Podcasts about Great hall

Friday Headlines: Bianca Jones’ father calls on Albanese to intervene over inadequate methanol poisoning charges Iran launches fresh attacks on Gulf states as US strikes ship attempting to breach blockade Second case of bird flu detected in NSW Smoking rates hit historic low across Australia Pauline Hanson and Gina Rinehart spotted at White Lotus hotel Deep Dive: Is Australia a world leader on AI? Anthony Albanese wants you to think so – he gave a speech last week in the Great Hall at The University of Sydney, where he implied that new Australian AI regulations could set a global benchmark – similar to superannuation and the social media ban. Today we’re looking at Labor’s AI plan, and whether it really is a world-leading attempt to curb the harms of AI and harness its potential. What’s right with the plan, and what’s missing? Joining The Briefing is AI expert Professor Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist of the Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of New South Wales. Further listening from the headlines: Why smoking is ‘cool’ again Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will confer the July 1 Medal — the Party's highest honor — on model CPC members at a gathering on Wednesday in Beijing, marking the Party's 105th founding anniversary.Xi, who is also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will deliver an important speech at the event, which will begin at 10 am at the Great Hall of the People.At the gathering, outstanding Party members, Party workers and primary-level Party organizations from across the country will also be honored.The event will be broadcast live by China Media Group and xinhuanet.com.On Monday evening, a concert was held at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing to celebrate in advance the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC.Xi and other Party and State leaders Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng walked into the venue shortly before 8 pm.They joined about 3,000 people to watch the performance, titled Putting the People First. Other attendees included leading officials from central Party and State institutions, as well as retired senior officials.The concert, consisting of five sections, featured choral performances, orchestral music and other artistic expressions. It concluded with the song Without the Communist Party, There Would Be No New China.The CPC was founded on July 1,1921.

In this episode of JJ Meets World, JJ and Tucker break down JJ's wild one-day trip from Fargo to Los Angeles to see Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in an immersive Cosm shared reality theater experience. JJ and his sister Chrissy wake up at 3:30 in the morning, fly from Fargo to Minneapolis to Los Angeles, visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, stop by Hollywood landmarks like the Dolby Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Roosevelt Hotel, and the El Capitan Theatre, and then head to Inglewood for a one-of-a-kind dome screening of the first Harry Potter movie. The episode digs into what makes the Cosm Harry Potter experience feel different from IMAX, 3D, VR, or traditional moviegoing. JJ describes the huge dome screen, the expanded Hogwarts environments, the flying Hogwarts letters, the Quidditch match, floating candles in the Great Hall, and the idea of "shared reality" as a new way to experience movies with an audience. JJ and Tucker also talk about the future of immersive cinema, whether movies like The Matrix, Jurassic Park, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Wizard of Oz, and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey would work in formats like Cosm or IMAX, and why familiar movies might be the perfect fit for this kind of expanded theatrical presentation.

Jim Reske examines the latter chapters of the book of Hebrews, contrasting the heavy burden of "works-based" religion with the freedom of gospel-driven sanctification. The teacher explains that while the Old Covenant was defined by a terrifying, unapproachable holiness at Mount Sinai, the New Covenant invites believers into a joyful, grace-filled relationship with Jesus. By looking at the "Great Hall of Faith," the text emphasizes that faith is not a tool for secular success but a persistent confidence in God's promises while living as earthly exiles. The study clarifies that true holiness is a result of gratitude for what Christ has already achieved, rather than a ladder humans must climb to earn divine favor. Ultimately, the speaker encourages a shift in focus from personal performance to fixing one's eyes on Jesus as the only source of endurance.

GONOMAD TRAVEL PODCAST — SHOW NOTESExploring the Quirky Hammond Castle of Gloucester, MassachusettsOn this episode of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, contributor Susmita Sengupta takes us to the rugged, wave‑carved coastline of Cape Ann, Massachusetts — home to one of New England's most eccentric landmarks: Hammond Castle.Built between 1926 and 1929 by inventor John Hays Hammond Jr., the castle rises dramatically above the Atlantic, its stone towers and arched windows overlooking the crashing surf. Hammond, known as the Father of Radio Control, held hundreds of patents and transformed his seaside home into both a medieval fantasy and a working laboratory.The drive from Boston to Gloucester is a scenic hour along winding coastal roads, with ocean views that beg for photo stops. Arrive mid‑morning, and head straight to the lookout point — a rocky perch framing the open sea through stone arches.Inside, the castle feels like stepping into another century. Visitors wander beneath Gothic archways, climb narrow towers, and explore rooms filled with Renaissance art and ancient artifacts Hammond collected from Europe.The Great Hall is the showstopper — a cathedral‑like space with a massive fireplace, a stained‑glass window, and Hammond's own pipe organ. From there, the tour leads to the glass‑roofed courtyard, lush with tropical plants and a pool dyed bright green to disguise its nine‑foot depth. Inspired by the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, this space blends art, science, and whimsy.The library holds over two thousand books and features the famous Whisper Ceiling, an acoustic marvel that amplifies a whisper at its center while keeping it inaudible elsewhere. Hammond's mischievous streak appears in the Room Without Doors, where seamless wallpaper hides the entrance so well that guests often found themselves trapped until they called for help.In the Inventions Room, exhibits showcase Hammond's pioneering work in radio control, FM broadcasting, and early sound amplification — including his World War I radio‑guided torpedo. His friendships with Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell are chronicled here, revealing the scientific network that shaped his career.After touring the castle, Susmita suggests extending your day trip to nearby Manchester‑by‑the‑Sea, just fifteen minutes away. Relax at Masconomo Park overlooking the harbor, or visit Singing Beach, where the sand hums beneath your feet.End your day at Lobsta Land, a Gloucester favorite for more than thirty years. Enjoy fresh seafood while watching herons and egrets glide across the salt marshes — just remember, they're closed on Mondays.Hammond Castle is more than a museum; it's a glimpse into the mind of a man who fused invention with imagination. Combining its history with the natural beauty of Cape Ann makes for a perfect New England adventure.CALLS TO ACTIONListen to more episodes of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gonomad-travel-podcast/id1525960132 (podcasts.apple.com in Bing) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xXGq5yRvCNrI6VsgGAaZp (open.spotify.com in Bing)Read more travel stories on GoNOMAD: https://www.gonomad.comFollow GoNOMAD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gonomadtravel (instagram.com in Bing)Cape Ann, MASusmita Sengupta, an architect by background, from New York City, loves to travel with her family. Her articles have been published frequently in GoNOMAD, Go World Travel, In The Know Traveler, and other travel websites.

The team behind Pottermore Publishing and Audible's “Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions” joins guest host Richard Addis to discuss one of the most ambitious audiobook productions ever attempted. Featuring more than 200 actors, original music, detailed sound design, and fully immersive Dolby Atmos® mixes, the series brings all seven books to life in a new way — while staying true to the text, the characters, and the world fans know so well. *NOTE: This interview may contain spoilers from the Harry Potter series.Joining today's conversation:- Ann Scantlebury - Head of Audio Development, Pottermore Publishing- Chris Jones - Senior Director of Production, Audible- Lawrence Kendrick - Co-creative Director, Sound Designer and Composer, String and Tins- Rob Baker - Head of Engineering, Forever Audio“We can take people on the Hogwarts Express. They can go through the doors into the Great Hall. They can hear the footsteps echoing. They can be there and they can have it all playing out around them. To us, that was incredibly appealing. It was always about creating something that felt very real to the listener, really putting them in the heart of the action.”—Ann Scantlebury, Head of Audio Development, Pottermore PublishingBe sure to check out all seven of “Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions,” now available on Audible in Dolby Atmos.Please subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode on YouTube.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

WBZ NewsRadio’s James Roja reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

【欢迎订阅】 每天早上5:30，准时更新。 【阅读原文】 标题：Elon Musk Returns to Trump's Side in BeijingMr. Musk is part of a delegation of business leaders to China, where his interests include Tesla's electric vehicle factory and solar panels.正文： Nearly a year after his pugnacious exit from the White House, Elon Musk joined President Trump in Beijing on Thursday as an ambassador for American business in China. Mr. Trump's tariffs have complicated Mr. Musk's business interests in China. Though the two had previously fallen out, Mr. Musk stood alongside cabinet officials at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday when Mr. Trump shook hands with China's leader.知识点：pugnacious /pʌɡˈneɪʃəs/ 形容词，源自拉丁语 pugnare（意为 “战斗、打斗”），词根 pugn- 意为 “战斗”，后缀 -acious 表 “具有… 倾向的”本义为 “好斗的、好战的”，外刊政治语境核心义为（言行风格）咄咄逼人的、充满对抗性的核心搭配：a pugnacious exit（充满对抗性的离职）、pugnacious rhetoric（咄咄逼人的言论）、a pugnacious leader（作风强硬的领导人）・The pugnacious boy always got into arguments with his classmates over small things. 那个好胜心强的男孩总因为小事和同学争吵。・His pugnacious exit from the White House marked a tense end to his tenure as a government advisor. 他充满对抗性地离开白宫，为其政府顾问任期画上了紧张的句号。获取外刊的完整原文以及精讲笔记，请关注微信公众号「早安英文」，回复“外刊”即可。更多有意思的英语干货等着你！ 【节目介绍】 《早安英文-每日外刊精读》，带你精读最新外刊，了解国际最热事件：分析语法结构，拆解长难句，最接地气的翻译，还有重点词汇讲解。 所有选题均来自于《经济学人》《纽约时报》《华尔街日报》《华盛顿邮报》《大西洋月刊》《科学杂志》《国家地理》等国际一线外刊。 【适合谁听】 1、关注时事热点新闻，想要学习最新最潮流英文表达的英文学习者 2、任何想通过地道英文提高听、说、读、写能力的英文学习者 3、想快速掌握表达，有出国学习和旅游计划的英语爱好者 4、参加各类英语考试的应试者（如大学英语四六级、托福雅思、考研等） 【你将获得】 1、超过1000篇外刊精读课程，拓展丰富语言表达和文化背景 2、逐词、逐句精确讲解，系统掌握英语词汇、听力、阅读和语法 3、每期内附学习笔记，包含全文注释、长难句解析、疑难语法点等，帮助扫除阅读障碍。

Vor den Toren Londons erhebt sich ein Palast, in dessen Mauern sich einige der dramatischsten Geschichten der britischen Geschichte abgespielt haben. Hampton Court Palace war über zwei Jahrhunderte hinweg Residenz von Königen und Königinnen, Schauplatz politischer Intrigen, rauschender Feste und tragischer Schicksale. Und für viele Besucher ist es bis heute einer der unheimlichsten Orte Englands. In dieser Folge BRITPOD – England at its best nehmen Euch Alexander-Klaus Stecher und Claus Beling mit nach Hampton Court Palace. Hier herrschte Heinrich VIII., hier wandelten seine berühmten Ehefrauen durch die endlosen Gänge des Palastes, und hier soll bis heute der Geist von Catherine Howard erscheinen. Die junge Königin wurde wegen angeblicher Untreue verhaftet und später hingerichtet. Der Legende nach läuft sie noch immer schreiend durch die sogenannte „Haunted Gallery“, auf der verzweifelten Suche nach Gnade. Besucher berichten bis heute von einer seltsamen Atmosphäre an genau diesem Ort. Doch Hampton Court ist weit mehr als eine Geistergeschichte. Alexander und Claus erkunden die gewaltige Great Hall mit ihrem beeindruckenden Hammerbalkendach, besuchen die historischen Küchen, in denen einst hunderte Mitarbeiter täglich Mahlzeiten für den königlichen Hof zubereiteten, und entdecken einen der ältesten Tennisplätze der Welt. Lange bevor Wimbledon existierte, spielte Heinrich VIII. hier bereits eine frühe Form des Tennissports. Außerdem führt die Reise zu Thomas Wolsey, dem mächtigen Kardinal, der den Palast ursprünglich errichten ließ, zu Elisabeth I., die hier königliche Empfänge veranstaltete, und zu Charles I., der während des Englischen Bürgerkriegs in Hampton Court festgehalten wurde und der Überlieferung nach sogar kurz vor seiner Hinrichtung noch Tennis gespielt haben soll. WhatsApp: Du kannst Alexander und Claus direkt auf ihre Handys Nachrichten schicken! Welche Ecke Englands sollten die beiden mal besuchen? Zu welchen Themen wünschst Du Dir mehr Folgen? Warst Du schon mal in Great Britain und magst ein paar Fotos mit Claus und Alexander teilen? Probiere es gleich aus: +49 8152 989770 - einfach diese Nummer einspeichern und schon kannst Du BRITPOD per WhatsApp erreichen. BRITPOD – England at its best. Ein ALL EARS ON YOU Original Podcast.

In this solo episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas delivers his definitive guide to Oxford — his favorite city in England outside of London and the subject of his guidebook 101 Oxford Travel Tips and Tricks. From the bleary-eyed chaos of his first visit in 2012 with an angry 16-month-old and the Mini Cooper factory ring road at midnight, to two stays as a student on the Oxford Experience program, Jonathan brings nearly 15 years of personal history with the city to bear on a comprehensive, enthusiastic, and practically useful travel guide. The episode covers how to get there, how long to stay, the Oxford Experience immersive student program, the colleges you must see, the Bodleian Library's remarkable layers, the essential museums, the unrivaled bookstore scene led by Blackwell's and its famous five-mile Norrington Room, Oxford's extraordinary literary connections from Lewis Carroll to Tolkien to Philip Pullman, the day trips that demand your time — including Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds — and the practical tips that will make your visit infinitely more enjoyable. Links 101 Oxford Travel Tips and Tricks by Jonathan Thomas — [Anglotopia Store link] Oxford Experience at Christchurch English-Speaking Union Oxford Course Bodleian Library Tours — bodleian.ox.ac.uk Blackwell's Bookshop Oxford — blackwells.co.uk Oxford University Press Bookshop Scriptum, Turl Street Ashmolean Museum — ashmolean.org Pitt Rivers Museum — prm.ox.ac.uk Blenheim Palace — blenheimpalace.com Rousham House & Garden — rousham.org Didcot Railway Centre — didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk Oxford Walking Tours Morse Walking Tour Oxford The Randolph Hotel (now Graduate Oxford) Friends of Anglotopia ⠀ Takeaways Oxford is Jonathan's favourite city in England outside London — and most Americans either skip it or see it in a rushed half-day bus tour that barely scratches the surface. Two days minimum is the right call; three is better. Oxford is just 60 miles and 40-45 minutes by direct train from London Paddington, making it one of the easiest day trips or overnights in Britain — and you can also get there direct by bus from Heathrow without going into London at all. The Oxford Experience — a residential immersive programme at Christchurch offering one-week courses for adults in July and August — is Jonathan's single highest recommendation for anyone who wants to truly inhabit the city. Courses cost £1,500–£2,000 all-in and include room, board, lectures, and excursions; book in November when the schedule is released as popular courses fill within hours. The Bodleian Library is not one library but several — the Divinity School, Duke Humphrey's Library, the Radcliffe Camera, and the Weston Library — and the best way to see them properly is to book a guided tour well in advance, as they sell out. Blackwell's bookshop on Broad Street is arguably the greatest bookshop in the world — the underground Norrington Room alone has five miles of shelving beneath Trinity College — and Jonathan has never left without spending several hundred pounds. Staff will package books in brown paper and ship them back to the US at reasonable rates. Oxford's literary connections are extraordinary: Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland at Christchurch (Alice was the Dean's daughter); Tolkien and C.S. Lewis met with the Inklings at the Eagle and Child every Tuesday through the 1930s and 40s; Philip Pullman set His Dark Materials here; Oscar Wilde studied at Magdalen; and Inspector Morse has made every corner of the city feel like a crime scene. The Eagle and Child — the Inklings' famous pub on St. Giles' Street — has been closed since COVID and is currently being refurbished by new owners. It must reopen as a pub by heritage law, and is expected to reopen either in 2026 or 2027; keep an eye on the show notes link for updates. If you're in Oxford for even one day, you must go to Blenheim Palace — just eight miles away by bus, the only non-royal non-episcopal palace in England, birthplace of Winston Churchill, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and arguably the greatest country house in Britain. A bus from Oxford drops you at the gates. Jonathan's top Oxford hack: stay for at least one night. By 4-5pm the tour buses are gone, Oxford becomes a completely different city, and the cultural life — theatre, bookshop talks, music — begins. Arrive early to beat crowds at the sights, then save the evenings for culture and quieter exploration. Avoid mid-April to mid-June (exam season, colleges restrict access), avoid July if you run hot (medieval stone buildings have no air conditioning and bake in the heat), and buy a fan the moment you arrive if visiting in summer. September and October are ideal months to visit. ⠀ Soundbites "Most of my early memories of Oxford were driving the ring road at midnight with a toddler who would not go to sleep and who would only stop crying if he was in the car. We drove round and around, seeing nothing other than the Mini Cooper plant every time we went past." — Jonathan on his first trip to Oxford in 2012. "Oxford has this warmth to it — that yellow beige Cotswold stone, weathered and warm. And there's this scholarly, bookish vibe from the place that you don't really get anywhere else. It's not just a campus. Oxford University is the town of Oxford." — Jonathan on why Oxford grabs you. "I was immediately spellbound. I loved it immediately. And that's the thing about Oxford — it grabs you once you visit, and you're walking around this beautiful architecture surrounded by deep, deep history. They don't even know exactly how old the university is. It's over 800 years old. When Oxford was founded, the Aztec Empire hadn't even reached its peak." — Jonathan on falling in love with Oxford in 2016. "There were riots. There was full scale urban warfare in Oxford in 1355 — the St. Scholastica's Day riot. 63 scholars and 30 townspeople were killed. As a result, the town was forced to pay annual reparations to the university in a formal ceremony that continued into the Victorian era." — Jonathan on Oxford's violent town vs. gown history. "You basically get to live as an Oxford student for a week. Morning is lectures, afternoon is tours and excursions, evening is formal dinner in the Great Hall. And one night you're invited to high table — suit and tie, port, mingling with the professors. It's a very quintessentially British experience." — Jonathan on the Oxford Experience programme. "I've never gotten out of the Norrington Room without spending several hundred pounds. Let me just say that. Five miles of shelving underground beneath Trinity College. So many books." — Jonathan on Blackwell's legendary underground bookshop. "The Pitt Rivers Museum is like the Victorian cabinet of curiosities. Dimly lit, quiet — maybe people don't even know it's there. Polynesian canoes, samurai outfits, weapons, armour. A strange and wonderful melange of human culture from all over the world." — Jonathan on one of Oxford's most atmospheric museums. "If you're in Oxford and you don't go to Blenheim Palace, you've wasted a trip to Oxford. It's the only non-royal, non-episcopal palace in England. I would argue it's probably the greatest house in Britain. And a bus from Oxford drops you right at the gates." — Jonathan on Blenheim Palace. "By four or five o'clock in the afternoon, the tour buses are gone. And it's just you and the people who live and work and study in Oxford. Oxford becomes a completely different place. That's when the cultural life wakes up." — Jonathan's key Oxford overnight hack. "Scriptum on Turl Street — if you're a bookish type, you will love this place. Beautiful blank books, journals, diaries, fancy pens. I have a beautiful leather book from there with gorgeous cream pages that I cherish so much I haven't written anything in it. I'm afraid to ruin it." — Jonathan on his favourite hidden gem shop in Oxford. ⠀ Chapters 00:00 Introduction — Jonathan sets up the Oxford guide episode and plugs his Oxford guidebook 01:48 Jonathan's Relationship with Oxford — Brideshead Revisited, American universities, and the Oxford DNA in US campus culture 03:30 First Visit: Oxford 2012 — Diamond Jubilee trip, an angry toddler, and the ring road at midnight 06:20 Second Visit: Oxford 2016 — The train from Paddington, the proper day, and falling in love properly 08:42 A Brief History of Oxford — Ford of the Oxen, Alfred the Great, Henry II, 800 years, and the St. Scholastica's Day riot 13:30 The University Explained — 44 colleges, town vs. gown, the founding of Cambridge by Oxford exiles, and Oxford today 16:10 How to Get There — Train from Paddington, Oxford Tube bus, direct from Heathrow, and why not to drive 19:30 Getting Around Oxford — Walking, taxis, park-and-ride pitfalls, and Tolkien's grave 21:10 Day Trip vs. Overnight — Why staying beats leaving, and how Oxford transforms after 4pm 23:40 The Oxford Experience Programme — Christchurch, Worcester College, the Nelson course, high table, and the Enigma course Jonathan wants to do next 33:15 Accommodation Options — Hotels, staying in colleges out of term time, and the Randolph (Inspector Morse's pub) 35:20 The College System Explained — 44 semi-independent colleges, how to apply, porters, scouts, and visiting hours 38:00 Must-See Colleges — Christchurch, Magdalen, Worcester, Merton, Wadham (Brideshead), and the peculiar All Souls 43:00 The Bodleian Library — Five buildings, Duke Humphrey's Library, the Radcliffe Camera, the Divinity School, and why you must book a tour 47:00 Radcliffe Square & St. Mary's Church Tower — The most beautiful urban space in Britain and the best views in Oxford 48:40 The Ashmolean Museum — Britain's first public museum, the Alfred Jewel, Guy Fawkes's lantern, Turner paintings, and it's free 51:00 The Pitt Rivers Museum — Through the Natural History Museum, the shrunken heads, Polynesian canoes, and the Victorian cabinet of curiosities 53:00 Carfax Tower, Oxford Castle & Prison, and the Covered Market — Views, ruins, Brown's Café, and Ben's Cookies 55:30 The Botanic Garden & Broad Street — Riverside walks, the Martyrs' Cross, and the Reformation in Oxford 56:30 Shopping in Oxford — The High Street, Blackwell's, the Norrington Room, OUP Bookshop, Scriptum, The Last Bookshop, and why to skip the Harry Potter tat 01:03:00 Literary Oxford — Lewis Carroll, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Oscar Wilde, Philip Pullman, Inspector Morse, and the Eagle and Child update 01:09:00 Harry Potter Oxford — Divinity School, Duke Humphrey's Library, Bodleian courtyard, Christchurch Great Hall, and the new TV series 01:12:00 Day Trips from Oxford — Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon, Rousham House, Didcot Railway Centre, and Bicester Village 01:18:00 Practical Tips — Book ahead, avoid exam season, avoid July heat, arrive early, save museums for the afternoon, walk everywhere, punt the river, visit Scriptum 01:24:00 Wrap-Up — Oxford rewards time and attention; two days minimum, the Oxford Experience if you can, and a call for listeners to share what they love about Oxford Video Version

Are you ready to put your wizarding skills to the test?

Denver International Airport's ambitious plans to revamp its infrastructure are taking shape. In this episode, we're joined by Phil Washington, the CEO of Denver International Airport, to discuss the latest developments. From the proposed underground tunnels connecting all concourses to the massive $2 billion Great Hall project, we dive into the details of these exciting initiatives.The airport's plans to create a seamless travel experience for passengers are well underway. With the new underground tunnels, travelers will be able to walk between concourses without having to brave the elements. But what's behind the decision to use tunnels over bridges? And what's the estimated cost of this project? Phil Washington shares the airport's vision and insights into the design and construction process.One of the most pressing questions on everyone's mind is where the lizard people will go. Phil Washington takes the bait and responds with a humorous answer. But in all seriousness, the airport is committed to making the tunnels a beautiful and accessible space for all travelers.Tune in to hear Phil Washington's update on the Great Hall project, which is not only ahead of schedule but also under budget. We also discuss the collaboration between the airport and airlines to fund the tunnel project and the challenges of making the tunnels compliant with modern regulations. Join us for an in-depth conversation with Phil Washington and get the inside scoop on Denver International Airport's exciting developments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

【欢迎订阅】 每天早上5:30，准时更新。 【阅读原文】 标题：Why POTUS's China Trip Is Set Up to Fail正文： This is how things will go down. POTUS will arrive in Beijing this Thursday to be serenaded with gushing pageantry. There's the obligatory photo op at the Great Hall of the People before closed-door talks with his Chinese counterpart. Both leaders will emerge to a fanfare of superficial deals that each can claim as a win: the sale of American soybeans and perhaps jet engines that China desperately needs. They release statements pledging cooperation. Wheels up.知识点：go down /ɡəʊ daʊn/ (of events) to happen in a particular way; to develop. 发生；进展 e.g. I wonder how the party will go down if it rains all day. 如果下一整天雨，派对会进展得怎么样呢？获取外刊的完整原文以及精讲笔记，请关注微信公众号「早安英文」，回复“外刊”即可。更多有意思的英语干货等着你！ 【节目介绍】 《早安英文-每日外刊精读》，带你精读最新外刊，了解国际最热事件：分析语法结构，拆解长难句，最接地气的翻译，还有重点词汇讲解。 所有选题均来自于《经济学人》《纽约时报》《华尔街日报》《华盛顿邮报》《大西洋月刊》《科学杂志》《国家地理》等国际一线外刊。 【适合谁听】 1、关注时事热点新闻，想要学习最新最潮流英文表达的英文学习者 2、任何想通过地道英文提高听、说、读、写能力的英文学习者 3、想快速掌握表达，有出国学习和旅游计划的英语爱好者 4、参加各类英语考试的应试者（如大学英语四六级、托福雅思、考研等） 【你将获得】 1、超过1000篇外刊精读课程，拓展丰富语言表达和文化背景 2、逐词、逐句精确讲解，系统掌握英语词汇、听力、阅读和语法 3、每期内附学习笔记，包含全文注释、长难句解析、疑难语法点等，帮助扫除阅读障碍。

President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Wednesday to further extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, while pledging to further strengthen political mutual trust, strategic coordination and practical cooperation between the two countries amid a fluid and turbulent international situation.The agreement was reached during talks between the two heads of state at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, before Putin concluded his two-day state visit to China.After their talks earlier on Wednesday, the two presidents signed a joint statement on further enhancing the comprehensive strategic coordination and deepening good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation between the two countries. They witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation docu­ments in areas including the economy and trade, education, and science and technology.The two sides also issued a joint statement on advocating a multipolar world and a new type of international relations, and reached 20 cooperation agreements in other areas.When addressing the media together after their talks, Xi said this was Putin's 25th trip to China since he first assumed the presidential office in Russia in 2000, which fully demonstrates the high level and uniqueness of China-Russia relations.Noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, Xi said that over the past three decades, bilateral ties have reached the highest level in history as a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, setting an example for a new type of major-country relations.This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. The treaty was last extended on June 28, 2021, when Xi and Putin held talks via video link and issued a joint statement ahead of the 20th anniversary of its signing.Xi said that over the years, the two countries have always abided by the treaty's established principle of non-alliance, nonconfrontation and not targeting any third party, while upholding equality, mutual respect, good faith and win-win cooperation.The two countries have made important contributions to safeguarding international fairness and justice and promoting a new type of international relations, serving as a vital constant amid changes unseen in a century, he said.Xi called on China and Russia to build on past achievements and further support each other firmly on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, maintain close strategic communication and exchanges at all levels, and continuously consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust between the two countries.In recent years, cooperation between China and Russia in various fields has advanced steadily and achieved many positive results. The value of bilateral trade has exceeded $200 billion for three consecutive years, and in the first four months of 2026, two-way trade increased nearly 20 percent, according to customs data.Xi said the two sides should build on this momentum, deepen the alignment between China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and Russia's development strategy through 2030, and upgrade mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields to better serve the development and revitalization of both countries.Speaking about global governance, Xi noted that the world today is far from being peaceful, with unilateralism and hegemonism causing severe harm, adding that the world is facing the danger of returning to the law of the jungle.As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Russia should firmly fulfill their responsibilities as major countries, uphold the authority of the UN as well as international fairness and justice, and oppose all acts of unilateral bullying and attempts to reverse the course of history, he said.China and Russia should, in particular, oppose all provocative acts that deny the outcomes of World War II and seek to justify and revive fascism and militarism, Xi said, emphasizing that the two sides should jointly promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system.Putin, who received a welcoming ceremony that featured a 21-gun salute, quoted the Chinese saying that "one day apart feels like three autumns" when meeting with Xi, whom he described as his "dear friend"."Russia-China relations have reached a truly unprecedented level, and continue to develop. At the same time, our relations are self-sufficient; they do not depend on the current international situation and can serve as an example of relations between nations in this age," he said when addressing the media.He said that Russia is full of confidence in the future of bilateral relations, adding that it will work with China to deepen the two countries' partnership and good-neighborly friendship, strengthen people-to-people bonds, and contribute to the development and revitalization of both countries and the well-being of their peoples."Moscow and Beijing will jointly uphold international law and the provisions of the UN Charter in their entirety ... and cooperate effectively within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and other international structures, making a significant contribution to addressing pressing global and regional challenges," Putin said.During their talks on Wednesday, Xi said the China-Russia relationship has entered a new stage of greater achievements and faster development.Unswervingly promoting the long-term, sound, steady and high-quality development of the China-Russia relationship is a strategic choice made by the two sides based on the fundamental interests of the two countries and the global trends, he said.Xi called on China and Russia to fully implement the important common understandings reached between him and Putin, seize the historic opportunities and further promote the mutual trust, cooperation and friendship between the two countries.He emphasized that both sides should focus on the goals of national development and revitalization, fully leverage the comprehensive and well-established mechanisms of China-Russia cooperation and strengthen the overall planning for cooperation in all respects.The two countries should also promote the upgrading of practical cooperation in trade and investment, energy and resources, transportation, and sci-tech innovation, as well as actively explore cooperation in frontier areas, in order to create new engines for growth with new quality productive forces, Xi said.He added that efforts should be made to continue the long-standing friendship between the two sides, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, film, tourism and sports, and consolidate the social and public support for bilateral friendship.Also on Wednesday, China announced that it has decided to extend its visa-free policy for Russia until Dec 31, 2027. According to TASS news agency, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said in Beijing that Russia will also extend its visa-free policy for Chinese citizens.During their talks, the two heads of state exchanged views on major international and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East.Xi emphasized that all hostilities in the Middle East must end immediately, renewed fighting should be avoided and, most important, negotiations should continue.Noting that the situation in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region is at a critical juncture between war and peace, he said that an early end to the conflict will help reduce disruptions to the stability of energy supplies, the functioning of industrial and supply chains, and the stability of the international trade order.On Wednesday evening, Xi held a welcoming banquet for Putin in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

From Mar-a-Lago to the Great Hall, Trump returns to Beijing desperate for validation while Xi Jinping treats him to strategic flattery. It's the first time an American president has been to China in seven years. It deserves a podcast, although, as Trivium said, the outcomes could have been an email instead of a summit. Today's guests are Sergey Radchenko, author of To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power — which won a ChinaTalk Book of the Year award and got the four-hour podcast treatment — as well as ChinaTalk regulars Kevin Xu of Interconnected and Jon Czin, formerly of the CIA and NSC, now with Brookings. Our conversation covers: Prestige politics on the cheap — How Trump's delegation gawked at Chinese architecture while Xi scored propaganda points by getting the U.S. president to fawn over Zhongnanhai's gardens — reversing decades of diplomatic protocol. The G2 that never was — Why Trump's dream of running the world with Xi echoes Nixon and Brezhnev's failed détente, and how strategic competition makes genuine cooperation impossible regardless of personal chemistry. The AI factor — As Beijing struggles with compute constraints and export controls, the US brings its AI safety dialogue proposal as its only real leverage in an otherwise empty summit. The midterm calculation — How Xi is withholding concessions until September 2026, betting that Trump will need wins most desperately right before the elections. Who's using the pause better? — While China methodically builds domestic chip capacity and refuses even approved Nvidia exports, the U.S. struggles with basic industrial policy on rare earths. song: https://suno.com/s/cwNGihewAFKpkJls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Mar-a-Lago to the Great Hall, Trump returns to Beijing desperate for validation while Xi Jinping treats him to strategic flattery. It's the first time an American president has been to China in seven years. It deserves a podcast, although, as Trivium said, the outcomes could have been an email instead of a summit. Today's guests are Sergey Radchenko, author of To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power — which won a ChinaTalk Book of the Year award and got the four-hour podcast treatment — as well as ChinaTalk regulars Kevin Xu of Interconnected and Jon Czin, formerly of the CIA and NSC, now with Brookings. Our conversation covers: Prestige politics on the cheap — How Trump's delegation gawked at Chinese architecture while Xi scored propaganda points by getting the U.S. president to fawn over Zhongnanhai's gardens — reversing decades of diplomatic protocol. The G2 that never was — Why Trump's dream of running the world with Xi echoes Nixon and Brezhnev's failed détente, and how strategic competition makes genuine cooperation impossible regardless of personal chemistry. The AI factor — As Beijing struggles with compute constraints and export controls, the US brings its AI safety dialogue proposal as its only real leverage in an otherwise empty summit. The midterm calculation — How Xi is withholding concessions until September 2026, betting that Trump will need wins most desperately right before the elections. Who's using the pause better? — While China methodically builds domestic chip capacity and refuses even approved Nvidia exports, the U.S. struggles with basic industrial policy on rare earths. song: https://suno.com/s/cwNGihewAFKpkJls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 3 of this magical Harry Potter sleep story, we have Patronus tuition, Herbology hilarities, and an alarming prophecy! It's time to continue your magical new term at Hogwarts! This gentle fan-fiction sleep story invites you to unwind with candlelit halls, the warm Great Hall feast, and the quiet promise of adventure in your third year. As always, you'll experience this adventure with your good friends Harry, Hermione, and Ron, as well as many other favourite characters!✨ Ideal for relaxation, insomnia relief, study breaks, or peaceful background listening - it's quite good at that!#HarryPotterSleepStory #BedtimeStory #RelaxingNarration #WizardingWorld #SleepAidS x❤️ Visit https://snoozewithsam.com/ and support us through our amazing merchandise! ❤️Other wonderful Harry Potter stories:First Year!- First Year Begins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHLi1yTjuoY- Complete FIRST Chronicles/Year: https://youtu.be/9rqP0x3oV_I?si=weWCSLQUfycUimTeSecond Year!- Part 2: https://youtu.be/QN5xppnjmHw- Part 3: https://youtu.be/HefopBOizvI- Part 4: https://youtu.be/3bGja_4gu5Y- Part 5: https://youtu.be/InZL0pk5Sio4 HOURS compilation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0urhC-kqyds&t=107sSupport me in creating these stories on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/snoozewithsamIf you enjoy these sleep stories, it would mean to world to me if you showed your appreciation and support through my Patreon. This way I can continue to do what I do!Thank you.Sam00:22 - Small Creatures, Larger Shadows...04:29 - CHAPTER 6: Lupin's Lessons in Light13:46 - CHAPTER 7: Things That Shouldn't Be Possible (Hermione!)25:36 - Rudely Awoken41:33 - CHAPTER 8: Talons & Trouble at Breakfast55:20 - Hogwarts Music & AmbienceSupport me here: https://www.patreon.com/snoozewithsam​Listen on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5LJgW_uI99g0ZAA-Yj2azQ​Music and visuals are a combination of original productions and/or may include licensed and adapted, remixed, or transformed material from:https://freemusicarchive.org/homehttp://www.epidemicsound.com/https://www.videvo.net/https://www.canva.com/Spatium by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Music : "The End of the World" by Tristan Lohengrinwww.tristanlohengrin.comLicensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"Snooze with Sam" whispers sleepy stories of Scotland's natural world, all with the help of a soft, soothing Island voice. Lay yourself down, get comfortable and lose yourself in the sea of gentle tones gifted by one of the world's most beautiful countries."Snooze with Sam" is brought to you by Sam Lawson, an entrepreneur, health and fitness professional and lifelong musician from the Isle of Skye. He runs a Coaching business in Glasgow, Scotland, and finds great satisfaction in helping others find peace within themselves, coaching them on towards personal transformation.These original works are the property of Snooze with Sam, © Copyright 2020-2026. All elements within this work are inspired by J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter, and not associated with the original in any way. All rights reserved.

On Thursday's Mark Levin Show, Mayor Mamdani has yet to come out with a forceful emotional condemnation of Islamo-Nazis brutalizing and harassing Jews in New York communities and synagogues. He is deliberately pushing Jews, businesses, and the middle class out of New York through high property taxes and a phony budget involving wealth redistribution - aiming to transform the city into an Islamist capital. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris called for a “no bad ideas” brainstorm targeting the Electoral College, Supreme Court “reform,” statehood for Puerto Rico and D.C., and blue states expanding maps. Democrats believe the Constitution itself is up for grabs if they control Congress and the presidency, and they intend to bulldoze through its protections rather than amend it properly. The Democrat Party the most radicalized and destructive in American history, a Marxist offspring determined to destroy the republic's constitutional framework. Later, China has billions poured into U.S. colleges to destroy them, land purchases near military bases, technology theft, cyber operations, massive military buildup aimed at the U.S. and allies, support for Iran's regime, artificial islands and territorial claims in the South China Sea. This doesn't sound like a country that wants to work with us. Gordon Chang calls in and describes Xi Jinping as arrogant for invoking the Thucydides Trap during his conversation with President Trump at the Great Hall ceremony, signaling that a rising China is challenging a United States in terminal decline. Xi reinforced this by referring to a “new era” in which China rules the world, delivering a double-barreled insult to the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Friday, May 15th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Vietnamese Communists arrest four Christians On May 12th, Vietnamese Communist authorities arrested four clergy and lay leaders accused of sharing documentation of human rights abuses online, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The group was also indicted for associating with Dr Nguyễn Đình Thắng, the president of Boat People SOS, a Vietnamese-American human rights group, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in absentia in April on false terrorism charges for his alleged role in the 2023 Dak Lak uprising.  While two of the four were released, the others remain behind bars. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You, [God], are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me.” China's Jinping warns Trump about Taiwan On May 14th, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump that the two countries could clash over Taiwan if the issue was not handled properly, reports the Associated Press. The exchange at a highly anticipated summit in Beijing underscored just how far apart Trump and Jinping remain on thorny issues, including the war in Iran, trade disputes and Washington's relations with Taiwan, which is self-ruled but which China claims as part of its territory. The pair met for about two hours behind closed doors at the Great Hall of the People after an elaborate welcome ceremony featuring booming cannons, a band playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and China's national anthem, and hundreds of school children waving flowers and American and Chinese flags. President Trump's opening remarks were optimistic. TRUMP: “President Xi, I want to thank you very much. We've had a fantastic relationship. We've gotten along. When there were difficulties, we worked it out. I would call you, and you would call me, and whenever we had a problem, people don't know, whenever we had a problem, we worked it out very quickly. “I have such respect for China, the job you've done. You're a great leader. I say it to everybody. You're a great leader. Sometimes people don't like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it's true. I only say the truth. “And I just want to say on behalf of all of the great delegation that we have. We have the greatest businessmen. Every single one of them. We asked the top 30 in the world. Every single one of them said, ‘Yes,' and they look forward to trade and doing business. It's going to be totally reciprocal on our behalf. It's an honor to be with you. “It's an honor to be your friend. The relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.” Trump's pick for Federal Reserve Chairman confirmed President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve won Senate confirmation on May 13th, just in time to officially take over as the leader of the central bank, reports National Public Radio. Trump is hoping Kevin Warsh can lead the Fed into much lower interest rates — but the president could be frustrated by persistent inflation. Warsh was confirmed on a 54-45 vote, mostly along party lines. Prior to the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, spoke from the Senate floor and shared an overview of Kevin Warsh's biography and questioned why the Democrats have objected to his nomination. THUNE: “He credits his knowledge of the real economy to growing up in upstate New York, where his dad ran a children's clothing store and manufacturing company. From Shaker High School, he went on to Stanford University and then Harvard Law School. He then started a career on Wall Street, but he shifted to public service, joining the Bush administration's economic policy team in 2002. “Four years later, President Bush nominated him to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. At age 35, Kevin Warsh was unanimously confirmed here in the Senate and became the youngest governor in the history of the Federal Reserve. Being the youngest person to take a seat in the Federal Reserve's boardroom is impressive enough, but Kevin Warsh didn't just take a seat. He was a key player during the time he was on the board. “Kevin Warsh seems to have just the profile of a Federal Reserve Chairman, yet Democrats oppose his nomination. For the first time in its history, the Banking Committee reported out a nominee for Fed chairman on a party line vote because every single Democrat opposed Mr. Warsh's nomination, and actually only one Democrat was even present for the vote. “The other 10 Democrats on the Banking Committee didn't even bother to show up for it. I wish I could say I'm surprised, but this is just how bad Trump Derangement Syndrome has gotten on the other side of the aisle. Democrats won't say so, but that's what it is.” Kevin Warsh has argued there's room to lower rates, but he also promised to use his own judgment in setting monetary policy — and not to take orders from the White House. Warsh denied charges from Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts that he would be Trump's "sock puppet." Warsh will replace Jerome Powell, who has led the Fed since 2018. Although Trump appointed Powell to the job, he has relentlessly criticized the outgoing Fed chairman for not moving more aggressively to lower borrowing costs. Powell's term as chairman ends today. In a break with tradition, Powell will remain on the Fed's governing board for a period of time after stepping down as chairman. That's unusual since Fed chairs typically leave the central bank when their term as the head is done. But Powell is determined to safeguard the institution from political pressure. He has vowed to keep a low profile and not overshadow Warsh. But Powell will continue to have a vote on the 12-member committee that sets interest rates. Missionary John Vassar commissioned as evangelist And finally, on May 15, 1850, John Vassar—often referred to as "Uncle" John—was formally commissioned as an evangelist for the American Tract Society of New York. Following a distinct conversion experience at the age of 28, Vassar left his family's prominent brewing business in Poughkeepsie, New York, to dedicate his life to soul-winning.  As an agent for the American Tract Society, he traveled extensively, selling and distributing Christian literature. Known for his intense earnestness, he was described as a "living fire" who would ask everyone he met about their relationship with Christ. He became one of the most powerful personal evangelists of the 19th century.  Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!'” Later in John Vassar's career, in 1863, he was commissioned to work among soldiers during the Civil War. Upon being captured, he famously asked Confederate General Jeb Stuart, "General, do you love Jesus?" Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, May 15th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

During President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, China staged a very elaborate, formal welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People—this is standard for high-level state visits, but this one leaned especially grand. Hundreds of Chinese schoolchildren were brought in as part of the ceremony. The kids were cheering, jumping, waving flags, flowers, and in some cases what looked like pom‑pom-style props as Trump and Xi walked past. Would something like this ever happen in America? Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Broeske & Musson' on all platforms: --- The ‘Broeske & Musson Podcast’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- ‘Broeske & Musson' Weekdays 9-11 AM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Facebook | Podcast| X | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, following a warm welcome he received at the Great Hall of the People of China. - Presiden AS Donald Trump telah bertemu dengan Presiden China Xi Jinping di Beijing, menyusul sambutan hangat yang diterimanya di Great Hall of the People of China.

051426 Trump in China, Security Scuffle in the Great Hall of the People, Nakba, Global Sumud Flotilla Sails again by The News with Paul DeRienzo

China and the United States will work toward building a constructive bilateral relationship of strategic stability, a new vision that President Xi Jinping and visiting US President Donald Trump agreed on to define how the world's two largest economies will handle their relations, during their summit in Beijing on Thursday.中美两国将致力于构建具有战略稳定性的建设性双边关系。这一新愿景由国家主席习近平与来华访问的美国总统特朗普于5月14日在北京会晤时共同提出，旨在为世界两大经济体未来的相处之道指明方向。During his talks with Trump at the Great Hall of the People, Xi said that China is committed to the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-US relations.习近平在人民大会堂同特朗普会谈时表示，中国致力于推动中美关系稳定、健康、可持续发展。The new vision will provide strategic guidance for China-US relations over the next three years and beyond, and should be welcomed by the people of both countries and the international community, he said.他指出，这一新愿景不仅将在未来三年乃至更长时间里为中美关系提供战略指引，也应赢得两国人民和国际社会的认可。Xi said that "constructive strategic stability" means positive stability with cooperation as the mainstay, sound stability with moderate competition, constant stability with manageable differences, and enduring stability with promises of peace.习近平表示，“建设性战略稳定”意味着以合作为主基调的积极稳定、以适度竞争为特点的健康稳定、以可控分歧为基础的持续稳定，以及以和平前景为保障的长久稳定。Building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability should not be a mere slogan, but concrete action taken by both sides toward the same goal, he added.他补充说，构建具有建设性战略稳定性的中美关系，不应只是口号，而应成为双方朝着共同目标采取的具体行动。Xi expressed his readiness to work together with Trump to set the course and steer the giant ship of China-US relations, in order to make 2026 a historic and landmark year opening a new chapter in bilateral ties.习近平表示，愿同特朗普一道把舵定向、驾稳中美关系这艘巨轮，推动2026年成为开启双边关系新篇章的历史性、里程碑式一年。Trump is on a three-day state visit to China, which started on Wednesday, the first by a sitting US president in nearly nine years.特朗普正在对中国进行为期三天的国事访问。此次访问于5月13日开启，是近九年来美国现任总统首次访华。During the talks, Xi urged the US to handle the Taiwan question with extra caution, saying that it is the most important issue in China-US relations.会谈期间，习近平敦促美方对台湾问题保持格外谨慎，并强调该问题在中美关系中的极端重要性。He emphasized that if handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy, he said.他说，妥善处理台湾问题，中美关系便能在总体上保持稳定；一旦失当，两国将摩擦不断、甚至爆发冲突，令双边关系跌入巨大险境。Noting that "Taiwan independence" and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water, Xi said that safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common denominator between China and the US.习近平指出，“台独”与台海和平水火不容，维护台海和平稳定是中美双方最大的共同利益。Xi underlined the need for China and the US to find the right way for major countries to get along well with each other in the new era. He said that the two countries have more common interests than differences, that success of one is an opportunity for the other, and that a stable bilateral relationship is good for the world.习近平强调，中美需要在新时代找到大国正确相处之道。他说，两国共同利益大于分歧，一方成功亦是另一方的机遇，稳定的双边关系有利于世界。"China and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. We should be partners, not rivals. We should help each other succeed and prosper together," he said.他说：“中美双方都能从合作中获益、从对抗中受损。我们应成为伙伴，而非对手，应彼此成就、共同繁荣。”Noting that transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe and the international situation is fluid and turbulent, Xi said that the world has come to another crossroads.习近平指出，百年未有之大变局正在全球加速演进，国际形势复杂动荡，世界又一次来到十字路口。"Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides Trap and create a new paradigm of major-country relations? Can we meet global challenges together and provide greater stability for the world? Can we build a bright future together for our bilateral relations in the interest of the well-being of the two peoples and the future of humanity? These are the questions vital to history, to the world and to the people. They are the questions of our times that the leaders of major countries need to answer together," Xi said.习近平说：“中美能否跨越‘修昔底德陷阱'，开创大国关系新范式？我们能否携手应对全球挑战，为世界带来更大稳定性？能否共同为双边关系开创光明未来，以造福两国人民和全人类未来？这些问题关乎历史、世界和人民，这些时代之问，需要各大国领导人共同作答。”On China-US economic and trade relations, Xi said that they are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature, and trade wars have no winners.谈及中美经贸关系时，习近平表示，中美经贸关系的本质是互利共赢，贸易战没有赢家。He said that where disagreements and frictions exist, equal-footed consultation is the only right choice.他说，对于存在的分歧与摩擦，平等协商是唯一正确的选择。Xi noted that the talks between economic and trade teams of the two countries, which were held in the Republic of Korea on Wednesday, produced generally balanced and positive outcomes, saying that this is good news for the people of the two countries and the world.习近平指出，两国经贸团队于5月13日在韩国举行的会谈总体取得了平衡、积极成果，这对两国人民和世界而言都是好消息。The two sides should jointly sustain the good momentum that they have worked hard to create, he said.他说，双方应共同维护来之不易的良好势头。Xi called on both countries to make better use of communication channels in the political, diplomatic and military fields, and expand exchanges and cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade, health, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people ties and law enforcement.习近平呼吁双方更好利用政治、外交、军事等领域沟通渠道，并在经贸、卫生、农业、旅游、人文交流和执法等领域扩大交流合作。Trump called Xi "a great leader" and China "a great country", saying that he has tremendous respect for the Chinese president and the Chinese people.特朗普称习近平是“一位伟大的领导人”，称中国是“一个伟大的国家”，并表示他对中国国家主席和中国人民怀有极大敬意。Noting that the meeting between Xi and himself was the biggest summit the world was watching, Trump said he will work together with Xi to strengthen communication and cooperation, properly handle differences, make bilateral relations better than ever before and embrace a fantastic future.特朗普表示，习近平同他的会晤是全球瞩目的重大峰会，他将同习近平一道加强沟通合作，妥善处理分歧，使双边关系比以往任何时候都更好，共同迎接美好未来。He said that the US and China are the most important and most powerful countries in the world, and together the two presidents can do a lot of big and good things for the two countries and the world.他说，美中作为世界上最重要、最强大的两个国家，两国元首携手合作，能为两国乃至世界带来许多重大而积极的改变。During the talks, the two presidents also exchanged views on major international and regional issues, such as the Middle East situation, the Ukraine crisis and the Korean Peninsula.会谈期间，两国元首还就中东局势、乌克兰危机以及朝鲜半岛等重大国际和地区问题交换意见。They agreed to support each other in hosting a successful APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and G20 Summit this year.双方一致同意，相互支持，确保今年的亚太经合组织领导人非正式会议和二十国集团峰会成功举办。Before their talks, Xi held a grand welcoming ceremony for Trump on the square outside the eastern entrance of the Great Hall of the People. A 21-gun salute was performed on Tian'anmen Square. Both leaders reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army.会谈前，习近平在人民大会堂东门外广场为特朗普举行隆重欢迎仪式，天安门广场鸣礼炮二十一响，两国元首共同检阅了中国人民解放军仪仗队。• steer /stɪə(r)/驾驭；掌舵• bilateral ties /baɪˈlætərəl taɪz/双边关系• state visit /steɪt ˈvɪzɪt/国事访问• jeopardy /ˈdʒepədi/危险境地• common denominator /ˈkɒmən dɪˈnɒmɪneɪtə(r)/最大公约数；共同点• Thucydides Trap /θjuːˈsɪdɪdiːz træp/修昔底德陷阱• guard of honor /ɡɑːd əv ˈɒnə(r)/仪仗队• People's Liberation Army /ˈpiːplz ˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən ˈɑːmi/中国人民解放军

President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for more than two hours at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, with the CEOs of Apple, Tesla and NVIDIA in the room as both sides look to stabilize a trade relationship that has been on shaky ground for years. China's readout of the meeting between the two leaders emphasized the need for "constructive strategic stability" and warned that mishandling Taiwan could put the entire U.S.-China relationship in jeopardy.And President Trump's crackdown on big law firms goes before a federal appeals court today, as firms that once employed lawyers who investigated Trump fight back against executive orders that targeted their security clearances and government contracts.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Tina Kraja, Anna Yukhananov, Mohamad ElBardicy and John Stolnis.It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.Our director is Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.(0:00) Introduction(01:51) Trump Meets With Xi(05:49) China's Readout Of Meeting(08:51) Trump Targets Law FirmsSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump just dominated the historic summit in Beijing — and a top body language expert says he was straight-up lion-like. According to renowned expert Lillian Glass, Trump showed massive confidence and “gravitas” during his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He wasn't intimidated at all — instead, he deployed powerful back pats that were both friendly and dominant, while the two leaders displayed genuine warmth and walked in perfect sync. Trump stood tall like a military man, moved with strength and stamina, and proved once again he's built for the world stage. The expert even shut down health rumors, pointing out Trump's strong walk up the Great Hall steps. We Also cover: Rand Paul on Dr. Fauci.  CIA raids Tulsi Gabbards' office? Burgum on reflecting pool work.  If you love seeing America First leadership and strong conservative wins, hit that LIKE button

President Xi Jinping described US-Chinese relations as "the most important" in the world and stressed to President Trump that the US and China should be partners and not rivals. Also, in the programme; the dental tools used by Neanderthals and we hear from an exiled Venezuelan politician on how his country is five months after Maduro's capture.(Photo: President Trump and Xi walking in the Great Hall of the People. Credit: Reuters)

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed US President Donald Trump to Beijing on Thursday as the American leader began his state visit to China. Meeting his counterpart at the Great Hall of the People, President Xi said he expects 2026 to be a "historic, landmark year" that opens up a new chapter in China-US relations. Meanwhile, President Trump said the relationship between China and the United States will be "better than ever before." Both leaders have agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability. What can we expect from Trump's visit? How can the heads-of-state meeting help steer China-US relations steadily forward?

China and the United States should find the right way for major countries to get along well with each other in the new era, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.Xi made the remarks during his talks with visiting US President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.5月14日，国家主席习近平在北京人民大会堂与美国总统唐纳德·特朗普举行会谈。习近平指出，中美应当在新时代探索大国之间的正确相处之道。Xi stressed that the two countries have more common interests than differences, success in one is an opportunity for the other, and a stable bilateral relationship is good for the world.习近平强调，两国拥有的共同利益大于分歧，一方的成功也是另一方的机遇，稳定的中美双边关系有益于世界。"China and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. We should be partners, not rivals. We should help each other succeed and prosper together," he said.他指出：“中美双方都能从合作中受益、从对抗中受损。我们应当成为伙伴，而不是对手，应当相互成就、共同繁荣。”Noting that transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe and the international situation is fluid and turbulent, Xi said that the world has come to another crossroads.习近平指出，百年未有之大变局正在加速演进，国际形势复杂多变，世界已来到新的十字路口。"Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides Trap and create a new paradigm of major-country relations? Can we meet global challenges together and provide greater stability for the world? Can we build a bright future together for our bilateral relations in the interests of the well-being of the two peoples and the future of humanity? These are the questions vital to history, to the world and to the people. They are the questions of our times that the leaders of major countries need to answer together," Xi said.“中美能否跨越‘修昔底德陷阱'，开创大国关系新范式？能否携手应对全球挑战，为世界提供更大稳定性？能否为双边关系共同开创光明未来，使之造福两国人民福祉与全人类？这些问题关乎历史、世界与人民，至关重要。这是时代之问，需要各大国领导人共同作答。”He expressed the hope that 2026 will be a historic and landmark year for China-US relations.他表示，希望2026年成为中美关系具有里程碑意义的一年。• fluid /ˈfluːɪd/不稳定的• well-being /ˌwel ˈbiːɪŋ/福祉• landmark /ˈlændmɑːk/里程碑

Matt Prestler has details on the Toledo Guitar Show happening Sunday June 7th at Masonic Great Hall

It should not be surprising that war in Iran is producing higher inflation in the US. There was higher gasoline in grocery prices sending headline CPI up last month at an annual rate of 3.8%, and that news in turn sent US treasury yields higher right across the curve. This fueled speculation that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next year, and bonds fell, with the 30-year yield rising to 5.03%. We heard from David Savage, Bloomberg's MLIV Strategist. Plus - President Donald Trump is expecting economic deals and a "wild" welcome this week in China. He'll arrive facing an emboldened Xi Jinping, just as his own hand is constrained by the conflict in Iran. When the US president touches down in Beijing on Wednesday evening for a 36-hour summit, it'll mark his first overseas trip since waging war in the Middle East. Over talks at the Great Hall of the People and a state dinner, followed by morning tea, the leaders will discuss trade, tariffs and the self-ruled island of Taiwan. Another agenda item, of course, is Iran. For a preview, we heard from Henry Huiyao Wang, Center for China and Globalization Founder and President speaking to Bloomberg's Haidi Stroud-Watts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas More lived by the mantra, 'I am the King's good servant, but God's first'. He would also die by it. His defiance at Henry VIII's break with Rome would be his salvation, and his destruction.  In this episode of our series on Henry VIII's ministers, Tracy Borman is joined by historian Dr Joanne Paul to examine the truth behind Thomas More's legacy.   Was he a saintly man of conscience in a court filled with grasping politicians, or a self-righteous heretic hunter? And what does his story tell us about Henry VIII?  Watch this episode on YouTube to see Tracy and Joanne in the Great Hall of Hampton Court Palace.  Read more about Sir Thomas More's life and legacy. 

"A Long Walk Home" Rev. Cassie Waits, Associate Pastor 11:00am | Great Hall

"Listening to the Shepherd's Voice" Rev. Meri Kate Marcum, Associate Pastor 11:00am | Great Hall

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Harry sees the memories from Tom Riddle's diary and begins to wonder: who's the real heir of Slytherin? Lockhart throws a Valentine's Day party, and Hermione gets petrified. After Harry and Ron's visit to Hagrid to discuss the basilisk ends in Hagrid arrest, they are resolved to "following the spiders" to finally see the end of this saga. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      Listen to Tea Leaves S2 E5 here!·      1:33 Quick Recap and Riddle's first memory. This memory isn't really coherent. It's more to show us who Riddle is and how important he will be. Quick shots of Riddle, maybe standing in the Chamber of Secrets, maybe somewhere in the castle.·      14:17 Polyjuice! This whole saga is going to be fun. The trio takes the potion in the bathroom, and Hermione unfortunately grabbed the wrong kind of hair and becomes a cat. Harry and Ron are still on a timer, however, so they must forge on. They go talk to Malfoy and find that he is not the heir.·      20:55 Valentine's Day. This is a great time for Lockhart to be an idiot. The Great Hall is adorned with a million gift shops of decorations. Ginny sends Harry a singing dwarf.·      23:30 The diary has been stolen. His bed sheets are hanging off the frame and his trunk was rifled through. He finds that the diary has been stolen, and he rushes down to tell Ron, but instead he finds out that Hermione was petrified. ·      28:50 Harry and Ron go talk to Hagrid to get more information on the basilisk that Hermione found out, but he is taken to Azkaban. He tells Harry and Ron to “follow the spiders.” The episode ends with Riddle's second memory. He shows Harry how Hagrid was found out as the heir and was expelled. Harry thinks Riddle is a true Hogwarts hero, but still wonders: how in the world could it be Hagrid? ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

What really happened in the castle.Based on a post by secret sexy writer. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.Once upon a time;A merchant lived in a forest. His only daughter, Kristiana, had been a nursemaid to a wealthy family until the children became of age and the family no longer needed her services. Deciding to take some time for herself, she returned to live with her father.One morning, before he left for the market, he said to her, “Kristiana, if you could have one thing that would make you happy, what would it be?”“Finally being here with you makes me happy. I need nothing more.” Kristiana hugged her father and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Then she waved as he mounted his horse and headed off toward town.His mind still troubled him on his journey. He wanted to get something special for his daughter, but he no longer knew what she liked. And she hadn’t been much help with answers herself.She’d grown into such a beautiful woman while she’d been away. She was at least five-foot-five now, her brunette hair cascading down her back in soft waves. He remembered her mother pulling it back into pigtails not too long ago. And then Kristiana had hid it all twisted up on her head under a cap when she’d left to work for that family.That was all before his lovely wife had passed away after the terrible accident. No one had known where the beastly dogs had come from. Mariel had been tending the garden out back when they’d run out of the woods and attacked her in broad daylight.If only he’d been home at the time;He sniffed and urged his horse on. Throughout the morning as he gathered the items on his list, he focused on Kristiana. On the present. And he kept an eye out for her gift, but nothing seemed right.When he had finished his business, the merchant set off for home. The day had grown long, and the sun was already setting behind the trees of the woods. The wind grew colder, whipping his jacket about. With one hand, he struggled to hold onto the reins of the horse, his other hand clutching the satchel of merchandise tightly against his body.The sky darkened, and soon rain pelted down, soaking through his clothes. A streak of lightning spooked the horse, and then they were racing through the trees, wispy branches stinging his cheeks. Once the horse had calmed down, the merchant paused and glanced around. But under the thick cover of leaves over him, he couldn’t see the moon or tell which way to go. His only hope was that they could find some shelter and wait out the storm. His hope dwindled, though, as he led the horse among the maze of trees. He was completely lost, even in the woods he’d known most of his life.Dalemond’s Castle.Just when he was ready to give up, he noticed a dull light shining off to his right, and steered the horse toward it. As he drew near, he saw that the light belonged to a building. An inn!Lightning lit up the sky, and the merchant gasped, tightening his grip on the reins as the horse reared up. The inn was actually a massive castle!Stone walls stretched out in either direction beyond a looming gate, and towers disappeared into the night sky above him. No lights were burning in any of the windows, but a lantern swung on a post over the front door.Sliding down from his horse, the merchant pushed open the gate and entered the courtyard. The horse whinnied at another crack of lightning, but it followed behind, pawing at the ground when he tied off the reins on a metal loop in the castle wall.When he reached the door, he saw that it was open. Though he shouted, no one came to greet him. Gathering his courage, he went inside, still calling out to attract attention. On a table in the front hall, a splendid dinner lay already served. He lingered, still shouting for the owner of the castle. But no one came, and so after eyeing the food and listening to his growling stomach, the starving merchant sat down to a hearty meal.His hunger satisfied, curiosity now plagued him. Why had no one met him at the door? Who had lit the lantern? Who had prepared the meal? He called again for any acknowledgement of his arrival. Upon receiving none, he ventured through the main room. At the far end was a grand staircase. He ascended, in awe of the paintings in elaborate gold frames adorning the walls.From the landing, a corridor led off in either direction with several closed doors on each side. However, the first door on his left was open. A fire crackled in a massive stone fireplace that was taller than he was. Directly across from it sat a four-poster bed piled high with blankets and pillows.It was now late, and he could not resist the invitation before him once again. He lay down on the bed and fell fast asleep. When he woke next morning, someone had placed a mug of steaming coffee and some fruit by his bedside.The merchant had breakfast and after tidying himself up, went downstairs to thank his generous host. But, as on the evening before, there was no one in sight. Shaking his head in wonder at the strangeness of it all, he went towards the courtyard where he had left his horse. To his continual surprise, his horse was no longer tethered to the castle wall but grazing beneath a tree in the sunshine.Next to the tree were several rose bushes. Dotting the green leaves, glistening with the remnants of last night’s rain, were the largest red flowers he’d ever seen in full bloom.Thinking of his parting question to his daughter, he whispered, “It’s perfect!” And then he carefully plucked a dewy rose from its bed.No sooner had he reached for the horse’s reins than a man sprang up from behind the rose garden. He wore a dark jacket over his tunic and pants that all looked of the finest material. His thick mane of hair was mostly gray with subtle streaks of blond, and it flowed down to his shoulders. But his brown eyes were bloodshot and gleamed with fire; his mouth was curled into a snarl. His wide shoulders towered over the merchant, and his large hands reached out to him.“Ungrateful man! I gave you shelter, fed you from my table, and gave you a bed to sleep in! But now all the thanks I get is the theft of my favorite flowers!”“Forgive me! Please, do not kill me! I’ll do anything you say! The rose wasn’t for me but for my daughter, Kristiana. I wanted to bring her a special present from my journey.”“I care not why you stole from me.” The man whistled, and two large dogs, drooling and growling, appeared from around the side of the castle. “I shall put you to death for this slight!”Trembling with fear, the merchant fell on his knees before the beast of a man. “Those dogs! They were your dogs?”“What nonsense do you speak, thief?”“Your dogs killed my wife!” The merchant wanted to scream in anger, but his voice barely came out as a raspy whisper. “They attacked her in our garden. Thankfully, our only child was gone and did not witness it. I returned too late to save my wife, but I saw the dogs before they disappeared into the woods again. All these years;”The man dropped the paw of a hand he had clamped on the distraught merchant, but his voice remained a deep growl. “I shall spare your life, but on one condition. Bring me your daughter! I will not harm her, but she will remain a servant in my castle.”The merchant’s heart leapt with joy at his own fortune. But then he felt his stomach twist with terror. He’d have to trade his life for his daughter’s! They would both still be alive, but; No, she would never forgive him for leaving her alone in the world if he did not obey.With his head hung low, the merchant nodded. “So be it. I will send my daughter to you.”“Take the rose. Have her bring it back so that I know it is her. Follow the path south until you get to a clearing, and then head west. This will lead you home.” And then the beast of a man disappeared around the side of the castle with the dogs.The journey home seemed shorter than he’d expected. After settling the horse in the barn, he trudged up to the house, his shoulders heavy.Kristiana rushed out to meet him. “Father! Where have you been? I’ve been so worried!”He fell into his daughter’s arms, holding her to him, trying to remember how his grown little girl felt one last time. Then he ushered her into the house and proceeded to tell her of the events of the previous night and this morning.When he’d finished, he reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out the rose.“I’d do anything for you!” Kristiana hugged her father. “Don’t worry, you’ll be able to keep your promise. I will be fine. We will both return to the castle once you have rested.”“I fear what will happen to you. He promised not to harm you, but he said you would be his servant. I pray that he will be kind to you, at least. I will always love you, Kristiana, no matter what.”The merchant refrained from telling her what he had learned about the dogs. She need not distress over what she did not know and could not change.Prince Dalemond paced the Great Hall, growling out his frustration. Would the old man honor his promise? He should have killed him and been done with it. That was how his own father would have handled a thief. Whether a loaf of bread, a bag of coins, or a rose off a bush, stealing was stealing.But the knowledge that his precious dogs had killed the man’s wife, had left his only daughter without a mother; It reminded him of his own loneliness. He had let his emotions overpower justice, and he’d caved in. At least he would have a servant in the house now.He heard horses approaching, and then the squeal of the gate. He stepped into the shadows, waiting. There were voices outside, and then the pounding of the heavy knocker on the door.“Enter!” His voice bellowed and echoed through the empty hall.The wooden door slowly groaned open on its ancient hinges. By the day’s dying light creeping through the open doorway, he saw the merchant step inside. A young woman in a dark, green, hooded cloak followed. She carried the red rose from his garden.“You, Sir, have fulfilled your promise. You may leave us.”The woman hugged her father without any tears, and then the merchant hustled out the door.Prince Dalemond watched her from the shadows, the candlelight from the wall sconces bathing her in a soft glow. His heart pounded heavily in his chest. He’d never seen anyone so lovely.Her dark brown hair hung in long ringlets on either side of her face. The color of her cloak emphasized the green of her hazel eyes as she slowly took in her surroundings. When she lifted her hand to push back the hood, her arm moved the edge of the cloak aside.He gasped at the tight bodice of her cream-colored gown; at the swell of her breasts rising above the confines of the low neckline.She was truly a beauty.Something clenched in his gut, and he knew he would not be keeping her for a servant as he had planned. He did not want to tarnish one inch of her ivory complexion, flawless except for her cheeks tinged pink from her journey. He had not anticipated such a prize as her.He stepped out of his hiding place. When the candlelight flooded over him, he heard her gasp. “Welcome to my home, Kristiana. You are my guest. Please, may I take your cloak?”Kristiana took a step back, clutching one hand at the clasp at her throat. She stared for a moment, looking him over. She swallowed and then lifted her chin up, keeping her gaze from his. “How shall I address you, Sir?”“My name is Price Dalemond. ‘Your Highness’ will suffice.” He reached out and took her petite hand in his large one. She was shaking, and he gently squeezed her slender fingers. He raised her hand to his lips and placed the lightest kiss across her knuckles. He refrained from closing his eyes and sighing at the lavender scent of her soft skin.“Well, Your Highness, you say I am a guest, but we both know that I am a prisoner.” Kristiana pulled free from his grasp and squared her shoulders. “If you would so kindly show me to my chamber, I would like to retire for the evening.”She may have been a beauty, but he had never seen such hostility. Especially after he had extended his generosity to both her and her father. She was just as ungrateful as he had been. She should be happy to have her father still alive!With a low growl, he spun around and marched toward the grand staircase. He had prepared a room down the North Hall hear his own chambers. But now; now he led her down to the last room in the South Hall. The furthest room from the only other person in the entire castle. If she felt like a prisoner, he would treat her like one.Once they’d reached her new chamber, she waited until he opened the door, and then she entered with a minute tip of her chin. The room was dark and the air frigid. As angry as he was, he knew he could not leave her to freeze to death. Even his dogs deserved a fire on a cold night such as this.She stood just inside the doorway. He stepped past her, feeling the heat of her through the material of his shirt as his arm brushed against hers. Pushing away the resulting rush of desire to have that warmth against the rest of his body, he crossed the chamber in four long strides. After he had lit a fire, he turned back to her.Kristiana had moved to the window and drawn the curtain aside. He suddenly wanted to go to her, to apologize for his gruffness. But then he remembered the way she’d scorned him.“Dinner will be served shortly.” He made sure his tone relayed that it was a command.“I’m not hungry.” She kept her back to him. She stared out the window into the darkness instead.A muscle in his clenched jaw twitched. “Suit yourself!” And then he stormed across the room, slamming the door behind him.The moment that he was gone, Kristiana collapsed to the floor, her face in her hands. Warm tears wet her already hot cheeks.“I love you, Father! I will stay here to keep your promise, even though I detest the master of the house. I will never be happy here.”She glanced at the door, remembering how the prince had towered at least a foot above her. How her hand had disappeared in his when he’d welcomed her. How while she feared him, something inside drew her to him. And that frightened her even more.Her stomach growled, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of admitting she had lied. She removed her cloak and laid it across the winged armchair by the fire instead. Then she crossed to the four-poster bed, climbing up onto the simple mattress covered by a thin quilt. An even thinner blanket lay folded at the footboard.An derisive grunt escaped when she thought of it. Meager accommodations for the prisoner. What else should she have expected?The pillow was soft, though, when she laid her head down. She watched the fire flickering across the small room, thankful for at least that source of heat. Shivers shook her body, and she hugged her arms to her chest, curling into a ball on top of the quilt. Tears trickled down her cheek again as she thought of her predicament.At some point, she must have drifted off because she felt someone watching her and she sat up with a gasp. But there was no one else there. It took her a moment to remember where she was, and why. She looked around at the fire blazing in the fireplace; her cloak on the chair; the plate of food on the table beside the chair; the blanket lying over her body.She may be alone now, but someone had been in the room. Did she dare hope that it had been Prince Dalemond? Who else could it have been? Father had mentioned there had been no one else in the castle the night before.If it had been her host, why did she even care? He was a brute of a man. Only a monster would demand on killing a man for picking a flower; or imprison a young woman as a hostage in his castle. She would be wise to keep her distance from him. Surely, she could find something to do to while away the days she was being held captive. Because deep down, she just knew he would grow tired of her and this wicked game he was playing. Then he would set her free.Kristiana was halfway across the chamber, no longer able to resist the tray of meats, cheeses, and fruit and the pitcher she hoped contained wine, when the thought occurred to her.What if he did tire of his game; but he left her hidden away, forgetting about her instead of setting her free? She would never see Father again!Fresh tears choked her throat. Somehow, she managed to clean the tray before curling up in the chair. Her eyes felt drowsy from the wine. Pulling her cloak over her, she succumbed to sleep. She dreamed that someone was watching her again. And then a warm body carried her. A disarray of memories followed, mainly of her mother.She woke the next morning to sunlight streaming in the window, the curtains drawn aside. The fire still burned and a new tray of breads and fruit sat on the table. She stretched, yawning and then froze. She was lying in the bed under layers of thick blankets. It had not been a dream. Someone had carried her there.After a quick breakfast, she washed her face at the basin filled with cool water. When she turned back to the bed, she noticed the wardrobe’s doors were partially ajar. She slowly pulled the doors open all of the way and gasped. Inside hung dresses in a multitude of colors.She couldn’t help wondering why someone so mean he would keep her captive would also show such acts of kindness. 'His Highness’ was an enigma. And a small part of her begged to understand him.Choosing a pale yellow dress, she changed her clothes and brushed out her hair. It was time to explore her prison, such as it was.Prince Dalemond had searched every room but one by noontime. Kristiana was nowhere to be found. He hoped she had not run away. Despite his frustration at her stubbornness last night, he had enjoyed watching her sleep. She had seemed so peaceful. So innocent. Besides, it wasn’t her fault she was here. If her father hadn’t stolen the rose;He grunted and thought of her creamy breasts rising and falling in her sleep. How her lips had parted with a soft sigh when he’d moved her from the chair. How light her small body had felt in his arms. He’d wanted to kiss her but had refrained.Now; now he wanted to scream. Where was she? How dare she hide from him!He pushed open the final door, the door to the library, his breath huffing. And then he froze.Kristiana sat in the window seat, the skirts of her yellow dress pooled around her, a small stack of books beside her. Her head rose with a start, and she dropped the book she’d been reading.For the longest moment, they just stared at each other. Her heavy breathing drew his eyes downward. A low moan escaped as his gut tightened.“Was there something you wanted?”Her quiet voice broke the spell over him. He lifted his eyes to hers again, swallowing his honesty. Instead, he forced a smile and said, “It’s time for the noon meal. Care to join me in the Great Hall?”She blinked, opened her mouth,

What really happened in the castle.Based on a post by secret sexy writer. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.Once upon a time;A merchant lived in a forest. His only daughter, Kristiana, had been a nursemaid to a wealthy family until the children became of age and the family no longer needed her services. Deciding to take some time for herself, she returned to live with her father.One morning, before he left for the market, he said to her, “Kristiana, if you could have one thing that would make you happy, what would it be?”“Finally being here with you makes me happy. I need nothing more.” Kristiana hugged her father and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Then she waved as he mounted his horse and headed off toward town.His mind still troubled him on his journey. He wanted to get something special for his daughter, but he no longer knew what she liked. And she hadn’t been much help with answers herself.She’d grown into such a beautiful woman while she’d been away. She was at least five-foot-five now, her brunette hair cascading down her back in soft waves. He remembered her mother pulling it back into pigtails not too long ago. And then Kristiana had hid it all twisted up on her head under a cap when she’d left to work for that family.That was all before his lovely wife had passed away after the terrible accident. No one had known where the beastly dogs had come from. Mariel had been tending the garden out back when they’d run out of the woods and attacked her in broad daylight.If only he’d been home at the time;He sniffed and urged his horse on. Throughout the morning as he gathered the items on his list, he focused on Kristiana. On the present. And he kept an eye out for her gift, but nothing seemed right.When he had finished his business, the merchant set off for home. The day had grown long, and the sun was already setting behind the trees of the woods. The wind grew colder, whipping his jacket about. With one hand, he struggled to hold onto the reins of the horse, his other hand clutching the satchel of merchandise tightly against his body.The sky darkened, and soon rain pelted down, soaking through his clothes. A streak of lightning spooked the horse, and then they were racing through the trees, wispy branches stinging his cheeks. Once the horse had calmed down, the merchant paused and glanced around. But under the thick cover of leaves over him, he couldn’t see the moon or tell which way to go. His only hope was that they could find some shelter and wait out the storm. His hope dwindled, though, as he led the horse among the maze of trees. He was completely lost, even in the woods he’d known most of his life.Dalemond’s Castle.Just when he was ready to give up, he noticed a dull light shining off to his right, and steered the horse toward it. As he drew near, he saw that the light belonged to a building. An inn!Lightning lit up the sky, and the merchant gasped, tightening his grip on the reins as the horse reared up. The inn was actually a massive castle!Stone walls stretched out in either direction beyond a looming gate, and towers disappeared into the night sky above him. No lights were burning in any of the windows, but a lantern swung on a post over the front door.Sliding down from his horse, the merchant pushed open the gate and entered the courtyard. The horse whinnied at another crack of lightning, but it followed behind, pawing at the ground when he tied off the reins on a metal loop in the castle wall.When he reached the door, he saw that it was open. Though he shouted, no one came to greet him. Gathering his courage, he went inside, still calling out to attract attention. On a table in the front hall, a splendid dinner lay already served. He lingered, still shouting for the owner of the castle. But no one came, and so after eyeing the food and listening to his growling stomach, the starving merchant sat down to a hearty meal.His hunger satisfied, curiosity now plagued him. Why had no one met him at the door? Who had lit the lantern? Who had prepared the meal? He called again for any acknowledgement of his arrival. Upon receiving none, he ventured through the main room. At the far end was a grand staircase. He ascended, in awe of the paintings in elaborate gold frames adorning the walls.From the landing, a corridor led off in either direction with several closed doors on each side. However, the first door on his left was open. A fire crackled in a massive stone fireplace that was taller than he was. Directly across from it sat a four-poster bed piled high with blankets and pillows.It was now late, and he could not resist the invitation before him once again. He lay down on the bed and fell fast asleep. When he woke next morning, someone had placed a mug of steaming coffee and some fruit by his bedside.The merchant had breakfast and after tidying himself up, went downstairs to thank his generous host. But, as on the evening before, there was no one in sight. Shaking his head in wonder at the strangeness of it all, he went towards the courtyard where he had left his horse. To his continual surprise, his horse was no longer tethered to the castle wall but grazing beneath a tree in the sunshine.Next to the tree were several rose bushes. Dotting the green leaves, glistening with the remnants of last night’s rain, were the largest red flowers he’d ever seen in full bloom.Thinking of his parting question to his daughter, he whispered, “It’s perfect!” And then he carefully plucked a dewy rose from its bed.No sooner had he reached for the horse’s reins than a man sprang up from behind the rose garden. He wore a dark jacket over his tunic and pants that all looked of the finest material. His thick mane of hair was mostly gray with subtle streaks of blond, and it flowed down to his shoulders. But his brown eyes were bloodshot and gleamed with fire; his mouth was curled into a snarl. His wide shoulders towered over the merchant, and his large hands reached out to him.“Ungrateful man! I gave you shelter, fed you from my table, and gave you a bed to sleep in! But now all the thanks I get is the theft of my favorite flowers!”“Forgive me! Please, do not kill me! I’ll do anything you say! The rose wasn’t for me but for my daughter, Kristiana. I wanted to bring her a special present from my journey.”“I care not why you stole from me.” The man whistled, and two large dogs, drooling and growling, appeared from around the side of the castle. “I shall put you to death for this slight!”Trembling with fear, the merchant fell on his knees before the beast of a man. “Those dogs! They were your dogs?”“What nonsense do you speak, thief?”“Your dogs killed my wife!” The merchant wanted to scream in anger, but his voice barely came out as a raspy whisper. “They attacked her in our garden. Thankfully, our only child was gone and did not witness it. I returned too late to save my wife, but I saw the dogs before they disappeared into the woods again. All these years;”The man dropped the paw of a hand he had clamped on the distraught merchant, but his voice remained a deep growl. “I shall spare your life, but on one condition. Bring me your daughter! I will not harm her, but she will remain a servant in my castle.”The merchant’s heart leapt with joy at his own fortune. But then he felt his stomach twist with terror. He’d have to trade his life for his daughter’s! They would both still be alive, but; No, she would never forgive him for leaving her alone in the world if he did not obey.With his head hung low, the merchant nodded. “So be it. I will send my daughter to you.”“Take the rose. Have her bring it back so that I know it is her. Follow the path south until you get to a clearing, and then head west. This will lead you home.” And then the beast of a man disappeared around the side of the castle with the dogs.The journey home seemed shorter than he’d expected. After settling the horse in the barn, he trudged up to the house, his shoulders heavy.Kristiana rushed out to meet him. “Father! Where have you been? I’ve been so worried!”He fell into his daughter’s arms, holding her to him, trying to remember how his grown little girl felt one last time. Then he ushered her into the house and proceeded to tell her of the events of the previous night and this morning.When he’d finished, he reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out the rose.“I’d do anything for you!” Kristiana hugged her father. “Don’t worry, you’ll be able to keep your promise. I will be fine. We will both return to the castle once you have rested.”“I fear what will happen to you. He promised not to harm you, but he said you would be his servant. I pray that he will be kind to you, at least. I will always love you, Kristiana, no matter what.”The merchant refrained from telling her what he had learned about the dogs. She need not distress over what she did not know and could not change.Prince Dalemond paced the Great Hall, growling out his frustration. Would the old man honor his promise? He should have killed him and been done with it. That was how his own father would have handled a thief. Whether a loaf of bread, a bag of coins, or a rose off a bush, stealing was stealing.But the knowledge that his precious dogs had killed the man’s wife, had left his only daughter without a mother; It reminded him of his own loneliness. He had let his emotions overpower justice, and he’d caved in. At least he would have a servant in the house now.He heard horses approaching, and then the squeal of the gate. He stepped into the shadows, waiting. There were voices outside, and then the pounding of the heavy knocker on the door.“Enter!” His voice bellowed and echoed through the empty hall.The wooden door slowly groaned open on its ancient hinges. By the day’s dying light creeping through the open doorway, he saw the merchant step inside. A young woman in a dark, green, hooded cloak followed. She carried the red rose from his garden.“You, Sir, have fulfilled your promise. You may leave us.”The woman hugged her father without any tears, and then the merchant hustled out the door.Prince Dalemond watched her from the shadows, the candlelight from the wall sconces bathing her in a soft glow. His heart pounded heavily in his chest. He’d never seen anyone so lovely.Her dark brown hair hung in long ringlets on either side of her face. The color of her cloak emphasized the green of her hazel eyes as she slowly took in her surroundings. When she lifted her hand to push back the hood, her arm moved the edge of the cloak aside.He gasped at the tight bodice of her cream-colored gown; at the swell of her breasts rising above the confines of the low neckline.She was truly a beauty.Something clenched in his gut, and he knew he would not be keeping her for a servant as he had planned. He did not want to tarnish one inch of her ivory complexion, flawless except for her cheeks tinged pink from her journey. He had not anticipated such a prize as her.He stepped out of his hiding place. When the candlelight flooded over him, he heard her gasp. “Welcome to my home, Kristiana. You are my guest. Please, may I take your cloak?”Kristiana took a step back, clutching one hand at the clasp at her throat. She stared for a moment, looking him over. She swallowed and then lifted her chin up, keeping her gaze from his. “How shall I address you, Sir?”“My name is Price Dalemond. ‘Your Highness’ will suffice.” He reached out and took her petite hand in his large one. She was shaking, and he gently squeezed her slender fingers. He raised her hand to his lips and placed the lightest kiss across her knuckles. He refrained from closing his eyes and sighing at the lavender scent of her soft skin.“Well, Your Highness, you say I am a guest, but we both know that I am a prisoner.” Kristiana pulled free from his grasp and squared her shoulders. “If you would so kindly show me to my chamber, I would like to retire for the evening.”She may have been a beauty, but he had never seen such hostility. Especially after he had extended his generosity to both her and her father. She was just as ungrateful as he had been. She should be happy to have her father still alive!With a low growl, he spun around and marched toward the grand staircase. He had prepared a room down the North Hall hear his own chambers. But now; now he led her down to the last room in the South Hall. The furthest room from the only other person in the entire castle. If she felt like a prisoner, he would treat her like one.Once they’d reached her new chamber, she waited until he opened the door, and then she entered with a minute tip of her chin. The room was dark and the air frigid. As angry as he was, he knew he could not leave her to freeze to death. Even his dogs deserved a fire on a cold night such as this.She stood just inside the doorway. He stepped past her, feeling the heat of her through the material of his shirt as his arm brushed against hers. Pushing away the resulting rush of desire to have that warmth against the rest of his body, he crossed the chamber in four long strides. After he had lit a fire, he turned back to her.Kristiana had moved to the window and drawn the curtain aside. He suddenly wanted to go to her, to apologize for his gruffness. But then he remembered the way she’d scorned him.“Dinner will be served shortly.” He made sure his tone relayed that it was a command.“I’m not hungry.” She kept her back to him. She stared out the window into the darkness instead.A muscle in his clenched jaw twitched. “Suit yourself!” And then he stormed across the room, slamming the door behind him.The moment that he was gone, Kristiana collapsed to the floor, her face in her hands. Warm tears wet her already hot cheeks.“I love you, Father! I will stay here to keep your promise, even though I detest the master of the house. I will never be happy here.”She glanced at the door, remembering how the prince had towered at least a foot above her. How her hand had disappeared in his when he’d welcomed her. How while she feared him, something inside drew her to him. And that frightened her even more.Her stomach growled, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of admitting she had lied. She removed her cloak and laid it across the winged armchair by the fire instead. Then she crossed to the four-poster bed, climbing up onto the simple mattress covered by a thin quilt. An even thinner blanket lay folded at the footboard.An derisive grunt escaped when she thought of it. Meager accommodations for the prisoner. What else should she have expected?The pillow was soft, though, when she laid her head down. She watched the fire flickering across the small room, thankful for at least that source of heat. Shivers shook her body, and she hugged her arms to her chest, curling into a ball on top of the quilt. Tears trickled down her cheek again as she thought of her predicament.At some point, she must have drifted off because she felt someone watching her and she sat up with a gasp. But there was no one else there. It took her a moment to remember where she was, and why. She looked around at the fire blazing in the fireplace; her cloak on the chair; the plate of food on the table beside the chair; the blanket lying over her body.She may be alone now, but someone had been in the room. Did she dare hope that it had been Prince Dalemond? Who else could it have been? Father had mentioned there had been no one else in the castle the night before.If it had been her host, why did she even care? He was a brute of a man. Only a monster would demand on killing a man for picking a flower; or imprison a young woman as a hostage in his castle. She would be wise to keep her distance from him. Surely, she could find something to do to while away the days she was being held captive. Because deep down, she just knew he would grow tired of her and this wicked game he was playing. Then he would set her free.Kristiana was halfway across the chamber, no longer able to resist the tray of meats, cheeses, and fruit and the pitcher she hoped contained wine, when the thought occurred to her.What if he did tire of his game; but he left her hidden away, forgetting about her instead of setting her free? She would never see Father again!Fresh tears choked her throat. Somehow, she managed to clean the tray before curling up in the chair. Her eyes felt drowsy from the wine. Pulling her cloak over her, she succumbed to sleep. She dreamed that someone was watching her again. And then a warm body carried her. A disarray of memories followed, mainly of her mother.She woke the next morning to sunlight streaming in the window, the curtains drawn aside. The fire still burned and a new tray of breads and fruit sat on the table. She stretched, yawning and then froze. She was lying in the bed under layers of thick blankets. It had not been a dream. Someone had carried her there.After a quick breakfast, she washed her face at the basin filled with cool water. When she turned back to the bed, she noticed the wardrobe’s doors were partially ajar. She slowly pulled the doors open all of the way and gasped. Inside hung dresses in a multitude of colors.She couldn’t help wondering why someone so mean he would keep her captive would also show such acts of kindness. 'His Highness’ was an enigma. And a small part of her begged to understand him.Choosing a pale yellow dress, she changed her clothes and brushed out her hair. It was time to explore her prison, such as it was.Prince Dalemond had searched every room but one by noontime. Kristiana was nowhere to be found. He hoped she had not run away. Despite his frustration at her stubbornness last night, he had enjoyed watching her sleep. She had seemed so peaceful. So innocent. Besides, it wasn’t her fault she was here. If her father hadn’t stolen the rose;He grunted and thought of her creamy breasts rising and falling in her sleep. How her lips had parted with a soft sigh when he’d moved her from the chair. How light her small body had felt in his arms. He’d wanted to kiss her but had refrained.Now; now he wanted to scream. Where was she? How dare she hide from him!He pushed open the final door, the door to the library, his breath huffing. And then he froze.Kristiana sat in the window seat, the skirts of her yellow dress pooled around her, a small stack of books beside her. Her head rose with a start, and she dropped the book she’d been reading.For the longest moment, they just stared at each other. Her heavy breathing drew his eyes downward. A low moan escaped as his gut tightened.“Was there something you wanted?”Her quiet voice broke the spell over him. He lifted his eyes to hers again, swallowing his honesty. Instead, he forced a smile and said, “It’s time for the noon meal. Care to join me in the Great Hall?”She blinked, opened her mouth,

Aspen and Wylan from Harbor City International School talk about the Sustainability Summit on Friday, April 10th in the Great Hall at the Depot

We look at what China's latest “Two Sessions” reveal about the direction of the world's second-largest economy. With Beijing setting its lowest GDP growth target since 1991, the focus appears to be shifting from rapid expansion to stability in an increasingly uncertain global economy. We explore what that means for businesses, investors and young people trying to find work in China today.If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: David CannBusiness Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.(Picture: Chinese President Xi Jinping, centre right, and Premier Li Qiang, centre left, arrive at the closing session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People on the 12th of March 2026 in Beijing, China. Credit: Getty Images)

This is a special episode of Strong Sense of Place in which we announce that we're doing it again — we're taking a group of readers back to Trevor Hall. In October 2025, we took over Trevor Hall — a Georgian manor house in Llangollen, Wales — with forty members of the Strong Sense of Place community. It was the best book club ever. We took walks in the countryside, talked about (so many) books, enjoyed ridiculously delicious meals, and told spooky stories by candlelight. And we made lifelong friends. We're doing it again — and you're invited to join us! Together, we'll make ourselves at home in this historic mansion surrounded by the picturesque North Wales countryside. We'll have a book club, share gourmet meals in the Great Hall, play parlor games, ramble in the hills, and stomp our feet at a Celtic ceilidh. Our weekend begins in Manchester, England — a UNESCO City of Literature. We'll check into our rooms at a design hotel and enjoy our first IRL meetup in a historic library. After a good night's sleep, we're off to Elizabeth Gaskell's House for a private tour of the Victorian villa where she wrote ‘North and South' (and entertained literary friends like Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens). After a restorative tea-and-cake break, we'll ride together via private motor coach through the rugged countryside to Llangollen, a charming town on the River Dee in North Wales. Our destination: Trevor Hall. The Hall sits on a wooded hilltop overlooking green slopes dotted with sheep and horses. After a tour of the house and gardens, we'll ease into country living in the Hall's luxurious (and tastefully eclectic) rooms. With bookish activities, entertainment, and surprises planned throughout the weekend, you're sure to be delighted — and have plenty of time to connect with old and new bookish friends. DatesThis is a five-day, four-night trip: Thursday through Monday. It will be held on two consecutive weekends; each weekend is limited to 19 guests. Weekend 1: Thursday, November 5 through Monday, November 9 Weekend 2: Thursday, November 12 through Monday, November 16 Also! Click here for the complete details about the weekend and to enjoy the pretty photos For early access to tickets, join our Patreon. To be notified the minute tickets go on sale, join our free Substack newsletter. If you're curious about last year's trip, listen to our podcast episode That Time We Rented a Manor House in Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in the early 90s, while attending college in London, Ontario, Canada, my buddy Aaron and I'd made the drive back and forth to Toronto on a regular basis, and it was on these numerous rides that we'd stack the pockets with our cassettes - road trip soundtracks, and one of our favourites was Two Seven's Clash by Culture. Fire up the engine, insert the tape and kick off with See Them A Come, one of my all-time favourite cuts, and we'd be jacked up and ready to roll. During college, Aaron, I, and another buddy, Marcus, journeyed to Toronto to catch Culture at The Great Hall - to say this was a magical musical night would be doing it a disservice. We had balcony seats right above the stage, so we could catch everything up close. Seeing Hill with the backup singers, lock-step groove, sweet harmonies - it was an out-of-body experience, that could have been down to the little spliff that we'd partaken in beforehand, but whatever the reason, this concert, the countless hours of being on the road have left music of Culture indelibly marked in my musical consciousness. So today I shine the musical spotlight back to the early years of Culture in the mix Culture: Roots Reggae's Most Righteous Voice Jamaica in the mid-70s was a pressure cooker. Political violence, poverty, and a deep spiritual hunger for something beyond the immediate reality of Kingston's yards and tenements all found a voice in roots reggae, and few groups channelled that voice more purely than Culture. The group came together in 1976, initially calling themselves the African Disciples: Joseph Hill on lead vocals, his cousin Albert “Ralph” Walker, and Roy “Kenneth” Dayes on harmonies. Hill had already put in his time as a percussionist with the Soul Defenders, the house band at the legendary Studio One, and had been working the sound system circuit for years before stepping out front. He knew the machinery of Jamaican music from the inside. They rebranded as Culture, found their producers in Joe Gibbs and engineer Errol Thompson, and cut a run of singles that crackled with urgency, among them “Two Sevens Clash.” The song predicted apocalyptic consequences for 7 July 1977. When that date arrived, large numbers of Jamaicans reportedly stayed home. Shops closed. People waited. The record had crossed the line from music into prophecy. Those singles became the backbone of their 1977 debut album, also titled Two Sevens Clash — dense with Rastafarian theology, political fury, and some of the tightest three-part harmonies in reggae. Rolling Stone would later name it one of the 50 all-time coolest records ever made, the only reggae album to make that list. Not a bad debut. After the Gibbs sessions, Culture moved to producer Sonia Pottinger's High Note label, one of the very few labels run by women in Jamaican music at the time. She brought in the best session players available: Robbie Shakespeare and Sly Dunbar in the rhythm section, Ansel Collins on keys, Cedric Brooks on horns, and percussionist Sticky. The result was a run of records that still holds up: Harder Than the Rest (1978), Cumbolo (1979), and International Herb (1979). Three albums in roughly two years, each one focused and fully realised. The UK connection proved crucial. Two Sevens Clash had been finding its way into the hands of British punk fans as much as reggae fans, largely through John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show, and it charted at number 60 on the UK Albums Chart in April 1978. Virgin Records signed the group to its Front Line imprint, giving Culture international distribution just as their output was peaking. At the time of the first Rolling Stone Record Guide, Culture was the only act in any genre whose entire catalogue received five-star reviews across the board. The original lineup dissolved in 1981, but reunited in 1986 and returned with two strong albums rather than coasting on reputation. The 1990s brought further records on Shanachie and Ras Records, often with Sly and Robbie back in the rhythm section. Joseph Hill died in August 2006 while on tour in Europe, collapsing mid-performance. What happened next became part of the Culture story in its own right. His son Kenyatta stepped up and completed the remaining nineteen shows of the tour. Critics and fans were stunned. The voices were eerily similar, the conviction just as real. The phrase that circulated afterwards said it plainly: magic, not tragic. Kenyatta has led the group ever since, alongside original founding member Albert Walker. Fifty years on, Two Sevens Clash still sounds like a warning. PLAYLIST Culture - Iron Sharpening Iron - 2000 Digital Remaster Culture - See Them A Come Culture - The International Herb Culture - Behold I Come Culture - Two Sevens Clash Culture - Them A Payaka Culture - Stop The Fussing And Fighting - 2000 Digital Remaster Culture - I'm Not Ashamed Culture - Natty Never Get Weary - Remastered 2000 Culture - Addis Ababa Culture - Baldhead Bridge Culture - Zion Gate Culture - Tell Me Where You Get It - 2000 Digital Remaster Culture - Down In Jamaica - 2000 Digital Remaster Culture - Love Shine Bright - 2000 Digital Remaster Culture - The Shepherd - 2001 Digital Remaster

Send a textIn this episode, we discuss the latest news on the Harry Potter TV show and what it might mean for the story. Enjoy!Topics/Summary:·      1:18 So what happened? HBO announced that they are already casting for season two, and they also mentioned that they have cast Louis Shelton as future Ron for the first season. He won't play a huge role in the story, but it opens the door.·      9:14 Filmmakers are following the books closely. You could also argue that they are completely branching out, but we have to know more before we can say for sure. With characters like the Flamels, the TV is breaking new ground. But with a future Ron, we technically have seen him before.·      15:16 Flash-futures are dangerous. Imagine we are in the Great Hall or something like that and we flash forward. We watch a scene that is to come, and then are pushed back to the present. In that moment, the present loses some value. It feels like we're losing ground, even though we saw something from the future.·      21:09 It is very possible to avoid that danger. If we keep the flashes brief and avoid full scenes, and integrate them into the story, the flashes will only enhance the present. Dumbledore thinking about the future in his office is a great opportunity to explore this.·      25:46 Despite all the negatives, there is a huge upside. If we avoid the full scenes, the filmmakers can make these visions of the future truly impactful. The truth is we don't know everything. Some actors and creative choices are still unknown to us, so there is still potential to be surprised.Having anything you want to hear or say? Click here for a voice submission or here for text. ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.comthepotterdiscussion.comNox

Book Worm's Story Snacks | The Cave of Shimmering Shadows Can you leave your mark on history thousands of years in the past? Join the Book Worm in this frozen-frontier story snack and gear up with parkas and Crampons to travel back to the tail end of the Ice Age . What starts as a journey to discover ancient "Stone Age Beasts" quickly turns into an artistic emergency when a young painter named Luma runs out of red the vital earth pigment needed to finish the "Great Hall of Bulls" before his flickering lamp runs out of fuel . Navigate slippery riverbanks, use a sturdy branch as a Lever to uncover hidden minerals, and master the ancient art of the Blow-pipe to finish a prehistoric masterpiece . Together, you'll discover the science of Pigments and Binders, the power of Traction, and how art has connected humans across thousands of years—all through teamwork, logic, and a little imagination .

Fotheringhay Castle. Northamptonshire, England.February 8, 1587.The Great Hall has been transformed into a theater of death. A scaffold, two feet high and covered in black cloth, stands in the center. A fire crackles in the hearth, fighting the winter chill, but it does little to warm the blood of the three hundred spectators crowded into the room.They are waiting for a woman who has been a prisoner for nineteen years. A woman who was Queen of France at sixteen, Queen of Scotland at birth, and who—according to the government of Elizabeth I—is now a condemned traitor.When she enters the hall, she doesn't look like a criminal. She walks with a limp, yes, ravaged by rheumatism, but her head is high. She wears black satin over velvet, a long white veil flowing to the ground, and a rosary hangs from her waist. She looks every inch the anointed sovereign.But in less than an hour, the illusion of majesty will be shattered by the clumsy swing of an axe. This isn't just a political execution; it is the first time in history a crowned monarch will be legally tried and put to death by another. And it will go horribly, famously wrong.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crime-historian--2909311/support.You can pay more if you want to, but rent at the Safe House is still just a buck a week, and you can get access to over 400 ad-free episodes from the dusty vault, Safe House Exclusives, direct access to the Boss, and whatever personal services you require.We invite you to our other PULPULAR MEDIA podcasts:If disaster is more your jam, check out CATASTROPHIC CALAMITIES, telling the stories of famous and forgotten tragedies of the 19th and 20th centuries. What could go wrong? Everything!For brand-new tales in the old clothes from the golden era of popular literature, give your ears a treat with PULP MAGAZINES with two new stories every week.This episode includes AI-generated content.

a.) Smoke at Sinaib.) Smoke in the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippurc.) Smoke in Heaven in Isaiah's Prophetic Vision

The British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says "good progress" was made in his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping of China. Our China correspondent will give us her assessment. Also on the programme: as President Trump steps up the rhetoric on Iran, what could happen if the US strikes it? And the musical director who stood in for Puccini's challenging Turandot when the star tenor suddenly fell ill. (Photo: UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shakes hands with President Xi Jinping of China ahead of a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during his visit to China. Credit: PA)

On the 1st of Janurary, 1604, Hampton Court Palace hosted a performance by William Shakespeare's acting troupe, The King's Men. They were booked to perform for the new King of England, James VI of Scotland, and one of the plays that they chose was 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.  What did it mean to be part of 'The King's Men'? How did Shakespeare's relationship with James VI and I shape his life and his plays? In this episode, Curator Brett Dolman welcomes Dr Will Tosh to the Great Hall at Hampton Court, one of few surviving places where we can tread in Shakespeare's footsteps, to discuss the nature and impact of royal patronage on Jacobean theatre.  Read more about Shakespeare at Hampton Court Palace on our website.  Dive into the history of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' with blogs from The Globe.  Buy Will Tosh's book 'Straight Acting: The Many Queer Lives of William Shakespeare' here.     

SHOW SCHEDULE 1-26-261808 GREAT HALL BANK OF ENGLAND Bill Roggio and Husain Haqqani discuss global turmoil and confrontation, examining U.S. policy failures in Afghanistan. The conversation addresses the ongoing consequences of American withdrawal and the resurgence of threats in the region, highlighting how strategic missteps continue to destabilize the area and embolden adversaries. Bill Roggio and Husain Haqqani examine how Africa remains unprotected from jihadists and plunderers. The discussion explores the continent's vulnerability to extremist expansion and resource exploitation, with weak governance and insufficient international attention allowing terrorist networks and predatory actors to operate with increasing impunity across multiple nations. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Pena Esclusa analyze Venezuela's posture of public defiance while remaining privately obedient to the Trump administration. The segment explores the contradictions in Caracas's diplomatic stance, suggesting the regime's theatrical resistance masks behind-the-scenes accommodations driven by economic pressure and political survival calculations. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Pena Esclusa report on a spontaneous Rio rally supporting the Bolsonaro family. The demonstration reflects continued popular backing for the former Brazilian president despite legal challenges, indicating that conservative movements in Latin America retain significant grassroots energy and organizational capacity. Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter discuss Iran's ongoing executions and mass murders. The segment details the regime's brutal crackdown on dissent, highlighting the systematic use of capital punishment against protesters and minorities as Tehran intensifies domestic repression amid international isolation and internal unrest. Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter examine Saudi Arabia's internal disagreements over a potential air campaign against Iran. The conversation explores Riyadh's strategic calculations, balancing regional security concerns against the risks of direct military confrontation with Tehran and the complexities of American alliance dynamics. Mark Simon and Gordon Chang address Hong Kong's persecution of democracy advocates through show trials. The discussion highlights Beijing's systematic dismantling of civil liberties, using the judicial system to silence opposition figures and signal that resistance to Communist Party authority will face severe consequences. Brandon Weichert and Gordon Chang analyze the PRC using ground-based nodes to influence states. The segment examines China's expanding infrastructure of political and economic pressure points, demonstrating how Beijing leverages physical assets to project power and shape foreign government policies. John Hardie reports that Russia continues targeting heat and light infrastructure in Kyiv, while Ukraine retaliates by striking Russian infrastructure. The segment examines the escalating war of attrition against civilian utilities as both sides seek to undermine morale and economic capacity through systematic attacks on essential services. Jack Burnham reveals that Chinese academics have been granted easy access to Energy Departmentsupercomputing resources used in nuclear weapon simulations. The discussion highlights alarming security lapses allowing potential adversaries to benefit from sensitive American technology with direct military applications and strategic implications. Cleo Paskal and Bill Roggio examine the PRC threat to Oceania from Guam's perspective. The segment details China's aggressive influence peddling and buying throughout the Pacific islands, as Beijing systematically works to undermine American strategic positioning and cultivate dependent relationships across the region. Cleo Paskal and Bill Roggio discuss the UK's giveaway of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, highlighting China's influence over the Mauritian government. The transfer raises concerns about Beijing potentially gaining strategic access to a critical Indian Ocean location near vital shipping lanes and military installations. Ahmad Sharawi reports that Al Sharaa continues attacking minorities in Syria, with Kurds being driven back while the U.S. stands aside. The Druze community also faces assault as the new regime consolidates power through ethnic persecution despite initial promises of inclusive governance. Janatyn Sayeh describes Iran's mass murders amid a broken economy with no communications or internet access. The segment portrays a regime in crisis, resorting to extreme violence against its population while infrastructure collapse and international isolation accelerate the government's deteriorating grip on power. David Daoud examines how Hezbollah reigns over villages in Lebanon. The segment details the organization's methods of social control, combining armed intimidation with provision of services to maintain dominance over Shia communities and enforce loyalty to the movement's political and military agenda. David Daoud explores what Hezbollah will manage if Tehran fails. The discussion considers the organization's future autonomy and survival prospects should its Iranian patron collapse, examining whether the group can sustain itself independently or faces inevitable decline without external support.

Send us a textTheon watches as a child's body is laid before Lord Roose instigating in-fighting in the castle. Roose calls for battle preparations against Stannis. Theon is called into duty to smuggle Arya out of Winterfell. All goes well, until it doesn't. Mackelly and Simon hope for a soft landing.Chapter Review:Theon Greyjoy sits at the back of the Great Hall of Winterfell, alongside the bard Abel and some of his women. Ser Hosteen Frey bursts through the doors with Little Walder's dead body in his arms and lays him below the dais. A bloody Big Walder and several knights accompany Hosteen. Big Walder says Little Walder went looking for a man who owed him coin from dicing, and it was the Manderlys who taught him the game. Fighting breaks out between the Freys and Manderlys, leaving Lord Wyman Manderly bleeding and several men dead.Lord Roose announces that they will ride out against Stannis, and the Freys and Manderlys will lead the charge. Abel's women say that now is the time to enact their plan. Theon meets the women in the godswood. They're all dressed as servants. After filling buckets of hot water, they gain entrance to Lady Arya's room. Theon coaxes Jeyne, who almost reveals she's not Arya, into cooperating. She trades clothing with a washerwoman, who remains behind to keep the numbers accurate, and they walk Jeyne out of the keep.Several of the women go off to find Abel and two go with Theon and Jeyne. When the women kill two guards, Jeyne lets out a scream, which brings more guards. One woman stays behind to hold them off, the other takes Theon and Jeyne up the stairs of the outer wall, only to realize she doesn't have the rope to repel down. When she is killed by a crossbow bolt and Theon and Jeyne are surrounded, Theon grabs Jeyne and they jump off the wall.Characters/Places/Names/Events:Reek - Broken shell of Theon Greyjoy.Ramsay Bolton - Newly legitimized son of Roose Bolton. Nasty piece of work.Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort and Warden of the North.Arya Stark - Youngest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Princess of Winterfell.Jeyne Poole - Married to Ramsay Bolton masquerading as Arya Stark.Wyman Manderly - Lord of White Harbor.Abel - Bard in Winterfell. Possibly Mance Rayder. Support the showSupport us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perks Donate to our cause Use our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of Audible Buy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate link Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere.Find us on social media: Discord Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal Facebook Instagram YouTube All Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M

Happy 2026! No trio member is safe, as Chapter by Chapter covers Chapter 11 of Half-Blood Prince, “Hermione's Helping Hand.” Does Hermione do the wrong thing for the right reasons? Should Harry do the right thing and expose her actions or, even worse, not choose Ron for the Gryffindor Quidditch team? And, separately, is Hagrid letting his brother join classes? All that and more on this latest episode of MuggleCast. What did the hosts get from Santa this year? And is Andrew about to reveal more than ever before? Chapter by Chapter continues with Half-Blood Prince Chapter 11, “Hermione's Helping Hand.” Nonverbal spells are now standard in several classes, but does the trio ever learn them? Should teachers be required to eat meals in the Great Hall? Some appear to be skipping out. A comment from Hermione makes Harry warm, and may ignite some fires in the shipping community. Do we pity Ron for his need to show off and overcompensate? What Hermione does at Quidditch practice is highly risky. Why does she take the chance when she could be exposed? Should Harry have made another decision once he discovers Hermione's actions? Despite his friendship with Ron? An email asks: should Hermione have kept Care of Magical Creatures given her established future career trajectory? It turns out Hagrid is dealing with more than just the kids not taking his class. Should the kids have to lie about another teacher just to make Hagrid feel better about himself? Our MVP segment has us ranking the beasts that Hagrid introduced the trio to. Our Lynx Line topic this week for Slug Club patrons: “Have you ever stacked the odds in favor of a friend for something that they wanted? And did you cheat to do it?” Participate in our weekly trivia segment by answering this week's Quizzitch question at MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you step into the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace, the walls tell a story. In this minicast, we explore Henry VIII's Abraham tapestries: vast, expensive works of art that doubled as political messaging.Woven in the 1540s, these biblical scenes weren't just decoration. They reinforced Henry's claims to religious authority, dynastic legitimacy, and the future of the Tudor line, all at a moment when succession anxiety and church reform loomed large. Five hundred years later, the tapestries are still hanging—and still saying exactly what Henry wanted them to say.Read more here: https://www.amazon.com/Henry-VIII-Art-Majesty-Tapestries/dp/0300122349 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.