The influx of refugees and migrants to the islands in the first half of 2020 was reduced by 51% compared to the first six months of 2019, according to data released by the Migration Ministry on Monday.
The decrease in the second quarter of 2020 (April-June) reached 92% compared to the corresponding period of 2019. Government spokesperson Stelios Petsas also noted in his briefing that flows decreased by 46% across the country.
At the same time, according to the same data, primary decisions on asylum applications increased by 88%. Specifically, in the first half of 2020, 46,554 decisions were issued compared to 24,701 in the corresponding period of 2019.
Αποχώρησαν όλοι οι πρόσφυγες από την Πλ. Βικτώριας σε προσωρινά καταλύματα. Χάρη στις ενέργειες της Ελ. Αστυνομίας & της Υπηρεσίας Πρώτης Υποδοχής του Υπ. Μετανάστευσης & Ασύλου. Και παρά την προσπάθεια αλληλέγγυων, να εκμεταλλευτούν τον ανθρώπινο πόνο για δημιουργία εντυπώσεων. pic.twitter.com/JuKJZNuuFD
Greek authorities transferred 150 recognised refugees from Victoria Square yesterday, moving them to reception facilities in Skaramangas and Schisto in western Attica, Greece.
Men, women and children had camped at the square after they were forced out of camps on the islands due to the recent policy of the Migration Ministry to stop providing refugees with recognised status with accommodation and food.
According to police, the operation of transferring the refugees’ from camps was without incidents and police had to persuade them.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday he felt more comfortable picking up the phone to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan since an ice-breaking call in June.
Mitsotakis also said Greece was not one of the European Union members which insisted on keeping Turkey off a list of safe countries in an unwinding of the COVID-19 travel restrictions. The EU stance has angered Ankara.
“We are neighbours, we have significant differences, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk,” Mitsotakis told Greece’s Skai radio.
Greece and Turkey disagree on a range of issues ranging from overflights in the Aegean Sea to gas reserves in the east Mediterranean. In March tensions went up a notch when thousands of refugees that Turkey hosts attempted to storm the border between the two countries in an effort to reach the EU.
Mitsotakis and Erdogan spoke by phone on June 26, the first time that the two had spoken in months. “It’s very important that the official channels of communication have been restored… that now we can pick up the phone at any moment and speak to the other about an issue.”
The Greek premier, who came to power a year ago, said Greece and Turkey had “very different views” on a range of matters.
“I have described to the Turkish president a resolution mechanism, but it is contingent on Turkey refraining from adding to tensions, something which would render that dialogue impossible.”
While it was a “little weird” having a virtual coach, Despina said the playoffs were a fun experience and is grateful to be able to sing again next week.
Kelly Rowland consoling an upset Despina Savva after almost being eliminated from The Voice Australia 2020. Photo: Nine Network
“It felt amazing getting the wild card, I get the chance to sing again on that stage and will do Kelly proud!”
Despina lost her battle to piano man Alex Weybury in the play offs on Sunday night, with the Greek Australian singing a rendition of Kim Carnes’ ‘Bette Davis Eyes’.
Devastated to be potentially leaving the competition, Despina broke down in tears and was consoled by a virtual Kelly Rowland. Seeing her incredible talent, Kelly used one of her two wildcards on Despina, bringing her into the grand final week.
Despina switched to #TeamKelly in the Battle Round of the competition, leaving Boy George’s team.
“Working with artists like Despina really gets all my senses going. You are so meant to be here and I want to see how you grow, but I want to be the Coach to help you get there,” Kelly said during the Battles.
Revealed in last nights episode, each contestant will be choosing their own song for their final performance and craft “what will be your most important performance yet.”
The artists will face off on Sunday 7.00pm and Monday and Tuesday at 7.30pm on Nine.
In a time where the roaring cheers of fans is left silent,
attention is drawn to the men that carry the weight of the crowds on their
backs. NRL commentators have been forced to “back their instincts this season”
after fans disappeared from stadiums, following the COVID-19 restrictions.
Nine Network commentator Peter Psaltis has had over 9 years of NRL commentating experience, living locally in Queensland for his media career. While the job of a commentator is always difficult, Psaltis says the last few months have truly tested the skills of callers.
“Quite often when you’re calling a game, you use the crowds
to gage your excitement,” Psaltis said exclusively to The Greek Herald.
“These days when there are no crowds, you’ve almost got to
back your instincts, and the excitement too of your co-commentators.
“Sometimes in TV commentary, when there’s a big moment, you can quickly describe that big moment and let it breathe so you can hear the reaction from the crowd. But you can’t do that now, because there’s nothing there.”
Photo: Peter Psaltis Media
This difficult job isn’t left in the sole hands of Peter,
however, with all NRL commentators fully supported by their co-callers, who
know how to pick up a moment and take it on the horse.
“It’s great to know you’ve got the support of those around you, they’re all just absolutely brilliant. Brilliant to work with and that’s why they’ve done it for such a long time… the ultimate professionals.”
Grand Final days match no
other
As sports presenter, you never know the level of excitement
a match may bring. Arguably, it is up to the commentators to treat every match
like a Grand Final, bringing passion to the viewers at home.
Peter describes the best moments of his career as being part
of the team for Grand Final day. Not only big moments for players on the field
but bringing excitement across to the friends and families of players is one of
the most “humbling experiences”.
“I don’t want this to sound corny but I genuinely mean it. I take great pride when a relative of a player comes over and says ‘oh, love the way you called this player’, it just makes you feel really good,” Psaltis said.
Photo: Peter Psaltis Media
Peter was also fortunate enough to be the commentator for
the inaugural NRL-W Grand Final, which he described as being “a big moment for
the game”.
“Particularly when we’re talking Intrust Super Cup players or NRL-W players, who’s profiles are growing, it’s good that you can help people understand a bit about their story and where they’ve come from.”
Greek legacy in the NRL
Kytherians have held quite an important role in the NRL in
the past 10 years.
Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, Peter
V’landys, has been one of the most influential men for the return of the NRL
this season. Nick Politis, chairman of the Sydney Roosters, has helped take the
team to a double NRL championship in the past two years, looking to take a
third this season.
Also a Kytherian, Psaltis is proud of the high role that
Greeks have held in the Australian game.
“I look at the different Greeks that have been in the media in the past…. I got to know the late Peter Frilingos. That was terrific to be able to work for such a long time on the Frilingos call team.”
Peter V’landys and Nick Politis.
Asked if there were any talented Greek players coming up the
ranks in the NRL, Psaltis expressed his excitement for Cronulla Sharks player
Billy Magoulias.
“I just love the way he plays the game,” Psaltis said
excitedly.
“He plays in such a positive manner, good ball runner, and I
can see him being a really good lock-forward or second-rower for many years to
come”
While Psaltis is a big fan of the Greeks play style, the president of the Magoulias’ “fan club” is already taken by NSW Blue’s coach Brad Fittler, whose wife is also Greek.
“I know the one person who absolutely loves him is Brad Fittler, so Freddie is president of his fan club but I’ll be vice president or something because he is one player, not just because of his Greek heritage but because he can play the game, which I absolutely love.”
Chaos and confusion is taking hold along the border of NSW and Victoria, with a crucial NSW Government website missing in action.
Yesterday, the NSW Government announced residents would require a permit to cross between NSW and Victoria under new COVID-19 border closures.
However, the website of Service NSW does not actually allow people to apply for a permit.
Source: Service NSW at 4:30pm on 7 July 2020.
While the non-existent application process might appear reasonable given the unprecedented situation, reports in today’s The Australian state the NSW Government has been planning for border closures ‘for weeks.’
Images from Albury today show massive cues outside their Service NSW office, as local residents have become desperate for information and advice.
“The NSW Government urgently needs to get on top of this situation,” Shadow Minister for Better Public Services Sophie Cotsis MP said.
“While the border closure is necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19, people who need to cross the border should be able to apply for permits easily online. Having hundreds of people crowd outside Albury’s Service NSW office is not consistent with social distancing.
“The Government cannot claim this situation is unexpected given they have apparently been planning for border closures for weeks.”
“Χαίρετε: It’s really great to see you again” and other greetings in different languages are being splashed across billboards in Sydney’s CBD, as part of a new national ‘Out-of-Home campaign’ launched by JCDecaux.
The campaign aims to say ‘Hello’ to Australians as they steadily return to workplaces, shopping and dining precincts and their regular routines and commutes.
“I’ve been working in the Sydney CBD for over 30 years and it’s the first time I have ever seen the Greek language displayed in Pitt Street or anywhere around the city,” Helen Kofinas Roubis, who first spotted the billboard, tells The Greek Herald.
“I actually felt very proud – much like Mr Portokalis from My Big Fat Greek Wedding!”
The billboards will be displaying greetings in 10 of the most commonly spoken languages across Australia (according to latest ABS data), as well as Auslan for the hearing impaired and traditional First Nation dialects.
“JCDecaux is in a unique position to make meaningful connections with communities, wherever they are, be it in the hearts of cities or deep in the suburbs,” JCDecaux Chief Marketing Officer, Essie Wake, said in a statement.
“The easing of restrictions is seeing people returning to public places, and people have a strong desire to get back to business and spend more time outdoors.
“Our ‘Hello’ campaign acknowledges the return of communities and aims to make people feel welcomed and comfortable moving about within those communities.”
Victoria will reimpose stage three restrictions for six weeks in greater Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire in a bid to slow a rapid spread of coronavirus.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the stay-at-home orders would be reimposed from midnight tomorrow night.
There were 191 new confirmed cases announced today, with 37 linked to known outbreaks and the remaining 154 under investigation.
Mr Andrews said the new restrictions were the result of the “unacceptably” high number of newcases.
The Mitchell Shire, north of Melbourne, includes the towns of Broadford, Kilmore, Seymour, Tallarook, Pyalong and Wallan.
Under the stage three restrictions, people are only allowed to leave their homes for four main reasons: work or study, exercise, shopping for supplies and medical care and caregiving.
VCE students, those in years 11 and 12, in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire will return to school as normal next week.
Other students will have the school holiday period extended by one week.
Mr Andrews said further announcements about term three for those in prep to year 10 would be made soon.
Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, will give an online talk on July 8, 2020 as part of The Hellenic Initiative’s Digital Speaker Series.
Mr Bakoyannis is expected to speak about his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, including his latest efforts to pedestrianise parts of downtown Athens.
“During the lockdown, under the leadership of Mayor Bakoyannis, the city of Athens embarked on an ambitious plan to pave streets, plant trees, clean and fix city squares, replace old pipes, and remove graffiti. Join us to hear more,” a statement for the event said.
Mr Bakoyannis has worked at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as executive manager in an Investor Relations and Corporate Communications company in Athens, and has held positions in the European Parliament in Brussels and the World Bank in Kosovo.
He is the vice president of the Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government, a council member of the European Council on Foreign Relations and a Greek Leadership Council member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
These are important roles he is also expected to talk about.
To resister for the event, which can be viewed via Zoom or Facebook Live from 2am in Australia, click here. The Facebook Live can be watched at a later stage.
Nikos Xilouris was born on July 7, 1936 in the mountain village of Anogeia in Rethymno, Crete. He was the older brother of two other great Cretan musicians, Antonis, nicknamed Psarantonis, and Yiannis, called Psaroyiannis.
To mark the day of his birth, we take a look back at his exceptional life.
Early Life:
Nikos Xilouris when he was a young man.
Xilouris’ early years were filled with a patriotic zeal for the nation of Greece. He witnessed the Battle of Crete and saw the Nazi atrocities on Crete.
He acquired his first lyra, the three-stringed Cretan fiddle which is supported on the knee while playing, at the age of twelve. He immediately displayed great potential in performing local Cretan folk music.
A turning point in Xilouris’ career occurred with a recording he made in 1958. He first performed outside Greece in 1966, winning first prize in the San Remo folk music festival soon after. In 1967, he established the first Cretan music hall, Erotokritos, in the capital, Heraklion.
Career in Athens:
Xilouris’ recording of “Anyfantou” in 1969 was a huge success nationally. He was soon invited to perform in Athens at the Konaki folk music hall. The Greek capital then became his new permanent residence.
In 1971, he was honored by the Academy Charles Cross of France for his performance on the Cretan “Rizitika Songs” album along with musician Giannis Markopoulos.
Xilouris’ music and lyrics beautifully captured the Greek psyche.
Xilouris’ voice became identified not only with Cretan music but with the youth of Greece who rebelled against the Greek military junta of 1967–1974. His music and lyrics beautifully captured the Greek psyche during those troubled times.
He embodied and helped create a new style of popular music which adapted verses of famous Greek poets.
He incorporated well-known poems into the musical genre called mantinada. The emergence of this music during those dark political times was lifting and inspiring to Greeks.
The Archangel of Crete:
1979 was a difficult year for Xilouris. Although his career was at its peak, he suffered from severe headaches and chest pain. He traveled to New York and was admitted to Memorial Hospital for tests, where he was diagnosed with cancer. After multiple surgeries, he returned to a friend’s house in Porto Rafti and tried to overcome the incurable disease.
On Wednesday, February 6, 1980, he was admitted to the Piraeus Cancer Hospital for new examinations. The next day, however, his health deteriorated and he fell into a coma on Thursday night. Doctors fought to keep him alive but on the dawn of Friday, February 8, Xilouris passed away.
“His death was a great loss for Greek music and Crete,” said Greek composer, Mikis Theodorakis, at the time.
Mary Politis of popular Instagram food blog, Mary’s Kouzina, showcased traditional Greek food during a cooking segment with Sam Mac on Channel 7’s Sunrise program this morning.
With a table full of gemista (stuffed vegetables), Greek salad, cabbage rolls and lamb souvlakia, Mary spoke proudly to the weather presenter about why cooking Greek food is important to her.
“I was excited knowing that my families recipes were being shared with the Australian public,” Mary tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
Mary Politis was on Sunrise this morning with Sam Mac. Photos supplied by Mary Politis.
“My aim is to reintroduce and preserve traditional Greek cuisine. By doing so, we can avoid lost recipes and inspire our current and future generations to eat and raise children with the nostalgic flavours from yiayia’s kitchen.”
Surrounded by her family and friends, Mary’s dad Dionysus also had a special feature during the program, taking Sam Mac through a selection of Greek wine and spirits including tsipouro, ouzo and mastiha.
“Ohh powerful stuff,” Sam Mac could be heard saying.
The food on display during the cooking program. Video supplied by Mary Politis.
Not as powerful as the Cretan dancing that was later performed by members of the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW’s dancing group. The Ηχο Νυξ band also provided live music entertainment throughout the segment.
A beautiful and nostalgic piece of Greece enjoyed by all who watched it this morning.
To see more of Mary’s beautiful meals, you can visit her Instagram page here.
