Colors: Blue Color

The World Cheese Awards is now open for entry, with producers from across the globe invited to submit their cheese to be judged during the competition's 30th anniversary celebrations. Dedicated only to cheese, with no other dairy products able to enter, the awards will return to London on Friday 17 November, to form part of Taste of London Festive Edition at Tobacco Dock.

Following a record-breaking edition of the World Cheese Awards in San Sebastián last year, organisers, the Guild of Fine Food, are expecting this to be the largest cheese-only competition the UK has ever seen, with around 3,000 cheeses from six continents anticipated in the capital this autumn. As the international curd community gathers, entrants from over 30 different countries will be looking to take advantage of this golden opportunity to spotlight their cheese on a world stage.

250 experts from across the planet, including international buyers, retailers, writers and cheesemakers, will nose, taste and deliberate, judging every entry within a single day to identify any cheeses worthy of a Bronze, Silver or Gold award. Each table will then select its Super Gold cheese to go forward to the final round of judging, before the World Champion Cheese is crowned later in the afternoon, beamed live across the world on WCA TV.

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, organisers of the World Cheese Awards, explains: “This global celebration of cheese seems to gather momentum every year, so we can't wait to bring the world's finest cheese back to home soil once again and give Taste of London Festive Edition's 30,000 attendees a glimpse behind the rind. Beyond the serious business of identifying the winning wedges, we've got a few surprises up our sleeve to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the World Cheese Awards, so we're hoping that cheesemakers, judges, graders and consumers alike will join us in marking our three decades at the heart of the cheese community.”

Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra is a contemporary 5-star hotel set in an urban oasis within Ghana’s central business district. The Accra Financial Centre, World Trade Centre, International Conference Centre and Government Ministries are all situated close by.

Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra has received its sixth consecutive Green Globe Certification. Both management and staff have worked together on improving the hotel’s sustainable goals. As a result, the overall audit score has increased from 73% to 81% compared to the previous year.

Axel Hauser, General Manager of the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra said: “I am extremely proud of the team’s achievements and know that it has taken a great deal of work and dedication to achieve this fantastic result. The Green Globe Certification Award shows the hotel’s long-term commitment to sustainability, involving and educating the whole team on how they can make a difference.”

In its quest to sustainably utilize resources, the hotel has invested over half a million dollars into six special projects which aim to reduce energy consumption over the long term. This includes the diversion of steam from the boiler to the hotel dehumidifier to cut down on energy used in heating dehumidifiers, the installation of an adiabatic cooling system and chiller plant management system, heat recovery from chillers, chiller power factor correction and the installation of a duty cycle programmer fitted on pool pumps.

In line with the Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts global sustainability initiative Shine, the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel gave back to the community through organizing various events. Guests were encouraged to support a fundraising event last December. Proceeds from this were then used to hold a Christmas party and sports event for children from Kinder Paradise on Boxing Day, the 26th of December. The hotel also invited Chance for Children, an NGO for street children in Accra to participate in its Christmas lighting ceremony. To assist those in need, food donations were given to the Princess Marie Louis hospital and retired bedspreads and bed sheets were donated to support a local leprosarium.

Several training sessions were held for staff from all departments by the Innovations Manager of the property’s waste contractor, Jekora Ghana Limited to encourage better waste segregation procedures amongst employees. In 2016, the hotel successfully increased the amount of paper and cardboard it recycled by 71% (5,026 kg) according to the Hotel Optimizer Report that is compiled by Green Globe’s preferred partner FARNEK Middle-East.

The property’s new owner, Quantum Global, remains committed to supporting the hotel’s sustainability initiatives to ensure that the property remains a leader in sustainability in the Sub-Saharan African region.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, an international upscale hotel management company with over 16,000 staff members, is represented in 24 countries with 83 hotels, resorts and Nile cruisers currently in operation. Around 20 properties are planned or under construction, including those in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Bali (Indonesia) and Nairobi (Kenya).

Focusing on expanding within its core markets of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts specialises in business and conference hotels, as well as holiday resorts, all reflecting a sense of place and respect for their local communities. Of Swiss heritage and with headquarters in central Switzerland (Baar), Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is passionate about delivering premium service and culinary enjoyment – all with a personal touch. Committed to supporting sustainable environments, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has become the most Green Globe-certified hotel company in the world.

Don't miss a visit to the new Blenheim Palace Classic & Supercar show on Sunday 3 September.

See the Bugatti Chiron, the world's fastest car valued at over £3million pounds! This rare supercar is the only one in the country, offering visitors an exciting opportunity to get up close to this exceptional motor.

Spot the Lamborghini Reventon and Reventon Roadster on display together for the very first time. The rare duo represents Lamborghini's most expensive road car until 2010. Only 35 cars have ever been produced making a sighting of the two together a must-see.

Discover the Aston Martin Vulcan, a track only supercar on display at the event. This car is engineered with such speed and weight that if you were to drive upside down, it would glue itself to the ceiling! Costing almost £2million, and with only 24 produced this is well worth seeing.

Find the elusive prototype supercar, the Jaguar C-X75 at the show, which is returning to Blenheim Palace following its starring role in James Bond's Spectre. Scenes, including the beginning of the epic car chase were filmed at the Palace, within the Great Court.

See the Jaguar XJ220, once owned by Rod Stewart, the 30-year-old supercar is a modern classic to rival the Ferrari F40, with 10 of these on display to compare!

Blenheim Palace Classic & Supercar show will showcase more than 500 of the world's greatest classic and supercars in stunning surroundings.

All of these cars and more can be seen in the Pirelli Prestige & Performance Competition, featuring 80 sensational super and hypercars built from 1977 to the current day and hosted within the Palace's Great Court.

With eight pre-selected classes including 'Hypercars from the Lawn', 'Super Roadsters', '30th Anniversary of the Ferrari F40', 'Pin Ups' and 'Porsche GT Specials', it's an exciting competition culminating in the Winner's Parade later in the afternoon.

A wide selection of food and refreshments will also be available from Blenheim Palace's eateries throughout the day.

Peek Freans Sooper has officially broken the Guinness World Records title for the Largest Cookie Mosaic in the shape of Pakistan’s flag made with 150,000+ cookies measuring 226.51 m2 (2,438.15 ft2). Peek Freans Sooper perfectly embodies the spirit of the nation. As the highest selling biscuit of Pakistan, the brand has grown into a household name for its quality and wholesome goodness, as well as for its positive and memorable campaigns over the past two decades. Pakistan itself bears the same positive spirit that is often kept out of the mainstream conversation – the fact that it is a land of immense opportunity, and brimming with talent that has continually defied odds to surpass barriers.

Peek Freans Sooper, Pakistan’s favourite biscuit, wanted to unite the country under one umbrella with the inspiring and positive message of “Sooper Hai Pakistan”. On the 70th Independence Day, the EBM family came together to do the impossible… to set a new Guinness World Records title! The plan? Build the world’s largest cookie mosaic … in the shape of Pakistan Flag with a solid resounding message of how Sooper a nation it is!

The team worked with great fervour and passion as they slowly pieced together the mosaic, block by block, biscuit by biscuit with none other than, Peek Freans Sooper cookies themselves. With hard work, dedication and a Sooper attitude, the flag mosaic was finally completed in 6.5hours. Upon completion of the cookie mosaic, the biscuits were distributed in custom built containers to notable charities across Pakistan.

Dr. Zeelaf Munir, EBM Managing Director and CEO said, “We are a nation that is continuously rebuilding, reshaping and pushing forward – no matter what the odds. Our campaign, ‘Sooper Hai Pakistan’ seeks to highlight this national positivity by disseminating content that is the exact opposite of what the popular media continues to cover.”

Safety and hygiene were of paramount importance and the team ensured that the strict quality standards employed by Peek Freans were followed throughout the process. The record building process was overseen by independent witnesses including a health and hygiene inspector and a survey or from Islamabad).

Speaking on the occasion, Ayesha Janjua, EBM Head of Marketing said, ‘Pakistanis are brimming with raw talent; surpassing the world’s expectations on each and every pivotal moment and the participation of EBM sales and marketing team in this historic event demonstrates the true spirit of every Pakistani.”

This record breaking event was attended by a number of celebrities like Younis Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Adnan Siddiqui and Hareem Farooq to name a few. They came out to support the efforts of Peek Freans Sooper and were seen cheering for the team and encouraging them throughout the event.

As the Guinness World Records team announced the result, the participants were finally rewarded with the confirmation that Pakistan and Peek Freans Sooper had made the history books by bringing home a Guinness World Records title on the day of the country’s 70thIndependence day.

Visitors to Bantock House Museum and Park can step back in time to the war years when it hosts its popular World War Weekend shortly.

The beautifully-restored Edwardian house and gardens is the setting for the annual event on Saturday and Sunday, 2 and 3 September, and among the highlights will be demonstrations, re-enactments, stalls, vehicles, and displays, including an exhibition of equipment used by Military Intelligence during the Second World War.

There will be music from the Bluebird Belles on the Saturday and Amanda Beaumont on the Sunday, while visitors can also get a 1940s-style makeover and take a selfie for posterity with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who is planning to make a special appearance.

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "The World War Weekend is a fantastic event and will once again attract visitors and re-enactors from all around the country to Bantock House.

"There is something for all the family and we hope that our visitors will join in the activities as we remember this very important period in world history."

The World War Weekend takes place from 10am to 4pm on both days and entry is free. Bantock House Museum and Park is on Finchfield Road, Wolverhampton.

Striding beyond the existing trails, in March of 2018, an intrepid Secret Compass team of 12 will be forging a new route through Chile's volcanic borderlands. Combining sections of the Greater Patagonian Trail and the Condor Circuit, the team will pioneer new paths in an attempt to connect four volcanic summits in the Planchon Peteroa which straddle the Chile – Argentina border.

“For years Chile has remained firmly on the radars of outdoor enthusiasts but with the vast majority of visitors focussed on Patagonia, it's fantastic to offer this exciting new itinerary in this dramatic but largely overlooked region,” explains Tom Bodkin, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Secret Compass.

While the development of new trekking routes such as the Greater Patagonian Trail have opened up access to additional regions of previously unchartered South American wilderness, Secret Compass will be merely using these as stepping stones in establishing this fresh route.

“Chile has won 'Best Adventure Travel Destination' at the Word Travel Awards not once, but twice, in 2015 and 2016,” said Bryony Balen, Operations Manager at Secret Compass. “We've been looking at leading a Secret Compass team to the region for almost two years, but it's taken time to plan a pioneering route away from the mainstream trekking regions.”

Newly developed for 2018, this 140km trekking journey will discover the snow-capped volcanoes stood between the topaz blue glaciers, wild rivers and lakes stretched out over this vast and rugged wilderness formulating the jagged spine of South America. With eruptions in the region as recently as 2011 and plenty of evidence of volcanic activity from smoking vents to hot springs, the result is the ultimate backdrop to a day's trekking.

The decision to release the Zambian opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema, will help to progress peaceful dialogue, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said in a statement today.

The Secretary-General was responding to the news that Zambia’s Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had decided to stay the treason case against the leader of the United Party for National Development through what’s called a nolle prosequi.

Expressing delight at the developments Secretary-General Scotland said, the DPP’s decision to issue a nolle prosequi was understandable and that in the circumstances it “is reasonable and offers a unique opportunity for the country to move forward in the interest of all Zambians, and to achieve political cohesion and reconciliation through dialogue.”

She added, “The DPP, as a custodian of the public interest and the rule of law, must have weighed what was in the interest of justice and the public interest at this delicate point in Zambia’s history and decided that, at this material time, it was not in the interest of the public to prosecute the leader of the opposition, especially following the commitment to peace and harmony generously given by both President Lungu and Mr Hichilema to me during my recent visit to Zambia, and their pledge to engage in a constructive, responsible and forward-looking dialogue.

“This is an opportunity for Zambians and their leaders to show the world that the Republic of Zambia still remains a symbol of peace and a beacon of stability, unity and political tolerance in Africa and the Commonwealth.”

The Secretary-General also used the opportunity to thank President Edgar Lungu and Mr Hichilema for their commitment and resolve to move forward, putting the past behind them and looking ahead to jointly and collectively address the issues that have deeply divided the peace-loving people of Zambia.

“I believe Zambians can rely on these leaders to wholeheartedly engage in this process and to craft a democratic, sustainable pathway which will lead the country not just to successful elections in 2021, but beyond,” she said.

Last week the Secretary-General announced that Commonwealth peace envoy Professor Ibrahim Gambari will be deployed to support the dialogue between the parties. In her statement today she confirmed that Professor Gambari will be arrive in Zambia “at the earliest convenience” and stressed that the Commonwealth and other stakeholders “would work towards ensuring that dialogue outcomes are implemented in good time for the 2021 elections”.

The Secretary-General is due to conclude her peace and relationship building tour of Africa today. She visited Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Mozambique.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the Barcelona Terror Attack that has injured 100+ and killed 13.

It was the worst attack in Spain since the Madrid bombinbs in 2004. A white van accelerated into crowds of people during the late afternoon in Las Ramblas, a mainly pedestrian area in the capital.

The popular tree-lined street runs around three-quarters of a mile through the city center and is one of Barcelona's most popular locales, boasting a number of the city's most visited sites as well as cafes, bars, street performers and entertainment.
As the attack unfolded, some took shelter in nearby shops, barricading themselves against the terror as they watched scenes of chaos and panic continue.

The new resort is set on Montego Bay between Jamaica's sprawling rolling hills and the Caribbean Sea. The world-class resort offers personal butler service, an Italian villa inspired spa sanctuary boasting a Himalayan salt halotherapy lounge, two sparkling oceanfront swimming pools, and 299 bedrooms from junior suites and villas to extravagant penthouses among the resort's three towers.

Featuring more than seven culinary options including private chef table demonstrations in-room and Oceanside beach dining, the family-friendly resort also provides an experiential children's programme, more than 25,000 square feet of window-filled meeting rooms, extravagant ballrooms, and expansive grand terraces for distinctive outdoor functions.

Weaving the culture, philosophy, and essence of Jamaica into the guest experience, the Jewel Grande Resort & Spa offers an elevated authentic Caribbean island experience. Guests will be treated to immersive programming such as Patois classes, locally-infused Jamaican cuisine, and a full-service wellness oasis conceptualised by Reggaelates founder and award-winning wellness guru, Sienna Creasy.

Those looking to explore further can hit the links at the local championship golf course, embark on an aquatic adventure, experience first-class shopping at nearby Shoppes of Rose Hall, or indulge in the authentic flavours of the Caribbean with a multitude of dining options all just minutes away.

In 2015 guests on-board the adventure-cruise ship TRUE NORTH teamed-up with marine researchers from Conservation International and started to deploy fin-mounted satellite tags on whale sharks encountered during the ship's Whale Sharks of Cenderwasih Bay itinerary. And the results have proved to be quite surprising.

Each year the revered TRUE NORTH visits biodiverse Cenderwasih which lies adjacent to the spectacular Raja Ampat islands in West Papua and, everybody on-board gets a chance to swim with the 'resident' population of whale sharks. These encounters are quite different to more typical whale shark encounters because the sharks have formed a unique relationship with the local fisherman and, they are easily approached.

Their docile behaviour has allowed biologists to fix fin-mounted tags - a more durable type of satellite tag and, the tags have been providing unexpected data about where the sharks travel when they are not in swimming in the bay.

Conservation International's Mark Erdmann reports “Perhaps the most surprising finding has been just how differently each of the tagged sharks has behaved. We expected to see some generalized tracks of migration but in reality each shark has largely done its own thing!”

One of the sharks has been a bit of a homebody only leaving Cenderawasih Bay once in 25 months, whilst one of the smallest sharks to be tagged – a 3 metre individual known as “Fijubeca”, has clocked-up an impressive 9000 kilometres during a similar period. The 6 metre “Moby” has recorded the deepest dive getting down to 1856 metres in the Mariana Trench whilst similar sized “Cheggers” has spent most of his time close to the surface. “Wally” has preferred to spend his time close to shore whilst other individuals have completed impressive oceanic swims.

Importantly, the satellite data has highlighted several regions of West Papua that are frequented by migrating whale sharks and, those areas are now being considered for inclusion in Indonesia's marine park system.

Prisoners in India have been given leading roles performing in Shakespeare plays as part of an innovative process aimed at rehabilitating offenders.

The unorthodox recruitment strategy was uncovered as one in a series of stories showcasing the English playwright’s impact in South Asia, which are currently being featured in an exhibition at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in the UK.

Sairah Amin, an English Literature student at Birmingham City University (UK), found the story of the Rangayana Mysore theatre company who created the process and spend time travelling across prisons in India to find inmates who can perform in their plays, including ‘Hamlet’, ‘King Lear’ and ‘Hamlet’.

The practice is used to help prisoners engage with a range of emotions through their performances and encourage them to look at their offenses from a different perspective.

An image of two inmates performing one of the Bard’s most iconic scenes, where Hamlet discovers the skull of Yorick, is currently featured in the ‘Shakespeare in South Asia’ exhibition which runs until Friday 8 September at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The exhibition has been put together by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust supported by Dr Islam Issa, Senior Lecturer in Literature at Birmingham City University, as well as six of his students from the School of English. It highlights the significant impact of the playwright in that part of the world.

Sairah Amin said:

“I found the story compelling because it makes us feel hope. We can see that real people are behind Shakespeare's words and there is a real impact being made.”

On the opportunity to act as a curating assistant for the exhibition, she said:

“The experience forced me to think of Shakespeare differently. As someone with both Pakistani and Indian roots, I was finally able to see my own identity reflected in Shakespeare. This project was a refreshing chance to see myself within literature and also to tell the stories of minorities.”

Elizabeth Dollimore, Informal Learning and Programmes Manager at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said:

“Shakespeare is an internationally known icon of literature and culture and as guardians of his birthplace and creative legacy, it is important to acknowledge the many ways Shakespeare is enjoyed overseas.

“We focused on South Asia in this exhibition to mark the 70 years since the partition of India and Pakistan. Working with Islam and his students has given this exhibition a uniquely quirky journalistic feel exploring a range of individual stories of how Shakespeare touches communities.”

Shakespeare is considered to be a means of rehabilitation and coping in India with his works believed to teach prisoners valuable lessons about empathy and morality – as well as channelling their feelings into the arts.

Dr Islam Issa, the exhibition's content curator, said:

“This exhibition presented a few challenges because South Asia has an interesting relationship with English culture, mainly due to a long colonial history. But in so many cases, including this one, it became clear that today, anyone can take ownership of Shakespeare.

“Sometimes we found plays being adapted to various cultures, which is perhaps expected, but what’s more notable is how often Shakespeare is used to address current needs and concerns.”

British India was divided into two independent countries 70 years ago today, India and Pakistan during 'Partition'.

The first Prime Minister of India as an independent nation made a now famous speech

"At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance."

Indian Independence Day is celebrated on the 15 August, as a national holiday in India commemorating the nation's independence from the United Kingdom on 15 August 1947.

Even though it gained its independence, India still saw King George VI as head of state until it became a full republican constituion.

India's independence was gained after the Independence Movement noted for largely nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience was led by the Indian National Congress (INC).

Coinciding with the partition of India along religious lines to form India and Pakistan, who celebrated their independence yesterday, the split caused massive casualties and mass displacement of people.

The holiday is observed throughout India with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural events. There is a national holiday, and schools and government offices distribute sweets, but no official work is done.

John Mahama, Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group in Kenya and former President of Ghana, has commended Kenyans for their patience in waiting for final election results.  In his interim statement, he asked for continued patience as results continue to be finalised.

“We have followed the whole process and wish to congratulate all on the process thus far. It is my fervent hope and expectation that the positive, peaceful and orderly atmosphere that we all experienced on 8 August 2017 will continue to prevail as we await the conclusion of this electoral process,” he stated.

“Our overall conclusion is that the opening, voting, closing and counting process at the polling stations on 8 August 2017 were credible, transparent and inclusive. We commend and congratulate Kenyan voters, the staff of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, political party agents, candidates’ agents, the media and all security personnel for their commitment to the democratic process,” he concluded.

The complex election for six levels of government, undertaken at a cost that is reported to have made it one of the most expensive per capita elections ever, is still not over.  But it is producing results.  Kenya, for the first time, has a number of women governors. Additional history has been made in the North Eastern district bordering with Somalia, where a woman was elected as MP. Again, it’s a first.

But two days after the polls have closed, all eyes are on the still-contested Presidential race, after the leader of the opposition, Raila Odinga, declared that the transmission system had been hacked and the figures broadcast from the national tallying centre were false.  The tone of his complaint, its public nature and the risk that such statements might cause followers to take to the streets raised immediate alarm. In his western heartland of Kisumu, there were tyre burnings and clashes. A few violent deaths have occurred over the election period although initial reports suggest these may have happened during attempts at looting.

Kenya is not a country where allegations of election fraud can be taken lightly. In his interim statement Mr. Mahama said Mr. Odinga’s claim has been taken seriously.  But, he continued, “we are mindful that the process of collating the results is still on-going. I wish to reiterate my earlier call for leadership, and I therefore call upon all political party leaders and their supporters to show restraint and magnanimity as the results process continues to unfold. It is vital that all political leaders maintain peace and calm, exercise patience and not stampede the process.”

Mr. Mahama emphasised, in common with all other international Observer Groups present for the election, that the electronic transmission is only one part of the process, that the numbers known through that system are provisional, and that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), have been clear that the final result for the Presidency will only be announced after verification using the paper forms. These forms were signed off at polling stations by officials and party agents. More than thirty thousand scans of these documents are now being checked in the presence of party representatives.

Mr. Mahama, who has himself had elections contested in courts and who lost office last year in Ghana, said that the IEBC should be given time by politicians to complete all the established processes. If there are still issues, then candidates can take the issue to the courts. Praising the election process so far, and the patience of the Kenyan people who often experienced long queues and delays, he said an election dispute is not worth the loss of a single life.

President Edgar Lungu and opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema have agreed to engage in a peaceful dialogue to address the country’s political tensions.

This follows extensive consultations with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, who arrived in the country on Sunday as part of a peace and relationship building tour of Africa. During her visit she held consultations with President Lungu, church leaders, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Matibini, cabinet ministers, Mr Hichilema and other senior officials of his party. She also met with the Electoral Commission of Zambia and members of the Commonwealth diplomatic community in Zambia.

A statement issued to the media today by the Secretary-General said the President and the leader of the opposition have agreed to “a process of dialogue”, establishing a roadmap of reforms in preparation of the 2021 elections, working towards a peaceful resolution and boosting “public confidence in their commitment to a constructive, progressive and responsible engagement”.

The dialogue and roadmap to reform, it said, will be facilitated by the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Good Offices and key national stakeholders.

“At the beginning of my tenure as Secretary-General, I decided to establish a new approach to democracy and governance support. So visiting Zambia at this crucial time was a priority for me, because this is where we essentially launched this new integrated approach to supporting peaceful elections and other democratic processes. This approach entails providing support to member states before, during and after elections,” said the Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General appointed Professor Ibrahim Gambari as her envoy before Zambia’s 2016 general elections with a mandate to work with the Electoral Commission of Zambia to help support peaceful dialogue. Secretary-General Scotland also deployed an observer group for the elections and is now pleased to support the government and the opposition to address issues of mutual interest.

She said, “I was able to build on the work of dedicated church leaders, other international representatives and the diplomatic community, and I am delighted that we have been able to come to an agreement to work together to strengthen peace and democracy in Zambia as we move forward.”

Secretary-General Scotland added that she was in the process of assigning a peace envoy to the country to facilitate “the critical and peaceful dialogue and reforms that are necessary for Zambia to preserve its status as a beacon of peace and good governance in Africa.”

During her trip she offered assistance through Commonwealth initiatives such as the recently launched Commonwealth Office for Civil and Criminal Justice Reform, which was described by ministers as timely, necessary and a “brilliant idea” for Zambia. The new programme will assist member countries to deliver access to justice and sustainable development through the creation of fair and effective national laws, and enhance policy-making and legislation.

The Secretary-General also highlighted a project to mobilise partnerships and support to vulnerable small states to achieve their sustainable development goals, and measures to boost trade, empower young people and women and address climate change.

Take inspiration from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's safari holiday together in the beautiful country of Botswana. Often referred to as 'Harry's second home', this magnificent destination offers some of the finest game viewing in the world due to the incredible concentration and diversity of mammals and wildlife.

The Moremi Game Reserve, in the Okavango Delta, is recognised as the predator capital of Africa' and is well known for its outstanding game viewing.  Chief's Island in the Moremi Game Reserve is also home to Sanctuary Retreats' flagship property, Sanctuary Chief's Camp.  This luxurious contemporary safari camp has 10 stylish pavilions and a superb suite - The Geoffrey Kent Luxury Suite which offers a truly luxurious safari experience.

The spacious pavilions have incredible views over the surrounding Okavango Delta, which can be enjoyed from each pavilion's private pool or from the tranquil outdoor seating area.  Bathrooms – complete with floor to ceiling windows -also have a spacious outdoor shower and an indulgent, large bath tub – perfect for soaking in after a day's game viewing.

Falling asleep under the spectacular African night sky after a bush bath in the natural surroundings is a unique and intimate experience.

Sanctuary Retreats offer this truly romantic treat in their five luxurious suites at Sanctuary Baines' Camp in the Okavango Delta, all of which have private viewing decks where a bath for two can be set up.  Two free standing bath tubs “magically” appear on the candlelit private viewing deck of its suites whilst guests are out on an evening game drive.  The zinc “star baths” are filled with warm water and plenty of environmentally-friendly bubbles and mobile canvas screens are placed around them to ensure complete privacy without obstructing the stunning views from the deck.

Each suite also has a four-poster “sky bed” that can also be rolled out onto the candlelit wooden deck for a night under the African star filled night sky.  Fall asleep under the stars and wake up to the sound of the African dawn chorus.

The Sarojin, Thailand's luxurious 56-roomed boutique residence, is celebrating after its mesmerising Waterfall Dinner was named one of the top three experiences for honeymooners in the world by Kuoni's Honeymoon Trends Report 2017, which launched recently.

Couples looking for a truly unique and intimate experience can enjoy the highly-acclaimed candlelit jungle waterfall private dinner, as part of the '3 Nights Luxury Honeymoon Package'. Also included is three nights' accommodation, private return transfer, daily a la carte breakfast with sparkling wine for two people (available all day), one bottle of sparkling wine and flowers in room on arrival, one 90-minute Royal Oriental (Aroma) spa massage per person, as well as a Spirit Lantern release on the beach – all of which is delivered with the highest level of personalised service. Extra nights can be added and are inclusive of the a la carte breakfast for two people.

The Honeymoon Trends Report 2017 also revealed couples are looking for the chance to give back to the local community during their honeymoon through responsible tourism. With a strong, responsible community tourism ethos, The Sarojin's new Responsible Tourism Package creates perfect opportunities for guests to 'touch and feel' Thailand, its people and way of life in a sensitive and co-operative way.

Guests choosing the package can learn a new skill and get closer to ancient Thai customs. The package is valid from now until 10th October 2017 and includes five nights, private return airport transfers to and from Phuket International Airport, daily a la carte breakfast with sparkling wine, as well as three excursions; the Street Food Cook for Kids Cooking Class Experience (Camillian Centre), a Glimpse of Local Life (1/2 day) and a Spiritual Blessing of Love.