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Erdogan on his visit to Cyprus: ‘Turkey does not accept instructions from anyone’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the leadership of the European Union on Friday for advising him to keep a low profile during his visit to Cyprus on July 20.

“Turkey does not accept instructions from anyone,” Erdogan said on Friday, referring to talks with the “European Commission leader,” who the Turkish leader said asked him not to “send harsh messages from there [Cyprus].” 

“I answered, ‘If that’s the case then you tell me what message I should give, and also give me the text from which I will read,’” he said. 

“They [the EU] have not yet learned who is what. I am a child of this nation. When did you get the impression that Erdogan gives speeches under instructions?” he added. 

However, it is not clear who Erdogan meant, as he had a telephone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel the day before Friday, while he talked with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before the EU summit on June 24-25.

Erdogan clarified that Ankara will not listen to the EU’s recommendations and will immediately carry out seismic surveys and drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“We get our rights as we should, and we will get them in the Eastern Mediterranean, in Cyprus, mainly in all those seas, we will continue oil exploration. Are we doing it right now? We are doing it. Do we drill? Doing it. Do we conduct seismic surveys? Yes we do. And we have some gas indications. Now, our goal is to get the gas out of there,” he said.

According to political analysts, after ensuring that no sanctions were imposed on it at the EU summit, Ankara is now pursuing its policy in the Eastern Mediterranean with no intentions of backing down regarding the issue of exploratory drillings. 

“We are in Libya and Azerbaijan and in Syria and in the Eastern Mediterranean and we will continue to be there. By the will of God, on July 20 I will be in northern Cyprus. We will be there with a big team,” he said.

July 20 also marks the anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, whose northern part Ankara still occupies militarily. 

Source: Ekatherimini

Ten ways to repurpose old doilies in eclectic decor

Would your kids know what doilies are? Most wouldn’t! Moved far out of fashion, doilies were used for decorating the house and so much more.

The Refab Diaries have come up with 10 ways to repurpose your old doilies to decorate your home!

1. Vintage Doily Mobile by Sparkle Candace, who stitched vintage doilies and felt together then cut the shapes freehand.

2. A doily vase

3. A dreamcatcher

4. A -simple small pillow adornment

5. Doily table runner

6. Vintage footstool

 7. A lamp

 8. Doily window treatment

9. Doily plant hanger

10. A jewelry organizer 

Devastating injury forces Kyrgios to pull out of Wimbledon

Nick Kyrgios has been forced to retire from his third round match against Felix Auger Aliassime at Wimbledon due to injury, ending his eventful run at the grand slam.

Kyrgios got off to an absolute flyer against the Canadian young gun, breaking the 13th seed’s serve in the opening game of the match.

He broke again to take a 4-1 lead in the first set, before Auger Aliassime broke back immediately.

Then disaster struck. Kyrgios was clearly troubled by pain in his abdomen and asked for a medical time-out with the score 5-2 in the first set. He received treatment courtside, as the physio heavily massaged his stomach region.

Kyrgios managed to serve out the set after receiving treatment. He was clearly hampered but fought through the pain to finish the second set, which Auger Aliassime won easily 6-1.

Unable to continue, Kyrgios approached the Canadian near the net and explained he would be retiring from the match.

“I haven’t played this level of tennis in a long time and obviously playing someone as good as Felix — I needed my main weapon, my serve — to be firing on all cylinders,” Kyrgios said on court after his retirement.

“I just felt my ab, (I) definitely did something to it towards the end of the first set.

“That’s the way it goes. He’s a hell of a player, he’s going to do some special things in this sport.

“Playing out here and having this support has kind of given me a second wind. I reckon I’m going to come back and play for a bit longer.

“I did all I could to prepare, to get here. I beat a heck of a player in the first round and I played a great second round and just to get out here again and play two sets — I told myself I’d play as long as I could and I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you more today.”

Source: news.com.au

Insight or Perspective: Nationality and Myth

By Eleni Elefterias

A year ago I was in the audience at a panel discussion on the Macedonian question at the time of the Prespa agreement. I was sitting behind some very extreme people from North Macedonia who were making some very provocative comments regarding Alexander the Great. The Greeks in the room were quite reserved I thought and dignified in their responses to some outrageous claims by these people.

Though, I can understand the issue that these people have lived in that area for hundreds of years and though they have no claim to Alexander the Great or Ancient Greek history, they have every right to call themselves Macedonian just as we who live here in Australia have every right to call ourselves Australians.

There was mention that nationalisms are built on mythology. This is very true and especially in the Balkans there is a great problem of identity related to all the border changes, population movements and migrations and also the ethnic cleansing in the area. In fact, anthropologist Lorin Darforth , writes “How can a woman give birth to on Greek and one Macedonian”.

And yet this has been an issue in the area for decades. One example is that of the early filmakers of the 1900s, the Manakia brothers of Macedonia, one thought of himself as a Slavo-Macedon and the other as a Greek! Apparently, this is a “Balkan peculiarity” as Durham writes in 1905 and is quoted in the book Identity and the Nation, an example of which is a man who told him that “he was a Greek, but he was in Bulgaria, his father was a Serbian, and his children Montenegrin.”

All nations are built on mythology. What I said with a laugh to the extreme Slavo-Macedonian nationalist in front of me was that “We Greeks are just better at it!”

Michael Turner: Curator of the LEGO Acropolis

For those who have been to the Acropolis, we can appreciate all of it’s beauty in the flesh. However, why not appreciate it’s rare design up close and personal? And by up close and personal, we mean in pristine LEGO form.

The LEGO Acropolis is currently on display at the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Speaking to Margaret Throsby on ABC Radio, head curator Michael Turner said the LEGO Acropolis gained great publicity after being displayed for a few months in the Nicholson Museum.

The Lego Acropolis attracted more than 100,000 visitors to Nicholson Museum in Sydney, while the previous exhibition “Lego Colosseum” attracted 90,000 visitors in 2012.

Turner says he got a phone call late one evening by someone enquiring to borrow the Acropolis model.

“I said well ‘who are you?’ And he said oh I’m so sorry I’m ringing from the directors office of the Acropolis Museum in Athens,” Turner said.

Rather than allow the Acropolis Museum to borrow the model, Turner donated the LEGO creation to the Museum for them to keep.

“I was speaking to the Director of the Acropolis Museum and I went down onto the floor and the LEGO Acropolis is surrounded by people,” Turner added.

The model holds more than 120,000 “Lego bricks” and took about 300 hours to build. It is as accurate as possible with the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, the smallest temple of the Erechtheion and the Propylaeum.

The structure also contains hilarious modern and ancient snapshots made with Lego. In the small conservatory, for example, Theseus walks through a labyrinth to face the Minotaur. In the Odeon of Herodes Atticus Elton John gives a concert for modern tourists.

Traditional Greek Recipes: Greek drunken pork stew (Bekri meze)

Ingredients

  • 700 g pork, neck
  • 3-4 tablespoon(s) olive oil
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 1 orange bell pepper
  • 1 onion
  • 1 clove(s) of garlic
  • 1 pinch chili flakes
  • 1 teaspoon(s) cumin
  • 1 chicken bouillon cube
  • 400 g red wine
  • 1 tablespoon(s) tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon(s) honey
  • 200 g water

Method

  • Place a pot over high heat and add the olive oil.
  • Cut the pork into 2-3 cm pieces and add them to the hot pot. Add salt, pepper, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
  • Cut the peppers into thin strips and add them to the pot.
  • Cut the onion and the garlic into thin slices and add them to the pot.
  • Add the chili flakes, the cumin, the chicken bouillon cube, and deglaze the pot with the wine. Add the tomato paste, the honey, the water, and stir. 
  • Cover with the lid and simmer over medium heat for 50-60 minutes.
  • Serve with oregano, olive oil, pepper, feta cheese, and bread.

Source: Akis Petretzikis

Greek Australian martial arts expert named NSW Volunteer Director of the Year

Greek Australian Kip Stavrou has been named co-winner of the 2021 Volunteer Director of the Year at the 2021 NSW Community Sports Awards.

Reported by The Leader, Stavrou, and co-winner Joe Dougall from Touch Football, were among 10 award-winning category recipients honoured at the ceremony hosted by NSW Minister for Sport, Natalie Ward.

Stavrou was recognised for his outstanding achievements and contributions to Martial Arts in NSW. Sport NSW Chairperson, Carolyn Campbell, congratulated Stavrou on his wonderful commitment to sport in NSW.

Volunteer: Kip Stavrou was named co-winner of the Volunteer Director of the Year at the 2021 NSW Community Sports Awards, for his outstanding achievements and contributions to Martial Arts in NSW. Picture: The Leader

“Community sport has an unrivalled ability to transcend culture, ability and background and to bring people together… NSW would not be able to enjoy the activities they love without the dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers we celebrate tonight,” Ms Campbell mentioned.

“While COVID-19 has impacted our lives in so many ways over the past 12 months, the role of community sport has been more vital than ever, helping restore and uphold the physical and mental health of the NSW community,” added Ms Campbell.

Kip worked tirelessly to develop the World Martial Arts Alliance as the peak body for Martial Arts in NSW. When the Board of World Martial Arts Alliance (WMAA) realised the impacts COVID-19 restrictions were having on the sport, they set about designing a flexible strategic plan to support members.

Stavrou had regular contact with Sport NSW and NSW Health and held weekly Zoom meetings and/or phone calls with clubs to ensure they felt supported.

Through Kip’s good governance and dedication, the organisation has grown to nearly 1000 members and is now financially sustainable.

Source: The Leader

Star lawyer Calli Tsipidis named as finalist for Australian Law Awards

By Peter Oglos.

Fox Sports Australia’s star legal counsel Calli Tsipidis has been named a finalist in two categories for the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards, with the Greek Australian expressing that the achievement is an incredible gesture for the hard work throughout her career.

The Australian Law Awards are the top national awards program for Australia’s legal profession and provides an unparalleled opportunity for people in the business of law.

Calli was named a finalist in two categories – In-House Lawyer of the Year and Rising Star of the Year. Speaking to The Greek Herald, Calli said the nomination for the award bolsters her hope that the work she is undergoing is “contributing to something worthwhile”.

“It’s nice to know that the work that I’m doing is being recognised, but that it’s also valued by the people around me, whether it’s my clients that I work with internally or externally or my peers in my team. It’s just a really lovely gesture to be recognised in that way,” Calli said to the The Greek Herald.

Calli Tsipidis is nominated for two categories in the Australian Law Awards. Photos: Supplied.

Boasting a life-long passion for sports since high school, Calli became a legal intern for the Football Federation Australia before eventually joining the Fox Sports Australia and Foxtel Group’s Legal Counsel team.

“When the opportunity came to work in-house, I was very excited, particularly as a big sports fan,” Calli said.

“Fox Sports was the right decision for me and I had done an internship for six months at FFA beforehand, which gave me really good insight into how lawyers can work well within a business that works in sports, and how they can contribute to that business and its end goal, and be valued members of that business as well.”

Calli Tsipidis is nominated for two categories in the Australian Law Awards. Photos: Supplied.

Calli was also named a finalist earlier this year in the Lawyers Weekly Corporate Counsel Awards 2021, for Sports and Entertainment Lawyer of the Year and the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards 2021, for Sports and Entertainment.

She says that being passionate at her job comes with being surrounded by like-minded people, who are “very supportive, collegiate and always back me and my passion.”

“It was a long path, but I think everything kind of led to me being where I am, which is fantastic.”

Calli said that she will continue to challenge herself and grow in the legal field, particularly in the ‘deal making’ part of the business.

“Ultimately, it would be amazing to be leading a legal team in an in-house sports media organisation, but I think I would really enjoy also being a commercial business partner to be able to keep that business side of it, not just the legal side of it,” Calli concluded.

Calli is also joined in the awards by Greek Australians Theo Kapodistrias, finalist for General Counsel of the Year, Elise Christou and Elleni Criticos, finalists for Law Student of the Year, George Bazouni, finalist for Managing Partner of the Year, Peter Katsoolis, finalist for Sole Practitioner of the Year and Olivia Boyages, finalist in the Private Practice category. The awards ceremony is set to be held on August 20.

Costa Georgiadis guiding you to the garden during lockdown

The Gardening Australia team is helping guide Australians to their gardens during this lockdown period, helping develop a new love for nature and plants.

The team, with the ABC, have suggested three fun, practical and inspiring gardening activities to keep kids engaged with nature. 

Give your kids some garden free rein

Six-year-old Poppy has been gardening since she was three and shows presenter Millie Ross around her garden.

In the video, she shows other children can take care of their plants properly, know when it’s right to pick them and what plants will prosper in the Winter. Poppy makes sure to show off her incredible tomato garden and long pumpkin roots.

Take a leaf from Poppy’s tree — let your kids establish their own patch, grow what they want and nurture their plants.

Watch the full video here: https://ab.co/3jFapl1

One for the birds

Our gardens are an incredibly important resource for our feathered friends. Shelter, food and water are all easy to provide in a well- established garden.

When building nests, birds will collect twigs, leaves and bark and if these are in short supply, they might start pinching from other birds’ nests.

In this story, presenter Josh Byrne shows how you can easily build a dispenser where birds can collect materials to build their nest. Kids will have loads of fun collecting materials.

Watch the full video here: https://ab.co/3jFapl1

Drip pots

For a lockdown “crafternoon”, get your kids decorating terracotta garden pots with dripping colourful paint.

Sounds messy, and it is!

Presenter Josh Byrne and his kids use a great drip paint technique on small pots. It’s fun and the pots look good enough to gift.

Yes, it’s a Christmas story complete with Costa dressed as Santa, but hey, it’s lockdown — we have completely lost track of time by now! 

Watch the full video here: https://ab.co/3jFapl1

Tsitsipas brothers fail to make an impact at Wimbledon

Petros and Stefanos Tsitsipas were outmatched on Friday in the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Doubles, defeated by British No. 2 Cameron Norrie and Spain’s Jaume Munar 7-5, 7-6(5).

The Greeks failed to make an impact on the grass court, yet gave their opponents a run for their money. The Tsitsipas’ were unlucky to lose the first set after their final service game was expertly returned by their opponents.

In the second set, the Greek brothers managed to take Norrie and Munar into a tiebreaker. Unfortunately, the experienced Stefanos wasn’t able to take his brother into another set, with the pair being eliminated from the competition.

Their opponents recorded an incredible win on first serve percentage of 82, also winning three games in a row. The Tsitsipas brothers hit three double faults and a first serve percentage of only 66.

This was Stefanos’ second heartbreak of the tournament after being defeated by Frances Tiafoe in the opening round.

Tsitsipas also went out in the opening round on his last previous appearance at the grasscourt tournament in 2019, when he was seventh seed.