This rhetorical question makes the reader ponder why and how Greece matters, individually, and to the world. Articles analyze this question in the context of the younger generation, in Greek cinema, Modern Greek literature, food, culture and more. Find Op-Eds that examine the crisis in Greece today; and political commentary from Dan Georgakas, the Director of the Greek American Studies Project at the Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, Queens College (CUNY), and editor of the policy journal of the American Hellenic Institute. Learn why Chicago 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. calls Greektown “a hot community,” describing it as “part of the economic engine of the city.” There’s much more inside.

“The Greek Star has a long and honored history in Chicago and is a powerful influence in the community,” said Diane Adam, editor of the newspaper. “We are excited about our relaunch and to continue our mission as the voice of Chicago’s Hellenic community.”

The print edition is currently available by subscription only. A new interactive website will be unveiled next month, including subscription-only content. Print subscribers will receive digital content for free.  The Greek Star will continue to report news from the local Greek community, as well as news from Greece and the Diaspora. They’ll expand their coverage, exploring Hellenic issues around the globe with more in-depth analysis, and more closely examining the Greek-American experience.

Economou will discuss how he has not only survived, but thrived as a business person during the Greek debt crisis. His talk, “Don’t Waste a Good Crisis,” will begin at 4 p.m. in Room 1050 in the Godfrey Graduate and Executive Education Center, 1275 E. Tenth St.

The talk is sponsored by the IU Institute for International Business in the Kelley School and the Delta Sigma Pi chapter at IU Bloomington. The event is free, but registration is required by contacting Christian Fritz at cefritz@indiana.edu.

Since 2007, the Oxford-educated Economou has led Infinity Finance, which acts as the sub-advisor to two investment funds, ICON Fund and BlueQuant Fund.

BlueQuant, which is based in London, was called one of the “next generation of hedge funds” by Financial News and is a market-neutral fund that invests in a diversified portfolio of developed market equities, primarily focused on Western Europe. ICON is a Cayman Islands-based global macro fund that invests in equity bonds and structured products worldwide.

From 2005 to 2010, Economou was also managing director of Intelligent Communication Systems and Services S.A., the leading aviation company in Greece, which he co-founded in 2002 (he was vice president of the company until 2005). He has been a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization since 2005 and is chairman of its Greater Europe Chapter.

He graduated from Athens College with honors. He has both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford, where he was honored with its Exhibition Award for Scholarship.

(Source:http://newsinfo.iu.edu)

Hours are from 3 to 10 p.m. Friday; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

The church sponsors two Greek festivals each year, explained Rev. Steve Denas. The one beginning Friday will be indoors, he said, at the community center across the street from the church at 401 12th St.

Festival admission is free, but the church charges for dinner and la carte items. The food will all be made on-site, said the Rev. Denas, and will include gyros and souvlakia, which is shish kebab made with pork or lamb. Salads and desserts also will be available. Beverages will include beer, wine and Greek coffee.

Rev. Denas said the festival serves two purposes: to welcome the community in to experience Greek culture and to raise money for the church.

Monastic nuns from Saxonburg, Pa., are expected to display religious icons and artifacts, he said.

Youth dancers will perform traditional dances at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Friday; 4:30, 6 and 7 p.m. Saturday; and 3:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

(Source: Vindy.com)

“New York Times” has featured a report on Greece, repeating that the new austerity measures will only add to the deterioration of the situation in the almost defaulted Greek state. “Greece cannot survive without Europe’s money, even if it chokes on Europe’s conditions” read the report.

According to the US newspaper, the German Chancellor is the “architect” of the disastrous management of the Greek debt crisis, and subsequently, the Euro Zone crisis.

“Wall Street Journal” mentioned among others that the Greek politicians are in charge as long as the loan architects believe that a Greek default could lead Europe to disaster.

The WSJ report underlines the fact that the Greek parties still fight each other to be the first party in the country given the coming elections and that there are still willing people to loan money to Greece if the country allows them to do so.

Other US media reports highlight the harsh stance of the Troika given the failure of the Greek government to implement the austerity measures in the public sector and proceed with privatizations.

Within the context of the Pan–Macedonian Association’s efforts to prevent “negative developments”, as noted, members of the Association met – once again – with the United Nations Special Envoy to discuss Greece and FYROM negotiations on the name issue. The Special Envoy was briefed on their positions and “Skopje propaganda” against our country.

According to the association’s members, Mr. Nimetz appeared to be “particularly worried” watching videos revealing “Skopje’s irredentism”, in addition to other material submitted by the members of the Pan-Macedonian Association.

Mr. Nimetz avoided expressing any view and listened to the views of both parties, while he was also provided a resolution, approved by the “Macedonians’ Common”, a representative body for Macedonian associations in Greece and the Diaspora. The resolution states “We do not authorize any Greek politician granting our names ‘Macedonian’ and ‘Macedonia’, accepting a complex or geographical definition of the word ‘Macedonia’ in FYROM’s final name”.

Meanwhile, after successive individual meetings he had with Greece and FYROM representatives last month in New York, Mr. Nimetz had expressed his readiness to visit the region, even as soon as February, in order to intensify talks to resolve the name issue.

(Source: ANA – MPA)

President Skeadas stated, “We enter 2012 mindful of the dire economic circumstances and supreme hardships faced by our brothers and sisters in economically ravaged Greece, our ancestral homeland. We cannot and will not turn our backs to the needs of our people.”

Daily news reports document widespread poverty in Greece, where many parents can no longer afford to provide adequate food and warm winter clothing for their children, while other parents are forced to abandon their children in orphanages. People are struggling to exist with less income as unemployment continues to rise. For all too many, hope disintegrates into depression. These tragedies affect the young and the old, families, and most importantly, the children who have had their dreams and futures taken away.

National Philoptochos will provide a measured and deliberate response that addresses concrete social needs to alleviate hunger and homelessness, to strengthen family and children’s services, and to ensure that families remain united. National Philoptochos Social Worker Paulette Geanacopoulos is leading a team to identify appropriate nonprofit, non-governmental and religious organizations with which Philoptochos can partner to ensure maximum impact. Philoptochos will make every effort to ensure transparency and accountability regarding utilization of its contributions.

Philoptochos Sisters are urged to unite in love to help those in need.

Immediate aid is imperative and Chapters are asked to contribute generously to this unique appeal for the welfare of our fellow Greek Orthodox Hellenes. With the support of all members, National Philoptochos will offer life-changing and life-saving relief to help our brothers and sisters rebuild their lives at this critical time.

Donations marked ‘Welfare of the People of Greece” may be sent to:
National Philoptochos, 7 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019.

To make online donations go to www.philoptochos.org
For more information: Christine Karavites, National Public Relations, 508.982.4276

(Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America)

The Greek chef will be presenting his cooking techniques and the beauties of Greece in the upcoming program.

Kallidis told ‘Espresso’ Greek newspaper: “I’m very happy. It is a great honor for me and I feel very lucky. It was the right moment for me to make an attempt abroad”.

Moreover, the paper underlines that a stubborn standoff is playing out this week between a nearly bankrupt Greece and the wrongheaded European partners it needs to pay its bills.

The editor of the article emphasizes that Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, the main architect of Europe’s disastrous mismanagement of the euro-zone debt crisis, can keep pretending that harsher doses of fiscal austerity will restore Greece and Europe’s other troubled debtors to economic health, but the measures will likely do more harm than good.

“In a democracy, majorities can be mobilized against special interests if they can see the economic benefit to their own lives. By forcing all Greeks to suffer with no real prospects of relief, Europe is uniting the country, now beset by strikes, against further reforms”.

Five sold-out performances of Panos Kiamos were held in North America (Atlantic City, Chicago, Connecticut, Toronto and Montreal) and every location of Panos Kiamos’ performances was packed with many fans.

Greeks in North America had the opportunity to meet Panos Kiamos and converse with him during an event organized by the GMV (main sponsor of Kiamos’ concerts) and Jimmy Panagiotou, who contributed to the whole organization of the concerts.

George Katerinis from Greek Music Live company, that has dedicated itself to bringing the best international Greek performers to the United States and Canada, stated: “Only a few artists show such an interest in their audience and the quality of their concerts. Panos Kiamos is one of them and thus local media supported him. I want to thank Panos Kiamos for making all Greeks in America celebrate his tour altogether”.

The complaint alleges that Smith & Nephew subsidiaries used a distributor that created a “slush fund” to forward payments to doctors working at government hospitals in Greece in order to win business.

“Smith & Nephew’s subsidiaries chose a path of corruption rather than fair and honest competition,” said Kara Brockmeyer, chief of the SEC enforcement division’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act unit.

“The SEC will continue to hold companies liable as we investigate the medical device industry for this type of illegal behavior” added Mrs. Brockmeyer.

(Source: Martket Watch.com)