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Hellinikon Casino proposal inspired by the Acropolis & Caryatids (Pics)

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One of the two bidding companies for the Casino at Hellinikon project, the Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment in collaboration with GEK TERNA, presented at INSPIRE Athens on Tuesday.

INSPIRE Athens is the idea for the first integrated touristic casino complex (Integrated Resort and Casino – IRC ) in Greece.

The building complex is drawn its inspiration from the Acropolis and the Caryatids.

The development consists of a luxurious hotel, entertainment venues, conference center, shops, restaurants, casinos, as well as a complete combination of high quality services.

Mohegan said that the project will help launch a new era of tourism development and economic prosperity for Greece and the entire region.

Inspired by the Acropolis and the Caryatids

The building’s flagship design is a creation of Steelman Partners, an international architectural firm specializing in the design and construction of IRC complexes.

The inspiration for the architectural design comes from Greece’s architectural past, and in particular from Athenian statues and buildings, including the Acropolis and the Caryatids.

“We realized that the purpose of INSPIRE Athens is to symbolize more than just an integrated hotel complex,” said Marios Kontomercos, President and CEO of Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment.

“We hope that INSPIRE Athens will become the catalyst that will fuel the development of the entire Greek region in the sought after Athenian Riviera, and redefine Greece’s modern identity forever.”

With state-of-the-art facilities that will make Athens a leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) destination, a multi-purpose, indoor event and impressive pools and waterfronts, INSPIRE Athens will combine luxury hospitality and endless entertainment in a way that no other has never been to Southern Europe before.

Much of the complex was designed to take advantage of Greece’s preference for outdoor activities, so almost all restaurants, bars and nightclubs will offer both indoor and outdoor experiences. Dining areas and shops will include internationally recognized brands as well as popular Greek products that emphasize traditional Greek customs.

The goal of INSPIRE Athens is to make a point of reference in Southern Europe by organizing music concerts with artists from international venues, theatres, major sporting events, as well as other high quality artistic and cultural activities on a weekly basis.

Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment Chairman and CEO Marios Kontomercos, presenting the IRC plan, said: “We hope we have the opportunity to make our vision a reality and that with this hospitality destination – a landmark we will raise Athens as the ultimate tourist destination. ”

The development of INSPIRE Athens is estimated to create more than 7,000 jobs in the area during and after construction, including direct and indirect jobs.

Completion of the IRC is expected to increase international tourism in the Attica region by at least 10% and contribute millions of euros annually to both the Greek state and its citizens in the form of taxes, levies and improvements to infrastructure and services.

Australia bushfires: Dozens of houses destroyed or damaged

Scores of blazes burned across the state and neighbouring Queensland on Tuesday as temperatures climbed as high as 40C (104F) in some areas.

Authorities said one man had suffered serious burns in a fire that was thought to have been deliberately lit.

Drought-affected parts of eastern Australia have endured intense fires since September – the start of spring.

Authorities have described it as the worst start to the fire season on record in some areas.

Bushfires were presently affecting more than 100,000 hectares of land. In some areas, the blazes had raged for more than five weeks.

  • Early Australian bushfires ‘an omen for summer’

Dozens of houses were razed or damaged in the rural town of Rappville and surrounding areas on Tuesday. Authorities said they were investigating it as a possible case of arson.

A home in Laidley, Queensland, was destroyed in a separate fire.

One Rappville resident, Danny Smith, told reporters on Wednesday: “I’ve lost the bloody sheds, the house, lost everything.”

Another man was flown to hospital after suffering serious burns while trying to protect his home, authorities said.

“For a little while there, we even hit catastrophic fire conditions and now we’ve dropped back into the extreme conditions,” said Queensland deputy fire commissioner John Bolger.

The bushfires follow record high winter temperatures and sparse rainfall. Prior to that, Australia had its hottest summer on record.

Many areas of south-east Australia are enduring a prolonged and severe drought, which scientists say is being exacerbated by climate change.

The Hellenic Initiative’s 7th Annual Gala raises more than $2.3 Million

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The Hellenic Initiative’s 7th Annual Gala has raised more than $2.3 million by enthusiastic response from the Greek diaspora.

Beatriz Perez, The Coca-Cola Company SVP, Communications and Sustainability Officer and THI Chairman Andrew Liveris

The Hellenic Initiative’s (THI) hosted its 7th Annual Gala held in New York City raised more than $2.3 million, making it the most successful fundraising event in the Greek Diaspora globally, according to THI President George Stamas. More than 850 guests attended from the U.S., Canada, UK, Europe, and Australia. The event honored the work of The Coca-Cola Foundation.

“This year’s Gala was our best ever and it is a testament to the enthusiasm and dedication of the Greek Diaspora who want to connect to and support the Greek homeland,” said THI Executive Director Peter Poulos.

Now in its seventh year, THI has provided grants of more than $15 million to support its twin missions of building entrepreneurial programs that help keep talented young Greeks from leaving the country and providing crisis relief for underserved communities in Greece, particularly children.

During the Gala, THI and the Coca-Cola company announced a new $1 million donation to ReGeneration. Greece’s largest internship program, which has engaged with more than 400 companies. The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Hellenic Initiative, and the Coca-Cola Company are founding donors of ReGeneration.

About The Hellenic Initiative

Founded in 2012, THI is a global, non-profit, secular institution mobilizing the Greek Diaspora and Philhellene community around the world to support sustainable economic recovery and renewal for the Greek people. THI’s programs build entrepreneurial skills in a new generation of business leaders and also address crisis relief through strong non-profit organizations.

About The Coca-Cola Foundation

Since its inception in 1984, The Coca-Cola Foundation has given back more than $1 billion to enhance the sustainability of local communities worldwide. Priority areas include empowering women, protecting the environment, and enhancing communities through education, youth development, and other community and civic initiatives.

Greek designer stitches together ‘The Thread’ production at Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus

Internationally acclaimed British choreographer Russell Maliphant, Greek composer Vangelis and London-based Greek fashion designer Mary Katrantzou have joined their formidable forces in “The Thread,” a production inspired by the story of Ariadne which marries the two seemingly incongruous worlds of Greek mythology and contemporary dance. Eighteen Greek dancers, six trained in folk dancing, the rest in ballet and contemporary dance, portray a new vision of movement for today’s audiences.

Following a successful European tour and a show at the Epidaurus Ancient Theater last summer, “The Thread” is coming to the Athens Concert Hall for a series of performances from November 20 to 24 as well as December 3 and 4.

Two dead from lightning strike as heavy storms cause destruction in western Greece

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Thunderstorms swept western Greece on Tuesday causing flooding, power outages and claiming the lives of two people struck by lightning. One was a 35 year old national of Bangladesh working in the area.

The storms battered the islands of Ithaca and Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea and western Peloponnese, causing mud slides in the streets of seaside village Agia Efthymia.

The heavy weather was expected to move eastward and fade by Wednesday morning.

The Athens national observatory’s Zeus system recorded more than 10,500 lightning bolts by 1000 GMT, more than half over the sea. Lightning struck a palm tree in Cephalonia, causing a fire in a residential area.

North Macedonia’s army chiefs sign airspace patrol agreement

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The Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, General Christos Christodoulou, and the Republic of North Macedonia’s Chief of Defense, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, signed an agreement for the patrolling of North Macedonia’s airspace by Greek fighter jets.

Main opposition party SYRIZA’s shadow defence minister Thodoris Dritsas called the signing of the agreement “extremely important,” and continued to say that “the message of this technical agreement is historic, in both substance and symbolism,” he noted.

“The implementation of the Prespes Agreement accelerates positive developments in the region of southeastern Europe and beyond,” he added.

Greek police dismantle international drug trafficking ring

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An international drug-trafficking ring has been dismantled by the Greek police in collaboration with the Greek coast guard, police announced on Tuesday.

In a major operation, three Albanian nationals were arrested in the sea around the island of Psara and another suspect was arrested on the island of Agistri.

The perpetrators were attempting to transport drugs to Turkey in two speed boats when they were intercepted by the authorities.

Police seized 1,172 kilos of cannabis but the perpetrators managed to throw a large quantity of heroin overboard that has not yet been recovered.

The three Albanians have been temporarily detained by order of a Mytilene prosecutor while a fourth suspect will be led before the prosecutor on Tuesday.

‘Brisbane’s Greek Cafe’s’: The tales of Queensland’s old Greek cafes & milk bars come back to life

The era of cafes run by Greek migrants were a phenomenon in Australia, and it’s not just the Greeks who think so.

Toni Risson, an Australian author raised in Ipswich, has dedicated most of her life’s work to Greek cafes.

“The first book I wrote was called ‘Aphrodite and the Mixed Grill’, Aphrodite being the featuring women’s stories. That really helped me to explore what the Greek café phenomenon was, and I used Ipswich, which was where I lived, as a case study, and I just went street by street, I found them all, just to show how many there were,” said Ms Risson.

“I realised what an incredible phenomenon they were, and how big a deal they were, and how much of an impact they had on Australian’s lives, that’s where we bought everything, where we ate everything, where we went out, where we met our friends, they were the social life of the community.”

Ms Risson reflected on the significance of the Greek cafes in Queensland’s social scene, as they would be the only shops open that would gather crowds after late night activities, like going to the picture theatres.

“They would be serving tea and coffee and sandwiches and closing up at midnight, back again at 6 in the morning,” said Toni.

Ms Risson released another book in May this year, called ‘Brisbane’s Greek Cafes’, which was a project requested by the State Library of Queensland, after awarding Toni Risson a fellowship in 2016. She then entered this book into the Queensland Literary Awards, where it became a finalist in the People’s Choice category.

“People being interested in cafes, and government institutions actually seeing the worth of the story, it’s important because it’s not really a story that has been very well known,” said Toni.

“Stories are going to be lost if we don’t get them out now.”

Christie’s Cafe, Brisbane.

Ms Risson was inspired to apply for the fellowship at the State Library from her familiarity with the Christie’s Café, which she had heard about constantly from the older generation.

“They just spoke about it as if it was the most glamorous, upmarket, special place…So I thought, ‘I really want to find out about this place’…It’s very vivid and prominent in old people’s memories in Brisbane,” said Toni.

Toni was invited to curate an exhibition at the State Library of Queensland, about Greek cafes across Queensland, called Meet me at the Paragon.

The exhibition includes, replica booths, menus, architectural installations, photographic portraits, stories and more.

The exhibition starts from Friday 27 September, 2019 to Sunday 15 March, 2020.

Voting for her book, ‘Brisbane Greek Cafes’, in the Queensland Literary Awards for the People’s Choice category, closes on October 14. The competition is determined by public vote. The competition also offers the opportunity for library members to request that their local library add the book to their library.

Book cover of Brisbane’s Greek Cafes.

“I would just love Greek people to know that a book about Greek cafes is in this competition…this little book is just the David in this Goliath story,” said Ms Risson.

“It’s part of our history. It’s new research, no one has ever covered these stories.”

If you would like to vote for ‘Brisbane Greek Cafes’, follow the link here.

Labor Councillor, Paula Masselos, first woman of Greek heritage to be elected Mayor of Waverley

“In the 160 years of continuous operation as Waverley Council, some 70 men have held the position of Mayor. In this time, there have been only five female Mayors, and my election makes me the sixth, so I pay tribute to the women who have gone before me,” Mayor Masselos said.

“When I chose to run for Council seven years ago, it was because I have a great love and respect for our beautiful local government area. We do have some of the most iconic areas on the planet – such as Bondi and the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk.”

Paula is the Managing Director of Embrace Society which is a communications agency specialising in hard to reach audiences and in values based behaviour change, community engagement, advertising and communications, and creative strategy and development.

Paula is a highly experienced and award winning strategist and communicator with a career spanning almost 35 years. She has held a number of senior positions including Director SBS Radio. She was also the Director of Education in the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

“In the next 12 months we will continue to beautify our public places, protect our local neighbourhood centres and villages and fully engage in continuing to make our suburbs liveable and walkable. I will continue to advocate for high quality and reliable public transport to help address the increasing congestion on our roads and streets.

She was Chair of Sydney’s Carnivale Multicultural Arts Festival and served for six years as a Community Relations Commissioner in NSW. She was on the National Women’s Advisory Council and shaped multicultural TV broadcasting as a member of the Ethnic Television Review Panel. Paula has been a Breast Cancer Network of Australia Media Ambassador and participated in the Field of Dreams.

“I also have a commitment to support our businesses, and in particular our small, local neighbourhood businesses. In the next six months we will piloting some activation projects that will support local businesses and serve as an attractor to residents and visitors alike.”

“In closing, I pledge honesty, transparency and integrity.”

Greek teacher and rock musician will present lecture on engaging youth in Modern Greek Education

Australia is now fostering fourth and fifth generation Greeks, for the first time in history. Naturally, this generation of Greek Australians are losing the ability to speak and learn the language and culture of their heritage.

“There have been countless initiatives and efforts to preserve Greek Language and Culture education in Australia, but achieving this is becoming increasingly difficult with the influence of pop culture, technology and globalisation,” said Ms Karanicolas

“Modern Greek education must evolve with current trends in teaching pedagogies and by doing so, we will access more of our Greek youth and create an engaging learning experience that aligns with students interests and is contextual to their Australian environment.”

Simone is an Adelaide-based dynamic primary and secondary school Greek teacher and a rock musician who uses YouTube, gaming technology and a movement-based approach to engage youth in second language learning.

In her current workplace at Prospect Primary School, ‘Miss Asimina’ has created an immersive and captivating Greek language program despite only seeing each class once a week. She draws upon her study and experiences as a rock performer, musician and producer in multiple Adelaide-based bands to create educational Greek songs on YouTube using famous pop song melodies.

Within the film clips, she uses popular dancing and acts multiple character roles to express Australian-Greek family dynamics. These approaches not only draw in her students, but diverse audiences globally.

From the creation of her YouTube channel one year ago, the channel has since gained 500 subscribers and over 20,000 video views accumulatively.

Through her passion for teaching, music and the Greek language and culture, Ms Karanicolas strives to bring Greek language learning to the forefront of contemporary education.

The lecture is a joint initiative with the Modern Greek Teachers’ Association of Victoria.

When: Thursday 3 October 2019 | 7:00pm Where: The Greek Centre, Mezzanine Level, 168 Lonsdale Street , Melbourne Language: English.