Al Jabr Automotive, sole distributor in Saudi Arabia for Kia Motors, has launched the new Dynamax All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system in the all-new Kia Sportage, which is the result of the partnership between Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) and Magna Powertrain, part of Magna International Inc. "The new Dynamax AWD system represents a significant technical advance that will bring real benefits to our customers," said Soon-Nam Lee, director of overseas marketing, KMC. "The all-new Sportage compact SUV is an exciting newcomer to our product line-up and the availability of such a responsive AWD system for the first time in a Kia will raise this model's appeal for many potential buyers." The Sportage compact SUV is the first of several vehicles featuring Magna Powertrain's innovative, continuous and fully active AWD coupling system called Dynamax. This system behavior is completely transparent to the driver, he added. Dynamax continuously monitors driving conditions and anticipates AWD system requirements compared to other AWD systems, which can only react to conditions after they occur. Dynamax's intelligent control unit continuously analyzes data from the vehicle controller, and through a multi-plate clutch, the coupling system is fully controllable via an electro-hydraulic actuation system. "Dynamax strategically positions both companies for global growth in the AWD segment, delivering enhanced driving performance and safety with the additional benefit of lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions," said Jake Hirsch, president of Magna Powertrain.
 

Etisalat received in Singapore on Sunday Asia's Best Brand and Asia's Best Employer brand awards from CMO Asia Awards and Employer Branding Institute in recognition of its valuable brand contributions and for being the most sought after employer in Asia. "ETISALAT is a master brand, a brand that all look up to. As an iconic brand, Etisalat is a role model for many to Emulate. Etisalat's HR policies are most "innovative" and inspire confidence among Employees to contribute value, said Phil Knight, global chairman, Best Employer Brand Awards. Etisalat, which expanded its Asian footprint significantly over the past years, has launched services under Etisalat brand in Asian markets like Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, and exists in India under Etisalat DB. Overall Etisalat has more than 100 million subscribers spread across 18 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia covering two billion people. Etisalat is meeting the branding challenge by working across a diverse array of cultures, languages, religions and competitor landscapes. Importantly Etisalat believes strongly in the role of its employees and believes that creating the right company culture provides customer service excellence. That has been the focus in HR and Branding teams as Etisalat is steadily establishing itself as a global brand. Etisalat is committed to equip its staff through its educational arm Dubai-based Etisalat Academy with the latest skills and knowledge to help them achieve their personal objectives and enjoy a fulfilling career.
 

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd., one of the fastest-growing car manufacturers in China, has announced the top positions in the new board of directors at Volvo Car Corporation, pending completion of the acquisition of the company from Ford Motor Company (FMC). The deal is anticipated to be completed within Q3 2010. Li Shufu, Geely Chairman, will become chairman of the board at Volvo Car Corporation pending completion of the acquisition, while Hans-Olov Olsson has been named as vice-chairman at Volvo Cars. Olsson is a former president and chief executive of the Swedish carmaker. Shufu said: "We have made significant progress in assembling the team that will develop Volvo Cars under Geely's ownership. Today's board appointments underline my personal commitment to this famous company." The announcement follows the separate disclosure by FMC that Stephen Odell, currently CEO of Volvo Cars, will become chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe. Ford also named Stuart Rowley, chief financial officer of Volvo Cars, as Ford's new chief financial officer for Europe. Both executives will remain in their current roles until completion of the Volvo Cars transaction. Under the proposed change of ownership, Volvo Cars will remain headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, with management autonomy to execute on its business plan. The company also plans to extend its industry-leading position in the fields of vehicle safety, fuel efficiency and environmental technology.
 

LG Electronics (LG), a major innovator of home appliances, announced the launch of SolarDom light wave oven along with Krystal Steam Vacuum cleaner, Kompressor2 vacuum cleaner and Maestro Conventional microwave oven at LG Cooking Academy in Jeddah on Saturday. LG's MD John Lee and Home Appliances Senior Marketing Manager Sanginn Lee explained the features of the new products. With Ramadan around the corner, LG launched a newer version of SolarDom Light wave Oven, which has a three-in-one countertop cooking oven (appliance) that helps cook healthier and tastier without spending hours in the kitchen. This compact light wave oven utilizes light waves created by a combination of different type of heaters - Halogen, Sheath and Ceramic, each with different heating depth ensuring that food is cooked evenly. Heat is circulated more efficiently because of the round cavity and the light reflector, which concentrates light waves on the food. Using Halogen heating generates heat quicker, thus eliminating the need for preheating. Lee said: "The SolarDOM is a next generation cooking appliance and it will create a new kitchen lifestyle. The Krystal Steam Vacuum cleaner boasts world's first motorizes dust compression, and has steam cleaning with Microfiber mop. The Kompressor2 Vacuum cleaner has been designed in the interest of hygiene, convenience and health care. It has a Turbo cyclone system that gives a reinforced cyclonic effect. This innovative technology doesn't need a conventional filter inside the container.
 

Mohammed Yousuf Naghi Motors (MYNM), the exclusive dealer in Saudi Arabia for "BESF1TS" and "Accessories" brands, has announced the opening of its first center specialized in auto spare parts and accessories in the Saudi market under the two brands. BESF1TS brand is considered one of the best brands in the field of auto spare parts, which are characterized by high quality and diversity. Number of BESF1TS exclusive distributors around the world is increasing constantly. It offers top quality consumable auto spare parts for all types and models of cars available in the Saudi market, which contributes significantly to provide quality an integrated services through one center, thus saving consumer's time and efforts in looking for the required spare parts at various spare parts shops scattered all over Jeddah. MYNM GM Hazm Jamjoom said the opening of the first Accessories and BESF1TS centers in Jeddah was a result of its experience in the Saudi auto market, and its need for high quality spare parts. "The availability of many unknown brands that offer counterfeit and fake spare parts has led us to search for a reliable source that can provide high-quality auto spare parts that cover the majority of makes and models of cars in Saudi Arabia at a reasonable price. So we naturally headed toward the world's most famous brand in this filed, that is BESF1TS, which is the only company that is capable of providing this unique and excellent service." Similar centers are set to open in Riyadh, Alkhobar and other major cities.
 

The Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (SYOGOC) and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a global leader in the consumer electronics industry, have reaffirmed their partnership by announcing several initiatives aimed at sharing the spirit and excitement of the first Youth Olympic Games with Singapore and the rest of the world. Samsung is a Worldwide Partner of the Youth Olympic Games. These initiatives include Samsung coming on board as the International Presenting Partner for the Singapore 2010 Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame (JYOF) including the Olympic torch relay in Singapore, the appointment of Asian pop star JJ Lin as Samsung's youth ambassador, the Samsung Mobile Explorer program for active and talented youth from Singapore, China, and Korea to take part in Singapore 2010, and the Digital Concierge, which will provide personalized Singapore 2010-related information and services to athletes and National Olympic Committee (NOC) team officials through Samsung mobile phones. "As a long time supporter of the Olympic Movement, Samsung is giving its full support to ensure that the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is an unprecedented success and a landmark event," said Gregory Lee, CEO, Samsung Asia Pte. Ltd. The JYOF is the final countdown to the first Youth Olympic Games. The Olympic Flame for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will be lit in Ancient Olympia, Greece, as with all modern day Olympic Games, said Inamullah Butt, marketing and PR Manager, Samsung Electronics, Saudi Arabia.
 

Residents of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam have been witnessing live demos of Kenwood's Kitchen Machine and TriBlade Hand Blender. Lebanese Chef Richard Khoury gave a demonstration of the machines at the Red Sea Mall in Jeddah on Tuesday night. Demonstrations have also been taking place at many other major shopping malls, mega stores and Hyper markets across the Kingdom. Al Tafawoq Establishment for Electronic Devices, member of Ahmed Abdulwahed Co. and sole agent for Kenwood products in the Kingdom, has been introducing Kenwood's kitchen appliances that are synonymous with quality and reliability. Whatever the need, Kenwood is sure to provide users with the right solutions for their everyday cooking and food preparation, ranging from kitchen machines, food processors, blenders, smoothie makers, ice-cream makers, juicers and water filters, to bread makers, kettles, coffee machines, toasters, deep fryers, food steamers and kitchen scales. Using the Kitchen Machine, Khoury demonstrated its functions, power and durability. With more than 20 different and effective attachments, this machine enables users especially housewives to cut, knead, grind, press, whip, mince and mix food ingredients, to prepare dishes in a very enjoyable and easy manner. With the Kenwood TriBlade Hand Blender, the chef demonstrated its distinctive features. "Al Tafawoq establishment has made Kenwood's kitchen appliances available at all kitchen and home appliances stores as well as hypermarkets supported with a network of service centers across the Kingdom," a company executive said.
 

In response to ictQATAR's statement on the status of Qtel's Virgin Mobile service in Qatar, Qtel has welcomed the ruling and confirmed that the service will continue to be offered and available for customers across Qatar. ictQATAR has conducted an exhaustive independent review following a complaint raised by a competitor about the status of Qtel's Virgin Mobile service. The review found that the core complaint of Vodafone Qatar - that Qtel's Virgin Mobile service was a "third mobile service provider" or MVNO - was baseless and without foundation. Qtel has always maintained that the service was the result of a brand partnership with Virgin Group, and that it did not represent a third operator or Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). Qtel Chairman Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani said: "The latest judgment clarifies Qtel's long-held position that we are offering the new brand experience as part of a wide portfolio of products and services designed to serve the whole community of Qatar. We thank ictQATAR for its time and investment in this process and will fully support the review's recommendations. Throughout this review, Qtel has refrained from commenting publicly out of respect for the role of ictQATAR and for the due process of law. With this ruling, we are able to continue to move forward with our plans to offer an open, fun and easy-to-use service for people throughout the nation.
 

Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co. has added another feather in its cap as Ford Middle East recognized senior management of the importer-dealer of Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the Kingdom for successfully completing the Bodyshop Service Excellence Programme, the first for Ford's importer-dealers in the region. The program is an initiative of Ford Motor Company aimed to ensure consistency in performance and quality of services rendered to customers by using world-class service and process standards. The program evaluates all aspects of after sales service like customer appointment, quality, delivery of repaired vehicle, time management, spare parts availability, and others. Chris Noel, Ford Middle East's Regional Customer Services director, said: "We commend Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co. for this achievement. Being the first to complete and be certified on this program shows their strong commitment and continued drive to provide Saudi customers the highest levels of service and ownership experience of a Ford or a Lincoln vehicle." Paul Wright, national service director at Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies Co., said: "The program had a positive impact on both bottom line revenue and on satisfaction for internal and external customers. The best practices, policy and procedure manual, and the training received from Ford have really made a big difference in the way we operate our bodyshops."
 

The results of the international, regional and local Hygiene Home Truths Study 2010 were revealed during the fifth annual Hygiene Council meeting held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study, supported and organized by Dettol, showed that bathroom seals, the insides of fridges, general purpose kitchen towels and kettle handles are some of the most highly contaminated hygiene hotspots in homes worldwide and especially in Saudi Arabia, and are caused by ineffective cleaning. The Hygiene Council study, which was carried out in nine countries across the globe including Saudi Arabia, illustrated that it is not necessarily how frequently cleaning takes place that matters, but rather targeting the right areas with the right cleaning methods. According to the study, bathroom seals are the dirtiest site in homes worldwide, with over two-thirds (70%) failing bacterial tests, and over half (56%) failing mould tests, despite more than a third (37%) appearing clean. This is a concern, as evidence from existing studies shows a relationship between the presence of household mould or damp and an increase in the incidence of health problems such as fungal infections, respiratory illness, asthma and allergies. The inside of fridges came a close second to bathroom seals in the contaminated hygiene hotspots stakes, with nearly half (46%) of households worldwide failing bacterial contamination tests and more than two fifths (44%) of households showing mould build up.