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AND IT’S aimED mainly TOWARDS
the young of Greek origins
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ARTS & CULTURE WEIRD WORLD HOLIDAYS [2] GOSSIP [2] [3] YOUNG WOMAN [2] [3] HOROSCOPE SPORT [2] [3]
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[Many more photo-albums can be found in the Archives]
[A whole section with many exciting pages]
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PHOTO-EVENTS
VIDEOS-MUSIC
![THE LATEST NEWS & COMMENT
UPDATED: 07.30 GMT 07.09.2010
[The latest news updated daily. All other pages updated at regular intervals]
Foreign student numbers to be cut under new visa regime
Foreign students could be blocked from some educational institutions and courses as part of a plan to reduce immigration.
LONDON 07/09/2010
Ministers want to cut the number of overseas students entering Britain by tens of thousands. More than 362,000 were allowed to study here in the year to June, an increase of 35 per cent on the previous year.
Figures show that one in five foreign students is still in Britain five years after arrival, leading to concerns that student visas are being exploited as an easy migration route.
Home Office research shows half the foreign students who arrive each year are not studying degrees, but a range of lesser qualifications such as A-levels and even GCSEs.
Damian Green, the Immigration Minister, on Monday afternoon outlined plans as part of an overhaul of migration policy [see below].
Despite ruling out a cap on total foreign student numbers, Mr Green as expected said the system will be tightened. Options will include limiting visas to those studying degree courses or to certain institutions.
Tens of thousands of foreign students have entered "lower tier" colleges, where it is easier to gain places.
Mr Green said it was "transparently clear" that the immigration system did not work. He said: "I want a student visa system which encourages the entry of good students to highly trusted institutions, but which scrutinises much more closely or cuts out entirely those who are less beneficial to this country."
Mr Green said that every other immigration route, including giving visas to foreign wives or husbands, must be reviewed and tightened.
David Cameron has promised to bring net migration, the balance between those leaving and those arriving, down to the "tens of thousands".
Figures last week showed it rose by a fifth last year to 196,000. The main driver was a sharp increase in the number of foreign students, to more than 360,000.
Research for the Home Office shows that in 2004, around 186,000 students were granted visas and 21 per cent of them were still here in 2009, meaning they had been able to switch to other routes such as work permits or marriage, paving the way for them to settle here permanently.
And that is only those known to immigration officials. Tens of thousands more may have simply overstayed their visa and disappeared.
Earlier this year, it was estimated that more than one in 10 foreign students was arriving in Britain through bogus or suspect colleges.
Green calls for tougher look
In his first major speech since the coalition Government took office, Mr Green said the annual cap on economic migrants from outside the EU would not be enough on its own to deliver the target of reducing net immigration to the ''tens of thousands''.
He said the unsustainable levels of net migration, which leapt by a fifth last year to 196,000, must be brought down and ''all routes into the UK'' must be studied to ensure only the ''brightest and best'' migrants entered the country to study and work.
Speaking at the Royal Commonwealth Club, Mr Green said: ''We need steady downward pressure on many routes to long-term immigration in order to hit our net migration commitment. We are looking at all routes, and will need to set rules for each of them that give us the immigrants we need.
''Each of these policies will be controversial with those who have become used to the previous system. Change is seldom easy. But in an increasingly globalised world it is ever more important that proper immigration controls are not only in place but are seen to be in place.''
If the UK does not create public confidence in its immigration system, Mr Green said ''we will remain vulnerable to those who want to find scapegoats for social problems''.
Sustainable immigration levels ''will relieve pressure on public services, and stop immigration being such a delicate political issue,'' he said. ''At the same time, we must be confident enough to say Britain is open for business and study to those who will make this a better country, and a more open society.''
Mr Green said the points-based system introduced by Labour was still not delivering proper control of numbers of migrants coming into the country and added it had been ''too easy'' for people to enter the UK illegally and to stay beyond the length of a visa.
Home Office-commissioned research looked into all of those who came into the UK in 2004 and tracked their immigration status for the following five years. All those granted settlement in 2009 were also studied to see how they entered the country in the first place.
YOUNG OVERSEAS CYPRIOTS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD MEET IN NICOSIA
Over 60 young Cypriots from 8 countries across the world, met in Nicosia between 24-27 August, for NEPOMAK’s 5th General Conference. At the conference delegates held workshops to discuss the improvement of existing NEPOMAK programmes, the establishment of new programmes, the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and they also developed a network of friends from across the globe.

Delegates discussed how to enrich NEPOMAK’s programmes designed to promote Cypriot history, heritage and the Greek language in the Diaspora, including NEPOMAK’s Discover Cyprus Programme. At the conference, delegates also officially launched NEPOMAK’s Young Community Leader’s Programme, a new distance learning programme, teaching Cypriot history and culture. This programme will be delivered over the internet to 30 young Cypriots across the world and is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Open University of Cyprus. Delegates also re-affirmed the President’s call for the upgrading of CyBC programmes aimed at the diaspora, taking into consideration the language barrier for third and fourth generation Cypriots.
At the conference, delegates also discussed and developed ideas to bring together more young Cypriots across the globe. The conference resolved to make greater use of modern technology, by better utilising online and social networking media, including NEPOMAK’s re-designed website (www.NEPOMAK.org). Delegates also developed plans to establish events to bring young Cypriot professionals together to foster networking and collaboration between Cypriots.
During its conference, NEPOMAK agreed on new ways to support the President of the Republic, working with POMAK and PSEKA, in the ongoing negotiations to find a just, viable and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue. In particular delegates focussed on how to raise awareness of the Cyprus issue through online media. Delegates also received updates on the current negotiations from the President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Commissioner.
During the conference, a new Executive Council was elected for the next two years. The following individuals were elected to serve on the Executive Council:
PRESIDENT: CHRISTOS KARAOLIS (UK)
VICE PRESIDENTS: ALEXIS STAVROU (UK)
STACEY KAMILARIS (USA)
ELENI EFTHYMIOU (AUSTRALIA)
SOTIRIS LOIZOU (GREECE)
NICHOLAS NICOLAOU (CANADA)
MICHAEL PAPPAS (SOUTH AFRICA)
ALEX IOANNIDES (REST OF AFRICA)
CHRISTIAN KOUNNAS (REST OF EUROPE)
GENERAL SECRETARY: KIKA MECHANICOS (AUSTRALIA)
TREASURER: SPIRO XENOPHONTOS (USA)
ORGANISING SECRETARY: EVANGELOS POLYVIOU (GREECE)
MEMBERS: PETER CHARALAMBOUS (UK)
NIKI CONSTANTINOU (UK)
CONSTANTIA PETROU (UK)
CARMELINA PETROU (UK)
ELIZABETH ROUSOU (UK)
ANDREA MITSAELIDES (USA)
DEMETRI NICOLAOU (AUSTRALIA)
KOULLA CHARALAMBOUS (GREECE)
IRENE ADAMIDES (CANADA)
CARMEN LAMBRIANOS (SOUTH AFRICA)](NEWS-HOME_files/shapeimage_4.png)
The Greek Cypriot Community Trust
presents
an Open Art Exhibition
15th September -26th September
The event is to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus. It will be attended by the Cyprus High Commissioner
Many Artists of Greek Cypriot origin living and working in the UK are participating in this unique event. They cover a wide range of styles and subjects, from the professional to the amateur artist in an exhibition that shows the artistic directions and involvements of an active community.
ARTISTS WHO HAVE MISSED THE REGISTRATION DATE CAN STILL BRING IN THEIR WORKS ON THE 6TH OR 7TH SEPTEMBER AT THE CENTRE - Details to be found in the website of Britannia Centre
Three major prizes will be awarded.
The Exhibition is open to the public, Free of Charge and we invite everybody to visit and enjoy a very colourful art exhibition from many talents.
Location: Britannia Centre, Britannia Road, North Finchley, London N12 9RU,.
Duration: Open Daily 15 – 26 September 2010;
Weekdays: 12noon to 7pm
Weekends: 11.30am-3.30pm
For further information and details please visit or email:
email: info@britanniacentre.com
DOWNLOAD THE BOOK FOR FREE
On July 20, 36 years ago, the people of Cyprus woke up to a barbaric reality that is still present today and probably most of us don't remember.
So, we thought you'd like to have a dual language (Greek & English) eBook on Cyprus which you can download for free!
Kind regards
BIBLIAGORA Team
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e-CAMPAIGN FOR
THE RETURN OF
THE PARTHENON SCULPTURES
TO ACROPOLIS
Reunite Them! “BRING THEM BACK!” is the slogan of a new non-commercial web-site, sponsored by Metaxa brandy, which promotes an e-petition to collect over 1,000,000 signatures in order to get the European Parliament to discuss the matter. The parody you see in this video is self-explanatory.
Here is what the site www.bringthemback.org
says on their opening page:
Thousands of pieces of Greek antiquities are hosted in the British Museum. Our campaign does not ask for the return of those.
We ask for the return of the Parthenon Marbles in Greece and the Reunification of the Monument.
We, the users of the Internet obtain power and we are able to mobilise the international public opinion. Our goal can be achieved this way.
Do you believe this is fair? If yes, help this goal come true.
