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EU unveils ‘digital green certificate’ for travel just in time for the European summer

Andriana Simos
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EU unveils ‘digital green certificate’ for travel just in time for the European summer

The European commission has unveiled a “digital green certificate” that could allow EU citizens who have been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from COVID-19 to travel more freely within the bloc this summer.

The plan would also allow southern states such as Spain, Greece and Portugal, whose economies are most reliant on tourism, to make bilateral arrangements with non-EU members – including Britain – providing the deals are approved by the commission.

“We aim to help member states reinstate the freedom of movement in a safe, responsible and trusted manner,” the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said as the scheme was unveiled on Wednesday.

European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, unveiled the scheme on Wednesday.

The digital document, containing a QR code and carried on a mobile phone, has deliberately not been called a “vaccine passport” because some member states felt that would discriminate against those who had not yet been offered a shot.

The certificate, which may yet face stiff resistance from some members states, is “not a passport… but a document that will describe the medical situation of the individuals who hold it”, the commission spokesman, Eric Mamer, said.

The plan stresses that it “cannot be a pre-condition to exercise free movement rights, nor can it be a pre-condition for using cross-border passenger transport services such as airlines, trains, coaches or ferries”.

The certificate would be available to all citizens who can provide evidence that they have either been vaccinated against COVID-19, have recently tested negative or have acquired antibodies after recovering from the virus.

It follows several months of lobbying for a common, Europe-wide system aimed at easing free movement within the bloc, led by southern European holiday destinations, such as Greece, whose economies have been devastated by the pandemic.

READ MORE: Greece proposes joint EU vaccination certificate to ease travel.

Greek Prime Minister reacts to EU certificate announcement:

In a wide-ranging interview with CNN on Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said that he can foresee implementing the EU’s “digital Green certificate” scheme for travellers coming from non-EU countries.

“Most of our travelers are from the EU, so when it comes to travel from outside the EU, of course we’re open to put into place a similar arrangement,” Mitsotakis said during the interview.

“We are starting out with Israel because Israel has vaccinated more than 50% of its population and Greece is a very popular destination for Israeli tourists.

“So we intend to replicate this new vaccine certificate system with countries that are outside the EU. And I expect these passports will be the standard tool that we will use for facilitating travel.”

The Prime Minister then went on to say that tourists in Greece will get ‘the full Greek experience.’

“Apart from the vaccine certificate, Greece will see to it that travelers come to Greece in a safe manner. All the appropriate protocols will be in place… while ensuring they all get the full Greek experience without any compromises, while placing their safety as the absolute priority,” Mitsotakis said.

“We did it last year, and we can certainly do it again — much better — this year, with all these new tools at our disposal.”

#GreekFlagWeek: Fly, Share and Post your Flags ahead of Greek Independence Day

The Greek Herald
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#GreekFlagWeek: Fly, Share and Post your Flags ahead of Greek Independence Day

Events have been cancelled, the way we celebrate National Days has changed and the pandemic has indeed challenged every aspect of our lives both as individuals and as a community.

However, as Greeks we are known for our resourcefulness and resilience, especially when it comes to our national pride.

This year, on March 25, Australia’s Greek diaspora and Hellenes across the globe will commemorate and celebrate the 200th anniversary of the uprising of Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman occupation and we all need to be present.

Now, ahead of our National Day, it’s time to show the world how we proudly Fly, Share and Post our Greek flags.

Using the hashtag #GreekFlagWeek on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, we (The Greek Herald team) aim to encourage everyone, young or old, to participate in a movement to uplift our spirits and enhance our sense of national identity.

All you have to do is:

  1. Download and print (CLICK PHOTO FOR LINK) one of the below Greek flag designs or alternatively purchase The Greek Herald’s Saturday March 20th print edition which includes full colour Greek flags in various sizes.
DESIGN ONE
DESIGN TWO
  1. Post on your social media pages a photo of The Greek Herald’s Greek Flag.
  2. Don’t forget to hashtag #GreekFlagWeek and #GreekIndependenceDay on the post.
  3. Tag @The Greek Herald on your social media pages.
  4. That’s it! You are participating in our 200th Greek Independence Anniversary movement!
  5. Your posts will be shared on our social media pages during the week and the best ones will make it to our March 25th special print edition.

Are you ready? Now let’s Fly, Share and Post our Greek Flags together!

Sydney to commemorate Greek Independence bicentennial with Doxology and Memorial Service

The Greek Herald
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Sydney to commemorate Greek Independence bicentennial with Doxology and Memorial Service

Last week, on Thursday March 11, The Greek Herald first reported that the parade held annually in Sydney to commemorate the 1821 Greek Revolution had been cancelled. 

In an announcement issued four days later and after the community backlash that followed the report, the Sydney National Day Organising Committee confirmed that “due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the related restrictive measures, the march of our school students and the associated festivities at the Opera House will not take place.”

Although the pandemic remains a concern, NSW Government officials have confirmed to The Greek Herald that the event has not been barred by the state government and would get the approval to go ahead should a Covid Safe Event Plan was in place to ensure the safety of participants, spectators and the community at large.

In lieu of the traditional march from Martin Place to the Opera House and the performances, the commemorative events planned to be held on Sunday, March 28, include a Doxology Service at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of our Lady followed by a Memorial Service at the Cenotaph of Martin Place.

Read the full statement below:

Greece’s Finance Minister lays out road for recovery in Greek Australian Dialogue series

The Greek Herald
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Greece’s Finance Minister lays out road for recovery in Greek Australian Dialogue series

The Greek Australian Dialogue Series brought an important virtual discussion to community and business leaders on Tuesday night regarding the Greek government’s process in rebuilding the country’s business environment, featuring the Greek Minister of Finance, Christos Staikouras.

Mr Staikouras discussed the ways Greece had been handling the COVID-19 pandemic while simultaneously building their public health system and business landscape.

“In Greece, the government has been dealing with a health crisis and its impact to the best of its ability, swiftly and efficiently, as has been recognised internationally,” Mr Staikouras said. 

“With a coherent, methodical and dynamic plan, we have strengthened public health, supported households and employment, boosted business liquidity, and safeguarded social cohesion with measures totalling 24 billion euros in 2020, and traditionally 11.6 billion euros for 2021.”

Mr Staikouras spoke about the Greek government’s new legislative framework, which aims to reform, strengthen and modernise “corporate governance of limited liability companies and the capital market.”

“We have launched the ‘village program’ for small and medium businesses. This program will provide a subsidy for most of the business loan instalments for a period of eight months, in order to support businesses hit by the COVID-19 outbreak,” he added.

The Minister laid out the Greek government’s developments in the digital space. More specifically, in easing the administrative burden for the household enterprise. This was asked upon further by Director of Public Policy at Mastercard in Asia-pacific, Chris Siorokos, who asked how Greece’s digital transformation will help broaden the tax space.

“We have managed to tackle this problem in an appropriate way in the last couple of years. There are different incentives in order to reduce tax evasions. One act has to do with tax reductions. If you have lower taxes, you have lower incentives in order to make tax evasion.”

“Simultaneously, we have digitised the Greek economy. For many different reasons and in this case, the health crisis significantly helped the Greek economy. Electronic transactions have been significantly increased.”

Asked what he wanted his legacy to be as a Finance Minister, Mr Staikouras had one simple answer.

“I always exercise my duties guided by my country’s and citizens’ interests. As for what I would like to leave behind is a productive, strong, extroverted and internationally competitive and strong economy.”

The well attended event was hosted by Paul Nicolaou, Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Leaders Council, and Katia Gkikiza, Trade Commissioner of Greece. In attendance was also the the Ambassador of Greece to Australia Mr George Papacostas.

The Trade Commissioner revealed that in 2020, amid the pandemic, the total volume of trade in goods between Greece and Australia increased by 12.5 percent.

“To put this in perspective I would like to point out that in the same year, the total volume of trade between the European Union 27 member states in Australia fell by 8.4 percent,” Gkikiza said.

A closing statement was made by Greek Community of Melbourne President Bill Papastergiadis, who said the Greek-Australian diaspora “stands by Greece” and eagerly awaits the opening of international borders, so that the bilateral relationships can be expanded.

“I noted that the Minister’s address was not just ‘simply words’ as, today the Eurogroup issued a statement congratulating Greece on the success of its structural reforms. Hence the Greek Government’s proposed reforms have in fact been translated into action,” Papastergiadis concluded.

George Diakomichalis to celebrate Greek Independence Day with Cooking Masterclass

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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George Diakomichalis to celebrate Greek Independence Day with Cooking Masterclass

Adelaide’s Greek patisserie Kalymnos Pastries and owner pastry chef, George Diakomichalis, will honour Greek Independence Day this month with a Cooking Masterclass while raising much needed funds for Lockleys North Primary School.

George Diakomichalis, Owner, Kalymnos Pastries is proud of his heritage, passionate about keeping traditions alive and dedicated to inspiring others, saying food is a way to bring people together.

“Every year we know Greeks all over the world celebrate Greek Independence Day and with this year being the 200 year anniversary we thought it timely do something special with a fundraising cooking masterclass for our local community that supports us every day. 

“Greek Independence Day reminds and gives us the chance to reconfirm what we already know and that is, we are masters of our craft keeping the tradition alive,” said George Diakomichalis.

Diakomichalis comes from a long line of pastry chefs and growing up was always surrounded by family and friends working at the family patisseries, which have been around since 1918.

Those in attendance will be entertained by the award winning chef, as he shares recipes and teaches how to make traditional Greek dishes (Moussaka and Kourabiethes), that he has been taught by the generations that went before.  

Regular trips to Greece and his family’s love of pastry inspired him to follow in their footsteps, and in 1995 after completing his training under the guidance of his Grandfather and Uncles in Kalymnos, Greece, he opened the doors at Kalymnos Pastries in Adelaide.

Passionate about sharing Greek cuisine, events like this give George the opportunity to share the Greek traditions and raise money for the community, this time being Lockleys North Primary School where both he and his children are old scholars.

“I believe that it doesn’t matter what your cultural background is, traditional dishes are the ones that stand the test of time. We pay homage to our ancestors in everything we do and sometimes add a modern twist.”

“Our deep history and pride, makes me very proud to be an Australian with Greek heritage. I think this is important and gives our children an opportunity to continue having that pride in their cultural heritage and what better time than now to celebrate this,” he explains.

Who: Kalymnos Pastries and award winning chef, George Diakomichalis
What: Greek Cooking Masterclass. Learn the traditional recipes for Moussaka and Kourabiethes.
Why: Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence with food, culture and sharing traditions all in the name of community.
When: Wednesday 24 March 2021 @ 6.30 pm
How: Tickets $50 each, book online at https://bit.ly/3t9PZ5t
Each person will take home their own individual serve of Moussaka and Kourabides to enjoy!
Where: Lockleys North Primary School, 55 Malurus Avenue, Lockleys SA 5032

Courtney Herron’s killer ordered to spend 25 years in psychiatric hospital

The Greek Herald
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Courtney Herron’s killer ordered to spend 25 years in psychiatric hospital

Henry Hammond, who used a tree branch to beat a woman to death in a Melbourne park, has been ordered to spend 25 years in a secure psychiatric hospital, the ABC reports.

Victoria’s Supreme Court today committed Hammond to the Thomas Embling Hospital after he was found not guilty of murdering Courtney Herron because of mental impairment.

Hammond was in the grips of a schizophrenic relapse when he killed Ms Herron, whose body was found underneath branches at Royal Park in May 2019.

Today, Hammond’s defence lawyer, Tim Schocker, asked for a review period to be set because otherwise one would only be held three months before it ended — in 24 years and nine months.

“It’s difficult for someone in Mr Hammond’s position to have the resources or the understanding to enliven a review of his own accord,” Mr Schocker said.

But Justice Phillip Priest declined to set a date for the 25-year custodial supervision order to be reviewed.

“There’s no point,” the justice said.

“I can’t see things changing before I retire.

“I will set 25 years as the nominal term of the supervision order.”

Justice Priest also backdated the order to May 2019 after a request from prosecutors, meaning Hammond could be released by 2044.

Source: ABC

Digital platform ‘myConsulLive’ now available at Greek Consulates of Sydney and Adelaide

The Greek Herald
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Digital platform ‘myConsulLive’ now available at Greek Consulates of Sydney and Adelaide

The Consulate General of Greece in Sydney and Adelaide are now offering the possibility to serve the public, in some cases, by video conference, thanks to the new online platform myConsulLive, in order to avoid the unnecessary inconvenience of visiting the Offices.

The ‘myConsulLive’ digital platform aims to offer the diaspora a fast and easy way to communicate with officials and apply online for documents and certificates.

Services provided through the online platform myConsulLive are:

1. Issuance of a Certificate of Permanent Residence Abroad

2. Certificate of marital status or birth
3. Certificate of residency

4. Copy or extract of a civil registry
5. Declarations of beneficiaries of pension

In order to be granted access to the application, those interested will need to enter their TAXISnet username and password codes, assuming they already have them.

To book your digital appointment you will need to input:
1. Your name, father’s and mother’s names
2. Your email address
3. Your contact phone
4. Home address (in Australia)
5. Your Greek ID number, or any (Greek or other nationality’s) passport number

You may access the platform through the link http://myconsullive.gov.gr/ where the detailed User Guide is also available.

New Dead Sea scrolls with Greek text found in desert cave in Israel

The Greek Herald
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New Dead Sea scrolls with Greek text found in desert cave in Israel

Israeli archaeologists on Tuesday announced the discovery of dozens of new Dead Sea scroll fragments bearing a biblical text found in a desert cave and believed hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome nearly 1,900 years ago.

The fragments of parchment bear lines of Greek text from the books of Zechariah and Nahum and have been dated around the 1st century AD based on the writing style, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority. They are the first new scrolls found in archeological excavations in the desert south of Jerusalem in 60 years.

The Dead Sea scrolls, a collection of Jewish texts found in desert caves in the West Bank near Qumran in the 1940s and 1950s, date from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD. They include the earliest known copies of biblical texts and documents outlining the beliefs of a little-understood Jewish sect.

Fragments belong with ‘Cave of Horror’ finds

The roughly 80 new pieces are believed to belong to a set of parchment fragments found in a site in southern Israel known as the “Cave of Horror” — named for the 40 human skeletons found there during excavations in the 1960s — that also bear a Greek rendition of the Twelve Minor Prophets, a book in the Hebrew Bible. The cave is located in a remote canyon around 40 kilometres south of Jerusalem.

The artifacts were found during an operation in Israel and the occupied West Bank conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority to find scrolls and other artifacts to prevent possible plundering. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 war, and international law prohibits the removal of cultural property from occupied territory.

Photo: Sebastian Scheiner/The Associated Press

The fragments are believed to have been part of a scroll stashed away in the cave during the Bar Kochba Revolt, an armed Jewish uprising against Rome during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, between 132 and 136 AD.

Coins struck by rebels and arrowheads found in other caves in the region also hail from that period.

“We found a textual difference that has no parallel with any other manuscript, either in Hebrew or in Greek,” said Oren Ableman, a Dead Sea scroll researcher with the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Archeologists race against plunderers

Alongside the Roman-era artifacts, the exhibit included far older discoveries of no lesser importance found during its sweep of more than 500 caves in the desert: the 6,000-year-old mummified skeleton of a child; an immense, complete woven basket from the Neolithic period, estimated to be 10,500 years old; and scores of other delicate organic materials preserved in the caves’ arid climate.

In 1961, Israeli archeologists Yohanan Aharoni excavated the “Cave of Horror” and his team found nine parchment fragments belonging to a scroll with texts from the Twelve Minor Prophets in Greek, and a scrap of Greek papyrus.

Since then, no new texts have been found during archeological excavations, but many have turned up on the black market, apparently plundered from caves.

For the past four years, Israeli archeologists have launched a major campaign to scour caves nestled in the precipitous canyons of the Judean Desert in search of scrolls and other rare artifacts.

*With information from CBC, AP, Kathimerini

Panathenaic Stadium turns green to mark St. Patrick’s Day

The Greek Herald
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Panathenaic Stadium turns green to mark St. Patrick’s Day

The Panathenaic Stadium and the Arch of Hadrian in central Athens were lit up in green on Monday evening ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, the National Day of Ireland, on March 17.

On the day, hundreds of global landmarks are lit up in green to mark Ireland’s global connections.

The Embassy of Ireland thanked the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Culture and the Civil Aviation Authority, for “this gesture of friendship and solidarity”.

The move came after the Greek Olympic Committee, the Culture Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority approved a request by the Embassy of Ireland to light up the ancient Stadium on March 16 and 17.

Greece and Ireland established diplomatic relations in 1975.

What is St Patrick’s Day?

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century.

The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon.

Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast–on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

Oscars 2021: Two Greeks among 93rd Academy Awards nominees

The Greek Herald
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Oscars 2021: Two Greeks among 93rd Academy Awards nominees

The Oscar nominations 2021 for the 93rd Academy Awards were announced on March 15th, 2021 and two Greeks are among the nominees.

Director of Photography Phedon Papamichael was nominated for Best Cinematography award for his work in“The Trial of The Chicago 7” and Yorgos Lamprinos for Best Film Editing for “The Father”.

Seventy women received a total 76 nominations, according to the Academy, a record for a given year.

Two women, Emerald Fennell and Chloé Zhao, were nominated in the directing category in the same year for the first time. Zhao is the first woman of color to be nominated in the category.

“Mank,” Netflix’s black and white drama about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz’s development of the screenplay for the legendary film “Citizen Kane,” led among the nominated films with 10 nods.

In light of the discussion around diversity and the Oscars, it is notable that three Black men, Leslie Odom Jr. for “One Night in Miami” and Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield for “Judas and the Black Messiah,” were all nominated in the best supporting actor category. 

Husband and wife stars Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas announced the nominations live from London. This year’s ceremony was delayed due to the pandemic and is set to air Sunday, April 25.

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