Author Topic: 19/01/23  (Read 1088 times)

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Offline Maik

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19/01/23
« on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 04:16:43 »
Today’s bank rates:
1 €UR = £0.9016 GBP
1 €UR = $1.1164 USD
£1 GBP = 1.1091 €UR
$1 USD = 0.8957 €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 19/01   18°/09°   30 km/h   87%   Thunderstorms & winds probable
Fri 20/01   14°/11°   24 km/h   85%   Showers probable
Sat 21/01   14°/10°   33 km/h   84%   Showers & winds probable
Sun 22/01   14°/10°   21 km/h   92%   Rain probable
Mon 23/01   13°/09°   19 km/h   92%   Rain probable
Tue 24/01   14°/09°   10 km/h   78%   Showers probable
Wed 25/01   14°/08°   14 km/h   73%   Showers probable
Thu 26/01   13°/08°   16 km/h   64%   Showers probable
Fri 27/01   13°/08°   18 km/h   51%   Showers probable
Sat 28/01   14°/08°   17 km/h   56%   Showers probable

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #1 on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 04:46:33 »
Artificial Intelligence (AI) looks as if it could to be the buzz phrase of 2023 with ChatGPT getting mentioned in the media. If it's of any interest here's a little more info:

Quote
ChatGPT Revolution: Top AI Text Generators of 2023

We’re living in the golden age of technological development. The tide is particularly strong in terms of Artificial Intelligence as more and more AI utilities burst onto the scene to make human tasks easier to perform. The article below will focus on a particular type of AI called generative AI. We’ll start by explaining what this branch of artificial intelligence is, and then we’ll jump into the list of the five best examples of text-based generative AI that you can try out right now.
https://www.ghacks.net/chatgpt-revolution-top-ai-text-generators-of-2023/

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #2 on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 04:48:38 »
Quote
Train strikes: Cheaper to settle, minister admits

Rail strikes have cost the UK more than settling the disputes months ago would have, rail minister Huw Merriman has said.

The strikes have cost the UK more than £1bn, he conceded to a committee of MPs.

However, Mr Merriman said no deal over pay was viable without unions agreeing to "modernise" working practices - a major sticking point in negotiations.

"It's the reforms that will actually pay for these pay deals," he said.

Mr Merriman added that if the government had settled with rail workers last year, it would have set a precedent for other public sector pay disputes.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64317725

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #3 on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 15:13:08 »
Quote
Greece Is Number Two On The List Of European Countries And Is ‘by Far The Cheapest Place To Live For British Ex-pats

Britons might dream of moving to a sunny destination. But Brits might be shocked by the cost of some essentials abroad, according to new research.
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/19/greece-is-number-two-on-the-list-of-european-countries-and-is-by-far-the-cheapest-place-to-live-for-british-ex-pats/

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #4 on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 15:18:16 »
Quote
Volcano Near Santorini Likely To Reawaken, Warn Geologists

Not far off from the Cycladic paradise of Santorini, the Kolumbo volcano remains dormant, but forever threatening. Alarmingly, researchers have detected rising magma, which are often associated with earthquake swarms and makes a future eruption highly likely.

The main problem geologists have is that it is impossible to predict just when it will be explode - it could be one day from now or in a century.
https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/01/19/volcano-near-santorini-geologists/

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #5 on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 15:22:53 »
Quote
January temperatures well above the average

The fact that Greece is experiencing a particularly warm January was confirmed by measurements of the National Observatory of Athens/Meteo.gr, which showed that minimum temperatures on Wednesday were 15 degrees higher on the Celsius scale compared to the last 10 years.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1202635/january-temperatures-well-above-the-average/

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #6 on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 15:52:38 »
Argostoli hospital is to benefit from a building upgrade to the value of 7,000,000€.

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #7 on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 15:58:02 »
Quote
Ofsted boss surprised by pre-teens with smartphones

Ofsted's chief inspector says she is "surprised" when primary school children have smartphones.

Amanda Spielman said she was "not comfortable" with younger children having unlimited internet access.

During a discussion about access to porn and adult content, Ms Spielman - the head of England's schools watchdog - said there was a "great deal" that could be done to "really limit" the content to which young children are exposed.

"The first thing you can do is not give a child a smartphone when they're too young," she said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-64330128

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #8 on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 16:01:47 »
Quote
More babies were born outside marriage or civil partnership for first time
https://www.itv.com/news/2023-01-19/more-babies-were-born-outside-marriage-or-civil-partnership-for-first-time

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #9 on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 16:12:03 »
Quote
Plastic bottle deposit return scheme finally looks set to start in England

The launch of a long awaited deposit return scheme for plastic bottles is expected to be announced by the government.

Five years after Michael Gove first promised the scheme, it is understood ministers will on Friday give the go-ahead for a deposit return scheme (DRS) which will not include glass, according to a report in the Grocer magazine.

The failure to include glass in the scheme, which was a manifesto promise, has been criticised by campaigners as a missed opportunity.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/19/plastic-bottle-deposit-return-scheme-finally-looks-set-to-start-in-england

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #10 on: Thursday, 19 January, 2023 @ 19:24:05 »
Quote
Covid claims 186 lives last week

Health authorities on Thursday announced that 186 patients with Covid-19 died from January 9 to January 15, an increase of 16% on the previous week.

Two deaths from flu were also recorded in the week, bringing to 12 the total number of those who have died from the virus since early October.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1202689/covid-claimed-186-lives-last-week/

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #11 on: Friday, 20 January, 2023 @ 00:07:01 »
Quote
Why will 2023 summer holidays be so expensive and how can we get a good deal?

New research has revealed the price of flights and holidays has increased by hundreds of pounds.

Official figures show the cost of buying plane tickets has risen by a record margin just as thousands will be looking ahead to summer holiday plans.

So, what's behind the spike in prices and what can you do to get a better deal?
https://www.itv.com/news/2023-01-19/why-will-2023-summer-holidays-be-so-expensive-and-how-can-we-get-a-good-deal

Offline Maik

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Re: 19/01/23
« Reply #12 on: Friday, 20 January, 2023 @ 00:13:01 »
Quote
Struggle to reach deal in secret talks to return Elgin Marbles to Greece
Sources say two sides cannot agree on how much of the disputed artefacts should return to Athens and for how long

Secret talks to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece have faltered just as they were approaching agreement, it’s been revealed.

Greek and British negotiators have made clear they cannot agree details on the future of the collection that once decorated the Parthenon in Athens.

The British Museum has around 250ft of carved stone that once wrapped around the Parthenon. An insider to the talks said Greece wanted it all back for 20 years, at least.

Under UK law, the museum cannot remove items from its collection unless they are “unfit to be retained”.

The source said they did not expect more progress until after Greek parliamentary elections later this year.

The British government said last year it does not plan to change the law to allow a full restitution of the marbles.

Last week, Michelle Donelan, Britain’s culture secretary, said the Parthenon Sculptures "belong here in the UK" and should not be returned to Greece.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/elgin-marbles-return-greece-talks-parthenon-b2265673.html