Anastasia Lambros, a Year 11 student at St Euphemia College in Sydney’s Bankstown, has been honoured with the esteemed Victor Chang Science Award for her outstanding achievements in Biology and Chemistry.
This prestigious accolade, named in memory of the renowned heart surgeon Dr Victor Chang, recognises exceptional talent and dedication among secondary school students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Anastasia’s remarkable performance in her science studies has distinguished her as a deserving recipient of the award. Her commitment to academic excellence reflects the qualities the Victor Chang Science Award aims to celebrate and promote.
“St Euphemia is proud of Anastasia’s accomplishments and looks forward to her future contributions to the scientific community!” the post read.
The award, established to honour Dr Chang’s legacy, seeks to inspire and encourage young students to pursue careers in STEM. By spotlighting students like Anastasia, the Victor Chang Science Award hopes to cultivate a new generation of innovators and problem-solvers.
A distinguished collective of history teachers and scholars have called on the NSW Education Department, formally referred to as the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), to include the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek Genocides as a dedicated Depth Study in the New South Wales History Curriculum, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
This cohort of academics joins every member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, who unanimously supported a motion calling on the government of Australia’s largest state to expand Holocaust education to include the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek Genocides.
The letter, signed by 27 academics from various institutions across NSW, including the University of Sydney, University of Macquarie, University of Newcastle and UNSW, amongst others, was addressed to Paul Cahill – Executive Director of Curriculum Reform at NESA, and the Hon. Prue Car – Deputy Premier of NSW and Education Minister.
The letter read: “Firstly, we believe that failing to include such a topic in the curriculum does not provide an accurate analysis of World War I, with the 1915-1923 Genocides often being characterised as one of the first of the 20th century.”
Pontian Greek Genocide. Photo: AHEPA.
The signatories go on to urge Mr Cahill to include the 1915 Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek Genocides in the curriculum as an in-depth study to shed light on Australia’s first major humanitarian relief effort to aid victims of the 1915 Genocide and to reinforce the importance of tolerance for divergent cultures and beliefs; a core value of a multicultural, democratic society.
ANC-AU Executive Director Michael Kolokossian said, “Genocide education is crucial for fostering a well-informed and empathetic society. By understanding past atrocities, we equip our students with the knowledge to prevent such tragedies in the future and promote a culture of tolerance and human rights.”
The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has written to each of the signatories, expressing the community’s gratitude for their principled stance and their ongoing efforts to educate young people about the Armenian Genocide.
The full list of signatories can be found below.
Signatories include:
Professor Peter Stanley, Research Professor, UNSW Canberra
Dr. Melanie O’Brien, Associate Professor of International Law, University of Western Australia; President, International Association of Genocide Scholars
Dr. Darren O’Brien, Chair, Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Vicken Babkenian, Independent Researcher, Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Dr. Panayotis Diamadis, Vice President, Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Professor Philip Dwyer, Centre for the Study of Violence, University of Newcastle
Professor Paul Richard McKechnie, Associate Professor in Ancient Cultures, Macquarie University
Professor Hans Lukas Kieser, Associate Professor of History, University of Newcastle; Titularprofessor, University of Zurich
Dr. Eureka Henrich, Lecturer in History, UNSW Sydney
Dr. Umit Kurt, School of Humanities, University of Newcastle
Dr. Sacha Davis, Lecturer in History, University of Newcastle
Ms. Michelle Shamoell, Social Work Lecturer, Excelsia College
Dr. Yona Gilead, Malka Einhorn Modern Hebrew Senior Lecturer & Program Director
Mr. Edward Demirdjian, Principal, Hamazkaine Arshak & Sophie Galstaun College
Ms. Leyana Alkhas, Secondary School Teacher
Dr. Deborah Mayersen, Senior Lecturer in International and Political Studies, UNSW Canberra
Dr. Eyal Mayroz, Senior Lecturer, Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney
Professor Iain Gardner FAHA, Professor of the History of Religions, University of Sydney
Dr. Yona Gilead, Malka Einhorn Modern Hebrew Senior Lecturer & Program Director
Professor Luke McNamara, Centre for Criminology, Law and Justice, UNSW
Suzanne D. Rutland OAM, Professor Emerita, Hebrew, Biblical & Jewish Studies, University of Sydney
Associate Professor Matthew Bailey, Director of Education, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University
James Der Derian, Director, Centre for International Security Studies, University of Sydney
Dr. Marco Duranti, Senior Lecturer in Modern European and International History, University of Sydney
Dr. Jan Láníek, Associate Professor in Jewish and Modern European History, UNSW Sydney
Ann Curthoys AM, Professor Emerita at the Australian National University
Dr. Michael Abrahams-Sprod, Roth Senior Lecturer in Jewish Civilisation, Education and Israel Studies, University of Sydney
Netflix has acquired Pablo Larraín‘s biopic Maria, starring Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie as the legendary opera singer Maria Callas, for US distribution.
“I’m excited to partner again with the Netflix team who care so passionately about movies. This film is my most personal work yet,” Larraín said.
“[The film] is a creative imagining and psychological portrait of Maria Callas who, after dedicating her life to performing for audiences around the world, decides finally to find her own voice, her own identity, and sing for herself. I’m deeply honoured to tell this story and share it with audiences worldwide like Maria did with her life.”
Larraín has worked on films such as Jackie, Spencer, No, Neruda, and the 2023 film El Conde, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography.
Maria will feature a new collaboration between Larraín and Edward Lachman, the cinematographer previously nominated for Oscars for Carol and Far From Heaven.
The film’s screenplay is written by Steven Knight, marking his second collaboration with Larraín following their work on Spencer. Knight is known for his Academy Award-nominated screenplay for Dirty Pretty Things and as the creator of Peaky Blinders.
The cast also includes Academy Award nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alba Rohrwacher, Pierfrancesco Favino and Valeria Golino.
Maria will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 29, hitting Netflix at a later date.
Melbourne men, Vincent Atulia, 24, and Andrew Colivas, 25, have died under mysterious circumstances while vacationing in Vietnam.
The Herald Sun said Vietnamese police are investigating whether Atulia and Colivas suffered drug overdoses.
In response to their deaths, family members have set up GoFundMe pages to raise funds to cover the costs of repatriation and funeral expenses.
Both Atulia and Colivas were passionate about boxing. Atulia was also a player for the Casey Warriors rugby league team, a member of St Agatha’s Church parish in Cranbourne, and worked as a tradesman.
Vincent Atulia (L) and Andrew Colivas (R). Photo: News.
“It is with great sadness that we share the message of the untimely passing of our beloved son and friend Andrew Colivas,” his family announced.
“He tragically lost his life in Vietnam and it’s going to be a long process to bring him home.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed that the department is offering consular assistance to Colivas’ family, as well as to three other Australians affected by the situation.
“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time. Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,” the spokesperson added.
Greek authorities have begun the massive task of removing hundreds of thousands of dead fish that have flooded into a tourist port in Volos. The fish have created a thick layer of carcasses across the port.
The accumulation of dead fish has caused a pungent odour, prompting a swift response from local officials. Efforts are underway to clear the fish before the smell impacts nearby restaurants and hotels.
Photo: Nicolas Economou / Shutterstock.
Trawlers collected dead fish from Volos’ tourist port, with the fish being gathered in nets and then loaded onto trucks. Authorities reported that over 40 tonnes (40,000 kilograms) of fish have been removed in the past 24 hours.
Further pushing the desire to act quickly, there are concerns that the decaying fish could pose an environmental threat to local wildlife.
Experts have linked the situation to last year’s severe flooding in the Thessaly region, which affected rivers and lakes to the north. The lack of a protective net at the river mouth leading into Volos allowed the fish to enter the sea, where the saltwater likely killed them.
On Wednesday, August 29 the European Union’s Aspides mission in the Red Sea reported that there was no oil spill from the Greek-flagged tanker MV Sounion, which was recently targeted off the coast of Yemen by Houthi militants.
The EU mission confirmed that the tanker remains anchored and is not adrift.
This marked a stark departure from a statement from the Pentagon on Tuesday, August 27 which indicated that the tanker was still burning and appeared to be leaking oil.
Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion following Yemen’s Houthis attacks in the Red Sea. Photo: Eunavfor Aspides Handout / EPA.
When asked about the Pentagon’s statement, an EU mission source declined to comment on statements from other organisations.
The conflicting information regarding the state of MV Sounion from the respective reports is yet to be verified.
Senior Hells Angel Angelo Pandeli, widely recognised as Australia’s most wanted criminal, was apprehended in Dubai, UAE on August 28.
It remains unclear whether the Australian expatriate has been charged or how long he will be detained.
The 52-year-old has been a major player in Australia’s cocaine and methamphetamine smuggling operations and is accused of being an international drug kingpin. Since leaving Australia in 2018, he has been moving between the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
Over the past decade, he is among numerous high-profile Australian crime figures who have settled in Dubai.
Photo: Matthew Vasilescu.
Despite his absence from Australia, Pandeli has been the focus of extensive investigations by Australian law enforcement agencies.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission revealed in 2021 that Pandeli was involved in a vast syndicate responsible for smuggling drugs valued at $1.5 billion into Australia annually. Allegedly, corrupt government and border officials facilitated these operations for what authorities termed the “Aussie Cartel.”
Pandeli has been known for his ability to unite various gang leaders for joint operations, using Dubai as a central hub for their illicit activities.
The 2024 Paralympics officially began in Paris, France with Greece making a triumphant entrance featuring its delegation of 37 athletes at the opening ceremony.
As the French capital takes on the honour of hosting the Paralympic Games for the first, it prepared a spectacle to mark the occasion.
Photo: @Paris2024 / X.
For the first time in Paralympic history, the ceremony is being held outside of a stadium, similar to the Olympic Games earlier in July.
Greece made their entrance with its two flag-bearers, marking the start of the ceremony occurring in the iconic Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde.
John the Baptist, a prophet in the Old Testament, was the Forerunner of Christ, who lived in the desert of Judea, proclaiming the coming of the Messiah and calling the people to repentance. The Beheading of St John the Baptist is commemorated on August 29 by the Orthodox Church.
St John the Baptist was both comforting and reprimanding, like that of the older prophets, and he scolded sin and every kind of injustice. He did not hesitate to reprimand the Pharisees, both for their hypocrisy and for moral wrongdoings, as well as King Herod Antipas himself, who had an unlawful relationship with his brother’s wife, Herodias.
Due to this particular attitude, Saint John the Baptist was first imprisoned and then beheaded, as Salomis, daughter of Herodias, had demanded. Salomis charmed the king with her dancing at his birthday party and he promised to give her anything she desired, up to half of his kingdom.
However, the wickedness and hatred of her mother prompted her, instead of another valuable gift, to ask for the head of St John the Baptist. Even though he was appalled by this request, Herod reluctantly agreed to execute the decision, according to the wish expressed by the mother and daughter.
John’s Precious Head, offered to Salome on a platter, was buried by the soldiers in the prison. He was believed to be buried in Samaria where he was honoured in the 4th century, but the tomb was desecrated by Julian the Apostate.
About John the Baptist
St. John was the son of the Prophet Zacharias and Elizabeth, who was a kinswoman of the Virgin Mary. St. John is known as the “Forerunner” and “Baptist.” He is known as the Forerunner because he preceded Christ and taught repentance, which prepared men for Jesus’ teaching and His ministry. He even recognised Christ as the Messiah as early as when they were both still in their mothers’ wombs. According to Holy Tradition, the Virgin Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth and when they embraced John leapt in his mother’s womb, which is considered his first acknowledgment of Christ as Messiah.
After his birth, St. John’s father Zacharias was murdered in the temple. He and his mother fled to the desert and he was raised there. Thus he lived as an ascetic from the earliest part of his life. He ate plants and roots and wore rough clothing. When he grew, he baptised people in the Jordan, teaching repentance, but also saying that someone greater would come after him and baptise with the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist spoke with compassion while also scolding sin, hypocrisy and injustice.
St. John always spoke the Truth and because Herod did not appreciate his criticism, he was imprisoned. Later he was beheaded, as the result of a promise Herod gave to his step-daughter to give her anything she asked. The daughter was convinced by her mother to ask for John’s head on a platter.
The feast of St. John’s Beheading is a strict fast day in recognition of the way in which he died, but it is also a joyous feast day because John’s life was such a luminous example for monastics, martyrs and all Christians to follow him.
South Australia’s Minister for Small and Family Business, Consumer and Business Affairs, and the Arts, Andrea Michaels MP took time out of her busy parliamentary schedule to attend the screening of documentary ‘Two Homelands’ on Saturday, August 24 at the Mercury Cinema in Adelaide.
The film is dedicated to stories of resilience, 50 years after the 1974 Cyprus war.
After the screening, the director of the documentary Kay Pavlou hosted a Q&A with Minister Michaels, exploring her very personal connection to the story.
After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the Minister’s family fled the war-torn island, arriving in Adelaide in 1976 when she was 11 months old, wearing just the clothes on their back. Like all migrants, they worked very hard to create a secure life for their family.
“I get very emotional now talking about Cyprus. But it wasn’t always that way for me. Growing up in Australia, my family spoke of their life in Eptakomi. They were forced to evacuate our village without hope of ever returning. I didn’t have the memories they had. My connection to my occupied homeland came later in life. Especially this year on the 50th anniversary,” Minister Michaels said.
The discussion later opened up to the fully engaged audience.
Nick Hondrou, who brought seven members of his family to the screening, said, “Kay, your documentary has made me very sad. But it also makes me happy that our story is told. My dear father, departed three years ago, would have loved to see this.”
Many Cypriots spoke of their anguish when crossing the ‘dividing line’ to see their house still occupied and family graveyards desecrated. The broader community wanted to understand why a small European island still has a Buffer Zone in the middle with the capital city Nicosia split in two.
Panayiotis Pavlou, the director’s father who is featured in the film, was in the audience. Many who attended were descended from his village of Rizokarpaso, where Greek Cypriots refused to leave and continue to live under occupation. Panayiotis said, “Everybody in the room was touched.”
The audience expressed their yearning for a resolution to be found.
Kay quoted the Cypriot motto of ‘We never forget’ and asked how that related to the Minister.
Minister Michaels firmly said, “My campaign in Parliament is ongoing. I plan to move another motion this week about the illegal occupation and seeking a just solution to the Cyprus problem for all Cypriots. I will never forget.”
