Podcasts about Caribbean Sea

Hello world! I don't have to use my passport for this one, because we are exploring the US Territory US Virgin Islands. These beautiful islands are rich in history, rich in culture, and gorgeous. We explore The Luska! The half octopus and half shark cryptid of the Caribbean Sea. Thank you all for listening and if you have a moment, please follow the show on all the socials, it helps me grow as a content creator!Follow the show! Facebook: 50StatesofTerror Instagram: @50statesofterror Twitter: @50statesterror TikTok: @50sotpodcast YouTube: @50statesofterror Patreon: www.patreon.com/50StatesofTerror  Write The Show:  the50sot@gmail.com  Donate and Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/50sotpodcast   Listener Advisory: Language Support the show

President Trump has been threatening to “take back” the Panama Canal since he regained power. In this episode, listen to testimony from officials serving on the Federal Maritime Commission who explain why the Panama Canal has become a focus of the administration and examine whether or not we need to be concerned about an impending war for control of the canal. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes Current Events around the Panama Canal March 5, 2025. the Associated Press. Sabrina Valle, Suzanne McGee, and Michael Martina. March 4, 2025. Reuters. Matt Murphy, Jake Horton and Erwan Rivault. February 14, 2025. BBC. May 1, 2024. World Weather Attribution. World Maritime News Staff. March 15, 2019. World Maritime News. July 29, 2018. Reuters. Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 U.S. Department of State. The Chinese “Belt and Road Initiative” Michele Ruta. March 29, 2018. World Bank Group. The Trump-Gaza Video February 26, 2025. Sky News. Laws Audio Sources Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation January 28, 2025 Witnesses: Louis E. Sola, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Daniel B. Maffei, Commissioner, FMC , Professor, Scalia Law School, George Mason University Joseph Kramek, President & CEO, World Shipping Council Clips 17:30 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Between the American construction of the Panama Canal, the French effort to build an isthmus canal, and America's triumphant completion of that canal, the major infrastructure projects across Panama cost more than 35,000 lives. For the final decade of work on the Panama Canal, the United States spent nearly $400 million, equivalent to more than $15 billion today. The Panama Canal proved a truly invaluable asset, sparing both cargo ships and warships the long journey around South America. When President Carter gave it away to Panama, Americans were puzzled, confused, and many outraged. With the passage of time, many have lost sight of the canal's importance, both to national security and to the US economy. 18:45 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): But the Panama Canal was not just given away. President Carter struck a bargain. He made a treaty. And President Trump is making a serious and substantive argument that that treaty is being violated right now. 19:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): President Trump has highlighted two key issues. Number one, the danger of China exploiting or blocking passage through the canal, and number two, the exorbitant costs for transit. 19:20 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Chinese companies are right now building a bridge across the canal at a slow pace, so as to take nearly a decade. And Chinese companies control container points ports at either end. The partially completed bridge gives China the ability to block the canal without warning, and the ports give China ready observation posts to time that action. This situation, I believe, poses acute risks to US national security. 19:50 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Meanwhile, the high fees for canal transit disproportionately affect Americans, because US cargo accounts for nearly three quarters of Canal transits. US Navy vessels pay additional fees that apply only to warships. Canal profits regularly exceed $3 billion. This money comes from both American taxpayers and consumers in the form of higher costs for goods. American tourists aboard cruises, particularly those in the Caribbean Sea, are essentially captive to any fees Panama chooses to levy for canal transits, and they have paid unfair prices for fuel bunkering at terminals in Panama as a result of government granted monopoly. Panama's government relies on these exploitative fees. Nearly 1/10 of its budget is paid for with canal profit. 21:25 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Panama has for years flagged dozens of vessels in the Iranian ghost fleet, which brought Iran tens of billions of dollars in oil profits to fund terror across the world. 21:40 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): And Chinese companies have won contracts, often without fair competition, as the infamous Belt and Road Initiative has come to Panama. China often engages in debt trap diplomacy to enable economic and political coercion. In Panama, it also seems to have exploited simple corruption. 32:40 Louis Sola: The Panama Canal is managed by the Panama Canal Authority, ACP, an independent agency of the Panamanian government. The ACP is a model of public infrastructure management, and its independence has been key to ensure a safe and reliable transit of vessels critical to the US and global commerce. 33:25 Louis Sola: In contrast, the broader maritime sector in Panama, including the nation's ports, water rights, and the world's largest ship registry, falls under the direct purview of the Panamanian government. 33:35 Louis Sola: Unfortunately, this sector has faced persistent challenges, including corruption scandals and foreign influence, particularly from Brazil and China. These issues create friction with the ACP, especially as it works to address long term challenges such as securing adequate water supplies for the canal. 33:55 Louis Sola: Although the ACP operates independently, under US law both the ACP and the government of Panama's maritime sector are considered one in the same. This means that any challenges in Panama's maritime sector, including corruption, lack of transparency, or foreign influence, can have a direct or indirect impact on the operations and long term stability of the canal. This legal perspective highlights the need for diligence in monitoring both the ACP's management and Panama government's policies affecting maritime operations. 34:30 Louis Sola: Since 2015, Chinese companies have increased their presence and influence throughout Panama. Panama became a member of the Belt and Road Initiative and ended its diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Chinese companies have been able to pursue billions of dollars in development contracts in Panama, many of which were projects directly on or adjacent to the Panama Canal. Many were no bid contracts. Labor laws were waived, and the Panamanian people are still waiting to see how they've been benefited. It is all more concerning that many of these companies are state-owned, and in some cases, even designated as linked to the People's Liberation Army. We must address the significant growing presence and influence of China throughout the Americas and in Panama, specifically. 35:20 Louis Sola: American companies should play a leading role in enhancing the canal's infrastructure. By supporting US firms, we reduce reliance on Chinese contractors and promote fair competition. 36:55 Daniel Maffei: Because the canal is essentially a waterway bridge over mountainous terrain above sea level, it does depend on large supplies of fresh water to maintain the full operations. Panama has among the world's largest annual rainfalls. Nonetheless, insufficient fresh water levels have occurred before in the canal's history, such as in the 1930s when the Madden Dam and Lake Alajuela were built to address water shortages. Since that time, the canal has undertaken several projects to accommodate larger, more modern ships. In the last couple of years, a trend of worsening droughts in the region, once again, has forced limits to the operations of the canal. Starting in June of 2023 the Panama Canal Authority employed draft restrictions and reduced the number of ships allowed to transit the canal per day. Now the Panama Canal limitations, in combination with the de facto closure of the Suez Canal to container traffic, has had serious consequences for ocean commerce, increasing rates, fees and transit times. 39:30 Daniel Maffei: Now, fortunately, Panama's 2024 rainy season has, for now, alleviated the most acute water supply issues at the canal, and normal transit volumes have been restored. That said, while the Panamanian government and Canal Authority have, with the advice of the US Army Corps of Engineers, developed credible plans to mitigate future water shortages, they also warned that it is likely that at least one more period of reduced transits will occur before these plans can be fully implemented. 41:55 Eugene Kontorovich: We shall see that under international law, each party to the treaty is entitled to determine for itself whether a violation has occurred. Now, in exchange for the United States ceding control of the canal which it built and maintained, Panama agreed to a special regime of neutrality. The essential features of this regime of neutrality is that the canal must be open to all nations for transit. That's Article Two. Equitable tolls and fees, Article Three. An exclusive Panamanian operation, Article Five. The prohibition of any foreign military presence, Article Five. Article Five provides that only Panama shall operate the canal. Testifying about the meaning of the treaty at the Senate ratification hearings, the Carter administration emphasized that this prohibits foreign operation of the canal, as well as the garrisoning of foreign troops. Now, Article Five appears to be primarily concerned about control by foreign sovereigns. If Panama signed a treaty with the People's Republic of China, whereby the latter would operate the canal on Panama's behalf, this would be a clear violation. But what if Panama contracted for port operations with a Chinese state firm, or even a private firm influenced or controlled in part by the Chinese government? The Suez Canal Company was itself, before being nationalized, a private firm in which the United Kingdom was only a controlling shareholder. Yet this was understood to represent British control over the canal. In other words, a company need not be owned by the government to be in part controlled by the government. So the real question is the degree of de jure or de facto control over a Foreign Sovereign company, and scenarios range from government companies in an authoritarian regime, completely controlled, to purely private firms in our open society like the United States, but there's many possible situations in the middle. The treaty is silent on the question of how much control is too much, and as we'll see, this is one of the many questions committed to the judgment and discretion of each party. Now turning to foreign security forces, the presence of third country troops would manifestly violate Article Five. But this does not mean that anything short of a People's Liberation Army base flying a red flag is permissible. The presence of foreign security forces could violate the regime of neutrality, even if they're not represented in organized and open military formations. Modern warfare has seen belligerent powers seek to evade international legal limitations by disguising their actions in civilian garb, from Russia's notorious little green men to Hamas terrorists hiding in hospitals or disguised as journalists. Bad actors seek to exploit the fact that international treaties focus on sovereign actors. Many of China's man made islands in the South China Sea began as civilian projects before being suddenly militarized. Indeed, this issue was discussed in the Senate ratification hearings over the treaty. Dean Rusk said informal forces would be prohibited under the treaty. Thus the ostensible civilian character of the Chinese presence around the canal does not, in itself, mean that it could not represent a violation of the treaty if, for example, these companies and their employees involved Chinese covert agents or other agents of the Chinese security forces. So this leads us to the final question, Who determines whether neutrality is being threatened or compromised? Unlike many other treaties that provide for third party dispute resolution, the neutrality treaty has no such provision. Instead, the treaty makes clear that each party determines for itself the existence of a violation. Article Four provides that each party is separately authorized to maintain the regime of neutrality, making a separate obligation of each party. The Senate's understanding accompanying to ratification also made clear that Article Five allows each party to take, quote, "unilateral action." Senator Jacob Javits, at the markup hearing, said that while the word unilateral is abrasive, we can quote, "decide that the regime of neutrality is being threatened and then act with whatever means are necessary to keep the canal neutral unilaterally." 46:35 Joseph Kramek: My name is Joe Kramek. I'm President and CEO of the World Shipping Council. The World Shipping Council is the global voice of liner shipping. Our membership consists of 90% of the world's liner shipping tonnage, which are container vessels and vehicle carriers. They operate on fixed schedules to provide our customers with regular service to ship their goods in ports throughout the world. 47:15 Joseph Kramek: As you have heard, using the Panama Canal to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific saves significant time and money. A typical voyage from Asia to the US or East Coast can be made in under 30 days using the canal, while the same journey can take up to 40 days if carriers must take alternate routes. From a commercial trade perspective, the big picture is this. One of the world's busiest trade lanes is the Trans Pacific. The Trans Pacific is cargo coming from and going to Asia via the United States. Focusing in a bit, cargo coming from Asia and bound for US Gulf and East Coast ports always transits the Panama Canal. Similarly, cargo being exported from US and East Coast ports, a large share of which are US Agricultural exports, like soybeans, corn, cotton, livestock and dairy also almost always transits the Panama Canal. The result is that 75% of Canal traffic originates in or is bound for the United States. 48:55 Joseph Kramek: We've talked about the drought in 2023 and the historic low water levels that it caused in Lake Gatún, which feeds the canal locks, a unique system that is a fresh water feed, as contrasted to an ocean to ocean system, which the French tried and failed, but which is actually active in the Suez Canal. These low water levels reduced transits from 36 transits a day to as low as 22 per day. Additionally, the low water levels required a reduction in maximum allowable draft levels, or the depth of the ship below the water line, which for our members reduced the amount of containers they could carry through the canal. This resulted in a 10% reduction in import volumes for US Gulf and East Coast ports, with the Port of Houston experiencing a 26.7% reduction. 51:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Are you aware of allegations from some vessel operators of disparate treatment such as sweetheart deals or favorable rebates by Panama for canal transits? Louis Sola: Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman, we have become aware through some complaints by cruise lines that said that they were not getting a refund of their canal tolls. When we looked into this, we found a Panamanian Executive Order, Decree 73, that specifically says that if a cruise line would stop at a certain port, that they could be refunded 100% of the fees. And as far as I know, that's the only instant where that exists. 53:05 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): So Panama was the very first Latin American country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative, and right now, China is building a fourth bridge across the Panama Canal for car traffic and light rail. Chairman Sola, why should Chinese construction of a bridge near Panama City concern the United States? Louis Sola: Mr. Chairman, we all saw the tragedy that happened here in the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident and the devastation that had happened to Baltimore. We also saw recently what happened in the Suez Canal, where we had a ship get stuck in there. It's not only the construction of the bridge, but it's a removal of a bridge, as I understand it, called the Bridge of the Americas. It was built in 1961 and that would paralyze cargo traffic in and out of the canals. 53:55 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Panama also recently renewed the concessions for two container ports to a Chinese company, Hutchison Ports PPC. Of course, Chinese companies are controlled by the Communist Party. How does China use control of those ports for economic gain? Louis Sola: Mr. Chairman, I am a regulator, a competition regulator. And the Chinese ports that you're referring to, let me put them into scope. The one on the Pacific, the Port of Balboa, is roughly the same size as the Port of Houston. They do about 4 million containers a year. They have about 28 game tree cranes. The one on the Atlantic is the same as my hometown in Miami, they do about 1 million containers. So where Roger Gunther in the Port of Houston generates about $1 billion a year and Heidi Webb in Miami does about $200 million, the Panama ports company paid 0 for 20 years on that concession. So it's really hard to compete against zero. So I think that's our concern, our economic concern, that we would have. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Commissioner Maffei, anything to add on that? Daniel Maffei: Yeah, I do too also think it is important. I would point out that you don't have to stop at either port. It's not like these two ports control the entrance to the canal. That is the Canal Authority that does control that. However, I think it's of concern. I would also point out that the Panamanian government thinks it's of concern too, because they're conducting their own audit of those particular deals, but we remain very interested as well. 56:25 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Would the facts discussed here be considered violations of the neutrality treaty in force right now between the United States and Panama? Eugene Kontorovich: So I think Senator, I think potentially they could, but it's impossible to say definitively without knowing more, in particular, about the degree of Chinese control and involvement in these companies. I think it's important to note that these port operation companies that operate the ports on both sides, when they received their first contract, it was just a few months before Hong Kong was handed over to China. In other words, they received them as British companies, sort of very oddly, just a few months before the handover. Now, of course, since then, Hong Kong has been incorporated into China, has been placed under a special national security regime, and the independence of those companies has been greatly abridged, to say nothing of state owned companies involved elsewhere in in the canal area, which raised significantly greater questions. Additionally, I should point out that the understandings between President Carter and Panamanian leader Herrera, which were attached to the treaty and form part of the treaty, provide that the United States can, quote, "defend the canal against any threat to the regime of neutrality," and I understand that as providing some degree of preemptive authority to intervene. One need not wait until the canal is actually closed by some act of sabotage or aggression, which, as we heard from the testimony, would be devastating to the United States, but there is some incipient ability to address potential violations. 58:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): If the United States determines that Panama is in violation of the treaty, what is the range of remedies the United States would have for that treaty violation? Eugene Kontorovich: So I think it may be shocking to people to hear today, but when one goes over the ratification history and the debates and discussions in this body over this treaty, it was clear that the treaty was understood as giving both sides, separately, the right to resort to use armed force to enforce the provisions of the treaty. And it's not so surprising when one understands that the United States made an extraordinary concession to Panama by transferring this canal, which the United States built at great expense and maintained and operated to Panama, gratis. And in exchange, it received a kind of limitation, a permanent limitation on Panamanians sovereignty, that Panama agreed that the United States could enforce this regime of neutrality by force. Now, of course, armed force should never be the first recourse for any kind of international dispute and should not be arrived at sort of rationally or before negotiations and other kinds of good offices are exhausted, but it's quite clear that the treaty contemplates that as a remedy for violations. 1:03:20 Louis Sola: I believe that the security of the canal has always been understood to be provided by the United States. Panama does not have a military, and I always believed that there's been a close relationship with Southern Command that we would provide that. And it would be nice to see if we had a formalization of that in one way or another, because I don't believe that it's in the treaty at all. 1:05:05 Daniel Maffei: While we were down there, both of us heard, I think, several times, that the Panamanians would, the ones we talked to anyway, would welcome US companies coming in and doing a lot of this work. Frankly, their bids are not competitive with the Chinese bids. Frankly, they're not that existent because US companies can make more money doing things other places, but even if they were existent, it is difficult to put competitive bids when the Chinese bids are so heavily subsidized by China. 1:06:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): What would China's incentive be to heavily subsidize those bids to undercut American companies and other companies? Daniel Maffei: Yeah, it's not a real short answer, but Senator, China's made no secret of its ambitious policies to gain influence of ports throughout the globe. It's invested in 129 ports in dozens of countries. It runs a majority of 17 ports, that does not include this Hong Kong company, right? So that's just directly Chinese-owned ports. So it has been a part of their Belt and Road strategy, whatever you want to call it, the Maritime Silk Road, for decades. So they believe that this influence, this investment in owning maritime ports is important to their economy. 1:07:05 Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): In 2021, Hutchison was awarded those two ports, Port Balboa and Port Cristobal, in a no-bid award process. Can you tell me, does the United States have any authority or recourse with the Panama Canal Authority under our current agreement with Panama to rebid those terminal concession contracts. And perhaps Mr. Kantorovich, that's more in your purview? Louis Sola: Senator, both of those ports were redone for 25 years, until 2047, I believe. And they have to pay $7 million is what the ongoing rate is for the Port of Houston- and the Port of Miami-sized concessions. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): And it can't be rebid until after that date? Louis Sola: Well, I believe that that's what the comptroller's office is auditing both of those ports and that contract. That was done under the previous Panamanian administration. A new administration came in, and they called for an audit of that contract immediately. 1:20:10 Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Are the companies now controlling both sides of the Panama Canal, the Chinese companies, subject to the PRC national security laws that mandate cooperation with the military, with state intelligence agencies. Does anyone know that? Eugene Kontorovich: They're subject all the time. They're subject to those laws all the time by virtue of being Hong Kong companies. And you know, they face, of course, consequences for not complying with the wishes of the Chinese government. One of the arguments -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Wouldn't that be a violation of the treaty? And isn't that a huge risk to us right now that the Chinese -- Eugene Kontorovich: That is a threat to the neutrality -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): If they invaded Taiwan, invaded the Philippines, they could go to these two companies saying, Hey, shut it down, make it hard, sink a ship in the canal. And wouldn't they be obligated to do that under Chinese law if they were ordered to by the PLA or the CCP? Eugene Kontorovich: I don't know if they'd be obligated, but certainly the People's Republic of China would have many tools of leverage and pressure on these companies. That's why the treaty specifically says that we can act not just to end actual obstructions to the canal. We don't have to wait until the canal is closed by hostile military action. Thatwould be a suicide pact, that would be catastrophic for us, but rather that we can respond at the inchoate, incipient level to threats, and then this is up to the president to determine whether this is significantly robust to constitute -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): So aren't we kind of walking up to the idea of a suicide pact, because we've got two big Chinese companies on both ends of the Panama Canal, who, if there's a war in INDOPACOM, Taiwan that involves us and China, these companies would be obligated to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party and PLA? I mean, are we kind of walking up to a very significant national security threat already? Eugene Kontorovich: Yeah, certainly, there's a threat. And I think what makes the action of the Chinese government so difficult to respond to, but important to respond to, is that they conceal this in sort of levels of gray without direct control. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Let me ask you on that topic, as my last question, Professor, let's assume that we find out. And again, it wouldn't be surprising. I think you can almost assume it that these two companies have Chinese spies or military officials within the ranks of the employees of the companies. Let's assume we found that out, somehow that becomes public. But I don't think it's a big assumption. It's probably true right now. So you have spies and military personnel within the ranks of these two companies that are controlling both ends of the Panama Canal for you, Professor, and Chairman Sola, wouldn't that be a blatant violation of Article Five of the neutrality treaty, if that were true, which probably is true? Eugene Kontorovich: Yeah, I do think it would be a clear violation. As former Secretary of State, Dean Ross said at the ratification hearings, informal forces can violate Article Five as well as formal forces. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Is there any evidence of Chinese spies or other nefarious Chinese actors embedded in these companies? Louis Sola: Senator, we have no information of that. That's not under the purview of -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): But you agree that would be a violation of Article Five of the neutrality treaty? Louis Sola: I do. 1:26:25 Daniel Maffei: Senator Sullivan was talking about Hutchison Ports. That's actually the same company that runs terminals on both ends of the canal. I am concerned about that. However, if we want to be concerned about that, all of us should lose a lot more sleep than we're losing because if there are spies there, then there might be spies at other Hutchinson ports, and there are other Hutchinson ports in almost every part of the world. They own the largest container port in the United Kingdom, Felix Dow, which is responsible for nearly half of Britain's container trade. They control major maritime terminals in Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands, South Korea and Tanzania. If owning and managing adjacent ports means that China somehow has operational control or strategic control over the Panama Canal, they also have it over the Suez, the Singapore Straits, the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel. 1:35:45 Louis Sola: The fees that I think we are looking at, or have been looked at, the reason that we went there was because of the auctioning of the slots. And so what Panama did is they had a smaller percentage, maybe 20% allocation, and then they moved it up to 30% and 40% because it became a money maker for them. So as they were doing -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Okay, let me interject here. The auctioning of the slots gives these the right to skip the queue? Louis Sola: Yes, ma'am. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Okay, so just for the record there. Continue. Louis Sola: So the auctioning of the slots. Under maritime law, it's first come first serve, but Panama has always put a certain percentage aside, and they started to put more and more. So we got a lot of complaints. We got a lot of complaints from LNG carriers that paid $4 million to go through, and we got a lot of complaints from agriculture that didn't have the money to pay to go through, because their goods were gonna go down. So if you look at the financial statements -- I'm a nerd, I look at financial statements of everybody -- the canal increased the amount of revenue that they had from about $500 million to $1.8 billion in the last three years just because of those fees. So this is what is very concerning to us. 1:39:20 Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN): Do you know of any instances where the United States has been singled out or treated unfairly under the neutrality treaty in the operation of the canal? Daniel Maffei: I do not. I would add that one of the reasons why saying the US is disproportionately affected by raises in Canal fees and other kinds of fees at the canal is because the United States disproportionately utilizes the canal. 1:44:55 Louis Sola: We have a US port there, SSA, out of Washington State that I actually worked on the development of that many years ago, and helped develop that. That used to be a United States Navy submarine base, and we converted that. As far as the two ports that we have, they're completely different. One is a major infrastructure footprint, and also a container port that's moving 4 million containers a year. That's really phenomenal amount. That's more than Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and you've probably got to get Tampa and a little bit of Jacksonville in there to get that type of volume. And on the other side, we have a very small port, but it's a very strategic port on the Atlantic. So how are the operations done?I don't know how they don't make money. I mean, if you want to come right down to it, if they've been operating the port for 20 years, and they say that they haven't made any money, so they haven't been able to pay the government. That's what concerns me is I don't believe that we're on a level playing field with the American ports. 1:58:50 Eugene Kontorovich: I think the charges and fees are less of an issue because they don't discriminate across countries. We pay more because we use more, but it's not nationally discriminatory. 1:59:00 Eugene Kontorovich: The presence of Chinese companies, especially Chinese state companies, but not limited to them, do raise serious issues and concerns for the neutrality of the treaty. And I should point out, in relation to some of the earlier questioning, the canal, for purposes of the neutrality treaty, is not limited just to the actual locks of the canal and the transit of ships through the canal. According to Annex One, paragraph one of the treaty, it includes also the entrances of the canal and the territorial sea of Panama adjacent to it. So all of the activities we're talking about are within the neutrality regime, the geographic scope of the neutrality regime in the treaty. 2:00:30 Daniel Maffei: I actually have to admit, I'm a little confused as to why some of the senators asking these questions, Senator Blackburn, aren't more concerned about the biggest port in the United Kingdom being run by the Chinese. Petraeus in the port nearest Athens, one of the biggest ports in the Mediterranean, is not just run by a Chinese-linked company, it's run directly by a Chinese-owned company, and I was there. So you're on to something, but if you're just focusing on Panama, that's only part. 2:01:45 Louis Sola: About a year ago, when we were having this drought issue, there was also a lot of focus on Iran and how they were funding Hamas and the Houthis because they were attacking the Red Sea. What the United States has found is that Iranian vessels are sometimes flagged by Panama in order to avoid sanctions, so that they could sell the fuel that they have, and then they can take that money and then they can use it as they wish. Panama, at the time, had a very complicated process to de-flag the vessels. There was an investigation, there was an appeals process. By the time that OFAC or Treasury would go ahead and identify one of those vessels, by the time that they were doing the appeals and stuff like this, they've already changed flags to somewhere else. So when we went to Panama, we met with the Panamanian president, and I must say that we were very impressed, because he was 30 minutes late, but he was breaking relations with Venezuela at the time because the election was the day before. We explained to him the situation. The very next day, we met with the maritime minister, with US embassy personnel and Panama actually adjusted their appeals process so to make it more expedient, so if the United States or OFAC would come and say that this Iranian vessel is avoiding sanctions, now we have a process in place to go ahead and do that, and 53 vessels were de-flagged because of that. 2:06:05 Sen. John Curtis (R-UT): Is there any reason that China can't watch or do whatever they want from this bridge to get the intel from these containers? And does that concern anybody? Louis Sola: Well, it definitely concerns Southern Command, because they've brought it up on numerous occasions that there could be some sort of surveillance or something like that on the bridges. 2:20:30 Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): We segregate ourselves artificially in a way that they do not. We segregate ourselves. Let's talk about military. Let's talk about intelligence. Let's talk about economics. They don't. China doesn't work that way. It's a whole of government approach. They don't draw a delineation between an economics discussion and a military one. And their attack may not look like Pearl Harbor. It may look like an everyday ship that decides, you know, it pulls into the locks and blows itself up. And now the locks are non-functional for our usage, and we can't support an inter ocean fleet transfer, and our ability to defend it, as you referred to Chairman, is now inhibited by the fact that we no longer have the military infrastructure around the canal that we did just as recently as 1999. 2:21:10 Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): So from a commercial perspective, do the shipping companies have concerns over the security of the narrow waterways? We've the Strait to Malacca, we've got the Suez Canal, we've got Gibraltar, we've got Panama. Is that a concern that's thrown around in the boardrooms of the largest shipping corporations in the world? Joseph Kramek: Senator, I think it's something they think about every day. I mean, really, it's drawn into sharp relief with the Red Sea. It was what I call a pink flamingo. There's black swans that just come up and there's pink flamingos that you can see, but you don't act. But no one really thought a whole lot that one of the most important waterways in the world could be denied, and moreover, that it could be denied for such a sustained period. The good news is that -- Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): And denied, I might add, by a disaffected non-state actor of Bedouins running around with rocket launchers, who also managed to beat us in a 20 year war in Afghanistan. My point to saying all this is we're just debating operational control of the canal, yet it seems very clear to all of us that a very simple act can debilitate the canal and eliminate our ability to use it in a matter of minutes with no warning, and we have no ability to intervene or stop that. To me, that means we do not have operational control of the canal. 2:30:40 Daniel Maffei: I will say that certainly we need to look at other kinds of ways to get US companies in positions where they can truly compete with the Chinese on some of these things. Blaming it all on Panama really misses the point. I've seen the same thing in Greece, where Greece didn't want to give the concession of its largest port to a Chinese company, but because of its financial difficulties, it was getting pressure from international organizations such the IMF, Europe and even maybe some of the United States to do so. So I just ask you to look at that. 2:31:20 Daniel Maffei: Panamanians are making far more on their canal than they ever have before. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it's going to the right place. But where they're really making the money is on these auctions, and that is why it remains a concern of mine and I'm sure the chairman's. That is where we are looking at, potentially, using our authority under Section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act where we could, if we can show that it is a problem with the foreign trade of the US, it's interfering with foreign trade of the US, there are certain things that we can do. Senate Foreign Relations Committee January 15, 2024 Clips 4:01:40 Marco Rubio: The thing with Panama on the canal is not new. I visited there. It was 2016. I think I've consistently seen people express concern about it, and it's encapsulized here in quote after quote. Let me tell you the former US ambassador who served under President Obama said: "the Chinese see in Panama what we saw in Panama throughout the 20th century, a maritime and aviation logistics hub." The immediate past head of Southern Command, General Laura Richardson, said, "I was just in Panama about a month ago and flying along the Panama Canal and looking at the state owned enterprises from the People's Republic of China on each side of the Panama Canal. They look like civilian companies or state owned enterprises that could be used for dual use and could be quickly changed over to a military capability." We see questions that were asked by the ranking member in the house China Select Committee, where he asked a witness and they agreed that in a time of conflict, China could use its presence on both ends of the canal as a choke point against the United States in a conflict situation. So the concerns about Panama have been expressed by people on both sides of the aisle for at least the entire time that I've been in the United States Senate, and they've only accelerated further. And this is a very legitimate issue that we face there. I'm not prepared to answer this question because I haven't looked at the legal research behind it yet, but I'm compelled to suspect that an argument could be made that the terms under which that canal were turned over have been violated. Because while technically, sovereignty over the canal has not been turned over to a foreign power, in reality, a foreign power today possesses, through their companies, which we know are not independent, the ability to turn the canal into a choke point in a moment of conflict. And that is a direct threat to the national interest and security the United States, and is particularly galling given the fact that we paid for it and that 5,000 Americans died making it. That said, Panama is a great partner on a lot of other issues, and I hope we can resolve this issue of the canal and of its security, and also continue to work with them cooperatively on a host of issues we share in common, including what to do with migration. 4:38:35 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT): Now, President Trump has recently talked a little bit about the fact that there are some questions arising about the status of the Panama Canal. When we look to the treaty at issue, the treaty concerning the permanent neutrality and operation of the Panama Canal, we're reminded that some things maybe aren't quite as they should be there right now. Given that the Chinese now control major ports at the entry and the exit to the canal, it seems appropriate to say that there's at least an open question. There's some doubt as to whether the canal remains neutral. Would you agree with that assessment? Marco Rubio: Yes. Here's the challenge. Number one, I want to be clear about something. The Panamanian government, particularly its current office holders, are very friendly to the United States and very cooperative, and we want that to continue, and I want to bifurcate that from the broader issue of the canal. Now I am not, President Trump is not inventing this. This is something that's existed now for at least a decade. In my service here, I took a trip to Panama in 2017. When on that trip to Panama in 2017 it was the central issue we discussed about the canal, and that is that Chinese companies control port facilities at both ends of the canal, the east and the west, and the concerns among military officials and security officials, including in Panama, at that point, that that could one day be used as a choke point to impede commerce in a moment of conflict. Going back to that I -- earlier before you got here, and I don't want to have to dig through this folder to find it again, but -- basically cited how the immediate past head of Southern Command, just retired general Richardson, said she flew over the canal, looked down and saw those Chinese port facilities, and said Those look like dual use facilities that in a moment of conflict, could be weaponized against us. The bipartisan China commission over in the House last year, had testimony and hearings on this issue, and members of both parties expressed concern. The former ambassador to Panama under President Obama has expressed those concerns. This is a legitimate issue that needs to be confronted. The second point is the one you touched upon, and that is, look, could an argument be made, and I'm not prepared to answer it yet, because it's something we're going to have to study very carefully. But I think I have an inkling of I know where this is going to head. Can an argument be made that the Chinese basically have effective control of the canal anytime they want? Because if they order a Chinese company that controls the ports to shut it down or impede our transit, they will have to do so. There are no independent Chinese companies. They all exist because they've been identified as national champions. They're supported by the Chinese government. And if you don't do what they want, they find a new CEO, and you end up being replaced and removed. So they're under the complete control of their government. This is a legitimate question, and one that Senators Risch had some insight as well. He mentioned that in passing that needs to be looked at. This is not a joke. The Panama Canal issue is a very serious one. 4:44:30 Marco Rubio: In 2016 and 2017 that was well understood that part of the investments they made in Panama were conditioned upon Panama's ability to convince the Dominican Republic and other countries to flip their recognition away from Taiwan. That happened. Jen Briney's Recent Guest Appearances Travis Makes Money: Give and Take: Music by Editing Production Assistance

The parrotfish is like a house cleaner who does a great job of keeping things tidy, but sometimes breaks a glass. You want to keep them around, but you just wish they'd be a little less destructive.For the parrotfish, the “houses” are coral reefs. They clean tiny organisms off the coral, keeping the coral healthy. But they also chip off pieces of the coral. If they chip away too much, they can damage the coral.Parrotfish have strong teeth. They grind up the coral they chip off, then poop it out as grains that can wash up on the beach as white sand.The scraping can scar the hard coral—the “skeleton” created by the living organisms inside, known as polyps. In many cases, the coral heals as new polyps move in. But in others, the coral can collapse. And if too many corals are destroyed, an entire reef can suffer.Researchers spent a decade studying the coral-parrotfish relationship in four regions of the Caribbean Sea. They looked at individual corals, complete reefs, and wider areas that encompass many reefs. They also studied the parrotfish populations.They found that more parrotfish generally meant more damage to the corals—but not always. Parrotfish prefer some species of corals over others. So in regions where those species weren't as common—or where there was less variety of coral species—the damage was less severe.The results may help managers control the parrotfish catch—perhaps improving the health of coral reefs across the Caribbean.

In the early modern period, both legal and illegal maritime predation was a common occurrence, but the expansion of European maritime empires exacerbated existing and created new problems of piracy across the globe. The Problem of Piracy in the Early Modern World (Amsterdam UP, 2024) addresses these early modern problems in three sections: first, states' attempts to exercise jurisdiction over seafarers and their actions; second, the multiple predatory marine practices considered 'piracy'; and finally, the many representations made about piracy by states or the seafarers themselves.  Across nine chapters covering regions including southeast Asia, the Atlantic archipelago, the North African states, and the Caribbean Sea, the complexities of defining and criminalizing maritime predation is explored, raising questions surrounding subjecthood, interpolity law, and the impacts of colonization on the legal and social construction of ocean, port, and coastal spaces. Seeking the meanings and motivations behind piracy, this book reveals that while European states attempted to fashion piracy into a global and homogenous phenomenon, it was largely a local and often idiosyncratic issue. 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

In the early modern period, both legal and illegal maritime predation was a common occurrence, but the expansion of European maritime empires exacerbated existing and created new problems of piracy across the globe. The Problem of Piracy in the Early Modern World (Amsterdam UP, 2024) addresses these early modern problems in three sections: first, states' attempts to exercise jurisdiction over seafarers and their actions; second, the multiple predatory marine practices considered 'piracy'; and finally, the many representations made about piracy by states or the seafarers themselves.  Across nine chapters covering regions including southeast Asia, the Atlantic archipelago, the North African states, and the Caribbean Sea, the complexities of defining and criminalizing maritime predation is explored, raising questions surrounding subjecthood, interpolity law, and the impacts of colonization on the legal and social construction of ocean, port, and coastal spaces. Seeking the meanings and motivations behind piracy, this book reveals that while European states attempted to fashion piracy into a global and homogenous phenomenon, it was largely a local and often idiosyncratic issue. 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

In the early modern period, both legal and illegal maritime predation was a common occurrence, but the expansion of European maritime empires exacerbated existing and created new problems of piracy across the globe. The Problem of Piracy in the Early Modern World (Amsterdam UP, 2024) addresses these early modern problems in three sections: first, states' attempts to exercise jurisdiction over seafarers and their actions; second, the multiple predatory marine practices considered 'piracy'; and finally, the many representations made about piracy by states or the seafarers themselves.  Across nine chapters covering regions including southeast Asia, the Atlantic archipelago, the North African states, and the Caribbean Sea, the complexities of defining and criminalizing maritime predation is explored, raising questions surrounding subjecthood, interpolity law, and the impacts of colonization on the legal and social construction of ocean, port, and coastal spaces. Seeking the meanings and motivations behind piracy, this book reveals that while European states attempted to fashion piracy into a global and homogenous phenomenon, it was largely a local and often idiosyncratic issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In the early modern period, both legal and illegal maritime predation was a common occurrence, but the expansion of European maritime empires exacerbated existing and created new problems of piracy across the globe. The Problem of Piracy in the Early Modern World (Amsterdam UP, 2024) addresses these early modern problems in three sections: first, states' attempts to exercise jurisdiction over seafarers and their actions; second, the multiple predatory marine practices considered 'piracy'; and finally, the many representations made about piracy by states or the seafarers themselves.  Across nine chapters covering regions including southeast Asia, the Atlantic archipelago, the North African states, and the Caribbean Sea, the complexities of defining and criminalizing maritime predation is explored, raising questions surrounding subjecthood, interpolity law, and the impacts of colonization on the legal and social construction of ocean, port, and coastal spaces. Seeking the meanings and motivations behind piracy, this book reveals that while European states attempted to fashion piracy into a global and homogenous phenomenon, it was largely a local and often idiosyncratic issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

In the early modern period, both legal and illegal maritime predation was a common occurrence, but the expansion of European maritime empires exacerbated existing and created new problems of piracy across the globe. The Problem of Piracy in the Early Modern World (Amsterdam UP, 2024) addresses these early modern problems in three sections: first, states' attempts to exercise jurisdiction over seafarers and their actions; second, the multiple predatory marine practices considered 'piracy'; and finally, the many representations made about piracy by states or the seafarers themselves.  Across nine chapters covering regions including southeast Asia, the Atlantic archipelago, the North African states, and the Caribbean Sea, the complexities of defining and criminalizing maritime predation is explored, raising questions surrounding subjecthood, interpolity law, and the impacts of colonization on the legal and social construction of ocean, port, and coastal spaces. Seeking the meanings and motivations behind piracy, this book reveals that while European states attempted to fashion piracy into a global and homogenous phenomenon, it was largely a local and often idiosyncratic issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

In the early modern period, both legal and illegal maritime predation was a common occurrence, but the expansion of European maritime empires exacerbated existing and created new problems of piracy across the globe. The Problem of Piracy in the Early Modern World (Amsterdam UP, 2024) addresses these early modern problems in three sections: first, states' attempts to exercise jurisdiction over seafarers and their actions; second, the multiple predatory marine practices considered 'piracy'; and finally, the many representations made about piracy by states or the seafarers themselves.  Across nine chapters covering regions including southeast Asia, the Atlantic archipelago, the North African states, and the Caribbean Sea, the complexities of defining and criminalizing maritime predation is explored, raising questions surrounding subjecthood, interpolity law, and the impacts of colonization on the legal and social construction of ocean, port, and coastal spaces. Seeking the meanings and motivations behind piracy, this book reveals that while European states attempted to fashion piracy into a global and homogenous phenomenon, it was largely a local and often idiosyncratic issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

In the early modern period, both legal and illegal maritime predation was a common occurrence, but the expansion of European maritime empires exacerbated existing and created new problems of piracy across the globe. The Problem of Piracy in the Early Modern World (Amsterdam UP, 2024) addresses these early modern problems in three sections: first, states' attempts to exercise jurisdiction over seafarers and their actions; second, the multiple predatory marine practices considered 'piracy'; and finally, the many representations made about piracy by states or the seafarers themselves.  Across nine chapters covering regions including southeast Asia, the Atlantic archipelago, the North African states, and the Caribbean Sea, the complexities of defining and criminalizing maritime predation is explored, raising questions surrounding subjecthood, interpolity law, and the impacts of colonization on the legal and social construction of ocean, port, and coastal spaces. Seeking the meanings and motivations behind piracy, this book reveals that while European states attempted to fashion piracy into a global and homogenous phenomenon, it was largely a local and often idiosyncratic issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the early modern period, both legal and illegal maritime predation was a common occurrence, but the expansion of European maritime empires exacerbated existing and created new problems of piracy across the globe. The Problem of Piracy in the Early Modern World (Amsterdam UP, 2024) addresses these early modern problems in three sections: first, states' attempts to exercise jurisdiction over seafarers and their actions; second, the multiple predatory marine practices considered 'piracy'; and finally, the many representations made about piracy by states or the seafarers themselves.  Across nine chapters covering regions including southeast Asia, the Atlantic archipelago, the North African states, and the Caribbean Sea, the complexities of defining and criminalizing maritime predation is explored, raising questions surrounding subjecthood, interpolity law, and the impacts of colonization on the legal and social construction of ocean, port, and coastal spaces. Seeking the meanings and motivations behind piracy, this book reveals that while European states attempted to fashion piracy into a global and homogenous phenomenon, it was largely a local and often idiosyncratic issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take a break from sports (kinda) to bring you a travel log episode documenting another Pod of Fame trip outside of the United States. Jim recaps his experience on Little Corn Island, a tiny speck of land 50 miles off the coast of Nicaragua. Jim touches on a variety of topics, including how the hell one gets to the 1.5 square mile island in the Caribbean Sea and what is was like eating, drinking, and living amongst the local population (8:10). Then, Jim builds (and this will make more sense when you listen) Oklahoma City Thunder Rushmore (36:00) and Nicaraguan Baseball Rushmore (39:57).

#147 - What drives someone to embark on an extraordinary journey with zero experience? Meet Charlie Reynolds, the audacious soul who swapped the comforts of a four-wheeled drive for the thrill of a motorcycle, blazing a trail from Canada to the ends of Argentina. Charlie's story inspires with its tales of confronting the infamous Darien Gap and his improvisational canoe adventure across the Caribbean Sea. Reliving the moments when outdoor passions were ignited in Whistler, BC, Charlie reminds us of the transformative power of embracing the unknown.Join us as we revel in the chaotic beauty of epic journeys with a fellow enthusiast who finds joy in unpredictability, whether navigating historical routes on a bicycle or surviving near misses on the Pan-American Highway. This episode celebrates the philosophy of biting off more than one can chew and savoring every moment of the adventure. From unexpected reunions in the daunting Darien Gap to the heartwarming generosity of the Guna people, we explore how stepping out of our comfort zones fosters profound human connections and personal growth.The journey crescendos with unexpected cultural encounters on a matriarchal island and reflections on personal revelations during solitary adventures. Tune in to this exhilarating narrative, where every twist and turn offers insight and inspiration, encouraging us all to embrace the adventure life offers.Visit LandPirate.com to get your gear that has you, the adventurer, in mind. Use the code "Journey with Jake" to get an additional 15% off at check out. Visit geneticinsights.co and use the code "DISCOVER25" to enjoy a sweet 25% off your first purchase.

pWotD Episode 2842: Gulf of Mexico Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 429,416 views on Tuesday, 11 February 2025 our article of the day is Gulf of Mexico.The Gulf of Mexico (Spanish: Golfo de México) is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southwest and south by the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo; and on the southeast by Cuba. The coastal areas along the Southern U. S. states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, which border the gulf on the north, are occasionally referred to as the "Third Coast" of the United States (in addition to its Atlantic and Pacific coasts), but more often as, "the Gulf Coast".The Gulf of Mexico took shape approximately 300 million years ago (mya) as a result of plate tectonics. The Gulf of Mexico basin is roughly oval in shape and is approximately 810 nmi (1,500 kilometres; 930 miles) wide. Its floor consists of sedimentary rocks and recent sediments. It is connected to part of the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida between the U. S. and Cuba, and with the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatán Channel between Mexico and Cuba. Because of its narrow connection to the Atlantic Ocean, the gulf experiences very small tidal ranges. The size of the gulf basin is approximately 1.6 million km2 (620,000 sq mi). Almost half of the basin consists of shallow continental shelf waters. The volume of water in the basin is roughly 2.4 million cubic kilometres (580 thousand cubic miles). The gulf is one of the most important offshore petroleum production regions in the world, making up 14% of the United States' total production. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico also contributes to weather across the United States and is a critical factor in the development of severe weather in Tornado Alley.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:55 UTC on Wednesday, 12 February 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Gulf of Mexico on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Kendra.

Depending on which side of the country you live on, you probably either hate or love sea urchins. Off the coast of California, there are too many of the spiny creatures. They're destroying kelp beds, harming the entire ecosystem.But off the coast of Florida—and throughout the Caribbean Sea—there aren't enough urchins. And without them, coral reefs are dying off.Long-spined sea urchins used to be common in the Caribbean. They have black spines that can be up to a foot long. And their “teeth” are rocky plates that allow them to scrape algae from corals and other hard surfaces.In 1983, a disease raced across the Caribbean. Within two weeks, it had killed 97 percent of the urchins. And in 2022, a parasite hit the still-recovering urchin population, wiping out most of the urchins on most reefs.Without the urchins, the algae population has exploded. Algae can cover the corals, blocking the sunlight the living corals need to survive. The algae also coat the surfaces that young corals latch themselves to, preventing them from establishing new colonies.Combined with climate change, ocean pollution, and other problems, that's cut the amount of corals across the Caribbean by about 80 percent since the 1970s.Today, scientists are raising urchins in the lab, then dropping them on reefs. It's too early to tell how that's working out. But researchers are hopeful that the efforts will begin to restore balance to Caribbean reefs.

(2/2/2025-2/9/2025) Earthquake at sea. Tune in.patreon.com/isaiahnews#applepodcasts⁠ ⁠#spotifypodcasts⁠ ⁠#youtube #amazon⁠ ⁠#patreon⁠

Adventurer Phoebe Smith heads to the Central American nation of Belize, to see - in the wake of the rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in the USA - how multiple cultures can live in harmony while still celebrating their own uniqueness. The country is found on Central America's north eastern coast,  bordered by Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea.  It's one of only two destinations in Latin America where English is the official language. This is a country that is happy with its own cultural diversity - being home to more than six ethnic groups in a country around the size of Wales. So how does Belize manage to weave so many cultures into a harmonious tapestry - wander with Phoebe to find out...Also coming up:An interview with National Geographic explorer and conservationist Jamal Galves aka The Manatee ManTravel Hack: Know your Belizean ethnic groupsTop 10 wildlife found on land and in the sea around BelizeMeet Dayter Rodriguez - the first female maker of Garifuna drumsDiscover how to pack for a land and sea adventureLearn all about our Wander Woman of the Month - Gwendolyn Lizarraga aka Madam Liz - fighter for equal rights for women and the poorContact Wander Womanwww.Phoebe-Smith.com; @PhoebeRSmith

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 09Starship's Fiery End and Blue Origin's New Glenn DebutSpaceX's Starship experienced a dramatic explosion during its seventh test flight, marking both success and setback. While the super heavy booster was successfully caught by the launch tower's chopstick arms, the Starship upper stage exploded during ascent. Despite the fiery end, the mission demonstrated significant advancements in booster recovery technology.Blue Origin's New Glenn Maiden FlightBlue Origin's New Glenn mega rocket has completed its first flight, successfully reaching orbit. However, the mission wasn't flawless, as the first stage booster failed to land on a pre-positioned barge in the Atlantic Ocean. The mission's payload, a prototype for the Blue Ring orbital vehicle, was successfully deployed, marking a significant milestone for Blue Origin.Mysterious Stellar Pulsations ExplainedAstronomers have pinpointed the source of mysterious long-period radio transients, linking them to a binary star system comprising a white dwarf and a red dwarf. This discovery, made using data from the Murchison Wide Field Array and the Meerkat telescope, offers new insights into these enigmatic astrophysical events.00:00 Space Time Starship destroyed in spectacular explosion during its seventh test flight00:48 Super heavy booster successfully caught by launch tower's chopsticks during textbook landing07:09 Debris spotted streaking over Caribbean Sea after SpaceX Falcon 7 launch11:05 Blue Origin's new Glenn has successfully undertaken its maiden flight16:55 Astronomers have discovered the source of mysterious extreme astrophysical event20:50 Long period radio transients are mysterious new class of repeating radio source in space29:08 Long period radio transients may be caused by binary M dwarf white dwarf systems32:12 New study warns shallow groundwater is projected to warm by 3.5 degrees Celsius by 209934:29 All the hype about mysterious drones over New Jersey disappeared after LA wildfireswww.spacetimewithstuartgary.comwww.bitesz.com

It's Friday, January 10th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Muslims block construction of church in Indonesia Muslims in Indonesia said they will sue Catholic leaders to prevent completion of a church building after months of construction, reports Morning Star News. The St. Anthony Catholic Church in Bandung, the capital of West Java Province, obtained building permits. However, attorneys for area residents claim they were granted through improper means and without their permission. Christians in Indonesia say they are routinely pressured to make extra payments known as “grease” – essentially a bribe -- to local officials or residents in order to obtain construction permits in the 83% Muslim country. In John 15:18, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.” Judge temporarily blocks release of DOJ report on Trump case In America, Aileen Cannon, a Trump-appointed judge, ruled that special counsel Jack Smith's report on the federal classified document case against President-elect Donald Trump cannot be released pending more court proceedings, reports NewsNationNow.com. The move came after Trump's attorneys demanded that Attorney General Merrick Garland leave the release of the report up to the incoming administration. Back in July, Judge Cannon dismissed the classified documents case against Trump. She said Smith was illegally appointed. Smith's report was expected to be released “imminently” before objections by Trump's attorneys, saying the report would be “one-sided.” Trump wants Panama Canal back At a recent press conference in Mar-a-Lago, President-elect Trump outlined why he believes America should get the Panama Canal back. The 51-mile waterway, which was completed by America  in 1914, connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of Panama. The Panama Canal shortcut greatly reduces the time for ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, enabling them to avoid the lengthy, hazardous route around the southernmost tip of South America. In 1914, 1,000 ships went through the Panama Canal.  By 2012 however, more than 815,000 ships used the waterway shortcut. TRUMP: “The Panama Canal was built for our military. Look, the Panama Canal is vital to our country. It's being operated by China. China!  And we gave the Panama Canal to Panama. We didn't give it to China. They've abused that gift. It should have never been made, by the way. “Giving the Panama Canal is why Jimmy Carter lost the election, in my opinion, more so maybe, than the hostages. The hostages were a big deal. It's a bad part of the Carter legacy. He was a very fine person, but that was a big mistake. We lost 38,000 people. It cost us the equivalent of a trillion dollars.” Gary Bauer, President of American Values, wrote, “Panama is likely in violation of the treaty it made with us when we handed over control of the canal. The treaty mandates that nothing be done at the canal that threatens America's security. But Panama has allowed communist China to gain footholds on both ends of the canal. Trump's strong language is what a president should say, which is why Joe Biden hasn't said it.” California fires claimed 2,000 buildings and 5 lives Many images of wildfire devastation coming over the newswires made the City of Angels look every bit like Hades: raging infernos, charred skeletal remains of homes, a smoke-filled sky, and weeping residents, notes The Hollywood Reporter. According to the Los Angeles Times, firefighters battled multiple blazes overnight as whipping winds, with gusts up to 100 miles per hour, fueled three major wildfires. The Palisades Fire burned more than 15,800 acres and numerous homes, businesses and landmarks in Pacific Palisades. It reached westward along the Pacific Coast Highway, toward Malibu. The Eaton Fire burned more than 10,000 acres and many structures in Altadena and Pasadena. And the Sunset Fire exploded around 5:45 p.m. yesterday and appeared to be burning south toward Hollywood Boulevard. More than 2,000 homes, businesses and other buildings have been damaged or destroyed and at least five people have died. Plus, 30,000 people evacuated their homes. Actor James Woods saves 94-year-old man in fire with phone call Appearing on CNN, actor James Woods tells a providential story about the fire. WOODS: “We have a neighbor who is 94 years old, who has dementia. I said there were no cars on the driveway. We would go over to help him get in his chair, you know, sometime, if he fell, with the caregiver. But I knew he was in the hospital. “God was on his side. I decided to call his son in Massachusetts and said, ‘Hey, Francis, just to be sure, your dad's still in the hospital, right?' He said, ‘No, he got home last night, and there's a new caregiver, and I don't have the number.' “They wouldn't let us back up. So, I finally got through to 9-1-1, and said, ‘You gotta go check on this guy.' I call my neighbor, who hadn't evacuated yet. He was on his roof, fighting his fire. I said, ‘Go in and check on him.' He went. He said, ‘The door's open, there's nobody here.' He went in and yelled. He said, ‘No, nobody here.' I said, ‘Look, just go behind the pantry. There's a little room. We can see him during the day. He likes to sit there because there's a garden. “He went in and found him. He'd been left alone. And it turned out the fire department made the new caregiver leave, and they said, ‘We're coming back for him.' Well, they hadn't come back for him. I'm hoping that they would have but, you know, there was so much chaos. “It was like an inferno. Every house was on fire around us, and he got him out, and the house burned down about an hour later.” Psalm 138:7 says, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life.” With a broken heart, Woods revealed that his own house was consumed by flames after he evacuated. WOODS: “At 11:49 last night, all the smoke alarms in our house alerted our phones that our house that we had just renovated for three years and had just finally moved into about three months ago. You know, all the smoke alarms are going off, so that's hardly [gets emotional] a good sign. “So, I'm I'm not sure, but it it wouldn't make any difference, because, you know, the whole street's burned down. So, I mean, even if you go back to your home. We were out on our driveway. I looked at the smoke was so black. It was a house across the street was on fire. The house next door is on fire.” McDonalds abandons woke DEI policies, embraces “Golden Rule” And finally, fast food giant McDonald's is the latest major corporation to distance itself from the woke “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies. Instead, they want to emphasize the “Golden Rule,” reports LifeSiteNews.com. Matthew 7:12 says, “"In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” The Associated Press reports that McDonalds plans to abandon specific diversity targets for senior leadership, end a program aimed at diversity training for suppliers, and pause participation in “external surveys,” such as those conducted by the radical homosexual pressure group called the Human Rights Campaign. McDonald's cited the “shifting legal landscape” after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race-based affirmative action was unconstitutional in 2023 as contributing to the changes. Conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who has successfully pressured other companies to reverse woke policies, said he had informed McDonald's that he planned to release a report on them as well. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, January 10th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Send us a textWelcome to a Christmas like no other, where I wrestle with the absurdities of modern finance and the strange beauty of human existence. From the quiet shores of St. Bart's, and it's a quiet one for sure, Christmas morning and i'm about to post this to you all. There's a cool macro economic essay in there somewhere. I wanted to get something, anything out there for this holiday season; I hope you can forgive the heavy breathing…This is a meditation on what it means to live in a world where financial systems are warped mirrors of reality. Why does the U.S. economy continue to thrive against the odds? What does it mean when a stock doubles in a month, only to face existential doubt the next? Are we all, prisoners of a system that was never truly rational to begin with?I reflect on moments from my own career, like the time I wagered against the optimism of Nokia in 1999 or found myself apologizing to a Carphone Warehouse magnate, my words echoing through the Mayfair offices as traders placed bets on how many times I'd say “sorry.” But this episode is mostly about life. About finding meaning in the noise, about letting go of the need for answers, and embracing the simple act of questioning.  So, as 2024 fades into memory, join me in this moment of quiet reflection. Let's step away from the screens, the data, the endless rush to predict the unpredictable. Let's sit with the questions, about markets, about ourselves, and see what they reveal.Because, as I sit here on a stunning Christmas day, staring at the endless blue of the Caribbean Sea, I'm reminded, that you and me, we don't have all the answers. But we've got really good questions. What happens when the Chinese stop buying US risk capital? Does the global stock market music stop?These are THE questions for today. But they're questions worth holding onto as we head into the new year. Answers that will reveal themselves when they're good and damned ready to reveal.So, Good luck, my brothers and sisters.The spirituality of curiosity.I leave it for you to decide.Hugh⬇️ Subscribe on Patreon or Substack for full episodes ⬇️https://www.patreon.com/HughHendryhttps://hughhendry.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/hughhendryofficialhttps://blancbleustbarts.comhttps://www.instagram.com/blancbleuofficial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a five star review and comment on Apple Podcasts!

Thanks to David and Jayson for their suggestions this week! Further reading: Unveiling the lionfish invasion in the Mediterranean Sea DeepCCZ: The Weird and Wonderful Megafauna of the Abyssal CCZ The red lionfish is beautiful but does not look like a lion [photo by Alexander Vasenin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25523559]: The sea squirrel is yellow above and red underneath (pictures from article linked above): Under side of a gummy squirrel photographed on shipboard showing its bright red feeding palps (flower-like structure) and underbelly. Gummy squirrel (“Psychropotes longicauda”) at 5100 m depth on abyssal sediments in the western CCZ. This animal is ~60 cm long (including tail), with red feeding palps (or “lips”) visibly extended from its anterior end (right). Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. This week we're going to learn about two interesting marine animals suggested by Jayson and David. Let's start with David's suggestion, the lionfish. The lionfish doesn't actually look like a lion although it is a fish. It lives in shallow tropical water in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, especially around coral reefs. There are twelve species of lionfish known, but they're mostly fairly similar. The lionfish is brown or dark red in color with white stripes, fan-like fins, and lots of long spines, all of which are striped black and white or red and white to make them more visible. When a fish or other animal has markings that make it stand out against the background, you can be pretty sure that it's dangerous, and that's the case for the lionfish. The lionfish's spines are venomous, especially the spines on the dorsal fin. If it feels threatened, it will point the dorsal fin at the predator and keep it pointed at it no matter which direction the predator moves. If the predator swims below the lionfish, the lionfish will turn upside-down in the water to keep the dorsal fin pointed at it. Most predators back off at that point, and I don't blame them because that sounds really scary. People have died from lionfish venom, but it's rare. Mostly it's just extremely painful and makes the person feel really sick for a day or two. Divers have to be careful when they're around lionfish, because lionfish can be aggressive and will point that dorsal fin at the diver as a warning. You don't want a lionfish to point at you. The lionfish eats smaller fish, including smaller lionfish, invertebrates, and other small animals. It confuses other fish by blowing water at them. The little fish turns to face into what it thinks is a weird water current, and suddenly, there's a lionfish that just gulps it down. As David points out, even though the lionfish is dangerous, it's definitely beautiful. Some people keep lionfish in saltwater aquariums, although they're hard to care for in captivity, and unfortunately sometimes the fish escape into the wild or are released. The red lionfish is especially invasive in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf Coast, and off the southeastern coast of the United States. Lionfish have also been introduced to parts of the Mediterranean Sea, where they're becoming more and more invasive. Because invasive lionfish eat so many native fish, and because it's spreading rapidly and becoming extremely common, people have been trying to find ways to reduce the invasive population. It turns out that lionfish are good to eat if you're careful when handling the spines during cleaning, so people in areas where it's invasive are encouraged to catch lionfish to eat. Invasive lionfish are even served in fancy restaurants. Since the red lionfish can grow around 18 inches long, or 47 cm, there's lot a of meat on one. No one's sure why it's called a lionfish. It doesn't look remotely like a lion. It's also called the zebrafish because of its stripes. Next,

Dr. Christopher Landsea is Chief of the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, where his team generates wind and wave forecasts for the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, tropical North Atlantic Ocean, and tropical northeastern Pacific Ocean. He was on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus last week to give a talk so we brought him by the studio to talk about hurricane meteorology and forecasting and how it's evolved over time and what lies ahead as technology advances.

Humpback whales sing their own special kind of music. Recorded by Paul Knapp, Jr, the songs are unique and mysterious. The compelling view from the International Space Station shows the beauty of the Caribbean Sea, the surrounding lands and islands, and the wistful clouds – the natural environment of the marvelous whales. We're left to wonder what the whales convey with their strange sounds. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40231]

Over the next two episodes, host Eric Clayton is going to take you on an adventure. We're going to travel to Central America, to a small country on the Caribbean Sea. A country that is both ancient and relatively new. A place that is both a melting pot of so very many cultures and ways of life, and yet is also the least populated country in all of Central America. We're going on pilgrimage to Belize. Eric was there earlier this year visiting the Jesuit communities. Jesuits have been in Belize since 1851, when members of the English Province came over from nearby Jamaica. Ever since, Jesuit have played a foundational role in the development of the Catholic Church in the country — even before it was a country. And that last bit is important. The Mayan people lived and thrived in that land for centuries before Europeans arrived in the early 1500s. But when the Spanish conquistadors arrived — and soon after, British pirates — the Mayan people suffered, dying from conflict as well as disease. The country as it's known today became independent in 1981. Before then, since 1862, Belize was declared part of the British Empire and known as British Honduras. As a result of the relative new-ness of the country, Belizeans are still in the process of discovering their own identity, of making known what it means to be a citizen of Belize. So, what role are the Jesuits playing in all of this? As you'll hear from today's guest, Fr. Brian Christopher, SJ, the superior of the Jesuit community in Belize, the Jesuits are called to accompaniment. Fr. Brian is focused on walking with Belizeans in discovering what it means to be Catholic and Belizean is this moment. This is part 1 of a two-part series on Belize. Next week, we'll journey to a different part of the country. In the meantime, check out this video featuring Fr. Brian and some of the lay leadership in Belize: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cLzGsVsxRs

Embracing mistakes as you go through training is a skill within itself. Mistakes will happen, especially in training. Learning, moving forward, and embracing these moments can be some of the most valuable experiences we can use as divers. Jake Bulman is someone who sees mistakes as opportunities for growth. A journey that began in the cold waters of Canada, continued growing in the Caribbean Sea, and is now being matured in the cenotes of The Yucatan. Please enjoy. Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jake_bulman/https://www.instagram.com/protecdivecenters/Website:https://protecdivecenters.com/

A broad area of low pressure is likely to develop over the southwestern Caribbean Sea in a few days. Escambia County Public Safety Eric Gilmore has the latest info.

Do you prefer multistory episodes, single story episodes, or a mix? Let us know! In today's episode of Discover Daily, we explore the mysterious world of cryptocurrency as a new HBO documentary reignites the debate over Bitcoin's creator by suggesting Canadian developer Peter Todd as Satoshi Nakamoto. Todd has gone into hiding following the documentary's claims, which present circumstantial evidence linking him to Bitcoin's creation, though the cryptocurrency community remains skeptical of these assertions.We then delve into groundbreaking developments in carbon capture technology, where UC Berkeley researchers have created COF-999, an innovative powder that can remove up to 20kg of CO2 per year using just 200 grams. This remarkable material operates at room temperature and requires significantly less energy than traditional carbon capture methods, potentially transforming our approach to combating climate change.Our main story focuses on Colombia's ambitious $4.5 million expedition to recover the legendary San José galleon, known as the "Holy Grail of Shipwrecks." This 300-year-old Spanish warship, containing an estimated $17 billion in gold, silver, and emeralds, lies at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea. The recovery effort has sparked an international legal battle over ownership rights between Colombia, Spain, indigenous groups, and a U.S.-based company, highlighting the complex intersection of historical preservation and national heritage.From Perplexity's Discover Feed: https://www.perplexity.ai/page/named-bitcoin-creator-in-hidin-7gvtjeqkR6Sp.TmCwbRuxwhttps://www.perplexity.ai/page/powder-can-capture-carbon-from-iv7mjPSZQHyIzV6OynyqeAhttps://www.perplexity.ai/page/the-holy-grail-of-shipwrecks-DuKDuHpKQparaBaoOQ8EYQPerplexity is the fastest and most powerful way to search the web. Perplexity crawls the web and curates the most relevant and up-to-date sources (from academic papers to Reddit threads) to create the perfect response to any question or topic you're interested in. Take the world's knowledge with you anywhere. Available on iOS and Android Join our growing Discord community for the latest updates and exclusive content. Follow us on: Instagram Threads X (Twitter) YouTube Linkedin

The waters of the western Caribbean remain ripe for new development as the last month of the Atlantic hurricane season approaches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Master Sculptor Jalim and his entrepreneur sister Adeline Eudovic were born into an artistic family. As children of the island's iconic, leading sculptor, Vincent Joseph Eudovic, they grew up in an environment of creativity from birth. With the establishment of Eudovic Art Studio & Guest Apartments in 1975, the siblings became involved in all aspects of the business as they came of age. Decades later when Adeline came across an abandoned property, she saw an amazing opportunity to use that knowledge gained from their family business to create an oasis that would impress their parents and visitors alike. Enlisting the assistance of her brother, together they embarked on a transformative process laden with all the pitfalls and lessons that come with such a venture. Learn how they successfully navigated the challenges of finance, construction, materials, available skilled labour and so much more, to create Hammock Suites perched on an enviable hillside overlooking the Castries Harbor and the Caribbean Sea. #CaribbeanPropertyInvestingPodcast#CaribbeanProperty#CaribbeanRealEsate#HammockSuites#JalimEudovic#AdelineEudovic#BankofSaintLucia#CourtsStLucia#UnicomerStLucia

pWotD Episode 2715: Hurricane Milton Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 94,022 views on Monday, 7 October 2024 our article of the day is Hurricane Milton.Hurricane Milton is an extremely powerful tropical cyclone active in the Gulf of Mexico, currently impacting the Yucatán Peninsula. The thirteenth named storm, ninth hurricane, fourth major hurricane, and second Category 5 hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Milton formed from a long-tracked tropical disturbance which originated in the western Caribbean Sea and consolidated in the Bay of Campeche on October 5. The storm then underwent explosive intensification into a Category 5 hurricane on October 7. Milton is expected to impact Florida less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated its Big Bend region. At peak intensity, the hurricane was the fifth-most intense in the Atlantic on record.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 05:41 UTC on Tuesday, 8 October 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Hurricane Milton on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Nicole.

Jacqueline Evers set off from The Netherlands in July 2023 and is now in New Zealand. She sails a 1977 Grinde 27 called Loveworx, designed by Peter Bruun and built in Denmark.  We talk about New Zealand, clearing into various countries and expenses, sailing solo with family visiting, her boat, the inner forestay, why she is sailing solo around the world, favorite places, what we learn about ourselves through solo sailing, bird visitations, fishing while sailing (or not), sharks, fear, big wind and waves in the Caribbean Sea, creative anchoring, anchors and chain, a beautiful moment, landfalls, the wonder of living on a sailboat, and more.  You can follow Jacqueline on her Youtube Channel Sailing Loveworkx  https://www.youtube.com/@sailingloveworkx Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Part 1 - Neville James contacts the National Weather Service. Helene may have deteriorated into a tropical storm early Friday, but the National Hurricane Center is still tracking three other systems, one in the Caribbean Sea and two in the Atlantic. Neville meets Abeni Bloodworth, co-founder of Chromatic Black. Abeni is actively engaged in opposing the contentious Project 2025 initiative.

Today on America in the Morning   Biden's UN General Assembly Farewell In what was his final speech before the United Nations General Assembly, President Biden bid farewell to the international body and pressed once again for a peace deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. John Stolnis has more from Washington.    Helene Turns To Florida Much of Florida, and other parts of the Southeast, are bracing for another potential hurricane as Helene churns through the Caribbean Sea. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports mandatory evacuations are now underway in parts of seven Florida counties.    Missouri Execution After the US Supreme Court gave the go-ahead, the state of Missouri executed Marcellus Williams. America in the Morning's Jeff McKay has details. More Aid For Ukraine The U.S. will send another military aid package to Ukraine, totaling $375 million dollars, as the Ukrainian president will be heading to Washington to meet with President Biden. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports.   Haitians Want Trump Arrested A Haitian group in Springfield, Ohio is now seeking criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.   Not A Blue Light Special The first K-Mart store opened 62 years ago in Michigan. Now, as correspondent Julie Walker reports one of the last will be fading its famous blue light to black with the shuttering of its last full-scale US store.      Assassination Attempt Charges Federal prosecutors have filed charges against the man arrested for plotting to assassinate former President Trump at a Florida golf course. Ben Thomas reports the judge assigned to the proceedings also presided over Trump's classified documents case.     UNGA Focusing On Israel As Israel and Hezbollah battled in the Middle East, a number of nations including Turkey and Jordan focused their speeches at the UN General Assembly in New York on Israel, despite its being attacked on two fronts by terrorist groups. Correspondent Julie Walker reports.    Harris Wants To End The Filibuster Vice President Kamala Harris isn't likely to gain the endorsement of outgoing Senator Joe Manchin after comments she made in support of changing Senate rules to pass abortion protection laws. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.    Traffic Stop Concerns When news broke about the recent traffic stop and detainment of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, questions have been raised as to a drivers' constitutional rights if they are pulled over by police. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.    Latest FTX Trial Sentencing Caroline Ellison, the star witness in the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, has been sentenced to two years in prison over her role in the FTX fraud. Correspondent Norman Hall reports.   Maryland Sues Over Bridge Collapse The state of Maryland has added to the legal troubles facing the owner and operator of the container ship Dali, which caused the deadly collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge.     Congressman Under Fire Over Hires A New York congressman is pushing back on a New York Times story that he violated House rules by employing both his fiancee's daughter and a woman he was allegedly having an affair with. Sue Aller reports.     Selling Infowars Assets A bankruptcy judge is set to rule that conspiracy theorist Alex Jones ' Infowars media platform and its assets will be sold off piece by piece in auctions this fall to help pay the more than $1 billion he owes relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.  Tech News Android users get apps and updates from the Google Play Store, but in some cases, malware may have piggy-backed its way on to your device. Here's Chuck Palm with today's Tech news.    Finally   Sean “Diddy” Combs, already in jail facing sex trafficking charges, is now being sued for sexual assault. Kevin Carr has the story.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Joe Biden underscored the importance of alliances and U.S. support for Ukraine in its war with Russia in his final address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Biden said the United States must not retreat from the world, as Israel and the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon edge toward all-out war and the conflict with Hamas terrorists in Gaza nears the one-year mark. GOP presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump is holding a campaign event in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday, where he intends to discuss the tax code and U.S. manufacturing. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris's husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, will speak at campaign events in Austin, Texas. Harris is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Tropical Storm Helene is forming in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Residents of Florida are bracing for what could become the strongest hurricane to hit the United States so far this season. ⭕️Watch in-depth videos based on Truth & Tradition at Epoch TV

President Joe Biden underscored the importance of alliances and U.S. support for Ukraine in its war with Russia in his final address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Biden said the United States must not retreat from the world, as Israel and the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon edge toward all-out war and the conflict with Hamas terrorists in Gaza nears the one-year mark.GOP presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump is holding a campaign event in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday, where he intends to discuss the tax code and U.S. manufacturing. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris's husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, will speak at campaign events in Austin, Texas. Harris is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh on Wednesday.Tropical Storm Helene is forming in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Residents of Florida are bracing for what could become the strongest hurricane to hit the United States so far this season.

The Mesoamerican Reef system is the second largest in the world. Located in the Caribbean Sea, the most beautiful section of this reef is accessible through the island of Roatán in Honduras. Here you can see the plant and animal life that call this tropical paradise homeThis simple story is told in the present tense and focuses on the words island, fish, coral reef, film, and scuba dive. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/08/28/simple-stories-in-english-under-the-sea/ I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories. I work hard to provide tools and supports for those who want to learn and I like to keep it ad free. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

This month's podcast is from the remote and windy shore of the Rio Motagua. Robert Leijgraaf, aka Bobby, Project Engineer at The Ocean Cleanup, sits with our host, Dan van der Kooy, in the fishing village of El Quetzalito, Guatemala. We're about to deploy the second Interceptor Solution in Guatemala. Bobby talks about the need for another Interceptor Barricade at the end of the Rio Motagua and what we learned from the first project in the country. Interceptor Barricade XL will be about 300km upstream from the first Interceptor Barricade. If it all goes well, the combined impact of the two deployments will stop river pollution right before it enters the Caribbean Sea. Learn more about our new deployment here.

Cartels have developed complex and adaptable transportation networks to move drugs and other contraband across international borders. These networks include land, maritime, and air routes, each tailored to exploit geographic and logistical advantages while evading law enforcement.Land Routes: Central America and Mexico are critical transit points for drugs entering the United States. Cartels use remote areas, corrupt officials, and collaboration with local gangs to move drugs northward. The Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama, despite its treacherous terrain, is a key smuggling route.Maritime Routes: The Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea are major corridors for drug trafficking. Cartels use large cargo ships, fishing boats, and semi-submersible vessels to move drugs, often hiding them among legitimate cargo. The Atlantic Ocean is a primary route for drugs entering Europe, with ports in Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands serving as key entry points.Air Routes: Cartels use small aircraft and drones for short-distance smuggling, particularly across the U.S.-Mexico border. Commercial flights are also used to transport drugs, especially to Europe and Asia, with major airports in Latin America being key departure points.Innovative Methods: Cartels constantly innovate to stay ahead of law enforcement. They use sophisticated tunnels under the U.S.-Mexico border, semi-submersible vessels, and hidden compartments in shipping containers to evade detection.Geopolitical and Economic Factors: Cartels shift routes in response to law enforcement pressure and internal dynamics. Corruption is widespread, with cartels bribing officials to protect their operations. Globalization and the rise of transnational crime networks have expanded cartels' reach into new markets, especially in Europe and Asia.Law Enforcement Challenges: Combating drug trafficking requires international cooperation, technological advancements, and targeted legal measures. Despite efforts like joint operations and information sharing, cartels continue to adapt, making drug trafficking a persistent global challenge.The ongoing battle against drug trafficking is complex and evolving, driven by the cartels' ingenuity and the global demand for drugs. Understanding these transportation routes is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat their influence.(commercial at 19:40)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Cartels have developed complex and adaptable transportation networks to move drugs and other contraband across international borders. These networks include land, maritime, and air routes, each tailored to exploit geographic and logistical advantages while evading law enforcement.Land Routes: Central America and Mexico are critical transit points for drugs entering the United States. Cartels use remote areas, corrupt officials, and collaboration with local gangs to move drugs northward. The Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama, despite its treacherous terrain, is a key smuggling route.Maritime Routes: The Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea are major corridors for drug trafficking. Cartels use large cargo ships, fishing boats, and semi-submersible vessels to move drugs, often hiding them among legitimate cargo. The Atlantic Ocean is a primary route for drugs entering Europe, with ports in Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands serving as key entry points.Air Routes: Cartels use small aircraft and drones for short-distance smuggling, particularly across the U.S.-Mexico border. Commercial flights are also used to transport drugs, especially to Europe and Asia, with major airports in Latin America being key departure points.Innovative Methods: Cartels constantly innovate to stay ahead of law enforcement. They use sophisticated tunnels under the U.S.-Mexico border, semi-submersible vessels, and hidden compartments in shipping containers to evade detection.Geopolitical and Economic Factors: Cartels shift routes in response to law enforcement pressure and internal dynamics. Corruption is widespread, with cartels bribing officials to protect their operations. Globalization and the rise of transnational crime networks have expanded cartels' reach into new markets, especially in Europe and Asia.Law Enforcement Challenges: Combating drug trafficking requires international cooperation, technological advancements, and targeted legal measures. Despite efforts like joint operations and information sharing, cartels continue to adapt, making drug trafficking a persistent global challenge.The ongoing battle against drug trafficking is complex and evolving, driven by the cartels' ingenuity and the global demand for drugs. Understanding these transportation routes is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat their influence.(commercial at 19:40)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Keith Keller ventured from the U.S. to the Cayman Islands to experience first-hand the spectacular diving and snorkeling for which the British overseas territory located in the western Caribbean Sea is known, and he stayed for the motorcycling. That description may seem odd to dyed-in-the-wool riders, since Grand Cayman, the largest of the three islands, only encompasses 75 square miles—not exactly tailor-made for touring.On this episode of the “Driven to Ride” podcast, show host Mark Long interviews Keller, a California native whom he met while vacationing on Grand Cayman. A lifelong motorcyclist, Keller owns Cayman Custom Cycles, a “one-stop shop for all things motorcycle in Grand Cayman.” He also operates “Cayman Islands Motorcycle Tours,” which offers a lap of the island from the seat of a late-model Harley-Davidson Big Twin.Keller is a staunch advocate for the local motorcycling community and the founder of the Cayman Islands Motorcycle Riders Association—don't call it a “club.” The tours themselves are relaxed affairs, as Long can vouch, with Keller leading from the front, albeit on the left side of the road, which is the rule of law in the Caymans. Figure 90 miles round trip. “But,” Keller says proudly, “you see the whole island.”  Connect with Us:Website: www.driventoridepodcast.comInstagram: www.Instagram.com/driventoridepodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/driventorideEmail:hello@driventoridepodcast.com

May 12, 2004. Noord, Aruba. Since 2004, Yvonne DeVries has tried to get justice for her 14-year-old son, Max. That day he and an older man took jet skis out into the ocean from their resort in Aruba. Max never came back. The Aruban police declared him lost at sea and, using the statement of the older man, decided it was an accident. However, Yvonne knew something wasn't right. Why did the old man and his son seem to single Max out? Why did he have scratches on his neck and hands after getting pulled from the ocean? Why didn't the Aruban police look into the man's shady past? And probably the most important question: What actually happened out in the Caribbean Sea on May 12, 2004?patreon.com/generationwhyListen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/generationwhy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a Note or Ask a question Here! Include your name and where you're from and we may just read it on an Upcoming Podcast!Embarking on a Western Caribbean Cruise Adventure - Part 2 In this exciting episode, we set sail on a luxurious Western Caribbean cruise, exploring the stunning beauty of the Caribbean Sea. From the vibrant ports of call to the onboard activities and delicious cuisine, we'll share our first-hand experiences and insider tips. Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or dreaming of your first voyage, this episode is packed with everything you need to know about starting your own Caribbean adventure.Episode 37 | Recorded June 2024 | Onboard Harmony of the Seas Want to Learn More About Miles & Points➡️ https://www.dailydrop.com/?via=millers-in-motionOur Top Travel Cards➡️ https://www.dailydrop.com/credit-cards?via=millers-in-motion 

Send us a Note or Ask a question Here! Include your name and where you're from and we may just read it on an Upcoming Podcast!Embarking on a Western Caribbean Adventure - Part 1In this exciting episode, we set sail on a luxurious Western Caribbean cruise, exploring the stunning beauty of the Caribbean Sea. From the vibrant ports of call to the onboard activities and delicious cuisine, we'll share our first-hand experiences and insider tips. Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or dreaming of your first voyage, this episode is packed with everything you need to know about starting your own Caribbean adventure.Episode 36 | Recorded July 2024 | North TexasWant to Learn More About Miles & Points➡️ https://www.dailydrop.com/?via=millers-in-motionOur Top Travel Cards➡️ https://www.dailydrop.com/credit-cards?via=millers-in-motion

Crossing the Big Ocean in a Little Boat How long would it take to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands near Africa to Antigua in the Caribbean Sea? “Team Foar Brothers,” consisting of Thomas, Trent, and Tim Hamilton along with their nephew, Ben Clark, did it in 37 days, 10 hours, and 55 minutes.  Discover more about their incredible journey of completing The World's Toughest Row as Thomas returns for his second appearance on the Cedarville Stories Podcast. Then watch their exhilarating finish line video to get a glimpse of what it was like to row a little boat across the big ocean. During their expedition on the open sea, the team faced numerous challenges, including towering waves, relentless rains, the endless expanse of salt water, continuous physical exertion, and being constantly tossed around. It truly tested their endurance, yet they persevered through their unity, the unwavering prayers of their loved ones, and their faith in the Lord. Despite the daunting obstacles, they managed to cross the finish line successfully. The journey for the Cedarville University alumni was not only a personal accomplishment but also a fundraising initiative, raising nearly $57,000 for Send Relief, a Baptist mission supporting Afghan refugees.While they found fulfillment in making a positive impact on others, they also reaped personal rewards. They were able to witness the beauty of God's creation, the vastness of His universe, and the constant presence of His embrace. Even in the isolation of the ocean, without seeing any signs of human life for weeks, they found solace in the knowledge that they were never truly alone. Tune into Cedarville Stories Podcast and join them on their journey across the sea! 

Join the Drinking and Talking Animals crew as they look dive into the natural history of the Lionfish. They discuss how this popular aquarium fish has found it's way into the the southern US coastal waters and the Caribbean Sea and what is and can be done about this invasive species.

Nerd news needed to be reported by the Gents, and it kicks off with TV singing the praises of anime lately (2:35) with all the great content that has been coming out recently. With EstoBro away during Bonnaroo, the Gents also give some major attention to all the video game showcases that took place this summer (21:00). TV sings the praises of Microsoft with EstoBro following suit and doing the same for Nintendo, but the pair have some words with Sony coming up short this year. They also review the latest installment in the Star Wars franchise with Disney+'s Acolyte that debuted (49:30) and why it is not surprising that new stories in this franchise cannot appease the massive fanbase dedicated to it. With hurricane season in full effect, EstoBro points out to TV that the latest storm in the Caribbean Sea is named after a Sailor Moon villain (64:05), which in turn leaves the Gents heckling meteorologists to potentially start naming all major storms after antagonists in fiction which would definitely make people take these natural disasters more seriously.  Theme song made by iamRavedadInteract with the Gents of the podcast on the following social media platforms:TwitterInstagramFacebookTumblrJoin the Discord serverSubscribe to the official playlist of the podcast

The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 on July 1 that presidents enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution for official, but not unofficial, acts. The decision is expected to delay former President Donald Trump's trial in the federal election case in Washington. The decision remands the case to the district court for further consideration.Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, made landfall on the Grenadines' Carriacou Island in the Caribbean Sea as an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane—with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. It is the strongest known hurricane to pass through the region.North Korea launched two ballistic missiles early on Monday in violation of multiple UN sanctions. South Korea saione of which the South says may have failed, The launches came just two days after the United States, South Korea, and Japan wrapped up their first ever joint exercises in the region.

Hurricane Beryl has made landfall on the Grenadines' southern islands in the Caribbean Sea as a dangerous Category 4 storm. The storm has triggered power outages, flooded streets and ushered in storm surge flooding for parts of the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados and Tobago. It is the strongest known hurricane to ever pass through the region, and marks an exceptionally early start to the Atlantic hurricane season. One News St Vincent founder Demion McTair, from mainland St Vincent, spoke to Ingrid Hipikiss.

It's Friday, June 7th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Pakistani Christian woman faces seven years in prison A Christian woman in Pakistan remains in jail on baseless charges of blasphemy against Islam after a judge rejected her bail application on Monday, June 3rd, reports Morning Star News. Stella Khawar, age 28, was arrested on May 12 in Punjab Province, and was charged with hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims.  She is suspected of besmirching Islam on a piece of paper following the August 16th, 2023 attacks on churches and homes of Christians in Jaranwala. If found guilty, she faces seven years of imprisonment. In John 15:18, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.” Russia launching military exercise in Caribbean Russia is preparing to deploy aircraft and combat naval vessels to the Caribbean Sea to conduct military exercises in the coming weeks, reports The Miami Herald. This is Russia's first set of military exercises in the Western Hemisphere involving both air and sea activity in five years. Oddly enough, the Biden administration is not expressing concern over the deployment, with the official stating it poses “no direct threat to the United States.” But the administration believes Moscow intends to use the exercises as a “messaging tactic” after President Joe Biden gave Ukraine permission last week to fire U.S.-made weapons across its border into Russia to defend its territory. COVID shots may have helped cause over 3 million excess deaths The popular U.K. media outlet the Telegraph published a Tuesday report admitting that a recent peer-reviewed study shows COVID shots “may have helped fuel a rise in excess deaths” numbering over three million in 47 countries, reports LifeSiteNews.com. In 2020, the researchers found 1,033,122 excess deaths – 11.5% more than expected – recorded in the countries when the COVID-19 outbreak began and measures such as lockdowns and social distancing were enacted. In 2021, when the COVID shots were widely made available for public use and “containment” measures continued, 1,256,942 excess deaths – just under 14% more than expected – were recorded. And in 2022, when the COVID shot rollout continued and most containment measures were eventually lifted, 808,392 excess deaths were recorded. The researchers noted that “side effects linked to the Covid vaccine had included ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome and brain hemorrhage, cardiovascular diseases, coagulation, hemorrhages, gastrointestinal events, and blood clotting.” Court orders Steve Bannon to prison July 1st On Thursday, a federal judge ordered former Trump adviser Steve Bannon to report to prison on July 1 to begin a four-month prison sentence for defying subpoenas from the January 6th Committee after a higher court rejected his appeal, reports NBC News. Bannon was found guilty on two counts of contempt of Congress in July 2022 for defying the committee's subpoenas, but his sentence had been put on hold while he appealed the case. Following his court appearance, Bannon addressed the press. BANNON: “All of this is about one thing. This about shutting down the [Make America Great] movement, shutting down grassroots conservatives, shutting down President Trump. “We are going to prevail. In every number and every poll shows that there's nothing that can shut me up and nothing that will shut me up. There's not a prison built or jail built that will ever shut me up. All victory to MAGA. We're going to win this. “We're going to win at the Supreme Court, and more importantly, we're going to win on November 5 in an amazing landslide, with the Senate, the House and also Donald J. Trump back as president of the United States.” 80th anniversary of D-Day: Largest seaborne invasion in history On June 6, 1944, 80 years ago yesterday, the Allied Forces launched the D-Day operation at Normandy, France to liberate the French, and the rest of Western Europe, from Nazi oppression during World War II. Given the codename “Overlord,” the Allied Forces, led by Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France in the largest seaborne invasion in history which included 7,000 ships and landing craft manned by over 195,000 naval personnel from eight allied countries. By June 30, over 850,000 men, 148,000 vehicles, and 570,000 tons of supplies had landed on the Normandy shores in France. The invasion began shortly after midnight on the morning of June 6th with extensive aerial and naval bombardment as well as an airborne assault—the landing of 24,000 American, British, and Canadian airborne troops. The early morning aerial assault was soon followed by Allied amphibious landings on the coast of France. The target 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Strong winds blew the landing craft east of their intended positions, particularly at Utah and Omaha. The men landed under heavy fire from gun emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire, making the work of the beach-clearing teams difficult and dangerous. Casualties were heaviest at Omaha, with its high cliffs. President Roosevelt's D-Day prayer President Franklin Delano Roosevelt  prayed a prayer on D-Day that was heard by Americans on their radios. Listen to a portion of FDR's prayer. “Almighty God, our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor: a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion, and our civilization and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true, give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. “Their road will be long and hard for the enemy is strong. He may have back off forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again. And we know that, by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.  They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest, until the victory is won. With Thy blessing, we shall prevail. “Over the unholy forces of our enemy, help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations, into a world unity that will spell a sure peace, a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy man, and a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.” Casualties from the Allied countries during the D-Day landing numbered 10,300. In light of those soldiers who gave their lives, consider the words of Jesus found in John 15:13.  “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.” Akron, Ohio homeschool family reflected on The Worldview Last night, I spoke with a homeschool family in Akron, Ohio.    Michelle and Chad have four daughters. MICHELLE: “We really appreciate the Biblical view of the news. We actually do not listen to any regular news broadcasts because of their liberal bias agenda. “We have used The Worldview newscast to listen to as a family to help our girls to understand a Biblical worldview. God has His church all over the world, to be praying for other believers and to always be looking to the Lord for His direction in our personal lives, in the lives of the church around the world, and for eternity.” Her husband Chad chimed in. CHAD: “It's trustworthy and fair. It's not mean toward those who have opposing viewpoints, but it's very fair but it's truthful.” Their 18-year-old daughter Nia cited the types of stories that have stood out to her. NIA: “I've really enjoyed hearing about the different Christians around the world who have been persecuted for the faith. And the way that you have told the stories is telling the truth about it, but it's never hopeless. It's never about how bad it is, but how good God is.” I chatted briefly with Noel, their 11-year-old, who's the one who suggested that the family make a donation to The Worldview. McMANUS: “Hi Noel, how are you?” NOEL: “I'm good.” McMANUS: “How old are you?” NOEL: “I'm eleven.” When I asked what Noel liked about The Worldview newscast, she said this. NOEL: “I like listening to it. It's very interesting to me.” Together with Karis, age 19, and Kiersten, age 16, the four daughters donated $100. When I asked Michelle, the mother, if they ever took action on one of our stories, she said this. MICHELLE: “We've banked with Chase for many years. Just over this last year, we've transitioned to closing our accounts with them and closing down credit lines that we have with them as well because of their more liberal agenda. We heard that through listening to The Worldview.” 5 Worldview listeners gave $1,375 And finally, toward our goal of raising $28,550 by 12 midnight tonight on this Friday, June 7th, to help keep the newscast on the air, only 5 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate. Our thanks to Gwyndol in Albany, Oregon $25, Richard in Morris, Pennsylvania who gave $50, as well as Rosana in San Antonio, Texas and Jeremy in Swansea, Toronto, Canada – both of whom gave $100. Plus, we're grateful to God for the generosity of Chad, Michelle, Karis, Nia, Kiersten and Noel in Akron, Ohio who gave $1,100 as a family. Those 5 Worldview donors gave $1,375. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (sound effect of drum roll) $7,315 (audience cheering) The vast majority of this radio audience has not yet made a donation since our month-long fundraiser kicked off on Monday, June 3rd. Needless to say, we are seriously behind where we had hoped to be. We still need to raise $21,235 by 12 midnight tonight!  Would you prayerfully consider becoming one of 18 people to pledge $100 per month for 12 months for a total gift of $1,200 to help us hit our first week's goal? Just go to TheWorldview.com, click on “Give,” select the dollar amount you'd like, and click on the recurring button if that's your wish. It would thrill my heart if I could announce on Monday's newscast that we not only met that goal, but exceeded it! Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, June 7th in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Could future blood transfusions be made safer by mixing in a new bacterial enzyme? Every year 118 million blood donations need to be carefully sorted to ensure the correct blood types go to the right patients. Prof Martin Olsson, of Lund University in Sweden, and colleagues in Denmark have published a study that suggests an enzyme made by bacteria in our gut could edit our blood cells to effectively convert type A, B and AB to type O. This would be a step towards a universal blood type that could be given to any patient. Papua New Guinea's Naomi Longa is a “Sea Woman of Melanesia”. She works to train local women from the Kimbe Bay region of the Coral Triangle to dive, snorkel, navigate and use AI to monitor the coral reefs there. She is winner of this year's Whitley Award, and tells us why it is socially and scientifically useful to get locals - specifically females - involved in conservation efforts there. Data scientist and roboticist Prof Daniele Rus of MIT has been using Machine Learning to decipher structure in a vast swath of Sperm Whale song data from Dominica. They have discovered a set of patterns and rules of context that seem to govern the way sperm whales structure their distinctive sets of clicks. The next step? See if we can decode any semantic content… Also, 200 years after Beethoven's 9th symphony premiered, science says its composer couldn't hold a beat. A cautionary tale of the hubris of genetic data miners, Laura Wesseldijk describes to Roland how she and her collaborators designed the paradoxical study to point out the limitations of finding any sort of “musical genius” genes with contemporary techniques. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth(Image: Two Sperm Whales, Caribbean Sea, Dominica. Credit: Reinhard Dirscherl via Getty Images)