Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kevin Rudd announced that his country would donate one million euros for the Chornobyl Shelter Fund. Minister Rudd made his statement at the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Vilnius on December 6, 2011.
During his trip to Vilnius Kevin Rudd met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, who invited the Australian official to visit Ukraine next year. Minister Rudd expressed his intention to bring along a group of Australian businessmen and noted that Australia was optimistic about Ukraine’s economic development.
The contribution of Australia to the cause of containing the Chornobyl nuclear plant threat is timely since the next Assembly of Contributors to the Chornobyl Shelter Fund (CSF) is planned for December 15, 2011.
The previous meeting of the Assembly of Contributors to the CSF took place on July 7, 2011. Following that meeting, Minister Gryshchenko stated that the issue of raising funds for the Shelter Implementation Plan was finally resolved and the donors of the Nuclear Safety Account and the CSF agreed to provide the necessary financial resources for the implementation of Chornobyl projects. The Shelter Implementation Plan involves stabilization of the existing sarcophagus and construction of a New Safe Confinement for the damaged nuclear reactor.
The estimated budget of the Shelter Implementation Plan was EUR 740 million. A fundraiser held on the 25th anniversary of the Chornobyl tragedy on April 26, 2011, provided EUR 550 million of donors’ obligations. This, along with the July decision of the world donors, allowed for the immediate start of the execution of the Shelter Implementation Plan and its completion by 2015.
Chornobyl disaster occurred on April 26, 1986. The explosion and fire at the 4th reactor of the nuclear plant in the Northern Ukraine led to massive radiation leak. The construction of the original Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus began on May 20, 1986. In 1988 scientists announced that the sarcophagus would hold for 20 to 30 years. The CSF was established in December of 1997 to collect funds for the New Safe Confinement project. Currently, the European Union and the United States cooperate with Ukraine to help raise money for the CSF.
According to WNU
16.03.2012 “Weibocalypse”: China’s new microblogging rules go into force
On March 16, new real identity rules imposed on China’s microblogging platform Weibo go into effect; dubbed “Weibocalypse” by China’s internet community . The Provisions on Administration of Weiboke Development (the Provisions) include core provisions in Article 6, which requires pre approvals by the Beijing city authority before launching a Weibo account, and Article 9, which requires that a user provide his or her true identity. Chen Jihong, a Beijing-based partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm said that “overall, the Provisions regulate not only issues of approval and true identity, but also general issues including compliance with the law and privacy protection”.
28.12.2011 Holiday Classic From Ukraine – Carol of the Bells – Goes Clay
Kyiv, December 28, 2011. A famous Ukrainian folk singer Oleg Skrypka performed a renewed version of the winter holiday classic Carol of the Bells originally composed by Ukrainian Mykola Leontovych. This new rendition of the world renowned tune became a soundtrack for the freshly released Ukrainian animation film Shchedryk.
13.12.2011 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL of GUITAR MUSIC "KYIV-2011"
13 to 18 December in Kiev will be start INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL of GUITAR MUSIC "KYIV-2011"
28.11.2011 Ukrainian Subway Station Rated One of World’s Most Beautiful
Zoloti Vorota (Golden Gate) station of Kyiv’s subway occupies 11th position on the list of the most impressive subway stops in the world, according to BootsnAll. The renowned community of travelers chose 15 subway stations in the world with the most outstanding application of art, architecture, culture, history, and technology.
22.11.2011 Festival Chervona Ruta Preserves Authentic Ukrainian Music
For the twelfth year in a row, the Ukrainian festival Chervona Ruta has opened the stage for the new talents performing Ukrainian music of different genres. The number of this year’s participants has set the record, bringing together 850 young musicians and performers. New to this year’s festival is the collaboration of performers from all regions of Ukraine.
22.11.2011 World of Rugby League: Ukraine celebrates five years in Rugby League
The Ukrainian Rugby League Federation (UFRL) is celebrating five years of the sport in the country.
17.10.2011 Ukrainian Painting Sets a New Record at London Auction
A painting by a Ukrainian artist set a new record at the Phillips de Pury & Co auction that took place in London on October 13, 2011. The art piece “Horse.Night” by Anatoliy Kryvolap was sold for USD 124,4 thousand which is the highest a painting by a contemporary Ukrainian artist ever grossed at an art auction.
03.10.2011 NSK "Olympic" to open a grand show
October 8 will be held the opening ceremony of one of Europe's largest sports complexes - NSK "Olympic".
29.09.2011 There will be held song festival in the Kyiv region.
October 1
at the Center for Culture and history, “Park Kievska Rus” (p. Kopach, Obukhov, District,
Kyiv region) will be a song festival" Slavic soul ".
12.09.2011 Europe’s Largest Fountain Opens in Ukraine
A unique musical illuminated floating fountain opened in the Western Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia on September 4, 2011. The fountain is the world’s only floating fountain mounted in the natural body of water and by its technical parameters can only be compared to one such water facility in the world – the Dubai Fountain.
05.09.2011 Ukraine Wins Gold in Triple Jump at 2011 World Championships in Athletics
Ukrainian Olha Saladuha became gold medalist in the 13th World Championships in Athletics, held in Daegu, South Korea. Saladuha won the finals in the triple jump competition among females and became the world champion.
31.08.2011 Three Ukrainian Soccer Clubs Go into Europa League Group Stage
Dynamo (Kyiv), Metalist (Kharkiv), and Vorskla (Poltava) won Thursday’s second legs of UEFA Europa League play-offs. Vorskla became the first Ukrainian team to make it to the group stage in the season of 2011-2012.
31.08.2011 Two Giant Fish Images Across the Border Become a Symbol of Polish-Ukrainian Unity
A Polish artist Jaroslaw Koziara created two giant images of fish on the grass on each side of the Polish-Ukrainian border. The tail of the first image lies on the territory of Poland with its head on the Ukrainian territory. The second fish is positioned facing the opposite direction. The artist intends to send the message of unity of the two countries – nature and art know no borders.
19.08.2011 Kyiv to host flower exhibition for two weeks
The official opening of a flower exhibition in Kyiv will take place at 10.00 on Saturday, Aug. 20. The exhibition will run at Spivoche Pole in the Pechersk Landscape Park until Sept. 4.
17.08.2011 Lviv — Art You Can Taste
Lviv – considered by many as one of the largest cultural centers in Ukraine – is renowned for its coffee, chocolate and beer. An American intern at the Worldwide News Ukraine Meghan Dano decided to test this statement. She visited the city and got to know the history as well as traditions and customs of this mecca of art lovers.
Australia Contributes to Chornobyl Fund
