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Milton Orkopoulos pleads not guilty to breaching parole

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Former Labor MP Milton Orkopoulos has pleaded not guilty to breaching his parole conditions within weeks of walking from Sydney’s notorious Long Bay prison.

The disgraced politician did not appear before Waverley Local Court on Wednesday when his matter was mentioned, and neither did his lawyer.

But the court confirmed “not guilty” pleas to charges laid by police at the end of his decade-long stint behind bars for child sexual abuse.

Orkopoulos, in 2008, was locked up for 11-and-a-half years after he was convicted of 30 child sex, drug and child porn offences.

Former Labor MP Milton Orkopoulos has pleaded not guilty to breaching his parole conditions.

He was paroled in December and placed on the child protection register but, just one month later, was charged by police after allegedly setting up an Instagram account to follow soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Officers allege he failed to advise them within the required seven days and allegedly spoke briefly with a child over the phone – both could constitute breaches of his release orders.

In February, the 62-year-old was arrested again and charged with three counts of failing to comply with reporting restrictions after allegedly using another man’s phone that was connected to the internet to call his sister.

He previously indicated he would fight all five charges.

Later this month Central Local Court will formally set a single hearing over two days for the breaches. That hearing will likely take place in December.

But those matters are not the biggest legal battle facing the former politician.

Last month, while in custody, he was hit with fresh child sex allegations dating back to the 1990s.

RELATED: Milton Orkopoulos to face court on 15 new child sex abuse offences.

Police allege Orkopoulos sexually and indecently assaulted two juvenile boys known to him on separate occasions in the 1990s at locations in Lake Macquarie and on the NSW mid-north coast.

He was charged with 15 offences including aggravated indecent assault with person under 16 years of age, committing an act of indecency with person under 16 years, aggravated sexual assault and three counts of causing a child aged under 14 to participate in child prostitution.

These fresh child sexual abuse allegations will next be before a court in August.

‘I’m devastated’: John Macris’ widow breaks silence as alleged killers front court in Greece

John Macris’ widow Viktoria Karida has wept as she came face-to-face with the men accused of executing the former Sydney gangster in cold blood in Greece.

The former model and reality TV star was overcome with grief as the Bulgarian brothers accused of the hit on Macris were brought into an Athens court on Wednesday night.

Ms Karida, wearing a green and black striped shirt, black jeans and sneakers, had to step out of the room.

“I am devastated but I remain strong,” she said during a break in the proceedings.

Viktoria Karida, widow of slain Sydney gangster John Macris, arrives in court in Greece. Picture: Spyros Bakalis.

Yuliyanov J Raychev Serafim has been charged with first degree murder for allegedly shooting Macris, who had links to organised crime in Sydney before he moved to Greece in 2013.

Macris was shot at close range when he arrived at his home in Voula, an up-market hillside suburb of the Greek capital.

Serafim’s brother Milen Raychev was accused of driving the Nissan Pulsar getaway car, after allegedly stalking Macris for 19 days before the shooting in October 2018.

The brothers have denied the charges saying they could not be hitmen because professionals would not have used their own names to check into hotels and their own passports.

However, CCTV of the shooting shows a man wearing clothes similar to those found in Serafim’s hotel room, along with a receipt.

Milen Raychev, who is accused of being an accessory to the murder of John Macris, is lead into court in Athens by police. Picture: Spyros Bakalis.

In court on Wednesday night, Serafim, wearing a white shirt and a face mask because of coronavirus concerns, smiled at his wife.

She was dressed in white with a scarf, and was on the verge of tears, and he was also supported by his mother.

Serafim, who has tattoos on his neck and and fingers, told the court he would speak in English, as a translator negotiated the complicated trial.

There were at least 50 people in the small courtroom, with proceedings moved to a different part of the court after the jury of two men and two women was empanelled.

Prominent Greek defence lawyer, Alexandros Lykourezos, had complained that the brothers were sitting behind the prosecution and demanded they be moved.

Defence lawyer Alexandros Lykourezos. Picture: Spyros Bakalis.

There was a heavy police presence in the courtroom, with three officers guarding the brothers, while another three were also there.

Ms Karida, the mother of two of Macris’ children, arrived at the court alone but she was later joined by make up artist, Prokopis Makrilakis, who she has been friends with for 17 years.

She had said in Greek media reports last week: “I don’t know how I will react when I’ll face the [accused] killers. I’ve thought about various things. I don’t know if I will find the strength to stand up to [those] who [allegedly] deprived my children of their father.”

“I have nothing to say to them … My children are crying and asking for their father.”

The former Playboy model also revealed last week that her children Alexandra and Achilles had found out how their father was killed by watching it on YouTube.

The children, who were at a five-star hotel on the Greek Island of Paros at the weekend, had posted heartfelt messages to their dad online, on what would have been his 48th birthday.

“Daddy, I love you a lot, I will never forget you,” a translated message from Achilles said.

His daughter Alexandra wrote: “Daddy, I love you a lot, you are the best. There is no other like you, you are very kind, happy birthday.”

More to come.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Greek Australian develops new generation, COVID-19 compliant restaurant booking system

Nearly five years ago, Greek Australian Peter Petroulas, realised that the existing booking systems for restaurants, cafes and dine-in venues were complex and often ineffective.

With the knowledge he had acquired as an airline executive and a restauranteur, he proceeded to create a new generation, more dynamic restaurant booking system that would be affordable and available to every establishment, worldwide.

“I started the process of trying to develop a new generation restaurant booking system over 5 years ago, as existing systems like OpenTable, Yelp and The Fork are simple systems that merely allocate bookings to existing and unused tables.

The inadequacies of the existing booking systems meant that they were only capable of taking bookings on existing empty tables, they had no intelligence in helping a restaurant in the dynamic allocation of bookings or the optimisation and management of those tables,” Petros Petroulas told The Greek Herald.

Little did he know, back then that ResButler, the system he developed, not only would give a solution to the complexities and inefficacies of current booking systems, but it would also be able to manage a restaurants tables and booking allocations to guarantee all government Covid-19 social distancing regulations are met.

“I am excited that ResButler is ready and can assist in fighting Covid-19 by helping restaurants and other sit-down venues re-open as part of the re-opening of economies, getting people back to work and returning society back to some form of normality,” Mr Petroulas said, explaining that the technology he offers is available to everyone, thus the charge of 5 cents per booked diner.

But what did Petroulas do differently to other researchers and international companies who have been trying to solve the ongoing table management system problem?

“I approached the problem from a different perspective. I didn’t focus on doing something better. Because when you aim to do something better, you do the same, just better. I focused on finding a different solution,” he said.

“My parents came to Sydney from Greece when I was four. They bought a house that needed renovation. My dad gave me a tape measure and asked me to help him measure around the house. So, I learnt about the sense of space and the importance of dimensions from a young age.

“This is how I created ResButler. I approached the booking  system problem not as a strictly mathematical one, but as a space allocation one”.

Now, Greek Australian Peter Petroulas hopes that his system will be appreciated and adopted by the industry, in Australia and worldwide.

TGH Exclusive: Angela Gerekou says Greece wants to attract more tourists from Australia

By Ilias Karagiannis.

In the second part to The Greek Herald’s investigative special on the impact of COVID-19 on tourism in Greece, we spoke to the President of the Hellenic Tourism Organisation (EOT), Angela Gerekou.

From her very first day as President of the EOT, Ms Gerekou was called to face the unprecedented challenge of the pandemic. She entered unchartered waters as she had to try and maintain a continuous stream of visitors to Greece to save the tourism sector.

According to Ms Gerekou, Greece is cooperating with all countries to welcome visitors as soon as possible and Australia is a priority but ultimately, the decision for reinstating international travel lies with the Australian authorities. In saying that, she did add that there has been communication with airlines on the basis of a comprehensive plan to solve possible travel issues.

To find out more, here is the full interview:

  • This year’s tourism season is special due to the pandemic. It seems that tourism will be the loser of the year, a fact that will also affect the Greek economy. What messages does EOT receive? Do you think it will be a lost season or is there some room for optimism?

Greece has proved that it has effectively dealt with the COVID-19 crisis and is a safe country that can welcome visitors for the summer of 2020. It is certainly a difficult international situation but our country does not need to start from scratch as the quality characteristics of Greek tourism are still fully applicable. Also, although Greece can normally receive visitors, this depends on the situation in the countries of the incoming tourists. So for this reason, we are ready and we are moving forward by promoting our country as a perfect destination. We are optimistic and the losses that have arisen due to this unexpected international situation will certainly be significantly mitigated.

  • Greece has opened its borders to Australia but at the moment, this is impossible as Australia has not yet allowed international travel. Do you intend to provide a solution to this issue?

For us, Australia, according to the experts’ recommendations, is one of the countries where priority is given to the influx of visitors and this is certainly a positive thing for the expatriates and for the people of this country as a whole. We, as a country, are cooperating with all countries so that as soon as they are ready, there is the immediate possibility of welcoming visitors, but the possibility of international travel is the sole responsibility of the Australian government.

Clearly, in the context of cooperation, we are communicating with airlines on the basis of a comprehensive plan so that there are as complete solutions as possible in terms of travel issues.

  • How will Greece be able to capitalise on its reputation as a “safe country” so that there are the maximum possible arrivals in the country? What role will the EOT play in this?

During the process of promoting Greece as a tourist destination, EOT has chosen to highlight the values ​​of Greek tourism in combination with the health safety in the context of dealing with the pandemic. In recent months and until today, Greece has had a successful response to this unprecedented international crisis and has indeed received international praise. However, this means that this positive climate can be translated into a high number of international arrivals only if the pattern offered by Greek tourism is properly displayed.

That is why we are immediately releasing press releases in the international media and digital platforms, composing a comprehensive promotion campaign that highlights the important points of our country’s effort. Our promotional plan includes media releases with an emphasis on the internet, as well as a strong presence when looking for a vacation. That is why we choose to promote large and important media that have a strong position in the international market.

  • Will there perhaps be an effort to stimulate domestic tourism in Greece and what are the steps to achieve this goal?

During this difficult time, domestic tourism is indeed an important part of the tourism market, which is why there are relevant initiatives to support it financially. The funds of Social Tourism are being strengthened, while for the first time, the Tourism Program for All has been established, in order to strengthen the domestic demand. Our planning for 2020 promotes the development of domestic tourism more than in other years, but this does not mean that we do not aim for the maximum possible result of international arrivals. In this difficult time for international travel, domestic demand can give a boost to the economy and in combination with international arrivals at the end of 2020, we will have a complete picture.

  • Many industries in Greece want to change the production model. Tourism contributes up to 25 percent to GDP. It is proposed to reduce this percentage and give funding and direction to other sectors so there is no dependence. Is this a possibility?

Tourism has always had a significant share in the economy of modern Greece, and in the decade of the economic crisis from 2010 onwards it gave significant breaths and a real boost to domestic GDP. However, this does not mean that the Greek state has directed large sums of money to this sector, but rather has helped it by establishing and improving the institutional framework and regulatory rules for the operation of tourism services. Clearly, there has been financial aid over time and private investment financing instruments based on European funds, but it is mainly private initiative that is driving Greek tourism. That is why the EOT, in particular, is here to enhance the country’s international image through promotion and, at the same time, to improve the regulatory framework for tourism activities.

  • Finally, tell us a few words about the Greeks of Australia and the Australians and how they can be integrated into the tourist planning of Greece?

In 2019, we had about 130,000 air arrivals from Australia according to official figures from Athens Airport, an extremely significant number considering the distance between the two countries. Australian expatriates, as well as nationals of the country as a whole, are a target market for Greek tourism due to the bonds of friendship between the two countries. As there is currently no EOT Office in Australia, this does not mean that the process of attracting visitors is absent in our planning. As we include relevant actions in our planning, we are open to proposals that can contribute in this direction and certainly Greece is here to welcome the Greeks of Australia again.

Sydney Olympic legend Fotis Papadopoulos passes away aged 86

The Sydney Olympic community is despair following the news that club legend Fotis Papadopoulos tragically passed away last night.

The former player is a Sydney Olympic legend, being part of the first ever Olympic (formerly Pan-Hellenic SC) squad, competing in the NSW State League Division 2 back in 1957.

The 86-year-old was a life-member of the Belmore club, deeply loved by the Olympic and Greek community.

Sydney Olympic FC (Pan – Hellenic) 1958. Standing from left are: Jim Arapoglou, Takis Epitropakis, Takis Triantis, Comino Omeros, Fotis Papadopoulos, Theophanis Pavlidis and Christos Yiannakoulias. Photo: Vasilios Vasilas

He was described in 2015 as the “most loyal Sydney Olympic fan” by local radio host Dimitris Theofanis.

“Mr. Papadopoulos is at the game every week, he has been at games every week for the last 60 years as a player and as a supporter,” Theofanis said.

“This is loyalty and passion, we are very grateful for people like Fotis”.

“Fotis knows first-hand the feeling of putting on our jersey,” Former Sydney Olympic Vice-President Graham Athanaseris said.

“He is respected by the whole club because he is a kind man and a gentleman, a fixture of support but also because he is an historic figure for us.”

Fotis has been a long time reader of The Greek Herald newspaper and will be deeply missed.

Sophie Cotsis leading the charge for Canterbury Hospital redevelopment

Local Federal and State Members of Parliament have continued their Canterbury Hospital redevelopment campaign, now calling on residents to join the fight.

The Canterbury Hospital serves one of the most socio-economically disadvantaged communities with approximately one third of local areas among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged in Australia.

With the Canterbury Hospital’s last major upgrade being in 1998, patients on the elective surgery waiting list has increased by 14% in 2019 alone.

Local Federal and State Members of Parliament have continued their Canterbury Hospital redevelopment campaign. Photo: Labor Party

Canterbury residents are being encouraged to write to the NSW Government in support for the redevelopment, with the Labor Party encouraging people to call their local MP or the Office of Sophie Cotsis on 9718 1234.

Sophie Cotsis was commended by Federal Member for Watson, Tony Burke, who said, “Our local community deserves a long overdue upgrade to the Canterbury Hospital.”

“Well done to Sophie Cotsis for leading this cause. She’s never stopped fighting for locals to receive the hospital upgrade we deserve.”

Sophie Cotsis, Member for Canterbury said “Not only will a redevelopment mean more medical resources and facilities at Canterbury Hospital, but with COVID-19 and a looming recession, jobs will be created for the short and long term.

“Our population is one of the most diverse in Australia. Around 80% of people in the Canterbury area have at least one parent who was born overseas – and our population continues to grow”

Greece to ban single-use plastic this year, ahead of 2021 EU deadline

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Greece has drafted a bill banning the use of a range of single-use plastics, from takeaway coffee cups to cotton buds, ahead of an EU deadline in 2021, the government said on Tuesday.

Greeks, who are heavy coffee drinkers, annually require 350 million plastic cups and 2 billion plastic bottles, the environment ministry said. In the European Union, about 80% of the litter that ends in the sea, endangering marine life, is plastic.

The EU is to ban a range of single-use plastic items by 2021.

Plastic waste pictured at the bottom of the sea, off the island of Andros, Greece. July 20, 2019. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

Conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has set environmental issues at the top of his agenda. The government hopes the bill will be voted on by the end of July following a period of public consultation, an official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Environment Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said Greece was a laggard compared with some EU countries and belonged “more to the 19th century” when it came to recycling.

He said the country was announcing its plans now to give people and businesses time to adapt by July 2021.

The minister also announced a set of national measures, including a 0.04 euro surcharge for the provision of plastic cups and food containers from 2022 and water facilities in public spaces from July 2021. From 2023, consumers will get a refund if they return plastic bottles.

Sourced By: Reuters

Stefanos Tsitsipas: ‘I was one of the most shy kids in my class’

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Greek tennis international Stefanos Tsitsipas featured on the most recent episode of Tennis United, with WTA star Naomi Osaka, answering fans most impeding questions.

The two professional tennis players were asked a series of questions, with one of them addressing both players’ apparent shyness.

“I was introverted as a child, very shy when I was really young, one of the most shy kids in my class and I could never really express myself,” Tsitsipas said.

Keeping the interview in a light mood, the two tennis champions were asked the most important question in life. Does pineapple belong on pizza?

“No!” Osaka quickly said.

“I personally think it’s a no-no,” Tsitsipas added.

Co-host of Tennis United Vasek Pospisil revealed that he enjoys maple syrup on his pizza crust, with the host admitting it must be a “Canadian thing.”

Tsitsipas was also asked what he was most likely to stay up all night thinking about, with only one thing running through the competitors head.

“It’s all about tennis,” Tsitsipas said. “Just thinking about tennis. If I lose that day, I might stay up. I’ve had nights where I stayed up all night and I was just overthinking and processing what happened out there.”

Erdogan telephone calls reportedly ‘put through directly’ to the White House, under order of Trump

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called his US counterpart Donald Trump as often as two times a week and was “put through directly” to the US president, according to a new CNN report.

Sources told reporter Carl Bernstein that Erdogan was allegedly “put through directly to the President on standing orders from Trump.”

Top officials in the Trump administration were reportedly especially concerned about how often Erdogan called and how easily he went past the usual National Security Council protocols and procedures to reach the US President.

Erdogan reportedly would even reach Trump while he was at his golf course, and the president would pause his games to have lengthy chats with him. Erdogan would ask Trump for policy concessions and favours, according to CNN.

“The calls caused former top Trump deputies – including national security advisers H.R. McMaster and John Bolton, Defence Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and White House chief of staff John Kelly, as well as intelligence officials – to conclude that the President was often ‘delusional,’ as two sources put it, in his dealings with foreign leaders,” Bernstein wrote in the CNN report.

Trump, the report alleges, had very little knowledge on the Syria crisis and the history in the region, that Erdogan was able to easily take advantage of him.

“Erdogan took him to the cleaners,” one of the sources told Bernstein.

The report claimed that the calls with Erdogan were a major reason for Trump’s order to pull US forces from Syria.

Public worship stopped in seven Greek Orthodox Churches in Melbourne hotspots

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios has called for public worship to be halted in seven Greek Orthodox churches in Melbourne due to the rise in coronavirus cases.

Here is the complete statement in English:

The unpleasant developments of the last few days regarding the increase of coronavirus cases in Melbourne, made it necessary to take strict measures to ensure public health. In this context, with a sense of pastoral responsibility, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia announces the cessation of public worship in seven Orthodox Churches, which are in danger areas. These are, in particular, the Churches:

1. Αγία Τριάδα, Footscray

2. Αγία Παρασκευή, St Albans

3. Άγιος Δημήτριος, Ascot Vale

4. Παναγία Σουμελά, East Keilor

5. Άγιος Βασίλειος, Brunswick

6. Άγιος Ελευθέριος, Brunswick

7. Άγιος Νεκτάριος, Fawkner

In a circular sent and addressed to Αρχιεπισκοπικό Επίτροπο Μελβούρνης, Θεοφιλέστατο Επίσκοπο Δέρβης κ. Ιεζεκιήλ, και στον Αρχιεπισκοπικό Επίτροπο Νορθ-Κόουτ, Πανοσιολογιώτατο Αρχιμανδρίτη κ. Ευμένιο, His Eminence clarified that the specific churches will remain closed to the faithful, but all the Sequences, the namedays of the Saints and the Divine Liturgies will be performed normally by the priest and the chanter. As for the sacraments and funerals, it is suggested that, if possible, they be held in other temples – otherwise, in a strictly close family environment.

“I urge you to comply with the specific guidelines by properly guiding our priests and the Boards of Directors of the above Holy Temples, and at the same time I warmly ask you to intensify your prayers to God the Giver, whose intervention awaits all humanity,” Archbishop Makarios said.

Here is the full statement in Greek:

Οι δυσάρεστες εξελίξεις των τελευταίων ημερών σχετικά με την αύξηση των κρουσμάτων του κορωνοϊού στη Μελβούρνη, κατέστησαν αναγκαία τη λήψη αυστηρών μέτρων για τη διασφάλιση της δημόσιας υγείας. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, με αίσθημα ποιμαντικής ευθύνης, ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αυστραλίας κ.κ. Μακάριος ανακοινώνει τη διακοπή της δημόσιας λατρείας σε επτά Ορθόδοξες Εκκλησίες, οι οποίες βρίσκονται στις περιοχές κινδύνου. Πρόκειται, συγκεκριμένα, για τις Εκκλησίες:

1. Αγία Τριάδα, Footscray

2. Αγία Παρασκευή, St Albans

3. Άγιος Δημήτριος, Ascot Vale

4. Παναγία Σουμελά, East Keilor

5. Άγιος Βασίλειος, Brunswick

6. Άγιος Ελευθέριος, Brunswick

7. Άγιος Νεκτάριος, Fawkner

Με σχετική Εγκύκλιο, που απευθύνεται στον Αρχιεπισκοπικό Επίτροπο Μελβούρνης, Θεοφιλέστατο Επίσκοπο Δέρβης κ. Ιεζεκιήλ, και στον Αρχιεπισκοπικό Επίτροπο Νορθ-Κόουτ, Πανοσιολογιώτατο Αρχιμανδρίτη κ. Ευμένιο, ο Σεβασμιώτατος διευκρινίζει πως οι συγκεκριμένες εκκλησίες θα μείνουν κλειστές για τους πιστούς, αλλά θα τελούνται κανονικά όλες οι Ακολουθίες, οι μνήμες των Αγίων και οι Θείες Λειτουργίες από τον ιερέα και τον ψάλτη. Όσον αφορά στα μυστήρια και τις κηδείες, προτείνεται, εφόσον είναι δυνατόν, να τελούνται σε άλλους ναούς – διαφορετικά, να τελούνται σε αυστηρά στενό οικογενειακό περιβάλλον.

«Σας προτρέπω να εναρμονιστείτε με τις συγκεκριμένες οδηγίες καθοδηγώντας καταλλήλως τους ιερείς μας και τα Διοικητικά Συμβούλια των ανωτέρω Ιερών Ναών και παράλληλα σας παρακαλώ θερμώς να εντείνετε τις προσευχές σας προς τον δωρεοδότη Θεό, του Οποίου την παρέμβαση αναμένει όλη η ανθρωπότητα», αναφέρει καταληκτικά ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος κ.κ. Μακάριος.