Podcasts about Burmese

Episode #364: Ben's simple words resonate strongly: “If I could do something small for one person, why would I not?” This episode brings together Ben and a Burmese student who goes by the moniker Little Activist. Together, they discuss the profound impact of individual gestures and transnational solidarity. Ben, who worked briefly in Myanmar with a UN agency, was moved by an episode that Insight Myanmar Podcast aired last year, in which Little Activist described how he was documenting military atrocities and sharing online information. Compelled by Little Activist's courage and the sacrifices he was making, Ben decided to offer a monthly donation to support him and his mission. For Ben, this act was more than charity; it was a way to honor the kindness he experienced in Myanmar and to inspire others to stand in solidarity with those aspiring for democracy. Little Activist's response underscored the far-reaching effects of Ben's generosity: to him, the donation was more than a lifeline, as it provided not only material support but also a morale boost. Not content to keep the fund for himself alone, Little Activist distributed portions of the donation to others in need, reflecting his enduring commitment to collective well-being. The conversation also addresses the worsening conditions in Myanmar under the junta, from economic and educational crises to escalating violence and airstrikes. Despite these challenges, Little Activist remains steadfast in his mission to document the junta's atrocities and keep Myanmar's plight visible to the world, despite censorship and surveillance. In closing, Little Activist expressed deep gratitude, emphasizing that even in the absence of robust international intervention, solidarity from individuals like Ben provides hope. His final words capture his resolve: “Even if the international giants don't care about us, we'll continue our fight, knowing there are people out there who do.”

မမေအေး က Burmese Care ဟာ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံမှ မတူကွဲပြားသော လူမျိုးစုအသိုက် အဝန်းမှ တစ်ဦးချင်းစီအတွက် NDIS နှင့် သက်ကြီးရွယ်အို စောင့်ရှောက်ရေး ဝန်ဆောင်မှုများ ကို ရိုးရှင်းလွယ်ကူစေပြီး ပိုမိုတိုးတက်ကောင်းမွန်လာစေရန် လုပ်ဆောင်တယ်ဟု ရှင်းပြထားပါတယ်။

“သောတရှင်များကို ၂၀၂၅ ခုနှစ် “ဇူလိုင်လ ၉ ရက် ဗုဒ္ဓဟူးနေ့ အတွက် SBS မြန်မာ Newsflash သတင်းထူးများကို တင်ဆက်ပေးမှာဖြစ်ပါတယ်”

Greg interviews repeat guest Justin Dunne, who previously appeared on Season 6, Episode 24, discussing his cool side project ‘Bangkok Haunts.' Justin's main gig is to be a legend of the Food & Beverage scene in Bangkok, having been the GM of the epic Bed Supperclub back in the day, and many more bars and restaurants between then and now. Oh yeah, he's also the head of F&B consultancy Evolution48.  The guys begin by discussing Bangkok's rise in status as a culinary capital. Justin contends there are many factors, not least of which is Bangkok's ability to capture Michelin ratings, which is a traditional way to get on the international stage for great food. Another explanation is the shift in Bangkok away from the previous sole emphasis on street food to more diverse, upscale offerings. And last, food shows on TV and the Internet, including high-profile foodies such as Anthony Bourdain, had an effect. Justin also mentions other significant milestones in the development of the food scene in Bangkok. One is the shift towards employing both Burmese and Filipino staff, which helped change the customer service culture more towards an international standard. Another is the rise of food delivery services and the embrace of technology, such as QR codes, which have reduced the friction points so much that the motivation for cooking at home is reduced. In short, Bangkok has a restaurant culture where a high percentage of people from all walks of life are either eating out or ordering in. Combined with relatively low prices compared to other international capitals, you have the recipe for a food paradise.   Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.  

Episode #361: “I am Burmese. I feel like it is my duty and responsibility to speak about it.” With these words, Myet opens a conversation that explores Myanmar's past and present, weaving together personal history, political critique, and spiritual insight. Raised under military rule, Myet witnessed the silencing of dissent and the trauma that shaped her parents' generation after the 1988 uprising. After resettling in the West, she was struck by how little people knew about Myanmar's history and suffering. “We do not exist in the imagination of the world as a place of suffering,” she says, highlighting the disparity in global attention, where some crises are prioritized for their geopolitical weight, while others, such as Myanmar's, remain largely unacknowledged. Myet critiques Myanmar's 2010–2020 “transition” as a façade that never disrupted military power. She praises the post-coup resistance as more decentralized and inclusive, led by youth, women, queer activists, and ethnic minorities. Here, she urges deeper forms of solidarity, calling on the international community to abandon simplistic narratives and instead “care” in meaningful ways. “For me, the opposite of violence is not just peace. It's care.” Spirituality grounds Myet's resilience. A daily meditator, she draws on both the Burmese monk U Jotika and the Western teacher Eckhart Tolle to cultivate presence and self-understanding. Rather than aiming for perfection, her practice is about “being,” not “achieving.” She also speaks to the burden of survivor guilt: “Sometimes I feel guilty, just to be secure.” Yet she refuses to give in to despair. Her closing message is direct and urgent: “The world needs to care before it's too late.”

Daily QuoteIf you can't get to be oncommon through going straight, you'll never get to do it through going crooked... and live well and die happy. (Charles Dickens)Poem of the Day夏夜何其芳Beauty of Words忆滇缅路萧乾

As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the ‘Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. It was the British Empire's crown jewel, a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population and encompassing the largest Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities on the planet. Its people used the Indian rupee, were issued passports stamped ‘Indian Empire', and were guarded by armies garrisoned in forts from the Bab el-Mandeb to the Himalayas. And then, in the space of just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division. Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia (William Collins and HarperCollins India, 2025) by Sam Dalrymple, for the first time, presents the whole story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. How a single, sprawling dominion became twelve modern nations. How maps were redrawn in boardrooms and on battlefields, by politicians in London and revolutionaries in Delhi, by kings in remote palaces and soldiers in trenches. Its legacies include civil war in Burma and ongoing insurgencies in Kashmir, Baluchistan and Northeast India, and the Rohingya genocide. It is a history of ambition and betrayal, of forgotten wars and unlikely alliances, of borders carved with ink and fire. And, above all, it is the story of how the map of modern Asia was made. Dalrymple's stunning history is based on deep archival research, previously untranslated private memoirs, and interviews in English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Konyak, Arabic and Burmese. From portraits of the key political players to accounts of those swept up in these wars and mass migrations, Shattered Lands is vivid, compelling, thought-provoking history at its best. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the ‘Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. It was the British Empire's crown jewel, a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population and encompassing the largest Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities on the planet. Its people used the Indian rupee, were issued passports stamped ‘Indian Empire', and were guarded by armies garrisoned in forts from the Bab el-Mandeb to the Himalayas. And then, in the space of just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division. Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia (William Collins and HarperCollins India, 2025) by Sam Dalrymple, for the first time, presents the whole story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. How a single, sprawling dominion became twelve modern nations. How maps were redrawn in boardrooms and on battlefields, by politicians in London and revolutionaries in Delhi, by kings in remote palaces and soldiers in trenches. Its legacies include civil war in Burma and ongoing insurgencies in Kashmir, Baluchistan and Northeast India, and the Rohingya genocide. It is a history of ambition and betrayal, of forgotten wars and unlikely alliances, of borders carved with ink and fire. And, above all, it is the story of how the map of modern Asia was made. Dalrymple's stunning history is based on deep archival research, previously untranslated private memoirs, and interviews in English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Konyak, Arabic and Burmese. From portraits of the key political players to accounts of those swept up in these wars and mass migrations, Shattered Lands is vivid, compelling, thought-provoking history at its best. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the ‘Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. It was the British Empire's crown jewel, a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population and encompassing the largest Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities on the planet. Its people used the Indian rupee, were issued passports stamped ‘Indian Empire', and were guarded by armies garrisoned in forts from the Bab el-Mandeb to the Himalayas. And then, in the space of just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division. Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia (William Collins and HarperCollins India, 2025) by Sam Dalrymple, for the first time, presents the whole story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. How a single, sprawling dominion became twelve modern nations. How maps were redrawn in boardrooms and on battlefields, by politicians in London and revolutionaries in Delhi, by kings in remote palaces and soldiers in trenches. Its legacies include civil war in Burma and ongoing insurgencies in Kashmir, Baluchistan and Northeast India, and the Rohingya genocide. It is a history of ambition and betrayal, of forgotten wars and unlikely alliances, of borders carved with ink and fire. And, above all, it is the story of how the map of modern Asia was made. Dalrymple's stunning history is based on deep archival research, previously untranslated private memoirs, and interviews in English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Konyak, Arabic and Burmese. From portraits of the key political players to accounts of those swept up in these wars and mass migrations, Shattered Lands is vivid, compelling, thought-provoking history at its best. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the ‘Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. It was the British Empire's crown jewel, a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population and encompassing the largest Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities on the planet. Its people used the Indian rupee, were issued passports stamped ‘Indian Empire', and were guarded by armies garrisoned in forts from the Bab el-Mandeb to the Himalayas. And then, in the space of just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division. Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia (William Collins and HarperCollins India, 2025) by Sam Dalrymple, for the first time, presents the whole story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. How a single, sprawling dominion became twelve modern nations. How maps were redrawn in boardrooms and on battlefields, by politicians in London and revolutionaries in Delhi, by kings in remote palaces and soldiers in trenches. Its legacies include civil war in Burma and ongoing insurgencies in Kashmir, Baluchistan and Northeast India, and the Rohingya genocide. It is a history of ambition and betrayal, of forgotten wars and unlikely alliances, of borders carved with ink and fire. And, above all, it is the story of how the map of modern Asia was made. Dalrymple's stunning history is based on deep archival research, previously untranslated private memoirs, and interviews in English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Konyak, Arabic and Burmese. From portraits of the key political players to accounts of those swept up in these wars and mass migrations, Shattered Lands is vivid, compelling, thought-provoking history at its best. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the ‘Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. It was the British Empire's crown jewel, a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population and encompassing the largest Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities on the planet. Its people used the Indian rupee, were issued passports stamped ‘Indian Empire', and were guarded by armies garrisoned in forts from the Bab el-Mandeb to the Himalayas. And then, in the space of just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division. Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia (William Collins and HarperCollins India, 2025) by Sam Dalrymple, for the first time, presents the whole story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. How a single, sprawling dominion became twelve modern nations. How maps were redrawn in boardrooms and on battlefields, by politicians in London and revolutionaries in Delhi, by kings in remote palaces and soldiers in trenches. Its legacies include civil war in Burma and ongoing insurgencies in Kashmir, Baluchistan and Northeast India, and the Rohingya genocide. It is a history of ambition and betrayal, of forgotten wars and unlikely alliances, of borders carved with ink and fire. And, above all, it is the story of how the map of modern Asia was made. Dalrymple's stunning history is based on deep archival research, previously untranslated private memoirs, and interviews in English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Konyak, Arabic and Burmese. From portraits of the key political players to accounts of those swept up in these wars and mass migrations, Shattered Lands is vivid, compelling, thought-provoking history at its best. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the ‘Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. It was the British Empire's crown jewel, a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population and encompassing the largest Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities on the planet. Its people used the Indian rupee, were issued passports stamped ‘Indian Empire', and were guarded by armies garrisoned in forts from the Bab el-Mandeb to the Himalayas. And then, in the space of just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division. Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia (William Collins and HarperCollins India, 2025) by Sam Dalrymple, for the first time, presents the whole story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. How a single, sprawling dominion became twelve modern nations. How maps were redrawn in boardrooms and on battlefields, by politicians in London and revolutionaries in Delhi, by kings in remote palaces and soldiers in trenches. Its legacies include civil war in Burma and ongoing insurgencies in Kashmir, Baluchistan and Northeast India, and the Rohingya genocide. It is a history of ambition and betrayal, of forgotten wars and unlikely alliances, of borders carved with ink and fire. And, above all, it is the story of how the map of modern Asia was made. Dalrymple's stunning history is based on deep archival research, previously untranslated private memoirs, and interviews in English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Konyak, Arabic and Burmese. From portraits of the key political players to accounts of those swept up in these wars and mass migrations, Shattered Lands is vivid, compelling, thought-provoking history at its best. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

Episode #358: The 4th International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies (ICBMS), hosted by Chiang Mai University in August 2024, brought together scholars, activists, and experts to discuss Myanmar's critical issues. The event focused on conflicts, peace processes, human rights, and the 2021 coup's impact, drawing an estimated 800 participants, making it one of the largest gatherings on Myanmar studies.Insight Myanmar Podcast had exclusive on-site access, recording a number of brief interviews with a wide range of guests. These interviews explore many different themes, and we're excited to bring them to you here. This is the third episode of our four-part series, and features:Charlotte Galloway is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Australian National University, and has worked in Myanmar since 1999, focusing on art history, archaeology, and heritage conservation. She played a key role in cataloging museum collections and contributing to Bagan's UNESCO World Heritage listing, while advocating for the restoration of local scholarship and cultural heritage after the disruptions caused by the 2021 coup."Eileen" (a pseudonym used for safety), a Burmese youth activist and former Student Union member, has been instrumental in organizing protests against the military regime. She now advocates from Thailand for greater Thai and international involvement in Myanmar's crisis, urging more proactive approaches and emphasizing the importance of the voices of border communities in Thai-Myanmar relations.Peter Morris, a lawyer, part-time journalist, and teacher, remains optimistic about the success of Myanmar's Spring Revolution. He emphasizes the unity of resistance forces, including ethnic armed organizations and the younger generation and highlights the growing solidarity among Myanmar's diaspora, while underscoring the crucial leadership roles of youth and women in the revolution.“Beverley” (a pseudonym used for safety), is psychologist working in the field of mental health and psychosocial support. She notes the significant rise in mental health issues since the coup, especially fear, anxiety, and grief. She explains that professional counseling is still relatively new in Myanmar, with many traditionally turning to spiritual practices for support.Nang Moet Moet, a leader from the Women's League of Burma (WLB), advocates for peace, reconciliation, and women's political empowerment. She stresses the need for ethnic women's involvement in decision-making, while highlighting the intersectionality of the revolution as people unite to fight both military dictatorship and gender oppression.

Send us a textIn this lively and eye-opening episode, Joey Pinz sits down with Jordan Trowbridge—an avid reptile rescuer and passionate wildlife advocate—to explore the urgent environmental challenges facing Florida. From invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades to the unintended damage caused by domestic cats and manicured lawns, Jordan dives deep into what's hurting Florida's biodiversity—and how everyday people can help.The conversation spans topics like responsible pet ownership, the power of native plants, and why zoos still matter for global conservation awareness. Jordan shares personal stories of rescuing snakes, keeping exotic lizards, and growing up catching frogs and turtles in Florida creeks.He also offers practical advice on vetting reptile care, coexisting safely with alligators, and reducing the impact of chemicals on pollinators. With humor, knowledge, and a clear love for the natural world, Jordan makes a compelling case that the path to a better planet starts with individual action. ✅ Top 3 Highlights:

In this week's roundup of the latest news in online speech, content moderation and internet regulation, Ben is joined by guest host Mercy Mutemi, lawyer and managing partner of Nzili & Sumbi Advocates. Together, they cover:Meta can be sued in Kenya for human trafficking and for algorithmic amplification of harm (Open Democracy)Billy Perrigo on investigating Facebook's 'ethical' outsourced content moderation in Kenya (Everything in Moderation)A first look at Meta's Community Notes (Indicator Media)Get Noted (Columbia Journalism Review)The Meaning of Being an African YouTuber: Big Audiences, No Big Money + Is TikTok Excluding Africans From its Creator Economy? (Fast Company)Is TikTok Excluding Africans From its Creator Economy? (OkayAfrica)I was tricked, tortured, finally freed: inside a Burmese scam farm (The Times)Tanzania announces shutdown of X because of pornography (BBC)This episode is brought to you with financial support from the Future of Online Trust & Safety Fund. Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast from Techdirt and Everything in Moderation. Send us your feedback at podcast@ctrlaltspeech.com and sponsorship enquiries to sponsorship@ctrlaltspeech.com. Thanks for listening.

88 Children Removed From Iowa Bible Camp Inside the Human Trafficking Investigation  In June 2025, law enforcement descended on a small Iowa town to execute one of the largest child removal operations in the state's history. 88 children were evacuated from the Shekinah Glory Camp in Columbus Junction, launching a human trafficking investigation that would expose troubling questions about religious authority, refugee vulnerability, and alleged exploitation. The Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation, run by Burmese pastors in a town where 25% of residents are Myanmar refugees, operated what they claimed was a Bible camp for addiction recovery. But when a 15-year-old from Texas made a desperate call to authorities, it triggered a multi-agency raid involving the Louisa County Sheriff's Office, Iowa DHS, and state criminal investigators. In this video, we examine: The timeline of events leading to the raid Why authorities launched a trafficking investigation The vulnerable Burmese refugee community targeted How 60+ people lived in 5 mobile homes The ministry's claims vs. what investigators found Legal precedents from similar religious compound cases Why no arrests have been made (yet) This case sits at the intersection of immigration, religious freedom, and child protection - raising critical questions about oversight of faith-based organizations serving vulnerable populations. This is an active investigation. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Sources: Louisa County Sheriff's Office, Iowa DHS, KWQC, The Gazette, WQAD Hashtags: #ShekinahGloryCamp #IowaTrueCrime #KingdomMinistry #ColumbusJunction #HumanTraffickingCase #ReligiousCamp #BurmeseRefugees #MyanmarCommunity #TrueCrime2025 #ChildRescue #IowaInvestigation #CultInvestigation #ReligiousExploitation #RefugeeCommunity #BibleCampRaid #TrueCrimeCommunity #ActiveInvestigation #ChildTrafficking #ReligiousFreedom #JusticeFor88 #IowaCrime #ChurchScandal #BreakingTrueCrime #CriminalInvestigation #MinistryScandal Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872  

In June 2025, law enforcement descended on a small Iowa town to execute one of the largest child removal operations in the state's history. 88 children were evacuated from the Shekinah Glory Camp in Columbus Junction, launching a human trafficking investigation that would expose troubling questions about religious authority, refugee vulnerability, and alleged exploitation. The Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation, run by Burmese pastors in a town where 25% of residents are Myanmar refugees, operated what they claimed was a Bible camp for addiction recovery. But when a 15-year-old from Texas made a desperate call to authorities, it triggered a multi-agency raid involving the Louisa County Sheriff's Office, Iowa DHS, and state criminal investigators. In this video, we examine: The timeline of events leading to the raid Why authorities launched a trafficking investigation The vulnerable Burmese refugee community targeted How 60+ people lived in 5 mobile homes The ministry's claims vs. what investigators found Legal precedents from similar religious compound cases Why no arrests have been made (yet) This case sits at the intersection of immigration, religious freedom, and child protection - raising critical questions about oversight of faith-based organizations serving vulnerable populations. This is an active investigation. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Sources: Louisa County Sheriff's Office, Iowa DHS, KWQC, The Gazette, WQAD Hashtags: #ShekinahGloryCamp #IowaTrueCrime #KingdomMinistry #ColumbusJunction #HumanTraffickingCase #ReligiousCamp #BurmeseRefugees #MyanmarCommunity #TrueCrime2025 #ChildRescue #IowaInvestigation #CultInvestigation #ReligiousExploitation #RefugeeCommunity #BibleCampRaid #TrueCrimeCommunity #ActiveInvestigation #ChildTrafficking #ReligiousFreedom #JusticeFor88 #IowaCrime #ChurchScandal #BreakingTrueCrime #CriminalInvestigation #MinistryScandal Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

TALK TO ME, TEXT ITHave you ever thought about how Tuesday gets overlooked in our weekly narrative? While Monday suffers from the blues and Wednesday celebrates being the halfway point, Tuesday sits quietly in between – vanilla, simple, and often unappreciated. Yet there's something beautifully reliable about this unassuming day that deserves recognition.Today's exploration takes us through some genuinely bizarre news stories that demand closer examination. We dive into the troubling case of 88 children removed from an Iowa Bible camp amid human trafficking concerns, uncovering the complex cultural dynamics at play with Burmese refugee pastors at the center of the investigation. The story raises important questions about cultural differences, refugee resettlement challenges, and the thin line between charitable work and potential exploitation.We also examine the FBI's warning about widespread DMV text scams threatening millions of iPhone users, discuss the suspiciously Florida-centric list of "America's most dangerous beaches" (seriously, all ten in one state?), and reflect on personal weaknesses and the daily struggle to maintain disciplined eating habits. The journey through keto dieting – with weekday structure and weekend flexibility – mirrors many of life's balancing acts between commitment and sustainability.What weaknesses do you acknowledge in yourself? How do you handle the balance between structure and flexibility in your own life? Join the conversation and share your thoughts. And if you enjoyed today's meandering through Tuesday musings and peculiar headlines, subscribe for more daily reflections that find meaning in both the mundane and the remarkable.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREE Thanks for listening! Liberty Line each week on Sunday, look for topics on my X file @americanistblog and submit your 1-3 audio opinions to anamericanistblog@gmail.com and you'll be featured on the podcast. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREESupport the showTip Jar for coffee $ - Thanks Music by Alehandro Vodnik from Pixabay Blog - AnAmericanist.comX - @americanistblog

Episode #355: “You need to pay attention to what the kids care about,” says Naomi Gingold. “It will inform so much about the place that you're trying to understand, be it politics, culture, all of it! And you do a disservice to the nature of what you're trying to understand when you don't.” In the late 1990s, amid Myanmar's strict military rule, Burmese hip hop began to emerge as a new form of cultural expression. Young people blended beats, slang, and self-assertion to create a movement that challenged both cultural norms and the political narrative of a tightly controlled society. Gingold, a journalist and academic researcher, who has spent years studying Myanmar's hip hop scene, explains that even though the music wasn't necessarily explicitly political, many facets of hip hop were expressions of agency in a harshly suppressed environment and inherently defiant. Her research (and book-in-progress) is on the birth, unexpected rise, and explosive impact of hip hop in Myanmar; it is a story she tells alongside the inseparable history and evolution of modern technology, the public sphere, as well as youth political sentiment and agency in the country. The group Acid—who became the first real hip hop stars in Myanmar—and other pioneering bands spoke to the frustrations of Burmese youth, addressing daily struggles and aspirations. Hip hop artists cleverly used coded language and slang to evade the scrutiny of an oppressive regime, embodying ideals of freedom and resistance in the process. The resurgence of military power in 2021 brought a return to repression after a period of relative openness and freedom. Among the most devastating events was the state execution of Phyo Zeya Thaw, a co-founder of Acid and a leader of the resistance. His arrest and execution in 2022 were a chilling reminder of the regime's determination to crush dissent. Those events were also deeply personal for today's guest and her research community, especially. She briefly reflects on the rise of new media post coup, "This was me reflecting primarily on changes in media/public sphere and youth political sentiment. All part of my research. Though hip hop has affected the podcasts and social media platforms have become new vehicles for artists and activists to share their stories, discuss mental health, reflect on the ongoing revolution, and chat about the future they aspire to create. These new formats have allowed Burmese voices to reach an even wider audience, bypassing state-controlled media.”

Episode #354: Saravanan, an advocate for Myanmar's alienated Tamil community, illuminates their rich, yet overlooked, history. He describes an ancient connection, starting around 300 BC, through trade between Tamil merchants and the Mon people. Those early Tamil migrants eventually assimilated completely, suggesting hidden Tamil ancestry in many Burmese today. The colonial era marked a huge turning point. From just 19 Indians living in Yangon in 1852, the rice boom led to a surge of cheap Indian labor, which totaled 1 million by 1931. This forced migration through indentured labor, akin to slavery, fueled Myanmar's economy but also bred resentment. Saravanan details how discriminatory terms like kalar became linked to darker skin, creating persistent color-based classism. Anti-Indian sentiment escalated, culminating in the violent Rangoon riots in the 1930s. Then post-1962, Ne Win's regime deported many Tamils and nationalized their assets, while also banning their language and culture outright. For those who remained, this caused deep self-suppression and alienation. While modern media offers cultural revitalization, political participation remains severely limited due to lack of citizenship and fear of retaliation. Saravanan emphasizes that for Tamils, neither dictatorship nor democracy has brought genuine inclusion. He advocates for an “alienated minority committee” to actively integrate these communities, recognizing their history and providing legal and social equality. “Society has to take a step back, look at us and say, ‘Okay, these people belong to us. They have to walk with us, because they are part of us,'” he says in closing.

Dr Ruth Freeman looks at how the Burmese pythons in Florida have been known to swallow large animals, like deer and alligators. Now, for the first time on record, a Florida bobcat has been caught killing a 12-foot python in a sign of nature fighting back. Also, when a heatwave arrives in Ireland, we all reach for the sunscreen and hats but what if the biggest danger isn't just to our bodies, but to our minds?All with thanks to Repak.

Greg and Ed discuss the recent troubling decrease in overall Thai tourism numbers. In general, since COVID, the Thai tourism industry has bounced back quite well, and projections were that 2025 numbers would exceed the pre-COVID peak of 39 million visitors. However, starting at the end of last year, numbers didn't meet expectations, and since then the dip has become more severe. So what happened? The guys cycle through several different factors. First, the earthquake at the end of March certainly didn't help matters, with many tourists canceling their trips for the Thai New Year in April. Second, and perhaps more concerning, several security incidents affecting Chinese tourists has led to a bit of a backlash in the largest source of tourists to Thailand. In particular, a Chinese celebrity was kidnapped and held for ransom, sparking fears that Thailand was not safe. Further, numerous stories of Burmese and Cambodian scam call centers that press foreigners into service have magnified the problem. Ed notes that while overall numbers have dipped, the numbers from most Western countries have risen in accord with projections. Hence, the problem is limited to Asian tourists. Greg points out that the ‘White Lotus Effect' might be the kind of thing that sparks interest in Westerners, but not in Asians, who may already feel familiar with a tropical climate and many aspects of Thai culture.  Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.

Title: Signs of The SpiritSpeaker: Rob BerrethScripture: 1 John 4:1-14Episode Overview:What does it really look like when the Holy Spirit moves? On this Pentecost Sunday, Pastor Rob walks us through 1 John 4 with help from Jonathan Edwards to distinguish between unreliable signs — emotional experiences, large crowds, or initial decisions — and the deeper, reliable fruit of genuine spiritual awakening. When the Spirit is truly at work, sin is battled, the Word is cherished, love overflows, and Jesus is exalted. In a moment where it feels like God might be stirring something fresh, this message invites us to pray for a real, Spirit-led awakening, starting in our own hearts.Key Highlights:• Jonathan Edwards' distinction between unreliable and reliable signs of the Spirit• The Spirit convicts of sin and leads believers to fight for holiness• Adoniram Judson's inspiring love for God's Word in a Burmese prison• Real faith results in love for God and love for others• Any true move of the Spirit will center on and exalt Jesus — not personalities, platforms, or feelings• Hopeful call for a fifth great awakening, beginning with real heart changeCall to Action:Ask the Spirit to search your life. Where are you seeing growth in holiness, hunger for the Word, love for others, and deeper worship of Jesus? Pray for a true awakening — in you, in the church, and across the city.Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

This week on The Backyard Naturalists, we're welcoming a cold-blooded guest — and we mean that in the best way possible. Reptile educator Jay Bell joins Debbie and Laurie in the studio, bringing along his unforgettable companion: Norm, a Burmese python who stretches over 6 feet long (and still growing!). Together, they unpack a fascinating (and often misunderstood) corner of the natural world: snakes. Whether you're a snake lover or snake skeptic, this episode has something for you:

“သောတရှင်များကို ၂၀၂၅ ခုနှစ် “ဇန်နဝါရီလ ၃၁ ရက် ဗုဒ္ဓဟူးနေ့ အတွက် SBS မြန်မာ Newsflash သတင်းထူးများကို တင်ဆက်ပေးမှာဖြစ်ပါတယ်”

SBS မြန်မာ ၂၀၂၅ ခုနှစ် မေလ ၂၆ ရက် နေ့အတွက် News Flash သတင်းများ။

Breaking news, a judge reportedly tells the Trump administration to find the plane they placed deported migrants on and see if it can be turned around. Attorneys for Vietnamese and Burmese migrants alleged in a new emergency motion Tuesday that the Trump administration deported their clients to South Sudan in violation of a previous court order. Plus, former FBI Director James Comey speaks to AC360, just days after the Secret Service called him in for questioning about what some administration officials say was a call for President Trump's assassination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SBS မြန်မာ ၂၀၂၅ ခုနှစ် မေလ ၂၁ ရက် နေ့အတွက် News Flash သတင်းများ။

Episode #346: Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, reflects on Myanmar's multiple crises and shares his multi-decade relationship with the country. Initially engaged through public demonstrations, Farmaner's work evolved into policy-oriented advocacy aimed at cutting off the military's power through sanctions, revenue disruption, and denial of legitimacy. He criticizes international strategies rooted in the false hope of military reform, arguing that any compromise with the military only delays future unrest. Two early focal points of advocacy—Aung San Suu Kyi and British business ties to the junta—have lost their power. Suu Kyi's reputation declined following the Rohingya crisis, and Farmaner argues that her Bamar-Buddhist-majority outlook has alienated ethnic minorities. And international advocacy has fragmented as humanitarian emergencies divert civil society resources. Despite setbacks, Farmaner detects unprecedented hope among resistance actors envisioning a future without the military. He argues Myanmar's future lies in decentralized governance, where ethnic forces maintain regional control. He questions whether the NUG can form a central authority, especially given their lack of territorial control and strained relationships with some ethnic groups. Farmaner calls for cutting arms and revenue to the military, demanding justice, and expanding humanitarian aid. He warns that reduced aid empowers the junta, which exploits crises like the recent earthquake to regain international legitimacy. Still, in spite of the overall lack of foreign assistance, local, grassroots, Burmese responses have been inspiring, and he urges allies to pressure elected officials directly in support.Farmaner concludes optimistically: “I think it's inevitable that the people of Burma will win their freedom.”

ဇန်နဝါရီ ၁၉ ရက် တနင်္လာနေ့ SBS Burmese News Flash သတင်းများ။

The Burmese population in Indianapolis brings with it rich tradition, strong community ties, and flavorful cuisine.Tucked inside the south side of Indianapolis is Chin Brothers Restaurant and Grocery, a small space known for its authentic Burmese and Southeast Asian cuisine.For it's owner, it's more than business: It's a cultural bridge.From mohinga, a traditional fish noodle soup, to tea leaf salad and spicy curries, Chin Brothers Restaurant and Grocery has many traditional dishes.It was 15 years ago, when Hre, who's from Burma (now known as Myanmar) opened up his grocery store. A year later, he opened up the restaurant next door to provide a one-shop stop for his customers.Indianapolis has one of the largest Burmese populations in the country, with many in Perry Township. Hre's goal is to expose more people in the Hoosier state to Burmese food. He says that the popular dishes he serves are filled with foods you could get anywhere in Burma, such as kyay oh, teas, and rice dishes.Hre is proud to own his business in a diverse part of the city, where he and other cultures can grow and celebrate one another.Whether you're looking for an authentic taste of Myanmar or just a new spot to try something different, Chin Brothers Restaurant and Grocery offers more than a meal: It offers connection.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Jasmine and Gracie as they learn even more about snakes.  Did you see Gracie in the illustration?  It looks like she and a snake are flying.  Did you know a snake could fly?  Would you like a pet snake?  How about a boa constrictor or a Burmese python?  Would you like a biter or a constrictor?  Learn about them both!

SBS မြန်မာ ၂၀၂၅ ခုနှစ် မေလ ၁၄ ရက် နေ့အတွက် News Flash သတင်းများ။

Episode #343: “I literally thought the world was crumbling!” Chloe, a young woman born and raised in Myanmar's Inle Lake region, speaks viscerally about the country's recent, devastating earthquake. The lake, known for its picturesque floating gardens and villages built on stilts, is one of Myanmar's most iconic cultural landmarks. But the area is now in ruins. And while the structural damage was severe enough, the people were traumatized. With minimal outside relief, and an ineffective and corrupt government unwilling and unable to help, Chloe felt she had to do something. So she and some friends launched a grassroots fundraising campaign. They started by giving out small cash donations but quickly realized the biggest need was reliable shelter. In previous disasters, monasteries had served as temporary sanctuaries, but these now lay in ruins, too. Emergency shelters were quickly put up, but they are flimsy and sometimes shared by more than one family. So she and her friends pivoted to the goal of helping families rebuild their homes. Local initiatives like Chloe's are driving the recovery, and in her view, it is this decentralized, community-led model that while necessary, is also inspiring. She talks about how a village will help one family with the biggest housing needs in rebuilding, then move onto the next, etc., until the whole village is taken care of. This kind of collective action has lifted spirits. Yet the material needs and psychological effects of the earthquake remain acute, and in spite of the Burmese people's famous self-reliance, they were already exhausted after the COVID pandemic, years of political repression and civil strife, last year's catastrophic floods. So Chloe ends with a call to action for the global community, urging listeners not only to donate but to amplify the voices of those on the ground. “The more people know what's happening in Inle, the more likely it is that more support and assistance will come, I believe, from inside the country and beyond.”

SBS မြန်မာ ၂၀၂၅ ခုနှစ် မေလ ၇ ရက် နေ့အတွက် News Flash သတင်းများ။

Questions, suggestions, or feedback? Send us a message!Our guest today is Sam Harris. Sam is the host of the Making Sense Podcast and an the author of five New York Times best sellers. His books include The End of Faith, Letter to a Christian Nation, The Moral Landscape, Free Will, Lying, Waking Up, and Islam and the Future of Tolerance (with Maajid Nawaz). His writing and public lectures cover a wide range of topics—neuroscience, moral philosophy, religion, meditation practice, human violence, rationality—but generally focus on how a growing understanding of ourselves and the world is changing our sense of how we should live.Sam's work has been published in more than 20 languages and has been discussed in The New York Times, Time, Scientific American, Nature, Rolling Stone, and many other publications. He has written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Economist, The Atlantic, Nature, among others. The Making Sense Podcast, which was selected by Apple as one of the “iTunes Best” and has won a Webby Award for best podcast in the Science & Education category.Sam received a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA. He has also practiced meditation for more than 30 years and has studied with many Tibetan, Indian, Burmese, and Western meditation teachers, both in the United States and abroad. He has created the Waking Up app for anyone who wants to learn to meditate in a modern, scientific context.We talk about:How failing at meditation is the best approachDissolving concepts that are made up by our mindHow to loose your headHis book the Moral LandscapeMoral absolutes versus moral relativismIs adversity is the only path to growthThe illusory distinction between rationality and emotionsHis book Free WillWhether we really know why we change our mindsHow losing a foot might lead to better podcastsAnd a lot moreLet's meditate!Web: www.whereshallwemeet.xyzTwitter: @whrshallwemeetInstagram: @whrshallwemeet

SBS မြန်မာ ၂၀၂၅ ခုနှစ် ဧပြီ ၃၀ ရက် နေ့အတွက် News Flash သတင်းများ။

SBS မြန်မာ ၂၀၂၅ ခုနှစ် ဧပြီ ၂၈ ရက် နေ့အတွက် News Flash သတင်းများ။

Episode #339: Aung, a full-time journalist and women's rights activist, sheds light on the many hardships Myanmar's journalists now face both operating from within and without the country following the 2021 coup and the all-important issue of gender equality in the field.Reflecting back on the transition period, Aung laments that despite the modest advancements made in women's rights and gender equality, the military coup has undone these gains. Now, confronted with unprecedented challenges, she and her colleagues are tirelessly working through various organizations and initiatives to expose the pervasive gender discrimination and violence that persist in newsrooms.Their efforts also focus on creating networks that enable affected female journalists to connect, share experiences, and address these critical issues collectively. Pushing back against those voices that suggest these concerns should be addressed only after the junta is toppled, Aung insists this is partand parcel of the current revolution's objectives. Her story gives an inside look at the obstacles and absurdities that Burmese female journalists are made to confront unduly.In closing, sheinsists that their fight for equality is not code for establishing a new matriarchy; instead, she imagines a world where men and women share the workspace evenly.“Personally,” she attests, “I do not want us exercising some form of dominance over our male colleagues. When we think about our organization's structure, we think, ‘We will need to include their perspectives as well.”

In 2022, scientists dissected an 18-foot Burmese python only to find a barely digested 5-foot-long gator.

Ch. 7 - No Way Off This Path from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner SIX OF US ARRIVED at the International Meditation Center in Rangoon late in the afternoon of the day the retreat in memory of U Ba Khin was to begin. A charming, middle-aged Burmese gentleman who produced movies for a living met us at the gate and immediately took us on a tour of the grounds. After all the build-up and expectation that had surrounded our trip, it was difficult to appreciate the fact that we were actually there. All we could do was gawk as we followed our host around. The most prominent feature of the Center was the arrangement of the meditation cells, the small individual rooms where one was expected to sit in darkness and silence for most of the day. They surrounded a large central pagoda that contained the shrine room where U Ba Khin himself had sat in meditation. Opening onto the shrine room were eight cells, which were also accessible by doors from the outside. ... by Eric Lerner 2025 29 minutes 48 seconds Listen to Streaming Audio Your browser does not support the audio element. Download Audio (13.7MB) Audio copyright, 2025 Pariyatti View the book, eBook and free PDF download. You can also find it at Amazon worldwide using this link: http://a-fwd.com/com=pariyatti-20&asin=B0CJL9SG5D. About Eric Lerner. View more books and audio resources available in the Pariyatti bookstore.

LONG The White House has urged investors to trust in Donald Trump as Wall Street continues a global sell-off in response to his tariff announcement. The Dow Jones index is down more than three percent, the dollar has fallen and oil prices have slipped. Shares prices in Europe and Asia closed sharply down. As government officials consider what to do next, we speak to a former US secretary of commerce and an American businessman. Also in the programme: a BBC team reports from Mandalay, close to the centre of the Burmese earthquake zone; and the UK is to host the women's football World Cup in 2035(Photo: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York Credit: JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

In episode 1838, Miles and guest co-host Francesca Fiorentini are joined by journalist and co-host of It Could Happen Here, James Stout, to discuss... The Revolution In Myanmar and more! LISTEN: Wu Punk by Georgia Anne Muldrow WATCH: The Daily Zeitgeist on Youtube! L.A. Wildfire Relief: Displaced Black Families GoFund Me Directory See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

//The Wire//2300Z April 1, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: CHINA UNDERTAKES LARGE SCALE MILITARY EXERCISES IVO TAIWAN. BURMA EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY CONTINUES. TESLA ATTACKS REMAIN CONSTANT.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Far East: China has begun another series of military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, and in the waters surrounding Taiwan. Per the Chinese Ministry of Defense, this latest large-scale drill is largely serving as a "severe warning and forceful containment against Taiwan independence".Southeast Asia: Recovery efforts from the Burmese earthquake continue, as the widespread damage throughout the region becomes more apparent. So far the death toll has surpassed 2,719 victims, according to Myanmar's ruling military government. Humanitarian aid has been slow to flow into the region, and most areas hardest hit by the earthquake remain out of communication with the outside world. AC: Much of the region remains without electricity, which along with the communications outages, has complicated assessments of how bad this crisis truly is.-HomeFront-USA: The attacks on Tesla vehicles have continued to simmer, with limited increases in vandalism incidents in major cities. Following the uptick in these types of attacks, various supporter-protest movements (in support of Tesla and Elon Musk) have taken root as well. Many of these supportive-protests have also been met with counter-protests in most cases, sometimes resulting in clashes between groups. Over the weekend, a pro-Musk protester was intentionally struck by a vehicle of a counter-protester at a protest event in Idaho. The Meridian Police Department arrested the 70-year-old anti-Musk protester at the scene, and charged him with aggravated battery.New Mexico: The GOP Headquarters was firebombed over the weekend in Albuquerque. One of the entrances to the facility was destroyed by an improvised incendiary/explosive device early Sunday morning. Anti-ICE graffiti was spray painted at the scene by the assailants, who have not been identified.Indiana: Yesterday evening, a prominent cybersecurity and cryptography professor at Indiana University was fired after the FBI raided two of his residences under mysterious circumstances. XiaoFeng Wang, a well known crypto and cyber expert, remains missing following the searches.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments:While very few details of the Indiana incident have been released or even acknowledged, over the past few months, both the United States and China have been on a spy-hunting spree. 6x Chinese nationals were arrested in the Philippines a week ago for allegedly spying on US warships in Subic Bay. Two weeks ago, China sentenced one of their researchers (at an undisclosed educational institution) to death for spying.As such, it's possible that this is related to Wang's disappearance after the raids. Usually, rooting out spies is a tit-for-tat affair; the Chinese bag one of ours, and we get one of theirs (or at least try to). Of note, China has sentenced all of the spies they have caught to death, while the United States obviously does not.Outside the realm of espionage, more overt actions are being undertaken to beat the drums of war in the Pacific. Though the Chinese drills in the Taiwan Strait were not announced with much notice, the maneuvers so far are largely a continuation of the same posturing and training seen before. Over the past few years, China has been engaging in increasingly complex drills as their proficiency improves. In short, the training is working, and Chinese forces are learning and gaining significant experience in combined arms warfare. Of course, the unspoken factor of war remains extremely relevant regarding any potential military campaign in Taiwan...no plan survives first contact with the enemy. In other words, China can train all they want, b

The search for survivors continues in Myanmar as the number of deaths rises to more than 1600. The UN pleads for the Burmese military to stop attacking rebels. Also: Mexico tackles its country's obesity problem.

More aftershocks have been felt in Myanmar as the military junta continues bombing rebels. We speak to Kim Aris, Aung San Suu Kyi's son, about her 4 years' incarceration in a Burmese jail. Also: Donald Trump has said he was very angry with President Putin for questioning the credibility of the Ukrainian president; and we explore the relationship between John Lennon and his fellow Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney. (Image: Burmese rescuers sift through the rubble of a collapsed building. Credit: Reuters)

//The Wire//2300Z March 28, 2025////PRIORITY////BLUF: MAJOR EARTHQUAKES STRIKE BURMA AND THAILAND, THOUSANDS OF CASUALTIES ESTIMATED. DIPLOMATIC ACTIONS CONTINUE IN UKRAINE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Southeast Asia: A very large earthquake (and many aftershocks) struck the region this morning, primarily within the nations of Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand. The epicenter of the Burmese earthquake was located almost exactly under the city of Mandalay, Burma's second largest city. Early estimates indicate the earthquake's magnitude was 7.7, larger than usual for the region. In Thailand, several aftershocks were felt and have caused damage through much of the northwest. A state of emergency remains in effect throughout most of Burma, and parts of Thailand that have been hardest hit. Many skyscrapers and high-rise buildings have collapsed in Bangkok, about 600 miles from the epicenter.AC: This earthquake is a big deal, with most authorities estimating thousands, if not tens of thousands of casualties spread throughout the region. Right now, numbers are impossible to verify as most communications networks throughout Burma and Thailand (which barely functioned before the earthquake) are simply overwhelmed. Additionally, since Burma has been living under a state of military coup for several years, communications blackouts have been the norm to prevent access to the internet by locals. As such these censorship efforts probably will have a negative impact on determining the scale of the crisis in Burma.Eastern Europe: The potential for peace in Ukraine remains on the table as diplomatic efforts remain constant. Overnight, President Putin gave a very frank and direct talk regarding his concerns for the war coming to a close. One of his chief concerns is the legitimacy of peace; in short, Putin stated that he's not sure if a peace agreement with Zelenskyy would be legally binding, because he is not the elected leader of Ukraine (referencing the fact that elections have been suspended in Ukraine, and Zelenskyy's term of office expired some time ago).-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Though many may scoff at listening to anything Putin says, his remarks last night provide some much needed insight into his perspective during negotiations. For instance, from Putin's perspective, regime change is a non-starter. From where Putin sits, Zelenskyy must go even if that means ousting him and creating an interim transitional government while elections take place. Considering his strangely direct remarks, he probably would be amenable to a ceasefire while Ukrainian elections take place, but that's sheer speculation at best.Rightly or wrongly, and like it or not, Zelenskyy remaining in office is one of the biggest barriers to peace and Russia has made it clear that they will continue fighting as long as he is in power. Zelenskyy himself did make it illegal for any ceasefire or peace talks to even happen with Putin, that is an undeniable fact that is complicating things quite a bit. Of course, on the other side of the issue, Russia wants to come out of this war in the best position possible, and a transitional government where everyone is vying for power would be politically advantageous to Russia.Fundamentally, opinions will vary on what is happening as long as those interpreting the diplomatic efforts adopt certain opinions. For instance, if a person thinks that Putin is hellbent on taking the entire continent of Europe, one analytical perspective will be adopted. If a person thinks that Putin just wants to make a minor land grab and isn't interested in land outside of Ukraine, another analytical perspective will be used. This is one of the major reasons for analytical discrepancy throughout the conflict, and is why the terms of a peace agreement might be confusing to many people who had believed one set of beliefs about the

The History of Aotearoa/New Zealand asked for a little boost in the "what going on elsewhere in the world?" category ca. 1759. Well, we were inclined to be accommodating... It also just so happened that the Qing Empire under the Qianlong Emperor happened to be engaged in a tremendous border clash far to its south... Presenting: The Sino-Burmese War Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every now and again I am sent a story by a listener. Today's fascinating, true story comes from Sharon.The Florida Everglades is facing a big problem. Many of its native species are being killed off by Burmese pythons. However, a dog named Greg is helping to clear to Everglades of this stealthy predator, hunting down snakes invisible to the naked eye.This story is in the third person and the present and past tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “piton” (python),“pantano” (swamp), “cazar” (to hunt), “cazador” (hunter), and “refugio” (shelter).No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/03/10/simple-stories-in-spanish-greg-el-perro-cazador-de-pitones/ Support the show

Charles Kupchan, former European affairs specialist in Obama's White House joins us to discuss whether a viable security agreement could be brokered that meets Ukraine's needs without granting them everything they want. Kupchan isn't entirely pessimistic—but he's also not holding his breath. Plus, Trump's address to Congress was filled with signature moments: a ripped-up protest sign, a joke about annexing Greenland, and a reading of what he deemed an appropriately deferential letter from Zelensky. But in The Spiel, we break down a different highlight—the section where Trump rattled off supposed cost-saving measures, taking aim at everything from Burmese scholarships to circumcision programs in Mozambique. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist Subscribe to The Gist: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: GIST INSTAGRAM Follow Mikes Substack at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices