#Iran private tour

[letsvisitpersia]

Travel to Iran, a destination that is not similar to any of your previous destinations.

[posttexasstressdisorder]

Caller asks if Trump will reveal himself as the Antichrist — many believe he already has

Thom Hartmann

September 10, 2024 2:17PM ET

A supporter of former President Donald Trump wears a pro-Trump t-shirt at a Trump campaign rally at an outdoor fairgrounds, April 13, 2024 in Schnecksville, Pa. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

A listener called into my program recently and asked, “Is Donald Trump the Antichrist and, if so, will he reveal himself at the debate?”

I passed on drawing a conclusion, but then the lines lit up with a steady stream of people over the next few hours offering their “proofs” that Trump was, in fact, the Evil One come to ravage the Earth. That he’s a literal and iniquitous thaumaturge. My first caller clearly hit a nerve.

It’s a fascinating question, though, whether put literally or metaphorically.

Asking the question literally requires a belief in the actual reality of a Son-of-God Christ figure and of an Antichrist opponent of nearly equal but opposite power. This sort of thing fills the Bible, and I’ll get to that in a moment.

But first consider the question from the secular perspective, which argues these two terms represent, at their core, metaphors for the embodiment of good and evil.

In this context, then, a more accurate question is: “Is Donald Trump evil, and thus an antichrist?”

In The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke in the plural when he predicted “false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.”

After warning that grifters and con artists (in secular terms)would try to exploit His followers, He said, “by their fruits ye shall know them.”

Trump’s “fruits” are pretty obvious:

More than twenty women have accused him of rape and sexual assault.

Hundreds of contractors, customers and employees have accused him of stealing from them or refusing to pay them (or both), as have members of his own family

Throughout his presidency, he lied over 30,000 times and continues to lie daily

He pits Americans against each other by race, religion, and region in an effort to tear our country apart and thus weaken opposition to his authoritarian rule

He openly encouraged violence against unarmed people at multiple rallies and encouraged state violence at a speech to chiefs of police; most recently he encouraged an assault on members of the press

He tried to overthrow and end our democracy

He embraced depraved, ungodly murderers, kleptocrats, and “strongman” rulers while ridiculing western democracies and their elected leaders

He tried to damage or dismantle political and military systems designed to keep peace in the world, including the UN, NATO, and the Iran JCPOA

He reaches out to Jesus’s followers and then directs them toward bigotry, violence, and hatred

As an object of admiration and a role model, he’s replaced Jesus in many white evangelical congregations

He delighted in tearing children from their parents and putting them in cages

He tried to end Americans’ access to lifesaving medical care by killing Obamacare and privatizing Medicare

He watched on TV, like a delighted child, as his followers killed three police officers, sent 140 others to the hospital, and tried to murder the Vice President and Speaker of the House

He lied about Covid (after disclosing the truth to Bob Woodward), causing more disease and deaths in America than any other nation in the world except Peru

The main reason many Christians freak out about an antichrist is that following him will get you banned from heaven or even cast into hell.

But what did Jesus — the guy Trump’s white evangelical followers claim as their savior — say was necessary to get into heaven?

Back in 1998 I had a private audience with Pope John Paul II at his invitation; one of his personal secretaries had read one of my books. He gave Louise and me a private tour of many non-public parts of the Vatican and, the next day, we sat through an open-air concert with Pope John Paul II and about 30 VIPs, including the leader of Germany’s Bundestag, for more than an hour, surrounded by the splendor of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer palace on the rim of an extinct volcano overlooking lake Albano.

When we spoke privately after the concert, His Holiness’s forceful comments about the work we all must do reminded me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25. It’s an amazing 2,000 year-old story that tells us everything we need to know about today’s “Christian” politics:

Jesus’ disciples had gathered around him in a private and intimate setting.

Finally, they thought, they could ask him, straight up, the question that had been haunting them, particularly now that the Roman authorities were starting to talk about punishing or even executing them: How they could be sure to hang out with Him in the afterlife?

Jesus told them that at the end of days He’d be sitting on His throne separating the sheep from the goats “as a shepherd divideth.”

The nations of “sheep” would go with Him to heaven, the “goats” to hell.

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me food,” he told his disciples he would say to the sheep. “I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”

At this point, His disciples — who had never, ever seen Jesus hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, or naked — freaked out. Whoa! they shouted. We’re screwed!

“When saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?” they asked, panicked. “Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?” “Verily I say unto you,” Jesus replied, reassuring them, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

This is the only place in the Bible where Jesus explicitly tells His disciples what acts they must perform, in their entirety, to get into heaven.

Feed the hungry, care for refugees, house and clothe the homeless, heal the sick, have compassion on those in prison.

That’s it.

And it’s a list that is quite literally the opposite of everything that Donald Trump advocates, stands for, and has done in his careers, both business and political.

While biblical scholars are split about who the actual “Beast” was that John referenced in his Revelation, many consider it to have been a then-politically-necessary cloaking of the identity of Roman Emperor Nero.

It was clearly a political figure, who represented the antithesis of the values and works Jesus laid out in the Sermon on the Mount and in Matthew 25.

A leader whose actions unleashed “a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”

Caller after caller to my program offered their own proofs of Trump being the Beast or the Antichrist:

“MAGA” means “magic” or “sorcerer” in Latin and multiple other languages

His grandfather’s name when he emigrated to America to start a whorehouse in the Pacific Northwest was “Drumpf,” which he changed to Trump. John in German is “Johann.” Therefore, his “actual” name is Donald Johann Drumpf — each name having six letters. (Weirdly, the same is true of Ronald Wilson Reagan, the guy who laid the foundation for MAGA.)

He illegally armed the Saudis for their merciless bombing war against Yemen which had five million peoplefacing famine as the Saudi military blocked food arrivals.

His family owns 666 Fifth Avenue.

He fooled millions of evangelical followers of Jesus, just as the Beast is supposed to do.

He put his own red-hat MAGA mark on their foreheads.

He consorts with “whores” and “criminals.”

It was an interesting exercise and conversation, and I was surprised by how many people are actually religiously freaked out about Trump.

But for me, all the proof I need that Trump, if not the biblical Antichrist, is at least a political one, is what he says and does. And I’ll bet that tonight he will reveal himself, both as a disciple of the “Father of Lies,” and through his anti-Christ-type policies.

As Pope Francis today tells us, a man’s “fruits” show us all we need to know about who he really is.

[justforbooks]

Born a photographer March 29, 1944. Abbas Attar was an Iranian transplanted to Paris. He dedicated himself to documenting the political and social life of societies in conflict. In a career that spanned six decades, he covered wars and revolutions in Biafra, Bangladesh, Northern Ireland, Vietnam, the Middle East, Chile, Cuba, and South Africa during apartheid. He also documented life in Mexico over several years, and pursued a lifelong interest in religion and its intersection with society.

From 1978 to 1980, Abbas photographed the revolution in Iran, to which he returned in 1997 after seventeen years of voluntary exile. His book Iran Diary 1971-2002 is a critical interpretation of Iranian history, photographed and written as a private journal.

During his years of exile Abbas traveled constantly. Between 1983 and 1986 he journeyed through Mexico, attempting to photograph a country as a novelist might write about it. The resulting exhibition and book, Return to Mexico: Journeys Beyond the Mask, helped define his photographic aesthetic.

From 1987 to 1994, he focused on the growth of Islamism throughout the world. Allah O Akbar: A Journey Through Militant Islam, the subsequent book and exhibition, spanning twenty-nine countries and four continents, attracted special attention after the 9/11 attacks by Islamic jihadists. A later book, Faces of Christianity: A Photographic Journey (2000), and touring show, explored Christianity as a political, ritual and spiritual phenomenon.

Abbas’s concern with religion led him in 2000 to begin a project on animism, in which he sought to discover why non-rational ritual had re-emerged in a world increasingly defined by science and technology. He abandoned this undertaking in 2002, on the first anniversary of 9/11, to start a new long-term project about the clash of religions, defined as a culture rather than faith, which he believed are turning into political ideologies and therefore one of the sources of the strategic struggles of the contemporary world.

From 2008 to 2010 Abbas travelled the world of Buddhism, photographing with the same skeptical eye. In 2013, he concluded a similar long-term project on Hinduism.

Most recently before his death, Abbas was working on documenting Judaism around the world.

A member of Sipa from 1971 to 1973, then of Gamma from 1974 to 1980, Abbas joined Magnum Photos in 1981 and became a member in 1985.

On Wednesday April 25, 2018 the Iranian photographer Abbas Attar known simply as Abbas, died in Paris, aged 74.

According to Abbas, in a 2017 interview with Magnum, there are two photographic methods: “One is writing with light,” he said, “and the other is drawing with light.” While he viewed other Magnum photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson as adherents of the latter, the former was the foundation of Abbas’ practice. In lieu of placing his focus on single moments in time, he looked at his photographs as interlinked elements of a greater whole. In this sense, Abbas was a storyteller, and his images were pages of tales on celluloid, which were no less arresting when viewed (or rather, read) in isolation.

In the same interview, Abbas noted that it was a 1968 trip to New Orleans that made him understand the importance of what he called “sequencing”, or creating a narrative thread through a series of images. Examples of this can be seen in Abbas’s book Return to Mexico: Journey Beyond the Mask (1992), a document of his travels through the country in the 1980s.

His books aside, Abbas’ work has been the subject of exhibitions in galleries and museums around the world, including the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Museum of Singapore, Galerie FNAC and the Magnum Gallery in Paris, and the Grey Art Gallery at New York University.

“It is with immense sadness that we lose him,” Dworzak said. “May the gods and angels of all the world’s major religions he photographed so passionately be there for him.”

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[beardedmrbean]

Some 1.8 million Muslims from across the world made it to Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to mark the most important day of the Hajj. But due to global price rises, the pilgrimage is becoming increasingly unaffordable.

"The number of bookings has significantly dropped this year. It's too costly for many people," says an employee at a private Egyptian tour operator in charge of organising Hajj trips, who wanted to remain anonymous out of fear of a backlash over their criticism of their country's economic situation.

In Egypt, the most populous Arab country, the cheapest government-sponsored pilgrimage currently costs around $6,000 (£4,720) - double what it was last year.

The price hike has been fuelled by the sharp devaluation of the Egyptian pound, which has lost more than 50% of its value against the US dollar since March 2022. As a result, the cost of living has also skyrocketed, with annual core inflation hitting 40% in May.

About 30% of the population was living below the government's poverty line before the Covid-19 pandemic, and the World Bank says the figure is likely to have risen since then.

'My dream'

Farida, a retired Egyptian civil servant, saved to go on the Hajj for five years.

"All my savings are not enough to pay for the trip. When I saw the price list, I was shocked," she says.

Farida - not her real name - is a widow and mother of five. She also asked not to be identified because she did not want to publicly criticise Egyptian authorities over the rising cost of living.

Farida says that performing the Hajj is "my dream", adding: "Hajj cleanses the soul."

She says her children are all married, so "social and financial responsibilities have been lifted off my shoulders". "It is about time to go to Hajj."

Farida has already been to Mecca four times before to perform the lesser Umrah pilgrimage, which includes some of the rituals of the Hajj and can be undertaken at any time of the year.

This time, she used a loophole in the system so that she could perform the Hajj.

"Instead of the Hajj visa, I got a three-month-tourist visa and arrived in Mecca a month before the Hajj season kicks off," she tells me from Saudi Arabia while waiting to start the pilgrimage. "This is the only option I have got."

Farida's whole trip to Mecca works out 80% cheaper than the government-sponsored Hajj package.

Subsidy cuts

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims are required to make the journey to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, if they are physically and financially capable of doing so.

The pilgrimage starts on the eighth day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul Hijjah, which this year corresponded to 26 June in the Gregorian calendar, and lasts five to six says.

The Hajj usually attracts between 1.5 million and 2 million pilgrims, but this is the first time since the pandemic that Saudi authorities have allowed it to return to full capacity.

Saudi Arabia allocates each country an annual quota based on the number of Muslims living there.

The biggest goes to Indonesia - the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, with a population of 270 million. It was given 221,000 places this year.

Indonesian authorities decided this year to cut the subsidy for the pilgrimage to 50% from 60%, meaning that each Indonesian pilgrim had to pay $3,320. In 2022, the package cost $2,660.

Political barriers

While the financial cost can prove an obstacle for many Muslims around the world, for those in Yemen - Saudi Arabia's war-torn and impoverished southern neighbour - the situation is far more complicated.

The country has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in 2015, when a Saudi-led military coalition intervened after the Iran-backed rebel Houthi movement seized control of large parts of the country. The fighting has reportedly killed more than 150,000 people and caused one of the world's biggest humanitarian disasters.

This month, Yemeni pilgrims flew directly from the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj - the first such commercial flights in about seven years.

Those who travelled had to pay about $3,000 - a considerable sum in a country where more than 21 million out of a population of 30 million people need some kind of humanitarian assistance and 17 million do not know where their next meal will come from.

"In 2016, I went to Hajj for less than half of this price. It's too expensive for me now," one Yemeni journalist says.

[mansipatel5]

Everything You Need to Know About Choosing Turkey Travel Packages

In the regional Turkish language, Turkey is often referred to as Türkiye. It is primarily found in Western Asia, in the Anatolian peninsula. Since one leg is connected to Europe and the other to Asia, it is also referred to as a bridge between the two continents. The Black Sea, Marmara Sea, Aegean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea border the nation on three sides. It is the homeland of Turks who long ago migrated from Mongolia's interior. Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, and Syria are all within modern Turkey's borders.

When it comes to the area, the Turkish race initially settled in western modern Turkey, where they went on to reside under the name Selcuk Beylics. The Osmanoullar community was established in the region where Bursa was the capital, some 4-5 hours' drive from Istanbul today, as a result of the separation of Selçuk Beylics into several groups over time. They transferred the capital from Bursa to Istanbul in later years. They lived through the golden eras when their borders stretched across tremendous periods. They eventually reached a point of stagnation and dissolution and handed the historical reins over to the Modern Turkish Republic.

Understanding Your Travel Style and Preferences

Understanding your travel tastes and style is the first step in selecting Turkey Holiday Packages. Think about the following:

Who are you as a traveller? Are you a daring backpacker or a pampered traveller seeking a more relaxing experience?

What do you find interesting? Do you favour outdoor pursuits like hiking and environmental exploration or are you more interested in history and culture?

What is your spending plan? What are your financial limits for a tour package?

What kind of transportation do you prefer? Would you like to take the bus, the train, or the aeroplane?

What kind of lodging do you prefer? Do you feel at ease staying in hostels or hotels, or do you like private lodging?

You can focus on tour packages that are suited to your needs by focusing on those that fit your travel interests and style.

Researching and Comparing Tour Options

Researching and contrasting tour choices is the next stage after you have a firm grasp of your travel interests and style. Here are a few pieces of advice:

Make use of reliable travel websites: Check out Turkey Holiday Packages from credible online sources as they offer testimonials and rankings from tourists who have taken the tours.

Visit the websites of the trip operators: The majority of tour operators have their websites where you may obtain details about the tours they provide, including itineraries, costs, and lodging choices.

Read Reviews: You may learn a lot about the tour's quality, the degree of customer care, and the entire experience from reviews written by other tourists.

Compare costs before choosing one product over another. Take into account the tour's overall worth and what is included in the cost. Some Turkey Travel Packages From India may appear more expensive, but they provide greater value for the money since they provide more activities or better accommodations.

Key Considerations for Choosing a Turkey Tour Package

There are numerous important factors to keep in mind when contrasting Turkey Travel Packages From India.

1. Itinerary: Finding a tour package that includes the locations and activities you are interested in is a good idea. Take into account the tour's duration and speed. Will you feel rushed or that you'll have plenty of time to visit each place?

2. Inclusions: Make sure you are aware of the tour package's inclusions. Does it include lodging, travel, meals, and entertainment? Do you need to budget for any additional fees or expenses?

3. Tour size: The magnitude of the excursion should be taken into consideration. Which do you prefer—a smaller, more private one or a bigger, more communal one?

4. Tour guide: Your trip can be greatly improved by a skilled and amiable tour guide. Make sure you check the tour guide's licence and read customer feedback.

Finding Turkey Travel Packages From India that allow you flexibility in terms of the schedule and activities is important. You will then have the option to go exploring on your own or to forego participating in activities that bore you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1: Are private tours or group tours preferable for seeing Turkey?

A: That depends on what you desire. Private Turkey holiday packages from mumbai can be customised to your unique interests and demands, while group tours are typically less expensive and provide a social experience.

Q 2.Is travelling to Turkey safe?

A: Travellers can feel secure visiting Turkey. But you should always proceed with caution and pay attention to your surroundings.

Q3. When is the ideal time to travel to Turkey?

A: The months of April to May and September to November are ideal for travelling to Turkey because of the nice weather and reduced tourist traffic.

Q 4: Is a visa required to enter Turkey?

A: The majority of visitors do require visas to enter Turkey. You have two options for applying for a visa: online or at the airport.

Conclusion

Your travel interests, money, and style must all be carefully considered before selecting the ideal Turkey holiday packages from mumbai. You may choose wisely and have an unforgettable trip to Turkey by doing your homework, comparing your alternatives, and considering crucial factors like itinerary, inclusions, tour size, tour guide, and flexibility.

To make your tour the most suitable for you, don't forget to read reviews, ask questions, and don't be scared to customise it. Considering all there is to see and do in Turkey, picking the appropriate vacation package might be crucial. You won't regret it, so go ahead and reserve your ideal Turkey vacation package today!

[jack-bytez-genuine-corner]

If you like semantics and hate how hard it is to leave something as terrorism you can use

Violent colonial mob

War crime generator

Minions who kill civilians for oil companies

Systematic exploitation of the poor for war crimes

Human body crusher meant to siphon money to arms manufacturers

And many other fine metaphors for how absolutely garbage our military to people abroad and those in it.

Coming from a family where my dad was in the military, we get a nice little letter every year of them saying "Sorry we might have given you mad cow disease and many other chemical issues due to us purposefully destroying a factory that had unknown chemicals that traveled down wind to reach you." That was in desert storm and then before he could be redeployed for Dubya's wars my mom was able to break the hold they had on him so he got to stay home and not be redeployed to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iran. In terms of service he was very lucky as he didn't see any brutal combat, but there is no doubt that signing up to the military so he could have a stable job for my mom, himself, my brother and later me was a big appeal. In fact my dad was even able to get a surgery so they could conceive me and that was through the military.

Now, over 2 decades later he is really different, more outgoing and in love with teaching communication. The army however has done very little to improve his life post service, notably the only VA he can go to is in another state and any of the military "Benefits" he gets are next to non-existent. For myself I have hated the military since I was young and watched the invasions happen on cable news followed by Dubya's "Victory" speech on a ship, while simultaneously seeing the torture we used on innocent people online because we just assumed that every farmer is in on Al-Qaeda or whatever. I've seen them purposefully try and recruit poor kids and some of the recruiters I've seen would give Christian prostetylzers a run for their money in how demanding they are to try and force you into service. If we start looking politically the military has done so much evil shit for no reason, using people who either can't say no or if they said no their situation would be just as dire back home. The GI program which gave houses to soldiers was back when the US wasn't the worst in every regard, but now you get to get a college degree without life long debt and instead you can get PTSD and a couple of civilians drone striked instead, maybe even lose your life at a chance for a good life. And no, the military will not help you with that after your tour is done, instead you're just more likely to kill yourself or go homeless because they won't transition you back to a civilian way of life.

Basically, no matter how you slice it, our military sucks, and in such a way that it's pretty universal and hard to dispute. For grunts and recruits it sucks, for families it sucks, for those we "Fight" it sucks, the only people benefitting are private arms manufacturers, period. While war economy IS a thing so us shipping weapons can get families paid, it's no question that we should be making less bombs and guns and probably making more houses and living wage jobs instead. Ya know, cause blood thirst is so last century.

no offense but the us military is the biggest terrorist organization in the world

[head-post]

Ukraine’s sell-out shames West

Ukraine is about to be sold off. If that statement sounds too harsh and convincing, consider the evidence: The Russians occupy one-fifth of its territory, and all the efforts of the Ukrainians have failed to drive out these invaders. Vladimir Putin’s army is acquiring increasingly sophisticated weapons, while the Ukrainians are struggling to maintain their own forces, Bloomberg reports.

Moreover, economically and energy-starved European countries are desperate for an end to the fighting on any terms other than Ukraine’s absolute surrender. If Donald Trump comes to power in the US, the general consensus, given his declared enthusiasm for Putin, is that the Ukrainians are finished. Even if Kamala Harris gets into the White House, it is likely that she will push for an end to the war because Washington does not see a victory scenario for Ukraine, despite sending $175 billion in US aid.

Escalating conflicts in the Middle East have diverted attention away from Ukraine, with tragic consequences for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s people. Fewer and fewer US weapons are available for delivery to Kyiv, and the eyes of Western governments are fixed mainly on Israel and Iran, even as Russian troops advance.

If these are the headlines, let’s look at some of the details. Russia is acquiring more effective weapons. The Russians are reported to have established a factory in China to build Garpiya-3 attack drones using Chinese expertise, according to Bloomberg.

Ukrainians are outraged that the Russians appear to be using Starlink’s illegal internet connections to enhance their surveillance and control capabilities. Although Elon Musk denies assisting Russia in this way, Ukrainians are deeply suspicious.

Russian bombing of Ukrainian energy infrastructure is devastating. This winter, many residents of Zelensky will be left without light and heat, which will be a serious blow to morale. The US refuses to allow Ukraine to use American weapons to retaliate.

As for foreign support, President Zelensky’s tour of Europe earlier this month to promote his so-called “Victory Plan” provided favourable rhetoric, but nothing more. The new head of NATO, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, told reporters, “Supporting Ukraine in the fight with Russia is crucial for our collective security.” This is absolutely true. Privately, however, European countries are desperate to revive the old regime of cheap energy that depends on Russian oil and gas, Bloomberg reports.

The flow of European munitions to Ukraine, which was never strong, has now slowed to a trickle, not least because of sluggish production rates, which are not much better in the US. Economic sanctions against Russia remain highly impenetrable because of the West’s lack of will to enforce them.

In Ukraine itself, after nearly three years during which it was considered treasonous to talk of any acceptable outcome to the war other than victory and the expulsion of the Russians from Donbas, many people are now talking about negotiations. They recognise that it is unlikely to succeed in depriving Putin’s forces of their gains, which continue to grow.

This summer, the Ukrainians made a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, where, after occupying a territory of several hundred square miles, they met little resistance. It was seen as a blow to Putin’s prestige. However, the operation turned out to go nowhere. The attack may have contributed to Putin’s campaign to portray the war to the Russian people as NATO aggression against their homeland.

Now, as Ukraine and Russia approach winter, few can doubt that 2024 has been a successful year for Putin and a sad and difficult one for Zelensky. The latter said in Croatia a fortnight ago:

“Weakness of any of our allies will inspire Putin. That’s why we’re asking [the allies] to strengthen us, in terms of security guarantees, in terms of weapons, in terms of our future after this war. In my view [Putin] only understands force.”

Zelensky is right. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to persuade foreign political leaders and their nations, preoccupied with their own problems and frankly bored with Ukraine, to support a course of action that may require sacrifices at home.

One American strategy guru astutely predicted in the first summer of the war that while the Russians might not be able to conquer Ukraine, they could keep it in such a state that no sane person would want to live or invest in it. That is a realistic prospect. The 7 million Ukrainians who have left their country since February 2022 have little or no desire to return. Ukraine’s economy is tanking, according to Bloomberg.

The best guarantee of Ukraine’s security would be NATO membership. However, this remains unlikely. Putin would reject any settlement or even a ceasefire that includes such a provision. The US is wary of such a commitment. The Germans and perhaps other European members would veto it.

It is obvious and right that the Ukrainians will reject any deal that does not offer them a Western military guarantee in the event of renewed military conflict. But such an agreement would have to be individualised. It may also prove difficult to get the Russians to agree to any deal that includes the possibility of Ukrainian membership in the European Union.

The West has suffered a glaring failure of leadership. The only people who can argue that the best hours have been learnt from the war in Ukraine are the Ukrainians. Their allies are proving that they have neither the steel nor the stamina for a protracted conflict. Some analysts take solace in the fact that the West has so far supported Ukraine and made Putin pay a high price for very limited success.

Analysts believe that Putin’s conviction that the West is decadent and divided, and therefore vulnerable, is well-founded.

Read more HERE

[swldx]

BBC 0417 20 Oct 2024

12095Khz 0358 20 OCT 2024 - BBC (UNITED KINGDOM) in ENGLISH from TALATA VOLONONDRY. SINPO = 55445. English, dead carrier s/on @0358z then ID@0359z pips, and newsroom preview. @0401z World News anchored by Chris Berrow. § Israeli strikes have killed at least 73 people, including women and children, in the city of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, the strip's Hamas-run authorities say. Dozens of others are injured and many are still trapped under the rubble after the bombing late on Saturday night, officials added. Israel said it was checking reports of casualties but said the figures published by Hamas authorities were "exaggerated" and did not match information held by its military. The latest strikes come just hours after reports of "heavy gunfire" from Israeli troops at the Indonesian Hospital in the city. § Humanitarian groups have warned that virtually no aid has entered Northern Gaza in the past few weeks. Israel's own statistics show that aid deliveries to Gaza as a whole have collapsed when compared with the same period in September. The UN's top humanitarian official, Joyce Msuya, said on Saturday that Palestinians in northern Gaza are enduring "unspeakable horrors" and called for these "atrocities" to stop. An Israeli minister, Amichai Chikli, told the BBC Israel had "blockaded" parts of northern Gaza. § Also on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an attempt had been made on his life following reports of a drone attack on his private residence. "The attempt by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake," he wrote in a post on X. Mr Netanyahu and his wife were not at home at the time, and no one was injured. § Voters will also get to cast their ballot in a referendum on whether to enshrine Moldova’s goal of EU accession in the constitution. In fact, membership talks have already begun but the country has been in a battle over its political direction for decades, ever since Moldova gained independence from Moscow as the Soviet Union fell apart. The Kremlin denies playing any role in Chisinau politics, but officials here accuse Russia of operating via proxies to disrupt and destabilise the country. § Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto on Sunday took over as president of the world's third-largest democracy after sweeping the country's election with policies like free meals for school children and with the outgoing leader's son as his running mate. The 73-year-old former special forces commander won the Feb. 14 contest with nearly 60% of the vote and has spent the past nine months building a formidable parliamentary coalition. § Elon Musk announced he will pay up to $1 million per day to Pennsylvania voters who sign his America PAC petition leading up to Election Day. The petition asks signers to support free speech and the right to bear arms. § Hurricane Oscar is expected to bring heavy rains to eastern Cuba by Sunday, prompting its government to place some eastern provinces under a hurricane watch. Cuba has been gripped by a nationwide power crisis for weeks, which left the entire island in darkness on Friday and caused a second power outage on Saturday. § King Charles and Queen Camilla joined a church congregation in Sydney for a Sunday service on the first day of engagements during their tour of Australia. It is the King’s first visit to Australia since he became the country’s head of state in September 2022 and is the biggest trip the King has made since starting cancer treatment in February. @0406z "The Newsroom" begins. Backyard gutter antenna w/MFJ-1020C active antenna (used as a preamplifier/preselector), JRC NRD-535D, 250kW, beamAz 315°, bearing 63°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 15359KM from transmitter at Talata Volonondry. Local time: 2258.

[daneshgar1391]

I am Mohsen Niknami, Travel planner in Iran

«Travel with planning in Iran according to your interests, dear guest»

 Telegram: @Special_adventure_tour

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Are you thinking of traveling to Iran? These are the most important cities and attractions that you must see on your trip to Iran.

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Exchange of Valuable Gifts

Sultan Mahmut I reciprocated the valuable throne received from Nadir Shah with a dispatch of highly valuable gifts. Among these gifts was the renowned “Topkapi Khanjar,” which was sent through the mission led by Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha.

Sultan’s Decree for Mission

Upon the return of envoy Mustafa Nazif Efendi to Istanbul, he briefed Sultan Mahmut I about the gifts exchanged. In response, Sultan Mahmut I issued a decree assigning Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha and his mission to Iran, accompanied by exceptionally valuable gifts described as unparalleled Istanbul Private Tours Mevlevi.

Detailed Account by Izzi Suleyman Efendi

Izzi Suleyman Efendi, the private historian to Sultan Mahmut I, provided a detailed account of the incident. He described how a committee was formed to determine the gifts to be sent in exchange for the highly valuable throne. Izzi elaborated on the evaluation process of treasury items, highlighting the meticulous procedures followed.

Evaluation and Documentation

The gifts earmarked for Iran were presented to the Sultan by a committee in the Audience Hall. Under the supervision of this committee, the Chief Jeweller of the Palace, Chief Doorkeeper of the Covered Market, and other officials evaluated the gifts and fixed their prices. A register was maintained for these gifts, and the Chief Doorkeeper of the Treasury was tasked with packaging them and sealing the envelopes under the oversight of the Grand Vizier.

Symbolic Commentary

In addition to documenting the evaluation process, the register book contained a noteworthy commentary emphasizing the symbolic significance of the priceless gifts. It likened these gifts to drops in the sea when compared to the grandeur and authority of the Ottoman State.

Through Izzi Suleyman Efendi’s detailed account, we gain insight into the meticulous procedures and symbolic significance associated with the exchange of valuable gifts during Sultan Mahmut I’s reign.

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Sultan Mahmut's Decree

Upon receiving Sultan Mahmut I’s decree, Grand Vizier Mehmet Pasha was instructed about the situation in Iran and the envoy’s return. The Sultan emphasized Mehmet Pasha’s authority and directed him to await further decrees.

Return of Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha

The subsequent decree focused on Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha’s return to Istanbul with the gifts intended for Iran. Thus, all the gifts, including the throne and the emerald-khanjar, were brought back to Topkapi Palace.

Sultan Selim III’s Accession

Mehmet Esat Efendi (Şeyhizade) documented the accession of Sultan Selim III and the funeral of Sultan Abdulhamit I during his reign. The accession ceremony took place in the eleventh month of the year 1203 on a Tuesday Istanbul Private Tours Mevlevi.

Mourning and Transition

Upon receiving news of Sultan Abdulhamit I’s death, Kaymakam Pasha communicated with the Minister of Home Affairs regarding matters like the oath of allegiance to the new Sultan and the transfer of the deceased sovereign’s body. High officials convened at the Enderun courtyard, while Sultan Selim III awaited in the Holy Relics department, adorned in a brocaded fur.

Through these decrees and events, the transition of power and ceremonial protocols during Sultan Selim III’s accession are outlined, shedding light on the administrative processes of the Ottoman Empire.

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Unprecedented Gifts for an Envoy

The commentary on the significance of the highly priced gifts sent abroad highlights their exceptional nature. It is noted that no other envoy had been entrusted with such valuable offerings before.

Meticulous Handling of Gifts

In Izzi’s annals, the meticulous process of handing over the gifts to the Ottoman envoy, Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha, is described. Each gift, with its pre-determined price, was individually sealed by the Grand Vizier and then sent to the Private Treasury for packaging while Pasha himself prepared for the journey to Iran.

Presentation of Gifts

On the designated day, Haci Ahmet Pasha was invited to the Palace for the formal handing over of the gifts, which were then delivered to his residence. This tradition underscored the ceremonial importance attached to the exchange of valuable gifts.

Ceremonial Tradition

The tradition of sending envoys abroad with gifts was deeply ingrained in diplomatic protocol. The envoy of Nadir Shah, for instance, participated in the evaluation of treasury items alongside Ottoman officials. Following the evaluation, a ceremonial dessert and coffee event was held, where Sultan Mahmut I presented the Iranian envoy with gifts including the “Imperial monogram” and other valuable items Istanbul Private Tours Mevlevi.

Envoy’s Journey and Return

Accompanied by the ceremonial farewell, Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha embarked on his journey to Iran. However, upon his arrival in July 1747, he learned of Nadir Shah’s murder due to internal turmoil. Consequently, Pasha returned to Baghdad with the valuables, awaiting further instructions from Istanbul.

Through these accounts, we gain insight into the elaborate diplomatic rituals and procedures surrounding the exchange of valuable gifts and the responsibilities entrusted to Ottoman envoys during Sultan Mahmut I’s reign.

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Exchange of Valuable Gifts

Sultan Mahmut I reciprocated the valuable throne received from Nadir Shah with a dispatch of highly valuable gifts. Among these gifts was the renowned “Topkapi Khanjar,” which was sent through the mission led by Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha.

Sultan’s Decree for Mission

Upon the return of envoy Mustafa Nazif Efendi to Istanbul, he briefed Sultan Mahmut I about the gifts exchanged. In response, Sultan Mahmut I issued a decree assigning Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha and his mission to Iran, accompanied by exceptionally valuable gifts described as unparalleled Istanbul Private Tours Mevlevi.

Detailed Account by Izzi Suleyman Efendi

Izzi Suleyman Efendi, the private historian to Sultan Mahmut I, provided a detailed account of the incident. He described how a committee was formed to determine the gifts to be sent in exchange for the highly valuable throne. Izzi elaborated on the evaluation process of treasury items, highlighting the meticulous procedures followed.

Evaluation and Documentation

The gifts earmarked for Iran were presented to the Sultan by a committee in the Audience Hall. Under the supervision of this committee, the Chief Jeweller of the Palace, Chief Doorkeeper of the Covered Market, and other officials evaluated the gifts and fixed their prices. A register was maintained for these gifts, and the Chief Doorkeeper of the Treasury was tasked with packaging them and sealing the envelopes under the oversight of the Grand Vizier.

Symbolic Commentary

In addition to documenting the evaluation process, the register book contained a noteworthy commentary emphasizing the symbolic significance of the priceless gifts. It likened these gifts to drops in the sea when compared to the grandeur and authority of the Ottoman State.

Through Izzi Suleyman Efendi’s detailed account, we gain insight into the meticulous procedures and symbolic significance associated with the exchange of valuable gifts during Sultan Mahmut I’s reign.

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Exchange of Valuable Gifts

Sultan Mahmut I reciprocated the valuable throne received from Nadir Shah with a dispatch of highly valuable gifts. Among these gifts was the renowned “Topkapi Khanjar,” which was sent through the mission led by Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha.

Sultan’s Decree for Mission

Upon the return of envoy Mustafa Nazif Efendi to Istanbul, he briefed Sultan Mahmut I about the gifts exchanged. In response, Sultan Mahmut I issued a decree assigning Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha and his mission to Iran, accompanied by exceptionally valuable gifts described as unparalleled Istanbul Private Tours Mevlevi.

Detailed Account by Izzi Suleyman Efendi

Izzi Suleyman Efendi, the private historian to Sultan Mahmut I, provided a detailed account of the incident. He described how a committee was formed to determine the gifts to be sent in exchange for the highly valuable throne. Izzi elaborated on the evaluation process of treasury items, highlighting the meticulous procedures followed.

Evaluation and Documentation

The gifts earmarked for Iran were presented to the Sultan by a committee in the Audience Hall. Under the supervision of this committee, the Chief Jeweller of the Palace, Chief Doorkeeper of the Covered Market, and other officials evaluated the gifts and fixed their prices. A register was maintained for these gifts, and the Chief Doorkeeper of the Treasury was tasked with packaging them and sealing the envelopes under the oversight of the Grand Vizier.

Symbolic Commentary

In addition to documenting the evaluation process, the register book contained a noteworthy commentary emphasizing the symbolic significance of the priceless gifts. It likened these gifts to drops in the sea when compared to the grandeur and authority of the Ottoman State.

Through Izzi Suleyman Efendi’s detailed account, we gain insight into the meticulous procedures and symbolic significance associated with the exchange of valuable gifts during Sultan Mahmut I’s reign.

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Sultan Mahmut's Decree

Upon receiving Sultan Mahmut I’s decree, Grand Vizier Mehmet Pasha was instructed about the situation in Iran and the envoy’s return. The Sultan emphasized Mehmet Pasha’s authority and directed him to await further decrees.

Return of Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha

The subsequent decree focused on Kesriyeli Ahmet Pasha’s return to Istanbul with the gifts intended for Iran. Thus, all the gifts, including the throne and the emerald-khanjar, were brought back to Topkapi Palace.

Sultan Selim III’s Accession

Mehmet Esat Efendi (Şeyhizade) documented the accession of Sultan Selim III and the funeral of Sultan Abdulhamit I during his reign. The accession ceremony took place in the eleventh month of the year 1203 on a Tuesday Istanbul Private Tours Mevlevi.

Mourning and Transition

Upon receiving news of Sultan Abdulhamit I’s death, Kaymakam Pasha communicated with the Minister of Home Affairs regarding matters like the oath of allegiance to the new Sultan and the transfer of the deceased sovereign’s body. High officials convened at the Enderun courtyard, while Sultan Selim III awaited in the Holy Relics department, adorned in a brocaded fur.

Through these decrees and events, the transition of power and ceremonial protocols during Sultan Selim III’s accession are outlined, shedding light on the administrative processes of the Ottoman Empire.