Author: Tommy Hom

Recognizing Deafblindness: a distinct disability requiring specialized support and inclusion

Deafblindness is a combined vision and hearing impairment of such severity that it is hard for the impaired senses to compensate for each other, and is thus a distinct disability with its own specific challenges, barriers and requirements for support and inclusion, different from those provided to individuals, who are solely deaf or blind.

Deafblind persons face barriers owing to deafblindness not being treated and/or recognized as a distinct disability, further leading to invisibility in statistics, policies and programmes, and therefore impeding access to services.

Torture: a crime against humanity

https://www.un.org/en/observances/torture-victims-day

Torture is a crime under international law. According to all relevant instruments, it is absolutely prohibited and cannot be justified under any circumstances. This rule is part of the widely accepted international law. It means that every country must follow it, even if they haven't agreed to specific treaties prohibiting torture. The systematic or widespread practice of torture constitutes a crime against humanity.

The United Nations has condemned torture from the outset as one of the vilest acts perpetrated by human beings on their fellow human beings.

Women in Diplomacy: Shaping the Future of Global Cooperation

Women in diplomacy are not only participants in international affairs; they are architects of peace, advocates for equality, and leaders shaping the future of global cooperation. Their voices, perspectives, and leadership are essential to addressing the complex challenges facing our world and to building societies that are more inclusive, just, and resilient. As diplomacy evolves to meet the demands of an interconnected world, ensuring women's full, equal, and meaningful participation at every level of decision-making is both a matter of equity and a prerequisite for effective global governance by upholding the promises of the Beijing Platform and Sustainable Development Goals. When women are represented at the tables where decisions are made, diplomacy becomes more reflective of the people it serves and better equipped to advance lasting peace, sustainable development, and human dignity.

More can be found on the United Nations websites

World Environment Day aims to inspire more people than ever before to take action to preven

t the growing strain on planet Earth’s natural systems from reaching the breaking point.

A Global Call for Climate Action

The Earth is already speaking to us—through record-breaking temperatures, more intense wildfires, extreme storms and glaciers disappearing before our eyes.

For years, we have said that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is essential to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. Today, that threshold is dangerously close to being exceeded—and every fraction of a degree matters.

Source: World Environment Day | United Nations

United States Postal Service

• History of U.S. Postal Service holiday stamps
  WASHINGTON — The Postal Service has helped celebrate the winter holidays with festive, seasonal stamps since 1962, when it issued its first Christmas stamp. Although customers had been asking for Christmas stamps for years, the first designs sparked controversy.
• U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors To Meet Nov. 10
  October 30, 2026
  WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors will meet Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, in an open session at Postal Service headquarters, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, in Washington, DC. The public is welcome to attend the meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. ET in the Benjamin Franklin Room.
• Postal Service prepped to deliver for 2026 holiday season
  October 22, 2026
  WASHINGTON — The Postal Service is ready to deliver the holidays for 2026.
• New USPS Diwali stamp honors traditional autumn festival
  October 21, 2026
  WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Postal Service commemorated the joyous Hindu fall festival of Diwali with a new Forever stamp at the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C. On the Hindu calendar, Diwali falls on the eve of, or on, the new moon that occurs between mid-October and mid-November. In 2026, the main day of […]
• USPS highlights direct mail strategies at ANA Masters of Marketing Conference
  October 20, 2026
  ORLANDO, FL — The U.S. Postal Service is showcasing how cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence are revolutionizing direct mail and omnichannel strategy at the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) Annual Conference in Orlando. Taking place from October 20-23, the premier ANA Masters of Marketing Conference brings together chief marketing officers and senior brand leaders to […]
• U.S. Postal Service Says It’s Business as Usual for the 2026 Election
  October 20, 2026
  WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service recently held a briefing on its Election Mail processes and procedures to reiterate its commitment to the secure and timely delivery of ballots.
• Know the Facts About Fentanyl Semipostal Stamp Issued
  October 6, 2026
  BETHESDA, MD — Today the U.S. Postal Service issued a semipostal stamp, Know the Facts About Fentanyl, at a ceremony held at the National Institutes of Health.
• USPS to close for Columbus Day on Oct. 12
  October 5, 2026
  WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service will observe Columbus Day on Monday, October 12. All Post Office locations will be closed. Regular mail delivery and retail services will resume on Tuesday, October 13.

For more on the World Stamp Expo

BOSTON 2026 WORLD EXPO STAMP SHOW

May 23-30, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Sat. 5/23 - Friday 5/29) and Sat. 5/30 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
 Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210 in the Seaport District
Price: Free

Explore global and US history, one tiny painting at a time! Boston 2026 World Expo brings the global stamp community to Boston for eight days from May 23-30th, 2026. Held once every ten years, the event showcases world-class exhibits, dealers, presentations, and first day of issue ceremonies, all part of America’s 250th anniversary in the heart of one of America's most historic cities.

Spanning 352,000 contiguous square feet and sponsored by the US Postal Service, the exhibition will feature a comprehensive international experience, including a large dealer marketplace, an extensive array of foreign post offices, and a chance to talk with philatelic societies from around the world. At the heart of the expo will be a prestigious competitive exhibition with approximately 4,000 frames of exhibits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP), complemented by a special Court of Honor exhibition and a major literature competition.

Beyond exhibits, Boston 2026 will host hundreds of meetings, roundtable discussions, and presentations across 40 meeting rooms supporting education, collaboration, and international exchange. Signature events, including a large opening ceremony and a closing awards dinner, will create a unique and memorable experience for exhibitors, delegates, and visitors. History buffs, art lovers, ephemera and mail artists, scout troops, and youth groups are all welcome free of charge. 

Visit Boston2026.org for the latest.