Features

LIDORÍKI, Greece — Record-breaking temperatures and prolonged drought in Greece have exposed a sunken village in Athens’ main reservoir for the first time in 30 years.

The village of Kallio was submerged in the late 1970s when the Mornos dam was built 200 kilometres west of the capital, the artificial lake fed by the Mornos and Evinos rivers.

With lake levels down by 30 percent in recent months according to state water operator EYDAP, the ruins of a school and houses have reappeared.

“The level of Lake Mornos has dropped by 40 metres,” said Yorgos Iosifidis, a 60-year-old pensioner who had to leave his home as a young man along with the other villagers when the area was flooded.

“You see the first floor that remains of my father-in-law’s two-storey house... and next to it you can see what’s left of my cousins’ house,” Iosifidis, who now lives higher up the hill, told AFP.

Drought worsened this year in the Mediterranean country that is well accustomed to summer heat waves.

After the mildest winter on record, Greece had its hottest July on record, according to preliminary weather data from the national observatory. This came after similarly record-breaking temperatures in June.

Nearly 80 houses in Kallio, in addition to the church and school, were “sacrificed” to supply Athens with water, Kallio village chairman Apostolis Gerodimos told state agency ANA.

This is the second time Kallio has reappeared, after another period of drought in the early 1990s, said Iosifidis.

“If it doesn’t rain soon, the level will drop further and the problem will be more acute than it was then,” he said.

Anastasis Papageorgiou, 26, a doctor who lives in Amygdalia, a village near Mornos, said the area has seen very little rain or snow in the last two years.

“The situation is difficult at the moment, so we have to be careful with water,” he said.

The Greek authorities called on the 3.7 million inhabitants of Attica, the region surrounding Athens and home to a third of the Greek population, not to waste water.

EYDAP has also tapped into additional reservoirs near the capital.

On a visit to neighbouring Thessaly on Monday to discuss reconstruction works after last year’s destructive floods, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece had to improve its water management.

“We don’t have the luxury to waste water... at a time when we know with certainty that we will have less water, we must protect water resources more methodically than we have done so far,” Mitsotakis said.

Greece uses 85 per cent of its water for irrigation and needs to build more dams, the prime minister said.

PARIS — Tens of thousands of pupils in France are going through a slightly different return to school this autumn, deprived of their mobile phones.

At 180 "colleges", the middle schools French children attend between the ages of 11 and 15, a scheme is being trialled to ban the use of mobile phones during the entire school day.

The trial of the "pause numerique" ("digital pause"), which encompasses more than 50,000 pupils, is being implemented ahead of a possible plan to enforce it nationwide from 2025.

Right now, pupils in French middle schools must turn off their phones. The experiment takes things further, requiring children to hand in their phones on arrival.

It is part of a move by President Emmanuel Macron for children to spend less time in front of screens, which the government fears is arresting their development.

The use of "a mobile phone or any other electronic communications terminal equipment" has been banned in nurseries, elementary schools and middle schools in France since 2018.

In high schools, which French children attend between the ages of 15 and 18, internal regulations may prohibit the use of a cell phone by pupils in "all or part of the premises”.

Bruno Bobkiewicz, general secretary of SNPDEN-Unsa, France's top union of school principals, said the 2018 law had been enforced "pretty well overall". 

"The use of mobile phones in middle schools is very low today,” he said, adding that in case of a problem "we have the means to act". 

Improving 

'school climate'

The experiment comes after Macron said in January he wanted to "regulate the use of screens among young children". 

According to a report submitted to Macron, children under 11 should not be allowed to use phones, while access to social networks should be limited for pupils under 15.

With an increasing amount of research showing the risks of excessive screen time for children, the concern has become a Europe-wide issue.

Sweden's Public Health Agency said this week children under the age of two should be kept away from digital media and television completely and it should be limited for more senior ages.

One of Britain's biggest mobile network operators, EE, has warned parents they should not give smartphones to children under the age of 11.

The French education ministry hopes that the cellphone-free environment would improve "school climate" and reduce instances of violence including online harassment and dissemination of violent images. 

The ministry also wants to improve student performance because the use of telephones harms "the ability to concentrate" and "the acquisition of knowledge". 

The experiment also aims to "raise pupils' awareness of the rational use of digital tools". 

Jerome Fournier, national secretary of the SE-UNSA teachers' union, said the experiment will seek "to respond to the difficulties of schools for which the current rule is not sufficient", even if "in the vast majority of schools it works".

'Complicated 

to implement'  

According to the education ministry, "it is up to each establishment to determine practical arrangements", with the possibility of setting up a locker system.

Pupils will have to hand in their phones on arrival, putting them in boxes or lockers. They will collect them at the end of classes. The ban also extends to extracurricular activities and school trips.

But the enforcement of the measure across all schools in France from January 2025 could be expensive.

According to local authorities, the measure could cost "nearly 130 million euros" for the 6,980 middle schools in France.

If a phone goes missing from a locker, this would also cause an added financial problem.

Education Minister Nicole Belloubet said on Tuesday that the ban would be "put in place gradually".

"The financial costs seem quite modest to me", she added.

Many are sceptical

For the leading middle and high school teachers' union Snes-FSU, the ban raises too many questions.

"How will things work on arrival?" wondered the head of the union, Sophie Venetitay. "How will things work during the day," she said, adding that some students have two mobile phones.

The SE-UNSA teachers' union also expressed reservations.

"We're going to need staff to manage arrivals, drops-off and departures, and the collection of mobile phones," said Fournier.

"Sometimes pupils just have time to put their things away when classes end, and run to the bus so as not to miss it,” he added.

Bobkiewicz of SNPDEN-Unsa, France's top union of school principals, agreed.

He said he did not want to rummage through pupils' bags to look for their phones.

"It's going to be complicated to implement."

THE HAGUE — Dutch authorities fined US facial recognition firm Clearview AI 30.5 million euros on Tuesday for "illegally" creating a database with billions of photos of faces, which they called a "massive" rights breach.

In addition to the penalty, the equivalent of $33.7 million, the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) banned the use of Clearview in The Netherlands.

The watchdog also warned companies that work with the US firm of "hefty fines".

Clearview scrapes images of faces from the internet without seeking permission and sells access to a trove of billions of pictures to clients, including law enforcement agencies.

It says on its website it has the world's largest stock of more than 50 billion photos from public sources for use in criminal probes and ensuring public safety.

But AP Chairman Aleid Wolfsen said: "Facial recognition is a very invasive technology that you can't just unleash on everyone in the world."

"If a photo of you is on the Internet — and who isn't? — then you can end up in the Clearview database and be tracked," added Wolfsen.

"This is not a doomsday scenario from a scary movie. And it's not something that could only happen in China."

Clearview has already received similar fines in Britain, France and Italy.

When French authorities fined the firm in 2022, Clearview boss Hoan Ton-That said the company had no clients or premises in France and was not subject to EU privacy law.

According to the Dutch AP statement, Clearview maintained it provided services only to intelligence and investigation services outside the European Union.

"That's bad enough," said Wolfsen.

"Don't let this go any further. We need to draw a very clear line when it comes to the misuse of this kind of technology."

In May 2023, France imposed a further fine on Clearview for failing to pay the initial 20-million-euro fine.

The Dutch AP warned Clearview it would be liable for further penalties of up to 5.1 million euros if it did not stop its violations.

"Such a company cannot continue to violate the rights of Europeans with impunity. Certainly not in this serious and massive way," said Wolfsen.



LONDON — The British government has said it will probe surge pricing after furious Oasis fans faced huge hikes in ticket prices for the Britpop band's much-anticipated reunion.

Fans were left frustrated on Saturday when sales websites crashed due to sheer weight of demand.

But many who eventually made it to the front of the online queue hours after sales began were also dismayed to find their tickets had more than doubled in price.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called the inflated prices "depressing" on Sunday, adding that the practice would be reviewed as part of the government's upcoming consultation on consumer protections in ticket sales and resales.

"We will include issues around the transparency and use of dynamic pricing, including the technology around queuing systems which incentivise it," Nandy said.

On Ticketmaster -- one of the official Oasis sales websites -- standing tickets originally priced at around £150 ($197) were being sold for over £350 labelled as "in demand standing tickets".

The company said artists decide whether or not to opt for the practice, where the value of the ticket changes based on the demand.

UK's Advertising Standards Authority regulator said on Monday it received 450 complaints about Ticketmaster ads for the gigs accusing them of making "misleading claims about availability and pricing".

The regulator said it was "carefully assessing" the complaints.

Dynamic pricing is widely used by airlines and is becoming increasingly common in concert ticket sales.

However, with a limited supply of tickets, and huge demand for the Oasis reunion tour, fans slammed the practice as "greedy", "disgusting" and a "rip off".

One reason given for using dynamic pricing is to prevent touts from buying and reselling tickets at higher prices.

Oasis had previously warned that "tickets sold in breach of the terms and conditions will be cancelled" after some pre-sale tickets bought on Friday appeared on resale sites at heavily inflated prices, some as high as £6,000.

In Ireland, where reselling tickets above face value is illegal, Deputy Prime Minister Michael Martin slammed the "price gouging" as some tickets were sold for over 400 euros ($440) due to surge pricing.

Oasis, whose hits include "Wonderwall", "Don't Look Back In Anger" and "Champagne Supernova", are scheduled to play 17 dates in the UK and Ireland, 15 years after warring brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher's last performance together.

By Rania Sa’adi
Rapid Transformational
Therapist & Clinaicl Hypnotherapist

In our daily lives, we encounter different individuals, each bringing their own special

energy and influence. While some enrich our lives with positivity and support, others

drain our emotional resources with negativity.

Dealing with negative people can be challenging, as their attitudes and behaviours can impact our wellbeing, productivity and overall happiness.

However, by employing effective strategies, we can protect ourselves from the effects of negativity and maintain a positive outlook on life.

Our wellbeing

Negative people often exhibit behaviours and attitudes that are harmful to others.

They might complain continuously, criticise, or express negativity that often comes from different sources, such as personal insecurities, unresolved issues, or a general pessimist outlook on life.

Understanding the root cause of their behaviour can help us approach the situation with empathy and develop strategies to protect ourselves.

Negative people are not to be taken lightly; they can hugely affect us in various ways.

Their behaviour can induce stress, lower our self-esteem and disrupt our mental and emotional balance.

By recognising the impact of their negativity, we become more aware of the importance of protecting ourselves. 

Acknowledging this empowers us to take steps towards maintaining our well-being.

Setting Boundaries

One of the most effective ways to protect ourselves from negative people is by setting clear boundaries.

Boundaries define what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, ensuring that we do not become overwhelmed by negativity.

Here are some ways to establish boundaries:

1. Limit interactions: Reduce the amount of time spent with negative individuals.

If avoiding them entirely is not possible, try to limit your interactions and keep them brief

2. Communicate clearly: Express your boundaries assertively but respectfully.

Let the negative person know how their behaviours affect you and what changes you need to see

3. Stick to your limits: Once you have set boundaries, it is crucial to enforce them consistently. Do not let guilt

or pressure make you compromise your well-being

Practicing self-care

Self-care is essential for maintaining our mental and emotional health, especially when dealing with negative people.

By prioritising self-care, we strengthen our power and ability to deal with negativity.

Here are some self-care practices to consider:

Mindfulness and meditation: Engaging in mindfulness and meditation can help us stay grounded and centred.

These practices enable us to manage stress and maintain a positive mindset despite external negativity Physical activity: Regular exercise releases endorphins, which can boost our mood and energy levels.

Physical activity also provides a healthy outlet for releasing tension and stress Healthy diet and sleep: Proper nutrition and adequate sleep are vital for our overall well-being.

A balanced diet and sufficient rest can improve our mental clarity and emotional stability, despite any external negative factors Engage in hobbies: Participating in activities we enjoy can serve as a distraction from negative influences.

Hobbies allow us to express ourselves creatively and find joy in our interests

Building a positive support system

Surrounding ourselves with positive, supportive individuals can counteract the effects of negativity.

A strong support system provides encouragement,

understanding and a sense of belonging.

Here are ways to build and maintain a positive network:

1. Seek out positive relationships: Identify relationships with people who uplift and inspire you.

Spend time with friends and family who have a positive outlook and encourage your growth and journey

2. Join support groups: Participate in groups or communities that share your interests and values.

These groups can offer a sense of belonging and connection

3. Be a positive influence: Foster positivity in your interactions with others.

By being a source of support and encouragement to others, you can attract likeminded individuals and strengthen your positive aura

Developing emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence involves recognising, understanding and managing our emotions and the emotions of others. 

Developing emotional intelligence can help us navigate interactions with negative people more effectively.

Best ways to do that is by:

1. Paying attention to your emotional responses and triggers.

Understanding your emotions can help you manage them better and avoid being overwhelmed by negativity By taking proactive steps, we can ensure that negativity does not overshadow our happiness

2. Practicing empathy by trying to understand the

perspective and feelings of negative individuals.

Empathy can reduce tension and makes communication much easier

3. Managing your emotions through deep breathing, positive self-talk, and taking breaks when needed.

These strategies can help you stay calm and composed in the face of negativity Protecting ourselves from negative people is crucial for maintaining our mental and emotional well-being.

By setting boundaries, practicing self-care, cultivating a positive support system and developing emotional intelligence, we can shield ourselves from negativity and foster a more positive, fulfilling life.

Remember, we have the power to choose our reactions and the people we allow into our lives.

By taking proactive steps, we can ensure that negativity does not overshadow our happiness and growth

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

NEW YORK — US rapper Fatman Scoop has died, his manager announced on Saturday, after the 53-year-old artist suffered a medical emergency while performing on stage.

Scoop, best known for the hit tracks “Be Faithful” and “It Takes Scoop”, collapsed on stage at Hamden Town Centre Park, Connecticut and was taken to hospital where doctors were unable to revive him, US media reported.

Medical staff apparently attempted to administer CPR while he was still on the stage, according to a video of the incident obtained by celebrity news site TMZ. He was then carried away on a stretcher.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts I announce the passing of Isaac Freeman III, known professionally as Fatman Scoop,” Manager Birch Michael wrote on Facebook.

“You taught me how to be the man I am today. I love you Scoop. Thank you so much for everything you gave to me,” Michael added.

Hip-hop star Missy Elliott led the tributes to Scoop, writing on X that Scoop’s “voice and energy have contributed to many songs that made the people feel happy and want to dance for over two decades. Your impact is huge and will be never be forgotten”.

Radio host Shelley Wade posted a photograph of herself with Scoop, writing: “We are losing too many of our #HipHop legends too soon. Rest easy, Scoop.”

Scoop briefly became embroiled in a political row in Australia in 2018 when the country’s then-prime minister Scott Morrison posted a clip that featured his hit “Be Faithful”.

Morrison, a conservative evangelical Christian, deleted the post after his critics said the entertainer’s lyrics were inappropriate and unparliamentary.

“It’s quite clear that that is not a song on my playlist,” he later told reporters in Sydney.

The uproar prompted a response from Scoop, who tagged Morrison in an Instagram post saying: “I am humbled to have my voice rocking in the highest offices of the Australian Government!”

The rapper defended his lyrics: “It’s a fun PARTY SONG that has no NEGATIVITY or HARM in it!!” before extending Morrison a backstage invite to a festival appearance in Australia.

PARIS — Nearly 47 years after her death, one of opera’s greatest stars, Greek soprano Maria Callas, is again taking centre stage at the Venice Film Festival played by Angelina Jolie in a new biopic.

The film “Maria” by Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larrain — who has previously tackled other female icons including Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana — portrays the final days of a singer whose voice and style forever marked the world of opera.

Here are some of the turning points in the life of “La Divina”.

A star is born 

Callas received a standing ovation hailing her arrival as a new star as the curtain fell on the last act of Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda” in Verona, Italy, on August 2, 1947. 

She was born Sophia Cecilia Anna Maria Kalogeropoulou on December 2, 1923, in New York -- her family name later shortened to Callas. 

Her family later moved back to Greece, where she started performing at the age of eight. 

In Verona she met Giovanni Battista Meneghini, a wealthy industrialist who was passionate about opera. Twenty-eight years her senior, he became her impresario and then husband in 1949. 

In 1954 she lost around 30 kilogrammes  and transformed herself into the ultimate diva, taking top parts in the most well-known operas.

The Rome scandal 

On January 2, 1958, Callas opened the Rome season with “Norma” in the presence of Italy’s president, Giovanni Gronchi. But at the end of the first act, she lost her voice and refused to continue. 

The temperamental diva was accused of being capricious as there had been whistles during one of her arias. But she insisted to the media: “As you could see, I could no longer speak.”

In 1959 Callas left Meneghini to embark on a passionate nine-year affair with Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.

“Late at night one could see him, with Callas, in an Athens taverna where, having taken off his jacket and undone his tie, he showered the orchestra with gold and broke, as is Greek custom, piles of plates,” AFP reported. 

In 1968 Onassis left Callas to marry Jackie Kennedy, the widow of assassinated US president John F. Kennedy.

Curtain call 

Callas turned her back on opera in 1965. On February 20 she triumphed in “Tosca” in Paris. 

“The moment she appeared in the church in the first act, in a pink dress wrapped in a large deep-orange scarf, her arms full of flowers, the applause was such that it drowned out the music and the first lines were inaudible,” AFP wrote.

But during a performance on May 29, she fell ill. 

On July 5, she took to the stage despite the advice of her doctor for the last time in London, with Queen Elizabeth II in the audience.

A final tour 

In 1973 Callas undertook an international tour of recitals. 

In Paris, “bouquets rained onto the stage”, accompanied by standing ovations and cries of “Vive Maria!”, AFP wrote, even if the critics were “less enthusiastic”.

Her last breath

Callas died at her Paris home on September 16, 1977, aged 53, after a heart attack.

“I have just seen her on her bed,” said Michel Glotz, her former artistic director, in an AFP report.

“It was the image itself of ‘La Traviata’ as she performed it in 1956 at Milan’s La Scala. There was not a line on her face. It seems like she was just resting,” he said.

LONDON — British rock legends Oasis announced on Tuesday they will reunite for a worldwide tour, as brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher ended an infamous 15-year feud.

The band behind hit songs including “Wonderwall”, “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and “Champagne Supernova”, will play an initial 14 gigs next year in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and the Irish capital, Dublin, starting in July.

Oasis also plan to play in “continents outside of Europe later next year”, according to a statement posted on their website.

Formed in Manchester, northwest England, in 1991 and credited with helping create the Britpop era of that decade, Oasis’ reunion tour will be the Gallagher brothers’ first performances since 2009 after they fell out.

“The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised,” Oasis said, as it announced the reunion alongside the first details of the tour.

The announcement capped days of hints and heightened speculation the band was set to play again.

However, there was no announcement regarding the release of any new music, while Oasis will reportedly not play next year’s Glastonbury festival despite widespread speculation.

“Oasis today end years of feverish speculation with the confirmation of a long-awaited run of UK and Ireland shows forming the domestic leg of their Oasis Live ‘25 world tour,” the online statement added.

‘Hottest tickets’ 

The tour will begin over two nights at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital Cardiff from July 4, 2025, followed a week later by four gigs at Heaton Park in their hometown, Manchester.

Oasis will then play London’s Wembley Stadium — on July 25 and 26 as well as August 2 and 3 — before taking to the stage over two nights at Murrayfield Stadium in the Scottish capital Edinburgh.

The UK and Ireland gigs will conclude with two performances at Dublin’s Croke Park in mid-August.

“Their only shows in Europe next year, this will be one of the biggest live moments and hottest tickets of the decade,” the statement said.

A press release said there had been “no great revelatory moment that has ignited the reunion — just the gradual realisation that the time is right”.

It promised “a set full of wall-to-wall classics”, hailing the “charisma, spark and intensity that only comes when Liam and Noel Gallagher are on-stage together”.

Tickets for the UK dates will go on sale from 9:00 am (8:00 GMT) on Saturday, with Dublin tickets available from 8am (7:00 GMT) the same day.

Social media was abuzz with the news, with the band’s post racking up hundreds of thousands of likes and fans sharing their excitement.

Manchester teaching assistant Michelle Locke, 45, told AFP she was “well excited” after hearing the “great news”.

“We’ll be up early... trying to get tickets,” she said, posing in front of a mural to the Gallaghers in south Manchester.

‘Best news’ 

In Camden, the north London neighbourhood famous for live music and where Oasis were fixtures in the mid-’90s, others were equally enthused.

“It’s the best news in the world... it’s what we need!” said Pauline Weir, 50, manager of the Modfather clothing store.

Oasis has long been synonymous with Britpop music, when it enjoyed a fierce rivalry with London band Blur, co-founded by Damon Albarn.

The Manchester outfit was also notorious for public fights between Liam and Noel.

The sibling tensions came to a head during a spat at a 2009 Paris festival, when Liam broke one of Noel’s guitars.

The brothers have not played together since — but both have still regularly played the band’s hits to sold-out crowds.

Until now, they had largely communicated in public through taking swipes at each other on social media.

The brothers have teased at a reconciliation before, with Noel last year saying “never say never”.

The hints became firmer more recently, with social media accounts for the brothers and Oasis all trailing Tuesday’s much-anticipated announcement.

The now-confirmed reunion will take place 30 years after Oasis’s 1995 album “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”, which received international critical and commercial acclaim.

Meanwhile, tracks from the first recording session for its debut album “Definitely Maybe”, released a year earlier, will be put out Friday — a day after its 30th birthday — Britain’s Press Association (PA) news agency said.