Nineteen members of the US Congress have signed a joint letter to the UN to halt Turkey’s plans for the reopening of Varosha.
The US’ congressional caucus for Hellenic issues called on UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres on Monday to “administer and prevent the resettlement” of the ghost town in Cyprus.
US Congress members have signed a joint letter against Turkey’s plans for Varosha (Courtesy: Shutterstock/Orhan Cam)
The letter urges the UN to “pursue the immediate and full implementation” of UN security resolutions and “examine sanctions against Turkish and Turkish Cypriot attempts to illegally and unilaterally reopen and resettle” the area.
Carolyn Maloney, Gus Bilirakis, and Chris Pappas spearheaded the letter on Monday.
Other signatories include New York representative Nicole Malliotakis, Maryland’s John Sarbanes, and Nevada’s Dina Titus, as well as 10 others.
“We echo the Biden Administration’s condemnation of the Turkish/Turkish-Cypriot provocations and illegal actions on Varosha…,” the letter reads.
“We join our Senate colleagues in calling for multilateral sanctions given this violation of UN security council resolutions and defiance of the international community.”
In June, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a ‘two-state solution’ in Cyprus.
Erdogan is persisting with plans to reopen the town in Famagusta for the first time since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
Greece’s Air Accident Investigation and Aviation Board (AAIASB) say they are investigating the cause of the crash which killed a witness in the pending corruption trial of Israel’s former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The plane crashed near Samos Airport (Photo via C Aviation)
“We recovered two bodies from the spot,” a coast guard official told Reuters yesterday. “The aircraft crashed about a mile south from [Samos] airport,” a second official said.
“Shortly before landing, communication with the control tower on Samos was lost and the Civil Aviation Authority informed the search and rescue center about the loss of communication,” the AAIASB says in a statement.
Haim Geron was a former senior official at Israel’s ministry of communications and was one of more than 300 witnesses listed in the trial.
Geron was on board with his wife when the Cessna 182 took off from Haifa and crashed near Samos airport.
Witnesses on the island interviewed by local news media said the crash occurred as the plane made an unsuccessful approach to land at Aristarchos International Airport.
Mr. Netanyahu is Israel’s opposition leader and is under trial for allegedly accepting gifts from wealthy associates. Netanyahu denies the claims.
Israeli authorities have officially identified the victims and are working to return the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Geron.
When you ask Nick Gnafakis what’s needed for the perfect spring garden filled with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplants, he says: ‘love, patience and dedication.’ How would he know the answer? As the owner of Niko’s Garden, he knows a thing or two about gardening.
“I love it. A lot of my garden is based around food. I only grow what I like to eat or drink… I really have a passion for authentic Greek cooking and the self-sufficient lifestyle, living off the land,” Nick, who is also a full-time chef, tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
This passion for gardening and cooking all started when Nick first visited Greece and the island of Crete, where his dad’s side of the family is from.
Nick with his uncle and auntie in Greece.
Cretan dittany.
“Going to Greece for the first time kind of changed my life. I was spending time in the horio with my uncles and aunties, and they were showing me the food. This was before I became a chef as well. My life took a real big U-turn at that point,” the 25-year-old says.
Nick ended up completing his cooking apprenticeship and started his own herb and vegetable garden in the backyard of his home in Melbourne. He later decided to launch his small business, Niko’s Garden, and he’s never looked back.
“I was over at my pappou’s house one day and I was looking at all these herbs and I didn’t really take note of them after all these years. But you know, once I started working in the kitchen, I started seeing some familiar herbs and some that were not so familiar,” Nick explains.
Other herbs by Niko’s Garden
“So I was like, ‘Why not grow my own herbs? Why am I paying five bucks to get old dead herbs… when I can just grow them all?’ [My pappou] had all this beautiful Cretan stuff as well so I just started planting all this stuff. It started with herbs then I got into teas. I just started discovering all these different mountain and village herbs, all the delicacies from Crete.
“I was occasionally selling some extra things on [Facebook] Marketplace because I had so much I kind of took over my dad’s garden. But yeah, I’ve always thought about [starting a business] but didn’t do it officially until we had our first lockdown. I had no excuse so I thought, ‘I’m just going to start a private business and start sharing the love’.”
And that’s exactly what he’s been doing ever since. Niko’s Garden is so successful that Nick now sells and distributes his unique range of Greek and Mediterranean mountain herbs, medicinal teas and heirloom vegetables to customers across Melbourne and Australia.
“I have some of the most amazing herbs and teas that don’t exist anywhere. That’s really the main thing. I’ve got all these beauties in my garden and I’m one of the only people in Melbourne who actually gets to enjoy it,” Nick says.
“I want to share the vegetables and the mountain herbs with other passionate people like me… and it makes me happy. It makes me happy to see other people enjoying it because I know how beautiful they are.”
Tomatoes from Niko’s Garden.
This clear pride for his garden and products is something Nick hopes will inspire others to get into the garden this spring as well.
“Just do it. Everyone should be growing all the stuff I have. A lot of it is just stuff you should have in your garden like your summer vegetables, your cooking herbs. They’re perennial. They’re going to stay there with you forever,” Nick says.
“Times like these remind us why it is so important to live life self-sufficiently and from the land.”
You can purchase some herbs or veggies from Niko’s Garden at nikosgarden.com.au.
From jumping castles to races and face painting, the Kids Festival at the Greek Orthodox School of Darwin in Nightcliff brought a smile to the faces of everyone in attendance.
The festival was launched six years ago to help raise funds for upgrading the school premises and operational costs.
All photos supplied.
This year’s event exceeded expectations with over 600 people in attendance showing their support, including the Member for Nightcliff, Natasha Fyles, the Darwin Lord Mayor, Con Kon Vatskalis, and the Mayor of Palmerston, Athina Pascoe-Bell.
Activities were based on aged brackets, meaning there was something for everyone, and at the end of the day, school children came out and gave Greek dancing performances to loud applause. Delicious food was also served on the day.
“We were pleased with the turnout. It was a fun day for everyone. There was lots of music, dancing and laughing and everyone made the most of the event,” President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Northern Australia (GOCNA), Nicholas Poniris, tells The Greek Herald.
“The Greek School committee led by Michael Koulianos and the Greek School community did a fantastic job.”
The generosity of the South Australian community is once again on display after more than $30,000 was raised to support the purchase of medical equipment for the Aglaia Kyriakou Childrens Hospital as part of the Australian Hellenic Medical Charity Inc (AHMCI) Gala Night.
The event, held on Friday September 10, at the Adelaide Pavilion began with the necessary introductions from journalist Matthew Pantelis who served as the MC for the evening and was attended by 190 guests and dignitaries including South Australia’s Chief Justice and Patron of AHMCI Chris Kourakis, Commissioner for Mental Health John Mannion and Priest of the Community and Parish of St. George Thebarton, Fr. Diogenis Patsouris.
Photo (R): AHMCI President, Kostas Barkoukis with MC Matthew Pantelis
“I am surprised that Kosta and the Committee are continuing with the same enthusiasm they started some years ago,” the organisation’s Patron Chris Kourakis said in his speech.
“Our work is very important…one day our children, grandchildren and their children will talk about the time when a few Greeks of the diaspora took on this task to keep the Greek spirit in Adelaide alive.”
Since its beginnings in 2017, the charity has contributed more than $400,000 in support of hospitals across Greece with constrained budgets and in need of assistance.
“We would like to thank the people of SA for supporting this wonderful charity. It was a difficult event given the circumstances;” AHMCI President, Kostas Barkoukis, said.
“The foundation is honoured that we will be purchasing an endoscopy unit from local Australian suppliers, providing growth for the healthcare sector in SA and sending the medical products to the Aglaia Kyriakou Children’s hospital that relies on donations.”
“Thank you to our major sponsors and the board members. More specifically, to Vice President Connie Zisos for her crucial business strategies, Prof Andrea Evdokiou and Dr Andrew Zisos for their medical advice. To Tim Stivahtaris for offering his medical product knowledge and logistics, patron Chris Kourakis and Lukasz for their legal expertise and Despina Pastrikos who is our Treasurer and Financial Controller.”
The Panagiotis and Aglaia Kyriakou Children’s Hospital is the second biggest paediatric hospital in Greece and along with the Athens Paediatric Hospital ‘Agia Sofia’ it covers the needs of the paediatric population of the whole country.
*The AHMCI board consists of the following members: Hon. Christo Kourakis (Patron), Kosta Barkoukis (President), Connie Loutas Zisos (Vice President), Lukasz Wyszynski (Secretary), Despina Pastrikos (Treasurer and Financial Controller), Prof. Andreas Evdokiou (Senior Medical Advisor), Sotos Philis (Senior Board Member), George Apostolou, Dr. Andrew Zisos, Tim Stivahtaris, Phillip Limberis.
St John’s College students in Prep to Year 12 are banding together to write an original song in support of Kids Helpline and World Children’s Day being celebrated on October 27.
The project aims to bring awareness to mental health issues amongst students across Australia during the current pandemic. The project will also highlight the Kids Helpline service.
Within Victoria and across Australia, student mental health and wellbeing is being severely negatively impacted by the pandemic lockdown.
St John’s College students participating in RUOK? Day activities.
The St John’s College students will be launching an original song with encouraging, supportive and caring words for students all over Australia who may not be feeling ok.
Students wrote the song in recognition of RUOK? Day on September 9. The school’s Performing Arts Coordinator, Ms Shanti Pradhan, and our piano teacher, Mr Huw Gregory, provided the original music.
The song will be performed by students, teachers, family members and even pets. It will be recorded remotely and then launched on World Children’s Day Australia on October 27, 2021.
With increased levels of student stress, anxiety and depression, this song allows St John’s College students to give a message of love and support to other young Australians.
According to the Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Services, “music therapy can be effective in meeting the diverse psycho-social needs of children through song writing and improvisation.”
“[Music therapy] can offer opportunities for self-expression and communication. It can also help children identify their strengths, enabling them to maintain a sense of self-esteem and dignity.”
St John’s College is a Prep to Year 12 Independent, Co-educational, Christian Orthodox School in the Northern Suburbs (Preston) of Melbourne.
Fully vaccinated adults in non-local government areas of concern were allowed to undertake outdoor recreation in groups of five within their LGA or a five-kilometre radius on Monday after a slight easing of restrictions.
This easing, which came after the state hit 70 percent first dose coverage, was taken advantage of across these LGA’s despite the bad weather.
But in places such as Cumberland Council and Canterbury-Bankstown Council, the same gatherings are still forbidden.
People enjoyed picnics yesterday. Photo: Dominic Lorrimer.
Fully vaccinated adults in the LGAs of concern also received minor concessions for outdoor recreation, but with far less flexibility than the rest of Sydney. They can only do two hours a day and can’t include people from other households.
In response, Cumberland Council Mayor, Steve Christou, said the minor change to allow two-hour family picnics in his community is “no concession at all” and the inequity in the rules across Sydney is unfair.
“We’re having a hard time as a constituency trying to figure out why. Why are we under such harsh measures when another part of Sydney is not?” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Mayor Steve Christou has slammed the inconsistent lockdown rules.
Cr Christou compared the thousands of people sunbaking at eastern suburbs beaches over the weekend with the heavy police presence in his community where PolAir helicopters constantly buzz overhead.
“Everyone I know who’s pro-lockdown are the ones who haven’t suffered real hardship. They’re still receiving income. Unless you really go without, you don’t know what it means to go through lockdown,” he concluded.
NSW’s Financial Crimes Squad has started a formal investigation into Forum Finance and its founder Bill Papas, amid serious allegations of a $400 million fraud made by Westpac and two other banks, The Australian reports.
NSW Police referred the inquiries to the Financial Crimes Squad in late July after authorities were earlier alerted to allegations of fraudulent activity linked to equipment leases.
The Financial Crimes Squad has now decided to initiate and pursue an investigation which, depending on material and evidence provided, may lead to charges being laid.
“Detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad are investigating,” a NSW Police spokeswoman said on Monday. “No further information is available.”
Westpac, French bank Societe Generale and Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation have separately lodged Federal Court cases against Forum entities, Mr Papas and his fellow Forum director Vincenzo Tesoriero.
Papas in Thessaloniki, Greece. Photo: Australian Financial Review Weekend.
Mr Papas has been in Greece since June 21, after failing to show up for a Perth meeting on June 15 with management of WesTrac to explain alleged irregularities in accounts.
While flagging he wanted to return to Australia, Mr Papas then cited a positive COVID-19 test and lack of funds to purchase a return plane ticket as reasons he couldn’t get back.
The Federal Government has today announced changes that will streamline the pathway to citizenship for some of the most talented prospective Australians.
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke MP, has introduced additional flexibility to recognise the unique difficulties faced by some of our most distinguished applicants for citizenship.
“Australian citizenship is a rare privilege and it should not come easy. Those who apply must meet a range of character, values and language requirements. They must also have lived in Australia for a minimum period to be eligible,” Minister Hawke said.
“However, the unique work and travel demands on some of our most highly distinguished prospective Australians should not preclude them from making the cut. That’s why I have directed the Department of Home Affairs to apply greater flexibility in applying the residence requirement for eligible people.
Alex Hawke MP has announced increased flexibility for citizenship applicants.
“Exceptional people must not be prevented from becoming Australians because of the unique demands of the very work they do that makes them exceptional.”
The Minister will extend the special residence concession to all distinguished talent visa holders and to athletes in the Australian Commonwealth Games team.
Under current arrangements applicants for citizenship must meet the general residence requirement which provides that they have lived in Australia on a valid visa for the past 4 years, and were absent for no more than 12 months in that time.
They must also have been a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and absent from Australia for no more than 90 days during the 12 months before applying.
Currently, the special residence requirement may apply for a range of applicants who due to their work undertake significant international travel and where it is in the Australian national interest including Australian representative sportspeople, ships’ crew, senior businesspeople, research scientists, and distinguished artists.
The special residence requirement provides that an applicant has held a valid visa for the last four years, living in Australia for at least 480 days during that time, and must have been a permanent resident and in Australia for 120 days in the year immediately before applying.
The special residence requirement will now also apply to past, present and future distinguished talent stream visa holders.
Greece said on Monday it will pump more money into its economy to prop up businesses and households battered by the pandemic, as a stronger-than-expected growth forecast for the year gave it the fiscal leeway for a raft of relief measures.
The country emerged from a decade-long financial crisis in 2018 but saw its economy slump again by 8.2% last year amid restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, which also hurt its vital tourism industry.
This year, the economy is set to rebound by 5.9%, higher than the 3.6% previously forecast, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Saturday, as he outlined a series of tax relief measures.
Μείωση φόρου στα ακίνητα, μείωση φόρου στις επιχειρήσεις, μείωση εργοδοτικών εισφορών, κατάργηση εισφοράς αλληλεγγύης, κατάργηση γονικής παροχής, επιστρεπτέα προκαταβολή: όλα αυτά αφορούν τη μεσαία τάξη. Για αυτό και το διαθέσιμο εισόδημα της μεσαίας τάξης έχει αυξηθεί. #ΔΕΘ2021pic.twitter.com/CEU8rZRMai
Greek Finance Minister, Christos Skaikouras, on Monday said that projection was “absolutely realistic. It may even prove to be conservative.”
The government would spend 4.4 billion euros in the second half of the year, bringing the total amount of pandemic support for 2020-2022 to 42.7 billion euros, Staikouras said.
Finance Minister, Christos Skaikouras.
Economic measures include: the abolition of tax on parental gifts of property, cash and shares of up to 800,000 euros; 30 pct of electronic spending for 18 categories of services will be subtracted from taxable income, up to the sum of 5,000 euros; a complete overhaul of the “tax lottery” where 1,000 tax payers can win up to 1,000 euros each with every lottery draw; and a discount for green and digital investments and incentives.
Greece is also mulling its first issue of a green bond, Staikouras said, joining a number of European countries that have issued green debt to finance projects with environmental benefits.
