Category: 3. Business

  • ELC Celebrates 17 Years of Partnership With HOPE Latina – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

    ELC Celebrates 17 Years of Partnership With HOPE Latina – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

    Expanding the Impact in New York 

    In June, ELC continued its coast-to-coast support of HOPE as co-title sponsor of the 4th annual Latina History Day in New York City. The two-day event began with a leadership training for rising Latina changemakers across the city, designed to spark connection and build skills through interactive workshops and networking opportunities. 

    The day kicked off with a skin care masterclass led by Sarah Lam, Director, Global Omnichannel Education Development, Clinique, and her education team. Attendees participated in a hands-on skin-typing activity and were introduced to Clinique’s signature 3-step skin care system. Participants also took part in an interactive session led by Susan Carroll, Executive Director of Education for TOM FORD, Balmain Beauty, Kilian Paris, and Frédéric Malle, focused on understanding and strengthening their leadership styles through guided reflection, peer discussions, and breakout exercises. In the afternoon, Jaime Perez, National Makeup Artist for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, led a confidence-boosting beauty session, sharing pro tips and demonstrating techniques from the brand’s best-selling products. 

    That evening, ELC hosted a salon-style reception at our global headquarters to celebrate the trainees and connect leaders from across industries in support of HOPE’s mission. The evening featured remarks from ELC’s Barma Uruchima, Vice President, Global Value Creation, and co-chair of the Hispanic Connections Employee Resource Group; HOPE CEO Helen Torres; and 2 of the program’s inspiring trainees, who shared personal reflections on what the leadership training experience meant to them. 

    The events culminated in the Latina History Day NYC luncheon, where public and private sector leaders came together to spotlight Latina leadership and advocacy. Kaitesi Rama-Munroe, Director, Global Public Affairs, ELC, delivered sponsorship remarks on behalf of the company, sharing her pride in working for a company that turns its values into action. She highlighted ELC’s role in co-founding the Textured Education Collective—a coalition that includes Aveda and Bumble and bumble and works to make cosmetology education more inclusive—and underscored the power of policy, purpose, and partnership in driving meaningful change. 

    HOPE also released its latest Economic Status of Latinas report, which highlighted wage gaps, barriers to representation, and opportunities for investment and reform. 

    As part of the experience, attendees received curated gift bags with products from across the ELC portfolio, including TOM FORD, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Estée Lauder, Clinique, and Smashbox. 

    ELC remains committed to building a world of limitless possibilities for women and girls. By partnering with organizations like HOPE, we aim to address the barriers that continue to hold Latinas and other women of color back from opportunity and advancement. Through leadership development, storytelling, and cross-sector collaboration, we’re proud to support efforts that help shape a more equitable future—for our industry and beyond. 

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  • How Spanish-owned bank TSB has its roots in Scotland

    How Spanish-owned bank TSB has its roots in Scotland

    BBC A painting of Henry Duncan against a dark background. He has short brown hair and is wearing a white shirt and black robe. BBC

    Henry Duncan founded what is claimed to be the world’s first savings bank

    Edinburgh-based bank TSB is set to be bought over by Santander, after 10 years with rival Spanish owner Sabadell.

    The deal, which could see the TSB name disappear from UK high streets. is the latest change for the bank which was founded in Dumfriesshire in 1810, thanks to the vision of a Scottish clergyman.

    In 19th Century rural Scotland personal banking was unimaginable for most people due to the high deposit required at commercial banks and low earnings of workers.

    That changed when the Rev Henry Duncan started his “penny bank” in the hamlet of Ruthwell to give parishioners access to savings and interest for the first time.

    And so the Trustee Savings Bank (TSB), said to be the first savings bank in the world, was born.

    The TSB model was soon adopted around the globe to form the savings bank organisations we know today.

    A white cottage with two windows and a door. A bench and two potted plants sit outside. A sign at the end of the cottage reads Savings Banks Museum.

    The 18th century building which houses the Savings Banks Museum reopened in 2024

    At the time the TSB was founded, commercial banks required a minimum deposit of £10 to open an account, a sum far out of the reach of agricultural labourers and domestic servants who typically earned 10d (4p) a day.

    Many workers were only paid for the days they worked, and often received payments once every three months.

    Rev Duncan based his new penny bank on business principles, encouraging them to budget and paying interest on its investors’ modest savings.

    He had worked for three years in a commercial bank in Liverpool before taking up the ministry in Ruthwell Parish so he knew how the system worked.

    It is believed he took the money from Ruthwell and redeposited it into a commercial bank, where he received between 5% and 6% interest and paid out between 4% and 5%.

    an old wooden desk with a quill pen and ink bottle, and a piece of paper covered with figures

    The desk used by banking pioneer Henry Duncan features in the museum in Ruthwell

    Within five years, savings banks based on Duncan’s model were operating throughout the UK, and by 2002 there were 109 savings bank organisations in 92 countries.

    The Trustee Savings Bank’s original 18th century building closed in 1875 due to the small population of the hamlet.

    But the cottage where he opened his savings bank – initially for one hour a week on a Thursday evening – is now the Savings Bank Museum.

    It reopened last summer after being closed for five years, now housing hundreds of piggy banks as well as Duncan’s desk.

    Duncan died in 1846 from a stroke, aged 71.

    The headquarters of TSB Bank at 120 George Street in Edinburgh is named Henry Duncan House after its founder.

    Getty Images The outside of a TSB branch. Pedestrians walk past on the street and there is an ATM in the glass window on the right. The front of the building is white with the blue TSB logo.Getty Images

    TSB is set to be taken over by Santander in a £2.65bn deal

    Since 1810 TSB has gone through a number of iterations before merging with Lloyds Bank in 1995 to form Lloyds TSB.

    During the global financial crisis in 2008, Lloyds was forced by the European Commission to spin off the business as a separate brand after Lloyds received a £20bn bailout.

    Lloyds eventually sold its remaining stake in TSB to Spanish organisation Sabadell in 2015 in a deal worth £1.7bn.

    On Tuesday it was announced TSB will be bought by Santander for at least £2.65bn if shareholders agree, and the rival Spanish bank “intends to integrate TSB in the Santander UK group”.

    TSB has 175 branches in the UK and 5,000 employees while Santander has around 349 banks, but it has been shutting branches, saying more customers want to do their banking digitally.

    The UK management said it would be “business as usual” for customers and staff, with the takeover expected to happen early next year, but the TSB name could soon be a thing of the past.

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  • IMF Staff Completes 2025 Article IV Mission with Nigeria – International Monetary Fund (IMF)

    1. IMF Staff Completes 2025 Article IV Mission with Nigeria  International Monetary Fund (IMF)
    2. Nigeria: 2025 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Nigeria  International Monetary Fund (IMF)
    3. IMF reviews Nigeria’s GDP growth rate forecast for 2025, projects 3.4% increase  TheCable

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  • FIF – ProCredit Bank Serbia – Sustainability Sub Debt

    Understanding transition

    Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

    Business opportunities

    For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

    For business opportunities with the EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

    Tel: +44 20 7338 7168

    Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

    For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

    Tel: +44 20 7338 6794

    Email: procurement@ebrd.com

    General enquiries

    Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

    Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

    The ESP and its associated Environmental and Social Requirements (ESRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting “environmentally sound and sustainable development”.  The ESP and the ESRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation, and to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders’ concerns and grievances, in particular, about the environmental and social (E&S) performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a project’s environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD also requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts of projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback.

    More information on the EBRD’s practices in this regard is set out in the ESP.

    Integrity and compliance

    The EBRD’s Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all of the Bank’s activities in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The EBRD believes that identifying and resolving issues in the project assessment and approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts andhelps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment.

    OCCO is further responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, either within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. OCCO will follow-up all matters reported. It will review all matters reported. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank’s countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith.

    Access to Information Policy (AIP)

    The AIP, which entered into force on 1 January 2025, sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

    Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD enquiries form.

    Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

    If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (for example, through the client’s project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

    IPAM independently reviews project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the mechanism is: to support dialogue between project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or the project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

    Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate and how to submit a Request for review. Alternatively, contact IPAM by email at ipam@ebrd.com for guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

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  • UK watchdog to go after bullying and discrimination beyond banks – Reuters

    1. UK watchdog to go after bullying and discrimination beyond banks  Reuters
    2. UK watchdog to extend non-financial misconduct rules beyond banks  Global Banking | Finance | Review
    3. FCA set to extend bullying rules to 37,000 more firms  Financial Planning Today
    4. City watchdog extends rules on bullying and harassment across financial sector  Yahoo
    5. UK regulator to extend non-financial misconduct rules beyond banking  Investing.com UK

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  • Danger warning over fakes found in Aberdeen

    Danger warning over fakes found in Aberdeen

    Fakes of the globally popular Labubu dolls seized recently in Scotland are “potentially dangerous”, according to trading standards officers.

    The elf-like creature from Chinese toy maker Pop Mart are the latest craze in collectibles and have gone viral on social media.

    But officials in Aberdeen are warning consumers and businesses to be alert, following the seizure of “counterfeit and potentially dangerous” versions of the toys from shops in the city.

    They had loose parts which could pose a choking hazard.

    The council’s trading standards team seized the counterfeit Labubu toys from four premises across the city.

    They did not have the required safety labelling.

    Trading standards manager Graeme Paton said: “Following the discovery of counterfeit toys, we want to alert consumers and particularly parents to be extra vigilant.

    “These counterfeit toys can seem like a bargain compared with trying to source the genuine toy, especially when they are a much-sought-after item, but they are potentially dangerous.”

    He added: “Counterfeit toys can potentially pose significant dangers to young children such as chemical exposure and choking hazards.

    “These products routinely lack proper safety testing and we encourage anyone concerned about the safety of toys they’ve purchased to get in touch with us via Consumer Advice Scotland.”

    Labubu is both a fictional character and a brand.

    The word itself does not mean anything.

    It is the name of a character in “The Monsters” toy series created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung.

    The vinyl faces are attached to plush bodies, and come with a signature look – pointy ears, big eyes and a mischievous grin showing nine teeth.

    A curious yet divided internet cannot seem to decide if they are adorable, or just bizarre.

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  • FDA clearance for Philips SmartSpeed Precise

    FDA clearance for Philips SmartSpeed Precise

    Meeting today’s most pressing MRI challenges

     

    The healthcare industry faces growing demand for MRI scans while battling widespread staff shortages, increased wait lists and rising burnout among healthcare professionals worldwide. Radiology departments are under immense pressure to deliver more with fewer resources, all while ensuring diagnostic accuracy and maintaining a high standard of care. The Philips Future Health Index 2025 Global Report shows healthcare professionals recognize AI’s potential: not just to reclaim time lost to administrative tasks, but to diagnose diseases more precisely, reduce avoidable hospital readmissions, and improve patient outcomes. 

    SmartSpeed Precise directly addresses these challenges as the technology is seamlessly integrated into the MR system, enabling a transformative leap in workflow efficiency and throughput, all without compromising image quality. This deep integration allows radiology teams to harness the full power of AI in a single, intuitive solution that simplifies daily operations, accelerates scans, and consistently delivers sharp, high-quality images across clinical settings.

    “SmartSpeed Precise helps us do what was previously thought impossible—deliver sharper, faster MRI with less effort,” said Dr. Julian Luetkens, Professor of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn. “In breast MRI, we saw acquisition times reduced by up to 50% [3], with image quality improving compared to previous Compressed SENSE protocols. That’s a game-changer.”

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  • Boeing Delivers Next-Generation O3b mPOWER Satellites to SES

    Boeing Delivers Next-Generation O3b mPOWER Satellites to SES

    – Satellite pair to join the first eight satellites in space where they will enhance global coverage and network capacity
    – Equipped with advanced technology that intelligently adapts to user demands, O3b mPOWER satellites offer seamless connectivity across the globe

    EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE: BA] has successfully delivered the 9th and 10th O3b mPOWER satellites to content and network provider SES, advancing the company’s effort to provide global connectivity from space. The satellites, which feature Boeing’s fully software-defined payload technology to actively allot power to meet user needs, are en route to Kennedy Space Center, Fla. for a planned launch this summer.

    “The O3b mPOWER spacecraft are the most capable and flexible commercial satellites to ever operate in space,” said Michelle Parker, vice president, Boeing Space Mission Systems. “Many of us have tried to connect from an airplane or cruise ship and found the connection unreliable. Our software-defined payload technology allows SES to deliver high-speed, reliable connectivity, adapting in real-time to user demand. It’s a game changer, and the first eight satellites are showing users just how incredible this technology is.”

    The O3b mPOWER system, SES’s second-generation constellation operating in medium Earth orbit (MEO, approximately 8,000 km from Earths’ surface), is designed to transform industries with terabit-level capacity, low latency, and unmatched service availability. These two spacecraft will join the first eight satellites already on orbit, further enhancing SES’s ability to deliver high-speed, reliable connectivity to its users.

    Boeing teams are working closely with SES to prepare the 9th and 10th satellites for launch this summer, while Boeing team members continue production on an additional three O3b mPOWER satellites to support SES’s launch plans.

    “We’re very pleased to see just how well our first-of-its-kind technology is performing in space, as we continue to iterate and evolve it for other customers and missions,” said Parker.

    The underlying payload technology flying aboard O3b mPOWER is also being hardened for military use aboard the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 and WGS-12 satellites Boeing is building for the United States Space Force. Boeing’s proven software-defined technology allows for more secure and reliable connectivity, even in a contested environment.

    A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.  

    Contact

    Zeyad Maasarani
    Boeing Communications
    +1-562-400-5533
    zeyad.maasarani@boeing.com 

    Boeing Media Relations
    media@boeing.com

    Suzanne Ong
    SES External Communications
    +352 710 725 500
    suzanne.ong@ses.com 

    SOURCE Boeing

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  • Satellite backed by Google, Bezos and Musk to track methane is lost in space – Financial Times

    Satellite backed by Google, Bezos and Musk to track methane is lost in space – Financial Times

    1. Satellite backed by Google, Bezos and Musk to track methane is lost in space  Financial Times
    2. Methane-tracking satellite backed by Bezos lost in space  Dawn
    3. Satellite tracking oil and gas emissions goes dark  E&E News by POLITICO
    4. Bezos-backed $88m methane-tracking satellite lost in space  The Express Tribune
    5. Taxpayer funded satellite likely “irrecoverable” after losing contact with the ground  RNZ

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  • Boeing Company – Boeing Delivers Next-Generation O3b mPOWER Satellites to SES

    Boeing Company – Boeing Delivers Next-Generation O3b mPOWER Satellites to SES

    – Satellite pair to join the first eight satellites in space where they will enhance global coverage and network capacity

    – Equipped with advanced technology that intelligently adapts to user demands, O3b mPOWER satellites offer seamless connectivity across the globe

    EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE: BA] has successfully delivered the 9th and 10th O3b mPOWER satellites to content and network provider SES, advancing the company’s effort to provide global connectivity from space. The satellites, which feature Boeing’s fully software-defined payload technology to actively allot power to meet user needs, are en route to Kennedy Space Center, Fla. for a planned launch this summer.

    “The O3b mPOWER spacecraft are the most capable and flexible commercial satellites to ever operate in space,” said Michelle Parker, vice president, Boeing Space Mission Systems. “Many of us have tried to connect from an airplane or cruise ship and found the connection unreliable. Our software-defined payload technology allows SES to deliver high-speed, reliable connectivity, adapting in real-time to user demand. It’s a game changer, and the first eight satellites are showing users just how incredible this technology is.”

    The O3b mPOWER system, SES’s second-generation constellation operating in medium Earth orbit (MEO, approximately 8,000 km from Earths’ surface), is designed to transform industries with terabit-level capacity, low latency, and unmatched service availability. These two spacecraft will join the first eight satellites already on orbit, further enhancing SES’s ability to deliver high-speed, reliable connectivity to its users.

    Boeing teams are working closely with SES to prepare the 9th and 10th satellites for launch this summer, while Boeing team members continue production on an additional three O3b mPOWER satellites to support SES’s launch plans.

    “We’re very pleased to see just how well our first-of-its-kind technology is performing in space, as we continue to iterate and evolve it for other customers and missions,” said Parker.

    The underlying payload technology flying aboard O3b mPOWER is also being hardened for military use aboard the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 and WGS-12 satellites Boeing is building for the United States Space Force. Boeing’s proven software-defined technology allows for more secure and reliable connectivity, even in a contested environment.

    A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.  

    Contact

    Zeyad Maasarani
    Boeing Communications
    +1-562-400-5533
    [email protected] 

    Boeing Media Relations
    [email protected]

    Suzanne Ong
    SES External Communications
    +352 710 725 500
    [email protected] 

    Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boeing-delivers-next-generation-o3b-mpower-satellites-to-ses-302496489.html

    SOURCE Boeing

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