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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-12-07Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Six double taxation avoidance accords to be tabled in parliament this weekThe finance ministry will table in parliament this week six international agreements for double tax avoidance (with Canada, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Serbia, Morocco and Azerbaijan) in the area of direct taxation (income and capital) and for the avoidance of tax evasion, beginning on Monday.The six agreements, which are being tabled for ratification, will institute administrative cooperation between the tax authorities of Greece and the contracting countries on exchanges of taxation information so as to avoid double taxation and combat tax evasion through establishment of the extent of the taxation authority of the contracting states, aimed at ensuring a stable taxation environment. The agreement with Canada, in particular, the negotiation of which lasted 25 years, also auspiciously regulates the manner of taxation of pensions received by Greeks from Canada, and is expected to contribute substantially to the repatriation of Greek retirees from that country. A ministry announcement said that the agreements are due to be ratified by parliament after the voting on the 2010 state budget, while the government intends to activate corresponding negotiations with a number of other countries in the immediate future. [02] Athens U Rector to remain in hospital after injury in incidentsAthens University Rector Christos Kittas remained in hospital on Monday after suffering a head injury by masked youths who barged into the old University building (Propylea) on Sunday during scattered violence in the greater Athens area after a protest rally marking the first anniversary of a police shooting of a 15-year-old pupil in incidents in the Exarchia district of Athens, which had sparked unprecedented urban rioting by anti-state hooligans in Athens and other cities at the time.Kittas, who was hit over the head by masked youths, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Ippokratio Hospital in Athens with a mild concussion and a mild heart attack on Sunday night, and was expected to remain hospitalised for at least two more days, attending physicians said on Monday, adding that he was in good condition. The rector was visited in hospital later Sunday night by education minister Anna Diamantopoulou, deputy education minister Yiannis Panaretos, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MP Yiannis Protoulis, a delegation of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary alliance, and National Technical University of Athens-NTUA (National Metsovion Polytechnic) rector Constantine Moutzouris, respectively. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Protoulis said that his visit was an expression of support to Kittas, while he also stressed the opposition of the student and popular movements over the incident, while Moutzouris expressed the grief of the entire university committee over the "sorry state we have fallen to". [03] Auction of works of noted Greek paintersAn auction of noted Greek painters' works entitled "Greek art in the 19th and 20th centuries" was held at the Zappeion Mansion in Athens on the weekend. One-hundred of the 132 works on auction were sold with a total turnover 1,524,000 euros. Constantinos Volanakis' imposing painting "Beach of Volos under the moonlight " was sold for 153,400 euros and was the top sale of the auction. Works by Spyros Vassiliou, Giannis Moralis, Pavlos Samios and Nikos Kessanlis drew strong attention by collectors. Further, three tapestries by Ghika, Spyropoulos and Tsarouchis, which were presented for the first time to the public, also attracted high prices.[04] Measures for GNTODeputy Culture and Tourism Minister Angela Gerekou on Sunday announced measures to tackle the problems that have arisen in several Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) offices abroad, as she said.Gerekou referred to press articles on the condition of GNTO offices abroad and stressed that "the image of our country, which is represented by GNTO offices abroad, is a very delicate issue. For this reason we must be cautious and act with transparency and also with respect for Greek citizens' money." Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Angela Gerekou [05] ASE opening: Big declineEquity prices were declining at the opening of trade on Monday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index down 2.94 percent, standing at 2,313.48 points at 10:55 a.m., and turnover at 29.8 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving downward across the board, with the heaviest losses in Financial Services, down 4.02 percent; Banks, down 3.76 percent; Oil & Gas, down 3.59 percent; Raw Materials, down 3.10 percent; and Travel & Recreation, down 2.43 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 3.32 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 1.14 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 0.32 percent. Of the stocks moved, 26 were up, 84 were down, and 18 were unchanged. [06] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceThe outbreak of street violence during events and marches throughout the country on the one year anniversary of the killing of 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos by a policeman in Athens and the economy, dominated the headlines on Monday in Athens' newspapers ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Athens and Thessaloniki turned into a hell". APOGEVMATINI: "Street violence in Athens - Anti-statists smashed showcases and destroyed shops". CHORA: "Underground war against Samaras (Antonis, the new leader of main opposition New Democracy )". ÅLEFTHERI ORA: "Anarchy reigned in Athens - Anarchists occupied the University of Athens' prytaneum". ELEFTHEROS: "Anarchists demolished Citizens Protection Minister Michalis Chryssohoidis' plan". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "They burned the flag and the state". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Police's aggresive tactic - 'Police state' protection". ESTIA: "The scuffles will have multiple repercussions on the economy". ETHNOS: "Police gave sound response to the hooded groups' violence". IMERISSIA: "Special investment bonds - Government-Goldman Sachs agreement". NAFTEMPORIKI: "Collection measures and excessive borrowing". TA NEA: "Police's new tactic contained the clashes". VRADYNI: "Athens a battlefield once again". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |