The risk of not getting permission to participate in the championship of the Super League is currently facing seven teams, which are likely to be removed from the Professional Sports Committee, which met on Thursday, August 19th, to examine the dossiers of the FCs Super League. Among the teams which are most at risk are PAOK and AEK Athens, while Ioannina, Olympiakos Volou, Kavala, Corfu and OFI teams are also included on the black list.
According to the evaluation of the committee, the above-mentioned FCs cannot qualify based on data that have been registered so far. The debt of each FC to the State, IKA, and to its players, will be placed under the microscope of the committee, and each FC must submit a bank letter of guarantee equaling 10% of its budget.
Seven FCs Likely to Be out of Champion League
Volunteer Fireman Arrested for Arson
A very strange volunteer fireman caused fires in Andros island and then was on the front line to participate in the fire operation with passion.
The 30-year-old man caused fires with the assistance of two friends. He started this ”hobby” last summer after the municipality elections when he was not satisfied with the results. He tried to show his strong disagreement.
Over the last two and a half months he was responsible for over 10 fires. His coworkers were shocked to discover the news because during fire operations, he showed good sense of character and seemed to fight the fire with great passion.
Local authorities gathered incriminating evidence linking him to the fires. This lead to his arrest.
The fireman and his two accomplices confessed their actions after being interrogated the whole night by the police.
The general attorney of Syros is going to make a decision soon.
The New ''Steven Hawking'' of Kalamata!
Stephen Tyros, a young man from Kalamata, has dreams of walking in the footsteps of Stephen Hawking. Although only 18 years of age, he has achieved impressive performances both in Astrophysics and in Chemistry, and has already won a bronze medal in the 43rd Olympiad in Chemistry. Tyros is now packing his bags in preparation to attend the International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics in Poland. The new star of Astrophysics had no time to take holidays this summer as, along with four other children, he spent his summer studying in order to achieve distinction in Poland.
The young boy, speaking to the newspaper Espresso, said that he loved Astrophysics, thanks to a program that he attended in his school in Kalamata. Stephen has participated in the Chemistry Olympiad 2010 in Tokyo and the Chemistry Olympiad in Beijing. His distinctions and grades in school were high enough for him to be accepted by the University of Durham in England, and after Poland, the ambitious 18-year-old will begin his studies there. As he states, “Abroad professors pay more attention to students. If you try, you know that you will gain some distinction. “
"Smoking Stamps" to Increase the State Revenues
According to the newspaper “Ethnos”, the Ministry of Interior, Health and Culture decided to impose tax to the night clubs of more than 300 square metres with live music as well as to casinos where smoking is permitted.
The spaces for the smokers must not cover more than half of the surface of the night club and the “smoking stamp” will cost 200 euro per square meter. The spaces which are exclusively for the non smokers must be clearly distinguished with the necessary signs.
The Ministry of Health is also thinking to impose the measure in smaller night clubs with live music too.
The government estimates that thanks to this measure by the end of 2011 the state will have raised about 40 million euro.
Cohabitation for Homosexual Couples
New reforms will come to change the situation regarding the cohabitation of couples. Until now, only heterosexual couples had the legal right of cohabitation. According to some sources , the government is moving one step closer to changing that, including gay and lesbians in the reforms.
This step constitutes a move towards accepting the fact that though people may be different, they still have equal rights. It also indicates increasing respect for all couples who wish to live together on a long-term basis without getting married.
This movement reveals a deficit in the legal system, in which such perspectives should have been taken under consideration from the begining.
This new reform will benefit both homosexual and heterosexual couples, allowing people to obtain equal rights as spouses.
According to ”Efeftherotypia” newspaper, this new draft legislation will be applied after being approved by the Minister in charge Mr. Papaioannou. In September, a detailed discussion will be made by the Greek Parliament, as the reform bill is still in its early stages.
Reforms in Family Law
According to an article on news247.gr, many important reforms in family law will be imposed.
First of all, a child will no longer take necessarily the father’s surname. In cases where parents can not reach an agreement regarding the choice of the surname, the child will have two surnames and the one whose first letter precedes in the alphabet will be written first. In addition, the couple will no longer be able to use each other’s surname after the wedding.
Also, the parent who has the custody must ensure that the child gets in touch with the other parent unless there are serious reasons not to permit it. Any parent who does not comply with a trial’s decision regarding custody or ensuring contact with the other parent will be punished with a 50.000 euro fine and one year imprisonment.
Also, there will be an age limit of 55 years old for couples who want to have a child with the help of the assisted reproductive technology.
Finally, before the adoption of minor children an obligatory research concerning the family will take place by social services.
These measures will have to be approved by the Minister of Justice Miltiadis Papaioannou and then a public consultation will take place.
Bullets Over a Water Tap!
For a water tap, two brothers opened fire against another farmer who went to water his fathers cows!
The strange incedent took place in the village of Armatoliko in Trikala, when the son of a 49-year-old farmer from the village Palaiochori Gardikiou tried to water his animals.
The two brothers who claim ownership to the water tap because they paid for its construction, immediately opened fire against him, making him and his cows run away.
Father and son reported the assault to the police, who found a bullet casing at the place and arrested the two men. The two brothers were led in front of the Prosecutor of Trikala.
Police officers, who investigated their house, found two riffles with several rounds, which are going to be subjected to ballistic examination, in order to find out where the found casing comes from.
Phaistos Documentary in National Geographic
National Geographic is inspired by Phaistos for the documentary “Labyrinth Without Thread”.
The first documentary-series regarding Phaistos by National Geographic, one of the largest, educational, non profit organizations in the world, was “Ancient X-Files” which dealt with the disc of Phaistos. Professor Gareth Owens stars in the documentary and presented the documentary for the first time in Greece, in Voroi.
Now, the National Geographic returns with another important documentary, this time about the Minoan Labyrinth. The documentary “Labyrinth without a thread” has been shot mainly in Kasteli, while the main star in the documentary is the Geography professor of Oxford University Nicholas Howarth who went to Crete, to the municipality of Phaistos.
The professor wished to present the documentary regarding the Minoan Labyrinth in the municipality of Phaistos, as a tribute to the people who helped with the shootings and contributed with their witnesses and experiences to the appropriate presentation of research issues.
The professor Nicholas Howarth is expected to host after the screening of the documentary a very interesting discussion concerning his research discoveries, his points of view, and the cultural value of the area.
The documentary will be screened on Saturday, August 20th at 11am at the Multicenter of Moires.
Large Drop in the Turnover of Shops
A large drop was recorded in the turnover of shops in July and August, despite the generous offers and discounts.
According to preliminary figures collected by the National Confederation of Greek Trade from the trade associations of the country, the turnover during July and August has reduced by 25% compared to the same period in 2010.
In some trade associations, the fall in turnover has reached 60%, bringing many shoppers closer to bankruptcy.
Vasilis Papakonstantinou in Rhodes!
Etched in time and with his thoughtful and meaningful lyrics and music, Vasilis Papakonstantinou has been having large concerts throughout Greece for his fans’.
His next stop is in Rhodes, where he will perform at the Medieval Moat Theatre on Wednesday, the 24th of August .