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Charlie Plumb ended up in the U.S. Navy because money was tight for his family and it was a big economic relief when he was recommended and accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy. Upon commissioning from Annapolis and competion of flight school, Plumb would soon be flying an F-4. Little did he know what awaited him just a few years later in Vietnam.Plumb was deployed to the war zone in November 1966. He routinely flew missions over North Vietnam, including Hanoi, which he says was the most heavily protected city in the world at that time. On each mission, he came under fire in a variety of forms.In May 1967, Plumb was shot down by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) and taken prisoner. He was soon held prisoner at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton."In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Captain Plumb recounts his memories of being shot down, his remarkable prayer and other actions while parachuting into enemy territory, the brutal torture and deprivation he suffered in the prison, and how the U.S. POW's kept each other going. Finally, he shares what it was like to breathe as a free man after nearly six years of captivity.
In this episode of Cybersecurity Today, host Jim Love explores the intricacies behind phishing emails that cleverly spoof Microsoft addresses, making many fall for scams despite appearing legitimate. Love emphasizes the need for a stringent 'zero trust' approach to counter these advanced tactics. Additionally, the episode delves into the activities of the hacking group Hazy Hawk, which exploits misconfigured DNS records to hijack trusted domains and propagate malware. Organizations are warned about the importance of regular DNS audits to prevent such attacks. The episode also covers the alarming wave of departures at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), raising concerns over the agency's effectiveness amid increasing cyber threats. In another segment, Love discusses a sophisticated fraud operation out of Hanoi, where perpetrators manipulated X's Creator Revenue Sharing Program to siphon funds through fraudulent engagement metrics. The need for built-in fraud prevention mechanisms in digital reward systems is stressed. The episode concludes with a call for listener feedback and support. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:27 Phishing Scams: Authentic-Looking Emails 02:58 DNS Misconfigurations and Hazy Hawk 05:36 CISA Leadership Exodus 08:16 X's Creator Revenue Sharing Fraud 10:56 Conclusion and Contact Information
French President Emmanuel Macron's relationship with his wife Brigitte is unconventional, to put it nicely. Yet, nobody seemed to bat an eye until she shoved her husband in the face as they landed in Hanoi, Vietnam, earlier this week. The pair met when he was a teenager, and she was in her late thirties. Kennedy shares her thoughts on the matter and why she finds the whole thing kind of gross. Follow Kennedy on Twitter: @KennedyNation Kennedy Now Available on YouTube: https://link.chtbl.com/kennedyytp Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kennedy_foxnews Join Kennedy for Happy Hour on Fridays! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWlNiiSXX4BNUbXM5X8KkYbDepFgUIVZj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
GFA 462. Mike shares trends from his Asia trip with highlights from the Canton Fair, Singapore's rise in finance, and Vietnam's seller boom — plus how AI is reshaping the future of work. The post Podcast Future Trends, Learnings from Canton Fair, Hanoi, Singapore with Michael Michelini appeared first on Global From Asia.
Global From Asia TV: Running an International Business via Hong Kong
For full show notes go to https://www.globalfromasia.com/future-trends/ The post GFATV 462 Podcast Future Trends, Learnings from Canton Fair, Hanoi, Singapore with Michael Michelini appeared first on Global From Asia.
Dong Tao chicken has been a food of choice for generations in Vietnam for the Lunar New Year, or Tet. 东陶鸡一直是越南几代人的首选食物,享受农历新年或TET。 The rare bird is known for its strangely large feet. It is also known as a “dragon chicken.” The chicken gets its name from the village of Dong Tao, about 30 kilometers southeast of Hanoi. 这只稀有的鸟以其奇怪的大脚而闻名。 它也被称为“龙鸡”。 这只鸡的名字来自河内东南约30公里的东陶村。 Dong Tao chickens are believed to bring good luck and wealth to their owners. At one point, they were only bred to serve meat for the royal families and officials. 据信,东陶鸡会给所有者带来好运和财富。 在某一时刻,他们只是繁殖为王室和官员提供肉类。 Today, demand for Dong Tao chicken in Vietnam has risen sharply. That demand comes from a growing number of wealthy people in one of Asia's fastest-growing economies. 如今,越南对东陶鸡的需求急剧上升。 这种需求来自亚洲一个增长最快的经济体中越来越多的富人。 Le Trong Dung is a chicken farmer in the village of Dong Tao. He told Reuters that a fully-grown Dong Tao chicken at one year old sells for $200 and sometimes as much as $400. Le Trong Dung是Dong Tao村的养鸡者。 他告诉路透社,一只完全生长的dong tao鸡在一岁时以200美元的价格卖出,有时多达400美元。The demand for Dong Tao chicken is also fueled by its rich taste. 对东陶鸡的需求也被其丰富的味道所增强。 Loc Duc Toan is a 25-year-old cook in Hanoi. Toan said a Dong Tao chicken has its best taste at the age of 13 to 15 months. "When steamed, the skin will be crispy with a fragrant aroma of its own and a sweeter meat compared to other normal chicken," Toan said. Loc Duc Toan是河内的25岁厨师。 托恩说,在13至15个月的时间里,一只东陶鸡的口味最佳。 托安说:“蒸时,皮肤会酥脆,与其他普通鸡肉相比,芬芳的香气和肉更甜美。” Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung is a chicken farmer, She said the most valuable parts of Dong Tao chickens are its legs. 她说,Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung是一名农民,她说,Dong Tao鸡最有价值的部分是它的腿。 Their large legs make it difficult for them to hatch from their eggs. Sometimes, they can accidentally break their eggs. 他们的大腿使他们很难从卵子上孵化。 有时,他们会意外打破鸡蛋。 It takes about a year to raise a Dong Tao chicken, compared to three months for other kinds. 饲养dong tao鸡大约需要一年的时间,而其他类型则需要三个月。 The chickens are now also raised beyond the village of Dong Tao. That means more people may have the chance to buy a Dong Tao chicken. But Phan Van Hieu, a Dong Tao agriculture official, said chickens raised in the village and fed with its native rice and corn have the best taste. 现在,这些鸡也被饲养在东陶村之外。 这意味着更多的人可能有机会购买Dong Tao鸡。 但是,宗陶农业官员潘·范·海(Phan van Hieu)说,鸡在村里饲养,喂给本地米饭和玉米的鸡肉味道最佳。 "Production hasn't met domestic demand yet," Hieu added. "I'm sure you won't find any Dong Tao chicken in any KFC restaurants in [the] foreseeable future." Hieu补充说:“产量尚未满足国内需求。” “我敢肯定,在可预见的未来,您在任何肯德基餐馆都不会找到任何dong Tao鸡肉。”
Ryan Walters reports from Hanoi where the 2024–25 Shopee Cup Final kicks off with a familiar matchup: Cong An Ha Noi vs. Buriram United - just like on matchday one, when CAHN edged a 2–1 win. With both sides having undergone several changes since then, and Thai superstar Suphanat Mueanta missing for Buriram, this is set to be a different encounter entirely. Hear directly from head coaches Mano Polking and Osmar Loss with their thoughts on squad rotation, what's at stake, and the debate of which side has the advantage in this two-legged Final. It's another Vietnam vs Thailand showdown for regional glory with the first-ever Shopee Cup title on the line! Catch the post-match breakdown on The Asian Game socials. Follow Ryan on X: https://x.com/MrRyanWalters Follow Shopee Cup on X: https://x.com/aseanutdfc Be sure to follow The Asian Game on all our social media channels: X: https://x.com/TheAsianGame IG: https://instagram.com/theasiangame Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheAsianGamePodcast
Send us a textEpisode 197 He was shot out of the sky over Hanoi, dragged from a lake, and locked away in a prison that would define the rest of his life. John McCain was a war hero, a maverick senator, and a man who never backed down from a fight — even when it was with his own party. This is the story of the trials, battles, and legacy of a man who spent more than five years in a North Vietnamese prison, and decades in American politics — a life of service, scars, and stubborn conviction.Support the showInsta@justpassingthroughpodcastContact:justpassingthroughpodcast@gmail.com
On this episode of Lipps Service, Scott sits down with legendary glam metal frontman of Hanoi Rocks – Michael Monroe! The two start by getting into Michael's return to America after several years away, comparing the old to the new NYC, and Northeast music icons like Bruce Springsteen and Joey Ramone. They explore Michael and Hanoi Rocks' various musical influences, including Black Sabbath, Little Richard, Elvis, and Stiv Bators. Michael reflects on his upbringing in Sweden, from living on the streets and surviving to the early days of the band and their early glam looks and expression. He also spills the lowdown on pivotal interactions within his career, including asking Prince to produce the band, producing with Bob Ezrin, and making peace with Vince Neil. To close, Michael talks about the band's last gig and lists his top 5 records everyone should own. Tune into a music history-filled chat with legend Michael Monroe!CREDITS (Instagram handles)Host @scottlippsEdited by @toastycakesMusic by @robby_hoffProduced by @whitakermarisaRecorded at Melrose Podcasts LA Sonos makes it so easy to fill your home with incredible sound! Check out the new Sonos Ace headphones, which are Bluetooth-enabled and have three buttons. The content key allows you to play, pause, accept calls, and control the volume. Plus, they feature noise cancellation and voice assist!These headphones are exceptionally well done and sound incredible, whether listening to your favorite playlist, chatting on a call, watching a movie, or even recording a podcast like this one. They sound particularly fantastic when listening to Lipps Service!Sonos has great gifts for everyone on your list. Visit sonos.com/Lipps to save 20% on select products. 01:50 - Returning to play in America 02:30 - Documentary 05:00 - The old NYC06:30 - Hells Angels 08:15 - Bruce Springsteen 11:30 - Joey Ramone 15:55 - Growing up 16:47 - Black Sabbath 18:00 - Hair metal movement 21:00 - Little Richard and Elvis 22:00 - Sax and harmonica 24:00 - Parents 24:30 - Meeting Hanoi's Andy McCoy 26:12 - Band's interesting early look 27:22 - Living on the streets in Sweden 30:22 - Surviving early on 33:49 - Legacy 34:35 - Razzle 36:00 - Prince producing Hanoi37:20 - Getting signed to CBS and Bob Ezrin producing 39:40 - Oriental best remastered 39:43 - Making peace with Vince Neil 40:00 - Razzle's death 42:00 - Stiv Bators 44:21 - Hanoi's last gig 47:30 - Writing a letter to Nikki Sixx about Razzle 52:15 - AI Stiv Bators 58:12 - Top 5 records everyone should own
1975 – vor 50 Jahren – endete der Vietnam-Krieg mit einem Sieg des kommunistischen Nordens über den Süden und mit Abzug der US-Truppen. Was hatte die DDR damit zu tun? Und welches Erbe hinterließ deren Solidarität?
In the latest episode, we talk about the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. We describe the events that led to the U.S. withdrawal in 1973, and then how Hanoi began their December 1974 offensive that eventually led to the fall of the South Vietnamese government. We also talk about the chaos in Laos and Cambodia as a result of the fall of Saigon, the domestic impact on the U.S. and then the 50 year political and cultural legacy in the U.S. We end with a discussion of the film, literature and television that considers the war. An important history in the context of current events of war in Ukraine and the Middle East, particularly Palestine, and the rise of Trump and far right politics. ------------------------------------------Outro- " We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to You" by Kinky FriedmanLinks//+ Green and Red: Noam Chomsky on the 50th Anniversary of the End of the Vietnam War (https://bit.ly/4jNHd7q)Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast +Our rad website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/ + Join our Discord community (https://discord.gg/3a6AX7Qy)+Follow us on Substack (https://greenandredpodcast.substack.com)+Follow us on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/podcastgreenred.bsky.social)Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast +Or make a one time donation here: https://bit.ly/DonateGandR Our Networks// +We're part of the Labor Podcast Network: https://www.laborradionetwork.org/ +We're part of the Anti-Capitalist Podcast Network: linktr.ee/anticapitalistpodcastnetwork +Listen to us on WAMF (90.3 FM) in New Orleans (https://wamf.org/) This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). Edited by Scott.
Precies 50 jaar geleden dropen de laatste Amerikanen, de ambassadeur en de mariniers die hem bewaakten, af uit Saigon. Binnen enkele uren was de stad, het laatste Amerikaanse bastion in Vietnam, in handen van het Noord-Vietnamese leger en de guerrillabeweging Viet Cong. Twaalf jaar lang hadden de Amerikanen er vergeefs gevochten om verspreiding van het communisme tegen te gaan, een hersenschim die zij de ‘dominotheorie’ noemden. 58.000 Amerikaanse soldaten, 3 miljoen Vietnamezen, en nog eens 600.000 Cambodjanen en Laotianen verloren het leven. Journalisten, zoals ik, waren verbijsterd door de gruwelijke wreedheden waarvan wij getuige waren, in plaatsenals Da Nang en Tai Ninh, en langs de Mekongrivier. En uit de meedogenloze wijze waarop Amerikaanse soldaten massaal in de pan werden gehakt. Uit de ogen van de Vietnamezen straalde wilskracht, uit die van de Amerikanen ongeloof en angst. Thuis, in Amerika, groeide het protest. De meeste burgers begrepen dat dit een verkeerde en on-winbare oorlog was. Uitgescholden veteranen Het pijnlijkst was het lot van veteranen, meestal dienstplichtigen, die bij terugkeer niet met respect werden onthaald, maar werden uitgescholden voor collaborateur en massamoordenaar. De huidige opperbevelhebber wist dienstplicht in Vietnam trouwens te ontlopen door afkeuring wegens een verzonnen en door een specialist bevestigde zere hiel. Trump herdenkt 30 april 1975 op Trumpiaanse wijze. Hij heeft zijn ambassadeur in Hanoi orders gegeven zich niet te laten zien bij officiële evenementen. Als onderdeel van de handelsoorlog heeft hij Vietnam getroffen met een extra zware heffing van 46 procent. Vietnam denkt ook deze oorlog te winnen. Guerrillabeweging Vietnam was een waarschuwing die door de wereld is genegeerd. Zelfs het machtigste leger kan niet winnen van een guerrillabeweging. Amerika verloor van de Viet Cong, Rusland verloor in Afghanistan van de mudjahidien, Amerika verloor in Afghanistan van de taliban en in Irak van sjiitische milities. In Colombia vecht de regering al 60 jaar tegen de linkse rebellen van ELN. Israël vecht al sinds 1987 tegen Hamas. Daarmee hebben al die guerrillabewegingen geen gelijk. Maar ze zijn taaier, koppiger, stugger, behendiger en onzichtbaarder dan reguliere legers, en het enige oorlogsrecht dat ze kennen is het vermorzelen van hun vijand. De tragedie op een dag als deze is dat kennelijk niemand gelooft in dat oude mantra: de geschiedenis herhaalt zich.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It was a moment that seemed to shatter the United States' aura of invincibility. April 30th, 1975 saw scenes of desperation at the US embassy amid the final pullout of US forces from Vietnam and the takeover of victorious Communist forces from the north. Who knew then that Hanoi and Washington would seal reconciliation thanks to booming trade? When, during a 2016 visit, then-president Barack Obama celebrated Vietnam's storied street food in a six-dollar dinner with celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, it seemed that the pendulum had swung for good.But now come Donald Trump's tariffs and Washington's ire at a China-plus-one policy of outsourcing manufacturing to neighbours on the cheap. Beijing's leader Xi Jinping recently paid his respects at Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum outside Hanoi while on a regional tour.Back then, it was the Cold War. Today, what's Vietnam's position on the past and the current superpower showdown?Produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Ilayda Habib and Aurore Laborie.
In the late 1970s, Vietnam was one of the poorest countries in the world. Its economy had been destroyed by war with the USA, a trade embargo, and the communist government's restriction of private enterprise. So, at the Vietnam Communist Party's 6th National Congress in December 1986, radical economic reforms were introduced, known as Doi Moi, meaning ‘renovation'. The reforms transformed the country from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented one, unleashing huge economic growth and improving living standards. Ben Henderson speaks to Phạm Chi Lan, an economist who worked at Vietnam's Chamber of Commerce and Industry through the period of reform.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: Street vendor in Hanoi, 1993. Credit: Steve Raymer/Corbis via Getty Images)
How did the US get out of Vietnam? In this episode, we are diving into how 'peace' was agreed in Paris, and what it really meant for Vietnam.Don is joined by Pierre Asselin, professor at San Diego State University and author of, among others, ‘A Bitter Peace: Washington, Hanoi, and the Making of the Paris Agreement' and ‘Hanoi's Road to the Vietnam War, 1954-1965'.Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Tim Arstall. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.American History Hit is a History Hit podcast.
石破茂首相とベトナムのファム・ミン・チン首相【ハノイ時事】石破茂首相は28日、ベトナムのファム・ミン・チン首相とハノイの首相府で会談し、安全保障協力の強化で合意した。 Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security, at a meeting in Hanoi on Monday.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security, at a meeting in Hanoi on Monday.
En abril de 1975, el frente survietnamita se desmoronó en solo 55 días, sorprendiendo incluso a Hanoi. Tras perder Huế y Da Nang sin lucha, el pánico se extendió: soldados desertaron, civiles saquearon aeropuertos y generales huyeron en helicópteros. La batalla de Xuân Lộc (último intento de resistencia) fracasó, acelerando el caos. Para el 30 de abril, tanques norvietnamitas entraban en Saigón mientras EE.UU. evacuaba a gritos desde su embajada. Medio siglo después, el derrumbe sigue siendo un ejemplo de desintegración militar acelerada por el pánico. Un episodio de tal envergadura sólo podía ser narrado por el G4+1: María Vázquez, Julio 'Caronte', Esaú Rodríguez y Dani Caran. 📚📚📚 Aprovecha la oferta de Zeppelin/DCA Books para la semana del libro, del 21 al 27 de abril. 📖 http://zeppelinbooks.com Casus Belli Podcast pertenece a 🏭 Factoría Casus Belli. Casus Belli Podcast forma parte de 📀 Ivoox Originals. 📚 Zeppelin Books (Digital) y 📚 DCA Editor (Físico) http://zeppelinbooks.com son sellos editoriales de la 🏭 Factoría Casus Belli. Estamos en: 👉 X/Twitter https://twitter.com/CasusBelliPod 👉 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CasusBelliPodcast 👉 Instagram estamos https://www.instagram.com/casusbellipodcast 👉 Telegram Canal https://t.me/casusbellipodcast 👉 Telegram Grupo de Chat https://t.me/casusbellipod 📺 YouTube https://bit.ly/casusbelliyoutube 👉 http://casusbelli.top ⚛️ El logotipo de Casus Belli Podcasdt y el resto de la Factoría Casus Belli están diseñados por Publicidad Fabián publicidadfabian@yahoo.es 🎵 La música incluida en el programa es Ready for the war de Marc Corominas Pujadó bajo licencia CC. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ El resto de música es propia, o bajo licencia privada de Epidemic Music, Jamendo Music o SGAE SGAE RRDD/4/1074/1012 de Ivoox. 🎭Las opiniones expresadas en este programa de pódcast, son de exclusiva responsabilidad de quienes las trasmiten. Que cada palo aguante su vela. 📧¿Queréis contarnos algo? También puedes escribirnos a casus.belli.pod@gmail.com ¿Quieres anunciarte en este podcast, patrocinar un episodio o una serie? Hazlo a través de 👉 https://www.advoices.com/casus-belli-podcast-historia Si te ha gustado, y crees que nos lo merecemos, nos sirve mucho que nos des un like, ya que nos da mucha visibilidad. Muchas gracias por escucharnos, y hasta la próxima. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals
Send us a textEfesiërs 5:20 Sê altyd in die Naam van ons Here Jesus Christus vir God die Vader dankie vir alle dinge. (NLV) Hoe sleg moet dinge met jou gaan om ‘n “jammerpartytjie” vir jouself te reël? Ja, ek praat van daardie “arme-ekke” gevoel. Moet my nie verkeerd verstaan nie, ek dryf nie die spot met die beproewings wat jy in die gesig staar nie. Ek verstaan jy dink jy het sekerlik goeie rede om so te voel; maar chroniese selfbejammering is miskien een van die mees vernietigende emosies wat aan die mensdom bekend is. Dit sal jou verteer.John McCain was 'n vlieënier in die Amerikaanse vloot. Sy vliegtuig is in 1967 tydens die Viëtnam-oorlog in 'n bomaanval oor Hanoi neergeskiet. Hy is gevange geneem en hy is vir vyf jaar as 'n krygsgevangene aangehou, waar hy ontsettende marteling verduur het.Ten spyte van daardie uitgerekte, wrede toestande, het McCain ná sy vrylating dikwels gepraat oor sy diep gevoel van dankbaarheid vir die ondersteuning en kameraadskap van sy mede-krygsgevangenes. Daardie dankbaarheid het sy lewe verander.Nadat hy sy vlootdiens voltooi het, het hy 'n Amerikaanse senator geword. Dwarsdeur sy politieke loopbaan het McCain se dankbaarheid vir sy mede-krygsgevangenes en sy ervarings in Viëtnam sy benadering tot leierskap beïnvloed. Hy het dikwels die belangrikheid van eenheid, samewerking en veerkragtigheid beklemtoon.Watter probleem dreig om jou in selfbejammering te verswelg? Wat probeer om jou af te sleep in 'n see van negatiewe emosies?Efesiërs 5:20 Sê altyd in die Naam van ons Here Jesus Christus vir God die Vader dankie vir alle dinge. (NLV)Wanneer wil God hê jy moet dankie sê? Altyd. Waarvoor wil Hy hê moet jy dankie sê? Alles. Dit is ongelooflik hoe God deur 'n gesindheid van dankbaarheid sal werk om ons lewens te transformeer.Daar is altyd iets om voor dankbaar te wees!Dit is God se Woord. Vars … vir jou … vandag. Support the showEnjoying The Content?For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can enable Christianityworks to reach 10,000+ people with a message about the love of Jesus!DONATE R50 MONTHLY
This week I reflect on a recent visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, and how a simple experience of crossing the street turned into a very healing and eye-opening lesson in trust and interdependence. We'll talk about how in the US, when it comes to navigating traffic and driving, we are taught to assume we are invisible. Drive defensively. Cross streets assuming no one sees you. In Hanoi, it was the opposite. If you wanted to do something as basic as cross the street, you have to assume you would be seen, and that people cared and would take care. I was able to literally walk into oncoming traffic amongst strangers - something we can't do in many industrialized growth societies like the US. We explore the vulnerability and beauty of how humans can move through chaos together when we come from a place of interdependence and interbeing.You will learn:// What is possible when we embrace interdependence and the fact that we are connected to everything// The gifts that taking risks by being vulnerable and trusting others can bring to us (while using discernment, of course!)// How we can find healing in interdependence and trust in one another// Why so many industrialized growth societies are so far from interdependent interbeing, and how we can offset thatResources:// Episode 190: Islands of Sanctuary – Being a Refuge for Your People// If you're new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You'll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics. // Want something more self-paced with access to weekly group support and getting coached by yours truly? Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. We dive into taking wisdom and applying it to our daily lives, with different topics every month. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can't wait to see you there!// Have you benefited from even one episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast? I'd love it if you could leave a 5-star review on iTunes by clicking here or on Spotify by clicking here.
Enjoy all the previous LadyB episodes here, https://radiosinoland.com/search/?q=ladyb And my many articles about Taiwan Province here, https://radiosinoland.com/2025/02/02/jeff-j-browns-taiwan-province-library-years-of-articles-podcasts-interviews-and-tv-shows-100000s-of-visitors-are-accessing-these-works-time-to-get-smart-china-rising-radio-sinoland-250202/ ADVENTURES IN ASIA WITH LADYB, LAOLAO AND GONGGONG Story #22: Twenty-two pictures from Hanoi, Vietnam. Northern Vietnam via Puli Town, Taiwan, China. This is going out tomorrow at the post office! Dear Grandaughter Mila, Finally finding... The post ADVENTURES IN ASIA WITH LADYB, LAOLAO AND GONGGONG- Story #22: Twenty-two pictures from Hanoi, Vietnam. appeared first on CHINA RISING RADIO SINOLAND.
Before listening to this episode, please complete this towers of Hanoi puzzle. Upcoming WOFF Games: May: * Satisfactory (w/ Ben Merkle) * Resident Evil 6 * Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies June: * The Last Door: Season 2 * Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge (w/ Brayton Cameron) * Lost Kingdoms
Welcome to Stupid Hearts Club. The Entertainment Community for everyone with a creative, open, loving, romantic and gloriously stupid heart!-------------------Hey there my Stupid Hearted angels.Behold an audio diary (of sorts) of my 10 day trip to Vietnam with four old friends from Manchester (and I do mean old). I won't tee it up too much cos there are some lovely images and incidents along the way-Just jump on in and join me in Hanoi, Ha Giang and beyond...EnjoyNicoStupid Hearts Club Forever Baby-------------------If you enjoy what I do and would like to help support all the time and effort I lovingly put into the world of Stupid Hearts Club, which now includes, podcasts, live music events, music collabs and more, then please consider becoming a paid subcriber to my Patreon! You will have immediate access to a well stocked treasure trove of really cool extra podcast bits, and you will be first to know about stuff like merch, news, and forthcoming plans to create an actual membership club, that means you will be able get into all SHC music nights and events for FREE. Every paid sub really helps me keep going, even if it's just to try it out for a month! And all for around £5! BargzEither way. I'm still super happy you are here at all so thank you so much for listening!Oh and if you want to see me on an almost daily basis titting about and being a legend of compassion come and follow stupid hearts club on Instagram, Don't be shy, come and say helloNico xx-------------------Production support from Drew ToynbeeCopyright 2025 Nico Tatarowicz
In this episode of Travel Stories with Moush, we dive into the world of travel and design with the talented brother duo, Hasan and Hussain Roomi. Growing up in some of the most architecturally inspiring cities in the world, they've built incredible travel stories through art and design. As founders of H2R Design, a leading design firm with offices in London and Dubai, they bring a unique perspective on how design shapes our experiences. From the serenity of Tokyo's Hoshinoya Hotel to the unique cultural fusion in Hanoi, they take us on a journey through their most inspirational destinations. Plus, they discuss iconic design cities, underrated gems like Beirut and their upcoming travel aspirations in South America and India. Destination and Hotel Highlights:Tokyo, Japan – Hoshinoya Hotel, A peaceful, minimalist sanctuary in the heart of Tokyo that redefines luxury with its serene design and zen atmosphere.https://hoshinoresorts.com/en/hotels/hoshinoyatokyo/Hanoi, Vietnam – A fascinating mix of Chinese, Japanese, and French influences, Hanoi's unique design and vibrant culture deeply inspired their approach to restaurant design.Zurich, Switzerland – The Vitznau Hotel, focusing on serenity and well-being was a standout design hotel for its calming environment and innovative approach to wellness.https://www.parkhotel-vitznau.ch/Zurich, Switzerland – The Dolder Grand Hotel, blending modern luxury with historic charm, is a design masterpiece that offers guests a perfect combination of contemporary elegance and Swiss heritage.https://www.thedoldergrand.com/Cambodia – The Zannier Group's boutique hotel in Siem Reap is a perfect blend of modern design and cultural heritage, featuring a working rice field integrated into the hotel's concept.https://www.zannierhotels.com/phumbaitang/Beirut, Lebanon – The city's underground and rooted design scene, including interior and furniture design, has long been an influential part of their creative journey.London, UK – A timeless muse with its blend of classical charm and modern innovation that keeps revealing new layers of inspiration.Florence, Italy – A city of endless discovery, where every cobbled street leads to art, history, and architectural brilliance.Amman, Jordan – Queen Alia International Airport is a striking example of modern brutalist design with cultural nuance, crafted by Sir Norman Foster.South America – Hasan is keen to explore more of South America, particularly Venezuela and Peru, for their evolving architecture and cultural richness.India – Husain is excited to uncover more of India's design evolution, with a focus on how the country's architecture is progressing and how design intersects with its vibrant culture.This episode is a celebration of how design reveals the soul of a place. It's a passport to culture, creativity, and the most inspiring corners of the world.Connect with H2R Design at:https://h2rdesign.com/Thank you all for tuning in today! I hope our conversations have sparked your wanderlust and inspired you to see the world in new and exciting ways.If you enjoyed this episode, please hit that subscribe button here, or on your favorite podcast platform. Subscribing is the best way to support the show and it helps us bring you more incredible travel stories and grow this amazing community of explorers.I'd love to hear from you! What destinations or guests should we feature next? Drop a comment, leave a rating, or write a review - it truly makes a difference.Stay connected with me on Instagram @moushtravels to find out who's joining me next week. You can also explore all past episodes and destinations mentioned by our guests on www.moushtravels.com or in the episode show notes.Thanks for listening! Until next time, safe travels and keep adventuring. "Want a spotlight on our show? Visit https://admanager.fm/client/podcasts/moushtravels and align your brand with our audience."Connect with me on the following:Instagram @moushtravelsFacebook @travelstorieswithmoushLinkedIn @Moushumi BhuyanYou Tube @travelstorieswithmoush
De Amerikaanse overheid bevriest 2,2 miljard dollar aan publieke financiering voor een van 's werelds meest prestigieuze universiteiten. Reden: Harvard weigert te buigen voor een lijst politieke eisen uit Washington – een ongeziene confrontatie tussen academische vrijheid en machtsvertoon vanuit het Witte Huis. Amerika-deskundige Casper Thomas over academische vrijheid onder de huidige regering in Washington. (11:03) Zuidoost-Azië klem tussen Beijing en Washington Terwijl de Verenigde Staten dreigen met hoge invoerheffingen op Zuidoost-Aziatische producten, probeert China de banden met de buren juist aan te halen. President Xi Jinping arriveerde deze week in Vietnam met een koffer vol deals: 45 nieuwe akkoorden, al op dag één van zijn bezoek. Maar achter die economische toenadering schuilt een spanningsveld. Want uitgerekend vanwege de Chinese maritieme intimidatie in de Zuid-Chinese Zee zoekt Vietnam bijvoorbeeld juist militaire samenwerking met Washington. Economisch lonkt Beijing, maar voor zijn veiligheid kijkt Hanoi naar Washington. Wat betekent deze spagaat voor de regio? We vragen het aan Jasper Roctus, China-onderzoeker aan het Egmontinstituut en de Universiteit van Gent. Presentatie: Chris Kijne
President Xi Jinping emphasized on Monday the need for China and Vietnam, both beneficiaries of economic globalization, to strengthen strategic resolve, jointly oppose unilateral bullying practices, and uphold the global free trade system and the stability of industrial and supply chains.习近平主席于周一强调,作为经济全球化的受益者,中国和越南需要增强战略决心,共同反对单边霸凌行径,维护全球自由贸易体系和产业链供应链的稳定。Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Xi is making a two-day visit to the Southeast Asian nation.身兼中共中央总书记的习近平在越南首都河内会见越共中央总书记苏林时发表了上述讲话。习近平正在对这个东南亚国家进行为期两天的访问。Xi said that by pursuing the path of peaceful development and jointly marching toward modernization, China and Vietnam, with a total of more than 1.5 billion people, can effectively uphold regional and global peace and stability and promote common development.习近平表示,中国和越南通过走和平发展道路、共同迈向现代化,凭借两国超过15亿的人口规模,能够有效维护地区和世界的和平与稳定,并促进共同发展。A small boat and a lone sail cannot withstand the rough waves, and only by working together in the same boat can people sail steadily and far, he said.他表示,孤舟单帆难抵惊涛骇浪,唯有同舟共济方能行稳致远。This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam, two socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers.今年适逢中越建交75周年,两国作为山水相连的社会主义邻邦,共同谱写着睦邻友好的新篇章。During the bilateral meeting, Xi said that over the past years, despite changes in the global landscape, the two countries have been in each other's company in striving for national independence and liberation, and have advanced hand in hand in the socialist cause and forged ahead in advancing their respective modernization processes.在双边会谈中,习近平表示,多年来,尽管全球格局发生诸多变化,但两国始终相互支持,共同为争取民族独立和解放而奋斗,在社会主义事业中携手并进,并在各自现代化进程中不断前行。The two countries have set a good example of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries, he said.他说,两国树立了社会主义国家团结合作的良好典范。"Faced with the current changes and chaos in the international landscape, China and Vietnam have upheld peace and development, deepened friendly cooperation and brought valuable stability and certainty to the world," Xi said.习近平指出:“面对当前国际格局的复杂变化与动荡,中国和越南坚持和平与发展,深化友好合作,为世界提供了宝贵的稳定性和确定性。”To Lam, who received Xi with a grand welcoming ceremony in Hanoi on Monday, said that promoting the continuous development of Vietnam-China relations is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and conforms with the trend of the times.苏林周一在河内为习近平举行了隆重的欢迎仪式,他说,推动越中关系不断发展不仅符合两国人民的根本利益,也顺应时代潮流。He said that Vietnam looks forward to closely engaging with China in high-level exchanges between the two parties and countries, strengthening the exchange of governance experiences, enhancing strategic security cooperation, and continuously consolidating political mutual trust.苏林表示,越方期待与中方密切开展两党两国高层交往,加强治国理政经验交流,深化战略安全合作,不断巩固政治互信。His country also aims to elevate the level of bilateral cooperation with China by creating more highlights in areas including economy, trade, science and technology, infrastructure and environmental protection, To Lam said.他还表示,越方致力于推动两国合作提质升级,着力在经贸往来、科技创新、基础设施建设、环境保护等领域打造新亮点。The two leaders also witnessed the display of 45 signed bilateral cooperation documents, covering areas such as connectivity, artificial intelligence, customs inspection and quarantine, agricultural trade, culture and sports, livelihood, human resources development and media.两国领导人还共同见证了45份已签署双边合作文件的展示,涵盖互联互通、人工智能、海关检验检疫、农业贸易、文化体育、民生、人力资源开发和媒体合作等领域。The meeting in Hanoi was the latest interaction between the two leaders after they jointly announced the official launch of the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges and exchanged New Year greetings in a phone conversation three months ago.此次河内会晤是继三个月前两国领导人通电话共同宣布正式启动中越人文交流年并互致新年问候后,双方开展的又一次重要高层互动。Xi arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Monday for his fourth state visit to Vietnam.习近平主席于周一抵达河内内排国际机场,开始其第四次对越南的国事访问。Upon his arrival, Xi said in a written statement that China is ready to work with Vietnam to carry out more in-depth cooperation at a higher level covering a wider range of areas, in order to deliver more benefits to their peoples, the region and the world.抵达后,习近平在书面声明中表示,中国愿与越南携手,在更广泛的领域开展更深入、更高水平的合作,为两国人民、地区和世界带来更多福祉。He called on the two sides to uphold their original aspiration of friendship, keep in mind their common mission and seize the opportunities of the time.他呼吁双方坚持友好初心,牢记共同使命,把握时代机遇。Xi said he looks forward to using this visit as an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views with the Vietnamese side on strategic and overarching issues critical to the direction of China-Vietnam relations and on international and regional issues of common concern.习近平表示,他希望以此次访问为契机,就中越关系的战略性、全局性问题以及双方共同关心的国际和地区问题,与越方深入交换意见。China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner for more than 20 consecutive years, with bilateral trade exceeding $260 billion last year, while Vietnam has consistently ranked as China's largest trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since 2016.中国已连续20多年成为越南最大的贸易伙伴,去年双边贸易额超过2600亿美元。自2016年以来,越南一直是中国在东南亚国家联盟(东盟)中最大的贸易伙伴。Vietnam is also an important overseas investment destination for China. In 2024, Chinese enterprises' direct investment in Vietnam surpassed $2.5 billion, sustaining swift growth.越南也是中国重要的海外投资目的地。2024年,中国企业对越南的直接投资超过25亿美元,保持快速增长。unilateral bullying practices单边霸凌行为bilateral cooperation双边合作Hanoi河内(越南首都) the global free trade system全球自由贸易体系political mutual trust政治互信the Association of Southeast Asian Nations东盟
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a written statement upon his arrival at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi as he started a state visit to the Southeast Asian nation.This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam. Noting that the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future is faced with new opportunities, Xi called on the two sides to uphold their original aspiration of friendship, keep in mind their common mission and seize the opportunities of the time.Xi said he looks forward to using this visit as an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views with the Vietnamese side on strategic and overarching issues critical to the direction of China-Vietnam relations and on international and regional issues of common concern.The two-day tour is Xi's fourth state visit to Vietnam. During his state visit to the neighboring country in 2023, the two sides announced to work for a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, guiding the relations between the two parties and two countries to a new phase.Connected by mountains and waters, Xi said the two socialist countries have been in each other's company in striving for national independence and liberation, forming the traditional friendship between the two countries that is portrayed as "so profound is the friendship between Vietnam and China, because we are both comrades and brothers."The two countries have learned from each other and walked together to explore the socialism that meets their respective conditions, thus showing the world the bright prospects of the socialist system, he said.Xi said China was pleased to see that the Communist Party of Vietnam is guiding its people in solidarity to strive toward the two goals set for the centenary of the party and the country respectively.It is believed that under the leadership of the CPV led by To Lam, general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, Vietnam will certainly take a socialist path that suits its own conditions and make new ground in the development of the cause of the CPV and Vietnam, he said.Vietnam is the first stop of the Chinese president's five-day visit to Southeast Asia, which will also take him to Malaysia and Cambodia.
听前提示一、每期提供10个单词,每个单词都会有2-3个例句,方便理解记忆。二、每个单词和句子都会重复5遍,其中第2遍为慢速,有助于识别。三、本材料的整体难度较低,可以用来听力磨耳朵和单词查漏补缺。Day97961.Flowern.花;精华,精粹,精英vi.开花What's your favorite flower?你最喜欢哪朵花?She picked a flower for her mother.她为妈妈摘了一朵花。Do you know the name of this flower?你知道这朵花的名字吗?962.Flun.流行性感冒I've got a flu.我得了流感。It took me three weeks to get over the flu.我花了三个星期才克服流感。963.Flyn.飞行;苍蝇v飞行;飘扬a.机敏的I always fly business class.我总是乘坐商务舱。The birds fly South in the winter.冬天鸟儿飞向南方。How long does it take to fly from Hanoi to Bangkok?从河内飞往曼谷需要多长时间?964.Focusn.焦点,(活动,兴趣等的))中心v.(on)使聚集Our focus is on quality, not quantity.我们的重点是质量,而不是数量。We can't focus on two thing sat the same time.我们不能同时关注两件事。Stop worrying about that and focus on your work.别再担心了,专注于你的工作。965.Foldv.折叠;合拢;抱住n.褶,褶痕It took me several hours to fold all the clothes.我花了好几个小时才把所有的衣服都叠好。966.Followv.跟随,接着;沿着.…前进,遵循Just follow my lead.跟着我走。Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.请务必遵循制造商的指示。If you follow this street, you will get to the station.如果你沿着这条街走,你就会到达车站。967.Followinga.下列的,下述的,其次的,接着的I need the following items.我需要以下物品。Answer the following questions!回答以下问题!Translate the following sentences into English.将以下句子翻译成英文。968.Foodn.食物,粮食,养料There's enough food for everyone.每个人都有足够的食物。I can't eat this food; it tastes awful!我不能吃这种食物;味道太糟糕了!The food wasn't good, but at least it was cheap.食物不好,但至少很便宜。969.Footn.脚,足;英尺;底部I have a pain in my foot.我的脚有疼痛。Do you go to school on foot?你步行去学校吗?970.Footballn.足球He prefers football to volleyball.他比排球更喜欢足球。The football match went into extra time.足球比赛进入了加时赛。The football game is now being broadcast.足球比赛现在正在播出。
DR Fred Whitehurst : FBI Whistleblower, OKC, TWA 800, OJ, Waco....moreFrederic "Fred" Whitehurst is an American chemist and attorney who served as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory from 1986 to 1998. Concerned about problems he saw among agents, he went public as a whistleblower to bring attention to procedural errors and misconduct by agents. The FBI agreed to 40 reforms to improve the forensic reliability of its testing. FBI careerDr. Whitehurst received a Ph.D. in chemistry from Duke University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University. He joined the FBI in 1982 and served as a Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI crime lab from 1986-1998.While he was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, the FBI officially rated Dr. Whitehurst as the leading national and international expert in the science of explosives and explosives residue. Concerned about a number of issues that he observed and by the behavior of agents in the laboratory, he began to investigate their procedures. He eventually uncovered and reported what he thought were cases of scientific misconduct, alleging that the agents were biased toward the prosecution. In the OIG's report of Whitehurst's allegations, it was concluded that,"most of Whitehurst allegations were not substantiated," and that Dr. Whitehurst had, "common sense and judgement to serve as forensics examiner. The FBI crime lab finally agreed to forty major reforms, including undergoing an accreditation process. During this period, to protect himself in administrative proceedings, Whitehurst hired Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto, a Washington, D.C. law firm specializing in defending whistleblowers.[1]Post-FBI yearsDr. Whitehurst currently serves as the Executive Director of the Forensic Justice Project (FJP). The FJP was formed in 1998 as a project of the National Whistleblower Center, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The goal of the FJP is to lead a national effort to accomplish the following:Review cases to make sure that innocent people have not been wrongfully convicted through the misuse of forensic science;Provide expert testimony in cases in order to assure that forensic science is not misused in civil and criminal prosecutions impacting on the public interest or the rights of individuals;Offer objective scientific evaluations of forensic evidence;Publish and distribute information necessary for an objective analysis of the quality and objectivity of forensic science and crime laboratories nationwide.Dr. Whitehurst practices criminal law in Bethel, North Carolina. He was elected to the commission of the town of Bethel.The DiariesIn March 2005, he and his brother Robert (also a Vietnam War veteran) brought the Đặng Thùy Trâm diaries to a conference on the Vietnam War at Texas Tech University. There, they met photographer Ted Engelmann (also a Vietnam veteran), who offered to look for the family during his trip to Vietnam the next month. With the assistance of Đỗ Xuân Anh, a staff member in the Hanoi Quaker office, Engelmann was able to locate Trâm's mother, Doãn Ngọc Trâm. He obtained connections to the rest of her family.[1]In July 2005, Trâm's diaries were published in Vietnamese under the title Nhật ký Đặng Thùy Trâm (Đặng Thùy Trâm's Diary), which quickly became a bestseller. In less than a year, the volume sold more than 300,000 copies, and comparisons were drawn between Trâm's writings and that of Anne Frank.[2][3]In August 2005, Fred and Robert Whitehurst traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, to meet Trâm's family. In October of the same year, the Vietnamese family came to Lubbock, Texas, to view the diaries, which are archived at Texas Tech University's Vietnam Archive. They visited Fred Whitehurst and his family in his home state of North Carolina.The diaries have been translated into English and published in September 2007. The book includes photographs of Đặng during high school and with her family. Additional translations have been made and the book has been published in at least sixteen different languages.In 2009 a film about Đặng Thùy Trâm by Vietnamese director Đặng Nhật Minh, entitled Đừng Đốt (Do Not Burn It), was released. Dr. Frederic Whitehurst, an F.B.I. agent who served as a Supervisor at the FBI crime lab from 1986 to 1998, blew the whistle on irregularities at the lab. Whitehurst received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Duke University and his law degree from Georgetown University before joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1982 The F.B.I. considered Whitehurst the world's top expert in the forensic science of explosives and explosives residue. While at the Lab, he investigated, uncovered and reported misconduct which forced the F.B.I. crime lab to agree to major reforms.For his crusade against corruption in the Lab, Whitehurst was forced to defend himself from retaliation by the Bureau. He was defended by David K. Colapinto of Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto, a Washington, D.C. law firm specializing in defending whistle-blowers. The FBI settled his whistle-blower case for over $300,000.Fred Whitehurst's revelations of F.B.I. misconduct have affected the course of many prominent cases, including the Waco Siege (he is featured in the 1999 documentary film Waco: A New Revelation (1999)) and the O.J. Simpson murder trial. He practices criminal law in the state of North Carolina.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.
China and Vietnam have taken two distinctly different approaches in how they manage their territorial disputes with China. The Philippines is leaning into its alliance with the United States along with new security pacts with more than half a dozen other countries. Vietnam, in contrast, is going it alone. Ironically, Vietnam is expanding its territorial presence in the disputed South China Sea through island reclamation, while the Philippines is merely trying to hold on to the territory it already claims. Yet, the face-off between Beijing and Manila is far more aggressive. Khang Vu, a visiting scholar at Boston College and a leading Vietnam analyst, said the key difference between the two is the Philippines' decision to bring an outside power (the U.S.) into the dispute. Khang joins Eric & Cobus to discuss what lessons the South China Sea confrontation offers other countries trying to manage equally contentious great power rivalries. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth
China and Vietnam have taken two distinctly different approaches in how they manage their territorial disputes with China. The Philippines is leaning into its alliance with the United States along with new security pacts with more than half a dozen other countries. Vietnam, in contrast, is going it alone. Ironically, Vietnam is expanding its territorial presence in the disputed South China Sea through island reclamation, while the Philippines is merely trying to hold on to the territory it already claims. Yet, the face-off between Beijing and Manila is far more aggressive. Khang Vu, a visiting scholar at Boston College and a leading Vietnam analyst, said the key difference between the two is the Philippines' decision to bring an outside power (the U.S.) into the dispute. Khang joins Eric & Cobus to discuss what lessons the South China Sea confrontation offers other countries trying to manage equally contentious great power rivalries. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth
The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of China's Digital Silk Road, which has become an increasingly crucial component of Xi Jinping's flagship foreign policy project: the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, China has massively expanded its digital infrastructure investment across the globe. Accompanying the investment has been the diffusion of China's digital governance norms and standards in recipient states. Countries in the Indo-Pacific have been at the forefront of this stretching Chinese digital influence landscape. The conflation between digital development cooperation and digital governance norms adoption has far-reaching implications that need to be better understood and addressed. To discuss the issue, Michael Caster joins host Bonnie Glaser. Caster is the Head of Global China Programmeat ARTICLE 19, an NGO that advances freedom of opinion and expression. His organization has published two reports examining China's Digital Silk Road. Timestamps[00:00] Start[01:30] Understanding China's Digital Silk Road [05:57] China's Digital Governance Norms[10:16] China's Digital Footprints Abroad[16:07] Attractiveness of Chinese Digital Solutions[18:56] Role of High-Tech Companies in Digital Governance[21:44] Assessing the Effectiveness of China's Digital Governance[23:14] State-Driven Surveillance and Censorship[27:39] China's BeiDou Navigation System [31:09] How should governments respond to these normative shifts?
There's a lot of good vibes flying around the podcast this week. Producer Simon is quietly delighted with New Zealand's sporting endeavours, but the real positivity comes in the form of Simon's story on a Hanoi based Instagrammer who's memeing themselves to a solid German education.All that positivity puts us in good stead given we do have to quickly look at the bin fire that is politics. We find out if Germany has a government, wonder why pollsters seem unable to take a holiday, and follow up on the changing advice for Germans travelling to the US. In further troubling news for German tourists, we find out why one young visitor to the UK is regretting their trip to London.With all that on the menu, it does make sense to finish things off on a lighter note, so about a quick quiz or two on food? Luckily we have just the thing as Nic and Simon test each other's love for German food.Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß
In questa puntata- Focus: anche noi possiamo dire di aver fatto il Vietnam. Assieme al nostro ascoltatore Dario
March is the month to celebrate Women's History. In business, 40% of new companies are started by women, employing 10 million workers and generating $1.8 trillion in revenue. That's a lot of economic impact to celebrate. I'm Susan Soroko, Director of Creative Economy at Arlington Economic Development in Arlington Virginia. The role of Economic Development is to retain and attract businesses where workers can live and thrive in a great community even when the work world is changing. We support (small) business through programs like BizLaunch and value the importance of placemaking and a sector devoted to creative economy and the arts. Today we're going to talk about the value and impact of women owned businesses on our economy. To help me discuss this I'd like to welcome Mary Wong, Founder and Principal Consultant of EvaluCcraft Global. Ms. Wong is the Founder and Principal Consultant of EvaluCraft Global, LLC, a data-driven and evidence-informed consulting firm that provides public and foreign policy analysis and evaluation services. Established in Arlington in January 2020 to meet an emerging need, EvaluCraft Global, LLC helps public and private sector organizations at all levels around the world engaged in public and international affairs to analyze, assess and evaluate associated policies and programs for effectiveness, impact, output and outcomes. Our core values are competence, transparency and accountability. Prior to launching EvaluCraft Global, Ms. Wong served 11 ½ years with the U.S. Department of State, most recently as Deputy Director in the Office of Management Policy and Resources in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs and prior to that as Deputy Director in the Office of the Fulbright Scholarship Board in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Before joining U.S. federal public service, Ms. Wong worked 8 ½ years on design and administration of international exchanges and training for the Institute of International Education in Washington, DC and in Hanoi, Vietnam. Ms. Wong has a Master of Public Policy degree in Program Evaluation from the George Washington University's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Administration, a Master of Arts degree in International Development with a focus on Social and Economic Development from the University of Kentucky's Patterson School of Diplomacy & International Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations with a concentration in Political Economy from Drake University in Iowa. Ms. Wong is passionate about foreign policy relevance to the publics. When not working, Ms. Wong enjoys traveling and learning about the world with her husband and two children; cheering on her daughters in all their curricular and extracurricular pursuits, and contributing to community-building through the Bahá'í Faith and service projects. Resources: EvaluCraft Global Arlington Economic Development BizLaunch Division: BizLaunch Minority Vendor Fair Upcoming Minority Vendor Showcase at Hyatt Crystal City General information about the Small Business Administration (SBA): https://www.sba.gov/ SBA resources locally: https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance SCORE Counseling and other resources: https://www.arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com/Small-Business/Small-Business-Programs/One-on-One-Counseling Sign up for The Agile Brand newsletter here: https://agilebrandguide.com/ Get the latest news and updates on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/innovationeconomy/ Listen to our other podcast, The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström: https://www.theagilebrand.show The Innovation Economy podcast is brought to you by Arlington Economic Development: https://www.arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com The Innovation Economy is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company
Dr. Nora Taylor sits down to discuss Vietnam's Cold War connections with the Soviet art world. She cites examples of how Soviet-educated Vietnamese artists used what they learned to create art that was critical of colonialism and was reflective of the emergent nationalist landscape. Dr. Nora Annesley Taylor is an Alsdorf Professor of South and Southeast Asian Art History at the Art Institue of Chicago. She specializes in the study of the contemporary art of Vietnam and Singapore.
Rescue and patchwork relationship.B Book 3 in 18 parts, y FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.Loving your enemy is easy, you know precisely where both of you stand(Right where we left off)The closest Marine had been waiting for me to finish my bonding moment with Menner before speaking. He walked and talked like an officer."You are certainly Mr. Cáel Nyilas," he nodded. "I'm Lt. Robeson, United States Marine Corps. I would like to take you and your party home. What is the situation?""Lieutenant, this young lady is Aya Ruger. She was kidnapped along-side me and managed to kill over twenty of our enemies, so be careful around her." I was deadly serious about what I said. Aya should get proper credit for all the people she sedated then drowned. Dead was dead, even if it was accidental."These two," I pointed to Zhen and Mu, "are Lúsìla ninda and Amar, Taiwanese nationals suffering some shock from the abrupt crash landing of the aircraft. They don't seem to know why they were kidnapped, but they were instrumental in aiding Aya and me making it to shore during the typhoon.""If you say so, Sir," he nodded. He did believe me, yet a soldier was taught to be skeptical of anything a civilian told him about a military situation. "The bodies?""Those are the corpses we found after the storm. I decided we should attempt to place them in your custody so you can figure out who they are," I suggested."Sir, I don't think we can let civilians keep their weapons aboard the flight," the Marine Lt. stated since I had both a pistol and submachine gun, Aya had her pistol and Zhen had her and Mu's blades. A Marine NCO sent a party to gather the dead."Marine, I am Cáel Nyilas, Irish diplomat, freebooter and Champion of the worst possible causes," I began my spiel."You probably have some orders concerning bringing me in alive. I am not so constrained and am more than willing to steal this aircraft and fly back to Hawaii without you. My team keeps their weapons, or you give me your best shot, right now," I met his gaze. He mulled over his options. Two Romanians and two Marines were starting to load the ad hoc body bags aboard the C-37B."Normally I don't take that kind of crap from a civilian and I don't want you to think I'm making an exception because of your Security Clearance. I'll let your people keep your weapons, but if something goes wrong, I'm shooting you first," he assured me."Done deal," I offered my hand and he shook it."Oh and Happy Tibetan Independence Day," he congratulated me."What?" I gasped. Rescue and patchwork relationships{6 pm, Sunday, August 17th ~ 22 Days to go}{11 pm Sunday, Aug. 17th (Havenstone Time)}{And just this once, 11am Monday, Aug. 18th Beijing Time}"Oh and Happy Tibetan Independence Day;, nice work.," the Marine congratulated me."What?""How is that possible?" muttered Mu."Yippee!! No more burning monks," Aya fist-pumped. Personally, I think she did that for the enjoyment of our guardians and to piss off Zhen and Mu just a tiny bit more.(Mandarin) "Brother," Zhen studied her brother's pained expression. "What has gone wrong?"(Mandarin) "The province of Tibet apparently has broken away," he groused. In English, to the Marine Lieutenant he repeated, "How is this possible?""I take it you didn't know Peace Talks had broken out?" he grinned. I doubted the Lt. bought my 'these are my two Taiwanese cobelligerents' story, but belief was above his pay grade, so he didn't give a shit."Yes," Mu mumbled, "we knew of the proposed cease-fire.""Yes, you mean both sides actually honored it?" I added. I really had been out things for a while."Nearly two days ago, noon, Peking Time, the People's Republic of China and the Khanate put a six month cease-fire into effect which has remained intact for forty-one," he looked at his watch, "forty-one and a half hours." He was being a cock to the petulant Mu. No one called Beijing 'Peking' anymore. I had even ordered Beijing Duck on several menus. Peking was the height of Western Imperialist thinking, or so it looked to Mu.(Mandarin) "He is yanking your chain, Mu," I explained. "You are looking pissed off at being rescued, which isn't doing my alibi for you much good.""My apology," Mu nodded to the lieutenant. "Is there any news from the Republic of China? Are they free as well?" That was nice of Mu to call Taiwan by its pet name, the ROC."Not yet," he patted Mu's unwounded leg, "but with the utter shellacking the Khanate put on the People's Navy (really the People's Liberation Army Navy, but the Marine was getting his shots in) it is only a matter of time."I had been translating in a low voice to the V nători de munte in order for them to keep up with the conversation. They all started laughing. The Marines joined in. There was a huge joke here that we had missed out on while stranded.(Romanian) "So, ask them if they know where their aircraft carrier is," Menner chuckled. Most Romanians had grown up knowing of only one China.Me: (Romanian) "What!"A Naval Corpsman who didn't know Romanian, but knew 'aircraft carrier' just fine jumped in: "Oh yeah, the missing Chinese Aircraft carrier," she chortled.Mu: "What!"I'd only been gone two and a half days. What the hell had been going on?(What had transpired in my absence and the subsequent consequences)(Notes:P R C = People's Republic of China; PLA = People's Liberation Army;P L A N = People's Liberation Army Navy;P L A A F = People's Liberation Army Air Force;R O C = the Republic of China {aka Taiwan, aka Chinese Taipei, aka the "other China"};The First Unification War {aka what the Khanate did to China in 2014};Truce lasts from August 16th 2014 until February 15th, 2015 = 183 days)There are several classic blunders grownups should know to avoid: never fight a land war in Asia, never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line, and, if you are going to cross a master thief, first make sure you have nothing of value. For the land war in Asia, check with my partner, the Khanate. Substituting Black Hand for Sicilian ~ check with Ajax, use an Ouija board. So far, destiny was batting .500.The last blunder I created entirely on my own, but I felt it was the true and right response for the circumstances. So witness the Six Families of the Ninja and the greatest theft in all of recorded history.In the closing hours of the First Unification War, as in many wars, some serious theft was going on; mainly it was the People's Republic getting fleeced.The most obvious and immediate blows came in the Spratlys and Parcel Islands where Khanate forces (actually, elements from all the JIKIT players) seized the key island in the Parcel chain, Woody Island, and secured the P L A N base the Chinese had created there, including the 2,700 meter runway built there in the 1990's. The 1,443 Chinese civilians and 600 military inhabitants in the area were incidental complications and the survivors were about to be 'repatriated' to the mainland anyway; the Khanate didn't want them hanging around as they prepared for the inevitable end of the six-month truce.Yes, the Khanate had stolen the most important island airfield ~ an unsinkable carrier really ~ in the South China Sea. It was also the northern end of the potential People's Republic of China's stranglehold on the east-west sea lanes between East Asia and the rest of the World, i.e., roughly 25% of all global trade.The southern end? That would be the Spratlys. There are few 'real' islands in that 'island group' and only two worth having: the artificial one the P L A N was building and the one the ROC has a 1200 meter airfield on. That artificial island and every other PRC/P L A N outpost in the region was also stolen by the Khanate between 4 a.m. and noon of that final day of active conflict.Every geological feature that had been the basis for the PRC's claims to all of the South China Sea was now in Khanate hands. Considering how much the P L A N had bullied everyone else in that portion of the globe, the Khanate taking over their geopolitical position was incredibly awkward. It was going to get worse.Technically, the Khanate hadn't stolen the P L A N 'South Sea Fleet' (SSF); they'd blown the fuck out of it, including sinking the sole fully-functioning P L A N carrier Liaoning as well as five of the nine destroyers and six of the nineteen frigates in her battle group. The Liaoning and one destroyer had died in those last few hours as the SSF was racing for the relative safety of Philippine waters ~ so close, but no cigar.So the Khanate had stolen the ability of the P L A N to project power in the South China Sea until February 15th, 2015 when the U N brokered truce ended. But that was not the epic theft, though. That distinction went to the Ninja. What did they steal? A semi-functional Chinese nuclear powered super-aircraft carrier still under construction.The beast had no official name yet, but she was a 75,000 ton engine of Global Domination laid down in 2011 and clearly complete enough to float and to be steered under her own power. (To be on the safe side, the Ninja included stealing four tugboats to help in their getaway.) So, you may be asking yourself, how does one 'steal' a nuclear-powered, 1000 foot long, 275 foot wide and ten-story tall vessel?For starters, you need a plan to get on board the sucker. We had begun with the Black Lotus. They wanted to sneak onboard, exit the dockyard the ship was being built in, then sink it off the coast so it couldn't be easily salvaged. That was plan A.Enter the Khanate and their plans; they too wanted to sink this vessel, and destroy the dry docks while they were at it. That was plan B. Actually, the Khanate desire was to contaminate that whole section of the port city with fallout from shattered reactors. They knew they would have to apply overkill when they smashed that bitch of a ship because the PLAN had hurriedly put on board its defensive weaponry ~ ensuring that the Khanate couldn't easily destroy it. For their approach, Temujin's people wanted the Black Lotus' help with the on-the-ground intelligence work. But the Black Lotus didn't want to help anyone irradiate Chinese soil.Enter JIKIT as referee. All those islands the 'Khanate' was busy stealing were actually part of a larger JIKIT mission called Operation Prism. Another object that was a part of the overall plan was Operation Wo Fat, the sinking of the Liaoning ~ again GPS direction and distance to be courtesy of the Black Lotus.JIKIT absolutely needed the Black Lotus. The Black Lotus wouldn't help anyone planning on poisoning any part of China for the next thousand years. Sinking the unnamed and incomplete vessel off the coast in deep waters meant no nuclear leakage and plenty of post-war time to salvage the wreck before it did start to hemorrhage. The Khanate wanted to kill this potential strategic nightmare no matter what it cost the Chinese ecology.JIKIT went to the Ninja to help them adjudicate the issue. All the lights flared brightly in Ninja-Town when they heard of that delicate dilemma. They could make everybody happy and send a clear message to the Seven Pillars expressing how unhappy the six surviving families were about the 7P's trying to annihilate them when all of this 'unpleasantness' began.The Khanate was already going to blast the shipyards and docks, the Black Lotus was already going to sail the ship into deep waters, so why not take it one step further, sail the ship into Japanese waters and declare it Khanate property as a colossal Fuck You! to the PRC, PLAN and specifically the Seven Pillars, all at the same time?Now normally, you can't steal a ship that big. The owners will notice it is missing and come looking for it. And you can't sell or hide the damn thing. So, you steal it at the tail end of a war before the players can capture, or sink it. It just so happened the Ninja had access to a war and such a time table.The next problem: where do you put it? The Khanate's closest safe haven was 8,000 km away at the Eastern Mediterranean Seaport of Izmir.But wait!The Khanate was about to steal an island airbase with its own (albeit small) harbor. The Khanate was confident that a few weeks after the truce, an alternate port, or two, would become available for the two-to-three year process it would require to prepare the vessel so it could be commissioned as the true warship it was meant to be.So, how do you steal a well-guarded, humongous ship with its skeleton crew of 500? You need a distraction ~ a big one. Remember those Khanate airstrikes? They intended to destroy the dockyards anyway. Now all they had to do was 'miss' the carrier.They could do that. If you recall, to dissuade the Khanate from sinking the ship in the final days of the war, the PLAN had hastily put teeth on the thing by giving it all its pre-designed defensive weaponry and added jury-rigged radar and sonar systems. The carrier could defend itself if needed. With the new plan (C), the airstrikes could avoid those teeth, thus reducing the risk of losing their precious planes and pilots.A series of bombing runs and missile hits near the carrier would convince the PLAN admiral in charge to hurriedly put some distance between the ship and shore, Not out to sea. That would be stupid. Within the harbor, his weaponry could adequately defend his ship. And if she took serious damage, he could run her aground, so the vessel wouldn't really sink.The only problem was that out in the harbor, with everything exploding, he was away from the only ground security support available. That was when the Amazons, Black Lotus, Ninja and JIKIT mercenaries would make their move. How could they sneak up on such a big, important ship? By using the submarines the US Navy, the British Royal Navy and Japanese Defense Force were providing, of course.Note: As I stated earlier, Lady Fathom, Addison and Riki had wandered way off the reservation . By this time, if you were a Japanese, British, or American submarine commander in the Yellow Sea and you weren't part of this madness, you were insanely jealous of those who were.The missions JIKIT was sending them on were:-definitely Acts of War if they were ever discovered,-far more dangerous than any war game exercise they'd ever been part of, and-the ultimate test of their crews and equipment.These people weren't suicidal. They believed they were the best sneaks under the Seven Seas and now they could prove it ~ in 50 years when this stuff was declassified (if it ever was).For the one American, two British and four Japanese submarines inserting the assault teams, this whole mission had a surreal feel to it. They were transporting a packed assortment of women of Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian descent along with some very lithe Japanese ladies and gents, none of who talked a whole lot.There was a third group with the spooky women and spookier Japanese teams, and that group was scared shitless about the sudden turn their lives had taken. They were all former American and British servicewomen (to not tick off the Amazons too much) with carrier and/or nuclear reactor experience who had been RIFed (Reduction in Force, aka fired) in the past five years from their respective national navies.Around a week ago, they had all answered an advertisement by a logistics support corporation that was going to do a 'force modernization' in an unnamed country. They all knew that mean the Khanate. The job had been laid out as 'basically your old job with the addition of training the natives' and it included the promise of no combat.It was a guaranteed five year contract with an option for a year-to-year extensions for another five years if you desired to stick around. For that, you received your 'pay grade upon retirement + 20%', free room and board, private security, judicial protections and a $10,000 to $10,900 signing bonus. For many struggling military families, it was manna from Heaven and thousands were signing up.Then 72 hours ago, a different group from the same company came knocking on the women's doors. If you could come with them right then and there, they had a satchel of money, $100,000 to $109,000, tax free, and a Non-disclosure Agreement for you to sign. Sure, the deal sounded shady, but the money was very real.Twenty-four hours later those who accepted the money found themselves in a small fishing village on Ko Island, Japan. There some rather fiercely intense people outlined the job they were needed for. From a submarine, the assault teams would sneak aboard the carrier, neutralize the crew and then the new crew (them) would sail it to Jeju, Jeju Island, South Korea.At that point they would be allowed to stay with the vessel (preferred), or depart for a non-war zone of their choice. Both options came with another $100,000 to $109,000 payment. Anyone who declined this particular job would remain incognito on Ko Island for another 48 hours then be allowed to leave without the need to return their initial payment.Of the 312 job applicants, 293 volunteered for both the first and second parts of the assignment. With the technical and linguistic expertise of the Amazons and 9 Clan members that would be enough to get their prize to Jeju Island's temporary safety and then make the last leg to Woody Island and a more permanent anchorage.Besides the airstrikes to goad the carrier away from the wharves, all the Khanate had to do with the carrier was put three or four clearly Mongolian faces onboard when the various nations of the world came calling. After all, what was the public going to believe:, the Khanate had pulled off yet another daring (i.e., mostly JIKIT) Special Forces coup, just as they'd managed to do throughout this short war, or that 'Ninjas stole my Battleship, umm, carrier' stuff some PRC leaders were claiming? Forty-eight hours later the whole globe was able to watch the newly named Khanate supercarrier, the z Beg Khan, passing through Japanese territorial waters while being escorted by South Korean and Japanese warships.The PRC did complain to the United Nations over the 'theft' of both the carrier and 'their' islands, but the Security Council, led by the UK, could and would do nothing about the 'latest round of injustices heaped upon the People of China'. By the time the UN got around to doing nothing, the next round of JIKIT diplomacy was causing the PRC even greater headaches.That greatest theft, while remarkable in its own right, was really a sideshow to the reordering of the political order in Southeast Asia. The big winner wasn't the Khanate. And it certainly wasn't the mainland Chinese. No, the nations to immediately prosper were an unlikely pair, the Republic of India and the People's Republic of Vietnam (PRV). The Republic of China (R O C) was also getting its own small boost as well.By gambling their precious navy, India had become the largest power broker in the South China Sea's resource bonanza. She went from a minimal presence to being the critical ally of the Khanate and the 'big stick' (naval-wise) of Asia's new dynamic duo. The Indians had the only two functional aircraft carriers in the region and the Khanate had Woody Island with a mega-carrier number of planes sitting on it.Their combined naval aviation was not something any of the others powers wanted to mess with. The duo then sealed their supremacy by making the duo a trio. That third member was the PRV. Vietnam was the land-based logistical anchor of the three regional powers.Not only did Vietnam gain the prestige denied it for over two centuries, it redressed the P L A N humiliating treatment of their own navy for the past thirty years. The Khanate's naval aviation would shield Vietnam's economic exploitation of the Parcel Islands. The Indian Navy could counter anything the P L A N South China fleet could come at them with.Yes, the P L A N had two other fleets, the Northern and Eastern, but both had been put through their own 1001 levels of Hell by the Khanate's air power, plus they had to protect the Chinese heartland from Russia and North Korean ambitions. The South Koreans and Japanese were suddenly a very real threat from the East too. But for the time being, the Indians had the decisive edge.The final location for the z Beg Khan was an old familiar haunt for some Americans, Da Nang, PRV. It had the facilities, courtesy of the US military from the 1960's and 70's, to be the new base for the Khanate's Eastern Fleet and logistical hub for their naval aviation forces in the Parcel Islands.The Vietnamese were thinking with more than their testicles, as were the Indians. Sure, geopolitical clout was nice, yet that was only the icing on the economic cake that was the Parcel Island Accords. That hasty bit of JIKIT backroom dealings gave a 50% stake in the Parcels to the PRV.India got 20% of something she had 0% in a month ago. The Khanate gained a 20% stake for their audacity and the ROC gained 10% because the other three would protect its share from the PRC. Something was better than nothing and the three legitimate powers agreed to the deal because in less than six months, the PRC would be back in the game.The Indians and Vietnamese wanted the Khanate to stay interested in the region and the Taiwanese wanted to forge closer ties to the Khanate. That treaty was a 'no-brainer'. Within one week, the Vietnamese were strutting like peacocks and internal political opposition to the Indian intervention into the South China Sea in the Indian parliament was silent.The Spratly Islands was a tougher deal to work out within the six month timetable. There were more players ~ the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand (who had a non-functional carrier). The JIKIT deal gave everyone but the Indians a 10% piece of the huge natural gas, oil and fisheries pie and the Indians got 20% once more.The Philippines and Malaysia were both very opposed to this treaty; they believed they deserved a far larger portion of those regional resources. Indonesia and Thailand also felt they could hold out for a bigger slice and weren't happy with India getting so much for basically having a double handful of ships (34 actually) sailing about.That 'handful of ships' was the point JIKIT was trying to make. If the PRC beat the Khanate next year, did any of the players think the PRC would give them anything, even if they promised them more right now? Really? When the PLAN had the biggest guns, they hadn't respected any other claims to the region. Why would that change in the future?The reality was this: India would only stick around if they had the economic incentive to remain. Vietnam, the Khanate and the ROC were watching the clock and realized this was the best deal they would get. Brunei and the Philippines were also coming to that understanding. Brunei was tiny (thus easy to defend), very rich already and a good ally of the British.The Philippines had a very weak navy and a non-existent naval air force. They couldn't even enforce their current claims versus Brunei, much less confront the PLAN, or any other nation's current military. The Philippines was, sadly, relatively big and very poor. Its big traditional ally was the United States, and the US was currently busy doing 'not much' about the South China Sea situation.The world's biggest navy was partially taking up its traditional (and treaty bound) role of interposing itself between the North Koreans, PLAN/PLAAF and Russians arrayed near Japan and South Korea, or busily not 'ratcheting up tensions' in the region by sending more forces into the front lines.President Obama was urging dialogue and 'stepping back from the brink' even though every country in Southeast Asia felt the brink had already dissipated the moment the PRC was forced to accept the cease-fire. In this context, the Philippines had good reason to be feeling lonely at the moment.Bizarrely, both New Delhi and Hanoi were singing the praises of US Secretary of State John Kerry and the Rt. Honorable Phillip Hammond, Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for the UK, for their deft handling of the crisis, thank you, Riki Martin and Lady Yum-Yum.Riki wasn't expecting any thanks. She was certain she'd be fired and imprisoned for the rest of her life. Lady Fathom Worthington-Burke was sure she'd get two additional knighthoods out of the deal, which would look very nice engraved on her tombstone. Javiera had long ago decided to face the music and go down with the ship, so to speak.The CIA's Addison Stuart already had her exit strategy. She was going to go work for the Khanate, building up their clandestine service when this whole mad scheme collapsed into recriminations and 'extreme sanctions'. Mehmet, Air Force Sr. Master Sgt. Billings and Agent-86 had all decided to go with her. Katrina had their escape plane on standby. Mehmet's family was already 'vacationing' in Canada.Anyway, the Republic of India, the Khanate, the Republic of China, the People's Republic of Vietnam (the Vietnamese were happy to already be getting half of the Parcel Island windfall), the Sultanate Brunei (Lady Fathom 'knew' some people and the Sultan was an autocratic Muslim ruler, just like the Great Khan) and the Philippines (because they had no other true choice) were all coming around to signing the Spratly Accords.Indonesia and Thailand were kind of waiting for a better deal. Malaysia was downright hostile, having gravitated toward the PRC over the past decade and been assured by the PRC a better apportionment would be their reward for upsetting the treaty process.The Great Khan's answer was simple. He publically threatened the Malaysian Federation in general and both the King (Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah) and Prime Minister of Malay (Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak) in particular with military action if they kept dragging their feet.He even told them how he'd do it. He'd butcher or expel every living thing in the states of Perlis and Kedah (~ 2.1 million people) and give those empty lands to Thailand to settle along with the added sweetener of Malaysia's 10% of the Spratlys. He would also invade Eastern Malaysia, taking the island state of Labuan for himself while giving Sarawak to Indonesia and Sabah to the Philippines if those to states agreed to the split.He'd also decimate their navy & air force before devastating every port city, just like he'd done to China. He'd already killed more than two million Chinese. What was another two million Malays to him? Also, Indonesia wanted Sarawak and the Philippines had claims on Sabah. While they were openly and publically defying the Great Khan's plan, could Malaysia really take the chance?What would India and Thailand do while this was going on? Thailand stated that it would protect its territorial integrity, whatever that meant. India wasn't returning Malaysia's phone calls while showing their populace re-runs of Malaysian violence against their Hindu minority, the bastards!To the world, the Indian Navy proclaimed it would 'defend itself and its supply lines' which was a subtle hint that they would shepherd any Khanate invasion force to their destination. Why would the Indians be so insensitive? The Malaysians were screwing up their deal to get 20% of both the Parcel and Spratlys wealth, that's why.If the Khanate went down, there was no way India could defend their claims (which they'd won by doing nothing up until now). Oh yeah, Vietnam began gathering up warplanes, warships, transport ships and troops for the quick (710 km) jaunt across the Gulf of Thailand to north-eastern Malaysia to kill Malaysians because Vietnam needed the Khanate to ensure their own economic future as well.That military prospect had a cascade effect, especially among the Indonesian military. If the Indian Navy remained active, the vastly more populous Western Malaysia couldn't reinforce the state of Sarawak. Sure, the Philippines was unlikely to conquer Sabah on their own, but all the Indonesians needed was for Sabah to be kept pre-occupied while their army took their promised territory, fulfilling a fifty year old dream of conquest/unification.The United Nations blustered. It wasn't that they didn't care, they did. They also cared about the deteriorating situations in Libya, Nigeria, Syria and Ukraine. The situation was complicated by the unwillingness of the permanent members of the Security Council, namely the PRC and Russia, to recognize the Khanate.In reverse, when those two tried to stick it to the Khanate, the UK stoically vetoed them. Why? Well, more on that later. Let's just say the Khanate was good for business in the European Union in general and the United Kingdom in particular because the Khanate was prepared to economically befriend the British. Ireland was being treated in a promising manner too. The United States,the United Nations?Let's just say that in the two months following the cease-fire, the Khanate bloodily and brutally solved the ISIS conundrum and the Donbass Crisis. When the smoke cleared, the Khanate had reintroduced the practice of impalement to the modern battlefield, driven the separatists from the Ukraine and was on the border with Israel and Jordan.Sure, the Ukrainians were stun-fucked by the Khanate's 'peace-keepers' going on a bloody rampage through the eastern rebellious regions, but they had delivered up peace by mid-September. Yes, the Russians were in an uproar about the impalements.As the Khanate spokesperson said, 'if they aren't your people, then it is not your problem' and 'there are no more Russians left alive in the Ukraine'. In fact, fewer than a thousand people, all armed insurgents, were executed in such a manner, but the terror created by the highly publicized killings had the effect of sending a hundred thousand people stampeding over the frontier into Russia proper.Next, the Khanate said it wanted to 'reexamine' the Crimean situation. There were Turcoman in that area and they weren't being treated well, or so it was claimed.Even as Russia and the Khanate were posturing in the Donbass, the Khanate struck in the Middle East. By the end of September, Syria and Lebanon had ceased to exist as organized entities. Most of those two countries as well as portions of western Iraq became Turkish provinces in the Khanate infrastructure. Northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq became the Khanate state of Kurdistan.It was a campaign reminiscent of the 13th century Mongol conquest, not a modern military struggle. Whole villages were eradicated. The entire Arab population of Mosul was exiled to the new territories in the East. The city was repopulated with Kurds from Turkey. Back in Turkey, those Kurds were replaced by Armenians from Azerbaijan, cauterizing another internal issue within the Khanate.Jordan was cautiously hopeful. Israel? "We don't seem to be having problems with Hezbollah anymore," with a shrug and "it could be worse." As for ISIS; there really was an Islamic State controlling more than half of Iraq and all of Syria now and it allowed no other pretenders to that distinction. By the time the world woke up to that reality though, the Great Hunt had happened and I was dealing with the consequences of that.A larger ideological and political matter was occurring in the United States, the United Kingdom (and to a limited extent Australia and Canada). The Ramshackle Empire (aka the Khanate) was just that ~ a Frankenstein nation fueled more by nationalistic pride and nostalgia for a Super-State (that only two living people had firsthand experience with) than an integrated armed forces and infrastructure.It may have been built upon more than a 13th century creation and two hundred years of real and imagined oppression. It did have long term planning and real genius driving it forward. Having throttled the PRC into giving them six precious months of peace to 'tidy up the backyard' (aka the Middle East and Russia) and forge a true nation, the Khanate was now hiring experts to aid them in the task.First and foremost, Temujin and the Earth & Sky had envisioned an armed state built upon military principles and discipline. Fate had delivered to them the means of their own salvation in the form of NATO's policy of disarmament and 'Reduction-In-Force' levels (RIFed).The US and UK had trained tens of thousands of male and female volunteers in their Armed Forces in infrastructure creation and management for the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns. From 2010, those militaries had informed those experts that their services were no longer required. Unlike the shrinking militaries of the 1990's, there was no private sector to 'soak up' the majority of those personnel.The Earth & Sky had been working on the problem of nation-building on a time table and they kept coming up short. They had to fight to create their state first, so the all-important after-battle had been something their leaders dreaded. Temujin had been understanding about not everything being 100% ready. Few wars were fought that way.Then a young male Amazon of mixed Magyar ancestry talked history with the Earth & Sky representative to a seemingly inconsequential personage's funeral. A few critical E&S leaders (a minority, to be sure) immediately sought ways to cultivate this man into what was a ten year plan to open doors to the Amazons. Then that man saved the Great Khan's life and everything changed.Before the E&S had even remotely considered directly approaching the Amazons for help, the Amazons came knocking on their door. The Seven Pillars of Heaven had tried to kidnap a camp full of Amazon children ~ an assault on their future. The two secret societies were bound by one unique, fortunate idiot and a mutual thirst for vengeance.They were also directed by two incredibly foresighted, ambitious and brilliant people. In Katrina of Epona, the E&S elders found someone who equaled their hope to see the Seven Pillars humbled and humbled immediately. Moreover, these were the Amazons they were dealing with. Amazons always sought both lightning decisions and long term solutions.From the moment Iskender left his third meeting with Cáel Nyilas, Katrina put the fruits of the First Directive (the Amazons efforts to recruit militant outsider women) into overdrive. Havenstone had the apparatus in place to screen potential inductees. All they had to do was add a "can you suggest any other people who might be interested in this line of work" box to their employment forms.That brought men into the process in surprising numbers. The market was flush with military veterans having trouble readjusting to the civilian community. The Khanate wasn't hiring killers. They wanted ex-military and civilian police officers to create a national police force.They also wanted engineers and builders, cadres for their cadet corps and a whole range of specialist in jobs most of the Western World took for granted. The money came from off-shore accounts funded by Havenstone International. The employment opportunities came from Earth & Sky front companies operating in the UK and the US (and Israel, but that was another matter).They had already started hiring scores of civilian English-speaking experts to help build their newborn nation's infrastructure before the first blow landed. English hadn't been chosen out of any cultural bias. Relying on Russian and Chinese sources wasn't feasible, the Khanate wasn't overly linguistically gifted where distant tongues were concerned and, as pointed out, the English-speaking world had a glut of applicants.Now to the problem, there were people in the US and UK who weren't happy with their citizenry going to the Khanate and helping them to survive and thrive. These power groups wanted the Mongol-Turkish Empire to keep the resources flowing to the West, without any reciprocal commitment on their part.Imagine their surprise when some wonks at the State Department and Foreign Ministries found bundles of expedited passport requests to the (former) nations of Turkmenistan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Mongolia (and later Afghanistan and Iraq). The Department of Defense Ministry of Defense were discovering their former military personnel and civilian contractors with Security Clearances were heading the same way.Of all those destinations, only Mongolia and Kazakhstan were under any kind of 'Restricted Travel' advisories. Barring any coherent anti-Khanate strategy from their administrations, the bureaucracies were doing their jobs, with Havenstone exerting just enough influence to get the job done while flying beneath the radar.After JIKIT was created, the group had a US Senator greasing the wheels to get the requests expedited. In England, Lady Worthington-Burke shamelessly used the people at the other end of the O'Shea hotline to get the job done overseas. She did have to sell out a teammate, but that was what good boys were for ~ taking one for the team. (That would be me, if there was any misunderstanding.)When Cáel Nyilas was kidnapped under the watchful eye of the FBI (I wasn't sure how they got that bum-wrap), the whole situation exploded. The PRC didn't have me, yet promised they might produce me if certain concessions were made. According to Addison, I was worth 5,000 barrels a day of refined fuel oil and 50 tons of coal a month, and the Great Khan agreed to pay! Woot! I was loved by somebody who was a somebody.All that attention drove home some salient points. I was a noble scion of Ireland, Romania, Georgia and Armenia (in no particular order) and they all wanted to know why the US had let me be kidnapped. Didn't my president know I was a sacred national treasure? After JIKIT tracked down the bribes and clandestine activities to Chinese shell corporations, those powers wanted to know what sanctions would be applied.'But wait, wasn't I a private citizen?' my national leaders pleaded. Then the PRC made a case which boiled down to 'I had it coming for being a fiancé to Hana Sulkanen and a brother to the Great Khan', while ignoring me being snatched in the territorial US of A. Of course, they didn't claim to have actually done the kidnapping.Javiera was waiting on that one; 'What was their excuse for kidnapping a little US girl to force my compliance?' The furious Federal authorities even found two dead adult bodies and two digits from said child to add to the media frenzy. To prove I had migrated to fantasy land, the CNN journalist got it right ~ they had tortured the girl and I had killed two of them for it. Just ask the Romanian Army how lethal I could be.In a rare comment, Temujin informed the international press that he believed I was still alive. Why did he believe that? If I wasn't, they would have been able to spot the pile of dead enemy around me and my 'boon companion' (go Aya!) from orbit. Until they discovered this carnal pit from Hell, I was surely still alive.Just at the cusp of turning publically against the Mongol barbarians, the world suddenly got angry with their enemy, the PRC. The principal two Western regimes were paralyzed with indecision until my miraculous cry for help from the middle of the Pacific showed the world I was alive, had punished my enemies and rescued others from under the opponent's cruel thumb.Clearly if I started ranting against the People's Republic of China, my government would be rather peeved with me. I hadn't screwed a dozen poli-sci majors to miss out on that obvious situation. I behaved and hoped they wouldn't make me die from an embolism, or some other equally implausible cause.(DC is a marvel. 9 pm, Monday, August 18th. 21 days)I'd been dragged to DC, to honor promises made in Rome a week ago. I had another choice; I could have justifiably said I was still getting over my kidnapping ordeal. But that choice fucked over Javiera Castello, my boss at JIKIT (Joint International Khanate Interim Task force).That was how I ended up in a 'secret and secure' meeting with Tony Blinken, Deputy National Security Advisor (DNSA) and his experts. He was someone I didn't know. The rest, I'd had a verbal run-in with them after the Romanian bloodbath. I'd been cranky. I would hardly consider us to be on good terms now.All four experts were from the US State Department. They were foregoing their usual group of flunkies because this meeting wasn't really happening. All the participants were officially somewhere else, mostly not even in D.C. Had this soiree 'really happened', the Congressional sub-committees would have been able to request the minutes of Tony's meeting with members of JIKIT and:· Victoria Nuland, Ass. Sec. of State for European & Eurasian Affairs (ASSEEA)· Robert O. Blake Jr., Ass. Sec. of State for S & C Asian Affairs (ASSCAA)· Daniel R. Russel, Ass. Sec. of State for E. Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASSEAP)· Bill A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) (aka Big Willy)We made stiff, formal introductions (which signaled the utter lack of trust in the room.) Javiera hadn't wanted to put me through an interrogation this soon after my near-death experience, considering my snarky nature when stressed. The White House was putting the squeeze on her. The main player was Tony, who talked with the Leader of the Free World on a weekly, if not daily, basis.The Diplomatic Security Service people had successfully peeled off Pamela and my SD Amazons only after they agreed I could keep Aya. They tolerated me keeping the nine-year old girl despite the obvious fact she had gone through worse hardships than I had endured and was still packing her Chinese QSW-06 suppressed pistol.I had already fabricated and submitted my report on how I'd overcome a plane-full of rogue delinquents from the Forumi i Rinis Eurosocialiste t Shqip ris (Euro-socialist Youth Forum of Albania) bent on recruiting impressionable European socialites by accessing my Twitter account.That's right, the Albanians had it out for me. I reiterated that critical bit of data to the Department of Homeland Security when they questioned me on the veracity of my memories. The two ethnic Chinese I was found with? I thought they were from Taiwan, and they both appeared to be suffering from amnesia.I was already suffering repercussions from my pathological refusal to take life seriously. Javiera believed I was about to get a formal apology from Ferit Hoxha, Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations. Damn it! Now I had to do something nice for the Albanians. Maybe I'd offer them membership in the Khanate, full-statehood with an economic package to sweeten the deal.Yes, that was how Albania and Kosovo joined the Khanate, a product of my love for exaggeration and a little post-Ottoman solidarity over Tarator (cold soup made of yoghurt, garlic, parsley, cucumber, salt and olive oil with a side of fried squids), Tav Kosi (lamb meatballs) and Flia & Kaymak (a dessert I highly recommend).We had toasted the Pillars of Kanun (Albanian oral law and tradition): ~ Nderi (honor), Mikpritja (hospitality), Sjellja (Right Conduct) and Fis (Kin Loyalty), ~ and he promised to tell his people that I had Besa which was an Albanian-ism for being a man who would honor his word of honor (despite us being brought together by my lie). The shit-ton of financial and military aid I asked the Great Khan to sweeten the pot with might have helped as well.Later, Lady Yum-Yum told me that the military leaders of NATO called it a 'master-stroke' in neutralizing Comrade Putin's Russian-backed 'Greek threat
Flexibel und widerstandsfähig wie Bambus: So beschreibt Vietnam seine Diplomatie. In dieser Folge von Podcast vom Posten sprechen wir mit der deutschen Botschafterin Helga Margarete Barth in Hanoi über ein halbes Jahrhundert diplomatische Beziehungen. Wie hat sich diese Partnerschaft entwickelt? Welche Rolle spielt die vietnamesische Exil-Community in Deutschland? Und wie feiert Vietnam dieses Jubiläum? Erfahrt mehr über Wirtschaft, Kultur und die Zukunft dieser besonderen Verbindung! Mehr Informationen findet ihr unter: www.50vietduc.de.
This week Allen highlights Pacifico Energy's efforts in developing offshore wind power in Vietnam, including meetings with government officials to support the country's clean energy goals. In Ireland, researchers introduce a potentially revolutionary cold spray technology for maintaining wind turbine blades. Lastly, Iberdrola seeks a partner for a 1 GW energy portfolio. Fill out our Uptime listener survey and enter to win an Uptime mug! Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard's StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes' YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Welcome to Uptime Newsflash, industry News Lightning fast. Newsflash is brought to you by Intel Store. For market intelligence that generates revenue, visit www.intel store.com. Starting off the week, US-based Pacifico Energy is ramping up efforts to develop offshore wind power projects in Vietnam. The company's CEO met with Vietnam's party general secretary in Hanoi recently, and the party leader highlighted Vietnam's goal to become a high income nation by 2045 with net zero emissions by 2050, emphasizing the need for stable clean energy sources. Pacifico affirmed Vietnam's immense potential for offshore wind power and pledge continued investment to support the country's growth objectives. Now, Vietnam's renewable energy sector is attracting strong international interest with the government recently reactivating nuclear energy plans in its south central province. Over in Ireland, Irish researchers at Southeast Technical University in partnership with Technology University Dublin, have developed what may be a revolutionary maintenance solution for offshore wind turbine blades. The Clear Blade Project focuses on cold spray, leading edge erosion repair technology. Environmental factors often cause rapid wear on turbine blades, as we all know, with defects appearing within one to three years of installation, requiring expensive repairs. The project proposes a novel, portable polymer cold spray technology for quote unquote infield repair, potentially extending blade lifespans and reducing maintenance costs. Wind energy contribute 32% of Ireland's electricity generation in 2024 with the government planning to develop 14 gigawatts of wind capacity by 2030. And over in Spain, Iberdrola the Spanish Energy Giant is seeking a partner willing to buy a minority stake in a roughly one gigawatt renewables portfolio according to news source. Reuters sources familiar with the matter described the project as Romeo 2.0 referencing a previous deal where Norway's Sovereign Wealth Fund took a 49% stake in a 1.3 gigawatt portfolio, valued at approximately 1.2 billion Euros. The deal aligns with Iberdrola's strategy of selling minority stakes in advanced projects to fund new investments. Iberdrola's Finance chief recently stated they were working on two or three such assets rotation projects to complete this year. And that's this week's top. News stories. Stay tuned for the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast tomorrow.
Send us a textJoin me as we uncover Ha Giang, Vietnam's breathtaking last frontier, with Ying, a local Black H'mong guide, who shares insider tips and cultural insights for an unforgettable adventure! If you have ever considered venturing into this part of the country, then this episode is one NOT to miss. ( Please forgive some of the local background sounds)Key takeaways:-The Ha Giang Loop time allowance – How long do you need for your adventure through stunning valleys, waterfalls, and cultural sites like Lung Cu and Ma Pi Leng Pass. Best Time to Visit – Times of the year, and days of the week. From September to November, the golden rice terraces are at their most beautiful. Cooler temperatures make this the ideal season for trekking and sightseeing. Find out more.Cultural Immersion – Ying talks us through engagement with ethnic communities; traditional farming practices, and the joy of a communal hotpot meal.Guided vs. Independent Travel – The Pros and cons. The value of a local guide in managing language, safety, navigation, and cultural understanding. Options exist for all fitness levels.Approx Time stamps: 00:00:00 –Where is Ha Giang 00:01:06 - Guest Introduction: Ying 00:01:26 - Ying's Background and Early Life 00:12:06 - Common Questions from Tourists 00:15:24 - Recommended Duration for Ha Giang Loop 00:16:27 - Modes of Transportation 00:18:50 - Licensing and Safety for Motorbike Riders 00:20:00 -Day 1 Itinerary 00:20:40 -Accommodation Options: Hotel vs. Homestay 00:22:10 - Day 2/3/4 Itinerary 00:26:18 - Suitable Travelers - Fitness and Health Considerations 00:29:17 - Packing Tips 00:35:06 -Local Cuisine 00:36:09 -Best Days of the week to Visit & why Reach out to Ying's website: dragonmountainfamily.com Her WhatsApp number :+84338805995 The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.Thank you for listening. Do not send TEXT as I am unable to respond directly. Please email whataboutvietnam@gmail.com Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTokWe'd love a review on your podcast channel.Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel ServicesDo you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what's possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital
Text your questions, comments, & topic suggestions here! You can also email billy@mindfulmidlifecrisis.com. In this episode, I dive into my journey of overcoming stagnation and embracing progress, both physically and creatively. After a rough patch from July 2023 to March 2024, I felt stuck in many areas of life. My experience with yoga in Hanoi and Chiang Mai became a key tool for stretching beyond perceived limits. I share how small shifts, on and off the mat, unlocked growth and helped me appreciate imperfection. I also share Five Essential Questions to help you break free from stagnation. Key Talking Points:Overcoming Stagnation: A look back at my struggles with inertia and the impact of overplanning and rumination.Yoga and Personal Growth: How yoga became a tool for pushing beyond physical limitations and the mental breakthroughs that followed.The Ego and Progress: Navigating the discomfort of not being “good” at something right away and the value of consistent practice.The Power of Small Shifts: Using mindfulness and small changes to unlock creativity and relieve tension in both mind and body.Celebrating Small Wins: How I learned to focus on progress over perfection and the importance of acknowledging every step forward.All episodes are available at www.mindfulmidlifecrisis.com.Need a place to start? Check out our Fan Faves Page!Join the Mindful Midlife Community Newsletter! Thank you for listening to The Mindful Midlife Crisis!If this episode resonates with you, please share it with your family and friends.This Week's Sponsors:The B.E.L.L. Center: Expand your understanding of mindfulness and breathwork with their MindHacking Meditation Course.Kari Schwear: Explore what drives your habits, refocus what truly matters, and develop daily tools to start moving forward with Decide30.Genie Love: Schedule your FREE consultation to empower your neurodivergent strengths!Brian Gallagher: Download your Solo Business Blueprint and escape the 9-5 grind!This Week's Affiliates:Buzzsprout: Launch your podcast today and get $20 worth of credit towards your account!Fiverr: Get your next project done brilliantly by skilled professionals and earn 10% off your first purchase.Systeme.IO: Simplify your online business.Riverside.fm: Record your podcast in studio-quality audio and video.Follow us!Instagram: @mindful_midlife_crisisFacebook: The Mindful Midlife Crisis PodcastLinkedIn: Billy LahrPleaSupport the show
"We don't always take a straight path in life. Sometimes, the detours lead to the most exciting places."This conversation with Ben Nguyen was an inspiring discovery into the creative journey of someone who has truly embraced change. From growing up in Hanoi to studying in Japan and working with global brands like IKEA and Trunk Hotel, Ben's story is a testament to following your passions—even when it means taking unexpected turns.One of my favorite parts of this episode was discussing the power of saying yes to opportunities. Ben didn't plan to work in social media, but thanks to a viral Instagram post of his dog, he found himself managing digital content for a luxury boutique hotel in Tokyo.Key TakeawaysSaying yes to unexpected opportunities can change your career—Ben's social media success started with a dog video.Work-life balance in Japan is intense, but international companies operate differently. The cultural differences between Hanoi and Saigon are more than just accents—each city has its own unique vibe.Creativity isn't always a straight path. Sometimes, your career zigzags into something unexpected.NFTs and digital art are redefining how artists can monetize their work. Chapters & Timestamps02:00 – Ben Nguyen's Background: From Hanoi to Japan09:00 – Cultural Differences Between Hanoi and Saigon16:00 – Transitioning from Business to Interior Design & Creativity21:00 – The Reality of Work-Life Balance in Japan30:00 – The Rise of NFTs & How Dig"Send me a message!"7 Bridges Brewing Co. - An award winning Vietnamese craft brewery from Da Nang, with breweries across Vietnam!Rabbit Hole Irish Sports Bar - Check out their new location on Tran Nao with the best views in the city over Landmark 81! Try Descript for free here! Want to start a podcast? Book a Discovery Call with me on how Seven Million Bikes Podcasts can help you!Support the show
Last time we spoke about the Great Tokyo Air Raid. Amidst fierce battles, Liversedge's forces captured key hills but faced relentless Japanese machine-gun fire. Despite heavy casualties, the Marines advanced, securing strategic positions. General Kuribayashi recognized their struggle, while the Japanese counterattacks faltered. After 19 grueling days, the last pockets of resistance fell, marking a costly victory for the Americans. Amid the fierce battle of Iwo Jima, General LeMay shifted tactics, launching incendiary raids on Tokyo. On March 9, 1945, 334 B-29s unleashed destruction, igniting widespread fires and devastating neighborhoods. The attack shattered Japanese morale, while LeMay's strategy proved effective, paving the way for further offensives in the Pacific. On March 3, three brigades attacked Meiktila, facing fierce resistance. Tanks overwhelmed Japanese forces, resulting in heavy casualties. As Cowan fortified defenses, Japanese counterattacks intensified. Meanwhile, in Mandalay, British-Indian troops advanced, capturing key positions. Amidst confusion and conflicting orders, the Allies pressed forward, striving for victory in Burma. This episode is the Fall of Mandalay Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945. We are first picking up this week with the men fighting over northern Luzon. By March 5, General Clarkson's 33rd Division had advanced to Agoo and Pago while gradually pushing the enemy along Route 11. Meanwhile, Colonel Volckmann's guerrilla force was carrying out limited offensives in the Laoag, Cervantes, and San Fernando regions. Coming into Salacsac Pass from the west, the Villa Verde Trail twists up the wooded western slopes of a steep-sided height known to the 32nd Division as Hill 502. Another peak, bare crested, forming part of the same hill mass and named Hill 503, centers 250 yards northeast of the crest of Hill 502, while a similar distance to the southeast is Hill 504. Winding along the southern slopes of Hills 502 and 504, the trail continues eastward through a low saddle about 500 yards long, climbing again up the forested northwestern side of Hill 505. After crossing that hill, the trail follows a twisting course 600 yards--as the crow flies--eastward, hugging the densely wooded northern slopes of Hills 506A and 506B. Off the northeast corner of Hill 506B the trail turns south for 1000 yards--again a straight-line distance--and traverses the east side of the noses of Hill 507, designated from north to south A, B, C and D. Turning sharply east again near Hill 507D, the trail continues east another 700 yards and then enters a deep wooded saddle between Hill 508 on the south and Hill 515 to the north. After passing through this saddle, which is about 250 yards long east to west, the trail goes on eastward, dominated on the north by Hills 516 and 525. Roughly 1250 yards beyond the saddle the trail twists across the northern slopes of Hill 526, which lying about 500 yards southeast of Hill 525, marks the eastern limits of the Salacsac Pass area. A mile and a quarter of less rugged but still forested and difficult terrain lies between Hill 526 and barrio Imugan, in turn two and a quarter miles west of Santa Fe. Meanwhile General Mullins' 25th Division had successfully taken control of Puncan and Digdig. Due to this unexpectedly swift progress, General Swift instructed Mullins to continue advancing toward Putlan while the 1st Battalion, 127th Regiment fought for control of Hill 502, which was secured on March 7. In response, Mullins dispatched the 161st Regiment to attack the high ground west of Route 5, the 27th Regiment to advance along and east of the highway, and the 35th Regiment to execute a wide envelopment to the east. Since this last flank approach to Putlan was completely undefended, the 1st Battalion, 35th Regiment quickly occupied Putlan on March 8. The following day, the 27th Regiment also arrived in the area and began clearing Japanese stragglers from the ravines east of Route 5 near the barrio, a task that would not be finished until March 15. Finally, despite facing rough terrain and light resistance, the 161st Regiment reached Putlan on March 10, successfully securing the high ground to the west. To the north, as the 1st Battalion, 127th Regiment struggled to make significant progress eastward after capturing Hill 502, Gill decided to send the 3rd Battalion, 127th Regiment to outflank the Salacsac Pass defenses from the south. Although the extremely rough, precipitous mountain country of the Salacsac Pass area, averaging 4500 feet above sea level, was covered by dense rainforest, from Hill 506B to Hill 526, there was sufficient open ground throughout to provide the defender with excellent observation. It was not too difficult for the Japanese to find positions whence they could cover with fire every square foot of the Villa Verde Trail through the pass area. The twisting of the trail also provided defense opportunities, for in a given 1000 yards of straight-line distance through the pass, the trail might actually cover a ground distance of 3000 yards. Whatever its shortcomings in other fields, the Japanese Army always had a feel for terrain, exploiting to the full every advantage the ground offered. Thus, as it moved up, the 2nd Tank Division set to work to establish a system of mutually supporting defensive positions in order to control every twist of the Villa Verde Trail and every fold in the ground throughout the pass area. Every knoll and hillock on or near the trail was the site of at least one machine gun emplacement; every wooded draw providing a route for outflanking a position was zeroed in for artillery or mortars. The cave, natural or man-made, came to characterize the defenses. Artillery was employed in quantity and quality not often encountered in engagements against the Japanese, who, as usual, made excellent use of their light and medium mortars. Finally, the 2nd Tank Division was overstocked in automatic weapons, evidently having available many more than the 32nd Division could bring to bear. To the west, following recent successes in patrols, Clarkson opted to establish a new "secure line" stretching from Aringay southeast through Pugo to Route 11 at Twin Peaks. Consequently, patrols quickly secured Aringay and Caba without facing any opposition, then advanced east along the trails to Pugo and Galiano, and north to Bauang, where they continued to encounter minimal enemy presence. As a result of these movements, the Hayashi Detachment was ultimately withdrawn to bolster the main defenses at Sablan, enabling Volckman's 121st Regiment to enter San Fernando on March 14. Additionally, elements of the 19th Division began arriving in the Cervantes area from Baguio and successfully expelled the guerrilla company from the town in early March. The Filipinos recaptured Cervantes on March 13 but soon found themselves targeted by Japanese artillery positioned on elevated ground. Meanwhile, looking south, by March 5, General Patrick's 6th Division had commenced unsuccessful assaults on Mounts Pacawagan and Mataba, while General Hoffman's 2nd Cavalry Brigade struggled to advance toward the Antipolo area. Recognizing that the success of his attack required a concentration of forces along a narrower front, General Griswold decided to focus on the Noguchi Force and the left flank of the Kobayashi Force, as the northern area was heavily fortified. He retained only one battalion as an infantry reserve and directed the remainder of his available forces, all of which were understrength, to push eastward. Alongside the deployment of the 1st Cavalry Brigade, the 103rd Regiment reached Taytay on March 7 to serve as the 1st Cavalry Division Reserve, signaling the upcoming relief of the cavalrymen in preparation for their redeployment to southern Luzon. By March 10, General Wing's 43rd Division had been replaced in the Clark Field area by the 38th Division and was en route to the eastern front. The 38th Division pushed on into the untracked, ill-explored, and worse-mapped wilderness of the central Zambales Range, its progress slowed more by supply problems than Japanese resistance. In early April the division noted that the last vestiges of any controlled defensive effort had disappeared. Unknown to 11th Corps General Tsukada, on April 6, had given up and had ordered his remaining forces to disperse and continue operations, if possible, as guerrillas. For the Japanese remnants, it was a case of sauve qui peut. Some tried to escape to Luzon's west coast, whence 38th Division troops were already patrolling inland; others tried to make their way north through the mountains, only to be cut down by American patrols working southward from Camp O'Donnell. The 38th Division had killed about 8000 of the scattering Japanese by the time it was relieved by units of the 6th Division on May 3. The losses of the 38th totaled approximately 100 men killed and 500 wounded. The 6th Division, elements of which remained in the Kembu area until June 25, limited its operations to patrolling and setting up trail blocks along Japanese routes of escape. Troops of the 38th Division ultimately returned to the region and remained there until the end of the war. Insofar as US forces were concerned, the mop-up period under 11th Corps control was even more costly than had been the 14th Corps' offensive period. From February 21 to the end of June the various elements of 11th Corps committed to action against the Kembu Group lost approximately 550 men killed and 2200 wounded. The Kembu Group, during the same period, lost 12500 killed or dead from starvation and disease. By the end of the war the original 30000 troops of the Kembu Group were reduced to approximately 1500 sorry survivors, about 1000 of them Army personnel. Another 500 had already been taken prisoner. As a result, General Tsukada ordered his remaining troops to scatter and operate as guerrillas. Meanwhile, Griswold resumed his eastern offensive on March 8. In the south, bolstered by artillery and mortars, the battered 2nd Cavalry Brigade continued to advance slowly under heavy artillery fire, reaching a point 440 yards short of Antipolo along Route 60A and overcoming the enemy cave defenses at Benchmark 11. By March 11, patrols had entered Antipolo, discovering the town was devastated and deserted, yet still under the threat of Japanese artillery and mortars positioned in the hills to the north and northeast. Simultaneously, the 1st Cavalry Brigade made significant strides to the north, also coming within 440 yards of Antipolo while clearing Benchmark 9 Hill and Hills 520 and 740. Abandoning the Montalban-San Mateo area, Patrick instructed the 1st and 20th Regiments to advance toward Mounts Baytangan and Yabang. Facing unexpectedly light resistance, the 1st Regiment advanced a mile and a half east by March 11 and secured Benchmark 8 Hill to the south despite encountering stubborn opposition. Recognizing the need to capitalize on this success, Patrick then ordered the 20th Regiment to move through the 1st and attack north toward Wawa Dam while the latter continued its eastward assault. On March 11, the 103rd Regiment took over from the 2nd Cavalry Brigade and quickly began planning to outflank General Noguchi's defenses located southeast of Antipolo. However, due to concerns over American advances, General Yokoyama ordered the Noguchi Force to retreat to secondary defensive positions while preparing for a three-pronged counterattack set for March 12. The primary effort involved four reserve battalions from the Kobayashi Force, which launched an attack southward from Mount Mataba toward Marikina but were quickly halted by intense air and artillery fire, falling far short of their target. Additionally, the 182nd Independent Battalion attempted a counterattack toward Benchmark 8 but was unsuccessful, while the majority of the Kawashima Force advanced south from the Ipo Dam area to assault the rear installations of the 6th Division west of the Marikina River, where they were easily repelled by March 15. During this so-called counterattack, Griswold continued his offensive, with the 103rd Regiment swiftly advancing through the deserted Antipolo to Benchmark 7 Hill, and the 20th Regiment moving over a mile north to secure a position on a grassy ridge less than a mile southeast of Mount Mataba's summit. On March 14, the 1st Regiment resumed its eastern assault, successfully advancing north to a bare peak about a mile southwest of Mount Baytangan, despite facing strong resistance that caused heavy casualties, including the loss of General Patrick, who was succeeded by Brigadier-General Charles Hurdis as commander of the 6th Division. Simultaneously, Wing initiated a coordinated offensive with two regiments toward Mounts Yabang, Caymayuman, and Tanauan, aiming to flank the Shimbu Group's left. Although the 103rd and 179th Regiments achieved significant progress that day, Noguchi's determined defenders managed to maintain control of Benchmark 7. Looking further south, Griswold was preparing to launch a two-pronged offensive in southern Luzon. General Swing's 511th Parachute Regiment and the 187th Glider Regiment were set to advance towards Lipa from the north and northwest, while the 158th Regiment gathered near Nasugbu to attack southeast along Route 17 toward Balayan Bay. In response, Colonel Fujishige's Fuji Force had established several small positions in the area to prevent American forces from flanking the Shimbu Group's main defenses by rounding the eastern shore of Laguna de Bay. Swing's offensive commenced on March 7, with the 187th Glider Regiment descending the steep southern slopes of Tagaytay Ridge to the northern shore of Lake Taal, ultimately stopping at a hill two miles west of Tanauan due to strong resistance. The 511th Parachute Regiment moved out from Real, reaching within a mile of Santo Tomas while launching unsuccessful frontal assaults on Mount Bijiang. Meanwhile, the 158th Regiment advanced from Nasugbu, quickly securing Balayan before pushing eastward with little opposition toward Batangas, which fell on March 11. On its eastward path, the regiment bypassed significant elements of the 2nd Surface Raiding Base Force on the Calumpan Peninsula, necessitating that a battalion clear that area by March 16. At the same time, other units of the 158th Regiment encountered robust Japanese defenses blocking Route 417 at Mount Macolod, where their advance came to a halt. Concurrently, General Eichelberger continued his offensive against the central islands of the Visayan Passages, with reinforced companies from the 1st Battalion, 19th Regiment successfully landing on Romblon and Simara islands on March 11 and 12, respectively. Most importantly for Eichelberger, he was about to initiate his Visayas Campaign. To disrupt Japanese communication lines across the South China Sea, the 8th Army needed to quickly capture airfields that would allow the Allied Air Forces to project land-based air power over the waters west of the Philippines more effectively than from Clark Field or Mindoro. Consequently, the first target chosen was Palawan, which was defended by only two reinforced companies from the 102nd Division. Additionally, MacArthur's strategy included the eventual reoccupation of the East Indies, starting with the capture of Japanese-controlled oil resources in northern Borneo as soon as land-based air support was available. The Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago were identified as the second targets, although these areas were defended by stronger garrisons from the 54th and 55th Independent Mixed Brigades. Despite this, Eichelberger tasked Major-General Jens Doe's 41st Division with executing these invasions. For the Palawan invasion, codenamed Operation Victor III, Brigadier-General Harold Haney was appointed to lead a force primarily composed of the 186th Regiment, which would be transported to the island by Admiral Fechteler's Task Group 78.2. The convoy departed from Mindoro on February 26, escorted by Rear-Admiral Ralph Riggs' cruisers and destroyers. Following a naval bombardment, Haney's Palawan Force successfully landed at Puerto Princesa on February 28 without encountering any opposition. They quickly secured the town and the two airstrips to the east, advancing to the western and southern shores of the harbor by late afternoon to establish a defensive perimeter. As the first day progressed, it became clear to the American troops that the Japanese troops would not put up a fight at Puerto Princesa and had withdrawn into the hills to the northwest. More disturbing was the revelation of a massacre of approximately 140 American prisoners of war the previous December. The presence of a passing Allied convoy made the alarmed Japanese believe that an invasion was imminent and had herded their prisoners into air-raid shelters, subsequently setting the shelters afire and shooting prisoners who tried to escape. Only 11 American prisoners of war miraculously survived immolation and escaped the shooting. Sheltered by natives until the Americans landed, they emerged during the battle to tell their horrifying tale, which only hardened American resolve to end Japanese rule over the island. By March 1, the 186th Regiment had successfully taken control of Irahuan and Tagburos. In the following week, American forces would eliminate two or three heavily defended strongholds located ten miles north-northwest of Puerto Princesa, where the enemy garrison was ultimately defeated. The Palawan Force also conducted reconnaissance of several offshore islets, discovering no Japanese presence on some and swiftly clearing others. However, due to the poorly compacted soil, the new airfield on the island would not be operational until March 20, which was too late for any aircraft based in Palawan to assist with the Zamboanga landings. Consequently, on March 8, two reinforced companies from the 21st Regiment were flown to the airstrip at Dipolog, which had been secured by Colonel Hipolito Garma's guerrilla 105th Division. On the same day, sixteen Marine Corsairs arrived to provide air support for the invasion of Zamboanga, codenamed Operation Victor IV. For this operation, Doe assigned the remainder of his division, which was to be transported by Rear-Admiral Forrest Royal's Task Group 78.1. After three days of pre-assault bombardments and minesweeping, the convoy finally set sail southward and entered Basilan Strait from the west early on March 10. Troops from the 162nd Regiment landed almost without opposition around 09:15 near barrio San Mateo and quickly secured Wolfe Field, while the 163rd Regiment was also landing. Doe's two regiments then began to advance inland, facing minimal resistance as they established a night perimeter. With the Japanese having withdrawn, the 162nd and 163rd Regiments easily secured Zamboanga City, San Roque Airfield, and the rest of the coastal plain by dusk on March 11, with one company extending further to Caldera Bay to the west. To drive the Japanese forces from the elevated positions overlooking the airfield, Doe dispatched the 162nd Regiment towards Mount Capisan and the 163rd Regiment towards Mount Pulungbata. Additionally, the guerrilla 121st Regiment was tasked with blocking the east coast road in the Belong area. Supported by continuous artillery fire and close air support from Marine Corps planes, the two regiments of the 41st Division faced arduous tasks. General Hojo's troops held excellent defenses in depth across a front 5 miles wide, some portions of the line being 3 miles deep. All installations were protected by barbed wire; abandoned ground was thoroughly booby-trapped; mine fields, some of them of the remote-control type, abounded; and at least initially the 54th Independent Mixed Brigade had an ample supply of automatic weapons and mortars. While Japanese morale on the Zamboanga Peninsula was not on a par with that of 14th Area Army troops on Luzon, most of the 54th Independent Mixed Brigade and attached units had sufficient spirit to put up a strong fight as long as they held prepared positions, and Hojo was able to find men to conduct harassing counterattacks night after night. Finally, the terrain through which the 41st Division had to attack was rough and overgrown, giving way on the north to the rain forests of the partially unexplored mountain range forming the backbone of the Zamboanga Peninsula. Only poor trails existed in most of the area held by the Japanese, and the 41st Division had to limit its advance to the pace of bulldozers, which laboriously constructed supply and evacuation roads. Once the American troops entered the peninsula's foothills, tanks could not operate off the bulldozed roads. The next day, the 186th Regiment was deployed to relieve the fatigued 163rd Regiment on the eastern front. By the end of the month, it had expanded the front eastward and northward against diminishing resistance, ultimately forcing Hojo's forces to retreat into the rugged interior of the peninsula. For now, however, we will shift our focus from the Philippines to Burma to continue our coverage of the Chinese-British-Indian offensives. As we last observed, General Stopford's 33rd Corps was aggressively advancing into Mandalay against a weakened 15th Army, while General Cowan's 17th Indian Division had successfully captured Meiktila and was preparing to withstand the combined assaults of the 18th and 49th Divisions. Cowan's forces conducted a robust defense, managing to delay the arrival of the 49th Division until March 18 and successfully repelling General Naka's initial attacks on Meiktila's main airfield. Furthermore, with the reserve 5th Indian Division moving closer to the front in preparation for an advance towards Rangoon, General Slim decided to airlift the 9th Brigade to reinforce Cowan's troops, which landed on Meiktila's main airfield under enemy fire between March 15 and 17. Due to the slow progress on this front and General Katamura's preoccupation with the battles along the Irrawaddy, he was unable to manage the southern units simultaneously. Consequently, General Kimura decided to assign the 33rd Army to take over the fighting in Meiktila. General Honda promptly moved to Hlaingdet, where he was tasked with overseeing the 18th, 49th, and 53rd Divisions. On March 18, he ordered the 18th Division to secure the northern line of Meiktila and neutralize enemy airfields. He instructed the 49th Division to advance along the Pyawbwe-Meiktila road and directed the 53rd Division to regroup near Pyawbwe. However, on that same day, Cowan launched a counterattack by sending two tank-infantry columns to disrupt Japanese preparations along the Mahlaing road and in the villages of Kandaingbauk and Shawbyugan. They faced heavy resistance at Shawbyugan and ultimately had to withdraw. The relentless air assaults also compelled the Japanese to operate primarily at night, limiting their ability to respond with similar force to British offensives. On the night of March 20, Naka decided to initiate a significant attack on Meiktila's main airfield. However, with the 119th Regiment delayed at Shawbyugan, the 55th Regiment had to proceed alone, supported by some tanks, against the defenses of the 99th Brigade around Kyigon. Heavy artillery and mortar fire ultimately disrupted their assault. Meanwhile, as the 49th Division was consolidating its forces to the southeast, Cowan opted to send two tank-infantry columns to eliminate enemy concentrations at Nyaungbintha and Kinlu. Although the initial sweeps met little resistance, the 48th Brigade encountered strong Japanese positions at Shwepadaing on March 21. The next day, Cowan dispatched two tank-infantry columns to secure the Shwepadaing and Tamongan regions, but the British-Indian forces still struggled to eliminate the enemy defenders. That night, Lieutenant-General Takehara Saburo initiated his first significant assault, with the majority of the 106th Regiment targeting the defensive positions of the 48th Brigade in southeastern Meiktila. Despite the fierce and relentless attacks from the Japanese throughout the night, they were ultimately repelled by artillery and machine-gun fire, suffering heavy casualties. On March 23, Cowan sent another tank-infantry column to chase the retreating Japanese forces; however, the reformed 169th Regiment at Kinde successfully defended against this advance. Meanwhile, on the night of March 24, Naka launched another major offensive with the 55th and 119th Regiments, managing to capture Meiktila's main airfield. In response, Cowan quickly dispatched a tank-infantry column to clear the Mandalay road, successfully securing the area northeast of Kyigon by March 26. At this time, Honda had relocated his headquarters to Thazi to better coordinate the battle, although his troops had already suffered significant losses. For the next three days, Cowan's tanks and infantry continued to advance along the Mandalay road while the 63rd and 99th Brigades worked to eliminate Naka's artillery units south of Myindawgan Lake. By mid-March, Stopford's relentless pressure had forced the 31st and 33rd Divisions to retreat in chaos. On March 20, organized resistance in Mandalay was finally shattered as the 2nd British Division linked up with the 19th Indian Division. Consequently, the beleaguered Japanese units had no option but to withdraw in disarray towards the Shan Hills to the east. Following the collapse of the 15th Army front, the 33rd Army received orders on March 28 to hold its current positions only long enough to facilitate the withdrawal of the 15th Army. Consequently, while Cowan's units cleared the region north of Meiktila, Honda halted all offensive actions and promptly directed the 18th Division to secure the Thazi-Hlaingdet area. Additionally, the weakened 214th Regiment was tasked with moving to Yozon to support the withdrawal of the 33rd Division, while the 49th and 53rd Divisions were assigned to contain Meiktila to the south. As the battles for Mandalay and Meiktila unfolded, the reinforced 7th Indian Division at Nyaungu faced several intense assaults from General Yamamoto's 72nd Independent Mixed Brigade throughout March, ultimately advancing to Taungtha and clearing the route to Meiktila by the month's end. Meanwhile, in northern Burma, the 36th British Division advanced toward Mogok, which fell on March 19, while the 50th Chinese Division approached the Hsipaw area. Interestingly, the Japanese abandoned Hsipaw without resistance but launched a fierce counterattack between March 17 and 20. Ultimately, General Matsuyama had no option but to prepare for a withdrawal south toward Lawksawk and Laihka. At this stage, the 38th Chinese Division resumed its advance to Hsipaw; however, facing strong opposition along the route, they did not arrive until March 24, when the entire Burma Road was finally secured. General Sultan believed this was his final maneuver and recommended relocating the Chinese forces back to the Myitkyina area for air transport back to China, except for those needed to secure the Lashio-Hsipaw region. Additionally, the 36th Division continued its eastward push and eventually linked up with the 50th Division in the Kyaukme area by the end of the month before being reassigned to Slim's 14th Army. Looking south, the 74th Indian Brigade and West African forces advanced toward Kolan, while the 26th Indian Division established a new beachhead in the Letpan-Mae region. The 154th Regiment maintained its position near the Dalet River, preventing the remainder of the 82nd West African Division from joining the offensive. On March 23, General Miyazaki decided to launch an attack on Kolan. Although the assault achieved moderate success, Miyazaki soon recognized that he was outnumbered and opted to begin a final withdrawal toward the An Pass, completing this by the end of the month. Meanwhile, on March 17, the 121st Regiment sent its 3rd Battalion to engage the enemy in the Sabyin area and hold their position along the Tanlwe River for as long as possible. Despite strong resistance from the Japanese, British-Indian forces managed to cross the Tanlwe by March 27 and successfully captured Hill 815 two days later. By March 30, the 22nd East African Brigade had also reached Letpan when High Command decided to relieve the units of the 26th Division and return them to India. In a related development, tensions were rising in French Indochina, where the local government refused to permit a Japanese defense of the colony. By early March, Japanese forces began redeploying around the main French garrison towns in Indochina. The Japanese envoy in Saigon Ambassador Shunichi Matsumoto declared to Governor Admiral Jean Decoux that since an Allied landing in Indochina was inevitable, Tokyo command wished to put into place a "common defence" of Indochina. Decoux however resisted stating that this would be a catalyst for an Allied invasion but suggested that Japanese control would be accepted if they actually invaded. This was not enough and Tsuchihashi accused Decoux of playing for time. On 9 March, after more stalling by Decoux, Tsuchihashi delivered an ultimatum for French troops to disarm. Decoux sent a messenger to Matsumoto urging further negotiations but the message arrived at the wrong building. Tsuchihashi, assuming that Decoux had rejected the ultimatum, immediately ordered commencement of the coup. The 11th R.I.C. (régiment d'infanterie coloniale) based at the Martin de Pallieres barracks in Saigon were surrounded and disarmed after their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Moreau, was arrested. In Hue there was sporadic fighting; the Garde Indochinoise, who provided security for the résident supérieur, fought for 19 hours against the Japanese before their barracks was overrun and destroyed. Three hundred men, one third of them French, managed to elude the Japanese and escape to the A Sầu Valley. However, over the next three days, they succumbed to hunger, disease and betrayals - many surrendered while others fought their way into Laos where only a handful survived. Meanwhile, General Eugène Mordant led opposition by the garrison of Hanoi for several hours but was forced to capitulate, with 292 dead on the French side and 212 Japanese. An attempt to disarm a Vietnamese garrison ended badly for the Japanese when 600 of them marched into Quảng Ngãi. The Vietnamese nationalists had been armed with automatic weapons supplied by the OSS parachuted nearby at Kontum. The Japanese had been led to believe that these men would readily defect but the Vietnamese ambushed the Japanese. Losing only three killed and seventeen wounded they inflicted 143 killed and another 205 wounded on the Japanese before they too were overcome. A much larger force of Japanese came the next day but they found the garrison empty. In Annam and Cochinchina only token resistance was offered and most garrisons, small as they were, surrendered. Further north the French had the sympathy of many indigenous peoples. Several hundred Laotians volunteered to be armed as guerrillas against the Japanese; French officers organized them into detachments but turned away those they did not have weapons for. In Haiphong the Japanese assaulted the Bouet barracks: headquarters of Colonel Henry Lapierre's 1st Tonkin Brigade. Using heavy mortar and machine gun fire, one position was taken after another before the barracks fell and Lapierre ordered a ceasefire. Lapierre refused to sign surrender messages for the remaining garrisons in the area. Codebooks had also been burnt which meant the Japanese then had to deal with the other garrisons by force. In Laos, Vientiane, Thakhek and Luang Prabang were taken by the Japanese without much resistance. In Cambodia the Japanese with 8,000 men seized Phnom Penh and all major towns in the same manner. All French personnel in the cities on both regions were either interned or in some cases executed. The Japanese strikes at the French in the Northern Frontier in general saw the heaviest fighting. One of the first places they needed to take and where they amassed the 22nd division was at Lang Son, a strategic fort near the Chinese border. The defences of Lang Son consisted of a series of fort complexes built by the French to defend against a Chinese invasion. The main fortress was the Fort Brière de l'Isle. Inside was a French garrison of nearly 4000 men, many of them Tonkinese, with units of the French Foreign Legion. Once the Japanese had cut off all communications to the forts they invited General Émile Lemonnier, the commander of the border region, to a banquet at the headquarters of the Japanese 22nd Division. Lemonnier declined to attend the event, but allowed some of his staff to go in his place. They were then taken prisoner and soon after the Japanese bombarded Fort Brière de l'Isle, attacking with infantry and tanks. The small forts outside had to defend themselves in isolation; they did so for a time, proving impenetrable, and the Japanese were repelled with some loss. They tried again the next day and succeeded in taking the outer positions. Finally, the main fortress of Brière de l'Isle was overrun after heavy fighting. Lemonnier was subsequently taken prisoner himself and ordered by a Japanese general to sign a document formally surrendering the forces under his command. Lemonnier refused to sign the documents. As a result, the Japanese took him outside where they forced him to dig a grave along with French Resident-superior (Résident-général) Camille Auphelle. Lemonnier again was ordered to sign the surrender documents and again refused. The Japanese subsequently beheaded him. The Japanese then machine-gunned some of the prisoners and either beheaded or bayoneted the wounded survivors. Lang Son experienced particularly intense fighting, with the 22nd Division relentlessly assaulting the 4,000-strong garrison for two days until the main fortress was captured. The Japanese then advanced further north to the border town of Dong Dang, which fell by March 15. The battle of Lạng Sơn cost the French heavy casualties and their force on the border was effectively destroyed. European losses were 544 killed, of which 387 had been executed after capture. In addition 1,832 Tonkinese colonial troops were killed (including 103 who were executed) while another 1,000 were taken prisoner. On 12 March planes of the US Fourteenth Air Force flying in support of the French, mistook a column of Tonkinese prisoners for Japanese and bombed and strafed them. Reportedly between 400 and 600 of the prisoners were killed or wounded. Nonetheless, the coup was highly successful, with the Japanese subsequently encouraging declarations of independence from traditional rulers in various regions. On 11 March 1945, Emperor Bảo Đại was permitted to announce the Vietnamese "independence"; this declaration had been prepared by Yokoyama Seiko, Minister for Economic Affairs of the Japanese diplomatic mission in Indochina and later advisor to Bao Dai. Bảo Đại complied in Vietnam where they set up a puppet government headed by Tran Trong Kim and which collaborated with the Japanese. King Norodom Sihanouk also obeyed, but the Japanese did not trust the Francophile monarch. Nationalist leader Son Ngoc Thanh, who had been exiled in Japan and was considered a more trustworthy ally than Sihanouk, returned to Cambodia and became Minister of foreign affairs in May and then Prime Minister in August. In Laos however, King Sisavang Vong of Luang Phrabang, who favoured French rule, refused to declare independence, finding himself at odds with his Prime Minister, Prince Phetsarath Ratanavongsa, but eventually acceded on 8 April. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. March 1945, saw US forces advance in Luzon, overcoming Japanese defenses through strategic maneuvers, while guerrilla activities intensified amid challenging terrain and heavy resistance. Meanwhile, in Burma, British-Indian forces advanced against Japanese troops, capturing key locations and in French Indochina the Japanese unleashed a brutal coup d'etat ushering in independence movements.
In episode 357 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his garage reflecting on the small and big things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Colm Pierce is an accomplished documentary photographer who since picking up a camera in 1987, has travelled extensively throughout his home country of Ireland as well as to France and Vietnam. Colm's work has been featured in publications such as the Guardian, the Irish Times, Elle, Le Point and Micro Hebdo. Today, runs photography workshops in his adopted home of Hanoi, Vietnam. https://colmpiercephotography.com Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed numerous advertising campaigns, worked as a creative director at Sotheby's, art directed foto8magazine, founded his own photographic gallery, edited Professional Photographer magazine and launched his own title for photographers and filmmakers Hungry Eye. He founded the United Nations of Photography in 2012, and is now a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, and a BBC Radio contributor. Scott is the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019), and What Does Photography Mean To You? (Bluecoat Press 2020). His photography has been published in At Home With The Makers of Style (Thames & Hudson 2006) and Crash Happy: A Night at The Bangers (Cafe Royal Books 2012). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was premiered in 2018. Scott's book Inside Vogue House: One building, seven magazines, sixty years of stories, Orphans Publishing, is now on sale. © Grant Scott 2025
Are you wondering how to build businesses that allow you to travel the world? In this episode, Craig is with Adrienne Greene, an experienced entrepreneur and real estate investor who has successfully built a real estate portfolio and virtual staffing business while living abroad. She made the leap from a traditional W2 job to running multiple businesses remotely, and in this episode, she shares her inspiring journey. Adrienne's path began with real estate investing on a farm, and she discovered the power of house hacking by renting out a basement to generate income. As her portfolio grew, she scaled her investments through systems and virtual assistants, making the process smoother and more efficient. Balancing real estate investing with family life while traveling full-time wasn't easy, but Adrienne found ways to make it work. She also reveals the technology tools that keep her business running effortlessly. Tune in to learn how you can build a business that supports your dreams, whether you're at home or traveling the world. This episode is packed with actionable insights to help you achieve financial freedom, automate your business, and live life on your terms. PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS:[02:31] - Adrienne Greene joins the show from Hanoi, Vietnam. [03:41] - Adrienne talks about her experience traveling with her family. [05:41] - Adrienne explains how she transitioned from finance to teaching. [07:54] - Adrienne shares her first step into entrepreneurship through tutoring. [08:34] - Adrienne recounts starting a family farm and the lessons learned. [10:58] - How Adrienne turned her family farm into an investment opportunity. [13:38] - Adrienne discusses her first real estate purchase, a family farm. [17:23] - Adrienne shares the numbers on her first farm deal and its profitability. [20:56] - Transitioning from a farm to a more profitable real estate strategy. [24:33] - How Adrienne scaled up condos in Northern Virginia. [27:43] - The power of investing in rental properties for cash flow. [30:48] - Adrienne's big move to Myrtle Beach and the start of short-term rentals. [33:58] - Lessons from managing short-term rentals remotely and building systems. [36:48] - Adrienne talks about her short-term rental experience with Airbnb. [39:18] - How automation and outsourcing systems help Adrienne travel while managing properties. HOST Craig Curelop
The Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Vietnam have signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - with Aotearoa being only the tenth country to do so. Christopher Luxon signed the deal in Hanoi, where he also called for more military transparency in a region that's facing increasing geostrategic challenges. Our political reporter Giles Dexter is there.
The Prime Minister has arrived in Vietnam's capital Hanoi, along with a business delegation of food, beverage, and education heavy hitters. Political reporter Giles Dexter is in Hanoi.
Discover how well-intended incentives can backfire through the story of the great Hanoi rat hunt – a lesson in unintended consequences. In Episode 238 of … The post 238 – When Incentives Backfire: The Great Hanoi Rat Hunt appeared first on Anecdote.
Would it really be a conversation about plagues if noted plague-hater and tuberculosis-fighter John Green wasn't a part of it? In this episode John makes his Tangents debut at last, and we dig deep into whether we could fight an old, fat beaver and win, among other things.SciShow Tangents is on YouTube! Go to www.youtube.com/scishowtangents to check out this episode with the added bonus of seeing our faces! Head to www.patreon.com/SciShowTangents to find out how you can help support SciShow Tangents, and see all the cool perks you'll get in return, like bonus episodes and a monthly newsletter! A big thank you to Patreon subscriber Garth Riley for helping to make the show possible!And go to https://store.dftba.com/collections/scishow-tangents to buy some great Tangents merch!Follow us on Twitter @SciShowTangents, where we'll tweet out topics for upcoming episodes and you can ask the science couch questions! While you're at it, check out the Tangents crew on Twitter: Ceri: @ceriley Sam: @im_sam_schultz Hank: @hankgreen[Truth or Fail Express]Hunter-gatherer from 5000 years ago infected with plaguehttps://www.livescience.com/5000-year-old-man-had-plague.htmlhttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/oldest-strain-of-black-death-bacteria-found-in-5000-year-old-human-remains#Less-deadly-and-less-contagiousIsaac Newton plague cure https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sir-isaac-newtons-plague-prescription-toad-vomit-lozenges-180975039/https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/isaac-newton-plagueSewer pipes in Hanoi let plague-bearing rats breedhttps://feralatlas.supdigital.org/poster/colonial-sewers-led-to-more-ratshttps://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hanoi-rat-massacre-1902[The Scientific Definition]Four thieves vinegarhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7485289/https://nutritionalgeography.faculty.ucdavis.edu/clove/https://www.si.edu/es/object/die-mondsuchtigen:nmah_994026The Vicary method / The live chicken treatmenthttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1472106/https://muse.jhu.edu/article/665487https://libguides.umn.edu/healthmisinformationZenexton https://www.jstor.org/stable/44444207https://archive.org/details/b30341681/page/n7/mode/2up[Ask the Science Couch]HIV resistance through genetic mutation and selective pressure (possibly from plagues)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1377146/https://jmg.bmj.com/content/42/3/205https://www.nature.com/news/2005/050307/full/news050307-15.htmlhttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050325234239.htmhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC299980/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16880184/ Plague doctors probably didn't look like birds (until later / after theater) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_F%C3%BCrst,_Der_Doctor_Schnabel_von_Rom_(Holl%C3%A4nder_version).pnghttps://deathscent.com/2020/05/15/the-redolent-plague-doctor/https://www.livescience.com/plague-doctors.html[Butt One More Thing]Using pastes made with human feces to treat bubonic plaguehttps://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2021/04/medieval-pandemic-cures-that-were-medieval/https://hosted.lib.uiowa.edu/histmed/plague/
Join us on our latest episode where we break bad and explore the wild world of Amaro. Featured products are Song Cai May Amaro Bitters from Hanoi, Scarlet Apertivo from Japan and Aperol Orange ApertivoAre these the best bitters in the world? Is Malort a bitter? Why would anyone purposefully drink Malort? Only one way to find out...Special guest on this episode, our good friend Drew. https://www.songcaidistillery.com/may-amaro-bittershttps://www.highroadspirits.com/scarlet-iseyahttps://www.aperol.com/en-us/our-products/aperol/#bitters #aperol #apertif #digestif #youtubechannel #podcast #newrelease #arsenicculture Bitter Call Saul: When Amaro Breaks Bad-E101https://www.youtube.com/@arsenicculturehttps://instagram.com/arsenicculturehttps://tiktok.com/@arsenicculturehttps://www.facebook.com/arsenicculture/https://x.com/arsenicculture