Athens Water Supply Company EYDAP is expected to finalize its cooperation with China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) soon.
Greek State Minister Charis Pampoukis will be accompanied by EYDAP ECO Nikos Bardis in a forthcoming visit in Beijing.
As Capital had mentioned, the first step of cooperation refers to the provision of water management in Libya, in particular projects in Tripoli, Benghazi and Sabha. However, due to the unrest in the country, alternative projects are being considered, and there are discussions regarding projects in countries of the former Soviet Union such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
During the recent visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias in the country, Deputy Minister Maniatis and EYDAP seniors discussed with Azeri officials on issues of water management. Under EYDAP-MCC cooperation, there will be discussions about water supply in African countries, Lebanon and an important project in the Dead Sea neighboring countries.
The aim is to sign contracts for water management services in countries, whose local governments have announced plans for strengthening of infrastructure, but face significant issues with the proper utilization of water resources and requite expertise from foreign groups.
MCC has evolved into a group of activities that vary from construction to energy and mining. It is a public listed company in Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges, while its turnover for 2010 reached €33b.
(source: capital)
Greek – Chinese Water Management Cooperation In Progress
Greece To Sell €1.25b T-Bills On April 12
Hellenic Debt Agency will auction 26-week Treasury Bills on April 12, 2011, in book entry form, with maturity 14 October 2011.
The amount to be auctioned is €1,250m, while only Primary Dealers are allowed to participate, according to their operation regulations.
No commission will be paid for the T-Bills auctioned, while settlement date is April 15, 2011.
“Diva” Teaches Lessons, Reminds Women They are Strong
BOOK REVIEW
We all make mistakes; we’re only human. Sometimes we make the same mistakes over and over. Fortunately, it is possible to learn from others’ mistakes, and that’s what is presented in The Diva Doctrine: 16 Universal Principles Every Women Needs to Know, by Patricia Volonakis Davis. The book will be released next month.
The award-winning author of Harlot’s Sauce: A Memoir of Food, Family, Love, Loss and Greece will tell you she’s an “expert at failed relationships.” In her forthcoming book, she shares her words of wisdom – earned through the trials and tribulations of her own life – told with her signature candor mixed with a healthy dose of humor.
Among her principles, readers will find advice on managing parental relationships, friendships, dealing with jerks, finding the right “one” and more. Not that we needed permission, but if you’re looking for permission – or license – to be the strong, confident and enterprising woman you are, here it is.
This book sprung out of a blog post Davis wrote, entitled “Advice from an Older Woman to a Younger One,” regarding advice she would give to her younger self. It resonated with readers, and quickly went viral. Representatives from Cedar Fort Press heard her speaking about the post on a radio show. They immediately contacted Davis and approached her to expand this one little post into an entire book.
Call it a pocket guide, if you will, but keep this book nearby in the event you need to reference it again – you probably will. We do get caught up in things and forget that we are people too, and not just moms, wives and daughters. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are spirited, dynamic, smart, ambitious, passionate, resilient, and of course, we are divas – “in the truest sense of the word, a diva is a woman who is successful, happy, and most of all, confident.” We aren’t talking primadonnas here. We are talking about vital, robust individuals who have much to contribute, in their homes, to their families, to their workplaces and in the world.
This book is a must-have for every woman.
Hellenic Petroleum Workers Extend Strike to April 19
Workers at Greece’s biggest refiner Hellenic Petroleum will extend their ongoing 10-day strike to April 19, a labour union official told Reuters on Friday. “We called a new strike between April 12 and April 19,” said Nikos Orfanos, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Employees in the Greek Petroleum Products Industry. Hellenic Petroleum workers have been on strike since April 3 to press hiring and wage claims.
Architectural heritage in buffer zone wins Europa Nostra award
Architectural heritage of the buffer zone in the walled city of Nicosia was among the 27 winners of the 2011 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage, Europa Nostra Awards, announced on Thursday in Brussels.
According to Europa Nostra’s official website, the project was unanimously acclaimed by the jury “as a fine and comprehensive study of all the buildings within the UN protected buffer zone of Nicosia, originally the heart of this walled city”.
The study of the architectural heritage of the buffer zone was implemented within the framework of the bi-communal Nicosia Master Plan Project (NMP), which was launched in 1980 as a collaboration between the two communities in Cyprus, for the development of Nicosia as a whole and the revitalization of the walled city.
The Buffer Zone, separating the two communities in Cyprus, also called “The Green Line” was established in 1964 within the Resolution 186, approved by the UNSC following the outbreak of inter-communal violence. The zone extends approximately 180 kilometers across the island. In some places in old Nicosia, it is only a few meters wide. In other places, it is a few kilometers wide. The Buffer Zone was perpetuated by the 1974 Turkish invasion whish resulted in the occupation of 37% of the island’s territory.
(source: cna)
Ryanair Introduce London to Corfu Route
Ryanair, the Irish low-cost carrier, has announced a new route from London Stansted to the Greek island of Corfu, starting from July 2011.
The twice-weekly service was celebrated by Ryanair with the launch of one million £7 seat sale for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesday s and Thursdays in May which can be booked until midnight on Monday 11 April.
Ryanair now has four low fare Greek routes, London Stansted to Corfu, Rhodes and Thessaloniki and Liverpool to Kos.
While Corfu is well known as a party destination for young Brits it also has a lot to offer families and the discerning traveller. Superb beaches and stunning heritage attract a wide range of visitors to the island.
UNSG: No timetable in Cyprus peace talks
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon has made it clear that there is no timetable in the ongoing dialogue on the Cyprus question, according to US Congress sources.
Ban, who has visited Washington, discussed developments in Libya, Cote d’Ivoire, Afghanistan and other trouble spots of the planet as well as UN reforms and finance during a meeting he had with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, the leadership and members of the US House of Representatives and Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs.
During a meeting he had with members of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, replying to comments by Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, the UN Secretary General rejected any suggestion that there are timetables in the negotiations on the Cyprus problem.
He noted at the same time that despite the fact that the desired progress has not been achieved, the effort to find a negotiated settlement is continuing.
He also noted that the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) mandate is renewed in a specific way and takes place every six months and that references to the restructuring of the force concern the relevant mandates of the UN General Assembly and Security Council, in the framework of the broader strategy on peace operations.
Ban stressed the need for continued support from the largest contributor to the United Nations system so that the world body can carry on with its important work.
“The continued engagement and leadership of the United States is essential for the United Nations to be able to succeed in the many tasks you look to us to do,” Ban said, adding that the US and the UN share the same goals and objectives.
UN-led negotiations are currently underway between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Dervis Eroglu to reunite the country, under a federal roof.
(source: cna)
Constantine Maroulis Back on Idol, Out of “Rock of Ages” Cast
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Continuing their tenth season celebration by reaching into the archives, ‘American Idol’ (Thu., 8PM ET on FOX) brought back season four contestant Constantine Maroulis for a performance on this week’s results show. Maroulis performed a cover of The Righteous Brothers’ ‘Unchained Melody,’ which he’s also released as a single.
While he’s never been the strongest of vocalists, Maroulis’ strength was in the smoldering looks he would give to the cameras and his way of charming the ladies. Maroulis brought a great level of intensity and proved he can still work a camera and charm the ladies.
Unfortunately Maroulis did not get cast as Drew in the “Rock of Ages” film. The Greek-American was the lead actor on the play which will be turned into a movie. “Constantine was perfection as Drew in the play,” the film’s director, Adam Shankman, told 24 Frames. “But the truth of the matter is that I cast at age, and I wanted someone who doesn’t have to act 20 or 23 but actually is 20 or 23 [Maroulis is 35]. The authenticity of someone actually being that age is important.” Diego Gonzalez Boneta, a 20 year-old Mexican actor will portray Drew in the movie “Rock of Ages”.
Maroulis was asked to play a smaller part on the movie but has not answered yet.
Heracles to Alexander: Ashmolean Museum unveils spectacular collection of Ancient Greek artefacts
A once great and shimmering metropolis situated on the southern rim of the Macedonian Plain in northern Greece, Aegea was the seat of the Temenids, an almost mythical dynasty which claimed descendency from the Greek hero Heracles. They ruled for 350 years, from the mid-7th century to the 4th century BC.
What Professor Manolis Andronikos had unearthed was the undisturbed and unlooted tomb of King Philip II and other members of Alexander the Great’s immediate family.
The discovery made Aegea into one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, and the magnificent tombs and surrounding ancient landscape went on to yield an astonishing collection of treasures which opened a window into the Kingdom of Macedon.
Now Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum is exploring this fascinating society with an exhibition of more than 500 stunning archaeological objects from The Museum of the Royal Tombs at Aegae, together with never before seen treasures unearthed during the past 20 years.
Among the objects are priceless items including a golden head of Medusa, one of two found in the tomb of King Philip II, together with arms and armour, golden wreaths, marble sculpture and exquisite silver banqueting vessels.
Exhibition: Heracles to Alexander the Great, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, until August 29 2011
(source: culture24)
Terry Maratos Guest Stars on “House”
On Monday, April 11 watch Terry Maratos’ guest starring appearance on the hit series, “House.” This milestone 150th episode of “House” airs on Fox at 8:00PM (ET/PT). Another Greek-American, Greg Yaitanes, is a director and executive producer of the multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG award-winning show.
Born in Greece, Mr. Maratos grew up on California’s Central Coast and began his interest in acting by appearing in various local theatre productions. After graduation high school, he utilized his bilingual language skills and dual citizenship to join the Greek Army.
Eventually making his way to New York, Terry once again immersed himself in the theatre scene. He appeared in many Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway plays. Mr. Maratos made his television debut playing a quirky schoolteacher on the memorable fourth season finale of the Emmy Award winning comedy series Sex and the City. He has since worked extensively in film, television and stage, while creating and producing fresh new content for various media.