Raging forest fires in central Sardinia have forced the evacuation of 900 people as flames threatened some residential areas and others were engulfed by dense smoke, firefighters said on Monday.
No deaths or injuries have been reported.
“It is an unprecedented reality in Sardinia’s history,” regional governor, Christian Salinas, said. “So far, 20,000 hectares of forest that represent centuries of environmental history of our island have gone up in ashes.”
Greece has sent two Canadair CL-415 to Italy through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to help fight the forest fires raging in #Sardinia. During these difficult times, we stand together. 🇮🇹🇬🇷🇪🇺 #EUSolidaritypic.twitter.com/SuDXR6tSKu
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) July 26, 2021
France and Greece dispatched aircraft to help put out wildfires, which have consumed around 20,000 hectares (nearly 50,000 acres) in the province of Oristano. They join 10 Italian firefighting squads and 5 other aircraft deployed.
“During these difficult times, we stand together,” Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said on Twitter.
Firefighters battled all night bringing under control a blaze near the town of Montiferro that displaced 400 residents over the weekend.
The wildfires, which broke out over the weekend, have been spread by dry southerly winds.
This unprecedented event came as in Greece, Mitsotakis said firefighters had battled around 50 fires during the past 24 hours and it was likely there would be more with meteorologists warning that a further heatwave was possible.
“I want to emphasise that August remains a difficult month,” he said. “That is why it is important for all of us, all state services, to be on absolute alert until the firefighting period is formally over.”
Greece said on Monday children aged 12-15 could be vaccinated against COVID-19 with Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna shots, extending the inoculations of adolescents that was begun this month as infections continue to rise.
The head of Greece’s vaccination committee, Maria Theodoridou, said including younger teenagers in the program would help protect vulnerable youngsters and relatives and prepare the way for a return to school in September.
Greece recommends COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 12-15.
A country of 11 million people, Greece has so far administered more than 10.2 million first shots. About 46.8% of the population is fully vaccinated, according to Marios Themistokleous, secretary-general in charge of vaccinations.
In an effort to entice more people to get vaccinated, the government has offered incentives including cash and free mobile data for youths to try to bring the rate up to 70% by the autumn.
Greece reported 2,070 new COVID-19 infections and five deaths on Monday, bringing the total number of infections since the pandemic began to 477,975 and the death toll to 12,903.
In the last two days, Western Sydney Wanderers FC have announced the signing of two talented Greek Australians who will play for the club in the 2021/22 A-League season. They are: Terry Antonis and Johnny Koutroumbis.
Terry Antonis:
27-year-old midfielder, Terry Antonis, returns to play for the Wanderers in the upcoming season on a three year deal.
A familiar face to the Wanderers faithful, Antonis played in the Red and Black in the 2016/17 season, including in the club’s third AFC Champions League campaign and in the A-League Finals Series.
Antonis joins from Korean League club, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, who he joined from Melbourne Victory in 2019, going on to win the Korean FA Cup in his first season at the club.
From Korean experiences, to coming home and family in the Wanderers Academy.
Antonis, who is returning from Korea with his wife and daughter for pre-season training, said he was excited to be coming home to Western Sydney and continuing to grow as a footballer.
“I’m 27 now, this is an important moment for me, I’ve learned a lot about myself on and off the field, I want to keep learning every day so to be able to put that into training and into games,” Antonis said.
“I’ve enjoyed my time in Korea for the past couple of years, it was good to be at a big club in Korea but I am looking forward to coming home.
“Obviously being from the West it is very exciting to be coming home, I spoke to the coach (Carl Robinson) and I spoke to JT (CEO John Tsatsimas) and I want to win things with the Wanderers, I want to give all I can for the club and help us get to the finals.”
Wanderers CEO, John Tsatsimas, said it was fantastic to welcome home another son of Western Sydney to the club.
“Welcoming Terry back to the club is fantastic, it brings home another Western Sydney footballer to play in front of family and friends and is very important to what we are continuing to build at this club,” Tsatsimas said.
Johnny Koutroumbis:
23-year-old defender, Johnny Koutroumbis, has signed with the Wanderers for the next two seasons, the club announced today.
Koutroumbis joins the Red & Black after a five-year spell at Newcastle Jets where he made 90 appearances in the domestic competition.
Koutroumbis said he was excited to take the next step of his career at the Wanderers.
“Games against the Wanderers always had a sense of tension due to the fact they are one of the biggest clubs in the country,” Koutroumbis said.
“The main decision to join the club was because I wanted to challenge myself under the pressure and expectation from the coaches and fans to be the best player I can possibly be.
“The main decision to join the club was because I wanted to challenge myself under the pressure and expectation from the coaches and fans to be the best player I can possibly be." 👊@JKoutroumbis on joining the Red & Black: https://t.co/vUQR4yiMRs#WSWpic.twitter.com/m1H6Rnxlk0
“In the short time I was under the Gaffa (head coach Carl Robinson) at the Jets, I felt as though I was a different player. He gave me the confidence and reassurance that a player like myself needs.
“I have a great belief in the gaffer, coaching staff, my new teammates, and myself.
“The goal is to try to play in as many games as I possibly can and win. From a club standpoint and with our high expectations.”
Head coach, Carl Robinson, said he is delighted to work with Koutroumbis again.
“Having previously coached Johnny, I know that he is a hard worker and has a fantastic team-first mentality,” Robinson said.
“Johnny possesses excellent speed with a strong tactical understanding of how I want to play on both sides of the ball.
“He is a great addition to our strong core group of young players we are building and developing here at the Wanderers.”
On July 26, 1822, one of the most important battles of the struggle for Greek Independence was fought – that is, the Battle of Dervenakia. It was during this battle that the strategic genius of Theodoros Kolokotronis became apparent.
Before the Battle:
At the beginning of July 1822, a new danger appeared for the Greek Revolution with the arrival of a strong Turkish force under Mahmut Pasha to the Peloponnese. He is better known as Dramalis.
Without encountering the slightest resistance in Eastern or Central Greece, Dramalis advanced with 25,000 men and on July 6 encamped in Corinth. His main goal was to recapture Tripolitsa and the suppression of the Revolution in Moria with the help of the Turkish fleet, which would sail to the Argolic Gulf.
Obedient to the local Turkish leaders, who advised him to make Corinth his base and having great confidence in his forces, Dramalis ordered his army to advance towards Nafplio to end his siege.
Kolokotronis and the Battle of Dervenakia.
After capturing Acrocorinth, he arrived in Argos undisturbed and encamped outside the city on July 12. The rebels were caught asleep and could not defend the straits between Corinth and Argos, through which the Turkish army passed.
As soon as they learned that Dramalis and his army were approaching Argos, there was great confusion among the Greeks.
At this difficult moment, Theodoros Kolokotronis stood up. Within a short time, he declared a pan-army and managed to limit the army of Dramalis in Argolida and to stop his march to Tripolitsa.
Kolokotronis’ measures focused on occupying strategic positions in Argolida (most important of all was Larissa, the ancient Acropolis of Argos) and the “scorched earth” tactics he applied, creating an acute food problem for the invaders.
The Battle of Dervenakia:
Realising the difficult situation, Dramalis decided to return to Corinth, hoping for help from Khurshid Pasha of Larissa, Yusuf Pasha of Patras or the fleet.
Battle in the straits of Dervenaki. Painting by Th. Vryzakis.
Dramalis’ plan of retreat was realised by Kolokotronis and despite the disagreements of the elites, he hurried to occupy the narrow passages leading from Argos to Corinth, with 2,500 men. He would not leave the alleys unguarded for the second time, as had been done during the advance of Dramalis.
On July 26, 1822 in the Straits of Dervenaki, near Nemea, the Turks suffered a severe defeat, losing more than 3,000 men.
In addition to Kolokotronis, Dimitrios Ypsilantis, Papaflessas and especially Nikitas Stamatelopoulos, better known as Nikitaras, who received the nickname Turkofagos Dramalis, and his remaining men tried to escape the next day. However, Nikitaras, Ypsilantis and Papaflessas were also there to inflict new heavy losses on Dramalis on July 28th.
With the remnants of his army, Dramalis arrived in Corinth, where at the end of October he died.
The triumphant Kolokotronis was proclaimed General of the Peloponnese by the Government, at the request of the chiefs. The Revolution had not only been saved, but had acquired a strong foundation.
A new survey conducted on social media by former Sydney schoolgirl, Chanel Contos, 23, has revealed students are being taught inconsistent lessons on sex, consent and respectful relationships, The Daily Telegraph reports.
According to the Telegraph, some Sydney schoolgirls claimed to have been told tampons will take their virginity, while more than half of respondents – 56 per cent – claimed they were taught how to escape sexual assault by pretending they needed to remove a tampon.
Other young women say they were not taught about contraception because it contradicted religious dogma demanding abstinence.
Since last year, consent must be taught to all students in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) classes until Year 10, but the syllabus is not explicit about how teachers deliver the lessons.
Sexual consent activist, Chanel Contos, has criticised schools’ refusal to audit what students are being taught on the issue. Picture: Hollie Adams.
Ms Contos told the Telegraph more needs to be done to ensure the lessons are clearer for students.
“It is one thing to have a reformed curriculum but how that information is actually delivered to students is just as important,” Ms Contos told the media outlet.
“We can’t measure this sort of thing based on the satisfaction of teachers or the amount they access teaching materials, but instead by periodically auditing sexuality education and measuring both the understanding of the students and the changes in rates of sexual violence in our community.”
All three school sectors – public, private and Catholic – signed a statement of intent four months ago pledging to take “concrete action” to improve consent education. The education sectors have since ruled out a thorough review of what is currently taught to students.
Head of The Association of Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW), Dr Geoff Newcombe AM.
Head of The Association of Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW), Dr Geoff Newcombe AM, said such an audit would lumber schools with too much responsibility, and more schools are set to roll out how-to guides informing parents how to teach their children about sexual consent.
“There will be a range of material suitable for students from Kindergarten to Year 12 as well as information on reporting channels for incidents of sexual harm, assault and sexual violence,” Dr Newcombe told the Telegraph.
According to the media outlet, the Federal Government will also send out how-to-guides for parents, but will first conduct surveys of all public school PC groups to find out what parents know about sexual consent and what advice they want included in how-to guides for teaching teens about consent.
Pending COVID-19 restrictions, the surveys are planned to go out to parents in Week 7. The government has also begun webinars to explain to parents of public school children what is being taught in schools about consent and respectful relationships.
Greek tennis player, Maria Sakkari, is through to the next round of the Tokyo Olympics after crushing her Serbian opponent, Nina Stojanovic, in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
Sakkari started quite aggressively, easily winning the first game, but Stojanovic immediately made it 1-1.
The Greek continued energetically and took a 2-1 lead in the games.
The Serb tried to make her serve difficult but the “Sak-attack” made it 3-1 with Stojanovic accepting the pressure from the Greek, which ended with a 4-1 winner.
Sakkari will face Elina Svitolina or Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round.
The Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development at the Government of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Vicky Loizou, will address Greek Australians during a special dialogue series on Tuesday, July 27 at 3.30pm.
The zoom conference has been organised by Katia Gkikiza, Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, and Paul Nicolaou, Director of the Business Leaders Council, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During the digital session, the Secretary General will talk about what the Hellenic Republic is doing to promote Greece to the rest of the world as a holiday destination, how Greece is coping with COVID-19 and how it is managing it in regards to Greece’s most important industry – tourism.
Reigniting investment interest, digital technology integration, infrastructure upgrades, sustainable tourism development, advanced tourism training and employment are the priority areas to benefit from Greece’s share of EU recovery funds to stimulate the economy after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic subsides.
The Secretary General has, on many occasions, underlined the importance of cooperation between all parties in Greece.
“It’s important that we all work together – market players, the academic community and ministry officials – to address the difficulties and seize the opportunity by creating the necessary conditions to develop tourism in order to be competitive within the global environment regardless of specific conditions that may occur each time,” she has said.
Following her presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask the Secretary General a question in the Q&A session.
Details for the video conference:
Date: Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Time: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (AEST – NSW, ACT, Vic, Tas, Qld), 8.30 AM (EEST – Athens time)
Link: Zoom link will be forwarded to you after you RSVP
To RSVP, please email paul.nicolaou@australianchamber.com.au as soon as possible to secure your place in this video conference.
Athens has appointed urban climate resilience veteran, Eleni Myrivili, as the city’s Chief Heat Officer to protect people from soaring temperatures and find ways to adapt the city to the current climate crisis.
The appointment, which was made on Friday by the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, is the first in Europe and believed to be only the second in the world, after Miami-Dade county in Florida appointed a chief heat officer earlier this year.
“I have a vision for a cooler, greener Athens,” Mayor Bakoyannis said at the announcement.
“Climate change for our city means more frequent and dangerous extreme high temperatures for residents and for tourists who are critical for our economy. Unfortunately, Athens is not unique – heat is an emergency for cities across Europe and the world.”
For her part, Ms Myrivili thanked Mayor Bakoyannis for realising the gravity of the climate situation and “mobilising international support for addressing it.”
“I am honored to serve as Europe’s first Chief Heat Officer and look forward to raising awareness among the citizens of Athens about the grave dangers of extreme heat and helping decision-makers take action to cool the city and protect people and their communities. We’ve been talking about global warming for decades, but we haven’t talked much about heat,” Ms Myrivili said.
Myrivili’s task will be to find ways to cool the city, beyond the obvious air conditioning in buildings, which only adds to the climate crisis by its massive use of energy around the world.
Athens has appointed urban climate resilience veteran, Eleni Myrivili (talking), as the city’s Chief Heat Officer.
Planting trees and plants and cultivating green spaces for shade and their cooling properties will be vital, as will redesigning roads and buildings, and examining the materials used for building.
Athens has already announced a programme to increase the amount of green space and shade across the city.
Athens’ actions have been supported by the City Champions for Heat Action initiative, a programme launched by the Resilience Centre of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation.
The Australian Hellenic Council (AHC) has issued a statement on the Cyprus issue, calling on the Australian Government to officially condemn the latest Turkish provocations on the island.
“What is happening in Cyprus is unacceptable. Erdogan is no friend of Australia and the Federal Government should respond accordingly,” the AHC said in the statement.
The AHC expressed its hopes the Australian Government would condemn the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders “in the same strident terms as the UN Security Council” (UNSC).
On Friday, the UNSC finally condemned statements by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Turkish Cypriot leaders regarding plans to partially open Varosha, the southern part of Famagusta that has been fenced off and abandoned since Turkey invaded the north of Cyprus in 1974.
Varosha has been abandoned since Turkey invaded the north of Cyprus in 1974.
The UNSC expressed its “deepest regret” at unilateral actions that ran counter to previous resolutions and statements, and called for an immediate reversal of this course of action and of all the steps taken in Varosha since October 2020.
The statement concluded with the UN’s commitment to a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a “bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality.”
Full Statement of the AHC:
The Australian Hellenic Council is a peak lobbying body for the Greek-Australian community and engages with the Australian Government on matters of importance, including most notably, the Cyprus issue.
The illegal invasion and occupation of the northern part of Cyprus by Turkish armed forces has been a festering sore in international relations since 1974. The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, continues to make provocative claims and threats and most recently has declared that Turkey wants to resettle the abandoned Greek town of Varosha in northern Cyprus (as part of its blatant plan for a two-state ‘solution’ to the island’s division) in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.
Turkey’s actions have again been condemned by the Security Council which on 23 July 2021 reiterated that any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants is clearly inadmissible. The Security Council stressed the importance of full respect and implementation of its resolutions, including the transfer of Varosha to UN administration.
The permanent members of the Security Council were also clear in their condemnation of Turkey.
The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the Turkish Cypriot actions in Varosha, with the support of Turkey, as provocative, unacceptable, and incompatible with their past commitments to engage constructively in settlement talks. The UK Government noted that Erdogan’s announcement runs contrary to UN Security Council resolutions and Security Council Presidential Statements in the past which called for Turkey to halt and reverse its actions in Varosha. France condemned what it called a “unilateral, uncoordinated .. provocation”. Even China described the announcement to reopen Varosha as inappropriate and nonconstructive which merely serves to raise tensions and undermine efforts to seek a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus issue.
It is extremely disappointing, therefore, that the Australian Government has not officially condemned the latest Turkish provocations. Neither the Prime Minister Scott Morrison nor the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Marise Payne, has issued any statement in the wake of the Security Council declaration. Rather, the Australian High Commissioner to Cyprus has meekly tweeted that Australia fully supports the UN Security Council Presidential Statement on Varosha and joins the call to “avoid unilateral actions that could raise tensions” and reaffirms its support of UN-led efforts for a comprehensive settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality. But no words of condemnation of Turkey’s leaders and the Turkish Cypriot leaders.
Turkey under Erdogan is increasingly becoming a rogue state. Its provocative irridentist designs on Cyprus deserve the strongest condemnation by the international community, including Australia.
The Australian Hellenic Council calls on the Australian Government to condemn the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders in the same strident terms as the UN Security Council. What is happening in Cyprus is unacceptable. Erdogan is no friend of Australia and the Federal Government should respond accordingly.
The World Heritage Committee of the UN’s cultural agency, UNESCO, has asked Turkey to submit a report by early next year about the state of conservation of Hagia Sophia, expressing “grave concern” over the consequences of its conversion into a mosque.
Turkey’s move last year to convert the revered Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia cathedral from a museum into a mosque sparked fury from the international community and added to tensions with Greece.
A month later, Ankara ordered another ancient Orthodox church, the Holy Saviour in Chora, to also be converted into a mosque.
Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque last year.
UNESCO said in a statement that it expects Turkey to submit a report on both churches by February 1, 2020, and added it “deeply regrets the lack of dialogue and information” over the Turkish government’s intention to change the status of Hagia Sophia and Chora.
The committee expressed “grave concern about the potential impact of changes at these key components… on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property” and urged Turkey to engage in international cooperation and dialogue before any further major changes are implemented at the property.
But in response on Saturday, Turkey rejected the UN cultural agency’s criticism as “biased and political.”
UNESCO has asked Turkey for a report on Hagia Sophia.
The Turkish foreign ministry said it “rejects the relevant articles of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s decisions on Istanbul’s historical sites understood to be driven by prejudiced, biased and political motives.”
The Turkish government is “fully aware of its rights, prerogatives and responsibilities towards its properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List,” the ministry’s statement added.
Erdogan marks first anniversary of Hagia Sophia reopening as mosque:
This condemnation by UNESCO comes one year after Hagia Sophia was reopened as a mosque, an anniversary which was commemorated by Erdogan over the weekend.
The Turkish President called the iconic 16th century structure a “symbol of the revival of Turkish civilization” on Twitter and also shared a video of the first Friday prayer at Hagia Sophia last year.
In his post, Erdogan also said he hoped for the call for Muslims prayers and Quran to never abandon the converted structure “until the end of time.”
Medeniyet güneşimizin yeniden yükselişinin sembolü olan #AyasofyanınDirilişi bir kez daha hayırlı olsun. Bizlere bu günleri gösteren Rabbimize hamdolsun…
İnşallah bu ulu mabedin kubbelerinden ezanların, salavatların, hatmi şeriflerin sesleri kıyamete kadar eksik olmayacak… pic.twitter.com/7wUivL4Rft
In response, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Elpidophoros issued a statement on Saturday on Twitter.
”Hagia Sophia is the embodiment of our Orthodox Christian Faith,” Elpidophoros said in a tweet.
”We mourn its conversion to a mosque. Every culture is worthy of respect and Hagia Sophia, the epitome of the Byzantine achievement, should have been left as a place of cultural intersection and religious harmony.”
