Pop supremo and X Factor’s American judge Nicole Scherzinger wowed crowds at the launch of Westfield Shopping City in Stratford.

The £1.4 Billion Westfield Stratford City complex in East London is now Europe’s largest retail shopping Centre. In London yesterday thousands queued in the pouring rain to marvel at the spectacular shopping city complex.

John Burton, Director – Westfield Stratford City, comments: “Westfield Stratford City is proud to launch this September as one of the greenest retail and leisure destinations in the UK. 

Our commitment to creating the most environmentally sound development possible is evident in the extensive green technologies and initiatives built into the fabric of this project.  Westfield Stratford City will set a new benchmark in sustainable retail development.”

Touch of Glass

There was a touch of ‘Girl Power’ as headliner Scherzinger belted out a number of hits. The spectacle was literally earth shattering when a pain of glass fell from a roof panel during the performance but fortunately nobody was injured.

     Facts about the construction

80,000 square metres of bricks used to construct Westfield Stratford City, enough to cover two of the Brooklyn Bridge’s floor space.

A whopping 16.5 square metres was used for one piece of glass – the largest used for a shopping centre in the UK.

120 acres of trees were saved. 100,000 linear feet of reclaimed timber has been used as cladding on the walls and ceilings. Every single linear foot was recycled, sourced from four buildings in the UK.

It takes 40,000 steps to explore from start to finish, totalling to 24,000 square metres of mall floor.

Almost double the 24,000 tonnes of steel used to build the Titanic was used in just the structure of the building itself.

Circling the west end of London the length equates to the 5km of electrical cable used to bring the shopping centre to life.

The cement used, totalling to 300,000 cubic metres, is enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall eight times over.

The 410,000 square metres of metal decking takes up five times the diameter of the O2 Arena.

The 88,000 metres of façade are almost equal to four of the Eiffel Tower’s.

Over the duration of the construction period an 800 ton mobile crane was used for dismantling. Seven cranes in total were used to manoeuvre across the site. 12,850 piles were driven and augured across the construction period.

53,000 of cubic metres were used purely just for concrete toppings.

The roof stretches as vast as the square footage of Buckingham Palace’s.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and model Kelly Brook teamed up for the press launch of the Mayor of London Sky Ride 2011. Model Kelly Brook for the third year in succession upstaged Boris Johnson wearing a short pink dress and six inch heels.

Model Kelly Brook is pictured arriving at the press call wearing a striking pink short dress and matching shoes. 

Kelly has obviously been practicing since last year and even managed to cycle with one hand. Boris on the other hand narrowly averted a crash when he momentarily lost control.

The Mayor of London Sky Ride takes place on the 4^th September 2011, in which a route of 7.2 miles in central London will become traffic free.

The roads will be closed from 9.30am to 4.30am which will include: Westminster Bridge, Palace of Westminster, , The Mall and on to Trafalgar Square. Last years event attracted 85,000 people.

Model Kelly Brook who acts as the Sky Ride London Ambassador said: “Cycling is a great way to keep in shape and spend quality time with your friends.”

Pedal power ruled as Arnold Schwarzenegger took to the mean streets of Hackney.

California’s controversial former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger saddled up to City Hall with London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Arnold who starred in films such as the Terminator; ‘a role not too dissimilar to his previous job.’ according to one human rights activists, arrived in London to celebrate former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev’s 80^th Birthday.

The former Governor of California who left office in January 2011 presided over one of the States worst terms in office with only 23% approval rating. His legacy included a huge financial deficit and compromising civil rights clemency record.

 African American Kevin Cooper was convicted for murder in which he has served over 25 years on ‘Death Row’. Eyewitness statements said the crime was perpetrated by three Caucasian men.  Appeals for clemency during Arnold’s term in office were reportedly denied. 

City Hall, London, five hundred people lined the payment to see Arnold and London Mayor Boris Johnson take to the saddle in the grounds of City Hall.

Boris Johnson will be hoping that his term in office is not terminated when he stands for re-election in May 2012.

London is bustling with activity this week, Royalty, movie premiers, Olympic ceremonies, Justin Beiber, the Smith family to name just a few of the events that we’ve covered.

Later on this week we hope to give you the pre launch pictures of Jamaican actor – Oliver Samuels new Hot Pepper Sauce which will be hitting UK markets later this year.

 HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh  are snapped arriving at the Commonwealth Remembrance Service in London.

The service was also attended by Jamaica’s High Commissioner His Excellency Anthony Johnson, and hiswife.

With Jamaica celebrating its 50^th Anniversary and the 2012 Olympic Games around the corner, communications between the Embassy and Jamaican’s living in the UK are said to be at an all time low.

The Jamaican Trade and  investment delegates also attended an international food conference at Excel, a 2012 Olympic dinner in Holborn and a JAMPRO seminar. However this news was met with indifference by key sections of the Caribbean UK media.

Anuvahood premiered in Leicester Square. Directors Adam Deacon and Michael Vu were joined on the red carpet with celebrities who included Preeya Kalidas, Esmee Denters, Egypt, Tiny –Irons and girl group Fe-Nix were amongst many.

Surprisingly the one person who was missing from the line-up was the Writer and Director of AdultHOOD Noel Clarke.

The Olympic Countdown ended in embarrassment in London. Within Twenty four hours from the Countdown launch in Trafalgar Square, the clock stopped ticking!

Judging by the facial expressions of Sebastian Coe, Jessica Ennis and Mayor Boris Johnson, Mark Weir from FLYER News commented; “It all appeared a bit too good to be true, these are people who are used to technical glitches and they obviously came prepared for the worst case scenario.”

Justin Beiber and Willow Smith were pictured during their late night shop at Hamleys in Regent Street. Photographers clashed with Justin’s security as they made safe his departure from the store.

Willow Smith was spotted playing with toys near the entrance whilst Jaden remained with Justin Beiber.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson and 30 children from Merton Hawks Basketball Club gathered at City Hall kick -off NBA Basketball Week – a series of free, youth-orientated basketball events taking place in London and across the UK between February 25 and March 6.

The array of NBA Basketball Week events in London culminate in the NBA Games – London 2011 presented by Thomson Sport on March 4 and 5 at The O2 Arena, when the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors will play in the NBA’s first regular-season games in Europe.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “The NBA returning to the capital is fantastic news. I am committed to the 2012 Games leaving a genuine legacy of increased participation in sport, especially amongst young people. The NBA has generated enormous excitement from all its games in London and giving youngsters the chance to hone their skills with its basketball week will help us towards the slam dunk we are aiming for.”

“We are excited to be providing fans in London and across the country with interactive opportunities to experience the game through NBA Basketball Week” said Sophie Goldschmidt, Senior Vice President, NBA Europe. “NBA Basketball Week is a fitting lead up to the NBA’s biggest event in London – our first-ever regular-season games – and we hope that this week-long celebration of basketball will become a regular feature on the UK sporting calendar.”

Speaking to Flyer News one young person said: “Basketball helps me to channel my thoughts. It’s a great social activity and I would like to be the best and follow in the footsteps of my hero LeBron James.”

LeBron James said to Flyer last summer: “Basketball helped me focus when everything around me was going wrong. Although I lived and breathed basketball, I scheduled this around my education.”

NBA Basketball Week activity continues in Acton, south London on February 26 as the Vale Center plays host to the first of a series adidas NBA Cares basketball clinics for youngsters. The Acton clinic will be conducted in partnership with Street Games, a youth sport development charity aimed at providing opportunities to teenagers from London’s urban communities. The Pop Up returns to London on March 2, where it will make stops at prominent locations across the city, including Covent Garden, from 10am to 6pm.

Basketball Week continues from March 2 through to March 6 as the NBA Fan Zone takes up residence in Europe’s largest shopping mall, Westfield London, in Shepherd’s Bush. The NBA Fan Zone, a five day free event featuring interactive basketball activities at Westfield, will include further adidas NBA Cares basketball clinics, a coaching clinic, a Sprite 3-on-3 tournament, Foot Locker Three-Point contest and appearances from NBA legends the New Jersey Nets Dancers, Sly the Nets team mascot, the Nets Dunkin Divas and Team Hype.

The National Basketball Association (NBA), British Basketball (representing Team GB), the British Basketball League (BBL), and England Basketball (EB) have united for the inaugural NBA Basketball Week that will also see activities in Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester and Sheffield.

Words: Matthew Hinchliffe

There is a new cool kid on the block, and we’re not talking about the beautiful model Jasmia Robinson from Britain’s Next Top Model, this kid comes with two wheels and is the brain-child of Mayor for London Boris Johnson.

The Mayor’s flagship cycling scheme – Barclays Cycle Hire, was officially launched in London this morning and was heralded a “new dawn” in London’s bid to become the greatest big cycling city in the world.

Docking one of thousands of new bicycles at a Barclay’s Hire Station, the mayor was joined by Marcus Agius, the chairman of the schemes sponsor Barclays, and London Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy.

They were also joined by former Britain’s Next Top Model contestant and soloist Jasmia Robinson who said: “I have come down to support the launch; it’s an efficient, healthy and cost-effective way to travel across the city.”

Matthew from FLYER News said: “We’ve now road tested this bicycle for an hour. The gears are fairly smooth the transition between second and third was a bit jumpy but it was an enjoyable ride.

The bike though is not fast and it was a bit concerting being overtaken by a Brompton.

The success of the scheme will rest in whether Londoners will take to having such a big brand such as Barclay’s signposting its way across the city. Vandalism will be a serious issue but for events such as the Notting Hill Carnival, London Fashion Week etc this scheme will be in a league of its own, ten out of ten, Boris.”

We took in the sites, the London Eye, Houses of Parliament and of course the landmark that is Jerk City restaurant to get some cornmeal porridge before heading back towards Waterloo.