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Six Days Adrift: Tragedy Strikes Migrant Boat off Greek Coast

  Twenty-two migrants lost their lives off the coast of Greece after spending six harrowing days at sea in a rubber boat that had departed from Tobruk, Libya. According to survivor accounts and Greek coastguard reports, the passengers became disoriented during the journey and were left without food or water, leading to fatal exhaustion.  Rescue teams recovered 26 survivors, including a woman and a minor, near the island of Crete. Several survivors reported that the bodies of those who died were thrown overboard on the orders of smugglers accompanying the group. Greek authorities have since arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, suspected of human trafficking and negligent homicide.  The tragedy highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, a route that continues to claim lives despite increased border controls and international attention. Poor weather, overcrowded vessels, and lack of supplies remain persis...
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Small Businesses in Canada Face Bankruptcy Risk Amidst Pandemic-Era Support Withdrawal

 


According to a recent report, thousands of small businesses in Canada are at risk of bankruptcy after the government ended pandemic-era support last month with the economy slowing at a time of high interest rates. 

Small firms that employ fewer than 100 people are critical to the Canadian economy as they give jobs to almost two-thirds of the country’s 12 million private workers. A spike in bankruptcies, which jumped 38% in the first 11 months of 2023, would weigh on economic growth, lobby groups and economists warn. 

Last month, small businesses faced a deadline to repay interest-free loans of C$60,000 ($44,676) made available to each of them during the pandemic. Of the 900,000 who had taken the government support, a fifth have not yet repaid their loans, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Monday. Katherine Cuplinskas, a spokesperson for the Finance Minister said in an emailed response that the Department of Finance did not expect there will be a negative impact on the economy on account of repayment of the loans given as support during the pandemic. She said loan recipients have long had full information on timelines and have been able to plan accordingly.


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