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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250909T180000
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DTSTAMP:20260429T020607
CREATED:20250806T031800Z
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SUMMARY:World Now: A Tale of Two Kings - Saudi Arabia\, Jordan\, and the Future of Power in the Middle East
DESCRIPTION:Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman – de facto ruler of one of the wealthiest states in the Middle East – has positioned himself as a transformative leader. His rule is defined by economic and social change\, a close relationship with President Trump\, and concerns about human rights abuses and power consolidation. \nJordan’s King Abdullah II leads one of the region’s most economically challenged countries with a steady hand and traditional approach. His rule is characterized by alliance building and cautious political reform\, while also stifling political opposition. \nJoin us on WorldNow with Jim Falk for an inside look at two very different yet consequential leaders who are shaping the future of the Middle East – and redefining what it means to be king in the 21st century. With Pulitzer Prize-Winner Karen Elliot House\, author of The Man Who Would be King: Mohammad Bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia and Aaron Magid\, author of The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan. \n \nMeet the Authors\nKaren Elliott House is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist with nearly five decades of experience covering Saudi Arabia. She is also a former executive of Dow Jones & Company and former chair of the Rand Corp. Her deep expertise informs her latest book\, The Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia\, which draws on more than half a dozen in-depth interviews with the Crown Prince himself. House spent over 30 years at The Wall Street Journal\, serving as a reporter\, editor\, and ultimately publisher. She resides in Princeton\, New Jersey. \n\nAaron Magid is a former Amman-based journalist and the author of the recently published The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan. His analysis on the Hashemite Kingdom has appeared in Foreign Affairs\, Foreign Policy\, Al-Monitor\, the Atlantic Council\, France 24\, Al-Jazeera\, and the Middle East Institute. He hosts the podcast On Jordan. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University. \n\nMeet the Host\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nAbout the Books\nThe Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed Bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia by Karen Elliot House \nPulitzer Prize-winning reporter and former Wall Street Journal publisher\, Karen House has gained unprecedented insights into Saudi Arabia and its controversial leader\, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman through her more than forty years of experience covering the Arab kingdom. \nHouse reveals a leader who\, like Peter the Great\, is a reformer determined to modernize his kingdom but also an autocrat who jails political opponents and rival princes to assure his grip on power. Drawing on extensive interviews with the Crown Prince\, his royal relatives\, and his inner ring of advisors\, The Man Who Would Be King explains in full what shaped the man who is reshaping Saudi Arabia. It is an unprecedented and much needed in-depth portrait of the leader who\, at only thirty-nine\, will be a major player on the world stage for the next half century. \nGet a copy of The Man Who Would Be King on Bookshop.org to support your local bookstore. \n\nThe Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan by Aaron Magid \nThe first comprehensive biography on Jordan’s King Abdullah\, The Most American King details Abdullah’s rise to power\, survival amid protests from Jordanians\, and his efforts to cement an alliance with Washington. \nAaron Magid\, a former Amman-based journalist\, charts Abdullah’s path to power from a Massachusetts prep school to a British military academy to the throne\, and reveals how Abdullah has remained in power for over a quarter century. While leaders nearby were ousted during the 2011 Arab Spring protests\, Abdullah survived the wave of discontent. Drawing on interviews with over 100 of King Abdullah’s classmates\, former Jordanian ministers\, and CIA directors\, The Most American King offers a thorough account of this key Arab leader. \nGet a copy of The Most American King.
URL:http://wacaustin.org/event/world-now-a-tale-of-two-kings-saudi-arabia-jordan-and-the-future-of-power-in-the-middle-east/
LOCATION:ONLINE
CATEGORIES:author,Geopolitics,Middle East
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250915T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250915T210000
DTSTAMP:20260429T020607
CREATED:20250509T003055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250531T194008Z
UID:14501-1757959200-1757970000@wacaustin.org
SUMMARY:Fiesta de El Grito de Independencia Annual Celebration
DESCRIPTION:The World Affairs Council of Austin\, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Mexico\, the Austin-Saltillo Sister Cities Association\,  the City of Austin Econonic Development Department\, and Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation host the annual Fiesta de El Grito de Independencia. \nThis day marks the 215th anniversary of the declaration of independence from Spain by the Mexican priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. The event is free and open to the public. \nThe highlight of the evening will be when Consul General of Mexico Humberto Hernández Haddad reenacts the cry for independence.  The event will include music\, dance\, an artisan mercado with arts and crafts from México. \nNo RSVPs necessary. \n 
URL:http://wacaustin.org/event/grito-2025/
LOCATION:Republic Square Park\, 422 Guadalupe Street\, Austin\, TX\, 78701\, United States
CATEGORIES:cultural,Cultural Heritage Series,Mexico
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacaustin.org/wp2015/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/El-Grito-20240915-scaled-e1748720397553.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250918T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250918T190000
DTSTAMP:20260429T020607
CREATED:20250829T201300Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250829T201423Z
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SUMMARY:A Conversation with Lawrence Wright
DESCRIPTION:Join your fellow World Affairs Council of Austin members for a conversation with Lawrence Wright\, author\, screenwriter\, and playwright. \nMr. Wright received the Pulitzer Prize for this book\, “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11.” With a degree from American University in Cairo\, he has spent time living and reporting on the Middle East. His latest book\, “The Human Scale\,” released in 2025\, set in Israel\, the West Bank\, and Gaza. Publisher’s Weekly calls it a “superb thriller from Pulitzer winner Wright…an uncomfortable and unforgettable plunge into the heart of a devastating conflict.” \nMr. Wright will discuss and provide insights on the current social\, economic\, and political scene in the Middle East. \nThis event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by providing your contact information in the form below. Priority registration is available for World Affairs Council of Austin members. Bring your invitation to the event.  Invitations are non-transferable. \nREQUEST YOUR INVITATION HERE\nLawrence Wright is an author\, screenwriter\, playwright\, and staff writer for The New Yorker Magazine\, where he has published numerous prize-winning articles\, earning him three National Magazine Awards. He is a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans and the American University in Cairo. \nHe is the author of eleven nonfiction works\, including “Going Clear: Scientology\, Hollywood\, and the Prison of Belief\,” which was made into a documentary for HBO\, winning six Emmys; and “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11\,” which won the Pulitzer Prize and became a series for Hulu\, starring Jeff Daniels\, Alec Baldwin\, and Tahar Rahim. \n“The Human Scale” is Wright’s fourth novel. His previous works include “The End of October\,” and “Mr. Texas.” In 2006\, Wright premiered his first one-person play\, “My Trip to Al-Qaeda\,” at The New Yorker Festival. It was made into a documentary film of the same name\, directed by Alex Gibney\, for HBO. \nWright is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations\, the Society of American Historians\, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also serves as the keyboard player in the Austin-based blues band\, WhoDo.
URL:http://wacaustin.org/event/lawrence-wright/
CATEGORIES:author,Geopolitics
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacaustin.org/wp2015/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Lawrence-W.-photo-e1756498327418.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250920T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250920T180000
DTSTAMP:20260429T020607
CREATED:20250508T231219Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250705T161437Z
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SUMMARY:Japan Business Seminar during Oita Festival
DESCRIPTION:The World Affairs Council of Austin is once again a partner organization for the annual Oita Japan Festival!   You won’t want to miss the “Doing Business in Japan” seminar from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm in Gallery 701. \nTexas exports over $6 billion in goods and services to Japan.  Japan is also a top five export market for central Texas companies.  Be sure to attend this informative session to learn more from our friends at Q-Branch\, JETRO-Houston\, and the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce. \nThe business-focused session will include an overview of Japan’s industry sectors including a look at the Japanese corporate presence in the U.S.\, Japanese cultural characteristics\, promising sectors for U.S. goods and services\, and resources for American companies wishing to establish a corporate entity in Japan.
URL:http://wacaustin.org/event/japan-business-seminar-during-oita-festival-2/
LOCATION:Long Center for the Performing Arts\, 701 W. Riverside Drive\, Austin\, TX\, 78704\, United States
CATEGORIES:Asia,Austin Center for Global Trade,Business,Global Trade
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://wacaustin.org/wp2015/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Oita-JapanFest-2025.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250924T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250924T200000
DTSTAMP:20260429T020607
CREATED:20250907T030648Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250908T231206Z
UID:14640-1758738600-1758744000@wacaustin.org
SUMMARY:Globalist Coffeehouse: Cultural Dimensions Around the World
DESCRIPTION:How each country views emotion\, conflict\, universalism\, achievement\, or even their environment can vary from one part of the world to another. In the United States and Western Europe countries tend to be more expressive and lean towards confrontation. Meanwhile\, in Asia and South Asia countries tend to avoid conflict. Of course\, there are always exceptions no matter what part of the world one is in. \n\nDespite the common rhetoric\, we tend to have more similarities than differences\, but some cultures find support in a collective mindset instead of individualism. Even the same color can carry a different meaning around the world. For example\, the shade of white in the United States is considered to represent purity\, renewal and rebirth. Yet\, in Asian countries it is considered to be the symbol of death.\n\nIs it important to follow the same rules regardless of what the situation is\, or do they vary depending on the circumstances? And what about handling projects and resources? Are they finite to be closely managed or can they be flexible?\n\nPlease join us for what will be a very interesting discussion.
URL:http://wacaustin.org/event/globalist-coffeehouse-cultural-dimensions-around-the-world/
LOCATION:Khon Thai Kitchen\, 5800 Burnet Road\, Austin\, 78756\, United States
CATEGORIES:Member Social
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacaustin.org/wp2015/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Globalist-logo.jpg
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