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Bill on beach exploitation unveiledThe Finance Ministry’s much anticipated draft law on beaches and their commercial exploitation was put to public consultation on Friday. With 24 articles, the ministry redefines issues such as the demarcation of coastal areas, the way coastal areas and beaches can be leased, and the penalties for violators.Its provisions stipulate the strengthening of transparency in the process for leases and the ability of citizens to control businesses that place umbrellas and sun beds on the seashore. It also tackles the issue of so-called “block” leases in areas where there are contiguous beachfront businesses. Fines for violations will be increased, while it safeguards “untouched” beaches. These are considered as some of the bill’s positive points.However, there are also some problematic points.
UK Potential Returns Agreement to Send Migrants Back to Turkey The possibility of a returns agreement to send migrants back to Turkey seems highly unlikely in light of recent reports that Home Office officials have deemed it unsafe due to human rights concerns.The Times revealed that a review conducted internally concluded that Turkey does not meet the criteria of being a “generally safe” country for migrants to be returned to. This casts doubt on the government’s hopes for a similar agreement to the successful one with Albania, which has been celebrated by leading Tories, including Rishi Sunak.The proportion of Turkish nationals arriving in the UK via small boats has seen a substantial increase, rising from 2% in 2022 to over 10% last year. The Home Office review discovered that 99% of Turkish asylum cases in the UK were based on a fear of the state, highlighting concerns about Turkey’s use of anti-terrorism laws and the independence of its courts. Consequently, the decision to pursue a returns agreement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears increasingly unlikely.
With Big Loopholes, Greece Moves to Provide More Access to BeachesUnder the Greek Constitution all beaches are public but governments have ignored it and leased space on beaches with leases but some others have just been taken over or have gates or turnstiles to keep out the public.
Indian police release pigeon suspected as Chinese spy after eight months in bird jailA pigeon, suspected of being a Chinese spy, has been released by Indian police after spending eight months in bird jail.The bird was captured in Mumbai in May 2023 with two rings tied to its legs, carrying words that looked like Chinese.Police suspected it was involved in espionage and took it in, later sending it to an animal hospital to be held.Following an investigation, it turned out the pigeon was an open-water racing bird from Taiwan that had escaped and made its way to India.
Clapham chemical attack suspect ‘a good Muslim’ despite claiming to convert to ChristianityFriends of pizza takeaway chef who claimed to have changed religion to gain asylum say he planned to return to Afghanistan to 'find a wife'
Post Office scandal: key points from the latest court hearingsWhat have we learned from latest inquiry covering policy, audits and investigations on failings at Fujitsu and the Post Office?
Microsoft fixes connection issue affecting Outlook email appsMicrosoft has fixed a known issue causing desktop and mobile email clients to fail to connect when using Outlook.com accounts."For Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016, if you are still seeing authentication prompts, please ensure you've enabled two step verification and create an app password. Use the app password in place of your normal password when Outlook prompts for authentication."More details on how to use app passwords with apps without two-step verification support can be found in this support document.
How much do train drivers earn? Salary explained amid strike actionAccording to the Government website, Engine, London Underground, Eurostar and tube drivers can all expect to see a starting annual salary from £24,000 for a 35 to 40-hour week.More experienced drivers' salaries can exceed £65,000.Individuals looking to become train drivers will need to be at least 20 or 21 years of age depending on the company, live within one hour's travel of the depot applied to and pass enhanced background checks and a medical check. They are generally asked to do some sort of apprenticeship or training at the start.Employers will expect to see GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths, or equivalent qualifications. It has been said that whilst a degree is not really a necessary qualification, ALevel results can only help.Visit gov.uk to learn more about the relevant criteria.
Needless paperwork to be abolishedPlan to enable state, public institutions to get necessary data digitally without burdening citizens As part of the government’s stated commitment to crack down on needless and time-consuming bureaucracy, the Digital Governance Ministry plans to gradually abolish the endless number of certificates required in the transactions between citizens and both the private and public sectors with the introduction of the relevant legislation in the coming months. Currently, any transaction with municipal authorities and the private sector requires an endless list of certificates, including birth, marital status, place of residence and so on.
Greece Launches Visitable Cheese Factory Certification ProcessThe Greek Tourism Ministry announced this week that it was launching procedures for the certification of cheese factories wishing to welcome tourists.The move comes as part of ministry efforts to diversify the tourist product and link farming and primary production with the tourist experience.Cheese factories open for visitation will be awarded a special seal.
Competing as a nation in Eurovision a key benefit of Scottish independence, says SNPScotland competing in its own right in Eurovision would be one of the benefits of independence, according to a new prospectus published by the SNP.
Post Office inquiry has heard ‘chorus of cowards’, lawyers sayVictims’ lawyers call for witness statements heard at inquiry to be start of a ‘rigorous criminal investigation’The Post Office scandal inquiry has heard from a “chorus of cowards” and a “parade of liars, bullies, amnesiacs and arrogant individuals”, lawyers for victims have said in a call for criminal prosecutions during a hearing in London.In their closing statements at the latest phase of the inquiry, the legal representatives of hundreds of post office operators whose lives were ruined rounded on the men and women who had given evidence in recent weeks.Those criticised ranged from the European boss of Fujitsu, Paul Patterson, with his vague promises of compensation, to the middle-ranking Post Office staff who privately discussed shredding damning evidence and the incompetent investigators who were said to have bullied their targets for financial gain.About 80% of the victims of the Post Office and Fujitsu were yet to come forward, the inquiry heard.
Crane lifts pool out of spa block at home of Captain Tom’s familyA crane has lifted the spa pool out of an unauthorised building that is being demolished at the home of Captain Sir Tom Moore’s daughter.The tub was hooked up to chains and hoisted up through the open roof of the block, which was taken off by workmen earlier in the week.Inspector Diane Fleming ruled in November that the spa block must be demolished within three months, by February 7, and Central Bedfordshire Council said it would be “reviewing the onsite position” the following day, on February 8.
Sick Devon donkey saved by being given 24 litres of colaVets resorted to fizzy cola to help ease a blockage in a sick donkey's stomach.Joey from The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon, had a condition known as gastric impaction.It was so bad that he could not eat or drink anything, and he was in a lot of pain.Vets at the sanctuary gave Joey 24 litres of the fizzy drink over four days through a tube in his nose and now he is "back to his usual happy self".Vet Jamie Forrest said the cola dissolved the blockage, a procedure the sanctuary had tried before with "really good" results.
The Greek Meaning Behind "Arctic" And "Antarctic" Is Surprisingly FunnyImagine getting your whole continent named after a lack of bearsSome people remember it by the animals that live there. Polar bears live in the Arctic in the Northern Hemisphere, while penguins in the Antarctic in the Southern Hemisphere. The word Arctic is derived from "Arktos", the Greek word for "bear". You may have already put it together in your head and realized that the prefix "Anti-" means "opposite", pretty much defining a whole continent by its lack of bears.Although this name could be referring to the actual bears that are in the Arctic, it's more likely that it's based on the constellation Ursa Major (the "great bear" in Latin), the largest constellation in the Northern sky. Either way, if you look up and see a bear, polar or great, you'll know you're in the Arctic.
Bard Gemini Pro, Google's AI model, now available in GreeceGoogle announced on Thursday that Bard Gemini Pro, its artificial intelligence (AI) model, is now available in Greece.
FSDG Releases Kefalonia for MSFSAs part of their newly formed ‘Scenic Routes Editions’, FSDG has released the Greek island airport of Kefalonia for Microsoft Flight Simulator.Flight Simulation Design Group, known for their high fidelity sceneries has released Kefalonia, a popular European year-round destination, the first of their Scenic Routes Editions group of products. FSDG has recreated many of the island’s defining features to great detail to give the user a well-rounded look of the island including the hustle and bustle of hotels and resorts to key landmarks old and new. In the Scenic Routes Editions, it is not just the airport that sees enhancements so no matter what aircraft you fly, there is something to see.
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Topic: 02/02/24 (Read 1113 times)
