Four myths about vertical farming debunked
Fact: Vertical farming is expected to reach a global market value of US.23 billion (£18.55 billion) by 2029.
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Christodoulides and Sunak talk amid migration parallels
– President Nikos Christodoulides and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak discussed migration on Tuesday.
– 80% of asylum seekers arrived in Ireland by crossing its land border with Northern Ireland.
– The UK is not interested in accepting the return of asylum seekers who enter the EU from their country.
– Ireland’s High Court ruled that the UK should no longer be designated as a “safe country” for returning asylum seekers.
– The Cypriot government believes that Syria is now a safe country to which migrants can be returned.
Cyprus real estate agents back property law amendment
The Cyprus Real Estate Agents Registration Council supports a new government bill that proposes changing property valuations from every three years to every five years to lighten the workload on the Department of Land and Surveys.
Amid debate about inheritance tax, rising share of personal income tax and indirect tax remains a concern
– During the election campaign, the Congress emphasized social justice and welfare in its manifesto.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of having communal intentions with its plans for a caste census and distribution of surplus government land.
– The Congress defended its manifesto, stating that rising wealth inequality in the country needs to be addressed.
– The Finance Ministry released data showing an increase in net tax collections, driven by personal income tax and securities transaction tax.
– The share of corporate tax has been decreasing while personal income tax has been increasing.
– Direct taxes have been decreasing while indirect taxes have been increasing.
– A bulk of those who file personal income tax earn an annual income of ₹1 lakh-₹5 lakh.
– The effective personal income tax rate in India is among the highest compared to other BRICS countries.
– Poorer citizens and the middle-class are shouldering a higher share of the tax burden due to the rising share of personal income tax and indirect taxes.
Book review: The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
Fact: The novel “The Cemetery of Untold Stories” by Alvarez insists that all voices have value and that a good listener can find beauty in the story of everyone and everything.
US military’s pier in Gaza to cost $320 million
The U.S. military’s cost estimate to build a pier off Gaza for humanitarian aid delivery has risen to 0 million, involving about 1,000 U.S. service members. Senator Roger Wicker expressed concerns about the high cost and potential risks for troops. Israel’s military campaign in response to Hamas’ attack has caused a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Biden has ordered U.S. forces to stay off the Gaza shore, and aid will need to pass through Israeli checkpoints on land. The United Nations has appealed for .5 billion to meet urgent needs in Gaza.
Malaysia, OCI’s base to beat Chinese polysilicon rivals – KED Global
OCI Group is expanding its polysilicon facility in Malaysia to compete with Chinese rivals, taking advantage of low utility bills, labor costs, and taxes in the country. The company plans to increase its manufacturing capacity of solar-grade polysilicon to 56,000 tons a year by 2027. Malaysia offers benefits such as lower electricity costs, corporate taxes, and labor costs compared to South Korea. OCIM has also benefited from US sanctions on Chinese polysilicon.
Royal Caribbean lifts profit view again on cruise boom, higher prices
Royal Caribbean Group raised its annual profit forecast for a second time and beat expectations for first-quarter profit and revenue. The company now expects annual adjusted profit between .70 and .90 per share, compared with its earlier forecast of .90 to .10.
Top 10 big-buy deals in Cyprus
The top ten most expensive property sales transactions completed in March amounted to €48.1 million, with the most expensive transaction being an office building in Potamos Germasogeia in Limassol at €28 million.
Increasing tolerance of corruption in the north
Fact: Turkish Cypriots held a protest against corruption, demanding accountability for those responsible for corruption in the northern part of Cyprus.