Breaking news

Meta Reinvents Facebook With New ‘Friends Tab’ Feature

by News Editor

April 2, 2025

In a move harking back to its early days, Meta is refreshing its Facebook platform with a new feature known as the Friends Tab. Announced just last week, this feature unveils a user-centric approach aimed at prioritizing real friendships over algorithm-driven content.

Key Highlights

Facebook’s latest Friends Tab aims to bring back the authentic connections by steering clear of algorithmically recommended content.
This feature is readily accessible through the main navigation bar and can be customized for ease of access, showcasing posts, stories, reels, birthdays, and friend requests from your contact list.
Initially rolled out in the United States and Canada, the global release timetable remains uncertain, indicating a potential phased introduction.

Impressive Figures

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As of now, Meta stands with a market capitalization of a whopping $1.46 trillion.

Challenges Persist

Over the years, Facebook, under the stewardship of Mark Zuckerberg, has encountered significant scrutiny relating to privacy discrepancies, misinformation dissemination, and corporate governance. A notable step was taken in January 2025 when Zuckerberg announced Meta’s cessation of its fact-checking program, now favoring a new system called Community Notes, inspired by other social platforms like X.

Historic Context

The News Feed feature, a core component since 2006, has undergone various transformations with additions like the Like button, Timeline, and Pages. The evolution of Facebook into a public entity in 2012 brought about structural changes at valuations over $104 billion, marking its crescendo with acquisitions such as Instagram and WhatsApp. In 2021, Meta redefined its brand commitment by pivoting towards the concept of the Metaverse.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Bank of Cyprus Cuts Lending Rates Benefiting 12,000 Clients Amid ECB Easing

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 6, 2025

Responding to European Central Bank Easing

The Bank of Cyprus has announced a decisive reduction in its reference interest rate for loans indexed to the European Central Bank’s (ECB) base rate. With the rate dropping from 2.40% to 2.15% effective June 11, 2025, the bank directly responds to the ECB’s recent monetary easing, reflecting a broader strategy to support both households and businesses.

Immediate Benefits for Borrowers

An estimated 12,000 borrowers will see a tangible reduction in their monthly loan installments, marking a 0.25 percentage point cut that reinforces the bank’s commitment to easing client burdens. Furthermore, the cumulative rate reduction since June 2024—now totaling 2.35 percentage points, from 4.50% down to 2.15%—has significantly reshaped the lending landscape.

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Broader Impact Across Loan Benchmarks

The bank also noted that rates for another 15,800 clients, with loans tied to the Euribor benchmark, have been declining. With Euribor slipping from a peak of 4.14% in October 2023 to its current level of 2.05%, the favorable shift is poised to stimulate further economic support.

Supporting a Fragile Economy

In a statement, the Bank of Cyprus emphasized its role in bolstering the country’s real economy. By offering competitively priced financial products and attractive financing terms, the bank aims to sustain economic momentum amid global uncertainties and trade tensions. These strategic cuts are well-timed as the ECB, with inflation currently aligned to its 2% target, transitions from aggressive action to a more cautious stance.

Looking Ahead: Cautious Tailoring of Future Policies

The ECB’s measured approach underscores a commitment to data-driven policy adjustments. With the recent cut being the eighth since June 2024, market participants expect a pause in rate reductions in July, facilitating an evaluation of preceding measures. While another reduction later in 2025 remains plausible, future decisions will be contingent on both incoming economic indicators and global trade dynamics.