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‘I’d love to take your questions’: Jen Psaki delivers first news briefing

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White House press secretary Jen Psaki has delivered the first news briefing of Joe Biden’s presidency, a once standard part of past administrations that was largely sidelined during the Trump era.

Psaki said Wednesday that she will bring truth and transparency to the White House briefing room, a clear reference to her predecessors under President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration took an openly combative tone with the news media.

Sean Spicer, who was Trump’s first press secretary, set the tenor four years ago by claiming that the audience at Trump’s inauguration was the largest in history, despite photographic evidence to the contrary.

In her inaugural briefing as White House press secretary, Jen Psaki said she has a “deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in our democracy,” and pledged to hold daily briefings.

Why it matters: Conferences with the press secretary in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room became almost non-existent under the Trump administration. By sending Psaki to the podium hours after President Biden took the oath of office, the White House signaled a return to pre-Trump norms.

The big picture: After establishing her commitment to daily appearances, the briefing reestablished a familiar pattern of questions, answers and some dodges, with reporters looking for information — as well as color — about Biden’s first hours in the Oval Office. 

  • Psaki took her first question from Zeke Miller of the Associated Press, giving deference to the storied wire service, before turning to NBC’s Peter Alexander.
  • Reporters asked a mix of routine questions about the president’s calls with foreign leaders and upcoming travel, while also pressing her on Biden’s immediate agenda and legislative strategy. Other reporters wanted details on the contents of the note outgoing President Trump left for Biden.
  • Psaki called Trump’s letter to Biden “both generous and gracious.”
  • Biden’s first foreign leader phone call will be on Friday with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The bottom line: Psaki answered some questions and parried others, while trying to establish a rapport with the room and reconnect with some reporters she has long known.

  • “Let’s do this again tomorrow,” she said.

READ MORE: The Greek designer behind Amanda Gorman’s symbolic hoop earrings

The Greek designer behind Amanda Gorman’s symbolic hoop earrings

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At just 22, the nation’s first Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman delivered one of the most poignant and profound moments at Wednesday’s inauguration of President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. 

With poise and grace, she read her poem “The Hill We Climb” wearing a bright yellow Prada blazer and a symbolic gift from Oprah Winfrey: statement gold and diamond hoop earrings by Nikos Koulis.

On this historic day, Winfrey, who has been one of Gorman’s most vocal supporters, gave the young poet the bold earrings and a birdcage ring, which recalls Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” poem.

Making this a tradition, Oprah gave Angelou a gift before she delivered her reading at Bill Clinton’s 1993 inauguration.

Gorman’s words and story touched a nation and were felt as far away as Athens, Greece where designer Nikos Koulis watched the inauguration with friends and family in his hometown.

“Amanda Gorman’s speech was filled with energy,” Koulis said in an interview with Town and country. 

Oprah’s earrings will no doubt be a memorable gift, but in addition to its sentimental meaning, the bold gold hoops also reflected Gorman’s youthful spirit. There’s something liberating about big hoops, a style that been a symbol of power across cultures and throughout history, and worn by women in every generation.

For Koulis, one of the jewelry industry’s favorite designers for both his talent and kindheartedness, it’s an historic moment.

“I am in awe that as an independent designer from Greece, my work is somehow present in this highly symbolic and majestic occasion,” he said.

Who is Nikos Koulis?

Nikos Koulis is a Greek designer with worldwide recognition and success. Coming from an established family business in jewelry, he studied Gemology and Glyptography in the Gemological Institute of America and created his own brand, Nikos Koulis Jewels, in 2006, showcasing his elaborate technique along with his deep knowledge in the quality jewelry making.

His atelier is in Athens and has two boutiques in Athens and Mykonos.

Koulis received the GEM Award 2020 in Jewelry Design, one of the most prestigious awards in the international Jewelry Industry.

Among others, his loyal fans include H.R.H. Queen Rania of Jordan, Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jane Fonda, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Alicia Vikander, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lawrence, Saoirse Ronan, Chrissy Teigen, Emilia Clarke and Rihanna.

Former US Ambassador to Greece, Daniel Smith, appointed Acting Secretary of State

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Daniel Bennett Smith, a former Ambassador to Greece from 2010 to 2013, has been appointed as Acting US Secretary of State.

Smith, 64, was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve in this position until nominee Antony Blinken is confirmed by the Senate.

The announcement comes a day after the confirmation hearing of Blinken, 58, a veteran foreign policy hand and close Biden confidant. There has been no indication that Blinken would face difficulty being confirmed.

Smith was appointed director of the Foreign Service Institute, which trains American diplomats, in 2018 and holds the State Department’s highest diplomatic rank of Career Ambassador.

Blinken says Turkey not acting like an ally

On Tuesday, Blinken accused NATO member Turkey of not acting like an ally and said Washington would review if further sanctions are required on Ankara over its acquisition of a Russian air defense system.

Last month, Washington imposed long-anticipated sanctions on Turkey’s defense industry over its acquisition of S-400 missile defense systems from Moscow, in a move Turkey called a “grave mistake.”

“The idea that a strategic – so-called strategic – partner of ours would actually be in line with one of our biggest strategic competitors in Russia is not acceptable,” Antony Blinken, Biden’s choice for chief U.S. diplomat, told lawmakers.

*With information from Reuters/Kathimerini

‘We have vital rights in the Aegean Sea’: Turkey reacts to Greece’s territorial waters extension

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Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted in an announcement Wednesday that Greece’s extension of its territorial waters from 6 to 12 miles does not regard the Aegean Sea and repeated the country’s objections against such an extension in the Aegean.

“The extension of territorial waters in the Ionian Sea by Greece to 12 nautical miles reaches up (to) the south of the Peleponnesian Peninsula and does not affect the Aegean Sea in any way,” said ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy.

“Turkey has vital rights and interests in the semi-enclosed Aegean Sea, where special geographical circumstances prevail. Turkey’s position that the territorial waters in the Aegean Sea should not be unilaterally extended in a way to restrict the freedom of navigation as well as the access to the high seas of both Turkey and third countries, is well-known by all parties. Our position remains unchanged,” he added.

Turkey and Greece are due to resume on Monday, after a 5-year hiatus, the exploratory talks they have been conducting since the 1990s. This will be the 61st round of talks.

On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during a parliamentary debate on the territorial waters extension, and repeated Greece’s longstanding position, that it is within its right to extend its territorial waters whenever and wherever it chooses to, including south of Crete and elsewhere.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias had made a similar declaration Tuesday.

A New Day: World leaders react to Biden inauguration

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Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, vowing to end the “uncivil war” in a deeply divided country reeling from a battered economy and a raging coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Biden, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, gave the oath of office on a 127-year-old family Bible just before midday Wednesday (local time) at Washington DC’s Capitol building.

“This is America’s day,” Mr Biden said to begin his inaugural address. 

“This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve.”

At 78, he is the oldest person to become US president. 

A short time earlier Kamala Harris became the first black, South-Asian and female American to be vice-president.

Ms Harris was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina justice.

In attendance at the ceremony were former US presidents George W Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, along with outgoing vice-president Mike Pence. 

Outgoing president Donald Trump did not attend the ceremony, breaking with more than 150 years of tradition. He left the White House to attend a farewell event at Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland before flying to Florida.

World leaders congratulate Biden, Harris

World leaders have paid tributes to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as they were sworn in as the 46th President and Vice President of the United States.

Historic allies in the EU and U.K. have struck the most upbeat tone, with Ursurla von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, saying there’s a “friend in the White House” after four years where transatlantic relations often were strained.

“This is a historical achievement, and this also makes this day very special,” she said. “This new dawn in America is the moment we’ve been waiting for so long. Europe is ready for a new start with our oldest and most trusted partner.”

Greek PM congratulates Biden, Harris

Greek Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis also congratulated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris after they were sworn in as the 46th President and Vice-President of the United States, on the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington DC.

“Warmest congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. It is with a sense of renewed optimism that we look forward to further strengthening the bonds and friendship between our two nations,” Mitsotakis said in a tweet on his official account. 

Sakellaropoulou: Greece-US cooperation will strengthen during Biden’s tenure

President Katerina Sakellaropoulou expressed her certainty that Greek-US relations will become even stronger during the tenure of US President Joe Biden, during her speech at a special event organized by the US Embassy in Athens on Wednesday. 

The event has held in the context of the “Greece-US: Celebrating 200 Years of Friendship” campaign and Sakellaropoulou was invited by US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt at the ancient Athenian Agora to mark the Wednesday inauguration ceremony of the Biden administration in Washington DC.

“Today is an important day, not just for the United States of America, but for the entire world. I am very glad that we are at the ancient market of Athens, the place with the highest symbolic value for democracy,” she said.

Ambassador Pyatt said Biden “is a friend of Greece who knows this country and its people well.”

*With information from ABC/Kathimerini/wires

Michael Malakonas resigns as CEO of Fronditha Care

Mr Michael Malakonas has resigned as Chief Executive Officer of Fronditha Care with immediate effect.

The Board thanked Mr Malakonas for his service to the organisation for the past 15 months and wished him success in his future endeavours.

The Board has commenced the recruitment process to appoint a new Chief Executive Officer to guide their organisation to future success.

“During this time of transition, the Board has every confidence that together with the senior leadership team and all our staff, we will continue to deliver on our mission and maintain our primary focus, on the care of our elderly,” a statement from Fronditha Care reads.

“Please be assured that there will be no disruption to the care provision of our residents and care- recipients across residential and community care services in Victoria and NSW.”

‘We need a voice to drive change,’ says Law Award recipient Mia Pantechis

It was late last year when Greek Australian employment lawyer, Mia Pantechis, won the Senior Associate of the Year Award at the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law awards and was promoted to partner in the law firm she works with.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” she tells The Greek Herald.

A whirlwind of changes, towards not only creating fairer workplaces for the country’s more than one million migrant and vulnerable workers, who have been impacted heavily by the pandemic, but also towards achieving gender balance in the legal profession. 

“It’s been a difficult year in many respects given the challenges and disruption caused by COVID but I am really proud to have achieved these wins and the promotion,” says Ms Pantechis, as she reveals what sparked her interest in law.

“I developed an interest for studying law from a young age. I was brought up in a family with social justice values and I wanted to pursue a career which enabled me to put that into practice.

“Making Australian workplaces fairer and safer for all, is truly a rewarding and valuable work.”

Diversity as a tool for success 

In Australia, many law firms are ramping up efforts to bring their workplace into the 21st century by rolling out diversity and inclusion initiatives targeted not just at women, but also people of colour, Indigenous Australians, and LGBTQI+ people.

Hailing from Igoumenitsa from her father’s side and Athens and Astypalaia from her mother’s, Pantechis says she owes her strong work ethic to the values she inherited from her family.

“I spent a lot of time with my grandparents and I was brought up speaking Greek, I studied Greek throughout primary and high school and I went on to study Greek at University in my first two years. My heritage is a very big part of me and the values I have and bring into my work.

“Diversity gives you a different perspective and an ability to relate to a wider audience in the community,” Ms Pantechis says.

What about gender balance in the legal profession?

Recent statistics show that for the first time in Australia, women in the legal profession outnumber men in all states and territories, except Western Australia where the gender split is 50-50.

But this is also a worrying time for Australia’s legal sector, with a recent survey by the International Bar Association showing that the country has one of the highest rates of bullying and harassment amongst law professionals in the world.

“Progress has been made but there is still a need for gender diversity initiatives in the profession. There is an underrepresentation of women in leadership positions within firms and amongst barristers at the bar as well. 

“Gender inequality and power imbalances are a systemic driver of harassment in workplaces including the legal profession,” says Ms Pantechis as she suggests that recognising the issue is the first step to solving the problem.

“It’s really about recognizing the issue, putting it at the forefront and then getting into that analysis of what are the key issues that are limiting equal participation.”

According to Pantechis, the community has a big role to play in ensuring a fair and inclusive future.

“As a community we need to get behind reforms that tackle the issues plaguing Australian workplaces. We need to have a voice when it comes to driving change,” she concludes.

READ MORE: Greek Australian politicians on why SA Parliament has the worst female MP representation in Australia

Community push for new Bondi beach club as St Kilda’s ‘West Beach Pavilion’ takes off in popularity

A recent push has been made to bring the new ‘Amalfi Beach Club’ to Bondi’s shores as beach clubs in Victoria and South Australia enjoy successful summers.

The new beach club was proposed by Bondi local Janek Gazecki who aimed for a November 2020 opening, yet was knocked back in May last year.

The club would replicate famous beach clubs found in Greece and Southern Europe, covering around two per cent of the iconic beach, near Roscoe St for the summer. The area will be able to hold up to 100 guests at a time who can choose between the 10 cabanas, four booths or 20 sun lounges.

According to the Amalfi Beach Club Facebook page, the opening of St Kilda’s West Beach Pavilion, along with The Moseley Beach Club in South Australia, means that now is the perfect time to bring it to Australia’s most well-recognised beach.

The beach club would rival those in Europe.

“There are now 5 beach clubs across those states, with more coming in QLD. Why should Sydney miss out on such a great experience?” the page said in a comment on one of their posts.

The comment section of the Facebook post had many people who claimed the proposal is “un-Australian”, saying they don’t want a “Mediterranean style building and clutter on our beaches”.

However the Amalfi Beach Club reassures that they are getting plenty of support “behind the scenes”.

“We are soldiering on in the interests of the broader community,” the page commented.

Janek Gazecki has big plans for Bondi Beach. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Other Bondi locals supported the club, saying it’s “great concept” and will bring much needed tourism revenue to the popular beach.

The beach club will be free to enter and sit at, apart from an $80 per person fee applying only to people who book a two hour slot in a cabana, which Gazecki assured would be credited to the patron’s food and beverage bill.

Mr Gazecki said he was more than willing to compromise with council such as by paying for an extra lifeguard on duty and even closing down the club on days the beach was forecast to be extra busy.

“It’s good for the community, good for vibrancy,” Mr Gazecki said to Wentworth Courier in October.

“Whoever doesn’t want to support the local restaurants in this way can simply sit on the beach as they always have done.”

Mitcham councillor forced to apologise to three colleagues after implying they were racist on social media

Mitcham councillor Karen Hockley breached multiple codes of conduct when she implied her colleagues were racist in a Facebook post, a legal investigation has found.

Reported by The Advertiser, the Local Government Governance Panel launched a $6000 investigation Cr Hockley, finding that she breached four codes of conduct last year.

She will be forced to apologise to councillors Lindy Taeuber and Adriana Christopoulos – and former councillor Jasmine Berry, who resigned following the Facebook spat.

Cr Hockley last June made a Facebook post accusing the councillors of a “mass walkout” during a proposal she made for the council to voice official support for the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Jasmine Berry.

The meeting closed three minutes before its scheduled finishing time after four councillors left, leaving it without a quorum. It meant Cr Hockley’s proposal could not be debated on the night.

Cr Hockley also alleged, in the comments of the Facebook post, that racism “maybe” existed within Mitcham Council.

The report found she failed to act in a way that would generate community trust and confidence in the council, did not show respect for her colleagues, did not endeavour to provide accurate information to the council and public, and did not endeavour to maintain a respectful relationship with all council members, regardless of differences.

Cr Hockley said she would apologise to her colleagues but she believed it was “a bit of a storm in a tea cup”.

“It could have been resolved informally with the councillors involved and yet it went through this process and cost the community four to six grand when it could have easily been discussed over a coffee or whatever and dealt with,” Cr Hockley said.

Sourced By: The Advertiser

Last chance to nominate community member for Premier’s Multicultural Honour Roll

The Premier’s Multicultural Medals and Honour Roll pay tribute to the many outstanding people who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to promote social cohesion and harmony in NSW.

The Multicultural Honour Roll is a permanent public record of the exemplary contribution by people of our multicultural society. This posthumous recognition marks the legacy of those people who have made a lasting contribution to the community in New South Wales that extends beyond their passing.

“There are so many inspiring individuals and organisations doing incredible work in our community, striving to maintain harmony and peace in NSW during what has been a difficult year,” Mr Lee said.

“This program acknowledges these everyday multicultural heroes and champions, particularly those who have actively helped us in our messaging to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and supported the most vulnerable in our community.”

The medals honour the achievements of community members working in many fields including youth, business, arts and culture as well as regional communities.

“We have expanded the program this year to recognise even more individuals and organisations making a difference to our community,” Mr Lee said.

Nominations for the Multicultural Honour Roll end Friday, 22 January. Recipients are announced in March.

REGISTER TO NOMINATE TODAY