Buy a house, get a US visa?

A. Makris
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Buy a house, get a US visa?

John Thomas Financial CEO Thomas Belesis chimes in on Fox Business Scoreboard regarding a bill that will grant visas to people who buy houses that worth over $500.000. Watch the video below:

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The comprehensive bill that aims to spur foreign travel and spending in the U.S., Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Mike Lee (R-UT), have proposed providing a three-year residential visa to foreign nationals who invest at least $500,000 in residential real estate in the U.S. At least $250,000 must be spent on a primary residence where the visa holder will live for at least 180 days out of the year while paying taxes to the U.S.

Lawyers to Hold 2-Day Strike

Fani Toli
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0
Lawyers to Hold 2-Day Strike

A nationwide lawyers’ strike has been announced by Bar Associations of Greece starting from November 3 until November 4.
The decision was made during an emergency meeting among members of a committee for local bar associations.
This meeting was held on the 22nd of October in Athens and an upcoming meeting is scheduled for the 4th of November so that a decision can be taken concerning future potential strikes of lawyers.

Israel's Peres to Visit Cyprus

Fani Toli
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Israel's Peres to Visit Cyprus

The President of Israel Shimon Peres will pay a state visit to Cyprus November 2-4.
According to the preliminary programme, the Israeli President is expected to have a tete-a-tete with President Demetris Christofias, followed by an official meeting between delegations of the two states.
The meeting will focus on the Cypriot and Middle East Problems as well as on the gas issue and the potential cooperation between the two countries.
In addition, Peres is expected to hold a meeting with House President Yiannakis Omirou.
The Cypriot and Israeli President will sign four agreements concerning  development and search fields, renewable sources of energy, archaeology, and telecommunication.

‘Rebetiko’ at Greek Film Festival in Sydney

Fani Toli
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‘Rebetiko’ at Greek Film Festival in Sydney

Close to 600 people packed into 3 sold out cinemas on Sunday to watch the Greek Film Festival of Sydney’s  closing night film and one and only screening of Rebetiko. 

Following the screening, those who booked early enough were lucky enough to experience a live helping of some of the wonderful music from the film, including a tribute to Roza Eskenazi (My Sweet Canary) at the closing night event hosted by Nostos Restaurant.

The 4 piece band which included Kostas Theodosopoulos (bouzouki), George Spanos (bass, baglama), Giannis Polkas (guitar) and Tassoula Kallinou (vocals) entertained over 120 people with songs  like Stou Thoma to magazi (At Thoma’s Place) and Kaigomai (I’m Burning) from then hit film Rebetiko and with some of Eskenazi’s greatest hits.

The sell-out event has led to a by popular demand second performance on Friday 4th November 2011 and already bookings are coming in fast. Book now to avoid disappointment direct with Nostos on 02 9550 0144.

UN Secretary General Calls for New Cyprus Problem Summit in January

Stella Tsolakidou
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UN Secretary General Calls for New Cyprus Problem Summit in January

A new three-way Summit is planned for January in order to reach a settlement on the Cyprus Problem. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told reporters at UN headquarters that “both sides have made encouraging progress during these two days on some of the remaining core issues”.

“This has given me confidence that a comprehensive settlement can be achieved. Both leaders have assured me that they believe that they can finalise a deal” added the SG after the two-days talks from the 30th to the 31st of October at Greentree Manhasset in Long Island, NY.

SG special advisor Downer has also positively commented on the developments, calling the two-day discussions “constructive and intensive”. Although both sides have agreed to unite Cyprus in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, with Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot constituent states of equal status, there are still many deep issues to be solved, such as disputes on governance, property, territory and citizenship.

Ban Ki-Moon thanked both leaders for working together on solving the yearlong issue and expressed his hopes that the two sides will be moving from now on to the “endgame of negotiations”.

Greek Orthodox St. Demetrios Community Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Stella Tsolakidou
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Greek Orthodox St. Demetrios Community Celebrates 50th Anniversary

The Greek Community of Saint. Demetrios in Merrick, Long Island celebrated the 50t anniversary from its foundation as well as the Oxi Day anniversary. The celebrating events began early in the morning with a blessing in the Church of St. Demetrios and went on with the festivities organized by the younger members of the community.

Young children quoted anti-war poems and sang along Sophia Vembo’s songs and other similar patriotic melodies that brought everyone back to the rigid mountains of Hepirus and the heroic sacrifices of the Greek people fighting the Italian-German invaders, told Father Nikiforos Fakinos to Ethnikos Kirikas.

Parliament Begins Debate on Government Confidence Motion

A. Makris
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Parliament Begins Debate on Government Confidence Motion

Greece’s Parliament began a three-day debate on a confidence motion in the government of Prime Minister George Papandreou in Athens today, according to statements from Parliament Speaker Filipos Petsalnikos.
The debate will conclude by midnight on Nov. 4 and will be decided by a rollcall vote at that time, Petsalnikos said in statements televised live on state-run Vouli TV.
(source: Bloomberg)

Welfare Help for Donkey 'Taxis' in Santorini

A. Makris
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Welfare Help for Donkey 'Taxis' in Santorini


The first fines for breaching an animal welfare code have been issued to donkey owners on the Greek island of Santorini.
The Donkey Sanctuary has led efforts to improve the welfare of donkeys who take tourists up the steep cliffs — climbing 600 steps — from the port to the old town.
A code of practice set up by the sanctuary several years ago had not been enforced — until the recent election of a new mayor, who pledged to improve welfare.
Paul Svendsen of the Donkey Sanctuary told: “We were delighted to see €200 fines issued in September to 10 donkey taxi owners who breached the law.
“Some owners weren’t rotating their animals and were hitting them with sticks. All this should be prevented now.”
Santorini Animal Welfare Association’s Christina Kaloudi agreed times had changed.
But the Donkey Sanctuary is urging tourists to keep an eye out and send information if they have concerns. Previous spot-checks have found girths embedded in the animals’ flesh and lame donkeys having to work.
(source: horse and hound, foto: GR/Efi Kiatos)

Opposition Leader Opens Electoral Campaign

A. Makris
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Opposition Leader Opens Electoral Campaign

Antonis Samaras, leader of Nea Dimocratia – the main opposition party in Greece (centre-right) – today essentially opened the electoral campaign when addressing his party’s parliamentary group, asking the current government ”to leave as soon as possible, because it poses a threat to people in Greece and their future.” ”Not even the MPs of his own party want him any longer,” said Samaras, referring to socialist Premier G. Papandreou.
Samaras stressed the need for early elections ”to make the move from the chaos under Papandreou to democratic stability.” Talking about the new economic rescue package for Greece, decided at the European summit of October 27, Samaras said that ”now everything has gone wrong. The government first reached a deal and annulled it a few hours later.” He concluded by calling Papandreou ”an adventurer,” and defining the referendum proposed by the Premier as ”something that will divide the Greek people.”

German Minister Says no Going Back on Greek Bailout

A. Makris
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German Minister Says no Going Back on Greek Bailout

As Europe demands an explanation from Greece’s prime minister for his decision to hold a referendum on the latest EU bailout, voters are warned that a rejection of the rescue plan is a rejection of the euro all together.
Germany’s foreign minister issued a warning to Greece on Wednesday, saying the bailout package agreed to by European Union leaders last week cannot be renegotiated if it fails in a referendum scheduled for the coming months.
“The whole program we just agreed last week cannot be placed back on the table,” Westerwelle told reporters in Istanbul on the sidelines of a conference on Afghanistan. He added that Greece could not expect financial help from the bloc without making sacrifices.
“Every country in the EU does its own homework, which means reforms are necessary.”
The comments came less than 48 hours after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced plans to hold a referendum on the country’s latest bailout by the EU. Greek Interior Minister Haris Kastanidis said Wednesday that the vote could be moved up from January to December.
(source: DW)

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