On Wednesday, February 14, a heated discussion took place in Greek Parliament in Athens regarding the same-sex marriage bill.
According toEkathimerini, the bill is set to be voted on today. As requested by Greece’s left-wing main opposition party, SYRIZA, and the coalition formed by the far-right party, the Spartans and the religious nationalist party Niki, the vote will take place by roll call.
If the same-sex marriage bill is approved, it will allow same-sex couples full parental rights, however, male partners would not be allowed to seek children born in Greece through surrogacy.
In Parliament on Wednesday, tensions rose following the anticipated internal dissent among New Democracy (ND) and PASOK with the upcoming vote, with potential unexpected developments from other parties. Archbishop Hieronymus also joined the discussion, urging for a named vote.
Despite there being plenty of support for the bill, which will promote marriage equality for all Greek citizens regardless of sexual orientation, there were objections and confrontations between different people and parties involved in the discussion.
Akis Skertsos. Photo: Ekathimerini.
“The society is changing and evolving, with or without the parliament’s permission,” State Minister Akis Skertsos emphasised.
“We call on ND lawmakers to vote for marriage equality, not against our political beliefs or social tradition, but precisely because we believe in tradition and social cohesion.”
The bill was revealed to be supported by New Democracy, SYRIZA, PASOK, New Left and Plefsi Eleftheras (Course of Freedom).
The far-right party Greek Solution, Spartans and Niki and communist KKE oppose it.
Despite the Greek church’s opposition to the bill, if the bill is passed, it would make Greece the first majority Orthodox Christian country to legalise same-sex marriage.
Are you someone who’s lost all hope and decided to give up on love and finding “the one”?
What if we told you it’s never too late?
Let me introduce you to John Stavropoulos and Kathy Vlahos, a couple from Canberra, who married after more than 25 years of knowing each other, being friends, having secret crushes on one another and skipping all the signs.
Their unexpected yet beautiful journey began in their thirties.
“I first saw Kathy about 30 years ago as she was walking past Café Della Piazza, a coffee shop in the city,” John tells The Greek Herald.
“I was with one of my friends that knew her brother, and I asked him, ‘who is that?’, and he told me and then I kept my eye on her for many years after that.”
The day after Kathy and John got engaged.
Kathy says she always had a crush on John. Her brother Bill and John were best friends and they would sometimes go out together in a parea (group of people), where they’d often end up sitting next to each other.
“I didn’t ever think he liked me though, because he never made a move on me,” she adds.
In 2016, Kathy went on a trip to America where she found an ice ball that you pair with scotch or vodka and decided to buy it for John to show him that she was thinking of him.
“When I got home, I went to John to service my car (as he is a mechanic), and I also gave him the present, and he simply said “thanks,” and that was it,” she says.
“I then decided to stop thinking about John, as I could tell he wasn’t interested.”
The couple then continued to do their own thing.
“My parents constantly encouraged me to give people a chance, and it was the same with John and his parents, but I had just decided I would be single,” Kathy says.
“Then, when I stopped looking for it, and least expected it, I kept crossing paths with John.”
John said the couple kept bumping into each other coincidentally.
“I remember taking my dad for some check-ups and tests at the pharmacy, and then out of nowhere, I run into Kathy,” John explains. “Then it kept happening and it felt like we were meant to find one another.”
After many months, one night Kathy received a message from John.
“He texted me saying, ‘thanks for the ice ball, it’s great’… then a few months following that, he called me for my birthday and said that I should bring my car in for a service, and then suggested we go for a drink,” Kathy says.
“I then went silent thinking, ‘did I hear right?’… I said ‘yes’.”
John and Kathy had their first date at Monster Bar in Canberra. They began dating in February 2018.
“We dated for about three months, and we fell for each other instantly,” Kathy says.
“I then had to break the news to John that I would be going overseas to Greece in June, as it was already booked prior to me dating him.
The night the couple got engaged.
“I worried that by going to Greece it would get too hard from him, despite all our Facetime calls and texts. He decided to book a ticket to Greece, after almost two months of me being there.”
When John had told Kathy, she thought he was coming to break up with her. However, John had other intentions – he booked a six-week trip and had something important to ask Kathy.
On 10 August 2018, John landed in Athens and told Kathy he wanted to take her out to a special dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Acropolis in Athens the next day.
“When we went to dinner, John kept saying, ‘I feel sick, I feel sick’ and I was saying, ‘why?’ I knew you shouldn’t have eaten the fish,” Kathy says.
“Next thing I knew, he pulled out a ring from his pocket and asked me to marry him – I was in shock and began crying.
“Conveniently, the next day, my uncle had organised a big barbeque in Kopanaki, Messinias, Greece – as I told them John was coming to visit – and it ended up being our impromptu engagement party and John and I were so happy and excited to share our news with everyone.”
The BBQ following John and Kathy’s proposal.
John and Kathy got married the following year, on Saturday, July 20, in Kastorio, Laconia, at one of the only remaining ancient Byzantine churches in Greece. More than 300 guests from Greece, and 100 guests from Australia, attended the couple’s special day. There were plenty of fireworks, traditional gun shots, delicious food, and non-stop dancing going until 8 am.
The wedding day.
John and Kathy got married in 2019 in Greece.
The wedding in Greece.
John and Kathy in the church.
John and Kathy welcomed over 400 guests.
John and Kathy got married in one of the only ancient Byzantine churches remaining in Greece.
They had a big wedding with people from Australia and Greece.
John and Kathy took to the dance floor.
John and Kathy said they wouldn’t have their love story any other way.
In 2020, the couple welcomed their two beautiful twin girls, Panayiota and Ioanna.
“The only thing I’d change is us getting together 5-10 years earlier, as we could have had more time and a few more kids,” Kathy says.
“Even now, realistically, we didn’t expect to have kids in our 50’s, but we both love kids very much and we were blessed to have our two gorgeous girls.
“We feel so blessed for everything we have achieved.
“When you look into a person’s eyes, you can tell if they are a good person, and when I met John… I just knew it was true love.”
The Karpathian Progressive Association of Canberra came together on Sunday, February 11 to host their annual BBQ and cutting of the Vasilopita event.
The event united the community, welcoming not only the Karpathians, but their friends and families who were given the opportunity to become members of the Association upon attending. This would allow them to attend any future events held by the Association throughout the year, as well as participate in formal discussions and meetings.
Karpathian Association of Canberra holds annual BBQ ahead of 65th anniversary celebrations.
Karpathian Association of Canberra holds annual BBQ ahead of 65th anniversary celebrations.
The Greek Herald spoke with one of the Association’s longest-standing members Fina Vassiliotis (known for previously holding the role of President and Vice President), who said the event was a huge success.
“It’s always a pleasure to come together and celebrate our shared heritage,” Ms Vassiliotis said.
“I remember when I was one of the only women on the committee… and now, seeing more women actively involved and attending events like our annual BBQ fills me with pride. It’s a testament to how far we’ve come.”
Karpathian Association of Canberra holds annual BBQ ahead of 65th anniversary celebrations.
Karpathian Association of Canberra holds annual BBQ ahead of 65th anniversary celebrations.
Karpathian Association of Canberra holds annual BBQ ahead of 65th anniversary celebrations.
Ms Vassiliotis said the Karpathian Progressive Association of Canberra has a strong history which dates back to the 1960s and still holds a special place in the hearts of its members.
“Every year, we come together for the BBQ and our annual Christmas party,” she explained. “It’s a time for our members to reconnect, share stories, and strengthen bonds.”
This year’s BBQ featured Greek music, plenty of food such as sausages, souvlakia, salads, sweets and watermelon, as well as plenty of refreshments. A Vasilopita was also cut by the Association’s members to kick off the new year.
Karpathian Association of Canberra holds annual BBQ ahead of 65th anniversary celebrations.
“We all pitched in to make sure the event was a success,” she noted. “It’s a testament to the camaraderie that defines our association.”
Ms Vassiliotis said this year, upon cutting the Vasilopita, two lucky individuals also won a coin (or flouri) in the cake. They each received a 5-year membership with the Association.
Karpathian Association of Canberra holds annual BBQ ahead of 65th anniversary celebrations.
“We wanted to add a special touch to the tradition. It’s our way of showing appreciation to our members and fostering long-lasting connections,” she said.
Around 100 people attended. Some of the special guests who attended included the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Antonis Sammoutis, and local dignitaries including James Milligan MLA.
“Having esteemed guests join us underscores the importance of our association within the broader community,” Ms Vassiliotis said.
“It’s a testament to the respect and admiration our organisation commands.”
The long-standing Karpathian Association member stated that events like this are vital to help preserve cultural heritage and foster a sense of belonging.
“Events like these are essential,” Ms Vassiliotis said.
“They remind us of who we are and where we come from. They unite us in a shared purpose and keep our traditions alive for generations to come.”
The Karpathian Progressive Association of Canberra looks forward to hosting their next event, the Tuross Fishing Classic competition, on February 24 and 25.
Professor of medicine and endocrinologist, Dr. Katherine Samaras said she’d never seen a medication gain popularity in the way that Ozempic and weight reduction injections have.
Australia’s drug regulator is looking into at least three fatalities that might be linked to Ozempic and other weight loss injections.
Leonie Margetts’ daughter, Naomi, died after taking Ozempic injections she’d ordered online, as reported by NineNow.
Ozempic exploded in popularity for its weight loss effects. Photo: NineNow / 60 Minutes.
39-year-old Naomi was desperate to be a mother, and was told she needed to lose weight to have any chance of falling pregnant.
“You just do not expect to find your daughter on her knees in front of the toilet bowl dead,” Margetts said.
“She [Naomi] was a week away from turning 40 and that’s a big thing for any female, she was feeling very vulnerable.”
Dr Samaras cautions that Ozempic is only licensed in Australia for diabetes and should only be administered under strict supervision of a doctor.
“We shouldn’t leave these drugs in the hands of people, it has to be supervised,” Dr Samaras said.
20-year-old, Kiera Rorris completed a year of fitness and sport science at Australian Catholic University before transferring to TAFE for vet nursing, leaving her with a $13,000 HECS debt.
Rorris, alongside fellow students and graduates will soon owe the government a staggering $84 billion in HECS-HELP debt payments in June, when the value of student loans rises in tandem with inflation.
Average HECS-HELP debts are expected to rise by $1000, leaving millions of Australians paying the government more, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s commitment to provide cost-of-living assistance through tax cuts.
Kiera Rorris, who has accumulated a HECS debt of $13,000 through her studies. Photo: Richard Dobson.
Key senate crossbencher, Jacqui Lambie declared on Wednesday that hiking student loans every year in line with inflation was a “whole new low”.
“I don’t think HECS should be indexed, we should be making it easier for young people to get ahead, not harder,” Lambie said.
In addition, Rorris labelled the HECS indexation “ridiculous”.
“It’s hypocritical to bring in a tax cut to then make us pay it in a different way. They are pretty much just moving the money from one place to another,” Rorris said.
According to The Daily Telegraph, people earning $50,000 or less per year who do not repay HECS would receive an additional $929 in tax reduction under Mr Albanese’s modified Stage 3 tax cuts, while those earning $90,000 will benefit by $1,929 per year.
The increase in HECS debts might wind up being bigger than the value of the annual tax savings that Australians are slated to get from July.
A jury heard on Tuesday that secret recordings have captured Sydney construction boss George Alex discussing how to conceal a $13 million tax fraud syndicate from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
George, his son Arthur Alex, Mark Ronald Bryers, Gordon McAndrew, Lindsay John Kirschberg, and Pasquale Loccisano are now part of a six-month trial in the NSW Supreme Court at Darlinghurst after pleading not guilty to conspiring to cause a loss to the ATO, and dealing with the proceeds of crime totalling $1 million or more from 2018 to 2020.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the funds allegedly flowed through various entities in Australia and were also diverted offshore to a couple of companies in Singapore.
Gordon McAndrew (left) leaves court during his trial at Darlinghurst. Photo: Wolter Peeters.
Crown prosecutor Chris O’Donnell SC said recordings captured by police phone taps and surveillance devices, indicated Alex “was the person who needed to understand and approve of any future developments” to the scheme.
The jury was played a clip from a phone call between two of the alleged conspirators, Mark Ronald Bryers and Gordon McAndrew, on March 4, 2020.
The prosecutor’s speech is expected to last four days, each of the accused with their own defence barristers before Justice Desmond Fagan.
Sydney plumber Joshua Gotsis, 23, was granted bail in Supreme Court on February 9 over serious drug supply charges relating to his alleged involvement in supplying 1.2kg of cocaine as part of a Sutherland Shire dial-a-dealer operation from July to December last year.
During the hearing, the court heard new information from a police statement of facts which alleged Gotsis was “trusted” to transport 6 kilograms of meth, worth more than a $1 million, for the drug syndicate.
The court had previously heard syndicate organisers allegedly used a “central control phone” to send mass messages to 1900 contacts while buyers would place their orders before runners would deliver their cocaine and MDMA.
Police arrested alleged leader Mohammed El-Sammak, 28, along with Joshua David Hargreaves, 23, and a number of other alleged runners late last year.
Gotsis was before the courts.
Police alleged Gotsis was the main phone operator with Hargreaves helping out when he was busy.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Gotsis was charged with large commercial drug supply, ongoing drug supply, knowingly dealing with crime proceeds, knowingly directing a criminal group, and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
On Friday, Gotsis’ defence lawyer Elias Tabchouri told the court the new allegations suggested Gotsis was a “transporter” of the drugs and that he wasn’t involved in the negotiations. Mr Tabchouri further noted that his client was allegedly a “worker” who did not establish the syndicate.
Justice Sarah McNaughton said the allegations against Gotsis were serious, with some involving maximum penalties of life imprisonment and the case against him “appeared reasonably strong.”
She accepted that he was not the “head of the syndicate but appears to have a serious level of responsibility,” adding he was “under the control of the head of the syndicate and did the head of the syndicate’s bidding.”
Justice McNaughton agreed to grant Gotsis bail on the terms that he must live with his grandparents in Revesby, report to police daily, not leave the house without his parents and not take illegal drugs among other strict conditions.
A popular Brighton Grammar student, James Tsindos, who tragically died after having an allergic reaction back in 2021, had no idea the burrito bowl he bought through Deliveroo was topped with a cashew-based nacho cheese sauce.
The 17-year-old died on June 1, 2021, five days after ordering a meal from a local vegan restaurant through the food delivery app while awaiting the results of a Covid test.
The Coroners Court heard on Tuesday that the year 12 student had asthma and a tree nut allergy, including cashews, but had not been prescribed an EpiPen.
Year 12 student James Tsindos died after suffering an anaphylactic reaction. Photo: Wayne Taylor.
James’ devastated parents, Harry and Venetia, his sisters Kristina, Elpida, and Georgia, and several of his classmates packed the courtroom as Coroner Sarah Gebert ordered an inquest into his death.
According to the Herald Sun, The family’s lawyer, Paul Halley told the court they held “grave concerns” about how the burrito bowl was advertised on the Deliveroo app; the vegan nacho cheese sauce was in fact a cashew sauce, however that was not specified on the online menu.
The court heard that after James was admitted to hospital, his oxygen levels started dropping and he was given another dose of adrenaline. James was declared brain dead at 5.20pm on May 29.
“He used to say to us that he wasn’t as popular as some of the other boys, but if he knew how many people he has affected through this tragedy, he would be absolutely blown away”, James’ Mother, Venetia Tsindos said.
The inquest has no set date, but it is expected to last two days.
Following his recent cancer diagnosis, King Charles contacted a Mount Athos-based Greek Orthodox monk on Thursday, requesting that he pray for his health.
The current Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos, Elder Ephraim, informed Cyprus TV that King Charles called to console him.
“When reaching out to a monk, you seek his prayers and consoling words for strength to overcome difficulties…I believe he will overcome cancer,” Elder Ephraim said.
Elder Ephraim has kept a close relationship with King Charles over the years, with the King having visited the monastic community of Mount Athos eight times.
In 1998, the King visited the Vatopedi Monastery a little while after Princess Diana’s death, where he met Ephraim for the first time. Since then, the King’s travels to Mount Athos have continued; from spring 2003 to May 2004, he paid three visits to Mount Athos.
“There is no question that the British royal is Orthodox in his heart,” another monk confided about King Charles. “Sadly, he is very constrained by his position”.
King Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer, motivating the use of regular treatments since Monday, February 5.
According to the Palace, the 75-year-old King “remains completely hopeful about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”
Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis offered concessions on Tuesday to farming unionists who are threatening to block roads around Greece in protest of high production costs.
According to The Star, it was unclear, however, whether representatives of farming associations who met with Mitsotakis in Athens were appeased by the concessions.
Greece’s prime minister offers farmers lower power bills for the next decade, a bid to avoid massive protests in Athens https://t.co/xo6sdAWrSZ
A unionist present at the meeting, Rizos Maroudas, suggested that he would take a harsh position.
“Not all our demands have been met,” Maroudas told journalists after the talks. “We believe that our [protests] must continue.”
Greece’s center-right government has stated that it will seek to lower production costs while also expediting compensation payments and tax relief for farmers affected by last year’s catastrophic floods.
Mitsotakis cautioned that fiscal limitations left limited possibility for significant spending increases.
