NSW has reintroduced social distancing measures after recording 16 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, bringing the Bondi cluster to 31.
Half of the 16 new cases are linked to a birthday party in Sydney’s south-west.
NSW Health said the restrictions will be introduced from 4pm today for the Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour areas, for one week.
Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests – including children.
Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events.
Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed.
Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed.
Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people).
Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn).
The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals.
Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity.
Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduce.
If you live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas, you cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel.
A Greek government spokesperson has issued a stark caution to the Prime Minister of North Macedonia.
Aristotelia Peloni signalled for the Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev to respect the Prespa Agreement after Mr. Zaev referred to the country’s football team as ‘Macedonia’.
“We demand the full implementation of the Prespa Agreement and its spirit and we call on Mr Zaev to refrain from divisive rhetoric, especially in such a sensitive issue such as football,” Peloni said.
“In any case, the good faith implementation of the agreement is one of the criteria for the country’s accession to the European Union.”
Former Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras and North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev meet to sign the Prespa Agreement in 2018 (Source: Meta.Mk)
Zaev sent out the tweet during the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Euro 2020 football match between North Macedonia and the Netherlands, which the Netherlands won 3-0, at Amsterdam’s ArenA stadium.
“Today, from the stadium in Amsterdam, I offer my strong support to the Macedonian national football team,” Mr. Zaev wrote.
Денеска од стадионот во Амстердам давам силна поддршка на македонската фудбалска репрезентација. 🇲🇰⚽️
Благодарност до холандскиот премиер Марк Руте – @MinPres за поканата заедно да го следиме натпреварот. Без разлика на резултатот од мечот, од денес #MKD и #NED се уште поблиски. pic.twitter.com/ne9WEtd7oC
The journalist-turned-government spokesperson cited the Prespa Agreement in condemning the North Macedonian Prime Minister’s choice of omission.
Macedonia officially became known, domestically and internationally, as the Republic of North Macedonia in the Prespa Agreement name change in 2018.
The name change was reflected in the Macedonian constitution and recognised by the Greek parliament after a long-running dispute dating back to the 1990s.
The 33-year-old Greek pilot who confessed to murdering his British wife, Caroline Crouch, faces life in prison pending trial on Tuesday.
Babis Anagnostopoulos was led to the Athens Police headquarters on charges of two felonies, murder and animal abuse, and two misdemeanours, including giving false testimony.
“I am sorry,” he was quoted as saying in extracts of his testimony cited by the Greek media.
Anagnostopoulos was escorted by Greece’s anti-terrorist squad passed dozens of onlookers into court while handcuffed and wearing a bulletproof vest.
“Rot in prison, you monster”, one onlooker yelled as spectators watched the Greek pilot be escorted to his fate (Photo: AP)
The court heard that Crouch was suffocated for “five to six minutes” and died “an agonising death”.
Anagnostopoulos’ lawyer, Vasillis Spyrou, resigned moments before the hearing.
Supreme Court prosecutor Vassilis Pliotas has also ordered an investigation into leaks of Caroline Crouch’s personal diary, saying it’s publication is an “affront to the deceased’s personality and may even contribute to generating a favourable climate for the defendant over the course of the criminal process,” Pliotas said.
A seperate hearing in juvenile court is due to decide 11-month-old Lydia’s custodial arrangements within 90 days.
Crouch’s parents, Susan and David Crouch, are appealing for custody over Lydia.
Mr. Anagnostopoulos originally maintained that he and Crouch were the victims of a burglary-gone-wrong in the moments leading up to her murder on May 11, before forensic examinations and incompatible evidence led him to be the prime suspect.
It was at Crouch’s memorial service in Alonnisos when Greek Police transferred Anagnostopoulos to Athens Police Department to interrogate him for five hours.
He confessed to the murder and staging a crime scene.
“No one would have thought that I could harm a dog,” Anagnostopoulos allegedly told police, as Greek media reports.
Court officials ordered that Anagnostopoulos be detained in Greece’s high-security Korydallos jail pending trial later this year.
An Adelaide teenager shot in the abdomen by his brother has told South Australia’s District Court he loves his sibling and knows he did not intend to harm him, ABC News reports.
Dimitri Gatis, 23, shot his younger brother Alex, then 16, through the window of their family home in Lockleys in Adelaide’s west — while their parents were away in Greece — in July 2019.
Alex was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Dimitri Gatis’ initial attempted murder charge was dropped after lengthy negotiations and he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing serious harm by criminal negligence in January this year.
He has also pleaded guilty to offences including possessing a prescribed firearm without licence and trafficking in a controlled drug.
Dimitri Gatis, 21, was charged by police after his brother Alex, 16, was shot.
Remorseful after cutting drugs:
During sentencing submissions today, Dimitri Gatis’ lawyer, David Edwardson QC, told the court his client’s age at the time of the offending should be taken into account and his guilty pleas were consistent with contrition and remorse.
“Your honour will have regard to the very positive aspect of severing drugs and a drug addiction which plainly was the catalyst behind the commission of all these offences,” Mr Edwardson said.
Mr Edwardson urged Chief Judge Michael Evans to allow Dimitri Gatis to serve a sentence in home detention, saying he had already been subjected to a harsh penalty of custody since July 2019, he had the support of his close-knit family and he had been rehabilitated while in prison.
In an affidavit partially read to the court by Dimitri Gatis’ lawyer, his brother Alex also said: “I believe that Dimitri should not serve his sentence in prison but should instead be released on a home detention order.”
Nick and Natalie Gatis, the parents of Dimitri and Alexander Gatis, outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe.
“I’ve known and lived with Dimitri for the majority of my life — we both resided with our parents at the family home at Lockleys… Throughout that time, we have always enjoyed a loving, good relationship as brothers. There was no history of violence, animosity or aggression.”
But prosecutor Taryn Amos said certain paragraphs in Alex’s affidavit should be disregarded because they were irrelevant and inappropriate.
“There are a number of areas covered in this affidavit that are, in my respectful submission, irrelevant,” she said.
The judge ordered a comprehensive home detention report to be provided to the courts. If given a home detention sentence, Gatis would reside with his grandmother.
Gatis’ case will return to court in August for further submissions.
No matter where on the planet you are, if you are of Greek heritage or you have Greek friends you will know that in the Greek culture, food means more than sustenance; it’s a way to understand the culture and defines the customs and traditions it represents.
“People of Indian background share similar values,” says Melbourne based food blogger and mother of two, Dhru Xiros.
“Both cultures are centred around food, family and fun. The celebrations and festivities are always over the top, everyone is loud and opinionated but best of all at the end of the day there is a whole lot of love and support,” says Dhru.
Married to Bill, who is of Greek heritage, Dhru started her Instagram food blog, Indo Grecian Kitchen, while she was a stay-at-home mum, as a way to express herself and to learn more about her husband’s heritage and culinary traditions of his country.
“It was a fantastic way to connect with the adult world, document my recipes and learn more about food,” says Dhru and explains what cooking means to her.
“Cooking to me is a connection, from past to present and future. My grandmothers, my mother, my aunties, were all formidable in the kitchen. Food is the great uniter,” says the blogger.
“It teaches us how to work together (preparing food) and then how to share the fruits of our labour (feasting). It is the simplest and most important expression of our love and care for ourselves, our family and our communities.”
The secrets to a successful intercultural marriage
Greek style lamb chops or Biryani?
When it comes to the challenges of intercultural marriages Dhru says there were no cultural difficulties in her relationship with Bill due to the similar nature of the two cultures in terms of values and morals.
“To anyone in an intercultural marriage – always learn about your partner’s roots. If you have children one day, and with existing families, it will make things so much smoother if you understand the other person’s background,” says Dhru.
“I went to Greek school to learn the language; I’ve read a lot with regards to the religious side of things but I have done that because I wanted to. It has never been forced on me and I have never felt pressured to assimilate. Definitely helps.
“I have a genuine interest in language, culture and food – these are the things which help bridge the gap.”
A Greek by…marriage
When you are married to a Greek you may not automatically get granted a citizenship but Dhru is proud of her family’s Greek heritage and expresses her gratitude for the loving acceptance the Greek community has shown her.
“My husband’s family and friends, the Hellenic community I’ve met through the food blog, even my dad’s Greek friends from when I was growing up: everyone I come across is so full of love.
“Their sense of pride in the Greek culture and heritage is astounding and fascinating. This was new to me at first, I come from a strong culture but I don’t think Indian diaspora are as passionate about the up-keeping of their language and heritage,” says Dhru.
“You only have to look at the number of Greek schools in operation to realise how important it is to Greek’s that their knowledge is passed on!
And what did she struggle to understand about the Greek culture?
“It took some time to get used to this patriotism, but the more I read, learn and absorb about Greek history it makes more sense. There is a LOT to be proud of and now I’m strangely proud of it too.”
Before we conclude the interview, I ask Dhru to share her favourite Greek expression with us.
‘Mou eheis kanei ti zoi patini (Μου έχεις κάνει τη ζωή πατίνι) – You have made my life a rollerskate,’ she replies.
“Such a dramatic statement. Instead of saying something simple like ‘You’re making this difficult’ the Greeks turn it into a hilarious metaphor. This is how my life feels lately too!” Dhru concludes.
DHRU’SPEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
These cookies are the easiest and quickest you will ever make. 3 base ingredients, gluten free, dairy free and so delicious they won’t last more than a couple of days so be sure to make a double batch!
Ingredients
240g smooth peanut butter
100g brown sugar
1 egg
Chocolate chips (optional)
Method
1. Combine all ingredients thoroughly in a bowl.
2. Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes.
3. Roll into 1/2 tablespoon sized balls, flatten very slightly and put onto lined baking trays.
4. If you are using them, press a free chocolate chips onto each cookie.
5. Bake in 1800C oven for 8-10 mins or until you see small cracks on the surface. Be careful they will darken and burn very quickly.
6. Allow to cool on tray for 5-10 mins before eating. Enjoy!
Recently retired Queensland Court of Appeal judge, the Honourable Anthe Philippides, has always been a trailblazer for cultural diversity and the arts in the state’s legal system.
This is especially clear in her recent interview with The Contact Magazine, where she stresses how the arts are essential for all university students “no matter what career one pursues.”
“After all, music can be a tool for reconciliation; visual arts can provide solace and beauty; architecture literally affects how we live; theatre brings thoughts and feelings to life; while language and history provide a framework from which we can grow and communicate,” Justice Philippides tells the magazine.
“From a career viewpoint, I quickly realised that law doesn’t exist in a vacuum and that the arts were a good vehicle for looking at how the law operated and whether it could be improved. Arts provide a different perspective.”
Recently retired Queensland Court of Appeal judge, the Honourable Anthe Philippides.
While some might say Justice Philippides is biased in this opinion as she grew up in a proud Greek Cypriot household that revered the arts and multiculturalism, that’s not entirely true. While this aspect of her family life did influence her arts passion in some way, her family’s philanthropy also had a hand to play in the legal career she chose.
“As a child, I remember our house always being open, hosting fundraisers for various charities. Looking out for others was a big part of my upbringing and the arts, particularly music, played a major role in achieving this,” Justice Philippides says.
Becoming the first woman of Hellenic heritage admitted to the Queensland Bar:
Once her decision was made, Justice Philippides went to the University of Queensland in the late 1970s to enrol in arts/law degrees and she never looked back.
In 1982, she became the first female to win a British Council Commonwealth scholarship to complete a Master of Law at Cambridge.
Later, in 1984, she became the first woman of Hellenic heritage to be admitted to the Queensland Bar and, in 1999, to attain silk in Australia.
In 2000, she became a judge in the Supreme Court of Queensland, a position she held until 2014, when she moved over to the Queensland Court of Appeal. They were also firsts for a woman of Hellenic heritage.
Justice Philippides became the first woman of Hellenic heritage admitted to the Queensland Bar.
“I think of the law as an evolving system of rules and principles for dealing with society’s disputes and of governing society, and it has been a huge privilege for me to have played a role in it, including presiding over criminal trials, determining civil cases, mediating between people bringing deep grievances to the Court, and considering difficult issues at an appellate level,” Justice Philippides told The Contact Magazine.
“I’m also glad to have played a role in changing the perception of ‘what a judge looks like’.”
Promoting diversity and the arts:
When Justice Philippides isn’t doing all of the above and juggling her demanding public career, she’s also always seen making a foray into the arts and fighting for equality.
In 1999, she helped establish a mentoring scheme for the Bar Association of Queensland, designed to help those traditionally under-represented at the Bar – women and those with Indigenous or rural backgrounds – to link with barristers and gain practical experience in the profession.
“I believe everyone deserves respect, and no-one should feel excluded because of their cultural background or lack of contacts,” she says.
“A respectful working environment, where people can be their authentic selves, is a large part of providing a credible system of justice, and diversity can only empower us all.”
Justice Philippides has also become a ‘donor with purpose,’ contributing her time and money to various cultural activities and organisations she admired.
Justice Anthe Philippides with graduates of UQ’s InspireU program. Image supplied / The Contact Magazine.
From 1988 until 2000, her Honour served as Honorary Vice Consul in Brisbane for the Republic of Cyprus. She was part of a group that established the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association in 2015 to celebrate Hellenic ideals and promote cultural harmony and diversity, and is now its Queensland patron.
Currently, she is also a director of Musica Viva Australia, and has helped establish TLF Creative, an orchestra and arts-based group that provides an inclusive and creative space for legal professionals and law students.
But now that she’s retiring from the legal profession she has served so well, what’s Justice Philippides looking forward to the most? Spending time “doing good things with good people,” she told The Contact Magazine.
“Promoting diversity, particularly in the arts, listening to different opinions, and finding better answers to the difficult questions we must face to empower those from diverse backgrounds and create a more inclusive society are my passions going forward.”
SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros has proposed new laws to establish a Gender Equality Commissioner in South Australia to help identify and address inequity, such as gender pay gaps, across the state’s public sector.
The Advertiser reports that the Gender Equality Bill would affect more than 107,400 public servants from nurses to teachers, judges, local mayors and MPs – 14.4 percent of the South Australian workforce.
“This Bill is to ensure we are not judged by our chromosomes and can live our lives without discrimination, harassment, bullying and violence,” Ms Bonaros told The Advertiser.
“If passed, South Australia will be the second state in Australia to enact gender equality legislation following Victoria’s lead from last year.”
SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros on the steps of state parliament House. Picture: Mark Brake.
The Bill would cover public service ‘entities,’ such as universities and the South Australian Courts Administration Authority. The entities would have clear obligations to set up and meet tailored gender targets, while the Gender Equality Commissioner would oversee the Bill’s compliance and enforcement.
Labor is broadly supportive of the Bill, up for committee stage discussion in the Upper House from August. The state government is still formalising a position on it.
Ms Bonaros said gender equality was a basic human right and one that brought significant economic, social and health benefits for South Australians, including the prevention of family and other forms of violence.
Connie Bonaros says gender equality was a basic human right.
She said public sector workplaces needed to be a beacon of example in gender equality if it was expected of non-government businesses and corporations.
State opposition spokeswoman for Women, Katrine Hildyard, agrees and told The Advertiser she also sees “benefits” to the proposed bill.
“We see benefits in establishing a Commissioner for Gender Equality like Victoria has to promote gender equality programs, services and workplaces, and have contemplated similar legislation.
“It is unacceptable women continue to be disproportionately and negatively impacted by pay inequality, gendered violence, sexual assault and other forms of discrimination, all of which a Commissioner could proactively address.”
Tennis star, Nick Kyrgios, will kick-off his Wimbledon campaign without playing any grasscourt tournaments in the weeks prior, the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH)reports.
Kyrgios had planned to leave Australia for Europe about a fortnight ago but a neck and shoulder complaint has delayed his departure.
The 26-year-old is set to board a flight bound for England on Wednesday, leaving him just four days to practice on his preferred surface before the tournament begins on Monday.
According to the SMH, grass is Kyrgios’ favourite playing surface and his camp are not overly concerned with the lack of practice on the grasscourts at the All England Club.
Nick Kyrgios will kick-off his Wimbledon campaign without playing any grasscourt tournaments.
But experts say the lack of time to acclimatise will do nothing to enhance Kyrgios’ chances of going deep at the tournament where he became a household name after a stunning fourth-round win over Rafael Nadal in 2014.
Kyrgios has not played on the tour since his exit from the third round of the Australian Open in February. His absence has seen his ranking drop to No. 58, meaning he will face one of the top seeds by the third round at the very latest.
Fellow Greek Australian, Thanasi Kokkinakis, is also striving to earn an entry in the Wimbledon main draw through qualifying this week.
Ten new local COVID-19 cases have been recorded in NSW as the Bondi cluster grows to 21.
Officials said there were five new cases recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm. Two had already been reported yesterday.
Seven of the infections were detected outside of the reporting period and will be included in tomorrow’s figures.
Of those seven cases, six were household contacts of previous cases who have been in isolation. The seventh case is a child who attends a primary school in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
A total of 28,645 tests were completed in the 24 hours to 8.00pm yesterday.
The Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre continues to be the main area of concern for health authorities.
NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has extended the mask mandate.
Mask mandate extended to all of Greater Sydney:
Following today’s spike in COVID-19 cases, NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has announced the mandatory mask mandate will apply to all of Greater Sydney, valid from 12:01am Thursday morning.
“We will extend it to all of Greater Sydney. That means excluding the Central Coast and excluding the Hunter, but also they will be required to adhere to that compulsory mask wearing indoors for hospitality workers when we are going shopping, going grocery shopping, going to events inside,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“It is only when you are eating or drinking indoors at a venue that you can’t or shouldn’t wear a mask. In every other circumstance, if you live or are in Sydney, you must wear a mask for another week beyond Wednesday midnights.”
Former Australian Test cricketer, Stuart MacGill, has told A Current Affairhe is haunted up to 20 hours a day by memories of his kidnapping and feared he could have died during the ordeal.
The interview was Mr MacGill’s first public comments since allegedly being abducted, assaulted and threatened at gunpoint by a group of men, including Marino Sotiropoulos, the brother of his partner Maria O’Meagher.
The renowned spin bowler stressed during the interview he was innocently caught up in a situation he did not understand.
“I know that I have done nothing wrong, Maria has done nothing wrong. If people choose to think something contrary to what’s been presented by both myself and the police, then that’s up to them,” Mr MacGill toldA Current Affair.
MacGill was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint from a street in Cremorne on April 14, driven to a rundown farmhouse in Bringelly and after an hour brought back into the city and dumped. Picture: Nine.
The former cricketer denies any knowledge of an alleged cocaine supply deal being in the works when he introduced Sotiropoulos to an associate known as Sonny, an alleged drug dealer and regular diner at Aristotle’s, a Greek restaurant in Neutral Bay run by Mr MacGill and his partner.
“We consider ourselves to be the innocent parties in this one. Part of hospitality is making sure the room works. We introduce people to other people all the time,” he said, while stressing to viewers that was all they needed to know.
Stuart MacGill with his girlfriend Maria O’Meagher at Aristotle’s restaurant, which they have closed since the alleged kidnapping. Credit: Facebook / Sydney Morning Herald.
MacGill only agreed to break his silence toA Current Affair to assist strike force detectives who are trying to track down all those allegedly involved in his kidnapping and extortion.
Four men, including Sotiropoulos, brothers Frederick and Richard Schaaf, and Son Minh Nguyen, have already been arrested and charged over the kidnapping, but the program aired new CCTV of two more potential suspects in the kidnapping.
“The CCTV captures them going into a Bunnings a couple of hours before the incident occurred,” Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis, from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad, told the program.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis is working on Mr MacGill’s case.
“They bought some items that we believe is associated with the incident, so we are very keen on identifying and speaking with those two males.”
Police have also maintained from day one that Mr MacGill is an innocent victim.
“What we allege he’s gone through is just horrific circumstances,” Detective Superintendent Koutsoufis said.
“I feel for him and his family now that’s all dragged out into the media as well, being a public figure that he is.”
