Greece’s history holds its hope for the future February 23, 2012 PEOPLE say that Greece used to be great. That’s not quite right of course. They mean Athens. Ancient Greece was a jumble of city-states, some even worse than the political and economic disaster of Greece today. Sparta was a totalitarian state, a role model for the Nazis. Ancient Athens, however, has a strong claim to [...]
RAPID RESPONSES February 23, 2012 Not for sale [Re: A market solution will save money and end the dispute over Falklands sovereignty, Wednesday] Steve Hanke’s article is a classic example of the American economics academic’s mind at work. Monetise everything. After all, the world is only about money. Politically and historically, however, it doesn’t stack up. Hanke signally ignores the [...]
The buzz is coming back to Monaco February 23, 2012 IN its 1950s heyday, Monaco was a place of high European glamour and refinement, reigned over by Grace Kelly. Very much the rich – and royal – man’s St Tropez, it is now known more for its oligarch traffic jams, Formula One racing, casinos and cruise ship embarkation point. But a range of tax breaks [...]
FOCUS ON: STRATFORD, LONDON February 23, 2012 RICHFORD ROAD Price: £340,000 A four bedroom period conversion spread over four floors with front bay windows and access to private gardens. Go to www.foxtons.co.uk ANGEL LANE Price: £350,000 A twelfth floor, two bedroom flat in a modern high rise. Located a stone’s throw from the Underground and other transport links. Go to www.foxtons.co.uk CASPIAN [...]
SELL February 23, 2012 Managing Director of Kay & Co, central London estate agency Q. I want to sell my flat and it has 76 years left on the lease. Should I extend it first? A. Provided you have owned your flat for two years under Chapter II of Part 1 of The Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development [...]
PROPERTY NEWS February 23, 2012 LONDON OFFICE TAKE-UP POSITIVE Central London office take-up has seen a positive start to 2012 despite figures being below December levels. With some 840,000 sq ft transacted in January, take-up was 38 per cent higher than the same time last year, according to research by global property adviser CBRE. Docklands saw the largest increase, with [...]
Blood, sand and oil in Arabia February 23, 2012 Film BLACK GOLD Cert: 12A *** A battle has finished and dead bodies litter the sand, rotting in the unforgiving sun. The victor, Sultan Nesib (Antonio Banderas) demands the sons of the loser, Sultan Amar (Mark Strong), as hostages. Amar agrees, as insurance against future war. Finally, both agree that the wasteland on which they [...]
GOING OUT February 23, 2012 The big launch this week takes place on the site of recently closed Merah on Wells Street, Fitzrovia, an area getting livelier by the week. Project aims to offer the consummate VIP experience for House Music aficionados. Following a multi-million pound refurbishment and with Luca Maggiora (previously of Luxx) at the helm, this 400 capacity [...]
Jacobean tale of incest is a 21st century triumph February 23, 2012 Theatre ‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE Barbican **** by Steve Dinneen JOHN Ford’s Jacobean tale of incest and revenge is dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century in this highly stylised and deliciously sinister production. The forbidden love between Giovanni and his sister Annabella is portrayed as a tender but doomed affair – similar [...]
Carling Cup looks to be Anfield-bound February 23, 2012 CARDIFF CITY vs LIVERPOOL SUNDAY – 4.00PM BBC ONE ENGLAND might be on drought watch at the moment, but one of the country’s most high profile dry spells looks set to come to an end this weekend. The last time Liverpool won a major trophy, Steve Finnan, Djibril Cisse, Jan Kromkamp, Djimi Traore and Fernando [...]