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Day 1,390.Today, after another weekend of intense diplomatic activity, we take you to Berlin, where President Zelensky is meeting the American delegation – joined by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – as Europe seeks to reassert itself in the peace process. We also examine the surge in military activity over the weekend, which saw multiple cities plunged into blackout, before turning to Germany's rapidly evolving position, where comparisons are increasingly being drawn between today and the events that sparked the Second World War.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Zelensky gives up Nato ambitions in peace deal concession (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/14/zelensky-gives-up-nato-ambitions-in-peace-deal-concession/ MI6 chief warns Putin: We won't abandon Ukraine (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/15/mi6-chief-warns-putin-we-wont-abandon-ukraine/ FBI boss met with Ukraine's top peace negotiators (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/12/fbi-boss-ukraine-top-peace-negotiators/ Lithuania in state of emergency over smuggler balloons linked to Russia (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/09/lithuania-in-state-of-emergency-over-smuggler-balloons-link/ German tank-shaped Christmas calendar ‘glorifying war' (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/10/german-tank-shaped-christmas-calendar-glorifying-war/ New Ukrainian Polling:https://kiis.com.ua/ Chess-FIDE reinstates Russian and Belarusian teams in official contests (Reuters):https://www.reuters.com/sports/chess-fide-reinstates-russian-belarusian-teams-official-contests-2025-12-15/ ‘Disrupting Russian Air Defence Production: Reclaiming the Sky' (RUSI):https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/research-papers/disrupting-russian-air-defence-production-reclaiming-skyComprehensive approach to security: Federal Council launches consultation on Switzerland's security policy strategy (Swiss Government)https://www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/BLkWfUbUsXtBFoSj-krgUUN Press Page:https://press.un.org/enLISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Hollywood panics as Paramount Netflix battle for Warner Bros Anglesey family home being raffled for 5 a ticket Five arrested over plot to attack German Christmas market King Charles gives post box to Antarctic research staff Equality boss expects people to follow rules over single sex spaces Never give up Belarusian prisoners celebrate release after US lifts sanctions Revamp of train timetables comes into effect Kemi Badenoch Tories to scrap petrol ban if they win next election Binge watching 2025s Christmas films The good, the bad and the so bad its good Brown University shooting Manhunt continues after two killed and nine injured
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Five arrested over plot to attack German Christmas market Brown University shooting Manhunt continues after two killed and nine injured Revamp of train timetables comes into effect Hollywood panics as Paramount Netflix battle for Warner Bros Kemi Badenoch Tories to scrap petrol ban if they win next election Binge watching 2025s Christmas films The good, the bad and the so bad its good King Charles gives post box to Antarctic research staff Equality boss expects people to follow rules over single sex spaces Anglesey family home being raffled for 5 a ticket Never give up Belarusian prisoners celebrate release after US lifts sanctions
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Never give up Belarusian prisoners celebrate release after US lifts sanctions Brown University shooting Manhunt continues after two killed and nine injured King Charles gives post box to Antarctic research staff Equality boss expects people to follow rules over single sex spaces Hollywood panics as Paramount Netflix battle for Warner Bros Five arrested over plot to attack German Christmas market Revamp of train timetables comes into effect Binge watching 2025s Christmas films The good, the bad and the so bad its good Kemi Badenoch Tories to scrap petrol ban if they win next election Anglesey family home being raffled for 5 a ticket
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Five arrested over plot to attack German Christmas market Never give up Belarusian prisoners celebrate release after US lifts sanctions Brown University shooting Manhunt continues after two killed and nine injured Anglesey family home being raffled for 5 a ticket King Charles gives post box to Antarctic research staff Kemi Badenoch Tories to scrap petrol ban if they win next election Equality boss expects people to follow rules over single sex spaces Revamp of train timetables comes into effect Hollywood panics as Paramount Netflix battle for Warner Bros Binge watching 2025s Christmas films The good, the bad and the so bad its good
AP correspondent Rica Ann Garcia reports on the release of a Nobel Peace prize laureate and a key opposition leader by Belarusian authorities as the country moves to improve its ties with the US.
Episode 1854 - brought to you by our incredible sponsors: True Classic - Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/hardfactor #trueclassicpod RIDGE - Take advantage of Ridge's Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/HARDFACTOR #Ridgepod DaftKings - Download the DraftKings Casino app, sign up with code HARDFACTOR, and spin your favorite slots! The Crown is Yours - Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred GAMBLER Timestamps: 00:00:00 Story teases 00:04:04 What happened in 1854 00:06:21 Belarusian smuggler finally extradited to US to face trial immediately arrested by ICE for deportation 00:13:44 38% of Stanford students and other ivy league schools claim a learning disability 00:21:19 Royal Caribbean passenger, 33 years old, who died was served 33 drinks day of death 00:30:08 San Fran woman gives birth in Waymo 00:36:15 Australian social media ban Thank you for listening!! Go to patreon.com/hardfactor to join our community, get access to bonus pods, discord chat, and trivia with the hosts on Friday 12/12 - but most importantly: HAGFD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Deputies in Florida are confronted with a 130mph stolen-car crash after the driver claims he teleported into a BMW and says aliens were after him. The Trump administration moves to deport a Belarusian woman even as she faces major U.S. criminal charges, putting a years-long federal case at risk. Drew Nelson reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
PREVIEW — General Blaine Holt (USAF, Retired) — Russian Tactical Nuclear Weapons Deployment in Belarus. General Holt confirms credible intelligence reports documenting Russian Federation deployment of tactical nuclear weapons throughout Belarusian territory as part of a calculated strategic deterrence framework. Holt characterizes this nuclear positioning as a deliberate Russian strategic communication, intentionally ensuring that American intelligence collection systems detect these weapons systems to credibly demonstrate Moscow's resolve and existential commitment to military confrontation, thereby distinguishing this deployment from hollow threats or bluffing tactics. Holt emphasizes that this nuclear weaponization of Belarus represents a fundamental escalation in regional threat posture and North Atlantic Treaty Organization security concerns. 1910 VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
Kia ora,Welcome to Thursday's Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.And today we lead with news markets have essentially been on hold overnight awaiting the US Fed's decision.In the end, the Fed's FOMC trimmed its key rate by -25 bps to 3.75% as markets had guessed it would do. But it was not unanimous. The Trump stooge on the committee wanted a far larger cut. But the professional members fear inflation still and the small trim was the uneasy compromise. The voting was 9 members to cut by -25 bps, two to hold unchanged, and Miran wanting a big cut.Immediately after, the UST 10yr benchmark was active with a softish tone but really little-changed. the S&P500 rose, and the USD fell slightly. More reaction will come after Chairman Powell's press conference which is about to start soon.Earlier, the report on US mortgage applications was quite positive, up 4.8% last week from the week before which you may recall brought a small but unexpected retreat. The latest week however was all about refinance applications which were up +15% on that same prior week basis.An Q3-2025 data for US payroll compensation costs (pay plus payroll taxes plus benefits) were up +3.5% from a year ago, rising at about that rate in the latest quarter too. So American inflation isn't getting any respite from this direction.Quite how odd the US public policy has become is revealed in a current court case. US Federal prosecutors spent over a year extraditing a Belarusian woman to the US to face charges she illegally smuggled US tech to Russia for its war on Ukraine. Then ICE stepped in accusing her of being in the country illegally, and deported her, collapsing the case. Moscow smirked in satisfaction.In Canada, their central bank stood pat, holding their policy rate unchanged at 2.25% as widely expected. The say this is about the right level in the current uncertain environment. But they were surprised by the upside growth of GDP at +2.6% in the third quarter, found the labour market improvement better than anticipated as their unemployment rate fell. CPI inflation slowed to 2.2% in October and they see core inflation remaining in the 2.5% to 3% range.Across the Pacific in China, there was a slight rise in CPI inflation, enhance because the previous inflation was so low. Their inflation rose 0.7% in November from a year ago, as expected and accelerating from a +0.2% increase in October. This time, food price inflation was very low. It was the second consecutive month of consumer inflation and the fastest pace since February 2024.Meanwhile China's producer prices fell into a steeper deflation, down -2.2% in November from a year ago.And the IMF has raised its forecast for growth of the Chinese economy for 2025 and 2026, now expecting to see an expansion of +5.0% this year.And some influential analysts are saying the Chinese yuan is 25% undervalued and will appreciate more than forwards contracts are pricing for 2026.And in the EU, the ECB boss Christine Lagarde says they will likely raise their forecast for EU growth as well.In Australia, if you are retired and have assets, you need to pay a tax on a deemed rate of interest on your assets (irrespective of what they actually earn, if anything). That rate depends on how many assets you have. They raised it in September 2025 and have now signaled they will raise it again in March.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.16%, dipping -0.1 bp from this time yesterday and holding that after the Fed decision.The price of gold will start today at US$4204/oz, and down -US$17 from yesterday. And we should note again that silver has set a new record high, just under US$61/oz.American oil prices are little-changed at just om US$58/bbl, while the international Brent price is just under US$62/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is +10 bps firmer from yesterday, now at just under 57.9 USc. Against the Aussie though we are again essentially unchanged at 87.1 AUc. Against the euro we are down -10 bps at 49.7 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just over 62, and down -10 bps from yesterday.The bitcoin price starts today at US$92,274 and down -2.3% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been modest, at just over +/- 1.4%.You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again tomorrow.
On Europe Today, your daily Euronews podcast presented by Méabh Mc Mahon, we are joined by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled opposition leader of the Belarusian democratic movement. We also have an update from our EU editor Maria Tadeo on the US paper that shows President Trump's preference for Europe's far right. We finish today's episode with an update on crucial migration talks taking place in Brussels today.Europe Today is Euronews' daily podcast hosted by Maria Tadeo and Méabh Mc Mahon, broadcasting directly from Brussels, at the heart of Europe. Every morning, we deliver the top and exclusive stories shaping the European Union (EU) and beyond.Stay ahead with the key news and insights that matter in Europe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Belarusian pro-democracy activist Andrei Sannikov recently joined Beet editor Eilish Hart for a conversation recorded on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum. The interview focused on the Trump administration's growing engagement with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, including efforts to secure the release of more than a thousand political prisoners. In these negotiations, Lukashenko has leveraged a tactic honed by his regime over decades of authoritarian rule. Sannikov knows the consequences of that system firsthand. He ran against Lukashenko in the 2010 presidential election, was badly beaten by riot police, and served time in prison after protests erupted over the rigged vote. From exile, he has watched Minsk turn prisoner releases into bargaining chips, trading a few high-profile dissidents for sanctions relief and then refilling the prisons with new detainees. Against the backdrop of Trump's second term and renewed U.S.–Belarus engagement, Sannikov warned that Washington risks falling into a familiar trap. While the White House celebrates diplomatic “breakthroughs,” Lukashenko continues to imprison more Belarusians than he frees, raising the unsettling question of whether outreach to Minsk delivers any real progress or merely legitimizes repression. Timestamps for this episode: (3:06) Trump's second term and Belarus relations(9:48) Lukashenko's role in the Ukraine war(11:17) The geopolitical impact of Belarus breaking isolation(15:13) The future of Belarus: Neutrality vs. alliances(21:52) The importance of political prisoners and democratic resistanceКак поддержать нашу редакцию — даже если вы в России и вам очень страшно
In this episode, Adam and Nina are together in Brussels recording the latest updates on the news from the region. The biggest discussion is around the diplomatic flurry over the last week and the remodelled 28-point peace plan between the US, Russia and Ukraine. Adam reflects on the current situation and discusses what might be next. They also discuss Viktor Orban's visit to MoscowLater, Nina sits down in Brussels with Peter Vermeersch, a professor of Politics and Eastern European Studies at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven, Belgium), and a writer of essays, reportage, and narrative non-fiction. They discuss his latest book Pollslag (Pulse) and, more broadly, the role of music as a form of resistance against authoritarianism beyond Belarus.During the interview, Peter mentions several artists featured in this Spotify playlist:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3YmjGTewBHutfgJWUOASiD?si=jcJ-lu-OSj6dr8csRAf8PAPollslag was initially written for a Belgian audience, and Peter is now planning to translate it into English. In the meantime, you can read his non-fiction story about his family to get a sense of his narrative style: https://petervermeersch.craft.me/hbzUOUDh9tgMxIPeter is also part of the Forum on Central and Eastern Europe at the University of Leuven, which aims to bring insights from the region to Belgian audiences: https://fcee.beThe Forum also produces its own podcast, Studio Central Eastern Europe, offering brief and concise insights into new research on the region for English-speaking audiences: https://soc.kuleuven.be/lines/fcee/fcee-studio/studio-ceePeter also works as a researcher–photographer. His photographs from Minsk (2016) can be found here: https://vsco.co/petervermeersch/journal/belarusAnd read Adam's op-ed on the Ukraine peace talks via Brief Eastern Europe: https://briefeasterneurope.eu/p/december-1-2025For our Patrons, Peter stayed on to speak about visual art and Belarusian pro-democracy activism outside of Belarus. The bonus content can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-247-145134701
Reporting live from Web Summit Lisbon 2025, where AIdominates every stage, one story stands out amid the tech frenzy: Belarus 2.0.In an exclusive interview with Belarus President-in-exile, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, we learn how thousands ofBelarusian tech founders, forced to flee persecution and imprisonment, are now launching startups across Europe, keeping innovation alive despite being in exile.Separately, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is working on rebuilding Belarus itself — creating a vision for a free, digital-first, democratic nation, ready to emerge without the influence of Putin or Lukashenko.For the first time ever, Belarus has a stand at Web Summit,symbolizing hope, resilience, and the power of echnology as a tool for both innovation and national renewal.The show is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.Production Manager: Liz TuohyEditor: Ania Lichtarowicz For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/Follow us on the socials:Join our Facebook groupInstagramBlueSky If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Contact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.co Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484 Find a Story + Make it News = Change the WorldLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this gripping conversation, Belarusian legal expert and exiled journalist Natalia Belikova explains how disinformation in Belarus isn't just a tactic; it's the regime's operating system.She describes how the Lukashenko government has built an alternative reality, where familiar words like “democracy,” “elections,” and “human rights” are redefined to serve state power. In a sometimes emotional interview, Natalia shares what it's like to be exiled from your home, to lose colleagues to prison, and to raise children abroad while fighting to preserve your national identity. She also issues a warning to Western democracies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Featuring music from Sweden's Anna von Hausswolf, new music from Australia's Belair Lip Bombs, the Belarusian artist SOYUZ + more!
Not long ago, the documentary film « Politzek » was premiered on French television. It was made by two women – one French and one Russian – and is dedicated to political prisoners in Putin's Russia. Manon Loizeau is an experienced documentary filmmaker who has filmed in Grozny during the Second Chechen War, in Beslan, Belarus, Syria, Georgia in 2008, and other hot spots. Ekaterina Mamontova was born and raised in Moscow. In 2015, she graduated from VGIK, the most prestigious film school in Russia. For the past three years, she has been collaborating with independent Russian and foreign media outlets, shooting short documentary projects for them. Yesterday we caught up with Manon and Katya in a café in Paris to talk about how they managed to make such a film in Russia today under Putin, about their collaboration, and about their film « Politzek ». [You can watch Manon and Katya discussing the film on the French channel TV5Monde here.] This podcast was recorded on 30 October 2025.QuestionsManon, let's start with you—is this a very significant film for you? After all, in your voiceover at the beginning of the film you say: “Russia is my beloved country, the country I chose when I was 20 years old…” In what sense did you “choose Russia”? To what end?Tell us about the process of making the film. What was it like?I understand that meeting Katya was key. Tell us about your first meeting.What did you want to show the viewer or convey to them about the situation in modern Russia?The film says that it was important for you, Katya, to bear witness to what happened in Russia. How did you understand this for yourself?Katya, were there any moments in your professional or personal life that inspired you in your choice of career?Manon, what tasks did you set for Katya? Were they achievable?What did you think, Katya? How did you react?What measures did you take to keep Katya safe?Tell us about your collaboration, how did you work together remotely?Tell us briefly about the people are showcased in the film. What guided you in your choice? Did you already know some of them?Katya, did you use your phone to film or a proper film camera?How did that work, given that there was a risk of the video being confiscated or something even worse? Were there moments when you were afraid?Katya, at one point in the film you suggest filming a group, set up by some of your friends, who are writing letters to political prisoners. Tell us how that happened. It's amazing that they continue to meet to write letters to prisoners to this day. Or has something changed?What kind of feedback did you get about the film?Manon, at the beginning of the film, you mention the horrifying number of political prisoners in Russia today. In the credits, you write that the film is dedicated to Belarusian political prisoners and Ukrainians in Russian prisons. The credits are accompanied by photos of many people, political prisoners who are still serving time for their political views. Were there any people you wanted to talk about but couldn't reach?What are your plans for the future? Both for yourself and for the film? Manon? Katya?
WSUS attacks escalate as emergency patch fails to fully contain exploited flaw. Schneider Electric and Emerson are listed among victims in the Oracle EBS cyberattack. Google debunks reports of a massive GMail breach. A new banking trojan mimics human behavior for stealth. Sweden's power grid operator confirms a cyberattack. Italian spyware targets Russian and Belarusian organizations. The U.S. declines to sign the new UN cyber treaty. Ransomware payments fall to record lows. U.S. Cyber Chief calls for a “clean American tech stack” to counter China's global surveillance push. On today's Threat Vector segment, David Moulton speaks with two cybersecurity leaders from Palo Alto Networks: Sarit Tager and Krithivasan Mecheri. AI mistakes Doritos for a deadly weapon. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. Threat Vector On today's Threat Vector segment, David Moulton speaks with two cybersecurity leaders from Palo Alto Networks: Sarit Tager and Krithivasan Mecheri (Krithi). Together, they dive into the urgent challenges of securing modern development in the age of AI and "Shifting Security Left". You can listen to their full conversation here, and catch new episodes every Thursday on your favorite podcast app. Selected Reading Microsoft WSUS attacks hit 'multiple' orgs, Google warns (The Register) Industrial Giants Schneider Electric and Emerson Named as Victims of Oracle Hack (SecurityWeek) Google says talk of Gmail breach impacting millions not true (The Register) 'Herodotus' Android Trojan Mimics Human Sluggishness (Gov Infosecurity) Hackers Target Swedish Power Grid Operator (SecurityWeek) Italian-made spyware spotted in breaches of Russian, Belarusian systems (The Record) US declines to join more than 70 countries in signing UN cybercrime treaty (The Record) Ransomware profits drop as victims stop paying hackers (Bleeping Computer) National cyber director says U.S. needs to counter Chinese surveillance, push American tech (CyberScoop) Armed police handcuff teen after AI mistakes crisp packet for gun in US (BBC News) Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show. Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry's most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
FIS Votes to Exclude Russian, Belarusian Athletes from Milano Cortina Qualifiers
As the Beatles almost sang, we're BACK… in the UK! Remember, if you want a question answered, you can DM us @tennisunfilteredpod on Instagram or email us on tennisunfiltered at gmail dot com **** This week, he's jet-lagged and jaded, but Calvin Betton is back from his sojourn in the Far East, George Bellshaw is bang up for his head to head and James Gray is just trying to keep everyone calm. Here are the stories they discussed… 00:00 Welcome back to Tennis Unfiltered 01:27 Your questions answered 23:43 Valentin Vacherot made history as the lowest ranked Masters champion ever, beating his own cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the Shanghai final having knocked out Novak Djokovic in the semi-final - and Rinderknech revealed afterwards that he had thought about quitting tennis only a few months before, but was helped through his rough patch by coach Lucas Pouille 40:28 For his own part, Djokovic was a surprise entrant in Shanghai and was pushed to his limit by Yannick Hanfmann, Jaume Munar and Zizou Bergs before Vacherot finished the job in the last four 51:15 Coco Gauff triumphed in Wuhan, a rare one-week Masters, but her run to the title hardly felt impressive given the players she beat, including 11 breaks of serve in two sets against Jasmine Paolini and then a more credible win against former doubles partner Jessica Pegula 58:51 Aryna Sabalenka had been unbeaten at the event since 2018 but she was downed by Pegula in the semi-finals, but not before the Belarusian had sewn up year-end world No 1 for the second time in a row 01:03:07 Jack Draper has appointed Jamie Delgado, a former coach of Andy Murray, to work with him ahead of the 2026 season - but long-time coach James Trotman is very much still involved, and simply wants to travel less on the main tour 01:04:46 Goncalo Oliveira, a Portuguese-born player who represents Venezuela, has been banned for four years after testing positive for methamphetamine last year. He claimed that a girl he met in a bar in Mexico, who did testify at the tribunal, had taken drugs that evening and contaminated him through kissing - but the director of the lab that tested the samples said that there was between “four and 36” times too much methamphetamine in his system to have been transferred by kissing 01:07:27 Under a trial scheme, the ITIA are offering up to $5k in costs to players who want to test supplements or medication at a Wada lab, or to investigate meds contamination. The package also includes a degree of free legal support and confidential third-party counselling. And the PTPA already offers free support from two law firms. The trial is going to run until the end of next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As the Beatles almost sang, we're BACK… in the UK! Remember, if you want a question answered, you can DM us @tennisunfilteredpod on Instagram or email us on tennisunfiltered at gmail dot com **** This week, he's jet-lagged and jaded, but Calvin Betton is back from his sojourn in the Far East, George Bellshaw is bang up for his head to head and James Gray is just trying to keep everyone calm. Here are the stories they discussed… 00:00 Welcome back to Tennis Unfiltered 01:27 Your questions answered 23:43 Valentin Vacherot made history as the lowest ranked Masters champion ever, beating his own cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the Shanghai final having knocked out Novak Djokovic in the semi-final - and Rinderknech revealed afterwards that he had thought about quitting tennis only a few months before, but was helped through his rough patch by coach Lucas Pouille 40:28 For his own part, Djokovic was a surprise entrant in Shanghai and was pushed to his limit by Yannick Hanfmann, Jaume Munar and Zizou Bergs before Vacherot finished the job in the last four 51:15 Coco Gauff triumphed in Wuhan, a rare one-week Masters, but her run to the title hardly felt impressive given the players she beat, including 11 breaks of serve in two sets against Jasmine Paolini and then a more credible win against former doubles partner Jessica Pegula 58:51 Aryna Sabalenka had been unbeaten at the event since 2018 but she was downed by Pegula in the semi-finals, but not before the Belarusian had sewn up year-end world No 1 for the second time in a row 01:03:07 Jack Draper has appointed Jamie Delgado, a former coach of Andy Murray, to work with him ahead of the 2026 season - but long-time coach James Trotman is very much still involved, and simply wants to travel less on the main tour 01:04:46 Goncalo Oliveira, a Portuguese-born player who represents Venezuela, has been banned for four years after testing positive for methamphetamine last year. He claimed that a girl he met in a bar in Mexico, who did testify at the tribunal, had taken drugs that evening and contaminated him through kissing - but the director of the lab that tested the samples said that there was between “four and 36” times too much methamphetamine in his system to have been transferred by kissing 01:07:27 Under a trial scheme, the ITIA are offering up to $5k in costs to players who want to test supplements or medication at a Wada lab, or to investigate meds contamination. The package also includes a degree of free legal support and confidential third-party counselling. And the PTPA already offers free support from two law firms. The trial is going to run until the end of next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What does bold faith look like when the cost is everything?In this powerful episode of the 55:11 Podcast, Dirk Smith and Brooke Kehl are joined by Lanny Tucker, Monty Tuttle, and Jim Black to reflect on their recent journey through the Baltics. Around kitchen tables and in quiet conversations, they heard testimonies of courage, exile, and hope—from a Belarusian family who risked it all to follow Christ, to local leaders once caught in addiction and despair, now shepherding others with the gospel, to a woman whose life was radically transformed from generational witchcraft to radiant faith in Jesus.These stories are raw, humbling, and unforgettable. They reveal not only the weight of persecution but the beauty of perseverance, and the unstoppable power of God's Word in the darkest places. If you've ever wondered what it really means to follow Jesus when it costs everything—or if you need encouragement to keep pressing on in your own walk of faith—this episode is for you.Download the Baltics Trip Report: https://www.eem.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Baltics-Trip-Report_Podcast-.pdf Follow us on: PRAY.COMShow Notes:Follow us on: PRAY.COMConnect with EEM:EEM WebsiteEEM FacebookEEM LinkedInEEM InstagramEEM Media
In this episode of War & Peace, Olga and Elissa speak with Valery Kavaleuski, former Belarusian diplomat and Executive Director of the Euro-Atlantic Affairs Agency, about Minsk's evolving foreign policy and how it is constrained by enduring Russian influence. They discuss the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercise Zapad 2025, which took place just after 19 Russian drones crossed into Poland, heightening tensions between NATO and Moscow. They unpack Belarus' continued participation in the Vienna Document, its recent engagement with Washington, which seems to have led to prisoner releases in exchange for sanctions relief, and whether the EU and its members should adopt a more pragmatic approach when engaging with Minsk. They also look at the future of Belarus' domestic politics, the prospects for dialogue between the opposition and the Lukashenka government, and what a post-Lukashenka Belarus might look like.This episode was made possible through extra-budgetary funding from the OSCE. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE.For more, check out our Belarus and Europe & Central Asia pages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Ian talks with Cartoonist Aaron Losty about his new graphic novel, The Hanging, out now from Strangers Publishing. Among other topics, they discuss formative works, collaboration, and making genre comics for a small press audience. In the back half, they talk about Aaron's experience as a co-founder of Cartoonist Cooperative, the state of the organization three years after its inception, decision-making processes, and recent campaigns. Apologies for the audio quality of the interview. Aaron Losty Bluesky: @aaronlosty.bsky.social Instagram: @aaronlosty Patreon: patreon.com/aaronlosty Website: aaronlosty.com Cartoonist Cooperative Bluesky: @cartoonist.coop email: hello@cartoonistcoop Instagram: @cartoonistcoop Mastodon.art: @cartoonist.coop Tumblr: @cartoonistcoop Website: cartoonist.coop YouTube: @cartoonistcoop Strangers Publishing Bluesky: @Strangers.bsky.social Instagram: @strangers_publishing Website: strangerspublishing.com Then we share a portion of an interview from September of 2024 about the case of the H5, 5 people who were facing criminal criminal charges of human trafficking for providing humanitarian aid to refugees crossing the Polish and Belarusian border through the ancient Bieloweza forest. In this interview, we spoke with a member of Szpilla anti-repression collective. The members of the H5 case were acquitted this month in a legal victory, though the state might renew it's accusation. Meanwhile, with fly-overs by Russian drones and planes in Estonia and Poland, we see an increasing militarization of the border from states on both sides. Episode 1 on the Green Border Episode 2 on the Green Border
Russia and Belarus have been staging joint military drills in an apparent message of strength to the West, but the relationship between US President Donald Trump and authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko seems to be warming.Dozens of political prisoners have been freed from Belarusian prisons as part of a deal between the two countries, and some sanctions on Belarus have been eased. President Trump even sent Mr Lukashenko some cufflinks as a birthday gift.The BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg joins us to describe witnessing the drills close up, and give his take on the apparent thawing of relations.Plus, we speak to Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who's currently in exile in Lithuania.Today's episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The social producer was Grace Braddock. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast's Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord
pWotD Episode 3049: Aryna Sabalenka Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 365,134 views on Saturday, 6 September 2025 our article of the day is Aryna Sabalenka.Aryna Siarhiejeŭna Sabalenka (born 5 May 1998) is a Belarusian professional tennis player. She is currently the world No. 1 in women's singles by the WTA, and is a former world No. 1 in doubles. Sabalenka has won 21 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including four majors – two at the Australian Open and two at the US Open – as well as nine WTA 1000 events. She has also won six doubles titles, including the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open, both partnering with Elise Mertens.Sabalenka came to prominence in 2017 when, together with Aliaksandra Sasnovich, she led the Belarus Fed Cup team to a runner-up finish even though both were ranked outside the top 75 at the time. She finished 2018 and 2019 ranked No. 11 in the world in singles. Following two major singles semifinal appearances in 2021, Sabalenka rose to the world No. 2 ranking but struggled to maintain that success in 2022 consistently. In 2023, she won her first major singles title at the Australian Open and obtained the world No. 1 ranking, being named the ITF World Champion for the season. Sabalenka successfully defended her Australian Open title and won the US Open the following year, clinching the year-end No. 1 ranking. In 2025, she defended her title at the US Open, and finished as the runner-up at the Australian and French Opens.Sabalenka began playing doubles regularly in 2019. With Mertens as her partner, she found instant success by winning the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami) that same year. After the US Open doubles title later in the season, she qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time. With the 2021 Australian Open doubles title, Sabalenka became the world No. 1 in the discipline, after which she shifted to playing exclusively singles.Sabalenka has an aggressive style of play, often accumulating high numbers of winners and unforced errors. With her height, she also displays powerful serves.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:40 UTC on Sunday, 7 September 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Aryna Sabalenka on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Matthew.
Gary Vaynerchuk, commonly known as Gary Vee, is an influential entrepreneur, speaker, and internet personality, best known for his expertise in digital marketing and social media. Starting his career in his family's wine business, Gary's innovative approach to e-commerce and content creation catapulted the business from a local enterprise to a national leader in wine retail. He later founded VaynerMedia, a leading digital agency that services Fortune 500 clients across the globe. In this episode, Gary shares his unfiltered insights on the dynamics of building and scaling businesses, the evolution of consumer engagement, and the relentless pursuit of hustle. He opens up about his journey from a Belarusian immigrant to a global business mogul, reflecting on the impact of his heritage on his work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. With his characteristic candor and deep passion for empowering others, Gary offers listeners not only a glimpse into the competitive world of digital marketing but also imparts profound lessons on perseverance, vision, and personal branding.Timestamps:00:00 - Gary Vee discusses the early influence of social media on his content creation, specifically Twitter.03:02 - A discussion on strategic moves in poker and their parallels to business decisions.06:02 - Gary shares his experience of working in his father's store during college and the lessons learned.09:02 - The conversation covers the significant impact of actions in leadership and business.12:02 - Gary talks about the inception of his agency and his disbelief at the scale of corporate engagement in the late 2000s.15:05 - Reflections on personal moments, including a honeymoon in Hawaii and the settings that influenced his life.18:05 - A hypothetical scenario is discussed where a major social platform is forced to sell, reflecting on the potential impacts.21:06 - Discussion of missed opportunities and the financial implications of quick decisions in business.24:07 - Gary Vee emphasizes the power of word-of-mouth in marketing and personal convictions.27:09 - Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of Super Bowl advertising and its comparison to other marketing platforms.30:10 - Advice for professionals feeling dissatisfied with their job, stressing the importance of commitment and effort.33:10 - Gary discusses the importance of setting goals and the effectiveness of writing them down.36:12 - A personal reflection on family dynamics and the distribution of affection among siblings.39:15 - Gary shares his views on retirement, emphasizing his desire to never stop working.42:18 - Thoughts on legacy and giving back, including advice Gary would offer to his younger self.In Search of Excellence Podcast - with Randall KaplanListen to this episode on the go!Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-search-of-excellence/id1579184310Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23q0XICUDIchVrkXBR0i6LOne-on One Coaching: I coach a select group of high achievers on how to elevate their careers, grow their businesses, and unlock their full potential. Apply Here = https://www.randallkaplan.com/coachingFollow Randall!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randallkaplanTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@randall_kaplanTwitter / X: https://x.com/RandallKaplanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallkaplan/Website: https://www.randallkaplan.com/Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn
Ostap Slyvynsky is a Ukrainian poet, essayist, translator, literary critic, and academic. He is the author of several collections of poetry and was a recipient of Ukrainian and international literary awards. He is also noted for translating several works of fiction from other languages into Ukrainian. He is the author of five poetry collections, numerous essays, columns, and reviews in Ukrainian and foreign periodicals. His works have been translated into 16 languages. He translates fiction and scholarly literature from English, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Polish, and Russian. ----------DESCRIPTION:The Language of War: A Conversation with Ostap Slyvynsky in OdesaIn this captivating episode, we are joined by Ostap Slyvynsky, a translator, writer, and associate professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University, to discuss his book, 'Dictionary of War'. The conversation delves into the spontaneous creation of the book amidst the backdrop of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the profound changes in wartime language, and the manipulation and distortion of terms like 'war' and 'peace' by Russian propaganda. The episode further explores the challenges and psychological defenses in Ukrainian society facing the ongoing war, the concept of victory, and the broader implications of Ukraine's role as a frontier of democratic values against authoritarian regimes. Tune in for an in-depth analysis of language, propaganda, and the enduring spirit of Ukraine.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:41 The Spontaneous Creation of 'Dictionary of War'03:05 Language Evolution in Wartime04:44 The Semantics of War and Peace07:25 Russian Propaganda and the Concept of War11:00 Ukraine's Role and Identity in the Conflict22:16 The Future of Ukraine and Democratic Values32:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts----------LINKS:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostap_Slyvynskyhttps://www.wordsforwar.com/ostap-slyvynsky-biohttps://pen.org.ua/en/members/slyvynskyj-ostaphttps://brooklynrail.org/2024/10/books/ostap-slyvynsky-winter-king/https://lithub.com/the-sky-is-innocent-new-writing-by-ukrainian-poet-ostap-slyvynsky/https://chytomo.com/en/authors/ostap-slyvynsky/----------BOOKS: A Ukrainian Dictionary of War (2024)Grace Mahoney (Translator), Taras Malkovych (Translator), Ostap Slyvynsky (Compiler)(Poetry)The Winter King, (Lviv, 2018)Adam, (Chernivtsi, 2012)Driven by Fire (2009)Ball in the Darkness (Kyiv, 2008)Midday Line, (Khmelnyts'ky-Kyiv, 2004)Sacrifice of Big Fish, (Lviv, 1998)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Russia cancels its Navy Day parade, citing vague “security concerns,” as its Black Sea Fleet continues to take major losses—from drone attacks to sunken flagships and a naval blockade that Ukraine has effectively broken without even having a navy. A disturbing new report reveals Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are training for a ground invasion of Israel, 1,200 miles away. The mission is named after Hamas' October 7th attack. Thailand and Cambodia reach a cease-fire agreement after their deadliest border conflict in over a decade leaves dozens dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. And in today's Back of the Brief—A major cyberattack paralyzes Aeroflot, Russia's flagship airline, grounding over 100 flights. A Ukrainian and Belarusian hacker alliance claims responsibility. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. 866-885-1881 or visit https://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB - NMLS 182334, https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A press freedom special with Georgian journalist Tamar Kintsurashvili on the worsening situation for media workers in the country gripped by protests. Also: Natalia Belikova, international lawyer at Press Club Belarus, on how Belarusian exile journalists are fairing. Then, Olga Rudenko, editor-in-chief of the Kyiv Independent, talks about the situation for journalists during the war in Ukraine.
Olympic Champion, Kaylia Nemour speaks up about her gym change; Parkettes coach banned and we preview this week's US Classic. GymCastic LIVE in CHICAGO this Friday: Tickets HERE Get Tickets before they sell out HEADLINES What does the LA28 schedule tell us about the Mixed Team event? The schedule for LA 2028: Artistic Gymnastics July 15-20 and 22-25, Trampoline July 21, Rhythmic Gymnastics from July 27-29 The FIG revised its rules regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. Will this make it easier for them to compete in international competition? Kaylia Nemour opens up about her decision to leave Avoine-Beaumont Just a reminder, her coach was fired from his national coaching role because of his abusive training methods and later exonerated via investigation. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos posted on Instagram that she had surgery Two coaches at Parkettes, John Holman and Robin Netwall, have been suspended by SafeSport for alleged misconduct. Parkette elite Amber Trani spoke up about her experience Related: A Quitter's Try – The CNN Parkettes Documentary (Commissioned) Classic Preview: What are the stakes of this meet? What score do gymnasts need to qualify to Championships? Who needs to be at Classics and who doesn't? What scores do you want to reach to be in contention for a Worlds team spot? Who are the top all-around gymnasts here? What can we expect to see from Leanne Wong, Joscelyn Roberson, and Lexi Zeiss - all making their 2025 elite debuts What event specialists are we most excited to see? Do we think Leanne and Joscelyn have their Chengs back? Are there any U.S. gymnasts you would take to Worlds as a bars specialist? Where do Jayla Hang, Hezly Rivera, and Tiana Sumanasekera fall on the beam hierarchy? Can anyone break into 14-territory on floor? Why we are excited to see Reese Esponda and Myli Lew on the roster The artistry checklist, brought to you by Nola Matthews Code Changes You Need to Know About Part Two The FIG is so done with your Tkatchev-half variations and is devaluing all of them The double layout 1/1 dismount was upgraded to an F so expect to see more of those Hallelujah because forward Stalders, or Endos, are being upgraded to a D-skill! What's the precision rule? Link to helpful thread from Pamchenkova. Example of a -0.1 precision Ricna Example of Ricna with no precision deductions The "we care about your ligaments" rule on bars Why Karina Schoenmaier probably loves the new 0.2 bonus for vaults that have different post-flight directions Gymternet News: Alicia Zhou won the all-around at American Classic with a 52.350, qualifying her to Nationals next month Alabama Gymnastics and the self-reported NCAA violation uh-oh Junior Worlds will be heading to the Philippines this year! ICYMI Chuso took home vault silver at the Tashkent World Challenge Cup on her 50th birthday #Chusothings Ruben Padilla won the World Cup title at the Coimbra World Cup with a new world D-score record! Sam Peszek got engaged! Check out her Instagram announcement Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos' must-watch mini documentary, Golden Soul, is out on YouTube. Check it out here Clemson cleaning up: Paige Anastasi (UCLA), Ella Cesario (Cal), and Sophie Stuart (incoming freshman) will join Clemon for the 2025-2026 season Riley McCusker (Florida) and Alexis Jeffrey (LSU) announced their comebacks for a fifth year Amy Smith fired with cause: new information from The State obtained documents that clarified Smith was fired with cause aka Clemson does not need to pay her buyout All about our new logo UP NEXT: Live Show July 18th LIVE FROM US CLASSIC IN CHICAGO: Instant Recap podcast on Saturday about an hour after senior session two ends. July 28th podcast: Drag icon, actor and Drag Race winner, Katya Zamolodchikova joins us for a gymnastics coffee klatch episode. BONUS PODCASTS Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes Q&A show. Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and get access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, early bird discounts on live shows, two extra podcasts: Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails. Not sure about joining the club? Here are some samples. MERCH GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast! Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store NEWSLETTERS Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters RESOURCES Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim The Gymternet Nations Database Just added Group Commission: Pantheon of Gymnastics RESISTANCE Submitted by our listeners. Action ResistBot Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes 5Calls App will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you Indivisible Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment, check it out: indivisi.org/muskorus LITIGATION: Donate or volunteer for organizations suing the administration for illegal actions Lawsuit tracker by subject ACLU Southern Poverty Law Center Northwest Immigration Law Project Stay Informed: 6 Tools for Tracking the Trump Administration's Attacks on Civil Liberties Podcasts: Amicus Daily Beans Pod Save America Strict Scrutiny Immigrant Rights Know Your Rights Red Cards We Have Rights Video ACLU: Your Rights
We are back on the Tiger Bloc Podcast! This episode, we've got returning guest “Charlie,” with us to talk about Belarusian foreign fighters in Ukraine fighting against Russia. You may remember Charlie from our podcast with Ukrainian mutual aid group Solidarity Collectives. An underreported aspect of the war in Ukraine is the participation of Belarusian political dissidents fighting on the Ukrainian side. Charlie is Belarusian, and with John Chinaman, she discusses the recent history of the authoritarian Lukashenko regime and the people who fled. After Russia invaded Ukraine (again) in 2022, Charlie explains why people like her fight, how they're organized, and her experiences as a combat medic. It was a privilege to be able to talk to her about her work and the people who have their lives fighting against fascism. John and Charlie also talk about Marsy, a comrade to Charlie and so many other antifascists in Ukraine. A veteran of the revolution in Rojava, Marsy was killed fighting near Avdiivka on November 11, 2023. To support Charlie, donate for our friends with Solidarity Collectives, @solidaritycollectives on Instagram For more of Charlie and Marsy, check out this interview from SolCol: https://youtu.be/2Sdc6BY-ZB4Another great interview with Charlie: https://youtu.be/qViY9VJZsagMusic credit:Palm Tree Jam by Ronin SaediListen to more: https://viennaundergroundtraxx.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic-conscious https://open.spotify.com/artist/1BxaGq5S5A6Bck2DquttJM
Why is Georgia drifting toward authoritarianism? Why is its current government aligning more closely with Russia and blaming its predecessors for Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia? How are the histories of Ukraine and Georgia deeply intertwined—and why are these two countries key to understanding Eastern Europe? My name is Volodymyr Yermolenko. I am a Ukrainian philosopher, the chief editor of UkraineWorld, and the president of PEN Ukraine. My guest today is Tornike Gordadze, former Georgian State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration. He currently teaches at Sciences Po and the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris. We recorded this conversation in Tbilisi during the vibrant Zeg Festival, where both Tornike and I were participants. The Explaining Ukraine podcast is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine, run by Internews Ukraine. You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld. Your support is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also help fund our volunteer trips to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we support both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** Contents: 00:00 – Tornike Gordadze, a former Georgian minister 01:35 – Does the Russian imperialism connect Georgia and Ukraine? 02:53 – Georgians fight for Ukraine. Why? 06:00 – The Russian war methodology in Georgia and Ukraine 08:00 – The NATO Missed Chance: Bucharest Summit 2008 and its consequences 10:10 – How did the West's fear empower Russia? 15:00 – Georgia, Syria, Ukraine: Russia didn't pay any price for the interventions 17:00 – The West was not strong 19:00 – Georgia's Transformation: From Rose Revolution to political decay 20:22 – Why is Russia afraid of the successful democracies next door? 24:04 – Who was Saakashvili? 26:30 – The rise of Georgian Dream - did Russia win? 28:59 – Russian or Belarusian playbook in Georgia 30:57 – Why would Georgia destroy all connections with the West? 33:40 – Why does Orban support the Georgia authorities? 36:15 – Bratislava speech of Macron: Russia is not only a threat to Ukraine but also to Europe 38:30 – Two shocks for Europe 40:16 – The future of the European continent is in danger – Gordadze
Day 4 of Wimbledon 2025 delivered high drama, standout performances and a deflating day for the Brits. Jack Draper lost out to veteran Marin Cilic who rolled back the years and reminded us just why he is a Grand Slam champion and a former Wimbledon finalist. It leaves Jack Draper once again coming unstuck against a 10/10 opponent and not quite living up to the hype at Majors which the gang discuss. Novak Djokovic also showed no signs of slowing down as he defeated Britain's Dan Evans convincingly, exacting revenge on that Monte Carlo reverse in 2021. Does he look the best he has done in his quest for Grand Slam 25? Quite possibly. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner also cruised past Aleksandar Vukic in straight sets. In the women's draw, Iga Swiatek (and resident Wimbledon towel thief) staged a strong comeback against Caty McNally, and defending champion Barbora Krejcikova advanced after a tough battle with Caroline Dolehide. Elena Rybakina and rising star Mirra Andreeva also booked spots in the third round with Joel assessing the teen queen's chances on grass after she stated earlier in the year that the surface is her least favourite. We also look ahead to the epic showdown of Sabalenka vs. Raducanu and wonder just how much can the British crowd try and get into the Belarusian's head as the third round kicks off.BABOLATBabolat are an official partner of Wimbledon and their Wimbledon collaboration collection is available to purchase now from babolat.com SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show tennisweeklypod@gmail.com.MERCHPurchase Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Serbia is home to a large Russian and Belarusian community, which has increased in number since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But the small Balkan country was already a popular destination for Russians and Belarusians looking to move abroad. Among this older population of Russian and Belarusian immigrants, those who want to adopt Serbian nationality have been facing administrative difficulties for the past two years, resulting in them becoming stateless. FRANCE 24's Laurent Rouy, Aleksandar Cvrkotic, Edward Godsell and Paul Murray report.
There is little doubt about who the best player in the women's game is right now. Aryna Sabalenka has cemented her status as world number one in the past 12 months, and has made the final in five of the past six Grand Slams where she has been fit to start the tournament.However, despite consistently high form the Belarusian has lost both major finals she has contested in 2025 and much like Jannik Sinner in the men's sport is yet to win a Grand Slam away from her favoured hard courts.Sabalenka is a clear and deserving favourite for Wimbledon. If you were to construct the ideal player for this surface you would pick her. She possesses a huge serve, can hit her opponents off the court and has recently developed variety that her elite peers would dream of having in their arsenal.
The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites. The UN chief, Antonio Guterres, said that diplomacy and dialogue must prevail to prevent the Middle East from falling into a cycle of retaliation. We'll hear from a former security official in President Trump's first administration and assess the extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear operation caused by the US attacks.Also in the programme: We speak to the wife of the Belarusian dissident Siarhei Tsikhanouski who has been released after five years in prison; and Syrian rescue workers say at least fifteen people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a church in the capital Damascus.(Picture: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses delegates during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Credit: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
The Belarusian activist Sergey Tikhanovsky, husband of the exiled opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was freed in a surprise release along with several other prisoners. Also in the programme: a resident of Tehran tells us why he hasn't left the city during the Israeli bombardment; and why the UK plans to map the DNA of new-born babies. (Photo: Belarusian opposition politician Svetlana hugs her freed husband Sergey. Credit: Shutterstock)
On the show this time, it’s the Belarusian synth-pop of Molchat Doma. Molchat Doma is a post-punk, synth-pop, new-wave electronic band from Minsk, Belarus. They formed in 2017, self-releasing their debut album S krysh nashikh domov, which translates to “From the Roofs of Our Houses." It was later picked up and re-released by the German label Detriti Records, along with their second album in 2018, Etazhi (or "Floors”). The two records gained popularity mainly through an unauthorized upload on YouTube and the band started selling out shows all across Europe. In 2020 they signed with Sacred Bones, and prepared to tour the US. Their song “Sudno” went viral on TikTok, alongside the “closet tour challenge” in which content creators edited together photos of themselves in all the outfits in their closets while the song played. They released their third album, Monument, but their tour was canceled due to the pandemic. Their latest is Belaya Polosa, or "White Stripe," available now on Sacred Bones records. Recorded March 3, 2025 Ty Zhe Ne Znaesh Kto Ya Belaya Polosa Tancevat Sudno Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On the show this time, it’s the Belarusian synth-pop of Molchat Doma. Molchat Doma is a post-punk, synth-pop, new-wave electronic band from Minsk, Belarus. They formed in 2017, self-releasing their debut album S krysh nashikh domov, which translates to “From the Roofs of Our Houses." It was later picked up and re-released by the German label Detriti Records, along with their second album in 2018, Etazhi (or "Floors”). The two records gained popularity mainly through an unauthorized upload on YouTube and the band started selling out shows all across Europe. In 2020 they signed with Sacred Bones, and prepared to tour the US. Their song “Sudno” went viral on TikTok, alongside the “closet tour challenge” in which content creators edited together photos of themselves in all the outfits in their closets while the song played. They released their third album, Monument, but their tour was canceled due to the pandemic. Their latest is Belaya Polosa, or "White Stripe," available now on Sacred Bones records. Recorded March 3, 2025 Ty Zhe Ne Znaesh Kto Ya Belaya Polosa Tancevat Sudno Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Goodness gracious Gauff! The American has won her first ever Roland Garros title and second overall Grand Slam singles crown with a Parisian rollercoaster of a victory against the World Number 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Join Joel and Chris at Tennis Weekly HQ as they reflect on the final in Paris and begin to unpack where the battle was won and lost. The duo talk about those *70* unforced errors that came off the Belarusian's racket and what makes the Gauff match up such a tricky test for her. They question whether Sabalenka needs a better Plan B and whether the pressure of finals is having an impact with now 2 Grand Slam finals defeats in a row leaving her overall record 3-3.As for Coco Gauff, it was cool, calm and composed tennis matched by the American's athleticism that got Joel and Chris really talking about how good she has become in these moments… at just 21 years of age. They look ahead to Wimbledon and debate what each can hope to achieve on the grass courts of SW19 with Gauff's record best a trio of R4 appearances in 2019, 2021 and 2024. They also dish out some Tennis Weekly awards as they reflect on the women's event as a whole including Best Match, Biggest Surprise plus who left a bit of room for improvement.PROPERTY HUB INVESTIf you're serious about property, head to https://propertyhub.net/start to take your first step.SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show tennisweeklypod@gmail.com.MERCHPurchase Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The return of SINCARAZ! Yes please. Join Joel, Kim and Chris who are back once again at Tennis weekly HQ to round up the semifinals action from Roland Garros 2025. Jannik Sinner was comfortable enough over Novak Djokovic with a clinical straight-sets victory (6-4, 7-5, 7-6), ending the Djokovic bid for a 25th Grand Slam title. With this win, Sinner reaches his first Roland Garros final, where he will face Carlos Alcaraz in a highly anticipated clash of the world's top two ranked players. Alcaraz came through thanks to a retirement from Lorenzo Musetti earlier in the day; a disappointing end to a fantastic clay season for the young Italian. Which the lead the gang to wonder should he have retired or just completed the match?Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka ended Iga Swiatek's reign in Paris with a stunning three-set upset, capped by a dominant 6-0 third set. Swiatek, the four-time Roland Garros champion, couldn't match Sabalenka's relentless aggression as the Belarusian powered her way into the final. Coco Gauff also ended French wildcard Lois Boisson's Cinderella story with a commanding straight-sets win. Gauff's precision and power proved too much for the hometown favourite, and Coco will bid to win her second slam against the World No.1 on Saturday!PROPERTY HUB INVESTIf you're serious about property, head to https://propertyhub.net/start to take your first step.SOCIALSFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, plus email the show tennisweeklypod@gmail.com.MERCHPurchase Tennis Weekly Merch through our Etsy store including limited edition designs by Krippa Design where all proceeds go towards the podcast so we can keep doing what we do!REVIEWS***Please take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It really means a lot to us at HQ and helps make it easier for new listeners to discover us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, in Beijing and urged the two countries to enhance cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Erin Routliffe and Belarusian partner Victoria Azarenka have been beaten in the first round of the doubles at the French Open by Italian Olympic champions Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, the second seeds.
Why Melnikova has effectively ended her career, gymnast lifetime injuries, coaching change payoffs. HEADLINES Melnikova just got AIN status but it's going to be taken away... Frederick Richard now holds the world record for the most back flips within 24 hours Calling all publishers! Vanessa Atler has a book the world needs to read Serie A Final: French junior, Elena Colas beats Nemour and Esposito GYMTERNET NEWS What would you wear to Jordan Chiles' vampire masquerade birthday party? Morgan Price leaving Fisk? Why is NCAA championships viewership down slightly? Which US elites we might see at Worlds this year in Jakarta Ukrainian refuses photo with Belarusian and Russian gymnast. Lots of coaching changes including Maggie Haney, who's suspension is up. Helen Hu got the shorthand of her iconic beam routine tattooed on her arm. Sentenced for sexual abuse and having child sexual abuse material, Lance Spencer of Bozhi's Gym Nest in West Virginia. MINI COMMISSION: GYM SWITCHES World Champion-level Club Gym Nerd member Josh commissioned us to talk about coaching changes and gym-switching. How can some coaches bring out untapped potential within athletes and turn weaknesses into strengths? What are some notable examples of this across different eras? MINI COMMISSION: LONG-TERM HEALTH World Champion-level Club Gym Nerd member Kara commissioned us to discuss the long-term physical effects that gymnastics has on gymnasts' bodies. We hear stories of how Mary Lou Retton and Morgan White requiring hip replacements at very young ages - is that normal? Is the degree of impact directly proportional to the level at which the gymnasts trained? Bonus question: In the sportsballs, athletes' jersey numbers can be retired as a tribute to their greatness. If we had an equivalent for gymnastics, what floor music should be "retired" based on the level of mastery of the gymnasts who performed to it? UP NEXT Behind The Scenes: at noon pacific on Fridays. CHECK OUT FACT CHECKER'S NEW BOOK WITH AIMEE BOORMAN The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker is topping the sport charts - SUCK IT SPORTS BALLS! If you loved reading the book, please leave a review BONUS CONTENT Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes. Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and get access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails. MERCH GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast! Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store NEWSLETTERS Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters RESOURCES Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim RESISTANCE Submitted by our listeners. ACTION Indivisible Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment, check it out: indivisi.org/muskorus 5Calls App will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you Make 2 to your Congressional rep (local and DC office). 2 each to your US Senators (local and state offices) State your name and zip code or district Be concise with your question or demand (i.e. What specific steps is Senator X taking to stop XYZ) Wait for answer Ask for action items - tell them what you want them to do (i.e. draft articles of impeachment immediately, I want to see you holding a press conference in front of...etc.) ResistBot Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes ACLU Mobile Justice App Allows you to record encounters with public officials while streaming to your closest contacts and your local ACLU; REPORT any abuse by authorities to the ACLU and its networks. LAWSUITS Donate to organizations suing the administration for illegal actions ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Northwest Immigration Law Project STAY INFORMED Suggested podcasts: Amicus, Daily Beans, Pod Save America, Strict Scrutiny Immigrant Rights Know Your Rights Red Cards, We Have Rights Video, Your Rights on trains and buses video
Join Ms. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, National Leader of Belarus and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the Belarusian opposition, her fight for freedom, and the importance of countering Russian aggression in Europe. With Belarus at the center of geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discusses the nature of the Stalinist Lukashenka regime and mechanisms used to maintain their grip on power, what the opposition has accomplished and its future priorities, including the release of political prisoners and holding free and fair elections, her views on the war in Ukraine, and the future of Belarus and other democracies relative to the axis of aggressors of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is the National Leader of Belarus and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet. Independent observers determined that Tsikhanouskaya won the Belarusian presidential election on August 9, 2020, defeating the long-standing dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouskaya entered the presidential race after the Lukashenko regime arrested her husband for declaring his own candidacy. The regime forced her into exile, but she inspired mass peaceful protests throughout Belarus. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Tsikhanouskaya launched an anti-war movement to prevent Belarus' involvement and led underground resistance efforts against Russian troops. She has advocated for the release of over 1,500 political prisoners and free and fair elections, earning her numerous international awards and two Nobel Peace Prize nominations. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.
Franz Wright was born in Vienna, Austria and grew up in the Northwest, the Midwest, and California. He earned a BA from Oberlin College in 1977. His collections of poetry include The Beforelife (2001); God's Silence (2006); Walking to Martha's Vineyard, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2004; Wheeling Motel (2009); Kindertotenwald (2011); and F (2013). In his precisely crafted, lyrical poems, Wright addresses the subjects of isolation, illness, spirituality, and gratitude. Of his work, he has commented, “I think ideally, I would like, in a poem, to operate by way of suggestion.”Critic Helen Vendler wrote in the New York Review of Books, “Wright's scale of experience, like Berryman's, runs from the homicidal to the ecstatic ... His best forms of or originality: deftness in patterning, startling metaphors, starkness of speech, compression of both pain and joy, and a stoic self-possession with the agonies and penalties of existence.” Langdon Hammer, in the New York Times Book Review, wrote of God's Silence: “In his best poems, Wright grasps at the ‘radiantly obvious thing' in short-lined short lyrics that turn and twist down the page. The urgency and calculated unsteadiness of the utterances, with their abrupt shifts of direction, jump-cuts and quips, mime the wounded openness of a speaker struggling to find faith.”Wright received a Whiting Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He translated poetry by Rainer Maria Rilke and Rene Char; in 2008 he and his wife, Elizabeth Oehlkers Wright, co-translated a collection by the Belarusian poet Valzhyna Mort, Factory of Tears. He taught at Emerson College and other universities, worked in mental health clinics, and volunteered at a center for grieving children. His father was the Pulitzer Prize–winning poet James Wright. He died in 2015. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: We'll begin today with an update on the war in Ukraine, as the Kremlin pushes back on President Donald Trump's peace proposals, suggesting diplomatic talks between Moscow and Washington may have stalled. Later in the show, tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to heat up, as the IRGC reportedly mulls strikes against a critical U.S. military outpost in response to President Trump's threats to bomb their nuclear sites. Plus, China launches a major military drill off Taiwan's coast and calls their president a "parasite" in the CCP's latest escalation. In our 'Back of the Brief—a tragic update out of Lithuania, where the bodies of four U.S. soldiers who were killed during a training exercise last week near the Belarusian border have been recovered. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, we are joined by Tom Hegel, Principal Threat Researcher from SentinelLabs research team, to discuss their work on "Ghostwriter | New Campaign Targets Ukrainian Government and Belarusian Opposition." The latest Ghostwriter campaign, linked to Belarusian government espionage, is actively targeting Ukrainian military and government entities as well as Belarusian opposition activists using weaponized Excel documents. SentinelLabs identified new malware variants and tactics, including obfuscated VBA macros that deploy malware via DLL files, with payload delivery seemingly controlled based on a target's location and system profile. The campaign, which began preparation in mid-2024 and became active by late 2024, appears to be an evolution of previous Ghostwriter operations, combining disinformation with cyberattacks to further political and military objectives. The research can be found here: Ghostwriter | New Campaign Targets Ukrainian Government and Belarusian Opposition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices