Greece will offer free one-week holidays in Rhodes to tourists who have been forced to leave the island due to the huge fire that was finally brought under control on Friday after burning dozens of houses and having to evacuate thousands of people.

This was announced this Wednesday by the Greek Prime Minister, the conservative Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during an interview with British television ITV. In it, he has assured that the situation on the island “has returned to normal”, although he has acknowledged that the fire “has caused inconvenience to all visitors”.

The fire, which razed more than 20,000 hectares of forest and forced the evacuation of some 20,000 people, was contained this Friday after 10 days of fighting the flames.

Some 6,000 tourists had to be evacuated, although more than 70,000 left the island a few hours after the fire spread to the more touristy areas of the eastern coast.

Mitsotakis wanted to make it clear in the interview that Greece is a “completely safe” tourist destination for foreigners who want to visit it and stressed that the country is “prepared” to face emergencies like the one in Rhodes.

The prime minister has also indicated that the fire has affected 15% of the island, a territory that is especially popular with the British, who will be able to enjoy the offer from the Greek government next autumn or spring.

Wikipedia says that “the term mother country is used to designate a 'mother' nation with which a group of individuals is related, be it their place of birth or the ethnic origin of an immigrant group. On the other hand, it can be used to indicate the historical, political and cultural relationship that exists between colonies or ex-colonies and the nations that have colonized them.

'Motherland' was the name of a statue erected in kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, in 1981, depicting a woman with a shield in one hand and a sword in the other.. It measures 62 meters high (102 with its pedestal) and weighs 560 tons.. An emblematic monument, the sculpture stands on top of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War (which is what they call the Second World War).

A trident instead of the hammer and sickle

Marked by its Soviet symbols, the hammer and sickle, the statue was erected for the purpose of that second meaning that we saw: Ukrainians celebrating motherland Russia. But things have changed a lot, especially since the tanks of the “fatherland” Vladimir Putin invaded the territory of “his daughter” in February 2022.

Operators began work on Tuesday to remove the hammer and sickle from the shield that carries the statue of the 'Motherland'. The symbols of the USSR, which appeared surrounded by a garland of ears of corn, will be replaced. In its place will be placed the tryzub, the trident that appears on the country's coat of arms.

85% of Ukrainians who participated in a poll voted to remove the Soviet symbology from the monument

In addition, Ukraine will change the name of the statue to 'Mother Ukraine'. The “new” sculpture is expected to be ready before Independence Day, which falls on August 24.

Actually, with a war involved, it is surprising that the authorities have taken so long to do so. In 2022, the Ministry of Culture launched a citizen survey to determine what to do with the statue.. Of those who participated, 85% advocated removing the Soviet symbology from the monument.

Previously, Ukrainian public figures had raised on several occasions that the Soviet symbology of the statue was a symbol of slavery.. Law enforcement had been slow until the outbreak of war in February 2022.

The hammer and sickle lost by the 'Motherland' will be handed over to the Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II.

The statue in detail

The Kiev 'Motherland' sculpture is made of stainless steel, is 62 meters high, which is 102 together with the base of the building, and weighs about 560 tons. The sword in the right hand of the statue is about 16 meters long and weighs 9 tons.. In his left hand he holds a shield (13 x 8 meters), which is now going to be transformed.

In the 1950s there was a plan to build two twin monuments of Lenin and Stalin on that site, each almost 200 meters high.

It was designed by Yevgeny Vuchetich, who was inspired by the Ukrainian painter Nina Danyleiko.. After Vuchetich's death, the project was continued by Vasyl Borodai. He preferred the Ukrainian sculptor Halyna Kalchenko as a model because she was the daughter of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Nikifor Kalchenko.

It could have been worse, because in the 1950s a plan circulated to build two twin monuments of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin on the same spot, each almost 200 meters high.. In the end, the idea was scrapped.

Under the statue, the memorial hall of the Great Patriotic War Museum displays marble plaques with engraved names of more than 11,600 soldiers and more than 200 home front workers.. All of them were honored during the war with the title “Hero of the Soviet Union” and “Hero of Socialist Labor.”

Pope Francis arrived in Lisbon this Wednesday to participate in the World Youth Day (WYD) events with a busy schedule that runs until August 6, which includes, among other activities, a visit to the Sanctuary of Fatima. This is the second visit to Portugal by the 86-year-old Argentine pontiff, who in 2017 was in the aforementioned sanctuary.

The papal plane from the Ita Airways company landed at the Figo Seco military base, on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital, at 9:44 a.m. local time (8:44 a.m. GMT), some 15 minutes earlier than the initially scheduled time, and was received by the Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

On board the papal plane, Francis assured this Wednesday that he would continue to “make a mess”, alluding to the speech ten years ago in which he told the young Argentines who were participating in WYD in Brazil: “Make a mess!” and which became a motto for Catholics. “Ten years have passed since that 'Make a mess,'” the pontiff was asked during the flight, to which he replied: “And we will continue to make a mess.”

On the flight to Lisbon, Francisco appeared leaning on his cane and in a good mood and wanted, as is tradition, to greet the nearly 80 media representatives from around the world who were accompanying him on the visit one by one.

As he explained to the journalists, although the organizers have spoken that close to a million young people will participate in WYD in Lisbon, it is expected that this number will be exceeded.. “They have told me that there will be more than a million,” he said.

Meeting with victims of child abuse

On his first day in Lisbon, the Pope will also meet with the Prime Minister, António Costa, representatives of the diplomatic corps and civil society, and will conclude with a meeting with members of the Portuguese Church in which a mention of the investigation that uncovered 4,800 abuses of minors in the last 70 years. Outside the official program, a meeting of Francisco with a group of victims has been announced, about which no details have been provided to protect the privacy of the participants.

More than 200,000 filees have taken to the streets of Lisbon during the last two days to celebrate World Youth Day (WYD). Their presence has been noted in the transport system and, especially, in the city's metro where they have been caught passing en masse without presenting any type of ticket.

A Twitter user shared a video on Tuesday in which hundreds of boys and girls from the Pope's youth forced the turnstiles to enter the subway without presenting any accreditation that would allow them to enter.. However, another Internet user has explained that all parishioners have a pass that guarantees them, among other things, free admission to transport.

To avoid crowds in the subway, it has been requested that the doors remain open during certain hours of the day while WYD is celebrated, which will end on August 6.

World Youth Day began this Tuesday in Lisbon with an act held on the 'Hill of Meeting', in the emblematic Eduardo VII park. Manuel Clemente, the patriarch of Lisbon, presided over the opening ceremony of the conference there.

This Wednesday, young people from all over the world await the arrival of Pope Francis in the Portuguese capital, which is expected to be around 10:00 a.m. at the Figo Seco military base.. Throughout the day the pontiff will preside over various events and will meet in private with the president of Portugal, Rebelo de Sousa.

World Youth Day (WYD), celebrated every three years, brings together some 200,000 faithful this Wednesday of the more than a million that are expected to still arrive in Lisbon, a city flooded with religious symbols and blocked by security controls imposed in eve of the arrival of the Pope. The pontiff will arrive throughout the morning.

Pope Francis has embarked on his trip to Lisbon this Wednesday to participate in the WYD events. The papal plane of the Ita Airways company, in which the Vatican delegation and 70 representatives of the media are traveling, took off from Rome at 8:00 a.m. and is scheduled to land at the Figo Seco military base at 10:00 a.m., where it will The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, will wait at the foot of the stairs.

At the airport there will be a brief welcome ceremony, while the official presentations will take place afterwards at the National Palace of Belém, the current residence of the President of the Republic and where Francisco will hold a private meeting with Rebelo de Sousa.

Afterwards, the pope will go to the Cultural Center of Belém and before about 1,000 people, he will deliver his first speech of a more political nature in Portuguese lands, since in 2017 he traveled to Portugal, but only visited Fátima

If London Mayor Sadiq Khan were Spanish, he would undoubtedly have more friends these days. The Labor party has received a barrage of criticism in the United Kingdom for its policies against city pollution and gender violence. Even his own party leader, Keir Starmer, seemed to blame him for the party's failure to win the seat former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had to resign, calling on him to “reflect” on his plan to expand low-emission zones. in London.

These low emission zones have had some defenders, especially when a court struck down the appeal of conservative councilors against Khan's plan, a fact that activists celebrated, pointing out that some 4,000 people die before their time due to problems related to poor air quality. in London.

However, Khan has been less vocal about a new ad campaign against sexism and gender violence. In fact, he has been the subject of negative columns in the main British media, from the right-wing tabloid The Daily Mail to the progressive newspaper The Guardian, going through the radio where he has received ridicule and criticism.. “Another great idea from Sadiq Khan!” host Nick Ferrari sneered on London's LBC radio.

The campaign includes an interactive video in which a group of friends meet in a house, play a video game and chat about various topics, including ex-girlfriends, one of their new girlfriends and women's soccer.. The viewer is invited to “intervene” when they hear something worthy of “calling their attention”. “How long will it take to intervene?”, explain the instructions. “Violence against women and girls begins with words”. How to intervene? Hitting a button that says “Maaate” (slang for “friend” or “colleague”). “Saying 'colleeega' shows how a simple word can be all you need to interrupt a friend going too far without making things awkward, spoiling the moment or jeopardizing the friendship,” says the mayor's website.

Some feminists object that while it is taboo to make racist comments, it is promoting the idea that if someone makes a macho comment they should not be humiliated or suffer an “awkward” moment.. “The ad is unbelievably bad. It manages to infantilize and patronize men while frivolizing the real issue of abuse and violence against women,” writes feminist Julie Bindel in The Daily Mail tabloid, “And a disapproving 'oooo friend' stands even less chance to be effective in a crowded pub, on the tube with a man groping a woman, or when you hear the thuds or screams of domestic violence (sic) through the wall of the house next door “.

Although there are associations that fight for women's rights that support the campaign, such as The Fawcett Society, they have had less space in the press than critics.. Alesha De-Freitas, from the NGO, welcomes the fact that there is a campaign that focuses on men and their role in changing attitudes. “Often awareness campaigns focus on how women should protect ourselves against violence and harassment on our streets, offices and at home,” she told The Times.

The ad was designed by the advertising agency Ogilvy after interviewing men in places like barbershops and bars in London.. 60% of those surveyed said they would feel “more confident” calling out a friend for being sexist or misogynistic after seeing Khan's campaign. “Humiliation doesn't work,” says behavioral scientist David Fanner.

This campaign is the second that Khan has done; in another last year that showed groups of men threatening single women in London. The message was also aimed at men to change their behavior first and then their friends.

I have the feeling that the consensus in Spain that violence against women is a problem that society as a whole should solve would have favored a deeper debate on Khan's announcements.. Here we also see the importance of involving men in changing their attitudes. The Ministry of Equality has tried it in an announcement that makes you think, but Vox's refusal to dedicate resources to these issues shows that some men still have to be convinced.

Ukraine says Russia is having to get used to drone strikes, which are becoming more commonplace as Zelensky tries to take the war into the heart of the neighboring country. “Moscow is rapidly accustomed to total war, which will soon move definitively to the territory of those responsible for this war to collect their debt,” said Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhailo Podoliak, commenting on a new drone attack. against the Russian capital. This morning, Russia has returned the aggression with up to ten drones in kyiv and several attacks on the grain warehouses of Odessa.

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, counts the days to say goodbye and return to a quieter life. In July, after the crisis that swept away the current government in the first days of July, a crisis caused by immigration policy, he announced his departure.

The search for a replacement for Rutte at the head of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) is underway (the elections will be in November). The chosen one seems to be Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, current Minister of Justice and Security. She proposed herself as the head of the list (below in the tweet). In mid-July the party leadership chose her as a favorite, however, other party members have until Sunday August 13 to present themselves as candidates.

hard line

Yesilgoz-Zegerius is of Turkish origin and yet has been noted for his tough stance on immigration issues.. and does not hide. His profile appears on the website of the Government of the Netherlands, with a photo and a phrase as a motto: “I will promote, defend and strengthen the rule of law. I want people to trust the protection it offers. And we will take a hard line against those who undermine the rule of law.”

This liberal politician was born on June 18, 1977 in Ankara, Turkey (she is 46 years old). And yet, he defends the need to strengthen border controls and promote a more effective integration of immigrants into Dutch society.. The minister assures that her job consists of ensuring that people who arrive in the Netherlands comply with the legal requirements and adapt to the culture and values of the country.

I want people to trust the protection we offer and we will take a hard line against those who undermine the rule of law.”

Her parents emigrated to Dutch lands when she was a girl. His (Kurdish) father was a trade unionist who had to flee Turkey after the 1980 coup and sought asylum in the Netherlands.. In 1984, he escaped to the Greek island of Kos and later managed to reach the Netherlands with his family (also Dilan), obtaining asylum.

INTERNATIONAL

Gustavo Petro's son agrees to collaborate with Justice after being accused of money laundering

August 2, 2023 Luis Moreno Leave a comment

Nicolás Petro Burgos, eldest son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has agreed on Tuesday to collaborate with the Justice and reveal facts of corruption of which he is aware within the process in which the Prosecutor's Office accused him of the alleged crimes of money laundering and enrichment illicit public servant.

The accusations are serious because money laundering has a penalty of between 10 and 30 years in prison and illicit enrichment of 5 to 10 years.

The Prosecutor's Office also accused the ex-wife of Nicolás Petro, Daysuris Vásquez, also arrested last Saturday, for money laundering and violation of personal data, before the Municipal Criminal Court 74 with functions of guarantee control, a crime that is punishable with a minimum four years and a maximum of eight.

The Prosecutor's Office charged Nicolás Petro Burgos with the crimes of illicit enrichment and money laundering; and Vásquez Castro accused him of money laundering and violation of personal data. pic.twitter.com/WPfcMVYiUE

– Colombian Prosecutor's Office (@FiscaliaCol) August 1, 2023

The prosecution's evidence

The president's son was arrested as part of an investigation launched last March by the Prosecutor's Office after his ex-wife revealed to the press that Nicolás Petro received illegal money for his father's electoral campaign, which ultimately never reached its destination because he used to increase his personal wealth.

The case gained relevance on Saturday when the couple was arrested in two operations in Barranquilla and then transferred to the bunker of the Prosecutor's Office in Bogotá.

In the hearing this Tuesday, Petro Burgos has agreed to collaborate with the Justice, although he did not accept the charges against him.

“I want to announce to Colombia that we have decided to start a collaboration process where I will refer to new facts and situations that will help Justice. I do it for my family and for my baby who is on the way,” said Petro Burgos, who is a deputy to the Assembly of the Department of the Atlantic.

Vásquez, who was the one who triggered the scandal, had already expressed his willingness to collaborate with the Justice to obtain a reduction in sentences.

“Given the forcefulness and sufficiency of the evidence presented by the investigative body, the defendants today voluntarily announced to the Prosecutor's Office their willingness to collaborate with the justice system and provide relevant information that leads to an early termination of the judicial process,” indicated the Prosecutor's Office in a statement.

For his part, the first prosecutor delegated to the Superior Court of Bogotá, Mario Burgos, who is handling the prosecution, asked that “security be reinforced” for Petro Burgos, his team of defenders and Vásquez.

“There is no doubt that you are immersed in the conduct of illicit enrichment as a public servant,” the prosecutor told the president's son at a hearing in which he questioned the origin of his assets.

millions without explanation

During the imputation hearing, the million-dollar figures that Petro Burgos managed in the last two years were known and that, according to the Prosecutor's Office, have no support since his salary as a regional deputy is 13 million pesos per month (about 3,000 euros) and he does not have another source of income.

According to prosecutor Burgos, in 2020 the defendant bought a house in the town of Tubará (Atlántico) for almost 335 million pesos (about 85,000 dollars today), and in September 2022 he paid the initial fee for another house worth 696,250 ,000 pesos (about 171,000 euros).

“Daysuris, we are already going to have two houses,” said prosecutor Burgos sarcastically when referring to this situation.

In addition, the official said, Petro Burgos paid rent in different residences in which he lived in that period and last December he bought a Mercedes Benz car for 200 million pesos (about 48,000 euros).

“None of this is from salaries or leasing,” said the prosecutor, who recalled that in 2022 Petro Burgos' total income was 280,331,394 pesos (about 69,000 euros today).

In his presentation, the prosecutor concluded that Petro Burgos increased his assets by 1,053 million pesos (about 260,000 euros) that “are not the product of his work as a deputy” for which he considered that this money represents “an unjustified increase in assets.”

The process against the ex-partner will continue next Thursday the 3rd, after the information that Petro Burgos promised to give in relation to corruption cases is reviewed.

ECONOMY

This is the amount of money you should never put in the bank all at once

August 2, 2023 Luis Moreno Leave a comment

The Tax Agency monitors cash movements as a measure to control money flows and prevent money laundering. Although it monitors cash withdrawals from banks or even the money “that you keep under the mattress”, it also monitors the cash deposits that citizens make to banking entities.

And it is that, although we are in the era of Bizum and 'contactless' payment, paper money still continues to occupy a predominant role in the economy of the vast majority of users. And the difficulty of tracking cash payments means that the Treasury establishes strict limits on the amounts that can be moved without the public body noticing.

A maximum of 3,000 euros

The maximum amount of money that we can deposit in cash in the bank without justifying and without drawing the attention of the Tax Agency is about 3,000 euros, according to La Información.. It is from that amount when the Treasury can request receipts and supporting documents to determine the origin of the money.

This limit is, in fact, the same as in the case of cash withdrawals, as reported by the Bank of Spain on its Banking Client portal. The entity also reports that “the fact that the Tax Administration may have information on all these movements does not mean that it will initiate an investigation”, but that it will only do so in the event of having “suspicions of any criminal operation”.