Latest news with #JamesChapman
Malaysian Reserve
16-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
DESIGNABLE FASHION LAUNCHES NEW DIGITAL LAB TO EMPOWER FASHION ENTREPRENEURS
A Practical Resource for Fashion Startups, Designers & Merch Creators MIAMI, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Designable Fashion has launched Designable Fashion LAB , a new online platform designed to help fashion startups and solo fashion entrepreneurs turn ideas into product-ready brands. To celebrate, the team is kicking things off with a massive savings click for the limited-time promo on a 4-course bundle : $97 – Launch Day Special (July 16–17 at 9 PM EST) $198 – Extended Offer (July 17–18 at 9 PM EST) $300 – Full Price Begins (after July 18) This 4-course bundle is self-paced and built for real-world execution, not theory. It walks new and emerging fashion founders step-by-step through the launch process: from validating your idea and defining your customer, to design development, sourcing, production timelines, and avoiding common (costly) mistakes. What Is the DF LAB? Created by Jacob McIntyre and James Chapman , co-founders of Designable Fashion, DF LAB was built to give aspiring fashion founders access to the same proven systems they've used to help hundreds of brands bring products to life. 'We've seen firsthand how overwhelming the early stages can be,' says Jacob. 'The LAB gives you the exact tools and roadmap we wish every founder had access to.' 'You don't need a fashion degree or big team to start,' adds James. 'This breaks it down into clear, doable steps. And we're just getting started, more tools and courses are coming.' The LAB includes expert-led videos, practical templates, and tools focused entirely on getting results. Who It's For Fashion design students and recent grads Startup founders and solo entrepreneurs Merch brands and event-based businesses Small teams building custom apparel or accessories Whether you're creating your first clothing line or building merch to promote your business, Designable Fashion LAB helps you do it right from the start. Explore the LAB Media Contact: James Chapman, [email protected] Founded by industry veterans **James Chapman** (Parsons) and **Jacob McIntyre** (FIT, Youngstown State), Designable Fashion offers full-service design and development for apparel and accessory brands. Their team has helped hundreds of brands create, fit, source, and manufacture high-quality products through personalized services and now, digital education built for today's fashion entrepreneurs.
Zawya
26-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Namibia: Chapman replaces Hans as Bank Windhoek MD
Bank Windhoek, the flagship brand of the listed Namibian financial services provider, Capricorn Group, which has interests across banking, insurance, wealth and asset management, has appointed James Chapman as its MD Designate, following the announcement in September 2024 that its current MD, Baronice Hans, will complete her tenure at the end of June 2025. Hans became the bank's first female MD in July 2016. Chapman, a chartered accountant, holds a bachelor's degree (BAcc) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PDA) from the University of Stellenbosch. He has been part of Capricorn Group and Bank Windhoek for 11 years and held various executive roles. For the past four years he has served as the bank's Executive Officer for Retail Banking Services and Specialist Finance, following a stint as CFO. He is also a director on several boards within the Capricorn Group. Chapman said: 'Bank Windhoek is a truly Namibian bank with a rich history, a legacy of service excellence and deep connections to our community. I look forward to building on this foundation, working collaboratively, and embracing innovation to deliver exceptional value to our clients, stakeholders and the Namibian economy.' © Copyright IC Publications 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Judgment on asylum seekers: South Africa's legal obligations under the Constitution
Following a ruling declaring several provisions of the Refugees Act Unconstitutional which denied asylum seekers access to the asylum system, causing them to face deportation back to the country from where they came, Home Affairs was urged to respect the ruling. Image: File picture The legality of processes that have denied new asylum seekers access to the asylum system since around November 2023, leading to the arrest, detention, and deportation of asylum seekers without a refugee status determination interview, has been declared unconstitutional. The Western Cape High Court has declared several refugee protection compromising provisions of the Refugees Act and its accompanying regulations invalid. The matter was brought to court by the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, represented by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR). The Scalabrini Centre and LHR challenged the unlawful practice of arresting and detaining new asylum seekers based on preliminary interviews conducted by immigration officials regarding their entry into the country. They argued that this process effectively bypassed the established asylum application process, contravening the fundamental principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to places where they face persecution or serious harm. 'This judgment affirms South Africa's obligations under international refugee law. Newcomer asylum seekers cannot be penalised for the way they entered and remained in South Africa until their claims are finalised," Nabeelah Mia, the head of LHR's Penal Reform and Detention Monitoring Programme, said. She explained that when newcomer asylum seekers come to South Africa seeking refuge, the primary question in assessing their claims is whether they are at risk of persecution and harm if they are returned to their country of origin. 'We urge the state to respect the right of asylum seekers to access the asylum system and not send people back to situations where they will be harmed, tortured, or even killed,' she said. The court was told that someone who flees war, violence, torture, or persecution should be able to apply for and receive asylum. Preventing them from doing so violates their fundamental right not to be returned to violence and persecution. It was argued that instead, new asylum applicants are arrested, detained, and face deportation. 'South Africa is legally required not to return someone to an environment in which their life, liberty, or fundamental human rights would be at risk,' said James Chapman, head of Advocacy and Legal Advice at Scalabrini. The sections of the Act declared invalid include those which excluded people from refugee protection on procedural grounds, without considering the merits of their claims. The court (three judges) has recognised that the challenged legal provisions, which formed the basis for the arrest, detention, and denial of access to the asylum system for new applicants, are contrary to the Constitution. In terms of the Constitution, the declaration of invalidity must now be referred to the Constitutional Court for confirmation. The interim interdict granted in the first part of the application in September last year, which prevented the deportation of individuals who had indicated an intention to apply for asylum, has meanwhile been discharged. This means the temporary protection against deportation is lifted for now, pending the Constitutional Court's decision. Mia said following Friday's judgment in which several provisions of the Act were declared invalid, they hope and trust that the Department of Home Affairs will restore access to asylum. She expressed the hope that asylum seekers' applications will be processed without subjecting them to arrest, detention, and deportation without consideration of the merits of their asylum claims. Judge Judith Cloete, who wrote the judgment, said the provisions unjustifiably limited the rights to no-refoulement and other constitutional rights, particularly those of children. This was done by placing procedural barriers without substantive merit assessments. The department's argument that the provisions acted as a "safety valve" against illegal immigrants was rejected by the court.
News24
16-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
Parts of Refugees Act found unconstitutional by High Court
The Western Cape High Court has found sections of the Refugees Act to be unconstitutional. The act was challenged by organisations who said it had allowed for refugees to be arrested as they arrive to apply for asylum. The court found the regulations prevented newcomer asylum seekers from accessing the asylum system. Sections of the Refugees Act have been deemed inconsistent with the Constitution – by the Western Cape High Court. The court ruled in favour of an application brought by the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), which challenged the 2020 amendments to the Refugees Act and regulations. The organisations say the amendments resulted in refugees being arrested as they arrive to apply for asylum. The organisations argued that the Department of Home Affairs has used the provisions to prohibit newcomer asylum seekers from accessing the asylum system in South Africa and that they undermine human rights and refugee law. Scalabrini's Head of Advocacy and Legal Advisor James Chapman said the matter will still need to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court, and there is no interim relief offered by the High Court. However, he said the outcome was positive in that it would bring South Africa in line with international laws around asylum rights. 'It's a splendid outcome to have the full bench of the High Court rule in our favour and find that the provisions in question are unconstitutional and prevent access to the system,' he said. READ | 'Fear of equality' is not persecution worthy of refugee status, experts and lawyers say 'What is going to be interesting to see is how Home Affairs responds to the judgment. The next step will be to see asylum seekers approach refugee centres and see how Home Affairs applies the provisions.' In her judgment, Justice Judith Cloete found that under the amendments, new grounds for exclusion from refugee status are placed in the hands of a refugee status determination officer. An asylum seeker does not qualify for refugee status if such an officer 'has reason to believe' the asylum seeker has committed an offence in relation to travel or sojourn documents, cannot provide 'compelling reasons' for illegal border crossing, or cannot provide 'compelling reasons' for failure to report to a refugee reception office within five days of entry. According to Scalabrini, since November 2023, new asylum applicants have been subject to arrest, detention, and deportation without the opportunity to undergo a refugee status determination interview. The arrests stem from preliminary interviews conducted by immigration officials, who assess whether applicants have good cause for failing to enter the country through a designated port of entry and obtain an asylum transit visa at the border. Most applicants are found to lack good cause, resulting in their arrest for deportation, they said. This process effectively denies people access to the asylum system, the two organisations argued, and violates the principle of non-refoulement. ALSO READ | High Court declares sections of Refugees Act unconstitutional Non-refoulement, a cornerstone of refugee protection, ensures that people are not sent back to a country where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or serious harm. Nabeelah Mia, the head of LHR's Penal Reform and Detention Monitoring Programme, in a previous statement said: 'Our obligations under international refugee law are very clear – newcomer asylum seekers cannot be penalised for the way they entered and remained in South Africa, until their claims are finalised.' Mia continued: When newcomer asylum seekers come to South Africa seeking refuge, the primary question in assessing their claims is whether they are at risk of persecution and harm if they are returned to their country of origin. 'By not allowing newcomer asylum seekers to access the asylum system, we risk sending people back to situations where they will be harmed, tortured, or even killed.' Judge Cloete said the matter dealt with the issue of amendments that had created a 'process which may scupper [an asylum seeker's] application in the sole discretion of a bureaucratic official (whether it be an immigration officer or refugee status determination officer)'. READ MORE | It would be a 'challenge' for South Africans to qualify as refugees in US, says lawyer Cloete stressed that 'any person who meets the requirements for refugee status is a refugee even before they are formally recognised as such'. Last year, Scalabrini was awarded an interdict that temporarily halted the initiation of any process to deport a foreign national who has indicated an intent to apply for asylum, until their application has been finalised. The order, handed down by acting Judge Brendan Manca in September, was done in agreement with the minister and director-general of Home Affairs, the chief director of asylum seeker management, and the refugee appeals authority. Foreign nationals are required to report to a refugee reception office and indicate their intent to apply for asylum within five days of entering South Africa.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Earnings and Strategic Growth ...
Release Date: May 02, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) delivered $7.7 billion in earnings for the first quarter, showcasing the strength of its portfolio and improved earnings power. The company has achieved $12.7 billion in structural cost savings since 2019, with plans to reach $18 billion by 2030. Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) is executing 10 key project startups in 2025, including the China chemical complex and an advanced recycling unit in Baytown, which are expected to significantly contribute to future earnings. The company maintains industry-leading financial strength with a net debt to capital ratio of 7% and distributed over $9 billion to shareholders in the first quarter. Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) is expanding its high-value product offerings, with plans to achieve 25 million tons of high-value product sales by 2030, enhancing its competitive position in the market. Market volatility and economic uncertainty, driven by tariffs and potential increases in OPEC supply, are putting pressure on prices and margins. Chemical margins remain below the 10-year range due to new capacity additions, particularly in Asia Pacific, impacting profitability. Scheduled maintenance in the second quarter is expected to decrease upstream volumes by about 100,000 oil equivalent barrels per day. The company anticipates higher corporate and financing expenses in the second quarter, driven by lower interest income on cash balances. Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) faces seasonal tax payments in the second quarter, expected to drive a working capital outflow of $2.5 billion to $3 billion. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Sign with BOM:506395. Q: Can you elaborate on the impact of the Pioneer acquisition on your earnings and overall strategy? A: James Chapman, Vice President - Tax, Treasurer: The acquisition of Pioneer, completed in the second quarter of 2024, has significantly contributed to our earnings growth. It has enhanced our portfolio, particularly in the Permian Basin, and aligns with our strategy to focus on advantaged assets. This acquisition, along with our structural business transformation, has added around $4 billion to our earnings power since 2019. Q: How is Exxon Mobil addressing the current market volatility and economic uncertainty? A: James Chapman, Vice President - Tax, Treasurer: Despite the market volatility and economic uncertainty, our strategy remains unchanged. We have built our business to thrive through market cycles by focusing on competitive assets, disciplined capital allocation, and structural cost efficiencies. Our flexibility and strong position allow us to excel in any market environment. Q: What are the key projects Exxon Mobil is focusing on in 2025, and how do they contribute to your growth? A: James Chapman, Vice President - Tax, Treasurer: We are delivering on 10 key project startups in 2025, including the Yellowtail FPSO in Guyana and the China chemical complex. These projects are part of a rich pipeline of advantaged opportunities that will grow both our traditional and new businesses. They are expected to deliver more than $3 billion in earnings by 2026 at constant prices and margins. Q: Could you provide more details on your carbon capture and storage initiatives? A: James Chapman, Vice President - Tax, Treasurer: We recently announced our sixth large carbon capture and storage contract with Calpine, which will store 2 million metric tons of CO2 annually. This brings our total CO2 under contract for CCS to 8.7 Mta. Combined with our planned low-carbon hydrogen plant in Baytown, we are more than halfway to our goal of storing 30 Mta of CO2 by 2030. Q: How is Exxon Mobil managing its cost structure to maintain competitiveness? A: James Chapman, Vice President - Tax, Treasurer: We have achieved $12.7 billion in structural cost savings since 2019, exceeding all other IOCs combined. Our goal is to reach $18 billion in savings by 2030. This cost discipline, along with our focus on high-value products and advantaged projects, is key to driving earnings growth and maintaining our competitive edge. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
