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September 29, 2020
World Economic Forum: Leaders Rally for a 'Great Reset' to Achieve Global Goals
The global pandemic shows that the world urgently needs a new model for international cooperation.
Public-private collaboration is required more than ever to ensure this reboot is sustainable and inclusive.
The mobilization of 1,200 organizations through the COVID Action Platform shows what we can do to improve lives and livelihoods on a global scale.
Photos: Impressions from the Farewell Lunch at the Schatzalp session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. 24 January 2020. Images provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum / Mattias Nutt.
Geneva, Switzerland, 24 September 2020 - In the closing session of the World Economic Forum’s fourth Sustainable Development Impact Summit, leaders called for governments, businesses, and civil society to create new kinds of cooperation to tackle COVID-19 and the climate crisis.
To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), diplomats urged leaders to seize the opportunity for a Great Reset; the idea championed by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.
The concept of globalization needs to be redefined, said Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s Minister of External Affairs. “If you do an honest stocktaking of this last six or seven months, I don’t think it would be a good report card on most countries in most regions of the world,” he said, adding that the previous focus on trade, investment, and capital flows has to be broadened.
“Corona anywhere is corona everywhere,” he said. Along with issues such as terrorism and climate change, the pandemic forces us to “revise our sense of what is globalization,” he said.
Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation of Egypt, echoed these themes, saying of the COVID-19 pandemic: “Everybody has to be part of a collective solution. No country has a silver bullet. All of us had a chance to learn from each other. Despite shortcomings and pitfalls in handling certain things in the pandemic, there have also been a few successes. These successes have given us confidence,” she said.
One of the critical areas where more public-private dialogue and cooperation could be useful is between the United States, Europe, and China. Susana Malcorra, Dean, IE School of Global and Public Affairs, IE University, Spain, said that competition between the United States and China is not the only rivalry of concern. “There are tensions around the world,” she said. “So, what I would suggest is that we need to think about what I would call the best possible scenario, which is a competitive multilateralism,” she said. “We will not have in the foreseeable future a multilateral system based on one member state being in the driver’s seat and essentially having the rest lining up, like it or not.”
Pekka Haavisto, Foreign Minister of Finland, said that while European countries value transatlantic cooperation and share many values - Europe needs to “work with China on the big global issues, to find a global solution.”
The World Economic Forum designed the summit around the five pillars of the Great Reset: Better Business, Catalysing Cooperation, Harnessing Technology, Liveable Planet, and Shared Prosperity.
• Better Business
To help companies “walk the talk” on stakeholder capitalism and demonstrate how businesses generate long-term value.
The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Bank of America, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC, released a set of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics and disclosures.
• Catalyzing Cooperation
The COVID-19 Response Alliance for Social Entrepreneurs launched the Action Agenda with 60 organizations to support over 50,000 social entrepreneurs worldwide.
The World Economic Forum partnered with the International Renewable Energy Agency to help accelerate the industry transition to clean energy.
• Harnessing Technology
UpLink, launched at last year’s summit, now has 4,000 innovators and entrepreneurs on its platform, who have created over 500 solutions to help achieve the SDGs.
Through the UpLink Trillion Trees challenge and 1t.org, for example, 20 innovative and scalable solutions will be fast-tracked to conserve, restore, and grow 1 trillion trees by 2030.
• Liveable Planet
In one year, the Mission Possible Platform grew to over 200 companies covering seven of the most energy-intense and heavy transport sectors. These leaders reaffirmed their commitments at #SDI20 and called for all to reach net-zero by 2050 or sooner.
With the support of Forum’s Tropical Forest Alliance, the Consumer Goods Forum and 17 global corporations officially launched the Forest Positive Coalition of Action to tackle deforestation resulting from palm oil, soy, and paper, pulp, and fiber-based packaging.
• Shared Prosperity
Pooling vaccine procurement will accelerate the distribution of a COVID vaccine around the world. COVAX, which is co-led by GAVI and CEPI, is designed to do this. One hundred fifty-six economies, representing nearly two-thirds of the global population, are now committed to this. The Forum’s Manufacturing Alliance is an emerging initiative to help scale this production.
The World Economic Forum launched the Champions for Technology and Social Justice Community to help companies collaborate more closely with civil society on technology and social justice issues.
The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the world’s state, is an International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, and other society leaders to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
The World Economic Forum convened the fourth Sustainable Development Impact Summit under the theme “Realizing a Great Reset for Sustainable Development.” This virtual summit brought together more than 4,500 leaders from government, business, and civil society from more than 141 countries.
Source: World Economic Forum
|GlobalGiants.Com|
The Great Reset
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:36 PM | View the original post
September 28, 2020
Leading diamond producers introduce Natural Diamond Council with a star-studded campaign starring Ana de Armas.
• The new campaign, ‘For Moments Like No Other,’ highlights the versatile beauty of natural diamonds.
Photo: Ana de Armas for The Natural Diamond Council campaign.
MUMBAI, India, Sept. 28, 2020 — The world’s leading diamond producers, Diamond Producers Association, relaunched as the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) to promote the desirability of natural diamonds and support the integrity of the natural diamond industry. As an industry authority, the NDC aims to become the go-to digital publisher for innovative content covering all that’s new and exciting in the industry. With the brand’s repositioning, NDC has launched their first-ever celebrity-led TVC campaign, ‘For Moments Like No Other,’ with the gorgeous Hollywood actress Ana de Armas.
This new campaign marks several firsts for the Natural Diamond Council, in addition to welcoming its first Hollywood headliner. It is the first celebrity-fronted campaign for a diamond group, adding an essential contribution to an industry that supports the livelihoods of roughly 10 million people worldwide. It is also the first campaign dedicated to NDC’s ‘Only Natural Diamonds’ platform and the first marketing initiative to showcase such a diverse roster of Jewellery designers that work with natural diamonds in exceptionally modern ways.
Ana De Armas is a rising Hollywood star. She recently received a Golden Globe nomination for her Knives Out role and will soon appear in the latest James Bond film ‘No Time to Die.’ She shines in the multi-part campaign that celebrates the myriad connections that lead to natural diamonds being worn or exchanged. NDC says it approached Ms. de Armas for the project as she radiates with poise and modernity and epitomizes an ascendant, free-thinking generation. Her elegant, effervescent, and easygoing demeanor reflects the next chapter in the history of natural diamonds, a mindset in which the traditional tenets of diamond-wearing and exchanging are dismantled, leaving an open playing field in their place. Ana appears in laid-back outdoor settings with friends. A fresh, opened-up association emphasizes that diamonds are not solely the purview of romantic interests or formal occasions. They are for every type of connection.
“I love thinking of diamonds this way, as special emblems of even our small personal moments,” said Ms. Ana de Armas. “They represent joy, warmth, and beauty.”
Richa Singh, Managing Director, NDC, India, said: “It was a challenge to put together the brand and campaign launch when the world is going through such tough times, but it has been a rewarding experience. The campaign fits as consumers have greater respect for everything natural and want to buy fewer but better things. They are looking for things that last and have a meaning and emotion attached to it. We wish to create desirability for diamonds in consumers’ minds when it comes to celebrating life’s every moment, and our campaign featuring Ana De Armas portrays that beautifully. The TVC redefines special moments, celebrating a variety of personal connections with natural diamonds.”
The campaign, which was lensed in coastal Portugal, directed by Manu Cossu and photographed by Camilla Ã…krans, will have a global presence, running in India, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and China.
The Natural Diamond Council (NDC) advances diamonds’ desirability by publishing trends and sharing resources and information with consumers on the ultimate timeless and natural luxury goods. The NDC also supports the natural diamond industry’s integrity, providing transparency and insight into this sector’s ethics, sustainability, and progress.
Source: Natural Diamond Council
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Natural Diamond Council presents #ForMomentsLikeNoOther starring Ana de Armas.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:49 AM | View the original post
Bold elegance: Automobili Lamborghini presents the Urus Graphite Capsule
Sant’Agata Bolognese, 26 September 2020 - Automobili Lamborghini has presented the Urus Graphite Capsule, creating unprecedented new opportunities for expression in color and trim on the Lamborghini Super SUV.
The four new exterior matt colors are on-trend yet subtle, in white Bianco Monocerus, black Nero Noctis, and grey Grigio Nimbus and Grigio Keres.
The company said that the lower parts of the car around the front, rear and side sills are all finished in the matt body color. Four shiny accent colors are offered, orange Arancio Leonis, Arancio Dryope, yellow Giallo Taurus, and green Verde Scandal.
The 23” Taigete rims, dedicated to the Graphite Capsule, also sport the accent color while on the rear, the exhaust features a new, dedicated black chrome finish. The Urus Graphite Capsule elevates the potential for customization to a higher level with more than 16 different color combinations to delight even the most demanding customers, Lamborghini stated.
“The interior highlights the elegant and stylish persona of the Urus Graphite Capsule, introducing dark, anodized aluminum trim on the dashboard and door panels, with new matt-finish carbon fiber inserts,” the company said.
“The new Graphite Capsule endorses the inimitable versatility of the Lamborghini Urus as the original Super SUV. Its color and styling are as adaptable and versatile as its presence in every high-performance and lifestyle environment,” said Automobili Lamborghini Chief Commercial Officer Giovanni Perosino. “The inherent design of the Lamborghini Urus, with the DNA of our super sports heritage, lends itself to virtually limitless potential for personalizing color and trim. The Urus Graphite Capsule is the latest collection to offer our growing clientele the opportunity to stamp their individuality and way of life on their Lamborghini.”
The Urus Graphite Capsule is available on the Urus model year 2021.
Source: Lamborghini
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Lamborghini Urus. Unlock any road.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:09 AM | View the original post
September 27, 2020
Virtuoso violinist Renaud Capuçon designated UNESCO Artist for Peace
Photos: Reception ceremony for Mr. Renaud Capuçon as a Unesco Artist for Peace. UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. September 22, 2020. Images provided by & copyright © UNESCO / Fabrice GENTILE.
Paris, France, September 26 — UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay named Renaud Capuçon, internationally renowned French violinist, as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, in a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters on September 22.
Mr. Capuçon takes up the torch held by extraordinary musicians who have put their fame at UNESCO’s service, such as Yehudi Menuhin and Mstislav Rostropovitch, who served respectively from 1992 to 1999 and from 1998 to 2007, and with whom Renaud Capuçon performed.
In his capacity as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, he will contribute to raising awareness about the Organization and supporting priorities and activities around artistic and cultural education, the diversity of cultural expressions, and a culture of peace.
Born in Chambery, Savoie, France, Renaud Capuçon entered the conservatory at four. He is a virtuoso violinist, endowed with talent and energy unanimously praised, and as a humanist devoted to the transmission of music. He founded several music festivals, in particular, “Les Rencontres artistiques de Bel-Air” near his hometown and the Easter Festival of Aix en Provence, hosting the most excellent musicians in the world.
After the ceremony, standing at the edge of the UNESCO vegetable garden, Mr. Capuçon performed Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Melody from Orfeo on his famous Guarnerius, which belonged to the Vicomte de Panette, to the pleasure of guests and gardeners.
UNESCO Artists for Peace are internationally-renowned personalities who use their influence, character, and prestige to promote the Organization’s message and programs. UNESCO works in partnership with other Artists for Peace, such as Valery Gergiev, Kudsi Erguner, and N. Scott Momaday, to advance culture and creation in the name of peace.
Source: UNESCO Headquarters, Paris
|GlobalGiants.Com|
The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Audrey Azoulay, has appointed the world-famous French violinist Renaud Capuçon, UNESCO Artist for Peace at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
Renaud Capuçon - Violin Concerto No. 3 - Mozart - Verbier Festival
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:29 AM | View the original post
UMe Celebrates the World's Most Famous Secret Agent with November 20 Release of 'The Best Of Bond…James Bond'
• Digital, 2CD, 3LP Black Vinyl, and Limited-Edition Gold Vinyl Collection feature theme songs from all 25 Official James Bond Films with “No Time To Die” by Billie Eilish and Oscar-Winning Songs by Adele and Sam Smith.
Photo: UMe Celebrates the world’s most famous secret agent with the November 20, 2020 release of ‘The Best Of Bond…James Bond.’ Available via digital, 2CD, 3LP black vinyl, and limited-edition gold vinyl, the collection features theme songs from all 25 official James Bond films, including “No Time To Die” By Billie Eilish and Oscar-winning songs by Adele and Sam Smith.
SANTA MONICA, Calif., September 25, 2020 — On November 20, UMe will release an updated version of The Best Of Bond…James Bond, a digital, 2CD, and 3LP black vinyl compilation featuring celebrated theme songs from the longest-running film franchise. Also, a limited-edition gold vinyl will be available exclusively via uDiscover Music and Sound of Vinyl. The new collection will include “No Time To Die” by Billie Eilish from No Time To Die, the 25th film in the series. Also now included will be Adele’s “Skyfall” from Skyfall, the highest-grossing Bond film to date, and Sam Smith’s Spectre theme, “Writing’s On the Wall,” - Oscar winners for Best Song in 2013 and 2016, respectively.
The collection includes Billie Eilish, Adele, Sam Smith, and the signature instrumental “James Bond Theme” by The John Barry Orchestra. The group also comprises Dame Shirley Bassey (“Goldfinger,” “Diamonds Are Forever” and “Moonraker”). With “Goldfinger,” Bassey achieved her first Top 10 hit, reaching No. 8 on The Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary charts. Bassey made her Oscars debut at the 85th Academy Awards, where she performed a spectacular rendition of “Goldfinger” as part of the telecast’s James Bond 50th Anniversary tribute.
Along with Louis Armstrong (“We Have All The Time In The World”), Nancy Sinatra (“You Only Live Twice”), Lulu (“The Man With The Golden Gun”), The Best Of Bond…James Bond also includes Paul McCartney & Wings (“Live And Let Die”). Written by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, performed by Paul McCartney & Wings and produced by former Beatles producer George Martin, the title theme song hit No. 2 on the chart. It got nominated for both a GRAMMY Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The single “Live And Let Die” became the first Bond theme song to win a GRAMMY award (Best Pop Vocal Performance, 1973), and the music continues to be a highlight in McCartney’s live performances.
The Best Of Bond…James Bond also features Carly Simon (“Nobody Does It Better”), Tina Turner (“GoldenEye”), Duran Duran (“A View To A Kill”), Sheryl Crow (“Tomorrow Never Dies”), Madonna (“Die Another Day”), Garbage (“The World Is Not Enough”). With the release of “Skyfall,” Rolling Stone compiled its Top 10 James Bond Theme Songs, all 10 of which, of course, appear on this set, including Tom Jones (“Thunderball”) and Matt Monro (“From Russia With Love”).
Various Artists THE BEST OF BOND…JAMES BOND [2CD/DIGITAL AND 3LP]
DISC 1
- James Bond Theme - The John Barry Orchestra
- From Russia With Love - Matt Monro
- Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey
- Thunderball - Tom Jones
- You Only Live Twice - Nancy Sinatra
- On Her Majesty’s Secret Service - The John Barry Orchestra
- We Have All The Time In The World - Louis Armstrong
- Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey
- Live And Let Die - Paul McCartney & Wings
- The Man With The Golden Gun - Lulu
- Nobody Does It Better - Carly Simon
- Moonraker - Shirley Bassey
- For Your Eyes Only - Sheena Easton
- All-Time High - Rita Coolidge
DISC 2
- A View To A Kill - Duran Duran
- The Living Daylights - A-Ha
- License To Kill - Gladys Knight
- GoldenEye - Tina Turner
- Tomorrow Never Dies - Sheryl Crow
- The World Is Not Enough - Garbage
- Die Another Day - Madonna
- You Know My Name - Chris Cornell
- Another Way To Die - Jack White & Alicia Keys
- Skyfall - Adele
- Writing’s On The Wall - Sam Smith
- No Time To Die - Billie Eilish
3LP
LP1
Side A
- James Bond Theme - The John Barry Orchestra
- From Russia With Love - Matt Monro
- Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey
- Thunderball - Tom Jones
- You Only Live Twice - Nancy Sinatra
Side B
- On Her Majesty’s Secret Service - The John Barry Orchestra
- We Have All The Time In The World - Louis Armstrong
- Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey
- Live And Let Die - Paul McCartney & Wings
- The Man With The Golden Gun - Lulu
LP 2
Side A
- Nobody Does It Better - Carly Simon
- Moonraker - Shirley Bassey
- For Your Eyes Only - Sheena Easton
- All-Time High - Rita Coolidge
Side B
- A View To A Kill - Duran Duran
- The Living Daylights - A-Ha
- License To Kill - Gladys Knight
- GoldenEye - Tina Turner
LP 3
Side A
- Tomorrow Never Dies - Sheryl Crow
- The World Is Not Enough - Garbage
- Die Another Day - Madonna
- You Know My Name - Chris Cornell
Side B
- Another Way To Die - Jack White & Alicia Keys
- Skyfall - Adele
- Writing’s On The Wall - Sam Smith
- No Time To Die - Billie Eilish
Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) is the centralized U.S. catalog and select markets entity for UMG (Universal Music Group). Working in tandem with all of the company’s record labels, UMe provides a frontline approach to catalog management, a concentration of resources, opportunities in new technologies, and an emphasis on strategic marketing initiatives to engage all types of consumers across multiple entry points and platforms.
Source: UMe
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:36 AM | View the original post
September 26, 2020
Acura Selects Championship-Winning Teams for 2021
• Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing to run successful Acura ARX-05 prototypes
Photo: Wayne Taylor Racing will run the #10 Acura ARX-05 in 2021 and debut at the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Photo: Meyer Shank Racing will field the #60 Acura ARX-05 in the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 26, 2020 — Acura Motorsports announced it would partner with Meyer Shank Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing to campaign a pair of Acura ARX-05 Daytona Prototype International entries in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, beginning in 2021.
The WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada and organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). It resulted from a merger between two existing North American sports car racing series, the American Le Mans Series and Rolex Sports Car Series.
“It is a pleasure to announce that Wayne Taylor Racing will be joining the Acura ARX-05 IMSA program in 2021, along with Meyer Shank Racing,” said Jon Ikeda, Acura Brand Officer. “We’re confident that both teams will help us build on the successes we’ve achieved to date in IMSA competition.”
Defending IMSA GTD class champion Meyer Shank Racing [MSR] is in its third decade of operation. With wins in some of the sport’s biggest races, the Ohio-based team played a vital role in developing the successful Acura NSX GT3 Evo and has raced the car to victory lane in four consecutive seasons culminating in the drivers’ and teams’ titles in 2019. Acura and MSR are the current leaders in all three major GTD title championships.
“We welcome Wayne Taylor Racing into the Acura Motorsports family, and very much anticipate their contributions to our prototype program,” said Ted Klaus, president of HPD (Honda Performance Development), the competition arm for Acura Motorsports. “Equally, we look forward to growing our successful partnership with Meyer Shank Racing. We intend to have Acura Motorsports partner with MSR and WTR, not only to continue our championship ways but to collaborate to develop the next generation Acura LMDh.”
Acura is a leading automotive nameplate that, according to it, “delivers Precision Crafted Performance - a commitment to expressive styling, high performance and innovative engineering - all built on a foundation of quality and reliability.”
Acura Motorsports programs have been integral to the Acura brand since its launch in 1986.
Source: Acura Motorsports
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:36 PM | View the original post
IOC and Tokyo 2020 agree on measures to deliver Games fit for a post-corona world
Photo: Tokyo2020 - 1 Year to Go. Image provided by & copyright © IOC.
Lausanne, Switzerland, September 25 — The IOC Coordination Commission and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee agreed on a series of measures to make the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 fit for a post-corona world.
Developed in response to the postponement of this year’s Games due to the coronavirus pandemic, the commission has designed over 50 measures to maximize cost savings and increase efficiencies in Games delivery.
In his opening remarks to the meeting participants, IOC President Thomas Bach acknowledged the outstanding progress being made by Tokyo 2020, reinforcing his belief that next year’s Olympic Games will be the best prepared ever. He also emphasized that the coming months will require flexibility and creativity from everyone involved as the Tokyo organizers deliver Games fit for a post-corona world. In doing so, the IOC President offered his gratitude to all stakeholders fully aligned with the envisaged measures.
Today’s meeting provided the Coordination Commission with the opportunity to review the current list of measures, with more opportunities identified in the Games’ lead-up. These measures have four main categories: stakeholders, infrastructure, promotion, and other areas of interest.
Examples of the initial measures include reducing stakeholder personnel attending the Games, streamlining transport services, adjusting spectator activities at competition venues, and hosting several pre-Games meetings online.
Speaking after the meeting, Tokyo 2020 Coordination Commission Chair John Coates said: “Built from the principles outlined by the Joint IOC and Tokyo 2020 Steering Committee, these optimizations and simplifications mark an important step towards delivering a safe and successful Games in 2021. We owe it to the public to enact these measures during these challenging times. That’s why we’ve left no stone unturned and will continue to look for further opportunities over the coming months. The unique task of reorganizing an Olympic Games has called for the Olympic Movement to be stronger together - this milestone illustrates our collective commitment. The ‘Tokyo Model’ will not only deliver a Games fit for a post-corona world; it will become a blueprint that will benefit future Organising Committees for many years to come.”
Tokyo 2020 President Mori Yoshiro added: “Considering the current state of the world, we have been discussing how we will be able to deliver a safe and secure Games that can win public understanding in these challenging times. We will make all efforts to ensure that the Tokyo 2020 Games will be a legacy in the future. We will continue to work hard on simplifications towards next year and ask for the continued cooperation of all those involved in the Games.”
The possible countermeasures fall into seven areas:
- Travel/country access
- Physical distancing
- Personal protective equipment/cleaning
- Food and beverage
- Testing/tracking/isolating
- Information provision
- Vaccines
Source: International Olympic Committee
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:21 AM | View the original post
September 25, 2020
Holiday Delights Stamps
• Put Some Colorful Charm on Your Season’s Greetings
Photo: Holiday Delights Stamps, a prancing reindeer with antlers; an ornament tied with a bow and ready to hang; a tree topped with a star; and a stocking holding a teddy bear and a sprig of holly.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2020 — Celebrate the holiday season (in the USA) with Holiday Delights, a new stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Inspired by folk art but with a modern graphic vibe, these charming designs will add a touch of whimsy to your holiday mailings.
Illustrator Kirsten Ulve used a traditional palette of red, green, and white. She channeled her love of Christmas, vintage ornaments, and Scandinavian folk art to create unique digital illustrations of four holiday icons:
- A prancing reindeer with antlers
- An ornament tied with a bow and ready to hang
- A tree topped with a star
- A stocking holding a teddy bear and a sprig of holly
“Forever” and “USA” appear along the stamp’s edge. Art director Antonio Alcalá was the stamp designer, USPS stated.
“German immigrants brought the tradition of the indoor decorated tree to America. Early on, decorations included candles and homemade ornaments,” said Secretary of the Board of Governors Michael J. Elston, dedicating official for the Postal Service. “With these stamps, the Postal Service is capturing the vintage spirit of Christmas in hopes they will convey the joy of the season and bring to mind happy memories of Christmases past.”
Once the tradition of decorating trees caught on, in the 1890s, Woolworth’s five-and-dime stores began to import handblown ornaments. By the mid-20th century, Americans were buying hundreds of thousands of decorations each Christmas, USPS elaborated.
The origin of hanging stockings is lost in myth, but according to legend, St. Nicholas heard of a widower who could not pay his daughters’ dowries. St. Nick dropped gold coins down the man’s chimney, and they landed in the girls’ stockings hung by the fireplace to dry.
Although there is no certainty about how reindeer originally came to be associated with the holiday, it could be that their natural habitat in northernmost Europe and North America fits perfectly with the story of Santa’s secret North Pole workshop.
USPS informs that the stamp’s dedication ceremony would take place at Frankenmuth, a town connected with Christmas. It is the home of Bronner’s, the largest Christmas store globally, and is a Bavarian-rooted town with lots of holiday-related activities, USPS added.
The U.S. Postal Service is issuing Holiday Delights as a Forever stamp in booklets of 20. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Source: U.S. Postal Service
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:34 AM | View the original post
September 24, 2020
India's University Grants Commission issues Guidelines on Academic Calendar for the First Year of Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Students of the Universities for the Session 2020-21.
Photo: University of Mumbai. Image credit: Ben Beiske.
Photo: UGC Guidelines on Academic Calendar for the First Year of Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Students of the Universities for the Session 2020-21 because of COVID-19 Pandemic.
Source: UGC, India
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:11 PM | View the original post
September 23, 2020
TIME announces its Annual List of the 100 Most Influential People in the World
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 — TIME has announced the 2020 TIME100, its annual list of the World’s 100 most influential people.
The issue has eight worldwide covers, each highlighting a member of the TIME100:
- Immunologist - Dr. Anthony Fauci
- Performer - The Weeknd
- Alphabet CEO - Sundar Pichai
- COVID-19 frontline nurse - Amy O’Sullivan
- Actor -Gabrielle Union and athlete - Dwyane Wade
- Performer - Megan Thee Stallion
- President of Taiwan - Tsai Ing-wen, and
- Black Lives Matter founders - Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi.
The TIME100 often includes surprising pairings of the list members and the guest contributors TIME selects to write about them. The seventeenth annual list includes:
- Denzel Washington on Michael B. Jordan
- Derek Jeter on Patrick Mahomes
- Common on Angela Davis
- Ted Cruz on Tsai Ing-wen
- Oprah Winfrey on Tyler Perry
- Taylor Swift on Phoebe Waller-Bridge
- Elizabeth Warren on Ady Barkan
- Stevie Wonder on Yo-Yo Ma
- Maya Moore on Naomi Osaka
- Leonardo DiCaprio on Nemonte Nenquimo
- Cyndi Lauper on Billy Porter
- Deepika Padukone on Ayushmann Khurrana
- Lena Waithe on Michaela Coel
- Ayanna Pressley on Kamala Harris
- Tilda Swinton on Bong Joon Ho
- Kim Kardashian West on JoJo Siwa
- Melinda Gates on MacKenzie Scott
- Ronan Farrow on Julie K. Brown
- Timothy Geithner on Jerome Powell
- Jennifer Garner on Greg Berlanti.
The issue will also feature a new cover in addition to these eight covers, and a special tribute commemorating Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg featured on the TIME100 list in 2015.
Of the 2020 TIME100 list, TIME CEO and editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal writes, “This year’s list looks far different than any of us could have predicted just six months ago. The TIME 100 has always been a mirror of the World and those who shape it. While you will certainly find people who wield traditional power on this year’s list — heads of state, CEOs, major entertainers — it also includes many extraordinary, lesser-known individuals. These individuals seized the moment to save lives, build a movement, lift the spirit, repair the World. Their work challenges each of us to wield our influence toward a world that is healthier, more resilient, more sustainable, and just.”
For the first time, TIME revealed the annual TIME100 list with an hour-long special television event on ABC, produced in partnership with P&G.
On September 23, 24, and 25, TIME will host TIME100 honorees for a three-part series of TIME100 Talks.
TIME is a global media brand that reaches a combined audience of more than 100 million worldwide, including over 40 million digital visitors each month and 45 million social followers. A trusted destination for reporting and insight, TIME says its “mission is to tell the stories that matter most, to lead conversations that change the world and to deepen understanding of the ideas and events that define our time.”
Source: TIME
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:38 AM | View the original post
UN General Assembly Holds High-level Meeting to Commemorate 75th Anniversary of United Nations; General Debate of the General Assembly's Seventy-Fifth Session is now Open.
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres (at podium) addresses the opening of the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-fifth session. 22 September 2020. New York, United States of America. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: Donald J. Trump (on screens), President of the United States of America, addresses the General Assembly’s seventy-fifth session’s general debate.
Seated at dais are Secretary-General António Guterres (at right) and Volkan Bozkir, President of the seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly.
22 September 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
Photo: Amal Mudallali, Vice-President of the 75th session of the General Assembly and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Lebanon chairs the General Assembly’s high-level meeting to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations. 21 September 2020. New York, United States of America. UN Photo/Manuel ElÃas.
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres makes remarks to the General Assembly’s high-level meeting to commemorate the United Nations’ seventy-fifth anniversary. 21 September 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
Photo: Volkan Bozkir, President of the seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly, suspends the General Assembly’s high-level meeting to commemorate the United Nations’ seventy-fifth anniversary. 21 September 2020. New York, United States of America. UN Photo/Manuel ElÃas.
Source: United Nations, New York
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:13 AM | View the original post
September 22, 2020
PepsiCo Targets 100% Renewable Electricity Globally
• Food and beverage leader joins RE100 initiative with the ambition to achieve 100% renewable electricity globally for direct operations by 2030 and across the entire franchise and third-party functions by 2040
Photo: Illustration of wind turbines. Argonne’s 10 kW wind turbine. A similar design to the ones shown here, is used by Argonne scientists and engineers to study wind energy interaction, electric vehicle charging, and grid technology. Image credit: Argonne National Laboratory.
PURCHASE, N.Y., Sept. 21, 2020 — PepsiCo Inc. today announced a new target to source 100% renewable electricity across all of its company-owned and controlled operations globally by 2030 and its entire franchise and third-party functions by 2040. With PepsiCo’s scale, the transition has the potential to reduce approximately 2.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040, the equivalent of taking more than half a million cars off the road for a full year. This announcement builds upon the company’s global efforts to increase its use of renewable energy sources and its transition to renewable electricity in the U.S., its largest market, announced earlier this year.
“With the devastating effects of climate change around the world, and the global food system under significant strain, accelerated action is needed,” said Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer, PepsiCo. “We know the responsibility that comes with our size and scale, so transitioning PepsiCo’s global business operations to 100% renewable electricity is the right step forward to deliver meaningful impact as we continue to advance our sustainability agenda.”
Early this year, PepsiCo signed the Business Ambition for 1.5°C pledge, joining other leading companies in committing to set science-based emissions reduction targets. The company has made significant progress in reducing GHG emissions throughout its value chain - from working with farmers to implement carbon-efficient practices through its global Sustainable Farming Program to operating one of the largest electric fleets in North America.
PepsiCo currently procures renewable electricity in 18 countries, nine of which already meet 100% of their electricity demand from renewable sources. With the shift to renewable electricity in the U.S. underway this year, PepsiCo is currently on track to start 56% of its electricity through renewable sources globally by the end of 2020.
With this announcement, PepsiCo joins RE100, an initiative led by the Climate Group to bring together the world’s most influential companies committed to 100% renewable electricity.
“By transforming their global business operations to renewable electricity, PepsiCo is demonstrating a strong commitment to combat climate change, while underlining the business case for renewables,” said Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100 at The Climate Group. “By investing in the development of new solar and wind farms around the world to meet their target, PepsiCo is making a real tangible contribution to accelerating the clean energy transition.”
To achieve 100% renewable electricity globally, PepsiCo will employ a diversified portfolio of solutions, including Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The contracts will support developing new projects such as solar and wind farms worldwide and purchased energy certificates to enable the near-term transition to renewable sources in many geographies. The company will also continue to expand its growing list of onsite wind and solar projects at its facilities around the world. PepsiCo’s global headquarters in Purchase, NY, installed rooftop solar energy panels earlier this year.
Source: PepsiCo, Inc.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:23 AM | View the original post
Lamborghini secures one−two finish in penultimate Italian GT Endurance round Release Date: 20 September 2020
Sant’Agata Bolognese/Vallelunga, 20 September 2020 - Lamborghini recorded its first Italian GT Championship Endurance victory of the season in the hands of Imperiale Racing’s Kikko Galbiati, Alex Frassineti and Giovanni Venturini at Vallelunga.
The #32 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo started from pole position following Saturday’s qualifying session and duly maintained its advantage over the three-hour race.
It was a Lamborghini one-two finish at the end, as the #19 Vincenzo Sospiri Racing Huracán of Lamborghini GT3 Junior drivers Leonardo Pulcini and Yuki Nemoto claimed a second-place alongside team-mate Raffaele Giammaria.
For the #32, it was a lights-to-flag victory, aided by the rapid Frassineti, who got a clean start and built a healthy margin over the second-placed car.
Frassineti handed over to Galbiati at the first driver-change pit-stop, with the latter maintaining the margin out front. By the time Galbiati switched with Lamborghini Factory Driver Venturini, the race was all but in the bag.
Venturini eventually headed the #19 to the flag by just over six seconds.
The result also has significant championship implications for the Imperiale Racing partnership of Galbiati and Venturini ahead of the final endurance round of the season at Monza on the opening weekend of November.
The duo is now second in the points standings, just two points adrift of the leading BMW crew of Stefano Comandini and Marius Zug.
Source: Lamborghini
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:19 AM | View the original post
September 21, 2020
HP Launches the 'World's Easiest Plotters' for Architect, Engineer, Construction, and Home Offices.
The ‘world’s smallest plotters’, according to HP, and more sustainable than ever. The new HP DesignJet Series is aesthetic, simple to operate, and sustainably constructed.
Simple to use: Print multi-size projects automatically and send multiple files in one click with HP Click, all without compromising speed.
Fits your office and budget: Save space and make a statement with the ‘world’s smallest plotters’ designed to fit your office and style.
Matches the way you work: Print your jobs and manage your print jobs from virtually anywhere, anytime with the HP Smart App.
PALO ALTO, Calif., September 19, 2020 — HP Inc. has announced the release of a new HP DesignJet portfolio to simplify the printing needs of construction ecosystem professionals (architects, engineers, constructors, and subcontractors) while delivering high-quality and fast printouts at a low cost.
According to HP, its new HP DesignJet series comprises intelligent, flexible, compact, and modern printers unique to other types of plotters. With HP Click software, one-click printing - even for documents of different sizes - is made easy. Combined with the automatic A3/B tray, it prints multi-size projects automatically - A3/B and A1/D or A0/E - without manually switching the media source. The new HP DesignJet series also enables seamless printing and management from any connected device, wherever you are, thanks to the HP Smart App., HP said.
The new large-format HP DesignJet portfolio includes:
The HP DesignJet T200 Printer series: Easy and affordable printing with the ‘world’s smallest plotters’
The HP DesignJet T600 series: Fast and straightforward large-format plotters designed for construction ecosystem professionals focused on executing, problem-solving, and multitasking
The HP DesignJet Studio Printer series: For Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) professionals focused on creativity/design and sensitive to aesthetics
“The new DesignJet Series, from the T200 through to the T600 and Studio Printer versions, bring a new level of design, simplicity, and connectivity for creative professionals,” said Guayente SanmartÃn, vice president and general manager, HP Large Format Printing Business.
• HP DesignJet T200 Printer series
According to HP, its DesignJet T200 Printer series is the world’s smallest large-format plotters. With a width of 24 inches and capable of printing up to A1, they’re designed for simplicity of use with HP Click software, enabling rapid one-click printing of multiple files at once. The A3/B automatic sheet feeder accessory offers the ability to print multi-size A3/LF workflows without changing media input.
Standout features of the HP DesignJet T200 Printer series include:
- High-speed: Print an A1 sheet in as little as 30 seconds.
- Smart Printing: Print muti-size A3/B and A1/D projects without changing the medium and in one-click with HP Click.
- Increased mobility: Print anywhere with the HP Smart App.
- Sustainably designed: Constructed from 30% recycled plastic
- Designed to fit your budget: Use up to 95% less ink for routine maintenance.
- Higher-quality results: With 31% more line accuracy and 65% more gamut.
“As well as being compact, easy to use, and delivering high-quality results, the HP DesignJet T200 Printer series is also comprised of the most sustainable large-format plotters in the world, reducing carbon emissions by using up to 30% recycled plastic,” the company elaborated.
• HP DesignJet T600 Printer series
The HP DesignJet T600 Printer series shares many of the market-leading characteristics that present the HP DesignJet T200 Printer series as a leader in its class. The new series has the added ability to handle multi-size A3/LF workflows. As a default, it comes with an integrated stand and can manage complex projects, with increased memory and native HP-GL/2 support.
- Extreme simplicity: Print multi-size A3/B and A1/D or A0/E projects automatically, without manually switching the media source and just one click with HP Click and the integrated A3/B tray.
- Matches the way you work: Avoid waiting by the printer with high-speed printing as fast as 25 seconds per A1/D plot.
- Increased mobility: Print anywhere with the HP Smart App.
- Higher-quality results: With 31% more line accuracy and 65% more gamut.
Like its compact counterparts, the HP DesignJet T600 Printer series comprises 30% recycled plastic, helping to reach HP’s goal to increase recycled plastic content14 - well ahead of its 2025 target.
The versatile, sustainable, intelligent HP DesignJet T600 Printer series is available in 24-inch and 36-inch models. Its premium print engine can print a sheet of A1 media in as little as 25 seconds.
• HP DesignJet Studio Printer series
For design professionals, set up and style of their workplace is a statement about themselves. With a sleek white facia and wood or steel finish, the HP DesignJet Studio Printer series delivers a high-performance experience for design professionals and has unique design without ever compromising on speed, quality, or ease of use.
At the intersection of performance and design, the HP DesignJet Studio printer is for creative professionals. They need a large-format printer that fits seamlessly into the carefully crafted space of their client-facing workplace, all the while ensuring to keep up with the varied demands of the clients themselves.
In addition to this, these printers support multi-size workflows as default, come equipped with HP Click one-click printing software, and possess the ability to commence a job from any connected device with the HP Smart App.
Source: HP, Inc.
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HP DesignJet T200 and T600 Large Format Plotter Printers
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Easy Doesn’t Make It: HP Sustainable Impact | HP
Watch how HP delivers on bold promises for a sustainable future.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:39 AM | View the original post
September 20, 2020
SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2021 — JUDGES ANNOUNCED
The World Photography Organisation has announced the judging panel for the Sony World Photography Awards 2021. It also revealed new categories in the Awards’ four competitions, entry deadlines, and exhibition dates.
Here are some interesting entries:
Photo: Entry. Open competition. Landscape. Photographer Ales Krivec, Slovenia. © Ales Krivec, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards.
Photo: Entry. Open competition. Architecture. Photographer Mattia Giannattasio, Italy. © Mattia Giannattasio, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards.
Photo: Entry. Open competition. Natural World & Wildlife. Photographer Luca Pot d’Or, Germany. © Luca Pot d’Or, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards.
Photo: Entry. Open competition. Architecture. Photographer Jose Maria Martin, Spain. © Jose Maria Martin, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards.
Photo: Entry. Open competition. Natural World & Wildlife. Photographer Jack Evans, United Kingdom. © Jack Evans, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards.
Photo: Entry. Open competition. Architecture. Photographer Emil Gawkowski, Poland. © Emil Gawkowski, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards.
Photo: Entry. Open competition. Natural World & Wildlife. Photographer Dan Gerard, United Kingdom. © Dan Gerard, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards.
Photo: Entry. Open competition. Landscape. Photographer Viktor Einar Vilhelmsson, Iceland, © Viktor Einar Vilhelmsson, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards.
Photo: Entry. Open competition. Architecture. Photographer Gautam Jain, United States of America. © Gautam Jain, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards.
Photo: Entry. Open competition. Landscape. Photographer Tariqur Shaha, United Kingdom. © Tariqur Shaha, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards.
In its 14th year, the Sony World Photography Awards are an authoritative voice in the industry, celebrating the best contemporary photography from the past year and giving vast exposure and opportunity to photographers worldwide.
Sony supports the Awards to help the continued development of photographic culture by giving a global platform to today’s talent. Entry to the Awards is entirely free, and photographers are judged anonymously by a panel of industry-leading judges.
2021 JUDGES
This year’s internationally diverse jury brings a range of knowledge and expertise from varied photographic backgrounds and includes:
Professional Competition:
- Mike Trow, Independent Curator, and Photo Editor and Chair of the Jury;
- Natasha Egan, Executive Director, Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago;
- Sunyoung Kim, Curator, Museum of Photography Seoul, South Korea;
- Azu Nwagbogu, Founder and Director, African Artists Foundation;
- Lindsay Taylor, Curator, University of Salford Art Collection;
- Hannah Watson, Director, Trolley Books, and TJ Boulting.
Open and Youth Competitions:
- Gastón Deleau, Director, FOLA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Student Competition:
- Kate Simpson, Assistant Editor, Aesthetica Magazine.
2021 PRIZES
The Sony World Photography Awards is open to submissions from 1 July 2020. All category winners of the Professional, Open, Youth, and Student competitions receive Sony’s digital imaging equipment. Also, cash prizes of $25,000 (USD) are presented to the Year’s Photographer and $5,000 (USD) to the Open Photographer of the Year. All winning and shortlisted photographers’ works are exhibited at the annual Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition in London and toured internationally. The winning images are also published in the annual Awards’ book.
Source: The World Photography Organisation
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:01 AM | View the original post
Ship Ahoy! U.S. Postal Service (USPS) issues a Stamp on "Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor."
Photo: The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the Mayflower’s 400th-anniversary landing off the coast of New England.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2020 — The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) today issued the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor stamp.
“The Postal Service is proud to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s arrival off the coast of New England in December 1620,” said Kristin Seaver, Executive Vice President, U.S. Postal Service. “This stamp reflects the Postal Service’s commitment to honor our nation’s diversity, heritage, and history through our stamp program.”
Dr. George P. Garmany Jr., the governor-general, General Society of Mayflower Descendants; Michele Pecoraro, executive director, Plymouth 400; and Richard Pickering, deputy director, Plimoth Plantation, participated in the ceremony.
Background
“On Dec. 16, 1620, a ship that carried 102 English passengers completed a perilous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from Plymouth, England, and anchored offshore of today’s Plymouth, MA. The Mayflower’s passengers would become known as Pilgrims, and the story of their settlement in America would inspire future generations and become part of the larger story of the nation’s founding ideals,” USPS explained.
“The Pilgrims’ tale is intertwined with the story of the Wampanoag — People of the First Light — who made an alliance with the Pilgrims and forged a treaty with them that maintained relative peace for more than 50 years. The Pilgrims might not have survived their first year without the Wampanoag’s help and advice, with whom they celebrated their first harvest in the fall of 1621,” USPS elaborated.
“The Mayflower Compact, Plymouth Rock, Thanksgiving — all became part of this tiny band of settlers’ enduring legacy, whom we honor on the 400th anniversary of their arrival in America,” USPS said.
Artist Greg Harlin illustrated the stamp, using a combination of watercolor, gouache, and acrylics, with some digital refining to convey a scene of desolate beauty at the end of the Pilgrims’ harrowing journey to an unfamiliar world. The stamp also features a stylized hawthorn flower printed in intaglio. In England, the hawthorn — a member of the rose family — is sometimes called a mayflower, as it blooms in May.
Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp and pane.
The U.S. Postal Service stated that it is issuing the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor stamp as a Forever stamp, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Source: U.S. Postal Service
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:50 AM | View the original post
September 19, 2020
Peace Bell Ceremony in Observance of International Peace Day at the United Nations Headquarters.
Photo: A broad view of the garden as the UN Secretary-General António Guterres rings the Peace Bell at UN headquarters’ annual ceremony to observe the International Day of Peace (21 September).
The theme of the International Day of Peace of 2020 is “Shaping Peace Together.” This year COVID-19 has reminded us that what happens in one part of the planet can impact people everywhere.
17 September 2020. New York, United States of America. UN Photo/Manuel ElÃas.
Photo: A view of flags in front of the visitors’ entrance to the United Nations Headquarters with part of the General Assembly building in the background. 17 September 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas.
Source: United Nations, New York
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:03 PM | View the original post
Every cup of Nespresso coffee will be carbon neutral by 2022.
• Nespresso has been carbon neutral across its business operations since 2017 and now commits to achieving full carbon neutrality across its supply chain and product life cycle.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Sept. 17, 2020 — Nespresso today committed that every cup of Nespresso coffee, both for at-home and professional customers, will be carbon neutral by 2022. This new ambition builds on more than ten years of work, during which Nespresso has reduced its carbon emissions and compensated the remainder through agroforestry.
“Climate change is a reality, and our future depends on going further and faster on our sustainability commitments. That is why we are accelerating our commitments to offer our consumers a way to drink a carbon-neutral coffee cup by 2022. A coffee, made from the finest and rarest beans, sustainably sourced. I truly believe that both our business and the coffee industry can be a force for good in the world by tackling this pressing issue,” said Guillaume Le Cunff, CEO of Nespresso.
The company’s new commitment will tackle emissions in its supply chain and product life cycle.
Nespresso said it would achieve carbon neutrality through the following initiatives:
1. Carbon emission reduction: A crucial element of Nespresso’s vision is to decarbonize its value chain.
2. Planting trees in coffee farms and the surrounding landscapes: Trees are the best way to capture carbon from the atmosphere while investing in nature and building a regenerative agricultural system. Tree-Planting provides the shade needed to improve the quality and quantity of a coffee harvest. The roots also help protect against soil erosion and landslides and promote soil regeneration.
3. Accelerate to make an immediate positive impact: Nespresso will also invest in projects to support forest conservation and restoration and implement clean energy solutions within farming communities.
This carbon neutral commitment is part of a broader sustainability ambition: to preserve exceptional coffees, build a resilient and regenerative coffee agriculture system, drive sustainable livelihoods for farmers, and create a circular business.
Nestlé Nespresso SA is the pioneer and reference for the highest-quality portioned coffee. The company works with more than 110,000 farmers in 14 countries through its AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program to embed sustainability practices on farms and landscapes. Launched in 2003 in collaboration with the NGO The Rainforest Alliance, the program improves the yield and quality of harvests, ensuring a sustainable supply of high-quality coffee and improving farmers and their communities’ livelihoods.
Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Nespresso operates in 84 countries and has 14,250 employees. In 2019, it ran a global retail network of 810 boutiques. The brand currently has more than 100,000 points to collect its used capsules globally, enabling 91% of its consumers to recycle.
Source: Nespresso
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:02 AM | View the original post
September 18, 2020
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) launches its goIT Education Program in the Philippines.
• Tata Consultancy Services’ Program Provides Vital Technology Training for Students to Improve their Communities and Secure the Nation’s Digital Future.
Photo: School student working on an assignment. Image credit: Enokson.
MANILA | MUMBAI, September 16, 2020 — Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has partnered with the Philippines Department of Education, Cordillera Administrative Region, to help students improve their technology skills through the global TCS initiative, goIT.
TCS explained that the goal of the goIT program is to demystify computer science and enthuse students to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and become tomorrow’s technology leaders. It introduces students to design thinking, digital technologies, and the agile methodology to develop and prototype solutions that improve their communities or support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The engaging curriculum includes the innovation lifecycle, product prototyping, and industry-relevant entrepreneurial skills. TCS employees will mentor students and provide industry context and real-world connections.
The three-day goIT program will get implemented in 20 schools across six provinces of the Cordillera region. The program, meant for third and fourth-year high school students, will start in the last week of September with the first school, Cordillera Regional Science High School, located in Benguet.
“True to our vision of promoting quality education for every Filipino, TCS’ goIT program will facilitate the learning of much-needed technology skills. It will develop our Cordilleran learners and contribute to improving their communities,” said May Eclar, Regional Director of the Department of Education, Cordillera Administrative Region.
“We are excited to launch the goIT program and impart knowledge and skills in science and technology to Filipino students and lay the foundation for the nation’s digital workforce of the future. Through this program, we will reach students in the farthest areas, helping them contribute to their communities’ development,” said Shiju Varghese, Country Head, TCS Philippines.
goIT is TCS’s flagship student engagement program across North America, LATAM (Latin America), Europe, Asia Pacific, and Australia. It is tailored to meet local communities’ specific needs. The program is estimated to have reached over 12,000 students worldwide in FY 2020.
Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 50 years. TCS offers a consulting-led, cognitive powered, integrated portfolio of business, technology, and engineering services and solutions. These services and solutions are delivered through TCS’s unique Location Independent AgileTM delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.
A part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has over 443,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 46 countries.
Source: Tata Consultancy Services
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:08 AM | View the original post
FILA's Laura Siegemund Triumphant in New York, Wins First Women's Grand Slam Doubles Title at U.S. Open.
FILA sponsored tennis player Laura Siegemund captured her first U.S. Open Women’s Doubles title Friday afternoon with partner Vera Zvonareva - defeating the No.3 seeded team of Nicole Melichar and Xu Yifan in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
The unseeded duo dominated the fortnight in New York, winning in straight sets in four of their five matches. Siegemund and Zvonareva defeated three seeded teams en route to the final, knocking off [7] Kenin/Azarenka, [2] Sabalenka/Mertens, and finally [3] Melichar/Yifan in Friday’s title match.
“It’s not a random choice that we play with each other because we both feel like we can complement each other’s game,” Siegemund stated. “Then something that turns out during the journey through the two weeks is that you, like, in our case, I realized her game style complements mine.”
The doubles title is Siegemund’s sixth in her career and second title at the U.S. Open, following her 2016 mixed doubles title with partner Mate Pavić. Siegemund also improves to 6-3 in career finals with the win in New York.
• Introducing FILA’s Original Tennis LX & Centa
• FILA introduces two premium footwear silhouettes - the Original Tennis LX & the Centa.
The ‘Centa’ is FILA’s brand new silhouette featuring rich, premium leather uppers with waxed edges and perforations. The leather FILA flag extends up around the shoe’s collar, and FILA branding on the tongue boasts hand stitch detailing on a tonal embossed patch. The ‘Centa’ comes in three colorways - white, cream, and navy.
The Original Tennis LX is born from one of FILA’s most classic silhouettes, the Original Tennis. Debuting in white, cream, and turquoise, the Original Tennis LX brings a fresh feel to FILA’s footwear lineup. The Original Tennis LX is updated with enhanced construction and premium leather, and features an exposed medial midsole that allows for a lighter and more comfortable fit, the company stated.
Source: FILA
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:06 AM | View the original post
