A pedestrian leaves the entrance of the headquarters of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) building in Islamabad — AFP/File Focus on growth, not taxes. Vietnam’s standard corporate tax rate is 20 per cent and preferential tax rates are as low as 10 per cent, depending on factors like investment size and location. High-tech enterprises … Read more
Marina Satti from Greece advanced to the Eurovision Grand Final with her song “ZARI” after a captivating performance.
Fact: The Nicosia Municipal Theatre will host a special performance featuring the Hamazkayin Sipan dance group of Cyprus and the Kousan Choir of Lebanon presenting a rich cultural programme on May 11.
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.
Armenia has agreed to return four villages situated on their shared border to Azerbaijan, which had been held by Armenia since the early 1990s.
Russian peacekeepers have started withdrawing from Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region, ending their multi-year deployment. The move comes after Azerbaijan retook Nagorno-Karabakh last year despite the presence of Russian peacekeepers, triggering the exodus of ethnic Armenians. Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan has questioned his country’s alliance with Russia and is building closer ties with the West. Armenia has asked Russian border guards to leave their posts at the main airport in Yerevan. Kremlin spokesman Peskov confirmed the withdrawal, and Azerbaijani media reported that Russian peacekeepers have already started leaving the region. The peacekeeping troops were deployed in November 2020 under a Moscow-brokered deal to stop fighting between Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian forces.
The European Parliament has been instrumental in enacting reforms to enhance the lives of people in Europe, including managing the COVID-19 pandemic by endorsing the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism and contributing to the NextGenerationEU financial plan. Key achievements also include advancements in Green and Digital Transitions, implementing measures for health, welfare, and daily experiences of EU citizens, and supporting young people through initiatives like the European Year of Skills.
Wizz Air is celebrating its 20th anniversary next month and has been a key player in Cyprus’ aviation industry since establishing a base at Larnaca International Airport in 2010. The airline has received awards for its environmental practices and sustainability efforts. In 2023, Wizz Air played a significant role in Cyprus’ record-breaking tourist season by transporting passengers from various key markets. The airline increased its seat capacity by 70% in 2023 and is estimated to have injected €200 million into the Cypriot economy. Wizz Air holds the leading position for passenger numbers at Larnaca Airport and is set to offer 1.3 million seats on 25 routes to 16 countries from Cyprus in 2024. The airline’s presence has created 130 direct jobs and is estimated to support an additional 5,500 jobs in related sectors.
Fact: A concert by the Gaba Project featuring Nicolas Tryphonos with handpan, lyra, and double bass will take place in Limassol on April 14 at Ypogeia Skini/Polichoros Synergeio at 8pm.
Pope Francis called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages in his Easter Sunday address.