Culture news 
World premiere of last Harry Potter today
Film farewells don't get much bigger than Harry Potter, and thousands of fans prepared on Thursday to say goodbye to their beloved boy wizard at the world premiere of the final movie in the record-breaking
series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 is the eighth instalment - and first
in 3D - of a
franchise that has generated more public excitement and media hype than any other in living memory. For Hollywood studio Warner Bros it has been a magic pot of gold, with the seven films released so far grossing $6.4 billion in ticket sales and billions more from DVDs and merchandise.
For a generation of Potter fans, the movies have extended the wizarding world created by British author J.K. Rowling in her seven-book saga which began in 1997 and concluded in 2007. More than 400 million copies have been sold around the globe, making Rowling the first author billionaire and providing a huge support base upon which the films built. "We've grown up in the Harry Potter generation - I read the first book when I was five so now it's weird that it's coming to an end ... like the end of childhood," said Rhys, an 18-year-old who braved the rain in London's Trafalgar Square. Die-hard fans, some in full regalia from the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, have camped out since Monday to catch a glimpse of the stars as they walk the red carpet at the official world premiere.
The young actors, cast in their roles aged between nine and 11, said they too were struggling to get to grips with the post-Potter world, despite being A-list stars with huge personal fortunes. "After we finished (filming) a year ago now I have felt a little bit lost without it, really, and not really knowing what to do with myself," said 22-year-old Rupert Grint, who plays Potter's main sidekick Ron Weasley. "It's been such a constant part of my life and to suddenly have that come down to this one film, it is quite sad and I'm really genuinely going to miss it and miss everyone."
Death and destruction
Consistent with the gradual trend towards darker content as the franchise progressed, Deathly Hallows - Part 2 climaxes with an intense battle between good and evil fought at Hogwarts. Buildings are flattened, wizards and witches die and Harry steels himself for the final showdown with his evil nemesis Lord Voldemort, played by a snake-like Ralph Fiennes who called his character a "high definition villain".
Daniel Radcliffe, 21, who has played Harry Potter throughout the last decade, was enthusiastic about the conclusion. "I think of it as being light years ahead of any of the other films in the series," he told a London news conference on Wednesday via videolink from New York where he is appearing in a Broadway production. "In terms of quality this is the best film we've ever made, so I'm thrilled that we're going out on this positive note." Whether critics agree remains to be seen, with most reviews coming out after the premiere. The Daily Telegraph, however, featured an article by Philip Womack which described Deathly Hallows - Part 2 as "monumental cinema, awash with gorgeous tones, and carrying an ultimate message that will resonate with every viewer, young or old: there is darkness in all of us, but we can overcome it."
The movie opens in some territories on July 13, and in the key British and US markets on July 15. Rowling has said she has no intention of writing another Potter novel, and David Yates, director of the last four Potter movies, told the news conference that he believed the film cycle had closed for good. Rowling's wizarding world will not disappear altogether, however. She recently unveiled Pottermore, a website allowing fans to interact with the characters and storylines, and will finally retail the stories as ebooks exclusively on the site.
The source: www.hindustantimes.com
07 July 2011
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"
07.12.2011 Australia Contributes to Chornobyl Fund
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.
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.
