Podcasts about Eastern Province

In Episode 51, Dr. Hanaa, fresh off of her recent trip to Japan with her family, discusses her visit there and the hosts share observations of that amazing country. Lucien recaps his recent experience and outcomes from Riyadh's Human Capability Initiative 2025. After the hosts catch up, Dr. Hanaa leads a DEEPDIVE on the Eastern Province and a recent podcast interview in Arabic in which the topic of growth and investment into the "EP" (as Lucien calls it) is addressed. There are misconceptions about the Eastern Provinces' progress and development, especially in relation to other areas of the Kingdom.  The hosts conclude as always with NEWS from the Kingdom, including reacting to Riyadh Air's Boeing 787 cabin designs, F1, Saudi Arabia's growing tourism workforce, The 11th Saudi Film Festival, and much more. 

I interview one of my fellow missionaries, Fr. John Marie Devaney OP of the Eastern Province. John is also a fellow podcaster and has his own show on Sirius XM. You'll have to listen to the podcast to get the details.

Mpho and Tim review this weeks CSA 4 Day Series games that all ended in draws but they go deep into the relegation scenarios for the Warriors and the Knights who need wins, results and investigations to go their way to stay up in Division 1. They also discuss the CSA Women's Division 2 One Day Cup matches happening this week with North West Dragons, Eastern Province and Easterns looking for promotion to the Hollwywoodets Pro series.Follow us @FullQuotaPod on X and Subscribe to the Full Quota Podcast Youtube Channel. Full Quota Podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can buy us coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/fullquotapod

Gas output dropped 20% y-o-y to 4.3 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) in January, marking its lowest monthly level since December 2016.Dana Gas, one of the key producers in the Nile Delta, plans to launch a USD100 million project to develop production after receiving the rest of its outstanding dues. The European Union has agreed to fast-track the approval and disbursement of the second phase of the its macro-financial assistance and budget support program, worth EUR4 billion.The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) has launched the first phase of a new digital services platform for investors.The House gave the initial thumbs up to the entirety of the re-drafted Labor Act, with the bill's final approval by the legislative body penciled in for an upcoming session. The Customs Authority is preparing to launch a pilot operation of a new system for inspecting goods based on AI to combat customs evasion at ports, by creating a unified database for the prices of imported goods at all Egyptian ports.Tarek Sultan, Vice Chairman of Agility, a company specializing in supply chain services, infrastructure, and innovation, said his company intends to invest USD60 million to establish modern customs and logistics facilities in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.The German Development Bank (KfW Bank) intends to provide financing worth EUR52 million to the Ministry of Electricity to finance clean energy transition projects, sources at the German Embassy said.ORAS (FV: EGP425.00, OW) announced that its 50-50 joint venture with Técnicas Reunidas has signed an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract to build the Qurayyah IPP Expansion Project, a large-scale 3 GW combined cycle gas-fired power plant in the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia. The value of projects undertaken by Egyptian contractors in Iraq jumped to USD12 billion, according to the Chairman of the Egyptian Federation for Construction and Building Contractors. CLHO (FV: EGP9.00, OW) issued 4Q24 results. 4Q24 attributable net profit amounted to EGP191 million, down 8% QoQ but up 78% YoY. FY24 attributable net profit came in at EGP723 million (+73% YoY). CLHO is currently trading at FY25 multiples of P/E 15.2x and EV/EBITDA of 7.4x.ADIB AGM approved increasing issued and paid-in capital from EGP6 billion to EGP12 billion, an increase of EGP6 billion through distributing 1:1 bonus shares.DSCW reported 4Q24 bottom line of EGP80 million (-53.2% YoY, -75.0% QoQ). This brought FY24 bottom-line to EGP901 million (+101.1% YoY).DSCW BoD approved the establishment of Dice for Ready Made Garments in Morocco for the trade and distribution of ready-made clothing. Also, it proposed shares distribution for FY24 at a rate of half a share for each original share.Weekly Commodities Update

The TWENTY30 kicks off 2025 with Episode 40 (!) after a short break over the holiday season with Lucien now in Riyadh joining from King Saud University and Dr. Hanaa having completed several weeks in Saudi Arabia over the break. The hosts catch up on Lucien's move with family and discuss the weather and the exciting guests coming up on the show in the coming weeks. Lucien leads a DEEPDIVE on Saudi Arabia's new "livestock city" planned for the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia and the hosts discuss the strategic investment as important for the Kingdom's food sustainability and security needs. Then the hosts jump into the news, including a discussion of a wild waterspout caught on camera off the Kingdom's Red Sea coast, some surprising results for the Kingdom's FDI drive, major reforms for the Kingdom's stock market and CMA, and a huge pay increase for Saudi Arabia's private sector employees. 

Here's the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Yamba, a West Bamileke language spoken in southern Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. Tugen, a Kalenjin language spoken mainly in Baringo County in western Kenya. Rendille (Afi Renꞌdille), a Lowland East Cushitic language spoken in the north of the Eastern Province of Kenya. New […]

Episode 35! Co-hosts Lucien and Hanaa kick off the episode discussing the recent addition to Lucien's family, and catch-up on Hanaa's recent travels to Saudi Arabia to speak at a CSR Forum in Riyadh, as well as visit her hometown and family in the Eastern Province.  Then, joining the hosts on the MAINSTAGE is Faris Al-Sulayman, co-founder at Haala Energy, a leading Saudi solar energy company that installs solar power projects for commercial, industrial, and agricultural clients. Faris joins The TWENTY30 for an exclusive conversation about the growth of Halaa, the challenges and opportunities in solar power in the Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia's broader green goals with the Saudi Green Initiative. They also discuss his journey as a first-mover in the solar space in Saudi Arabia, Halaa's incubation at KAUST just north of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and how the business plans to grow as solar becomes a viable option for commercial and residential clients in the coming decade. A graduate of Georgetown University with a Masters from the London School of Economics, Faris is active with Halaa while pursuing a PhD from LSE in London. After the discussion, the hosts catch up on some of the latest news in Saudi Arabia, and conclude with a unusual SHOUTOUT to cap Episode 35. 

Religious orders wear a wide variety of habits, from brown robes reminiscent of Jedi attire to white robes with black capes similar to Gandalf's. With so many distinct styles, it's hard for anyone to keep track of them all. Beyond their attire, religious communities are diverse, unique, and an enriching part of the Church—though they may seem a bit unusual at first. Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, a Dominican of the Eastern Province in the United States, shares insights into the vows, rituals, and histories of these orders, highlighting their profound and beautiful impact on the Church. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Last time we spoke about the Guangzhou, Gansu and Red Spear Uprisings. During China's Warlord Era, the CCP faced many challenges as they sought to implement land revolutions and armed uprisings. Following the Nanchang and Autumn Harvest uprisings, the CCP held an emergency meeting criticizing Chen Duxiu for his appeasement of the KMT right wing. With strong encouragement from Soviet advisors, the CCP planned a major uprising to seize control of Guangdong province. In November 1927, the CCP saw an opportunity as petty warlords in Guangdong and Guangxi engaged in conflict. Zhang Fakui's troops, vulnerable and demoralized, were targeted by the CCP. Mobilizing workers and peasants, the CCP initiated the Guangzhou Uprising. The uprising was ultimately suppressed by superior NRA troops, resulting in heavy CCP casualties and brutal reprisals. The failed uprisings, though unable to achieve immediate goals, ignited a persistent revolutionary spirit within the CCP, marking the beginning of a prolonged civil conflict that would shape China's future.   #121 The Sino-Soviet Conflict of 1929 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. All the way back in 1919, the brand new Soviet government's assistance Commissar of foreign affairs, Lev Karakhan, issued a manifesto to the Beiyang government, promising the return of the Chinese Eastern Railway at zero financial cost. That statement was made in late July and alongside the railway, he also mentioned relinquishing a lot of rights the former Russian Empire had acquired from unequal treaties, such as the Boxer Protocol. This all became known as the Karakhan Manifesto, and it was formed in a time when the Soviets were fighting the Russian Civil War, advancing east into Siberia. In order to secure the war in Siberia the Soviets had to establish good relations with the Chinese. Yet six months after the july manifesto, Karakhan personally handed over a second version of said manifesto, one that did not influence the rather nice deal of handing over the Chinese eastern railway for free. The Soviets official statement was that they had accidentally promised the deal prior. The truth of the matter was some real politik work at play. The Soviets had been trying to secure a Sino-Soviet alliance against the Japanese, but it looked to them it would never come to be so they simply took the deal off the table.  Henceforth the issue cause a lot of friction. In March of 1920 the Fengtian forces disarmed White Russian Troops along the railway and seized control over its operations. In February of 1922 China and the USSR signed a agreement stipulating the Beiyang government would set up a special agency to manage the railway. Then in November the Chinese announced an area within 11 km along the railway would be designated a Eastern Province special district. In December the Soviet Union officially formed and by May the two nations agreed to settle a list of issues. The Soviets agreed to abolish all the unequal treaties formed by the Russian Empire handing over all the leased territories, consular jurisdiction, extraterritoriality, Boxer payments and such, but the Chinese Eastern Railway would be jointly managed by China and the USSR. Now since the railway sat in the area that Zhang Zuolin came to control, in September of 1924 the Soviets signed an agreement with the Fengtian clique. In this agreement, the Soviets lessened the 80 year lease over the railway to 60 years. The Soviets also promised to hand full control to Chinese administrators, but had a trick up their sleeve. The Soviets let the Chinese think they were adding workers and officials loyal to them, in reality the Soviets were creating more jobs on the railway while hiring Soviet workers. In the end the Soviets controlled roughly 67% of the key positions. When Zhang Zuolin went to war with Feng Yuxiang's Guominjun this changed things considerably. In December of 1925, Zhang Zuolin's army owed the Chinese eastern railway some 14 million rubles, prompting the Soviet administrator over the railway, Ivanov to prohibit Zhang Zuolin's army from using it. Fengtian commander Zhang Huanxiang simply arrested Ivanov disregarding his ban. The Soviets then sent an ultimatum to the Beiyang government demanding his release. So Zhang Zuolin ran to the Japanese to mediate. Things smoothed over until 1928 when the Huanggutun incident saw Zhang Zuolin assassinated. As we saw at the end of the northern expedition, his son Zhang Xueliang responded by raising the KMT flag on December 29th of 1928, joining Chiang Kai-Shek. The next day Zhang Xueliang was made commander in chief of the Northeast.  Now Chiang Kai-Shek's government had broken diplomatic relations with the USSR after the Shanghai massacre purge. Thus Zhang Xueliang felt the old treaties signed by his father with the Soviets were null and void and looked upon the Chinese Eastern Railway enviously. To give some context outside of China. At this point in time, the USSR was implementing rural collectivization, ie; the confiscation of land and foodstuffs. This led to wide scale conflict with peasants, famines broke out, I would say the most well known one being the Holodmor in Ukraine. Hundreds of millions of people starved to death. The USSR was also still not being recognized by many western powers. Thus from the perspective of Zhang Xueliang, it looked like the USSR were fraught with internal and external difficulties, they had pretty much no friends, so taking the railway would probably be a walk in the park.  Zhang Xueliang began diplomatically, but negotiations were going nowhere, so he got tougher. He ordered his officials to take back control over the Chinese Eastern Railway zone police, municipal administration, taxation, land, everything. He instructed Zhang Jinghui, the governor of Harbin's special administrative zone to dispatch military police to search the Soviet embassy in Harbin and arrest the consul general. Zhang Jinghui did so and closed the Soviet consulates in Harbin, Qiqihar and Hailar. All of this of course pissed off the Soviets who responded by protesting the new Nanjing government, demanding the release of their people, while increasing troops to the border of Manchuria. The Soviets announced they were willing to reduce their control over the railway as a concession. This entire situation became known as the May 27th incident and unleashed a tit for tat situation. On July 13th, the Soviets sent an ultimatum giving three days for a response "If a satisfactory answer is not obtained, the Soviet government will be forced to resort to other means to defend all the rights of the Soviet Union." On the 17th the Soviets recalled their officials, cut off the railway traffic between China and the USSR, ejected Chinese envoys from the USSR and cut off diplomatic relations with China. In the background Joseph Stalin was initially hesitating to perform any military actions, not wanting to antagonize the Japanese in Manchuria. However the Soviet consul in Tokyo, sent back word that Japan was completely willing to stay out of any conflict if the Soviets limited it to just northern Manchuria. Thus Stalin decided to act. On August 6th, Stalin formed the Special Red Banner Far Eastern Army under the command of General Vasily Blyukher. It was composed of three infantry divisions; the 1st Pacific Infantry Division, the 2nd Amur Infantry Division, and the 35th Trans-Baikal Infantry Division), one cavalry brigade (the 5th Kuban Cavalry Brigade), and the addition of the Buryat Mongolian Independent Cavalry Battalion. The total force was said to be as many as 30,000 with their headquarters located in Khabarovsk. Blyukher also had the support of the Far Eastern Fleet, roughly 14 shallow water heavy gunboats, a minesweeper detachment, an aviation detachment with 14 aircraft, and a marine battalion commanded by Yakov Ozolin. Blyukher had served during the civil war and was a military advisor in China attached to Chiang Kai-SHek's HQ. He had a large hand to play in the northern expedition, and was one of the select Soviets Chiang Kai-Shek intentionally made sure got home safe during the purge. Blyukher would exercises a unusual amount of autonomy with his far east command, based out of Khabarovsk. For the upcoming operation a 5th of the entire Red Army was mobilized to assist. On the other side Zhang Xueliang mobilized as many troops as he could, including many White Russians hiding out in Manchuria. His total strength on paper was 270,000, but only 100,000 would be actively facing the Soviets as the rest were needed to maintain public order and to defend southern Manchuria. The person in charge of the Eastern Line of the Chinese Eastern Railway was the brigade commander of the Jilin Army, Ding Chao, and the western line was the brigade commander of the Heilongjiang Army, Liang Zhongjia, and the chief of staff was Zhang Wenqing. Wang Shuchang led the First Army to guard the eastern line, and Hu Yukun led the Second Army to guard the western line. The Soviet army also had a quality advantage in equipment. In terms of artillery, the Soviet army had about 200 artillery pieces, including more than a dozen heavy artillery pieces, while the Chinese army had only 135 infantry artillery pieces and no heavy artillery. At the same time, the Soviet army also had a quality advantage in machine guns because it was equipped with 294 heavy machine guns and 268 highly mobile light machine guns. The Chinese army was equipped with only 99 heavy machine guns. In terms of air force, the Chinese army had 5 aircraft that were combat effective. On July 26th the Soviets bombarded Manzhouli from three directions along the western end of the Chinese Eastern Railway. Two days later a Soviet infantry regiment, 3 armored vehicles and 4 artillery pieces advanced to Shibali station, cutting the lines to Manzhouli. They then ordered the Chinese military and police to withdraw as they captured Manzhouli. Then on the 29th the began bombarding Dangbi. On August 8th, 100 Soviet troops carrying two artillery pieces and 3 machine guns engaged Chinese forces outside the south gate of Oupu County street, casualties were heavy for both sides. 5 Soviet aircraft circled over Suifenhe City firing 200 rounds and dropping bombs over the Dongshan Army defense post and Sandaodongzi. The next day 40 Soviet soldiers established two checkpoints at Guzhan blocking traffic and they even began kidnapping civilians. That same day 300 Soviet soldiers and two gunboats occupied the Hujiazhao factory. On the 12th, Sanjianfang, Zhongxing and Lijia's Oil Mill were occupied by over 2000 Soviet troops. Meanwhile 80 Soviets amphibiously assaulted Liuhetun using 8 small boats, killing its defenders before returning to the other side. The next day two Soviet gunboats, 300 marines and 2 aircraft attacked Suidong county in Heilongjiang province while another force attacked Oupu county with artillery. On the morning of the 14th both counties fell. In response the Nanjing government dispatched Liu Guang, the chief of the military department to inspect the Northeast front. On the 15th Zhang Xueliang issued mobilization orders against the USSR, seeing his standing front line forces bolstered to 100,000. On the 15th the foreign minister of the Nanjing government, Wang Zhengting reported to Chiang Kai-Shek negotiations were going nowhere, the Soviets were adamant about getting their rights returned over the Chinese Eastern Railways. The next day, Wang Zhenting told reporters that if the Soviets attacked anymore China would declare war. The next day Zhang Xueliang was interviewed by the Chicago Daily News and had this to say. "The Soviet Union disregarded international trust, trampled on the non-war pact, and rashly sent troops to invade our country. We respect the non-war pact and have repeatedly made concessions to show our responsibility for provoking the provocation. If the Russian side continues to advance, we will be willing to be the leader of the war, so we have prepared everything and will do our best to fight to the death."  On the 16th two Soviet infantry companies and one cavalry company attacked Zhalannur from Abagaitu along the border. The two sides fought for 2 hours until the Soviets stormed the Zhalannur station. After another 5 hours of combat the Soviets pulled back over the border. By this point enough was enough. China declared war on August 17th escalating what was an incident around the Chinese Eastern Railway zone into a full blown war.  Blyukher had developed a plan for an offensive consisting of two rapid operations. The first would be against the Chinese naval forces and the second against the ground forces via a large encirclement. After the war was declared on the 17th, the Soviet Army advanced into Manchuria from the western end of the Chinese Eastern Railway. The Red Banner Special Far Eastern Army initially dispatched a total of 6,091 infantrymen and 1,599 artillerymen in front of Manchuria, equipped with 88 artillery pieces of 76.2 mm or above, excluding artillery belonging to infantry regiments, 32 combat aircraft, 3 armored trains, and 9 T-18 light tanks . The army units included: the 35th and 36th Infantry Divisions of the 18th Infantry Army; the 5th Cavalry Brigade; the Buryat Mongolian Cavalry Battalion; an independent tank company equipped with T-18 tanks, the 6th Aviation Detachment, the 25th Aviation Detachment, the 26th Bomber Squadron, the 18th Army Artillery Battalion, the 18th Engineering Battalion, and a Railway Battalion.  The first battle broke out around Manzhouli. Liang Zhongjia, the brigade commander stationed in Manzhouli, reported this to his superiors of the engagement “of the battle situation, the 38th and 43rd regiments under my command fought with a regiment of Soviet infantry and cavalry for 4 hours in the afternoon and are still in a standoff. The Soviet army has more than one division of troops near Abagaitu”. At 10:30 p.m. on the 18th, the Soviets began to attack the positions of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 43rd Regiment of the Northeastern Army in Zhalannur. At 1 p.m. on August 19, the Soviets added about 600 to 700 troops opposite the positions of the 43rd Regiment of Zhalannur. At 5 a.m the Soviets dispatched five aircraft from Abagaitu to Shibali Station. On the 19th, the Soviets captured Suibin County with ease. At 6 a.m. on the 20th, the Soviets used armored trains to transport more than 200 troops to attack the 10th Cavalry Regiment of Liang Zhongjia's troops. After fighting for about an hour, the Soviets retreated. On the 23rd a battle broke out in Mishan and on the 25th 400 Soviet cavalry began building fortifications roughly a kilometer near the Chinese 43rd regiment at Zhalannur. Zhang Xueliang spoke again to the Chinese and foreign press on the 25th stating this. "Foreigners have many misunderstandings about the Eastern Province's actions this time, thinking that it is to take back the Eastern Route and violate the treaty. In fact, we have no intention of violating the 1924 Sino-Russian Agreement or the Agreement with Russia, because China has signed it and has no intention of violating it. China has no intention of taking back the route at all. What it wants is to remove the Russian personnel who are involved in the communist movement. Moreover, in this matter, the Eastern Route is a very small issue. The real point is that the Russians use China as a base for communism, and we have to take measures in self-defense." Between the 28th to the 30th an intense battle broke out at Wangqing.  On the 31st, Soviet gunboats bombarded three garrisons around  Heihe. On September 4th, the Soviet army bombarded the right wing of the 43rd and 38th Regiments stationed in Lannur. At 4 pm on the 9th, a single regiment of the Soviet army, under the cover of artillery, launched a fierce attack on the Chinese army at Manzhouli Station from the Shibali Station, but by 8:30 pm, they pulled back. At 4 pm, 8 Soviet aircraft bombed Suifenhe Station, causing over 50 Chinese casualties and injured a regimental commander. On the night of the 16th, more than 100 Soviet troops attacked the Kukdoboka checkpoint in Lubin County and burned down the checkpoint. On the 18th, the Soviet government announced to the ambassadors of various countries that they had always advocated for a peaceful solution to the issue of the Chinese Eastern Railway, while China's attitude was hypocritical and insincere. It was believed that future negotiations were hopeless, and all previous negotiations mediated by Germany were terminated. From now on, they stated quote “the Soviet Union would not bear any responsibility for any ominous incidents caused on the Sino-Russian border”. With negotiations completely broken down, Blyukher was given the greenlight to launch a fatal blow.  On October 2, more than a thousand Soviet infantryman, supported by aircraft and artillery stormed the positions of the 3rd Battalion of the 38th Regiment in Manzhouli. The two sides fought until the morning of the 3rd. On the 4th Zhang Xueiliang drafted the “national volunteer army organization regulations letter” trying to embolden the population stating "when the foreigners invade the border, the first thing to do is to resist. All citizens or groups who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the country on the battlefield will be volunteers or volunteer soldiers." The new regulations stipulated that volunteers of this new group would be named as the National Volunteer Army. On October the 10th, 30,000 Soviet forces on the Baikal side advanced through the northeastern border of China. At this time, the brigade responsible for defending Liang Zhongjia had been fighting with the Soviet troops for dozens of days. There was no backup and they were in urgent need of help. According to Chinese observations, the Soviets deployed nearly 80,000 troops by land, sea and air on the Sino-Soviet border. Along the eastern front, the Soviets capture in succession Sanjiangkou, Tongjiang and Fujin. Meanwhile at 5am on the 12th the Far Eastern Fleet commanded engaged in a firefight with the Songhua River Defense Fleet, near Sanjiangkou. According to Chinese reconnaissance, the Soviet warships participating in the battle included: the flagship "Sverdlov" a shallow-water heavy gunboat led by Sgassk, the shallow-water heavy gunboat "Sun Yat-sen", the shallow-water heavy gunboat "Red East", the shallow-water heavy gunboat "Lenin", the inland gunboat "Red Flag", and the inland gunboat "Proletariat", with a total of 4 152mm cannons, 26 120mm cannons, 6 85mm anti-aircraft guns, 8 37mm anti-aircraft guns, and more than ten aircraft for support. The Chinese forces were led by Yin Zuogan who commanded six shallow-water gunboats, including the "Lijie" (flagship), "Lisui", "Jiangping", "Jiang'an", and "Jiangtai", and the "Dongyi" armed barge as a towed artillery platform. Except for the "Jiangheng" of 550 tons and the "Liji" of 360 tons, the rest were all below 200 tons, and the entire fleet had 5 120mm guns. In the ensuing battle the Jiangping, Jiang'an, Jiangtai, Lijie, and Dongyi, were sunk, and the Lisui ship was seriously injured and forced to flee back to Fujin.The Chinese side claimed that they damaged two Soviet ships, sunk one, and shot down two fighter planes; but according to Soviet records, five Soviet soldiers were killed and 24 were injured.  At the same time as the naval battle around Sanjiangkou, two Soviet gunboats covered four armed ships, the Labor, Karl Marx, Mark Varyakin, and Pavel Zhuravlev, carrying a battalion of more than 400 people from the 2nd Infantry Division Volochaev Regiment, landing about 5 kilometers east of Tongjiang County and attacking the Chinese military station there. The Northeast Marine Battalion guarding the area and the Meng Zhaolin Battalion of the 9th Army Brigade jointly resisted and repelled the Soviet's initial attack. The Chinese suffered heavy losses, with more than 500 officers and soldiers killed and wounded, and more than 70 people including the Marine Battalion Captain Li Runqing captured.  On the 14th, the Chinese sank 6 tugboats, 2 merchant ships and 2 warships in the waterway 14 kilometers downstream of Fujin, forming a blockade line; and set up solid artillery positions and a 13-kilometer-long bunker line nearby, destroying all bridges on the road from Tongjiang to Fujin. A battle broke out at Tongjiang and according to the the report of Shen Honglie “the Northeast Navy suffered more than 500 casualties (including marines), 4 warships were sunk, 1 was seriously damaged, and the "Haijun" gunboat (45 tons) was captured by the Soviet army and renamed "Pobieda"; 17 officers including the battalion commander Meng Zhaolin and 350 soldiers of the army were killed; the Chinese side announced that 2 Soviet planes were shot down (some sources say 1), 3 Soviet warships were sunk, 4 were damaged, and more than 300 casualties”. On the 18th, the Soviets completely withdrew from the Tongjiang, allowing the two regiments of Lu Yongcai and Zhang Zuochen of the 9th Brigade to recapture it. On the 30th, Admiral Ozolin led some Soviet land forces in a major attack in the Fujian area. He organized the troops under his jurisdiction into two groups. He led the first group personally, who were supported by heavy gunboats Red East, Sun Yat-Sen and gunboats Red Flag, Proletarian, Buryat, minelayer Powerful and the armored boat Bars. Their mission was to annihilate the remnants of the river defense fleet anchored in Fujin. The second group was commanded by Onufryev, the commander of the Soviet 2nd infantry division. His group consisted of the shallow-water heavy gunboat Serdlov, gunboat Pauper and the transport fleets steam carrying the Volochaev Regiment and the 5th Amur regiment who landed at Fujin.  On the other side the Chinese had concentrated two infantry brigades, 3 cavalry regiments and a team of police with the support of the gunboats Jiangheng,  Lisui, Liji and the tugboat Lichuan. At 9 am on the 31st, the 7 Soviet ships suddenly destroyed the river blocking ropes and entered the Fujin River bank, bombarding the Chinese army, as cavalry landed. The Chinese ships "Lisui" and "Lichuan" sank successively, and only the "Jiangheng" managed to participate in the battle, but soon sank after firing only three shots. At 7 pm 21 Soviet ships sailed up the Songhua River, as part of the cavalry landed at Tuziyuan, advancing step by step towards Fujin. At 9 pm 7 Soviet ships approached the Fujin River bank, with roughly 700 infantry, cavalry and artillery soldiers of the 2nd Amur Infantry Division landed. The Chinese army collapsed without a fight, retreating to Huachuan, and by11am, Fujin county was occupied. Chinese sources reported “the Soviet army burned down the civil and military institutions separately and destroyed all the communication institutions. They distributed all the flour from the Jinchang Fire Mill to the poor, and plundered all the weapons, ammunition and military supplies." On the evening of November 1, the Soviet infantry, cavalry and artillery withdrew from the east gate. On the morning of the 2nd, the Soviet ships withdrew one after another. According to Soviet records, nearly 300 Chinese soldiers were killed in this battle, with thousands captured, while the Soviet army only lost 3 people and injured 11 people . The Chinese Songhua River fleet was completely destroyed, and 9 merchant ships were captured. In early November, the weather in the north became freezing cold, leading the rivers to freeze. Soviet warships retreated back to Khabarovsk, and their infantry and cavalry also returned by land. The war on the Eastern Front was basically over.  As for the western front, the main battlefields revolved around Manzhouli and Zhalannur. Since August 1929, conflicts here continued, a lot of back and forth stuff. The soviets would storm the areas and pull out. Yet in November, the war in the west escalated.  The commander of the Soviet Trans-Baikal Group, was Stepan Vostrezov, wielding the 21st, 35th and 36th infantry divisions, the 5th Cavalry Brigade, 331 heavy machine guns, 166 light machine guns, 32 combat aircraft, 3 armored trains, 58 light artillery, 30 heavy artillery, 9 T-18 ultra-light tanks, amongst other tanks. The Chinese side had about 16,000 people. There would be three major battles : the Battle of Zhallanur, the Battle of Manzhouli, and the Battle of Hailar. On November the 16th, the Soviets unleashed a large-scale offensive, tossing  nearly 40,000 troops, 400 artillery pieces, 40 tanks and 30 aircraft against the western front. At 11pm the Soviets crossed over the border. At 3am on the 17th the 5th Kuban Cavalry Brigade set out from Abagaitui, followed by the 35th Infantry Division who crossed the frozen surface of the Argun River, hooking around the rear of the Chinese garrison in Zhalannur along the east bank of the Argun River. At 7am Soviet aircraft began bombing the western front. The Chinese garrison headquarters, tram house, 38th Regiment building, and military police station were all bombed, and the radio station was also damaged. At noon, the Binzhou Railway was cut off 10-12 kilometers east of the city, and Zhalannur was attacked. Supported by 8 T-18 tanks and fighter planes, they attacked Zhalannur several times. On the morning of the 18th, the Soviet 5th Cavalry Brigade launched an attack against the 7,000-man 17th Brigade of the Chinese Army guarding Zhalannur. At 1pm on the 18th the Zhalannur Station and the Coal Mine was occupied by the Soviet army. The Chinese defenders, Brigadier Han Guangdi and Commander Zhang Linyu, were killed in action. More than half of the brigade officers and soldiers were killed and more than a thousand were captured. After capturing Zhalannur the Soviets concentrated their forces against Manzhouli. On the 19th, 7 T-18s supported the 108th Infantry Regiment of the Soviet 36th Division to attack Manzhouli from the east and west. Artillery pounded the city, before it was stormed. The 15th Brigade of the Chinese Army guarding the area was quickly surrounded by the Soviet army. Brigade Commander Liang Zhongjia and Chief of Staff Zhang Wenqing, alongside nearly 250 officers, fled to the Japanese consulate and surrendered to the Soviet army on the 20th. According to Soviet records, in the battles of Zhalannur and Manzhouli, over 1,500 Chinese soldiers were killed and more than 9,000 were captured, while the Soviet side lost 143 people, 665 were wounded and 4 were missing. Additionally 30 Chinese artillery pieces and 2 armored trains were captured by the Soviet army. The Soviets claimed that Chinese troops from Lake Khinkai were attacking Iman, modern day Dalnerechensk. In the name of self-defense, the Soviets began bombing Mishan on November 17 and mobilized  the Soviet Primorsky State Army and the 1st Pacific Rifle Infantry Division. The 1st Pacific Division and the 9th Independent Cavalry Brigade advanced towards Mishan, 40 kilometers from the border. Soviet records showed that during this battle the Chinese army suffered more than 1,500 casualties and 135 prisoners. The Soviets seized 6 machine guns, 6 mortars, 500 horses, 6 mortars, 200 horses and a large number of confidential documents. On November 23rd, 12 Soviet aircraft bombed Hailar, before capturing the city the next day.  By late November the Chinese had suffered something in the ballpark of 10,000 casualties along various fronts and an enormous amount of their equipment was taken by the Soviets. The Chinese officially reported 2000 deaths, 1000 wounded with more than 8000 captured. The Soviets reported 812 deaths, 665 wounded with under 100 missing. The Japanese had actually been quite the thorn for the Chinese during the war. They had intentionally barred Chinese forces from advancing north through their South Manchurian Railway zone, a large hindrance. Likewise the Kwantung army stationed in Liaoning were mobilizing, giving the impression they would exploit the situation at any moment.  In the face of quite a catastrophic and clear defeat, Nanjing's ministry of foreign affairs tossed a cease fire demand asking for foreign mediation. By December 3rd, Britain, France and the US asked both sides to stop the war so they could mediate a peace. The USSR rejected the participation of a third nation and suggested they could negotiate with China mono e mono. Zhang Xueliang accepted the proposal, dispatching Cai Yunsheng quickly to Shuangchengzi who signed an armistice with the Soviet representative Smanovsky. On the 16th real negotiations began and on the 22nd a draft agreement was signed. The draft stipulated both nations would re-cooperate over the Chinese Eastern Railway and that the Red Army would pull out of Manchuria as soon as both sides exchanged prisoners and officials. Thus the entire incident was resolved after humiliating China. While this all seemed completely needless, perhaps not significant, don't forget, the Japanese were watching it all happen in real time, taking notes, because they had their own ideas about Manchuria.  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. And so the Soviets and brand new Nationalist Republic of China went to war over, honestly a petty squabble involving railway rights and earnings. It was a drop in the bucket for such a war torn nation and only further embarrassed it on the world stage. Yet the Soviets might not be the foreign nation China should be looking out for. 

Iyad Aldalooj started Penny Software after serving as an executive for Careem, the mobility startup which exited for $3 billion to Uber Technologies. Penny is now one of the Kingdom's fastest-growing startups with SAR 1 billion in transactions in 2023 and customers worldwide. In an exclusive interview and conversation with hosts Hanaa Almoaibed and Lucien Zeigler, Iyad shares his journey, which begins in the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia. After studying at the University of Nebraska in the United States, he fell in love with entrepreneurship. When he moved back to the Kingdom, he joined Careem, where he was an executive when the company exited. He then became one of the inaugural members of the Saudi Leadership Society and the Misk 2030 Leaders Program. Now, with the venture-backed Penny Software, he tells Lucien and Hanaa that despite his early success with Penny, he's committed building a solution for the long run while contributing to the prosperity of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and its drive to create a technology ecosystem from the ground-up. The transformation happening in the Kingdom has changed the mindset of Saudi Arabia's tech-enabled youth, creating a vibrant landscape for disruptive technologies to thrive. Iyad shares his journey and experiences to-date, his stories of success and challenges with venture capital fundraising in Saudi Arabia, and much more with The TWENTY30 in this exclusive interview and conversation. After the conversation with Iyad, Hanaa and Lucien catch up on some of the latest news from Saudi Arabia.  Subscribe for free wherever you get your podcasts: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uuKNWrgbQPMBIx3XY6YGU   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-twenty30/id1742574206   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetwenty30   Get episodes and exclusive content delivered to your email inbox free: https://thetwenty30.com     You can also email the show's hosts with their first names (Lucien @TheTWENTY30.com) or (Hanaa @thetwenty30.com) or email Hosts @ TheTwenty30.com.   The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.    ©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved. 

Riyadh Season, a globally unique and dynamic annual series of events in Saudi Arabia, is back for 2024-2025. It's *so* back -- and this year is likely to be the best yet. Lucien leads the episode's DEEPDIVE segment on the season, now well-established and evolving with new offerings each year, includes a diverse range of activities such as theme parks, concerts, pop-up restaurants, sports events, and fashion shows across multiple venues in Riyadh. Some key highlights for this year include the introduction of notable sports events like tennis and boxing matches, UFC, elite soccer games, and fashion showcases by designers like Elie Saab. Dr. Hannah and Lucien highlight some of these events. Lucien emphasizes the extraordinary nature of Riyadh Season, describing it as a 'tradition' that is constantly changing and improving, reflective of Saudi Arabia's dynamic evolution. We encourage listeners to check out the full 294-page booklet on Riyadh Season events and explore the variety of free and paid activities available. The DEEPDIVE segment couldn't possibly conclude without Hanaa making sure that everoyne knows that other upcoming seasons are happening too, including in her beloved home of in the Eastern Province.  The hosts conclude with top news items from the week, including: •A discussion of solar and renewables in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi energy company ACWA Power has secured SAR9.7bn (US$2.6bn) in financing for the construction of three large-scale solar PV power plants in Saudi Arabia •A new investment law in Saudi Arabia. On August 11, 2024, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia unveiled a new Investment Law to enhance attraction of international investments and equality between domestic and foreign investors.  •Wild thunderstorms and rain in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia was struck by thunderstorms and flash flooding on most of its Red Sea on Friday with footages on social media showing roads inundated and cars stranded in floodwater. •The growing Saudi fintech ecosystem. Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan said the number of fintech companies in Saudi Arabia reached 224 by the end of Q2 2024, surpassing the Financial Sector Development Program's (FSDP) target of 168 companies for the same period. SHOUTOUTS: In the episode's SHOUTOUTS segment, highlighting exceptional Saudis or others driving change in the Kingdom, the hosts draw attention to: •Noah Alireza, CEO of Golf Saudi, for what he's doing growing the game in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as LIV GOLF announced its first tournament in Riyadh.  •Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi, who won the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Subscribe for free wherever you get your podcasts:   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uuKNWrgbQPMBIx3XY6YGU   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-twenty30/id1742574206   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetwenty30   Get episodes and exclusive content delivered to your email inbox free: https://thetwenty30.com     You can also email the show's hosts with their first names (Lucien @TheTWENTY30.com) or (Hanaa @thetwenty30.com) or email Hosts @ TheTwenty30.com.   The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.    ©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved. 

LINKS Vatican bio of Cardinal Kambanda https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_kambanda_a.html     Aontoine Kambanda on FIU's Cardinals Database (by Salvadore Miranda): https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios2020.htm#Kambanda  Cardinal Kambanda on Gcatholic.org: http://www.gcatholic.org/p/52193    Cardinal Kambanda on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkamb.html     Archdiocese of Kigali on Gcatholic.org: http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/kiga0.htm?tab=info     Archdiocese of Kigali on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dkiga.html Official Vatican summary of JPII's 1990 visit to Rwanda (and other African nations): https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/travels/1990/travels/documents/trav_est-africa.html  2004 BBC timeline of the Rwandan Genocide: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3580247.stm  Caritas Internationalis official website: https://www.caritas.org/  Athanase Seromba, genocidal priest: https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16189347  Seromba upsate: https://alchetron.com/Athanase-Seromba  2001 Washington Post reporting on Rwandan nuns jailed for role in genocide: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/06/09/rwandan-nuns-jailed-in-genocide/fce3308b-3e6e-4784-8490-0887f69c7a39/  VOA News coverage of 2016 Rwandan Bishops' Conference statement acknowledging and apologizing for complicity in the genocide: https://www.voanews.com/a/rwanda-genocide-catholic-bishops/3605319.html  Reaction to 2019 Rwandan Bishops' Conference statement: https://cisanewsafrica.com/rwanda-bishops-apologize-for-calling-for-release-of-convicts-of-genocide/  2022 English-language video interview with Cardinal Kambanda (via The New Times/Pacis TV): https://youtu.be/yadR0vD1EW4?si=J5nJHxHCLjFMd0z7    Thank you for listening, and thank my family and friends for putting up with the time investment and for helping me out as needed. As always, feel free to email the show at Popeularhistory@gmail.com  If you would like to financially support Popeular history, go to www.patreon.com/Popeular. If you don't have any money to spare but still want to give back, pray and tell others– prayers and listeners are worth more than gold! IMAGE CRED: By David Neuvere - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126027927  TRANSCRIPT Welcome to Popeular History, a library of Catholic knowledge and insights.   Check out the show notes for sources, further reading, and a transcript.   Today we're discussing another current Cardinal of the Catholic Church, one of the 120 or so people who will choose the next Pope when the time comes.   Antoine KAMBANDA was born on November 10, 1958 in Nyamata, Rwanda, which is today part of the country's Eastern Province. Rwanda has somewhat famously had ethnic tensions between two out of three of their main tribes, the Hutu and the Tutsi. Antoine and his family were Tutsi, and, well, content warning, because today's episode includes a genocide.   Antoine studied internationally right from the start, doing primary schooling in neighboring Burundi and Uganda, followed by secondary school in somewhat more distant Kenya. His seminary training took place back in Rwanda, and in 1990 he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Kigali, Kigali being Rwanda's Capital. He was actually personally ordained by Pope Saint John Paul II during his 1990 visit to Rwanda.   Fortunately for him Father Kambanda decided to pursue further studies and so left for the Alphonsian Academy in Rome in 1993, I say fortunately because while he was studying abroad his parents and five of his six siblings were killed during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide during which half a million people were butchered and hundreds of thousands more were raped, predominately Tutsi but also a fair number of Hutu and Twa who were less than enthusiastic about joining the murderous Hutu militias. And those are the more conservative estimates, the 2003 Constitution of Rwanda lists the death toll at over a million.   Let's just take a moment to pray, you can do reverent silence if that's your thing but my wife and I are going to say a quick Hail Mary.   In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.   ***Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.   Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.***   In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.   For what it's worth I didn't plan for this to be a rough stretch, as a reminder I'm doing these cardinals in age order. Tomorrow's episode doesn't have a death toll.   As weird as it feels to get back to a normal narrative after that, get back we should, and Father Kambanda got back to things as well, obtaining a doctorate in moral theology in 1999 and taking on teaching at a minor seminary while also serving as the director of Caritas for the diocese. Caritas, a Latin term most often translated as “charity” but more strongly conveying the sense of selfless love, is an international confederation of organizations that effectively serves as the Catholic Church's in-house clearinghouse for charity initiatives, if I'm allowed to put it that way. Catholic Relief Services, for example, is one of the founding members of Caritas Internationalis, with 0 points going to anyone who can correctly guess what internationalis means.   In 2005, Father Kambanda began the first of two seminary rectorships, and we'll jump ahead to 2013, that's when he was elected bishop of Kibunga.   As a bishop, he joined his brothers in a difficult admission: The Catholic Church had been part of the genocide. Sure, the one Catholic Bishop who was formally charged with war crimes had been cleared, but he had also refused to shelter those who had sought refuge, and indeed many of the massacre sites were the churches themselves, including in the case of Father Athanase Seromba–and I mean seriously, fast forward 15 seconds if you need to–the hutu priest who ordered his church bulldozed when it was housing thousands of refugees, personally showing the driver the weakest points of the church, and by some accounts helping massacre remaining survivors found in the rubble.   In case you're speed listening or tuned out for a minute, just as a reminder I am not currently talking about our cardinal of the day, a Tutsi who was studying in Rome at the time of the genocide and whose family was by and large slaughtered. But I don't want to gloss over the Church's involvement in the genocide–an involvement which our Cardinal acknowledges as we will see. So we're looking at the tough cases, because I hope to God none of them are ever made Cardinals or we'd talk about them then.   Father Seromba was found guilty of genocide and originally sentenced to 15 years. He appealed to the tribunal, which found that oh yes, they had indeed failed to carry out justice in his case, upgrading his sentence to life imprisonment upon further review.   There's more to say about the Seromba case, especially how he was hidden by church authorities after fleeing, and I'll say more about it if Cardinal Kambanda makes it to the next round, but for today I want to get back to Kambanda, because he isn't even a Cardinal yet in our narrative.   In 2016, Bishop Kambanda cosigned a major statement from the Rwandan Bishop's Conference apologizing for the complicity of the Rwandan Catholic Church as an institution in the genocide, stating, quote:   “Forgive us for the crime of hate in the country to the extent of also hating our colleagues because of their ethnicity. We didn't show that we are one family but instead killed each other.” End quote   The statement, which was read in parishes across the country, was generally well received, though of course there are wounds that words cannot heal and there were understandable questions about why it took 22 years for such a statement to be made. A later statement asking for some clemency for elderly and infirm convicted perpetrators was less well received, though honestly pretty on-brand for the Catholic Church in terms of mercy. By that time, Bishop Kambanda was Archbishop Kambanda, having been transferred to Rwanda's principle see of Kigali.   In 2020, Pope Francis made Archbishop Kambanda Rwanda's first Cardinal, also naming him a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples later that year. The next year, Pope Francis also added him to the Congregation for Catholic Education, and the year after that, 2022, he became head of the Rwandan Bishops' Conference for a three-year term. More recently, in February of 2023, he was added to the Dicastery for Culture and Education. So, he's definitely not sitting around.   Antoine Kambanda is eligible to participate in future conclaves until he turns 80 in 2038.   Today's episode is part of Cardinal Numbers,  and there will be more Cardinal Numbers next week. Thank you for listening; God bless you all!

In this enlightening episode of the FHS podcast, host Jana Bader speaks with Stefano Lopez, Tourism Projects Director, at Baheej, about their innovative role in transforming Saudi Arabia's tourism landscape. Stefano discusses Baheej's unique approach as a joint venture focused on developing destinations that cater to both local communities and potential international visitors. Their methodology includes extensive on-ground research and community involvement to ensure each project integrates seamlessly into its cultural and ecological surroundings. He also hints at an exciting new project in the Eastern Province, set to be revealed at the Future Hospitality Summit, showcasing Baheej's commitment to authenticity, excitement, and sustainability in tourism. #FutureHospitalitySummit #FHSSaudiArabia #FHSPodcast

Joanne Cummings is the director of Baylor's Middle East Studies program and teaches in the BIC and Political Science department. She has also been instrumental in the development of an interfaith minor here at Baylor. A retired diplomat, her experience is wide-ranging. She was most recently the Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) to CJTF-OIR, based in Baghdad. She has also served extensively in the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa.As the daughter of a diplomat, she was raised in Lebanon, lived in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, finished high school in Tehran, Iran, and graduated from university in Beirut, Lebanon before gaining an MA from the University of Texas at Austin. In the Department of State and in the private sector, she has worked in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jerusalem, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Ethiopia, and Micronesia as well as nine years working regionally from Morocco through Pakistan. Joanne was previously Deputy Chief of Mission in the Federated States of Micronesia.In this conversation, Joanne and I discuss the recent escalation of war between Israel and Hamas. She helped me understand the conflict, the history, the two sides, and – very importantly – the language we use to describe the region and the people in it.Much has happened since we taped this conversation and I knew that would be the case, so towards the end listen for Joanne's suggestions on which media outlets to follow for up-to-date, accurate, and considerate coverage of the unfolding events.I hope this conversation is useful for you in understanding such an important global issue. If you'd like to hear more from Joanne, she's been in several other interviews lately:KCENFox 44After our conversation, she also sent me this link from the BBC on how they approach using the word "terrorists." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hon. Senthil Thondaman, the Governor of Sri Lanka's Eastern Province, engaged in a conversation with RaySel, elaborating on his objectives and strategies aimed at improving the lives of the province's multi religious and multilingual communities. - இலங்கையின் கிழக்கு மாகாண ஆளுநர் மாண்புமிகு செந்தில் தொண்டமான் அவர்கள், அவரின் தொலைதூர இலக்கு, அரசியல் எதிர்காலம், மலையக அரசியல் நிலை என்று பல்வேறு அம்சங்கள் குறித்து பதில் தருகிறார். அவரோடு உரையாடியவர்: றைசெல். பாகம் 1.

Hon. Senthil Thondaman, the Governor of Sri Lanka's Eastern Province, engaged in a conversation with RaySel, elaborating on his objectives and strategies aimed at improving the lives of the province's multi religious and multilingual communities. - இலங்கையின் கிழக்கு மாகாண ஆளுநர் மாண்புமிகு செந்தில் தொண்டமான் அவர்கள், அவரின் தொலைதூர இலக்கு, அரசியல் எதிர்காலம், மலையக அரசியல் நிலை என்று பல்வேறு அம்சங்கள் குறித்து பதில் தருகிறார். அவரோடு உரையாடியவர்: றைசெல். பாகம் 2.

Published: December 01, 2019 This week we visit one of Changing Our World's former clients, the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal. We visit with Mary Jo Timlin-Hoag, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Sheila McGirl, CFRE, Senior Director of Institutional Advancement. Kaitlin McTighe, Managing Director at Changing Our World, joins Jim Friend for this conversation.Mary Jo is the first lay president and CEO in the 103-year history of the Shrine. She has held leadership roles at Aetna, GE Healthcare, General Motors, McKesson, MedScape, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She was also active through service on several charitable boards and a member of a number of professional societies. Mary Jo has a long connection to the shrine. When she was a child, her parents had a devotion to the Virgin Mary and brought Mary Jo regularly to a weekly novena. Mary Jo's connection with CAMM has been reinforced over the years through her brother, Father John Timlin, C.M. Fr. John directs the formation at the Vincentians' nearby De Paul Novitiate.Sheila McGirl is a Fundraising Executive who has served the Church of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Camden since 2005. Sheila recently came to the Shrine from the Diocese of Camden, where she served as Associate Director of Development. She also served as Founder and member of the Board of Trustees for the Catholic Business Network of South Jersey. About the Shrine and the Vincentians The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal is dedicated to spreading devotion to Mary Immaculate and her Miraculous Medal. CAMM supports the promotion of this devotion in a variety of ways. Helping the formation and education of seminarians, providing care to the aged and infirm Priests and Brothers of the Eastern Province, and supporting programs that provide assistance to the poor.The Miraculous Medal was revealed to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830. St. Catherine was a member of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. Her vision of Our Lady occurred in the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, France.St. Vincent de Paul, the “Great Apostle of Charity,” was the founder of the Vincentian Order of Priests and Brothers. It was Father Joseph Skelly, CM, a Vincentian priest, who founded the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal in 1915.St. Vincent de Paul and his beautiful legacy of charitable giving connect to the Shrine through the Miraculous Medal.In March of 1915, Father Joseph Skelly, CM, established the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal. The original purpose of the Central Association was to spread devotion to Mary Immaculate by encouraging devotion to Mary under her title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Daily Spiritual Reflection and Prayers on “Kristin's Crosses” Join Jim and Kristin Friend and their family on Kristin's Crosses YouTube Channel for “Today's Catholic Prayers.” Jim and Kristin offer the daily Gospel and Reflection along with the Rosary and Catholic Prayers of the day. Click here to visit the YouTube Page and subscribe. If you would like to join the Kristin's Crosses prayer group on Facebook, click here to request to join.

Here are Sri Lanka's Weekly Political Highlights. Journalist, News, and current affairs, Manoj Udatiyawala reports from Sri Lanka - SBS සිංහල සේවය සෑම සඳුදා දිනකම ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සිට තොරතුරු ගෙන එන මාධ්‍යවේදී මනෝජ් උදටියාවල සමඟ ඔබ වෙත ගෙන එන 'සතියේ ශ්‍රී ලාංකීය පුවත්' සමාලෝචනයට සවන්දෙන්න.

In Episode 82, the 966 hosts fly solo and discuss some of the top developments of late on Saudi Arabia - and there are a lot of them. First, the hosts discuss Richard's One Big Thing, which is the readout of the recent call between the U.S. National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. There were a lot of “Easter eggs” in that call's readout from the U.S. side, especially the focus on new priorities and less on the traditional dynamics of U.S.-Saudi relations. Next, the hosts discuss Lucien's One Big Thing this week, which is the Saudi-Iran thaw. When announced, the detente was surprising, and a timeframe of two months was declared. Lucien provides a timeline of what has happened since , and lays the foundation for a discussion on how Saudi Arabia's foreign policy has shifted in just a few weeks - not just on Iran, but on Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and others. Then the hosts finish up as always with Yallah! A discussion of six top storylines on Saudi Arabia from the previous week to get you up to speed headed into the weekend. 3:47 - Richard's One Big Thing is based on the readout of the recent call between the U.S. National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. There were a lot of “Easter eggs” in that call's readout from the U.S. side, especially the focus on new priorities and less on the traditional dynamics of U.S.-Saudi relations.Here's what the Readout said from the U.S. side:“National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia today.  They discussed a number of global and regional matters, to include ongoing diplomacy related to ending the war in Yemen.  Mr. Sullivan highlighted the remarkable progress in Yemen over the past year, during which fighting has nearly ceased under a UN-mediated truce.  He welcomed Saudi Arabia's extraordinary efforts to pursue a more comprehensive roadmap for ending the war and offered full U.S. support for those efforts, noting that Special Envoy Tim Lenderking will be in the region over the coming days.  Mr. Sullivan and Crown Prince Salman also discussed broader trends toward de-escalation in the region, while underscoring the need to maintain deterrence against threats from Iran and elsewhere.  Mr. Sullivan reaffirmed President Biden's unwavering commitment to ensure Iran can never acquire a nuclear weapon.  Mr. Sullivan and Crown Prince Salman committed to stay in regular contact and to accelerate contact between the Saudi and U.S. national security teams on issues including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), clean energy cooperation, and development and investment in cutting-edge Open Radio Access Network (O-Ran) 5G and 6G technologies.”15:42 - Lucien's One Big Thing this week, which is the Saudi-Iran thaw. When announced, the detente was surprising and a timeframe of two months was declared. A timeline of what has happened since lays the foundation for a discussion on how Saudi Arabia's foreign policy has shifted in just a few weeks; not just on Iran, but on Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and others.30:32 - Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed heading into the weekend. Citigroup Sees Oil Falling Despite OPEC Efforts to Prop Near $80Oil prices are likely to fall below $80 a barrel even with OPEC's recent apparent efforts to support that level with unexpected cuts, according to Ed Morse, global head of commodities research at CitiGroup. Saudi Arabia's National Center for Privatisation (NCP) has announced the launch of 200 development projects across 17 sectors.The initiative will provide local and international investors with an opportunity for advanced preparation to ensure their readiness to participate in the projects tendered to the market. Schemes include four airports, seven desalination plants, six wastewater treatment plants and 10 strategic water reservoirs.  According to HE Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance, these projects will increase the attractiveness of the economy, create opportunities for local and international investor and increase private sector contribution to GDP.Masters 2023: Jon Rahm won big, but so did LIV GolfJon Rahm was the day's biggest winner. But LIV Golf, the breakaway tour that's caused a civil war within golf's ranks, scored a major victory of its own this weekend. Derided as a tour for washed-up former stars and unknowns, a money grab for has-beens and never-was'es, LIV this weekend put three players in the top 6 — Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed — and 12/17 players made the cut. Whatever else LIV may be, on this weekend the breakaway tour came up big. “We're still the same people,” said Koepka, who held the clubhouse lead for three rounds and three holes. “I think that's just manufactured by the media that we can't compete anymore, that we are washed up.”Hajj Minister: Makkah and Madinah now host 1.3 million foreign pilgrims and visitorsMinister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said that Makkah and Madinah are witnessing a record number of foreign pilgrims and visitors and there are currently 1.3 million in the two holy cities. “All the procedures have been improved remarkably and there is a major qualitative shift in the movement of worshipers as well as in the facilities and services being provided to them inside the Two Holy Mosques.” he said while addressing a dialogue session as part of the first edition of the Manafea Forum, which kicked off here on Monday.Middle East debt issuances nearly triple in Q1 2023 as Saudis take leadMiddle East and North Africa (MENA) debt issuances nearly tripled year-on-year from January to March 2023 to $26.9 billion compared to the previous quarter, marking the highest start to a year by proceeds since 2011. This is a major shift since last year's total of $37.3 billion, the lowest full-year amount since 2011, according to American-British financial data company Refinitv. In Q1 of 2023, Saudi Arabia was the leading debt issuer in the MENA region.Saudi Heritage Commission Includes 190 New Antiquities Sites in National RegisterThe Saudi Heritage Commission approved the registration and documentation of 190 new archaeological sites in the national register of Antiquities. There are now 8,788 such locations in the national register across the country, representing a national legacy that reflects the historical richness of the Kingdom. Asir region has the largest number with 35, followed by Al-Jouf with 32, Tabuk with 31, Hail with 23, Al-Qassim with 22, and the Eastern Province with 20. Of the new registrations, 11 are in Jazan, 10 are in the Makkah region, five are in Al-Baha, and one is in Madinah.

Tune in every other Monday for a new episode of #MantleMondays with host: Bishop Travell Travis, Esq. as he interviews entrepreneurs, pastors, authors, and leaders sharing their career, entrepreneurial, and ministerial journeys. Learn more: www.travelltravis.com Purchase books authored by Bishop Travis: "Don't Eat the Baby: The Characteristics of Cannibalistic Church" and "Where Will the Mantle Fall: A Biblical and Legal Guide to Succession Planning" #mantles #leadership #succession #entrepreneurship #pastors #mantles #cannibalisticchurch #wherewillthemantlefall In October of 2015, Pastor Jackson launched OutPour Church in Martinsville, VA. In January of 2018, Bishop and a ministry team from OutPour started a Bible Study in the city of Roanoke, VA, called ReFresh Roanoke. For one year, the ministry grew and souls were added to the family of believers. In January of 2019, the two ministries (OutPour Church and ReFresh Roanoke) merged together and were relocated, renamed, and relaunched in the city of Roanoke, VA, as ReFreshing Church. ReFreshing Church serves as a community-based Church Connecting People, ReFreshing Faith, and Serving Others. ​Additionally, Bishop Jackson is an active member of his community as a Community Advocate. He serves as a Chaplain for the Roanoke City Police Department, a registered Chaplain for the Clerk of Circuit Courts, and a City Council Appointed member of the Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates Board, and a City Council Appointed member of the City of Roanoke Task Force to Reduce Gun Violence. Globally, Bishop served as the Dean of the Adjutants Academy and as a member of the Advisory Board for the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops in Cleveland, Ohio, with the late Archbishop J. Delano Ellis, II. ​In 2012, he joined and began working in the Lively Stone Fellowship of Churches with the Presiding Bishop Alphonso Scott. In 2015, he was appointed to the Lower House of Prelates as the Adjutant General and Overseer of Protocol. On June 20, 2018, he was consecrated as a Bishop in the Lord's Church, serving as the Bishop Ordinary of the Eastern Province. Upon his consecration, he was also appointed to serve as the Second Assistant Presiding Bishop. After the death of Bishop Alphonso Scott, Bishop was appointed as the Assistant Presiding Bishop to Presiding Bishop Lee Alexander Scott. He can be seen working to impact this world in whatever way possible.

Saudi Arabia is a country that is known for its rich culture and history, as well as its modern developments and economic prosperity. But while the country has made economic and social progress in recent decades, it's also important to recognize that every country has its own set of issues and challenges. I've started launching episodes about my visit to Saudi Arabia, and in the first one that came out on Tuesday, it may have sounded like there's nothing bad about this country. And even though I loved my visit and met some of the friendliest people I've ever met, there are still challenges. In this episode, I will share what I think is both good and bad about this country. THE GOOD ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA Let's dive in and start with some of the things that are good about Saudi Arabia: GOOD: Culture and history Saudi Arabia is home to a number of historical and cultural sites that are of great importance to the country and the region. The city of Mecca is the holiest site in Islam and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. It is also home to the Kaaba, a sacred stone building that is the focus of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Medina, another city in Saudi Arabia, is also considered a holy city and is the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad. These cities are of great significance to Muslims around the world and are a source of pride for the country. GOOD: Economy Saudi Arabia is a major player in the global economy, with a GDP of over $800 billion. The country is rich in natural resources, particularly oil, which accounts for a significant portion of its wealth. The government has also invested heavily in modernizing and diversifying the economy, with initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, technology, and other sectors. As a result, Saudi Arabia has a high standard of living and a strong infrastructure. GOOD: Education Education is a priority in Saudi Arabia, with the government investing heavily in the education sector. The country has a number of top-ranked universities, including King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, which are known for their research and innovation. The government also provides free education to all citizens, from primary school through to university. GOOD: Health care Saudi Arabia has a well-developed health care system, with a number of hospitals and clinics located throughout the country. The government invests heavily in the health care sector, providing free medical care to all citizens. The country is also home to a number of renowned medical facilities, such as the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, which is known for its advanced medical technology and expertise. GOOD: Infrastructure Saudi Arabia has a modern infrastructure, with a well-developed transportation system and a number of major cities connected by highways and airports. The country has also invested heavily in its telecommunications infrastructure, with high levels of Internet and mobile phone penetration. These investments have contributed to the country's economic development and have made it easier for people to live, work, and travel within the country. GOOD: Natural beauty Despite its desert climate, Saudi Arabia is home to a number of beautiful natural landscapes. The country has a number of parks and nature reserves, including the Asir National Park, which is home to a number of endangered species. The country's coastlines, including the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, are also popular destinations for tourists and offer a range of activities such as diving, fishing, and water sports. GOOD: Modern developments In recent years, Saudi Arabia has undergone a number of modern developments, including the construction of new cities, such as King Abdullah Economic City and NEOM, which are designed to be the centre of innovation and economic growth. The country has also invested heavily in its tourism sector, with initiatives aimed at promoting the country as a destination for both religious and recreational tourism. THE BAD ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA There are also a number of issues that have been the subject of criticism and concern. Let's have a look at some of the things that might not be good about Saudi Arabia. BAD: Treatment of women One issue that has received significant attention is the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia. The country has a strict system of gender segregation, and women are subject to a number of legal restrictions and limitations on their freedom of movement and expression. For example, women in Saudi Arabia are required to have a male guardian who has the authority to make decisions on their behalf and control their movements.  However, in August 2020, the Saudi Arabian government announced that they would be revoking the laws that required women to have a male guardian's permission to travel, marry, or even leave prison. Additionally, the law that required women to wear an abaya (a loose-fitting black cloak) in public was also repealed. These changes were part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 plan to modernise and liberalize the country. However, these laws have not yet been fully implemented, and some restrictions on women's freedom of movement and other rights continue to exist. BAD: Lack of political freedoms Another issue that has been the subject of criticism is the lack of political freedom in Saudi Arabia. The country is an absolute monarchy, and political parties are not allowed. There is also no independent judiciary, and human rights groups have reported cases of arbitrary detention, torture, and other human rights abuses by the authorities. BAD: Treatment of migrant workers There have also been concerns about the treatment of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. Many migrant workers, particularly those from South and Southeast Asia, work in low-paying, hazardous jobs and are subject to abuse and exploitation by their employers. Migrant workers are also often denied access to basic rights and protections, such as the right to form unions or to seek legal recourse for workplace abuses. BAD: Treatment of minority groups Human rights groups have also raised concerns about the treatment of minority groups in Saudi Arabia, including the Shi'a minority in the Eastern Province and the Bidun, a stateless minority group. These groups have faced discrimination and marginalization and have been denied access to education and employment opportunities. BAD: Lack of freedom of expression Another issue that has been a source of concern is the lack of freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia. The government tightly controls the media and censors the internet, and individuals who express dissenting views or criticize the government can face arrest and imprisonment. BAD: Environmental concerns There have also been concerns about the environmental impact of Saudi Arabia's economic development. The country is a major producer of oil, and the extraction and refining of oil has contributed to environmental degradation, including air and water pollution. Additionally, the country's rapid population growth and urbanization have put a strain on natural resources, such as water, and have contributed to environmental problems such as desertification. BAD: Tense relationship with other countries It is also worth noting that Saudi Arabia has a complex and often tense relationship with other countries in the region. The country has been involved in a number of conflicts and disputes, including the ongoing conflict in Yemen. It has been accused of supporting extremist groups and interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. Conclusion Overall, while Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in recent decades, and they have big things happening in their 2030 plan that I talked about in the episode a few days ago. Saudi Arabia is a country with a rich culture and history, a strong economy, and a well-developed infrastructure. It is home to a number of historical and cultural sites, top-ranked universities, and renowned medical facilities. The country is also home to a number of beautiful natural landscapes. But there are still a number of issues that have been the subject of criticism and concern. Treatment of women, lack of political freedoms, treatment of migrant workers and minority groups, and lack of freedom of expression. Its modern developments and initiatives to boost tourism have helped I feel it's important for Saudi Arabia to address the problematic issues and work towards a more just and equitable society if they really want to make it a dynamic and attractive place to live and visit. These are my own opinions, based on my experiences visiting the country and the research I've done. You might disagree – and if you do, please let me know. Either on The Radio Vagabond on Facebook or by sending me a message via theradiovagabond.com/contact.  My name is Palle Bo. And I gotta keep moving. See you.

Saudi Arabia is a country that is known for its rich culture and history, as well as its modern developments and economic prosperity. But while the country has made economic and social progress in recent decades, it's also important to recognize that every country has its own set of issues and challenges. I've started launching episodes about my visit to Saudi Arabia, and in the first one that came out on Tuesday, it may have sounded like there's nothing bad about this country. And even though I loved my visit and met some of the friendliest people I've ever met, there are still challenges. In this episode, I will share what I think is both good and bad about this country. THE GOOD ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA Let's dive in and start with some of the things that are good about Saudi Arabia: GOOD: Culture and history Saudi Arabia is home to a number of historical and cultural sites that are of great importance to the country and the region. The city of Mecca is the holiest site in Islam and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. It is also home to the Kaaba, a sacred stone building that is the focus of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Medina, another city in Saudi Arabia, is also considered a holy city and is the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad. These cities are of great significance to Muslims around the world and are a source of pride for the country. GOOD: Economy Saudi Arabia is a major player in the global economy, with a GDP of over $800 billion. The country is rich in natural resources, particularly oil, which accounts for a significant portion of its wealth. The government has also invested heavily in modernizing and diversifying the economy, with initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, technology, and other sectors. As a result, Saudi Arabia has a high standard of living and a strong infrastructure. GOOD: Education Education is a priority in Saudi Arabia, with the government investing heavily in the education sector. The country has a number of top-ranked universities, including King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, which are known for their research and innovation. The government also provides free education to all citizens, from primary school through to university. GOOD: Healthcare Saudi Arabia has a well-developed healthcare system, with a number of hospitals and clinics located throughout the country. The government invests heavily in the healthcare sector, providing free medical care to all citizens. The country is also home to a number of renowned medical facilities, such as the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, which is known for its advanced medical technology and expertise. GOOD: Infrastructure Saudi Arabia has a modern infrastructure, with a well-developed transportation system and a number of major cities connected by highways and airports. The country has also invested heavily in its telecommunications infrastructure, with high levels of Internet and mobile phone penetration. These investments have contributed to the country's economic development and have made it easier for people to live, work, and travel within the country. GOOD: Natural beauty Despite its desert climate, Saudi Arabia is home to a number of beautiful natural landscapes. The country has a number of parks and nature reserves, including the Asir National Park, which is home to a number of endangered species. The country's coastlines, including the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, are also popular destinations for tourists and offer a range of activities such as diving, fishing, and water sports. GOOD: Modern developments In recent years, Saudi Arabia has undergone a number of modern developments, including the construction of new cities, such as King Abdullah Economic City and NEOM, which are designed to be centres of innovation and economic growth. The country has also invested heavily in its tourism sector, with initiatives aimed at promoting the country as a destination for both religious and recreational tourism. THE BAD ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA There are also a number of issues that have been the subject of criticism and concern. Let's have a look at some of the things that might not be good about Saudi Arabia. BAD: Treatment of women One issue that has received significant attention is the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia. The country has a strict system of gender segregation, and women are subject to a number of legal restrictions and limitations on their freedom of movement and expression. For example, women in Saudi Arabia are required to have a male guardian who has the authority to make decisions on their behalf and control their movements.  However, in August 2020, the Saudi Arabian government announced that they would be revoking the laws that required women to have a male guardian's permission to travel, marry, or even leave prison. Additionally, the law that required women to wear an abaya (a loose-fitting black cloak) in public was also repealed. These changes were part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 plan to modernise and liberalize the country. However, these laws have not yet been fully implemented, and some restrictions on women's freedom of movement and other rights continue to exist. BAD: Lack of political freedoms Another issue that has been the subject of criticism is the lack of political freedom in Saudi Arabia. The country is an absolute monarchy, and political parties are not allowed. There is also no independent judiciary, and human rights groups have reported cases of arbitrary detention, torture, and other human rights abuses by the authorities. BAD: Treatment of migrant workers There have also been concerns about the treatment of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. Many migrant workers, particularly those from South and Southeast Asia, work in low-paying, hazardous jobs and are subject to abuse and exploitation by their employers. Migrant workers are also often denied access to basic rights and protections, such as the right to form unions or to seek legal recourse for workplace abuses. BAD: Treatment of minority groups Human rights groups have also raised concerns about the treatment of minority groups in Saudi Arabia, including the Shi'a minority in the Eastern Province and the Bidun, a stateless minority group. These groups have faced discrimination and marginalization and have been denied access to education and employment opportunities. BAD: Lack of freedom of expression Another issue that has been a source of concern is the lack of freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia. The government tightly controls the media and censors the internet, and individuals who express dissenting views or criticize the government can face arrest and imprisonment. BAD: Environmental concerns There have also been concerns about the environmental impact of Saudi Arabia's economic development. The country is a major producer of oil, and the extraction and refining of oil has contributed to environmental degradation, including air and water pollution. Additionally, the country's rapid population growth and urbanization have put a strain on natural resources, such as water, and have contributed to environmental problems such as desertification. BAD: Tense relationship with other countries It is also worth noting that Saudi Arabia has a complex and often tense relationship with other countries in the region. The country has been involved in a number of conflicts and disputes, including the ongoing conflict in Yemen, and has been accused of supporting extremist groups and interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. Conclusion Overall, while Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in recent decades, and they have big things happening in their 2030 plan that I talked about in the episode a few days ago. Saudi Arabia is a country with a rich culture and history, a strong economy, and a well-developed infrastructure. It is home to a number of historical and cultural sites, top-ranked universities, and renowned medical facilities. The country is also home to a number of beautiful natural landscapes. But there are still a number of issues that have been the subject of criticism and concern. Treatment of women, lack of political freedoms, treatment of migrant workers and minority groups, and lack of freedom of expression. Its modern developments and initiatives to boost tourism have helped I feel it's important for Saudi Arabia to address the problematic issues and work towards a more just and equitable society if they really want to make it a dynamic and attractive place to live and visit. These are my own opinions, based on my experiences visiting the country and the research I've done. You might disagree – and if you do, please let me know. Either on The Radio Vagabond on Facebook or by sending me a message via theradiovagabond.com/contact.  My name is Palle Bo. And I gotta keep moving. See you.

Daneh Buahmad is a Dubai-based Saudi fashion designer who launched her label, DANEH, in 2011. She grew up in the Eastern Province in Dhahran, the Saudi Aramco headquarters. Before designing luxury clothes, her career began in IT and interactive media. Her brand creates effortless, luxurious, and comfortable attire that's all about making women feel confident , elevated and just simply good. Her story and immaculate style has been featured in Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, and Vogue. And she has dressed the likes of Queen Rania, Mellissa McCarthy and other amazing women.

Captain Bill Foster, USN (retired) is President of Jones Group Middle East, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jones Group International, and is Chairman of the The American Chamber of Commerce Saudi Arabia (AmCham Saudi Arabia). Foster joins The 966 from Riyadh, where he talks about the changes ongoing in the Kingdom and the important work that AmCham is doing in Saudi Arabia serving as a platform for the American business community to connect, grow and prosper. AmCham's work includes analyzing and providing insights on policies and structural changes impacting American business interests through its eleven sector committees that represent established industries and emerging markets in Saudi Arabia. AmCham Saudi Arabia is a Kingdom-wide organization, with headquarters in Riyadh and active chapters in the Eastern Province and Jeddah. AmCham members and sponsors engage in leadership roles within its committees, participate in industry panels and policy forums, network at social events, and contribute to its monthly newsletters and social media platforms. AmCham Saudi Arabia is a registered nonprofit and NGO. In Bill Foster's role with the Jones Group Middle East, Foster manages the firm's business in the Middle East-North Africa region and leads a growing Riyadh-based team of consultants, focused primarily on the defense, security, and healthcare markets.

ADORATION family we get to hear two short interviews from the mission field of the Bugesera District located in the Eastern Province of Kigali, Rwanda. The first one features Bosco Ruhinda of Trinitas Community Organization, and the second one features Pastor Keiffer Bent of Berwyn Baptist Church in College Park, Maryland. Our first interview focuses on using a business model ot promote evangelism, while in the second interview, we learn about the importance of shring the truth of God's Word to our global communities, and how the family dynamic aids in the process. Both men are driven by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to build lives and communities towards Jesus Christ.

ADORATION family we get to hear two short interviews from the mission field of the Bugesera District located in the Eastern Province of Kigali, Rwanda. The first one features Bosco Ruhinda of Trinitas Community Organization, and the second one features Pastor Keiffer Bent of Berwyn Baptist Church in College Park, Maryland.Our first interview focuses on using a business model ot promote evangelism, while in the second interview, we learn about the importance of shring the truth of God's Word to our global communities, and how the family dynamic aids in the process. Both men are driven by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to build lives and communities towards Jesus Christ.

In 1975, President Juvénal Habyarimana introduced Umuganda in Rwanda, where citizens had to help with community projects like planting trees and building schools, every Saturday morning. Rachel Naylor speaks to former minister Jean Marie Ndagijimana, who loved taking part. (Photo: Residents of the village of Mbyo, in Rwanda's Eastern Province, taking part in Umuganda in 2014. Credit: Getty Images)

Host Carl Lewis chats with cricket writer Christopher Chiwanza about one of the most exciting young talents in world and South African cricket, Tristan Stubbs.    Find out more about the explosive hitter for the Proteas, Mumbai Indians and Warriors  Tristan Stubbs burst on the scene in 2021, during the CSA T20 Challenge. He had no franchise cricket experience, but he performed like someone with a few seasons under his belt. In 2022, he came back faster, better and stronger. The 21-year-old has made a case for himself as a serious T20 player. Tristan is conscious of his fitness. He has always been. He was one of the fittest players in his school team, he is currently one of the fittest batters at Warriors. During the lockdown, he ran around for hours in their tiny backyard. He also skipped a lot. After lockdown, he added gym work and a route that passed close to Robbie's place. He has bulked up since his debut for the Warriors in 2021. That's not the only place that Robbie saw Tristan. He also saw him practising his batting in the nets. Tristan was an Eastern Province player at the time. Robbie liked what he saw. He had never seen the young man bat in a match, he didn't need to. What he saw in the nets was enough to tell him that this boy was special. He had the height, the strength and showed the ability of many modern T20 players. The hard-working kid that Robbie saw in the nets is the same hardworking kid that Richard Gilbert and Michael Smith worked with at Grey High School. Tristan ended up at Grey High because he insisted on the school. His parents would have preferred Oakhill, which was closer to home. But Tristan was dead set on Grey High. He was in love with the institution. The hostels and the grounds were his favourite bits, he experienced these when he was 11. He also scored his first 50 for South Western Districts Under-11s at Grey High. After the match, he asked for a little piece of the pitch to take home as memorabilia to remember his first 50. He still has it in his room in Knysna. Anyway, during his time at Grey High, especially the last year, when Tristan was not in class he spent a lot of time in the nets training. Tristan and his best friend LJ du Preez had a habit of collecting balls from Michael Smith. Smith was the Director of Cricket and the professional who worked with Grey High during Tristan's time at the school. By the time Tristan left the school, the boys had a full bag of balls. Every day, the boys would be in the nets, LJ doing most of the throwing of balls. On the days when they would have managed to get Mike Smith to come along, he would throw balls and operate the bowling machine for them. On the odd days that neither Mike nor LJ were available, Tristan would find a boy from the hostels to throw balls to him. He didn't hit the balls for sake of hitting them, as most boys are wont to do. He did enjoy hitting the balls, but most of the time he had something that he was working on. “A lot of boys might go and just smash a few balls and sixes and then they're done. Tristan wanted a good practice,” says Richard Gilbert, the Grey High cricket head coach. “Sometimes Mike Smith and I would observe from a distance, and you could see he wasn't wasting his time on rubbish practice, there was always something that he was working on. Something that we would have discussed over the weekend.” Tristan did this six days a week. The other one day was often spent playing hockey. That has not yet changed. Tristan still plays hockey once a week and focuses on cricket the rest of the time. Another thing that Tristan used to do when he played cricket for Grey High School is this. On the field, he normally fielded at long-off. He knew that coaching was not allowed during the game, but he always had all these ideas swirling in his head that he needed to bounce off someone who knew better. So, while at long-off, he would stand still like a tree and call the coach over. He would engage him in conversation, not necessarily ask him what to do with tactics or the field, but share the ideas he has in his head. He still bounces ideas on Michael Smith, who helps him with his batting. He also bounces ideas on Robbie Petersen and the rest of the Warriors coaching unit. “What I saw in those days is what he still is now, he is hungry to learn and so much in love with training,” says Robbie Petersen. “I don't have to ask him to train. A player like that is a coach's dream.”

Guest: Ricardo Loubscher, Rugby Coach and former Eastern Province, Bulls, Cats, Sharks and the Springboks player

1:28 - Will Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel soon? Richard's one big thing this week is what people are talking about in Saudi foreign policy this week: “normalization.”Are Saudi Arabia and Israel in fact close to normalizing relations? The hosts discuss the gap that currently exists between Israel and Saudi Arabia and why there's a lot in the way between the two countries preventing a further warming of ties. ***13:04 - A new study by KPMG surveys the opinions and insights of Saudi women in family businesses in the Kingdom. Lucien's one big thing is this study, with features valuable and unique insights into the viewpoints of Saudi women in family businesses in the Kingdom. While many studies have examined the changing business roles of women over time, “few discuss the role of women specifically in family businesses,” KPMG writes, as it shares insights gathered from interviewing women business leaders working in family businesses across Saudi Arabia, “all of whom generously agreed to openly discuss and share their challenges, opportunities, and successes while working in their family business.” “We shaped the insights we gathered into four themes that emerged during our interviews; The role of women in family business, Leadership styles, Sustainability and succession, and Unique opportunities and mandatory legislation that affects women's opportunities within business. In the first theme, The role of women in family business, we looked at the differences and challenges associated with women's varying roles within their families and businesses. We also explore the gender differences that women face in relation to treatment and opportunities within the family business as well as the role mentors—both male and female—play in advancing women within family businesses,” KPMG said. The full study is worth a read, and is available here:https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/sa/pdf/2022/the-power-of-women-in-family-business.pdf***19:21 - The 966 talks with Jack Fowler, director at the global management consulting firm YCP Solidiance and co-author of a new report on Saudi Arabia's construction industry, 'Partnering for Success in Saudi Arabia Construction.'The report highlights Key Drivers for Saudi Arabia's Development as well as challenges, risks, and opportunities of doing business in Saudi Arabia. ***1:08:44 - Yallah! Six top storylines on Saudi Arabia this week to get you up to date heading into the weekend.•Saudi Arabia's parallel market Nomu outshines TASI with 209% market cap growthSaudi Arabia's parallel market's Nomu capped index took investors by surprise as its market value grew at a faster rate than the main market's TASI during the first quarter of 2022, according to a report in Arab News. Nomu's market capitalization rose 209 percent on the year to SR38.5 billion ($10.3 billion) from SR12.5 billion ($3.3 billion) in the year-ago period, according to statistics by the Capital Market Authority. However, the market cap of the main market, which captures the performance of 215 firms listed on the Saudi exchange, increased at a slower rate of 24 percent to SR11.96 trillion ($3.19 billion).•Saudi women graduates outnumber men in job-training programsFemale Saudi graduates have significantly outnumbered Saudi men in the national on-the-job training program launched by the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf), according to a report in The National. Hadaf said 74 percent of 61,000 participants – who have benefited from Tamheer, a three to six-month on-the-job training scheme for Saudi graduates, since its launch in 2017 – were female. Most of the participants were from Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province. The number of women with jobs in Saudi Arabia has nearly doubled in the last five years and now stands at more than 35 per cent of the workforce.•Saudi Arabian Edition of ‘The Office' in the WorksAccording to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, BBC Studios, which owns the format rights, and MBC Studios, the production arm of Saudi-owned Middle East satellite giant MBC, have unveiled Al Maktab, the first Arabic-language version of the long-running and award-winning comedy series. The 20-part series will broadcast on MBC's TV channels, and via its streaming platform Shahid VIP, later this year.•Starbucks KSA opens first all-Saudi female operated storeAlshaya Starbucks KSA has launched its first all-Saudi female operated Drive-Thru store in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia as part of its ongoing commitment to creating more work opportunities for Saudi women in line with the Kingdom's 2030 vision, according to a report in Trade Arabia. The new all-female Drive-Thru only store located on the Coast Road is a significant step towards increasing its women workforce to 30% by the end of 2022, with plans to launch many more Drive-Thru stores over the coming years in Saudi Arabia, said Starbucks KSA.•Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah port tops 2021 CPPI index, 2 Saudi ports rise up in rankAccording to a report in Al Arabiya, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah port topped the 2021 edition of the global Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence. Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Islamic Port also featured strongly in eighth place overall and King Abdulaziz Port placed at 14th. “CPPI is a comparable index of global container port performance intended to serve as a reference point for key stakeholders in the global economy… The ranking is based on time vessels needed to spend in port to complete workloads over the course of 2021, a year that saw unprecedented port congestion and disruption to global supply chains,” according to the World Bank.•Greece, Saudi Arabia Eye Fiber Optic Data Cable to Link Europe With AsiaGreece and Saudi Arabia agreed on Tuesday on the main terms to set up a joint venture to lay a fiber optic data cable that will link Europe with Asia, Greek sources said on Tuesday according to a report in US News. The "East to Med data Corridor", an undersea and land data cable, will be developed by MENA HUB, owned by Saudi Arabia's STC and Greek telecoms and satellite applications company TTSA.

Tahun 1950-an jadi penanda munculnya narasi politik baru di Arab Saudi. Ini tentang sebuah gerakan buruh yang cukup besar yang muncul di Eastern Province atau Provinsi Sharqiyah, Arab Saudi. Gerakan buruh ini bahkan sempat menutup produksi minyak di lokasi milik ARAMCO sebuah perusahaan minyak yang telah berdiri sejak tahun 1933. Aksi-aksi tersebut kemudian menandai berdirinya National Liberation Front atau NLF ,sebuah kuasi partai komunis Arab Saudi. Di tahun-tahun berikutnya keberadaan kelompok komunis membuncah menjadi sebuah partai politik: Partai Komunis Arab Saudi. Inilah kisah jika Arab Saudi jadi merah!

Welcome to the Dior Talks series themed around the sixth edition of Dior Lady Art and hosted by Paris-based journalist Katya Foreman. For this year's event, 12 artists from around the world have participated in a game of metamorphosis by rendering the iconic Lady Dior handbag as a unique piece of art. Bold and committed, our latest guest on the podcast, contemporary artist Manal AlDowayan, questions the representation of women, social injustices and collective memory. She describes her Lady Dior handbags - created during lockdown from her base in London - as a “love letter” to her homeland of Saudi Arabia with the artist revisiting family photographs and symbolic emblems of her childhood and life story. Born in Dhahran, a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the artist grew up in a compound that was built as a replica of Southern California “to make the oil drillers feel at home.” She describes it as having this “is it real or is it constructed” feel which feeds into her work.  Adorned with a black-and-white photograph swaying with palm trees, Landscapes of the Mind, crafted from printed gold calfskin leather with embroidered black feathers, captures a snapshot of life in Saudi Arabia from a woman's perspective, while The Boys, in printed black calfskin leather, bears an image taken by her father in 1962 and reworked by the artist. Lastly, a mini minaudiere style bag, made using a 3D printing technique, pays tribute to the desert rose, a symbol of the artist's childhood growing up on the edge of the desert.  Tune in to the episode to hear all about AlDowayan's experience translating her images onto “a portable space” charged with its own story and emotions: the emblematic Lady Dior handbag. 

Nimr Baqr al-Nimr (Arabic: نمر باقر النمر‎) (or Nimr Baqir al-Namr, Nimr Bakir al-Nimr, Nemr Baqir al-Nemr) is an independent Shia Sheikh in al-Awamiyah, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. He is popular among youth and critical of the Saudi Arabian government. He claimed that he was beaten by Mabahith when arrested in 2006. In 2009, he criticised Saudi authorities and suggested secession of the Eastern Province if Saudi Shias' rights were not better respected. A warrant for his arrest was issued and 35 people were arrested. During the 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests, al-Nimr called for protestors to resist police bullets using “the roar of the word” rather than violence, predicted the overthrow of the government if repression continued, and was seen by The Guardian as having “taken the lead in the uprising”. On 8 July 2012 al-Nimr was shot by police in the leg and arrested, in what police described as an exchange of gunfire, however many human rights groups have described police accounts as “fantastical.” The Asharq Center for Human Rights expressed concern for al-Nimr's health during his hunger strike on 21 August, calling for international support to allow access by family, lawyer and human rights activists. On 15 October 2014, al-Nimr was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court for “seeking ‘foreign meddling' in Saudi Arabia, ‘disobeying' its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces” and his brother, Mohammad al-Nimr, was arrested on the same day for tweeting information about the death sentence.

Last week, Black male leadership gathered on Capitol Hill to protest the largest attack on voting rights since the civil war and reconstruction. An epic lineup delivers inspiration and hard truths about what's at stake as we look to the next midterm and presidential elections. We close out the event with words from our very own Mark Thompson. After the speakers concluded, Mark and the other demonstrators were arrested for standing up for the right to vote. Speakers: Ty Hobson Powell, Community Activist in Washington D.C.; Tamir Harper, Assistant Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; Richard P. Mattox, Senior Province Vice Polemarch of the Eastern Province of the National Social Action Chair of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.; Kenneth Rogers, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.; Mondale Robinson, Founder of the Black Male Voter Project; Daryl Jones, Transformative Justice Coalition; Mark Thompson, Host of Make It Plain with Mark Thompson Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Producer: Brittany Temple Distributor: DCP Entertainment For additional content: makeitplain.com

In this episode of Seeing Clearly, Emaan and Danielle talk to Dr. Danah Albreiki, a neuro-ophthalmology and adult strabismus physician at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Danah Albreiki was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, did her medical school in King Faisal university in Dammam, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, then moved to Ottawa Canada to pursue her ophthalmology residency training. She also received her neuro-ophthalmology and adult strabismus training in Ottawa and continued on Academic staff as an associate professor since 2013. In this episode, we discuss: What drew Dr. Albrieki to Ophthalmology and Neuro-Ophthalmology. Dr. Albrieki's interest in medical education and what makes a good learner. Advice for medical students interested in ophthalmology. Dr. Albrieki's involvement with Eye Curriculum. Check out our website: www.eyecurriculum.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/EyeCurriculum Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/EyeCurriculum

Host Phil Llewellyn with guests discuss the current state of the game in this Roundup Rodeo 'Special' This week's guests:Alan Zondagh, former director of rugby Bulls Rugby Franchise (South Africa),  director of rugby Saracens, head coach London Scottish, head coach Western Province, head coach and director of coaching at Eastern Province and director of coaching Western Province, South Africa. Ian Costello, currently Wasps Rugby defence and kicking coach, formerly Nottingham Rugby head coach and Munster Rugby senior and academy coach.Nick Wood, currently master-in-charge of rugby at Radley College, Premiership official and citing officer for the RFU.  

Guest: former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers

In today's episode we sit down with Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, a Dominican friar, biologist, and bioethicist on the faculty at Providence College. Similarly to our interview with Fr. Lawrence Machia, we discuss the way in which science and a vocation to both the priesthood and life in a specific religious order intertwined in his life, with the additional perspective that his Filipino heritage contributes to his understanding of his vocation and the culture here in America. Rev. Nicanor Austriaco, O.P., Ph.D., is a Dominican priest and molecular biologist, on the faculty of Providence College. See his page on the college’s website. Cells carry a genetic program for self-death for the good of the organism. Cancer cells do not exercise this self-death. Here is one explanation of that phenomenon. Fr. Austriaco belongs to the Eastern Province of the Dominican Order. An early introduction within that order entails learning to remain silent, to trust in the loving presence of God. We talked about the American cultural propensity for busy-ness as a key to one’s sense of success. How can we think about the intersection of biological science and moral theology? Fr. Austriaco said this. Biology can help you figure out what’s good for you and what’s not good for you. We are creatures shaped by God through an evolutionary process that took place over a long time frame. Our fulfillment includes trying to understand which of our instinctual desires are perfected and which ones still have to be mastered. That’s the gist of Catholic moral theology. God calls us to joy, and that includes our fulfillment as the biological creatures we are. We must figure out what pleasures achieve the fulfillment of our nature and lead to joy. Pleasure is a grace; it can be a very good thing so long as the pleasure is ordered to our true human nature, our integral human fulfillment, what Christ calls us to. Is there a sense in which the Catechism of the Catholic Church is like an “owner’s manual” for the human being in living out a human life? Fr. Austriaco explained that the Gospel is a love letter from God, inviting us into friendship. The Catechism shows us the expectations that come with accepting that friendship. It’s not about what we “have to do” but what we want to do because the friendship is offering the relationship with Christ that brings us fulfillment. An “owner’s manual” concept suggests rules to follow to avoid car malfunctions, but our pursuit is more of a proactive response to God’s invitation of love and happiness. A mechanistic approach like an “owner’s manual” still suggests “I’m in charge” as an individual with a checklist—a deeply American interpretation, as Fr. Austriaco pointed out. Shortly after speaking at the annual conference of the Society of Catholic Scientists, Fr. Austriaco also spoke at the Vita Institute, sponsored annually by the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame as an intensive overview of Catholic pro-life principles. You can see Fr. Austriaco’s talk to the Society’s 2019 conference on YouTube. You’ll also find there a video of Fr. Austriaco’s 2017 lecture, “Defending Adam after Darwin.” 16:00 dogs and chocolate; biology gives us a specific perspective on what is good and bad for us. 18:00 pleasure and its purpose as well as how it leads us astray 20:00 Bill and the "owner's manual" perspective 22:00 rules secondary to relationships

"FQM announced to cut 2,500 local and expatriate employees during first quarter of 2019" "About 50% of Zambia's population are women, and yet only 16% of our parliament is made of up of elected women members" How are Scandinavians countries achieving this? "OVER 4,000 girls below the age of 20 in the year 2018 fell pregnant in Lundazi district in Eastern Province." What shall we do? "THE Government has ordered for the closure of all shebeens operating in Choma following continued noise pollution affecting learners and other residents in Zambia township." What about them bars which are open around 4am in Lusaka townships- just saying. "Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce to open campus in Isoka district" I wish UNZA would open up satellite campuses in every province of Zambia.  

In this episode of the Teachers on Fire podcast we speak with Adam Miller. Adam is a middle school physical education teacher in Dhahran, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. In this conversation Adam tells a hilarious story of having to manage a swim class for a group of kindergarteners within 20 minutes of their first day of school. He shares about why he’s so passionate about physical education, the pleasure he finds in brewing good beers, and a personal habit that translates into personal success in every area of his life. You’ll also want to hear his recommendations for books to read, an awesome edtech tool that provides formative assessment in the gym, and more. Follow Adam on Twitter @MillerAdamL. For more show notes on this episode, including timestamps and links, please visit TeachersOnFire.net. Song Track Credits Intro: Relax (by Simon More) Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/teachersonfire/support

Interview with Lindsey Kitteridge, co-founder and executive director of Shooting Touch, an international sport-for-development organization that uses the power of basketball to deliver global health education, intervention and empowerment to at-risk youth, women and their families. Founded in 2007, Shooting Touch is a lean program with two program directors, two post-collegiate athletic fellows, and 21 coaches, operating two core programs. In Boston, they run G3 (Getting Girls in the Game) that provides over 100 girls, ages 9-17, with female-friendly basketball programs, as well as off-court health education, mentorship and academic tutoring. In Rwanda, they run the Basketball Health Corps (BHC) that serves over 2,500 youth, ages 7-21, in Rwanda’s Eastern Province. Through its health education and interventions, Shooting Touch is combating environmental diseases, such as malaria, providing screening for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis A and B, promoting adolescent reproductive health, and changing culture norms in Rwanda to foster greater acceptance and participation of females in sports.

The federal government has found no “conclusive” evidence Canadian-made armoured vehicles were used to commit human-rights violations in Saudi Arabia’s restive Eastern Province last summer, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told a parliamentary committee Thursday. That was the result of… »

Have you heard many good homilies? Sadly, fewer and fewer Catholics are answering "yes" to that question. So, what makes a good homily? What makes preaching good, effective, instructive and engaging? Join us in the Luxurious Corner Booth of the FRENCH Catholic Cafe as we welcome Fr. Jim Greenfield, OSFS, the Provincial of the Eastern Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, who will speak with us on the topic of the ever-elusive skill of good preaching.

05% Arabic – 95% English Azzbda starts at 47:30 “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” Wise words, but they were said before passport control, jetlag, and uncomfortable seating. Today we have four very different perspectives, and we share some of our funnier travel stories, experiences, and travel tips. Guest Raneen is an entrepreneur with strong ties to the art scene in the middle east. She has her cafe in the Eastern Province and curates LOUDart, a traveling art gallery that showcases contemporary art by unknown artists… Traveling featuring Raneen Bukhari

Speaker: Toby Matthiesen, University of Oxford Chair: Toby Dodge, LSE Middle East Centre Toby Matthiesen launches his new book titled The Other Saudis: Shiism, dissent and sectarianism in which he traces the politics of the Shia in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia from the nineteenth century until the present day. The book outlines the difficult experiences of being Shia in a Wahhabi state, and casts new light on how the Shia have mobilised politically to change their position. The book is based on little-known Arabic sources, extensive fieldwork in Saudi Arabia and interviews with key activists. Of immense geopolitical importance, the oil-rich Eastern Province is a crucial but little known factor in regional politics and Gulf security. Recorded on 28 October 2015.

Baker Heights does a lot of work in the Eastern Province of Zambia, Africa. We send medical mission teams every few years, but the most important work we do is in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Listen to James Sumners, John Hanson, and Tommy and Shelia Holmes talk about the mission work going on in Zambia. CrossTalk is hosted by Wes McAdams and produced by Baker Heights church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. It airs every Wednesday at noon on Abilene's CW network.

Professor Tony Binns, University of Otago Ron Lister Chair of Geography, has been bestowed with the most remarkable of honours – being named an African Chief. The Paramount Chief and Section Chiefs of Sandor Chiefdom in Kono District, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone, awarded Professor Binns the titles of ‘Sahr Kayima' and ‘Chief Manjawah of Sandor' earlier this year. The honour recognises his work and community involvement over a period of 40 years since he first visited as a PhD student in 1974. He explains his personal journey and how he became interested in Africa and specifically Sierra Leone. He discusses his ongoing research and links with the communities and the significance of the honorary chieftaincy. 11 June 2014

Professor Tony Binns, University of Otago Ron Lister Chair of Geography, has been bestowed with the most remarkable of honours – being named an African Chief. The Paramount Chief and Section Chiefs of Sandor Chiefdom in Kono District, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone, awarded Professor Binns the titles of ‘Sahr Kayima' and ‘Chief Manjawah of Sandor' earlier this year. The honour recognises his work and community involvement over a period of 40 years since he first visited as a PhD student in 1974. He explains his personal journey and how he became interested in Africa and specifically Sierra Leone. He discusses his ongoing research and links with the communities and the significance of the honorary chieftaincy. 11 June 2014

Professor Tony Binns, University of Otago Ron Lister Chair of Geography, has been bestowed with the most remarkable of honours – being named an African Chief. The Paramount Chief and Section Chiefs of Sandor Chiefdom in Kono District, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone, awarded Professor Binns the titles of ‘Sahr Kayima’ and ‘Chief Manjawah of Sandor’ earlier this year. The honour recognises his work and community involvement over a period of 40 years since he first visited as a PhD student in 1974. He explains his personal journey and how he became interested in Africa and specifically Sierra Leone. He discusses his ongoing research and links with the communities and the significance of the honorary chieftaincy. 11 June 2014