Latest news with #Philips


Time of India
8 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
50% of city's streetlights faulty; safety risks glaring
Chennai: Nearly 50% of the city's 3 lakh streetlights were found to be faulty and dysfunctional. As a result, more than 250 roads suffer from everyday blackouts. An estimated 1.47 lakh LED street lights, installed in 2013, have crossed their seven-year annual maintenance contract, and the GCC has not renewed its maintenance contracts with big firms like Philips, Crompton, Schreder, and Suriya. Despite the contracts lapsing five years ago, the GCC did not do much to fix these lights. Electrical department officials said the firms refused to continue maintenance, citing unviable costs of replacing worn-out spares, wiring, and rusted poles. "Setting up one LED light post costs about Rs 40,000 in interior streets. For them it is profitable only if they replace the lights. Hence, nobody participated in the AMC tenders," said an official, citing that the GCC has not floated tenders for end-to-end replacements. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai A TOI spot check found pitch-dark stretches and dimly lit roads in Anna Nagar, Velachery, T Nagar, and Madipakkam. In some areas, lights were tied to Tangedco poles as supporting structures had corroded or collapsed. As a result, the GCC receives between 250 to 300 complaints a day just about street lights in its 1913 portal and Namma Chennai App. Among these, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zone gets the highest complaints of 50 to 60 daily, followed by 37 in Tondiarpet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Write Better and Faster With This Desktop App Grammarly Install Now Undo CPM councillor M Renuka said at least five roads in her wards get blacked out frequently. "It takes three days for the GCC to service the lights. Till then, they don't have any replacements, and roads remain dark. I have raised this issue with the divisional office, but the GCC hasn't allotted funds yet," she said. She added that four high mast lights are dim. "Women and kids feel unsafe at night. This issue is persistent in all nearby wards too. We want the GCC to fix these before they turn into a widespread danger," she said. Ashok Nagar councillor B Yazhini said she gets complaints about dim-lit lights, and it takes two days for the GCC to fix them. "The GCC has to have spare lights," she said. Officials also flagged glitches in the centralised light-monitoring system that delays switching on at dusk. "Every day, lights must be switched off by 6am and switched on by 6pm. This centralised system doesn't work, and officials scramble in the field to get them running manually. The GCC has to renew the maintenance contract," said an electric assistant engineer from Anna Nagar zone. According to a GCC gender lab study, 20% of women reported poor lighting in junctions, and 22% of women reported poor lighting in busy places of gathering like bus stands, auto stands, termini, and public toilets. GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran said they are going for a centralised AMC for all three lakh street lights and were not relying on independent manufacturers. "About 40,000 street lights will be fixed in the first phase. The contractor will be monitored by key-performance indicators like brightness, pole strength, wiring, and light throw of 20 metres," he said.


The Sun
15 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Aldi is selling £14.99 tool that banishes creases & transforms your clothes in seconds – plus is half of Philips' price
THERE'S a new laundry lifesaver in town that's perfect for keeping your clothes crease-free on the go - and it's half the price of Philips' version. The Ambiano Handheld Garment Steamer from Aldi gets to work in seconds and tackles everything from curtains to shirts. The compact gadget is just £14.99 from the bargain retailer and heats up in just 35 seconds, delivering continuous steam to refresh your threads. It comes with a removable 250ml water tank, a 1.9m power cord, and includes two handy attachments – a brush and a measuring cup – for added versatility. And here's where it gets steamy for the competition. Aldi's version is less than half the price of the Philips Handheld Garment Steamer 3000 Series, which retails at £34.99 on Amazon. While the Philips model is foldable and slightly lighter, Aldi's option delivers a powerful punch for its price tag – especially for those not fussed about packing light. The Ambiano steamer is part of Aldi's Specialbuys range, which means once it's gone, it's gone – and at this price, it won't hang around for long. So if your iron's on its last legs or you're just after a quicker way to freshen up your wardrobe, this pocket-friendly powerhouse might be worth snapping up. Elsewhere in Aldi's Specialbuys is a jaw-dropping batch of dupes - and leading the way is the £14.99 NutriBullet dupe. The Ambiano High Speed Blending Set, which comes fully loaded with 11 pieces and costs a whopping £55 less than the branded version. Kitchen getting a glow-up? Aldi's got you. The Crofton Everyways Pan, priced at just £19.99, is being hailed as a Le Creuset lookalike for a tenth of the price. Wake up to a weed-free lawn for months thanks to Aldi's £10 gadget that pulls them out without bending or kneeling down It's oven safe, made with recycled aluminium, and honestly... it looks the part. Meanwhile, beauty fans are buzzing over the return of Lacura's mascara for £5.99, a near-perfect dupe of Benefit's bestseller. And if that wasn't enough, Aldi's Lacura Setting Spray (£4.49) and Marine Oil (£3.99) are drawing comparisons to Charlotte Tilbury and Elemis – but for a fraction of the cost. Setting customers back just £3.99, the Lacura Marine Oil is a dupe of Elemis' pro-collagen marine oil, which is currently on sale for a whopping £72. The luxury oil aims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with marine ingredients. And Aldi's version aims to do the same by using algae extract and golden seaweed. It's not the only dupe from the line. The supermarket is also launching a marine mask, £6.99, and a marine moisturising essence, which are again very similar to pricier Elemis products. On the DIY front, Aldi's come out swinging with a cordless multifunction tool for £25, slashing the price of similar Bosch models by over £60. Kids aren't left out either – there's a Plush Bluey Chair (£24.99) and Squishmallow Pokémon plush toys (£12.99) flying off shelves faster than you can say "limited stock". 2 When's the best time to shop at Aldi? WHEN it comes to shopping at Aldi, the best time to do so depends on what you want to buy. For reduced items - when shops open Red sticker items are rare at Aldi's 830 UK stores, but the supermarket says that none of its food goes to waste so there are some to be found - if you're quick. A spokesman for the supermarket said: "All items are reduced to 50 per cent of the recommend sales price before stores open on their best before or use by dates." That means you have the best chance of finding reduced food items if you go into stores as soon as it opens. Opening times vary by shop but a majority open from 7am or 8am. You can find your nearest store's times by using the supermarket's online shop finder tool. For Specialbuys - Thursdays and Sundays Specialbuys are Aldi's weekly collection of items that it doesn't normally sell, which can range from pizza ovens to power tools. New stock comes into stores every Thursday and Sunday, so naturally, these are the best days to visit for the best one-off special deals. For an even better chance of bagging the best items, head there for your local store's opening time. Remember: once they're gone, they're gone, so if there's something you really want, visit as early as possible


The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
What on Earth is ‘Baristaphobia'?
A new report reveals that a number of Gen Z suffer from "Baristaphobia," making them too shy to order coffee in person. The survey, conducted by Philips, found that 47 per cent of young people avoid coffee shops, preferring to order their caffeine fix via delivery apps. Seven per cent of those surveyed explicitly admitted to experiencing "Baristaphobia," a fear of approaching a barista. The anxiety extends to making coffee for others, with 38 per cent of Gen Z expressing dread over the social consequences of serving a potentially bad cup. One in ten Gen Z individuals are reportedly using artificial intelligence to learn how to perfect their coffee-making skills at home.


Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Philips 'excellent value for money' wireless headphones get price drop
The Philips headphones are on sale in three colourways Headphones can be useful accessories for everyday life. They are ideal for commuting to work, going to the gym, walking the dog, or simply doing the housework. They're not just for listening to music either, they can also be used to take calls and keep up with the latest podcasts. Over at Debenhams, shoppers can currently find a reduction on a pair of Philips wireless headphones, worth £49.99, which are on sale for £34.99. For a limited time, the retailer will include a mystery free gift in consumer electronics worth £10. The Bluetooth-powered headphones are made with a cushioned headband for comfort, soft ear cups that can be angled, and 25 hours of play time when fully charged. Shoppers can choose from black, white, and light brown colorways, however the latter hue has limited stock. A Debenhams buyer said: "Bought these for my teenage daughter at sale price. " Excellent value for money, great product. Would definitely recommend. Daughter loves them." More ratings and reviews can be found on Amazon, where the headphones are also priced at £34.99. One consumer raved about the connectivity between the earphones and other devices. They said: "I've paired with the TV, and they're perfect." "Very good sound but to be listened to at moderate volume to enjoy it", said another shopper. Elsewhere, emerging marketplace Yimbly is selling these JBL wireless noise-cancelling headphones for £79.99, down from £99.99. Yimbly is owned by The Mirror's parent company, Reach PLC. Over at Argos, shoppers can buy these Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones for £199.95. The headphones are foldable, making them easy to store in bags. Going back to the budget Philips pair, another user shared they thought the pair were good value for money. They said: "Nice design, materials with quality in line with the price, it is a good basic product that deserves five stars. "One star less only because at the time of purchase in the description it reported 25 hours of listening but the model selection button reports 50 or 11." Another Amazon customer, however, was not as pleased, writing: "Good sound. However, when it is charged, it cannot be used, and the foam crumbles with use."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Philips to deploy image-guided therapy systems across Indonesia
Health technology company Royal Philips has joined forces with Indonesia's Ministry of Health to implement image-guided therapy systems across the country. This endeavour is part of the Strengthening Indonesia's Healthcare Referral Network (SIHREN) project, which aims to boost treatment for heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Royal Philips CEO Roy Jakobs said: "Delivering better care for more people requires strong partnerships and the best innovations. 'We're honoured to be Indonesia's partner of choice to deliver our innovation directly where it's needed most. More patients in Indonesia will now have access to better care.' The agreements, resulting from an international bidding process, encompass treatment technology, services, and training to fortify the health infrastructure of Indonesia. Funded by the World Bank and other multilateral development banks, the SIHREN project supports the health transformation agenda of the country by enhancing referral healthcare services. The project is set to increase access to minimally invasive treatments in hundreds of hospitals throughout 38 provinces, developing a network of image-guided therapy rooms. The Indonesian Ministry of Health is focused on providing nationwide coverage of the Azurion platform, tailored to the requirements of local hospital infrastructures and patient populations. Philips' chief medical officer Carla Goulart Peron said: 'Minimally invasive care is life-changing for patients, unlocking treatment options that were once unimaginable. With small incisions, such targeted treatments can mean shorter hospital stays, fewer complications and quicker recoveries for patients. 'From opening heart-attack-causing blockages, to treating strokes and targeting cancer tumours, image-guided, minimally invasive therapy will be a game-changer for NCD [non-communicable diseases] care in Indonesia.' Philips has more than 3,900 employees in 12 Indonesian cities and operates a manufacturing facility in Batam for its Personal Health businesses. Recently, the Philips Foundation collaborated with World Child Cancer to promote early detection of childhood cancers in Indonesia. Philips Indonesia president director Astri R Dharmawan said: 'We remain committed to supporting healthcare transformation by delivering innovations that provide better outcomes for patients and improve the experience for healthcare workers. 'Our combined efforts with the Indonesian government will help close healthcare gaps and bring us closer to a Healthy Indonesia.' In October 2024, Philips collaborated with Indonesia's Siloam Hospitals Group to accelerate AI capabilities and advance the country's healthcare sector. "Philips to deploy image-guided therapy systems across Indonesia" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.