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Nestled in the embrace of the cerulean waters of the Mediterranean lies Crete, the largest of the Greek islands and a treasure trove of history, culture, and natural beauty. From ancient ruins to pristine beaches, and vibrant cities to quaint villages, Crete offers an unparalleled experience for travelers seeking a blend of relaxation, adventure, and exploration. Here’s your ultimate guide to unlocking the charm of Crete and crafting a memorable vacation on this enchanting island.

Embrace History and Culture:

Visit Knossos Palace: Step back in time to the Minoan civilization by exploring the ruins of Knossos Palace, Europe’s oldest city. Marvel at the intricate frescoes, labyrinthine corridors, and mythical tales that echo through the ages.

Discover Chania Old Town: Lose yourself in the winding alleyways of Chania’s Venetian harbor. Admire the elegant architecture, browse through boutique shops, and savor traditional Cretan cuisine at charming tavernas.

Explore Heraklion: Immerse yourself in the bustling capital city of Crete. Wander through the vibrant streets, visit the Archaeological Museum to see artifacts from Minoan civilization, and don’t miss the imposing Koules Fortress guarding the harbor.

Bask in Natural Splendor:

Relax on Beaches: Crete boasts some of the most stunning beaches in the Mediterranean. From the pink sands of Elafonissi to the secluded coves of Balos, each beach offers a unique slice of paradise. Spend your days soaking up the sun, swimming in crystal-clear waters, and unwinding on the sandy shores.

Hike the Samaria Gorge: Lace up your hiking boots and embark on an adventure through the breathtaking Samaria Gorge. Trek along rugged trails, marvel at towering cliffs, and encounter diverse flora and fauna in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Discover Natural Wonders: From the dramatic landscapes of the White Mountains to the idyllic shores of Lake Kournas, Crete is a haven for nature lovers. Explore enchanting caves, traverse lush valleys, and marvel at majestic waterfalls for an unforgettable outdoor experience.

Indulge in Culinary Delights:

Taste Authentic Cuisine: Delight your taste buds with the flavors of Crete’s rich culinary heritage. Sample traditional dishes like dakos (rusk salad), moussaka, and fresh seafood prepared with locally sourced ingredients and aromatic herbs.

Visit Local Markets: Experience the vibrant colors and aromas of Crete’s markets. Wander through stalls brimming with ripe fruits, fragrant spices, and artisanal products. Engage with local vendors, learn about traditional cooking techniques, and stock up on souvenirs to savor the taste of Crete long after your vacation ends.

Practical Tips for a Seamless Experience:

Choose Accommodation Wisely: Whether you prefer luxury resorts, boutique hotels, or cozy guesthouses, Crete offers accommodation options to suit every taste and budget. Consider staying in traditional villages for an authentic experience or beachfront properties for easy access to the sea.

Rent a Car: Explore Crete at your own pace by renting a car. This allows you to venture off the beaten path, discover hidden gems, and access remote beaches and mountain villages that are not easily reachable by public transportation.

Respect Local Customs: Embrace the warm hospitality of the Cretan people by respecting their customs and traditions. Dress modestly when visiting religious sites, greet locals with a friendly “Yassas,” and take the time to learn a few basic phrases in Greek to show appreciation for their culture.

Crete is more than just a destination; it’s an experience that captures the heart and soul of Greece. Whether you’re drawn to its rich history, stunning natural landscapes, or mouthwatering cuisine, Crete offers something for every traveler. So pack your bags, embark on a journey of discovery, and unlock the charm of this captivating island paradise. Your perfect vacation awaits in Crete.

Mr Trump and his co-defendants had tried to get Fani Willis disqualified, saying her relationship with Nathan Wade – whom she hired – had compromised the integrity of the case.

The judge disagreed – but said it did create an “appearance of impropriety”.

He said either Ms Willis or Mr Wade should leave the case to resolve that.

In his ruling, Judge McAfee said Ms Willis had committed a “tremendous lapse in judgement” by engaging in an affair with Mr Wade, and also called her testimony last month “unprofessional”.

Mr Trump and the 18 others are being prosecuted in Georgia for conspiracy to overturn the state’s 2020 election results – which they deny.

But they accused Ms Willis – who is leading the prosecution – of misconduct, for having a romantic relationship with Mr Wade, a lawyer she hired on the case.

They alleged there was a financial conflict of interest, saying the couple used the money paid to Mr Wade to fund luxury trips together.

But Ms Willis and Mr Wade denied this – saying there was no financial benefits, for example they split the cost of their holidays together.

Judge Scott McAfee ruled there was not enough evidence there had been a conflict of interest – but he found there had been an “appearance of impropriety”, and there was a “need to make proportional efforts to cure it” before the case can continue.

The Georgia election interference case is one of four criminal cases Mr Trump faces, that both sides of the political aisle are watching closely ahead of November’s presidential election.

But some of the cases have faced delays. His New York case over alleged hush money payments to a porn star was due to begin in March, but it may now be pushed back after prosecutors agreed to a request from Mr Trump’s lawyers to delay it. A hearing is scheduled for 25 March to consider the requested 30-day extension.

In Florida, where Mr Trump is facing charges for his alleged mishandling of classified documents, both sides also say the trial will need to be postponed – although a judge denied Mr Trump’s motion to dismiss the case outright.

In his 23-page ruling on Friday, Mr McAfee presented Ms Willis with two options: to step down, along with her team, and have the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council take the case over, or have Mr Wade step down and allow “the public to move forward without his presence or remuneration distracting from and potentially compromising the merits of this case”.

“[A]n outsider could reasonably think that the district attorney is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences,” Mr McAfee wrote. “As long as Wade remains on the case, this unnecessary perception will persist.”

Mr Trump’s lead lawyer on the Georgia case released a statement on Friday, saying: “While respecting the court’s decision, we believe that the court did not afford appropriate significance to the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade.

“We will use all legal options available as we continue to fight to end this case, which should never have been brought in the first place.”

Mr Trump and his co-defendants could appeal the judge’s ruling and further delay the proceedings.

The former president criticised judge McAfee’s decision in a fundraising email sent by his campaign team, saying it was “not enough” to remove Mr Wade and calling the case a “rigged witch hunt

According to Adrienne Jones, an assistant political science professor at Morehouse College in Atlanta, delaying the case was exactly what Mr Trump and his co-defendants had hoped for.

“They will ride that out as long as possible,” she said.

Ms Jones characterised the judge’s decision as effectively a win-win for both Ms Willis and Mr Trump. The district attorney has the option to stay on the career-defining case, she said, and Mr Trump might not face trial before he is possibly elected president where he could then have more sway over the proceedings.

However, Ms Jones said the judge’s “gratuitous comments” about Ms Willis’s behaviour could harm the case by undercutting her credibility.

“The judge is commenting on the quality of her professionalism, and that is an erosion of reputation,” Ms Jones said.

To the question of whether this could have an effect on a potential jury, Ms Jones said: “Absolutely. Everybody here is likely to be influenced by the news coverage of the judge’s decision. It’s not like people are ignorant of what’s happening.”

The case has not yet been scheduled for a trial.

Earlier this year, Fulton County District Attorney Ms Willis – who brought the case – admitted she had a romantic relationship with Mr Wade, but said it had no bearing on the case.

Ms Willis fiercely denied those allegations from the witness stand during a days-long evidentiary hearing before Judge McAfee.

Visibly upset, she held up papers presented to her by the defence and shouted: “It’s a lie!”

Her fiery testimony drew scrutiny from legal experts and also from Judge McAfee who, in his decision released on Friday, described her testimony as “unprofessional”.

The hearing laid bare multiple intimate details about Ms Willis’s private life, including that she kept large sums of cash in her home, some of which she said she used to pay for overseas trips she took with Mr Wade.

She said their romantic relationship began in early 2022, after she hired Mr Wade in 2021. They stopped dating in August 2023, she said, after a “tough conversation”, although they are now “very good friends”.

But testimony from Ms Willis’s former friend Robin Yearte disputed that timeline. Ms Yearte said she believed the two lawyers began dating in 2019, when she saw them hugging and kissing.

The details of the romance came forth after one of Mr Trump’s co-defendants, Michael Roman, filed a motion accusing Ms Willis of engaging in an “improper, clandestine personal relationship” with Mr Wade.

Separately earlier this week, Judge McAfee threw out some of the criminal charges against Mr Trump and the other defendants.

He found six counts in the 41-count indictment lacked detail – although he said they could be refiled at a later date.

A Florida woman tried to sell her 18-month-old daughter for $500 and then left her on the street when she couldn’t find any buyers, police said.

Jessica Woods, 33, was arrested and charged with child neglect and abandonment, selling or surrendering minor for property or money, and three counts of child abuse after the incident that unfolded outside a business in Palatka.

Woods was loitering around the business with her daughter on March 5, the Palatka Police Department said.

She had been around the area for a few days.

An employee of the unidentified business asked Woods if she needed assistance. Woods refused any help but offered to sell the child, police said.

“When the citizen refused to purchase the child, Woods walked away, leaving her daughter behind,” a police statement said.

The employee took the child to the police department and told officers what allegedly happened. The girl was handed over to the Department of Children and Families and has since been placed in foster care.

Woods was arrested and is being held on $255,000 bail at the Putnam County jail, according to jail records.

a Florida plastic surgeon finds himself embroiled in a legal battle after a mother of five allegedly died following a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery. The case sheds light on the risks associated with cosmetic procedures and raises concerns about the safety protocols within the cosmetic surgery industry.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and garnered significant attention, prompting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death. According to reports, the victim, a mother of five, underwent a BBL surgery performed by a Florida plastic surgeon. However, shortly after the procedure, she experienced complications and subsequently passed away.

The lawsuit filed against the plastic surgeon accuses him of negligence and wrongful death, alleging that he failed to provide adequate care and adhere to proper medical standards during the surgery. The family of the deceased woman seeks justice and accountability for the loss of their loved one, hoping to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

The case highlights the inherent risks associated with cosmetic surgeries, particularly procedures like the Brazilian Butt Lift, which involves fat transfer to enhance the shape and size of the buttocks. Despite its growing popularity, the BBL surgery has been linked to a higher rate of complications and fatalities compared to other cosmetic procedures.

One of the primary concerns surrounding BBL surgeries is the risk of fat embolism, a potentially life-threatening condition where fat enters the bloodstream and blocks blood flow to vital organs. This complication can lead to severe respiratory distress, cardiac arrest, and death if not promptly addressed.

In recent years, there has been growing scrutiny over the safety of BBL surgeries, prompting regulatory bodies and medical organizations to issue warnings and guidelines to minimize risks. However, incidents like the one involving the Florida plastic surgeon underscore the need for stricter regulations, enhanced oversight, and improved safety measures within the cosmetic surgery industry.

While many plastic surgeons are highly skilled and prioritize patient safety, cases of medical malpractice and negligence underscore the importance of thorough research and due diligence when considering cosmetic procedures. Patients must carefully vet their surgeons, inquire about their qualifications, experience, and safety protocols, and ensure that they undergo surgery in accredited facilities equipped to handle emergencies.

Additionally, patients should have realistic expectations about the outcomes of cosmetic surgeries and be aware of the potential risks and complications involved. Open communication between patients and surgeons is essential to ensure informed decision-making and minimize the likelihood of adverse events.

As the legal proceedings unfold in the case of the Florida plastic surgeon sued after the death of a mother of five following a BBL surgery, it serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of prioritizing patient safety above all else in the pursuit of aesthetic enhancements. Authorities must take decisive action to hold accountable those responsible for medical negligence and prevent future tragedies from occurring. Ultimately, the goal should be to foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and patient-centered care within the cosmetic surgery industry to protect the well-being of all individuals seeking elective procedures.

A Florida mother who was reported missing last week was found trapped inside a shipping container, police said.

Marlene Lopez, 52, was last seen Monday at her home on Lucerne Drive, according to a press release from the Cocoa Police Department. A co-worker, concerned about her well-being, called the police after Lopez failed to pick up her son.

Detectives investigated “known locations,” interviewed family members and issued a missing-person bulletin.

During the investigation, detectives were notified that the woman had been found trapped in a shipping container next to a business at 2005 N. Cocoa Blvd.

Lopez had been banging on the shipping container door when someone heard her and unlocked the door.

She said she did not know how she ended up in the container. The circumstances are under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cocoa Police Department at 321-639-7620.

Police are investigating after three people were found shot to death in two overnight crime scenes in a neighborhood near Dallas Love Field.
Police also say they have learned of some type of criminal activity that was taking place but haven’t said what they think that might be.
The first report of a shooting came in just before midnight in the 7700 block of Harry Hines Boulevard. 911 calls about a truck that hopped a curb and broke a fence brought police to the area.
Officers found a pickup truck there with blood inside the vehicle. They began searching for whoever had been in the vehicle and learned a badly injured man had already been taken to the hospital. He later died from his gunshot wounds.
Police pulled the registration information on the truck, which led them to a house three blocks away in the 2300 block of Gilford Street. At the home, they found a window that had been shot out and two additional dead men inside the home.
Salvador Garcia heard the gunfire and then huddled over his 2-week-old twins.
“I remember two different guns, two different sounds,” he recalled. “So I think that was two guns, two different guns.”
The bullet holes appeared to come from inside the home.
Midday, grief-stricken family members with a growing sadness showed up, including the mother of one of the victims who didn’t want to talk publicly. She said her son lived in the home. They did not know the other two who were killed.
“At this time, it appears that these two incidents are related. There is no suspect in custody. We have learned also that there was some sort of criminal activity that was occurring. So this was not a random shooting,” said Kristin Lowman with the Dallas Police Department. “We just want to assure the public right now that there is no apparent danger and detectives right now are working to locate the suspect and learn more about what happened today.
Neighbors who did not want to talk on camera also reported hearing gun fire, but they all told the same story of never seeing anything out of the ordinary at or near the home or any kind of activity that might lead to this kind of gun violence.
The names of the three men who died have not yet been released

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested five child sex offenders in five different sectors over the weekend, officials said. 

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens said USBP agents in the sectors of Yuma, Tucson, El Paso, Del Rio, and Rio Grande Valley arrested five child sex predators.

Their criminal histories, Owens said, included sexual assault of a person 15 years old and aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Their apprehension has highlighted concerns over some 1.8 million “gotaways” at the southern border since the start of fiscal year 2021. A “gotaway” refers to someone who is seen illegally entering the U.S. and is not apprehended or turned back.

The arrest of five sex predators at the border came as the FBI warned Monday of a “wide array” of dangerous threats coming from the U.S. border, including drug trafficking, violent gangs, and smugglers with ties to ISIS.

Asked by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing to comment on these threats, Wray said there were dangerous individuals entering via the southern border.

“From an FBI perspective, we are seeing a wide array of very dangerous threats that emanate from the border. And that includes everything from drug trafficking – the FBI alone seized enough fentanyl in the last two years to kill 270 million people – that’s just on the fentanyl side,” he said.

DEWHURST, Wis. (AP) — Nine people were killed Friday in a crash involving a semitrailer and a van at a western Wisconsin highway intersection.

Preliminary reports about the early morning crash indicated the semitrailer traveling on State Highway 95 collided with the van traveling on County Highway J, southwest of the small city of Neillsville, Clark County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy James Hirsch said in a Facebook post.

The van entered the intersection and was struck by the semitrailer, he said. Eight of the nine people in the van, including the driver, died at the scene, while an injured passenger was taken to a nearby hospital, he said.

The driver was the only occupant of the semitrailer and also died at the scene, Hirsch said.

An investigation is ongoing.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of all those involved, as well as the first responders who worked quickly to provide support at the scene,” Gov. Tony Evers posted on X.

The names of everyone involved in the crash will be released after family members are notified, according to the sheriff’s office.

Highway 95 was closed for hours. Overhead video footage showed both vehicles on their sides.

The area of the crash is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Eau Claire.

Torrential rains have triggered flash floods and a landslide on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, killing at least 19 people and leaving seven missing, officials said .

Tons of mud, rocks and uprooted trees rolled down a mountain late Friday, reaching a river that burst its banks and tore through mountainside villages in Pesisir Selatan district of West Sumatra province, said Doni Yusrizal, who heads the local disaster management agency.

Rescuers by Saturday pulled out seven bodies in the worst-hit village of Koto XI Tarusan and recovered three others in two neighboring villages, Yusrizal said.

Rescuers retrieved six bodies in Pesisir Selatan and three more in the neighboring district of Padang Pariaman, bringing the death toll to 19, the National Disaster Management Agency said

The agency said in a statement that at least two villagers were injured by the flash flood and rescuers were searching for seven people who are reportedly still missing.

It said more than 80,000 people had fled to temporary government shelters after the flood and landslide buried 14 houses, while 20,000 houses were flooded up to their roofs in nine districts and cities in West Sumatra province.

“Relief efforts for the dead and missing were hampered by power outages blocked roads covered in thick mud and debris,” Yusrizal said.

Heavy rains cause frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near floodplains.

Two Ohio women allegedly propped up a dead man in their car during a visit to the bank to withdraw hundreds of dollars from his account before they dropped him off at the hospital.

Karen Casbohm, 63, and Loreen Bea Feralo, 55, are now facing felony charges after dropping off the body of Douglas Layman, 80, at Ashtabula County Medical Center emergency room on Monday and leaving, according to Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell and Ashtabula Prosecuting Attorney Cecilia Cooper.

Medical personnel had no idea who Layman was when the women dropped him at the emergency room.

“They left without providing any information to the hospital. They just left him,” Stell told Fox 8.

One of the women called the hospital a few hours later and provided some personal information about him, and authorities were able to identify him, Stell said in a press release. Officers were then dispatched to Layman’s home and spoke to the two women, who said he had died at his home in Ashtabula.

Casbohm and Feralo were taken into custody on Wednesday and were each charged with gross abuse of a corpse and theft.

“This is very unusual,” Cooper told Fox 8.

The women, who were not related to Layman but lived at his house, found the man dead inside his home but decided not to call 911 and instead attempted to take the money from his bank account.

According to officials, the women are accused of taking Layman’s body out of the home and propping him up in the passenger seat of their car with the help of a third unidentified individual, and driving through a bank drive-thru to withdraw around $900. 

Police said the women had propped Layman up, so the bank teller could see him and that the bank previously allowed them to withdraw money from Layman’s account, as long as he was in the vehicle.

The cause of Layman’s death is unknown.

Stell told Fox 8 the case remains under investigation and the two women could face additional charges.

Casbohm appeared in court for her arraignment this week and a judge set her bond at $5,000. Feralo is scheduled to appear for her arraignment.

If convicted, they could face up to a year in prison on each charge.

Both women have previous criminal histories.

Casbohm has been convicted of theft, soliciting, criminal trespass, receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and attempted drug abuse, while Feralo has been convicted of reckless assault, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal trespass, driving under the influence, theft and attempted possession of drugs.