To Kafeneion > Grapevine / News Briefs
18/03/23
Maik:
--- Quote ---Greece Buys Dozens Of US Amphibious Vehicles, But Are They Safe?
The US Department of State has approved the potential purchase by Greece of assault amphibious vehicles of a specific type which was involved in a fatal sinking incident in 2020.
The Marine Corps barred these Vietnam War-era vehicles from regular deployments in December 2021, replacing them with the more advanced Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs).
However, a Marine Corps spokesman, commenting on the sale, appeared confident that the AAV is a safe vehicle and a viable platform for amphibious operations, as long as maintenance standards are followed.
--- End quote ---
https://greekreporter.com/2023/03/18/greece-buys-dozens-us-amphibious-vehicles-are-they-safe/
Maik:
--- Quote ---Holidaymakers face big rise in car hire costs abroad this summer
People planning to hire a car abroad this summer face having to pay almost 60% more than they did before the coronavirus pandemic.
New figures for six popular destinations show average car rental prices are continuing to rise, with the average cost coming in at about £565 for a week’s hire.
Car hire prices soared in 2022 after companies sold off stock during the pandemic as demand collapsed. When business returned after restrictions were lifted, companies found it hard to replace the vehicles owing to a global shortage of semiconductors.
While some destinations this summer could be cheaper than during the same period last year – such as the Greek island of Crete and Dubrovnik in Croatia – overall, costs are up 5%.
Tourists are generally advised to book well in advance to get the best deals.
--- End quote ---
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/mar/18/holidaymakers-car-hire-costs-summer
Maik:
--- Quote ---Rare seadragons mate after more than a decade of failure
Staff at the the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts, had almost given up hope on breeding after continuously trying since 2008.
Seadragons are similar to seahorses in that males carry the eggs.
After more than ten years, staff found that a male weedy seadragon was carrying eggs in May 2022 following an unexpected mating.
The aquarium now cares for around 20 baby seadragons, some of which will be ready to move to an exhibit with the adults this summer.
--- End quote ---
https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/lifestyle/seadragons-mating-boston-aquarium-massachusetts-b2303464.html
Maik:
--- Quote ---Rare moonflower cactus blooms again at Cambridge University Botanic Garden
A rare cactus has flowered again, two years after half a million people watched it bloom during lockdown.
It spirals around tree trunks and only stays in bloom for twelve hours, so can only be seen in bloom on the Botanic Garden livestream until around 4am on Sunday.
--- End quote ---
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-03-18/rare-moonflower-cactus-blooms-again-but-cannot-be-seen-for-long
--- Quote ---The Moonflower, Strophocactus wittii (formerly Selenicereus wittii) has surprised us with a late afternoon bloom!
We hope you are enjoying watching it in all its glory!
It should be in flower for 12 hours before fading. If it's still in flower in the morning, a member of our team will pollinate it by hand.
The first time it flowered was in February 2021 – which was the first ever flowering of this plant in the UK.
The beautiful flower usually opens at night and flowers for just one night! However, in 2021 it also surprised us by flowering in the afternoon!
**Please note** if you also have a Moonflower cactus plant in flower, while it may look very similar to this one and also called a ‘Moonflower’, it is very unlikely to be the same plant. Plants should always go by their Latin name. This one, Strophocactus wittii, is very rare outside its native Amazon habitat and held in just 16 botanic gardens around the world.
--- End quote ---
https://www.youtube.com/live/OJ5e_4r2_Dk?feature=share
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