Backes & Strauss’ Tourbillon

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Backes & Strauss’ Tourbillon
As one of the largest, and the world’s oldest diamond company, the London-based Backes & Strauss has an advantage as a maker of jewellery watches.
 
Backes & Strauss specialises in mostly bespoke high jewelry watches, alongside a few collections of rather limited editions assembling rare gems from its élite inventory. Combining the company’s jewelling capabilities with a high level watch-making savoir-faire of Franck Muller one gets splendid results in the like of the Picccadilly 45 King Tourbillon. The watch is a unique piece, priced at $500,000, and is the third in a series of Bespoke tourbillons from the brand.
 
 The lower part of the dial is cut away, both front and back, to reveal the tourbillon escapement. The bridge bears the Backes & Strauss signature arrow motif, which is inspired by the well-known hearts and arrows pattern that is visible when viewing the table of an ideal cut diamond through a special loupe. On the upper dial, hours are marked with seven tapered baguette emeralds, separated by panels of inlaid mother-of-pearl. The inner dial is set with 138 ideal cut diamonds, and the bezel and horns are set with 48 baguette diamonds custom cut to fit the contoured case. The crown is set with an ideal cut diamond.
 
The case back is also decorated. The rotor is engraved with the London skyline and the rest of the back plate is set with 204 ideal cut diamonds. Ideal cut diamonds are cut and polished according to a precise mathematical formula of proportions. The formula requires cutting away more of the rough diamond, and therefore sacrificing carat size, but the result is a dazzling diamond that reflects the most possible light through the top, or table. Total diamond weight of the Piccadilly 45 King Tourbillon is 18.50 carats, 1.22 carats of which are ideal cut. The case is 18k white gold. The automatic movement was made by Franck Muller. 
 
Backes & Strauss was founded in 1789 and today is part of the Franck Muller Group, based in Genthod, Switzerland, near Geneva.
For further information: 
 

Arif Havas Oegroseno in Hamburg

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Arif Havas Oegroseno in Hamburg
Tuesday, 11 September 2018, City Hall of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: H.E. Ambassador Arif Havas Oegroseno who leads the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin since 8 May 2018 paid a courtesy visit to Hamburg’s First Mayor, Dr. Peter Tschentscher.
For the Indonesian head of mission, Hamburg has a particular relevance, for it is seat to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Previous to his ambassadorship to Germany, he was Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs. In the latter capacity Dr. Havas Oegroseno served as President of the 20th Meeting of the 162 State Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS).
Before his vice-ministerial position, he was the Indonesian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, Head of Mission to the European Union and the World Custom Union from September 2010 to January 2015. Likewise he worked vis-Ă -vis NATO on maritime security issues. A career diplomat and an expert in international law of the sea, he has served in the Indonesian foreign service for over 25 years since 1986. He was born in Semarang, Indonesia. Dr Havas Oegroseno is married to Sartika Oegroseno, and sired two children.
Ambassador Oegroseno graduated LLM from Harvard Law School in 1992 and SH (Bachelor of Law) from the Faculty of Law, Diponegoro University, Indonesia in 1986. He majored in international public law. Ambassador Oegroseno attended junior (1987), mid-level (1999), senior (2003) foreign service training at the Center for Education and Training of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia; the Australian Foreign Service Course (1988); and the international trade course of the World Bank-Harvard Institute for International Development in Colorado (1990). He participated in the Executive Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School (2007) and on Boundary Making at the International Boundary Research Unit (IBRU) of Durham University (2006).
He has given lectures in various Indonesian and foreign universities such as the Australian National University, Cambridge University, Johns Hopkins University, the London School of Economics, Bilgi University in Istanbul, and the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. Moreover he has lectured at the Rhodes Academy of International Law of the Sea in Greece, the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta, the Center for Ocean Law and Policy of the Virginia University in the US, as well as the Center for International Law of the National University of Singapore.
For further information: 
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to the Federal Republic of Germany: https://www.kemlu.go.id/berlin/en/tentang-perwakilan/pejabat-dan-staff.aspx

Gucci’s Nettare Di Fiori

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Gucci’s Nettare Di Fiori
Gucci has added another perfume to its successful Bloom range. Nettare Di Fiori makes up the Bloom trilogy and joins Alessandro Michele’s first female fragrance line for Gucci. Created with nose Alberto Morillas, it’s different to the first two fragrances; Bloom and Bloom Acqua di Fiori. Bloom is famed for its heavenly campaign images, enticing you to become part of the Gucci Bloom gang, and Nettare di Fiori is no exception. The campaign, shot by Glen Luchford, stars Dakota Johnson, Hari Nef and Petra Collins and recreates the dream that Alessandro imagined for this third Bloom installment. And this is by no means the end of the Bloom fragrance collection. Morillas hinted that there will be more to come in the future. For further information: 

Dolce & Gabbana holds firsts fashion show in Dubai

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Dolce & Gabbana holds firsts fashion show in Dubai
Featuring both male and female collections, it showcased the house’s latest catwalk looks, as well as exclusive pieces created solely for Dubai. They included an intricate and embroidered abaya, the traditional female Muslim garb, designed with gold embellishments and sequins, as well as maxi conservative dresses with floral patterns, feather material and matching headpieces.
The men’s collection saw flamboyant suits featuring regal motifs and crown appliques, as well as classic silk robes with geometrical patterns and earthy desert shades.
 Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana personally presided over the show, which saw over 120 models fly into the city for it. The designers had transformed the new boutique into a red, white and green garden-like space in honour of the event.
Dolce & Gabbana has joined a pool of luxury brands who have created conservative Arabian-inspired collections.
For further information: 
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Picture by Dolce and Gabbana

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers

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Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers
Since the XVIII century perpetuates the tradition of the “Cabinotiers”, the name given to the prestigious and cultivated watchmakers who worked in workshops bathed in light located on the top floors of Geneva’s buildings. The expertise of these accomplished masters was backed by vast scientific knowledge, fired by a curiosity for new ideas and nurtured by the philosophy of the Enlightenment. Their deft hands craft exceptional timepieces of rare technical and æsthetic complexity, inspired by astronomy, science and the arts.
The Les Cabinotiers collection honours the name given to the prestigious and most skilled watchmakers – cabinotiers – who occupied workshops on the light-flooded top floors of Geneva’s buildings. Watches in the collection are highly technical, hand assembled and usually unique pieces.
Calibre 2755 : an exceptional signature Vacheron Constantin’s watchmakers have chosen the famous Calibre 2755 to drive the many functions of this extremely complicated watch. This manual-winding movement endowed with a 58-hour power reserve is dedicated to the particularly sophisticated models of the Manufacture – and notably those in the exceptional Grand Complication category to which this one-of-a-kind model belongs. Art of hand engraving Epitomising a subtle balance between innovation and the transmission of ancestral skills, this exceptional model also pays tribute to a pair of engraving art techniques that few artisans still master: pounced ornament – or bas-relief – for the case-band; and fine line engraving for the bezel and case-back.
At least a decade’s experience is required to perfect the ability of sculpting gold to create such a three-dimensional effect, in a process involving 300 hours of patient craftsmanship. Given the extreme care lavished on details that constitutes a Vacheron Constantin signature, the wings of this legendary bird appear to be literally ready to unfurl on the case-band, while the movement of its slim neck extends elegantly and gracefully to the very tip of its beak.
For further information:
—————— Image by Vacheron Constantin

eSwatini accredited in Berlin

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eSwatini accredited in Berlin
H.E. Ambassador Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu and Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Tuesday, 28 August 2018, Berlin: H.E. Ambassador Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu, who is resident in Brussels and responsible for the Benelux countries, the EU, the OPCW, the ACP Group of States, France, the Holy See as well as Germany; was accredited to the latter federal republic by Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace.
He is the first ambassador accredited to Germany and France since the name change for his homeland to eSwatini by royal decision.
Ambassador Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu was born in Manzini, then Kingdom of Swaziland, on 25 December 1973. He is married and has two children. He holds a degree in Social Science (Economics, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 1996), a master’s degree in Business Administration (Finance, US International University, San Diego, 2000) and a postgraduate diploma in project management (School of Business Management, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2003).
After having worked in the industrial, financial and commercial field between 2000 and 2013, he held the following diplomatic positions: Counsellor at the Swazi High Commission in Malaysia (2014-2016); High Commissioner in Malaysia (2016-2017); and Permanent Representative to the European Union (with the bilateral accreditations noted above) in Brussels, where he resides since May 2017.
Ambassador Mngomezulu speaks English, Siswati and French.
For further information:
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Image by German Federal Presidency (Bundespräsident) Foto Michael von Lingen www.vonlingen-film.de

Eurojust hosts Consultative Forum of top EU prosecutors

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Eurojust hosts Consultative Forum of top EU prosecutors
Ladislav Hamran, Eurojust President Strengthening the fight against terrorism and migrant smuggling Top prosecutors from across Europe gathered today at Eurojust in The Hague to tackle the ever-changing challenges of cross-border terrorism and migrant smuggling, share new strategies in using the European Investigation Order, discuss developments in the area of e-evidence and prepare for the new Eurojust Regulation. The 13th meeting of the Consultative Forum of Prosecutors General and Directors of Public Prosecutions of the Member States of the European Union (the Consultative Forum) works towards making the cooperation between judges, investigators and prosecutors in the European Union simpler, quicker and stronger. This year’s meeting was co-hosted by Ms Asya Petrova, Deputy Prosecutor General of Bulgaria, and Ms Barbara Göth-Flemmich, Head of the International Criminal Law Department of Austria, in the context of the Bulgarian and Austrian Presidencies of the Council of the European Union. Consultative Forum members stressed the importance of comparing problems and solutions, and sharing admissible evidence, including e-evidence, to help practitioners involved in international criminal investigations deliver more and better results in less time. They also pointed out the need to promote the work of Eurojust as the EU’s judicial information hub and to use judicial cooperation tools, such as the European Investigation Order (EIO), more often and more efficiently. Ms Petrova said: The channels used by migrants and asylum seekers to pass through Bulgaria are often also used by terrorists and human traffickers. This situation creates a major challenge for our country and requires a higher level of scrutiny and a coordinated approach at European level to identify the threats against, and be able to ensure, peace and security on the continent. Ms Göth-Flemmich said: Crime does not stop at national borders. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to strengthen the cooperation between the prosecution services in the European Union and beyond. The Consultative Forum provides a key platform to discuss new developments in our common fight against transnational crime. Mr Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust, said: At Eurojust, we serve the joint vision of justice for all our fellow European citizens. This year, Eurojust had once more the special honour and pleasure to welcome at its premises top prosecutors from all EU countries. The Consultative Forum is a unique opportunity for them to share national best practice and work more closely together towards the common goal of protection, security and justice. Counter-terrorism Among the main topics of the Consultative Forum’s meeting were developments in national legislation in the area of counter-terrorism, current challenges and lessons learned from investigations of terrorism cases, as well as the experience gained through judicial cooperation between EU Member States and third States with the support of Eurojust and Europol. Forum members looked into effective mechanisms to both prevent and combat transnational terrorism, such as the enhanced sharing of information. The conclusions of Eurojust’s annual meeting on counter-terrorism for 2018 were also presented to the Forum’s participants. Eurojust priority areas This year’s meeting paid special attention to Eurojust’s operational activities in key crime areas, such as migrant smuggling, faster and easier access to e-evidence, with Eurojust in a coordinating role, as well as the effective implementation of the European Investigation Order (EIO), allowing for direct exchange and networking between the judicial authorities of different States. To that effect, the members of the Forum took note of the conclusions of this year’s Eurojust meeting on migrant smuggling and Eurojust meeting on the EIO. The President of Eurojust also seized the opportunity to share his future vision of digital justice in the European Union, in which operational data is exchanged in an automated, structured and secure manner. New Eurojust Regulation Forum members were informed about the EU’s new judicial landscape following the reform of Eurojust, and the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). The new Eurojust Regulation is in the final stages of the legislative procedure, awaiting formal adoption by the Council. The new Regulation will provide Eurojust with a new governance set-up and the basis for cooperation with the EPPO, and will be aligned with the EU framework on external relations and data protection. Forum members reflected on the impact of these changes and new opportunities to reinforce judicial cooperation against serious cross-border organised crime.    

Fiesta Nacional de España 2018

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Fiesta Nacional de España 2018
On the picture Ambassador Maria Alonso during her speech.   Roy Lie Atjam. The Ambassador of Spain in the Netherlands  H.E. Ms. Maria Alonso, in her first National Day address in The Hague, toasted on the longstanding friendship between the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157674682463958
Among the guests we can see in the picture the Ambassador of Argentina H.E. Mr. Horacio Salvador and Ms. Edith Bergansius, President of The Hague Hispanic Association.
Ambassador Alonso noted that the occasion also celebrates Christopher Columbus arrival to the Americas on 12 October 1492. A huge military parade in Madrid is the highlight of the celebrations. A few hundreds of individuals: diaspora, diplomats, Dutch government agents and friends, responded positively to the invitation and came to the residence of the Ambassador to join in the festivities on 11 October 2018.
Ambassador Alonso with H.E. Carlos Herrera, Ambassador of Peru and his wife Ms. Veronique Micléa.
     

2018: Viet Namis Surging Ahead

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2018: Viet Namis Surging Ahead
73rd NationalDay Celebration By Roy Lie Atjam. The Hague, 20 September 2018, with a reception the Embassy of Vietnam celebrated the 73rd anniversary of the National Day in the garden of the Chancellery on Javastraat. H.E. Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa delivered her welcoming speech, followed by cultural performances featuring the Vietnamese traditional musician Ngo Hong Quang. He studied in Vietnam and at the Royal Academy of Music in The Hague. Furthermore, guests were offered an array of Vietnamese culinary specialities. For additional Naldo Peverelli’s pictures, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109407424@N02/albums/72157699351432162
Viet Nam National Day 2018.
In her welcoming remarks Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa related the following:  “It is my pleasure and honor to welcome you to the celebration of Viet Nam’s 73rd National Day. I would like to thank you all for coming. It is wonderful to see how your cooperation and engagement with Viet Nam over years have contributed to the development of our bilateral relations. 73 years ago, on the 2nd of September 1945, President, national hero, Ho Chi Minh read the Proclamation of Independence and the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam was born and now names the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
Ms. Pham Hong Hanh, First Secretary, Embassy of Viet Nam during presentations.
Over the years, Viet Nam has become a successful story, a dynamic country on the path of active integration into the world. Viet Nam is among the fastest growing economies in Asia with an average GDP growth rate of over 7% in 30 years and has become one of the world leading food exporters. We have diplomatic relations with 186 countries and Viet Nam is a member of many major international and regional organizations such as the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, ASEM, WTO, Non-aligned Movement… In 2017, Vietnam’s economy grew by 6.81%, total import-export turnover was 425 billion USD. Viet Nam’s sustainable development index in 2017 increased 20 levels, ranked 68 out of 157 countries and territories according to UNDP. Viet Nam attracted 13 million international visitors. In the course of our national development, the close bonds between our two countries, Viet Nam and the Netherlands, have been essential. The Netherlands is among the first Western countries that established diplomatic relations with Viet Nam in 1973 and on the 26th of March 2018, the celebration of the 45th anniversary of Viet Nam and the Netherlands diplomatic relations in the Netherlands was launched by the Chairwoman of the National Assembly, Mdm. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, with the presence of the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Ms. Cora van Nieuwenhuizen.
Vietnamese traditional musician Ngo Hong Quang.
Over the past years, together with diplomatic, trade and investment cooperation, the bilateral cooperation in other fields such as defense, culture and tourism, education and training, transportation, cooperation among cities, and multilateral cooperation, and more… have also witnessed remarkable progress. More importantly, the relationship between Viet Nam and the Netherlands has become a strategic partnership, with the Strategic Partnership on Climate Change and Water Management along with the Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security concluded respectively in 2010 and 2014.
H.E. Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa with guests.
  In 2017, bilateral trade turnover reached US $ 7.7 billion. In the first four months of 2018, two-way trade value reached $ 2.3 billion (an increase of nearly 13% over the same period of 2017). The Netherlands has become the biggest EU export market for Viet Nam. In terms of investment, the Netherlands has been the largest European investor in Viet Nam, ranking the 11th out of 116 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam with 304 projects and a total registered capital of $ 8.17 billion.
Mr. Pham Toan Thang, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Viet Nam with his spouse Mrs. Le Thi Lan and their kids.
We are proud of our long-lasting people-to-people relations which started in the 60s-70s with movements for solidarity with Viet Nam. These days, tourism flows, cooperation between social organizations and knowledge institutions, as well as student exchanges have brought our people-to-people relations to a higher level. We believe that our bilateral relations will continue to last and develop to a comprehensive partnership in the near future. We are very thankful for the Dutch government and the Dutch people who have supported Viet Nam and nurtured our special relationship over the years”.
Vietnamese gastronomy.
Without any doubt, the many colleagues of Ambassador Ngo ThiHoa, friends of Viet Nam and well-wishers, enjoyed the Vietnamese music, Vietnamese food and Vietnamese spirit.  

Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Visits OPCW

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Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Visits OPCW
Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, H.E. Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles with H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, Director General OPCW. Photography by Imane Rachidi. The Hague, Netherlands — 18 October 2018 — The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, H.E. Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, met today at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
The Director-General and the Minister of Foreign of Affairs examined the progress and challenges in implementing the global ban against chemical weapons, and discussed Spain’s efforts to support the Organisation’s work. The upcoming Fourth Review Conference was discussed as States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention are anticipated to set a strategic direction for the OPCW for the next five years and beyond. The discussion further covered OPCW’s engagement in addressing the threat of chemical weapons use, as well as expanding the Organisation’s laboratory capabilities into an OPCW Centre for Science and Technology. The Director-General remarked: “Today, when we confront powerful security shifts and challenges, let me express gratitude for Spain’s abiding commitment to the international norm against chemical weapons, and for its concrete actions to assist the OPCW fulfil its mission.” The Foreign Minster stated: “Spain, as an active member of the OPCW, recognises the crucial role played nowadays by the Organisation in the construction of a world free from chemical weapons. The success of the OPCW in achieving its noble goals is not only our own success, but also a faithful reflection of our historic responsibility to work towards the full elimination of all weapons of mass destruction.”
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