Greek Australian, George Kambosos Jr, has set his sights on taking down Teofimo Lopez’s lightweight IBF world title.
He has what it takes – hunger, discipline and above all, sacrifice.
In fact, speaking on Sky Sports’ Big Sports Breakfast this morning, Kambosos explained just how much of a sacrifice he had to make to achieve his boxing dream.
He had to leave his young family behind for about seven weeks to go up against, and ultimately beat, Lee Selby in an IBF lightweight world title eliminator in the United Kingdom.
“I left Australia six, seven weeks ago for Miami where my training base is,” Kambosos said on the podcast.
“I left my family in the middle of a pandemic to fight in the US, prepare there and then fly to another danger zone where the pandemic is really bad in the UK to get the job done on enemy territory.
“It’s a tough time to be away especially when you have two kids at an early age. My young son he took his first steps and I wasn’t there but that’s the sacrifice as a fighter. I’m taking risks. I’ve now had seven fights in a row abroad and I truly deserved to be in the position I’m in.”
George Kambosos Jr has set his sights on taking down Teofimo Lopez’s lightweight IBF world title.
After his victory against Lee Selby, Kambosos is now expected to fight Teofimo Lopez in early March to April next year, but insists he would get in the ring tomorrow if he had the option.
“If it could be tomorrow I’d take it tomorrow, I’m still on a high, I’ve been training non-stop in quarantine and doing as much as I can do in a hotel room,” he said.
And after several fights abroad, Kambosos Jr. is firm on wanting to keep this fight down under, describing it as “the biggest fight in Australian history.”
“Our priority is Sydney or Melbourne, it all depends on Melbourne with the COVID. If we can pack out 50-60,000 people, this will be the biggest fight in Australian history. A unified title fight,” Kambosos can he heard saying.
“I know a lot of people will doubt me but I love that underdog mentality. I thrive on being the underdog. This is a big opportunity for myself.”
There’s no doubt the rising boxing star believes it is his time and he will be willing to sacrifice it all again.
Stephen Fry has called for the UK to ‘stand on the right side of history’ and return the Parthenon Marbles to Athens from the British Museum.
Fry shared a petition on Twitter called, ‘Lost My Marbles,’ demanding the return of the Marbles to their country of origin and supporting the call for the British Museum ‘to accept repatriation requests.’
“Please sign the Reunite Marbles petition to give power to the Trustees of the British Museum to consider their reunification #LostMyMarbles,” Fry wrote in the Twitter post.
At the time of writing, over 2,000 people have signed the petition.
The Parthenon Marbles have long been the subject of dispute over their home in the London museum. They have been on permanent public display there since 1817, when they were stripped off the Parthenon by Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, and transported to the UK.
The Acropolis Museum in Athens, which has the remaining sculptures that were left in Greece, has left space empty for their return.
Multiple Greek governments have called for their return since the 1980’s and their continued presence in the British Museum has been touted as a possible sticking point in negotiations between the UK and the EU on their future trading relationship.
Greek authorities have arrested a refugee whose son died while attempting to reach a Greek island from the nearby Turkish coast on suspicion of endangering a life, a crime that could carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The 25-year-old man and his 6-year-old son, both Afghans, were among a total of 25 people who were found on the shores of the eastern Aegean island of Samos early Sunday.
The coast guard said the body of the 6-year-old boy was found with one woman on a part of the coast that was particularly difficult to access, while the others were found in small groups elsewhere.
According to the coast guard, the refugees said they had come across from the Turkish coast in a dinghy. Authorities said it was unclear what had happened to the boat, and exactly how the child had died.
The coast guard said Monday a 23-year-old who had been identified as having driven the boat was arrested on suspicion of smuggling, while the boy’s 25-year-old father was arrested on suspicion of violating endangerment laws.
Greece is one of the most popular routes for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa and hoping to enter the European Union. The vast majority make their way to eastern Greek islands from the nearby Turkish coast.
Although the distance is small, the journey is often perilous, with smugglers frequently using unseaworthy and vastly overcrowded boats and dinghies that sometimes capsize or sink.
Although it is common for Greek authorities to arrest whoever is identified as having steered a refugee vessel to Greece, in the cases of shipwrecks it is rare for the surviving parents of children who die to be charged with criminal offences.
“These charges are a direct attack on the right to seek asylum and it is outrageous that a grieving father is being punished for seeking safety for him and his child,” Josie Naughton, founder of the aid organisation Help Refugees/Choose Love, said.
“Criminalising people that are seeking safety and protection shows the failure of the European Union to find a solution to unsafe migration routes that forced thousands to risk their lives to seek protection.”
The Federal Government will extend the JobSeeker unemployment benefit — at a lower rate — until the end of March 2021.
The $815 a fortnight payment will be reduced to $715 a fortnight from December.
The Government added a coronavirus supplement onto the JobSeeker payment at the start of the COVID-19 crisis.
That fortnightly supplement, initially $550 and currently $250, was due to expire at Christmas but will now be extended by three months.
“Today’s announcement… will see more and more businesses and Australians graduate from the economic supports that were so essential over these many months,” Mr Morrison said.
The coronavirus supplement is also paid to people on parenting payments and eight other income support payments, including Youth Allowance and Farm Household Allowance.
The JobSeeker payment replaced the former Newstart unemployment benefit.
Having faced years of criticism for the pre-pandemic rate of about $40 a day, the Government is yet to announce a new permanent rate for JobSeeker.
Mr Morrison said the Government would consider a new permanent JobSeeker rate “at a later time.”
“What we are focused on right now is the emergency measures that need to be in place for the pandemic,” he said.
Mr Morrison said the supplement extension would cost the budget an extra $3.2 billion.
During the opening of the 5th EU-Arab World Summit on Monday, Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressed his belief that Greece will emerge victorious from the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am sure the Greek economy will experience a very robust recovery once a coronavirus vaccine is found,” Mitsotakis said in an online discussion with CNN journalist John Defterios.
“In Greece, savings are increasing, which means that people will want to spend when the pandemic is over. And businesses will want to invest. And smart companies are already investing.”
Mitsotakis mentioned a primary interest in the hotel and tourism sectors and beyond, as in the investments of Abu Dhabi Capital Group LLC in fish farming and state-of-the-art food technologies.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke during the opening of the 5th EU-Arab World Summit on Monday.
He also spoke of investments by Microsoft in building three large-scale data centers in Greece and by Volkswagen in turning the Greek island of Astypalea into a smart e-mobility model.
In addition, he noted, financial institutions have expressed interest post-Brexit in establishing a presence in Greece.
“We offer enough incentives to allow them to do that. Greece must turn into a financial hub for the greater region,” the Prime Minister said.
The pandemic has created investment opportunities at European level as well, he added, as the EU now “borrows as a supranational entity to strengthen the member states.”
Mitsotakis said the EU recovery fund will also assist in the recovery, which will be accompanied by investment and increased consumption after the vaccine becomes available.
“The coronavirus pandemic will have winners and some losers. I’m convinced of that. And I am pretty sure that Greece will be on the side of the winners,” he said.
Regarding Greece-Turkey relations, the Prime Minister said Greece is ready for a discussion aimed at resolving problems in the context of international law.
Responding to a reporter’s question on whether Greece would be willing to share energy resources with Turkey, he clarified that “this is not something under discussion” and reiterated that the two countries first need to define and delimit maritime zones in a fair manner.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, has replied to Federal Member for Adelaide Steve Georganas’ second and most recent letter with regards to the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In his letter, signed September 11 and addressed to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister Payne, MP Georganas was urging the Australian government to “utilise all possible avenues and diplomatic channels available to encourage a peaceful resolution of this critical situation in the Eastern Mediterranean – and highlight the importance of achieving sustained mutual respect and understanding in the region.”
Mr Georganas’, first letter to the Australian Prime Minister was penned in August 2020.
In her reply to the Greek Australian politician, signed Thursday 5 November, Minister Payne writes:
Dear Mr Georganas
Thank you for your letter of 11 September 2020 regarding rising tensions occurring in the Easter Mediterranean. I understand the Prime Minister has also responded to your letter to him on this issue.
As noted by the Prime Minister, the Government is actively monitoring tensions between Turkey and Greece, including over Turkey’s proposed exploration activity in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are concerned about the potential for further escalation of the situation and support a peaceful resolution, through dialogue and negotiation, in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Thank you for bringing your concerns and those of your constituents to the attention of the Government.
Yours Sincerely
Marise Payne
Greek Foreign Minister urges Germany to halt sale of submarines to Turkey:
On Monday, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias urged Germany to halt the sale of Type 214 class submarines to Turkey, saying that the move would upset the existing power balance and enable Ankara to destabilize the Eastern Mediterranean.
In an article in Die Welt newspaper, Dendias said that the German submarines – the Hellenic Navy currently has four such vessels – “give us a strategic advantage in the Southeast Mediterranean and the Aegean.”
Η πρόθεσή μας να υπερασπιστούμε την εθνική κυριαρχία μας και τα κυριαρχικά δικαιώματά μας είναι σαφής. Δεν θα ανεχθούμε ουδεμία τέτοια απόπειρα. Κανένα τετελεσμένο. Και αυτό το γνωρίζει πολύ καλά η Τουρκία. #protothema
“If Germany delivers [these vessels], Turkey will again have an advantage against Greece,” Dendias said.
Ankara has ordered six Type 214 submarines.
In the same article, Dendias said that Germany’s “policy of appeasement” in dealing with Turkey had failed, a fact manifested by the fresh deployment of its Oruc Reis research vessel.
Pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, have announced that early results from its coronavirus vaccine suggest the shots may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19.
Pfizer and German partner, BioNTech SE, are the first drug-makers to show successful data from a large-scale clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine, putting them on track to apply for emergency-use approval from the US Food and Drug Administration later this month.
If authorised, the number of vaccine doses will initially be limited. Many questions also remain, including how long the vaccine will provide protection.
This October 2020 photo provided by Pfizer shows part of a “freezer farm,” a football field-sized facility for storing finished COVID-19 vaccines, under construction in Kalamazoo, Mich. Photo: Jeremy Davidson/Pfizer via AP.
However, the news provides hope that other vaccines in development against the coronavirus may also prove effective.
“Today is a great day for science and humanity,” Albert Bourlas, Pfizer’s chairman and chief executive, said in a statement.
“We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen.”
Speaking later on CNBC, Bourlas added that the vaccine was “a light at the end of the tunnel.”
“When you realise your vaccine has 90% effectiveness, that’s overwhelming,” Mr Bourlas said.
“I am very happy but at the same time, sometimes I have tears in my eyes when I realise that this is the end of nine months, day-and-night work of so many people and how many people, billions, invested hopes on this. I never thought it would be 90%.”
This May 4, 2020, file photo provided by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, shows the first patient enrolled in Pfizer’s COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine clinical trial at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Photo: Courtesy of University of Maryland School of Medicine via AP, File.
Pfizer said the interim analysis was conducted after 94 participants in the trial developed COVID-19, examining how many of them received the vaccine versus a placebo.
The company did not break down exactly how many of those who fell ill received the vaccine. Still, over 90% effectiveness implies that no more than 8 of the 94 people who caught COVID-19 had been given the vaccine, which was administered in two shots about three weeks apart.
The efficacy rate is well above the 50% effectiveness required by the US Food and Drug Administration for a coronavirus vaccine.
Pfizer and BioNTech have a $1.95 billion contract with the US government to deliver 100 million vaccine doses beginning this year. They have also reached supply agreements with the European Union, the UK, Canada and Japan.
To save time, the companies began manufacturing the vaccine before they knew whether it would be effective. They now expect to produce up to 50 million doses or enough vaccine to protect 25 million people this year.
Pfizer said it expects to produce up to 1.3 billion doses of the vaccine in 2021.
Greece’s Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, spoke over the phone on Monday with Australia’s Foreign Minister, Marise Payne.
According to a tweet by Dendias, the Foreign Minister’s discussed strengthening bilateral co-operation, combating the effects of the pandemic, regional issues and co-ooperation between Greece and Australia in the framework of international organisations.
I spoke by phone to #Australia FM @MarisePayne. Strengthening bilateral cooperstion, tackling #COVID19 impact, regional issues & 🇬🇷🇦🇺 cooperation in the context of international organizations in focus.
Just last year, in a statement announcing Australia’s new Ambassador to Greece, Arthur Spyrou, Marise Payne praised the strong relations between both countries.
“Australia and Greece have an enduring relationship built on strong people-to-people links and bonds forged during both world wars,” Payne wrote in the statement.
“400,000 Australians claim Greek heritage, and this community has made a special contribution to developing and enriching contemporary Australia.”
The recent telephone conversation between the Foreign Ministers is set to only deepen these relations.
John Koutroumbis from Newcastle Jets FC, Tass Mourdoukoutas from Western Sydney Wanderers FC and Nicholas Sorras from Sydney Olympic have all been named in the Olyroos squad for two upcoming friendlies in Sydney.
All three Greek Australians, along with 24 other players, will participate in Australia’s U-23 men’s national football team training camp in Sydney over the next nine days.
The entirely domestic-based selection features eleven players from the squad that helped Australia qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in January this year, when Australia secured third place at the AFC U-23 Championship in Thailand.
While in camp, the Australia U-23 selection will play two friendly fixtures against A-League clubs –
The first against Sydney FC on Thursday, 12 November 2020 (kick-off 7:00pm AEDT) at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah.
The second on Tuesday, 17 November 2020 against the competition’s newest club, Macarthur FC (kick-off 3:00pm AEDT) at the same venue.
The team’s Head Coach, Graham Arnold, said players arrived in Sydney with a spring in their step.
“After a year of little national team activity, the players arrived yesterday eager to be back in camp and to resume the journey to Tokyo,” Arnold said.
“This group of players – and the many more we are monitoring in Australia and overseas – have the opportunity to be part of a special period in Olyroos history as we work towards Tokyo.
“The next nine days and the forthcoming A-League season represents a fresh start and a great opportunity for all players to push their case for Olyroos selection in Tokyo.”
A limited number of tickets (due to COVID-19 protocols) will be available for the first fixture between Australia U-23 and Sydney FC, with tickets on sale now via Ticketek.
In this year’s local government elections in Victoria, there were 67 Greek Australians running in 24 councils and shires. With the election now officially over, The Greek Herald can report that 18 of those Greek Australians have been elected to seats. That number could grow as results continue to come in from councils such as Brimbank and Warrnambool.
Here’s the list of the elected Greek Australians so far:
1. Fiona Mitsinikos, Banyule City Council (Hawdon Ward):
Fiona Mitsinikos was elected as the new Councillor for Hawdon Ward in the Banyule City Council.
In a Facebook post after the election result was announced, she thanked the community and her family for their support during her campaign.
“I’ve met some fantastic residents as I hand delivered 6000 brochures every week for 3 weeks. We’ve chatted, we’ve laughed, talked about their concerns & hopes for Hawdon & now I’m so excited to be able to make a change,” Mrs Mitsinikos wrote.
“I look forward to meeting many more residents over the next 4 years as we work together for Hawdon & Banyule.”
2. Emily Dimitriadis, Darebin Council (South East Ward):
A hospital pharmacist and human rights lawyer, Emily Dimitriadis works to support multicultural and refugee communities, assist survivors of family violence and push for social and gender equality.
In September, Emily told The Greek Herald that she was running for the South-East Ward of Darebin because she had “lived her whole life” there and she wanted “to make a positive difference.”
After the election results were announced, Emily took to Facebook to thank her supporters.
“A big thank you to all the residents who took the time to contact me to discuss issues that mattered. I encourage you all to keep reaching out to me so we can make Darebin the best it can be,” she wrote.
3.Peter Dimarelos, Banyule City Council (Olympia Ward):
4.Peter Kotsos, Baw Baw Shire (East Ward)
5. Nick Stavrou, Boroondara (Studley Ward):
Nick Stavrou’s slogan for his election campaign was “To Better Serve Our Community,” and it looks like his message resonated with Studley Ward residents.
In a Facebook post, Mr Stavrou thanked residents for voting for him, saying he will “honour” their trust moving forward.
“To everyone who voted for me, I thank you and say to you that I am truly humbled by the privilege, trust and honour you have bestowed on me, and pledge that I will honour this trust,” Mr Stavrou wrote.
6. Virginia Tachos, Brimbank (Horseshoe Bend Ward):
7. Tony Athanasopoulos, Glen Eira Council (Rosstown Ward):
Tony Athanasopoulos was re-elected for a second term on Glen Eira Council. He wrote on Facebook that he was “super proud and excited” to be returning.
“Thank you for all the support. Now it’s time to get the job done!” Mr Athanasopoulos wrote.
8. Joseph Haweil, Hume Council (Aitken Ward):
Joseph Haweil is a Greek-Syrian councillor and he was re-elected to a second term on Hume City Council. He secured a 24 percent increase on his 2016 primary vote.
“My immense appreciation to all those who supported my campaign not only by voting for me but also by calling friends and family, making a campaign contribution, putting up corflutes and posters and getting the word out through social media. I owe this success to you all,” Mr Haweil wrote on social media.
9. Sophie Ramsay, Melton Council (Coburn Ward):
Sophia Ramsey (nee Kantartzopoulou) has been a Councillor in Melton City Council since 2001 (5 terms) and has held the position of Mayor for four times (2002-2003,2005-2006,2014-2015,2016-2017).
Re-election is a pleasing result for her, especially as she has been a local resident of Coburn Ward for over 30 years.
“l love this community, l was brought up with strong family values of giving back to the community and serving them for the past 19 years has been an honour,” Mrs Ramsey told The Greek Herald in September. “This community inspires me daily.”
10. Paul Klisaris, Monash Council (Mulgrave Ward):
11. Tasa Damante, Maroondah Council (Wicklow Ward):
Tasa Damante is a proud Greek Australian who has been elected to her seat of Wicklow Ward in Maroondah Council.
Damante already has exciting infrastructure projects in the works for her precinct, including the new multi-level carpark at Devon St in Croydon and the Croydon Community Wellbeing Precinct.
“I look forward to getting our local businesses back on track after a very difficult year, and working with business and industry leaders, together with education providers and all levels of government, to make Maroondah an economic, jobs, and commercial hub in the outer-east,” she wrote on Facebook after her victory.
12. Theo Zographos, Monash Council (Oakleigh Ward):
“What an honour. Thank you so much Monash,” Theo Zographos exclaimed on social media once election results were released and he was re-elected to the seat of Oakleigh Ward.
Zographos is excited to be working with the community for the next four years.
13. Helen Pavlidis-Mihalakos, Moreland Council (North-East Ward):
Helen Pavlidis-Mihalakos was successfully elected as a councillor in the North-East Ward. On social media, Helen wrote that she was “humbled and deeply grateful” for the support she received during her campaign.
“My sincerest and heartfelt thank you to my family, friends and the many volunteers who have ‘walked’ this journey alongside me,” she wrote on Facebook.
“I will work hard over the next 4 years to make Moreland a greater place to live, work and play.”
14. Angelica Panopoulos, Moreland Council (North-West Ward):
Angelica Panopoulos grew up in Glenroy and is currently studying law, international studies and the Greek language.
Her election to Moreland Council is something she’s extremely excited about, writing simply on Facebook: “Maybe I’ll have some more eloquent words later but for now wooooo!!!”
15. Lambros Tapinos, Moreland Council (South Ward):
Lambros Tapinos was re-elected to the Moreland Council seat of South Ward with 4,924 votes.
“I am honoured to have been re-elected to Moreland City Council. I would like to thank the voters in South Ward for putting their trust in me to represent them,” Tapinos wrote in a Facebook statement.
“I look forward to getting back to work for you and making Moreland an even better place.”
16. Jim Doukas, Moyne Shire Council:
17. Jami Klisaris, Stonnington Council (East Ward):
Jami Klisaris has been a Councillor for Stonnington City Council for eight years.
At the age of 20, she became Stonnington’s youngest Councillor and the youngest female Councillor elected in the 2012 Victorian Local Government elections. In November 2016, Jami became Stonnington’s youngest Mayor at 24, serving until November 2017.
Her re-election means she will serve the community for another four years.
She has studied at Monash University, completing an Arts and Law degree, and she currently works for the Australian Public Sector. Her parents are from Evia and Crete.
18. Melanie Likos, Strathbogie Shire Council, Lake Nagambie Ward:
Melanie Likos says she’s “proud” to be elected to the Strathbogie Shire Council seat of Lake Nagambie Ward.
“Thank you to everyone who supported, encouraged and voted for me during this campaign,” she wrote on social media.
