Author Topic: 21/12/22  (Read 1297 times)

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Offline Maik

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21/12/22
« on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 04:49:32 »
Today is the winter solstice / shortest day of the year, after today every day gets a little longer, a little lighter. It's also the start of Yule, celebrated instead of Christmas by pagans.

"The shortest day lasts 7 hours 49 minutes and 42 seconds in London." rmg.co.uk

Today’s bank rates:
1 €UR = £0.9016 GBP
1 €UR = $1.0917 USD
£1 GBP = 1.1091 €UR
$1 USD = 0.9160 €UR

Based on Alpha Bank exchange rates, these are widely used by exchange agencies in Greece.
Other banks likely to offer a different rate which may be marginally higher or lower.
Banks and foreign exchange offices normally charge standard 2% commission.
You may get a better rate changing your holiday money in advance at e.g the
Post Office.
NB: some f-ex agencies advertise "No Commission".
Invariably, they deduct commission before they (don't) advertise the rate.
Foreign exchange offices are businesses, not charities.


Ten day weather forecast for Kefalonia:
This is an overall forecast, due to the mountainous terrain the weather can be very localised.
Updated forecast @
weather.com

Day, Date   Hi°/Lo°   Wind sp   Wet   Forecast
Wed 21/12   14°/10°   05 km/h   05%   Sunny
Thu 22/12   16°/12°   07 km/h   15%   Sun & cloud
Fri 23/12   16°/12°   14 km/h   17%   Sun & cloud
Sat 24/12   17°/13°   09 km/h   08%   Sun & cloud
Sun 25/12   18°/12°   14 km/h   10%   Sun & cloud
Mon 26/12   18°/13°   09 km/h   10%   Mostly sunny
Tue 27/12   18°/13°   12 km/h   10%   Mostly sunny
Wed 28/12   18°/11°   12 km/h   17%   Sun & cloud
Thu 29/12   16°/10°   12 km/h   12%   Sun & cloud
Fri 30/12   17°/12°   14 km/h   32%   Showers possible

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 05:08:24 »
Quote
PM expects 2022 tourism revenues of at least 18 bln euros

Greece’s Prime Minister said on Tuesday that revenues from its all-important tourism industry will reach at least 18 billion euros ($19 billion) this year, beating the government’s initial estimates.

By the end of the year, tourist arrivals are seen reaching 88% of record levels seen in 2019, when more that 32 million tourists visited the Mediterranean country, he added.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1200720/greek-pm-expects-2022-tourism-revenues-of-at-least-18-bln-euros/

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 05:17:23 »


Quote
Greek woodcutters give energy crisis the chop

With petrol and gas bills increasing, loggers in northern Greece say they are doing their best to keep up with rising demand for wood, considered a more affordable option for people to heat their homes.

Many Greeks, still reeling from their country's decade-long economic crisis, are desperate to counteract energy prices soaring on the back of Russia's war in Ukraine and national inflation running at over eight percent.

"We have had an increase in demand," said timber transporter Yannis Paligiannis, 44.

"People are thinking of turning their heating to wood, but next year what will happen? Nobody is sure that next year wood won't be more expensive than petrol. Everyone is wary," he added.

For now, an abundant local supply makes firewood the best option in the north of Greece where temperatures dip well below zero Celsius (32 Fahrenheit) in deep winter.

"People here can get through winter by spending 300-400 euros ($320-425) on firewood, perhaps even cheaper if they transport it and chop it themselves," Zisis Giakopoulos, a pensioner in his late 60s from the village of Aimilianos in the northwestern region of Grevena, told AFP.

In comparison, figures recently compiled by Greek insurance website Pricefox showed a 80-square-metre flat needing to spend some 650 euros on petrol fees, nearly 1,000 euros on air-conditioning and nearly 1,300 euros for gas heating to get through winter.

Greece has nearly 270 cooperatives with some 8,500 forestry workers registered at the environment ministry.

But despite heightened demand this year, the future of the profession is by no means guaranteed.

Numbers are dwindling, with younger people opting for less back-breaking work. Most of the wood is still transported by mule through thick foliage.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221220-greek-woodcutters-give-energy-crisis-the-chop

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 13:06:48 »
Quote
The Economist Names Greece Top Performer for 2022

Greece is the top economic performer this year among 34 countries, according to The Economist.

The British weekly newspaper ranked Greece as the top performer this year based on five key indicators in its analysis of 34 OECD countries. Greece fared the best in GDP, consumer prices, inflation breadth, share prices, and public net debt as percentage of GDP.

Greece is followed by Spain, Japan, France, Italy, Britain, US, Germany, and Estonia.
https://news.gtp.gr/2022/12/20/the-economist-names-greece-top-performer-for-2022/

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 13:08:12 »
Quote
First Snow For Greece In Pelion Chania Finally

The first snow fell for Greece on December 19-20, snow fell on the peaks of Pelion Chania and Agriolefkes.

There are reportedly no problems with the road network in the area. Snow lovers will be able to enjoy the Pelion Ski Center on Christmas day.
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/12/21/first-snow-for-greece-in-pelion-chania-finally/

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 13:47:25 »
Quote
‘Maestro in Blue’ – The first Greek series on Netflix

Popular series “Maestro,” which aired on Greek television this fall, has premiered on Netflix in Greece and Cyprus and will soon be available everywhere in the world with the new title “Maestro in Blue.” Created for Mega TV by Christoforos Papakaliatis, who also stars in the series, it’s the first Greek series to be picked up by the streaming service.

What should you expect from “Maestro in Blue”? If you’re familiar with Greek television, you’ll recognize the concept immediately: love affairs, family drama, and crime taking place in an otherwise idyllic small-town setting.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1200787/maestro-in-blue-the-first-greek-series-on-netflix/



https://youtu.be/Ri_yQedj4iY?t=1

As the article's on Kathimerini's English language website I thought the series might be dubbed / subtitled but that clip is in Greek. Ah well, can just admire the scenery.

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 13:57:36 »
Rural doctor service available tomorrow, 22 December, between 10:00-13:00 in Keramies. Face masks and social distancing required.

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 14:23:45 »
Quote
Greek Researchers Discover Groundbreaking New Method Of Predicting Rare Catastrophic Events

Greek scientists in the US have developed a new technique that allows extreme and rare events in society and nature to be predicted, such as a pandemic, an unexpected rogue wave at sea or the sudden collapse of a large bridge, even if there are insufficient historical data to work off.

The "smart" method, which bypasses the need for a large amount of previous data, is a combination of a sophisticated artificial intelligence (machine learning) system with special sampling techniques.
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/12/21/greek-researchers-rare-events/

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 14:26:05 »
Quote
Greek Police: 2022 Had The Lowest Number Of Homocides In The Last 11 Years
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/12/21/greek-police-2022-homocides/
« Last Edit: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 14:30:11 by Maik »

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #9 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 14:31:28 »
Quote
Temperatures drop to nearly -08C in parts of northern Greece

The temperatures in the northern Greek mountains dropped to almost -08C on Tuesday morning, the Athens National Observatory's meteo service/ meteo.gr said.
https://www.amna.gr/en/article/696051/Temperatures-drop-to-nearly--08C-in-parts-of-northern-Greece

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #10 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 14:47:04 »


Quote
Funerary Stele Returned by Britain is Revealed to the Public at Epigraphical Museum

A funerary stele dated to the 4th century BC that was returned to Greece by British authorities was revealed to the public at the Epigraphical Museum in Athens on Tuesday.

The stele’s provenance is lost, because it was the product of smuggling. But its stylistic details and the white, fine-grained Pentelic marble it is made of indicates it was made in Attica.

It is 87.5 cm tall, 37 cm wide and 10 cm thick, and its top end has the familiar triangular shape of a pediment, which once had painted plant decoration on it. The main part depicts a sculpted loutrophoros – a vase used for funerary rites and the bridal bath – and carved on the body of the vessel is the seated figure of a woman and the standing figure of a young man. Between the top and the main body is carved the name ‘Epikrates’, probably belonging to the young man.

The stele made its way onto a Christie’s catalogue for an auction on December 8, 2021, and was given a starting price of 60.000-80,000 British pounds. Routine market research by the Greek Culture Ministry’s Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods flagged the item for further research, and it was eventually determined it was a product of antiquities smuggling.
https://www.thenationalherald.com/funerary-stele-returned-by-britain-is-revealed-to-the-public-at-epigraphical-museum/
« Last Edit: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 14:56:25 by Maik »

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #11 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 15:10:45 »
Quote
Britain has too many turkeys – and it’s created a supermarket price war
Panic over avian flu led many to buy frozen or to choose a different meat altogether this Christmas – leaving poultry suppliers overstocked
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/britain-has-many-turkeys-created-supermarket-price-war/

Turkeys going cheep?  :unsure:

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #12 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 15:15:54 »
Quote
Brownfield sites with room for 1.2m homes unused in England, report says
Analysis by CPRE shows record number of sites where housing could be built at time of national shortage

Tom Fyans, the interim chief executive of CPRE, said: “You know the system is broken when hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people and families are on social housing waiting lists, many in rural areas.

“Meanwhile, across the country, tens of thousands of hectares of prime brownfield sites are sitting there waiting to be redeveloped.”

Former industrial heartlands in the north of England were the worst areas for unused brownfield sites. The proportion of available housing units with planning permission is 33% in the north-west, 36% in the West Midlands and 40% in Yorkshire and the Humber, the latter of which has enough brownfield sites to build 115,000 homes.

In the south-west, where evidence suggests local people cannot afford to rent or buy, in a crisis worsened by a rise in second-home owners, there is capacity to build 71,000 homes on brownfield sites, 56% of which have planning permission.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/dec/21/brownfield-sites-identified-redevelopment-lying-dormant-england

Appears to be a lot of greenfield housing estates going up around here and not social housing.


Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #13 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 15:27:04 »
Quote
Bob Dylan offered Coronation Street cameo after admitting to being fan of the soap
‘I never watch anything foul-smelling or evil,’ Dylan said

Producer Iain MacLeod has since said that Dylan could sing karaoke at the Rovers Return pub with characters Ken Barlow and Rita Sullivan.
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bob-dylan-coronation-street-cameo-b2249197.html

"I never watch anything foul-smelling... Dylan said". I thought Corrie died years ago, it just doesn't know it. JMO.

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #14 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 15:46:22 »
Quote
UK Govt: Netflix Password Sharing is Illegal & Potentially Criminal Fraud (Updated)

The UK Government's Intellectual Property Office published new piracy guidance today, and it contains a small, easily missed detail. People who share their Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+ passwords are violators of copyright law. And it gets worse. The IPO informs TorrentFreak that password sharing could also mean criminal liability for fraud.
https://torrentfreak.com/uk-govt-netflix-password-sharing-is-illegal-potentially-criminal-fraud-221219/

Scroll down to end of article and the updated IPO statement looks to be a bit watered down, but clearly Netflix et al no longer want people to share.
 


Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #15 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 20:20:50 »
Ithaki coast guard earlier today performed an emergency transfer from Piso Aetos to Sami for an 80 y-o local in need of urgent medical attention.

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #16 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 21:26:05 »
   

Kyllini Port Authority yesterday evening arrested the 64 y-o driver of a truck carrying 21,768 sea cucumbers in 40 plastic containers after arrival on the ferry from Poros. According to the travel documents the sea cucumbers originated from Argostoli with a total weight of 141 kilograms whereas the actual weight was 761.84 kg.

Prices vary depending on the variety but can reach around 3,000€ / kilo in China where they are regarded as a delicacy and also used in traditional medicine.



https://youtu.be/sRH5KzNQxmc?t=1

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #17 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 21:35:08 »
Quote
Body of infant found at sea near Lesvos

The body of an infant was found near the area of Ag. Ermogenis on the island of Lesvos on Wednesday. According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, the infant was most likely travelling aboard a vessel that sank near the island in early December.

Specifically, a 24-year-old woman that was found on December 9 had reported that her baby had fallen overboard before they had reached the island. The Coast Guard conducted searches in the area based on the information provided but was unable to locate the child.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1200798/body-of-infant-found-at-sea-near-lesvos/

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #18 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 21:37:12 »
Quote
Flawed EU settlement scheme could create illegal migrants says High Court

The UK scheme to settle millions of EU citizens risks creating illegal migrants overnight and is unlawful, the High Court has ruled.

In a highly critical judgment, the court said the scheme breached the UK's Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64053696

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #19 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 21:39:55 »
Quote
Glaswegian who 'invented' chicken tikka masala dies

A Glaswegian chef credited with inventing the chicken tikka masala has died, aged 77.

Ali Ahmed Aslam is said to have come up with the dish in the 1970s when a customer asked if there was a way of making his chicken tikka less dry.

His solution was to add a creamy tomato sauce, in some versions of the story a can of tomato soup.

His death was announced by his Shish Mahal restaurant which closed for 48 hours as a mark of respect.

Known to friends and customers as "Mr Ali" he was born in Pakistan but moved with his family to Glasgow as a young boy before opening Shish Mahal in Glasgow's west end in 1964.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-64055639

Offline Maik

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Re: 21/12/22
« Reply #20 on: Wednesday, 21 December, 2022 @ 21:46:00 »
Quote
Hospital evacuated as man, 88, has WWI shell removed from inside his body
The octogenarian assured staff the shell, which was stuck inside his rear, was a collector’s item which had been deactivated

A French hospital had to be evacuated after a man in his 80s presented to doctors with a First World War shell stuck inside his rear.

Though the 88-year-old assured staff the shell was a collector’s item that had been deactivated, staff at the Sainte Musse Hospital in Toulon scrambled to evacuate some of its patients, redirect others, and call in the bomb squad.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/12/21/hospital-evacuated-80-year-old-man-has-first-world-war-removed/

:blink: