LATEST INTERNARIONAL NEWS

                                  

Recently, many important and serious events are taking place, worldwide, with which both the politicians and the public are considerably concerned.

The Russian Attack Against Ukraine

On Wednesday the 29th November, the fourth day of the public hearing examining whether  President Donald Trump’s actions, when he asked the Ukrainian president to investigate former vice president Joe Biden’s son is "impeachable conduct".  


The hearing began with testimony from the US Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, who apparently was overheard, while on the phone, discussing the status of the “intervention” with Trump.  Sondland has already reconsidered "his closed-door testimony to confirm the central allegation of a quid pro quo".  According to Reuter’s Loren Elliot, Mr Sondland said that he was “adamantly opposed to any suspension of aid, as the Ukrainians needed those funds to fight against Russian aggression”.      

He went on to say that he had “tried diligently” to ask why the order was suspended but he never received a definite response.  The absence of any conclusive account for the interruption of aid would not occur, until a public statement from Ukraine “committing to the investigations of the 2016 elections", as Donald Trump's lawyer, Mr Giuliani,  had demanded.


Other government officials, such as Laura Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defence, for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs, as well as David Hale, Under Secretary of State, were present at these discussions.  Also, the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi invited Donald Trump to appear at the hearings in order to answer questions, even in writing, if he so wished.


According to Reuters, President Trump on Friday, the 22nd November, accused a witness in the "Democratic-led impeachment inquiry of lying, and offered an explanation for his controversial use of his personal lawyer, Rudi Giuliani, on the Ukrain policy, saying that Giuliani's crime-fighting abilities were needed to deal with a corrupt country." Trump, apparently, made this remark on the day after the fifth and final day of public hearings in the House of Representatives, an inquiry that threatens his presidency.   

Fighting the Honk Kong Protestors

Beijing has warned Washington of “strong countermeasures”, if Trump accepts legislation supporting the Hong Kong protesters. 

China demanded President Donald Trump to veto the legislation  aimed at backing  Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protest movements, warning it will reciprocate if  the “congress-backed bills” become law.

On Tuesday, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act eroded Beijing’s interest in the semi-autonomous territory, which has been rocked by many months of anti-government demonstrations. 

The Duke Pictured with Virginia Giuffre 

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York says that he is “stepping back from his royal duties”, because the Jeffrey Epstein scandal has become a “major disruption” to the Royal Family.

The duke has faced a growing reaction following the BBC interview about his friendship with the American financier.  For several months he has been facing questions over his ties with Epstein, who committed suicide last August, while "awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges".

Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s accusers, claimed that she was only seventeen when she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew three times.   The duke has strongly denied all the accusations.   His latest action, described by the Palace as “a personal decision” was taken after a meeting with the Queen and Prince Charles.

   

Lewis 

Mrs Toni Doherty with Lewis

A badly burned Koala bear was saved by the heroic motorist and grandmother, Mrs Toni Doherty, who rescued him from catastrophic bush fires in New South Wales, Australia.  He is now called Lewis and is successfully convalescing at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital! 

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in its latest economic report, said it expected Greece to "achieve a target of a 3.5 % Gross Domestic Project (GDP) primary surplus next year."  It also noted that "the planned expansionary fiscal policy would give the Greek economy a greater than expected boost.  It would apparently expand by 2% over the next few years." However, the export growth of the country will be moderated by the sluggish external demand. 

Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Simi Have the Most  Demanding Migration Problem

Flimsy boats packed with migrants and refugees arrive, daily on our islands in the Aegean Sea.  Some of these unfortunate people, fleeing from war, seek a better life for their families in the European Union, while others, some of whom are illegal, are seeking jobs. This, obviously, is a very difficult situation for Greece.

In 2016, the European Union and Turkey agreed on a refugee deal.  An important condition of the deal being that immigrants arriving on the Greek islands, would be returned to Turkey, except if they applied and received asylum in Greece.

As I had written in my post REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS “According to The Times, many of the 50 refugee camps in Greece are, unfortunately, in a tragic condition, dirty, overcrowded, full of sick people and unaccompanied minors.” 

 The UNHCR has issued a report called The Mediterranean Situation, which states that during 2018, 32.494 refugees and immigrants had arrived from Turkey to Greece, while the number of arrivals until November 2019, is already 62.190, almost double than the previous year.  

The Greek Government has announced a catalogue of measures to deal with the rising migration flows, according to Al Jazeera, including the deportation of 10.000 people by the end of 2020 and relocating thousands to the mainland from the overcrowded island camps.   They also announced an increased number of naval patrols in the Aegean, and producing "closed centres" for migrants who have been refused asylum, until they return to Turkey.

 

 Also, as Greece is just starting to recover from a period of deep economic recession, it cannot offer hospitality to so many uninvited guests.  Unfortunately, our European Union partners refuse to offer shelter to these unfortunate people.  Obviously, people fleeing from the wrath of war should be helped but can everybody be aided by Greece alone?  Can we endure and afford it?  So, EU partners let us all share offering hospitality to these unfortunate people, and please don’t criticise us, unjustly, because we simply cannot bear this unbearable burden alone.

Refugees Arriving in Greece, Helped by Volunteers and a Red Cross Doctor 

A state of emergency has been declared for the island of Thassos and the Municipality of Olympiada in Halkidiki, after torrential rains hit northern Greece.

The rainfalls caused enormous damages on the island of Thassos where people’s lives were at risk.  The mainstream at Potamia overflowed and the water ran uncontrolled, sweeping away whatever was in its way.  A biblical catastrophe. The residents were trapped in their houses and could only be evacuated and brought to safety by the brave men of the fire brigade.  Roads, houses, hotels and businesses remained flooded on Saturday, as the municipality workers and the firefighters are racing against time, as another bad weather front is expected on Sunday evening.

The Greek army has also helped, digging vehicles out of the mud to assist the local authorities.   Several areas are without electricity and a new barometric low is forecasted to hit the area as well.

(I wish to thank ERT, SKY-TV, Reuters, Al Jazeera, France 24, CNN, BBC, Estia, Kathimerini, The Times and The Guardian, without whose valuable help, this post would not have been published.)

Floods in Northern Greece

Trying to Save a Car