Monthly Archives: May 2014

Real Madrid won their 10th Champions League title after beating city rivals Atletico 4-1 after extra time in the final.

On the biggest club game in football, what were the ratings like and who shone most in the final?

Diego Godin repeated his heroics of the previous weekend to put Atletico ahead after his header completely caught out Iker Casillas.

The La Liga champions defended manfully throughout and looked like they would hold on for victory within 90 minutes.

But, Sergio Ramos followed up his double in the semi-finals with another bullet header to send the game to extra time.

Gareth Bale redeemed his poor night by scoring the goal that gave Real the title with a simple header at the back post.

Marcelo and a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty rounding off things for Real and heaped misery of Atletico who really didn’t deserve to end the final that way.

The victory meant Real claimed their 10th Champions League title.

Tony Abbott faces some torrid horse-trading to get his controversial budget through the Senate, with crossbenchers saying they want everything from a rifle range to radical tax cuts to be dealt into negotiations.

■ Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm: ”The Malabar Rifle Range – I want it put on a secure footing for use by all the shooting clubs that want to use it,” he said.

Mr Leyonhjelm will be asking government leader in the Senate Eric Abetz to guarantee ”tenure” for the ”premier shooting facility”, which sits on Commonwealth land.

”Greg Hunt wants to twist my arm a bit about Direct Action,” he added. ”Based on what I know now I’m against it.”

■ South Australian independent Nick Xenophon: He wants the Coalition to consider policies such as support for Australian manufacturing, gambling reform and more ”truthful” food labelling to show

which supermarket products are Australian made.

”The trouble with horse trading is that sometimes you end up with a donkey, or worse still you make an ass of yourself,” Senator Xenophon said.

■ Democratic Labor Party’s John Madigan: Concerned about social justice issues.

■ Palmer United Party’s Clive Palmer: ”I haven’t got the time to meet with Tony Abbott or any of his ministers.”

Mr Palmer’s three Palmer United senators and their Motoring Enthusiast partner Ricky Muir will control the balance of power in the new Senate, meaning Mr Abbott will have to win their support for any legislation opposed by Labor and the Greens.

This will include university fee deregulation, $7 GP co-payments and the abolition of the carbon and mining taxes.

■ Family First’s Bob Day: In negotiations with the government Mr Day will argue for abolition of all family payments and their replacement with generous tax cuts.

He will also argue for new rules that allow employees to opt out of workplace legislation and work for lower hourly rates if that is what they need and want in order to secure work.

He supports many of the Abbott government’s measures, including Treasurer Joe Hockey’s philosophy of ending the ”age of entitlement”.

But Mr Day says he will not succumb to Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s arguments on Direct Action, adding that he will not only be opposing the policy but ”campaigning [his] crossbench colleagues to block it”.

source: brisbanetimes.com.au

Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αυστραλίας, κ. Στυλιανός

Τέλος στη δόλια φημολογία περί αντικατάστασης του Αρχιεπισκόπου Αυστραλίας, κ. Στυλιανού, θέτει προσωπική επιστολή του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη κ. Βαρθολομαίου.

Τέλος στη δόλια φημολογία περί αντικατάστασης του Αρχιεπισκόπου Αυστραλίας, κ. Στυλιανού, θέτει προσωπική επιστολή του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη κ. Βαρθολομαίου, προς τον προκαθήμενο της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας Αυστραλίας, Υπέρτιμο και Έξαρχο πάσης Ωκεανίας,
Η φημολογία μεθοδεύτηκε από εμπαθείς κύκλους της Αθήνας και της Αμερικής, οι οποίοι εποφθαλμιούν τη θέση του Αυστραλίας, με αφορμή την τρίμηνη αναρρωτική άδεια του Σεβασμιοτάτου.

Αν και γνώστες της μεγάλης δοκιμασίας που πέρασε τα τελευταία χρόνια ο κ. Στυλιανός με την υγεία του, δολίως παρερμήνευσαν το νόμιμο δικαίωμα του ποιμενάρχη της Αυστραλίας να αναρρώσει επί τρεις μήνες, ως τεκμήριο βιολογικής εξάντλησής του και αδυναμίας του, ως εκ τούτου, να ασκήσει τα απαιτητικά καθήκοντά του.
Εκκλησιαστικές πηγές πληροφορούν το «Νέο Κόσμο», ότι η επιστολή-εγκώμιο του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη προς τον Αυστραλίας αναγνωρίζει το κολοσσιαίο έργο του από το 1975, που ανέλαβε την ποιμαντορία του ποιμνίου της πέμπτης ηπείρου, και τον αναγορεύει ισόβιο ποιμενάρχη της Αυστραλίας και πάσης Ωκεανίας.
Οι ίδιες πηγές διαβεβαιώνουν, ότι η «η υγεία του κ. Στυλιανού έχει αποκατασταθεί, ο Aρχιεπίσκοπος ασκεί τα καθήκοντά του και η ασύστολη φημολογία περί επικείμενης αντικατάστασής του είναι ευσεβείς πόθοι κάποιων μισαλλόδοξων λαϊκών και κληρικών της Αθήνας και της Αμερικής, που αρνούνται να αναγνωρίσουν την ογκώδη προσφορά του».

Μυθεύματα χαρακτηρίζουν τα περί «αντικατάστασης» του Aρχιεπισκόπου και πολιτικοί κύκλοι της Ελλάδας. Παραπέμπουν, δε, στο ίδιο χαλκείο φημών κατά του Αυστραλίας, «άστεγο επίσκοπο εξ Αυστραλίας, ο οποίος, αν και έκανε πολλούς εχθρούς πριν εγκαταλείψει την Αυστραλία και τη Νέα Ζηλανδία και, κυρίως δυσαρέστησε το Φανάρι με τα καμώματά του, που εξακολουθεί να οραματίζεται την πανηγυρική επιστροφή του ως αρχιεπίσκοπος».
Να υπενθυμίσουμε, ότι ο κ. Στυλιανός εκλέχτηκε παμψηφεί Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αυστραλίας το 1975 -μόλις 40 ετών- και διακονεί επί τέσσερις δεκαετίες, περίπου, τον ορθόδοξο πληθυσμό της Αυστραλίας και της Ωκεανίας.

Κατά γενική ομολογία, ο οραματιστής Aρχιεπίσκοπος Στυλιανός «νοικοκύρεψε» την Αρχιεπισκοπή και «έθεσε γερά θεμέλια για το μέλλον της ορθοδοξίας και της ελληνομάθειας».

Ίδρυσε τη Θεολογική Σχολή Αποστόλου Ανδρέα, «το καμάρι του», από την οποία αποφοιτούν κληρικοί και θεολόγοι, μονές, Ενορίες και Κοινότητες. Στήριξε με ζέση την ίδρυση ημερήσιων ελληνορθόδοξων κολεγίων για τις νέες γενιές των Ελλήνων της Αυστραλίας και ομόδοξους αλλογενείς (Ρώσους, Σέρβους κ.ά). Στήριξε με την ίδια ζέση τη δημιουργία κέντρων ευγηρίας -γηροκομεία και γηριατρεία- για την περίθαλψη των ηλικιωμένων ομογενών μας σε ελληνορθόδοξο περιβάλλον.
Μερίμνησε για τη δημιουργία κέντρων προνοίας τα οποία παρέχουν υλική και ηθική βοήθεια σε αναξιοπαθούντες ομογενείς καθώς και σε ομογενείς που αντιμετωπίζουν σοβαρά προσωπικά και οικογενειακά προβλήματα. Σημαντική και η παροχή υπηρεσιών στους νέους μέσω των οργανώσεων νεολαίας της Aρχιεπισκοπής, των ενοριών και των κοινοτήτων που ανήκουν στην κανονική εκκλησία.

Ως κορυφαίος δογματολόγος, συνέγραψε μελέτες για θέματα Δογματικής, Συστηματικής και, γενικά, Θεολογίας, ενώ ήταν Αρχηγός της Πατριαρχικής Αντιπροσωπείας και παμψηφεί εκλεγμένος Συμπρόεδρος του Επισήμου Διαλόγου μεταξύ της Ορθοδόξου και της Ρωμαιοκαθολικής Εκκλησίας μέχρι το 2002, που υπέβαλε οικειοθελώς την παραίτησή του από το Διάλογο.

Το ογκώδες, πολύμορφο, πολυδιάστατο, πολύτιμο έργο του κ. Στυλιανού εγκωμιάζει ο Oικουμενικός Πατριάρχης στην επιστολή του και δικαίως τον αναγορεύει, μαζί με τους συνοδικούς του οικουμενικού θρόνου, ισόβιο ποιμενάρχη της Ωκεανίας.

Πηγή: Νέος Κόσμος

Γιατροί ετοιμάζουν ένα από τα νεφρά για μεταφορά στον δέκτη

Έξι δωρητές νεφρού άγνωστοι μεταξύ τους, έξι δέκτες επίσης άγνωστοι μεταξύ τους, 12 εγχειρήσεις, παράλληλα σε τέσσερα νοσοκομεία της Μελβούρνης, μέσα σε ένα απόγευμα.

Ιστορία, γράφτηκε προχτές Πέμπτη, στον ιατρικό χώρο της Αυστραλίας.

Για πρώτη φορά στα ιατρικά δεδομένα της χώρας έγιναν 12 επεμβάσεις στα τέσσερα μεγαλύτερα νοσοκομεία από 6 δωρητές σε ισάριθμους ασθενείς ταυτόχρονα.
Έξι άτομα έδιναν το ένα από τα δύο νεφρά τους σ’ έναν άγνωστο.

Κάθε μόσχευμα, ετοίμαζε το χώρο για μία άλλη επέμβαση, σε τρόπο που θα σωζόταν έξι ζωές.

Οι δότες επιθυμούσαν να σώσουν έναν δικό τους άνθρωπο αλλά τα μοσχεύματα δεν ήταν συμβατά. Υπήρχε όμως ο τρόπος οι γιατροί να βρουν τα άτομα τα οποία είχαν συμβατά μοσχεύματα αν οι δότες ήταν διατεθειμένοι να δώσουν το μόσχευμά τους για να σωθεί μια άλλη ζωή.

Για να συμβεί ο συνδυασμός αυτός χρειάστηκε χρόνος και φυσικά η αλτρουιστική στάση των δωρητών.

Ο συγχρονισμός των επεμβάσεων ήταν μια άλλη πολύπλοκη υπόθεση για την οποία φρόντισαν οι χειρούργοι που ανέλαβαν τις μεταμοσχεύσεις.
Ήταν μια ιστορική στιγμή που άνοιξε καινούργιες διόδους στα ιατρικά δεδομένα της Αυστραλίας.

Πηγή: Νέος Κόσμος

US Vice President Joe Biden at Ledra Palace in the UN-patrolled Buffer Zone in Nicosia, Cyprus. Photo: EPA/KATIA CHRISTODOULOU.

US Vice President Joe Biden wants to see Cyprus become a ‘key player’ in the world’s energy market.

US Vice President Joe Biden believes Cyprus has the potential to become a “key player” in the Eastern Mediterranean and expressed Washington’s support for a resolution to new peace talks on the divided island.

“Cyprus is poised to become a key player… transforming the Eastern Mediterranean into a new global hub for natural gas,” Biden said on the second day of his visit to Nicosia after talks with President Nicos Anastasiades.

Biden, the first US vice president to visit the island in more than 50 years, said Washington stood ready to provide whatever support is necessary for a settlement, noting that such a breakthrough would lead to greater prosperity and security as well as opportunities for new generations. He added that it was “long past time… that all Cypriots are reunited in a bizonal, bicommunal federation,” but stressed that he had not visited Cyprus to “present or impose” a solution to the United Nations-mediated talks.

Biden also visited the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus and had talks with Turkish-Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu but emphasized that Washington recognizes only “one legitimate government in Cyprus,” that led by Anastasiades, and that his “visit and meetings throughout the island will not change that.”

Interest in solving the longstanding division of Cyprus has grown since the discovery of large undersea gas reserves off the island’s coast and in the wake of the crisis in Ukraine and its possible impact on Russian gas.

Source: Kathimerini

Aυτή την κούπα ποιος θα την πάρει; Θα στολιστεί στα λευκά της Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης η οποία έχει κάνει αυτοσκοπό την ιστορική 10η κατάκτηση (La Decima) Κυπέλλου Πρωταθλητριών ή στα ερυθρόλευκα, με την Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης να θέλει να ολοκληρώσει ένα τρελό, τρελό “νταμπλ” μία ακριβώς εβδομάδα μετά την κατάκτηση της La Liga;

Το Μουντιάλ ξεκινά και περίπου 157.000 αστυνομικοί και στρατιώτες θα παρέχουν υπηρεσίες ασφάλειας στο Παγκόσμιο Κύπελλο που θα διεξαχθεί στη Βραζιλία από τις 12 Ιουνίου έως τις 13 Ιουλίου, ενώ πολλαπλασιάζονται οι απεργίες και οι διαδηλώσεις, ανακοίνωσε την Παρασκευή η κυβέρνηση.

Σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες, οι ένοπλες δυνάμεις θα αναπτύξουν 57.000 στρατιώτες, εκ των οποίων οι 21.000 θα τεθούν σε επιφυλακή για τις επιχειρήσεις έκτακτης ανάγκης. Το κόστος θα ανέλθει περίπου στα 322 εκατομμύρια δολάρια.

Ενώ οι απεργίες και οι διαδηλώσεις έχουν αυξηθεί τις τελευταίες εβδομάδες, ο υπουργός Δικαιοσύνης Χοσέ Εδουάρδο Καρντόσο ανέφερε την εκτίμηση ότι οι τεράστιες διαδηλώσεις του περασμένου Ιουνίου- ένα χρόνο πριν τη έναρξη της διοργάνωσης- δεν θα επαναληφθούν κατά τη διάρκεια του Παγκοσμίου Κυπέλλου.

«Η εντύπωσή μας είναι ότι (τα γεγονότα) θα είναι μικρότερα σε μέγεθος από τον περασμένο Ιούνιο. Τώρα, ειλικρινά, είμαστε έτοιμοι για κάθε ενδεχόμενο», είπε σε συνέντευξη Τύπου στη Bραζιλία.

Παράλληλα ο υπουργός Άμυνας Σέσλο Αμορίμ δήλωσε ότι οι δυνάμεις ασφαλείας θα αναπτυχθούν στις 12 πόλεις που θα φιλοξενήσουν το Παγκόσμιο Κύπελλο, όπως επίσης στα σύνορα, τα ποτάμια, κατά μήκος της ακτογραμμής και του εναέριου χώρου.

Κατ, εκτίμηση 11 δισεκατομμύρια δολάρια από τις δημόσιες δαπάνες θα δοθούν για τις ανάγκες της διοργάνωσης, ποσό το οποίο είχε προκαλέσει την αγανάκτηση των Βραζιλιάνων, προκαλώντας ογκώδεις διαδηλώσεις και εκτεταμένες αναταραχές.

Πηγή: madata.gr

The Federal Government has conceded it will need to compromise on some of its more controversial budget measures to get them through a hostile Senate.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne told Fairfax that he accepts his plan to deregulate universities is unlikely to pass in full.

He said he is “realistic enough” to see that the proposal will require amendments.

Mr Pyne has highlighted potential changes to the interest rate and salary threshold at which students would be required to pay back their university loans.

On Wednesday, thousands of protesters marched across the country in protest against the Government’s plan to overhaul the higher education sector.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the higher education fees are about “liberating our universities with the rest of the world”.

“Our higher education sector is an outstanding sector that was being held back by too much bureaucracy and too many rules,” he said.

“So there is innovative new policy for a whole range of people, which I am absolutely confident is going to make our higher education system stronger and it is going to help the people of Australia.”

But Mr Abbott says he understands the measures around university fee deregulation and the proposed $7 GP co-payment are unpopular with many.

“So sure, I know that we’ve got to put many measures into the Parliament and obviously there is a process of negotiating that then takes place,” he said.

“But this government stands by the budget measures.”

Health Minister Peter Dutton has also signalled he would be willing to negotiate over the co-payment, while Coalition frontbencher Michaelia Cash told Sky News the Government continues to stand by its budget but accepts the need to negotiate.

“This is the budget that we have brought down. It is a fair budget and it is the budget we stand by,” she said.

“We also realise however that the Senate is not made up of Coalition members.

“In that respect obviously we now have a process to go through and both Mr Dutton and Mr Pyne in their respective portfolios have said they are willing to enter into discussions.”

Labor support for fee change unlikely amid ‘unravelling’ budget

The Federal Opposition says they would still be unlikely to support deregulating university fees even if the Government agrees to amend the policy.

Opposition spokesman Matt Thistlethwaite has also repeated Labor’s position to block a proposed increase to the fuel excise, pension changes and a GP co-payment.

But he says the party will look to compromise elsewhere.

“We will show a constructive approach to the budget and we’ll look at it in fine detail,” he said.

Opposition finance spokesman Tony Bourke says Coalition comments about the need for negotiation are a sign the Government’s approach to the budget is “unravelling”.

“It doesn’t matter at one level what sort of compromise they now try to put on the table because … ever more Australians now know what Tony Abbott’s priorities are,” he said.

‘No right’ to wait for dream job, says Abbott

It comes as Federal Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews says unemployed people should consider taking any job, even if it is not one they will enjoy.

The Government has outlined changes in the budget to unemployment benefits which would mean young, unemployed people would be barred from receiving the dole for the first six months.

The Opposition has labelled the policy “heartless”, but Employment Minister Eric Abetz instead accused some job seekers of simply being too picky.

Mr Abbott says young people on unemployment benefits have “no right to hold out for the job of their dreams”.

“A condition of receiving unemployment benefits in this country under both Labor and Liberal Governments has been that you have got to look for work and [have] got to accept any work that you can reasonably do,” he said.

“Frankly, that is the least that people should be prepared to do under those circumstances.”

Mr Andrews says many people have to work jobs they do not enjoy.

“I know from my own experience – I took a job that wasn’t my ideal job, but that led to other jobs and I think that’s the experience of many people,” he said.

He says “getting your foot in the employment market” is important to be able to progress.

“I’m not going to get into the personal motivations of people, but what we know from a whole lot of experience is that having your place in the employment market, having a job, is usually the best place in order to get jobs in the future,” he said.

source: abc.net.au

Tenth win on the cards for South Melbourne. Photo: Kostas Deves.

In a special “Don’t Stand By. Stand Up!” round in the NPL, will South Melbourne grab its tenth win in a row?

A perfect 10 would be the best way to cap a phenomenal start, and South Melbourne are gunning for just that on Saturday.

Up against seventh placed Werribee City, they definitely have the more competitive edge of the two, but after they nearly lost a game last week, anything could happen.

In a game that could only be described as dirty, South Melbourne faltered at the beginning as Pascoe Vale showed the home team they weren’t here to concede a loss so easily.

South Melbourne’s Mathew Theodore claimed it back for South Melbourne when he made use of Nick Epifano’s high ball, pushing through a low shot past goalkeeper Stefaan Sardelic.

Iqi Jawadi almost doubled the lead with a long-range drive on goal near halftime, only to have it palmed away by Sardelic.

Pushing for an equaliser, Pascoe Vale tried hard to get more possession in the second half but fell at a strong South Melbourne defence.

Their pressure in defence meant that not many opportunities opened up for South to grow their lead.

South Melbourne coach Chris Taylor was happy to keep the winning streak going, but wasn’t happy at his team’s lacklustre performance.

“Yeah, that was ugly. Credit to Pascoe Vale, they made it very difficult for us, just fortunate we got the goal, and we’re very happy with the result,” Taylor
said.

“The big thing for us is not to get complacent, it’s not like we’ve blitzed every game and won by big scores. We’ve just got to keep going the way we’re going at the moment and keep collecting the points.”

Taylor will be keen to use new recruit and Adelaide United Youth midfielder Dion Kirk on the pitch today and will be altering the starting squad accordingly.

With Oakleigh Cannons’ draw last week against Northcote City, South Melbourne now sits at a healthy six point lead on top of the ladder.

With the draw, Greek sponsored club Northcote City seems like it’s getting back into the groove, while it put a halt to Oakleigh Cannons’ winning streak.

The Hercules Boys will enter a much easier fixture on Sunday, up against 14th placed Goldburn Valley Suns.

The Suns are struggling to get their heads above water at the bottom of the ladder, but their desperation might transform into healthy enthusiasm when they open up opportunities on the pitch.

Port Melbourne has the honour of being the blockbuster match this round, hosting the FFV’s first “Don’t Stand By, Stand Up!” round to help stamp out racism in the sport.

“Don’t Stand By. Stand Up!” round to fight racism in the sport

The special round aims to support the football community in responding and intervening safely when race-based discrimination is seen or heard. Importantly, the campaign will focus on racism in all its forms, from subtle exclusion, to overt verbal abuse on and off the field.

The campaign will kick off at 2 pm Sunday May 25 at Knights Stadium, Sunshine, followed by the NPL match between Melbourne Knights and Port Melbourne Sharks.

“Don’t Stand By. Stand Up!” is supported by A-League and W-League ambassadors, Melbourne Victory’s Gulcan Koca and Andrew Nabbout, and Melbourne Heart’s Jason Hoffman.

FFV’s 343 clubs will be invited to ‘take the pledge’ as part of this campaign. In return for this commitment, the first 50 clubs that pledge will receive merchandise for 100 players, official recognition from FFV and an opportunity to win a visit from an ambassador.

source: Neos Kosmos

Buyers are from Northern Europe, and especially France, the UK, Germany and Scandinavia, but there is also increasing buying interest from Russians and Chinese.

Foreign buyers invested 285 million euros in Greek properties in the 2012-13 period, confirming the view expressed recently by a number of analysts that the housing market recovery will start in the holiday home sector. For now, the majority of buyers are from Northern Europe, and especially France, the UK, Germany and Scandinavia, but there is also increasing buying interest from Russians and Chinese.

A recent McKinsey study sees the Greek holiday property market developing gradually to the point of recording annual sales of 8,000 holiday homes to foreign buyers, with revenues adding up to 2.4 billion euros in the long term.

According to a report issued by Alpha Bank, based on Bank of Greece data, the flow of capital from abroad in 2013 for the purchase of properties – mostly consisting of holiday homes – amounted to 168 million euros, rising 48.5 percent from 2012, when 113 million euros had been invested.

The bank’s analysts estimate that there will be a much greater flow of funds into Greece for that purpose this year as a result of the increase in demand from abroad. The drop in prices over the last few years, the continued increase in tourism arrivals this year, and the adoption of measures to bolster property transactions, such as slashing the property transfer tax to 3 percent and issuing visas to buyers from outside the European Union who buy properties adding up to at least 250,000 euros, have created a particularly favourable environment for the increase in holiday home purchases by foreigners.

A recent study by Algean Property, an international property service company with offices in Athens, London and Luxembourg, reached a similar conclusion. The firm cites Fitch estimates regarding the positive prospects of the Greek holiday home market, which are supported by demand from foreigners as well as Greeks based abroad. Algean expects the bulk of demand to be for the Cyclades, Crete and Corfu, mostly from the UK and other EU countries as well as Russia and China.

In this context, sources from the association of estate agents on Crete point to increased interest on the part of Chinese buyers in acquiring major plots outside town-planning zones, while significant activity by Russian potential buyers looking for holiday homes and plots by the sea has also been noted. However the same sources say that this interest remains at the negotiations stage and has not yet translated into purchases. That is expected to happen fairly soon.

Source: Kathimerini.