Greek tennis player Maria Sakkari retired from her US Open first-round match against China’s Wang Yafan on Monday, August 26 after just one set due to an injury.
The No. 9 Greek seed dropped the opening set 6-2 before she retired. During a medical timeout, Sakkari was seen having her neck and shoulder area worked on.
Wang Yafan moves on to Round 2 after Maria Sakkari is forced to retire from the match. pic.twitter.com/2LzEBkrTyv
Managing director and founder of Genworth Group, Chris Diamantis, prevailed as the leading buyer of the former Lutheran Church headquarters in North Adelaide, South Australia.
The 1.9ha estate, fronting Ward, Jeffcott and Archer Streets and Wellington Square, recently sold in a mega $50m-plus deal, with nine of the 12 encompassing allotments now owned by Mr Diamantis.
The remaining three allotments sold to anonymous buyers, including a Sydney investor who purchased the State Heritage-listed Hebart Hall for over $15 million.
The former Lutheran Church site will be turned into a residential estate, featuring a mixture of housing options. Photo: Realestate.
“We’re probably looking at four different projects in a way that will cater for a variety of demographics,” Mr Diamantis said on his plans with the property.
“We’ll be doing a very large private super high-end residence, as well as build-to-rent – probably two smaller towers with 25 to 30 apartments and we also might do some townhouses for downsizers, and possibly retirement living.
“So I say there would be at least 50 new homes… and we’re hoping to pitch the price point between $3.5 million and $4.5 million, once we established final design.”
Mr Diamantis said his team hoped to break ground on the project in the first half of 2026.
Construction boss George Alex has been found guilty of conspiring to deal with more than a million dollars in proceeds of crime.
Alex was “too unwell” to attend the NSW Supreme Court at Darlinghurst to witness the verdict, as a jury advanced to deliberate over whether he headed a $10 million tax fraud scheme.
The six-month trial involved five other men including George Alex’s 26-year-old son Arthur Alex, who was found not guilty of the single charge against him.
George Alex (R) with his son Arthur Alex (L). Photo: Kate Geraghty.
The group are accused of running a labour hire business with legitimate construction industry clients and used a multi-layered, “revolving door” of companies to pocket pay-as-you-go (PAYG) withholding tax from the wages and salaries of labour hire and office staff.
It was initially alleged $13.1 million was not remitted to the ATO. However, this amount was corrected to around $10 million.
Prosecutors allege secret recordings captured Alex leading the tax fraud scheme, and argue conspirators retained a “substantial amount” of the proceeds for personal benefit, including the purchase of a $1.9 million apartment in Surfers Paradise and multiple Range Rovers.
The jury will continue deliberations next week to determine the verdict of an alleged tax fraud conspiracy charge.
The Greek Foreign Ministry condemned the desecration of the Greek Orthodox Cemetery of Agios Eleftherios in Istanbul, calling on Turkish authorities to take appropriate measures against the egregious vandalism.
The ministry declared the attack on the cemetery located in the Kurtulus district “insults the memory and history of the Greek minority in Turkey.”
“We call on the Turkish authorities to do the right thing against this heinous act,” the statement added.
Announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the desecration of the Greek Orthodox Cemetery of Saint Eleftherios in the Tatavla community in Istanbul
Staff at Agios Eleftherios Cemetery noticed the barbed wire bordering the burial ground had been cut, headstones had been desecrated, holes had been dug and the site’s guard dogs had been sedated.
Police later recorded the damage of the crime and collected evidence.
“This attack has been assessed as a move against our religious values. We have complete confidence that the police forces will bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible,” the community’s board of trustees noted.
During the Divine Liturgy, heightened security measures and restrictions were employed along the route from the city of Trabzon to the monastery.
Photo: Orthodox Times.
The restrictions yielded a limited number of attendees, with the lowest number on record at less than 100 people gathering.
The day was celebrated by Metropolitan Stefanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos. In his homily, Metropolitan Stefanos emphasised the importance of prayers for peace and solidarity across the world.
Crude oil-filled and aflame, the Greek-flagged tanker Sounion adrift in the Red Sea now poses a significant environmental threat one day after rescuers evacuated its crew of 25 in the wake of an assault by Houthis.
Successful Salvage Operation of the Greek-Flagged Tanker "Sounion" after Attack in Yemen Waters
Last night at 10:00 PM, the Ports and Free Zones Authority successfully coordinated the salvage operation of the Greek-flagged tanker "Sounion" following an attack west of Hodeidah,… pic.twitter.com/uPfoFyPaVq
— Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority (@dpfza) August 23, 2024
The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control Yemen’s most populous regions, first damaged the tanker last week with repeated attacks that caused a fire and a loss of engine power. The Houthis then posted a video on social media that purportedly showed them setting the tanker on fire.
The damaged tanker carries 150,000 metric tonnes of crude oil.
“A potential spill could lead to disastrous consequences for the region’s marine environment,” the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority wrote on X.
The company who owns the tanker, Delta Tankers said it “is doing everything it can to move the vessel (and cargo).”
Yemen’s Houthis said they attacked the tanker because Delta Tankers’ violated their 10-month campaign against commercial “entry to the ports of occupied Palestine.”
Sounion was the third vessel operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers to come under Houthi attack this month.
In a later kick-off on Sunday, August 25, South Melbourne FC edged out Brisbane Olympic FC 3-2 in a match that went into extra time.
South Melbourne took the lead 26 minutes in when Maximilian Mikkola launched a long throw from the left touchline into the box. The ball dropped at Marko Jankovic’s feet, who drove a shot past Matthew Lugo in the Olympic goal.
Olympic restored parity after a series of promising opportunities 10 minutes later. Lathan Dunn whipped in a right-sided cross that came through to Linden Farr at the far post, where the winger bundled home.
The game was stopped for an extended period as a thunderstorm gathered overhead at Lakeside Stadium.
Dunn turned scorer soon after the resumption to put Olympic into the lead. He sprinted down the right and lifted a delicate finish over Javier Lopez to give the visitors a halftime advantage.
South Melbourne spent the second half putting their opponents under pressure as they searched for an equaliser.
They had a golden chance to equalise 86 minutes in when Harrison Sawyer earned a penalty. The forward took responsibility but saw his low effort saved by Lugo.
The goal finally arrived in the 90th minute when the ball came to Ross Archibald on the edge of the box, and he sweetly hit a shot high into the goal.
Despite South Melbourne restricting Olympic to only two shots on target — both of which they scored — the game went into extra time.
Within the first few minutes of extra time, South Melbourne took the lead. Jankovic stood over a wide right free-kick near halfway. He spotted Lugo off his line and curled his long-range strike over the goalkeeper and into the goal.
The home side saw out the rest of extra time to secure their place in the quarter-final of the Australia Cup.
During the match, the memory of the late Jim Armstrong was honoured.
The President of South Melbourne, Nick Maikousis, placed a wreath on the photo of Mr Armstrong along with his jersey.
South Melbourne competed with black armbands, while it is worth noting that Armstrong’s funeral will be held Thursday, August 29 from 1pm at Lakeside Stadium, as was his wish. After the crematorium, his ashes will be scattered on the field of the stadium.
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.
