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Greece launches job program for long-term unemployed seniorsGreece’s Public Employment Service (DYPA) has launched a subsidy program to open up 1,300 jobs for long-term unemployed people aged between 55 and 74, the labor, interior and economics ministries announced on Monday.The program will have a budget of €31.2 billion and span 24 months, aiming to create 1,300 new full-time jobs in the public healthcare sector. The jobs will be eligible for two age groups, between 55 and 67, and between 67 and 74, who have nevertheless not fulfilled full pension requirements and are registered on DYPA’s unemployment list.
Ex-Post Office boss ‘gave Fujitsu bonus contract despite warnings’The former Post Office boss Paula Vennells gave Fujitsu a bonus contract in 2013 to take over an archive of branch data, despite warnings such a move would destroy evidence that might clear operators, whistleblowers have said.Transaction information was “replatformed” on cost grounds from a “gold standard” external storage system known as Centera to one owned by the Japanese software company running the Post Office’s Horizon IT network.It is understood Vennells agreed to “migrate” the archive to the Fujitsu system, known as Eternus, despite warnings from at least two senior executives in the Post Office that this would make it virtually impossible to investigate branch transactions should a forensic audit be needed into Horizon’s records.Data held on EMC Centera – a system used by HM Revenue and Customs – is immutable, meaning it could be proven that it had not been changed before any retrieval for trial. Fujitsu’s Eternus system did not offer such a level of audit integrity.
Greece’s New Short-term Rental Regulation Unclear for Property OwnersThe new regulation on short-term rental activity in Greece, which has raised several questions for property owners, was one of the main issues discussed at the recent ShortStay Conference 2024 in Athens.Part of Greece’s updated tax bill, the regulation is an attempt of the government to regulate the short-term rental market to balance conflicting interests with the hotel sector.In force since January 1, the reform brought the imposition of additional fees (such as the climate crisis resilience fee and a stayover duty in favor of municipalities), stricter fines for violation of rules, a 59-day lease limit per property and the obligation to owners renting out more than two properties to register as businesspersons for tax purposes.More than 130,000 Greek short-term rental properties are currently active listings on the Airbnb online platform, a number up 19 percent compared to January 2023, according to data presented.
jet2.com : the expanded Greek programme brings 7 breathtaking new routes to Greece in 2024Jet2.com will add seven new routes to Greece; the elected airports are Liverpool, Newcastle and Birmingham. The Greek destinations operated by Liverpool Airport are Corfu, Heraklion, Kos, Zante and Rhodes; on the other hand, Newcastle will launch flights to the biggest Greek island Crete-Chania. Last but not least, Birmingham airport is announced as providing a new Greek route to Mytilene.
The Tragedy in Borovets: For a Photo Greek Tourists Triggered the Avalanche Leaving One DeadIn a harrowing turn of events, a group of Greek tourists sparked a fatal avalanche in Borovets, Bulgaria, while venturing off-track for a photo opportunity. The Mountain Rescue Service (MRS) revealed that the incident, which occurred in an area known for avalanche risks, resulted in the loss of one life and left others in peril.Compounding the tragedy was the absence of an avalanche device on the deceased skier, leaving them vulnerable to the unforgiving force of nature.
Major step towards airport reopeningCouncillors have voted to progress plans to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport using £138m in devolution funding.Following the closure of the airport in November 2022, City of Doncaster Council has set out plans to lease the airport site from its owner and find a new operator.This morning, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s board voted unanimously to approve progression of the plans to a full business case.
Leaf it out! Brits may run short of tea due to Red Sea attacksBritons may start to boil over if the reported possibility of tea shortages come to pass.Trouble is brewing after the supermarket industry warned of a risk to supply from shipping disruptions in the Red Sea.The British Retail Consortium said it had seen “temporary disruption” to some black-tea lines and an industry source said there had been some “delays” to flavoured lines.Although the UK’s two biggest supermarket groups showed ample supply on their websites on February 13, companies have warned in general that the length of disruptions to Red Sea shipping will determine whether British, and European, tea lovers might suffer the almost unthinkable distress of empty shelves.
Oregon resident caught the bubonic plague from their cat, local officials sayA pet owner in Oregon has caught the bubonic plague from their cat in a rare example of the potentially deadly illness surfacing in the United States, local authorities have said.The plague was responsible for the Black Death in medieval Europe and elsewhere which killed millions of people and devastated the continent. In modern times it has become much rarer.Local officials said the unnamed person in rural Deschutes county, Oregon, had likely caught the plague from their pet, which was displaying symptoms of the disease.The case is the first example of the bubonic plague in Oregon since 2015. It is usually found in the area being carried by squirrels, chipmunks, mice and other rodents.
Most Greek University Students Don’t Graduate on Time: Some NeverBesides the problem of “Eternal Students,” – those who stay for years or never graduate – only 20 percent of students complete their studies within four years, most taking almost six years to get their degree.That was according to a report by the National Authority for Higher Education which also showed that Greece has the highest ratio of students per teacher, 33 points below the European average.The report also noted that Greece has 25 institutions of higher education with 423 departments, 602 undergraduate programs, 1,258 postgraduate programs and 423 doctoral programs.The student population seems to be one of the highest among European countries and the world, mostly because of those students who enroll, seldom or never go to class and aren’t required to meet minimum grade standards or be expelled.Greek universities are free and admission standards are so low that students can be admitted to some schools with failing grades, with occasional occupations of buildings preventing classes from being held.
BBC iPlayer to end programme downloads for PCs and MacsThe BBC's iPlayer streaming service is to end downloads for users who watch on desktop or laptop computers.Programmes will still be available to download on tablets and phones via the mobile iPlayer app.Currently viewers on PCs and Macs can save programmes via the iPlayer Downloads app, but that will be closed.The changes were "due to the low number of people using it and the cost required to keep it going" the BBC said."This does not affect downloads on the BBC iPlayer mobile or tablet apps and viewers can continue to stream programmes on BBC iPlayer on their PCs and Macs," a spokesperson added.The BBC has published a timeline of the planned changes: 2 February - new downloads of the BBC iPlayer Downloads app end 11 March - downloading programmes from the web will end. Users will still be able to watch any existing downloads until 8 April 8 April - the BBC iPlayer Downloads app will be closedThe corporation declined to reveal how many people would be affected by the closure of downloads for users of desktops and laptops, but the decision has attracted some criticism.
Steve Wright: Radio 2 presenter dies aged 69
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Topic: 13/02/24 (Read 911 times)
