I. SVOTS - Hellenism and Orthodoxy
Greek philosophy and culture have left an indelible mark on Orthodox Christianity, in all of its theological, liturgical, and artistic expressions, as well as on the churches and their interrelationships. At this symposium, we will examine the topic "Hellenism and Orthodoxy" broadly, in terms of time and place. We will analyze the role of Hellenistic culture in the spread of the early Christianity and look at how Hellenistic thought influenced and contrasted with the biblical scriptures. We will see how Hellenistic philosophy and categories were used and recast in patristic thought. And, we will continue to look at the rich tapestry of Orthodox Christianity in this country and what each church body has to offer to a united Orthodox witness. Speakers: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA), will deliver the free public keynote address on Friday evening, June 11th at 7:30 PM; Archimandrite Elpidophoros, Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, will address the topic "Hellenism and Orthodox Identity in North America." Read the full details of program, with links to the speakers and schedule here. Hellenism: hel-uh-niz-uhm–noun: 1. ancient Greek culture or ideals. 2. the imitation or adoption of ancient Greek language, thought, customs, art, etc.: the Hellenism of Alexandrian Jews. 3. the characteristics of Greek culture, esp. after the time of Alexander the Great; civilization of the Hellenistic period.
II. BALKANS.COM - Lifeline event creates Greece - Serbia partnership
HRH Crown Princess Katherine has created a humanitarian Greece-Serbia partnership recently at her Lifeline Hellas charity labeled “Greek Serbian saving children campaign“. The Crown Princess said "With Greece always in my heart, I am pleased to announce my decision to open Lifeline in 2010 to supporting humanitarian aid in Greece as well. My husband and I have been shocked by the recent developments and since we both got Greek blood we feel equal obliged to support the situation in Greece. Greek and Serbian brotherhood always cooperate in the past during difficult times and Greece has proven it many times all these years by its support, a upprot that we and the Serbian people are grateful. Now, it the desire of my husband and me but also of the Serbian people to support Greece during these hard times.Through investments, donations and kind words you have supported us in Serbia, and we would like to give back to Greece." She appeals for help in her efforts by becoming “Friend of Lifeline” either through your Corporate social responsibility program or personally as a dedication to a loved one. "Friends of Lifeline are those who have contributed to save lives through their donations to our new “Greek Serbian saving children campaign” which we will proudly display on our website and at all events through 2010," the Princess adds. In connection with this campaign, the Princess is hosting a charity event on the 14th of June in Athens. She is also hosting a charity event in Serbia on the 20th of June. Those who would like to help her cause can visit the website.
III. TELEGRAPH - Poisonous pufferfish 'to be sold to Asian markets'
Cyprus may start selling a poisonous pufferfish to Asian markets where it is prized as a delicacy by cooks who know how to remove its toxins. Lagocephalus sceleratus, a member of the pufferfish family, has invaded the eastern Mediterranean in recent years after working its way up from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. Named for its rabbit-like appearance and also known as a blowfish, Lagocephalus sceleratus contains a toxin which is potentially lethal. However, it is considered a delicacy in some countries by cooks who know how to safely remove its skin and internal organs containing the poison. Cyprus's fisheries department said it was investigating whether it could export the snaggle-toothed fish to far east markets, and had had contacts with Japan, Korea and China. Cypriot fishermen have long complained about the presence of the fish in large quantities around the coast of the island. With a one-euro bounty on its head subsidised by the authorities, fishermen have handed in more than 15 tonnes of pufferfish in the past year. Authorities said they were conducting a survey to assess the impact of the fish on Cyprus's marine eco-system.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was visiting Shanghai to tour the World Expo and was expected to speak later Friday, two days after host China yielded to international pressure to back new nuclear sanctions against Tehran. Ahmadinejad was not scheduled to meet with Chinese leaders while in China. He also skipped Thursday's summit in Uzbekistan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which was attended by Chinese president Hu Jintao. Iran is an observer in that group. The new sanctions, agreed to Wednesday by the U.N. Security Council, seek to punish Iran for rejecting proposals to halt uranium enrichment and take its nuclear fuel from abroad. The West and its allies fear Iran is developing nuclear weapons, though Iran says it is seeking nuclear power only for peaceful energy and medical research purposes. As a permanent member of the Security Council and key Iranian ally, China could have exercised its veto power to block the sanctions. But it reversed its earlier opposition out of frustration with Tehran's intransigence and a desire to avoid becoming isolated over the issue, analysts said. The U.N. resolution approved Wednesday targets Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, ballistic missiles and nuclear-related investments in a bid to compel Tehran to cooperate with international inspectors. "China's vote for the sanction against Iran was a move to faithfully implement the conventions of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty," said Gong Shaopeng, a professor with the Institute of International Relations at the Foreign Affairs University in Beijing. During an official visit Wednesday to Tajikistan, Ahmadinejad displayed his usual disdain for efforts to rein in his country's nuclear program, describing the latest U.N. measures as "annoying flies, like a used tissue." The resolution "isn't worth a cent for the Iranian nation," he said. China's Foreign Ministry said Thursday its support for fresh sanctions should not block efforts to find a diplomatic solution, and called for renewed attempts to bring Iran back to the negotiating table. "China has repeated on many occasions that the resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council does not mean that the door to diplomatic efforts is closed," said spokesman Qin Gang. Details of negotiations with China over the sanctions are unknown. But Beijing appeared to be satisfied that the sanctions would not harm its economic ties with Iran, with whom bilateral trade reached at least $36.5 billion last year. Iran meets 11 percent of China's energy needs and Chinese companies have major investments in Iranian energy extraction projects and the construction of roads, bridges and power plants. It wasn't clear what effect the vote would have on relations between Tehran and Beijing. Last month, Ahmadinejad rebuked Russia, which also backed sanctions, warning its leaders "to correct themselves, and not let the Iranian nation consider them among its enemies." "The vote may have a little impact on the Sino-Iranian relations, but Iran should believe there is difference between the policies of China and those of the U.S.," Gong said.
V. RIANOVOSTI - Iranian president rejects invitation to SCO summit
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad decided to reject an invitation to visit the forthcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), where his country has an observer status, the Russian foreign minister said. The summit of the six-member regional security alliance began in the Uzbek capital Tashkent on Thursday. Ahmadinejad, whose country has long been seeking SCO membership, suddenly decided to snub the meeting as ties between Moscow and Tehran deteriorated over the recent Security Council vote imposing new sanctions on Iran. "No one cancelled an invitation, sent by the Uzbek hosts to President Ahmadinejad, it was his decision not to come," Sergei Lavrov said. Ahmadinejad "received an invitation in due time, like other participants, confirmed [his participation] and then it was up to him to decide," he added. Instead, the Iranian president will fly to China to visit the Shanghai Expo. Twelve members of the council's 15 members voted for the resolution to impose the fourth set of sanctions on Iran on Wednesday. The resolution was sponsored by the five permanent members of the Security Council — the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia. Iran, along with India, Mongolia and Pakistan, has an observer status in SCO, established in 2001 to help ensure security along the border between China and former Soviet republics. Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are the founding members of SCO. Uzbekistan, which joined the organization in 2001, holds the organization's rotating presidency this year.
VI. JPOST - Erdogan wins raucous reception from Arab leaders
A day after defying the West and – along with Brazil – voting against UN sanctions on Iran, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received a thunderous reception from Arab leaders at the Turkish-Arab Economic Forum that opened Thursday in Istanbul. Basking in the new stature he has gained in the Arab and Muslim world as a result of his confrontational posture toward Israel, Erdogan questioned Washington’s international dominance, and continued to unleash invective against Israel because of the botched raid on the Turkish-flagged ship last week that led to the death of nine Turks after IDF commandos trying to stop the boat from reaching Gaza were attacked on board. “Are we going to remain silent over the murder of nine people? We can’t turn a blind eye to this banditry in international waters,” Erdogan told the forum. “This can’t continue as it is.” And, in an apparent jab at US foreign policy, Erdogan said: “Arms, embargoes and exclusion are not working” – adding that the world was paying a heavy price for such strategies in Iran and Afghanistan. Erdogan on Thursday strongly rejected suspicions that he was shifting toward the East and reiterated his nation’s commitment to joining the European Union – while accusing the Europeans of acting in bad faith with a “secret agenda” against Turkey. “There are those within the European Union who are trying to slow down the negotiating process, those who want to prevent the process. They are trying to curb our enthusiasm,” Erdogan said. “We are aware of their secret agenda, but we carry on [with reforms] nevertheless.” France and Germany are the most prominent European countries seeking to block Turkey’s entry into the 27-nation EU. Opponents say Turkey has not moved fast enough on promised reforms, and Turkey’s 1974 occupation of northern Cyprus is a key stumbling block. Israeli officials say Erdogan’s recent moves, such as Turkey’s vote in the UN and the way he is using the flotilla affair to relentlessly bash Israel, are an indication that he feels entrance into the EU simply won’t happen. So, snubbed by the West, he is turning to the East, and in the process becoming the champion of the Palestinian cause.
VII. EXAMINER - World Cup schedule
The World Cup is here and everybody is excited about it. But just in case you don't yet have the schedule, we have included it below. (All times are Eastern Time). Listed are: Day, Date, Time, Networks, Teams, Group Letter, Location, and Match Number: Fri 6/11 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com South Africa vs. Mexico A Johannesburg 1; Fri 6/11 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Uruguay vs. France A Cape Town 2; Sat 6/12 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Korea Republic vs. Greece B Port Elizabeth 3; Sat 6/12 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Argentina vs. Nigeria B Johannesburg 4; Sat 6/12 2 p.m. ABC England vs. USA C Rustenburg 5; Sun 6/13 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Algeria vs. Slovenia C Polokwane 6; Sun 6/13 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Serbia vs. Ghana D Pretoria 7; Sun 6/13 2 p.m. ABC Germany vs. Australia D Durban 8; Mon 6/14 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Netherlands vs. Denmark E Johannesburg 9; Mon 6/14 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Japan vs. Cameroon E Bloemfontein 10; Mon 6/14 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Italy vs. Paraguay F Cape Town 11; Tue 6/15 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com New Zealand vs. Slovakia F Rustenburg 12; Tue 6/15 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Ivory Coast vs. Portugal G Port Elizabeth 13; Tue 6/15 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Brazil vs. Korea DPR G Johannesburg 14; Wed 6/16 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Honduras vs. Chile H Nelspruit 15; Wed 6/16 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Spain vs. Switzerland H Durban 16; Wed 6/16 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com South Africa vs. Uruguay A Pretoria 17; Thu 6/17 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Argentina vs. Korea Rep. B Johannesburg 18; Thu 6/17 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Greece vs. Nigeria B Bloemfontein 19; Thu 6/17 2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com France vs. Mexico A Polokwane 20; Fri 6/18 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Germany vs. Serbia D Port Elizabeth 21; Fri 6/18 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Slovenia vs. USA C Johannesburg 22; Fri 6/18 2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com England vs. Algeria C Cape Town 23; Sat 6/19 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Netherlands vs. Japan E Durban 24; Sat 6/19 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Ghana vs. Australia D Rustenburg 25; Sat 6/19 2 p.m. ABC Cameroon vs. Denmark E Pretoria 26; Sun 6/20 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Slovakia vs. Paraguay F Bloemfontein 27; Sun 6/20 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Italy vs. New Zealand F Nelspruit 28; Sun 6/20 2 p.m. ABC Brazil vs. Ivory Coast G Johannesburg 29; Mon 6/21 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Portugal vs. Korea DPR G Cape Town 30; Mon 6/21 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Chile vs. Switzerland H Port Elizabeth 31; Mon 6/21 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Spain vs. Honduras H Johannesburg 32; Tue 6/22 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Mexico vs. Uruguay A Rustenburg 33; Tue 6/22 9:30 a.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com France vs. South Africa A Bloemfontein 34; Tue 6/22 2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Nigeria vs. Korea Republic B Durban 35; Tue 6/22 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Greece vs. Argentina B Polokwane 36; Wed 6/23 9:30 a.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Slovenia vs. England C Port Elizabeth 37; Wed 6/23 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com USA vs. Algeria C Pretoria 38; Wed 6/23 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Ghana vs. Germany D Johannesburg 39; Wed 6/23 2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Australia vs. Serbia D Nelspruit 40; Thu 6/24 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Slovakia vs. Italy E Johannesburg 41; Thu 6/24 9:30 a.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Paraguay vs. New Zealand E Polokwane 42; Thu 6/24 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Denmark vs. Japan F Rustenburg 43; Thu 6/24 2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Cameroon vs. Netherlands F Cape Town 44; Fri 6/25 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Portugal vs. Brazil G Durban 45; Fri 6/25 9:30 a.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Ivory Coast vs. Korea DPR G Nelspruit 46; Fri 6/25 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Chile vs. Spain H Pretoria 47; Fri 6/25 2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Switzerland vs. Honduras H Bloemfontein 48; Sat 6/26 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st A vs. 2nd B Port Elizabeth 49; Sat 6/26 2 p.m. ABC 1st C vs. 2nd D Rustenburg 50; Sun 6/27 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st D vs. 2nd C Bloemfontein 51; Sun 6/27 2 p.m. ABC 1st B vs. 2nd A Johannesburg 52; Mon 6/28 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st E vs. 2nd F Durban 53; Mon 6/28 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st G vs. 2nd H Johannesburg 54; Tue 6/29 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st F vs. 2nd E Pretoria 55; Tue 6/29 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st H vs. 2nd G Cape Town 56; Fri 7/2 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Winners 53 vs. 54 Port Elizabeth 57; Fri 7/2 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Winners 49 vs. 50 Johannesburg 58; Sat 7/3 9:30 a.m. ABC Winners 52 vs. 51 Cape Town 59; Sat 7/3 2 p.m. ABC Winners 55 vs. 56 Johannesburg 60; Tue 7/6 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Winners 57 vs. 59 Cape Town 61; Wed 7/7 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Winners 58 vs. 60 Durban 62; Sat 7/10 2 p.m. ABC Losers: 61 vs. 62 Port Elizabeth 63; Sun 7/11 1:30 p.m. ABC Winners: 61 vs. 62 Johannesburg 64.