SYRIZA leader Sokratis Famellos has backed a no-confidence motion against the government, joining PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis in calling for accountability following the 2023 Tempi rail disaster.
PASOK will table the motion next Wednesday, March 5, urging all opposition parties to support it.
This follows the release of an official report by the National Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Authority (EODASAAM), which found that mismanagement of the crash site led to the loss of critical evidence.
A crane, firefighters and rescuers operate after a collision in Tempi near Larissa city, Greece, March 1, 2023. Photo: Vaggelis Kousioras/AP.
The report revealed that the removal of debris and improper handling of the site may have erased vital traces related to the post-collision explosion, which likely caused additional fatalities among the 57 people who died.
Mass protests and strikes are planned for Friday, marking the disaster’s second anniversary.
Famellos stressed that the opposition must push Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to “come forward to answer” and take responsibility in Parliament.
With mounting public anger and political pressure, the government’s response to the no-confidence motion is anticipated to be a defining moment in the debate over accountability for the Tempi tragedy.
The amazing week continues for Stefanos Tsitsipas in Dubai, with the Greek champion having a real chance to win his first 500m title, but also to return to the Top 10 of the world rankings.
Playing very good tennis today, Tsitsipas subdued the in-form Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-4 and earned himself the last ticket to the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
For the second night in a row, Tsitsipas had to stay on the court until late, completing his triumph 10 minutes after midnight in Dubai.
He qualified for his first semi-final since last July in Gstaad, while in a hardcourt event it will be his first semi-final after exactly one year and the 250-meter Los Cabos in February 2024.
Tsitsipas d. Matteo Berrettini 7-6 1-6 6-4
Exactly the week Stef needed
Beautiful attacking tennis… what a player when he’s on
He hasn’t been at his best this year, but he’s well on his way to finding it
In today’s match, Tsitsipas managed to take the lead by winning the very close first set, where both players had chances towards the end.
In the 2nd set, Tsitsipas became somewhat disorganised, after a break he received in the 4th game. It was the 1st break of the match, with Berrettini making it 3-1 and shortly after reaching a 2nd consecutive break, to quickly take the 2nd set 6-1.
Tsitsipas, however, came back stronger for the 3rd set and put that bad 2nd set behind him, to make a new start. He was again solid and after the 15-30 he had in his first service game, he quickly closed his next games on serve and regained his rhythm.
It was Tsitsipas’ fourth victory in five meetings with Berrettini (4-1) and certainly an extremely valuable psychological victory for the 26-year-old Greek champion, who is looking for a way back to the Top 10 and the finals.
Tomorrow, around 5pm Greek time, Tsitsipas will have the opportunity to claim his return, facing Griekspoor in the semi-finals.
A damning report by Greece’s National Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Organization (EODASAAM) has highlighted major failures in the handling of the deadly Tempi train disaster, which occurred on the night of February 28, 2023.
The crash, which killed 57 people and seriously injured 88 others, was worsened by the improper management of the accident site, leading to the loss of critical evidence.
Lost Evidence and Investigation Shortcomings
“What happened – with the evidence being destroyed in three days – must never happen again,” stated lead investigator Kostas Kapetanidis at a press conference unveiling the much-anticipated report.
Lead investigator Kostas Kapetanidis at a press conference.
EODASAAM’s findings expose severe procedural failings, human error, lack of coordination, and outdated railway safety practices.
The report confirms that the accident site was not properly secured, preventing a thorough investigation.
Christos Papadimitriou, head of railway incidents at EODASAAM, acknowledged the critical role of the victims’ families in uncovering evidence, saying, “Everyone owes them an apology.”
Investigators also criticised the decision to remove debris from the crash site to a secondary location, arguing that this hindered efforts to understand the causes of the explosion that followed the collision.
Unanswered questions about the explosion
One of the report’s most concerning revelations is the presence of a possible unidentified substance that may have contributed to the massive fireball following the crash.
“With the existing evidence [it] is impossible to determine what exactly caused it, but simulations and expert reports indicate the possible presence of a hitherto unknown fuel,” the report states.
Traces of xylene and benzene were detected at the site, intensifying speculation about the cargo carried by the freight train.
The investigation continues for the Tempi train collision incident of 2023. Photo: Worcester.gr.
Root causes of the disaster
The collision was reportedly caused by a sequence of errors, beginning with an undertrained stationmaster at Larissa station mistakenly directing passenger train IC-62 onto the same track as an oncoming freight train.
The report criticises the Greek railway system for failing to ensure the competence of its stationmasters, stating that OSE (Hellenic Railways Organization) “does not guarantee that they are competent in the safety-related tasks for which they are responsible, under all conditions.”
It also highlights that Greek railway safety protocols are outdated compared to international standards and that a lack of investment in railway infrastructure and personnel contributed to the tragedy. The absence of a central coordinating body for post-accident response further exacerbated the situation.
Government and Public Reactions
Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis is facing pressure following the release of the report.
The release of the 178-page report comes on the eve of mass protests and a general strike marking the second anniversary of the crash. Public outrage has grown over the slow progress of a separate judicial inquiry into the disaster.
Mr Papadimitriou stressed that necessary safety upgrades remain incomplete, stating, “An accident doesn’t occur by chance. There are accumulating factors that contribute to the accident, because humans also tend to make mistakes.”
The Greek government has pledged to address the identified safety shortcomings, but has denied accusations of interfering with the investigation. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis dismissed claims of a cover-up, insisting that no such allegation was substantiated in the report.
Meanwhile, thousands are expected to take to the streets of Athens and other cities in protests demanding justice for the victims and reforms to prevent another disaster of this scale.
Emigrating from Greece in 1964 at the age of 17, Peter balanced factory work, night school English lessons, and barbering in Bankstown.
Completing his apprenticeship, he fulfilled his dream by establishing his own barber shop in Panania, then the terminus of the railway line.
Peter Spanos outside his shop in East Hills.
Known for his unwavering enthusiasm and resilience, Peter’s shop became a cornerstone of the local community. He fondly recalled patrons visiting from the nearby Panania Hotel, often bringing their beer glasses, which he would dutifully return.
Peter’s legacy is marked by his commitment to service, his ability to forge lasting friendships, and his significant contribution to the cultural tapestry of Sydney’s Greek Australian community.
Peter is survived by his wife Despina, daughters Elena and Vasiliki, son Andreas, and seven grandchildren.
On Thursday, March 13, the Hellenic Medical Society of Australia will hold its annual event in celebration of International Women’s Day in Melbourne, Victoria.
This year’s event in particular honours female leaders in healthcare.
Dean Kalimniou.
Inspiring Greek Australian women in the medical field, Associate Prof Vicki Kotsirilos AM, Professor Genie Pedagogos and Associate Professor Ana Chrysostomou will share their insights into their unique journeys.
Keynote speaker, well-known author and lawyer Dean Kalimniou will then speak to the topic of “Greek female leadership: a historical perspective.”
The event, which is already sold out, promises to be a great success.
A Sydney native, former London and Lesvos resident, Billy Cotsis has spent a lot of this decade in Latin America and abroad. He returns with a new project that captures stories he has seen, heard and experienced on those travels.
Some of the travels are documented in documentaries he has filmed in places such as Sao Paulo and Rio, Cuba and Venezuela, capturing the essence of Greek speakers. Earlier this year he produced a documentary about Port Moresby and Tatana Island in Papua New Guinea to underscore his thirst for experiencing the world.
Now back focusing on his writing, Cotsis has created the character Aristotle Roberto Carlos Smithopoulos who is as crazy and well-travelled as the name suggests. A departure from his recent offerings.
“Last year I was proudly involved with a book created and edited by Eleni Elefterias, Whose Is This Song. The book featured about ten academics and writers, unpacking Balkan nationalism and a song claimed by most Balkan nations. Some amazing names such as Dr Alfred Vincent, Professor Vrasidas Karalis and historian Costa Vertzayias; now I felt it was time to return to less academic writing, less illustrious company and more of the fun meets history style which I usually produce,” Cotsis said.
The new book is set between the Greek military Junta years and the evil Brazilian regime that ruled that country until 1985, and while that sounds heavy, most of the fiction is fun, fast paced and set to the idyllic places our hero visits.
Cotsis wrote his new book mostly from Papua New Guinea and on his travels across Latin America. It is intentionally called an “autobiography,” though the character is 100% not real. A number of characters in the book are actually real-life people, as our protagonist traverses the world, he bumps into everyone from Ronnie Biggs the Great Robber, Obama, Bon Jovi, footballer Socrates, Lula, the KKK and singer Roberto Carlos, while being chased by the evil Bolsanaro.
We meet Aristotle as a rebellious teenager from the island of Lesvos during the Junta era, who senses an opportunity for adventure. He leaves his village behind and joins the Greek military in Cyprus. The island nation was in the middle of a power struggle paving the way for an invasion from Greece and then Turkey. Aristotle barely makes it out alive thanks to the help of a Turkish-Cypriot, escaping on a vessel owned by Aristotle Onassis heading for Argentina where he hopes to become the next Onassis.
He never makes it to Argentina, ending up in Brazil after being thrown overboard by an Iranian heiress, but not before the vessel pulls into Greko speaking Bova Marina to find ouzo!
A series of crazy adventures ensues for Aristotle in Brazil involving a double murder, the killing of a puppy named JFK, and being chased by bad guys from the regime, including Bolsonaro.
Using the name Roberto Carlos given to him in Colombia by a forger, he is then inexplicably drawn in as a star footballer in LA, followed by a music career in New York where the regime looks to finally end him!
With a nod to some political and cultural commentary from the eras across a number of decades, Cotsis ensures that Aristotle takes us to a world that few know about. That world is sandwiched between two dictatorships, the Junta in Greece and the brutal military rule of Brazil, Samba parties, poverty, and corrupt officials.
Some of the stories in the book are indeed influenced by real events, although most are fiction with a splash of historical truth added in for spice over a period covering 1970-1990.
For those looking for a window into the past through a range of different cultures and speedy adventures, like a movie, Aristotle is your man.
Cotsis enthuses, “this is my eighth book involvement. I am getting it out on Amazon and the Greek Bilingual Bookshop and likely Melbourne. I have a contract with a publisher which has yet to be properly activated, so I will eventually let the book find its way to an international release by 2026. I am almost hopeless with that element of the creative world as I still have to make docos, add to my YouTube Channel and hold down a full-time job managing local economies. I love writing, the other stuff is time consuming, a distraction.”
The new book by Cotsis is thought provoking, fun and cultured. This is balanced with a sense of drama for the issues facing Greece last century from 1922 which are craftily woven in. Having written historical fictions which include Constantinople, Crystal Palace in London, and Aegean Seven who travel to Europe to take back the Stolen Marbles, this one has taken fictional travel adventures to another level.
Chapter Antigone of AHEPA NSW Inc invites everyone to its annual celebration of International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 9 from 5:30pm at AHEPA NSW Hall in Rockdale, Sydney.
The event will honour the 190th anniversary of the arrival of the first Hellene women in Australia (1835-2025).
The Keynote Speaker of the rich program will be renowned photographer and researcher Effy Alexakis from the ‘Ιn Their Own Image: Greek-Australians’ National Project Archives. Ms Alexakis will present on the contribution of leading Australian Hellene women to the development of our community and to the country as a whole.
It was in 1835 that the first Hellene women disembarked in Sydney. Aikaterine Plessos Crummer arrived together with her daughters Amelia Helena (born on Kerkyra in 1828) and Eliza Bettina (born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831). They migrated to the Antipodes together with their husband and father, Major James Henry Crummer of the British Army. With these three women begins the history of Australian Hellenic women.
International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time on 19 March 1911 with conferences and demonstrations across Europe. In 1913, the Day was transferred to 8 March, the date on which it has been celebrated ever since. The Day has been marked in Australia since 1928.
Everyone is welcome to this great celebration of Australian Hellenism. Entry free.
The Albanese Government is investing in Australia’s multicultural media, today announcing funding of $11.3 million over three years in recognition of the critical role of the independent multicultural media sector in fostering an inclusive and informed society.
Informed by the Multicultural Framework Review and its three key principles of connection; identity and belonging; and inclusion, the funding will support the sustainability and capacity building of small to medium multicultural media outlets.
This investment includes a competitive grant program of up to $10 million for eligible multicultural media organisations to transition to sustainable new media practices, and operational funding of $1.3 million to the not-for-profit Independent Multicultural Media Australia.
This new funding for multicultural media is in addition to the Government’s commitment to provide $153.5 million over four years to implement the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP), as well as an additional $27 million to back Australia’s vital community broadcasting sector.
The administration of the funding for multicultural media will align with the News MAP, which guides government intervention to support public interest journalism and media diversity in Australia, whilst balancing the need to maintain the independence of the sector.
Work to implement the News MAP is now underway, including to establish an expert advisory panel and design the administration of funding opportunities to support and build the sustainability and capacity of news organisations.
Further information on grant opportunities to support multicultural media will be available in due course.
The Government recognises multicultural media as critical to the health of our democracy, social cohesion and informing communities.
Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Julian Hill MP, said, “Independent multicultural media outlets are the most trusted source of news and information for many Australians.”
“It’s absolutely critical that they continue so all Australians have access to quality journalism, and avoid succumbing to rumours and misinformation permeating social media, WhatsApp and other online groups,” Assistant Minister Hill added.
“The Labor Government has listened and is acting on the Multicultural Framework Review’s advice which highlighted the need for government support to help multicultural media outlets be sustainable and adapt to digital environments.”
Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, said, “The Albanese Government is continuing its strong support for the multicultural media sector, with additional funding to support public interest journalism in this vital part of our media landscape.”
“This funding will complement the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP), and is in addition to two funding rounds already delivered by the Albanese Labor Government to support local news publishers, including multicultural media,” Minister Rowland said.
“An independent and diverse multicultural media sector is at the heart of local communities, is essential to building social cohesion and makes a vital contribution to media diversity in Australia.”
Greek singer Manolis Lidakis has passed away at the age of 64 after battling serious health issues in recent years.
Lidakis, born Emmanouil Spyrlidakis in Iraklio, Crete, was known for his contributions to entechno and folk music.
He began his musical journey at a young age and moved to Athens in 1982, where a television appearance led to a record deal and the start of his professional career.
Over the years, Lidakis collaborated with numerous artists and gained widespread popularity among the public.
Stefanos Tsitsipas secured his 350th career tour-level win on Wednesday, February 26, at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, defeating Karen Khachanov 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals.
The Greek No. 11 seed, who has reached the Dubai finals in 2019 and 2020, improved his head-to-head record against Khachanov to 9-1. Tsitsipas had previously beaten Lorenzo Sonego in the first round.
The 26-year-old, who is chasing his first title since Monte-Carlo in April 2023, displayed aggressive play in the third set, winning 80% of his first-serve points and clinching victory after 2 hours and 29 minutes.
Tsitsipas’ win adds to a career that includes 11 tour-level titles, including the Nitto ATP Finals in 2019. He is the 13th active player to reach 350 wins, joining the ranks of Novak Djokovic, Richard Gasquet and Marin Cilic.
Next, Tsitsipas will face Matteo Berrettini, who defeated Australian Christopher O’Connell 7-6(2), 6-2 in his second quarterfinal appearance of the season.
