Latest news with #GUM
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
High court allows KA Paul's ‘Gospel to The Unreached Millions' meeting today, but under strict conditions in Secunderabad
Hyderabad: The Telangana high court has cleared the way for conducting the Global Peace Festival by evangelist KA Paul's 'Gospel to The Unreached Millions' (GUM) on Saturday at Gymkhana Grounds, Secunderabad, but with strict conditions. Justice Narsing Rao Nandikonda passed the order while hearing a house motion moved by the society questioning the denial of permission by police. The society claimed that the event was meant to promote world peace and commemorate the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. They argued that similar events were held peacefully in the past, including on Gandhi Jayanti in 2022, and that the denial of permission this time was unjust. The police, however, cited multiple reasons for refusal: anticipated traffic congestion on a working day, absence of clear participant and logistics details, potential noise disturbance, lack of parking facilities, and concerns over provocative statements previously made by Paul, which could trigger protests and law and order issues. After hearing petitioner's advocate Brahmadandi Ramesh and state home counsel Mahesh Raje, the HC observed that most of the police objections were logistical and could be addressed through conditional permissions. The HC quashed the police rejection letter and directed them to allow the event under strict conditions: not more than 1,000 people, no speeches, only prayers permitted with only four microphones without loudspeakers, no provocative slogans and the event should begin at 7 pm and end at 9 pm. Violation of these conditions would enable the police to take action, the judge said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
IOL News
17-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Richemont's leadership changes pave the way for future growth
Customers browse luxury products for sale inside a Cartier store, a unit of Richemont, in the GUM department store on Red Square in Moscow. Richemont chairman Johann Rupert says the group, which operated in a persistently uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment globally in the year to March 31, remained well placed to face the challenges. Image: Reuters Compagnie Financiere Richemont is well positioned for its next phase of development following the installation of a renewed leadership team and governance structure and completion of several management transitions in several Maisons in the past year. This was according to well-known South African businessman and chairman of the group Johann Rupert, who was commenting at the end of the JSE-listed and Switzerland-based owner of several of the world's leading luxury jewellery and accessories brands' 2025 financial year to March 31. The share price soared 7.2% to R3574.52 on the JSE on Friday after the results were released that showed full-year profit fell 1% to €3.76 billion, while the dividend per share was raised 9% to 3 CHF (Swiss francs) per A share/10 B shares, from 2.75 CHF the previous year. A year ago, the share price was R2893.32. Full-year sales were up 4%, led by a high single-digit increase in jewellery. There was double-digit growth in all regions except for Asia Pacific. Strategic wins included the addition of Italian jewellery Maison Vhernier and finalising the sale of YNAP to Mytheresa in April 2025. Richemont now also holds 33% of LuxExperience, the newly renamed company that owns multi-brand online luxury stores. Sales at Specialist Watchmakers however fell 13%. Rupert said Richemont delivered a robust performance for the year in a persistently uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment. 'We maintained our focus on nurturing Maisons' current and future growth, investing in our distribution network, manufacturing assets, and quality craftsmanship,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He said sales accelerated in the second part of the year, with a 10% rise in the third quarter followed by an 8% increase in the fourth quarter at actual exchange rates. Notable regional growth rates included Europe (10%), the Americas (16%), Japan (25%), and the Middle East & Africa (15%), at actual exchange rates. Direct-to-client sales rose further, driven by both retail and online, overall representing 76% of group sales. He said the global watch market slowdown affected volumes, which had a significant impact on production and fixed operating costs absorption by the Maisons. This was led by demand weakness in China, with greater resilience in high-end price segments. The rate of decline was softer in the second half, with visible improvement in China. With the group headquarters and most of its production located in Switzerland, a strengthening Swiss franc weighed on the operating result the segment. Rupert said that G/FORE was added to Richemont as a distinct Maison in February 2025. The Maison's products are sold in top golf shops, resorts, department stores, and dedicated retail boutiques. On June 1, 2024, Nicolas Bos, formerly CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, was appointed CEO of Richemont. On February 14, 2025, the group executive committee was strengthened with the appointments of Marie-Aude Stocker as Chief People Officer, alongside Catherine Rénier (CEO, Van Cleef & Arpels) and Louis Ferla (CEO, Cartier). 'Ongoing global uncertainties will continue to require agility and discipline. Richemont has solid foundations for sustained value creation over time… Our long-term perspective, underpinned by a healthy balance sheet, constitutes a proven formula that has delivered seven-fold sales growth over the past 25 years and remains central to our strategy,' said Rupert. Visit:
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Greater healthcare demand drives 55% hike in Hong Kong employee medical premiums
Hong Kong employers are facing significantly higher costs for their employees' medical insurance, with premiums having increased by 55 per cent over the past three years due to a greater demand for healthcare services, including those related to post-Covid illnesses. The findings were announced on Friday by the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). They form part of Hong Kong's first 'Staff Medical Insurance Index', a collaborative effort with MPF consultant GUM. The Index, which covers 19 years of market data from 2006 to 2024, aims to provide a comprehensive illustration of the actual use, expense, and premium trends of group medical insurance in Hong Kong. It comprises the Utilisation Index, the Expense Index, and the Premium Index. This year's analysis showed that the Composite Premium Index under the insurance index had cumulatively surged by 55 per cent, rising from 182 in 2021 to 282 in 2024. Professor Peter Yuen Pok-man, Dean of PolyU CPCE and a health economics expert, said that 'the rise in medical premiums [was] mainly driven by high utilisation rates'. 'Insurers set future premium rates based on past claim experiences,' said Yuen. 'Group medical insurance is facing a dilemma where high utilisation leads to premium increases, which, in the long run, could undermine the sustainability of private healthcare and indirectly intensify the pressure on the public healthcare system.' Dr Gloria Siu, chief executive of GUM, pointed out that 'a surge in upper respiratory infections has driven up the utilisation of general outpatient services.'
France 24
09-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Putin, Xi, Steven Seagal and missiles: Russia's Red Square parade
These were the scenes in the VIP seats for Russia's flagship Victory Day parade on Friday, a grand showcase of military hardware in front of foreign guests in the midst of Moscow's offensive on Ukraine. Putin, who launched the full-scale campaign on Ukraine in February 2022, has used the memory of the Soviet war effort to whip up support for the army. Moscow had in 2023 and 2024 scaled down its celebrations of the Nazi defeat, displaying fewer tanks than normal. Analysts said many were at the front in Ukraine. Foreign leaders were also few, not wanting to travel to Russia or be seen alongside Putin. But for the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and three years into the Ukraine campaign, the pomp was back in full force. Under blue skies, Moscow showed off a fleet of new tanks, Iskander missiles and, for the first time, attack drones -- the kind of which it sends in waves to target Ukraine on a near daily basis. An array of foreign leaders attended, and the parade even saw Chinese troops march on Russia's most famous square. Putin used his short speech to assure that victory was approaching in Ukraine. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and talk of peace is high on the agenda amid US President Donald Trump's attempts to end the fighting. "The whole country, society and people support the participants of the special military operation," Putin said. "We are proud of their bravery and determination, of the fortitude that has always brought us only victory," he added. Moscow has banned criticism of its military campaign and thousands of Russians have left the country since. "Victory will be ours" -- read giant banners hung on Red Square, drawing parallels between the defeat of the Nazis in 1945 and Moscow's current Ukraine campaign. Snipers and Chinese troops Security was tight for days ahead of the event, the authorities citing a "threat" from Ukraine, which had attacked with drones targeting the Russian capital this week. Snipers were on standby on the roof of GUM -- Russia's most luxurious 19th-century department store that runs alongside Red Square. The Internet was also jammed. Troops shouted the traditional Russian chant of "Ura!" and paraded in front of more than 20 foreign leaders. Alongside Xi, they included Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi -- with whom Moscow has good relations. Other sanctioned leaders in Moscow for the occasion were Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, Cuba's Miguel Diaz-Canel and Belarus's Alexander Lukashenko, Putin's closest ally. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attended a wreath laying ceremony outside Red Square, defying Brussels by travelling to Moscow. The Kremlin hailed his visit as an "act of heroism." North Korean commanders Spectators applauded as troops who fought in Ukraine marched past them. In the tribunes of guests, a German woman asked her friend: "Oh, have you seen the navy cadets?". A motorcade of the "Night Wolves" -- a group of tattooed pro-Kremlin motorcycle enthusiasts -- sat near Steven Seagal, the US actor and longtime friend of Putin who has received Russian citizenship. A guest from Beijing cheered and filmed as the commentator announced Beijing's troops were about to march. After the ceremony, Putin came down from the stands to the square, where he shook hands with troops who had fought in Ukraine. He also hugged and greeted commanders from North Korea -- which has become one of Russia's main allies, sending thousands of troops to help Moscow oust Ukrainian forces from its Kursk region.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Putin, Xi, Steven Seagal and missiles: Russia's Red Square parade
Vladimir Putin chatted easily with China's Xi Jinping as a pro-Kremlin US actor sat nearby watching tanks and missiles roll across the cobblestones of Red Square. These were the scenes in the VIP seats for Russia's flagship Victory Day parade on Friday, a grand showcase of military hardware in front of foreign guests in the midst of Moscow's offensive on Ukraine. Putin, who launched the full-scale campaign on Ukraine in February 2022, has used the memory of the Soviet war effort to whip up support for the army. Moscow had in 2023 and 2024 scaled down its celebrations of the Nazi defeat, displaying fewer tanks than normal. Analysts said many were at the front in Ukraine. Foreign leaders were also few, not wanting to travel to Russia or be seen alongside Putin. But for the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and three years into the Ukraine campaign, the pomp was back in full force. Under blue skies, Moscow showed off a fleet of new tanks, Iskander missiles and, for the first time, attack drones -- the kind of which it sends in waves to target Ukraine on a near daily basis. An array of foreign leaders attended, and the parade even saw Chinese troops march on Russia's most famous square. Putin used his short speech to assure that victory was approaching in Ukraine. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and talk of peace is high on the agenda amid US President Donald Trump's attempts to end the fighting. "The whole country, society and people support the participants of the special military operation," Putin said. "We are proud of their bravery and determination, of the fortitude that has always brought us only victory," he added. Moscow has banned criticism of its military campaign and thousands of Russians have left the country since. "Victory will be ours" -- read giant banners hung on Red Square, drawing parallels between the defeat of the Nazis in 1945 and Moscow's current Ukraine campaign. - Snipers and Chinese troops - Security was tight for days ahead of the event, the authorities citing a "threat" from Ukraine, which had attacked with drones targeting the Russian capital this week. Snipers were on standby on the roof of GUM -- Russia's most luxurious 19th-century department store that runs alongside Red Square. The Internet was also jammed. Troops shouted the traditional Russian chant of "Ura!" and paraded in front of more than 20 foreign leaders. Alongside Xi, they included Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi -- with whom Moscow has good relations. Other sanctioned leaders in Moscow for the occasion were Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, Cuba's Miguel Diaz-Canel and Belarus's Alexander Lukashenko, Putin's closest ally. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attended a wreath laying ceremony outside Red Square, defying Brussels by travelling to Moscow. The Kremlin hailed his visit as an "act of heroism." - North Korean commanders - Spectators applauded as troops who fought in Ukraine marched past them. In the tribunes of guests, a German woman asked her friend: "Oh, have you seen the navy cadets?". A motorcade of the "Night Wolves" -- a group of tattooed pro-Kremlin motorcycle enthusiasts -- sat near Steven Seagal, the US actor and longtime friend of Putin who has received Russian citizenship. A guest from Beijing cheered and filmed as the commentator announced Beijing's troops were about to march. After the ceremony, Putin came down from the stands to the square, where he shook hands with troops who had fought in Ukraine. He also hugged and greeted commanders from North Korea -- which has become one of Russia's main allies, sending thousands of troops to help Moscow oust Ukrainian forces from its Kursk region. "All the best to you and all your troops," Putin was heard telling them in a state TV broadcast. bur/jj
