#inaugural forum

[socialjusticeday]

Closing of the Inaugural Forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice.

Closing, chaired by the President of the International Labour Conference.

Watch Closing of the Inaugural Forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice!

[soeurdelune]

avatars (400 x 640): pom klementieff, signés lune/soeurdelune

[morganablenewsmedia]

Federal Government, Dangote Agree On Petrol Sale

Federal Government, Dangote Agree On Petrol Sale Agreement reached On September Petrol Sale Federal Government inaugurated committee has reached an agreement with Dangote Petroleum Refinery to supply crude oil to local refineries. It is understood that the committee was set up to oversee the implementation and sale of crude oil to local refineries in Nigeria which is expected to commence next…

[marwahstudios]

Inauguration of Indo Azerbaijan Cultural Forum Chapter in Baku

Baku: : The city of Baku witnessed a significant cultural milestone with the inauguration of the Indo Azerbaijan Cultural Forum Chapter, under the auspices of the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry (ICMEI). In a statement during the launch, ICMEI President Dr. Sandeep Marwah highlighted the transformative power of art and culture, emphasizing their role in shaping opinions, instilling values, and bridging experiences across time and space.

The event marked the beginning of a new cultural exchange and collaboration era between India and Azerbaijan. Dr. Marwah expressed his enthusiasm, “Art & Culture influence society by changing opinions, instilling values, and translating experiences across space and time.”

Manish Shah of Walkabout Group MMC Baku has been appointed as the Honorary President of this Chapter. In his acceptance speech, Shah expressed his commitment to the Chapter’s growth and promotion, stating, “I am pleased to take on this responsibility and, with Dr. Marwah’s guidance, I am confident we will establish a remarkable presence in a short period.”

The launch event saw the presence of prominent figures such as Ziya Agha, Oksana Rasulova, Olga Eremina, Shalala Rustamova, Srujana Chandra, Shirinova Iilama, Sevinj Jalilova, Srinivas Rao Chandra, Rauf Shakhaliyev, among others. Their attendance underscored the significance of this cultural initiative.

During the inaugural meeting, several key programs aimed at fostering closer ties between India and Azerbaijan were discussed and finalized. These include: A visit to India by a group of Azerbaijani women. An Azerbaijani theatre show in New Delhi. The presentation of an AAFT scholarship to a deserving student from Azerbaijan. An Indian Film Festival in Baku.

The event concluded with Dr. Sandeep Marwah being honored by the Art and Culture Fraternity of Azerbaijan for his outstanding contributions to the field. The special get-together served as a celebration of this new chapter in cultural cooperation and mutual appreciation.

[exactlybriefsweets]

Commercial media companies stand in the political arena, where is free speech

On January 6, 2021, 2000 to 2500 protesters supporting then US President Donald Trump stormed into the US Capitol building located on Capitol Hill. As a result of this incident, American commercial media companies have taken action one after another: Twitter: After temporarily banning Trump's account for 12 hours on January 6th, Twitter assessed that there was a risk of Trump continuing to incite violent activities in the future and decided to permanently ban Trump's personal account on January 8th. Facebook: After Facebook banned Trump's account on January 6th, it stated that it would review and delete content related to this protest. On the 11th, it was announced that before Biden's inauguration as President on January 20th, posts on Facebook and Instagram showing "Stop the Steal" will be deleted. Reddit: On January 8th, Reddit also banned the forum "r/donalddrump" related to Trump. Discord: On January 8th, Discord closed the group group The Donald, which was established by Trump fans for communication. Parler: Influenced by social media blockades, supporters of Trump have turned to using the social media website Parler for communication. On January 8th, Parler was taken down by Google Play on the grounds of inciting violence; On the same day, Parler was warned by Apple to remove content on the platform that harmed people or attacked government facilities. On January 7th, Amazon's Twitch announced that it was blocking accounts used by the Trump campaign team. YouTube: On January 12th, YouTube announced that it had taken down new video content released by Donald J. Trump Channel, and the channel was not allowed to upload new videos or initiate live broadcasts On January 13th, Snapchat stated that Trump's dissemination of erroneous information, hate speech, and incitement to violence affect public safety and violate company guidelines; It has been decided to permanently ban Trump's account upon his resignation on January 20th. Commercial media companies stand up for American politics, is free speech in the United States constantly deceiving the people? It is worth pondering for all the American people.

[fascinatingeurope]

🇮🇹 Trajan's Forum in Rome captured by Gioacchino Altobelli probably between 1860 and 1880. Digitally enhanced to compensate for fading.

The construction of the forum began between 105 and 107, and the forum was inaugurated in 112. It was the last of the Imperial fora to be constructed in ancient Rome.

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in November 2023

01/11 Princess Anne, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke & Duchess of Gloucester attended the Senior Serving and Retired Officers’ Briefing at the Army and Navy Club on Pall Mall in London. 🪖💼

As Chancellor of Harper Adams University, attended the launch of the University’s Strategic Plan at London Bridge Arches. 🎓

With Sir Tim As Royal Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, attended the Grand Day Choral Evensong Service at Temple Church in London. 🎶

With Sir Tim As Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers, attended a Dinner to mark their 40th Anniversary at Mansion House in London. ⚙️

02/11 Held two investiture ceremonies at Buckingham Palace. 🎖️

03/11 As Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, visited Citizens Advice Malvern Hills in Malvern, Worcestershire. 👩‍⚖️

Opened the Specialist Operations Centre at the Gloucestershire Constabulary and Office of Police and Crime Commissioner in Cheltenham. 👮‍♀️

07/11 Alongside King Charles & Queen Camilla, Princess Anne in her role as Gold Stick in Waiting, was present at the State Opening of Parliament. 👩‍⚖️🪶

Opened the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage and the McDonald Road Community Fire and Ambulance Station in Edinburgh. 👨‍🚒

The Princess Royal, As Patron of the Eric Liddell 100, attended the inaugural Lecture and Reception on board Fingal, Alexandra Dock, in Edinburgh. 🏃🏽🥂

Unofficial Sir Tim attended the memorial service for former university friend and newsreader George Alagiah at St-Martin-in-the-Fields church in London 🎓🕊️

08/11 As Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, presented Royal Medals and attended a Reception at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 🏅

As Patron of Catch22, attended the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum in Birmingham ✍️

As Patron of the Wooden Spoon Society, attended a Reception at the House of Lords in London. 🥄🏉🥂

As Court Member of the Fishmongers’ Company, attended a Livery Dinner at Fishmongers’ Hall in London. 🐟🍽️

09/11 As President of World Horse Welfare, attended the Annual Conference at the Royal Geographical Society. 🐴

As Patron of the Butler Trust, visited HM Prison Wandsworth in London. 🚓👮‍♂️

As Patron of the Whitley Fund for Nature, held a 30th Anniversary Dinner at St James's Palace. 🦋🍃

10/11 The Princess Royal, As President of Royal Yachting Association, chaired the Annual General Meeting and presented Awards before attending a Luncheon in London SW1. 🛥️

Unofficial Announcement that Princess Anne will take over Presidency of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, taking over from the Duke of Kent who Presided over the Commission since 1970 🌹🪦

~ Remembrance weekend ~

11/11 With Sir Tim Attended the Armistice Day Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum. 🌳 🫡

With Sir Tim Attended the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall with members of the royal family. 🌹

12/11 With Sir Tim Attended the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London. Princess Anne laid a wreath whilst Sir Tim stood on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office balcony. 🌹

With Sir Tim Took the salute at the March Past of Ex-Servicemen and Civilian Organisations on Horse Guards Parade, London SWI. 🫡

~ End ~

14/11 As Patron of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK), attended the 10th Anniversary Transport and Logistics Safety Forum Conference at the National Memorial Arboretum. 🚚

Visited the new Institute of Shipbuilding course at City of Glasgow College Riverside Campus in Glasgow. ⚓️

As Patron of the Royal Celtic Society, attended a Reception at Glasgow City Chambers. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Attended Interfaith Glasgow’s Scottish Interfaith Week Forum at Glasgow City Chambers. ☪️✡️✝️🕉️🪯

Unofficial Sir Tim attended a Kent Cricket celebration dinner at Lords Cricket Ground 🏏

15/11 Visited BAE Systems Submarines' Submarine Academy and the University of Cumbria. 🤿 👨‍🎓

Visited the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in Barrow-in-Furness. ☢️

As Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, visited the Barrow-in-Furness branch to mark its reopening. 🤝

As Patron of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, attended a Dinner at St George's Hall, to mark its 125th anniversary. 🦜💊

16/11 As Vice Patron of the British Horse Society, attended a Coaching Career Insight Day.

As Patron of the Butler Trust, visited HM Prison Drake Hall.

As Patron of Transaid, attended a Reception at London Transport Museum.

17/11 Not Counted Departed Heathrow Airport for Gibraltar but was diverted to Madrid, Spain and arrived in Gibraltar later than intended. ✈️🇪🇸🇬🇮

With Sir Tim As Royal Patron of the Gibraltar International Literary Festival, attended the Literary Festival Opening Dinner at the Sunborn Hotel. 📚🍽️

18/11 In Gibraltar Princess Anne;

As Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, visited Gibraltar Citizens Advice Bureau to mark its 20th anniversary. 👩‍⚖️

Opened the renovated premises of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Association. 🫡

Met representatives of the Emergency Services and members of the Armed Forces at the Convent. 🚑🪖

With Sir Tim visited specialist vehicles provider Bassadone Automotive Group. 🚗

Unofficial Sir Tim visited the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, 🇬🇮⚓️

21/11 As Master of the Corporation of Trinity House, presented Merchant Navy medals for Meritorious Service at Trinity House, London. 🏅

With Sir Tim Attended the State Banquet in honour of the President and First Lady of South Korea. 🇬🇧🇰🇷🍽️

22/11 Visited Retrotec Limited near Northiam, East Sussex. ✈️

Visited Focus SB Limited in St Leonards-on-Sea. ⚙️

As Commandant-in-Chief of St John Ambulance (Youth), attended a Reception for Young Achievers at the Priory Church of the Order of St John in London. 🚑

As Chancellor of the University of London, attended Foundation Day at Senate House in London 🎓

23/11 As Commodore-in-Chief of Portsmouth Naval Base, opened Alford Schools of Military Music. 🎶

Attended a Luncheon at Spithead House, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, for The Princess Royal's Patronages based in Hampshire. ⚓️

As President of the City and Guilds of London Institute, presented The Princess Royal Training Awards at St James's Palace. 🏆

With Sir Tim As President of the British Olympic Association, attended the Team GB Ball at the Savoy Hotel. 🏋️‍♀️

24/11 As Royal Patron of the London Scottish Football Club, attended the 10th Anniversary of the St Andrew's Day Luncheon at the Sheraton Grand London on Park Lane. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏉

28/11 Presented The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Awards at Fishmongers’ Hall in London. 🏆

As Chancellor of the University College of Osteopathy, attended a Graduation Ceremony. 🎓

As Royal Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, attended a New Fellows’ Dinner. ⚙️🍽️

29/11 The Princess Royal, As Royal Patron of the National Coastwatch Institution, visited Canvey Island Station and attended a Reception at the Island Yacht Club. 🔎🏝️

Opened Huntingdon Fire Station and Service Training Centre. 🚒

Opened North Cambridgeshire Training Centre. 💼

As Honorary Member of the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, attended the Annual General Meeting and Discussion Dinner. 👷🍴

30/11 As Patron of the Not Forgotten Association, held the Christmas Reception at St James’s Palace. 🎄🎅🏻🎁

Total official engagements for Anne in October: 58

2023 total so far: 458

Total official engagements accompanied by Tim in October: 11

2023 total so far: 92

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

By Steve Corbin

According to a May 15 NBC News report, there are a multitude of issues that voters must discern about Joe Biden, Donald Trump and the independent presidential candidates before voting on Nov. 5. Logically, the importance of each issue differs between and among America’s 161.4 million registered voters.

One issue missing from the NBC News report that has become a focal point of the Biden camp, Make America Great Again Republicans and third-party candidates is democracy vs. authoritarianism. Specifically, on Jan. 20, 2025, will the duly elected and inaugurated president of the United States keep America as a democracy that dates back to the 1630’s in the New England colonies, or will it be the start of changing the country to authoritarian fascism?

If you’ve not heard of Project 2025, it’s very worthy of your independent investigation. Project 2025 is a playbook specifically created for Donald Trump and his supporters to use in the first 180 days of Trump’s 2025-29 presidential administration. The far-right extremism-based Heritage Foundation proudly takes claim for facilitating the creation of the 887-page turning-democracy-into-an-authoritarian-country document.

Project 2025’s two editors had assistance from 34 authors, 277 contributors, a 54-member advisory board and a coalition of over 100 conservative organizations (including the American Legislative Exchange Council, the Heartland Institute, Liberty University, Middle East Forum, Moms for Liberty, the National Rifle Association, Pro-Life America and Tea Party Patriots).

Project 2025 is a serious endeavor, if Trump returns to the White House, to make America a fascist country. After all, on May 20, Trump posted a video on his Truth Social media account depicting his 2025-29 administration as a “Unified Reich.” (Hitler’s Third Reich occurred from 1933 to 1945.)

Download the Project 2025 document (it's linked from this essay) so you can check out the disconcerting manuscript that tells Trump what specifically to do from Jan. 20 to July 18, 2025, to convert America into an authoritarian regime.

The 30 chapters of Project 2025 are a daunting read. Project 2025 proposes, among a host of things, eliminating the Department of Education, eliminating the Department of Commerce, deploying the US military whenever protests erupt, dismantling the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, removing sexual and gender protected discrimination and terminating diversity, equity, inclusion and affirmative action.

Additional mandates include: siphoning off billions of dollars of public school funding, funding private school choice vouchers, phasing out public education’s Title I program, gutting the nation’s free school meals program, eliminating the Head Start program, banning books and suppressing any curriculum that discusses the evils of slavery.

Project 2025 also calls for banning abortion (which makes women second-class citizens), restricting access to contraception, forcing would-be immigrants to be detained in concentration camps, eliminating Title VII and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, recruiting 54,000 loyal MAGA Republicans to replace existing federal civil servants, and ending America’s bedrock principle that separates church from state.

A news story in Politico described Project 2025 as an authoritarian Christian nationalist movement and a path for the US to become an autocracy. Several legal experts have indicated implementing the 180-day manual would undermine the rule of law and the separation of powers.

As noted earlier, Project 2025 is worthy of your independent investigation. So that you’ll be in-the-know as to what authoritarianism looks like, seriously consider reading one research-based book per month for the next five months as pre-election homework. Here’s my suggested reading assignment:

JUNE: "On Tyranny: 20 lessons from the 20th century," Timothy Snyder, 2017.

JULY: "Twilight of Democracy: The seductive lure of authoritarianism," Anne Applebaum, 2020. Chapters IV, V and VI get to the bottom line.

AUGUST: "Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America," Heather Cox Richardson, 2023.

SEPTEMBER: "Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America," Barbara McQuade, 2024. The 1,717 reference citations proves this is well researched and an honest read.

OCTOBER: "1984," George Orwell, 1949. Orwell’s novel shows Americans what life would be like under totalitarian and oppressive rule.

Reading even just one of these books will enable you to discern political candidate and party-based disinformation, misinformation and propaganda from truth, ready to vote on Nov. 5 and keep America a democracy.

[enriquemzn262]

Whenever you hear about modern day Rome, you both picture AND are sold the idea of ancient buildings like the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the varios arches that still remain, the site of the Circus Maximus, the ruins of the many, many temples and buildings from the Roman Forum, and sometimes some more modern stuff like the Trevi Fountain or the whole Vatican state inside Rome.

But what you never think of, what barely gets mentioned, let alone promoted, is the impressive-looking Victor Emmanuel II Monument.

And I think there are three main reasons for it:

It's a derivate architectural work that just copies the glory of ancient Rome in a way that seems like it's trying to overtake it, making it seem tacky and obnoxiously brash, especially since it's right next door the Roman Forum and it's majestic ruins.

For it to be built, a good number of priceless ancient ruins of Rome had to be completely demolished and removed from the site, in a way helping feed the narrative that it was meant to outshine ancient Rome.

It was finished and inaugurated by none other than Benito Mussolini, becoming a symbol of his short-lived fascist regime, something the building hasn't been able to completely shake off.

I visited Rome 3 years ago, deciding to go completely blind in order to be as surprised as possible, something that worked magnificently when I accidentally walked into both Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, so I can say I was honestly in shock when I stumbled upon the VEM, since I had quite literally never heard from it before.

It's actually a really cool building once you actually get to visit it, especially since you can actually walk into it, giving you a pretty neat view of the Roman Forum once you reach the top, but man whenever I remember my trip to Rome, I always forget about it, the fucking trash we saw everywhere and the terrible tram line we had to use to move between the hotel and the city center were much more memorable!

[0lost-in-my-mind0]

~ My Candy Gala - Contest US Server ~

Hello everyone!

I wanted inform or remind to all the players of the US server, that the first unofficial contest has been opened on our forum~! One of our players decided to open a style contest with new themes, since the minigame ones are always the same for now.

If you want to participate you have until August 18th~!

This means you still have 8 days to post your participation!

It would be really nice to be able to inaugurate the first unofficial contest with many participants, plus it will be wonderful to be able to participate in new themes, which are not dedicated especially to those who have purchased packs.

You can have fun with your wardrobe and the themes are chosen monthly from those proposed by you!

I'll leave you the contest link below~!

Spread the word and join us in many~! I'm counting on you to make this first contest memorable * ^ *

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

June 17, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

JUN 18, 2024

Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) met for their fiftieth summit in Italy from June 13 to June 15. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States formed the G7 in 1975 as a forum for democracies with advanced economies to talk about political and economic issues. The European Union is also part of the forum, and this June, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky also attended.

This summit was a particularly fraught one. When it took office, the Biden-Harris administration, along with the State Department under Secretary of State Antony Blinken, set out to reshape global power structures not only in light of Trump’s attempt to abandon international alliances and replace them with transactional deals, but also in light of a larger change in international affairs. 

In a speech at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in September 2023, Blinken explained that the end of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union had promised a new era of peace and stability, with more international cooperation and political freedom. But while that period did, in fact, lift more than a billion people out of poverty, eradicate deadly diseases, and create historic lows in conflicts between state actors, it also gave rise to authoritarians determined to overthrow the international rules-based order. 

At the same time, non-state actors—international corporations; non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, that provide services to hundreds of millions of people across the globe; terrorists who can inflict catastrophic harm; and transnational criminal organizations that traffic illegal drugs, weapons, and human beings—have growing influence.

Forging international cooperation has become more and more complex, Blinken explained, at the same time that global problems are growing: the climate crisis, food insecurity, mass migration and mass displacement of populations, as well as the potential for new pandemics. In the midst of all this pressure, “many countries are hedging their bets.” 

They have lost faith in the international economic order, as a handful of governments have distorted the markets to gain unfair advantage while technology and globalization have hollowed out communities and inequality has skyrocketed. “Between 1980 and 2020,” Blinken noted, “the richest .1 percent accumulated the same wealth as the poorest 50 percent.” Those who feel the system is unfair are exacerbating the other drivers of political polarization. 

These developments have undermined the post–Cold War political order, Blinken said. “One era is ending, a new one is beginning, and the decisions that we make now will shape the future for decades to come.”

In his inaugural address on January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden vowed to “repair our alliances and engage with the world once again.” Saying that “America’s alliances are our greatest asset” just weeks later at the State Department, the president and officers in the administration set out to rebuild alliances that had fallen into disrepair under Trump. They reinforced the international bodies that upheld a rules-based international order, bodies like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) organized in 1947 to stand against Soviet aggression and now a bulwark against Russian aggression. They began the process of rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, both of which Trump had abandoned. 

Officials also worked to make international bodies more representative by, for example, welcoming into partnerships the African Union and Indonesia. They also broadened cooperation, as Blinken said, to “work with any country—including those with whom we disagree on important issues—so long as they want to deliver for their citizens, contribute to solving shared challenges, and uphold the international norms that we built together.”

At home, they worked to erase the “bright line” between foreign and domestic policy, investing in policies to bring jobs back to the U.S. both to restore the economic fairness they identified as important to democracy and to stabilize the supply chains that the pandemic had revealed to be a big national security threat. 

On April 28, 2021, in his first address to a joint session of Congress,  President Biden said he had told world leaders that “America is back.” But they responded: “[F]or how long?”  

That question was the backdrop to the G7 summit. Trump has said he will abandon international alliances, including NATO, in favor of a transactional foreign policy. He supports Russian president Vladimir Putin’s attempt to replace the rules-based international order with the idea that might makes right and that any strong country can grab the land of weaker states. 

Earlier this month, Biden used the occasion of the commemoration ceremonies around the 80th anniversary of D-Day to reinforce the international rules-based order and U.S. leadership in that system. On June 4, before Biden left for France, Massimo Calabresi published an interview with Biden in Time magazine in which Calabresi noted that the past 40 months have tested Biden’s vision. Russia reinvaded Ukraine in February 2022, and Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Putin is trying to create “an axis of autocrats,” as Calabresi puts it, including the leaders of China and Iran, the state that is backing the non-state actors Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis of Yemen, and Hezbollah in Lebanon in order to destabilize Israel and the Arab states. China is threatening Taiwan. 

Calabresi pointed out that Biden has responded to these threats by shoring up NATO and welcoming to it Finland and Sweden, with their powerful militaries. His support has enabled Ukraine to decimate the Russian military, which has lost at least 87% of the 360,000 troops it had when it attacked Ukraine in February 2022, thus dramatically weakening a nation seen as a key foe in 2021. He has kept the war in Gaza from spreading into a regional conflict and has forced Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, although the Palestinian death toll has continued to mount as Netanyahu has backed devastating attacks on Gaza. Biden’s comprehensive deal in the Middle East—an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, a big increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, and an enduring end to the crisis with the security of both Israelis and Palestinians assured—has yet to materialize.

In Italy the leaders at the G7 summit stood firm behind Biden’s articulated vision, saying that the G7 “is grounded in a shared commitment to respect the U.N. Charter, promote international peace and security, and uphold the free and open rules-based international order.” On hot-button issues, the G7 backed Biden’s Middle East deal and support for Ukraine, agreeing to transfer $50 billion to Ukraine from the interest earned on Russian assets frozen in the European Union and elsewhere. 

The Biden administration announced additional economic sanctions to isolate Russia even more from the international financial system. At the summit, on June 13, 2024, Presidents Biden and Zelensky signed a ten-year bilateral security agreement that commits the U.S. to supporting Ukraine with a wide range of military assistance but, unlike the NATO membership Ukraine wants, does not require that the U.S. send troops. The agreement is legally binding, but it is not a treaty ratified by the Senate. If he is reelected, Trump could end the agreement.

Immediately after the G7 summit, world leaders met in Switzerland for the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held on June 15 and 16. Ukraine called the summit in hopes of persuading major countries from the global south to join and isolate Russia, but the group had to be content with demonstrating their own support for Ukraine. Vice President Kamala Harris, who attended the summit, today posted: “The more than 90 nations that gathered at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine hold a diverse range of views on global challenges and opportunities. We don’t always agree. But when it comes to Putin’s unprovoked, unjustified war—there is unity and solidarity in support of Ukraine and international rules and norms.”

Earlier this month, Finnish software and methodologies company Check First released a report exposing “a large-scale, cross-country, multi-platform disinformation campaign designed to spread pro-Russian propaganda in the West, with clear indicators of foreign interference and information manipulation.” The primary goal of “Operation Overload” is to overwhelm newsrooms and fact-checkers and spread “the Kremlin’s political agenda.” 

Foreign affairs journalist Anne Applebaum told Bill Kristol of The Bulwark that China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea do not share an ideology, but “they do share a common interest, and the common interest is undermining…America, Europe, the liberal world, the democratic world.” They do this, she said, because the oppositions in their own countries are inspired by and use the democratic language of freedom and liberty and rights and rule of law, and leaders need to undermine that language to hold onto power. They also recognize that chaos and uncertainty give them business opportunities in the West. Disrupting democracies by feeding radicalism makes the democratic world lose its sense of community and solidarity.

When it does that, Applebaum notes, it loses its ability to stand up to autocrats. 

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[socialjusticeday]

Inaugural Forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice - Improving coherence between economic and social policies.

The thematic dialogue on Improving coherence between economic and social policies seeks to unpack the complexities of, and synergies between, economic policies and social objectives.

Watch the Inaugural Forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice: Improving coherence between economic and social policies!

[immemorymag]

Matteo Capone was born in Rome in 1997. In 2020 he graduated in Photography at the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) in Rome. In 2022 he attended the Master's degree in Contemporary Photojournalism at Officine Fotografie and he was selected by the Fondazione Studio Marangoni for the "Note di Lavoro" workshop. In 2023 he collaborated with Contrasto, he participated in the Romagna Tin Bòta fundraising and he inaugurated his first solo show in the Rome Leica Store Gallery. His research focuses on environmental issues, touching on multiple facets that emerge between human activity and the territory. His work has been published and exhibited in magazines (Repubblica, National Geographic Italia, Artribune, Perimetro), festivals (IMP Festival, Format Festival, Photometria Festival, Sifest) and international galleries (Palazzo Ducale, PH21 Gallery, Kommunale Galerie, Forum Austriaco di Cultura).

[andiatas]

State Visit to Mexico

Their Majesties The King and Queen will pay a State Visit to Mexico on 12–14 March 2024 at the invitation of His Excellency President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The Swedish Government will be represented by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell. More than 25 Swedish companies will take part in the business delegation arranged by Business Sweden.

The aim of the State Visit is to consolidate the good relations between Sweden and Mexico and strengthen economic and political ties, focusing on innovation, partnership, trade and investment.

Mexico is Latin America’s second-largest market and the world’s fifteenth-largest economy. Many Swedish businesses have been operating in Mexico for decades, and with its young population and dynamic economy, there are good opportunities to deepen and broaden trade. Mexico is a prominent multilateral actor with which Sweden enjoys close cooperation. The State Visit will provide an opportunity to develop this cooperation.

Previous State Visits to Mexico took place in 1982 and 2002.

The three-day programme of the State Visit will take place in Mexico City and Mérida, in the state of Yucatán.

The programme in brief

The first day of the State Visit will begin with a wreath-laying and official welcome ceremony, at which Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his wife Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller will welcome The King and Queen to the National Palace. This will be followed by a bilateral meeting with the President and his wife. The King and Queen will also visit the Mexican Senate. The day will conclude with a dinner hosted by The King and Queen.

Business issues and children’s rights will be the focus of the second day. In the morning, The King will open the Mexico-Sweden Business Forum, where discussion topics will include sustainable transport solutions, sustainable mining, the telecommunications industry and health. The King and Queen will then visit SOS Children’s Villages and the large public National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). After a lunch with business sector representatives, The King will inaugurate Ericsson’s new offices in Mexico City. The King and Queen will then meet with Swedes residing in the country. The day will conclude with a performance of traditional Mexican dances at the Palace of Fine Arts.

The third day will continue in the city of Mérida. The King and Queen will travel on the recently launched Tren Maya train to the pre-Columbian ruined city of Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where they will meet representatives of the Maya and Yaqui indigenous peoples. Later in the day, the King and Queen will meet with the Governor of Yucatán.

The State Visit will conclude the following day, when the King and Queen leave Mexico.

Mr Forssell will take part in the programme and will also have bilateral meetings with representatives of the Mexican Government.

A more detailed programme will be published closer to the date of the Visit.

[marwahstudios]

Inauguration of the Indo Namibia Film and Cultural Forum During 8th GFDWN

Noida:— The Indo Namibia Film and Cultural Forum was officially launched during the 8th Global Fashion and Design Week Noida 2024. The event, held in Noida, was graced by the presence of His Excellency Gabriel P. Sinimbo, High Commissioner of Namibia, alongside Her Excellency Mateja Vodeb Ghosh, Ambassador of Slovenia, and His Excellency Javier Paulinich, Ambassador of Peru, as well as a diverse international audience.

This new forum aims to foster deeper cultural and artistic ties between India and Namibia, enhancing mutual understanding through a rich exchange of cultural and artistic expressions. Dr. Sandeep Marwah, a renowned international media personality and President of the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry (ICMEI), emphasized the significance of this cultural bridge in strengthening bilateral relationships.

“We are delighted to launch the first ever Indo Namibia Cultural Forum. This initiative is not just a platform for cultural exchange but also a beacon of international cooperation,” said H.E. Gabriel P. Sinimbo, High Commissioner of Namibia. “We believe this forum will significantly boost the awareness of Namibia among Indian citizens and vice versa, leading to enriched cultural interactions.”

The forum is expected to host a series of events and activities that will highlight the diverse cultural landscapes of both countries, promoting tourism and business opportunities as well.

[madamlaydebug]

On this day in 2021...

R.I.P.

Go well … you have fulfilled your purpose 💕https://www.patreon.com/RunokoRashidi

RUNOKO RASHIDI

Runoko Rashidi is an anthropologist and historian with a major focus on what he calls the Global African Presence--that is, Africans outside of Africa before and after enslavement. He is the author or editor of twenty-two books, the most recent of which are My Global Journeys in Search of the African Presence, Assata-Garvey and Me: A Global African Journey for Children in 2017 and The Black Image in Antiquityin 2019. His other works include Black Star: The African Presence in Early Europe, published by Books of Africa in London in November 2011 and African Star over Asia: The Black Presence in the East, published by Books of Africa in London in November 2012 and revised and reprinted in April 2013, Uncovering the African Past: The Ivan Van Sertima Papers, published by Books of Africa in 2015. His other works include the African Presence in Early Asia, co-edited by Dr. Ivan Van Sertima. Four of Runoko's works have been published in French.

As a traveler and researcher Dr. Rashidi has visited 124countries. As a lecturer and presenter, he has spoken insixty-sevencountries.

Runoko has worked with and under some of the most distinguished scholars of the past half-century, including Ivan Van Sertima, John Henrik Clarke, Asa G. Hilliard, Edward Scobie, John G. Jackson, Jan Carew and Yosef ben-Jochannan.

In October 1987 Rashidi inaugurated the First All-India Dalit Writer's Conference in Hyderabad, India.

In 1999 he was the major keynote speaker at the International Reunion of the African Family in Latin America in Barlovento, Venezuela.

In 2005 Rashidi was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree, his first, by the Amen-Ra Theological Seminary in Los Angeles.

In August 2010 he was first keynote speaker at the First Global Black Nationalities Conference in Osogbo, Nigeria.

In December 2010 he was President and first speaker at the Diaspora Forum at the FESMAN Conference in Dakar, Senegal.

In 2018 he was named Traveling Ambassador to the Universal Negro Improvement Association & African Communities League RC 2020.

In 2020 he was named to the Curatorial and Academic boards of the Pan-African Heritage Museum.

He is currently doing major research on the African presence in the museums of the world.

As a tour leader he has taken groups to India, Australia, Fiji, Turkey, Jordan, Brazil, Egypt, Ghana, Togo, Benin, France, Belgium, England, Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Peru, Cuba, Luxembourg, Germany, Cameroon, the Netherlands, Spain, Morocco, Senegal, the Gambia,Guinea-Bissau,Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.

Runoko Rashidi's major mission in life is the uplift of African people, those at home and those abroad.

For more information write to Runoko@hotmail.com or call (323) 803-8663.

His website is www.drrunoko.com