meetings

‘Revenge porn’ bill discussed at House committee

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‘Revenge porn’ bill discussed at House committee

A discussion on introducing legislation to criminalize the non-consensual use of personal images with erotic or sexual content, known as revenge porn, occurred during a House legal committee meeting. Akel MP Giorgos Koukoumas mentioned that the debate on his party’s bill proposal for stricter revenge porn legislation has begun and will continue in future meetings. He highlighted the severe consequences of revenge porn and stated that the proposed bill aims to strengthen the legal obligations of internet service providers to remove such content promptly. The bill also removes the need to prove the perpetrator’s intention to humiliate the victim and provides protection for all victims, including those depicted in digitally manipulated material.

Euro-Dollar weakens ahead of Fed, Lagarde cites lower inflation

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Euro-Dollar weakens ahead of Fed, Lagarde cites lower inflation

The EURUSD pair declined to the lower 1.0800s after European Central Bank (ECB) speakers, including President Christine Lagarde and Bank of Ireland Governor Gabriel Makhlouf, cited lower inflation. Lagarde mentioned a decrease in wage inflation and stated that the ECB is closely monitoring this before deciding on future policy moves. Lower inflation could lead to the ECB cutting interest rates, negatively affecting the Euro and the EURUSD pair. Lagarde noted that average wage growth for 2024 fell from 4.4% to 4.2% between the ECB’s January and March meetings. She mentioned the need for more evidence of receding inflation but suggested that rate hikes could be dialed back in June if data aligns with current expectations. The ECB is divided into two camps regarding the timing of interest rate decisions. ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos, preferring to wait until the June meeting, highlighted that services inflation remains too high. The Federal Reserve is expected to complete its March policy meeting without changing interest rates but may revise its quarterly forecasts and statement, potentially affecting the US Dollar valuation. Speculation exists that the Fed might adjust its economic forecasts in the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) and the “dot plot,” possibly revising down the forecasted rate cuts in 2024 due to persistent inflationary pressures.

Christodoulides to address college during official meetings in Belgium

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Christodoulides to address college during official meetings in Belgium

President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus is visiting Bruges, Belgium, to address the College of Europe on invitation by the Cypriot students association during the national week dedicated to Cyprus. This marks the first visit by a Cypriot President to the college. Christodoulides will be greeted by Rector Federica Mogherini, speak to students and academics, and meet with Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas. His agenda also includes participating in European People’s Party deliberations, discussing global issues with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and EU heads of state, and attending the 30th anniversary of the European Economic Area. Christodoulides will have another meeting with Guterres and will return to Cyprus on Friday evening.

Our View: Finally something positive to say about LNG plant

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Our View: Finally something positive to say about LNG plant

The government and the CPP-Metron Consortium Ltd (CMC), contracted for the construction and operation of the Vasiliko LNG terminal, have mended their relationship after previously heading towards a costly separation. Energy Minister George Papanastasiou had considered terminating the contract with CMC due to their work stoppage at Vasiliko since the end of January and a €200 million claim against Cyprus at a London arbitration court for higher costs and alleged failure by the project manager, Etyfa, to fulfill its obligations. A meeting between CMC representatives and Papanastasiou resolved differences, and President Nikos Christodoulides subsequently inspected the project site. CMC expressed gratitude for the meeting, highlighting prior unaddressed meeting requests with Etyfa. The energy ministry will now directly manage the project, sidelining Etyfa due to its inadequate response and unclear project instructions, and will establish a body for project monitoring and a group for dispute resolution. The financial disputes remain unresolved but will be addressed by Defa and Etyfa, who had signed the contracts with CMC. The project is set to proceed, with CMC bringing in 120 workers from China with the necessary expertise, aiming for completion by the end of the year.

Christodoulides in Brussels for EU Council

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Christodoulides in Brussels for EU Council

President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus will visit Belgium to attend the College of Europe in Bruges, participate in the European Council summit in Brussels, and engage in both public and private meetings with officials. He will also attend a working lunch with the UN Secretary General and other EU member state leaders, focusing on the Middle East and Ukraine. Additionally, Christodoulides will visit the College of Europe following an invitation from the Society of Cypriot Students and will meet with Federica Mogherini, the college’s rector and former Vice President of the European Commission. He will also meet with Margaritis Schinas, the Vice President of the European Commission, before attending activities of the European People’s Party and a commemorative event for the 30th anniversary of the European Economic Area. Christodoulides will return to Cyprus on Friday evening.

China congratulates Putin on election win, says ties will strengthen

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China congratulates Putin on election win, says ties will strengthen

China congratulated Vladimir Putin on his victory in Russia’s presidential election, with President Xi Jinping sending a message of congratulations. China stated that the strategic relationship between the two countries would continue to strengthen under the leadership of Xi and Putin. China and Russia, described as comprehensive strategic partners, have deepened their ties, especially in light of Western criticism over the war in Ukraine. The two nations declared a “no limits” partnership in February 2022. Meetings between Xi and Putin are planned for this year, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia.

Raouna heads to Brussels for the EU general affairs council

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Raouna heads to Brussels for the EU general affairs council

Deputy Minister for Europe Marilena Raouna will travel to Brussels to participate in the EU General Affairs Council’s deliberations and meet with counterparts. The council’s agenda includes examining a report on its contributions to the European Semester 2024, debating the Future of Europe, and preparing for the European Council meeting on March 21-22, 2024, which will address security and defence, Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Middle East situation, and enlargement issues. Raouna will also meet the Minister for European Affairs of France and Sweden, participate in an extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament on EU enlargement policy challenges, and meet with the Secretary General of the European Parliament, Alessandro Chiocchetti.

The future of work: Why we need to think beyond the hype of the four-day week

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The future of work: Why we need to think beyond the hype of the four-day week

Since the 19th century, the number of hours spent at work has been steadily declining in developed countries. The four-day week emerged in the 90s as a demand for a more equal division of work, developed in 1993 by French economist Pierre Larrouturou and tested in 1996 with France’s de Robien law. Antoine Riboud, CEO of Danone, supported the idea, and Volkswagen adopted the four-day week in 1994 but abandoned it in 2006. The Covid crisis renewed interest in the four-day week, with 56% of British employees willing to earn less for more free time. New Zealand introduced a four-day week post-pandemic to boost productivity and work-life balance, with Japan and several companies, including Hitachi and Microsoft, following suit. Belgium and the Nordic countries implemented a model where working hours are concentrated over four days without salary reduction. In contrast, Southern Europe, including Spain and Portugal, has explored a 32-hour week aiming to maintain productivity by reducing unproductive time. The concept of the four-day week challenges traditional work paradigms and suggests a shift towards valuing personal and collective fulfillment over individual success.

Ever been on a lousy leadership course? Good leadership training needs these 5 ingredients

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Ever been on a lousy leadership course? Good leadership training needs these 5 ingredients

The text outlines five key ingredients for effective leadership development programs according to a new paper published in the journal Humanities & Social Sciences Communications:

1. The employee must be self-motivated to learn and participate in leadership development courses.
2. Managers must allow staff to apply and practice their new leadership skills at work, providing opportunities and support for them to take on new challenges.
3. Managers should cultivate a continuous learning mindset among staff, encouraging self-awareness, openness to new learning methods, adaptability, and regular reflection on learning experiences.
4. High-quality facilitators are crucial for leadership training, as they support individual and group learning through applied projects, self-reflection skills, coaching, and feedback.
5. Successful organizations require both individual leaders and collective leadership, fostering a culture that values learning, innovation, adaptability, and dealing with continuous change. Managers play a key role in facilitating this culture and ensuring leadership training courses embed these values.

Cyprus, Egyptian presidents meet in Cairo

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Cyprus, Egyptian presidents meet in Cairo

Bilateral relations between Cyprus and Egypt were discussed during a meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt. The meeting took place at the presidential palace in Cairo.