About Korinne

Korinne Le Page

What does Korinne do?

Entrepreneurial Coaching:

You know how some Entrepreneurs have great ideas, and yet they struggle with moving forward or taking their business to the next level? Well, what Korinne does is help them to gain clarity, focus and momentum to achieve what they ultimately want. Therefore, they ultimately experience the success, goals and the lifestyle they have always been yearning for.

Her mission is to help Entrepreneurs everywhere to achieve their wildest dreams and make a difference in the World.

Learning Expertise:

With over 20 years’ experience, including working as an Entrepreneur herself, Korinne is an expert in Leadership and high performance Coaching and Learning Consultancy. In addition, she specialises in Team Development, On-line Marketing, Recruitment, Online Webinars and Hosting Workshops and Retreats.

Korinne’s story so far …

Beginning:

Born in Guernsey, Korinne’s dad was a printer and publisher and his Company was called Paramount Lithoprint in Guernsey. Her mum was a teacher and Korinne believes that her start in life really paved the way for her entrepreneurial career. Furthermore, she is passionate about helping people to thrive and be the best they can be; helping them to overcome and embrace challenges to achieve their dreams.

Middle:

Presented with an opportunity in London some years ago, Korinne decided to spread her wings – and that she certainly did! During her time with British Airways, she trained numerous citizens of the World. She travelled extensively, working and taking in various cultures. From learning about the great “Italian Lunch” to spending time with Muslim families, she also experienced the struggles and successes of people from all walks of life. In Africa, India, Sri Lanka, China, Thailand, the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, the US, Western and Eastern Europe, Middle East, South America, the Caribbean and Australia.

As well as working as a Manager with British Airways between 1987 and 1999, she also trained as a Counsellor while there and worked as a volunteer with their Employee Assistance Programme.

Korinne returned to Guernsey in 2012 when working on a contract with Social Security, helping people re-train and finding them jobs.

Now:

Korinne is a member of the Association for Coaching UK and her niche is as a Learning Consultant, Performance and Leadership Coach and Counsellor. She works with Companies, Entrepreneurs and Individuals and is a Workshop Leader with the GTA, part of the MOE Foundation training team and MOE operating Committee in Guernsey.

Korinne has a passion for working with others to uncover their own desires, dreams, values and potential and she will support you on your journey to achieve much more than you may have initially believed possible. Korinne’s approach is warm and yet firm, and she coaches and encourages people to be living the authentic life they want and to overcome any blocks and / or self-limiting beliefs that have been holding them back.

Korinne works with various financial, commercial and hospitality businesses and individuals in Guernsey. Furthermore, she has helped companies such as Clients such as Sandy Lane Hotel, Cable & Wireless, Barclays Bank (All Barbados), Sony PlayStation (London).

Career:

An Entrepreneur since January 2000, Korinne has worked as a Learning Consultant and also co-ran a gemstone business.

She worked abroad in Barbados within the Finance, Travel and Commercial sectors and won a contract with Sandy Lane Hotel (Barbados) for Leadership Training with their Directors; Stress Management Programmes with Cable & Wireless (Barbados) and Sony Play Station (London); and with Barclays Bank (Barbados) through a merger.

Korinne left Guernsey in April 1985 to pursue a career in the Travel Industry, working for Thomas
Cook and then British Airways, progressing through Customer Services, Special Services and then as a Training Consultant with responsibility for the UK Airports and Franchise Airlines.


Looking back on comic book movies from the last 25 years or so, few performances stand out like Heath Ledger as The Joker in the 2008’s The Dark Knight. His twisted, manic take on the quintessential Batman villain redefined the character for Nolan’s dark, grounded film and the approach resonated with audiences. When Ledger died months before the film was released, his death was the most-reported entertainment story of the year, and became inseparable from both his portrayal of The Joker as well as the film on a whole.

Ledger was first approached by Nolan to play the title character in 2005’s Batman Begins. Ledger replied politely that he’d “never do this kind of film,” and the role would eventually go to Christian Bale. The following year, when discussing the sequel, Nolan announced that Ledger would be cast as The Joker, and that he was “talented but fearless,” promising audiences that “watching Heath Ledger’s interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale’s Batman is going to be incredible.”

Regardless of Nolan’s assurances, when Ledger’s casting was announced, it was subject to the scrutiny of Bat-fans all over the internet. Of course there were similar reactions to Michael Keaton’s casting as Batman in the late 1980s, as well as Ben Affleck when it was announced he’d don the cowl for Dawn of Justice back in 2013. While Keaton and Affleck each won over many of the doubters, only Ledger managed to undo virtually every skeptical fan’s doubts.

During a Q&A at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 2012, Nolan said that he never had to approach Ledger for the role, because, in his own words, “Heath chose me.”

He just was determined to do it. He just had a vision for something, and the way he termed it to me at the time was, he really didn’t like to work too much. He liked to do a character and then stop working then let enough time go by. He wanted to be hungry for it. And when he came to me, he was clearly in that state: Very hungry. He was ready to do something like that and just own it — which is what he did.

Ledger was no stranger to Method acting, and he took his commitment to the role seriously. Being cast before the script was written, Nolan explained that Ledger had “a very long time to obsess about it, think about what he was going to do, to really figure it out.” In addition, Nolan had Ledger read Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange and study the paintings of Francis Bacon. Then, months before shooting began, Ledger isolated himself, writing and collaging images to help him get inside the character’s head. When Ledger spoke to Empire Online from the set of The Dark Knight in 2007, he explained his process.

I sat around in a hotel room in London for about a month, locked myself away, formed a little diary and experimented with voices — it was important to try to find a somewhat iconic voice and laugh. I ended up landing more in the realm of a psychopath — someone with very little to no conscience towards his acts.

When production began, Ledger would be on set every day in full costume and makeup — but he’d only be in character when filming. Make-up artist John Caglione told Movie Geeks United in 2012 that Ledger would skateboard around, goof off, smoke cigarettes, and give out bear hugs at the beginning and the end of every workday. When it was time for him to work, however, he had his Joker diary close by to bring the character out at will.

As Ledger threw himself into the film, his sleep began to suffer. He told The New York Times when filming in London in 2007 that he “probably slept an average of two hours a night. I couldn’t stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going.” The article makes note of his manic behavior and compulsive ticks, his general restlessness, as well as the Ambien he began taking to help him sleep.

His Joker diary also comes up, observed by the interviewer when it was laying on a counter in the kitchen of his rental house, which Ledger sheepishly explained is there to help give him the character’s backstory.


Located within the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College and a stone's throw from the world's last tea clipper, the legendary Cutty Sark, The Old Brewery sits along side Discover Greenwich, a cultural centre which tells the story of Greenwich to visitors to the World Heritage Site. Combining a cafe, bar and restaurant with a state of the art microbrewery, The Old Brewery continues the brewing tradition which started in Henry VI's day. Here brewers, including 2008 Brewer of the Year Alastair Hook, experiment with wild beers, old Tudor style ales and limited edition brews. In the main hall you're overlooked by the copper-clad beer vessels as you sample the restaurant's beer-inspired dishes and choose from an extensive list of award-winning beers by the Meantime Brewing Company to compliment each dish. In warmer weather you can take your pint outside into the walled courtyard and enjoy a lazy day by the river.

NY-LONLondon > Nightlife > BarsThe O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 |
27 minutes from The Old BreweryEnjoy the luxuries of a first class travel lounge without leaving terra firma at NY-LON, a swish bar in the entertainment district of The O2. The ...More

The Clipper BarLondon > Nightlife > BarsInterContinental London - The O2, 1 Waterview Drive, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 |
28 minutes from The Old Brewery A striking showpiece of the InterContinental London O2 , the Clipper Bar is the hotel's main ...More

Gipsy MothLondon > Nightlife > Pubs60 Greenwich Church Street, SE10 |
2 minutes from The Old Brewery in the shadow of the Cutty Sark , the grade I listed pub the Gipsy Moth has a large outdoor seating area, ...More

The Trafalgar TavernLondon > Nightlife > PubsPark Row, SE10 |
5 minutes from The Old BreweryThe pub achieved notoriety selling whitebait (still on the menu) but now the Trafalgar Tavern is a refreshment point for the capital's many visitors. It's hardly ...More

The Royal AlbertLondon > Nightlife > Pubs460 New Cross Road, Deptford, SE14 |
18 minutes from The Old BreweryFreehouse very well received by the locals who include Goldsmith's Art College students and indie kids. Under its previous guise (as the Paradise Bar), Bloc Party, ...More

Astronomy Photographer Of The YearLondon > Events > Exhibitions Dates: 24th October 2018 to 5th May 2019The Old Brewery, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, SE10 |
5 minutes from The Old BreweryThe winning images of Astronomy Photographer of the Year are presented in a free exhibition at the Royal Observatory Greenwich which showcases some incredible images of ...More

Michael Edwards Studio TheatreLondon > Entertainment > Cutty Sark, King William Walk, SE10 |
1 minute from The Old BreweryThe Michael Edwards Studio Theatre is located inside the lower hold of the Cutty Sark tea clipper, one of the world's most famous boats on permanent ...More

Up the CreekLondon > Entertainment > Comedy Clubs302 Creek Road, Greenwick, SE10 |
3 minutes from The Old BreweryLocated in Greenwich, South East London, Up The Creek is one of the UK's best comedy venues, offering true intimacy with a diverse range of acts ...More

Greenwich PicturehouseLondon > Entertainment > Cinemas180 Greenwich High Road, SE10 |
7 minutes from The Old BreweryThis Greenwich cinema has not been a resounding success. Since opening in 1989 it's gone bankrupt twice, closing down for long periods. Fortunately for locals - ...More

Cutty SarkLondon > Attractions > Boats and BridgesKing William Walk, West Greenwich, SE10 |
1 minute from The Old BreweryThe restoration of the Cutty Sark has seen £50 million spent on the famous tea clipper ship which was damaged by fire on 21 May 2007. ...More

GreenwichLondon > Attractions > Other AttractionsSE10 |
4 minutes from The Old BreweryThe London Borough of Greenwich lies on the south bank of the Thames. Rich in maritime history, Greenwich also has an outstanding architectural heritage. ...More

The Old BreweryLondon > Restaurants > British restaurantsThe Pepys Building, The Old Royal Naval College, SE10 |
Same location as The Old BreweryA mix of experimental brewery, cafe, restaurant and heritage site, the Grade II listed Old Brewery is a seven days a week operation. It's also only ...More

Gourmet Burger KitchenLondon > Restaurants > American restaurants45 Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, SE10 |
2 minutes from The Old BreweryNew Zealanders take their burgers pretty seriously, and back in 2001 three Kiwis living in London found themselves homesick from the lack of well-crafted quality burgers ...More

Four CornersLondon > Education > Adult Education121 Roman Road, Tower Hamlets, London E2 |
3.6 miles from The Old BreweryFor 30 years Four Corners has been training, producing and supporting the full range of film and photographic requirements. Services on offer include filmmaking facilities and ...More

Greenwich ParkLondon > Leisure > Parks and GardensRomney Road, SE10 |
10 minutes from The Old BreweryAs a World Heritage Site marking the site of the Greenwich Meridian (the base point for World Time and the location of Longitude 0) Greenwich is ...More

Brooklyn BowlLondon > Leisure > O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, SE10 |
27 minutes from The Old BreweryFive years after the original Brooklyn Bowl launched, the well known New York bowling alley comes to London's O2. The London venue is the first Brooklyn ...More

Gipsy MothLondon > Nightlife > Pubs60 Greenwich Church Street, SE10 |
2 minutes from The Old Brewery in the shadow of the Cutty Sark , the grade I listed pub the Gipsy Moth has a large outdoor seating area, ...More

The Trafalgar TavernLondon > Nightlife > PubsPark Row, SE10 |
5 minutes from The Old BreweryThe pub achieved notoriety selling whitebait (still on the menu) but now the Trafalgar Tavern is a refreshment point for the capital's many visitors. It's hardly ...More

Where to have your meeting, conference, exhibition, private dining or training course near The Old Brewery.

Old Royal Naval CollegeLondon > Business > Venue HireGreenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College, 2, Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich, SE10 |
Same location as The Old BreweryThe Old Royal Naval College was built on the site of the Tudor Palace in Greenwich in which Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were born. William ...More

LabanLondon > Business > Venue HireCreekside, Deptford, SE8 |
11 minutes from The Old BreweryTate Modern architects Herzog & de Meuron went for a shimmering, plastic-clad building when tasked with designing the Laban building, a place where excellence in contemporary ...More

The O2London > Business > Venue HirePeninsula Square, SE10 |
27 minutes from The Old BreweryThe second most embarrassing legacy of Tony Blair's time in government struggled for years to find a role after the millennium show shut up shop. It's ...More

Cate Blanchett comes to the National Theatre in 2019, the Spice Girls reunite and Christian Dior is the Designer of Dreams at the V&A. Two new musicals are dedicated to Dolly Parton and Mary Poppins, ...More

Christmas favourites like The Nutcracker, Carols at The Royal Albert Hall and the Santa Dash return along with a Festive Feast at Hampton Court Palace and a new puppet show from the puppeteers behind ...More


Jade Rodriguez felt her anxiety rise with every step. Her heart pounded, and her stomach constricted. The masses of people around her didn't help ease the claustrophobia she suddenly felt. She was having an anxiety attack - and she had to get away.

At just 15 years old, Rodriguez had experienced these attacks before, and sometimes - as with this one - they came without any provocation. It was late 2015, and the cricket community in Peru was throwing an end-of-season party at the Lima Cricket and Football Club. She stepped outside and wandered around aimlessly until she found some cricket nets. She picked up a cork ball, started running in and bowling as fast as she could, her bushy brown hair flying out behind her as she ran. She did this over and over, and within minutes, she found herself relaxing. Years of bottled-up emotions flooded out. Her breath was steadying. She felt in control of her life as she held the maroon ball around its seam.

Rodriguez's mother, Juliet Solomon, came looking for her daughter as soon as she realised she was missing from the party. When she found her in the nets, she knew Rodriguez wasn't going to talk just yet. She is known to bear the burden of her intense feelings by herself. So Solomon picked up a bat, and without uttering a word, started defending her daughter's deliveries.

That was the first time Rodriguez had touched a ball in a year. She had been the lead bowler for the Peruvian women's national cricket team since she was 11 years old. But dealing with depression between 2014 and 2015, she could barely find the motivation to live, let alone play cricket.

"Cricket saved my life," says Rodriguez, now 17, thinking back to that day. "Every day I would wake up and would think to myself, 'One less day to Sunday, when I can train' - and that would keep me going."

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in London, Rodriguez was ten when she and her mother first moved to Peru in 2010 for her mother's job with the United Nations. Her father, Hector Rodriguez, stayed in London. The move was rough for a child who was used to making friends easily in London. In Peru, she suddenly had to deal with cliquish classmates who looked at her like an outsider.

She was bullied, picked on and beaten up for looking different. She would get anxiety attacks during classes, and her teachers would give her permission to go to the gym and take a few swings at the punching bag. She didn't have a pair of gloves, so every swing hurt, but it made her feel better. She sometimes even punched the nearest wall, finding a way to calm down. She changed schools after her first year in Peru, when the bullying got out of control.

Through this rough transition, she had one thing that "kept her sane", Solomon says: playing cricket in the Lima Cricket and Football Club. The CanAm and West Haven Club cricket teams ESPN

Rodriguez grew up in a household where daily conversations included the names of Vivian Richards and Garry Sobers. Her mother, a Trinidadian, was room-mates with the daughter of former West Indies cricketer Clive Lloyd when she was a student in London. She also waitressed in a hotel there where the West Indies team stayed during tournaments.

At nine years old, Rodriguez watched her first match: West Indies v Australia at The Oval. She was clad in the team's maroon and a West Indies hat and jersey, screaming in joy. She had no idea what was going on, but she knew she loved it.

Her first hands-on experience arrived when she was ten, when her mother started volunteering as a scorer in Lima. At first, Solomon tried making Rodriguez sit on the sidelines with her stepbrother while she scored, but Rodriguez wanted to be on the field. That was where she knew she belonged.

Most children want to be batsmen, but ever since Rodriguez saw Curtly Ambrose in Fire in Babylon, the documentary on the transformation of the West Indies cricket team in the 1980s, she found herself dreaming of being a fast bowler. There was a sense of pride in being called such.

She played in the first Peruvian women's national team - a team that her mother organised - that participated in the South American Championship in Brazil in 2011. At 11 years old, Rodriguez, the youngest player in the tournament, picked up her first wicket, a difficult lbw against the reigning champions, Argentina. Wanting to train at a higher level, she stood on the sidelines during the boys' practice sessions, and soon the coach, Julian Walter, called her in to bowl a few deliveries. In 2013, she earned a spot on the team in the South American Championship, the only female player in the entire tournament.

Though she was getting good results in South America, she wasn't competing at the highest level. "When she first played for the Peru team against Argentina and Brazil, she was the best among the worst in a sense," says Solomon.

That was when she heard about the CanAm United Women's Cricket Association - a nonprofit organisation that develops women's cricket in the Americas - during one of her practice sessions in Peru. She talked to the CanAm general manager about playing for the team. In 2015, after her one-year break from cricket, she participated in her first tournament in North America: a T20 series in Atlanta.

In the last match of the tournament, she took a wicket with her first ball. That boosted her confidence. She realised she could be competitive at a higher level outside of Peru. Rodriguez went on to participate in tournaments in Argentina and London for CanAm between 2015 and 2017.

In 2016 she visited Lord's for the first time since watching her first match as a nine-year-old in London with her mother. It was special to go back as a player, she says. That was also the first time she had seen her father in six years. With the distance between them, they didn't have a strong relationship.

Jade Rodriguez bats Juliana Anwar

In early May this year, Rodriguez was part of the 14-member CanAm squad, that played against 17 men's teams at the 25th Annual Philadelphia International Cricket Festival. It was the first time an all-women's squad played in the tournament. CanAm pushed to take part in the festival, knowing it would expose their players to higher competition. The team won three of five matches, Rodriguez picking up key wickets throughout.

While she may be quiet before games and around her team-mates, Rodriguez lights up when she marks the start of her run-up, her eyes focused. With intensity, she runs down to deliver the ball, releasing it seam up. "She is shy in the sense she doesn't want the attention on her, but she is paying attention to every tiny detail and learning from everybody the entire time," says CanAm batsman Roberta Moretti Avery.

At the end of May, Rodriguez was in Barbados, training at the Franklyn Stephenson Academy to qualify for the West Indies national team - a decision she made after graduating from high school in Panama, where she moved with her mother in 2015. (Rodriguez's Trinidadian heritage makes her eligible to play for West Indies.) First, she hopes to be scouted to play for Barbados, and eventually, to move up to West Indies.

"When we have tournaments at the academy," Rodriguez said, "I have coaches from the Barbados team and a bunch of West Indies board members. So if I perform well in all the tournaments I play in, I will climb up the rankings until I make it to the West Indies team. My coaches and scouts will also keep tabs of my performance in tournaments for CanAm."

To reach that goal, she is training under a private coach, Amahl Nathaniel, who she first met during a cricket camp in Barbados in 2016, where again she was the only female player. She was relentless in her training, and she had a "lovely bowling action, and I knew right then I wanted to train her," Nathaniel said.

Rodriguez trains for eight hours every day - three with Nathaniel and five at the academy. She has been focusing on her batting, looking to become an allrounder. "She reminds me of Hayley Matthews," says Nathaniel. "[Matthews] used to play with boys, with the willingness to learn and improve, and I see a lot of her in Jade."

Cricket isn't Rodriguez's sole focus. She is also taking online film studies courses through the Toronto Film School. The school requires her to be physically present for the second year, so that means training with CanAm in Toronto next year. She will also be touring South Africa and Canada with CanAm in 2017.

Rodriguez has also given back to the sport that saved her. For her, the memories of the bullying, the struggles and that night in late 2015 outside of the Lima Cricket and Football Club aren't too far in her past. She has coached children in Peru and Panama, and still mentors Caitlin Yarna, a female cricketer in Peru. Although they are about the same age, Yarna found a role model in Rodriguez and credits her as the reason she is still playing cricket. Rodriguez also wants to open her own boarding school for foster children and refugees.

"I am glad I went through what I went through in Peru because it opened my eyes to life outside of my bubble. No matter what I do with my life - be it in cricket, in film-making - if it leads to me opening a home for kids, it's all worth it," she said.


The Amati Exhibition

The exhibition showcases a selection of exceptional antique and contemporary instruments and bows for sale.

The Amati Exhibition is an invaluable networking event for the stringed instrument community that is not to be missed. Twenty exhibitors from the UK, US, Europe and Japan display a selection of exceptional antique and contemporary instruments and bows which visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to try. If you are looking to purchase an instrument or bow, this is a unique opportunity to meet many of the world’s leading dealerships and contemporary makers, all within the beautiful surroundings of the Langham’s Grand Ballroom.

Photo Gallery

October 2016

October 2015

March 2015

October 2014

March 2014

October 2013

Register Your Interest

Please complete the boxes to register your interest in attending the exhibition.

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How would you describe yourself - please tick one box.

Musician

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We would like to keep you informed about The Amati Exhibition and other events by adding your details to our emailer list. By submitting this form you are indicating your consent to receive communication from us by email unless you have indicated an objection to receiving such communication by ticking the box.

Visitors

We welcome everybody who has an interest with string instruments and bows - makers, dealers, collectors, investors, students, musicians and those people who simply enjoy classical music.

Visitors can enter on both days completely free of charge.

For Musicians

You will be able to try a diverse selection of instruments and bows to suit every level and every budget. You can also discuss your individual needs with many leading dealerships and contemporary makers.

This is a rare exhibition in that you will be able to speak directly with people that you would most definitely not have gathered in the same room at any other time. The Amati Exhibition has been put together for exactly this reason: to bring a highly sociable and enjoyable event to the industry where everybody with a similar interest can meet and share their knowledge and experiences.

"Last night @RobyLakatos was mind blowingly amazing. His music filled me with energy and love for life! #violinhero"

Tamsin Waley-Cohen, violinist

"The Amati Exhibition was a fantastic occasion full of classy people and a huge amount of seriously stunning instruments."

Michael Petrov, Cellist

"London sale week is such a sociable week and rather than people meeting behind closed doors I wanted to give people an opportunity to showcase their instruments and bows in a beautiful setting. I am delighted with the success and interest and would like to thank all exhibitors who have made this possible."

Sarah Buchanan, Amati Director

For Students

We invite and encourage schools to join us at the exhibition. This is an exclusive possibility for students both to display their work alongside some of the greatest makers, but also to meet and discuss a similar interest with people from the industry. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere and make the most of speaking to established makers.

"It was a really good opportunity to have the best quality instruments in your hands and to have the time to get a closer look as well as to really examine the instruments. It was an exceptional experience to listen to the Strad Archinto cello. Even as a student I felt really welcome to look at the instruments."

Kira Hasche, Newark School Student

"I really enjoyed handling some of the most famous instruments like the Archinto cello. We were treated like everybody else which is not always the case when you are a student. It was a great experience to meet so many nice people in one place. Thanks to Amati!"

Robert Stepp, Newark School Student

How to get to The Exhibition at The Langham Hotel

Being situated in the heart of London it could not be easier to reach The Langham Hotel.

HeathrowExpress train is 15 minutes to Paddingtonand then 5 stops via Bakerloo Line to Oxford Circus

GatwickExpress train will take 15 minutes to Victoriaand then 2 stops via Victoria Line to Oxford Circus

StansteadExpress train will take 45 minutes to Liverpool Streetand then 10 minutes via Central Line to Oxford Circus

Confirmed October Exhibitors

More exhibitors to be added in the coming weeks.

Register Your Interest

Please complete the boxes to register your interest in attending the exhibition.

Name

Email

How would you describe yourself - please tick one box.

Musician

Trade

Maker

Music Student

Luthier Student

Press

Other

If other, please specify

We would like to keep you informed about The Amati Exhibition and other events by adding your details to our emailer list. By submitting this form you are indicating your consent to receive communication from us by email unless you have indicated an objection to receiving such communication by ticking the box.

Information for Exhibitors

The Langham’s Grand Ballroom provides an elegant and highly convenient central London space to display your instruments, bows and string accessories. Our event attracts musicians, investors, collectors and those with an appreciation for classcal music from around the world. The Amati Exhibition is organised by people that have years of experience in the stringed industry and who understand beautiful instruments and bows need to be shown off.

We are pleased to have built up a regular list of exhibitors who come from the UK, US, Europe and Japan. We hope they remain and new exhibitors become part of the exhibition as it continues to grow from strength to strength.

The Langham is one of London’s most beautiful and exclusive hotels and as we discovered last March continuously offer exceptional client care to our exhibitors, visitors and us. We arrange accommodation deals for our exhibitors meaning you can congenially be on site and have access to all the hotel facilities. You may wish to meet your own client’s in their infamous cocktail bar or eat in the superb Roux at the Landau restaurant.

"There are not many arenas in which prominent dealers and stringed instrument specialists can come together in one place in the same way that, say, instrument makers might. You might think that due to "competition" they may be a bit nervous, or not get along. But I found the experience quite the opposite, and apart from making new acquaintances and meeting old friends, I enjoyed seeing how other people worked and what they had to offer. Everyone in this business loves violins, and the opportunity to see a few more - and some extremely fine ones - is never a hardship!"

Register Your Interest

Please complete the boxes to register your interest in attending the exhibition.

Name

Email

How would you describe yourself - please tick one box.

Musician

Trade

Maker

Music Student

Luthier Student

Press

Other

If other, please specify

We would like to keep you informed about The Amati Exhibition and other events by adding your details to our emailer list. By submitting this form you are indicating your consent to receive communication from us by email unless you have indicated an objection to receiving such communication by ticking the box.


Advertisement

Peer spent £286,000 on council card

Disgraced peer Lord Hanningfield spent more than £286,000 on luxury hotel stays and trips to India, China and the Bahamas using a council credit card.

City of London Police announced this week it would be taking no further action after investigating Hanningfield's spending while leader of Essex County Council, saying there was insufficient evidence.

But the council published a full list today of Hanningfield's credit card transactions between 2005 and 2010 as part of its review of spending at the authority.

The 71-year-old, real name Paul White, from West Hanningfield, Essex, was last year jailed for falsely claiming parliamentary expenses.

He served nine weeks of a nine-month sentence and was ordered to repay more than £30,000.

The credit card log includes flights to the Bahamas costing £5,652 followed by a stay at the Wyndham Nassau which has been described as "paradise" and offers its own lagoon and Las Vegas-style casino.

On another trip Hanningfield spent £1,538.30 for a stay at the Hotel Imperial in Delhi, described as "the best luxury hotel in India".

Hanningfield also travelled to destinations including the US, Australia, Italy, France, Finland and Uganda.

The thousands of transactions include spending on meals, books, flowers and train journeys.

The report states that Hanningfield received a further £236,644 in expenses and allowances between 2006 and 2011.

It adds that although Lord Hanningfield reimbursed costs identified as being personal spending, there had been issues with a lack of receipts and expenditure above recommended guidelines.

The council admitted controls on the former council leader's spending had not been sufficiently "stringent".

Council leader Peter Martin said that since Lord Hanningfield left the council, action had been taken to tighten the authority's "governance framework".

Mr Martin said: "I am pleased that the police investigation is now closed and we are now able to move on.

"Lord Hanningfield was obviously a large part of the authority for a number of years but it is three years since he stepped down as leader and a lot has changed since then.

"It is now time to look forward rather than back."

After City of London Police announced its decision, Hanningfield said he was "relieved" but called on the council to launch an investigation into why the allegations were made.

He said: "I now believe that the council must examine its actions including the activities and motivations of those senior officials who ran and continue to run the authority.

"My heart sinks to think of the hundreds of thousands of pounds that the council has spent on this exercise through the hiring of expensive lawyers and the time and energy that could have been spent on delivering services for the people of Essex."


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We’ve been providing high-end models to discerning clients for over ten years now. In that time we’ve made it our mission to find girls who’ll make our clients dreams come true. Other agencies might use slogans like ‘reputable’, ‘high end’ and ‘high class’ but only we can make them a reality. Our cameras don’t lie, and our camera captures highest quality, model after model, time after time. If you spend just a few moments browsing our galleries and you’ll see precisely what we mean." Our camera doesn’t lie, and our cameras capture true quality, time after time, girl after girl. You can visit at as many agencies as you wish, and you won’t find companions that come any close to matching those at Black Label London Escorts. We make a point of assuring the highest quality in terms of personality, beauty and everything else you’re looking for."
It’s about more than beauty though. We meet our girls in person. We get to know them to make 100% sure they’re genuine BlackLabel elite escorts. A Black Label girl has personality to match her beauty. Warm and funny, approachable and intelligent, she’ll be devoted to making you happy, whatever your idea of happiness is. Our girls come from every corner of the globe, but they’re all fluent in the language of customer service. Whether you’re looking for a giggling British babe, an adventurous party girl, or a sophisticated partner and companion, there’ll always be a Black Label Girl who fits the bill exactly.
As top class as the services we offer are, we’re never really 100% satisfied. We’re constantly on the lookout for new girls to join our agency and make our offering even more attractive. If you believe you’ve got exactly what it takes to become one of the Black Label London escorts and work for the undoubtedly best agency in Central London , then please go to our join us page and fill out our application form.

High Class London Escorts Agency

We’ve worked to the highest standard since 2008, and that is reflected in the quality service we offer and the clientele we attract." We look for nothing less than the best, and that applies to our companions located around the world and to our London escorts and models in places like the UAE and Dubai.
Finding the best models is one thing, knowing how to offer the best possible service is another." Our watchwords are discretion and professionalism.
The privacy of our esteemed clients and high class escorts is absolute and unconditional. Black Label avoids the tactics used by so many other London escort agencies. We don’t give out false information. We never use fake photos and we don’t send our models into uncomfortable situations. Black Label keeps your personal details and your identity secure, whether you’re a client or a model. If your first selection of companion isn’t available at the time then we won’t pressure you to book, because main part of being the top high class London escort agency means ensuring that the client only ever gets exactly what they want. Our high-end London escorts provide a truly flexible service.
That means providing incall service, when the appointment takes place at the chosen girls apartment, or outcall, when they are to travel to agreed location. This might be a five star hotel in Central London or Dubai, your own private residence, or even a different part of the world. Whatever best suits you, our client, is what we aim to provide.
Our clients can also, for a set fee, sign up to our VIP membership section. We are aware that some other agencies provide this option free of charge, however we’re not just another agency. The highest possible class of our VIP London and Dubai elite escorts means it is imperative that we guard their privacy and attract only the VIP clients they deserve. Become a one of Black Label VIP members and you’ll have a full access to full-face photos of our girls. The kind of pictures which, we’re pretty sure, will prove impossible to resist.Follow us on GoogleGoogle Plus

You’ll realise that Black Label London is a top quality elite escort agency the moment you click on our website. It’s obvious in how easy we’ve made everything; choosing an escort to spend time with is about escaping from the daily grind for a while, so we’ve made the process as quick and simple as […]

You’ll realise that Black Label London is a top quality elite escort agency the moment you click on our website. It’s obvious in how easy we’ve made everything; choosing an escort to spend time with is about escaping from the daily grind for a while, so we’ve made the process as quick and simple as […]

Here at Black Label London we believe in giving our clients exactly what they’re looking for. Many escort agencies might make the same claim, but none can compete with the elite offer of Black Label when it comes to two things – quality and variety. That’s why we’re confident when claiming that the curvy models […]

Disclaimer: This site is intended for adult viewing and may contain nudity. Enter the site only if you are legally entitled to access "Adult Sites" as defined by the laws of the country where you live. By entering this site, you confirm that: You are not entering this site in any official or unofficial capacity; in order to download images, or gain information for use in any media, or to use against the owner of the site. Money exchanged for legal adult services is for time and companionship. Anything implied or inferred on this web site is not to be taken as inducement for services other than this. Any sexual activities that take place are between consenting adults. If you are under 18 or do not agree with the above disclaimer statements, leave now.

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Red Tape Challenge – Government asks hospitality, food and drink industries: ‘name and shame the regulations that are holding back your businesses’

This news article was published under
the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Those with a stake in the hospitality, food and drink industries get the chance today to declare war on the rules and red tape

Those with a stake in the hospitality, food and drink industries get the chance today to declare war on the rules and red tape that are holding back their growth and stifling their chances of success. These industries will get their chance for the next four weeks to name and shame the regulations they want to see scrapped, through an easy-to-access website.

And the ministers responsible for them will then have to justify each rule and, where the case for their existence cannot be justified, consign them to the scrapheap. The site will also allow the industry to flag up ways in which problems can be solved without intrusive government regulations.

Former Whitbread Chief Executive Alan Parker CBE has agreed to become the champion for this theme ensuring that it delivers real results quickly. He has also agreed to take on a longer term role as Head of the Tourism Regulation Taskforce ensuring that the wider barriers identified in the tourism strategy are dismantled.

This work will focus on providing:

ways to develop an intelligent, evidence-based, case to government on unnecessary regulations that should be amended or repealed;

a chance to identify and review existing and proposed regulations at both the UK and EU level, where they affect tourism and the visitor economy; and

a forum for other interested parties like consumer groups and those who actually enforce the regulations to be part of the debate;

Mr Parker will lead a group made up of industry professionals who will action the feedback received during the Red Tape Challenge, and subsequently produce a report and set of recommendations for DCMS and government - in the wider context - to implement.

Tourism Minister John Penrose said:

“As the Prime Minister said last month, proper standards in things like fire safety and food hygiene are vital for us all, so regulations governing such things should obviously stay. But everyone knows that not all rules and regulations are like this - and there are just too many petty, outdated and repetitive ones holding back business in this country. So cutting through the red tape is absolutely central to the Government’s vision for Britain, and our plans to grow the economy. We want to be the first Government in modern history to leave office having reduced the overall burden of regulation, not increased it.

“The website that goes live today is a brilliant and simple tool for everyone involved in the hospitality, food and drink sectors to have their say, naming and shaming all the rules, regulations and red tape that are holding back their business growth and limiting their individual freedom.

“But talk is cheap. So we are turning the bureaucratic assumptions on their heads - from now on, the presumption is that regulations will be axed, unless present ministers can absolutely justify why they should be kept. ‘Stand it up, or shut it down’ will be our touchstone. And that marks a huge transfer of influence to the people who actually live and work at the sharp end.

“Alan Parker’s appointment - firstly as sector champion for the Red Tape Challenge, but also as Chairman for the Tourism Regulation Task Force - is also crucial in making this happen. The Task Force will start with the feedback received from the sector in the next four weeks and turn it into a firm action plan, with clear and deliverable recommendations.”

Agriculture and Food Minister Jim Paice said:

“Global demand for food is rising and there are going to be huge opportunities for the British food and drink industries in the coming years.
“Some regulations, such as those on food safety, make sense and are welcomed by consumers. However, the Government is committed to removing unnecessary barriers to growth and finding alternatives to regulation.”

Notes to Editors

The Red Tape Challenge was launched by the Prime Minister on 7 April, giving the public a chance to have their say on the more than 21,000 regulations that affect their everyday lives.

For each sector theme, there is an experienced ‘sector champion’ who will provide expert knowledge on the issues faced by those on the shop floor. The champion acts as an intermediary between the sector and Government and help to direct the web-based debates and discussions.

Biographical Note: Alan Charles Parker CBE retired as Chief Executive of Whitbread Plc on his sixty fourth birthday in November 2010 after 18 years with the company. Alan was appointed Chief Executive of Whitbread PLC in June 2004 having been a member of the Whitbread PLC Board since 2000. Alan was educated at the University of Surrey (BSc) where he is now a Visiting Professor. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Programme, a Director and ex-Chairman of the British Hospitality Association, a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, an Executive Committee member of the World Travel and Tourism Council and Non-Executive Director of Jumeirah Group LLC and Kesa Electricals Plc. Up until 2010 Alan was on the Board of Visit Britain for six years. In June 2008, Alan was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his lifetime of service to the Hospitality Industry. His peers voted him as the ‘Business Leader of the Year’ 2003. In 2007, he was inducted by his peers into the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame. He was also presented with the ‘Individual of the Year’ award at the Hotel Report Awards 2009. Alan was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Hotel Industry Award at the Hotel Cateys 2010. In March 2011 the International Hotel Investment Forum announced Alan as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award 2011. Before joining Whitbread in 1992, Alan spent ten years with Bass Plc as Senior Vice President of Holiday Inn Europe, Middle East and Africa based in Brussels, and prior to that, Managing Director Europe of Crest Hotels based in Frankfurt. Alan was born and grew up in North London where his family ran a restaurant for forty years. Alan has a grown up son and daughter, and now lives between Surrey and Chelsea. He is a keen yachtsman and supporter of rugby and football. After 36 years of marriage Alan was widowed in 2010.


NFL players are tough. They run fast, jump high and tackle hard. But they’re also sensitive souls – and they care deeply about toilet paper.

The New York Jets are at Wembley on Sunday, and they have gone to great, some may say outré, lengths to make sure the players are looked after properly. They have their own clothes washer. Their own private chef. And – get this – they’ve imported 350 rolls of their own toilet paper to, as the New York Times puts it, “replace the thinner version used in England”.

The Times spoke to Aaron Degerness, the Jets’ senior manager of team operations, about what was required for the team’s arduous trek to one of the world’s most inhospitable environments. (Sorry, a luxury jaunt for a few days in one of the world’s most amenable cities.)

The details are mind-boggling. Five thousand items, from cereal and extension cords to gauze pads and wristbands, have been loaded on to a ship containing supplies for all six NFL teams playing in London this season. (Jacksonville play Buffalo in week seven, and Kansas City take on Detroit the following week. The ship left New York in August.) The Jets have spent 11 months planning for about 65 hours overseas, an undertaking that Degerness said involved about 10 times the work that preparing to play in Miami, say, would have required.

An industrial launderer will pick up the players’ dirty practice clothing at one location and deliver it clean to another. A chef at the Jets’ London hotel will be flown in to observe how food is cooked and served at team headquarters. (British food, of course, consists principally of gruel, crisps and warm lager.)

Degerness acknowledged that the Jets’ plans might be perceived as a little OTT, but it’s not his money, so what the hell. “Some may say that’s a little over the top or whatnot, but it didn’t really cost that much, so why not? We’re basically trying to replicate everything that we’re doing here over there.”

Quite. Who knew that an improperly wiped arsehole would have such an effect on the team’s performance?

The Jets’ equipment Gus Granneman also revealed that the prospect of doing laundry overseas was a frightening one. “You’re always scared about going to another country and your laundry comes back in a ball or something like that,” he said. “You don’t even tell him low heat. You say: ‘I want this at 100 degrees fahrenheit, whatever it is in celsius,’ because low heat might be something entirely different to him.”

Right.

The Times piece made the startling revelation that the Jets would have to remind their players to “call their cellphone providers and credit card companies before taking off, and to plug in electrical adapters, lest the higher voltage fry their Xboxes or favorite hair clippers.”

It also “meant shipping over condiment staples that could be difficult to procure, like hot sauce and barbecue sauce.”

Maybe they could just make do with HP. After all, they’re only in town for a few days. Why not live a little?


14th Empire Awards

The 14th Empire Awards ceremony (officially known as the Jameson Empire Awards), presented by the British film magazine Empire, honored the best films of 2008 and took place on 29 March 2009 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, England. During the ceremony, Empire presented Empire Awards in 12 categories as well as four honorary awards. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Empire magazine a special honorary award was presented, the Actor of our Lifetime and to mark the loss of Heath Ledger, he was awarded the special honorary Heath Ledger Tribute Award. The Sony Ericsson Soundtrack Award was renamed to "Best Soundtrack" and the Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy award was renamed this year only to "Best Sci-Fi/Superhero". The Best Newcomer and Best Soundtrack awards were presented for the last time. Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain hosted the show for the first time. The awards were sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey for the first time.

The Dark Knight won the most awards with three including Best Film and Best Director for Christopher Nolan. Other winners included Eden Lake, Mamma Mia!, Quantum of Solace, RocknRolla, Son of Rambow, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Wanted with one. Viggo Mortensen received the Empire Icon Award, Danny Boyle received the Outstanding Contribution to British Film award, Russell Crowe received the Actor of our Lifetime award and Heath Ledger received a special post-mortem tribute. Stephen Power and Conal O'Meara from the United Kingdom won the Done In 60 Seconds Award for their 60-second film version of Jerry Maguire.

Winners and nominees
Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface. The shortlisted nominees were revealed on 2 March 2009 and finale voting ended on 12 March  2009.

Multiple awards
The following film received multiple awards:

Multiple nominations
The following 12 films received multiple nominations:

Done In 60 Seconds films

References

External links

Category:Empire Award ceremonies
Category:2008 film awards
Category:2009 in London
Category:2009 in British cinema
Category:March 2009 events in the United Kingdom
Category:2000s in the City of Westminster


Location

Hotel Ideal Design is on Boulevard Jourdan, near Paris metro stations. During free time, vacationers can mingle with the locals at Place de la Bastille or watch striking performances at Opera Bastille.

Dining

Before touring the area, visitors at Ideal Design Hotel can have a delicious breakfast on site. Patrons can also sample local home-cooked meals at restaurants nearby or order snacks and drinks from the hotel room service menu and lounge bar.

Rooms

The hotel features tastefully decorated rooms with stylish furnishings and amenities like satellite flat-screen TV, balcony with a view, en suite bathroom, hairdryer and mini bar.

Ideal Hotel Design Rooms

Single Room

Single Room offers 1 twin bed. Ideal Hotel Design offers en suite rooms with flat-screen satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and balconies with views of Paris. A unique in-room massage service is available upon request. Access to a fitness room with a rowing machine and weights bench is also provided.

Double Room

Double Room offers 1 double or 2 twin beds. Ideal Hotel Design offers en suite rooms with flat-screen satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and balconies with views of Paris. A unique in-room massage service is available upon request. Access to a fitness room with a rowing machine and weights bench is also provided.

Triple Room

Triple Room offers 1 double and 1 twin bed. Ideal Hotel Design offers en suite rooms with flat-screen satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and balconies with views of Paris. A unique in-room massage service is available upon request. Access to a fitness room with a rowing machine and weights bench is also provided.

Quad Room

Quad Room offers 2 double beds. Ideal Hotel Design offers en suite rooms with flat-screen satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and balconies with views of Paris. A unique in-room massage service is available upon request. Access to a fitness room with a rowing machine and weights bench is also provided.

Superior Double

Superior Double room offers 1 double or 2 twin beds. Ideal Hotel Design offers en suite rooms with flat-screen satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and balconies with views of Paris. A unique in-room massage service is available upon request. Access to a fitness room with a rowing machine and weights bench is also provided.

Hotel Map

48.82292.3272

Area served

Paris

Nearby airports

Charles de Gaulle(CDG).

Area description

Hotel Ideal Design is on Boulevard Jourdan, near Paris metro stations. During free time, vacationers can mingle with the locals at Place de la Bastille or watch striking performances at Opera Bastille.

Nearby points of interest

Porte d'Orleans: 0.1 km

École normale supérieure: 0.3 km

Parc Montsouris: 0.8 km

Catacombs of Paris: 1.3 km

Denfert-Rochereau: 1.3 km

Stade Sébastien Charléty: 1.5 km

Place de Catalogne: 1.7 km

Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse: 1.9 km

*Montparnasse Train Station: 2 km

Musée du Montparnasse: 2.3 km

Théâtre du Lucernaire: 2.4 km

Le Cordon Bleu Paris Culinary Art School: 2.6 km

Mines ParisTech: 2.6 km

Rue Mouffetard: 2.7 km

Luxembourg Gardens: 2.8 km

Porte d'Orleans: 0.1 km

École normale supérieure: 0.3 km

Parc Montsouris: 0.8 km

Catacombs of Paris: 1.3 km

Denfert-Rochereau: 1.3 km

Stade Sébastien Charléty: 1.5 km

Place de Catalogne: 1.7 km

Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse: 1.9 km

*Montparnasse Train Station: 2 km

Musée du Montparnasse: 2.3 km

Théâtre du Lucernaire: 2.4 km

Le Cordon Bleu Paris Culinary Art School: 2.6 km

Mines ParisTech: 2.6 km

Rue Mouffetard: 2.7 km

Luxembourg Gardens: 2.8 km

Saint Michel - Saint Germain des Pres: 2.8 km

Place de la Contrescarpe: 2.9 km

Panthéon: 2.9 km

Palais du Luxembourg: 2.9 km

Mosquee de Paris: 2.9 km

Lycée Henri-IV: 3 km

Collège de Sorbonne: 3.1 km

Lycée Louis-le-Grand: 3.1 km

University of Paris-Sorbonne: 3.1 km

Arènes de Lutèce: 3.1 km

Musée national du Moyen Âge: 3.3 km

Paris Descartes University: 3.3 km

Jardin des Plantes: 3.3 km

Bibliothèque de Sainte-Geneviève: 3.4 km

Latin Quarter of Paris: 3.4 km

Boulevard Saint-Germain: 3.4 km

Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University: 3.5 km

Sciences Po: 3.5 km

Abbey of St-Germain-des-Prés: 3.5 km

Marche rue de Buci: 3.5 km

*Exhibition Center Porte de Versailles: 3.5 km

*Gare d'Austerlitz train station: 3.5 km

Arab World Institute: 3.6 km

Musée Auguste Rodin: 3.7 km

Notre Dame de Paris : 3.7 km

Notre Dame Cathedral: 3.7 km

National Library of France: 3.8 km

Ile St.-Louis: 3.9 km

Sainte-Chapelle: 3.9 km

Musée des Plans-Reliefs: 3.9 km

Hotel Policies

Check-in:

14:30

Check-out:

12:00

Terms and conditions

Extra charges may apply for children. Incidental charges, such as room service, are not included in the quoted rate.

The amenities and/or facilities may not be located at the hotel, but within a reasonable distance, and additional charges may apply for use.

Paris Breakaway with Family

Overall satisfaction of this hotel is very bad. The rooms was very hot during the day as there was no fan or air-conditioning provided. Not a good place to stay with your family. They don't even provide a kettle in the room for making our own drinks. Rooms are not cleaned properly.

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):

Amenities:

1

Cleanliness:

1

Hotel staff:

4

Comfort:

1

Location:

3

Value:

1

Trip purpose:

Business

Review of Ideal Hotel Design

Reviewer score

4

5.01.0

Would recommend

April

Business

Singapore

18 May 2014

Not bad for a 3*, nice and clean rooms, Metro right below

Yes, the hotel location is not smacked in the city centre (it takes abt 20mins - 35 mins, depending on where you wanna go in town). But it's right above the metro - and in cold weather, you can't ask for a better arrangement. The rooms are nice and clean, as that of a 3* hotel.
Note: there is no air con in the hotel. So avoid it during summer. The elevator is tiny, but heck it's new and it works! Plus, there is no water kettle there, so if you are like me who need hot drinks when it gets cold, remember to bring along your own travel kettle!
My hubby tried the breakfast for one morning, and he said that it wasn't impressive (i.e. you're better off buying a crossiant sandwich from the bakery next door, or the portable Creperie across the street! Yummy.. )

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):

Amenities:

3

Cleanliness:

4

Hotel staff:

3

Comfort:

4

Location:

4

Value:

4

Trip purpose:

Business

Time-saving tip:
In Hotel

No air-con, small elevator, not kettle (bring your own!)

Review of Ideal Hotel Design

Reviewer score

3

5.01.0

Would not recommend

Antonios

Business

London

9 Mar 2014

Short Paris trip

The positive is just on the Porte Orleans metro stop, but quite far out from the tourist sights. Looks recently renovated, had a tiny room, two persons can barely move around, garishly coloured walls and worse no sound-insulation, thread bare walls can hear everything going on, shouts, doors banging, people dragging luggage. Personnel very polite and helpful if you make the effort to speak their language.

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):

Amenities:

3

Cleanliness:

4

Hotel staff:

4

Comfort:

3

Location:

2

Value:

3

Trip purpose:

Business

Review of Ideal Hotel Design

Reviewer score

5

5.01.0

Would recommend

sarah jamila

Business

london

10 Feb 2014

fantastic for couples and friends to go there

i went to this hotel and it was lovely i enjoyed the stay there me and my friend we stayed there for almost a week and it was lovely the location of the hotel was really nice and the service of the room was really good the people that work there where very friendly and polite they speak english and where really helpful we enjoyed our stay and would recommend people to go there


Camille Saint-Saëns: Symphony No.3 in C minor ('Organ Symphony')

Perhaps history has misted over the pathway to a true understanding of Camille Saint-Saëns.

To most of us, now, he is but a composer. In his day, however, he was so much more. Indeed, so much more that even his contemporaries found him hard to categorise. Liszt, for example, once called him ‘the greatest organist in the world’, but Saint-Saëns himself knew this side of him had to compete with the conducting, composing, mathematics, philosophy and astronomy. Whatever the subject, it seemed that Saint-Saëns was an expert at it.

His Symphony No. 3 is probably best understood as a ‘Symphony with added organ’, because only two of its four movements feature the instrument. it’s a magnificent work, with the composer saying he was writing to his limits: ‘I gave everything to it I was able to give. What I have accomplished here, I will never achieve again.’ Strong stuff, but you can see what he means. The Royal Philharmonic Society, here in the UK, commissioned the work and Saint-Saëns came over to conduct its premiere at the old St James’s Hall (now the site of the Le Meridien Hotel, in London’s Piccadilly).


Syria + Short breaks | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/syria+short-breaks
Indexen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Tue, 31 Mar 2015 22:31:17 GMT2015-03-31T22:31:17Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
Where's hot now? Sunny autumn getawayshttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2010/sep/18/autumn-sun-late-deals
Where to find warm sun and blue skies in October and November
October high 31C
 Continue reading...Winter sunMexicoCanary IslandsEgyptSyriaIndiaHotelsBeach holidaysTravelShort breaksFri, 17 Sep 2010 23:06:26 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2010/sep/18/autumn-sun-late-dealsGetty ImagesWinter sun ... explore the sights of one of the world's oldest cities, Aleppo, this autumn. Photograph: Getty ImagesGetty ImagesExplore the sights of the world's oldest city, Aleppo, this autumn. Photograph: Getty ImagesMehreen Khan2010-09-17T23:06:26ZThe world's greatest train tripshttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/dec/13/the-worlds-greatest-train-trips

Back in the early 1980s Jimmy Savile fronted a series of TV ads with the tag line, "This is the age of the train". Frankly, it wasn't. At the time the railways were haemorrhaging passengers, while motorways were multiplying and accessible air travel was no longer an impossible dream. Nobody wanted slam-door rattle-bang any more. Fast forward nearly three decades and the situation has changed. Motorways are nose-to-tail and airports have lost their glamour. But trains have gone on doing their own thing. Yes, we've got wonderful new high-speed services in Europe, but there are also hill-climbing antiques, trans-continental empire builders and retro-style sleepers, still plugging away.

That diversity is refreshing in an increasingly homogenised world, but railway travel does share key characteristics. It is a stress-free, uncluttered way of seeing a place, with the chance to meet its population en route. With that in mind, here is my (very subjective) list of the world's top five journeys.
 Continue reading...Rail travelShort breaksRussiaMoscowScotlandVeniceSwitzerlandIstanbulSyriaDamascusTurkeyCity breaksTravelSun, 13 Dec 2009 00:05:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/dec/13/the-worlds-greatest-train-tripsAlamyThe Bernina Express, Switzerland. Photograph: AlamyAlamyThe Bernina Express, Switzerland. Photograph: AlamyAndrew Eames2009-12-13T00:05:00ZCity guide: Places to stayhttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/nov/08/top-100-city-tips-hotels

by Sally Shalam
 Continue reading...Top 100 city tipsHotelsMarrakechMoroccoSydneyAustraliaCardiffWalesDamascusSyriaParisFranceLondonUnited KingdomRio de JaneiroBrazilVeniceItalySevilleSpainBuenos AiresArgentinaPortugalSt PetersburgRussiaNew YorkUnited StatesIndiaDubrovnikCroatiaCape TownSouth AfricaMelbourneBostonRomeNaplesShort breaksWeekend breaksSelf-cateringRest and relaxationWinter sunTravelCity breaksSat, 08 Nov 2008 00:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/nov/08/top-100-city-tips-hotelsPRHotel-as-home ... La Maison hotel, Rio de JaneiroPRLa Maison hotel, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilGuardian Staff2008-11-08T00:01:00ZHave a mini adventure: 10 big escapes that can be squeezed into a long weekendhttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/jan/12/weekends.shortbreaks
We'll always have Paris - but you can do so much more in a weekend. Here are 10 big escapes that can be squeezed into two or three days
The 21.15 to Rannoch Moor, UK

The smog-to-bog sleeper to Britain's greatest wilderness is a Tardis of the railway industry: step in among London's crowds and cabs, and step out among deer and midges. There's nothing quite like Rannoch Moor. No roads dare cross this 56 square-mile welter of bog and rock, but mankind has added his stitch to the fabric in the London to Fort William railway line, which weaves across the middle. The moor has two lonely stations, and at Rannoch there's even a lonely hotel. Originally a sanctuary for railway workers, it has beds made out of old deer fences, there's no TV and mobile phones don't work - which is why people come here. Be sure to climb one of the local hills while on Rannoch. From above, the lochs look like bits of sky fallen to ground.
 Continue reading...Weekend breaksShort breaksRomaniaUnited KingdomTravelNorwayAustriaCanary IslandsSyriaGermanyFranceCanadaSat, 12 Jan 2008 23:45:07 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/jan/12/weekends.shortbreaksEl Hierro, Canary Islands. Photograph: AlamyAndrew Eames2008-01-12T23:45:07ZDam good bargains in Damascushttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/jan/05/shoppingtrips.damascus

Why bother with all your Christmas woolies when you could warm up in the Syrian capital of Damascus instead? With more souks than Marrakech, the treasure-filled streets of the Old Market (pictured) and Handicrafts Lane, where artisans craft blown glass and jewellery, it's a much better option for a January shopping trip than your local high street.

Black Tomato (020-7610 9008, blacktomato.co.uk) has three nights at "the city's first boutique hotel", Beit Al Mamlouka, from £700pp including Heathrow flights and transfers.
 Continue reading...Shopping tripsDamascusSyriaShort breaksTravelSat, 05 Jan 2008 23:44:02 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/jan/05/shoppingtrips.damascusJanuary sales ... shop for bargains in the Old Market. Photograph: Ramzi Haidar/AFP/Getty ImagesGuardian Staff2008-01-05T23:44:02Z


OBAMA WATCH CENTRALWND Exclusive

President daughters now designated 'senior staff'

Costs of family safari to Africa starting to come out

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially.

The president’s two daughters, Sasha and Malia, were listed as “Senior Staff” on the manifest of a family safari to Africa, which cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars at a minimum, according to a government corruption fighter based in Washington.

The information comes from some of the documentation from the Obama family’s June 21-27 trip to South Africa and Botswana that was obtained under a federal Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch.

Among the bits of information that have been released as a result of the court action were that the children were listed as “Senior Staff” on the manifests for the trip, and the costs of the military airplane used for the trip were in the range of $425,000 – all paid by taxpayers.

While Michelle Obama delivered some speeches on the trip, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said the taxpayers’ money was wasted.

“This trip was as much an opportunity for the Obama family to go on a safari as it was a trip to conduct government business,” said Fitton. “This junket wasted tax dollars and the resources of our overextended military.

“No wonder we had to sue to pry loose this information.”

The organization previously uncovered documentation revealing that a “date night” for Barack and Michelle Obama in 2009 cost taxpayers more than $11,000 in Secret Service costs alone.

The organization, which investigates and fights government corruption, also earlier documented what appears to many to be the extravagant spending by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Records showed Pelosi cost taxpayers $101,000 for in-flight food and alcohol over a period in 2008 and 2009. At one point she instructed the Air Force to provide chocolate-covered strawberries for a snack, since it was her birthday.

According to documents that were obtained under the legal action, taxpayers spent hundreds of dollars ($928.44) for “bulk food” for passengers aboard the flights and the calculated cost of the C-32 (a military configuration of a Boeing 757) was $424,142 (34.8 flight hours at more than $12,000 per hour).

The other expenses, meals off the plane, transportation, security, miscellaneous services and other costs – “Have yet to be disclosed,” Judicial Watch said.

The organization also reported, “The passenger manifests confirm the presence of Obama’s daughter’s, Malia and Sasha on the trip. The two girls are listed as ‘Senior Staff.’ The manifests also list Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, and niece and nephew, Leslie and Avery Robinson, as well Mrs. Obama’s makeup and hairstylist (Carl Ray and Johnny Wright),” Judicial Watch said.

The “professed purpose” of the trip “was to encourage young people living in the two growing democracies to become involved in national affairs; and during her scheduled stops in Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa and in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, the First Lady used the opportunity to speak on education, health and wellness issues,” the report said.

But the trip also included tourist events such as stops at landmarks and museums. There also was a private family safari at a South African game reserve for the Obamas.

The court case was launched just about the time The Daily Mail in the United Kingdom touted the $10 million in public money Michelle Obama has spent on her “vacations.”

“Branding her ‘disgusting’ and ‘a vacation junkie,’ [reports] say the 47-year-old mother-of-two has been indulging in five-star hotels, where she splashes out on expensive massages and alcohol,” the London paper said.

The report said Michelle Obama is believed to have taken 42 days of vacation in the last year, including a respite in Spain that cost $375,000 and a $2,000-a-night ski trip to Vail, Colo.

When the report came out, the family was on another vacation, at Blue Heron Farm on Martha’s Vineyard, where the rental fees are estimated at $50,000 a week.

The paper reported the situation was aggravated because the Obamas took separate airplanes to the Massachusetts retreat – even though they traveled the same day.

Also, the report cited figures from a Hawaii Reporter investigation into the Obamas’ trip to Hawaii last winter, where the costs were $63,000 to bring Michelle Obama to town ahead of the president, $38,000 for a beach property rental, $134,000 for staff members to stay in a nearby hotel and $251,000 in police overtime.

“She’s coming on this trip to talk about women’s development and youth development, and South Africa is a leader in that, not only on the continent but globally,” Trudeau said in the report. “A visit to South Africa is important for them as a family. She’ll be visiting many struggle-era landmarks, including the Apartheid Museum (and) the Hector Pieterson Memorial.”

It was last year she requested that strawberries be provided for a special treat on her Air Force transport because it was her birthday. Not just any strawberries: chocolate-covered strawberries. “Dark chocolate preferred.”

Then there was a follow-up report from Judicial Watch that more taxpayer money – hundreds of thousands of dollars – were spent in the months before Pelosi handed the gavel over to Rep. John Boehner as Republicans took control of the House following the 2010 election.

That order apparently was connected to a congressional delegation trip to Detroit that cost some $24,000 in air travel expenses plus another $10,000 in miscellaneous expenses.

The records, which are linked Judicial Watch’s website, include flight manifests, expense summaries, copies of receipts and congressional correspondence for Pelosi’s trips in 2010.

There’s not a grand total for the expenditures because of the nature of the reporting: Sometimes there were reimbursements listed for members of Pelosi’s family traveling with her, and it was unclear whether those reimbursements were paid.

The individual files of 50 to 100 pages of details are posted online in three parts:

The details include information on a May 6-10, 2010, trip to Afghanistan and Germany “to discuss issues of mutual interest in Qatar and Afghanistan, as well as conduct oversight on women’s issues (troops) in Afghanistan and to visit with U.S. troops and meet with government officials in Germany.”

Tab for the military travel? $204,135.

And Pelosi “made a personal request that the ‘maximum per diem allowance be made available at the enhanced rate of an additional $50.'”

Also uncovered were “numerous” trips by Pelosi between San Francisco and Andrews Air Force Base.

Part of the tab for alcoholic drinks on a congressional trip arranged by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

“Several of these trips included members of Speaker Pelosi’s family, including her husband, daughter, granddaughters and son-in-law.”

The Detroit trip? Costs were $24,336 for commercial air travel and another $10,046 in “expenses.”

The Pentagon also paid for military escorts for the trip, the report noted.

Earlier reports documented that she spent $2,100,744.59 in military travel costs in a single two-year period. That included the $101,429.14 taxpayers paid for “in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol.”


The Terror Attack in London – Expect More of the Same in Europe and US as ISIS Loses its Grip?

In the aftermath of the recent London attack, where a British-born, converted Muslim, murdered four and injured 29, Dr. Doron Pely, TAL Global’s Director of Conflict Management and Special Projects, and a University of Southern California (USC) HVE Studies Associate at the Safe Communities Institute, spoke with Professor Erroll Southers, Director of the Homegrown Violent Extremism Studies at the University of Southern California (USC) and TAL Global Managing Director of Counterterrorism and Infrastructure Protection. We wanted to know what it is that we can learn about the motivation of the attacker, the method of attack and the evolving investigation.

[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]Q:[/dropcap]Professor Southers, what do we know about the attacker? Is he an ISIS fighter returning from Syria or Iraq?
[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]A:[/dropcap]As far as we know, Mr. Khalid Masood, 52, the London attacker, was born as Adrian Russell Elms, and also used the name Adrian Ajao, his stepfather’s surname, in Kent, in South-East England, but was believed to have been living in the area of the city of Birmingham, in the West Midlands – about 120 miles North-West of London. He was not an active part of ISIS and was not trained or lived in either Syria or Iraq and therefore, not a returning “foreign fighter.” This attacker is older than the “usual” terrorist demographic. Most similar attacks were carried out by younger perpetrators, between the ages of 20 and 35. As time passes and the investigation broadens, new information may come to light that will help us understand critical factors such as his social network and his motivation.
[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]Q:[/dropcap]Has the attacker been previously identified as a potential terrorist?

[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]A:[/dropcap]No. We know that Mr. Masood had a long criminal history, including assault, weapons charges and violations of public order; but as far as terrorist activities, according to British Prime Minister, Theresa May, he was considered “a peripheral figure.” Even though he had been examined by MI5, Britain’s internal security agency, he was not “part of the current intelligence picture.” It is interesting that he was suspected of having a connection to violent extremism, but that component has not been fully explained.
[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]Q:[/dropcap]Is there something we can learn from the recent wave of vehicular attacks in France, Germany and England?
[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]A:[/dropcap]We know that this is straight out of the al-Qaeda / ISIS playbook. The attackers tend to be either local citizens or resided near their target areas. They knew their targets, the roads leading to the location, the best routes, and the optimal time to strike. They understand what we call “attack utility,” or how to get the most effective return on the terror operation, such as, fatalities, injuries, infrastructure disruption, economic consequences (tourism, etc.) and psychological impact. In this instance, Masood stayed the night before the attack in a hotel in Brighton, got into a rental car and drove to London, to use the car as a weapon. He reportedly told the staff at the hotel, “I’m off to London today” as if he were a visiting tourist.
[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]Q:[/dropcap] What do we want to know about the attacker?

[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]A:[/dropcap] As I mentioned previously, we want to know everything we can about his social network; who did he socialize with, work with and who were his classmates? Who did he communicate with, in person and ultimately, online? What were the narratives he received and imparted? Another piece of information that will be of relevance is to try to figure out what exactly precipitated the attack? We know that such attacks do not happen instantaneously – they are not typically a product of a sudden flare of emotions and/or ideology. Such actions take time to germinate and plan. Masood was a bodybuilding enthusiast, who had several incidents involving edged weapons attacks, landing him in jail. His first conviction was in November 1983 for criminal damage when he was 18 and his last one in 2003 for possession of a knife. It appears he was one of only two black men in Northiam and ostracized from the community. He served time in Lewes jail, East Sussex, Wayland prison in Norfolk, and Ford open prison, West Sussex. It is likely he was radicalised during his time in jail.
[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]Q:[/dropcap] When you consider this attack as part of a large, counter-terrorism, picture, and what does it tell you that is of significance?
[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]A:[/dropcap] It tells me the messaging regarding this type of attack, is working. We have seen this in Israel, France, London and even in the state of Ohio, in America. If you peruse the online magazines such as “Inspire” and “Dabiq,” literally every issue touts this attack strategy. It is low tech and medium to high impact, as the consequences relate to fatalities, injuries and psychological effect. The other component of this strategy includes the vehicle assault being accompanied by an edged weapon attack. This is very common and part of the planned approach. It is obviously very effective. As ISIS loses its grip on territories and resources in the Middle East, we can expect a surge of London-style attacks in Europe and North America. Defeated and humiliated fighters will start filtering back into their home countries, particularly in Western Europe. They will seek a way to vent their frustrations and show the world that while they may be down in the Middle East, they are not out in terms of their ability to inflict pain on the “infidels” in the West. Furthermore, the current anti Muslim wave, including President Trump’s travel ban, and rising anti-Muslim sentiment and action in Europe and the US may actually have the opposite effect in that they will increase frustration and anger within Muslim communities, weaken their will to resist fundamentalist pressure as well as their will to aid authorities in quashing budding terror plots.
[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]Q:[/dropcap] What can we do, at a practical level, to help reduce our exposure to such attacks?

[dropcap background=”” color=”” circle=”0″ size=”1″]A:[/dropcap] Well, for one, we can pay more attention to improving the functionality and usability of the “See Something, Say Something” mechanism. I will not be at all surprised if in the near future, someone who knew the attacker will appear and say something like: “I knew this guy was trouble, but I did not know what to do about it”. Well, there’s a whole lot that can be done to ensure that more people know what to do if the “see” or “suspect” something nefarious. People should be made to feel comfortable about communicating such concerns to the authorities. Currently, some people are mostly worried that saying something will turn them into targets of an investigation, and will cause them endless suffering both within their communities and with the local and national law enforcement agencies. Much can and should be done to alleviate such concerns. We need to bring whole communities in on the side of justice, security, solidarity and good citizenship. Only community-level engagement will create the energies and connections required to enable the establishment of a meaningful opposition to homegrown violent extremists. I call it a “Mosaic of Engagement.”


5 Awesome Living Walls From Around The World

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Cities around the world are choking in a cloud of air pollution, and now rising seas threaten to leave them drowning in flood waters. Awash in black rooftops and gray sidewalks, it may seem like anything green, healthy and alive fled cities a long time ago. Is there anything positive to be seen in urban areas around the world?

The answer is yes. Around the world, some of the largest cities in the world are turning to simple tactics like green rooftops and living walls to restore nature to its proper place of prominence. By replacing heat-absorbing brick and mortar walls with living shrubs, grasses, flowers and trees, many landscape designers hope to save energy, filter toxins out of the air and prevent much-needed rainwater from escaping down the drain.

“Studies have shown that the surface of an exterior green wall is up to 10°C cooler than an exposed wall, therefore considerably less heat is radiated inward. Not only do green walls reduce cooling requirements but they also help to mitigate the urban heat island effect,” explains Green Over Grey.

In celebration of this simple way to conserve and beautify our urban environments, let’s take a look at five of the most awesome living walls from around the world.

Image via Rain Communications

Palace Hotel, Victoria, London

Featuring over 10,000 ferns, herbaceous plants and 16 tons of soil, the new living wall at the Palace Hotel in Victoria has earned the title of London’s largest living wall. It was designed to attract wildlife such as bees, butterflies and birds to the urban environment as well as to conserve water, reports EarthTechling. ”The living wall is irrigated using rainwater harvested from the roofs and stored in tanks before being fed through the wall, from which it evaporates,” said the designer in a statement. “In this sense the project is a sustainable drainage system.”

Image via Inhabitat

Milan‘s Il Fiordaliso Shopping Center

Accepted as the world’s largest living wall by the Guinness Book of World Records, this 13,594 square foot living wall decorates the exterior of the Il Fiordaliso shopping center. Incorporating 44,000 plants, the wall “cuts down on Il Fiordaliso’s energy consumption, blocking solar gain and insulating in the colder months. The plants also absorb noise and emissions from cars idling in the nearby parking lot,” according to Inhabitat.

Image via Airport Technology

Changi Airport, Singapore

Called the “Green Wall,” this five-story, 300 meter long vertical garden in the Singapore Changi Airport ”is covered with climbing plants and is interspersed with four cascading waterfalls (helping to regulate the internal temperature),” according to Airport Technology.

Completed in 2009, this 2,380-foot green wall is located at PNC’s headquarters in Pittsburgh. Made from 602 panels of soil and plants fitted into 2×2-square-foot spaces, the wall features many regional plants, all acquired locally within 500 miles of downtown Pittsburgh. “Despite harboring so many plants, the wall requires just 15 minutes of watering per week in warmer months and 15 minutes per month in winter,” reports Fast Company.

This massive vertical garden extends upward for three stories in an Elche office building. It’s located in the building’s foyer, so that employees and visitors can both marvel at its size and take advantage of its calming benefits. It’s planted with a combination of bamboo, evergreens and ivy to “optimize interior CO2 management for passive air purification” and avoid “sick-building syndrome.”

Do you know of an awesome living wall that belongs on this list? Tell us about it in the comments!

I was thinking external walls, but then some oxygen and air freshening from green walls in malls would not be out of place. Especially when they are building more of these building without windows that open to bring in fresh air. Personally I hate malls because of the lack of fresh air.

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Government is calling for partnerships between local and foreign investors to set up generic drug manufacturing plants to improve drugs availability and create jobs.

Further, Government believes such investments will help generate foreign currency from the sale of generic drugs across the region.

This was said by Mr Godfrey Chanakira, the Permanent Secretary in Vice President Constantino Chiwenga's office, during the public health supply chain conference and exhibition in Harare on Tuesday.

"The Government of Zimbabwe advocates for improved availability of healthcare consumables and sustainable pricing structures of drugs," said Mr Chanakira.

"The TSP (Transitional Stabilisation Programme) acknowledges the technical and financial requirements in the sector, hence its call for new partnerships between domestic and foreign investors for setting up generic drug manufacturing plants in Zimbabwe in the course of this year.

"The joint venture partnerships envisaged are expected to benefit the country through technology transfer, among others."

He said such an approach results in value chain development, which comes with the creation of jobs for locals as well as generation of foreign currency through regional exports.

"In this regard, there are tremendous opportunities for the private sector to complement and partner the public sector towards the goal of achieving substantial improvements in drugs procurement efficiency and commodity availability.

"Although the private sector is often held up as a benchmark for efficiency for the public sector, this may be unfair as it ignores the unique challenges and constraints that public sector procuring entities often face such as greater public scrutiny and lengthy procurement procedures," said Mr Chanakira.

He said the National Health Strategy put in place by Government contains various programmes to direct and institutionalise stakeholder participation in the healthcare delivery system, maintain the momentum of private-public cooperation and create an enabling environment for those who want to come on board.

Mr Chanakira added that the key to any successful health system is the supply of medicines, the availability of essential commodities and equipment to enable testing, treatment, care and support.

"Nevertheless, within the public sector, procurement of health commodities requires more flexibility and responsiveness to change (in population health and in environmental conditions) than procurement of other products.

"Thus, ineffective procurement in public health institutions compromises the quality of national disease responses, interventions and programmes.

"Inadequate planning, forecasting and procurement methods often contribute to high commodity costs, long lead times, stock imbalances and overall, commodity insecurity," he said.

Foremost African financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank plc has been named the Best Bank in Africa 2019 by Euromoney at its annual Awards for Excellence, which held in London on Wednesday, at the London Hilton Hotel, Park Lane.

GTBank was also named the Best Bank in Nigeria for a record ninth time, reflecting the Bank’s position as one of the best managed financial institutions in the country, with strong and focused leadership that keep the business in a constant state of re-invention and innovation.

Now in its 50th year, Euromoney is the leading publication for covering the growth of international finance. Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence are the awards that matter to the banks and bankers who matter.

This year, Euromoney received almost 1,500 submissions from banks in an awards programme that covers 20 global awards, more than 50 regional awards, and best bank awards in close to 100 countries. The Magazine’s Awards for Excellence celebrates the best banks around the world by recognizing institutions that have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and momentum in the markets they operate. In selecting its award recipients, Euromoney combines quantitative and qualitative data to honor institutions that have brought the highest levels of service, innovation and expertise to their customers.

Key to the emergence of GTBank as the Best Bank in Africa and the Best Bank in Nigeria, is the Bank’s digital drive and its clarity of vision in re-imagining the future of banks and banking. The Euromoney awards also recognized GTBank’s commitment to leading the future of banking as well as its consistent long-term strategy led by a senior management team that abhors complacency and keeps the business in a constant state of innovation.

Commenting on the Bank’s Euromoney awards, the Chief Executive Officer of GTBank, Segun Agbaje, said; “We are delighted and proud to win the Euromoney Awards for Africa’s Best Bank and Nigeria’s Best Bank. These awards reflect the progress we are making in delivering the best banking experience that captures what customers want in the world of today and tomorrow. They are also a testament to our leading role in driving world class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality and innovation in Africa’s banking industry.”

He further stated that; “At GTBank, we are passionate about building the bank of the future by leveraging the best of technology to add real value to our customers’ lives, and these awards illustrate the hard work and commitment of our staff, management and board towards achieving this goal.

‘GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry. The GTBank brand is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality and innovation.”

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, on Thursday disclosed that stolen assets of African continent in Western world worth over $50b.

The Ibadan Zonal Head of EFCC, Friday Ebelo disclosed this at the 3rd African Anti-Corruption Day, themed, “Towards a Common African Position on Asset Recovering”, which was marked with a walk across Nigeria.

Ebelo, who led his team and other stakeholders, including the media, members of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, War Against Indiscipline, WAR, Nigeria Security Defence Corps, NSDC, Nigeria Police and Trade Union Congress, TUC, said that the stolen assets covering money, artifacts and natural resources must be recovered and repatriated back to Africa.

He noted that it was immoral if the West could be preaching transparency in the running of the African continent and they did not abide by the same concept of transparency and accountability.

He said, “Today’s event is a match in support of the African position against corruption. It is about the repatriation from the West back to Africa of our stolen goods and commonwealth. Many things were stolen away from Africa to Europe, America and other countries of the world. So with this event, we are creating awareness to the world power where most of our money is being laundered and our assets are being tied down. According to a study done before now, over $50b worth of assets from Africa alone are stolen and tied down in the West and some other countries of the world”.

“Money, artifact and other things stolen from us are our heritage and they spread across the world. We must be consistent and persistent in demanding for our stolen assets because it is our right. I believe if we do not relent, one day the comity of nations will come together and say let us do the right things.”

The EFCC Scribe pointed out that Africa did not stand to gain anything from jailing fraudsters that stole the continent’s assets alone without recovering what they had stolen for the good of the people of the continent.

He said, “As regards money laundering and related offences, you will find out that if you remove the backers of those who are involved in this act, you have virtually taken everything out of him. The concept of jailing the person who steals from us is not enough. Efforts should be made to recover at least 80 percent of the assets he has stolen to empty the thief.

“The concept of recovering of repatriation, which entails arresting a financial criminal, sentencing him into imprisonment and tracing all the things he has stolen, is the best for us. So, this time, what we are doing is that we are tracing the stolen assets beyond the shore of this nation. If we discover what you have stolen abroad and you cannot prove their ownership, automatically, the property becomes the property of the government.”

The walk, which took place simultaneously across the country, saw the team in Ibadan trekking, amidst funfair, from Iyaganku through Dugbe and to the EFCC Ibadan Office.