A special initiative has this week been launched by Greece’s tourism officials to allow for up to 25,000 tourists who visited the island of Rhodes last year during the wildfires to receive ‘free’ holidays.
Under the programme, people who stayed in hotels on Rhodes that were evacuated because of the July fires will be able to redeem e-vouchers worth up to €500 to cover the accommodation charges of a week-long stay.
The initiative will be run in two phases: between now and 31 May and 1 October to 15 November.
It aims to both revive tourism following the 2023 wildfires and highlight Greece’s commitment to compensate those impacted by climate change-induced disasters.
“The scheme is up and running as the prime minister promised,” the Greek tourism ministry’s general secretary, Myron Flouris said.
“It’s been a very complicated process not least, I think, because we’re the first country in the world to do this.”
Flames engulf a hill on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, southeastern Greece, July 24, 2023. Photo: VOA News.
Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has progressed to the quarter finals of the Monte Carlo Masters after defeating Alexander Zverev 7-5, 7-6(3).
Tsitsipas demonstrated great footwork to dictate on his forehand, forcing the German deep with his heavy spin and from 7-5, 5-0, the Greek looked on course for a statement win.
However, from two match points up at 5-0, Tsitsipas started to misfire and Zverev took advantage, increasing his consistency from the baseline to rally to 5-5.
With the possibility of a deciding set looming, Tsitsipas regained his composure in the tie-break, raising his arms after sealing a hard-fought two-hour, six-minute victory.
“I would call it an adventure of a lifetime,” Tsitsipas said after his win.
“Something I am not faced with every single day and momentum shifted dramatically at some points. It went one way and then it went completely the other way again.”
This is the first time Tsitsipas has defeated a Top 5 opponent this season.
“It is a big win. I am grateful I was able to play the way I did today,” he said.
“I was able to create pace and open the court, which helped me a lot. There is more tennis to be played, I am excited to see what the future holds. Today’s match was a great assessment to how much I can fight in tough moments.”
The former American football star OJ Simpson has passed away at the age of 76.
He was most known for being a key figure in a double murder trial. One of the alleged people he murdered was his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend.
Despite being acquitted in what was known as the ‘trial of the century,’ Simpson encountered further legal troubles, including a lengthy prison sentence for armed robbery and kidnapping.
ABC News revealed that his legacy remains intertwined with one of the most infamous chapters in American legal history.
On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.
He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.
Travelling overseas, crafting a career path and even study are just some of the plans young people make in their 20s. But not Greek Cypriot Olivia Nassaris.
During her 20s, Olivia became a carer for her yiayia Despina who had been diagnosed with advanced stages of Parkinson’s, and eventually became her end-of-life carer.
Now, as the recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of Parkinson’s Australia, Olivia revealed to The Greek Herald the launch of a new campaign that will advocate for people living with Parkinson’s.
By Martina Simos
The Adelaide-based CEO, National Advocate and Changemaker has a ‘wealth of experience’ that involves engagement with people affected by Parkinson’s, government relations and advocacy skills.
To this day, Olivia’s past experience in looking after her yiayia has been a driving force in forging a career in the not-for-profit sector.
Yiayia Despina.
“She’s the reason that I’m so inspired and proud to work for the Parkinson’s Community,” Olivia told The Greek Herald.
“It’s an honour to be appointed in the role. I feel that my yiayia would have been very proud and that her good nature and values guide me in my work daily.”
Olivia with her yiayia.
Olivia has also spent 10 years as Executive Director of The Hospital Research Foundation Group (THRFG) – Parkinson’s & Stroke prior to this appointment.
While at THRFG, Olivia successfully lobbied the state government in July 2022 for a $2.25 million grant. This enabled four community-based Parkinson’s nurse specialists to be appointed in South Australia, to travel to regional, rural and remote areas, assisting people living with Parkinson’s.
More than 8,000 people in SA live with Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases.
Parkinson’s Australia is the national advocacy body representing people living with Parkinson’s, their families and carers, as well as researchers and health professionals in the Parkinson’s community.
Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative condition that currently has no known cure. It is one of the most challenging diseases to care for because of its chronic progressive nature, insidious onset, complicated and diverse motor and non-motor symptoms.
People diagnosed with Parkinson’s generally have four key clinical features: tremor, muscle rigidity, poverty of movement and loss of normal posture with a tendency for falls.
Lesser known is the major impact on non-motor functions such as depression, anxiety, behavioural disturbances and cognitive impairment, sleep disorders, hallucinations, sensory deficits such as loss of smell and visual problems, and impaired speech.
Helping yiayia.
National Advocacy, Connection, Awareness:
Parkinson’s Australia recently revealed their long-term plans to raise awareness of Parkinson’s. One in 308 people in Australia have Parkinson’s. It is more common than prostate, bowel and many other cancers that are considered National Health Priority Areas.
The submission report outlines that a $2 million investment by the Federal Government will assist to fund:
a lived experience project, $250,000 – allowing people living with Parkinson’s and their families to tell their stories, this includes culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities;
a public awareness campaign, $950,000 – for target audience to recognise and understand the signs of common symptoms of Parkinson’s;
and a GP education program, $850,000 – to lead the way in recognition of the early signs of Parkinson’s and the benefits of early intervention, ensure health professionals are up-to-date with the latest evidence-based management of Parkinson’s, enhance the understanding and treatment of both motor and non-motor symptoms.
According to Olivia, future plans also include raising awareness about Parkinson’s Disease with Australia’s CALD communities.
Craig Gillespie, 53, diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinsons at 50, his daughter Delilah Olivia Nassaris and Member for Adelaide Steve Georganas MP.
“Part of our pre-budget submission is a scoping study – and that includes looking at CALD communities like the Hellenic community to see if and how they are accessing the supports that are available and what barriers exist,” Olivia said.
“Australians living with Parkinson’s deserve advocacy at a national level that can respond to this changing environment, understand the differences in jurisdictional health systems and the diversity of needs across the country and deliver to produce positive impacts for the entire Parkinson’s community.”
This World Parkinson’s Month other activities for Parkinson’s Australia include a launching of the newly branded and updated website, and the appointment of new board directors.
For the first time in ten years, the 2025 National Conference will also be held next April for people living with Parkinson’s and carers, support people, and allied health professionals.
Taking place from 1 pm at the Lakeside Stadium in Albert Park, the parade will be attended by members of the local Greek and Cypriot communities, as well as members of the Interparliamentary Committee of Expatriates from the Greek Parliament.
Officials attended last year’s event. Photo: The Greek Herald / Giorgos Psomiadis.
The Greek parliamentarians include Konstantinos Vlassis, Member of Parliament for Arcadia and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Hellenism Abroad; Theodora Tzakri, Member of Parliament for Pella SYRIZA, First Vice President of the Diaspora Hellenism Committee; Evangelia Liakoulis, PASOK-KINAL Member of Parliament for Larissa, Second Vice President of the Diaspora Hellenism Committee; and Asimina Skondra, Member of Parliament for Karditsa from New Democracy.
Also amongst the attendees will be the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, and the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Antonis Sammoutis.
Kids dressed up in blue and white and traditional costumes and participated in last year’s parade. Photo: The Greek Herald / Giorgos Psomiadis.
During their five-day visit, the parliamentarians will also participate in formal meetings with ecclesiastical, consular, political, and community leaders, with aims of strengthening the ties between Australia and Greece.
This year’s parade will take place as part of the festive commemorations marking the centenary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. It will also pay tribute to the 50-year anniversary of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus.
The National Second Tier (NST) football competition, set to kick off around March/April in 2025, is currently facing uncertainty regarding its final structure.
Although eight teams from NSW and Victoria were previously announced, the remaining slots for the ‘national’ component remain unfilled.
Soccer Scene revealed that the decision on additional teams joining the NST is expected come mid this year, following the completion of the Request for Proposal (RFP), Assessment & Review, and Completion Phases.
Chairman of the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC) Nick Galatas, who is a key figure in establishing the NST competition, continues to advocate for its development.
Despite the announcement of eight foundation clubs being confirmed, efforts are underway to expand this number to at least 12. 26 clubs were initially interested.
“There were 26 clubs that looked to be in a great position to be selected to start in the new NST,” MrGalatas said in an interview with Soccerscene.
“From those, it would be expected to get 12 for a kick-off in 2024 but didn’t pan out that way.”
The Chairman of the Association of Australian Football Clubs, Nick Galatas. Photo: South Melbourne FC, FB.
Mr Galatas further revealed what he hopes to see as more clubs show interest in joining the NST competition.
“Instead of the eight confirmed teams we see now, it should be 12 teams from hopefully at least four states or territories to achieve the best competition,” he said.
“I would have liked to have seen a 2024 start date with 12 teams and have all the big players ready to go, but instead we’ve had a delay. But so long as we use the additional time to start strongly, the extra year to wait is not important in the overall picture.
“Having Queensland plus at least one of South Australia, Tasmania and Canberra to include four states from the get-go is the ideal platform to build on.
“Then we can look at Western Australia and the remaining areas as we build – we are just starting. We can grow the competition without rushing into it too much from a logistical point of view.”
The South Sydney Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas has commented on the future of the club’s coach Jason Demetriou following rumours of his sacking.
The Daily Telegraph revealed that Pappas broke his silence and shared his support towards the coach, while emphasising that the club’s priority is for him to succeed, especially against the Cronulla Sharks this weekend.
“The first thing is we want Jason to succeed,” Pappas said.
“We want him to win on Saturday night. There’s no doubt about that. We want him to succeed so he can carry the club through the rest of the season and his entire contract.
The Rabbitohs will vs Cronulla Sharks on Saturday. Photo: Sydney Morning Herald.
“That’s not just the club’s position, that’s Russell [Crowe]’s position, that’s our other owner’s position and the board’s position.
“There have been some changes made to the team and we hope that brings results. If the results continue, we will look at it.”
Pappas further added that all the club wants to do is support Demetriou.
“There is no review. I want to make that abundantly clear. Russell is Jason’s strongest supporter, as am I, as is the board, as is management from (chief executive) Blake (Solly) down,” he said.
“No-one wants Jason to fail. We all want him to succeed. No-one would be happier than me or Russell or Blake if we win on Saturday night. That is honest and sincere.”
These comments come after Demetriou’s position has come under scrutiny this year, following the performance of the Rabbitoh’s in recent games.
Workers at two New South Wales factories have criticised their former employer as the company Apollo Joinery goes bankrupt. This has left the company and other creditors millions short.
According to The Daily Telegraph, two companies connected to Sydney’s Apollo Group, which specialises in kitchen and bathroom joinery, collapsed after 56 years. With big builders as its main clients, the market now faces additional strain.
The Federal Court ordered Apollo Kitchens (NSW) Pty Ltd into liquidation due to a $7.8 million tax debt, leading to 100 job losses, followed by the voluntary liquidation of Brownlen Pty Ltd, resulting in 29 job losses.
One staff member, with the alias Ron, revealed that he hadn’t been paid any superannuation for 18 months of work, since October 2022.
“All staff are absolutely disgusted,” Ron told news.com.au.
Kathy Sozou. Photo: McGrathnicol.
One of the liquidators, Kathy Sozou shared that as well as the company’s tax debt, the company owes an additional $3.5 – $4 million to other unsecured creditors.
Ms Sozou said that brings the company’s debts to around $11 million, most of which were added over the last three months. She also said that a few of the big suppliers were creditors, as well as about 50 smaller businesses.
“Some of that is inter-company claims, because they traded with entities in the group,” Ms Sozou said.
Since Wednesday, April 10, the General Directorate of Defence Equipment and Investments has held the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) regarding Greece’s request for F-35 fighter jets.
According to Ekathimerini, this document made its way to Athens, specifically to the defence cooperation office of the American embassy (ODC), by Tuesday afternoon and was subsequently sent to the relevant departments of the National Defence Ministry.
By 2028, Greece is expected to receive the F-35 fighter jets. Photo: Ekathimerini.
The letter itself outlines a 60-day countdown for the signing of the corresponding contracts.
Sources have suggested that the interstate agreement (FMS) is likely to be finalised shortly before the European elections, as the LOA deadline is on June 9.
The Hellenic Air Force is expected to receive the initial F-35 delivery in 2028.
On Wednesday, April 10, the Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 event.
In just 64 minutes, the Tsitsipas scored 6-1 and 6-0 to his opponent, which now takes him onto round 16 of the tournament.
Tennis Majors revealed that this marks his fourth year reaching at least the 16th round of the Masters 1000 event.
Tsitsipas after beating Etcheverry in Monte Carlo
“First match on Center Court. Second match here on Court des Princes..”
Stef: “Today was a good assessment to say I like this court too. I managed to play good tennis here as well. It does help getting fans behind me during the… pic.twitter.com/pp1Vrcfh5V
