Mediaboss Marketing

The transfer is happening at a tricky time for Hong Kong, where the real estate sector faces a downturn from ongoing anti-government protests and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a 41 per cent jump this month, Chinese Estates shares are down 20 per cent for 2020.

Before marrying Lau in 2016, Chan was a reporter at Apple Daily for several years, where she covered entertainment and made connections with various celebrities around the city. She joined the Chinese Estates group as an associate in 2002, working in its cosmetic business, according to a company filing. Her elder sister, Chan Sze-wan, was appointed chief executive officer of the company in 2015 after joining in 2002. Chan Lok-wan, her younger sister, is an executive director.

Lau, who was convicted of bribery and money laundering in Macau in 2014, came into the political spotlight last year, when his lawyers applied for a judicial review against the government's plans to permit extraditions, including to mainland China and Macau. His legal challenge opened a split between the Hong Kong government and the business community, which deepened as other business leaders came out against the bill. Lau later withdrew the application, and the government ended up scrapping the law in the face of growing protests.

He was sentenced in absentia to five years and three months in prison for his conviction but, with no extradition pact between Hong Kong and Macau, hasn't served jail time -he just hasn't returned to the gambling hub. This week's share transfer to Chan may be a way to protect the stake, said Everbright Sun Hung Kai's Ng.

Loading

"Lau's family is still optimistic about the prospect of Hong Kong and Chinese Estates so the members of the family increased their shareholding," the company said in an email. "Chinese Estates' general operation and policy will remain unchanged. Please do not make any conjectures."

Lau, one of Hong Kong's richest moguls whose early fortune came from making ceiling fans with his brother Thomas, has been known for some of his high-profile relationships with women. His first marriage to Theresa Po Wing-kam ended in the early 1990s. They had a daughter, Jade, and Lau Ming-wai, who is the chairman of Chinese Estates and deputy chairman of Ocean Park, the debt-laden amusement park that is seeking a government rescue plan.

Before marrying Chan, he had a dramatic breakup with his girlfriend Yvonne Lui Lai-kwan that resulted in Lau's printing of a full-page statement in several newspapers to debunk "untrue reports in the media," in which he said he had given her gifts worth more than $HK2 billion over the years, making her a "very wealthy woman." Lau had two children with Lui.

The more shareholding concentration will reduce the possibility of disputes concerning future direction, which would be positive for Chinese Estates' development and also for the shareholders. It's expected that Chan Hoi-wan will be more actively involved in the company.

Nowadays, the 68-year-old mogul keeps a low profile. This year, as most of Hong Kong's richest tycoons declared support for Beijing's controversial national security law, he has not come out publicly on the issue.

One of the few places where he appears is on the Instagram feed of his wife. Chan, who goes by Kimbee on the platform, posts shots to her 182,000 followers with celebrity friends and business elites. As recently as last year, she showed photos of Lau hobnobbing with fellow billionaires, including Jack Ma, China's richest man, and Thomas Kwok, a member of Hong Kong's wealthiest family. She also posts frequently about penguins.

Chan, whose age was given as 40 in a December filing, started accruing assets in 2017, when Lau gave her a retail complex at commercial building The One in Tsim Sha Tsui that he bought for $HK7.8 billion ($1.5 billion). The same year, he transferred most of his stake in Chinese Estates to her. He told Apple Daily that Chan "is not greedy. She is pure, and she is not a bad woman. She has been taking good care of me and my children."

The family fortune is under pressure due to ongoing uncertainty in Hong Kong. Credit:AP

Lau, who has also owned a Boeing 747 jet and has properties in Hong Kong and London, is known for his investments in art, wine and jewellery, and children with Chan have been the recipients of his largesse. He bought them precious stones and named one of them "The Blue Moon of Josephine", after their daughter Josephine. It has the highest possible colour grade of fancy vivid blue, and its pre-sale price was estimated at 34.2 million francs to 53 million francs ($52.3 million-$81.5 million), according to Sotheby's website.

Loading

Despite the health concerns he cited for his transfer of shares to Chan in 2017, they had a third child in 2018.

Chinese Estates' annual report shows that Chan holds her shares as trustee for her minor children, which means they will be among the heirs to one of the world's greatest and most bewildering fortunes. But while they're still kids, their mother will protect them. On Instagram, Chan sometimes covers their faces with penguin emojis.

Bloomberg

Read more here:
Former reporter takes control of fugitive husband's $11.7 billion fortune - Sydney Morning Herald

The Public House of Buffalo wrote "All life matters" on the exterior of its Hertel Avenue coffee shop.

Following vandalism of businesses elsewhere in the Elmwood Village, the owner of pasteurizedtees posted a photo on Instagram of the store's boarded-up windows with the caption "wartime."

And the co-owner of Chef's on Facebook warned "anarchy is coming" and passionately defended the Buffalo police officers charged with assaulting a 75-year-old protester.

The messages spurred an outcry on social media and calls to boycott the businesses. The owners apologized, attempted to explain what they meant and in one case abruptly announced his retirement.

But, for many customers, the damage was done.

"Guess I am finding somewhere new to eat every year on my birthday. This is foul. @ChefsBuffalowill never see another dime from me," wrote one Twitter user, @FirstCityLine.

Chef's co-owner denies racist intent in pro-police Facebook posts

They're only the latest examples of local business owners appearing to take or explicitly choosing sides in a hot-button political issue and sparking an online backlash.

Similar controversies have flared up before, as with Lloyd Taco and Deep South Taco.

But with emotions so raw these days, public comments are more likely to draw the public's ire even if store owners disavow any perceived intentions.

This is especially true for restaurants, whose patrons have an emotional connection that goes deeper than their feelings about where they take their dry cleaning, for example.

Experts say it's understandable that business owners want to express their views on issues of the day but it's not smart to say anything that's going to alienate half your customer base.

"In my business, the unforced error is the hardest to recover from," said Stephen W. Bell, a local crisis communications expert. "Because nobody pushed you. Nobody said, 'Here, step up to the bully pulpit and express a really bad idea.' "

The past few months have felt overwhelming, starting with the coronavirus outbreak and amplified by the protests against racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd.

People, especially those on social media, are paying closer attention to how businesses and their executives respond to what's happening in the world.

Some on Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites are using the services to shame businesses.

Lists of Buffalo businesses to avoid because they are accused of racism or of supporting the police over the Black Lives Matter movement have circulated on social media in recent days.

One criticized business is pasteurizedtees, a custom T-shirt printer on Elmwood Avenue.

Critics point to the store's Instagram post that showed its windows boarded up to prevent vandalism with the word "Wartime" written underneath.

When commenters objected to the phrase, the operator of the store's Instagram account made a distinction between the peaceful protesters and those who looted and damaged businesses in Buffalo.

"One group had a purpose of change. The other group had a purpose of fear and destruction. That's war in my eyes," according to a screen grab of comments on the post, which is no longer available.

Pasteurizedtees owner Michael Bowen insisted in a statement and brief interview that he supports people of every race and orientation and he's proud of his diverse employees and customer base.

"Those that have engaged in my character assassination will have to answer in front of a court of law," Bowen emailed.

It was a far lengthier social media post from Chef's co-owner Lou Billittier Jr. that inspired outrage in some circles and inclusion as a business deemed racist.

Billittier last weekend on Facebook warned "law and order is what separates us from the animals" and vowed on-duty police would never pay to eat at his Buffalo and Amherst locations "as long as I am alive."

In response to fierce criticism online, Billittier attempted to clarify his remarks, insisting he's not racist but he was offering his perspective as a former member of law enforcement himself.

"I am doing this post because I want you, my friends, to understand I am truly sorry if I hurt anyone in any way and I am leaving social media," Billittier wrote in his third Facebook post before announcing he would pass control of Chef's to other family members.

It can take just three words to stir online ire.

As Public House of Buffalo temporarily covered up the windows on its Hertel Avenue shop on May 31, an employee wrote "All life matters" on the particle board.

In a lengthy Facebook apology, Public House's owners said they intended it as a message of inclusion and learned only later that the phrase is a flashpoint that left some with the impression they were oblivious to the problem of systemic racism.

"Becoming better allies and community members is an evolutionary process. And while we may make mistakes, we pledge to always learn from them," the owners wrote.

In the case of Lash Bar, a salon in East Aurora, owner Jacqueline Donnelly is apologizing for "insensitive comments" that resurfaced last week and brought unwelcome attention to the business.

Donnelly last month tweeted, "All in favor of an Underground Railroad for salon services," followed by a raised hand emoji.

Another user highlighted the tweet and observed, "A white girl with a business in one of the wealthiest suburbs comparing an industry decline to system of paths that was made out of necessity to escape slavery and oppression. Okay."

This user then showed a screenshot of six tweets from 2013 and 2014 when Donnelly casually used the same racial epithet.

"I realize that I have to change and I fully appreciate those that will give me a chance to do that," she wrote in a statement.

Business owners have to think about how a comment will resonate with their target audience, said Susan A. McCartney, director of SUNY Buffalo State's Small Business Development Center.

This is a particular problem for restaurants, she said, because people make decisions about where to eat that involve a host of other factors beyond just the quality of the food.

"I must as a business adviser caution them to be extremely sensitive regarding what they say because their customers have a much greater emotional relationship with them," said McCartney.

Lloyd Taco last year managed to annoy people on both sides of the aisle.

The public relations crisis began after a Lloyd food truck served employees at the federal detention facility in Batavia. Facing criticism for the decision to send a truck to the center, which holds undocumented immigrants pending case hearings, the owners apologized for their "lapse in judgment."

The apology spurred a backlash from people who thought Lloyd Taco was turning its back on law enforcement. This prompted owners Peter Cimino and Chris Dorsaneo to apologize for their initial apology and to emphasize their political neutrality.

After backlash for backlash, Lloyd Taco apologizes for apology

At the height of the controversy last October, competitor Deep South Taco posted "a friendly reminder" on its Facebook page that first responders "ALWAYS" get 35% off their meals.

"Thank you for your service and protection. We appreciate you," the restaurant wrote.

Deep South owner Richard Hamilton said he doesn't handle the restaurant's social media accounts but he took responsibility for the statement.

Deep South has come under fire from Buffalo-area Socialists and others for close ties to the Erie County Sheriff's Office. Deep South twice hosted fundraisers for Sheriff Tim Howard, although Hamilton said it was a favor for a friend and Deep South was reimbursed for its food and the use of its space.

"I was attacked merely for political purposes not because I had personally done anything. I just booked an event. We hired personal security for weeks after the attacks and threats began," Hamilton said.

For some businesses, taking a political position is baked into their DNA. Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A are well-known for the religious beliefs of their owners.

"From a business perspective, they are communicating that is who they want as a customer," McCartney said.

People have options where they can spend their money, and they're quick to use social media to express their support for or disgust with a company.

Bell, who runs his own communications agency, said showing true remorse and an openness to change as a person are the only ways business owners can recover from these self-inflicted wounds.

"The momentum and the acceleration of change makes it almost impossible if someone says something really stupid that they're going to be forgiven," Bell said.

See more here:
Chef's, like Lloyd Taco, learns to keep politics off the menu - Buffalo News

Howard University law students, from left, Chanel Sherrod, Domonique Dille and Temitope Aladetimi brought handmade signs to a protest near the White House last Saturday. // NPR, Sam Gringlas

As demonstrators gathered around the White House last weekend, Howard University law student Tope Aladetimi leaned her cardboard protest sign against the street median and took a load off her feet. She had already been out protesting for a few hours, and the temperature was climbing into the 90s.

"There's a power in using your body, and actually physically being here," Aladetimi said. "Oftentimes, our voices aren't heard and this is the only way we're able to get our message across."

Domonique Dille, a Howard law school classmate, feels an urgency to this moment.

"We can't wait until November to voice our opinions," she said. "We've seen our parents, our ancestors fight. They've all fought, and we're still fighting in 2020. And we're going to keep this going until the election and even past then."

With a presidential campaign and historic demonstrations unfolding at the same time, the country's youngest voters and activists are being pushed to weigh their role in politics right now, trying to navigate the relative power of protest and electoral politics in real time.

The question is especially pressing for Gen Z, the generation of voters in their late teens and early 20s who grew up with endless school shootings, viral videos of police brutality and a political climate defined by President Trump and who are rapidly aging into the voting population.

When former President Barack Obama recently addressed protests swelling around the country, he urged young people not to forget about the election.

"I've been hearing a little bit of chatter on the Internet about voting versus protest," he said. "Politics and participation versus civil disobedience and direct action. This is not an either/or. This is a both/and."

"I was feeling pretty pessimistic a week ago, and I'm more optimistic in this moment than I've ever been," said Natalie Spievack, who'd been out protesting for several hours last Saturday.

"More optimistic about the possibility of making systemic change, but mostly optimistic because I'm experiencing for the first time in my life people coming together around a common cause and demanding change and actually seeing people listen," she added.

Spievack and several friends had found a shaded spot in a park to cool off.

They all said they feel like traditional modes of political advocacy have failed their generation. That's in part why Raymond Sison says direct action and protest can be more powerful tools.

"There are so many issues to talk about, I mean, we're here talking about police brutality, but like student loans there hasn't been anything done for students in America, one of the most indebted generations," he said.

Everyone in the group said they recognize the importance of the 2020 election and are planning to vote this fall. It's not really up for debate.

Like most of their generation, almost 80%, this group of young protesters overwhelmingly disapproves of Trump. For comparison, 42% of Gen X voters and 48% of Baby Boomers approve of the president's job performance.

Where it gets tricky, Spievack says, is trying to prioritize. Do you spend your summer planning demonstrations or knocking doors for a political candidate, like the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden?

To actually drive systemic change, Spievack says you have to hold politicians accountable not just vote your preferred party into office.

"I feel like that's been my biggest internal struggle over the last week and a half, figuring out what's my place in creating change," she said.

In Louisville, 19-year-old Sean Waddell organized a march for Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old EMT killed by police this year.

"That could have easily been my brother, my sister or anybody," he said, speaking on a call from a birthday celebration in Taylor's memory, where thousands of people gathered downtown to release balloons and butterflies.

"Since middle school, seeing Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Terence Crutcher, black people dying over and over again before my eyes, and being told to go to our politicians and seeing so little, it does take away our spirit," he said.

But Waddell plans to keep organizing, and he's optimistic this energy now will translate into a lasting movement for justice.

According to CIRCLE, a Tufts University research group focused on youth civic and political engagement, young people don't seem to be disengaging. Instead, youth turnout doubled between the last two midterms. And the group found that in 2018, three times more young people attended a demonstration than in 2016.

"We have no more patience for justice to be served on a silver platter," said Daud Mumin, an organizer in Utah with March For Our Lives. "We have to go and fight for it."

After the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Fla., in which 14 students and three educators were killed, the student-led March For Our Lives organized hundreds of demonstrations around the country calling for gun control, sparking a nationwide youth movement.

"The moment the march ended, we all took a deep breath, I think, collectively," said Matthew Hogenmiller, the social media manager for March For Our Lives. "We were 16 years old. Daud was, too. We were young people trying to create a change and all of us were looking for next steps."

Political advocacy and voter registration became a part of March For Our Lives' equation, too, as the group went up against entrenched political organizations like the National Rifle Association.

But Mumin says getting involved in politics can be harder for young voters, especially people of color. And he's watching how quickly the protests over police brutality sparked tangible change in cities around the country in a way that elections haven't.

"Electoral work is not the most accessible work," he said. "So when we tell African American people, 'Are you concerned? Go and vote,' it's almost offensive. It's almost a slap in the face."

Research suggests protest energy could boost young voter turnout. CIRCLE says in 2018, young people who were aligned with the Parkland gun control movement were 21% more likely to vote.

Matthew Nowling, communications director for the College Democrats, says protests over police brutality in Ferguson, Mo., actually inspired him to get involved in politics.

Afterward, he watched the Obama administration take action, actions the Trump administration has rolled back.

It's a reminder, Nowling says, of what's at stake not only right now, but on Election Day, too.

"The way to harness the momentum of the movement is really connecting the issues why people are protesting to direct Democratic Party policies," he said.

Nowling says while his organization is working to support the protest movement now, he's hopeful the momentum will spill over into the election.

Go here to read the rest:
Young Activists Pour Energy Into Protests, But What About The Election? - Houston Public Media

Where is Ajit Doval and General Rawat?

The National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has been conspicuous by his silence on the developments in Ladakh. The high-profile NSA, who photographed himself having Biryani on the deserted streets of Srinagar and controlling riots (more precisely he was sent to control the police) in North-East Delhi, has curiously not uttered a word on the standoff. Not that he is a shy person. Earlier he has flaunted his photographs on the Yoga Day in China and with his friends in Israel and in the UAE.

But the man of all seasons has nothing to say on Ladakh. Nor has the Home Minister Amit Shah, who had roared that India would wrest Gilgit, Baltistan and Aksai Chin back from Pakistan and China, uttered a word after the Chinese soldiers apparently intruded and took over Indian territory, according to strategic and security experts.

See the rest here:
Readers ask why has there been no TV debate on PM CARES and where is the NSA? - National Herald

Three mornings a week Janet Stolp joins a dozen friends on Zoom for Take a Breath with Janet, a social outlet to help relieve stress.

Stolp started the get-togethers in mid-March, and what began as a video chat with several friends expanded to a dozen people sharing how theyre coping with aspects of navigating everyday life during these trying times. The gathering was named Take a Breath with Janet because she is known for a mindful deep breathing practice. GET SUPPORT FOR YOUR WELL-BEING

From staying fit to caring for your mental health, the Keep Working website has plenty of free and discounted resources available to Duke employees.

When I begin to feel any tension or stress during my day I pull away for five to 10 minutes and takes some deep breaths, relax my muscles and focus on the present moment, said Stolp, a nurse clinician for Duke Healths Advanced Clinical Practice. I notice things that I am grateful for, especially my own breath in that moment.

Daily stress is affecting most Americans during the COVID-19 crisis, according toan April pollby Gallup, a global analytics and advisory firm. Sixty percent of U.S. adults are experiencing significant stress and worry daily, 14 percent more than in August 2019, the Gallup poll reports.

Andrea Savage, a counselor with Dukes Personal Assistance Service, attributes the mysterious nature of COVID-19 for causing so much worry.

COVID-19 is an open-ended question, Savage said. If we all knew the world would return to normal on June 30, then we would all be doing much better. Were experiencing this anticipatory grief and stress about what the future looks like.

Learn how you can lead yourself through stressful situations with these techniques.

Melissa Neeley has been managing stress by meticulously scheduling her online calendar since working from home.

Neeley, who once only used her calendar for meetings, now blocks off time for lunch and exercise breaks,webinars and other needs.

I get stressed out by the unknown, so seeing everything laid out on my calendar gives me a sense of control, said Neeley, a building manager and operations support for the John Hope Franklin Center.

Successful time management gives you direction for what you need to do each day, said Marjorie Siegert, senior practitioner for Dukes Learning & Organization Development, a division of Human Resources.

Siegert recommends writing a daily to-do list, putting deadlines on your calendar and finding times during the day when youre most productive. Siegert starts work about 6:30 a.m. The morning is when she can think clearly on long-term projects.

As deadlines approach and our to-do lists grow we all get a little anxious, Siegert said. We lose the feeling of control. Having that to-do list or detailed calendar to reference when your mind is in a thousand places provides clarity.

Chuck Geddie has reduced the amount of news he consumes since mid-March.

Geddie used to spend 10 to 15 minutes scrolling through WRAL and CNNs websites in the morning. He quit that practice when headlines about COVID-19 made him feel fatigued and anxious. His mood improved when he read other news and sources rather than grim, national headlines.

Im more focused on Dukes plan for reopening than the countrys, said Geddie, an engineering scientist for Duke Neurosurgery. Im staying at home. Im physical distancing. Knowing the daily infection and death counts added a weight on my shoulders that I didnt need. It helped to focus on whats directly impacting me.

Nearly 70 percent of Americans say they need to take a break from COVID-19 news, according to an April report by the Pew Research Center. Additionally, 43 percent of respondents said the news leaves them feeling worse.

Savage, the PAS counselor, says too much news on a disturbing topic can affect mental health by increasing anxiety and souring your mood.

Savage recommends visiting one trusted news source in the morning and evening and limiting yourself to checking social media a few times a day. She watches the 6 p.m. local news each night and hides news sources from her Facebook feed.

Cutting out the news doesnt have to be something you do for your whole life, Savage said. Monitor how you feel when you visit a news site or watch on the TV. See if you feel anxious or irritable after. Its OK to take a break.

Stress can cause a weakened immune system and a spike in high blood sugar and heartburn.

Esther Granville, manager of health coaching and nutrition programs for LIVE FOR LIFE, Dukes employee wellness program, recommends eating well-balanced mealsto mitigate stress physiological effects. The Office of Disease Preventions 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends half of your plate be fruits and vegetables, one quarter be grains and the other quarter of the plate be lean, low-fat proteins.

We often feel worn out after a stressful moment because our adrenaline has been pumping, Granville said.A balanced meal helps stabilize your blood sugar and gives you the nutritional support so you have the energy to rebound.

Avoiding certain foods can help with controlling stress. For example, caffeine increases stress hormones, which makes anxiety-provoking situations feel more nerve-wracking. Alcohol worsens stress and anxiety by lowering serotonin; serotonin contributes to feelings of happiness.

Granville said keeping a food journal is a helpful way to track stress.

Write down what you eat and drink and how you feel before and after eating, Granville said. You may start to notice that glass of wine or bag of chips left you feeling even more stressed afterward.

Sleep recharges our brains and bodies, but only if were getting the appropriate amount.

Aatif Husain, a professor of neurology and doctor for theDuke Sleep Disorders Center, said the average adult should get anywhere from seven to eight hours of sleep each night to effectively increase positive emotions, improve memory and strengthen our immune system.

Stress and sleep are inherently tied together, Husain said. Sleep keeps us calm, helps us focus and puts us in a better mood. Alternatively, a lack of sleep can exacerbate our problems and make us more stressed.

If youre struggling to fall asleep, wake up multiple times each night or dont feel rested after a full nights sleep, Husain has a few tips to help:

A good way to know if you are getting enough sleep is if you wake up before your alarm, Husain said. If people need their alarms it means theyre going to bed too late.

Rachel Karasik and other colleagues in the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions began sharing free fitness resources with coworkers who found it difficult to exercise at the start of the pandemic.

Karasik shared free online classes from CorePower Yoga, a national yoga studio chain. Other colleagues circulated Duke Recreations workout video library and Zumba classes on YouTube. They compiled these resources in a Google Doc for everyone in the Nicholas Institute to access.

COVID-19 forces you to open up with people, said Karasik, a policy associate for the Nicholas Institute. Sharing ways that you have found joy might turn a future bad day into a good one for a coworker if they know about a fun workout or a yummy recipe they can try.

Video: J. Bryan Sexton, director of the Duke Center for Healthcare Safety & Quality, explains how practicing gratitude helps alleviate stress.

Help share the proactive and extensive work being done by all Duke community members during the COVID-19 outbreak. Send ideas, shout-outs and photographshereor write us atworking@duke.edu

See the article here:
How to Lead Yourself in Stressful Times - Duke Today