On the picture H.E. Ambassador Luís Faro Ramos and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Picture by Presidency of Portugal.Ambassador Dr Luís Faro Ramos (b. 1962), incumbent top Portuguese envoy to Cuba has been appointed to lead the “Instituto Camões” with expanded functions to promote the Portuguese language and culture abroad as axis of Portugal’s foreign policy as stated by the Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva.Dr Faro Ramos is a career diplomat since 1986. His career includes postings at the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the International Organisations in Geneva, to the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the EU in Brussels. In 2008, he joined the government of the day as Chief of Cabinet of the then State Secretary for National Defence and Maritime Affairs, HE Ambassador João Mira Gomes, today Portugal’s head of mission to Germany. Camões Institute was set up in 1992. They enjoy administrative and patrimonial autonomy, that, under the supervision of the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, assures the co-ordination and execution of the external cultural policies of Portugal.For further information:
On the picture HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage – Picture by CultureMap Houston.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia already welcomes millions of Muslims pilgrims visiting Mecca annually; now is gearing up to attract conventional tourists.
“The targets are people who want to literally experience this country and the grandness of this country” uttered HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, head of the Saudi tourism and national heritage commission, during an interview to CNNMoney’s Richard Quest.
Saudi Arabia plans to issue its first tourist visas in 2018, Prince Sultan bin Salman said. Visas were previously restricted to people travelling to the country for work or to visit its holy sites.
Attracting tourists is a central plank of the country’s plan to reduce its reliance on oil. It’s aiming for 30 million visitors a year by 2030, up from 18 million in 2016, and it wants annual tourism spending to hit $47 billion by 2020.
For further information :
Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage: https://scth.gov.sa/en/Pages/default.aspx#3
20 November 2017, Brussels: Amsterdam and Paris won the opportunity to host the two prominent EU agencies that must depart London due to Brexit. The decision was taken at a ministerial meeting in Brussels.
The European Medicines Authority (EMA), a key player in the continent’s healthcare industry, will go to Amsterdam prefered in a tough rivalry with Milan, and the European Banking Authority (EBA) will go to Paris, winner over Dublin.
The outcome was welcomed by European pharmaceuticals bodies. The EMA had warned that many of its staff might leave, possibly disrupting healthcare in Europe, if governments had chosen a less attractive host city, notably in the ex-communist East.
The European Commission welcomed today’s agreement at the General Affairs Council (Article 50 format) to move the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) to Amsterdam and Paris, respectively. Both Agencies are currently located in London.
The relocation of these two Agencies is a direct consequence – and the first visible result – of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union, as notified to the European Council on 29 March 2017.
The EMA and the EBA are two key regulatory Agencies for the EU’s Single Market, and are essential for the authorisation of medicines and for bank regulation. They must continue to function smoothly and without disruption beyond March 2019, the statement said.
Heads of government – Serge Telle (Monaco), Antoni Martí (Andorra) and Nicola Renzi (San Marino) – Picture by Govern d’Andorra.
Tuesday, 21 November 2017, Principality of Andorra: Andorran Premier Antoni Martí convened a trilateral summit in his homeland to discuss the current state of negotiations of Monaco, Andorra and San Marino vis-à-vis the EU in order to reach an association agreement. All in all, the three-hours meeting focused on finding common ground amongst the three micro-states in order to act stronger together during negotiations.
Chiefs of diplomacy of Monaco and Andorra, respectively Gilles Tonelli and Maria Ubach Font were also present – Picture by Direction de la Communication du Gouvernement Princier.
All three leaders highlighted their conviction for the European project as well as the advantages that access to the common market ought to bring to young people, to banks owing to access to liquidity as well as the elimination of tariffs and bureaucratic procedures for exports. They likewise aim at revitalising, open and diversify the markets of the three negotiating states through access to the Common Market.
This summit took place in the presence of the three heads of government of the respective micro-states, namely Antoni Martí as host in Andorra, the State Secretary for Foreign, Political and Justice Affairs of San Marino, Nicola Renzi as well as the Minister of State of Monaco, Serge Telle. Also in attendance were the Andorran Foreign Minister Maria Ubach Font, the Counsellor for External Affairs and Cooperation of Monaco, Gilles Tonelli, the Director for European Affairs of San Marino, Luca Brandi, the Sammarinese Permanent Representative to the EU, Antonella Benedettini as well as the Andorran Ambassador to Monaco and San Marino, Enric Tarrado.
For further information:https://www.govern.ad/afers-exteriors/item/8752-andorra-monaco-i-san-marino-intensifiquen-el-treball-conjunt-per-negociar-un-acord-d-associacio-amb-ue-que-s-adequei-a-les-especificitats-de-cada-estat
Lower Saxon Premier Stephan Weil – Foto AG Gymnasium Melle, CC-BY-SA 3.0 (through Wikipedia im Landtag – Niedersachsen).
ByJan Eustachi.
Wednesday, 22 November 2017: Social Democratic politician Stephan Weil was re-elected during a vote at the State Assembly of Lower Saxony as the Bundesland’s premier.
Social Democrats won the Elections for the Parliament in the second largest German State located in the north-west of Germany. To form the new government in Hannover the Social Democrats have entered into a coalition with the Christian Democrats.
After two weeks of negotiations between the acting social democratic Premier Stephan Weil and the regional leader of the CDU Bernd Althusmann the crucial issues for the coalition’s formation were elaborated. Althusmann will hold the office of the Deputy Premier and lead the resort for Economics, Labour and Digital Affairs. As Minister of Economics, Althusmann wants, contrary to his electoral promises, to be a participant of the supervisory board of Volkswagen. The remaining ministerial posts are split evenly among the two coalition partners as follows.
Social Democrats: Former Minister of Economics Olaf Lies will change to the Ministry of Ecology, Housing and Energy, whereas Boris Pistorius, Minister of the Interior will remain in his position. Grant Hendrik Tonne, former parliamentary manager of the SPD party will take over the Ministry of Education and Arts. The Ministry of Social Affairs will be led by the member of the Bundestag Carola Reiman. Last but not least, Birgit Honé, who was in the past assigned to the state chancellery, will receive her own department and become Minister for Federal and European Affairs.
Christian Democrats: The former budget policy speaker of the CDU parliamentary fraction, Reinhold Hilbers, will become Minister of Finance. The ministry of agriculture will be led by Barbara Otte-Kienast, while the North-Rhine Westphalian judge Barbara Havilza will take over the ministry of Justice. The last ministerial post for the CDU will be filled with former group-chairman Björn Thümler as Minister for Science and Culture.
Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy.
Today, the European Commission publishes its third report on the state of the energy union. It provides an overview of the results achieved and look forward to the coming year. Along with the general report published today also 28 country files.
The report also confirms that no energy can be achieved if the infrastructure is not adapted to the needs of the future energy system. The infrastructure for energy, transport and telecommunications are becoming increasingly intertwined. Local networks will become increasingly important in the daily lives of European citizens, which is becoming more will switch to electric mobility, decentralized energy production and demand response.
Although significant progress has been made, problems persist, particularly in the field of electricity. To address this problem, the Commission today adopted a Communication on the target of 15% electricity interconnection 2030. She adopted the third list of projects of common interest.
Following the report said Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, verantwo orderly for energy union“Energy Union can only be successful if we all follow the same course, the goal is to fulfill our promise to complete the energy union by the end. of the Commission’s current mandate. by 2019 the energy union should not policy anymore, but a daily reality that every European citizen to reap the benefits. This requires more commitment needed from all walks of life. Therefore, I consider next year the year of action. “
Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action andEnergy: “The energy transition in Europe is on track: the share of renewable energy reached record highs and rapidly declining costs, but the European energy infrastructure must evolve in the same direction and at the same pace this. energy full support. Therefore, we propose to focus the new list of projects on major electricity interconnections and smart networks. the measures taken today to improve the infrastructure for clean energy, is another important step towards a sustainable, competitive and secure energy – with a real European added value “.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, President Macron (France) and spouse, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister – Picture by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
8 November 2017, Saadiyat Island, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE: The United Arab Emirates fêted with much pomp and circumstance the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, already being labelled as the most pulchritudinous museum architecture worldwide.
HH Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture of Oman.
Under the patronage of President Emanuel Macron (France) and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron accompanied the French Head of State as well as the UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Emir of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Other regional sovereigns such as HM The King of Bahrain, Hamad II, HM The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as well as the ruling princes (amirs) of Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Ras Al-Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain, which also form part of the Emirati federation, were likewise in attendance.
For additional picture on the museum collection, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157690074340005French and Emirati ministers of Culture signing cooperation agreements – Picture by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first museum of its kind in the Arab world: a universal museum that is a cultural beacon, bringing together different cultures to shine fresh light on the shared stories of humanity.
Located on Saadiyat Island, Pritzker Prize winning French architect Jean Nouvel designed a museum-city (Arab Madina) under a vast silvery dome. Therein one can walk through the promenades overlooking the sea beneath the museum’s 180-metre diametre dome, composed of almost 8,000 unique metal stars set in a complex geometric pattern.
Emir of Fujairah, King of Bahrain and Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the Louvre Museum.
When sunlight filters through, it creates a moving ‘rain of light’ beneath the dome, reminiscent of the overlapping palm trees in the UAE oases.
Louvre Abu Dhabi 2 – Picture by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
Designed as a micro-city, Louvre Abu Dhabi is an archipelago out at sea. Dedicated areas entice and encourage a multitude of activities, especially contemplation.
For a diverse choice of transportation, visitors can arrive by either land or sea.
Louvre Abu Dhabi – Picture by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority,For more information:
24-25 November 2017, Paris:Swarovski has partnered up yet again with Conde Nast Vogue to support the Vogue Fashion Festival 2017.
Amongst the different events set to take place within this second edition of the festival, the crystal company has collaborated with Vogue to select young and emerging fashion designers, either head designers of historic Parisian houses or founders of their own label.
Swarovski has worked with Nina Ricci, Courrèges, Wales Bonner, Vanessa Seward, Facetasm, Ronald van der Kemp, Y / Project, Faith Connexion and Swarovski Collective 2017 member Wanda Nylon, to create iconic, one-off crystallized pieces. With the project led by Ms Nadja Swarovski, great-great-grand daughter of Swarovski’s founder, the company aims at encouraging emerging talent to innovate, experiment and play with its brilliant and multifaceted material in collaboration with the Vogue Fashion Foundation.
For further information:
Vogue Fashion Festival 2017 with Swarovski: http://en.vogue.fr/voguefashionfestival/http://en.vogue.fr/voguefashionfestival-2017/speakers
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Karlie Kloss wearing the Nile Collection, Atelier Swarovski Core Collection, Fall-Winter 2016 – Picture by Swarovski
Mexican general consul-designate to Shanghai Lorena Larios – Picture by Lorena Larios.Mexican Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the United Mexican States to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg (with seat in Brussels), Minister-Counsellor Lorena Larios Rodríguez, is departing this November 2017 to Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, to take up her new position as General Consul of Mexico in the aforementioned city. Lorena Larios is a career diplomat. She has excelled in representing her homeland vis-à-vis the European Union. In the past, she has also served as Deputy Director General for Europe and the United Nations at the Mexican Foreign Office. Minister Lorena Larios Rodríguez holds a degree in Law from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara and a Master’s degree in International Politics from the Center for International and Strategic Relations Studies (CERIS) in Brussels. She specialised in Public Administration at the National Institute of Public Administration of Mexico as well as International Law and Human Rights at the Washington College of Law of the American University in Washington, D.C.She has completed diplomatic studies at the Matías Romero Institute of Diplomacy and on European integration at the College d’Europe in Bruges. Additionally, she obtained a Diploma in Strategic International Scenarios at Mexico’s Autonomous Institute of Technology (ITAM) and on Mexico-U.S. relations at the University of California, San Diego.She has been a panelist at national and international fora regarding migration, development, human rights and foreign policy.Her nomination had been approved by the Mexican Senate already on 14 September 2017. Shanghai is Asia’s most important economic and financial centre as well as one of global relevance. Its port is the main point of entry for Mexican agricultural products entering the Chinese market. Sino-Mexican diplomatic ties are excellent. Thus far seven presidential encounters have taken place since President Enrique Peña Nieto took office.
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For further information:
The Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
The Japanese government has reportedly picked out a tentative date for the abdication of His Imperial Majesty EmperorAkihito.
The Japan Times reports that the government has selected 30 April 2019 as the date for the abdication, with the accession to the throne by Crown Prince Naruhito to take place the following day, 1 May.
The Japanese government also announced yesterday that a meeting of the Imperial House Council would take place on 1 December of this year to discuss the dates and iron out the details.
The meeting will have ten members present who will include the Prime Minister, the heads of both chambers of the National Diet (Japanese bicameral legislature), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the head of the Imperial Household Agency and two members of the Japanese Imperial Family, which will include the Emperor’s younger brother, Prince Hitachi.
The meeting will be closed to the media, and the decision will be announced afterwards by Imperial Household Agency Grand Steward Shinichiro Yamamoto and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
This date would avoid any election distractions, as they are due to take place in March or April of 2019. However, some argue that His Imperial Majesty’s abdication should take place on 31 March instead with 1 April being set as the date for the Crown Prince’s accession. According to the Japan Times, “These dates would offer more convenience for the public because the start of the new gengō (era name), used in the Japanese calendar, would coincide with the start of the fiscal year.”
The abdication date must be selected by the government under an ordinance, and it is believed that the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will approve of the date on or around 5 December.
For further information:
Imperial Household Agency: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html
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Photography Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko by Joseph Vidal, Malacanan Photo Bureau, Presidential Communications Operations Office (Public domain) via Wikipedia Commons.
