Podcasts about Boko Haram

Les journalistes et experts de RFI répondent également à vos questions sur le départ de Wagner du Mali, la fin d'une coopération économique entre le Congo et le Rwanda et l'utilisation des drones par Boko Haram. Manche : la police française va-t-elle arrêter les embarcations de migrants une fois en mer ?   Face à l'arrivée record de migrants sur les côtes britanniques, la France envisage désormais d'intercepter les bateaux, en pleine mer, qui traversent la Manche. Pourquoi les autorités françaises n'appliquaient-elles pas ces mesures jusqu'à maintenant ?  Avec Charlotte Boitiaux journaliste à Infomigrants.   Mali :  Africa Corps prend la suite de Wagner  Plus de trois ans après son arrivée au Mali, le groupe paramilitaire Wagner s'est officiellement retiré du pays. Les mercenaires russes sont remplacés par l'Africa Corps, qui dépend directement du ministère russe de la Défense. Quelle est la différence entre les deux organisations ? S'agit-il d'un simple changement d'uniformes ?  Avec Dimitri Zufferey, membre du collectif All Eyes On Wagner.     Congo-Brazzaville : les autorités suspendent l'attribution de terres au Rwanda   Le gouvernement de la République du Congo a annoncé l'annulation des contrats de location de terres à des entreprises à capitaux rwandais signés en 2022. Comment expliquer cette décision ? Quelles étaient les spécificités de ces contrats controversés ? Avec Paul Lorgerie, journaliste au service Afrique de RFI.    Bassin du lac Tchad : les drones de Boko Haram   Dans son rapport semestriel, le représentant spécial du secrétaire général des Nations unies pour l'Afrique centrale, Abdou Abarry, dénonce les attaques de drones chargés d'explosifs par Boko Haram. Comment les jihadistes se procurent-ils ces drones ? Que sait-on de leur puissance de frappe ? Avec Seidik Abba, président du Centre international de réflexions et d'études sur le Sahel. Auteur de Voyage au coeur de Boko Haram: Enquête sur le djihad en Afrique subsaharienne (éditions L'Harmattan). 

In Nigeria—one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian—our brothers and sisters are being persecuted, hunted, and killed for their faith in Jesus. Churches are being burned. Homes destroyed. Christians kidnapped. Families torn apart. Some are fleeing. Some are hiding. And many are dying. Nigeria has become the global epicenter of violence against Christians. Open Doors reports that in 2024, Nigeria was the deadliest country in the world for Christians, with over 3,100 killed and an additional 2,830 kidnapped due to their faith. Radical groups like Boko Haram, Fulani militants, and others are fueling a relentless wave of violence and religious persecution. In certain parts of Nigeria, Christians have become like strangers. This is similar to the people Peter is writing to, who were fleeing persecution throughout the Roman Empire. Even in our time, the world is hostile to the Christian faith.

Les journalistes et experts de RFI répondent également à vos questions sur la flottille humanitaire pour Gaza, la grève des joueurs centrafricains et l'utilisation des drones par Boko Haram. Israël : Benyamin Netanyahu collabore avec un groupe armé anti-Hamas   Les autorités israéliennes ont reconnu fournir des armes à un groupe palestinien de la bande de Gaza hostile au Hamas et impliqué dans des activités criminelles. En agissant ainsi, Benyamin Netanyahu respecte-t-il la loi israélienne ? Quelles peuvent être les conséquences sur les négociations pour un cessez-le-feu ? Avec Sami Boukhelifa, correspondant permanent de RFI à Jérusalem.     Flottille pour Gaza : Israël a-t-il violé le droit international ?   La marine israélienne a intercepté dans les eaux internationales le voilier humanitaire « Madleen » qui naviguait en direction de Gaza pour tenter de briser le blocus de l'enclave palestinienne. Cette arrestation respecte-t-elle le droit international ? Quel sort pour les Français qui n'ont pas encore été expulsés d'Israël ? Avec Benjamin Fiorini, maître de conférences à Paris 8, secrétaire général de l'Association des Juristes pour le Respect du Droit international (JURDI).     Centrafrique : bras de fer entre le ministre des Sports et la Fédération de Football   Prévu ce lundi 9 juin au Grand Stade de Casablanca, le match amical entre la Tunisie et la Centrafrique n'a finalement pas eu lieu. En cause : la grève des joueurs centrafricains pour exiger des primes. Pourquoi la Fédération refuse-t-elle de verser les primes ? L'annulation du match peut-elle entraîner des sanctions à l'encontre des joueurs ? Avec Rolf-Steve Domia-Leu, correspondant de RFI à Bangui.      Bassin du Lac Tchad : les drones de Boko Haram   Dans son rapport semestriel, le représentant spécial du secrétaire général des Nations unies pour l'Afrique centrale, Abdou Abarry, dénonce les attaques de drones chargés d'explosifs par Boko Haram. Comment les jihadistes se procurent-ils ces drones ? Que sait-on de leur puissance de frappe ? Avec Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos, directeur de recherches à l'Institut de recherche pour le développement, spécialiste des conflits armés des pays africains anglophones.  

Renewed violence by armed groups Boko Haram and ISIL has forced thousands of people to leave their homes in Nigeria. Despite repeated government pledges, the military has been unable to end the violence. So why is it continuing and what threats does it pose? In this episode: Kabir Adamu, Managing Director, Beacon Security and Intelligence. David Otto, Deputy Director, Counter Terrorism Training, International Academy for the Fight Against Terrorism. Ovigwe Eguegu, Peace and Security Policy Analyst, Development Reimagined. Host: Elizabeth Puranam Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Matsalar tsaro na ci gaba da addabar ƙasashen da ke yankin Sahel, lamarin da ke ƙara maida hannun agogo baya wajen yaƙi da ta'addanci da su ke yi. A wata zantawa da ministan tsaron Najeriya Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, ya ce ƴan ta'addan rinsu Boko Haram sun sauya salon kai hare-haren ta'addancinsu ne, sai dai ya ce a yanzu dakurun sojojin Najeriya sun gano salon kuma suna samun galaba akan ƴan ta'addan, lamarin da ya ce nan ba da jimawa za a kawo ƙarshen matalar. Ku latsa alamar sauti don sauraron tattaunawarsa da Aminu Sani Sado..........

Sahel in fiamme: attacchi jihadisti, silenzi di Stato e nuova geografia del potere. Nigeria: ritorna Boko Haram, l'ISWAP si rafforza.L'economista mauritano Sidi Ould Tah alla guida della Banca Africana di Sviluppo. La Nigeria alla Biennale di Design di Londra: futuro e radiciQuesto e molto altro il notiziario Africa di Elena L. Pasquini

Cameroon is the world's most neglected displacement crisis, according to a Norwegian Refugee Council report, which warns that rising nationalism and waning international support have deepened the crisis.

More Than 60 Killed In Nigeria Army, Boko Haram Offensive Battles In Bornohttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/more-than-60-killed-in-nigeria-army-boko-haram-offensive-battles-in-borno/31/05/2025/#Nigerian Army #Bita #Borno #Kukawa #Marte ©May 31st, 2025 ®May 31, 2025 7:49 am More than 60 people including soldiers and terrorists have been killed during the week as Boko Haram terrorists and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN continued to launch offensive and counter-offensive battles on each other in Borno State, with the Nigerian Army saying in a series of news releases issued during the week that two of its soldiers paid the supreme price on Tuesday when the Boko Haram terrorists engaged New Marte community in an offensive operation, and more than 60 of the terrorists were killed at Bita community when troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria launched a coordinated offensive attacks against the terrorists on Thursday, and on Friday at Kukawa community, the Army said it killed one of the major leaders of the Boko Haram insurgents, Amir Abu Fatima who has ₦100 million bounty placed on his head due to his notorious and disastrous activities. #OsazuwaAkonedo

Finalizamos con este capítulo la segunda parte de la audioserie titulada "Érase una vez el Este", en un último trayecto que nos llevará por tierras africanas a Nigeria. Como ya sabéis esta serie o audioserie consiste en varios capítulos en los que se mezclan la realidad y la ficción y en los que hablamos de hechos históricos y de sucesos que están de plena actualidad. Y este proyecto de "Érase una vez el Este", es idea, como ya sabéis, de dos grandes amigos de LA BIBLIOTECA DE LA HISTORIA, como son Juan Lamas, malagueño, historiador, escritor y guionista, y Verónica, barcelonesa, actriz y cantante amateur y gran apasionada por la historia. Ellos son los artífices de esto y les agradezco su trabajo. Os dejo con el duodécimo y último capítulo titulado "Nigeria y Boko Haram". Han sido, hasta hoy, 24 episodios de "Érase una vez el Éste". Los que nos vais siguiendo desde hace más de dos años ya sabéis que todo esto empezó en la guerra de Ucrania. Quizá por cansancio informativo, muchos pidieron cambiar de escenario usando el mismo formato: mezclar ficción con audios de noticias reales de medios de comunicación reales; pero cambiando de escenario. Por eso agradecer a todos los que habéis seguido las desventuras de Dimitri y Aleksandra en esta segunda parte. Ya se sabe, porque siempre es igual, que segundas partes difícilmente serán como la primera. En éste caso además realizamos una aproximación histórica a cada escenario. Visitamos Birmania...Myanmar. Allí nos vimos acorralados en una aldea en mitad de la selva. Luego viajamos en un lujoso Audi hasta Orense y su rico pasado. Teniendo presente la huella del Narco en España (Galicia, Portugal y la actualidad en Estrecho de Gibraltar). Y después hicimos un crucero a la siempre castigada Haití.. sus peculiaridades históricas.. y porqué es tan importante conocer el pasado de un país para comprender su situación presente. Por último hicimos un breve recorrido a tres lugares calientes de África: Mali y el Sahel.. Uganda, su guerrilla y sus problemas de los últimos 30 años.. y ahora volvemos en ésta última entrega de la segunda temporada al continente africano Y analizaremos la enormidad y complejidad de un país como Nigeria... Con las terribles noticias que siguen llegando desde el Golfo de Guinea. Y es que limitar el problema a una cuestión étnica es ser demasiado simple, y hablar en el siglo XXI de nuevas guerras de Religión como si estuviéramos en el siglo XVII puede parecer realmente absurdo.. pero quizá no lo sea tanto: En el Sudán y el Sahel el problema es Étnico.. musulmanes blancos contra otros musulmanes negros... pero en países como República Centroafricana, Uganda, Congo, Sudán del Sur y el polvorín Nigeriano el problema es directamente religioso y tribal. Musulmanes Sunitas contra Chiitas.. y a su vez enfrentados a los cristianos.. ya sean protestantes, evangélicos o católicos por el control y posesión de la escasa tierra cultivable. Y en ese caos, creció el monstruo de Boko Haram.. una bestia alimentada de odio étnico y religioso y un enorme problema al norte de una Nigeria cada vez más superpoblada y difícil de controlar. Para la siguiente.. se admiten sugerencias... Volver al origen del Éste de Europa? Los conflictos de Centroamérica? El difícil equilibrio de poder de los ex países de la URSS y su relación con la metrópoli Rusa? Os leemos. Muchas gracias. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Nigeria Troops Kill 44 Days After Boko Haram Sack 3 Military Base In Bornohttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/nigeria-troops-kill-44-days-after-boko-haram-sack-3-military-base-in-borno/25/05/2025/#Nigerian Army #army #Borno #Damboa #Katsina #Marte #Rann #Sokoto #Wulgo ©May 25th, 2025 ®May 25, 2025 9:16 am Nigerian Army in a series of reports during the week says its troops have killed over 44 terrorists in different locations in Borno, Katsina and Sokoto states days after Boko Haram terrorists had on May 12 and 13, 2025 sacked the Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN military base in Wulgo town, a Nigeria border town in Borno State of Ngala local government area, a throw stone to Cameroon in the shores of Lake Chad, also, the Boko Haram terrorists attacked and sacked the 3 Battalion, a military formation in Rann, headquarters of Kala-Balge Local Government Area in Borno State, and the military base in Marte town in Marte local government area of Borno State, killing soldiers, overrunning the military formations, stealing arms and ammunitions and setting the military buildings ablaze including the armed forces operational vehicles, with the Governor of Borno state, Professor Babagana Zulum, saying, the Boko Haram terrorists in recent days are currently in control of 299 communities out of a total of 300 communities in the Marte Local Government Area of Borno state, meaning, the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is barely and currently controling one community after the Nigeria commander-in-chief of the armed forces whose supporters are apparently busy talking and preparing his re-election ahead of the country 2027 general elections had lost territories to terrorists and the Boko Haram terrorists appeared; aggressively advancing and retaking more territories in Nigeria. #OsazuwaAkonedo

Nnamdi Kanu - DSS DG May Show Govt Approval Enabling Youths Kill In Bauchihttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/nnamdi-kanu-dss-dg-may-show-govt-approval-enabling-youths-kill-in-bauchi/23/05/2025/#Law #Ajayi #Azare #Bauchi #Dss #Kanu #Namdi #TafawaBalewa ©May 23rd, 2025 ®May 23, 2025 9:11 am Case between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu apparently took a new technical twist on Thursday after one of the lawyers of the detained Biafra Leader, Paul Erokoro, SAN, presented and played three videos which the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja later admitted in evidence, the videos of former Nigeria Chief of Army Staff, Retired General Theophilus Danjuma, saying, security operatives in the West Africa country specifically the armed forces are working together with the armed bandits to kill Nigerians, stressing that, if Nigerians depend on the armed forces to curb insecurity, they will all die one by one, also that of Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State saying politicians are behind killings in the state, lastly and the most interesting video played at the court to counter the testimony or statement made by the DSS prosecutor witness over Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB founding Eastern Security Network, ESN allegedly created by group of youths in the Southeastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria often referred to as Biafra land to fight in self defence against Fulani armed bandits or terrorists that were advancing and killing people in the Eastern states during the era of President Muhammadu Buhari, was that of the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Adeola Ajayi, who is apparently the government chief complainer in the case, and the DSS DG in the video recorded and published by SymFoni news media in February 2025, narrated how youths at Azare community in Katagum local government area and Tafawa Balewa community of Tafawa Balewa local government area in Bauchi state, when the DSS DG was the state Director of State Security Services, SSS, resorted to self help and killed all Boko Haram terrorists that came to attack them without depending on the security operatives, according to the DSS DG, when Boko Haram terrorists invaded Azare community, they started shooting and killing people, then, the youths went after the Boko Haram terrorists and killed all of them even when one of the Boko Haram terrorists named Khalid climbed a tree and started firing gunshots from the tree towards the people who were on the lower ground, the Azare people resisted and went after him and subsequently killed him, although the Federal government prosecution witness identified as BBB who is a DSS Operative stated that the ESN is an illegal organisation because there is no approval of government given to the people of Southeast to establish such a self help group to defend their land against terrorists unlike Amotekun security network in the Southwest states that was approved and permitted by the government, also claiming, his boss, the DSS DG in the video was asking communities to build the first line of defence by thus working with security operatives, but, a careful and detailed study of the DSS DG speech in the video shows that the FG witness, BBB probably talked off points, totally off key from the original intent and intention of Mr Adeola Ajayi, the DSS DG teachings and advise in the video, who had said the Azare community people acted in quick response to an emergency situation, and the storyline indicated that the people of Azare prepared themselves in advance likely purchasing and acquiring firearms equivalent to AK-47 riffles to be able to face and kill all the Boko Haram terrorists that invaded the community as narrated by the DSS DG, and if true, the DSS DG, the chief complainer must also be ordered to appear before the court as a defender in the case to present a certified true copy of government approval given to Azare people to defend themselves, or prove beyond reasonable doubts how the people of Azare community were able to kill; merely with their bare hands all the Boko Haram terrorists that invaded their community with high precision weapons of mass destructions, in addition, the DSS DG in the video probably advocated for the need for all individuals in Nigeria to have a gun, because, he gave an example of a visit to the United States of America, USA, when his host in the US heard a police siren sound, he quickly brought out his gun and said, if the criminal chased after by the US police ran into his apartment, he would used the gun to kill the criminal suspect, and that not all, the DSS DG in the video also recalled and referenced the words of Nigeria former Head of State, retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida that if insecurity must end in Nigeria, Nigerians must be ready to resort to self help like the people of Azare community did. #OsazuwaAkonedo

12 year old Mary has spent most of her life in an Internally Displaced People's camp in north-east Nigeria. Her family were driven out of their village by militants Boko Haram- a group whose exploits have left millions in the region displaced. Over 3 million people have been displaced in Nigeria and more than half of that number are children. This have also contributed to the north's reputation for having the highest number of children out of school. But over the last year a very different world has opened up for Mary, and it's all because of chess. She's won medals and competed in tournaments in the United States. She was taught to play by chess coach Vivian Ibrahim, a woman who believes chess could help children in these camps to get back into education. In today's episode Alan Kasujja speaks to Mary and her mother Hanatu about their journey. He also speaks to Vivian about the power of chess.

Babban Hafsan tsaron Najeriya, Laftanar Janar Christopher Musa ya ce baya ga amfani da makamai wajen tinkarar mayakan Boko Haram, farfado da Tafkin Chadi zai taimaka wajen samarwa jama'ar yankin sana'oi. Wannan ya biyo bayan ziyarar aikin da ya kai Maiduguri bayan kazaman hare haren da boko haram ta kai cibiyoyin soji.Dangane da wannan bukatar, Bashir Ibrahim Idris ya tattauna da wani mutumin yankin, Farfesa Sheriff Muhammad Almuhajir.Shiga alamar sauti, domin sauraron cikakkiyar tattaunawar.

Joint military action between Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria suppressed Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. But the fragmentation of the ECOWAS multinational grouping and difficulties in the countries' ability to protect civilians has led to a resurgence of the Islamist group in northern Cameroon.

Yayinda hare-haren ƙungiyar Boko Haram tsagin ISWAP ke ƙara tsananta musamman a Najeriya, rahotanni na cewa mayakan sun shafe ƙarshen makon jiya zuwa Litinin  da ta gabata suna kadammar da hare-hare a sassa na jihar Borno da ke arewa maso gabashin ƙasar.A tattaunawarsa da Rukayya Abba Kabara, Farfesa Khalifa Dikwa masanin tsaro a Najeriya ya ce ba abin mamaki bane yadda ‘yan ta'addar suka sauya salon kai hare-harensu. Shiga alamar sauti domin sauraron cikaken bayani.....

Yayinda hare-haren ƙungiyar Boko Haram tsagin ISWAP ke ƙara tsananta musamman a Najeriya, rahotanni na cewa mayakan sun shafe ƙarshen makon jiya zuwa jiya Litinin suna kadammar da hare-hare a sassa na jihar Borno da ke arewa maso gabashin ƙasar.A tattaunawarsa da Rukayya Abba Kabara, Farfesa Khalifa Dikwa masanin tsaro a Najeriya ya ce ba abin mamaki bane yadda ‘yan ta'addar suka sauya salon kai hare-harensu. Ku shiga alamar sauti domin sauraro karin bayani.....

Gwamnonin Arewacin Najeriya tare da Sarakunan yankin sun gudanar da wani taro na musamman domin sake duba matsalolin tsaron da suka addabi yankin, a dai-dai lokacin da mayaƙan Boko Haram da ƴanbindiga ke ci gaba da hallaka jama'a ba tare da ƙaƙƙautawa ba. Bayan kammala taron, Bashir Ibrahim Idris ya tintibi Farfesa Bello Bada na Jami'ar Usman Dan Fodio da ke Sokoto. Kula latsa alamar sauti don sauraron yadda zantawarsu ta gudana akai...........

Authorities in Northeast Nigeria have blamed Boko Haram, among other things, for the geometric rise in the number of children who are at risk of losing their lives to Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).The malnutrition crisis, which has doubled in scale since 2024, threatens the lives of more than 600,000 children in the next six months alone. In this episode of Nigeria Daily, we will try to find out what is driving the crisis, and how authorities are responding.

Clint Borgen and Lynsey Alexander discuss the latest humanitarian developments.Official podcast of The Borgen Project, an international organization that works at the political level to improve living conditions for people impacted by war, famine and poverty.borgenproject.org

In today's episode, I'm joined by the brilliant Chitra Nagarajan – a writer, researcher, and activist whose work spans human rights, conflict, migration, and climate justice.Chitra has spent many years working across West Africa, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin region, and brings a deep commitment to centering the voices of those often left unheard. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, Al Jazeera, openDemocracy, and more, and she is widely respected for her ability to weave together the personal, political, and historical with clarity and compassion.In this episode, we discuss her extraordinary new book, The World Was In Our Hands – Voices from the Boko Haram Conflict, which is a powerful and essential oral history project. Through a chorus of voices – of survivors, fighters, community members, and aid workers – the book paints a deeply human and nuanced portrait of one of the most devastating conflicts of our time. It asks urgent questions about justice, memory, and healing, and it reminds us of the importance of listening deeply to the people most affected by violence.I'm so honoured to share this conversation with you – it's moving, insightful, and necessary.Support the show

Boko Haram Advancing - They Did It To GEJ, We Suffered Under Buhari -Renohttps://osazuwaakonedo.video/boko-haram-advancing-they-did-it-to-gej-we-suffered-under-buhari-reno/02/05/2025/#Reno Omokri #Borno #Buhari #Elrufai #Jonathan #Omokri #Tinubu #Yobe ©May 2nd, 2025 ®May 2, 2025 7:31 am There is no doubt that the Boko Haram insurgency is advancing in recent months in Nigeria, with the Governors from the North-East region gathered on Thursday in Damaturu, Yobe State, for the 11th meeting of the North-East Governors' Forum, with a focus on tackling the resurgence of Boko Haram insurgency, widespread poverty, and the region's infrastructure deficit, which Reno Omokri, former Presidential Spokesperson on New Media to ex President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had in a post in recent time shared his observations and experiences he had while working in the Presidency, explaining how the successes gained in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency during the Presidency led by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and how the successes started dwindling under the Presidency of retired military General Muhammadu Buhari. #OsazuwaAkonedo

It's Wednesday, April 30th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Nigerian Muslims killed 7 Christians Boko Haram terrorists attacked a Christian community in northeast Nigeria on Monday. The Muslim militants killed seven Christians, injured many more, and destroyed homes and church buildings.  One local believer told Morning Star News, “Kwaple village in Chibok Local Government Area is under attack from Boko Haram terrorists. Please pray for God's intervention.” Indeed, pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Nigeria. The African country is ranked seventh on the Open Doors' World Watch List of nations where it is most dangerous to be a Christian.  In John 15:20, Jesus said, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” Only 62% of Americans support free speech Pew Research released a new survey on free expression around the world. Across 35 countries, a majority of adults in most of those countries believe that freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and freedom on the internet are very important.  However, adults are much less likely to say they actually observe complete freedom of expression in their country.  Sadly, in the United States, support for free speech has declined from 71% in 2019 to 62% today.  European power outage crippled Spain, Portugal, and France A massive power outage hit Europe on Monday, affecting Spain, Portugal, and parts of France. The unprecedented failure grounded flights, froze trains, and disrupted cell service. Thankfully, much of the grid was restored yesterday. Experts ruled out sabotage and cyberattacks as the cause. However, Spain's electric operator Red Eléctrica  did identify two incidents of power generation loss that were likely from solar power plants, reports Reuters.  California's economy grew by 6% California's gross domestic product reached $4.1 trillion last year. That put the Golden State ahead of Japan, making it the world's fourth-largest economy behind Germany, China, and the U.S. as a whole. In addition, California's economy grew by 6% last year, faster than the other top four economies. Tennessee doctors and nurses not forced to do abortions Last Thursday, Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee signed the Medical Ethics Defense Act into law. The law protects medical professionals from participating in practices that violate their conscience like abortion. Erica Perdomo, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, testified before the Tennessee legislature. PERDOMO: “There are doctors who practice medicine, consistent with a pro-life worldview, in which an abortion is never medically necessary.” Her colleague, Greg Chafuen, praised the legislation. He said, “Patients are best served by health care professionals who are free to act consistent with their oath to ‘do no harm.' … Tennessee's Medical Ethics Defense Act ensures that health care professionals are not forced to participate in procedures that violate their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs.” IBM defends free speech IBM recently changed its advertising policies to back down from censorship in favor of free speech.  Alliance Defending Freedom is leading a coalition that brought about the changes at IBM and other major companies like PepsiCo, Mastercard, and Johnson & Johnson.  Jeremy Tedesco with Alliance Defending Freedom said, “We hope every company follows IBM's example and recommits to doing its part to protect freedom of speech and thought in our nation and throughout the world.” IBM investing $150 billion in America Speaking of IBM, the tech company announced Monday that it plans to invest $150 billion in the U.S. over the next five years. This includes $30 billion for research and development of mainframe quantum computers.  IBM's CEO Arvind Krishna spoke to Fox Business about the investment.  KRISHNA: “We are extremely focused on leveraging American ingenuity and American innovation. “When I think about artificial intelligence, quantum computing, mainframe computers, this Research and Development investment, coupled with all of the associated manufacturing, is going to allow the United States to be at the front of all those three technologies.” Religiously unaffiliated in U.S. at 22% now And finally, Gallup released a new survey on religious preferences in the United States. Protestant identification was 45% last year, down from 57% in 2000. Catholic identification is 21%, down from 25%. And identification with no religion at all is 22%, up from 8% over the same time period.  Although the number of religiously unaffiliated Americans surged from 2000 to 2017, their growth has plateaued in recent years. Hebrews 10:23-24 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, April 30th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Nigeria is currently facing a widespread security crisis, with violent attacks, killings, and banditry affecting nearly every geopolitical region.Once-peaceful towns are now hotspots of terror, as communities grapple with the devastating effects of armed groups and extremist violence.This episode of Nigeria Daily looks into what the government is doing to address the situation and how coordinated efforts might bring lasting solutions.

The World Was in Our Hands: Voices from the Boko Haram Conflict (Cassava Republic Press, 2025) is a moving, often provocative, and ultimately vital collection of first hand accounts of people living through the Boko Haram conflict. From abducted girls to brash soldiers, and from community leaders to simple fishermen, this collection provides an insight into the realities of those living through the conflict, making this an essential cultural archive. The World Was in Our Hands covers themes of patriarchy, the economy, climate change, and corruption, to paint a picture that is much broader than what has been captured through news coverage. Out April 22! Chitra Nagarajan is an activist, researcher and writer. She has spent the last 15 years working to analyse conflict, build peace, and promote and protect human rights, particularly in West Africa, and is involved in feminist, anti-racist, anti-fundamentalist and queer movements. She focuses on anti rights movements, civilian protection, climate, economic, gender, and racial justice, conflict analysis and sensitivity, and social inclusion. She is also the co-editor of She Called Me Woman: Nigeria's Queer Women Speak. Visit her website to learn more about her and her research, and for more information about upcoming publicity events for The World Was in Our Hands: Voices from the Boko Haram Conflict. Jessie Cohen is an editor at the New Books Network. She holds a Ph.D. in History from Columbia University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies

The World Was in Our Hands: Voices from the Boko Haram Conflict (Cassava Republic Press, 2025) is a moving, often provocative, and ultimately vital collection of first hand accounts of people living through the Boko Haram conflict. From abducted girls to brash soldiers, and from community leaders to simple fishermen, this collection provides an insight into the realities of those living through the conflict, making this an essential cultural archive. The World Was in Our Hands covers themes of patriarchy, the economy, climate change, and corruption, to paint a picture that is much broader than what has been captured through news coverage. Out April 22! Chitra Nagarajan is an activist, researcher and writer. She has spent the last 15 years working to analyse conflict, build peace, and promote and protect human rights, particularly in West Africa, and is involved in feminist, anti-racist, anti-fundamentalist and queer movements. She focuses on anti rights movements, civilian protection, climate, economic, gender, and racial justice, conflict analysis and sensitivity, and social inclusion. She is also the co-editor of She Called Me Woman: Nigeria's Queer Women Speak. Visit her website to learn more about her and her research, and for more information about upcoming publicity events for The World Was in Our Hands: Voices from the Boko Haram Conflict. Jessie Cohen is an editor at the New Books Network. She holds a Ph.D. in History from Columbia University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The World Was in Our Hands: Voices from the Boko Haram Conflict (Cassava Republic Press, 2025) is a moving, often provocative, and ultimately vital collection of first hand accounts of people living through the Boko Haram conflict. From abducted girls to brash soldiers, and from community leaders to simple fishermen, this collection provides an insight into the realities of those living through the conflict, making this an essential cultural archive. The World Was in Our Hands covers themes of patriarchy, the economy, climate change, and corruption, to paint a picture that is much broader than what has been captured through news coverage. Out April 22! Chitra Nagarajan is an activist, researcher and writer. She has spent the last 15 years working to analyse conflict, build peace, and promote and protect human rights, particularly in West Africa, and is involved in feminist, anti-racist, anti-fundamentalist and queer movements. She focuses on anti rights movements, civilian protection, climate, economic, gender, and racial justice, conflict analysis and sensitivity, and social inclusion. She is also the co-editor of She Called Me Woman: Nigeria's Queer Women Speak. Visit her website to learn more about her and her research, and for more information about upcoming publicity events for The World Was in Our Hands: Voices from the Boko Haram Conflict. Jessie Cohen is an editor at the New Books Network. She holds a Ph.D. in History from Columbia University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day

Hundreds of children were caught up in riots with well over 100 arrested and a number charged last summer after the murder of three children in Southport. Since then far right extremism and racism in schools has intensified - an everyday experience in primary and secondary schools, according to the teachers union, the NASUWT. The top priority at their annual conference next week is a motion on behaviour and school safety with the agenda citing problems caused by the Southport riots. Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT joins Nuala McGovern.Frances Mayli McCann stars as Daisy Buchanan in a new musical of The Great Gatsby. The show comes to London following a hit run on Broadway. We speak to Frances and the show's writer Kait Kerrigan about placing women at the centre of this classic story, celebrating its centenary year.Julie Bindel's new book, Lesbians: Where are we now? is described as part-memoir, part frontline reportage and part cultural commentary. In it she examines what defines lesbian culture, love, friendship and happiness today and asks why - in her view - lesbians so often seem to face particular hostility? The journalist, feminist campaigner and author is in the Woman's Hour studio.Today marks 11 years since over 270 girls were abducted from their school in the town of Chibok, Nigeria by Boko Haram. The tragedy sparked international outrage - you might remember the campaign hashtag #bringbackourgirls - and today, global leaders and advocates including UN representatives are gathering in London to mark the anniversary with a photo exhibition and panel discussions. We hear from Dr Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode - lawyer and activist from the Murtala Muhammed Foundation.The Herring Girls were the predominantly Scottish, working-class women who laboured in the UK's once thriving fishing industry. An itinerant workforce, they went from port to port, following the fishing fleet and working gruelling hours, gutting and packing fish for export in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Artist and farm labourer Joanne Coates has spent six months researching the life and work of this community on the east coast of Scotland. Using art, photography and performance she wants to reclaim their history and reconnect local people with their Herring Girl heritage.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

After a period of relative peace in Borno State, fresh “Boko Haram attacks” in areas like Damboa, Dikwa, and Gwoza have reignited fear among residents. The resurgence has disrupted the return of normal life for many displaced persons and farmers. In this episode of Nigeria Daily, we look at the renewed threat, its impact on affected communities, and the implications for Nigeria's national security.

It's Tuesday, April 8th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Horrific Muslim persecution of Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa The Gatestone Institute's International Policy Center has released its report on the persecution of Christians in Africa.   The report claims that the West is ignoring the carnage playing out in Sub-Sahara Africa, and that Muslim “Jihadists are murdering, raping, torturing, kidnapping, enslaving, and, in some instances, burning people alive — across Africa, and now in Syria.” The newly-installed Syrian government and the al-Qaeda-affiliated HTS terrorists, are still conducting door-to-door purges, massacring religious minorities in cruel, sadistic ways. Reliable reports indicate they have massacred 7,000 Christians and Alawites, a sect of Islam. And the death toll is still rising. Jihad is spreading in at least twelve African nations. Muslim jihadists beheaded 70 Christians in the Congo in February. Church leaders are targeted, abducted, tortured, and murdered. Christian villages have been burned down. Plus, pastors, priests and lay Christians have been abducted by the Islamist Allied Democratic Forces. More than 16.2 million Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa have been driven from their homes by jihadist violence and conflict. Women and girls are abducted, forced into "marriage," forced to convert to Islam, raped, and subjected to forced labor. Some are forced to act as suicide bombers or human shields at the hands of jihadis. Boko Haram and the Islamic State West African Province regularly attack, abduct, and murder Christians in Cameroon located in Central Africa. Churches have been set on fire and church leaders and seminary students kidnapped. Plus, the report claims that no Christian is safe in Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa.  Hundreds of churches there have been closed. The Muslim-run nation of Libya, in North Africa on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, countenances widespread slavery, forced labor, and human trafficking. Sharia law is strictly upheld. For a Muslim to convert to Christianity is a crime punishable by death. Any Libyan woman suspected of associating with Christians faces house arrest, sexual assault, forced marriage, or even death. Nigeria remains the worst example of Jihadist murder and mayhem. Tens of thousands of Christians have been murdered and thousands of women and girls have been abducted and subjected to sexual violence. But, do keep in mind what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18. He declared, “On this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” British Christian nurse in trouble for referring to confused man as man More outrageousness from the United Kingdom. A nurse has lost her job with the National Health Service because she was caught referring to a pedophile transgender person as a “Mister.” Nurse Jennifer Melle, age 40, was fired from her job in Carshalton, Surrey, after having to endure the patient hurling racial slurs at her. She added, “I am devastated to have been suspended. … Despite being the one placed at risk, I am the one being punished. The message I have received is clear: I am expected to tolerate racism, deny biological reality, and suppress my deeply-held Christian beliefs." Appearing on Free Speech Nation, she shared her Biblical convictions. MELLE: “I thank Jesus for giving me the courageous spirit, standing on the Word of God. According to the Word of God, Genesis 1:27 said, ‘God created a male and female.' I just stood by it. I said, ‘Well, I'm a Christian woman, and I love the Lord, and I know beyond male and female is an abomination to the Lord. And I can't do that.'” Represented by the Christian Legal Centre, Andrea Williams, its chief executive, criticized the National Health Service for allegedly focusing on trans ideology instead of protecting its staff from racial and physical abuse. U.S.-China tariff war heats up The tit-for-tat tariff war with China is heating up.   On Friday, China announced a 34% tariff on U.S. imports as an answer to President Trump's 34% reciprocal tariff. Yesterday, the U.S. president announced an additional tariff of 50% effective tomorrow, unless China backs down, reports CBS News. Aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, President Trump did not pull any punches. TRUMP: “When you look at the trade deficit that we have with certain countries, way over a billion [dollars] per country. With China, it's a trillion dollars. And we have to solve our trade deficit with China. We have a trillion dollar trade deficit with China. Hundreds of billions of dollars a year we lose with China. And unless we solve that problem, I'm not going to make a deal. “Now, I'm willing to deal with China, but they have to solve their surplus. We have a tremendous deficit problem with China. They have a surplus of at least a trillion dollars a year. And I want that solved. No other President has taken it on.” New Yorkers need “good moral character” before carrying handgun The U.S. Supreme Court let stand a New York law that requires residents to demonstrate “good moral character” before they are permitted to carry a handgun. The law requires applicants to have “the essential character, temperament and judgement necessary to be entrusted with a weapon and to use it only in a manner that does not endanger oneself or others.” Stocks, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq down U.S. stocks are down over the last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 4,000 points, 11% down for the year.   And the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was down by about 2,000 points, settling around 15,570 points on Monday evening. The Nasdaq is down 19% on the year, about where it was in November 2021.  Court awards 7,000 sexual abuse victims $4 billion in Los Angeles While the state-controlled foster care system is supposed to protect children, the unaccountable system, made up of sinful men and women, has become the predator. Last week, the courts awarded a record $4 billion against the Los Angeles County's juvenile detention and foster care system. The settlement was the largest of this kind, distributed to 7,000 plaintiffs — victims of unspeakable sexual abuse. L.A. officials have issued concerns that the fine might bankrupt the county.  The rise of America's “assassination culture” The Network of Contagion Research Institute and Rutgers University's Social Perception Lab have issued a report concerned with a rising “assassination culture” in the United States.  Especially troubling is the view that 31% of respondents stated it would be at least somewhat justifiable to murder Elon Musk.  And 38% said it would be at least somewhat justifiable to murder President Donald Trump. Among those who identify left of center, 48% to 55% would justify these assassinations. 22 million watched House of David finale And finally, the producers of the Amazon-released program, House of David, announced over the weekend, that the season finale had achieved #1 on Prime. WatchWonderProject took to Instagram with a message: “All glory to God!” Thus far, the program has brought in 22 million viewers. Of Amazon's new releases in 2025, House of David has taken the top position, holding its own in the top 10 for 38 days. Producer and writer for House of David, Jon Erwin, previously produced Christian films like October Baby, I Can Only Imagine, and American Underdog. The studio has announced a forthcoming Season 2. Let us not forget David's greater Son who reigns today, over all. Luke 1:32 declares, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of his father David.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, April 8th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ. Print stories British Prime Minister: Time to focus on Britain British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke yesterday, indicating an end to globalization, and a return to nation's focusing in on their own national interests, reports The Independent. He called the present times “a completely new world.”  Former Brazilian president thanked God for Trump's re-election Brazil's previous president Jair Bolsonaro addressed a peaceful protest of 40,000 in Sao Paulo over the weekend, thanking God publicly that Donald Trump was re-elected in the United States, reports Breitbart. Bolsonaro told the crowd, “I have nothing but gratitude for the two years we spent together in our respective presidencies.”

In 2012 Manga, a young Christian from northern Nigeria, was attacked and almost beheaded by armed men from the militant Islamist group, Boko Haram. The attackers forced Manga and his younger brother to witness their father's brutal murder before turning their attention to them. Manga, now 33 years old, relates how that horrific ordeal has changed his outlook on life and strengthened his Christian faith.

Diplomatic Hell Hole.Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels."Are we in the right place?" the stranger worried."I'm afraid so. Anais, you need to leave.""Not until you tell me what is going on here," she sizzled."She's not here to have sex, if that's what you worried about," I retorted. "Wait, are you here to have sex with me?""I barely know you.""That rarely stops me," I muttered."He's a master of bedroom antics," Pamela praised me. "He's pretty much at a loss at doing anything else.""Thanks Grandma," I griped."Your welcome, Grandson.""We, are here to meet someone," the stranger hedged."You came to the right place," Pamela preempted me. "He's definitely someone.""Fine, redo. I'm Cáel Nyilas," (deep breathe), "NOHIO, HCIESI-NDI, U HAUL, Magyarorszag es Erdely Hercege plus a bunch of other honorifics that have yet to be confirmed. I am single-handedly bringing back medievalism to the center of Europe and the Near East. The woman to my left is Pamela Pale, and she really is my bodyguard. The woman to my right is Sgt. Anais Saint-Amour, RCMP, my ex-lover and the person that needs to leave   right now.""I'm not sure I should leave at this moment," Anais shifted possessively. I had to recall earlier this morning, the part where we'd broken up by mutual consent. Yep. That had really happened. I had thought I was whittling down my current list of paramours. Why do the Goddesses hate me so?"Told you, she can't give up that cock," Pamela whispered."As you can see, I have limited control of my life," I told the strange woman. "I know you are here to meet somebody who isn't me. Now you know who I am. Who are you and your companions?""I'm Ms. Quincy.""Sorry; I'm on a first name basis with everyone I meet," I interrupted."What's your rank, Honey?" Pamela added."What makes you think,?""She doesn't think. That's what makes her so dangerous." I explained."Hey now," Pamela faux-complained."Okay. She's a fledgling telepath, or medium," I shrugged."Captain, Zelda Quincy.""In case you are mesmerized by her tits," Pamela tapped me, "she's packing some serious hardware.""One of those personal defense gizmos?" I leaned Pamela's way."Close, but no cigar. She's my kind of girl, big 'bang-bang', back-up at the small of her back and knife in her boot.""What!" Zelda gulped."She's his knife-fighting instructor," Anais answered drolly."Are you Special Forces?" Zelda regarded my mentor."Nah, I got kicked out for a consistent failure to observe even the loosest Rules Of Engagement. I'm a free-spirit.""Oh, you're a sniper," Zelda nodded."I like this one," Pamela smiled."Ah, thank you." Then, over her shoulder, "I think we are in the right place." Zelda entered the room, followed by a Hispanic panther of a man (kind of like a tanned, slightly shorter Chaz without the cool accent) wearing a long coat, and a Subcontinent-cast woman who looked at everyone as if she expected us to sprout fangs, or start quoting the Koran any second now. She obviously was a brain seconded to this mission very much against her will.The fourth person had that cagey 'when my lips move, I'm lying' look while seemingly unhappy with her current assignment. The heavy implication was that the lady was a career diplomat. Considering our current company and who we were talking to, she was State Department. She was in her late 30's or early 40's and giving off the sensation she had devoted so much to her career that she was starting to wonder if that was all that life had to offer.The fifth member was a military man clearly uncomfortable about what he was doing here, thus not a spook. His off-the-rack suit wasn't terrible, so he expected to socialize somewhat while performing his duties. He also looked like a man who expected other people to speak half-truths and obfuscated lies as easily as they breathed. Numbers three, four and five were dressed for the weather and unarmed.All of this meant they were good at what they did, though they probably didn't know the particulars of what was expected of them. They had their marching orders. Those orders were about to be made irrelevant in the company they would be keeping. The latter weren't the 'doing it by rote' kind of people they would normally be dealing with."I bet you she's a doctor," I murmured to Pamela, "she's with State and he's some sort of Foreign Service type.""I bet the first guy is Air Force," she countered."Like one of those Para-rescue guys?""No. More like one of those Battlefield Air Operations guys, I'm guessing," she corrected me."That guy?" I nodded to the final guy. "Pentagon wonk?""More likely he's one of those embassy guys. I'm going to take an educated leap here, Office of Military Cooperation, Mongolia?""That is pretty clever of you. Kazakhstan. Major Justin Colbert.""I bet some people in the White House, Pentagon and Langley are disappointed with you right now," I reasoned. His jaw grew tight."Don't worry, Major," Pamela grinned. "We consider that a good thing. We don't like the people in charge and have a low opinion of their opinion on just about everything, including their habit of blaming the blameless for their government's fuck ups.""Who are these people?" the first man whispered to Quincy."She's a telepath." That was Zelda"She's a psychic-medium." That was Anais."She can see through time." That was me. "Nice to meet you. Who are you?""Chris Diaz. Lieutenant Colonel, USAF.""Dr. Saira Yamin," the second woman introduced herself. "Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies. Are you the man from Johnston Island?""Why yes, yes I am," I beamed."The APCSS is in Waikiki, Hawaii," Pamela educated me. "Your arrival probably cost her some prime surfing time.""I was more interested in the fact that he survived a plane crash in a Category Four Cyclone," she admitted."Mother Nature hates me. No matter how hard I try, she refuses to kill me," I confessed. "My suffering is an endless source of amusement to that bitch.""That, that wasn't the helpful answer I was looking for," she stammered."So, Lt. Colonel Chris Diaz, you must be with JSOC, I have a deep and abiding respect for you guys. If you need something, just ask," I greeted him. "Captain Zelda, you are not with JSOC.""She's with the DCS ~ that is the Defense Clandestine Service," Pamela kept going. "Zelda, you love being in your uniform, you're proud, yet happy with the concept of dying in an unmarked grave for Constitution and Country. You are too old to have been in the first female class at Ranger School, so that means no 'in the field' JSOC for you. You've gotten around that stone wall by joining the US Defense Department's own little pack of killers.""Also, you felt it was necessary to bring a Benelli M4-11707. That's a close-in action shotgun, but a bit over-kill considering the paper-thin walls in this building. That tells me you are used to being in the kinds of places where such a tool is a necessity. Or in other words, since you think you are meeting a band of terrorists, you brought along your favorite toy.""Your personal weapon is a SIG Sauer P229R DAK in .357 which is a new weapon still under trial by the US Army and Air Force. Your boot dagger is ceramic so it will pass a cursory exam, or scan. You hate the idea of being trapped on a public aircraft weaponless. You have also given up killing power for a proper balance for throwing. I like a forward-thinking gal.""Air Force ~ you've recently come back from Asia, most likely Tibet. It shows in your breathing brought about by a close call with Altitude Sickness. The only reason for an Air Force guy to be here is because he's familiar with the Khanate military and you are not US Army, or Marine Corp Special Forces. I know the type.""You went with the MP5K in the standard 9mm, so you are more interested in sending bullets down range than looking into someone's face as you kill them. You may be a 'light' Colonel, which means you are almost somebody. What your higher-ups haven't appreciated is that our guests will respect you because they are like that ~ remembering past friends and comrades in arms. Of greater importance, you have Cáel's gratitude which will count for more than you currently believe."I pledged then and there to be as good as Pamela at determining that kind of stuff before I died. She had assured me it was as much a matter of psychology as eagle-eyed perception. People were often a type that gravitated to various forms of destruction, be they old school, or going for the latest gadget."I told you all that firepower was excessive," State softly chastised her associates (what they really were, not the underlings she saw them as)."So, you appeared to have forgotten to tell us your name," I regarded the State lass."Nisha Desai Biswal. I'm with the government.""Oh, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, I've examined your website," I told her. It clearly pissed her off somewhat that I so swiftly disregarded her crude attempt at subtle manipulation."Hey. I've got some real enemies at State, so it pays to know who might be the next suit trying to cock me over," I explained. I had to prioritize. It would take some serious effort to convince Zelda to have a MFF three-way straight out the gate and she was definitely the hotter number."Major, you came here unarmed," Pamela noted. "That won't do. They expect you to be armed because you are a warrior, damn it. Cáel get him one of your Glock 22's.""Gotcha," I nodded. I went to my room, tipped away the false back to my closet (that Havenstone had installed recently so Odette wouldn't accidently fire off one of my weapons) and retrieved one of my spare Glocks, but not the one with the laser sight. Such over-the-top fancy gear would be inappropriate. I only gave him one mag. If he couldn't get the job done with 15 rounds, he wouldn't have a chance to reload.Mind you, I took two in a twin-rig shoulder holster and four 22 round magazines, because I tend to shoot two-handed which doesn't exactly give you a bullseye every time. I returned to our crowded living room, handed the Major his weaponry, and then directed the US group to the far side of the room (towards Timothy's bedroom. Saira and Nisha took the couch.Because this tiny space wasn't crowded enough, there was a knock at the door. I checked. It was Juanita, oh yeah, my real bodyguard."Listen up everybody," I announced to the room. "This is my other bodyguard, my official one. Her names is Juanita Leya Antonio Garza, she's from the Dominican Republic via Buenos Aires and she is armed, so don't freak out." I opened the door."What is going on?" Juanita hissed."I'm having a private meeting with a few heavily armed friends. The other side to this party hasn't arrived yet. Why don't you come in?" She came in."Why didn't you warn me?" she whispered her complaint."Long night, worse wake-up, needed to do some soul-searching. Pamela was looking after me, then this came up and I forgot. I apologize," I lowered my head in shame. Juanita was only trying to do the job she'd been entrusted with and by not thinking of her, I was making that so much harder.I made the introductions, first names only."Juanita, Anais, Pamela; please slip into the kitchenette," I suggested.Anais "Why?"Juanita "Where are you going to be?"Pamela "Sure. I'm starving. I'm going to raid the fridge.""Anais, because I need my faction in one place. Juanita, I will be refereeing this meeting, so I will have to remain in the living room, roughly six feet from you." It was really a small apartment. "Pamela, if it is edible, it isn't mine and you'll have to replace it."Great Caesar's Ghost! No wonder Big Wigs had their personal assistants handle this pre-meeting crap. I was on my last two fucking nerves and one of those was already stressed and tender. And the real reason for being here hadn't even arrived yet."Why am I in your faction?" Anais mulled over threateningly."Because you haven't walked out that door. There are going to be three sides to this meeting, not three plus Anais. That is the way it is going to be. Now, are you going to behave, or are Juanita and Pamela going to toss you out?""You are threatening me!""Finally catching on to that, aren't you, Sweetie?" Pamela chimed in."I'm only staying because I believe you are in trouble," Anais grumped."Why is she (Anais) here?" Nisha inquired heatedly. "This is supposed to be a very, very private encounter.""I know Anais. I don't know you. I trust Anais with my well-being despite the fact she has numerous reasons to distrust me. She's staying because she is a straight arrow. That's good enough for me.""But is she going to keep her mouth shut about what happens here today?" Nisha pressed."Anais, this is a clandestine meeting that isn't going to be recorded by anybody so, barring a crime being committed, you can never discuss this with anyone who isn't already in the room. Agreed?"Pause."I agree," she nodded. I really was going to have to fuck her again. Not today. Well, maybe not today; I had to keep my options open. Her investigator mind was going into overdrive. Give it a week and she'd be knocking on my door late one night. Inquisitive, truth-hungry dames are like that, trust me. Then it would be 'bask in my genius' sex. It had been a while since I'd experienced that, with Lady Yum-Yum.There was another knock at the door. I checked before Juanita could do the checking for me, in case someone was going to shoot me through the door. Fuck it. I was going to talk to Timothy about moving. Him, me and Odette. I couldn't give those two up. It was Kazak bookends. I opened up and invited them in. It turned out they had names besides Bookends #1 and #2, Nuro and Roman.Nuro (I think) checked out the rooms while Roman (I was pretty sure) kept an eye on my guests. I made introductions, first names only and specifying who was with who. Technically, they could trust my side because I was the Great Khan's brother and thus my servants were his servants. Technically.Iskender came next followed by OT. A woman I didn't know (sadly, not OT's daughter) came in behind him while the other two quintuplets stayed in the hallway. Iskender and I hugged."Ulı Khaan s yikti ağası," he smiled. That was 'Prince-something'. My Kazak was a bit rusty. He then whispered into my ear. "OT bows to you first. His title is Hongtaiji." What?"Ulı Khaan s yikti ağası," OT bowed."Hongtaiji Oyuun T m rbaatar," I bowed back. I remembered I had to rise first. It was an etiquette thing. In retrospect, Iskender had stretched the bounds of tradition by hugging me, his titular superior. "Welcome to my humble abode.""I thank you for your hospitality," he 'grinned'. His face wasn't made for that gesture so that faint gesture came across as rather unnatural.My mind finally finished translating what Iskender and OT had called me. It wasn't 'prince'. It was 'beloved brother of the Great Khan'. Mother fucker!"Wait," Justin, the military attach  guy muttered, "we are here to meet this guy?" indicating me."What do you mean?" Saira questioned."The title Mr. Nyilas was identified with means 'beloved brother of the Great Khaan'," he explained. "The Kazakhs don't go tossing honorifics like that around. This guy," again pointing at me, "is a really important somebody.""Thanks for dropping this grenade in my lap, OT," I joked. "I'll get you for this, and your little yak too.""Odette is going to be so miffed that she missed this," Pamela chuckled."Mr. Nyilas," Zelda began."Please, call me Cáel. It is how I roll.""Cáel, can I ask you a stupid question?""Go right ahead," Pamela snorted. "Cáel does stupid real well. It is a critical part of his skill set. It makes him adorable instead of annoying. Trust me, you'll learn that soon enough."Too much 'trust me' was flying around in a room where nobody trusted anybody."Thanks for that encouragement, Teach," I grumbled. "Ask away, Captain Zelda.""Why are you playing this game with us?""I wasn't. Until thirty seconds ago I was sure I was here totally as a spectator," I gripped. "My buddy," the word dripped with sarcasm, "Temujin likes dumping these kinds of surprises on me.""Did you mean what Ms. Pale said about you feeling you owed me?" Chris asked."Absolutely.""We need help defusing this Thailand crisis before a shooting war begins.""What do you suggest?""We want the Khanate to back down," Chris stated firmly."I thought we had agreed that I would spearhead this delegation," Nisha reminded Chris."I think the situation had evolved and we need a different approach," Chris insisted."You should listen to the Lieutenant Colonel," I advised. "He knows a whole lot more about what is going on than you do.""Why don't you explain it to us?" she began her weevil-ling."You are engaging in linguistic niceties with men who have bled together, Ms. Biswal," I instructed. "Not that Chris and I have bled on the same battlefield, we have shed blood in the same cause; and that cause has been bringing our two nations, the Khanate and the US, together. The Khanate owes Chris for his efforts on our behalf and we pay our debts.""How so?" Nisha asked."National Security stuff," I evaded. "If you don't know, you shouldn't know and you probably don't want to know. Suffice it to say, the Khanate is willing to listen to Lt. Colonel Diaz's request as a friend.""But he doesn't speak for the United States Government," she corrected."Why not?" I riposted. "He's dealt with the Khanate longer than you have. He has a clue about the mindset of their rank and file.""But does he know their leadership?" she persisted."I don't know. Chris, do you think you have a handle on me?""Are you really capable of talking for the Khanate government?" Nisha preempted Chris. What she left unsaid was 'are you culpable in their atrocities?'"Let's find out," I then looked over my shoulder. "Hongtaiji Oyuun T m rbaatar, will my words and wishes reach my brother's ear?""That is why I am here," he replied."Don't you have the authority to speak for your leader?" she grilled OT. Nisha was relentless trying to stay in the limelight. "Aren't you a diplomat?""There is no need to insult the man," Pamela snidely commented."I am one of many voices that provide information to the Great Khan. I am not his brother. Cáel Nyilas is and has already proved his familial affection by proposing Operation Funhouse and brought whole nations as gifts," OT schooled her. "He is gifted with both tactical and strategic insight as well as sharing the Great Khan's love for his people and his hopes for their eventual freedom.""I didn't think you were a soldier," Zelda looked me over."Oh no," I wove off that insinuation. "I've never been a real soldier and am unworthy of that distinction. I know quite a few who have earned that title and they scare the crap out of me. I mean, they go looking for trouble. In my case, trouble comes looking for me. I'm damn lucky to still be alive and that's the damn truth.""Bullshit," Pamela coughed."What was that, Artemisia?" I winked at her."Bitch," she laughed "My men have become women, and my women men. At least you didn't call me Cassandra.""Well, she's Greek (a deadly insult to all Amazons), but you could be her Evil Twin because everyone believes whatever you say.""Can we get down to business?" Chris inquired."Damn," Pamela shook her head. "They haven't been paying attention.""What does that mean?" Zelda griped."Iskender, you know what I'm talking about, don't you?" I asked."Not a clue, Exalted One," he stood there like a stone statue. Note, the Khanate contingent really were standing there like the Altai Mountains, doing nothing. You had to carefully examine them to see that they did indeed breathe and blink."Use small words," Pamela advised."You really are a rude misanthrope," Anais told Pamela."Do you know what's going on?" Pamela volleyed."No.""Then sit back and watch how the madness works," she snickered. "It is all you, Cáel.""Okay. One; how did Artemisia escape the battle of Salamis?" I began. Nothing."Oh," Justin nodded. "She rammed an allied ship to make the pursuing Athenians think she was an ally. What does that have to do with our current predicament?""Achieve your ends by using violence as a distraction," I sighed. "The Khanate will invade Thailand in," I looked to OT, "tomorrow?" He nodded."How does that help us?" Nisha complained."Second example, Cassandra. She saw the truth through all illusions and falsehoods and no one believed her. Now, reverse that."Pause."We are waiting," Saira finally joined the conversation. I could hear those little microprocessors inside her noggin firing electrons at light speed."We fight a phony war. The Khanate and their buddies invade in a lightning campaign that appears to be successful. Shit like attacking the opposition where they ain't. Things that look epic on CNN where some retired colonel, no offense...""None taken," Chris responded."Where some colonel talks about seizing resources, severed supply lines and encirclement. We, the Khanate, bomb shit like bridges and supply dumps, things with no civilians to get killed. On the downside, to make this work the Khanate needs to put some level of force into Bangkok.""That will get civilians killed," Nisha reminded me, unnecessarily."Civilians are getting killed right now by their own government. This time they will get a chance to strike back," I stated firmly. "The Thai protestors aren't cowards. They are just grossly outgunned. We can change that.""How does that help the United States?" Nisha queried."The US gets to come in and save the day," I sighed. "The US can t get there until the day after, so you don't look bad about letting the first 24 hours of brutality happen.""Oh," Zelda blinked."The US gets to end the fighting that the Khanate has no desire to continue. The US brings peace, while whomever takes over owes the Khanate. Both sides look good. Both sides claim victory. The President gets a second Nobel Peace Prize (psychic, aren't I?). The US gathers some regional allies like Malaysia, the ROC and the Philippines along with our Marines to ensure free and fair elections. The Khanate isn't seen to be backing down against the Titan of Western Civilization. They are working with them to bring about a better world.""Win-win," Saira nodded in agreement."The Khanate is still an autocratic tyranny," Nisha commented."As opposed to the People's Republic's oligarchical tyranny?" Chris countered."Agreed," Saira said. "I now think we should work with the Khanate to bring stability to Central Asia which which was impossible while those member nations were being squeezed between Russia, Europe, China and India.""What are you a doctor of?" I asked."I specialize in 'failed states', among other things," Saira grinned."This could still turn into one bloody cluster-fuck," Zelda mused."My peopled don't have the resources to devastate Thailand," OT finally spoke. "If you, the US, agrees to intervene on our timetable, you will have our thanks, off the record, of course.""How do we know this isn't some ruse to allow the Khanate to overthrow Thailand's existing government?" Justin questioned."You have my word," I replied. No one said anything for several heartbeats."Really?" Nisha balked."Mr. Nyilas, Cáel, do you give me the Great Khan's word?" Chris studied me intently."Without reservation," I answered. "For what you have done for us and more, the Great Khan will honor this deal. We and the Thai's will do the bleeding. You will get your accolades. We avoid a pointless clashing of forces, which is why we are all here today.""I will give you my written recommendation in a few hours," Saira told Nisha.Chris stepped forward to shake my hand. He was an alpha-type alright. I gave as good as I got. His eyes bore into mine, looking for a faltering of will."What did you do in Romania?""I got a lot of good men killed.""Okay.""Okay?" Nisha squawked. "A handshake, a pat on the back and the deals done? Since when did our democratic republic do business this way? He admitted he got men killed in Romania. What is to say this won't be Romania writ large?""Ms. Biswal, he told the truth. He got good men killed and he isn't happy about it. I would be worried if he claimed one bit of glory from that episode. He didn't.""Nisha," I took a deep breathe, "When you unleash men with weapons, nothing is assured. Maybe the Thai government will see the hate coming their way and back down. Maybe the people will resist the intrusion. Maybe the Khanate's forces will get slaughtered at the starting line. It isn't like they have enough time to deploy enough forces to win a protracted war.""What happens if the Khanate decides it won't go?" she continued."Then they get destroyed on the ground in a war of attrition," Chris answered for me. "He's right. They can't bring enough in the time allotted to completely overwhelm the roughly 120,000 members of the Royal Thai Army that have remained loyal to the regime.""In three days they will be out of fuel, shells, rockets and bullets. It is logistics, Ms. Biswal," Zelda piled it on. "The Khanate war-fighting systems are not NATO compatible. That means they can't simply capture more material as they penetrate the frontiers. If they overstay their welcome, we can launch missile strikes against their fuel depots. The combat devolves back to World War I and that's a style of war they can't afford to fight.""What about stopping the Khanate from invading in the first place?" Nisha wouldn't give up."Had the US acknowledged the Khanate, none of this would have happened, Ms. Biswal," I became snappish. "Neither superpower talked to the other until other commitments had been made.""If you think you can come in and start dictating Khanate policy, you are dreadfully mistaken. The US doesn't have the power, or the resolve," I glared at her. "Don't try convincing the Khanate that isn't the case. We know better.""You don't know what the US is capable of," she snapped back."Abandoning Iraq with a fractured pseudo-democratic process? Abandoning Afghanistan without destroying the Taliban? The Syrian Civil War? The Donbass Crisis? The collapse of Libya? Boko Haram? Somalia? Yemen? Exactly how has the US's power and resolve solved any of those issues?" I countered."Ms. Biswal," OT spoke again. "We are willing to create a desert and call it 'Peace'. Our enemies know that. Your unwillingness to do so is neither a strength nor a weakness. It is a hallmark of your society in the same way that 'Total War' is a hallmark of ours. We are more than willing to leave you to manage the Peace. Let us manage the War against the forces opposed to civilized discourse.""As ugly and disagreeable as it is, we are willing to keep creating pyramids of skulls on every street corner until either they learn their lesson, or we kill them all. Let us do that and you will have your global stability and reap the economic benefits and accolades of Pax Americana. We are not your enemy. We are precisely the ally you need to keep the peace and we will do that, if you let us.""To allow barbarism is to become barbarians," Saira mused."That is complete fiction," I scoffed. "The United States didn't become communist because it allied with the Soviet Union in World War II. Truman didn't become Stalin. The enemy of my enemy is my friend is older than recorded history.""It is the Carrot and the Stick on a Global basis," Justin agreed. "Listen to the gentle words of the West, or you will end up feeling the wrath of the East.""As long as the Khanate accepts the limitations of is role," Saira added, "this might work. Please understand there will be factions in the Western Democracies who will not accept that status quo. It is not in the nature of our societies to stifle dissent.""Is it possible to get any political concessions from the Khanate's leadership?" Justin requested. "A pledge to hold some level of democratic elections? A Constitution with some strong provisions to protect individual rights and liberties would be nice.""Justin, in case your bosses missed it, the Khanate is still at a state of war with the PRC," I shook my head. "With their limited experience with democratic government throughout most of the Khanate's territories, that would be madness.""With limited concessions to the Imperial State, we have not interfered with the politics of Albania, Armenia, Georgia and Turkey. We are never going to become a Western-style democracy. We have had limited rule by consensus long before White Men arrived in the Western Hemisphere," OT informed them."Discounting the Irish Monks, Vikings and Knights Templar," Pamela interjected."If you say so," OT gave a minuscule bow to Pamela. "Long before your nation was anything more than the scribbled history of a long-faded Greek city-state, we had meritocracies, oligarchies of senior statesmen & warriors, thinkers and religious leaders, and we had codified judicial moral equality into the political arena. We have a far superior record of religious and minority freedom, of genuine multi-culturalism plus a deeper understanding of the arts and crafts as a means of uniting disparate peoples. We find your claims of cultural superiority to be childish.""Oh, snap," I snickered. "You get'em, OT.""I bet the boys in Foggy Bottom felt that pimp-slap," Pamela agreed."I bet the bronzed skull of some Harvard dean just fell off its pedestal.""They are called 'busts'," Anais groaned. "With a name like that, how could you forget it?""So true," I concurred. "All this responsibility must have clouded my normally hedonistic vocabulary.""That doesn't change the fact that you have employed biological warfare and genocide in this current day and age," Justin pointed out."Tell that to our Native Americans," I snorted. "They are easy to find. They live in trailer parks in whatever blasted Hell Hole we stuck them in, or in their casinos where they are buying back their country, one rube at a time. Ask them if they've gotten over it.""We don't claim to be perfect," Justin insisted."No, we merely claim to have the only correct form of government, economic policy and schools of philosophical, political, scientific and educational thought," I pointed out."We definitely should revive ethical utilitarianism," Pamela slapped a fist into her palm. "Oh, and the guillotine. Work houses for orphans and grist mills for the disabled, and A Modest Proposal for those chronically unemployed and terminally homeless, yes, and,""Pamela, what is it with you today?" I snickered."It is nearly sunset,""Ah, and you haven't killed anyone yet.""You know how cranky I get when I don't get my daily dose of homicide.""Are you two done?" Anais frowned. She did that a lot around me."And you don't hand out Mini-Uzi's to your preschoolers," Pamela glowered. "What is wrong with you people?"Pause, waiting for that punch line that was never coming. See, it was more difficult to sense Pamela was an immediate threat to your health if you thought she was completely off her rocker."Hmm, well, on that note, ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have a deal. Chris and Justin, I will leave you with my loyal Iskender to work out the gory details. Who wants to grab dinner?" I inquired."Are you serious?" Nashi gasped."Oh yeah. I had the Russian invasion of Manchuria figured out in this amount of time and Manchuria is way bigger than Thailand." Was it? I didn't know. Geography was not one of those subjects which gets you laid."What do you have in mind?" Zelda inquired."Whatever you want."{1 am, Sunday, August 31st ~ 8 Days to go}"How did I end up in bed with you?" Zelda sighed happily, her body splayed halfway over mine and her head resting on my chest, listening to my heartbeat."You aren't the first girl to ask me that question."On the other side, Anais moaned in her sleep. Yeah, she was over me. Abso-fucking-lutely. If you recall, she'd try anything once. I convinced her the military babes were totally different than that Goth chick we'd blown the mind of back in Montreal.Zelda was with me because I had caught her in a lie. She claimed to be a lesbian when I first hit on her. She was adamant. I destroyed her with incontrovertible evidence.A) She hadn't scoped out Anais when she came in. A glance didn't count and Anais oozed sexy when she was angry, which was most of the time.B) She hadn't scoped out Juanita's figure when said worthy went to the kitchenette. I look for such things and Juanita has thighs to die for.C) When I told her she had a wicked sense of humor, she blushed. Honestly, lesbians rarely care about strange men complimenting their personalities.D) Then I double-downed by asking her if she preferred a shower, or bath. She said shower (because that's the butch thing to say). When I asked her 'when was the last time she'd had a bubble bath', she blushed again. Lesbians don't like it when a man imagines them naked. Straight chicks, unless you are a creepy, stalker guy, like it when men fantasize about them swathed in bubbles, thus semi-clothed, thus not creepy.E) In a final and fatal act of evasion, she asked a grumpy Anais what she liked about me. Anais was blunt."He can fucking hammer you all night, sneak in a romantic quickie in the shower, cook you a delicious breakfast then give you another round of mind-numbing intercourse up against the wall before you have to go to work. And still find the time and energy to fuck your neighbor."Woot!"So, this happens to you often?" she mused, it was a trap. She really wanted to know if I was an egotistical scumbag who took advantage of every woman I came across. At the same time, she wanted to know if I considered her a 'whoe' ~ a woman who gives up the goodies for free."Do you mean 'am I taking advantage of you'?" I replied."That is not what I asked," she persisted. That meant 'yes'."Let me see," I laid back and looked up at the ceiling. "I have a fiancée, six women I am close enough to to spend quality time with, a fuck-buddy who is a sweet girl and trusts me too much and a passel of ex-girlfriends who have found my infidelity to be reprehensible.""Six women?" she frowned."Four co-workers (Rhada, Oneida, Yasmin and Buffy), the girlfriend of a co-worker who dumped her in a very public fashion (Brooke) and that woman's friend (Libra). She was the wing-chick who was stuck with me on a quadruple-date and was underwhelmed with me when we first met."I didn't count my 'hook-ups' and I wasn't sure how to qualify Nicole."Ex's?""'No' is not a word in common usage in my vocabulary. I've dated a best friend's girl, a mother, sister and aunt of the same girlfriend, basically, I'm either highly immoral, incredibly loose, or a letch.""Don't you take responsibility for any of those, relationships?""Hell yeah," I tilted her chin up so that we could make eye-contact. "I've never blamed a woman for taking out her frustrations on my flesh, ran away from a screaming fit (Big Lie!), or blamed them for any failing in our relationship. It is always my fault because I can't stay loyal.""That's depressing," Zelda moped."Don't get me wrong. I don't find fault in any of the women I have spent time with. That is my problem, I find women fascinating; never boring, or bland. Quite frankly, it is a gift that I don't regret having. I may be a fuck-up, but I'm a fuck-up who will give you the very best attention.""Full of yourself, much?" her attitude shifted. I had short-circuited her fears; I was a cheater, I confessed to it without shame because I was inexorably drawn to her beauty, personality and charm. With Anais around, I couldn't claim to be solely enchanted with Zelda, so I had to think quickly on my feet. After all, Zelda was energetic and had great stamina."I promised you pleasure," I countered. "Did I deliver?""Yes, you are full of yourself," she slapped my stomach. I wasn't full of myself. I was a confident sex machine."Thank you.""Huh?""Wonderful sex, taking a chance with me, agreeing to a three-way, being awake after," I looked at the bed-table clock, "six hours.""I run five miles a day," she bragged."I try to have ten hours of sex a day," I teased. Zelda slapped my stomach again. Anais stirred."Do any women like you, for any reason beyond your cock?""I'm considered loyal where sex is not concerned, reliable and brave," I offered."What happened in Romania?""Have you ever been in combat?""I've been in violent confrontations, but not a true firefight," she admitted."Hmm,""Is it something that you can't relate?" she asked."No. You are a soldier so you probably know more about combat than I do. It was, not chaotic at all. I never lost perspective of what was going on despite the bullets flying around. The Romanian Captain in charge knew his stuff, directed his company well and all I had to do was figure out where the terrorist leader was.""What happened?" she perked up."I am here talking with you and he's in a morgue in Bucharest.""Oh," She wanted more."I have to live with the knowledge that I set all of that in motion, Zelda. I convinced the Romanians that they had to confront that terror group before they moved on to their next target, me.""I knew they would come after me and my friends, no matter where we were. Which would have ended up as a blood bath in some urban center. So I felt compelled to strike first. Based on information I provided, the Romanian Army sent two battalions, the 22nd and 24th, of the 6th Mountain Troops Brigade into battle.""It was a massacre," I remembered sadly."But you won," she tried to comfort me."Of the four companies involved in the battle, the Romanians suffered nearly two hundred dead and wounded. I hardly consider it anything other than a massacre. Yes, we won. Only three of the terrorists escaped. Their leader died. I don't think I've ever felt so hollow in my life," I finished."Forty percent losses, that is horrific," she crawled on top of me."The kicker is the Romanians sent some men of the 24th to hunt me down when I was kidnapped. A squad was in the group that rescued me and my companion from Johnston Island. I thought they would never want to deal with me ever again.""Don't be so hard on yourself. If they thought well enough of you to send their men out to rescue you, then you must have done right by them.""Chaz said something like that too," I felt sheepish and sleepy."Chaz? Who is she?"Honest to God, one day I want to find a girl who thinks I'm talking about another girl and asks if we can have a three-way, instead of trying to compare herself to this unknown person. Wait... I already had someone like that. Her name was Odette."Chaz is Color Sergeant Charles 'Chaz' Tomorrow of Her Majesty's SSR," I corrected her assumption."SSR? Those are some tough people. How do you know him?""Black Bag directives from the National Security Council, sworn to secrecy upon penalty of death, pinky-promise kind of stuff," I grinned. Maybe I wasn't all that sleepy after all."You really are a Man of Mystery," Zelda purred. She had truly exceptional stamina. "Maybe I can convince you to talk.""Maybe I can find another use for my tongue," I countered and off we went. Somewhere along the process, Anais woke up and joined in.It wasn't all fun and games. Anais' parting words were "You are a pig," then she sauntered out of my room and out of my life. Had she remembered to take her Serge with her, I would have bought the act. As it was,"Is she always so volatile?" Zelda remarked."Volatile? That's not her being volatile. That's Anais being affectionate. Volatile usually is accompanied by thrown objects and bodily harm," I sighed happily. Meeting her one more time couldn't be all that bad, could it? Zelda looked hungry so I shoved that thought to the back of my mind and got to work.That was the highlight of my Sunday. Zelda had to fly back to Washington D.C. and I had to go to work with JIKIT. It seemed that the Khanate and the US military were heading for a showdown. I unloaded all my Saturday's activities to the team and we got to work, no recriminations. I was the Khan's spiritual brother and sometimes that meant I had to do him favors.I asked Addison when she thought he would return the favor. She laughed, then smiled and told me that wasn't how it worked. He was a world leader now and I was merely his kooky kinsman that he would keep throwing problems at until one day I broke. Then it would be some other poor saps turn.Then she told me she was kidding and clearly the Great Khan thought the world of me. I chose to believe the second lie because it made me feel better, and it was promising to be a long weekend/start of the week.Note: Geopolitical DevelopmentsWhat follows are snippets of the Battle for Thailand that takes place late in the night of September 1stand continued into the early morning of September 3rd. If this does not interest you, you can rejoin Cáel's exploits in four pages)On the eve of battle, the Royal Thai High Command had decided to strip all but one armored unit from the 2nd Army in order to give the First Army's offensive against the rebels more of a punch. It's decision to strip the tank battalions from both their infantry divisions as well as the armored and one of the two mechanized regiments would prove to be disastrous. It was as if the leadership of the Royal Thai military were idiots.The least economically valuable part of the country was the northeast which the 2nd Army warded. They had severely underestimated the airlift capacity of the Khanate as well as the willingness of Laos and Cambodia to both use their armed forces in an invasion as well as their willingness to let Vietnamese troops cross their countries.That thinking had led the Thai military to adopt a 'forward defense' strategy, the desire to fight the enemy at the borders, as opposed to having stronger formations deeper within the country. Considering the relative weakness of the Cambodian and Laotian militaries, that policy had made sense:- The baseline Laotian and Cambodian tank was the T-54/55, a 1950's Soviet relic. The normal anti-tank capabilities in all Thai infantry formations was more than equal to such a threat.-Neither country had an air force worth worrying about.In contrast, the Khanate's primary tanks, the T-90SM and T-95 were resistant to most of what the Thai Army could throw at them, at least from the front. The seven hundred combat aircraft the Khanate and the Vietnamese were able to field was an equal catastrophe for the Thais. It greatly compensated for the relative small numbers of invaders.Finally, there was a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Alliance's goals were. Military logic dictated the destruction of Thailand's mobile force followed by the capture of Bangkok. As long as the Thai regime held the capital, it would remain the legitimate power in the country.Due to the altering political landscape, the Alliance's only option was to make the government 'look bad'. The loss of peripheral provinces, while of negligible immediate strategic value, looked great on the maps the world-wide media would be showing to their audiences. It would appear that the Thai army had failed to defend their country. That would (hopefully) make the Thai Third Army look like the legitimate authority in Thailand.That was the plan anyway, and you know what they say about battle plans and the enemy, right? H-hour was 4 am, September 1st.The commander of the Zuun stood up and waited to be recognized. The staff officer from the Yunnan Command pointed at him."Sir, why are we doing this? I am not afraid to fight for the Great Khan, but this action seems to be suicidal. We will be far behind enemy's lines while our offensive force will be grossly under-equipped.""You will have to rely on our ability to supply you by air.""We only have supplies for two days of operations. What happens then?""We rely on the Americans to come and save us," the senior officer responded bitterly."Allah save us from allies," the young commander muttered. What else could he do?He was part of the 2nd Mountain Sultan Mehmet Tumen which had just arrived in Yunnan to replace the exhausted 1st Mountain Abu al-Ghazi Bahadur Tumen. His men were from Turkey, inexperienced in combat and using new equipment they were not familiar with. They would be working with a unit he had never worked with before, the 1st Airmobile Tauekel Khan Tumen, Kazaks, who would be seizing the small airport his men needed to land in.From there, they were to 'run amok'. That was the technical term for racing south down a highway in Central Thailand, attacking the headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Division, an armored unit. Once that was accomplished, they were to attack the local police precinct. Provided they were still alive after that, they were to return to the air strip to resupply then they were to 'spread chaos' until they were finally hunted down by the vastly larger Thai division his 100 men would be fighting.Of course, there was the plan for the rebel Royal Thai Third Army to force their way through the larger frontline forces of the loyalist Royal Thai First Army and come to his rescue. How would the Thai troops respond when ordered to fight their fellow Thais? No one was sure. If there was any hope in this mission, it was the knowledge that several other Zuuns had the exact same mission in other areas of Thailand.  It was H-hour minus twenty-two.It was 11 o'clock in the evening when the general in charge of the Royal Thai 9th Infantry Division was woken up. The Marines were leaving. That was correct; the three Royal Thai regiments were heading west to Sattahip Naval Base, because they had been ordered to by the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy. It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize why this was going on.Seven hours earlier, the Royal Thai Army had seized all the Air Force bases in the 1st and 2nd Army districts as well as ordering the 4th Army to do the same thing (The Royal Thai Air Force had been trying to remain neutral in the upcoming civil war).Undoubtedly the navy had decided to make their assets less 'hijack-able'. A few phone calls later confirmed that most of the Navy had set sail for parts unknown and the naval air units at Ban Sattahip Air Base (U-Tapao International Airport) had also departed either out to sea, or to ports and bases in the South.He made a personal appeal to the commander of Marine Forces to no avail. They wanted no part of the upcoming struggle and advised the general to do the same. The general had other problems. The Royal Thai Marines were the frontline forces facing the southern border with Cambodia. He quickly reorganized his regiments, sending them to take the old Marine strongpoints to await further orders. Stopping the Marines never entered his mind.That was a bloodletting he wanted no part of. The last thing he did was inform his superiors, thus avoiding any stupid orders to the contrary. Suddenly the nebulous movements along the Cambodian border developed a haunting significance. He wondered how much longer he had before something happened.  It was H-hour minus five.At midnight a loyalist commander of a company of mechanized infantry in the 2nd Cavalry's 11th Battle Group (named after their axis of advance, Highway 11) decided to send a motorized section of his command forward to the advance position his battalion was to occupy come sunrise. Either later in the day, or tomorrow morning, the forces loyal to the regime would launch a coordinated assault against the rebels main supply center at Phitsanulok.He had a cot set up in his communications hut and had just nodded off when the radio squawked to life. His lieutenant in charge of the advance made a hurried report. They had encountered serious opposition in a confusing night action, then he went silent. The captain immediately swung into action. He put the rest of his men on alert, then contacted the neighboring Tank Battalion. He needed some armored support. He made a similar call to the attached artillery component.The Tank Battalions night officer quickly put a platoon of light tanks at his disposal. The artillery were ready for any fire mission he sent their way. Before the armor could arrive, the company commander found himself being called to the carpet by the Duty Officer at the 3rd Cavalry (two regiments of the 2nd Cav. had been attached to the 3rd's command) over his 'offensive' action and the relief mission was called off. What had happened to the patrol of 20 Royal Thai soldiers? He was ordered to wait until sunrise to find out.Little did anyone know, these were the first combat casualties of the upcoming rebel offensive. His patrol had stumbled across a battalion of mechanized troops arriving at their jump off point for the attack that was less than six hours from beginning. Neither the commander of the 11th Battle Group, the 3rd Cavalry Division, or First Army was informed that the enemy had already advanced twenty kilometers south of where they were supposed to be.  

Quinze ans après le déclenchement de l'insurrection de Boko Haram, la situation s'est sensiblement améliorée autour du bassin du lac Tchad, avec le retour de millions de déplacés et de réfugiés dans leur communauté d'origine. Si le groupe armé nigérian affilié à l'État islamique s'est essentiellement replié sur des îles du lac Tchad et dans certaines poches terrestres où ils vivent de racket, ailleurs, ce sont des pans entiers de ce grand bassin géographique qui renaissent économiquement. Certains observateurs locaux estiment que depuis fin 2020, Maiduguri redevient un hub économique. La capitale du Borno, dans le Nord-Est du Nigeria, est notamment traversée par plusieurs axes, globalement débarrassés de la menace Boko Haram. Ils mènent à l'Est du Tchad, au Nord du Niger, et bien sûr au Sud du Cameroun. De notre correspondant à Maiduguri,Bientôt 20 ans qu'Abdullahi sillonne la route Maiduguri-Gamboru menant au Tchad. Ce commerçant convoie des véhicules achetés à Lagos, au Nigeria, pour des clients en roulant sur cet axe jusqu'au Soudan. Entre 2013 et 2016, il est contraint à l'arrêt, car Boko Haram occupe alors de nombreuses localités sur les 148 kilomètres entre Maiduguri et Gamboru.« Nous sommes en mesure de circuler sur cette route en toute tranquillité d'esprit »Courant 2016, lorsque cette route a réouvert, Abdullahi a repris son activité sous escorte militaire, malgré les risques : « Nous devions garer notre voiture près de ce panneau de bienvenue, puis attendre l'arrivée de militaires de leurs casernes. Plusieurs véhicules militaires à l'avant, d'autres à l'arrière, nos voitures au milieu... Et nous roulions ainsi jusqu'à la frontière de Gamboru. Les militaires s'arrêtaient là car nous étions suffisamment en sécurité pour continuer notre trajet sans escorte. Puis, au retour, en arrivant à la frontière de Gamboru, on devait attendre de nouveau l'escorte. »Depuis 2022, certaines semaines, Abdullahi et son équipe livrent jusqu'à une dizaine de véhicules SUV, car la route A3 subit de moins en moins d'attaques : « Six ou sept checkpoints. Ce sont les principaux points de contrôle habituels. Les militaires descendent et procèdent à des vérifications. Vous devez payer les taxes imposées. Progressivement, nous sommes en mesure de circuler sur cette route en toute tranquillité d'esprit. »À lire aussiAu nord-est du Nigeria, une timide reprise économique malgré d'immenses défis sécuritairesLa clientèle étrangère encore frileuse pour se rendre GamboruAu milieu de Gamboru Market, Alhaji Umar vend en gros du tissu wax. Malgré la nette amélioration de la sécurité dans Maiduguri, sa clientèle étrangère reste angoissée à l'idée de venir sur place : « Mes clients du Tchad et du Cameroun ne viennent plus ici comme avant à cause de Boko Haram. Mais nous communiquons avec eux via WhatsApp. Ils choisissent ce dont ils ont besoin et nous leur livrons. Dans l'autre sens, certains commerçants traversent la frontière avec des marchandises à livrer ici de temps en temps. En raison de l'insurrection, ce n'est plus fréquent. »Mais Alhaji Umar reste optimiste, car grâce à la réduction des attentats kamikazes, au moins, ses clients locaux se déplacent jusqu'à sa boutique pour négocier en direct.À lire aussiCameroun: l'Extrême-Nord, théâtre de la résurgence des attaques de Boko Haram

Quinze ans après le déclenchement de l'insurrection de Boko Haram, la situation s'est sensiblement améliorée autour du bassin du lac Tchad, avec le retour de millions de déplacés et de réfugiés dans leur communauté d'origine, grâce aux efforts conjugués des armées des pays riverains du Lac Tchad. Certains observateurs locaux estiment que depuis fin 2020, Maiduguri redevient un hub économique. Des jeunes de la classe moyenne choisissent de se fixer et de construire leur vie dans la région, malgré les traumatismes liés à Boko Haram. C'est le cas de Hajara et Saleh, deux entrepreneurs trentenaires que notre correspondant a rencontrés. Saleh Babagana répond à un client sur sa montre connectée. Revendeur de téléphones d'occasion dans les rues de Maiduguri il y a encore quatre ans, ce grossiste distribue désormais des marques premium de smartphones dans une boutique climatisé. Et à 28 ans, Saleh n'a pas du tout l'intention de quitter le Nigeria :« Tout a commencé comme un pari pas sérieux. Un ou deux clients nous ont fait confiance, et maintenant, nous sommes bien établis en tant qu'entreprise ; beaucoup de nos clients viennent des pays voisins qui utilisent le CFA. Ils achètent nos produits au prix de gros, entre 1 000 à 2 000 pièces de nos smartphones. Et parfois jusqu'à 5 000 appareils d'une certaine marque de téléphone ont été achetées ici. »Comme Saleh, Hajara a vécu toute son adolescence à Maiduguri. Sous ses yeux, elle a vu mourir un camarade de classe, puis a échappé à un attentat à la bombe. Malgré ces traumatismes liés à Boko Haram, cette dirigeante de PME n'a jamais envisagé de quitter sa ville : « Avant d'ouvrir mon magasin, je faisais mes affaires à la maison. À cause des explosions de bombes et de Boko Haram, c'était la panique. Les gens s'enfuyaient de chez eux. Cela n'a pas été facile, mais grâce à Dieu, nous nous sommes bien débrouillés pour survivre. »« Migrer, ce n'est pas une option pour moi »Aujourd'hui, Hajara emploie une dizaine de personnes. Et les parfums d'intérieur qu'elle crée s'exportent au Niger, Cameroun, mais aussi au Ghana et jusqu'au Canada. Hajara se sent épanouie en vivant et en travaillant à Maiduguri :« J'ai choisi de rester pour inspirer les jeunes femmes d'ici. Beaucoup ont l'impression qu'on ne peut pas s'accomplir et que nous ne pouvons pas y arriver dans la vie. Alors que ce n'est pas le cas. Quelle que soit notre personnalité, on peut réussir chez soi. Tout ce qu'on souhaite dans la vie, on peut le réaliser. Alors migrer, ce n'est pas une option pour moi. »Hajara ne comprend pas pourquoi, au Nigeria, des dizaines de milliers de personnes de sa génération se risquent à tout sacrifier pour un visa pour l'Amérique ou pour l'Europe.À lire aussiNigeria: à Maiduguri et autour du bassin du lac Tchad, le retour de la sécurité ravive l'économie [1/2]

Nigeria's National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) is warning that terrorist groups are adapting tactics, leveraging new technologies and exploiting socio-political vulnerabilities to expand their operations across the country. During a strategy review meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the NCTC initiated a crucial review of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) to ensure its effectiveness in addressing current and emerging threats.

@phoenix_agenda and @nigeriasbest were joined by @davidhundeyinThey discussed:1. Claims that USAID enabled Boko Haram in Nigeria.2. Former Military dictator Babangida launches Memoirs3. The Lagos Speakership drama continues, Speaker Meranda denies resignation

The United States has firmly rejected allegations that the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, is funding Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Nigeria. This followed an allegation made by a US congressman, Scott Perry, that USAID has been funding Boko haram and other international terrorist organizations. Our reporter in Abuja, Nigeria has more

On Daybreak Africa: South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa opened on Thursday a Group of 20 foreign ministers meeting with a call for "cooperation" amid geopolitical tensions and "rising intolerance." Plus, the US imposes sanctions on a Rwandan government minister and a senior member of the M23 rebel group. Sudan recalls its ambassador from Nairobi to protest Kenya hosting the RSF and its allies. We'll tell you why Zambia's opposition Tonse Alliance is urging the government to stop the introduction of new banknotes. The US denies allegations that the United States Agency for International Development is funding Boko Haram in Nigeria. European leaders push back against claims by President Trump that Ukraine started the war with Russia. For these and more, tune in to Daybreak Africa!

Interview with Omar Mahmood on Somaliland - 16:40 This week, Kelly sits down with International Crisis Group Senior Analyst Omar Mahmood for an in-depth look at Somaliland's history and quest for international recognition. Before that, he and Freddie discuss Trump's USAID cuts, political turmoil in the Philippines, and Ecuador's presidential election results. As the senior analyst for Eastern Africa at the International Crisis Group, Omar conducts field research, provides written analysis, proposes policy recommendations and engages in advocacy efforts. Omar has previously worked as a senior researcher focusing on the Horn of Africa for the Institute for Security Studies in Addis Ababa, and as an international consultant covering Boko Haram and the Lake Chad Basin. Prior to that, he obtained his Master's degree from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso. Ambassador (ret.) Gordon Gray's article on the impact of USAID in Tunisia: USAID Expertise is a Critical Foreign Policy Tool — https://medium.com/the-diplomatic-pouch/analysis-usaid-expertise-is-a-critical-foreign-policy-tool-bab558a27fb8  The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any government entity. Produced by Theo Malhotra and Freddie Mallinson.  Recorded on February 13, 2025. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you frank and candid conversations with experts on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision-makers around the world. Funding support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. For more, visit our website, and follow us on Linkedin, Twitter @GUDiplomacy, and Instagram @isd.georgetown

En janvier 2025, le Monde proposait une sélection des 15 Africaines et Africains qui avaient marqué 2024 et incarné une forme d'excellence. Cette liste ne comportait pas moins de 5 personnalités nigérianes. On y trouve pêle-mêle une mannequin sud-africano-nigériane, rejetée par l'Afrique du Sud mais élue miss univers Nigeria, l'entrepreneur le plus riche d'Afrique Aliko Dankote, le ballon d'or africain de l'année Ademola Lookman né en Angleterre, qui joue à l'Atalanta de Bergame et qui appartient à la sélection nationale du Nigéria qu'il a porté en finale de la CAN – coupe d'Afrique des nations. La liste intègre aussi un entrepreneur de la tech nigériane Tosin Eniolorunda dont la société Moniepoint est une licorne, c'est à dire valorisée à plus d'un milliard de dollars, et enfin la chanteuse Tems, triplement nominée aux Grammy Awards 2025. Cette diversité incarne le dynamisme du Nigeria, dont le rayonnement culturel est ancien et l'esprit entrepreneurial connu. Elle accrédite l'idée que ce pays est la puissance majeure du continent… Et pourtant, ce pays possède aussi un triste record, il est le dernier pays au monde pour l'espérance de vie. Avec 54 ans et demi, il est 10 ans en dessous de la moyenne du continent africain et dénote dans son environnement régional (en Afrique de l'ouest, la région au plus bas score mondiale, cette espérance est tout de même de 58 ans et demi). Quelles ambitions géopolitiques peut avoir dans ces conditions ce pays ? Ainsi étudier le Nigeria, c'est à la fois appréhender un géant en devenir, déjà rayonnant, mais aussi y lire un concentré des problèmes de développement de l' Afrique Sub-saharienne. C'est constater aussi que le pays est à l'intersection de thématiques majeures que nous avons pu aborder ou aborderons dans d'autres podcasts : que pèse les héritages coloniaux dans les difficultés du pays ? celui-ci souffre-t-il de la malédiction des matières premières ? Pourquoi le djihadisme subsiste-t-il et s'exprime-t-il violemment, même si l'on parle beaucoup moins de Boko Haram dans les médias, vous l'avez constaté .. ? La croissance de la population explique-t-elle les faiblesses de son développement et notamment le drame de la faim qui s'y joue encore ? Les « clans nigérians » sont ils une facette de la « gangstérisation du monde » et des opportunités criminelles offertes par la la mondialisation ? et ce pays, qui candidate à l'entrée dans le groupe des BRICS+ peut-il obtenir la reconnaissance internationale attendue en tant que grande puissance du Sud Global ?

Ao marcar a data, Nações Unidas ressaltam preocupação com impacto de grupos como Isil, Al-Qaeda e Boko Haram; crimes atrozes e intolerância têm consequências drásticas para muitas regiões do mundo.

Security analysts in Nigeria are expressing alarm after a surge in attacks by terror groups in the country's north near the border with Niger. The deterioration of relations between Abuja and Niamey following Niger's July 2023 coup has disrupted joint military patrols, creating opportunities for armed groups to intensify incursions and attacks. Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja.

It's Monday, January 27th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Nigerian Muslims killed 5 Christians and displaced 1,500 others Boko Haram, the Muslim terrorist group, is escalating attacks on Nigerian Christian communities in Chibok, Borno State, displacing more than 4,000 Christians in recent days, reports International Christian Concern. In a series of coordinated raids, Boko Haram targeted the villages of Christians, burned homes, torching churches, and killing five people. During the most recent attack on January 20th, terrorists displaced more than 1,500 residents. They targeted Christians in these raids, intimidating them and demanding they convert to Islam or face death. The violence destroyed the church called Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa, and resulted in the loss of livestock, food supplies, and livelihoods. According to Open Doors, Nigeria is the seventh most dangerous country worldwide for Christians to live. Trump defunded Planned Parenthood International While on Air Force One on Friday, President Donald Trump signed the Mexico City policy which prohibits American tax dollars from being used to promote or provide abortions overseas, reports LifeNews.com. The move defunded two major abortion chains of hundreds of millions of American tax dollars. The International Planned Parenthood Federation alone estimated a $100 million loss from its budget. Vice President Vance speaks out for unborn life and pro-life activists On Friday, Vice President J.D. Vance spoke in person at the 52nd annual March for Life in Washington D.C. and then marched with tens of thousands of pro-life Americans. VANCE: “We march to protect the unborn and live out the sacred truth that every single child is a miracle and a gift from God. It is a blessing to know the truth, and the truth is that unborn life is worthy of protection.” And Vice President Vance explained how things would be different under the leadership of President Donald Trump. He addressed the Biden administration's obsession with imprisoning pro-life Americans who participated in non-violent civil disobedience much like many did during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. VANCE: “With his return to office, no longer will the federal government direct FBI raids on the homes of people like, Mark Houck, and other Catholic and Christian activists who are fighting for the unborn every single day. And no longer will our government throw pro-life protesters and activists, elderly grandparents, or anybody else in prison. It stopped on Monday, and we're not going to let it come back to this country.” Lila Rose: Defund Planned Parenthood of America and abolish abortion Lila Rose, the founder of Live Action, addressed the March for Life crowd this past Friday in our nation's capitol. ROSE: “We must also speak the truth to our elected officials. We can start by demanding that they defund Planned Parenthood. (cheers) It's time!” (cheers) Isaiah 59:7 says, “Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.” Rose continued. ROSE:  “And most importantly, we must urge our elected officials to abolish abortion. (cheers) Abolishing abortion is the most important human rights cause of our time. One million of our unborn brothers and sisters are killed every year by abortion.” Pro-life rescuer Joan Bell to Trump: Protect babies from conception On January 24th, newly pardoned pro-life activist Joan Andrews Bell, age 75, joined the tens of thousands of pro-lifers in Washington, D.C., for the 52nd annual March for Life. Bell was freed from prison following President Trump's official pardon of the 23 pro-life rescuers in jail. John-Henry Westen, the founder of LifeSiteNews.com, interviewed her at the March for Life. WESTEN: “Joan, you just got out of prison now. President Trump gave you and the other 22 a pardon. What is your message for President Trump right now?” BELL: “Number one, thank you with all my heart. We trust that God is going to keep guiding you, keep bringing you closer and closer to the total truth that you need to defend every human life from the very moment of conception to natural death. And Monica Miller has a great book In The Beginning: [Critical Lessons for Our World from the First Three Chapters of Genesis]. Anyone who reads that will have to say, of course. In Scripture [Jeremiah 1:5] ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.'” Pete Hegseth confirmed as Sec of Defense thanks to J.D. Vance This past Friday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the new Secretary of Defense in a late-night session that came down to a tie-breaking vote from Vice President J.D. Vance after GOP Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voted no, reports The Epoch Times. VANCE: “On this vote, the Yeas are 50 and the Nays are 50. The Senate being equally divided, the Vice President votes in the affirmative and the nomination is confirmed.” President Trump's nominee was initially deadlocked in a 50-50 vote. That capped a contentious confirmation process in which Hegseth faced questions about his views on women serving in combat, as well as allegations of alcoholism, sexual assault, and financial mismanagement at two veteran nonprofit groups. The vice president is the president of the Senate and has the sole power to cast a tie-breaking vote when necessary. Kristi Noem confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security On Saturday, the Senate approved the nomination of South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security, reports The Hill.com. The 59-34 vote to confirm Noem puts her at the center of an administration focused heavily on immigration. Seven Democrats voted with Republicans to confirm her. Senators John Fetterman (PA), Tim Kaine (VA), Andy Kim (NJ), Gary Peters (MI), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Maggie Hassan (NH) and Elissa Slotkin (MI). Solar-charging backpacks help African kids read at night And finally, a local entrepreneur in Tanzania is clearing two hurdles in one leap by transforming old cement bags into backpacks that include a small solar panel to power a reading light, reports Good News Network. Clearing municipal waste and helping rural children study after dark for just $4-8 per bag is impressive. Soma Bags employs 85 rural workers to satisfy a demand for 13,000 backpacks a month. They can't meet it, but they do their best. This backpack craze is all due to Mr. Innocent James who remembers studying for school by the light of a kerosene lantern. James' solution was inspired by a university professor he met.  The man carried around a solar panel to charge his phone sewn into the fabric of his jacket, giving James the idea to sew cheap, flexible solar panels onto the outside of bags to power a reading light. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, January 27th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Akinsanya v. Garland, No. 24-1412 (1st Cir. Jan. 10, 2025)duty to intervene standard for government acquiesce or consent for CAT deferral; UN duty to intervene; two-pronged analysis; Boko Haram; Nigeria`Sponsors and friends of the podcast!Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt P.A.Immigration, serious injury, and business lawyers serving clients in Florida, California, and all over the world for over 40 years.Cerenade"Leader in providing smart, secure, and intuitive cloud-based solutions"Click me!Immigration Lawyer's Toolboxhttps://immigrationlawyerstoolbox.com/immigration-reviewDocketwise"Modern immigration software & case management"Stafi"Remote staffing solutions for businesses of all sizes"Promo Code: stafi2024Get Started! Promo Code: FREEWant to become a patron?Click here to check out our Patreon Page!CONTACT INFORMATIONEmail: kgregg@kktplaw.comFacebook: @immigrationreviewInstagram: @immigrationreviewTwitter: @immreviewAbout your hostCase notesRecent criminal-immigration article (p.18)Featured in San Diego VoyagerAll praise to the pod's wonderful editors!Luana Lima SerraDISCLAIMER & CREDITSSee Eps. 1-200Support the show

Christian persecution is growing globally, and the biggest reasons are radical Islam, Communist regimes, and Secular forces in the West. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Jeff King, President of the watchdog non-profit International Christian Concern, delves into its most recent Global Persecution Index. One of the most dangerous places to be a Christian is Nigeria, where in the last 20 years nearly 100,000 Christians were murdered and about 3.5 million Christian farmers have had their land stolen by the extremist Muslim group Boko Haram. King says, "It's slow-motion genocide and stealth Jihad."  While in Communist China, face-recognition AI technology monitors more than a billion people for the purpose of assigning a social credit score determining where they can work or go to school. And going to Church or reading a Bible assigns a much lower score. But in the West persecution is happening as well where the legal system has been weaponized to malign or marginalize certain believers. In one state, conservative Christians weren't allowed on a jury because of their religious views. King says he has hope that the incoming Trump administration will turn the tide and strengthen religious freedom around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From angelic assistance amidst landslides in Pakistan to experiencing the purist worship amidst Boko Haram victims in Northern Nigeria, Josh has stories galore of the profound power of poetry for prisoners and politicians and everyone in between.Connect with Josh at joshualukesmith.comThis TEDx talk is so inspiring: youtube.com/watch?v=gsRe1Slr92A Watch ‘We are Free When we Forget Ourselves': youtube.com/watch?v=VjWxkUEJkqsOriginal clip taken from ARC Conference with permission of artist: youtu.be/eEbtrremhOk---Get daily or weekly Choose Life emails: chooselife.org.uk Join us for Inspired Live with Gladiator Warren Furman: greatlakesoutreach.org/inspired-live Support our work in Burundi: greatlakesoutreach.org/inspired ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---Weekly episode WhatsApp link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org/whatsappWeekly email notification: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org/inspiredemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more from Simon, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠simonguillebaud.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---Produced by Great Lakes Outreach - Transforming Burundi & Beyond: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greatlakesoutreach.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Que s'est-il passé hier soir dans la capitale tchadienne ? « Une série de tirs nourris a retenti près de la présidence, rapporte le site TchadVision. Des hommes armés ont tenté d'infiltrer le complexe présidentiel. La réaction des forces de sécurité a été immédiate et efficace. Plusieurs assaillants ont été abattus, tandis que d'autres ont été capturés. » Il y aurait au total 19 morts : 18 assaillants et un garde présidentiel.Un compte-rendu succin, quasi-copie conforme des déclarations officielles des autorités tchadiennes.Un peu plus tard dans la soirée, rapporte Jeune Afrique, « le ministre tchadien des Affaires étrangères et porte-parole du gouvernement a assuré que la situation était “sous contrôle“ et a évoqué “un petit incident“. Dans une vidéo diffusée sur les réseaux sociaux et filmée dans l'enceinte de la présidence, Abderaman Koulamallah a affirmé, pistolet à la ceinture, qu'il n'y avait “aucune crainte et rien de grave“. »Interrogé ensuite par la télévision nationale, le même Abderaman Koulamallah a estimé que l'attaque n'était « probablement pas terroriste », alors que des rumeurs évoquaient une possible action des djihadistes de Boko Haram, et que cette attaque avait été menée par un « ramassis de pieds nickelés », drogués et alcoolisés venus d'un quartier pauvre du sud de la ville avec « des armes, des coupe-coupe et des couteaux. »  Questions en série…Alors la presse de la sous-région s'interroge ce matin.« Comment ces individus ont-ils pu pénétrer dans un périmètre censé être hautement sécurisé ? Quel était leur nombre exact ? » se demande WalfQuotidien au Sénégal.Beaucoup de questions aussi pour WakatSéra au Burkina Faso : « que s'est-il passé, alors que la nuit tombait sur Ndjamena ? Une attaque menée par la nébuleuse Boko-Haram qui fait la loi au Nigeria voisin ? Une attaque de ces groupes rebelles qui rôdent constamment aux frontières du Tchad ? Une tentative de déstabilisation “éradiquée“ comme l'a dit le porte-parole du gouvernement ? (…) Toutes les hypothèses sont dans la balance, même si celles de tentative de coup d'État, d'attaque de rebelles ou de terroristes, ont été, pour l'instant, balayées par le porte-parole du gouvernement. »Ledjely en Guinée s'interroge en écho : « qui sont les membres de ce commando qui a eu l'audace de s'en prendre au site le plus protégé du Tchad ? Quels étaient leurs objectifs ? Surtout, comment expliquer la facilité avec laquelle ils ont atteint la présidence ? »En tout cas, poursuit Ledjely, « bien que très rapidement défaits, ces assaillants ont néanmoins mis en lumière une défaillance sécuritaire inquiétante de la part du Tchad. Que le commando ait réussi à approcher la menace si près de la présidence n'a rien de normal. C'est révélateur d'un problème majeur de renseignement. Un problème qui pourrait bien être lié, affirme le site guinéen, au vaste changement que le président tchadien a opéré en octobre dernier dans la hiérarchie des différents corps de l'armée et de la sécurité. Un coup de balai dont l'ampleur a surpris plus d'un tant il était inédit. »Choguel Maïga : « trop encombrant… »À lire également, cette fois dans Le Monde Afrique, cet article sur le parcours de Choguel Maïga, l'ex-Premier ministre malien, limogé en novembre dernier. Le Monde Afrique détaille le cheminement, parfois tortueux, de cette « figure politique qui a servi presque tous les pouvoirs depuis plus de vingt ans et qui est accusé maintenant par la junte de malversations financières. (…) Choguel Maïga était la principale figure civile du pouvoir que les militaires ont instauré mais sa liberté de ton a fini par le rendre trop encombrant. » Qui plus est, poursuit Le Monde Afrique, « depuis son renvoi, le volubile Maïga n'a pas choisi la discrétion, multipliant les consultations, dont certaines filmées à son domicile, dans lesquelles il souffle le chaud et le froid sur ses intentions politiques et son positionnement vis-à-vis du régime militaire. »Résultat, constate un opposant cité par le journal : « il va arriver à Choguel ce qui est arrivé aux autres hommes politiques que les autorités ont jugés trop gênantes : la mise sous mandat de dépôt. Ce ne sera qu'un procès politique de plus, jugé par une Cour suprême à la solde du pouvoir. »

In today's Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong Akinboboye.She campaigns for a better understanding of mental health in Cameroon. She founded two NGOs, Positive Youths Africa which is based on encouraging positive mental health for young people and Afrogiveness which uses art therapy, amongst other methods, to help survivors of conflict and discrimination. Her work has reached an estimated 100,000 people. These include victims of the Boko Haram insurgency which has spilled over from Nigeria into Cameroon and the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon between English and French-speaking parts of the country.

It's Monday, December 23rd, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes written by yours truly and heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  Filling in for Adam McMannus I'm Ean Leppin. Attack on a Christmas market in Germany Fox News reported on Friday that a festive Christmas market in Eastern Germany erupted into chaos when a car was driven into a group of people in the city of Magdeburg.  Between 60 and 80 people have been injured and at the time of this report 2 had been killed including a child.  The Associated Press reports that the suspect is a 50 year old Saudi doctor who came to Germany back in 2006.  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, ‘My thoughts are with the victims and their families.  We stand by their side and by the side of the people of Magdeburg.' Pray for all of the people involved that God will bring comfort and peace in this tragic time. Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed spirit. Pray for Believers in Nigeria as Christmas Day Approaches  As reported by Mission Network News Christians in Nigeria are facing an increased level of persecution for the upcoming Christmas holiday.  The terrorist group Boko Haram has historically attacked during past Christmas celebrations.  Darrel Templeton with Megavoice comments on the threat. TEMPLETON: "They're trying to scare and terrorize the Christians, to keep them from being bold in their faith, in gathering and in exercising their religious freedoms." Templeton goes on to report that the military and police force in Nigeria sometimes act more as accomplices than as watchguards.  Nigeria is currently number 6 on the list of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian according to Open Doors. Boko Haram isn't the only group that persecutes believers.  The climate in Nigeria is currently an open season on believers.  It has been reported that homes are looted and buildings have been burned. Word from missionaries on the ground in Nigeria report that believers there recognize the blessing of suffering in relation to their faith.  Templeton with Megavoice tells us how we can pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. TEMPLETON: "They're not praying, or asking us to pray, that they be taken away from this, but they ask for protection and they ask for boldness." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong. Georgia Supreme Court to consider an abortion ban As documented by the Center for Reproductive Rights. In July 2022 a court case in Georgia, SisterSong v the State of Georgia sought to block HB 481, which bans abortions after approximately 6 weeks.  On November 15th 2022 Judge Robert McBurney of the Superior Court of Fulton County struck down the ban as void.  He further found that a subsequent change in Federal constitutional law, the overturning of Roe v Wade, does not revive the ban.  Instead, if the legislature wishes to ban abortion, it must pass a new law.  Just a week later on Nov 23rd the Georgia Supreme Court granted an emergency stay of the injunction, allowing the ban to take effect once again while the state's appeal continued.  As of October 7th of this year The Supreme Court of Georgia issued a ruling staying the trial court decision striking down HB 481.  This reinstated the abortion ban while the appeal proceeds at the Georgia Supreme Court. In response The Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Erik Baptist who is also director of the ADF Center for Life has filed a brief on behalf of the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine asking the court to reverse the lower court ruling that permanently blocks Georgia's pro-life Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act or LIFE Act.  The LIFE Act protects the life of an unborn child when a fetal heartbeat is detected. Erik Baptist is quoted as saying, ‘The Georgia Superior Court made a critical error when it pitted the interests of a mother against those of her child as a reason for ruling the LIFE Act unconstitutional. The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine has a vested interest in holistic care for both mother and child, and we are urging the court to reverse the lower court's decision and follow U.S. Supreme Court precedent that allows states to enact and enforce pro-life laws.' Hope Being Delivered Through Chainsaws for Christ in North Carolina Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina earlier this year.  CBN News reports that some 120,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.  As temperatures have dropped and winter is settling in, displaced families are facing desperate situations and continuing to rely on the churches and faithbased community for help.  Reverend Scott Rogers with the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry says The churches are the heartbeat of this effort… ROGERS: "The churches are the heartbeat, and, if you will, the nervous system, the spinal cord, that gets the message of the needs to the churches, back to our central support systems, and that's what God's people do.  That's what the Bible Belt is all about." This Christian Ministry unites 300 churches and 5000 volunteers to provide temporary shelter, food, clothing and long term recovery assistance.   Another ministry that has been helping out in North Carolina is Chainsaws for Christ. (Facebook link here) It's founder Brent Allmon talks about what motivates him to serve. ALLMON: "And I just want to help them.  People help me, and God loves me.  He loves you.  He loves everyone that's listening to this.  I just want them to know that there is peace and hope in the name of Jesus Christ." Literally everything that Brent and Chainsaws for Christ brings has been provided by the Lord through donations.  The chainsaws, tools, food, volunteers, RV that he sleeps in to the Christmas toys they are providing to the community.   So what does Brent charge to those receiving services from Chainsaws for Christ? ALLMON: "For us, zero.  The Lord paid it over 2000 years ago, and we get the opportunity to give back just a little bit." If you would like to give to help the victims of Hurricane Helene you can give to  Samaritans Purse Hurricane relief effort or visit the facebook page of Chainsaws for Christ find the links in our transcript at theworldview.com Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, December 23rd, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Ean Leppin (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Given Jew-hatred and virulent anti-Israel rhetoric spiraling out of control, particularly on college campuses, we've invited Shai Davidai to be our featured guest on this episode of the program. Shai is Assistant Professor in the Management Division of Columbia University Business School. His research examines people's everyday judgments of themselves, other people, and society as a whole. Born and raised just outside Tel-Aviv, Shai received his Ph.D. from Cornell in 2015. Before joining Columbia Business School, Shai spent a year as a post-doctoral fellow at Princeton and 3 years as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at The New School for Social Research. Following the barbaric October 7th 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, Shai has faced deplorable treatment from Columbia University for standing up for Israel and the rights of Jewish students on campus. Today, he's a leading face and voice in the fight against Jew-hatred and Israel-bashing. Our conversation begins with Shai sharing his one way ticket to the safety of his late Grandmother's couch in Givatayim, just outside of Tel Aviv. While on weekend breaks from his university studies in Jerusalem, Shai would visit his Savta (Grandmother) Lydia. Together they would talk, smoke, drink Turkish coffee and enjoy her signature Romanian cheesecake. And at some point, Shai would fall asleep on her couch. Shai shares that Savta Lydia, who was from Bucharest, was studying to be a doctor. Aged 19 and after her first year of university, despite good grades, she was called into the Dean's office and told she wouldn't be able to continue her studies because the university met its quota of Jews. That, plus her being a woman, didn't fit the university's agenda. Realizing she had no future as a Jew in Romania, she packed up and traveled solo to Israel to chart a new course. Her biggest regret in life, Shai offers, is that she didn't become a doctor. We continue our chat with Shai highlighting: 1) How the first protests at Columbia supporting the October 7th attack (organizing began the evening of October 7th while terrorists were still in Israel!) took place at the university on October 12th before one IDF soldier set foot in Gaza and four days after Hezbollah's unprovoked attack on Israel's north. On the 12th, approximately 800 students, faculty and staff came out to celebrate “the historic day” (their words). They used slogans like “resistance by any means necessary” (which for them meant rape, murder and kidnapping civilians was “necessary”). For me, not sure what the need was for resistance since Israel had left Gaza 18 years before and thousands of Gazans would cross into Israel daily to work.  2) The Kafkaesque treatment he's received from Columbia University, simply for speaking out, not against the protestors or their hatred, but against Columbia's administration for allowing the hatred to fester and take root. For exercising his first amendment rights, he's been banned from Columbia's campus. This includes the Columbia Hillel. 3) His goal in speaking out is to push the message that we have a problem for support of anti-Jewish, anti-Israel and anti-American terrorism in academia. 4) How US professors openly support US designated terrorist groups, e.g., Hamas and the Houthis, but only ones that target Jews (you won't see support for Boko Haram). How the same professors and others remained and remain silent on, for example, the October 7th attack and the burning of synagogues worldwide. 5) Jewish students being verbally and physically attacked on campuses and denied entry into their public campus spaces. 6) The silent, slanted and biased behavior of international aid organizations like the Red Cross (which to this day has not visited one single hostage), UNRWA, or Amnesty International which engages in historical revisionism. 7) How the anti-Israel and Jew-hating protests are in fact anti-democratic and also anti-American. 8) What starts with the Jews doesn't end with the Jews. This is a powerful episode to be heard more than once and shared widely. For more from Shai, tune into his podcast: Here I Am With Shai Davidai.  Also, follow Shai on all social media: @shaidavidai

Situated on the Mediterranean, just a short distance from Spain and the rest of Europe, Morocco attracts tens of millions of tourists every year. They flock to see the iconic mosques and bazaars.  But there's another, much larger structure that you won't find in any tourist guides and is seldom talked about.  It's a 2700 kilometer long barrier wall constructed of dirt and brick that runs through the heart of the Sahara Desert.  And for the people living in its shadow, it's a symbol of an ongoing occupation and decades long period of oppression.  In this episode, I speak with Jacob Mundi, professor from Colgate University, an expert on the subject of Morocco's illegal decades long occupation of Western Sahara and the refugee crisis it created that now spans generations.  Guest: Prof. Jacob Mundy Links Western Sahara: War, Nationalism, and Conflict Irresolution Stephen Zunes, Jacob Mundy Jacob Mundy on violence in the Middle East If you found this topic interesting I have previously covered many of the subjects we mentioned in passing. Please check out my back catalogue to learn more about Mauritania (Modern Slavery) Mali (Songhai and Hamdullahi empires), Islamic extremism (Boko Haram, Al Shabaab, Hezbollah, Guantanamo Bay), Colonialism (Dahomey, Apartheid South Africa, Boer War, Simon Bolivar, Incas, Cambodia, Australia, Goering, Ireland 1793) Cold War (Angolan civil war, Pinochet, East Germany, Ceausescu, Hungary 1956, Moscow Apartment bombings), Africa (Tutankhamen, Ghana lake people, Kush empire, Mobuto Sese Seko, Gabon, Rwandan genocide) Music: Pixabay This episode is sponsored by World History Encyclopedia, one of the top history websites on the internet. I love the fact that they're not a Wiki: Every article they publish is reviewed by their editorial team, not only for being accurate but also for being interesting to read. The website is run as a non-profit organization, so you won't be bombarded by annoying ads and it's completely free. It's a great site, and don't just take my word for it they've been recommended by many academic institutions including Oxford University. Go check them out at WorldHistory.org or follow this link: World History Encyclopedia.