#Quad Summit

[hindusforhumanrights]

Human Rights Organizations Urge American and Australian Governments to Address Transnational Repression During Quad Meeting

As organizations dedicated to fighting for justice, equality, and human rights around the world, we call on President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to publicly and privately raise concerns about the increasing  pattern of transnational repression from the Indian government when they meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during this weekend��s Quad Summit. Biden and Albanese must make clear that any security relationship cannot come at the expense of the security and rights of Americans, Australians, and Indians. Learn Full Story- https://www.hindusforhumanrights.org/en/blog/human-rights-organizations-urge-american-and-australian-governments-to-address-transnational-repression-during-quad-meeting

[jandeproductions]

Bolton Valley, VT 20MAR2024

Solidly heavy snowfall at the Bolton Valley base area elevations today gave way to very heavy snowfall coming down at over 2 inches per hour in the summit areas In Bolton Valley’s lift rotation schedule, today was the first time the Wilderness Chair would be running since the weekend, so it was a good place to be to get in on all the snow that’s fallen in the past couple of days. So, after ski…

[xtremelifestylz]

BEST TOY HAULER 2025 Haulin Summit 7x16

[kesarijournal]

Diplomatic Dramas and Sonar Sagas: Navigating the High Seas of Global Politics

# The Geopolitical Chessboard: A Witty Take on the Global Game of ThronesWelcome to the grand theater of global politics, where every move is a plot twist in a never-ending saga of power plays, strategic alliances, and occasional diplomatic faux pas. Let’s embark on a whirlwind tour of recent events that have left political analysts, armchair experts, and conspiracy theorists alike scratching…

[luvmahae]

where you are ‣ lee haechan smau

summary: what the absolute fuck is up baby! fall semester marks the peak of greek life at ncu. the campus quad is filled with tents representing various fraternities and sororities with their letters proudly presented in front of each booth, all eager to recruit new members. as students return to campus, they are met with a flood of fliers and invitations to parties, mixers, and rush events. while you were walking through the crowd of eager freshmen to join these organizations, you bumped into someone very unexpected...

what do you do when you bump into the guy you hooked up with after a music festival during summer break? instead of the royal blue basketball jersey you first met him in, it was replaced by a varsity jacket with the letters reading "ΝΧΘ".

"haechan?"

pairing: fratboy!haechan x fem!reader

genre: smau, non-idol au, college au, fluff, nsfw/suggestive (mdni!) comedy, humor, slight slowburn, strangers to lovers, rave bae core? (am i in love with you or is it just the drugs?)

warnings: mentions of alcohol/substance usage (marijuana, mdma/ecstasy, lsd, cocaine), profanity, jokes about sex and death thrown around, both groups are out of pocket and tmi doesn't exist apparently... no ones safe! the boys gc is kinda questionable (this is where i say men deserve no rights!), haechan x reader met at an edm festival (the term rave bae will be said here and there. rave bae is someone you meet unexpectedly while raving, kinda like your temporary s/o for the duration of the rave or festival... smth like that!) disclaimer notice: these portrayals are fictional and are not intended to encourage or glamorize substance use.

playlist: where you are - john summit | club classics - charli xcx | intimidated - kaytranada, h.e.r. | high and i like it - it's murph, evalyn | what a life - john summit, stevie appleton | saving up - dom dolla | talk talk - charli xcx, troye sivan | mr useless - shygirl, sg lewis, club shy | atmosphere - fisher, kita alexander | thinking about you - calvin harris, ayah marar | gas pedal remix - john summit, subtronics, tape b, sage the gemini

notes: omg!!! my first post ever... honestly i've been debating to do this for a long time... now here i am :D ngl i lowkey based this off a personal experience (i am a changed woman now okay... spare me! 😭) my first lil fic dedicated to haechan!!! the playlist is highly edm biased with a sprinkle of brat. i just think it fits the vibe so well hehe. open to feedback and enjoy!!! ♡

status: ongoing!

taglist: closed!

profiles: live laugh love y/n (1), john summit fanboys (2)

intro: so.... edc next year?

one: comedown

two: wtf is college

three: boutta fuckin jump (written)

four: y/n’s eras tour

five: is my brain braining?

six: heyyyyyy 👀

seven: i know what u are…

eight: tequila ftw (written)

nine: ot3 timeout

ten: i want u 😩

eleven: drunk olympics

twelve: stuDYING

thirteen: agram 🙏😭

fourteen: gn haechan (written)

fifteen: team y/n

sixteen: options

seventeen: u did ur big one 😞

eighteen: h for harry styles

nineteen: kms postponed! (written)

twenty: haechan x y/n crumbs

twenty-one: how tf we feelin (written)

twenty-two: use protection 😏

twenty-three: missed connection

twenty-four: shhhh 🤫

twenty-five: enemies to lovers trope

twenty-six:

twenty-seven:

twenty-eight:

twenty-nine:

thirty:

[mariacallous]

When NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary at its Washington summit next year, it will do so from a position of unity and strength. This is a remarkable turnaround from only a few years ago, when trans-Atlantic ties were clouded by mutual suspicion and uncertainty about the bloc’s future. The first large-scale war of aggression in Europe since World War II has reinvigorated the alliance, which now has more member states and greater geographic cohesion than ever before. NATO’s renaissance comes just in time—it may soon face an entirely new geopolitical landscape that will once again test its cohesion and adaptability.

There are four main reasons for NATO’s comeback as an enhanced and more coherent alliance.

The most important and obvious factor is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which returned NATO to its roots: deterring a Kremlin bent on expansion. It also motivated Finland to abandon its long-standing neutrality and join the alliance, with Sweden expected to join soon as well. The addition of these two Nordic countries will substantially enhance NATO’s position in Northern Europe. Russia’s aggression has also prompted NATO members to markedly increase their 2023 defense expenditures, with more member states on track to fulfill the bloc’s guideline of spending a minimum of 2 percent of GDP on defense, long a bone of contention between Washington and its European allies. Furthermore, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine has strengthened the U.S. military presence and engagement in Europe.

A second factor behind NATO’s resurgence is the rise of China, with NATO turning into the primary forum for a closer trans-Atlantic security dialogue on China. After the United States announced its rebalance to Asia in 2011, it took the European Union and NATO roughly another decade to categorize China’s rise as a security challenge. NATO’s new Strategic Concept, adopted at the Madrid summit in 2022, identifies China as a challenge to its members’ interests, values, and security. Since then, NATO has been strengthening dialogue and cooperation with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.

Third, new technologies and interdependencies have broadened NATO’s agenda to cover cyberdefense and disruptive technologies. Economic dependencies on China and Russia have prompted the alliance to launch new initiatives such as the NATO-EU Task Force on Resilience of Critical Infrastructure.

Fourth, the election of U.S. President Joe Biden enabled smoother cooperation between the United States and its allies than had been the case during the Trump administration. This is as much a factor of policies as of trust: According to a June 2021 Pew Research Center survey, the transition from Donald Trump to Biden dramatically improved Washington’s international image, especially among key allies and partners.

Of course, in an era of intensified great-power rivalry, the strengthening of military cooperation is not unique to the Euro-Atlantic West. In Asia, China’s rise has led several countries to reinforce their bilateral security agreements with the United States, including Japan and the Philippines. Minilateral formats—such as the Australia-United Kingdom-United States security pact and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad—include efforts to deepen military ties. In August, a historic summit among the leaders of Japan, South Korea, and the United States may be the basis for another such grouping; South Korea could potentially join the Quad as well. China and Russia, in turn, are increasingly closing ranks.

But in terms of scope and depth of cooperation as well as its longevity, NATO has no parallel anywhere. Military alliances, established to address an immediate threat or balance the rise of a regional hegemon, are often dissolved when the external security environment changes. NATO, however, not only survived the collapse of the Soviet Union but also proved adept at adjusting to the post-Cold War era by taking on nontraditional security challenges (such as terrorism and piracy), conducting military operations other than war, and engaging in out-of-area operations.

NATO’s success and endurance stand in sharp relief to the frailty and collapse of a similar military alliance formed during the Cold War: the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). Using NATO as a model, SEATO was established in 1954 to prevent communism from gaining ground in Southeast Asia. Comprising Australia, Britain, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States, SEATO was not a particularly coherent organization, whether in geographic or political terms. Thus, as soon as the security environment in Asia shifted as a result of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War and U.S.-China rapprochement, members began to withdraw from the bloc. In 1977, it was dissolved.

NATO, on the other hand, consists of countries belonging to a distinct geographic region on both sides of the Atlantic and is founded on a strong political cohesion among its member states, almost all of which share core values of democracy and support the liberal international order. Indeed, safeguarding the principles of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law was written into the preamble of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty, and Francisco Franco’s dictatorial regime was one reason Spain’s accession was delayed until 1982. That said, both Greece and Portugal were dictatorships during parts of their NATO membership, and today, Hungary’s and Turkey’s commitment to liberal democracy is unclear. The importance of political and other nonmilitary cooperation for NATO’s unity has been reiterated numerous times, most recently by an independent expert group appointed by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to advise on the alliance’s 2030 agenda. In its final report, the group emphasized that “NATO is an outcome of political cohesion as well as a source of it.”

Will NATO still be a pillar of the security order when it turns 100? That will depend on how the alliance addresses the changing geopolitical order—above all, the threat from a rising, revisionist China. In particular, there are three scenarios for NATO’s future that could look very different from its present and past: a Europe-only NATO, a global NATO, and a fragmented NATO.

A Europe-only NATO is a scenario where the United States decides to withdraw from the alliance, either because it shifts all of its resources to the Indo-Pacific in order to take on China or due to domestic political change in the United States. As long as Washington was committed to containing the Soviet Union during the Cold War, Europe could take the U.S. security guarantee for granted. With China rising as the United States’ main rival, this is no longer the case. In that rivalry, the geographic focus is East Asia, not Europe.

When he was U.S. president, Trump abruptly awakened European elites to the possibility that a U.S. withdrawal from Europe could be just one election away. Instead of being reelected in 2024, Trump may now spend time in jail, and his main criticism of NATO allies—their inability to meet collective defense spending targets—is being addressed. Yet the idea of isolationism is still alive in the Republican Party, with John Bolton, a U.S. national security advisor under Trump, recently warning of a “virus of isolationism” among his fellow Republicans. A U.S. withdrawal would not only force Europe to take care of its own defense. It could even be the end of NATO.

A global NATO is a scenario where both the United States and its European allies shift their energies and resources from Europe to Asia. It entails European member states rebalancing a significant amount of their naval assets to the Indo-Pacific region in order to support the United States in balancing China. Such a state of affairs would differ markedly from the last time NATO went global in the early 2000s, when it deployed peacekeepers to Afghanistan, trained security forces in Iraq, and gave logistical support to the African Union’s mission in Sudan. A long-term major deployment to Asia would stretch European members’ resources to the limit, leave Europe exposed to Russian adventurism, and potentially cause disagreements among European allies. Eastern European member states, in particular, would probably be more concerned with deterring Russia than with balancing China.

Finally, a fragmented NATO is a scenario where the United States remains committed to the defense of Europe but where allies are no longer pursuing a single, coherent strategy—because of different threat perceptions, the disparate interests of new members, or domestic political pressures. Even though Russia remains a serious challenge to European peace and security, it is not as powerful and all-threatening as the Soviet Union was. In the not-too-distant future, Southern European member states may be more concerned with security challenges in North Africa and the Middle East, while Britain and France are more oriented toward global challenges. A further NATO enlargement to include Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and Serbia not only would influence the bloc’s priorities but could also weaken its coherence. What’s more, significant political changes in a number of member states, including the election of leaders less committed to democracy, the liberal international order, and the trans-Atlantic West, would undermine the alliance’s political and military cohesion.

None of these three scenarios have to come true in their extreme versions. But in all likelihood, NATO will have to grapple with elements of all three. Whatever they do, NATO members should not take their present unity and strength for granted.

[thekylemovie]

The Hike

I can’t say it wasn’t completely my fault what happened. But I didn’t deserve this. Not by a long shot.

But my girlfriend always had a way of remembering the things that had happened a while ago and then dragging them back to the surface when I least expected it.

But sometimes she needed to be in charge. Like today.

“Keep hiking baby,” she said firmly from behind me as I waddled up the side of the mountain. This was a difficult hike on a good day when I was wearing the right clothing. But today as I forced myself to climb higher, my thick diaper and stuffer was slowing me down. Each step I took, the white plastic would crinkle loudly, restricting my movement, forcing me to work harder. The plastic leak guards gripped my inner thighs as my quads flexed against the thick, bulky plastic.

Liza ignored my ragged moans of stress. I could hear her hiking boots crunching behind me. “I would keep moving if I were you.” My girlfriend looked behind her, smiling slightly, “Otherwise the other hikers will catch up to us. I’m sure the bachelorette party would love to see your thick diapers.”

Liza knew what was going on. She knew when we started this hike that because of quarantine we all had to hike in separate groups that climbed ten minutes apart. As my wife had explained it, we had to hike a consistent pace to ensure the group behind us didn’t catch up. We had seen them, the bachelorette party chattering loudly in the parking lot. They had tried to speak to us in the waiting area, but I couldn’t talk back. Instead, all I could do was swallow uncomfortably around the large pacifier that invaded my mouth, hidden by the face mask that was not signature for everyone nowadays.

I had to be careful, the pacifier could make me drool. If I tried to speak too much, I’d be in trouble.

“My baby and I are just going hiking,” Liza had said, patting me on my then hidden diapered rear at the time. “We have a lot of great plans today.”

Little did they know “baby” wasn’t just a term of affection, it was a sentence of humiliation today.

I had nodded, wincing slightly. Her patting my diapered bottom had reminded me that I had already been dribbling pee into the diapers all morning. A Megamax and stuffer will do that to you. Not to mention the chastity cage that caused my member to throb painfully.

But now as we were hiking, it was clear that Liza had intended for me to suffer.

Once we were on the trail, she had taken my pants and put them in her backpack.

Next she had set a cadence timer to keep our cadence as we climbed to the summit. Then, to my relief then horror, she removed the lid of my pacifier and inserted the tube of my hydration pack saying by the time we reach the top of the hike I’d better be completely out of water. All I could hear was myself sucking and swallowing the infantile contraption she had rigged up.

As we climbed I could hear Liza making comments.

Keep climbing diaper boy, she kept saying. That bachelorette party is gonna catch up to us. Maybe they’ll want to change your diapers. Your diapers are so thick. Why is a bug strong man your age still in diapers?

In my embarrassment I kept quiet, determined to suck down more water from the three liter hydration pack that was on my back. Drinking this much water made me feel bloated and full. But to make matters worse, it meant my diapers were getting heavier and heavier. It meant that my diapered bottom grew rounder and rounder. It gave Liza more reason to laugh. She was determined I learn a lesson.

***

There's more on Patreon.

[natalie-wilhelm]

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s @emeraldcitycomiccon 2024!

This was my first time attending a general “comic” con. In the past, I’ve only attended anime conventions with the exception of a horror convention (CryptiCon) a few years ago. The biggest difference between these more generalized comic-cons vs. anime-cons is that comic-cons tend to place more of an emphasis on American/Western comics, fandoms, and pop culture whereas anime-cons focus on Japanese/East Asian comics, fandoms, and pop culture. ECCC in particular is focused on superhero and science fiction fandoms. The largest fandom that I saw represented cosplay-wise was Star Wars. This could be due to the release of their new trading card game through Disney. It’s interesting to see the differences between these two convention cultures, it helps with understanding their target audiences.

Since I was only attending this con for one day and it’s held during the off-season for cosplay, I chose to put together a “pseudo-cosplay” from clothing items that I already owned vs. building an entirely new one from scratch. I call this look “Franken-cyberpunk.” I took a normal outfit of mine, slapped some green body paint on, and voila an OC is born! I felt like this aesthetic would best fit the theme of the con.

Here are some highlights from Saturday:

Slide 1: Franken-selfie outside of the Exhibitor’s Hall (Arch).

Slide 2: Candid pose inside of “ECCC” logo monument outside of the Artist Alley (Summit).

Slide 3: Frankenblossoming in front of what appears to be a backdrop depicting the UW Quad.

Slide 4: Selfie with Maile Flanagan, English voice actor for Naruto.

Slide 5: Batman and Catwoman posing dramatically.

Slide 6: The scariest Darth Vader cosplay I’ve ever encountered.

Slide 7: Funky Darth Vader (he’s your daddy).

Slide 8: Cosplay Contest finalists, 1st place won $1,000!!!

Slide 9: Cruella posing next to an unknown cosplayer.

Slide 10: Alice Cooper about to feed me, his Frankenstein, at the Nerd Prom in the Main Stage (Summit).

Thank you again ECCC 2024 for putting on such a fantastic exhibition.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

May 17, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

MAY 18, 2023

The debt ceiling crisis is already affecting our national security. Because President Biden has pulled out of his trip to Australia so he can come home to address the crisis, a planned meeting of the Quad will not go forward. The Quad, whose official name is the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a security group consisting of  Australia, India, Japan and the United States that organized in 2007 as a response to China’s rising power.

Biden’s visit to Australia and to Papua New Guinea was designed to cement the interest of the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region. Daniel Hurst of The Guardian was quite clear what it meant to have Biden forced to cancel because of the Republicans’ debt ceiling demands. His article on the issue was titled: “The cancelled Quad summit is a win for China and a self-inflicted blow to the US’s Pacific standing.” “Chinese state media outlets won’t need to muster much creative energy to weave together some of Beijing’s preferred narratives,” Hurst wrote, “that the US is racked by increasingly severe domestic upheaval and is an unreliable partner, quick to leave allies high and dry.”

In the Sydney Morning Herald, Matthew Knott called Biden’s forced withdrawal “a disappointment, a mess and a gift to Beijing.” “The US wants to remain the leader of the free world but domestic divisions mean it now regularly struggles to keep its government from shutting down and defaulting on its debts,” he wrote. “The Quad summit in Sydney should have provided a powerful symbol of four proud democracies working together to get things done. Instead, it will serve to highlight the systemic problems plaguing the world’s longest-standing democracy and its aspirations for ongoing global leadership.”

And, astonishingly, stepping on this global rake is an unforced error. The debt ceiling is not about future spending, it is about paying bills Congress has already incurred. If it comes to that, failing to raise the debt ceiling—the amount of money the Treasury can borrow to meet its obligations—so that Republicans, led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), can get concessions they cannot win through normal legislative procedures, will be an unforced error of truly epic proportions, a larger version of undercutting years of work building U.S. standing in the Indo-Pacific region.

Senate Democrats have begun to push for honoring the nation’s debts without trying to bring Republicans along. They are circulating a letter urging President Biden to invoke the fourth section of the Fourteenth Amendment to override the debt ceiling. That section reads: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.”

Republican congressmen wrote that section to prevent Democratic opponents, who hated the newly powerful government that had won the Civil War, from changing the terms of repayment of the debt. Democrats called for turning gold interest payments into payments in paper money. That change would have significantly degraded the value of the debt. It would also have destroyed confidence in the government, a result those who had just lost the Civil War quite liked.

Congress intended the Fourteenth Amendment to assert the power of the federal government over the states once and for all, making sure that no one could discriminate against individuals within the states or make war on the United States from within. It was an attempt to make it impossible for those trying to destroy the nation to carry out their plans.

Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) told Burgess Everett and Sarah Ferris of Politico, “It’s not about being comfortable with Biden or anyone else. It’s about the House. Kevin’s in shackles. He’s in leg, arms and hand cuffs. And frankly I don’t think he’s got much capacity to negotiate. And very little capacity to advance a deal.” Welch, who served eight terms in the House before moving to the Senate in 2023, added, “I’m quite pessimistic about McCarthy. He’s very constrained…. I think we’re heading toward a decision on the 14th Amendment.”

Interestingly, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has indicated he’s on board with the idea of Biden invoking the Fourteenth Amendment. “I think if I were president, I would be tempted” to use the Fourteenth Amendment, Hawley said. “Because I would just be like, ‘Listen, I’m not gonna let us default. So end of story. Y’all will do whatever you want to do.’ But I’m not necessarily giving him that advice. It’s against my interest.” Hawley’s defense of the idea suggests that Republicans are eager to find a solution to the crisis that does not involve them, so that they can then condemn the Democrats for whatever they do.

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[suncitytours]

Explore Unforgettable Morning Sightseeing City Tours with Sun City Tours

Sun City Tours & Desert Safari L.L.C offers a diverse adventure for travellers seeking the Best Morning Sightseeing City Tours in Abu Dhabi. Our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences blends international expertise with local knowledge, celebrating cultural diversity while honouring the Arabic traditions that define our heritage.

Highlights of Our Morning City Tours:

Embark on an extraordinary Morning Sightseeing and Desert Safari starting at 8:00 am, meticulously designed for adventure enthusiasts and those with limited time to explore Abu Dhabi's wonders.

Unforgettable Adventures Await:

Experience the awe-inspiring desert landscapes of al Khatim, Al Khazna, or the majestic Rub al Khali, known as the Liwa desert dunes. Engage in a thrilling 45-minute dune bashing session led by our skilled Morning Desert Safari drivers, offering an adrenaline-packed experience reminiscent of a captivating desert roller coaster ride.

Capture the essence of the vast desert landscape with exclusive photo opportunities at the highest dunes. For thrill-seekers, indulge in sandboarding escapades from the summit of Abu Dhabi's majestic desert dunes, creating lasting memories for adventure enthusiasts.

Exploring Emirati Culture:

Our Sunrise Desert Safari Package offers more than just desert exploration. Immerse yourself in Emirati culture by visiting traditional camel and cattle farms, offering insights into the local way of life. Experience traditional camel rides and savor fresh camel milk, providing a glimpse into the rich rural Emirati lifestyle.

Convenience and Comfort Redefined:

Enjoy hassle-free Pick-up and Drop-off from any Abu Dhabi city location, facilitated by our fleet of 4x4 Toyotas Land Cruisers, Sequoias, or Hummers, ensuring your utmost comfort and safety. Stay refreshed throughout the adventure with unlimited mineral water and soft drinks provided.

Tailored Add-ons for Ultimate Thrills:

For an added dimension of excitement, opt for our Quad Bike or Dune Buggy tours upon request, elevating your desert adventure to new levels of excitement.

At Sun City Tours & Desert Safari L.L.C, our focus is on providing an unforgettable and hassle-free experience. Join us for the Best Morning Sightseeing City Tours, where you'll immerse your senses in Abu Dhabi's captivating landscapes and cultural richness.

[jandeproductions]

Bolton Valley, VT 04APR2024

Dropping through the steeps of Devil’s Playground today at Bolton Valley thanks to 2+ feet of new snow from Winter Storm Tormund. Thanks to the density of the snow that fell atop snowpack from a long winter season, you could hit just about any terrain with reckless abandon and be well protected from any underlying obstacles. I was too busy to get up to the mountain for turns this morning, but in…

[aberooski]

In Bowser's castle, Chazz and Princess Peach are locked in the dungeon, while back in the Mushroom Kingdom, our sibling quad meets with the Seven Star Spirits on Shooting Star Summit to learn the truth of Bowser’s plans and the duelists' presence in this world.

[crystalcarhire]

Adventure Activities You Must Try in Mauritius

Mauritius is known for its beautiful beaches and luxury resorts, but it is also a paradise for adventure seekers. Whether you love water sports, hiking, or wildlife exploration, this island has something for everyone. In this guide, we explore some of the most thrilling adventure activities in Mauritius.

1. Hiking at Le Morne Brabant

Le Morne Brabant is one of the most iconic mountains in Mauritius and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hike to the summit is moderately challenging, taking about 3-4 hours to complete. At the top, hikers are rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the turquoise lagoons and surrounding landscapes.

2. Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Mauritius has some of the best diving spots in the Indian Ocean. The crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life make it a must-try experience for underwater enthusiasts. Popular diving spots include:

Blue Bay Marine Park

Flic en Flac

Grand Baie These sites offer coral reefs, shipwrecks, and an abundance of marine species, making diving an unforgettable experience.

3. Skydiving Over the Island

For the ultimate adrenaline rush, skydiving in Mauritius is an experience like no other. With an altitude of over 10,000 feet, jumpers can enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the island before freefalling. This is a must-do activity for thrill-seekers looking for an unforgettable adventure.

4. Kitesurfing in Le Morne

Mauritius is a top destination for kitesurfing, and Le Morne is the best spot for both beginners and experienced surfers. The steady winds, warm waters, and stunning backdrop make it an ideal place to enjoy this exhilarating water sport.

5. Quad Biking in the Safari Parks

For those who love off-road adventures, quad biking through the rugged terrain of Mauritius is a fantastic option. Popular locations for quad biking include Casela Nature Parks and Domaine de L'Etoile, where you can ride through lush landscapes and even spot some wildlife.

6. Dolphin and Whale Watching

Mauritius offers amazing opportunities to observe marine life in their natural habitat. Dolphin watching tours are available in Tamarin Bay, where you can see pods of wild dolphins swimming in the ocean. For an even more incredible experience, whale-watching excursions allow visitors to witness sperm and humpback whales up close.

7. Underwater Sea Walk

If scuba diving is not your thing but you still want to explore the ocean floor, the underwater sea walk is a unique experience. Equipped with a special helmet, you can walk on the seabed and interact with marine life without any prior diving experience.

Conclusion

Mauritius is not just about relaxing on the beach—it is a haven for adventure lovers. From hiking and skydiving to diving and quad biking, there are plenty of thrilling activities to experience on the island. Whether you prefer land, water, or air adventures, Mauritius has something to offer for everyone looking to add excitement to their trip.

[tourist-destinations]

3 Days in Abu Dhabi: A Family Itinerary

UAE’s capital city is packed with cultural attractions, amazing architecture, theme parks, majestic desert landscapes, and many more. You can easily spend 3 days in Abu Dhabi exploring them. The city offers the perfect mix of cultural heritage and modern outlook and makes for one of the best destinations for a great vacation. Here’s an itinerary for your family:

Day 1

MORNING

Begin your day at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. With the exception of Fridays, it opens at 9 AM every day. Guided tours are offered after 10 AM.

Although there is no entry charge, guests are asked to wear modest clothes. It should take about two hours to explore the mosque.

After visiting the mosque, proceed across the street to the Wahat al Karama War Memorial, which is open to the public from 9 AM to 7 PM and where you may read about the wars and martyrs of other nations.

AFTERNOON

After lunch, you can visit Umm al Emarat Park. Umm al Emarat Park is the biggest park in Abu Dhabi and among the top places to visit in Abu Dhabi with kids. Kids can pet and admire camels, baby goats, cows, and ponies at Animal Barn. Families can enjoy the many plants in the shade house. Admission to the park is free of cost.

Next, you can head to the 74th-floor observation deck of Jumeirah at the Etihad Towers hotel complex, where you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and Arabian Gulf.

EVENING

Take a desert safari in the late afternoon and venture out into the desert sands beyond the city.

Activities offered by Abu Dhabi Desert Safaris include sandboarding through the dunes, quad biking, henna painting, camel rides, and dune bashing. Live entertainment and a traditional Bedouin dinner under the stars will round out your evening.

Most trips will return to your city hotel; however, some desert camps allow you to stay overnight (for instance, Arabian Nights Village is worth the investment in a Bayt or traditional house).

The price of packages vary as per the offerings and activities involved.

Day 2

MORNING

Set off on a peaceful early morning escape to the Eastern Mangroves.

Enjoy a refreshing 3-hour tour that gives an amazing experience with nature, where you can kayak along calm canals, see rare bird species, and take in the lush surrounds of Abu Dhabi's distinct ecology. No entry fee is required for Eastern Mangroves.

AFTERNOON

Qasr Al Watan (Presidential Palace) is one of its kind attractions to visit in Abu Dhabi.

The main purpose of the Presidential Palace is to hold meetings of the UAE Cabinet and the Federal Supreme Council.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the President of the United Arab Emirates, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and the Ruler of Dubai all have offices in the Palace complex, not residential residences.

"Qasr al Watan" opened to the public in March 2019 to provide visitors with a more thorough understanding of the UAE's heritage, governance traditions, and ideals, despite being a working palace that hosts state visitors and summits. The Qasr Al Watan Library, the main palace complex, and the gardens are all open to visitors. The entry fee for adults is 60 AED. However, there is no entry charge for those under 12 years old.

EVENING

Enjoy beautiful waterfront views, luxurious yachts, and the famous Yas Viceroy Hotel with its amazing F1 circuit backdrop while strolling along the marina boardwalk in the evening.

With more than 370 stores, global brands, and a variety of food options, the nearby Yas Mall provides an outstanding shopping location. Both Yas Mall and Marina are open to the public without any charge.

Day 3

MORNING

Start your morning with marine animal exhibits and animal encounters while taking a ride through a boat. Generally, mornings are less crowded, and there is less waiting time to enjoy. You can also check out Seaworld Abu Dhabi. Seaworld Abu Dhabi tickets prices vary based on the age of the visitor, season of the year, and day of the week. But it is worth checking out. 

AFTERNOON

Louvre Abu Dhabi is famous for its unique dome-shaped roof called "Rain of Light." The Louvre Abu Dhabi museum has art collections from ancient civilizations of Egypt to creations of contemporary artists of Europe.

Louvre Abu Dhabi tickets are around 60 AED for adults, and those are levied on visitors under the age of 18 and senior citizens of the UAE.

EVENING

You may enjoy a beautiful sunset at Corniche Beach as you end your 3 days in Abu Dhabi. There is a designated area where guests can enjoy swimming in the ocean without risk.

You can enjoy a leisurely stroll with your children along Corniche Beach's lengthy, paved walkway. On occasion, the beach hosts a number of concerts, festivals, and events.

The Abu Dhabi 3-day itinerary comprises a wonderful combination of contemporary architecture, natural marvels, and cultural history. The city offers an experience that goes beyond the usual expectations of tourists, promising memories of amazing diversity and beauty.

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[ad_1] Foreign ministers from Quad countries — India, Australia, Japan and the United States– in a joint statement reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific where “sovereignty and territorial integrity are upheld and defended.” The Quad nations also expressed strong opposition “to any unilateral actions aimed at changing the status quo through force or coercion.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Quad counterparts – India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya, and Australia’s Penny Wong – at the US Department of State here on Tuesday. After the meeting, Quad foreign ministers issued a joint statement and stated ‘preparing for the next Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by India’ “We, the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, met today in Washington DC to reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended,” according to the Joint Statement by the Quad Foreign Ministers shared by the Secretary of State of the United States. “Our four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains including the maritime domain underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific,” the statement added. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Foreign ministers from Quad countries — India, Australia, Japan and the United States– in a joint statement reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific where “sovereignty and territorial integrity are upheld and defended.” The Quad nations also expressed strong opposition “to any unilateral actions aimed at changing the status quo through force or coercion.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Quad counterparts – India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya, and Australia’s Penny Wong – at the US Department of State here on Tuesday. After the meeting, Quad foreign ministers issued a joint statement and stated ‘preparing for the next Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by India’ “We, the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, met today in Washington DC to reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended,” according to the Joint Statement by the Quad Foreign Ministers shared by the Secretary of State of the United States. “Our four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains including the maritime domain underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific,” the statement added. [ad_2] Source link