Selection: Michalis Katsigeras

SHINING STAR: London, 24 - According to reports from Bethlehem, the planet Venus shone particularly brightly last night (...). According to scientists, it is possible that Venus was shining over the manger where Christ was born, and was the “star” followed by the three Magi. CRASH IN KOREA: Paris, 27 - According to telegrams received from Tokyo, a C-47 transport plane belonging to the Greek air force fighting in Korea, crashed at 3.25 a.m. local time. The 14 crew members — four Greeks, their American wireless operator and nine pasengers — were all killed. (...) It is the second accident in the Greek air force in Korea within a week. (...) Observers on the ground expressed the opinion that the accident may have been caused by engine trouble. SIKELIANOS: The Christmas edition of Nea Estia magazine has just gone into circulation. It is a richly illustrated 260-page volume dedicated to Angelos Sikelianos. LOUKATOS: “Cephalonian Tales,” by the folklore writer Dimitris S. Loukatos, currently on sale at central bookstores, contains 1,415 wise sayings by the Cefalonian people, with an introduction, notes, index, map and photographs. VENEZIS: Alpha Publications, owned by I.M. Skazikis, has just published the first, beautifully compiled volume of a historical series by Ilias Venezis entitled “Archbishop Damaskinos: The Years of Bondage.”