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‘The Sweet Marjoram of the Salad’: Abortifacient Plants and the Shakespearean Bed Trick
Full text linkShakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, in which Helena uses a resurrection, a bed trick, and a pregnancy announcement to furnish her unwilling husband’s fidelity, has long troubled critics because Bertram’s faithless act of sleeping with a woman he thinks is not his wife seems like a poor foundation for a happy marriage. However, Helena’s knowledge of botanical pharmacology has been overlooked as a subversive solution to the play’s problematic ending. What if Helena’s pregnancy announcement is false, or prelude to an abortion? Helena’s extensive knowledge of plants and their medicinal uses (including abortifacients such as iris, rue, sweet marjoram) could procure what she really wants: financial stability through social mobility. This essay proposes that Helena has not only good reasons (plague and war) to want to avoid pregnancy with Bertram, but also the means of accessing birth control and abortifacient medicine through her knowledge of plants and their medicinal qualities. Helena’s real trick is to achieve financial security within a patriarchal framework where she may enjoy sex without the obligation of procreation. I trace Shakespeare’s bed trick from its origins in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, where bed tricks are also fashioned as pragmatic and educational narratives about plants useful in reproductive health care. This connection between the problems caused by bed tricks and the potential solutions afforded by abortifacient plants also has potential for further exploration in other popular bed trick plays of the period, including Measure for Measure
A Review of the legal framework in Morocco as a hindrance to artificial intelligence adoption in the financial services industry
Full text linkArtificial intelligence (AI) is the revelation of a new era dominated by data, precision, and gains in terms of time, effectiveness, and relevance. These elements are the best precursors of a revolutionary evolution in all fields. The financial sector, the lifeblood of any society, is the first to be impacted by this disruptive revolution. To ensure a balance between technological development and the protection of fundamental rights and against the bias of technological disruption, international organizations are intervening to issue recommendations and legal guidelines that provide a basis of inspiration for countries around the world.
The evolution of the Moroccan financial system through AI, although timid, is beginning to gain momentum meanly because the opportunities it presents. The aim of this article is to propose an appropriate legal framework for AI for the Moroccan financial sector, based on the various guidelines and legal frameworks approved by international organizations. The results show that, although an initial legal framework already exists in Morocco, it remains insufficient in the face of the challenges posed by the use of AI in the financial sector. This framework can be supplemented by adjustments to hard and soft la
Kelly Lehtonen, Heroic Awe: The Sublime and the Remaking of Renaissance Epic (Toronto University Press, 2023). 252 pp. ISBN 9781487545369.
Full text linkThe Bull Theatre, Bishopsgate Street and John Welles: A Creative Nexus for Marlowe, Shakespeare and the Inspiration for The Massacre at Paris?
Full text linkThis paper examines the ‘topographical backdrop’ to the creation of The Massacre at Paris and potential intersections between Marlowe and Shakespeare c. 1589/93. The overall purpose is to question how Marlowe and Shakespeare might have been influenced by conversations with neighbours, acquaintances and fellow writers. This social interaction has been termed ‘chat’, a reference to the practical process but also its ephemeral nature. This study is, therefore, also partly about a John Welles, one of the many, mostly long forgotten, officials who kept the wheels of the Elizabethan state turning – one of those usually ‘who are perished as though they had never been born’. Except, unusually with Welles, it is possible to rescue this intriguing character from obscurity to reveal a Londoner, who for over a decade lived a few hundred yards from Marlowe and Shakespeare. That is, when he was not riding the roads of France
Marlowe's Reading of Machiavelli and Anne Dowriche's The French Historie
Full text linkThe history of the Massacre at Paris is well-known. Typically, the conclusions drawn by the quick and often reactionary readings of the play have been unfairly scornful. The disparaging attitude towards Marlowe’s piece is bizarre when we consider that The Massacre was the highest grossing play of the season for Lord Strange’s Men, and today it seems to be disparaged more by critics than audiences or theatre professionals, as the few performances have shown. My purpose is not to rehash these important arguments but rather to show that Marlowe has in fact thoughtfully but radically presented an important historical document that deals with what then was the most shattering event to have shaken Europe. Marlowe saw that a radical event requires a radical presentation—his play should be understood as a simulacrum of the French massacre. This is an approach to the event that I will argue is based on several elements, including his reading of an important source for the play that has only recently been acknowledged, Anne Dowriche’s The French Historie
Online Productions of Dido, Queen of Carthage
Full text linkA review of various recent online productions of Dido, Queen of Carthage, including productions by The Show Must Go Online, Beyond Shakespeare, Sweet Tea Shakespeare and Edward's Boys
Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Open Banking on Traditional Banking and FinTech Collaboration
Full text linkOpen banking is revolutionizing the retail banking industry by allowing customers to share their data with third parties. This facilitates the entry of new companies into the market, promoting increased competition, innovation, and improvements in processes such as customer registration and fraud management. The banking sector is shifting from traditional closed models to a more open and innovative framework, emphasizing the collaborative relationship between established banks and FinTech companies. As regulatory frameworks evolve, open banking disrupts traditional banking practices by promoting transparency, data sharing, and customer-centric services. This research paper examines the growing partnerships between traditional banks and FinTech firms, highlighting how collaboration enhances innovation, agility, and customer experience. By analyzing current trends and future implications, this study demonstrates how open banking is reshaping the financial ecosystem, ushering in a new era of collaboration that ultimately benefits consumers and drives industry advancement
Utilizing A Deep learning approach to examine the consequences of Bank's Web -Based-Social Responsibility Disclosure
Full text linkAbstract
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a global research and practice topic that encompasses various values, corporate environment, and philanthropic behavior (Inekwe et al., 2021; Wirba, 2023). It plays a crucial role in businesses and governments' social and financial activities, pushing them towards sustainable development and promoting social welfare (Oware and Mallikarjunappa, 2022; Foroghi et al., 2018; Khatib et al., 2021; Staples, 2004). CSR information is essential for stakeholders like investors and analysts, offering insights into costs and benefits, minimizing information asymmetry, aiding in capital market valuations, and assessing firm performance and risk profile. The banking sector, including both non-Islamic and Islamic banks, significantly contributes to CSR activities by funding community development, supporting SMEs, mitigating inflation, and offering social and charitable services. Stakeholders demand transparency in financial and non-financial information, leading firms to shift disclosure attitudes towards CSR. The internet has become a crucial tool for businesses to disclose financial and non-financial information to stakeholders, offering unlimited space and cost savings. It enables corporations to communicate their objectives, missions, and strategies directly to stakeholders, increasing accountability and enhancing financial market effectiveness. The correlation between CSR disclosure (CSRD) and corporate cash holdings has recently gained interest due to its positive impact on cash holding levels. However, the study addresses the challenges of online CSRD due to its complexity and lack of quality. Businesses often prioritize quantity over quality, making CSR a critical concern in management and bank operations. The credibility of official company websites over social media accounts is also examined, highlighting the difficulty in distinguishing genuine and fake ones. Based on the aforementioned arguments, further research is needed to figure out the consequences (corporate cash holdings) of the quality and quantity of online CSRD. Additionally, the Islamic and non-Islamic banks' contexts lack this type of analysis. Consequently, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis using empirical evidence to address existing gaps and provide valuable insights by answering the following main questions: What are the impacts of the quantity and quality of web-based CSRD on top global Conventional and Islamic banks’ corporate cash holdings? Could ISO 26000 moderate this impact?
Therefore, the current study aims basically to: (1) investigate the impact of the quality and quantity of web-based CSRD on corporate cash holdings in the context of top global Islamic and non-Islamic banks by using theories of stakeholder, legitimacy, and media richness; (2) examine whether ISO 26000, a standard for social responsibility, moderates the correlation between the quantity and quality of web-based CSRD and top global conventional and Islamic banks' cash holdings.
To achieve the main objectives, this study focuses on the largest 100 global Islamic and conventional banks based on their assets value. Data was collected through quantitative research and content analysis of their websites. Two indices were developed to assess the quality and quantity of online CSRD. A deep learning approach and descriptive statistics were used to study the consequences of these findings on corporate cash holdings.
This study explores the practices and consequences of online CSRD through theories of stakeholder, legitimacy, and media richness. Stakeholder theory explains the relationship between CSR and shareholder value, emphasizing the need for firms to disclose more information about CSR on their websites. Legitimacy theory suggests firms have a social contract with society, and managers must engage in CSR practices, maintain legitimacy, and disclose information to assess their impact. Media richness theory emphasizes visual communication, multimedia functions, and personal sources in effective communication.
The study's relevance and motivations are derived from that CSR research is expanding globally, benefiting businesses and governments by promoting sustainable development and aiding stakeholders in capital market valuations. The focus on CSR disclosures is crucial for companies and stakeholders. The importance of banks in the economy, as they fund CSR activities, support SMEs, and mitigate inflation. It emphasizes the need for official company websites to understand CSR reporting quality. The internet offers unlimited space and cost savings, enhancing financial market effectiveness and enabling businesses to communicate their CSR initiatives. The study provides insights for policymakers, investors, regulators, managers, and academics on web-based CSR reporting for global Islamic and conventional banks.
The findings indicate that CSRDs (including ISO 26000) were insignificant in impacting Islamic banks cash holdings, while they were significant in impacting conventional bank’s cash holdings.
This study, a pioneering and unique one, significantly enhances accounting literature, research methodologies, and practice by offering valuable theoretical, methodological, and practical insights to all interested parties. It investigates, for the first time, the correlation between the quantity and quality of web-based CSRD and global Islamic and conventional banks' cash holdings and whether ISO 26000 moderates this relationship. By moving to methodological contribution, this paper presents two comprehensive indices for analyzing corporate social responsibility (CSRD) practices on global Islamic and conventional banks' websites. The quantity index includes 62 items from CSR standards, regulations, and global initiatives, while the quality index has eight categories. The study uses a deep learning approach and descriptive statistics to examine how CSRD affects corporate cash holdings. Practically, this study provides stakeholders with real-time insights into the quality and consequences of web-based Corporate Social Responsibility (CSRD) for global Islamic and conventional banks. It suggests optimizing CSR initiatives, integrating social performance with financial performance, and using websites for comprehensive CSR information. The study also suggests considering a country's systems and policies when determining online CSRD information quality.
The study has some limitations that require careful consideration. It has limitations, including a sample size of 100 Islamic and 100 non-Islamic banks, reliance on databases like Banker and S&P, focus on the banking sector, time frame of CSRD quality and quantity data collection (second half of 2022 and first quarter of 2023), and method used (quantitative analysis of banks' websites). Meanwhile, its main limitation is its focus on corporate cash holdings as a consequence of the web-based CSRD quality and quantity of top Islamic and non-Islamic banks.
Despite the debate on internet CSR disclosure, which has garnered significant academic interest and extensive literature across various countries, regions, and sectors, further research is needed in the future. The paper examines the impact of online CSRD quantity and quality on corporate cash holding, suggesting future research should explore other factors influencing web-based CSRD quality and quantity like ESG scores, integrated reporting quality, corporate credit ratings and SDG disclosures. Investigating the impacts of online CSR disclosure quantity and quality on these variables is also needed
The EU Anti Money Laundering Authority : A Digital Transformation
No full textThe EU has conferred legislative powers on a new regulatory body, the Anti Money Laundering Authority (AMLA). Companies in the EU are required by anti-money laundering (AML) law, to report suspicious transactions to Central Banks and law enforcement Financial Intelligence Units (FIU’s) who centralise those reports, and AMLA will have oversight.
The purpose of AMLA is to counteract the gaps noted by the EU relating to suspicious transaction reporting. Information sharing, collaboration, and insights into the outcomes from millions of suspicious transaction reports are lacking. There is a lack of connectivity between FIU’s and regulators.
The research in this report is a mix of methodologies such as literature review, investigation of existing public sector infrastructure and qualitative research by way of interviews of experts. This report discusses the above and makes recommendations on this rare opportunity for a digital transformation of a regulatory body which has just begun to operate
