Podcasts about Congolese

South Africa is having to deal with anti-migrant sentiment and xenophobic tensions, again. Lester Kiewit speaks to Congolese-born Cape Town musician, poet and storyteller Sylvestre Kabassidi, whose life and music have become deeply intertwined with the city he now calls home. Through songs such as Call Me Brother, Kabassidi challenges the fear of the "other" and asks what it truly means to belong in a city built on migration, diversity and shared humanity. A proud father, performer and self-described Capetonian, he believes that food, music, conversation and compassion are the antidotes to division. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AP correspondent Donna Warder reports on how Ebola is affecting the lives of Congolese citizens.

It's just four words in a catchy Billy Joel rhyme, but behind it lies one of the darkest and most devastating chapters in global history. This week on History Ignited, we are pulling up a chair at the family table to unpack the brutal reality behind the lyric: "Belgians in the Congo."Join us as we trace how King Leopold II turned a massive stretch of Central Africa into his own personal, corporate fiefdom under the guise of humanitarian aid. We break down the horrific human cost of the global rubber boom, the terror of the Force Publique, and how a single monarch's greed left deep, generational scars on a nation.How did a tragedy of this scale happen? How did Leopold cover it up? And how does a family process this kind of history together around the dinner table? Grab a seat, hit play, and let's ignite the history behind the music.What We Cover in This Episode:The Humanitarian Illusion: How King Leopold II tricked the world into letting him privately own the Congo Free State.The Price of Rubber: The brutal system of forced labor, quotas, and the atrocities committed against the Congolese people.The First Modern Human Rights Movement: How early whistleblowers and journalists exposed the truth to the world, forcing the Belgian government to step in.Family Discussion: Our raw, unscripted takeaways on how history remembers—or forgets—the cost of colonial exploitation.Send us Fan MailAbout History Ignited: History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People's Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.

Lu Ming who leads the Chinese team says they will work with local medical and disease control institutions to provide support in epidemic assessment, case management, and other areas. A representative of the DRC's health ministry said China's dispatch of the medical experts represents timely and strong support for the Congolese government and people.

Congolese pastor Rachel Uwiringiyimana kicks off our My Side of the River Series sharing what we have to learn from female protagonists in scripture whose identity intersects with location and dislocation, with being home and being an immigrant.  The message will be translated by her daughter, Sandra, who works for World Relief. Speaker: Rachel and Sandra Uwiringiyimana Part of the series “My Side of the River: An Artisan Spring Read”

Vivienne Aerts is a NYC-based Dutch Singer, Educator, and Psychologist, for many years on the faculty of the Berklee College of Music. I've been following her inspiring creative practice for a couple of years and I'm excited to tell you that for this episode you'll be hearing clips from her beautiful upcoming album Current, produced on a tiny 1951 Dutch sailboat, blending jazz, electronics, and vocal loops with water-inspired soundscapes. Her husband, the renowned pastry chef Ted Steinebach also made a documentary film about the journey, which features several other wonderful musicians who hopped on the boat to record.I found it uplifting to get to know Vivienne's interdisciplinary approach, rooted in mindfulness and how she got started as a student creating interesting opportunities for artists. You'll also be hearing clips from a couple of her previous projects including the award-winning Typuhthâng featuring 100 female musicians which supports Congolese female cacao farmers through a partnership with Original Beans.In this age of AI, I'm inspired by Vivienne's trust and hopefulness in the need for us to engage all of our senses and the power of mobilizing micro-communities to support meaningful creative work.You can also watch this video on my YouTube; I've also linked the transcript, Vivienne's website, other suggested episodes, podcast newsletter sign-up, podcast merch, and how you can buy me a coffee to support this independent podcast! Everything linked here in the complete show notes: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/vivienne-aertsphoto: Ted Steinebach(00:00) Intro(02:48) album Current and film with excerpt of track 1(08:30) collaborations with husband chef Ted Steinebach(12:54) Current, mindfulness, the film, excerpt of track 5(17:33) creative process Current, excerpt strack 5 and 11(22:08) songwriting, South Korea(27:49) Current, clip of track 8 Closer, living on the boat(35:26) other linked episodes(36:23) creative process album Polaroid with clip of Streetlamps(39:16) Susanne Alt with clip of track 11(43:31) Typuhthâng album with clips track 9, 4, 1, 6, Original Beans chocolate(50:17) Vivi Talks podcast, teaching, Berklee, entrepreneurship(55:16) her educational path, railway festival, micro-communities(01:04:51) album launch concerts on boats(01:08:12) career path with psychology and music, Dutch culture(01:12:15) Effortless Mastery Kenny Werner, different approach to teaching mindfulness with self compassion

Karawa station Dr. Paul Carlson Funeral Cessna 185 – 9Q-CMU This is the 5th episode in this 7 part series about the mission work of the Evangelical Free Church in the Belgian Congo. The work started in 1920 with Titus Johnson being the visionary and initial driver of establishing the work. Episode 1 discussed the difficult journey to get to the Ubangi region in NW Congo and the long process to establish the first 3 stations. Episode 2 saw 3 more stations established. Yet these advancements included missionary adults and children succumbing to the harsh climate and disease. One person died at from a German submarine torpedo in the Atlantic. Episode 3 included 4 more stations established and an infant and 1 adult tragically passing away. The 4th episode entailed 3 more stations set up and 3 more people dying on the field. This episode covers 1963 – 1972, which included a rebellion, evacuation, a coup d'etat and considerable political turmoil.  Dr. Paul Carlson was martyred by the rebels, and that became international news. But from that, a medical foundation was established. Paul Noren shares about Loko and Doug Thorpe elaborates on Karawa.  Also, an airplane was secured, which eased traveling considerably.There was a 50 year celebration commemorating Dr. Titus Johnson's initial efforts in establishing the mission work. But the transition from the missionary oversight of the church to the Congolese was fraught with disagreements and friction, as well as governmental intervention, nationalization and other changes. Thanks too for Craig and Marv Wickstrom's insights regarding this difficult time period.   I extend special thanks to Lois Carlson Bridges for sharing about the loss of her husband. Also thanks to those that provided voice-overs for this episode. **Rated in 2026 to the TOP 25 Best “Life Stories” Themed Podcasts Worldwide – https://blog.feedspot.com/life_stories_podcasts/

Global worries over the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic of Congo and Uganda filter to Canada after news Ontario is testing a man who recently been to the African region, and a Paris-bound flight to Detroit was diverted to Montreal because of a Congolese passenger, and new U.S. travel restrictions.Plus: Referendum Contemplation. The questions facing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, and whether she plans to trigger a fall referendum asking voters if they want to stay in, or secede from Canada.And: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert signs off for the final time, ending 11 seasons of celebrity interviews and political satire after CBS axed the program amid speculation the cancellation was motivated by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.Also: Carney government mulls changes to Canada's labour laws, Pentagon's Canada-U.S. defence board pushback, SpaceX's IPO, and more.

Protests were held today for Yves Sakila, the Congolese man who tragically died after being tackled by security personnel on Henry Street last Friday.Joining Ciara to discuss is Barry Whyte, Newstalk's Chief Reporter, who was at the protests…

//The Wire//2300Z May 19, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: DETAILS EMERGE REGARDING YESTERDAYS SHOOTING IN CALIFORNIA. TENSIONS INCREASE IN IRELAND FOLLOWING DEATH OF CONGOLESE NATIONAL. WAR POTENTIAL IN MIDDLE EAST REMAINS AS ALL PARTIES CONTINUE PREPARING FOR CONFLICT.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Ireland: Tensions have increased sharply following the death of a Congolese man on Friday. Yves Sakila died while resisting arrest, after he shoplifted from a local store and broke an elderly man's leg. This death has resulted in a mobilization of the Congolese population of Dublin, with mass protests planned for tonight and the next few days.Analyst Comment: It's too soon to tell, but many locals are saying this is Dublin's version of George Floyd in terms of civil unrest and the large Congolese population in Ireland. Roving bands of Congolese gangs commonly cause problems within Dublin, and since local tensions were already boiling before this, clashes are likely if the Congolese decide to escalate the situation.Middle East: The potential for a resumption of the war remains on the table, as rhetoric on all sides continues to escalate. The creation and streamlining of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (the Iranian organization that has claimed administrative control of the Strait) has continued to be of cause for concern for western-aligned vessels. The handful of ships that are transiting the Strait are sailing with their transponders turned off, and so far all vessels have transited with Iranian approval. This afternoon, President Trump stated that he was only one hour away from ordering the resumption of the fighting yesterday. He also stated that the fighting may resume in a few days regardless, and all parties around the region remain ready for the ceasefire to come to an end.-HomeFront-Alabama: Yesterday a suspect was arrested in conjunction with a missing person investigation in Northport. Two weeks ago, Karen Deann Hollis was reported missing, after concerned family members failed to locate her. On Saturday, her remains were located at an undisclosed location in Greene County. At the scene, authorities arrested Randall Lendell Dejourney on charges of abusing human remains for 8 days. He is being held in jail on a $15,000 cash bond and no murder charges have been filed.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Few details have come to light regarding yesterday's shooting at the San Diego Islamic Center, however the suspects have been identified as Cain Clark and Caleb Vazquez. The two shooters attempted to conduct a mass shooting at the facility, and began the attack by killing the security guard at the front entry point of the building. After making entrance to the facility, the suspects killed two more people, before re-entering their vehicle and driving a short distance from the facility. Both suspects were found deceased inside the vehicle with self-inflicted gunshot wounds.Concerning the suspects themselves, the very few details that have emerged indicate this was very likely the standard transgender shooting. Both suspects were of questionable status, though both appear to have been born male. Slogans and statements were written on the firearms with a white paint pen, which has become a staggeringly common calling card of most trans-affiliated mass shootings (as the shooters often try to copy previous attacks). Both attackers appear to have been Hispanic, but also used symbols from political movements that would not have approved of their lifestyle choices, which is another hallmark of such attacks as well.No official link to the Order of Nine Angles (O9A) or the 764 Network has been made, however this would be wise to investigate as this shooting is nearly identical to all prior O9A/764 mass murders from years past. The attackers also allegedly livestreaming the attack fits with many other similar attacks as well.Of note, another bit of amplifying information might be helpful for factoring in to risk assessments. Five days ago, a nationwide shortage of Progesterone was reported. Among many other more traditional uses, this medication is used by transgender individuals to level out mood changes during their process. More strategically, this could be nothing or it could be something. There's no indication at all that the two shooters in California were affected by this drug, and there is no evidence linking this attack to any drug shortage as drug shortages happen all of the time for varying reasons. However, copycat incidents are an extreme risk in the wake of attacks like this, and a drug which is intended to affect mood changes among this population is in short supply. Again, this might be a loose correlation at best, but it's worth being aware of when trying to calculate the risk of future copycat attacks.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

On Friday at about 5pm, Yves Sakila(35) was pursued by security guards on Dublin's Henry Street. He was suspected of shoplifting. As he ran down the street, it is believed he collided with an elderly man.What happened next was witnessed by several bystanders and by thousands of others because of a distressing video posted on social media. It shows the Congolese man's last minutes as he lay face down restrained by several security men.When gardaì arrived on the scene, Sakila had been held on the ground for at least five minutes. The injured man, in his 80s, was also on the ground a few metres away.Both were taken to hospital where Sakila was pronounced dead and the older man was operated on.So what happened? The incident is being investigated by both the Garda and by Fiosrú, the police ombudsman. How will these investigations proceed? Sakila had lived in Ireland since he was a teenager, what else is known about him?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Congolese Solidarity Campaign has raised concern over the plight of refugees and migrants in Durban, saying many are living without shelter or protection. The group says on Monday, several individuals seeking safety were turned away from police and temporary accommodation sites and spent the night outside Durban Central Police Station. The organisation is calling for a coordinated response from authorities to address the situation. Elvis Presslin spoke to Congolese Solidarity Campaign President, Reverend Raphael Bahebwa, to shed light on the matter

How do international geopolitics impact Africans at home and abroad? In this episode, Obehi Ewanfoh sits down with Amen Amouna, Congolese entrepreneur and founder of Getiback.com, to dive deep into the realities facing Congo, Rwanda, and the African diaspora. The episode also looked at the airline compensation rights and global power dynamics.Amen Amouna brings a unique perspective as a Congolese national based in the UK, blending his lived experience with practical business leadership. Discover how he's helping Africans claim their rights and navigate complex international systems.Be part of the conversation!Subscribe, drop your thoughts in the comments, and explore more stories uplifting the African community.

Hundreds of foreign nationals seeking refuge at the Diakonia Centre in the Durban CBD say they will not move until they are addressed by government officials.The group -- comprising women and children -- spent the night outside the centre after being dispersed from the Durban Central police station. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Rev. Raphael Bahebwa President, Congolese Solidarity Campaign

Richie Allen with unique and sometimes humorous analysis of the day's top news stories. On today's show: Vigil held in Dublin for Congolese man who died in shoplifting incident. Some are calling it Ireland's "George Floyd moment." Polls show Donald Trump's approval rating is in the basement. Does it matter? Rural Ireland is seemingly in the grip of a drug epidemic. If so, why? And Richie asks listeners what does "Love conquers all" mean in practical terms? The answers are very interesting. 

Eastern Correspondent, Samantha Libreri reports on the death of Yves Sakila, who was restrained after an alleged shoplifting incident on Friday.

A Garda investigation is under way into an incident which occurred on Dublin's Henry Street, in which a Congolese man died following an alleged shoplifting incident.The Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) has said it is very concerned that excessive force may have been used against the man, who has been named as Yves Sakila.Joining Ciara to discuss this is Shane O'Curry, Director of the Irish Network Against Racism and Barry Whyte, Newstalk's Chief Reporter.

A vigil was held for Congolese man Yves Sakila who died after an alleged shop-lifting incident on Henry Street last Friday, amid concerns that excessive force may have been used against him.And the Media Minister says there can be no further ‘drip, drip, drip' of disclosures about financial affairs at RTÉ as he meets with the Director General. Guest Presenter Shane Coleman was joined by:Niall Collins TD, Minister of State, Department of JusticeGary Ganon TD, Social Democrats Justice Spokesperson Eimer McAuley, News Correspondent, The Journal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How often have you heard masculinity described as “toxic”, “fragile”, or “in a crisis”? JJ Bola - writer, former youth worker, and UNHCR Ambassador - tries to go deeper in understanding how society is failing boys and men. In this episode, JJ Bola describes masculinity as a performance that we require boys to learn; along the way stifling their individuality and emotional health. Different societies have different myths about masculinity, and JJ Bola is able to draw on his experiences as a Congolese man growing up in London to show how diverse these ideas are. If we could discard the performance of masculinity and allow boys to grow up free and to be who they are, we are likely to see the benefits in love and sex, politics, competitive sports and mental health.  JJ Bola was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He grew up in London and has written two novels - No Place to Call Home and The Selfless Act Of Breathing - as well as three collections of poetry - Elevate, Daughter of the Sun and WORD -  and a non-fiction book about masculinity and the patriarchy, Mask Off: Masculinity Redefined. This week's episode takes a slightly different format: Andrew interviews JJ Bola at the annual MANN SEIN conference in Berlin, an international gathering to talk about masculinity in today's world.  Follow Up Attend Andrew's mens's retreat near Berlin in June 2026: details here Get Andrew's free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things  Take a look at Andrew's new online relationship course: My Best Relationship Tools   Read Andrew's new Substack newsletter The Meaningful Life, and join the community there.  Find out more about the MANN SEIN annual conference in Berlin/online. Read JJ Bola's books: Mask Off: Masculinity Redefined, No Place to Call Home, The Selfless Act Of Breathing and Refuge (which collates his 3 volumes of poetry). Follow JJ Bola on Twitter and Instagram @JJ_Bola Listen to Andrew's other conversations on masculinity: ⭐️Jed Diamond PhD on “Your Personal Creation Story” ⭐️Joe Horton on “Men, Fathers and Meaning” ⭐️Matthew Fray on “How Good People Mess Up Their Marriages”  ⭐️Warren Farrell PhD on “The Boy Crisis” Get Andrew's advice on creating real change in your life and relationships in his book Wake Up and Change Your Life: How to Survive a Crisis and Be Stronger, Wiser and Happier Join our Supporters Club to access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50. Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall 

AP correspondent Donna Warder reports on a new Ebola outbreak in Africa's Congo.

The Congolese guitar maestro, composer, and singer Niwel Tsumbu has become one of the most sought-after musicians in Ireland since he made this country his home in 2004. And this without ever consciously pursuing a career in music. Music was simply a passion he pursued, and it created its own road for him.Niwel: A Life in Music explores Niwel Tsumbu's life in Africa, his reasons for emigrating to Ireland, the story of his life here, and some of his musical projects across a wide range of styles. These include Irish Trad, Classical and Jazz, as well as the Congolese styles of Rhumba and Soukous.Samples of Niwel's music are interwoven with commentary from composer Mel Mercier, percussionist Eamonn Cagney, folklorist Ríonach Uí Ógáin, Niwel himself, and the presenter J.J. O'Shea, concluding with the premiere of an original composition recorded especially for the programme.In addition the programme looks at the history and culture of the Congo – a country ravaged by ongoing wars and poverty, even though it offers vital material to the modern world in terms of rare minerals which are essential for today's technologies.Niwel: A Life in Music is produced and presented by J.J. O'Shea and funded by Coimisiún na Meán.

Send us Fan MailWe talk with Wayne Wasagaga in Uganda about building Changia Africa, a refugee-led nonprofit rooted in education, skills, and human dignity. His story reframes refugee life as a place where purpose, leadership, and real community impact can still grow. • Wayne's life path from the DRC Congo to Uganda and the early challenges of displacement • Rotaract leadership in the Nakivale refugee settlement and how service attracts members • Changia Africa's mission as a refugee-led organization and what “Changia” means • Using filmmaking and storytelling to promote education and community action • Adult English training and practical skills programs including reusable sanitary pads • Building and expanding a school plus the reality of funding stops and starts • Language realities across East and Central Africa and what education looks like on the ground • The long-term dream for Changia to become a top refugee-led NGO in Africa • How supporters can help with funding, talent, and professional collaboration If you have a great rotor actor, interactor, or rotarian, or just somebody out there that's turning their actions into impact that I should know about, please email me at rotarianpod at gmail.com. Support the showJoin me as I talk to those "amazing people turning their Actions 2 Impact all over the world. #BE THE CHANGE

20 years ago, Congolese computer technician Guy Goma went to the BBC for a job interview. He didn't get the job, but he did go viral when he was mistakenly put on air as Guy Kewney. Elliot Gotkine and Guy Goma told Anton about that faithful day.

20 years ago, Congolese computer technician Guy Goma went to the BBC for a job interview. He didn't get the job, but he did go viral when he was mistakenly put on air as Guy Kewney. Elliot Gotkine and Guy Goma told Anton about that faithful day.

In 2018, Andrew O'Brien nearly lost his leg — and with it, the belief that his body could ever carry him the way it once had. Today, he's running 26.2 miles in Cape Town on May 24th to raise money for Congolese refugees through UNHCR, fueled by a love for Africa that was born during his first visit to Cape Town in 2019, was deepened in the internally displaced camps of Goma in the DRC in 2024, and cemented in the refugee camps of Burundi in 2025. This is a comeback story, a mission, and a whole lot of heart — and we're so glad he's back on the show to share it.

Today is World Press Freedom Day, and a new study is exposing troubling trends eroding journalists work around the world. More and more journalists have become targets of kidnapping, arbitrary detention and killings. And the troubles are not just in authoritarian or war-torn countries.Also: They came from Latin America, hoping to find safety and security in the United States. They never expected to end up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But that's what happened to 15 men and women from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, after they were deported by U.S. authorities. They say they want to leave, and many Congolese officials want the same.And: For Canadian sports fans, the hopes of the entire country now rest on the shoulders of two teams. The Toronto Raptors and The Montreal Canadiens. Both teams are playing winner-take-all game sevens tonight. We'll take you to Montreal and Cleveland to hear from fans, and how the teams are looking to move ahead in their playoff runs.Plus: The politics around Canada-U.S. crossborder pipelines, Wildfire season beings in Western Canada, The struggles of Indigenous people expressed through dance, and more.

The U.S. House votes to end a record 76-day Homeland Security shutdown, Trump and Putin discuss Iran and Ukraine during a 90-minute phone call, as the Russian president also meets with his Congolese counterpart at the Kremlin, Gov. Landry suspends Louisiana's House primaries, Bernie Sanders hosts a U.S.-China AI safety panel, seven families sue OpenAI over British Columbia's Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, a royal commission releases its preliminary report on Australia's Bondi attack, a new court filing raises questions about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' dinner, the U.S. economy grows 2% in early 2026, and the EU finds that Meta broke child safety rules by not keeping minors of its platforms. Sources: Verity.News

Timothy Lambie Norton Grave – lived a day and a half Evelyn Noren – Struck by lightning This is the 3rd episode in this 7 part series about the mission work of the Evangelical Free Church in the Belgian Congo. The work started in 1920 with Titus Johnson being the visionary and initial driver of establishing the work. Episode 1 discussed the difficult journey to get to the Ubangi region in NW Congo and the long process to establish the first 3 stations. Episode 2 saw 3 more stations established. Yet these advancements included missionary adults and children succumbing to the harsh climate and disease. One person died from a German submarine torpedo in the Atlantic. This episode covers 1948 – 1952, which saw considerable growth in the mission footprint, the church, and advancements in spiritual maturity by the Congolese. Wasolo, Libenge, Badja, and Gemena stations were all procured, constructed and established during this time. Several were easily procured and several faced barriers to entry. You will hear about Timothy Norton's tragic death in 1949 from his older brother, who was there.  And about Evelyn Noren’s instant death, as told by one of her students, back in 1952.  Thanks to Dean and Gretchen Samuelson, Bev Nyberg, Jay Dangers and Roger and Sally Eales for sharing about living at each of the new mission stations; Wasolo, Libenge, Badja, and Gemena. And special thanks to Dr. Will Norton Jr. for sharing his memories of his little brother Timothy's 2 days on this earth and the impact on his family. And David Lundblad recounts discovering his school teacher, Evelyn Noren, deceased in their classroom, followed by the funeral and time of loss. I also thank those that provided voice-overs, including Juliana and Ellie Shay, Tim Snow and Jeff Peterson for this episode. **Rated in 2026 to the TOP 25 Best “Life Stories” Themed Podcasts Worldwide – https://blog.feedspot.com/life_stories_podcasts/

More than a dozen deportees from the US, reportedly from South America, have arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the beginning of April, the DRC government announced a deal with the US under which Kinshasa would accept individuals known as “third-country” deportees. The arrival of these deportees has raised concerns and questions among Congolese people and opposition figures.We also explore a different kind of journey - discipline in the African diaspora, where some parents have gone as far as sending their children back home for schooling. What is it like to be sent back to Africa?Presenter : Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producers: Blessing Aderogba and Keikantse Shumba Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

Welcome to Tembo Sounds – The Culture #609, where hip-hop roots meet global rhythm. This episode blends sharp bars, Afro-fusion heat, East African vibes, and Amapiano bounce—moving from Cee-Lo and soulful R&B cuts to Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, and Sauti Sol, before closing with timeless Congolese rhumba. It's a cross-continental journey of groove, culture, and storytelling. Turn it up and ride The Culture.

THIS WEEK's BIRDS: John Coltrane w. Quartet; Alberto Favero salutes Coltrane; new music from Pier Bruera Trio; fado from Alberto Alves; from Bolivia: Trio Nanduti; also from Bolivia: Canela Palacios; Doña Onete from Brazil; pianist Marta Sanchez w. Maria Grand; vintage rock/pop from Zimbabwe: Mawonera Superstars, Congolese soukous/rumba from Bozi Boziana & Anti-Choc, as well as Mayaula Mayoni & also M Le Nganshie Strervos Niarcos; new music from Kalia Vandever; new music from Simon Hanes; Daughters of Donbas (fr4om Ukraine); Scandinavian improvisation/experimental jazz from Johnny Wartel w. Henrik Wartel, Matthias Landaeus & Georgia Wartel Collins; bop from Harold Vick; Filipe Zau & Filipe Mukenga (from Angola); Diaba Koîta (from Guinea) & Néné Soumano (From Mali); and yes, as ever.....so much, much, much more.... Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN: https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580 Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere. Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online: PLAYLIST at SPINITRON: https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/22187400/Conference-of-the-Birds and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/  Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks Find WRFI on Radio Garden: http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR   NEW MAILING ADDRESS:  Stephen Cope  @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA. 

8. Jihadist Threats to Congolese Mining Guest: Caleb Weiss. Caleb Weiss reports on an Islamic State attack targeting a Chinese-owned mine in Congo, led by a violent Tanzanian commander. Meanwhile, Nigeria struggles with internal instability as regional alliances like ECOWAS continue to fracture. (8)1871 UK IRONCLAD GLATTON

In Fizi territory, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, fighting is raging between Congolese soldiers, who are supported by local armed groups, and M23 rebels, who are allegedly supported by Rwanda. New recruits swell the ranks of the armed groups. And civilians are caught in the crossfire. A report by Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula and Emmet Livingstone.

Repaso libre a la Transglobal World Music Chart de este mes, confeccionada a través de la votación de un panel de divulgadores de las músicas del mundo de todos los continentes, del que los hacedores de Mundofonías somos cocreadores y coimpulsores. Disfrutamos con una conexión austriaco-norteamericana, para continuar por África, con sonoridades y raíces senegalesas, malgaches, congoleñas y santotomenses. Seguimos con más interacciones brasileño-occitanas, italo-catalanas y persa-mandingo-canadienses, para terminar con el número 1 de la artista argelina Souad Massi. A free overview of this month's Transglobal World Music Chart, compiled through the voting of a panel of world music specialists from all continents, of which the makers of Mundofonías are co-creators and co-promoters. We enjoy an Austrian-North American connection, before continuing through Africa, with Senegalese, Malagasy, Congolese and São Toméan sounds and roots. We go on with further Brazilian-Occitan, Italian-Catalan and Persian-Mande-Canadian interactions, to conclude with the number 1 by the Algerian artist Souad Massi. – Manu Delago & Max ZT - Rally - Deuce – Solo Cissokho - Gorée - Solo – Bobo & Behaja - Parepare - Aia haja? – Balu - Eyo [+ Jupiter] - Borumba – Conjunto Equador - Pecado dy mundo - Léve léve vol. 2: São Tomé & Príncipe sounds 70s-80s [V.A.] – Lucas Santtana - Liga [+ Cocanha] - Brasiliano – Raül Refree & Maria Mazzotta - San Paolo di Galatina - San Paolo di Galatina – Constantinople: Kiya Tabassian, Ablaye Cissoko, Patrick Graham - Estuaire - Estuaire – Souad Massi - Zagate - Zagate Souad Massi

Esteemed Kemetologist Ashra Kwesi returns to our classroom, bringing his deep expertise as a lecturer and historian specializing in African history, civilization, and religion. Brother Kwesi will reveal the fascinating African origins of Easter symbols—uncovering the stories behind the Easter Egg, the Easter Bunny, and the Resurrection itself. Before Brother Kwesi, Paul Pumphrey from Friends of the Congo will facilitate a dynamic panel discussion with Congolese guests, offering firsthand updates on the situation in their country. The morning kicks off with DC activist The HOOd Doctor, Kokayi Patterson, who will energize us by previewing his latest production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vandaag buigt het Hooggerechtshof zich over een slepende kwestie in de VS: het recht op staatsburgerschap door geboorte op Amerikaans grondgebied. Trump wil er heel graag van af. Maar volgens critici gaat dat de wens van de president in tegen de kernwaarden van Amerika en schuilt er een idee van witte suprematie achter. Daarover correspondent Mari Meyer en Amerikanist Manon Portos Minetti, verbonden aan de Universiteit Leiden.   (15:13) Droneoorlog verhardt conflict Oost-Congo Terwijl de Verenigde Staten in december nog met veel bombarie een vredesakkoord aankondigden voor het conflict in Oost-Congo, botst dat beeld hard met de gewelddadige realiteit op de grond. De onrust neemt verder toe, te meer nu het Congolese leger ook drones inzet in de strijd tegen de door Rwanda gesteunde M23 rebellen. Ondertussen vloeien wel grondstoffen uit dit conflictgebied naar Amerika. We spreken erover met journalist en Congokenner Elien Spillebeen.  Presentatie: Nadia Moussaid

Stacie Hueter delivers on the "No Kings" Protest 2026, Ukraine's pact with various Gulf Nations on managing usage of missiles, and, Denis Sassou-N'Guesso's landslide victory in the 2026 Congolese presidential election on 3/29/26.

Ralph welcomes international human rights lawyer Craig Mokhiber to discuss the U.S. and Israel's illegal war on Iran. Then, Ralph speaks to investigative reporter David Cay Johnston about the finances of Donald Trump.Craig Mokhiber is an international human rights lawyer and activist, and a former senior United Nations human rights official. A human rights activist in the 1980s, he would go on to serve for more than three decades at the United Nations, with postings in Switzerland, Palestine, Afghanistan, and UN Headquarters in New York. In October of 2023, he left the United Nations, penning a widely read letter criticizing the UN's human rights failures in the Middle East, warning of unfolding genocide in Gaza, and calling for a new approach to Palestine and Israel based on international law, human rights, and equality.Anyone who pays attention knows that Iran wasn't attacked because it has nuclear weapons. It was attacked because it doesn't have nuclear weapons, and was therefore viewed by Israel and the U.S. as being a state that could be overcome militarily. But what really is, I think, most telling about this is the hypocrisy of the claims, because the only party in the region that has stockpiles of nuclear weapons (which are entirely undeclared and unsupervised) is the Israeli regime, not the Iranian. And the Israeli regime was joined in attacking Iran by another nuclear power—the United States.Craig MokhiberIsrael (which has attacked the United Nations throughout its entire life and declared that the United Nations is an anti-Semitic terror organization) fights like hell to stay in the United Nations, pays its dues every year to make sure that it stays in…and renews its treaty obligations as a member of the United Nations (that, of course, it violates with impunity). So it's very funny that Israel calls the UN an anti-Semitic terror organization, yet it insists on being a member and paying its dues to fund that so-called anti-Semitic terror organization.Craig MokhiberI don't think that putting Iran in an existential crisis is the best way to tell them you don't need nuclear weapons. I think stopping attacking them, their economy, their currency, their scientists, their political leaders, their military personnel, their civilians, their girls' schools—if you want a country to believe that it doesn't need to arm itself, this is not the way to go about it.Craig MokhiberDavid Cay Johnston is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter, specialist in economics and tax issues, and a professor of practice teaching law, public policy, and journalism at Rochester Institute of Technology. He is the author of several books, including The Making of Donald Trump and It's Even Worse Than You Think: What The Trump Administration Is Doing To America. He is also the co-founder of DCReport, a nonprofit news service that reports what the President and Congress DO, not what they SAY.Convicting Donald Trump of tax fraud would be very easy. You establish these corporations [reporting major losses] don't exist. You establish that he took tax losses from these multiple corporations (in all, about 60 entries over the six years of tax returns). And there's no defense for that. It's flat-out fraud. It's blatant fraud. So Trump has gotten away with this because we don't seriously treat high-level tax fraud in this country.David Cay JohnstonNews 3/20/26* Our top story this week concerns a new study titled “Inequality, not regulation, drives America's housing affordability crisis.” As summarized in Hell Gate, this study demonstrates that the precipitous rise in rent prices are not primarily the result of insufficient housing supply or of vacancy rates. Moreover, contrary to the claims of the so-called Abundance movement, reducing regulations to spur new construction is unlikely to create significantly more housing. Even if it did, that would probably fail to bring down rents, because the real cause of the rental spike is “Steep national inequality.” So, what can be done to bring down rents? Maximilian Buchholz, the lead author of the study, puts it bluntly in this interview: “rent control, tenant protection policies like just cause eviction, and income supports for people toward the bottom.” Simply put, the best policies to lower rents are policies that lower rents. This has been demonstrated time and time again in different policy areas, yet on the whole, Democrats still seem to prefer byzantine policy formulae instead of straightforward policy solutions to the glaring issues facing the American people. * Speaking of rising costs, Washingtonian magazine is out with a new story on the Washington Post hiking prices for subscribers. Yet apparently not all subscribers are created equal. According to this story, these increases are accompanied by a simple yet insidious message: “This price was set by an algorithm using your personal data.” This is the latest deployment of what has become known as algorithmic – or “surveillance” – pricing. This piece notes other examples of surveillance pricing, ranging from the Princeton Review charging more for the same SAT tutoring package in areas with higher Asian populations (they called it the “tiger mom tax”) to Amazon charging local school districts vastly different prices for the same supplies. However, this new policy from the Post is especially brazen given the straits the paper has recently found itself in, declining by a million subscribers between 2021 and 2026 and hemorrhaging key reporters to a new rival paper sponsored by Robert Albritton, including Dana Milbank, Jeff Stein, Paul Kane and Paige Cunningham, among others, per the Hill.* In more media news, Variety reports that ratings for CBS Evening News are cratering, falling back to where executives at the news division behind the show “hoped never to return.” The nightly news program, anchored by Tony Dokoupil, has fallen below 4 million viewers; when the previous iteration of the program anchored by Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson fell to this nadir, Paramount Skydance pulled the plug. While this is perhaps just a symptom of the collapse of cable news, Variety notes that ABC's “World News Tonight,” averaged nearly 8 and a half million viewers and “NBC Nightly News” scored just over 6 and half million. Dokoupil did score a slight uptick in viewership when he took over the Evening News, but that seems to have been nothing more than a flash in the pan. This pathetic showing seems to confirm what seemed obvious all along: there is simply little audience for the editorial viewpoint espoused by CBS's new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.* The bad news for Bari doesn't end there, either. According to the Wrap, the new chief is locked in contentious negotiations with the unionized staff of CBS, specifically the 60-person unit behind the network's streaming service, “CBS News 24/7.” These workers staged a 24 hour walkout earlier this week. Their grievances include everything from new grueling 12-hour weekend shifts – despite no weekend-specific live programming – as well as CBS News' reported plans to lay off 15% of staff. CBS News already laid off roughly 100 people in October after Paramount merged with Skydance and many believe more layoffs will come if the merger with CNN, which is not unionized, goes through as part of the Paramount Warner Bros. deal.* In other news, a recent study reveals a fascinating disconnect between the self-description of Democrats and their policy preferences. The study, conducted on behalf of the New Republic by Embold Research, gave respondents five choices to describe their ideology: conservative, moderate, moderate-to-liberal, liberal, and progressive. Only 12% identified as moderate, but another 21% called themselves moderate-to-liberal. Yet, among this combined group, approximately 70% said Democrats are “too timid” on taxing the rich and corporations, and cracking down on corporate criminals. Fewer than 5% of moderates said Democrats are “too aggressive” on these issues. In a word, even the moderates among the Democratic base think the party should take a more strident economic populist line. This tracks with polling conducted during the Texas Democratic Senate primary which found that 47% of voters who identified as socialists also identified as moderates.* Our next several stories this week have to do with the intersection of foreign policy and energy. The AP reports that on Tuesday, Cuba reconnected its energy grid following a 29-hour long nationwide blackout. This story notes that this reconnection will only provide scant and temporary relief, because not enough power is being generated. The energy crisis in Cuba has gotten progressively worse since the beginning of the year, as the new government in Venezuela and the newly reinforced sanctions regime have both served to cut off the island from energy imports. That said, cracks in this blockade are beginning to form. Bloomberg reports that a “tanker carrying more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude is expected to arrive in Cuba by the end of the month,” and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her administration is “looking into different possibilities” to resume fuel shipments to Cuba as well. Sheinbaum stressed that Mexico is “sovereign” and able to “have trade agreements with any country in the world,” per the Latin Times. The U.S. government has already eased sanctions on Russian oil sales to India, but has now announced that they will not allow the Russians to send oil to Cuba, per Bloomberg. As the ship is already on its way, it is an open question of how far the U.S. will go to prevent Russia from sending lifesaving resources to the country that has held out against American pressure for so long.* Next, a stunning story in the Wall Street Journal documents how the Trump administration settled on their final course of action in Venezuela. According to this piece, the Central Intelligence Agency consulted former Chevron executive Ali Moshiri, described as the oil company's man in “Man in Venezuela—and a CIA Informant.” Apparently, Moshiri warned that if the U.S. government tried to oust the Chavista government of Nicolás Maduro and install María Corina Machado and her exile comrades in its place, the country would turn into “another quagmire like Iraq.” Moshiri specifically warned that Machado did not have the support of the country's security services or control of its oil infrastructure. For their part, Chevron issued a statement claiming that “between spring of 2025 and the removal of Maduro, Chevron did not authorize anyone working for, or on behalf of, the company to engage with the CIA related to Venezuela's leadership, including assessments of government officials or opposition leaders.” Moshiri, formally left Chevron in 2017 and ended his consulting relationship with the company in 2024. Unlike many other oil companies, Chevron maintained a presence in Venezuela over the years, positioning the company to benefit most from the new extraction political environment under the leadership of upjumped Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.* Meanwhile, a story from NOTUS highlights why this kind of outside advice is likely more heeded than ever in the halls of power: the publication reports that six months ago, the State Department under the leadership of Secretary Marco Rubio, fired its in-house oil and gas experts, including laying off staff who “would have been responsible for gaming out possible scenarios if the Strait of Hormuz was closed” and “staffers with close professional relationships at oil and gas companies in the Middle East and experts tasked with maintaining diplomatic contacts at foreign energy bureaus.” This is a final nail in the coffin for the misguided logic of Elon Musk's DOGE initiative and serves as a crystal clear example of why it is so dangerous to purge experts with significant institutional knowledge from the federal bureaucracy.* Another consequence of this lack of diplomatic expertise is the ultimate cost to the taxpayer – $200 billion in additional Pentagon funding, to be exact, per CNBC. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, defending the request in typically childish terms, said “It takes money to kill bad guys.” In similarly childish terms, President Trump, asked why the Pentagon is seeking so much money, said, “We're asking for a lot of reasons,” and while he told a reporter he would not send U.S. troops to the region, he added, “If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you.” Beyond the flippant attitude towards the immense sums of taxpayer money they are requesting from Congress, to say nothing of the cost in American and Iranian lives, the American people would do well to remember how casually the political class treats $200 billion when it is to be spent on war instead of social programs. All this as gas prices spike, with price increases rippling out to all other consumer goods.* Finally, the BBC reports a Belgian court has ruled that a former diplomat, Etienne Davignon, can stand trial in connection with the 1961 killing of Congo's first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. Davignon, 93, is the “only surviving member of the 10 Belgians accused in a criminal case brought by Lumumba's family in 2011.” At the time, Davignon was a diplomat in training. He would go on to become a vice-president of the European Commission. Lumumba meanwhile was ousted in a Belgian and U.S.-backed coup led by Mobutu Sese Seko, who would rule Congo (renamed Zaire) until 1997. In 1961, Lumumba was executed by a Belgian-backed Congolese firing squad and his body was dissolved in acid. Lumumba's grandson, Mehdi Lumumba, is quoted saying “We are all relieved…Belgium is finally confronting its history.” Many have remarked that while this has taken over 50 years, it sets a powerful precedent that justice can be found even after so many decades. Many of the war criminals that walk the Earth today are far younger than Mr. Davignon.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

De Belgische diplomaat Etienne Davignon, 93 intussen, moet zich voor de rechter verantwoorden voor zijn rol in de moord op Patrice Lumumba, die in 1960 premier was van Congo. Krijgt de familie-Lumumba, 65 jaar na de feiten, toch nog gerechtigheid? Patrice Lumumba was in 1960 de eerste democratisch verkozen premier van Congo, dat net onafhankelijk geworden was. Voor België, dat zijn belangen in Congo wilde verdedigen, was hij te radicaal. Daarom zag ons land hem liever van het toneel verdwijnen. Lumumba werd gevangengenomen en uiteindelijk vermoord, mét de hulp van heel wat Belgen. Dinsdag besliste de raadkamer van Brussel dat Davignon zich voor de rechter moet verantwoorden voor zijn aandeel in die moord. 65 jaar na de feiten. En 15 jaar nadat de nabestaanden van Lumumba een klacht hebben ingediend. Als het tot een veroordeling van Davignon komt, zou dat historisch zijn, zegt onze collega Heleen Debeuckelaere. “Er zijn al juridische procedures geweest waarbij ons land zich moest verantwoorden voor zijn koloniale verleden. Maar dat waren burgerlijke procedures. Hier gaat het om de eerste criminele vervolging van een individu.” En niet zomaar een individu, want Davignon is een naam als een klok. “De talloze papjes waar die man een vinger in had, als diplomaat en adviseur, dat is ongelooflijk. Dat soort figuren in de Belgische geschiedenis, die zo'n lange schaduw hebben geworpen, die zijn er bijna niet meer”, zegt Heleen. Krijgt de familie van Lumumba na al die jaren toch nog gerechtigheid? Hoe belangrijk is deze rechtszaak voor Congo en het Afrikaanse continent? En voor ons, om met ons koloniale verleden alsnog in het reine te komen? CREDITS Journalist Heleen Debeuckelaere | Presentatie Yves Delepeleire | Redactie Gijs Op 't Roodt | Eindredactie Illa De Preter, Yves Delepeleire | Audioproductie Joris Van Damme | Muziek Brecht Plasschaert | Chef podcast Alexander Lippeveld See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sermon centers on the biblical account of Paul's vision of Macedonia in Acts 16, illustrating how God redirected Paul's mission despite his initial plans, leading to the gospel's first arrival in Europe. Through personal stories from ministry in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the preacher emphasizes that places like Macedonia still exist today—regions where people long for the gospel and pray for someone to come. He also highlights individuals like the elderly Congolese man who, upon hearing the truth about hell for the first time, confronted the preacher with the painful question of why the gospel had not reached him sooner, underscoring the urgent need for mission engagement. The message calls the church to respond not with hesitation but with immediate obedience, like Paul, recognizing that God often redirects our plans to fulfill a greater purpose. Ultimately, the sermon challenges believers to participate in global missions not only through physical presence but through prayer and giving, affirming that every act of faith makes one a participant in God's redemptive work across the world.

As the US and Israel continue to strike Iran and Lebanon, and Iran targets Tel Aviv and US assets across the Gulf, we look at how Iran's African community has been affected. We hear from Priscilla Kounkou-Hoveyda, a film maker and the founder of the Collective for Black Iranians, which brings together the voices of Black and Afro-Iranians. Priscilla grew up in Iran to an Iranian mother and Congolese father, she speaks to us from South Africa where she is currently living. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Carolyne Kiambo Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

THIS WEEK's BIRDS: Vintage Music from Marty Ehrlich; Abdul Wadud (solo); Yusef Lateef live; new music from Satoko Fujii w. Quartet; Jon Irabagon; Congolese rumba from Rigo Star; Syran Mbenza, too; Titina (from Cape Verde); Téofilo Chantre (from Cape Verde); Boy Ge Mendes (More from Cape Verde); MPB (Brazi) from Maria Bethania & Gonzaguinha; Pyeng Threadgill; Elia Maris & Gerolykoi (from Greece); South Sundanese pop from Gordon Koang; and, as ever.....much, much, much more.... Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN: https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580 Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere. Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online: PLAYLIST at SPINITRON: https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/21976019/Conference-of-the-Birds and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/  Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks Find WRFI on Radio Garden: http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR   NEW MAILING ADDRESS:  Stephen Cope  @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA. 

"One thing that I really was not as aware of as perhaps I should have been, was the deep and abiding Congolese sense of having a long term relationship with the United States."Ambassador Tamlyn has spent much of her career working across Africa, from Sudan and the Central African Republic to Mozambique, Chad, and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The DRC has Africa's fourth-largest population at around 112 million. Yet it remains one of its poorest countries and that's despite being the world's biggest producer of cobalt. Vast mineral wealth has in part fuelled a two-decade-long conflict in the east, one the United States has been trying to end. Could this be a breakthrough for a new foreign policy approach known as 'commercial diplomacy'? I spoke to one of Washington's most experienced ambassadors. Plus: Why the US needs to care about Congo

Donald Trump has never thought very highly of Africa, famously referring to the continent as a place of "sh**hole countries." While there's no indication that sentiment has changed, he's recognized that African resources are essential if he wants the U.S. to decouple from Chinese dominanted critical mineral supply chains. In February, the administration unveiled an ambitious new critical minerals sourcing initiative in which African countries, in particular, play an outsized role. But the Chinese have a 20+ year head start sourcing and refining these minerals and metals, so displacing them is not going to be easy. For some perspective on this burgeoning U.S.-China rivalry, Eric & Géraud are joined by two of the top editors at the online news site Semafor. Yinka Adegoke is Semafor's Africa Editor, and Andy Browne is the outlet's Managing Editor, who will oversee Semafor's new China newsletter.

In 1935 a young girl from Wales studying nursing in Liverpool, England, surrounded her life to the Lord Jesus. From the moment she was filled with the Holy Spirit she had a desire to minister to the Congolese people. Deep in her heart she felt that the Lord was asking everything of her, even her very life. Cheryl recounts the story and triumph of Winnie Davies from her conversion, her ministry in Congo, to her harrowing capture by the Simba rebels. Winnie's story will bring to your heart an awareness of the cost of truly giving the Lord everything!

It's Friday, February 6th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus 21 of 22 churches destroyed in Christian town in Myanmar since coup On January 30, the Burma Research Institute released a scathing report detailing destructive attacks, murders, and harassment of Christians and churches since the military coup in 2021 that forcefully took control of Myanmar, reports International Christian Concern. Some of the key findings include: 21 out of 22 churches in Thantlang Town, a majority-Christian town, have been destroyed and the town's population displaced since 2021. More than 340 churches and Christian buildings have been destroyed. 149 Christians murdered and 218 imprisoned from 2022 to 2025. One unnamed church leader, who is still living inside Myanmar, testified powerfully that the faithful are now scattered across jungles, remote areas, and informal shelters, struggling to preserve their faith and communal life under constant threat and insecurity. Pastor in India forced to eat cow dung After accusing a pastor in Odisha, India of forcefully converting Hindus to Christianity, a group of Hindu nationalists forced him to eat cow dung and drink sewer water, reports International Christian Concern. The incident occurred on January 4th, but only became widely known in recent days, prompting nationwide outrage and criticism. A mob of 40 people, reportedly affiliated with the Bajrang Dal — the militant wing of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh — stormed a home during a prayer meeting in Parjang village, and accused the pastor of conducting “forced religious conversions.” Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was dragged from the house and beaten with sticks. His face was smeared with red vermilion. Sandals were hung around his neck. He was then paraded through the village for nearly two hours. Pastor Naik was eventually taken to a local Hindu temple, where his hands were tied to a metal rod, and he was forced to consume cow dung and drink water from a sewer. They also tried to force the pastor to chant Hindu slogans, but he refused to do so. In a statement on X, Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, wrote, “Forcing a human being to eat cow dung is a deeply inhuman act, emboldened by the silence and complicity of BJP-led governments.” Landslide in Congo kills 200 miners A landslide last week collapsed several tunnels at a major coltan mine in eastern Congo, leaving at least 200 people dead in the rebel-controlled site, reports the Associated Press. The collapse occurred  Wednesday at the Rubaya mines, controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, after heavy rains caused several hand-dug tunnels in the unregulated mine to cave. The M23 rebels and the Congolese government traded accusations over responsibility as reports from the remote region began to emerge. The collapse is one of the deadliest disasters in years in an area already facing a humanitarian crisis and ongoing conflict. Trump announced prayer gathering to rededicate America to God Appearing at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Donald Trump explained that the Department of Education will protect the right of public school students to pray. TRUMP: “Today, I'm also pleased to announce that the Department of Education is officially issuing its new guidance to protect the right to prayer in our public schools. That's a big deal.” (applause) President Trump also announced that Americans are invited to attend a special prayer event on the 250th birthday of America in our nation's capital. TRUMP: “In the last 12 months, young Americans attended church at nearly twice the rate as they did four years ago to support this exciting renewal. This morning, I'm pleased to announce that on May 17, we're inviting Americans from all across the country to come together on our National Mall to pray. We're going to rededicate America as one nation under God.” (applause) Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.” NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie addresses kidnappers of her mother In a tearful video posted Wednesday on Instagram, “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie — flanked by her sister, Annie Guthrie, and her brother, Camron Guthrie, pleaded for more information from the possible kidnapper of her 84-year-old mother, saying her family is “ready to talk,” reports NBC News. GUTHRIE: “Our mom is our heart and our home. She is 84 years old. Her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive. We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you. And we are ready to listen.” In the Instagram video, Savannah thanked the public for “the prayers for our beloved mom,” Nancy Guthrie, who was last seen Saturday night in her home outside Tucson, Arizona. She was reported missing after she did not show up for church.  Nancy had no cognitive issues, and her disappearance was not linked to dementia. Blood was found on the front porch of Guthrie's house. DNA analysis has confirmed the blood belongs to Nancy Guthrie. A doorbell camera to her home was disconnected and removed at 1:47 local time and at 2:28, Guthrie's pacemaker was disconnected from her phone, an app shows. Fox10 TV reports that investigators are taking seriously a ransom note sent to a handful of media outlets connected to her disappearance. Heith Janke, the FBI chief in Phoenix, announced that they have arrested Derrick Callella in Hawthorne, California. Shocking lessons taught on college campuses today And finally, according to Students for Life's January newsletter, college students are being taught shocking lessons – often paid for by our tax dollars. * Harvard University has a class called, "Come hammered. Get Nailed: Safe Sex Under the Influence.” * Ohio State University features a class entitled, "Fighting Abortion Stigma with Planned Parenthood." * And Grand Valley State University has one called “Breaking Up with Purity Culture.” If that's not enough, they'll be encouraged to write Valentine's Day “thank you” cards to abortionists! The truth is many colleges have turned into little more than recruitment centers for Planned Parenthood's bloody business by first encouraging students to experiment sexually and then funneling vulnerable young women to abortionists to “take care of” or murder the natural consequences of sex – precious little babies. Campus missionaries with Students for Life are confronting the Culture of Death with three outreaches. First, setting up Cemetery of Innocents displays that visually expose the gruesome reality of abortion featuring 1,102 bright pink crosses commemorating the preborn babies aborted by Planned Parenthood every day. Second, hosting table events that spark one-on-one conversations with pro-abortion college students. And third, screening the pro-life movie Unplanned which tells the incredible conversion story of Abby Johnson, who was a Planned Parenthood director-turned-staunch-pro-life-activist, after she witnessed a preborn child squirming for its life away from an abortionist's tools during an abortion. Learn more about the great work of Students for Life at StudentsForLife.org. Proverbs 31:8 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, February 6th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

In 1935 a young girl from Wales studying nursing in Liverpool, England, surrounded her life to the Lord Jesus. From the moment she was filled with the Holy Spirit she had a desire to minister to the Congolese people. Deep in her heart she felt that the Lord was asking everything of her, even her very life. Cheryl recounts the story and triumph of Winnie Davies from her conversion, her ministry in Congo, to her harrowing capture by the Simba rebels. Winnie's story will bring to your heart an awareness of the cost of truly giving the Lord everything!

After decades of Belgian rule, Congo gained independence in June 1960 under the leadership of the nation's first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba. However, hope was quickly shattered by Cold War rivalries and a fierce internal power struggle.  Lumumba's vision for a sovereign, prosperous Congo was crushed by forces that prevented the nation from ever realizing its true potential. Learn more about the tragic rise and fall of Patrice Lumumba and the birth of the modern Congo on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Mint Mobile Get your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Austin Oetken & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Disce aliquid novi cotidie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1935 a young girl from Wales studying nursing in Liverpool, England, surrounded her life to the Lord Jesus. From the moment she was filled with the Holy Spirit she had a desire to minister to the Congolese people. Deep in her heart she felt that the Lord was asking everything of her, even her very life. Cheryl recounts the story and triumph of Winnie Davis from her conversion, her ministry in Congo, to her harrowing capture by the Simba rebels. Winnie's story will bring to your heart an awareness of the cost of truly giving the Lord everything!

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Thursday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan covers escalating violence against ICE officers in Minneapolis, mounting legal trouble for Democratic lawmakers, high-stakes global deal-making by President Trump, and shifting power dynamics involving Iran, China, Greenland, Ukraine, Africa, and Venezuela. Another ICE Officer Attacked in Minneapolis: An ICE officer was hospitalized after being beaten with a shovel by an illegal Venezuelan migrant and accomplices during a traffic stop. The attack followed Governor Tim Walz's public calls for resistance against ICE. Riots broke out as the officer defended himself by firing a single shot. Both the officer and attacker are expected to survive. Democrats on Defense Over the Renee Good Shooting: New medical reporting confirms the ICE officer previously shot by activist Renee Good suffered internal bleeding after being struck by her vehicle. Despite video evidence and DHS confirmation, Democratic leaders remain silent. The family has hired the attorney who represented George Floyd, signaling a civil lawsuit ahead. Slotkin Investigated and FBI Moves on Media Leaks: Senator Elissa Slotkin is under criminal investigation related to the "Seditious Six" video urging troops to refuse lawful orders. Separately, the FBI raided the home of a Washington Post reporter after a Navy veteran contractor was caught leaking classified Venezuela-related intelligence. Supreme Court Skeptical of Trans-Sports Lawsuit: Justices signaled strong resistance to claims that biological males with gender dysphoria must be allowed to compete in women's sports. Attorneys failed to define what constitutes male or female under Title IX, suggesting state-level bans will likely stand. Trump Pressures Iran Through Back-Channel Diplomacy: The Pentagon evacuated some personnel from Middle East bases as Trump delayed strikes after receiving assurances that Iran would halt executions of protesters. Brazil and the UAE signaled they may curtail trade with Iran to avoid U.S.-imposed tariffs, while China remains silent. Xi Floats a Hemisphere-Level Grand Bargain: China is reportedly open to pulling back from Central and South America if the United States reduces its commitment to Taiwan. Bryan asks whether reclaiming the Western Hemisphere would be worth that trade-off. Greenland and Ukraine Become Linked Leverage Points: Trump signaled that U.S. support for Ukraine may depend on concessions from Europe over Greenland. Denmark pushed back, but Trump argued Venezuela proved America will act decisively where Europe cannot. Big Wins in Armenia, Congo, and Venezuela: The United States secured a forty-nine-year lease for a strategic trade corridor along Iran's border through Armenia, gained access to Congolese copper from a Chinese-run mine, and received its first five hundred million dollars from Venezuelan oil sales. New polling shows strong Venezuelan public support for Maduro's removal and optimism about Trump's leadership.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: January 15 2026 Wright Report, ICE officer attacked Minneapolis, Tim Walz resist ICE remarks, Renee Good internal injuries update, Elissa Slotkin investigation, classified leak Washington Post FBI, Supreme Court trans-sports Title IX, Iran executions Trump tariffs Brazil UAE, China Taiwan Central-America deal, Greenland leverage Ukraine war, Armenia trade corridor long-term lease, Congo copper Chinese-run mine, Venezuelan oil five-hundred-million dollars poll support