Cyprus has entered the Guinness World Book of Records for the longest human chain, sending a message of teamwork, collaboration, and unity.
The record-breaking attempt took place at Nicosia’s GSP Stadium on Tuesday, June 25 under the initiative of the Yianis Christodoulou Foundation. It saw more than 4,100 people come together to create the longest chain of individuals holding each other’s wrists.
Hand-in-hand with the foundation’s founder, John Christodoulou, along with well-known singer Konstantinos Argiros and many other celebrities, people of all ages took part in the initiative. The event concluded with a free concert by Argiros at 9pm.
Το καταφέραμε 💛🇨🇾💛 Ευχαριστώ Κύπρος! Σας ευχαριστώ όλους Ευχαριστώ όλη την ομάδα μου, τους εθελοντές και όλο τον κόσμο που έκανε αυτό το όνειρο πραγματικότητα. Πάμε ακόμα παραπέρα… pic.twitter.com/4Ef9L4MyQ3
“We did it! Thank you Cyprus!” Mr Christodoulou said on X. “Thanks to all my team, volunteers and everyone who made this dream come true.”
Held under the auspices of the Cyprus Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth, the event sent a powerful message to children about the strength of collaboration, a valuable asset for their future.
Julian Assange has spent his first evening home in Australia as a free man after nearly 15 years of jail cells and embassy walls.
Assange has been a fugitive since his organisation WikiLeaks published classified United States military footage it alleged showed the killing of Iraqi civilians and two Reuters journalists by US forces.
For seven years he was stuck in Ecuador’s embassy in London, dodging an extradition order to the US over the leaks, until 2019 when police entered the embassy and detained Assange, placing him in jail where he remained until just days ago.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (centre L) hugs his wife Stella Assange (centre R) after arriving at Canberra Airport in Canberra on June 26, 2024. Photo: AFP.
Since 2012 he has fought attempted extraditions and later charges of violating the US Espionage Act — which carried a maximum penalty of 175 years’ prison.
On Wednesday, June 26 this year, Assange finally settled a plea deal with the US, pleading guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit espionage in return for a “time already served” sentence.
Landing in Canberra, Australia on Wednesday night, Assange rushed into the arms of his wife and mother of their two children, Stella Assange.
— Free Assange – #FreeAssange (@FreeAssangeNews) June 26, 2024
Ms Assange told media he was grateful to all who had supported him, but he was tired, and asked the family be given privacy.
“Julian needs time to recover, to get used to freedom,” Ms Assange said. “Freedom comes slowly, and I want Julian to have that space to rediscover freedom slowly, and quickly.”
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also spoke with Assange over the phone and welcomed him home, saying “I am very pleased that this saga is over.”
As someone with a dad who grew up in Greece and a mum whose parents both grew up in Greece, visiting the motherland was nothing out of the ordinary for me.
I have been visiting the Greek island of Lemnos, where both sides of my family are from, every second year since I was two years old, and each time I go, I get closer and closer to my family and friends and find something new to love about being home.
Despite me visiting often, I know there are others who are yet to discover and explore the magic of Greece.
An authentic first experience
Elleni in Greece.
Elleni Apostolidis, a 20-year-old from Adelaide in South Australia, travelled to Greece for her very first time in August 2023. She said her trip was one she’d never forget.
“Being there felt like home to me, somewhere I felt like I belonged. I loved it,” Elleni said. “It was far better than I expected. I want to visit every year, the feeling of being in Greece is like no other.”
Elleni shared that she went overseas for over a month to visit tourist islands like Mykonos and Santorini, and spend time with family.
“We began our trip in Lemnos, where my mum’s side of the family is from. We then went to Athens, Thessaloniki, Paros, Mykonos, Santorini, and north mainland Greece, where my dad’s side is from,” Elleni said.
“Meeting my family in Greece, who I had never met before, was definitely a highlight of the trip. It also meant a lot to me to meet my pappou and yiayia’s siblings since both have passed away now. It was like I was with them again.”
She said she got a taste of an authentic Greece, as well as a touristy/party side of the country.
“Being in Lemnos felt more authentic and was the closest to home for me,” Elleni said.
“I had lots of family members there and the whole experience was just amazing. I made so many new friends and have so many core memories I’ll look back on for the rest of my life.
“I also loved exploring Mykonos for the party and summer lifestyle there. Although it was expensive, I really loved it and would like to stay longer next time.”
Elleni added that she is now inspired to expand her knowledge of Greek culture and language.
“I want to be able to speak fluent Greek when I next return to Greece,” she said.
“Visiting Greece also made me realise how important it is to go and see where our roots are from. We need to keep our culture alive.”
‘I never want to leave’
Daniella in Greece.
Daniella Metirtikas, a 21-year-old from Sydney in New South Wales, shared a different experience about what travelling to Greece means to her.
Originally born in Athens, Greece, Daniella left the country at the age of 10 to move to Australia. She said every time she re-visits, she never wants to leave.
“I first went back to Greece in 2015, just three years after moving here. Now I visit every two years on average,” Daniella said.
“Travelling to Greece means a lot to me, it is very important and also something I hold very closely to my heart as my dad lives there, and lots of my family and friends too and I miss them.”
Daniella said spending quality time with family and friends is what pulls her to keep visiting Greece.
“Whenever I’m there, I like to travel and experience new islands, as well as make the most of my time with my family and friends as I only get to see them every couple of years,” she said.
“Every time I go, time just flies and I never want to leave.
“I always make Athens my first stop as that’s where I was born and where I’m from, and then I do also visit some other islands with family and friends. I’ve been to Lemnos, Kos, Mitilini, Lefkada, Nafplio, Pelloponiso, Skopelos, Naxos and many more.”
The 21-year-old said she definitely recommends people who haven’t yet been, to go and explore Greece.
“You need to go, you won’t regret it,” Daniella said.
“There’s so many places to explore with nice scenery, the people are so friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere is like no other and the Greek cuisine is unreal.”
The Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney held a “Meet and Greet” event with students from three local Greek Orthodox Schools on Monday, June 24 at the church hall of St Nicholas in Marrickville.
The “Meet and Greet” was a collaboration between the Hellenic Lyceum, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA), the Greek Ministry of Culture, and the three schools of St Euphemia College, All Saints Grammar and St Spyridon College. It was held as part of the programme of events celebrating the centenary anniversary of the GOAA.
During the event, students learned first hand about traditional Greek costumes exhibited on the day, and enjoyed various presentations in both Greek and English on Greek history, geography, and customs.
The short presentations were given by Vice Presidents of the Hellenic Lyceum, Marina Efthimiou and Dimitra Micos, English Secretary Christine Mitsopoulos, Greek Secretary Stella Sorotou, and dance ephorate Irene Tsenkas. President of the Hellenic Lyceum, Liana Vertzayias gave a welcome and presented the history of the women’s organisation to students.
Also present on the day were the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Yannis Mallikourtis, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, Father Michael and St Nicholas Parish President, Ilias Doumakis.
The Bishop and Mr Mallikourtis both spoke on the day. In his speech, Mr Mallikourtis shared with students the importance of maintaining their ties with their Greek heritage and language.
The placement of a Green Plaque in recognition of Greek Australian Mick Adams’ (Joachim Tavarlidis’) achievement in establishing the world’s first modern milk bar – the Black & White 4d. Milk Bar at 24 Martin Place, Sydney – is to be formally undertaken.
The plaque unveiling comes after seven long years of campaigning by researchers Leonard Janiszewski and Effy Alexakis from Macquarie University, together with descendants of Mick, and representatives of Sydney’s Greek community.
Back in 2017, Mr Janiszewski and Ms Alexakis applied to the City of Sydney’s historical ‘green plaques’ program to have the site of milk bar officially recognised for its cultural and historical significance. The Council’s historical office reviewed the application and approved the recommendation for a plaque to be produced.
The plaque. Photo: supplied.
The city’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, also indicated in a letter to Mr Janiszewski and Ms Alexakis that she appreciated their “wish to commemorate this fascinating part of Sydney’s history, especially during the lifetime of Mick Adams’ daughters” and that “the City’s history team would be supportive of a site-specific interpretation in this location [24 Martin Place].”
However, the new owners of the site would not agree to the plaque being placed on their building, which is now the ANZ tower in Sydney.
For seven years, the researchers and Mick’s descendants called on the Council to provide a solution for where to place the historical plaque. Over that time, Mick’s daughters Lilian Keldoulis and Helen Gerondis have passed away.
Today, the plaque is not to be placed on the actual site of the milk bar, but further east, as a compromise.
Mr Janiszewski said now is a time to celebrate as the plaque will finally be unveiled as “public recognition of a Greek migrant-settler’s business acumen that became an iconic, Australian popular cultural symbol that was exported to the world.”
The milkshake was revolutionised by Adams’ modern milk bar and his milk bar concept spread rapidly throughout the nation (by 1937 there were 4,000 registered) and it was then swiftly exported to Great Britain, Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, South Pacific Islands and Japan.
Professor Gonda Van Steen from the King’s College London will illuminate a significant but often overlooked aspect of Greek history in her upcoming online lecture.
Titled “Children of the “‘Silent Migration’: Child Adoptions from Greece to Countries Overseas in the 1950s-1960s,” the lecture will take place on Thursday, 27 June at 7 pm and will be live streamed on the Greek Community of Melbourne’s (GCM) Facebook and YouTube. The lecture is part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the GCM.
The lecture explores the mass adoptions of Greek children to the USA and the Netherlands, spanning from 1948 through the 1960s. Approximately 4,000 Greek children were resettled during this period, leaving a lasting impact on their lives and families. Professor Van Steen will discuss the historical context of this migration, the role of adoption intermediaries, and the ongoing challenges faced by adoptees and their families in tracing their roots and histories.
Gonda Van Steen.
“Adoption intermediaries played a critical role in the earliest waves of this historic overseas adoption movement, for devising the blueprint of mass international adoption and, regrettably, for letting some of its systemic mistakes happen,” Professor Van Steen said.
“This lecture aims to shed light on both the personal stories of these children and the institutional frameworks that facilitated their transnational adoptions.”
Professor Van Steen’s works include Adoption, Memory, and Cold War Greece (2019) and The Battle for Bodies, Hearts and Minds in Postwar Greece (2021). Her research bridges literature, history, and social dynamics, offering profound insights into the complexities of adoption and migration.
The virtual event invites academics, students, historians, and the general public interested in Greek history and adoption studies to engage in a thought-provoking exploration of this significant historical phenomenon. For more information and to participate in the live lecture, please visit GCM’s Facebook and YouTube channels at the specified time.
Professor Van Steen holds the prestigious Koraes Chair of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature at King’s College London. Her scholarship encompasses a wide range of topics within Greek history and culture, focusing particularly on adoption, migration, and the cultural impact of historical events.
Event Details
When: Thursday 27 June 2024, at 7 pm
Where: Streamed live on both the Greek Community of Melbourne’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Marriott International Inc. has signed an agreement with Makris Group to open Marina Mirage Gold Coast, a Luxury Collection Resort. Scheduled to open in 2027, it is anticipated to be the first mainland Luxury Collection property in Australia.
The Luxury Collection’s world-renowned hotels and resorts offer unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories – a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations.
Expected to feature 122-keys, the first-class, new-build resort is planned for the Marina Mirage mixed-use precinct, embodying sophistication and unparalleled elegance with a distinctly Gold Coast interpretation.
“The reimagination of the iconic Marina Mirage precinct presents an inspiring opportunity to expand our luxury footprint on the Gold Coast – a market we know very well, after more than 35 years’ experience operating the city’s two leading resorts under our JW Marriott and Sheraton brands,”said Richard Crawford, Vice President of Hotel Development for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Marriott International.
“The destination’s resilience during and post pandemic has been remarkable, and we are very confident that proven demand for high-quality hotel experiences will be a strong foundation for the success of our first Luxury Collection property on mainland Australia.
“Now present in more than 40 countries, each property in The Luxury Collection is a distinctive representation of its unique place in the world, so securing appropriate new footholds for the brand requires patience.
“We were drawn to the Makris Group’s bold vision for the rejuvenation of their valuable waterfront site, and we are naturally thrilled that the family has selected The Luxury Collection as the brand for the hotel, a centerpiece of what is certain to be a destination-defining project.”
Family-owned company, Makris Group, is spearheading the development of the resort, on the site they have owned since 2013. Across more than four decades, the Makris Group have crafted a portfolio of Australia’s most renowned retail, residential, and mixed-use precincts.
Chief Executive Officer of the Makris Group, Jason Makrisexpressed his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its meticulous planning and innovative architecture.
“The approved development embodies Con Makris’ long-term vision for Marina Mirage. As part of The Luxury Collection, the new Marina Mirage will deliver an authentic resort and destination with a diverse array of local award-winning restaurants and boutiques, wellness, health and beauty facilities, a new state-of-the-art marina, and, for the first time, a limited selection of villas and residences,” Mr Makris said.
“Along with its excellence achieved in architectural design, we are confident that our unique property will quickly reinvigorate its environment, while delivering a world-class destination for the Gold Coast, Queensland, and our economy.”
The Marina Mirage Gold Coast, a Luxury Collection Resort is anticipated to feature 122 impeccable guest rooms, a signature restaurant, expansive function and event spaces, a rooftop bar and pool, jacuzzi, garden, wellness, beauty centre and a Day Spa.
“Marina Mirage Gold Coast, a Luxury Collection Resort will become part of an expanding portfolio that encompasses over 130 Luxury Collection hotels and resorts worldwide. It will mark the second Luxury Collection property in Australia joining The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Hobart, which has won numerous prestigious awards since opening in 2021,” Mr Crawford said.
“The Luxury Collection presents a pathway to the world’s most captivating and sought-after destinations for the discerning global explorer – a brand that takes pride in upholding the rich traditions that have shaped its heritage, while embarking on journeys that are as transformative as they are unforgettable.”
Locally, Marina Mirage Gold Coast will join other high-performing Marriott International properties on the Gold Coast, operating alongside JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa and Sheraton Grand Mirage Gold Coast.
The historic Lavender Bay-based Kirribilli Club faces closure three months after it requested members to pledge $2000 following a hike in rental costs.
According to The Australian, the club has now been shuttered by administrators, with the future of its privately-owned harbourside site now in question ahead of a creditors’ meeting on Friday.
Administrator, Hugh Armenis said the club would continue to trade while he assesses its business, property and financial circumstances. The first meeting of creditors will be held on June 28.
The Kirribilli Club in Lavender Bay. Photo: Rhett Wyman.
Club president, Lukas Bendt also addressed the matter, saying that the decision had been made with “great sadness”.
“Unfortunately, due to a combination of overwhelming financial, operational and hospitality market circumstances we have exhausted all available options and have not come to this conclusion lightly,” Bendt wrote to members in an email.
According toThe Sydney Morning Herald, the Kirribilli Club’s financial difficulties come after findings in the Minns government’s budget papers that a few dozen casino-style clubs earned roughly $500 million in gaming tax breaks last year.
The club was founded in 1946 for former defense force soldiers and their families, and it moved to its current location in Lavender Bay in 2007.
Former North Sydney mayor and a lifelong club member, Jilly Gibson said the plan to raise money from members was “an interesting idea, but I couldn’t see it working”.
“It’s [the club has] been in financial difficulty almost from the time it opened in Lavender Bay,” Gibson said.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will fly to Canberra within hours and is due to arrive this evening following a plea deal to set him free.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Assange, 52, pleaded guilty at the US court in Saipan to a single count of conspiracy to obtain and disseminate US national defence information.
In court, Judge Ramona Manglona read out the charge against Assange, of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US documents.
When asked if he would plead guilty or not guilty, the WikiLeaks founder leaned towards his microphone and replied: “Guilty to the information.”
The court heard that Assange must tell WikiLeaks to destroy the information and give an affidavit indicating he has done so, and the US attorneys are convinced that this has been done.
Assange faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 as the offence is a class C felony.
He told the judge that he reviewed the plea deal “at great length” before signing it on June 24 at London’s Stansted airport. The court is anticipated to sentence him to the 62 months he has already served at London’s Belmarsh Prison.
The hacker has spent the past five years behind bars. In 2019 he was sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for refusing to surrender from the London Ecuadorean embassy.
Stella, Assange’s wife, released a video on X of her husband coming at court, as well as a moving remark about her worry about his well-being.
Julian has arrived at the federal court house in Saipan.
I watch this and think how overloaded his senses must be, walking through the press scrum after years of sensory depravation and the four walls of his high security Belmarsh prison cell.
— Stella Assange #FreeAssangeNOW (@Stella_Assange) June 25, 2024
Assange’s father, John Shipton hopes his son will take a year off to appreciate “the beauty of ordinary life” as the WikiLeaks founder is hours from touching down in Australia.
“Julian hasn’t been home in 16 years. So it’s really a joyous day for us.”
The success of Enmore Road as the state’s first ever Special Entertainment Precinct has inspired 18 other councils across NSW to begin the process of establishing their own nightlife neighbourhood, including Burwood, the Northern Beaches, Waverley and the City of Sydney.
An explosion of bars, entertainment venues and restaurants has made Enmore Road one of the Top 20 coolest neighbourhoods in the world, according to Time Out Magazine.
Establishing an entertainment precinct allowed Inner West Council to set later trading hours and more flexible noise levels to support live music and performance.
Venues inside the precinct can trade an hour later every night, and two extra hours on nights they stage live music entertainment.
Enmore street. Photo: Domain.com.au.
The Enmore SEP has been made permanent after an Inner West Council survey found 83% support among locals and the area is attracting people and business.
A process led by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner has led to interest by 18 councils to establish their own entertainment precinct called for expressions of interest from local councils. Four of the councils have passed resolutions to explore or establish at least one SEP.
The Inner West Council is seeking to establish six additional SEPs in Leichardt, Rozelle, Balmain, two in Marrickville, and Dulwich Hill. Last night the council voted for the proposed SEPs to be submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) for Gateway Determination.
The NSW Government’s vibrancy agenda also includes changes to stop single neighbour noise complaints shutting local venues noise complainants shutting down venues, streamlining noise complaints, extending outdoor dining, supporting live music through Sound NSW, funding street events, supporting businesses to cooperate and market their local night-life precincts.
Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:
“This is another exciting step in rebuilding Sydney’s night-time economy after the era of lockouts and lockdowns.
“The success in Enmore proves Sydney can have both a safe and a vibrant nightlife, catering for a wide range of ages, tastes and budgets.
“This is part of the government’s wider vibrancy agenda which is about rebuilding the night-time economy block-by-block, neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood. The success in Enmore shows that we’re well and truly on the way.”
