Nikos Koundouros, Greek Film Director; Πέθανε ο σκηνοθέτης Νίκος Κούνδουρος

Nikos Koundouros has died, aged 90,

On Nikos Koundouros

Poundbury, Dorchester: New Community Hall Approved

NEW 300 SEAT COMMUNITY HALL FOR POUNDBURY APPROVED, Celebrating Poundbury

"The current configuration of the building is flexible so that it can be changed to suit the exact needs of the hall operator. Mr Murphy expressed that the Duchy of Cornwall intends to consult widely before final plans for the hall are confirmed. He added: “I would like to confirm that the Duchy of Cornwall intends to work with West Dorset District Council and consult widely with Poundbury residents and businesses in the Spring of 2017 in order to objectively assess the need and viability of a new community hall including the size, specification and location of the new facility. “This is because the new community facilities, both developed and in the pipeline, and the district council’s own audit of community facilities have raised some valid questions over the demand, operation and viability of such a facility.”


The Duchy’s Deputy Estate Director Ben Murphy confirmed a review will soon be under way on the potential for Crown Hall in the North East Quadrant, in light of other community facilities in the pipeline and concerns raised by many residents and stakeholders about over provision of facilities leading to “white elephants”, Celebrating Poundbury.


Community hall for Poundbury approved, Dorset Echo

"Mr Martin revealed that a consultation exercise was due to take place in Poundbury later in the year to seek to establish the local need. He said it was possible that, pending the outcome of the consultation, the obligation could be looked at again and the Duchy could offer to provide funding towards another community facility in the area if there was not adequate need for it.

Mr Martin said: "The Duchy themselves now accept that it need to look again at this particular obligation and intends to enter into a consultation exercise with Poundbury residents soon asking the very question: do you think that a 300-seat hall on Poundbury is the appropriate way forward or should we look at community the equivalent sum of money to supporting, say, the Maltings Theatre."

Cllr Robin Potter agreed that there may not be a need for the community hall on Poundbury. He said: "There is a swell of opinion that this hall is no longer required and will have an adverse effect on various other venues."

Greece: the creditors and the country’s woes

Shifting sands

Greece’s creditors are now the main impediment to solving the country’s woes, The Economist

Greece's creditors dash hopes for quick deal as debt inspectors prepare to return to Athens, Telegraph

After seven years of bailouts, Greeks sink yet deeper in poverty, Reuters

Weymouth: Best Beach in the UK (Trip Advisor)

The UK Top Ten

Weymouth came top -  "very dog friendly, ideal for dog-walking".

Not necessarily a recommendation for the majority of visitors and swimmers?

Weymouth Beach ban on dogs, BBC- "Rules banning dogs from Weymouth's beach for seven months of the year will remain in place, despite two petitions. Weymouth and Portland Borough Council extended the time dogs were not allowed on the beach from May until September to Easter until the end of October".

Weymouth Beach crowned the best in the UK - As the UK’s best rated beach, critics hailed it as ideal for dog walking and said its golden sands are photogenic, MailOnline.

Top 25 in Europe (Weymouth No. 9)

Top Ten in Greece

Top 25 in the world

Travellers Choice Awards has named Weymouth as the best beach in the UK - as Weymouth and Portland Borough Council leader Jeff Cant says he is 'determined' to improve the state of Weymouth, Dorset Echo

MSN/Mirror, Britain's best beach has been revealed


Visit Dorset


MailOnline, Weymouth Beach, Dorset, takes the title of the UK’s most desirable beach and wins ninth best spot in Europe


Photo of Weymouth Beach (Instagram and Dorset For You, Facebook)

Economic assessment of Weymouth Pavilion peninsula redevelopment says 250 jobs will be created at leisure zone. Dorset Echo


Weymouth and Portland Mayor Richard Kosior said parts of Weymouth are a 'washed-up, falling down eyesore', Dorset Echo


Resident Bob Underwood took a series of photos around Weymouth to show the state of the town and demand action be taken, Dorset Echo


Anger over yobs at Weymouth train station, Dorset Echo

When a Language Dies

From Smithsonian.com, Four Things That Happen When a Language Dies

The most profound piece of writing on the subject? David Malouf's short story, "The Only Speaker of His Tongue",  Antipodes, 1985:

 "He is, they tell me, the one surviving speaker of his tongue..."

"When I think of my tongue being no longer alive in the mouths of men, a chill goes over me that is deeper than my own death, since it is the gathered death of all my kind".

Brexit: Britain allays fears; Latvians living in the UK will have their rights guaranteed after the UK pulls out of the EU.; Estonians

From Euronews 

'Speaking on a visit to Riga, alongside Latvia’s Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, Brexit Secretary David Davis said “they’ll have all the rights they have now...We want to see the most civilised and the most responsible arrangement possible. We want to see Latvian citizens in the UK have all the rights they have now continue into the future. And it’s not just the residence rights, that’s public services, it’s healthcare, it’s all the normal rights that we would give to our own citizens.”'

I assume that this is the hope and intention.

U.K. Will Need Low-Skilled EU Migrants After Brexit, Davis Says, Bloomberg

"During a visit to Estonia, Davis said it will take “years and years” to persuade British workers to do jobs in the hospitality industry or agriculture that are currently carried out by EU migrants, arguing the economy needs continued immigration to maintain its success".

David Davis: Estonia and the UK will remain close partners after Brexit, Gov.Uk

"I understand that the 15,000 Estonians currently living in the UK want certainty about their rights once the UK leaves the EU. And while Estonians’ existing rights are not affected the British government wants to get a deal done to secure long term rights quickly that protects the rights of all EU citizens living in the UK, and British citizens living in the EU. Indeed we would have liked to have come to such an agreement already, and have been clear it will be an absolute priority once formal negotiations begin".

David Davis WILL NOT ‘shut the door on low-skilled European Union migrants’ after Brexit, Express

We will need EU migrants for years, admits Davis, MSN/Sky News


Brexit Secretary David Davis says UK will stay open to migrants after leaving EU, The Independent


Other Brexit issues (check the sources!):


European Union (Notification Of Withdrawal) Bill, Explanatory Notes, UK Parliament

"The power that is provided by clause 1(1) applies to withdrawal from the EU. This includes the European Atomic Energy Community (‘Euratom’), as the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 sets out that the term "EU" includes (as the context permits or requires) Euratom (section 3(2))".

EU rules out post-Brexit 'hard border' with Northern Ireland, EU Observer

Bank of England to ‘up its game’ in overseeing euro clearing, FT

"The Bank of England has warned against pulling euro clearing away from London because of “currency nationalism”... Sir Jon earlier delivered a robust rebuttal to those in the eurozone who want to strip the UK of its role as a hub for euro-denominated clearing after it leaves the EU".


EU THREAT TO PENSIONS: Mass migration blamed for £30 billion a YEAR 'economic catastrophe', Express


Trump team looks to bypass WTO dispute system, FT


Britain's Brexit Negotiating Cards. Euro Guido


Despite campaign promises leaked EU parliament document reveals Britain likely remain in the CFP after Brexit. Dorset Echo


John Major attacks government over approach to Brexit, The Guardian