Brazil’s Congress Gives Hamilton Honorary Citizenship

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain attends a news conference at the Baku circuit, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Friday, June 10, 2022. (AP)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain attends a news conference at the Baku circuit, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Friday, June 10, 2022. (AP)
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Brazil’s Congress Gives Hamilton Honorary Citizenship

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain attends a news conference at the Baku circuit, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Friday, June 10, 2022. (AP)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain attends a news conference at the Baku circuit, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Friday, June 10, 2022. (AP)

Brazil’s congress passed a symbolic motion on Thursday to make seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton an honorary citizen of the South American nation.

Congressman Andre Figueiredo first made the suggestion in November after last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix, which Hamilton won at Interlagos. The Mercedes driver carried a green and yellow flag on his victory lap and at the podium to celebrate with local fans.

“Speechless. Today I was granted honorary citizenship to one of my favorite places in the world,” 37-year-old Hamilton said on Instagram, posting pictures of himself with the Brazilian flag. “I don’t really have the words right now. Thank you Brasil, I love you, I can’t wait to see you again.”

Hamilton has many fans in Brazil due to his F1 racing and his respect for three-time world champion and local hero Ayrton Senna, who died in an accident at Imola, Italy in 1994.

Hamilton, who lost the 2021 drivers’ championship to Max Verstappen on the final lap of the season, is struggling this year. He is in sixth position with 50 points ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the eighth race on the calendar.



Schools on 4 Greek Islands Will Stay Shut Next Week as Earthquakes Continue

 A cat walks in the village of Oia, as the increased seismic activity continues on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 8, 2025. (Reuters)
A cat walks in the village of Oia, as the increased seismic activity continues on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 8, 2025. (Reuters)
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Schools on 4 Greek Islands Will Stay Shut Next Week as Earthquakes Continue

 A cat walks in the village of Oia, as the increased seismic activity continues on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 8, 2025. (Reuters)
A cat walks in the village of Oia, as the increased seismic activity continues on the island of Santorini, Greece, February 8, 2025. (Reuters)

Schools on four Greek islands will remain closed through next week as earthquakes continue to rattle the region, authorities said Saturday.

More than 800 tremors of magnitude 3 and over have been recorded on the tourist islands of Santorini, Amorgos, Anafi and Ios since Feb. 1, triggering an exodus of most of Santorini's 16,000 residents as well as visitors.

Even though the earthquake activity has somewhat abated, 11 tremors of at least magnitude 4 hit on Saturday, according to the Athens Institute of Geodynamics. The strongest was 4.9 at 11 a.m. There were no reports of major damage or casualties since the quakes started.

Experts say they cannot exclude stronger quakes.

Authorities in Athens said that schools in the four islands will remain closed until Feb. 14.

Greece's strongest earthquake of the 20th century, a magnitude 7.7., struck near Amorgos in July 1956, killing 53.

Experts said the latest tremors have nothing to do with Santorini's volcano, which around 1600 B.C. produced one of the most violent eruptions in human history. A second volcano nearby erupted about 375 years ago.