Podcasts about Eurasia

Ukraine has been stepping up its long-range attacks inside Russia. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to pound Kyiv, with a massive missile attack over the weekend. Dara Massicot is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at Carnegie and has just returned from a research trip to Ukraine. She joins the show from Washington.  Also on today's show: Chris Krebs, Former United States Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; financial journalist William Cohan    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Présente du Portugal à la Scandinavie, la mystérieuse culture campaniforme va changer une partie de l'Europe. Qu'était cette population ? Était-ce seulement une population ? Grâce à l'archéologie et à la génétique, partez sur les traces de cette culture qui continue de faire débattre les chercheurs. Oui, tout ça à cause d'un gobelet en forme de cloche.Retrouvez le script, la bibliographie complète et les crédits sonores et graphiques sur : https://ladentbleue.fr/culture-campaniforme-genetique-archeologieSuivez La Dent Bleue sur :

Parallel Journeys: Eurasian History through Travelers' Eyes (Cambria Press, 2026) is a comparative history of Eurasia told through travel writing and cross-cultural encounters. In this anthology, Anthony Barbieri pairs accounts from twenty-eight travelers across different historical periods, placing side-by-side travelers looking or going East with those looking or going West. Spanning from 400 BCE through to 1936, the anthology brings together ambassadors, monks, missionaries, merchants, and journalists in order to explore how people understood the cultures, societies, and worlds that they encountered through travel. Structured around these “parallel journeys,” the book highlights both similarities and differences in the ways travelers described foreign places and peoples. Some travelers used these encounters to criticize the societies they entered, while others turned outward observation into reflection on their own cultures. Across the anthology, travel writing emerges not simply as a way of describing a journey, but as a way of forging ideas about cultural difference, identity, religion, commerce, and political power. This anthology will appeal to readers interested in Eurasian history, travel writing, world literature, and cross-cultural exchange. It is also a flexible and engaging anthology perfect for classroom teaching, complete with both long and short versions of each account, helpful visuals, and contextual information — an excellent way to get students thinking about what it means to do comparison effectively. For another overview of the anthology, readers should check out Barbieri's lecture “Beyond the Mountains and Seas,” available on YouTube here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Parallel Journeys: Eurasian History through Travelers' Eyes (Cambria Press, 2026) is a comparative history of Eurasia told through travel writing and cross-cultural encounters. In this anthology, Anthony Barbieri pairs accounts from twenty-eight travelers across different historical periods, placing side-by-side travelers looking or going East with those looking or going West. Spanning from 400 BCE through to 1936, the anthology brings together ambassadors, monks, missionaries, merchants, and journalists in order to explore how people understood the cultures, societies, and worlds that they encountered through travel. Structured around these “parallel journeys,” the book highlights both similarities and differences in the ways travelers described foreign places and peoples. Some travelers used these encounters to criticize the societies they entered, while others turned outward observation into reflection on their own cultures. Across the anthology, travel writing emerges not simply as a way of describing a journey, but as a way of forging ideas about cultural difference, identity, religion, commerce, and political power. This anthology will appeal to readers interested in Eurasian history, travel writing, world literature, and cross-cultural exchange. It is also a flexible and engaging anthology perfect for classroom teaching, complete with both long and short versions of each account, helpful visuals, and contextual information — an excellent way to get students thinking about what it means to do comparison effectively. For another overview of the anthology, readers should check out Barbieri's lecture “Beyond the Mountains and Seas,” available on YouTube here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Parallel Journeys: Eurasian History through Travelers' Eyes (Cambria Press, 2026) is a comparative history of Eurasia told through travel writing and cross-cultural encounters. In this anthology, Anthony Barbieri pairs accounts from twenty-eight travelers across different historical periods, placing side-by-side travelers looking or going East with those looking or going West. Spanning from 400 BCE through to 1936, the anthology brings together ambassadors, monks, missionaries, merchants, and journalists in order to explore how people understood the cultures, societies, and worlds that they encountered through travel. Structured around these “parallel journeys,” the book highlights both similarities and differences in the ways travelers described foreign places and peoples. Some travelers used these encounters to criticize the societies they entered, while others turned outward observation into reflection on their own cultures. Across the anthology, travel writing emerges not simply as a way of describing a journey, but as a way of forging ideas about cultural difference, identity, religion, commerce, and political power. This anthology will appeal to readers interested in Eurasian history, travel writing, world literature, and cross-cultural exchange. It is also a flexible and engaging anthology perfect for classroom teaching, complete with both long and short versions of each account, helpful visuals, and contextual information — an excellent way to get students thinking about what it means to do comparison effectively. For another overview of the anthology, readers should check out Barbieri's lecture “Beyond the Mountains and Seas,” available on YouTube here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Parallel Journeys: Eurasian History through Travelers' Eyes (Cambria Press, 2026) is a comparative history of Eurasia told through travel writing and cross-cultural encounters. In this anthology, Anthony Barbieri pairs accounts from twenty-eight travelers across different historical periods, placing side-by-side travelers looking or going East with those looking or going West. Spanning from 400 BCE through to 1936, the anthology brings together ambassadors, monks, missionaries, merchants, and journalists in order to explore how people understood the cultures, societies, and worlds that they encountered through travel. Structured around these “parallel journeys,” the book highlights both similarities and differences in the ways travelers described foreign places and peoples. Some travelers used these encounters to criticize the societies they entered, while others turned outward observation into reflection on their own cultures. Across the anthology, travel writing emerges not simply as a way of describing a journey, but as a way of forging ideas about cultural difference, identity, religion, commerce, and political power. This anthology will appeal to readers interested in Eurasian history, travel writing, world literature, and cross-cultural exchange. It is also a flexible and engaging anthology perfect for classroom teaching, complete with both long and short versions of each account, helpful visuals, and contextual information — an excellent way to get students thinking about what it means to do comparison effectively. For another overview of the anthology, readers should check out Barbieri's lecture “Beyond the Mountains and Seas,” available on YouTube here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

SCHEDULE  JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-27-26Headline: Signaling Peace Amidst Conflict: The US and Iran Standstill Guest: Ambassador Hussein Haqqani and Bill Roggio Summary: John Batchelor discusses the current tensions between Iran and the United States following a sudden halt in American bombing. Ambassador Haqqani explains that both nations are seeking a diplomatic "off-ramp," though they face severe internal political constraints that prevent either a ground invasion or a total surrender. Bill Roggio adds that while secret talks are likely, reports of depleted US munitions might be influencing the decision to pause military action.Headline: The Threat of Escalation in the Caspian Theater Guest: Ambassador Hussein Haqqani and Bill RoggioSummary: This segment examines the potential for unconventional warfare escalation across Eurasia and the specific risks within the Caspian theater. Haqqani warns that Iran's ability to hold the global economy hostage through the Red Sea and Hormuz Strait creates a complex dilemma for the US. Bill Roggio concurs that limited aerial bombardment is insufficient for regime change and notes that neighboring countries like Kuwait remain hesitant to directly engage for fear of retaliation.Headline: Somalia's Unverifiable Victories: The Death of a Shabaab Founder Guest: Caleb Weiss and Bill RoggioSummary: Somali officials claim the death of Maalim Ibrahim, a co-founder of al-Shabaab and a key military planner who held many executive hats. However, guest Caleb Weiss cautions that such claims often lack third-party verification and may be false. The US is currently threatening to cut funding for the UN mission in Somalia due to a perceived lack of progress against the group and pervasive internal political corruption.Headline: Houthi Blockades and the Siege of Saudi Energy Ports Guest: Bridget Turner and Bill Roggio Summary: Houthi rebels have initiated a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabian ports, causing ship traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait to fall to its lowest level in months. While the Houthis cite local grievances, their actions align with Iran's broader strategy to pressure global energy markets. Despite the threat, Saudi Arabia has retaliated by bombing Houthi ports, even as the rebels receive targeting assistance from Iranian spy ships.Headline: High Stakes Diplomacy: Netanyahu's Visit and the Iranian Threat Guest: Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter Summary: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Washington to meet with President Trump and attend the funeral of the late Senator Graham. The agenda focuses heavily on Iran's continued aggression, including reports of the "Pickaxe Mountain" facility containing thousands of centrifuges deep underground. Malcolm Hoenlein notes that despite the diplomatic pause, Iran continues to execute young dissidents and sponsor assassination plots in Israel and the United Kingdom.Headline: The Lebanese Pilot Zones: A Fragile Experiment in Peace Guest: Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotterSummary: Lebanon is attempting to establish humanitarian pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) replace withdrawing Israeli troops. Critics argue this model mirrors the failed Gaza disengagement, as Hezbollah remains entrenched and unwilling to disarm. Additionally, Hoenlein discusses a recent Ukrainian attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, which signals a dangerous expansion of the regional conflict that may have broader retaliatory implications for the future.Headline: Hezbollah's Surveillance and the Ineffectiveness of the LAF Guest: David Daoud and Bill Roggio Summary: The IDF recently shot down an unarmed Hezbollah drone gathering intelligence over strategic ridges in southern Lebanon. David Daoud highlights that Hezbollah continues to operate freely despite the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces in pilot zones. The segment questions why Western leaders trust the Lebanese government, given its failure to demand nationwide disarmament and its history of coordinating with Hezbollah to hide military infrastructure from international monitors.FILE 8: Not provided in the sources.Headline: Brazil's Transnational Politics: Lula vs. the Conservative Alliance Guest: Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa Summary: President Lula da Silva of Brazil has shifted toward an anti-American stance, aligning himself with "criminal socialism" and the São Paulo Forum. Former Foreign Minister Araújo describes a growing transnational alliance between Donald Trump, Javier Milei, and Flavio Bolsonaro to counter communist penetration in Latin America. The upcoming Brazilian election is seen as a critical battleground for the future of economic freedom and regional stability against organized crime.Headline: The Venezuelan Transition and the Shield of the Americas Guest: Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña EsclusaSummary: Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez has received unexpected praise from President Trump, causing concern among opposition members who view her as a gangster. Alejandro Peña Esclusa argues that Rodriguez is a repressive figure and suggests a reconstruction government of experts instead. Meanwhile, Brazil's Flavio Bolsonaro seeks to join the "Shield of the Americas" to combat regional criminal gangs and support a democratic transition in Venezuela.FILE 11: Not provided in the sources.Headline: Iran's Drone Test: Challenging the US Strategic Pause Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill RoggioSummary: Following a US suspension of airstrikes, Iran launched drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq to test the Trump administration's resolve. Edmund Fitton-Brown explains that Iran aims to prove it decides when pauses occur, not the US. The segment warns that without consistent US pressure, Iran could establish a "regional protection racket," leaving Arab states to seek separate accommodations with the bully on the block.Headline: Starship Test 13: Success and Challenges in Reusability Guest: Doug Messier Summary: SpaceX's Starship Test 13 achieved a controlled landing of the spacecraft in the Indian Ocean, though the Super Heavy booster exploded during its Gulf landing. Doug Messier explains that while the mission successfully deployed Starlink satellites, the FAA remains concerned about future overland flights. The ultimate goal is full reusability for NASA's upcoming lunar missions and upgrading the capacity of the Starlink network for laser communications.Headline: Decapitating Hamas: Targeted Strikes in Gaza Guest: Samuel Benner and Bill Roggio Summary: The IDF has conducted targeted strikes against Hamas's internal security commanders, including the head of the police force in central Gaza. Samuel Benner reports that while the upper military echelon has been largely eliminated, Israel is now targeting those responsible for imposing rule on Gazans. Despite these strikes, Hamas continues to control food distribution, effectively using humanitarian aid as a "piggy bank" for the organization.Headline: The Iran War: A Strategy Stuck in Stalemate Guest: Jonathan Schanzer and Bill Roggio Summary: After twelve days of intense US bombing, there is confusion regarding the long-term plan for achieving behavior change in Tehran. Jonathan Schanzer argues that the regime remains ideologically committed to power and is unlikely to offer concessions for money alone. Furthermore, Iran's capability to launch ballistic missiles remains significant, and the IRGC has not yet felt the impression that a total regime collapse is imminent.Headline: The AI Bubble: China's Strategic Intellectual Property Theft Guest: Brandon Ward and Gordon ChangSummary: China is allegedly using stolen American intellectual property to train its artificial intelligence models, such as Moonshot's Kimmy K3. Brandon Ward suggests this is a strategic move to collapse the inflated market value of the American AI sector. Gordon Chang warns that despite export bans, Chinese firms continue to acquire high-end Nvidia chips, complicating US strategic plans and economic dominance while threatening a potential future shooting war.

Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggio examine the potential for unconventional warfare escalation across Eurasia and the specific risks within the Caspian theater. Haqqani warns that Iran's ability to hold the global economy hostage through the Red Sea and Hormuz Strait creates a complex dilemma for the US. Bill Roggio concurs that limited aerial bombardment is insufficient for regime change and notes that neighboring countries like Kuwait remain hesitant to directly engage for fear of retaliation. (2)

Max sits down with guest-host Lexi Linafelter, Program Coordinator and Research Assistant with the CSIS Europe, Russia and Eurasia program to discuss Max's recent trip to Budapest and new leadership across the Atlantic. They discuss key takeaways from the NATO Summit in Ankara, old challenges facing new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in British politics, and Marine Le Pen's announcement launching her fourth campaign for the presidency in France.  Mentioned: The Eurofile LIVE: German Rearmament and Reflections on NATO's Ankara Summit The NATO Ankara Summit: Delivery over Drama, Commentary by Jonathan Burchell Make the Ankara Summit About European Defense Autonomy, Commentary by Max Bergmann and Otto Svendsen The Magyar revolution: Hungary's new era, by Ben Hall and Marton Dunai Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org. If you love The Eurofile, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts. Check out our sister podcast, Russian Roulette.

Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. The Imperial Decay of the American Order. The discussion shifts to the deterioration of American institutions, which Germanicus claims are now indistinguishable from the 3rd-century Roman imperial system. He describes a "long unraveling" of the constitutional order where Congress has become "nothing" and the Supreme Court is forced to uphold basic tenets it wasn't designed to enforce. This "emperor system" is characterized by an executive branch that is increasingly detached from reality regarding global economic stability and military resources. Furthermore, he asserts that the political establishment is too corrupt to produce genuine leaders, resulting in "pygmies" who are incapable of challenging the prevailing delusions. He warns that the U.S. is at a historical "inflection point" similar to when the Roman Empire began to collapse after centuries of dominance, noting that current leaders risk a global "economic fault" or famine by pursuing unsustainable escalations in Eurasia. (2)SULLAGuests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. The Ritual of Combat and Modern Delusions. Germanicusargues that for the Romans, war and ceremony were inextricably linked, using triumphs and gladiatorial spectacles to forge a shared identity between the people and the military. These rituals were "incarnations of the spirit of Rome" triumphing over "barbaric" enemies, providing a form of "ecstatic participatory" fulfillment. He notes a parallel in modern America, which uses "ecstatic vicarity" through high-tech war footage and video games to maintain a similar bond. However, he warns that the U.S. dangerously underestimates adversaries like Iran by viewing them as "barbarians" rather than a sophisticated, 2,500-year-old culture. He laments the loss of the "sobriety" that guided Cold War leadership—where the stakes of nuclear confrontation were understood—noting that current American policy reflects a "gods of war" complex born from the easy successes of the early 1990s. Gaius adds that this technological display creates a "fog of war" where the enemy's own capabilities and "vote" in the conflict are often ignored. (1)

fWotD Episode 3363: Curlew sandpiper Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 20 July 2026, is Curlew sandpiper.The curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) is a small wader. It is a long-distance migrant, breeding in the bogs and coastal lowlands of the Siberian Arctic, arriving there in June and staying until August or September. After the breeding season, it migrates south to spend the winter in Africa and along the coasts of Oceania and southern Eurasia, occupying tidal mudflats and saltpans.It has three main plumages that change with maturity and season. The non-breeding plumage shows brown-greyish upperparts and white underparts. The breeding plumage is much more striking, with the entire front tinted a deep rusty colour, more intensely so in males. The first-year bird does not migrate or breed, instead remaining in its overwintering range throughout the breeding season. It may occasionally moult into its breeding plumage, which is largely similar to that of an adult but with white spots on the chest. The non-breeding juvenile plumage is also like that of an adult, except with creamy-coloured streaking on the breast and pale fringes on some of the wing feathers, leading to a scaly appearance. Adults superficially resemble the larger but shorter-billed red knot and the red phalarope in breeding plumage, and the dunlin and stilt sandpiper while not breeding. Juveniles may be confused with the larger and yellow-legged juvenile ruff, or the juvenile dunlin, which has a streaked chest.The curlew sandpiper's courtship behaviour is complex and involves several distinct displays. In one, the male constructs a faux nest on the ground to present to the female. Another is a graceful aerial chase accompanied by frequent warbling calls. In a third, the male dances around the female on the ground, displaying his tail feathers and rump; this display sometimes culminates in copulation. The female almost always lays one clutch of eggs, usually around the end of June, which hatch after 20 days and fully fledge at 14–20 days. Chicks are relatively mature and mobile at birth. The curlew sandpiper's breeding success is linked to the lemming population; in years with many lemmings, its predators hunt them instead. It is omnivorous, foraging in large flocks in wetlands for various invertebrates, including crabs and insects.It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List because land development and the invasive smooth cordgrass have caused significant habitat loss to its overwintering and migratory sites, and climate change has lowered its breeding productivity. The curlew sandpiper has an estimated annual survival rate of 75–80%.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:53 UTC on Monday, 20 July 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Curlew sandpiper on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Kimberly.

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Michael Carpenter, a senior fellow for Transatlantic Affairs at the International Institute for Strategic Studies who served in the administration of former President Joe Biden as the NSC's Senior Director for Europe and U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE and in the administration of Barack Obama as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia; and Max Bergmann, director of the Europe and Russia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who served as a member of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff and as a speechwriter for former Secretary of State John Kerry.

On today's episode, Lawfare's Ukraine Fellow Anastasiia Lapatina talks to Maria Snegovaya, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about how the Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy sites are shifting attitudes towards the war inside Russia. They also discuss Maria's latest report, co-authored with Jade McGlynn, called “Russian Attitudes Are Shifting as the War's Effects Come Home.”To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Nate talks with Dr. Mark Louw, the Eurasia Regional Director, for a captivating look into his remarkable life journey. From serving as an infantry officer in South Africa during apartheid to navigating crisis evacuations as a global missionary, Dr. Louw shares his powerful testimony of faith, marriage, and his response to God's call. We also dive into leading ministry through global conflict, the critical importance of holistic member care, and wrap up with a fun chat about South African braais, premium coffee, and World Cup soccer predictions.   Lifelong Learning Code: 28473 Click here to learn about Lifelong Learning.

Michael is joined by Dr. Alina Polyakova, President and CEO of the Center for European Policy Analysis, and Peter Rough, Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at the Hudson Institute, to discuss how the recent NATO Summit in Ankara landed. The two explore the hidden friction points undercutting transatlantic unity, from software interoperability gaps to trade and digital policy disputes. They also focus on how Ukraine's decentralized, software-driven "operating system" has transformed Russia's immense geographic mass into highly exposed vulnerabilities, and how the sudden passing of Russia hawk Sen. Lindsey Graham is set to reshape Capitol Hill's approach to the war.  

In this episode, Mourad Tadghout explores how manuscript cultures shaped intellectual exchange across medieval Eurasia and the Mediterranean. Focusing on the transmission of texts such as Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine, Tadghout traces the movement of knowledge from Baghdad to Toledo and beyond. The episode highlights the collaborative nature of translation, commentary, and scholarly exchange, challenging narratives of isolation and rethinking the medieval world as deeply interconnected across cultures and languages.For more information, visit www.multiculturalmiddleages.com.

High temperatures forecast in large parts of China in the next few days未来数日，我国大范围区域将迎来高温天气China's health and weather authorities issued nationwide heat health alerts on Monday as an unusually warm and humid flood season fuels widespread heat across much of the country, with temperatures forecast to exceed 40 C in some areas over the coming days.受汛期异常闷热潮湿的气候影响，国内多地大范围遭遇酷暑，国家卫健与气象主管部门于周一发布全国高温健康预警，预计未来部分地区气温将突破40摄氏度。Since the start of the annual flood season, China has experienced a markedly warm and humid weather pattern.自本年度汛期开启以来，我国整体气候呈现出显著高温高湿的特征。The national average temperature reached 17.5 C, 0.9 C above normal and the third-highest for the period since 1961, while average precipitation stood at 264.2 millimeters, 6.1 percent above normal, according to Chen Lijuan from the National Climate Center.国家气候中心专家陈丽娟介绍，全国平均气温达到17.5摄氏度，较常年同期偏高0.9℃，为1961年以来同期第三高温；全国平均降水量264.2毫米，相较常年均值多出6.1%。The National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and the China Meteorological Administration jointly issued a heat health risk alert on Monday evening, warning that conditions ranging from relatively high to extremely high health risks would affect much of China between Monday night and Tuesday night.国家疾控局与中国气象局在周一晚间联合发布高温健康风险预警，警示周一夜间至周二晚间，国内大部分区域将会面临中高乃至极高等级的高温健康隐患。The highest red-level alert was issued for parts of Hubei province, Chongqing and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.湖北局部、重庆以及内蒙古自治区部分地区已经发布最高等级的红色高温预警。Authorities urged residents to stay indoors in cool environments, avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours and drink enough water.官方呼吁市民尽量待在阴凉的室内环境，避开一天中的高温峰值时段外出活动，同时及时补充饮水。Vulnerable groups, including people with chronic illnesses, were advised to pay close attention to their health and seek medical assistance if necessary.相关部门建议慢性病患者等易感人群密切监测自身身体状况，身体不适时及时就医。The National Meteorological Center, on Tuesday, renewed a yellow alert for high temperatures, forecasting highs of 35 C to 36 C across large parts of the country, with temperatures in parts of southwestern Chongqing expected to exceed 40 C.国家气象中心于周二继续发布高温黄色预警，预报国内多数地区最高气温维持在35至36摄氏度，西南重镇重庆的局部区域气温将突破40℃。Chen Tao, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, said that after Tropical Storm Bavi moved northward, the subtropical high-pressure system strengthened and gradually merged with continental high pressure, creating conditions for intensifying heat across areas including the Sichuan Basin and the Jianghan Plain in Hubei.国家气象中心首席预报员陈涛表示，巴威热带风暴北上过后，副热带高压不断增强，并逐步和大陆高压合体，促使四川盆地、湖北江汉平原等地的高温天气持续加剧。"The latest round of heat in southern China is expected to last four to five days, until around July 18," he said.他称，本轮华南高温天气预计将会持续四至五天，大概在7月18日前后才会缓解。Chongqing authorities have stepped up heat protection measures for residents, workers and animals.重庆各地主管部门已经加码落实针对市民、户外劳动者以及动植物的防暑保障工作。The city's housing department has ordered construction companies to suspend all outdoor work when the daily maximum temperature reaches 40 C or above to ensure workplace safety.当地住建部门规定，日最高气温达到40℃及以上时，施工企业必须全面叫停室外作业，保障务工人员的人身安全。The city has also opened 44 underground civil air defense facilities as free cooling shelters since July 5. Operating daily from 10 am to 9 pm, the shelters provide drinking water, seating and heat-relief supplies.自7月5日起，重庆开放44处人防地下空间作为免费纳凉点。纳凉点每日上午10点至晚间9点对外开放，免费提供饮用水、休息座位以及各类防暑物资。At Locajoy Theme Park's Wildlife World in Yongchuan district, animals from cooler high-altitude regions of Eurasia and the Americas have received additional protection from the heat.在重庆乐和乐都野生动物世界里，来自欧亚、美洲高海拔寒凉地区的野生动物都配套了专项防暑方案。According to Liu Xiaolin, deputy general manager of the park's Wildlife World Division, the park has installed sunshades, misting systems and pools in animal enclosures, while air conditioning is provided for indoor animals such as giant pandas.园区野生动物板块副总经理刘晓琳介绍，园区在动物展区搭建遮阳棚、喷雾降温设备以及戏水水池；大熊猫等室内饲养动物还可以享受空调降温。The scorching temperatures have also disrupted travel plans. Lan Bin, a sophomore at Chongqing University, and her mother, who traveled from Zhejiang province to visit her, abandoned their daytime sightseeing plans after encountering temperatures above 40 C.酷热的气温同样打乱了出游计划。重庆大学大二学生蓝斌的母亲专程从浙江前来探望，二人因为四十多度的高温，放弃了白天外出游览的安排。Instead, they visited museums, watched Sichuan opera and enjoyed evening meals.二人转而选择逛博物馆、观看川剧，等到傍晚气温回落再出门就餐。Lan said the most practical way to cope with Chongqing's current heat is to stay indoors with air conditioning during the day and schedule outdoor activities after sunset.蓝斌表示，应对重庆酷暑最稳妥的办法就是白天待在空调房中，日落之后再安排户外活动。In Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, the heatwave has driven electricity demand to record levels. The city's power grid load reached a historic high of 18.11 million kilowatts at noon on Tuesday, exceeding last year's peak by 62,900 kW amid an orange heat alert.湖北省会武汉的热浪使得用电负荷创下新高。在高温橙色预警生效期间，周二正午当地电网负荷飙升至1811万千瓦，刷新历史纪录，相较去年用电峰值高出6.29万千瓦。The State Grid Wuhan Power Supply Company said 24 key projects designed to strengthen electricity supplies during the summer peak season have been completed to help meet rising household demand.国网武汉供电公司介绍，24项保障夏季用电高峰的重点工程已经全部竣工，以此承接持续上涨的居民用电需求。Local authorities have also reminded residents and businesses to guard against electrical fires caused by overloaded equipment during periods of heavy power consumption.当地部门同时提醒居民和各类商户，用电高峰期谨防设备负载过载，避免引发电气火灾。precipitation /prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃn/降水量，降雨量vulnerable /ˈvʌlnərəbl/容易受到高温侵害的，体质偏弱的subtropical /ˌsʌbˈtrɒpɪkl/亚热带的scorching /ˈskɔːtʃɪŋ/极度炎热的enclosure /ɪnˈkləʊʒə(r)/动物饲养圈、围栏场地overload /ˌəʊvəˈləʊd/超负荷运转

In this episode of The Holiness Today Podcast, host Crystal Gibbons connects with Tim Bowen-Evans, the incoming director of advocacy and partnerships for Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM). Drawing from his experience as a pastor in Jerusalem and his current work with the Ireland Partnership, Tim discusses why local church-led compassion is central to Christian holiness. He shares powerful stories of resilience from believers in Ukraine and Lebanon, exploring how the church can advocate for justice, navigate complex global conflicts, and reflect Christ's love amid profound suffering.   Lifelong Learning Code: 28473 Click here to learn about Lifelong Learning.

Two years ago, Ria was burnt out from her tech career in Silicon Valley, coming out of a difficult relationship, and struggling with mental health issues. Running became her way out. Within a year, she went from struggling to finish a half marathon to setting ultramarathon records on world-renowned routes. The Via Francigena: 1,014 km in 21 days The Camino de Santiago: 780 km in 12 days And now she has just started her journey to become the first human to run across Eurasia on the silk road, or what she calls: the 20000km Experiment. In this episode, Ria shares how running helped her rebuild her life, the mindset shifts that enabled her to go from beginner to record-breaking ultrarunner, and the enormous logistical challenge of planning a 20,000km expedition through 17 countries. Listen to this episode to learn about resilience, finding purpose after burnout, taking bold leaps into the unknown, and why sometimes the most "delusional" dreams are the ones worth pursuing. ***  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x   *** Show notes Who is Ria? Trying to run across the Asia and Europe on the Silk Road  Currently being in her support vehicle in the northeast of China, approx. 17 days into her journey  Calling in from the road after running 50km Growing up in China as a child figure skater Trying to make the Olympics Living on the edge of Beijing  Moving to the USA at 14 for school  Suffering from some knee injuries and not being into running  Her final year of high school and trying out running in nature  Going through a significant breakup  Starting to run everyday for 30 days Struggling with depression and reaching the point where nothing made sense  Having no control over the situation of her life Not knowing what to do with herself  Being in Chamonix and being inspired by the humans running the UTMB Going to Egypt to become a free diving instructor  The Sinai Trail in Egypt  Going from a half marathon to running 539km  Deciding to run across the length of the silk road Continuing to challenge herself in daily distances  Running the Sinai Trail and what the experience was like  The logistics and planning behind the trail  Running in Egypt The logistics of the Silk Road Journey and pulling it all together Planning for over a year and a half Visa's and being able to run through 17 countries Being supported by her crew and how it works day to day Paying for the running, the crew and the gear Being supported by internet strangers and creating a GoFundMe  "It's only delusional until it's not." The Planetary Run Club  Running day after day  The power of sleep and feeling more refreshed mentally  Finding motivation in many different ways Rest days Dealing with a car accident and food poisoning  Connecting with Ria Daily updates…. Planned!  Planning on starting a Patreon, YouTube channel and podcast! Words of advice for women    Social Media Website: 20000km.com  Instagram: @whereisriax  Youtube: @whereisriax  GoFundMe: gofund.me/8d624216f

En este episodio iremos a las inmensas estepas póntico-caspias de hace 5.000 años para descubrir a los Yamnaya, un pueblo nómada que cambió Eurasia para siempre . Exploraremos cómo su revolucionario dominio del caballo, el carro de ruedas y la metalurgia les permitieron una expansión territorial sin precedentes . Analizaremos sus elitistas enterramientos en kurganes y cómo los recientes estudios de ADN antiguo han confirmado la famosa "hipótesis de los kurganes" de la arqueóloga Marija Gimbutas . Descubre la oscura historia de reemplazo genético masivo en Europa y la Península Ibérica , y cómo esta implacable cultura forjó la semilla de las lenguas indoeuropeas modernas . ¡Acompáñanos!

Our speaker is Seth Cropsey is the President of the Yorktown Institute and the author of a new book entitled Breaking the New Axis: A US Grand Strategy for Eurasia.I want to learn from Seth about why the Eurasian land mass is critical to American security.  In addition, I want to hear about why the lack of ideological coherence of our adversaries is a weakness that we can exploit. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! Uno de los debates más recurrentes entre los aficionados a la historia es el de cuáles fueron los mayores imperios de la humanidad y qué los hizo verdaderamente grandes. Medir un imperio únicamente por kilómetros cuadrados resulta engañoso ya que la extensión por sí misma nunca garantizó su riqueza, ni su cohesión ni, naturalmente, que tuviesen un control efectivo del territorio. Gobernar grandes imperios antes de la llegada del telégrafo y el ferrocarril implicaba tomar decisiones casi a ciegas, los emperadores delegaban el poder en virreyes, sátrapas y gobernadores que actuaban con mucha autonomía. Cinco imperios encabezan todas las clasificaciones: el británico, el mongol, el ruso, el chino de la dinastía Qing y el español. Hay dos categorías diferenciadas. Por un lado los imperios terrestres (mongol, ruso y Qing), que se expandieron como una mancha de aceite sobre masas continentales contiguas. Por otro los marítimos (británico y español), que dependían del dominio de las rutas marítimas y de una red de puertos repartidos por varios continentes. El imperio británico fue el más extenso de todos, en su momento álgido al término de la primera guerra mundial llegó a alcanzar los 35 millones de kilómetros cuadrados. Los británicos levantaron su imperio sobre el comercio, la industria y la supremacía naval. Su fórmula de gobierno fue muy flexible. Había colonias que se gobernaban desde la metrópoli, protectorados y dominios con distintos niveles de autogobierno. El imperio mongol empezó con Gengis Kan en las estepas de Mongolia y llegó a cubrir a finales del siglo XIII 24 millones de kilómetros cuadrados de superficie continua gracias a la movilidad de sus jinetes, que eran además muy disciplinados. Durante dos siglos los mongoles fueron los dueños de China, de todo el centro de Asia, de Mesopotamia e incluso de parte de la Europa oriental. Gracias a ellos floreció la ruta de la seda, lo que permitió que ideas, técnicas y personas pasasen de un extremo a otro de Eurasia. Por esa ruta llegó también la peste negra que diezmó la población europea en el siglo XIV. El imperio ruso, cuyo origen estaba en el pequeño principado de Moscú creció hacia el este de forma silenciosa durante dos siglos hasta abarcar casi 23 millones de kilómetros cuadrados desde la frontera con el imperio alemán hasta las costas del Pacífico. En su cúspide se encontraba el zar, un rey absoluto que la iglesia ortodoxa rusa se encargó de sacralizar. Más al sur y en la misma época la dinastía Qing de origen manchú reinó durante tres siglos sobre la mayoría china y expandió las fronteras hacia el oeste. En su momento de máxima extensión llegó a tener 14 millones de kilómetros cuadrados. El imperio español, el primero genuinamente mundial, inició su expansión en 1492 con los viajes de Cristóbal Colón. A partir de ahí los españoles de los siglos XVI y XVII conquistaron y colonizaron buena parte del continente americano, completaron la primera circunnavegación del globo y se expandieron por tres continentes. Sus flotas fueron las primeras que conectaron por primera vez toda la superficie terrestre. Ninguno de estos gigantes cayó por un enemigo exterior en una batalla decisiva, sino por varios factores entrelazados como la sobreextensión, el agotamiento económico y las tensiones internas. Su herencia sigue viva hoy en las fronteras, en los más 500 millones de hispanohablantes, en el inglés como lengua franca, en la demografía de Hispanoamérica, en los Estados del Asia central o en las fronteras multiétnicas de la China actual. Estos cinco imperios fueron los arquitectos involuntarios del mundo que habitamos. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! Uno de los debates más recurrentes entre los aficionados a la historia es el de cuáles fueron los mayores imperios de la humanidad y qué los hizo verdaderamente grandes. Medir un imperio únicamente por kilómetros cuadrados resulta engañoso ya que la extensión por sí misma nunca garantizó su riqueza, ni su cohesión ni, naturalmente, que tuviesen un control efectivo del territorio. Gobernar grandes imperios antes de la llegada del telégrafo y el ferrocarril implicaba tomar decisiones casi a ciegas, los emperadores delegaban el poder en virreyes, sátrapas y gobernadores que actuaban con mucha autonomía. Cinco imperios encabezan todas las clasificaciones: el británico, el mongol, el ruso, el chino de la dinastía Qing y el español. Hay dos categorías diferenciadas. Por un lado los imperios terrestres (mongol, ruso y Qing), que se expandieron como una mancha de aceite sobre masas continentales contiguas. Por otro los marítimos (británico y español), que dependían del dominio de las rutas marítimas y de una red de puertos repartidos por varios continentes. El imperio británico fue el más extenso de todos, en su momento álgido al término de la primera guerra mundial llegó a alcanzar los 35 millones de kilómetros cuadrados. Los británicos levantaron su imperio sobre el comercio, la industria y la supremacía naval. Su fórmula de gobierno fue muy flexible. Había colonias que se gobernaban desde la metrópoli, protectorados y dominios con distintos niveles de autogobierno. El imperio mongol empezó con Gengis Kan en las estepas de Mongolia y llegó a cubrir a finales del siglo XIII 24 millones de kilómetros cuadrados de superficie continua gracias a la movilidad de sus jinetes, que eran además muy disciplinados. Durante dos siglos los mongoles fueron los dueños de China, de todo el centro de Asia, de Mesopotamia e incluso de parte de la Europa oriental. Gracias a ellos floreció la ruta de la seda, lo que permitió que ideas, técnicas y personas pasasen de un extremo a otro de Eurasia. Por esa ruta llegó también la peste negra que diezmó la población europea en el siglo XIV. El imperio ruso, cuyo origen estaba en el pequeño principado de Moscú creció hacia el este de forma silenciosa durante dos siglos hasta abarcar casi 23 millones de kilómetros cuadrados desde la frontera con el imperio alemán hasta las costas del Pacífico. En su cúspide se encontraba el zar, un rey absoluto que la iglesia ortodoxa rusa se encargó de sacralizar. Más al sur y en la misma época la dinastía Qing de origen manchú reinó durante tres siglos sobre la mayoría china y expandió las fronteras hacia el oeste. En su momento de máxima extensión llegó a tener 14 millones de kilómetros cuadrados. El imperio español, el primero genuinamente mundial, inició su expansión en 1492 con los viajes de Cristóbal Colón. A partir de ahí los españoles de los siglos XVI y XVII conquistaron y colonizaron buena parte del continente americano, completaron la primera circunnavegación del globo y se expandieron por tres continentes. Sus flotas fueron las primeras que conectaron por primera vez toda la superficie terrestre. Ninguno de estos gigantes cayó por un enemigo exterior en una batalla decisiva, sino por varios factores entrelazados como la sobreextensión, el agotamiento económico y las tensiones internas. Su herencia sigue viva hoy en las fronteras, en los más 500 millones de hispanohablantes, en el inglés como lengua franca, en la demografía de Hispanoamérica, en los Estados del Asia central o en las fronteras multiétnicas de la China actual. Estos cinco imperios fueron los arquitectos involuntarios del mundo que habitamos. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Migration out of Africa, interbreeding with Neanderthals, and colonization of Eurasia. What can stone tools, bone tools, and ornaments discovered in the Middle East tell us about those fateful events?Support the show

➡️ Watch the full interview ad-free, join a community of geopolitics enthusiasts and gain access to exclusive content on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingGeopolitics➡️ Full Nigel's report: https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2026/05/the-coming-crisis-in-russias-political-economy/➡️ Sign up to my free geopolitics newsletter: https://stationzero.substack.com/This is a conversation with Nigel Gould Davis - a Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the IISS. Nigel recently published a really interesting report about why Russia's war, on its present course, has reached a breaking point - when it is no longer economically and demographically sustainable. What Nigel argues is that this will almost inevitably result in a major crisis, both political and financial, that is about to hit Russia within about a year from now - and why in order to keep fighting, the Kremlin will be forced to strip away the last freedoms Russians have and drag the country back toward a Soviet-style governance and economy, with all the social upheaval that it would bring. It's a fascinating analysis that follows a clear logic and a chain of events - and it's definitely worth listening to.

With Father's Day coming up we wanted to honor the men who have left a lasting legacy. In this episode Ed and Wayne share a story from Victor Akhterov, FEBC's Eurasia director. Victor tells about how his father was incarcerated in a Soviet prison for being a Christian. You'll hear Victor's first-hand account of visiting his father in prison, and the lasting lessons of a father's influence on his son, and how it has shaped how Victor does ministry for FEBC. We hope you are moved, inspired, and challenged to stay faithful in a world that needs to see Godly fathers proclaim the message of Christ…Until All Have Heard.

The War between Israel and the US on one side and Iran and Lebanon on the other is in its fourth month. Despite claims from the White House that a deal is imminent, the war and the destruction have continued. Indeed the concept of a cease fire is undermined with every attack. The global economy is struggling with the increased energy costs due to the closing of the Straits of Hormuz. And people continue to die. So on today's show we update the news on the war, explore any potential pathways to end the war and examine the impact of the war particularly on both Iran and Lebanon. [ dur: 58mins. ] Yeghia Tashjian is the Regional and International Affairs Cluster Coordinator of Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy & International Affairs (IFI) and a part time Instructor at American University of Beirut. He is the author “The International North-South Transport Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative in the South Caucasus,” published in the edited volume of Routledge Handbook of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Eurasia (2025). Ervand Abrahamian is Professor Emeritus at City University of New York. He is the author of A History of Modern Iran and Inventing the Axis of Evil: The Truth About North Korea, Iran and Syria. Stephen Zunes is a Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco. He is the author of numerous publications including Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy and the Roots of Terrorism, Western Sahara: War, Nationalism and Conflict Irresolution co-authored with Jacob Mundy. This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Doug Becker and Sudd Dongre. Politics and Activism, War / Weapons, Middle East, Iran, Israel, Lebanon , US

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore looks at this military revolution with former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodniuk and Michael Carpenter, who served in the administration of former President Joe Biden as the NSC's Senior Director for Europe and U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE; and in the administration of Barack Obama, Mike served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia.

Nigel Gould-Davies is a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London. Between 2010 and 2013 he held senior government relations roles in the international energy industry. Previously he has also served in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, where his roles included head of the Economic Section in Moscow, ambassador to Belarus, and project director in the Policy Planning Unit. He is author of Tectonic Politics: Global Political Risk in an Age of Transformation (Brookings, 2019).----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/Nigelgd1https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-gould-davies-5347b51a?originalSubdomain=ukhttps://www.iiss.org/people/russia-and-eurasia/dr-nigel-gould-davies/https://gsas.harvard.edu/person/nigel-gould-daviesBOOKS:Tectonic Politics: Global Political Risk in an Age of Transformation (2019)https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tectonic-Politics-Insights-Critical-International/dp/0815737130https://www.chathamhouse.org/2019/05/tectonic-politics-global-political-risk-age-transformationARTICLES:https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2026/05/the-coming-crisis-in-russias-political-economy/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00396338.2024.2332057https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/09/biden-putin-ukraine-appeasement-deterrence-donbass/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Ralph Goff is a retired senior CIA officer and former intelligence executive, best known as a six-time CIA Chief of Station with a 35-year career in U.S. intelligence. His overseas service included postings and operational work across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and several war zones. He later served as Chief of Operations for Europe and Eurasia and as head of the CIA's National Resources Division, where he worked with senior U.S. private-sector figures in finance, banking, and security.Before joining the CIA, Goff served in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist and signals intelligence officer on the East German border during the late Cold War, monitoring Soviet forces. After retiring from the CIA in October 2023, he became a public commentator on intelligence, Russia, Ukraine, and great-power competition. He has traveled regularly to Ukraine, met with Ukrainian officials, and argued that Western support for Kyiv has often been too cautious. In a 2025 interview, he said the West had given Ukraine “enough weapons to bleed, not to win,” criticising fear of escalation as a strategic constraint. In 2025, Goff was reportedly selected by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to become Deputy Director for Operations, the post overseeing human intelligence and covert action, but the appointment was later withdrawn. Reporting by Politico and The Washington Post said the reversal surprised many intelligence professionals and was linked by sources to political concerns, including Goff's public support for Ukraine. Today, Goff is known as a forthright advocate for rebuilding U.S. clandestine capabilities, strengthening Western intelligence posture, and supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. His public persona combines old-school operations experience, Atlanticist conviction, and a blunt critique of risk-aversion in Western policy.----------LINKS:https://www.thecipherbrief.com/experts/ralph-goffhttps://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ex-cia-chief-we-gave-ukraine-enough-weapons-to-bleed-not-to-win-r3q0r2fcghttps://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/02/cia-drops-agency-veteran-clandestine-operations-00267346----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

We're premiering the video for ‘Abiotic Factors' – Patricia Wolf's opening dispatch from Gothic, Colorado and the invisible forces that determine whether anything grows at all… Tia and Wil's Music To Watch Seeds Grow By series – the ambient/new-age/planty cassette label has in nine editions, tried to make a compelling case that the best way to understand ambient is to get your hands in some soil and think about it properly. Each artist chooses a plant that inspires their music and can be sown in the month of the release. Simple. Seasonal. You may have noticed it already. For the ninth edition – the third of Season Two – they've brought in Portland, Oregon-based musician and field recordist Patricia Wolf, whose album Yarrow takes its name from Achillea millefolium, a flowering plant whose broad geographic range spans North America and Eurasia, which also happens to make it the perfect conceptual thread to connect Portland (where the music was written and recorded) to London (where the cassette was pressed and will land through your letterbox alongside a packet of yarrow seeds and a fact card about the plant). A transatlantic weed of the most beautiful kind. Wolf is one of the most interesting people quietly operating at the edges of sound art. Her recent arc has taken her from grief (I'll Look For You In Others, 2022) to a kind of luminous rebirth (See-Through, 2022), then to birds – literal birds, in Iceland, for a documentary score (Hrafnamynd, 2025) – and now, with this album, to plants. Specifically, to the invisible forces that determine whether plants live or die at all. Yarrow was created in response to Wolf's artist residency at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado, as part of the Art-Science Exchange Project in the summer of 2024. She worked closely with ecologists Dr Paul CaraDonna, Dr Amy Iler, Dr Jane Ogilvie, Dr Nickolas Waser, Dr Mary Price, and Dr Will Petry, spending weeks embedded in long-term research on plants, pollinators, and their interactions as the climate changes. This is not, in other words, an ambient album about plants in the vague, pastoral sense. It's an album about plants in the way a botanist might describe them: as dynamic organisms in constant, often invisible negotiation with their environment. Which brings us to ‘Abiotic Factors', the album's opening track and the subject of today's premiere. Abiotic factors – for those of us who skipped that particular biology lesson – are the non-living environmental conditions that determine whether an organism can exist at all: light availability, temperature, rainfall, wind, soil composition. They are the infrastructure beneath the visible world, the silent set of forces that a plant cannot choose but must simply work with, adapt to, or perish. As a concept for an opening track, it's contemplative and a perfect orientation into the album… which you'll all hear in its entirety soon little seedlings. The video was shot closer to home – in Wolf's Portland neighbourhood - through the lens of Edward Pack Davee, the filmmaker behind the Hrafnamynd documentary Wolf scored last year. Watch here: https://www.theransomnote.com/art-culture/video-premiere-patricia-wolf-abiotic-factors/

(10) Gregory Copley analyzes reports of expanded nuclear deployments in Europe, describing them as psychological posturing. He views these signals as political maneuvering that does not substantially alter the military balance of power in Eurasia.

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-2-2026.1811 BRUSSELS(1) Liz Peek discusses the K-shaped economy, where wealthy retirees flourish while lower-income citizens struggle with inflation and high gasoline costs. The Iran war significantly impacts oil prices, threatening real wage growth.(2) Liz Peek examines how voters in California's primary face economic decline, high taxes, and out-of-control crime. Republican Steve Hilton campaigns on common-sense changes to address quality-of-life issues as residents reject "woke" policies in major cities.(3) Thaddeus McCotter discusses a Gallup poll revealing historically low economic confidence among independent voters. The Trump administration's foreign policy challenges, particularly regarding Iran, further complicate the domestic political landscape for Republicans before the midterms.(4) Thaddeus McCotter reviews how political parties adjust after primary elections, highlighting internal conflicts between establishment figures and MAGA or socialist factions. President Trump remains focused on his policy priorities regardless of midterm election outcomes.(5) Michael Toth examines Exxon Mobil's relocation to Texas, which was opposed by proxy firms ISS and Glass Lewis. Toth argues these advisory firms prioritize ideological ESG agendas over actual shareholder value and lack transparency regarding their motives.(6) Michael Toth explains how Texas created specialized business courts and maintained a light regulatory touch to attract major corporations. The state is successfully challenging Delaware's dominance as the primary legal domicile for prominent American companies.(7) Judy Dempsey reports that leaked accounts suggest the U.S. may expand nuclear-capable deployments in Europe to deter Russia. This strategy evaluates reactions to potential shifts in NATO's security umbrella as Europe takes more responsibility for self-defense.(8) Judy Dempsey discusses the AfD party's rise in Germany, which exploits voter fear regarding globalization and deindustrialization. However, the populists lack pragmatic solutions for demographic challenges and the necessary economic reforms missed by previous leaders.(9) Gregory Copley notes that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed as the IRGC maintains its "whip hand" over Iranian policy. Copley asserts that the IRGC prioritizes survival over settlements, using regional proxies to maintain strategic leverage.(10) Gregory Copley analyzes reports of expanded nuclear deployments in Europe, describing them as psychological posturing. He views these signals as political maneuvering that does not substantially alter the military balance of power in Eurasia.(11) Gregory Copley examines the political turmoil besetting the British Parliament as Keir Starmer faces internal challenges and the rising Reform Party. Concerns over illegal immigration and nationalism are replacing traditional class-based voting patterns in the UK.(12) Gregory Copley notes that King Charles III maintains an active diplomatic schedule despite his cancer diagnosis. The King is focused on preparing Prince William for the throne while strengthening vital connections throughout the global Commonwealth.(13) Mary Kissel discusses Secretary Marco Rubio's budget focused on Iran, Ukraine, and China. Rubio emphasizes hemispheric security and the need for strategic planning to address malign influences in Cuba and Venezuela.(14) Mary Kissel critiques U.S.-China relations, arguing that Beijing is a totalitarian enemy. She advocates for strategic decoupling and realistic planning, rather than hoping for fair trade or stability from the current Chinese regime.(15) Malcolm Hoenlein explains that Iran continues its "forever war" by funding Hezbollah despite ongoing truce negotiations. Prime Minister Netanyahu faces internal pressure while assessing potential ceasefires and the ongoing threat of Hamas rebuilding in Gaza.(16) Malcolm Hoenlein notes that Hezbollah's tunnels and missile capacity remain a critical danger to northern Israel. He notes rising global anti-Semitism and the influence of regional actors like Qatar and Turkey in supporting extremist ideologies.Two name fixes: Thaddius → Thaddeus McCotter in (3) and (4), and Elizabeth Peek → Liz Peek in (1) and (2) to match your established style. Say the word if Elizabeth was intentional for these slots.

Hello Interactors,We like to think we choose our own paths, but our cities have already decided for us. New York and Los Angeles function as the extended phenotype of our species — a living circulatory system that subtly channels our collective behavior. This week, we explore the multi-generational biology of transit to see how modern infrastructure effectively dissolves what we perceive as individual autonomy. MANHATTAN MOBILITY AND THE MASSED MILIEUI recently flew from New York visiting my daughter, where large vessels moved massive numbers of people around, to Los Angeles visiting my son, where small vessels moved small numbers of people around. The transition was jarring. I went from being physically enmeshed in a dense social milieu to being systematically protected from it — from walking over 10,000 steps a day to barely 1,000. My daily cadence shifted from bobbing and weaving around persons I could see, hear, and smell, to maneuvering around what sociologist Mike Michael termed ‘carsons' — persons fused with a car.This deep-seated desire for individual control over our own mobility is not unique to the modern driver. The instinct to leverage an external entity to conquer long distances is as old as the domestication of the horse in the third millennium BCE. Every stage of human life presents a shifting horizon of mobile autonomy: from crawling to walking, to the childhood triumph of mastering a bicycle or a local bus network, to the initial rush of freedom that comes with a first car. All before the natural declines of aging ultimately diminish our autonomy once more.Yet, suggesting mass transit to many Americans accustomed to the perceived agency of the car feels like a threat to their very freedom. Because transit routes are fixed and schedules are unyielding, collective travel is often mischaracterized as an artificial restriction on liberty. History shows that long before the locomotive, scheduled, multi-passenger transit enabled human freedom and societal cohesion where individual movement was risky or impossible. Across Eastern Polynesia, the Caribbean, and northern Eurasia, multi-passenger canoes were the lifeblood of trade and travel. In southern California, the Chumash and Tongva communities developed advanced sewn-plank canoes called tomols and ti'ats, which facilitated complex political economies between the Channel Islands and the mainland. This reliance on collective vehicles extended beyond coastal waterways. Human networks also depended on highly organized, shared transport to conquer distance across vast terrestrial and inland landscapes.Centuries before Western cities built public transit, imperial China constructed the Grand Canal, a two-thousand-kilometer artificial waterway that operated as a continental transit artery during the Sui Dynasty. This facilitated the regular movement of millions of passengers and state resources between agricultural basins and northern metropolises. On land, Tokugawa-era Japan structured its empire around the Tōkaidō, a highly regulated highway system where travelers moved rhythmically between post stations using a coordinated network of horse relays and official permits.Eastern aquatic and terrestrial networks achieved continental scale, replicated on Europe's rugged overland trails. Public multi-passenger carriage service began in Paris in 1662 with the world's first urban transit system. In colonial America, occasional stagecoaches linked Boston and New York starting around 1735, with regular schedules emerging in the 1740s. By the late 1820s, fixed-route horse-buses (omnibuses) appeared in Paris (1828) and New York City (1827). When urban populations exploded in mid 1800s, these street-level collective networks buckled under their own weight. It triggered unprecedented structural crises. By the late 19th century, New York City was drowning in a public health emergency born of its own transit power. Imagine over 150,000 working horses blanketing the streets. Now imagine thousands of tons of manure and urine daily. When a horse influenza epidemic paralyzed the city overnight in 1872, New Yorkers realized they could no longer rely on street-level animal power. The city initially looked upward and built coal-fired elevated railroads — the “Els” — on massive iron trestles. While these steam engines bypassed street traffic and allowed Manhattan to expand northward, they rained hot ash onto pedestrians, blocked natural light, and shattered the urban peace with deafening noise.True structural relief required going underground. Early pneumatic experiments, like Alfred Ely Beach's secret, air-driven tunnel in 1870, remained short-lived novelties due to political opposition and mechanical limitations (only 300 feet long, single-car shuttle). The project closed in 1873. The breakthrough for electric rail came in 1890 with the City & South London Railway in London, the first railway to use third rail electrification. The third rail — an additional, continuous steel rail running alongside the tracks that carries electricity to train cars — became the standard for underground and metro systems from around 1900. October 27, 1904, the Interborough Rapid Transit Company opened its first official subway line from City Hall to Harlem. This permanently compressed densely housed humanity into a swift, subterranean network, channeling the city's chaos beneath the cobblestones.COASTAL CARRIAGES AND THE CYCLEWAYWhile New York dug into the earth to consolidate its density, a parallel but radically different evolution was unfolding across the wide horizon of the Los Angeles basin. Between the 1820s and 1904, Los Angeles transformed from an isolated Mexican pueblo (population ~650) into a sprawling metropolis (population 100,000+). Here surface transit was not just responding to growth, but was actively engineering it. After bridging the distance to its seaport via the San Pedro Railroad in 1869 and connecting to the transcontinental rail network via Southern Pacific in 1876, the city experienced the Southern California real estate boom of the 1880s (1884-1887), which required vast spatial integration. The 1885 completion of the Santa Fe Railroad's direct line to Chicago triggered a development boom that dwarfed the earlier one, transforming the region.Rather than stacking millions of people into a vertical core, transit magnates like Moses Sherman and Henry Huntington realized that electric surface rail could be weaponized as a tool for land speculation. They built lines out into empty fields, bought up the surrounding acreage, and subdivided it into suburban tracts for commuting workers. A similar strategy played out in Chicago. Founded in 1901, Huntington's Pacific Electric 'Red Cars' rapidly expanded, opening its first interurban line to Long Beach on July 4, 1902.At its peak in the 1920s, the Pacific Electric system became the largest electric railway system in the world, with over 1,000 miles of track connecting dozens of isolated towns across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, stitching together hundreds of square miles. By scattering its population across a massive geographic basin, this surface network wrote the genetic code for LA's modern identity. This decentralized layout was perfectly primed to swap the shared space of the streetcar for the individualized isolation of the highway just a generation later.Yet, beneath both the subway tunnels of Manhattan and the streetcar tracks of Los Angeles lies a forgotten foundation engineered by an entirely different mode of transit. As Carlton Reid uncovers in Roads Were Not Built for Cars, our modern road networks were not designed for the automobile but were hard-won by late-nineteenth-century cyclists. For the moneyed elite who could afford the “safety bicycle” — the high-tech, liberating consumer gadget of the 1880s and 1890s — the machine offered an unprecedented leap in individual autonomy. Disgusted by muddy, horse-fouled, and rutted roads, these cyclists organized under the League of American Wheelmen, launching a powerful “Good Roads” movement that pioneered the smooth, paved macadam surfaces that motorists would later inherit and monopolize.While New York carved out its first dedicated bike path in 1894, when civic pressure led to the opening of the nation's first separated bike path along Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway, wealthy urbanites could now cycle down to Coney Island detached from chaotic street traffic. The parkway became NYC's first dedicated bicycle path and the first in the United States, described as the oldest bike path in the world by Guinness World Records.Simultaneously, the early elite of Pasadena and LA used the bicycle to weave together their sprawling territory. This culminated in 1900 with the opening of the California Cycleway — a spectacular, approximately 1.3-mile elevated timber bicycle toll-way running through the Arroyo Seco. Lit by incandescent bulbs and built from over 1.25 million board feet of pine, this highway offered a vision of uninterrupted, rapid commuter flow through open terrain. Though the full nine-mile route was never completed by the rapid rise of electric streetcars, its right-of-way established a profound precedent. Decades later, that exact path found a permanent place as the Arroyo Seco Parkway, LA's first freeway, formally opening on December 30, 1940.SUBTERRANEAN SABOTAGE AND THE SOCIALIZATION SYSTEMThe triumph of the automobile in Los Angeles was not an inevitability, nor was the city entirely devoid of subterranean ambition. In December 1925, Pacific Electric opened the Hollywood Subway. Boring a mile-long concrete tunnel beneath the Victorian mansions of Bunker Hill, they were able to bypass downtown LA's already paralyzing surface congestion. Emerging from the Beaux-Arts style Subway Terminal Building on Hill Street, this route allowed Red Cars to escape street traffic entirely, cutting fifteen minutes off the commute to Hollywood and Glendale. This subway featured 800 cars and carried over 20 million passengers annually during World War II.Grander visions for an expansive, multi-line underground network were ultimately thwarted by the financial instability inherent in private streetcar systems. There land speculating owners treated the tracks as loss leaders for real estate rather than long-term transportation infrastructure. When cars continued to flood the streets and choked the shared surface rights-of-way, the streetcars became agonizingly slow. Seduced by the promise of vehicular autonomy, voters repeatedly rejected ballot measures to publicly rescue the now dilapidated rail networks. By 1955, the Hollywood Subway was permanently shuttered, its tracks torn up, and the era of the freeway commenced.Yet, the ghost of this old network continues to dictate the spatial reality of Southern California. When LA began aggressively rebuilding its rail transit system in the 1990s, planners did not draw a new map from scratch. They followed the exact blueprint laid down by their turn-of-the-century predecessors. Today's Metro light rail lines heavily reuse those original, preserved rights-of-way. The Metro A Line runs directly along the old Red Car route to Long Beach, while the E Line utilizes an 1875 steam rail corridor to connect downtown to Santa Monica. Because LA's original commercial districts sprouted around these historic streetcar nodes, the region's current high-density transit-oriented developments naturally cluster along these legacy paths. LA is resurrecting a collective socio-technical network within the very corridors carved out a century ago.This haunting of contemporary geography by obsolete infrastructure is not unique to the West Coast. Manhattan mirrors this architectural resurrection in the form of the High Line, where a decades-abandoned elevated freight rail line was dramatically salvaged and transformed into a lush, floating pedestrian thoroughfare. Much like the ghost corridors of LA, this steel-and-concrete relic from a bygone industrial era was not demolished, but re-engineered to dictate a new rhythm of urban mobility. This shows that even when the original motors fall silent, the skeletal memory of our transit history retains the power to reshape how we move, meet, and experience the city.SOMATIC SWARMS AND THE SPATIAL SCALETo understand the jarring shift between the enmeshed collective of New York and the isolated individual of LA, we must look beyond human culture and into the very architecture of living systems. We are accustomed to thinking of ourselves as singular, autonomous decision-makers possessing a unified will. In reality, a human being is a cooperative collective — a high-level agency born out of the coordinated actions of trillions of individual cells, each working together without a central dictator to maintain a shared physiological boundary. When we move through a city, this nested intelligence does not end at our skin. The cities themselves are higher-order organisms. Their grid lines, subway tunnels, and freeway arterials function as an emergent collective anatomy engineered by the uncoordinated actions of millions of individuals over centuries. Just as a developing embryo relies on a distributed intelligence among cells to build and repair a complex body without a master architect, a city shapes its layout through emergent collective agency. No single planner willed the current configuration of New York or Los Angeles. Instead, these vast geographies are the bi-product of millions of cellularly nested actors. They coordinated as if through a process biologists call stigmergy — where actions leave physical traces in the environment that automatically stimulate and guide the next action.These externalized anatomy deposits act like large-scale forces that encourage individual parts to develop specific habits that guide our daily lives. It's like space holds a memory that tells us how to behave. And if you think you're being entirely rational in determining the most efficient path across that distance, human mobility science proves otherwise. Recent empirical findings demonstrate that pedestrians and vehicle drivers consistently fail to follow mathematically optimal routes. Instead of calculating the shortest distance, our choices are heavily distorted by the subjective features of our surroundings. We are unconsciously biased by prominent landmarks, influenced by how regions are hierarchically organized in our minds, as we're pulled toward our goal. Our cognitive routing is actively hijacked and reshaped by the physical structure of the street network itself, alongside environmental variables like the presence of greenery, traffic volume, and noise.It seems we don't possess the total, isolated agency we imagine. When we step onto a street, into a subway car, or into a vehicle, we enter spaces where private autonomy and collective systems intricately intertwine. The freedom we feel when moving is a distributed property, bound up in whether our individual cellular collectives can harmoniously interface with the larger socio-technical system of the city. Road networks may promise ultimate individual autonomy, yet their uncoordinated use inevitably collapses into the shared immobility of gridlock — a collective consequence born of uncoordinated individual choices.The “carsons” of Los Angeles, encased in their hermetically sealed exoskeletons, represent a shift in the morphology of higher-order urban organism. Drivers choose to wall themselves off in private vehicles…or vacuoles — tiny fluid-filled compartments inside a cell. “Carsons” glide along asphalt pathways originally demanded and paved by nineteenth-century wheelmen whose bi-cycles gave way to quad-cycles from which automobiles emerged. Whether drifting through the subterranean capillaries of the Interborough Rapid Transit or the resurrected neural pathways of the Pacific Electric, we are constantly transitioning across nested scales of kind of collective intelligence.Across generations, our preferences are encoded early by our environments, yet human practice remains remarkably adaptable. We are all capable of shifting habits when embedded in new spatial layouts. Ultimately, we are not isolated travelers making independent choices in a static world. We are interlocking parts of a grand, multi-generational biology. The vast superstructures we craft — from the subterranean capillaries of the subway to the asphalt arteries of the freeway — are not separate from nature, but act as an extended phenotype of our species. Over generations, in New York and LA, a co-engineered metabolic network surrounds us and shapes us. We are biological superstructures within living human-made superstructures generated through encoded scripts. Divided by a vast continent and a century of divergent design, New York and Los Angeles appear to share almost nothing in common — one a dense, vertical labyrinth of concrete and shadow, the other a sun-bleached, horizontal expanse of asphalt and sky. Yet, look past the geometry of the infrastructure, and the human ecology within them is identical. One day I was navigating the deep subterranean shafts of Manhattan the next I was tracking the sweeping curves of a California freeway. In both cases I was embedded inside different machinery but driven by the exact same instincts and societal pulses that drive urban mobility. Across differing geographies and distant time zones, the human element remains constant. Together we, and our cities, evolve to sustain and channel the collective currents of humanity crossing space and time, like individual cells using subtle electrical signals to coordinate movements that ultimately flow together into complex, living shapes we call humans. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit interplace.io

(1/3) The Great Game. Gaius and Germanicus debate in their favorite wine bar by the Thames, in Londinium, Spring 92 AD. Germanicus compares 19th-century British strategy to modern American policy, noting both pursued a 78-year containment of Russia. Britain's efforts from 1830 to 1908 involved "wasteful wars" in places like Afghanistan and the Crimea to block Russian expansion in Eurasia. This strategy eventually backfired; by weakening Russia and later alienating Japan, Britain suffered a massive military humiliation at Singapore in 1942, leading to the empire's collapse. The United States has followed a near-identical timeline since 1947, which Germanicus argues has driven Russia and China into a close alliance while making an enemy of Iran. He concludes that the U.S. is currently at a 1930s-style "inflection point," having lost its global reputation and "mojo." Survival now requires acknowledging this reality rather than clinging to a "godlike" view of military power. (1/3)1904

Istanbul Blockchain Week, organized by Web3 marketing agency EAK Digital is set to return for its fifth edition on June 2nd-3rd, 2026, at the Hilton Bomonti Hotel. Following last year's success, this year's event is gearing up to host prominent leaders and organizations in the industry, with more opportunities to learn at the heart of Eurasia's key crypto hub. June 2nd-3rd, Istanbul Blockchain Week According to a recent report by Chainalysis, Türkiye leads the Middle East and North Africa's largest cryptocurrency market, recording nearly $200 billion in annual on-chain transactions, almost four times that of the UAE. Challenging economic circumstances have driven substantial adoption of crypto in Türkiye, serving as an economic necessity and a form of investment to navigate financial uncertainties. Against this backdrop of rapid growth, Istanbul Blockchain Week will highlight the city's thriving ecosystem, its evolving regulatory landscape, and innovative projects that are shaping the Web3 revolution locally and globally. Erhan Korhaliller, CEO of EAK Digital and founder of Istanbul Blockchain Week, said: "We are thrilled to return with the fifth edition of Istanbul Blockchain Week, aiming to make it even bigger, bolder and more impactful than ever. We look forward to building on last year's success and creating an unforgettable experience where people connect, learn, and shape the future of blockchain together." Bringing the global Web3 community in Istanbul From blockchain and AI experts and thought leaders to influencers and enthusiasts, IBW 2026 is poised to draw thousands of attendees from around the world, leveraging Istanbul's strategic position between the major financial centres of Dubai and London to explore the latest in emerging technologies. The two-day event will host unique fireside chats, thought-provoking panels, insightful discussions, roundtables, and workshops showcasing the hottest topics in Web3, including real world asset tokenization, AI, regulations, privacy and stablecoins. Building on the success of last year's edition, which featured speakers such as Justin Sun Founder of TRON, Ali hsan Güngör, Executive Vice Chairman of Capital Markets Board of Türkiye, Mehmet Çamr, Chairman of OKX TR, Kostas Chalkias, Co-Founder and Chief Cryptographer of Mysten Labs, John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games, and Aaron Teng, CEO of Igloo Asia (Pudgy Penguins), IBW 2026 is the ideal platform for fostering meaningful connections, partnerships and growth within the crypto and blockchain industry. As the countdown begins, IBW 2026 is set to unveil groundbreaking innovations and hands-on Web3 experiences. Early sponsorship opportunities are now available to gain premium visibility and engagement with a global Web3 audience. This media partnership between Istanbul Blockchain Week and Irish Tech News was facilitated by Iaros Belkin, founder of Belkin Marketing and contributor at Irish Tech News. For more information, visit https://istanbulblockchainweek.com/. About Istanbul Blockchain Week (IBW) Istanbul Blockchain Week (IBW) is Türkiye's flagship Web3 conference and expo, bringing together founders, developers, investors, enterprises, creators, and policymakers in the heart of Istanbul. Produced by EAK Digital, IBW showcases the technologies and people shaping crypto, DeFi, AI agents, gaming, and real-world assets. Across recent editions, IBW has welcomed 20,000+ attendees and 500+ speakers from leading protocols, exchanges, and institutions. The program features a main-stage conference, large-scale expo, a KOL Summit, investor roundtables, workshops, and curated networking designed for real deal-flow. To learn more and get IBW tickets, visit https://istanbulblockchainweek.com/tickets/. See more breaking stories, product reviews, and event coverage here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previo...

Matt and Michael wrestle with one of the oldest questions in philosophy. Why does accepting objective meaning make life harder, not easier? They start with nihilism and why almost nobody can actually live it out. Michael plays devil's advocate for the social contract view of morality. Matt pushes back hard. If your worldview is just preferences, what do you do when Thanos shows up? The conversation spirals through C.S. Lewis, 1984, Sam Harris's wireless dog fence, and why telling the truth is just easier than lying. They land on the cross as the place where God measures himself by himself and absorbs the gap we cannot close. Cheers y'all

Join Nate as he interviews Chad, a Church of the Nazarene missionary currently serving in Madrid, Spain. Chad discusses his unique transition from a career as a Deputy Attorney General in Delaware to fulfilling a calling in cross-cultural ministry.  The episode highlights his formative years in Quito, Ecuador, and his current role facilitating Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) projects across Eurasia. From navigating bureaucratic hurdles to adapting to secular cultures, Chad shares how his legal background and faith intersect in his work as an ordained minister.     Support Chad and Lindsey: click here Lifelong Learning Code: 28473 Click here to learn about Lifelong Learning 

Pepe Escobar is a veteran journalist, author, and geopolitical analyst renowned for his coverage of Eurasia, energy politics, and the rise of a multipolar world order. A longtime foreign correspondent who has lived across Europe and Asia, he gained prominence with his "Roving Eye" column at Asia Times, where he serves as editor-at-large, and is also a columnist for The Cradle. Since the 1980s, Escobar has extensively reported from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia, the Middle East, Iran, and China, often focusing on pipelines ("Pipelineistan"), great-power competition, and resistance to Western hegemony. Known for his colorful, sharp style and staunch anti-imperialist perspective, he is the author of books including Globalistan, Red Zone Blues, and Raging Twenties, making him a leading voice in alternative and non-Western geopolitical commentary.Watch the Cornerstone Forum 26'https://shaunnewmanpodcast.substack.com/Silver Gold Bull Links:Website: https://silvergoldbull.ca/Email: SNP@silvergoldbull.comText Grahame: (587) 441-9100Bow Valley Credit UnionBitcoin: www.bowvalleycu.com/en/personal/investing-wealth/bitcoin-gatewayEmail: welcome@BowValleycu.com Expat MoneyExpatmoney.com/SNPGet your voice heard: Text Shaun 587-217-8500

Send us Fan MailIt is thought that somewhere in Eurasia during the Late Pleistocene, an intrepid pack of gray wolves made a fateful decision to approach a human campfire seeking scraps. From that humble beginning was forged a love affair for the ages. But why that animal, and how to explain the incredible bond that emerged between dogs and humanity?  Mark and Joe trace the history of how dogs and people co-evolved to become such reliable and trusted companions, and what accounts for the hold that dogs have on so many of us today.

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore breaks it all down with Michael Carpenter, a Senior Fellow for Transatlantic Affairs at the International Institute for Strategic Studies who served in the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden as the NSC's Senior Director for Europe as well as the US Ambassador to the OSCE and in the administration of Barack Obama as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia; and Casey Michel, author of the books American Kleptocracy: How The US Created the Greatest Money Laundering Machine in History, Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World, and United States of Oligarchy: How America's Wealthiest Ally with Dictators, Weaken the U.S., and Destroy Democracy.

Is the initiative on the Ukraine war slipping out of Russian president Vladimir Putin's hands? And how has the US-Israel war on Iran affected Moscow? The economic crisis is tightening, and Moscow and St Petersburg are increasingly subject to lengthy internet and mobile blackouts. Fearing Ukrainian drone attacks, Russia has vastly scaled down its traditional celebration of military power – the Victory Day parade – while Putin is reported to be increasingly isolated, micromanaging the war from an assortment of bunkers. Bronwen Maddox talks to Grégoire Roos, director of Chatham House's Europe and Russia and Eurasia programmes, and associate fellow John Lough. Produced by Podmasters for Chatham House, with thanks to Stephen Farrell.   Chatham House's latest: Comment | China will benefit from the Iran war, regardless of any deal between Trump and Tehran Comment | Germany rearms – but can it lead? Europe's hesitant superpower in waiting Comment | A naval coalition in the Strait of Hormuz should learn these lessons Magazine issue | Spring issue of The World Today Audio | The Climate Briefing podcast

Ralph Goff is a 35-year veteran of the CIA, having served as a six-time Chief of Station across Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia. During his career, he also held the roles of Chief of Operations for Europe and Eurasia and Chief of the CIA's National Resources Division. Since leaving government, he advises on national security issues and speaks publicly on intelligence, geopolitics, and great power competition.In this episode of Summation, Ralph and Auren discuss:Why blackmail almost never works in espionage and ideology still doesWho is actually dying for PutinWhy China is the biggest winner of the Ukraine warHow technological surveillance transformed CIA tradecraft You can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Ralph Goff on Linkedin

On today's Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the prospect of a ceasefire during Russia's May 9 Victory Day commemoration; Ukraine's ability to strike ever deeper into Russia, bringing the conflict to more Russians in more places; Russia's continuing ability to strike Ukraine's energy infrastructure; shifting battlefield dynamic as Kyiv increasingly uses unmanned ground vehicles to hold Russian forces at bay by inflicting 1,000 casualties a day; impact of continuing war, economic sanctions and harsh domestic political measures on Vladimir Putin's popularity; speculation that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is involved in a coup plot against Putin; 8th European Political Community Summit that featured Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as featured guests and the message sent by picking Armenia to host the meeting in Yerevan; the defeat of Russian mercenaries in Mali; and the evolving transatlantic security dynamic as Washington withdraws 5,000 troops from Germany.

The Viking Age saw a significant transition from small-scale raiding to large-scale military conquest and permanent settlement. A massive raid on Paris yielded seven thousand pounds of gold, highlighting the Vikings' effectiveness as raiders during the decline of the Carolingian Empire. In 865 AD, what is known as the "Great Heathen Army" arrived in England, functioning as mobile war bands that used waterways to launch surprise attacks on various kingdoms. This invasion successfully toppled kingdoms such as East Anglia, Northumbria, and Mercia, leaving only Wessex to hold out under King Alfred the Great. Following a stalemate between Alfred and the Norse leader Guthrum, an agreement was reached that established the Danelaw, a vast region where the Norse exerted political and legal control. This period of settlement is evidenced today by a linguistic imprint in English place names reflecting Old Norse influence, showing that the Norse lived alongside existing populations on their newly acquired farms. Simultaneously, the "Rus" or rowers expanded eastward from modern-day Sweden and Finland, navigating the great rivers of Eurasia. Led by Rurik, they settled in Novgorod in 862 AD, marking a major starting point for the Norse diaspora's reach into Eastern Europe. 2/81649

The full episode is available here: https://www.razibkhan.com/p/10000-years-of-selection-in-western Despite the preprint being out for two years, Akbari et al.'s Ancient DNA reveals pervasive directional selection across West Eurasia publication in Nature this week has resulted in a massive media response. Though Razib has discussed this work before, he thought it would be useful to review it, and put it in context in a new monologue.  

STREAMING MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FEATURING BILL ROGGIO AND JANATYN SAYEH, 4-20-26.  1688 PERSIA GULFThe Levant and Eurasia are currently gripped by what analysts describe as the "fog of peace," a state where a ceasefire is technically in place but characterized by profound distrust and a lack of transparency. While the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran originally centered on Iran's nuclear weapons program, the focus has shifted toward an intractable struggle over the Strait of Hormuz.The Strait has become a primary flashpoint of "open/closed" chaos, likened to a "Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd" hunting season metaphor. The US has established a naval blockade, recently using a destroyer's main gun to disable the engine room of an Iranian cargo ship that attempted to run the blockade. Iran counters this by creating confusion, such as firing on an Indian tanker that reportedly had clearance from the IRGC to pass, a tactic designed to make international shipping reconsider the route entirely.Diplomatically, the situation is stalled. Planned talks in Islamabad between US representatives and the Islamic Republicare not moving forward. This deadlock is exacerbated by a structural shift in Iranian leadership. Following the assassination of the Supreme Leader and other top officials, decision-making has fallen to a five-man council of dedicated revolutionaries. These individuals, often categorized as "hardliners" rather than "pragmatists," view compromise under pressure as a sign of weakness and are wary of suffering the same fate as Muammar Gaddafi. This new leadership is believed to be radical and intractable, with many members rising from the younger, hardcore ranks of the regime.Internally, the regime is employing brutal measures to maintain control. There are chilling reports that Iran has developed aerosol fentanyl — a chemical weapon capable of killing large populations — and may have experimentally used it against domestic protesters as early as 2022. The regime's fear of internal unrest is further evidenced by the deployment of checkpoints staffed by non-Iranian proxies to suppress a population demoralized by economic exasperation and a perceived lack of external backing. Precursors for these chemical experiments are reportedly provided by China.The geopolitical timeline appears to favor Tehran. Iranian leaders believe they can "run out the clock" on the Trumpadministration. The US faces significant domestic constraints, including low presidential poll numbers and the impending 2026 midterm elections, which could return the House of Representatives to Democratic control and trigger a return to the "age of impeachment." Additionally, Russia and China have strategic incentives to keep the Islamic Republic afloat, viewing the conflict as a test of whether their partner can withstand prolonged US and Israeli military pressure. Consequently, the "fog of peace" remains thick, with both sides acting on distrust rather than a genuine path toward a treaty.

STREAM MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FEATURING JIM MCTAGUE, ANATOL LIEVEN,  4-16-2026.1880 FRENCH IRONCLAD MAGENTA.The current global landscape is defined by a profound disconnect between market optimism and geopolitical instability. While the S&P 500 and NASDAQ have recently seen "rally mode," this "bullishness" is described as "irrational exuberance" in the face of ongoing violence in Eurasia. Jim McTague argues that the market is in a bubble, predicting a 30% downside retreat before the end of May as "black swans" like the conflict in the Middle East begin to frighten investors.A primary catalyst for this potential economic "stampede" is the disruption of critical energy corridors, specifically the Strait of Hormuz and Baba Mandeb. Saudi Arabia, which previously encouraged military pressure on Iran, has recently signaled a desire for the U.S. to "back off" as it realizes its own oil pipelines to the Red Sea are vulnerable to Houthi violence. If these waterways remain shut down, oil revenues for Gulf states—which rely on these routes for 70% to 90% of their income—will collapse, likely triggering a global recession.Simultaneously, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used by major corporations as a "convenient excuse" for significant layoffs, even as it remains a "primitive tool" prone to frequent errors. While 30% of the general public expects large-scale job losses, institutional investors view these cuts as strategic cost-cutting rather than a broader labor market warning. The fear of AI-driven displacement is particularly acute among younger generations, leading some to predict a future defined by either "demagogues" exploiting unemployment or a new era of forced leisure. Currently, AI functions more as a "drawing partner" or administrative assistant that still requires a human "editor and proofreader" to manage its "hallucinations" and mistakes.In Europe, the political tide may be turning following a resounding rebuke of Victor Orban in the Hungarian elections. The victory of Peter Magyar is seen as "good news" for Ukraine, as it removes a major block to a 90-billion-euro EU loan package. However, European economies remain fragile, with governments in Germany and France heavily subsidizing gas prices to prevent political upheaval from far-right parties like the AFD.Finally, the international order is under strain as China's patience with the U.S. and Israel wears thin due to the economic damage caused by the Iran conflict. Similarly, the "special relationship" between the UK and the US is facing a "national humiliation" as King Charles prepares to visit a Washington administration that has been openly insulting to British leadership. Amidst this 21st-century chaos, the sources recall the 17th-century painter Johannes Vermeer, whose work emerged from a similar era of religious war to promote a "liberal tradition" of tolerance that remains the foundation of modern society.

Guest: Mark Yoffe, Russia, Eurasia, Eastern and Central Europe Resource Center Librarian at George Washington University.  First broadcast April 17 2026. Playlist "You may be familiar with the Russian word samizdat."

13. Anatol Lieven Headline: Seeking a Settlement in the Eurasia Crisis High energy prices are pressuring Europeannations like Belgium and Hungary to consider resuming trade with Russia. Lieven proposes a deal exchanging energy for compromises on the Donbass, though European leadership remains divided. (13)1900 MOSCOW