The Greek Government is reportedly seeking to ratify the all-important bills for the extension of its maritime zones in the Ionian Sea and the purchase of 18 French Rafale-type jets before January 20, according to Ekathimerini.
The move means the ratification will occur just before Joe Biden is sworn in as President of the United States.
The bill for the extension of Greece’s coastal zone from 6 to 12 nautical miles from the island of Corfu to Cape Tainaro in the Peloponnese was tabled Friday and a plenary vote is expected on January 19.
The bill stipulates that Greece reserves the right under International law to also extend its coastal zone to 12 nautical miles in the rest of the country.
The bill on the fighter jets will be introduced on Tuesday, aiming for ratification on Thursday.
In a dramatic video posted on social media on Sunday, the moments before a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel was rammed by the Turkish Coast Guard on Wednesday can be seen.
The video, obtained by Protothema, shows a Turkish Coast Guard vessel harassing Greek fishermen, even bringing out ammunition just 20 metres from the Greek fishing boat.
“It’s a fifty, there are the bullets too,” the fishermen, who were not intimidated and continued to record the Turkish provocations, say.
At one point, when the Turkish boat passed very close to the Greek fishermen, they can be heard wondering: “What is he doing now? They want to drown us?”
According to Ekathimerini sources, the Greek fishermen later called for reinforcements from the Hellenic Coast Guard and it was then that the Greek patrol vessel was rammed by the Turkish Coast Guard.
In a statement, the Hellenic Coast Guard said that its patrol vessel, a Rafnar 1100 Cabin Assault patrol rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RIB), had suffered minor damage and no one was injured in the incident.
It was an eventful afternoon for faithful and attendees of the Annual Blessing of the Waters held in Glenelg, South Australia on Sunday.
“I understand that there was a competition for the cross today but in two forms. A lawful one and an unlawful one,” Bishop Silouan of Sinope told the crowd after it was made clear that the man who reached the cross first had not registered and was already in the water and not at the shore with the other swimmers.
The man, who later identified himself as ‘Victor’ refused to hand the cross to the priests and was later escorted off site by a police officer for questioning.
During the negotiations, church representatives and the priests were urging the police for the matter to be resolved peacefully.
The cross was returned to the church later during the day.
According to an announcement published on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (Archdiocesan District of Adelaide) social media pages on Sunday evening, Andreas Pavlou, the official winner of the Epiphany ceremony, will be presented with his award on Sunday, 17 January.
Speaking to The Greek Herald, Mr Pavlou said he feels blessed to be the winner.
“I was very pleased and excited when I was announced the winner. It was my fifth time going for the cross and I gave it my all and tried my hardest to get the cross. I feel very blessed”.
Although it was a first for Adelaide, a similar event unfolded last year in Port Melbourne’s ceremony when an interloper reached the cross before the 25 registered swimmers.
The National Theatre of Greece is inaugurating its Research Theatre of Classical Drama with a live-streaming of Euripides’ Medea directed by Martha Frintzila on Momnday (Jan. 11).
The main aim of the newly created Research Theatre is to study ancient Greek drama by examining its conventions, investigating modern ways of approaching it, and highlighting its potential in terms of stage practice and performance.
The 2021 season opens with Medea, performed in a new translation by Nikoletta Frintzila, with English subtitles available.
Photo: Supplied
It will be preceded by a short speech from the Artistic Director of the National Theatre, Dimitris Lignadis, inaugurating the Research Theatre of Classical Drama.
Afterwards, there will be a live discussion with the actors and creative team, where questions can be asked by text message.
Shaped by passion and revenge, Medea – one of Euripides’ most paradoxical tragic heroines – is an unfathomable dramatic riddle, as she survives her own destruction by committing the unthinkable: the murder of her children.
Photo: Supplied
A complex, impenetrable personality, she hovers between human maternal feelings and the heroic imperatives of honour and justice. In a foreign land, betrayed and faced with unexpected disappointment, the archetype of female strength kills what is dearest to her and becomes the protagonist of the pain caused by her own horrific act.
The livestream will be available at livestream.n-t.gr with the purchase of an electronic ticket (password required).
Price of ticket: €8 Time: 4:00 am (AEDT)
A digital program, which includes the production text, can be purchased from the National Theatre of Greece website www.n-t.gr or from www.ticketservices.gr.
A lawyer, journalist and politician, Epameinondas Deligeorgis was one of the most respected political officials in modern Greek history, serving seven times as Prime Minister of Greece from 1865 to 1878.
Epamineondas Deligeorgis was born in Tripoli on January 10, 1829. His father Mitros Deligeorgis (1775-1860), originally from Messolonghi, was an important 1821 fighter and leader of the Gendarmerie after his release.
Epameinondas studied law at the University of Athens and in 1850 was awarded a doctorate from the Law School.
As a lawyer, he was distinguished for his torrent of speech and eloquence, advantages that followed him in his parliamentary life. This high standard of literacy aided him from 1851 to the middle of 1852, where he was the editor-in-chief of the Ethniki newspaper.
In October 1859 he was elected for the first time as a deputy of the province of Messolonghi.
Having difficult relationships with King Otto, he failed to be re-elected as Messolonghi MP, sparking his displeasure with the Greek royal family. When the uprising in 1862 against Otto prevailed, Epameinondas drafted the revolutionary proclamation, which is today known as the “Resolution of the Nation”.
In 1865, he was named Greece’s youngest-ever Prime Minister at 36 years old, a record which still holds to this day. His term in office, however, only lasted for two short periods (October 20 – November 3, 1865 and November 13 – November 28, 1865).
Epamineondas went on to hold five more terms in office as Prime Minister, including three short terms in 1870, 1876 and 1877, along with a two-year term from July 20, 1872 – February 21, 1874.
The Prime Minister’s terms were unpredictable mostly because of the foreign relations at the time. During his second term, the Russo-Turkish War broke out to which the PM maintained a neutral stance, angering the Greek people and forcing him to resign.
Epamineondas Deligeorgis died in Athens on May 14, 1879, at the age of 50. He was married to Xanthi, daughter of politician Lazaros Giourdis, with whom he had seven children.
In his short political life, Epamineondas Deligeorgis was elected Prime Minister seven times, Minister of Foreign Affairs seven times, Minister of Justice four times, Minister of Interior three times and Minister of Finance and Public Education once.
His death was considered a national tragedy and was sincerely mourned by his political opponents. He was regarded as a man of liberal principles, a useful, virtuous and powerful politician, but also a great orator.
Juicy and tender beef stifado is addictive once you’ve had it, as everyone gets obsessed once they’ve tried the intense flavours of the stew. Beef stifado is perfect to serve with hilopites or patates tiganites (chips).
This recipe is guaranteed to be loved by anyone you cook it for, as the pleasant taste will satisfy anyone’s appetite!
Take a look below to see how to cook the delicious recipe and impress your guests.
INGREDIENTS
1 kg good-quality stewing beef, cut into portions
1.5 kg pearl onions, peeled
1/4 of a cup olive oil
3/4 of a cup red wine
3 tbsps. red wine vinegar
1/3 of a cup cognac
1 large, juicy ripe tomato, roughly chopped
1 tsp tomato pure
1 bay leaf
3–4 allspice berries
A pinch nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
METHOD
To prepare this delicious Greek beef stifado recipe, heat the oil in a saucepan, add the meat (in batches) and sauté, until browned on all sides. Do not add all the meat in the saucepan, rather sauté in batches, so that the temperature of the oil remains high and the meat is sealed. When done, remove with a slotted spoon, place on a platter, cover and set aside.
Carve the baby shallot onions crosswise, add in the same oil used to browned the meat, turn down to medium heat and sauté until the onions have softened, but not browned (about 10 minutes).
Pour in the cognac, the wine and red wine vinegar, cover and let it simmer for 3 minutes.
Pour the meat along with its juices to the saucepan, add the chopped tomato, tomato puree, bay leaf, allspice berries and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down and simmer the beef stifado for 1½ hours or until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened. While the beef stifado is simmering, check if it needs some water; you don’t want it to dry out. If it does, pour in half a cup of boiled water and stir. Towards the end of cooking time season well with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve beef stifado with pasta and grated cheese, or boiled new potatoes.
Let’s take a look into 6 different olive groves you can visit Australia wide.
Fedra Olive Grove, NSW
Fedra Olive Grove is one of Australia’s highest quality olive groves located in Currawang New South Wales, just over 2 hours away from Sydney. As a young boy, Jess Konstantinou grew up in Greece surrounded by olive trees and now runs his own award-winning grove here in Australia at the age of 74, and runs it with his wife Fedra.
Speaking previously to The Greek Herald, Jeff says he’s, “humbled to be recognised as a leader of quality olive oil production in Australia and internationally” Konstantinou said.
‘Fedra Olive Grove’ owner Jeff Konstantiou. Photo: Supplied
Jumanga Olives, WA
Jumanga Olives is a family run business near Yanchep National park, situated twenty minutes north of Wanneroo in Western Australia. The Ganz family planted 1200 olive trees and experienced their first harvest in 2004. The operation at the olive grove is carefully overseen by Thomas Ganz.
Photo: Scoop
Arolyn Grove, NSW
Arolyn Grove is located in the Hunter Valley in NSW. It is a boutique planting of Correggiola and Manzanillo trees established in 1999. Their olive products are enjoyed by many all around Australia, and they are a great highlight when visiting the Hunter Valley.
Photo: Hunter Olives
Grampianas Olive Co., VIC
Grampians Olive Co, is a family owned producer of award winning products, located in Laharum Victoria, just over 3 hours away from Melbourne. Established in 1943, Grampians are one of the oldest olive groves in Australia. It was established by immigrant farmer Jacob Friedman and was renamed “Toscana” in the early 1960s.
Photo: Australian Organic Directory
Bridgeward Grove, VIC
Bridgeward Grove is a charming olive grove situated in Goornong Victoria only 1 hour and 50 minutes outside of Melbourne. Bridgeward Grove grows and makes popular olive products and also offers the estate for events and visits.
Photo: BWgrove
Pendleton Olive Estate, SA
Pendleton Olive Estate is an award-winning grove located in Pooraka South Australia. It’s situated on the Limestone Coast, where it is ideal to grow olives due to the similarities the area has with Mediterranean climate. It is one of the most established groves in Australia.
So, what makes a good bilingual book for our bilingual child?
Firstly, as we said last week, the theme must be age appropriate and the language at the correct level for the child. So, a book with an age range of 4 to 8 may be able to be read by the older child/or read by the parent to the younger child.
As a way of telling what is appropriate for our Australian born children, language-wise, a Year 9 beginner may be at the same level as a Year one or two in Greece. Of course, you can’t give a 14 or 15-year-old a baby book to read so you need to find some Greek book or bilingual equivalent that helps to build up their vocabulary even if it is for a younger age range.
The illustrations are also important. Pictures that only reflect the text can be boring. The best books are the ones with multiple layers. Lookup a book on google called “Rosie the Hen went for a walk”, and you will see what I mean.
There are some good locally produced bilingual books that strive to add more value to the reader as a Greek language teaching tool while making the storyline and illustrations fun. “The Greek Salad” and “Alpha in Athens” by Yannis Nikolakopoulos are examples of good bilingual books.
My first bilingual book “My Grandma is a musician – Η Γιαγιά μου είναι μουσικός” has also just been released. The book includes a QR code with access to a reading of the book in both languages, and the song.
As a teacher of Modern Greek, a lot of thought has gone into the vocabulary used. We need to give children the chance to acquire vocabulary that is challenging, unlike so many young children’s books that repeat the same words. Linguistically it has been checked by Dr Panayota Nazou who has volunteered her time to help me create a good bilingual Greek teaching resource.
Next week we change focus to talk about what is happening with Modern Greek in Australia, the role of our Associations and how we can all help keep Greek alive.
24-year-old Elias Giovanidis from Thessaloniki, Greece, has been recognised for his volunteer work during the coronavirus pandemic by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
During the pandemic, Giovanidis and his wife volunteered at food bank, Lighthouse of the World, working tirelessly to gather and organise food donations for families struggling through the COVID-19 crisis.
In a Tweet on Saturday, the EU Commission President celebrated Giovanidis for this work, praising him as an example of solidarity and kindness to all Europeans during the difficult period.
The crisis has been tough on many Europeans – but we can rely on each other. In Thessaloniki, Elias volunteered with a food bank. With his team, he cooked and packed meals for families in need.
“The crisis has been tough on many Europeans – but we can rely on each other. In Thessaloniki, Elias volunteered with a food bank,” von der Leyen began.
“With his team, he cooked and packed meals for families in need. Together, we will overcome this pandemic.”
In response, Giovanidis released a message of thanks which stated: “I warmly thank the President of the European Commission for her acknowledgment of our work. This recognition propels us forward.”
Ilias Giovanidis. Credit: AMNA.
Giovanidis has been volunteering with the food bank for many years after he was introduced to the organisation by a local priest, Father Athinagoras Loukataris.
“Father Athinagoras is not just a priest, but a role model for me and he also functioned as my father. He helped me to continue school and he is always by my side,” Giovanidis told AMNA on Saturday.
“So I, too, want to help those in need and together with my wife, who contributes to cooking, and other volunteers at the ‘Lighthouse,’ we distribute food to those in need.”
Despite being an undischarged bankrupt, Brisbane entrepreneur David Catsoulis has big hopes for his newest venture — a multi-billion-dollar gold mining project in the depths of the Papua New Guinea jungle.
Speaking to The Weekend Australian, Catsoulis says the new venture is about his family legacy, giving back to the local community, and according to capital raising documents, making a fortune for investors.
Catsoulis is a founder and the chief geologist of PGL Gold and, as a bankrupt, he is not and cannot be a director or shareholder. PGL reportedly plans to mine initially alluvial gold from prospects in PNG’s remote northwest, near the town of Maprik.
Catsoulis said the Maprik project was “progressing very well’’, and he expected mining leases would be granted in the “next couple of weeks’’. An email seen by The Weekend Australian corroborates this.
“The project’s had a great amount of due diligence done on the resource. The resource stacks up incredibly well,” Catsoulis said.
Photo: The Weekend Australian
“We’re in the process of resourcing the development of the future mine.’’
Catsoulis said the numbers presented to investors are “conservative’’, with the company claiming the gold resources could be three times what was set out in September 2019.
“There have been seven viable sites that have been estimated to host 5000kg each (881,500 ounces) each of high grade alluvial gold,’’ the IM says.
At today’s prices, that’s more than $2.1bn worth of gold.
Catsoulis says while the dollar figures were large, he thought of it as a “legacy project for my family and my mother in particular’’.
“I can’t say I was really looking for this project when we found it.
“I was on a family legacy project for my mother, to actually go and retrace the routes of my father’s wartime history in the region … and she wanted to go back and effectively see where my father was.
“He spoke quite stoically about the region and the efforts of the local people during that time and I was really looking for a way in which, logistically we could get her up there … and talk to some local people to see if we could get out to the war memorials and so forth.
“Probably the first night I was there I think I had probably 30 people coming to my door in the hotel wanting to sell me gold.
“I just gave them 50 kina and said, ‘no, not interested’.
“I had one guy come in and he said I’ve got a very large amount of gold I’d like you to buy’ … and I looked at it and thought, ‘that’s just incredible’.
“The amount, the size, the grains of gold were all fingernail size and above and I thought ‘where has it come from?’
“I’d never seen it before in my professional career. One thing led to another and about a week later we were on site at a place called Maprik panning gold like I’d never seen before.
“That small starting base ended up being the starting place for my current endeavour for this project.
“What we found in the end was my father’s wartime history actually started in Maprik where he was deployed as part of the 28,000-strong Australian forces that then moved on down into Wewak and that was the end of the Second World War.’’
