Podcasts about Democratic republic

In this powerful episode of The Thin Green Line Podcast, we sit down with Andy Huynh, a conservation professional whose career has taken him from global conflict zones to the front lines of wildlife protection. Andy shares his journey from growing up in Southern California, to military service, to nearly a decade working overseas combating illegal wildlife trade, environmental crime, and transnational criminal organizations. His firsthand experiences reveal how wildlife trafficking fuels terrorism, human trafficking, armed conflict, and genocide—particularly in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This conversation goes far beyond poaching. It exposes the global criminal networks behind ivory, rhino horn, illegal timber, and conflict minerals—and how modern technology, consumer demand, and corruption all play a role. Now back in the United States, Andy is beginning a new chapter in wildlife law enforcement, bringing a rare international perspective to protecting natural resources at home. How Andy's upbringing and military service shaped his path into conservation The reality of illegal wildlife trade as a global criminal enterprise Poaching, poverty, coercion, and organized crime The humanitarian and environmental crisis in eastern DRC and Virunga National Park Wildlife trafficking's connection to terrorism, human trafficking, and conflict minerals Corruption and failures in international peacekeeping efforts Why protecting wildlife and protecting people are inseparable Andy's transition into wildlife law enforcement in California Environmental crime is not a niche issue—it is one of the largest drivers of global instability. This episode offers rare, firsthand insight into how deeply connected wildlife conservation is to human rights, national security, and the future of the planet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CannCon and Ghost kick off the final stretch of the year with a wide-ranging Badlands Daily that blends personal updates, platform developments, and global headlines. The hosts discuss the flu surge hitting families across the country, emerging features like Bitcoin and crypto tipping on the platform, and how audience engagement continues to evolve. The conversation moves into international and geopolitical developments, including unrest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and broader global instability that continues to challenge official narratives. Along the way, the hosts touch on media trust, institutional credibility, and the slow erosion of public confidence in centralized systems. As always, the episode balances real-time commentary with forward-looking discussion, closing with programming updates and what's ahead for Badlands Media as the year comes to an end.

For the holidays, we asked diplomats to share their tales. We have Ken Quinn whose young kids' Christmas in Austria was saved by a team including the Chattanooga Choo Choo, a muslim Santa and a temporary North Korean "daugther". We have Peter Pham who, on his way home for the holidays from his post in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was diverted to Paris due to the US government shutdown, which turn of events led him to ensure the safety return of a recent Congolese Nobel Prize winner. And we have Kent Logsdon who shares a moving tale of singing in an ambassadors' version of a barbershop quartet the song War Is Over, when indeed, war had only just ended in that country. Have a lovely holiday season, everyone!

The Daily Quiz - Geography Today's Questions: Question 1: Where would you find the city of São Paulo? Question 2: In which country would you find the UNESCO World Heritage site of Stonehenge? Question 3: Which of these cities is in The Democratic Republic of the Congo? Question 4: Basel is a city in which country? Question 5: What nation, with Vilnius as its capital, won independence in 1991 after previously being part of Poland and Russia? Question 6: Which region of the world uses '.sa' at the end of its web addresses? Question 7: Which Is The Largest State In Australia Question 8: What is the smallest independent state in the world? This podcast is produced by Klassic Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a country in central Africa the size of Western Europe and rich in arable land and minerals, including those critical to the military industrial complex, such as cobalt and coltan. Since the CIA-backed assassination of Patrice Lumumba in 1961, the DRC has been ruled by puppets who answer to the United States and its allies. 2025 has been a devastating year for the DRC. Clearing the FOG speaks with Maurice Carney, the executive director of Friends of the Congo, about the occupation by Rwandan forces, mass displacement of millions of people, and the recent 'peace agreements' that rob the DRC of its riches and sovereignty. He discusses this in the context of Kwame Nkrumah's work, "Neo-colonialism: The last stage of imperialism." For more information, visit PopularResistance.org.

We're looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on January 30. None of the dates or references have been changed. Bodies are lining the streets of Goma and hospitals are overwhelmed after an escalation in the long-simmering conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Rwandan-backed M23 group claims it took control of the city, and the DRC has called it a declaration of war by Rwanda. But why is Rwanda involved and what are its interests? In this episode: Kambale Musavuli (@kambale), Analyst, Center for Research on the Congo-Kinshasa Episode credits: This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat and Chloe K. Li, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. We’ll be back tomorrow. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

rWotD Episode 3154: Euphaedra eleus Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Monday, 22 December 2025, is Euphaedra eleus.Euphaedra eleus, the Eleus orange forester, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The habitat consists of primary forests and secondary forests with a closed canopy.Adults mimic the day-flying moth Scopula helcita.The larvae feed on Phialodiscus unijugatus, Deinbollia, Allophylus and Paullinia species.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:20 UTC on Monday, 22 December 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Euphaedra eleus on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Olivia.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningIsaiah 58:8 — Global Nations Healing Prayer for Peace, Protection and God's Intervention Across Today's Crisis-Affected Lands From London to Santiago, from Seoul to Johannesburg, from Amman to Vancouver — a global 6 P.M. prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Devotional Cycle. Scripture (NIV) Isaiah 58:8 — “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear.” Psalm 46:9 — “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.” Intro  As global instability rises this week, searches surge for “prayers for nations,” “world peace,” and “God intervene.” These scriptures rank among the most-searched worldwide as people look for hope amid conflict and humanitarian pressure. Prayer  Father, in the name of Jesus, we lift before You the nations facing deep crisis today. We pray for Democratic Republic of Congo, where violence and displacement escalate; for Yemen, enduring unrelenting humanitarian collapse; for Chile, battling destructive wildfires and national emergencies; and for South Korea, navigating rising regional tensions. Lord, stretch out Your hand to heal lands torn by conflict, disaster, fear, and uncertainty. Bring stability where chaos reigns, food where famine threatens, safety where people flee, and leaders who walk in wisdom. Let Your light break forth like the dawn over every troubled border. Heal nations, restore communities, strengthen the vulnerable, and silence every threat of violence. Father, let Your peace move across the world tonight. Prayer Points prayer for nations, prayer for peace, prayer for protection, prayer for crisis regions, prayer for healing, prayer for stability, prayer for global mercy, prayer for leaders, prayer for refugees, prayer for intervention Life Application  Hold one crisis nation before God today and speak Isaiah 58:8, asking Him to let His healing and light rise over that land. Declaration I declare that God's healing light breaks over the nations today. Call to Action Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources. 24-Hour Arc ConnectorPrevious: 12 P.M. — Healing for Seasonal IllnessThis Episode: 6 P.M. — Global Nations PrayerNext: 8 P.M. — Peace for Emotional Overload Support this listener-funded ministry for £3 a month: https://buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooper isaiah 58:8 prayer, prayer for nations, christian prayer for global healingSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

The UN Security Council has condemned an offensive by the M23 group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also renewed the mandate for UN peacekeepers in the country.

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get all of our episodes. Use the holiday discount code XMAS2025 for a $45 annual subscription (offer valid through 1/1/26)!  Jolly Saint Nick is giving the U.S. government lots of coal this year, a boon to fossil fuel companies. In this week's news: Thailand–Cambodia fighting resumes despite Trump's ceasefire claim (1:52); an Israeli airstrike in Gaza threatens what remains of the ceasefire (6:00), and a winter storm devastates Gaza as Israel continues blocking shelter materials and aid (9:10); Yemen's Southern Transitional Council prepares to declare a new government amid Saudi threats (12:08); the U.S. approves the largest-ever arms package to Taiwan (16:10); China reportedly unveils a prototype advanced chipmaking tool (18:18); the Bondi Beach attack in Australia has possible Islamic State links (19:48); a New America Foundation report documents extensive U.S. airstrikes in Somalia (22:01); M23 announces its withdrawal from Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (24:49); Ukraine peace talks continue as the war nears its fourth year, including disputes over Kupiansk (27:59); Chile elects far-right president José Antonio Kast (32:23); the U.S. escalates pressure on Venezuela with military deployments and a partial oil blockade (33:27); and Congress passes a $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act, including a repeal of Syria's Caesar Act and changes to Selective Service registration (41:40). Listen to our special with Annelle Sheline on what's going on in Yemen. Don't forget to listen to our Chinese Prestige miniseries.

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get all of our episodes.Use the holiday discount code XMAS2025 for a $45 annual subscription (offer valid through 1/1/26)! Jolly Saint Nick is giving the U.S. government lots of coal this year, a boon to fossil fuel companies. In this week's news: Thailand–Cambodia fighting resumes despite Trump's ceasefire claim (1:52); an Israeli airstrike in Gaza threatens what remains of the ceasefire (6:00), and a winter storm devastates Gaza as Israel continues blocking shelter materials and aid (9:10); Yemen's Southern Transitional Council prepares to declare a new government amid Saudi threats (12:08); the U.S. approves the largest-ever arms package to Taiwan (16:10); China reportedly unveils a prototype advanced chipmaking tool (18:18); the Bondi Beach attack in Australia has possible Islamic State links (19:48); a New America Foundation report documents extensive U.S. airstrikes in Somalia (22:01); M23 announces its withdrawal from Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (24:49); Ukraine peace talks continue as the war nears its fourth year, including disputes over Kupiansk (27:59); Chile elects far-right president José Antonio Kast (32:23); the U.S. escalates pressure on Venezuela with military deployments and a partial oil blockade (33:27); and Congress passes a $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act, including a repeal of Syria's Caesar Act and changes to Selective Service registration (41:40).Listen to our special with Annelle Sheline on what's going on in Yemen.Don't forget to listen to our Chinese Prestige miniseries.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group says it will retreat from the captured town of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Rebel leader Corneille Nangaa says his fighters will withdraw from Uvira at the request of the US. Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said the capture of Uvira by rebel forces violated the Rwanda-DR Congo peace deal signed in Washington on 4th December. And in Kenya, three siblings born deaf are challenging stereotypes by dominating the race track as they gear up towards winning medals on the global stage.Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine and Daniel Dadzie Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Visit us at Network2020.org. Africa sits at the center of the global energy transition. From cobalt and copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo to major infrastructure initiatives like the Lobito Corridor, the continent's mineral wealth—an estimated 30% of the world's supply—is now indispensable to green-energy supply chains. As global powers compete for influence and investments, African governments, private-sector leaders, and human rights organizations face mounting pressure to ensure this moment leads to long-term development rather than a repeat of extractive history.How are geopolitics impacting critical mineral competition in Africa? What safeguards are necessary to protect communities facing the social and environmental impacts of mineral extraction? And how can investment models, regulatory reforms, and geopolitical positioning converge to turn mineral wealth into inclusive and sustainable development?Join us for a conversation with Mr. Emmanuel Umpula Nkumba, Executive Director of AFREWATCH; and Mr. Christian-Géraud Neema, nonresident scholar in the Carnegie Africa Program and Africa Editor at the China-Global South Project.Music by Yurii Semchyshyn from Pixabay.

Small Cap Breaking News You Can't Miss!Here's a quick rundown of the latest updates from standout small-cap companies making meaningful moves today—covering clean energy, AI, and gold exploration.HPQ Silicon (TSX-V: HPQ)HPQ Silicon reached a major commercialization milestone after securing UN 38.3 certification for its ENDURA+ lithium-ion battery cells. This globally required certification allows HPQ to safely ship its high-performance 18650 and 21700 cells worldwide by air, land, and sea. For investors, this marks HPQ's transition from R&D into commercial readiness, opening the door to customer qualification programs, global partnerships, and near-term revenue opportunities across electric mobility, robotics, and industrial markets.Nextech3D.ai (CSE: NTAR)Nextech3D.ai strengthened its growth engine by appointing veteran sales executive James McGuinness as Global Head of Sales. With decades of experience scaling enterprise SaaS and event-technology platforms, McGuinness has already built out a full sales team. The move signals Nextech3D.ai's shift into a revenue-focused execution phase as demand grows for its unified AI-powered event and spatial computing platform heading into 2026.Newcore Gold (TSX-V: NCAU)Newcore Gold reported additional near-surface gold intersections at its Enchi Gold Project in Ghana, including 3.16 g/t gold over 3 metres and 0.78 g/t gold over 16 metres. Nearly all drill holes in the current program have intersected gold, reinforcing continuity across the Boin Deposit. These results support Newcore's plan to advance Enchi toward a Pre-Feasibility Study in the first half of 2026 while continuing to test higher-grade potential at depth.Onyx Gold (TSX-V: ONYX)Onyx Gold delivered another strong drilling update from its Munro-Croesus Project in Ontario, reporting 194 metres grading 1.8 g/t gold at the Argus North Zone, including multiple higher-grade intervals. The results confirm continuity between drill holes, expand the mineralized footprint to roughly 900 metres of strike, and support a growing discovery in the prolific Timmins gold camp. With a well-funded treasury, Onyx says it is positioned to continue aggressive exploration through 2026.Loncor Gold (TSX: LN)Loncor Gold cleared a major transaction milestone after receiving final court approval for its proposed acquisition by a subsidiary of China's Chengtun Mining Group. While the deal is not yet closed, the court order significantly reduces procedural risk. If completed, the transaction would transition Loncor and its multi-million-ounce Adumbi gold resource in the Democratic Republic of the Congo into the hands of a larger global mining group.Stay ahead of the small-cap story.Follow AGORACOM for more breaking small-cap news, in-depth company coverage, and investor insights—and don't forget to followhttps://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/mB8A9pKJ9Yb

Today I have the privilege and pleasure of speaking with Nicholas Mirzoeff and Priscilla Wathington about the genocide in Gaza, and how developing a new way of seeing and writing is demanded of us to address this historical moment. In the words of Silvia Federici, “Palestine is the World.”  We take Nick's recent book, To See in the Dark, and animate it by having Priscilla read from her poetry. Nick writes: “After a year of genocide, I think politics is now the meeting of the visible and the unspeakable. Unspeakable in that what is visible is so awful as to be beyond ordinary words. Unspeakable in that what is visible is forbidden to be said.What has been sayable about the unspeakable? It has been poets who have found ways to make language do what it should not have to do.”The goal behind this dynamic interplay is to create the grounds for solidarity with Palestine, and with all other oppressed peoples in the world, and with the planet itself.Nicholas Mirzoeff is Professor and chair in the Department of Media, Culture and Communication at New York University. To See In The Dark: Palestine and Visual  Activism  (2025) is being translated into Czech, Italian and Spanish. It is the most recent of more than a dozen books, including How To See The World (2015), translated into eleven languages. Since Occupy Wall Street (2011), his work has been in dialogue with social movements, including Black Lives Matter (The Appearance of Black Lives Matter) and #MeToo. His writing has appeared in the Guardian, The Nation and LARB. He lives in New York.Priscilla Wathington is a Palestinian American poet/editor and the author of the chapbook, Paper and Stick, which draws from her past human rights advocacy work. She is asking you to resist the lie that you are too helpless, or too busy, or too small to change anything. Take your small hand and your small voice and add it to this symphony against the genocide taking place in Gaza; and speak up not only about Gaza but also Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and your own backyard, and everywhere that humanity is at risk.

Episode 203 with Stella Nse Okuzu who is the Director and CEO of the Royal African Society, one of the UK's oldest and most influential Africa focused institutions, dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of Africa and strengthening relationships between Africa and the rest of the world. She also brings extensive experience from her work leading East Africa partnerships at Radio Workshop, where she supported youth led storytelling and media initiatives across the region.In this episode of the Unlocking Africa Podcast, we explore how culture, storytelling, and the creative economy are becoming powerful drivers of Africa's economic growth, global influence, and soft power. Stella shares how the Royal African Society is strengthening its role as a bridge between Africa and international partners through cultural programming, policy engagement, and global dialogue.A central focus of the conversation is Film Africa 2025, London's leading African film festival. Stella explains how Film Africa goes beyond cinema to support Africa's creative economy, amplify African voices, and create new opportunities for collaboration, trade, and investment. We discuss the growing global influence of African cinema and why the Democratic Republic of Congo has been selected as the country spotlight for this year's festival, highlighting underrepresented stories and expanding Africa's cultural footprint.What We Discuss With StellaStella Okuzu's journey from youth led media partnerships in East Africa to leading the Royal African Society as a global bridge between Africa and the world.How Film Africa 2025 is strengthening Africa's creative economy and positioning African cinema as a driver of trade, investment, and soft power.Using cultural programming and storytelling to reshape global perceptions of Africa and unlock new international partnerships.The strategic importance of spotlighting the Democratic Republic of Congo and amplifying underrepresented African voices on the global stage.The future of African cinema, creative industries, and the role of institutions in unlocking Africa's long term economic potential.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Radio and Storytelling Are Empowering African Youth and Driving Change? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Stella:LinkedIn - Stella Nse Okuzu and Royal African SocietyThis episode is sponsored by Radio WorkshopThe Radio Workshop podcast tells real stories about young Africans. Forget the Africa you think you know. From Freetown to Cape Town, hear the world's youngest population, one story at a time.Listen to the Radio Workshop Podcast hereMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don't do it alone. If you'd like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: www.etkgroup.co.ukinfo@etkgroup.co.uk

A global adaptation to a new state of the world driven by the White House's approach to international relations will headline 2026. Efforts to de-escalate the war in Ukraine will persist and gain some traction. In the Middle East, the fragile ceasefire in Gaza will hold as tensions among Israel, Syria, and Iran continue to mount. A U.S.-China trade truce will keep the Indo-Pacific relatively stable economically, as the rival powers continue to vie for influence with diplomatic and security repercussions that extend well beyond the region. Global trade flows are expected to stabilize, supported by improving logistics conditions and more resilient supply-chain networks. At the same time, renewable energy will expand through new installations and a rising share in power generation, reinforced by efficiency gains from AI-driven technologies. Deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the possibility of armed conflict in Venezuela, and youth-driven protest movements will pose destabilization risks to various degrees around the world. Marxist Arrow by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

NATO's chief warns that Russia could attack the alliance in 5 years, Russia's Putin meets with Turkey's Erdoğan and Iran's Pezeshkian, Canada's Liberals are one seat shy of a majority after another Conservative defects to their ranks, Over 400 civilians are killed during fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nobel Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi is arrested in Iran, House Democrats release two more sets of photos from Jeffrey Epstein's estate, Alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson makes his first In-person court appearance, Trump signs an executive order to block state AI regulations, Disney and OpenAI strike a $1 billion deal for AI character videos, and Europol warns of AI-powered crime and 'bot bashing,'. Sources:  Verity.News

Gaza: Aid teams push to step up support as rain and cold take hold UN aid teams have been responding to torrential rains and cold in Gaza by focusing on helping the most vulnerable people in the wartorn enclave. Newborns and people living in areas prone to flooding are most at risk but efforts are underway to boost the number of winter clothing kits for children. Speaking from Al Mawasi in Gaza, Jonathan Cricx from the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, described how overnight downpours had soaked the clothes and mattresses of many living in makeshift tents:  “Those children, they're really suffering not only from the rain, but as well from the cold temperature. It's 6°C or 7°C in the Gaza Strip...What we are doing with UNICEF is we're trying to bring a lot of winter clothes…We also brought shoes. We brought 8,000 tents. We brought 600,000 blankets. But all this is far from being enough because we have more than 1.5 million people here who are in dire need for humanitarian aid.” Residents have been given empty flour sacks to fill with sand to keep rising waters at bay, while it's estimated that more than 760 displacement sites hosting about 850,000 people face the highest risk of flooding. Around 200 families living on the Gaza shoreline in high-risk areas were also being helped on Thursday to relocate to “what remains of Hamad city in eastern Khan Younis”, according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA. Gaza's humanitarian crisis continues, however, as humanitarians report that a key water pipeline is now damaged and out of service. Until last week, Bani Suhaila Mekorot channel supplied around 16,000 cubic metres of drinking water per day to Khan Younis. Fear and uncertainty in DR Congo amid heavy fighting  Renewed heavy fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed scores of civilians and uprooted communities who've fled in fear. UN aid coordinators OCHA has warned of “intense” clashes multiple territories, including Uvira, Walungu, Mwenga and Kalehe.  So far, more than 200,000 people have been displaced across South Kivu; most are sheltering in unsafe and overcrowded sites where the risk of disease is high. With more details, here's Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, speaking in New York on Wednesday: “The humanitarian impact of the crisis is now spilling across borders. Between December 5th and 8th, nearly 25,000 people crossed into Burundi, including Congolese nationals, Burundian returnees and third-country migrants – with additional arrivals also reported in Rwanda.”  The violence has disrupted aid assistance severely and forced the UN World Food Programme to suspend its activities across South Kivu. This has left 25,000 people without lifesaving food assistance, while host families share the last of their own reserves with displaced families, the agency said.  The UN's presence in DR Congo is limited; MONUSCO – the peacekeeping mission - is no longer deployed in South Kivu, while a Human Rights Council inquiry into serious abuses in the country has been left unstaffed because of dire funding shortfalls. Venezuela's national guard linked to serious abuses, rights investigators say To Venezuela, where investigators appointed by the Human Rights Council alleged on Thursday that the country's Bolivarian National Guard carried out a decade of systematic and serious violations, including crimes against humanity. In a new report, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela detailed evidence of what it called “systematic and coordinated repression”. According to the independent investigators, the national guard's actions appear to have been steered by a centralised command structure under President Nicolas Maduro.…

Stories from Thailand, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, and elsewhere This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.foreignexchanges.news/subscribe

China's October decision to add five rare earth elements to its export control list confirmed what policymakers have long feared. China controls 60% of global critical mineral production and over 80% of refining capacity for materials that power everything from electric vehicles to fighter jets. AI data center buildouts have only spiked demand further. Add cobalt to the picture—70% of global reserves sit in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and China owns roughly 70% of that production—and you have a supply chain built for peacetime that could collapse in a crisis. The alloys in today's F-35 engines depend on elements Beijing could cut off tomorrow.Joseph Krause argues the problem runs deeper than mining. Materials companies today are 75 to 150 years old. Some aerospace alloys still in use were developed for the Ford Model T. Meanwhile, China has been publishing the lion's share of advanced alloy research and aggressively recruiting metallurgy professors from American universities. China already fields a hypersonic capability using a niobium-based alloy; the US is scrambling to catch up. Krause's company, Radical AI, is building AI-powered labs to compress what typically takes 10 to 20 years and over $100 million in materials discovery into something dramatically faster and cheaper. The goal is inverse design: start with the exact properties the military needs, then work backward to find materials that don't require Chinese-controlled supply chains.The Trump administration has moved aggressively, taking a $400 million stake in MP Materials, putting $2 billion toward stockpiling strategic metals, and working to streamline permitting that currently takes seven to ten years for a single US mine. FAI's Farrell Gregory notes there's no silver bullet across the 60 minerals on the USGS critical minerals list, which ranges from rare earths at $8 billion in global market value to copper at $250 billion. The administration has shifted from blanket tax credits to case-by-case deals, prioritizing materials where Chinese leverage is highest and American action can make the biggest difference. Krause and Gregory join Evan to discuss the challenges facing the U.S. amid Chinese dominance in rare earth minerals and what policymakers can do to make the U.S. more resilient to supply chain shocks, including public-private partnerships and government funding.

Devil's Advocates: Robert Stryk, Rudy Giuliani, and the Business of Influence: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel discusses how in the power vacuum created by Donald Trump's arrival in Washington, unconventional lobbyists like Robert Stryk rose to prominence by marketing access to the new administration; Stryk, described as an "anti-hero" with a checkered business past, hosted a lavish event at the Hay-Adams Hotel to legitimize the regime of Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, successfully delivering Rudy Giuliani as Trump's personal attorney, signaling a new informal channel for foreign diplomacy and highlighting how foreign regimes utilized large sums of money and unconventional intermediaries to seek favor. 1941

SHOW 12-8-2025 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1895 KHYBER PASS THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE FEDERAL RESERVE  BOARD OF GOVERNORS. FIRST HOUR 9-915 The DC Shooter, the Zero Units, and the Tragedy of the Afghan Withdrawal: Colleagues Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggio discuss recent violence in Washington, D.C. involving an Afghan immigrant that has drawn attention back to the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021; the shooter, Ramanula Lakanal, was a member of the elite "Zero Units" of the Afghan National Army, a force that demanded priority evacuation for their families in exchange for providing security at the Kabul airport during the U.S. retreat, and while these units were stalwart allies against enemies like al-Qaeda and ISIS, they fought a "dirty war" and were accused of human rights violations, highlighting the broader failure of the withdrawal which occurred because political will faded across multiple administrations. 915-930 The Vetting Failure and the Lack of an Exit Strategy in Afghanistan: Colleagues Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggioexplain that the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan was exacerbated by the lack of a methodical exit strategy, unlike the British who organized their departure and evacuation lists well in advance; critics argue that the U.S. imported significant security risks by rushing the evacuation, bringing in over 100,000 Afghans without adequate vetting, and while there was a moral obligation to help those who served, experts suggest that wholesale importation of citizens from a war-torn country was not the only solution and that better vetting or resettlement in third countries should have been considered. 930-945 Martial Law in South Korea and the Shadow of the North: Colleagues Morse Tan and Gordon Chang discuss South Korea facing severe political turmoil following President Yoon's declaration of martial law, a move his supporters argue was a constitutional response to obstructionist anti-state forces; the opposition, led by figures previously sympathetic to North Korea, has been accused of attempting to paralyze the government, while accusations of "insurrection" against President Yoon are dismissed as nonsensical, with the political infighting fracturing the conservative party and leaving South Korea vulnerable to the North Korean regime in a way not seen since the Korean War. 945-1000 Japan Stands Up for Taiwan While Canada Demurs: Colleagues Charles Burton and Gordon Chang report that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi recently declared that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be a "survival threatening situation" for Japan, authorizing the mobilization of self-defense forces; this statement has triggered a massive propaganda campaign from Beijing demanding a retraction, as a successful invasion of Taiwan would likely require violating Japanese sovereignty, while in contrast Canada remains reluctant to support Tokyo or criticize Beijing, hoping to secure trade benefits and diversify exports away from the U.S., leaving Japan isolated by its allies. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 The Survival of UNRWA and the Flow of Terror Finance: Colleagues Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotterreport that despite investigations revealing corruption and ties to terrorism, the UN has renewed the mandate for UNRWA for another three years; the organization's facilities have been used by Hamas and its schools have been implicated in radicalizing children, yet international efforts to replace it have stalled, while Hamas leadership refuses to disarm or accept international oversight, demanding a Palestinian state as a precondition for any change, with financial support for terror groups continuing to flow through networks in Europe and the Middle East. 1015-1030 Greece's "Achilles Shield" and Israel's Iron Beam Laser Defense: Colleagues Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter report that Greece is undertaking a historic modernization of its armed forces, unveiling a new national defense strategy focused on long-range missiles and a modernized air defense system dubbed "Achilles Shield," allowing Greece to project power more flexibly in the Eastern Mediterranean and counter threats from Turkey; in Israel, a major defensive breakthrough is imminent with the deployment of the "Iron Beam," a laser defense system capable of intercepting threats at approximately $50 per shot, expected to rewrite the rules of air defense by effectively countering drone swarms and missiles. 1030-1045 Hezbollah's Quiet Regeneration Under Naim Qassem: Colleagues David Daoud and Bill Roggio report that since the ceasefire began, Hezbollah has received at least $2 billion from Iran and is actively rearming and regenerating its forces in Lebanon; the terror group is focusing on acquiring drone swarms and other asymmetrical weapons that are cheap to produce and difficult for Israel to counter, while Hezbollah's new leader Naim Qassem is leveraging his "bookish" and underestimated persona to lower the temperature and allow the group to rebuild without attracting the same level of scrutiny as his predecessor. 1045-1100 Fragmentation in Yemen: The Southern Transitional Council Advances: Colleagues Bridget Tumi and Bill Roggio report that the civil war in Yemen is fracturing further as the Southern Transitional Council, which advocates for southern secession, advances into eastern governorates to secure territory and combat smuggling; this move has heightened tensions within the anti-Houthi coalition, as the STC is backed by the UAE while other government factions are supported by Saudi Arabia, weakening the collective effort against the Houthis who control the capital Sanaa and maintain ambitions to conquer the entire country. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 The Druze National Guard and Internal Strife in Southern Syria: Colleagues Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio report that instability is growing in Syria's Druze-majority Suwayda province, where a newly formed "National Guard" militia has begun arresting and killing political opponents; the militia is spiritually guided by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who has consolidated power by sidelining other Druze leaders who were open to reconciliation with the Assad regime, with Turkey expressing support for the anti-Assad Druze factions against both the Syrian government and Kurdish forces, while recent violence suggests a hardening of anti-regime sentiment. 1115-1130 The "Variable Geometry" of the Muslim Brotherhood and Its Global Affiliates: Colleagues Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio explain that the Muslim Brotherhood operates as a "mothership" for various Islamist movements, utilizing a strategy of "variable geometry" to adapt to local political environments while aiming for a global caliphate; Hamas functions as the Palestinian branch of the Brotherhood and despite being severely damaged by the war with Israel remains the dominant force in Gaza, with the Brotherhood finding state sponsorship primarily in Qatar, which provides funding and media support via Al Jazeera, and Turkey, where President Erdogan acts as a leader for the organization. 1130-1145 Ukraine Negotiations Hit a Cul-de-Sac Amidst Infiltration Tactics: Colleagues John Hardie and Bill Roggio report that peace talks regarding Ukraine are currently at a standstill, with the U.S. and Ukraine at odds over Russia's demands for territory in the Donbas versus Ukraine's need for meaningful security guarantees; while the U.S. has pressured Ukraine to concede territory, the security assurances offered are viewed skeptically by Kyiv, and Russia refuses to accept any Western military presence in Ukraine, while on the battlefield Russia employs infiltration tactics using small groups, sometimes single soldiers, to penetrate deep into Ukrainian positions. 1145-1200 The Trump Corollary: Reviving the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America: Colleague Ernesto Araújo discusses a new "Trump corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine reshaping U.S. policy in the Americas, signaling a more assertive stance against foreign influence and authoritarian regimes; this shift is evident in Venezuela, where President Maduro appears to be negotiating his exit in the face of U.S. pressure, while in Brazil the administration of Lula da Silva faces significant instability due to a massive banking scandal linking the government to money laundering and organized crime, with the new application of the Monroe Doctrine suggesting the U.S. will favor political figures aligned with its security strategy. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Devil's Advocates: Robert Stryk, Rudy Giuliani, and the Business of Influence: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel discusses how in the power vacuum created by Donald Trump's arrival in Washington, unconventional lobbyists like Robert Stryk rose to prominence by marketing access to the new administration; Stryk, described as an "anti-hero" with a checkered business past, hosted a lavish event at the Hay-Adams Hotel to legitimize the regime of Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, successfully delivering Rudy Giuliani as Trump's personal attorney, signaling a new informal channel for foreign diplomacy and highlighting how foreign regimes utilized large sums of money and unconventional intermediaries to seek favor. 1215-1230 The Accidental Diplomat: Robert Stryk and the New Zealand Connection: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel explains that Robert Stryk's rise in the lobbying world was fueled by serendipity and bold bluffs, exemplified by a chance encounter with a New Zealand diplomat at a cafe; the diplomat revealed that New Zealand, having prepared for a Clinton victory, had no contacts within the incoming Trump team and could not arrange a congratulatory call between their Prime Minister and the President-elect, and Stryk, leveraging a connection to a former Trump campaign field director, provided a phone number that successfully connected the embassy to Trump's team, establishing his credibility and launching his career in high-stakes foreign lobbying. 1230-1245 Hunter Biden, Chinese Spies, and the Monetization of Political Connections: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel reports that following his father's departure from the vice presidency, Hunter Biden faced financial pressure and sought lucrative foreign clients, leading to risky entanglements; one venture involved a corrupt Romanian real estate magnate who hired Hunter along with former FBI Director Louis Freeh and Rudy Giuliani to resolve his legal troubles, with the proposed solution involving selling land including the site of the U.S. Embassy in Romania to a Chinese state-linked fund, and Hunter Biden was aware of the nature of his associates, referring to one as the "spy chief of China." 1245-100 AM FARA: From Fighting Nazi Propaganda to Modern Transparency: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel explains that the Foreign Agents Registration Act was originally enacted in 1938 to counter Nazi propaganda in the United States before World War II; at the time, the Third Reich was paying well-connected American consultants to whitewash Hitler's image and keep the U.S. out of the war, operating without public knowledge, and Congress passed FARA to create transparency, requiring those paid by foreign principals to influence the U.S. government or media to register their activities, with the law remaining today the primary vehicle for accountability in foreign lobbying

Greetings Glocal Citizens! I met this week's guest Patricia Lokwa Servant last November in Accra at a Forge: Harnessing Creative Arts for Reparatory Justice. The convening turned out to be a mini Glocal Citizens summit for us Accra-based peeps lead by Makmid Kamara (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/makmid-kamara) in his new role leading Reform Initiatives (https://reforminitiatives.org), with Esther Armah (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/esther-armah) and Nyamal Tutdeal (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nyamal-tutdeal) participating as facilitators and storytellers Emmanual Etim (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/emmanuel-etim) and Brigitte Perenyi (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/brigitte-perenyi) also took part. The program was designed to strengthen the reparations movement by fostering solidarity among artists, cultural workers, civil society, and government leaders across the African diaspora and I can say that as a group we gained much and continue to make progress amongst ourselves. This is indeed indicative of this conversation with Patricia, a program strategist, storyteller, and cultural organizer born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is the Founder of http://CongoLove.org (http://congolove.org/), Co-Founder of the Andrée Blouin Cultural Center (https://andreeblouin.org) in Kinshasa, and a Development Consultant with Friends of the Congo (https://friendsofthecongo.org). Her work centers African knowledge, community resilience, and youth leadership across the continent and the global diaspora. For more than a decade, she has designed and led multi-country initiatives strengthening institutions, expanding equity, and building pathways for collective empowerment. She has supported regional movements with Africans Rising (https://www.africansrising.org), helped shape global narrative and education ecosystems with Farafina: The Black Link (https://www.farafinatheblacklink.org), and advanced gender-responsive learning programs with the African Women Development Fund (https://awdf.org). Patricia currently serves as Fundraising and Partnerships Lead for SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College (https://www.soshgic.edu.gh) in Ghana, where she strengthens donor systems and cultivates cross-border collaborations with aims of supporting young African students. She is also the former host of the radio show Congo Live (http://www.congolive.org/show/), where she amplified stories of Congolese culture, history, and global engagement. Patricia's work bridges generations and geographies. She remains committed to building systems that honor African memory, uplift community wisdom, and support young people to lead with purpose and dignity. With Pan-Africanism at the heart of her life's work, Patricia is making her mark as an architect of our collective #panafricanprogress mission! Where to find Patricia? CongoLove.org (https://congolove.org/team/patricia-lokwa/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-servant-6204a5128) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/servant_lokwa/?hl=en) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/patricia.lokwa/) What's Patricia listening to? Lucky Dube (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Dube) Other topics of interest: About the Civil War in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1993 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_the_Congo_Civil_War_(1993%E2%80%931994)) About Congolese Activist Kambale Musuvili (https://www.kambale.com) Maurice Carney, Executive Director of Friends of Congo in his own words (https://therealnews.com/author/maurice-carney) On (Pan)-African Feminism (https://www.blackwomenradicals.com/blog-feed/the-power-of-pan-african-feminism-a-conversation-with-jessica-horn) Kongo: Power and Majesty at the MET (https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2015/kongo) and thoughts from curator, Alisa LaGamma (https://nyss.org/a-look-inside-kongo-power-majesty-with-curator-alisa-lagamma/) About Dossier No. 77 (https://mronline.org/2024/06/26/dossier-no-77-the-congolese-fight-for-their-own-wealth/) About Ernest Wamba dia Wamba (https://africasacountry.com/2020/08/ernest-wamba-dia-wamba-a-healer-from-within) USA for Africa + Marcia Thomas (https://usaforafrica.org/about-us/) About Emira Woods (https://ips-dc.org/ips_author/emira-woods/) About Coumba Toure (https://www.linkedin.com/in/coumba-toure-b4a16566/?originalSubdomain=sn) About Hakima Abbas and the Black Feminist Fund (https://blackfeministfund.org/our-village/) About Filmmaker Thalia Mavros (https://www.thaliamavros.com) Special Guest: Patricia Lokwa Servant.

This week, we're honored to welcome Ricardo Kaljouw from the Netherlands, the first Dutchman to conquer all seven volcanic summits. Growing up in a country below sea level, Ricardo developed an early fascination with mountains and exploration that eventually evolved into something deeper—a calling to stand on the crater rims of the world's most powerful volcanoes.Ricardo takes us on a journey through his transformation from Royal Navy serviceman to passionate volcano mountaineer. He describes that pivotal moment standing on the rim of Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo, watching the world's largest lava lake bubble beneath him through the night, and feeling an immediate connection that would shape his future. That initial visit sparked what would become a decade-long mission to climb volcanoes across all seven continents, from the icy slopes of Mount Sidley in Antarctica to the nearly 7,000-meter heights of Ojos del Salado in the Atacama Desert.In this episode, we explore the profound difference between climbing mountains and climbing volcanoes, the unique character of each volcanic summit, and how Ricardo's journey became a testament to taking life one step at a time. Join us for a deep and moving conversation about finding purpose through passion, embracing adventure through small steps, and what it truly means to follow your inner fire—even when it leads you to the most isolated and dangerous places on Earth.

Away in a Manger is one of our favourite carols, but what does it mean for a child not to have a bed of their own? Sadly, this is the reality for too many children in Wales and beyond. In this programme Rosa Hunt looks at three stories where Christian communities are trying to tackle this issue, from child bed poverty to children displaced by bitter conflict. Campbell Edmondson of the Lishon Project in Rhyl talks about addressing the need to supply some children in that area with beds and bedding. Sam Lomas of the Christian charity Home For Good talks about a campaign to get ordinary families to take adolescents and young adults into their homes to provide what they call 'supported lodgings'. Mari McNeill, Head of Christian Aid in Wales, talks about that organisation's Christmas campaign, No Crib for a Bed, drawing attention to the plight of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo where many children have been uprooted from their homes by the bitter violence. Obed Buhendwa, Christian Aid's senior programme officer in the region, reports from Bokavu, a city only 20 km away from the fighting.

US diplomacy under President Donald Trump has a bigger chance of success because it focuses on transactional deals that “translate into improvements of people's lives” instead of “theories about democracy, freedom and human rights”, argues Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Kagame, who has led Rwanda for more than 30 years, tells host Steve Clemons that he's “never seen the level of focus, attention, energy and pressure” that the US president brought to the conflict between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, which led to the signing of a tentative deal between the two sides in Washington on December 4.

In this snow-day edition of Geopolitics with Ghost, Gordon breaks down the fast-moving and deeply tangled situation unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. He walks through the Trump-brokered peace signing with Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi, the ongoing M23 rebel clashes, and why the mineral-rich Kivu region sits at the center of a decades-long geopolitical struggle. Ghost connects the dots on how rare earth metals, tech giants like Apple, Gulf-state investment, and the long shadow of the Israeli diamond cartel all converge in this conflict. From Mossad's covert interference to coup attempts, laundered minerals, and the collapse of legacy monopolies, Ghost exposes how global powers are reshaping Africa's future, and how Trump's strategy is forcing bad actors into the light. He also examines Apple's legal troubles, Al-Shabaab's sudden appearance in the region, and the broader implications for Russia, China, Venezuela, and the emerging sovereign-alliance realignment. A packed episode loaded with evidence, timelines, maps, and hard truths, all pointing to a world in rapid transition.

Indigenous groups are in Montreal to welcome dozens of cultural objects back from the Vatican.Parliamentary Budget officer says Carney government's affordable housing plan insufficient.Ukrainian and American negotiators, meeting in Miami, say that any real prospect of peace depends entirely on Russia. Renewed fighting in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo is forcing hundreds of civilians to flee their homes.A memorial in Montreal to honour victims of 1989 mass shooting of women at the École Polytechnique.

On this podcast, I look at the recently declared over Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the current Marburg virus outbreak in Ethiopia. Watch the video version

The Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, released a new survey this week in an attempt to figure out who, exactly, is a Republican these days. The takeaways? Newer Republican voters are more conspiratorial, more likely to be racist and antisemitic, and more likely to support the use of political violence. And they are pulling the GOP in their direction. This trend worries South Carolina Democratic Representative Jim Clyburn, who has written a new book, “The First Eight,” about the eight Black South Carolina Congressmen who preceded him in office. All of them were Republicans at a very different time for the party. Representative Clyburn became the ninth Black Congressman from the state when he was elected in 1992 – nearly a century after the last of the First Eight served in office. We spoke with Representative Clyburn about why it felt so urgent to write this book now.And in headlines, the Supreme Court allows Texas to use its gerrymandered Congressional map in the midterms, President Donald Trump holds a photo op to misleadingly tout peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and new data reveals the dramatic scale of our affordability crisis.Show Notes:Check out The First Eight – https://tinyurl.com/yc78s4yyCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Eurovision Song Contest has been thrown into turmoil after four nations said they would boycott next year's event. Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia had wanted Israel to be excluded because of the war in Gaza, but a meeting of the European Broadcasting Union said it could take part. Other countries, including Germany, had threatened to walk out if Israel could not participate. Also: A prominent Palestinian militia leader and Hamas opponent has been killed in Gaza. The US military says it conducted another deadly strike on a boat suspected of carrying illegal narcotics as questions mount over the legality of previous attacks. Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign a peace deal in Washington. A British inquiry has found that Vladimir Putin bears "moral responsibility" for the poisoning of a woman in England with the nerve agent Novichok in 2018. And how a volcanic eruption may have helped spread the Black Death in the 1300s.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

The World Cup draw is just a few hours away, but we couldn't leave you without a bit of Biddy Biddy to settle the nerves ahead of a night of chaos.In what is being billed across the world as an MBA relegation play-off, Jim and Pete go head-to-head to determine who really is the worst My Biddy Aunt player in the gang.Marcus is on the buttons for this bout between the Democratic Republic of Jimbabwe and the tax-free paradise of Donaco.Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: show@footballramble.com.Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the BBC World Service: Major airports in India have descended into chaos after the airline IndiGo either canceled or delayed hundreds of flights for the fourth consecutive day. IndiGo says there have been technical issues with aircraft or winter schedules that have delayed some flights, but the biggest reason is a pilot shortage. Also, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a peace deal, and some countries are boycotting Eurovision over Israel's involvement.

From the BBC World Service: Major airports in India have descended into chaos after the airline IndiGo either canceled or delayed hundreds of flights for the fourth consecutive day. IndiGo says there have been technical issues with aircraft or winter schedules that have delayed some flights, but the biggest reason is a pilot shortage. Also, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a peace deal, and some countries are boycotting Eurovision over Israel's involvement.

President Trump announces that the U.S. is brokering a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda—despite skepticism from experts who note that rebel groups weren’t included and conflict remains ongoing. The team also examines concerns over the U.S. benefiting from Congolese minerals while Congolese citizens remain on the American travel ban list. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rickey Smiley Morning Show kicks off with a sharp look at global and political headlines, starting with President Trump’s announcement of a U.S.–brokered peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda—despite skepticism from experts who note that rebel groups weren’t included and conflict remains ongoing. The team also examines concerns over the U.S. benefiting from Congolese minerals while Congolese citizens remain on the American travel ban list. Meanwhile, in a story that stunned listeners, the crew discusses the tragic shooting death of Chicago mother Remika Meeks-Blackmon, with new details showing the alleged shooter was romantically tied to the same man—who shockingly fist-bumped her afterward. In entertainment, Tamar Braxton’s career is thriving as she signs on to star alongside Taye Diggs in the upcoming Tubi thriller Stepfather. The show also digs into resurfaced accusations against Brian McKnight after his son revealed emotional details about being denied an “I love you” during his battle with cancer. And in lighter but still jaw-dropping news, the crew reacts to NFL quarterback Jameis Winston revealing his family had been burning through $400,000 a month, prompting him to clamp down on spending. Website: https://www.urban1podcasts.com/rickey-smiley-morning-show See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

-President Trump announces a new peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ending decades of conflict and violence. -Newsmax's Greg Kelly and FBI Director Kash Patel react to the suspect arrested in the 2021 Washington, D.C. pipe bomb case. -Rudy Giuliani reflects on the events of the January 6th attempted pipe bombing. -Rob Schmitt and Sen. Roger Marshall reveal how a federal watchdog found how fraudsters are able to scam Obamacare payments. -“The Right Squad" panel discusses the differing reactions of Republican and Democratic senators concerning strikes against suspected narco-terrorist boats. Today's podcast is sponsored by : WEBROOT : Live a better digital life with Webroot Total Protection. Newsmax Daily listeners get 75% off at http://webroot.com/Newsmax  Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at ⁠http://Newsmax.com/Listen⁠ Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at ⁠http://NewsmaxPlus.com⁠ Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : ⁠http://nws.mx/shop⁠ Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: ⁠http://nws.mx/FB⁠  -X/Twitter: ⁠http://nws.mx/twitter⁠ -Instagram: ⁠http://nws.mx/IG⁠ -YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV⁠ -Rumble: ⁠https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV⁠ -TRUTH Social: ⁠https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX⁠ -GETTR: ⁠https://gettr.com/user/newsmax⁠ -Threads: ⁠http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX⁠  -Telegram: ⁠http://t.me/newsmax⁠  -BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com⁠ -Parler: ⁠http://app.parler.com/newsmax⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Badlands Media presents full special-event coverage as President Trump hosts the historic signing of the Washington Accords between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, a landmark peace agreement ending more than 30 years of violent conflict that claimed over 10 million lives. Speaking from the newly inaugurated U.S. Institute of Peace building, Trump highlights the courage of both nations' leaders, the role of American diplomacy, and the broad regional support behind the accord. The ceremony features statements from Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi, as well as leaders from Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Qatar, the UAE, and the African Union, each underscoring the significance of the agreement for stability, economic integration, and global development. Trump also announces bilateral U.S. agreements expanding critical-minerals partnerships and major American investment in Africa's resource and energy sectors. This special coverage captures the full event, from opening remarks to the signing moment, documenting a rare diplomatic breakthrough with global implications.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss today's FIFA event at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, where President Donald Trump received the first ever FIFA Peace Prize. Also, Trump has renamed the U.S. Peace Institute after himself, and used it as the venue for yesterday's signing of a peace accord between The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Then, RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann joins Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon to discuss the arrest of the alleged Jan. 6, 2021 pipe-bombing suspect, and what the arrest means for FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino. Also a look at new economic numbers on inflation released this morning, and their implications for next week's Federal Reserve vote on interest rates, scheduled for December 10th. Then finally, they discuss yesterday's Supreme Court's decision on redistricting in Texas. The Court blocked a lower court decision that found the new boundaries were likely unconstitutional because they were drawn based on race, allowing Texas to adopt the congressional map designed by the GOP in the upcoming 2026 midterms. Also, "You Cannot Be Serious" stories for the week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Israel and Lebanon hold their first direct talks in decades, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign a Trump-backed peace deal at the White House, Putin vows to seize Ukraine's Donbas by force, The FBI arrests a suspect in the Jan. 6 pipe bomb case, A 13-year-old reportedly carries out a Taliban-sanctioned execution in Afghanistan, An Oklahoma University instructor is placed on leave following a religious bias complaint, Former U.S. special counsel Jack Smith is subpoenaed for a closed-door interview, Memory chipmaker Micron exits its consumer business, A study theorizes that volcanic eruptions may have led to Europe's Black Death plague, and Neuralink patients demonstrate the ability to control robotic arms with their thoughts. Sources: Verity.News  

A 30 year-old man from Woodbridge, Virginia is arrested and charged in the FBI's investigation of pipe bombs placed outside the Republican and Democratic party headquarters on the eve of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol; A Navy admiral tells lawmakers Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not issue a "kill them all" order against a suspected drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela in September, but Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), Intelligence Committee ranking member, says the video he saw of a second strike against survivors is "deeply, deeply troubling"; President Donald Trump hosts a peace signing ceremony in Washington with the presidents of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he also promotes mineral exploration in those countries; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says Democrats will put up for a vote next week a clean 3 year extension of expiring Obamacare health insurance enhanced premium subsidies; bipartisan group of House Members release their own health care reform plan; Senate votes to overturn the Biden Administration's limits on oil & gas drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; Muhammad Ali's widow, Lonnie Ali, testifies at a Congressional hearing on reforming the sport of boxing; President Trump & First Lady Melania Trump attend the National Christmas Tree Lighting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's program: Casey Harper, Managing Editor for Broadcast at The Washington Stand and Host of the "Outstanding" podcast, reports on President Trump's meeting today with leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an Obama

President Donald Trump will bring leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda together in Washington on Thursday to sign new deals aimed at stabilizing a war-scarred region and attracting Western mining investment. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi are expected to pledge their commitment to an economic integration compact already agreed to last month, as well as a U.S.-brokered peace deal reached in June but still not implemented.Lawmakers on Capitol Hill will receive a classified briefing today from Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the Navy commander who reportedly ordered a follow-up strike that killed survivors of an attack on an alleged drug-smuggling boat near Venezuela. Admiral Bradley now leads U.S. Special Operations Command. He will brief top House and Senate lawmakers as pressure builds on Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Stories from Israel-Palestine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, and elsewhere This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.foreignexchanges.news/subscribe

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was convicted last year in a New York courtroom of flooding the US with tons of cocaine. This week, US President Donald Trump has pardoned him and he's walked out of prison a free man. Also, taking lessons from Shenzhen, China, a megacity that has largely sidestepped the air pollution, overcrowding and failing infrastructure that often accompany rapid expansion. And, leaders of Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are slated to travel to Washington this week to sign a peace deal overseen by Trump. Plus, a photographer-couple documents people around the world who have been forced to leave their homes because of climate change. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

President Donald Trump has vowed to attack drug trafficking across Latin America. But in promising to pardon a convicted trafficker from Honduras, he has swayed politics and unsettled policy. Also: today's stories, including how a fragile deal Washington brokered between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the rebel M23 group shows how economics might lead toward peace; how Boston is building apartments on top of libraries in an experiment with affordable housing; and how one science educator in Pakistan is getting marginalized children excited about learning. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

Africa is home to the largest number of refugees in the world with 50 million people displaced from their homes in countries, including Burundi, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some 60,000 of these refugees have been posited into the UN-funded Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi in east Africa, a place designed only for about 10,000. Join host Michael Woolworth and his colleagues - Jennifer Macharia, Nick Catley and Jason Lauthers - who visited the Dzaleka Refugee Camp and saw firsthand the challenges and hardships people face there. They also saw God at work through Bible League and amazing fellow Christians to bring the hope of the Gospel to that part of the world. Subscribe and invite others to listen with you. Length: 32:29.

In this week's episode, both storytellers must navigate heartbreaking dilemmas as they try to figure out how to convey crushing news.Part 1: While doing fieldwork in the Congo, Stella Mayerhoff must track down a local researcher to deliver devastating news. Part 2: During his second year of residency, Sam Blackman is tasked with caring for a dying child whose mother's unwavering faith clashes with his scientific approach. Stella Mayerhoff is a primatologist turned science communicator. As a scientist, Stella traveled the world—from Puerto Rico to the Democratic Republic of Congo—studying various primate species. She now draws inspiration from her time in the field, writing to share the sense of adventure and real-world impact that science offers. Stella has written for Georgia State's College of Arts & Sciences, Georgia State University Research Magazine, and Science ATL, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Science Communication at UC Santa Cruz. When she's not chasing a story, Stella enjoys spending her time with her cat, TBD, who owes his perfectly odd name to a moment of writer's block. Sam Blackman is a physician-scientist and pediatric oncologist. He's was founder and former head of research and development at Day One Biopharmaceuticals, a company focused on drug development for childhood cancers. He's currently an entrepreneur-in-residence at Google Ventures. Sam is an avid storyteller, baker of bread, and recently climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Sam lives on Orcas Island with his wife, having successfully launched their first and only child off to college.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Londinium 91 AD: Corruption and the Imperial Slip. Gaius and Germanicus shift attention to Washington, observing that wealth has grown more powerful than government in the U.S., similar to Rome's path into empire. Evidence includes Washington insiders like Rudy Giuliani and Hunter Biden allegedly operating on payrolls of corrupt foreign interests such as the Democratic Republic of Congo. Republicans typically avoid registering foreign work under the Foreign Agents Registration Act by using cutouts or undocumented money, while Democrats use think tanks during interregnums, making the process so transparent it suggests everybody's in on the game. Insiders are even willing to work for adversaries like sanctioned Russian arms makers or the Taliban under the justification of private diplomacy. Germanicusanalyzes this decline through three vantages: the Gilded Age, where corporations owned government but lacked today's foreign entanglement; foreign penetration, where adversaries and allies like Israel, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have enormous leverage; and irreconcilable ideological conflict, where corruption fuels severe ideological struggle tearing away the rule of law. They conclude that the transition into an emperor system is subtle and happens without notice, weakening the system when corruption damages trust. SULLA