Latest news with #10DowningStreet
Reuters
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Canaletto painting, once owned by first British prime minister, heads to auction
LONDON, June 6 (Reuters) - A painting by Italian artist Giovanni Antonio Canal, best known as Canaletto, which was once owned by Britain's first prime minister, heads to auction next month, with a price estimate of more than $27 million. "Venice, the Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension Day", from around 1732, has only been offered for auction twice before and will lead the July 1 "Old Masters Evening Sale" during Christie's Classic Week in London. It is listed with an "estimate on request, in excess of 20 million pounds" ($27.09 million) price tag. The painting depicts the Bucintoro, the official barge of the Doge of Venice, returning to the quay side on the feast of the Ascension. "It's a ten out of ten on every measure... This is the grandest view you could possibly conceive of Venice at its grandest moment, Ascension Day, with all of the pomp and ceremony," Andrew Fletcher, Christie's global head of the Old Masters Department, told Reuters. "It's in unbelievably beautiful condition, partly because it's passed through so few collections over its lifetime." The painting looks towards the entrance of Venice's Grand Canal as the Bucintoro returns to the Doge's Palace. "Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about this painting is that it is possibly the picture which set off the craze for works by Canaletto in the United Kingdom, which of course was the country and the people who were his greatest patrons," Fletcher said. It once hung at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of British prime ministers. It was first recorded there in 1736, in the collection of Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as Britain's first prime minister. It was sold at auction after his death and bought by the financier Samson Gideon. It remained in Gideon's family until 1930 and last came to auction in 1993. "It is painted in the early 1730s, which is generally considered the apex... of Canaletto's output," Fletcher said. "This is the time where he had left behind the sort of ultra atmospheric views of the 1720s, had found this formula on which his fame would then ride - this sort of very detailed but actually quite limited palette, but focusing very much on the detail of, and the beauty of, the Venetian architecture and people." ($1 = 0.7382 pounds)
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Second man in court over arson attacks linked to UK PM Starmer
LONDON: A second man to be charged over a series of arson attacks on houses and a car linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appeared in a London court on Tuesday. Over five days earlier this month, police were called to fires at a house in north London owned by Starmer, another at a property nearby where he used to live, and to a blaze involving a car that also used to belong to the British leader. Last week, Ukrainian Roman Lavrynovych, 21, was charged in connection with the fires, and on Tuesday Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, who was born in Ukraine, appeared in court accused of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. 'The alleged offense arises from three fires set at locations linked to the prime minister in the last fortnight,' prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said. 'At this stage the alleged offending is unexplained.' Neither of the suspects has been charged under terrorism laws or the new National Security Act which aims to target hostile state activity. Police said the first fire involved a Toyota Rav4 car that Starmer used to own. Days later, there was a blaze at a property where Starmer once resided and the following day there was an attack on a house in north London that he still owns. Starmer, who has lived at his official 10 Downing Street residence in central London since becoming prime minister last July, has called the incidents 'an attack on all of us, on our democracy and the values we stand for.' Wearing a light blue hoodie, Carpiuc, who was arrested on Saturday at London's Luton Airport, spoke only to confirm his name and address while listening to the proceedings through a translator. He was remanded in custody until a hearing on June 6 at London's Old Bailey court when his co-accused Lavrynovych is also due to appear. The prosecutor said a decision would be taken at this hearing as to whether the case would proceed under the terrorism protocol. Carpiuc's lawyer Jay Nutkins said his client had lived in Britain for nine years and had just completed a two-year degree at a university in Canterbury. 'He denies being at the scene of any of these fires,' Nutkins said. Carpiuc funded himself through construction work, Nutkins said. On a casting website for models and actors, an entry under Carpiuc's name said he was born in western Ukraine and was seeking work as a model. On Monday, police arrested a third man in connection with the fires and he remains in police custody.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gemma Chan says UK aid cuts cannot be borne by ‘most vulnerable children'
Crazy Rich Asians actress Gemma Chan has said UK aid cuts cannot be "borne by the most vulnerable children in the world" after signing and delivering an open letter to 10 Downing Street. Chan, 42, who is also a Unicef ambassador, delivered the open letter on Monday, calling on the UK government to ensure that 25% of the aid budget is spent on "life-saving and life-changing work for children". The letter comes after the UK government announced it would cut foreign aid from 0.5% gross national income (GNI) to 0.3% from 2027, in order to increase defence spending. READ MORE: Vegan family issue 'last warning' to neighbours after BBQ row escalates READ MORE: Moment one-legged man, 93, Tasered and sprayed with pepper spray by police at care home Signatories included Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, pop star Robbie Williams, 15 development organisations and more than 40,000 members of the UK public. Speaking to PA news agency, Chan said: "We're definitely living in a really challenging time and difficult decisions are having to be made, but I feel that these decisions shouldn't be borne by the most vulnerable children in the world. "Things like vaccinations, access to health care, they're a human right. No matter where a child lives, they deserve access to that. "Today is really about just making sure that we're speaking up at this really difficult time for people that don't have anyone advocating for them." The actress recently travelled to Malawi with Unicef UK and saw the ways UK funding has helped develop solutions to overcome healthcare and climate change challenges. This includes using solar panels to help improve health in rural communities by extending the shelf life of vaccines by keeping them refrigerated, and using drones to help speed up test results and to deliver health supplies. This is supported by the African Drone and Data Academy, which trains young people to use satellite technology to map flooding damage and better predict weather patterns to improve agriculture, health and emergency responses. Chan added: "I'm really inspired by the young people that I meet in the course of doing my work with Unicef and trips like this trip to Malawi. "I think it's really important not to lose hope, and it's really important to support the people that are really doing tireless, not necessarily very glamorous work, but working every day to make sure that children everywhere are given a good chance that (they are) growing up healthy and to be able to pursue their hopes and their dreams." Speaking about the open letter, Chan emphasised that aid for children should be "prioritised". She said: "(The letter is) calling on the government to make sure that, in spite of the recent decisions and the cuts to international aid, that aid for children is prioritised and to make sure that 25% of the budget is spent on these vital programmes for children in areas such as health, nutrition, education, sanitation and just to make sure that the world's most vulnerable children aren't bearing the brunt of these really difficult decisions." Homeland actor David Harewood also signed the letter alongside British-Somali Olympic boxer Ramla Ali, who fled Somalia with her family as a child and went on to compete for the world title. The open letter says: "We know that by almost every measure, 2024 was one of the worst years on record for children in conflict. "Cutting critical aid again, this time even more drastically, will put their lives at risk and undo decades of progress. "The UK's commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on aid demonstrated our leadership and our compassion. The decision to cut it to 0.3% will make it impossible for this government to achieve its aspirations of tackling extreme poverty, addressing the climate crisis and building long-term global security."
Wales Online
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Gemma Chan says UK aid cuts cannot be borne by ‘most vulnerable children'
Gemma Chan says UK aid cuts cannot be borne by 'most vulnerable children' undefined Gemma Chan (Image: Getty Images/David M. Benett ) Crazy Rich Asians actress Gemma Chan has said UK aid cuts cannot be "borne by the most vulnerable children in the world" after signing and delivering an open letter to 10 Downing Street. Chan, 42, who is also a Unicef ambassador, delivered the open letter on Monday, calling on the UK government to ensure that 25% of the aid budget is spent on "life-saving and life-changing work for children". The letter comes after the UK government announced it would cut foreign aid from 0.5% gross national income (GNI) to 0.3% from 2027, in order to increase defence spending. Signatories included Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, pop star Robbie Williams, 15 development organisations and more than 40,000 members of the UK public. Speaking to PA news agency, Chan said: "We're definitely living in a really challenging time and difficult decisions are having to be made, but I feel that these decisions shouldn't be borne by the most vulnerable children in the world. "Things like vaccinations, access to health care, they're a human right. No matter where a child lives, they deserve access to that. Article continues below "Today is really about just making sure that we're speaking up at this really difficult time for people that don't have anyone advocating for them." The actress recently travelled to Malawi with Unicef UK and saw the ways UK funding has helped develop solutions to overcome healthcare and climate change challenges. This includes using solar panels to help improve health in rural communities by extending the shelf life of vaccines by keeping them refrigerated, and using drones to help speed up test results and to deliver health supplies. This is supported by the African Drone and Data Academy, which trains young people to use satellite technology to map flooding damage and better predict weather patterns to improve agriculture, health and emergency responses. Chan added: "I'm really inspired by the young people that I meet in the course of doing my work with Unicef and trips like this trip to Malawi. "I think it's really important not to lose hope, and it's really important to support the people that are really doing tireless, not necessarily very glamorous work, but working every day to make sure that children everywhere are given a good chance that (they are) growing up healthy and to be able to pursue their hopes and their dreams." Speaking about the open letter, Chan emphasised that aid for children should be "prioritised". She said: "(The letter is) calling on the government to make sure that, in spite of the recent decisions and the cuts to international aid, that aid for children is prioritised and to make sure that 25% of the budget is spent on these vital programmes for children in areas such as health, nutrition, education, sanitation and just to make sure that the world's most vulnerable children aren't bearing the brunt of these really difficult decisions." Homeland actor David Harewood also signed the letter alongside British-Somali Olympic boxer Ramla Ali, who fled Somalia with her family as a child and went on to compete for the world title. Article continues below The open letter says: "We know that by almost every measure, 2024 was one of the worst years on record for children in conflict. "Cutting critical aid again, this time even more drastically, will put their lives at risk and undo decades of progress. "The UK's commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on aid demonstrated our leadership and our compassion. The decision to cut it to 0.3% will make it impossible for this government to achieve its aspirations of tackling extreme poverty, addressing the climate crisis and building long-term global security."
Powys County Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Gemma Chan says UK aid cuts cannot be borne by ‘most vulnerable children'
Crazy Rich Asians actress Gemma Chan has said UK aid cuts cannot be 'borne by the most vulnerable children in the world' after signing and delivering an open letter to 10 Downing Street. Chan, 42, who is also a Unicef ambassador, delivered the open letter on Monday, calling on the UK government to ensure that 25% of the aid budget is spent on 'life-saving and life-changing work for children'. The letter comes after the UK government announced it would cut foreign aid from 0.5% gross national income (GNI) to 0.3% from 2027, in order to increase defence spending. Signatories included Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, pop star Robbie Williams, 15 development organisations and more than 40,000 members of the UK public. Speaking to PA news agency, Chan said: 'We're definitely living in a really challenging time and difficult decisions are having to be made, but I feel that these decisions shouldn't be borne by the most vulnerable children in the world. 'Things like vaccinations, access to health care, they're a human right. No matter where a child lives, they deserve access to that. 'Today is really about just making sure that we're speaking up at this really difficult time for people that don't have anyone advocating for them.' The actress recently travelled to Malawi with Unicef UK and saw the ways UK funding has helped develop solutions to overcome healthcare and climate change challenges. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gemma Chan (@gemmachan) This includes using solar panels to help improve health in rural communities by extending the shelf life of vaccines by keeping them refrigerated, and using drones to help speed up test results and to deliver health supplies. This is supported by the African Drone and Data Academy, which trains young people to use satellite technology to map flooding damage and better predict weather patterns to improve agriculture, health and emergency responses. Chan added: 'I'm really inspired by the young people that I meet in the course of doing my work with Unicef and trips like this trip to Malawi. 'I think it's really important not to lose hope, and it's really important to support the people that are really doing tireless, not necessarily very glamorous work, but working every day to make sure that children everywhere are given a good chance that (they are) growing up healthy and to be able to pursue their hopes and their dreams.' Speaking about the open letter, Chan emphasised that aid for children should be 'prioritised'. She said: '(The letter is) calling on the government to make sure that, in spite of the recent decisions and the cuts to international aid, that aid for children is prioritised and to make sure that 25% of the budget is spent on these vital programmes for children in areas such as health, nutrition, education, sanitation and just to make sure that the world's most vulnerable children aren't bearing the brunt of these really difficult decisions.' Homeland actor David Harewood also signed the letter alongside British-Somali Olympic boxer Ramla Ali, who fled Somalia with her family as a child and went on to compete for the world title. The open letter says: 'We know that by almost every measure, 2024 was one of the worst years on record for children in conflict. 'Cutting critical aid again, this time even more drastically, will put their lives at risk and undo decades of progress. 'The UK's commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on aid demonstrated our leadership and our compassion. The decision to cut it to 0.3% will make it impossible for this government to achieve its aspirations of tackling extreme poverty, addressing the climate crisis and building long-term global security.'
