US pushing for Greek solution in ‘interest of entire world’ Chairman of Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, Jason Furman.
US officials aren’t convinced by European reassurances that the fallout from a Greek euro exit would be contained.
The US is pushing Greece and its creditors to reach a deal that returns the country to growth, President Barack Obama’s chief economist said.
It’s in the interests of Greece, its creditors and “the entire world” for the sides to determine the structural economic reforms that will get the country growing and enable it to pay its debts, Jason Furman, chairman of Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, said in a Bloomberg Television interview in Berlin on Tuesday. US officials aren’t convinced by European reassurances that the fallout from a Greek euro exit would be contained.
“I don’t think it’s an experiment we want to run,” Furman said. “If Greece and the institutions don’t find a path forward, it wouldn’t just be terrible for Greece, it would really be a risk that the global economy shouldn’t want to take.”
With negotiations over bailout aid deadlocked, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday ordered local governments to move their funds to the central bank. His government needs the cash for salaries, pensions and a payment to the International Monetary Fund and is running out of options to stay afloat.
European leaders want Greece to do more to revamp its economy, with progress to be reviewed on April 24 in Riga, Latvia, when finance ministers from the currency bloc meet. European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said in an interview in Washington that creditors might need to wait until mid-May to see what Greece can deliver.
The US is encouraging Greece and the officials representing the European Commission, the European Central Bank and IMF to “roll up their sleeves” and do the technical work needed, Furman said.
“The president is personally paying attention,” he said. “It’s something he discussed with Prime Minister Renzi, for example, when he was in Washington last week. He’s discussed it with other leaders.”
People who reside outside Greece and who do not receive any income there or from Greek sources will not be required to submit income tax declarations for the year 2014.
It has just been announced by the Greek Tax Authorities that persons who reside outside Greece and who do not receive any income in Greece or from Greek sources will not be required to submit income tax declarations for the year 2014.
This means that persons who do not receive income from rental of Greek property or pensions from a Greek pension fund and do not receive interest from bank accounts (to name a few sources of income) will not be required to submit a tax declaration this year, even if that person owns real estate and/or vehicles in Greece.
Just for the record, people must still submit E-9 property declarations to the Greek Tax Authorities if their Greek property holdings change in any way.
Steve Kyritsis says he’s amazed at how many young Australians are keen to learn more about the Anzac story. Photo: Mike Sweet.
Hellenic RSL president and Shrine of Remembrance volunteer, Steve Kyritsis says the young are keen to learn about Australia’s war history.
Many members of the state Hellenic RSL branches will be dusting off their medals and preparing to march in front of bumper crowds on Anzac Day.
President of the Victorian Hellenic RSL branch, Steve Kyritsis, says this year will be extra special for the members as they march to remember 100 years past from the beginning of the First World War.
Around 20 members of the RSL will be at the dawn service in Melbourne, including Vietnam veterans and younger Greek Australians who have come back from Afghanistan.
“It’s a special dawn service because of the centenary,” Mr Kyritsis tells Neos Kosmos.
“Last year at the Shrine, 70,000 people at 6am, this year I think the 100,000 will be easily reached.”
The Hellenic RSL is the only Greek organisation given clearance to march on Anzac Day, something Mr Kyritsis is very proud of.
“It’s an honour to march, because we do have many Greek Australians in the Armed Forces who served with the Australians in the First World War, and in the Second World War and of course in Vietnam and the Afghanistan war,” he says.
“We do have very close connections with the Australian forces.”
According to his research, Mr Kyritsis says there were at least 80 Greek Australians that served amongst the Australian forces in WWI.
As an adoptive country, fighting for Australia showed just how much Greek Australians respected their new residence.
Those men began a long legacy of Greek Australian men defending Australia’s sovereignty.
“There is a rich history of Greek men that served in the Australian Army in all wars,” Mr Kyritsis says.
As part of the Anzac centenary, the Hellenic RSL will be sending eight young military cadets and four officers to Lemnos to take part in memorial services on the island.
Giving the young cadets the opportunity to connect with a part of history is something close to Mr Kyritsis’ heart.
As a volunteer at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne for years, he has seen an increase in interest about Australia’s war history from a new generation.
“There is so much interest over the last 10 years shown by the young generation and I mean that,” he says.
“We have bus loads that come to the Shrine from schools every day of the week. They want to know about the history of Australia’s [Army] in the First and Second World Wars.”
The First World War remains the most deadly conflict for Australia. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded or taken prisoner.
The last surviving ANZAC, Alec Campbell, died on 16 May 2002.
In an effort to bolster crumbling budget revenues, the Finance Ministry is considering offering a 10-15 percent income tax discount for those who choose to pay their dues in a lump sum this year.
Although the state is desperate for ready cash, the online platform for the submission of income tax statements is not expected to be ready before May 10, according to Alternate Finance Minister Nadia Valavani, with a 10-day extension to the June 30 submission deadline already being considered.
If there are any additional changes introduced to the statement form, then taxpayers are certain to be granted a further extension.
The deadline for the first income tax installment is July 31, according to the law.
The revenue shortfall is estimated to have come to nearly 1 billion euros since the start of the year: The latest data point to a 675-million-euro gap, while in April there was already a hole of 250 million.
ALL Catholic schools, at least 40 public schools and the University of Newcastle will remain closed on Wednesday as storm clean-ups and repairs continue.
The Catholic Schools Office last night confirmed that all Catholic schools within the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese will remain closed due to damage and further threats from the ongoing storm. The Catholic Schools Office will also be closed. Macquarie College is also closed, as is Dungog community Preschool.
The Department of Education last night confirmed that the following public schools will definitely remain closed on Wednesday: Anna Bay Public, Belmont High, Belmont Public, Bobs Farm Public, Bonnells Bay Public, Callaghan College Jesmond Campus, Callaghan College Waratah Campus, Cardiff High School, Charlestown South Public, Elermore Vale Public, Fern Bay Public, Glendale High, Glendore Public, Grahamstown Public, Hamilton North Public, Hunter River High, Hunter Sports High, Irrawang High, Irrawang Public, Islington Public, Jewells Public, Karuah Public, Kotara School, Lake Macquarie High, Mayfield East Public, Mayfield West Public, Medowie Public, Minmi Public, New Lambton South Public, Newcastle East Public, Newcastle High, Newcastle Middle School, Raymond Terrace Public, Salt Ash Public, Seaham Public, Speers Point Public, Stockton Public, Tanilba Bay Public, Wakefield School, Waratah Public, Waratah West Public and Wirreanda Public.
A department spokesman said most of the schools will be closed because of storm damage including fallen trees, cuts to power, broken windows from storm debris and water inundation.
Schools not included on the list will be open on Wednesday, but parents are urged to check for changes made overnight to their school’s website, or to their school’s social media posts.
Hunter TAFE will make a decision on its campuses on Wednesday morning. Students and staff are urged to check the TAFE website for further updates.
THREE dead, dozens of houses severely damaged, scores of flood rescues, hundreds of trees down, thousands of calls for help and tens of thousands without power.
Such was the dreadful toll of the east coast low that tore its way through the Hunter on Tuesday.
The storm brought with it 135kmh winds and rainfall not seen for at least 50 years to create record river levels and stretch emergency services to their limits.
The normally sleepy town of Dungog awoke to tragedy.
Three elderly residents were found dead as the Myall Creek broke its banks and poured through the centre of town, taking at least four homes with it, moving another off its foundations and flooding at least another six.
Police were still waiting for flood waters to recede so the houses could be searched, but they had not received any more reports of missing people on Tuesday night.
The dead included a woman discovered in her flooded bedroom, a man found on his verandah not long after being seen on his roof and a second man in the yard of his retirement village.
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Police are investigating whether all three drowned after flood waters rose above the roofs of their houses.
Several campers missing and feared drowned were found alive after being washed away in flood waters at Stroud.
They never stood a chance as chest-high waters poured out of Mill Brook and Mill Creek and through Stroud showground.
At Gostwick Bridge near Paterson, the Paterson River peaked at 16.1 metres, the highest level on record after rising above the 1978 mark, while flood waters from the Williams and Hunter rivers also blocked numerous roads along the river flats.
Emergency services had made more than 50 flood rescues by late Tuesday afternoon, including grabbing seven people off the roof of a Nine Mile Creek house and destroying two rescue boats while a mother and two children were saved from a house shifted by floodwater at Greta.
The high number of rescues, many of people who had become stranded attempting to cross flooded roads, prompted emergency services chiefs to tell residents to use common sense.
‘‘Look after yourself, look after your family, look after your neighbours and stay safe,’’ Northern Region commander Assistant Commissioner Jeff Loy said.
‘‘Don’t go venturing where you don’t need to.’’
Weather expert Don White said the 148mm of rain that fell at Maitland in an hour on Tuesday morning was the heaviest hourly fall in the Hunter since at least the 1960s, and possibly since the 1870s.
Many parts of the Hunter received 300mm in just over a day.
Countless trees were uprooted in the softened earth and gale-force winds, many creating huge damage bills as they tore through homes and businesses.
The carnage included a massive gum tree which crashed through the centre of a Rankin Park house, narrowly missing a couple asleep in a bedroom.
More than 200,000 people were without power at certain times on Tuesday, and power providers have warned that some houses may remain in the dark for days as workers plough through the backlog.
Hunter Water pleaded for customers to preserve water after water pumping stations were also struck with power outages.
State Emergency Service spokeswoman Amanda Hyde said the SES had received more than 2000 calls for assistance across the Hunter by 7pm on Tuesday and crews were readying themselves for more chaos as a second low was due to hit the Hunter coast late on Tuesday night.
It was the first time the SES had sent blanket SMS alerts to Newcastle residents warning of expectations of ‘‘high-velocity flash flooding in local creeks and watercourses’’ across the city and its suburbs.
SES Deputy Commissioner Steven Pearce said he had never seen cyclonic winds last for 24 hours as they had in the Hunter.
‘‘We have rainfall recorded in excess of 300mm in some areas, which has caused intense and catastrophic flash flooding and we’ve had homes completely washed away in Dungog,” Mr Pearce said.
Reports of significant damage came from most corners of the Hunter.
Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie suffered severe weather, while the Coalfields and Lower Hunter went underwater as usually tame brooks and creeks overflowed.
More than a dozen people were evacuated from a unit block at Merewether after it lost its roof.
Most of the Hunter’s rail lines were severely affected and buses stopped at 7pm on Tuesday night.
There was chaos on major thoroughfares as well.
Parts of the Pacific Highway, Industrial Drive, The Esplanade at Warners Bay and John Renshaw Drive were blocked for considerable periods of time.
More than 100 schools across Newcastle, the Hunter and the Central Coast will remain shut on Wednesday, as will the University of Newcastle campuses at Callaghan and Ourimbah.
A decision on whether Hunter TAFE campuses open will be made on Wednesday morning.
Weatherwatch’s Don White said the east coast low was not as ferocious as the Pasha Bulker storm of 2007 but had continued for more than three times as long.
NSW Premier Mike Baird said it was too early to say how the three elderly residents had died at Dungog.
‘‘It looks very much like we have lost three residents. They are elderly residents, and at the moment those circumstances are being worked through,’’ he said.
‘‘… It is obviously a tragedy for their family and friends, and all of us are thinking of them at this time.’’
He said the Dungog area was cut off but ‘‘we are doing everything possible we can to support them’’.
‘‘There are a number of homes that have been lost in this. There’s obviously a number of roofs that have been taken off, and we’ve also lost life,’’ he said.
‘‘It is a huge storm event that is wreaking havoc across NSW at the moment.’’
Neymar’s two goals saw Barcelona coast past Paris St-Germain and into a third successive Champions League semi-final.
PSG, needing to overhaul a 3-1 deficit from the first leg, were torn apart by a dazzling Andres Iniesta run and assist for Neymar to score the first.
The Brazilian striker headed in his second before the break to open up a four-goal aggregate lead.
And Barca were rarely troubled in the second half as they pursue a first Champions League title since 2011.
Iniesta’s mesmerising skill for the opening goal will be remembered as one of the Champions League’s great assists, and it was indicative of Barca’s superiority over the two legs.
The Spanish World Cup winner collected the ball in his own half, before jinking past three PSG players, moving up the pitch and slipping the ball to Neymar, who easily eluded David Luiz and rounded keeper Salvatore Sirigu.
Barcelona’s second was more straightforward, as Dani Alves hooked in a left-footed cross from the right and Neymar was gifted all the space he needed to flick in his 30th goal of the season.
PSG had hoped the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic – not only to the line-up after a suspension, but to face his former club – would inspire an unlikely comeback in Spain.
But the Swede was an isolated figure up front, only briefly coming to life in the first half when he slotted home an effort that was disallowed for offside.
He then forced Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to make a save when the game was already out of the visitors’ reach.
Edinson Cavani, who touched the ball fewer times in his 80 minutes on the pitch than Barca’s half-time substitute Xavi, skewed wide PSG’s best opening late on.
But Luis Enrique’s La Liga leaders could afford some sloppy moments in a second period that fizzled out, and the Catalan side advance into the last four of the competition off the back of a run of one loss in their last 25 games.
Barcelona will find out their semi-final opponents in Friday’s draw.
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique:
“We had a great start to the game, it was decisive.
“I don’t want to look too far ahead, but I hope the best is yet to come. That’s what my players have been playing for this season, to be in the position to win titles.”
Paris St-Germain boss Laurent Blanc:
“I had hoped we would play a better game, but our opponent didn’t let us. Just like they didn’t in the first game.
“Defensively, we weren’t up to the challenge in either game, and we didn’t have the scoring punch in attack.”
Bayern Munich put in a devastating first-half performance to overcome a first-leg deficit and beat Porto to reach the Champions League semi-finals.
Needing a 2-0 win, Bayern were level on aggregate within 22 minutes thanks to Thiago and Jerome Boateng headers.
Robert Lewandowksi put them further ahead and Thomas Muller drove home for 4-0 before Lewandowski added a second.
Jackson Martinez gave Porto some hope, but Ivan Marcano was sent off, with Xabi Alonso scoring from the free-kick.
The result was a boost to the reputation of Bayern boss Pep Guardiola, who was in danger of suffering a Champions League humbling for a second consecutive season.
Since the Spaniard took over the reigning European champions from Jupp Heynckes in 2013, they have dominated in the Bundesliga, losing only four of 63 games.
But they were were beaten 5-0 on aggregate by Real Madrid in last year’s semi-finals and looked like they might struggle even to reach that stage this time following a 3-1 first-leg defeat in Portugal.
Guardiola had reached the Champions League last four in all five seasons as a coach of Barcelona and the German club.
And Bayern – chasing a second treble in three years – were confident of making it six. Captain Philipp Lahm was “utterly convinced” the Bavarians would qualify, although Muller warned “everyone just piling forward would be suicide”.
But, in effect, that is exactly what they did.
Bayern attacked from the first whistle and Lewandowski had hit a post before Thiago headed home Juan Bernat’s cross to open the scoring within 14 minutes.
Boateng levelled the tie when his seemingly weak header from Holger Badstuber’s flick-on beat Fabiano.
Five minutes later, Bayern strung together 26 consecutive passes as Lahm’s cross was helped on by Muller and Lewandowski stooped to head home.
Porto boss Julen Lopetegui had identified that most of Bayern’s threat was coming down the left – despite the absence of wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery – and brought off right-back Diego Reyes after 33 minutes.
But the change did nothing to alter the flow of the game. Muller put Bayern in control when his shot from long distance was deflected through keeper Fabiano’s legs by Bruno Martins Indi.
Lewandowski made the second half look like an irrelevance when he was picked out by Muller before firing home, thanks to more woeful Porto defending.
Bayern have twice scored seven goals in Champions League matches this season, and Guardiola frequently looked angry in the second half as they failed to continue their first-half domination.
He would have been even angrier after Martinez headed home Hector Herrera’s cross for his seventh goal in eight Champions League games this season.
Moments later the Colombia striker had a chance to reduce the deficit to one goal but shot just wide.
But Porto’s hopes of pulling off a remarkable comeback ended when Marcano was sent off for a challenge on Thiago and Alonso curled home the resulting set-piece.
Bayern will find out their semi-final opponents on Friday.
Many of you who own homes in Greece may not be using them as often as you wish or maybe not at all. You also may have thought of renting out your property at times without wanting to commit to a long-term rental agreement or even selling your property but decided to hold on to it.
The good news is that now, you have another option. The Greek government has recently enforced a new fast-tracking law, Law No. 4179/2013, which allows property owners to rent out their homes exceeding 40m² as a short-term holiday rental without registering as a hotel business.
A specific EOT License, issued only by architects and engineers, is granted by The Greek National Tourism Organisation – EOT. Once acquired, you can rent out your beach house, your city apartment or even your patriko in the village for a period of up to 3 months within a year, to one or more individual tenants depending on the surface area of your rental.
When the licence is issued, each property receives a unique EOT MHTE number which must be displayed when advertising on all printed media and online. Owners who fail to do so will be faced with hefty fines.
Additionally, as in long-term rentals, all income gained short-term must be declared on yearly tax returns to be taxed accordingly.
However, to take advantage of this new law, a ‘Declaration of Legal Property Status – Law No. 4178/13’ is required. All property applying must be legal, meaning that all built structures on-site must comply with what has been declared on the building permit and drawings.
You may be wondering, is it worth the fuss? Some benefits to consider other than the additional income are the fact that regular maintenance will help prevent more serious problems than when the property is uncared for and, most importantly, the fact that you can still use your property at any time.
An open rally in support of crisis-stricken Greece has been organized in Melbourne for Tuesday, April 21.
Let Greece Breathe holds a public meeting in Melbourne to raise solidarity towards the SYRIZA government and the Greek people.
Let Greece Breathe is a campaign for hope and justice aiming to show that Greece and the Greek people are not alone in their hour of need.
The Australia-Greece Solidarity Campaign has been inspired by the resistance of the Greek people to the harsh austerity program imposed on that country.
One of the group’s basic mottos is ‘A victory for Greece will be a victory for people everywhere’, which to them proves why the battle is so fierce.
The members behind the campaign invite Australian citizens and residents to show their solidarity towards the SYRIZA government and the Greek people, at the Trades Hall (corner Lygon and Victoria St Carlton) on Tuesday 21 April 7.00 pm.
A group of speakers will give a lecture on Greece’s current situation, the politics of harsh austerity and the treadmill of neverending debt repayments which have seen Greek people pushed to the extremes of poverty.
Speakers include political economist Adam Rorris, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Federal Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt MP, AMWU national president Andrew Dettmer, ACTU president Ged Kearney and more, including a video message from a spokesperson of the Greek government.
The aim of the Let Greece Breathe campaign is to oppose the marginalisation of communities and support the right of the Greek people to democratically determine their own future free from external intervention whilst learning from the Greek resistance to austerity policies.
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 