Fact: The Cyprus Parliament is considering legislation to replace the stagnant Category F application process, aiming to lower the real estate investment threshold to €250,000 and reduce the income requirement to €40,000 for the applicant, with an additional €10,000 for each dependent.
Tens of thousands of faithful prayed for peace at Portugal’s Fatima shrine amid wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and other places. The shrine marks the site of reported visions of the Virgin Mary over 100 years ago. The Roman Catholic Church believes she gave three messages to three Portuguese children in 1917. Pope Francis made two of the children saints in 2017. Some pilgrims brought Ukrainian flags in support following Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The rise of the far-right is becoming normalized in Cyprus and beyond, with political parties adopting its rhetoric in an attempt to tame it. This normalization is not exclusive to Cyprus or Greece, as far-right parties are gaining power in countries like Italy, Hungary, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Czechia, Belgium, the USA, and Argentina. The far-right’s communication skills and appeal in a conspiracy-obsessed society are contributing to its success, raising concerns about a return to pseudo-eugenic and misanthropic theories reminiscent of the Middle Ages.
Forced sterilisation of people with disabilities is legal or not explicitly banned in Cyprus and 11 other EU countries. This practice is considered a violation of human rights and can be a form of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Despite being a criminal offense in Cyprus, mental health laws allow the procedure with guardian consent. Fear, lack of education about sex, and concerns about parenting responsibilities are cited as reasons for forced sterilisation, although less invasive alternatives like the coil are available. The European Disability Forum has campaigned to ban forced sterilisation, but efforts have not been successful in some cases.
Cyprus has the highest rate of healthcare-associated infections in the European Union, with 13.8% of patients contracting an infection while receiving healthcare. Additionally, Cyprus also has the highest rate of antimicrobial use in the EU and EEA, with 56.5% of hospital patients being prescribed antimicrobial medication.
The first semi-final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest is happening in Malmo, Sweden, with Cyprus among the fifteen countries competing for ten spots in the grand final on Saturday. Cyprus’ Silia Kapsis will perform the song “Liar” tonight, with viewers in Cyprus able to watch live on CyBC at 10 p.m. local time. Betting odds favor Croatia and Ukraine as the strongest contenders to win, while Cyprus is predicted to place eighth.
The text discusses the implementation of Digital Services Taxes (DSTs) in Europe and the efforts to replace them with a new international tax system called Pillar One. The United States has responded to DSTs with retaliatory tariff threats, urging countries to abandon unilateral measures. About half of all European OECD countries have either announced, proposed, or implemented a DST, impacting mainly U.S. companies.
Digital Taxation around the World | Tax Foundation Skip to content taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. policies, a significant number of countries adopted unilateral tax measures targeted at digital businesses, … Read more
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place in Sweden, specifically in Malmö, with 37 participating countries. The event will begin on May 7 with the first semi-final, followed by the second semi-final on May 9, and the Grand Final on May 11. The top 10 from each semi-final will compete in the final, along with the previous year’s winner (Sweden) and the “Big Five” countries (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain). The favorite to win according to bookmakers is Switzerland, represented by rapper and singer Nemo Mettler. Viewers at home will determine the outcome of the semi-finals, while viewers and professional juries will vote in the Grand Final. The event will be presented by Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman.
Portugal celebrated the 50th anniversary of the “Carnation Revolution” that ended a fascist dictatorship and brought democracy. The revolution was led by junior army officers who wanted democracy and decolonization. Recent celebrations were overshadowed by concerns over the rise of the far right in Portugal, including the populist party Chega. Chega has gained popularity by appealing to those with a revisionist view of history and advocating for changes to the constitution. Despite being the third largest party in Portugal, Chega’s leader denies being fascist and criticizes mainstream parties for not addressing poverty and other issues.