reflection

ANALYSIS-Russian veto points to ‘grim future’ for North Korea sanctions enforcement

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ANALYSIS-Russian veto points to ‘grim future’ for North Korea sanctions enforcement

Russia vetoed the renewal of the panel of experts monitoring UN sanctions against North Korea, signaling a grim future for sanctions enforcement. Russia and China have denied breaking sanctions and have blocked new measures at the UN Security Council. Russia’s veto highlights its deepening ties with North Korea and its violation of sanctions by buying conventional arms. The end of the panel could lead to more evidence of sanctions violations being released to the public. Russia’s veto suggests it does not want its illegal procurement of North Korean weapons to be reported. The US and South Korea have launched a task force to prevent North Korea from procuring illicit oil, particularly from Russia.

A reflection on anti-racism day

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A reflection on anti-racism day

Thursday, March 21, was observed as the International Day Against Racism and Discrimination. Racism, characterized by prejudice and negative reactions towards members of different groups, can lead to violence and is considered a crime. The text argues that the notion of superiority based on race is flawed, emphasizing that all humans face challenges and are equal regardless of race, wealth, or origin. It highlights that racism contributes to problems like low productivity, insecurity, hunger, and poverty. The author calls for tolerance, love, and unity to combat racism and discrimination for a better society. The piece is written by Lapana Tasha Mamah, an asylum seeker in the Republic of Cyprus.

Kate, ’s cancer news should end speculation about her

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Kate, ’s cancer news should end speculation about her

Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales, announced on Friday that she was undergoing treatment for cancer. This announcement aimed to address and put an end to the widespread speculation about her health that had been circulating on social media, newspapers, and some U.S. talk shows since she underwent abdominal surgery in January. Kate had taken a leave of absence from royal engagements to recover from the surgery. Despite efforts to maintain privacy, speculation continued, especially after her husband, Prince William, canceled his attendance at a memorial service for personal reasons. Kensington Palace stated that Kate wanted to share this information when it was right for her and her family. In a video message, Kate expressed gratitude for her medical team and explained the decision to manage this privately for the sake of their young family, which includes Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The announcement follows a period of intense speculation and comes amid other challenges faced by the royal family, including King Charles’s battle with cancer and the public falling out with Prince Harry and Meghan.

Kate’s cancer news should end speculation about her, commentators say

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Kate’s cancer news should end speculation about her, commentators say

Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales, announced on Friday that she was undergoing treatment for cancer. This announcement aimed to end speculation about her health, which had been rampant since she underwent abdominal surgery in January and took a leave of absence from royal engagements. Despite Kensington Palace stating she would not return to her public role until after Easter, speculation continued. The situation was further fueled by Prince William’s absence from a memorial service for his godfather due to an unspecified “personal matter” and intensified when Kate apologized for editing a photograph of her with her children for Mother’s Day. Kate and William have been focused on protecting their privacy and allowing their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, time to understand the situation. Kate expressed gratitude for her medical team and described the past couple of months as incredibly tough for their family. The revelation about Kate’s health follows news that William’s father, King Charles, is also battling cancer.

Cyprus-based Infocredit announces rebranding, new site

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Cyprus-based Infocredit announces rebranding, new site

Cyprus-based Infocredit Group, specializing in business intelligence and regulatory technology (RegTech) solutions, announced a comprehensive rebranding and website redesign focused on improving customer experience. The rebranding includes a new logo and brand identity, reflecting the company’s commitment to innovation, excellence, and customer focus. The redesigned website aims to offer an enhanced user experience with intuitive navigation and a modern design, aligning with the company’s motto “Securing Ease of Mind”. The initiatives are part of Infocredit Group’s digital transformation strategy, aiming to position the company as a leader in the credit and compliance risk solutions industry.

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.

Magnificent Seven stocks , ‘look cheap’

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Magnificent Seven stocks , ‘look cheap’

The CEO of deVere Group, Nigel Green, asserts that the Magnificent Seven tech stocks are undervalued compared to other stocks in the S&P 500. This analysis follows the S&P 500 reaching a new record high, along with other major indices like the Nasdaq Composite, Japan’s Nikkei 225, Germany’s Dax, and France’s Cac 40. The Magnificent Seven achieved a net income growth of 27% in 2023, contrasting with a 4% net income loss for the rest of the S&P 500. Their early investments in artificial intelligence (AI) have contributed to their undervaluation. Companies such as Microsoft and Meta have made significant investments in AI, with Meta’s stock increasing by 44% and Microsoft’s by 8% this year. Nvidia, a chipmaker, has seen its stock value rise by 87% due to its contributions to the AI revolution. Despite declines in Tesla and Apple’s stock values in 2024, by 28% and 12% respectively, their long-term growth prospects remain strong. Green emphasizes the importance of the Magnificent Seven tech stocks for future growth and innovation.

Eurobank growing into a regional powerhouse , — Cyprus central to its plans

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Eurobank growing into a regional powerhouse , — Cyprus central to its plans

– Eurobank’s financial results for 2023 exceeded initial expectations.
– Eurobank has a business plan for 2024-2026 aiming to become a regional banking powerhouse.
– The bank has a strong presence in Cyprus, which is expected to deepen.
– The bank’s board of directors will meet in Cyprus on March 20-22.
– Eurobank’s 2023 financial highlights include a per-share net profit of €0.31 and a return on equity of 18.1%.
– Earnings per share increased by 21.1% compared to 2022, reaching €2.07.
– 37% of net profits came from international activities.
– The Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAD) was 20.2% and the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio was 17%.
– Non-performing exposures (NPEs) were at 3.5%, with a coverage ratio for non-performing loans of 86.4%.
– The loans-to-deposits ratio was 72.3%, and the liquidity coverage ratio was 178.6%.
– The business plan for 2024-2026 includes integrating Hellenic Bank in Cyprus and expanding in the region.
– About 50% of profits are expected to come from international operations.
– The plan targets a capital return of about 15% on a recurring basis and a dividend payout ratio of nearly 50% by 2026.
– Net interest income increased by 46.9% compared to 2022, reaching €2.17 billion.
– Fee and commission income grew by 4.2% in 2023, totaling €544 million.
– Organic revenues increased by 35.8% annually, reaching €2.71 billion.
– Operating expenses increased by 5.2% compared to 2022, reaching €902 million.
– The cost-to-income ratio improved to 33.2% in 2023.
– Organic pre-provision operating income increased by 58.6% annually, totaling €1.816 billion.
– Provisions for impaired loans increased by 24.7% compared to 2022, reaching €345 million.
– Organic pre-tax operating profits surged by 69.4% in 2023, totaling €1.47 billion.
– Adjusted pre-tax profits amounted to €1.55 billion, with adjusted net profits increasing by 6.6% to €1.256 billion.
– Adjusted net profits from international activities increased to €468 million in 2023.
– Operational performance in Cyprus and Bulgaria showed substantial improvement.
– Eurobank acquired a majority stake in Hellenic Bank and completed the acquisition of BNP Paribas Personal Finance in Bulgaria.
– Eurobank’s regional presence is significant, contributing approximately 37% to its profitability in 2023.
– Eurobank Cyprus began operations in 2007 and is the third-largest bank on the island.
– Eurobank Cyprus operates in five core business pillars.
– Eurobank has no intention of using Hellenic Bank’s excess liquidity elsewhere in the group.
– Eurobank and Hellenic Bank will continue to operate separately until conditions are met for their merger.
– Eurobank signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NPCI International Payments Limited to enhance remittances from Greece to India.

Absence of trust in justice

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Absence of trust in justice

A poll by Phileleftheros, conducted by Pulse Market Research, found that the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General do not satisfy citizens with their work, with only 29% of citizens responding positively about the Attorney General and 24% about the Deputy Attorney General. In contrast, 71% of citizens are satisfied with the work of the Auditor General. The poll also indicated that the negative stance towards the Attorney General is consistent across all party lines, with 51% of DISY voters, 66% of AKEL voters, and 61% of DIKO voters expressing a negative opinion. The President of the Republic has expressed intentions for institutional changes in the Audit Office, which has been met with immediate reaction from Odysseas Michaelides, the Auditor General. Additionally, the European Social Survey conducted by the University of Cyprus showed that the levels of trust in Justice are low, with an average of 4.39 out of 10.