsia HERZI stepping out the Renault Latitude (official car of the festival) for the red carpet ceremony at the 64th Cannes Film Festival. Photo © Stephane Kossmann.
Photo: Louise Bourgoin stepping out the Renault Fluence Z.E. (electric car of the festival) at the 64th Cannes Film Festival. Photo © Stephane Kossmann.
• Today marks the official market launch of Fluence in India, one of the three priority countries in Renault’s international development strategy.
This is the first stage in a five-product product that is scheduled through to the end of the 2012.
Manufactured at the Chennai plant, Fluence is an upmarket model that will be selling through the first fourteen outlets making up Renault’s new Indian network.
Renault’s Indian development initiative began in 2007 and is now picking up speed with a full-scale product offensive: in October, Fluence will be followed by Koleos (also assembled at the Chennai plant, in south-east India). This will be followed by three further models, including an SUV, in 2012.
Renault India Managing Director Marc Nassif commented: “Launch of Fluence in India is the start of a wide-reaching product offensive on one of the markets considered a pillar of Renault’s international development the ‘2016 - Drive the Change’ plan. With the Chennai plant, along with Renault’s engineering, design and logistics centers, plus a dealer network that will number 100 outlets by the end of 2012, Renault is doing everything to offer Indian customers a range of quality vehicles well matched to local market conditions”.
With annual growth of around 20 percent over the last few years, the Indian market is one of the most vigorous in the world. And growth potential is very high.
Renan Livet, marketing manager for the Asia-Africa region notes: “The Indians love technology, ranging from the internet and latest-generation mobile phones to high-tech products of all kinds. Sure, people want affordable cars, but they also want them to bristle with new technologies. So Renault is entering the Indian market from the top end to establish a strong brand image driven by the technological virtues of its best products”.
According to Renault, its Chennai plant spearheads its ambition to conquer the Indian market.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:23 PM | View the original post
May 21, 2011
Military Bands of China and USA Take Friendship Tour to UN HQ
Photo: Senior Colonel Yu Hai conducts the Military Band of the People’s Liberation Army of China during a joint concert with the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” at UN Headquarters. The concert is part of the ensembles’ three-city tour based on friendship and cooperation through music, and will conclude on May 21 at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. May 20, 2011. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras.
Photo: A close-up of performers of the Military Band of the People’s Liberation Army of China during their first-ever joint concert with the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” at UN Headquarters. The concert is part of the ensembles’ three-city tour based on friendship and cooperation through music, and will conclude on May 21 at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. May 20, 2011. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras.
Photo: A close-up of performers of the Military Band of the People’s Liberation Army of China and the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” during their first-ever joint concert at UN Headquarters. The concert is part of the ensembles’ three-city tour based on friendship and cooperation through music, and will conclude on May 21 at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. May 20, 2011. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras.
Photo: Colonel Thomas Rotondi, Jr. (left), Leader and Commander of the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, and Senior Colonel Yu Hai, Chief of the Military Band of the People’s Liberation Army of China, thank the audience after their first-ever joint concert at UN Headquarters. The concert is part of the ensembles’ three-city tour based on friendship and cooperation through music, and will conclude on May 21 at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. May 20, 2011. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:11 AM | View the original post
May 18, 2011
Cannes Fashion
Photo: Actress Fan Bingbing with Cartier jewelry attends “The Artist” Premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo © 2011 Tony Barson/WireImage).
Photo: Actress Fan Bingbing with Cartier jewelry attends “The Artist” Premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo © 2011 Tony Barson/WireImage).
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:17 AM | View the original post
May 15, 2011
Pirates of the Caribbean take over Cannes
Photo: Actor Johnny Depp attends the “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” photocall at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Francois Durand. © 2011 Getty Images).
Photo: (L-R) Actress Astrid Berges-Frisbey and actor Johnny Depp attend the “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” photocall at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Francois Durand. © 2011 Getty Images).
Photo: Actress Penelope Cruz attends the “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” photocall at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Andreas Rentz. © 2011 Getty Images).
Photo: Actress Astrid Berges-Frisbey attends the “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” photocall at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain. © 2011 Getty Images).
Photo: Actor Johnny Depp (R) and actress Penelope Cruz attend the “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” photocall at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain. © 2011 Getty Images).
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:37 AM | View the original post
May 13, 2011
"Decade of Action for Road Safety" Launched
Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (at podium) speaks at a press event to launch the Decade of Action for Road Safety, alongside Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg and Jeannette Sadik-Khan, New York City Transportation Commissioner, in Manhattan, New York. May 12, 2011. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) receives a helmet and campaign pin from Michelle Yeoh (right), actress and Global Ambassador for the Make Roads Safe campaign, who met with Mr. Ban to promote the “Decade of Action for Road Safety”. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:35 AM | View the original post
May 8, 2011
High Market Demand for Airbus A320 Jetliners with New Eco-Efficient Engine A320neo
Photo: Airbus A320 Jetliner. Photo © Airbus SAS August 2009. Photographer C. Brinkmann.
Photo: Airbus A320 Jetliner. Photo © Airbus SAS August 2009. Photographer H.Gousse.
Photo: Airbus A320 Jetliner. Photo © Airbus SAS May 2005. Photographer H.Gousse.
Photo: Airbus A320 Jetliner. Photo © Airbus S.A.S. 2006.
According to Airbus, A320neo, its new engine option for Airbus’ best-selling A320 Family of jetliners, continues to build momentum, having already received more than 330 orders as the company is gearing up for its October 2015 entry-into-service.
“We are confident that the A320neo will be a great success across all markets and with all types of operators, offering them maximum benefit with minimum change. We are leveraging a reliable, mature aircraft and are making it even more efficient and environmentally friendly,” said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.
Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of commercial jetliners and military airlifters.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:52 PM | View the original post
May 4, 2011
Balanced Cities Perform Best
The finance and business centers of the future may not be the traditional capitals of global dominance, according to a new report released today by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited) and the Partnership for New York City (a non-profit organization working to maintain New York City’s position as the global center of commerce, culture and innovation).
The fourth edition of Cities of Opportunity shows that “well-rounded cities with balanced economies and strong quality of life have resilience during downturns and they attract skilled people”.
New York leads the 2011 study, which analyzes and ranks how 26 global centers of finance, business and culture perform across 10 key indicators. But it is followed closely in the top five by Toronto, San Francisco, Stockholm and Sydney — cities more notable for quality of life and balance than global business dominance.
While these cities cannot match the size or economic clout of longstanding commercial hubs like London, New York, Paris or Tokyo, their performance highlights a changing global dynamic. “Modern cities are less dependent on geography and historic connections and more reliant on holistic approaches to attracting and keeping creative minds and cutting-edge businesses,” informs the report.
New York, despite finishing first, hardly dominates. It leads because of balanced performance across the indicators.
The study analyzes 26 cities and ranks them as follows: • New York • Toronto • San Francisco • Stockholm • Sydney • London • Chicago • Paris • Singapore • Hong Kong • Houston • Los Angeles • Berlin • Tokyo • Madrid • Seoul • Beijing • Abu Dhabi • Shanghai • Mexico City • Moscow • Santiago • Istanbul • Sao Paulo • Johannesburg • Mumbai.
The Cities of Opportunity key indicators and top three cities in each are:
• Intellectual capital and innovation — Stockholm, Toronto, New York/San Francisco (tied for 3rd)
• Technology readiness — New York, Seoul, Stockholm
• Transportation and infrastructure — Paris, Chicago, New York
• Demographics and livability — Stockholm, Sydney, Toronto
• Economic clout — London, Paris, New York
• Cost — Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago
• Lifestyle assets — New York, Paris, London
• Health, safety and security — Stockholm, Toronto, Chicago
• Ease of doing business — Hong Kong, Singapore, New York
• Sustainability — Berlin, Sydney, Stockholm
“Changes in communications, education and knowledge-sharing, transportation and urban migration are transforming world dynamics,” said Bob Moritz , US Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC. “Cities that want to thrive need to adapt to these changes. Size is no longer a leading predictor of influence. The success of cities such as Toronto, San Francisco, Stockholm and Sydney sends a clear signal that holistic balance makes a real difference.”
“For more than a year, researchers at the Partnership and PwC exhaustively compiled and analyzed data from more than 400 different global sources,” said Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO of the Partnership for NYC. “We are pleasantly surprised to see how the totals broke in favor of NYC, but with the clear competition rising from smaller, more livable cities.”
The complete report is available at: www.pwc.com/cities.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:21 AM | View the original post
May 2, 2011
World Motorcycle Championship Season Begins
Photo: Valentino Rossi of Italy and Ducati Marlboro Team rounds the bend during the free practice of MotoGP of Portugal in Estoril Circuit on April 29, 2011 in Estoril, Portugal. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari GP/Getty Images. © 2011 Getty Images).
Photo: Valentino Rossi of Italy and Ducati Marlboro Team in action in Losail Circuit during the Qatar GP for the start of 2011 World Motorcycle Championship season (Photo by Mirco Lazzari. © Mirco Lazzari & Getty Images).
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:28 AM | View the original post
