Latest news with #MichaelJoseph
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Beginner's pluck: Virginia Evans
A prolific reader who was always writing stories, Virginia attempted her first novel at 19. 'I kept on writing novels. I self-published one, because my computer broke. I needed to sell enough copies so that I could buy a new one, and I did.' Meanwhile, Virginia worked at various jobs. 'I was a paralegal; I scheduled surgery for an orthopaedic surgeon; I worked in customer service and in administration, but I'd get up early and write.' When she was 32 and still unpublished, Virginia was accepted on the MFA for creative writing at Trinity College, Dublin. 'I moved my family over, and life has never been better. We all felt so settled.' She was working on her eighth novel, titled the American Photograph with, among others, Claire Keegan, Carlo Gebler, and Kevin Power. 'I gained my agent from it.' At the start of covid, in March 2020, the family returned to the US. It was a tough time. 'I was a wreck,' she says. 'I was grieving, and the book wasn't selling.' Her agent suggested that she tried something new. 'I'd started writing The Correspondent for myself. My agent persuaded me to let her send it out and it's sold well around the world. I still can't believe it.' Who is Virginia Evans? Date/ place of birth: 1986/ South Carolina. 'But I was brought up in Pennsylvania and Maryland.' Education: High school Annapolis, Maryland; James Madison University in Virginia, English and creative writing; 2019, Trinity College, Dublin, MA of Philosophy in creative writing. Home: North Carolina. Family: Husband Mark, son Jack,12, and daughter Mae, nine, and red labrador, Brigid. The day job: Full-time writer. In another life: 'I would have been an arborist; I'm fascinated by trees.' Favourite writers: Deirdre Madden; John Williams; Anne Patchett; Maggie O'Farrell; William Trevor. Second book: 'I'm working on two first drafts.' Top tip: 'Take a walk with nothing in your ears.' Website: Instagram: @ The debut The Correspondent Michael Joseph, €17.99 At 73, Sybil's life is shrinking. A compulsive letter-writer, she's kept those she loves at a distance. Confronted by a past mistake, it's time to reassess. Is it too late for a happy ending? The verdict: A glorious, life affirming debut. I adored it.
The Age
03-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Age
Spoil mum with gifts she really wants this Mother's Day
Forget about toast and tea… show Mum the love with an irresistible breakfast in bed. The Correspondent (Michael Joseph) by Virginia Evans, $35. Barbour '09' glasses, from $299 for two pairs, from Specsavers. Leif 'Buddha Wood' scented candle, $79. Tissot 'Desir' watch, $650. Country Road silk eye mask, $50. I Love Linen 'Ruby' French flax linen shirt, $129 Mulberry 'Small Darley' bag, $1395. Merit 'Signature Lip' lipstick in '1990″, $42. Puebco brass serving tray, $185. 'Tillandsia' living air plant, $10. Coucou Suzette 'Tortorsell Cat' and 'Yorkshire' hair clips, $12 each. Bonnie and Neil 'Watercolour' coupe, $99 (set of two). Temple of the Sun 'Pompeii' necklace, $349. Marimekko 'Oiva / Piirto Unikko' plate, $34. Bethany Linz semi-precious stone ring, $119, and enamel bangle, $45. Hay 'MVS' cutlery, $109 (set of four). Instax Mini 'LiPlay' hybrid instant camera, $249, from Harvey Norman. Marc Jacobs 'Daisy Wild Eau So Intense' EDP 50ml, $160. Kip & Co 'Supper Club' embroidered napkin, $85 (set of four). Venchi 'Baroque' assorted chocolates, $90 (giftbox 360g). Maison Balzac 'The Good Egg' incense holder, $69. Le Labo 'Hinoki' hand pomade, $68.
Sydney Morning Herald
03-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Sydney Morning Herald
Spoil mum with gifts she really wants this Mother's Day
Forget about toast and tea… show Mum the love with an irresistible breakfast in bed. The Correspondent (Michael Joseph) by Virginia Evans, $35. Barbour '09' glasses, from $299 for two pairs, from Specsavers. Leif 'Buddha Wood' scented candle, $79. Tissot 'Desir' watch, $650. Country Road silk eye mask, $50. I Love Linen 'Ruby' French flax linen shirt, $129 Mulberry 'Small Darley' bag, $1395. Merit 'Signature Lip' lipstick in '1990″, $42. Puebco brass serving tray, $185. 'Tillandsia' living air plant, $10. Coucou Suzette 'Tortorsell Cat' and 'Yorkshire' hair clips, $12 each. Bonnie and Neil 'Watercolour' coupe, $99 (set of two). Temple of the Sun 'Pompeii' necklace, $349. Marimekko 'Oiva / Piirto Unikko' plate, $34. Bethany Linz semi-precious stone ring, $119, and enamel bangle, $45. Hay 'MVS' cutlery, $109 (set of four). Instax Mini 'LiPlay' hybrid instant camera, $249, from Harvey Norman. Marc Jacobs 'Daisy Wild Eau So Intense' EDP 50ml, $160. Kip & Co 'Supper Club' embroidered napkin, $85 (set of four). Venchi 'Baroque' assorted chocolates, $90 (giftbox 360g). Maison Balzac 'The Good Egg' incense holder, $69. Le Labo 'Hinoki' hand pomade, $68.
Zawya
02-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Enduring lessons for Africa from Kenya Airways' financial turnaround
Kenya Airways return to profit after an 11-year drought, is emblematic of the challenges and opportunities of African Aviation. It also demonstrates that if it takes a professional approach, Africa has the talent to manage and turn round most of its pressing problems. Home to 18 percent of the world's population, Africa accounts for a paltry 2.2 percent of global air passenger traffic. The miniscule number combined with positive economic growth rates and a young population are often presented as evidence of the unmet need and therefore opportunity for growth of air transport. But the same number also reflects the fragility of the air transport business in Africa. Margins are woefully thin, with airlines barely making a dollar on each passenger they carry. Markets are disconnected, complicated by closed skies, policy dissonance and a supply chain where everything costs airlines at least 30 percent more. Kenya Airways $42 million profit for 2024, was delivered by a mix of topline growth, cost management and a propitious exchange rate. Twelve years ago, just before it plunged into the loss that would shock the nation in 2014, everything was going well for Kenya Airways. Betting on a booming African market, it invested in expansion, launching long-haul routes to Asia. Then everything rapidly unravelled after the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, throwing all plans into disarray and the airline into a crisis of a disconnected market, rapidly falling revenues and mounting debt. As the crisis at Embakasi deepened, the shareholders did what we often do in such situations — outsource expat management. Yet a whole suite of expatriates were easily overwhelmed by the challenge at KQ. There are several lessons from all this. Above them is that in Africa, you don't have to do anything wrong for things to go south. And when they do, the solution is not necessary to be found outside the continent. Chief executive Allan Kilavuka, who led KQ's turnaround was managing its budget subsidiary, Jambojet. Running a small airline on a small budget probably gave him the experience that made him best-suited to nurse the stricken airline back to life. But he was lucky too. The sheer scale of KQ's predicament, shocked critical publics into supporting the painful trade-offs that would be necessary if the carrier was to have a fighting chance. With board chair Michael Joseph at the helm, and the prying eyes of lenders who converted their loans into equity, the quality of governance at KQ went a notch up. Last year's performance is not just the result of resilience but a combination of the right strategy, the courage to carry through difficult decisions and patient shareholders. Despite continuing challenges, KQ's rebound makes a case for the much-maligned state-owned airlines in Africa. Were KQ a purely private airline, it is doubtful that the will to save it would have been as resolute or that the resources to do so would have come around. Ultimately, KQ should and will in time be privatised. But the enduring lesson for now, is that Africa should learn to look inwards for solutions and create a system that allows its best to rise to the top. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
27-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Forex gains lift Kenya Airways from more than a decade of losses
National carrier Kenya Airways has posted its first full year profit after more than a decade of losses, buoyed by foreign exchange gains. The airline posted an all-time high net profit of Ksh5.4 billion ($41.7 million) for 2024, a turnaround from a Ksh22.6 billion ($205.4 million) loss in 2023— its first full year profit in 12 years.'Our ratio earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortisation was 20 percent in 2024, which is higher than the industry's average of 17 percent and demonstrates the strong performance during the year,' Kenya Airways chief executive officer Allan Kilavuka told a briefing on Tuesday.'This is the highest profit that this company has reported in its history,' he added. A key driver of KQ's improved performance in 2024 was foreign exchange gains of Ksh10.55 billion ($81.5 million), compared to a loss of Ksh15.04 billion ($116.1 million) in 2023, as the local currency strengthened by more than 20 percent against the dollar last year. The stronger Kenyan shilling also helped KQ save Ksh1.2 billion ($9.3 million) on its foreign currency denominated liabilities. The airline's operating profit for the year rose to Ksh16.62 billion ($128.3 million) from Ksh10.53 billion ($81.3 million) in 2023, helped by higher revenues and lower costs. Passenger, cargo numbersKQ's total revenue rose by six percent to hit Ksh188.4 billion ($1.5 billion) from Ksh178.4 billion ($1.4 billion) a year prior, while passenger numbers rose four percent during the year to 5.23 million, a historical high, from 5.04 million passengers in 2023. Cargo volumes, meanwhile, rose faster than passenger numbers at 25 percent to 70,776 tonnes from 56,576 tonnes a year earlier. During the year, Kenya Airways increased its cargo lift with an addition of two aircraft to its fleet, while expanding its passenger operations to three new destinations- Mogadishu, Maputo and Eldoret. The airline remains committed to attracting a new equity investor in 2025 to provide a significant cash injection to stabilise its recent performance and ensure the long-term stability of the carrier. However, the search for a new strategic investor has stalled as KQ's majority shareholder—the government of Kenya —weighs options to calm the turbulence the national carrier faces.'We look into the future with a great amount of anticipation. We have produced a profit but what we really need is a huge capital injection to improve the airline, including flying to new destinations and improving passenger experiences,' KQ board chairman Michael Joseph said. KQ has identified other headwinds to its business that need to be addressed, including the deterioration of its on-time performance in 2024 and higher than normal flight cancellations.→ kmuiruri@
