Podcasts about Black Sea

Achilles. Agamemnon. Odysseus. Hector. The lives of these and many other men in the greatest epics of ancient Greece have been pored over endlessly in the past three millennia. But these are not just tales about heroic men. There are scores of women as well—complex, fascinating women whose stories have gone unexplored for far too long. In Penelope's Bones: A New History of Homer's World through the Women Written Out of It (University of Chicago Press, 2025), award-winning classicist and historian Dr. Emily Hauser pieces together compelling evidence from archaeological excavations and scientific discoveries to unearth the richly textured lives of women in Bronze Age Greece—the era of Homer's heroes. Here, for the first time, we come to understand the everyday lives and experiences of the real women who stand behind the legends of Helen, Briseis, Cassandra, Aphrodite, Circe, Athena, Hera, Calypso, Penelope, and more. In this captivating journey through Homer's world, Dr. Hauser explains era-defining discoveries, such as the excavation of Troy and the decipherment of Linear B tablets that reveal thousands of captive women and their children; more recent finds like the tomb of the Griffin Warrior at Pylos, whose tomb contents challenge traditional gender attributes; DNA evidence showing that groups of warriors buried near the Black Sea with their weapons and steeds were, in fact, Amazon-like female fighters; a prehistoric dye workshop on Crete that casts fresh light on “women's work” of dyeing, spinning, and weaving textiles; and a superbly preserved shipwreck off the coast of Turkey whose contents tell of the economic and diplomatic networks crisscrossing the Bronze Age Mediterranean. Essential reading for fans of Madeline Miller or Natalie Haynes, this riveting new history brings to life the women of the Bronze Age Aegean as never before, offering a groundbreaking reassessment of the ancient world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Achilles. Agamemnon. Odysseus. Hector. The lives of these and many other men in the greatest epics of ancient Greece have been pored over endlessly in the past three millennia. But these are not just tales about heroic men. There are scores of women as well—complex, fascinating women whose stories have gone unexplored for far too long. In Penelope's Bones: A New History of Homer's World through the Women Written Out of It (University of Chicago Press, 2025), award-winning classicist and historian Dr. Emily Hauser pieces together compelling evidence from archaeological excavations and scientific discoveries to unearth the richly textured lives of women in Bronze Age Greece—the era of Homer's heroes. Here, for the first time, we come to understand the everyday lives and experiences of the real women who stand behind the legends of Helen, Briseis, Cassandra, Aphrodite, Circe, Athena, Hera, Calypso, Penelope, and more. In this captivating journey through Homer's world, Dr. Hauser explains era-defining discoveries, such as the excavation of Troy and the decipherment of Linear B tablets that reveal thousands of captive women and their children; more recent finds like the tomb of the Griffin Warrior at Pylos, whose tomb contents challenge traditional gender attributes; DNA evidence showing that groups of warriors buried near the Black Sea with their weapons and steeds were, in fact, Amazon-like female fighters; a prehistoric dye workshop on Crete that casts fresh light on “women's work” of dyeing, spinning, and weaving textiles; and a superbly preserved shipwreck off the coast of Turkey whose contents tell of the economic and diplomatic networks crisscrossing the Bronze Age Mediterranean. Essential reading for fans of Madeline Miller or Natalie Haynes, this riveting new history brings to life the women of the Bronze Age Aegean as never before, offering a groundbreaking reassessment of the ancient world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Achilles. Agamemnon. Odysseus. Hector. The lives of these and many other men in the greatest epics of ancient Greece have been pored over endlessly in the past three millennia. But these are not just tales about heroic men. There are scores of women as well—complex, fascinating women whose stories have gone unexplored for far too long. In Penelope's Bones: A New History of Homer's World through the Women Written Out of It (University of Chicago Press, 2025), award-winning classicist and historian Dr. Emily Hauser pieces together compelling evidence from archaeological excavations and scientific discoveries to unearth the richly textured lives of women in Bronze Age Greece—the era of Homer's heroes. Here, for the first time, we come to understand the everyday lives and experiences of the real women who stand behind the legends of Helen, Briseis, Cassandra, Aphrodite, Circe, Athena, Hera, Calypso, Penelope, and more. In this captivating journey through Homer's world, Dr. Hauser explains era-defining discoveries, such as the excavation of Troy and the decipherment of Linear B tablets that reveal thousands of captive women and their children; more recent finds like the tomb of the Griffin Warrior at Pylos, whose tomb contents challenge traditional gender attributes; DNA evidence showing that groups of warriors buried near the Black Sea with their weapons and steeds were, in fact, Amazon-like female fighters; a prehistoric dye workshop on Crete that casts fresh light on “women's work” of dyeing, spinning, and weaving textiles; and a superbly preserved shipwreck off the coast of Turkey whose contents tell of the economic and diplomatic networks crisscrossing the Bronze Age Mediterranean. Essential reading for fans of Madeline Miller or Natalie Haynes, this riveting new history brings to life the women of the Bronze Age Aegean as never before, offering a groundbreaking reassessment of the ancient world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/archaeology

Achilles. Agamemnon. Odysseus. Hector. The lives of these and many other men in the greatest epics of ancient Greece have been pored over endlessly in the past three millennia. But these are not just tales about heroic men. There are scores of women as well—complex, fascinating women whose stories have gone unexplored for far too long. In Penelope's Bones: A New History of Homer's World through the Women Written Out of It (University of Chicago Press, 2025), award-winning classicist and historian Dr. Emily Hauser pieces together compelling evidence from archaeological excavations and scientific discoveries to unearth the richly textured lives of women in Bronze Age Greece—the era of Homer's heroes. Here, for the first time, we come to understand the everyday lives and experiences of the real women who stand behind the legends of Helen, Briseis, Cassandra, Aphrodite, Circe, Athena, Hera, Calypso, Penelope, and more. In this captivating journey through Homer's world, Dr. Hauser explains era-defining discoveries, such as the excavation of Troy and the decipherment of Linear B tablets that reveal thousands of captive women and their children; more recent finds like the tomb of the Griffin Warrior at Pylos, whose tomb contents challenge traditional gender attributes; DNA evidence showing that groups of warriors buried near the Black Sea with their weapons and steeds were, in fact, Amazon-like female fighters; a prehistoric dye workshop on Crete that casts fresh light on “women's work” of dyeing, spinning, and weaving textiles; and a superbly preserved shipwreck off the coast of Turkey whose contents tell of the economic and diplomatic networks crisscrossing the Bronze Age Mediterranean. Essential reading for fans of Madeline Miller or Natalie Haynes, this riveting new history brings to life the women of the Bronze Age Aegean as never before, offering a groundbreaking reassessment of the ancient world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Achilles. Agamemnon. Odysseus. Hector. The lives of these and many other men in the greatest epics of ancient Greece have been pored over endlessly in the past three millennia. But these are not just tales about heroic men. There are scores of women as well—complex, fascinating women whose stories have gone unexplored for far too long. In Penelope's Bones: A New History of Homer's World through the Women Written Out of It (University of Chicago Press, 2025), award-winning classicist and historian Dr. Emily Hauser pieces together compelling evidence from archaeological excavations and scientific discoveries to unearth the richly textured lives of women in Bronze Age Greece—the era of Homer's heroes. Here, for the first time, we come to understand the everyday lives and experiences of the real women who stand behind the legends of Helen, Briseis, Cassandra, Aphrodite, Circe, Athena, Hera, Calypso, Penelope, and more. In this captivating journey through Homer's world, Dr. Hauser explains era-defining discoveries, such as the excavation of Troy and the decipherment of Linear B tablets that reveal thousands of captive women and their children; more recent finds like the tomb of the Griffin Warrior at Pylos, whose tomb contents challenge traditional gender attributes; DNA evidence showing that groups of warriors buried near the Black Sea with their weapons and steeds were, in fact, Amazon-like female fighters; a prehistoric dye workshop on Crete that casts fresh light on “women's work” of dyeing, spinning, and weaving textiles; and a superbly preserved shipwreck off the coast of Turkey whose contents tell of the economic and diplomatic networks crisscrossing the Bronze Age Mediterranean. Essential reading for fans of Madeline Miller or Natalie Haynes, this riveting new history brings to life the women of the Bronze Age Aegean as never before, offering a groundbreaking reassessment of the ancient world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textWhat happens when an eight-year-old girl from communist Bulgaria decides she's going to be a poet? Katerina Stoykova joins us to share her remarkable journey from the shores of the Black Sea to becoming a published author, publisher, and literary community builder in Kentucky.Katerina's story begins with a pivotal childhood moment when a visiting poet sparked an unshakable desire to write poetry. With disarming honesty, she recounts telling her mother about her dream and immediately writing her first poem, determined to prove herself. This early conviction carried her through years of honing her craft, from publishing in magazines as a teenager to finally releasing her first book in her thirties.Drawing from her fifteen years of experience as founder of Accents Publishing, Katerina offers invaluable guidance for writers navigating the publishing landscape. She breaks down exactly what to look for in a publisher (longevity, fair contracts, good distribution), how to scrutinize publishing contracts, and the factors to consider when choosing between traditional and self-publishing paths. Her practical advice demystifies the often-confusing publishing process with refreshing clarity.Perhaps most valuable is Katerina's wisdom on handling rejection—an inevitable companion to creative work. Rather than being crushed by rejection or wearing it as a badge of honor, she advocates for emotional neutrality: "Take every rejection as a data point, just like Thomas Edison said about finding ways not to make a light bulb." This perspective, coupled with her three non-negotiables for writers (reading, writing, and workshopping), provides a sustainable framework for creative growth.Subscribe to hear more conversations with fascinating creators who are living their dreams and building meaningful careers through passion and persistence. How might your own creative journey benefit from Katerina's insights? https://a.co/d/0Fry5XjWant to be a guest on Living the Dream with Curveball? Send Curtis Jackson a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1628631536976x919760049303001600

Today we are visiting the Capital of the world, the city where East meets West and old meets new. It's a spot where everything feels alive and you can't help but be wowed by the humanity of it all.  Joining me today to chat all things Istanbul is Jonathan Crook, the Managing Director of the brand new Peninsula Istanbul. We discuss everything from Turkish cuisine, to the contemporary art scene, to the special elements that Peninsula has brought to the city.  And as a special bonus for this episode, Jonathan is offering VIP meet and greet, a yacht arrival experience, and an upgrade to a suite for the first listener to book the property through Bell & Bly Travel!  Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn  

This week we talk about drone warfare, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and total war.We also discuss casualty numbers, population superiority, and lingering munitions.Recommended Book: The Burning Earth by Sunil AmrithTranscriptEight years after Russia launched a halfheartedly concealed invasion of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, under the guise of helping supposedly oppressed Russian-speakers and Russia loyalists in the area, in February of 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.This invasion followed months of military buildup along the two countries' shared borders, and was called a special military operation by Russian President Putin. It was later reported that this was intended to be a quick, one or a few day decapitation attack against Ukraine, Russia's forces rapidly closing the distance between the border and Ukraine's capitol, Kyiv, killing or imprisoning all the country's leadership, replacing it with a puppet government loyal to Putin, and that would be that.Ukraine had been reorienting toward the European Union and away from Russia's sphere of influence, and Russia wanted to put a stop to that realignment and bring the country fully back under its control, as was the case before 2014, when a series of protests turned into an uprising that caused their then-leader, a puppet of Russia, to flee the country; he, of course, fled to Russia.On paper, Ukraine was at a massive disadvantage in this renewed conflict, as Russia is a global-scale player, while Ukraine is relatively small, and back in 2014 had one of its major ports and a huge chunk of its territory stolen by Russia.Russia also has nukes, has a massive conventional military, and has a far larger economy and population. Analysts near-universally assumed Ukraine would collapse under the weight of Russia's military, perhaps holding out for weeks or months if they were really skillful and lucky, but probably days.That didn't end up being the case. Despite Russia's substantial and multifarious advantages, Ukraine managed to hold out against the initial invasion, against subsequent pushes, and then managed to launch its own counterattacks. For more than three years, it has held its ground against Russia's onslaught, against continuous land incursions, and against seemingly endless aerial attacks by jets, by bombers, and by all sorts of rockets, missiles, and drones.It's difficult, if not impossible, to determine actual casualty and fatality numbers in this conflict, as both sides are incentivized to adjust these figures, either to show how horrible the other side is, or to make it seem like they're suffering less than they are for moral purposes.But it's expected that Russia will hit a milestone of one million casualties sometime in the summer of 2025, if it hasn't actually hit that number already, and it's estimated that as many as 250,000 Russian soldiers have already been killed in Ukraine.For context, that's about five-times as many deaths as Russia suffered in all the wars it fought, post-WWII (as both the Soviet Union and Russia), combined. That's also fifteen-times as many fatalities as they suffered in their ten-year-long war in Afghanistan, and ten-times as many deaths as in their 13-year-long war in Chechnya.It's also estimated that Russia has lost something like 3,000-4,000 tanks, 9,000 armored vehicles, 13,000 artillery systems, and more than 400 air defense systems in the past year, alone; those numbers vary a bit depending on who you listen to, but those are likely the proper order of magnitude.The country is rapidly shifting to a full-scale war footing, originally having intended to make do with a few modern systems and a whole lot of antique, Soviet military hardware they had in storage to conduct this blitzkrieg attack on Ukraine, but now they're having to reorient basically every facet of society and their economy toward this conflict, turning a huge chunk of their total manufacturing base toward producing ammunition, tanks, missiles, and so on.Which, to be clear, is something they're capable of doing. Russia is currently on pace to replace this hardware, and then some, which is part of why other European governments are increasing their own military spending right now: the idea being that once Russia has finished their reorientation toward the production of modern military hardware, they'll eventually find themselves with more tanks, missiles, and drones than they can use in Ukraine, and they'll need to aim them somewhere, or else will find themselves have to pay upkeep on all this stuff as it gathers dust and slowly becomes unusable.The theory, then, is that they'll have to open up another conflict just to avoid being bogged down in too much surplus weaponry; so maybe they'll try their luck in the Baltics, or perhaps start shipping more hardware to fellow travelers, terrorists and separatists, in places like Moldova.In the meantime, though, Russian forces are continuing to accrue gains in Ukraine, but very, very slowly. This year they've captured an average of about 50 meters of Ukrainian territory per day, at a cost of around 1,140 casualties per day, of which about 975 are fatalities.That's a huge and horrific meatgrinder, but there's little pushback against the invasion in Russia at this point, as speaking out against it has been criminalized, and a lot of high-profile fines, arrests, kidnappings, and seeming assassinations of people who have said anything even a little bit negative about the war or the Russian government have apparently been effective.Ukraine is holding its own, then, but Russia still has the upper-hand, and will likely have even more weight behind it in the coming months, as its manufacturing base pivots further and further toward a total war stance.What I'd like to talk about today is a seeming renewed effort on the part of Ukraine to strike within Russian territory, taking out military assets, but also destabilizing Russian support for the war, focusing especially on one such recent, wildly successful asymmetric attack.—In addition to all the other advantages Russia has in this conflict, Ukraine's population is about one-fourth the size of Russia's, and that means even if Ukraine is, by some measures, losing one soldier to every two that Russia loses, over time Russia is still gaining firmer and firmer footing; that's a war of attrition Russia will eventually win just because their population is bigger.By some indications, the Russian government is also using this conflict as an opportunity to clear out its prisons, offering prisoners a chance at freedom if they go to the front line and survive for a period of time, many of them dying, and thus freeing up prison space and resources that would otherwise be spent on them, but also sending a disproportionate number of their poor, their disliked ethnic and religious groups, and their young radicals into the meatgrinder, forcing them to serve as cannon fodder, as most of those people will die or be grievously wounded, but those people also, as a side-benefit, will no longer be a problem for the government.Russia is also bringing in troops from its ally, North Korea, to fight on the front lines, alongside all the weapon systems and ammo it's been procuring from them and other allies, like China and Iran.So while this is obviously not great for Russia, losing that many fighters for relatively small gains, they've also figured out a way to make it not so bad, and in some ways even a positive development, according to their metrics for positive, anyway, and again, if they can keep warm bodies flooding to the front lines, they will eventually win, even if it takes a while—at their current rate of advance, it would take about 116 years to capture the rest of the country—and even if the body count is shockingly high by the time that happens.To counter this increasing advantage that Russia has been leveraging, Ukraine has been leaning more heavily on drones, as the invasion has progressed.In this context, a drone might be anything from the off-the-shelf, quadcopter models that hobbyists use to race and shoot aerial photographs, to higher-end, jet or missile or glider-like models similar to what major military forces, like the US military, use to scout and photograph enemy forces and terrain, and in some cases launch assassination attacks or bombing raids on the same.They can be low-flying quad-copters, or they can be something like lingering, unmanned missiles or jet fighters, then, and they can be completely unarmed, or they can be rigged with grenades to drop, bombs to use in a suicide attack, missiles to fire, shotguns to blast enemy fighters in the face, or nets to ensnare enemy drones.Drones of all shapes and sizes have been fundamental to the way modern militaries operate since the 1990s, when early, remotely piloted aircraft, like the Predator drone, were used for aerial reconnaissance purposes in mostly Middle Eastern war zones.Later versions were then equipped with bombs and missiles, and in some cases have even been used for the assassination of individuals, as was the case with a drone that fired a modified Hellfire missile that was reportedly use to kill an al Quaeda leader in Afghanistan in 2022, the missile deploying six large blades before hitting its intended target, shredding him instead of blowing him up, and thus avoiding civilian casualties.Mexican cartels have also been enthusiastically adopting drones in their attacks and assassinations, their so-called dronero drone-operators often rigging off-the-shelf drones with deployable bombs, allowing them to fly the drone into an enemy's home or other supposedly safe space, killing them with minimum risk to the attacker, and with sufficient fog-of-war so that if the attacker doesn't want to be known, they can maintain anonymity.Ukraine's military has been using drones from the beginning of the conflict in a similarly asymmetric manner, but they've also been improving upon the state-of-the-art by coming up with sophisticated new uses for existing drone models, while also developing their own drones and software systems, allowing them to maintain the meat-grinder Russian forces face with fewer Ukrainian casualties, while also giving them new opportunities to strike Russia within its own borders.That latter point is important, as for pretty much this entire conflict, Ukraine's allies have provided them with weapons, but with the stipulation that they cannot fire those weapons into Russia territory—the fear being that Russia might use that as justification to expand the scope of the conflict. Those stipulations have been lightening, with some allies now saying it's fine that Ukraine uses these weapons however they like, but the Ukrainians have been pushed into making more of their own weapon systems in part because they can use those systems however they choose, without limits, including being able to target infrastructure within Russian territory.One such innovation is a speedboat-based anti-aircraft missile system called the Magura V7, which reportedly shot down two Russian Su-30 warplanes, which are roughly equivalent to the US F-16, in May of 2025, which was the first-ever successful downing of fighter jets by drone boats.These boats can hang out in open water for days at a time, watching and waiting for Russian jets, and then ambushing them, seemingly out of nowhere. It's also been speculated that a recent attack on a vital supply channel for Russian forces in occupied Crimea, the Crimean Bridge, was conducted using an underwater drone, which if true could signal a new frontier of sorts in this conflict, as Ukraine has already managed to menace Russia's Black Sea fleet into near-inoperability using conventional weaponry, and the widespread deployment of more difficult to detect underwater drones could make any Russian naval presence even more difficult, if not impossible, to maintain.Ukraine has been coming up with all sorts of interesting countermeasures for Russia's anti-drone tech, including connecting their spy drones to the drone's operator using thin strands of fiber optic cable, which renders electronic warfare countermeasures all but useless, alongside efforts to make attack drones more capable if cut off from their operators, allowing the drones to continue tracking targets over time, and to follow through with an attack if their communication signals are jammed.A new approach to offensively leveraging drones, which was the biggest drone attack by Ukraine, so far, and the most impactful, was called Operation Spider's Web, and was deployed on June 1 of this year. It involved 117 drones launching coordinated attacks across Russia, successfully striking about 20 high-end Russian military aircraft, ten of which were destroyed.This is notable in part because some of the aircraft in question were strategic bombers and A-50 military spy planes, both of which are incredibly expensive and valuable; and Russia only has two of that type of spy plane. But it's also notable because some of these targets were struck far from Ukraine, one of the targeted air bases located about 2,700 miles away, which for context is nearly the width of the continental United States.The Ukrainian military was able to accomplish this synchronized attack, which took about a year and a half to plan, by concealing drone parts in wooden shipping containers that were designed to look like a type of mobile wooden cabin that are commonly carried on flatbed trucks throughout the area. Those parts were assembled into finished drones inside Russia's borders, and then on June 1, all at the same time, the roofs of these mobile containers slid open, the drones flew out, and they made for their targets simultaneously.This attack is said to have caused billions of dollars in damage, and to have hit about a third of Russia's cruise missile carriers.Earlier this week, Russia launched what's being called the biggest overnight drone bombardment of the war, so far, launching 479 drones at Ukrainian targets, alongside 20 missiles of different types. The Ukrainian military says it destroyed 277 drones and 19 missiles mid-flight, and that only 10 drones and missiles hit their targets. One person was reportedly injured by the barrage; though like all numbers in this conflict, it's impossible to know whether these figures are real or not.This is of-a-kind with other recent attacks by Russia against Ukrainian targets, in that it was aimed at several military, but also many major civilian targets—apparently with the intention of demoralizing civilians and soldiers, alike. And most of these attacks are overnight attacks, because it's more difficult to see the drones and take them out before they hit their target when it's dark outside.That said, there are some murmurs in the analyst community that Russia might not be able to escalate things too much, right now, despite the big success of Operation Spider's Web, as it's already throwing a lot at Ukraine. Both countries are seemingly going all-out in their offensives on the theory that if peace talks do ever go anywhere, as some foreign governments, including Trump's US government, would prefer, the side that seems to be doing the best and have the best prospects at that moment will have an advantage in those talks.Ukraine's attacks within Russia have mostly targeted fuel and ammo depots, drone manufacturing facilities, and similar combat-related infrastructure. There's a chance they might also aim at demoralizing the Russian public through attacks on civilian targets at some point, but they seem to be sticking with military targets for now, and that would seem to be a better strategy, considering that speaking out against the war is illegal and severely punished in Russia—so hitting Russia's capacity for maintaining the invasion would be more likely to lead to positive outcomes for Ukraine, as that could hobble Russia's capacity to invade, which in turn could reduce the populations' sense of the governments power.However those talks, if they do eventually happen in earnest, play out, there's apparently now a change in tone and tact, as Ukraine has shown that it's capable of striking Russian targets deep within Russia, and it's likely making things tricky for Russia's economy, as they'll now have to spend more time and resources checking all sorts of shipping containers and other possible points of ingress, lest they contain drone parts or other weapons.Not a huge deal, all things considered, perhaps, a little extra work and expense across the economy but one more of many papercuts Ukraine seems to be inflicting on its more powerful foe that, in aggregate, might eventually force that foe to find a way to back off.Show Noteshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz708lpzgxrohttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/03/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-drones-deaths.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/world/europe/ukraine-russia-drones-weapons.htmlhttps://www.twz.com/news-features/inside-ukraines-fiber-optic-drone-warhttps://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/04/russias-black-sea-has-been-functionally-inactive-for-over-1-year/https://www.twz.com/news-features/inside-ukraines-fiber-optic-drone-warhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drone_warfarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Spider%27s_Webhttps://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/predator-drone-transformed-military-combathttps://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-russia-drone-attack-bombers-cc77e534https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-believes-russia-response-ukraine-drone-attack-not-over-yet-expects-multi-2025-06-07/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraine-hit-fewer-russian-planes-than-it-estimated-us-officials-say-2025-06-04/https://defensescoop.com/2025/04/03/ukraine-russian-tanks-destroyed-attack-drones-cavoli/https://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-battlefield-woes-ukrainehttps://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-5-2025https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

What did Dave say in his seminar at UK Games Expo00.00.40: Introductions00.03.39: Thank you to our new patrons Huscarl and Tobias Vahlston00.05.23: World of Gaming: Our UKGE reports; FL update on Bladerunner Replicant Rebellion; Outgunning Action Flicks 2 released; High Noon at Midnight from Monte Cooke Games; we are coming to Spelkongress 25.00.36.31: Feature: Writing and Design  - how to make your player happy 00.59.41: Next time and Goodbye Effekt is brought to you by Effekt Publishing. Music is by Stars in a Black Sea, used with kind permission of Free League Publishing.Like what we do?Sign up for updates on Tales of the Old West via our new website and download Tales of the Old West QuickDraw available for free on DriveThru. The core rules are now available on DriveThru too.Put our brand on your face! (and elsewhere)Buy pdfs via our DriveThru Affiliate linkLeave a review on iTunes or PodchaserFind our Actual Play recordings on effektapFind essay transcripts and other stuff on Matthew's, and Dave's blogs ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Andrew Mueller reports from the Black Sea Security Forum, asking why Odesa matters beyond Ukraine’s borders and how Ukrainians have managed to keep fighting more than three years into Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grains quiet as a high pressure ridge works its way to the Midwest; rains forecast for dry areas of Canada; Black Sea region returns to dryness; export sales about normal.

Wheat stays positive on weather issues and Black Sea war escalation; corn and soybeans mixed on good weather and uncertain politics.

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.0:00 GFS Turns Dry3:13 Wildfire Smoke6:38 Ag Barometer8:59 Ukraine Grain Update10:20 White House and Trade

Grain and livestock trade finished higher on Wednesday. Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist at StoneX, recaps the market movers. Topics: - Wheat trade builds in risk premium on war escalation - Corn, soybeans watch biofuel programs - Cattle futures pushed by higher cash

Gligor Tashkovich served as the Minister of Foreign Investment for the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, one of just 23 officials elected by the citizens to run the country. His ministry uniquely intersected with all other ministries in matters related to foreign investment. Under his leadership, Macedonia became the first country globally to fully ratify a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the 28-member European Union, enabling companies to establish manufacturing operations within Macedonia's four special economic zones and export duty- and tax-free into the EU. Coupled with Macedonia's low wage rates and a flat 10% corporate and personal income tax, this created a compelling and competitive environment for businesses aiming to expand into Europe without the burden of higher wages.Gligor's expertise spans oil and gas pipeline geopolitics in the Caspian and Black Sea regions, early development of the Internet in Europe and North America (1984–1994), and international business development across more than 15 industries.In this episode we dive into a few of the many ways that he has changed the world as we now know it.

Listen to the SF Daily podcast for today, June 02, 2025, with host Lorrie Boyer. These quick and informative episodes cover the commodity markets, weather, and the big things happening in agriculture each morning. Corn planting in the Eastern Corn Belt is progressing, with prevent plant dates looming due to low new crop futures and replanting needs. Wheat prices are up due to adverse weather and geopolitical tensions in the Black Sea. Soybean prices are down due to increased production estimates from Brazil. The Argentine soybean harvest is underway, with prices fluctuating. USDA data showed a 3.6% month-over-month drop in soybean prices but a 12% year-over-year increase. Cattle futures were affected by a false rumor of the New World screw worm, and new trading limits were implemented. Strong thunderstorms with potential for hail and flash flooding were forecasted in parts of the Midwest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grain futures saw varied movements with initial highs in wheat and subsequent declines in corn. Market focus includes tensions in the Black Sea impacting wheat prices amid weather concerns globally.

Türkiye celebrates Istanbul's conquest by launching gas platform "Türkiye sent off its first floating production unit Osman Gazi, towards the Sakarya Gas Field in the Black Sea. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan led the ceremonial send-off in Istanbul, accompanied by top officials and a traditional mehter band. Marking the 572nd anniversary of the Conquest of Istanbul, the platform's journey through the strait began with presidential blessings and radio communications. Expected to double gas output, Osman Gazi is seen as Türkiye's bold stride towards energy independence." US flag returns to Syria after 12 years of frozen ties "In a landmark move, US envoy Thomas Barrack raised the American flag over the ambassador's residence in Damascus. It was its first appearance since 2012. Though embassy operations remain suspended, Barrack's visit signals renewed US-Syria engagement. Appointed on May 23, Barrack met with Syria's President Ahmed al Sharaa and reopened the residence with Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani. He reiterated US support for current leadership, hinted at peace talks with Israel and confirmed that sanctions had been lifted by President Trump, including Syria's removal from the ""terror sponsor"" list." Ukraine open to Istanbul talks but wants Russia's peace terms first "Jumping on to another volatile region, Ukraine has expressed its readiness to participate in peace talks planned to take place in Istanbul next week. However, Kiev insists that Russia must share its proposed peace terms in advance. Ukraine described Moscow's refusal to do so as “non-constructive,” warning that the meeting risks being ineffective without transparency. Meanwhile, the United Nations has reported a sharp increase in civilian casualties, with over 13,000 civilians killed since the conflict began. The United States has called on Russia to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire, emphasising that there is no military solution to the conflict. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also urged all parties to keep dialogue channels open despite stalled diplomatic efforts." South Koreans show record turnout as early voting continues "South Koreans turned out in record numbers on Friday for the second day of early voting, aiming to end months of political chaos sparked by ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol's controversial martial law declaration and impeachment. With the economy under strain and a revolving door of interim leaders, liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung leads the race, followed by conservative Kim Moon-soo. Already, a record 21 percent of 44.4 million registered voters have cast ballots, with overseas turnout hitting historic highs ahead of the June 3 election." "Hamas: Israeli ceasefire response fails to meet core demands "Palestinian resistance group Hamas says Israel's response to a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal falls short of its demands. The plan, put forward by US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, remains under Hamas review. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes bombed southern Lebanon, striking several towns days after a deadly attack breached the 2024 truce. Separately in Gaza, the head of the United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees Philippe Lazzarini, warned that Israel's war tactics, including starvation, threaten future generations in Gaza. He urged unhindered access to aid to avert a deepening humanitarian catastrophe."

Welcome to another special episode in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, back from Asia. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Why the Prison Pulpit? I want to remind you once again why I do this weekly Prison Pulpit series: to encourage you to pray for Pastor Wang Yi (and others like him) as Hebrews 13:3 teaches us, by sharing from his own words and sermons, as well as many stories and sermons from the late Richard Wurmbrand. Bucharest Below! Speaking of Wurmbrand, just a couple hours after posting last week’s episode of the Prison Pulpit, my flight from Oman to London took me directly over Iraq (dry and desolate), Turkey (green and gorgeous), and then after crossing the Black Sea, Bucharest, Romania, where Richard Wurmbrand was from, and where he was arrested and spent years in solitary confinement! I’ve been to Bucharest once, even meeting a few folks who KNEW Wurmbrand, but I don’t know the city well enough to locate anything in particular from the sky. However, it was fascinating nonetheless! Unbeaten.vip Also, and I promise this is the last time I’ll mention this until NEXT year, Sunday, May 25, was the anniversary of my arrest and interrogation seven years ago…UNBEATEN.VIP! May 25, 2018: 21 Japanese detained in China likely targeted in crackdown on missionaries https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2147864/21-japanese-detained-china-may-have-been-targeted What Will You Do In the Time of Testing? https://chinacall.substack.com/p/what-will-you-do-in-the-time-of-testing Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also send any questions or comments via comment or DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

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.0:00 Corn/Soybean Conditions and Progress1:37 Ohio Problems4:06 Wheat Progress and Conditions5:27 Wheat Price Action8:18 China Wheat Update9:26 Corn Shipments are Strong10:53 Trump CFTC Pick

Welcome to another special episode in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, back from Asia. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Why the Prison Pulpit? I want to remind you once again why I do this weekly Prison Pulpit series: to encourage you to pray for Pastor Wang Yi (and others like him) as Hebrews 13:3 teaches us, by sharing from his own words and sermons, as well as many stories and sermons from the late Richard Wurmbrand. Bucharest Below! Speaking of Wurmbrand, just a couple hours after posting last week’s episode of the Prison Pulpit, my flight from Oman to London took me directly over Iraq (dry and desolate), Turkey (green and gorgeous), and then after crossing the Black Sea, Bucharest, Romania, where Richard Wurmbrand was from, and where he was arrested and spent years in solitary confinement! I’ve been to Bucharest once, even meeting a few folks who KNEW Wurmbrand, but I don’t know the city well enough to locate anything in particular from the sky. However, it was fascinating nonetheless! Unbeaten.vip Also, and I promise this is the last time I’ll mention this until NEXT year, Sunday, May 25, was the anniversary of my arrest and interrogation seven years ago…UNBEATEN.VIP! May 25, 2018: 21 Japanese detained in China likely targeted in crackdown on missionaries https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2147864/21-japanese-detained-china-may-have-been-targeted What Will You Do In the Time of Testing? https://chinacall.substack.com/p/what-will-you-do-in-the-time-of-testing Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also send any questions or comments via comment or DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

This episode forms part of a new strand of our podcast: Seapower Past and Present which explores seapower as it is understood and practised in the modern world whilst offering a historical perspective on the themes we explore. Each episode is chosen according to a theme or a location – a hotspot in the modern world where seapower has a major influence on geopolitics. So if you enjoy this episode do please seek out others in this strand – you will shortly be able to find episodes on economic warfare, critical national infrastructure, how technology is changing the nature of warfare at sea; and on hugely significant locations in the modern maritime world - the Black Sea, South China Sea, Middle East and Arctic.To make this series come alive we've teamed up with the Royal Navy Strategic Studies centre. In each episode you will hear from at least one historian and from at least one practitioner, a member of the armed forces who has direct first hand, personal experience of the topic being discussed.This episode explores seapower in the Arctic, and how today's unique balance of power and strategic concerns was born from its rich and fascinating history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Greatships in the Great Dark00.00.40: Introductions00.02.51: World of Gaming: What we are doing at UKGames Expo; plus, New Dragonbane expansion; Invisible Sun, Bettin' Bullets; online retail coming soon; VTT coming later; our first game with proper rulebooks00.32.54: Old West News: US shipping notices being received, online retail coming soon; VTT coming later; our first game with proper rulebooks00.51.04: Feature: Building Greatships in the Great Dark01.18.10: Next time and Goodbye Effekt is brought to you by Effekt Publishing. Music is by Stars in a Black Sea, used with kind permission of Free League Publishing.Like what we do?Sign up for updates on Tales of the Old West via our new website and download Tales of the Old West QuickDraw available for free on DriveThru. The core rules are now available on DriveThru too.Put our brand on your face! (and elsewhere)Buy pdfs via our DriveThru Affiliate linkLeave a review on iTunes or PodchaserFind our Actual Play recordings on effektapFind essay transcripts and other stuff on Matthew's, and Dave's blogs ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

"This Saint was from Synnada in Phrygia of Asia Minor. In Constantinople he met Saint Theophylact (March 8); the holy Patriarch Tarasius, learning that Michael and Theophylact desired to become monks, sent them to a monastery on the Black Sea. Because of their great virtue, St Tarasius afterwards compelled them to accept consecration, Theophylact as Bishop of Nicomedia, and Michael as Bishop of his native Synnada. Because St Michael fearlessly confessed the veneration of the holy icons, he was banished by the Iconoclast Emperor Leo V the Armenian, who reigned from 813 to 820. After being driven from one place to another, in many hardships and bitter pains, St Michael died in exile." (Great Horologion)

This episode forms part of a new strand of our podcast: Seapower Past and Present which explores seapower as it is understood and practised in the modern world whilst offering a historical perspective on the themes we explore. Each episode is chosen according to a theme or a location – a hotspot in the modern world where seapower has a major influence on geopolitics. So if you enjoy this episode do please seek out others in this strand – you will shortly be able to find episodes on economic warfare, critical national infrastructure, how technology is changing the nature of warfare at sea; and on hugely significant locations in the modern maritime world - the Black Sea, South China Sea, Middle East and Arctic.To make this series come alive we've teamed up with the Royal Navy Strategic Studies centre. In each episode you will hear from at least one historian and from at least one practitioner, a member of the armed forces who has direct first hand, personal experience of the topic being discussed.This episode explores how and why maritime infrastructure is critical to our lives as we live them today. To find out more Dr Sam Willis spoke with Tim Edmunds, Professor of International Security at the university of Bristol and an advisor for the UK's National Strategy for Maritime Security, and Erin Bisset, infrastructure Superintendent at the Royal Naval Base in Portsmouth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Allen discusses the European Investment Bank's major wind farm investment in Romania, the financial performance of German energy giant RWE, and the potential cancellation of Equinor's Empire Wind Project due to regulatory challenges. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard's StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes' YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Welcome to Uptime News. Flash Industry News Lightning fast. Your host, Allen Hall, shares the renewable industry news you may have missed. Allen Hall: Okay, starting off the week over in Romania, the European investment bank is investing 30 million euros in a major wind farm project in Romania. The poster two project located near the Black Sea, will have a capacity of up to 400 megawatts. That's enough to supply over 1.4 million Romanian households for an entire year. The EIB is partnering with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners on the project with the total investment expected to be in excess of 500 million Euros. Construction is due to start later this year and it will bolster the European Union's push for climate neutrality by mid-century. German energy Giant RWE, reported an adjusted EBITDA of 1.3 billion euros [00:01:00] for the first three months of 2025. Adjusted net income amounted to 0.5 billion euros as expected earnings were below the level of the same quarter last year. This decline was primarily attributable to normalization of income in the flexible generation segment and a weaker start to the year in the trading business. The commissioning of new offshore wind farms, solar plants, and battery storage facilities had a positive impact on the company's performance. RWE commissioned 600 megawatts of new generation capacity in the first quarter alone. The company, currently has new plants with a combined capacity of 11.2 gigawatts under construction. Michael Mueller, chief financial officer of RWE, stated that they were reaffirming their full year earnings forecast after a solid start to the year. He noted, that the company is making great progress in expanding its portfolio in a value accretive manner. Construction projects remain on schedule [00:02:00] and on budget. Over in Norway, Equinor is warning it may cancel its Empire Wind Project off New York's coast. Following a Trump administration stop work order, the company is spending $50 million weekly to keep the project afloat while awaiting resolution. Molly Morris, president of Equinor's US renewable energy arm, describe the situation as unsustainable. The Interior Department led by Secretary Doug Bergham ordered Equinor to halt construction on April 17th. The order cited information suggesting the Biden administration may have approved the project without a thorough environmental analysis. The stop work order stemmed from a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. However, Equinor says it has not seen the report and is not aware of the specific concerns raised. The project represents a significant investment for Equinor. The company has already invested $2.7 billion in the [00:03:00] Empire Wind Facility. Currently, 11 vessels with 100 workers remain on board, sitting on the water, waiting for an order to resume work. That's this week's top. New stories. Stay tuned tomorrow for the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast.

* Israel kills over 200 in Gaza, displaces 300,000 in two days * Arab League calls for peacekeepers in Palestinian territories * Trump schedules talks with Putin and Zelenskyy to end the conflict * ASEAN aims to revive its regional monetary fund: Malaysia * Türkiye announces new Black Sea gas reserve boosting energy supply

With the fourth episode of A Grain of Power, the reportage trip which started in Ukraine and passed along the Western coast of the Black Sea reaches its final destination. In the Egyptian town of Mansoura and the capital city Cairo, bread maker Zainab and restaurant owner Kamal share their views on the importance of bread in their society. The episode analyses the impact of the shortage of wheat due to the war in Ukraine on the Egyptian economy. But by moving back to Europe, the episode also tackles the effect that an abundance of imported grain can have on economies.Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliancesAnd you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?Narration: Alexander Damiano RicciReporting and field research: Futura D'Aprile and Matteo GaravogliaAuthor: Futura D'AprileEnglish adaptation: Alexander Damiano RicciOriginal soundtrack: Epidemic SoundOriginal Sound Editing: Jeremy BocquetSound editing and mixing English version: Daniel Gutierrez OrtegaCover artwork : Watermelon CollectiveProduction: Futura D'AprileExecutive producer: Ana RiberaProduction and editorial coordinator: Alexander Damiano RicciA Grain of Power is a six-episode documentary series produced by Europod and Outriders, as part of the WePod project, funded by the European Union. This podcast is co-produced by Europod.Subscribe to Europod • English for even more podcasts, and follow us on Linkedin and Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CIA Book Club by Charlie English For almost five decades after the Second World War, Europe was divided by the longest and most heavily guarded border on earth. The Iron Curtain, a near-impenetrable barrier of wire and wall, tank traps, minefields, watchtowers and men with dogs, stretched for 4,300 miles from the Arctic to the Black Sea. No physical combat would take place along this frontier: the risk of nuclear annihilation was too high for that. Instead, the conflict would be fought in the psychological sphere. It was a battle for hearts, minds and intellects. No one understood this more clearly than George Minden, the head of a covert intelligence operation known as the ‘CIA books programme', which aimed to win the Cold War with literature. From its Manhattan headquarters, Minden's global CIA ‘book club' would infiltrate millions of banned titles into the Eastern Bloc, written by a vast and eclectic list of authors, including Hannah Arendt and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, George Orwell and Agatha Christie. Volumes were smuggled on trucks and aboard yachts, dropped from balloons, and hidden in the luggage of hundreds of thousands of individual travellers. Once inside Soviet bloc, each book would circulate secretly among dozens of like-minded readers, quietly turning them into dissidents. Latterly, underground print shops began to reproduce the books, too. By the late 1980s, illicit literature in Poland was so pervasive that the system of communist censorship broke down, and the Iron Curtain soon followed. Charlie English tells this true story of spycraft, smuggling and secret printing operations for the first time, highlighting the work of a handful of extraordinary people who risked their lives to stand up to the intellectual strait-jacket Stalin created. People like Miroslaw Chojecki, an underground Polish publisher who endured beatings, force-feeding and exile in service of this mission. And Minden, the CIA's mastermind, who didn't waver in his belief that truth, culture, and diversity of thought could help free the ‘captive nations' of Eastern Europe. This is a story about the power of the printed word as a means of resistance and liberation. Books, it shows, can set you free. The Names by Florence Knapp Tomorrow - if morning comes, if the storm stops raging - Cora will register the name of her son. Or perhaps, and this is her real concern, she'll formalise who he will become. It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates. Going against his wishes is a risk that will have consequences, but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? The choice she makes in this moment will shape the course of their lives. Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, and one that will prove as cataclysmic as the storm from which it emerged. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, believing it will enable him to become his own person. Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his cruel image - but is there still a chance to break the mould? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the end, Vladimir Putin did not go to Istanbul for the one-on-one on offer. Instead, in what critics call a worse snub than an empty chair, the Russian president dispatched his former culture minister, a "greater Russia" ideologue, for the first face-to-face meeting with Ukraine since 2022. What's the Trump administration's next move after pushing so hard for talks? We know Zelensky's next move: travelling to Ankara instead of Istanbul, where the Ukrainian president met his Turkish counterpart. Turkey's star power is on the rise, with its influence unseating that of Moscow in neighbouring Syria and Trump heaping praise on a fellow NATO ally whose role as Black Sea arbiter and arms exporter could prove crucial.Then there's Ukraine's European allies, who are talking tougher on sanctions and nuclear deterrence. Part of that is about Putin; part of it about Trump. French President Emmanuel Macron also this week spoke of territorial concessions. The idea is that the time for talks is indeed approaching. If so, do Paris, London, Berlin, Warsaw and friends have a plan?Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Annarosa Zampaglione, Alessandro Xenos.

This episode forms part of a new strand of our podcast: Seapower Past and Present which explores seapower as it is understood and practised in the modern world whilst offering a historical perspective on the themes we explore. Each episode is chosen according to a theme or a location – a hotspot in the modern world where seapower has a major influence on geopolitics. So if you enjoy this episode do please seek out others in this strand – you will shortly be able to find episodes on economic warfare, critical national infrastructure, how technology is changing the nature of warfare at sea; and on hugely significant locations in the modern maritime world - the Black Sea, South China Sea, Middle East and Arctic.To make this series come alive we've teamed up with the Royal Navy Strategic Studies centre. In each episode you will hear from at least one historian and from at least one practitioner, a member of the armed forces who has direct first hand, personal experience of the topic being discussed.This episode explores economic warfare and how it relates to seapower. In a world in which we hear so much of sanctions being imposed on one country by another this is something that we all need to know about – not only to understand our modern world but also to understand how this particular aspect of it has been so clearly shaped by the past.To find out more Dr Sam Willis spoke with three experts, each with their own unique knowledge and experience. Dr Anna Brinkman is Associate Professor in the history of strategy and international law at the University of Lincoln and director of the maritime studies centre located at Britannia Royal Naval College, and Commander Andrew Livsay spent 25 years as a Royal Naval warfare officer and is now working for the Ministry of Defence while completing a PhD at King's College London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sergei Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin tells a very complete story in only about 70 minutes. The black-and-white, silent flick is based on a real-life mutiny aboard a ship in the waters of the Black Sea near Ukraine. Of course, the incredibly influential Odessa Steps sequence is what people remember best...and it's the extremely violent result of this "war" against your own oppressive rulers. Eisenstein made one of the greatest Russian motion pictures ever here, but the storytelling and modern-feeling technical achievements (especially the editing) make this far more than just a old Communist propaganda film. So don't just hang out in your hammock below-deck and starve on a government boat. No, rise up, comrades, and devour the 664th edition of Have You Ever Seen, the one about Battleship Potemkin. Canadians and Americans (not Russian or Ukrainian residents, unfortunately) can order Sparkplug Coffee and get a onetime 20% discount. Use our "HYES" promo code to achieve that. The website is "sparkplug.coffee/hyes". Subscribe to Have You Ever Seen for weekly classic movie reviews. Rate our show and write a review about it in your app too. And look for us on YouTube (@hyesellis in the search bar). Communication options? One is email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com). Another is social media: ryan-ellis and @bevellisellis on Bluesky...@moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis on Twi-X.

We talk to Gabe Garcia of Firelock Games about the first expansion for the Year Zero Engine WWII RPG, War Stories...00.00.40: Introductions00.02.20: World of Gaming: Alien beta PDFs out, great to see we are still credited as authors on Hope's Last Day, Thomas is our new collaborator; Goodman Games kerfuffle; Dave's seminar at UKGE, would you like to see Tales of the Old West tees at UKGE?00.28.51: Old West News: US fulfilment update, pledge manager closing again00.38.01: Interview: Gabe Gacia on War Stories - the Pacific plus Market Garden 01.21.28: Next time and Goodbye Effekt is brought to you by Effekt Publishing. Music is by Stars in a Black Sea, used with kind permission of Free League Publishing.Like what we do?Sign up for updates on Tales of the Old West via our new website and download Tales of the Old West QuickDraw available for free on DriveThru. The core rules are now available on DriveThru too.Put our brand on your face! (and elsewhere)Buy pdfs via our DriveThru Affiliate linkLeave a review on iTunes or PodchaserFind our Actual Play recordings on effektapFind essay transcripts and other stuff on Matthew's, and Dave's blogs ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Doug and Mary go on another journey following the Vikings as they travelled from Norway to the Black Sea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the third episode of A Grain of Power, the team of reporters behind this documentary travels from Odessa, in Ukraine, towards Istanbul, in Turkey, passing through Constanza, in Romania. The trip sheds light on the impact of the war on Ukraine on the transport infrastructure of grain from Europe to the global South. Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliancesAnd you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?Narration: Alexander Damiano RicciReporting and field research: Futura D'AprileAuthor: Futura D'AprileEnglish adaptation: Futura D'Aprile and Alexander Damiano RicciEditor-in-chief: Alexander Damiano RicciOriginal soundtrack: Epidemic SoundOriginal sound editing and mixing: Jeremy BoquetSound editing and mixing of the English version: Daniel Gutierrez OrtegaCover artwork: Watermelon CollectiveProduction: Futura D'AprileExecutive producer: Ana RiberaEditorial and Production coordinator: Alexander Damiano RicciA Grain of Power s a six-episode documentary series produced by Europod and Outriders, as part of the WePod project, funded by the European Union. This podcast is co-produced by Europod.Subscribe to Europod • English for even more podcasts, and follow us on Linkedin and Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The much postponed group discussion of Coriolis: The Great Dark 00.00.40: Introductions00.04.43: World of Gaming: We were at Dragonmeet: Call to Adventure!; Windheim won all the awards; Epic Encounters Symbaroum Minis; Stonemeiiher games using the US government over tariffs; Realms of the Three Rings and its 5e version is out in print; new will be at UKGE 00.33.18: Old West news: Fulfillment continuing, Pledgemanager has reopened; acclaimed writer Adrian Tchaikowski said nice things00.43.55: Discussion: Reviewing our Coriolis - The Great Dark adventure01.51.08: Next time and Goodbye Effekt is brought to you by Effekt Publishing. Music is by Stars in a Black Sea, used with kind permission of Free League Publishing.Like what we do?Sign up for updates on Tales of the Old West via our new website and download Tales of the Old West QuickDraw available for free on DriveThru. The core rules are now available on DriveThru too.Put our brand on your face! (and elsewhere)Buy pdfs via our DriveThru Affiliate linkLeave a review on iTunes or PodchaserFind our Actual Play recordings on effektapFind essay transcripts and other stuff on Matthew's, and Dave's blogs ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Wheat and corn continue their slide while soybeans hold gains; rains coming for US wheat areas while China and the Black Sea stay mostly dry.

It didn't take long for Viktor Lakhin to become a favorite among Clemson basketball fans after he transferred to the Tigers from Cincinnati. When he was making major contributions to triumphs over Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky, Lakhin was known as the fun-loving Russian. Dabo Swinney even took a liking to him, coining the "Lakhinness Monster" nickname late in the season when Clemson was amassing an 18-2 ACC record. But the deeper layers of Lakhin's story make him even more of a fascinating figure. He joins The Dubcast to talk about hours-long swims as a child in the Black Sea, and 26-mile walks as his father tried to build his mental toughness. Lakhin's journey to America, which took place in 2020 amid COVID shutdowns and growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, is an extraordinary story by itself. Lakhin is married to an American named Jill, and he hopes to extend his basketball career to the professional level. And if that doesn't work out he'll try to make it big as a comedian.    

With the building up of troops on the Taman Peninsula, the Germans realize they need an all out attack to drive the enemy back into the Black Sea. Thus Operation Neptune is born. Yet as the Germans look into their cupboard for reserves, they are shocked by what they find. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Scott joined his Lawfare colleagues Natalie Orpett and Eric Ciaramella to talk through the week's big national security news, including:“In Mother Russia, Sometimes Bear Poke You.” Discussions over a possible broader ceasefire in Ukraine—beyond the temporary (and limited) energy and Black Sea ceasefire agreements last week—appear to have ground to a halt over Russian demands. Many observers suspect this is simply a stalling technique by Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Russia prepares for another offensive intended to improve his negotiating leverage. President Trump, meanwhile, in a rare swipe at the Russian dictator, has said he's “pissed off.” But will Trump bring leverage to bear enough for Putin to budge? Or are the ceasefire negotiations like to stay stuck in the mud—and, if so, will Trump know who to blame?“Nuukin' Futs.” Vice President J.D. Vance visited the northernmost U.S. military base in Greenland last week and delivered a speech in front of U.S. service members that accused Denmark of neglecting its Greenland protectorate and failing to adequately protect it from China and Russia—shortcomings that, in his telling, justify President Trump's stated intent to gain U.S. control over the island nation. Is there any truth to Vance's allegations? And will his remarks help or hurt the Trump administration's purported objective of securing Greenland and improving U.S. access to its various resources? “Third Term's the Charm.” In an interview this week, President Trump insisted to reporters that he was serious about potentially pursuing a third term and suggested that there were “methods” by which he could do so, in spite of the 22nd Amendment's two-term limitation on presidents. How seriously should we take his threat? Are there arguments that could carry water — and will it matter?In object lessons, Natalie—tire-d of DC traffic—“spoke” highly of her beloved ebike. Scott, flying solo in NYC, curled up with his Kindle at Amor y Amargo, contemplating the question: how many Amaros does it take to make the perfect Sazerac? And Eric praised “Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York,” by Ross Perlin—a fascinating portrait of linguistic diversity and the fight to preserve it.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Scott joined his Lawfare colleagues Natalie Orpett and Eric Ciaramella to talk through the week's big national security news, including:“In Mother Russia, Sometimes Bear Poke You.” Discussions over a possible broader ceasefire in Ukraine—beyond the temporary (and limited) energy and Black Sea ceasefire agreements last week—appear to have ground to a halt over Russian demands. Many observers suspect this is simply a stalling technique by Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Russia prepares for another offensive intended to improve his negotiating leverage. President Trump, meanwhile, in a rare swipe at the Russian dictator, has said he's “pissed off.” But will Trump bring leverage to bear enough for Putin to budge? Or are the ceasefire negotiations like to stay stuck in the mud—and, if so, will Trump know who to blame?“Nuukin' Futs.” Vice President J.D. Vance visited the northernmost U.S. military base in Greenland last week and delivered a speech in front of U.S. service members that accused Denmark of neglecting its Greenland protectorate and failing to adequately protect it from China and Russia—shortcomings that, in his telling, justify President Trump's stated intent to gain U.S. control over the island nation. Is there any truth to Vance's allegations? And will his remarks help or hurt the Trump administration's purported objective of securing Greenland and improving U.S. access to its various resources? “Third Term's the Charm.” In an interview this week, President Trump insisted to reporters that he was serious about potentially pursuing a third term and suggested that there were “methods” by which he could do so, in spite of the 22nd Amendment's two-term limitation on presidents. How seriously should we take his threat? Are there arguments that could carry water — and will it matter?In object lessons, Natalie—tire-d of DC traffic—“spoke” highly of her beloved ebike. Scott, flying solo in NYC, curled up with his Kindle at Amor y Amargo, contemplating the question: how many Amaros does it take to make the perfect Sazerac? And Eric praised “Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York,” by Ross Perlin—a fascinating portrait of linguistic diversity and the fight to preserve it.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#UKRAINE:  BLACK SEA TEST. COLONEL JEFF MCCAUSLAND , USA (RETIRED) @MCCAUSLJ @CBSNEWS @DICKINSONCOL 1854 ODESSA

President Trump's top intelligence officials face tough questions from lawmakers after a group chat security breach involving secret war plans and a journalist. Federal workers are being called back to the office, but some are finding chaotic conditions, including assignments to storage units. And, the U.S. brokers a deal to allow safe passage through the Black Sea, but Russia demands sanctions relief before it takes effect. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Brett Neely, Ryland Barton, Arezou Rezvani and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis, and our technical director is Carleigh StrangeLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump downplays the leaked Signal group chat among his cabinet, blaming the journalist who was accidentally included. The U.S. says Russia and Ukraine have agreed to stop fighting in the Black Sea. And, American wine distributors are warning against potential tariffs. Did you hear? Brad's hosting a new show for the true crime-obsessed called "The Crime Scene Weekly." Each week, "The Crime Scene" focuses on what everybody's talking about in true crime -- from what your favorite podcasts are covering, to what's taking over our TikTok feeds. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#BLACK SEA BASIN: CEASEFIRE. GREGORY COPLEY, DEFENSE & FOREIGN AFFAIRS 1856 BLACK SEA FLEET

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he breaks down today's biggest stories shaping America and the world. Day Two of the Yemen Leak Fallout – Trump defends his national security team after a staffer accidentally added a journalist to a sensitive Signal chat discussing strikes on the Houthis. The White House insists no classified information was shared, while debate brews over what counts as “classified.” Europe Responds to “Freeloader” Remarks – European leaders express frustration after leaked texts revealed VP JD Vance criticizing Europe's military weakness. Some EU officials admit Trump's tough rhetoric is pushing them toward real NATO spending. Trump's “Secondary Tariffs” Strategy Squeezes China and Venezuela – A creative new tariff tool targets nations that buy sanctioned oil from Venezuela, prompting China to back off and putting economic pressure on both Maduro and Cuba. Protests in Gaza: Palestinians Call on Hamas to Step Down – In a rare show of public defiance, Gazans march against Hamas and demand peace, as Israeli forces continue their offensive and Trump's “clean-out” strategy takes shape. Tentative Ukraine Peace Framework Emerges – U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian officials agree to limited deals on Black Sea trade and protection of energy facilities, with hopes for broader peace by late April. Ecuador Offers U.S. Military a Base – With support from Trump ally Erik Prince, Ecuador's president wants to reestablish a U.S. base to counter Chinese influence and bolster regional security—pending a key election in April. Baldness Breakthrough from California – UCLA researchers discover a molecule (PP405) that reactivates dormant hair follicles, showing promise in reversing years of baldness with commercial rollout likely in a few years. Get the facts, the analysis, and the truth—only on The Wright Report. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32

Ukraine and Russia move toward a full ceasefire, National Security officials answer to Congress over yesterday's chat leak, and genetic testing giant 23andMe goes belly up. Developing stories you need to know just in time for your drive home. Get the facts first on Morning Wire. Old Glory Bank: Go to https://oldglorybank.com/wire today to open your account and put your money in the hands of people you can ACTUALLY trust.The Candle Club: Live Free & Smell Fancy with The Candle Club: https://thecandleclub.com/morningwire

National security expert and former deputy National Security adviser Victoria Coates shares her insights on the recent naval ceasefire in the Black Sea between Ukraine and Russia, the implications of this deal for Ukraine, as well as the ongoing challenges in the Middle East, particularly the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah, and the complexities surrounding anti-Semitism in the U.S. Former chief of staff for the Trump National Security Council, Fred Fleitz, provides insights into the implications of the national security controversy involving Trump officials' use of Signal for sensitive communications. Fleitz discusses the character of leadership during crises, and the need for secure communication channels in government. Finally, retired General Tim Haake, who brings over three decades of military experience to the discussion, explores the Signal controversy, the implications of accidental disclosures, and the lessons learned from this event. General Haake shares insights on the importance of secure communication channels, the evolving threats from adversaries like China, and the need for better preparedness in our military communications.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#UKRAINE: BLACK SEA CEASEFIRE PROPOSED. JOHN HARDIE FDD BILL ROGGIO FDD 1890 BLACK SEA FROM ODESSA

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:   First, the Trump administration is in hot water over an explosive report from The Atlantic, which revealed the publication's editor-in-chief was accidentally added to an encrypted group chat on the private messaging app Signal, where more than a dozen top Trump officials allegedly discussed sensitive military plans. Later in the show, after meetings with officials from the Trump administration in Saudi Arabia, Russia and Ukraine have tentatively agreed to a limited maritime ceasefire to ensure the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Stash Financial: Go to https://Get.Stash.com/PDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices