Prince Andrew attacks fraud inquiry ‘idiocy’

FT.com / UK / Business - Prince Andrew attacks fraud inquiry ‘idiocy’: "Prince Andrew, a UK government special trade representative, has lambasted the “idiocy” of British anti-corruption investigators and ridiculed the levels of bribery in France in an “astonishingly candid” meeting noted by a US diplomat.
In an alleged outburst that will raise a question mark over his future in the role, the Duke of York railed against journalists and the UK’s Serious Fraud Office in a discussion that “at times verged on the rude”.
Towards the end of a two-hour brunch with businesspeople in a Bishkek hotel, Prince Andrew criticised the investigation into BAE Systems over the al-Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia."

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luxury residential and retail development claims to include Britain's most expensive flat, at £140m, and has attracted the interest of wealthy overseas tenants

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is to pay a record rent for the final retail unit at One Hyde Park, the luxury Knightsbridge development managed by the Candy brothers in London.

The luxury residential and retail development claims to include Britain's most expensive flat, at £140m, and has attracted the interest of wealthy overseas tenants, particularly from the Gulf and Russia. It is thought that the Abu Dhabi group outbid other Middle Eastern banks as well as upmarket fashion retailers to bag the final 3,000sqft unit at street level – paying more than the area's current record of £550 per square foot.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, which was advised by agent CB Richard Ellis, joins luxury watch maker Rolex and McLaren's car showroom in the retail units, for which Nash Bond and Cushman & Wakefield are the leasing agents.

The Middle East has also invested heavily in upmarket Brompton Road, also in Knightsbridge, with a raft of top retailers and designer brands set to move in. It is thought that the US sports brand Nike is eyeing a shop currently occupied by fashion chain Monsoon, with bidders lining up to pay "key money" of around half a million pounds.

In the summer, Top Shop moved into the less-smart northern end of Brompton Road, and has acted as a magnet there for other fashion retailers, such as US-based Guess.

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"street fashion" has revolutionized the fashion industry with bold designs, colors and patterns.

Very often people come across the term "street fashion" and many fashion writers, artists and photographers have tried to explore the concept in its entirety.

Considered to have emerged, not from the studios but from the grass-root levels, street fashion has almost always been associated with youth culture.

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A model wears a creation by Taiwanese-born designer Maria Chen on the catwalk at London's Astoria Nightclub as part of London Fashion Week. Miss Chen's latest designs, owed much to the popular rock culture of the 70s and 80s.

 During different eras, "street fashion" has revolutionized the fashion industry with bold designs, colors and patterns. In fact, it is often said that some of the best trends in the industry have their roots in street culture.

Some of the major youth sub-cultures like Punk Fashion, Hip-Hop Fashion, Gothic Fashion and Hippes have been associated with street fashion.

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Bustling souks, boutique riads around every corner and a medina full of storytellers and snake charmers,

"Morocco is famous in tourist circles -- primarily for Marrakech, and rightly so. With bustling souks, boutique riads around every corner and a medina full of storytellers and snake charmers, Marrakech is a true East-meets-West city. It has a buzzing sense of otherworldliness and style that is hard not to like. Yet having landed in the impressive new Marrakech Airport, we ignored the call of the shopping in the souks (which, trust me is no hardship...) and headed straight for the High Atlas Mountains and Toubkal National Park, just an hour or two South of the City and home to North Africa's second highest Mountain.
Just a short drive past several curiously out-of-place golf courses (golf courses in deserts, why?), we were unceremoniously dumped with our backpacks at the side of the road leading up the Imlil Valley. Waiting for us was our guide, cook and mule (that being three separate entities not one multi-functional donkey/horse hybrid). Mules are used frequently in these parts to transport trekkers gear and food supplies and served to fully demoralise us throughout our trek by capably lugging 100kg of gear on tortuous paths that left us wheezing for breath."

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A Travel Fantasy at the Royal Mansour Marrakech

A Travel Fantasy at the Royal Mansour Marrakech: "Morocco is the land of A Thousand and One Nights, a realm touched by magic, where fact and fantasy blend together effortlessly. Sometimes people like to say that there's nothing new in the kingdom that's sprinkled with magic dust.

But how wrong they are.

Two months ago the pink city of Marrakech, itself lost in the sprawling expanse of the southern desert, gave birth to a hotel so grand and yet so understated that it almost defies description. Conceived and bankrolled by His Majesty the King of Morocco, The Royal Mansour gives new meaning to the word 'opulent'.

Located down a private road, reached through an arched gate set in the ancient honey-yellow city wall, the hotel's grounds cover eight acres, walking distance from Jma al Fna, Marrakech's main square."

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Woman in Spain says she owns the Sun - Live@Five

woman-in-spain-says-she-owns-the-sun.aspx: "Spanish woman in the Galicia region has registered the Sun as her property at a local notary public, claiming there are no rules against individuals owning celestial objects.
Gee, you think they'd be satisfied with having the Costa del Sol.
Fine, Spain, why don't you you go and explore the Sun.
It would certainly bring new meaning to the phrase 'Quemar los barcos'."

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Costa del Sol tourism could benefit from air taxes

Costa del villas - Costa del Sol tourism could benefit from air taxes: "The recent increase in air passenger tax duty (APD) could have a positive effect on the Costa del Sol rentals market as Brits head into Europe in an attempt to avoid expensive fees attached to long-haul flights.

The new taxes will make longer haul destinations such as the US, Mexico and Australia more expensive. The tax’s band structure means that flights over 6,000 miles will face an increase of over 50% in tax.

The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) believe that the increase will encourage holidaymakers to stay closer to home in destinations such as Spain, France, Portugal and Germany."

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BMI PILES ON STYLE - mirror.co.uk

BMI PILES ON STYLE - mirror.co.uk: "Bmi this week unveiled its new Business Class and Economy cabins for mid-haul routes.
The updated Airbus A321 and A320 aircraft include new leather seating and a revamped lighting system.
Bmi boss Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said: 'We are committed to offering the best service at the best price for our customers.'"

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Spotted in London: Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Lily Cole and Kelly Brook | ShinyStyle

Spotted in London: Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Lily Cole and Kelly Brook ShinyStyle: "Kate Moss looked stunning today as she launched her new fragrance 'Vintage Muse', wearing super-tight black jeans and sky-high heels. True Moss style."

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Hawksmoor Seven Dials, 11 Langley Street, London WC2 - Reviews, Food & Drink - The Independent

Sushi for DummiesHawksmoor Seven Dials, 11 Langley Street, London WC2 - Reviews, Food & Drink - The Independent: "As if it wasn't already hard enough to keep up, in today's Fifty-Things-To-Do-Before culture, a new pressure has emerged. Now you don't just need to own this season's must-have bag – you must also have tried the latest must-eat restaurant dish.
A new restaurant opens, and the bloggers are in before the paint is dry, uploading photos of their dinner. The Tweeters follow, and consensus rapidly emerges about the to-die-for dish: 'Ox cheek pappardelle at Obscura East...', 'Banh Mi sushi at The Endangered Panda...'. Before long, there is a feeding frenzy as early-adopters rush in to try the must-eat, and most importantly, to tell their friends they've tried it."

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new route to Gibraltar from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801: "easyJet, the UK's largest airline and which also claims to give best value, is today launching a brand new route to Gibraltar from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The low-fares airline is now offering a three-times-weekly service from Liverpool to the British-owned island with fares starting from just £27.99 (one-way, including taxes).
Seats are now on sale and the inaugural flight will leave Liverpool on Tuesday 29 March 2011."

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Four More Restaurants in Spain Awarded Second Michelin Star, 17 Get First - Bloomberg

Four More Restaurants in Spain Awarded Second Michelin Star, 17 Get First - Bloomberg: "Four more restaurants in Spain gained a second star and 17 were awarded their first in the Michelin guide to Spain & Portugal.
The new two-star establishments are Azurmendi, in Larrabetzu; Miramar, in Llanca; Ramon Freixa Madrid, in Madrid; and Calima (H.G. Melia Don Pepe), in Marbella. Vila Joya, in Albufeira, Praia de Gale, is Portugal’s only two-star venue.
Seven Spanish restaurants maintain their three-star rating: Arzak, in San Sebastian; Martin Berasategui, in Lasarte-Oria (Guipuzcoa); El Bulli, in Roses (Girona); Can Fabes, in Sant Celoni (Barcelona); Sant Pau, in Sant Pol de Mar (Barcelona); and El Celler de Can Roca, in Girona. There are no new stars for Portugal, which doesn’t have a restaurant with three."

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London Goes In Search of Halston: style file: daily fashion, party, and model news

London Goes In Search of Halston: style file: daily fashion, party, and model news: "There was a conspicuous lack of anyone who could pass for that mythical beast, the Halstonette, in the noticeably young audience for the first U.K. screening of Ultrasuede: In Seach of Halston on Monday night at the Electric Cinema on Portobello Road. Andrea Dellal had fond memories of escorting the legendary designer round Rio, but surely she was a mere child at the time. Co-host of the evening Nicky Haslam also had some personal—though not particularly favorable—memories to share. But Halston’s best buddy Bianca Jagger was out of town—dommage!—and Liza Minnelli, André Leon Talley, and Pat Cleveland, all of whom lend major heft to the film, were hardly likely to cross the pond for such an intimate event."

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Lagerfeld to design for a major mass market retailer - Fashion, Life & Style - The Independent

Lagerfeld to design for a major mass market retailer - Fashion, Life & Style - The Independent: "Lagerfeld's women's collection will be sold in about 250 Macy's stores as well as online starting September 2011. It is part of the American department store chain's new initiative to launch a series of limited-edition designer collections for its Impulse range - geared towards younger, more fashion-forward customers - starting early next year.
The designer collections will rotate every two months and will start in February 2011 with Kinder Aggugini, a darling of the London fashion scene. Aggugini, who started his eponymous label four years ago, has previously worked with John Galliano, Paul Smith, Versace, Calvin Klein, and Vivienne Westwood. Priced on average from $40-$140, with specialty pieces selling up to $300, his line for Macy's will channel a rocker-chic aesthetic."

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Luxury TV channel opened for holiday shopping season

Luxury TV channel opened for holiday shopping season: "PoshTV, a new national 24-hour shopping network, has opened in the US.

Showcasing high-end designer jewelry, gemstones, accessories, handbags and shoes, the shopping channel airs on on DirecTV channel 314.

PoshTV, which offers a range of luxury merchandise at discounted prices, should reach 19.3 million viewers in all 50 states over the major retail buying season.

Some of the upmarket brands on offer through the channel are: Demeter, Steven Zale Beverly Hills, B. Smith, Effy and Paris Blues, as well as other celebrity-infused brands."

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LA Organic in Ronda has been named in Italian guide Flos Olei as one of the 20 best in the world.

RONDA - AN olive oil produced by company LA Organic in Ronda has been named in Italian guide Flos Olei as one of the 20 best in the world. The olive oil obtained 90 points out of 97. A quarter of a litre of their Intense Organic Oro Virgin Extra Olive Oil will set you back €10.14.

A panel of experts selects the best oils from forty different countries, based on quality, taste, body and even packaging.

This year, only three Spanish oils were on the ranking, and the General Manager of LA Organic, Elisa Alvarez, says it is an important distinction, especially as it is the first time they have sent their oil for tasting.

Their oil was first made by a community of local nuns on the Finca La Amarilla, on the outskirts of Ronda, 200 years ago.

In the 1990a, the owners of the land, the Gomez de Baeza family, decided to produce ecological oil.

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Kofi Annan will deliver the keynote address at the World Climate Change and Wine Congress in Spain in April.

Kofi Annan will deliver the keynote address at the World Climate Change and Wine Congress in Spain in April.
The former United Nations Secretary-General and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize Kofi Annan will be the guest of honour at the Congress, which will take place on April 13-14 in Marbella.

The event is being organised by the Wine Academy of Spain and coordinated by its founder and president Pancho Campo MW.

Annan will deliver a presentation on "Sustainability, climate change and the corporate world".

The previous conference, held in Barcelona two years ago, attracted 350 delegates from over 40 countries.

Topics up for discussion will include the impact of climate change on oenology and viticulture, closures, packaging, transport, CO2 emissions, energy conservation, and the use of organic/biodynamic vine growing as measures for adapting to climate change.

There will be more than 20 speakers including biodynamic specialist Nicolas Joly, soil scientist Claude Bourguignon, winemaker Carlos Falcó of Spain's Marques de Griñón, Susan McCraith MW and climatologist Greg Jones of the University of Southern Oregon.

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Buyers from mainland China and Hong Kong are ignoring the cooling of London’s property market as they continue to invest heavily in luxury real estate

Buyers from mainland China and Hong Kong are ignoring the cooling of London’s property market as they continue to invest heavily in luxury real estate in Britain’s capital.

(live-PR.com) - Buyers from mainland China and Hong Kong are ignoring the cooling of London’s property market as they continue to invest heavily in luxury real estate in Britain’s capital.

Chinese real estate investors are snapping up luxury property in areas such as London’s fashionable Knightsbridge and Canary Wharfe.

Naomi Minegishi, a twenty one year old Japanese woman, who lived in China for ten
years, is a property broker in London.

When she was hired, Naomi had no previous real estate experience and was recruited because of her fluency in Mandarin. Recently, she has sold four, three-bedroom apartments in a new development for £320,000 ($500,000 USD) per unit – all of them to different Chinese investors.

“Chinese clients are a dream. They are wealthy, they pay in cash, and they’re looking for good value” she was quoted as saying.

In several up-market areas of London, Chinese investors have already become the main buyers of luxury property; replacing buyers from Russia and the Middle East.

In fact, the Chinese now account for five percent of all London property purchased by foreigners valued between £500,000 ($804,500 USD) and £1 million ($1.6 million USD).

British government figures also show that there were 115,000 Chinese people living in London by 2007, compared to only 80,000 in 2001.

The Chinese, unlike their Russian and Middle Eastern counterparts, are not buying London real estate to live in - most are looking for investments in a market they consider far more stable than their own.

This shift in nationality of buyers has resulted in brokers being eager to hire Mandarin and Cantonese speakers – some property developers have even omitted the number four from their numbering schemes, as it is considered unlucky in Chinese culture.

Mathhew Tack, director at Hampton’s London real estate agency commented; “Most developers in London are including China in their marketing efforts, they’d be silly not to.”

The increase in the number of buyers from Asia is a clear sign of the shift in wealth to Asian countries, including mainland China.

Most countries in Asia have recovered much faster from the global economic downturn as they are free of the huge levels of debt Western households and governments are now facing.

London remains popular due to Britain’s relaxed restrictions on foreigners owning real estate.

Culturally, the Chinese understand the importance of education and many parents hope to send their children to a top university. Britain is a popular choice as far more foreign students are admitted to British universities than to those in the USA.

Figures from the British Universities and Colleges Admissions Service show the number of Chinese students increased from 867 to 948 last year - a nine percent rise within twelve months.

One mainland Chinese investor who owns property in London said; “I bought a flat for my daughter’s use when she was studying in London and other flats I have rented out or sold. The U.K. traditionally has a very good legal structure with good law and order. That, together with the city’s financial institutions and the British people’s love for owning their own homes, makes the property market extremely attractive.”

Real estate brokers who cater for Chinese investors say it is not certain whether and when the demand from China will start to fall although there is no indication that this will happen soon.

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The world's most expensive food and drink

The world's most expensive food and drink: "If money was no object would you splash out on a £5,000 jar of marmalade or £12,500 on a chocolate dessert? This culinary Christmas wish list is bursting with some of the world's priciest edible delights. From Italian White Alba truffles and Krug Champagne to Christmas hampers and lunch on the Orient Express, here at MSN Sainsbury's Food & Drink we've gone all out to create the ultimate, gastronomic Christmas wish list. Boasting some of the world's most luxurious food & drink buys, these indulgences could leave you feeling deliciously stuffed, and your wallet feeling considerably lighter."

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Super-Rich Remain Unaffected by Recession

Construction Starts at La Zagaleta’s Biggest Plot as the Super-Rich Remain Unaffected by Recession: "The word ‘recession’ may exist in the lives of the super-rich but it simply doesn’t affect them so the demand for bigger and better just gets stronger. The megayacht industry is far from sinking but instead struggling to keep up with orders and the waiting lists for prestige cars such as the new Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead extend over many months. It’s the same in La Zagaleta right now. Bolt Property Group villas, despite multi-million euro price tags, are selling quicker than ever in 2008 and it’s rare that we get to complete a property without there already being a buyer in place. C2-20 will be the landmark villa in our portfolio and, crunch or no crunch, I’m certain it’ll share the same fate.”

There are no prizes for guessing that C2-20 is targeting a Russian buyer, a nationality that finds La Zagaleta attractive, accessible and secure, but Bolt Property Group’s considered layout and bespoke finishings would suit any purchaser with a discerning palette. Counting no less than eight bedrooms, to include all-important staff and guest accommodation, the lower ground floor is perhaps the most decadent of spaces with a full Spa and gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, cinema, games room with bar and option for a bowling alley."

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