Three Hundred March 6, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Movies Life.comments closed
The film 300 is a close adaptation of the graphic novel 300 by Frank Miller in which Spartan King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the last man against Persian King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his massive army.
Facing insurmountable odds, the Spartans’ sacrifice inspires all of Greece to unite against the Persian invaders. The story is loosely based on the Battle of Thermopylae which took place in the September of 480 BC.
The film is directed by Zack Snyder with Frank Miller attached as an executive producer and consultant, and was shot mostly with bluescreen to mimic the original comic book work.
View the trailer > www.apple.com/trailers/wb/300/
Official Website > http://300themovie.warnerbros.com
Cyprus court upholds Telsim interim order March 6, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Cyprus Occupied, Telecoms.comments closed
16 European telcos told to block roaming income
A Cyprus court has denied a request made by Turkish telecom Telsim Mobil requesting the cancellation of an interim order blocking the roaming income that it claims from 16 European telecom companies.
Last year, the Nicosia District Court had granted an interim order blocking the roaming income of Telsim until the Turkish company settled the USD 738 million claim against it by Cyprus-based Rosamara Trading Ltd.
The law firm of Michael Michaelides, representing the interests of Rosamara Trading Ltd., had won court approval ordering Telsim from transferring, leasing or mortgaging its assets. The interim order also ordered Telsim from collecting or demanding payment of any sums of money up to US 738 million generated from SMS, international, GPRS, voice mail and roaming revenues from up to 16 telecom companies operating in the EU, including most Vodafone subsidiaries.
The fact that the Nicosia court denied the application by the Cyprus lawyers of Telsim to dismiss the interim order is significant because of its political and financial dimensions.
Michaelides said that the case has political implications since Turkey will have to defend its interests in a Cyprus court. Turkey refuses to recognise the Republic of Cyprus and if it decides to defend itself, then it will be seen as a tacit recognition.
“Following the court decision, I have instructed the 16 European telecom companies to abide by the decision and continue to block the roaming income of Telsim,” he said.
As reported earlier, Rosamara sued Telsim in a Cyprus court demanding full payment on over USD 738 million in bearer promissory notes that were issued by Telsim in 2003. The notes matured in 2006 and are secured by the assets and roaming income of Telsim, Turkey’s second largest mobile phone operator.
Telsim’s operations were taken over by Turkey’s state deposit insurance fund (SDIF) in 2004, after the bonds were issued and entered on the corporate books. The SDIF conducted a public auction of Telsim’s assets and received bids from telecom groups in Europe, the Middle East and Russia. The winning bid of USD 4.5 billion was submitted by British telecom giant Vodafone.
More magic at the Gialino theater March 6, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Stage & Theater.comments closed
The art of magic returns to the Glass, or Gialino, Dinner Theater this month with a production featuring a group of leading professionals of illusion.
Nine magicians, from the USA, China, Germany, France, Argentina and Armenia, make up a talented panel, under the artistic direction of Juliana Chen, the only woman in history to win the World Championship of Magic.
At the Glass Dinner Theater, guests will enjoy tricks by Ed Alonzo, Charlie Frye and Company, Scott and Muriel, SOS and Victoria Petrosyan, Gaetan Bloom, Dan Sperry, and Inaki Zabaletta.
Los-Angeles-based Ed Alonzo is often compared to Groucho Marx and Harold Lloyd in terms of his theatrics, while Charlie Fry and his wife Sherry, based in Las Vegas, carry out a perfectly synchronized routine. Comic duo Scott and Muriel, USA/Netherlands, became the first couple to win a prize for magic, FISM Grand Prix, and the first illusionists to collaborate with the Cirque du Soleil. Despite their youth, SOS and Victoria Petrosyan, Armenia/Germany, are highly established contemporary circus performers, while Frenchman Gaetan Bloom is known for his inventiveness. American Dan Sperry works his magic with birds and lastly, Argentinean Inaki Zabaletta is a master of card tricks.
At the Glass Dinner Theater, 143 Syngrou Avenue, Athens, tel 210 9315600. For more information, log on to www.gialino.gr. “Art n’Illusion 3” opens on March 14. The festival runs to April 15.
Transforming Athens into a city break destination March 6, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Tourism.comments closed
Athens must be highlighted as a tourism destination in itself and not just a transit center for visitors to other parts of the country, Tourism Development Minister Fanni Palli-Petralia and Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis agreed during a meeting yesterday.
Palli-Petralia announced the two sides’ agreement on a program aimed at promoting city tourism by advertising Athens as an international tourism destination. In this context, on June 11-13, the Faliron Sports Hall will host a conference on city breaks.
Palli-Petralia referred to a program to revamp the coastal zone by creating a bicycle road and pedestrian route of 35 kilometers, stressing that the project is advancing well.
The Mayor announced that the City of Athens is about to convert the Municipal Athens Tourism and Economic Development Agency into an incorporated company, merging the organization with the existing Athens Employment and Entrepreneurship Center.
“I expect therefore that toward the end of the month, once the Athens City Council has passed the relevant decision, we will be able to present the first proposals concerning the city’s tourism and economic development,” Kaklamanis promised.
He added that preparations for the “City Breaks 2007” conference have already started and expressed his interest in strengthening domestic tourism focused on Athens.
Asked about the proposal by the Athens Hoteliers’ Association to create an agency for promotion and organization in Attica, Palli-Petralia said the Ministry is coordinating all activities across Greece, while Kaklamanis noted that only when Athens obtains a metropolitan authority will real coordination become possible.
Palli-Petralia is flying to Berlin today to attend the opening of the ITB tourism exhibition, which has more than 10,000 participants from 180 countries. Tomorrow the Minister will officially open the Greek stand at the show and on Thursday she will give a press conference. She will also have meetings with international tourism group representatives.
Cyprus builds new air control center for Mediterranean region March 6, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Transport Air Sea Land.comments closed
Cyprus on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the new Nicosia air traffic control center, which will enhance the safety of air traffic in the Mediterranean region, the Cyprus News Agency reported.
Director General of Eurocontrol, Victor M. Aguado, said at the ceremony that given its geographical location, Cyprus can potentially play an important role as regards the regional development of civil aviation.
He called on Cyprus not only to improve its technical infrastructure, but also the institutional and governing arrangements of its air navigation service, in view of the increasing future traffic demands.
Cyprus Communications and Works Minister Haris Thrasou, on his part, said with the operation of the new air traffic control center and the support of Eurocontrol, the Department of Civil Aviation will be in a better position to meet its multiple international obligations, in the sector of air traffic management.
According to Eurocontrol, Cyprus handled a total of 217,000 flights in 2006, which represents an increase of 4.1 percent over the previous year. The new Nicosia area control center will enhance the safety of air traffic in the Mediterranean region.
Aguado said the size of airspace handled by Cyprus is very significant, about 30 times its land mass. At the same time, air traffic between Europe and the Middle East is also growing at significant rates, with passenger traffic growing 6.3 percent in 2006 and 12.8 percent in December alone.
“Given its geographical location, Cyprus can potentially play an important role as regards the regional development of civil aviation,” Aguado said.
Global climate warming concerns Greeks March 6, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Environment.comments closed
Seven out of 10 Greeks are “very worried” about global warming and climate change, one of the highest rates in the European Union, according to a poll made public yesterday.
According to the Eurobarometer survey, concern about climate change is higher in the EU’s southernmost, and warmest, member states, with the Greeks and Maltese showing high levels of concern (68 percent), just after the Spaniards and Cypriots (70 percent). The EU average is 50 percent, while Estonians display the lowest level of concern (20 percent).
The survey also showed that Greeks are the most opposed to the use of nuclear energy (83 percent), which is not used for power production in Greece, as opposed to a 61 percent EU average. A high rate of Austrians and Cypriots are also opposed to nuclear energy, while the Czechs and Bulgarians are among the most supportive.
A total of 68 percent of Greeks (close to the EU average of 62 percent) think the best way for energy-related issues to be tackled is “through measures agreed upon at EU level” rather than at the national level.
The pedal power March 6, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Transport Air Sea Land.comments closed
The Athens Metro Company said yesterday that it will decide by March 21 whether to change its rules so that bicycles can be allowed onto metro trains.
Cyclists gathered outside the firm’s offices in Athens yesterday demanding a response to their request to allow bicycles onto trains. Bikes can be taken onto the tram, electric railway and suburban railway at certain hours.
Related Links > http://www.ametro.gr
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