In Focus

With financial markets still highly volatile and interest rates at record lows, the possibility that art and other collectibles could earn tasty returns is appealing to high net worth individuals. Throw in a post-crisis mistrust of financial instruments and a perception that tangible, scarce investments could provide a stable source of value in uncertain times, and it is unsurprising that an increasing number of investors are having a good look at collecting art.

E-mail was once the greatest innovation in written communication since Johannes Gutenberg had a rather clever idea regarding moveable type and printing presses. Letter writing suddenly became very old-skool, innit, and people started referring to it as snail mail. Now, however, e-mail itself is starting to go the same way as letters and, say, Prince Edward: forgotten but not gone.

Romantic, cosmopolitan and packed with entertainment, Lisbon and its surrounding coastal region are great destinations for a well-rounded conference trip. Diversity is the region’s hallmark. It has extensive beaches ideal for sunbathing or water sports, UNESCO World Heritage sites, picturesque rural landscapes and, of course, an excellent infrastructure for conferences. Lisbon is the only European capital located both on the river and on the coast, and the nearby cosmopolitan resorts of Estoril and Cascais offer a blend of business and pleasure with 19th-century charm.

The Netherlands, tucked up in North West Europe is a choice spot for foreign investment and a world leader in the Life Science sector. It is one of the most politically stable countries in the EU, with a dynamic government that actively encourages and facilitates industry, business innovation and investment. So if your business is on the cusp of expansion, look towards the Netherlands for the best opportunity for future growth and success. There are huge business opportunities available for every industry, but if your area of expertise lies in the health and life science sector, you simply must read on.

Brainport Eindhoven Region has a very strong position when it comes to high tech. This region is the homebase of large OEMs such as Philips, DAF, ASML, and FEI Company. These large companies have been outsourcing the manufacturing of sub-assemblies and larger non-core submodules to strategic suppliers. The tier-one, tier-two and tier-three suppliers in the open high-tech supply chain joined forces to create Brainport Industries.

It’s the 26th April, and the Hilton Park Lane is gearing up for the prestigious Industry press clamour to catch a glimpse of tonight’s hopefuls, their flash bulbs popping, but this is no celebrity event. We are here to celebrate the men and women behind the lens. Previous luminaries of this most celebrated award include Argentinean photographer Alejandro Chaskielberg (2011) and Italian photographer Tommaso Ausili (2010). The winner of this most coveted prize will join them as the newest member of the World Photographic Academy. Significant individuals from the international photographic community were present, along with Minister of Culture, Ed Vaizey, who spoke in support of the photography industry in the UK.

Today, sparkling in the summer sun, the Shard looks stunning, splitting the London skyline like a gargantuan slice of crystal fallen from space. This fledgling skyscraper is already a cover star. It has replaced the Gherkin as the focal point of the beautiful, stylized helicopter footage that is interspersed throughout Alan Sugar’s BBC program The Apprentice. It is the subject of many, many images on photo-sharing websites such as Facebook and Flickr. The building is now rapidly approaching completion: Its final steel section was lifted into place in March, and it will be inaugurated on July 5.