A year ago, News Junkie could name at least ten practices that were talking about opening branches in the Middle East. How times change. Now the news that RMJM has enough work to open three new offices in Qatar, Bahrain and Turkey is is almost shocking. At least we know who to send our CVs to.
The Australian Institute of Architects have been campaigning for protection of title for donkeys years so congratulations to them for their recent victory. Given how many architects are unsatisfied witha similar law here in the UK, we reserve our opinion on whether this was worth fighting for.

RMJM to open Qatar, Bahrain offices
RMJM is bucking the international trend and has announce plans to open new offices in Qatar, Bahrain and Turkey within the next two months. Read more at Trade Arabia
Architect calls on NSW Government to end 'cartel'
An architect in Sydney has accused the state government of freezing out local practices and revealed that it has held just 12 open design competitions in 20 years, with only two being completed. Read more at the Australian Daily Telegraph
Swiss and German cities dominate top 10 of 'best' cities in the world
European cities continue to dominate the list of the best cities in the world to live in. London comes in at 38th and New York is at the bottom of the list at number 49.  Read more at City Mayors
Former U.S. Chief Architect, joins Perkins+Will as Principal
Edward Feiner, former US Chief Architects, has become a principal at Perkins + Will’s Washington DC office. Read more at World Architecture News
Libya starts construction on $5 bln energy hub
Libya started building a five year building project to build its Smart Energy City last weekend, 70km west of Tripoli. Similar projects are set to follow in India and Qatar. Read more at Reuters
New law protects architects' titles
Registered architects in South Australia win legal protection of title. Read more at Architecture and Design
Preservation Group Lists Most Endangered Places
The National Trust for Historic Preservation in America has released its 2009 list of buildings at risk, including the hangar that housed Enola Gay and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois.
This year the trust made a point of highlighting the threat to Modernist buildings. Read more in the New York Times