Podcasts about embassies

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//The Wire//2100Z July 31, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: GIBRALTAR CRISIS CONTINUES AS 60,000 MIGRANTS FLOOD INTO SPAIN. ITALY TO SUSPEND SCHENGEN AGREEMENT WITH SPAIN DUE TO MIGRANT CRISIS. IRAN CONTINUES TARGETING KUWAIT AS UNITED STATES CONSOLIDATES POSITIONS IN MIDDLE EAST AMID IRANIAN TARGETING EFFORTS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Spain: The situation regarding the migrant wave has continued to deteriorate sharply. After the perimeter fence was breached yesterday, the sheer waves of people crossing the border have devastated the enclave of Ceuta. Spanish authorities estimate that over 60,000 people have crossed the border since the perimeter breach last night, and most residents of the peninsula have been barricading themselves inside their homes as the sheer number of people in this small town is staggering. Home invasions and forced-squatting instances have been reported all around the peninsula, along with mass looting and destruction taking place. Throughout this morning, many migrants have also been observed crossing back into Morocco, after realizing that the small peninsula cannot sustain this many people, as water and food sources have been expended throughout much of the city.Analyst Comment: Additionally, videos surfaced overnight confirming that this effort is not entirely organic. Truckloads of migrants are deliberately being driven to the border fence and released into Spain with the active participation of the Moroccan government. Moroccan border guards have also been observed opening the fence from their side as well, allowing large crowds through gates separating the peninsula from the mainland.Europe: This morning, the Italian government has suspended their Schengen Agreement with Spain, cutting off free travel between the two nations. The Interior Minister for Finland also voiced support for Italy's decision, urging other EU member states to likewise close their borders with Spain.Analyst Comment: Spain losing visa-free access to Italy is a big deal, as Italy one of the largest economies in Europe and cross-border trade between Spain and Italy amounts to roughly €70 billion per year. The Schengen agreement does specifically allow for the temporary halting of the pact as a measure of last resort, which Italy has enacted. If more nations follow suit, Spain could be in quite a tough spot that will probably result in a complication of trade in the short term. -----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the Middle East, the war remains much the same as before, with most strikes targeting American bases in Kuwait. No strikes have been reported in Jordan yet today, but satellite imagery is still pending coverage since the strikes on al Salti a few days ago. The United States has reportedly turned around a few vessels in the Gulf of Oman, which if true, confirms that the American blockade is still in effect to some degree. Similarly, Iranian sources claim to have struck two more tankers somewhere in the Gulf or Strait of Hormuz, but the UKMTO has not confirmed this yet (which they might not do, as they also underreported successful strikes a few weeks ago). In Iraq, Arab news sources are reporting that the drawdown of the American presence in Erbil is nearly complete, and that all missile defenses have been withdrawn from this installation and relocated elsewhere. Though the scale of the American withdrawal in Iraq is not exactly being openly advertised, moving the remains of that Patriot battery are a big clue that the U.S. is looking to cede Iraq to Iran's sphere of influence. The Erbil airport was the last official American position in the nation (aside from the Embassy in Baghdad), so if the US has departed this base, this would be the first time in 23 years the US has not had a conventional military presence in Iraq. Now, the closest positions to Iran (from the western side), are in Kuwait. This is probably why Iranian strikes continue to focus on Kuwait, and the American bases within. This is not just intended to reduce the potential for more American ATACMS missile launches from the border region, but also to keep pressure on the United States, preventing the staging of aircraft at the handful of airbases in Kuwait.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

Chad and I discuss the latest post from The Dispatch -Thanks for listening!The Embassy is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Embassy at theembassy.substack.com/subscribe

Let's go through the most recent spate of warnings, arising primarily from the Iran war, issued by the U.S. State Department and the embassies of several different countries.

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Sid Williams has lived 41 very full years. From being raised in Rwanda and experiencing the early days of the 1994 genocide, through choosing to live in deprived areas, discussing the journey of adoption, dealing with anxiety, crazy and creative ways of sharing his faith, etc, this is a wide-ranging discussion. More recently, from 2019 onwards, he has been the co-founder and director of Embassy, a UK-based homeless charity that helps vulnerable and homeless people rebuild their lives. It's a stunning story, and it's on the longer side, because we just couldn't shorten it - pure gold!▶️ Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kNwxa3-x834Check out www.embassyvillage.co.uk✨ You may also enjoy:Message on Fire! | Andy HawthorneTowards Eden | Sam WardInner-City Nitty Gritty | Dai Hankey---

There's been condemnation across the House after Winston Peters told Green Party MP Lawrence Xu-Nan to go back to his own country. The Chinese-born MP, is a New Zealand citizen and has lived in New Zealand since he was a child. The Chinese embassy has raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Giles Dexter reports.

The following article of the Trade & Investment industry is: 'Strategic Gateway: Why Wallonia Matters More Than Ever' by Matteo Mollica, Trade and Investment Counselor, Belgian Embassy - Agency for Trade and Investment. 

The Government Information Service and the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) have launched the second season of Fun Mandarin, an educational television programme designed to make Mandarin language learning engaging, accessible and culturally enriching while strengthening ties between Saint Lucia and Taiwan.

The United States Department of State will officially cease routine processing of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas at its embassy in Abuja, along with 24 other African diplomatic missions, starting August 1, 2026.This operational consolidation will shift routine visa applications to 20 centralized regional processing hubs to improve national security vetting, optimize government resources, and create uniform vetting standards as established during the Trump administration.Embassies and consulates that will lose their routine visa processing capabilities include: Abuja (Nigeria) Antananarivo (Madagascar) Asmara (Eritrea) Bamako (Mali) Banjul (The Gambia) Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo) Bujumbura (Burundi) Conakry (Guinea) Cotonou (Benin) Durban (South Africa) Freetown (Sierra Leone) Gaborone (Botswana) Harare (Zimbabwe) Juba (South Sudan) Libreville (Gabon) Lilongwe (Malawi) Lusaka (Zambia) Maputo (Mozambique) Maseru (Lesotho) Mbabane (Eswatini) N'Djamena (Chad) Niamey (Niger) Nouakchott (Mauritania) Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) Windhoek (Namibia)However, applicants residing in countries with affected missions will need to travel to one of the 20 designated regional hubs for interviews and visa issuance. Notable processing hubs include: Region Designated Active Processing Hubs West Africa Lagos (Nigeria), Accra (Ghana), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Dakar (Senegal), Lome (Togo), Monrovia (Liberia), Praia (Cape Verde) East & Central Africa Nairobi (Kenya), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Kampala (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda), Kinshasa (DRC), Yaoundé (Cameroon), Djibouti Southern Africa Johannesburg (South Africa), Cape Town (South Africa), Luanda (Angola) Other Hubs Dar-Es-Salaam (Tanzania), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Port Louis (Mauritius).It is important to note that no diplomatic posts are being closed. Affected missions will continue to provide American Citizen Services (ACS) and carry out local diplomatic functions.Additionally, visas that have already been issued will remain fully valid and will not be impacted by this consolidation.Beginning on August 1, 2026, individuals applying from non-hub countries will be required to pay their Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fees and schedule appointments directly via the portal of their assigned regional hub.Responses to the U.S. decision to cease routine visa processing at 25 diplomatic posts throughout Africa, effective August 1, 2026, include criticism regarding the rise in travel expenses , apprehensions about exacerbating existing backlogs, and justifications of the policy as a necessary security measure.Experts in international mobility and various critics contend that this consolidation serves as a covert strategy to impede legal immigration, further intensifying the already lengthy multi-year wait times for interviews.Business and trade organizations emphasize that this transition introduces considerable transactional barriers and additional costs for cross-border talent and corporate mobility.

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Innovation is no longer optional.Welcome to the first episode of Market Access Italy, the new international series by Inside Finance dedicated to world-class leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators contributing to the growth of the Italian economic ecosystem.Produced in collaboration with foreign embassies in Italy, the series aims to build bridges between Italy and some of the most influential minds shaping business, technology and innovation around the world.For this first episode, produced in partnership with the Embassy of Israel in Italy, Michael Persechini speaks with Itai Green, Founder and CEO of Innovate Israel, corporate open innovation expert and author of Innovation or Elimination.At the heart of the conversation is a powerful idea: the greatest obstacle to innovation is not technology, but people.Boards, CEOs and senior executives must learn to treat innovation as a core managerial capability, create a culture in which experimentation is encouraged and actively involve employees in the transformation process.During the episode, Itai Green explains:• Why companies that continue repeating what worked yesterday risk becoming irrelevant.• Why approximately 80% of the innovation challenge is connected to the human factor.• How corporations can identify concrete business challenges and collaborate effectively with startups.• Why open innovation must always support the company's broader strategy.• How Innovate Israel's methodology can transform corporate culture and produce startup integration rates exceeding 60%.• What startups must do to become relevant partners for large organisations.• What Italian companies can learn from Israel's culture of urgency, adaptability and innovation.• Why young professionals should embrace risk, remain flexible and consider building their own ventures.In a world shaped by artificial intelligence, autonomous agents and rapidly evolving competition, standing still is no longer a neutral decision.As the title of Itai Green's book makes clear, the choice facing companies today is increasingly simple: Innovation or Elimination.The episode is conducted by Michael Persechini, Equity Partner of Zero IN Sharing Knowledge Benefit Corporation, producer of the Inside Finance podcast.

The key findings of the Aughinish Alumina report were revealed on Friday. Fiachra was joined by Yaroslav Humeniuk, first secretary on economic issues at the Ukrainian embassy in Ireland, and minister of state at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick County Niall Collins.

Brian Burch on the historic Independence Day dinner with Pope Leo XIV at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, the nature of U.S. relations with the Holy See, and more. Tommy Pigott shares details on the new State Department report on Cuba.

The US Embassy has released a statement in reaction to the passing of the Israeli Settlements Bill 2026.It reads:“The Israeli Settlements Bill risks real unintended consequences, particularly for nearly 1,000 U.S. companies and the hundreds of thousands of Irish jobs tied to them. If the goal is to make a meaningful difference for Palestinians, the focus should be on coordinated international efforts that deliver real impact, not symbolic measures that harm Ireland's economy and will not advance peace. We urge Ireland to avoid pushing similarly unhelpful initiatives at the EU-level.”Joining Ciara to react is Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway and Columnist with The Journal.

An OpenAI model has gone rogue. Not only has it gone rogue, but it hacked Hugging Face completely unprompted and without approval. That's pretty scary. But just how much of this story should legitimately frighten us, and how much is being blown out of proportion? Senior Editor for AI at MIT Technology Review Will Heaven joins David Rothkopf to cut through the bullshit and share why we should be concerned and if we should expect similar incidents in the future.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An OpenAI model has gone rogue. Not only has it gone rogue, but it hacked Hugging Face completely unprompted and without approval. That's pretty scary. But just how much of this story should legitimately frighten us, and how much is being blown out of proportion? Senior Editor for AI at MIT Technology Review Will Heaven joins David Rothkopf to cut through the bullshit and share why we should be concerned and if we should expect similar incidents in the future.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Kyle Morgan spent over twenty years in the Army. Infantry, then Green Beret, then more than a decade in the nation's premier special missions unit running hostage rescue. In 2015 he was advising the U.S. Embassy in Mali when terrorists took the Radisson Blu hotel. He built a team on the fly and went in. The award for that was the Distinguished Service Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor. Today he runs Blu Bearing, trains police and civilians, and serves on the board of Frontline Healing Foundation. When the job ends the machine has already forgotten about you, and he'll tell you that isn't cruel because it has to forget you to keep moving. The guys who come apart are the ones still trying to replace something that can't be replaced. He didn't leave the way he wanted to. There was addiction, a DUI he hid, and an overdose that nearly ended it, and his old command circled the wagons around him more than once before he finally made it out. Sobriety and faith are what brought him back, almost five years of it now, and he spends his time pointing at the cost so the next guy doesn't pay it blind. He'll tell you he's more proud of the husband and father he is today than anything he ever did downrange.  Blu Bearing Solutions: ⁠https://blubearing.com/⁠ Join the Cleared Hot Newsletter: ⁠https://www.clearedhot.com⁠ Take the Operator Code Assessment: ⁠https://www.theoperatorcode.com⁠ Today's Sponsors:  Black Rifle Coffee:  ⁠https://www.blackriflecoffee.com⁠ LMNT: ⁠https://www.drinklmnt.com

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Bonnie Campagnuolo, Global Brand Head at Embassy Suites by Hilton, sat down with Glenn on the rooftop of the Asheville property to explain how the brand is winning in the all-suites category — and why developers keep choosing it. The brand's "kit of parts" approach gives developers real flexibility. Build 150 keys in a small market or 500 keys in Nashville. Beach resort or urban downtown. Every property adapts to local demand while preserving the elements that made Embassy Suites Embassy Suites: two-room suites, breakfast omelets, evening reception. The Asheville rooftop, which is Michelin-recommended and busy seven nights a week, is one example of what the kit of parts makes possible. Where the brand is really evolving: food and beverage. Once an amenity, now a profitability engine. Rooftop restaurants, elevated meetings and events catering, and full-service dining give developers a first step into full-service without full-service complexity. That's why the pipeline is holding in a difficult development environment — with new properties opening across the U.S. and internationally in Africa, Doha, Dubai, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. And when Glenn asked what makes it all work? Not the buildings. Not the corporate strategy. The general managers. Visit embassysuites.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Charles Spicer describes how, during the 1937 coronation of George VI, Ribbentrop hosted a chaotic, overcrowded party at the German embassy. Despite the champagne-fueled festivities, the event was a social failure that highlighted the growing friction between the two cultures. Meanwhile, Vansittart realized the traditional intelligence services had poor access to the Nazi leadership. He established a parallel network—"Van's Detective Agency"—utilizing Christie and Conwell-Evans as private intelligence sources. Conwell-Evans, previously optimistic, underwent a total volte-face in 1937, bravely shifting his focus to gathering intelligence through his high-level German networks to warn the Britishgovernment. (7)1940

Charles Spicer describes how, during the 1937 coronation of George VI, Ribbentrop hosted a chaotic, overcrowded party at the German embassy. Despite the champagne-fueled festivities, the event was a social failure that highlighted the growing friction between the two cultures. Meanwhile, Vansittart realized the traditional intelligence services had poor access to the Nazi leadership. He established a parallel network—"Van's Detective Agency"—utilizing Christie and Conwell-Evans as private intelligence sources. Conwell-Evans, previously optimistic, underwent a total volte-face in 1937, bravely shifting his focus to gathering intelligence through his high-level German networks to warn the Britishgovernment. (7)1945

The landscape of AI policy is changing rapidly. From a one year data center moratorium in New York to sweeping new energy laws in Thailand, it's clear that governments around the world are exploring radical new approaches to artificial intelligence. AI, Energy and Climate host David Sandalow and Siliconsciousness host David Rothkopf join forces to examine the far-reaching debate over AI policy to examine what's working and what the future might hold.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The landscape of AI policy is changing rapidly. From a one year data center moratorium in New York to sweeping new energy laws in Thailand, it's clear that governments around the world are exploring radical new approaches to artificial intelligence. AI, Energy and Climate host David Sandalow and Siliconsciousness host David Rothkopf join forces to examine the far-reaching debate over AI policy to examine what's working and what the future might hold.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final installment of our Tab Chapel summer series, Pastor Chris dives into a vital question: What Does This Church Do?. While we are all part of the universal, global church, every local congregation has a specific assignment to carry out in its own community. Pastor Chris shares a powerful vision of the local church as an Embassy of Heaven, acting as the official presence of God's kingdom to represent His values, authority, and restoration right where we live.This message moves beyond just attending a service to understanding your role as a high ranking ambassador in your workplace, school, and neighborhood. You will hear how the church is designed to equip you for service and how the Holy Spirit empowers you to be a witness in your everyday life. If you have ever felt like you wanted to do more for the kingdom but didn't know how, this message will help you discover how your unique personality and spiritual gifts are specifically tailored for the places God has dropped you.

HEADLINES:• UAE Flights To Abha Cancelled After Missile And Drone Attack• US Embassy And Consulate In The UAE Suspend Consular Appointments Through July 15• Dubai Is Becoming A Popular Training Base For UK Athletes• A Restaurant Review Cost This Influencer AED 81,000

The question is when, not if, the AI bubble is going to pop. As tech companies see share values skyrocket, it becomes more clear with each passing day that the value of these companies is built on a house of cards. So just how bad will the fallout be? Distinguished Fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research Dean Baker joins David Rothkopf to answer this question and more.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Hinchliffe discusses the advancement of the global technocratic control grid highlighting the rollout of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which integrates digital IDs, programmable currencies, and data centers into a centralized system of governance and includes digital embassies for nations who don’t possess their own compute. These interconnected technologies are being used by global institutions and governments to implement a totalitarian surveillance state that transcends national borders. Escape the Technocracy Live Workshop (w/ Geopolitics & Empire)! https://escapethetechnocracy.com/product-escape-the-technocracy-live-workshop-season-2 Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rumble / Substack / YouTube *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation **Listen Ad-Free for $4.99 a Month or $49.99 a Year! Apple Subscriptions https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/geopolitics-empire/id1003465597 Supercast https://geopoliticsandempire.supercast.com ***Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics American Gold Exchange https://www.amergold.com/geopolitics Escape The Technocracy (15% off w/ GEOPOLITICS!) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics Expat Money (FREE “WW3 Plan-B” Report!) https://expatmoney.com/geopolitics PassVult https://passvult.com Sociatates Civis https://societates-civis.com StartMail https://www.startmail.com/partner/?ref=ngu4nzr Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Websites X https://x.com/TimHinchliffe Sociable https://sociable.co About Tim Hinchliffe The Sociable editor Tim Hinchliffe covers tech and society, with perspectives on public and private policies proposed by governments, unelected globalists, think tanks, big tech companies, defense departments, and intelligence agencies. Previously, Tim was a reporter for the Ghanaian Chronicle in West Africa and an editor at Colombia Reports in South America. These days, he is only responsible for articles he writes and publishes in his own name. *Podcast intro music used with permission is from the song “The Queens Jig” by the fantastic “Musicke & Mirth” from their album “Music for Two Lyra Viols”: http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

The question is when, not if, the AI bubble is going to pop. As tech companies see share values skyrocket, it becomes more clear with each passing day that the value of these companies is built on a house of cards. So just how bad will the fallout be? Distinguished Fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research Dean Baker joins David Rothkopf to answer this question and more.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kentucky State Representative Vanessa Grossl joins hosts Ryan Stevens and Ryan DeMara to talk about her extensive background experience that led her to the statehouse, including teaching English abroad, working at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, running an international center for the City of Lexington, shaping state policy at the Council of State Governments, working in tech startups, and finally flipping a state house seat.Rep. Grossl shares what surprised her most about life as a first term legislator and reflects on how her varied career, including her time spent living and working in Japan, shapes her views on education and personal responsibility. She also previews her top legislative priority for the next session, closing a dangerous regulatory gap around compounding pharmacies, med spas, and weight loss drugs after a constituent's harrowing medical scare. She also talks the value of the legislative conference circuit (CSG, ALEC, NCSL), and, of course, her favorite of the nearly 60 countries she's visited.

BREAKING: Iranian Vigil for Graham Outside Embassy.

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China's use of soft power to create a favorable public perception can reveal goals and tendencies useful for investors. Confluence Chief Market Strategist Patrick Fearon-Hernandez joins Phil Adler to share what he learned from a recent visit to the Chinese embassy in Washington.

Monday Headlines: One Nation loses support to the Coalition Trump says strait of Hormuz open despite Iran closure Australian Universities forced to adopt new definitions on antisemitism and Islamophobia Aussie students flock to free TAFE courses, but apprentice figures dip Australia to wave goodbye to paper arrival cards for incoming travellers Deep Dive: Pattaya has long traded on two reputations: a tourist playground by day, and one of the world's busiest red-light hubs by night. That darker side made global headlines last month when the body of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase beside a railway line on the edge of the city. A 45-year-old Australian man has been accused of her murder, which he denies. The case has reignited scrutiny of an industry that's technically against the law in Thailand, yet thrives in full view - raising questions about corruption, worker safety, and the surprising truth about who's actually driving demand. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with emeritus professor at George Washington University and author of Sex Tourism in Thailand: Inside Asia's Premier Erotic Playground, Ronald Weitzer to unpack it. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fifth-generation quilter from the legendary community of Gee's Bend, Alabama, Loretta Pettway Bennett turns well used cloth into her own expressions of color and community. Loretta Pettway Bennett began her quilting journey as a child, threading needles for her mother as she sewed scraps into bedcoverings. The women in the town of Gee's Bend pieced quilt tops and got together to hand quilt their work, a tradition that spans decades. Loretta's first quilt was an ambitious Flower Garden hexagon design that she cut and sewed entirely on her own when she was 12 years old. Half a century later, quilting is woven into Loretta's life, as it is for her sister, aunts, cousins, and ancestors. Although quilting has always been part of her life, Loretta's vision is uniquely her own. In the early 2000s, Loretta decided to embrace her own style and gave herself the freedom to enjoy making quilts in her own way. She decided to resist rules that seams line up perfectly or that only certain colors go together. Instead, she lets the quilt make itself and invites the colors to talk to each other. Working with thrifted and gifted material, she chooses the fabrics that speak to her (bright colors, few prints) and especially loves the pieces that have been well used and mended. The contemporary interest in thrifting and mending is a simple fact of life to Loretta, as natural as eating. Several of her designs include denim jeans, patched knees and all. In 2002, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston mounted a major exhibition of quilts from Gee's Bend, and Loretta saw her quilting traditions in a new light. A quilt that her mother made to cover her bed, on which Loretta and her sister had laid on the floor, was described as art in one of the country's most important art museums. Standing in the exhibit, she says, “. . . the more I looked at the quilts, the more I started seeing what [viewers] saw in the quilts.” Today, Loretta's own quilts are part of museum, corporate, and U.S. State Department collections and have appeared in 19 U.S. Embassies worldwide. Her work has been recognized with numerous prizes and fellowships, most recently a 2026 Maxwell/Hanrahan Award in Craft. Loretta teaches quilting both to children in her community and through Vacation with an Artist, a program where crafters work in her workshop and learn the community's methods. She plans to put her recent award money toward a coloring book of her quilts, an echo of her childhood wish to be a painter. Having spent decades painting with fabric, she loves to see others playing with color for themselves through her classes and is excited to see their interpretations in her coloring book. Links View some of Loretta Pettway Bennet's quilts at Souls Grown Deep and Greg Kucera Gallery Learn about Gee's Bend and visiting the area at the Visit Gee's Bend website Discover the history and revival of the Freedom Quilting Bee Find details of the Airing of the Quilts Festival, which will be held next on Saturday, October 3, 2026 Read about Loretta at the Maxwell/Hanrahan 2026 Awards in Craft website Find details on the Vacation with an Artist hosted by Loretta and her sister-in-law, Marlene Bennett Follow Loretta's Instagram This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com. You'll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway's array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you'll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. The Michigan Fiber Festival—Michigan's largest sheep and wool festival—is a vibrant world of fiber arts. Discover five days of classes with nationally recognized teachers in spinning, weaving, lacemaking, dyeing, felting, and rug hooking. Enjoy three days of shopping. Delight in shearing and fiber arts demonstrations. Enjoy a truly immersive experience. Join us in August at the picturesque Allegan County Fairgrounds (you can even camp on site!) Find more details at [michiganfiberfestival.info.](The Michigan Fiber Festival – Michigan's largest sheep and wool festival – is a vibrant world of fiber arts. Discover five days of classes with nationally recognized teachers in spinning, weaving, lacemaking, dyeing, felting, and rug hooking. Enjoy three days of shopping. Delight in shearing and fiber arts demonstrations. Enjoy a truly immersive experience. Join us in August at the picturesque Allegan County Fairgrounds (you can even camp on site!) Find more details at michiganfiberfestival.info.)

The quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup are underway, with Belgium taking on Spain on Friday, hoping to join France in the semi-finals after France beat Morocco 2–0 on Thursday. On Saturday, Norway will face England, with Norway in the quarter-finals for the first time. Argentina will also face Switzerland on Saturday in Kansas City, with Switzerland in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.U.S. Central Command says its forces hit approximately 90 Iranian military targets on July 8, including air defense systems, coastal surveillance sites, missile and drone storage facilities, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran's coastline. The U.S. Embassy in Jordan on July 9 warned people to take shelter after reports of missiles, rockets, and drones entering Jordanian airspace.Eight men have now been indicted in an alleged plot to attack the White House's UFC Freedom 250 event last month. Authorities say the eighth suspect, Chandler Scaggs of West Virginia, was arrested this week and was allegedly assigned as one of the snipers. Federal prosecutors say the suspects conspired to provide material support to terrorists and to murder federal officials.

Italy has expelled two Russian military attaches over alleged espionage linked to an investigation into classified military information reportedly sold to Russian intelligence, prompting Moscow to vow retaliation.

E is for Embassy. And in this case, I'm talking about the US Embassy's Garden Party to mark 250 years of Independence with a capital I.  And guess what: I was there! So this podcast is just me, Oliver Gee, talking about my night among the Americans for their Fourth of July bash.  And here's the video from INSIDE the US ambassadorial residence that I mentioned in the show, from a year ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygYRLRg--70 The music is from Pres Maxson.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

Top headlines for Monday, July 6, 2026The U.S. signs a deal for a permanent embassy site in Jerusalem, rescuers pull a Venezuelan security guard alive from earthquake rubble after eight days, the Supreme Court is asked to protect a Native American sacred site, and a Kentucky church defends a viral VBS “shooting the devil” skit.0:11 Huckabee signs agreement for permanent Embassy site in Jerusalem0:59 Hernán Alberto Gil Flores is rescued in Venezuelan 'miracle'1:49 Episcopal priest punished for alleged adultery appeals decision2:39 Kentucky pastor defends VBS skit of shooting devil: 'warfare'3:23 Megachurch Pastor Adam Hamilton releases first Senate campaign ad4:13 Pastor denies criminal operation was being run from church4:59 Supreme Court asked to hear religious freedom sacred land disputeSubscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsHuckabee signs agreement for permanent Embassy site in Jerusalem | PoliticsHernán Alberto Gil Flores is rescued in Venezuelan ‘miracle' | WorldEpiscopal priest punished for alleged adultery appeals decision | Church & MinistriesKentucky pastor defends VBS skit of shooting devil: 'warfare' | U.S.Megachurch Pastor Adam Hamilton releases first Senate campaign ad | PoliticsPastor denies criminal operation was being run from church | U.S.Supreme Court asked to hear religious freedom sacred land dispute | U.S.

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After recent primaries, it's clear that AI is top of mind for many Americans. Whether it's a mistrust of AI as a whole or just the people at the helms of the companies reaping massive profits, it's clear that it's past time for Democrats to have a robust tech and AI strategy. Former Director of the National AI Office Karen Kornbluh joins David Rothkopf to consider what Dems need to do for the midterms and beyond to address this critical issue.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Twists of recent history have led to deep distrust of the AI sector and political decisions about AI—and with good reason for both. With expert Dave Karpf, we discuss how we got to this point and how tech barons have reached historic levels of power and influence in Washington.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You are now leaving Iranian airspace!” It was a moment that dozens of hostages and their loved ones longed for with bated breath, for 444 days. Freedom. To be released, and returned home. The Iranian hostage crisis captured the attention of the world, but how did we get there? President Jimmy Carter was in Iran for a New Year's celebration in 1978, and his infamous toast would have become a viral clip had it taken place today. Little did he know that days later, an Iranian newspaper article would set off months of cyclical rioting, protests, and ultimately the invasion of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, with 66 Americans being taken hostage.