World News

His Holiness Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City, has delivered an historic Papal Mass to 180,000 Catholics in the United Arab Emirates that was televised around the world.

The scale of the event, which took place at Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi, is unprecedented for an event of this kind in the Arabian Peninsula and saw tens of thousands come from every corner of the UAE and overseas to participate.

The event saw 1500 paramedics, police and security staff on duty to ensure the safety and security of the Catholics attending the Mass.

There were 100 Emiratis on duty managing gate security for the thousands who flocked to the event – the majority of whom traveled on the 2000 buses organised by the UAE Government in association with the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (AVOSA), the territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church covering the UAE, Oman and Yemen.

It captured world media attention with 250 international journalists among the 600 media who covered the Papal Mass and broadcast the event live around the world.

His Holiness arrived on his Popemobile to greet the excited crowds both inside and outside the Zayed Stadium where he conducted the 90-minute Mass, with guests including the UAE Minister of Tolerance H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and H.E. Noura Al Kaabi, Minister for Culture and Knowledge Development among other senior Government officials.

During his homily on a specially constructed stage, Pope Francis thanked the UAE’s leadership and people saying; “I would like to thank the children of Zayed in the land of Zayed” which received a rapturous welcome from the diverse multinational audience.

Reflecting what was one of the most diverse gathering of nationalities for a Papal Mass outside of Rome – elements of the 90-minute service were conducted in Italian, English, Arabic, Tagalog, Hindi and Korean.

The Mass was attended by nearly 20 per cent of the estimated one million Catholics living and working in the UAE.

Coming just days after the final of the Asian Cup, organisers worked day and night to transform the stadium and surroundings into the largest outdoor place of Christian worship ever seen in the Arabian Peninsula.

Article by Delroy Constantine-Simms

As Tuesday may have been the official start of the ‘Year of the Pig,’ up to 40,000 people were expected in Birmingham for its Chinese New Year festivities as a series of parades and performances were planned, with celebrations ending in the city's Chinatown district yesterday, as flying dragons and dancing lions paraded through the city’s Chinese Quarter, with performers taking part in what organisers claim as one of the biggest celebration outside China.

The Chinese Festival Committee Birmingham presented Birmingham’s Chinese New Year celebrations, co-produced by Birmingham Hippodrome – which was sponsored by Birmingham Airport and in association with Birmingham City Football Club as part of three days of festivities across the city.

The streets in Chinatown and around the theatre came to life with show-stopping lion dances, traditional Chinese music and dance performances, market stalls and a fun fair while with free performances in and around the Arcadian Centre as well as in the Patrick Studio, in the Hippodrome, and a free family craft workshop in the foyers.

Prior to that, a special concert was held at St Philip's Cathedral with performances by Birmingham Conservatoire and Dans Dance Company, with James Wong, chair of Birmingham's Chinese Festival Committee, saying; "This year's programme was hugely exciting and diverse, and  us saw us working with all our partners to bring Chinese New Year to places and spaces across the city.

We are very proud of our heritage in bringing this unique and unforgettable spectacle to life."

The pig is one of 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac and is believed to be a symbol of optimism, enthusiasm and hard work.

Resilience is everybody’s business. All policymakers in the Caribbean must be concerned about the resilience of their national sectors amid a wide range of constantly evolving threats facing the region.  The concern is however especially urgent for policymakers in the tourism sector which is simultaneously one of the most resilient yet volatile segments of the economies of small island states. the risks facing tourism are indeed dynamic.

They are traditional as well as non-traditional.   They range from natural disasters to made-made disasters such as climate change to epidemics and pandemics to terrorism to the emerging threat of cybercrimes.

Despite the presence of these threats, The IDB Action Plan for Latin America and Caribbean has noted that with a few notable exceptions, the region has not pursued policies that reflect an understanding of its vulnerabilities and that identify actions to redress them.  It noted a lack of comprehensive capacity building for disaster and emergency preparedness and response.

As we move forward indifference to the potentially existential threats facing the region’s tourism sector can no longer be the order of the day.  Mitigation and resilience will require Caribbean destinations to engage in proactive planning against anticipated disaster risks rather than repeatedly being caught reacting to events as they occur. This would demand greater levels of coordination, collaboration and integration between tourism agencies and local disaster management agencies to address disaster vulnerability and risk.  The region’s tourism policy makers must take seriously the recommendations of the World Travel and Tourism Council that the important matters of climate change, disaster degradation and resilience be prioritized over the next several years.

Resilience strategies to protect the future of tourism in the Caribbean are especially urgent given the unquantifiable importance of a healthy and secure tourism industry to the economic sustenance of the region.  As I have stated many times before the Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world with tourism being the largest generator of foreign exchange and jobs in 16 out of 28 countries in the region and the sector receiving the most FDI. A major disruption to tourism will likely devastate the economic livelihoods of millions and stymy the sustainable development of the region.

Coming out of the 2017 UNWTO Global Tourism Conference held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre  to mark the commemoration of 2017 as the year of sustainable tourism, the Montego Bay Declaration was adopted  affirming  the commitment of governments, the UN system, global and regional financial institutions and the private sector  to cooperating to promote safe, secure and seamless travel and build resilience for tourism by advancing crisis preparedness and management capabilities as well as the full integration of tourism in emergency structures .

The 2017 Global Tourism Conference closed with a call for Government, private sector, donors and the international and regional organizations to support the establishment of a Global Tourism Resilience Centre in the Caribbean, including a Sustainable Tourism Observatory, to assist destinations’ preparedness, management and recovery of crises which impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods. On February 30, a little over a year later, this call was answered with the launch of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre to be housed at The University of the West Indies (Mona Campus). The Centre is tasked with the responsibility of producing and generating toolkits, communication strategies, guidelines and capacity building programmes to enhance assist destination preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and crises that impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods in the region.  The establishment of this Centre will constitute an important enabling mechanism for achieving our institutional goals of increasing the quality of the output of the global tourism product by providing outstanding support through research, action, and advocacy.

The Centre will be engaged in a wide range of activities geared towards promoting mitigation and resilience including the development of indicators to measure resilience; risk assessment mapping and planning; promoting innovation systems for climate adaptation and resilience; cross-border intelligence sharing; widespread training and education to build capacity and promote behaviour modification;, developing a regional funding model to coordinate regional responses; fostering deepened  knowledge of cyberspace policy; promoting counter-terrorism studies;  developing urban resilience and building meaningful partnerships.

The Centre will act as both a practical solution facing destinations globally and an intellectual space for academics and practitioners to share information on contemporary issues in and strategies for global resilience management with the establishment of an International Journal of Tourism Resilience Management and an academic Chair in Resilience Management at UWI to develop and enhance scholarship in the area of Resilience Management for universities around the world. The Centre will also provide research fellowship opportunities for individuals seeking to either expand their knowledge or, gain experience in tourism resilience and crisis management, through postdoctoral research, and (2) internships for undergraduate and graduate students in fields of study related to tourism resilience and crisis management. Given the globally recognized importance of tourism management, the centre will certainly position Jamaica as a global thought leadership in tourism resilience and crisis management and is thus a critical development enabler for countries around the world

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the most romantic restaurants in the U.S. for 2019 were announced today. Travel experts complied this first-ever list based on millions of reviews and opinions from diners. Rankings derived from the quality amd quantity of reviews combined with the degree to which the property is romantic.

The 10 Most Romantic Restaurants in the U.S.

1. Charleston Grill – Charleston, South Carolina

Popular dishes: Crab cake, foie gras, rack of lamb

2. Café Monarch – Scottsdale, Arizona

Popular dishes: Filet mignon, sea bass, duck

3. Bohanan’s Prime Steaks and Seafood – San Antonio, Texas

Popular dishes: Ribeye, jumbo lump crab cake, French-grilled oysters

4. Le Vallauris – Palm Springs, California

Popular dishes: Crispy veal sweetbread, duck, soufflé

5. Charleston Restaurant – Baltimore, Maryland

Popular dishes: Lobster soup, foie gras, oysters

6. Chandlers Steakhouse – Boise, Idaho

Popular dishes: Scallops, prime rib, chocolate soufflé

7. The Forge – Miami Beach, Florida

Popular dishes: Filet mignon, sea bass, soufflé

8. August – New Orleans, Louisiana

Popular dishes: Gnocchi, flounder Pontchartrain, pork loin

9. Summer House Steak & Seafood – Siesta Key, Florida

Popular dishes: Lobster bisque, filet mignon, scallops

10. Daniel – New York, New York

Popular dishes: Foie gras, lobster, sea bass

Almost 2,000 Nigerian football fans who arrived in Russia for the FIFA 2018 World Cup are still in the country, making up the largest number of the more than 5,000 supporters who have remained illegally.

It was reported last week that more than 12,000 World Cup fans had still been in Russia as of December 31 – the date on which the FAN ID system formally ended.

The system allowed fans with World Cup match tickets to enter Russia during the tournament without a visa, as long as they held a FAN ID document.

The scheme was deemed a success and extended so that FAN ID holders could continue to enter the country without a visa until the end of the year.

The Russian Interior Ministry reported last week that the number of fans remaining in Russia illegally beyond the deadline had been reduced during January, but still stood at 5,500.

The Interior Ministry press service provided a breakdown of those numbers.

Nigerians make up the largest group still in Russia, with 1,863 citizens yet to have left. That’s followed by people from Vietnam (911) and Bangladesh (456) – neither of whom were playing at the 32-team tournament.

Senegal, who were playing in Russia but like Nigeria were knocked out at the group stage, have an estimated 253 citizens still in the country.

The Interior Ministry has said that work to expel those in the country illegally will continue, and is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Around 650,000 foreign fans visited Russia during the tournament, according to the ministry.

“In the main, they were all law-abiding and left the country in their own time,” migration department head Andrei Kayushin said.

Some fans may well have been looking to continue the World Cup party, although others may have hoped to enter Russia before moving on elsewhere – including to the EU. Others are said to have planned to file for asylum in Russia

The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, featuring some of the most electrifying athletes on the planet, will be bringing their spectacular show to the UK, as part of their world tour with their one-of-a-kind show that is unrivalled in the world of family entertainment.

Every game will showcase incredible ball handling wizardry, rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, hilarious comedy and unequalled fan interaction – plus unique 30 Minute pre-show event with Harlem Globetrotters members - shoot, pass and dribble on court, autograph and photo opportunity

Represent nine decades of breaking down barriers, acts of goodwill show features even more amazing basketball skills and wizardry and a commitment to fans that goes beyond the game the Harlem Globetrotters are a worldwide icon, synonymous with family entertainment and great basketball skills.

Former player Mannie Jackson purchased the team in 1993, becoming the first African-American to own a major international sports and entertainment organization. He tripled the team’s revenue in three years and quadrupled its size in five. The team was also active in philanthropic efforts, with charitable contributions totaling over $11 million under Jackson’s guidance.

Globetrotter Michael ‘Wild Thing’ Wilson set a world record in 2000 by dunking on a 12-foot hoop at Final Four Weekend… a record that stands to this day and one of 12 world records currently held by Globetrotters players.

In 2005, a documentary, ‘The Team That Changed the World,’ aired, while the first verifiable account of the Globetrotters’ history was told in the book; ‘Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall and Return to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters.’

In September that year, Shamrock Capital Growth Fund purchased 80 percent of the team from Mannie Jackson – who eventually stepped back from day-to-day functions - and the Globetrotters announced the appointment of Kurt Schneider as Chief Executive Officer in May 2007.

The team confirmed their standing as one of the world’s most influential basketball teams in 2002, receiving the sport's highest honour with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wang Shuang has a special reason to look forward to the forthcoming FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019.

The Chinese midfielder, who completed a high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain and who has since delivered a series of eye-catching displays, in both the French league and the UEFA Women's Champions League, has fully acclimatized to her new life in Europe, the 23-year-old, who recently won the 2018 AFC Player of the Year award for her standout performances with both club and country, believes she will feel right at home this summer.

She said; "My experiences in France will be an advantage to me during the Women's World Cup here.

Paris is the home venue for PSG, so there wouldn't be many strangers that we may be up against.

Everyone says we (China) are in an extremely difficult group - two-time winners Germany, a fast-progressing Spain and South Africa.

It won’t be easy for us, but we don't choose our opponents."

With France 2019 kicking off in six months’ time, the current Chinese squad under new coach Jia Xiuquan has made notable progress – enough for others to take note come this summer.

She conclued; “There are no weak teams in the World Cup. We respect our rivals, but how much do they know about us?”

Targeting to attract people of the African origin to visit their continent of origin, Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo has designated the year 2019 as the “Year of Return” to commemorate the resilience of Africans forced into slavery and to encourage their descendants to come home.

“We know of the extraordinary achievements and contributions Africans in the Diaspora made to the lives of the Americans, and it is important that this symbolic year, 400 years later, we commemorate their existence and their sacrifices,” President Nana said earlier in September last year.

His timing was based on the first recorded landing of a ship carrying Africans in Virginia, US, in August 1619 according to historians.

The Ghanaian president proclaimed 2019 as the “Year of Return” for all Diaspora descendants of Africans who were captured and transported into the Americas as slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Titled, “Year of Return, Ghana 2019”, the proclamation was read in September last year at a ceremony held at the United States National Press Club in Washington DC to formally launch a program of activities marking the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans to English North America in 1619.

The Year of Return seeks to make Ghana the focus for millions of African descendants reacting to their marginalization by tracing their ancestry and identity. By this, Ghana becomes the beacon for African people living on the continent and the Diaspora.

The Proclamation recognizes Ghana’s unique position as the location for 75 percent of the slave dungeons built on the west coast of Africa and the current President’s policy making it a national priority to extend a hand of welcome back home to Africans in the Diaspora.

The 2019 ‘Gateway to the World’ ultra-premium all-inclusive gave Carnival enthusiasts an extra dose of festival flair en route to the Greatest Show on Earth.

Now in its third year, this annual event has truly elevated the standard for premium events in east Trinidad and provided its patrons with an opportunity to celebrate the splendor of the Soca Kingdom in fine style.

The old Piarco International Airport served as venue for this premium extravaganza and gave the fete’s loyal attendees the right mix of class, cuisine and first-rate Caribbean party vibes.

The event’s organizers, FODAT LTD gained high marks by patrons for the superb execution, decorative ambiance and strategic positioning of bars and food stations that gave Gateway to the World a generally easy going yet festive atmosphere.

Gateway’s crowd consisted of both local event goers and even some foreign-based fetters that flew in for the weekend to experience first-hand the buzz generated from the event’s previous editions.

In keeping with the theme of ‘Welcome Home’, the diverse audience, mixed, mingled and enjoyed a wide array of local fine food offerings which included Roast Chicken with Cassava Fries, Coo Coo, Dumplings, Calalloo, Hopkins Rice & Stewed Chicken with Salad, Roasted Pork, Roti with assorted curried meats, Bake & Shark, Corn Soup, Doubles and Pholouri.

These delicacies were served alongside a top-notch selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well as a variety of sumptuous desserts.

The event served up a stellar cast of DJs as well as pulsating performances from the season’s top local and regional Soca stars such as Kes The Band, Patrice Roberts, Teddyson John, Ravi B & Karma, Nadia Batson, Ricardo Drue, 5 Star Akil, Farmer Nappy, Shal Marshal and the A Team Band alongside the energy-inspiring sounds of a popular riddim section.

One female guest who hopped a flight from Tobago just to attend Gateway shared, “This is my first time attending this fete and I am very impressed. It was recommended to me by my best friend who came last year. The food, the entertainment, the comfort and attention to detail are really impressive…Real value for my fete money!”

The fete’s eager attendees remained into the wee hours of the morning enjoying all of the action and amenities of this ultra-premium all-inclusive which is geared to be a mainstay in the annual Carnival calendar for many years to come.

Millions of people across the world came together to celebrate the most important date in the Chinese calendar, with festivities kicking off yesterday ­– the day of the second new moon of the winter solstice – signalling the start of 15 days of parades, parties and food.

2019 marks the ‘Year of the Pig,’ the twelfth of the zodiac animals. The Chinese zodiac, or shengxiao, is a repeating cycle of 12 years, each with an animal associated with certain characteristics.

ChineseNewYear.net said; “Those born under the sign of the Pig are said to avoid ‘wasteful’ spending but will still “let themselves enjoy life,” ChineseNewYear.net says.

They are energetic and are always enthusiastic, even for boring jobs. If given the chance, they will take positions of power and status.”

There’s ample opportunity to ring in the changes and take part in some time-honoured customs, from family orientated festive feasts promising dishes of delicious dumplings and tempting taro cakes to colourful street celebrations that will see cities across the UK lit up in vibrant red and gold. Here are some of the best places to visit to mark the occasion in style.

The 17th annual Chinese New Year celebrations, staged in Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter, is set to attract around 30,000 people looking to soak up all the action. 

This year’s celebrations, in and around the Arcadian Centre, will take place this Sunday - from 11.30am - and will feature authentic lion dancing, a fire act, acrobatics, street food, traditional lantern making and funfair rides. The celebrations will also take place on Colmore Row and at St Phillips Cathedral.

Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean achieved a historic milestone in 2018 welcoming more than half a million visitors to the destination’s shores. Spread across key niche markets, the combined cruise, yachting and stay over arrivals for 2018 was 528,077 representing a 12.90% increase over 2017.

A strong performance was recorded in stay over arrivals with an increase of 9.97%, moving from 146,375 to 160,970 visitors with special mention given to the bumper Christmas season in which a growth of 17% was recorded.

Canada recorded the highest growth rate in 2018 with a 19.05% increase (14,586-17,364), followed by the USA at 12.38% (67,252-75,577) and the Caribbean at 6.87% (27,127-28,990). Significant growth was also recorded in non-traditional markets that included Latin America at 13.28% (1,265-1,433) and the category representing all other parts of the world at 18.27% (2,934-3, 470). The USA maintains the top spot in market share for arrivals to the destination at 46.93% followed by the United Kingdom.

The yachting sector recorded double-digit growth of 10.82%, with visitor arrivals moving from 21,911 to 24,281, a direct result of 428 more yacht calls. As it relates to cruise arrivals, the sector grew by 14.49% (299,449-342,826) due to larger cruise ship calls.

Speaking about Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique’s performance, Grenada Tourism Authority’s (GTA) Chief Executive Officer Patricia Maher said; “We are delighted to surpass the historic 500,000 mark. It is a result of our hard work in lobbying airlines for more flights and the engagement of top cruise brand executives for more ship calls. I would like to thank our stakeholders for their support in ensuring our visitors continue to have wonderful experiences in the destination.”

A delighted Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Clarice Modeste Curwen added; “Achieving 500,000 arrivals has been a landmark goal for the destination of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. It is a testament to the growing island’s influence in the marketplace and industry growth. But we will not stop there as we want to grow the pie so that everyone gets a bigger slice. To do that, we must continue to keep our islands pure, share our warmth and hospitality with visitors, as well as deliver high quality professional service.”

Additionally, the GTA launched a destination shopping video, which highlighted the destination’s diverse offerings. All levels of shopping experiences were displayed including art, craft, glass products, clothing, spices and batik. GTA Product Development Manager Kirl Hoschtialek, says, “The shopping video is one of our strategies in improving the destination’s profile as it relates to shopping experiences which were highlighted in visitor surveys as needing improvement.” The video will be shared locally, regionally and internationally especially at the St. George’s Cruise Terminal.

The GTA is optimistic about 2019 and anticipates deeper collaboration with stakeholders to strive for Pure Grenada’s global brand recognition as a premier tourist destination.

Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean achieved a historic milestone in 2018 welcoming more than half a million visitors to the destination’s shores. Spread across key niche markets, the combined cruise, yachting and stay over arrivals for 2018 was 528,077 representing a 12.90% increase over 2017.

A strong performance was recorded in stay over arrivals with an increase of 9.97%, moving from 146,375 to 160,970 visitors with special mention given to the bumper Christmas season in which a growth of 17% was recorded.

Canada recorded the highest growth rate in 2018 with a 19.05% increase (14,586-17,364), followed by the USA at 12.38% (67,252-75,577) and the Caribbean at 6.87% (27,127-28,990). Significant growth was also recorded in non-traditional markets that included Latin America at 13.28% (1,265-1,433) and the category representing all other parts of the world at 18.27% (2,934-3, 470). The USA maintains the top spot in market share for arrivals to the destination at 46.93% followed by the United Kingdom.

The yachting sector recorded double-digit growth of 10.82%, with visitor arrivals moving from 21,911 to 24,281, a direct result of 428 more yacht calls. As it relates to cruise arrivals, the sector grew by 14.49% (299,449-342,826) due to larger cruise ship calls.

Speaking about Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique’s performance, Grenada Tourism Authority’s (GTA) Chief Executive Officer Patricia Maher said, “ We are delighted to surpass the historic 500,000 mark. It is a result of our hard work in lobbying airlines for more flights and the engagement of top cruise brand executives for more ship calls. I would like to thank our stakeholders for their support in ensuring our visitors continue to have wonderful experiences in the destination.”

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Clarice Modeste Curwen also expressed her delight with the destination’s performance. She noted, “Achieving 500,000 arrivals has been a landmark goal for the destination of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. It is a testament to the growing island’s influence in the marketplace and industry growth.  But we will not stop there as we want to grow the pie so that everyone gets a bigger slice. To do that, we must continue to keep our islands pure, share our warmth and hospitality with visitors, as well as deliver high quality professional service.”

Additionally, the GTA launched a destination shopping video, which highlighted the destination’s diverse offerings. All levels of shopping experiences were displayed including art, craft, glass products, clothing, spices and batik. GTA Product Development Manager Kirl Hoschtialek, says, “The shopping video is one of our strategies in improving the destination’s profile as it relates to shopping experiences which were highlighted in visitor surveys as needing improvement.” The video will be shared locally, regionally and internationally especially at the St. George’s Cruise Terminal.

The GTA is optimistic about 2019 and anticipates deeper collaboration with stakeholders to strive for Pure Grenada’s global brand recognition as a premier tourist destination.

On Sunday, 6th January, Silversea's Silver Whisper set sail on the 'Tale of Tales,' the cruise line's enriched World Cruise 2019. Following extensive refurbishments and after a hugely successful pre-voyage event, the enhanced ship welcomed World Cruisers aboard in San Francisco for the start of the 133-day voyage, including author Pico Iyer—the first of nine creatives who will enrich the World Cruise 2019 for Silversea's guests.

During the ship's dry dock period, which lasted from 1st December until 19th December, Silver Whisper underwent a large-scale renovation—completed in line with the Musification strategy that is inspiring the enhancement of Silversea's fleet. The initial refurbishment plans of Silver Whisper were revised and augmented following the launch of Project Invictus, Silversea Cruise's long-term plan to enrich and enlarge its fleet. With the comfort of guests in mind - namely, world cruising guests on the Tale of Tales - all public areas and guest accommodation were enhanced.

In public spaces, new carpets were laid throughout the hallways, staircases, in the main restaurant, the main bar, and all guest suites. The Main restaurant underwent a complete refurbishment, with new curtains, new chairs and new wallpaper, among other enhancements; the Spa & Gym was upgraded with new equipment and other improvements, and the Beauty Salon was also completely upgraded; the Card & Conference room was entirely renovated; La Terrazza, the Panorama Lounge, the Central Staircase and the Casino were each also enhanced dramatically. The Pool Deck benefited from a new teak design, as well as an overhaul of the Pool Bar & Grill and other enhancements. New sun loungers and new balcony furniture completed the refurbishment of outdoor areas.

The comfort of guest accommodation was also upgraded: in Silver Whisper's top suites, new carpet, reupholstered and new furniture, new wallpaper, and revamped wooden surfaces saw the Musification of accommodations. All suites were invigorated with improvements to the en-suite bathrooms; new mattresses, curtains and furniture; and wood polishing.

The refurbishment of Silver Whisper is not the only enhancement enriching the World Cruise 2019 for Silversea's guests. The Tale of Tales will see nine celebrated creatives join the ship over the course of the voyage; each will illustrate their sailed segment by creating a work of art – either a written text, a photograph or another medium. Guests will receive an exclusive anthology containing all nine artworks to document their experiences. Illustrious novelist, essayist and travel writer, Pico Iyer, has joined the first segment of the voyage, sailing between San Francisco, California, and Papeete, Tahiti. Iyer's work has featured in such publications as Time magazine, Harper's, The New York Times, and The New York Review of Books, among others.

“We are delighted to have bid Silver Whisper 'bon voyage' for Silversea's innovative World Cruise 2019, the Tale of Tales,” says Barbara Muckermann, Silversea's Chief Marketing Officer. “Our guests will become the protagonists of their own stories, when they travel to the world's most remarkable destinations in ultimate comfort. Their experiences will be enriched by the presence of our nine talented Tale Tellers, as well as a number of other bespoke enhancements. We are enabling our guests to travel deeper in every sense of the expression.”

Prior to the commencement of the World Cruise 2019, Silversea hosted a pre-voyage gala dinner for the Tale of Tales' approximately 230 protagonists to get acquainted. The bespoke event, which was held at the Jewish Contemporary Museum in San Francisco and hosted by a number of Silversea representatives, offered guests a multi-sensory introduction to the Tale of Tales, setting the stage for the story to be told: guests entered through a grand entrance, where they were greeted by live harp and trumpet music, an impressive LED wall, and temple-themed lounges. Champagne and cocktails were complemented by canapés and a sumptuous feast, which was curated by Four Seasons, as guests mingled under San Francisco's skyline and sampled a taste of what is to come on this one-of-a-kind voyage.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, who recently visited Bangladesh for discussion with government and opposition parties, called on the Government and the Election Commission to provide a conducive environment for free, fair, inclusive and participatory elections on 30 December 2018.

The Secretary-General has noted with concern reports, over the last several weeks, of violence, intimidation and harassment against several candidates and political party activists. The Secretary-General emphasised the importance of a political and campaign environment free from intimidation and fear, and called on all political parties and stakeholders to participate peacefully in the electoral process.

The Secretary-General  has deployed a two-member senior staff team, who are already on the ground, to observe the poll and to meet with the Electoral Commission and some of the stakeholders who will participate in the election, including the Commonwealth’s international partners in Dhaka.

Scotland called on the Government and people of Bangladesh to uphold the Commonwealth Charter which recognises the inalienable right of individuals to participate in their national democratic processes, in particular, through free and fair elections in shaping the society in which they live.  Scotland said, “The people of Bangladesh must be allowed to participate, nurture and strengthen their national democratic processes and institutions."

The Secretary-General conveyed her best wishes to the people of Bangladesh as they prepare to participate in their national election.

Distinguished Jamaican born scientist, Sir Professor Godfrey “Geoff” Palmer, OBE, has been appointed Jamaica’s first Honorary Consul in Scotland.

H.E. Seth George Ramocan, CD, High Commissioner, said he was very pleased with the appointment of Sir Geoff who has demonstrated an undying love for Jamaica through his many decades of leadership, advocacy and promotion of the strong historical, social and economic ties between Jamaica and Scotland.

Born in the parish of St Elizabeth in Jamaica in 1940, Godfrey Henry Oliver “Geoff” Palmer, as he is known to friends and colleagues, migrated to Britain in 1955 as a part of the Windrush generation.  He overcame early educational and other challenges, to later graduate with a degree in Botany from Leicester University in 1964.  In 1968, he graduated with a PhD in grain science and technology from Edinburgh University.  While working at the Brewing Research Foundation he invented the Barley Abrasion Process, which revolutionised the brewing industry.  He was the first person in Europe and the fourth in the world to have been honoured with the American Society of Brewing Chemist Award of Distinction.

In 1989, Sir Geoff became the first black professor in Scotland. He was knighted In 2014, for services to human rights, science and charity. He is a founding member of the Jamaica Society Scotland.

During his working life, Sir Geoff travelled and lectured worldwide and was instrumental in the development of the cereal, sorghum as food and brewing material in Africa.  He also helped to secure the first export of British barley to China.

On his retirement in 2005 he was made Emeritus Professor of the Heriot-Watt University and he has accepted Honorary Doctorates from a number of Universities including the University of the West Indies. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and of the Institute of Brewing.

Professor Palmer, who is also a human rights activist, has researched, written and lectured extensively on the Scottish links with slavery and the Slave Trade, including Scotland’s role in the Abolition of Slavery.

He currently serves as the Honorary President of the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council.