Latest news with #UniversityofSt.Gallen
Straits Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
White shorts continue to impact women's performance and participation
ZURICH - Professional women's soccer teams have increasingly moved away from white shorts to address concerns over period anxiety, but studies have found the issue continues to impact on performance and on discouraging young girls from participating in sport. Alex Krumer, a professor in sports economics at Molde University College in Norway, presented his 2024 peer-reviewed study on the performance effects of wearing white shorts to an audience at the University of St. Gallen last week, coinciding with the Women's European Championships in Switzerland. Krumer's research, based on data from World Cups and European Championships between 2002 and 2023, found that women's teams wearing white shorts averaged 1.27 points per game compared to 1.57 points for teams in dark colours. Men's teams showed no performance drop when wearing white. Krumer said there was not enough conversation on the issue. "Sports should be a vehicle for gender empowerment," he told Reuters. "It's about inclusiveness, because this is an exclusive part in women's soccer, not necessarily for professionals but for the young girls this is important." Denmark, Norway and Finland are among teams at Euro 2025 wearing white shorts. "My colleague messaged me, 'Alex, they're playing games in white shorts. It feels that they really want to piss you off'," he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore HSA launches anti-vaping checks near 5 institutes of higher learning Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Singapore Jail for elderly man for using knife to slash neighbour, who later died of heart disease Singapore $7,000 fine for eatery chain involved in ByteDance food poisoning case World UK to lower voting age to 16 in landmark electoral reform Opinion Grab tried to disrupt taxis. It now wants to save them England's Lionesses swapped their white shorts for blue ahead of the 2023 World Cup after player complaints. Captain Leah Williamson said talking about periods in sport should be normalised. "Half of the population has one, you are not alone," the defender said in an interview with the Football Association earlier this year. "We empower each other in so many other ways that then this is just one of the small cogs in the wheel of empowering each other. There's just no shame, which is, I think, the main thing that allows us to be free." The National Women's Soccer League in the U.S. ditched white shorts in 2024, after the league and Nike phased them out over period concerns. The Wimbledon tennis Grand Slam relaxed its all-white clothing rule for women in 2023, allowing players to wear dark-coloured undershorts. Williamson and England midfielder Beth Mead featured in an Arsenal campaign in February aimed at erasing the stigma around periods in sports. "You don't want to be embarrassed and, especially being at school with boys and banter, you're brought up to think that it's like a really shameful thing. There's so much rubbish built up around it," Williamson told the FA. "I play sport to be free. I can't be free if I'm worrying about the most natural thing in the world." Menstruation was a topic at UEFA's Medical Symposium this year in Lugano. "The menstrual cycle isn't only a topic that remains taboo in sport but also a significant barrier to participation," Europe's soccer governing body said. "According to research from UEFA partner Adidas, 65% of those who menstruate say that period leaking is their number one concern when playing sport." A separate 2024 study by UK charity Youth Sport Trust revealed six out of 10 girls fear playing sport due to period leaks. "We should be saying to girls 'Look, we're dropping (white shorts) because we care about you, so come and play football'," Krumer said. "If the uniform is an obstacle to (girls) participating, you are reducing their social network, whereas boys don't have this obstacle of uniform." Krumer expressed frustration over the lack of historical data on women's soccer compared to men's. "Even European Championships or World Cups, going back to 2003, that was really challenging to find data on women's football, like pictures or videos," he said. "For men, it's so easy. But for women, the data is just not available." REUTERS
Time Business News
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Rethinking innovation: How Business Model Hacking enhances the Business Model Canvas
The Business Model Canvas (BMC) has long been a go-to framework for entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and strategists looking to map and analyze their business models. With its clear structure of nine essential building blocks, it provides a powerful visual tool to describe how value is created, delivered, and captured. But while the BMC excels at outlining and refining existing models, it often falls short when it comes to creating truly innovative ideas—especially when the goal is to think beyond conventional industry norms. That's where Business Model Hacking enters the picture—and why it's proving to be a gamechanger. What is Business Model Hacking? Business Model Hacking is a creative strategy method that helps individuals and teams break out of traditional thinking patterns by using proven business model patterns—so-called 'hacks'—as inspiration. Instead of inventing entirely new concepts from scratch, it encourages the recombination of existing ideas from other industries to spark fresh, high-potential innovations. This approach is not only creative, but also deeply evidence-based. Research from the University of St. Gallen reveals that 90% of the most successful innovative business models of the past 50 years weren't truly 'new'—they were based on patterns already seen in other sectors. From subscription models in software being applied to razor blades, to platform models in retail influencing healthcare services, history shows that lateral thinking across industries breeds breakthrough success. Why Business Model Hacking Ccmplements the BMC The Business Model Canvas gives structure—but Business Model Hacking gives spark . When combined, the two tools offer a powerful synergy: the BMC anchors ideas in strategic clarity, while hacking injects creativity and divergence. Business Model Hacking is also highly accessible. Whether you're a startup founder, a corporate innovator, or a student, you can apply the method. With over 200 Business Model Hacks and countless examples drawn from diverse sectors, it offers the most complete resource for business model innovation available today. The sheer range of examples makes it easy to draw parallels and trigger unexpected, valuable insights. Breaking free from industry norms One of the biggest obstacles to true innovation is something surprisingly mundane: our own thinking habits. In almost every industry, we unconsciously accept 'the way things are done' as fixed. Whether you're running a traditional business or launching a startup, it's easy to get trapped in the conventions of your sector—pricing models, customer relationships, delivery methods—all shaped by decades of legacy thinking. Business Model Hacking helps you break out of that mental box. Instead of tweaking the margins of what already exists, it pushes you to look outside your industry , to borrow and adapt proven concepts from completely different sectors. It invites bold, often uncomfortable questions that lead to fresh, disruptive insights. Imagine you're an auto dealer in the Netherlands. Your business is solid: you sell new and used cars, offer maintenance services, maybe even lease agreements. But margins are shrinking. EVs are shaking up the market. Consumers are shifting toward mobility-as-a-service. So… now what? Now imagine applying a subscription model, like the one used by streaming services. Instead of selling a car, you offer a 'Car-as-a-Service' package: a fixed monthly fee that covers use, maintenance, insurance, and upgrades—swappable every year. It's Netflix meets Volkswagen. Or think even further: What if your dealership ran like a dating app? Customers fill out a lifestyle profile and are matched with vehicles that fit their driving habits, family size, weekend activities, and environmental values. Swipe right on your next car? Why not? Or go bolder still—what if your revenue didn't come from car sales at all, but from data monetization, like Google or Meta? Your connected vehicles collect insights (with consent) that help optimize urban planning or traffic flow, which you sell to municipalities. These ideas might sound wild, but they're not science fiction. They're inspired by real, working business models—just from other industries . This is the power of Business Model Hacking. By using proven patterns—freemium, pay-per-use, crowdsourcing, long-tail, platform-as-a-service, and 200+ others—you can generate radically new concepts grounded in real-world success. It's not guessing. It's pattern-based innovation. And it's accessible to anyone: no MBA required, just a willingness to experiment, explore, and remix what already works elsewhere . So the next time you're planning your strategy, ask yourself: What if we did the opposite of what's normal in our industry? That's where innovation lives. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Euronews
25-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Which countries will lose the most if tensions reignite around Iran?
It is not yet clear whether the conflict between Israel and Iran is really at an end, warned many analysts after the US announced a ceasefire on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, the truce appeared to be holding after earlier violations, although investors kept their eyes on the region — with oil prices remaining high. Reignited tension in the region could push up these prices further, leaving China and Europe vulnerable to supply disruptions — good news for Russia. 'The biggest losers would be continental Europe and China, both heavily reliant on imported energy and lacking domestic buffers,' said Professor Guido Cozzi, chair of macroeconomics at the University of St. Gallen, before the ceasefire was announced. 'They would face rising costs, slower growth, and heightened inflation without any upside.' But peace in Iran, along with the countries in the Persian Gulf, is key for the entire global economy as the region produces one-third of the world's oil. Iran alone provides 10% of China's imported oil and largely controls the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway, through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes. Iran's economy and its key trading partners Iran's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was worth a little over $400 billion (€345bn) in 2023, according to the World Bank, making up 0.38% of global GDP. While this total may not seem significant, the country is an important player when it comes to energy supplies. Iran sources a large amount of its income from oil, and the country was the fourth-largest crude oil producer in OPEC, the organisation uniting the biggest oil-producing and oil-dependent countries, in 2023. It was also the third-largest natural gas producer in the world in 2022, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Despite Western sanctions on Iran, some linked to its nuclear programme, Tehran has been working on securing its global trade position. Iran's main trading partners include China, Russia, Turkey, India, Pakistan and its close neighbours, including Iraq and the UAE. According to Chris Weafer, chief executive of macro-advisory, a Eurasia-Gulf based business consultancy: '60% of the value of exports is oil and about 12% is chemicals and plastics, 8% is iron and ores and 5% is fertilisers.' Oil exports are largely going to China, amounting to 'approximately 1.7 million barrels per day,' Weafer told Euronews Business. China's crude oil imports are estimated to amount to more than 11 million barrels per day, according to the EIA. The federal agency also notes that Western sanctions against Iran should officially stop China from importing Iranian oil. Despite this, crude oil cargos from Iran are often relabelled as if they were from Malaysia, they noted. 'Any major disruption of Iranian oil supplies would leave China scrambling to find replacements,' said Gaurav Ganguly, chief European economist at Moody's Analytics. He added that Iran is also a major exporter of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to China, which is essential for the plastics industry. 'This leaves China vulnerable on multiple fronts,' he said. If China's economy staggers, the global ecosystem does so too. The country's domestic consumption provides the largest market for many Western companies, and its manufacturing is essential to the global economy. However, Iran's main trading partners are working on diversifying their sources of energy, hoping to find themselves less vulnerable in times of crisis in the Middle East. 'China will continue to increase its reliance on energy from Russia and Central Asia to reduce its vulnerability linked to instability and American intervention in the Middle East,' said Matt Gertken, BCA Research's chief geopolitical strategist. He added that 'India will also turn to Russia and increase imports from the Americas — and eventually resume imports from the Middle East, including Iran.' Trade is increasing with Eurasian countries, including Russia China's increasing reliance on Eurasian supplies is not the only benefit for countries like Russia. Iran itself has increased trade with countries in Eurasia. 'Earlier this year Iran formally signed a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU),' Weafer said, adding that trade with the member states, (Belarus, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan) has been growing steadily for years. There are more plans to expand it with regards to fruits, seeds, vegetables and some manufactured goods, he said. The trade with Central Asia and Russia has also grown because of expanding rail networks across Central Asia and the Caucasus. This has allowed Iran to start diversifying its trade mix away from oil and gas dependency to expand its trade partnerships. It also allows countries in Central Asia, such as Uzbekistan, to access a Gulf port, a quicker entry point to world markets. 'This should continue unless the rail and port infrastructure are targeted and damaged,' added Weafer. Russia would be in a particularly favourable situation should the global oil flow be disrupted, he said. 'The world market will need every barrel of Russian oil and every ton of Russian LNG it can get.' What are the implications for Europe? Russia could even see European demand increase slightly if there is a major shock to the oil and gas market, according to experts. As Europe is also dependent on the natural gas from the Gulf region, 'Europe faces a new source of energy supply insecurity on top of the breakup with Russia over the Ukraine war,' said Matt Gertken, BCA Research's chief geopolitical strategist, before the ceasefire was announced. It is possible that the EU will 'reduce the stringency of sanctions enforcement on Russia by incrementally accepting more Russian natural gas, albeit not to pre-war levels', he added. If the crisis reignites around Iran, pushing oil and gas prices up again, Europe could also increase energy imports from the Americas, a less controversial solution than sourcing fuel from Russia. 'The most immediate impact on Europe will be a rise in inflation,' said Gaurav Ganguly, chief European economist at Moody's Analytics. A sustained rise in energy prices could 'erode already fragile confidence in Europe, and central banks would be more likely to raise interest rates'. Other implications on the global and regional economy Globally, a rise in energy prices directly affects industries including logistics and transport sectors. This would trickle down to other businesses, making their operations more expensive. Eventually, consumers would feel the impact by seeing the cost of energy and other goods and services rise. Unemployment may also tick up if businesses are forced to cut back on hiring due to high costs. And it is not just oil and gas markets that would feel the strain. The UAE port of Jebel Ali is one of the busiest in the world and a key hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa. 'Supply chains could come under pressure, and shipping costs would rise if vessels are forced to find alternatives,' Ganguly said. The aviation sector in the region also faces pressure from prolonged disruptions, longer flight times and a loss of passenger volume. Tourism, which provides more than 11% of the region's GDP, according to the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf, might also be affected. If the Gulf region is exposed to an extended crisis, it could also hit the property sector, which could trigger a broader economic decline. If this is coupled with a slower flow of foreign direct investment into the region, that poses a further threat to the region's economy. 'In short, there is a lot to lose,' Ganguly said.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why the Strait of Hormuz remains critical for the global economy
As oil prices are climbing after the attacks on Iran by Israel and then the US, investors are closely watching the fate of a narrow sea passage in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for gas and oil exporters in the Gulf region, as this is the only route by sea to export large volumes of oil and gas produced among the oil-rich countries in the region. This narrow passage is located between Oman and Iran, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is about 167 km long, and at its narrowest point, 39 km wide. According to the Joint Maritime Information Centre, June 2024 averaged 114 vessels transiting the strait daily and so far traffic in June 2025 is consistent with this. On 21 June, for instance, there were 122 vessels passing through the strait. The passage is deep enough and wide enough to handle the world's largest crude oil tankers, and it is one of the world's most important oil chokepoints (narrow channels along widely used global sea routes that are critical to global energy security). Related Oil price drops, shares jump as Trump announces Israel-Iran ceasefire Israel-Iran conflict fuels best month for energy stocks since 2022 The health of the world economy depends on the flow of oil from this region. Oil tankers on average carry through the strait 20 million barrels per day (b/d), or the equivalent of about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption, according to the US Energy Information Administration analysis. 'A potential Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would send shockwaves through the global economy," Professor Guido Cozzi, Chair of Macroeconomics at the University of St. Gallen, said to Euronews. He added that any disruption to the oil flow in this narrow waterway would drive up energy prices, fuel inflation, and strain supply chains. Related What's at stake for Europe if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked? Continental Europe and China are losing the most, both heavily reliant on imported energy and lacking domestic buffers. "They would face rising costs, slower growth, and heightened inflation without any upside," Cozzi said. Meanwhile, the US and the UK would see their exports become more competitive, as they are sourcing the majority of their energy from elsewhere. And if the strait would be closed, pushing prices up globally, that would benefit Western producers more than it would harm them, according to the professor. Besides oil, global natural gas supply could also be seriously impacted, as Qatar, one of the world's biggest natural gas exporters uses the narrow seaway to export about 77 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) a year. This is one-fifth of the global LNG supply. "Alternative supply routes for Middle Eastern oil and gas are limited, with pipeline capacity insufficient to offset potential maritime disruptions through the Persian Gulf and Red Sea,' S&P said in an analysis. 'Any Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz would affect not only its own exports but also those of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, potentially removing over 17 million b/d of crude oil from global markets,' added the analysis, saying that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have pipelines that can circumvent the strait. Analysts expect oil prices to skyrocket and surpass $100 a barrel if Iran decides to close the passage. Though insurance for the oil tankers passing through the strait increased and the situation is quite tense, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre, there are no indications of threats to commercial shipping. Related The dollar sees a rebound after US strikes Iran, but can it continue? After US attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, on 22 June, the Parliament in Tehran voted to close down the strait. A step that has never been taken. The decision is pending approval by the Islamic Republic's Supreme National Security Council. Iran threatened several times in the past that it would cut this artery of oil in the past but it never followed through with the threat. US Vice-President JD Vance called the move 'suicidal' for Iran's economy on Sunday at a press conference. Creating a major disruption in the strait would be extremely difficult due to various economic, political and military forces present in the region today, said the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law in an analysis. Experts agree that Iran itself has a lot to lose and very little to gain as it would cut its own oil exports to major trade partners such as China. Besides losing a key source of revenue, Iran would also anger its oil-producing neighbours whose support they may not be able to afford to risk. Related Oil rises and Europe's markets open lower after US strikes on Iran If Iran decides to close the passageway, another question is, for how long? The duration could be key, as global stockpiles are currently sufficient. The nations in need have at least 5.8 billion barrels of crude and fuel stockpiled between them, according to Bloomberg. This shows a healthy buffer, compared to the annual 7.3 billion barrels a year, passing through the strait. According to Barclays, other possible scenarios include Iran trying to target the Strait of Hormuz using missile attacks, making ships and insurance firms hesitant to use Hormuz. They could also consider mining the strait, which would hit traffic to a greater extent. There are also less aggressive ways to further disturb commercial shipping through Hormuz. For instance, the widespread jamming of GPS signals could make it harder to navigate safely in certain conditions.
Euronews
23-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
What would happen if the Strait of Hormuz is closed?
As oil prices are climbing after the attacks on Iran by Israel and then the US, investors are closely watching the fate of a narrow sea passage in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for gas and oil exporters in the Gulf region, as this is the only route by sea to export large volumes of oil and gas produced among the oil-rich countries in the region. This narrow passage is located between Oman and Iran, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is about 167 km long, and at its narrowest point, 39 km wide. According to the Joint Maritime Information Centre, June 2024 averaged 114 vessels transiting the strait daily and so far traffic in June 2025 is consistent with this. On 21 June, for instance, there were 122 vessels passing through the strait. The passage is deep enough and wide enough to handle the world's largest crude oil tankers, and it is one of the world's most important oil chokepoints (narrow channels along widely used global sea routes that are critical to global energy security). How important is the Strait of Hormuz for global trade? The health of the world economy depends on the flow of oil from this region. Oil tankers on average carry through the strait 20 million barrels per day (b/d), or the equivalent of about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption, according to the US Energy Information Administration analysis. 'A potential Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would send shockwaves through the global economy," Professor Guido Cozzi, Chair of Macroeconomics at the University of St. Gallen, said to Euronews. He added that any disruption to the oil flow in this narrow waterway would drive up energy prices, fuel inflation, and strain supply chains. Continental Europe and China are losing the most, both heavily reliant on imported energy and lacking domestic buffers. "They would face rising costs, slower growth, and heightened inflation without any upside," Cozzi said. Meanwhile, the US and the UK would see their exports become more competitive, as they are sourcing the majority of their energy from elsewhere. And if the strait would be closed, pushing prices up globally, that would benefit Western producers more than it would harm them, according to the professor. Natural gas supplies are also at risk Besides oil, global natural gas supply could also be seriously impacted, as Qatar, one of the world's biggest natural gas exporters uses the narrow seaway to export about 77 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) a year. This is one-fifth of the global LNG supply. Alternative supply routes for Middle Eastern oil and gas are limited, with pipeline capacity insufficient to offset potential maritime disruptions through the Persian Gulf and Red Sea,' S&P said in an analysis. 'Any Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz would affect not only its own exports but also those of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, potentially removing over 17 million b/d of crude oil from global markets,' added the analysis, saying that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have pipelines that can circumvent the strait. Analysts expect oil prices to skyrocket and surpass $100 a barrel if Iran decides to close the passage. Though insurance for the oil tankers passing through the strait increased and the situation is quite tense, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre, there are no indications of threats to commercial shipping. Would Iran close the Strait even if it affects its own trade? After US attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, on 22 June, the Parliament in Tehran voted to close down the strait. A step that has never been taken. The decision is pending approval by the Islamic Republic's Supreme National Security Council. Iran threatened several times in the past that it would cut this artery of oil in the past but it never followed through with the threat. US Vice-President JD Vance called the move 'suicidal' for Iran's economy on Sunday at a press conference. Creating a major disruption in the strait would be extremely difficult due to various economic, political and military forces present in the region today, said the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law in an analysis. Experts agree that Iran itself has a lot to lose and very little to gain as it would cut its own oil exports to major trade partners such as China. Besides losing a key source of revenue, Iran would also anger its oil-producing neighbours whose support they may not be able to afford to risk. If Iran decides to close the passageway, another question is, for how long? The duration could be key, as global stockpiles are currently sufficient. The nations in need have at least 5.8 billion barrels of crude and fuel stockpiled between them, according to Bloomberg. This shows a healthy buffer, compared to the annual 7.3 billion barrels a year, passing through the strait. According to Barclays, other possible scenarios include Iran trying to target the Strait of Hormuz using missile attacks, making ships and insurance firms hesitant to use Hormuz. They could also consider mining the strait, which would hit traffic to a greater extent. There are also less aggressive ways to further disturb commercial shipping through Hormuz. For instance, the widespread jamming of GPS signals could make it harder to navigate safely in certain conditions.
