Olympic bronze medallist Emmanouil Karalis has become 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.
“Legendary Emmanouil Karalis! He became the first Greek to break the 6-metre barrier in the pole vault. The previous record of 5.93 was his since last June,” the Hellenic Olympic Committee wrote on Facebook.
Earlier this month, Karalis came in third in the pole vault competition at the Paris Olympics, bringing home one of eight Olympic bronze medals won by Greece.
Karalis’ 6.00 metre jump placed him third at the event, after USA pole vaulter Sam Kendricks who also jumped 6.00 metres.
Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis came in first with a 6.26 metres jump, breaking the previous world record of 6.25m of which he set at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) hosted its eagerly awaited annual Multicultural Gala on Saturday, August 24, making history as the event was held in a regional area for the first time.
Geelong was selected as the vibrant setting for this year’s Gala, which drew a diverse audience, including government officials, representatives of various faiths and cultures, and community members from across the state.
Cultural Performers.
Distinguished guests included Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, opposition leader John Pesutto, Multicultural Minister Ingrid Stitt, Federal Assistant Multicultural Minister Julian Hill, and VMC Chairperson Vivian Nguyen, along with numerous members from various Hellenic organisations.
Vivienne Nguyen AM, Chairperson Victorian Multicultural Commission, Aristidis Tsoulakos Victorian Multicultural Commission – Youth Network Member Eastern Region representative, Bwe Thay’s – Deputy Chairperson at Victorian Multicultural Commission.
The Gala featured a wide array of performances from cultural groups, each highlighting their distinct traditions and heritage. The lively performances, complete with music, dance, and traditional attire, infused the evening with colour and energy, creating an atmosphere of celebration and unity.
The decision to host the Gala in Geelong underscores a broader initiative to involve regional communities in multicultural celebrations, ensuring that the richness of Victoria’s diverse cultures is acknowledged and celebrated beyond Melbourne’s metropolitan areas.
The evening concluded with unity and optimism as attendees connected, shared stories, and enjoyed the cultural showcase. As the VMC continues to advocate for multiculturalism, events like the Gala play a vital role in fostering understanding, respect, and social cohesion within the community.
In the world of Community clubs, meetings rarely get any attention at all. Then there is the Cyprus Community of New South Wales which has had its general meeting cancelled three times, delaying a decision on the future of its Club property at Stanmore.
In June 2024, The Greek Herald exclusively reported the Cyprus Community of NSW had conducted a global Expressions of Interest (EOI) campaign to attract ideas and proposals on what to do with the rezoned Stanmore property.
A General Meeting of members was scheduled for this Sunday, August 25, to decide on which proposal, if any, the members preferred.
This was the third General Meeting called to decide on the future of the Stanmore property. The first was cancelled due to a request from Dr Con Costa and his sister Dorothy Bassil. The second meeting scheduled for February 11, 2024, was stopped by the Courts at the demand of Ms Bassil.
After 10pm on Thursday, August 22, lawyers for Ms Bassil served a letter of demand on the Community’s lawyers to stop the third meeting scheduled for Sunday, August 24.
On Friday, August 24, the Community’s lawyers were served with court documents to appear at 3pm before Justice Slattery, the Judge who heard the February meeting court order.
Vice President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, Koula Pavlou was present in the court room and said it was a “tense” experience.
“The Judge showed a genuine concern that this can’t keep happening. He wanted to get to the real reasons that lie behind Ms Bassil taking the same action again and again,” Ms Pavlou said.
The Judge suggested he manage the case to find the underlying cause of the matter.
The meeting was being held to determine the future of the Cyprus Community of NSW’s property at Stanmore.
President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, Michael Kyriacou told The Greek Herald he would prefer not to comment as the case was now before the courts, but encouraged members to respect each other.
“The anger and tone of the language is not acceptable. I ask everyone to respect each other. We all have the right to go to court, the matter is still ongoing,” Mr Kyriacou said.
“I understand the frustration and agree with the sentiment expressed in last 24 hours. The Community does not belong to any faction, family or ego, I get that, nor does the Community favour or give privileges to any one member or family or even village. I ask we respect our pioneers, our ancestors, and our compatriots.
“All Australians must not think lesser of us. Any anti-social behaviour, any attempt to damage the Community, its assets and reputation is not acceptable. I ask for calm, cool heads to prevail.”
Treasurer Terry Bieri said the feedback in the last 24 hours or so is clear.
“Community members want to move on. They want a choice, they want renewal, they do not want the Community to keep borrowing money to pay lawyers, they do not want the Community to be a play thing of the very few,” Mr Bieri said.
Community Secretary Kyriakos Panayi said “every member was eager to have their say.”
“We received lots of questions and we had discussions with stakeholders and members for months. Everyone was focused on the future, the quality of the corporations and their proposal. It was exciting,” Mr Panayi said.
The Secretary added that the Community’s team of experts are now assessing how the court decision will impact the future of the club.
“We are assessing how this impacts the offers and value of the asset. These corporations have many opportunities put to them, they have the money and expertise to stay with the proposals or walk, so we need to manage this carefully,” Mr Panayi said.
President Mr Kyriacou added that “the Community is now raising money for lawyers and not for repairs and an elevator.
“This is not what it should be doing,” Mr Kyriacou said.
George Phillips, Chair of the Expressions of Interest (EOI) Committee, has stressed that “the EOI process was conducted with integrity and fairness for the benefit of the Cyprus Community of NSW and the future generations of Cypriots.”
The matter is before the same Judge this coming Wednesday, August 28.
Dr Anna Batistatou is a doctor, academic, author and Rector (Dean) of Greece’s Ioannina University. She will be the first of 50 speakers at the history-making ‘Inaugural Global and Hellenic Women’s Conference’ in Ioannina, Greece, starting on September 2 this year. Her topic will be ‘Gender Inequality and Mobbing in Science.
“I’m the first woman that was elected Rector since 1964 when the University of Ioannina was established,” she says.
“But why do they [academia, the media and broader society in general] always question the fact that I’m a woman? That’s actually covert or even overt sexism and discrimination.”
As a woman in Science – first a student, including post graduate and PhD level at Columbia University in New York, also medical doctor and Pathologist, and Head of the Faculty of Medicine at Ioannina University for many years before becoming Dean – Dr Batistatou has encountered covert discrimination, including mobbing.
An example of mobbing she relates is “being in a room with 10 men, where it’s usually a man who will lead the discussion, while the woman’s voice is ignored or downplayed. Even if the woman’s contribution is the most significant, often a man will adopt it as his own idea.”
Anna Batistatou in kindergarden
“With covert sexism, a vast amount of damage is done because it gets implanted into your mind in subtle but nonetheless powerful ways, so much so that you consider it the normal state of things,” she adds.
“Luckily, I’ve been resilient but looking back, and through discussing and sharing such experiences with other women, I realised that I used to think the mobbing/intimidation I faced was natural.
“I now speak to communities and participate in women’s forums – trying to lead by example, because as scientists we can be visible role models. It also helps that altogether we’re making it a better world for girls.
“Men who are liberated from sexism and discrimination against women can be best friends and allies. These are the men who are themselves satisfied with their lives.”
Of her birthplace, Patras, Greece, Dr Batistatou says, “It was the best way to grow up; Patras was a safe city, people were friends and when you’re young and vulnerable, it’s good to feel protected within a community.”
“Every summer though, we went to Kefalonia, where it was a different world,” she adds.
“I mixed with my cousins there, who were fishermen for example, whereas my dad was a scientist in Patras. I was lucky to have exposure to both worlds – the rural and the urban. This upbringing gave me the internal stability I needed to study in the USA aged 24, after my Medical Degree from the University of Patras.
Anna Batistatou, 1984
“It was a dream come true for me to study in New York at Columbia, an Ivy League University, where I completed two degrees: A Master of Arts (M.A) and a Masters of Philosophy (M.Phil.) – part of my Ph.D. Medical Research Degree. I then did my residency in Pathology in New York, and returned to Greece due to family health issues. I began employment as a doctor at the University Hospital of Patras, and then for 22 years at the University of Ioannina (initially as Assistant Professor, later as Associate and since 2013 as Full Professor), where since December 2022, I am Rector.”
1993, PhD Graduation, Columbia USA
On her choice to become involved with Medical Humanities after her initial Medical Degree, Dr Batistatou explains: “It’s something that drew me because of my personal experiences with sickness and death. I always spoke to patients, and I wrote reflective papers about these topics.”
“Furthermore, I wrote a novel in 2016 ‘I Zoi En Petra’ (Life in Stone) which was primarily inspired by two deaths in my family. It’s about life through death, during disease and beyond. People who suffered loss found it healing. I hope it conveys that despite the tragic circumstances in life that cannot be avoided, don’t build a wall around yourself; a wall blocks the light – hence, you must keep moving on,” she adds.
“Insofar as truly relating to and experiencing life outside of science, I came to realise that doctors sometimes lack certain life experiences outside of science. And so, at Ioannina University with colleague Marika Syrrou, Professor of Genetics, we’ve been offering a Medical Humanities course, collaborating with Professors of various disciplines, such as Art History and Literature.
“I consider it important to teach future doctors how to see (and not just look) through exposure to art for example, to sensitise them towards other ways of perceiving and interpreting.”
Of the Greek public health system, Dr Batistatou says, “We have good doctors who dedicate their lives for less pay than the private sector; who believe, like I do – that we in Greece deserve the best public health care and education. That is why I work for a Public University and Public Hospital.”
“We as a community and country have to support our public universities and hospitals: with funding, with people, with giving our best selves. Our universities are super; they excel abroad with limited means, and this says a lot,” she says.
1988, MD Graduation, U Patras, Greece with parents.
“If the private universities come, they have to be judged by the same standards from our Hellenic Authority of Higher Education which evaluates Public Universities. They should play by the same rules.”
I ask Dr Batistatou what she knows of Australia.
“I’ve had pleasant interactions with Aussies at Columbia University, and I also met and very much admire the Australian pathologist, and Nobel Prize winner John Robbin Warren for his discovery of, Helicobacter pylori. In a personal context, I’ve met Greek Americans in the USA, and I sense that Greek Australians too, are very similar in that people abroad try harder to keep their homeland’s customs,” she says.
self portrait, Collage of mouth squamous cells and field poppies.
“In fact, at the University of Ioannina as Rector, along with my colleagues, we are trying to attract Greeks of the diaspora, by offering a course on Greek language and culture studies which includes accommodation for three or four weeks. This is through the Centre for Study of Hellenic Language and Culture, and there is no age limit.
“We also organise City Labs in Ioannina where we involve citizens including children, in summer school courses such as in Arts and architecture, where the chief tutors are from the university, as we want the university to be open to the community. Ours is a university of multi-circular study which includes post graduate degrees and research. We aim for internationalisation – broadened outreach and scope (we’ve recently become part of the European University Alliance), including collaborations with many other Universities inside Greece and abroad.
2024 Olympic Flame in Ioannina University
“In terms of my future plans, for the moment I want to continue contributing to the advancement of Science and patient care. First and foremost, make the best of my position as Rector of the University of Ioannina. This includes making our university a more innovative and attractive student-oriented educational environment, open to the community and the world, more eco-friendly and inclusive. We are basically working to keep upgrading our university, always adhering to the highest professional and humanitarian standards, as one of the largest comprehensive universities in Greece.”
The conference is under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Family and Social Cohesion, Region of Epirus, Municipality of Ioannina, Chamber of Ioannina, and the Office of Education of Epirus.
Media Sponsors: ERT3, The Voice of Greece, The Greek Herald, Neos Kosmos, Hellenic News of America.
Australian international airports have embraced SmartGates, the automated kiosks where incoming passengers are checked against their e-passports.
Michael Gebicki took to The Sydney Morning Herald to express his frustration over the “royal shemozzle.”
“Before the introduction of the latest Generation3 SmartGate technology, the process was much quicker. Slide your passport into the reader, answer a couple of questions, out pops a ticket, which you then insert into the facial recognition scanner at the gate. Bingo, the doors open and you’re released into the baggage collection area…” Gebicki wrote.
“With the Gen3 SmartGates it’s still a two-step process, only more cumbersome.”
Queues at the SmartGates in Sydney airport. Photo: teddymaxwell596 / Reddit.
Nowadays, after the initial step at the SmartGate kiosk, the traveller answers a few questions and their image is captured. All being well, they receive a printed ticket – or not if they’re deemed ineligible. Ticket holders then proceed to the SmartGate for another photo session. If the identification is positive, it’s open sesame and the traveller passes through to the baggage collection area.
Some are asking: what’s the purpose of the second scan?
A Border Force spokesperson responded: “The SmartGate upgrade provides an improved experience for travellers entering Australia. The overall ‘cycle time’ for travellers through the kiosk and gate has been reduced.”
The consensus of the user experience however, has been less than impressive with the confused general public only stalled further.
After facing miscarriages and multiple rounds of IVF, Olympia Valance and her husband, Thomas Bellchambers, have announced they are expecting their first child.
In an exclusive interview with the Stellar podcast Something To Talk About, as reported by The Herald Sun, the 31-year-old actor and model shared that after “so many years of bad news” and enduring numerous challenges, she and her husband are now preparing to welcome their first child.
“We’re having a boy!,” she revealed.
“It’s a hard place to navigate, even now that I’m pregnant. I have friends that are struggling to get pregnant and went through or are going through the same things we went through. I’m so sensitive with the things I say.”
When she was asked about what advice she would give to those struggling with fertility, Olympia was very open.
“You’re not alone, and what you’re feeling at this very moment is valid. And I understand your struggle and it does get better, it does get easier,” she said.
“Whether that’s acceptance, which really changed me… it’s tough. It’s a really, really tough journey and I see you. I hear you. I wish it wasn’t happening to you. But just keep going. Everything happens for a reason. And what will be, will be.”
Ice cream in Greece is selling for at least 3.7 euros a litre in 2023, making it one of the most expensive in Europe, tovima.com has reported.
According to recent data from Eurostat, Greece ranked among the top three countries in Europe where ice cream was most costly last year.
Austria topped the list with the highest ice cream prices in the EU, averaging 7.7 euros per liter, followed by Hungary at 4.8 euros per liter, and then Greece in third place.
On the other side, Germany offered the cheapest ice cream at 1.8 euros per liter, followed closely by Lithuania (1.9 euros per liter) and the Czech Republic (2.0 euros per liter). Additionally, Germany led ice cream production in 2023, churning out 612 million liters, with France (568 million liters) and Italy (527 million liters) trailing behind.
Compared to 2022, the cost of ice cream across the EU increased by 30 cents per liter in 2023, while overall production saw a slight decline of 1.4%, dropping from 3.3 billion liters to 3.2 billion liters. Spain was the only EU country to boost its production, reaching 402 million liters in 2023.
Overall, according to ELSTAT data, the price of ice cream in the EU increased by nearly 12% in 2023, particularly in the summer months. Lastly, in 2023, EU countries exported 261 million kg of ice cream to non-EU countries, valued at a total of 1.04 billion euros. Ice cream imports came to 56 million kg worth 217 million euros.
A new wave of young real estate moguls have emerged in Sydney’s competitive property market, harnessing AI and other new technologies to achieve success, according to The Daily Telegraph.
A review of sales figures from the past year shows that many agents under the age of 30 have closed deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Tom Panos, a veteran real estate coach and industry commentator, noted in The Daily Telegraph that these younger agents represent a new breed, different from their predecessors.
Photo: PhotoMIX Company
“Real estate used to be something people would fall into if they had the gift of the gap and hadn’t picked up a trade or studied, but now people are seeking out careers in real estate much earlier,” he said.
“There are a lot of very smart and disciplined people entering the industry. They have an advantage people who started out 15 or 20 years ago didn’t have because technology has changed everything.”
Mr Panos explained that AI and other technologies had allowed new entrants to build careers faster, without needing to rely on word of mouth – the primary driver of sales in previous decades.
Among the Greek Australian agents on the list are Steven Georgalas, Felix Kerameas, Jackson Passas and Nic Christou.
29-year-old Steven Georgalas, from LJ Hooker Belmont, finished the financial year with 70 sales valuing $104,077,311.
24-year-old, Felix Kerameas, from the McGrath Ryde office, finished the financial year with total sales of 48 properties with a total value of $93,300,000.
22-year-old Jackson Passas, from the McGrath Maroubra office, finished the financial year with total sales of 31 properties with a total value of $60,877,000.
29-year-old Nic Christou from BresicWhitney made 20 sales valued at $32,692,500 in total.
The price of Australian passports was raised by 15 per cent in July 2024, making it the second most expensive in the world after Liechtenstein, where citizens spend approximately $450.
Australians can currently go to 189 countries without having to pay for a visa, putting us in fifth place on the list of the most powerful passports (a ranking of around 200 countries). Singaporean passports top the rankings, with a score of 195, followed by French, Japanese and Italian among those tied in second place, and South Korean and Finnish in third.
The power of the blue book sets back Australian citizens $398 for a 10-year passport, which is anticipated to rise with inflation in January.
Singaporeans pay a mere $80 for their all-powerful booklet, while the cheapest passports are for the United Arab Emirates and India (just over $27).
Photo: 3AW.
Of course, there are no promises the passport’s $398 fee will be the only expense made toward the travel documentation with around 35,000 expensive Australian passports lost or stolen in 2022-23, demanding the issue of 10,000 emergency passports.
In 2022-23 more than 400,000 people also had to pay for their application to be fast-tracked with two-day processing (currently an additional $290 proposition).
Citizens who misplace their passport twice in five years will only be issued a five-year document but still have to pay for 10. If it is lost three times in the same period, the pricey passport will last a mere two years.
A rare fresco of the Virgin Mary was recently discovered on the Greek island of Naxos by the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades.
The fresco is expected to shed light on the history of Byzantine painting in the Aegean before the era of the iconoclastic controversy which sought to ban the veneration of religious images in 8th century.
According to ekathimerini.com the find is part of a wider set of pre-iconoclastic wall paintings on the island.
