Harry Winston opens new salon in Monaco

Inside the House of Winston

The House of Harry Winston has opened a retail salon at the newly renovated Hôtel de Paris Monte Carlo. It will be the first retail venture for the ‘King of diamonds’ in Monaco.

The House of Winston exterior

Located in the picturesque courtyard of the iconic hotel, the salon covers 124sqm and has entrances both in the hotel and on Avenue des Beaux Arts. It will showcase Harry Winston’s fine jewellery and timepiece collections.

“This is a very important opening for the brand, as it marks  our first retail venture in Monaco,” said Nayla Hayek, CEO at Harry Winston. “Classic, glamourous and rich with culture, the high-end destination is among the most exceptional in the world, and features an unrivalled backdrop for our newest location.”

Inside the House of Winston

Throughout the interior, the House’s signature grey colour palette complements the custom designed lacquer and antique bronze furniture.

Dedicated galleries and a private selling room have also been incorporated to ensure clients receive a highly personalised shopping experience.

 

Details of the Monaco Pavilion revealed

Detailed plans for Monaco’s ambitious Pavilion at the next World Expo in Dubai 2020 have been revealed. The giant structure will showcase the opportunities available in the Principality and feature an exhibition area, a souvenir shop and a restaurant.

The pavilion will feature energy saving light panels

The pavilion, which will highlight the Principality of Monaco next year, was presented in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II and Sheikh Abdallah Ben Zayed Al Nahhyan, President of Monaco Inter Expo Mireille Pettiti, and Commissioner General of the Monaco Pavilion in Dubai Albert Croesi.

The general theme of the expo is ‘Connecting minds, creating the future!’, while the theme specific to the Principality will be ‘Monaco 360 °, a world of opportunities’. The Monaco Pavilion will occupy more than 1,700 m2 of space and it has been designed to surprise and fascinate. Built by Olivier Deverini in collaboration with the OOS agency, and led by the company Facts & Fictions, it will have a polygonal shape symbolizing all facets of Monaco, including the Prince’s commitment to the protection of the environment. In this respect, the exterior of the pavilion will have photovoltaic panels, ensuring its energy autonomy, and it will be equipped with a gray water recycling plant.

At the entrance visitors will be greeted by a large iconographic fresco on the history of Monaco. They will then enter the ‘Garden of Opportunities’ composed of 6 stations: art and culture, science and research, explorations of Monaco, protection of the oceans and biodiversity, extension at sea, and innovation and technologies. In the center of the garden, a kaleidoscope will immerse the public in the atmosphere of the Principality in 360 °.

© – Direction de la Communication – Manu Vitali

On the first floor, a private and flexible space inside the Rock enables the organisation of events, conferences and meetings to accentuate the participation of the Principality.

As visitors enter the Garden of Opportunities they will experience signature smells of the French Riviera such as pine, the sea and the sun, with the visit ending with an experience in the Kaleidoscope.

Next to the pavilion’s exit, a souvenir shop will offer a varied range of items from the principality of Monaco before giving way to a restaurant and takeaway area that will offer Mediterranean and Monegasque cuisine.

Outside the pavilion, visitors will be able to rest on the gentle slope named Chemin de la Porte Neuve full of typical trees and flowers designed by the urban development of Monaco, which leads to the Rock and the first floor.

In revealing the plans, the Monaco Government also announced that the National Day of Monaco will be celebrated on Wednesday 13thNovember in 2020.

 

Monaco supports Yemen Humanitarian Fund

Picture of a family in Yemen

Monaco has pledged 100,000€ in support of efforts to stem the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The announcement was made during a special meeting at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, at which Monaco is participating.

Picture of a family in Yemen
Monaco is one of a number of nations to pledge money for the Yemen Humanitarian Fund

On Tuesday 26th February, member states came together for a high level meeting and calls were made for the international community to act and mobilise the urgent resources required to support the humanitarian response in Yemen.

The event opened with speeches from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Vice President of Switzerland Simonetta Sommaruga, and Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström. They presented an alarming picture of the situation in Yemen and the needs of the civilian population caught up in the conflict.

Member states shared their concerns about the crisis and reiterated their support for a humanitarian response in the country to relieve the suffering of the Yemeni people, and many delegations announced their contributions for 2019.

The Principality participated in this show of solidarity, pledging 100,000€ to the Yemen Humanitarian Fund.

The Monegasque delegation in Geneva includes Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Isabelle Rosabrunetto, and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Principality to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva Carole Lanteri.

The event was held at the Palais des Nations and co-organised by the UN, Switzerland and Sweden.

Chinese president set to visit Monaco

A picture of Prince Albert shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2018

For the first time in its history, the Principality of Monaco will welcome the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping. In a few short weeks, Prince Albert II will officially host the Chinese ruler, who is embarking on a wide European tour.

A picture of Prince Albert shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2018
Prince Albert met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2018. Photo: Palais Princier de Monaco

Local media today reported that the meeting will go ahead on 24th March. It is yet to be officially confirmed by the Palace.

The visit to Monaco was reportedly proposed when the two heads of state met in Beijing last September. Not long after, Prince Albert made a state visit to China, where he was welcomed at the Grand Palace of the People, the president’s residence in Beijing.

A large Chinese delegation is expected to form part of President Xi Jinping visit. The presidential plane is likely to land at Nice airport where the delegation will meet with the French government, before heading over to the Principality.

According to local media, several teams from the Prince’s Palace will meet over the coming days to coordinate the logistics.

Kappa and AS Monaco reload partnership

The Kappa brand logo with AS Monaco colours

Kappa and AS Monaco have announced they’re going back into business together for the start of the 2019/20 season. The Italian sports brand will replace US giant Nike, who has done the club’s kits since 2014.

The Kappa brand logo with AS Monaco colours
It is the second time Kappa will be working with AS Monaco

Kappa was Monaco’s supplier between 1998 and 2001, with all-time classic kits that were worn by the likes of Fabien Barthez, Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet. They were also there for the club’s 2000 championship win. Created in 1967, the brand is historically linked to illustrious clubs like Juventus and FC Barcelona, and today equips more than a hundred professional clubs in the world.

Kappa announced the deal through a video posted on social media, in which the brand says “We are coming back. Reloaded.”

Kappa will exclusively dress the entire AS Monaco club for six seasons until 2025, across all of its sport and lifestyle ranges on and off the field, and will distribute a large collection for fans through its worldwide network.

 

Monaco participates in World Congress Against the Death Penalty

Congress attendees

A Monegasque delegation is currently taking part in a congress in Brussels dedicated to ending the death penalty across the globe.

The 7th World Congress Against the Death Penalty is organised by the NGO ‘Together Against the Death Penalty’, and is in partnership with the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Over three days, representatives of multilateral organisations, governments, experts and members of civil society are coming together to discuss the universal abolition of the death penalty.

Congress attendees
Opening of the 7th World Congress Against the Death Penalty by the Vice President of the European Parliament, Pavel Telicka Photo: DR / Monaco Government

In 2013, Monaco was one of a large number of states to sign the ‘Common Call for the Abolition of the Death Penalty’. The Principality is also a member of the Core Group, which was created to support international mobilisation for the universal abolition of the death penalty.

The death penalty was abolished in Monaco in 1962. Since 2007, it has co-sponsored the biennial resolutions of the United Nations calling for a universal moratorium on the death penalty.

Sophie Thevenoux, Ambassador of Monaco to the Kingdom of Belgium and Marie-Noëlle Albertini, Diplomatic Advisor to the Councillor of Government-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation form part of the Monegasque delegation in Brussels.

The congress is being held from 27th February to 1st March.