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National Bank Of Greece Cyprus And University Of Cyprus Lead Innovation In Entrepreneurial Competition 2025

National Bank Of Greece Cyprus has strategically partnered with the University Of Cyprus to bolster the initiatives of the Cyprus Entrepreneurship Competition (CyEC) 2025 through its prestigious NBG Business Seeds programme.

Strengthening The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Committed to fostering dynamic and forward-thinking business solutions, NBG Cyprus is leveraging its long-standing support for innovative entrepreneurship. The bank’s initiative highlights a deliberate effort to transform creative ideas into viable, market-ready ventures, setting a benchmark for business development in the region.

Promoting Strategic Collaboration

Organized by the University of Cyprus’s Centre for Entrepreneurship (C4E) under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry, the competition is a milestone event designed to spur innovation. This year, the competition has attracted a record participation of over 50 teams from across Cyprus, reinforcing its role as a key platform for emerging start-ups and young professionals.

Unlocking Global Opportunities

Winners of the competition will gain direct access to Phase B of the 16th Innovation and Technology Competition, an initiative that spans both Greece and Cyprus. This fast-track promotion not only opens the door to a vast network of investors, mentors, and innovation experts but also positions the participating entrepreneurs to compete on a broader, regional stage.

This collaboration is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships in accelerating entrepreneurial growth and technological innovation.

WhatsApp Introduces Parent-Supervised Accounts For Users Under 13

Enhanced Security And Messaging Control

WhatsApp has introduced a new type of account designed for users under the age of 13, allowing parents to supervise messaging activity. The accounts are limited to messaging and voice calls and do not include advertising features, reflecting growing demand from families for safer communication tools for younger users.

Streamlined Verification And Parental Oversight

Creating a supervised account requires a parent or guardian to complete a dual-device verification process using a QR code. This procedure links the child’s device with the parent’s account, allowing guardians to monitor certain activities. Once the connection is established, parents can receive notifications when their child adds, blocks or reports contacts. The system is designed to provide oversight while still allowing children to communicate with approved contacts.

Restricted Features With Full Encryption

Several WhatsApp functions are restricted within supervised accounts. Access to Meta AI, Channels and Status updates is disabled, and disappearing messages are not available in individual chats. Despite these limitations, conversations remain protected with WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, ensuring that messages and calls remain private between participants.

Controlled Interactions And Transition Options

Additional safety tools help pre-teens manage interactions with unfamiliar contacts. Context cards provide details about messages received from unknown users, including shared groups and the country where the account originated. Users also have the option to silence incoming calls from numbers that are not saved in their contacts.

Chat requests and invitations to join group conversations require a six-digit parental PIN before they can be accepted. As children grow older, WhatsApp will inform them about the option to convert their supervised profile into a standard account. Parents can postpone this transition for up to 12 months if they wish to maintain supervision for a longer period.

A Broader Commitment To Digital Safety

WhatsApp’s initiative builds on Meta’s longstanding efforts to enhance the safety of young users across its platforms, including Instagram and Facebook. With over 3 billion active users worldwide, WhatsApp is reinforcing its commitment to a secure digital environment. This move also coincides with regulatory trends in countries such as Denmark, Germany, Spain, and the U.K., where steps are being taken to restrict social media access for younger users.

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