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*Η σύσταση του πρώην υπαρχηγού της κυβέρνησης Howard μετά την τελευταία μαζική δολοφονία στο San Bernardino των ΗΠΑ
*Τουλάχιστον 14 νεκροί είναι ο μέχρι τώρα απολογισμός της ένοπλης επίθεσης σε κέντρο για άτομα με ειδικές ανάγκες.

Τουλάχιστον 14 νεκροί και 14 τραυματίες είναι μέχρι στιγμής ο απολογισμός της ένοπλης επίθεσης που σημειώθηκε στο San Bernardino στη νότια Καλιφόρνια, σε κέντρο για άτομα με ειδικές ανάγκες.

Ο εκπρόσωπος της αστυνομίας της πόλης εκτίμησε ότι οι δράστες, ήταν τρεις και βαριά οπλισμένοι. Πριν από λίγο το BBC μετέδωσε δύο εξ αυτών, ένας άνδρας και μια γυναίκα, είναι νεκροί. Οι δύο δράστες εντοπίστηκαν από την αστυνομία ώρες μετά το μακελειό και σκοτώθηκαν από τα πυρά των αρχών. Οι ένοπλοι δράστες αρχικά είχαν προλάβει να διαφύγουν της αστυνομίας με ένα σκουρόχρωμο αυτοκίνητο.

Η νέα επίθεση κατά αθώων, έφερε και πάλι στο προσκήνιο το θέμα της οπλοκατοχής των πολιτών στις ΗΠΑ, ενώ έντονες ήταν και οι αντιδράσεις στην Αυστραλία.

Ο πρωθυπουργός της Αυστραλίας Malcolm Turnbull εξέφρασε την λύπη του την βία που όπως είπε «εξαπλώνεται» παντού τον τελευταίο καιρό ενώ ο πρώην υπαρχηγός επί κυβερνήσεων John Howard και πρώην αρχηγός του κόμματος των Εθνικών, Tim Fischer, κάλεσε το υπουργείο Εξωτερικών της χώρας να αλλάξει την ταξιδιωτική οδηγία προς της ΗΠΑ, αναβαθμίζοντας τον δείκτη επικινδυνότητας.

«Μετά την τρομοκρατική επίθεση στο Παρίσι, οι ΗΠΑ αναβάθμισαν τον δείκτη επικινδυνότητας στην ταξιδιωτική τους οδηγία για την Αυστραλία και συμβούλευαν τους πολίτες τους να μην ταξιδεύουν στο Σίδνεϊ. Νομίζω ότι είναι υποχρέωση μας να κάνουμε το ίδιο για τους πολίτες μας, ο κίνδυνος να πέσουν θύματα κάποιας τυχαίας επίθεσης είναι υπαρκτός και ο κίνδυνος μεγάλος» είπε ο κ. Fischer.

Εντωμεταξύ σύμφωνα με τα όσα έχει μέχρι στιγμής η αστυνομία της πόλης ανακοινώσει δεν έχουν γίνει γνωστά τα κίνητρα της επίθεσης, η οποία έγινε περίπου στις 11 το πρωί (τοπική ώρα) στο κέντρο «Inland Regional Center», περίπου 100χλμ. ανατολικά του Λος Άντζελες.

Επίσης αναφέρθηκε ότι μέχρι στιγμής δεν υπάρχει καμία πληροφορία ότι το περιστατικό σχετίζεται με την τρομοκρατία, με την συνήθη έννοια που αποδίδεται σ’ αυτή.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

Προώθηση θεμάτων που αφορούν τον Ελληνισμό της Αυστραλίας και την Ελλάδα από το Αυστραλοελληνικό Συμβούλιο.

Αντιπρόσωποι του Αυστραλιανού Ελληνικού Συμβουλίου (Australian Hellenic Council) από το Σίδνεϊ, τη Μελβούρνη και την Καμπέρα, βρέθηκαν στην πρωτεύουσα της χώρας, στις 25 Νοεμβρίου, όπου είχαν συναντήσεις με υψηλόβαθμους κυβερνητικούς και κοινοβουλευτικούς παράγοντες, προκειμένου να προωθήσουν σειρά θεμάτων που αφορούν τον Ελληνισμό της Αυστραλίας.

Το κύριο θέμα των επισκέψεων ήταν να ενημερωθούν οι βουλευτές και γερουσιαστές σχετικά με την εκστρατεία για την επιστροφή στην Ελλάδα των Γλυπτών του Παρθενώνα. Οι αντιπρόσωποι τόνισαν ότι η Αυστραλία μπορεί να ασκήσει διπλωματική πίεση στη Μεγάλη Βρετανία για το θέμα, λόγω του ιστορικού τους δεσμού. Τονίστηκε ότι η Αυστραλία έχει ιδιαίτερη σχέση και με την Ελλάδα λόγω των Ελλήνων μεταναστών και λόγω των κοινών αγώνων σε καιρούς πολέμου.

Η αντιπροσωπεία συναντήθηκε με τον γενικό γραμματέα του υπουργικού συμβουλίου, γερουσιαστή Άρθουρ Συνοδινό, τον ανεξάρτητο γερουσιαστή Νίκο Ξενοφώντα, τον σκιώδη θησαυροφύλακα του Εργατικού Κόμματος, Chris Bowen, τις βουλευτές Μαρία Βαμβακινού και Alannah McTiernan και ανώτερους συμβούλους του Γραφείου του Πρωθυπουργού.

Ο γερουσιαστής κ. Α. Συνοδινός, δήλωσε ότι υποστηρίζει εδώ και πολύ καιρό την επιστροφή των Γλυπτών του Παρθενώνα στην Ελλάδα και επιβεβαίωσε, για μία ακόμη φορά, τη στήριξή του προς την εκστρατεία. Τόνισε επίσης τη σταθερή θέση της κυβέρνησης στο θέμα και αναγνώρισε ότι η Αυστραλία και οι Αυστραλοί είναι γενικά πολύ υποστηρικτικοί και κατανοούν τις σημερινές οικονομικές δυσκολίες της Ελλάδας. Πρόσφατα, ο πρωθυπουργός, Malcolm Turnbull, με δική του ομολογία, είπε ότι είναι φιλέλληνας και μελετητής κλασικών Ελλήνων φιλοσόφων.

Και οι δυο πλευρές τόνισαν ότι ελπίζουν ότι σε πιθανό, μελλοντικό ταξίδι στο εξωτερικό, ο Αυστραλός πρωθυπουργός θα μπορούσε κάλλιστα να επισκεφθεί την Ελλάδα για να επαναβεβαιώσει τους ισχυρούς δεσμούς φιλίας που υπάρχουν και οι οποίοι έχουν επίσης συμβάλει στην δημιουργία της πολυπολιτισμικής Αυστραλίας.

Επιπλέον, ο κ. Bowen συμφώνησε να συμμετάσχει στην Ομάδα Φίλων του Παρθενώνα.

Στη συνάντηση με τον κ. Ξενοφώντα, ο γερουσιαστής δήλωσε ότι είναι ενθουσιώδης υποστηρικτής της προσπάθειας της Ομάδας και εστίασε σε ορισμένες νέες στρατηγικές που θα μπορούσαν να υιοθετηθούν, τόσο εδώ όσο και στο εξωτερικό, για την επιτυχημένη εκστρατεία επιστροφής των γλυπτών του Παρθενώνα, ένα θέμα το οποίο συζητήθηκε επίσης με τις κ. Βαμβακινού και ΜcTiernan.

Η αντιπροσωπεία συζήτησε με τους πολιτικούς και μια σειρά θεμάτων, όπως των τρεχουσών ειρηνευτικών διαπραγματεύσεων στην Κύπρο και της ονομασίας της πΓΔ Μακεδονίας.

Επισημάνθηκε επίσης ότι το 2016 θα γίνουν οι εορτασμοί της 75ης επετείου από την επική Μάχη της Κρήτης, όπου οι στρατιώτες της Αυστραλίας και της Νέας Ζηλανδίας σφυρηλάτησαν έναν ανεξίτηλο δεσμό με τους Έλληνες που πολέμησαν γενναία και προσπάθησαν να αναχαιτίσουν τις ναζιστικές δυνάμεις.

Οι αντιπρόσωποι του Συμβουλίου είχαν πρόγευμα εργασίας με τον απερχόμενο Έλληνα πρέσβη στην Αυστραλία, κ. Χάρη Δαφαράνο, κατά το οποίο συζητήθηκαν θέματα που αφορούν την Αυστραλοελληνική κοινότητα και την Ελλάδα.

Οι προγραμματισμένες συναντήσεις με την υπουργό Εξωτερικών, Julie Bishop, και το σκιώδη υπουργό Εξωτερικών Θεμάτων των Εργατικών, Tanya Plibersek, αναβλήθηκαν λόγω διπλωματικής έντασης που ακολούθησε την κατάρριψη ενός ρωσικού βομβαρδιστικού από τις τουρκικές δυνάμεις κοντά στα τουρκο-συριακά σύνορα.

Nα υπενθυμιστεί ότι το Αυστραλοελληνικό Συμβούλιο είναι μια ομάδα υπεράσπισης θεμάτων που επηρεάζουν τον Ελληνισμό και που έχουν αντίκτυπο στην ευρύτερη Αυστραλοελληνική κοινότητα.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

THE longest train to haul wheat to port set off out of Narrabri on , headed for Newcastle.

Carrying 5000 tonnes of wheat in 73 wagons and stretching for 1.3 kilometres it pulled in to the Port of Newcastle on Wednesday night, its cargo bound for South East Asia.

The five-loco train was loaded in Moree and Narrabri, bound for Newcastle Agri Terminal – the collection of five metal silos facing the main southern arm of the Hunter River at the end of Cowper Street, Carrington.

Longer trains deliver bigger loads and squeeze more value from the scant rail slots available on the coal-laden Hunter Valley line.

Grain merchant Louis Dreyfus, part owner of Newcastle Agri Terminal (NAT), supplied the wheat.
It was sourced from Moree and Narrabri, the motherload being consolidated at Narrabri before being hauled into port by Southern Shorthaul Rail’s locomotives.

NAT executive director Jock Carter, who two years ago opened Australia’s first grain export facility for 20 years, kick started the project.

It would likely be a one-off this year to demonstrate the potential to the grain industry, but he hoped to make it the norm in the future.

He said it was culmination of six years of effort.

Mr Carter said a train of this size brought a three-fold increase in network capacity at no extra cost.
“Bigger trains means increased efficiency and lower costs, which equals better returns for growers,” Mr Carter said.
“It also frees up capacity for other users of the rail network.”
Approval was sought for a 2.5 tonne per axle load increase for the up country track which saved growers $1.30/t – welcome relief for farmers, given 30 to 40 per cent of the value of a tonne of grain is consumed by freight costs.

“We’re trying to get the government to upgrade the track to 25t (per axle) (it is currently 20.2t-20.8t),” he said.
“It would give a 20t increase per wagon.”

He said this proved there was no reason why operators couldn’t amalgamate trains at Narrabri and run them like a coal train.

“This gets more payload through in one slot,” he said, explaining the potential existed to hit a 7000t payload.

Australian Rail Track Authority (ARTC) also drove the initiative, its chief of Hunter Valley operations Jonathan Vandervoort having said the rail operator wanted to demonstrate the potential in the grain supply chain.

​Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss said the improved rail network and longer trains could save growers “a massive” $5 to $10 a tonne in freight costs.

He said Wednesday’s train was the first of a series of wheat cargos to the terminal using trains from a small rail company, Southern Shorthaul Railroad.

A cargo ship, the Glorious Splendour, was due in Newcastle on December 20 to take 18,000 tonnes of wheat to New Guinea.

A second ship would take the rest of the cargo to China.

source:theherald.com.au

Deanne and Spiro Coucouvinis. Photo: Twitter/@smh.

Small business to be acquiesced as part of Sydney Metro line construction.

Sydney locals Deanne and Spiro Coucouvinis have been told by officials their CBD business forms part of a demolition plan to make way for the construction of train stations along the proposed $10 billion Sydney Metro project.
Their cafe – Bar Bellino – is in a building on the corner of Elizabeth and Hunter Streets in the city, which is one of 19 in the area that will make way for the rail upgrade.
The Coucouvinis were approached during rush hour last week by two customers who turned out to be government representatives to inform them of their ill-fate.
Spiro told The Sydney Morning Herald the couple had no intention of selling their business, which they have run since 2003, and are now pessimistic about their outlook, believing the forced acquisition will not be reasonably assessed, whilst Deanne stressed they will face financial hardship as a result of the announcement.
“They’re taking away our livelihood. They can pay us the value of the business, but what about my income? How do I bring in money to pay my loans to keep myself living?” Deanne said.
“Nothing is going to happen for another 12 months but, during that time, our customer base is going to start to erode.”
Authorities stated they did everything to avoid forced buy-outs, with the buildings set to be destroyed over the next 24 months.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

His raw style has modelling agencies vying for to sign him

A Greek beekeeper is the new face in demand by television and modelling agencies across the globe, after his photograph went viral.

The Cretan heartthrob, Stathis Stivaktakis, was photographed while taking part in a farmer’s protest at Syntagma Square in the centre of Athens, where he was taking a stand against a planned tax increase.

Dubbed ‘the sexy Cretan’, the 25-year-old with dark hair and blue eyes, has not only been a hit amongst locals, his face capturing global attention thanks to the BBC and Reuters.

In all the excitement, Stivaktakis was asked to make an appearance on Crete TV, where he made it clear he was not interested in the spotlight, and said that his love for the island was too great to ever leave.

“I don’t want to be judged for my looks, but for my mind and soul,” he said.

Since then however, it appears the young Cretan has had a slight change of heart, agreeing to be photographed for Cyprus edition of Down Town magazine (pictured above).

source:Neos Kosmos

GET set for a return to horsepower…the new Ford Mustang has arrived.

The first customer cars landed in the country today, arriving at Melbourne’s Appleton Dock. Three more ships carrying customer cars are expected within days.

Ford and its dealers across Australia have been inundated with inquiries and demand for the all-new Mustang Fastback and Convertible, with the order bank for one of the world’s most recognisable cars now sitting about 4000 vehicles with more than 80% paid deposits. These orders account for the first full year of vehicles to be sold in Australia through 2016.

“We are simply overwhelmed and humbled by the reception to Mustang thus far, which is probably our closest equivalent to the Beatles first trip to Australia,” Ford President and CEO, Graeme Whickman said.

“The Mustang also punctuates a landmark year for Ford where we launched a huge number of new vehicles – including the Australian-designed and developed Everest SUV and Ranger – while investing more locally than any other automaker with more than $300 million in R&D alone.”

The right-hand drive Ford Mustangs will come in Fastback or Convertible guise, feature a 2.3-litre, four-cylinder EcoBoost or 5.0-litre V8 engine, and start at $44,990 for a six-speed manual Fastback four-potter.

The range will top out at $63,990 for the GT 5.0 V8 Convertible with six-speed automatic.

After Mustang pricing was confirmed early this year, Ford saw a spike in interest and deposits, with more than 20,000 people putting their hands up to be kept informed about the new car.

And for those who already put their money down, that have saved some coin. From yesterday there was a $1000 price increase on the 2.3 Litre EcoBoost and a $2500 price increase on the 5.0-litre V8.

“Our Mustang story has been one of the core vehicles in all our activities this year as a halo for the brand. We put a Mustang Convertible on top of one of the key buildings in Circular Quay in Sydney next to the Sydney Opera House for New Year’s eve celebrations and the images of that car went around the world,” Whickman said.

Like North America, overwhelming early interest has been in the V8 GT models, with 86% of customers favouring the V8. However, once the initial order banks are filled, Ford expects the EcoBoost models to be popular with customers who value performance but have an eye on fuel efficiency.

A similar situation surrounds the Fastback and Convertible split. There has also been more initial demand for the Fastback over Convertible, with around 88 per cent of Australian customers opting for the Fastback.

Visually, the all-new Mustang is unmistakable in its clean-sheet design. It has kept its classic shape, with a long sculpted hood and short rear deck, but with contemporary changes.

source:northernstar.com.au

A suspect at the centre of a two-hour manhunt was carrying a piece of metal shaped like a gun, police say.

But the man, described as being in his early 20s and fit, did not realise the full impact his run had made on the locals. Two schools and a daycare centre were locked down at Rochedale in Brisbane’s south.

Police received several calls from locals who saw the man running along Priestdale St just after 11am, with Inspector Daniel Bragg saying the man had covered a large amount of ground.

“I think he was running the whole time police were searching for him because he was out, travelling at quite a pace,” he said.

“I get the impression he wasn’t fully aware of the havoc that was wreaked as a consequence of his actions.”

He said the man was carrying a piece of metal fashioned to look like a gun.

source:couriermail.com.au

YOUNG ecstasy dealer Danny Cvetanoski was so happy with business, he sidled up to a woman in a nightclub and boasted about how much he was making.

‘’I have so much money I can’t fit it in my wallet,’’ Cvetanoski told the girl.

His problem was the girl was an undercover cop, and he was being looked at as part of the massive Strike Force Rupas investigation.

Cvetanoski, 24, of Margaret Street, Mayfield East, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to the ongoing supply of ecstasy.

He has admitted selling a total of 105 ecstasy capsules during three deals with undercover police.

He also admitted to the King Street Hotel chat.

Cvetanoski: “I made $3000 last night. I owe em on tick, paid back $1900 so I made over $1000 last night.’’

Girl: “It changes…I get cash, a bit.

Cvetanoski: “I have so much money I can’t fit it in my wallet.’’

He was refused bail to appear in Newcastle District Court on December 20

source:theherald.com.au

THE partner of a woman charged with the murder of a young woman found dumped under a bridge was also a prime suspect in her death before he killed himself.

The naked body of Marnielee Maree Cave, 26, from Bega, was found dead under the Mogareeka Bridge on the Tathra-Bermagui Road at Tathra about 8.15am on October 14.

A 52-year-old woman was arrested at 9.15 yesterday at a property in Bega and charged with murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Soon after her murder the woman’s partner, who was known to the victim, was questioned by police about his whereabouts when she disappeared.

A few days later on October 22 he was found dead in the garage of a property in Bega. At the time police said he was a person of interest in her murder.

His partner was refused bail and will appear before Batemans Bay Local Court today.

Marnielee was last seen on Monday October 12 at some local shops.

She had also taken her cat to the vet on that day and returned her home before going out again.

Her phone and a number of other possession are still missing.

Police said on October 22 they believed Marnielee may have been thrown off the bridge but were also exploring the possibility she was murdered on the banks of the Bega river.

The only thing on her body was her favourite butterfly pendant.

Police have not revealed the cause of death or if there was any signs of sexual assault.

The investigation took a turn at the end of October when a man police had questioned over Marnielee’s murder himself turned up dead.

The 50-year-old man is believed to have taken his own life after police identified him as a suspect in the murder inquiry.

“The deceased male had been questioned by police and was one of a number of people who were considered suspects in Ms Caves death,’’ a police source said at the time.

Source:perthnow.com.au

Food blogger Helen Tzouganatos is educating the masses about going gluten free.

When Helen Tzouganatos was diagnosed with coeliac disease eight years ago, she admits the one thing she missed most was her mum’s spanakopita.
But it wasn’t long before the Sydney-based mum of three realised she wouldn’t have to forego her favourite dishes, setting out to master the skill of gluten-free cooking.
And with a passion for food, cooking and photography, and a background in marketing, Helen decided to take her interests and combine them in her blog Hungry and Fussy.
“I was constantly being asked for gluten-free cooking tips and restaurant recommendations, so I thought it (the blog) would be a great resource for the public,” Helen explains.
And thus far the response has been overwhelming, with the blog having received over 5,000 views in the first two months alone.
Aside from her website, Helen’s recipes have been picked up by a number of online publications including YUM Gluten Free magazine, and soon she will be a contributing editor on http://www.feedfeed.info – one of the most popular international food websites around the globe.
While she recalls that eating out was a struggle when she was first diagnosed, she admits that with more demand for gluten substitutes, the food scene has changed dramatically.
“Fast forward 10 years and many restaurants mark gluten-free items on their menu and the wait staff can confidently guide you through the gluten-free choices available to diners,” she says.
Thankfully for those who enjoy a Mediterranean diet, through her culinary journey Helen has discovered that going gluten-free doesn’t mean entirely overhauling your diet.
“Greek food lends itself perfectly to gluten-free cooking because we eat a lot of healthy grilled proteins, cheeses, fresh salads and vegetables. Potato and rice are also fine so there is no need to cut out baked potatoes or rizogalo!”
However, be prepared to see your weekly shopping expenses come up in price – but with good reason.
“Gluten-free breads and flours are generally a little more expensive, but quite often they are also of better quality,” Helen explains.
“It is cheaper to fill products with wheat starch and flavourings than to include more wholesome natural ingredients.”
The blogger’s love of cooking was born through an upbringing centred around the dinner table. Like most Greek migrant women, Helen’s mum is a great cook and showed her love through nurturing and cooking for those closest to her.
“She is a great cook. Certain aromas such as baked cinnamon and mastiha immediately transport me back to my childhood and mum’s kitchen table.
“I recall rushing home from school and raiding the koulouri (biscuit) jar on many occasions,” she says, which is where her “cookie addiction” and love of baking stem from.
“My favourite biscuits are my gluten-free Greek sesame rings (see recipe below). They are really crispy, light and not overly sweet, which makes them extremely moreish.”
But it’s not only individuals affected by gluten that are avoiding the protein. While Helen believes “you only really need to eliminate gluten from your diet if you have a gluten intolerance or coeliac disease,” she admits that there can be added benefits for all.
“The biggest benefit in forgoing gluten is that it forces you to eliminate a lot of processed starchy food out of your diet.
“You’d be surprised how many packaged foods contain gluten. Seasoning, sauces, stocks, chips, and lollies usually contain wheat starch. By eliminating packaged foods you cook from scratch and the result is much tastier, healthier food that is nutrient dense,” she explains.
So let us get this straight Helen: looking after three children, while also contributing and editing various online publications, and dedicating all your free time to researching and creating recipes, cooking and updating your blog? I think we’d all agree you deserve that extra (gluten-free) cookie.
Main substitutes for classic Greek dishes:
– Gluten-free pastry for all the pastry classics i.e tiropita, spanakopita, baklava.
– Replace normal flour with gluten-free flour in cakes, biscuits, karithopita and koulouria.
– Replace flour with grated potato in keftedes; finely grated potato creates a lighter, fluffier meatball.
– Use tapioca flour instead of normal flour to dust haloumi and calamari; tapioca creates a beautiful brown crisp crust.
– For pastitsio and moussaka replace normal flour with gluten-free flour in the béchamel, and use gluten-free penne pasta in the pastitsio.

Here are some of Helen’s favourite and most delicious recipes:

Spanakopita is a traditional Greek savoury pie filled with spinach and cheese. The plain cheese version is called tyropita and is equally delicious. Helen’s mum is known as the ‘queen of spanakopita’, a deserving title given the perfect unison of golden hand rolled pastry and melt in your mouth cheese filling. This is a recreation of that pita with a gluten-free pastry, probably the most challenging baking technique for a gluten free chef. The trick to achieving a crispy gluten-free pastry is to roll out the dough as thinly as possible without breaking it between two sheets of baking paper. If you are pushed for time you can use a store bought gluten-free pastry, but just remember to roll it a little thinner. Makes 12 pieces.

Gluten-free Spanakopita

Ingredients

Savoury pastry:

200g gluten free flour, plus extra for dusting

1/2 tsp xantham gum

1 tsp salt

100g cold butter, chopped

1 egg

80mL cold milk

Cheese & spinach filling:

300g ricotta

200g Dodoni fetta

source:Neos Kosmos