Neither the COVID-19 pandemic nor Greek government regulations can stop one venue in Thessaloniki from hosting its weekly summer bouzoukia concerts.
After Greece set a new coronavirus record on Wednesday, with 262 new cases and two deaths, health authorities announced new emergency measures on bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Coming into effect on Tuesday and applying until August 23, all bars and nightclubs must be closed between midnight and 7am in popular tourist areas such as Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki.
Nikos Vertis is performing at Orama – The Music Show. Photo: Instagram.
For popular concert hall, Orama – The Music Show, this restriction provided an instant dilemma as peak hours begin well after midnight and last until sunrise.
But luckily they came up with a clever solution.
Instead of closing entirely, the owners decided to change their opening hours, effectively squeezing in the same concert before midnight closures take effect.
The entertainment center made its announcement in a post on Instagram. The text reads as follows:
“With respect to the decisions of the government and the authorities and in light of the wishes of our patrons, we’re announcing that for the performances of August 14-15 and 21-22 the doors will open at 7:30pm,” the post reads.
“It is worth noting that on Saturday, August 8, the center was thoroughly inspected by the authorities and was rewarded for its formality! The distances observed were much longer than the [government] protection measures call for, thus showing the seriousness with which our business is addressing the situation.
“In addition, it should be noted that a few hours before the operation of the store, all employees will be evaluated with the COVID-19 test.”
Greece’s Education Ministry recently shut down eight Turkish primary schools in Western Thrace where the Turkish minority is concentrated, citing low attendance.
The move has been slammed by Turkey’s Foreign Ministry overnight as an attempt at “assimilation” and depriving the minority of the education of their choosing.
“This practice by Greece is a part of the assimilation and oppression efforts towards the Turkish minority in Western Thrace,” Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hami Aksoy said.
With the latest closures, the number of Turkish minority primary schools, of which there had been 231 until 25 years ago, had dropped to 115, he said.
In response, Greece’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement early this morning which said: “the educational choices of the Greek state… are made equally and without discrimination for all Greek citizens, always based solely on the quality of education provided and the interest of students.”
“It is at least paradoxical, if not funny, that Turkey indicates to Greece the need to respect minority rights,” the statement added.
“History will forever be the most objective witness to the systematic way in which Turkey has systematically eliminated all minorities in its territory during the twentieth century.”
Western Thrace’s Muslim-Turkish minority of around 150,000 people has long been an issue of contention between Ankara and Athens, with Turkey calling out Greece for what it calls a failure to grant full rights to the minority, including state denial of ethnic identity and restrictions on freedom of religion.
Current interim Canterbury coach, Steve Georgallis, is one of five staffers who have been told there isn’t a job for them at the ‘family club’ under Trent Barrett next season.
In a shock development, the Bulldogs are also expected to cut a further four staffers including head of high performance, Tony Ayoub, two strength and conditioning coaches, Harry Harris and Tony Grimaldi, and skills coach Steve James.
The move will rock Canterbury, although insiders insist change is needed with the club running last on the NRL competition table.
Gold Coast head of high performance, Dan Ferris, is expected to join Barrett at Belmore. Barrett and Ferris worked together at Manly.
Current interim Canterbury coach, Steve Georgallis (left), has been cut from the Bulldogs coaching team.
Georgallis, who took over from sacked Dean Pay on July 14, has applied for the vacant North Queensland coaching job. He previously filled in as a head coach at the Panthers following the resignation of Matthew Elliott in 2011.
The cull started last weekend when veteran trainer Garry Carden, deemed by players as the “the heart and soul” of the club, was let go after 37 years of service.
A month earlier, when Pay was dumped, assistant coach Steve Antonelli quit.
Those close to the club believe Barrett and his new coaching staff will bring a more flamboyant playing style next season.
New coach Trent Barrett is set to be bringing in his own coaching team.
The club is also mindful of minimising costs given fears the COVID-19 situation could continue to affect the bottom line next year.
The departures were partly offset by the retention of Adam Elliott, who knocked back a lucrative deal from the Warriors to stay put on a new three-year deal.
“Adam has become a fantastic leader at Belmore and, when he runs onto the field for the Bulldogs, you can feel the passion he has for the club,” Bulldogs chief Andrew Hill said.
“We look forward to seeing him continue to represent the Bulldogs with distinction over the next three years.”
A Turkish research vessel has begun surveying for energy resources in contested areas of the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s energy minister said Wednesday, amid escalating tensions between Greece and Turkey over offshore oil and gas exploration rights.
The Oruc Reis was conducting seismic research in an area Greece says is over its continental shelf, and Athens has demanded the ship’s withdrawal. Both countries have warships shadowing the vessel.
“Our country never threatens but will not suffer blackmail either. This is why it does not succumb to threats or tolerate provocative acts,” Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said in a televised statement Wednesday evening.
Η Ελλάδα είναι μια χώρα υπερήφανη και ισχυρή. Μέλος της Ευρωπαϊκής οικογένειας, πυλώνας σταθερότητας στην Aν. Μεσόγειο, προσηλωμένη στις αρχές του Διεθνούς Δικαίου. Η πατρίδα μας δεν απειλεί, αλλά και δεν εκβιάζεται. Δεν υποκύπτει σε απειλές, ούτε ανέχεται προκλητικές ενέργειες. pic.twitter.com/GFYpIlVm4E
Mitsotakis said Greece had deployed naval vessels to the area and placed its military on alert in response to the Turkish deployment of its own fleet.
“Let it be known: The risk of an accident lurks when so many military assets are gathered in such a contained area,” Mitsotakis said. “In such a case, responsibility lies upon the one who gives rise to these circumstances.”
The Prime Minister said Greece “(does) not fear even the toughest dialogue,” as it had faith in its positions, but that “dialogue becomes irrelevant in a climate of tension and provocation.”
“We will never be the ones to escalate the situation. Yet, self-restraint is only one aspect of our power,” Mitsotakis said. “No provocation will … go unanswered. We have demonstrated that we will respond, if necessary. And we will do so again if it is required.”
Turkish vessel, Oruc Reis, has begun surveying for energy resources in contested areas of the eastern Mediterranean. Photo: Turkish Defense Ministry.
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Fatih Donmez, said on Twitter that the Oruc Reis was “taking the x-ray of our seas.” He said the vessel had also lowered 1,750 kilometers of seismic cables into the Mediterranean.
Greece has called on Turkey to withdraw vessels from the area. Turkey said Tuesday it would not back away from its search activities, adding that it plans to issue new exploration licenses for the area despite the escalating dispute with Greece over drilling rights.
Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, is scheduled to see US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday in Vienna, with the meeting to focus on Turkey’s actions and developments in the eastern Mediterranean, and was to travel to Israel for talks on Thursday.
European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, tweeted on Wednesday that he was calling an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council meeting for Friday, to discuss the situation in the eastern Mediterranean, the presidential elections in Belarus, and developments in Lebanon after a massive deadly explosion there.
I will call an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council meeting this Friday afternoon.
We will discuss urgent issues and address the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Belarus Presidential elections, as well as developments in Lebanon.
Greece had called for the emergency meeting over what it termed the “growing Turkish provocation and delinquency,” and Dendias will be participating via video link from Vienna.
French President Emmanuel Macron also confirmed today that he would be “temporarily strengthening France’s military presence” in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey announced that the Oruc Reis would be operating in the Mediterranean Sea between Cyprus and Greece until August 23. The vessel arrived in the area Monday morning, escorted by Turkish warships. Greek warships were sent to the area.
Relations between Greece and Turkey have traditionally been terse, and the neighbors have long been at loggerheads over a slew of disputes.
At the heart of this most recent issue is how a country’s continental shelf is calculated and whether islands should be included in the calculation. Turkey argues they should not, a position that Greece says violates international law.
No words are sufficient to recall the visual, musical and emotional spectacle that Dimitris Papaioannou created to open the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.
Fireworks lit up the sky as some 10,000 athletes representing 202 countries marched together in front of 70,000 spectators during the opening.
The ceremony featured countless themes from ancient and modern Greek culture including traditional music, mythology-inspired costumes and other such motifs.
“The Opening and Closing Ceremonies will reflect two main aspects of Ancient Greek culture: the Apollonian and Dionysian,” Artistic Manager and Director of Ceremonies, Dimitris Papaioannou, stated at the time.
It also marked the first time in more than a century that the Olympic Games returned to Greece — as the first modern games had taken place there in 1896.
Following the ceremony, a parade of nations entered the stadium. The nations were arranged according to Greek alphabet, making Finland, Fiji, Chile and Hong Kong the last four to enter the stadium before the Greek delegation.
The ceremony ended with a massive fireworks spectacular. Photo: IOC.
On this occasion, in observance of the Olympic tradition that Greece opens the parade and the host nation closes it, the Greek flag bearer opened the parade and all the Greek delegation closed it.
The ceremony ended with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron by 1996 gold medalist windsurfer Nikolaos Kaklamanakis, after which the audience was encapsulated by a massive fireworks spectacular.
OASIS has been brewing up business in Australia since 1969, helping fuel the country’s renowned love affair with coffee. Melbourne-made with freshly roasted, blended and pulverised beans for an authentic tasting Greek style coffee, OASIS has become a household name.
Directors and brother’s in law, Peter Patisteas and Chris Togias, have spent decades honing their craft, carefully curating and roasting the finest beans from around the globe.
One thing that’s always at the top of their agenda? Ensuring their coffee blend is perfectly pulverised and made sustainably.
“OASIS Greek style coffee is made by locally roasting and producing a signature blend of beans which is then pulverised with specialised equipment,” OASIS Director, Pete Patisteas, tells The Greek Herald.
“Where other brands merely use the term ‘pulverised’ as a marketing claim, OASIS achieve a texture that is much finer than the grinding, creating the unique flavour profile that OASIS is renowned for.”
OASIS also runs a closed loop manufacturing system, recycling bulk coffee bags to produce animal litter and upcycling the coffee husks into pellets, which are used by sustainability partners including wineries, zoos, oyster and free-range chicken farms.
“Coffee is synonymous with community. For us sustainability means finding ways to help create economic sustainability, whilst minimising our environmental impact and maximising our social impact,” Co-Director, Chris Togias, adds.
“We’re doing what we can to reduce carbon emissions, finding ways to reuse coffee waste, and using clever minds from inside and outside the industry to tackle supply chain challenges.”
Along with these sustainability commitments, the company also has a rich history of being a proudly Australian, family-owned brand. Something which Mr Patisteas says makes it easier to produce an authentic coffee blend which reminds those who taste it of a breezy, summer day in Greece.
“OASIS coffee was created to allow Australian customers the experience of enjoying the authentic taste of a fresh, rich and smooth Mediterranean style coffee in the comfort of their own home,” Mr Patisteas says.
“We love seeing our pulverised coffee being discovered by “foodies” who enjoy the experience of brewing a coffee with a briki, and a wave of second and third generations who continue to enjoy the Greek coffee culture.”
And as the Greek Australian community only continues to grow, it’s certain that OASIS Coffee will be filling up even more people’s brikis over the years with the perfect coffee blend.
OASIS is available at Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Drakes and your favourite Greek Deli!
NYL Coach for Western Sydney Wanderers, Arthur Diles is a special personality on and off the field. His ability to bring success to the club in the youth competitions, combined with his ability to find and create Australian football prodigies, makes him one of Australia’s best youth coaches.
The Greek Herald spoke with Arthur about his career in football and how he manages to make so many young footballers dreams become reality.
TGH: Can you talk a bit about your family?
Arthur Diles: I was born in Sydney in 1982, my father Steve is from Pylos and my mother Yvonne is from Kiato.
Arthur is married to Mardi and has two 8-year-old twin boys, Lucas and Giorgios.
TGH: How and when did you start playing football?
Arthur Diles: From where did the little man, who did not go to the stadium, see Sydney Olympic? The people, the voices and the applause had not fascinated me like all the kids of that time. So I went to the academies, starting from a young age, working to reach the big Sydney Olympic team. My two twin sons, Giorgios and Lucas, often come to the stadium to watch games.
TGH: After you started with Sydney Olympic, which other teams got a taste of your skills?
Arthur Diles: I transferred to Sydney United FC, then Parramatta Power SC. Later I travelled abroad in Belgium at YR KV Mechelen for about 2 years. I returned to Sydney Olympic for a year, then to England at Crawley Town FC and back to the favourite Sydney Olympic team.
TGH: Do you know how you got involved in coaching?
Arthur Diles: Going to different countries to play in teams, knowing and gaining knowledge from the experiences I had gained, I decided to become a coach and pass it on to the small players.
I created the Academy of AEK for two years as a manager and coach. Then I took over as coach of the U-14 side at the NSW Institute of Sport. I then went on to win the National Under-14 National Youth Championship at Coffs Harbor in 2013 as coach.
TGH: Apart from AEK, did you allow others players to come from Greece?
Arthur Diles: I brought Sotiris Kyrgiakos from Greece to play at Sydney Olympic, filling the stadium with fans, who was part of the National Team of Greece. This made all Greeks proud, who embraced everyone with love and enthusiasm.
TGH: Do you have relations with Spain?
Arthur Diles: With Spain, and especially Real Madrid, I watch coaching seminars and, at the same time, bring players from Australia to the Real Madrid academies for the promotion of talents.
TGH: After this, where did you go?
Arthur Diles: I had a suggestion from the Western Sydney Wanderers, where I am so far.
Arthur undertook the Under-18s initially by winning the championship. After becoming the Under-20s coach, winning the championship, he became the assistant coach of the Men’s first grade team. He is now the head coach of the Youth in the Western Sydney Wanderers and has been part of the club for about 5 years.
TGH: In the team you met some coaches who influenced you positively.
Arthur Diles: When I started, Tony Popovic was a great advisor and mentor as well as Josep Goipo and Marcus Baipel helped a lot.
TGH: So what is missing from Australian football?
Arthur Diles: What is missing are the opportunities that should be given to young players. The talent is there, they just want promotion and trust from every team.
Teams are built from the ground up, and slowly seeing the big team being fed by young players is the A and the Z for the future of the club.
The main characteristic of Arthur Diles was his simplicity and knowledge in what he stands for, coaching. The ability to transfer teachings to younger players makeArthur a great “Detector and Creator of talents.”
I would say with certainty that Athur Diles is “A Football Diamond” and here I would like to emphasise that “Diamonds are Forever.”
This interview was translated from Greek and was originally posted in Wednesday’s edition of The Greek Herald. To see more exclusives like this, make sure to read The Greek Herald newspaper or digital edition.
A man was arrested and taken to Riverstone Police Station over allegations he was involved in the stabbing death of Kevin Kourtis in Riverstone earlier this year.
The unnamed 21-year-old man was arrested in his home at St Clair at around 8am today, following further inquiries from police.
This is the fifth suspect to be charged with the Greek Australians murder. A 20-year-old man and three boys – two aged 17 and one aged 16 – were previously charged and remain before the courts.
Just after 12.30am on Sunday 24 May 2020, emergency services were called to a home on Langton Street, Riverstone, after reports a 39-year-old man had been fatally stabbed during a break-in.
Kevin Kourtis died from multiple stab wounds after five men allegedly stormed into his home in Riverstone just after midnight.
Two women, aged 34 and 43, were also at the Langton Street address when the alleged ambush occurred. The 34-year-old woman was also taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries.
A crime scene was established by officers from Quakers Hill Police Area Command, which was examined by specialist officers from the Forensic Evidence and Technical Services Command.
Quakers Hill detectives, assisted by the Homicide Squad, commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s murder.
He has been refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court later today (Wednesday 12 August 2020).
Celebrating International Youth Day, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios released a special letter emphasising his prioritisation on the next generation of Greek Australians.
Message from Archbishop Makarios of Australiaconcerning International Youth Day:
Today is dedicated to the youth; to the most active and creative building block of any society, to the most beautiful and fragrant blossom that adorns the garden of humanity.
It may seem trite but we must repeat it at every opportunity: Our young people are our hope for the future.
With this admission, comes a great responsibility for all of us: Firstly, to listen to our young people; to listen to their anxieties and to share their concerns. And then to try and meet their needs and, at the same time, to generously offer not only the material but primarily the spiritual provisions that will be useful for them to create a better world than the one they receive. In other words, we have a responsibility to give them their space in the present world. The space they need and the space that they deserve.
Personally, from the moment I arrived in Australia, I have prioritised to direct the focus and resources of our Holy Archdiocese to provide support and spiritual guidance to the young people of our community. Through a series of initiatives, we have tried as a local Church, with our local Bishops and priests, to reduce the distances and break down the barriers in order to bring the new generation closer to the way of Christ. We have tried to inspire the new generation but we also rely on the enthusiasm and joy of our youth.
So, on the occasion of this International Day, I feel the need to reaffirm my confidence in the youth and to pledge that their voice will always be heard in the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. Our Church will always have her arms open to embrace them with affection, to empower them, to give them the space they need, to give them a say and a role for the future. Above all, to give them Christ.
Victoria on Wednesday recorded recorded 410 new cases and 21 new deaths – marking the state’s deadliest ever day.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the deaths confirmed on Wednesday were: Two women and a man in their 70s, six women and five men in their 80s, five men and a woman in their 90s and a woman in her 100s. The Premier added that 16 out of those 21 deaths can be linked to aged care outbreaks.
Mr Andrews says 476 aged care residents have been transferred from residential aged care to hospital due to coronavirus outbreaks.
“There’s a very significant challenge there each and every day,” he said.
“Whilst we’ve seen some stability come to some centres, some facilities that were in crisis, everybody is working together, everybody is very much focused on trying to stay ahead of this in these settings and not have a situation where we see a repeat of some of the really difficult, really difficult, and tragic scenes.”
Photo: Herald Sun
Victoria’s virus toll has risen to 267 – with more than 100 deaths in the past week.
While today saw a devastating rate of deaths, Mr Andrews says there are positive signs in the data from the last week.
“We have seen, if you look at the average over the last seven days, we are seeing the line come down,” he said.
“Ultimately, tonight at midnight marks one week of the most significant elements of the stage 4. So work places. That’s what really drives down movement. And certainly movement that’s much more connected to the transmission of this virus.”
Victorian Treasurer slammed over hotel quarantine management
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas was slammed by Liberal MP Richard Riordan in a parliamentary committee meeting after being asked about the state’s hotel quarantine system.
Premier Daniel Andrews recently came out to say that he did not believe Australian Defence Force support was offered to help run Victoria’s hotel quarantine scheme, a remark that was disputed by Australia’s Defence Minister.
Nationals MP Danny O’Brien asked the Premier why the Government engaged private security when it set up the quarantine hotels, rather than police or Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.
“I don’t believe ADF support was on offer,” Mr Andrews told the hearing.
“It’s been provided in limited circumstances in New South Wales, not to provide security as such but to provide transportation from the airport to hotels.
“I think it is fundamentally incorrect to assert that there was hundreds of ADF staff on offer and somehow someone said no. That’s not, in my judgement, accurate.”
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds rejected Mr Andrews’ claim that ADF personnel weren’t offered, saying, “the ADF was consistently advised that its assistance was not required for any ‘public facing roles’ in Victoria,” she said in a statement.
In the Parliamentary committee meeting last night, Richard Riordan, deputy chair of the parliamentary committee, asked Mr Pallas whether he was aware, as a member of Victoria’s crisis cabinet, of problems in hotel quarantine.
Saying he wouldn’t comment about the situation, due to an upcoming inquiry into the program, the Liberal MP proceeded to cut off the Treasurer mid-sentence.
“It was a yes or no, I don’t need to hear the whole ‘there’s a judicial inquiry’. Victorians have heard that for three weeks,” Mr Riordan said.
Mr Pallas proceeded to state that more than 100,000 pages of documents have been sent to the hotel quarantine inquiry. Yet, Mr Riordan wouldn’t take the answer, cutting him off again.
“OK Treasurer, I don’t need a lesson on inquiries,” he said.
