Since Wednesday, April 10, the General Directorate of Defence Equipment and Investments has held the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) regarding Greece’s request for F-35 fighter jets.
According to Ekathimerini, this document made its way to Athens, specifically to the defence cooperation office of the American embassy (ODC), by Tuesday afternoon and was subsequently sent to the relevant departments of the National Defence Ministry.
By 2028, Greece is expected to receive the F-35 fighter jets. Photo: Ekathimerini.
The letter itself outlines a 60-day countdown for the signing of the corresponding contracts.
Sources have suggested that the interstate agreement (FMS) is likely to be finalised shortly before the European elections, as the LOA deadline is on June 9.
The Hellenic Air Force is expected to receive the initial F-35 delivery in 2028.
On Wednesday, April 10, the Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 event.
In just 64 minutes, the Tsitsipas scored 6-1 and 6-0 to his opponent, which now takes him onto round 16 of the tournament.
Tennis Majors revealed that this marks his fourth year reaching at least the 16th round of the Masters 1000 event.
Tsitsipas after beating Etcheverry in Monte Carlo
“First match on Center Court. Second match here on Court des Princes..”
Stef: “Today was a good assessment to say I like this court too. I managed to play good tennis here as well. It does help getting fans behind me during the… pic.twitter.com/pp1Vrcfh5V
On Wednesday, April 10, over 100 Muslims came together at the Yeni Mosque in the northern port city of Thessaloniki to observe prayers in celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
This took place to mark the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. This gathering, which hadn’t occurred in 102 years, took place with increased police security.
Ekathimerini revealed that the decision to open the mosque for prayers was recently made by the General Secretariat of Religious Affairs.
Inside the Yeni Mosque. Photo: Thessaloniki Travel.
Egyptian Taha Abdelgaglil, a Greek national and a member of the religious committee of the Mosque of Athens, was appointed by Greek authorities to lead the prayers.
Designed by Italian architect Vitaliano Poselli in 1902, the Yeni Mosque was originally intended for the city’s Dönmeh community, who were crypto-Jewish converts to Islam.
After the Dönmeh left during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, the structure was then transformed into the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki in 1925.
Today, it functions as an exhibition centre. In addition to this, the Suleymaniye Mosque on Rhodes also opened its doors for Eid prayers.
For Greek Australian teenager Eleni Dimitropoulos, art has been a passion of hers for as long as she can remember.
The former Year 12 student from St Phillips Christian College in Port Stephens said she developed her love for art at only 7 years old. She began with painting and drawing as a hobby, and when she was in her first year of high school, she commenced art classes.
“I’ve always had a determination to have a very creative outlet. It’s how I channelled most of my emotions, understandings and things that have happened to me as well,” Eleni told The Greek Herald.
“Creating is also a really great way for me to express myself. I have done drawing, painting and only recently have I learnt how to do pottery, which is my latest hobby.”
The now-18-year-old has recently had the visual arts major project she did for her Higher School Certificate (HSC) selected to be a part of ARTEXPRESS 2024. This is an annual showcase/exhibition held by the NSW Art Gallery, which unveils outstanding student artworks and major projects submitted from the 2023 HSC Visual Arts examination.
The ARTEXPRESS 2024 exhibition features 50 students’ works, which were selected from more than 8,000 submissions across the state. It includes works across all Expressive Forms of the HSC Visual Arts curriculum and showcases various topics impacting young Australians. Some of the most common themes reflected in the projects on display include identity, family, cultural heritage, place, and home.
Eleni said her collection, titled “Hellenic Echoes: Sky & Sea, Vessels,” depicts vibrant colours, themes, landscapes, and elements inspired by her grandmother.
“My artwork retraces my grandmother’s voyage from Greece, where she embarked on a journey across the sea to Australia,” Eleni said.
“It’s a narrative woven with elements of photography and pottery, symbolising the sky and sea that shaped her story.”
Her pieces contribute to the broader concepts of identity and cultural heritage, inviting viewers to further explore and understand themes of migration, belonging, and resilience.
In Eleni’s bio on the ARTEXPRESS website, she revealed her body of work was not simple a collection of vessels, “but a representation of my personal connection to the colours, textures and landscapes that have shaped my identity.”
“I formed the vessels on the pottery wheel using white, blue, and marbled clay. I chose cobalt carbonate and glaze for the surface treatment. My intent in the photographs of my vessel surfaces is to suggest the sky and seascapes,” the bio read.
Eleni said the process to put together her major work took about a year, and it came with many challenges.
“I started working on it at the end of 2022, and I completed it in September 2023,” she said.
“At times, it was hard to find motivation to keep going with the throwing process (for the pottery) because each pot took so long, roughly 40 minutes, and I had to be sure to get the same sort of style, shape colours and all of that, so that was all pretty hard to overcome.”
The 18-year-old said she was very thankful for her art teacher at school, Vicki Brown.
“She pushed me a lot which helped me get my motivation back and complete the project,” Eleni said.
“The project itself was a labour of love, with each phase on the pottery wheel demanding meticulous attention to detail.”
“Hellenic Echoes: Sky & Sea, Vessels.”
Eleni said as she came from a regional background, “being given the opportunity to have my work on display as part of ARTEXPRESS 2024 feels even more significant.”
“It feels surreal to have my artwork showcased among such talented peers,” she explained.
“I hope my work sparks conversations about the immigrant experience, particularly the journey of Greeks to Australia.
“Art has always been my outlet for expression. Now, with this gallery experience under my belt, the possibilities just feel endless.”
Eleni’s major work will be on display at ARTEXPRESS 2024 from February 8 to April 21, 2024. To find out more and attend the ARTEXPRESS 2024 exhibition, visit the New South Wales Art Gallery website.
The Pan Macedonian Association of NSW will be commemorating the Battle of Vevi on Sunday, April 21 at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park from 3pm.
Craig Collie will be the keynote speaker at the event. With a background in documentary filmmaking, Mr Collie brings a vivid narrative to the stories of the past, including in his book about the 1941 Greek Campaign Where the Flaming Hell are we?
The Battle of Vevi is an often-forgotten page demonstrating the bravery and resilience of the Australian forces in Greece in World War II, reflecting the spirit of resilience and heroism that characterises the shared history of Hellenes and Australians in peace and in war. It also marked the first time the ANZACs faced the Nazis in Europe in battle.
The missing Australian soldiers in the Battle of Vevi.
The Battle of Vevi was fought in April 1941 around the village of Vevi in northern Greece. Around 1,700 Australian troops from the 2/4th and 2/8th Battalions were deployed in strategic defensive positions, protecting the flank of the Hellenic forces fighting the fascists of Mussolini in Albania. Despite their valiant efforts, the overwhelming strength of the Nazis forced their retreat.
An estimated 25 ANZACs remain officially ‘Missing-In-Action’ from the Battle of Vevi, probably killed in action and buried by the Nazis on the battlefield. Their graves have yet to be located.
Confirm your attendance at the event on Sunday, April 21 by contacting the secretary of the Pan Macedonian Association of NSW Costa Dantos on 0451 416 191 or email at coostad@gmail.com by Friday, April 15.
The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) met with the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Hon Zoe Bettison MP last week to discuss the organisation’s services to the community and plans for the future.
Minister Bettison presented GOCSA with a framed copy of the South Australian Multicultural Charter that will be displayed in their offices, promoting their commitment to the charter and its principles.
“GOCSA has had a long migration history in South Australia since the early 1840s, and we are proud of our role in shaping the state’s multicultural character”, The GOCSA community said in a Facebook post.
The Cypriot Community of QLD commemorated the 69th Anniversary of EOKA (National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters) on Sunday, April 7.
EOKA was an underground nationalist movement of Greek Cypriot freedom fighters dedicated to ending British colonial rule in Cyprus and to achieving the eventual union (Greek enosis) of Cyprus with Greece.
The event commenced with a Trisagion after the Liturgy/Church Service at the Greek Orthodox Church of St George in West End, QLD, followed by a Memorial and Wreath Laying ceremony at the Hellenic RSL Memorial, and a function in the name of the Anniversary at the Cyprus House.
President, Mr Stathi Zambas and the management committee expressed their gratitude to Father Dimitri and Father Stavros for the service, the Hon. Secretary of the Hon. Consulate -Genaral of Greece in QLD Mr Bico Athanasas, all the Presidents and representatives of all the Greek Orthodox Communities, Parishes, Associations and Brotherhoods, and the members and Friends of Cyprus for their attendance and support.
Next Saturday, April 13, the by-election in the federal seat of Cook takes place following the resignation of former Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison. The Liberal candidate for this seat, Simon Kennedy, has sent the following message to Greek community on why he should be elected.
Our country faces real challenges. Households and small businesses are struggling with the cost of living under Labor.
Australia’s inflation is currently higher than every major advanced economy.
In Cook, over 60 percent of households either have a mortgage, or are paying rent. Unfortunately, interest rates and rent increases have been at their highest levels in over a decade.
Under Labor, real incomes have fallen 7.5 percent, the largest fall of any developed country, putting millions of Australians under financial stress. On average, households are around $150 a week worse off since Labor was elected.
Simon Kennedy (left) with former Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison (right).
If elected, I will be part of a Liberal team focused on strong economic management, to take the pressure off inflation, interest rates and your household budget. This includes supporting small businesses and providing affordable, reliable and clean energy.
I would bring my experience working with governments, businesses and the not-for-profit sector in solving problems.
I learned the values of hard work and service from my mother who worked hard to support me and my grandfather, who served in World War II, and helped raise me.
As your representative, I would stand up for people who work hard to get ahead and support those who give back to the community. Most importantly, I will always listen.
PSC Racing and Automotive mechanic, Mark Daskalakis from Sydney’s west has been fined for producing fraudulent pink slips for vehicles he had never seen and fabricating brake test results.
According to The Daily Telegraph, 44-year-old Daskalakis appeared in Penrith Local Court after pleading guilty to four charges of supplying false or misleading documents; five counts of submitting false or misleading inspection reports; and one count of violating a requirement of examiners’ authority.
PSC Racing & Automotive yard. Photo: The Daily Telegraph.
Daskalakis acknowledged producing inspection reports without ever seeing the cars, instead relying on the judgment of a third-party mobile mechanic who paid him for the reports.
Prosecutor for Transport NSW told the court Daskalakis’ breach of trust and the risk to public safety were key issues of the offences.
“He was appointed in a position of trust to inspect vehicles for the purposes of inspections and to certify they are roadworthy, these matters go straight to the heart of public safety if we have cars on the road that do not pass,” Prosecutor for NSW Transport said.
Both Daslakis and his business PSC Racing and Automotive were convicted on all counts and fined a total of $20,700.
A severely ill toddler who died of meningitis was released from a remote Victorian hospital in worse condition than when he arrived, a coroner has heard.
According to 9News, an inquiry is being held into the death of 19-month-old Noah Souvatzis, who fell ill while on holiday with his parents in Myrtleford on December 29, 2021; he was vomiting, wailing for hours, and running a high temperature.
Unable to secure an appointment with their local GP in Melbourne, Noah’s parents, Ben and Steph decided to take him to an urgent care centre in town, the Alpine Health facility, after he became severely lethargic.
Ben and Steph Souvatzis make a statement to the media after giving evidence at the Coroners Court for son, Noah Souvatzis. Photo: The Age.
Despite Souvatzis’ concerns that her son was still unwell, the doctor made the decision to discharge Noah.
“I remember feeling relief Noah had started vomiting again…because I thought it would mean [the doctor] would no longer make us leave,” Souvatzis said.
“He was sick when he went into hospital but now he deteriorated. He was so much worse than before he came in.”
Noah’s parents rushed him to the urgent care centre in Benalla after he began making strange squealing noises and his face became distorted. Noah was then taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital after he further deteriorated and was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
At 3.11pm on December 30, Noah was declared brain dead.
Outside the Coroner’s Court, Noah’s parents remembered their son as a beautiful, gentle boy who loved cuddles and making others smile and laugh.
“We want a comprehensive investigation into the multiple failures that occurred that day,” Souvatzis added.
“We know our little boy would still be here today if all the medical services provided the expected level of care.”
