Athens will welcome 2025 with an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration at Syntagma Square, featuring a unique musical and theatrical experience titled “Rooftop of Time” (Ταράτσα του Χρόνου), created by renowned Greek rock musician Foivos Delivorias.
The event will kick off with a performance by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens, followed by a lively set from popular group Laternativ. The night will culminate with a DJ performance by Stavros Dioskouridis and Panagiotis Menegos from EnLefko 87.7, as the city counts down to midnight.
For the first time, Athens will celebrate the arrival of the new year with silent fireworks and a stunning drone light show, illuminating the skies above Syntagma Square in tribute to the city’s history and its future.
Photo: N Sorokin.
The highlight of the evening will be “Rooftop of Time,” a musical journey through Athens’ history, written by Delivorias and directed by Angelos Triantafyllou. The performance, a “time machine” of music, dance, and storytelling, will explore Athens’ evolution from 1945 to 2025.
Delivorias, along with Natassa Bofiliou, Martha Frintzila, and Thanasis Alevras, will guide the audience through different eras of Greek music, reflecting the cultural changes of the city.
A 10-piece orchestra, dancers choreographed by Evi Souli, and young vocalists will accompany the performance, enhanced by historical footage from Greek films and documentaries.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas will join the artists on stage to count down to midnight, marking the city’s vibrant welcome to 2025.
Sam Konstas’ second innings in Test cricket was less dramatic than his first, but it underscored two key points: India is now clearly targeting him, and they respect him enough to adjust their tactics.
Konstas was dismissed by a brilliant delivery from Jasprit Bumrah, who pitched a stump-seeking missile that seamed back slightly to hit the top of off-stump. This type of ball, previously used by junior teams to target Konstas, has now proved successful, and India is likely to try it again in the final Test in Sydney.
Bumrah celebrated the wicket with unusual boisterousness, urging Indian fans to cheer as if he had dismissed a top player like Steve Smith. This was likely a response to Konstas, who had earlier treated Bumrah with “humbling disdain” in the first innings.
Bumrah’s theatrical celebration seemed to mock Konstas’ recent exuberance with the crowd, highlighting how much the young player has gotten under India’s skin.
Photo: Getty Images.
Despite the dismissal, Konstas demonstrated the fearless approach that has made him stand out. India adjusted their field to cover his ramp shot, forcing him to adopt a more conventional style.
Konstas had faced 41 balls from Bumrah in the Test, scoring 35 runs, but with 18 false shots—one roughly every two balls. This was reminiscent of David Warner’s struggles against Stuart Broad in 2019, where Warner also had a high number of false shots.
With his fearless play and growing prominence, Konstas will need to be both brave and talented to continue his rise in Test cricket. All eyes will be on him in Sydney, where anything could happen.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed deep condolences following the tragic plane crash in South Korea, which claimed 179 lives on Sunday, December 29.
The ministry declared in a statement that Greece is “profoundly saddened by the tragic incident involving the plane crash in South Korea. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims during this difficult time.”
The crash occurred when Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from Bangkok, attempted to land at Muan International Airport. The Boeing 737-800, which had 175 passengers and six crew members on board, failed to deploy its landing gear, resulting in a belly landing.
The aircraft skidded off the runway, hit a wall, and exploded in flames. Only two crew members survived, both of whom were hospitalised with injuries.
Profoundly saddened by the tragic incident involving the plane crash in South Korea.
We extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/qHxm0zkgyL
This accident is the deadliest in South Korea in nearly three decades, surpassing even the tragic 1997 Korean Air crash.
South Korean authorities are investigating potential causes, including bird strikes and weather conditions, as a bird strike warning had been issued shortly before the crash.
“At this point there are a lot more questions than we have answers,” aviation expert Gregory Alegi said, raising concerns about the plane’s speed, the lack of flaps, and the failure of the landing gear.
Boeing, the plane’s manufacturer, also expressed condolences: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.”
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised for the accident, stating there were no early signs of malfunction. The airline pledged to cooperate with the investigation and prioritise support for the families.
Former US President Jimmy Carter has passed away at the age of 100. He was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and served as the 39th president from 1977 to 1981.
Carter, a Democrat and former peanut farmer, brokered the historic Camp David Accords in 1978, cementing his legacy as a champion of human rights. He was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980.
Carter’s health had declined in recent years after battling metastatic brain cancer, liver cancer, and undergoing brain surgery following a 2019 fall. In February 2023, he entered hospice care.
His wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, passed away in November at 96, leaving behind a legacy of mental health advocacy and enhancing the role of the First Lady.
Following his presidency, Carter and Rosalynn founded The Carter Centre, focusing on global peace, health and election monitoring.
Carter‘s post-presidency work, including efforts to combat diseases like Guinea worm, earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
At just 16 years old, Panayiota Vasiliades has taken the world of First-person view (FPV) drone filmmaking by storm.
Hailing from Earlwood, Sydney, this young talent recently showcased her exceptional skills by capturing the beauty of Cyprus through breathtaking drone footage. From the turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon in Akamas to the historic charm of the Philippou Yiapanis Art Nest Museum, Panayiota’s work celebrates both her Cypriot heritage and her creative vision.
Her captivating journey has not gone unnoticed. After winning a prestigious GoPro competition and garnering more than 20,000 views on her footage featured by VisitCyprus.com, Panayiota is paving the way for a promising future in drone filmmaking.
Her story is one of passion, innovation, and a deep connection to her roots, inspiring audiences and future filmmakers alike.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m Panayiota Vasiliades and I’m a 16-year-old FPV drone pilot from Sydney. I’ve been flying FPV drones since the start of this year and I really enjoyed being able to showcase my skills in Cyprus. It was very nice to be able to fly there because of my Cypriot heritage and I really loved seeing the joy I brought to my family after they saw Cyprus being showcased in such a beautiful way.
What inspired you to start using FPV drones, and how did you develop such an impressive skill at just 15 years old?
My interest in flying FPV drones started after going to waterfalls with my dad and brother. At one of the waterfalls, we could only get to the top, and I remember thinking it would be cool to have a drone to see the entire waterfall from above.
Not long after, I was scrolling through Instagram and saw a video of a drone diving down a waterfall, filming it in a way I’d never seen before. I started researching and I discovered FPV drones. The more I learned, the more I wanted to give it a try and that’s where it all started. Since then, I have done lots of research and practice to develop my skills to a high level.
Can you share what it was like visiting Cyprus and capturing footage of such iconic locations? Do you have a favourite spot from your journey?
Filming in Cyprus was very fun because there are lots of scenic places all over the country. There were lots of spots that impressed me the most but my top three would have to be Bridge of Love in Ayia Napa, Blue Lagoon in Akamas, and Edro Shipwreck in Paphos.
My highlight of the trip was filming in Philippos Yiapanis Art Nest Museum. It was a really fun, unique place to fly through that really challenged my skills. The full video is available on my YouTube.
Winning the GoPro competition is an incredible achievement! How did you approach the competition, and what do you think set your footage apart?
Honestly, I had no intentions of entering the competition. I filmed my very first FPV video at Gerringong Falls in the Blue Mountains and then about a week later, I discovered the GoPro competition. I entered my video but I didn’t think I would have much of a chance to win. I think what set my footage apart was the stunning location that I filmed at and also because no one else has done an FPV drone shot there.
Your work was featured by VisitCyprus.com and gained significant attention. How did it feel to see your video reach such a wide audience?
Having my footage featured on Visit Cyprus’ social media was awesome. It was nice to know that my videos were helping promote the beauty of Cyprus. Seeing my videos being appreciated by such a large audience was really rewarding and hopefully encourages more people to visit Cyprus.
What was the experience of filming at the Farmakas Village Festival like? Did it hold special significance for you and your family?
Filming my grandfather’s village, Farmakas, during the Farmaka Village Festival was a very cool experience. Having the opportunity to film the community was really nice. Being able to document my family’s story with my FPV drone was really meaningful.
What are your plans for the future? Do you see drone filmmaking as a potential career, or do you have other aspirations as well?
In the future, I hope to pursue drone filmmaking as a full time career, working as a freelance videographer. My goal is to specialise in filming flythroughs for different businesses and venues. This could include restaurants, cinemas, arcades, hotels, concerts, entertainment venues, sports venues, homes for real estate and many more. I’d also love to travel around the world and film some cool cinematic FPV videos of unique places.
From Olympic records to Olympiacos FC winning the Europa Conference League, 2024 has been a year of victory and accomplishment for Greek and Greek Australian athletes.
Now, as the year comes to an end, The Greek Herald has shared its best Greek sporting moments of 2024.
15. Peta Trimis helps secure back-to-back wins for CommBank Young Matildas
Peta Trimis.
Australia defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 in their second AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2024™ group match at JAR Stadium, Tashkent.
The atmosphere was electric as fans from across the Greek community came together to support their respective teams, creating an ambiance of passion and fervour at the football court.
Thanasi Kokkinakis lets out a roar after clinching victory. Picture: AFP.
Thanasi Kokkinakis saved four match points to win a five-set thriller against 17th-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime at Wimbledon this year.
In a rollercoaster match spanning two days because of rain delays, the 28-year-old set tennis history by becoming the eighth man in this year’s draw to come back from two sets down in a 4-6, 5-7, 7-6 (11/9), 6-4, 6-4 victory against Auger-Aliassime.
It was the most two sets to love comebacks in the first round at Wimbledon in the Open Era.
10. Emmanouil Karalis makes history as first Greek pole vaulter to clear six metres
Photo: Matthew Quine, @WorldAthletics / X.
Olympic bronze medallist Emmanouil Karalis became the first Greek pole vaulter to have jumped higher than six metres on Sunday, August 25 at the Wanda Diamond League competition in Silesia, Poland.
She received a gold medal for her solo technical program, as well as scoring 272.9633 points overall, receiving 101.6500 points in the artistic part, and 171.3133 in the execution.
The Australian Olympic Team featured 460 athletes to represent Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in 33 sports. Among the 460 athletes were four Australians of Greek heritage. They were: Peter Boukouvalas (Archery), Zoe Poulis (Artistic Swimming), Mark Nicolaidis (Beach Volleyball), and Emmanouela Frroku (Gymnastics).
6. Cricket world goes nuts for Sam Konstas after stunning Boxing Day Test debut
Teenage cricket debutant Sam Konstas stole the show at the Boxing Day Test with a scintillating innings that electrified the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday, December 26.
Konstas raced to a 50 off 52 balls, the third-fastest by an Australian Test debutant, trailing only Adam Gilchrist and Ashton Agar.
5. South Melbourne FC’s successful year
South Melbourne FC wins the Dockerty Cup. Photo supplied.
This year, South Melbourne FC were crowned Dockerty Cup champions and were named Premiers of the National Premier League Victoria 2024. Their win completed a triumph of 26 rounds at the top of the NPL Victoria standings with 60 points (19 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses).
South Melbourne also progressed to the semi-finals of the Australia Cup, playing against Macarthur FC. In the end, Macarthur FC advanced to the Australian Cup final thanks to a questionable penalty that only the referee saw, following a dive by a Macarthur forward near the end of the match.
4. Football Australia unveils new format and start date for National Second Tier
(L-R) Sydney Olympic FC’s President, Damon Halin, South Melbourne FC’s President Nick Maikousis, and Andrew Mesourouni. Photo copyright: The Greek Herald.
Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos / Sydney Olympic FC.
Chants of ‘O-LYM-PIC, O-LYM-PIC’ and ‘Let’s go Hellas’ echoed loudly across Netstrata Jubilee Stadium at Kogarah, Sydney on Saturday, January 13 as close to 3,000 football fans packed the stadium for the inaugural The Greek Herald Cup.
The atmosphere was electric with live music, Greek dancing performances, and a football extravaganza as two iconic Greek heritage football clubs, Sydney Olympic FC and South Melbourne FC, came face to face in the historic clash. Ultimately, Sydney Olympic came out victorious.
2.Olympiacos FC make history as champions of Europa Conference League
Olympiacos FC fans around Australia rejoiced as the football club made history. The Greek Herald’s sports editor Takis Triadafillou visited a pub in the Sydney suburb of Mascot to watch the match on a big screen surrounded by other Olympiacos fans. When the victory was claimed, Mr Triadafillou said Mascot “shook” with the cheers of those gathered.
Miltiadis Tentoglou celebrates after winning the men’s long jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Photo: AP.
Greece made history numerous times at this year’s Paris Olympic Games.
Take for example Miltiadis Tentoglou, who leapt to a sensational gold medal in the men’s long jump final on August 6, jumping 8.48 metres. Tentoglou’s win made him the second jumper to win consecutive gold medals in his event, after the legendary Carl Lewis who had four in a row from 1984 to 1996.
Greece’s basketball team also made history, heading to their first Olympics in 16 years. The qualification also marked the first time in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s career that he appeared at the Olympics.
Apostolos Christou won the first Olympic swimming medal for Greece since 1896. Photo: Getty Images / Adam Pretty.
A white marble statue of a nude male figure was uncovered this year near the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, during preparatory work for laying natural gas pipes.
The statue, designed in the Hermes Ludovisi style, was found in a trench approximately one metre wide near the south side of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, at the intersection of Erechthiou and Kalliperi streets.
The find was made by Christopher Ratté of the University of Michigan and his team. The coins were stored in an olpe, a type of small jug, and buried in the corner of a dwelling beneath the courtyard of a house from the third century B.C.
The tomb is believed to have belonged to a couple and dates back to the third century B.C., according to Angeliki Kottaridi, Honorary Superintendent of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Imathia.
A unique depiction of the final Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, has been unveiled within the Katholikon of the Old Monastery of Taxiarches in Aegialia.
The frescoes, originating from the late Byzantine era, exhibit exceptional artistic quality and align with the aesthetic standards of Constantinople during that time.
Greece’s Culture Ministry announced that the structure is a “unique and extremely interesting find.”
The purpose of the hilltop structure remains unknown as it is still under excavation and has no known Minoan parallels. Experts speculate it could have served a ritual or religious function.
They say, “never say never,” and for Nick Tringas, February 18, 2024, was the day that changed his life forever.
Having sustained a catastrophic brain injury that left physicians terrified and his family shattered, what should have been a typical day became a nightmare. There was little possibility that he would survive, and even less that he would recover.
As a living example of the power of prayers, exceptional medical staff, and an unwavering will to never give up, Nick shares his story with The Greek Herald.
His story is a remarkable tale of both miracle and survival.
The day began as normal.
“I was home that day by myself and I decided to check something on the house with a ladder. I was about four metres up. I’ve always been a physically strong guy, so this was normal for me,” he recalls.
That was the last thing Nick remembers. The next time he was awake, it was at St George Hospital, over two weeks later, and fresh out of a coma.
Nick’s daughters, Evelynne and Katie, found him unconscious when they came home. They don’t know how long he had been lying there.
He was transported directly to St George Hospital, where it was discovered that he had a fractured skull and a fractured spine in four places. No surgeries were performed, but blood had to be drained from Nick’s body.
He stayed in a coma for two-and-a-half weeks and when he woke up, he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. In the ICU, he wasn’t allowed to move.
“If it weren’t for the around-the-clock care and amazing support of the nurses and doctors in St George ICU, I doubt I’d be here today,” Nick says. “I owe them my life!”
Dr Diane Lee and Dr Terry Diamond (Professor of Endoscopy) oversaw Nick’s recovery and still check in with him to this day.
As a result of the traumatic injuries he sustained, Nick has noticed changes in his personality, cannot smell, cannot taste, and has no hearing in his left ear.
“I would say I am about 85% better, and I hope that I will recover the hearing in my left ear,” he says.
He also hopes to regain his sense of smell and taste in the future.
Today, Nick has regular check-ups at the Liverpool Brain Injury Unit.
“Dr. Hodgkinson, who runs the Brain Unit, has been amazingly supportive, and I am so grateful to all the staff at the unit who continue to take care of me as I recover,” he shares.
Nick has since returned to work as a real estate agent. He runs Tringas Property Group with his son. While he isn’t working as much as before, he is learning to appreciate time off more.
“I am appreciating the small things in life and looking to enjoy my life. It’s so cliché, but you only live once!” he says.
He is also driving again, which he thinks is incredible for someone who sustained injuries of such magnitude.
Nick’s family has been through hell and back, and he credits God and Saint John the Russian for his miraculous recovery.
“I am stronger in my beliefs as an Orthodox Christian and feel closer to God. I don’t think I’d be here today if it weren’t for Saint John,” he says.
Nick is planning a trip to Euboea (Evia) in Greece to pay homage to the great saint in 2025.
With a new lease on life, Nick knows he is extremely lucky and blessed. Most people he meets don’t believe he had the accident; his story is that incredible.
“Never underestimate the power of the saints and medical experts! The nurses and doctors at St George are incredible, and I couldn’t thank them enough!” he says.
Greek-inspired venues are making waves in Sydney’s 2024 dining scene, leading a lineup of 15 impressive restaurants in the latest list by The Daily Telegraph.
The Greeks on the list are:
Ammos, Brighton-Le-Sands
Greek chef Peter Crinis has revitalised southern Sydney with Ammos, a transformative Greek restaurant in Brighton-Le-Sands. Set within the Novotel, Ammos is expected to leave a lasting mark on the area’s food culture.
Photo: ammosrestaurant, facebook
Olympus, Wunderlich Lane
Part of the new $500m Surry Hills precinct, Olympus offers exceptional Greek dining. It stands among several exciting venues redefining the culinary landscape in this bustling hub.
Vasilissis Olgas Avenue, closed to vehicles for almost four years due to redevelopment work, is expected to reopen by March, Athens Mayor Harris Doukas has announced.
According to ekathimerini.com, during a city council meeting, delays were attributed to archaeological discoveries.
Polychronios Akritidis, CEO of the company managing the project, explained that costs would increase and the street would not be entirely pedestrianised. Limited vehicle access will be allowed to accommodate the needs of nearby venues like the Zappeion and the tennis and volleyball clubs.
These allowances for vehicles sparked criticism from several council members.
“In the end, the street won’t be fully pedestrianised, as vehicles will be allowed for Aigli and the Tennis Club from both sides,” Mayor Doukas stated, emphasising that despite the rising costs and archaeological hurdles, the project’s completion is crucial for alleviating city center traffic.
“We’re told the cost will be higher, but we remain committed to reopening Vasilissis Olgas by March,” the mayor reiterated.
