Country on the northwestern coast of the Persian Gulf
POPULARITY
Categories
Center Stage Chronicle is back as Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles to discuss the month of August 1990 in the National Wrestling Alliance and pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:The status of guaranteed contracts possibly coming to an end in the NWA.THE PEARL, The New Fantastics, Hector Guerrero, Ivan Koloff, Terry Taylor, and many others make debuts/returns as this month has all kinds of names making appearances.Sting having two different convention appearances end in some form of controversy.Jim Herd and Ole Anderson beefing over the usage of older talent.“Mean” Mark Callous, Paul Orndorff, and more leave the NWA.Speculation about The Black Scorpion starts kicking up.“Young Guns II,” “Air America,” “My Blue Heaven,” and more hit the theatres.Extreme's “Pornograffiti,” Prince's “Graffiti Bridge,” Alice In Chains' “Facelift,” and more ht the stores.The TV series adaptation of “Ferris Bueller” debuts on NBC.Iraq invades Kuwait and the Desert Storm Conflict has begun.All of this and TONS more on another strong episode of CSC.---To support the show and get access to exclusive rewards like special members-only monthly themed shows, go to our Patreon page at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets and become an ongoing Patron. Becoming a Between the Sheets Patron will also get you exclusive access to not only the monthly themed episode of Between the Sheets, but also access to our new mailbag segment, a Patron-only chat room on Slack, and anything else we do outside of the main shows!If you're looking for the best deal on a VPN service—short for Virtual Private Network, it helps you get around regional restrictions as well as browse the internet more securely—then Private Internet Access is what you've been looking for. Not only will using our link help support Between The Sheets, but you'll get a special discount, with prices as low as $1.98/month if you go with a 40 month subscription. With numerous great features and even a TV-specific Android app to make streaming easier, there is no better choice if you're looking to subscribe to WWE Network, AEW Plus, and other region-locked services.For the best in both current and classic indie wrestling streaming, make sure to check out IndependentWrestling.tv and use coupon code BTSPOD for a free 5 day trial! (You can also go directly to TinyURL.com/IWTVsheets to sign up that way.) If you convert to a paid subscriber, we get a kickback for referring you, allowing you to support both the show and the indie scene.You can also use code BTSPOD to save 25% on your first payment — whether paying month to month or annually — when you subscribe to Ultimate Classic Wrestling Network at ClassicWrestling.net!To subscribe, you can find us on iTunes, Google Play, and just about every other podcast app's directory, or you can also paste Feeds.FeedBurner.com/BTSheets into your favorite podcast app using whatever “add feed manually” option it has.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/between-the-sheets/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Listen to the first episode of AJC's new limited podcast series, Architects of Peace. Go behind the scenes of the decades-long diplomacy and quiet negotiations that made the Abraham Accords possible, bringing Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and later Morocco, together in historic peace agreements. Jason Isaacson, AJC Chief of Policy and Political Affairs, explains the complex Middle East landscape before the Accords and how behind-the-scenes efforts helped foster the dialogue that continues to shape the region today. Resources: Episode Transcript AJC.org/ArchitectsofPeace - Tune in weekly for new episodes. The Abraham Accords, Explained AJC.org/CNME - Find more on AJC's Center for a New Middle East Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus People of the Pod Follow Architects of Peace on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/ArchitectsofPeace You can reach us at: podcasts@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript: Jason Isaacson: It has become clear to me in my travels in the region over the decades that more and more people across the Arab world understood the game, and they knew that this false narrative – that Jews are not legitimately there, and that somehow we have to focus all of our energy in the Arab world on combating this evil interloper – it's nonsense. And it's becoming increasingly clear that, in fact, Israel can be a partner. Manya Brachear Pashman: In September 2020, the world saw what had been years – decades – in the making: landmark peace agreements dubbed the Abraham Accords -- normalizing relations between Israel and two Arabian Gulf states, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Later in December, they were joined by the Kingdom of Morocco. Five years later, AJC is pulling back the curtain to meet key individuals who built the trust that led to these breakthroughs. Introducing: the Architects of Peace. Manya Brachear Pashman: On the eve of the signing of the Abraham Accords, AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson found himself traveling to the end of a tree filled winding road in McLean, Virginia, to sip tea on the back terrace with Bahraini Ambassador Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa and Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. Jason Isaacson: Sitting in the backyard of the Bahraini ambassador's house with Dr. Al Zayani, the Foreign Minister of Bahrain and with Shaikh Abdulla, the ambassador, and hearing what was about to happen the next day on the South Lawn of the White House was a thrilling moment. And really, in many ways, just a validation of the work that AJC has been doing for many years–before I came to the organization, and the time that I've spent with AJC since the early 90s. This possibility of Israel's true integration in the region, Israel's cooperation and peace with its neighbors, with all of its neighbors – this was clearly the threshold that we were standing on. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you're wondering how Jason ended up sipping tea in such esteemed company the night before his hosts made history, wonder no more. Here's the story. Yitzchak Shamir: The people of Israel look to this palace with great anticipation and expectation. We pray that this meeting will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Middle East; that it will signal the end of hostility, violence, terror, and war; that it will bring dialogue, accommodation, co-existence, and above all, peace. Manya Brachear Pashman: That was Israel's Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir speaking in October 1991 at the historic Madrid Peace Conference -- the first time Israel and Arab delegations engaged in direct talks toward peace. It had taken 43 years to reach this point – 43 years since the historic United Nations Resolution that created separate Jewish and Arab states – a resolution Jewish leaders accepted, but Arab states scorned. Not even 24 hours after Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, the armies of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria attacked the new Jewish state, which fought back mightily and expanded its territory. The result? A deep-seated distrust among Israel, its neighboring nations, and some of the Arab residents living within Israel's newly formed borders. Though many Palestinian Arabs stayed, comprising over 20 percent of Israel's population today, hundreds of thousands of others left or were displaced. Meanwhile, in reaction to the rebirth of the Jewish state, and over the following two decades, Jewish communities long established in Arab states faced hardship and attacks, forcing Jews by the hundreds of thousands to flee. Israel's War of Independence set off a series of wars with neighboring nations, terrorist attacks, and massacres. Peace in the region saw more than a few false starts, with one rare exception. In 1979, after the historic visit to Israel by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, he and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin joined President Jimmy Carter for negotiations at Camp David and signed a peace treaty that for the next 15 years, remained the only formal agreement between Israel and an Arab state. In fact, it was denounced uniformly across the Arab world. But 1991 introduced dramatic geopolitical shifts. The collapse of the Soviet Union, which had severed relations with Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967, diminished its ability to back Syria, Iraq, and Libya. In the USSR's final months, it re-established diplomatic relations with Israel but left behind a regional power vacuum that extremists started to fill. Meanwhile, most Arab states, including Syria, joined the successful U.S.-led coalition against Saddam Hussein that liberated Kuwait, solidifying American supremacy in the region and around the world. The Palestine Liberation Organization, which claimed to represent the world's Palestinians, supported Iraq and Libya. Seizing an opportunity, the U.S. and the enfeebled but still relevant Soviet Union invited to Madrid a joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation, along with delegations from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and Israel. Just four months before that Madrid meeting, Jason Isaacson had left his job on Capitol Hill to work for the American Jewish Committee. At that time, AJC published a magazine titled Commentary, enabling Jason to travel to the historic summit with media credentials and hang out with the press pool. Jason Isaacson: It was very clear in just normal conversations with these young Arab journalists who I was spending some time with, that there was the possibility of an openness that I had not realized existed. There was a possibility of kind of a sense of common concerns about the region, that was kind of refreshing and was sort of running counter to the narratives that have dominated conversations in that part of the world for so long. And it gave me the sense that by expanding the circle of relationships that I was just starting with in Madrid, we might be able to make some progress. We might be able to find some partners with whom AJC could develop a real relationship. Manya Brachear Pashman: AJC had already begun to build ties in the region in the 1950s, visiting Arab countries like Morocco and Tunisia, which had sizable Jewish populations. The rise in Arab nationalism in Tunisia and rebirth of Israel eventually led to an exodus that depleted the Jewish community there. Emigration depleted Morocco's Jewish community as well. Jason Isaacson: To say that somehow this is not the native land of the Jewish people is just flying in the face of the reality. And yet, that was the propaganda line that was pushed out across the region. Of course, Madrid opened a lot of people's eyes. But that wasn't enough. More had to be done. There were very serious efforts made by the U.S. government, Israeli diplomats, Israeli businesspeople, and my organization, which played a very active role in trying to introduce people to the reality that they would benefit from this relationship with Israel. So it was pushing back against decades of propaganda and lies. And that was one of the roles that we assigned to ourselves and have continued to play. Manya Brachear Pashman: No real negotiations took place at the Madrid Conference, rather it opened conversations that unfolded in Moscow, in Washington, and behind closed doors in secret locations around the world. Progress quickened under Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. In addition to a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, reached in 1994, secret talks in Norway between Israel and PLO resulted in the Oslo Accords, a series of agreements signed in 1993 and 1995 that ended the First Intifada after six years of violence, and laid out a five-year timeline for achieving a two-state solution. Extremists tried to derail the process. A Jewish extremist assassinated Rabin in 1995. And a new terror group launched a series of suicide attacks against Israeli civilians. Formed during the First Intifada, these terrorists became stars of the Second. They called themselves Hamas. AP News Report: [sirens] [in Hebrew] Don't linger, don't linger. Manya Brachear Pashman: On March 27, 2002, Hamas sent a suicide bomber into an Israeli hotel where 250 guests had just been seated for a Passover Seder. He killed 30 people and injured 140 more. The day after the deadliest suicide attack in Israel's history, the Arab League, a coalition of 22 Arab nations in the Middle East and Africa, unveiled what it called the Arab Peace Initiative – a road map offering wide scale normalization of relations with Israel, but with an ultimatum: No expansion of Arab-Israeli relations until the establishment of a Palestinian state within the pre-1967 armistice lines and a so-called right of return for Palestinians who left and their descendants. As the Second Intifada continued to take civilian lives, the Israeli army soon launched Operation Defensive Shield to secure the West Bank and parts of Gaza. It was a period of high tension, conflict, and distrust. But behind the scenes, Jason and AJC were forging ahead, building bridges, and encountering an openness in Arab capitals that belied the ultimatum. Jason Isaacson: It has become clear to me in my travels in the region over the decades that more and more people across the Arab world understood the game, and they knew that that this false narrative that Jews are not legitimately there, and that somehow we have to focus all of our energy in the Arab world on combating this evil interloper – it's nonsense. And it's becoming increasingly clear that, in fact, Israel can be a partner of Arab countries. Manya Brachear Pashman: Jason led delegations of Jewish leaders to Arab capitals, oversaw visits by Arab leaders to Israel, and cultivated relationships of strategic and political consequence with governments and civil society leaders across North Africa, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula. In 2009, King Mohammed VI of Morocco bestowed on him the honor of Chevalier of the Order of the Throne of the Kingdom of Morocco. Jason's priority was nurturing one key element missing from Arab-Israeli relations. An element that for decades had been absent in most Middle East peace negotiations: trust. Jason Isaacson: Nothing is more important than developing trust. Trust and goodwill are, if not synonymous, are so closely linked. Yes, a lot of these discussions that AJC's been engaged in over many years have been all about, not only developing a set of contacts we can turn to when there's a crisis or when we need answers to questions or when we need to pass a message along to a government. But also, develop a sense that we all want the same thing and we trust each other. That if someone is prepared to take certain risks to advance the prospect of peace, which will involve risk, which will involve vulnerability. That a neighbor who might have demonstrated in not-so-distant past animosity and hostility toward Israel can be trusted to take a different course. Manya Brachear Pashman: A number of Israeli diplomats and businesspeople also worked toward that goal. While certain diplomatic channels in the intelligence and security spheres stayed open out of necessity – other diplomats and businesspeople with dual citizenship traveled across the region, quietly breaking down barriers, starting conversations, and building trust. Jason Isaacson: I would run into people in Arab capitals from time to time, who were fulfilling that function, and traveling with different passports that they had legitimately, because they were from those countries. It was just a handful of people in governments that would necessarily know that they were there. So yes, if that sounds like cloak and dagger, it's kind of a cloak and dagger operation, a way for people to maintain a relationship and build a relationship until the society is ready to accept the reality that it will be in their country's best interest to have that relationship. Manya Brachear Pashman: Privately, behind the scenes, signs emerged that some Arab leaders understood the role that Jews have played in the region's history for millennia and the possibilities that would exist if Muslims and Jews could restore some of the faith and friendship of bygone years. Jason Isaacson: I remember sitting with King Mohammed the VI of Morocco just weeks after his ascension to the throne, so going back more than a quarter century, and hearing him talk with me and AJC colleagues about the 600,000 subjects that he had in Israel. Of course, these were Jews, Israelis of Moroccan descent, who are in the hundreds of thousands. But the sense that these countries really have a common history. Manya Brachear Pashman: Common history, yes. Common goals, too. And not for nothing, a common enemy. The same extremist forces that have been bent on Israel's destruction have not only disrupted Israeli-Arab peace, they've prevented the Palestinian people from thriving in a state of their own and now threaten the security and stability of the entire region. Jason Isaacson: We are hopeful that in partnership with those in the Arab world who feel the same way about the need to push back against extremism, including the extremism promoted, promulgated, funded, armed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, that we can have enough of a network of supportive players in the Arab world, in the West. Working with Israel and working with Palestinian partners who are interested in the same future. A real future, a politically free future, where we can actually make some progress. And that's an ongoing effort. This is a point that we made consistently over many years: if you want to help the Palestinian people–and we want to help the Palestinian people–but if you, fill in the blank Arab government official, your country wants to help the Palestinian people, you're not helping them by pretending that Israel doesn't exist. You're not helping them by isolating Israel, by making Israel a pariah in the minds of your people. You will actually have leverage with Israel, and you'll help the Palestinians when they're sitting at a negotiating table across from the Israelis. If you engage Israel, if you have access to the Israeli officials and they have a stake in your being on their side on certain things and working together on certain common issues. Manya Brachear Pashman: Jason says more and more Arab leaders are realizing, with some frustration, that isolating Israel is a losing proposition for all the parties involved. It has not helped the Palestinian people. It has not kept extremism at bay. And it has not helped their own countries and their own citizens prosper. In fact, the limitations that isolating Israel imposes have caused many countries to lag behind the tiny Jewish state. Jason Isaacson: I think there was just this sense of how far back we have fallen, how much ground we have to make up. We need to break out of the old mindset and try something different. But that before the Abraham Accords, they were saying it in the years leading up to the Abraham Accords, with increasing frustration for the failure of Palestinian leadership to seize opportunities that had been held out to them. But frankly, also contributing, I think, to this was this insistence on isolating themselves from a naturally synergistic relationship with a neighboring state right next door that could contribute to the welfare of their societies. It just didn't make a whole lot of sense, and it denied them the ability to move forward. Manya Brachear Pashman: Jason remembers the first time he heard an Arab official utter the words out loud – expressing a willingness, daresay desire, to partner with Israel. Jason Isaacson: It took a long time, but I could see in 2016, 17, 18, 19, this growing awareness, and finally hearing it actually spoken out loud in one particular conference that I remember going to in 2018 in Bahrain, by a senior official from an Arab country. It took a long time for that lesson to penetrate, but it's absolutely the case. Manya Brachear Pashman: In 2019, Bahrain hosted an economic summit where the Trump administration presented its "Peace to Prosperity" plan, a $50 billion investment proposal to create jobs and improve the lives of Palestinians while also promoting regional peace and security. Palestinians rejected the plan outright and refused to attend. Bahrain invited Israeli media to cover the summit. That September, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, AJC presented its inaugural Architect of Peace Award to the Kingdom of Bahrain's chief diplomat for nearly 20 years. Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, told Jason that it was important to learn the lessons of the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and late Jordanian King Hussein, both of whom signed peace treaties with Israel. He also explained the reason why Bahrain invited Israeli media. Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa: President Anwar Sadat did it, he broke a huge barrier. He was a man of war, he was the leader of a country that went to war or two with Israel. But then he knew that at the right moment he would want to go straight to Israeli and talk to them. We fulfilled also something that we've always wanted to do, we've discussed it many times: talking to the Israeli public through the Israeli media. Why not talk to the people? They wake up every day, they have their breakfast watching their own TV channels, they read their own papers, they read their own media, they form their own opinion. Absolutely nobody should shy away from talking to the media. We are trying to get our point across. In order to convince. How will you do it? There is no language of silence. You'll have to talk and you'll have to remove all those barriers and with that, trust can be built. Manya Brachear Pashman: Jason had spent decades building that trust and the year to come yielded clear results. In May and June 2020, UAE Ambassador to the UN Lana Nusseibeh and UAE Minister of State Dr. Anwar Gargash both participated in AJC webinars to openly discuss cooperation with Israel – a topic once considered taboo. So when the Abraham Accords were signed a few months later, for Jason and AJC colleagues who had been on this long journey for peace, it was a natural progression. Though no less dramatic. Sitting with Minister Al Khalifa's successor, Dr. Al Zayani, and the Bahraini ambassador on the evening before the White House ceremony, it was time to drink a toast to a new chapter of history in the region. Jason Isaacson: I don't think that that would have been possible had there not been decades of contacts that had been made by many people. Roving Israeli diplomats and Israeli business people, usually operating, in fact, maybe always operating with passports from other countries, traveling across the region. And frankly, our work and the work of a limited number of other people who were in non-governmental positions. Some journalists, authors, scholars, business people, and we certainly did a great deal of this over decades, would speak with leaders in these countries and influential people who are not government officials. And opening up their minds to the possibility of the advantages that would accrue to their societies by engaging Israel and by better understanding the Jewish people and who we are, what we care about, who we are not. Because there was, of course, a great deal of decades, I should say, centuries and millennia, of misapprehensions and lies about the Jewish people. So clearing away that baggage was a very important part of the work that we did, and I believe that others did as well. We weren't surprised. We were pleased. We applauded the Trump administration, the President and his team, for making this enormous progress on advancing regional security and peace, prosperity. We are now hoping that we can build on those achievements of 2020 going forward and expanding fully the integration of Israel into its neighborhood. Manya Brachear Pashman: Next episode, we hear how the first Trump administration developed its Middle East policy and take listeners behind the scenes of the high stakes negotiations that yielded the Abraham Accords. Atara Lakritz is our producer. T.K. Broderick is our sound engineer. Special thanks to Jason Isaacson, Jon Schweitzer, Sean Savage, and the entire AJC team for making this series possible. You can subscribe to Architects of Peace on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and you can learn more at AJC.org/ArchitectsofPeace. The views and opinions of our guests don't necessarily reflect the positions of AJC. You can reach us at podcasts@ajc.org. If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to spread the word, and hop onto Apple Podcasts or Spotify to rate us and write a review to help more listeners find us. ___ Music Credits: Middle East : ID: 279780040; Composer: Eric Sutherland Middle East Violin: ID: 277189507; Composer: Andy Warner Frontiers: ID: 183925100; Publisher: Pond5 Publishing Beta (BMI); Composer: Pete Checkley (BMI) Middle East Tension: ID: 45925627 Arabic Ambient: ID: 186923328; Publisher: Victor Romanov; Composer: Victor Romanov Arabian Strings: ID: 72249988; Publisher: EITAN EPSTEIN; Composer: EITAN EPSTEIN Inspired Middle East: ID: 241884108; Composer: iCENTURY Middle East Dramatic Intense: ID: 23619101; Publisher: GRS Records; Composer: Satria Petir Mystical Middle East: ID: 212471911; Composer: Vicher
HEADLINES:♦ Lunate to Set Up $2B Joint Investment Platform with Brevan Howard at ADGM♦ Kuwait Revokes Al Sabah Newspaper and TV Licences♦ Norway Fund Dumps Caterpillar, Israeli Banks Over Rights Abuses♦ Egypt to Launch High-Speed Electric Train Network in 2026 Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY Lovin 10 Vote Link: https://lovin.co/lovins/?site_id=14
HEADLINES:♦ Spinneys Enters Kuwait Through Joint Venture with Alshaya Group♦ HSBC Cuts Wealthy Middle Eastern Clients as Lombard Odier Exits Abu Dhabi♦ Syria to Revalue Pound, Introduce New Banknotes to Restore Confidence♦ Sharjah Entrepreneurship Leader Urges Crackdown on Late SME Payments Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY Lovin 10 Vote Link: https://lovin.co/lovins/?site_id=14
On the 24 February 1991 The ground operation in Kuwait begun. After 6 weeks of decisive air offenses, allied forces moved in with the mission to expel what was left of Saddam Hussein's military presence in Kuwait.Adam is joined again by three BBC reporters who were in the region at the time - Kate Adie, Justin Webb, and Jeremy Bowen.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a whatsapp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Rufus Gray and Chris Flynn. The technical producers were Mike Regaard, Rohan Madison and Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
On the 17th January 1991, a US led coalition began its air offensive into neighbouring Kuwait, which had been invaded the year before by the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein. Codenamed operation ‘Desert Storm', it marked the defining chapter of the first Gulf War - a conflict which has since been held up as an exemplar of Western military and diplomatic dominance.Adam is joined by three BBC reporters who were in the region at the time - Kate Adie, Justin Webb, and Jeremy Bowen.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a whatsapp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Rufus Gray and Chris Flynn. The technical producers were Mike Regaard, Rohan Madison and Dafydd Evans . The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Thirty-five years ago, in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the United States launched Operation Desert Shield, the largest American military deployment since Vietnam. On Monday, August 11 at 7:00pm ET, the Veterans Breakfast Club hosts a special 90-minute livestream conversation with veterans who served during this critical moment in modern military history. Operation Desert Shield began in August 1990, just days after Saddam Hussein's forces stormed into Kuwait. As the world watched with rising alarm, President George H. W. Bush ordered a massive mobilization to defend Saudi Arabiaand deter further Iraqi aggression. Over the next six months, more than 500,000 American troops—alongside coalition partners from 34 nations—were deployed to the Persian Gulf, building up a formidable military force in the desert. Joining us will be Scott C. Stump, a Marine veteran who is President, CEO, and founder of the National Desert Storm Memorial Association. Scott served in eastern Saudi Arabia and Bahrain during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and conceived the memorial idea and has led the charge ever since. He marshaled private fundraising—including critical support from Kuwait—and steered the association through years of design approvals, legislative hurdles, and permit process. The National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial is now rising near the Lincoln and Vietnam Veterans Memorials on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. It honors roughly 700,000 Americans who served in the Gulf War of 1990–91, grounded in a concept first envisioned in 2010 and formally authorized by Congress in 2014. Stump's determined leadership helped secure the March 6, 2025 construction permit and kick off building work, with a projected dedication in spring 2026—bringing to fruition a memorial born of both personal service and long‑term advocacy This program will also focus on the Desert Shield buildup itself—the staging, logistics, training, and uncertainty that defined Desert Shield: What was it like to deploy to Saudi Arabia in the sweltering heat of 1990? How did troops prepare for a possible war that was still months away? What do veterans remember about the sense of anticipation, camaraderie, and tension on the ground? How did Desert Shield set the stage for the lightning-fast Desert Storm offensive that followed in January 1991? Though Desert Shield is often overshadowed by the brief but intense ground campaign of Desert Storm, it was a vital operation in its own right. It marked a new era of rapid deployment, joint operations, and coalition warfare, and proved that the U.S. military could project overwhelming force across the globe in a matter of weeks. Join us to commemorate this important anniversary and honor the service of those who stood ready in the desert long before the shooting began. #DesertShield35 #OperationDesertShield #GulfWarVeterans #VeteransBreakfastClub #VBCLive #MilitaryDeployment #GulfWarAnniversary #DesertShieldStories #ModernMilitaryHistory We're grateful to UPMC for Life for sponsoring this event!
Get ready, culers! Barcelona just pulled off a masterstroke, snatching Swedish prodigy Roony Bardghji for a mere €2 million! This episode dives deep into the jaw-dropping bargain, his incredible journey from Kuwait to Camp Nou, and how he conquered a devastating ACL injury. We'll break down his electrifying, Eden Hazard-esque playing style – from his explosive acceleration and dazzling dribbling to his uncanny ability to glide past defenders. Is he Hansi Flick's perfect puzzle piece? Tune in to discover why this low-risk, sky-high-reward signing could define Barca's future!Roony Bardghji, Barcelona transfer, FC Copenhagen, soccer podcast, La Liga news
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dQszSMliVA Alan Skorski had the opportunity to interview the foremost expert on Islamism and the Arab world, Dr. Mordechai Kedar. Dr. Kedar also served for 25 years in the IDF Military Intelligence Unit specializing in Syria, Arab political discourse, Arab mass media, Islamic groups, and Israeli Arabs. As someone who is fluent in Arabic, Dr. Kedar is often invited onto Arab and Muslim news programs to give his perspective on the news of the day, especially during times of war and conflict. 30 years ago, Dr. Kedar proposed the “8-state” solution to address the Israeli conflict with those Arabs identifying as Palestinian, having recognized what most of the world refused to, that there can never be and will never be a “2 -State solution” with any faction or offshoot of the PLO or Fatah. In the interview, Skorski reminded the audience that we are coming up on 700 days since the Hamas Muslim Brotherhood slaughtered over 1200 Israeli citizens and kidnapped over 250 innocent hostages on October 7, 2023. Since then, the IDF has surgically crushed the infrastructures in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. The media and so-called “humanitarian groups,” have focused all their attention on Gaza, accusing Israel of war crimes and genocide for allegedly withholding food from Gaza's civilians. In response, the morally bankrupt leaders in Europe, led by France and Britain, and followed by Canada, have threatened to recognize “Palestine” as some sort of punishment against Israel. These leaders claim that only a “2-state” solution will lead to peace and security. Never mind that the Palestinian Authority has rejected every offer made to them, and that Gaza was an independent state, NO PALESTINIAN leader is even calling for “2 states.” From the River to the Sea, opposes 2 states. There is only solution, intifada Revolution rejects 2 states. YET, Europe, western media, and many Democrats in America are calling for a “Palestine” that Palestinians don't want. In early July, the Wall Street Journal reported that Sheikh Wadee' al-Jaabari and four other prominent clan leaders from Hebron had signed a letter pledging peace and full recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. Their plan: Hebron would secede from the Palestinian Authority, establish an independent emirate, and join the Abraham Accords. With this news report, Dr. Kedar's 30 year-old prophecy resurfaced with renewed interest for his “8-state” solution, which would cut out the Palestinian terrorist leadership, and replace them with Arab tribal leaders to rule over themselves in designated Arab-run territories. Dr. Kedar cited Countries where clans have their own separate autonomy are more successful. We see this in countries such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, that have economic stability, safety, law, and order. These countries, by no coincidence, are run by clans: al-Sabah (Kuwait), al-Thani (Qatar), al-Nahayan (Abu Dhabi), al-Saud (Saudi Arabia), al-Hashem (Jordan), and so on. Compare these to the Arab countries where the clans are in disarray, such as Syria, Libya, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran. Dr. Kedar is the Vice President of a recently launched App, News-Rael that gives up to the minute accurate news items about Israel and the Middle East. Alan Skorski Reports 11AUG2025 - PODCAST
Varados en Kuwait durante la invasión de Sadam, los pasajeros del vuelo 149 fueron retenidos como escudos humanos. Décadas después, los supervivientes buscan justicia y respuestas sobre su misterioso aterrizaje en una zona de guerra.
La invasión de Kuwait pronto crea una coalición internacional liderada por Estado Unidos que presionará al régimen de Bagdad para retirarse de Kuwait y reinstaurar el antiguo régimen de Yaber Al-Ahmad. El despliegue inicial para la defensa de Arabia Saudí es al principio escaso, pero pronto tendremos en la zona un ejército gigantesco que requiere unas competencias logísticas a la altura. Todo preparado como un antecedente de la invasión posterior, de la Tormenta del Desierto. Te lo cuenta el G4 (Julio 'Caronte', Esaú Rodríguez Antonio Gómez y Dani CarAn) ⭐️ ¿Qué es la Edición Especial de Verano? Se trata de reediciones revisadas de episodios relevantes de nuestro arsenal, para que no pases el verano sin tu ración de Historia Bélica. 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: 🆕 WhatsApp https://bit.ly/CasusBelliWhatsApp 👉 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 👉 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@casusbelli10 👉 https://podcastcasusbelli.com 👨💻Nuestro chat del canal es https://t.me/casusbellipod ⚛️ 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 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. ¿Quieres anunciarte en este podcast? Hazlo con advoices.com/podcast/ivoox/391278 Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals
In this week's Five Things Friday – US Edition, Alex Rezvan is joined by Jill Dvorak, SVP of Content at the National Retail Federation (NRF), to unpack five key stories shaping retail right now.We cover:1️⃣ Zalando's European Growth — How the fashion giant is exceeding forecasts and expanding its portfolio ahead of NRF Big Show Europe in Paris (Sept 16–18). Read NRF's speaker announcement2️⃣ ShopMy and the Creator Economy — Why social-led shopping platforms like ShopMy and influencer discovery tools are redefining retail inspiration. More from Vogue Business3️⃣ Hailey Bieber's Rhode Beauty — From a $1B brand sale to a physical retail presence, and why its new parent, e.l.f. Beauty, keeps winning. Discover Rhode4️⃣ Resale Market Acceleration — Deloitte research shows over 150 brands investing in in-house resale channels, while California's new SB 707 law sets strict textile recycling rules.5️⃣ Martha Stewart's First Standalone Stores — Why the homeware icon is opening in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait via Marquee Brands.
Quase 180 países participam de negociações globais para um tratado juridicamente vinculante sobre a poluição plástica, em Genebra, na Suíça. No ano passado, em Busan, na Coreia do Sul, países produtores de petróleo emperraram as discussões. O encontro começou na terça-feira (5) e deve durar dez dias. Para o Brasil, um dos principais pontos de discussão e das propostas apresentadas nas negociações é a questão da saúde humana, explica Maria Angélica Ikeda, diretora do Departamento de Meio Ambiente do Ministério das Relações Exteriores e negociadora-chefe da delegação brasileira. “As pesquisas já encontraram microplásticos no corpo humano, no feto, na placenta, no leite materno. Segundo os cientistas, estamos ingerindo muitos microplásticos por várias vias – alimentos, líquidos, etc. O Brasil enfatiza a importância de promover e fortalecer as pesquisas científicas sobre essa inter-relação entre poluição por plásticos e saúde”, diz Ikeda. “Nós sabemos que há muita oposição de algumas outras delegações por várias razões específicas. Estamos abertos ao diálogo e à negociação. Temos, como sempre, como princípio, a flexibilidade, porque queremos ouvir todas as delegações e chegar a um resultado consensual. Mas gostaríamos de preservar o conteúdo relacionado à saúde no tratado”, assinalou a negociadora brasileira. Outro ponto defendido pela delegação brasileira é a transição justa para os trabalhadores da cadeia do ciclo de vida dos plásticos, sobretudo os trabalhadores informais, incluindo os catadores de materiais recicláveis. "Os catadores dependem de valores justos para o material reciclável, para poder garantir sua renda. Eles vendem esse material para os recicladores. Então, é muito importante protegermos esses trabalhadores das flutuações de mercado e prover regulações que realmente assegurem essa fonte de renda”, enfatizou Ikeda. A representante do governo brasileiro também defende a criação de um mecanismo financeiro ambicioso, para que os países em desenvolvimento tenham meios de implementar o acordo. WWF apresenta relatório contundente A organização de conservação WWF corrobora as preocupações com a saúde. Um relatório da WWF de julho de 2025, intitulado Plásticos, Saúde e Um Planeta, destaca que a poluição por partículas plásticas microscópicas representa uma ameaça física e química, devido aos aditivos tóxicos. Substâncias como ftalatos, bisfenóis e PFAS ("químicos eternos") são particularmente preocupantes, associadas a riscos de infertilidade, câncer, doenças respiratórias e cardiovasculares, além de impactos no desenvolvimento cerebral. O relatório defende uma abordagem de “Saúde Única” (One Health), reconhecendo as profundas interconexões entre a saúde humana, animal e ambiental. Entre as reivindicações da WWF estão o banimento e a eliminação progressiva de plásticos de uso único e de químicos perigosos. Atualmente, menos de 6% das 16.000 substâncias químicas usadas em plásticos são reguladas internacionalmente, embora mais de 26% sejam conhecidas por serem perigosas. A ONG pede regras harmonizadas e vinculantes para o design de produtos plásticos, a fim de melhorar a gestão e a reciclagem dos materiais, além de financiamento e transferência de tecnologia para países em desenvolvimento. Assim, como a delegação brasileira, a WWF também solicita a transição justa para os trabalhadores da cadeia do ciclo de vida dos plásticos, incluindo os catadores de materiais recicláveis. “Uma questão de direitos humanos”, explica Michel Santos, gerente de Políticas Públicas do WWF-Brasil. Críticas à posição brasileira Embora o Brasil tenha uma Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos avançada, que prevê o ciclo de vida completo do produto, o país não tem defendido amplamente a redução da produção no tratado, devido à pressão da indústria petroquímica, que não quer ver essa redução no Brasil e no mundo, aponta Santos. Ele ressalta que a indústria insiste que bastam medidas de gestão e reciclagem ("midstream" e "downstream") para resolver o problema, mas a WWF defende que, sem medidas "upstream" (redução da produção), uma solução de fato não será alcançada. Santos lamenta que iniciativas domésticas importantes, como a Estratégia Nacional de Oceanos Sem Plásticos, estejam paralisadas e “desidratadas” por influência dessa indústria. Ele enfatiza que “o capital não pode se sobrepor à saúde das pessoas e à saúde do meio ambiente”. Perspectivas para o tratado Apesar do impasse em Busan, há um otimismo cauteloso em Genebra a respeito de um acordo. Maria Angélica Ikeda compartilha essa visão: “Acredito, pelas conversas com as outras delegações, que existe uma intenção forte dos países de conseguir um acordo em Genebra”. No entanto, ela reconhece que o texto é extenso, aborda muitos temas e as posições dos países são divergentes, o que torna a negociação desafiadora. Michel Santos elogia políticas em relação ao plástico de países como Noruega, Alemanha, México e Guatemala, que defendem um tratado ambicioso. Ele teme que outros, produtores de petróleo como Arábia Saudita, Rússia e Kuwait, possam tentar arrastar as discussões e evitar acordos vinculantes.
In this episode of Paranormal Activity, Yvette Fielding is joined once again by friend of the pod Glen Hunt as they take us on a journey to explore the mysterious orbs that have been appearing around the world, objects that seem to defy explanation.From the shimmering metallic orbs in Colombia and Mexico, to the neon orange UFO orbs over JFK Airport, and the white orb emerging from the ocean off the coast of Kuwait, these strange, otherworldly phenomena have raised more questions than answers.Yvette & Glen delve into the recent sightings of these orbs, examining their peculiar characteristics and erratic movements.They'll look at the scientific investigations into these objects, including the examination of a metallic orb discovered in Buga, Colombia in 2024, which has sparked a massive UFO mystery.Additionally, they explore the orb that fell from the sky and crashed into a tree in Veracruz, Mexico in 2022, leaving experts baffled.Yvette and Glen also cover the recent orb sightings at Manchester Airport, JFK, and Kuwait, each sighting offering a new piece to the puzzle of what these strange orbs could be.Are these orbs part of a larger extraterrestrial phenomenon?Could they be advanced human technology?Or do they hold a deeper spiritual or paranormal significance?Tune in as Yvette and Glen investigates the theories, the possible alien connection, and the growing intrigue surrounding these glowing, metallic spheres - objects that seem to be much more than just unusual occurrences in the sky.Join us as we seek to unravel the mystery behind the orb phenomenon and explore what these sightings might mean for our understanding of the paranormal and extraterrestrial life.A Create Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 217-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,443 on turnover of 7.2-billion N-T. The market rebounded from slumps seen during the the previous two sessions on Tuesday following a strong showing on Wall Street overnight. **President Lai Ching-te vows to increase defense budget to more than 3% of **GDP President Lai Ching-te says he plans to increase next year's defense budget to more than 3-per cent of G-D-P. Speaking at the opening of the Ketagalan Forum-Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue in Taipei, Lai said the budget will be increased based on continuing reforms within the island's armed forces and more investment (投資) in national defense. According to Lai, his administration will also continue to boost Taiwan's economic resilience and advance economic security by stepping up trade cooperation with other countries, And Lai also used his opening address to say his government remains committed to maintaining cross-strait "status quo”and ensuring peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. 10 KMT affiliates indicted in Chiayi for recall petition forgery The Chiayi District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 10 people affiliated with K-M-T for forging 2,067 signatures on a petition to recall D-P-P lawmaker Chen Guan-ting. Those indicted include Yang Fu-cheng, the secretary-general of the K-M-T's Chiayi County branch; Ho Bo-lun, the director of -K-M-T lawmaker Wang Yu-min's local office. The eight other people indicted all worked for the K-M-T' Chiayi County branch. According to the Prosecutors' Office, all 10 suspects have charged with forgery (偽造) and violations of the Personal Data Protection Act. Another eight people have been granted deferred prosecution for one year. NATO to coordinate regular and large-scale arm deliveries to Ukraine NATO is set to coordinate (協調) regular and large-scale arm deliveries to Ukraine The AP's Jennifer King reports. Nigeria Trafficked Birds Seized Nigerian customs have seized over 1,600 parrots and canaries being transported from Lagos to Kuwait without a permit. This is one of the biggest wildlife trafficking seizures in years. On July 31, customs agents seized ring-necked parakeets and green and yellow fronted canaries at Lagos airport. These are protected species. The birds were not accompanied by the required permits. An investigation is ongoing (正在進行的) to find those responsible. The birds will be handed to the National Parks Service for rehabilitation and release. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. ----以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告---- 挺你所想!與你一起生活的銀行 中國信託行動銀行APP 全新推出「交易中安全提示」防詐騙功能 開啟後,轉帳的同時也在通話,會自動跳出貼心提醒,力挺你的金融安 全 防護再進化,交易好安心! 馬上下載「中國信託行動銀行APP」 https://sofm.pse.is/7zc5n3 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn
In this episode, we sit down with John Peaveler, the founder and principal consultant of Humane Innovations LLC, a company driven by real-world experience in animal control, shelter systems, wildlife management, and disaster response. John brings over 20 years of global expertise to the table, having launched the first animal shelter and control program in Kuwait in 2004 and serving in leadership roles across NGOs and response teams worldwide (Humane Innovations, Humane Innovations).We dig into:How John's work in Kuwait shaped his vision for humane, effective animal capture and control methods. (Humane Innovations, Humane Innovations)The founding of Humane Innovations as a solution-driven platform offering professional-grade equipment, field training, capture methods, and consulting. (Humane Innovations)His experiences responding to major disaster situations internationally—including in the Philippines, Japan, Haiti, Turkey, Ukraine, and the U.S.—and lessons learned from coordinating animal care during crises. (Humane Innovations)The intersection of product design, training, and operational support in safer and more efficient animal rescue, shelter, and field programs. (Humane Innovations)John's role as an instructor and speaker for major animal care organizations such as NACA and the World Organization for Animal Health, and what drives his passion for helping professionals and communities prepare for and manage animal-related emergencies (Humane Innovations).Listeners will walk away with:Real-world stories from disaster zones and shelter programs.Insights into what it takes to develop field‑tested equipment that saves countless animal lives.Advice for trainers, responders, and agencies looking to build or scale humane animal-care capacity.Why preparation and proper tools can make all the difference when disaster strikes—both for animals and humans.Tune in for a deep conversation that blends innovation, compassion, leadership, and frontline ingenuity.
Exclusive Deals For Reading With Your Kids Listeners! Visit www.zivo.life and use the promo code READ to get 30% off The Better Microalgae – your ultimate daily nutrient boost! Visit www.BigForkBrands.com and use the promo code READ to get 20% off the most delicious pork snacks ever. Visit www.CozyEarth.com and use the promo code READ to get an incredible 41% off their ultra cozy and comfy bedding. Get ready for an inspiring journey into the world of children's literature with two incredible storytellers who are changing lives one page at a time! In this heartwarming episode of Reading with Your Kids, we dive deep into the creative processes of Jeff Verney, the "Troubadour of Happiness," and the Music Mermaid. Jeff Verney's story is nothing short of miraculous. After surviving a life-threatening brain aneurysm, he discovered his true calling: spreading happiness. His children's book "Bunnies to the Rescue" isn't just a cute story - it's a testament to finding purpose and joy in life. Inspired by the adorable bunnies of Nantucket, Jeff transformed a vacation moment into a delightful tale that teaches kids about friendship, helping others, and not jumping to conclusions. Meanwhile, the Music Mermaid brings her own unique magic to children's literature. As an elementary music teacher with a passion for cultural diversity, she's created a musical mermaid tale that celebrates family, creativity, and the power of imagination. Her background living in Kuwait and traveling the world has given her a rich perspective that shines through in her storytelling. Both authors share a common mission: inspiring children and adults alike to embrace creativity, gratitude, and happiness. Jeff runs happiness workshops and creates music, while the Music Mermaid uses her teaching background to encourage students to improvise and create. Their stories remind us that life's most beautiful moments often come from unexpected places. Whether it's surviving a medical challenge or finding inspiration in travel, these authors prove that creativity knows no bounds. Click here to visit our website – www.ReadingWithYourKids.com Follow Us On Social Media Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/readingwithyourkids Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/readingwithyourkids/ X - https://x.com/jedliemagic LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/reading-with-your-kids-podcast/ Please consider leaving a review of this episode and the podcast on whatever app you are listening on, it really helps!
Kuwait may be small, but it punches well above its weight in the geography department. Nestled between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, this desert kingdom sits at the crossroads of civilizations where the Arabian Gulf meets millennia of trading history. Think gleaming towers rising from endless sand, souks that smell of cardamom and ambition, and enough oil wealth to make a petrolhead weep with joy. It's a place where Bedouin heritage meets modern luxury, and where getting lost in the desert is both a metaphor and a genuine possibility.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Kuwait for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/trodpod-56-guide-135739199. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas Felix Creighton shares his parents' letters, written from Kuwait in 1978, and reflects on their first experience as Brits in a non-Western country.A huge part of this channel is drawing on Thomas' international experience, so he regularly gets messages asking, ‘why did you live abroad?' – The usual reply is, ‘My parents started it!'. So, not unreasonably, some people ask, ‘Okay, so why did your parents live abroad?'. One formative experience for the older Creighton generation was living in Kuwait 1978-1981. It was not Lee and Frank Creighton's first time overseas, they'd lived in Germany together already. But, Kuwait was a particularly impactful experience, and one they often both talked about. Germany was more familiar, they were with a much larger British Army contingent. Whereas in Kuwait, they were with the much smaller ‘Kuwait Liaison Team' (KLT) team, and Kuwaiti culture very different from what Lee Creighton was familiar with. Frank had lived in Egypt and Aden (Yemen) as a child - again in British Army camps, but with ample opportunity to observe and interact with the local culture. Thomas reads three letters from his parents. The first, an e-mail sent in 2012, is a reflection on their time in Kuwait, 30 years later. The second, is Lee Creighton's first letter to her parents in England, from Kuwait (1978). The third reading is Frank's letter to Lee's parents, also 1978. Thomas gives further reflections on his time in Saudi Arabia (2012/13), and uses that to remark on his parent's recollections.For more, check out the 'podcast highlights' section of AlbionNeverDies.comhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/podcast-highlights/brits-in-the-desertMessage Thomas anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out Thomas' https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out the Red Bubble shopSubscribe to the newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show
As suffering and starvation continues unimpeded in Gaza, the chorus of criticism is becoming louder, and not just from abroad. In an unprecedented move, Yuli Novak & Guy Shalev, the executive directors of B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, two leading Israeli human rights groups, tell Christiane why they believe their government is committing genocide in Gaza. Then former National Institutes of Health chief Francis Collins discusses the chilling impact of science and research cuts on American healthcare under Donald Trump's second term. Also, as Trump ramps up pressure on Putin's grinding war, Nick Paton Walsh has a special report on one of the country's youngest victims, Tymur, aged ten. Plus, after recent elections in Japan saw the obscure far-right party, Sanseito, make dramatic gains in the recent election, Christiane discusses whether Trump or tourists are behind the stunning results with Tomohiko Taniguchi, a former advisor to longtime Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Mira Rapp-Hooper, who was a special Asia advisor to President Biden. Thirty-five years since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, from her archives, Christiane's report on America's massive military buildup in the Saudi desert ahead of their effort to repel Saddam, and the weary U.S. troops she met there, worried about insufficient supplies and what was yet to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What does it take to rebuild your life, again and again, when the ground keeps shifting beneath you?In this personal and wide-ranging conversation, Philippe sits down with Honey Al Sayed, a media pioneer turned executive coach, whose life has spanned seven countries, three wars, and countless reinventions. Born in Kuwait to Syrian parents, Honey's path was anything but linear, from escaping war as a teenager, to becoming the voice behind Good Morning Syria, to eventually rebuilding her life in exile.Together, they explore:Honey's extraordinary journey through conflict, migration, and media under authoritarian regimesHer time creating Syria's most popular morning radio show, and navigating the “invisible lines” of censorshipThe quiet power of kindness, faith, and unexpected allies in times of upheavalHow being constantly uprooted shaped her identity, purpose, and relationship with resilienceThe emotional cost of endurance, and the importance of self-compassion and healingHer current work helping others find their voice as a communications and leadership coachHoney reflects on the pain and gift of reinvention, the legacy of trauma on the body and psyche, and the hope that even in the worst moments, “something good is going to come out.”Connect with Honey on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hasd and on her website, https://honey-and.com.Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd don't forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!Support the show
Una serie de conflictos económicos enfrenta a los intereses de Iraq y Kuwait, y los dos regímenes dictatoriales se pelean en el plano político hasta que Saddam Hussein decide invadir a la pequeño petro-monarquía. Dos días de campaña son suficientes para controlar el país, pero lo que parecía un conflicto más del convulso Oriente Medio de la época, se convierte en un conflicto a gran escala contra Iraq bautizado como Guerra del Golfo. Por Julio 'Caronte', Esaú Rodríguez, Antonio Gómez y Dani CarAn. Voz Telediario por Gemma Ayats. ⭐️ ¿Qué es la Edición Especial de Verano? Se trata de reediciones revisadas de episodios relevantes de nuestro arsenal, para que no pases el verano sin tu ración de Historia Bélica. 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: 🆕 WhatsApp https://bit.ly/CasusBelliWhatsApp 👉 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 👉 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@casusbelli10 👉 https://podcastcasusbelli.com 👨💻Nuestro chat del canal es https://t.me/casusbellipod ⚛️ 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 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. ¿Quieres anunciarte en este podcast? Hazlo con advoices.com/podcast/ivoox/391278 Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals
Send us a textRegister your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/online-satsang Acceptance and Patience | In Quest of Truth - Q&A with Babaji, No.234Recorded on 12 July 2025 with worldwide participants0:00 Intro0:07 People today have an expectation of instant results, what is the importance of patience?6:14 Do we first need to realise that peace in the mind is what we need?7:48 If the peace is not coming, is it because our efforts are not concentrated enough?8:56 Is there a balance between having patience and putting in strong efforts to achieve peace?12:31 Is the ability to accept and to have patience linked to fate?13:37 "Until the last breath of life, put in efforts"14:18 How do we avoid comparing ourselves to others?15:37 Do we judge others in a wrong way due to our mental habits? Do we need to restrain ourselves to avoid further indulging these thoughts?20:34 Is patience still necessary for a Yogi or is it effortlessly there?22:12 Is every action of a Yogi for the benefit for the student?24:05 So anger is sometimes necessary only if it is under your control?25:06 With the love for Swamiji, Babaji was ready to accept and face any challenge at the Ashram.26:30 Is life itself a teaching for us to accept?39:30 How to deal with a person who makes lots of problems in a family or community?42:44 During the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 Swamiji was unable to fly back too India and was held in transit for a few weeks. How was Babaji able to practice patience that Smawiji would be safe?44:29 A family member is suffering from health problems. Can Babaji speak about the acceptance of destiny in this regard?46:09 In terms of not expecting results from our efforts, can this be connected to Sage Vasistha's theory of the crow alighting on the coconut tree and the coconut falling as mere coincidence?48:38 If there is a mind will we never see the Truth?50:41 The position of focusing in-between the eyebrows in meditation.52:26 If you keep chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra and at the time of death you remember the Lord, will you reach his abode?___Website: http://www.srby.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogiTwitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmissionInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang Website: http://www.srby.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogiTwitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmissionInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/
ITP 126 - If you're even thinking about teaching in Kuwait, you need to listen to this episode. Seriously. Greg sits down with Terence Tong—an international educator with 24 years of experience—and they dive into what it's really like making the move from Canada to teaching overseas in Kuwait, South Korea, and then back to Kuwait for a second experience.. Terence opens up about the highs, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way.We talk about everything from cultural differences and job fairs to tutoring in Kuwait and the evolving makeup of international schools. Terence also gets into the heart of what it means to find community abroad, why Kuwait is a safe and family-friendly place, and how to make the most of life overseas. Plus, he shares a few cultural stories and tips that any future international teacher will appreciate.This one's packed with practical insights and real talk. Don't miss it.(00:00) Introduction (01:33) Background and Early Career in Education(04:11) Transition to International Teaching in Kuwait(10:15) Experiences and Challenges in Kuwait(13:08) Growth and Development in International Education(16:58) Job Fair Experiences and Career Decisions(22:46) Cultural Differences in Education(32:01) Tutoring Dynamics in Kuwait(35:27) The Complexities of Tutoring(37:50) Demographics and Dynamics in Kuwaiti Schools(40:10) Cultural Integration and Community Connections(46:18) Safety and Family Life in Kuwait(48:36) Embracing New Experiences and Opportunities(51:49) Personal Essentials for International Living(56:35) Customs and Cultural Stories(01:01:33) Encouragement for Aspiring International EducatorsThe International Teacher Podcast is a bi-weekly discussion with experts in international education. New Teachers, burned out local teachers, local School Leaders, International school Leadership, current Overseas Teachers, and everyone interested in international schools can benefit from hearing stories and advice about living and teaching overseas.Additional Gems Related to Our Show:Greg's Favorite Video From Living Overseas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQWKBwzF-hwSignup to be our guest https://calendly.com/itpexpat/itp-interview?month=2025-01Our Website - https://www.itpexpat.com/Our FaceBook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/itpexpatJPMint Consulting Website - https://www.jpmintconsulting.com/Greg's Personal YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs1B3Wc0wm6DR_99OS5SyzvuzENc-bBdOBooks By Gregory Lemoine:"International Teaching: The Best-kept Secret in Education" | by Gregory Lemoine M.Ed."Finding the Right Fit: Your Professional Guide for International Educator Recruiting Fairs and Amazing Stories of a Teacher Living Overseas" |by Gregory Lemoine M.Ed.Partner Podcasts:Just to Know You: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/just-to-know-you/id1655096513Educators Going Global: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/educators-going-global/id1657501409
First, we talk to The Indian Express' Shubham Tigga about the struggle that migrant workers from Jharkhand and their families are facing. He talks about the case of a migrant worker who had been working in Kuwait, but after he passed away, how the struggle for the family continues.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anonna Dutt about a major scientific breakthrough. She shares how the process of 'three-parent IVF' has led to eight babies in the UK living a healthy life. However, the process is controversial and has raised a lot of concerns. (14:59)Lastly, we talk about the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist squad which has arrested four members of an alleged terror module of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent or AQIS from Gujarat, Delhi and UP. (23:07)Hosted by Niharika NandaProduced and written by Niharika Nanda, Ichha Sharma and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Send us a textThe bombs fell again on downtown Baghdad. This time in retaliation for the Iraqi Intelligence Agency's attempt to kill former President George H. W. Bush. Bush had gone to Kuwait to celebrate the anniversary of the victory by the United States of liberating the tiny Arab Nation. The Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein thought it was the perfect time to get even with his former nemesis. It would prove to be an enormous mistake on his part. The assassination attempt failed and after discovering that it was indeed sponsored by the government of Iraq, President Bill Clinton was swift in retribution. He ordered airstrikes on Iraq to send a clear message that this type of behaviour would not be tolerated. We would retaliate in a measured and deliberate way, bombing the Intelligence headquarters located in downtown Baghdad. An act that would be witnessed by Iraqis' everywhere. We bombed the portion of the building in charge of this type of intelligence gathering and it served notice to Saddam that we could "reach out and touch someone" if we had to do so. Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!
Palestinian American writer Hala Alyan has a personal history of exile. Over the years, the author and her relatives have been displaced from their homes in Gaza, Kuwait, and Lebanon – and she says it's difficult to fully separate herself from these places. In today's episode, she speaks with NPR's Leila Fadel about her new memoir I'll Tell You When I'm Home, which contends with themes including exile, infertility, surrogacy, and motherhood.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
We have published 120 episodes since 2019. For this new season, we thought it would be a good idea to look back on some of the highlights of our conversations and select 20 episodes that resonated with veterans, service members, military families, and the civilians who support them.But first up, you'll hear from some of the folks at Home Base who wake up every day with the same mission in mind, no matter what they do at the Center of Excellence in the Navy Yard and beyond. For this episode, you will hear a brief conversation with Air Force Veteran and Regional Associate Director, Regional & Tribal Relations, of Home Base Arizona, Marcus Denetdale. Marcus has been instrumental in facilitating Home Base's partnership with ASU's College of Health Solutions to launch the Warrior Health & Fitness program for Arizona Veterans and their families. He has worked closely with tribal Nations and communities in various capacities. As a nonprofit administrator, he has developed college scholarship programs, recruited Native American college students, and secured research grants for higher education projects totaling over $2.4 million. Marcus has studied civil, environmental, & sustainable engineering within the sustainability specialty area. His research areas include tribal housing, infrastructure & commercial buildings for economic growth and opportunities. His latest project is partnered with ASU to provide safe water access on the Navajo Nation.Following my conversation with Marcus, you'll hear part two of an episode from 2023 with the Pulitzer Prize and Emmy winner Cartoonist, Garry Trudeau. Ron and Garry talk about gaining the trust from military leadership during wartime, with the opportunity to visit Kuwait during the Gulf War after getting the call directly from the battlefield, and how just like visiting Walter Reed, these are chances to Get it Right in order to follow him or her from service member to veteran and from deployment to home. They discuss how he's not really that guy who could ever really tell a joke, and where his humor seems to come from, about his love for putting on a show ever since he was a little kid, and how he shares the mission to support veterans with fellow cartoonist (among other things), Jake Tapper.Run To Home Base: Join Ron and his team and sign up individually or on another team at the 16th annual Run To Home Base on July 26th, 2025, at Fenway Park! Go to runtohomebase.orgPlease visit homebase.org for updates, programming, and resources if you or someone you know is struggling.Home Base Nation is the official podcast for the Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families. Our team sees veterans, service members, and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation. To learn more about how to help, visit us at www.homebase.org. If you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests on the Home Base Nation podcast are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation, or any of its officials.
Border Professor Henk van Houtum published Free The Map in 2024. He sent it to me whilst I was still living in London last year. Shows how long this has been in the making as I've since migrated to the States. Kind of fitting, given the book frequently mentions the EU migration crisis and problems with EU Frontex maps showing how many come from where. As a key intervention, the book recommends 'counter mapping'. An example of this for the Frontex mapping is Frontex: EU's Deportation Machine.We began by talking about differences in freedom through passports, here is a link to Passport Index. We also talked about MAGA geography, with this great map from Representative Robert Garcia.Speaking of geography, I wrote this poem years before meeting Henk. This is interesting because it reflects his points and was based on raw experiences I'd had at the time traveling through Southeast Asia. A big stimulus for Henk's arguments are these three maps, Fragile States Index, Corruption Perceptions Index and Freedom Map. We are invited to consider a different perspective on the world and he puts the concept of counter maps before us in response. Examples of counter maps that step outside the gridded world of state cages start with Paul Butler's Facebook map from 2010.This shows how little boundaries seem to matter, there are vast numbers of connections across national borders. Another great counter mapper is Python Maps. This individual publishes examples like world rivers colored by their hydrological basin. This is an important type of border that the national borders template map of the world offers no detail on, or importance to. Another from the same source shows CO2 emissions. Here there is a huge amount of emissions in the sea - a location where national border's don't apply. An effective counter map. We can continue with Al Jazeera's map of the world's oil and gas pipelines. The eye is invited to forget national borders exist. An interesting example from Science-Metrix Inc is scientific collaborations 2005-9. This reminds us of the Facebook map with plenty of connections outside nations, but also several tight clusters of nations that collaborations occur across. Finally, if we are going to talk about countermapping and general visualisation beauty, we would be remiss to miss Globaia's incredible video welcoming us to the Antrhropocene. Finally, I should mention that this was a deeply emotional episode to record for me. As shown in the Free The Map series of testimonial videos about my time across Cambodia and Kuwait, I needed to have this conversation with Henk in order to start to understand what I have witnessed in these terrible places. It is very helpful to have a book giving voice to what I have as a series of rage filled experiences. It was all summed up on page 39 of the book really. So it is fitting that this page was shown throughout the video. Thank you Henk for taking the time to write this and to remind us that there is so much more to do than be a shill for national borders.
For over 250 years the United States and the United Kingdom has shared a special relationship. While not always positive... for example the British burning down the White House during the War of 1812 (thanks a lot)... the past 150 years has been very positive. Throughout it all the shared people-to-people connections have driven the relationship to new heights and provided a solid footing for collaboration across all sectors. With the recent signing of the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal, and the ensuing steps to implement the outline, the economic relationship is set to continue. In this month's episode, we check in with British Consul General in Boston, David Clay, to dive deeper into the current state of relations between the two countries. On the eve of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (next year), now is a great time to assess the history and the future of the transatlantic partnership, from the economic, to military, to cultural ties that bind these two countries together. No matter the challenges that face the world in the years to come, it seems that a strong relationship will remain a steadfast point in global affairs.David Clay has been a member of the Diplomatic Service since 2005, and has been appointed as the next British Consul General to New England. David was joint head of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Iraq and Arabian Peninsula Department. In this role he oversaw all aspects of the UK's relationship with Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This included UK security cooperation with the Gulf, launching Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council in 2022, and the Qatar World Cup. He then worked on the UK's response to the conflict in Israel/Gaza from 2023 to 2024.From 2016 to 2020, David worked as Deputy Political Counsellor and then Counsellor at the UK's Mission to the UN in New York. He covered peace and security issues in the UN Security Council and General Assembly. This involved regularly representing the UK in the Security Council and overseeing negotiations on many resolutions on conflicts, ranging from Yemen and Mali to Sudan and Colombia.Earlier in his career, David worked for the Foreign Office in Libya before and during the revolution in 2011, and then in Egypt from 2013 to 2016. He speaks Arabic and has a Masters (Distinction) in Middle East politics. Before joining the Foreign Office, David taught English in the east of Sudan.
HEADLINES:♦ Saudi's Jahez Acquires 76% of Qatari Snoonu from Founder Hamad Al-Hajri in $245M Deal♦ Egypt's Sawiris to Invest $100M in Morocco's Electric Motorbike Market♦ Backlash Grows as VC Shaun Maguire Reignites Controversy Days After Apology♦ Kuwait's $1 Trillion Wealth Fund Sells $3B Bank of America Stake” Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY
Interior designer and self-described “cocktail,” Yasmine Ghoniem has lived a whirlwind life across continents, cultures, and careers. Born in Kuwait to Australian and Egyptian parents, she lived throughout the Middle East before moving to the United States to attend Savannah College of Art and Design. She always had a deep love for music, feeling destined to be a performer, she formed indie rock bands with family and friends throughout the years. Yasmine eventually put down roots in Sydney, Australia where she founded and leads YSG Studio, an interior design studio focusing on residential and hospitality. She brings her eclectic influences and flair for the theatrical drama of staging and storytelling to all of her spaces. Intoxicating indeed! Images, links and more from Yasmine!Special thanks to our sponsor:Wix Studio is a platform built for all web creators to design, develop, and manage exceptional web projects at scale.Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Rich Stroffolino, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven.SUBSCRIBE - listen to Clever on any podcast app!SIGN UP - for our Substack for news, bonus content, new episode alertsVISIT - cleverpodcast.com for transcripts, images, and 200+ more episodesSAY HI! - on Instagram & LinkedIn @cleverpodcast @amydevers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: Jewish music from Iraq (Hakki Obadia); Md After Hussain; Colombian Cumbia from Lisandro Meza; Papa Brandao Y Su Ejecutivos & more from Panama; piano trios from Paul Bley & Myra Melford; Daniel Carter, Roy S. Campbell Jr. & William Parker (I,.e, Other Dimensions in Music); vintage Fairuz; new guitar music from Ayman Fanous & Joe Morris; new music from Immanuel Wilkins; Lusophonia: Titina, Teofilo Chantre (from Cabo Verde), Adriana Calcanhotto, Elza Soares (from Brazil); Eastern European song from DakhaBrakha; African rock from Bikambi n'Kela; Gordon Koang (South Sudanese pop in exile); Faisal Abdullah (Khaliji song from Kuwait); Palestinian composer Tamer Abu Ghazaleh; and as ever, lots of mumbling and so much, much more. Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN: https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580 Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere. Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online: PLAYLIST at SPINITRON: https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/20824617/Conference-of-the-Bird and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/ Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks Find WRFI on Radio Garden: http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in January 2023.In 1990, as the United States cobbles together a coalition to undo Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, six US officers are trapped in Iraq with intelligence that could ruin Operation Desert Storm, if it falls into the wrong hands. Desperate, the CIA asks Poland - a longtime Cold War foe, famed for its excellent spies - for help.In his latest book, From Warsaw With Love: Polish Spies, the CIA, and the Forging of an Unlikely Alliance, John Pomfret offers a gripping account of the beginning of the intelligence cooperation between Poland and the United States. Pomfret uncovers new details about the CIA's black site program that held suspected terrorists in Poland after 9/11, as well as the role of Polish spies in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.John Pomfret is a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, served as a correspondent for the Washington Post for two decades, covering wars, revolutions, and China. His previous book, The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom, won the Arthur Ross Book Award from the Council on Foreign Relations.
As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the ‘Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. It was the British Empire's crown jewel, a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population and encompassing the largest Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities on the planet. Its people used the Indian rupee, were issued passports stamped ‘Indian Empire', and were guarded by armies garrisoned in forts from the Bab el-Mandeb to the Himalayas. And then, in the space of just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division. Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia (William Collins and HarperCollins India, 2025) by Sam Dalrymple, for the first time, presents the whole story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. How a single, sprawling dominion became twelve modern nations. How maps were redrawn in boardrooms and on battlefields, by politicians in London and revolutionaries in Delhi, by kings in remote palaces and soldiers in trenches. Its legacies include civil war in Burma and ongoing insurgencies in Kashmir, Baluchistan and Northeast India, and the Rohingya genocide. It is a history of ambition and betrayal, of forgotten wars and unlikely alliances, of borders carved with ink and fire. And, above all, it is the story of how the map of modern Asia was made. Dalrymple's stunning history is based on deep archival research, previously untranslated private memoirs, and interviews in English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Konyak, Arabic and Burmese. From portraits of the key political players to accounts of those swept up in these wars and mass migrations, Shattered Lands is vivid, compelling, thought-provoking history at its best. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the ‘Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. It was the British Empire's crown jewel, a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population and encompassing the largest Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities on the planet. Its people used the Indian rupee, were issued passports stamped ‘Indian Empire', and were guarded by armies garrisoned in forts from the Bab el-Mandeb to the Himalayas. And then, in the space of just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division. Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia (William Collins and HarperCollins India, 2025) by Sam Dalrymple, for the first time, presents the whole story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. How a single, sprawling dominion became twelve modern nations. How maps were redrawn in boardrooms and on battlefields, by politicians in London and revolutionaries in Delhi, by kings in remote palaces and soldiers in trenches. Its legacies include civil war in Burma and ongoing insurgencies in Kashmir, Baluchistan and Northeast India, and the Rohingya genocide. It is a history of ambition and betrayal, of forgotten wars and unlikely alliances, of borders carved with ink and fire. And, above all, it is the story of how the map of modern Asia was made. Dalrymple's stunning history is based on deep archival research, previously untranslated private memoirs, and interviews in English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Konyak, Arabic and Burmese. From portraits of the key political players to accounts of those swept up in these wars and mass migrations, Shattered Lands is vivid, compelling, thought-provoking history at its best. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the ‘Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. It was the British Empire's crown jewel, a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population and encompassing the largest Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities on the planet. Its people used the Indian rupee, were issued passports stamped ‘Indian Empire', and were guarded by armies garrisoned in forts from the Bab el-Mandeb to the Himalayas. And then, in the space of just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division. Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia (William Collins and HarperCollins India, 2025) by Sam Dalrymple, for the first time, presents the whole story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. How a single, sprawling dominion became twelve modern nations. How maps were redrawn in boardrooms and on battlefields, by politicians in London and revolutionaries in Delhi, by kings in remote palaces and soldiers in trenches. Its legacies include civil war in Burma and ongoing insurgencies in Kashmir, Baluchistan and Northeast India, and the Rohingya genocide. It is a history of ambition and betrayal, of forgotten wars and unlikely alliances, of borders carved with ink and fire. And, above all, it is the story of how the map of modern Asia was made. Dalrymple's stunning history is based on deep archival research, previously untranslated private memoirs, and interviews in English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Konyak, Arabic and Burmese. From portraits of the key political players to accounts of those swept up in these wars and mass migrations, Shattered Lands is vivid, compelling, thought-provoking history at its best. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies
In 2003, Keith Richard—an accomplished logistics expert with no military background—made a decision that would forever alter the course of his life. Tasked with leading a rapidly mobilized operation to deliver critical fuel and supplies to U.S. military forces in Iraq and Kuwait, Richard stepped into a war zone as a civilian leader, navigating a role typically reserved for seasoned military personnel.Thrust into the chaos of war, Richard had to rely on sheer discipline, unshakable grit, and calm resolve to guide both his team and himself. The job was unrelenting—issuing orders that sent unarmed civilian truck drivers into hostile territory, often with no guarantee of return.“Civilians are the unsung heroes of the Iraq War and should be recognized for their patriotism and commitment to support the military,” Richard reflects.In his gripping new memoir, Sand, Grit and Dangerous Supply Missions: The Unsung Civilian Heroes of the Iraq War, Richard recounts his extraordinary journey with humility and raw honesty. From modest beginnings along Mississippi's Gulf Coast to directing a multibillion-dollar logistics campaign in the Middle East, he shares the unseen sacrifices made by thousands of civilian contractors during wartime on this episode of the Security Clearance Careers podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Poco prima della rappresaglia iraniana contro una base americana a Doha, il Qatar ha chiuso per diverse ore i suoi spazi aerei, un'iniziativa poi ripresa anche dagli Emirati Arabi Uniti, dal Bahrein e dal Kuwait.
Tuesday, June 24th, 2025Today, Iran fires missiles at US bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq in what is seen as a performative retaliation to Trump's unconstitutional bombing of Iranian nuclear enrichment sites; the Supreme Court has blocked a judge's order forbidding removal of immigrants to third countries; lawyers for Gavin Newsom have asked the district court to consider a preliminary injunction to block Trump's deployment of the military to California as a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act; Democrats in the Senate are winning their arguments before the parliamentarian on multiple provisions in the Billionaire Bailout Bill; ICE detains Marine Corps veteran's wife who was still breastfeeding their baby; Democrats will protest Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center with a pride event; there is an underground resistance inside the VA against Trump's ban on care for transgender veterans; and Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.Thank You, Naked WinesTo get 6 bottles of wine for $39.99, head to nakedwines.com/DAILYBEANS and use code DAILYBEANS for both the code and password.Thank You, Native PathGet up to 66% Off, free shipping, and a 365-Day Money Back Guarantee at nativekrill.com/dailybeans StoriesG.O.P. Can't Include Limits on Trump Lawsuits in Megabill, Senate Parliamentarian Rules | The New York TimesICE detains wife of veteran and mother of newborn after routine green card appointment | ABC NewsDemocrats to Protest Trump's Takeover of Kennedy Center With Pride Event | The New York TimesInside the Veterans Affairs Department's underground resistance to Trump's care ban for transgender vets | The Advocate Good Trouble With Guest Anna BowerAnna Bower: "I rarely post personal things. But I need to talk about my 4-year-old niece, Hope. She has a rare disease. A drug called elamipretide has helped her survive. But the FDA recently denied its approval. Now, her health hangs in the balance. Please share her story & urge the FDA to reconsider.
This week we talk about OPEC, the Seven Sisters, and the price of oil.We also discuss fracking, Israel and Iran's ongoing conflict, and energy exports.Recommended Book: Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock by Maud WoolfTranscriptThe global oil market changed substantially in the early 2000s as a pair of innovations—horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing—helped the plateauing US oil and gas market boom, unlocking a bunch of shale oil and gas deposits that were previously either entirely un-utilizable, or too expensive to exploit.This same revolution changed markets elsewhere, too, including places like Western Canada, which also has large shale oil and gas deposits, but the US, and especially the southern US, and even more especially the Permian Basin in Texas, has seen simply staggering boosts to output since those twin-innovations were initially deployed on scale.This has changed all sorts of dynamics, both locally, where these technologies and approaches have been used to tap ever-more fossil fuel sources, and globally, as previous power dynamics related to such resources have been rewired.Case in point, in the second half of the 20th century, OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which is a predominantly Middle Eastern oil cartel that was founded by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela in 1960, was a dominant force in geopolitics, as they collaboratively set global oil prices, and thus, were able to pull the strings connected to elections, war, and economic outcomes in nations around the world.If oil prices suddenly spiked, that could cause an incumbent leader in a country a hemisphere away to lose their next election, and if anyone threatened one of their number, they could conceivably hold back resources from that country until they cooled down.Before OPEC formed and established their position of primacy in global energy exports, the so-called Seven Sisters corporations, which consisted of a bunch of US and European companies that had basically stepped in and took control of global oil rights in the early 20th century, including oil rights across the Middle East, were the loci of power in this space, controlling about 85% of the world's petroleum reserves as of the early 1970s.That same decade, though, a slew of governments that hosted Seven Sisters facilities and reserves nationalized these assets, which in practice made all these reserves and the means of exploiting them the government's property, and in most cases they were then reestablished under new, government-controlled companies, like Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia and the National Iranian Oil Company in Iran.In 1973 and 1979, two events in the Middle East—the Yom Kippur War, during which pretty much all of Israel's neighbors launched a surprise attack against Israel, and the Iranian Revolution, when the then-leader of Iran, the Shah, who was liberalizing the country while also being incredibly corrupt, was overthrown by the current government, the militantly Islamist Islamic Republic of Iran—those two events led to significant oil export interruptions that triggered oil shortages globally, because of how dominant this cartel had become.This shortage triggered untold havoc in many nations, especially those that were growing rapidly in the post-WWII, mid-Cold War world, because growth typically requires a whole lot of energy for all the manufacturing, building, traveling around, and for basic, business and individual consumption: keeping the lights on, cooking, and so on.This led to a period of stagflation, and in fact the coining of the term, stagflation, but it also led to a period of heightened efficiency, because nations had to learn how to achieve growth and stability without using so much energy, and it led to a period of all these coming-out-of-stagflation and economic depression nations trying to figure out how to avoid having this happen again.So while OPEC and other oil-rich nations were enjoying a period of relative prosperity, due in part to those elevated energy prices—after the initial downsides of those conflicts and revolutions had calmed, anyway—other parts of the world were making new and more diversified deals, and were looking in their own backyards to try to find more reliable suppliers of energy products.Parts of the US were already major oil producers, if not at the same scale as these Middle Eastern giants in the latter portion of the 20th century, and many non-OPEC producers in the US, alongside those in Norway and Mexico, enjoyed a brief influx of revenue because of those higher oil prices, but they, like those OPEC nations, suffered a downswing when prices stabilized; and during that price collapse, OPEC's influence waned.So in the 1980s, onward, the previous paradigm of higher oil prices led to a surge in production globally, everyone trying to take advantage of those high prices to invest in more development and production assets, and that led to a glut of supply that lowered prices, causing a lot of these newly tapped wells to go under, a lot of cheating by OPEC members, and all of the more established players to make far less per barrel of oil than was previously possible.By 1986, oil prices had dropped by nearly half from their 1970s peak, and though prices spiked again in 1990 in response to Iraq's invasion of fellow OPEC-member Kuwait, that spike only last about nine months, and it was a lot less dramatic than those earlier, 70s-era spikes; though it was still enough to trigger a recession in the US and several other countries, and helped pave the way for investment in those technologies and infrastructure that would eventually lead to the US's shale-oil and gas revolution.What I'd like to talk about today is the precariousness of the global oil and gas market right now, at a moment of significantly heightened tensions, and a renewed shooting conflict, in the Middle East.—As of the day I'm recording this, the Islamic Republic of Iran is still governing Iran, and that's an important point to make as while Israel's official justification for launching a recent series of attacks against Iran's military and nuclear production infrastructure is that they don't want Iran to make a nuclear weapon, it also seems a whole lot like they might be aiming to instigate regime change, as well.Israel and Iran's conflict with each other is long-simmering, and this is arguably just the most recent and extreme salvo in a conflict dating back to at least 2024, but maybe earlier than that, too, all the way back to the late-70s or early 80s, if you string all the previous conflicts together into one deconstructed mega-conflict. If you want to know more about that, listen to last week's episode, where I got deeper into the specifics of their mutual dislike.Today, though, I'd like to focus on an issue that is foundational to pretty much every other geopolitical and economic happening, pretty much always, and that's energy. And more specifically, the availability, accessibility, and price of energy resources like oil and gas.We've reached a point, globally, where about 40% of all electricity is generated by renewables, like solar panels, wind turbines, and hydropower-generating dams.That's a big deal, and while the majority of that supply is coming from China, and while it falls short of where we need to be to avoid the worst-case consequences of human-amplified climate change, that growth is really incredible, and it's beginning to change the nature of some of our conflicts and concerns; many of the current economic issues between the US and China, these days are focused on rare earths, for instance, which are required for things like batteries and other renewables infrastructure.That said, oil and gas still enable the modern economy, and that's true almost everywhere, even today. And while the US changed the nature of the global oil and gas industries by heavily investing in both, and then rewired the global energy market by convincing many of its allies to switch to US-generated oil and gas, rather than relying on supplies from Russia, in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine a few years ago, a whole lot of these resources still come from at-times quite belligerent regimes, and many of these regimes are located in the Middle East, and belong to OPEC.Iran is one such belligerent regime.As of 2025, Iran is the 9th largest producer of oil in the world, and it holds 24% of the Middle East's and about 12% of the world's proven oil reserves—that's the total volume of oil underground that could be pumped at some point. It's got the world's 3rd largest proven crude oil reserves and it exports about 2 million barrels of crude and refined oil every day. It also has the world's second-largest proven natural gas reserves.Iran isn't as reliant on oil and gas exports as some of its neighbors, but it still pulled in about $53 billion in net oil exports each year as of 2023; which is a lot less than what it could be making, as international sanctions have made it difficult for Iran to fully exploit its reserves. But that's still a huge chunk of its total income.This is important to note because Israel's recent series of attacks on Iran, in addition to taking out a lot of their military leaders, weapons manufacturing facilities, and nuclear research facilities, have also targeted Iran's oil and gas production and export capacity, including large gas plants, fuel depots, and oil refineries, some located close to Tehran in the northern part of the country, and some down on its southwestern coast, where a huge portion of Iran's gas is processed.In light of these attacks, Iran's leaders have said they may close the Strait of Hormuz, though which most of their exports pass—and the Strait of Hormuz is the only marine entryway into the Persian Gulf; nearly 20% of all globally consumed oil passes through this 90-mile-wide stretch of water before reaching international markets; it's a pretty vital waterway that Iran partially controls because its passes by its southern coast.Fuel prices already ticked up by about 9% following Israel's initial strikes into Iran this past week, and there's speculation that prices could surge still-higher, especially following US President Trump's decision to strike several Iran nuclear facilities, coming to Israel's aide, as Israel doesn't possess the ‘bunker-buster' bombs necessary to penetrate deep enough into the earth to damage or destroy many of these facilities.As of Monday this week, oil markets are relatively undisrupted, and if any export flows were to be upset, it would probably just be Iran's, and that would mostly hurt China, which is Iran's prime oil customer, as most of the rest of the world won't deal with them due to export sanctions.That said, there's a possibility that Iran will decide to respond to the US coming to Israel's aid not by striking US assets directly, which could pull the US deeper into the conflict, but instead by disrupting global oil and gas prices, which could lead to knock-on effects that would be bad for the US economy, and the US's relationships with other nations.The straightest path to doing this would be to block the Strait of Hormuz, and they could do this by positioning ships and rocket launchers to strike anything passing through it, while also heavily mining the passage itself, and they've apparently got plenty of mines ready to do just that, should they choose that path.This approach has been described by analysts as the strategic equivalent of a suicide bombing, as blocking the Strait would disrupt global oil and gas markets, hurting mostly Asia, as China, India, South Korea, Japan, and other Asian destinations consume something like 80% of the oil that passes through it, but that would still likely raise energy prices globally, which can have a lot of knock-on effects, as we saw during those energy crises I mentioned in the intro.It would hurt Iran itself more than anyone, though, as almost all of their energy products pass through this passage before hitting global markets, and such a move could help outside entities, including the US, justify further involvement in the conflict, where they otherwise might choose to sit it out and let Israel settle its own scores.Such energy market disruption could potentially benefit Russia, which has an energy resource-reliant economy that suffers when oil and gas prices are low, but flourishes when they're high. The Russian government probably isn't thrilled with Israel's renewed attacks on one of its allies, but based on its lack of response to Syria's collapse—the former Syrian government also being an ally of Russia—it's possible they can't or won't do much to directly help Iran right now, but they probably wouldn't complain if they were suddenly able to charge a lot more per barrel of oil, and if customers like China and India were suddenly a lot more reliant on the resources they're producing.Of course, such a move could also enrich US energy companies, though potentially at the expense of the American citizen, and thus at the expense of the Trump administration. Higher fuel prices tend to lead to heightened inflation, and more inflation tends to keep interest rates high, which in turn slows the economy. A lot of numbers could go in the opposite direction from what the Trump administration would like to see, in other words, and that could result in a truly bad outcome for Republicans in 2026, during congressional elections that are already expected to be difficult for the incumbent party.Even beyond the likely staggering human costs of this renewed conflict in the Middle East, then, there are quite a few world-scale concerns at play here, many of which at least touch on, and some of which are nearly completely reliant on, what happens to Iran's oil and gas production assets, and to what degree they decide to use these assets, and the channels through which they pass, in a theoretical asymmetric counterstrike against those who are menacing them.Show Noteshttps://archive.is/20250616111212/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/an-overview-irans-energy-industry-infrastructure-2025-02-04/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/15/which-iranian-oil-and-gas-fields-has-israel-hit-and-why-do-they-matterhttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/17/mapping-irans-oil-and-gas-sites-and-those-attacked-by-israelhttps://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/6/13/oil-markets-are-spooked-as-iran-israel-tensions-escalatehttps://archive.is/20250620143813/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-20/eu-abandons-proposal-to-lower-price-cap-on-russian-oil-to-45https://apnews.com/article/russia-economy-recession-ukraine-conflict-9d105fd1ac8c28908839b01f7d300ebdhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/business/us-iran-oil.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg9r4q99g4ohttps://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/04/clean-energy-electricity-nature-and-climate-stories-this-week/https://archive.is/20250622121310/https://www.ft.com/content/67430fac-2d47-4b3b-9928-920ec640638ahttps://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Oil-Markets-Brace-for-Impact-After-US-Attacks-Iran-Facilities.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/business/energy-environment/iran-oil-gas-markets.htmlhttps://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65504&utm_medium=PressOpshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/business/stocks-us-iran-bombing.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Oilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fracking_in_Canadahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fracking_in_the_United_Stateshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_in_the_United_Stateshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale_gas_in_the_United_Stateshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_Warhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolutionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970s_energy_crisishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_oil_price_shockhttps://www.strausscenter.org/energy-and-security-project/the-u-s-shale-revolution/https://archive.is/20250416153337/https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-crude-oil-output-peak-by-2027-eia-projects-2025-04-15/https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/030415/how-does-price-oil-affect-stock-market.asp This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe
It's Tuesday, June 24th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson and Adam McManus Syrian suicide bomber A suicide bomber entered an Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria on Sunday killing 22 people and wounding at least 63 others, reports ABC News. The ISIS terrorist group has claimed responsibility. No increased nuclear radiation levels after U.S. bombing in Iran The International Atomic Energy Agency reports no increase in off-site radiation levels at the three Iranian sites bombed by the United States and Israel. The neighboring Kuwait government has also confirmed that “no abnormal radiation levels have been detected in any of the member states.” The whereabouts of 400 kilograms of highly enriched Uranium in Iran is still a mystery. Israel bombed Iran's Evin Prison Israel continues its bombardment on Iran, including a bombing of the notorious Evin prison, where a number of Christians are held, and have been tortured over the last several decades. Trump: Israel & Iran agreed to cease-fire to end “12-Day War” On Monday, President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a cease-fire, declaring an end to what he referred to as “The 12 Day War,” reports The Epoch Times. In a Truth Social Post, Trump wrote, “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE … for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered ENDED!” Both sides will wind down their final military operations within 12 hours, beginning what Trump expects to be “PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL” on both sides. The conflict will be declared over within 24 hours. However, The New York Times indicated that there is no confirmation yet from Israel and Iran. Russia bombed Ukraine with 16 missiles and 352 drones The Russian army unleashed a heavy bombardment on Kiev, Ukraine yesterday involving 352 drones and 16 missiles, reports Reuters. At least 10 Ukrainians died in the attack. This follows another attack last week which killed 28 people. Zelensky assassination plot foiled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the target of an assassination plot to be carried out by a Polish elderly man who had first been recruited by the Soviet Union decades ago, reports Newsweek. The man was activated to take out Zelensky at Poland's Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport using either a first-person view drone or a sniper rifle. The would-be assassin was a firm believer in Soviet ideology. The assassination plot was foiled by a joint effort of Ukraine's SBU, the main internal security agency, and the Polish internal security service known as ABW. Americans less isolationist Americans are moving away from isolationism according to a recent survey by the Ronald Reagan Institute. In the last three years, Americans who believe the United States should be more engaged in international events has seen a 24% increase. Specifically, 69% of Republicans, 64% of Democrats, and 73% of MAGA/Trump Republicans want to see more engagement internationally. A supermajority of Americans – 84% -- state their support for preventing the Islamic Republic from gaining access to nuclear weapons. Only 57% of Americans would agree with the statement that “the United States is better served by withdrawing from international events and focusing on problems here at home.” The major shift in American opinions on this has occurred since the November election. Russia economy expanded by 4.3% last year Despite international pressures, the Russian economy expanded by 4.3% last year. This compares to a 1.1% bump for the United Kingdom, and a 2.8% bump for the U.S. economy last year. Supreme Court temporarily allows deportations to third countries In a 6-3 decision on Monday, the Supreme Court temporarily lifted a lower court order blocking the Trump administration from deporting illegal immigrants to so-called third countries to which they have no connection, reports The Epoch Times. The unsigned order came in the case known as Department of Homeland Security v. D.V.D. Michigan church shooting prevented A heavily-armed man attempted a massacre at the Wayne, Michigan Crosspointe Community Church, reports CBS News. Thankfully, he didn't make it into the building. A parishioner rammed him with his truck, and the security team engaged him in the parking lot. The suspect was pronounced dead when police arrived on the scene. One security guard took a shot in the leg. Based on national news sources, there are 1-2 church shootings per year in this country. That's 1 out of 380,000 churches. Psalm 27:1-2 is always the right mindset. It says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.” Ohio pro-life legislators want to protect babies from conception Several Ohio legislators are floating a bill that outlaws the willful murder of a child from the point of conception. The "Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act,” introduced by state Representatives Levi Dean and Johnathan Newman, would overturn the 2023 referendum amendment that legalized abortion in Ohio. In Psalm 22, the psalmist confesses, “You … took me out of the womb; You made me trust while on my mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. from my mother's womb You have been my God.” Older Americans more likely to have Biblical worldview George Barna's 2025 American Worldview Inventory report has been released and he concludes that only 1% of adults under 30 have a Biblical worldview. That compares with 5% for adults over 50, and 8% for adults over 65. Also, 69% of young Gen Z Americans believe abortion is morally acceptable. That's up from 60% for the Gen X and Boomer generations. Then, 73% of Gen Zers agree that sex outside of marriage is okay. That's up from 59% with the Boomer Generation. Fifth Circuit deems Louisiana Ten Commandments law unconstitutional The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Louisiana's law requiring the posting of The Ten Commandments in public schools, reports Courthouse News Service. The Louisiana law required schools which receive public funding to post a framed copy of The 10 Commandments in the classrooms. Observatory identified and photographed 10 million galaxies The Rubin Observatory, located in South America's Andes Mountain, has completed its first 10 hours of operation and identified 2,104 new asteroids never seen before, and photographed 10 million galaxies, reports the BBC. The observatory features a 28-foot telescope and an ultra-wide, ultra-high definition camera. Sperm donor passed cancer gene to 67 children In other science news, a sperm donor in Europe has passed a cancer gene on to 67 children. Already, at least ten of the children have signs of cancer, all of them born between 2008 and 2015. The case was discussed at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics. Dr. Edwige Kasper, a specialist in genetic predisposition to cancer at the Rouen University Hospital in Rouen, France, said, “The variant would have been practically undetectable in 2008 when the individual started to donate sperm.” U.S. housing prices spike Housing prices in the U.S. are still reaching record highs. The median price of homes sold last month was $423,000, up 1.3% from May of 2024. 7 Worldview listeners gave $2,828.30 to fund our annual budget And finally, toward our final $123,500 goal by Monday, June 30th to fully fund The Worldview annual budget for our 6-member team, 7 listeners stepped up to the plate. Our thanks to Nathan in Cleveland, Tennessee who gave $25, N.B. in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England who gave $30, and Logan and Bianca in Manzini, Eswatini, Africa who gave $70. And we're grateful to God for Gloria in Westminster, Colorado who gave $103.30, Payton in Georgetown, Texas who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Amy in Eldorado, Wisconsin who gave $1,000, and Pamela in Sierra Madre, California who also gave $1,000. Those 7 Worldview listeners gave a total of $2,828.30. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (Drum roll sound effect) $65,401.55 (People clapping and cheering sound effect) Still need to raise $58,098.45! Looking for 9 Super Donors! That means by this coming Monday, June 30th, we need to raise a whopping $58,098.45 in just 7 days. Oh my! I've got butterflies in my stomach. Is there 1 businessperson who could donate $10,000? 3 businesspeople who could give $5,000? 5 businesspeople who could contribute $2,500? If so, those donations would total $37,500. Then we would need another 8 people to pledge $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200. And another 16 people to pledge $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600? Please, go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give on the top right. If you want to make it a monthly pledge, click on the recurring tab. If everybody does something – no matter how big or small – we will knock this relatively modest budget out of the park. Attention donors from this year: Send email urging others to donate! Lastly, I would love to feature a 2-3 sentence email from those who have already given this year, whose names I will not cite, with your encouragement for your fellow listeners to consider a last minute gift. Just include your city and state send it to Adam@TheWorldview.com Speak from your heart about why you gave and why you would urge others to join you to fund The Worldview in 5 Minutes. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, June 24th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Greg Jenner is joined in ancient Mesopotamia by Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid and comedian Phil Wang to learn about the history of cuneiform, the oldest writing system in the world.In the 19th Century, European scholars began to translate inscriptions found on ruins and clay tablets from ancient Mesopotamia - an area of the world between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that encompasses modern Iraq, as well as parts of Syria, Iran, Turkey and Kuwait. The script they deciphered became known as cuneiform, and this distinctive wedge-shaped writing system is perhaps the oldest in the world. The earliest cuneiform tablet is in fact over 5,000 years old.These clay tablets reveal much about the daily life of people in this part of the ancient world, recording everything from the amounts of beer sold by brewers and the best way to ask the gods for advice, to squabbles between husbands and wives and even the lullabies used to get babies to sleep. The first recorded epic poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, is also preserved thanks to cuneiform. This episode traces the history of cuneiform, exploring how this script worked, who used it and what they used it for, what it tells us about the inhabitants of ancient Mesopotamia, and how it was finally deciphered.This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Hannah Cusworth and Matt Ryan Written by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Ben Hollands Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: James Cook
Journalist Stephen Davis has spent 30 years working to uncover the truth behind one of the most secretive chapters of the Gulf War. When British Airways Flight 149 landed in Kuwait on the 2nd of August, 1990, Saddam Hussein's invading army took the passengers hostage. Today, some of those passengers allege that they were subjected to horrific treatment - and that the British government could have averted their ordeal. In this Debrief, True Spies producer Morgan Childs joins Stephen to discuss his research in to the case. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Morgan Childs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, joins Paul Jay and condemns the Israeli attack on Iran as an unprovoked violation of international law—and a dangerous step toward full-scale regional war. Wilkerson argues that the U.S. is complicit, acting through Israel as a proxy. Wilkerson analyzes the use of the military in L.A. and doesn't mince words: the Empire is collapsing into autocracy and militarism, and the consequences could be catastrophic. TranscriptListenDonateSubscribeGuestMusic Paul JayHi, welcome to theAnalysis.news. I'm Paul Jay. In just a few seconds, we'll be back with Colonel Larry Wilkerson to discuss the Israeli attack on Iran.Prime Minister of Israel, Netanyahu, who says this is not an attack on the Iranian people. It's an attack on the Iranian regime. But in fact, it's exactly that, an attack on the Iranian people. The sovereignty of a country is not the sovereignty of a government. It's the sovereignty of the people, and it's the sovereignty of Iran that has been illegally attacked by every piece of the UN charter and international law, an unprovoked attack on the people's sovereignty.Now, I've been very critical over the years of the Iranian government. I'm not going to call it a regime. I don't know why it's more of a regime than most of the other governments or states that call themselves governments. My guest and I, Larry Wilkerson, who will be here in just a few seconds, we've both been very critical of the Iranian government and its repression of people and opposition movements in Iran. That has nothing to do with what's going on here. This is an out-and-out, unprovoked attack on Iran. We're going to talk about the reasons for that, but let me just add one other small thing, which we'll talk about. It's maybe not that small.Critiquing this Israeli attack is not anti-Semitism. In fact, this is just like the Cold War. When people condemned the Vietnam War, they were called communists. They're being soft on communists. Well, now, if you critique the crimes of the Israeli government, and now this unprovoked war, and of course, the genocide in Gaza, the bombings in Lebanon, now you're an anti-Semite. It's being thrown around just the way it was, the anti-communist rhetoric of the Cold War.Now, joining us to talk about this current conflict is Larry Wilkerson. Thanks for joining us, Larry.Col. Lawrence WilkersonGood to be with you, Paul. Long time.Paul JayFor people who don't know, Larry was the Chief of Staff for Colin Powell, both at the Joint Chiefs and at the State Department. So, let me start by asking you, Larry, what do you make of the way the media is covering this? I was a little surprised over the last year that there were at least some reports on how Gaza was being devastated. You saw quite a few pictures of the killing of children, and there was a glimmer of legitimate reporting for a while. Now, this is so one-sided. I watch CNN, and guest after guest is essentially from the Israeli government or the Israeli ambassador, and the fact that this is a complete violation of international law is not even mentioned.Col. Lawrence WilkersonWell, this is truly a disgusting display of the Empire's degradation and profound slippage from world leadership. There's no question about that. Not only have we violated international law, consistently, we have ignored even those or punished even those who didn't want to ignore it or were trying to do something about it, like South Africa and their application to the court with regard to the genocide in Gaza. I think it's appalling that we did a Yamamoto. We did a Pearl Harbor. We did a Saddam Hussein on Kuwait attack on Iran. We, not Israel, the United States of America, using Israel as its foremost in the frontline proxy, if you will, just like we're doing with Ukraine. We said, diplomacy was going to continue. We achieved tactical surprise, an enormous advantage for an Air Force attacking,
As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the ‘Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. Sam Dalrymple was kind enough to speak with me about his new book, Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia, and how this enormous entity was divided, before and after British rule came to an end. Order Shattered Lands here: https://lnkfi.re/9482xG?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join Jim and Greg for Thursday's 3 Martini Lunch as they break down the money trail that might explain Gov. Newsom's reluctance to confront the LA rioters, whether the evacuation of some U.S. personnel and their families means we're on the brink of major conflict in the Middle East, and the staggering incompetence of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.First, they dig into reports suggesting California Gov. Gavin Newsom was uninterested in maintaining order during the recent LA riots because the group sponsoring the protest, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, contributed nearly half a million dollars and a lot of manpower to help him survive the 2021 recall.Next, they wonder how to interpret the State Department's decision to remove some U.S. personnel and their dependents from Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Are we on the brink of conflict over Iran's nuclear program or is this simply a move to pressure Iran to accept the U.S. nuclear deal?Finally, they head back to Los Angeles as Mayor Karen Bass continues to ooze incompetence. And she is still blaming the rioting, the looting, and the property destruction on President Trump and his followers. Jim explains how Bass has now badly failed two big tests over the past six months and reminds us that Bass was on Joe Biden's short list for a running mate in 2020.Please visit our great sponsors:Talk it out with Betterhelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at https://BetterHelp.com/3MLRight now, with zero commitment, try OCI for free. Go to https://Oracle.com/MARTINIIt's free, online, and easy to start—no strings attached. Enroll in Understanding Capitalism with Hillsdale College. Visit https://hillsdale.edu/Martini
On The A.M. Update, Aaron McIntire reports President Trump's growing pessimism about securing a nuclear deal with Iran, expressing doubts to the New York Post about stopping Iran's uranium enrichment, amid news of a U.S. personnel drawdown in the Middle East. The State Department ordered non-essential staff and families to leave the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and offered voluntary departures from Bahrain and Kuwait, signaling potential escalation risks with Iran. Trump announces a trade deal with China on Truth Social, securing magnets and rare earths with 55% tariffs, while China faces 10%, though details remain unclear. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warns Congress that failing to pass the “Big Beautiful Bill” would trigger a “cataclysmic” tax hike, crippling businesses and families. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reports 330 illegal immigrants arrested in Los Angeles riots since June 6, with 113 having prior convictions, and questions who funds their professional riot gear. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson compares protests to a Confederate victory, drawing criticism. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. explains firing the CDC's vaccine advisory board due to conflicts of interest and untested vaccines, naming new members like Robert Malone. McIntire reflects on Brian Wilson's death at 82, noting the irony of California's musical icon passing as Los Angeles burns. A poll predicts Sunday headlines may read “America on Fire” after planned “No Kings” protests. A sharp take on a tense global and domestic landscape. Iran nuclear deal, Trump administration, Middle East drawdown, China trade deal, tariffs, Los Angeles riots, ICE arrests, Big Beautiful Bill, Scott Bessent, RFK Jr., CDC vaccine advisory board, Michael Tait, Brian Wilson, Beach Boys, No Kings protests, Chicago protests, Brandon Johnson
Ron “RPG” Gordon is an IFBB Pro bodybuilder whose towering 6-foot frame and dramatic X-shape have made him one of the most talked-about new names in the open division. Fresh off a 4th-place finish at the 2025 Detroit Pro, he's shown he can already push seasoned veterans on a big stage. Ron splits his year between Kuwait—where he works with renowned coach Abdullah Al-Otaibi at the famed O2 Gym—and California's Inland Empire, grinding out sessions at Fitness Mania and honing the finer points of his presentation. More than 80 K fans tune into his @_mr_rpg Instagram for brutally honest training reels, deep-dive educational posts, and the occasional inside joke that shows the lighter side of hardcore bodybuilding. With Olympia ambitions burning bright, Ron is here to unpack the mindset, lessons, and relentless work ethic behind the RPG brand. https://www.instagram.com/_mr_rpg/ https://www.youtube.com/@mr_rpg_pro LMNT Lemonade is finally here! It's great for a hot summer day, a workout, or just working at your desk with cold water. Check it out and get your free sample pack along with any regular purchase when you use my custom link, www.drinklmnt.com/ScottMys. The LMNT Sample Pack includes one packet of their most popular flavors. This is the perfect offer for 1) anyone who is interested in trying all of our flavors or 2) anyone who wants to introduce a friend to LMNT. Go to www.drinklmnt.com/ScottMys to claim this awesome deal! Interested in working with me 1-1? I offer personalized coaching where I can help you reach your goals whether it be fat loss, muscle building, health improvements, or all of the above. I provide tailored nutrition, training, and supplementation advice (one or all together) with 24/7 ongoing support to help guide you every step of the way. DM me on Instagram and I can answer any questions. If you like, we can even set up a FREE consult call to go over your goals, answer questions, and discuss what it could look like to work together!
Mo Amer (Mo, The Vagabond, Black Adam) is an award-winning comedian and actor. Mo joins the Armchair Expert to discuss feeling anxiety only when there's something unsettled at home, embracing the responsibility of being a comic that's also made a personally and culturally meaningful thing, and the best part of his new show being that he gets to introduce different layers to his story. Mo and Dax talk about his brilliant telecommunications engineer father relocating their family from Palestine to Kuwait, living through the Iraqi invasion that catalyzed the Gulf War, and creating a supportive Sandlot brotherhood that still exists to this day. Mo explains how his teacher encouraging him to do Shakespearean standup rocketed his entry into comedy, performing some of the greatest sets of his life returning to Iraqi war zones, and the emotional rediscovery of long-lost home movies of his family and childhood.Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.