University of Cyprus ranks among 505-550 universities in QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2023

The University of Cyprus is among the 501-550 universities announced by the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2023 which features 700 institutions.

The announcement was made by the University on Thursday. The ranking reflects the universities performance in two main categories: Environmental Impact and Social Impact and shows how universities are taking action to tackle the world’s greatest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) challenges.

The rankings assess an institution’s commitments to building a sustainable world with emphasis on their influence beyond campus grounds.

The Environmental Impact category comprises of three performance indicators: sustainable institutions, sustainable education and sustainable research. The Social Impact category considers five indicators: equality, knowledge exchange, impact of education, employment and opportunities, and quality of life.

In the social Impact, the University of Cyprus was ranked 444 while in the Environmental Impact +501.

The rankings which the University of Cyprus secured are a proof of the practical recognition of the importance that the organization attaches to the issues of sustainability and sustainable development, which are also its strategic goal, a press release said.

It added that the University of Cyprus encourages and promotes actions aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the fields of research and teaching as well as in the context of its local and international collaborations while at the same time developing its infrastructure.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Health Minister in Athens to hold meetings and sign cooperation memorandum with Kids Save Lives Organisation

Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipantela, travelled today to Athens, where he will hold meetings and sign a memorandum of cooperation with the Humanitarian Civil Society Organisation KIDS SAVE LIVES.

According to a press release by the Health Ministry, Hadjipantela will have a meeting today with his Greek counterpart, Thanos Plevris, President of Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY), Theoklis Zaoutis.

On Friday, he will meet with President of the Greek Humanitarian Civil Society Organisation KIDS SAVE LIVES, Anastasios Stefanakis, for the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the two institutions.

?t is noted that the purpose of the memorandum is to create a common front of solidarity for the immediate shielding, safety, protection and rescue of any human life at risk from a heart attack, drowning or other cause.

Among other things, the memorandum of cooperation aims to prevent, raise awareness and inform the public about First Aid and the development of a Community First Responder System, with the aim of dealing timely with life-threatening incidents until specialised help is at hand.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

CySEC launches online investment knowledge quiz

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has launched its first online quiz on its website, where the public can evaluate how much they really know about investments and test their knowledge on basic financial matters.

The online quiz was created within the framework of CySEC’s objectives to enhance the public’s financial literacy, on key aspects of the securities markets, following its recent participation in World Investor Week 2022.

According to a CySEC press release, the low levels of financial literacy in Cyprus, as highlighted by various surveys, alongside rapid developments in capital markets and the continual introduction of new financial products, have intensified the need to educate the public on basic financial matters.

“Inexperienced investors often make wrong investment decisions, based on assumptions and beliefs that stem from overconfidence in their investment knowledge or following encouragement from friends, relatives, and/or celebrities who promote investment products online, exposing them to high investment risks,” it says.

What is more, it adds, “investment risks are continually increasing due to new digital investment trends that are especially attractive to youngsters. As documented in various surveys conducted in recent years, while the general financial literacy levels are low, young people in particular are lacking basic financial knowledge in comparison to the rest of the population in Cyprus, and as such, are more vulnerable to fraud.”

With the introduction of the new quiz, CySEC aims to offer investors and the public in general the opportunity to evaluate their knowledge about investments and basic financial matters through a pleasant activity. Moreover, the quiz is designed to be informative and educational, as the correct answer is revealed at the end of each question, along with a brief explanation.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

PRESS RELEASE – BW – ENA Investment Capital Congratulates Gustavo Paz on His Election as…

ENA Investment Capital Congratulates Gustavo Paz on His Election as CEO of Ontex

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– ENA Investment Capital (“ENA”), a long-term, value-oriented investment firm and the second-largest shareholder in Ontex Group NV (“Ontex” or the “Company”) owning c.15% of the Company’s outstanding shares, today issued the following statement.

ENA Investment Capital would like to congratulate Gustavo Paz on his election as CEO of Ontex. We would also like to thank sincerely the Ontex Board, GBL and the other Ontex shareholders for their vote of confidence in Gustavo.

Gustavo is a fantastic, hands-on operator and a true strategic thinker. His knowledge of the business (particularly Ontex’s turnaround potential), his track record, and his understanding of the competitive landscape is unparalleled and combine to make him an exceptional candidate to guide the company. We have the utmost confidence in his abilities as a manager and a leader. Finally, the US business and its profitability (which is a key pillar of the Ontex turnaround story) will benefit substantially from his insight in that geography.

Gustavo has been a key operating partner of ours for a number of years now and we are extremely happy for him on the achievement of this important milestone.

We would also like to highlight the fact that as a result of this promotion, we have officially ended our formal engagement with Gustavo. We consider it best that he devotes 100% of his time to his new role and more importantly there is never any question about his independence, impartiality and treatment of all shareholders and stakeholders equally. Though we will miss him, we look forward to benefiting from his hard work as Ontex’s second largest equity shareholder.

Concluding: with Gustavo as CEO, we are confident that Ontex is in the strongest possible position to turnaround and grow its business and thus to explore any discussions with disclosed (as well as any other) interested 3rd parties about potential corporate actions. He is the right person–with the relevant track record and bandwidth—to evaluate such transactions, as well as to lead any corporate action that might evolve from such discussions.

We believe that with him at the helm, Ontex has a very bright future indeed. And for our part, we remain 100% committed to our investment, and we believe there are significant value creation and savings opportunities ahead, with several paths to recovery of the share price to at least the mid-cycle value potential over the next 14 months.

We wish him and the executive team well as they embark upon this challenge.

Very Kind Regards,

ENA Investment Capital

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Gross value added fell 5.2% in Cyprus and 5.9% in EU in 2020 due to pandemic according to Eurostat

In 2020, the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis caused the annual real rate of change in gross value added (GVA) to turn negative in 215 out of 219 NUTS 2 regions of the European Union for which data are available, according to information released by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU.

After growth rates of more than 2.0% in 2017 and 2018, the EU’s annual rate of change of gross value added slowed down to 1.8% in 2019.

The direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 crisis resulted in a 5.9% contraction in 2020 in the EU.

In Cyprus, GVA contracted by 5.2% in 2020. The country’s annual rate of change of gross value added was positive in 2017 (+5.9%), in 2018 (+5.7%) and in 2019 (+5.3%). Cyprus is considered a single region for statistical purposes on all NUTS levels.

The year 2020 marked the first time on the EU level that gross value added had fallen (in real terms) since a modest decline of 0.6% in 2012, and the economic downturn, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, was greater than the losses (-4.3%) experienced at the height of the global financial and economic crisis in 2009.

There were 17 NUTS level 2 regions where gross value added fell by more than 10.0% in 2020: they included many of the EU’s most popular tourist destinations, for example: Notio Aigaio and Ionia Nisia in Greece; Illes Balears and Canarias in Spain; Jadranska Hrvatska in Croatia; Tirol in Austria; Algarve and Região Autónoma da Madeira in Portugal. At the onset of the pandemic, restrictions prevented most tourists from travelling and many hospitality businesses from opening.

The largest annual contractions in gross value added in 2020 were recorded in Notio Aigaio (-22.2%), Illes Balears (-21.7%) and Ionia Nisia (-20.5%); these were the only regions in the EU where value added fell by at least 20% in 2020.

Further high declines were recorded in Canarias (-18.1%), Algarve (-15.6%) and Åland in Finland (-15.5%).

On the other hand, the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis was relatively muted – with value added falling by no more than 4.0% in 2020 – in every region of Denmark, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia and Finland (except for Åland); this pattern was also observed in Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg and Poland, where only data for the total economy are available.

There were only four regions (out of 219) across the EU where gross value added increased in 2020. The highest annual growth rate (+10.7%) was recorded in the Irish Southern region (which was also the ‘richest’ region in the EU, as measured by GDP per inhabitant). Gross value added also increased in the two other Irish regions, up to 3.6% in Northern and Western and 1.8% in the capital region of Eastern and Midland.

Mayotte in France was the only other region in the EU that recorded an increase in its gross value added in 2020 (+ 0.7%).

Some of the rapid growth in Ireland during 2020 can be linked to a buoyant pharmaceutical sector (one of the few sectors in the EU economy that continued to grow during the COVID-19 crisis).

Source: Cyprus News Agency

PRESS RELEASE – BW – Mary Kay Inc. Recognized in The Nature Conservancy’s 2022 Global Re…

Mary Kay Inc. Recognized in The Nature Conservancy’s 2022 Global Reefs Impact Report

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Throughout 2022, Mary Kay Inc., a global advocate for corporate sustainability and stewardship, has worked to elevate ocean awareness in climate work and as an approach to address the climate crisis.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221110005014/en/

The Nature Conservancy and Mary Kay Inc. announced their partnership in 1990. Mary Kay has continued to generously support TNC’s work with an expanded focus on oceans work around the globe. (Credit: The Nature Conservancy)

This month, Mary Kay was recognized in The Nature Conservancy’s 2022 Global Reefs Impact Report. The Nature Conservancy’s report highlights their recent achievements and how the organization has partnered with the private sector to successfully implement innovative marine conservation programs that protect and preserve life in our oceans.

The report showcased a newly launched project focused on “Super Reefs.” Super Reefs are highly resilient and can survive in a warming ocean. The mission of the Super Reefs project is to identify, protect, and grow a global network of Super Reefs to secure the future of coral reefs. The Super Reefs team brings together experts in ocean science, conservation, and management from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Stanford University, and The Nature Conservancy, along with private sector support from Mary Kay, to support governments and communities at this critical moment in the history of coral reefs.

“I’ve seen reefs that have been destroyed, and I’ve seen reefs that have bounced back in my lifetime,” says Elizabeth McLeod, Global Reefs Systems Lead at The Nature Conservancy. “We have an imperative to get out in the water, to identify coral reefs that can survive climate change and ensure that they are protected from other impacts.”

“Our partnership with The Nature Conservancy stretches back more than 32 years—but we’re just getting started,” said Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operation Officer for Mary Kay Inc. “Throughout 2022, we’ve doubled down on our sustainability efforts, including a focus on ocean health. The health of our oceans is the health of our planet, and it’s essential we do our part to protect them.”

In 2022, Mary Kay supported 11 projects related to global ocean protection initiatives to improve ocean health for nature and people through the protection and restoration of critical habitats such as coral reefs, oyster reefs, and coastal wetlands. These important projects included:

Restoring Asia Pacific shellfish reefs in Australia, Hong Kong, China, and the Coral Triangle;

Ensuring that coral protection and restoration efforts in the Coral Triangle countries – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands – are supported through conservation efforts and initiatives that positively impact the whole region;

Supporting women environmental leaders in the Pacific in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands;

Coastal conservation and restoration in the Gulf Coast and assessing the feasibility of blue carbon markets to support long-term wetland management; and

Improving fisheries in Mexico to empower communities and women in the fishing industry.

To read more about Mary Kay’s commitment to sustainability, visit marykayglobal.com/sustainability and download Mary Kay’s global sustainability strategy: Enriching Lives Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.

About The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters, and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably, and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 79 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

About Mary Kay Inc.

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: enriching women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors of domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Paphos wins EU’s 2023 European Capitals of Smart Tourism competition along with Seville

Paphos, together with the Spanish city of Seville, were selected as the 2023 winners of the European Capitals of Smart Tourism competition of the European Union, out of 29 cities from across 13 countries, according to an announcement issued by the European Commission.

The two European Capitals of Smart Tourism will receive promotional support, as well as a purpose-built sculpture for their city centres, which will be displayed prominently for the duration of their year as a European Capital of Smart Tourism.

Furthermore, the two cities will join part the growing network of smart tourism cities in Europe in view of sharing their experience and best practices.

Meanwhile, Kranj in Slovenia has been selected as the winner of the 2023 European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) competition, and will be promoted as a role model for sustainable tourism practices in Europe.

The European Capital of Smart Tourism, which was won by Paphos and Seville, is an EU initiative that promotes smart tourism in the EU by rewarding cities for their pioneering approaches in accessibility, digitalisation, sustainability, and cultural heritage and creativity. Similarly, the European Destinations of Excellence is an EU initiative that recognises and rewards smaller destinations that have put in place successful strategies to boost sustainable tourism.

For the 2023 competition, 29 cities from across 13 countries competed for the title of European Capital of Smart Tourism, while a total of 20 destinations competed for the title of European Destination of Excellence. The cities were evaluated by a jury on three criteria: the city’s programme of activities envisaged to implement in 2023; the city’s overall commitment to develop as a smart tourism destination; and the city’s capacity to act as a role model and inspiring other cities.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The issuance of an EU Digital COVID Certificate will be valid until 30th June 2023 for Turkish Cypriots, Deputy Ministry of Research announces

The issuance of an EU Digital COVID Certificate will be valid until 30th June 2023 for Turkish Cypriots, the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy announced on Thursday.

It informs Turkish Cypriot citizens, who have been vaccinated or/and have recovered from COVID and wish to obtain an EU Digital COVID Certificate, that the service will continue to be valid until 30th June 2023.

Those interested can visit the link https://edvc.moh.gov.cy/ to have their certificate issued.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Goods transported by road in Cyprus up annually by 53.8% in Q2, 2022

During the period April-June 2022, the total weight of goods transported by road in Cyprus increased by 53.8% compared to the corresponding period of 2021, while the weight of freight transported from and to Cyprus also increased by 31.1%, data published by the Statistical Service of Cyprus on Thursday show.

In this period, 9.7m tonnes of road freight transported in Cyprus and 8,600 tonnes were transported from and to Cyprus, compared to 6.3m tonnes and 6,500 tonnes respectively for 2021.

According to the official data, during the period January-June 2022, the total weight of goods transported by road in Cyprus increased by 42.5% compared to the corresponding period of 2021, while the weight of freight transported from and to Cyprus also increased by 32.8%.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Credit acquisition companies association suspends foreclosures for vulnerable borrowers until end of February 2023

The Association of Credit Acquisition Companies and Credit Facilities Managers (SEDP) announced on Thursday the suspension of vulnerable borrowers’ primary residence foreclosures until February 2023.

In a press release the association said that “taking into account the debate surrounding the issue and the consequences that a further suspension of foreclosures is likely to have on the wider economy, announces that until 28 February 2023 its members will not proceed with first home foreclosures of up to €350,000 for those borrowers who actually belong to the vulnerable groups of the population, as described in the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 22/8/2022.”

The matter has been the subject of debate in parliament, with MPs expected to vote today on whether to extend a targeted suspension of such foreclosures which had been in place until end of October.

Source: Cyprus News Agency