World Rugby acknowledges and supports the decision taken jointly by the RFU, Scottish Rugby and the WRU for Great Britain Sevens (GB) to compete in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, beginning with the 2023 Series.

The decision, which aligns with their Olympic participation status and qualification pathway, means there will be no team relegated from the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022, as England, Scotland and Wales are replaced by a GB team, while GB will directly replace England in the women’s Series.

Great Britain previously participated in the Series in 2021 in preparation for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

England, Scotland and Wales will compete as individual nations in the Commonwealth Games, which take place at Coventry Stadium on 29-31 July, and Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town on 9-11 September and the respective unions and World Rugby are in discussions with regard to further playing opportunities for the England, Scotland and Wales teams.

It has also been confirmed by the World Rugby Executive Committee that Russia’s women’s sevens team have been withdrawn from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 in line with the ongoing suspension of the Rugby Union of Russia from World Rugby membership and from participating in all international rugby competitions. As a result Brazil will maintain their status as a core team in the women’s 2023 Series.

The winners of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, which takes place in Chile on 12-14 August, will gain promotion to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023, as this important pathway to encourage the global growth of rugby sevens returns after a one-year break due to the pandemic.

VIEW CHALLENGER SERIES PREVIEW >>

World Rugby Chief Competitions and Performance Officer Nigel Cass said: “We pay tribute to the three unions for their positive and constructive collaboration, which will see a Great Britain Sevens team participate in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series from 2023, aligning with their Olympic participation.

“Meanwhile we look forward to welcoming England, Scotland and Wales teams to compete in the Commonwealth Games at Coventry Stadium on 29-31 July and Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town on 9-11 September.

“Building on two highly impactful Olympic Games in Rio and Tokyo, the future of rugby sevens is very bright and we are working hard on exciting plans to engage and inspire new, younger and more diverse participants and fans across the globe.”

The 14 men’s core teams confirmed for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 are: Argentina, Australia, Canada Great Britain, Fiji, France, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa, Spain and the USA. They will be joined by the winner of the World Rugby Challenger Series 2022, with one invitational team added at each round of the Series, with 16 teams participating at each tournament.

The 2022 finale of the men’s Series takes place in Los Angeles on 27-28 August in what promises to be a thrilling finale with four teams – South Africa, Australia, Argentina and Fiji – still in with a chance of claiming the Series title.

VIEW 2022 MEN’S SERIES FINALE PREVIEW >>

The 10 women’s teams confirmed on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain and the USA. They will be joined by the winner of the World Rugby Challenger Series 2022, with one invitational team added at each round of the Series, bringing the total to 12 teams participating at each tournament.

VIEW 2023 SERIES CALENDAR >>

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 will kick off with a men’s event in Hong Kong on 4-6 November 2022, before combined men’s and women’s rounds in Dubai on 2-3 December, and Cape Town on 9-11 December.

The Series continues in 2023 with 11 men’s rounds and 7 women’s rounds in total. The women’s Series will reach it’s exciting conclusion in Toulouse, France as part of a combined event on 12-14 May, with the men’s finale coming a week later in London, England on 20-21 May.

The technology company plans to support the Majid Al Futtaim Launchpad Program by providing access to a range of digital solutions to startups, as well as other benefits, such as mentoring and go-to-market avenues.

18 July, 2022; Dubai, United Arab Emirates – As part of its ongoing commitment to support entrepreneurs, Microsoft today announced that it plans to join forces with Majid Al Futtaim to empower regional startups and SMEs through the Dubai-based retail giant’s Launchpad Program. As a partner in the Majid Al Futtaim Launchpad accelerator initiative, Microsoft intends to commit resources and expertise to startups and SMEs across the Middle East and North Africa.

“The MENA region has one of the most unique and inspiring homegrown entrepreneurial communities in the world. Through Majid Al Futtaim Launchpad, we aim to nurture this ecosystem, provide expertise, tools and create opportunities for SMEs and startups in strategic sectors to scale their growth plans and support the overall economic development of our Markets” said Joe Abi Akl, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Holding. “With Microsoft as a key partner in our Launchpad Program, we hope to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and lay the groundwork for a prosperous future, not only for the UAE, but for communities across the region.”

Announced in June, the Majid Al Futtaim Launchpad initiative is aimed at assembling partners to support startups and SMEs in strategic sectors in their growth journeys, thereby bolstering the innovation ecosystem and spurring economic development. As a strategic partner in the Launchpad scheme, Microsoft intends to provide a range of benefits for participants.

“Microsoft is proud to stand with Majid Al Futtaim in its efforts to empower start-ups and SMEs and foster economic growth,” said Naim Yazbeck, General Manager, Microsoft UAE. “Every business has the potential to be disrupted, and the fast-moving retail industry is on the frontline, serving an ever-growing number of discerning consumers. We look forward to supporting innovative enterprises on their journeys by offering technology and knowledge as they turn their ideas into reality.”

Through the Microsoft for Startups Founder’s Hub Program, the company intends to provide technology resources that allow startups to build their products. This includes access to Azure, and use of Visual Studio Enterprise and GitHub Enterprise. Other technologies planned to be provided by Microsoft for day-to-day business operations include Microsoft 365 and within this Teams, and Power Platform as well as Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Service platforms. Eligible Launchpad participants may also have an opportunity to get go-to-market support from Microsoft through the company’s Co-Sell Program, as well as benefit from Azure Marketplace. Furthermore, Microsoft plans to offer industry mentorship and one-to-one technical consultancy sessions for B2B startups.

In its first phase, the Majid Al Futtaim Launchpad will focus on supporting 3 core growth areas, including Homegrown Brands to attract startups with a unique and fascinating story, focusing on culture and heritage, sustainability, and innovation; Health and Beauty to identify and elevate startups with innovative products and tech solutions designed to elevate the customer experience; and Proptech to target startups that offer innovative and sustainable solutions to help optimise the efficiency of construction, digitise property development, residential communities and hotels spaces, and enhance the experiences in the shopping mall.

Applications for participation in the Majid Al Futtaim Launchpad Program close on Friday 22nd of July 2022. For more information, or to apply now, please click here.

En español

For years, we’ve spoken about our focus on creating seamless omnichannel shopping experiences that save our customers time and money. We know language can be a significant barrier to a great shopping experience, so we’ve been hard at work to fix that by expanding the Spanish search capability on Walmart.com.

In the U.S., roughly 18% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, a percentage that is predicted to grow to 28% by 2060. We serve all of America, so it’s only natural we should prioritize improving Spanish search functionality.

Why now? Prior to 2020, most of our Spanish-speaking customers shopped in stores. The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant behavioral shifts in virtually every customer segment, and as cases continued to rise, in-store customers began shifting to online shopping. At the height of the pandemic, Spanish queries across the Walmart app and website increased more than five times their pre-pandemic levels. This rapid shift in behavior highlighted the need to provide these customers with a Spanish-first online shopping experience.

Last year, we launched a search translation feature on Walmart.com and in the Walmart app, enabling customers to search in Spanish for commonly purchased items. The solution, built by our Walmart Global Tech associates, uses natural language processing (NLP) to detect language, discern nuances and translate queries to deliver a seamless, intuitive experience for customers. We currently translate more than 600,000 of the most frequently searched items, and we’re adding more every day.

This month, we started offering customers the ability to opt in or out of the translated query. Here’s how it works:

• A customer searches for “leche,” Spanish for “milk.”
• The search results page serves items based on the English translation of the word, displays a message informing customers of the translation and providing a one-click opt out.
• If the user opts out of the translation, the search results return products that include the word “leche,” like “dulce de leche,” in the title or description.

This experience enables customers to search in Spanish for over 600,000 of the most commonly ordered items, making their shopping experiences faster, easier and more convenient. This year, we will further optimize the Spanish experience, including the launch of predictive search and continual personalization and contextualization, with plans to launch a full end-to-end universal Spanish experience in the future.

We have always focused on our customers, seeking to understand their needs, desires and wish lists. And we will continue innovating to meet customers where, when and how they want to shop.

For the fifth consecutive year, The Walt Disney Company has earned a top score on the 2022 Disability Equality Index (DEI), the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool to measure disability workplace inclusion. As a top scorer, the company was recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.”

“At The Walt Disney Company, we are committed to ensuring that the stories we tell, the immersive experiences we create, and the products and services we offer celebrate the unique abilities of everyone,” said Latondra Newton, SVP and Chief Diversity Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “Being recognized as a ‘Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion’ is an incredible honor, earned in large part by our employees around the world who are focused on creating a culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We are proud to support forward-thinking organizations like Disability:IN, and our long-term relationship enables us to advance the work of disability inclusion.”

Launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities, the DEI exists to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment/underemployment of people with disabilities. The 2022 DEI measured Disney and other top-ranked companies on culture and leadership; enterprise-wide access; employment practices (benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention and advancement, accommodations); community engagement; supplier diversity; and non-U.S. operations.

Globally, over 1 billion people live with disabilities, crossing lines of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and religion. Disney continues to evolve its ongoing commitment to people living with disabilities through inclusive workplace programs and policies as well as more accessible content, products, and experiences for consumers and guests. From adopting modernized best practices and creating inclusive content such as Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye to building more accessible spaces and accommodations across our theme parks and resorts, Disney continues to excel in disability inclusion and creating a place where everyone belongs.

Learn more about The Walt Disney Company’s diversity and inclusion efforts.

Celebrate summer with an array of exciting dining offers at the Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Discover the hotel’s fabulous restaurants and enjoy a feast of flavours as its highly skilled team of chefs sets out to please your palate with a variety of enticing promotions. Blending the most imaginative culinary craft with gracious and indulgent hospitality, the Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai promises to take you on an enchanting epicurean journey this season. Here’s what is on offer:

Family Brunch Buffet

There’s no better way to spend a lazy Saturday than relaxing with your loved ones. Round up your friends and family and feast your way through a sumptuous international brunch buffet with an elaborate and dedicated kids’ corner. Indulge in a variety of delicious salads, soups, main courses, live cooking stations and desserts. As you enjoy some quality time with your friends, let the little ones have fun in a supervised play area with exciting games, competitions, and entertaining Disney characters.

§  Every Saturday

§  Panorama Restaurant

§  From: 12noon to 4 PM

§  AED 149 per person including a welcome drink

§  FREE Pool Access

§  Children below 5 years dine Free and those from 5 to 12 years enjoy 50% discount

§  All prices are inclusive of service charge and municipality fees

§  Terms and conditions apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

Sundowners High Tea

Treat yourself to an unforgettable Afternoon Tea experience featuring a wide selection of sweet and savoury specialties – the perfect treat for any occasion. Choose from two delightful options of traditional English High Tea (classic finger sandwiches, assortment of delicious pastries and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and selection of teas) or Arabic inspired Oriental High Tea (delicious mini-Arabic sandwiches, decadent Oriental pastries, and Moroccan tea). Slow down and enjoy this welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

§  4pm – 6.30pm Daily

§  Cabana and Grill overlooking the pool or Panorama Restaurant

§  AED 169 for 2 Persons

§  All prices are inclusive of service charge and municipality fees

§  Terms and conditions apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

Business Bonus Summer Lunch

Get down to business and seal that deal over a scrumptious business lunch buffet featuring flavourful salads, soups, main courses, and desserts with live cooking.

§  Monday to Friday

§  12Noon to 3.30pm

§  Sicily Café

§  AED 89 per person

§  Dine 5 Pay 4

§  All prices are inclusive of service charge and municipality fees

§  Terms and conditions apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

Early Bird Healthy Dinner

Take advantage of a truly healthy early bird dinner without feeing guilty over those calories. Enjoy a four-course set menu featuring irresistible summer delights created using organic and nutritionally balanced ingredients. Included in the menu is a special healthy welcome aperitif.

§  Daily

§  6.30pm to 10.30pm

§  Panorama Restaurant

§  AED 99 per person

§  Dine 4 Pay 3

§  Children below 5 years dine Free and those from 5 to 12 years enjoy 50% discount

§  All prices are inclusive of service charge and municipality fees

§  Terms and conditions apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

Breakfast Buffet

Begin the day with our sumptuous Breakfast Buffet at the Panorama Restaurant and enjoy FREE access to the pool. Indulge in a lavish spread of delicious and healthy international and regional breakfast favourites.

§  Daily

§  7.00am to 10.30am

§  AED 99 per person with pool access

§  Panorama Restaurant

§  Terms & Conditions Apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

Ice-Cream Festival

Feast on our special sundaes and frozen treats to beat the heat this summer. Satisfy your sweet cravings as you indulge in our creamy ice-creams, rich and refreshing sorbets, velvety gelatos and decadent sundaes topped with all the flavours of summer, brownies, sauces, fresh fruits, and whipped cream. Our promise is to serve happiness every day of the week with an awesome range of ice-cream choices on our menu to make you smile.

§  Daily

§  11am to 11pm

§  Cabana and Grill, Panorama Restaurant and Room Service

§  Terms & Conditions Apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

About Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, member of Marriott Bonvoy, enjoys a prime location on Sheikh Zayed Road near the city’s key business and leisure attraction such as the Dubai International Financial Centre, Museum of the Future, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Emirates Towers, and World Trade Centre. It is the world’s largest and tallest hotel to join the Residence Inn by Marriott brand.

Featuring 430 modern residential rooms and suites, many of which boast impressive views of the Sheikh Zayed Road and Jumeirah coastline, Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road offers travellers a ‘home-away-from-home’ experience with personalised service and amenities. The spacious rooms and one and two-bedroom suites, all have fully equipped kitchens, including refrigerator, microwave, hob, cookware, washing machine and dryer.

Giving guests and residents the chance to create meaningful connections over memorable dining experiences, the Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, boasts diverse culinary options with multiple onsite restaurants. Guests can dine in, eat out, grab and go, or cook in their suite. The possibilities are endless so no matter what mood you are in, you can always find just what you are craving.

Ensuring guests thrive during their stay, Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, offers an array of amenities and conveniences including complimentary grocery delivery service, free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, a well-equipped gym open 24 hours a day, sauna, and steam room, rooftop swimming pool and jacuzzi with expansive views of Dubai’s famous skyline, spa, tennis court, beauty and hair salons for ladies and gents, and multiple meeting rooms with flexible conference and event spaces. Both the gym and the spa are the largest in size when compared to other hotels in the area. 

For more information, please visit marriott.com/DXBSZ

Swiss-Belhotel International has announced its return to Thailand with The Scene Cliff View Villas – by Swiss-Belhotel. Situated 5 minutes away from the picturesque Ao Nang Beach, a tropical wonderland with the majestic backdrop of Ao Nang Cliff, in Krabi, the beautiful boutique hotel is surrounded by lush rainforests and majestic hills. Set amidst an area of 4800 sqm, the tranquil one-of-a-kind sanctuary boasts 24 one- and two-bedroom villas with captivating views complemented by a wide array of thoughtful facilities and services including the biggest swimming pool in Ao Nang.

Mr. Kanchanawarodom, the Owner of The Scene Cliff View Villas – by Swiss-Belhotel, said, “We are glad to partner with a renowned and trusted hospitality company such as the Swiss-Belhotel International. With an unmatched location, unique design, and world-class facilities, supported by Swiss-Belhotel International’s management, we are certain The Scene Cliff View Villas by Swiss-Belhotel will be a great success, and encourage many more travellers to visit this wonderful destination.”

Mr. Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, said, “We are very excited to return to Thailand with The Scene Cliff View Villas by Swiss-Belhotel and extremely grateful to the owner Mr.  Kanchanawarodom for giving us the opportunity to manage the property. It is a fantastic addition to our expanding footprint in Southeast Asia which is one of our largest growth markets. We look forward to offering guests an unrivalled hospitality experience in this haven of serenity located in one of Thailand’s most sought-after destinations. It is a place where travellers can connect with nature while enjoying excellent facilities making it the perfect choice for all types of guests”.

Elaborating on Swiss-Belhotel International’s continued expansion in the region, Mr. Faull stated, “Part of our expansion in Central Asia is focused on Thailand where we opened a regional office in Bangkok last year. With several properties under negotiation in Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia our development plans in the area look exciting. We are making great progress in the region and expect to have up to 20 properties under management within the next 18 months”.

Mr. Lee Richards, SVP, Operations and Development, Central Asia, stressed, “The Scene Cliff View Villas by Swiss-Belhotel offers everything guests need for a dream getaway. Conveniently located merely 15 minutes’ drive from Krabi International Airport the resort has been designed to provide travellers fulfilling stays with all modern facilities in an extraordinary location. Enhancing the guest experience is the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings with convenient access to the city center, local shops, eateries, and the famed Aonang Mosque which lies only 2297 feet away.”

Mr. Richards further added, “Here guests can unravel the history of local fishermen while experiencing the unique traditions of the Krabi way of life. The hotel’s distinctive architecture combines folk art with stylish touches. The combination of the decorative heritage embellishments and the canopy that shelters every villa makes the property unique and culturally gorgeous.”

The Scene Cliff View Villas – by Swiss-Belhotel is equipped with superb amenities including free Wi-Fi, LCD TV, kitchenette, microwave, coffee/tea maker, mini bar, safe box, and ironing board. Enriching the guest experience are the resort’s extensive facilities ranging from a 24-hour fitness centre to a swimming pool, kids pool, Vibe Café, a pool-side bar, BBQ facilities, beach club, kids’ club, a garden, business center, meeting facilities, shops, car rental, library, free parking, and laundry and dry-cleaning services. Recreation options range from bicycle rental to fishing, hot spring bath, diving, and varied water sports.

Visit The Scene Cliff View Villas by Swiss-Belhotel click here