US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has sent an indirect but clear message to Turkey about the way it operates in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In a televised interview, he expressed hope that the parties involved would realise that there issues would be best solved with dialogue and return to the negotiating table.
“There are mechanisms, legal mechanisms, international law that can resolve [a maritime dispute],” Pompeo said.
“Coercion, bullying, military activity is not the way to resolve it.”
“I hope that every party that is engaged there will come to see that, and they’ll get back to the negotiating table and resolve their maritime conflicts.”
Fears were raised over Turkey’s alleged plan to purchase a new S-400 missile system, sparking concern for their European neighbours.
Screenshot of video reportedly showing S-400 being transported to Sinop for tests next week (via social media)
“It is a pity that they chose to buy the S-400 weapon system. We call on them to review and back down,” he said.
The U.S. relationship with Turkey has become increasingly strained over the past two years. Although the standoff over the S-400 has been the central issue, Erdogan’s October 2019 incursion into Syria also created a major rift between the two NATO allies.
“This is a far cry from maximum pressure, and from getting allies to do the right thing,” Thomas Karako, a missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington said.
“The price of the administration’s failure to impose sanctions has now become increasingly more apparent.”
A young man who was involved in a crash that killed senior police officer Joanne Shanahan and a mother in April has pleaded not guilty in court yesterday.
Harrison Kitt pleaded not guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing aggravated harm by dangerous driving in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday morning, ABC News reports.
David Edwardson QC, for Mr Kitt, reportedly told the court that his client has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and has manic episodes and psychotic features.
Senior police officer Joanne Shanahan and mother Tania McNeill died in the crash on April 25.(ABC News: Claire Campbell)
He said the diagnosis had been confirmed by a clinical psychiatrist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Senior Greek Australian police officer Joanne Shanahan, 55, and mother Tania McNeill, 53, died in the crash at the intersection of Cross Road and Fullarton Road at Urrbrae on April 25.
Joanne Shanahan (nee Panayiotou) was a mother-of-two and well-respected Detective Chief Superintendent prior to her tragic death.
“Not only have we lost a beautiful person, we’ve lost a detective with a wealth of knowledge,’ Commissioner Stevens told media upon her death.
PHOTO: (L) Late Detective Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan’s husband and kids gathered at the scene on Tuesday / Image: 10 News First (R) Tributes to Joanne Shanahan and Tania McNeill at the scene of the crash.
The court heard reports into Mr Kitt’s mental competence could not be ordered until he has been committed to the District Court.
Mr Kitt has been ordered to stand trial in the District Court of South Australia. Magistrate Jay McGrath set an arraignment date in the District Court for January 15, 2021.
Police officers and SA community bid a public farewell to Joanne on May 8, with police flanking the streets of Adelaide’s inner south to say their last goodbyes.
One of the greatest comebacks in French Open history was almost in the hands of Stefanos Tsitsipas Saturday morning, yet was stolen away by a great performance by World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, beating the Greek tennis player 6-3 6-2 5-7 4-6 6-1.
With many highs and lows for both players, each competitor should be proud of the performance they put in during the French Open semi-final match.
Djokovic held great composure through almost the entire match, whereas Tsitsipas almost broke the Serbians incredible 215-1 record of winning after being two sets up.
The match looked grim for Tsitsipas from the opening hour as Djokovic defeated the World No. 6 with ease in the first two sets. The Serbian tennis player was unmatched as he maintained his high composure to take the points against a frustrated Tsitsipas.
Down but certainly not out, Tsitsipas came back in the third set to secure a tie-break victory. From 30-0 down, he drilled a backhand down the line winner and then a winning forehand down-the line on consecutive points to move to within two points of the set. At 30-30, Djokovic stumbled while moving to Tsitsipas’s low slice, dumping a forehand into the net.
This was only the beginning for the Greek.
Novak Djokovic in action during his semi final match against Stefanos Tsitsipas CREDIT: REUTERS/CHARLES PLATIAU
Djokovic crumbled in his service game during the fourth set from 40-15 to drop his serve and the set, closing off the run of four points with a drop shot into the net. Tsitsipas brought his youthful energy to power through Djokovic’s strong returns, forcing the game into a fifth and final set.
A valiant effort and hope for a grand final match by the Greek were sadly crushed in the final set by the intelligent World No. 1. Having secured the first few points of the game with well placed drop shots, the Serbian knew just how to beat the Greek World No. 6.
Djokovic gracefully secured five straight sets as Tsitsipas went on to lose the fifth and final set 6-1.
Until his match point at 6-3 6-2 *5-4 AD-40, Djokovic had saved 10/10 break points and won 4/5 break points. After the match point until the beginning of set 5, he won 1/10 break points and saved 1/5.
The Greeks of Australia should be proud of the Associations and Charities that they have created over the past 100 years. There are literally hundreds of such entities, and all of them, for many years have ensured the survival of our culture, language, and the cohesion of our community. That is, until, the last 10 years or so, as we have witnessed many such entities falling apart or more to the point, being torn apart.
Many Associations have sold off buildings and assets the past few years, yet we have not seen the end result of this in many instances. Have new buildings been purchased? Has the money been used in other ways? Transparency is paramount in Associations as the committees or boards are just caretakers of assets and monies that belong to the members. These assets and cash should be utilised to provide services to the members and the wider community. All fully accountable.
I have always held the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOC) as the premier body, as the “leadership” entity, that sets the pace for the Greeks of New South Wales, the Associations and Charities that are the foundation of our community as a whole. Its been around a long time, but it appears that it too, has increasingly becoming irrelevant.
I understand that at the Annual General Meeting to be held this coming Sunday, they intend to sell off the Lakemba site. The potential sale of this community asset, that underlies the Greek Community as a whole, leaves nothing that can be used as a gathering place for all Australian Greeks in New South Wales.
The community wants to see a plan, a strategy, a statement, that it can feel comfortable with. A timeline that will ensure a replacement facility is in place as soon as possible, and that it will happen. A secure commitment. These facilities bring the community together, without them, the community, the Greeks of New South Wales, our youth, begin to disperse and to lose their identity. There is an underlying incumbrance on the GOC NSW to let the entire community know what it is doing. Every single Greek in NSW is a member of this entity, because this is the reason it exists.
The NSW Government sees GOC NSW as representing the entire Greek Australian community of NSW. This is evident through the significant funding it receives from the Government. Yet only a handful of members and proxies will determine the future of this community group.
Then, following this is an Extraordinary General Meeting to propose a special resolution to put a plan forward to establish a Public Fund that has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, enabling it to receive gifts, bequests and donations from the public that are tax deductible. One must question what drives the need for such a Fund at this point, when the NSW Government adequately provides funds to support the activities of the GOC. GOC is already a Company limited by guarantee and therefore can apply for DGR status. Why a new fund? The community must ask this question.
All of a sudden, there is a requirement for funds that can be used for purposes that fall within the scope of the objects of which the Association was established. Money that will be managed by the Executive, which consists of 4 people, the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, without Board approval. What sort of craziness is this?
There are many questions the community must ask. What is the process to select a real estate agent? Where will the proceeds of the sale of Lakemba go? What happened to the proceeds of the sale of the Oxford Street property? Who manages these funds? The Board? Or the Executive? Further, in the event of the new Fund being wound up or dissolved, where will the money go? Money that rightfully should belong to the members, and that the members vote on where it should go. The motion clearly states that: “(viii) If upon winding up or dissolution of the Association all remaining assets of the fund after all liabilities have been satisfied shall not be paid or distributed among members of the Association or Fund but shall be given or transferred to some other institution or institutions .. “. This should be a decision of the members, not the GOC NSW, not the Executive and not the Board.
I am struggling to understand the ideology behind these moves, without a concrete plan. Without a shared or common vision. In the middle of a global pandemic. The timing is wrong. The resolutions are wrong. The thinking is clouded by the inward focus of these people who have been in these roles for far too many years, too many decades.
It is time the entire Greek community held COG NSW accountable, and all the other Associations and Charities accountable, for failing to be transparent, for failing the vision of the founding fathers. We have come a long way as a community since our parents and grandparents stepped foot on this land, but in the past 10 years or so, many of us have become entitled and are failing the Greek Australian community.
The GOC represents the entire Australian Greek community of New South Wales. You, me, everyone. We all deserve a say as to what happens; we all deserve a say as to who and how GOC is run. The gravy train stops with us all becoming members.
A community debate is brewing in Bondi after Wentworth Courier revealed on Wednesday the proposed plans to corner off a section of Bondi Beach and privatise it to build a new ‘Amalfi Beach Club’.
Still in early proposal stages, a letter was obtained by Wentworth Courier, written by North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club president Andrew Christopher to mayor Paula Masselos following the media storm.
“I note the proposal under consideration by Waverley Council to cordon off part of the beach for the exclusive use of fee paying private patrons,” Mr Christopher wrote.
“As representatives of one of Australia’s oldest Surf Life Saving Club, the Board of NBSLC has real concerns with this proposal, as it has been described in the media, and considers it to be at odds with the open and egalitarian access to the beach, and Bondi Beach especially, that has been a permanent and much cherished feature of Australian life.”
The beach club would rival those in Europe.
The beach club would cover 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.
The Greens have slammed the proposal with party member, proud First Nations man and Bondi Ward councillor Dominic WY Kanak vowing to vote against it should it come before a council meeting.
“If the beach belongs to anyone its First Nations land,” Cr WY Kanak said.
Waverley Councillor Dominic WY Kanak has vowed to fight the proposal. Photo: Western Courier
“No parts of Bondi Beach should be the exclusive playground for the elite and the rich.
“We will not allow the sale of our beaches.”
Amalfi Beach Club’s Janek Gazecki has defended the concept, pointing to the waves of support flowing in and the boost it would give to struggling local businesses.
He clarified the $80 per person fee to book a two hour slot in a cabana would be credited to the patron’s food and beverage bill which would be serviced by a revolving selection of local restaurants.
“It’s not a crime to have a premium database of high net worth individuals,” Mr Gazecki said.
Janek Gazecki has big plans for Bondi Beach. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett
“Most councils value that for very obvious reasons – they will spend more money in Bondi.
“It will operate an online booking system – first in, best dressed. We are not sitting there picking and choosing.”
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.
“Whoever doesn’t want to support the local restaurants in this way can simply sit on the beach as they always have done.”
Former Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos has told the hotel quarantine inquiry to treat the Premier’s evidence with “caution” and claimed it would be “nonsense” for her to be solely accountable for the failed program.
In her final submission to the board of inquiry, Ms Mikakos also said the state’s Jobs Minister should also be held responsible for the bungled program, which sparked the state’s second wave of coronavirus infections.
“It is respectfully submitted that the Board ought to treat with caution the Premier’s evidence where he sought to explain the reference to the use of private security in the hotel quarantine program,” the submission said.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 24: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media on August 24, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.
Mr Andrews told the inquiry he did not know who made the decision to use private security.
But Ms Mikakos said in her statement it was “implausible” that no-one made the decision and disputed claims it was made by “creeping assumptions”.
She told the inquiry the Premier would have known about the decision before his 3:00pm press conference on March 27.
“With respect, such a submission has insufficient regard to the realities of governmental operation and decision-making,” her submission said.
Ms Mikakos also suggested the “root cause” of the failed program came from a decision made by the Premier to “subvert” the usual Cabinet process.
“Had the Hotel Quarantine Program been the product of a Cabinet or Cabinet Committee decision, these issues would not have arisen,” her submission said.
“More importantly, such a process would have enabled differing views and potential risks and weakness with the program to be identified and addressed prior to its establishment.”
Mr Andrews has refused to comment on Jenny Mikakos’ final submission to the Hotel Quarantine Inquiry this morning.
“I haven’t got time to be engaging in debates and discussions,” he said.
The premier said he has not spoken to the former health minister since she resigned.
No door-knocking and handshakes has left more than 2,100 hundred Victorian council candidates exploring other opportunities for gaining supporters.
Speaking to The ABC, Hume council candidate John Karagiannidis says hiring professionals to deliver campaign material is costing himself and other candidates “thousands”.
“The last election we had candidates standing outside the post office handing out leaflets,” said Mr Karagiannidis.
“I’ve engaged Australia Post to deliver outside of Sunbury.”
Letterboxing large parts of Jacksons Creek ward, in the Hume council area, is unfeasible under stage four restrictions and time limits.
With Jacksons Creek ward stretching over 283 square kilometres from Tullamarine in the south, letterboxing is simply unfeasible under stage four restrictions and time limits.
According to The ABC, Karagiannidis is allowed to drop leaflets beyond the 5 kilometre radius of his home, but with two hour restrictions and a massive area to cover, the opportunities are limited.
In neighbouring Melton, first time candidate Deepti Alurkar has taken her campaign online, meeting constituents through video conferences.
“The campaign would have looked very different if it was not in this current scenario,” Ms Alurkar said.
Deepti Alurkar is trying to find new ways to build a profile in the local government elections in Melton.(ABC News: Peter Drought)
“We are just trying to find ways and different ideas to overcome the challenges.
“For the first timer runners it’s ever harder to get their names out there.
“People who are already councillors, who are already in the positions, they definitely are having an advantage over someone who’s running the campaign for the first time.”
The Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will be the special guest at The Hellenic Initiative Australia’s inaugural Digital Conversation Series event being held on Tuesday, 20 October 2020 at 6.30pm (AEDT).
The Prime Minister will be joined by Andrew N Liveris AO, THI’s Global Chairman, for a one-hour discussion around the theme Greece reborn and the role of the Greek Diaspora.
This is the first Australian live stream event the Prime Minister has participated in since coming to office in 2019.
“We are honoured that the Greek Prime Minister has accepted our invitation to speak directly to Greek Australians about the role we can all play as a stronger Greece emerges from its years of crisis,” said THI Australia President, Nicholas Pappas AM.
“This promises to be a thought-provoking conversation between two outstanding and dynamic political and business leaders.”
“We are particularly pleased to be starting this dialogue as we approach the 2021 celebrations marking 200 years since the Greek Revolution that led to the creation of the modern Greek State,” Mr Pappas said.
Since 2014, THI Australia has supported a range of not-for-profit charities in Greece delivering health, social services, education and employment programs.
Registration for this event is essential. As spaces are limited, please register to secure your participation.
Greece’s National Organization for Public Health (EODY) reported 436 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, which brings the nationwide total since the start of the health crisis to 21,381.
The official death toll has increased to 430 after six people tragically lost their lives with the virus in the past 24-hour period. The death toll is still only half of Australia’s total death count, which remains at 897 lives lost.
14.8 percent of infected cases are considered related to travel from abroad, and 40.8 percent are related to an already known case.
Map of infections in the last ten days, according to regional units – based on infected permanent or temporary residence.
91 Greek citizens are being treated by intubation, however up to 80 of those people are recorded as being over 70 years old or having an underlying disease, raising concerns for their recovery.
The total number of coronavirus tests conducted in the country reached 1,390,270, and the number of Rapid Ag tests rose to 20,079.
A Greek court on Thursday adjourned the sentencing procedure for 18 former lawmakers of the extreme right-wing Golden Dawn party and others convicted in the case, a day after the three-member panel of judges delivered a landmark verdict deeming the party a criminal organization.
The court hearing will resume Friday morning with summations by the lawyers representing the former lawmakers, including the party’s leader, with arguments on mitigating circumstances for more lenient sentences to be imposed.
Wednesday’s verdict was the culmination of a five-year, politically charged trial that involved 68 defendants — party officials, members, and alleged supporters — more than 200 witnesses and over 60 lawyers. About 20,000 people held an anti-fascist rally outside the courthouse for the verdict, and thousands more held a similar rally in the northern city of Thessaloniki.
Magda Fyssa, the mother of late Greek rap singer Pavlos Fyssas, who was stabbed and killed by a supporter of the extreme right Golden Dawn party in 2013 triggering a crackdown on the party, celebrates after the announcement of a court decision in Athens, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Golden Dawn, founded as a neo-Nazi group in the 1980s, rose to prominence during Greece’s brutal near decade-long financial crisis that began in 2009, and became the country’s third largest party. Considered a model for many extreme-right groups in Europe and beyond, it held parliamentary seats from 2012 until 2019, when its popularity plummeted in national elections.
Government spokesman Stelios Petsas described the court decision as being of “historic importance,” and added: “What is important is that democracy prevailed.”
Sparked by the 2013 fatal stabbing of left-wing Greek rap singer Pavlos Fyssas, the trial wrapped four cases into one: Fyssas’ killing; physical attacks against Egyptian fishermen in 2012 and on left-wing activists in 2013; and whether Golden Dawn was operating as a criminal organization.
The court ruled that of the 18 former party lawmakers on trial, seven, including party leader Nikos Michaloliakos, were guilty of leading a criminal organization. They face between five and 15 years in prison. The other 11 were deemed guilty of participating in a criminal organization, a charge that carries a potential sentence of five to 10 years.
