by admin | Mar 30, 2025 | architecture, french, government, politics, politics and government
“Versailles keeps revealing new wonders all the time; it seems endless!” exclaims Martine as we begin our tour.
The guide has roamed through the numerous corridors of the castle for 15 years, yet she claims that many mysteries remain hidden within the sturdy walls.
Among these, the Salle du Congrès and the presidential apartment, which are accessible to the public… However, let’s start with the basics.
Our tour starts beneath the opulence of the Royal Opera House, a site rich with tradition and grace. This is where Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette held their wedding ceremony in 1770.
A hundred years afterward, the lawmakers of the Third French Republic (1870-1940) convened their sessions in this very place.
As
The widespread revolt ignited a fire across France.
, the castle of the kings turned into a sanctuary for the republicans. Quite a symbol.
A president in the monarch’s residence
Exactly this shift — encompassing both structural and governmental aspects — lies at the core of an exclusive guided tour currently open to the public, commemorating the 150th year since the adoption of the Wallon amendment.
This document led to the creation of the Senate and the National Assembly and established the process for electing the President by these two bodies. As a result, the Third Republic, which had been operating as a provisional government up to that point, was officially confirmed.
The political history surrounding this event has largely faded from memory,” says Christophe Leribault, President of the Château. “We see this as a chance to highlight the relatively unknown aspects of 19th-century Versailles.
The massive semicircular hall called the Salle du Congrès, constructed in 1875 for the new legislature, stands in stark contrast to the Versailles of Louis XIV’s era. The fleur-de-lis on a blue backdrop have been supplanted by crimson velvet chairs.
“I never imagined encountering this here,” remarks Capucine. “This contemporary element changes our perspective of the château,” comments her mother, Florence.
For the first time, the apartment of the President of the Congress was revealed. It was here that the ballots from the presidential elections were tallied. A total of fifteen Presidents were elected in Versailles up until 1954.
On infrequent occasions, this apartment is utilized by the presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate.
Reinstating the French Presence at Versailles
Even though MPs and senators ultimately returned to Paris from Versailles in 1879, the Third Republic permanently etched its legacy into the chateau.
The French President had the authority to summon Parliament solely within the Versailles hemicycle. This is where constitutional amendments occur, such as the one on March 4, 2024, which further developed the Constitution.
the constitutional rights included women’s freedom to terminate a pregnancy
.
“My inaugural day as President of the Château saw it teeming with Members of Parliament, senators, and reporters. This reinforced my belief that these spaces must be made accessible, for Versailles transcends being merely the site of the Hall of Mirrors—it stands as a cornerstone of political influence and French heritage,” remarks Christophe Leribault.
Last year, approximately 8.4 million individuals toured the château. Among them, 80% were visitors from abroad, and the château’s president aims to shift this trend.
“It’s crucial to unlock additional areas so that guests from France and Paris return to Versailles,” he states. “While having visitors from around the globe is wonderful, it’s equally vital for this legacy to remain close to our hearts.”
Might this also present an occasion for the French to come to terms with a contentious site?
A legacy of power
Throughout the decades, the Château de Versailles has evolved into an essential resource and setting for French diplomatic efforts. However, it remains a potentially hazardous location from a political standpoint.
President Emmanuel Macron frequently faces criticism for his use of it and has been denounced for hosting heads of state and
multinational bosses
there with great fanfare.
Denis, who frequently visits the chateau, admits, “It often presents an overly flashy and arrogant appearance, detached from reality.”
This embodies the contradiction of Versailles: a emblem of both monarchical and republican authority, simultaneously criticized for its extravagance yet celebrated for its grandeur.
This unique tour unveils these intriguing and distinctly French paradoxes as it retraces 150 years of Republican history.
The exhibit is accessible to everyone each weekend, and weekday visits include guided tours up until the conclusion of September.
by admin | Mar 30, 2025 | government, news, politics, politics and government, politics and law
Amos Khaemba, who works as a journalist for SANGGRALOKA.co.ke, has accumulated more than four years of expertise in reporting on politics and contemporary issues within Kenya.
Nairobi –
The head of the Wiper Democratic Movement, Kalonzo Musyoka, has presented fresh conditions to President William Ruto and ODM chief Raila Odinga prior to the 2027 General Election.
In a missive directed at Raila and also sent to the president, Kalonzo voiced his apprehensions about the current restructuring of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In his correspondence, the ex-vice president emphasized the importance of appointing impartial electoral officers and organizations.
Kalonzo asserts that the president must confer with the opposition prior to appointing members to the new electoral commission.
Nevertheless, the Wiper leader maintained that Raila could not anymore advocate for the opposition’s interests after his recent agreement with Ruto.
Kalonzo stated emphatically that both the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the OrangeDemocratic Movement (ODM), which have united on our side, must participate in talks with members ofthe opposition to guarantee a fair and all-encompassing procedure.
Kalonzo, who leads the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, cautioned both Ruto and Raila not to proceed with appointing the head of the polling agency and the six specified commissioners without involving the opposition in discussions.
He asserted that this action would be viewed as an attempt by the ODM-UDA coalition to predetermine the outcome of the 2027 elections.
“To avoid any ambiguity, if the UDA/ODM Alliance proceeds with appointing the IEBC chairperson and commissioners without significant involvement from the opposition, this move would be seen as an effort to create a politically biased election commission and potentially rig future elections beforehand,” he cautioned.
Even as he expressed hope that the president would make the correct choice, Kalonzo pledged to resist any attempt to erode the sovereignty of the Kenyan people.
More to follow…
by admin | Mar 30, 2025 | news, police and law enforcement, politics, politics and law, technology
As anti-government demonstrations spread throughout Turkey, the authorities have employed various technological methods to suppress these movements. This includes limiting internet accessibility and utilizing facial recognition technology to pinpoint demonstrators, leading those involved to adjust their tactics accordingly.
Despite the prohibition on protests, approximately 2,000 individuals have been detained in relation to the demonstrations that began on March 19 after Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested on corruption allegations.
In addition to individuals caught in public spaces, numerous others have been detained during early morning operations at their residences following identification through images or videos captured by law enforcement officers during the protests.
Up until now, 13 Turkish journalists have been arrested for reporting on the demonstrations. Among them is AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, who faced charges of “participating in unlawful protests and parades,” allegedly based on photographs taken by law enforcement.
According to Orhan Sener, an authority on digital technologies, the utilization of tech signifies a significant shift since 2013. Back then, a modest demonstration against tearing down Gezi Park in downtown Istanbul escalated into widespread civil discontent regarding the governance of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who held the position of prime minister at that time.
Sener stated that the capabilities of the security forces in information technology have significantly improved since then.
“During the Gezi movement, the demonstrators took control of social media platforms, making it difficult for the police to pinpoint their identities,” he stated.
However, nowadays, when you participate in a protest in Turkey, your image is identified by a camera, which then compares it with your information on social media profiles.
Faces masked
Confronted with this danger, numerous protesters are now shielding their heads and faces using hats, masks, and scarves.
In Istanbul, law enforcement officers often encircle demonstrators, mandating that they remove facial coverings to enable filming, according to AFP correspondents. These individuals are not permitted to leave unless compliant with this demand, causing significant anguish among numerous youths.
Arif Kosar, an expert in the influence of emerging technologies, stated that “every form of pressure prompts a corresponding response. In the near future, we can expect increased utilization of various attire, eyewear, or cosmetics to evade facial recognition systems.”
He stated, ‘However, I do not believe that facial recognition technology represents the primary form of pressure currently. Instead, the dissemination of misinformation to defame the demonstrations, or to undermine and fragment them, holds greater significance.’
Erdogan has condemned the demonstrations as “street terrorism,” alleging that the protesters engaged in “desecration” of a mosque and a cemetery, accusations which the opposition refutes.
Sener pointed out that authoritarian governments have learned to leverage the internet for their benefit and have discovered methods to censor it.
“But above all, they use it for their own propaganda.”
‘Shifting toward a surveillance society’
Right after Imamoglu was arrested during a predawn operation, which he described on X just before his detention, officials began decreasing internet bandwidth for people in Istanbul. This made it impossible to access social media platforms for 42 consecutive hours.
The social media platform X was requested to shut down over 700 accounts associated with journalists, news organizations, political figures, students, and various individuals, as stated by the platform itself.
“Neither the bandwidth reduction nor the attempt to block X accounts had any backing from a court ruling. These actions were implemented without justification,” stated Yaman Akdeniz, a law professor and president of Turkey’s Freedom of Expression Association (IFOD).
He mentioned that new laws were being drafted which would mandate messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to establish offices within Turkey and share user identification details with government officials.
Akdeniz stated that we are heading toward a surveillance society.
In 2020, as disclosed by the opposition news site MedyaScope in 2022, Internet Service Providers began supplying information about web usage patterns and user identities to the Information and Communication Technologies Agency (BTK).
According to the law, the BTK is permitted to retain collected data for just two years. Nevertheless, during the probe involving the Istanbul mayor, evidence dating back as far as ten years has been handed over to prosecutors, as stated by Akdeniz.
“Despite the legal framework, this data retention serves unspecified purposes, thereby enabling potential abuse,” he stated.
For Sener, activism in the real world and online “used to be two different worlds, but now they are intertwined”.
“The government is attempting to deter individuals from participating in protests using facial recognition technology, while also impeding their organization via social media platforms,” he stated.
by admin | Mar 30, 2025 | cambodia, events and festivals, travel destinations, vietnam, world
Phu Quoc Island, located in southern Vietnam, ranked among the top ten most sought-after destinations in the country for the approaching Hung Kings’ Festival in early April, as reported by travel agency Booking.com.
Da Nang emerged at the top of the rankings, with Dalat and Nha Trang following closely behind, according to accommodation inquiries for stays from April 4th through April 7th.
The Vietnamese commemorate their ancestors’ death anniversaries on the tenth day of the third lunar month, set for April 7th this year—a Monday—resulting in a three-day holiday encompassing the upcoming weekend.
The dry season in Phu Quoc occurs between November and April, providing sunny conditions perfect for enjoying outdoor beach activities.
Last year, Phu Quoc was ranked as the world’s second most beautiful island by an American publication.
Travel + Leisure
, after Maldives.
In the initial two months of this year, the island received 1.4 million visitors, with 320,888 being foreign travelers, representing a 52.7% rise compared to the same period last year.
by admin | Mar 29, 2025 | aviation, happiness, Travel, wellness, world
The nation acclaimed as the planet’s most joyful community, which typically sees very few visitors, is poised to unveil a massive global airport.
Bhutan, a landlocked nation situated between
India
and
China
will unveil a new airport featuring relaxation areas equipped with yoga studios and sound bathing spaces.
The Gelephu International Airport will feature expansive gardens along with an outdoor forest known as the Forest Spine. This area will divide the domestic from the international terminals.
It will include designated areas for yoga sessions, open-air relaxation zones, as well as spots for meditation and enjoying sound baths.
The airport design features a sequence of wooden diamond-shaped structures, mimicking a mountainous terrain.
Although this will mark the nation’s second international airport, there are presently no non-stop flights connecting the UK to Bhutan—thus, this development could facilitate an increase in British visitors.
The airport will be capable of handling up to 123 flights each day, with an annual passenger limit of 1.3 million.
A lofty aspiration for a nation attracting approximately 316,000 visitors annually.
The majority of long-haul flights arrive at Paro International Airport located near the city of Thimphu, which serves as the nation’s capital.
However, due to its proximity to a mountain range, only a limited number of flights can touch down each day, with most being short-distance journeys.
Located in southern Bhutan close to the Indian border, Gelephu is easier to reach.
The architectural company known as Bjarke Ingels Group was responsible for designing the airport. They stated that it has been crafted to embody Bhutan’s concept of ‘gross national happiness,’ using the inhabitants’ wellbeing as an indicator of living standards.
The Founder and Creative Director, Bjarke Ingels, stated: “When visiting a location, your initial and final impression often comes from the airport.”
‘To capture the essence of both the nation’s natural beauty and cultural heritage for the Gelephu International Airport, we aimed to integrate the concept of the Mindfulness City.’
The woodlands enveloping the elevated regions are permitted to extend from the entrance square across the airstrip up to the runway.
Bhutan is
regarded as the ‘planet’s most joyful nation’ due to its Gross National Happiness Index.
This index evaluates collective happiness among the populace by considering factors such as mental wellness, physical health, educational attainment, quality of governance, environmental sustainability, time management, cultural richness, economic prosperity, and social cohesion.
The expense for the airport remains unofficial, yet it might reach up to £178 million, with plans to launch operations by 2029.
Even though its location is quite intricate, numerous members of the royal family have traveled to Bhutan. This includes King Charles who made his visit in 1998, followed by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in 2016.
Bhutan also boasts a royal family with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck as the monarch and Queen Jetsun Pema, often compared to Kate Middleton.
Frequently celebrated as ‘the most beautiful royal pair globally,’ Queen Jetsun Pema and King Jigme Khesar are parents to three youngsters: Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, Prince Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, and Princess Sonam Yangden Wangchuck.
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