Athens’ streets are known to be rich in history and wherever you look around you there is a piece of the past that is yearning to be unlocked.
The city has quite literally ‘illuminated’ history with the addition of 62 new smart signs around the streets of Athens depicting 29 key personalities of the Philhellenic Movement.
The exhibition, ‘Walking with the Philhellenes,’ showcases the honourable foreigners who helped secure Greece’s independence from the Ottoman rule.
Bakoyannis at the sign launch.
The honoured foreign figures whose names adorn the street signs across downtown Athens are Hamilton, Santarosa, Webster, Treiber, Lord Byron, Lenormant, Heiden and Meyer.
The new smart signs include a portrait of the honoured, along with detailed historical references in both Greek and English.
At the unveiling ceremony, Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, said that Greece “owed a great deal” to the Philhellenic movement.
“It is therefore very important for us to get to know them, to follow in their steps with our mind’s eye and to reacquaint ourselves with our past by exploring our city,” Mr Bakoyannis added.
Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis and guests at unveiling ceremony
In a recent interview, Philippa shares how her higher education set her on a path to success in STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics) as a female.
“[It] started when I was in high school and I had an amazing female physics teacher who really inspired me,” Philippa explained.
Philippa Tsirgiotis (left) and Adam Perryman received Playford Trust Honours Scholarships last year.
“[There were] female role models at uni as well… Everyone in the teaching teams and everything was always extremely supportive.
“I never felt sort of put down or discriminated against or anything. I felt like Flinders was a really amazing place to be a woman in STEM.”
Philippa at the award ceremony with Senior Lecturer from Flinders University, David Hobbs. Photo: Twitter / David Hobbs.
In her time studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Honours) at the university, Philippa was offered an opportunity to be involved with the development of a medical device known as a shoulder mobiliser.
Later, she was asked to continue working on the project as part of her Master of Engineering (Biomed) and says it was a great opportunity “to have continuity work on something that could have a real-life impact to patients.”
Now, she encourages others to study at the university and get involved in a STEM career.
Yanna Dascarolis, along with a number of her friends, are looking forward to the launch of their new boutique motel in Bateman’s Bay in March.
The Isla motel was “designed by friends, for friends” and is aimed at meeting the needs of travellers looking for a holiday “rooted in mindfulness” as they explore Australia’s coastal towns.
Speaking with hotelmanagement.com, Dascarolis said many travellers have fond memories of Batemans Bay and her friends wanted to provide a stylish new environment from which to rediscover the area.
“I have fond memories of holidays in Batemans Bay as a kid…” Dascarolis said.
“It was important for us to keep in touch with the things we love about Batemans Bay and create something that was a fitting reflection of its charm.”
The boutique motel has been redesigned to feature 18 guest rooms, including three guest suits, with ocean views available and even a private pool.
Photo: Facebook.
Guests can also enjoy locally sourced artisan products, such as Dangerous Ales beer, cocktails from Poor Toms Gin and ST ALi espresso martinis via bespoke vending machine Cantina.
Located just minutes away from the beach, the motel is the perfect setting for a relaxing holiday on the South Coast.
The cast of Netflix’s new reality TV show, Byron Baes, has finally been unveiled ahead of the series launch next month.
Among the cast are familiar faces such as former Bachelorette star, Nathan Favro, and Elias Chigros, who has Greek and Irish heritage and starred in Love Island Australia 2018.
Chigros describes himself as a model and marketer who loves the great outdoors. He currently works as a Chief Marketing Officer at a social media marketing company.
Elias will star in Byron Baes.
Shot in northern NSW last year, Byron Baes will follow Chigros and others as they navigate life, love and career.
The reality TV show was the subject of controversy last year with Byron Bay locals pushing hard to boycott the show, fearing it would perpetuate stereotypes and attract the “wrong crowd” to the tourist hot spot.
Fugitive Graham Potter was known as Australia’s most wanted man after evading authorities for 12 years.
But now, following his arrest this week in a shack in Far North Queensland, other fugitives have moved up one position in the most wanted rankings.
According to The Daily Telegraph, this includes Greek Australian criminal, James Dalamangas, who is described as having a medium build at 180-185cm tall.
Dalamangas is still on the run.
Dalamangas is accused of the stabbing murder of Sydney man, George Giannopoulos, at a nightclub in Belmore in Sydney’s southwest in April 1999.
He is currently on the run in Greece where as a dual Australian and Greek national, the Greek government has refused to extradite him. They have agreed to prosecute him in Greece if he is ever caught.
A $200,000 reward is available for information that may lead to Dalamangas’ arrest.
A $200,000 reward is available for information that may lead to his arrest.
In July 2021, an Anom operation codenamed Ironside handed 25 million messages to the FBI and the Australian Federal Police.
The operation saw a number of criminals overseas, including Dalamangas, relocate in the wake of learning that their encrypted chats had been monitored by cops.
County Court Judge Andrea Tsalamandris has been appointed as a new Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, the state government announced this week.
Justice Tsalamandris was one of two new appointments, with Her Honour Judge Meryl Sexton also being named the first-ever Deputy Chief Judge of the County Court.
County Court Judge Andrea Tsalamandris has been appointed as a new Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Justice Tsalamandris brings more than 20 years of legal experience to her new role, with the past six years serving as a Judge in the County Court, and most recently Head of the Common Law Division.
She began her career in law in 1994 as a Solicitor at Holding Redlich and Adviceline Injury Lawyers, before working her way up to a Senior Associate in 1997 and making partner in 2002.
Justice Tsalamandris will become only the third solicitor ever appointed to the Supreme Court in Victoria’s history.
An important part of the Governor’s role is to swear in judges of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The Governor was pleased to swear in Justice Cameron Macaulay as a Judge of the Court of Appeal and Justice Andrea Tsalamandris as a Judge of the Supreme Court. @SCVSupremeCourtpic.twitter.com/Ij81lNe8g3
Victoria’s Attorney-General, Jaclyn Symes, has welcomed the appointment.
“Justice Tsalamandris and Judge Sexton bring decades of experience to their roles, and I look forward to their ongoing contributions to Victoria’s justice system,” the Attorney-General said.
Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, paid an official state visit to Greece on Thursday and met with the country’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
After laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens, Herzog held a working meeting with Sakellaropoulou at the Presidential Mansion.
At the start of the meeting, Herzog addressed recent developments in Ukraine, calling the crisis a “historic moment, and a very complicated one.”
Υποδέχθηκα τον Πρόεδρο του Κράτους του Ισραήλ @Isaac_Herzog. Μια επίσκεψη με ιδιαίτερη βαρύτητα, που επισφραγίζει τις εξαιρετικές διμερείς σχέσεις μας, οι οποίες έχουν ήδη αποδώσει σημαντικούς καρπούς σε πληθώρα τομέων, καθώς επίσης και την στρατηγική μας συνεργασία. pic.twitter.com/6saoSxJ7PJ
“Israel, as our government has communicated, supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” Herzog stressed to the Greek President.
“We are, of course, concerned for the fate of the Jewish community in Ukraine, and we shall offer every possible humanitarian cooperation to the government of Ukraine in partnership with and together with other partners.”
The two leaders then went on to stress the strong bond between Greece and Israel.
Sakellaropoulou stressed how both countries “have a strategic relationship” and “common vision for security and stability in the region.”
Herzog thanked Sakellaropoulou for welcoming him to Greece and extended an invitation to visit Israel, praising the “friendship and bold partnership” between the two Mediterranean countries.
Later, the Israeli President met with Greece’s Prime Minister and “discussed bilateral policy, defense and economic relations, the progress of tripartite cooperation schemes and the Russian attack on Ukraine.”
After wrapping up his state visit to Greece, Herzog is scheduled to head on March 2 to Cyprus, where he is to meet with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, followed by an “expanded bilateral meeting.”
Herzog is also expected to visit Turkey in early March.
On Saturday February 26 the Adult group of the Melbourne Community Creative Drama and Arts Theatre is presenting the theatrical performance “Mόνοι” (Greek for alone).
Based on a compilation of monologues and poems from Greek and global authors and poets, “Mόνοι” is adapted for the stage by Australian born director of Greek heritage Jeremy Artis.
Director Jeremy Artis is part of the cast
The play is centered around the idea of belonging and discusses how individuals can find themselves lonely, longing for social interaction during a lockdown or rediscovering themselves after moving to a new country.
“I want the spectators -event those who don’t speak Greek- to connect with what is happening on stage and to participate either by following the monologues or with their senses,” the director said.
This is the first time Artis has directed for the Community Theatre, but he has been involved with short films and documentaries and has worked in theatre in Greece, where he grew up and completed his studies. He moved back to Melbourne in 2018 to become a filmmaker and is currently studying a Bachelor in Film and Television.
This play has been in the works since last year, and most of the rehearsals were conducted virtually due to the rolling lockdowns in Victoria.
“We didn’t have much time for rehearsals and it was hard at times but I was determined to go ahead and make it work.
“My idea was to create a dynamic performance that would go ahead if need be with reduced cast, no lights and no stage and I believe we have achieved a great result considering the circumstances.”
A pre presentation of “Mόνοι” will be running at Melbourne’s Fairfield Amphitreatre on Saturday February 26 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased here. An official premiere will be held on March 20at the Greek Centre.
The first round of negotiations for a Double Taxation Agreement between Australia and Greece was launched on February 23, the Australia Embassy in Greece has announced.
The negotiations were attended by Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Arthur Spyrou, as well as a taxation lawyer and representatives from the Australian Government Department of Jobs and Small Business.
“It’s finally happening!” the Embassy wrote on Facebook.
“Heralding new trade and investment opportunities and improved tax efficiency for people who share their lives between Australia and Greece, the Double Taxation Agreement, once concluded, will be another important marker of the thriving bilateral relationship.”
The negotiations were launched after Federal Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, announced in September last year that Australia was looking to expand its tax treaty network.
The Greek Herald has been following developments on this Agreement for months, with the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Katia Gkikiza, confirming back in August 2021 that there had been “coordinated” moves to get the Agreement up-and-running.
Trade Commissioner Katia Gkikiza confirmed the Agreement was in the works in August 2021.
At the time, the Trade Commissioner assured businesses and companies wishing to invest in Greece that “they can go on with their projects knowing that the Greek Government is fully committed to the conclusion of the Double Taxation Agreement.”
The Agreement is set to provide businesses with greater tax certainty, which will encourage increased economic integration through foreign investment and trade.
A presidential adviser has confirmed this morning that Ukraine lost control of the Chernobyl nuclear site, where Ukranian forces had waged a fierce battle with Russian troops.
Adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press that Ukrainian authorities did not know the current condition of the facilities at Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster.
The New Safe Confinement (NSC) metal dome encasing the destroyed reactor at Chernobyl, where some of the fiercest fighting is taking place. Picture: AFP.
“After the absolutely senseless attack of the Russians in this direction, it is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe,” he said.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had announced several hours earlier on Thursday that Russian forces were trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
This morning, Ukraine’s Health Minister Oleh Lyashko also said 57 people had been killed and 169 wounded on Thursday after Russia launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine.
Global reactions:
This attack comes just hours after Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, appeared live on television and authorised a special military operation in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
A man sits outside his destroyed building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuhuiv. Photo: AFP / Aris Messinis.
Putin called on the Ukraine military to “lay down its arms” and return home, claiming his goal was to demilitarise the country.
He also warned other countries not to interfere with Russia’s military plans as it would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”
In response, world leaders have condemned Russia’s actions as an “unprovoked and unjustified attack” on Ukraine.
Η επίθεση της Ρωσίας κατά της Ουκρανίας θέτει με δραματικό τρόπο την παγκόσμια κοινότητα ενώπιον των ευθυνών της. Ως μέλος της ΕE και του ΝΑΤΟ συντονιζόμαστε με τους εταίρους μας, ώστε η αντίδρασή μας να είναι κοινή, αλλά και αντίστοιχη της πρωτοφανούς ρωσικής προκλητικότητας. pic.twitter.com/35gJDF1ptu
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was one of the first leaders to react and said the invasion “tests the limits” of international law.
“As a matter of principle, Greece respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of all countries. It therefore unequivocally condemns revisionist actions that run counter to these values,” Mitsotakis said, while lamenting “the brutal violence from which, unfortunately, many innocent people will lose their lives.”
In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison accused Russia of launching a “brutal” and illegal invasion of Ukraine that will be met with a severe response by Australia and the international community.
Australian PM Scott Morrison condemned the invasion.
Later, United States President Joe Biden released a statement saying the US and its allies would respond in a “united and decisive” way.
“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” Mr Biden said. “The world will hold Russia accountable.”
This sentiment was echoed by not only the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who called the attack “unprovoked,” but also by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, NATO, the United Nations and the European Union.
“We condemn this barbaric attack and the cynical arguments to justify it,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said. “It is President Putin who is bringing war back to Europe.”
The EU and many countries, such as the US, UK and Australia, have also imposed tough restrictions on Russia in an attempt to weaken the country.
Athens plans evacuation of Greek nationals from Ukraine:
Despite this, fighting continues to worsen in Ukraine and in response, diplomatic sources told Ekathimerini that Greece is planning the evacuation of Greek nationals from Ukraine.
Eleni Dombra, who is Vice President of the Hellenic Associations of Mariupol, where there is a strong Greek diaspora, told in.gr residents woke up scared to the sound of explosions but many refuse to leave for now.
Ukrainian firefighters rescue civilians after an air strikes. Photo: Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.
“Our country is being bombarded from all sides,” Dombra said. “We are fine, but not safe. God help us, we try to keep our composure.”
All Greek ships have also been warned by the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy to immediately leave Ukrainian and Russian territorial waters in the Black Sea.
It is understood that eight ships with Greek flag, as well as a Greek-owned ship with Maltese flag, are currently in the north Black Sea, with 66 Greek sailors on board.
The Greek Embassy in Kyiv and the consulates in the southern port cities of Mariupol and Odessa are making every possible effort to remain in contact with Greek nationals in Ukraine.
