goinggreek.info
To Kafeneion => Grapevine / News Briefs => Topic started by: Maik on Wednesday, 08 February, 2023 @ 02:03:30
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Today’s bank rates:
1 €UR = £0.9202 GBP
1 €UR = $1.1021 USD
£1 GBP = 1.0867 €UR
$1 USD = 0.9074 €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
Tue 07/02 09°/04° 22 km/h 01% Sun & cloud
Wed 08/02 10°/05° 25 km/h 03% Mostly cloudy
Thu 09/02 10°/04° 20 km/h 07% Sun & cloud
Fri 10/02 11°/07° 10 km/h 01% Sunny
Sat 11/02 13°/08° 12 km/h 01% Sun & cloud
Sun 12/02 13°/07° 18 km/h 01% Sun & cloud
Mon 13/02 13°/09° 13 km/h 03% Sunny
Tue 14/02 15°/10° 11 km/h 05% Mostly sunny
Wed 15/02 15°/10° 11 km/h 03% Sun & cloud
Thu 16/02 15°/10° 11 km/h 07% Sun & cloud
frost.getmap.gr (https://frost.getmap.gr/map#7.38/38.253/21.001)
(http://goinggreek.info/gallery/1_31_01_23_5_46_28.png) Moderate risk of freezing temperatures (0°C – -2°C)
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The secret Saudi plan to buy the World Cup
Crown Prince MBS privately promised to pay for all Greece’s infrastructure, in exchange for Athens signing up to the joint 2030 bid.
Saudi Arabia offered to pay for new sports stadiums in Greece and Egypt if they agreed to team up with the oil-rich Gulf heavyweight in a joint bid to host the 2030 football World Cup, POLITICO can reveal.
In exchange, the Saudis would get to stage three-quarters of all the matches, under the proposed deal.
The dramatic offer — likely worth billions of euros in construction costs — was discussed in a private conversation between Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in summer 2022, according to a senior official familiar with the matter.
It is not clear whether the offer was taken up. But the three countries are now working on a joint proposal to host the 2030 tournament, a move which has triggered a backlash against Greece.
In Greece, paying for sports infrastructure is a touchy subject, where it is seen as a monument to government profligacy.
Back in 2004, Athens hosted the Olympic Games, with Greece splurging around €9 billion. However, much of the infrastructure was left abandoned after the Olympic flame went out.
As the country entered a decade-long depression and had to resort to bailout programs to avoid bankruptcy, the Olympics became a source of anger for Greeks who questioned whether the Games pushed their country further into recession. Nearly two decades after the Olympics extravaganza, many of the 30 venues remain unused, while some have been demolished.
The decision on World Cup 2030 hosting will be made in 2024, with the bidding process set to open officially later this year.
https://www.politico.eu/article/qatar-fifa-world-cup-the-secret-saudi-plan-to-buy-the-cup/
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Turkey and Syria earthquake death toll passes 7,800 as rescue efforts falter
Aftershocks and freezing weather hamper efforts of rescue teams searching for survivors after 7.8-magnitude quake
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/07/turkey-syria-earthquake-conditions-rescue-efforts-death-toll
20,000 feared dead in earthquake carnage as rescuers race against time to save trapped victims
Around 23m lives – including those of 1.4m children – blighted by the disaster, says the World Health Organisation
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/earthquake-turkey-unicef-relief-death-b2277435.html
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Fawlty Towers: John Cleese to reboot series with daughter
The much-loved comedy series is set to return with the father-daughter pairing taking on a boutique hotel
John Cleese is set to reboot his much-loved comedy series Fawlty Towers.
The actor and writer will team up with daughter Camilla Cleese, with the pair both set to write and star. The new series will “explore how Cleese’s over-the-top, cynical and misanthropic Basil Fawlty navigates the modern world”, according to early information, with the plot focusing on his relationship with his daughter as they manage a boutique hotel together.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/07/fawlty-towers-john-cleese-reboot
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Church of England to consider use of gender-neutral terms for God
Use of ‘he’ when referring to God to be examined by new a commission in spring.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/07/church-of-england-to-consider-use-of-gender-neutral-terms-for-god
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Microsoft launches new AI chat-powered Bing and Edge browser
Microsoft announced on Tuesday a new version of its Bing search engine powered by a next-generation OpenAI language model more powerful than ChatGPT and specially trained for web search.
You can request access to the new AI-powered Bing web search engine by clicking "Join the waitlist" on this page (https://www.bing.com/new).
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-launches-new-ai-chat-powered-bing-and-edge-browser/
How will Google and Microsoft AI chatbots affect us and how we work?
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/feb/07/how-will-google-and-microsoft-ai-chatbots-affect-us-and-how-we-work
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No ferries crossing from Argostoil-Lixouri this morning, nothing to do with PNO strike but due to the cold weather, -3C in places.
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Blankets, gauze (medical), laundry detergent, milk powder, nappies, sanitary towels for the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria can be donated between 09:00-14:00 at the ELME KI centre, Antoni Tritsi 119, Argostoli (signed as 'ΕΡΓΑΤΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ', between Marfin Bank and Hotel Olga on seafront).
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(http://goinggreek.info/gallery/1_08_02_23_12_29_19.png)
New King Charles III stamps unveiled – but a limited number will be released first
Out on April 4, the stamps won’t be widely circulated until current stocks featuring the late Queen have been used up
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/02/08/new-king-charles-iii-stamps-unveiled-limited-number-will-released/
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Municipality of Sami are collecting for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, items sought are:
Medical equipment (antiseptics, painkillers, anti-inflammatories, gauze, bandages, first aid kits, saline, etc.)
Masks, gloves
Baby foods, baby milks, baby care items
Milk and long-life foods (cereals, nuts, tins etc.)
Personal hygiene items
Warm clothes (adults & children)
Blankets & bed linen
Collection points open during normal working hours from tomorrow, Thursday, 09 - Friday 17 February at:
Erisos KEP
Agia Efimia Community Center
Independent Welfare Department offices, Sami
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Homes in Great Yarmouth evacuated overnight as Second World War bomb find sparks major incident
The bomb was discovered during dredging work in the River Yare at Bollard Quay close to the junction with Boundary Road, as part of works for the third river crossing in the town.
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-02-07/seaside-town-cordoned-off-after-bomb-discovered
Shrapnel injuries warning as police admit Great Yarmouth bomb explosion is a ‘real possibility'
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-02-08/shrapnel-injuries-warning-as-police-admit-bomb-explosion-real-possibility
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(http://goinggreek.info/gallery/1_08_02_23_7_07_19.png)
Mystery over pristine 1974 Vauxhall Victor FE discovered with just 86 miles on it
Bought brand new by Mr P Milner from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, the car sat untouched for decades with its seats covered in polythene
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/07/mystery-pristine-1974-vauxhall-victor-fe-discovered-just-86/
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Carnival Corp sells Costa brand cruise ship to Greece’s Seajets
Carnival Corp is shedding a 17-year-old cruise ship to Greek buyers.
Shipping market sources in Piraeus are linking Marios Iliopoulos company Seajets to a deal for the 102,700-gt Costa Magica (built 2004).
The Costa Magica has 1,359 cabins that accommodate up to 4,000 passengers and about 1,000 crew members.
Under Seajets’ management, the Costa Magica is likely to return in grand style to Mediterranean waters.
According to available data, it becomes the biggest and youngest ship ever in the cruise ship fleet of Marios Iliopoulos-led Seajets.
https://www.tradewindsnews.com/cruise-and-ferry/carnival-corp-sells-costa-brand-cruise-ship-to-greece-s-seajets/2-1-1401260
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Google Chrome 110 Stable fixes 15 security vulnerabilities
Google Chrome 110 is available already, but the automatic distribution of the update may take days or weeks.
Chrome users may load chrome://settings/help to display the version of the browser that is installed currently. Chrome runs a check for updates when the page is opened and will download and install any update that it finds automatically. A restart of the web browser is required to complete the update.
The following version should be displayed on the page after the installation of Chrome 110:
Chrome for Windows 110.0.5481.77 or 110.0.5481.78
Chrome for Mac or Linux: 110.0.5481.77
Chrome for iOS: 110.0.5481.83
Chrome for Android: 110.0.5481.63 or 110.0.5481.64
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/02/08/google-chrome-110-stable-fixes-15-security-vulnerabilities/