A new public artwork in Protaras is turning a coastal promenade into a place of reflection, memory and national significance.

The sculpture, Cyprus’ journey through the ages, by acclaimed Cypriot artist Philippos Yiapanis, was unveiled on Saturday, September 19, in the Xistaria area of the Lefkolla promenade. The work, which was previously presented in Salamina, Attica, traces Cyprus’s long historical trajectory while underscoring the enduring ties between Cypriot Hellenism and Greece.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

A Landmark With Historical Weight

Set against the view of occupied Famagusta and ancient Salamis, the sculpture carries a symbolism that extends beyond aesthetics. Its location lends the piece a powerful commemorative dimension, linking remembrance with continuity and hope.

Installed in a prominent public space, the artwork also adds a cultural layer to Protaras, offering residents and visitors a new landmark where art intersects with collective memory and history.

A Donation Rooted In Memory And Identity

The sculpture was donated by the company and family of Chrysostomos and Katerina Papavassiliou and installed with the support of the Municipality of Paralimni-Deryneia. The unveiling took place under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Culture.

Chrysostomos Papavassiliou, chairman and chief executive of Limassol-based Island Oil Holdings, said the piece speaks directly to Cyprus’s unresolved division.

He described the sculpture as a deeply symbolic work, noting that Yiapanis had created “half a boat, half an occupied Cyprus,” and calling it “a journey that remains unfinished.”

He added that the artwork is also “a cry of pain for those who were lost forever, those who remain missing, and our uprooted compatriots.”

A Message Aimed At The Future

For Papavassiliou, the donation is not only an act of remembrance but also a statement of intent.

“For us, this donation represents a small contribution to the fight against oblivion,” he said, describing it as “an expression of hope for the reunification of our beloved homeland under conditions of peace, security and respect for our cultural heritage, and through the implementation of the European acquis.”

The company also thanked Yiapanis, Paralimni-Deryneia Mayor Giorgos Nikolettos, and the Municipal Council for their contribution to the cultural life of the area, as well as the Deputy Ministry of Culture and all those involved in organizing and completing the ceremony.

Nicosia’s Pedieos Linear Park is moving into a full-scale phase of redevelopment and modernization through an ambitious master plan that aims to redefine the capital’s relationship with the environment, active mobility and public recreation.

A Strategic Urban Upgrade For The Capital

According to the Environmental Impact Assessment, the project carries an estimated cost of €21 million. The study remains open for public consultation at the Department of Environment until October 23. Once finalized, the plan will guide the future development of the municipalities of Nicosia, Strovolos and Lakatamia, positioning the river corridor as a model for sustainable urban regeneration.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

The project will be delivered across 15 action zones spanning the full length of the Pedieos corridor and will be implemented in two phases. Phase A covers priority works in subsections P1, P2 and P3 in the Municipality of Nicosia, P6 in the Municipality of Strovolos, and P13 in the Municipality of Lakatamia. Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2027 and conclude in early 2029.

Phase B, which covers the remaining areas, is scheduled for a later stage, with works expected to start around the end of 2028 and be completed in the second half of 2030. The project is being implemented by the Inter-Municipal Development Works Company of Nicosia Ltd. (DAEL).

What The Master Plan Includes

The redevelopment stretches from the Nicosia Municipal Gardens to Anthoupoli and includes a wide range of infrastructure upgrades and new public amenities. The existing 11-kilometre pedestrian and cycling route will be upgraded with durable permeable surfacing and lane separation, while the network will be extended by an additional 5.1 kilometres toward Anthoupoli, Saint Demetrios Park and Michalakis Sophocleous Park.

The plan also foresees 13 new pedestrian bridges and the upgrade of existing crossings into signal-controlled intersections. In parallel, 13 new parking areas with permeable flooring and electric vehicle charging points will be created, along with one Park & Ride facility.

Landscape interventions will cover 190,000 square metres with native planting. The design includes two botanical gardens, one music garden, seven sensory, therapeutic and educational gardens, eight pollinator zones and one artificial biodiversity lake.

For sports and leisure, the plan provides for 11 new natural-style playgrounds and three energy playgrounds. It will also add five new courts and fields for basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, padel and tennis, four outdoor gyms, two bike parks, skateparks and dog parks. Additional features include two amphitheatres, seven timber event platforms, one open-air events area and an outdoor art exhibition space. Along the route, planners also propose eight refreshment kiosks, 12 public toilets, eight bike hubs and a series of picnic and seating areas.

A Corridor Reimagined In 15 Subareas

To manage the project more effectively, both at the planning and construction stages, the study area has been divided into 15 subareas, P1 through P15.

P1 – Municipal Gardens: The proposal includes upgrading the existing pedestrian crossing on Nehrou Street, linking the Linear Park with the new Cyprus Archaeological Museum. It also calls for an information point, a bike hub, improved public toilets, biodiversity enhancements and emergency vehicle access from Chylonos Street.

P2 – Prodromou Park: Planned interventions include a refreshment kiosk, picnic area, local products pavilion, a nature-based adventure playground, a bike hub and new toilets. The pedestrian route will also be widened, with emergency access points added.

P3 – Agioi Omologites: This section will be upgraded with a new pedestrian bridge and a second 350-metre passage for cyclists, plus new access points, parking areas and a bike hub. Safer crossings will improve connectivity, while riverbed restoration and biodiversity reinforcement are also planned.

P4 – Presidential Palace: Cultural uses will be expanded through a small amphitheatre, outdoor exhibitions, a natural cycling track, an outdoor tabletop games area and a bike hub. The plan also includes a new pedestrian bridge, a square, an emergency access zone, a playground and an outdoor gym on Kolokotroni Street.

P5 – Athalassa Avenue: This area will feature new parking spaces, a Park & Ride facility, a small refreshment kiosk and public toilets. The Agia Marina intersection will be redesigned with a signal-controlled crossing, a raised platform and continuous surface treatment.

P6 – Strovolos Town Hall: A gateway square will be created on Chryseleousis Street to strengthen the link with Strovolos’ urban core. The plan also includes upgrading the existing parking area, adding new toilets, redesigning the town hall surroundings and installing solar pavement.

P7 – Agios Vasileios: A new pedestrian bridge will connect both banks, with a future extension of the Linear Park into the urban fabric and educational facilities of Agios Vasileios via Kantaras Street.

P8 – Elaionon: The bridge on Elaionon Street will be widened and reinforced to improve pedestrian safety. The south bank will include an energy playground, public toilets and parking, while the north bank will host a dog park, skatepark and ecological cultivation areas.

P9 – PAEEK: A new pedestrian bridge will improve access to the residential area. The existing lift on Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue will also be repaired, while native planting will be strengthened on both banks.

P10 – Agios Mamas: A new pedestrian bridge at the Pedieos junction will extend the route through Michalakis Sophocleous Park toward the settlement. The plan also includes children’s play areas, an upgraded square with seating, native planting and pollinator habitats on the north bank.

P11 – Maglis Lake: Proposed uses include small kiosks, a refreshment point, playgrounds, a therapeutic garden, an outdoor event area, an outdoor gym and toilets. A new bridge will connect both sides, while planting and biodiversity measures will be reinforced with pollinator support.

P12 – Ioanni Kapodistria: The road bridge on Ioanni Kapodistria Street will be rebuilt and raised due to flood risk, and the pedestrian-cyclist route will be widened for safer movement. The plan also provides for an emergency access point linked to Lakatamia Medical Centre and additional native planting to support biodiversity.

P13 – Lakatamia A: The south bank will host outdoor activity zones for parkour and climbing, an outdoor tabletop games area, a new natural-style bike park with a bike hub and two parking areas. On the north bank, the plan includes small timber platforms, a compact amphitheatre, kiosks, seating, a sensory park, two refreshment points with toilets, an energy playground, a natural playground and kinetic pavement.

P14 – Lakatamia B: The west bank is set to include timber event platforms, energy playgrounds, natural playgrounds, toilets, a bike hub, a pollinator park and an educational point. On the east bank, planners propose a new parking area, toilets, a bike hub, a new playground and kinetic pavement along the pedestrian route.

P15 – Anthoupoli: Near Anthoupoli Gymnasium, a new pedestrian bridge will connect the two banks of the river. The area will also gain five new sports courts for volleyball, beach volleyball, tennis, padel and basketball, along with a picnic and seating area, toilets, a refreshment point, a playground, a pollinator park and a new parking facility.

A Blueprint For Sustainable Urban Life

In scope and ambition, the Pedieos Linear Park redevelopment goes beyond landscaping. It is an attempt to turn a river corridor into a continuous civic asset: one that supports mobility, recreation, biodiversity and neighbourhood connectivity in equal measure. If delivered as planned, it could become one of the most consequential urban regeneration projects in Cyprus’ recent history.

Cyprus Climbs To Third Place In EU Dangerous Goods Road Freight

Cyprus recorded the third-highest share of dangerous goods in road freight transport across the European Union in 2025, according to Eurostat, with such cargo accounting for 7.5% of total tonne-kilometres.

Only Finland, at 9.8%, and Ireland, at 7.8%, posted higher shares. At the other end of the scale, Lithuania recorded the lowest proportion at 0.7%, while Portugal and Slovakia each stood at 1.9%.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Dangerous goods include items such as flammable liquids, toxic substances and explosives. Across the EU, they represented 4% of road freight transport when measured by tonne-kilometres.

Cyprus Freight Volumes Continue To Rise

The figures come against a backdrop of stronger road freight activity in Cyprus during 2025. According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus, the weight of goods transported by road within the island rose by 4.8% over the year, while freight moving to and from Cyprus increased by 10%.

The momentum was particularly visible at the end of the year. In the fourth quarter alone, domestic road freight volumes were up 19.4% year on year, while freight to and from the island rose 14.2%.

EU Road Freight Edges Higher

Across the bloc, 13.29 billion tonnes of goods were transported by road in 2025, up 1.8% from 2024. Measured by weight, metal ores, mining and quarrying products formed the largest category at 3.04 billion tonnes, or 22.9% of the EU total.

Food products, beverages and tobacco followed at 1.61 billion tonnes, while other non-metallic mineral products accounted for 1.6 billion tonnes. Both categories represented 12.1% of the total.

The ranking changes when freight is measured in tonne-kilometres, which captures both the weight carried and the distance travelled. In that measure, food products, beverages and tobacco led the way at 311.1 billion tonne-kilometres, equal to 16.6% of the EU total.

They were followed by grouped goods, which cover different types of goods transported together, at 237.1 billion tonne-kilometres, and agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing products at 206.3 billion tonne-kilometres.

Poland Dominates EU Freight Activity

Overall EU road freight activity reached 1,886 billion tonne-kilometres in 2025, up 0.9% year on year. Poland remained the bloc’s largest road freight operator by some distance, posting 381 billion tonne-kilometres, or 20.2% of the total.

Germany followed with 277.4 billion tonne-kilometres, ahead of Spain at 272.6 billion, France at 172.9 billion and Italy at 161.7 billion. Together, those five countries accounted for 67.1% of EU road freight activity.

Cyprus recorded about 1.1 billion tonne-kilometres in 2025, broadly unchanged from the previous year.

Most EU road freight remained domestic, accounting for 62.2% of total tonne-kilometres. International transport represented 24.4%, cross-trade 10.7% and cabotage 2.7%.

Cyprus continues to stand out as one of Europe’s more resilient investment destinations. According to the latest EY Cyprus Attractiveness Survey 2026, 83 per cent of international investors still regard the island as attractive for foreign direct investment, even as concerns over energy costs, access to finance and bureaucracy persist.

Presented by Stelios Demetriou, EY Cyprus Head of Strategy and Transactions and M&A Leader for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe & Central Asia, the report estimates Cyprus’ FDI stock at roughly €82 billion in 2025. Investment remains concentrated in financial services, real estate and information and communications technology.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Investor Confidence Remains Broadly Intact

The survey shows a market that continues to command credibility among global capital allocators. Of the respondents, 56 per cent described Cyprus as definitely attractive and another 27 per cent as fairly attractive. A further 13 per cent were neutral, while only 4 per cent considered the island unattractive.

The findings are based on responses from 80 foreign investors across 23 countries and 11 sectors. Senior executives and investment decision-makers took part, and around 92 per cent of respondents already have business operations in Cyprus.

That established presence is translating into stronger intent. Sixty-seven per cent of respondents said they plan either to enter the Cypriot market or expand existing operations, up from 57 per cent in 2024 and just 29 per cent in 2022.

Among companies already operating on the island, 62 per cent expect to expand over the next 12 months, while 29 per cent intend to maintain current activity levels. Half of those without an existing footprint said they are considering entry into the market.

Tax Still Anchors The Investment Proposition

Tax remains Cyprus’ most powerful competitive advantage. Ninety per cent of respondents rated the country’s corporate tax regime and broader tax framework as attractive. Quality of life followed at 82 per cent, while political and social stability scored 65 per cent.

Investor confidence in the local workforce was also notable, with 58 per cent citing skills as a strength. Nearly half, 49 per cent, pointed to the country’s growth prospects.

The emphasis on taxation carries added significance after Cyprus raised its corporate income tax rate from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent at the start of 2026 as part of wider tax reform. The European Commission has noted that corporate income tax still plays an unusually large role in Cyprus’ public finances, accounting for about 20 per cent of tax revenues, more than twice the EU average.

Energy, Finance And Red Tape Remain The Pressure Points

For all the optimism, investors were clear about where Cyprus must improve to sustain momentum.

Energy costs were the most frequently cited weakness, mentioned by 50 per cent of respondents. Access to finance and capital followed at 38 per cent, while the bureaucratic and administrative environment was flagged by 35 per cent. Transport and logistics infrastructure was cited by 33 per cent, and the availability of investment opportunities by 31 per cent.

These concerns extend beyond the EY survey. The European Commission has also identified access to finance and the business environment as areas requiring further reform, while calling for faster progress on renewables, electricity grids and storage to ease energy costs.

Energy has become an even more important issue in 2026. The Commission expects Cyprus inflation to rise to 3.6 per cent next year, largely because of higher energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict, even as it forecasts economic growth of 2.3 per cent this year and 2.7 per cent in 2027.

Geopolitics Is Rising On The Risk Agenda

Geopolitical uncertainty is now firmly in investors’ line of sight. Seventy-four per cent of respondents identified geopolitical tensions and conflicts as a potential threat to Cyprus’ attractiveness over the next three years.

That concern ranked well ahead of low connectivity, adverse reputation and a heavier regulatory burden, each cited by 29 per cent. Tight labour market conditions followed at 27 per cent, while volatile energy prices and supply problems were noted by 26 per cent.

Beyond The Core Economy, New Growth Areas Are Emerging

Despite the risks, investors are looking beyond Cyprus’ traditional strengths. While 48 per cent said future investment would focus on the sale of products and services, 21 per cent identified research and development, and 19 per cent pointed to business support services. Continued interest in regional headquartering also signals the island’s evolving role as a corporate base for wider markets.

Looking ahead, 60 per cent of respondents expect Cyprus to become more attractive for FDI over the next three years, including 9 per cent who anticipate a significant improvement. Another 24 per cent expect little change, while 6 per cent foresee deterioration.

Real estate, infrastructure and construction were seen as the sectors most likely to drive longer-term growth, cited by 23 per cent of investors. Tourism and leisure, as well as ICT and telecommunications, followed at 14 per cent each, with payments and fintech at 11 per cent.

A Stronger Outlook Than The Wider European Market

Cyprus’ relative resilience comes at a time when Europe’s broader investment environment remains under pressure. EY recorded 5,026 foreign investment projects across Europe in 2025, down 7 per cent from the previous year. Even so, 60 per cent of businesses surveyed across Europe still expect the region’s attractiveness to improve over the next three years.

For Cyprus, the message is clear: the island retains powerful structural advantages, but preserving investor confidence will depend on reducing costs, improving financing conditions and cutting the friction that still slows business activity.

YouTube is expanding its use of artificial intelligence in YouTube Music with two new features designed to make discovery faster, more intuitive and more personalized. The updates, announced at this year’s Made On YouTube event, introduce a conversational music assistant called Ask Music and a tailored podcast recommendation tool called Your Podcast Lineup.

A More Natural Way To Search For Music

Ask Music is built directly into the YouTube Music app and allows users to describe what they want to hear in everyday language rather than searching by song title, artist or album. The feature taps into YouTube Music’s catalog of more than 300 million songs, including official tracks, remixes, live recordings, covers and DJ sets.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

In practice, that means listeners can go beyond basic search and use the tool to build custom playlists, trace musical influences or explore the context behind a song. YouTube says users can phrase requests as they would in a conversation with a friend, whether they want a mix inspired by a specific track or details about who played bass on a recording.

Turning Podcast Discovery Into A Guided Experience

YouTube Music is also rolling out Your Podcast Lineup, an AI-generated audio guide aimed at solving one of the biggest challenges in podcasting: discovery. With more shows available than most people can reasonably follow, even loyal listeners often struggle to keep pace with new episodes, let alone identify new programs worth their time.

The feature will appear on the podcast page inside the YouTube Music app and refresh weekly with a short spoken preview of recommended shows. It will also explain why each title may appeal to the listener before moving directly into suggested episodes. The result is a more guided, low-friction way to sample new content without having to search manually.

YouTube Joins A Broader AI Race In Audio

The move puts YouTube in closer competition with Spotify, which recently introduced an AI-powered feature for podcasts that generates personalized episodes based on user interests and prompts. Both companies are increasingly using AI not just as a backend efficiency tool, but as a front-end discovery engine designed to keep users engaged longer.

YouTube has already been testing this direction inside music. Last year, the company experimented with AI-powered hosts that offer trivia, stories and commentary tied to what listeners are playing, signaling a broader strategy to make audio experiences more interactive and context-rich.

What It Means For Users

For listeners, the appeal is straightforward: less searching, more relevant recommendations and a more conversational interface for exploring music and podcasts. For YouTube, the opportunity is equally clear. Better discovery can increase engagement, deepen listening habits and make YouTube Music feel less like a library and more like a guided media platform.

Both features are expected to roll out soon to YouTube Music and YouTube Premium subscribers worldwide.

YouTube used its latest Made on YouTube event to signal a deeper bet on artificial intelligence as a creative accelerator for the platform’s largest asset: its creators.

Among the new features announced Wednesday was conversational editing, a tool designed to let creators refine both long-form and short-form videos through natural language prompts. In practice, that means creators can instruct the AI in a chat-like interface to help assemble footage, tighten pacing, add text, and shape a finished edit without starting from scratch.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

An Editing Workflow Built Around Conversation

On stage, YouTuber Happy Kelli described the practical frustration the feature is meant to solve. “A one-hour shoot can be 10 hours or more in the edit. So, what if we could speed that process along without sacrificing any of our creative control?” she said.

Her demonstration showed how the tool could work in a real production setting. After sharing clips of herself dancing in different outfits, she asked the AI to identify the best take for each look. From there, she added music and transitions to match the energy of the performance.

AI As A Collaborative Editor, Not A Replacement

YouTube is positioning the feature not as a substitute for human creativity, but as an assistant that removes friction from the editing process.

“If at any point I want even more control, I can jump back into the editing timeline and manually adjust things myself,” Kelli said. “Overall, conversational editing turns the process of editing into a literal conversation with an infinitely patient helper. It’s a collaborative partner that edits with you, not for you.”

That distinction matters. For many creators, editing is more than a technical task; it is a signature of style, pacing, and personality. A tool that accelerates the workflow without flattening that individuality could be highly attractive. But it may also raise a familiar tension in the creator economy: whether efficiency comes at the expense of distinctive editorial voice.

Broader Capabilities And Creator Appeal

Beyond sequencing clips, conversational editing can also suggest text overlays, remove pauses in speech, and propose edits based on the context of the conversation. That makes it potentially useful not just for speeding up production, but for helping less experienced creators navigate decisions that often slow down post-production.

The business case is straightforward. Time saved in editing can translate into faster publishing cycles, more content output, and lower production costs. For creators operating at scale, those gains can be meaningful. For YouTube, the payoff is equally strategic: a better creator workflow can deepen platform loyalty and increase the volume of content flowing through its ecosystem.

Rollout Timeline

Conversational editing will arrive first for YouTube Shorts and the YouTube Create app in early 2027. The long lead time suggests the company is still shaping the experience before a wider deployment.

That timeline also reflects the broader reality of AI in creator tools. The most compelling promise is not automation for its own sake, but augmentation that helps creators move faster while preserving judgment and control. YouTube appears determined to make that balance the foundation of its next generation of editing products.

People around the world are rapidly folding artificial intelligence into everyday life. They use it to draft emails, research projects, build presentations, check homework and even plan dinner. But broader adoption is not translating into broader trust.

A Growing Gap Between Use And Confidence

That tension is especially visible in the United States. According to a new Gallup survey commissioned by Microsoft, 68% of Americans who use AI daily say they are worried about it. More broadly, 74% of Americans surveyed reported feeling concern, while only 36% expect the technology to mostly benefit the country.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

The results matter because they challenge a common assumption in the AI debate: that frequent use is a proxy for enthusiasm. The opposite may be true. The more people encounter AI in daily life, the more likely they may be to notice its flaws, risks and limits.

A Global Survey With Uneven Sentiment

Gallup’s study spans 37 countries so far, with roughly 1,000 respondents per country surveyed between April and July. The project is expected to eventually cover 140 countries. Notably absent from the current results are major technology markets including India, Australia and Malaysia.

The U.S. appears to sit near the anxious end of the international spectrum. Western countries, in particular, show elevated concern. Canada is a case in point: 29% of respondents reported using AI daily, yet more than half of those users said they were worried about its impact. Overall, 64% of Canadians familiar with AI said the technology concerns them.

By contrast, several countries in Asia and Africa showed a more optimistic outlook. Singapore posted the highest daily usage rate in the study at 46%, and more than 80% of respondents aware of AI said they expect it to improve their everyday lives. Seventy-seven percent said they believe it will help the country. In China and Israel, respondents also expressed a largely positive view of AI’s future impact.

Trust Lags Even Where Optimism Is High

Optimism, however, does not automatically equal trust. Gallup found that daily users tend to be more confident in AI’s outputs than people who use it less often, especially in high-adoption markets such as Singapore, Israel and China. Even so, skepticism remains widespread. In the United States, only 45% of daily users said they trust AI’s results. Across all surveyed countries, just 36% of respondents, on median, said they trust AI’s results a lot.

That distinction is important for business leaders. Organizations are racing to deploy AI across customer service, software development, marketing, recruiting and internal operations. But if employees and customers do not trust the output, adoption alone will not guarantee impact.

Curiosity Dominates, But Concern Is Real

Despite the debate surrounding the technology, Gallup found that positive emotions still outweigh negative ones overall. In 34 of the 37 countries surveyed, people were most likely to describe their feelings about AI as curiosity. Smaller shares said they felt happy or excited. About 32% said they felt worried.

Those positive responses were strongest in China, Singapore and Kenya, where curiosity and optimism remain especially pronounced. But the survey also makes clear that worry is now part of the public conversation, rather than a fringe reaction.

Why Public Attitudes Are Getting More Complicated

The findings arrive amid intensifying scrutiny of AI’s broader consequences. Companies are laying off workers while directing more capital toward automation. Entry-level opportunities are narrowing. Researchers and executives have raised alarms about AI psychosis, job displacement and the possibility of increasingly autonomous systems behaving in ways people cannot control.

There are also broader concerns about climate impact, cybersecurity, intellectual property and data privacy. In other words, public skepticism is not just about whether AI works. It is about who it serves, how it is governed and what trade-offs society is willing to accept.

Pablo Diego-Rosell, senior scientist at Gallup, told TechCrunch that the data shows AI attitudes are “multidimensional.” People can be curious about the technology, expect it to be useful and use it frequently while still worrying about it. They can also see its potential and remain unconvinced that its answers are reliable.

Adoption Will Not Solve The Trust Problem

That may be the central takeaway for executives, policymakers and investors: exposure alone is not enough to resolve public unease. As AI becomes more embedded in daily life, resistance is unlikely to disappear. In fact, more familiarity may sharpen the debate over where the technology belongs and what limits should govern its use.

For now, the data suggests a world that is curious about AI, increasingly dependent on it and still deeply uncertain about the consequences. With billions being poured into the technology, AI is likely to keep spreading. The harder question is not whether it will be used, but how much trust society is willing to extend as it does.

Social isolation and loneliness are often used interchangeably, but they describe different realities. Social isolation is measured by limited contact and participation with others. Loneliness is a subjective feeling of disconnection from the world around you. A new study published in Nature Communications suggests that both can carry a significant health cost.

Researchers analysing data from more than 270,000 adults aged 40 to 69 found that loneliness and social isolation were each associated with fewer healthy years of life. On average, the impact amounted to roughly six disease-free years lost, underscoring the extent to which social wellbeing and physical health are intertwined.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

“Overall, the study found that social isolation and loneliness can have a significant impact on disease-free life expectancy,” said lead author Lu Qi, professor at Tulane University.

Loneliness Hits Mental Health Harder

The effects were more pronounced for mental health than for physical disease. The study found stronger associations with the loss of years free of depression and anxiety than with years free of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, neurodegenerative disease and cancer.

That distinction matters. A person may be physically surrounded by others and still feel profoundly alone, while another may have a small social circle without experiencing loneliness. The study suggests that both states can influence long-term health, but in different ways.

A Healthy Lifestyle Helps, But Only Partly

The researchers found a more active, healthier lifestyle could reduce some of the harm linked to social isolation. In other words, good habits may help offset the effects of limited social contact. But the same was not true for loneliness. The study indicates that healthy routines do not fully compensate for the damage associated with feeling disconnected.

At age 50, people experiencing both loneliness and social isolation were expected to spend fewer years free of major chronic disease than those experiencing neither. The finding reinforces a growing body of evidence that social health is not a soft variable; it is a meaningful predictor of later-life wellbeing.

Men And Women Do Not Experience It The Same Way

The health effects also differed by sex. Among women, loneliness and social isolation were linked to 2.4 fewer years spent in good physical health and 3.7 fewer years free from mental disorders. Among men, the figures were 1.7 years of physical disease-free life lost and 5.8 years of mental disorder-free life lost.

Men were also more likely to experience both loneliness and social isolation, along with lower levels of social, material and economic resources, and a weaker healthy-lifestyle score.

The authors suggested that the gap may reflect differences in how men and women seek support and build psychological resilience. Men may rely more heavily on physical presence and frequent interaction, while women may depend more on emotional support. That distinction could help explain why the burden of loneliness appears to fall differently across genders.

For employers, healthcare systems and policymakers, the message is clear: social connection is not merely a personal comfort. It is a public health issue with measurable consequences for disease-free life expectancy.

As artificial intelligence makes it easier to fabricate identities, impersonate professionals and spread misinformation online, LinkedIn is moving to strengthen one of the internet’s most important trust layers: identity.

On Wednesday, the Microsoft-owned professional network announced a new set of tools designed to help members prove who they are, allow companies to better manage who is associated with their brand and reduce the risk of fake accounts exploiting the platform’s credibility.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Verification Becomes A Competitive Advantage

The timing is no accident. Impersonation and synthetic identities have become a broader online problem, but the stakes are particularly high on LinkedIn, where careers are built on claims about employment history, credentials, education and experience. A single false profile can distort hiring decisions, open the door to scams and erode confidence in the network itself.

“The backdrop for all this is that faking credibility has never been cheaper or easier than it is today; and conversely, showcasing credibility has never mattered more,” LinkedIn vice president of product Oscar Rodriguez told TechCrunch.

LinkedIn says its existing verification tools have already been used to verify 115 million users and more than 700,000 companies. Rodriguez said the company sees authenticity as a foundational asset for the platform. “We’ve been invested in [verification] because we believe that authenticity will be the single most valuable currency on the internet,” he said.

Colleague Vouches Add A New Layer Of Trust

One of the most notable additions will let members vouch for the experience of colleagues and classmates, past or present. The feature is not intended to function like an endorsement. Instead, it is designed to confirm that a person actually worked or studied where they say they did.

In practical terms, it is a trust signal that says, “I worked with this person during this period,” rather than “I recommend this person.”

To limit abuse, LinkedIn says the person providing the vouch must already have a verified profile, must have been connected to the member for at least a year and must have a secure account with two-factor authentication enabled. That combination is meant to make it harder for attackers to hijack accounts and manufacture false credibility at scale.

Companies Gain More Control Over Brand Associations

LinkedIn is also expanding tools for company page administrators. In some cases, businesses will be able to remove accounts that falsely claim employment from appearing on their page or in related search results.

That matters because fake associations can create reputational confusion for employers and misleading signals for recruiters, clients and investors. If a profile claims a role at a recognizable company, it can gain visibility and legitimacy it has not earned.

Page admins will be able to visit the profile in question and manually remove the false association. LinkedIn is also testing a setting that would require future users attempting to link themselves to a company page to complete workplace verification, such as confirming a work email address.

Importantly, removing a profile from a company page will not alter the member’s own LinkedIn profile. The user will still control their account, but the profile will no longer show a clickable link to the company page and the experience will no longer appear as verified.

Rodriguez said the feature is designed to give members “signals and context” to make better decisions. He also noted that the tool is focused on full-time employees, not contractors or field workers, though those workers may have other ways to confirm legitimate affiliation.

Identity Verification Beyond LinkedIn

LinkedIn is also broadening partnerships that allow members to display verified identities outside its own platform. The company said Truecaller and PeerSpot will join existing partners including Adobe and UserTesting.

In one example, a Truecaller user can add a LinkedIn-verified identity so the recipient sees that signal when the person places a call. It is part of a broader effort to make verification portable, so trust established on LinkedIn can carry into other digital environments.

Why LinkedIn Is Doubling Down

The company’s push reflects a simple but powerful business reality: in a market flooded with automation, credibility becomes a differentiator. For professionals, verification can improve discoverability and engagement. Rodriguez said verified members, on average, receive 50% more post views and 90% more impressions than non-verified profiles.

For LinkedIn, that is more than a product feature. It is a platform strategy. As fake accounts become easier to create and harder to detect, the network that can best prove authenticity may also be the one that sustains the most trust, engagement and value over time.

Buying a home is one of the most consequential financial decisions a person can make. For prospective homeowners, clarity, speed and confidence are as important as access to funding itself. Eurobank is aiming to deliver all three with the launch of its new MyHome Guide, a five-step framework designed to streamline the mortgage application process from initial calculation to loan completion.

A More Structured Path To Home Ownership

The MyHome Guide brings together digital tools and human support to create a more integrated home-buying experience. Rather than leaving applicants to navigate the mortgage process alone, Eurobank has built a step-by-step approach that helps customers understand their options, prepare the necessary documentation and move forward with greater certainty.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

The first stage focuses on financing planning. Prospective borrowers can assess how much they may be able to borrow, estimate their own contribution and calculate indicative monthly instalments. The guide also helps them factor in the one-off and recurring costs that come with owning a home, offering a more realistic picture of affordability from the outset.

Matching Financing To Individual Needs

Once the budget is defined, the next step is to review available mortgage options based on each customer’s plans and priorities. Eurobank offers financing for primary residences, holiday homes, energy-efficient properties and investment properties, with borrowers able to choose between fixed and variable interest rate structures depending on the product.

This flexibility matters. In a market where household finances are under pressure and long-term borrowing decisions carry significant consequences, the ability to tailor the mortgage structure to the buyer’s profile can be a meaningful advantage.

Guidance Through The Application Process

After selecting the right solution, applicants move to the submission stage. The guide supports customers in assembling the required documentation and progressing with their application in an organised way.

Eurobank is also offering support through multiple channels. Interested customers can meet with a specialised Mortgage Loan Adviser either in person or online via the bank’s Book a Meeting service. Existing Eurobank customers can also apply through the Eurobank Cyprus app and receive an initial response within 24 hours.

Following the assessment, customers receive the pre-contractual documents and are given time to review the terms before completing the final steps. Once the required procedures are finished and the documents are signed, the loan is activated.

Support Beyond The Mortgage

Eurobank’s support does not end at disbursement. The bank also offers financing for household equipment, renovation and energy upgrades, which can be arranged alongside the mortgage or at a later stage. That gives new homeowners the ability to make their property more comfortable, efficient and functional after the purchase is complete.

The broader financing package adds another layer of flexibility. Borrowers can choose between variable-rate products and fixed-rate options for the first three, five or 10 years. For eligible customers taking out new mortgages for a primary residence, additional benefits may apply, including a capital repayment grace period of up to 12 months for homes under construction and rewards of up to €2,000 through the My Home Rewards programme.

Combining Technology With Human Expertise

With MyHome Guide, Eurobank is positioning itself as more than just a lender. The initiative reflects a broader shift in financial services: customers increasingly expect digital convenience, but they also want access to expert advice at critical decision points. By combining technology, professional guidance and a clearly structured process, Eurobank is seeking to make the path to home ownership more transparent and manageable.

More information is available through Eurobank’s MyHome Guide.