Monthly Archives: August 2015

The president of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), Andreas Andreadis, believes that the tourism sector will survive the test of early elections as long as they result in a strong government.

The elections are taking place during a critical period for tourism, as revenues of approximately 3.2 billion euros are expected from around 5.5 million foreign tourists between September and October.

In September alone, more than 3.5 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Greece, bringing in 2.2 billion euros. For November and December, another one million tourists are expected.

If elections run smoothly, the Greek tourism industry will achieve its record 2015 goal of 25 million tourists and generate 14 billion euros for the economy. This is despite the disruption of January’s elections, the referendum and delays in reaching an agreement with the country’s creditors, which led to capital controls and Septembers snap elections.

The elections come at a time when several vital issues for the development of the tourism sector are on hold, such as a new investment law, said Andreadis. He stressed that the hotel sector should be informed as soon as possible of potential aid available for improvements, renovations and expansions via the development law.

Andreadis also mentioned the need for rules to distinguish tourism businesses from ordinary urban leases. Failure to do so could prompt businesses to take out short-term urban leases that are only subject to income tax, causing further problems of tax avoidance and illegal operations.

The president of SETE noted that the fight against the phenomenon of illegal tourist accommodation will generate revenue for the state. The VAT rate on accommodation services from early October will more than double to 13 percent, while tourist packages have been taxed at 23 percent since July.

At the same time, Andreadis said that the adoption of incentives for the use of plastic money will be a powerful tool to boost state revenues and combat tax evasion both in tourism and other sectors of the Greek economy. The completion of the regional airport privatization process, he added, will send a positive message to airlines that will begin planning routes for 2016 this November.

source:ekathimerini.com

An eight-year-old girl remains in hospital after losing her hand as a result of a dog attack in Lake Macquarie on the weekend.

Police were called to the Lake Macquarie suburb of Valentine on Saturday afternoon in response to reports that a child had been bitten by a dog.

It is understood the girl had been playing with friends when she put her hand under a fence to pat an Alaskan Malamute.

The child was treated at the scene for serious injuries to her right hand.

She was later taken to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.

The ABC understands doctors were unable to save her hand.

A crime scene was established at the home.

An investigation into the incident is underway by Lake Macquarie police and local council rangers.

source:abc.net.au

Bafetimbi Gomis scored the winner once again as Swansea City triumphed 2-1 to spoil Louis van Gaal’s 50th match in charge of Manchester United.

The France international scored a somewhat fortuitous second when Swansea beat United by the same scoreline at the Liberty Stadium in February to complete a 2014-15 Barclays Premier League double over the Old Trafford outfit.

And it was the in-form Gomis, who now has nine goals from 10 top-flight matches, who settled matters in south Wales on Sunday, rounding off a Swansea turnaround in the 65th minute.

Juan Mata had put United in front early in the second half with his 50th goal in English football, before Andre Ayew headed Swansea level; the first time Van Gaal’s men have conceded in the top flight this term.

Swansea’s comeback was inspired by a tactical change from manager Garry Monk, who switched to a 4-3-1-2 formation moments before his side’s leveller.

The result means Swansea have now won four of their last five fixtures against United, each by a 2-1 margin as the visitors were beaten for the first time this season.

Having picked up a thigh injury in training, the in-form Jefferson Montero was replaced by Wayne Routledge in the Swansea starting XI. United midfielder Ander Herrera was rewarded for his goal in a midweek UEFA Champions League victory over Club Brugge with a starting berth.

A nervy start from the home side saw United win a free-kick on the edge of the Swansea box in the opening couple of minutes, but goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski got down well to keep out Memphis Depay’s curling strike.

Mata then dragged a shot wide from close range when he found himself unmarked two minutes later, before Gomis snatched at Swansea’s first chance to test Sergio Romero.

Swansea might have opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Jonjo Shelvey threaded a free-kick into the path of Gylfi Sigurdsson, who pulled his shot wide of the left-hand post.

Those chances sparked the beginning of a period of Swansea pressure as Shelvey tried his luck from long range when he spotted Romero off his line, before Gomis hit the left-hand post with a shot off the outside of his boot.

It was United who were in front three minutes into the second half when a Luke Shaw cross from the left found its way to Mata at the far post and the Spain international powered his finish into the roof of the net.

Fabianski then had to be alert when a Depay cross deflected off Ashley Williams and looked to be looping over his head, the Pole slapping the ball clear before denying Mata from close range.

Monk opted to bring Ki Sung-yueng on for Routledge after seeing his side fall behind and Sigurdsson soon found himself in acres of space on the right, crossing for Ayew to head down and beyond Romero for the equaliser.

The hosts were firmly in the ascendancy and Gomis put them in front five minutes later, tucking his shot under Romero after being played in by Ayew.

United made a trio of substitutions in a bid to salvage at least a point and Williams had to make a superb tackle to halt Wayne Rooney when he was clean through on goal late on.

There were no further chances for the visitors, however, and Van Gaal’s wait for a point against Swansea goes on.

source:premierleague.com

«Ψυχρολουσία» για τη Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ, η οποία ηττήθηκε, μολονότι προηγήθηκε, στην Ουαλία από τη Σουόνσι με 2-1, για την 4η αγωνιστική του αγγλικού πρωταθλήματος.

Η ομάδα του Λουίς Φαν Γκάαλ προηγήθηκε στο 48ο λεπτό με τον Μάτα, αλλά οι γηπεδούχοι κυριάρχησαν στη συνέχεια και μέσα σε πέντε λεπτά έφθασαν στην ανατροπή του σκορ και στη μεγάλη νίκη με τα γκολ των Αγιού (61′) και Γκομίς (66′).

Στον άλλο αγώνα της ημέρας, μόλις λίγες ημέρες μετά τον ευρωπαϊκό αποκλεισμό της στα προκριματικά του Europa League από τη Μίντιλαντ, η Σαουθάμπτον ξεπέρασε το «σοκ» και επέστρεψε στις νίκες.

Οι «μαύρες γάτες» που σύντομα αναμένεται να αποδεσμεύσουν (με πώληση ή δανεισμό) τον Χάρη Μαυρία επιβλήθηκαν με 3-0 απέναντι στη Νόριτς, χάρη στα γκολ των Πελέ 45’ και Τάντιτς (64’, 68’).

Ωστόσο, οι φιλοξενούμενοι από το 31’ είχαν μείνει με 10 παίκτες λόγω της 2ηης κίτρινης που αντίκρισε ο Γουάιτακερ μέσα σε τρία λεπτά (στο 28’ η πρώτη)!

Τα αποτελέσματα και το πρόγραμμα της 4ης αγωνιστικής της Premier League:
Νιούκαστλ-Αρσεναλ 0-1
(52΄ αυτ. Κολοτσίνι)

Μπόρνμουθ-Λέστερ 1-1
(24΄ Γουίλσον – 26΄ πεν. Βάρντι)

Αστον Βίλα-Σάντερλαντ 2-2
(11΄ πεν., 41΄ Σινκλέρ – 8΄ Εμβιλά, 52΄ Λενς)

Τσέλσι-Κρίσταλ Πάλας 1-2
(79΄ Φαλκάο – 65΄ Σακό, 81΄ Γουόρντ)

Λίβερπουλ-Γουέστ Χαμ 0-3
(3΄ Λανζίνι, 29΄ Νόμπλε, 90΄ Σακό)

Μάντσεστερ Σίτι-Γουότφορντ 2-0
(47΄ Στέρλινγκ, 56΄ Φερναντίνιο)

Στόουκ Σίτι-Γουέστ Μπρομ 0-1
(45΄ Ροντόν)

Τότεναμ-Εβερτον 0-0

Σουθάμπτον-Νόριτς 3-0
(45′ Πελέ, 65′, 68′ Τάντιτς)

Σουόνσι-Μάντσεστερ Γ. 2-1
(61′ Αγιού, 65′ Γκομίς-48′ Μάτα)

Η βαθμολογία (σε 4αγ.)
Μάντσεστερ Σ. 12
Κρίσταλ Πάλας 9
Λέστερ 8
Σουόνσι 8
Μάντσεστερ Γ. 7
Λίβερπουλ 7
Αρσεναλ 7
Γουέστ Χαμ 6
Έβερτον 5
Σαουθάμπτον 5
Νόριτς 4
Τσέλσι 4
Μπόρνμουθ 4
Γουέστ Μπρομ 4
Αστον Βίλα 4
Γουότφορντ 3
Τότεναμ 3
Στόουκ Σίτι 2
Νιουκάστλ 2
Σάντερλαντ 2

Πηγή:in.gr

Obedient to their boss, Chelsea’s back four provided irrefutable evidence at Stamford Bridge as to exactly why Jose Mourinho was so desperate to sign John Stones from Everton.

Chelsea’s defence was ripped to pieces by a man-of-the-match performance by Bakary Sako, a free transfer from Wolves. There were times in the second half when they looked more like a shambolic rabble than a well-drilled unit.

Before Saturday, Mourinho had lost only one of his 99 league games in charge at The Bridge. Now it is two out of 100. On this showing, he will be desperate to draft his suspended captain, John Terry, back into his team after the international break.

Then again, on this showing, he may decide that desperate times require desperate remedies. Chelsea need to strengthen their back four: that much is obvious. If they really have given up on Stones, they need to look elsewhere. Quickly.

Stones, who is playing for Everton in north London on Saturday, rather than for Chelsea in west London, dominated the day even though he was not here. Chelsea had found themselves under attack even before the game started. Everton boss Roberto Martinez criticised their pursuit of Stones and said that Everton stood for ‘more important values’.

For many, it is an understandable source of encouragement that a less affluent club like Everton has resisted Chelsea’s attempts to buy the central defender and has, in its own way, stood up to the might of the Premier League’s fabulously rich.

At the same time, it is hard to see why Chelsea are being vilified for trying to sign Stones. Transfers happen. Players move up the food chain. Everton plucked Stones from Barnsley two years ago, now Chelsea are trying to buy him from them.

There is no particular need for controversy or rancour. There is certainly no need for Everton fans to make Stones fear for his safety. Chelsea made three bids for him, as is their right. Everton turned them down, as is their right. End of story.

source:dailymail.co.uk

Aleksandar Mitrovic’s first-half red card proved costly as Newcastle United suffered a 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat by Arsenal at St James’ Park.

Booked within seconds of making his debut against Southampton, before earning another yellow card against Swansea City, the young Newcastle striker was given a red card after 16 minutes on Saturday for a rash challenge on Francis Coquelin.

Arsenal, whose claims for a penalty were denied before Mitrovic’s dismissal, struggled to make their man advantage count, but broke the deadlock early in the second half when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot deflected in off Fabricio Coloccini and the far post.

It was only their third top-flight goal of the campaign, and a second to have come courtesy of an opposing player, but it transpired to be the winner. Late efforts from Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla failed to yield any further goals.

Arsene Wenger made three changes and opted for Theo Walcott over Giroud up front, despite the Frenchman having scored eight goals in six matches against Newcastle, and the visitors started on the front foot.

Arsenal threatened inside the opening two minutes, but Aaron Ramsey overhit his attempted return pass to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was in for the injured Mesut Ozil, when Newcastle looked vulnerable.

Tim Krul had to be alert to snuff out the threat when Walcott looked to nudge the ball past him on the end of Hector Bellerin’s cross.

Bellerin took a tumble in the box following contact from Florian Thauvin, making his first league start, after 13 minutes, but referee Andre Marriner was unmoved by Arsenal’s claims.

The hosts looked up against it before Mitrovic’s match came to a premature end and Arsenal’s dominance increased amid a restless atmosphere inside the stadium as the home fans felt a sense of injustice, even though replays showed the Serb’s studs scrape down Coquelin’s shin.

As the interval neared, Krul kept out a long-range strike from Alexis Sanchez and then saw Walcott blast the loose ball over the crossbar, but the England forward was offside anyway.

It took seven minutes of the second half for Arsenal to forge ahead. Sanchez’s shot was parried away to Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose off-target effort found the far corner via the unfortunate Coloccini and the woodwork.

With Arsenal having taken 19 points from the last 21 available on the road, the size of the challenge facing Newcastle was evident, but Steve McClaren’s men stuck manfully to their task.

Wenger’s side enjoyed plenty of possession, though rarely opened up their hosts, who showed a high level of resolve.

Substitute Giroud and Cazorla tested Krul in the final 15 minutes, but Coloccini proved to be the unwilling match-winner as Arsenal made it eight consecutive victories over Newcastle.

Newcastle United head coach Steve McClaren: “All we could do after [the red card] was show spirit, fight and discipline and they were magnificent.

“If we keep this spirit, after four games we’ve been down to 10 men in two. We need to learn from that.

“I couldn’t fault them. We want to be a team that’s hard to beat.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: “We were always on top. We were mature and intelligent, but I think we played a little bit cautious.

“They toughened the game up, from the start they decided to make it very physical.

“We have still [Danny] Welbeck out, [Jack] Wilshere out, no [Mesut] Ozil today; all offensive players.

“We have not fired on all cylinders offensively, our finishing has not been absolutely clinical and we have to focus on that.”

source:premierleague.com