Podcasts about delegations

This week the Supreme Court sides with President Trump on ending Temporary Protected Status. The decades-long program currently gives legal status in the U.S. to about 350,000 Haitians and more than 6,000 Syrians seeking refuge from crises at home.The court also ruled to renew a “turn-back” policy at the border with Mexico that prevents migrants from entering the U.S. to seek asylum. A decision on President Trump's effort to end birthright citizenship in the U.S. is expected soon.Also in Washington, the president creates chaos in his own party, demanding that Republican Senators reconsider their support for a war powers resolution on Iran. A vote to limit war powers passed on Tuesday with support from four Republicans. A similar resolution failed on Wednesday. President Trump also on Wednesday refused to sign a bipartisan housing bill that had passed the House 358-32.And in New York, three candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani win their primaries for Congressional seats against establishment Democrats.And, in global news, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance were overseas this week, selling and negotiating an end to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.But Iran's chief negotiator calls the deal an “American declaration of defeat” and it marks the end of any remaining joint Iran-strategy between the U.S. and Israel.Delegations from Israel and Lebanon meet in Washington to extend a ceasefire in a conflict that's killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced 20% of the population of under 6 million. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to continue fighting in Lebanon as he faces pressure at home and isolation from U.S. leaders.Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigns in the U.K., but analysts say his likely successor Andy Burnham will face the same deep challenges that have knocked out six leaders in the 10 years since Brexit.We cover the most important stories from around the world in the News Roundup.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The United States, Iran and Pakistan are preparing for technical talks in Switzerland on Sunday, with all delegations having already arrived.

Delegations from the US and Iran are preparing for talks in Switzerland. It comes after the leaders of both countries signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war. Correspondent Ross Cullen spoke to John Campbell from Zurich.

Review Guide: The OutsidersIn this episode, we break down how outsiders—people who never signed the original deal—can still acquire enforceable rights or obligations through various legal mechanisms. Whether you're a law student preparing for exams or a legal practitioner navigating modern contractual landscapes, understanding these core principles is essential.Most legal principles in contracts have a simple core—until the modern economy throws a wrench into the works. What happens when someone who never signed a deal ends up with the right to sue or the obligation to perform? In this episode, we demolish the outdated wall of privity and dive into the three pillars that shape outsiders' rights: third party beneficiaries, assignments, and delegations.You'll discover how the law now recognizes third parties as part of the original contract if they're present at formation, emphasizing the crucial difference between intended and incidental beneficiaries. We'll break down the key concepts like vesting—when rights lock in—and the subtle, highly-tested distinction between creditor and donee beneficiaries, illustrated through landmark cases like Lawrence v. Fox and Siever v. Ransom. Learn how courts determine whether outsiders can enforce promises, and why even a straightforward gift—like a life insurance policy—gives a third party direct legal standing.Then, we shift gears to post-formation transfers: how rights are assigned (transferring the prize) and duties delegated (passing the homework). You'll get clear frameworks for identifying valid assignments—highlighting the UCC's special rules that override typical contract limits for commercial transactions—and how notice affects obligation. Delegation mechanics are also demystified: why delegating a duty doesn't mean escaping liability, and how novations—an explicit, three-party agreement—can set a delegation aside altogether.This episode explores the tightrope walk between facilitating free commerce and safeguarding original contractual expectations. Whether it's a novice law student or a seasoned practitioner grappling with AI and smart contracts, these insights will sharpen your understanding of how outsiders gain enforceable rights in our complex legal ecosystem. Finish with a mental checklist to decode multi-party contract puzzles — because in the real world, relationships are messier than any textbook.Perfect for anyone preparing for exams or navigating the modern legal landscape, this episode unlocks the core principles that turn chaos into clarity and legal theory into practical mastery. The future of contracts hinges on mastering how outsiders fit into the picture—and this is your essential guide.Key topics:The fundamental difference between intended and incidental beneficiariesHow rights vest and the significance of timing and relianceThe three pillars: third-party beneficiaries, assignments, and delegationsHow contracts can be transferred after formation—practical rules and exceptionsThe liability implications of delegation, including novationThe crucial role of notice in assignment of rightsThe UCC's impact on the enforceability of contractual prohibitionsThe distinction between assignment of the prize and delegation of dutiesCommon exam traps involving ambiguous language and how courts interpret vague assignmentsA comprehensive diagnostic workflow for analyzing complex multi-party contract scenarios

Delegationsmedizin als Lösung für den Ärztemangel? Judith Ebel, Gründerin von SuperNurse, hält dagegen: Pflege ist kein Reparaturkit für eine überlastete Ärzteschaft – und selbst dramatisch unterbesetzt. Ein ehrliches Gespräch über Vorbehaltsaufgaben, Fortbildungsmuffel und 14.000 Quizfragen, die das Lernen wieder in den Flow bringen. SHOWNOTES ZU DIESER FOLGE - [The Medical Network im Web](https://themedicalnetwork.de/podcast/) - [Andrea Buzzi auf LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-buzzi1809/) - [SuperNurse im Web](Webseite https://www.supernurse.de/) - [Judith Ebel auf LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-ebel/) - [Qualitätsprüfungs-Richtlinien](https://md-bund.de/richtlinien-publikationen/richtlinien/grundlagen-fuer-begutachtungen-und-qualitaetspruefungen/qualitaetspruefungen.html) - [Care for Innovation im Web](https://www.careforinnovation.com/)

This session of the SKSG took place in Ndoumbi from 23rd - 30th April 2026. During this session, some brethren shared their testimonies, some directives given and Brother Theodore focused his teaching on the power of God's word in building ministry and building men.

An American delegation is headed to Pakistan to continue talks geared toward ending the two-month war with Iran. One of the focal points of any discussion will be the Strait of Hormuz, where vital maritime traffic remains largely frozen. While Iran's foreign minister is already in the Pakistani capital, his spokesman said there is no meeting planned with the Americans. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text messageS.13 E.10 Delegations from the United States and Iran met in Pakistan for dialogue. Yet, no peace deal has been reached. What does this mean for the Strait of Hormuz? Will Asian countries suffer due to lack of oil? Will the conflict in the Middle East continue? In this episode, I discuss these issues.ABOUT: Tawsif Anam is a nationally published writer, award-winning public policy professional, and speaker. He has experience serving in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors in United States and overseas. Anam earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tawsif Anam's opinions have been published by national, state, and local publications in the United States, such as USA Today, Washington Examiner, The Washington Times, The Western Journal, The Boston Globe, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, The Capital Times, and The Dodgeville Chronicle. His writings have also appeared in major publications in Bangladesh including, but not limited to, The Daily Star and The Financial Express.Visit my website www.tawsifanam.net Visit my blog: https://tawsifanam.net/blog/ Read my published opinions: https://tawsifanam.net/published-articles/ Check out my books: https://tawsifanam.net/books/ 

Delegations from the US and Iran are in Pakistan to negotiate an end to the six-week-old war. Voters in Hungary weigh in ahead of tomorrow's national election where polls signal trouble for Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Congressional lawmakers have a big to-do list when they return to Washington next week. To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

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Delegations from America and Iran have been holding direct talks in Pakistan aimed at ending the war. The US military says it's begun work to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Police have made more than two hundred arrests at a rally in support of the banned group Palestine Action, in London.

Delegations from the US and Iran are in Pakistan as crucial talks begin to extend their shaky ceasefire. Millions of Hungarians are getting ready to head to the polls tomorrow in a national election that could see the end of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's grip on power. Liberals gathering in Montreal are ecstatic over a raft of recent floor crossings, bringing the government to the verge of a majority. Liberal convention delegates voted today to restrict use of social media and A-I for kids. For the first time in 10 days the crew of the Artemis II are waking up on earth. And 65 years ago today, Bob Dylan -- who's still on the road at the age of 84 -- made his professional debut.

Both the U.S. and Iranian delegations have arrived in Islamabad for peace talks. A two-week ceasefire took effect on Tuesday. But it failed to resolve disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and other flashpoints.

Pakistan brokered a fragile US-Iran ceasefire, with Donald Trump crediting conversations with prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, as decisive for the deal. But high-stakes talks in Islamabad this weekend will test whether a lasting peace agreement can be reached as JD Vance leads the US delegation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says the negotiation delegations from Iran and the U.S. are holding talks in Islamabad to find a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict.

Vice Premier He Lifeng is heading the Chinese side. China said the two sides will follow the common understandings reached between the heads of state during their meeting in Busan and previous phone conversations.

We trace James Henderson's 1920 ministry across eight countries and the ripple effects that reshaped Ohio Friends toward peace, global fellowship, and practical reforms. Young Friends push for voice and structure while meetings revise discipline, adjust customs, and face decline with care.• Henderson's tested call, funding, and interpreter support• Meetings in Germany and the Balkans during relief work• A moving witness among Bulgarian pastors• Reports from returned COs and AFSC service• Youth pressure for a formal peace committee• Delegations to Washington and legislative advocacy• Discipline revision and limits on disownment• Shifts in gender participation and school customs• Scheduling changes to broaden attendance• School standardization amid shrinking numbers• Pennsville's laying down and community memoryA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

The Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. negotiators including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have held another round of talks, with tensions running high following an Iranian military drill and the deployment of U.S. aircraft carriers (13:06). Spring Festival celebrations are taking place across China and beyond with world capitals and major cities sharing the holiday spirit with cultural activities (01:04). And Gu Ailing has doubled her medal haul at Milano-Cortina 2026, adding another silver medal for China in women's big air (26:23).

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The talks in Muscat mark a renewed diplomatic effort amid heightened regional tensions.

An insider using the pseudonym ‘Daniel', who claims to be from a secret government group called ‘Earth Force', shared his experiences with Fabio Santos, a Brazilian researcher, who wrote a book about them called Planetary Intervention. According to ‘Daniel, Specialized Elite Earth Forces have provided perimeter support for Nordic extraterrestrials meeting with Earth officials, and battled Reptilian and Grey Aliens over crashed UFOs. Daniel also revealed the long history of Reptilians coming to Earth to hunt and kill humans as part of a secret agreement dating back more than a millennia that mirrors the Predator series of movies. In the following YouTube video, I interviewed Fabio Santos about Planetary Intervention, and how and why he began researching Daniel's story. More of ‘Daniel's' experiences can be read in Planetary Intervention.Join Dr. Salla on Patreon for Early Releases, Webinar Perks and More.Visit https://Patreon.com/MichaelSalla/

Emergency officials across the country are bracing for a major winter storm expected to bring heavy snow, ice, and dangerous cold to large portions of the U.S. More than a dozen states have already declared emergencies ahead of the storm's arrival.Delegations from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine held the first trilateral talks over the war in Ukraine. One of the major sticking points to reaching a peace deal is which country would control certain territory in Ukraine.In a post on Truth Social today, President Trump accused Canada of opposing his plan to build a missile defense system over Greenland. This comes as the Trump administration rolls out major policy shifts internationally and at home — from the newly created Board of Peace to canceling billions in Biden-era climate funding.

Joseph Postell suggests correcting the Chadha precedent by adopting a view of severability where delegations of power are unconstitutional without the accompanying legislative veto. He notes that the War Powers Resolutionremains a rare exception where Congress still retains a mechanism to reverse executive actions via simple majority. 1937 SCOTUS

The Chinese and U.S. delegations have reconvened for the second day of talks on economic and trade issues in Kuala Lumpur.

Delegations from China and the United States have begun their economic and trade talks in Kuala Lumpur.

Delegations from China and the United States have wrapped up the first day of talks on economic and trade issues. Vice Premier He Lifeng is leading the Chinese side for talks in Kuala Lumpur scheduled to run until Monday.

Defense leaders from Pakistan and Afghanistan try to defuse a deadly crisis, and trade accusations of terrorism amid cross-border fighting. The AP's Jennifer King reports.

Delegations convene for talks in Egypt as Israelis gather at the site of the Nova music festival to mark two years since the 7 October attacks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Delegations from Israel, Hamas, and the United States have begun indirect talks in Cairo, with the US hoping the negotiations will lead to an end to the war in Gaza. Shane was joined on the show by Ehud Olmert, Former Israeli Prime Minister.

Delegations from Hamas, Israel and the US meet in Egypt to discuss Trump peace plan for Gaza. Also: a special BBC investigation into the fast-growing crime of online sexual extortion; California Governor Newsom says he'll take legal action to stop President Trump from deploying National Guard troops to a Democrat-run city in Oregon; what's behind the seemingly unstoppable rise of bitcoin; and Norwegian crowned world porridge making champion with Viking recipe using black oats.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Judge Blocks Trump from Sending Guard to Portland; Gaza Ceasefire Talks Set to Take Place in Egypt | NTD Good MorningA federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump from deploying other states' National Guard troops to Portland. The ruling followed an earlier decision against using Oregon's own Guard. Oregon and California officials condemned the measure as a misuse of the military, describing it as political theater. Trump has called Portland and Chicago “war zones,” while DHS Secretary Kristi Noem warned of organized attacks on officers.Delegations from the United States, Israel, and the Hamas terrorist group are heading to Egypt for talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Trump said progress is moving quickly and warned Hamas that it faces destruction if it refuses to surrender control of Gaza. Trump said the first phase, centered on releasing hostages, could be completed within days.With the federal government still shut down, a top White House economic adviser said layoffs will begin if negotiations fail to produce a solution. The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers want Democrats to make a deal for what they call a clean continuing resolution to get the government up and running again. Democrats, however, want Congress to extend Obamacare subsidies set to expire this year.

World Dairy Expo – Wisconsin’s time to shine as America’s Dairyland as the meeting place for the global dairy industry. The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection gets involved as it welcomes international delegations to the state to further relationships between dairy sectors. The work continues beyond the dairy show as DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski takes on a leadership role with the Midwestern Association of State Departments of Agriculture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Werner Enterprises wishes to clarify that we are not involved in any agreements of discussions regarding the recruitment of Kenyan truck drivers to the United States. Any claims suggesting otherwise are just false.” - Werner Enterprises on X, September 9, 2025 In early September, rumors started to swirl that Werner Enterprises, a $3 Billion transportation and logistics company based in Omaha, Nebraska, was bringing people from Kenya to drive for them in the United States.  The rumors aren't completely based on speculation. Delegations from Kenya and the Nebraska Secretary of State's office have been going back and forth for over a year. Werner and their CEO have publicly denied the rumors, and the Governor of Nebraska has clarified the limitations of the Secretary of State's office, but only digging into the details can separate fact from fiction.  In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner pulls together the facts as she found them: Reviewing the timeline - a critical piece of this story Pictures that seem to have been worth more than a thousand words Who said what when, including representatives of the Federal government The lessons we can all learn from what happened Links: Kelly Barner on LinkedIn Art of Supply LinkedIn newsletter  Art of Supply on AOP Subscribe to This Week in Procurement  

International Leaders Bible camp from 1st to 15th August 2025

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:   A Chinese-American engineer pleads guilty to stealing sensitive U.S. national security tech, raising new alarms over Beijing's espionage campaign.   Delegations from Ukraine and Russia meet in Istanbul to discuss a potential peace deal—though progress remains uncertain.   President Trump unveils a major trade agreement with Japan, featuring 15% tariffs and reduced auto duties.   And in today's Back of the Brief: Saudi media reports Israel and Hamas have resolved most disputes in ceasefire talks—including a proposed release of over 1,200 Palestinian prisoners. Bless their hearts.   To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. 866-885-1881 or visit https://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB- NMLS 182334, https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Eitan Amsalem, Director of Visitor Experience, Delegations, and Public Relations at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem. Eitan is the curator that created the exhibit on October 7th at the Museum, and he has taken world leaders and ambassadors through this exhibit. Eitan discusses with Steven in detail about the dangers of the Muslim Brotherhood and  elucidates on how the  October 7th attack was planned. Eitan and his team uncovered notes found on the bodies of Hamas terrorists. They created a collection of these notes and translated them. He explains that Hamas gave their officers the title of Sheikhs so that they have the authority to give fatwahs (ordinances) that certain acts that are typically impermissible in Islam are permissible, such as killing women and babies. Eitan also explains that many of the terrorists had a list of Hebrew phrases and words for the operation, including “take off your pants,” which they needed to know how to say in order to rape the women they found on the kibbutzim. They also uncovered documents that elucidate the extent to UNRWA'S involvement in the attack, and on the educational material they provide to Gaza's and Arab villagers which all teach how they are victims of Israeli oppression and must hate Jews. There's a phenomena that was uncovered about the October 7th massacre that is entirely unique, which is that Hamas attempted to eliminate, and in many cases successfully, entire families in one shot, sometimes tying together a married couple with their children and torturing and killing them. Eitan has also consulted with and was given evidence by forensics teams that were onsite following the 10.7 massacre, but didn't go into detail about what the examiners describe and found on the sites. Eitan has also spoken with many survivors of the massacre, and he explains the unimaginable PTSD that they are experiencing.   Eitan closes by stating that the Islam of Hamas, which was distorted and changed in disturbing ways, does not represent the whole of Islam.Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

This Session was organised by the School of Knowing and Serving God in Koume. From 20th to 27th of June 2025.

Delegations from Washington and Beijing are in London this Tuesday for a second day of trade talks, with the Americans expected to ease export restrictions on microchips in exchange for China releasing more rare earth minerals supply. Also in this edition: Canada looks to boost its defence spending in Europe. Plus, Apple's AI offerings at its 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference underwhelm analysts. 

President Donald Trump is hosting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House on Thursday to discuss a wide range of pressing issues, with the Ukraine war, defense spending, and transatlantic trade tensions topping the list. The meeting marks the chancellor's first visit to Washington since his election victory in May. Merz, the leader of Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has established a personal rapport with Trump, according to German media. The meeting comes just 10 days ahead of the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, where both leaders are scheduled to attend.Trump and Chinese communist party leader Xi Jinping agree to send delegations for a meeting on trade. The two spoke by phone Thursday as tensions remain high over the ongoing US-China trade dispute.Israel has recovered the bodies of two Israeli American hostages taken in the Hamas terrorist organization's attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the remains of elderly married couple Judith Weinstein and Gad Haggai were recovered and returned to Israel in a special operation by the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet internal security agency. Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel announced the deaths of Weinstein, 70, and Haggai, 72, both of whom had Israeli and U.S. citizenship, in December 2023. Weinstein was also a Canadian citizen.

Ukraine launched an unprecedented attack that sent drones deep inside Russia to target bombers. Russia’s strikes also accelerated as it launched the largest drone salvo of the war. One attack killed more than a dozen soldiers, leading to the resignation of Ukraine’s land forces commander. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The suspect in the attack in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday is in the U.S. illegally, according to the White House and Homeland Security. "The Colorado Terrorist attack suspect, Mohamed Soliman, is illegally in our country. He filed for asylum in September 2022,” A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wrote on X. The suspect is now facing multiple felony charges and is expected to appear in court on Monday.Delegations from Russia and Ukraine ended their latest peace talks Monday in Turkey after just over an hour, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian state media said. Speaking in Vilnius, Lithuania, Zelenskyy said both sides "exchanged documents through the Turkish side, and we are preparing a new release of prisoners of the war.”

Reforms are needed in two directions—decolonisation of the structure of Indian embassies, and the promotion of active over passive leadership.  

Ukraine launched an unprecedented attack that sent drones deep inside Russia to target bombers. Russia’s strikes also accelerated as it launched the largest drone salvo of the war. One attack killed more than a dozen soldiers, leading to the resignation of Ukraine’s land forces commander. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

  Last time we spoke about the February 26th incident. Within the turbulent “ government of assassination” period of 1936 Japan, a faction of discontented junior officers, known as the Kodoha, believed that their emperor, Hirohito, was being manipulated by corrupt politicians. In a desperate bid for what they termed a "Showa Restoration," they meticulously plotted a coup d'état. On February 26, they launched a rebellion in Tokyo, attempting to assassinate key figures they deemed responsible for undermining the emperor's authority. The young officers executed coordinated attacks on prominent leaders, resulting in several deaths, while hoping to seize control of the Imperial Palace. However, their plan unraveled when their actions met with unexpected resistance, and they failed to secure strategic locations. Dark snow blanketed the city as Hirohito, outraged by the violence, quickly moved to suppress the uprising, which ultimately led to the downfall of the Kodoha faction and solidified the military's grip on power, ushering in a new era marked by militarism and radicalism.   #151 The Suiyuan Operation Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. So we last left off with the February 26th incident breaking out in Japan, but now I would like to return to China. Now we spoke a little bit about some influential Japanese politicians in the previous episode. Prime Minister Satio Makoto oversaw Japan from May 1932 to July 1934, succeeded by Prime Minister Keisuke Okada from July 1934 to March 1936. The foreign policy of Japan towards China during the Saitō and Okada administrations exhibited a notable paradox, characterized by two conflicting elements. On one hand, Foreign Minister Hirota championed a diplomatic approach that emphasized friendship, cooperation, and accommodation with China. On the other hand, the military actively undermined the authority of the Nationalist government in northern China, creating a significant rift between diplomatic rhetoric and military action.    The Okada cabinet then endorsed the Army Ministry's "Outline of Policy to Deal with North China" on January 13, 1936. This policy document explicitly proposed the eventual detachment of five provinces, Hubei, Chahar, Shanxi, Suiyuan, and Shandong from the Nationalist government in Nanking. The approval of this outline marked a pivotal moment, as it represented the first official government endorsement of the military's longstanding agenda and underscored the army's evolution from a mere rogue entity operating in the region to the de facto authority dictating the course of Japan's policy towards China. Despite this, on January 22, during the 68th Diet session, Hirota reaffirmed his dedication to fostering better ties with China, to which a representative from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded positively. The Nationalist government in Nanjing also expressed interest in engaging in formal negotiations. However, this diplomatic initiative quickly faltered, and the expected discussions in Nanjing never took place. Shortly thereafter, a mutiny by young army officers on February 26, 1936, led to the fall of the Okada cabinet. Following Prince Konoe Fumimaro's refusal of the imperial mandate to form a new government, Hirota stepped in to establish a cabinet on March 9. General Terauchi Hisaichi was appointed as the Minister of the Army, Admiral Nagano Osami took charge of the Navy Ministry, and Baba Eiichi became the finance minister. Hirota briefly served as foreign minister until Arita Hachirö, who had just submitted his credentials as ambassador to China on March 6, returned to Japan. The Hirota Koki cabinet, established immediately following the February 26 incident further entrenched military influence in politics while allowing interservice rivalries to impede national objectives. In May 1936, Hirota, influenced by army and navy ministers, reinstated the practice of appointing military ministers solely from the ranks of high-ranking active-duty officers. He believed this would prevent associations with the discredited Imperial Way faction from regaining power. By narrowing the candidate pool and enhancing the army's power relative to the prime minister, Hirota's decision set the stage for army leaders to leverage this advantage to overthrow Admiral Yonai's cabinet in July 1940. Arita began his new job by meeting with Foreign Minister Chang Chen while hearing views from the Kwantung Army chief of staff General, Itagaki Seishiro. Yes, our old friend received a lot of promotions. Itagaki had this to say about the Kwantung Army's policy in China "The primary aim of Japan's foreign policy, is the sound development of Manchukuo based upon the principle of the indivisibility of Japan and Manchukuo. If, as is probable, the existing situation continues, Japan is destined sooner or later to clash with the Soviet Union, and the attitude of China at that time will gravely influence operations [against the Soviet Union]." The Kwantung Army's was growing more and more nervous about the USSR following its 7th comintern congress held in July and August of 1935. There it publicly designated Japan, Germany and Poland as its main targets of comintern actions. Japanese intelligence in the Red Army also knew the Soviets were gradually planning to expand the military strength so they could face a simultaneous west and east front war. This was further emboldened by the latest USSR 5 year plan. Alongside the growing Red northern menace, the CCP issued on August 1st a declaration calling upon the Nationalist Government to end their civil war so they could oppose Japan. By this time the CCP was reaching the end of its Long March and organizing a new base of operations in Yenan in northern Shanxi. The developments by the USSR and CCP had a profound effect on Japan's foreign policy in China. The Kwantung Army believed a war with the USSR was imminent and began to concentrate its main force along the border of Manchukuo. The Kwantung Army's plan in the case of war was to seize Vladivostok while advancing motorized units towards Ulan Bator in Outer Mongolia, hoping to threaten the Trans-Siberian Railway near Lake Baikal. Their intelligence indicated the USSR could muster a maximum of 250,000 troops in eastern Siberia and that Japan could deal with them with a force two-thirds of that number. The IJA at that point had inferior air forces and armaments, thus urgent funding was needed. The Kwantung Army proposed that forces in the home islands should be reduced greatly so all could be concentrated in Manchuria. To increase funding so Kwantung leadership proposed doing away with special allowances for Japanese officials in Manchuria and reorganizing the Japanese economic structure. The Kwantung leaders also knew the submarine base at Vladivostok posed a threat to Japanese shipping so the IJN would have to participate, especially against ports and airfields. All said and done, the Kwantung Army planned for a war set in 1941 and advised immediate preparations. On July 23, 1936, Kanji Ishiwara presented the army's document titled “Request Concerning the Development of Industries in Preparation for War” to the Army Ministry. He asserted that in order to prepare for potential conflict with the Soviet Union, Japan, Manchukuo, and North China must have the industries critical for war fully developed by 1941. Ishiwara emphasized the urgent need for rapid industrial growth, particularly in Manchukuo. He followed this request on July 29 with a draft of a “Policy on Preparations for War” regarding the Soviet Union, advocating for immediate reforms to Japan's political and economic systems to facilitate economic expansion and lay the groundwork for future fundamental changes. However, he cautioned that if significant turmoil erupted in economic sectors, Japan must be ready to execute a comprehensive overhaul without delay. At the same time, the Hirota cabinet initiated a review of its policy towards China. In the spring of 1936, a secret committee focused on the Current Situation was formed, consisting of officials from the Army, Navy, and Foreign ministries. Their discussions led to the adoption of the "Measures to Implement Policy toward China" by the Four Ministers Conference on August 11, along with the "Second Outline of Policy to Address North China," which the cabinet approved as part of the "Fundamentals of National Policy" on the same day. The first of these documents outlined the following actionable steps: “1. Conclusion of an anti-Communist military pact. a) To prepare for the conclusion of such a pact, a special secret committee of military experts from both countries should be organized. b) Their discussions should cover the scope and substance of the pact and ways and means of realizing the objectives of the pact.  2. Conclusion of a Sino-Japanese military alliance. A special secret committee, composed of an equal number of delegates from each nation, should be organized to prepare for the conclusion of an offensive and defensive alliance against attack by a third country.  3. Acceleration of solutions of pending questions between China and Japan. a) Engagement of a senior political adviser: The Nationalist government should engage a senior Japanese political adviser to assist in the conduct of the domestic and foreign affairs of the Nationalist government. b) Engagement of military advisers: The Nationalist government should engage military advisers, along with military instructors. c) Opening of airline services between China and Japan: Airline services between China and Japan should be opened immediately. To realize such a service, various means should be used to induce the Nanking authorities to establish an airline corporation in North China, to begin flights between Formosa and Fukien province, and to start test flights between Shanghai and Fukuoka. d) Conclusion of a reciprocal tariff treaty: A reciprocal tariff treaty should be concluded promptly between China and Japan, on the basis of the policy approved by the ministries concerned, with regard to the abolition of the special trade in eastern Hopei province and the lowering of the prohibitively high tariffs. For this purpose Japan should, if necessary, propose the creation of a special committee composed of Japanese and Chinese representatives.  4. Promotion of economic cooperation between China and Japan. Japan should promote cooperation with the common people of China to establish realistic and inseparable economic relations between China and Japan that will promote coexistence and co-prosperity and will be unaffected by changes in the Chinese political situation. “ The document also included suggestions for Japan's economic expansion into South China. This included tapping into the natural resources of the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi, building a railway between Guangzhou and Swatow, and establishing air routes between Fuchoz and Taipei, which would connect to services in Japan and Thailand. It also called for survey teams to be dispatched to explore the resources of Sichuan, Gansu, Xinjiang, and Qinghai provinces, and for support to be provided to the independence movement in Inner Mongolia. However, these initiatives presented significant challenges. The preface to the "Second Outline of Policy to Deal with North China" cautioned, "In implementing this policy, we must carefully consider the Nanking government's prestige and avoid actions that could prompt it to adopt an anti-Japanese stance in response to the desires of the Chinese people."  On September 19th, six fundamental points for a settlement in North China were dictated to China to “establish a common defense against communism, promoting economic cooperation, lowering tariffs, initiating an airline service between the two nations, employing Japanese advisers, and controlling subversive Koreans." September 22 was set as the deadline for a response from China. While agreeing to some Japanese requests, the Chinese included several counter-demands that the Japanese found completely unacceptable. These demands required Japan to “(a) refrain from using armed intervention or arbitrary actions in its dealings with China, (b) recognize China as an equal and sovereign state, (c) avoid leveraging antigovernment groups or communist elements, and (d) remove any derogatory references to China from Japanese textbooks. The Chinese also insisted that any agreement regarding North China “must precede the annulment of the Tanggu and Shanghai cease-fire agreements, the disbanding of the East Hopei regime, a prohibition on unauthorized Japanese flights over North China, a ban on smuggling activities by Japanese, the restoration of China's right to control smuggling, and the disbandment of the illegal East Hopei government along with the armies of Wang Ying and Prince De in Suiyuan”. Now that mention of a Prince De in Suiyuan brings us to a whole new incident. This podcast series should almost be called “the history of Japanese related incidents in China”. Now we've spoken at great lengths about Japan's obsession with Manchuria. She wanted it for resources, growing space and as a buffer state. Japan also had her eyes set on Inner Mongolia to be used as a buffer state between Manchukuo, the USSR and China proper. Not to mention after the invasion of North China, Inner Mongolia could be instrumental as a wedge to be used to control Northern China. Thus the Kwantung Army began fostering a Mongolian independence movement back in August of 1933. They did so through a special organ led by chief of the general staff Koiso Kuniaki. He began work with the Silingol League led by Prince Sonormurabdan or “Prince So” and another influential Mongol, Prince Demchukdongrob or “Prince De”. Prince De was the West Sunid Banner in Northern Chahar. Likewise the Kwantung Army was grooming Li Xuxin, a Mongol commoner born in southern Manchuria. He had been a bandit turned soldier absorbed into Zhang Xueliangs army. Li had distinguished himself in a campaign against a group of Mongols trying to restore the Qing dynasty to further establish an independent Mongolia. During Operation Nekka Li had served in a cavalry brigade under Zu Xingwu, reputed to be the best unit in Zhang Xueliangs Northeastern border defense army. He led the army's advance unit into western Shandong. Afterwards Li suddenly became friends with Major Tanaka Hisashi, the head of the Special Service Agency at Dungliao where he defected to the Kwantung Army. He soon was leading a force too strong to be incorporated into the Manchukuo Army, thus it was disbanded, but his Kwantung Army buddies encouraged him to move to Tolun in Rehe province. At one point during the Nekka campaign, Li's army was threatened by a strong Chinese counterattack, but they had Manchukuo air support allowing them to capture Tolun. This victory launched what became the East Chahar Special Autonomous District with Li becoming a garrison commander and chief administrator.  Back in time, upon the founding of the Chinese Republic, the affairs of Inner Mongolia fell upon the Bureau of Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs. This was reorganized in 1930 into the Commission on Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs when the provinces of Chahar, Suiyuan and Ningxia were organized. Prince De had been a member of a nationalist group known as the Young Mongols, although his aim was self-determination for Inner Mongolia within China, not independence. The Nationalist government's support for Chinese settlement in Mongol territories and its disregard for Mongol perspectives quickly triggered a rise in Mongol nationalism and anti-Chinese feelings. This was exacerbated by the government's introduction of a law on October 12, 1931, requiring local Mongolian administrative units to consult with hsien officials on matters concerning their administration. The nationalist sentiment was further fueled by the presence of the neighboring Mongolian People's Republic in Outer Mongolia and the establishment of Xingan province in western Manchuria by Manchukuo authorities in March 1932. This new province included the tribes of eastern Inner Mongolia and granted them greater autonomy than other Manchukuo provinces while banning Chinese immigration into it. When Nanjing did not react to these developments, Prince De and his supporters took steps toward gaining autonomy. On July 15th, 1933, Mongol leaders from western Inner Mongolia gathered at Pailingmiao for two weeks to deliberate on a declaration for regional independence. Although many princes were initially hesitant to take this step, they reconvened on August 14 and sent a cable to Nanjing announcing their decision to create an autonomous Mongolian government. The cable was signed by Prince So and Prince De. Over the following two months, additional conferences at Pailingmiao were held to organize the new government, which would operate under Nanking's guidance but without involvement from provincial chairmen. On October 22, Prince Yun, head of the Ulanchap League and a close ally of Prince De, was elected to lead the new regime, with Prince De assuming the role of chief of its political affairs bureau. After receiving a cable from the Mongolian leaders in August, Nanjing quickly sent Minister of the Interior Huang Shao-hung and Xu Qingyang, head of the Commission on Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs, to halt the movement. However, the Mongols declined to travel to Kalgan or Kueisui to meet Huang. In November, as the leader of a special commission appointed by Nanjing, Huang reached an agreement with Yun De and other Mongolian leaders concerning a proposal that abandoned the Mongols' demand for an autonomous government. This agreement was later altered by Nanjing, and its essential points were excluded from a measure approved by the Central Political Council of the Kuomintang on January 17, 1934. The dispute reignited, fueled by the Nationalist government's rising concerns over the anticipated enthronement of Pu Yi in Manchukuo. On February 28, the Central Political Council enacted a measure that outlined "eight principles of Inner Mongolian autonomy" and created the Mongolian Local Autonomous Political Council. Since these principles did not grant authority over foreign and military affairs, powers explicitly reserved for the central government in the January measure, they were seen as a concession to the Mongols and were accepted. On March 7, the central government issued regulations to establish a semi autonomous regime for Inner Mongolia, which was officially launched at Pailingmiao on April 23. Although the council was led by three moderate princes, Prince Yun, supported by Princes So and Sha, the real administrative authority was held by Prince De, who served as the secretary-general. Most of the twenty-five council members were of Mongolian royalty, through whom Prince De aimed to fulfill his objectives. Nevertheless, the Nationalist government seemed to consider the council merely a token gesture to placate De, as Nanking never provided the promised administrative funds outlined in the "eight principle declaration." Was not much of a shock Prince De sought support from the Kwantung Army, which had established contact with him as early as June 1934. Japanese pressures in North China were starting to alter the power dynamics, and after the first Western incident in Jehol in February 1935, it compelled the relocation of Sung Queyuan's army from Chahar to Hopei, providing encouragement to Prince De. In May, he met with Kwantung Army Vice Chief of Staff Itagaki Seishirö, Intelligence Section Chief Kawabe Torashirö, and staff officer Tanaka Ryükichi, where he was officially informed for the first time about the Kwantung Army's intention to assist him. On July 25, the Kwantung Army drafted its "Essentials of Policy toward Inner Mongolia," which regarded Japanese support for cooperation between De and Li Xuxin as part of their strategic preparations for a potential conflict with the Soviet Union. Shortly after this policy was adopted, a conflict arose over who had the authority to appoint the head of the Mongol Xukung banner, situated north of the Yellow River and Paot'ou. Following the death of the previous administrator, Prince Xu declared that he had taken control of the position. In response to a request from the local abbot, Prince Yun, acting in his capacity as chairman of the Mongolian Political Council, dismissed Xu. Xu then turned to Nanking through Suiyuan Provincial Chairman Fu Zuoyi, arguing that the central government held the authority to appoint heads of administrative units. In retaliation, Prince De dispatched troops to Xukung. On November 10, Fu presented a mediation proposal, which was rejected since it not only failed to acknowledge Shih's dismissal but also demanded the withdrawal of De's forces. De refused to pull back, further intensifying his hostility toward the Nanking government. In December, the Kwantung Army attempted to move Li's forces from eastern Chahar into the six Xun to the north of Kalgan, which serves as Chahar's granary. Following the Qin-Doihara agreement, Matsui Gennosuke from the Kalgan Special Service Agency secured a deal to separate these six districts from the southern region predominantly populated by Chinese; a Mongolian peace preservation corps was tasked with maintaining order in the northern area, while a Chinese corps was responsible for the south. During the discussions for an autonomous regime centered around Song Queyuan in North China in November 1935, Kwantung Army troops were concentrated around Gubeikou. To exert pressure on Song's rear, the Kwantung Army proposed replacing the Chinese peace preservation unit in the area north of Kalgan with Li Xuxin's army, which would establish this territory as its base.   The operation commenced on December 8. In a surprise attack just before dawn, Li captured Paochang. By December 12, despite facing strong Chinese resistance and the heaviest snowfall in sixty years, Li, aided by Kwantung Army planes disguised as those of the Manchukuo Airline Corporation, had taken control of Kuyuan. Further advances were halted by an order from Kwantung Army headquarters, and on December 13, it was reported that, had the operation not been stopped, Tokyo would have issued an imperial command. The operation had faced opposition from the Tientsin army, which feared it would weaken Song Queyuan's position just as they were informing Tokyo that the autonomy movement was going smoothly. Additionally, both Britain and the United States publicly expressed strong opposition to the Kwantung Army's involvement in the autonomy movement. However, the directive was ultimately prompted by the emperor's anger upon discovering that a unit of the Kwantung Army led by Colonel Matsui Takurö had advanced to Tolun to support Li's progress. Although Li's advance was halted, the operation undeniably contributed to the formation of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council.   Although the operation was halted, the Kwantung Army remained committed to its objectives. They contended that Li's army's advance into the six districts north of Kalgan was merely a peace preservation unit moving into territory within the truce line established by the Tanggu Agreement. Consequently, on December 29, they ordered Li to advance southward. Li peacefully occupied Changpei the following day and entered Shangtu on December 31. Manchukuo civil officials were appointed to oversee the six districts, and the currency of Manchukuo was introduced, although the existing tax system initially remained unchanged. The Kwantung Army allocated silver worth 6 million yuan to support administrative expenses. This outcome, known as the Eastern Chahar incident, marked a complete success for the Kwantung Army, which then redirected its focus toward Suiyuan Province. Each year, the Kwantung Army developed a secret plan for covert operations for the following year. The 1936 plan included strategies to secure air bases for routes connecting Europe and Asia, targeting Tsinghai and Sinkiang provinces, Outer Mongolia, Western Mongolia, and even remote areas of Ningxia province. In January 1936, staff officer Tanaka Ryūkichi formulated a document titled "Essentials of Policy Toward (Northwestern) Inner Mongolia." This document advocated for the establishment of a Mongolian military government to facilitate Japanese operations in northwestern Mongolia and suggested pushing Fu Tso-yi out of Suiyuan into Shansi province. Tanaka's proposals were incorporated into the final plan of the Kwantung Army, ultimately leading to the Suiyuan incident of November 1936. In February 1936, a meeting at Pailingmiao, where Prince De proposed the independence of Inner Mongolia, resulted in the departure of Prince So and several other Mongolian leaders from the coalition. They sought to establish a rival political council at Kueisui under the protection of Fu Zuoyi. By April, De and his supporters decided to form a military government at Tehua in Chahar, which was officially inaugurated in June as the Inner Mongolian government, headed by De with Li Shou-hsin as his deputy. This new government quickly signed a mutual assistance treaty with Manchukuo, and the emperor granted De the title of prince.   In July, at a conference in Tehua, Tanaka was appointed as the head of the Special Service Agency for Inner Mongolia with the mission of implementing the army's Intelligence Section plans. He traveled to Pingtiqüan alongside Chief of Staff Itagaki and Intelligence Chief Mutō Akira to propose a local anti-Communist agreement to Fu. After failing to convince Fu, he attempted to persuade Sun Tien-ying to form a puppet army but managed to recruit only a bandit from Suiyuan, Wang Ying. The February 26 mutiny in Tokyo heightened anti-Japanese sentiments in China, resulting in increased violence. By August, the construction of an airplane hangar in Paot'ou was halted due to riots by local Chinese residents. On August 13, a group of fifteen Japanese, led by Nakajima Manzo, was ambushed while delivering ammunition to a pro-Japanese leader who was shortly thereafter assassinated. Chinese soldiers from Wang Qingkuo's 70th Division carried out the attack, and tensions escalated as the arrival of ammunition and Japanese laborers in Kalgan prompted border villages to strengthen their defenses.   By late September, Tanaka's "Guidelines for the Execution of the Suiyuan Operation" received approval, with operations set to commence in early November. The plan evolved from a covert mission into a personal initiative by Tanaka, financed largely through funds from the Kwantung Army's secret services and profits from special trading in eastern Hopei. Tanaka claimed to have transported 600,000 yen to Tehua in October and later sent 200,000 yuan into Inner Mongolia, estimating total expenses at approximately 6 million yen. He acquired new weaponry from the disbanded Northeast Army and established three clandestine forces: Wang Ying led 500 men, including artillery; Qin Xiashan commanded 3,000 from Sun Tienying's army; and Chang Futang also led 3,000 specialized units. During strategic meetings, Tanaka dismissed proposals for unified command and refusing to integrate secret units into the Mongolian army. He advocated for the slogan "Overthrow Chiang Kai-shek," while Matsui managed to include "Independence for Inner Mongolia."   The Japanese had developed the entire battle strategy. The 1st Army, commanded by Li Xuxin, would serve as the left flank, while the 2nd Army, led by Demchugdongrub, would be positioned on the right. Wang Ying's forces were designated as the central force. Their initial targets would be Hongort, Xinghe, Tuchengzi, and Guisui city, followed by a division to seize Jinging, Baotou, and Hetao. On November 13, Prince Demchugdongrub's and Wang Ying's forces left Shandu in two columns to assault Xinghe and Hongort. By the 15th, 1,500 troops reached Hongort, where they engaged the 1st Cavalry Division led by Peng Yubin. The next day, Ryukichi Tanaka, Demchugdongrub's chief advisor, sent two cavalry brigades and one infantry brigade to capture the town, effectively overrunning its defenders. Meanwhile, Wang Ying dispatched a smaller group to secure Tuchengzi.   Fu Zuoyi established his headquarters in Jining that same day. After assessing the situation, he concluded that if the enemy secured Hongort, it would diminish his defenders' morale. Consequently, he launched a counterattack. Peng Yubin led a joint force of the 1st Cavalry Division and Dong Qiwu's 218th Brigade to confront around 400 of Wang Ying's men defending Hongort and Tuchengzi. By 7 AM on the 18th, Tuchengzi was reclaimed, and at 8:30 AM, the 1st Cavalry Division entered Hongort, charging through 500 of Wang Ying's soldiers. The struggle for Hongort persisted for over three days, resulting in nearly 1,000 casualties before Fu Zuoyi regained control.   As the tide shifted against the invaders, Fu Zuoyi initiated an offensive toward the Bailing Temple, the rear base of the enemy, well-stocked and defended by 3,000 men under Prince Demchugdongrub. Fu Zuoyi ordered the 2nd Cavalry Division, along with the 211th and 315th Brigades, the 21st Artillery Regiment, and a convoy of 20 trucks and 24 armored vehicles to assault the Bailing Temple as quickly as possible. Taking advantage of the Mongolian chaos, Fu Zuoyi's 35th Brigade executed a flanking maneuver west of the Bailing Temple amid a severe snowstorm.   At 1 AM on the 24th, the battle for the Bailing Temple commenced as the Chinese engaged the Mongolians for the fortified positions around the temple. From 2 to 4 AM, the Chinese advanced closer to the temple walls, facing artillery and machine-gun fire. They launched desperate frontal assaults against the city gates, suffering heavy losses. A fierce stalemate ensued, with Japanese aerial bombardments causing significant casualties to the Chinese forces. Fu Zuoyi subsequently ordered all armored vehicles to converge at the main city gate. Despite intense fire, the armored cars managed to breach the gate, allowing Chinese infantry to flood into the temple area. The resulting carnage within the temple walls led to 900 Mongol deaths, with 300 captured as the rest fled. The Chinese suffered 300 casualties but secured the strategically vital rear base, along with a substantial stockpile of provisions, including 500 barrels of petrol, 600 rifles, 10 machine guns, vehicles, and field guns. Following the devastating defeat at Bailing Temple, the invaders regrouped at Xilamuleng Temple. On the 28th, the Japanese sent 100 vehicles to transport 3,000 troops to prepare for a significant counteroffensive to recapture Bailing Temple. On the 29th, Wang Ying personally led 2,000 cavalry north of Shangdu to Taolin in an attempt to contain the enemy. However, after he left the bulk of his forces at Xilamuleng Temple, officers from the Grand Han Righteous Army secretly began negotiating to defect to the Chinese side, undermining the forces needed for the counterattack against Bailing Temple.   The counteroffensive commenced on December 2nd, with 10 armored vehicles and 1,000 Mongol troops leading the charge at 6 AM. They were pushed back by the heavily fortified 211th Brigade, which was well-supplied with machine guns and artillery. The following day, at 3 AM, the Mongols attempted a surprise attack but faced an ambush as they crept toward the temple. They incurred hundreds of casualties, with 230 men either captured or having defected. After this, the counterattack stalled, as the Mongol forces couldn't approach within 3 miles of the temple. Subsequently, the Chinese 2nd Cavalry Division launched a pincer maneuver, causing significant casualties among the invaders. By 9 AM, the enemy had suffered 500 casualties and was in retreat. At 7 PM, Fu Zuoyi ordered another counteroffensive. By the next morning, hundreds more had been lost, and several hundred soldiers were captured. With such heavy losses, the defense of Xilamuleng Temple weakened significantly, prompting more officers to defect to the Chinese. Late on the 4th, Fu Zuoyi assembled a force comprising two cavalry regiments, one infantry regiment, one artillery battalion, four armored vehicles, and a squadron of cars to launch a nighttime assault on Xilamuleng Temple.   Meanwhile, the 2nd Cavalry Division clashed with Wang Ying's cavalry 30 miles northeast of Wulanhua. Wang Ying's 2,000 cavalry had been raiding nearby villages to create diversions, drawing enemy forces away from the Bailing-Xilamuleng theater. By the 9th, Wang Ying's cavalry were encircled in Xiaobei, where they were nearly annihilated, with Wang escaping with around a hundred guards toward Changpei. On the 7th, some Grand Han Righteous Army officers set in motion plans to defect to the Chinese side. Early on the 9th, these officers led their men to invade the residence of Japanese advisors, killing all 27 Japanese officers under Colonel Obama. Simultaneously, Fu Zuoyi's forces executed a flanking maneuver against the Xilamuleng Temple amidst the chaos. With mass defections, the Chinese forces surged into the temple area, resulting in the invader army disintegrating in confusion and surrender. After seizing the temple, the invaders were routed, their lines of communication severed, and only isolated pockets continued to resist. Taking advantage of the confusion, Fu Zuoyi launched simultaneous attacks, attempting to capture Shangdu. However, Yan Xishan sent him a telegram, ordering him to halt, stating that Shangdu fell under the jurisdiction of Shanxi and not Suiyuan.   In response to the loss, Tanaka planned a counteroffensive with Qin's troops, but Chiang kai-shek commanded a strong defense of Pailingmiao, successfully outmaneuvering Tanaka's strategies. The resurgence of Chinese forces led to the disintegration of Qin's troops, who revolted and eventually joined the Nationalist army. The Kwantung Army aimed to redeploy its forces for recovery but faced opposition from Tokyo, which criticized the situation. After Chiang kai-shek was kidnapped by Zhang Xueliang on December 12, Tanaka and Prince De seized the opportunity to reassess their strategy. Ultimately, the Kwantung Army decided to abandon efforts to reclaim Pailingmiao, marking the official end of hostilities on December 21. The Suiyuan incident ultimately strengthened Chinese resolve against Japan and increased international distrust.   The defeat of Japan's proxy forces inspired many Chinese to advocate for a more vigorous resistance against the Japanese. The triumph in Suiyuan was celebrated throughout China and surprised the international media, marking the first occasion where the Chinese army successfully halted a Japanese unit. Delegations traveled from as distant as southern Chinese provinces to encourage the defenders to continue their fight. Captured Japanese weapons and equipment served as proof of Japan's involvement in the conflict, despite Japan's Foreign Minister Hachirō Arita claiming that "Japan was not involved in this conflict in Suiyuan at all." After his defeat, Prince Demchugdongrub and his Inner Mongolian troops retreated to northern Chahar, where he had to reconstruct his army due to significant losses. The Japanese implemented new regulations for the Mongolian Army to enhance its effectiveness, and efforts to recruit new soldiers commenced.   I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. More incidents and more battles to seize territory raged in North China. However things did not go according to plan for the Japanese and their puppets. The tides had turned, and now a more angry and invigorating China would begin lashing out against the encroachment. It was only a matter of time before a full blown war was declared. 

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports Russia and Ukraine are holding their first direct peace talks in three years.

Europe Editor, Tony Connelly reports from Tirana in Albania on talks between Russian and Ukraine.

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are due to meet in Turkey for peace talks but the leaders of both countries will not be present, despite President Putin proposing the talks take place. Moscow has notably withheld its top diplomatic heavyweights, which according to Zelensky, means the nation is "not serious" about peace. US President Donald Trump has weighed in, saying peace won't happen until he meets with Putin himself. Ukraine's former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba joins the show in London to discuss  Also on today's show: former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman; author Dr. Jerry Avorn  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Teams from both Kyiv and Moscow are back in Saudi Arabia for separate talks with the US. Meanwhile, Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, calls a snap general election for a month’s time and Zürich narrowly approves a ban on digital advertising screens and most commercial adverts in public spaces. Plus: Greek tourism minister Olga Kefalogianni assures international travellers that Santorini is “fully prepared” to welcome visitors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preview: Colleague Professor Evan Ellis reports that the CCP continues to send delegations to Panama City to convince the government to break the deal with BlackRock for the Hutchinson Ports. MORE LATER. 1910

Topics covered in this episode: PEP 772 – Packaging governance process Official Django MongoDB Backend Now Available in Public Preview Developer Philosophy Python 3.13.2 released Extras Joke Watch on YouTube About the show Sponsored by us! Support our work through: Our courses at Talk Python Training The Complete pytest Course Patreon Supporters Connect with the hosts Michael: @mkennedy@fosstodon.org / @mkennedy.codes (bsky) Brian: @brianokken@fosstodon.org / @brianokken.bsky.social Show: @pythonbytes@fosstodon.org / @pythonbytes.fm (bsky) Join us on YouTube at pythonbytes.fm/live to be part of the audience. Usually Monday at 10am PT. Older video versions available there too. Finally, if you want an artisanal, hand-crafted digest of every week of the show notes in email form? Add your name and email to our friends of the show list, we'll never share it. Brian #1: PEP 772 – Packaging governance process draft, created 21-Jan, by Barry Warsaw, Deb Nicholson, Pradyun Gedam “As Python packaging has matured, several interrelated problems with the current way of managing the technical development, decision making and processes have become apparent.” “This PEP proposes a Python Packaging Council with broad authority over packaging standards, tools, and implementations. Like the Python Steering Council, the Packaging Council seeks to exercise this authority as rarely as possible; instead, they use this power to establish standard processes.” PEP discusses PyPA, Packaging-WG, Interoperability Standards, Python Steering Council, and Expectations of an elected Packaging Council A specification with Composition: 5 people Mandate, Responsibilities, Delegations, Process, Terms, etc. Michael #2: Official Django MongoDB Backend Now Available in Public Preview Over the last few years, Django developers have increasingly used MongoDB, presenting an opportunity for an official MongoDB-built Python package to make integrating both technologies as painless as possible. Features The ability to use Django models with confidence. Developers can use Django models to represent MongoDB documents, with support for Django forms, validations, and authentication. Django admin support. The package allows users to fire up the Django admin page as they normally would, with full support for migrations and database schema history. Native connecting from settings.py. Just as with any other database provider, developers can customize the database engine in settings.py to get MongoDB up and running. MongoDB-specific querying optimizations. Field lookups have been replaced with aggregation calls (aggregation stages and aggregate operators), JOIN operations are represented through $lookup, and it's possible to build indexes right from Python. Limited advanced functionality. While still in development, the package already has support for time series, projections, and XOR operations. Aggregation pipeline support. Raw querying allows aggregation pipeline operators. Since aggregation is a superset of what traditional MongoDB Query API methods provide, it gives developers more functionality. Brian #3: Developer Philosophy by qntm Intended as “advice for junior developers about personal dev philosophy”, I think these are just great tips to keep in mind. The items Avoid, at all costs, arriving at a scenario where the ground-up rewrite starts to look attractive This is less about “don't do rewrites”, but about noticing the warning signs ahead of time. Aim to be 90% done in 50% of the available time Great quote: “The first 90% of the job takes 90% of the time. The last 10% of the job takes the other 90% of the time.” Automate good practices Think about pathological data “Nobody cares about the golden path. Edge cases are our entire job.” Brian's note: But also think about the happy path. Documenting and testing what you think of as the happy path is a testing start and helps others understand your idea of how things are supposed to work. There's usually a simpler way to write it Write code to be testable It is insufficient for code to be provably correct; it should be obviously, visibly, trivially correct Brian's note: Even if it's obviously, visibly, trivially correct, it will still break. So test it anyway. Michael #4: Python 3.13.2 released Python 3.13's second maintenance release. About 250 changes went into this update Also Python 3.12.9, Python 3.12's ninth maintenance release already. Just 180 changes for 3.12, but it's still worth upgrading. For us, it's simply rebuilding our Docker base (i.e. —no-cache) with these lines: RUN curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.cache uv venv --python 3.13 /venv Extras Brian: Still thinking about pytest plugins a lot. The top pytest plugin list Has been updated for Feb Is starting to include things without “pytest” in the name, like Hypothesis and Syrupy. Eventually I'll have to add “looking at trove classifiers” as part of the search, but for now, let me know if you're favorite is missing. Includes T&C podcast episode links if I've covered it on the show. There's 2 so far Michael: There's a new release of PyScript out. All the details are here: Highlight is new PyGame-CE support. Go play! PEP 2026 – Calendar versioning for Python rejected. :( PEP 759 – External Wheel Hosting withdrawn Joke: Pride Versioning