Latest news with #Fogel
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Viral Video Shares 3 Ways to Help Prevent Child Abuse—Experts Say It Shouldn't Stop There
Fact checked by Sarah Scott Parents are the anxious types for good reason. Our job is to protect our children, not just from bumps and bruises, but also from much serious abuse that can occur right under our noses, sometimes even at school or from people we think we can trust. Ever vigilant, parents are always on the lookout for tips to help put a stop to this kind of abuse before it can even occur. As the author of Punishment-Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Voice, parenting expert Jon Fogel (@wholeparent) regularly shares insights on social media that many parents find both useful and relatable. In one recent video, Fogel includes tips parents can implement in their everyday lives to help prevent children from experiencing sexual abuse—and while his advice is a solid start, experts say it doesn't cover everything kids need to stay safe. Here, we'll break down what the video gets right, and where experts say parents need to take further steps in order to help prevent abuse. Fogel lays out three succinct points about preventing sexual abuse in children, offering examples from how he parents his eight-year-old: Not teaching blind obedience: Using the phrase, 'Because I said so,' is putting children at risk for manipulation, he says, adding, 'Kids who are trained to not question authority are easy targets.' Avoiding punishment: Fogel states that he does not punish or shame for certain behavior or mistakes. He notes that the threat of getting in trouble with their parents is one of the ways abusers gain control over their victims. Talking openly about bodies: 'Bodies are not taboo,' he says, adding that he will never make his child feel ashamed of their bodily functions or body parts. Generally speaking, Fogel provides helpful parenting advice, says Wendy Lane, MD, Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Medical Director at the Lifebridge Health Center for Hope, which provides intervention for and prevention of child abuse. 'I think they're generally good parenting tips,' she says. 'These are great tips for developing a strong connection to your kids and making [them] feel comfortable talking to you about anything, including challenging subjects.' That said, she explains that these three tips alone, although valuable, are not enough to prevent child sexual abuse. '[Parents] can also expand on [these tips] by doing other things to make sure that their environment is protective,' she adds. Fogel mentions that preventing sexual abuse is not just about 'one-off talks' or teaching phrases like 'see something, say something,' but rather consistently showing up as a safe and secure presence. While being a present and engaged parent is essential, preventing abuse requires more concrete action, according to experts. Here are a few expert-backed ways parents can help prevent abuse: This doesn't necessarily mean physical safety or self defense skills, but rather teaching kids to say 'no' when they feel uncomfortable, even to authority figures, and to make their boundaries clear. 'As far as abuse prevention, we talk about teaching personal safety skills to both kids who don't have traumatic events in their history and for those who do,' says George (Tripp) Ake, PhD, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center, and Training and Implementation Program Director for the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress. He offers a few examples of how to teach these skills to your kids, including: Practice saying no: Encourage your child to practice how they might say 'no' in different situations—like if someone asks them to do something that feels uncomfortable, or if a stranger tries to get them to go somewhere. Encourage physical boundaries: Use role-playing to help your child practice stepping back or moving away when someone makes them feel uncomfortable. Emphasize consent: Let your child decide when (and if) they want to hug or show affection, even with friends and family. Teach them how to speak up in unsafe situations: For example, teaching your child to yell, 'I don't know this person!' or 'This isn't my parent!' if someone tries to lead them away while in a public place (and then having them practice it.) Given that nearly 90 percent of child sexual abuse involves a family member or trusted adult, Dr. Lane highlights the need for close supervision and ongoing awareness of the people in your child's life. 'Supervision is important,' she says. 'You can't watch your child 24/7, but there are things that you can look out for that may raise a level of concern.' Some of the warning signs she shares include: Another caregiver constantly or frequently wants to be alone with your child Another adult buying your child expensive gifts An adult or other caregiver trying to persuade your child to keep secrets 'There should be no secrets between parents and kids,' she adds. 'If somebody asks them to keep a secret, that's not okay.' In a similar vein, it is also vital to stay on top of your child's screen habits, she says. This includes keeping devices in public spaces such as the family room or kitchen, not allowing your child to use screens behind closed doors, and staying aware of the games, apps, and social media platforms they are using—especially because predators can use any of these platforms to discreetly message minors. Fogel highlights the importance of talking openly about bodies, and Dr. Lane expands on that by emphasizing the need for teaching bodily autonomy. 'Beyond just open conversation about your body is a clear message to kids that their body is their body, and if they feel uncomfortable with how somebody is approaching them or approaching their body, they should tell somebody,' she explains. 'They have a right to decide who touches them. If they're uncomfortable, they should tell a parent or a trusted adult.' She suggests having these discussions early on, explaining, 'Once [your child] can speak in full sentences, you can talk to them about their bodies, give them names for their private parts, talk to them about about bodily autonomy, what's okay and what's not okay, and that [they] can always come to you if something's not okay.' While Fogel's no-punishment tip is somewhat vague, Dr. Ake offers his take, focusing on developmentally appropriate consequences without invoking fear. He explains, 'We don't want to scare kids to behave, to make sure they're compliant, or [to make sure] they're listening, because that's not good for [parents] either, or for the [parent-child] relationship. It's [about] praising what you want to see more of, ignoring [minor] behavior, and then providing consequences that are reasonable and developmentally appropriate when that's not enough.' When it comes to a predator grooming a child by threatening that they'll 'get in trouble' for telling a parent, Dr. Ake echoes Fogel's sentiment, adding, 'The hope is that they have built a relationship with their parents in a way [where] they know they can come talk to them about anything.' To help build this type of parent-child relationship, Dr. Ake stresses the importance of consistency, structure, and routines in daily life. 'Kids just crave structure,' he says. 'They want to know where the limits are, and they thrive when they know that. They can do that in a comforting and supportive relationship. That's kind of the recipe for great parenting and strong relationships between children and families.' Dr. Lane suggests examining closely any school, daycare, or organization that interacts with or cares for your child. 'Ideally, they will have policies for how staff interact with kids, and that may be things like having a code of conduct, what's acceptable behavior, and what's not,' she says. 'Parents can look at what their school [or daycare] requires, and they can also look at what their policies are for staffing their child's classroom.' Along these lines, it's important to ensure that a nanny, babysitter, or other caregiver is fully vetted before they are left alone with your child. Requesting and verifying references, doing an initial trial period, and conducting background checks (if possible) can offer peace of mind that your child is in good hands. Building on Fogel's advice to avoid teaching blind obedience, Dr. Lane emphasizes that fostering a child's self-confidence and self-assurance is a crucial step in preventing abuse. 'When a predator is looking for somebody to abuse, they look for kids who are vulnerable, or whose parents may be vulnerable,' she explains. 'So a parent who is attuned to ensuring a child's self-confidence, but also attuned to the behavior of the adults around them, will be better able to protect their child.' Ultimately, a child who walks with confidence, makes eye contact, and isn't afraid to say 'no' or step back in uncomfortable situations is less likely to be targeted by predators, says Dr. every parenting approach is different, some of the key factors in preventing child sexual abuse are having open, honest conversations, teaching bodily autonomy and personal safety skills, and staying aware of the people in your child's life. It's not always easy, but Dr. Ake reminds us that doing your best with the information you have is all anyone can ask for. 'Parenting is hard. It doesn't come with a manual,' he says. 'All of us want our kids to be safe, and I believe that most parents are doing the best that they can.' Keeping your child safe isn't about doing everything perfectly, but about being present, aware, and ready to listen—that's what matters the original article on Parents
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Inside Booking.com: Ousted CEOs, Power Struggles and Local Backlash
Beyond the press releases and public appearances by Booking Holdings executives, what was really going on at Amsterdam headquarters behind closed doors – including during monthly Freaky Fridays booze-fests? Three Dutch investigative journalists with the newspaper NRC tell the story in the 2021 book, "The Machine." Originally published in Dutch, it has received little mention in English-language press and the authors say it is set to be adapted into a fictional TV show on a Dutch public broadcasting channel. 'Booking is one of the few European tech companies that turned into a global success," one of the journalists, Stijn Bronzwaer, told Skift recently. "Everyone is familiar with the website, but no one knows the people and the stories behind this company. We felt it was time to reconstruct this piece of internet history.' The other authors were Merijn Rengers and Joris Kooiman. The book makes several references to Skift's oral history of published in 2016, but goes much deeper in its reporting. It details history from its founding in Amsterdam in 1996; the tensions between the American and Dutch employees, and then between the Dutch and the Brits; takes you behind closed doors where one CEO gets fired and another is forced to resign; documents local backlash and strategic decisions. Booking Holdings, which learned that the book was being written before publication, fact-checked it, Bronzwaer said. Booking Holdings did not comment on the book as a whole, but has not disputed key findings. Following are highlights from "The Machine:" Gillian Tans, who was CEO of and among the highest-profile female executives in online travel, was a member of what the book calls the "Dutch Mafia," an informal name for the group of employees who built from scratch and turned it into the largest hotel booking site in the world. In June 2019, Tans had just finished running a 2-day meeting with managers at the Hotel van Oranje Noordwijk in the Netherlands. At one of the sessions, according to "The Machine," Glenn Fogel – her boss as CEO of parent company Booking Holdings – tore into management. Fogel argued that growth had stagnated. He criticized what he saw as lethargic workplace culture and noted the parent company had been forced to delay an earnings call because of questions about numbers. He also emphasized that had to start cooperating with sister brands, such as Priceline, Agoda, and Kayak. Later, in a conference room at the hotel, Fogel told Tans that the board had lost confidence in her, and that she was being fired. Fogel would add to his duties to become CEO of Tans later accepted an offer to stay on for a year in a newly created and largely ceremonial position of chairwoman. The firing came as a shock to Tans, who felt she had met her targets at during a time when the company was becoming more difficult to manage: According to "The Machine," there had been claims of employee burnout and sexual harassment-related issues, some of which occurred at company-sponsored "Freaky Friday" gatherings at Amsterdam pubs. Tans left the company in June 2021 after 20 years. Tans didn't respond to Skift's request to comment. Here's Tans being interviewed at Skift Global Forum in New York in 2016: In April 2016, Darren Huston was forced to resign as CEO of and the Priceline Group (as Booking Holdings was then known) following a "personal relationship" with an employee who did not report to him. "The Machine" reported the extramarital affair was with an employee at one of the Group's brands, Agoda, and shed light on the board's internal deliberations. The board had grappled with Huston's affair since earlier in the year. Huston acknowledged the relationship, which was a violation of the company's code of ethics. But the code didn't clearly state what the punishment should be. An early draft of a press release would have Huston apologizing publicly; he would keep his CEO job but lose his 2015 bonus under this scenario. Ultimately, however, negotiations broke down and the company announced that he resigned because of "a personal relationship that Mr. Huston had with an employee of the Company who was not under his direct supervision." Priceline Group chairman Jeffery Boyd became interim CEO, and Tans became CEO of Huston, who went on to become founder and CEO of BlackPines Capital and is chairman of Skyscanner, declined to comment for this story. "The Machine" details execs' resistance to cooperating with other Booking Holdings brands. Until Fogel took over in 2019, there had been little sharing of data, resources or supply out of fear that it would dilute the brand and slow growth. 'Logical as cooperation may have looked to the group, none of its subsidiaries was willing to sacrifice any of its autonomy," the book says, adding that many of the brands were still headed by founders. There are many examples in the book of local backlash against practices. For example, one of the largest companies in the Netherlands, took advantage of the Innovation Tax credit, which saved saved the company some $2.5 billion in taxes over 10 years starting in 2011. Its acceptance of pandemic relief funds from the Dutch and other governments also became a flash point. 'By pocketing 100 billion euros in largely Dutch state aid and then cutting thousands of jobs while at the same time handing out executive bonus packages worth 34 million dollars, Booking had put itself in the middle of a perfect publicity storm," the authors wrote. A Booking Holdings spokesperson told Skift last week the company accepted pandemic relief to keep people employed as long as possible, and did so longer than many competitors. By mid-2021, Booking Holdings stated that it had repaid about $137 million of the Covid-related government assistance it received, and another $19 million after that. had success with marketing tactics that made hotels seem in high demand, with promotional language such as "only 5 rooms left" or "last booked: 15min. ago." The book's authors claim that hotels sometimes manipulated these numbers by limiting the number of available rooms they gave to Competition authorities in the UK and the EU reached agreements with major online travel agencies in 2019 and 2021, respectively, to eliminate many of these practices. In early 2016, a employee on the digital security team discovered that an intruder based in Virginia had stolen customer pin codes used for to change or modify reservations. The employee suspected that this breach was tied to a U.S. intelligence agency. Booking had believed for years that its reservations data had been used by intelligence services to monitor security targets. But did not disclose the intrusion to customers or the Dutch Data Protection Authority because there was no login or credit card information stolen, and the company at the time was not legally required to do so. officials have touted the brand as a technology company that happens to sell travel, but the book describes a tech stack that was very out of date. Up until 2019, at least, was using its original booking engine as a foundation, and many of its coders were still using the Perl programming language. Even then, many considered Perl a relic, and some new programmers didn't want to code with it. A/B testing was so pervasive across departments at that roughly 1,000 tests could be running simultaneously. Annual employee bonuses and promotions were often tied to A/B test activities. As a result, the book claims some employees inflated test results. Most of the credit for Booking's success has gone to former Priceline Group CEO Jeffery Boyd and Fogel, who orchestrated the acquisition of Kees Koolen, who served as CEO from 2008-2011, was behind the idea to ride startup Google and search engine marketing to industry out-performance, and injected an intensity and single-minded focus on metrics that had much to do with laying the groundwork for the position that Booking Holdings holds today. "The Machine" quotes one associate of Koolen saying about him: 'If you're cooperating on the same goal and put in your best effort, he is a good person to have on your team. If you get in the way or won't go along with the plan, that changes. He'll go remote and stop being warm and exuberant. He also has the ability to make tough decisions, which can take you far.' The book is available outside the U.S. here, and also as an ebook on Amazon, Apple Books and Kobo. People in the U.S. and elsewhere who want information on buying the book can email co-author Stijn Bronzwaer here. Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Families of detained Americans plead that they are not forgotten
'One of the most challenging things' about being imprisoned in Russia, Marc Fogel recalled, 'was feeling like I might be forgotten.' Fogel, a teacher, was detained for three and half years before being released in mid-February – becoming one of the first American detainees freed during President Donald Trump's second term. Fogel returned to Washington, DC, on Wednesday – in front of a mural of Americans detained abroad – to join with the families of others still imprisoned to call for their release. 'I am one of the lucky ones, and I want you to know that I and my family will work relentlessly for you all, because we want all of your loved ones here soon,' he said. Fogel was among several Americans who had been freed from detention abroad who attended Wednesday's mural unveiling. It was the third iteration of the project, organized by the Bring Our Families Home Campaign and created by artist Isaac Campbell, displaying 10-foot-tall faces of Americans detained abroad on an alley wall in the Georgetown neighborhood of the nation's capital. 'It gives them a name. Their faces, as you can see, are larger than life, so that they can no longer be ignored,' said Scott St. Clair, whose son, Joseph St. Clair, is a veteran imprisoned in Venezuela. He is one of nine Americans there designated as wrongfully detained. The mural shows St. Clair, Ksenia Karelina, Mahmood Habibi, Lucas Hunter, Andre Khachatoorian, David Barnes, Jorge Marcelo Vargas, Robert Gilman, Wilbert Castaneda, Youras Ziankovich, Shahab Dalili and Zack Shahin. Karelina and Ziankovich have both been freed – Ziankovich's release happened on the same day the mural was unveiled. The families of those whose faces are now displayed – held in countries like Venezuela, Russia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates – spoke of the pain of their loved ones' detentions. 'I want you to imagine something, imagine someone you love with all your heart confined in a box, four walls, no lights, no windows, feeling isolated, in immense pain and completely uncertain if they will ever be free. Unfortunately for us, that nightmare is our everyday reality,' said the granddaughter of Vargas, a US citizen detained in Venezuela. They also called for the US government to do its utmost to bring their loved ones home. 'Please, Mr. President, members of the Congress, use your authority, use your voices, use your resolve. Let the world know that America does not abandon its people,' said Patti St. Clair.
CNN
04-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Families of detained Americans plead that they are not forgotten
'One of the most challenging things' about being imprisoned in Russia, Marc Fogel recalled, 'was feeling like I might be forgotten.' Fogel, a teacher, was detained for three and half years before being released in mid-February – becoming one of the first American detainees freed during President Donald Trump's second term. Fogel returned to Washington, DC, on Wednesday – in front of a mural of Americans detained abroad – to join with the families of others still imprisoned to call for their release. 'I am one of the lucky ones, and I want you to know that I and my family will work relentlessly for you all, because we want all of your loved ones here soon,' he said. Fogel was among several Americans who had been freed from detention abroad who attended Wednesday's mural unveiling. It was the third iteration of the project, organized by the Bring Our Families Home Campaign and created by artist Isaac Campbell, displaying 10-foot-tall faces of Americans detained abroad on an alley wall in the Georgetown neighborhood of the nation's capital. 'It gives them a name. Their faces, as you can see, are larger than life, so that they can no longer be ignored,' said Scott St. Clair, whose son, Joseph St. Clair, is a veteran imprisoned in Venezuela. He is one of nine Americans there designated as wrongfully detained. The mural shows St. Clair, Ksenia Karelina, Mahmood Habibi, Lucas Hunter, Andre Khachatoorian, David Barnes, Jorge Marcelo Vargas, Robert Gilman, Wilbert Castaneda, Youras Ziankovich, Shahab Dalili and Zack Shahin. Karelina and Ziankovich have both been freed – Ziankovich's release happened on the same day the mural was unveiled. The families of those whose faces are now displayed – held in countries like Venezuela, Russia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates – spoke of the pain of their loved ones' detentions. 'I want you to imagine something, imagine someone you love with all your heart confined in a box, four walls, no lights, no windows, feeling isolated, in immense pain and completely uncertain if they will ever be free. Unfortunately for us, that nightmare is our everyday reality,' said the granddaughter of Vargas, a US citizen detained in Venezuela. They also called for the US government to do its utmost to bring their loved ones home. 'Please, Mr. President, members of the Congress, use your authority, use your voices, use your resolve. Let the world know that America does not abandon its people,' said Patti St. Clair.
Otago Daily Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Firm taken to court over ‘referral fee' allegedly owed
A former Bayleys agent has taken the company to court for allegedly reneging on his share of the commission on a $30 million Frankton land sale. The case, which remains unresolved, features high-profile property developer Kurt Gibbons, a former Aucklander now developing more than 200 homes on the land near the Five Mile shopping centre. Ashley Fogel claimed he was owed a "referral fee" for introducing the land to Mr Gibbons, who ultimately bought it in October 2023 through his company Gibbons & Co. At a hearing in the High Court in February, defendants Bayleys Real Estate Ltd, referred to in the judgement as "Bayleys Auckland", asked the court for summary judgement — to resolve the dispute without going to a full trial. The company argued it had no contractual relationship with Mr Fogel and had not benefitted from him introducing Mr Gibbons to the land. In the decision, Associate Judge Dale Lester said Mr Fogel was a contractor with the company's Otago offshoot, Bayleys Queenstown, until July 2023, when his contract was terminated because of alleged "unethical conduct" — a claim Mr Fogel disputes. He was told at the same time if Mr Gibbons went on to buy the land, he would be paid a referral fee amounting to 30% of the local agency's share of the commission. About a fortnight later, Mr Fogel told Bayleys Queenstown managing director David Gubb Mr Gibbons was interested in the land. He told Mr Gubb if a sale eventuated, he wanted 50% of the "list and sell" — effectively half the total commission. Mr Gubb replied: "OK with a 50% commission split." But the dispute arose when the local agency's sales manager, Steve Rendall, told Mr Fogel in an August email his share would be 25% of the total. Bayleys Queenstown would receive 25%, "as would have been the case had you remained a salesperson with the business", while Bayleys Auckland would get the remaining 50%. Mr Rendall told him Mr Gubb had meant 50% of the local agency's share, and 25% of the total commission was a "pretty generous offer" given he was no longer with Bayleys. Mr Gibbons, who in an affidavit said he had been interested in the land in July, but the price had not been right, went on to buy it after seeing it advertised in October. In the judgement, Associate Judge Lester said Mr Fogel had an arguable case that Bayleys Queenstown had reneged on his agreement with Mr Gubb on a commission split and dismissed its application for summary judgement. He also found Bayleys Auckland was not entitled to a summary judgement, because Mr Fogel had an arguable case he was entitled to a commission, regardless of whether he had a contractual relationship with the company or not. Mr Gibbons had become interested in the land after Mr Fogel introduced him to it, which had arguably "served as a springboard for his renewed interest" when he saw it being advertised in October, and Bayleys Auckland had benefited from that. The company would have known any agent who introduced a buyer would expect to be paid, and Mr Fogel had no contractual right to be paid by its Queenstown agency, Associate Judge Lester said.
