The Parthenon Marbles could be returned to Greece from the United Kingdom through a new “Parthenon partnership,” the Deputy Director of the British Museum said in a recent interview.
Speaking with the Sunday Times Culture magazine, Dr Jonathan Williams said the British Museum wanted to “change the temperature of the debate” around the marbles.
“What we are calling for is an active ‘Parthenon partnership’ with our friends and colleagues in Greece,” Dr Williams said.
“I firmly believe there is space for a really dynamic and positive conversation within which new ways of working together can be found.”
The British Museum has not said it will hand the sculptures back, but Dr Williams said all sides needed to “find a way forward around cultural exchange of a level, intensity and dynamism which has not been conceived hitherto.”
The Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum. Photo: Definitely Greece.
“There are many wonderful things we’d be delighted to borrow and lend. It is what we do,” he added.
They come at a time when Greece has ramped up its demand for the Parthenon Marbles to be returned to Athens on many occasions. The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has even offered to loan some of his country’s other treasures to the British Museum in exchange.
The Parthenon Marbles have long been a source of friction between Greek governments and the Museum, where they have been on display since 1816 after they were ripped off the Parthenon by Lord Elgin.
Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis have claimed their second doubles title at the Atlanta Open today.
The second-seeded duo combined superbly to score a 7-6(4) 7-5 victory against Jason Kubler and John Peers in the all-Australian men’s doubles final at the tournament.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis clinched their second tour-level title as a team in 94 minutes. They fired 15 aces and saved all four break points they faced in the championship match.
The ‘Everyone in the League’ jersey – which was unveiled by the Manly Sea Eagles football club on Monday without consultation with players – was intended to promote diversity and inclusivity in the NRL.
It was a way to show the next generation that the NRL (which has traditionally lagged in recognising the LGBTQIA+ community in the past) welcomes anyone to play the game, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Moreover, it was a public display that the sporting code was willing to move with the times and actually put some action behind its 2017 inclusion framework which wrote: “True to our roots, we welcome everyone to rugby league, regardless of race, colour, religion, ability, creed, sexual orientation…”
And yet, the Manly Sea Eagles football club’s move to include the LGBTQIA+ community has been used to exclude and discriminate against those who hold religious and cultural beliefs.
How ironic.
By embracing one group in Australian society, we are willing to ostracise and vilify another.
At least, that’s the sentiment in a bunch of opinion pieces and comments that I’ve read over the past week.
The seven Manly Sea Eagles players have been labelled “bigots” and “homophobes.”
In an opinion piece for Crikey, managing partner at Sydney firm Marque Lawyers, Michael Bradley said: “Let the players sit the game out; they can wear their prejudice with pride.”
Kylie and Jackie O newsreader Brooklyn Ross said on Tuesday’s radio show: “I’m not here to put hate on them. We do Indigenous round. What if a group of white guys said, ‘Nah, I’m not playing this weekend?’ I want those players kicked out of [NRL]. We shouldn’t accept this.”
Former rugby union player Peter FitzSimons wrote in a piece for the Sydney Morning Herald: “So many points, so little time. So little space, so many space cadets.’ You have been named!”
Australian media have widely reported on the Manly saga.
How on earth did an exercise in tolerance and inclusivity become a way to exclude people of faith?
There are several things wrong with this picture.
First, we’ve clearly forgotten that discrimination is discrimination in certain areas of public life including employment and education irrespective of the group of people that are being discriminated against. A member of the LGBTQIA+ community is capable of being discriminated against as are people of faith. Australian anti-discrimination legislation says so.
Second, it’s the flawed idea that you either need to wear the pride jersey, or you’re a bigot. It’s not as simple as that. There are people of faith who support their queer friends, and some who identify as LGBTQIA+. Having faith and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community can coexist. Why are we being forced to choose one or the other? It is possible to be respectful of LGBTQIA+ communities without taking part in pride displays.
Third, this is not the first time that a football player has chosen not to wear a jersey because of their personal religious beliefs. In January, GWS player Haneen Zreika – who identifies as a Muslim – made the decision not to play in the AFLW Pride Round or wear her football club’s pride jersey on religious grounds. Even though Zreika had played in Pride Rounds in the past, she spoke to her teammates about her reasons for not playing. Many of them who identify as LGBTQIA+ understood where she was coming from, and Zreika returned to the field after the round was over. Why are the seven Manly Sea Eagles being treated differently?
GWS player Haneen Zreika chose not to wear a pride jersey in January this year due to her personal religious beliefs. Photo: aflnswact.com.au
Fourth, there is an idea floating around that the seven Manly Sea Eagles players should have worn the jersey to support their LGBTQIA+ teammates, contrary to their religious beliefs. Let’s not forget that they have the right of free will, and that they believe in a code that they place higher than football. For Christians, they believe in Jesus Christ and want to be an example of him. And, if we force them to choose between football and their faith, we won’t have much sport to watch.
What I hope that we have learned from the Manly saga is that you can be a person of faith, and still love your queer friends. You can disagree with them, but still respect and support their endeavours.
As Zreika said: “Inclusion is about creating a space where people are able to respect their right to choose how they live their life as long as they don’t advocate hate and division.”
Two Australians with Cypriot heritage, Professor Maria Kavallaris AM and Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian AO, have both been awarded the Presidential Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Cyprus on Sunday, July 28.
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, presented the prestigious award to both during a reception at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia.
The reception was held to mark the end of the World Conference of Overseas Cypriots, and the medal recognises the hard work and contribution of the Cypriot diaspora to their respective societies.
Dr Kerkyasharian has played a pivotal role in fostering multiculturalism in Australia as the foundation Head of the Special Broadcasting Service’s Radio Division from 1979 to 1988, as well as the Chair and CEO of the Community Relations Commission of NSW from 1989 to 2014.
When awarding the medal to Dr Kerkyasharian, the Cypriot President praised him for his contribution to Australia and said: “You make us in Cyprus feel extremely proud of you.”
Dr Kerkyasharian receiving his medal from President Anastasiades.
Upon receiving the medal, Dr Kerkyasharian said it was a “privilege” and “greatly humbling” to be honoured “by the country… which opened its arms and accepted my orphaned parents who had survived the Armenian Genocide.”
“I was very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to make a contribution to the development of our great multicultural society which is today not only a reality, but is accurately reflected in the new Parliament in Canberra,” Dr Kerkyasharian added.
In the meantime, Professor Kavallaris was also recognised on the night by the Cypriot President.
Professor Maria Kavallaris receiving her medal from President Anastasiades.
Professor Kavallaris is the founding director of the Australian Centre for NanoMedicine at UNSW, head of the Translational Cancer Nanomedicine Theme at the Children’s Cancer Institute and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) principal research fellow.
In a statement to The Greek Herald after the award ceremony, Professor Kavallaris said: “I feel truly honoured to have received the Presidential Medal for Outstanding Contributions from the President of the Republic of Cyprus.”
“The support and pride of the Cypriot diaspora has been wonderful,” she concluded.
Sydney Olympic FC secured the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiership with a sensational 2-0 defeat of Blacktown City at Belmore Sportground on Sunday evening.
The high press of Sydney Olympic at the start of the match never allowed Blacktown to settle in the early stages with a high-tempo approach and the realisation of what was on the line.
Roy O’Donovan opened the scoring on the day, his twentieth goal of the season for Sydney Olympic, with a towering header from a Parkhouse cross in the 23rd minute.
City coach, Mark Crittenden, rang the changes for the second half bringing on Charles Mendy and Mitch Mallia for Carlos De Oliviera and Jordan Smylie respectively.
In the 58th minute, a defensive mix-up between Campbell and Robinson allowed O’Donovan to nip in and net his second goal of the match and, perhaps, earn him the Golden Boot outright for his 21st of the campaign.
A raft of yellow cards for the visitors including two to Daniel Collins ensured Blacktown wouldn’t finish the match with a full compliment on the pitch and the points going to Olympic in an epic battle for the top spot.
Crittenden was gracious in defeat at the whistle and said “at the end of the day we simply weren’t good enough.”
An obviously jubilant Sydney Olympic coach, Ante Juric, was delighted with the result.
“We dominated at home, which is nice, and is something we obviously wanted to do,” he said.
“It was important we did that with so many fans here but it was very tense out on the pitch and I’m super proud of how they played and the passion and commitment was plain to see.
“The guys didn’t want to concede any goals and the way they defended showed that clearly but I can’t praise this group of lads highly enough. To go down to the wire and become Premiers on the final day is special and we’ll enjoy the moment before we get our heads together for the finals games.”
The NSW Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading, Eleni Petinos, has been sacked after allegations she bullied workers in her office emerged last week.
In a statement issued on Sunday night, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced he was dumping the Miranda MP from state cabinet “with immediate effect.”
The Premier said he made the decision “after some further matters concerning her were brought to my attention.”
On Friday, it was revealed a former adviser to Ms Petinos had sent an anonymous complaint to the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet claiming they had been “relentlessly bullied” in their short tenure in her office.
Ms Petinos is alleged to have used several slurs towards the staffer and threatened she would “kill” them for making a small mistake.
At the time, Ms Petinos strenuously denied “any allegations of bullying or improper conduct.”
Following the announcement of her sacking on Sunday night, Ms Petinos said: “I would never intentionally offend anyone or make them feel uncomfortable, and if I did I am truly sorry.”
“I am proud of my work while I served the people of NSW as Minister for Small Business and Minister for Fair Trading. I fought hard for small businesses who are the lifeblood of NSW and I will continue to advocate for them regardless of my role,” Ms Petinos added.
Eleni Petinos will continue in her role as the Member for Miranda.
“The intense pressures and stresses of such important portfolios are significant for both staff and their Minister. I thank my staff for their efforts in supporting me to deliver for the people of NSW.”
Ms Petinos said she will continue to “pursue politics to make a positive difference… as the Member for Miranda.”
Ms Petinos was elevated to the ministry in December last year, as one of three new Liberal women promoted to cabinet. The Premier has now lost one of the seven Coalition women in his 26-person cabinet.
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Victor Dominello, will assume Ms Petinos’ portfolio responsibilities.
Student startup, “Microgreens – Magicgreens” from the 2nd Experimental High School of Kikilis has won the first Pan-European Award and was declared the Best Student Enterprise in Europe for 2022.
The startup managed to emerge in the Junior Achievement Greece competition and travelled to Tallinn in the GEN-E 2022 competition while coming face to face with 40 European teams.
The team presented ‘Microwonders’, the smart tower of an old computer in which micro-vegetables/superfoods are grown with record speed using IoT technology.
The students included in this project are Panagiotis Karatzas, Konstantinos Koukakis, Haris Koliouskas, Alexandros Katsaronas and Maria Dourou, with teachers Eleni Sidiropoulou and Stavros Katsaronas responsible.
The Gen-E festival 2022 might be over but the memories will last for a lifetime! What an experience! Congratulations to @Microgreens for winning the Company of the Year 2022 award 🏆 as well as runner ups @Drinkhalm & @Carducation! 🥈🥉👏🏻🎉#JACompany#JAStartUp#Gen_Epic.twitter.com/eyPUyPk7M8
The volunteer/consultant of “Mikrogreens-Magicgreens” is Stratis Roumeliotis Distribution Business Manager of HP and Inspirational Mentor the President of ACCI Giannis Bratakos.
The team had meetings for its preparation for the European Final with Giannis Voilis, Assistant Vice President at Citi, Elena Velonaki, Senior Manager, EY Parthenon, TSE Strategy and with the internationally renowned Brand Strategist Peter Economides.
In addition to Microgreens Magicgreens in Estonia, the student Drug n Drop also traveled with the smart drug management bin it created so that not a single pill goes to waste.
The bin analyzes with sensors the information of the drugs placed inside and achieves the production of the right amount that the market needs without making the waste that pollutes the environment and deprives African countries of medicines.
The prestigious award is given to those who have achieved study scores of 46 or higher in at least five VCE subjects, recognising their exceptional dedication and hard work.
There were two Australian students of Greek heritage among the all-round high achievers – Dux of Melbourne Grammar School, Peter Frangos, and Dux of Our Lady of Mercy College, Olivia Voulgaris.
Speaking with The Greek Herald, Peter says receiving the award is a huge honour.
“When I realised I had won it, I was really chuffed because it’s such a prestigious award,” the 99.95 ATAR recipient says.
When asked how he fared with completing his final two years of high school amid the COVID-19 pandemic and state-wide lockdowns, Peter says it wasn’t without challenge.
“The majority of year 11 and 12 was online. It was pretty tough not being able to see friends and enjoy our last terms at school together, but in all honesty, the pandemic actually kept me focused,” he says.
“There was no opportunity to get out and do stuff, I was at home and didn’t have much else to do other than to study and get to work.”
As for what advice the top all-round high achiever would offer students embarking on their final years of schooling, he points to goal setting.
“You’ve got to set really clear goals and think about what you want to achieve by the end of year 12 and how you want to see yourself at the end of that journey,” he says.
“Once that’s clear, put your head down and don’t look back.”
Upon completing the VCE, Peter was offered a full scholarship to Melbourne University and enrolled in a Bachelor of Science with guaranteed entry into any postgraduate degree of his choosing. His sights are firmly set on pursuing a career in medicine.
“Both my parents are in the medical field and it’s a really satisfying career, so I’ve never seen myself doing anything but that,” he tells The Greek Herald.
Peter Frangos pictured with his parents. Photo: Supplied to TGH
“At uni, I’m meeting some really incredible people who are truly extraordinary. I’m not extraordinary, but I am driven and hard-working.”
Now, as a full-time university student and part-time tutor for high school students, Peter remains a believer in working hard and persevering against the anxiousness and stress that academia can often bring, whilst also encouraging students to delve into ‘the classics’.
“I’m a big supporter of the classics, like Ancient Greek history and culture, and I think we need more young people to engage with that,” he concludes.
“Especially for young Greeks, it’s a really good way for us to engage with our culture and have an understanding of where we come from.”
Perth Glory is delighted to confirm that versatile defender John Koutroumbis has signed a two-year deal with the club.
The 24-year-old, who can operate at centre-back, right-back and in midfield, has chalked up over 100 ISUZU UTE A-League appearances since making his debut for Newcastle Jets in October 2016.
He spent five seasons with the Jets before completing a move to Western Sydney Wanderers for whom he made 16 starts last season.
The former Australia Under-23 international is looking forward to continuing his football journey with Glory.
“My decision was made easy by the way the Head Coach [Ruben Zadkovich] and others behind the scenes spoke about the new project that is going on at the club,” he said.
“Being a part of something new and exciting sets a challenge that has unlimited potential and it motivates me.
“On a personal level, my short-term goal with the club is to make Finals and push as far as we can as a collective.
“My long-term goal is to eventually, with the help of the coaching team at Glory, sign a professional contract in Europe and win my first cap for Australia.
“I’d like to add that I’m so excited to get started with the team, to meet the lads and help build a culture of a winning mentality and get Glory back playing Finals football.”
Zadkovich believes that Koutroumbis can make a big impression here in the West.
“I’m very happy to have Johnny on board,” he said.
“He is a player I’ve followed for a very long time.
“He was playing regularly when he was quite young alongside a very close mate of mine, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, during his time at Newcastle.
“Johnny has made very good progress since those days and his game has really developed.
“That being said, I don’t think he’s anywhere close to his ceiling yet as a player, which is exciting.”
“His versatility defensively and composure in possession will make him a very important piece of the puzzle.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Glory’s Head of Recruitment, Andy Keogh.
“We have worked hard to get this deal over the line and we welcome Johnny with open arms to our beautiful city,” he said.
“His attributes are exactly what we need in our team and the way he carries himself is exactly what our club needs.
“We can’t wait to see him wearing the famous purple in WA.”
Adelaide-born Koutroumbis started out with West Adelaide before joining Adelaide United for whom he featured regularly in the NPL South Australia.
The 1.83m defender’s senior breakthrough came following his 2016 move to Newcastle and he went on to start 12 games during his maiden A-League campaign with the Jets.
December 2017 saw him score his first A-League goal, ironically against Glory at HBF Park.
Glory’s new recruit departed the Jets in 2021 to link up with Western Sydney and he was a regular starter for the red-and-blacks last term.
The remote Greek island of Tilos has pioneered a new waste management model and recycling plant. The island now recycles most of its trash and prides itself for being a “zero-waste” island.
Tilos is a small island roughly 15 hours away from the Greek mainland by ferry. Authorities on the island recently announced that more than 80 percent of the trash on the island is recycled.
Maria Kamma-Alfieri, Mayor of Tilos said she was very proud of the town’s movement and anticipates more growth to come.
“The energy project was the culmination of many years of effort, it was very big, very powerful and it made our little island the first energy independent island in the Mediterranean and the first green island in the Mediterranean.” says Ms. Kamma-Alfieri.
Tilos town centre.
Starting in December, Tilos piloted a home trash pick up scheme and residents received recycling kits, which included instructions to wash and separate their household waste.
The island’s new recycling plant separates the waste to produce cement mix, powdered glass, compressed cardboard and other reusable items.
Founder of the island’s recycling plant, Polygreen, Athanasios Polychronopoulos appealed to the government to ensure the future of recycling on the island of Tilos.
“Our model can guarantee and succeed these recycling rates as long as the civilians want it and the government provides us a multi-year contract in order for us to ensure that despite of all the possible changes in the elections of the municipalities and prefectures, we will stay here and we will guarantee recycling rates. – Athanasios Polychronopoulos, founder of PolyGreen
