Kamala Harris, who is Joe Biden’s ‘running mate’ in the November elections, maintains close ties to the Greek American community.
It’s for this reason one of the most prominent members of that community, California Lieutenant Govenor Eleni Kounalakis, ‘went rogue’ back in late July to get Harris selected as Biden’s Vice President.
In fact, according to POLITICO, Kounalakis and other staunch allies of Harris, grew incensed by reports that a top member of Biden’s vetting team, former Senator Chris Dodd, complained to a donor that Harris had shown “no remorse” for her surprise attack on Biden in a Democratic debate last year.
California's own @KamalaHarris is the kindest, smartest, hardest working and most honorable person I know. Our democratic ticket of @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris will win back the White House and lead our nation with dignity and strength! pic.twitter.com/KiMIbrykif
This prompted Kounalakis to reach out to more than a dozen current and former California officials, mayors, and labor union and business leaders to demand a conference call with Biden’s campaign team. No other vice presidential candidate was afforded such a meeting.
“We went rogue,” Kounalakis told the media outlet. “There’s no question about it.”
“We felt the need to talk directly about who Kamala Harris is and how much support she has in California.”
The teleconference lasted 45 minutes and, according to US media, influenced Biden in his final choice.
‘Harris is an incredible friend, who never forgets your birthday’:
It should come as no surprise that Kounalakis and Harris are close friends. Harris was not only a strong supporter of Kounalakis becoming the first woman elected as the Lieutenant Governor of California in 2019, but they are also both children of immigrants.
Kounalakis is the daughter of real estate agent, Angelos Tsakopoulos, originally from Arcadia, who is one of the most powerful Greeks in America.
Harris is the child of Jamaican and Indian immigrants.
“Harris and I have been friends for many years. Like me, she is the daughter of immigrants and has lived the California dream,” Kounalakis told iefimerida.
“She is a hardworking, wonderful and honorable public servant. At the same time, she is an incredible friend who never forgets your birthday.”
Federal Member for Adelaide Steve Georganas has urged Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to take a stance in the ongoing Eastern Mediterranean dispute between Greece and Turkey.
Below is Georganas’ full letter to the Australian Prime Minister.
Dear Prime Minister,
Through recent media reports, and the discussions I have had with community representatives, it is evident that tensions are escalating in the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey has become increasingly active in the Eastern Mediterranean in its efforts to explore for oil and gas, which has resulted in apparent violations of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In another provocative move, Turkey has attempted to establish its own EEZ between the Libyan and Turkish coasts; a move that is illegal as it ignores already established EEZs in the area.
I feel tat, as a member of the international community, Australia cannot stay silent on this matter. We should play our part to ensure that the delicate peace and stability in the region is preserved along with the agreed sovereignty of all the nations involved.
In addition, it is in Australia’s interest that we join the international community to defend the territorial rights according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which grants a continental shelf and EEZ to the islands within territorial waters of the Eastern Mediterranean.
This is of particular importance because, if a precedence is set as a result of the territorial dispute in the Eastern Mediterrenaean, this may have unintended consequences of other nations, including Australia.
I, therefore respectfully urge you to join other world leaders, including many in the European Union and the United States to encourage the countries involved to respect the current EEZs and maintain a peaceful coexistence for all the nations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus on Monday criticised European Union partners over what it said was diffidence amounting to “a policy of appeasement” in dealing with Turkey, locked in a stand-off with Cyprus and Greece over energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.
The Cypriot comments came after Greece failed to secure a strong commitment from fellow EU nations for sanctions against Turkey for carrying out offshore natural gas surveys in areas where both countries claim jurisdiction.
Two Turkish survey ships are in two areas of the disputed maritime region – one that Greece says is on its continental shelf, and the other claimed by the island state of Cyprus. In both cases, Turkey says it has jurisdiction.
“Unfortunately we are observing a diffidence from the European Union in taking on a substantive role and adopting policies of deterrence,” Cypriot government spokesman Kyriakos Koushios said in remarks to reporters.
The French Tonnerre helicopter carrier is escorted by Greek and French military vessels during a maritime exercise in the East Med. The Greek-Egyptian agreement took Ankara by surprise and Turkey returned to using power politics against Greece. Photo: Ekatherimini
He said Nicosia welcomed expressions of support from EU partners but this was not enough. “The policy of appeasement and the messages of support are not enough to discourage Turkey from its illegal actions.”
The EU, he said, needed to have a “more intense” presence in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey drew another EU rebuke on Sunday when it said its Yavuz energy drill ship would extend operations in disputed Mediterranean waters off Cyprus until mid-September.
Cyprus’s internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot government has long been at loggerheads with Turkey. The island was split after a 1974 Turkish invasion spurred by a brief coup engineered by the military then ruling Greece. A breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in north Cyprus is recognised only by Ankara.
Turkey questions Cyprus’s right to explore in the seas around the island because it maintains that the Nicosia administration does not represent the interests of Turkish Cypriots – an argument dismissed by Cyprus, which is legally recognised as representing the entire island.
In Turkey’s dispute with Greece, the two countries are at odds over the delimitation of their continental shelves.
A Greek Australian man has been labelled a ‘hero’ by the media and local residents after he assisted in rescuing an elderly resident from a house fire in the Sydney suburb of Kingsgrove.
The elderly man, who was fighting for life last night, was believed to have been caught in his bedroom when the flames broke out.
His flatmate, Matthew Hemphill, carried him out of the house after he had already suffered serious burns. Greek Australian neighbour Peter Skoutelis then arrived at the scene with a hose, spraying water in the house and on the elderly man.
An elderly man is fighting for life tonight after being saved from his burning home at Kingsgrove. He was caught in his bedroom when the flames erupted but he's still alive thanks to the heroic efforts of his flatmate who put his own life on the line. www.7NEWS.com.au #Kingsgrove #7NEWS
“I saw a big blaze of fire and I thought ‘I’ve got to do something’, I’ve got to help my neighbours,” Peter told 7 News.
Saving the man’s life, Matthew insisted that he’s not a hero, rather a it was simply a “normal person thing”. Matthew’s neighbour, Mr Skoutelis, thinks differently.
“He’s a very brave man and he’s the hero out of this,” Peter said.
Police are still investigating the cause of the accident, trying to determine if it had possibly been sparked from a cigarette. The elderly man suffered critical injuries from the accident and is to remain in hospital.
“I just hope the man gets better,” Peter concluded.
An aspiring western Sydney nurse has left court with a criminal record after she acted as a driver for her alleged drug-dealing friend on a MDMA run around the eastern suburbs.
Pamela Tsolakki, 22, who works casually as a beautician, was sentenced over two counts of knowingly taking part in drug supply from October 11 last year, which her lawyer said was a one-off.
In the car Tsolakki was driving, police found steroids and MDMA, and an alleged plethora of drugs and cash in her passenger and co-accused’s underwear.
The Condell Park woman was also charged with being in possession of $3650 in proceeds of crime – the amount of cash found in the car.
Lawyer Zemarai Khatiz told the court Tsolakki was “hanging around with the wrong crowd” at the time and has “made changes in her life” since then.
“(She has) disassociated from persons using drugs … (and is) continuing her nursing degree,” Mr Khatiz added.
Pamela Tsolakki leaving Waverley Local Court in 2019 where she faced several drug charges. Picture: Monique Harmer.
At around 11pm on the night she was caught, Tsolakki was behind the wheel of a grey Suzuki Swift, with her co-accused in the passenger seat.
Tsolakki’s iPhone was on the dash with a maps app open, the court heard.
Police became suspicious of a potential drug deal when a man ran out of Bondi’s Royal Hotel and hopped in the back of the car, which was parked across the road.
Thirty seconds later, he jumped back out and was apprehended by police walking back towards the hotel, just after the Suzuki drove off.
On him, they found one bag of cocaine.
Police soon stopped the car and asked the pair what they had been doing.
Tsolakki told police she was “dropping off my friend’s wallet that he left in the car.”
Police asked the pair if there was anything they wanted to disclose and the co-accused allegedly told police “I have steroids in the car. They’re mine. I take them.”
When asked if there were any other drugs, he allegedly said “I have more down my pants” and they were both arrested.
Her co-accused was searched and $2800 in $50 notes was allegedly located in his underwear, as well as a Nokia “burner” phone, and a container of “lollies” which contained a bag of eight MDMA capsules, a bag of crystalline MDMA and two resealable bags of cocaine.
Pamela Tsolakki was sentenced over two counts of knowingly taking part in drug supply from October 11, 2019. Picture: Facebook.
Nothing was found on Tsolakki.
In the car, police found Tsolakki’s wallet in the driver-side door with $600 cash in it and the co-accused’s wallet on the passenger-side door with $250 cash.
In a Louis Vuitton bag on the passenger side footwall, police found two vials of steroids, two resealable plastic bags with MDMA capsules, and two bags of crystalline MDMA.
Police allege Tsolakki had full knowledge of he co-accused’s involvement in the supply of prohibited drugs, according to the police facts.
Police also found cannabis in the front passenger side door handle, an Apple iPhone in the glove box and one allegedly in her co-accused’s pants, according to the police fact sheet.
After Mr Khatiz asked for a non-conviction for her “minimal role” in the operation, Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge said “to suggest she was a minor player would be “somewhat fanciful.”
“You drove him around, helped him be where he needed to be so he could supply the drugs,” she said.
“(You were) participating in dissemination of drugs in the community,” she continued.
Magistrate Milledge sentenced Tsolakki to a 12-month and 18-month Conditional Corrections Order for the two drug supply charges.
Motivational speaker and Commonwealth Games baton bearer, John Coutis, has been sentenced to five years jail for welfare fraud, but was immediately released on parole.
John Coutis, who was convicted of defrauding taxpayers, was sentenced on Monday at Southport Court in Queensland.
Coutis had failed to declare almost $1.5 million he earned as a motivational speaker for more than a decade while receiving a disability support pension.
He received more than $130,000 in welfare benefits, when he was entitled to only about $30,000.
John Coutis is a well-known motivational speaker.
Coutis, who admitted lying to Centrelink, was caught out after authorities identified him as a frequent international traveller.
He’s made at least 37 international speaking trips and has spoken to more than six million people at events that have included attendees such as Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela.
More than a dozen good character references were tendered to the court, including references from Alan Jones, Dawn Fraser and Phil Gould.
Judge Porter said while he respected the referees’ opinions, he disagreed with some.
“A number of references indicate this was not an act of dishonesty, but this was,” the judge said.
“I am conscious of the disability support pension not being enough to support people on disability but thousands of others have been able to comply … very few would have been able to earn $1.5 million like you have.
“The welfare system depends on the honesty of claimants and this type of offending undermines the welfare system.”
Parts of his autobiography was also used as evidence in court, including how he was born with spina bifida and had both legs amputated at the age of 17.
Judge Porter said part of the reason for immediate parole was that the prison was unable to cater to Coutis’ disability.
Outside of court, Coutis apologised for his actions and asked for his privacy.
As a member of Greece’s oldest Celtic band ‘Iernis,’ Chrysoula Kechagioglou is not short of vocal expertise in Greek folk songs from the Cyclades, Dodecanese and Asia Minor.
That’s why she’s the perfect choice to teach online singing workshops every Tuesday in September from 6pm – 7pm, as organised by Sydney Greek Jam and Rebetika in Melbourne.
“I am not very confident about distant learning and my ability to share information this way. I am very fond of personal contact. But I am also a woman of my time and I want to cope with this new situation,” Chrysoula tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
“I don’t want fear of illness or technology to keep this wonderful knowledge away from those who wish to have it.”
Chrysoula is a member of Greece’s oldest Celtic band, Iernis. It was originally called Apodimi Compania.
Chrysoula’s workshops will be available via Zoom and they are open to a limited number of participants. No prior assumed knowledge of Greek or Greek songs is necessary as the lesson can be conducted in English with transliterated lyrics.
Those who are lucky enough to get a spot in the one-hour classes will learn about the history of songs from the Dodecanese, Cyclades and Asia Minor, as well as cover some vocal techniques particular to these regions.
“I have chosen these songs because they are interesting music and lyrics wise and because I really love them,” Chrysoula says.
The 42-year-old’s passion for Greek folk songs first began when her family moved to the Greek island of Syros in 1982.
“When we moved to Syros island, my parents would organise and attend feasts with the neighbours. Singing was always part of this coming together with other people,” Chrysoula explains.
“As Syros is a place with many Catholic Christians, I attended a Catholic primary school whose pride and joy was an amazing choir. My teachers realised I could sing and encouraged me to get more involved with music.”
Since then, she has performed with many notable artists in Greece and internationally such as Giorgos Dalaras, Dimitris Mystakidis and Andy Irvine to name a few.
But she remains as humble as ever, with only one simple message for participants in her online classes and aspiring artists overall: “Singing is a healing process and I encourage everyone to sing their heart out, no matter how good or bad they may sound.”
The wise words of a woman set to teach the next generation of Greek singers.
A man who used a tree branch to beat a woman to death in a Melbourne park has been found not guilty of murder because of mental impairment.
Henry Hammond, 28, was charged after 25-year-old Courtney (Konstandina) Herron’s body was found underneath branches at Royal Park, in the city’s north, in May last year.
But today, Justice Phillip Priest directed that a verdict of not guilty be recorded in Victoria’s Supreme Court because of Hammond’s mental state at the time of the killing.
For the first time, the horrific circumstances of Ms Herron’s death have been laid bare in a special hearing before the court.
CONTENT WARNING: Readers may find the contents of this report distressing.
In May last year, Ms Herron and Hammond were walking through Royal Park in the early hours of the morning when Hammond picked up a branch.
“Are you going to kill me?” Ms Herron asked him.
Hammond, who was homeless at the time, then struck his victim in the face and beat her to death.
“He was so intense he was grunting. It went on for 50 minutes. Just constant bashing,” said one witness, who was sleeping in the park and whose account was relayed to the court by crown prosecutor Melissa Mahady.
SES personnel conducted a line search in Royal Park after Ms Herron’s body was discovered. Photo: AAP: James Ross.
Hammond then tied Ms Herron’s legs together and dragged her body into a clearing where he covered her with branches, before taking her phone and wallet.
Hours earlier Ms Herron, who met Hammond that day, had treated him to dinner before they smoked ice together.
Security footage from the restaurant shows them bantering happily.
When investigators caught up to him the next day, Hammond told them that he had recognised Ms Herron from a past life and that she had been treacherous to his family.
He said he believed she had buried his wife alive and that he had finally gotten his “revenge” on her when a tree branch seemingly fell to the ground.
Detailed psychiatric reports from two doctors have revealed that Hammond was in the grips of schizophrenic relapse at the time of the killing.
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects 1 per cent of the population, and is characterised by psychotic symptoms such as delusions and voices.
Hammond has had schizophrenic symptoms since 2017, and continues to have them.
Forensic psychiatrist Rajan Darjee told the court that the delusions would have felt real to Hammond during the episode.
“If he was not suffering from this mental illness, the attack wouldn’t have occurred,” Dr Darjee said.
“He felt that she intended harm to him. He felt that she was interfering with his mind. He felt that she’d been involved in some way in a past life, that she had harmed him.”
He disagreed with suggestions from Ms Herron’s loved ones that Hammond was pretending to be unwell, and said it was “virtually impossible” for him to be faking schizophrenia.
“I think it’s highly unlikely that Mr Hammond is feigning mental illness,” Dr Darjee said.
“I think it would be very unlikely that he would be able to feign these symptoms in various different contexts.
“He has refused treatment and says he is not unwell.”
Dr Darjee also said that Hammond’s condition was not caused by drugs, although they may have worsened it.
“Since he’s stopped taking drugs … he’s remained clearly unwell, despite not taking drugs and despite treatment with antipsychotic medication,” Dr Darjee said.
Hammond has been remanded in custody and will return to court next month.
Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean were the focus of a meeting between US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, on Sunday.
According to the US Secretary of State in a Twitter post, he stressed to Cavusoglu during the “timely conversation” that there was an “urgent need to reduce tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
The two ministers met in the Dominican Republic and also discussed the situation in Syria and Libya.
For his part, the Turkish Foreign Minister said Ankara will continue to defend its rights, as well as the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, against “the provocative steps of the Greek and Greek Cypriot sides.”
Earlier, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell also sent a strong message to Turkey, urging Ankara not to undermine efforts to resume dialogue and immediately de-escalate.
Growing up on a farm with migrant grandparents, Victor Dominello knows all too well how traditional the elderly migrant generation can be.
As the world enters a new era of technological development, particularly an era that has seen a greater introduction of health information technology, it has forced citizens to become technologically ‘savvy’.
Minister for Customer Service and MP for Ryde, Victor Michael Dominello, spoke with The Greek Herald about his encouragement for the elderly generation to join the constantly evolving world of technology.
Mr Dominello shared the many ways that he has seen technology change people’s lives, along with the difficulties in getting them to trust it.
“A 77 year old lady had a button in her arm and that’s measuring her glucose levels,” Dominello said to The Greek Herald.
“She proudly showed me her smartphone, and she wouldn’t have a clue about technology, but she knows that it’s measuring her blood sugar levels, it goes off and has alarms, and was telling me how much it’s changed her life.”
Minister for Customer Service and MP for Ryde, Victor Michael Dominello, is encouraging the elderly to become more ‘tech savvy.’
It’s not just diabetes that these kinds of e-health technologies will be assisting however, but dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s as well.
“All the things that require measurement, internally, is going to be really big in the next 5-10 years. There will be an ambulance at your door and you’ll say why, then you’ll realise it’s because it was triggered without your knowledge of the issue.
The first steps into introducing the elderly generation to e-health services were made in January 2016 with the introduction of the ‘My Health Record’. The e-health system was designed to allow people to place their health information online, allowing users to access their health information from any computer or device that’s connected to the internet.
“Your readers are going to be increasingly relying on tele-health and e-health services.” Dominello said.
“They’re going to be getting more medical treatments at home. They are going to be having devices, whether it’s a smart watch or smart ring, but health benefits for the elderly will be at the cutting edge.”
While new ground-breaking technology continues to be developed, the struggle, Dominello claims, is convincing the older generation to use it. The MP claims that this task is largely left in the hands of their children and grandchildren.
Dominello (right) with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
“In many ways this generation is still in the twilight zone, it’s the next one coming through that is going to be completely digitally immersed,” Dominello said.
“We have a duty to make sure we help our parents out, so I’m trying to do the same with my mum.
“If they had it their way, they’re just creatures of habit they’d go back into routine. But the world is changing too fast they can’t just do that all the time.”
As Minister for Customer Service, it is Dominello’s job to make sure that all businesses are digitally well equipped. Recognising cyber security as a massive issue in a ‘post-covid world’, Dominello revealed his intentions to make that a high priority for businesses.
“Not everyone can afford spending a million dollars on consultants,” Dominello said.
“If we can create a place where they can go, so they can just get off the shelf products to help them get on their feet.
“What we need are assistants out there to declutter all the noise and separate the real news from the fake news.”
Dominello is the former Minister for Multiculturalism.
The Customer Service Minister called on the government to not so much get bigger but get “smarter” and “help people through the journey”.
“That’s why service has a big role to play in stepping up for small businesses, because the big ones will always be okay, but it’s the small ones that will struggle.”
According to Dominello, Victoria represents about 25% of Australia’s economy, with NSW represents about 30%. However, following Victoria’s dire situation under stage 4 restrictions, Dominello expects the gap between the 25 and the 30 to greatly extend.
“We (NSW) can’t afford to go into lockdown, so we’ll do everything in our power to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Formerly the minister for multiculturalism for four years, Mr Dominello enjoyed being able to reconnect with his culture and heritage. Something he, admittedly, didn’t engage strongly in when he was younger.
“Hold on to your culture as much as you can,” Dominello concluded.
“Unfortunately I didn’t learn Italian, and during Covid everyone goes back to practice home cooking and it’s just a time to reflect on who you are and how important that is in terms of your identity.
“It’s very easy to be part of a bigger crowd and get lost, so hold on to the culture for as long as you can.”
