Latest news with #Astons
Travel Daily News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Piraeus tops Greece's property investment growth with 28% surge
Piraeus leads Greece's property market with 28% annual growth, highlighting top Golden Visa investment opportunities across high-demand regions. New analysis by Astons, a leading international firm specializing in real estate, residency, and citizenship through investment, highlights which regions of Greece currently offer the strongest investment opportunities, as annual property price increases reach up to 28%. Greece remains one of the world's most attractive Golden Visa destinations, offering foreign investors the opportunity to secure residency through a three-tier investment system. Tier A covers Greece's most sought-after locations – including Athens, Thessaloniki, and the islands – where the minimum investment is set at 800,000 euros (approximately $867,000). Tier B applies to other areas of the country with a lower threshold of 400,000 euros (approximately $435,000). Tier C, meanwhile, is designed for those investing in the conversion of commercial properties into residential use, requiring just 250,000 euros (approximately $278,000), regardless of location. According to Astons' data, no region has shown stronger annual price growth than Piraeus in the Attica region, which also leads in demand from Golden Visa investors. Between Q3 2023 and Q3 2024, average property prices in Piraeus surged by 27.8%, increasing from 2,000 euros per square metre to 2,556 euros per square metre. This puts the average price for a 120-square-metre property at 306,720 euros – well below the 800,000 euros Tier A minimum, requiring investors to carefully plan their acquisition strategies. Kavala Prefecture in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace follows closely, registering a 20.9% price increase over the past year, with average prices now at 1,630 euros per square metre. In a Tier B zone, this translates to an average property value of 195,600 euros, against a minimum investment requirement of 400,000 euros. Other notable regions showing double-digit annual growth include Chios Prefecture (20.6%), Sporades (19.9%), Grevena (17.5%), Lakonia (14.6%), Chalkidiki (14%), Messina (13.4%), Achaia (13.2%), and Zakynthos (11.5%). Alena Lesina, citizenship, residence permit, and real estate investment expert at Astons, emphasized that local market performance is key when evaluating investment opportunities: 'As with all countries, Greece's property market consists of many local markets, each performing differently in terms of price growth. Investors should consider two main factors: the potential return on investment based on local price trends, and the investment tier classification, which dictates minimum thresholds.' Lesina also pointed to a rising trend among developers focused on Tier C opportunities, particularly in regenerated areas of Attica such as Piraeus, Vouliagmeni, and Glyfada. These projects often involve converting older commercial properties – such as hotels and office buildings – into modern, eco-friendly residential units specifically designed for Golden Visa investors. Astons' findings suggest that while major cities and islands remain premium markets, evolving opportunities in regeneration projects and Tier C conversions are increasingly attractive for investors seeking flexibility, sustainability, and long-term growth potential in Greece's real estate landscape.
NDTV
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Apple CarPlay Ultra Debuts In Aston Martin With Improved Car Integration And More
Apple has introduced the biggest update to the native infotainment system called CarPlay Ultra. With this latest iteration, the tech giant has liberated phone mirroring tech from the centre infotainment screen and given it the power to take over interface duties on the digital gauge cluster screen to operate most of the car's major functions. However, this power can only be used by manufacturers by directly working with Apple. Car Brands With Apple CarPlay Ultra The new system has made its debut with Aston Martin and, in the future, will be seen in the cars of brands like Porsche, Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia. The consumers ordering Aston Martins from the USA and Canada will get Apple CarPlay Ultra compatibility. Meanwhile, the owners of older MY2025 Astons and 2024 Aston Martin DB12s have the option of getting an upgrade after a visit to their dealer. Apple CarPlay Ultra: Interface, Functions The CarPlay Ultra gets a familiar interface when compared to CarPlay, with a few changes. The well-known home screen, featuring navigation and media options, stays in place. However, Ultra brings in a new widgets page, which can be accessed by swiping right from the home screen. This customizable page enables users to showcase a few essential insights, such as information related to time and weather. With a left swipe on the home screen, the user is taken back to the CarPlay compatible apps, but with Ultra, there is a trio of new widgets that were not available in the standard version: Climate, Radio, and Vehicle. It allows one to remain in the CarPlay environment while adjusting the applications. Apple performs many of these functions directly on the device (instead of reflecting them from the phone) with the help of the car's integrated processing capabilities, ensuring a mostly seamless user experience. However, certain functions still use the original UX and UI. Moreover, there's no requirement to leave CarPlay Ultra, look for a specific tool within the original infotainment system, make adjustments, and then find a specific widget to return to CarPlay. Instead, you simply locate the menu in CarPlay, make any necessary changes on the overlaid page from the native system, and then exit that page to get back to CarPlay. Apple CarPlay Ultra: Instrument Cluster A similar function can be seen in the gauge cluster as well, where specific native menus and displays are layered over the Apple-style graphics. While the font and aesthetic of the cluster visuals have a clear Apple influence, the overall design incorporates various automaker-specific elements to maintain the unique identity of the particular auto brand utilizing CarPlay Ultra. Apple CarPlay Ultra: Siri It also gives more power to Siri. For instance, now Siri can execute commands like changing the temperature or radio station in the car.
Car and Driver
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Apple CarPlay Ultra All but Replaces Native Infotainment System
Apple CarPlay Ultra brings CarPlay's UX to the gauge cluster, allowing users to access key information from the phone-based system. CarPlay Ultra debuts in 2025 Aston Martin models ordered on or after May 15, though older 2025 Astons and the 2024 DB12 can be updated to go Ultra. Apple iPhone 12 and newer models are CarPlay Ultra compatible, provided they're running iOS 18.5. Apple is putting native infotainment systems on notice with the arrival of CarPlay Ultra. The latest iteration of the company's phone mirroring tech now takes over interface duties for both the center-mounted infotainment screen and the digital gauge cluster screen. But those working on automakers' native infotainment systems can rest easy, because Apple works directly with the manufacturer itself to preserve a bespoke look and feel to the CarPlay Ultra interface. Car and Driver Though Apple has announced partnerships with Porsche, Kia, Hyundai, Genesis, and Aston Martin (with surely more to come), it's the latter brand that gets first dibs on the Cupertino-based tech giant's latest CarPlay iteration. Starting today, new Aston Martin models ordered for the U.S. and Canadian markets will include CarPlay Ultra compatibility. Owners of older 2025 model-year Astons and 2024 Aston Martin DB12s can head to their dealer and upgrade to the new setup in the coming weeks. Those already acquainted with CarPlay will quickly adapt to CarPlay Ultra, which carries over much of the run-of-the-mill CarPlay interface. Still, it's not exactly a copy-and-paste situation. The familiar home screen that includes navigation and media functions remains. However, Ultra introduces a new widgets page that's accessible by swiping right from the home page. This customizable page allows users to highlight a handful of key insights, such as time and weather-related information. Swiping left on the home screen once again takes users to their CarPlay-compatible apps, except Ultra adds a trio of new widgets missing from lesser CarPlay variants: Vehicle, Radio, and Climate. Each operates functions related to their titles, allowing Ultra users to remain in the CarPlay environment while adjusting the likes of various vehicle-specific settings, climate control functions, and radio bands or stations, be it AM, FM, or SiriusXM. Car and Driver Apple renders many of these functions locally (as opposed to mirroring it from the phone itself) courtesy of an assist from the vehicle's built-in processing tools, maintaining a largely linear user experience. Some functions, however, retain the native UX and UI. Even in these instances, though, there's no need to manually leave the Ultra interface to operate these mechanisms. Rather, Apple includes in-CarPlay shortcuts that, when pressed, overlay the native system's interface onto its own, allowing users to retain access to certain functions that CarPlay Ultra itself cannot. In other words, there's no need to exit CarPlay Ultra, search for a certain tool within the native infotainment system, make any needed changes, and then search for a dedicated widget to reenter CarPlay. Instead, you just find the menu in CarPlay, make any changes needed on the overlaid page from the native system, and then exit the page to return to CarPlay. The company pulls this basic stunt in the gauge cluster display, too, overlaying certain native menus and displays onto the Apple-derived graphics. Though the font and style of the cluster graphics have a distinctly Apple look, the design itself includes several automaker-specific details as a means of retaining the distinct character of the given auto brand employing CarPlay Ultra. For instance, the Aston Martin DBX 707, the car in which we experienced CarPlay Ultra, featured a gauge cluster option that included the Aston Martin insignia itself and the verbiage "Handbuilt in Great Britain." Car and Driver Apple offers several alternative display options, with some skins taking a simpler and less visually busy approach. There's also an infotainment-focused option, which uses the majority of the cluster's digital real estate to display functions such as the navigation map or audio information. This information, and more, is also available to view with the other cluster themes; however, it lives on a smaller slice of the screen between the speedometer and tachometer. Ultra fixes just about every issue we ever lobbed at CarPlay, but it's still not perfect. Upcoming calendar events continue to pop up on the home screen and cut into the space typically reserved for the media player function for apps like Spotify, resulting in pertinent details, such as song and artist information, going undisplayed on vehicles with smaller center screens, such as the 10.3-inch unit of the DBX 707. Car and Driver Additionally, there's an initial brief lag between connecting your phone and using the system. This is because your phone must first download a vehicle-specific package to boot up the Ultra bits. In Palm Springs, California, where we sampled CarPlay Ultra, our phone needed less than 30 seconds to do this—an admittedly small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things. Plus, this lag only happens at the initial connection, after which CarPlay Ultra comes online seemingly as quickly as traditional CarPlay. Owning an iPhone alone is not enough to use CarPlay Ultra in a compatible vehicle, either, as the system is only compatible with iPhone 12 and newer models running iOS 18.5. Car and Driver Unless you're in the market for, or happen to own, a 2025 Aston Martin model or 2024 DB12, you have some time to get your hardware and software up to CarPlay Ultra spec. Just how much time you have is a bit of a mystery, though, as Apple has been mum on specifics related to when CarPlay Ultra will ultimately find its way to other automakers' dashboards. Greg S. Fink Senior Editor Despite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg's career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, and MotorTrend.
Arabian Business
07-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Revealed: Turkish wealthy eye Dubai Golden visas amid rising political, social unrest
Turkish demand for Golden Visa programmes has surged nearly 40 per cent amid escalating political and social unrest in Turkey, with Dubai emerging as one of the most attractive destinations for the country's affluent population seeking stability and security for their wealth and families. New data from global investment migration consultancy Astons shows a 46 per cent year-on-year increase in Turkish Google searches for the term 'Golden Visa' between March 2024 and March 2025. The spike corresponds closely with growing unrest in Turkey, where mass protests erupted in Istanbul and other cities following the imprisonment of the city's popular mayor and escalating opposition to President Erdogan's government. 'Political and social unrest is one of the biggest driving factors behind the growing interest in Golden Visa programmes,' said Denis Kravchenko, Business Development Director and Head of Astons Cyprus. 'We're seeing the same pattern we saw in the US after Trump's second election win, wealthy individuals are looking to diversify assets and secure stability for their families.' Kravchenko added that $144 million was spent by Turkish nationals on overseas property in January 2025 alone, a large portion of which is being attributed to Golden Visa-linked investments. More recently, interest in Golden Visa programmes climbed 39 per cent in the first three months of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, according to Google Trends analysis by Astons. While much of this investment has flowed into neighbouring Greece, with Turkish citizens making up 15 per cent of all Greek Golden Visa applications in 2024 and $548 million invested by Turkish nationals that year, Dubai is now firmly on the radar for those seeking long-term relocation options. Golden Visa appeal grows Dubai's , including entrepreneurs, investors, skilled professionals and property owners. With its close proximity to Turkey, robust economy and a significant Turkish community, the emirate is increasingly being viewed as a safe haven amid rising regional volatility. Astons noted that interest from Turkish investors in Dubai has been growing, especially as uncertainty mounts around the future of European schemes like Greece's Golden Visa programme. Moreover, Dubai's real estate market remains accessible compared to cities like London or Paris, and foreign ownership laws have become more investor-friendly in recent years. While Greece currently remains a hotspot due to its relatively low minimum investment threshold for property (as little as €250,000 in some areas), Astons warns that the Greek government is considering shutting down its Golden Visa programme, potentially making 2025 the last year to apply. This has added further urgency for Turkish investors, many of whom are now looking at alternatives like the UAE, Portugal, and Spain – countries that offer investor visas tied to real estate or business contributions. Astons, which facilitates investment migration globally, noted that demand from Turkish nationals for Golden Visas began rising sharply even before the current wave of unrest. Greek developers are reportedly seeing strong Turkish demand for residential units that qualify for the visa scheme. According to a Turkey Migrant Presence Monitoring annual report, there are more than 4.1 million foreigners in Turkey, of whom 3.1 million are seeking international protection. The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) revealed that over 714,000 individuals emigrated from Turkey in 2023, marking a 53 per cent increase compared to the previous year. The predominant group among these emigrants were individuals aged 25-29, constituting 15 per cent of the total. The Turkish population in the UAE has been steadily rising, increasing from around 10,000 in 2014 to approximately 40,000 in 2023. Many of these expatriates are professionals, including doctors, who have moved to cities like Dubai. Turkey's outbound investment boom highlights how geopolitical instability can reshape global wealth migration patterns, driving high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to diversify both geographically and financially. As countries like the UAE continue to strengthen their residency-by-investment offerings, they are well-positioned to capture this shifting demand, especially from regions affected by instability.
Boston Globe
24-03-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
They've had enough of the political turmoil. A growing number of Americans are applying for dual citizenship.
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The couple are among the growing number of Americans seeking dual citizenship through ancestry or golden visa programs. Rules vary by country, but a golden visa allows individuals to qualify for residency or citizenship in exchange for an investment in real estate. They obtained ancestry through Hennigan's Irish roots. Google searches in the United States for dual citizenship Advertisement Because obtaining dual citizenship can be time-consuming and expensive, it's been primarily limited to people with free time or disposable income. Those going the golden visa route must spend hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on their country of choice. Even those who get dual citizenship through ancestry often report spending a few thousand dollars for help with research or hiring experts to assist in navigating the maze of paperwork required. At Advertisement 'A big portion of our business since November has been Americans, and we didn't even look at the US as a market for us until 2023,' said Denis Kravchenko, business development director of Astons. 'One of my American clients who is in the process of obtaining a golden visa from Portugal told me, 'I'm afraid that a civil war might emerge. Can we speed up the process so I have a place to go?' These are the kinds of things we never heard before.' At 'Most of the time, people who come to us are looking for dual citizenship because they want to honor their ancestors,' said Sarah Dery, director of research and library services. 'But it seems that the turmoil in the current government is adding to that fire. For me, I've always had it in the back of my mind that it would be really interesting to get dual citizenship, but since January, I've had the urge to look into it more.' Because there is no central database tracking Americans pursuing dual citizenship and no government agency overseeing or collecting information on citizens with dual citizenship, there are no exact numbers of US residents holding two passports. Americans are allowed to hold dual citizenship in 63 countries, each with its own rules for citizenship and residency. The Advertisement 'Some of these people are mixed-race couples or same-sex couples that perceive a threat to their future in the US,' he said. 'In the past, I would maybe hear from one or two people a month about dual citizenship. Now it's about four or five a week.' Hennigan and Atlas began looking into Irish citizenship during the first Trump administration. Rich Welch, a biotech executive in Somerville, started working on his Italian citizenship three years ago with plans to retire to Europe when he's ready. His college-age sons will also become Italian citizens, allowing them to study and work in Europe. For Welch, dual citizenship wasn't about escaping political turmoil, but he said he's thankful he has a Plan B. You hear the phrase 'Plan B' often when talking to people about dual citizenship. If obtaining dual citizenship was a distant goal, it was moved to the front burner after Nov. 5 and offers an assurance for those who are concerned about political instability in the United States. Mike Yepes, an administrative manager at Boston Medical Center, is exploring dual citizenship to make travel between the United States and Colombia easier. He anticipates making the trip more frequently to care for aging family members living in Advertisement 'I don't think anyone has ever complained about having two passports,' he said. 'If the situation in the US becomes difficult, there's an option for me.' While the second Trump administration has driven interest in dual citizenship, it was COVID-19 that brought it to the forefront of people's minds. Suddenly, work for many no longer meant being tethered to an office. 'Lots of people ended up with jobs they could take with them anywhere,' said Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living magazine. 'So during COVID, people were often going to Mexico for six months or Costa Rica for six months, or Panama for six months on a tourist visa. For the people who really liked the lifestyle, the next step was exploring something more permanent.' Stevens said she heard stories of people looking into a second passport during Trump's first term but said more people are now taking the next step and doing more research. 'This is me editorializing, but I think this time it feels different,' she said. 'I think we are seeing the beginning of a bigger trend of people exploring their options. People want a Plan B in place if things go south for them.' Not everyone is on board with fleeing the United States until Trump is out of office. Even TV host Bill Maher, a moderate Democrat, 'Maybe the problem isn't that America isn't worth defending,' Maher said. 'Maybe the problem is that lots of people today are entitled whiners with no perspective and no idea how good they have it.' Advertisement But dissenters have yet to slow the tide of interest in dual residency. Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs Considering asylum in Canada? Watch this first! Obtaining dual residency through investment, popularly known as a golden visa, can be quicker than the ancestry route, but it requires large sums of cash to invest in either real estate or business, depending on the country. Citizenship for Malta requires a donation of $820,000 to the country's National Development and Social Fund. Americans looking for a coveted EU passport are currently buying real estate in Portugal and Greece. Spain is phasing out its golden visa program next month due to concerns that the influx of new arrivals was driving up housing prices. Basil Mohr-Elzeki of the migration investment firm Henley & Partners, which helps people obtain golden visas in countries around the world, said the number of inquiries from Americans has quadrupled since 2018. 'If I were to estimate, I would say that 80 percent of the inquiries are politically, emotionally driven,' he said. 'The other 20 percent is for retirement, lifestyle, or people looking for fewer travel restrictions.' But as demand for second citizenship increases, so does the wait time for consulate appointments. The Trump administration's 'If you need to obtain immigration records from the National Archives, it's challenging,' said Dery of American Ancestors. 'They don't have a staff anymore, so that wait time, where it may have been six to eight weeks before, is now much longer, which is unfortunate, particularly for genealogists and people that are trying to get dual citizenship or apply to a lineage society. Obtaining these vital records from government officials is an important part of our everyday job.' Christopher Muther can be reached at
