DOUNIAMAG-BRITAIN-SHARD-LONDON-SKYLINE

DOUNIAMAG-BRITAIN-SHARD-LONDON-SKYLINE

This picture taken on January 9, 2013 shows media representatives reporting from the 68th floor of “The Shard” in central London. The Shard, Europe’s tallest skyscraper, opens its viewing platform to the public on February 1, giving an unrivalled view of London and defiantly snubbing critics of the gigantic project. The 310-metre (1,017-foot) Shard has been described as too high, too audacious and too likely to cast its shadow over the historic monuments nearby — and too costly at a time of austerity, even though 95 percent of its £450 million ($727 million, 548 million euros) cost has been financed by Qatar. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS – EMBARGOED UNTIL JANUARY 11, 2013 AT 0001 GMT