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Greek banks will place over 7 billion euros in the bond market

The Greek Herald
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Greek banks will place over 7 billion euros in the bond market

Greek banks will be able to place approximately 7 to 8 billion euros in the bond market from March when according to all indications the ceiling set by the European Central Bank on Greek banks’ purchases of Greek state long term bonds will be lifted.

Today the four Greek systemic banks can’t keep in their portfolio Greek state bonds with total value over 9 billion euros. 

Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said that this ceiling is going to be lifted very soon. According to the European Central Bank supervision mechanism SSM, the lifting is very probable to be held until the end of March. Bank executives expect this move to help the domestic state bond market by increasing its depth and liquidity, while at the same help create additional revenue form banks which will be able to place part of their liquidity -currently enclaved in the negative yields of Treasury bills into bonds with positive yields.

Sourced via AMNA.

Greek students create smartphone application to fight sea pollution

The Greek Herald
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Greek students create smartphone application to fight sea pollution

Students from the General and Technical High School of the American Farm School in Thessaloniki have developed a real-time marine pollution detection application for smartphones.

The “ocLean AFS” (from the words “ocean clean”) app is innovative software which aims to help rid the sea bottom of plastic bags and bottles, along with glass and aluminum items. It enables the user to not only detect the debris but also to immediately communicate the problem to the relevant authorities in only a few steps.

The band-new app is the work of a group of 18 students working under the supervision of Mathematics Professor Melina Brozou, who manages the project.

Sourced via Tornos News.

9 things about life in Greece that may seem weird to anyone who doesn’t live there

The Greek Herald
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9 things about life in Greece that may seem weird to anyone who doesn’t live there

1. It’s hard for a woman to take her husband’s last name

It’s almost impossible to take your husband’s last name after getting married. You could try and get the court’s permission but only if there are very good reasons for it. “When I was getting married to a Greek man, I wanted to have his last name. I was so shocked when I found out that it was legally impossible,” is an example of what many women from foreign forums about Greek Family Law talk about. You can file an official plea to have a double last name. However, it will take quite a lot of time and will cost a lot of money. Plus, there’s no guarantee that you will get a positive answer. Children, on the other hand, can get either their father’s or their mother’s last names.

Interestingly enough, before 1983, there was a law in Greece that made women take their husband’s last names. It was compulsory. But then, a famous Greek politician named Andreas Papandreou fell in love with a flight attendant and decided to get divorced from his wife, Margaret Papandreou. The insulted wife said, “There will be no other Mrs. Papandreou.” Somehow, the woman influenced lawmakers and Greece eventually adopted the law that prohibits women to have their husbands’ last names.

2. People in Greece rarely get divorced

A divorce in Greece is something completely out of the ordinary. The marriage institution is carefully protected, so the percentage of divorces is the lowest in Europe. In order to get divorced, people in Greece have to overcome a lot of bureaucracy procedures and spend a lot of money. And according to Greek law, you can’t get divorced if you’ve been married for less than 6 months.

For Greeks, a family is everything and they really value family ties. Family celebrations in Greece typically consist of parties of 100 people with dancing and national songs.

3. Greek people love kissing

In Greece, people kiss twice — once on every cheek. What is interesting is that this tradition is spread among men just as much as it is among women. Of course, this works for friends and acquaintances but if you’ve seen a Greek person more than once, they think you’re a good acquaintance, so kissing is inevitable. The Greeks think that this is a way to show other people that they are the same as them.

4. All inhabitants and all foreigners have the right to get free medical help

In Greece, they have compulsory health insurance. However, getting to see a doctor in the government hospital is not an easy thing to do — there are too many people and the lines are too long. Usually, you have to wait for your appointment for at least 2 weeks. This is why Greek people usually have second insurance plans from their employers that let them visit private hospitals. Also, some specialists are not even included in the basic package like dentists and eye doctors, for example.

Non-government doctors can diagnose you over the phone. This means a patient can call their doctor on the phone at any time, tell them about their symptoms, send a photo via messenger, and the doctor will give them an online appointment.

5. Greeks have their own siesta known as “mesimeri“

Because of the hot climate and the tradition of following a slow-paced life, Greeks have their own version of a siesta. Most of the time, they start their days quite early: they get up at 6 am or 7 am but during lunchtime, they find some time for a nap.

The mesimeri (or siesta) is believed to be one of the main reasons why they live so long — the average life expectancy in Greece is 80 years! During mesimeri, small towns and villages basically die out and you’ll only see tourists out and about while all the locals are at home. During the siesta, there’s a silent time when any noise is prohibited. There are 2 periods of this. In the summer (from April 1 to September 30), people can’t make noise from 3 pm to 5:30 pm and again from 11 pm to 7 am; and then in winter (from October 1 to March 31) from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm and again from 10 pm to 7:30 am.

These rules are quite strict so if you break them, you’ll have to pay a fine.

6. It’s the most seismic region in Europe

There are many earthquakes in Greece. Even though there are a lot of them, sometimes several times a month, there are not a lot of big disasters. Last time there was a serious earthquake was in 1999.

The local people are calm about this because they think that earthquakes are part of their national identity. Even in big cities, there are very few buildings that have more than 6 floors because of earthquakes.

7. Greek salad is actually called a village salad

The salad that is popular around the world is called a “village salad” in Greece. This is the simplest meal made of the most popular foods you can find in Greece: cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, olives, olive oil, feta, and oregano. And they don’t cut the feta into cubes, they put in a whole piece. And its ingredients aren’t usually cut into small pieces. Sometimes, they add some sweet pepper or capers but there’s no lettuce in the classic Greek salad.

The olives in the salad aren’t usually pitted and one serving of the dish in a local tavern is very big, so you should order 1 for 2 people.

8. Greeks are very emotional

There’s a phrase that says, “A quiet Greek man is a Greek man you can’t hear from 2 blocks away.” This means they’re quite noisy! They love arguing, they express their opinions very emotionally, and they love demonstrating their positive and negative feelings. For them, it’s perfectly normal to walk with their partner and still look at other attractive guys and girls that walk by.

Many Greeks don’t like to hide their true emotions: if they want to shout, they will and if they want to sing, they’ll hum a tune — and people around are very likely to sing along. But Greeks are still very attentive to each other and are good listeners.

9. Greeks love coffee and going to coffee shops

The most popular drink in Greece is, of course, coffee. The Greeks drink huge amounts of it. Spending some time with a cup of coffee in a coffee shop is an everyday ritual for most Greeks. It’s not just a 5-minute break but a real pause for rest and communication. Elderly people love coffee shops very much. Unlike the taverns, coffee shops only sell drinks.

Also, the frappe (cold coffee) was invented in Greece. To make it, they take a small amount of cold water and coffee, mix it with a special machine until there’s foam, and then add cold water and ice to the drink.

Sourced via Brightside.

Papastergiadis meets with the President of the Parliament of Cyprus discussing international cooperation

The Greek Herald
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Papastergiadis meets with the President of the Parliament of Cyprus discussing international cooperation

The President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) Mr Bill Papastergiadis met with the President of the Parliament of Cyprus Mr Dimitris Syllouris, during his recent official visit in Melbourne.

Mr Papastergiades met with Mr Syllouris on Sunday evening during an event at the Cyprian Community of Melbourne (CCM). In his address at the event, Mr. Papastergiadis thanked the President of the CCM, Mr. Stellios Angelodimou and the CCM for its close relationship with the GCM.

He also emphasised that the Greek Community of Melbourne supports the CCM’s activities and programs and in particular the plans for its new building.

Mr Papastergiadis also had a private meeting with Mr Syllouris on Monday morning, which was attended by the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Ms Martha Mavrommatis.

Mr Dimitris Syllouris (left) with Ms Martha Mavrommatis (middle) and Mr Bill Papastergiadis (right). Photo: Supplied

“At this meeting we discussed a number of issues on which we will work together in the near future,” Mr Papastergiadis said.

“First, I informed him about the creation of the new Chair at the University of Melbourne on Greek Language and Multiculturalism and that through this Chair we will try to establish close relationships with other universities in Australia, Greece and Cyprus, so that students can study at these universities. This will benefit the students and will also contribute to the improvement of the relations and cooperation of our countries.”

Mr. Papastergiadis also briefed Mr. Syllouris on the special investment conference to be held in Greece shortly, and suggested Cyprus participate too.

“Within two months and in collaboration with the Government of Victoria and investors from Australia, we are holding a special investment conference in Greece. I suggested to Mr Syllouris that Cyprus should also participate, in order to benefit from the investments that are expected to be made, “said Papastergiadis.

Vasili’s Taxidi: Giorgos Kefalas and ‘Kefalas Hardware’ – Marrickville’s iconic shops

The Greek Herald
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Vasili’s Taxidi: Giorgos Kefalas and ‘Kefalas Hardware’ – Marrickville’s iconic shops

By Vasilis Vasilas

A few decades ago, in what now seems a very different world and before the multinational companies and franchises, there were some very successful businesses run by very charismatic and energetic characters. They just had the knack for business; their entrepreneurial skills seemed to be innate. Moreover, they had an x factor that distinguished them from others- the flair, the confidence and the gift of the gab.

Marrickville’s Greek population peaked in the late 1960s and early 1970s and there were some very iconic Greek businesses that were established at the time; one of them was definitely Kefalas Hardware on Marrickville Road which was run by the charismatic Giorgos Kefalas. Kefalas Hardware, whether the first premises on Marrickville or the latter premises on Illawarra Road, operated in Marrickville for over twenty five years. 

Kefalas Hardware had such a wide variety of products on offer to customers; as Jerry Mitzinis, who grew up in Marrickville, points out, ‘‘Before Bunnings, there was Kefalas Hardware.’ But it was Giorgos Kefalas’ quick- witted nature and innate gift for business that that made ‘Kefalas Hardware’ so successful.  

Listening to Giorgos recounting his experiences in Marrrickville, you quickly realise he is one of the great storytellers of the Greek community; you just have to keep up with all his stories.

From Asomatos, Lesvos, Giorgos migrated to Sydney, Australia, in 1960; his first job was as a renderer to render the Acropolis kafeneio in Redfern. In 1961, he married Stavitsa (nee: Marnisali), from Perama, Lesvos, and they had two children, Mario and Efstratios (Charlie hereafter). 

It was Mick Adams, who once ran the pioneering Black and White Milk Bar, that introduced Giorgos to John Walton, of Waltons department stores, and he was offered a job in Waltons as a salesperson in the Newtown store. Within six months, he was promoted to manager of the paint section – a big thing for a migrant those days! He worked at Waltons for nine years (1961- 69). For years, Giorgos was practically running the store; not wanting to lose his services and contacts, he opened Kefalas Hardware next door- with a door linking Waltons and the new hardware shop!

In 1971, he relocated Kefalas Hardware to Marrickville, near the Marrickville and Illawarra Roads’ intersection. He established his business at the heart of Marrickville! With Marrickville’s Greek migrant population peaking in the early 1970s, Kefalas Hardware was an instant success! 

Continually advertising in the Greek newspapers and radio programs, Kefalas Hardware’s name entered so many Greek households; as Giorgos recounts, he had customers ordering from Canberra and NSW south coast! It was so busy that Giorgos employed seventeen workers- not including Stavista (and later his two sons, Mario and Charlie) at one time! 

An example of Giorgos’ enthusiasm and energy was when he had a banner placed across Marrickville Road, as he recounts, ‘Back then, Marrickville was abuzz! In 1974, I paid to put up a long banner that went from my hardware shop to Marrickville Hotel which read, ‘George Kefalas Wishes the Greek Community Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’. As I was very good friends with Singapore Airline’s CEO, Mike Hadley, I got Singapore Airlines to sponsor the banner!’ 

After an arson attack in 1982, which burnt the hardware shop as well as a number of other businesses, Kefalas Hardwaremoved to Illawarra Road, which was formerly the School of Arts. 

The Kefalas family ran the hardware shop there until 1996… 

Giorgos has many fond memories of this bygone era; he still visits Marrickville a few times a week and seeing so many familiar faces makes him feel at home!

Defence minister appeals to NATO for help to prevent migration influx in Aegean

The Greek Herald
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Defence minister appeals to NATO for help to prevent migration influx in Aegean

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos called for the strengthening of NATO ‘s presence in the Aegean Sea in order to halt the migration influx from Turkey.

Speaking at the two-day meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels, Panagiotopoulos called on all allies, to the best of their abilities, to contribute to further enhancing Allied activity in the Aegean by halting Turkey’s migration flows.

He also reiterated that “military actions, such as those in northern Syria, and agreements with the Tripoli government in Libya, in breach of international law, are of great concern to us as they contribute to destabilizing the Eastern Mediterranean.”

The two-day meeting on February 12-13 focused on developments in the strategic environment of the greater Middle East, including North Africa, the security situation in Afghanistan, the further development of EU-NATO relations and the Alliance’s operational issues.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Panagiotopoulos had a conversation met with his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar, with whom he exchanged views on how the two countries’ military delegations could help reduce tension in bilateral relations at talks on the confidence-building measures, scheduled to start in Athens on Monday.

The minister said he made it clear that “in order for the military dialogue to succeed, provocative actions that undermine any effort to build confidence must be avoided.”

Sourced by: ANA

Mitsotakis: Creating well-paid jobs remains a government priority

The Greek Herald
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Mitsotakis: Creating well-paid jobs remains a government priority

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday reiterated his pledge to focus on creating well-paid jobs to lower unemployment instead of relying on government handouts.

“Creating many well-paid jobs is a government priority,” he told lawmakers, opening the debate in Parliament on labor issues.

“We believe in creating new wealth that everyone will have a share in. Temporary benefits are not the solution to the problems of social inequality.”

He also argued that a strong country relies on strong private businesses, but also that satisfied employees are a prerequisite for creating prosperous businesses.

“I have made it clear that we are reducing taxes, simplifying the licensing environment, facilitating businesses as far as it regards liquidity, and businesses in turn have an obligation to invest in our country and primarily take care of their employees. This Truth Agreement is strictly observed in the seven months that we are in government,” he added.

Sourced by: ANA

First Youth Summit held by Greek Community of Melbourne proves a huge success

The Greek Herald
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First Youth Summit held by Greek Community of Melbourne proves a huge success

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) hosted a Youth forum on Tuesday night, organised by two young Greek Australians Dean Kotsianis and Vasilios Berbatakis. An intergenerational audience of 100 people including young, inspiring Hellenes from all walks of life came together to discuss the relevance and evolving role of Greek Youth in the community. The key segments discussed were battling stigmas, ensuring continuity, connecting inter-generationally and creatively enacting change.

Dean Kotsianis opened the summit by acknowledging the positive attendance and representation from most of Melbourne’s Greek groups including Universities, regional, professional and social clubs who had come along to exchange stories, experiences, ideas and confirmed their commitment for working together and helping each other.

“3rd generation Greek-Australians are beginning to look very different and diverse as mixed marriages occur (inter-ethnicity), new combinations of identities emerge, and interests change over time. This new spectrum of the Greek- Australian forces us to think laterally into new ways of HOW we involve these people and get them to see value in what we do,” he suggested.

Vasilios Berbatakis added “Greek youth presence is in no shortage in Melbourne, and all we have to do is add a bit of context to what they’re doing, help guide them towards something collective and bigger than themselves, and tie them back in some way, to Greece!”

GCM President Papastergiadis addressed the room, sharing a brief history about how he became involved with the Greek Community of Melbourne.

“My journey started where you are now, many years ago. I became involved in the Greek Club at Monash University and one of the things I wanted to do was to broaden our relationship with the community we live in. It was important to me that we examine our identity in this country, hence we started a series of events to challenge stereotypes including poetry and theatre nights. Importantly, we initiated a journal call “Mosaic” that chronicled the story of young Greek Australians. It was a ground breaking journal that was made available to all students in Victoria.”

He also congratulated Dean Kotsianis and Vasilios Berbatakis for their efforts. Mr. Papastergiadis went on to give a snapshot of the Youth initiatives that the Greek Community of Melbourne is involved with, including the development of a relationship between Australian and Greek and Cypriot universities; and a Centre for Hellenism, Cosmopolitism and Multiculturalism at Melbourne University by the creation of an International Chair.

“The aim of that chair is not just about teaching language, but it’s more so to create the research about what it is that we’re doing here in Australia. We need to drive the agenda and the ideas. And if you don’t have academics working with us who are facilitating this research then quite often what we are going to have is just us thinking about something, not doing it or not having the right people coming up with the ideas to make sure it happens,” he emphasised.

The four members of the panel (from left-to-right): Chris Karkanis, Tass Sgardelis, Olympia Nelson and John Leventis. Photo: Neos Kosmos

Also in attendance representing the GCM were Leo Vlahakis Co-Chair of the Cultural Committee, Vice-President and Head of the Education sector Theo Markos; Nick Dallas who runs the Greek History and Culture seminars and Tass Sgardelis who was also one of four panellists. They also included John Leventis (Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne), Olympia Nelson (National Union of Greek Australian Students) and Chris Karkanis (HACCI).

Special guest speaker Fotini Kypraios Chair of Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) and Director of Internship and Program spoke about Connectedness in the Youth Program, highlighting the Internship and Mentoring Programs on offer as well as the HACCI Young Professionals program.

The event proved that Melbourne’s prolific Greek presence boasts a unique, longstanding and changing relationship with its youth. Continued efforts aim to bring more opportunities across the board for Greek youth and closer contact with senior leaders to accurately and regularly voice and tackle concerns.

How important is sex to Greeks?

The Greek Herald
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How important is sex to Greeks?

One of my favourite conversations I’ve ever had with a native Greek person was the days when I was working in sales at MYER. One of my co-workers, who had just moved to Sydney from Greece, was constantly getting in trouble by our manager for her lax attitude. “You know what the problem is here?” she said to me. “No one has enough sex in this country!”

I doubt the core parallel of customer service standards between Australia and Greece centre entirely on sex patterns. Though, her comment got me thinking, most people who move from Greece to Australia nowadays, rarely last here. Back in the peak migration period of the 50s, the attitude of this generation was to come here and work, living was more of a benefit. This attitude has certainly not translated over to the next generation, whether they’re born in Greece, Australia or anywhere else. But there has to be a reason a lot of young Greeks who move to Australia nowadays run for the hills, or the horio, after only spending a short time here. What if sex has something to do with it?

That’s definitely a bold statement, but the lifestyle in Australia is very different to Greece. I’m not suggesting people don’t work hard in Greece. I think that specific stereotype has really been overused and is, frankly, outdated. But, there is no denying Greeks have a greater grasp on work-life balance. Whether they are working full-time or going through an economic crisis, they still manage to make time for their social and personal lives. And I think this intertwines with the argument that personal time, whether that be through a kafe with friends or through sex, is more of a priority in Greece.

It’s no secret that Greek mythology featured a plethora of sex, love, nudity and romance, so whether it’s inbuilt in the race or not, one thing for sure is that Greeks know romance.

Greece ranked No. 1 most romantic honeymoon destination for 2020

The Greek Herald
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Greece ranked No. 1 most romantic honeymoon destination for 2020

Greece has been considered the No.1 honeymoon spot for another year in a row by Harpers Bazaar’s ‘Best Honeymoon Destinations.’ In their review of Greece, they wrote:

“Greece’s rich history, exceptional food and mesmerising beauty make it an ideal place to set off on honeymoon, spending at least a few nights amid the postcard beauty of Santorini. Overlooking the cerulean seas and typified by white walls, this is the Greece we’ve all dreamt of.

Post up at the Andronis, replete with private cave-like pools that overlook the island’s crater bay. Greek cuisine is all about the fresh catch, so take some time to explore the town, stopping by for lunch at one of the local tavernas, before returning for an evening at Lycabettus and a table with views onto infinity.

Steeped in mythology, Greece is undeniably at its most authentic out on the smaller, lesser-known islands. Take softly slumbering Folegandros, set with a dramatic backdrop of black cliffs and white sand beaches; it’s the perfect place to just unwind. Drop your bags at the Anemi Hotel, where the surrounding gardens provide sensory overload (in a good way).

Enjoy a leisurely stroll with your loved one into the village of Karavastasi and grab an ouzo with the locals at one of the many cool little taverns dotting the town. Wind up the honeymoon sailing out to the smaller-still island of Sifnos for a few nights at one of Greece’s best-kept secrets, Elies Resort. An exceptional hideaway with great eats, far removed from reality and a perfect place to relish each other’s company, it makes for an absurdly romantic setting.”

Yes, the landscape of Greece is beyond beautiful for a honeymoon getaway. But what makes the country so romantic is the attitude of the people. Resorts in Greece’s honeymoon destinations are constructed with one thing in mind – romance.

Sourced by: Harpers Bazaar

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