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Tourism Help Wanted: Greece Recruiting More Non-EU WorkersDue to a significant worker shortage in the tourism sector in 2022 and in anticipation of a booming 2023, Greece is looking to recruit third-country nationals from outside the European Union to fill job vacancies.According to GTP Headlines, there are an estimated 75,000 unfilled positions in the tourism industry, up from 60,000 a year ago and 53,000 in 2021. With even more tourists expected to arrive and an increasing need for services, hotels, and restaurants, the demand for workers is set to rise.
Greece sacks police chief after train tragedy protestsGreece said Saturday it had sacked its national police chief, days after clashes between security forces and demonstrators broke out in the wake of the country's deadliest train tragedy.The Prime Minister's office said police chief Constantinos Skoumas had been discharged less than two months after being confirmed at the post.No specific cause was given for prompting the change, which comes as police face widespread public criticism for their handling of protests over the February 28 tragedy in which 57 people were killed when two trains collided.
Police Lieutenant General Lazaros Mavropoulos has been appointed new chief of the Hellenic Police (ELAS) following a meeting of the National Council on National Security (KYSEA) on Saturday.The outgoing Chief, Police Lieutenant General Konstantinos Koumas, is promoted to the rank of retired General, and is awarded the title of Honorary Chief of the Hellenic Police.
Russian spies active in Europe, including GreeceWith the war in Ukraine raging, European authorities have been uncovering the parallel lives and fake identities of Russian spies across the continent, including Sweden, Poland, Austria and Greece.Last Thursday, the Greek Intelligence Service (EYP) announced the clandestine activities of Russian Irena S., who had been living in Greece since at least 2018 under the fake name Maria Tsalla. She was based in the Athens district of Pangrati and ran a knitwear shop on Arrianou Street, but left for Russia in January.
Greece Buys Dozens Of US Amphibious Vehicles, But Are They Safe?The US Department of State has approved the potential purchase by Greece of assault amphibious vehicles of a specific type which was involved in a fatal sinking incident in 2020.The Marine Corps barred these Vietnam War-era vehicles from regular deployments in December 2021, replacing them with the more advanced Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs).However, a Marine Corps spokesman, commenting on the sale, appeared confident that the AAV is a safe vehicle and a viable platform for amphibious operations, as long as maintenance standards are followed.
Holidaymakers face big rise in car hire costs abroad this summerPeople planning to hire a car abroad this summer face having to pay almost 60% more than they did before the coronavirus pandemic.New figures for six popular destinations show average car rental prices are continuing to rise, with the average cost coming in at about £565 for a week’s hire.Car hire prices soared in 2022 after companies sold off stock during the pandemic as demand collapsed. When business returned after restrictions were lifted, companies found it hard to replace the vehicles owing to a global shortage of semiconductors.While some destinations this summer could be cheaper than during the same period last year – such as the Greek island of Crete and Dubrovnik in Croatia – overall, costs are up 5%.Tourists are generally advised to book well in advance to get the best deals.
Rare seadragons mate after more than a decade of failureStaff at the the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts, had almost given up hope on breeding after continuously trying since 2008.Seadragons are similar to seahorses in that males carry the eggs.After more than ten years, staff found that a male weedy seadragon was carrying eggs in May 2022 following an unexpected mating.The aquarium now cares for around 20 baby seadragons, some of which will be ready to move to an exhibit with the adults this summer.
Rare moonflower cactus blooms again at Cambridge University Botanic GardenA rare cactus has flowered again, two years after half a million people watched it bloom during lockdown.It spirals around tree trunks and only stays in bloom for twelve hours, so can only be seen in bloom on the Botanic Garden livestream until around 4am on Sunday.
The Moonflower, Strophocactus wittii (formerly Selenicereus wittii) has surprised us with a late afternoon bloom! We hope you are enjoying watching it in all its glory!It should be in flower for 12 hours before fading. If it's still in flower in the morning, a member of our team will pollinate it by hand.The first time it flowered was in February 2021 – which was the first ever flowering of this plant in the UK.The beautiful flower usually opens at night and flowers for just one night! However, in 2021 it also surprised us by flowering in the afternoon!**Please note** if you also have a Moonflower cactus plant in flower, while it may look very similar to this one and also called a ‘Moonflower’, it is very unlikely to be the same plant. Plants should always go by their Latin name. This one, Strophocactus wittii, is very rare outside its native Amazon habitat and held in just 16 botanic gardens around the world.