NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only Greek player to be named among the list of 100 highest-paid athletes in the world, according to Sportico.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ star recruit came in 13th place with an estimated total income of US$97.8 million (inclusive of salary, winnings and endorsements).
Antetokounmpo came in behind other well-known athletes such as LeBron James from the Los Angeles Lakers in 5th place with earnings of US$133.2 million, and Lionel Messi from Inter Miami in 4th place with US$135 million.
Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo once again topped the list with total income of US$260 million in 2024.
Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo has topped the list again.
Ronaldo is so far ahead of the other athletes in the world that Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who is second on the list, earned $153.8 million in comparison — more than $100 million short of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Ben Simmons was the only Australian in the top 100, coming in at 85th with a total of $41 million, placing him 32nd out of 36 NBA players on the list.
The top 100 is made up of athletes from eight sports and hailing from 27 countries. This year’s list featured no women.
The event attracted 4,000–5,000 attendees, including Christian leaders from various denominations and State and Federal MPs. His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide represented His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia at the event.
This year’s theme, “Real men protect babies,” aimed to highlight men’s role in the debate. As in previous years, the rally featured speeches and a live broadcast of a fetal heartbeat over the PA system.
A counter-protest sought to disrupt the event but gathered only around 50 people, and the walk proceeded peacefully along King William Road, past Parliament House, and back to Pennington Gardens, with SA Police ensuring a smooth procession.
The Holy Diocese of Adelaide played an active role in the event, with many Orthodox faithful carrying icons and Central Philoptochos hosting a food van for participants and volunteers.
Cricketer Sam Konstas delivered a stunning performance for New South Wales, scoring 116 off 98 balls against Queensland in a domestic one-day match on Thursday, February 13.
Konstas’ efforts weren’t enough to secure victory though, as NSW fell 54 runs short in their chase of 311 at Allan Border Field.
Despite struggling with cramps, 19-year-old Konstas anchored the innings with 13 fours and three sixes before being dismissed in the 40th over.
His knock has reignited debate among cricket fans, with many questioning why he was left out of Australia’s squads for the Sri Lanka Test and ODI series.
After Australia’s recent struggles, including a 49-run loss to Sri Lanka, fans took to social media to argue that Konstas should have been selected over Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Konstas, however, remains focused on scoring runs and earning another national team opportunity.
“It’s pretty simple. I enjoy playing every time I play and get the opportunity,” he said.
“I haven’t thought too far ahead with my goals, just to be in the moment and try to win games for whatever team I play for.”
The so-called US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, announced on X that it had halted a $25,000 award intended to support LGBTQ refugees in Greece.
“While looking into this, the team identified a $25,000 award entitled ‘Empowering LGBTQIA+ Refugees in Greece’ with the description: ‘To provide material, legal, and psychological support to LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and refugees; inform and raise awareness of civil society on issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community.’ It has now been cancelled,” read DOGE’s post.
While looking into this, the team identified a $25,000 award entitled “Empowering LGBTQIA+ Refugees in Greece” with the description “To provide material, legal and psychological support to LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and refugees; inform and raise awareness of civil society on issues… https://t.co/M5IvIq70PU
The decision followed a request from a Greek MEP from the nationalist Greek Solution party, Emanouil Fragkos, who asked Musk to investigate “US funds to Greek NGOs reserving luxury hotels for illegal migrants.”
Fragkos welcomed the move, tweeting, “Catharsis, we bring change.”
According to USAspending, the funding, allocated via the US Embassy in Athens, had already been disbursed in September 2024, meaning the cancellation affects only 2025 funding.
According to the decision issued by the General Secretary for Civil Protection, Vassilis Papageorgiou, the emergency measures will remain in place until March 13.
Leonidas Vlahakis, a beloved figure in Melbourne’s Greek community, has an undeniable passion for celebrating Greek culture. A key organiser of the Antipodes Lonsdale Street Greek Festival, he shared some secrets and hot tips through our rapid-fire questions:
What’s the goal of the Antipodes Festival?
The overriding goal of the Antipodes Festival is to bring the community together in a joyous celebration of all things Greek in marvellous multicultural Melbourne.
What’s your earliest festival memory?
The first time I went to the Festival was 1997: George Dalaras and Eleftheria Arvanitaki absolutely owned Melbourne Town that night!
What’s your favourite thing about the festival?
My favourite thing about the festival is talking to the grandparents who come in to the city for the only time of the year, pull up a pew on Saturday at midday right in front of the main stage-and sit there for two days.
Share a top memory.
One of my greatest memories was when Michalis Hatzigiannis played in the pouring rain after we met then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
What’s new this year?
Something new this year is the silent disco in the open-air car park opposite the old Women’s Hospital. The Greek Herald is also supporting this year’s Cooking Demonstrations.
Share an Antipodes Festival secret.
Many people don’t know this, but the Antipodes Festival holds the record for the world’s biggest Zorba-set a couple of years ago.
Where do you go to escape the crowds?
When it gets too much, I go to the Mezzanine level of The Greek Centre, grab a seat, sit on the balcony-and watch the magic happen all around me.
What’s the Greekest thing at the festival that fits in the palm of your hands?
The Greekest thing about the festival that fits in the palm of my hand is the sheftalies from the Cypriot kitchen.
What do you do if you want to go to two events happening at the same time?
If there are two events occurring concurrently, I will go to one and view the other online-and be sure that we program better next year (lol)!
Share a hot tip.
A hot tip for festival visitors is Rena Morfi on Saturday night: we’ve never had an act quite like this before!
This year’s Antipodes Festival is being held on Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, from Saturday, February 22 to Sunday, February 23. For more details visit: www.antipodesfestival.com.au
41 remarkable South Australian women have been named finalists for The Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year awards, including Andriana Petrakis. These finalists, who range from educators to industry leaders and selfless community advocates, have made an impact in their respective fields.
Andriana Petrakis, a tennis player with autism, is recognized for sharing her experiences, skills, and knowledge with young people with intellectual disabilities. At the age of nine, her parents, unable to afford occupational therapy, turned to tennis as a way to improve her movement, hand-eye coordination, and social skills. Over a decade later, Ms. Petrakis represented Australia at the 2023 Virtus Global Games, the largest global sports event for athletes with intellectual disabilities. She currently holds the fifth spot internationally and second place in Australia in the women’s singles People with an Intellectual Impairment category. In 2023, she was also awarded Tennis SA’s Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability.
Now serving as an assistant coach for Tennis SA’s Pathway Program, Ms. Petrakis is passionate about inspiring other young people with disabilities to pursue their goals.
A wave of new businesses is set to transform Prospect Rd, with 10 retail stores opening in the coming months across two major developments, according to the advertiser.
At 85 Prospect Rd, the redeveloped former Foodland site owned by George Velentzas, four businesses will open in late February and early March: high-end gym Fitness Factory, St Louis House of Desserts, Prospect Rd’s first pub, and an RSPCA op-shop. One more space remains available for lease.
Velentzas said he aimed “to create something exciting” at the two-storey retail space. The Fitness Factory, which will occupy the entire second floor, will “probably be one of the classiest gyms available this year in Adelaide.” The health club will feature a creche, a cafe serving juices and protein shakes, steam and infra-red saunas, yoga and pilates classes, individual showers, and Italian-made gym equipment.
The RSPCA op-shop will focus on designer fashion, similar to the charity’s Rundle St store. “There’s no way I’d let just any op-shop in,” Velentzas said.
Meanwhile, at The Harrington, a five-storey apartment complex nearby, six ground-floor stores will open by mid-May, including R3 Reform pilates studio, He Said, She Said cafe, a frozen yoghurt bar, a yet-to-be-revealed restaurant, and two unleased spaces.
The developers of The Harrington aimed for high-quality tenants. “We’ve been quite picky with who we put in,” said CBRE leasing agent Julia Pottenger.
All 55 apartments at The Harrington have already been sold.
Discoveries in historical research often come through years of meticulous study—or by sheer accident. The recent unearthing of two lost works by Apollonius, the ancient Greek mathematician known as the “Great Geometer,” falls into the latter category.
According to iflscience, these texts, long thought to be lost, were actually part of a collection of nearly 200 Arabic manuscripts brought to the University of Leiden in the 17th century. Locked away for centuries, they have now been identified as books five and seven of The Conics of Apollonius (c. 200 BCE).
“The work deals with the theory of ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas – the curves which you can see if you shine a flashlight on a wall,” explains a new book from the university. While only the first four volumes were believed to have survived, this discovery proves the enduring impact of the Islamic Golden Age in preserving ancient knowledge.
“Arabic manuscripts in Western libraries like Leiden University Libraries serve as invaluable records of Islamic civilization’s intellectual achievements, especially in mathematics and geometry,” said Mostafa Zahri of the University of Sharjah.
Despite their significance, many Arabic manuscripts remain understudied due to the specialized knowledge required to analyze them. “The study of Islamic manuscripts demands specialized knowledge, encompassing paleography, historical context, linguistic expertise, and scientific specialization,” explained Professor Mesut Idriz.
Beyond Apollonius’ works, the recovered texts include treatises on biology, astronomy, and math, such as the “Book of Perfections.” While some contain mythical elements, they remain vital records of medieval Middle Eastern scholarship.
The number of visitors to Athens has more than doubled over the past 17 years, according to an article by Ilias Bellos in ekathimerini.com
In January 2008, 636,615 travelers arrived in the Greek capital, while this January, international passenger traffic at Athens Airport soared to 1,323,915—a 108% increase.
The trend shows no signs of slowing. Last month alone, international arrivals rose by 18.7% compared to January 2024, following a 12.7% increase in January 2024 compared to the same month in 2023.
The surge is evident on the streets of Athens, with a growing number of visitors, including many from across the Atlantic.
