NEWDELHI, INDIA – Media OutReach – 7 July 2022 – The blockbusting CAMON19 of TECNO is to debut in India on July 12 – a product combining fashion aesthetics with cool technology. TECNO CAMON19 boasts of an industry-first 64 MP camera with RGBW sensor, which is a magic wand to win the heart of India’s Gen Z.
The bright night portrait allows the nightlife lovers to take amazing photos and glow into the night. CAMON19 is the best companion to go on a trip as its ultra-sensitive camera keeps user in the spotlight by clicking pictures which are beyond what can be imagined in smartphone cameras.
The 0.98 mm slimmest bezel breaking the industry record makes it easier for users to carry it. Holding the rear shell with 200-million diamonds feels like the entire Milky Way in hands.
India, which is a South Asian country, has a Gen Z population of around 472 million[1] and this major consumer group has a say in everything. They are unique as they are obsessed with beauty, fashion and nightlife and in the meantime, they are also strongly attached to their roots and true selves.
Capturing this shift towards authenticity and original aesthetics, TECNO, a brand, which knows India’s Gen Z best, is all set to launch its latest smartphone CAMON19 in Mid-July. This premium smartphone is a first-of-its-kind blend of fashion, aesthetics and technology that lets its users express their authentic selves perfectly.
Gen Z is keen on expressing their uniqueness without heavy whitening foundations and filters. Personalization and authenticity are their labels and for them, a mobile phone is not just a gadget for immersive surfing but also a tool for self-expression, and this trend is bringing a change.
The masterfully crafted TECNO CAMON19 which is ready to mark its debut and with superior photography, aesthetics and innovation, the smartphone will definitely be a never-seen-before experience for Indian Gen Z.
Southeast and South Asia are embracing an aesthetic change. The natural beauty of the nations are being valued with a realisation that only individuality can resist the singleness of globalized aesthetics.
Originally, these regions are diverse in terms of geography and culture. The neighbouring countries here have had close commercial and cultural exchanges. And these exchanges have led to change in cultural patterns. It can be said that diversification was the original aesthetic of these regions and today, the Gen Z is bringing this back to its roots.
Op-ed in line with the launch of UNFPA’s State of World Population Report 2022.
Mother and daughter, Liza and Agnes, who live in the small seaside community of St. Bernard in the Philippines, recalled the day Super Typhoon Rai made landfall. When I visited them, they told me that when the typhoon hit, the wind sounded like a thousand horses thundering through the community and ripping houses and families violently apart, destroying thousands of lives, and disrupting access to critical health services.
Liza and Agnes are among the millions of women and girls who find themselves pregnant while in the maelstrom of crises, from natural disasters to pandemics, and conflicts. They are the real victims of these crises. Evidence shows that more than 50 per cent of all maternal deaths and up to 70 percent of gender-based violence occur in situations of humanitarian crisis, such as disaster zones.
This is particularly apparent in Asia and the Pacific, the world’s most disaster-prone region, where women and girls are at high risk and extremely vulnerable when they lose access to information and services on sexual health, including contraception.
This is one of the world’s most devastating crises and it is right in front of our eyes. Yet somehow, it remains unseen. In today’s modern age of space travel, many women and girls still do not have the basic human right to bodily autonomy – the ability to choose whether, when and with whom to become pregnant. In the peak of mankind’s technological evolution, half of all pregnancies are unplanned, and many of them unwanted. How is this possible in the age of modern, effective contraception?
Unintended pregnancies are not just happening in settings of humanitarian disaster. Women and girls in many communities across the Asia Pacific are still curtailed from freely deciding on and spacing pregnancies. For instance, across six South Asian countries, an average of 22.7 per cent of women with three or more children have experienced an unintended pregnancy.
What we don’t tend to realize is that this lack of individual choices cascades into monumental global costs. There are steep consequences associated with unintended pregnancy — costs to an individual’s health, education and future, impact to whole health systems, workforces, and societies. The number of girls who delay or discontinue their education and workforce participation due to unintended pregnancies is vast, with lifetime and intergenerational impacts on earnings and health.
At a granular level, costs on individuals are staggering. There are social, mental, and physical health consequences including recourse to unsafe abortion and increased vulnerability to poverty. The toll of these pregnancies is — and long has been — unseen. Though we can estimate health-care costs and monitor school drop-out rates, these only scratch the surface of the consequences.
Additionally, unintended pregnancy is a driver of child marriage. Cultural beliefs in the region that pride family honor push many young girls into marriage, disrupting their education and their ambition to reach their full potentials.
Over the last 20 years, Asia and the Pacific region have seen impressive improvements in sexual and reproductive health. However, there are still 140 million women in the region with unmet needs for family planning.
Over 60 per cent of unintended pregnancies end in abortion and an estimated 45 per cent of all abortions are unsafe, accounting for 5 to 13 percent of all maternal deaths recorded, according to the UNFPA’s flagship State of World Population 2022 report.
This is also having a major impact on countries’ ability to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 target date.
The solution to so many of the world’s biggest challenges is right in front of us—the realization of gender equality and the full rights and potential of women and girls. This can be done through listening, investing, building, and advancing efforts from all spectrums to shift society’s priorities by allowing women and girls to achieve their bodily autonomy.
UNFPA, the United Nations sexual health and reproductive agency, calls on policy makers, community leaders and everyone to work collectively to change society’s priorities by expanding choices and resources for women and girls. By finally exercising real, informed choices over their health, bodies, and futures, women and girls can unleash a powerful, reinforcing cycle of gains.
With a united call for action, our collective efforts will bring us closer to our professed shared vision for humanity—a world in which every pregnancy is wanted, and every person enjoys the full realization of their rights and potential.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Laotian Times.
Bjorn Andersson, the author, is the Director of Asia Pacific Regional Office of the United Nations Population Fund, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency.
Team GreenOverMorrow from Morocco wins with a smart energy management solution to set the energy transition of agriculture in motion
The winners receive a 10,000-euro cash prize
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 July 2022 – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced Team GreenOverMorrow from Morocco as the winner of Schneider Go Green, an annual competition that invites university students from around the globe to share their ideas for innovations that can help make the world cleaner, more inclusive, and more sustainable.
Spearheaded by Abir Werzgan, Hajar Werzgan and Omrane Derhy, Team GreenOverMorrow was awarded the title in recognition of their automated greenhouse solution: an IoT and AI-enabled, XaaS (Everything-as-a-Service) solution using solar panels alongside grid and crop data to reduce energy losses, save water and cut carbon emissions.
The judging panel, made up of senior executives from Schneider Electric and AVEVA, was particularly impressed by the applicability of the winning solution and the passion shown by the winning team to have a positive impact on farming in their region.
The judges congratulated all the finalists for their outstanding work, insightful presentations and the immense energy they showed. They commented that “Team GreenOverMorrow’s winning solution combines optimized energy management with a subscription service business model and can potentially unlock more sustainable food production, not just in Morocco, but in other parts of the world.”
The winning team, who are students at ENSAM University of Casablanca and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Ben Guerir, will receive a 10,000 euro cash prize. Seven other teams – each representing a different region– made it through to the final round of the competition. All participants received mentorship to help them fine-tune their ideas and pitch to the judges.
“With so many challenges now facing the planet – both environmental and social – we all have to help create a positive impact,” said Charise Le, Schneider Electric’s Chief Human Resources Officer. “Change doesn’t always have to be big-bang and top-down. In fact, innovations like these – targeted, grassroots and small-scale, but also bold and impactful – are an important part of the overall solution. It’s our responsibility to help them become a reality.”
First launched in 2011 by Schneider Electric, and now run in collaboration with the industrial software company AVEVA, Schneider Go Green has expanded rapidly over the past decade. In 2022 alone, more than 22,200 students from 200 countries registered for the event, and more than 3,700 submitted innovative ideas that fitted into the competition’s five categories: Access to Energy, Homes of the Future, Global Supply Chain of the Future, Grids of the Future, Decoding the Future.
The full list of finalists can be found here. For more details about the competition, go to gogreen.se.com.
Schneider Electric’s sustainability commitments, including those connected with fostering the next generation, are here, and more about sustainability at AVEVA can be found here.
Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.
Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.
We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.
We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.
Discover the newest perspectives shaping sustainability, electricity 4.0, and next generation automation on Schneider Electric Insights
About AVEVA
AVEVA is a global leader in industrial software, sparking teams’ ingenuity to drive responsible use of the world’s resources.
Over 20,000 industrial enterprises rely on AVEVA to help them deliver life’s essentials: safe and reliable energy, food, medicines, infrastructure and more. By connecting teams with trusted information and AI-enriched insights, AVEVA helps them engineer smarter, operate better and drive growth and sustainability. AVEVA’s secure industrial cloud platform and applications empower businesses to not only optimize their own enterprises, but also improve collaboration with their extended ecosystem of customers, suppliers and partners.
Named one of the world’s most innovative companies, AVEVA supports customers with open solutions and the expertise of over 6,400 employees, 5,000 partners and 5,700 certified developers around the world. With operations around the globe, AVEVA is headquartered in Cambridge, UK and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s FTSE 100.
Singapore – Media OutReach – 6 July 2022 – Real estate private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners today announced the appointment of Mr.Nitin Gupta as Managing Director and Head of India at Gaw Capital Partners. Mr. Gupta will be based in Mumbai, India.
Nitin will spearhead Gaw Capital Partners’ foray into India market, building a professional team on the ground to capture attractive investment opportunities across real estate spectrum. His exceptional leadership, market relationships and transaction structuring experience for over nearly three decades in India will be invaluable for building a scalable and successful business in India for Gaw Capital Partners.
Prior to joining Gaw Capital Partners, Nitin worked as Managing Director and Head of India – Real Estate with Macquarie Asset Management business. Nitin worked with Macquarie Group for over 14 years in a few roles including Head of India for Macquarie Capital business. During his term with Macquarie Group, Nitin led market leading transactions of more than US$7 billion, and advised global investors on their investments into India. Prior to joining Macquarie Group in 2008, Nitin worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers (Corporate Finance Division) for 10 years and Industrial Development Bank of India (Merchant Banking Division) for over 4 years. Nitin has a strong track record in transaction sourcing, structuring, fundraising, and successful transaction closures of nearly three decades.
Nitin received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Shriram College of Commerce, Delhi University, India, and has professional degrees of Chartered Accountant (Gold Medalist), Cost Accountant and Company Secretary.
Hashtag: #GawCapitalPartners
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Gaw Capital Partners
Gaw Capital Partners is a uniquely positioned private equity fund management company focusing on real estate markets in Asia Pacific and other high barrier-to-entry markets globally.
Specializing in adding strategic value to under-utilized real estate through redesign and repositioning, Gaw Capital runs an integrated business model with its own in-house asset management operating platforms in commercial, hospitality, property development, logistics, IDC and education. The firm’s investments span the entire spectrum of real estate sectors, including residential development, offices, retail malls, serviced apartments, hotels, logistics warehouses and IDC projects.
Gaw Capital has raised seven commingled funds targeting the Greater China and APAC regions since 2005. The firm also manages value-add/opportunistic funds in the US, a Pan-Asia Hospitality Fund, a European Hospitality Fund, a Growth Equity Fund and provides services for credit investments and separate account direct investments globally.
Since 2005, Gaw Capital has commanded assets of US$35.2 billion under management as of Q1 2022.
Invigorating Intelligent Industrial Transformation and Boosting I&T Development in Hong Kong
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 July 2022 –The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (“CAIR”) and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (“HKPC”) today announced the establishment of CAIR – HKPC Joint Laboratory (“Joint Lab”). The Joint Lab will leverage the strengths of the two renowned organisations to develop innovative solutions for industries and institutions, and help enterprises tackle the challenges they face when adopting artificial intelligence (“AI”) and robotics technologies. The Joint Lab will be a leading force in fostering smart manufacturing and industrial upgrading and transformation in Hong Kong, and will strengthen the momentum of a booming innovation and technology (I&T) sector to become a new growth engine for the city.
(From left) Dr Bo XU, Director of CAIR and President of Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Prof. Dong SUN, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, HKSAR Government; Dr Hongbin LIU, Executive Director of CAIR; Dr Ming GE, General Manager of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Division of HKPC, Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC and Mr Edmond LAI, Chief Digital Officer of HKPC, take a group photo to commemorate the establishment of the CAIR-HKPC Joint Lab.
Built upon CAIR’s prestigious standing with its leading R&D capabilities and HKPC’s wealth of expertise in the implementation of intelligent manufacturing and strong network with Hong Kong industry stakeholders, the Joint Lab is strategically positioned to act in concert with national-level policies in AI and Robotics related industries and fully tap the market potential of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Joint Lab aims to deepen the collaboration among industry, academia and research institutes, accelerate technology transfer of research achievements in AI and Robotics, and promote the development of related industries through joint R&D projects and exchange programmes. Based on the actual needs of enterprises, the Joint Lab will provide R&D and innovative applied technology solutions in fields including intelligent systems, intelligent equipment, intelligent robots, digital modelling and analysis technologies, as well as customised automatic equipment and advanced manufacturing solutions and intelligent product development services. This is the first joint lab that CAIR has launched with a Hong Kong statutory organisation, with a distinct focus on technology transfer and applications of scientific and technological breakthroughs.
Prof. Dong SUN, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; Dr Bo XU, Director of CAIR and President of Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Dr Hongbin LIU, Executive Director of CAIR; Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC; Mr Edmond LAI, Chief Digital Officer of HKPC; and Dr Ming GE, General Manager of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Division of HKPC, attended the ceremony. Dr Hongbin LIU, Executive Director of CAIR and Dr Ming GE, General Manager of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Division of HKPC, signed the agreement on behalf of the two partnering organisations.
The Joint Lab will have its presence at CAIR and HKPC Building, advancing cooperation in these key areas:
The application of large cross-modal pre-training AI models for industrial scenarios and other organisations
Human-computer interaction technology, including the application of tactile sensor technology, image processing, for industrial scenarios and other organisations
President Xi Jinping, during his inspection tour of Hong Kong on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, attached great importance to Hong Kong’s strengths in innovation and technology and its significant role in the nation’s advancement. He expressed high expectations for those working in the sector. President Xi’s support is inspiring to the I&T sector. Hong Kong will adhere to President Xi’s instructions, as the city strives to become an international innovation and technology hub, strengthen the collaboration among industry, academia and research institutes, and fully integrate into the nation’s overall development.
Dr Bo XU, Director of CAIR and President of Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, is delighted about the partnership with HKPC. He said, “The CAIR-HKPC Joint Lab fully embodies the strengths of both organisations, with CAIR’s leading research capabilities and HKPC’s cutting-edge expertise and solid experience in providing innovative solutions and applied technology services for Hong Kong enterprises. CAIR is positioned to develop into a world-class innovative research institute, a global powerhouse for top talents, and a hub for I&T cooperation and exchange. President Xi has expressed strong support for Hong Kong’s I&T development. We will draw guidance and inspiration from President Xi’s instructions and will implement the innovation-driven development strategy with steadfast focus. As Hong Kong’s booming I&T sector has gained more vigour and momentum for rapid development, CAIR will enhance our research capabilities in pioneering fields such as basic theory of new-generation AI, new human-computer interaction technology, advanced health-oriented robotics technology, and cross-modal open-source AI platform technology. CAIR will also provide staunch support to innovative collaboration among industry, academia and research institutes. With full confidence in our nation’s prowess in innovation, we will pay close attention to the latest development of frontier technologies worldwide, strive to achieve key technological breakthroughs, and contribute to developing China into a world leader in science and technology.”
Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC, said, “This is the first time that HKPC has worked closely with the nation’s top-notch research institute to set up a joint lab. We are very honoured to have this great opportunity. Going forward, HKPC will follow President Xi’s instructions, sharpen our core strengths to support more Hong Kong enterprises to enhance competitiveness through innovative solutions, advanced technology, talent development and government funding, with a view to promoting smart manufacturing and industrial transformation and upgrading in Hong Kong. As the chairing organisation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Productivity Promotion Service Alliance, HKPC will redouble our efforts to accelerate the implementation of joint projects in AI, Robotics and Big Data with other esteemed partners including the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; the Department of Automation, Tsinghua University; and Shenzhen Data Exchange. In the meantime, HKPC will continue to play a key role in nurturing talents for the I&T sector and creating more opportunities for young people, especially in advanced manufacturing. As the implementer and promoter of the industrial policy of Hong Kong, HKPC will follow the government’s vision about I&T and industrial development, attracting more high-tech, high value-added industries to establish and thrive here, build a vibrant I&T ecosystem, and support Hong Kong’s ascension to an international innovation and technology hub.”
The Joint Lab will deepen collaboration in applied R&D, technological exchange and talent development, strengthen I&T cooperation between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, promote industrial upgrading in the Greater Bay Area, expand the talent pool in the region, and enhance Hong Kong’s unique advantages to fully grasp the opportunities presented by the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan and the Greater Bay Area, to better integrate itself into the nation’s overall development.
About Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between HKSAR Government and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), CAS established the Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation of Chinese Academy of Sciences (HKISI), its affiliated institution in Hong Kong, with a view of facilitating its presence in the research clusters on healthcare technologies and on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies. The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) of HKISI, was established in 2019. Its development is led by the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASIA), also supported by the InnoHK programme from Innovation and Technology Commission. It is positioned to become a world-class research institute for AI and robotics, emphasizing applications in healthcare, fintech and arts. CAIR aims to become an international hub for research and innovation, with global influence in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a multi-disciplinary organisation established by statute in 1967, to promote productivity excellence through relentless drive of world-class advanced technologies and innovative service offerings to support Hong Kong enterprises. Being a key enabler and catalyst of innovation, applied technology and value creation, HKPC facilitates Hong Kong’s reindustrialisation empowered by Industry 4.0 and Enterprise 4.0, as well as to develop smart and green living applications for bolstering Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub and a smart city.
The Council is a trusted partner with comprehensive innovative solutions for Hong Kong industries and enterprises, enabling them to achieve resources and productivity utilisation, effectiveness and cost reduction, and enhance competitiveness in both local and overseas marketplace. It offers SMEs and startups immediate and timely assistance in coping with the ever-changing business environment, accompanying them on their innovation and transformation journey. Moreover, a variety of FutureSkills training are offered for enterprises to upskill and nurture talents with digital capabilities and STEM competencies to enhance their competitive edge.
In addition, HKPC partners and collaborates with local industries and enterprises and world-class R&D institutes to develop applied technology solutions for value creation. It also benefits a variety of sectors through product innovation and technology transfer, with commercialisation of multiple market-driven patents and technologies, bringing enormous opportunities abound for licensing and technology transfer, both locally and overseas. HKPC’s world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades.
For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: www.hkpc.org.