goinggreek.info
To Kafeneion => Grapevine / News Briefs => Topic started by: Maik on Friday, 15 December, 2023 @ 04:27:06
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Today’s bank rates:
1 €UR = £ 0.8853 GBP £1 GBP = 1.1295 €UR
1 €UR = $ 1.1247 USD $1 USD = 0.8891 €UR
1 €UR = $ 1.6777 AUD $1 AUD = 0.5960 €UR
1 €UR = R21.2828 ZAR R1 ZAR = 0.0469 €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 (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 15/12 16°/10° 10 km/h 84% Showers probable
Sat 16/12 13°/08° 17 km/h 63% Showers probable
Sun 17/12 14°/05° 16 km/h 02% Sunny
Mon 18/12 15°/07° 07 km/h 02% Sunny
Tue 19/12 17°/09° 04 km/h 02% Sunny
Wed 20/12 16°/11° 07 km/h 10% Mostly sunny
Thu 21/12 17°/12° 11 km/h 42% Showers possible
Fri 22/12 16°/11° 21 km/h 43% Showers possible
Sat 23/12 16°/10° 22 km/h 24% Mostly sunny
Sun 24/12 16°/12° 15 km/h 06% Mostly sunny
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Dive Into Disappointment: Zakynthos "City" Fizzles Out As Natural Formation
The ocean’s depths promised secrets of a lost civilization, but the latest dive into Zakynthos, Greece, delivered a damp squib. In 2013, whispers erupted of a submerged “city” off the coast, its ruins stretching across 30 acres and guarded by 20 ghostly columns. But hold onto your snorkels, folks, because the truth is far less “Poseidon” and far more “rock.”
Scientists, not sea monsters, unravelled the mystery. Turns out, these weren’t ancient Atlantean avenues, but 5,000-year-old concretions, naturally formed by the ocean’s mineral magic.
Of course, locals with memories longer than a seagull’s attention span aren’t entirely convinced. Old documents hint at something more than just rocks in Alykanas Bay.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/12/14/greece-borrow-elgin-marbles-returns-uk-lord-parkinson/
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Minister hints at Elgin Marbles loan if Greece changes tune
Britain could loan the Elgin Marbles to the Acropolis if Greece changes its position on their rightful home, a Government minister has hinted.
Lord Parkinson, the minister for arts and heritage, suggested Athens could borrow the antiquities if it acknowledges that they are owned by the British Museum.
But Lord Frost, the former minister, said he was “unconvinced” by the prospect of a loan, arguing the UK should permanently return the disputed treasures to Greece in “a grand gesture”.
Speaking during a debate in the Lords on Thursday, Lord Parkinson stressed that the sculptures are legally owned by the trustees of the British Museum, which is independent of the Government.
He went on to outline a “hypothetical scenario” in which the museum might obtain an “open individual export licence”, allowing it to send an object on loan for a maximum of three years.
But he said this would only be possible if it was guaranteed that the item in question would be returned to the UK.
Given that Greece has long maintained that the sculptures were stolen by Lord Elgin in an example of imperialist plundering, he said it was “very difficult” to see how such a deal could be struck with Athens.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/12/14/greece-borrow-elgin-marbles-returns-uk-lord-parkinson/
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Due to essential maintenance works mains electricity down between 07:30-10:30 this Sunday, 17 December, in Agia Pelagia, Airport (area), Avythos, Domata, Fokata, Kalligata, Kourkoumelata, Lakithra, Menegata, Metaxata, Minies, Platys Gialos, Razata (Prophetas Ilias area), Sarlata, Svoronata.
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Emmerdale actor Steve Halliwell dies after 29 years as Zak Dingle
Emmerdale actor Steve Halliwell, who played Zak Dingle, has died at the age of 77.
https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2023-12-15/emmerdale-actor-steve-halliwell-dies-aged-77
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Rural doctor service available between 10:00-13:00 this Monday, 18 December, in Vlakhata.
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Kef police have arrested a resident for breaking into a business premises on Wednesday morning and stealing around 180€ and pieces of equipment. An accomplice is being sought.
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Earlier today a car left the Argostoli - Lixouri road past Agios Konstantinos beach and went down the hillside. Fortunately not very far down, its descent blocked by and thick vegetation and olive trees. Rescue services extracted two occupants without serious injury.
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Seaplane Flights to Kick Off from Corfu in Spring, Investor Says
Highly-anticipated seaplane flights are scheduled to kick off from Corfu in the spring, announced the project’s key investor Hellenic Seaplanes this week.
According to the company, seaplanes will carry out flights for transport, charters and sightseeing tours. Flights from Corfu will initially make stops at Paxi, Antipaxi and the Diapontian Islands, an island cluster in the Ionian Sea.
Hellenic Seaplanes said the spring launch is part of wider efforts to kickstart the entire waterway network in the summer of 2024.
https://news.gtp.gr/2023/12/15/seaplane-flights-to-kick-off-from-corfu-in-spring-investor-says/
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European Commission and the European Environment Agency have produced the free to use Natura 2000 Mapper, quite interesting to click on different parts of the green shaded areas on and around Kef then clicking to open a sidepanel: https://natura2000.eea.europa.eu
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3-year stay and work permits approved for 30,000 undocumented migrants in Greece
The Migration & Asylum Ministry tabled an amendment to a Labour Ministry draft bill on Friday which foresees granting a three-year stay and work permit to migrants who have entered Greece illegally, ANA reports.
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/society/49710-3-year-stay-and-work-permits-approved-for-30-000-undocumented-migrants-in-greece.html
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One for the 2024 diary: a 'backyard ultra' marathon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backyard_ultra) on Kefalonia - "competitors must consecutively run the distance of 6.706 kilometres (4.167 mi) in less than one hour, which is a pace of 100 miles per 24 hours. The race is over when only one runner remains to complete a lap".
Argostoli on Sunday, 14 April @ 09:00
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Accident involving two cars on the Koutavos lagoon road earlier this evening, cars damaged, occupants taken to hospital for check-ups.