One passenger died from a suspected heart attack and 30 others were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence, prompting the plane to divert to Bangkok.
The Trudeau government introduced the Accelerated Investment Initiative in late 2018 to encourage corporate investment by allowing companies to expense the cost of new equipment and systems. However, the policy is set to expire by 2028, leading to an increase in effective tax rates on new investments. The Liberals are focusing on redistributionist efforts and targeted tax credits, rather than extending the sector-neutral accelerated capital-cost allowances program. This approach limits the impact on productivity-enhancing assets and may hinder overall economic growth.
Fact: The University of Cyprus offers scholarships for qualified international candidates in various postgraduate programs with tuition fees ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 euros.
A group of small island states, including Antigua and Barbuda and the Bahamas, secured a win on climate change in an international court. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) stated that greenhouse gas emissions absorbed by the ocean are considered marine pollution, and countries are obligated to protect marine environments beyond the requirements of the Paris climate agreement. The opinion is not legally binding but can guide countries in their climate policy and serve as legal precedent in other cases.
Scores of graduating students staged a walkout from Yale University’s commencement exercises on Monday, protesting the Israeli war in Gaza, Yale’s financial ties to weapons makers, and its response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus. The walkout drew cheers from fellow students but was otherwise peaceful, with no mention made from the stage.
Tens of thousands of Russians who fled to Turkey after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine have been leaving due to residency issues and soaring costs. The number of Russians with Turkish resident permits fell to 96,000, down by more than a third from 154,000 at the end of 2022. Many have headed to Serbia and Montenegro. Turkish inflation hit 70% last month, and basic banking has become difficult due to sanctions. Some Russians have also left due to struggles to get residence permits since early 2023.
Nine protesters from Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Spain are facing deportation from Greece after being arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Athens School of Law. Police detained a total of 28 Greek and foreign protesters on charges of disrupting the operation of a public entity and damaging foreign property. Evidence against the protesters included various items such as leaflets, Palestinian flags, smoke flares, gas masks, helmets, paint cans, and banner poles. While Greek protesters were released pending trial, the nine foreign nationals remained in custody pending a decision on their deportation. Their lawyers have stated that deportation orders have been issued, preventing the defendants from attending their own trial. Pro-Palestinian supporters have been protesting in Greece since Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Greece recently abolished legislation protecting universities from police entry, sparking criticism from those who saw it as a threat to democracy.
The Troodos astronomical observatory was officially unveiled in Agridia, Cyprus, as part of the EU project ‘Geostars’ aimed at promoting similar endeavors in Cyprus and Greece. The project was co-funded by the EU and the governments of both countries, with a budget of €2,678,400. The observatory will be used to promote the development of mountainous areas and attract investments in alternative tourism.
Researchers led by Professor Corey Bradshaw of Flinders University challenge previous beliefs about early human migration patterns with a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study suggests that hunter-gatherers settled Cyprus much earlier than previously thought, around 14,257 to 13,182 years ago, contradicting the idea that Mediterranean islands were too isolated for Paleolithic societies. The research indicates rapid settlement coinciding with favorable climatic conditions, large-scale migrations, and the use of advanced watercraft. Dr. Theodora Moutsiou argues that Mediterranean islands like Cyprus would have been attractive destinations for early hunter-gatherer societies, challenging the notion of inhospitability. The study emphasizes the importance of reevaluating early human migration in the Mediterranean based on new archaeological evidence and advanced modeling techniques.
The University of Nicosia (UNIC) has been ranked at #115 worldwide in the 2024 Times Higher Education Young University Rankings, tied with the University of Toulouse in France. UNIC excels in the areas of assessment, ranking 1st and 2nd in Cyprus and Greece for International Outlook and Research Quality. Additionally, UNIC was ranked among the Top 501-600 universities in the world by THE World University Rankings for 2024.