The aim of this study is to determine how bank diversification affects bank stability. To this end, it examines data of 136 commercial banks operating in 14 MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries observed from 2005 to 2021, using the System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) panel data regression analysis. The selected countries are Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates. The main results point to the enhancing effect of income diversification on bank stability. Our results underline the “Bright Side” of banking income diversification in the MENA region. However, this stabilizing income diversification effect is not always maintainable. The results also point to a non-linear relationship between interest/non-interest income and financial stability, suggesting that higher diversification reduces risk. We use a dynamic panel threshold model to determine income diversification thresholds that stabilize banks in the MENA region.

Background: Globally, unpaid carers face economic and societal pressures. Unpaid carers’ support is valued at £132 billion a year in the United Kingdom (UK) alone. However, this care comes at a high cost for the carers themselves. Carers providing round the clock care are more than twice as likely to be in bad health than non-carers. These carers are therefore proportionately more likely to need statutory services such as health care provision. It is critical that carers are better supported to be involved in the shaping, delivery and evaluation of the services they receive. Unfortunately, qualitative evidence on how carer organisations can do this better is scarce. Methods: Working collaboratively with a community-based carers organization, we undertook a qualitative study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 23 participants. Online, semi-structured, one-to-one interviews were conducted with carers, community organization staff and stakeholders to ascertain their experience and views on the involvement service. Results: Firstly, there are a range of benefits resulting from the involvement service. The carers see the service as an opportunity to connect with other carers and share their views and ideas. Secondly, staff and service providers also reported how involvement gave a platform for carers and was of value in helping them shape needs-led services. Thirdly, we found that barriers to good involvement include the lack of a clearly understood, shared definition of involvement as well as the lack of a diverse pool of carer representatives available for involvement activities. Conclusion: The findings from our study provide important insights into how carers, staff and service stakeholders view barriers and enablers to good involvement. The findings will be of interest to a range of community-based organizations interested in further involving members of their community in shaping the services they receive.

This paper discusses the construction strategy of innovation and entrepreneurship education path for college students under the background of digital economy. Firstly, this paper analyzes the characteristics of digital economy and its influence on higher education, and then puts forward four core construction paths for college students' innovation and entrepreneurship education: integrating digital skills and knowledge, promoting practice and innovative thinking, interdisciplinary integration and collaborative learning, and linking industry and academia. Each path discusses the specific implementation and expected effect in detail. The purpose of this study is to provide higher education institutions with effective methods and strategies to cultivate students with innovative spirit and entrepreneurial ability in the era of digital economy.

The study investigates the impact of corporate gender diversity on dividend payouts in Asia-Pacific countries. The study used the data of 610 listed firms in the Asian Pacific region over eleven years, from 2006 to 2016, with 6710 observations. The regression results revealed that the representation of women on board and at least 30% on board positively relates to dividend payout. Board size and board independence have a significant negative relationship with dividend payouts. Overall, results suggest that gender diversity on corporate boards has a greater propensity to pay dividends in the mix of ownership structure, strong and weak corporate governance compliance, and horizontal agency conflict.

The construction of journalism majors contains rich ideological and political resources. As one of the practical courses, the news interview and writing course is a professional basic course for journalism students. Therefore, for professionals who will undertake journalism in the future, they should not only have the ability to produce and disseminate information, but also shoulder the responsibility of telling Chinese stories, spreading Chinese voices, and delivering Chinese excellent culture. For the teaching of news interview and writing courses, students should be guided in thought, so that they have a sense of home and country, good professional ethics and social responsibility.

With the rapid development of modern AI painting, Chinese university fine arts education is facing numerous challenges and opportunities. This paper analyzes the impact of modern AI painting on traditional art creation and its implications for student skill development. Additionally, it explores the key areas where Chinese university fine arts education needs to transform, including curriculum, teaching methods, and teacher training, while proposing corresponding strategies.