The Greek basketball team is going to begin its search for a new coach and guard after being dumped out of the World Basketball Championship in Turkey by Spain on Saturday.
Greece lost 80-72 to the world champion, ending its involvement at a much earlier stage than coach Jonas Kazlauskas and his players had hoped. Kazlauskas led Greece to third place at the European Championship last year but Greece’s performance in Turkey is likely to be deemed a failure by the local federation and his contract, which expires this week, is unlikely to be renewed.
Whoever does take over will have the task of lifting the team after a disappointing championship, during which the Greek players found it difficult to break down zone defenses, such as that employed by Spain. The new coach will also have to start rebuilding the team, as Panathinaikos guard Dimitris Diamantidis announced that he was quitting international basketball.
The 30-year-old has probably been Greece’s best and most consistent performer on offense and defense over the last five years, helping the team win the European Championship in 2005 and to finish as runners-up in the Worlds a year later.
Changes in the Greek Team Because of the Defeat
Geroulanos in Israel
Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos aspires to forge good relations with foreign countries all over the world. As a consequence, he is going to hold a series of meetings in Israel today as the government looks to capitalize on a recent improvement in relations between the two countries.
Greece has recently seen a rise in Israeli visitors, at a time when Israeli tourists going to Turkey have dropped on the back of worsening relations between Tel Aviv and Ankara. Geroulanos will meet with his Israeli counterpart Stas Misezhnikov as well as local tour operators.
German Experts Comment on Greek Debt Crisis
Greece austerity measures cannot prevent default and will lead to a breakdown of political order if continued for long, a leading German economist has warned. ‘This tragedy does not have a solution,’ said Hans-Werner Sinn, head of the prestigious IFO Institute in Munich. ‘The policy of forced ‘internal devaluation’, deflation, and depression could risk driving Greece to the edge of a civil war. It is impossible to cut wages and prices by 30 per cent without major riots,’ he told the elite European House Ambrosetti forum at Lake Como.
‘Greece would have been bankrupt without the rescue measures. All the alternatives are terrible but the least terrible is for the country to get out of the eurozone, even if this kills the Greek banks,’ he said. Dr Sinn said Greece was an entirely different case from Spain and Portugal, which still have manageable public debts and can bring their public finances back into line with higher taxes. ‘Greece would have defaulted in the period between April 28 and May 7, had the money not been promised by the European Union,’ he said, describing the failure of the EU’s bailout strategy to include a haircut for the banks as an invitation to moral hazard.
Greek society has so far held together well, despite a wave of strikes and street violence in the early months of the crisis. However, unemployment is rising fast and political fatigue with such austerity policies typically sets in during the second year.
‘We are in the second Greek crisis right now, today,’ said Dr Sinn. Greece is undergoing what amounts to an IMF austerity package but without the IMF cure of debt restructuring or devaluation that is usual for a country with a spiralling public debt and a chronic loss of competitiveness.
Iranian Channel Launches in Greece
The new Iranian satellite channel Kahkeshan Digisat TV has selected Europe Media Port (EMP) to provide direct-to-home uplink teleport and transmission services to Persian speaking viewers in the Middle East and Europe.
Playout services, uplink, turnaround and occasional use services are being offered to broadcasters by EMP via the Nemea teleport in Greece. “We are delighted to offer a customised DTH solution to the new channel Kahkeshan Digisat, broadcasting directly throughout its target regions and reaching a very wide audience on satellite” stated EMP’s Head of Sales and Marketing Dimitrios Papaharalabos.
Kahkeshan TV provides 24 hour programming with a schedule which includes documentaries, concerts, films, plays and literature. Its audience is aimed at Iranians living at home or abroad. The channel is now available on Hotbird at 13 degrees East and Hellas Sat at 39 degrees East via the Middle East beam.
“Kahkeshan TV is constantly looking for the best technological tools to provide high quality TV programmes. That is why we decided to collaborate with EMP,” said Jean Marc Sermier, Managing Director of Kahkeshan Digisat.
“We are proud to present programmes for Iranians, by Iranians and through Iranians. Kahkeshan TV is an entirely independent enterprise. We shall therefore remain open to all initiatives that will help us advance on our chosen path, that of transmission of free and independent ideas and programmes.”
(source:Rapid TV News)
Napa Valley’s “Greek Wine”
California’s Carneros region, straddling Napa Valley and Sonoma, is home to a “Greek winery.” Fotinos Brothers Winery is owned and operated by fourth generation wine makers Chris and Tom Fotinos.
Their grandfather Christos learned the art of winemaking from his father, in their native Lefkada. Christos began cultivating grapes in Carneros – the top area for Pinot Noir – around 1950. He then taught his son Tom, who taught his sons – they grew up working in the vineyard. “Computers and controlled fermenting tanks, among other things, have changed winemaking over the years. It’s now not only an art, but a science,” said Chris. The hearts of their forefathers still beat in the vineyard. “Many of the traditional things we were taught in the vineyards with our father, we use today. We tweak it a bit because we’ve learned some things over time. My grandfather and father always said ‘a balanced vineyard creates a balanced wine.’ Computers can’t do that. You have to know your property, the vines, etc.”
In 1973, the family began producing wine for friends and family, plus some local restaurants. We’ve actually been drinking wine made from their grapes. For years, they’ve been growing and selling Pinot Noir grapes to well-known Napa wineries, including Robert Mondavi. Years ago, they sold to Christian Brothers and Acacia, among others. They also sell grapes to Domaine Carneros for their sparkling wines.
Their father Tom passed away in 1983. He’d always wanted his sons to carry on the tradition, but they were doing other things – Tom worked in construction, and Chris is a dentist. The Fotinos Brothers Winery was officially established in 2006.
Four generations of wine knowledge, modern oenology, a prime location and knowledge from local experts have been blended to create their superlative wines.
The brothers have another vineyard in Northern Napa Valley, where they produce grapes for Cabernet Sauvignon. Their Pinot Noir is a gold medal-winner – rare for a first year vintage wine. Celebrities love Fotinos Brothers wines. Actors such as James Gandolfini and Ian Ziering have favorably critiqued the wines.
The fifth generation is now learning the business. “Tom’s daughter Charley’s been riding on the tractor, learning about the vineyard since she was two. My sister’s kids too,” Chris stated.
Their 2007 Cabernet will be out September 1st. “We’re very excited. It’s probably the best wine in the vineyard in 12 years.”
The 80th anniversary of the Greek Community of South Australia
The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia celebrates its 80th anniversary, something that coincides with the 5th Hellenic Cultural Festival ‘ODYSSEY’ of Adelaide.
According to the organizers, “This year’s festival will give the opportunity for the Greek Community of Adelaide to remember its history and its progress and the Olympic Hall will be the centre of these events”.
With the numerous events, the Greeks and the whole Australian community will meet the parts of the culture and history of the Greek community through cinema, expositions, cultural events, performances, music, etc. The celebrations will end up with a music event dedicated to Maria’s Kallas music achievements.
Mass jail escape from Omonia police station
Thirteen inmates orchestrated a mass escape from Omonia police jail in the early hours of Saturday after they managed to convince guards to open their cell. The duty officer and two special guards at the station have been suspended from duty for allowing the escape and an official internal inquiry ordered by Greek Police headquarters.
The 13 inmates apparently pretended to develop a sudden acute health problem and demanded that they be taken to hospital. When the two special guards on duty opened the cell door in order to assist them, however, they attacked the guards and managed to escape.
The special guards succeeded in stopping three outside the jail cells and locked them up again, while another two were stopped at the police station entrance and a third caught in the surrounding neighbourhood.
A total of seven inmates succeeded in getting away, among them four Palestinians, two Iraqis and an Afghan. All seven are now being sought.
(source: ana-mpa)
Giallinas paintings stolen from Corfu
An unspecified number of paintings by the internationally renowned Corfu artist Angelos Giallinas have been stolen from the painter’s former home, which had been converted into a gallery by Corfu authorities. The theft was discovered on Friday but it is not known when it actually occurred because the gallery had been closed and last checked about 20 days earlier.
The police have been alerted and an inventory is now being taken of the hundreds of works of arts by Giallinas stored in the house, in order to determine which paintings have been taken and how many were stolen.
The house had been fitted with a burglar alarm but this was disabled by the thieves.
Angelos Giallinas was born in 1857 and died in 1939, becoming well known in Europe for his water-colour landscapes that now decorate palaces in England, Austria, France, Italy and are owned by several major museums. The ‘Giallinas School’ was particularly influential and his style is still imitated, even today.
On his death, his house on Corfu had been converted into a gallery and the Giallinas Foundation had been set up to manage this. All the painter’s works were considered to be of great value and some are considered particularly important.
(source: ana-mpa)
Greek X-FACTOR Auditions Extended in NYC
After popular demand Greece’s “X-Factor” extended their submission date for THE X-FACTOR auditions untill September 7th. Judges K. Gagaki, G. Leventis, G. Theofanous and N. Mouratidis are waiting for you!
NEW YORK X-FACTOR AUDITIONS:
September 10th through 12th
NEP MIDTOWN STUDIOS
885 2nd Avenue, 48th Street
New York NY10017
If you think you’ve got what it takes, please call: (212) 688- 5475 or send an email to satellite@antenna.gr for submission form access at: www.antenna.gr/satellite.
Over 30,000 United States 2011 H-1B Visas Still Available
According to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, approximately 31,000 H-1B visas are still available for the 2011 fiscal year. During the boom years there was always a shortage of H-1B visas and it was very difficult for companies to obtain this visa for their foreign employees.
The United States economy has still not fully recovered from the economic downturn and so demand for H-1B petitions to remain low. This provides a good opportunity for companies that have had difficulties obtaining H-1B visas in the past to obtain them now. In 2006 all available H-1B visas were snatched up in a single day.
The H-1B visa is primarily for workers with a bachelors degree or higher, along with fashion models who plan to work for a US employer in specialized, degree level work. H-1B workers may live and work in the United States for a period of up to three years and can be extended for up to six years. If an individual meet requirements for another visa category, he/she may be able to stay longer.
The normal cap on H-1B visa petitions is 65,000 per fiscal year with an additional 20,000 available per year under the H-1B Masters Degree Exemption. This allows the first 20,000 petitions for applicants with a Master’s degree or higher to be exempt from the cap.
Below is a table showing the availability of H-1B visas as of 20 August 2010:
Type of Cap Cap Limit Petitions Recieved
Normal H-1B cap 65,000 33,900
H-1B Masters Exemption 20,000 12,600