Alcaraz eases injury fears with dominant Roland Garros display, Osaka battles on
Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the second round of the French Open after overcoming concerns about his forearm injury.
WHO
Europe sets benchmark for rest of the world with landmark AI laws
Europe’s landmark rules on artificial intelligence will enter into force next month after EU countries endorsed a political deal reached in December, setting a potential global benchmark for the technology. The AI Act is more comprehensive than the United States’ approach and China’s approach, aiming to maintain social stability and state control. The legislation imposes strict transparency obligations on high-risk AI systems and restricts governments’ use of real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces. The new legislation will have a global reach, impacting companies outside the EU who use EU customer data in their AI platforms. Fines for violations range from 7.5 million euros to 35 million euros depending on the type of violations.
Federal Tax Authority releases much-anticipated free zone persons guide
The Federal Tax Authority of the UAE has released a guide that improves users’ understanding of corporate tax on free zone businesses.
Tax Matters – Four more days to seize Self Voluntary Declaration Programme opportunity
The Self Voluntary Declaration Programme (SVDP) by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) is an amnesty programme that allows taxpayers to declare undeclared or underdeclared income without penalties. The programme ends on May 31. Taxpayers can participate for income tax, real property gains tax, stamp duty, sales and service tax, and goods and services tax purposes. All taxpayers, including individuals and corporate taxpayers, are encouraged to review their past declarations and declare any understatements to avoid future audits. The declaration must be complete and supported with proper documentation. If fraudulent, the IRB or RMCD may open a case for investigation.
Tennis-Fans line up in cool Roland Garros weather as French Open begins
Thousands of spectators attended the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris as the second Grand Slam tournament of the year began. Rafa Nadal, a 14-times champion, played fourth seed Alexander Zverev on Monday. Carlos Alcaraz, a Spaniard and third seed, is expected to do well despite recently recovering from an injury. American fans are excited to see Alcaraz’s performance. French fans are hopeful with players like Ugo Humbert in the men’s draw. Former champion Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray closed the day with 40 matches played.
He reported that he was attacked in his home – He ended up in handcuffs
Assault cases are being investigated by the Kokkinotrimithia Police Station. A 43-year-old man reported being attacked by a 27-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman who illegally entered his residence and used a knife. The suspects were injured and taken to the hospital, along with the victim. The 43-year-old man was arrested on a court warrant to investigate the complaints of the suspects, while police are also investigating his complaint of assault.
Motor racing-Monaco Grand Prix re-starts after opening lap crash
The Monaco Grand Prix had a chaotic start with a big crash involving Sergio Perez, Kevin Magnussen, and Nico Hulkenberg. The Haas cars were excluded from qualifying due to a rear wing breach. Despite the incident, no further action was taken by stewards. Charles Leclerc led the race from pole position, aiming to become the first Monegasque to win the home grand prix since 1931.
LNG import blues
The LNG import project at Vasilikos in Cyprus has faced recurring problems and delays. The project, which aims to switch power generation from oil to natural gas, could reduce electricity prices by one-third, resulting in annual cost savings close to €300-€400 million. The project has faced issues due to a badly conducted tender, unclear terms of reference, and a contractor with no experience in such projects. The current contractor, CPP, has claimed additional costs and the project is not progressing as expected. The government is considering various options to complete the project, including finding a way to move forward with the present contractor, seeking independent expert advice, and exploring alternative plans if necessary.
Illegal work , ‘a problem for all’
Illegal and undeclared work in Cyprus is a growing trend, particularly in the construction industry, where it is approaching 25%. The Cyprus economy relies on employing people other than Cypriots, but this needs to be done with appropriate regulations. Third country personnel are attracted through illegal procedures in the promise of a job. The construction sector contributes about 15% to the island’s GDP, with optimistic forecasts for 2024. There are currently 40 projects underway in the construction sector worth €862 million.
Mediaeval aristocratic women brought back to life
The exhibition “Mediaeval Women of Cyprus” is a joint project by two Turkish Cypriots, Ahmet Hilmi and Semra Bayhanli, showcasing seven large canvasses portraying significant women in the island’s mediaeval history.