27/10/14

[Maik]

The St. Peter on a previous visit to Kefalonia

Old Russian sailing ship St. Peter, departing Kef after the annual Russian Week 'goodwill visit', struck rocks off Vardiani ('Rabbit') Island yesterday morning. Heard a couple of variations on the story but seems crew safe, boat confined to port until certificate of seaworthiness obtained.

[Maik]

Heard the Marine Ministry is proposing that Greek ferry companies move to e-ticketing, similar to the system airlines operate.


Argostoli Oki Day parade will be in the main square, as usual, around 12:00. Covered stand for dignitaries probably being erected.

[Maik]

Austria’s finance ministers have repeatedly scolded fellow euro-area nations for not doing their “homework.” Now the Alpine nation was embarrassingly chided itself for its habit of creative accounting.

The European Union’s chief statisticians made Austria add 29 billion euros ($36 billion) to its debt ledgers, making it the region’s biggest loser of tightened data rules, with an adjustment topping the one slapped on Greece’s wayward bookkeepers in 2010.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite2_1_27/10/2014_544084

[Maik]

Quadcopter drone flew 'deliberately close' to UK passenger plane

In what is believed to be the first incident of its kind in the UK, a pilot has reported a small hobby drone flying “deliberately close” towards his passenger plane.

The UK Airprox Board, which handles complaints from pilots and air traffic controllers over near collisions, reported the incident in the same week that the British Airline Pilots Association warned that small drones “pose a growing safety risk”.

Last week the former head of the GCHQ warned that small drones could be used launch "chemical and biological attacks" during public events such as football games and rallies, and in the US Nasa is currently working on building an air traffic control system for small drones.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/quadcopter-drone-deliberately-flown-at-uk-passenger-plane-came-too-close-9820880.html