Podcasts about Eurasia

Are you struggling to keep up with the trending worldviews and pop culture beliefs shaping our culture? Guest teacher Aaron Pierce offers a roadmap to understanding the primary influences and philosophies of young people today. Learn how seeing the world through their eyes can help you build deeper, more authentic connections.ResourcesMessage NotesSpecial OffersConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookYouTubePartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003Resources Mentioned in TeachingNancy Pearcey - "Love Thy Body"Guest Speaker BioAaron Pierce is the International Mission Director of Steiger International, a rapidly-growing, worldwide mission organization that is called to reach and disciple the Global Youth Culture for Jesus. Steiger is active in over 100 cities around the world within the regions of Europe, Eurasia, Central Asia, the Middle East, East Asia, South America, Australasia, and North America.

There is an ongoing battle for the hearts and minds of the next generation, leaving many Bible-believing parents wondering how to effectively share the Truth. Guest teacher Aaron Pierce, from Steiger International, shares practical ways to engage your children and offers a message of hope for reaching today's youth with the Gospel.ResourcesMessage NotesSpecial OffersConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookYouTubePartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003Resources Mentioned in TeachingNancy Pearcey - "Love Thy Body"Guest Speaker BioAaron Pierce is the International Mission Director of Steiger International, a rapidly-growing, worldwide mission organization that is called to reach and disciple the Global Youth Culture for Jesus. Steiger is active in over 100 cities around the world within the regions of Europe, Eurasia, Central Asia, the Middle East, East Asia, South America, Australasia, and North America.

On the Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore hosts an all-start lineup of guests to break it all down: Michael Carpenter, who served as the U.S. National Security Council's Senior Director for Europe, US Ambassador to the OSCE, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia; John Sipher, a 28-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency's National Clandestine Service and recipient of the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal; and James Sherr, an honorary fellow at the International Center for Defense and Security and an Associate Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House.

Last time we spoke about the reaction after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. After four years of fighting Japan almost alone, China's Chiang Kai-shek learned of Pearl Harbor with profound relief. Japan's attack, meant to neutralize American naval power, instead galvanized the entire Western world against Tokyo. Within hours, Chiang declared war on the Axis powers, transforming China from an isolated nation to a recognized Allied member. The strategic mathematics were clear to Chiang: America's industrial might would ultimately crush Japan. China simply needed to survive long enough. The United States quickly formalized this partnership, pledging military support through Lend-Lease and elevating Chiang to leadership of Allied forces in the China theater. Yet Pearl Harbor brought catastrophe for Western civilians in China. Americans and Britons, previously protected as neutral foreigners, were suddenly rounded up and interned in camps. For many, decades of presence in China ended in hasty evacuation, leaving behind lives built over generations.   #216 The Battle of Hong Kong Part 1: The Approaching Storm Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Japan emerged as a significant threat to British interests during the 1920s following the collapse of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. This concern intensified dramatically after Japan's invasion of China, with the ensuing Sino-Japanese War escalating tensions further. British assets in the region came under direct assault, including attacks on Western military and commercial vessels such as HMS Ladybird. Yet despite these provocations, the British Government maintained an inconsistent stance toward Japan, responding with only feeble diplomatic and military countermeasures. This contradiction characterized London's approach: while diplomatic channels remained conciliatory, military planners viewed Japan with genuine apprehension. During the 1930s, Singapore and Malaya represented Britain's most valuable and prosperous holdings in the Far East and consequently received substantial garrison reinforcements. By contrast, Hong Kong was widely acknowledged to be indefensible—a conclusion reached repeatedly by successive military studies. Despite this consensus, the British Government proceeded with the Hong Kong Defence Scheme in 1936, which aimed to transform Hong Kong Island into a fortified redoubt while establishing delaying positions in Kowloon and the New Territories. The Hong Kong Garrison's mandate was straightforward: repel external attacks and prevent enemy use of the harbour and dry dock. The underlying strategy relied on a simple principle: hold Hong Kong Island as an impregnable fortress and await relief from the Royal Navy. Consequently, protecting the harbour became the paramount objective. Japanese strategists were correctly identified as Hong Kong's primary threat, with military planners anticipating attack from the sea rather than overland. To counter such an offensive, the defence scheme incorporated five successive layers of protection: naval mines fitted with indicator nets and anti-submarine booms formed the first barrier; coastal artillery provided the second; beach installations featuring pillboxes, wire entanglements and mines constituted the third; infantry strongpoints positioned on commanding heights guarded against amphibious landings; and finally, a mobile reserve force stood ready to counterattack and eliminate any successful enemy incursion. The 1936 plan also mandated extensive fortification of Kowloon's bottleneck approaches through bunkers, trenches and blocked passages, with a principal defensive line—resembling a miniature Maginot Line—constructed across the mountains immediately north of Kowloon. The garrison structure comprised three infantry battalions plus the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (HKVDC), a unit approximately regiment-strength equipped with armoured cars, engineers, artillery, anti-aircraft guns and infantry. These forces organized into three brigades: mainland, island, and garrison reserve. The air component was planned to be formidable: a reconnaissance squadron, a fighter-bomber squadron, two torpedo squadrons and a flight of auxiliary spotting aircraft operated by the HKVDC. Naval forces consisted of a modest destroyer contingent, an MTB flotilla, gunboats and patrol vessels. When Japan occupied Guangzhou, Hong Kong found itself effectively encircled. In response, limited conscription was implemented, though restricted to non-Chinese males for HKVDC service. Chinese personnel were largely confined to non-combat positions such as air-raid precautions and medical duties. The expanding Japanese threat prompted a substantial expansion of the Hong Kong Garrison to four regular infantry regiments—two British units (one specializing in medium machine-gun support) and two Indian regiments. Supporting forces included two coastal artillery regiments, a field artillery regiment-plus, and an anti-aircraft regiment. The Royal Navy expanded to include the 2nd MTB flotilla (eight 60-foot, 29-knot motor torpedo boats armed with twin torpedoes and eight Lewis guns each, plus two smaller 55-foot vessels), four shallow-draught river gunboats (HMS Cicala, Tern, Moth and Robin), four aging World War I S-class destroyers (HMS Thracian, Thanet, Scout and Tenedos—the last transferred to Singapore in 1939), HMS Cornflower sloop, and various auxiliary vessels including tugs, boom defence ships and minelayers. The Fleet Air Arm deployed three Supermarine Walruses—single-engine reconnaissance amphibians—at Kai Tak Airport. The Royal Air Force remained the weakest service, equipped with only four Vickers Wildebeest torpedo-bombers and a handful of HKVDC aircraft: one Avro Tutor, two Hornet Moths and two Cadet biplanes. When World War II erupted in Europe, Britain's focus necessarily shifted to national survival, inevitably leaving distant imperial outposts like Hong Kong neglected. Rather than receive reinforcements, Hong Kong actually lost capable personnel; many veteran troops were repatriated to Europe, leaving behind a less proficient garrison. Peacetime duties had proven a poor preparation for combat—officers and men had passed their time socializing rather than maintaining combat readiness. Governor Sir Geoffrey Northcote persistently urged London to adopt a firmer stance against relentless Japanese provocations: aircraft incursions, sinking of junks and fishing vessels, and infiltration by Taiwanese fifth columnists (Japan had colonized Taiwan in 1895). Recognizing the hopelessness of his position, Northcote recommended withdrawal in October 1940, arguing that defending the colony would inevitably result in mass civilian casualties and widespread destruction—a pragmatic assessment given Hong Kong's indefensible state. London categorically rejected this proposal, reasoning that withdrawal would demoralize China, embolden Japan and undermine American confidence in British resolve. Underlying this decision was an additional consideration: the long-standing dispute over Hong Kong's sovereignty. Since Britain acquired Hong Kong in 1841, the prospect of surrendering it, even temporarily, raised fears about reclaiming it afterward. Preserving the appearance of British determination was deemed crucial to demonstrating to Chiang Kai-shek, Nationalist China's leader, that Britain intended to retain the territory. Despite these political calculations, London consistently refused fresh troop deployments. Major-General A. E. Grasett, the China theatre commander, requested reinforcements only to face rejection—London offered only Indian or other colonial forces. Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, appointed British commander in the Far East in 1941, likewise pressed for garrison strengthening, to no avail. The situation shifted dramatically after Grasett, a retired Canadian who had recently left his China post, travelled to Britain via Canada. Upon arriving in Canada, he independently approached his former classmate Major-General Crerar, Chief of the Canadian General Staff, and advocated for reinforcement. Grasett argued persuasively that deploying two or more additional battalions would enable the Hong Kong garrison to withstand an extended siege. When Grasett reached London in early September 1941, he presented this case directly to the British Chiefs of Staff, simultaneously proposing that Canada could provide the extra units. His arguments proved persuasive; the Chiefs of Staff altered course and convinced a reluctant Churchill to reconsider. In light of accelerating Japanese pressure, Britain substantially enlarged the Malaysia/Singapore garrison from nine to 32 battalions and despatched two capital ships—HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse—to the region, reasoning that this show of force would deter Japanese aggression against British Far Eastern interests, including Hong Kong. The original defence strategy envisaged holding Hong Kong Island exclusively while denying the harbour to attackers. A single battalion (the Punjabis) would execute delaying actions across the New Territories, followed by a three-battalion defensive stand on the Gin Drinkers Line. This brief mainland resistance would allow time for demolishing stores, power installations, docks and wharves, clearing food stocks and removing vital matériel before withdrawing to Hong Kong Island for a protracted resistance awaiting relief from Singapore or American forces from the Philippines. The Gin Drinkers Line—styled after the French Maginot Line in miniature—ran approximately 18 kilometres south of the Sino-Hong Kong border. Beginning near Gin Drinkers Bay west of Kowloon, it extended 17 kilometres across the Kowloon Peninsula hills toward its eastern extremity. The strategic expectation was that this line would delay the Japanese assault for three weeks or longer, permitting battalion withdrawal to Hong Kong Island for sustained resistance while mainland forces completed evacuation procedures. The 1937 war plan stipulated that four battalions would be necessary for an effective delaying action and seven for an adequate Gin Drinkers Line defence—figures which excluded the aircraft and naval support essential to success. With only a single army brigade available and virtually no air capability, planners abandoned the mainland defence concept, leaving defensive works incomplete and deteriorating under tropical conditions. Chinese personnel were conspicuously absent from initial war preparations and strategic planning, only being incorporated late in the process. The largest Chinese component was the volunteer contingent serving with the HKVDC. On the regular army side, approximately 150 Chinese recruits were enlisted in mid-1941 for the 5th Anti-Aircraft Regiment. The Hong Kong Chinese Regiment, hastily constituted on 3 November 1941, comprised officers borrowed from British and Indian units alongside 52 Chinese junior NCOs and other ranks with minimal training. A Royal Engineers troop staffed entirely by Chinese soldiers saw service, and some Chinese personnel served with the Royal Navy and Dockyard Defence Corps. Chinese participation increased substantially in auxiliary services—air-raid precautions, auxiliary police, nursing, St John Ambulance and fire brigades. This reluctance to fully integrate Chinese forces likely reflected prevailing attitudes of the era. Pre-war British propaganda had frequently mocked Japanese military capability, portraying officers and soldiers as myopic and incompetent. Japanese combat prowess was systematically underestimated; their victories in China were attributed to facing inferior opposition rather than evidence of genuine military strength. Japanese weaponry was dismissed as inferior to European standards. Consequently, British confidence remained high that the colony could hold indefinitely if adequately reinforced. In September 1941, Hong Kong received heartening news: two additional Canadian battalions would be deployed to the garrison. Brigadier John Maltby promptly revived the pre-war plan for defending the Gin Drinkers Line, developing a strategy centred on three mainland battalions (2nd Royal Scots, 5/7 Rajputs and 2/14 Punjab) supported by HKVDC elements and four artillery troop detachments, while three island battalions (1st Middlesex, Royal Rifles of Canada and Winnipeg Grenadiers) bolstered by the bulk of the HKVDC would hold Hong Kong Island. Command responsibility was divided between two brigades: the Island Brigade (Hong Kong Infantry Brigade) under Brigadier Lawson, a recently arrived Canadian, and the mainland Kowloon Infantry Brigade under Brigadier Wallis. The Canadian regiments arrived on 16 November 1941. Maltby was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1911, and  saw extensive service across multiple campaigns: World War I, the Persian Gulf (1913–14), and the North-West Frontier (1923–24). His early promise earned him selection for accelerated advancement through prestigious staff colleges at Quetta and RAF Andover. By 1937, he was again serving on the North-West Frontier, and by 1939 commanded both the 3rd Jhelum Brigade (later the Calcutta Brigade) and the 19th Infantry Brigade in Deccan. In 1940, posted to China, Maltby orchestrated the closure of the North China Command by withdrawing two infantry battalions from Shanghai. Promoted to major-general as GOC China in August 1941, he had only three months to prepare the colony's defenses, a race against time he could not win.  The Gin Drinkers Line occupied a naturally dominant position atop mountains spanning northern Kowloon's breadth, yet possessed inherent weaknesses that would prove fatal. The line lacked defensive depth and remained vulnerable to flanking manoeuvres, with two sectors representing particular danger: Customs Pass and the gap between Golden Hill and Laichikok Peninsula near Gin Drinkers Bay. Given the extended front, each battalion arranged its forces in a string of platoon positions with gaps covered by daytime fire and nighttime patrols. One company per battalion could be held in reserve within prepared positions guarding the most dangerous sectors. The reserve company of the centre battalion (2/14 Punjab) initially advanced as forward troops, screening demolition operations and delaying the enemy's initial thrust. The hasty decision to establish mainland defences meant that essential support systems—communication networks, artillery registrations, mortar calibrations—remained incomplete when combat commenced. Ammunition shortages compounded the problem. For instance, the 2/14 Punjab conducted only a single 3-inch mortar practice session before the attack; adequate ammunition arrived only in November and totalled a mere 70 rounds per battalion for both training and combat. These mortars were registered for the first time in their battle positions, with combat beginning just 12 hours later. The 2-inch mortar situation was even more desperate: troops received live ammunition only as fighting started, making their baptism of fire an actual combat situation. Transportation deficiencies—trucks and animals in short supply—forced manual ammunition transport across Hong Kong's challenging terrain, imposing severe physical demands on already stretched personnel.   On 6 November 1941, Imperial Japanese Headquarters ordered its Commander-in-Chief in China to prepare plans for capturing Hong Kong. The 23rd Army, part of the China Southern Expeditionary Army Group and commanded by Lt. Gen. Sakai Takashi with Maj. Gen. Kuribayashi Tadamichi serving as Chief of Staff, would form the invasion's backbone. All preparations were to be completed by the end of November 1941. The operation, designated 'Operation C', sought to 'seize Hong Kong within ten days'. Takahashi was the son of a factory worker, and rose through the ranks to become a veteran of China campaigns. He was tasked with capturing Hong Kong using the 38th Division normally assigned to the Southern Expeditionary Army Group. Despite setbacks and humiliation over requests for additional resources—particularly following intelligence reports of tanks (actually Bren carriers) in Hong Kong—Sakai remained determined to succeed. He served as Governor of Hong Kong from 26 December 1941 to 20 February 1942. Kuribayashi, best remembered as the Japanese commander at Iwo Jima, graduated from the Army Academy in 1914 specializing in cavalry. He served as deputy military attaché to Washington and Canada and studied at Harvard University. In December 1941, he held the position of Chief of Staff to the 23rd Army during the Hong Kong operation. Operation C followed a straightforward strategic framework. A blocking force would prevent Chinese interference from the rear, while the main invasion force would spearhead the assault. The 23rd Army, comprising four divisions plus a mixed brigade and two infantry regiments, received the assignment to attack Hong Kong. Of these four divisions, only the 38th played a substantive role in the invasion itself. The attack employed a combined-arms approach. Naval forces would establish a blockade and deliver bombardment while aircraft targeted key installations. Ground forces from the 38th Division—specifically the 228th, 229th, and 230th Regiments—would execute the land invasion using a three-pronged strategy. The right column would sweep westward in a wide arc, clearing Castle Peak Road and targeting the western flank of the Gin Drinkers Line near Laichikok Peninsula. The centre force would press directly through the line's middle, while the left column would cross Tidal Cove (Tolo Harbour) toward Kai Tak Airport and eastward toward Devil Peak, a crucial defensive position. The objective was to annihilate British forces on the mainland and compel Hong Kong's surrender through sustained bombardment. Should British forces resist, the island phase of the campaign would commence. Securing the rear against the Chinese National Army of the 7th Military District and Communist guerrillas fell to the 66th Regiment, normally part of the 51st Division but attached to the 38th for this operation. The 66th would simultaneously occupy and secure rear areas throughout the New Territories and Kowloon while the three assault regiments engaged the main defensive forces. This rearguard operation was organised into columns named after their commanding officers: Kitazawa, Kobayashi, Sato, and Araki. The Japanese selected the narrowest approach between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, targeting the eastern coast near Lyemun Passage where only 410 metres of water separated the mainland from the island. Upon landing, forces would rapidly advance inland to seize the critical junction of Wongneichong Gap, then pivot westward and southward to capture Victoria City and the remainder of Hong Kong. The naval contingent divided into two groups: the Bombardment Group and the Attack Group. Approximately 300 personnel from the Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) were attached to the invasion force. Air support came from the First Air Brigade under Col. Habu Hideharu, which contributed 56 light bombers and fighters. Their mission was to neutralise the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, thereby securing aerial and maritime superiority for the ground campaign.   On the eve of war, the British garrison numbered 13,981 all ranks, including nursing staff and St John Ambulance personnel. Of these, 8,919 were British and Canadian, with 4,402 Indian and Chinese. The core infantry force comprised 5,422 regular soldiers, complemented by approximately 6,000 additional personnel across artillery, engineering, naval, and Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (HKVDC) units. By 1941, the Royal Navy had become a shadow of its former self as the once-dominant China Squadron. Of the three World War I destroyers present on 8 December, two had been sent to Singapore—the third undergoing repairs—by 1930. This redeployment stemmed partly from the futility of defending the colony and partly from a commitment by senior US Navy officers: Britain would reinforce Singapore with Hong Kong's fleet in exchange for four American destroyers at Singapore. This American guarantee, however, never materialized. The defensive infrastructure focused primarily on countering a seaborne attack: twenty-nine coastal guns (9.2in., 6in., 4.7in., and 4in. calibres), ten 18- and 2-pounder beach defense guns, and twenty-eight field guns (60-pounder, 6in., 4.5in., and 3.7in. calibres). The Hong Kong Garrison's infantry comprised four regular army battalions—two British and two Indian—bolstered by five HKVDC infantry companies, each averaging 100 men. The 1st Middlesex Regiment, deployed in August 1937, served as a machine-gun battalion equipped with forty-eight Vickers medium machine guns. Having been abroad since 1931, the regiment had deteriorated through protracted garrison service, Hong Kong being among the softest postings available. From September 1939 onward, all regiments—including the 5/7 Rajputs (arrived June 1937) and the 2/14 Punjab—experienced systematic loss of experienced officers and NCOs to other theaters. The Royal Scots proved particularly hard hit, suffering disciplinary problems and an unusually high court-martial rate. Units like the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery suffered critical leadership gaps that went unaddressed. By December 1941, many formations fielded inexperienced replacement troops, significantly undermining combat readiness. The Punjabis exemplified these deficiencies. Stationed in Hong Kong since November 1940, they received their vehicles and mortars only in August 1941—three months before combat. Compounding this, forty percent of their strength consisted of raw recruits arrived just in October. When war erupted, artillery regiments found themselves relying on junior officers in senior roles, with British commanders unfamiliar with Urdu directing Indian troops, a handicap that severely compromised effectiveness. Deficient equipment compounded leadership shortages. Shells dating from 1918 detonated prematurely upon discharge, while ammunition shortages crippled operations. On 8 December, all field guns deployed with merely 100 rounds apiece, with 200 rounds held in reserve for the entire campaign, and coastal guns received only 25 rounds each. Insufficient cross-training meant many infantrymen failed to understand the artillery "clock face" targeting system, causing them to miss their objectives. Malaria devastated European troops, particularly the Royal Scots. Of approximately 770 personnel, at least 180 suffered recurring malarial episodes from the Shing Mun Redoubt area's notoriously endemic conditions. Staff shortages forced nearly every unit to promote junior officers to positions beyond their rank, exacerbating structural weaknesses. Although the Canadians' arrival bolstered the garrison, significant handicaps undermined their effectiveness. Both battalions carried a C-class designation—deemed unfit for foreign service—having spent years in soft garrison postings without rigorous training. The deficit was stark: each Canadian soldier received only thirty-five rifle practice rounds. The two battalions incorporated 115 men with fewer than sixteen weeks' training, while sixty-two of seventy-five recruits joining the Winnipeg Grenadiers in June came directly from a training depot lacking even basic rifles. Twelve percent of the Canadian force remained untrained. Equipment deficiencies proved even more damaging. A standard 1941 Canadian infantry battalion required 102 motor vehicles—including twenty-two Universal Carriers, thirty-seven ¾-ton trucks, thirteen 1-ton trucks, thirty-one bicycles, and twenty-two Boys anti-tank rifles. When the Canadians landed, logistical failures left them with only six Bren carriers, two water tankers, twelve ¾-ton trucks, and a single Boys anti-tank rifle. Although they carried 3in. mortars, neither ammunition nor radios accompanied them. Canada possessed only 300 3-inch mortar bombs in its entire inventory at that time, making any allocation to Hong Kong impossible. A second vessel, the SS Don Jose, was dispatched with replacement vehicles and equipment but never reached Hong Kong before 8 December. The Japanese seized it en route to Manila. Despite these shortcomings, the force departed on 27 October with 1,975 men and arrived on 16 November. Intelligence estimates regarding Japanese available forces varied widely, ranging from two to four divisions. On 6 December evening, Chinese reports confirmed the previous day's arrival of three Japanese divisions at Buji township, located eight miles from the border in what is now Shenzhen. Earlier, around 1 November, a Japanese deserter provided intelligence of significant troop concentrations north of the frontier, including large-calibre artillery indicative of at least divisional strength.   The Hong Kong invasion force comprised three service branches: the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) deployed the 38th Infantry Division, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) committed the Second China Fleet, and the Imperial Japanese Air Force (IJAF) contributed the 1st Air Group. Command of the ground assault rested with Lieutenant-General Sano Tadayoshi of the 38th Division, supported by Major-General Ito Takeo heading the infantry group, while supporting arms including artillery, engineers, armor, and transport fell under Sano's authority. The main assault force consisted of three infantry regiments from the 38th Division, each led by a colonel: the 228th under Doi Teihichi, the 229th under Tanaka Ryosaburo, and the 230th under Shoji Toshishige. The 38th Division itself was a standard 1940s B-class infantry division of approximately 20,000 troops (ranging from 18,000–21,000 depending on operational requirements), organized into three regiments with three battalions each. Reflecting the Japanese army's reliance on animal and human transport, each regiment fielded roughly 3,800 troops supported by some 700 horses. Battalion strength averaged around 1,071 personnel, with companies numbering approximately 180 men. Japanese infantry battalions of this period featured a distinctive organization: rifle platoons consisted of four sections (three equipped with rifles and light machine guns, one with light mortars and rifles), complemented by an additional heavy machine-gun company fielding twelve Type 92 weapons and a troop of light artillery—likely Type 92 70mm infantry guns. The divisional field artillery regiment operated 75mm Type 41 mountain guns organized into three 688-man battalions, each with two troops of two guns. Mountain artillery units, numbering 36 guns total, carried additional personnel (3,400) and animals (1,400) to navigate the terrain complexities of Hong Kong operations. Recognizing the need for overwhelming firepower to compel Hong Kong's surrender, the IJA augmented the invasion force with heavy artillery—15cm and 24cm howitzers commanded by Major-General Kitashima Kineo. News of the Canadian reinforcements arriving in Hong Kong forced a reassessment. Commander-in-Chief Sakai Takashi of the 23rd Army informed his superiors that the original ten-day timeline was unrealistic and requested additional troops. Although most formations were already committed to other operations, Imperial Headquarters eventually authorized two depot regiments from Japan to support the campaign. Intended for second-line duties rather than frontline combat, these units were to be returned promptly after freeing experienced personnel for Hong Kong operations. This arrangement allowed the 19th and 20th mixed brigades—approximately 6,000 men organized in five infantry battalions, a field artillery battalion, and an engineer battalion—to be released for Hong Kong. However, Sakai's request for reinforcements met with disapproval from Imperial Headquarters, and he received an unmistakable message: a swift, decisive campaign was essential. His situation worsened when Japanese agents mistakenly identified British Bren carriers as tanks, forcing Sakai to improvise armor by raiding the 1st Reserve Tank Battalion and tankette units from infantry depot divisions. In attempting to secure additional armor from the 11th Army's 9th Reconnaissance Regiment, Sakai encountered resistance. General Hata Shunroku lodged sustained complaints with senior officials, and Sakai received a sharp rebuke—further requests would not be entertained, and his replacement would follow if necessary. Stung by this loss of face, Sakai abandoned all additional requests and became even more determined to achieve success. Vice-Admiral Niimi Masaichi, commanding the 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet, oversaw the entire naval element, divided into bombardment and attack groups. His flagship, the light cruiser Isuzu, carried Captain Ura Koichi, who simultaneously commanded the bombardment group. This naval force assembled ships from various China Expeditionary Fleet units, particularly from the Canton Special Base Force, 15 Squadron, and 11 Torpedo Boat Division at Guangzhou. Reflecting Niimi's lack of confidence in the army's air support capabilities, the seaplane tender IJN Kamikawa Maru joined the operation on his insistence, providing organic naval aviation against the threat posed by British Wildebeests. Niimi also petitioned for destroyers IJN Wakaba and Yugure to counter the three British destroyers, though this request was denied. The Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) were assigned to conduct diversionary attacks south of Hong Kong Island, intended to distract British forces from the main land invasion thrust. The IJAF's 1st Air Brigade, commanded by Colonel Habu Hideharu, centered on the 45th Air Regiment with 34 Kawasaki Ki-32 Type 98 'Mary' light bombers. This composite force drew aircraft and units from airfields across China and Manchuria—Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Qiqihar—all assembled at Baiyun Aerodrome in Guangzhou on 7 December 1941. Supporting the 1st Air Brigade were the 10th Independent Squadron under Captain Takatsuki Akira with 13 Nakajima Ki-27 Type 97 'Nate' fighters, 3 Mitsubishi Ki-15 Type 97 'Babs' command reconnaissance aircraft from the 18th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron, and the 44th Independent Squadron fielding 6 Tachikawa Ki-36 Type 98 'Ida' observation aircraft. Years before the invasion, the Japanese cultivated an extensive network of agents and sleeper operatives in Hong Kong, methodically gathering intelligence and mapping military installations. This sophisticated network proved remarkably effective: invasion maps carried by IJA officers were actually Hong Kong Government and British military maps, overprinted with Japanese annotations and interpretations. British officers later discovered in captivity that the Peninsula Hotel's regular barber was a Japanese Navy lieutenant-commander who had exploited the intimate setting to extract valuable information about British force dispositions. Intelligence operatives infiltrated every level of Hong Kong society—the garrison tailor and barber both served as spies. This groundwork enabled exceptional accuracy in artillery fire and bombing campaigns. The Japanese further leveraged criminal networks, recruiting gangsters throughout Hong Kong and Guangdong province with money and arms, turning them into irregular auxiliaries supporting the invasion.   On Sunday, 7 December, seven hundred members of the 2nd Royal Scots and Middlesex Regiment marched to St John's Cathedral for the morning service. As Major-General Maltby read a passage from Matthew, his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant I. MacGregor, delivered an urgent message that would change everything. Preparations for conflict had already begun. On 5 December, the HKVDC had mobilized fully, yet Hong Kong's broader population remained unmoved—the Happy Valley racetrack reported record attendance that very day. The contrast was stark: while one institution prepared for war, another celebrated as though nothing threatened. Japanese forces had been positioned advantageously since autumn 1941. The 23rd Army was already stationed west of Guangzhou, with contingents scattered across Foshan Town, Zhuhai, and other locations on the Pearl River delta. Upon orders for war on 1 December, they faced minimal distances to cover. The army regrouped at Humen, Shilong Town, and Guangzhou itself—staging areas for the invasion. The first visible signs arrived on 4–5 December when Japanese forces landed at Mirs Bay; the 228th Regiment moved into its staging area at Buji Town, now part of Shenzhen City. Maltby received these reports and immediately departed the cathedral service to issue urgent stand-to orders. Yet skepticism persisted within military circles. Some dismissed the threat, dismissing such intelligence as "astonishingly erroneous." Meanwhile, the Imperial Japanese Navy massed in the waters beyond Hong Kong's horizon. The Kowloon Infantry Brigade held a stretched defensive line: the 5/7 Rajputs anchored the centre, the 2/14 Punjab the east, and the 2nd Royal Scots the west. Forward positions extended far—C Company, 2/14 Punjab, under Major S. Burns ranged along Castle Peak Road toward Yuen Long. The brigade screen, C Company of the 2/14 Punjab, held Shueng Shui and Taipo Market with four Bren carriers and two armoured cars from the HKVDC, backed by engineers and the 22nd Fortress Company. The Hong Kong Infantry Brigade held Hong Kong Island itself. The Winnipeg Grenadiers occupied Victoria City on the north-west coast, while the Royal Rifles of Canada stretched along the north-east shores from Saukiwan to Lyemun. Brigadier Lawson commanded from his headquarters at Wongneichong Gap in the island's centre. At 0355 hours on 8 December, the code word "Blossom Blossom" was transmitted. Eleven minutes later, Lieutenant-General Sakai ordered the invasion to commence. Fifty minutes after that, at 0445 hours, Major Charles Boxer—a fluent Japanese speaker formerly of the Lincolnshire Regiment—was roused by Radio Tokyo announcing that war was imminent. Governor Young and Major-General Maltby were informed at once. By 0500 hours, the forward demolition points had been blown by Major Gray, OC of C Company 2/14 Punjab, and the HKVDC engineers under Major J. H. Bottomley. At 0645 hours, the garrison received formal notification: Britain and Japan were at war. Seventy-five minutes later, air-raid sirens wailed. Within moments, smoke billowed from Kai Tak Airport as Japanese aircraft destroyed virtually the entire air garrison. The Wildebeests, Walruses, HKVDC biplanes, and several civilian planes were engulfed in flames. Only two Ju-52s of the Eurasia Corporation and one CNAC T-32 Condor escaped destruction—dispersal bays had never been built due to lack of funds. The Japanese then turned to secondary targets, bombing Shamshuipo Camp and the neighbouring police station. The Canadians suffered few large-scale casualties in the initial strikes, though Sergeant Routledge and Signalman Fairley of the signal platoon were wounded—the first Canadian soldiers injured in World War II. Remarkably, Hong Kong Island's theatres, cinemas, and restaurants continued operating as though the island faced no peril. Japanese demolition efforts proved only minor obstacles. Bridges blown were quickly replaced. The invasion proceeded on three fronts: the 230th Regiment advanced westward along the northern route toward Yuen Long and Castle Peak, targeting the northern slope of Tai Mo Mountain. The 228th Regiment drove down the centre, following the Sheung Shui–Taipo–Kowloon road toward Grassy Hill north of the Shing Mun Redoubt. The 229th Regiment, crossing at Sha Tau Kok and by boat at Starling Inlet, proceeded via Taipo toward Tai Shui Hang and Ma On Mountain. Whenever confronted with strongly defended positions, the Japanese bypassed them entirely rather than engage. The first day brought scattered but spirited resistance. Around 1300 hours, the Punjabis inflicted the first serious check, drawing blood from advancing Japanese forces. At 1830 hours, they ambushed and decimated several Japanese platoons south of Taipo market town. The HKVDC's armoured cars and Bren carriers struck similar successes nearby. The 2 Royal Scots' reconnaissance platoon clashed with elements of the 229th Regiment around Yuen Long. Despite these minor victories, Japanese momentum continued. Armed with stolen British maps and guided by fifth columnists, they pushed forward relentlessly. By late afternoon on the 8th, the Punjabis withdrew toward Grassy Hill to avoid being outflanked. The artillerymen of the 12th Battery engaged an IJN destroyer and Japanese forces around Taipo, inflicting heavy casualties. Farther south near Shatin, on the Taipo–Kowloon highway, rapidly advancing Japanese troops surprised the defenders and severed the fuse at an HKVDC demolition point. Their triumph proved momentary; the engineers completed the backup circuit and detonated the bridge, destroying it along with the Japanese soldiers crossing it. By early morning on 9 December, orders came to withdraw all mainland units to the Gin Drinkers Line. The Punjabis, already at Shatin Wai overlooking Tide Cove, held their position under pressure and continuous shelling for the next two days. The HKVDC withdrew to Fotan, a village south of Shatin. Maltby ordered D Company, 5/7 Rajputs, under Captain H. R. Newtons to Smuggler's Ridge to close the gap between the 2 Royal Scots and 2/14 Punjab. HKVDC armoured cars and Bren carriers continued patrols along Castle Peak Road while HMS Cicala, having survived two air attacks, maintained station in Castle Peak Bay. Despite an IJN blockade, the destroyers HMS Thanet and Scout slipped anchor and escaped to Singapore around 2130 hours. The surviving CNAC and Eurasia aircraft took off with high-value evacuees: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's widow and her two equally renowned sisters—the Soong sisters—along with Chinese Finance Minister H. H. Kung. Also departing was Lieutenant-Colonel H. Owen-Hughes of the HKVDC, who carried orders to coordinate with the Chinese Nationalist Army for a rear-guard attack on Japanese forces to relieve the pressure on Hong Kong. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. On 8 December 1941, Japan attacked Hong Kong with the 38th Division, supported by naval and air forces. Despite British defenses manned by undertrained, under-equipped troops, Japanese forces advanced rapidly across three fronts. Within hours, the RAF was destroyed, demolitions proved futile, and British units withdrew toward the Gin Drinkers Line facing overwhelming odds.

What does a more uncertain transatlantic relationship mean for Europe's role in the Indo-Pacific? Mike sits down with Dr Gorana Grgić, Head of the Global Security Team at ETH Zürich's Center for Security Studies and Non-Resident Fellow at the United States Studies Centre, to explore how Europe is adapting to a shifting strategic landscape. They discuss the outcomes of the latest NATO summit in Ankara; the future of NATO's Indo-Pacific partnerships with Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand; and why these transregional relationships remain critical to confronting shared security challenges across Eurasia. 

Londinium Chronicles — Multi-Part, Part Two: Gaius (John Batchelor) and Germanicus (Michael Vlahos) turn to the ragged ends of wars and the long-term consequences of current strategic decisions. Germanicus argues that by handcrafting the war in Ukraine and blockading Russia, the United States has inadvertently fostered a united Eurasia, a powerful condominium of Moscow, Beijing, Tehran, and Pyongyang that threatens to eclipse Western power. He compares modern strategic failures to historical precedents such as the 1919 Treaty of Versailles and the 1953 Koreanarmistice, both of which created conditions for future catastrophes. A major theme is the collapse of American industrial capacity. Germanicus asserts that the United States has lost the skilled labor and shipyards necessary to maintain naval dominance, describing the current state as atrophied and sclerotic. He suggests that the United States must now rely on allies such as Japan and Korea for naval deterrence against China because American shipbuilding cannot revive itself for at least fifteen to thirty years. He concludes that the nation is in deep trouble but lacks the pragmatic builders required to fix it, suggesting a period of drift that may last until 2055. (2)

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://spectator.com/article/does-russias-exiled-opposition-want-whats-best-for-europe/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/11/soviet-dissidents-understood-what-russias-exiled-opposition-has-forgotten-a93458https://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----------

Send us Fan MailEurope looks peaceful right up until you inventory what's actually ready to fight. After spending months in Europe, Professor Andrew Michta joins us to lay out a sober strategic picture: a continent still disarmed, a defense industrial base that will take years to rebuild, and a NATO alliance split by radically different threat perceptions from the Baltic Sea to the Sahel.We get specific about what modern war is teaching in Ukraine. Drones are changing everything, but Andrew explains why tanks and armor still matter because wars are ultimately decided by mobility and control of terrain. The real breakthrough, he argues, is not just more unmanned systems, but restoring maneuver through electronic warfare and spectrum dominance so soldiers can move without being hunted on a transparent battlefield. We also unpack the hard math behind “arrow vs arrow” economics and what that means for sustainable deterrence.From there, we zoom out to NATO's Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative and the urgent need for allies to take ownership with concrete regional planning, exercises, and capabilities. Andrew connects that to a bigger US problem: a crisis of simultaneity across Europe, the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Korea, at a time when force structure and supply chains are stretched thin. We close with a plainspoken answer to the question many Americans ask: why should anyone in a town far from Europe care about Poland, Finland, or the Baltics? Because Europe and Eurasia shape US prosperity, shipping lanes, and homeland security, and because strong alliances are how democracies avoid fighting alone.If this conversation sharpens your thinking, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

The war in Ukraine appears to have entered a new phase, as Kyiv has launched increasingly ambitious long-range strikes deep inside Russia, put mounting pressure on Crimea and sought to bring the war closer to ordinary Russians and Vladimir Putin. But now the Kremlin is hitting back hard. In a missile attack on Kyiv this week, at least 17 people were killed. Now there's reports of a Ukrainian plane in Leipzig, Germany, being targeted by an explosive-laden drone. It's not clear who was behind the attack but reporting suggests it could be Russia. So are we witnessing a dangerous new phase of escalation? On this episode of the Fourcast Indicators, Matt Frei and Mark Urban are joined by economist Timothy Ash from Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia programme.

Of the two Koreas, it is the South which appears much the more Christian today, with all major cities dotted with church spires and illuminated crosses. But a century ago it was the northern half of the peninsula that was the more established home for Christianity, the northwestern city of Pyongyang being celebrated as a “Jerusalem of the East.” And among the faith's devotees were the parents of the man who would eventually come to lead the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from the middle of the twentieth century. Kim Il Sung, Jonathan Cheng shows in his fluidly written and richly researched book Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea's Personality Cult (Knopf, 2026), grew up in an environment suffused in Christian teachings and actively involved himself in church life, facts which raise questions about his later career as a guerrilla fighter and national leader. Cheng traces the long arc of Christian associations in Kim's biography, from the arrival of Presbyterianism in Korea through to the leader's battles with the church as North Korean leader, his softening towards the faith in later life, and of course his erection of a personality cult around himself that had no few similarities with the practices and aesthetics of Christianity. Understanding North Korea from its founding until the present day thus, Cheng shows, demands an awareness of an at-times-astonishing collision of religion, nationalism and authoritarianism which are narrated expertly in this thought-provoking book. Jonathan Cheng professional web page here Book website here Ed Pulford is an Anthropologist and Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on friendships and histories between the Chinese, Korean and Russian worlds, and socialism and empire in Eurasia. 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

Of the two Koreas, it is the South which appears much the more Christian today, with all major cities dotted with church spires and illuminated crosses. But a century ago it was the northern half of the peninsula that was the more established home for Christianity, the northwestern city of Pyongyang being celebrated as a “Jerusalem of the East.” And among the faith's devotees were the parents of the man who would eventually come to lead the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from the middle of the twentieth century. Kim Il Sung, Jonathan Cheng shows in his fluidly written and richly researched book Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea's Personality Cult (Knopf, 2026), grew up in an environment suffused in Christian teachings and actively involved himself in church life, facts which raise questions about his later career as a guerrilla fighter and national leader. Cheng traces the long arc of Christian associations in Kim's biography, from the arrival of Presbyterianism in Korea through to the leader's battles with the church as North Korean leader, his softening towards the faith in later life, and of course his erection of a personality cult around himself that had no few similarities with the practices and aesthetics of Christianity. Understanding North Korea from its founding until the present day thus, Cheng shows, demands an awareness of an at-times-astonishing collision of religion, nationalism and authoritarianism which are narrated expertly in this thought-provoking book. Jonathan Cheng professional web page here Book website here Ed Pulford is an Anthropologist and Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on friendships and histories between the Chinese, Korean and Russian worlds, and socialism and empire in Eurasia. 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

Of the two Koreas, it is the South which appears much the more Christian today, with all major cities dotted with church spires and illuminated crosses. But a century ago it was the northern half of the peninsula that was the more established home for Christianity, the northwestern city of Pyongyang being celebrated as a “Jerusalem of the East.” And among the faith's devotees were the parents of the man who would eventually come to lead the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from the middle of the twentieth century. Kim Il Sung, Jonathan Cheng shows in his fluidly written and richly researched book Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea's Personality Cult (Knopf, 2026), grew up in an environment suffused in Christian teachings and actively involved himself in church life, facts which raise questions about his later career as a guerrilla fighter and national leader. Cheng traces the long arc of Christian associations in Kim's biography, from the arrival of Presbyterianism in Korea through to the leader's battles with the church as North Korean leader, his softening towards the faith in later life, and of course his erection of a personality cult around himself that had no few similarities with the practices and aesthetics of Christianity. Understanding North Korea from its founding until the present day thus, Cheng shows, demands an awareness of an at-times-astonishing collision of religion, nationalism and authoritarianism which are narrated expertly in this thought-provoking book. Jonathan Cheng professional web page here Book website here Ed Pulford is an Anthropologist and Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on friendships and histories between the Chinese, Korean and Russian worlds, and socialism and empire in Eurasia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Of the two Koreas, it is the South which appears much the more Christian today, with all major cities dotted with church spires and illuminated crosses. But a century ago it was the northern half of the peninsula that was the more established home for Christianity, the northwestern city of Pyongyang being celebrated as a “Jerusalem of the East.” And among the faith's devotees were the parents of the man who would eventually come to lead the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from the middle of the twentieth century. Kim Il Sung, Jonathan Cheng shows in his fluidly written and richly researched book Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea's Personality Cult (Knopf, 2026), grew up in an environment suffused in Christian teachings and actively involved himself in church life, facts which raise questions about his later career as a guerrilla fighter and national leader. Cheng traces the long arc of Christian associations in Kim's biography, from the arrival of Presbyterianism in Korea through to the leader's battles with the church as North Korean leader, his softening towards the faith in later life, and of course his erection of a personality cult around himself that had no few similarities with the practices and aesthetics of Christianity. Understanding North Korea from its founding until the present day thus, Cheng shows, demands an awareness of an at-times-astonishing collision of religion, nationalism and authoritarianism which are narrated expertly in this thought-provoking book. Jonathan Cheng professional web page here Book website here Ed Pulford is an Anthropologist and Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on friendships and histories between the Chinese, Korean and Russian worlds, and socialism and empire in Eurasia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/korean-studies

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----------

(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.

(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

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

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

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.