The Prime Ministers of GREECE and Macedonia met during the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia. According to Macedonia's PM Zoran Zaev, ...
Welcome, 77 artists, 40 different points of Attica welcomes you by singing Erotokritos an epic romance written at 1713 by Vitsentzos Kornaros
Thursday, May 17, 2018
GREECE'S Yanni Weighs in on Laurel vs…Yanny
Greek composer Yanni has weighed in on the latest internet craze which is dividing opinion across the world: do you hear 'Yanny' or 'Laurel'?
Time is Running Out, says IMF about Participation in GREECE'S Bailout
Time is running out for the financial participation of the Fund in GREECE'S third bailout program, said International Monetary Fund spokesman Gerry ...
First E-ticket Test Run at GREEK Sites on May 20
Starting May 20, and phased out in June, a much-awaited e-ticketing system allowing admission to GREEK museums and sites will take effect, the ...
Fans of Instagram highlight beauty of GREEK island of Andros
The amateur photographers participating in the GREEK Instagramers Events (grevents.gr) tried to capture the elegant architecture of the capital, Chora, ...
GREEK Festival Preparation
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British PM says courage needed on Macedonian-Greek name spat
SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — Britain's prime minister has urged Macedonia and Greece to show courage in ongoing efforts to resolve a dispute over Macedonia's name, which has frustrated the country's aspirations to join NATO and the European Union. British ...
GREECE boss Michael Skibbe predicts World Cup woe for Saudi Arabia
SEVILLE: GREECE coach Michael Skibbe believes Saudi Arabia are not good enough to progress to the knock-out stages of next month's World Cup, ...
Deputy Foreign Minister: Diaspora is a powerful tool for GREEK economy
GREEKS living abroad are a powerful and useful tool for helping Greece's economy open up to the global economy, said Deputy Foreign Minister ...
Investments, exports and tourism the 'keys' for growth
Investments exports and tourism are the main sectors of the economy which according to the Greek Ministry of Economy and Development will lead the economy to the era of sustai
Alexis Tsipras: Significant progress on the name issue, but there is still a a long way to go
After the meetings he held yesterday in Sofia with his fYROMacedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev theGreek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that there is significant progress in the
Maria Menounos and Brain Tumor Awareness Month
NEW YORK – Greek-American TV personality Maria Menounos spoke about her and her mother’s health in an appearance on NBC’s Today show. She told Today […] The post Maria Menounos and Brain Tumor Awareness Month appeared first on The National Herald.
FYROM: a Solution, but What Kind?
It is clear that Greece is being pressed to accept a solution to the name of FYROM in order to allow that nation to enter […] The post FYROM: a Solution, but What Kind? appeared first on The National Herald.
Macedonia, Greece Close to Ending Decades-Old Dispute over Name
SOFIA, Bulgaria—Greece and its neighbor, Macedonia, are close to resolving a decades-old dispute that has prevented the small Balkan country from joining the European Union, creating a rare bright spot in a region where hopes of joining the bloc remain ...
Instagramers Highlight Beauty of Greece’s Andros (photos)
Instagram enthusiasts descended to Greece’s Andros in a joint effort to highlight the beauty of this island situated only two hours away from Athens. The amateur photographers participating in the Greek Instagramers Events (grevents.gr) tried to capture ...
IMF: The Greek debt relief issue should have been settled yesterday
IMF press representative says Greece has made significant reforms
Reece Platt-May: Father of boys killed in hit-and-run crash found dead in GREECE hotel
The father of two young boys killed in hit-and-run crash has been found dead in a hotel room in GREECE. Reece Platt-May's body was found on ...
Mystras
In addition to its role in the political world of medieval GREECE, Mystras was a center of a late-Byzantine cultural and artistic flowering that influenced ...
Cyprus to set up coastguard with GREEK help
The announcement was made on Thursday by Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou after a meeting with GREEK Shipping Minister Panayiotis Kouroumblis.
GREEK Tourism Minister Guest of Honor at ITB China Expo Opening
GREEK Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony of the ITB China travel exhibition in Shanghai on ...
Greek, Polish restaurants coming to Schaumburg
Schaumburg officials have approved a Greek restaurant for the western end of the Woodfield area and a Polish restaurant to the south, with at least one expected to open by late summer. Little Greek Fresh Grill will occupy a 1,500-square-foot space at 130 E.
Athens expects staff level agreement with creditors by Saturday
Speaking to Greek media on Thursday Finance Ministry sources confirmed that talks with the inspectors representing the countrys official lenders have culminated in an agreement t
Thomas Cook: Strong Demand for GREECE in Summer 2018
Summer bookings for Thomas Cook are up 13 percent compared to last year, with particularly strong demand for Turkey, GREECE and Egypt, the UK ...
Opera “Prometheus Bound” by Karousos with Conductor Kalkanis in Corinth
CORINTH, GREECE – The opera “Prometheus Bound,” based on the ancient tragedy by Aeschylus, directed by Vasilis Asimakopoulos, and set to music by Panagiotis Karousos, […] The post Opera “Prometheus Bound” by Karousos with Conductor Kalkanis in Corinth appeared first on The National Herald.
In a More Rational World, the US and Iran Would Have Full Diplomatic Relations
Now more than ever, it is necessary to understand Iran in the context its own history its tumultuous relationship with the United States. What do the past and present portend? In this introduction of _Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic of Iran_, Medea Benjamin begins to discuss these histories and her own experiences inside the nation. [A woman pasts a mural painted on the wall of the former US Embassy in Tehran, Iran, on May 9, 2018. (Photo: Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images)]A woman pasts a mural painted on the wall of the former US Embassy in Tehran, Iran, on May 9, 2018. (Photo: Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images) _In the wake of Trump's cancellation of the nuclear treaty with Iran, Medea Benjamin's enlightening book about the Persian nation is vital. Get the book now with a donation to Truthout. Click here._ _Now more than ever, it is necessary to understand Iran in context. After all, what is the history of the nation and its tumultuous relationship with the United States. What do the past and present portend? Learn more by reading_ Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic of Iran. _The following is the introduction to _Inside Iran_._ My first trip to Iran was in 2008. I was traveling with my CODEPINK colleagues Jodie Evans and Ann Wright, and trip organizer Leila Zand. It was just after President Obama’s historic election, and we were excited about the possibilities of improving US-Iranian ties, even though Iran was still governed by conservative President Ahmadinejad. We considered ourselves citizen diplomats, modeling the kind of outreach we wanted to see in the new administration. I must admit that I was apprehensive about traveling to Iran as an American Jew, since for decades the Iranian government has had hostile relations with the United States and Israel. On our very first day, we passed a building with a banner that read "Death to America; Death to Israel." Habib Ahmadzadeh, an Iranian filmmaker who was showing us around, laughed. "Don't take the slogans literally -- or personally," he said. "They're meant to show opposition to government policies, not people. You'll find that Iranians love Americans." Indeed, all the Iranians we met expressed admiration for Americans, even though US economic sanctions were making their lives so difficult. A 2014 POLL FOUND THAT THE MOST PRO-JEWISH PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ASIDE FROM ISRAELIS, WERE IRANIANS. What surprised me even more was their admiration for Jews. "We don't like the policies of the Israeli government, but we love Jews," I was told over and over again. Secular Iranians talked glowingly about Jewish creativity in Hollywood and business. Conservative Muslims said we have the same God, many of the same prophets, and are both are descendants from Abraham. A 2014 poll conducted by the US Anti-Defamation League left the pollsters stunned: It found that the most pro-Jewish people in the Middle East, aside from Israelis, were Iranians. During this visit we met with all kinds of people, both publicly and privately. We met government officials, as well as people who had been imprisoned by the government. We met religious and secular folks, environmentalists, women's groups, and businesspeople. We had chance meetings with people on the street who invited us into their homes. We were overwhelmed by the world-renowned Iranian hospitality, where a guest is considered a gift from heaven. We were showered with copious amounts of delicious food, endless cups of sweet tea, and more gifts than we could fit in our suitcases. Iranians, we learned, revere their Persian heritage and culture; they want you to know that they are not Arabs. They speak Farsi, not Arabic, and can recite centuries-old poems by the revered poets Hafez and Rumi. They recall Persian philosophers, artists, and scientists who go back to 500 B.C. They describe in vivid detail how their country has been invaded by Greeks, Arabs, Mongols, British, and Russians, but prevailed with their culture intact. Yes, they are Muslims, and overwhelmingly Shia Muslims, but they celebrate ancient Zoroastrian holidays -- to the dismay of conservative clerics. The nation's 2,500-year history shines through in their breathtaking architecture, universally acclaimed literature, and deeply spiritual music. Since 1979, however, the Islamic revolution has turned the nation into a more sober and isolated society where religious leaders dictate everything from what women must wear in public to who can run for office. It also put US-Iranian government relations on a collision course, starting with a hostage crisis at the US Embassy in Tehran that turned into a 444-day diplomatic standoff. In more recent times, Iran's nuclear program became a flash point for US-Iranian relations. The US, along with Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China, spent years negotiating a compromise. An historic breakthrough came in 2015 with the signing of the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It was the signature foreign policy achievement of the Obama administration, a tribute to reformist Iranian President Rouhani, and an impressive example of what can be achieved when adversaries talk to each other. TRUMP'S ANTAGONISM TOWARDS IRAN IS NOT REALLY A DEPARTURE FROM WHAT HAS BEEN STANDARD US POLICY FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS. Unfortunately, Donald Trump, from the time he was campaigning for president, called it "the worst deal ever" and vowed to tear it up. His first foreign trip as president was to Iran's nemesis, Saudi Arabia, where he crowed about clinching Saudi arms sales worth $110 billion (most of which were deals already signed under Obama) and denounced Iran as a nation that "spreads destruction and chaos across the region." He subsequently looked for ways to quash the nuclear deal, imposed fresh sanctions, and even included Iran on the list of countries whose residents were banned from entering the United States, despite the fact that not a single Iranian has ever taken part in a terrorist attack on US soil. Trump's effusive embrace of the Saudi rulers and antagonism towards Iran is not really a departure from what has been standard US policy for the past 40 years. The Iranian government is certainly guilty of many abuses, including gross violations of free speech and assembly, restricting the rights of women, imprisoning dissidents, and executing people for nonviolent offenses. But when juxtaposed with Saudi Arabia, the US ally is far more repressive internally. Iran has flawed national elections; Saudi Arabia doesn't have national elections at all. Iran's women are restricted, but Saudi Arabia is a much more gender-segregated society. The West applauded the 2017 Saudi announcement that it would allow movie theatres (albeit segregated), while Iran has had a thriving film, theater, and music industry for decades. WE CANNOT REMAKE THE PAST, BUT WE CAN HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE IF WE ARE WELL-INFORMED ABOUT IRAN. In terms of foreign policy, Iran has plenty of blood on its hands, from its involvement in overseas attacks that have killed civilians to its military support for Bashar al-Assad in Syria. While not excusing Iran's record, it is, nevertheless, fair to hold it up against the track record of Saudi Arabia. For decades, the Saudi regime has been spreading its extremist Wahhabi beliefs, which form the ideological underpinnings of terrorist groups from Al Qaeda to ISIS. In 2011, it crushed the nonviolent democratic uprising in Bahrain, and in 2015 it started bombing neighboring Yemen so mercilessly that millions were left hungry and displaced. I document these abuses in my book_ Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the US Saudi Connections_. Of course, US foreign policy is even more blood-stained. It is ironic to hear US officials accuse Iran of "meddling in the region," meaning the Middle East, when Iran is part of the region and it is the United States that has been sending its military to "meddle" in the region, including the 1991 Gulf War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the 2011 overthrow of Qaddafi in Libya. The US also has a sordid track record of meddling in Iran's internal affairs. It helped orchestrate the overthrow of elected Prime Minister Mossadegh in 1953 and re-installed the brutal and unpopular Shah, paving the way for the Islamic Revolution of 1979. TRUTHOUT PROGRESSIVE PICK ------------------------- [Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran] Threatening Iran is not the road to peace. CLICK HERE NOW TO GET THE BOOK! ------------------------- In one of Senator Bernie Sanders's rare foreign policy talks, he used Iran as an example of how US intervention and the use of US military power has produced unintended consequences that have caused incalculable harm. "What would Iran look like today if their democratic government had not been overthrown?" Senator Sanders asked. "What impact did that American-led coup have on the entire region? What consequences are we still living with today?" While we don't know what Iran would look like today if the United States had not helped engineer the 1953 coup, we can venture a guess that there would not have been an Islamic Revolution, that Iran would be a more secular society, and that it would not be on a collision course with the United States. We cannot remake the past, but we can help shape the future if we are well-informed about Iran, a nation our government teaches us to hate and our media talks about in such a perverted fashion. This primer on Iran is meant to give the public a basic understanding of the country, both domestically and internationally. It starts with a brief history of Iran's long and proud past, setting the scene for the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It then looks at how the new regime cracked down on human rights and religious minorities, and circumscribed the role that women could play in society. It covers the economy, including how decades of western sanctions have affected daily life. In terms of foreign policy, it delves into the tumultuous relationship with the United States and its neighbors in the region. Throughout, I strive to highlight the pushback and heroic efforts by Iranians eager to live in a more open, more democratic society free of outside interference. *** My second visit to Iran was in 2014, when I was invited to give several talks about my book _Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control_. On the second day, I did an interview on one of the major state-run TV stations. I gave examples of grieving families from Pakistan and Yemen whose loved ones had been callously blown away by US pilots sitting in secure control rooms thousands of miles away. That evening a young man stopped by the hotel and waited several hours until I arrived. "I could tell from the interview what hotel you were in, and I hope you don't mind that I stopped by," he said in broken English, as he handed me a beautifully wrapped box of chocolates. "I just wanted to thank you for your compassionate stance on behalf of innocent people who have been hurt by your government's actions." THERE IS A DEEP LONGING AMONG THE IRANIAN PEOPLE FOR CLOSE TIES BETWEEN IRAN AND THE WEST, FOR MOVING BEYOND THE DIVISIONS OUR GOVERNMENTS CREATE. The next day another man stopped by. He was a medical doctor, and he wanted to run an idea by me. "I have been troubled by all the suffering in the world, and also by the dreadful relations between our countries. I would love to see a group of Iranian and American doctors participate in joint humanitarian missions to help people in poor countries like Haiti or Bangladesh. We could show the world how we, the citizens, can work together to help others -- no matter what our governments are doing." I loved the idea and took it to medical groups like Physicians for Social Responsibility and Doctors Without Borders, but couldn't find any group to take it on. There is a deep longing among the Iranian people for close ties between Iran and the West, for moving beyond the divisions our governments create. In a more rational world, Iran and the United States would have full diplomatic relations. Trade with this nation of 80 million pent-up consumers would be a boon to US businesses. Intelligence-sharing and other forms of cooperation would help ensure the defeat of terrorist groups like ISIS. And greater international interactions would strengthen those inside Iran who are advocating for a more open society, and those of us in the United States who are trying to stop our government from dragging us into another bloody conflict. I hope that this book, designed to give readers a better understanding of the history and dilemmas facing modern-day Iran, can help ignite more passion and creativity to forge new people-to-people initiatives that model the government relations we want to see -- and that can help stop the path toward war. _Copyright (2018) by Medea Benjamin. Not to be reprinted without permission of the publisher, OR Books._
Here's What You Can Expect At The 2018 Winston-Salem Greek Festival
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Winston-Salem Greek Festival is back. It's a family friendly event held at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church every year. The festival includes food, music, dancing, and cooking demonstrations. Various children's games and ...
Ancient Greek city goes on sale for £6m
Anyone harbouring even the vaguest desire to be emperor of their own classical domain should throw their hat into the ring for the sale of a once-great ancient Greek city. Bargylia, on the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea in what was once governed by Athens ...
Macedonia PM sees 'possible solutions' in GREEK name row
He said that he and GREEK prime minister Alexis Tsipras "looked at possible options for creative solutions" to their dispute over Macedonia's name.
Macedonia, GREEK PMs Pinpoint Possible 'Name' Solution
Meeting at the Sofia summit, the Macedonian and GREEK Prime Ministers said they have narrowed down one possible solution for the long-standing ...
GREECE Chick-fil-A coops up drivers in traffic jams and businesses, residents cry fowl
Traffic backups onto West Ridge Road have been a constant nuisance since Chick-fil-A opened on April 12 in GREECE, and neighbors and nearby ...
GREECE and Macedonia inch closer to name accord, but not quite there yet
SOFIA (Reuters) - GREECE and Macedonia said on Thursday they had made progress in talks to settle a decades-old name dispute, though Athens ...
PM Tsipras: We had long talks overnight with FYROM PM Zaev
Greek PM expressed his optimism that the name dispute could be resolved within the next month
Famed Greek composer Yanni weighs in on the Yanny vs Laurel debate that's dividing the internet
Famous Greek composer Yanni has gone on the record in the 'Yanny vs Laurel' debate, unsurprisingly picking his own name. An audio clip went viral this week with millions of people furiously debating whether the voice on the recording was saying 'Yanny' or ...
No deal 'yet' in Macedonia name row: Greek PM
Greece and Macedonia are "not yet in a position" to announce a deal in their quarter-century name row, Greek premier Alexis Tsipras said Thursday after fresh talks. "I believe we have covered a major part of the distance, but there is still distance to ...
Father of Coventry hit-and-run victims found dead
Reece Platt-May’s body found in hotel room in Greece three months after children hit by serial offender The father of two young hit-and-run victims has been found dead in a hotel room in Greece. Reece Platt-May’s body was found on Thursday, three months after his sons Corey and Casper, aged six and two, were run over by the serial criminal Robert Brown on 22 February. Continue reading...
In pics: Environment Museum of Stymphalia in Peloponnese, Greece
People visit the Environment Museum of Stymphalia in Peloponnese, Greece, May 16, 2018. The thematic museum aims to raising ecological awareness of the lake Stymphalia, an important wetland in the Mediterranean. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
Opa! Norfolk GREEK Festival kicks off Thursday
NORFOLK, Va., (WVEC) -- The Norfolk GREEK Festival kicks off Thursday with plenty of traditional cuisine and entertainment. The event — at ...
Kathimerini: Progress but no solution yet in FYROM name talks, GREEK PM says
The GREEK premier was speaking to reporters at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia following talks with this counterpart from Skopje, Zoran Zaev, ...
Greek president meets with his visiting Estonian counterpart in Athens
Visiting Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid reviews the presidential guard with her Greek counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos (unseen) before their meeting in Athens, Greece, on May 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Giorgos Kontarinis)
FIS Congress Underway in GREECE
As meetings continue at the biennial FIS Congress held in Costa Navarino, GREECE, some important issues have been discussed and the committees ...
Non-taxed income issue won't be discussed earlier than expected
An official of the Greek Finance ministry said that Greece and the institutions both estimateda growth rate of 2 21 this year negotiationswith the institutions on financial
Greece says negotiations with Macedonia over name row at 'crucial' stage
SOFIA (Reuters) - Negotiations between Greece and Macedonia on the former Yugoslav republic’s name have reached a “crucial” point but more needs to be done for a solution, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Thursday. “I believe we have ...
The Special Report of the St. Nicholas Finances
NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America published the PricewaterhouseCoopers Report about the St. Nicholas finances. According to the Report, PwC was able […] The post The Special Report of the St. Nicholas Finances appeared first on The National Herald.
EU Official Wants Greece Fined 13M Euros Over Shipyard Subsidies
The European Court of Justice’s Advocate General, Melchior Wathelet, has recommended that Greece be fined 13 million euros ($15.3) million over the troubled Skaramangas Shipyards […] The post EU Official Wants Greece Fined 13M Euros Over Shipyard Subsidies appeared first on The National Herald.
EU Says Refugee, Migrant Arrivals in Greece Jumped 900% in March
The European Commission said refugee and migrant arrivals to Greece from nearby Turkey soared nine times higher in March compared to a year earlier with […] The post EU Says Refugee, Migrant Arrivals in Greece Jumped 900% in March appeared first on The National Herald.
A [Modern] Greek Tragedy
The Prologue: The Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate (the “Ecumenical Patriarchate”), the center of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith worldwide, has learnedthat certain institutions in the […] The post A [Modern] Greek Tragedy appeared first on The National Herald.
Father of young hit-and-run victims found dead in Greek hotel
The father of two young hit-and-run victims has been found dead in a hotel room in Greece. Reece Platt-May’s body was found on Thursday, three months after his sons Corey and Casper, aged six and two, were mowed down by serial criminal Robert Brown on ...
Macedonia says agrees 'acceptable' deal with Greece
Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Thursday he has agreed with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras on a solution to ending a long-running name row between the neighbouring countries. "We were discussing many options and we agreed on one that is ...
Casper and Corey Platt-May deaths: Father found dead in Greece hotel
These are external links and will open in a new window The father of two boys killed in a hit-and-run crash in Coventry has been found dead in a hotel in Greece. Reece Platt-May's body was discovered on the island of Corfu in the early hours of Thursday.
WWF: Majority of GREEK Islanders Open to Renewable Energy Systems
The residents of 15 GREEK islands want to revert to renewable energy sources, according to a study carried out by WWF Greece as part of the ongoing ...