Olympic Flame lit in Olympia, signaling start of torch relay to Paris 2024 | NBC Sports - YouTube - Greece

HRH Prince Charles Has Whirlwind Spiritual Day in Athens

On Thursday 10 May 2018,His Royal Highness Prince Charles and his wife Camilla,Duchess of Cornwall,conducted the second day of their official visit to Greece.Of particular interest  were the Greek Orthodox stops on HRH's itinerary.After so many years,as the heir to the British throne put it,the Prince of Wales was finally able to meet with His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece,primate of the Church of Greece.
Archbishop Ieronymos told HRH:
It is known that you love our homeland,respect our Orthodoxy,and this has been proven by your frequent visits to the monasteries of Mt.Athos.We know you are interested in theological research,research on politics,art and history.
To which HRH responded:
As I have already mentioned,I have visited Mt.Athos on various occasions,and many monasteries in Romania.And having done this,I have gained a special appreciation for the traditions of the Orthodox Church.*
The Archbishop presented Prince Charles with an icon of the Virgin Mary,to which HRH responded:
Beautiful.*
After viewing a portrait gallery of the Archbishops of Athens and meeting several Greek Orthodox leaders,the Prince,as is his custom when visiting Orthodox lands,went on to visit two churches,Panagia Kapnikaea and St.Irene's.At Panagia Kapnikaea,Prince Charles made the Orthodox sign of the cross and kissed an icon of the Resurrection of Christ,of special relevance as it is still the Easter season in the Greek Orthodox Church.*
It is said that HRH considers Abbot Ephraim of Vatopedi Monastery on Mt.Athos to be his spiritual father.Indeed,monks of Mt.Athos describe Charles as exhibiting closeness to the Orthodox faith and traditions.And for sure his behaviour is such,that whenever the Prince visits Orthodox lands,the question is raised by the media and public alike,as to whether he isn't secretly an Orthodox Christian.
Consider that,when the Chilandari Monastery on Mt.Athos burned down in 2003,Prince Charles reportedly donated 650,000 pounds sterling to its restoration.Being the son of Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark and the grandson of Prince Andreas of Greece and his wife the devout Princess Aliki,who spent her last years as an Orthodox nun,it shouldn't seem strange to anyone that HRH is so attracted to his ancestral faith.

Scotland Marks St.Andrew's Day

Scotland and other countries,as well as the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches,are observing St.Andrew's Day today,November 30.It is a bank holiday in Scotland-an optional day off which will take place on Monday,since November 30 is on Saturday this year.The weekend will be celebrated with parties,dances and dinners.People will paint their faces with the Saltire,the X-shaped St.Andrew's cross,which is also the flag of Scotland.
This year,the event is marred by tragedy,the dimensions of which are still unclear as of time of publication.A police helicopter crashed into a crowded pub,Clutha Vaults,in Glasgow,causing a roof collapse.Many people were trapped inside and rescue teams are gingerly extricating them.The structure is very unstable.Casualty figures are not being released yet,but several injuries and some fatalities are anticipated.
St.Andrew's Day is being observed with church services;the wearing of kilts;the ceilidh,or traditional dancing;preparation of traditional Scottish food;and the playing of bagpipes.
It is also celebrated in Romania;Greece;Russia;Ukraine;the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople;St.Andrew's Barbados;and in churches and ethnic communities worldwide.St.Andrew was one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ.He and his brother Peter left the fishing trade when they were called to be "fishers of men" by the Lord.According to tradition,he preached along the shores of the Black Sea and as far east as Kiev,founding the see of Byzantium-later called Constantinople and today Istanbul,Turkey-and installing its first permanent bishop,Stachys.Eventually he irked the pagans and was crucified for his faith by being bound to an X-shaped cross,according to the Acts of Andrew,an early text familiar to historian St.Gregory of Tours in the sixth century.
Scottish tourism publicises the holiday extensively.

Knicks Win,Electric Lin

The New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin was described by his coach Mike D'Antoni as being just an unbelievable point guard,and he certainly justified that description Friday night as he led the Knicks to a 92-85 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden.The amazing rookie scored a career high 38 points.
A product of Harvard University,the Asian American said I'm just gonna thank my teammates.It's fun just to play basketball with these guys.I'm just thankful to God.This is my dream.
Surrounded by the media,lionized by fans chanting "MVP" and even congratulated by Lakers players after the game,it could scarcely get more intense for the young man,who has four consecutive 20+ point games to his name,all of them Knicks victories.
The stock market,haunted by Greek troubles and a decline in consumer confidence,did not fare as well.All three major averages declined slightly on the week,with the S&P 500 Index stepping down 0.17%.For the year,the S&P remains in the green,up 6.76.The CBOE VIX Volatility Index climbed 21.58 on the week,signaling a resurgence of fear among the traders.
Next week,the market will deal with a number of reports,including the Empire State and Philly Fed manufacturing readings,as well as the Leading Economic Indicators and retail sales.General Motors,HJ Heinz and Campbell Soup will issue earnings figures.
The S&P futures lost 7.70 Friday evening,while bond index futures gained.
HJ Heinz(HNZ),Campbell Soup(CPB),General Motors(GM)

North Dakota Devastated by Flooding

Many residents of Minot,North Dakota failed to get flood insurance,believing their levees would protect them.Although the levees would not breech,they are being topped,leaving many homeless for the foreseeable future.
Record flood waters,the result of prodigious winter snowfall and spring rain in the U.S. and Canada,are raising the misery index exponentially in Minot and nearby communities in the upper Midwest.Dam floodgates had to be opened in three Canadian dams and one American dam,sending a cascade of ruinous proportions southward down the Souris River,submerging countless homes and businesses.
Financial fears are mounting in Europe and the U.S.,where the Greek debt issue continues to ruffle markets.Accord has been reached with the EU and IMF,but the Greek parliament still has to approve the austerity requirements to receive the aid for upcoming repayments.As well,the Fedreral Reserve's quantitative easing program,or QE2,ends next Thursday,with unknown consequences for the stock market.
For the week,the Dow dropped 0.58%,while the NASDAQ lost 1.39 and the S&P edged 0.24 lower.
A number of data points will also condition trading next week.Pending home sales,consumer confidence,the ISM manufacturing index,and the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index will be released.
In reaction,the S&P futures tumbled 13.10 Friday evening,but bond index futures climbed.
At the College World Series in Omaha,Nebraska,South Carolina climbed past Virginia 3-2 in 13 innings on two throwing errors.The Gamecocks will face the Florida Gators in a best of three final beginning on Monday.

McIlroy Dominates At Congressional

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy dominated the early going at the U.S. Open at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda,Maryland.Mature beyond his 22 years,McIlroy,who also had led the year's first major,The Masters,through most of the tournament,made golf history on Friday by posting the best ever 36-hole score at the U.S. Open.
Although botching the eighteenth hole along with Phil Mickelson,McIlroy ended the day with an 11 under 131 for the tournament so far.Mickelson was well back at 1 over.
News from Europe dominated the stock market this week,resulting in several poor closing bells.By week's end,however,things had calmed down in Athens,Greece and the Europeans seemed closer to resolving their debt crisis for the moment,allowing the major averages to post minute gains.The Dow and S&P closed fractionally up for the week,at 0.4 and 0.04,respectively.The NASDAQ gained a more appreciable 1.0.
The Wallow fire,worst in Arizona history,continued to burn Friday evening,being 33% contained.Gusty winds were unfortunately in the forecast,posing further danger of blazes in the drought-ridden West.
The week ahead poses more danger for portfolios as the Federal Reserve issues an interest rate decision and statement on Wednesday.Data on home sales,durable goods and Gross Domestic Product may also prove significant to investors.
The S&P futures took a positive slant,rising 2.50 Friday evening,while bond index futures headed downward.

Stocks Slip Slightly On Renewed Fears

The wall of worry built up to a hint of hurt for the market this week.An old story,the European debt crisis,was re-energized this week when the Fitch Rating Agency cut Greek bonds to junk status.There was also concern about retailers being pressured by rising costs such as the price of cotton.For the week,the Dow lost 0.7 and the NASDAQ fell 0.9,while the S&P edged down 0.3.The Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index showed strength in commodities rising 0.7 as hard assets were sought to mitigate portfolio risk.
Though the market showed weakness,American golfer David Toms,who is 44 years old,continues the strong play that landed him second place in a playoff at The Players Championship last week in Florida.Toms shot an excellent 2nd round 16 under par 62 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth,Texas in fine conditions on Friday.He was trailed by Australians John Senden,Steven Bowditch,American Mark Wilson and Korean Charlie Wi at -9.
Next week will see the market digesting new home sales figures,as well as durable goods orders and earnings from Medtronic and Costco.The S&P futures fell 13.90 in response,and bond index futures rose.
Medtronic(MEDT),Costco(COST)

Reaping The Whirlwind

The financial crisis was back in force this week,casting doubt into the minds of investors.Those old days of 2008 seemed to have returned.Headlines were to be dreaded once again.The Eurozone debt problem generated huge slides in equity prices,raising the possibility that there may be another leg down in a seemingly endless time of economic peril.The S&P was off 6.39 for the week,while the Dow lost 5.71 and the NASDAQ tumbled 7.95.
A positive employment report was all but brushed aside in the climb up the wall of worry.To be sure,the Eurozone issue has been on the radar screen for several months.As a May 19 deadline for Greece approached,however,it came into unnervingly sharp focus,sending rioters into the streets of Athens.A summit of European leaders this weekend to address the problem could hold the market's fate in its hands.In response,the S&P futures were down 15.40 this evening.
The Florida Marlins were leading the Washington Nationals 4-2 in the highly competitive National League East,and golf fans awaited the Players Championship,where Tiger Woods will face Phil Mickelson in another chapter of his return saga.

Event Risk In Focus

With earnings season winding down,event risk has become the focus for traders now.Stocks closed at their lows of Friday's session,with financials losing big on concern over a criminal probe into Goldman Sachs' activities.Traders are worried that further negative information about the Wall Street titan will toughen new financial regulations even more.The other main concern is the Greek debt crisis,which has reached a critical juncture this weekend.If no bailout is reached by Sunday night,Friday's selling could resume on Monday.Greece needs to come up with cash for a May 19 debt payment.
Nonetheless,stocks closed up both for the week and the month.April is traditionally a strong month for equities,while the summer months are believed to yield weaker results,according to conventional wisdom.The S&P futures were down sharply this evening,losing 21.90,while bond futures rose.In golf,Tiger Woods was in danger of not making the cut in the PGA event at Quail Hollow,with relatively obscure players being on the leader board.

Market Seems Relieved

Hopeful noises from Europe and the conclusion of the health care debate in Congress helped the market score a fourth consecutive weekly gain.The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 1.0,while the NASDAQ pegged 0.9 and the S&P gained 0.6 for the week.It seems that the European Union has at least the semblance of a plan to deal with the Greek debt crisis and Congress has gone home for the Easter recess,having put the final touches on the new health insurance reform law.At the same time,the headwind of poor housing data kept the market in check,and volume was still on the light side.
Next week's big financial event happens on Good Friday,with the stock exchanges being closed,but business journalists busy with the employment report Friday morning.The trading week will have limited significance,given the crucial report waiting beyond its reach.It will be a week looking to the following week's reaction to the report.Nonetheless,the S&P futures were up 0.80 early this evening.

Olympic Fever

Olympic fever is setting in as the Vancouver games get underway and it's a long weekend in the U.S.NFL football is over and the snow is piled high in many areas.Business seems a million miles from every one's minds except the games' sponsors such as Visa and Verizon.They are in their own competition:Visa with Mastercard and American Express;Verizon with AT&T.As long as AT&T is allied with Apple,which is for the foreseeable future,it's in a very strong position.It doesn't have to worry too much about Verizon.Visa used to slam American Express all the time.It will be interesting to see what their line is for these games.As a processing company,it doesn't have the economic sensitivity of an American Express,which has to worry about defaulting consumers.
Greece was the first team to enter BC Place,the opening ceremony venue.Its own debt problems have dominated financial headlines this week,and will probably do so next week as well.Its European neighbors haven't yet finalized an aid package,so the market will still have that uncertainty to contemplate.In the meantime,let's all have a low-stress weekend.We'll cross the icy bridge when we come to it.