The UK Pavilion at World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, designed by Heatherwick Studio, has won the Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) prestigious RIBA Lubetkin Prize.
Speaking at the award dinner on 29 June 2010, Sir Andrew Cahn said:
“It’s a huge pleasure to be here for the award to Thomas Heatherwick of the prestigious RIBA Lubetkin prize. Thomas has asked me to say a few words, as the client for the project in the Foreign Office.
“What was the clients’ brief? We wanted to change perceptions of Britain amongst the coming generation of Chinese; away from their old image of us, as a land of swirling fog and cobblestones, old buildings and old attitudes. We wanted them to understand contemporary Britain, the home of creative industries and artistic talent.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
England Out – With Our Worst Ever World Cup Defeat
England are out of the World Cup in the last sixteen stage, after being thumped by Germany by four goals to one. There were plenty of stories along the way, but ultimately, we just were not good enough, and have not been good enough all through the tournament.
The team that qualified for this World Cup was different. That England looked good. This England looked awful from the word go. The players have absolutely no-one to blame but themselves.
The team that qualified for this World Cup was different. That England looked good. This England looked awful from the word go. The players have absolutely no-one to blame but themselves.
Prince Charles 'put Qatar royals in a difficult position' - The National Newspaper
LONDON // The heir to the British throne placed the Qatar royal family “between a rock and a hard place” by objecting to the modernist design of a development they planned in west London, a judge has said.
Prince Charles’s intervention in a £3 billion (Dh16.5bn) project at the site of the old Chelsea Barracks was “unexpected and unwelcome”, Mr Justice Vos ruled at the High Court in London.
The development was days away from being considered by planners when Qatari Diar Real Estate (QD), which is wholly owned by the Qatar royal family, abruptly withdrew its proposal.
The withdrawal came after Prince Charles had told both Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, and Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, the QD chairman, Qatar’s prime minister and a cousin of the emir, that he hated the design by Lord Rogers. The prince is noted for his opposition to modern architecture.
The High Court was ruling on a claim from QD’s partner, the property developer Christian Candy, that the Qataris had breached the terms of their agreement by withdrawing the proposal.
Although Mr Justice Vos ruled in favour of Mr Candy’s company, CPC Group, he said the firm was not entitled to the early payment of £68.5 million under the terms of the contract.The judge said he would consider the issue at a later hearing if CPC seeks damages for breach of contract.
Mr Justice Vos said that both CPC and QD “were faced with a very difficult position once the Prince of Wales intervened in the planning process”.
The judge added: “His intervention was, no doubt, unexpected and unwelcome.”
Source: The National (UAE)
Prince Charles’s intervention in a £3 billion (Dh16.5bn) project at the site of the old Chelsea Barracks was “unexpected and unwelcome”, Mr Justice Vos ruled at the High Court in London.
The development was days away from being considered by planners when Qatari Diar Real Estate (QD), which is wholly owned by the Qatar royal family, abruptly withdrew its proposal.
The withdrawal came after Prince Charles had told both Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, and Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, the QD chairman, Qatar’s prime minister and a cousin of the emir, that he hated the design by Lord Rogers. The prince is noted for his opposition to modern architecture.
The High Court was ruling on a claim from QD’s partner, the property developer Christian Candy, that the Qataris had breached the terms of their agreement by withdrawing the proposal.
Although Mr Justice Vos ruled in favour of Mr Candy’s company, CPC Group, he said the firm was not entitled to the early payment of £68.5 million under the terms of the contract.The judge said he would consider the issue at a later hearing if CPC seeks damages for breach of contract.
Mr Justice Vos said that both CPC and QD “were faced with a very difficult position once the Prince of Wales intervened in the planning process”.
The judge added: “His intervention was, no doubt, unexpected and unwelcome.”
Source: The National (UAE)
Saturday, June 12, 2010
“Deep friendship between the UK and UAE” – PM
Prime Minister David Cameron has said the friendship between the United Arab Emirates and UK is deep and is based on a “unique, shared history and common interests”.
The PM completed his visit to the UAE on Saturday 12 June after meeting President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
He also met members of the UAE Cabinet and senior state officials during his brief visit to the country.
This was one of Mr Cameron’s first overseas visits as Prime Minister, highlighting the importance that the UK government attaches to the UK-UAE relationship.
The PM completed his visit to the UAE on Saturday 12 June after meeting President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
He also met members of the UAE Cabinet and senior state officials during his brief visit to the country.
This was one of Mr Cameron’s first overseas visits as Prime Minister, highlighting the importance that the UK government attaches to the UK-UAE relationship.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Gulf Tories Meeting
The Gulf Tories held held its regional meeting in Bahrain earlier today. Members from Conservatives Abroad branches across the Gulf gathered to discuss a range of subjects including voting rights for long term British expats and matters related to UK inward investment.
Gulf Tories
10 June 2010
Gulf Tories
10 June 2010
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