Podcasts about Brussels

Join me for Day 4 of my Mosaic Foods review! Today I'm diving into Brussels Squash Harvest Bowl and Green Curry Noodles, taste-testing the full Mosaic Foods box. Is it worth your money? Watch my hands-on taste test to find out. #mosaicfoods #vegan #vegetarian #foodboxes #mealbox #tastetest #tastetestreview Learn More About MosaicFoods Visit: https://mosaic-foods.sjv.io/2aedvQ Find As Seen On TV Products & Gadgets at the 9malls Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/9malls Please support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/9malls Disclaimer: I may also receive compensation if a visitor clicks through to 9malls, or makes a purchase through Amazon or any affiliate link. I test each product on site thoroughly and give high marks to only the best. In the above video I received a free product sample to test. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.

By almost all accounts, the historic trade deal that was reached between the United States and the 27 nations of the European Union is far better for the United States than it is for Europe.Jeanna Smialek, the Brussels bureau chief for The Times, explains why the European Union gave in to President Trump and the blowback that's causing.Guest: Jeanna Smialek, the Brussels bureau chief for The New York Times.Background reading: Is the European Union's tariff deal with the United States good for Europe?The framework agreement is not likely to do much for economic growth on either side. But it avoids new fissures on other foreign policy issues, particularly the war in Ukraine.For more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

With Brian still on a boat, the remaining dorks return to just talk about whatever comes to mind! We touch on the recent celebrity deaths before heading into video games we've been playing lately. We spend a fair amount of time on Baldur's Gate 3 since two of us have been playing it (and it's really freakin' good). We complain about Windows 11 hardware requirements too, because that's capitalist nonsense. From there we wander for a while, hitting Stranger Things, being inundated with Star Wars & Star Trek shows, really bad scenes in otherwise not horrible films, and Brussels sprouts. We end the episode by circling back to Baldur's Gate, discussing getting old, and some random DoorDash nonsense. Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch. Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: dorks@themanapool.com

Ten years after Greece's thunderous “NO” to austerity, Yanis Varoufakis sits down with film-maker Raoul Martinez and host Mehran Khalili to revisit that historic showdown with Europe's political establishment. We bust the official myths, look at lessons learned, and spell out what activists across Europe must do next. If you missed the story: Greece elected the anti-austerity Syriza party in early 2015, with Yanis Varoufakis as finance minister. After months of bruising talks with the European Central Bank, IMF and European Commission, the government put the creditors' terms to a 5 July referendum. Sixty two percent voted NO — but days later, Athens agreed to a third “bailout”, Yanis resigned, and Greece was locked into another cycle of cuts that to this day, it still hasn't escaped.  *** SPECIAL OFFER: Use code Storm25 to get 20% off the documentary we discuss in this video, In the Eye of the Storm! https://vimeo.com/ondemand/eyeofthestormenglish *** In this talk, we unpack the new six-part series In the Eye of the Storm – from secret Eurogroup recordings to the street-level activist energy in Athens – and draw fresh lessons on leverage, media war, plan B economics and movement discipline. Whether you marched in 2015 or are gearing up for the next fight, this conversation will arm you with the story behind the headlines and the tactics to win round two. SUPPORT US Join: https://diem25.org/join​  Donate: https://diem25.org/donate Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/DiEM25official 

Irish artist Jenny Brady's new film, ‘The Glass Booth / An Both Gloine', explores the worlds of interpretation and communication.Chris Guichot de Fortis is an Interpreter working for a Brussels-based defense organization, and one of those people interviewed. He joins Sean to discuss.Image: Project Arts Centre

European leaders vent their frustration at the trade deal secured by U.S. President Donald Trump with the EU as details of the agreement begin to sink in around the bloc. Trump has said he will set tariffs in the 15-20 per cent range ahead of the Friday, 1st August global deadline. Philips hikes its guidance after concluding that Trump's tariffs will affect profits less than previously expected.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Irish artist Jenny Brady's new film, ‘The Glass Booth / An Both Gloine', explores the worlds of interpretation and communication.Chris Guichot de Fortis is an Interpreter working for a Brussels-based defense organization, and one of those people interviewed. He joins Sean to discuss.Image: Project Arts Centre

Last time we spoke about the battle of Luodian. Following a significant counter-offensive, the initial optimism waned as casualties escalated and morale plummeted. The strategically vital town of Luodian became a pivotal battleground, with the Chinese determined to defend it at all costs. Despite heroic efforts, including a daring nighttime assault, the overwhelming Japanese forces employed superior tactics and artillery, steadily gaining ground.  As September progressed, Japanese reinforcements flooded the frontline, exacerbating the already dire situation for the Chinese defenders. By late September, the fierce struggle to control Luodian culminated in a forced retreat by the Chinese forces, marking a significant turning point in the fight for Shanghai. Though they withdrew, the Chinese army earned newfound respect, having showcased their tenacity against a formidable adversary. The battle became a testament to their resilience amid overwhelming odds, setting the stage for the tumultuous conflict that lay ahead in their fight for sovereignty.   #160 The Battle of Shanghai Part 5: Fighting along the Wusong Creek Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. The tides of warfare had shifted in Shanghai. In late September, the Japanese high command dispatched three divisions to the Shanghai area, starting with the 101st Division landing on September 22. This was followed by the 9th and 13th Divisions, bolstering Japan's military presence to five divisions in the city, despite the Chinese forces numbering over 25 divisions. However, the true dynamics of the confrontation revealed a complex picture: while the Chinese boasted numerical superiority, the Japanese divisions, each comprising around 15,000 soldiers, were supported by nearly 90,000 troops when including marines and infantry. China's units, often as small as 5,000 men, made their effective deployment difficult. The Japanese forces also leveraged their advantages in materials, aircraft, and naval artillery, which could effectively target critical positions along the Chinese front. With these reinforcements in place, Japanese commanders, including Matsui, devised a bold strategy: to execute a powerful thrust across Wusong Creek and advance toward Suzhou Creek. The goal was to encircle and annihilate the main Chinese force in a maneuver they had envisioned since their arrival in China.  Ogishima Shizuo, a reservist of the 101st division had just been through his first night at the front. Within his trench, soldiers leapt up from their slumber to a hail of bullets. Ogishima looked over the edge of the trench. It was still dark, making it hard to discern what was happening, but he thought he saw a flash of a helmet in a foxhole near the creek's edge. It wasn't a Japanese helmet. Suddenly, it hit him that the gunfire wasn't a mistake. “It's the enemy! The enemy!” he yelled. Others began to shout as well. “The enemy! They're behind us! Turn around!” Under the cloak of darkness, a Chinese unit had managed to bypass the Japanese lines and launch an attack from the rear. The sound of aggressive gunfire erupted, and a Japanese heavy machine gun joined in the fray. However, most of the bullets were fired haphazardly into the night. A force of 50 Chinese were firing on them. Japanese officers ordered the men to storm their positions, seeing infantrymen leap over their trench into the barrage. The Japanese and Chinese fired at each other and tossed grenades when close enough. The Japanese jumped into the Chinese foxholes and stabbed at them with bayonets. Ogishima thrust his bayonet into the belly of a Chinese soldiers, marking his first kill. He felt no emotion. Within minutes the little battle was over, every Chinese soldier lay dead, it was a suicide mission. Ogishima saw countless comrades dead around him, it was a scene of carnage. It was the morning of October 7, the 101st Division had crossed Wusong Creek from the north in the early hours of October 6, specifically, only half of the division had made it across. The other half remained on the far side, unable to get their boats past the 300 feet of water protected by unseen Chinese machine guns and mortar crews that would open fire at the slightest hint of movement on the northern bank. Dozens of corpses floated in the murky water, serving as grim evidence of the carnage from the previous 24 hours. Ogishima, alongside tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers were entering the most brutal part of the Shanghai campaign. Matsui's vision of a quick and decisive end to the Shanghai campaign, would not come to be. Matsui detailed his plans in an order issued on September 29. The attack was to be conducted from west to east by the 9th, 3rd, and 101st Infantry Divisions. The 11th Infantry Division was assigned to follow the 9th Division, securing the right flank against potential Chinese counterattacks from the west. The 13th Infantry Division would serve as the reserve. The objective was to capture Dachang, an ancient town encircled by a medieval-style wall, and then advance as quickly as possible to breach the Chinese lines north of Suzhou Creek. Matsui had arranged an unusually high concentration of troops; the three divisions were aligned along a front that spanned only three miles. This meant that each division had less than half the front length that the Japanese field manual typically recommended. The decision to compress the divisions into such a narrow front was partly to compensate for the artillery shortcomings that were still hindering the Japanese offensive. The Japanese attackers confronted a formidable and well-prepared enemy. After extensive discussions, the Chinese commanders ultimately recognized that they had no choice but to shorten their front line. Defending Liuhang, a town situated along the route from Luodian to Dachang, had proven too costly, offering no prospect of victory. Chen Cheng, the commander of the Chinese left wing, had often visited Liuhang and understood how dire the situation was. He repeatedly urged that the unwinnable battle be abandoned and that valuable troops be withdrawn to stronger positions. However, his pleas initially went unheeded. Chiang Kai-shek was primarily driven by the belief that war was about securing territory, and he insisted on maintaining control over Liuhang at all costs. Meanwhile the Chinese positions north of Wusong Creek had been breached in numerous places during late September and this caused Chiang Kai-Shek to finally relent. A fighting retreat began on the night of October 1st and would be completed by dawn of the 3rd. The new defensive line extended just over a mile west of the road from Luodian to Dachang, providing the Chinese defenders with excellent opportunities to harass the advancing Japanese Army with flanking fire for several miles as they moved south. At Wusong Creek, the Chinese line curved eastward and followed the southern bank for several miles. The creek provided a significant advantage to the Chinese defenders; despite its name, it would be more accurate to describe it as a river. It reached widths of up to 300 feet in some areas, and in several spots, the southern bank formed a steep six-foot wall. Anyone attempting to scale this barrier under intense mortar fire would be met at the top by rows of barbed wire and heavy machine gun fire. For a full mile south of the creek, the Chinese had spent weeks constructing a dense network of defenses, transforming farm buildings into formidable fortifications linked by deep trenches. They had learned valuable lessons from their German mentors, many veterans of the battles of Somme and Verdun, and they applied these lessons effectively. The Japanese took Liuhang on the 3rd and were met with counterattacks, but these were easily repelled. More confident, Matsui issued new orders on the 4th for the 3rd, 9th and 101 divisions to cross the Wusong Creek and advance a mile south. Beginning on the 5th, the 3 divisions crossed and carved out a narrow bridgehead under heavy resistance. The Chinese were frantic now, as after the Wusong Creek, the last remaining natural obstacle was the Suzhou Creek. Two miles west of the key road from Luodian to Dachang,  battalion commander Yan Yinggao of the 78th Division's 467th Regiment awaited the anticipated Japanese assault. The regiment had fortified three villages near a creek, reinforced with sandbags, barbed wire, and cleared fields of fire, along with deep trenches for troop movement. The 1st Battalion occupied the westernmost village, the 3rd Battalion held the other two, while the 2nd Battalion remained in reserve. The initial Japanese attack began with a heavy artillery bombardment. Despite facing significant casualties, their infantry was forced to withdraw from all three villages. They returned later in the afternoon with an even fiercer artillery assault. The 1st Battalion suffered devastating losses, including its commander, leading to the loss of the village to the Japanese. Yan Yinggao, observing from the rear, dispatched a reinforcement company, but it was quickly annihilated within ten minutes. Simultaneously the Chinese 3rd battalion at Tangbeizhai were nearly encircled. Yan received orders for his regiment to advance over to relieve them, but as they did a Japanese column of 60 soldiers approached from the opposite direction. A battle ensued over the smoking rubbled of the bombed out village. The few survivors of the 3rd battalion made a last stand, allowing the 2nd battle to fight their way in to take up their position. It was a small and temporary victory. Units arriving to the Shanghai theater were being tossed right into the front lines, such as the Tax Police Division. Despite its name they were a fully equipped military formation and quite well training consisting of 6 regiments, roughly 25,000 armed men. Their officers had previously served under the young marshal, Zhang Xueliang. They were rushed to Tangqiaozhan, lying on the road from Luodian to Dachang, bridged by the Wusong Creek. The bridge was crucial to the entire operation, as holding it would enhance the Chinese's chances of delaying the Japanese advance. The Tax Police, stationed at the northern end of the bridge, became surrounded on three sides. Intense fighting ensued, occasionally escalating to hand-to-hand combat. By the second day after their arrival, casualties had escalated significantly, forcing the Tax Police units to retreat south across the bridge, which ultimately fell to the advancing Japanese forces. A crisis atmosphere surrounded the meeting of the 3rd War Zone staff, chaired by Chiang Kai-shek, in Suzhou on October 11. Everyone agreed the previous efforts to halt the Japanese advance south across Wusong Creek had utterly failed. Each engagement resulted in Chinese troops being repelled without regaining significant territory. Chen Cheng proposed an attack in his sector, specifically targeting the area around Luodian. However, most felt that such an operation would not effectively influence the Japanese advance at Wusong Creek and ultimately dismissed the suggestion. Bai Chongxi, whom at this point held an informal advisory role, called for simultaneous attacks along both banks of Wusong Creek, thrusting into the right flank of the advancing Japanese. This would require an enormous amount of troops if there was to be any chance of success. Bai Chongxi was pushing to take 4 divisions from Guangxi, already in transit to Shanghai for the task. Chiang Kai-Shek liked the idea of a single decisive blow and agreed to Bai's idea. The German advisors were not so keen on this one. In fact the Germans were getting depressed over a concerning issue. It seemed the Chinese staff simply talked too much, taking far too long to produce very few decisions. There were a lot of reasons for this, a lot of these figures held to many positions. For example Gu Zhuong, Chiang Kai-Sheks deputy in Suzhou, was a chief of staff and also held two advisory roles. Then there were these informal generals, such as Bai Chongxi. A man such as Bai had no formal command here, yet he was providing views on operational issues. To the Germans who held clear military hierarchies as the bible, it looked obviously chaotic. There was notable hope though. The Germans acknowledged the Chinese were improving their artillery situation. For the first time since the battle for Shanghai began, 6 artillery battalions were moved into positions in the vicinity of Nanxiang, under the unified command of the headmaster of the Tangshan artillery school near Nanjing. From there they could coordinate barrages in the area south of the Wusong Creek.  Sun Liren got off at Nanxiang railway station on October 7th. At 36 he was leading one of China's best units, the 4th regiment of the Tax Police. Within confusion he was assigned to the 88th division, who were fighting the heaviest battles in the campaign. By noon of the next day, nearly all of Sun Liren's regiment were cannibalized, sent as reinforcements to the 88ths front lines. Afterwards all the was left was Sun and a group of 20 orderlies and clerks. At 2pm he got a call from th division, they needed more reinforcements at the front or else a small bridge north of Zhabei would be taken, collapsing their lines. Sun replied he had no troops left only to be told “its an order. If you disobey, you'll be courtmartialed”.  Without any choice, Sun hastily organized dozens of soldiers and marched them to the bridge. As they arrived, his men saw Chinese troops withdrawing away from the bridge. He asked one man what was going on “the officers have all left, we also don't want to die”. To this Sun said he was an officer and would stay and fight with them. The Japanese in pursuit were shocked to see the Chinese turn around attack them. In general the Japanese were surprised by the sudden resilience of the Chinese around the Wusong Creek. Many assaults were being beaten back. In the Zhabei district, much more urbanized, foreigners were watching in awe. A war correspondent wrote “Every street was a defense line and every house a pocket fort. Thousands of holes had been knocked through walls, linking the labyrinth of lanes into a vast system of defense in depth. Every intersection had been made into a miniature fortress of steel and concrete. Even the stubs of bomb-battered walls had been slotted at ground level for machine guns and rifles. No wonder the Japanese Army was months behind its boasts”.  East of the Huangpu River at Pudong, Sun Shengzhi commanded an artillery regiment whom began launching a barrage across the river upon the Gongda airfield, that had been allowing the Japanese air forces to support their infantry. Meanwhile Chinese soldiers rolled a battery of 8 bofor guns 300 yards from the riverbank and at dawn began firing upon aircraft taking off. They reported 4 downed Japanese aircraft and 7 damaged. By mid-October the 88th division took advantage of a lull in the fighting and prepared a ambitious attack aimed at cutting off the Sichuan North road, which the Japanese were using to as a supply line from the docks to units north of the city. The German advisors developed this attack using Stosstruppen tactics taken from WW1. For stosstruppen, the main means of weakening the enemy line was via infiltration, rather than a massive frontal attack. The attack was unleashed on the 18th after a bombardment by artillery and mortars as lightly armed Chinese stormed down the streets near the North railway station and took the Japanese there by complete surprise. They quickly occupied a segment of the Sichuan North Road cutting the Japanese supply chain for many days. Back on the 13th, Kuse Hisao led a company of the Japanese 9th division to perform an attack on Chenjiahang, located due north of Wusong Creek. It was a strategic and heavily fortified stronghold that obstructed the southward advance. As Kuse's men reached its vicinity they stopped to rest with orders to begin the assault at 1pm. The Japanese artillery kicked off the fight and was soon met with much larger Chinese artillery. This was an unpleasant surprise for the Japanese, whom to this point had always had superiority in artillery. Regardless the assault went ahead seeing wave upon wave of attackers fighting through cotton fields and bullets. Kuse's men were forced to crawl through the field. Kuse crawled his way to a small creek to discover with horror it was full of Japanese and Chinese corpses at various stages of decomposition.  The assault on Chenjiahang bogged down quickly. Kuse and his men spent a night amongst the rotting dead. The following day orders arrived for two neighbouring units to renew the assault as Kuse's fell back into the reserve. That day's attempt fared no better, simply piling more bodies upon the field and waterways. The next day Kuse watched Japanese flamethrower units enter the fray as they led an attack over a creek. Men jumped into waist deep water, waded across to fight up slopes through mazes of Chinese trenches. Then to all of their surprise they stormed and unoccupied Chenjiahang without firing a shot. Kuse and his men suddenly saw a grenade come flying at them. Kuse was injured and taken out by comrades to the rear. Chenjiahang and been bitterly fought over for weeks. Alongside Yanghang it was considered two key points necessary for the Japanese to be able to advance against Dachang further south.  Meanwhile Sichuanese troops were being pulled back for the fresh 4 Guangxi divisions to come in. They wore lighter brown uniforms with British styled tin hat helmets. One of their divisions, the 173rd was sent straight to Chenjiahang, arriving before dawn of the 16th. While the handover of positions was taking place, the Japanese launched an intense aerial and artillery bombardment causing significant casualties before the 173rd could even deploy. Later that day, one of their regiments engaged the Japanese and were slaughtered on the spot. Two-thirds of their men became casualties. The battle raged for four days as the 3 other Guangxi divisions moved to the front. There was no break on either side, as one Guanxi officer recalled, “I had heard the expression ‘storm o f steel' before, but never really understood what it meant. Now I do.” By mid October, Matsui's optimism about his southern push was waning. Heavy rain over the past week had slowed his men down considerably. Supplies were taking much longer to reach the front. Intelligence indicated the senior Chinese commanders had moved from Suzhou to Nanxiang, with some in Shanghai proper. To Matsui this meant they were nowhere near close to abandoning Shanghai. Matsui wrote in his diary “It's obvious that earlier views that the Chinese front was shaken had been premature. Now is definitely not the time to rashly push the offensive.” During this rainy time, both sides received some rest as a no-mans land formed. Winter uniforms were arriving for the Japanese 3rd and 11th divisions, causing some encouragement. The 3rd division had already taken 6000 casualties, but received 6500 reinforcements. Matsui estimated their combat strength to only by one-sixth of its original level.  On the 19th Matsui received reports that soldiers from Guangxi were arriving in Shanghai and deploying around Wusong Creek. To relieve some pressure the IJN sent a mock invasion force up the Yangtze to perform a 3 day diversion mission. 8 destroyers and 20 transport vessels anchored 10 miles upriver from Chuanshakou. They bombarded the area to make it seem like a amphibious invasion was imminent. Meanwhile both nations were fighting a propaganda war. On October 14th, China filed a complaint at the League of Nations accusing Japan of using poison gas in Shanghai. To this the Japanese accused them of using gas, specifically mentioning at the battle for Chenjiahang. Early in the campaign they accused the Chinese of using sneezing gas, a chemical adopted during WW1. To this accusation, Shanghai's mayor Yu Hongjun stated to reporters ‘The Japanese sneeze because they've got cold feet.” Back to our friend Ogishima with the 101st. His unit crossed the Wusong Creek early on. Afterwards the fighting became confused as the Chinese and Japanese started across 150 yards of no man's land. Every now and then the Japanese would leap out of trenches and charge into Chinese lines, but the attacks all ended the same. Rows of the dead cut down by machine guns. It was just like the western front of WW1. The incessant rain kept the trenches drenched like knee-deep bogs. Officers who had read about the western front routinely had their men line up for health checks. Anyone trying to fake a disease risked being branded a deserter, and deserters were shot. As Ogishima recalled “The soldiers in the frondine only have one thought on their minds. They want to escape to the rear. Everyone envies those who, with light injuries, are evacuated. The ones who unexpectedly get a ticket back in this way find it hard to conceal their joy. As for those left in the frontline, they have no idea if their death warrant has already been signed, and how much longer they have to live.” Nohara Teishin with the 9th division experienced pure hell fighting entrenched Chinese firing through holes in walls of abandoned farm buildings. Japanese officers urged their men to charge over open fields. Out of 200 men he fought with, 10 were able to fight after the battle. As Nohara recalled “All my friends died there. You can't begin to describe the wretchedness and misery of war.” Watanabe Wushichi, an officer in the 9th division was given orders to secure water supplies for the front line troops. A task that seemed simple enough given the sheer amount of creeks and ponds in the area. However they were all filled with corpses now. For many troops dying of thirst, it became so unbearable when anyone came across an unpolluted well, they would crown around it like zombies turning into a mud pool. Officers were forced to post guards at all discovered water sources. Watanabe was shocked by the Chinese fierceness in battle. At one point he was attacked pillboxes and upon inspecting the captured ones he was horrified to see how many Chinese bodies lay inside still clutching their rifles.  International outcry mounted over the invasion. On October 5th, president Franklin Roosevelt made a speech in Chicago calling for concrete steps to be taken against Japan. “It would seem to be unfortunately true that the epidemic of world lawlessness is spreading. When an epidemic of physical disease starts to spread the community approves and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order to protect the community against the spread of the disease.” Meanwhile Chiang Kai-Shek pushed the international community to sanction Japan and deprive her of oil, iron, steal, all materials needed for waging her illegal war. The League of Nations proved completely inept. On October 21st, Japanese foreign minister Hirota Koki approached the German ambassador in Tokyo, Herbert von Dirksen, asking if China was willing to negotiate. Germany declared she was willing to act as mediator, and to this Japan sent demands. Japan sought for Chinese concessions in north China and a demilitarized zone around Shanghai. Germany's ambassador to Nanjing, Oskar Trautmann conveyed this to Chiang Kai-Shek. Instead of replying Chiang asked the German what he thought. Trautmann said he considered the demands a basis for further talks and gave the example of what happened to his nation at the negotiating table during WW1. To this Chiang scoffed and made it clear he intended to restore the situation to its pre-hostile state before any talks.  Back at the front, Bai Chongxi planned his counterattack into the right flank of the Japanese. The attack was set for the 21st. The Guangxi troops at Chenjiahang were extricated and sent to assembly points. Matsui wrote in his diary on the 23rd “The enemy will launch a counterattack along the entire front tonight. It seems the planned attack is mainly targeted at the area south of Wusong Creek. It will give us an opportunity to catch the enemy outside of his prepared defenses, and kill him there. At 7pm the Chinese artillery began, an hour later troops were advancing east. The left wing of the Chinese attack, led by the 176th Guangxi Division north of Wusong Creek, initially advanced swiftly. However, it soon encountered significant obstacles, including numerous creeks and canals that disrupted progress. Concerned about supply trains lagging behind, the vanguard decided to relinquish much of the ground it had gained as dawn approached, hoping to reclaim it later that night. Meanwhile, the 174th Guangxi Division's assault south of Wusong Creek also struggled. It met unexpectedly strong resistance and had difficulty crossing the canals due to insufficient bridge-building materials. Fearing artillery and air attacks before dawn, this division retreated to its starting line, abandoning the hard-won territory from the previous night. Both divisions then dug in, preparing to withstand a counterattack during the daylight hours, when the Japanese forces could fully leverage their air superiority. As anticipated, the counterattack occurred after sunrise on October 22. In the 176th Division's sector, Japanese forces surrounded an entire battalion by noon, resulting in its complete destruction, including the battalion commander. The main success for the day came from a Guangxi unit that, despite facing an attack from Japanese infantry supported by five tanks, managed to hold its ground. Initially on the verge of collapse, they organized a rapid defense that repelled the Japanese assault. One tank was destroyed, two became stuck in a canal, and two others retreated, highlighting the challenges of tank warfare in the riverine terrain around Shanghai. An after-action report from the Guangxi troops read  “The Japanese enemy's army and air force employed every kind of weapon, from artillery to tanks and poison gas,” it said. “It hit the Chinese front like a hurricane, and resulted in the most horrific losses yet for the army group since it entered the battle.” As the sun rose on the 23rd, Japanese airplanes took to the skies. At 9:00 a.m., they targeted the already battered 174th Guangxi Division south of Wusong Creek. A Guangxi general who survived the assault recounted the devastation: “The troops were either blown to pieces or buried in their dugouts. The 174th disintegrated into a state of chaos.” Other units suffered similarly catastrophic losses. By the end of October 23, the Chinese operation had incurred heavy casualties, including two brigade commanders, six regimental commanders, and around 2,000 soldiers, with three out of every five troops in the first wave either killed or injured. Consequently, the assault had to be called off. Bai Chongxi's counterattack was a complete disaster. Many Guangxi veterans would hold grudges for years for what was seen as a senseless and hopeless battle.  Meanwhile in Zhabei Zhang Boting, the 27th year old chief of staff of the 88th division came to the headquarters of General Gu Zhutong, urging him to move to a safer location, only to be told “Chiang Kai-shek wants your division to stay in Zhabei and fight. Every company, every platoon, every squad is to defend key buildings in the city area, and villages in the suburbs. You must fight for every inch of land and make the enemy pay a high price. You should launch guerrilla warfare, to win time and gain sympathy among our friends abroad.” The command had more to do with diplomacy than any battlefield strategy. The Nine-Powers Conference was set for Brussels the following week and it was important China kept a spectacle going on in Shanghai for the foreigners. If the war advanced into lesser known hamlets in the countryside there would be no talk amongst the great powers. To this explanation Zhang Boting replied “Outside o f the streets of Zhabei, the suburbs consist o f flat land with little opportunity for cover. It's not suitable for guerrilla warfare. The idea o f defending small key points is also difficult. The 88th Division has so far had reinforcements and replacements six times, and the original core of officers and soldiers now make up only 20 to 30 percent. It's like a cup o f tea. If you keep adding water, it becomes thinner and thinner. Some of the new soldiers we receive have never been in a battle, or never even fired a shot. At the moment we rely on the backbone o f old soldiers to train them while fighting. As long as the command system is in place and we can use the old hands to provide leadership, we'll be able to maintain the division as a fighting force. But if we divide up the unit, the coherence will be lost. Letting every unit fight its own fight will just add to the trouble.” Zhang Boting then rushed east to the 88th divisional HQ inside the Sihang Warehouse laying just across from the International settlement. Here a final stand would be made and whose participants would be known as the 800 heroes, but that's a story for a later podcast.  Zhang Boting had returned to his HQ on October 26th, by then the Shanghai situation had deteriorated dramatically. The stalemate around Wusong Creek had suddenly collapsed. The IJA 9th division broke the Guangxi forces and now Matsui planned for a major drive south against Dachang. Before he even had time to meet with his colleagues the 3rd and 9th divisions reached Zoumatang Creek, which ran west to east two miles south of Wusong Creek. In preparation for the continued advance, the Japanese began dropping leaflets over the Chinese positions. Each one offered the soldiers who laid down their arms 5 Chinese yuan each, roughly half a US dollar each at the time. This did not meet much results, as the Chinese knew the Japanese rarely took prisoners. Instead the Guangxi troops continued to retreat after a brutal week of combat. Most of them were moving to prepared positions north and south of the Suzhou Creek, the last remaining natural obstacle to stop the Japanese conquest of Shanghai. In the early hours of the 25th the Japanese gradually realized the Chinese were withdrawing. The Japanese unleashed hundreds of aircraft and employed creeping barrages with their artillery. This may have been the first instance they employed such WW1 tactics during the campaign. The barrage was kept 700 yards in front of the advancing Japanese forces, giving the Chinese ample time to emerge from cover and re-man positions they had abandoned under artillery fire. Despite a general withdrawal, the Chinese also mounted a strong defense around Dachang.  Two strategic bridges across Zoumatang Creek, located west of Dachang, were defended by one division each. The 33rd Division, a recent arrival in Shanghai, was tasked with securing the westernmost bridge, Old Man Bridge, while the 18th Division, also newly arrived, was stationed near Little Stone Bridge, closer to Dachang. However, neither division was capable of stopping the advancing Japanese forces. On October 25, a Japanese column, led by more than 20 tanks, overwhelmed the 33rd Division's defenses and captured Old Man Bridge. As the Chinese division attempted a fighting retreat toward Dachang, it suffered severe casualties due to superior Japanese firepower. By mid-afternoon, only one in ten of its officers and soldiers remained fit for combat, and even the division commander had been wounded. The Japanese force then advanced to Little Stone Bridge, and after intense fighting with the 18th Division that lasted until sunset, they captured the bridge as well. Meanwhile, the 18th Division fell back into Dachang, where their commander, Zhu Yaohua, received a blunt order from Gu Zhutong to hold Dachang at all costs, warning that disobedience would lead to court-martial. Concerned that losing Little Stone Bridge might already jeopardize his position, Zhu Yaohua quickly organized a nighttime counterattack to reclaim it. However, the Japanese had anticipated this move and fortified their defenses near the bridge, leading to a disastrous failure for the Chinese. On October 26, the Japanese unleashed all available resources in an all-out assault on Dachang. The town had been nearly reduced to rubble, with only the ancient wall remaining as evidence of its former population. Up to 400 airplanes, including heavy bombers, targeted Chinese troops in and around Dachang, causing significant casualties among both soldiers and pack animals. A Western correspondent watching from afar described it as the “fiercest battle ever waged in Asia up to that time. A tempest of steel unleashed by Japanese planes, which flew leisurely overhead while observation balloons guided them to their targets. The curtain of fire never lifted for a moment from the Chinese trenches”. Following the aerial assault, more than 40 Japanese tanks emerged west of Dachang. The Chinese forces found themselves defenseless against this formidable armored column, as they had already relocated their artillery to safer positions behind the front lines. Left to fend for themselves, the Chinese infantry was quickly overwhelmed by the advancing wall of enemy tanks. The defending divisions, including Zhu Yaohua's 18th Division, stood no chance against such material superiority and were swiftly crushed. After a brief skirmish, the victorious Japanese forces marched in to claim Dachang, which had become a sea of flames. Matsui observed the scene with deep satisfaction as the Rising Sun banner flew over the smoldering ruins of the town. “After a month of bitter fighting, today we have finally seen the pay-off,”. In stark contrast, Zhu Yaohua faced immediate criticism from his superiors and peers, many of whom believed he could have done more to resist the Japanese onslaught. The weight of this humiliation became unbearable for him. Just two days after his defeat at Dachang, he shot himself in the chest ending his life. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In late September, the Battle of Shanghai intensified as Japanese forces surged with reinforcements, pressing against Chinese defenses in Luodian. Amidst chaos, Japanese soldiers like Ogishima fought bravely in the trenches, witnessing unimaginable carnage. As October began, the battle's brutality escalated, with waves of attacks resulting in devastating casualties on both sides. However, the Chinese forces showcased remarkable resilience, adapting their strategies and fortifying defenses, marking a significant chapter in their struggle for sovereignty against overwhelming odds.  

"The Netherlands regularly punched above its weight," says an expert report for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The Netherlands reacted in a very agile way to Brexit. We were like-minded with the UK on certain files. And we had to find new partners in the EU." says one of the authors of the study and EU influence expert Mendeltje van Keulen. According to her, Czechia could be even stronger in Brussels if it formed more coalitions of countries with similar positions.

It's fair to say some wonderful musical moments have come out of the Worlds Fairs. We're honing in on the Expo 58 this week to look at a very interesting modern piece, so join us at the Fair! Music: https://imslp.org/wiki/Suite_bergamasque_(Debussy%2C_Claude) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode

Bartosz Brzezinski, Brussels reporter with the global news organisation Politico, brings us up to date with the EU farm subsidies proposals.

CANADA: AND NATO. CONRAD BLACK. 1914  BRUSSELS

PREVIEW: UKRAINE WAR Colleague Anatol Lieven comments that a major negotiation must soon begin between DC, Brussels and Moscow regarding the sanctions. [MORE] 1854 ODESSA

“When was the last time you felt normal?”   For many living with mysterious, fluctuating symptoms...that question feels all too familiar.   I'm chatting with Dr. Zachary Spiritos about Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) - what it is, what his classic patient looks like, and what to do if you suspect it's behind your symptoms.   If you've been told everything looks fine but you still don't feel right, this episode of The Gut Show is for you!   Covered in this episode:  Introducing Dr. Zachary Spiritos [3:10] What are mast cells [8:41] His classic patient [12:51] When is the last time you felt normal? [16:00] Why do patients get MCAS? [19:24] Evaluation for MCAS [21:27] Treatment [24:09] Medications [29:12] Histamine vs MCAS [32:39] Is a low histamine diet forever? [34:56] ARFID [37:10] How to find the right provider for MCAS [38:20]     Thank you to our partners:   FODZYME is the world's first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs.   When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME's novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues.   With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, Brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME's digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss. Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer.   This episode is made possible with support from Ardelyx.   Gemelli Biotech offers trusted, science-backed at-home tests for conditions like SIBO, IMO, ISO, and post-infectious IBS.   Their Trio-Smart breath test measures all three key gases: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide to detect different forms of microbial overgrowth. And for those with IBS symptoms, IBS-Smart is a simple blood test that can confirm post-infectious IBS with clinical accuracy.   You simply order the test, complete it at home, send it back, and get clinically backed results in about a week that you can take to your provider!   Find out which tests are right for you at getgutanswers.com and use code ERINJUDGE25 to save $25 on your order!     About Dr. Zachary Spiritos:  Dr. Zachary Spiritos is a Philadelphian turned North Carolinian, having made his way south for college and ultimately putting down roots after meeting his wife. He graduated cum laude from Davidson College and went on to ultimately complete his gastroenterology fellowship at Duke University.   Dr. Spiritos specializes in neurogastroenterology, with a focus on disorders like postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and gastrointestinal issues related to hypermobility syndromes. He also cares for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional GI disorders, and complex motility conditions. Passionate about patient education and whole-person care, he integrates nutrition, stress management, and gut-brain therapies into his treatment approach.   Outside of medicine, Dr. Spiritos and his wife stay busy chasing after their two young kids. He enjoys hiking, playing basketball, and fitting in workouts whenever he can.   Connect with Dr. Spiritos on his website or on Instagram.   Mentioned in this episode: What's your poop personality? MASTER Method Membership   Connect with Erin Judge, RD:  IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinjudge.rd TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinjudge.rd   Work with Gutivate:  https://gutivate.com/services   

This week on the pod, Adam and Dan are back in the saddle for a classic meatballs-style episode—light on the structure, heavy on the sauce.First up, Adam finally built his own RJ45 audio snake! It's official: he's the kind of guy who owns a punch tool and knows how to use it. We dive into what that means, how it works, and why you might want to DIY your own cables too. Spoiler alert: it's cheaper, easier than expected, and makes you feel very powerful.Then we get into auditions—when to pre-screen, how to test prep vs. bluff, and why personality matters as much as chops. Whether you're a dictator or just the guy who set up the rehearsal room, we've got practical advice for building a team that actually gels.Also in this episode:-Dan's easing back into acoustic gigs post-surgery-Adam's mystery gig is stirring up conspiracy theories-A PRS-Les Paul Jr. trade loop finally closes-The Billy Joel doc on Max is three hours long and barely gets into the '80s-K-Pop Demon Hunters on Netflix absolutely rules (Adam cried)-We hit 900 YouTube uploads… and the money's still not there-The Great Brussels Sprouts Debate™ rages on-And yes, we did reference Face/Off, Coneheads, and Miracle on Ice in a single episode. You're welcome.

In this episode of SCW for Pharma, Evren Ozkaya welcomes Adrian Van den Hoven, Director General of Medicines for Europe, the leading voice for generic and biosimilar manufacturers across the continent.The conversation begins by underscoring the essential role generics and biosimilars play in Europe's healthcare system — making up around 90% of prescriptions but only 20% of total costs. Adrian explains how these medicines significantly expand access while easing the burden on patients and insurers. However, despite their public health value, low profit margins have led to a fragile and highly consolidated market — one responsible for two-thirds of medicine shortages across Europe, a trend also seen in the U.S.Evren and Adrian explore how geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and stringent environmental regulations are putting additional pressure on the sector. While EU authorities are assessing ways to strengthen local supply, current pricing models offer little incentive for generic manufacturers to invest in capacity or modernization. Today, 70% of manufacturing investment goes toward maintaining compliance, leaving only 30% for productivity, agility, or innovation — eroding Europe's competitiveness against countries like China and India.Digital transformation surfaces as a crucial lever — not just to improve efficiency but also to combat labor shortages and build greater resilience. Yet Adrian notes that digital maturity in EU pharma remains low, with many factories still running on paper and Excel. Still, the opportunity is enormous. As Evren highlights, PwC estimates that AI could potentially double EBITDA for pharma, especially through manufacturing and supply chain use cases. But he also cautions that most companies aren't ready to harness AI due to weak data infrastructure. Without high-quality, real-time operational data, AI delivers poor results — “garbage in, garbage out.”The episode concludes with a look ahead. Adrian stresses that Europe has the skilled workforce to lead in digital transformation, but regulatory support and targeted funding are essential. Strategic partnerships — like the one between SCW.AI and Medicines for Europe — can help bridge the gap. Evren and Adrian close by previewing their upcoming meeting in Brussels with the European Commission, generic pharma manufacturers, and technology providers — a collaborative push to showcase ROI, align stakeholders, and accelerate digital transformation across the industry.

NATO: NEEDING COMMON WEAPONS PLANNING. COLONEL JEFF MCCAUSLAND , USA (RETIRED) @MCCAUSLJ @CBSNEWS @DICKINSONCO  1935 BRUSSELS

SHOW SCHEDULE 7-23-25 1916 BRUSSELS Good evening. The show begins at NATO headquarters in Brussels... CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9:00-9:15 NATO: NEEDING COMMON WEAPONS PLANNING Colonel Jeff McCausland, USA (Retired) @McCauslJ @CBSNews @DickinsonCo 9:15-9:30 #UKRAINE: DRONE WAR Colonel Jeff McCausland, USA (Retired) @McCauslJ @CBSNews @DickinsonCo 9:30-9:45 AI: BRAIN ATROPHY Rachel Lomasky 9:45-10:00 AI: BRAIN ATROPHY CONTINUED Rachel Lomasky SECOND HOUR 10:00-10:15 PHILIPPINE DEFENSE Victoria Coates, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill 10:15-10:30 PRC: EXPORT ONLY WRECKED THE STATE Anne Stevenson-Yang, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill 10:30-10:45 JAPAN: CHANGE & TAIWAN Scott Harold, RAND, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill 10:45-11:00 PRC: MOON BOUND Brandon Weichert, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill THIRD HOUR 11:00-11:15 PANAMA: GENERATIONAL Allison Fedirka, @GPFutures 11:15-11:30 PANAMA: GENERATIONAL CONTINUED Allison Fedirka, @GPFutures 11:30-11:45 PRC: BATTERY DISTORTION Elaine Dezenski, FDD 11:45-12:00 PETER BERKOWITZ Hoover Institution FOURTH HOUR 12:00-12:15 FRANCE: THUNDERSTORMS AND COPPER HIGHS Simon Constable 12:15-12:30 UK: TAXING THE PENSIONS BEYOND THE GRAVE Simon Constable 12:30-12:45 NASA: LAYOFFS AND PROTESTS Bob Zimmerman, BehindTheBlack.com 12:45-1:00 AM MARS Bob Zimmerman, BehindTheBlack.com

What do you do when you're an Israeli comedian set to perform in Paris on the very day the world learns the fate of the Bibas family? Yohay Sponder faced that moment in February 2025—and chose to take the stage. Wearing an orange tie in their honor, he brought laughter to a grieving crowd. Since October 7th, he has used comedy to carry pain, affirm his identity, and connect through resilience. Hear how his Jewish identity shapes his work, how his comedy has evolved since the Hamas attacks, and what he says to those who try to silence him. Recorded live at AJC Global Forum 2025. *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC. Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod:  Latest Episodes:  From Broadway to Jewish Advocacy: Jonah Platt on Identity, Antisemitism, and Israel Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War: The Dinah Project's Quest to Hold Hamas Accountable Journalist Matti Friedman Exposes Media Bias Against Israel Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman:   Israeli stand up comedian Yohay Sponder: first gained popularity for his funny Monday shows in Tel Aviv, which attracted a following on YouTube. A few years ago, Sponder made the decision to perform Israeli comedy in English to reach a wider audience and a wider audience it has reached. He has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, and in May, launched the North American leg of his international tour in Baltimore.  Sponder is with us now on the sidelines of AJC Global Forum 2025. Sponder, welcome to People of the Pod.  Yohay Sponder:   Thank you so much for this eulogy. Manya Brachear Pashman:   I'm curious how you found your way to stand up comedy and tell us a little bit about your upbringing in general.  Yohay Sponder:   Doing comedy, I always been fascinated about the laughing reaction of humans. You know, it's fascinating, if you think about it, if you have the ability to improve the frequency in the room. As a kid, I was really intrigued by that. So you saying few things, and people go, haha. It's like designing a vibe.  So as a kid, I was attracted to that. So as a kid, you watch video cassettes, back in the day, I would watch all of the comedy stuff. I had all of them cassettes. I was very, very affected by it, impersonations, imitating them, doing jokes of my own, and always around that.  And in my show, I'm talking about comedy. I have a bit about comedy in my show that I'm saying that I was, I wasn't just the class clown in my school. I was the jokes technician. If you had a broken joke or a joke that didn't work, you would come to me. I would fix it for you, bring it back. Not using it as my own resume. I would bring it back, when it's fixed. Manya Brachear Pashman:   That's great. So you helped others clown around as well. Yohay Sponder:   Yeah, I was a clown teacher.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Were you raised in a secular home, a particularly Jewish home? Yohay Sponder:   I was raised in a, let's say secular but Jewish, celebrated holidays, family Friday night family dinners. But we weren't like super Shabbat keepers. I think I became closer now, when, after my father passed away, I for the Kaddish and I put tefillin a little bit. And the war, you know, this war, activated a lot of Jews to the to this kind of level. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Right. You're sitting across from me, and you're wearing a gigantic Star of David. On your chest. Yohay Sponder:   Yeah, you see what she did, you see what she did? You're sitting across and you're wearing a gigantic Star of David.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Have you always worn that or did you put it on after October 7? Yohay Sponder:   No, it's after the war kicked in. I don't know. I had a vision that that's what we should do right now. We need to be out there and show other Jews that we're there. That's what I felt. And I imagine that, I need a big star of David. And the day I thought about it, I saw that. So there was a sign for me, like I had this vision, that I need a big star of David here. And less than 24 hours, that one find me. I didn't look for it. It came across my eyes. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Which I imagine you'll be wearing your Magen David on tour. The tour itself is called Self Loving Jew. What is the meaning of that title? Yohay Sponder:   So, basically, you know, this is so awesome, because before October 7, you could argue of other opinion. You could hear some people saying, Yeah, but maybe we should this. After October 7 that we know so all these monsters that came and attack us, the self hating Jews that they're doing now, super horrific, disgusting job of mocking us. And I find it really bad, and I think so I'm I'm bringing the other side. I'm just bringing the you know, it doesn't mean that I hate someone that is not Jewish. I'm just, I want to inspire other people to be to love themselves, even if they're not Jewish. But as Jews, we have to love us, because we're probably the last ones to love us, and if we won't love us, that's that's over for us.  And people, people saying that it's very harsh to compare the self hating Jews of now to the Kapos and and I'm saying, yes, it's it's not fair for the Kapos, because they didn't have a choice. You guys have a choice, and you did it just for likes and for other people from other cultures to like you. I really, I really believe.  I really deeply believe I'm coming from there. I'm coming from the war. I really believe that the people that don't, they don't give us the credit, people that not supporting Israel, they're uneducated. I really believe in that they don't know enough. They might be not bad people, but they might be stupid people.  Self hating Jews, like whatever Dave Smith, all these guys that try to be liked by, you know, others, and they they just out of their own idiocy. Listen, you don't know anything about what's going on. As Douglas Murray told them, ou've been there. You saw those things that you're talking about when you're saying, Israel, starving the Gazans you're never seeing the the trucks that going every day. You're You're an idiot. You're just an idiot. You listen to other people, and you listen to other lies.  And they will say, No, I just want peaceful. We all want peace. Just the fact that you're Jewish, it means that you want peace. We say Shalom when we see each other, when we say Shabbat Shalom. The holiest day of the week. We say telech bshalom, tachzor bshalom. Go in peace, come back in peace. You don't want peace more than I want. We all want peace, but we're willing to fight for peace because we have to make sure that no innocent people from both sides, by the way, will get hurt.  So yeah, it's really bad and shitty situation, war, but you blame us without checking it. So anyway, I don't want it to make it too much political. It's not political, by the way, Self Loving Jew. It's about loving yourself and being, you know, being in touch with what's going on right now.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   So there is so much misinformation out there, you launched your you started doing English language comedy to reach a wider audience. Now you're doing an English language international tour. Do you have a message that you want to get out to the wider world to especially this region where there is so much misinformation and misunderstanding? Yohay Sponder:   Yeah, the message is that, we're living in a time that it's very hard to agree on something, and I really miss the days that we all agree that the world is round. You know, a little long ago, a few years ago. But yeah, the message is that you do your research and come to laugh with us.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   It's an important message that gets forgotten. October 7, and its aftermath were so horrific. Did you press pause on your comedy career for a little while? At what point did you find it acceptable to make people laugh again in the aftermath? Yohay Sponder:   No, it took time. It took time. It took a day. Manya Brachear Pashman:   One day. Okay. Yohay Sponder: Because right after that, after the attack, they start to arrange people to go to volunteer in squads and families that got evacuated from their house and soldiers and hospitals, people got wounded. So I've been around. I did that. That was my duty service. And also I did regular reserves duty, stuff like that.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   And what did you do on reserve duty?  Yohay Sponder: I was in Ramat Gan patrol. So not super serious, but I did what I did.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   And at what point did you go back to the stage and so more standup? Yohay Sponder:   So I'm running the show Funny Monday, I think roughly a month after October 7, we get. Maybe two months, yeah, something like around that. January, maybe, I remember, like a little bit after that, the show went back and we did stand up in English. People really followed what's going on in Israel. No matter what you do from the country, they follow that. And we had strong they were saying, Wait, Shahar Hassan, my co-host, very good friend. Really funny man, serious comedian, like one of A-list, Top list. And people follow, people watching what we have to say. That was the main purpose of Funny Monday, when we launched it in 2016 nine years ago.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Did it shift? When you restarted it after October 7, was it different? How so?  Yohay Sponder:   Yeah. We always talked about current events, what's going on in the world? It's the international perspective of not just news, but Israel perspective and stuff like that. So in that case, you're talking about Iran's attack. What the news with Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu? Whatever is happening politically, or current events and yeah, people were more attached to the screen those days. And also in comedy. It's a great form of art to deliver, you know, your point of view, or your, yeah, your what you want to say. So it's, it was great to do that, and till this very day, that's what we do.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   So you really though, have to read the room, right? I mean, different audiences, I imagine, receive your comedy in different ways, especially in different regions of the world. So I'm curious if there are differences in the kind of humor that resonates with an Israeli audience, and the kind of humor that resonates with an American audience or a European audience. Yohay Sponder:   So that's the thing, why I love my country so much, because you can just stand up in any form you want. You can go as dark as you want in Israel or as political as you want. We have some issues right now with people having fight with each other, of political issues, and we have a lot of demonstrations and stuff. So there's that. But beside that, you can get away with a lot of what people say here in America, woke culture, politically correct. In Israel, we don't have it. You don't stand up like in the 80s. If someone looks gay in the audience, you say, Hey, you look gay man. That's very gay. You're fat. You these, you're old, you're very brown. We just say that, and that's fine. No one canceled. We don't even know what it means to cancel someone. No one get canceled in Israel. Manya Brachear Pashman: Holocaust humor, is that acceptable in Israel? Yohay Sponder: Yeah, it's not just it's acceptable. For example, from my wife's point of view, she was shocked when people came back to say, wow, mitlachot poh shoah—the shower was like, it's the Holocaust. Holocaust shower. They sang that. There's something that you say in the army and it's kind of fine. No one like, hey, how can you compare this? Because the water was cold, so they were called. So they say, but in the Holocaust, no water at all, was gas.  And also, when my wife told me, Don't honk like this, it's ghetto. You know, it's American thing to say, Don't honk. It's ghetto. It's like, I'm pretty sure that in Auschwitz, they didn't have cars.  Manya Brachear Pashman: She's talking about a different kind of gheto.  Yohay Sponder: And she said, like, you can't do these jokes. Yeah, you can't do this. She's like, she's from American perspective, you can't do these jokes. It's horrible. It's like, that's jokes we do here all the time. And in Israel, you use Nazi sometimes, like, as a, not only as a bad thing. It's like, accuracy. You say, like, Nazis coming on time. I need a Nazi plumber, not . . . someone that is a good commander. When I'm having the perspective of my wife and American people, I understand how horrible that is.  However, some Holocaust survivors testify that they had humor in the camps. They used humor, even dark humor, in the camps, and it helped them raise their frequency and raise their morality and maybe survive, maybe humor saved them. So when you saying too soon, sometimes it's, yeah, it's too soon for someone but it's okay for someone else.  I see black humor as spicy food. We all have our own scale for it. You can, you can eat spicy like a crazy mental person, and I can just taste it. And, you know, it's too harsh for me, and vice versa. So I did jokes about October 7, in November 7, and horrible ones, and it was also with the Holocaust. That's how horrible that was. So maybe it's too soon for the Holocaust. It's too soon for October 7. I said, the people that compare compared October 7 to the Holocaust. And I'm saying at least in the Holocaust, no one kidnapped Holocaust survivors. It's not even a funny, like, haha, funny. It's like, oh shit, yeah, yeah, that's the joke. It's not a joke of a punch line. It's a punch in your belly. Yeah. Manya Brachear Pashman:   What have been some of the most memorable moments from your shows, from your live shows, and I'm talking good and bad, have there been really positive responses and have there been really ugly? Yohay Sponder:   So let's just take this afternoon in Paris that I'm sitting in my hotel and Instagram and social media exploding from what's going on with the releasing of the Bibas babies. That we're getting back coffins, and I'm getting, I don't know, hundreds of messages from people that like we don't know if we're coming to the show. Two shows sold out in a huge theater in Paris. I'm not there every day. That's the show. That's it. One day since October 7, and no one knows when I'm going to come again. And my heart is broken, and people tell me we want to come but we can't. What do you think we should do?  Now, I responded to all of them, my wife and I responded to all of them, you do what you feel. I totally support your feelings. And the show is going to happen, and we get together tonight, and it's going to be a group hug, but if you can't make it, that's fine. I went on stage with an orange tie that I bought, and we talked it through. Arthur is the comedian and producer of those shows. He opened the show, he talked about the situation, and we did the shows. Now, that's the beauty of it, that's, that's the genome of the Jewish people. That's so in us to . . . . what we talked earlier about the Holocaust survivors that testify that they want to laugh, they want to have a good time. They don't want to let these terrorists decide for us what we gonna feel. Yeah, we feel bad. Yes, you're the worst people on the planet. I wish God will wipe you out, or IDF as fast as possible. You're a disgusting dirt of…but for us, for what we can do right now, we're gonna, we're gonna do our best to raise our morality and frequency. And I did the shows. I'm not gonna lie to you, I was very sad. But you know, the people that, that's what Bob Marley said after, he got shot, you know, and he did the show anyway, and he said, the people that want us to feel bad, they don't take a day off. So how could I? That's a very nice thing to say. Manya Brachear Pashman:   You had a show at City Winery where some people in the audience came with, maybe with intentions to protest, or at least they expected to disagree with you, and they met up with you after the show. And what happened? Yohay Sponder:   After my show, one of the presidents of the BDS organizations. She approached me and she said, we came to hassle the show. We came to ruin your show. So like, why you didn't do it? And she said we were waiting for the right moment, but the more the show went on, the more we liked what you said. You talk a lot about peace, you talk a lot about mutual values and how to solve problems, and you talk about the nice things of the Jewish tradition and the Jewish religion. We couldn't ruin that. We have conscience and we also liked you.  They liked the show. They wanted to ruin it, but they loved it, and they laughed. I told her, that's exactly what I do. In my stand up show, when you see that bit, it's with the whole structure of what happened there and how I almost made peace with these guys, but it didn't work out.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Maybe you need to do your stand up routine in Gaza and that would solve everything. Yohay Sponder:   I checked that. They don't have comedy clubs there. I said that when I hosted the show, we have an Arab comedian, a friend of ours. You know, people like they don't know that, but Arab-Israelis, are Palestinians. To their definition, to the Palestinians definition, it's the same thing, but they don't identify as Palestinians. It's like we're Muslims, we're Arabs. Anyway, they're with us. They're like siblings to us.  So when I introduced him, I also made fun of the situation. I said, When is going to be in Palestine? When it's going to be the Jewish comedian goes on stage like you going here and stuff like that, and there is no comedy clubs in Ramallah or in Gaza, but Inshallah, when there will I go and I do a spot. Manya Brachear Pashman:   How many of your shows, as you've been traveling around, have actually been canceled or moved or postponed. I read something about your Amsterdam show, for example, was moved to an undisclosed location because of security concerns. Has that happened elsewhere? Yohay Sponder:   Australia. And they tried to cancel my show in Brussels, didn't make it. They tried to cancel my show in Paris. They couldn't make it, but demonstrated outside. And every time that thing happened, I got a lot of press covers and interviews, and people get insane. And like, oh, we have to support and come to see the show. So every time it happens, I doubling or sometimes tripling the amount of people. Which is so weird, you know, because they're always the people they hate us. Always go, oh, Jews, money and you guys this, and you made me make more money. I didn't want to make that much money.  I want to make third of the amount of money. But because of your protesting. Your hate, that's how bad you are of what you do. And how amazing we are what we do. You know, I didn't want to make that much money, so now I hire them, the protesters. So they work for me.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   They do your marketing, generate publicity. So none of the shows have been successfully cancelled? Yohay Sponder:   No, the Amsterdam show canceled. The Boom Chicago, which also surprising. Your name is Boom Chicago. What's your security concerns. That's gonna be a boom. Let it be.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   But I thought it was moved.  Yohay Sponder:  We moved that like because they a week before the show, they said we're not doing the show. And was like, guys, let me respond. Let me say something. No, no. Police said that. We called the police. We have their numbers, you know, we call them. They say, No, we didn't talk to them. And then they wrote, we can help you find a Jewish venue. So I told him, we can help you find a Jewish lawyer. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So there was no show? Yohay Sponder:  Not in the Boom Chicago. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Got it. Yohay Sponder:  And I'll never go there. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And not in Amsterdam?  Yohay Sponder:  No, it was in Amsterville.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Got it, okay. Amsterville, is that next to Amsterdam? Yohay Sponder:   Turns out, yeah, they didn't know that too. Was was a very nice theater, I think, three times' size of the Boom Chicago, and we had a great time. And I'll go there again. And it's not just the Boom Chicago, when we try to rebook it, a lot of other venues, more than 30 venues, didn't want to have me there.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   So is there anything else that I haven't asked you that you really want to share with our audience? Yohay Sponder:   Yeah. I mean, listen, I'm not sure that the audience is going to be 100% Jewish, right? So the message is going to be split for both. So I'll talk to them. So if you guys are Jews, I wanted to know that everything's going to be fine, and we got this, and raise your head, and we're good. We're going to be good. This is probably the last one. It's the last one. I think Messiah is coming, right? We're going to be fine, all right?  And if you're a non Jewish person watching it, you're an ally. So I want to thank you. We don't take it for granted. It's very important that you're around. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Sponder, thank you.  Yohay Sponder:   Thank you so much.   

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on her Chinese counterpart to ensure more balanced trade with Europe as current relations between Brussels and Beijing have reached “an inflection point.” Von der Leyen, along with European Council President António Costa, was in Beijing on Thursday for the EU–China summit.Hulk Hogan, the American sports and entertainment star who made professional wrestling a global phenomenon and supported Donald Trump for president, has died at the age of 71, World Wrestling Entertainment said on Thursday. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s," WWE said on X. It gave no cause of death.

Listen to this juicy rumor: In this episode, would you believe that Dean and Tom ‘spill the tea' on the value and function of gossip and secrecy across cultures? From investigating the use of tsismis in Manila, to eyeing gossip's impact on decision-making in sub-Saharan Africa - plus secrecy's impact on drapery in Brussels - they manage to make a splash at proverbial water coolers in both the Global North and Global South in just thirty minutes…all while serving up some fresh scuttlebutt of their own. Don't believe it? Well, you'll just have to listen for yourself, lest the rumor mill pass you by! ***Subscribe to Dean's Substack here for all of Dean's CultureQuizzes, “Culture's Consequences” articles, and much more!*** Have a cultural question or episode idea? Reach out on X/Twitter & Facebook (@OopsCultureShow) or by email at oopscultureshow@gmail.com. Hosts: Dean Foster & Tom Peterson Audio Production: Tom Peterson & Torin Peterson Music: “Little Idea” – Bensound.com

As European leaders attend an EU-China summit in Beijing, the issue of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles entering the single market is one of the items on the agenda. Brussels has imposed tariffs on Chinese manufacturers such as Zeekr because of what it considers to be unfair trade practices. In this edition, we talk to Lothar Schupet, acting CEO of Zeekr Europe, about the effect of these trade restrictions on its business.

En esta muy variopinta edición de Mundofonías, viajamos desde el Bósforo hasta el Amazonas, pescando músicas por Gran Bretaña, Países Bajos, Eslovaquia, Bélgica, Corea, Portugal, Brasil y Perú. En nuestras #Mundofonews, presentamos algunos interesantes festivales que tendrán lugar próximamente: World Music Festival Bratislava; Hide & Seek, en Bruselas y Jeonju International Sori Festival, en Corea del Sur. In this very diverse edition of Mundofonías, we travel from the Bosphorus to the Amazon, fishing for music through Great Britain, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Belgium, Korea, Portugal, Brazil and Peru. In our #Mundofonews, we introduce some interesting festivals that will take place soon: World Music Festival Bratislava, Hide & Seek in Brussels, and Jeonju International Sori Festival in South Korea. - Chettini and the Turkish Trio - Mr Mahmoud - Oriental soul - Steven Kamperman - The chase - Prince Achmed - Páni Času - Bogurodzica - Zelené sihote - Anmoor - Dryade - Spire - Piri Band JC Crew - Sing Sing JC - Bonanza - Sofia Leão - Não seria tão triste - Mar - Maria João - Papalaty - Abundância - Sergio Krakowski - Elebara - Boca do tempo - Luca Vaillancourt y Los Pescadores - Cuerda semilla y velo - Cantes transatlánticos - Wayku - Por la Marginal - Selva selva - (Chettini and the Turkish Trio - Bagdad - Oriental soul)

This week Parliament hosted MPs from the EU Parliament in Brussels. We chat with Ireland's Seán Kelly who lead the visiting delegation. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

UKRAINE: EU/NATO JAW JAW. JUDY DEMPSEY, SENIOR SCHOLAR, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE IN BERLIN. 1897 BRUSSELS

TECHNOLOGY SUPREMACY; EU NOT FOR RISK-TAKING, JUDY DEMPSEY, SENIOR SCHOLAR, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE IN BERLIN. 1898 BRUSSELS

While Libya - and the Turkish presence there - has long been on Greece's radar, the war-torn country is now attracting Brussels' attention as well amid concerns about migration and Russia's expanding influence there. Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya specialist based in Paris, joins Thanos Davelis as we dig into Europe's concerns about migration and Russia's expanding footprint in Libya, and look at Turkey's charm offensive toward the government in the east.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:We must work with Libyans to stop Putin weaponizing migrants, top EU official saysTripoli asserts claims against AthensAJC and HALC urge Congress to block Turkey's reentry into the F35 program and uphold CAATSA sanctionsGreek companies tour Europe to lure back skilled nationals

Since 1972 a unique cultural exchange program has connected Southern Door with Belgium, where many of its first settlers came from. Muraelle Havet, an exchange visitor from Brussels, Belgium, joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. and her host, Bill Chaudoir, to talk about her impressions of Door County and the strong connection between Wisconsin's Belgian settlement and Wallonia.

Clare is in the running to become the European Volunteering Capital for 2027. Representatives of Clare County Council and Clare Volunteer Centre travelled to Brussels for the official presentation of the “candidacy certificate” for the prestigious European Volunteering Capital 2027 title, a key part of the bidding process. If successful in the bid, County Clare would become an internationally recognised centre for excellence in policies and programmes supporting volunteers and volunteering. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Sharon Meaney, Manager of Clare Volunteer Centre and Brendan Boyce, Integration Support Coordinator for Clare County Council.

Welcome back Rose ~ the Range (28 May 2014 - Brussels, Belgium)

Technology is no longer just a helpful tool for running small businesses. It has become the lifeline for small business success.  In this episode, Eric clarifies why technology is now non-negotiable when running a successful small business.  Tune in to learn why, as a small business owner, you must either evolve and adapt or risk getting left behind. AI Blackmail  An article on Entropic described a test scenario where AI named specific (fictional) people and made a blackmail demand. Even though the situation was fabricated for testing purposes, it highlighted the potential dangers of advanced AI behavior. A Double-Edged Sword Every major invention in history has had the potential for great harm and tremendous benefit. The outcome depends entirely on how humans choose to use these tools. AI is no exception. It represents a societal shift similar to the Industrial Revolution, with its presence growing across all industries. Today, adaptation is essential, especially in the meetings and events space, where technology is now deeply integrated. Those who ignore it risk becoming irrelevant.  From Fax Machines to Automation During his early business days in Brussels, Eric used to manually collect faxed proposals in the evenings after doing sales visits by day. Now, 70% of that work can be automated. Standard proposals and client-facing documents can now be systematized using technology, drastically reducing the time and effort required. People vs. Tech In the past, hiring a high-level executive assistant in Belgium came at a significant cost to Eric due to their high social security contributions. Today, however, business owners can find skilled virtual assistants anywhere in the world for a fraction of the cost.  Smarter Prospecting with AI Aspects of prospecting that used to take hours of manual outreach before can now be streamlined with CRM systems and AI. By scanning the online presence of a prospect through their LinkedIn profile, AI can recommend tailored messaging and communication strategies, making outreach faster, more personal, and far more effective. Embrace AI Now Now is the time to embrace AI and new technologies. Those who do so will be better positioned for success. So, whether you are starting a new business or evolving an existing one, tech literacy is a must.  Face-to-Face Is Still Irreplaceable Even with the rise of AI, the human connection is likely to become more valuable, not less, as people always crave genuine, in-person experiences.  Bio: Eric Rozenberg Eric is a business builder and the founder of Event Business Formula, the only platform exclusively dedicated to helping and supporting business owners in the Meetings & Events Industry. He has helped thousands of entrepreneurs grow and manage their businesses better.  For two decades in a previous life, Eric has consulted with Fortune 500 companies and produced award-winning sales meetings, incentive trips, product launches, and conferences in more than 50 countries across diverse industries.  His podcast "The Business of Meetings" is the first podcast in the Meetings & Events Industry dedicated to business owners and the largest source of free information, with over 240 episodes and fabulous guests.  His first book, Meeting at C-Level, is the first book on the « Why? » of a meeting. It has been endorsed by 20 of the most influential leaders from the corporate and association worlds.  His second book, Before It's Too Late, A Love Letter to My Daughters and America, is a story of grit, perseverance, and courage. It describes why and how he and his wife brought their daughters to America and why it is the greatest country on Earth.  Eric was the first European to serve as Chairman of the International Board of Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Connect with Eric Rozenberg On LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Listen to The Business of Meetings podcast Subscribe to The Business of Meetings newsletter Anthropic Article  

The White House maintains pressure on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to cut interest rates but markets appear sanguine. The S&P 500 closes at a fresh record high while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells our colleagues Stateside that he intends to investigate the Fed's decision-making. Brussels is reportedly preparing a range of ‘nuclear options' should the EU fail to agree a trade deal with Washington ahead of President Trump's August 1st deadline. Anglo-Swedish drug firm AstraZeneca says it will invest around $50bn for manufacturing and R&D in the US over the next five years as it braces for potential pharma tariffs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trade negotiations between Washington and Brussels are continuing ahead of an August 1 deadline, when US President Donald Trump has vowed to impose 30 percent tariffs on nearly all goods imported from the European Union. Both sides are looking to carve out exemptions for key sectors, such as aviation or pharmaceuticals. Also in this edition: German car sector companies are looking to benefit from the country's sudden increase in defence spending.

Can the AI boom sustain current valuations, or is a reckoning coming? Lance Roberts examines how AI and Big Tech investing trends are shaping portfolios, whether rising interest rates will derail Tech stock market outlook, and the growing risks of regulation impact on Big Tech from Washington to Brussels. Markets are still flirting with all-time highs. Lance shares the latest Roberts Family Saga, and his Coldplay strategy. Is investor exuberance getting out of hand? Options expiring within 24-hours are at an all-time high: This is not hedging, this is pure betting. Lance discusses anticipated spending for AI, and identifies associated debt as productive (think, Hoover Dam) vs non-productive (entitlements), which is dis-inflationary. Buuy backs are a poor (non-productive) use of capital. * NOTE: The Real Investment Show will be 100% digital starting Monday, August 4, 2025. Please be sure you're SUBSCRIBED here to catch each episode! SEG-1: Mega-cap Earnings Preview SEG-2a: Another Roberts Family Saga & Coldplay SEG-2b: Market Exuberance is Getting Out of Hand SEG-3a: Paramount & Colbert Kill The Late Show SEG-3b: No Concerns for Market Correction...yet SEG-4: Productive Debt vs Stock Buy Backs Hosted by RIA Advisors RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist Lance Roberts, CIO Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer ------- Watch today's video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnE_SxbFc0c&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 ------- Articles mentioned in this report: "The Magnificent Seven Are Mediocre" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/the-magnificent-seven-are-mediocre/ ------- The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell, "Prepare Now for Correction," is here: https://youtu.be/VDnRZFc0Hpw ------- Our previous show is here: "Money Scripts & Credit Scores," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaEHi-fSbuQ&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 ------- Register for our next Candid Coffee, "Savvy Social Security Planning," August 23, 2025: https://streamyard.com/watch/pbx9RwqV8cjF ------- Articles mentioned in this report: "Retail Speculation Is Back With A Vengeance" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/retail-speculation-is-back-with-a-vengeance/ "Company Buybacks Are Surging" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/company-buybacks-are-surging/ ------- Get more info & commentary: https://realinvestmentadvice.com/newsletter/ -------- SUBSCRIBE to The Real Investment Show here: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealInvestmentShow -------- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN -------- Subscribe to SimpleVisor: https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new -------- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #MarketRally #MarketRisk #MarketCorrection #MovingAverages #GravitationalPull #RiskManagement #PortfolioRisk #PortfolioManagement #BigTech #TechStocks #ArtificialIntelligence #FAANG #InvestingAdvice #Money #Investing

US equity futures are firmer with S&P up 0.3%. Asian equity markets are mostly higher, while European markets stay mixed. US 2Y yield down to 3.9% and 10Y down at 4.4%. Dollar softer, gold firmer. WTI crude goes slightly up. Industrial metals mostly higher. China's infrastructure names rallied following start of construction of mega dam project in Tibet worth CNY1.2T ($167.8B). On US and China talks, press highlighted expectations of a Trump-Xi meeting at APEC summit South Korea in late October, if not sooner. Beijing also confirmed top leaders will meet Europe's von der Leyen and Costa on Thursday, meanwhile added it would take countermeasures after EU included Chinese companies and banks in its latest sanctions against Russia as tensions between Beijing and Brussels simmer ahead of the summit. Companies Mentioned: Carlyle Group, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Microsoft

Can the AI boom sustain current valuations, or is a reckoning coming? Lance Roberts examines how AI and Big Tech investing trends are shaping portfolios, whether rising interest rates will derail Tech stock market outlook, and the growing risks of regulation impact on Big Tech from Washington to Brussels. Markets are still flirting with all-time highs. Lance shares the latest Roberts Family Saga, and his Coldplay strategy. Is investor exuberance getting out of hand? Options expiring within 24-hours are at an all-time high: This is not hedging, this is pure betting. Lance discusses anticipated spending for AI, and identifies associated debt as productive (think, Hoover Dam) vs non-productive (entitlements), which is dis-inflationary. Buuy backs are a poor (non-productive) use of capital. * NOTE: The Real Investment Show will be 100% digital starting Monday, August 4, 2025. Please be sure you're SUBSCRIBED here to catch each episode!  SEG-1: Mega-cap Earnings Preview SEG-2a: Another Roberts Family Saga & Coldplay SEG-2b: Market Exuberance is Getting Out of Hand SEG-3a: Paramount & Colbert Kill The Late Show SEG-3b: No Concerns for Market Correction...yet SEG-4: Productive Debt vs Stock Buy Backs   Hosted by RIA Advisors RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist Lance Roberts, CIO Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer ------- Watch today's video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnE_SxbFc0c&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 ------- Articles mentioned in this report: "The Magnificent Seven Are Mediocre" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/the-magnificent-seven-are-mediocre/ ------- The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell, "Prepare Now for Correction," is here:  https://youtu.be/VDnRZFc0Hpw ------- Our previous show is here: "Money Scripts & Credit Scores," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaEHi-fSbuQ&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 ------- Register for our next Candid Coffee, "Savvy Social Security Planning," August 23, 2025: https://streamyard.com/watch/pbx9RwqV8cjF ------- Articles mentioned in this report: "Retail Speculation Is Back With A Vengeance" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/retail-speculation-is-back-with-a-vengeance/ "Company Buybacks Are Surging" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/company-buybacks-are-surging/ ------- Get more info & commentary:  https://realinvestmentadvice.com/newsletter/ -------- SUBSCRIBE to The Real Investment Show here: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealInvestmentShow -------- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN -------- Subscribe to SimpleVisor: https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new -------- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #MarketRally #MarketRisk #MarketCorrection #MovingAverages #GravitationalPull #RiskManagement #PortfolioRisk #PortfolioManagement #BigTech #TechStocks #ArtificialIntelligence #FAANG #InvestingAdvice #Money #Investing

In this episode, host Ilan Berman speaks with Sam Douglas-Bate of British futures consultancy ForgeFront about how advances in technology are assisting the proliferation of “fake news” and disinformation - and what Western governments can do about it. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:— Sam Douglas-Bate, "The Double-Edged Sword: New Technologies to Win the War on Fake News," New Lines Institute, May 2, 2025, https://newlinesinstitute.org/strategic-technology/the-double-edged-sword-new-technologies-to-win-the-war-on-fake-news/. BIO:Sam Douglas-Bate is the founder of ForgeFront, a futures and foresight consultancy based in the UK. The company works with government and businesses around the world in a policy field called futures thinking, helping them use technology to analyze and react to systemic threats and opportunities. A large part of ForgeFront's work is focused on how new technologies intersect with fake news. Prior to establishing ForgeFront, Sam worked for the European Union and the UK's Cabinet Office, Brexit Department and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He has also worked in the House of Commons, led high profile accounts for a leading public affairs firm and was in the last tranche of British EU Civil Servants working for the institutions in Brussels.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another bull-market high on Wall Street; President Trump's demand the EU accept 15-20 percent minimum tariffs by Aug. 1 as Brussels prepares to retaliate with higher taxes on American aircraft, bourbon and cars; the US administration says it's netted $64 billion in tariff revenue since the start of the year; Embraer's warning that new taxes would increase regional aircraft unit costs for aircraft sold in America by $9 million; despite economic worries, Delta and United announce soaring profits and reinstate their bullish air travel guidance; GE Aerospace and Saab earnings as defense and aerospace firms prepare to follow suit; British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; and President Trump says he will sell weapons to NATO nations for shipment to Ukraine.

Send us a textPrabowo went to Brussels to meet with Ursula Von der Leyen to finalize the long awaited Indonesia-EU CEPA. Trump announced 19% tariff announcement on Truth Social. Tom Lembong was sentenced to 4 and a half years, a loud political statement on what dissent will cost and a warning for other Ministers not to cross Prabowo.It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

A delicious Brussels sprouts slaw with meaty bacon lardons and some bright, fresh toppings. The creamy dressing uses rendered bacon fat as the base and is a perfect pair for the sprouts. Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon from TheCookful.Here are the links to some of the items I talked about in this episode: #adColeman All Natural MeatsColeman Steak Cut Hickory Smoked Uncured BaconLarge SkilletBowl8x8" or 7x11" Baking PanFood ProcessorSpinach Salad With Warm Bacon DressingThe All New Chicken CookbookHere's the Recipe Of The Day page with all of our recipe links!If you want to make sure you always find out what today's recipe is, do one or all of the following:Subscribe to the PodcastJoin the ROTD TikTok, Instagram, Facebook Group, or PinterestBlog and Newsletter: CookTheStory.comWebsite: TheCookful.comCourses: Free Mini Cooking CoursesGuide: Free Rotation Ready Meal Planning GuideHave a great day! -Christine xo

A Brussels-based tour guide offers his recommendations for making the most of a weekend in the Belgian capital. Then one of Rick's co-authors joins us to explore what it means to become a "temporary local" when traveling, and how it can help you actually relax on your next vacation. And listeners share ideas for enjoying areas they know well, as long-term locals — including Maine's Acadia National Park and the art museums of St. Petersburg, Florida. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Three and a half years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European Union countries have agreed to slap yet more sanctions on Moscow. Slovakia had been blocking the package over concerns regarding a separate EU proposal phasing out gas imports from Russia. This is the EU's 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.Also on the programme: we hear from a British surgeon working in Gaza about what he calls a concerning pattern of injuries in patients being brought to hospital from aid centres; and the North Korean defectors making their debut in a new K-pop boy band.(Photo: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press point on 18th package of sanctions against Russia in Brussels, Belgium, June 10, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Yves Herman)

Food doesn't cause IBS. But the fear around food? That's real.   In this episode of The Gut Show, I'm talking about when restrictions help, when they don't, and what else could be driving your symptoms.   Thank you to our partners:   @GemelliBiotech offers trusted, science-backed at-home tests for conditions like SIBO, IMO, ISO, and post-infectious IBS.   Their Trio-Smart breath test measures all three key gases: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide to detect different forms of microbial overgrowth. And for those with IBS symptoms, IBS-Smart is a simple blood test that can confirm post-infectious IBS with clinical accuracy.   You simply order the test, complete it at home, send it back, and get clinically backed results in about a week that you can take to your provider!   Find out which tests are right for you at getgutanswers.com and use code ERINJUDGE25 to save $25 on your order!   @FODZYME is the world's first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs.   When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME's novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues.   With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, Brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME's digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss. Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer.   This episode is made possible with support from Ardelyx.   Covered in this episode: Why I work with IBS [3:10] The most common reason for dietary restriction in IBS [4:09] Food intolerance in IBS [6:10] Visceral hypersensitivity [7:45] Immune activation [9:05] Dysbiosis [9:54] Intestinal permeability [10:51] Food does not cause IBS [12:42] (social?) When do restrictions work? [14:01] When restrictions work against you [16:47] Pitfalls to be aware of [23:06] Support for food fear [36:59] How to approach dietary restrictions [45:59] Sustainable ways to approach restrictions [47:27] Non food restriction strategies [51:23] What does managing IBS look like? [52:15] How do you get there? [56:20]   Mentioned in this episode:  MASTER Method Membership Take the quiz: What's your poop personality?  Malabsorption Overlapping With or Masking as IBS   Connect with Gutivate:  IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinjudge.rd TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinjudge.rd Work with Gutivate: https://gutivate.com/services   

Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, resets UK relations but tussles with Brussels’ budget. Plus: Milan’s mayoral woes, the UK lowers the voting age and how Superman overcame an attempted Maga backlash.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Susan Wadia-Ells empowers women by revealing clear paths to prevent and reverse breast cancer naturally.New episodes of Welcome to Wellness released every Friday!Not listening on Spotify? Show notes at: https://www.ashleydeeley.com/w2w/bustingbreastcancerBuy Susan's book hereEpisode brought to you by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ApolloNeuro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode brought to you by:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VieLight⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Code: DEELEY10Episode brought to you by:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dry Farm Wines⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sneak Peek on top 5 steps to stop and prevent breast cancer:Avoid mammogramsStop taking hormonal birth control (but copper IUDs are great!)Lose excess fatStop holding onto highly stressful jobs/relationshipsFocus on mitochondrial health (Vitamin D3, reducing carbs, meditation)3:01: Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: On the Origin, Management, and Prevention of Cancer by Dr. Thomas Seyfried13:13: Don't get tumors biopsied (seed & soil)... Episode with Dr. Katrina Lewis who had breast cancer twice (Episode 21)14:02: Mammogram controversy (be more like Switzerland!)18:29 Opt for Thermogram instead!23:00: Manage cancer metabolically (The Metabolic Approach to Cancer - Nasha Winters)23:39: Don't fear dense and lumpy breasts 29:23: Otto Warburg - Cancer can be starved - Cancer cells thrive on glucose30:37: Glutamine and DON (6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine aka DON) - DON article 32:14: Anti-parasitic medicine32:45: Press-Pulse Theory35:49: It's time to manage your stress36:35: Should you cut off your breasts? BRCA1 and a BRCA2 and a P5340:44: Potatoes and corn vs. cabbage and Brussels sprouts44:30: Get off synthetic progestins (hormonal birth control)50:55: Use copper IUDs (as needed for birth control)Where to find Dr. Susan Wadia-Ells:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInWhere to find Ashley Deeley:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@ashleydeeley.com

Earlier this week it seems President Trump took a new stance on Ukraine, announcing a new plan to speed weapons to the war-torn country along with the threat of a new round of punishing sanctions. At the same time, he doubled down on tariffs this past weekend, threatening 30% tariffs on the EU. Ian Lesser, the vice president and Brussels chief of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins Thanos Davelis to look into what these shifts mean for Europe.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Trump's Shift on Ukraine Is Good News for Europe, for NowTrump intensifies trade war with threat of 30% tariffs on EU, MexicoEurope's freedom faces greatest threat since WW2, Macron saysTurkish court sentences Erdoğan's top rival to almost 2 years in prisonTourism receipts fall despite visitor surge

It was a week that brought the future of Greece and the Eurozone to the brink. Ten years ago, on 6 July the Greek people voted against the terms of a financial bailout which included raising taxes and slashing welfare spending. Greece owed €323bn to various countries and banks within Europe. Its banks were closed. A quarter of the population and half of Greece's young people were unemployed.The morning after the vote, Euclid Tsakalotos was brought in to replace Yanis Varoufakis as finance minister. His predecessor had accused European leaders of “terrorism” in their handling of the crisis. Parachuted in to last-ditch talks with angry European leaders, Euclid Tsakalotos describes to Josephine McDermott the make-or-break 17-hour summit in Brussels. He reveals that when Angela Merkel, the leader of Greece's biggest lender Germany, said she was leaving the room because she could not accept what was on the table, Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, actually locked the door to stop her leaving and force an agreement to be reached. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: A queue outside a bank in Greece in 2015. Credit: Getty Images)

EU negotiators thought a deal with their US counterparts on trade and tariffs was near. Then US president Donald Trump ended those feelings of optimism by threatening to apply 30% tariffs from August 1st. Is this another negotiating tactic or does he mean it this time? And what is the mood in Dublin and Brussels about Trump's threats? Jack Horgan-Jones and Jack Power join Pat Leahy. In part two: Independent TD Catherine Connolly is seeking a nomination to run for president. Will Labour, her erstwhile party, support her bid? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PREVIEW: GERMANY DEFENCE MINISTRY: Colleague Judy Dempsey in Berlin comments on the robust and charismatic Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius who is driving Germany and the EU/NATO to rearm. More to come. 1914 BRUSSELS

It's often thought that liver damage is always caused by too much alcohol or sugar, but there is something MUCH worse. Pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, plastics, and forever chemicals contain toxic compounds that mimic estrogen. These toxins fit into the estrogen receptors in your cells and activate the estrogen effect in certain parts of the body. These chemicals overstimulate estrogen receptors in the body, which can cause the following problems:•Reduced bile production•Increased risk of breast cancer•Increased incidence of hypothyroidism•Weight gain•Increased breast tissue in men•Increased acne •Decreased sperm count •Decreased testosterone levels •Estrogen dominance in postmenopausal womenThese toxins that mimic estrogen are called xenoestrogens. A healthy liver can eliminate these chemicals from the body, but if liver health is compromised or overloaded, it may be difficult. Avoid xenoestrogens as much as possible, although it may be impossible to avoid them all. You must also support the liver's ability to detox naturally. A properly functioning liver takes harmful fat-soluble chemicals and turns them into harmless water-soluble particles to be removed from the body.Cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and arugula contain potent phytonutrients that work as a natural liver detox. DIM supplements are a concentrated cruciferous extract that can help naturally cleanse your liver. Some cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli sprouts and radishes, contain the phytonutrient sulforaphane, which can increase over 200 detox genes. It also feeds the gut bacteria that can help you detoxify chemicals. The liver contains a hormone called sex hormone-binding globulin, vital to protect you against excess estrogen in the body. Cruciferous vegetables can help increase this hormone. Here are a few natural remedies that can improve liver function and liver health:•Cruciferous vegetables•DIM •NAC •CholineDr. Eric Berg DC Bio:Dr. Berg, age 60, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.