On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, the Czech Centre Rotterdam is preparing a new photography exhibition:  “Czechoslovakia Through the Lens of Dagmar Hochová” which will be opened  1st May – 1st July 2019 in Internationaal Perscentrum Nieuwspoort (Lange Poten 10, 2511 CL Den Haag).
For more information visit our website: https://bit.ly/2IqCk5F
And/or find it on FB: https://bit.ly/2Gh8W0p
The Hague, 25 April 2019– The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism) has today released in English, French and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, a User Guide for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Court Records Database (ICR).
The ICR provides online access to the public judicial records of the ICTY and the Mechanism’s Hague branch. These records consist of legal documents relating to the cases such as indictments, decisions and judgements, evidence admitted in court as well as transcripts and audio-visual recordings of hearings.Â
The Guide includes instructions and tips for accessing the database, choosing the database language, viewing the latest judicial records, searching for records and viewing search results.
For further information about the Guide or records in the ICR, please contact marshague@un.org.
Monday, 15 April 2019, Dresden, Free State of Saxony: Premier Michael Kretschmer welcomed the Slovenian ambassador Franc Butaccompanied by his country’s Honorary Consul to Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, Martin Bergmann.Â
The dignitaries discussed concrete steps to intensify the economic, cultural and touristic relations between the two states.Â
Ambassador But is accredited to Germany since 20 September 2017. Previously he held the post of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of Slovenia, and served his homeland as ambassador to Czechia and Serbia. Ambassador Franc But is fluent in German, English, Czech, Serbo-Croatian and French in addition to his native Slovenian.Â
For further information:
Saxon State Chancery:Â https://www.ministerpraesident.sachsen.de/kretschmer-empfangt-botschafter-der-republik-slowenien-9345.html
Embassy of Slovenia to Germany (Ambassador Franc But): http://www.berlin.veleposlanistvo.si/index.php?id=936&L=2&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=34155&cHash=a6b3bbbd4d0d676c97c4c71d77ea6280
Saturday, 6 April 2019, Weimar, Free State of Thuringia: It is 100 years since the pioneer of modernism Walter Gropius opened the original Staatliches Bauhaus or Bauhaus School in Weimar. In celebration of the movement’s unparalleled and above all enduring impact, the city of Weimar opened a museum edifice dedicated to the design school in the city where it was based between 1919 and 1925.
Located near the Nazi-era Gauforum Square and the Neues Museum Weimar, the Bauhaus Museum Weimar is a simple five-storey concrete box broken only with its entrance and a couple of windows, designed by Prof Heike Hanada. The museum contains 2,000 square metres of exhibition space, which shall be used to display around 1,000 items from the Weimar Bauhaus collection.
Bauhaus Museum Weimar has opened to coincide with the centenary of the Bauhaus, which was established in the city in 1919. In 1925 it was forced to relocate to Dessau (in today’s State of Saxony’Anhalt), where Gropius designed a new school edifice for the renowned institution. Following a short time based in Berlin the school closed for good in 1933 after pressure by National Socialist authorities.
Although only open for just over a decade, the Bauhaus led the way as an influential art and design school in art history. The ideas and people associated with the school had an incredible impact on design and architecture that is still studied and admired nowadays.
For further information:
https://www.klassik-stiftung.de/bauhaus-museum-weimar/
Giorgio Armani Beauty announced the extension of its lasting collaboration with actress Cate Blanchett, who has been the face of the Sì fragrance since its creation in 2013, including the latest Sì Passione. Cate Blanchett, an Academy Award winner actress, shall represent the entirety of Giorgio Armani Beauty’s categories. Beyond the Sì fragrance, she will also embody make-up and skincare, making her the brand’s first Global Beauty Ambassador.
In 2018 Cate Blanchett was featured in the films Oceans 8, Where’d You Go Bernadette, The House with a Clock in its Walls and Mowgli, and acted as Cannes Film Festival Jury President.
When it comes to beauty products, Giorgio Armani’s vision of modern femininity centres about revealing rather than transforming. Indeed, through unique innovative products, the brand’s make-up and skincare lines allow women to enhance their natural beauty, to be the best of themselves.
For further information:
https://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com
Picture by Georges Biard.
Monday, 22 April 2019, Bamako, Republic of Mali: Economist Dr Boubou CissĂ©Â was appointed to be Prime Minister of Mali following a decree by President Ibrahim Boubacar KeĂŻta having as a mission to set up a “government of amplitude”. Hitherto Dr CissĂ© had served as Minister of Economy and Finance.Â
Former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye MaĂŻga resigned on 18 April following demonstrations in Mali calling for accountability after the terrorist attack in the country’s heart that left approximately 160 casualties.
For further information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boubou_Cisse
Office of the Prime Minister of Mali: http://www.primature.gov.ml
H.E. Fernando Arias at the Menin Gate.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — 24 April 2019 — The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, attended the Ceremony of the Last Post in Ieper, and visited the demilitarisation plant at Poelkapelle, Belgium, from 22-23 April.
In Ieper, the Director-General participated in the ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial on 22 April and paid his respects to the victims of chemical weapons attacks during the World War I as part of the Ceremony of the Last Post.
Standing under the arch of the Hall of Memory, the Director-General presented the words of the Exhortation, taken from Laurence Binyon’s poem “For the Fallen”, before laying a wreath on behalf of the Organisation, alongside the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Belgium to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Christian Lepage.
On 23 April, the Director-General visited the destruction installation in Poelkapelle where he received a comprehensive overview of the facility’s work in identifying and destroying of Ceremony of the Last Post in Ieper (OCWs) from the World War I.
By He Deliang, Weifang City News.
Spring breeze ten miles, fragrant city, colorful kites flying, spring is full of. On April 20, the 36th Weifang International Kite Fair opened in the coastal area. Kite enthusiasts and guests from all walks of life at home and abroad gathered again in Weifang, the World Kite capital, to fly their dreams and seek common development.
Liu Peng, honorary chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee and former director of the State General Administration of Sports, opened the ceremony; Sun Jiye, Vice Governor, and Hui Xin’an, Secretary of the Municipal Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress delivered speeches; Tian Qingying, Vice Secretary and Mayor of the Municipal Committee presided over the opening ceremony; and Su Like, Zhang Xiaofeng, Sun Mingliang, Wang Shuhua and Fan Fusheng attended.
In his speech, Sun Jiye said that Shandong is a coastal economic, cultural and populous province in eastern China, and one of the regions with the greatest potential and vitality for development and favored by investors at home and abroad.
Weifang is the world’s famous kite capital and the headquarters of the International Kite Federation. Weifang International Kite Fair attracts many kite fans from home and abroad to gather here every year to exchange culture and transmit friendship. It has become a bright business card of Weifang, Shandong and even China.
It plays an important role in promoting kite culture, promoting national fitness, expanding opening up and promoting economic cooperation. It is hoped that Weifang will further explore and enhance the brand value of the International Kite Fair and make it a world-renowned festival. Weifang International Kite Festival is not only a festival of kite culture, but also a festival of cooperation and exchanges and a festival of conspiracy for development. “I hope that through the Weifang International Kite Fair, friends can enjoy the fun of kite sports and harvest sincere friendship. I hope that friends at home and abroad will innovate and start businesses in this hot land of Shandong, seek common development and realize their dreams.”
In his speech, Hui Xin’an, on behalf of the Municipal Committee and the Municipal Government, sincerely welcomed the leading guests and expressed sincere thanks to friends at home and abroad who have long cared about and supported Weifang’s reform and development. After briefly introducing Weifang’s economic and social development, he said that kites link the past and the present, and friendship spreads all over the world.
More than 2400 years ago, Luban made and flew the world’s first kite here. He began to let kites run through history and gradually evolved into a national fitness campaign under the background of “Healthy China”. It has become a popular and participatory mass activity among people all over the world. It has gathered people’s hearts, enhanced friendship and optimized international relations. The new era calls for new actions, and the new era gives kites more new connotations.
The theme of the kite festival is “embracing the world, sharing the blue sky and flying dreams”, which highlights the spirit of openness, cooperation, green and win-win, and conforms to the general trend of world development. At present, Weifang is speeding up the transformation of new and old kinetic energy, promoting rural revitalization, and creating a new opening-up plateau. It is embracing the world and pooling resources in a more open and inclusive manner.
“Open Weifang is full of opportunities, innovative Weifang is thirsty for talents, and striving Weifang is willing to work hand in hand with friends from all over the world, mutual benefit and win-win situation. Kites will build an open platform for cooperation, build a bridge of evergreen friendship and become a beautiful business card for Weifang to go to the world. I sincerely look forward to seeing and walking more in Weifang, feeling the customs of the city, looking for opportunities for cooperation and creating a better future. We will continue to uphold the concept of “good kite festival, promote cooperative development”, and strive to make this kite festival a grand gathering of friendship, harmony and development.”
After the opening ceremony, the leading guests attended the splendid performances of literature and art and the free flight performances enthusiastically.
After 35 years of accumulation, inheritance and cultivation, Weifang International Kite Festival has become a unique international cultural and sports event, an important carrier for promoting international exchanges, a core stage for displaying urban civilization, and won the title of “China’s Top Ten Brand Festivals in 40 years of reform and opening up”.
More than 800 kite enthusiasts from 65 countries (regions) and 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions participated in the kite festival, including 30 events such as competitions, performances, exhibitions, economic and trade. It lasted 11 days. It is a comprehensive festival with high degree of internationalization, strong mass participation and great social impact. It will bring you richer, more interesting and more effective experience.
Photography by Weifang City Daily News
Director Linda Schraml & Premier Dr. Markus Söder – Picture by Bayern.de
14-18 April 2019, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: the Premier of the Free State of Bavaria, Dr. Markus Söder travelled to Ethiopia pursuing the goal to contribute to the positive democratic and innovative development of Ethiopia as well as to expanding economic ties to Africa in general.Â
In a statement Premier Dr. Söder described Ethiopia as an “stability anchor in the Horn of Africa, but at the same time a focal point for global challenges”.  Water scarcity, the decline of forests and soil erosion are an expression of climate change and significant environmental problems in Ethiopia. Moreover, Ethiopia is a central transit country for refugees. The Free State of Bavaria wishes to contribute to ameliorating the situation on the ground as per the government statement.Â
Bavaria selected Addis Ababa, owing to its status as a hub for continental diplomacy by hosting the African Union as well as further international organisations, to open its first representation in Africa being led by Director Linda Schraml.Â
A Bavarian-Ethiopian Business Forum plays a pivotal role in exploring and expanding existing economic business between the two countries.
During his visit to Ethiopia Dr. Söder also paid a visit to the Gambela refugee camp, and offered Bavarian aid in the fields of education and sanitation.Â
For further information:Â
Government of the Free State of Bavaria:Â http://bayern.de/staatsregierung/ministerpraesident/ministerpraesident-dr-soeder-in-aethiopien/
Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (HE Ambassador Kuma Demeksa Tokon): http://aethiopien-botschaft.de
By Guido Lanfranchi.
Since May 2nd, the United States’ administration will not suspend Title III of the Libertad Act, a historic policy reversal that will step up the U.S. pressure campaign on Cuba. The move comes as a condemnation of Cuba’s domestic political situation, as well as the island’s support for the governments of Venezuela and Nicaragua.
The Libertad Act (also known as Helms-Burton Act) was passed by Congress in 1996 to strengthen the pressure applied by the United States on Cuba after the Communist Revolution of 1959. In one of its crucial passages, known as Title III, the Act allowed U.S. nationals with a claim to confiscated property in Cuba the right to file lawsuits against people or companies trafficking in that property. While for the last twenty-two years successive administrations decided to suspend these rights, things are set to change now, as the Trump administration will not suspend Title III starting from May 2nd, 2019.
The twenty-two years long suspension – a Senior State Department official clarified – had always been aimed at fostering Cuba’s transition towards democracy. However – the official regretted – such transition has never materialized. To the contrary, the U.S. administration accuses the Cuban government of tightening its control on the country’s politics, committing human rights violations, as well as negatively influencing countries across the region, such as in the cases of Venezuela and Nicaragua, where Cuba has historically supported governments unfriendly to the United States.
In response to this behavior, the United States administration has vowed to step up its pressure on the Cuban government, while pledging support to the Cuban people – the Senior official clarified, underlining the importance of the decision on Title III in this regard. According to State Department estimates, the move might impact as many as 200,000 certified and uncertified claims, involving large amounts of money, allegedly up to tens of billions of dollars. Moreover – the Senior official clarified – no exemptions at all will be allowed under Title III.
This move has raised a number of issues for the United States, namely concerning its relations with the European Union. The EU has significant relations with Cuba, and EU policy-makers have made clear that they stand ready to file a case against the US at the World Trade Organization to challenge the U.S. decision. The U.S. State Department tried to downplay the disagreement, noting that the U.S. and the EU broadly agree on the promotion of democracy in Cuba, albeit allowing that “there are some disagreement on the tactics to get there”.
Regardless of all controversies, the U.S. seems ready to step up its pressure on Cuba, and the standoff between the two nations seems set to continue in the next future.
