Australian ambassador to the United States, Arthur Sinodinos, has been requested by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to provide support to two Channel 7 journalists who were attacked by riot police in the United States.
The two journalists, live on the Channel 7 Sunrise program, were among the members of the news media covering the demonstration as President Trump threatened a crackdown on protests.
Shortly before a 7 p.m. curfew went into effect in Washington, officers in riot gear and National Guard soldiers started to disperse the crowd.
An officer slammed into an Australian camera operator, Tim Myers, with a riot shield, knocking his camera to the ground. As Mr. Myers and his colleague, the reporter Amelia Brace, started to run, another officer appeared to swing a baton at Ms. Brace’s back.
When Ms. Brace came back into view, she said: “You heard us yelling there that we were media, but they, they don’t care.”
Brace said later: “I actually managed to get a rubber bullet to the backside and Tim got one in the back of the neck so we’ll have a few bruises tomorrow but we’re perfectly safe”.
Watch the shocking moment #7NEWS reporter @AmeliaBrace and our cameraman were knocked over by a police officer LIVE on air after chaos erupted in Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/R8KJLnfxPN
The Australian Prime Minister demands an investigation into how police officers treated the two Australian journalists.
A spokesman for Channel 7, Craig McPherson, said in a statement to The New York Times that the attack on Mr. Myers and Ms. Brace was “nothing short of wanton thuggery.”
Demonstrators had gathered outside the White House to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody on May 25 in Minneapolis.
Greece on Tuesday suspended flights to and from Qatar after 12 individuals on a plane from Doha tested positive for the new coronavirus.
The individuals were on a flight carrying 91 people from Doha to Athens that landed on Monday. Tests were carried out for the novel coronavirus and the passengers were taken to a quarantine hotel, authorities said.
Those who tested positive will be in quarantine for 14 days, and those who tested negative will remain in quarantine for seven days, the civil protection ministry said.
Those who tested positive include nine people from Pakistan with Greek residency papers, two Greeks travelling from Australia and a member of a Greek-Japanese family. The suspension will be in place until June 15.
Greece has reported a low number of COVID-19 cases compared to many other European countries, and began a gradual easing of a weeks-long lockdown on May 4. By Tuesday, it had reported 2,937 cases, and 179 deaths.
When rugby league resumed play over the weekend, players largely had one man to thank – Peter V’landys.
Over the past two months, the Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission pushed on to resume the competition on May 28 despite facing opposition from politicians, health officials and more recently, referees.
While these public debates have seen V’landys’ profile pushed into the public spotlight in recent months, the former Keira Boys High School student has been on a steady trajectory to the top of the sports administration world for much of his career.
A former Chief Executive of the NSW Harness Racing Club and the current CEO of Racing NSW, a role held since 2004, V’landys has long been highly regarded within the sporting industry.
V’landys’ career in Australian sport began with his work in harness racing. Source: The Australian.
But if you go back even further, those who knew the child of Greek migrants while he was growing up in Wollongong, believe he was always destined to become one of the most powerful men in Australian sport.
“Peter ran some businesses when he was pretty young, he ran a restaurant in Wollongong, he went to Harold Park and ran harness racing,” St George Illawarra recruitment manager, Ian Millward, told the Illawarra Mercury.
“I remember when he got that job I thought it was a big job, but he didn’t just do well, he was very successful. Obviously he hasn’t been a one-trick pony.”
Millward’s ties to V’landys run deep. The pair grew up in the same street, they both attended Keira Boys High School and they played rugby league together for Wests Illawarra.
V’landys eventually went on to pursue a career in business, getting his commerce degree from the University of Wollongong. However, he recognises that he wouldn’t be where he is today without the experience of playing rugby league.
“One thing rugby league does is it creates friendship and mateship. I was now one of them, it brought me into the fold. I was no longer the wog,” V’landys said.
“When you’re a young kid, that’s important. Self esteem when you’re growing up is important, so playing rugby league was very important for me.
“If I hadn’t, god knows where I would’ve ended up. My confidence levels would’ve been bad, my opportunities and chances would have been substantially less.”
V’landys wants to repay the rugby league sport for everything it taught him during his childhood years. Source: Illawarra Mercury.
Given the way rugby league helped a young V’landys gain popularity in the classroom and laid the platform for a successful career, the ARLC chairman always had a desire to give back to the sport that gave him so much.
“I wanted to play for Australia, wear the green and gold. It made me determined to be someone and I wanted rugby league to help me get there,” V’landys said.
“I never got there. My parents, being migrants, they didn’t think rugby league was a career. So I went to uni and got into business, took a different path.
“But I never forgot what rugby league did for me. When the opportunity to pay it back came, I took it up. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. It’s purely to repay the game.”
Greece is preparing to admit tourists from all over the world this summer but will be adhering to the advice of health experts to ensure it remains a safe destination in terms of coronavirus exposure, the country’s tourism minister said Tuesday.
“Every tourist is welcome. … This has been a very stressful year for everyone, and the refilling of the batteries is the call of the day,” Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said. “But of course, we will have to wait for the experts, for the international bodies, to say when this is safe to do so,”
“We don’t want to put at risk the people that visit us. And, of course, our population,” Theoharis told The Associated Press in an interview.
The government imposed a lockdown early in Greece’s coronavirus outbreak, a move credited with holding infections to a level considerably lower than many other parts of Europe. Greece had a total of just over 2,900 confirmed cases and 179 deaths as of Tuesday, with no new virus-related deaths recorded in the previous 24 hours. Eleven people remained intubated in intensive care units.
Greek Minister of Tourism, Harry Theoharis speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at his office in Athens, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Lockdown restrictions have been gradually eased to the point where life is almost back to normal. But the country is heavily dependent on tourism, and the government has been eager to attract foreign visitors and help shore up the economy, which is only just emerging from a brutal decade-long financial crisis that wiped out a quarter of the GDP
Authorities are now faced with the delicate balancing act of promoting Greece as a safe, attractive destination while ensuring that visitors don’t trigger a new outbreak.
One illustration of the gamble involved came Tuesday, when authorities announced that 12 passengers on a Monday flight from Doha, Qatar, had tested positive. Greece’s Civil Protection Agency said it was suspending flights from Qatar until June 15.
Currently, all arriving passengers to Greece are required to undergo tests and to pend the night in a designated hotel until the results come through.
People walk in Zappeion, in Athens, Monday June 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
“The point is not to stop every economic activity in order to help the health situation, but it’s actually to find this balance, and for that, you need your health experts to guide you,” Theoharis said.
One of those health experts, epidemiologist Gkikas Magiorkinis, told the AP that given current trends, the coronavirus outbreak in Greece was “in a trajectory of elimination. If we did not have other imported cases, it would be a matter of a month at most” for the virus to be stamped out in the country.
But new cases will almost certainly arrive when Greece opens to tourists, he said.
“Yes, we are worried because we know that globally the epidemic is a result of people moving around the world,” Magiorkinis said. “The question is how fast we will be able to contain the incoming cases. Because it will happen. There is no question that we will have incoming cases.”
Hotel worker Mailinda Kaci cleans the windows in a restaurant area at the Acropolian Spirit Hotel in central Athens as the ancient Acropolis is seen in the background, on Monday June 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The government has outlined a two-part schedule for jump-starting tourism. As of June 15, visitors will be able to fly into Athens or the northern city of Thessaloniki. Direct international flights to regional airports, including on islands, will be allowed from July 1.
Greece last week announced that visitors from 29 countries would be subject to random coronavirus testing and no quarantine, rather than the compulsory tests for every passenger and quarantines that currently apply. The announcement angered some nations, including neighboring Italy, that were not included.
However, the government later clarified the measures referred to flights originating from specific airports rather than countries. Greece, it said, is basing its decisions on a European Aviation Safety Agency list of airports with high risk of coronavirus transmission.
Visitors can still fly to Greece from those airports, but will be subject to compulsory testing, and either a seven-day self-quarantine period if they test negative for coronavirus, or a 14-day supervised quarantine if they are found positive.
“Perhaps it was a misunderstanding that we’re blocking entire countries or anything of the sort. This is not what we intended to convey,” Theoharis said.
He said the European agency’s list of high-risk airports was subject to change and airports could be removed as their regional public health situations improve. For example, Rome’s international airport is not on the EASA list, he noted.
“We’re not actually blocking countries, but airports. And, you know, that shows that this is not about specific passports or nations,” Theoharis said.
According to European Best Destinations Organization (EBD), Greece’s beautiful Monolithi Beach in Preveza in the region of Epirus, is the safest beach in all Europe.
The beach was selected based on criteria such as a low number of people infected by the coronavirus and the total stretch of the beach, with Monolithi Beach stretching 22 kilometres long. The beach was also applauded for it’s close proximity to three hospitals, along with being 10 minutes by car from the international airport.
An 80 meter wide strip of sand residing by the Ionian Sea, Monolithi Beach and Preveza region is regarded as the only summer destination in Europe with such large beaches, Tornos News reports.
Halikounas beach in Corfu also ranked fifth on the list released by the EBD. A more secluded beach, Halikounas was regarded as remote enough to remain less dangerous to infection, while being close to medical care and transportation.
The full list of safest Europe beaches is as follows:
The Darwin Greek GleNTi Festival has been running since 1988, making it the longest running cultural festival in the Northern Territory. It’s renowned not only for its traditional Greek food, but also for its Greek dancing performances where dancers wear costumes handmade in Greece.
This year, however, the festival was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and this devastated Darwin’s Greek Australian community and the hundreds of interstate travellers who make an annual trip to the Territory for the festival.
But as luck would have it, in came Georgia Politis, the GleNTi’s official photographer, who developed an innovative solution – to create a timelapse video of the festival using footage dating right back to 1988. While it couldn’t replace the atmosphere of the physical festival, many people were still overjoyed its history was being collated into a kind of digital video archive.
A traditional Greek souvla is always cooking at the Darwin GleNTi. Photo: Georgia Politis Photography.
Greek dances are a hit with crowds at the GleNTi. Photo: Georgia Politis Photography.
“The initial plan for this short GleNTi film actually came about in 2018, when I began photographing and filming the GleNTi professionally. It was the 30th anniversary and we had 30 years of tradition and spirit to tell. I wanted to show it to the world… I wanted to remind people of where we came from, and show its history to those who were not aware of what it looked like through the years,” Georgia tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
“While I had created a temporary 30 year welcome film, it actually took me two years to gather enough footage from people, as well as gathering my own, to create something memorable which I completed this year.”
Two years seems like a long time to produce a video which runs for three minutes, but Georgia says the creative process was her “favourite part” as she could “share a part of Darwin’s legacy and history in a visual form” which Darwin’s Greek Australian community could “share and enjoy.”
Ever wondered how the Darwin GleNTi has changed over the years? To mark what would've been its 32nd anniversary this year, organisers released this heartwarming video showcasing its strong history of Greek heritage, culture and food. Video by: Georgia Politis – Darwin Christening, Wedding & Portrait Photographer
“It was a very difficult but satisfying task, from trying to get the footage from the community, to getting hardware and software to convert VHS to digital format. I even had to borrow a VHS player and order a specific device from the United States in order to get the footage properly,” Georgia says.
“Creating the GleNTi film itself in my programs took around two to three months, as I had to individually watch all the clips I had and start cutting them down to the best moments for the film.”
But all her hard work paid off, as the film has already been watched 4,500 times since its release on Facebook and is continuously being re-shared.
In fact, the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Northern Australia, Nicholas Poniris, said the video was very “well received” by members of his Community.
Greek dancing costumes for performers at the Darwin GleNTi are handmade in Greece. Source: Georgia Politis Photography.
“The reaction was huge and the video was very well received. For many people, it brought back memories they forgot over the years. It got people talking about the GleNTi,” Mr Poniris tells The Greek Herald.
“Recording historical and anecdotal information, image and film is very important to leave a positive legacy, which will lead to the longevity of events and festivals showcasing Greek history, culture, traditional costume, music, dance and food to the greater community.”
All important aspects of a Greek person’s identity which will once again be on display next year, when the Darwin GleNTi festival is back at its best.
“GleNTi 2021 will be special. We’re well into the planning stages and are excited to host this iconic event,” Mr Poniris teases.
In the last two years, both Greece and
Australia have been significantly impacted by deadly fires that have not only
claimed the lives of hundreds, but have also contributed to the unprecedented
destruction of ecosystems.
As bushfire clean-up in South Australia has reached its end, it’s now more important than ever for local communities and organisations to come together and help rebuild the affected communities recover as fast as possible.
More than 450 fire-affected properties across South Australia have now been cleared, with over 25,000 tonnes of waste removed.
Aiming to support South Australia’s bushfire affected communities, the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) managed to raise more than $10,000 through a radiothon with radio host 5EBI. Donations came through the churches and contributions of other donors like the Hellenic Worker’s Educational Association PLATON.
According to GOCSA’s press release, the money has now been distributed in equal amounts to the bushfire victims on Kangaroo Island, the bushfires in South Australia, as well as towards the South Australian District Fire Service.
South Australia’s Rhodian Associations also
raised a total of $8000, which they intend to deliver to affected communities
themselves.
After completing similar projects in other parts of the historic center of Athens, municipal crews have now began cleaning graffiti off street walls in the picturesque Anafiotika neighborhood of Plaka.
The neighbourhood flanks the northeast side of the Acropolis and is popular with visitors during the summer months.
Graffiti has been removed from around the popular neighbourhood of Anafiotika.
Cleaning operations were conducted under the supervision of an archaeologist from the Ephorate of Antiquities.
Crews focused on areas that had been covered by graffiti for many years.
Around 75 liters of special solvent were needed to clean 250 square metres of walls, which were then covered with another material that repels graffiti.
Turkey plans to drill for oil near the Greek islands of Crete, Kasos, Karpathos and Rhodes based on a controversial maritime border agreement signed with the Libyan Government of National Accord in November 2019.
Requests for drilling submitted by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) to the General Directorate of Mines and Petroleum have been published in the official gazette of Turkey on Saturday.
The requests detail how TPAO wants to conduct hydrocarbon exploration in sections of 24 blocks, all of which come within or beyond 6 nautical miles of the coasts of eastern Crete, Kasos, Karpathos and Rhodes, and overlap the Greek continental shelf.
The sections of 24 blocks where TPAO has requested to drill for oil. Source: SKAI TV.
According to the news website Ahval, Turkish Energy Minister, Fatih Donmez, announced that this drilling for oil may begin in the eastern Mediterranean within three or four months.
“Within the framework of the agreement we reached with Libya, we will be able to start our oil exploration operations there within three to four months,” Donmez said during a ceremony to mark the launch of Turkey’s oil-and-gas drilling ship, the “Fatih.”
Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and other countries oppose the agreement and have flatly termed it illegal.
In fact, Greek Foreign Affairs Minister, Nikos Dendias, said on Monday that Greece was ready to deal with Turkey’s latest challenge, if the neighboring country intended to pursue it.
Greek Foreign Affairs Minister, Nikos Dendias, said on Monday that Greece was ready to deal with Turkey’s latest challenge.
“Turkey is trying to usurp the sovereign rights of Greece,” Dendias said in a statement, pointing out that this planned drilling action stems from “the null and void Turkey-Libya memorandum.”
“We should be clear on this. Our positions on this specific issue and on the consequences of Turkey’s illegal conduct are a given. Turkey has repeatedly been informed of these positions. Greece has been and remains fully prepared to respond to this provocation as well, should Turkey decide in the end to go through with it.”
This regional dispute over mineral rights only seems to be deepening as the Turkish ambassador in Athens was also summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Monday to receive a formal complaint from the Greek government.
The process of moving thousands of refugees out of state facilities and subsidised accommodation across the country is to begin on Monday, though authorities have not determined which facilities will be affected first nor how long the process will take.
The Migration Ministry confirmed last Friday that a total of 11,237 refugees will be moved out of state facilities and hotels.
It remained unclear, however, how many of the total are refugees who secured asylum and how many had their applications rejected and therefore, face deportation.
The process of moving thousands of refugees out of state facilities across Greece is to begin on Monday, Source: Ekathimerini.
Those who have been granted asylum will be able to join job training programs and claim social benefits, the Ministry has said, though there is no word on whether the cash assistance provided to them will continue once they leave the facilities.
The Ministry has pledged that vulnerable migrants such as the elderly and unaccompanied minors will get privileged treatment.
This move comes after a new law, passed in November, reduced the period refugees could be sheltered from six months to just one. This period ended on Monday, June 1.
Athens says the move is necessary to alleviate pressure on the more than 32,500 refugees living in squalid camps on the Greek islands.
“It is normal that those who have been in Greece for longer can leave their place,” said Manos Logothetis, Secretary of the Greek Asylum Service. “There must be a limit and the refugees integrate and find a job.”
