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To Kafeneion => Grapevine / News Briefs => Topic started by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 02:12:47

Title: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 02:12:47
Forty four new cases of coronavirus confirmed on Kefalonia yesterday by EODY, 3 on Ithaki.

Today's bank rate:
1 GBP = € 1.1621
1 USD = € 0.847

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 (https://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money).
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 (https://weather.com/en-IE/weather/tenday/l/GRXX0035:1:GR)

Day, Date   Hi°/Lo°   Wind sp   Wet   Forecast
Fri 14/01   12°/09°   12 km/h   03%   Sunny
Sat 15/01   15°/09°    7 km/h   08%   Sunny
Sun 16/01   14°/10°   12 km/h   66%   Light rain probable
Mon 17/01   16°/11°   13 km/h   45%   Showers possible
Tue 18/01   15°/08°   18 km/h   17%   Sun & cloud
Wed 19/01   13°/09°   13 km/h   14%   Mostly sunny
Thu 20/01   13°/10°   14 km/h   19%   Sun & cloud
Fri 21/01   14°/08°   21 km/h   52%   Showers probable
Sat 22/01   11°/07°   20 km/h   22%   Sun & cloud
Sun 23/01   12°/09°   19 km/h   05%   Mostly sunny

Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 02:20:53
Quote
Greece to raise minimum wage again this year, PM says

Greece will raise the minimum wage for a second time later this year, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday, as rising inflation takes a toll on consumers' income.

The government increased monthly gross minimum wage by about 2% at 663 euros from this month.

A second raise will be implemented from May 1.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/greece-raise-minimum-wage-again-this-year-pm-says-2022-01-13/
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 02:21:59
Quote
Greece’s ‘green gold’ at risk, as heatwave fries olive oil industry

Standing in his olive grove in Kalamata, Greek farmer Michalis Antonopoulos points to a series of branches bearing rotten fruit.

These are the remnants of last winter - a season too warm and dry to produce Greece's famous olive stock. The following summer saw the worst heatwave in decades, drying up the fruit and setting off wildfires that burned hundreds of thousands of trees.

"This year has shown us that the tree cannot cope under difficult weather conditions,” says Antonopoulos.

“Even though we are in the Mediterranean region and we have warm summers, these extreme weather conditions are very difficult for the olive, with the result that we are seeing empty trees without fruit. This is a classic example of the environmental change we're going through."

Antonopoulos heads up the local olive growers' cooperative, which estimates a 50 per cent drop in regional output.
https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/01/13/greece-s-green-gold-at-risk-as-heatwave-fries-olive-oil-industry
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 02:24:44
Ithaki coast guard yesterday performed the emergency transfer from Piso Aetos to Sami of a 56 y-o local in need of urgent medical attention.
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 02:31:06
Quote
Exclusive: Two parties held in Downing Street as Queen and country mourned death of Prince Philip

Leaving events for No 10 staff were held on eve of the Duke's funeral, at which Her Majesty was forced to grieve alone due to Covid rules
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/01/13/two-parties-held-downing-street-queen-country-mourned-death/

Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 08:38:46
Quote
English rivers are polluted by 'chemical cocktail' of sewage, MPs say

England's rivers contain a "chemical cocktail" of plastic, sewage and agriculture waste putting public health and nature at risk, the Environmental Audit Committee has said.

In a new report published on Thursday, the committee found that only 14% of English rivers meet good ecological status.
https://www.itv.com/news/2022-01-12/sewage-slurry-and-plastic-in-rivers-putting-public-health-and-nature-at-risk
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 14:44:24
Quote
Multiple sclerosis could be caused by the common ‘kissing disease’ virus, scientists say

The debilitating disease multiple sclerosis could be caused by the common virus behind "kissing disease", scientists claim.

A new study from Harvard University suggests the chronic disease could be from an infection of Epstein-Barr, a herpes virus that causes infectious mononucleosis.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/multiple-sclerosis-cause-epstein-bar-virus-b1992884.html
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 14:49:01
Quote
UK’s longest-married couple celebrate 81st wedding anniversary
Ron and Joyce Bond say they fell in love at first sight eight decades ago
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/longest-married-couple-wedding-anniversary-b1992975.html

 :)
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 14:56:02
Two more people on Kef fined 300 euros for not wearing a mask where required.
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 15:32:50
Quote
Greece donates 200,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Iran
https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/01/14/greece-donates-200000-astrazeneca/
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 15:59:27
Quote
No 10 apologises to Queen over parties on eve of Prince Philip funeral

Confirming an apology had been issued to Buckingham Palace, the prime minister’s spokesperson said: “It’s deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning, and No 10 has apologised to the palace for that.”

He declined to say whether Johnson would apologise in person to the Queen at his next private audience with her, but said the prime minister recognised the public’s “significant anger” about lockdown-busting social events.

The monarch mourned alone at her husband’s funeral because Covid rules at the time prohibited indoor mixing.

According to partygoers who spoke to the Telegraph, the events on 16 April continued into the early hours in the Downing Street garden. A staff member was reportedly sent with a suitcase to a Co-op store on the Strand, a short walk away, returning with the case filled with bottles of wine, and music was played.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/14/no-10-apologises-palace-parties-eve-prince-philip-funeral-queen-covid
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 16:05:28
Quote
Trial of Covid denier postponed after he tests positive for Covid

The trial of a Greek lawyer for spreading fake news about the Covid-19 pandemic on social media was postponed Friday until May 4 after his lawyers presented results showing that he had tested positive for the virus.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1175525/trial-of-covid-denier-postponed-after-he-tests-positive-for-covid/

Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 16:31:03
(http://goinggreek.info/gallery/1_14_01_22_4_29_22.jpeg)
telegraph.co.uk/matt-cartoon-jan-13/ (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/matt-cartoons-january-2022/matt-cartoon-jan-13/)
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 19:47:31
Quote
Flipping the bird! ‘Rude’ pelican appears to swear by giving the V-sign with it wings

Bird appeared to give V-sign as it slipped over on a frozen lake in north Greece
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10403013/Amateur-photographer-snapped-rude-pelican-appearing-swear.html

Pic in link
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 20:49:51
63 new cases on Kef today, 4 on Ithaka
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 21:31:12
Quote
Exclusive: Head of government Covid rules unit held ‘boozy’ party during Christmas restrictions

The Telegraph learns that ‘dozens’ of officials from the Cabinet Office’s Covid taskforce attended the event to mark Kate Josephs' departure

The woman who led the Government unit tasked with drawing up Covid-19 restrictions was thrown a “boozy” leaving party during the Christmas lockdown, it can be disclosed.

A source who worked closely with Ms Josephs said on Friday: “She literally wrote the rules.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/01/14/former-government-head-responsible-covid-rules-held-boozy-leaving/

Wouldn't it be easier to list the days when there wasn't a government party? Seems pretty obvious the culture around Downing Street was "we make the laws for them to follow". Their arrogance is despicable.

Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 21:37:21
Quote
Kate Josephs: Sheffield reacts to ex-Covid taskforce chief and Council CEO's apology for breaking lockdown rules
Hundreds of people have told Sheffield Council’s chief executive of their personal sacrifices during the Covid-19 pandemic after she admitted attended her own leaving drinks when tough lockdown rules were in place.

Russell Foster said: “I spent nearly two years in total isolation, with severe overwork and depression, because I followed YOUR RULES. Thank you so much for showing me that it was a f***ing waste of time.”
https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/kate-josephs-sheffield-reacts-to-ex-covid-taskforce-chief-and-council-ceos-apology-for-breaking-lockdown-rules-3528439
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 21:59:26
Quote
Operation Save Big Dog: Boris Johnson draws up plan for officials to quit over partygate so he can keep job
Exclusive: The blueprint is designed to limit fallout from Sue Gray’s investigation, sources say

Boris Johnson is drawing up a list of officials to offer resignations over partygate in a bid to salvage his premiership, The Independent has learned.

Dubbed “Operation Save Big Dog” by the prime minister himself, the blueprint includes a drive to work out which heads should roll following the publication of senior official Sue Gray’s findings, as well as highlighting the prime minister’s achievements, according to sources. Officials have also started using the codename, The Independent understands.

Dan Rosenfield, Boris Johnson’s chief of staff, and Martin Reynolds, his private secretary and author of the ‘BYOB’ email, have both been noted as possible departures.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-downing-street-partygate-b1993433.html

Big surprise there, then  :oki:
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Friday, 14 January, 2022 @ 23:16:19
Municipality of Sami have noted, and condemned, the high mortality rate among strays and free range pets in the area.
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Maik on Saturday, 15 January, 2022 @ 00:15:25
(http://goinggreek.info/gallery/1_15_01_22_12_04_58.jpeg)

Quote
Ladybower Reservoir's overflowing 'plug holes' attract photographers

Photographers have been flocking to see "plug holes" dramatically overflowing at a reservoir in the Derbyshire Peak District.

The two holes - technically known as shaft spillways - are designed to regulate water levels when Ladybower Reservoir becomes full.

The excess water flows away into the River Derwent downstream.

The high water levels are most likely down to the recent wet and snowy weather in the surrounding hills.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-59966942

Where the 617 'Dambusters' Squadron practiced and where the film was filmed.
Title: Re: 14/01/22
Post by: Colleywobble on Monday, 17 January, 2022 @ 14:46:53
Quote
Exclusive: Head of government Covid rules unit held ‘boozy’ party during Christmas restrictions

The Telegraph learns that ‘dozens’ of officials from the Cabinet Office’s Covid taskforce attended the event to mark Kate Josephs' departure

The woman who led the Government unit tasked with drawing up Covid-19 restrictions was thrown a “boozy” leaving party during the Christmas lockdown, it can be disclosed.

A source who worked closely with Ms Josephs said on Friday: “She literally wrote the rules.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/01/14/former-government-head-responsible-covid-rules-held-boozy-leaving/

Wouldn't it be easier to list the days when there wasn't a government party? Seems pretty obvious the culture around Downing Street was "we make the laws for them to follow". Their arrogance is despicable.
Wonder how many of them lost someone close to them during the pandemic. Its hard to swallow when we lost our son not exactly to Covid but because he contracted it in hospital he was unable to be transferred to another hospital for specialist treatment and consequentially died without his family around him due to isolation .I could get very angry about it but unfortunately that will not bring him back.