BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The 42nd annual Greek Festival is four weeks away, but the kitchen at Birmingham's Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek ...
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How the world sees Greece
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Birmingham's Greek Festival 2014 gets ready to serve 20000 or more hungry folks
Opening Report: Athens Souvlaki Opens in the Penobscot
Athens Souvlaki quietly opened on Monday in the Penobscot Building downtown. The Greek and Mediterranean restaurant is the second location for the Antonopoulos family, who opened the original Athens Souvlaki in Southfield in 1966, according to their website. Located...
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Greece likely to miss Eurostat deadline for reassessed figures
The country's statistics on the economy look set to be thrown into doubt once again, as it appears Greece will miss a deadline to submit a ...
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Opa! It’s the 34th annual St. Barbara Greek Festival in Orange
ORANGE Spanakopita? Check. Greek dancers? Check. Opa! For locals of Greek descent, Odyssey: A Greek Festival brings a joyous, homey touch as it caps the summer this weekend. To others, it’s just fun and tasty. “A multisensory experience” is how ...
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Turkey Votes in Erdogan and Votes Out Its Founding Ideology
As widely expected, Turkey's Prime Minister Erdoğan emerged victorious in the first round of Turkey's presidential elections, garnering around 52 percent of votes cast. This is his ninth consecutive election victory (3 general and 3 local elections, plus 2 referendums and the recent presidential elections) - a record that is hard to beat by any politician in any democracy. The joint candidate of the main opposition parties, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, received around 38 percent of the vote, whereas the pro- Kurdish and left-leaning candidate, Selahattin Demirtaş, took slightly less than 10 percent of total electoral support. Erdoğan's conciliatory messages at the victory speech In his victory speech, Erdoğan struck a conciliatory tone and adopted inclusive language. He called on the opposition and different sections of society to leave behind its old rifts and to embark on the establishment of a new Turkey. While spelling out the names of groups making up the socio-cultural and ethnic composition of Turkey, he did not only refer to the Muslim sections of society, such as the Turks, Kurds, Circassians and others, but he also included non-Muslim sections of society as well: Armenians and Greeks, in particular. As regards the primary foundation of Turkey's identity, he offered the concept of Türkiyelilik in place of the official and constitutional concept of Turkishness, as Turkey's constitution defines all citizens of Turkey as Turks. The term Türkiyelilik stands for a more civic conception of citizenship in place of the previous ethnocentric understanding of Turkey's citizenship and identity. This term facilitates the ground for Turkey to go beyond its ethnic and sectarian cleavages and fault lines. The state's preference of certain ethnicities and sects over others has been the root cause of many of Turkey's woes. Moreover, such a redefinition of Turkey's citizens is likely to contribute to Turkey's ongoing Kurdish peace process, as the state's previous policy of Turkification -- strictly enforced, but utterly failed in the case of Kurds -- provided a fertile ground for Kurdish nationalism to arise and later manifest itself in the armed activities of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). In addition to Turkey's past fault lines, Erdogan also adopted a conciliatory parlance on Turkey's more recent emerging social/political fault line which is centered around difference of lifestyles. Erdoğan said as they (his government) had been respectful of different lifestyles before, he will remain respectful of citizens' different lifestyles from the presidential office as well. The debate over lifestyle essentially accounts for the tension between Turkey's conservative and secular sections of society, which has become more popular as a topic of discussions in public and political circles in recent years. All these conciliatory words illustrated that Erdoğan is warming up to his new role as the president, a position that will require him to be evenhanded towards all citizen of Turkey. Putting this aside, this election outcome essentially illustrated first, that the majority of Turkey's population demand the revision of Turkey's founding ideology (Kemalism); and second, that genuine politics is the only game in town for any party that strives for political success or popular support. Revising the founding ideology First, these numbers clearly indicate that both Erdoğan and Demirtaş increased their votes, hence they can count this election as a victory. In the general elections of 2011, Erdoğan and Demirtaş respectively received (through their parties) around 50 and 6 percent; In the 30 March 2014 local elections, these candidates acquired around 45 and 6 percent. Moreover, unlike İhsanoglu, they both are political figures and represent two social bases that had been marginalised by the previous Kemalist establishment: conservative/Islamic segments of society and Kurds. In contrast, İhsanoglu was running on the joint ticket of the main opposition Republican People Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Whereas CHP is primarily representative of the secular, western-oriented part of the founding ideology of the Turkish Republic, which was premised on laicism, nationalism (Turkishness) and a western-orientation, the MHP is representative of the nationalism (Turkishness) part of the same ideology. Thus, İhsanoglu run in this election as the representative of the previous Kemalist establishment and its founding ideology. In contrast, Erdoğan and Demirtaş represent the segments of society that demand the revision of this founding ideology. Erdoğan's social constituency was primarily the victim of the republic's militantly enforced secularising mission or policy, and therefore demanded the relaxation or revision of this policy; Demirtaş's social base has essentially been the victim of the republic's nationalist (Turkification) policies and demanded the redressing of this aspect of the founding ideology. To put it differently, in this election, Turkey's founding ideology was put to the vote. The result was a clear victory for revisionist forces: conservatives/Islamists and Kurds. Actually, it is not only in this recent election, but since the 1990s, Islamists/conservatives and Kurds have been the primary force for change in Turkey. They were both ascending in Turkey's politics and possessed the necessary will, energy, and motivation to change Turkey to make space for themselves in the socio-political and economic center, and to revise Turkey's founding orthodoxies. And at present, any party in Turkey which reduces its political platform to protecting the old status quo is doomed for failure, as repeatedly demonstrated by the dismal election performance of Turkey's main opposition party, which has spent its whole political capital on trying to maintain a defunct Kemalist orthodoxy. Second, as the military was pushed back to its barracks and its influence curtailed, politics in Turkey has been freed from its previous chains. Therefore, political parties should engage in politics in earnest, if they strive for political success and public support. No longer it is possible for any political party to come to power and shape public politics through means other than genuine political processes, as was previously the case. As Turkey has changed in this regard, political parties need to reconsider their political platform, strategies, and language as well. They have to genuinely start to engage people and produce policies and politics that aim at their base. The insistence of Turkey's moribund opposition not to understand and execute this basic form of PR is at the root of its repeated failures. For instance, in a context, where people were going to vote to elect Turkey's next president, the opposition chose an apolitical name with generic messages as their candidate. Opposition candidate İhsanoğlu spent the whole campaign period just trying to make himself known by the public, since he was an unknown retired diplomat at the time of his nomination, unlike the other two candidates. He succeeded at this: only around 10 percent of society knew him at the time of his nomination, but this figure reached 90 percent by the end of the campaign. Yet knowing someone is not akin to knowing him/her politically. People learned about his résumé and etc., but did not have the opportunity to learn where he stands on major social and political issues during the election campaign. Being politically unknown was a significant setback for İhsanoğlu in a contest where the arbiter is the people. In a political environment unburdened by the vestiges of military rule and of extra parliamentary forces' influence, Turkey's people voted to revise its founding ideology by choosing Erdoğan and emboldening Demirtaş. As Erdoğan changes his role from being the Prime Minister and the chairman of the Justice and Development Party to being the president of the Republic, he has struck a conciliatory tone by recognizing the content and imperatives of his new job. An earlier and abridged version of this article appeared on Al Jazeera English on Aug. 16, 2014.
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After Supreme Court Win, Town of Greece Approves Guidelines for Prayer at Board Meetings
A New York town whose unofficial prayer policy was successfully defended before the U.S. Supreme Court has adopted a formal invocation policy for its monthly board meetings. Town of Greece voted last week to adopt the formal policy, having had an informal ...
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Greeks Fighting Alongside Donetsk People’s Republic Militia
Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) indepedence forces, the Athens Courier newspaper reported. According to the newspaper, there is a large community of Greeks in the east of Ukraine, who have ...
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New Book on Asia Minor Holocaust
NEW YORK - Greek-American grocers have a long and illustrious history in New York City, most famous of all John Catsimatidis, of END .article-big-block ...
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Santorini Hospital With No Doctors
Since 2011, a brand new hospital is constructed on Santorini island but has not been put into operation yet, due to the Greek economic crisis and the lack of political will to solve the problem. Santorini is one of the most famous & touristic islands in Greece, known for it’s beauty, voted several times as the most beautiful island in the world by travel magazines and organizations. 15,000 locals stay on the island all year around and aproximately 2 million tourists visit the island every season. There are only basic healthcare services, provided by one public health center and one private (and very expensive) medical center. In case of emergency incidents, patients have to be flown with the municipality airplane to Athens or nearby Crete hospitals. Local people are deprived of any sufficient healthcare, women are forced to move to Athens in order to give birth, people are lacking fundamental security in their lives, because there is no hospital on the island. The new hospital that remains closed is fully equipped with maternity rooms, operating rooms, emergency surgery rooms, exam labs and many more, fully ready to work. A petition has been created to have the hospital opened.
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UPDATE 1-Greece's Motor Oil narrows H1 loss, weak margins hurt
ATHENS, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Greece's second-biggest refiner, Motor Oil, narrowed its first-half loss, helped by reduced oil inventory losses and lower ...
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Prayer Problems: Does Greece Town Board's New Invocation Policy Exclude Atheists and Other ...
Since the decision in Greece v. Galloway was handed down in May, one local resident who is an atheist has offered a pre-meeting message. But that ...
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Greek 10-year bond yield hits new low
Greek 10-year bond yields dropped to a record 5.57 percent on Wednesday, breaking the previous record of 5.58 percent, set on June 10.
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Greek neo-Nazis to Get Brief Jail Release for Council Oaths
Greek neo-Nazi politicians who won town council posts in recent elections whilst jailed on criminal charges are to be temporarily released to be sworn ...
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The 9-Year-Old Greek Girl Who Charmed Australian MPs
christa-dracopoulos A nine-year-old Greek-Australian girl spoke in the Australian Parliament, proving the power of a human that is fighting to deal with ...
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GREEK RADIO & AN AMERICAN REPEAL: Corporacratic State censorship powers forward…
It has now written a scathing letter to Antonikis Scamaras, the first Greek in history to have a Kalamatian olive-stone where his brain should be, ...
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Jailed Golden Dawn MPs Given Leave to Attend Swearing-In Ceremonies
The imprisoned MPs of the Greek ultra nationalist Golden Dawn party were given a special leave from Korydallos prison, in Athens, Greece, on Wednesday in order to attend swearing-in ceremonies as they have been elected municipal and regional councilors in the last local authority elections. Ilias Kasidiaris and Panagiotis Iliopoulos will be sworn in on Friday, as municipal councilor in Athens and regional councilor in Thessaly. Nikos Kouzilos will be sworn in as a Piraeus municipal councilor on Sunday. The Golden Dawn MPs are in custody on charges of forming a criminal organization. The investigation over the party’s action started after the murder of left-wing rap artist Pavlos Fyssas by a party supporter last September. Investigation revealed nazi and fascist memorabilia as well as illegal weapons in the possession of several Golden Dawn members. Their trial is expected to start in mid-November.
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“Greek Day Out” Festival in Sydney
A festival with Greek dances, theatre and live music was held on August 24 at a Woollahra Municipal Council venue, exciting thousands of visitors. The cultural festival “Greek Day Out” was organized by the Woollahra Council and the Consulate General ...
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Greece, glorious Greece: Finding family holiday heaven on Halkidiki's 'middle finger'
In Halkidiki, they have a saying – about how the three peninsulas which stretch out below the northern Greek mainland accord with the different stages of a man’s life. The first finger, Kassandra, is bright and bustling, with a busy nightlife.
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Lesvos Petrified Forest Candidate for UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites
The first presentation of Lesvos Petrified Forest‘s candidacy to enter UNESCO‘s list of World Heritage Sites was held by professor Nikos Zouros, director of the Lesvos Petrified Forest Museum. Zouros referred to the 17 Greek monuments that have been included in the World Heritage Sites as the Acropolis of Athens, Meteora, Olympia, the royal tombs of Vergina and afterwards he explained the reason the Petrified Forest is a unique monument on an international level. He referred in detail to the protection and promotion history of the site, on which has been recorded the geological evolution of the Aegean Sea over the last 30 million years. Finally, Lesvos mayor Dimitris Vounatsos underlined the huge economic, tourism and scientific benefits for the island if the Petrified Forest becomes a World Heritage Site. (source: ana-mpa)
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Greek-Italian Exhibition in Athens
The exhibition “Classicism and Europe: The European destiny of Greece and Italy” aims to bring out the contribution of the Greek and Roman world in the developement of the European civilization and Europe’s contemporary cultural identity. The ...
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ONEOK Partners Garden Greek II Plant Now Operational In McKenzie County, North Dakota
ONEOK Partners' Garden Creek II plant, a 100-million cubic feet per day natural gas processing facility in eastern McKenzie County, North Dakota, ...
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Which US Immigrants End Up Becoming Small-Business Owners?
Greek immigrants are more likely to be small business owners than immigrants from any other country. According to data collected from the Fiscal ...
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Greek Economy and Debt Dominate Samaras-Moscovici Meeting
Greek economy and the major unresolved issues, such as managing the country’s debt, dominated a meeting on Wednesday between Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Pierre Moscovici, the former French Finance Minister that France has currently put ...
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EU to provide 3.7 mln euros aid to Greece after earthquake
BRUSSELS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission announced Wednesday an aid of 3.7 million euros (4.87 million U.S. dollars) for Greece ...
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UPDATE 1-Greece's OPAP core profit jumps on World Cup, cost cuts
ATHENS, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Greece's OPAP, Europe's second-largest gambling firm by market value, reported a bigger-than-expected rise in ...
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Greece's OPAP Q2 operating profit jumps 50 pct, beats forecasts
ATHENS Aug 27 (Reuters) - Greece's OPAP, Europe's second biggest gambling firm based on market value, posted on Wednesday a ...
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Ranieri brings in new faces for his first Greece squad
New Greece coach Claudio Ranieri announced Wednesday a 24-man squad for the first Euro 2016 qualifier against Romania at home on September ...
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EC proposes 47M euro aid package for Italy, Greece, Slovenia and Croatia after natural disasters
The proposed aid of 16.3 million euro to Italy is in response to the serious flooding in November 2013, while 3.7 million euro is earmarked for Greece ...
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Will Russian Tension Affect Gas Supply to Greece?
Forbes magazine said in an article that Greece is one of the countries that has appealed to the European Union for assistance, since its reliance on Russia’s natural gas may result in energy shortages this coming winter. According to the article, this past week, Greece appealed to the European Union for assistance ahead of a possible halt in natural gas supply from Russia. The country’s heavy reliance on natural gas imports from Russia, which makes up about 60% of its domestic demand, has added Greece to the list of European consumers with an uncertain energy future. As tensions have continued to rise between Russia, Ukraine and most European countries, the threat of a possible halt in gas imports has forced many to seek out possible alternatives in order to meet their energy needs, especially with the winter months ahead. “Like Italy, Greece has sought solutions both at home and abroad, including new import agreements and the possibility of domestic production. For Athens, this would mean building on existing pipeline traffic from Azerbaijan and expanding the country’s LNG capacity, which led to last week’s appeal to Brussels,” the article continues. In a letter addressed to European Energy Minister Guenther Oettinger, Greek Energy Minister Yannis Maniatis asked for assurance that surplus Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) would be made available in anticipation of a delay or halt in Russian imports. “One possible source of relief for Athens could come in the form of less dependence on Russian gas, which is sold to the country at often prohibitive rates compared to other European consuming countries. While any decrease in Russian imports would provide plenty of reason for concern among the country’s commercial and industrial consumers, an increase in LNG could provide lower, comparative pricing arrangements,” the article notes.
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Crocodile Expert Invited to Capture Sifis
On Monday, Moroccan activist Olivier Behra (of Discovery channel fame), known for his study of crocodiles, was invited to Crete, Greece, to capture crocodile Sifis. However, despite his experience, his first night in Potamo Dam, where Sifis is traced, was fruitless. The herpetologist who has been invited by the Organization for Cretan Development (OAK), said that the only effective way to catch the crocodile is to approach by boat at night. Last night, Behra and a guide on a boat attempted to catch Sifis and a smaller second crocodile in the area. They used a strong light to see the crocodiles’ eyes that sparkle at night, however, they didn’t manage to locate him. Behra continued his efforts on Wednesday morning. An official statement released by the Forestry Service of Rethymno said that efforts to catch the crocodile require “complete silence and concentration.” Greek residents and visitors to the region were asked to show understanding. Movement of vehicles has been diverted from the region. The crocodile was first noticed in July at Potamo Dam in Amari, near Rethymno, and has become a major attraction. While the efforts to catch him have intensified, there is a growing number of people who oppose to his capture. There is also a Facebook page with messages of support for the crocodile such as “Leave Sifis alone!”
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Greece's Piraeus Port posts flat profit, sales dip
Greece's Piraeus Port (OLP) , the largest in the country, said its first-half net profit was almost unchanged from the same year-ago period, while sales fell. Piraeus Port, which is privatisation, is one of the busiest passenger ports in Europe, a popular destination for cruise ships and one of the top cargo ports in the Mediterranean. The state-owned company reported a net profit of 3.3 million ...
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You Can't Understand ISIS If You Don't Know the History of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia
BEIRUT -- The dramatic arrival of Da'ish (ISIS) on the stage of Iraq has shocked many in the West. Many have been perplexed -- and horrified -- by its violence and its evident magnetism for Sunni youth. But more than this, they find Saudi Arabia's ambivalence in the face of this manifestation both troubling and inexplicable, wondering, "Don't the Saudis understand that ISIS threatens them, too?" It appears -- even now -- that Saudi Arabia's ruling elite is divided. Some applaud that ISIS is fighting Iranian Shiite "fire" with Sunni "fire"; that a new Sunni state is taking shape at the very heart of what they regard as a historical Sunni patrimony; and they are drawn by Da'ish's strict Salafist ideology. Other Saudis are more fearful, and recall the history of the revolt against Abd-al Aziz by the Wahhabist Ikhwan (Disclaimer: this Ikhwan has nothing to do with the Muslim Brotherhood Ikhwan -- please note, all further references hereafter are to the Wahhabist Ikhwan, and not to the Muslim Brotherhood Ikhwan), but which nearly imploded Wahhabism and the al-Saud in the late 1920s. Many Saudis are deeply disturbed by the radical doctrines of Da'ish (ISIS) -- and are beginning to question some aspects of Saudi Arabia's direction and discourse. THE SAUDI DUALITY Saudi Arabia's internal discord and tensions over ISIS can only be understood by grasping the inherent (and persisting) duality that lies at the core of the Kingdom's doctrinal makeup and its historical origins. One dominant strand to the Saudi identity pertains directly to Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab (the founder of Wahhabism), and the use to which his radical, exclusionist puritanism was put by Ibn Saud. (The latter was then no more than a minor leader -- amongst many -- of continually sparring and raiding Bedouin tribes in the baking and desperately poor deserts of the Nejd.) The second strand to this perplexing duality, relates precisely to King Abd-al Aziz's subsequent shift towards statehood in the 1920s: his curbing of Ikhwani violence (in order to have diplomatic standing as a nation-state with Britain and America); his institutionalization of the original Wahhabist impulse -- and the subsequent seizing of the opportunely surging petrodollar spigot in the 1970s, to channel the volatile Ikhwani current away from home towards export -- by diffusing a cultural revolution, rather than violent revolution throughout the Muslim world. But this "cultural revolution" was no docile reformism. It was a revolution based on Abd al-Wahhab's Jacobin-like hatred for the putrescence and deviationism that he perceived all about him -- hence his call to purge Islam of all its heresies and idolatries. MUSLIM IMPOSTORS The American author and journalist, Steven Coll, has written how this austere and censorious disciple of the 14th century scholar Ibn Taymiyyah, Abd al-Wahhab, despised "the decorous, arty, tobacco smoking, hashish imbibing, drum pounding Egyptian and Ottoman nobility who travelled across Arabia to pray at Mecca." In Abd al-Wahhab's view, these were not Muslims; they were imposters masquerading as Muslims. Nor, indeed, did he find the behavior of local Bedouin Arabs much better. They aggravated Abd al-Wahhab by their honoring of saints, by their erecting of tombstones, and their "superstition" (e.g. revering graves or places that were deemed particularly imbued with the divine). All this behavior, Abd al-Wahhab denounced as bida -- forbidden by God. Like Taymiyyah before him, Abd al-Wahhab believed that the period of the Prophet Muhammad's stay in Medina was the ideal of Muslim society (the "best of times"), to which all Muslims should aspire to emulate (this, essentially, is Salafism). Taymiyyah had declared war on Shi'ism, Sufism and Greek philosophy. He spoke out, too against visiting the grave of the prophet and the celebration of his birthday, declaring that all such behavior represented mere imitation of the Christian worship of Jesus as God (i.e. idolatry). Abd al-Wahhab assimilated all this earlier teaching, stating that "any doubt or hesitation" on the part of a believer in respect to his or her acknowledging this particular interpretation of Islam should "deprive a man of immunity of his property and his life." One of the main tenets of Abd al-Wahhab's doctrine has become the key idea of takfir. Under the takfiri doctrine, Abd al-Wahhab and his followers could deem fellow Muslims infidels should they engage in activities that in any way could be said to encroach on the sovereignty of the absolute Authority (that is, the King). Abd al-Wahhab denounced all Muslims who honored the dead, saints, or angels. He held that such sentiments detracted from the complete subservience one must feel towards God, and only God. Wahhabi Islam thus bans any prayer to saints and dead loved ones, pilgrimages to tombs and special mosques, religious festivals celebrating saints, the honoring of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad's birthday, and even prohibits the use of gravestones when burying the dead. "Those who would not conform to this view should be killed, their wives and daughters violated, and their possessions confiscated, he wrote. " Abd al-Wahhab demanded conformity -- a conformity that was to be demonstrated in physical and tangible ways. He argued that all Muslims must individually pledge their allegiance to a single Muslim leader (a Caliph, if there were one). Those who would not conform to this view should be killed, their wives and daughters violated, and their possessions confiscated, he wrote. The list of apostates meriting death included the Shiite, Sufis and other Muslim denominations, whom Abd al-Wahhab did not consider to be Muslim at all. There is nothing here that separates Wahhabism from ISIS. The rift would emerge only later: from the subsequent institutionalization of Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab's doctrine of "One Ruler, One Authority, One Mosque" -- these three pillars being taken respectively to refer to the Saudi king, the absolute authority of official Wahhabism, and its control of "the word" (i.e. the mosque). It is this rift -- the ISIS denial of these three pillars on which the whole of Sunni authority presently rests -- makes ISIS, which in all other respects conforms to Wahhabism, a deep threat to Saudi Arabia. BRIEF HISTORY 1741- 1818 Abd al-Wahhab's advocacy of these ultra radical views inevitably led to his expulsion from his own town -- and in 1741, after some wanderings, he found refuge under the protection of Ibn Saud and his tribe. What Ibn Saud perceived in Abd al-Wahhab's novel teaching was the means to overturn Arab tradition and convention. It was a path to seizing power. "Their strategy -- like that of ISIS today -- was to bring the peoples whom they conquered into submission. They aimed to instill fear. " Ibn Saud's clan, seizing on Abd al-Wahhab's doctrine, now could do what they always did, which was raiding neighboring villages and robbing them of their possessions. Only now they were doing it not within the ambit of Arab tradition, but rather under the banner of jihad. Ibn Saud and Abd al-Wahhab also reintroduced the idea of martyrdom in the name of jihad, as it granted those martyred immediate entry into paradise. In the beginning, they conquered a few local communities and imposed their rule over them. (The conquered inhabitants were given a limited choice: conversion to Wahhabism or death.) By 1790, the Alliance controlled most of the Arabian Peninsula and repeatedly raided Medina, Syria and Iraq. Their strategy -- like that of ISIS today -- was to bring the peoples whom they conquered into submission. They aimed to instill fear. In 1801, the Allies attacked the Holy City of Karbala in Iraq. They massacred thousands of Shiites, including women and children. Many Shiite shrines were destroyed, including the shrine of Imam Hussein, the murdered grandson of Prophet Muhammad. A British official, Lieutenant Francis Warden, observing the situation at the time, wrote: "They pillaged the whole of it [Karbala], and plundered the Tomb of Hussein... slaying in the course of the day, with circumstances of peculiar cruelty, above five thousand of the inhabitants ..." Osman Ibn Bishr Najdi, the historian of the first Saudi state, wrote that Ibn Saud committed a massacre in Karbala in 1801. He proudly documented that massacre saying, "we took Karbala and slaughtered and took its people (as slaves), then praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and we do not apologize for that and say: 'And to the unbelievers: the same treatment.'" In 1803, Abdul Aziz then entered the Holy City of Mecca, which surrendered under the impact of terror and panic (the same fate was to befall Medina, too). Abd al-Wahhab's followers demolished historical monuments and all the tombs and shrines in their midst. By the end, they had destroyed centuries of Islamic architecture near the Grand Mosque. But in November of 1803, a Shiite assassin killed King Abdul Aziz (taking revenge for the massacre at Karbala). His son, Saud bin Abd al Aziz, succeeded him and continued the conquest of Arabia. Ottoman rulers, however, could no longer just sit back and watch as their empire was devoured piece by piece. In 1812, the Ottoman army, composed of Egyptians, pushed the Alliance out from Medina, Jeddah and Mecca. In 1814, Saud bin Abd al Aziz died of fever. His unfortunate son Abdullah bin Saud, however, was taken by the Ottomans to Istanbul, where he was gruesomely executed (a visitor to Istanbul reported seeing him having been humiliated in the streets of Istanbul for three days, then hanged and beheaded, his severed head fired from a canon, and his heart cut out and impaled on his body). In 1815, Wahhabi forces were crushed by the Egyptians (acting on the Ottoman's behalf) in a decisive battle. In 1818, the Ottomans captured and destroyed the Wahhabi capital of Dariyah. The first Saudi state was no more. The few remaining Wahhabis withdrew into the desert to regroup, and there they remained, quiescent for most of the 19th century. HISTORY RETURNS WITH ISIS It is not hard to understand how the founding of the Islamic State by ISIS in contemporary Iraq might resonate amongst those who recall this history. Indeed, the ethos of 18th century Wahhabism did not just wither in Nejd, but it roared back into life when the Ottoman Empire collapsed amongst the chaos of World War I. The Al Saud -- in this 20th century renaissance -- were led by the laconic and politically astute Abd-al Aziz, who, on uniting the fractious Bedouin tribes, launched the Saudi "Ikhwan" in the spirit of Abd-al Wahhab's and Ibn Saud's earlier fighting proselytisers. The Ikhwan was a reincarnation of the early, fierce, semi-independent vanguard movement of committed armed Wahhabist "moralists" who almost had succeeded in seizing Arabia by the early 1800s. In the same manner as earlier, the Ikhwan again succeeded in capturing Mecca, Medina and Jeddah between 1914 and 1926. Abd-al Aziz, however, began to feel his wider interests to be threatened by the revolutionary "Jacobinism" exhibited by the Ikhwan. The Ikhwan revolted -- leading to a civil war that lasted until the 1930s, when the King had them put down: he machine-gunned them. For this king, (Abd-al Aziz), the simple verities of previous decades were eroding. Oil was being discovered in the peninsular. Britain and America were courting Abd-al Aziz, but still were inclined to support Sharif Husain as the only legitimate ruler of Arabia. The Saudis needed to develop a more sophisticated diplomatic posture. So Wahhabism was forcefully changed from a movement of revolutionary jihad and theological takfiri purification, to a movement of conservative social, political, theological, and religious da'wa (Islamic call) and to justifying the institution that upholds loyalty to the royal Saudi family and the King's absolute power. OIL WEALTH SPREAD WAHHABISM With the advent of the oil bonanza -- as the French scholar, Giles Kepel writes, Saudi goals were to "reach out and spread Wahhabism across the Muslim world ... to "Wahhabise" Islam, thereby reducing the "multitude of voices within the religion" to a "single creed" -- a movement which would transcend national divisions. Billions of dollars were -- and continue to be -- invested in this manifestation of soft power. It was this heady mix of billion dollar soft power projection -- and the Saudi willingness to manage Sunni Islam both to further America's interests, as it concomitantly embedded Wahhabism educationally, socially and culturally throughout the lands of Islam -- that brought into being a western policy dependency on Saudi Arabia, a dependency that has endured since Abd-al Aziz's meeting with Roosevelt on a U.S. warship (returning the president from the Yalta Conference) until today. Westerners looked at the Kingdom and their gaze was taken by the wealth; by the apparent modernization; by the professed leadership of the Islamic world. They chose to presume that the Kingdom was bending to the imperatives of modern life -- and that the management of Sunni Islam would bend the Kingdom, too, to modern life. "On the one hand, ISIS is deeply Wahhabist. On the other hand, it is ultra radical in a different way. It could be seen essentially as a corrective movement to contemporary Wahhabism." But the Saudi Ikhwan approach to Islam did not die in the 1930s. It retreated, but it maintained its hold over parts of the system -- hence the duality that we observe today in the Saudi attitude towards ISIS. On the one hand, ISIS is deeply Wahhabist. On the other hand, it is ultra radical in a different way. It could be seen essentially as a corrective movement to contemporary Wahhabism. ISIS is a "post-Medina" movement: it looks to the actions of the first two Caliphs, rather than the Prophet Muhammad himself, as a source of emulation, and it forcefully denies the Saudis' claim of authority to rule. As the Saudi monarchy blossomed in the oil age into an ever more inflated institution, the appeal of the Ikhwan message gained ground (despite King Faisal's modernization campaign). The "Ikhwan approach" enjoyed -- and still enjoys -- the support of many prominent men and women and sheikhs. In a sense, Osama bin Laden was precisely the representative of a late flowering of this Ikhwani approach. Today, ISIS' undermining of the legitimacy of the King's legitimacy is not seen to be problematic, but rather a return to the true origins of the Saudi-Wahhab project. In the collaborative management of the region by the Saudis and the West in pursuit of the many western projects (countering socialism, Ba'athism, Nasserism, Soviet and Iranian influence), western politicians have highlighted their chosen reading of Saudi Arabia (wealth, modernization and influence), but they chose to ignore the Wahhabist impulse. After all, the more radical Islamist movements were perceived by Western intelligence services as being more effective in toppling the USSR in Afghanistan -- and in combatting out-of-favor Middle Eastern leaders and states. Why should we be surprised then, that from Prince Bandar's Saudi-Western mandate to manage the insurgency in Syria against President Assad should have emerged a neo-Ikhwan type of violent, fear-inducing vanguard movement: ISIS? And why should we be surprised -- knowing a little about Wahhabism -- that "moderate" insurgents in Syria would become rarer than a mythical unicorn? Why should we have imagined that radical Wahhabism would create moderates? Or why could we imagine that a doctrine of "One leader, One authority, One mosque: submit to it, or be killed" could ever ultimately lead to moderation or tolerance? Or, perhaps, we never imagined.
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Former Greek PM Konstantinos Mitsotakis Admitted To Hospital
Former Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis has been admitted to “Iasis” general clinic in Chania, with an infection of the respiratory system. His condition is stable and there is no cause for concern, said an announcement from his political office. Mitsotakis, 88, a Greek politician and former Prime Minister of Greece, was born in Chania, Crete, to a political family. He was elected to the Greek Parliament for the first time in 1946, standing for the Liberal Party in his native prefecture of Chania. He followed most of the old Liberal Party into George Papandreou’s Center Union in 1961. But in 1965, he led a group of dissidents, known as the “July apostates” or “apostasia”, to bring about the fall of Papandreou’s government, which earned him the undying hatred of Papandreou loyalists as well as a significant part of Greek society. In 1967, he was arrested by the military junta but managed to escape to Turkey with the help of current Turkish foreign secretary Ihsan Sabri Caglayangil and lived in exile until his return in 1974. In 1974, he campaigned as an independent and failed to be elected to Parliament. In 1977, he was re-elected as founder-leader of the small Party of New Liberals and in 1978, he merged his party with Constantine Karamanlis’ New Democracy party. He served as Minister of Economic Coordination from 1978 to 1980, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1980 to 1981. The New Democracy (ND) government was defeated by Andreas Papandreou’s PASOK in 1981, and in 1984, Mitsotakis succeeded Evangelos Averoff as ND leader. He and Andreas Papandreou, the son of George Papandreou, dominated Greek politics for the next decade: their mutual dislike dated back to the fall of George Papandreou’s government in 1965. Mitsotakis soundly defeated Papandreou in the June 1989 elections. However, in a controversial move, Papandreou’s government had modified the election system a few months earlier to require a party to win 50 percent of the vote in order to govern alone. Thus, Mitsotakis was unable to form a government even though ND was the clear winner of the elections, with 20 more seats than PASOK. He was unable to garner support from the 6 MPs he needed to form a government, so Court of Cassation president Yiannis Grivas became acting Prime Minister and presided over new elections in November 1989. This election yielded the same result as in June. ND finished 20 seats ahead of PASOK, but was still just short of forming a government. After another period of deadlock, fresh elections in April 1990 produced another landslide ND victory, but left Mitsotakis unable to govern alone. After the lone MP from Democratic Renewal agreed to go into coalition, Mitsotakis finally became Prime Minister. Thus, despite winning one of the most decisive elections in modern Greek history (27 seats ahead of PASOK), Mitsotakis’ government was very weak on paper, with a majority of only one vote. Mitsotakis’s government moved swiftly to cut government spending as much as possible, privatize state enterprises and reform the civil service. Mitsotakis’ government had already restored the election system back to its original form, which allowed Papandreou’s PASOK to obtain clear parliamentary majority after winning the premature 1993 elections and return to office. Mitsotakis then resigned as ND leader, although he remained the party’s honorary chairman. In January 2004, Mitsotakis announced his retiremet from Parliament at the March 7 elections, 56 years after his first election.
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Mezes Greek Taverna – Pembroke Pines, FL
Mezes offers a unique menu and enjoyable food. Eight of us went to try out this restaurant. The level of service for handling such a vocal group of food ...
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Archaeological Discoveries at the Sea Bottom of Argolida
The research work of the Terra Submersa expedition at the sea bottom of Argolida, in the Peloponnese, is in progress. Starting from Eretria, headquarters of the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece, with intermediate stations in Piraeus and Nafplion, the members of the archaeological Terra Submersa expedition ended up in the bay of Argolida‘s valley, where they carry out underwater research. The Greek-Swiss expedition, led by archeologists of the Geneva University in collaboration with the Laténium of Neuchâtel, the Greek Service for Underwater Antiquities, the Swiss School of Archeology in Greece and the Hellenic Center for Maritime Research, aims to explore the prehistoric landscapes that have been submerged by the waters of the Gulf of Argolida, in an attempt to remodel them and identify possible human traces. At the end of the Ice Age, about 20,000 years ago, the sea level was lower than it is today. By remodeling the landscapes that have disappeared, archaeologists hope to understand the dynamics through which coastal zones were populated. The Terra Submersa expedition focused on the Franchti cave, in the northern part of the bay, which was inhabited for 35,000 years, from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic age. “We collected fantastic data, its analysis will take two years of work,” said Julien Beck, the expedition’s head. “The preliminary results are encouraging,” he added. In fact, by mapping the sea bottom, archaeologists found paleobeaches dating back to different periods in prehistory. It is estimated that these beaches were shaped by the inhabitants of the Franchti cave, in which scientists recovered shells and the remains of fish. Furthermore, faults indicating tectonic shifts in the Gulf of Argolida have been detected with the echo-sonar installed aboard the solar-powered ship. These faults could explain the paleobeaches’ difference in depth. Archaeological research also revealed signs of the bed of an ancient river, which is encouraging as ancient civilizations used to flourish near water.
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Christine Lagarde under investigation in fraud case; German consumer confidence hit by geopolitical fears
The head of the International Monetary Fund has been placed under formal investigation over the Bernard Tapie case, but insists she will not resign.Earlier: Lunchtime summaryGerman consumer confidence hit by geopolitical risksFrench industrial morale down tooItaly to revise growth forecasts downGerman bond yields dragged to new record lows 4.18pm BST Over in Greece prime minister Antonis Samaras is about to hold talks with senior government ministers in a bid to fine-tune strategy ahead of the relaunch of negotiations with troika mission chiefs in Paris next week. From Athens, our correspondent Helena Smith reports:Its back to business as usual with the Greek government hunkering down in preparation of next weeks crucial talks with mission heads representing [lenders] the EU, ECB and IMF in Paris. Samaras will meet his deputy, the socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos and other senior government ministers for what coalition leaders hope will be a final session of strategising ahead of the new round of talks next Tuesday. The stakes are high and the trade-offs potentially enormous. We want everything to go smoothly which, as you know, is why this time the talks will take place in a neutral setting, said one government insider referring to the decision to relaunch negotiations in the French capital. Were fine-tuning details. 3.33pm BST Despite expectations the ECB is close to introducing new stimulus measures to boost the eurozone economy, it may not happen at next weeks meeting after all.According to a Reuters report the ECB is unlikely to take action next week unless August inflation figures, due on Friday, show the eurozone moving significantly closer to deflation.So, they don't know? RT @TradeDesk_Steve: New Ecb Action Next Week Unlikely But Outcome Much Depends On August Inflation Data - Ecb Sources 2.54pm BST Wall Street has opened and, in common with the European markets, it seems uncertain which way to go after its record breaking gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is virtually flat (down 3.85 points to be precise) while the S&P 500 has edged up 0.46 points.Meanwhile the FTSE 100 has dipped 3.54 points after early attempts to edge higher, while Germanys Dax is down 2.12 points while Frances CAC is up 2.92 points. 2.33pm BST It looks like the European Central Bank is indeed readying itself for further measures to stimulate the flagging eurozone economy, as its president Mario Draghi suggested in the US on Friday. According to a report on Bloomberg, the ECB has appointed investment manager BlackRock to advise on developing a program to buy asset-backed securities:BlackRock Solutions, a unit of the New York-based company, will provide advice on the design and implementation of a potential ABS-purchase plan, an ECB spokesman said in response to e-mailed questions. Safeguards against any conflict of interest are included in the agreement, the spokesman said.ECB President Mario Draghi said in June that the central bank is intensifying preparations to purchase ABS as it strives to revive the faltering euro-area economy. While the effort could help revitalize a $1.9 trillion market that has contracted 34 percent since 2009, and at the same time inject liquidity into the financial system, officials have yet to agree on what such a program should look like. French Pm Says Trusts Ecb To Use All Available Tools To Meet Inflation Mandate, Says More Needs To Be Done 2.02pm BST With the French government collapsing over the weekend after a rift over austerity measures, leading to a new cabinet announced yesterday, the debate over cutbacks and spending is back in the spotlight. So what to make of this:France, Italy Seen Likely To Push Together Against Austerity: EU Officials - MNI 1.05pm BST To recap...Christine Lagardes position as the head of the International Monetary Fund is under scrutiny today after magistrates put her under formal investigation, over the Bernard Tapie fraud inquiry.I have instructed my lawyer to appeal this decision which I consider totally without merit.I return back to Washington where I will indeed brief my board. 12.50pm BST Another photo from Paris, of Christine Lagarde speaking to her lawyer, Yves Repiquet, today. 12.48pm BST So, how serious is a charge of negligence? The Financial Times says it could potentially lead to a prison term (were a long way from that at this stage, though)From Paris, Hugh Carnegy reports:Ms Lagardes spokesman told the FT that the charge was relatively minor but one that nevertheless carried a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 if convicted. 11.59am BST The AFP news agency has confirmed that Christine Lagarde has no plans to resign.From the wires:The investigating commission of the court of justice of the French Republic has decided to place me under formal investigation, she said in exclusive comments to AFP. In France, being placed under formal investigation is the nearest equivalent to being charged, and happens when an examining magistrate has decided there is a case to be answered. It does not, however, always lead to a formal charge. 11.51am BST Lagardes lawyer, Yves Repiquet, has told Reuters that the IMF chief believes the decision to formally investigate her for negligence over the Bernard Tapie case was unfounded:We are appealing it, Repiquet said by telephone, adding that Lagarde, who was due to return to IMF headquarters in Washington later on Wednesday, had no plans to resign.In previous rounds of questioning, Lagarde accused Richard of having used her pre-printed signature to sign off on a document facilitating the payment, local media has said. However Richard has stated that Lagarde was fully briefed on the matter. 11.35am BST Christine Lagarde has been questioned for 15 hours yesterday by the Court of Justice of the Republic over her involvement in the Bernard Tapie case, flags up City AM. 11.16am BST Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, has been placed under formal investigation by French magistrates who are investigating a political fraud case that has gripped the nation.IMF chief Christine Lagarde has been put under formal investigation for negligence in fraud case. Says no intention of resigning. 10.52am BST Britains supermarkets remain locked in a toe-to-toe price war, meaning prices are rising at their lowest rate since at least October 2006.Grocery price inflation fell for the eleventh consecutive quarter to just 0.2%, according to the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel. The battle to cut prices on staple items such as vegetables, milk and bread all drove down inflation over the summer. Of the UKs biggest six supermarkets, only Asda and Waitrose managed to increase their share of the market in that tough environment while Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsburys and The Co-op all lost ground. 10.41am BST In the City, speculation that a US e-commerce giant could snap up British online fashion success ASOS has sent its shares up 15% this morning, having gained 7% yesterday. 10.13am BST Italian consumers, like their German counterparts, have suffered a drop in confidence this month. But their worries are mainly domestic based, as they watch the Italian economy slide back into recession.Italian consumer confidence falls more than expected: Index down to 101.9 in August, from 104.4 in July (RT poll was 104.4) - ISTAT 9.49am BST Shorter-term German bond yields are now in negative territory, meaning investors are actually paying for the chance to own one, two, and three-year bunds.German government bond yields are now negative out to 3 years pic.twitter.com/0482E0tEIJ 9.47am BST The tumble in eurozone bond yields is a clear signal that investors expect the eurozone to become bogged down in a low-growth, deflationary spiral, repeating Japans experience over the last two decades.The Euro Abenomics trade is ON. Italian 10-years yield hit new record low at 2.375%, German 10-years yield hit new record low at 0.921%, 9.41am BST I'd love to know who's buying German 10 years bunds with a sub-1% yield. Anyone owning up? 9.40am BST The yield, or interest rate, on German 10-year bonds has hit a new record low this morning.Strong demand for German 10-year bunds has pushed their price to new highs, meaning they are now yielding just 0.917% this morning.When the EMUs largest economy is falling behind, this is very much increasing the chances of the ECB heading for further monetary measures, above all QE. 9.20am BST Foxtons, the London estate agent famous for pushy sales tactics and garish Minis, has sounded a cautious note on the housing market.The range of policy initiatives introduced in 2014 aimed at controlling mortgage lending, together with the expectation of early increases in interest rates, is now having an impact on short term demand among buyers. Consistent with others in the sector, we expect this to lead to lower rates of market growth in both property sales transactions and prices during the second half of the year. 9.16am BST Labours shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna, says hes shocked by the poor sales practices exposed at RBS and NatWest today. Hes also alarmed that it too so long to address them.Taking out a mortgage is the biggest purchase a consumer makes and, as such, the FCA findings into RBS are both shocking and disappointing.Swap misselling by banks to small businesses happened 8yrs ago - this mortgage misselling by RBS was happening less than 18months ago!The FCA raised concerns with RBS on mortgage sales in 2011- it's disgraceful this was not immediately acted on.We still have some way to go in reforming our banking sector so it serves individuals and businesses - the real economy - properly. 9.05am BST Budget airline Ryanair has taken another step towards scrubbing up its image, launching a new business class service today.Features include flexible tickets, more check-in baggage, priority boarding and premium seats, as it tries to lure more executives onboard. 8.52am BST Britains banking sector continues to demonstrate a remarkable inability to treat its customers properly.Todays culprit is Royal Bank of Scotland, which has been fined £14.5m for failing to offer decent advice to mortgage customers. Only 2 of the 164 sales reviewed were considered to meet the standard required overall in a sales process. In the firms own mystery shopping there were examples of advisers giving personal views on the future movement of interest rates. This was highly inappropriate and may have resulted in the borrower being sold the wrong type of mortgage for them.Ross McEwan: Taking a mortgage is one of the biggest moments in our lives, and our customers should expect the best service (2/5)In the past we just didnt get this right; this was unacceptable and should never have happened (3/5) 8.36am BST German consumer confidence had been steadily rising over the last 18 months until todays drop (see 8.00am for details), as this tweet shows:German consumer climate falls in September: GfK index drops to 8.6 pic.twitter.com/W9dKQm77cZMajor upheavals in the global economy have so far only affected the consumer mood in Germany to a very limited extent. In order to ensure that this remains the case for consumers in future, it is important that the situations in the crisis regions do not escalate further and that long-term solutions are found instead. However, if domestic framework conditions also deteriorate decisively as a result of any potential further escalation, it is probable that more difficult times will also lie ahead for the German economy. 8.32am BST Italys economy minister has predicted that it could lower its growth forecasts making it a hat-trick of bad news for the eurozone this morningThe Italian governent currently predicts that GDP will rise by 0.8% this year, but that was before Italy fell back into recession. A rethink is now needed.We must revise the GDP (gross domestic product) growth forecast to the downside. Italy to revise down its GDP growth forecasts. French government too busy to think about that right now. 8.18am BST Bad news from France too -- morale among French companies has fallen again.Statistics body INSEE reports that the industry morale dipped again in August, to 96 from 97 on its monthly survey (where 100 is the long-term average). 8.00am BST German consumer confidence has suffered its first fall since January 2013, as the weakening eurozone economy and geopolitical risks hit Europes largest economy.The forward-looking survey of German morale, by polling firm GfK, found that economic expectations have collapsed this month, as the wider consumer climate suffers a setback. Consumers are increasingly taking the intensified geopolitical situation into consideration in their assessment of how the German economy will develop over the coming months. The indicator dropped by 35.5 points, plummeting to 10.4 points. A decline of this magnitude in just one month has not been recorded since the survey began in 1980. Consequently, virtually all improvement in the economic expectations indicator over the past year has been negated in one fell swoop. In August 2013, the indicator value was 1.8 points. Consumers are expecting the economy to shift down a gear or two at least. Given that no long-term solutions appear to be on the cards yet for any of the crises, uncertainty is rising in the population on the potential consequences for the German economy. In particular, the sanctions against Russia, which are already significantly impacting exports, could become a real risk for the German economy. German Consumer Confidence: Actual: 8.6 vs Forecast: 9 pic.twitter.com/JodHiKbXfl 7.54am BST Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the financial markets, the world economy.Coming up today -- a new survey of German consumers has found that confidence has been hit by economic weakness in the eurozone, and geopolitical threats across the globe. Continue reading...
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'F1 in Greece could be on the horizon'
Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone said on Wednesday that he is keen to hold a Grand Prix in Greece, saying it could be possible even though the ...
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Greece's Motor Oil narrows loss in H1, misses forecast
ATHENS Aug 27 (Reuters) - Greece's second-biggest refiner Motor Oil narrowed its first half loss, helped by lower oil inventory losses and taxes.
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Technological Setback For Greek Police
Greek Police will have to go ten years back in terms of communication technology, as they will be forced to use the old radio communication system again. The cost of the modern TETRA digital communication system that was installed during the 2004 Olympic Games seems prohibitive. The 10-year contract with the company that installed it back in 2004 was not renewed since the maintenance cost exceeded 5 million euros per year. This means that communication between police officers will be done through the old portable radios used in the past. According to Greek newspaper “Ta Nea”, from now on, the 18,000 police officers in Athens will be hearing the old familiar voice of the headquarters announcer give commands from the traditional console again. Problems in communication are already evident as many policemen have to use their mobile phones to communicate. Moreover, analog radio signal is not available in all areas of the capital. According to the police officers’ union, Greece’s economic crisis does not justify such budget cuts since the use of the old radio system is not very secure. The police chief, however, assured the union that there is an ongoing negotiation with another hi-tech provider that will ensure security for police communication at reduced cost, compared to the TETRA system. The analog intercommunication system used now is particularly vulnerable as criminals can enter police radio frequencies and learn about police movements on chases or investigations. In regards to the Counter-Terrorism Squad, measures for secure communications through mobile telephony frequencies have already been taken.
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Island Spirit: My Greek yoga retreat
Silver Island comprises 60 acres of olive groves and cypress trees rising out of the sea The classes take place in the great outdoors The classes take place in the great outdoors My journey from Dublin to Silver Island was something of an expedition.
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Greek market in a wait and see mode
Athens Stock Exchange ends slightly higher on Wednesday and turnover remained at 88 million euros. OPAP and Motor oil announce their Q2/H1 ...
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Church of the Annunciation set for annual Greek Festival
It's almost time for Cranston's Rite of September, that fun-and-food-filled Greek Festival that will be held from Friday, Sept. 5 through Sunday, Sept.
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St. George Greek Orthodox Church Philoptochos Society fall luncheon
The Philoptochos Society of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Ocean Township will host its Annual Fall Luncheon on Saturday, October 18, ...
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Energean launches $225 million Greek investment
Greece-based upstream Energean Oil & Gas launched a $225 million investment program Wednesday to develop offshore projects in Greece.
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Greek recruitment offers freshmen a place to call home
Purdue has one of the largest Greek communities in the country, with almost one quarter of the student population being active in Greek life.
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Bishop says Russian Orthodox are spreading Ukraine 'misinformation'
Bishop Lonchyna said: “The letter of the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a heartfelt appeal for prayer and support for the Ukrainian ...
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Holy Synod of Church Supports Anti-Racism Bill
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece issued a statement expressing its support for the new, controversial, anti-racism bill. The new bill proposes stiffer penalties for individuals and political parties engaging in racism or incite racist violence, and will be discussed in Parliament next week. In a statement issued, the Synod says that the provisions of the bill could contribute to “the effort to safeguard peace for all… irrespective of sex, color, religion.” The clerics also asked for an additional provision, according to which the refusal to recognize the genocide of Christians in Asia Minor between 1908 and 1922 should be considered a racist offense. The legislation, which has repeatedly been delayed and re-drafted, is still opposed by 38 conservative New Democracy MPs who object to the fact that the refusal to recognize the genocide of Christians in Asia Minor and Greeks in Black Sea should be an offense, the same way that the refusal to recognize the Holocaust is considered racist. On the other side, 9 independent MPs complained about the lack of reference to the “genocide of Pontian Greeks, Armenians and Greeks of Asia Minor” calling the bill “despicable and as if dictated by foreign powers.” The discussion was scheduled to take place today, however the issue will be discussed in Parliament next week. The postponement caused the reaction of several parties. “The anti-racism bill risks being remembered as the ‘frozen bill’,” said SYRIZA deputy Vassiliki Katrivanou. “The new postponement of the tabling of the anti-racism bill in Parliament shows the intense efforts of New Democracy’s conservative enclave to prevent the adoption of a modern anti-racist legislation,” Democratic Left (DIMAR) has said in a statement.
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Striker Diamantakos gets Greece call up for European qualifiers, Papadopoulos back from injury
by Associated Press Striker Dimitris Diamantakos gets Greece call up Associated Press - 27 August 2014 10:06-04:00 ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece coach Claudio Ranieri has called up 21-year-old striker Dimitris Diamantakos for the opening European Championship qualifier against Romania on Sept. 7. The Olympiakos forward could make his debut for the senior squad at Karaiskaki Stadium as Ranieri looks to replace some aging strikers. The squad struggled in attack at the World Cup in Brazil, and was eliminated in the second round after scoring only three goals. Defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos returns to the national squad following a two-year absence after his career was rocked by a serious knee injury. Greece and Romania are in Group F along with Hungary, Finland, Northern Ireland and the Faeroe Islands. News Topics: Sports, Athlete injuries, Men's soccer, Soccer, Athlete health, Men's sports People, Places and Companies: Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Greece, Western Europe, Europe Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Today's Stocks : National Bank of Greece SA (NYSE:NBG), AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV), WAIR, BRT ...
On Aug 14, National Bank of Greece SA (NYSE:NBG) was upgraded by research analysts at Citigroup Inc. from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a ...
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Stocks Alert: Keurig Green Mountain Inc (GMCR), National Bank of Greece (ADR) (NBG), Cimarex ...
Las Vegas, NV – Aug 27, 2014 — (TechSonian) – ValuePennyStocks.com provides investors and traders with valuable trading tools and content as ...
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