Podcasts about Belarusian

Day 1,567.As Ukraine intensifies its campaign against Crimea by striking key bridges and transport links in an effort to isolate the peninsula, we examine potentially seismic political developments in London. Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey – one of Kyiv's strongest allies and a leading advocate for military rearmament – has dramatically resigned in protest over defence spending and the country's preparedness for a future conflict, triggering a crisis that could topple the Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Francis and Dom comb through Healey's damning resignation letter and consider how Kyiv will react to the news. Later, Francis explores a major new report on the risks of a sudden ceasefire in Ukraine with some of the world's leading experts.Thumbnail image shows Crimean bridge ablaze in 2022.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.With thanks to:Orysia Lutsevych OBE (head of the Ukraine Forum, Chatham House)Simon Smith (chair of the steering committee, Ukraine Forum, Chatham House, and British ambassador 2012 to 2015)Keir Giles (senior consulting fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House, and author Who Will Defend Europe?)John Lough (associate fellow, Chatham House, and head of foreign policy, New Eurasian Strategies Centre)Producer: Phil AtkinsSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: James EnglandSocial Producer: Tom SteedStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:John Healey resigns over Starmer's defence spending plan (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/06/11/john-healey-resigns-as-defence-secretary-labour-starmer/ Russia is creating launch sites for combat drones near the borders of Belarus. We show you where (Radio Liberty, in Belarusian):https://www.svaboda.org/a/33777451.html How a Russia–Ukraine ceasefire could imperil Ukrainian and European security (Chatham House):https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/05/how-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-could-imperil-ukrainian-and-european-securityEMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Putin arms up summer palace as Ukraine deep strikes tear through Russian defencesIs the election of a pro-Europe party in Armenia actually a win for Putin? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe wakes up to a rapidly shifting security landscape as Russia launches one of its largest assaults on Kyiv in months, deploying its experimental Oreshnik ballistic missile and reigniting fears across the Baltics. On today's Europe Today, we examine the growing pressure on Europe's eastern flank as Ursula von der Leyen travels to Lithuania. W also hear from Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya live from Kyiv, and break down the new military technologies reshaping the war. Plus: Europe braces for record-breaking heat, political turmoil deepens in Spain and Hungary, and Pope Leo issues a stark warning on the dangers of Artificial Intelligence.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.

Un programa lleno de enormes saltos geográficos, conexiones inesperadas y novedades musicales. Sonoridades eslovenas, bosnias, serbias, croatas, griegas y bielorrusas nos desvelan sorprendentes conexiones que van desde Siberia a Brooklyn. Viajamos después a Tanzania, con las voces de los wagogos, y disfrutamos también de encuentros afrocaribeños y de resonancias de la Luisiana desde Francia. A programme full of huge geographical leaps, unexpected connections and musical novelties. Slovenian, Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian, Greek and Belarusian sounds reveal surprising links stretching from Siberia to Brooklyn. We then travel to Tanzania, with the voices of the Wagogo, while also enjoying Afro-Caribbean encounters and resonances of Louisiana from France. – Zvezdana Novaković ZveN - Mitre le - Polnočno sonce – Kristijan Drobilović - Četvorak - Derventski valcer: Serbian šargija music from Bosnia and Herzegovina – Zmicier Kreczat - Biełaruski taniec 1 - Made in Yekaterinburg: Belarusian and Lithuanian music – Zmicier Kreczat - Lavonicha (pa-naviejšamu) - Made in Yekaterinburg: Belarusian and Lithuanian music – Yiorgos Bereris - Kosen - Sea in common – Every - Čador penje beže Ljuboviću - Tried in the fire – Wagogo Women of Nyota Njema Cultural Group, Dodoma - Mlembwe - Asili ya Mama [V.A.] – Hugo Cruz & Caminos - Danzón pal timbal - Figure it out – Carlos Henríquez Big Band - El son de Teo - Monk con clave – The Clarkiis - Madeleine - MaAuLa-o-rama, vol. 8: Exotic joie de vivre [V.A.] – Bosko - Bosko stomp - MaAuLa-o-rama, vol. 8: Exotic joie de vivre [V.A.] Zmicier Kreczat

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has again defended the government's tax reforms at a finance conference held this morning, following last week's announcement of the changes. A 47-year-old man has been charged with murder after the bodies of a woman and two children were found at a home in Sydney's south-west. World Gymnastics has announced it is lifting all restrictions imposed on Russian and Belarusian athletes following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. - 連邦のジム・チャーマーズ財務相が、今朝開かれた金融関連の会議で、政府が先週発表した税制改革について、改めて正当性を訴えました。シドニー南西部の住宅で、女性1人と子ども2人の遺体が見つかった事件で、47歳の男が殺人の罪で起訴されました。国際体操連盟は、2022年のウクライナ侵攻以降、ロシアとベラルーシの選手に科していたすべての制限を解除すると発表しました。

Trump holds off on attacking Iran though warns his military remains ready; a Sydney man charged over a triple murder.; and in sport, Russian and Belarusian gymnasts allowed to compete under their own flag for the first time since 2022...

Eoin Sheahan is joined by David Seagrave, Arthur O'Dea and Susanna Mollen for Thursday's Newsround, as Scott Bemand has named his 23 for Saturday's penultimate round clash with Wales, while Clayton McMillan has addressed the Roger Randle situation, as he announced his team to face Connacht this weekend in the URC.The IOC have also lifted their ban on Belarusian athletes, while there is more European knockout action live tonight!Viagra Connect 50mg film-coated tablets. Contains sildenafil. For adult men with erectile dysfunction. Subject to suitability. Maximum dosage one 50mg tablet per day. Always read the label.

The International Olympic Committee says a ban on Belarusian athletes and teams competing under the flag of their nation should be lifted but that the restrictions on Russia remain in place.

How did a choir become one of the symbols of the 2020 Belarus protests? In this Talk Eastern Europe Deep Dive interview, Nina Panikova speaks with Sasha from Volny Chor, the Belarusian choir that emerged after the stolen election and mass demonstrations against Alyaksandr Lukashenka.Volny Chor became famous for surprise public performances of Belarusian freedom songs in Minsk, singing in shopping centers, courtyards, and public squares while avoiding arrest. Since then, members have faced repression, imprisonment, and exile – yet they continue to perform across Europe to preserve the Belarusian identity, language, and culture.This episode explores protest music, authoritarian repression in Belarus, the meaning of Belarusian national symbols, and how culture can become resistance.Some examples of their music:Volny Chor, Mahutny Boža (Almighty God): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZKpd900L-EVolny Chor, Pahonia (Coat of arms of Belarus):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c49ZmYZhGaASupport our podcast – join us on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeSubscribe for more interviews on Eastern Europe, democracy,Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and regional politics.

This week, we discuss a man who followed in his father's footsteps into the world of hockey, becoming a prospect, who seemed to be the future of whatever lucky team ended up with him. But there were problems, not only with his on ice production, but with his immaturity. There was a domestic incident that he was quite embarrassed about, there was his alleged substance use, which sent rumors flying around the league, and finally, a wild incident, where he threatens to dismember police officers in a very creative way, even making up a new dish!!   Follow in your Belarusian father's hockey footsteps, have a thick Russian accent, even though you were born in Wisconsin, and come up with a whole new recipe, that includes parts of police officer's body with Alex Galchenyuk!!   Check us out, every Tuesday! We will continue to bring you the biggest idiots in sports history!!   Hosted by James Pietragallo & Jimmie Whisman   Donate at... patreon.com/crimeinsports or with paypal.com using our email: crimeinsports@gmail.com Get all the CIS, STM & YSO merch at crimeinsports.threadless.com   Go to shutupandgivememurder.com for all things CIS, STM & YSO!!   Contact us on... instagram.com/smalltownmurder facebook.com/crimeinsports crimeinsports@gmail.com

Silicon Bites Ep305 | 2026-03-24 | What is Russia testing? A drone crashes on a Lithuanian lake. A village called Lavisas. Varėna district, southern Lithuania. It's 3:04 in the morning, local time. The forest is dark. The night is cold and the lake is frozen. And then — an eerie buzzing that lasts forty seconds. Followed by a blast and by burning fragments spinning up into the night sky and raining down onto the ice. Security camera footage captured the entire sequence. Lithuanian broadcaster LRT published it this morning. Forty seconds of engine noise, then a detonation, then fire falling from the sky onto a NATO member's territory — twenty kilometres from the border with Belarus. Accident or test? Trial run for a major provocation? Within hours of that blast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in a secure briefing with his chief of military intelligence, Oleh Ivashchenko. And Zelenskyy emerged with a stunning announcement that lands like a political detonation. Russia, Ukraine's intelligence services have confirmed, is planning to deploy four new long-range drone control stations on Belarusian territory. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------SOURCES:Reuters / US News & World Report — "Lithuania Says a Suspected Drone Enters Its Airspace, Crashes Into Lake Near Belarus" (March 23, 2026)Aerotime — "Suspected cross-border drone explodes in southern Lithuania" (March 23, 2026)Global Banking and Finance — "Lithuania Reports Suspected Drone Crash Near Belarus Border" (March 23, 2026)RBC-Ukraine — "Drone crashes in Lithuania on March 23 near border with Belarus" (March 23, 2026)UA.NEWS — "Lithuania is convening a national security commission following the crash of a drone near the border with Belarus" (March 23, 2026)Reform.news — "Unknown Object Falls And Explodes Near Belarusian Border In Lithuania" (March 23, 2026)Charter'97 — "At Night, An Explosion Occurred In Lithuania Near The Border With Belarus" (March 23, 2026)Pravda EN — "Lithuanian Armed Forces claim drone fell in Varensky district" (March 23, 2026)----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

Eritrea's national team haven't played an official match in seven years.But this month, the Red Sea Camels are making their long-awaited return to the international stage in AFCON 2027 qualifying.So what kept Eritrea away? Why are they returning to the fold now? And do they have any chance against Eswatini?In this episode, we take you on a virtual journey to the Horn of Africa – and shine a light on the only country excluded from the FIFA rankings.Plus, the Belarusian team in exile in Poland and the Russian war critic making waves in Cyprus.Sweeper football shirts: ⁠https://stingz.co/collections/sweeper-podcast⁠Deutsche Welle documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMRQQYGNBK8Chapters:00:00 – Intro01:14 – Eritrea's international absence04:55 – Dictatorships and defection09:16 – The long-awaited return to the fold13:30 – The state of play in the national team19:02 – Poland's Belarusian club in exile22:47 – Sweeper shirts and special bonus pod24:17 – Russia's war critic turned club owner

News On The Flipside Iran day 21 are we winning yet economy how's yours I will tell you how mine is . Russian troops 'at wits' end' as 'Terminator style' AI robots deployed in Ukraine 'Multiple waves' of unauthorized drones recently spotted over US Air Force base Scientists find proof time travel is real and happening now American student James Gracey is found dead in Barcelona after a spring break night out. Here's what we know Pilot believes he's found Amelia Earhart's long-lost airplane on remote Pacific island — with the help of Google Earth Trump signs executive order blocking college football games from competing with Army-Navy time slot Chuck Norris Cause of Death & Health Issues: What's Known So Far Iran just hit an American F-35 jet - and that's a first in history A Submersible Uncovered Secret Structures. Then, It Vanished Under Antarctic Waters. Trump's seven-word comment sends chills as Iran war enters next stage CBS News announces layoffs, bosses acknowledge 'difficult day' as dozens of staffers expected to be impacted Melania Trump Has Reportedly Enforced A Strict Mar-a-Lago Rule To Ensure Son Barron's ‘Non-Negotiable' Privacy The prospects of finding alien life just increased Strike on largest gas field in the world could cripple Iran's economy, experts say Belarusian leader announces "big deal" with US: "How could I refuse?" How the US government recovered a crashed UFO - then found bodies TSA agents quit and skip shifts during the government shutdown, triggering growing airport chaos and wait times. US opens new front in battle to reopen Strait of Hormuz as jets obliterate Iranian ships Webb telescope photos show mysterious little red dots. Astronomers don't know what they are Officials ordered thousands to evacuate in Oahu after severe floods put the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam at imminent risk of failure. News President Trump draws attention with a Pearl Harbor reference during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. News The Senate moves President Donald Trump's SAVE Act into debate, launching a major fight over U.S. voting rules.

Democracies are often attacked from within, step by step. What does it look like when the democracy is under attack, and what is it like to live under authoritarian rule? Authoritarian leaders across the world use the same strategy to gain power and keep control. What strategies do they use and how can we recognize attacks on democracy? Meet three people with experience from living under authoritarian rule, and one of Norway's leading democracy researchers: Darya Shut, political scientist, author and activist from Belarus. She is the co-founder of the Belarusian association in Norway – Razam and author of the book “The Prize of Liberty”, where she describes how it is to grow up in an authoritarian regime.  Ramon Barreto, lawyer, political scientist and activist from Venezuela. Barreto is a PhD Candidate at Oslo Met and member of Norwegian Venezuelan Justice Alliance (NorVen). Hamidreza Mohammadi, teacher and translator from Iran and the brother of Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2023. Narges Mohammadi received the prize for her fight for women's rights and human rights in Iran and is imprisoned by the regime.  Carl Henrik Knutsen, Professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Oslo, where he leads the Comparative Institutions and Regimes research group. He is also Professor II at the University of South-Eastern Norway, Affiliated Researcher at the Norwegian Nobel Institute and Principal Investigator at Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem).  Moderator: Jette F. Christensen, foreign and security analyst for Altinget, political scientist, author, and former Member of Parliament (2010–2021). Democratic backsliding is her professional field. The event is part of the series Nobel Peace Talks, focusing on topics related to the latest Nobel Peace Prize. With the peace prize awarded to Maria Corina Machado as backdrop, we discuss developments in Venezuela, the global consequences, and the state of democracy in the world.

On this week's episode, Bakhti sits down with Nastassia Rouda, director of Nasha Niva, a Belarusian media outlet operating in exile in Vilnius. Rouda discusses how she and her colleagues have used new types of content and social media to remain relevant and grow their audience inside of Belarus, even as Belarusians experience economic downturn and political repression. She talks about how she and other hosts on their network rely on humor to keep hope alive for a freer future for their country and maintain interest in free media among the millions of Belarusians of all ages who tune into their online shows.  --- Nastassia Rouda is the director of Nasha Niva, Belarus's oldest newspaper. Founded in 1906 upon Belarus's independence, the paper is best known for its role in preserving Belarusian language, culture, and art. The paper closed in 1914 as it became illegal to criticize their government during World War I and was re-established in 1991. In the 2010's, Nasha Niva moved online and became one of the most popular websites in Belarus. In 2020, following Nasha Niva's coverage of the Belarusian presidential election and subsequent protests, the KGB declared the paper an extremist organization, arresting reporters and forcing many others into exile.  Nasha Niva continues to operate from Vilnius, Lithuania and remains popular, especially thanks to their video content, which receives millions of views on YouTube and TikTok from Belarusians. In order to remain popular and relevant, the paper has innovated in a variety of ways since 2020, finding ways to evade censorship, recruiting young reporters, and developing comedic content. Nasha Niva's online comedy and satirical shows poking fun at Lukashenka and other political elites in Belarus are particularly popular. This podcast is hosted by Bakhti Nishanov and produced by Alanna Novetsky in conjunction with the Senate Recording Studio

President Trump says there will be no deal with Iran, only unconditional surrender, as the US and Israel continue their bombardment of Tehran and other Iranian cities. The Iranian authorities say more than 1,200 people have been killed since attacks began last Saturday. In Lebanon hundreds of thousands have fled their homes, as the southern suburbs of Beirut are pounded by Israeli strikes. Also: Ukraine and a number of other European countries boycott the Paralympics opening ceremony in Italy in protest at Russian and Belarusian athletes being allowed to compete under their countries' flags; Hungary is to expel seven Ukrainians accused of money laundering after they were found with two bank vans carrying millions of dollars' worth of gold and cash; and Indonesia becomes the latest country to say it'll ban social media for children - will others do the same? The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

President Trump says only Iran's unconditional surrender will end American and Israeli bombardment. The US and Israel say much of Iran's capability has been destroyed but Iran is fighting back. We speak to one of the few international journalists in Iran about the latest attacks.Also in the programme: Ukraine and six European nations boycott the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics because of Russian and Belarusian athletes taking part; and a firefighter in Texas recounts how his team rescued two people whose hot air balloon got entangled in a 300-metre tower. Photo: US-Israeli attacks continue in Iran amid escalating conflict. Credit: ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA/Shutterstock

Courage is not loud. Sometimes it is a 13-year-old girl standing in a courtroom, promising to defend dignity no matter the cost.  Noura Ghazi's life was shaped by detention, disappearance, and resistance long before she became a human rights lawyer. Growing up in Damascus with a father repeatedly imprisoned for political opposition, she chose early to confront injustice through law rather than violence. From defending political prisoners during the Syrian revolution to marrying her husband inside a prison and later founding No Photo Zone, Noura has built a life rooted in resilience, civil rights advocacy, and unwavering belief in human dignity.  Now living in France as a political refugee, she continues her work supporting families of detainees, survivors of torture, and the disappeared. Her story is not simply about survival. It is about choosing mindset over fear, purpose over despair, and love even in the shadow of loss. This conversation invites reflection on what it means to remain Unstoppable when freedom, justice, and even safety are uncertain.  Highlights:  00:07:06 – A defining childhood moment reveals how a confrontation in a Syrian courtroom shaped Noura's lifelong commitment to defending political prisoners.  00:12:51 – The unpredictable nature of Syria's exceptional courts exposes how justice without standards creates generational instability and fear.  00:17:32 – The emotional aftermath of her father's release illustrates how imprisonment reshapes entire families, not just the person detained.  00:23:47 – Noura's pursuit of human rights education demonstrates how intentional learning becomes an act of resistance in restrictive systems.  00:32:10 – The early days of the Syrian revolution clarify how violence escalates when peaceful protest is met with force.  00:37:27 – Her marriage inside a prison and the global advocacy campaign that followed reflect how personal love can fuel public courage.  00:50:59 – A candid reflection on PTSD reveals how trauma can coexist with purpose and even deepen empathy for others.  About the Guest:   Noura Ghazi's life has been shaped by a single, unwavering mission: to defend dignity, freedom, and justice in the face of dictatorship. Born in Damascus into a family deeply rooted in political resistance, she witnessed firsthand the cost of speaking out when her father was detained, tortured, and disappeared multiple times. That lived experience became her calling. Since 2004, she has defended political prisoners before Syria's Supreme Security State Court, and when the Syrian revolution began in 2011, she fully committed herself to supporting detainees and the families of the disappeared. Even after her husband, activist Bassel Khartabil Safadi, was detained, disappeared, and ultimately executed, she continued her advocacy with extraordinary resolve.  Forced into exile in 2018 after repeated threats and arrest warrants, Noura founded NoPhotoZone to provide legal aid, psychological support, and international advocacy for victims of detention, torture, enforced disappearance, and displacement across Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey. Her mission is not only to seek justice for the imprisoned and the missing, but to restore agency and hope to families living in uncertainty and trauma. Recognized globally for her courage and leadership, Noura remains committed to amplifying the voices of the silenced and ensuring that even in the darkest systems, human rights and human dignity are never forgotten.  https://nouraghazi.org/   https://nophotozone.org/   Book – Waiting by Noura Ghazi - https://www.lulu.com/shop/noura-ghazi-safadi/waiting/paperback/product-1jz2kz2j.html?page=1&pageSize=4   About the Host:  Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.  Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.  https://michaelhingson.com   https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/   https://twitter.com/mhingson   https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson   https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/  Thanks for listening!  Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.  Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!  Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.  Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Michael Hingson  00:09 Well, welcome everyone to another episode of unstoppable mindset. Today, we get to chat with Nora Ghazi, who lives in, I believe, France right now. She was born in Syria. She'll tell us about that, and she has had an interesting life, and I would say, a life that has had lots of challenges and some treachery along the way. But we'll get to all of that, and I will leave it to her to describe most of that, but I just want to tell you all we really appreciate you being here and hope you enjoy the episode. So Nora, how are you? Noura Ghazi  00:49 Thank you, Michael, for having me in this great broadcast, doing well. Michael Hingson  00:57 Well, there you go. Well, why don't we start? I love to start this way. Why don't you tell us kind of about the early Nora, growing up and so on, where you grew up, what anything you want to talk about, regarding being a younger person and all of that and and however we want to proceed, we'll go from there. Noura Ghazi  01:17 Okay, so since I was a child, my childhood wasn't like normal, like all the kids at my age, because my father was like a leader in opposition party against the previous Syrian regime. Michael Hingson  01:34 So you were born in Syria? Noura Ghazi  01:37 Yes, I work in Damascus. I'm from Damascus, but I have some like multiple origin that I'm proud of. But yes, I'm from Damascus. So since I was five years old, my father was disappeared and because he was wanted with other, like fellows at his party and other, let's say aliens, parties of opposition against the previous regime. So he disappeared for six years, then he was detained and transferred to what was named the supreme security state court. So it was during my adultness, let's say so since I was a child like I had at that time, only one sister, which is one year younger than me, we were moving a lot. We had no place to live. So my mother used to take us each few days to stay at some, someone place, let's say so it caused to us like changing schools all, all the time, which means changing friends. So it was very weird. And at that age, okay, I I knew the words of like cause, the words of leader or dictatorship. I used to say these words, but without knowing what does it mean. Then, when my father detained, it was his ninth detention. Actually, my mother was pregnant with my brother, so my brother was born while my father was in prison. And while he was in prison, the last time he disappeared for one year, three months, he was in like a kind of isolation in security facility. Then he was referred to this court. So in one of the sessions of the trials, I had a fight with the officer who, like who was leading the patrol that bring my father and other prisoners of conscience. So at the end of this fight, I promised my father and the officer that, okay, I will grow up and become a human rights lawyer and defend political prisoners, which I did at the end. Michael Hingson  04:05 So what? What was the officer doing? He was taking people to the court. Noura Ghazi  04:12 Yes, because Okay, so there is many kind of prisons now. They became like, more familiar to like public opinion because of, like 15 years of violence in Syria. So there was, like the the central civil prison in Damascus, which we call ADRA prison, and we have said, NIA jail, military prison. So those two prisons, they were like, holding detainees in them. So they they used to bring detainees to the court in busses, like a kind of military busses, with patrol of like civil police and military police. So the officer was like. Heading the patrol that was bringing my fathers from other prison. Michael Hingson  05:05 So you, so you, what was the fight about with the officer and your father and so on? What? How? Well, yeah, what was the fight? Noura Ghazi  05:16 It's very good question, although at that time, it was a very like scary situation, but now I laughed a lot about it. Okay, so they used to to catch all the prisoners in one chain with the handcuffs. So we used to come to hug and kiss my father before entering the court. So I was doing what I used to do during the trials, or just upon the trials, and then one of the policemen, like pushed me away. So I got nervous, and my father got nervous. So the officer provoked me. He was like a kind of insulting that my father is a detainee, and he is like he's coming to this court. So I, like I replied that I'm proud of my father and his friends what they are doing. So he somehow, he threats me to detain me like my father, and at that time, I was very angry, and I curse the father Assad just in on the like in the door, at the door of the court, and there was people and and Like all the the policemen, like they were just pointing their weapon to me, and there was some moments of silence. Then they took all the detainees into the court. So at this moment, while I'm entering the court behind them, I said, I will grow up and become a human rights lawyer to defend political prisoners. Michael Hingson  07:02 What did the officers say to that? Noura Ghazi  07:06 Because they used to look to us as because we are. We were against father Assad and the dictatorship, so they used to see us, even if we are kids, as enemies. Michael Hingson  07:22 Yeah, so the officer but, but he didn't detain you. I was Noura Ghazi  07:27 only 13 years, yeah, okay, they used to to arrest the kids, but they didn't. Michael Hingson  07:37 So did the officer react to your comment? You're going to grow up to become a civil rights lawyer? Noura Ghazi  07:43 He was shocked, was he? But I don't know if he knew that I become a human yes, there at the end, yeah. Michael Hingson  07:54 And meanwhile, what did your father do or say? Noura Ghazi  07:58 He was shocked also, but he was very proud, and until now, he like every time, because I'm also like, very close to to his friends who I used to visit in prison. Then I become a human rights lawyer, and I was the youngest lawyer in Syria. I was only 22 years old when I started to practice law. So during the the revolution in Syria, which started in 2011 some of his friends were detained, and I was their lawyer also. So I'm very close to them. So until now, they remember this story and laugh about it, because no one could curse or say anything not good about father Assad or or the family, even in secret. So it's still, like, very funny, and I'm still like, stuck somehow in, like, in this career and the kind of activism I'm doing, because just I got angry of the officer 30 years ago. So at this, at that moment, I've decided what I will be in the future. I'm just doing it well. Michael Hingson  09:20 From everything I've read, it sounds like you do a good job. Noura Ghazi  09:25 I cannot say it's a job, because usually you you do a job, you get paid for your job, you go at a certain time and come back at a certain time. You do certain tasks. But for me, it's like a continuing fight, non violent fight, of course, for dignity, for freedom, for justice, right, for reveal the truth of those who were disappeared and got missing. So yes, until now, I'm doing this, so I don't have that. Are the luxury to to be paid all the time, or to be to have weekends or to work until like certain hour at night. I cannot say I'm enjoying it, but this is the reason why I'm still alive, because I have a motive to help and support other people who are victims to dictatorship and violence. Michael Hingson  10:25 So your father went into court and what happened? Noura Ghazi  10:31 He was sentenced. At the end, he was sentenced to three years in prison. And it's a funny story, another funny story, actually, because, like the other latines at that at that trial, like it was only my father and other two prisoners who sent who were sentenced to three years in prison, while other people, the minimum was seven years in Prison, until 15 years in prison. So my mother and us, we felt like we are embarrassed and shy because, okay, our father will will be released like in few months, but other prisoners will stay much longer. So it's something very embarrassing to our friends who whom their fathers got sentenced to like more. Michael Hingson  11:30 Did you ever find out why it was only three years? Noura Ghazi  11:33 We don't know because it's an exceptional court, so it's up to the judge and the judge at that time, like it's it's very similar to what is happening now and what happened after 2011 so it's a kind of continuing reality in in Syria since like 63 which was the first time my father was detained. It was in 63 just after the what they called the eighth March revolution. So my father was only 11 years old when he was detained the first time because he participated in a protest. So it's up to the judge. It's not like a real court with like the the fair trial standards. So it's it's only once you know, the judge said the sentences for each one. So two prisoners got confused. They couldn't differentiate like Which sentence to whom, so they asked like again, so he forgot, so he said them again in different way. So it's something like, very spontaneously, yeah, very just moody, not any standard. Michael Hingson  12:51 Well, so Did your father then serve the three years and was released. Or what happened? Noura Ghazi  12:58 He was released on the day that he should be released, he disappeared for few days. We didn't know what happened. Then he was released. Finally he came. We used to live with my my grandma, so I was the one who opened the door, and I saw just my father. So we we knew later that okay, he was moved again to a security facility because he refused to sign a paper that say that he will not practice any oppositional action against the authority. So he refused, yeah, yeah. Michael Hingson  13:43 Well, I mean, I'm sure there's, there's a continuing story, what happened to him after that. So he came home, Noura Ghazi  13:53 he came out to my grandma. It was a big surprise, like full of joy, but full of tears as well. Michael Hingson  14:01 And you're you were 16 now, right? Noura Ghazi  14:04 I was when he was raised. I was 15, yeah, okay, yeah. And my sister was 14. My brother was two years and a half, so for him, okay, the father is this person that we visit behind bars every Monday, not this one who stay with us. So for him, it was weird. For my brother, he was very like little kid to understand. Then my father went to to see his parents as well. Then we came back to our apartment that we couldn't live more than few months because my father was detained. So at this night, everything was very, very, very new, like because before the three years he he was disappeared for six years, so there was. Nine years. We don't live with my father, so my brother used to sleep just next to my mom, actually my sister and me, but okay, we were like a teenager, so it's okay. So my brother couldn't sleep. Because why he keep, he kept asking why my father is sleeping with us while he's not with his friend at that place. And he was traumatized for many days. But usually when, like a political prisoner released, usually, like, we have a kind of two, three weeks of people visiting the family to say, Okay, it's it's good. We're happy for you that he was released. So the first two, three weeks were full of people and like, social events, etc. Then the, the real problem started. So my father studied law, but he was fired from university for security reasons at the the last year of his study, and as he was sentenced so he couldn't work, my mother used to work, and so like suddenly he started to feel that okay, He's not able to work. He's not able to fulfill the needs of his family. He's not able to spend on the family. The problems between him and my mother started. We couldn't as like my sister and me as teenagers. We couldn't really accept him. We couldn't see that. He's the same person that we used to visit in prison. He was very friendly. We used to talk about everything in life, including the very personal things that usually daughters don't speak with fathers about it. But then he became a father, which we we we weren't used to it, and he was shocked also. So I can say that this, this situation, at least on emotional and psychological level, for me, it lasted for 15 years. I couldn't accept him very well, even my my sister and and the brother and it happens to all like prisoners, political prisoners, especially who spent long time in prison. Michael Hingson  17:32 So now is your father and well, are your father and your mother still alive? Or are they around? Noura Ghazi  17:41 They are still alive. They are still in Damascus, Michael Hingson  17:44 and they're still in Damascus. Yes, how is I guess I'll just ask it now, how is Syria different today than it was in the Assad regime, Noura Ghazi  17:56 like most of Syrians, and now we should differentiate about what Syrians will talk. We're talking so like those Syrians, like the majority of Syrians, and I'm meaning here, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be very direct. Now, the Arab Sunni Syrians, most of them, they are very happy. They are calling what happened in in last eight December, that it's the deliberation of Syria, but for other minorities, like religious or ethnic minorities, of course, it's almost the same. For me, I feel that okay, we have the same dictatorship now, the same corruption, the same of like lack of freedom of expression. But the the added that we have now is that we have Islamist who control Syria. We have extremists who control Syria. They intervene even in personal freedoms. They they are like, like, they are committing crimes against minorities, like it started last March, against alawed. It started last July, against Druze. Now it is starting against Kurdish, and unfortunately, the international community turning like an attorney, like, okay. They are okay with with it, because they want, like their own interest, their own benefits. They have another crisis in the world to take care and to think about, not Syria. So the most important for the international community is to have a stable situation in Syria, to be like, like, no kind of like, no fight zone in the Middle East, and they don't care about Syrian people. And this is very frustrating for those who. Who have the same beliefs that I have. Michael Hingson  20:04 So in a lot of ways, you're saying it hasn't, hasn't really changed, and only the, only the faces and names have changed, but not the actions or the results Noura Ghazi  20:16 the faces and names, and most important, the sects, has changed. So it was very obvious for me that most of Syrians, they don't mind to be controlled by dictator. They only mind what is the sect of this dictator? Michael Hingson  20:35 Unfortunately. Well, yeah. Well, let's go back to you. So your father was released, and you had already made your decision about what you wanted to be, what how does school work over there? Did you go to a, what we would call a high school? Or how does all that work? Noura Ghazi  20:58 Yeah, high school, I was among the like the student who got the highest score in Damascus. I was the fourth one on Damascus when I finished. We call it back like Baccalaureate in Syria, which came from French. And I studied law, and I was also very, like, really hard, hard study person. So I was graduated in four years. Actually, nobody in Syria used to finish studying law in Damascus University only in four years. Like some people stayed more than 10 years because it it was very difficult, and it's different than like law college or law school or university of law, depending on the country, than other countries, because we only like study law. Theoretically, we don't have any practice because we were 1000s of students, it was the like the maximum university that include students. And I registered immediately in the Bar Association in Damascus, and I started because we have, like, a kind, it's, it's similar to stage for two years, like under the supervision of another lawyer who was my uncle at the first and then we we have to choose a topic in certain domain of flow, to write a kind of book which is like, it's similar to thesis, to apply it, to approve it, and then to have the kind of interactive examination, then we have the the final graduated. So all of them to be like a practice lawyer. It's around six years, a little bit more. So my specialist was in criminal law, and my thesis, what about what we call the the impossible crime. It was complicated topic. I have to say that in Syria at that time, I'm talking about end of of 90s, beginning of 2000 so we don't have any kind of study related to human rights. We weren't allowed even to spell this word like human rights. So then in 2005 and 2006 I started to study human rights under international laws related to human rights in Jordan. So I became like a kind of certified human rights defenders and the trainer also, Michael Hingson  23:47 okay, and so you said you started practice and you finished school when you started practice, when you were 22 Yes, okay, I'm curious what, what were things like after September 11, of course, you know, we had the terrorist attacks and so on. Did any of that affect anything over in Syria, where you lived, Noura Ghazi  24:15 of course, like, we stayed talking, watching the news for like four months, like until now we remember, like September 11. But you know, I now when I remember, it was a shock, usually for the Arab world, or Arab people like America is against the Arab world. So everything happened against it was like, this was like, let's say 2030, years ago. Everything that caused any harm to America, they celebrate it. So that. At that time, I was 19 years old, and okay, it's the first time we we hear that a person who was terrorist do like is doing this kind in in us, which is like a miracle for us. But then I started to to think, okay, they it's not an army. They are. There are civilians. Those civilians could be against the the policies of the US government. They could be like, This is not a kind of fight for freedom or for rights or for any like, really, like, fair cause. This is a terrorist action against civilians. And then we started, I'm very lucky because I'm from very educated family. So we started to think about, like, okay, bin Laden. And like, which we have a president from Qaeda now in Syria, like, you can imagine how I feel now. Like, I Okay, all the world is against al Qaeda, and they celebrated that the President in Syria is from al Qaeda. So it's, it's very it's, it's, really, it's not logical at all. But the funniest thing that happened, because, like, the name of Usama bin Laden, was keeping on every like, every one tongue. So I have my my oldest uncle. His name is Usama, and he lives in Germany for 40, more than 40 years, actually. So my brother was a child, and he started to cry, and he came to my mother and asked her, I'm afraid, is my uncle the same Usama? So we were laughing all, and we said, No, it's another Usama. This is the Usama. This is Osama bin Laden, who is like from is like a terrorist group, etc. But like this unfortunate incident started to bring to my mind some like the concept of non violence, the concept of that, okay, no civilian in any place in the world should be harmed for any reason, Because we never been told this in Syria and mostly in most of of countries like the word fight is very linked to armed fights, which I totally disagree with. Michael Hingson  27:56 Well, the when people ask me about September 11 and and so on. One of the things that I say is this wasn't a religious war. This wasn't a religious attack. This was terrorist. This was, I put it in terms of of Americans. These were thugs who decided they wanted to have their way with people. But this is not the way the Muslim the Islamic religion is there is peaceful and peace loving as as anyone, and we really need to understand that. And I realize that there are a lot of people in this country who don't really understand all about that, and they don't understand that. In reality, there's a lot of peace loving people in the Middle East, but hopefully we'll be able to educate people over time, and that's one of the reasons I tell the story that I do, because I do believe that what happened is 19 people attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and so on, and they don't represent the the typical viewpoint of most people, religious wise in the Middle East. And I can understand why a lot of people think that the United States doesn't like Arabs, and I'm not sure that that's totally true, but I can appreciate what you're saying. Noura Ghazi  29:28 Yeah, I'm talking about specific communities actually, who they are, like totally against Israel, and they believe that you us is supporting Israel. So that's that's why they have their like this like attitude towards us and or like that US is trying to invest all the resources in the in the Middle East, etc. But what you were mentioning. Is really very important, because those 19 persons, they like kind of they, they cause the very bad reputation for for Muslims, for Middle Eastern because for for for other people from other countries, other culture or other religion, they will not understand that, okay, that, as you said, they don't represent Muslims. And in all religions, we have the extremist and we have those peaceful persons who keep their their religion as a kind of direct connection with God. They respect everyone, and normally in in in Syria, most of of the population like this, but now having a terrorist as a President, I'm not able to believe how there is a lot of Syrians that support him. Mm, hmm. Because when Al Qaeda started in Syria at the beginning, under the name of japet Al Nusra, then, which with July, who is now Ahmad Al shara, was the leader, and he's the leader of the country now most of Syrians, especially the the the Sunni Syrians, were against this, like terrorist groups, because the most harm they cause is for for Sunnis in Syria, because all other minorities, they will think about every Sunni that they, He or she, like, believe and behave like those, which is totally not true. Michael Hingson  31:47 Yeah, I hear you. Well, so September 11 happened, and then eventually you started doing criminal law. And if we go forward to what 2011 with the Syrian revolution? Yeah, and so what was, what was that revolution about? Noura Ghazi  32:10 It was okay. It started as a reaction against detaining kids from school. Okay, of course, this like the Syrian people, including me, we were very affected and inspired about what was happening in Egypt and Tunisia. But okay, so the security arrested and tortured those kids in their south of Syria. So people came out in demonstration to ask for their freedom and the security attack those protesters with, like, with weapons, so couple of persons died. So then it was, it started to be like a kind of revolution, let's say, yeah, the the problem for me, for lot of people like me, that the the previous Syrian regime was very violent against protesters and the previous president, Bashar Assad, he refused to listen to to to those people, he started to, like dissipated from the reality. So this like, much violence that was against us, like, I remember during some protest, there was not like, small weapon toward us. There was a tank that bombing us as protesters, peaceful, non violent, non armed protesters. So this violence led to another violence, like a kind of reaction by those who defected from the army, etc. And here, my father used to say, when the opposition started to to carry weapon in a country that, like the majority of it, is from certain religion, this could lead to a kind of Jihadist methodology. And this is what happened. So for for people like us, which we are very little comparing of like, the other beliefs of other people like we were, we started to be against the Syrian regime, then against the jihadist groups, then against that, like a kind of international, certain International, or, let's say original intervention, like Iran and Russia. So we were fighting everywhere, and no one. No one wanted us because those like educated, secular, non violent people, they. Form a kind of danger for every one of those parties. But what happened with me is that I met my late husband during a revolution at the very early of 2011 and having the relationship with me was my own revolution. So I was living on parallel like two revolution, a personal one and the public one. And then, like he was detained just two weeks before our our wedding. He was disappeared, actually, for nine months, then he was moved to the same prison that my father was in, to the central prison in Damascus that we got married in prison by coincidence. I don't know if coincidence is the right word in this situation, but my late husband was a very well known programmer and activist. So we were he was kind of, let's say, famous, and I was a lawyer and lawyer that defend human rights defenders and political prisoners. And the husband was detained, so I used to visit him in prison and visit other prisoners that I was their lawyers. And because my like, we have this personal aspect that okay, the couple that got married in prison and that, okay, I'm activist as a lawyer, and my late husband was a well known programmer. So we created a very huge campaign, a global campaign. So we invested this campaign to like, to shed the light about detention, torture, disappearance, exceptional courts, then, like also summary execution in Syria. So then, after almost three years of visiting him regularly, he disappeared again in 2015 and in 2017 I knew that he was sentenced to death, and I knew the exact date of his execution, just in 2018 which was two days ago. It was October 5. So this is what happened then. I had to leave Syria in 2018 so I left to Lebanon. Michael Hingson  37:27 So you left Syria and went to Lebanon? Noura Ghazi  37:33 Yes, the The plan was to stay only six months in Lebanon because I was wanted and I was threatened like I lived a terrible life, really, like lot of Syrians who were activists also, but the plan was that I will stay in Lebanon for six months, then I will leave to to UK because I had A scholarship to get a master in international law. But only two months after I left to Lebanon, I decided to stay in Lebanon to establish the organization that I'm I'm leading until now, which was a project between my late husband and me. Its name is no photo zone, so it was a very big decision, but I'm not regrets. Michael Hingson  38:23 You, you practice criminal law, you practiced human rights, you visited your your fiance, as it were, and then, well, then your husband in prison and so on. Wasn't all of that pretty risky for you? Noura Ghazi  38:42 Yes, very risky. I, I lived in under like, different kind of risk. Like, okay, I have the risk that, okay, I'm, I'm doing my activism against the previous regime publicly because I also, I was co founder of the First Family or victim Association in Syria families for freedom. So we, we were, like, doing a kind of advocacy in Europe, and I used to come back to Syria, so I was under this risk, but also I was under the risk of the like, going to prison, because the way to prison and the prison itself were under bombing. It was in like a point that separate the opposition militias and the regime militias. So they were bombing each other and bombing the prison and bombing the way to prison. So for three years, and specifically for like, in, let's say, 2014 specifically, I was among, like, I was almost the only lawyer that visited the prison, and I, I didn't mind this. I faced death more than 100 time, only on the way to prison, two times the person next to me in the like transportation. It's a kind of small bus. He died and fell down on me, but I had a strong belief that I will not die, Michael Hingson  40:21 and then what? Why do you think that they never detained you or or put you in prison? Do you have any thoughts? Noura Ghazi  40:29 I had many arrests weren't against me, but each time there was something that solve it somehow. So the first couple of Earths weren't actually when, when my late husband was detained, he he made a kind of deal with them that, okay, he will give all the information, everything about his activism in return. They, they canceled the arrest warrant against me. Then literally, until now, I don't know how it was solved. Like I, I had to sleep in garden with my cats for many nights. I i spent couple of months that I cannot go to any like to family, be house or to friend house, because I will cause problem for them, my my parents, my brother and sister, and even, like my sister, ex, until like just three months before the fall of the Syrian regime, they were under like, investigation By the security, lot of harassment against them so, but I don't know, like, I'm, I'm survive for a reason that I don't really realize how, Michael Hingson  41:52 wow, it, it's, it certainly is pretty amazing. Did you ever write a book or anything about all of this, Noura Ghazi  42:02 I used to write, always the only book like, let's say, literature or emotional book. It was about love in prison. Its name is waiting. And I wrote this book in English and basil. My late husband translated it. Sorry. I wrote it in Arabic, and Basset translated it into English in prison. So it was a process of smuggling the poems in Arabic and smuggling the them in English, again out of the prison. And we published the book online just after basil disappearance in 2015 then we created the the hard copies, and I did the signature in in Beirut in, like, early 2018 but like, it's, it's online, and it's a very, like light book, let's say very romantic. It's about love in prison. I'm really keen to write again, like maybe a kind of self narrative or about the stories that I lived and i i I heard during my my journey. Unfortunately, like to write needs like this a little stable situation, but I did write many like legal or human rights book or like guides or studies, etc. Michael Hingson  43:34 Now is waiting still available online? Noura Ghazi  43:37 Yes, it's still available online. Michael Hingson  43:40 Okay? It would be great if you could, if you have a picture of the book cover, if you could send that to me, because I'd like to put that in the notes. I would appreciate it if you would, okay, for sure. But anyway, so the the company you founded, what is it called Noura Ghazi  44:02 it's a non government, a non profit organization. Its name is no photo zone. Michael Hingson  44:07 And how did you come up with that name? Noura Ghazi  44:12 It was Vasil who come up with this name, because our main focus is on prisoners of conscious and disappeared. So for him, it was that okay, those places that they put disappeared in them. They are they. There is no cameras to show the others what is happening. So we should be the the like in the place of cameras to tell the world what is happening. So that's why no photos on me, like, means that prisons or like unofficial detention centers, because they're it's an all photo zone, right? Michael Hingson  44:54 And no photo zone is is still operating today. Noura Ghazi  44:58 It's still operating. We are extending our work, although, like we have lots of financial challenges because of, like, funds issues, but for us, the main issue, we provide legal services to victims of torture, detention, disappearance and their families. So we operate in Syria, Lebanon and Turkey. We are a French woman led organization, but we have registration in Turkey and Syria, and like in seven years now, almost seven years, we could provide our services to more than 3000 families who most of them are women, and they are responsible about kids who they don't have fathers. So we defend political prisoners. We search the disappeared. We provide the legal services related to personal and civil status. We provided the services related to identification documents, because it's a very big issue in Syria. Beside we provide rehabilitation, like full rehabilitation programs for survivors of detention or torture, and also advocacy. Of course, it's a very important part of our our work, even with the lack of fund, we've decided in the team, because most of the team, or all the team, they they were themselves victims of detention, or family members of victims, even the non Syrian because we have many non Syrian member in the team. So for us, it's a cause. It's not like a work that we're doing and getting paid. So we're, we're suffering this this year with the fund issues, because there is a lot of change related to the world and Syrian issues, which affected the fund policies. So hopefully we'll be, we'll be fine next year, hopefully, and we're trying to survive with our beneficiaries this year, Michael Hingson  47:02 yeah, well, you, you started receiving, and I assume no photo zone started receiving awards, and eventually you moved out of Lebanon. Tell me more about all of that. Noura Ghazi  47:16 During my journey, I I got many international recognition or a word, including two by Amnesty International. But after almost two years, like just after covid, like the start of covid, I was thinking that I should have another residence permit in another country because, like, it became very difficult for Syrians to get a residence in Lebanon. So I I moved to Turkey, and I was between Lebanon and Turkey. Then I got a call from the French Embassy in Turkey telling me that there is a new kind of a word, which is Marianne award, or Marianne program, that initiated by the French president. And they it's for human rights defenders across the world, and they will give this award for 15 human rights defender from 15 country. And I was listening, I thought they want me to nominate someone. Then they told me that the French government are honored to choose you as a Syrian human rights defender. So it was a program for six months, so I moved to Paris with my cat and dog. Then they extended the program and to become nine months. And at the almost at the end of the program, the both of Lebanese and Turkish authorities refused to renew my residence permit, so I had to stay in France to apply for asylum and a political refugee currently. Michael Hingson  49:10 And so you're in France. Are you still in Paris? Noura Ghazi  49:13 I'm still yes in Paris. I learned French very fast, like in four months. Okay, I'm not perfect, but I learned French. Michael Hingson  49:25 So what did your dog and cat think about all that? Sorry, what did your dog and cat think about moving to France? Noura Ghazi  49:33 They are French, actually, originally, they are friends. Michael Hingson  49:36 Oh, there you go. Noura Ghazi  49:38 My, my poor dog had like he he was English educated, so we used to communicate in English. Then when I was still in Lebanon, I thought, okay, a lot of Syrians are coming to my place, and they don't speak English, so I have to teach him Arabic. Then we moved to Turkish. So I had to teach him Turkish. Then we came to. France. So now my dog understand more than four languages, Michael Hingson  50:06 good for him, and and, of course, your cat is really the boss of the whole thing, right? Noura Ghazi  50:12 Of course, she is like, the center of the universe, Michael Hingson  50:16 yeah, yeah, just ask her. She'll tell you. And she's Noura Ghazi  50:20 very white, so she is 14 years. Oh, it's old, yes. Michael Hingson  50:29 Well, I have a cat we rescued in 2015 we think she was five then. So we think that my cat is 15 going on 16. So, and she moves around and does very well. Noura Ghazi  50:46 Yeah, my cat as well. Michael Hingson  50:49 Yeah. Well, that's the way it should be. So with all the things that you've been dealing with and all the stress, have you had? Noura Ghazi  50:59 PTSD, yes, I started, of course, like it's the minimum, actually, I have PTSD and the TSD, and I started to feel, or let's say, I could know that the what is happening with me is PTSD two years ago. I before, like, couple of months before, I started to feel like something unusual in my body, in my mind. At the beginning, we thought there is a problem in the brain. Then the psychologist and psychiatrist said that it's a huge level of PTSD, which is like the minimum, and like, we should start the journey of of treatment, which is like the behavior treatment and medical treatment as well. Like, some people could stay 10 years. Some people need to go to hospital. It's not the best thing, but sometimes I feel I'm grateful that I'm having PTSD because I'm able to deal with people who are in the same situation. I could feel them, understand them, so I could help them more, because I understand and as a human rights defender and like victim of lot of kind of violations, so I'm very aware about the like, let's call it the first aid, the psychological first aid support. And this is helpful somehow. Okay, I'm suffering, but this suffering is useful for others Michael Hingson  52:47 well and clearly, you are at a point where you can talk about it, which says a lot, because you're able to deal with it well enough to be able to talk about it, which I think is probably pretty important, don't you think? Noura Ghazi  53:03 Yeah, actually, the last at the first time I talked about it very publicly in a conference in Stockholm, it was last October, and then I thought it's important to talk about it. And I'm also thinking to do something more about PTSD, especially the PTSD related to to prisons, torture, etc, this kind of violations, because sharing experience is very important. So I'm still thinking about a kind of certain way to to like, to spread my experience with PTSD, especially that I have lot of changes in in my life recently, because I got married again, and even the the good incident that people who have PTSD, even if they have, like good incident, but it cause a kind of escalation with PTSD, Michael Hingson  54:00 yeah, but you got married again, so you have somebody you can talk with. Noura Ghazi  54:06 Yes, I got married five months ago. The most important that I could fall in love again. So I met my husband in in Paris. He's a Lebanese artist who live in Paris. And yeah, I have, I have a family now, like we have now three cats and a dog and us as couple. But it's very new for me, like this kind of marriage, that a marriage which I live with a partner, because the marriage I used to is that visit the husband in prison. I'm getting used to it. Michael Hingson  54:43 And just as always, the cat runs everything, right? Yes, of course, of course. So tell me about the freedom prize in Normandy. Noura Ghazi  54:55 Oh, it was like one of the best thing I had in my life. I. Was nominated for the freedom prize, which is launched by usually they are like young people who who nominate the the nominees for this prize, but it's launched by the government of Normandy region in France and the International Institute for Human Rights and peace. So among hundreds of files and, like many kind of round of, like short listing, there was me, a Belarusian activist who is detained, and a Palestinian photographer. So like, just knowing that I was nominated among more than 700 person was a privilege for me. The winner was the Palestinian photographer, but it was the first time they invite the other nominee to the celebration, which was on the same date of like liberating Normandy region during the Second World War. So I chose, I thought for my for couple of days about what I will wear, because I need to deliver a message. So I, I I came up with an idea about a white dress with 101 names in blue. Those names are for disappeared and detainees in Syria. So like there was, there was seven persons who worked on this dress, and I had the chance to wear it and to deliver my message and to give a speech in a very important day that even like those fighters during the Second World War who are still alive, they they came from us. They came from lot of countries. I had the privilege to see them directly, to touch them, to tell them thank you, and to deliver my message in front of an audience of 4500 persons. And it's like I love this dress, and like this event was one of the best thing I had in my life. Michael Hingson  57:21 Do you have a picture of you in the dress? Yes, I would think you do. Well, if you want, we'd love to put that in the show notes as well, especially because you're honoring all those people with the names and so on. Kind of cool. Well, okay, so, so Syria, you're, you're saying, in a lot of ways, hasn't, hasn't really changed a whole lot. It's, it's still a lot of dictatorship oriented kinds of things, and they discriminate against certain sex and and so on. And that's extremely unfortunate, because I don't think that that's the impression that people have over here, Noura Ghazi  58:02 exactly I had a chance to visit Syria, a kind of exceptional visit by the French government, because, as political refugees were not allowed to visit our country of origin. And of course, like after eight years, like out of Syria after six years without seeing my family. Of course, I was very happy, but I was very traumatized, and I I came back to Paris in in July 21 and since that time, I feel I'm not the same person before going to Syria. I'm full of frustration. I feel that, okay, I just wasted 14 years of my life for nothing. But hopefully I'm I'm trying to get better because okay, I know, like much of human rights violations mean that my kind of work and activism is more needed, yeah, Michael Hingson  59:03 so you'll so you'll continue to speak out and and fight for freedom. Noura Ghazi  59:10 Yes, I continue, and I will continue fighting for freedom, for dignity, for justice, for civil rights, and also raising awareness about PTSD and how we could invest even our pain for the sake of helping others. Michael Hingson  59:29 Well, I want to tell you that it's been an honor to have you on the podcast, and I am so glad we we got a chance to talk and to do this because having met you previously, in our introductory conversation, it was very clear that there was a story that needed to be told, and I hope that a lot of people will take an interest, and that it will will allow what you do to continue to grow, if people would like to reach out to you. And and help or learn more. How do they do that? Noura Ghazi  1:00:05 We you have the the link of my website that people could connect me, because it includes my my email, my personal email, and I always reply. So I'm happy to to talk with the to contact with people, and it also include all the all my social media, Michael Hingson  1:00:23 right? What? What's the website for? No photo zone. Noura Ghazi  1:00:27 It's no photo zone.org. No photo zone.org. Michael Hingson  1:00:30 I thought it was, but I just wanted you to say it. I wanted you to say it. Noura Ghazi  1:00:35 It's included in my website. Michael Hingson  1:00:37 Yeah, I've got it all and and it will all be in the show notes, but I just thought I would get you to say no photo zone.org Well, I want to thank you for being here. This has been a wonderful time to have a chance to talk, and I appreciate you taking the time to, I hope, educate lots of people. So thank you very much for doing that, and I want to thank all of you for listening and watching. We'd love you to give us a five star rating. Give us a review. We really appreciate ratings and reviews. So wherever you're watching or listening to this podcast, please give us a five star rating. Please review the podcast for us. We value that, and I know that Nora will will appreciate that as well. Also, if you if you know any guests, and Nora you as well, if you know anyone who you think ought to be a guest on the podcast, we would really appreciate it. If you would let us know you can reach me. At Michael M, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, i, b, e.com, love to hear from you. Love to hear your thoughts about the podcast. So Nora, very much my I want to thank you again. This has been great. Thank you very much for being here. Noura Ghazi  1:01:56 Thank you Michael, and thank you for those who are listening, and we're still in touch.

Johnny Mac showcases five quirky and uplifting news stories: a police officer mistakenly reported as a frog due to AI errors, a herd of sheep causing chaos in a German supermarket, a Belarusian daredevil breaking a sky surfing record over Mount Everest, goats attempting a break-in at a retirement facility in Washington, and a Chinese stuffed horse going viral due to a production error that gave it a sad appearance. John also hosts Daily Comedy NewsUnlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media!  For Apple users, hit the banner which says Uninterrupted Listening on your Apple podcasts app. Subscribe now for exclusive shows like 'Palace Intrigue,' and get bonus content from Deep Crown (our exclusive Palace Insider!) Or get 'Daily Comedy News,' and '5 Good News Stories' with no commercials! Plans start at $4.99 per month, or save 20% with a yearly plan at $49.99. Join today and help support the show!Get more info from Caloroga Shark Media and if you have any comments, suggestions, or just want to get in touch our email is info@caloroga.com

Silicon Bites Ep290 | 2026-02-21 | Milan is hosting a festival of “unity” — while Ukraine is hosting funerals. This week, international sport's governing class has managed a truly grotesque trick that discredits the sporting events their preside over: punishing remembrance of the victim, while rehabilitating symbols of the aggressor. They have sought to strip dignity from the nation defending itself and handed a propaganda triumph to the invading state. In the process they have turned what ought to be a symbol for peace and unity, into a blood sport, with grotesque optics. IOC hypocrisy, Paralympic flag washing, and FIFA's peace-prize theatre — plus why Ukraine and Europe say the message is simple: this isn't neutrality… it's complicity in aggression and illegality. Sports is not neutral, because the participation of an aggressor nation, with an imperial mindset, in any activity, be it sport, culture, literature or film is never neutral, but an extension of their aggression. This is especially true of Russia. (The Washington Post)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES:Reuters on Infantino attending Trump-linked “Board of Peace,” IOC President Coventry response, and Trump receiving a FIFA peace prize (reported as awarded in December).AP / Euronews on Heraskevych disqualification over “helmet of memory,” and wider context of political-expression enforcement.AP / ESPN on Fischnaller helmet flag controversy and IOC stance. Reuters / Washington Post / Guardian / Euronews on IPC allowing Russian and Belarusian flags and anthems at 2026 Winter Paralympics, boycott reactions (Ukraine, Italy, EU Commissioner). Sky News / Independent / Al Jazeera on Infantino comments about reconsidering Russia's football ban and Ukraine's reaction. U.S. Department of Justice press release (2015) on FIFA indictments; historical reporting on FIFA scandal scale.Guardian on Russia 2018 bid investigation issues (destroyed computers / missing documents).AP on Jack Warner extradition case referencing alleged bribes linked to Russia 2018 support. Britannica overview on IOC corruption history (Salt Lake City bidding scandal).----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to represent their countries at the upcoming Winter Paralympics. For the first time since 2014, since Russia's state-sponsored doping programme and the war with Ukraine, we will see the Russian flag and potentially hear the anthem.Ukrainian officials are boycotting, but FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has also recently said he wants to lift football's ban on Russia.This all comes after Ukrainian skeleton athlete, Vladyslav Heraskevych, was disqualified from the Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet showing Ukrainians killed in the war.So, is this the beginning of something? Could we see Russia compete at the LA Summer Olympics in 2028? Or even the World Cup? Mark and Gabby speak to The Athletic's Matt Slater. Plus, we look back at the best bits on The Sports Agents this week, from welcoming double Winter Olympic gold medallist Matt Weston, to discussing abuse in football with former England striker Emile Heskey.

Day 1,455.Today, as the latest round of Ukraine-US-Russia peace talks in Geneva collapse after just two hours, we speak to our correspondent in Switzerland to understand what went wrong between Kyiv, Moscow and Washington. We examine why the International Paralympic Committee has decided to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the Winter Olympics under their national flags, and what that means for sporting sanctions linked to Putin's war in Ukraine. Plus, our resident Russia-watcher breaks down the latest political manoeuvring inside the Kremlin.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondant). @barnes_joe on X.James Kilner (Foreign Analyst). @jkjourno 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:Ukraine peace talks end in acrimony after two hours (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/18/zelensky-trump-being-unfair-in-very-tense-ukraine-talks/ Ukraine recaptures ‘most land since summer 2023' (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/17/ukraine-recaptures-most-land-since-summer-2023/ Zelensky: Trump being unfair in ‘very tense' talks (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/18/zelensky-trump-being-unfair-in-very-tense-ukraine-talks/ Russian, Belarusian athletes to compete under national flags at 2026 Winter Paralympics (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/russian-belarusian-athletes-to-compete-under-national-flags-at-2026-winter-paralympics/ Mick Ryan Substack post: Starlink Surprisehttps://mickryan.substack.com/p/starlink-surpriseLearn more about Convoy4Ukraine:https://www.justgiving.com/page/ian-wilson-young LISTEN 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.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is among the leading pro-democracy figures attending the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy this week and discusses the goals of the Belarusian opposition in exile. Also, a new bridge between the US and Canada is on the verge of a long-awaited opening, despite President Donald Trump's recent threats to keep it closed. And, the EU has made it illegal to destroy clothing that's been manufactured, but not purchased, in a wider effort to promote sustainability. Plus, a deep underwater camera reveals that sharks are swimming in the Antarctic Ocean for the first time. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Day 1,448.Today, we assess where things stand after mixed messaging has left Kyiv, Moscow and Western capitals confused over whether President Zelensky will use the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion to announce presidential elections or a referendum on a possible peace deal. We report on Russia's fury over the reported Starlink switch-off, a communications crisis compounded by the Kremlin's tightening restrictions on Telegram, and continue to follow the Olympic controversy surrounding Ukraine's so-called “Helmet of Memory”. Later, we hear the latest analysis from our Russia-watcher.ContributorsDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.James Kilner (Foreign Analyst). @jkjourno 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 plans presidential elections and peace deal referendum (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/11/zelensky-presidential-elections-peace-deal-referendum/ Ukrainian athletes defy IOC and double down in helmet protest against Russia (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/winter-olympics/2026/02/09/ukrainian-athlete-vladyslav-heraskevych-anti-russian-helmet/Behind the Guns: Western Tools, Russian Firepower (Front Intelligence):https://frontelligence.substack.com/p/behind-the-guns-western-tools-russianChris O Starlink thread on X:https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/2021280155713294590?s=20Zelensky won't announce elections on war anniversary amid talks of US-driven timeline, source says (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-wont-announce-elections-on-invasion-anniversary/Zelenskyy planning elections in Ukraine and vote on peace deal (Financial Times):https://www.ft.com/content/50d3d86b-2d2a-4d06-845e-a4e089382cadElections in Ukraine — a guide for beginners (and US Presidents) (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/a-beginners-guide-to-elections-in-ukraine-also-suitable-for-us-presidents/The Belarusian woman at the center of Epstein's final days (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/the-belarusian-woman-at-the-center-of-epsteins-final-days/?mc_cid=a5562b6d52&mc_eid=4a5b852913LISTEN 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.

In this episode, we look at a Superpower that has forgotten to pay its internet bill.From the Baltic Sea—where the Russian Navy recently surrendered a ship to Estonian customs inspectors without firing a shot—to the "Digital Stalingrad" in the Donbas where soldiers are resorting to medieval torture just to unlock Starlink terminals, the collapse is becoming impossible to hide.We dive deep into the "Zombie Economy" where interest rates have hit 21%, citizens are stealing butter locked in security cases, and the new "Russian Dream" is modeled after North Korea. We also expose the "Photoshop Front," where propagandists are inventing fake magazine covers because reality has become too depressing to print.Finally, we analyze a bombshell report from Meduza proving that the decision to destroy Ukraine wasn't a reaction to NATO, but a premeditated plan from 2004, and end with philosopher Dmitry Bykov's terrifying diagnosis of Russia's "Anthropological Catastrophe."Topics Covered:The Banana Republic Fleet: How Estonian special forces raided a Russian ship (and the Z-bloggers lost their minds).The Black Sea Ghost Fleet: Why the "Naval Superpower" is hiding behind Turkish oil tankers.The Photoshop War: Debunking the fake covers of Libération and Le Parisien.Digital Cannibalism: The "White List" Starlink block and the horrific consequences for POWs.The Butter Crisis: Why dairy products now have anti-theft alarms.The "Onion Lord": How a German AfD politician used Belarusian slave labor.The Origin of the Lie: New evidence that the war was planned in 2013.The Verdict: Why the "Crab Bucket" ideology guarantees collapse.Help us get trucks to the front!https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-the-eastern-borderSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/theeasternborder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You read that title right, GateCrashers does sports again! Come join Patrick, Dan, and newcomer Kate McGowan as they dive into the Olympic Games, just in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy! The Olympics are probably the most prestigious sporting event, uniting the world every 4 years for international competition across a wide variety of sports. Patrick, Dan, and Kate talk about the history of the Olympics and their personal relationships with the Games (like how Patrick watches every single medal event at each Olympics!) before diving into what to expect at this year's Winter Games. Patrick eagerly talks about the absolutely wild new sport of Ski Mountaineering, and Dan talks about his love of all things Curling. Patrick and Kate give an overview of the broader Olympic program, including sore spots like the lack of women's Nordic Combined and the absence of most Russian and Belarusian athletes. They also talk about what to expect at this year's Olympic ice hockey tournament, with the return of NHL players for the first time since 2014 (and some very direct comments on how, if you want to support queer people in ice hockey after watching Heated Rivalry, women's ice hockey might be for you). Kate then gives us a deep dive into the marquee event of any Winter Olympic Games: the Figure Skating program. She gives us an overview of the differences in the figure skating events (which include men's singles, women's singles, pairs, and ice dancing), as well as a very brief explanation of different jumps that constitute the sport, including the recently unbanned backflip. Patrick and Kate then preview who the medal contenders are this year, including who is representing Team USA. They also teach Dan about the unprecedented athletic feat that is Ilia Malinin and his quadruple axle. We hope that you enjoy this episode and join us for 19 days of incredible international sports at the 2026 Winter Olympics!  

In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Nina, Alexandra and Adam catch up on some of the latest news, including the dire situation in Ukraine, the ongoing peace negotiations and President Zelenskyy's meeting with Belarusian democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. They also look at Montenegro's progress towards EU accession and mention the resignation of Bulgaria's president, setting up the main topic for the episode.After the news, Adam is joined by Svetoslav Todorov, a Bulgarian journalist and writer, to unpack the situation there. They look at last month's wave of mass protests, the collapse of yet another government, and try to determine what's driving public anger beyond the budget dispute. They also touch on the growing role of young people, the country's turbulent election cycle, the smooth but controversial adoption of the euro, and how pro-Russian narratives continue to shape Bulgaria's political landscape.Do you like this podcast? Please support it by becoming apatron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeHelp Ukrainians survive this winter. Here are some fundraisers you can support:Nova Ukraine's “warmth for Ukraine” campaign: https://novaukraine.org/warmth-for-ukraine-a-humanitarian-appeal/United24 – Ukraine's official fundraising portal: https://u24.gov.ua/ Energize Ukraine – by the Ukrainian World Congress: https://energizeukraine.com/

The top-ranked Spaniard moves one win away from his first Australian Open crown, a Belarusian star reaches another final in Melbourne, the NBA's top pick breaks the teenage scoring record, a three-time Stanley Cup winner achieves an American milestone, two major winners headline the Farmers Insurance Open and more. Correspondent Gethin Coolbaugh reports.

When Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado gave her Nobel "Peace" Prize to warmonger Donald Trump to thank him for bombing her country, it showed how the prize is a tool of war that serves Western foreign policy interests. The winner is very often a US-funded regime-change activist who tries to overthrow independent governments deemed "authoritarian" by NATO. Ben Norton reports. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ow1WRl0Axw Topics 0:00 Trump gets prize from Venezuela's Machado 2:12 Trump has bombed 10 countries 3:01 Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite 3:52 Nobel Peace Prize serves US foreign policy 4:39 Henry Kissinger, war criminal 5:42 Barack Obama, war criminal & Nobel laureate 7:07 Nobel Peace Prize: regime-change tool 9:07 Prize money 9:46 National Endowment for Democracy (NED) 11:07 Philippines' pro-US "dissident" 12:54 Russian pro-US "dissident" 14:33 Ukraine & neocons 15:36 Anti-Russian groups 16:23 Anti-Soviet "dissident" 16:51 Belarusian pro-US "dissident" 18:09 Iranian pro-US "dissident" 19:26 Iranian pro-US, pro-war activist 22:07 War is peace: US empire über alles 22:54 Iranian Revolution & imperialism 23:19 USA supports protests in Iran 26:15 NED continues under Trump & Rubio 27:24 China targeted by USA 28:07 Chinese pro-US "dissident" 29:11 US gov't links to Human Rights Watch 30:02 "Color revolution" attempt 31:21 Pro-colonialist fanatic Liu Xiaobo 34:53 Far-right warmonger Solzhenitsyn 35:59 Jean-Paul Sartre rejected Nobel Prize 36:56 Dalai Lama & CIA support 38:22 Nobel "Peace" Prize for war 39:07 Outro

Belarus to review a draft law that would grant foreign investors Belarusian citizenship and de facto permanent residence in Russia. "Approval expected within 3-6 months," says Ilja Belobragin.View the full article here.Subscribe to the IMI Daily newsletter here. 

In this episode, we have two segments. Ben Passmore First up, Ian talks with Philadelphia-based cartoonist Ben Passmore about his new book, Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance. They discuss the research and making of the book, Passmores anarchism, the themes of inter-generational struggle, contextualizing history through lived experience, and the pitfalls of mythmaking. In addition, they spend some time discussing Ben's martial arts practice and the legacy of Assata Shakur in light of her recent passing. Other titles by Ben: Your Black Friend and Other Strangers BTTM FDRS Gumroad store LinkTree Patreon: @DayGloAHole Instascam @DayGloAHole BluesKry: @BenPassmore Fedbook @DayGloAHole Fumblr @DayGloAHole Mikolo Dziadok Then we'll hear a brief interview with Mikola Dziadok, a Belarusian journalist, anarchist activist, blogger, and former political prisoner. Mikola is now about 3 months out of prison and starting a new life in exile. The interview was conducted in mid-November by comrades from Frequenz-A and appears in the December 2025 episode of B(A)D News from the A-Radio Network. Check our show notes for links on how to support Mikola's next stage of life Follow Mikola's Channel in YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Radixbel Support Mikola financially (it is needed for setting up life in a new country): ko-fi.com/mikoladziadok mikola.dziadok@gmail.com – PayPal 1K17NNNwFvH3rfg44vkLW1zHJCvxG8 Sc7z – Bitcoin

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Research Saturday. 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

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Research Saturday. 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

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links —Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

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

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

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

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.

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

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 

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

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

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