Search
Home Blog Page 1391

Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev awarded Westphalia Peace Prize for Prespa Agreement

The Greek Herald
-
0
Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev awarded Westphalia Peace Prize for Prespa Agreement

Former Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, and the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, have been awarded the Westphalia Peace Prize in Germany.

According to the International Review Board of the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association (LWL), Tsipras and Zaev have been honoured for their “diplomatic skills” with the Prespa Agreement and for their contribution to stability. 

The Prespa agreement, apart from settling terminological differences over the name of North Macedonia, also covers areas of cooperation between the two countries in order to establish a strategic partnership between them.

“Without Tsipras and Zaev, the name dispute would not have ended, and the feud would continue to destabilise the entire Balkan region,” Chairman of the Board, Dr Reinhard Zinkann, said at the award ceremony.

READ MORE: Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev to receive Westphalia Peace Prize for “diplomatic skills”.

For his part, Tsipras said in a speech on the night that the Prespa Agreement is a model for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

“We wanted an Agreement under the UN that would withstand and would not collapse in the face of the first difficulty. An Agreement that would not only resolve our differences, but would tie us to a new strategic partnership to face challenges together and seize opportunities together,” Tsipras said.

“The Prespa Agreement can make a significant contribution to a new European and global vision, as a model for the peaceful settlement of disputes by protecting national interests and building trust and cooperation even in the most difficult times.”

READ MORE: Zoran Zaev says tweet omitting the word ‘North’ from North Macedonia was a ‘mistake’.

Prime Minister Zaev added that together with his then-colleague Tsipras, they chose to find a solution without delay.

“This strong commitment, the willingness to sacrifice our own political careers in the name of the future, connected us and guided us through the process,” Zaev said.

“We chose to leave solutions as traces behind us. Solutions for our citizens and our societies and we came to a solution when everyone claimed that it was impossible.”

The Westphalia Award was instituted in 1998 by the LWL, in memory of the key principles of the Westphalian Peace Agreement in 1648 that sealed the end of the Thirty Years’ War: religious peace and tolerance. 

The award honours personalities or representatives of states that have become a role model for Europe and the world for their work for peace.

READ MORE: Leaders of Greece and North Macedonia discuss Prespa Agreement.

Valentini Grammatikopoulou wins first match during US Open debut

Andriana Simos
-
0
Valentini Grammatikopoulou wins first match during US Open debut

Greek rising tennis star, Valentini Grammatikopoulou, has win her first US Open match against Anna Blinkova in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.

The first round match was Grammatikopoulou’s Grand Slam debut and she definitely didn’t disappoint, fighting hard to claim her win.

Her victory comes just hours after Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Andy Murray in five sets at the US Open.

Grammatikopoulou won her first two ITF titles as a 16-year-old in 2013, made her WTA main draw debut in 2017 after qualifying for Washington, DC and scored her first WTA win at Bogota 2018.

More to come.

Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats Andy Murray in nail-biting US Open first round match

Andriana Simos
-
0
Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats Andy Murray in nail-biting US Open first round match

Greek tennis star, Stefanos Tsitsipas, has defeated Andy Murray in the first round of the US Open after five sets 2-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Murray overcame a bizarre shoe debacle to lead one set to nil, before Tsitisipas fought his way back to win despite accusations of cheating.

In all, the contest lasted nearly five hours.

Tsitsipas took his time between the fourth and fifth sets — much to the anger of Murray, who was broken by the 23-year-old in the first game of the deciding set.

“He’s cheating,” Murray was heard saying, according to multiple reports, after the Tsitsipas break.

After Murray fell into an 0-2 hole in the fifth, the one-time US Open champion fumed to the supervisor Gerry Armstrong.

“What, for 20 minutes every time? There’s a toilet right there, what’s he doing? What’s he doing in there?” Murray asked.

With both players struggling physically, it was Tsitsipas who was able to outlast Murray.

“It’s not easy, lots of sacrifices I had to make out there to get back,” Tsitsipas said after his match.

“The atmosphere was great. The New York crowd is one of the best in the world and the fact that we’re out here able to compete again with people and have an electric atmosphere is something we’ve been waiting for for almost two years.”

EU will vow to stop ‘uncontrolled’ migration from Afghanistan, draft statement says

The Greek Herald
-
0
EU will vow to stop ‘uncontrolled’ migration from Afghanistan, draft statement says

European Union interior ministers will say on Tuesday they are determined to act to prevent uncontrolled migration from Afghanistan, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters.

EU governments are eager to avoid a repeat of the chaotic influx of migrants in 2015 that caught the bloc unprepared and sowed divisions among EU states, fuelling support for far-right parties as camps in Greece and other countries swelled.

“Based on lessons learned, the EU and its member states stand determined to act jointly to prevent the recurrence of uncontrolled large-scale illegal migration movements faced in the past, by preparing a coordinated and orderly response,” the ministers will say, according to the draft, dated August 28.

READ MORE: ‘We are protecting our borders’: Mitsotakis meets EU Parliament VP to discuss Afghanistan.

EU will vow to stop ‘uncontrolled’ migration from Afghanistan.

The draft did not contain specific details of new measures.

Ministers will gather for an emergency meeting on Tuesday in Brussels to discuss the fallout from the Afghanistan crisis. The EU last week announced more aid money for Afghanistan as well as surrounding countries.

Interior ministers will reiterate that promise to give more money, although delivering aid had become more complicated since the Taliban took back control of the country, according to EU officials.

READ MORE: ‘We will not be the gateway of Europe’: Greek ministers respond to Afghanistan crisis.

File: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters.

“The EU should also strengthen the support to the countries in Afghanistan’s immediate neighbourhood to ensure that those in need receive adequate protection primarily in the region,” the ministers will say.

Although Turkey helped contain the 2015 crisis with EU funding by taking in millions of Syrians fleeing, Ankara is less willing to receive many Afghans as the COVID-19 pandemic and an economic slump strain social and security services.

The ministers will pledge to stop new security threats from Afghanistan for EU citizens, as well as making the right security checks for those evacuated, said the draft statement. 

Source: Reuters.

Greek High Court rules that mandatory vaccinations for health workers can go ahead

The Greek Herald
-
0
Greek High Court rules that mandatory vaccinations for health workers can go ahead

A section of Greece’s highest administrative court, the Council of State (CoS), rejected on Monday an injunction submitted by the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees (POEDIN) to temporarily freeze a law mandating their vaccination against COVID-19 by September 1.

Parliament voted in July legislation that requires all healthcare professionals working in hospitals and clinics to get vaccinated by Tuesday, or risk being suspended from work without pay. 

The union has requested more time and argued in its injunction that the threat of sanctions against workers violated their constitutional rights. 

Greek High Court rules that mandatory vaccinations for health workers can go ahead.

A separate request by POEDIN to annul and suspend the law is pending at the top court’s plenary.

So far, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis – who said earlier he couldn’t force healthcare workers to be inoculated and waited months before giving the order – hasn’t made shots mandatory for all.

He said he would wait until the autumn and has exempted police – who have a far higher rate of unvaccinated – as well as tourism workers, although COVID-19 has spread on islands where only vaccinated tourists or those free of the virus were allowed to go.

But the Greek government is forging ahead with its plan to suspend unvaccinated healthcare professionals as of September 1, its spokesman said on Monday, adding that those sent on unpaid leave may not get their job back once they have been inoculated against the coronavirus.

The Greek government is forging ahead with its plan to suspend unvaccinated healthcare professionals as of September 1.

“The law will be applied in full. There will also be a refund of the salary that was paid in advance at the end of August, while it is not certain that those who are suspended will return to the same positions, even if they choose to get vaccinated, given that the nature, needs and organisation of the national healthcare system will have changed,” Giannis Oikonomou said during a press briefing.

He also warned that the next few weeks will be “extremely crucial for evolution of the pandemic.”

“It is encouraging that since mid-August there has been an increasing trend in new [vaccination] appointments, but as experts point out, in order to build the wall of immunity, we need at least an additional one million vaccinated people,” he said.

Source: Ekathimerini.

‘We are the future’: Leila Mangos appointed to the NSW Youth Advisory Council

Andriana Simos
-
0
‘We are the future’: Leila Mangos appointed to the NSW Youth Advisory Council

Greek Australian, Leila Mangos, is one of twelve bright young leaders from New South Wales who have been appointed to the 2021-22 Youth Advisory Council.

The 18-year-old tells The Greek Herald exclusively she feels very excited and lucky to have been selected to advise the NSW Government on issues that affect young people.

“It’s been quite a journey because I’ve actually been going for the council since 2016 when I was about 12 years old and I finally made it on this year,” Leila, who is a Year 12 student at Loreto Normanhurst, says with pride.

Leila Mangos. Photo supplied.

“I was over the moon when Zoe Robertson, who is the Advocate for Children and Young People, gave me a call and I was so excited and it still hasn’t really sunk in that I made it here because it’s something I’ve been aiming for, for such a long time.”

This passion for social issues and making a difference has been instilled in Leila from a young age through her Greek heritage and a personal belief that young people are ‘the future.’

“My Greek heritage has really led me to see the value of community and the importance of working person to person and valuing the individual,” Leila says.

Leila is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness. Photo supplied.

“I also think that young people are the future… and I think the capacity of using the inspiration, enthusiasm and eagerness of young people is something that should be used in a space like government because we’re the ones who can bring forth a whole new generation of ideas and issues.”

In her role on the Council, Leila aims to be a direct line to government on a number of specific issues she’s passionate about, including anti-discrimination and mental health.

“It’s our job to kind of not only represent the community but represent our own stories and our passions and interests, and our role is to kind of impact all young people throughout NSW through policy making and policy advising,” Leila says.

Leila is the newest member of the NSW Youth Advisory Council. Photo supplied.

“I definitely feel very passionate about mental health and the support that’s available for young people going through mental illness… especially during this time of COVID and everything being so uncertain and stressful.

“I’m concerned not enough is being done about it and I want to represent myself and all of my friends and peers who are going through something similar and try, within this council space, to try and do something about it.”

Other members of the 2020-2021 Youth Advisory Committee include: Mae Carroll, Alyssa Horan, Meika Lindsay, Shahim Shabbir, Jayden Delbridge, Lua Pellegrini, Joe Vu, David Ho, Katy Quinn, Oscar Ryan and Stassi Austin.

Victorians line up to get vaccinated at hall of St George Greek Orthodox church in Thornbury

The Greek Herald
-
0
Victorians line up to get vaccinated at hall of St George Greek Orthodox church in Thornbury

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) successfully launched a pop-up vaccination hub at the hall of its Greek Orthodox Church of St George in Thornbury over the weekend.

The pop-up hub, which was supported by the Victorian Department of Health, administered both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines to the youth and elderly.

Today is the last day to receive your first jab before the hub closes, only to reopen on September 24 and 25 for second doses of Pfizer and September 26 and 27 for second doses of AstraZeneca.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), hub organisers from the GCM had contacted 200 vulnerable people beforehand which they knew “simply weren’t going to be vaccinated” if it wasn’t made easier for them, including people in their 80s.

  • Photos: Victorian Department of Health.

About one in 70 people in their 60s who have contracted coronavirus in Australia have died from the virus, and many more have fallen gravely ill. But there still remains a notable section of this age group – at least 20 per cent nationwide – who are yet to get their first dose of AstraZeneca despite being eligible since earlier in the year.

GP Magdalena Simonis, who was working at the pop-up vaccination hub in Thornbury on Saturday, told the SMH these low statistics weren’t just because of limited accessibility, but also because much of the reputable government information about vaccines was in English only – a language some don’t fully understand.

READ MORE: Vaccination pop up clinic at St George Hall, Melbourne: What you need to know.

Dr Magdalena Simonis. Photo: Chris Hopkins.

That left them stumbling across misleading information via Google or on social media. Dr Simonis said people who were vaccine hesitant told her their main fear was “dying from a clot.”

“What they are also saying in their circles [is] a few of them are worried about being microchipped,” she told the SMH.

“And some are also worried about the origin of the vaccines and they’ll say it contains embryonic elements derived from aborted fetuses, which of course is not true in either case.”

But for others in line, like teenagers Camille Ibrahim and Kanella Pirpiris, there had only ever been enthusiasm.

  • Panos Menidis, aged 20, and Kanella Pirpiris, aged 16, their vaccine in a church hall on Sunday. Photo: Chris Hopkins.
  • Photo: The Victorian Department of Health.

Ms Ibrahim, 17, told the SMH she had been driving past on her L-plates with her father when they saw the pop-up centre. Five-minutes later she was vaccinated. Then they called her brother and two friends who were nearby to get vaccinated too.

Once they had got the vaccine, they were proudly sharing the news and pictures to their group chats, making sure the GCM’s vaccination drive was a raging success.

Second doses of the vaccines:

• Pfizer: open Friday 24th & Saturday 25th September 2021.
• AstraZeneca: open Friday 26th & Saturday 27th November 2021.

Book here: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/book-your-vaccine-appointment.

St Nicholas Greek Orthodox church to be illuminated ahead of 9/11 anniversary

The Greek Herald
-
0
St Nicholas Greek Orthodox church to be illuminated ahead of 9/11 anniversary

The St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center will not open as hoped on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, according to the New York Post.

Instead, the public will get just a glimpse of the $100 million project – which was designed by Spanish “starchitect” Santiago Calatrava – at 8 pm on September 10, when the building is lit for the first time.

The domed shrine, which is covered in the same type of marble used to build the Parthenon in Athens, is supposed to appear as if it’s glowing from the inside.

“The light that will shine forth that night and every night to come will bear witness to the love of God for all people, as it is so truly said, ‘it is far better to light a candle than to curse the darkness’,” an August 2021 update by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America writes.

READ MORE: Exterior of Saint Nicholas Shrine glows after being clad with same marble as the Parthenon.

Photo: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

The shrine will then go dark for eight more months, until its scheduled opening to the public in April 2022.

A year ago, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America said the shrine would be finished by this fall. Archbishop Elpidophoros, who heads the church in the US, said “it will be completed and open to all people, on the 20th anniversary” of 9/11.

READ MORE: Exterior of shrine at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to be ready by September 11.

But Michael Psaros, the vice chairman of the Friends of St Nicholas which was formed in 2019 to help complete the project, told the NY Post that with pandemic-related delays, only the exterior was to be “substantially completed” by this September. Work is to continue on the iconography inside the church.

St Nicholas National Shrine is scheduled to open to the public in April 2022. Photo: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

The building, which was originally supposed to be finished in 2016, will be a functioning Greek Orthodox church and house a non-denominational bereavement center.

It is the only house of worship at the World Trade Center site, and this week Elpidophoros named Reverend Andreas Vithoulkas, the chancellor of the Archdiocese, as the pastor of St Nicholas.

It replaces the modest St Nicholas Church on Cedar Street which was destroyed on September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center’s South Tower fell.

Source: New York Post.

‘Very successful’: Thousands of Pfizer vaccines given at All Saints Grammar gym in Belmore

Andriana Simos
-
0
‘Very successful’: Thousands of Pfizer vaccines given at All Saints Grammar gym in Belmore

The pop-up vaccination clinic at the gymnasium of All Saints Grammar in Belmore is entering its third and final week before it returns in October and many from the Greek and wider community have hailed it a great success.

Running every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday since August 18, registered nurses, volunteers and expert translators have been working hard to safely administer at least 500 Pfizer vaccinations a day to people aged 16 to 59 from 12 Local Government Areas (LGA) of concern across Greater Sydney.

This includes Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some suburbs of Penrith.

Exclusive look inside the clinic. Photo: Andriana Simos.

By the end of the three week clinic, which is this Friday, September 3, a total of 4,500 Pfizer vaccines would have been administered, with people awaiting their second doses when the clinic reopens on October 13.

READ MORE: ‘The only way out’: Hundreds line up at All Saints Grammar gym in Belmore to get vaccinated.

“It’s been very successful. It has allowed people to come out and make their own choices. A lot of people have said they need this to get back to work,” Chris, who is one of the leaders of the church community helping set up the clinic run by NSW Health, tells The Greek Herald.

Volunteers and translators work together at the hub. Photo: Andriana Simos.

“We had many parishioners come, many elderly and not only from Belmore. We’ve had people from across the 12 LGAs.

“We really just want to say thank you to the Greek Welfare Centre for volunteering and to the nursing and administration staff for giving their time. They’ve come from all over Sydney to be a part of this.”

The Greek Herald first visited the clinic when it opened and saw hundreds lining up outside the gymnasium waiting for their vaccination.

People queuing up outside. Photo: Andriana Simos.

47-year-old, Tina Daniels, was one of the people vaccinated on the day and told The Greek Herald her experience at the pop-up clinic was ‘unreal’ as she’s ‘looking forward to some freedom.’

“It was very good. Everyone is just trying to do their best to keep everyone safe and the nurses were beautiful,” Ms Daniels said as she sat in the clinic’s observation area after receiving her vaccine.

“I think it’s really good to have pop-up hubs like this. I wish there was more of them. This is a great organisation and it’s really lovely of them to open their doors up to us and allow us in to be vaccinated.”

  • Prior to vaccination for Ms Szatow. Photo: Andriana Simos.
  • Tina Daniels. Photo: Andriana Simos.
Renee Moreton, who is the General Manager of Population Health for Sydney Local Health District. Photo: Andriana Simos.

Renee Moreton, who is the General Manager of Population Health for Sydney Local Health District, agreed and encouraged more people to come down and get their first dose of Pfizer.

“It’s great to be able to work with our community partners. I think the community trust the organisations that are part of the community and that helps with people that might be a bit vaccine hesitant,” Ms Moreton said.

To book an appointment at All Saints Grammar gym please visit: bit.ly/mycovaxvc16.

Paris Aristotle AO to co-chair Advisory Panel on Australia’s Resettlement of Afghan Nationals

The Greek Herald
-
0
Paris Aristotle AO to co-chair Advisory Panel on Australia’s Resettlement of Afghan Nationals

The Australian Government today announced the formation of the Advisory Panel on Australia’s Resettlement of Afghan Nationals, to be co-chaired by humanitarian settlement expert Paris Aristotle AO and Commonwealth Coordinator-General Migrant Services Alison Larkins.

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke MP, said the advisory panel will play a critical role in supporting Afghan evacuees as they settle into Australian life.

“The Advisory Panel is a group of highly regarded Australian-Afghan community leaders and refugee and settlement experts, chosen for their commitment and expertise in refugee and integration issues,” Minister Hawke said.

“Australia has a proud history of helping those most in need and we are fortunate to have such a wealth of knowledge from across Australia to be working with us to ensure our world class settlement program is delivering to them the comprehensive support they need to get established and settled in Australia as fast as possible.”

Commonwealth Coordinator-General Migrant Services, Alison Larkins, will co-chair the panel.

“This is an incredibly distressing and challenging time for the evacuees and the Australian-Afghan community,” he said.

“Our first priority is the mental and physical wellbeing of the evacuees. That’s why the Australian Government is working with our service providers and the States and Territories to deliver all of the initial settlement and practical support needs that the evacuees have, both in quarantine and the weeks and months ahead,” he said.

“In consultation with the Advisory Panel, the Government is also looking at what further specialised support might be needed to enhance the settlement process and make sure the evacuees start their lives in Australia on the strongest possible footing,” he said. 

“Many arrivals from Afghanistan, including women and children have endured experiences of torture and trauma and we will be ensuring our support programs have the capacity to respond and aid their recovery from these experiences,” he said.

Alex Hawke MP made the announcement today.

“Alongside our Humanitarian Settlement Program providers, I also want to acknowledge the terrific support being provided by cultural and local community organisations and other key networks including legal service providers and torture and trauma support services. In consultation with the Advisory Panel, I will be considering how best to bolster some of these supports,” he said.

“We will also be working closely with communities across Australia that will become home to the new entrants. I am very pleased to see an outpouring of support across the Australian community for the evacuees and the humanitarian entrants to follow,” Minister Hawke said.

The Advisory Panel includes:

  • Mr Paris Aristotle AO (Chair of the Refugee and Migrant Services Advisory Council and CEO of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture)
  • Ms Alison Larkins (Commonwealth Coordinator-General Migrant Services).
  • Ms Gula Bezhan (Founder and President of the Afghan Women’s Organisation Victoria)
  • Ms Carmel Guerra OAM (Chair of the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network and CEO of the Centre for Multicultural Youth Victoria)
  • Ms Sandra Elhelw Wright (CEO of Settlement Council Australia)
  • Mr Paul Power (CEO of Refugee Council Australia)
  • Mr Hussain Razaiat (President of the Afghan United Association of SA)
  • Mr Nazer Nazir (Co-Founder and President of the Afghan Australian Initiative)
  • Mr Ali Reza Yunespour (Board of Directors, Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia )
  • Ms Shukufa Tahiri (Vice chair of National Refugee Led Advisory and Advocacy Group)
  • Ms Madina Mohmood (Indooroopilly Uniting Church Refugee and Asylum Seeker Hub)
  • Professor Christine Phillips AM (Australian National University).

The Advisory Panel was formed with the purpose of:

  • planning to support the Government’s commitment to provide an initial 3,000 humanitarian places in the offshore Humanitarian Program to Afghan nationals
  • ensuring appropriate settlement and integration supports for Afghan new arrivals and the communities into which they will settle
  • harnessing the high level of community commitment and interest in welcoming newcomers and supporting the successful settlement and integration of this cohort.

The Advisory Panel will operate for an initial 12 months, with the possibility of extension should ongoing advice be required.

1...1,3901,3911,392...1,878Page 1,391 of 1,878

Stay connected:

Other

© 2024 The Greek Herald. All rights reserved.