The actor Lycurgus Kallergis died at the age of 97. He was known mainly for his role on the television series “Christ Re-crucified.”
The actor encountered problems with his health and was hospitalized at George Gennimatas hospital.
L. Kallergis had a rich career in theater, cinema, and television.
He worked as director, taught many young actors in drama schools, translated theatrical plays, and was a member of the Communist Party in 1977.
He comes from a family of Cretan chieftains, the son of the pioneer socialist Stavros Kallergis, leader of the Labour Day in Greece. He was born in 1914 in Mylopotamos, Rethymnon. He finished secondary school in Athens, and made theatrical studies at the Karolos Koun drama school.
In his long journey with Greek theater, he performed in Greek as well as other languages : ancient tragedy, Shakespeare, Strindberg, Pirandello, Gogol, O’Neil, etc. Lycurgus Kallergis starred in many free theater groups and at the National Theatre Drama School for 18 years, where he also worked as a professor. He collaborated with all the “sacred monsters” of Greek theater scene: Marika Kotopouli, Catherine Andreadis, Emilios Veakis, Katina Paxinou, Alexis Minotis etc.
He was also was President of the Panhellenic Entertainment Federation and Vice President of the Actors’ Pension Fund. In 2007, he received an honorary Ph.D. degree by the Department of Theatre Studies at the University of Athens.
Actor Lykurgus Kallergis Passes Away
Empty Neighborhoods in Downtown Athens
Day by day, neighborhoods in downtown Athens become more and more empty, as the economic migrants who used to live there now leave for their countries.
Albanians leave Greece to return to their country of origin to invest their savings. Bulgarians, Romanians and Polish return to their countries, which are now EU members.
Many immigrants from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan booked one- way tickets back to their homelands.
The drop in the construction field has affected men and left many women working as maids unemployed. Many Albanians think about returning, but have to take into consideration their children, as many attend Greek schools and speak limited Albanian.
From 2004 onwards, 50,000 Albanians are estimated to have left Greece.
Environment Polluted with Sewage Sludge
Five men loaded mud illegally on trucks from a tank with effluents in Anevalousa, Crete, on the 1st kilometre of National Road of Arckalochori-Viannos to deposit it in land covered with olive trees and pastures.
The perpetrators were arrested by the officers of the Police Department of Arkalochori and the case is under investigation.
Olive Oil Feast in Parga
A big olive oil feast is going to take place tomorrow at the beach of Parga, organised by the Municipality and the Agricultural Society of Agia.
During the feast, local dishes, olive oil, olives, ouzo and various products made with olive oil in the region, are going to be served and a nutritionist is going to inform attendees of the benefits of having olive oil in one’s diet.
The visitors of Parga show great interest in the procedure of making olive oil and will have the opportunity to see the equipment used by the olders for the extraction of oil at the Outdoor Museum.
Fire in Patras Still Raging
A big fire that broke out early this afternoon at the industrial area of Patras, between the villages of Chaikali and Peristeri is still Raging
At Chaikali, the fire burned two houses and a chapel and caused much damage to crops. Prefect Apostolos Katsifaras and the Mayor of Dymi, Andrew Panagioropoulos, rushed to the area in order to give their support to the residents.
It was a miracle that two firefighters who were trying to extinguish the fire, after having been trapped in their flaming vehicle, were finally saved thanks to their colleages’ immediate response.
Even though the fire is now under control, the strong winds blowing in the area create fear for resurgence. The flames reached the backyards of many houses and residents are counting their losses.
Meanwhile, smaller-scale fires erupted earlier in the areas of Sychena and Bozaitika of Patras, but fortunately they are under control.
Greek Tax Changes that will Make Your Wallet Lighter…a Lot Lighter
Greek tax legislation changes resemble pretty much like Latin American soap opera episodes. They are endless and full of drama.
More than eight million Greek taxpayers may be in for an unpleasant surprise when they get back home from their summer vacation: all those tax changes that George Papandreou signed for in July amid the frustrated riots in Constitution Square, are about to be applied and will consequently trim the taxpayers already trimmed income. Here are the main points you should know so that you won’t have a heart attack when you have a look at the eye-popping taxes the Greek government has prepared for you.
1 Income tax rates for individuals
The Greek Ministry of Finance technocrats seem to believe that someone earning 12.000 euros annually- in a country where Frappe costs four euros- is well off and so they have to pay tax! The new progressive tax scale applicable on the aggregate net income of individuals from all schedules is as follows:
For those “lucky” tax-payers who have children, the amount of the first bracket is increased by 2, 000 euros for having one child, 4,000 for two children and 12, 500 euros for three children. An additional tax-free amount of 2,500 euros is granted for the fourth child and each child beyond that. In case this is the government’s attempt to fight Greek low-birth rates, somebody should inform them that it’s not going to be very effective.
But, there’s yet, more bureaucratic work for Greek tax-payers. They are obliged to file with the tax authorities purchase receipts for goods and services of a value totaling 25 percent of their reported taxable income in cases of income amounting up to Euro 60,000. If the aggregate value of receipts filed by a taxpayer does not meet the aforemenoned percentage, the difference is subject to 10 percent income.
2 Special solidarity contribution.
We’ve heard of it, massively protested against it, well here it is. The special solidarity contribution is live and kicking. It is imposed on the total net income of individuals earned during the years 2010-2014, as reported in income tax returns of the fiscal years 2011-2015 respectively. The contribution is imposed on actual and imputed reported income, be it taxable or tax exempt, as long as such income exceeds in total the amount of Euro 12,000. Depending on the total amount of annual net income, such contribution is calculated as follows:
In an act of compassion to the Greek tax-payers who it seems they do nothing else but paying taxes these days-the contribution in question is payable in six monthly installments, the first one of which being payable by the end of the month following the one within which such contribution is assessed.
3 Special tax on deemed living expenses
Had you known that the pool-tax would cost you more than the actual pool you would never have wanted one, would you?
Luxury comes with a price in Greece. A special tax is imposed on the basis of the amount of the deemed living expenses: use of cars, yachts, aircrafts (there shouldn’t be many candidates for this one), helicopters, gliders and swimming pools. Again, you can pay in six monthly installments, of which the first one is payable by the end of the month following the one within which such contribution shall have been assessed.
4 Contribution by professionals and entrepreneurs
Contrary to any economical theory-and logic- the Greek government attempts to fuel the market and stir development, by imposing even more taxes to businesses. For the current year the tax is set at Euro 300 irrespectively of the place of registered seat. For next year- given of course that your business survives the crisis and Papandreou’s insane tax invasion- you will pay 200 euros if your business is located in a touristic town or a village with population of less than 200,000. As regards entrepreneurs and professionals located in cities with a popular on exceeding 200,000, the annual contribution amounts to 500 euros. In case of branches, an additional contribution of Euro 300 will be imposed per branch.
5 Company Credit cards
Gone are the days when you used to load up the company’s card with baby food and shoes to avoid tax. According to Ministerial decision POL. 1139/2011, the use of company credit cards by companies’ executives and employees for personal family expenses constitutes an additional benefit which increases the salary income of the employees and shall be taxed as such.
6 Real Estate Property Tax
When real estate booms, property taxes often followed suit. So logic says that amid the biggest real estate crisis Greece has ever seen, property taxes should drop. But they arent. Why?
Well, it seems that logic and Greek tax legislation are destined to clash.The new Real Estate Property Tax (REPT) is now applicable to individuals from Euro 400,000 to Euro 200,000, whilst at the same time the applicable rate of the second bracket is increased from 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent! For an individual holding Greek real estate having a value of Euro 500,000 is now burdened on an annual basis with REPT amounting to Euro 600 (as opposed to Euro 100 under the previous regime).
7 VAT-New rates for certain goods and services
In a hope that Greeks will die of starvation so that the government will have less salaries and pensions to pay, as of September 1st, 2011, the supply of certain goods and services which was formerly subject to the reduced VAT rate (13 percent and 9 percent in the Aegean islands) shall be subject to the standard VAT rate (23 percent and 16 percent in the Aegean islands). The new VAT rate applies to non-alcoholic beverages and drinks (except for bottled still water-how did this one get away?) and services related to the supply of food for immediate consumption at restaurants. So,drink up now cause from September it‘ll cost you.
If you thought you could get away with it and order in, think again. The legislator provisioned that the preparation of food for take away or delivery shall be subject to the standard VAT rate as well! But in an act of humanitarian compassion, the increase does not cover food provided at points of sale within universities, hospitals and other institutions of social welfare. How thoughtful! We can already picture Greeks having dinner at hospitals on Saturday nights.
8 Imposition of excise duty on natural gas
Thank god Greece is a country with a warm, mild climate or else Greeks would suffer this winter. As of September 1st, 2011, excise duty shall be imposed on natural gas that is used as heating fuel or for any other purposes except for the use as motor fuel. The amount of such duty shall be 1,5 Euro per Gigajoule. The imposition of excise duty on natural gas that is used as motor fuel is postponed until 2014.
9 Extension of limitation period expiring on December 31st, 2011
This is the fifth extension since 2006 of limitation periods for those who “forget” they have unfinished businesses with the tax office (Greece is a rather understanding country with “mpataxtsides”- turkish word for people who don’t pay taxes ). This time we have a yet again new extension of limitation period concerning the right of period expiring on December 31st, 2011. Pursuant to the bill under discussion the limitation period concerning the right of the State to impose taxes in respect of some pending (un-audited) cases, which was due to expire on December 31st, 2011, shall be extended to December 31st, 2012.
10 Revival of 2010 tax amnesty scheme
You would expect that a socialist government would care to give amnesty to poor IKA, a Greek medical insurance company, pensioners, who after thirty five years of hard work get 600 euros a month. Well, these days, socialism gives amnesty to enterprises and butchers pensions. The envisaged revised tax amnesty scheme shall be available to a wider circle of enterprises, since it may also apply to enterprises with reported annual gross revenues in excess of Euro 20 Million and of no more than Euro 40 Million, as well as to enterprises whose shares are listed on the Athens Stock Exchange. Before you rich people get too excited, bear in mind that: 1) they will check your books 2) the tax amnesty scheme will not apply to shipping tax, real estate tax, large real estate tax, real estate duty, special real estate tax, real estate transfer tax and inheritance tax.
2011 LA Greek Fest Cancelled Due to New Construction at Saint Sophia
The L.A. Greek Fest, Southern California’s largest Greek festival is cancelled for 2011 due to the construction of the new community center that is being built on Saint Sophia’s ground.
Every year the festival was held at Saint Sophia, the oerthodo
x cathedral at Mormandie and Pico on the first weekend of September and lasts for three-days.
The LA Greek Film festival’s honorary chairs are Tom Hanks with his wife Rita Wilson.
The event offers Greek food, music, and activities such as dancing, plays and singing.
The community center will be completed in December and the festival will return on 2012.
Super League to Kick off With Just Five Games
The new league will (in all probability) start on Saturday, August 27, but for the first time there will only be five games taking place, Olympiakos and AEK will sit the weekend out and the games of the first round could be annulled later by the courts.
The Super League decided, at all costs, to bend the rules and set the ball rolling in the domestic championship, despite a number of court cases pending and with only 13 out of the 16 teams confirmed to play in the country’s top flight.
After the relegation of Olympiakos Volou and Kavala, the two clubs secured on Friday an injunction that prevents their replacement at the top flight for the time being.
What is more, Iraklis managed to stay alive in the case for its relegation for forging a tax document, which means that the team that replaced them in the Super League, Asteras Tripolis, will not be able to start the league either.
As a result of the above and despite a general clamour against its hurried decisions, the Super League is kicking off on Saturday with two games (OFI vs Atromitos and PAS Yiannina vs Aris) and continues on Sunday with three more: Kerkyra vs Panathinaikos, Panionios vs Ergotelis and PAOK vs Xanthi.
“It is incomprehensible that the league should kick off now,” stated Xanthi on Friday, saying that “it cannot be possible for the championship to begin without knowing three out of the 16 teams taking part.”
It went on to ask TV rights holder Nova, the Greek satellite platform, to go on record and accept that the league should not start with so many issues outstanding, without asking for compensation, as the contract had provided for if the league did not start in August.
It also calls on all Super League members to send a fax to the organizer’s offices by Saturday noon clarifying whether they are in favour or not of the start of the league.
The first round of games could be annulled in court later as there are no 16 teams confirmed to sign the proclamation of the new championship, as the law requires.
(source: sport in greece)
Leaders Begin Discussion on Territory Issue
The issue of territory was examined on Friday by President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu during their one-day meeting, in the framework of the direct talks aiming at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.
UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisor Alexander Downer told reporters after today’s meeting which lasted more than five hours that it was “an opportunity to focus the discussions on the issue of territory”. It was agreed, he said, “that the issue of maps and figures would be discussed at the very end of the process, so that wasn’t the issue today, and the leaders had a good opportunity to exchange views and consider each other’s positions”.
Downer told reporters that he believes that during this phase it is really important that the leaders “are able to have discussions in private obviously with us, and the principle of privacy needs properly to be respected here.“
“Otherwise it makes it very difficult to come here with different proposals and to discuss those different proposals, if there is going to be an analysis of them if there is a leaking of them publicly, an evaluation of them day by day by the UN,“ he added. Downer said he can understand it is frustrating not to get that information but “always in these types of negotiations it is important to preserve that privacy”.
(source: cna)
Greece Can Defend Cyprus' Sovereign Rights
Briefing the Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament on bilateral relations between Greece and Israel, in view of his forthcoming visit to Israel, and commenting on Turkish threats against the cooperation between Cyprus and Israel, and explorations for natural gas, Beglitis said that “we recognise and are in a position to defend the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, emanating from the international Law of the Sea.“
“The Republic of Cyprus is at the heart of our defence pact and we will defend these principles, if and when necessary. Beyond the threats and the continuing review policy of Turkey, we have the determination and necessary means to handle it. We have a duty, by undertaking dynamic initiatives, to make Turkey liable in the area of international law,“ he said.
(source: cna)