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Britain’s bottlenose dolphins threatened with extinctionFewer than 50 of the breed are living in the Channel, raising concerns for its survivalA pod of British bottlenose dolphins “could go extinct” with fewer than 50 now living in the Channel, a study has found.The dolphins, which are one of four pods in the UK, have been seen by locals for years but recent concern for their welfare led to the first study to determine the health and size of the group.Almost 7,500 sightings taken by members of the public since the year 2000 were analysed by scientists at Plymouth University who concluded the current size is just 48 individuals.
Greece Will Impose Heavy Fines, Bar on Buying Property With CashGreece’s moves to lessen tax evasion will include a penalty up to 500,000 euros ($546,266) for property buyers using cash and canceling the deal to prohibit the purchase.That measure will go into effect Jan. 1, 2024, under a bill sent to Parliament which stipulates that a real estate purchase and sale contract recording a payment in cash – which couldn’t be verified – would be void.The minimum fine would be 10,000 euros ($10,925) to deter cash transactions which are common in Greece, especially with doctors, lawyers, professionals and service providers such as auto mechanics, plumbers and others.This is done to avoid taxes that are as high as 45 percent and has led to people trying to hide their income, including in foreign banks, and has seen salaried workers bearing the brunt of the costs while many rich escape.
Shane MacGowan: Pogues singer dies aged 65Singer-songwriter and The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan has died aged 65, following ill-health and a recent hospital stay after being diagnosed with encephalitis.The musician, whose hits include 1987's Fairytale of New York and A Pair of Brown Eyes, had been unwell for some time.MacGowan also had well-documented problems with drugs and alcohol.His wife Victoria Mary Clarke said MacGowan "meant the world to me".
Greece Welcomes 2 Million Travelers in October, Sees Off-season Demand GrowGreece welcomed 2 million travelers in October breaking all records for the month and reflecting a growing off-season tourist demand, found data released by INSETE, the Greek Tourism Confederation’s (SETE) research body.In October, arrivals to Greece grew by 11 percent over the same month in 2022, but were down by 38.5 percent over pre-Covid 2019.
Dean Sullivan: Brookside actor dies aged 68Sullivan was best known for his portrayal of Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap Brookside between 1986 and 2003.
Having a dog cuts dementia risk by 40pc, scientists claimHaving a dog can dramatically reduce the risk of developing dementia in old age, according to research carried out in Japan. A four-year study by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology monitored the well-being of nearly 12,000 residents of the city over the age of 65 and concluded that dog-owners were 40 per cent less likely to get dementia than those without a dog.The research, published in the December edition of Preventive Medicine Reports, is the first time that scientists have established a clear link between owning a dog and the onset of dementia, the institute said.
Majority of Britons support rejoining the EU single market - pollA majority of Britons support rejoining the European Union's single market even though that would mean the restoration of the free movement of workers from the bloc, according to a poll published on Wednesday.Curbing immigration was a key reason Britons voted to leave the European Union in 2016.The YouGov polling showed that 57% of Britons would now support joining the single market even if that meant the resumption of the free movement of people, a policy which led to millions of families and workers moving to Britain during the country's membership.One in five people opposed it.Support for joining the single market, which also guarantees the free movement of goods and services, was divided along political lines.
Ministerial decision makes preventative HIV drug available in GreeceA drug that prevents the transmission of the HIV virus will be available in Greece for the first time, following the signing of a joint ministerial decision on Thursday.The decision, announced one day before World AIDS Day, marks an important step in the effort to control HIV infection in GreecePrEP – or pre-exposure prophylaxis – is an antiretroviral medicine which, taken once a day, stops the transmission of HIV during unprotected sex.The pill will be given to people who are at an increased risk of contracting the virus.
Facing Ministers Foes, Mitsotakis Advances Same-Sex Marriage BillWith one of his top aides threatening to quit over it and wide opposition in his party, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government is reportedly finalizing a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Greece.It’s unclear whether it will pass although the Conservatives have a majority 158 seats in the 300-member Parliament and Greek lawmakers typically are told to vote the party line or be expelled.In this case the issue is so contentious that State Minister Makis Voridis, one of a handful of ultra-Conservatives in the government, said he would quit if directed to vote for the measure he finds objectionable.Earlier reports indicated that only a few New Democracy Members of Parliament were in support of the measure that Mitsotakis promised in July would be brought forth, without saying whether he would order them to vote for it.That would put him in the position of bringing the measure that would likely be doomed to fail, although his government was pressured by LGBTQ+ groups and major opposition SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis, who is gay and had to go to the United States to marry his partner Tyler McBeth.
Booking.com hackers increase attacks on customersHackers are increasing their attacks on Booking.com customers by posting adverts on dark web forums asking for help finding victims.Cyber-criminals are offering up to $2,000 (£1,600) for login details of hotels as they continue to target the people who are staying with them.Since at least March, customers have been tricked into sending money to cyber-criminals.New research shows the sneaky tactics being used by the unknown hackers.Booking.com is one of the largest websites for holidaymakers, but customers from the UK, Indonesia, Singapore, Greece, Italy, Portugal, the US and Netherlands have complained online about being victims of fraud through the website.