This Sydney café is leading the charge when it comes to accessible dining
Tokyo Lamington is known for its delicious specialty lamingtons. What is less well known is that they're a leader in the accessible-venues space, and advocate for other Sydney businesses to make their venues inclusive for people with low vision and blindness. This is an important example to set, considering people with low vision or blindness are still often turned away from hospitality venues for having a guide dog in tow.
Tokyo Lamington put all its staff through accessibility training as part of the Access Means Business campaign developed by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT earlier this year. This training ensured Tokyo Lamington's staff are fully prepared to assist customers with low vision and blindness and accommodate all people with disabilities, including Guide Dog Handlers.
Tokyo Lamington has hosted multiple events this year to encourage other venues to follow their lead, including the launch of the Access Means Business campaign, in collaboration with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and the City of Sydney, and a pop-up event, inviting the local community and other local business owners to discuss how they can improve accessibility.
At the pop-up event, staff members who have undergone accessibility training spoke on what they've learnt, with many community members expressing shock at the discrimination people with low vision and blindness often face in hospitality venues. Members of the local police force also attended and voiced their support for the initiative.
Tokyo Lamington's co-founder Min Chai says making your café or restaurant more accessible isn't difficult or expensive, and just makes sense when it comes to improving your customer's experience. There are some simple things businesses can do to improve accessibility for people with low vision or blindness laid out over here.
'Accessibility can make a huge difference to the way people with low vision and blindness experience your venue,' says Min. 'This can be as easy as ensuring staff know how to react if someone walks in the door with a guide dog, and taking out hazards and visual clutter that make the space harder to navigate.'
Eddie Stewart, Tokyo Lamington's other co-founder, says, 'Ensuring accessibility at our bakery café is a top priority, as it allows us to create an inclusive environment where everyone in our community feels welcome.'
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Coin Geek
17 hours ago
- Coin Geek
Senate stablecoin bill advances amid cries of betrayal, corruption
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The U.S. Senate is moving forward with its stablecoin legislation despite accusations that Senate leadership reneged on promises to allow an open amendment process. On June 11, the Senate voted 68-30 to invoke cloture on the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, legislation intended to regulate the use of so-called 'payment stablecoins.' The vote, which mirrored the 68-30 cloture vote conducted last month, approves the revised text filed by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) on June 9. GENIUS will now head to the Senate floor for further debate and the extremely unlikely possibility of further amending. A final vote could come later this week but appears more likely to occur early next week. On June 9, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) filed an 'amendment tree' that required unanimous support for any additional amendments to GENIUS, effectively blocking further revisions to the text. Senators who were opposed to GENIUS as written had little recourse beyond engaging in performative (and ultimately impotent) outrage on Wednesday. The brief debate preceding the vote saw Republican senators urge their colleagues to vote 'aye' to ensure proper regulation of stablecoin activity. However, many Democrats railed against President Donald Trump's ever-widening crypto venture portfolio, which includes the USD1 stablecoin issued by the Trump-controlled decentralized finance (DeFi) project World Liberty Financial (WLF). Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), who has introduced legislation to limit Trump's ability to profit off his digital asset ventures, referenced the Abu Dhabi state-run investment firm MGX buying $2 billion worth of USD1 in early May. Merkley noted that two weeks later, Trump was in Abu Dhabi, where he announced he was waiving restrictions on the export of advanced U.S.-made AI chips. Merkley called this apparent quid pro quo 'the Mount Everest of corruption.' Merkley said the president has 'planted a 'government for sale' sign on the White House lawn and individuals and foreign governments are funneling money into his pocket and his family's pocket in order to gain access and influence.' Merkley also took Thune to task for blocking GENIUS amendments after promising an open amendment process. Merkley pointed out that senators had voted on earlier motions to advance GENIUS with the understanding that their amendments would be properly considered. Merkley called Thune's about-turn 'a breach of trust that is simply wrong in this body.' Sen. Michael Bennett (D-CO), who'd filed a GENIUS amendment to prevent elected officials from issuing their digital assets, lamented the fact that some of his Democratic colleagues planned to vote in favor of GENIUS despite the fact that there was 'not a single amendment voted on as part of this bill.' Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a GENIUS co-sponsor, told her colleagues that while she found the president's crypto ventures 'extremely unhelpful' and she 'would love to ban' his activity, her desire for stablecoin regulation was greater than her disdain for Trump's efforts to line his pockets with crypto cash. The obligatory Tether reference The lack of amendments to GENIUS leaves a rather large loophole in place for 'foreign' stablecoin issuers like Tether—the issuer of the market-leading USDT stablecoin—who wish to issue their tokens in the U.S. while avoiding the regulatory restrictions imposed on domestic issuers. GENIUS only requires foreign issuers to comply with law enforcement requests, while it's left up to the Treasury Secretary to designate a foreign issuer as non-compliant. Moreover, foreign issuers can get a pass if the Treasury concludes that the jurisdiction in which the issuer is based has 'a regulatory and supervisory regime … comparable to' the regime envisioned by GENIUS. In some unfortunate timing for GENIUS supporters, Monday saw the Department of Justice (DoJ) file charges against Russian national Iurii Gugnin for using his fintech firm Evita to launder over half a billion dollars on behalf of sanctioned Russian individuals and entities. Gugnin came to the U.S. mere months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent imposition of economic sanctions on Russia by the U.S. and other Western nations. The funds Gugnin laundered allowed Russian firms to acquire prohibited technologies, including those used by Russia's state-owned nuclear operator. As the DoJ notes, during an 18-month period ending January 2025, 'Gugnin used Evita to facilitate the movement of approximately $530 million through the U.S. financial system, most of which he received in the form of a cryptocurrency stablecoin known as Tether.' Tether representatives told the Wall Street Journal that the company 'unequivocally condemns the illegal use of stablecoins.' Nonetheless, USDT remains the digital asset of choice for criminals worldwide. The same day that Gugnin was charged, a different branch of the DoJ reported guilty pleas by five individuals who admitted laundering funds for a Cambodia-based scam operator. The scammers convinced their U.S. victims to convert their dollars into USDT and forward it to the Bahamas-based Deltec Bank, one of Tether's early banking partners. On June 5, the DoJ filed a civil forfeiture complaint against North Korean nationals who tricked U.S. firms into hiring them for remote work. The North Koreans were paid primarily via stablecoins, including USDT and USDC, the latter issued by Circle (NASDAQ: CRCL), which were duly laundered and forwarded to the North Korean government. Back to the top ↑ Trump family flying too close to the crypto Sun? GENIUS Act's forward progress came the day after two House of Representatives committees advanced their chamber's digital asset market structure legislation (CLARITY). All told, there have been worse weeks for U.S. crypto supporters, but not everyone is convinced the legislative tide has officially turned. On Wednesday, Decrypt published an article featuring quotes from anonymous 'top crypto lobbyists' expressing pessimism about market structure legislation's chances of passing Congress this year. One lobbyist said, 'Anyone who disagrees is either delusional or stupid.' The cause for this concern? 'The president's business dealings in crypto while in office.' Singling out the Trump family's WLF, the lobbyist claimed, 'These people, they hate us. They announce a new product every time there's a key vote.' The lobbyist noted that while the House committees were marking up CLARITY, Eric Trump was tweeting about USD1's trading volume hitting new highs, while Don Jr. was retweeting WLF tweets about similar USD1 accomplishments. As if on cue, Wednesday saw Eric tweet his thanks to a tweet by Justin Sun, founder of the TRON blockchain. Sun's tweet celebrated the first minting of USD1 on TRON. Sun's tweet also brought praise from WLF's official X account, which thanked Sun for his support. Sun is a highly controversial figure who was appointed a WLF advisor after purchasing $75 million worth of WLF's governance token WLFI. Sun also purchased over $19 million worth of the $TRUMP memecoin, making him the token's top holder and ensuring his spot at last month's Trump-hosted gala dinner for the 220 biggest $TRUMP whales. 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Forbes theorized that Sun may have been the third party, and while it offered no proof to support this theory, neither the White House, the Trump Org, WLF, nor Sun himself seemed eager to respond to Forbes' inquiries. Back to the top ↑ Bullish on IPOs In non-Trump stablecoin news, Circle closed out Wednesday's trading on the Nasdaq up 10.7% to $117.20 after nearly dipping below $100 on Tuesday. The GENIUS vote may have put some wind in Circle's sails, but Wednesday's close was well off the $138 peak the stock enjoyed last Friday, its second day of trading on the Nasdaq. Circle's impressive debut had already convinced the Winklevoss twins to file IPO paperwork for their Gemini digital asset exchange, and now rival exchange Bullish is getting in on this action. On June 10, the Financial Times broke the news that the Peter Thiel-backed Bullish Global had confidentially filed its IPO paperwork with the SEC 'in recent weeks.' Confidential filings allow companies to get the IPO ball rolling without having to immediately disclose their financial data to the public. Jefferies Financial Group will act as lead underwriter, confirming February's rumors that Bullish had engaged Jefferies to explore the possibility of a public floatation. A 2021 effort to go public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) failed to launch as rising interest rates did a number on stock valuations, and the onset of 'crypto winter' the following year reduced investors' appetite for digital asset firms (Circle also cancelled its original IPO plans that year). Bullish is ranked 12th in terms of trading volume on CoinGecko's list of centralized exchanges (three places ahead of Gemini). It remains to be seen if the Kraken exchange might now accelerate its own IPO plans. In March, Bloomberg reported that the company was targeting a Q1 2026 listing, but who knows what the vibe around digital assets might be by then? Particularly if the Trumps continue to expand their burgeoning crypto interests. Back to the top ↑ CFPB director accuses Trump of 'dismantling' enforcement efforts On June 10, Reuters reported that Cara Petersen, acting enforcement director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), had resigned in protest of the Trump administration's efforts to hobble the agency's work. Petersen issued a scathing email on her way out the door, saying the Trump administration 'has no intention to enforce the law in any meaningful way.' Petersen, a 15-year CFPB veteran, said, 'Never before have I seen the ability to perform our core mission so under attack.' Petersen said it was 'devastating to see the bureau's enforcement function being dismantled through thoughtless reductions in staff, inexplicable dismissals of cases, and terminations of negotiated settlements that let wrongdoers off the hook.' 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Proponents of legislation like GENIUS and CLARITY claim the bills will establish sorely needed guardrails that will help protect consumers. However, the federal government is systematically defanging nearly all the agencies that are meant to enforce those guardrails. The CFPB is being neutered, the SEC appears disinterested in policing crypto, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)—which under CLARITY will be given the primary role of regulating crypto—is still awaiting confirmation of its new chairman. But even when Brian Quintenz finally takes his seat at the head of the CFTC table, he'll find four empty chairs where commissioners are supposed to be sitting. There's no question that crypto operators love their newfound freedom from oversight. Whether their customers find the new environment to their liking is very much an open question. Back to the top ↑ Watch: Breaking down solutions to blockchain regulation hurdles title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Showdown looming at key summit hosted by Anthony Albanese affecting millions of Australian workers
Business groups and unions are on a collision course over priorities for a planned productivity summit despite the prime minister's optimism they can find common ground. Anthony Albanese has dismissed suggestions the roundtable, which will take place in August and is aimed at finding ways to lift the nation's economic output, would amount to little more than a Canberra talkfest. 'It is not unreasonable to bring people together ... business and unions have common interests, we have a national interest in boosting productivity,' he told ABC Radio on Wednesday. But Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said it was disappointing the union movement had taken the view that 'there's nothing to see here and that is all about cutting jobs and cutting wages and it demonstrably isn't'. 'One of the frustrating conversations to have with unions is to hear them say: 'Yes, of course there'll be AI but everyone's job will stay the same,' he told Sky News. 'Unfortunately it won't but we have to prepare people for that - and that will be a massive exercise in reskilling and retraining ... that's where this productivity summit is going to be so important.' Experts are concerned about Australia's lagging growth in productivity - a key economic measure of efficiency and long-term driver of improved living standards. Working Australians must be at the centre of the summit, ACTU secretary Sally McManus said. 'We need to leave behind the idea that productivity is equated with cutting pay and making people work harder for less,' she said. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said he was realistic about the potential for tangible outcomes at the roundtable. 'If it was easy, it would have been done already,' he told AAP. The scope of the Fair Work Act had grown significantly in recent years, which had a 'significant impact' on small businesses trying to hire staff, Mr McKellar said. Planned payday superannuation reforms also needed to be implemented in a way that didn't 'create a significant additional burden for small business', he added. 'We don't expect (the government) to revisit all of the industrial relations changes, but ... let's make some practical changes that make it easier for small business to create jobs and employ more people to promote productivity,' Mr McKellar said. Tax changes, cutting the regulatory burden and encouraging the uptake of digital technology would all be priorities for the business lobby, which singled out AI as a field that could make a big difference to productivity. Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood said it was important to be clear the target was 'not about working longer hours'. 'When we're talking about labour productivity, all it means is producing more for each hour worked,' she told ABC TV. 'This is about making sure Australians have the skills, that they have access to the technology, that we have great business processes that allow all of us to get more out of each hour that we put in.' Higher productivity was ultimately what drove improvements in incomes and living standards, and technological change was the most important driver of growth, Ms Wood said. 'Australia is lagging in the adoption of AI ... so that's certainly one of the areas of opportunity that we will be looking to,' she said. The commission's most recent report showed labour productivity fell 0.1 per cent in the December quarter and dropped 1.2 per cent in the past year. Shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien said the opposition gave the government some credit for calling the summit. 'A round table. Yay!' Mr O'Brien joked during an interview on Nine's Today program. 'But look ... to be fair, at least they're recognising the problem ... so let's take that as a partial tick.'
Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
This Sydney café is leading the charge when it comes to accessible dining
Tokyo Lamington is known for its delicious specialty lamingtons. What is less well known is that they're a leader in the accessible-venues space, and advocate for other Sydney businesses to make their venues inclusive for people with low vision and blindness. This is an important example to set, considering people with low vision or blindness are still often turned away from hospitality venues for having a guide dog in tow. Tokyo Lamington put all its staff through accessibility training as part of the Access Means Business campaign developed by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT earlier this year. This training ensured Tokyo Lamington's staff are fully prepared to assist customers with low vision and blindness and accommodate all people with disabilities, including Guide Dog Handlers. Tokyo Lamington has hosted multiple events this year to encourage other venues to follow their lead, including the launch of the Access Means Business campaign, in collaboration with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and the City of Sydney, and a pop-up event, inviting the local community and other local business owners to discuss how they can improve accessibility. At the pop-up event, staff members who have undergone accessibility training spoke on what they've learnt, with many community members expressing shock at the discrimination people with low vision and blindness often face in hospitality venues. Members of the local police force also attended and voiced their support for the initiative. Tokyo Lamington's co-founder Min Chai says making your café or restaurant more accessible isn't difficult or expensive, and just makes sense when it comes to improving your customer's experience. There are some simple things businesses can do to improve accessibility for people with low vision or blindness laid out over here. 'Accessibility can make a huge difference to the way people with low vision and blindness experience your venue,' says Min. 'This can be as easy as ensuring staff know how to react if someone walks in the door with a guide dog, and taking out hazards and visual clutter that make the space harder to navigate.' Eddie Stewart, Tokyo Lamington's other co-founder, says, 'Ensuring accessibility at our bakery café is a top priority, as it allows us to create an inclusive environment where everyone in our community feels welcome.' Want more?
