Podcasts about Kyrgyzstan

Max had wide-ranging conversation with Jade McGlynn while she was traveling in Ukraine. Topics covered include the Ukrainian war effort, the situation behind the lines in the Russian-occupied territories, and the recent protests in Ukraine against perceived efforts by the Zelenskyy administration to limit the independence of domestic anti-corruption agencies. This conversation was recorded on August 1, 2025 "Crossing Thresholds: Ukrainian Resistance to Russian Occupation," by Jade McGlynn (June 2024, CSIS).

It's Tuesday, September 2nd, 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 Pakistani Muslim kidnapped 16-year-old Christian girl Pakistan is in the persecution news again. This time for a 16-year-old Christian girl kidnapped and forced into sex slavery by a Muslim in the Punjab district. She was rescued by court order on August 14th. This is just one of thousands of these cases occurring each year, where girls and women are kidnapped and forced into conversions, marriages, and prostitution. Pakistan is the seventh worst nation in the world on The Worldview's International Morality Index, and the eighth worst on Open Doors' World Watch List. Finnish politician tried third time for condemning perversion A Finnish Member of Parliament, Päivi Räsänen, is back in court this month, after already being acquitted twice for the so-called hate crime of calling homosexual relationships “sinful.” Räsänen has been charged with “agitation against a minority group” under the Finnish criminal code addressing “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” She's been under attack for seven years. This time the prosecutor is taking the case to Finland's Supreme Court. Afghanistan earthquake claims 800 lives In God's providence, Afghanistan has been hit by a third major earthquake since the Taliban took over, reports Reuters. This has claimed 800 lives and wounded 2,800 more, mostly in the Kunar Province. The 2022 quake killed over 1,000 people and the 2023 quake killed over 2,000 people. Russia's Putin, India's Modi and China's Jinping met in summit The new Axis power base was further solidified yesterday in a meeting which took place in Tianjin, China, with the presidents of China, India, and Russia — Presidents Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, and Vladimir Putin. This was Modi's first visit to China in seven years. Modi expressed his desire to Putin that the two nations deepen cooperation “in all sectors.”  The meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization boasts “the world's largest regional organization” including nations with a combined economic output of nearly $30 trillion. That's just over the United States' annual Gross Domestic Product. Russia's Putin called the alliance the beginnings of a “new system” of security in Eurasia.  The Shanghai Cooperation Organization consists of the communist, Hindu, and Islamic states of Russia, Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Chinese Navy boasts more warships than America The BBC reports that the Chinese Navy has exceeded America's Navy in number of warships -- 234 to 219. However, the Chinese are still behind the United States in overall tonnage and aircraft carriers.  Importantly, the Chinese shipyards have upwards of 200 times the ship-building capacity of America at this point. Brazilian socialists want to lock up Jair Bolsonaro Socialist elements in the Brazilian government are looking at locking up the nation's previous president Jair Bolsonaro for 30 years. Bolsonaro is accused of staging a coup after disagreeing with the election results in January of 2023.   The Associated Press reports that the evidence includes “an unsigned document that sought to invalidate the election and his alleged push for supporters to destroy government buildings in Brasilia on January 8, 2023.”  Low Scottish birth rate Scotland's birth rate is the lowest on record — hitting 1.23 children per woman. The nation's abortion rate is 17.9 per 1,000 women. Out of 50 countries, that's the fifth lowest birth rate in Europe. Only Malta, Spain, Lithuania, and Italy have lower birth rates.  Deuteronomy 7:12 and 14a makes a promise to a nation. “Because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them. …You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.” Not so much for Scotland. Vice President JD Vance defends prayer U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance defended prayer as a proper response to the recent massacre at the Minneapolis, Minnesota Catholic School. His X post explained that, “We pray because our hearts are broken. We pray because we know God listens. We pray because we know that God works in mysterious ways, and can inspire us to further action.” Vance was responding to Jen Psaki, Joe Biden's previous press secretary, who skeptically asserted that “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does [sic] not end school shootings. Prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back.” In addition to Vice President Vance, CNN's conservative commentator Scott Jennings defended prayer as well. Listen. JENNINGS: “I think it's wrong, frankly, to vilify or attack people of faith. I think ‘thoughts and prayers' are the most solid on days of tragedy for people who live their faith every day. And I think on a day like today, particularly in a church community, there are probably people praying harder for comfort today than they have ever prayed in their life. “And I heard others on the Left today go down this line of attack against people of faith, sort of denigrating the idea that they might want to pray today.” Proverbs 28:9 reminds us that “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” And Proverbs 15:29 says, “The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Chip and Joanna Gaines roll out “LGBTQ roller skating show” The reality show pop-star couple and known-to- be professing Christians, Chip Gaines and his wife, Joanna, are under fire again. This time, they are producing a program on their Magnolia Network featuring what has been termed “an LGBTQ+ roller skating reality show” called “Roller Jam.” Joanna Gaines called it “a show the whole family can watch together,” according to Protestia and FaithWire.  Office mortgages hit record 11.7% delinquency rate In economic news, delinquency rates on office mortgages in the United States have hit a record 11.7%, exceeding the last record set during the 2008 recession. That delinquency rate was only 1.6% just two years ago. Silver and gold keep climbing According to TradingView.com, silver surged to $40.76 per ounce and gold hit $3,475 per ounce on Monday — record highs for the metals. Married mothers happier than childless single women And finally, no surprise here. The Institute for Family Studies surveyed 3,000 women and found that married mothers were more likely to enjoy life.   The report documented that 47% of married mothers say their lives are enjoyable most or all the time, compared to 34% of unmarried, childless women who say the same thing. Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, September 2nd, 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.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

在上海合作组织峰会欢迎宴会上的祝酒辞 （2025年8月31日，天津） 中华人民共和国主席 习近平 Toast by H.E. Xi JinpingPresident of the People's Republic of ChinaAt the Welcoming Banquet of the SCO Summit (Tianjin, August 31, 2025)尊敬的各位同事、各位来宾，Dear Colleagues,Distinguished Guests,女士们，先生们，朋友们：Ladies and Gentlemen,Friends,大家晚上好！灯火海河畔，津门纳百川。我谨代表中国政府和中国人民，欢迎各位嘉宾来到天津做客。Good evening. Tonight, we are gathered here by the glittering banks of the Haihe River in Tianjin, a city defined by its embrace of waters from all corners. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I welcome all our distinguished guests to Tianjin.今天是上海合作组织成员国领导人同各位新老朋友欢聚一堂的日子，也是吉尔吉斯斯坦独立日和马来西亚国庆日。借此机会，谨向扎帕罗夫总统、安瓦尔总理，向友好的吉尔吉斯斯坦人民、马来西亚人民，表示诚挚的祝贺！Today is a joyful day for leaders of SCO member states to have this happy gathering with old and new friends. It is also the Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan and the National Day of Malaysia. I wish to take this opportunity to offer our heartfelt congratulations to President Sadyr Japarov, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and the friendly peoples of Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia.天津是一座开放包容的城市，自古为京畿要地，是中国改革开放先行区。这些年来，在京津冀协同发展战略引领下，中国式现代化天津篇章不断展现新气象。中方相信，在天津举办这次峰会，一定能给上海合作组织可持续发展注入新的活力。Tianjin is an open and inclusive metropolis. It has served as a strategic guardian city for our nation's capital throughout history, and pioneered China's reform and opening-up as a pilot zone. In recent years, Tianjin has implemented the national strategy of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development, and written its new and dynamic chapter in advancing Chinese modernization. We believe that as the host of this Summit, Tianjin will give fresh impetus to the sustainable development of our Organization.上海合作组织自成立以来，始终秉持“上海精神”，巩固团结互信，深化务实合作，参与国际和地区事务，成为推动构建新型国际关系和人类命运共同体的重要力量。Since its founding, the SCO has stayed committed to the Shanghai Spirit, strengthening solidarity and mutual trust, deepening practical cooperation, and taking an active part in international and regional affairs. The SCO has grown into a significant force in promoting a new type of international relations and building a community with a shared future for humanity.当前，世界百年变局加速演进，不稳定、不确定、难预料因素明显增多，上海合作组织维护地区和平稳定、促进各国发展繁荣的责任更加重大。At present, the century-defining transformation is accelerating across the world, with a marked increase in factors of instability, uncertainty, and unpredictability. The SCO thus bears an even greater responsibility for maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting development and prosperity of all countries.这次峰会肩负着凝聚各方共识、激发合作动能、擘画发展蓝图的重要使命。明天，我将同成员国各位同事举行元首理事会会议，同更多友好国家和国际组织举行“上海合作组织+”会议，共商合作发展大计，推动完善全球治理。At this Summit, we are tasked with an important mission: to build consensus among all parties, ignite momentum for cooperation, and draw up a blueprint for development. Tomorrow, I will join our colleagues at the Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States. We will also convene the "SCO Plus" Meeting with leaders of non-SCO members and international organizations. We will focus on how to strengthen cooperation, promote development, and improve global governance.我相信，在各方共同努力下，这次峰会一定能够圆满成功，上海合作组织必将展现更大作为、实现更大发展，为促进成员国团结协作、汇聚全球南方力量、助力人类文明进步事业作出更大贡献。I am confident that with the collective efforts of all parties, this Summit will be a complete success and the SCO will play an even greater role, achieve greater development, and make greater contribution to strengthening solidarity and cooperation among the member states, pooling the strength of the Global South, and promoting the cause of human advancement.百舸争流，奋楫者先。让我们在“上海精神”指引下，从天津再出发，向着更加美好的未来，开启充满希望的新航程！As a Chinese saying goes, "In a race of a hundred boats, those who row the hardest will lead." Let us uphold the Shanghai Spirit and set out from Tianjin on a new voyage filled with hope toward an even brighter future.现在，我提议，大家共同举杯，Now, please join me in a toast:为天津峰会取得丰硕成果，To a productive and fruitful Summit;为上海合作组织实现宗旨目标，To the advancement of the SCO's goals and tasks;为各国发展繁荣、人民幸福美满，To the development and prosperity of all countries and the well-being of our people; and为各位来宾和家人的健康，To the health of all distinguished guests and your families.干杯！Cheers! 来源：新华社

Max and Maria give their takes on the recent efforts to negotiate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. They analyze the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska, and then the meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders at the White House.   This episode was recorded on August 20, 2025.

In this conversation, Dr. Anastasiia Iun shares her journey from Kyrgyzstan to becoming a licensed psychologist in Alaska. She discusses her diverse experiences in psychology, including her work in behavior analysis and school psychology. Anastasiia emphasizes the importance of understanding systems in mental health and the challenges faced byparents of children with special needs in Kyrgyzstan. She highlights the emergence of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in her home country and its impact on parenting stress and social emotional development. Dr. Joon shares her response to the Russian-Ukrainian war, detailing her efforts to provide free training and support to the community. Links to Dr. Iun's FREE training for Russian Speakers: Ссылки на БЕСПЛАТНОЕ обучение доктора Юна для русскоговорящих: https://www.abapsy.com/abapsy-podcast https://www.abapsy.com/abapsy-podcast https://www.youtube.com/@abapsy   Watch on YouTube! https://youtu.be/FfVAaNnCIP0 Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop) BACB: 1.5 Ethics IBAO:  1.5  Cultural QABA: 1.5 Ethics Follow us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behaviourspeak/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/benreiman.bsky.social.bsky.social LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/behaviourspeak/ Contact: Dr. Anastasiia Iun https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology/faculty/iun.cshtml https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasiiaiun/ Related Behaviour Speak Podcast Episodes: Episode 216 Behavior Analysis in Slovenia With Majia Simnjanovskil https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-216-behavior-analysis-in-slovenia-with-maja-simnjanovski/ Episode 191 Behavior Analysis in Belarus with Hanna Kalinouskaya https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/behaviouranalysis-in-belaruswith-hannakalinouskaya-bcba-iba/ Episode 184 Behavior Analysis In Ukraine with Alla Moskalets https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-184-behavior-analysis-in-ukraine-with-alla-moskalets/ Episode 175 Autism in Serbia with Dr. Marjia Colic https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-175-autism-in-serbia-with-dr-marija-colic/

In episode 12, Natalie and Russ discuss weird and wonderful animal hook-ups: bunny and goat, dog and pig, and even a foray into the tale of a boy in Kyrgyzstan raised by sheep! We learn something new in every episode, and so will you, whether you want to or not.   "I promised myself I wasn't going to do this but... the OXPECKER."   "Let's talk about kids raised by animals” “THAT'S ME!”   "Carlos was in sexual overdrive." "Do you think that's why Squiggly is such a d**k now?"   PS: Natalie would like to apologize for her excessive snorting.  

Tommy Caldwell grew up exploring Yosemite, looking up at El Capitan's punishing 3000ft sheer rock face. After years of training, he was ready to climb it. Tommy is regarded as the world's best big wall climber.He spent 15 years ascending various routes on El Capitan, the Yosemite National Park mecca for big wall climbers, until he was finally ready to attempt a route christened 'The Dawn Wall'.The Dawn Wall is a 3000-foot ascent up sheer rock on the southeast face of El Capitan.It took Tommy and his partner Kevin Jorgeson 19 days, but in 2015 they became the first to successfully free climb The Dawn Wall.The accomplishment was the culmination of years of endurance, just only on the wall, but also on the ground. As a younger man, Tommy was kidnapped in Kyrgyzstan and he later lost a finger in an accident, which is a particularly devastating loss for a climber. Through it all, Tommy says climbing is what kept him sane.Further informationFirst broadcast in August, 2019.A documentary about Tommy and Kevin's climb, The Dawn Wall, is available on Netflix.2025 update: Tommy has published a best-selling memoir, ‘The Push'.You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.This episode of Conversations explores rock climbing, bouldering, California, National Parks, outdoor pursuits, free climbing, sports injuries, documentary, adrenaline sports.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

What's it actually like to go bikepacking through Kyrgyzstan to China? This week I feature another update from our intrepid adventurer Rebecca Gross who shares her experiences once more. Be sure to check out Rebecca on Instagram - @rebecca_grb as well as her YouTube channel to see visuals the behind the adventures.Check out Ombraz Sunglasses - I'm a fan and I think you will be too!Support the showBuy me a coffee and help support the show! I'm an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:

In ultra distance bikepack racing, women typically make up just over 10% of the starting line. In recent years, we've begun to see that number grow with a number of efforts popping up to encourage more women to take to the start line and give the sport a go. This year, 30 women will be lining up to take on the Silk Road Mountain race, which is often regarded as the pinnacle of off-road bike pack racing. They'll travel more than 1,900 kilometers across the country, into the high mountains, across rivers and valleys, and into some of the most remote and rugged destinations of Kyrgyzstan. This episode is a celebration of the women lining up this year. They come from all corners of the globe, and it's a spotlight on their individual stories.Dotwatch the 2025 Silk Road Mountain RaceListen to the race podcast Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebbFollow Detours on Instagram: @detourscyclingFollow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cyclingUse code DETOURS15 to get 15% off your next order from AlbionIf you love this show please consider pledging your support to sustain producing this show: https://buymeacoffee.com/detourspodcast

In this episode of the How to Lead – 2025 Edition series, Julia speaks with Autumn Phillips, a travel writer, adventurer, and change leader, who spent two decades as a newspaper editor leading award-winning newsrooms across the United States. Autumn shares how to run a strategy meeting that doesn't feel like a slow march through an agenda. Drawing from her experience leading both high-pressure editorial rooms and creative retreats around the world, she explains how to create conditions where people feel safe enough to speak up and bold enough to think differently. From setting the right physical environment to lowering the stakes so risk-taking feels possible, Autumn offers practical steps to help teams listen better, push ideas further, and leave the room with a shared sense of momentum. Listen to this episode to learn how a well-led strategy meeting can do more than setting a plan. It can unlock creativity, trust, and collective energy. About the Guest: Autumn Phillips is a travel writer, adventurer and change leader. She retired in 2024 from a 20-year career as a newspaper editor, leading newsrooms across the United States. Her leadership was recognized with many national awards, including two projects that were Pulitzer Prize finalists. In 2023, she began taking readers on international trips, teaching them how to write about their journeys as a way to deepen the experience. She is starting the year by leading a women's creativity retreat in Lamu, Kenya. She was named NATJA Travel Journalist of the Year for stories on Lebanon, Sudan and Finland. She writes a weekly newsletter and has published long-form narrative pieces on Kyrgyzstan, Ireland, Finland, Pakistan, Sudan, Zambia, Lebanon, Cuba, Morocco, the Grand Canyon, the World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan, and the Galapagos.

Jake Yngblood is an adrenaline-junkie adventurer, chasing epic quests from Guatemala to Afghanistan. He fueled by a belief in fearless optimism ("Optimist Prime" ) and building global connections through extreme travel. Jakeyngblood is rallying adventurers for a soul-stirring Kyrgyzstan horse trek.

Max and Maria spoke with Harley Balzer and Sergei Guriev about the recently released volume, Failure. Russia Under Putin. This conversation was recorded on July 17, 2025. Failure. Russia Under Putin is available now from Bloomsbury Publishing.

Episode Description             Episode Description         Sign up to receive this Unreached of the Day podcast sent to you:                                             https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12933   Dear Friend, The Batak people of North Sumatra didn't have a written language until 1834. Today, they're one of the largest Christian populations in Indonesia, with over 6 million believers. The transformation happened because someone, a German missionary named Ludwig Nommensen, decided their spiritual poverty was unacceptable. That was 190 years ago. Today, 4,473 people groups are still waiting for their Ludwig Nommensen moment. The People Group Adoption Program launches today, and here's how it works: It meets you where you are. You're not being asked to become a missionary in the field (though if God calls you to that, we'll cheer you on). You're being invited to use your current gifts, prayer, advocacy, networking, research to support those who are already called to go. It's strategic. Every people group in our database has been vetted by researchers and field workers. These aren't randomly selected communities. They're the 100 largest frontier people groups, the populations with the least gospel access and the greatest potential for kingdom impact. It grows with your capacity. Whether you're adopting as a family, church, or organization, the commitment adjusts to what you can offer. Some will pray weekly. Others will fund translation projects. A few will end up moving to the field. All contributions matter. When you adopt a people group today, you'll receive: Immediate next steps for your specific adopted group A digital covenant card to mark your commitment Information about your frontier people group Regular updates as we develop more resources and connections Beyond the practical resources, you'll receive something harder to quantify: the knowledge that you're part of a strategic response to the most urgent spiritual need on our planet. The Batak people have been sending missionaries to unreached groups for decades now. Their story didn't end with their own transformation; it multiplied exponentially. Your adopted people group could be the next. Show less Show less

Aishola was born and raised in Kyrgyzstan, specifically the northern part of Kyrgyzstan in a town called Karakol. She currently lives in Bishkek, which is the capital of Kyrgyz Republic. Aishola is also the founder of Travel Atelier & Production 4274°, in which she leads conscious-oriented tours and assists with documentary filming in Central Asia. on this episode, we chat about:* what it's like to live and grow up in Kyrgyzstan * Aishola's solo travel adventures on her bike * Travel advice and recommendations to know before visiting Kyrgyzstanfeatured questions:1. What makes Kyrgyzstan distinct from other parts of Central Asia? 2. What was it like growing up in Karakol? 3. What recommendations/advice do you have for people traveling to Kyrgyzstan? Specifically, solo female travelers? 4. Can you talk more about solo bikepacking and completing the Silk Road Mountain Race? 5. What's your take on responsible tourism in Kyrgyzstan? ━━━━━━━━ ⟡ ━━━━━━━━connect with Aishola here!✨ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/aishoolaaisaeva?igsh=dGZ0bzgxNXczbjlw━━━━━━━━ ⟡ ━━━━━━━━connect with me here :)Instagram:✨ @lydiaschultzzhttps://www.instagram.com/lydiaschultzz/ ✨ @gottacaseofwanderusthttps://www.instagram.com/gottacaseofwanderlust?igsh=MTJjZ2p6bWZpdXBrYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr✨Travel Blog:gottacaseofwanderlust.com✨Travel Guides: https://www.thatch.co/@gottacaseofwanderlust ━━━━━━━━ ⟡ ━━━━━━━━

Russia's national airline cancels more than 100 flights following a cyberattack, the FBI seizes $2.4 million from the Chaos ransomware, Kazakhstan arrests a ransomware suspect, and Kyrgyzstan nationalizes internet access. Show notes Risky Bulletin: US seizes Chaos ransomware funds

Can independent journalism survive in the age of autocracy? Bektour Iskender, co-founder of Kyrgyz news platform Kloop, reflects on the power of international investigative journalism in confronting corruption, autocracy, and neo-imperial ambition with Co-Founder and Head of Innovation at OCCRP Paul Radu.In Central Asia, exposing the truth comes at a price. Bektour Iskender founded Kloop to train young journalists and uncover what others wouldn't touch: stolen billions, rigged elections, environmental devastation. His work reached far beyond Kyrgyzstan, revealing corruption networks stretching from Central Asia and the Caucasus to Western capitals.For this, Kloop was silenced. Iskender went into exile. But the investigations continued. In this programme, Iskender explores how journalists across Central Asia and the Caucasus are building new forms of solidarity. How international reporting networks like OCCRP are mapping corruption across borders. And how cartography itself can become a tool—not of empire, but of resistance.Programme editor: Kees FoekemaThis programme is a part of the Forum on European Culture 2025.Zie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Solo update podcast episode

This week, Max spoke with Michael Kimmage about the recent headlines connected to Russia and Ukraine, and what they mean for the coming months. "The Limits of Putin's Balancing Act: What the Kremlin Will Sacrifice in Pursuit of Victory in Ukraine," by Michael Kimmage and Maria Lipman (Foreign Affairs, July 2025)

Max and Maria are joined by Richard Giragosian and Jeffrey Mankoff to talk about the current geopolitical moment in the South Caucasus, with a particular focus on the dynamics at play in the relationships between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. This conversation was recorded on July 9, 2025.

The Global Mayors Dialogue • SCO Summit Cities event was held in Tianjin on July 8. Guests and representatives from SCO member states gathered to explore new horizons for urban cooperation. During the event, China Daily reporter Peng Yixuan met Adel from Kyrgyzstan, a student who is currently studying in China. Serving as a volunteer translator, Adel reunited with her father — a speaker at the event. Click to watch the video and find out what it was like for Adel to be working with her dad, why foreign guests say Tianjin and St. Petersburg share a unique charm, and for more fascinating on-site moments.

Ever wanted to go on a bike adventure in Kyrgyzstan? Then listen to Javi (@hacker.bikepacker on instagram) tell us all about his experiences while he cycles there right now!I also share updates from Samuel Thompson's Tour de France Randonneur Challenge - @touriste.routier as well as my experiences riding with both @MartasWay and @ExploringByBicycleKeen to watch some awesome women out there on a bike adventure? then be sure to give Alice Terre - @alice.terre and Laura Bastioli - @basti.onthemove a follow.I also share your responses to a queestion I posed on instagram which is what is a luxury item that you take with you on a bikepacking adventure! Interested in Helinox Chairs - check them out here! It won't cost you any extra but will help the show out if you make a purchase using this link.Support the showBuy me a coffee and help support the show! I'm an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:

The summer racing season in the world of ultra and bikepacking is in full swing! In this episode, I'm catching you up on what's been happening and what's ahead. From surprising Jake at the finish of the Tour Divide (yes, I cried... so much crying!) to managing media at Hellenic, it's been a full few weeks. I share women's racing highlights from this season so far, including Tour Divide, Highland Trail 550, Hellenic Mountain Race, Kromvojoj, El Piri, and the Trans Balkans Race. I also look ahead to what's coming next: Bright Midnight, Transcontinental Race where nearly 100 women(!!!) will be lining up this year. and of course, the Silk Road Mountain Race. Even though I won't be racing this year, I'm excited to return to Kyrgyzstan for a third time and be back in the ultra bubble with the media crew. And inevitably, I've missed some races—so if there's a standout story you think should be featured, I'm all ears.Plus, I want to hear from you. If you've been on an overnighter, a big summer ride, or a bikepacking trip you're proud of, send me a voice note to thedetourspodcast@gmail.com I'd love to feature your stories on the show and celebrate adventures big and small.Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebbFollow Detours on Instagram: @detourscyclingFollow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cyclingIf you love this show please consider pledging your support to sustain producing this show: https://buymeacoffee.com/detourspodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebbFollow Detours on Instagram: @detourscyclingFollow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cyclingIf you love this show please consider pledging your support to sustain producing this show: https://buymeacoffee.com/detourspodcast

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. We're still sifting through the facts and figuring out the results of the 12-day Israel-Iran war. But after every earthquake, there are aftershocks. Today, we’ll look at how this war has far-reaching effects on countries such as Russia, China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. We begin the program by looking at China, which is hosting a gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a China- and Russia-led regional security grouping. In attendance is Iran’s defense minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh. The conference is an attempt to build alternative international blocs to those backed by the United States, according to reporting on CNN. So, how does China fit in with the 12-day war? Our next stop is Russia. The world learned again that Russian military tech is no match for a first-class air force like the IDF after it failed to repel the Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. Berman weighs in on Russia's nuanced approach to the Israel-Iran war and its cautious moves to not upset the Trump administration. Reports of Iranians fleeing to bordering Turkey during the conflict were unsurprising, said Berman, since the NATO nation is a gateway to Europe. We hear how Turkey responded to the war. Looking towards Saudi Arabia, US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff reiterated Wednesday his belief that additional countries will join the Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel and several Muslim nations. We learn what would have to happen for this to occur and how there may be a softening on Israel's part following the recent conflict with Iran. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: (L-R) India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Kazakhstan's Defense Minister Dauren Kossanov, China's Defense Minister Dong Jun, Kyrgyzstan's Defense Minister Ruslan Mukambetov, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and Russia's Defense Minister Andrei Belousov gather for a group photo during the Defense Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States in Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province on June 26, 2025. (Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hanna Notte returns to the show for a conversation with Max and Maria about what the most recent round of hostilities between Israel and Iran, plus the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, mean for Russia's own Middle Eastern strategy.  This conversation was recorded on June 25, 2025. "Russia no longer needs Iran's help to sustain the war in Ukraine," by Hanna Notte (June 2025, Financial Times) "Why Isn't Russia Defending Iran?" by Hanna Notte (June 2025, The Atlantic)

Max moderated a live panel discussion with Maria, and two leading experts on the Russian economy, Elina Ribakova and Vladislav Inozemtsev. The conversation focused on the findings of the recent report from the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, "The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover."

In this week's episode of the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast, Augustine Colebrook sits down with Indie McDowell—a classically trained anthropologist and clinically trained midwife with a truly global journey.Indie began her career working with UNICEF's Maternal and Neonatal Health Team in Kyrgyzstan before returning to the UK to complete her midwifery training. From there, her path led her to clinical work in Cambodia and Malawi, ultimately drawing her to Ethiopia.After a year and a half leading neonatal services and emergency obstetric care at a busy referral hospital in rural southwest Ethiopia alongside her colleague Atsede Kidane, the two chose to build something different: their own clinic, rooted in compassion and centered on women's needs.Stories from their work in Ethiopia is beautifully captured in the book With Two Souls, co-written by Indie McDowell and Atsede Kidane.We also dive into what it means to truly commit to place, community, and long-term impact in global birth work.Are you a midwife called to work beyond borders? Join us for our upcoming Traveling Midwife Webinar —a 4-part, 8-hour CEU event designed for aspiring and experienced birthworkers who are exploring midwifery on the move. Led by Augustine Colebrook, and guest traveling midwives, this immersive series will cover legalities, logistics, and cultural considerations of traveling birth work—both international and domestic.

The World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions, often called Summer Davos, is taking place in Tianjin, a major coastal city in northern China. Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the Opening Plenary and delivered an address. The President of Ecuador, Prime Ministers of Singapore, Kyrgyzstan, Senegal, and Vietnam are attending, together with 1,700 representatives from over 90 countries and regions. As China contributes around 30% of global growth annually, what opportunities will deeper global engagement with its market and innovation ecosystem bring? Why has AI become the buzzword throughout the meeting?

Max and Maria get another update from military expert Mike Kofman on the state of the frontlines in Ukraine.  This conversation was recorded on June 11, 2025. "The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover" by Maria Snegovaya, Nicholas Fenton, Tina Dolbaia, and Max Bergmann (June 2025, CSIS.org) "Russia's Battlefield Woes in Ukraine" by Seth Jones and Riely McCabe (June 2025, CSIS.org) "Assessing Russian Military Adaptation in 2023" by Michael Kofman (October 2024, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

In France's Champagne region a high-profile human trafficking trial is raising serious questions about working conditions in one of Europe's most luxurious industries.Three people, a woman from Kyrgyzstan, a Georgian man, and a French national, are on trial in Châlons-en-Champagne. They're accused of trafficking and exploiting over 50 undocumented workers during the 2023 grape harvest. How widespread is exploitation in the seasonal labour force and what does this mean for the industry? Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.Production: By Europod, in co production with Sphera Network.Follow us on:LinkedInInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They’re burning churches, jailing pastors, and killing Christians. What will it take for us to wake up? Over 380 million followers of Jesus around the world are facing extreme persecution—right now. Thousands are being murdered, imprisoned, or driven from their homes because they refuse to deny Christ. What would you do if your faith cost you everything? In this episode of "Courageous Christianity with Richard Mendelow," host Colonel Richard J. Mendelow (Ret) is joined by Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors US. Together, they expose what’s happening in places like Nigeria and Kyrgyzstan and talk about why your prayers and action matter more than ever. Will you stand with your brothers and sisters or stay silent while evil advances? Don’t miss this critical conversation. Make time to listen and challenge someone else to listen with you. Tune in now to this episode of "Courageous Christianity with Richard Mendelow" at CourageousChristianity.today or on select podcast platforms. Courageous Christianity is a public non-profit ministry with a mission to equip Christian men for the spiritual battlefield in order to glorify God and create godly change. We give voice to this mission through “Courageous Christianity with Richard Mendelow,” a weekly radio show and podcast that speaks to the intersection of our faith and the secular world. Here’s how you can stand with us:– Subscribe, rate, and review this podcast to help others find it.– Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.– Donate to help keep us on the air and support our mission to equip Christian warriors for the spiritual battlefield. Your support makes it possible for us to continue encouraging and equipping men to walk in truth, lead with strength, and impact the world for Christ. To listen to previous episodes, learn more, or give, visit CourageousChristianity.today. God bless and Semper Fi!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I wish I had 640 days to do this trip, not 64." Bali-based Stuart McDonald, founder of Travelfish, is 34 days into an ambitious two-month overland trip across 18 countries from his Bali home to Leeds in the UK. So, why is he doing it? What has he experienced en route? And what have been the finest discoveries of the journey so far? This week, Gary catches up with Stuart in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, to track back across his train and-bus route so far, which has taken him from Bali to Jakarta, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Stuart describes the dramatic natural landscapes viewed from numerous train windows. He also tells compelling stories about his encounters with Chinese backpacking culture, entire mountains clad with solar panels, the lowering of a giant Lenin statue, an under-construction China-Central Asia railway, and the cultured urban delights of Almaty. We preview the anticipated highlights of the rest of the trip, including Tbilisi, Istanbul, Bucharest and Budapest, before a rapid dash to Paris to catch the Eurostar to London - and a connection to the journey's end: Leeds. A remarkable journey, which Stuart describes as "exhausting" and a "gruelling mission", but - overall - the "trip of a lifetime".

It's Friday, June 13th, 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 Adam McManus Christians in former Soviet Central Asian nations increasingly face persecution Formerly part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the five “stan” countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — have a mix of ex-Soviet authoritarianism and Islamic nationalism that can be troublesome and even dangerous to Christians, reports International Christian Concern. The region has seen increasing repression of religious minorities during the last few years. Three of these five countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan — have seen a sharp rise in the persecution rankings. Even the comparatively less repressive nation of Kyrgyzstan has just this year returned to the Open Doors Top 50 list for the first time in more than a decade.   Kyrgyzstan has used special operations police to raid state-registered Protestant and Catholic churches and threatened to banish the entire Catholic Church from the country.   In rural Kazakhstan, authorities often pressure Christian business owners to pay bribes. Meanwhile, in neighboring Turkmenistan, a network of secret police and Muslim imams are primed and ready to flush out anyone partaking in so-called aberrant religious activity.  In John 15:8, Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you" Air India plane crash kills 241 aboard with one survivor An Air India passenger plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad at 1:38pm local time, soon after departing for London, reports CBS News. Ramesh Viswashkumar, the sole survivor of the Air India crash, escaped by jumping from the plane, reports India Today.  He was in seat 11A.  Campbell Wilson, Air India's CEO, expressed his condolences. WILSON: “First and most importantly, I would like to express our deep sorrow about this event.” Officials feared numerous casualties on the ground, as the aircraft had crashed into buildings, including the BJ Medical College undergraduate hostel mess, according to a social post on X. Christian leaders have also offered condolences and are vowing to help the families of the dead passengers, reports The Christian Post. Marines prepare for Los Angeles deployment as protests spread across U.S. California will face off with the White House in court today over President Donald Trump's deployment of U.S. troops in Los Angeles after demonstrators again took to the streets in major cities to protest Trump's crackdown on illegal aliens, reports Reuters. According to the Pentagon, 700 U.S. Marines will be on the streets of Los Angeles by Friday to support up to 4,000 National Guard troops in protecting federal property and federal agents, especially as they round up illegal aliens. Trump's decision to dispatch troops to Los Angeles, over the objections of California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, has sparked a national debate about the use of the military on U.S. soil. Carmen Colado, a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst, spoke out publicly in uniform, condemning her own Commander-in-Chief, reports The Independent. COLADO: “We are not pawns for Donald Trump's agenda. Why now? It's because the military was called upon against the protesters. In our oath to serve, we serve the people of the United States, the Constitution. These constitutional rights are being stripped and just denied. The military will not be pawns to that. “So, I'm calling upon the conscience of military members who served previously and now. We have a duty and moral obligation to say no and resist evil.” In response, patriots have called for Carmen Colado to be dishonorably discharged or court-martialed for publicly criticizing the commander-in-chief's orders. Some argued that her actions constituted a violation of the U.S. military's Uniform Code of Military Justice and called for Article 15 to be invoked against her, which empowers a commanding officer to order nonjudicial punishments less severe than a court-martial. On Instagram, Colado describes herself as the “proud daughter of an illegal immigrant.” House cuts $9.4 billion in funding for NPR, PBS and foreign aid On Thursday, the House of Representatives narrowly voted to cut $9.4 billion in spending already approved by Congress as President Donald Trump's administration looks to follow through on work done by the Department of Government Efficiency when it was overseen by Elon Musk, reports The Associated Press. The package targets foreign aid programs and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides money for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. The vote was 214-212. This bill was passed at the request of President Trump, who has criticized PBS and NPR for alleged bias. Michelle Obama: Creating life is the least of what reproductive system does On the latest episode of the podcast “In My Opinion with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson,” the former first lady said creating life is “the least” of what a woman's reproductive system does, reports the New York Post. Listen. MICHELLE OBAMA: “A lot of male lawmakers, a lot of male politicians, a lot of male religious leaders think about the issue of choice as if it's just about the fetus, the baby. But women's reproductive health is about our life. It's about this whole complicated reproductive system -- the least of what it does is produce life.” Sadly, the former first lady despises the truth of Psalm 127:3 which declares, "Children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” Marcus Rogers, a Christian YouTuber, was horrified. ROGERS: “It's called the reproductive system for a reason. I really believe it's just a very demonic, antichrist spirit that these people are just so obsessed with killing babies. There's so many ways that you can prevent getting pregnant by someone you don't want to be pregnant by. There's so many things that you can do to take accountability. But the reality is these people don't want accountability. “They want to sacrifice their babies on the altar of self. They don't want a baby to inconvenience them. But they don't want to live a godly life where you would avoid all of that being a problem if you just got with the person that God has for you in the first place, instead of sleeping around.” Worldview listeners in South Carolina, Texas and Illinois share their hearts I invited Worldview listeners to share what they enjoy about the newscast in 2-6 sentences.  You can share your thoughts -- along with your  full name, city and state -- and send it to adam@theworldview.com Helen Mordente in Blythewood, South Carolina wrote,  “Because we have a small farm and my days are full, I don't listen to the newscast.  I scan the transcript to get the highlights which is all I have time to do.  I trust you as a reliable source of info.” Grace Cox in Duncanville, Texas wrote, “I just started listening this week. I like the stories of the persecuted church. It informs me on how to pray and I think it is important news for Christians to hear. “ And Rene Hernandez in Chicago, Illinois, wrote, “My wife, Adriana, and I, along with our four sons -- Naithan, Neo, Kal-El, and Othniel -- have enjoyed listening to The Worldview in 5 Minutes because you give us the news from a biblical perspective. When we hear about missionaries and those being persecuted in another country, it gives us an opportunity to pray.  It is great to hear the connection with God's Word and the news.” 10 Worldview listeners gave $7,506 to fund our annual budget And finally, toward our midpoint goal of $61,750 to fund half of The Worldview newscast's annual budget by tonight at 12 midnight, 9 listeners stepped up to the plate. Our thanks to Stephanie in Murrieta, California and George in Leesburg, Virginia – both of whom gave $100. We're grateful to God for Peter in Seaside, California and Kevin and Paula in Durham, Kansas – both of whom gave $300 as well as Nathan in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom who gave $506. And we were touched by the generosity of David and Tylaine in San Antonio who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Victoria in  Paradise, Pennsylvania who also pledged  $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Sydney in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada who gave $1,000, Roger in Crossville, Tennessee who gave $2,000, and Scooter in Naples, Florida who will match those last two donations with an additional $2,000 gift. Those 10 Worldview listeners gave a total of $7,506   Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please.  (Drum roll sound effect) $32,071.20 (People clapping sound effect) That means we still need to raise $29,678.80 by midnight tonight, Friday, June 13th to hit the half-way mark, to stay on the air, and fund our 6-member Worldview newscast team for another fiscal year. Remember, if you are one of 6 final people who give a one-time gift of $1,000, Scooter in Naples, Florida will match you with a corresponding $1,000 gift.  Now, if that happens today, we will have raised $12,000. In order to raise the remaining amount, I need to find 15 Worldview listeners who will pledge $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600. And another 30 listeners to pledge $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300. Has God placed it on your heart to be one of the Christian patriots to fund this unparalleled newscast which links Scriptures to stories, calls sin sin, and informs you about the persecuted church worldwide? Please, we need your help right now!  Go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give on the top right.   Click on the button that indicates a recurring donation if that's your wish. Let's see what the Lord will do! Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, June 13th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

It's Tuesday, June 10th, 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 Panama grants asylum to 11 Iranian Christians Eleven Christian asylum seekers from Iran have been given a 6-month reprieve in Panama. A 27-year-old woman, Artemis Ghasemzadeh,  told International Christian Concern that “If you're a Muslim and you convert to Christianity, it's a problem. The police want to catch you.” The Christians will continue searching for a country that will take them to avoid repatriation, imprisonment, and possibly death if they return to Iran. According to Open Doors, Iran is the ninth most dangerous country worldwide for Christians. Cuban prosecutors threatening pastor and wife with prison Cuban prosecutors are threatening eight years of imprisonment for a Christian pastor and his wife who mentioned God in a public trial. Pastor Luis Guillermo Borjas and  his wife, Roxana Rojas, of the Assemblies of God, were detained on May 19th for mentioning God's justice in a trial involving their son. The trial for the couple is scheduled for this week. Please keep Pastor Luis and his wife Roxana n your prayers. Open Doors reports that Cuba is the 26th most difficult country worldwide in which to be a Christian. Franklin Graham: We need evangelists who are unafraid and unapologetic A thousand delegates attended the European Congress on Evangelism in Berlin, Germany at the end of last month.   Fifty-nine years ago, Evangelist Billy Graham addressed the first European Congress on Evangelism in Berlin. BILLY GRAHAM: “The city of Berlin has influenced the world in every field. What a place from which to shout to the world: Christ is the Savior.” On May 30th, Evangelist Franklin Graham, his son, addressed the conference as well. FRANKLIN GRAHAM: “The Gospel has power. We're going to reach Europe. We need an army -- an army of evangelists -- unafraid, unashamed, unapologetic, uncompromising.” In his closing remarks, Graham spoke of the opposition he received in England recently. He said, “When we were losing our contracts in the U.K., it was coming from the LGBT+ community. They were the ones opposing us, who have the rainbow flags, which I see as the flags for the anti-Christ. And they wanted to have victory. Well, God gave us victory! … This is the group coming after us. … “So, don't compromise, and be strong. Fulfill your ministry. We know there's going to be suffering and challenges, some fights, but let's be strong. We go in the power of the name of Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Conservative Columbian presidential candidate shot in head The conservative candidate for President in Columbia, Miguel Turbay, was shot three times on Saturday, twice in the head. The 39-year-old senator remains in serious condition in a Bogota hospital.  U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “We stand in prayer with Miguel's family, loved ones, and his supporters. Those responsible for this attack must face justice.” Lenin statue toppled in Kyrgyzstan The legacy of atheist tyrants does not last forever. Kyrgyzstan is removing a 75-foot-tall monument of Vladimir Lenin in the city of Osh.   Photos showing Lenin's statue face down on the ground were made public over the weekend. This comes as Moscow has just installed a large monument to the communist  dictator Joseph Stalin in a city subway. Keep in mind Psalm 49:12-13, 16. It says, “Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts.  …  Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.” (ESV) CA protestors clash with ICE over illegals; Trump send 2,000 troops California protestors who are at odds with the Trump administration's policy on arresting illegal immigrants have taken to the streets, creating mayhem in major cities, reports The EpochTimes.com. Police arrested 150 protesters in San Francisco, and about 60 in Los Angeles over the weekend. The riots started with protestors attempting to thwart Immigration and Custom Enforcement's arrests in Los Angeles on Friday. President Trump has deployed 2,000 National Guard troops.  California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is calling for a withdrawal. Plus, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a court order attempting to gain a restraining order on the deployment.  Silver hits an all-time high Silver has hit a 13-year high — topping out around $36.70 per ounce on Monday. Gold is still hovering around $3,330 per ounce. The gold to silver ratio is still about the highest it has been in history — right around 90:1. The ratio has averaged around 65:1 since the year 2000. Historically, prior to the 1920s,  the ratio was about 20:1.  Michael Tait of Christian band Newsboys confesses to sexual sin The Contemporary Christian Music band, Newsboys, revealed over the weekend that lead singer, Michael Tait confessed to having been leading a “double life.”   This comes after a lengthy investigative report was released from the Julie Roys organization, alleging drug abuse and the sin of homosexual behavior on the part of the lead singer. The report included multiple testimonies of scandalous behavior dating back as far as 2005. Michael Tait was a founding member of dc Talk, another big Christian Contemporary band from the 1990s. The two bands won 20 Dove Awards and four Grammys combined.   The Newsboys group was featured in the films God's Not Dead, God's Not Dead 2, and God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness. Actor Tim Allen reading through whole Bible Tim Allen, known for his role in the sitcom Home Improvement, is reading through the whole Bible. He posted on X that since beginning the challenge last year, he's finished reading the whole Old Testament. He called the read a “humbling overwhelming experience.” And, he said, “What a treasure!” Allen just posted that he is in the book of Romans. He announced last year that this would be the first time he has ever read the Bible.  Psalm 19:8, 10-11 says, “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them, Your servant is warned. And in keeping them, there is great reward.” See The American Miracle movie tonight Last night, I brought my family to see The American Miracle docudrama in San Antonio, Texas. It's in 1,000 theaters through Wednesday, June 11th.  We loved it.  It was inspirational to learn about God's providential intervention in human history to enable America to win the War for Independence against seemingly insurmountable odds. We especially enjoyed hearing a portion of Daniel Webster's speech given on July 4, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the birth of America  and the deaths that day of Thomas Jefferson, age 83,  and John Adams, age 90.  TAYLOR:  “My name is James Arnold Taylor. I played Daniel Webster in The American Miracle. The most powerful thing is the power of Providence on this country that we have forgotten. I can't wait for everybody to be blessed by this film and to know that we're here for a purpose and that God has a plan.” The people who have seen the film, including this homeschool mom, have raved. HOMESCHOOL MOM: “I was very inspired by this film. I'm just a home school mama who just finished 25 years of homeschooling my three kids.  And as I was watching this film, I thought, ‘I've poured into my kids. Now, I wish so many other people could hear this story.' This message could go out to so many kids who don't have the privilege of homeschooling.” MOM #2: “This movie will help you equip your children to understand the true history of America.” Go to www.AmericanMiracleMovie.com, watch the trailer, click on the Tickets tab, type in your zipcode, and purchase tickets for tonight or Wednesday night since it's only in the theaters for a total of three days. 21 Worldview listeners gave $2,439.20 to fund our annual budget And finally, toward our midpoint goal of $61,750 to fund half of The Worldview newscast's annual budget by this Friday, June 13th, 21 listeners stepped up to the plate.  We surpassed our 20-donor goal by one donor. Our thanks to Esther in Bolivar, Missouri, Joseph in Blountville, Tennessee, and Augustine in Auburn, California – each of whom gave $25 as well as Tim in Derby, New York who gave $49.20. We appreciate Linda in Lutz, Florida, Katherine in Reddick, Florida, Jeff in Boise, Idaho, and Janna in Midvale, Idaho – each of whom gave $50. We're grateful to God for Heather in LaGrange Park, Illinois, Katherine in Derby, New York, Kara in Granbury, Texas, Jeanne in Thomasville, North Carolina, Raymond in Fort Worth, Texas, Eric in Lakewood, Colorado, Justin in Cary, North Carolina, and Casey in Wilmington, North Carolina – each of whom gave $100. And we were touched by the generosity of Todd in Interlaken, New York who gave $200, Keith in Longview, Texas who gave $240, Karl in Grand Rapids, Michigan who gave $250, Daniel in Raleigh, North Carolina who gave $300, and Michelle in Lexington Park, Maryland who gave $325. Those 21 Worldview listeners gave a total of $2,439.20.  Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please.  (Drum roll sound effect) $14,671.20 (People clapping sound effect) That means we still need to raise $47,078.80 by this Friday, June 13th to hit the half-way mark, to stay on the air, and fund our 6-member Worldview newscast team for another fiscal year. Listen to this. On Saturday night, I spoke to Scooter in Naples, Florida who was moved by God to give something bigger due to the challenge from my Michigan friend to consider larger gifts.  He has generously offered to match, dollar for dollar, the next 12 Worldview listeners who give a one time gift of $1,000. But, if that's not in your budget, just give the amount that God has placed on your heart. Just go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give on the top right.   Click on the button that indicates a recurring donation if you want to give monthly. Invest in a newscast that's succinct, factual, and Biblically based. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, June 10th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ. Print story South Korean federal and local governments are offering up to $29,000 in cash to couples who agree to get married. The Korean Times also reports that government-provided benefits intending to stir up romantic interest include $370 for dating expenses, $750 for  engagement meeting costs, and $7,500 for travel subsidies. Korean and other Asian societies maintain a very low illegitimacy rate. So, marriage is supposed to help the birth dearth. South Korea's fertility rate is just about the lowest in the world — 0.75 child per woman.

Elina Ribakova returned to the show to speak with Max and Maria about the evolution of the Ukrainian economy since February 2022.

This gripping episode explores one of climbing's most harrowing incidents—the 2000 kidnapping of four young American climbers in Kyrgyzstan's remote mountains. Tommy Caldwell, Beth Rodden, Jason Singer Smith, and John Dickey were world-class athletes with a North Face sponsorship to establish first ascents on untouched granite walls. Their dream expedition turned into a nightmare on August 12, 2000, when they were awakened by bullets striking the rock around their portaledges 1,000 feet up the Yellow Wall. Armed militants from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan forced them to rappel down and took them hostage, executing their Kyrgyz guide to demonstrate their seriousness. For six days, the climbers endured starvation (sharing one PowerBar daily among six people), forced night marches through freezing terrain, and firefights between their captors and military forces. The dramatic escape came when the militants left only one young guard named Su to watch all four hostages on treacherous rocky terrain. When Su became distracted trying to reach safer ground, Tommy Caldwell pushed him off the cliff, believing he had killed him. All four climbers fled through the night to a military outpost. The trauma affected each climber differently. Tommy channeled the experience into obsessive climbing focus, which proved crucial when he accidentally severed his index finger in 2001—he chose amputation and learned to climb better with nine fingers. This mental fortitude led to his famous 2015 Dawn Wall ascent on El Capitan, considered the hardest big wall climb in history. Beth struggled with PTSD, nightmares, and initially lost her love for climbing, though she later became a mental health advocate and published a memoir. The incident became a watershed moment in climbing, highlighting both the sport's capacity to develop mental toughness and the importance of recognizing trauma in extreme sports communities. Show Notes & Timestamps [02:30] Setting the Scene - Introduction to the four sponsored climbers and their dream expedition to establish first ascents in Kyrgyzstan's Pamir Alay Mountains in August 2000. [08:15] The Kidnapping - How the climbers were awakened by gunfire while sleeping in portaledges 1,000 feet up the wall, forced to rappel down to armed militants from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. [15:45] Six Days of Captivity - Details of their ordeal including starvation (sharing one PowerBar daily), forced marches through freezing mountains, and witnessing the execution of their Kyrgyz guide. [22:10] The Escape - The dramatic moment when Tommy Caldwell pushed 20-year-old guard "Sue" off a cliff, allowing all four climbers to flee to safety at a Kyrgyz military outpost. [28:40] Long-term Impact - How the trauma affected each climber differently, Tommy's later finger amputation and Dawn Wall achievement, Beth's PTSD struggles, and the bizarre conspiracy theories questioning their story's authenticity. Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

The governments of Central Asia—that is Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—influenced by decades of Soviet rule, maintain similar legislation to combat “extremism.” Each of these governments uses these laws beyond just addressing legitimate security threats to penalize individuals engaged in peaceful religious activities. Enforcement measures have included harassment, fines, forced renunciations of faith, detainment, imprisonment, and, at times, torture and extrajudicial killings. On today's episode, Jasmine Cameron, the Europe and Eurasia Senior Legal Advisor at the American Bar Association, and Edward Lemon, the President of the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, join USCIRF Commissioner Asif Mahmood. They discuss the international standards for protecting core human rights while addressing security concerns and the ways in which extremism laws in Central Asia violate such standards. They also share how Central Asian states abuse extremism legislation to penalize peaceful religious activities through transnational repression. Finally, they offer recommendations for the U.S. to support religious freedom in Central Asia. Read USCIRF's Issue Update on the Abuse of Extremism Laws in Central Asia for more information on this topic. To learn more about religious freedom in Central Asia, read USCIRF's 2025 Annual Report. With Contributions from:Veronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Specialist, USCIRF

The Silk Road may be the most famous trade network in history. But the flow of silk from China to the Middle East and Europe isn't the only textile trade that's made its mark on Central Asia, the subject of Chris Aslan's latest book Unravelling the Silk Road: Travels and Textiles in Central Asia (Icon Books, 2024), recently published in paperback. Drawing on over a decade's worth of experience in countries like Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, Aslan notes that there's really three “roads”: In addition to the famed Silk Road, there's also the Wool Road, tied to nomads across Central Asia, and the Cotton Road, a modern-day source of economic growth–and environmental damage. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Unravelling the Silk Road. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. 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

The Silk Road may be the most famous trade network in history. But the flow of silk from China to the Middle East and Europe isn't the only textile trade that's made its mark on Central Asia, the subject of Chris Aslan's latest book Unravelling the Silk Road: Travels and Textiles in Central Asia (Icon Books, 2024), recently published in paperback. Drawing on over a decade's worth of experience in countries like Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, Aslan notes that there's really three “roads”: In addition to the famed Silk Road, there's also the Wool Road, tied to nomads across Central Asia, and the Cotton Road, a modern-day source of economic growth–and environmental damage. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Unravelling the Silk Road. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies

The Silk Road may be the most famous trade network in history. But the flow of silk from China to the Middle East and Europe isn't the only textile trade that's made its mark on Central Asia, the subject of Chris Aslan's latest book Unravelling the Silk Road: Travels and Textiles in Central Asia (Icon Books, 2024), recently published in paperback. Drawing on over a decade's worth of experience in countries like Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, Aslan notes that there's really three “roads”: In addition to the famed Silk Road, there's also the Wool Road, tied to nomads across Central Asia, and the Cotton Road, a modern-day source of economic growth–and environmental damage. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Unravelling the Silk Road. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. 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

The Silk Road may be the most famous trade network in history. But the flow of silk from China to the Middle East and Europe isn't the only textile trade that's made its mark on Central Asia, the subject of Chris Aslan's latest book Unravelling the Silk Road: Travels and Textiles in Central Asia (Icon Books, 2024), recently published in paperback. Drawing on over a decade's worth of experience in countries like Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, Aslan notes that there's really three “roads”: In addition to the famed Silk Road, there's also the Wool Road, tied to nomads across Central Asia, and the Cotton Road, a modern-day source of economic growth–and environmental damage. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Unravelling the Silk Road. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies

A lot has changed in Central Asia in the more than three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The region's giant neighbors -- Russia and China -- have played and will no doubt continue to play large roles in Central Asia. However, the Central Asian states have strengthened relations, economic partnerships, and export routes with other countries since February 2022, loosening, to some extent, the grip Russia and China have had over Central Asia. How much have the Central Asian states used this period to further consolidate their independence and sovereignty -- both in foreign policy and economic terms? Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss this process are guests Nargis Kassenova, a senior fellow and director of the Program on Central Asia at Harvard University's Davis Center; Bakyt Beshimov, a former member of Kyrgyzstan's parliament and former Kyrgyz ambassador to the OSCE and India who now teaches at Northeastern University in Boston; and Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin.

By Adam Turteltaub Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan were all born out of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. With large energy deposits of national gas, many global companies and their suppliers are operating within these countries. To better understand the compliance risks there, we spoke with Timur Khasanov-Batirov, a compliance officer with deep and wide roots in the region. While we may think of this area as one region, he warns that there are substantial differences by country. Kazakhstan is the most developed, and compliance has gained significant traction in large companies, primarily in the oil and gas sector. Uzbekistan saw three major FCPA cases, and, as a result, compliance has garnered a great deal of attention. The other three countries have much smaller economies and less developed compliance cultures. In addition, Turkmenistan has a fairly-closed economy, which complicates the picture. While it is easy to focus on the anticorruption risk in the region, there are other challenges. The area has become a significant transshipment point to Russia of prohibited and dual-use goods. In addition, child and forced labor is an issue, especially in the textile industry. To mitigate these risks, especially for sanctions evasion and corruption, companies operating in the region will need to pay close attention to the ownership of companies. That is not always easy to do because corporate structures are often opaque. The desktop-based due diligence systems in the US and Europe are likely not sufficient, Timur advises. Having someone on the ground in the region is likely needed. Listen in to learn more about what it takes to operate a compliance program in this important part of the world. Listen now

If you're struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy.If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ Hey Poison Friends! I know we have covered some toxic ghost towns before but there are just too many out there not to bring the subject back up! If you haven't seen the last Toxic Ghost Towns episode, definitely check it out! This time around I chose to discuss a place close to home in South Carolina. "Becca, I though y'all lived in Georgia!" We do, but right next to the Savannah river which connects us to South Carolina. So this is close to us as well. There was once a town called Ellenton, until the 1950s when the government decided it was the perfect place for a new nuclear site. The Savannah River Site was first created to produce materials for nuclear weapons and during its planning, the entire town of Ellenton as well as other nearby communities were forced out with a bit of compensation for their property as determined by the government. New Ellenton was created, where some of the residents would resettle, but they would never forget their old town and how it was basically taken from them, Ellenton has its own dirty history, steeped in racist politics and violence, however, and I could not help but dig into that before discussing the toxic materials left behind when SRS switched roles from nuclear weapons products to research and environmental concerns. We also discuss what was supposed to be a wealthy resort town funded by a newspaper, Times Beach, Missouri. The timing was off during this development nearign the Great Depression, and the town was mainly one of rural and low income housing. It didn't help matters that the location itself was a flood plain. These were not the reasons for the town being evacuated, however and the story of how it became toxic is also one to be learned from. Lastly we travel to Mailuu-Suu in Kyrgyzstan, where multiple uranium and heavy metals dump sites were left. Between the early 1940s-late 1960s, the soviet union mined uranium in mines there using forced labor for much of the time. Once it became less economical, they just left the poorly constructed tailings dams and uranium rock piles sitting there in the open. This area in particular sits on the hillside above the village Mailuu-Suu (currently populated with about 25,000 people). Since this time mutliple earthquakes, landslides, and heavy rainfall even have caused dams to fail and uranium to fall into the river below, contaminating the water, fish, crops, and ultimately the people living there. Illness and cancer rates have increased significantly here and education about avoiding the worst contaminated areas and clean-up of the site is slow going. I mentioned many sites, because along the entire country there are about 92 radioactive mining waste sites in total.Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."Support us on Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on socials:The Poisoner's Almanac on IG-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adam-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Becca-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Also, look for us on TikTok @poisonersalmanacp

Max and Maria spoke with Edward Fishman about his bestselling book, Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare. 

Max and Maria welcome Michael Kimmage back to the show to provide his analysis of the ongoing U.S.-led negotiations to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. This conversation was recorded on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. "What if America Abandons Ukraine?" by Liana Fix and Michael Kimmage (Foreign Affairs, May 2025). "The Zeitenwende Is Real This Time," by Michael Kimmage and Sudha David-Wilp (Foreign Affairs, April 2025).

On Washington Wednesday, federal funding for universities; on World Tour, news from Nigeria, Australia, Puerto Rico, and Kyrgyzstan; and the effect of tariffs at the northern border. Plus, a pausing politics for a hockey game, Ericka Andersen on helping teens in crisis, and the Wednesday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from I Witness, an immersive audio drama exploring stories of faith and transformation. On podcast apps or at iwitnesspod.comAnd from LIFE International, fighting the scourge of abortion globally, teaching about The Father's Heart for Life. LifeInternational.com

Host Christine Lee breaks down the latest news in the crypto industry as China announced 34% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports.Bitcoin sheds gains after China announced 34% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports and U.S. stocks extended losses after the Nasdaq suffered its worst day in 25 years. Plus, Binance co-founder CZ will advise Kyrgyzstan on blockchain tech. CoinDesk's Christine Lee hosts "CoinDesk Daily."-This episode was hosted by Christine Lee. “CoinDesk Daily” is produced by Christine Lee and edited by Victor Chen.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're checking in with 2024's non-voters, and Sarah has a (friendly) fight with our guest over whether Kamala Harris should have closed the 2024 campaign with Liz Cheney. They also talk to some of 2024's non-voters, who have some thoughts on how Democrats should be fighting back right now. Jen Psaki, host of MSNBC's Inside with Jen Psaki and the podcast The Blueprint with Jen Psaki, joins the show.

After being kidnapped by rebel militants in a remote region of Kyrgyzstan, four American rock climbers are forced at gunpoint toward the Uzbekistan border. But their captors are being trailed by the Kygyz army. Soon, the unwitting climbers find themselves in the middle of a firefight of epic proportions and they have to hide to stay alive. As night falls, the climbers are forced on the move again and they begin to realize if they want to survive they must escape on their own.Be the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Against The Odds on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting http://wondery.com/links/against-the-odds/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In August of the year 2000, four American rock climbers set out to explore the majesty of the Pamir Alai Mountain range in Kyrgyzstan. But only a week into their expedition, they're taken captive by rebel militants. The group is forced to hike through brutal terrain under the cover of night to avoid detection by the Kyrgyz army. With little to no food or water provided by their captors, the young climbing team had to struggle through severe dehydration and hunger. Finally, they realized they would have to fight for their lives to escape. It's a thrilling story of survival in the face of violence and terror, and doing whatever it takes to make it home alive.Be the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Against The Odds on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting http://wondery.com/links/against-the-odds/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.