Author Topic: 26/01/23  (Read 1390 times)

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Offline Maik

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26/01/23
« on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 03:03:13 »
Today’s bank rates:
1 €UR = £0.9090 GBP
1 €UR = $1.1204 USD
£1 GBP = 1.1001 €UR
$1 USD = 0.8925 €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
Thu 26/01   14°/08°   24 km/h   99%   Thunderstorms probable
Fri 27/01   13°/09°   10 km/h   78%   Showers probable
Sat 28/01   14°/09°   08 km/h   64%   Scattered thunderstorms probable
Sun 29/01   13°/08°   12 km/h   76%   Showers probable
Mon 30/01   13°/09°   13 km/h   45%   Showers possible
Tue 31/01   13°/07°   17 km/h   76%   Light rain probable
Wed 01/02   12°/07°   21 km/h   24%   Sun & cloud
Thu 02/02   13°/08°   18 km/h   36%   Showers possible
Fri 03/02   13°/09°   23 km/h   17%   Mostly sunny
Sat 04/02   14°/09°   21 km/h   18%   Mostly sunny

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #1 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 03:06:31 »
Quote
1.7 million pensioners to see 7.75% pension increase this month

More than 1.7 million pensioners will see their pensions rise by 7.75% in this month's payments, which begin on Thursday, while another 912,000 pensioners will enjoy higher pensions for the second month in a row following the abolition of a special solidarity contribution.
https://www.amna.gr/en/article/703462/17-million-pensioners-to-see-775-pension-increase-this-month

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #2 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 03:14:54 »
Quote
Museums scrap ‘mummy’ label for corpses over colonial legacy

Museums are removing the word “mummy” from labels that describe human remains in their Egyptian exhibitions because it is deemed “dehumanising” and has a colonial past.

Curators are instead opting to describe them as “mummified remains” and use their known names or sex to provide more information for visitors.

The British Museum says it wants to emphasise to visitors that it is looking at “people who once lived”, while National Museums Scotland and the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle say they have dropped the term “mummy” in part because it has a colonial past and evokes images of monsters and the supernatural.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/museums-scrap-mummy-label-for-corpses-over-colonial-legacy-h6qpmw65j

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #3 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 03:27:25 »
Quote
Two startups help animals regain their lost mobility

Two small Greek companies are helping provide solutions for animals with serious mobility issues. The more technologically advanced of the two, bio3dvet, designs and produces artificial limbs, some on 3D printers.

Its first major case involved a kitten with three amputated legs, gunshot injuries and infected wounds. Three years later it runs around the house of its adoptive family on its titanium limbs and “paws” made of a printed slip-proof material.

A more artisanal solution for paralyzed animals is offered by Plus2feet, which makes wheeled carriages for animals who have lost use of their back legs or have severe spinal injuries. Vasilis Tzigouras, a former plumber, fits 350 such devices each year on animals ranging from kittens to a bear living in a sanctuary.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/society/1202903/two-startups-help-animals-regain-their-lost-mobility/



https://youtu.be/j4E4jZCy39o?t=1

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #4 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 12:00:23 »
“My favourite travel destinations are Greece and Maldives. In Greece, I am especially drawn to island Kefalonia, because that is where I discovered the most amazing beaches.”
Bollywood actress Elli AvrRam

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #5 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 12:18:12 »
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Two brothers die in Zakynthos house fire

Two brothers have died in a house fire on the island of Zakynthos.

Firefighters found the remains of the two men, aged 43 and 54, during an operation to extinguish a fire in a detached house in Zakynthos town.

Investigators are examining the cause of the fatal blaze.

Public broadcaster ERT has said initial indications attribute the blaze to a short circuit.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1203203/two-men-die-in-zakynthos-house-fire/

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #6 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 12:25:34 »


Quote
Fox Impaled On The Railings Of A House In Thrakomakedones - See Photo

A fox's adventure in the area of Thrakomakedones ended with it being wedged in the railings of a house and needing to be rescued.
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/26/fox-impaled-thrakomakedones/

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #7 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 12:29:00 »
Quote
Mariam Soulakiotis: The Greek serial killer nun who still has followers to this day

Mariam Soulakiotis, known pejoratively in contemporary media as "Mother Rasputin", was a Greek Old Calendarist Eastern Orthodox abbess and serial killer who was found guilty of numerous counts of murder, torture, fraud and other crimes.

Religion is at the heart of the story of the human race. People devote themselves to higher powers, sometimes giving up all else: their lives, their riches, their possessions, to concentrate completely on greater power.

And, almost as long as there has been religion, there has been abuse of it. Often this takes the form of institutionalised control, drawing wealth from the communities these religious houses clai to serve, like some parasite. But religion has masked many smaller, though no less evil, crimes as well.

What transpires when someone abuses this confidence or unquestioning faith in the Almighty? In Greece, in the early 20th century it ultimately resulted in the deaths of as many as 500 devoted followers.

Who was Mariam Soulakiotis, the evil nun, and how did she earn the name “Mother Rasputin”?
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/26/mariam-soulakiotis/

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #8 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 15:24:14 »
Quote
Tributes paid to Greek man who famously intervened when ‘Dancing Irish priest’ disrupted Olympics
https://www.sundayworld.com/news/world-news/tributes-paid-to-greek-man-who-famously-intervened-when-dancing-irish-priest-disrupted-olympics/849248187.html

 :blink:

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #9 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 15:39:54 »
Quote
Transgender rapist Isla Bryson will not be imprisoned in women's jail

A trans woman who raped two women before she changed gender will not serve her sentence in a female jail, Scotland's first minister has said.

Isla Bryson was remanded to Cornton Vale women's prison after being convicted of carrying out the rapes when she was a man called Adam Graham.

Bryson decided to transition from a man to a woman while awaiting trial.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64413242

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #10 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 15:49:20 »
Quote
Netflix to end free password sharing in UK within months

In a report sent to shareholders last week, the streaming giant said more than 100 million subscribers share passwords outside their household.

Netflix said the global change would begin rolling out globally sometime from the end of March.

From the end of the first quarter, Netflix is likely to introduce an additional fee to sharing a single subscription across multiple households.

A spokesperson for the streaming platform said it had not confirmed an exact date for the UK or any other country yet.
https://www.itv.com/news/2023-01-26/netflix-to-end-free-password-sharing-in-uk-within-months

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #11 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 16:00:11 »
Quote
Asda plans to cut 300 jobs and reduce pay for 4,300 staff in shake-up

More than 300 jobs at Asda are at risk and 4,300 of the supermarket’s staff will end up with a pay cut after a swathe of changes to night shifts, Post Office outlets and pharmacies to save costs.

The supermarket chain said 211 night shift manager roles were going and a further 4,137 staff would lose out on premiums of at least £2.52 an hour for working nights as it switched the restocking of packaged groceries and frozen food to daytimes and evenings.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jan/26/asda-plans-to-cut-300-jobs-reduce-pay-4300-staff-night-shift-post-office-pharmacies
« Last Edit: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 16:04:36 by Maik »

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #12 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 16:07:51 »
Quote
UK climate minister received donations from fuel and aviation companies

The UK climate minister – who recently stated not all fossil fuels were the “spawn of the devil” – received campaign donations from one of the largest fuel distributors in the UK as well as an aviation consultant and recruiter, it has emerged.

Graham Stuart, Conservative MP for Beverley and Holderness, was appointed climate minister by Rishi Sunak in September. He has responsibility for net zero strategy and low carbon generation, and is the Commons lead for clean heat.

Stuart has confounded some during his short tenure as climate minister with claims that a fresh round of oil and gas licensing are “good for the environment” and more recently stating not all fossil fuels should be “viewed as the spawn of the devil”.

Now it has emerged that, in 2019, Stuart received a £10,000 donation towards his re-election campaign from JR Rix & Sons, a Hull-based business primarily involved in the distribution and sale of fuel, including heating oil, diesel and petrol.

The government said Stuart had publicly declared the donations for election expenses in line with usual processes.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/26/uk-climate-minister-received-donations-fuel-aviation-companies

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #13 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 16:16:26 »
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Nadhim Zahawi: No penalties given for ‘innocent tax errors’, says HMRC chief

Under-pressure Tory chairman had said his error was ‘careless and not deliberate’
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nadhim-zahawi-tax-hmrc-investigation-b2269659.html

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #14 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 16:22:47 »
Quote
Volodymr Zelensky: It wouldn't be correct to support Boris Johnson if he runs for PM again

Ukrainian president praises his 'special bond' with Johnson, but says he also has 'good relations' with Rishi Sunak
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/26/zelensky-says-would-not-correct-support-boris-johnson-runs-pm/


Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #15 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 20:09:13 »
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“Greece Meets All Requirements for Becoming a Top Health and Wellness Destination”

Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) president Angela Gerekou on Tuesday commented that “Greece meets all the requirements for becoming a top destination for health and wellness and to attract the relevant investments while the region of Attica …can become a global hub for medical tourism throughout the year”.
https://www.thenationalherald.com/greece-meets-all-requirements-for-becoming-a-top-health-and-wellness-destination/

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #16 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 20:11:35 »
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The psychology of scams: how fraudsters trick their victims
Which? calls for a fairer reimbursement system for victims of bank transfer fraud
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/the-psychology-of-scams-how-fraudsters-trick-their-victims-aS1rI1C03ogX

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #17 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 20:46:06 »
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Greece referred to ECJ for failing to take action against alien species

The European Commission decided Thursday to refer Greece and five more countries to the EU Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to implement provisions in the bloc’s regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.

According to Commission data, the estimated damage caused by alien species costs the European economy 12 billion euros per year.

The regulation – known as the Invasive Alien Species or IAS Regulation – came into force on January 1, 2015 and focuses on 88 species considered to be “of Union concern,” such as the water hyacinth and animals like the Asian hornet and the raccoon.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1203220/greece-referred-to-ecj-for-failing-to-take-action-against-alien-species/

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #18 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 21:31:05 »
Quote
Nadhim Zahawi faces questions over source of £30m unsecured loans to wife’s property company

Nadhim Zahawi, the beleaguered former chancellor and current chair of the Conservative party, is under pressure to reveal the source of about £30m of unsecured loans made to his wife’s UK property company.

The loans were used to finance parts of a large UK property portfolio, reported last year as worth about £100m, and were declared in company accounts which span a period from 2017 to 2021 but give no information about who the lenders are.

Dan Neidle, a tax lawyer and founder of Tax Policy Associates whose work initially raised awareness of the Zahawi family finances, said: “The fact that an MP’s family can receive £30m of unsecured loans I find incredible. Those loans could be from Elvis for all we know. But it is a fact that a person or persons unknown has loaned the Zahawi family £30m and we don’t get to know who.”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/26/nadhim-zahawi-faces-questions-over-source-of-30m-unsecured-loans-to-wifes-property-company



Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #19 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 22:04:44 »
Quote
Boris Johnson may get more taxpayers’ money for Partygate defence

Senior civil servant admits budget of £220,000 for ex-PM to defend claims he misled parliament could rise
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/26/boris-johnson-may-get-more-taxpayers-money-for-partygate-defence

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #20 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 22:24:29 »


Quote
Rolling in it: the return of Tory sleaze
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/rolling-in-it-the-return-of-tory-sleaze/

That's from the pro-Conservative The Spectator magazine.

Offline Maik

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Re: 26/01/23
« Reply #21 on: Thursday, 26 January, 2023 @ 23:44:22 »
Quote
Egypt archaeology: Gold-covered mummy among latest discoveries

Archaeologists say they have found a gold leaf-covered mummy sealed inside a sarcophagus that had not been opened for 4,300 years.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-64415816

BBC not so PC they use the term 'mummified remains'.