Podcasts about Montenegrin

Can You Segway?Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.So exactly who was going to be sympathetic to their plight, who we cared about?Beyond my fevered dream of making a difference there was a pinch of reality. See, the Cabindans and the people of Zaire were both ethnic Bakongo and the Bakongo of Zaire had also once had their own, independent (until 1914) kingdom which was now part of Angola. The Bakongo were major factions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) -(formerly for a short time known as the nation of Zaire, from here on out to be referred to as the DRC and in the running for the most fucked up place on the planet Earth, more on that later)- and Congo (the nation) yet a minority in Angola. Having an independent nation united along ethnic and linguistic lines made sense and could expect support from their confederates across international boundaries.The Liberation Air ForceThe Earth & Sky operated under one constant dilemma ~ when would Temujin make his return? Since they didn't know and it was their job to be prepared for the eventuality if it happened tomorrow, or a century down the line, they 'stockpiled', and 'stockpiled' and 'stockpiled'.That was why they maintained large horse herds and preserved the ancient arts of Asian bowyers, armoring and weapons-craft. That was why they created secret armories, and sulfur and saltpeter sites when musketry and cannons became the new ways of warfare. They secured sources of phosphates and petroleum when they became the new thing, and so on.All of this boiled over to me being shown yet again I worked with clever, creative and under-handed people. The Khanate came up with a plan for a 'Union' Air Force {Union? More on that later} within 24 hours, and it barely touched any of their existing resources. How did they accomplish this miracle? They had stockpiled and maintained earlier generation aircraft because they didn't know when Temujin would make his re-appearance.They'd also trained pilots and ground crews for those aircraft. As you might imagine, those people grew old just as their equipment did. In time, they went into the Earth & Sky's Inactive Reserves ~ the rank & file over the age of 45. You never were 'too old' to serve in some capacity though most combat-support related work ended at 67.When Temujin made his return and the E&S transformed into the Khanate, those people went to work bringing their lovingly cared for, aging equipment up to combat-alert readiness. If the frontline units were decimated, they would have to serve, despite the grim odds of their survival. It was the terrible acceptance the Chinese would simply possess so much more war-making material than they did.Well, the Khanate kicked the PRC's ass in a titanic ass-whooping no one (else) had seen coming, or would soon forget. Factory production and replacement of worn machines was in stride to have the Khanate's Air Force ready for the next round of warfare when the Cease-fire ended and the Reunification War resumed.Always a lower priority, the Khanate military leadership was considering deactivating dozens of these reserve unit when suddenly the (Mongolian) Ikh khaany khairt akh dáé (me) had this hare-brained scheme about helping rebels in Africa, West Africa, along the Gulf of Guinea coast/Atlantic Ocean, far, far away, and it couldn't look like the Khanate was directly involved.They barely knew where Angola was. They had to look up Cabinda to figure out precisely where that was. They brought in some of their 'reservist' air staff to this briefing and one of them, a woman (roughly a third of the E&S 'fighting'/non-frontline forces were female), knew what was going on. Why?She had studied the combat records and performance of the types of aircraft she'd have to utilize... back in the 1980's and 90's and Angola had been a war zone rife with Soviet (aka Khanate) material back then. Since she was both on the ball, bright and knew the score, the War Council put her in overall command. She knew what was expected of her and off she went, new staff in hand. She was 64 years old, yet as ready and willing to serve as any 20 year old believer in the Cause.Subtlety, scarcity and audacity were the watchwords of the day. The Khanate couldn't afford any of their front-line aircraft for this 'expedition'. They really couldn't afford any of their second-rate stuff either. Fortunately, they had some updated third-rate war-fighting gear still capable of putting up an impressive show in combat ~ providing they weren't going up against a top tier opponents.For the 'volunteers' of the Union Air Force, this could very likely to be a one-way trip. They all needed crash courses (not a word any air force loves, I know) in Portuguese though hastily provided iPhones with 'apps' to act as translators were deemed to be an adequate stop-gap measure. Besides, they were advised to avoid getting captured at all cost. The E&S couldn't afford the exposure. Given the opportunity ~ this assignment really was going above and beyond ~ not one of these forty-six to sixty-seven year olds backed out.No, they rolled out fifty of their antiquated aircraft, designs dating back to the 1950's through the mid-70's, and prepared them for the over 10,000 km journey to where they were 'needed most'. 118 pilots would go (72 active plus 46 replacements) along with 400 ground crew and an equally aged air defense battalion (so their air bases didn't get blown up). Security would be provided by 'outsiders' ~ allies already on the ground and whatever rebels could be scrounged up. After the initial insertion, the Indian Air Force would fly in supplies at night into the Cabinda City and Soyo Airports.The composition,14 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 jet fighters ~ though she entered service in 1959, these planes' electronics were late 20th century and she was a renowned dogfighter. 12 were the Mig-21-97 modernized variant and the other two were Mig-21 UM two-seater trainer variants which could double as reconnaissance fighters if needed.14 Sukhoi Su-22 jet fighter-bombers ~ the original design, called the Su-17, came out in 1970, the first 12 were variants with the 22M4 upgrade were an early-80's package. The other 2 were Su-22U two-seat trainers which, like their Mig-21 comrades, doubled as reconnaissance fighters. The Su-22M4's would be doing the majority of the ground attack missions for the Cabindans, though they could defend themselves in aerial combat if necessary.6 Sukhoi Su-24M2 supersonic attack aircraft ~ the first model rolled off the production lines in the Soviet Union back in 1974. By far the heaviest planes in the Cabindan Air Force, the Su-24M2's would act as their 'bomber force' as well as anti-ship deterrence.8 Mil Mi-24 VM combat helicopters ~ introduced in 1972 was still a lethal combat machine today. Unlike the NATO helicopter force, the Mi-24's did double duty as both attack helicopter and assault transports at the same time.4 Mil Mi-8 utility helicopters, first produced in 1967. Three would act as troop/cargo transports (Mi-8 TP) while the fourth was configured as a mobile hospital (the MI-17 1VA).4 Antonov An-26 turboprop aircraft, two to be used as tactical transports to bring in supplies by day and two specializing in electronic intelligence aka listening to what the enemy was up to. Though it entered production in 1969, many still remained flying today.2 Antonov An-71M AEW&C twin-jet engine aircraft. These were an old, abandoned Soviet design the Earth & Sky had continued working on primarily because the current (1970's) Russian Airborne Early Warning and Control bird had been both huge and rather ineffective ~ it couldn't easily identify low-flying planes in the ground clutter so it was mainly only good at sea. Since the E&S planned to mostly fight over the land,They kept working on the An-71 which was basically 1977's popular An-72 with some pertinent design modifications (placing the engines below the wings instead of above them as on the -72 being a big one). To solve their radar problem, they stole some from the Swedish tech firm Ericsson, which hadn't been foreseen to be a problem before now.See, the Russians in the post-Soviet era created a decent AEW&C craft the E&S gladly stole and copied the shit out of for their front line units and it was working quite nicely ~ the Beriev A-50, and wow, were the boys in the Kremlin pissed off about that these days. Whoops, or was that woot?Now, the Khanate was shipping two An-71's down to Cabinda and somewhere along the line someone just might get a 'feel' for the style of radar and jamming the Cabindans were using aka the Swedish stuff in those An-71's. The Erieye radar system could pick out individual planes at 280 miles. The over-all system could track 60 targets and plot out 10 intercepts simultaneously. NATO, they were not, but in sub-Saharan Africa, there were none better.Anyway, so why was any of this important?Why the old folks with their ancient machines? As revealed, since the Earth & Sky had no idea when Temüjin would return, they were constantly squirreling away equipment. World War 2 gave them unequaled access to Soviet military technology and training.Afterwards, under Josef Stalin's direction, thousands of Russian and German engineers and scientists were exiled to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan who were then snatched up (reportedly died in the gulags/trying to escape) and the E&S began building mirror factories modeled on the 'then current' Soviet production lines.So, by the early 1950's, the E&S was building, flying and maintaining Soviet-style Antonov, Beriev, Ilyushin, Myasishchev, Mikoyan-Gurevich, Sukhoi, Tupolev and Yakovlev airplanes. First in small numbers because their pool of pilots and specialists was so small.The E&S remedied this by creating both their own 'private' flight academies and technical schools. They protected their activities with the judicious use of bribes (they were remarkably successful with their economic endeavors on both side of the Iron Curtain) and murders (including the use of the Ghost Tigers).By 1960, the proto-Khanate had an air force. Through the next two decades they refined and altered their doctrine ~ moving away from the Soviet doctrine to a more pure combined-arms approach (the Soviets divided their air power into four separate arms ~ ADD (Long Range Aviation), FA (Front Aviation), MTA (Military Transport Aviation) and the V-PVO (Soviet Air Defenses ~ which controlled air interceptors).).It wasn't until the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of the various former SSR's that the E&S program really began to hit its stride. Still, while Russia faltered, China's PLAAF (Peoples' Liberation Army Air Force) began to take off. Since the Chinese could produce so much more, the E&S felt it had to keep those older planes and crews up to combat readiness. The younger field crews and pilots flew the newer models as they rolled off the secret production lines.Then the Unification War appeared suddenly, the E&S-turned Khanate Air Force skunked their PLAAF rivals due to two factors, a surprise attack on a strategic level and the fatal poisoning of their pilots and ground crews before they even got into the fight. For those Chinese craft not destroyed on the ground, the effects of Anthrax eroded their fighting edge. Comparable technology gave the Khanate their critical victory and Air Supremacy over the most important battlefields.What did this meant for those out-of-date air crews and pilots who had been training to a razor's edge for a month now? Their assignment had been to face down the Russians if they invaded. They would take their planes up into the fight even though this most likely would mean their deaths, but they had to try.When Operation Fun House put Russia in a position where she wasn't likely to jump on the Khanate, this mission's importance faded. The Russian Air Force was far more stretched than the Khanate's between her agitations in the Baltic and her commitments in the Manchurian, Ukrainian, Chechen and Georgian theaters.With more new planes rolling off the production lines, these reservist units began dropping down the fuel priority list, which meant lowering their flight times thus readiness. Only my hare-brained scheme had short-circuited their timely retirement. Had I realized I was getting people's grandparents killed, I would have probably made the same call anyway. We needed them.The KanateThe Khanate's #1 air superiority dogfighter was the Mig-35F. The #2 was the Mig-29. No one was openly discussing the Khanate's super-stealthy "Su-50", if that was what it was, because its existence 'might' suggest the Khanate also stole technology from the Indian defense industry, along with their laundry list of thefts from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the PRC, Russia and half of NATO.Her top multi-role fighters were the Su-47, Su-35S and Su-30SM. The Su-30 'Flanker-C/MK2/MKI were their 2nd team with plenty of 3rd team Su-27M's still flying combat missions as well.Strike fighters? There weren't enough Su-34's to go around yet, so the Su-25MS remained the Khanate's dedicated Close Air Assault model.Medium transport aircraft? The An-32RE and An-38. They had small, large and gargantuan transports as well.Bombers? The rather ancient jet-powered Tu-160M2's and Tu-22M2's as well as the even older yet still worthwhile turboprops ~ from 1956's ~ the Tu-95M S16.Helicopters? While they still flew updated variants of the Mil Mi-8/17 as military transports, the more optimized Kamov Ka-52 and Mil Mi-28 had replaced them in the assault role.Bizarrely, the Khanate had overrun several Chinese production lines of the aircraft frames and components ~ enough to complete fairly modern PLAAF (Peoples Liberation Army Air Force) FC-1 and J-10 (both are small multi-role fighter remarkably similar to the US F-16 with the FC-1 being the more advanced model, using shared Chinese-Pakistani technology and was designed for export,).They did have nearly two dozen to send, but they didn't have the pilots and ground crews trained to work with them, plus the FC-1 cost roughly $32 million which wasn't fundage any legitimate Cabindan rebels could get their hands on, much less $768 million (and that would just be for the planes, not the weeks' worth of fuel, parts and munitions necessary for what was forthcoming).Meanwhile, except for the An-26, which you could get for under $700,000 and the An-71, which were only rendered valuable via 'black market tech', none of the turboprop and jet aircraft the Khanate was sending were what any sane military would normally want. The helicopters were expensive ~ the 'new' models Mi-24's cost $32 million while the Mi-17's set you back $17 million. The one's heading to Cabinda didn't look 'new'.The Opposition:In contrast, the Angolan Air Force appeared far larger and more modern. Appearances can be deceptive, and they were. Sure, the models of Russian and Soviet-made aircraft they had in their inventory had the higher numbers ~ the Su-25, -27 and -30 ~ plus they had Mig-21bis's, Mig-23's and Su-22's, but things like training and up-keep didn't appear to be priorities for the Angolans.When you took into account the rampant corruption infecting all levels of Angolan government, the conscript nature of their military, the weakness of their technical educational system, the complexity of any modern combat aircraft and the reality that poor sods forced into being Air Force ground crewmen hardly made the most inspired technicians, or most diligent care-takers of their 'valuable' stockpiles (which their officers all too often sold on the black market anyway), things didn't just look bleak for the Angolan Air Force, they were a tsunami of cumulative factors heading them for an epic disaster.It wasn't only their enemies who derided their Air Force's lack of readiness. Their allies constantly scolded them about it too. Instead of trying to fix their current inventory, the Angolans kept shopping around for new stuff. Since 'new'-new aircraft was beyond what they wanted to spend (aka put too much of a dent in the money they were siphoning off to their private off-shore accounts), they bought 'used' gear from former Soviet states ~ Belarus, Russia and Ukraine ~ who sold them stuff they had left abandoned in revetments (open to the elements to slowly rot) on the cheap.To add to the insanity, the Angolans failed to keep up their maintenance agreements so their newly fixed high-tech machines often either couldn't fly, or flew without critical systems, like radar, avionics and even radios. Maybe that wasn't for the worst because after spending millions on these occasionally-mobile paperweights, the Angolans bought the least technologically advanced missile, gun and rocket systems they could get to put on these flying misfortunes.On the spread sheets, Angola had 18 Su-30K's, 18 Su-27, 12 Su-25's, 14 Su-22's, 22 Mig-23's, 23 Mig-21bis's and 6 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano (a turboprop aircraft tailor-made for counter-insurgency operations), 105 helicopters with some combative ability and 21 planes with some airlift capacity. That equated to 81 either air superiority, or multi-role jet fighters versus the 12 Union Air Force (actually the Bakongo Uni o de Cabinda e Zaire, For as Armadas de Liberta  o, For a Area ~ Liberation Armed Forces, Air Force (BUCZ-FAL-FA) Mig-21-97's.It would seem lopsided except for the thousands of hours of flight experience the 'Unionists' enjoyed over their Angolan rivals. You also needed to take into account the long training and fanatic dedication of their ground crews to their pilots and their craft. Then you needed to take into account every Unionist aircraft, while an older airframe design, had updated (usually to the year 2000) technology lovingly cared for, as if the survival of their People demanded it.A second and even more critical factor was the element of surprise. At least the PRC and the PLAAF had contingencies for attacks from their neighbors in the forefront of their strategic planning. The Angolans? The only country with ANY air force in the vicinity was the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and they had ceased being a threat with the end of Apartheid and the rise of majority Black rule in that country nearly two decades earlier.In the pre-dawn hours of 'Union Independence Day', the FAL-FA was going to smash every Angolan Air base and air defense facility within 375 miles of Cabinda (the city). Every three hours after that, they would be hitting another target within their designated 'Exclusion Zone'. Yes, this 'Exclusion Zone' included a 'tiny' bit of DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) territory. The DRC didn't have an air force to challenge them though, so,Inside this 'Exclusion Zone', anything moving by sea, river, road, rail, or air without Unionist governmental approval was subject to attack, which would require neutral parties to acknowledge some semblance of a free and independent B U C Z. Worse for Angola, this 'Zone' included Angola's capital and its largest port, Luanda, plus four more of their ten largest urban centers. This could be an economic, military and humanitarian catastrophe if mishandled.The Angolan Army did not have significant anti-aircraft assets. Why would they? Remember, no one around them had much of an air force to worry about. The FAL-FA in turn could hit military convoys with TV-guided munitions 'beyond line of sight', rendering what they did have useless. It got worse for the Army after dark. The FAL-FA could and would fly at night whereas the average Angolan formation had Zip-Zero-Nadda night fighting capacity.Then geography added its own mountain of woes. As far as Cabinda was concerned, there was no direct land line to their border from Angola. Their coastal road only went as far as the port of Soyo where the Congo River hit the South Atlantic Ocean. Across that massive gap was the DRC where the road was not picked back up. Far up the coast was the DRC town of Muanda (with an airport) and though they did have a road which went north, it did not continue to the Cabindan border.Nope. To get at Cabinda from the south meant a long, torturous travel through northeastern Angola, into the heart of the DRC then entailed hooking west to some point 'close' to the Cabindan frontier before finally hoofing it overland through partially cleared farmland and jungle. Mind you, the DRC didn't have a native air force capable of protecting the Angolans in their territory so,In fact the only 'road' to Cabinda came from the Republic of Congo (Congo) to the north and even that was a twisted route along some really bad, swampy terrain. This had been the pathway of conquest the Angolans took 39 years earlier. The difference being the tiny bands of pro-independence Cabindan guerillas back then couldn't hold a candle to the Amazons fighting to free Cabinda this time around in numbers, zeal, training and up-to-date equipment.Next option ~ to come by sea. They would face a few, stiff problems, such as the FAL-FA having ship-killer missiles, the Angolan Navy not being able to defend them and the Unionists having no compunction to not strike Pointe-Noire in the 'not so neutral' Republic of the Congo if they somehow began unloading Angolan troops. It seemed the Republic of the Congo didn't have much of an Air Force either.Before you think the FAL-FA was biting off more than they could chew, Cabinda, the province, was shaped somewhat like the US State of Delaware, was half the size of Connecticut (Cabinda was 2,810 sq. mi. to Conn.'s 5,543 sq. mi.) and only the western 20% was relatively open countryside where the Angolan Army's only advantage ~ they possessed armed fighting vehicles while the 'Unionists' did not (at this stage of planning) ~ could hopefully come into play.Centered at their capital, Cabinda (City), jets could reach any point along their border within eight minutes. Helicopters could make it in fifteen. To be safe, some of the FAL-FA would base at the town of Belize which was in the northern upcountry and much tougher to get at with the added advantage the Angolans wouldn't be expecting the FAL-FA to be using the abandoned airfield there, at least initially.Where they afraid attacking Angolan troops in the DRC would invite war with the DRC? Sure, but letting the Angolans reach the border unscathed was worse. Besides, the DRC was in such a mess it needed 23,000 UN Peacekeepers within her borders just to keep the country from falling apart. Barring outside, read European, intervention, did "Democratically-elected since 2001" President (for Life) Joseph Kabila want the FAL-FA to start dropping bombs on his capital, Kinshasa, which was well within reach of all their aircraft?Congo (the country), to the north, wasn't being propped up by the UN, or anything else except ill intentions. In reality, it hardly had much of a military at all. Its officer corps was chosen for political reliability, not merit, or capability. Their technology was old Cold War stuff with little effort to update anything and, if you suspected corruption might be a problem across all spectrums of life, you would 'probably' be right about that too.If you suspected the current President had been in charge for a while, you would be correct again (1979-1992 then 2001- and the 'whoops' was when he accidently let his country experiment with democracy which led to two civil wars). If you suspected he was a life-long Communist (along with the Presidents of the DRC and Angola), you'd be right about that as well. Somehow their shared Marxist-Leninist-Communist ideology hadn't quite translated over to alleviating the grinding poverty in any of those countries despite their vast mineral wealth,At this point in the region's history, little Cabinda had everything to gain by striving for independence and the vast majority of 'warriors' who could possibly be sent against her had terribly little to gain fighting and dying trying to stop them from achieving her goal. After all, their lives weren't going to get any better and with the Amazons ability ~ nay willingness ~ to commit battlefield atrocities, those leaders were going to find it hard going to keep sending their men off to die.And then, it got even worse.See, what I had pointed out was there were two oil refineries in Angola, and neither was in Cabinda. Cabinda would need a refinery to start making good on their oil wealth ~ aka economically bribe off the Western economies already shaken over the Khanate's first round of aggressions.But wait! There was an oil refinery just across the Congo River from Cabinda ~ which meant it was attached to mainland Angola. That had to be a passel of impossible news, right?Nope. As I said earlier, it seemed the people of northern Angola were the same racial group as the Cabindans AND majority Catholic while the ruling clique wasn't part of their ethnic confederacy plus the farther south and east into Angola you went, the less Catholic it became.But it got better. This province was historically its own little independent kingdom (called the Kingdom of Kongo) to boot! It had been abolished by Portugal back in 1914.The 'good' news didn't end there. Now, it wasn't as if the leadership of Angola was spreading the wealth around to the People much anyway, but these northerners had been particularly left out of this Marxist version of 'Trickle Down' economics.How bad was this? This northwestern province ~ called Zaire ~ didn't have any railroads, or paved roads, linking it to the rest of the freaking country. The 'coastal road' entered the province, but about a third of the way up ran into this river, which they'd failed to bridge (you had to use a single track bridge farther to the northeast, if you can believe it). It wasn't even a big river. It was still an obstacle though.How did the Angolan government and military planned to get around? Why by air and sea, of course. Well, actually by air. Angola didn't have much of a merchant marine, or Navy, to make sealift a serious consideration. Within hours of the 'Union Declaration of Independence' anything flying anywhere north of the Luanda, the capital of Angola, would essentially be asking to be blown out of the sky.Along the border between Zaire province and the rest of Angola were precisely two chokepoints. By 'chokepoints', I meant places where a squad (10 trained, modernly-equipped troopers) could either see everything for miles & miles over pretty much empty space along a river valley and the only bridge separating Zaire province from the south, or overlook a ravine which the only road had to pass through because of otherwise bad-ass, broken terrain.Two.Zaire Province had roughly the same population as Cabinda ~ 600,000. Unlike Cabinda, which consisted of Cabinda City plus a few tiny towns and rugged jungles, Zaire had two cities ~ Soyo, with her seventy thousand souls plus the refinery at the mouth of the Congo River, and M'banza-Kongo, the historical capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, spiritual center of the Bakongo People (who included the Cabindans) and set up in the highlands strategically very reminiscent of Điện Biàn Phủ.Of Zaire's provincial towns, the only other strategic one was N'Zeto with her crappy Atlantic port facility and 2,230 meter grass airport. The town was the northern terminus of the National Road 100 ~ the Coastal Road. It terminated because of the Mebridege River. There wasn't a bridge at N'Zeto though there was a small one several miles upstream. N'Zeto was also where the road from provinces east of Zaire ended up, so you had to have N'Zeto ~ and that tiny bridge ~ to move troops overland anywhere else in Zaire Province.So you would think it would be easy for the Angolan Army to defend then, except of how the Amazons planned to operate. They would infiltrate the area first then 'rise up in rebellion'. Their problem was the scope of the operation had magnified in risk of exposure, duration and forces necessary for success.The serious issue before Saint Marie and the Host in Africa were the first two. They could actually move Amazons from Brazil and North America to bolster their numbers for the upcoming offensive. Even in the short-short term, equipment wouldn't be a serious problem. What the Amazons dreaded was being left in a protracted slugfest with the Angolan Army which the Condottieri could jump in on. The Amazons exceedingly preferred to strike first then vanish.There was reason to believe a tiny number could have stayed behind in Cabinda to help the locals prepare their military until they could defend themselves. They would need more than a hundred Amazons if Cabinda wanted to incorporate Zaire. The answer was to call back their newfound buddy, the Great Khan. While he didn't have much else he could spare (the Khanate was ramping up for their invasion of the Middle East after all, the Kurds needed the help), he had other allies he could call on.India couldn't help initially since they were supposed to supply the 'Peace-keepers' once a cease-fire had been arranged. That left Temujin with his solid ally, Vietnam, and his far shakier allies, the Republic of China and Japan.First off ~ Japan could not help, which meant they couldn't supply troops who might very well end up dead, or far worse, captured.. What they did have was a surplus of older equipment the ROC troops were familiar with, so while the ROC was gearing up for their own invasion of mainland China in February, they were willing to help the Chinese kill Angolans, off the books, of course.The ROC was sending fifteen hundred troops the Khanate's way to help in this West African adventure with the understanding they'd be coming home by year's end. With Vietnam adding over eight hundred of her own Special Forces, the Amazons had the tiny 'allied' army they could leave shielding Cabinda/Zaire once the first round of blood-letting was over.To be 'fair', the Republic of China and Vietnam asked for 'volunteers'. It wasn't like either country was going to declare war on Angola directly. Nearly a thousand members of Vietnam's elite 126th Regiment of the 5th Brigade (Đặc cáng bộ) took early retirement then misplaced their equipment as they went to update their visas and inoculations before heading out for the DRC (some would be slipping over the DRC/Cabindan border).On Taiwan, it was the men and women of the 602nd Air Cavalry Brigade, 871st Special Operations Group and 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion who felt the sudden desire to 'seek enlightenment elsewhere, preferably on another continent'.They too were off to the Democratic Republic of Congo, man that country was a mess and their border security wasn't worth writing home about, that's for damn sure, via multiple Southeast Asian nations. Besides, they were being issued fraudulently visas which showed them to be from the People's Republic of China, not the ROC/Taiwan. If they were captured, they were to pretend to "be working for a Communist Revolution inside Angola and thus to be setting all of Africa on fire!" aka be Mainland Chinese.There, in the DRC, these Chinese stumbled across, some Japanese. These folks hadn't retired. No. They were on an extended assignment for the UN's mission in, the DRC. OH! And look! They'd brought tons of surplus, outdated Japanese Self Defense Forces' equipment with them, and there just so happened to be some Taiwanese who had experience in using such equipment (both used US-style gear).And here was Colonel Yoshihiro Isami of the Chūō Sokuō Shūdan (Japan's Central Readiness Force) wondering why he and his hastily assembled team had just unloaded,18 Fuji/Bell AH-1S Cobra Attack helicopters,6 Kawasaki OH-6D Loach Scout helicopters,12 Fuji-Bell 204-B-2 Hiyodori Utility helicopters,6 Kawasaki/Boeing CH-47JA Chinook Transport helicopters and4 Mitsubishi M U-2L-1 Photo Reconnaissance Aircraft.Yep! 46 more aircraft for the FAL-FA!Oh, and if this wasn't 'bad enough', the Chinese hadn't come alone. They'd brought some old aircraft from their homes to aid in the upcoming struggle. Once more, these things were relics of the Cold War yet both capable fighting machines and, given the sorry state of the opposition, definitely quite deadly. A dozen F-5E Tiger 2000 configured primarily for air superiority plus two RF-5E Tigergazer for reconnaissance, pilots plus ground crews, of course.Thus, on the eve of battle, the FAL-FA had become a true threat. Sure, all of its planes (and half of its pilots) were pretty old, but they were combat-tested and in numbers and experience no other Sub-Saharan African nation could match.The Liberation Ground Forces:But wait, there was still the niggling little problem of what all those fellas were going to fight with once they were on the ground. Assault/Battle rifles, carbines, rifles, pistols, PDW, SMGs as bullets, grenades and RPG's were all terrifyingly easy to obtain. The coast of West Africa was hardly the Port of London as far as customs security went. They were going to need some bigger toys and their host nations were going to need all their native hardware for their upcoming battles at home.And it wasn't like you could advertise for used IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles), APCs (armored personnel carriers) and tanks on e-Bay, Amazon.com, or Twitter. If something modern US, or NATO, was captured rolling around the beautiful Angolan countryside, shooting up hostile Angolans, all kinds of head would roll in all kinds of countries, unless the country,A) had an Executive Branch and Judiciary who wouldn't ask (or be answering) too many uncomfortable questions,B) wasn't all that vulnerable to international pressure,C) really needed the money and,D) didn't give a fuck their toys would soon be seen on BBC/CNN/Al Jazeera blowing the ever-living crap out of a ton of Africans aka doing what they were advertised to do and doing it very well in the hands of capable professionals.And politics was kind enough to hand the freedom-loving people of Cabinda & Zaire a winner, and it wasn't even from strangers, or at least people all that strange to their part of the Globe. If you would have no idea who to look for, you wouldn't be alone.That was the magic of the choice. See, the last three decades had seen the entire Globe take a colossal dump on them as a Nation and a People. They were highly unpopular for all sorts of things, such as Crimes Against Humanity and 'no', we were not talking about the Khanate.We would be talking about Република Србија / Republika Srbija aka Serbia aka the former Yugoslavia who had watched all their satellite minions (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia) slip away. Despite being reduced to a tiny fraction of their former selves thus fighting two incredibly brutal and bloody World Wars for nothing, Serbia insisted on maintaining a robust armaments industry.Mind you, they didn't make the very best stuff on the planet. That didn't stop them from trying though. Of equal importance was their geographic location and the above mentioned desire for some hard currency without asking too many questions. The geography was simple, you could move even heavy gear unnoticed from central Serbia to the Montenegrin port of Bar by rail and load them up on freighters and off to the Congo you went.The Serbians produced an APC called the BVP M-80A's which weren't blowing anyone's minds away when they started rolling off the production lines back in 1982, plus some over-eager types on the Serbian Army's payroll sweetened the deal by offering 'the rebels' some BVP M-80 KC's and a KB as well.Then they slathered on the sugary-sweet Maple syrup by upgrading a few of the M-80A's to BVP M-98A's. Why would they be so generous? The KC's and KB were the Command & Control variants, so that made sense (C = company & B = battalion commander). The -98A had never been tested in the field before and they were kind of curious how the new turrets (which was the major difference) would behave. 'Our' procurement agents didn't quibble. We needed the gear.Besides, these Slavic entrepreneurs gave them an inside track on some 'disarmed/mothballed' Czech (introduced in 1963) armored mobile ambulances and Polish BWP-1 (first rolled out in 1966) APC's which were either in, or could be quickly configured into, the support variants those ground-fighters would need. The 'disarmed' part was 'fixable', thanks to both the Serbians and Finland. The 'missing' basic weaponry was something the Serbians could replace with virtually identical equipment.It just kept getting better. Unknown to me at the time, the Finnish firm, Patria Hágglunds, had sold twenty-two of their 'most excellent' AMOS turrets ~ they are a twin 120 mm mortar system ~ then the deal fell through. Whoops! Should have guarded that warehouse better. Those bitches were on a cargo plane bound for Albania inside of six hours.The ammunition for them was rather unique. Thankfully, it was uniquely sold by the Swiss, who had no trouble selling it to Serbia, thank you very much! Twenty-two BWP-1's became mobile artillery for the Unionist freedom fighters, though I understood the ship ride with the Serbian and Chinese technicians was loads of fun as they struggled to figured out how to attach those state-of-the-art death-dealing turrets to those ancient contraptions.To compensate, the Serbians added (aka as long as our money was good) two Nora B-52 155 mm 52-calibre mobile artillery pieces and one battery of Orkan CER MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) for long-range artillery, two batteries of their Oganj 2000 ER MRLS for medium range carnage and six batteries of their M-94 MRLS for 'close support' as well. More field-testing new gear for the "freedom fighters" We also managed to 'purchase' ten M-84AS Main Battle tanks plus an M-84A1 armor recovery vehicle. It should have been twelve tanks, but two had 'loading issues'.Not to be deterred, our busy little procurement-beavers discovered four tanks no one was using, in neighboring Croatia. Why wasn't anyone immediately keen on their placement? They were two sets of prototypes, Croatia's improvements on the M-84; the M-95 Degman which was a 'failed redesign' and the M-84D, which was a vast up-grade for the M-84 line which had been sidelined by the 2008 Global economic collapse, after which the project stagnated.It seemed they were all in working order because late one night 'my people' exited a Croatian Army base with them, never to be seen again, until two weeks later when an intrepid news crew caught the distinctive form of the M-95 sending some sweet 125 mm loving the Angolan Army's way. Whoops yet again! At least they hit what they were aiming at and destroyed what they hit, right?By then, millions of other people would be going 'what the fuck?' right along with them as Cabinda's camouflage- and mask-wearing rebel army was laying the smack-down on the Angolans. That was okay; over a million 'free Cabindan Unionists' were in the same boat. Over a thousand Asians with their mostly-female militant translators were right there to prop up their 'Unionist Allies', but then they were the ones with the tanks, armored vehicles, planes and guns, so they were less worried than most.To pilot these tanks, APC, IFV and man this artillery, they had to go back to the Khanate. Sure enough, they had some old tankers used to crewing the T-72 from which the M-84's and -95 Degman were derived. They'd also need drivers for those BVP M-80A's and Polish BWP-1's and OT-64 SKOT's... who were, again, derived from old Soviet tech (just much better). The Serbian artillery was similar enough to Soviet stuff, but with enough new tech to make it 'more fun' for the reservists to 'figure out' how to use.More volunteers for the Liberation Armed Forces! More Apple sales, great apps and voice modulation software so that the vehicle commanders would be heard communicating in Portuguese if someone was eavesdropping. As a final offering the Turkish Navy spontaneously developed some plans to test their long range capabilities by going to, the South Atlantic.On the final leg they would have six frigates and two submarines, enough to give any navy in the region, which wasn't Brazil, something to think about. This was a show of force, not an actual threat though. If anyone called their bluff, the Khanate-Turkish forces would have to pull back. These were not assets my Brother, the Great Khan, could afford to gamble and lose.If someone didn't call that bluff, he was also sending two smaller, older corvettes and three even smaller, but newer, fast attack boats, a "gift" to the Unionists ASAP. The frigates would then race home, they had 'other' issues to deal with while the submarines would hang around for a bit. The naval gift was necessitated by the reality the Unionists would have to press their claim to their off-shore riches and that required a naval force Angola couldn't hope to counter.As things were developing, it was reckoned since a build-up of such momentous land and air power couldn't be disguised, it had to happen in a matter of days ~ four was decided to be the minimum amount of time. More than that and the government of the Democratic Republic might start asking far too many questions our hefty bribes and dubious paperwork couldn't cover. Less than that would leave the task forces launching operations with too little a chance of success.Our biggest advantage was audacity. The buildup would happen 100 km up the Congo River from Soyo, the primary target of the Southern Invasion, in the DRC's second largest port city, Boma. Though across the river was Angolan territory, there was nothing there. The city of roughly 160,000 would provide adequate cover for the initial stage of the invasion.There they grouped their vehicles & Khanate drivers with Amazon and Vietnamese combat teams. The Japanese were doing the same for their 'Chinese' counterparts for their helicopter-borne forces. Getting all their equipment in working order in the short time left was critical as was creating some level of unit dynamic. Things were chaotic. No one was happy. They were all going in anyway.What had gone wrong?While most children her age were texting their schoolmates, or tackling their homework, Aya Ruger ~ the alias of Nasusara Assiyaiá hamai ~ was getting briefings of her global, secret empire worth hundreds of billions and those of her equally nefarious compatriots. She received a very abbreviated version of what the Regents received, delivered by a member of Shawnee Arinniti's staff.When Aya hopped off her chair unexpectedly, everyone tensed. Her bodyguards' hands went to their sidearms and Lorraine (her sister by blood), also in the room on this occasion, stood and prepared to tackle her 'former' sibling to the ground if the situation escalated into an assassination attempt. No such attack was generated, so the security ratcheted down and the attendant returned her focus to her Queen. Aya paced four steps, turned and retraced her way then repeated the action three more times."How many people live in the combined areas?" she asked."The combined areas? Of Cabinda and Zaire?""Yes.""I," the woman referenced her material, "roughly 1.1 million.""What is the yearly value of the offshore oil and natural gas production?""Forty-nine billion, eighty hundred and sixty-seven million by our best estimates at this time,""How many live in Soyo City proper?""Roughly 70,000.""We take Soyo," she spoke in a small yet deliberate voice. "We take and hold Soyo as an independent city-state within the Cabindan-Zaire Union. From the maps it appears Soyo is a series of islands. It has a port and airport. It has an open border to an ocean with weaker neighbors all around.""What of the, Zairians?""Bakongo. As a people they are called the Bakongo," Aya looked up at the briefer. "We relocate those who need to work in Soyo into a new city, built at our expense, beyond the southernmost water barrier. The rest we pay to relocate elsewhere in Zaire, or Cabinda."By the looks of those around her, Aya realized she needed to further explain her decisions."This is more than some concrete home base for our People," she began patiently. "In the same way it gives our enemies a clearly delineated target to attack us, it is a statement to our allies we won't cut and run if things go truly bad.""In the same way it will provide us with diplomatic recognition beyond what tenuous handouts we are getting from Cáel Wakko Ishara's efforts through JIKIT. Also, it is a reminder we are not like the other Secret Societies in one fundamental way, we are not a business concern, or a religion. We are a People and people deserve some sort of homeland. We have gone for so long without.""But Soyo?" the aide protested. "We have no ties to it, and it backs up to, nothing.""Northern Turkey and southern Slovakia mean nothing to us now as well," Aya debated. "No place on Earth is any more precious than another. As for backing up to nothing, no. You are incorrect. It backs into a promise from our allies in the Earth & Sky that if we need support, they know where to park their planes and ships."Aya was surrounded with unhappy, disbelieving looks."The Great Khan is my mamētu meáeda," she reminded them, "and I have every reason to believe he completely grasps the concept's benefits and obligations."The looks confirmed 'but he's a man' to the tiny Queen."Aya, are you sure about this?" Lorraine was the first to break decorum."Absolutely. Do you know what he sent me when he was informed of my, ascension to the Queendom?""No," Lorraine admitted."We must go horse-riding sometime soon, Daughter of Cáel, Queen of the Amazons."More uncertain and unconvinced looks."He didn't congratulate me, or send any gifts. He could have and you would think he would have, but he didn't. He knew the hearts of me & my Atta and we weren't in the celebratory mood. No. The Great Khan sent one sentence which offered solace and quiet, atop a horse on a windswept bit of steppe."Nothing.Sigh. "I know this sounds Cáel-ish," Aya admitted, "but I strongly believe this is what we should do. We are giving the Cabindans and Bakongo in Zaire independence and the promise of a much better life than what they now face. We will be putting thousands of our sisters' lives on the line to accomplish this feat and well over two hundred million dollars.""What about governance of the city ~ Soyo?" the aide forged ahead."Amazon law," Aya didn't hesitate. "We will make allowances for the security forces of visiting dignitaries and specific allied personnel, but otherwise it will be one massive Amazon urban freehold.""I cannot imagine the Golden Mare, or the Regents, will be pleased," the attendant bowed her head."It is a matter of interconnectivity," Aya walked up and touched the woman's cheek with the back of her small hand. "We could liberate then abandon Cabinda with the hope a small band could help them keep their independence. Except we need the refinery at Soyo so the people of Cabinda can truly support that liberty.""So, we must keep Soyo and to keep Soyo, we must keep Zaire province. There is no other lesser border which makes strategic sense ~ a river, highlands, a massive river, an ocean ~ those are sustainable frontiers. You can't simply keep Soyo and not expect the enemy to strike and destroy that refinery, thus we must take Zaire province.""But the Bakongo of Zaire cannot defend themselves and will not be able to do so for at least a year, if not longer. That means we must do so, and for doing so, they will give us Soyo and we will be honest stewards of their oil wealth. We cannot expect any other power to defend this new Union and if we don't have a land stake we will be portrayed as mercenaries and expelled by hostile international forces.""So, for this project to have any chance of success, we must stay, fight and have an acknowledged presence, and if you can think of an alternative, please let me know," she exhaled."What if the Cabindans and Bakongo resist?""It is 'us', or the Angolans and they know how horrible the Angolans can be. Didn't you say the average person their lives on just $2 a day?""Yes.""We can do better than that," Aya insisted."How?" the aide persisted. "I mean, 'how in a way which will be quickly evident and meaningful?'""Oh," Aya's tiny brow furrowed. Her nose twitched as she rummaged through the vast storehouse of her brain."Get me in touch with William A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. He should be able to help me navigate the pathways toward getting aid and advisors into those two provinces ASAP.""I'll let Katrina know," the attendant made the notation on her pad."No. Contact him directly," Aya intervened. "We established a, rapport when we met. I think he might responded positively to a chance to mentor me in foreign relations.""Really?" Lorraine's brows arched."Yes," Aya chirped."Are you sure, Nasusara?" the attendant stared. She used 'Nasusara' whenever she thought Aya had a 'horrible' idea instead of a merely a 'bad' one."Yes. He owes me. Last time we met I didn't shoot him.""Didn't?" the woman twitched."Yes. I drew down on him with my captured Chinese QSW-06. I didn't want to kill him, but I felt I was about to have to kill Deputy National Security Advisor Blinken and he was the only other person in the room both armed and capable of stopping me.""Why is he still alive?""Cáel Ishara saw through my distraction and then took my gun from me, asked for it actually," she shyly confessed."Would you have shot him?" the aide inquired."What do you think?" Aya smiled.And Then:So, given t

As Yugoslavia began to break down, the Balkans conflict began - a series of brutal wars characterised by disputes over territory, identity, and ethnic divisions. In 1991, the Croatian War of Independence started – the first of the major wars. One of its defining moments came in October, when the Yugoslav People's Army advanced on the south of the country leading to the Siege of Dubrovnik. One of the Yugoslav People's Army commanders in the region was Rear Admiral Krsto Đurović, a Montenegrin who had spent his life working in Croatia, married a Croatian and planned to retire to the country. Attacking Dubrovnik was unthinkable for the Rear Admiral, and he promised the city's major: “As long as I am the commander, not a single shell will fall on Dubrovnik."Shortly afterwards he was killed in a suspicious helicopter crash – his superiors claimed he was shot down, but there were no opposition forces in the area, and Croatian officials denied any part in the crash. There was never an autopsy and no military investigation. Soon after, Miodrag Jokic was appointed Đurović's replacement, and a vicious bombing campaign began which would later see Jokic convicted of war crimes. Johnny I'Anson speaks to Montenegrin journalist Veseljko Koprivica, and documentary maker Mladen Ivanovic who say Rear Admiral Đurović's refusal to bomb Dubrovnik may have led to his untimely death. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: Rear Admiral Đurović. Credit: Đurović family)

In our English-language interview, NeonoeN — Montenegro's Eurovision 2025 act — tell us about the message behind their song "Clickbait." In short, it's about how technology controls us rather than us controlling it. Along with that comes problematic issues like trolling and social media addiction. Three of the band members — — tell us about their potential revamp, how they might incorporate English alongside the Montenegrin lyrics, and the struggles of being a rock 'n roll musician in a small country. We discuss.... 00:39 Meet the NeonoeN band members 02:16 How do you pronounce NeonoeN? 04:05 The band were surprised to win Montesong 2024 06:18 What is the meaning of the song "Clickbait"? 09:29 NeonoeN react to the negative comments 11:24 NeonoeN hope to fix camera angles for Basel 13:43 The band explain their staging — a "symbolic picture of the average man" dealing with technology 19:09 Deban asks, "Is "Clickbait" clickbait itself?" 21:02 Will NeonoeN revamp "Clickbait"? 22:17 Will they sing in Montenegrin or English or both in Basel? 23:07 Why has the group changed members so frequently? 25:28 The difficulties of working as a musician in Montenegro 27:25 What are the band members' second jobs? 29:00 Listen to their songs "Dječak sa vjetrom u kosi" and "Dok ne udahnem te" (https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ViG8N83ZcnoTikTyPHeOe) 31:00 Will NeonoeN sing at the London Eurovision Party 2025? 33:00 What do they want their new fans to know about them? Featuring: William: http://instagram.com/williamleeadams

This episode is brought to you in association with FIFA+. Click here to get your free FIFA+ account and watch live football around the world: tinyurl.com/FIFAPlusSweeper   Click here to buy the November issue of World Soccer: https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/single-issue/world-soccer-magazine   In Part 1, the focus is on the club game in the continent The Sweeper calls home: Europe. Why did the entire Njegoš team simultaneously collapse in the Montenegrin third division? And was there any truth to the plutonium poisoning allegations? How did Ängelholms in the fourth tier of Swedish women's football miss out on the title despite not conceding a goal? And what bizarre record did their goalkeeper end the season with? And why did Breiðablik fans stage a break-in ahead of their final-day title-decider with Víkingur Reykjavík in Iceland?   Part 2 contains a selection of stories from Africa, Asia, Central America and Oceania. Why has a second club from New Zealand, Auckland FC, joined Australia's A-League? And why will their upcoming match against Wellington Phoenix be unique in world football? What has led TP Mazembe in DR Congo to play Nigerian goalkeeper Suleman Shaibu in attack? How did Wolues of the British Virgin Islands come to have a misspelling in their name? And how are the two clubs from war-torn Sudan playing 5,000km away in Mauritania getting on?   If you don't want to wait until 13 November for our next episode, join us on Patreon for our bonus episodes in the in-between weeks. Simply sign up at patreon.com/SweeperPod and join us for a special pod on 6 November. We will be joined by some special guests to talk about their recent groundhops in Slovenia and Croatia, before rounding up some other stories from Russia, Uzbekistan and Eritrea. Patrons also get access to our Discord chat community, bonus blogs, weekly newsletters and entry into our shirt giveaways too.   RUNNING ORDER: 00:00 – Intro 00:43 – Montenegro's mass collapse 07:24 – Sweden's perfect runners-up 11:54 – Iceland's final-day title decider 16:12 – Other summer league tales 21:03 – Kiwi club's debut in the A-League 29:28 – An attacking keeper in DR Congo 34:14 – The Sweeper Super Sunday on FIFA+ 41:15 – First Vienna game with a patron Editor: Ralph Foster

"From trading Pokémon stickers in elementary school to revolutionizing the industry with my current startup, life has truly come a long way!" Adis Ceman, Co-Founder & COO at GramBell, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal, Chief Revenue Officer (Enterprise) at GMS. In this amazing conversation, Adis shares his rich blend of cultural experiences: born in Croatia to Montenegrin parents, holding a Bosnian passport, growing up in Egypt, and now based in Dubai. His career journey is as diverse as his background, beginning with early business acumen gained through trading Pokémon stickers, moving into technology by working in an IT hardware store, and even exploring the arms and weapons industry! Adis' creative flair shines through in his current venture, which was recognized as the 'Most Innovative Startup in 2023' by industry body GSMA. A passionate photographer, he fulfilled his dream of owning a professional camera through various odd jobs, and that combined with his love for hiking helps him now reconnect with nature. Adding a thrilling twist, Adis also recounts a gripping story of being held at gunpoint by European armed forces, offering a glimpse into his extraordinary life!

We read your comments on our conversation with Jacob Padilla, and learn a lot about the independent nation of Montenegro

City Lights, Fern Books, Center for the Art of Translation, & Villa Albertine San Francisco celebrate the publication of "Like a Sky Inside" by Jakuta Alikavazovic – translated from the French by Daniel Levin Becker, published by Fern Books. Purchase here: https://citylights.com/european-literature/like-a-sky-inside/ In March 2020, a young woman spends the night in the Louvre. At home: her nine-month-old son. In her overnight bag: a notebook, a toiletry kit, a duvet, a cube of nougat, & something that shouldn't be there. In her head: memories of the Venus de Milo, of land art & the American road, of romance & travel & immigration & war — & of her father, who after each of their many visits to the Louvre would ask just how she'd go about stealing the Mona Lisa. Jakuta Alikavazovic is a French writer of Bosnian & Montenegrin origins. She has received the Prix Goncourt for a first novel & the Prix Médicis for non-fiction, among other European awards & nominations. She is a columnist for the newspaper Libération & the translator into French of authors including David Foster Wallace & Toni Morrison. JiaJing Liu is a translator (English-Chinese-French), writer, & editor who lives in San Francisco. She studied translation at Université Aix-Marseille, & was a researcher at the Beijing bureau of Libération. Her writings have appeared in Popula, Civil, The Awl, LEAP, The Art Newspaper, & other publications. She recently served as assistant curator for the exhibition, Shifting Fields: Contemporary Chinese Painting, at the Stanford Art Gallery. She is the development manager at Heyday, an independent, nonprofit publisher in Berkeley, California. Originally broadcast from City Lights' Poetry Room on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Hosted by Peter Maravelis. Made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation. citylights.com/foundation

Today, we are privileged to host Ellen Elias-Bursac, an American Scholar and senior translator who has dedicated her career to the study and translation of South Slavic Languages. As the past president of the American Literary Translators Association ( ALTA), she has been a driving force in promoting Literary Translation. In this conversation, she shared her fascinating journey into Literature, her significant work in ICTY and ALTA, her translations of Dialect, and her translations of Serbian Author David Albahari.Ellen Elias-Bursac translates fiction and non-fiction from the Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin and Serbian. In 2006, the novel Götz and Meyer by David Albahari, in her Serbian translation, was given the National Translation Award, and she received the Mary Zirin Prize from the Association of Women in Slavic Studies in 2015. She has also written and contributed to books and articles on translation studies and South Slavic language instruction. Her monumental work, recording the trial Proceedings at ICTY, is titled - 'Translating Evidence and Interpreting Testimony at a War Crimes Tribunal: Working in a Tug-of-War, spending more than a decade of her life'. She is a past president of the American Literary Translators Association. To read more about ICTY - https://www.icty.org/To Buy Ellen's Translations - https://shorturl.at/GCBHMHer Teaching at Harvard - https://daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/about/people/ellen-elias-bursac'Death of Yugoslavia', A BBC Documentary depicting the violent Yugoslav Conflict in the 1980s -https://shorturl.at/ixUwT* For your Valuable feedback on this Episode - Please click the link below.https://tinyurl.com/4zbdhrwrHarshaneeyam on Spotify App –https://harshaneeyam.captivate.fm/onspotHarshaneeyam on Apple App – https://harshaneeyam.captivate.fm/onapple*Contact us - harshaneeyam@gmail.com ***Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Interviewees in interviews conducted by Harshaneeyam Podcast are those of the Interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Harshaneeyam Podcast. Any content provided by Interviewees is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Our Guest for Today is Will Firth. Will Firth was born in 1965 in Newcastle, Australia. He studied German and Slavic languages in Canberra, Zagreb, and Moscow. He lives in Berlin and works as a translator of literature and the humanities (from Russian, Macedonian and all variants of Serbo-Croatian, aka “BCMS”). His best-received translations of recent years have been Faruk Šehić's 'Quiet Flows the Una' and Andrej Nikolaidis's Anomaly. He spoke about his entry into Translations, Life in Germany as a translator and the novel Anomaly.For more information on Will Firth - www.willfirth.de.To Buy Anomaly -https://tinyurl.com/mu4z5pnd* For your Valuable feedback on this Episode - Please click the link below.https://tinyurl.com/4zbdhrwrHarshaneeyam on Spotify App –https://harshaneeyam.captivate.fm/onspotHarshaneeyam on Apple App – https://harshaneeyam.captivate.fm/onapple*Contact us - harshaneeyam@gmail.com ***Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Interviewees in interviews conducted by Harshaneeyam Podcast are those of the Interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Harshaneeyam Podcast. Any content provided by Interviewees is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Oli and Jack are back to cover the Watford (hardly) and the Huddersfield game midweek, in which a Montenegrin striker scored his first and PNE's first league hattrick since Joey Garner. We cover all bases including the backline, Norwich preview and if we could actually do this.

In this episode, we are joined by the incredible Nikki Steel Osborne, a beacon of light in the realm of maternal mental health. Nikki shares her journey from hairdressing in Scotland to coaching for maternal mental health in Dubai, with stops in New Zealand, Indonesia, and Montenegro along the way. She emphasizes the importance of simple, sustainable self-care amidst the chaos of parenting, debunking the myth that self-care is selfish. Through her own experiences and expertise, Nikki sheds light on the significance of reaching out to counselors or therapists, providing a safe space for navigating the challenges of parenthood without losing sight of the joy it brings. Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with insights on body-mind-soul connection, setting boundaries, and finding your unique form of self-care. Plus, discover Nikki's go-to book recommendation for those seeking comfort and inspiration on their personal development journey. Tune in and let's keep healing together! A Scottish Lassie married to an American guy with a Montenegrin rescue dog and a wee boy with a huge personality. Nikki's journey to becoming a coach, speaker and course creator has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, relocations, post partum depression, running her own businesses and navigating the challenges faced with this transient lifestyle. Becoming a mum was Nikki's catalyst for change and it is her passion and purpose to share all she has learned with you. www.momsupportcorner.com Connect with me: linktr.ee/momsupportcorner --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/momsupportcoach/support

Montenegrin organized crime groups have risen through the criminal underworld to become key components of the global cocaine trade. From Latin America to global shipping, and from ports to European markets, they control the entire chain.But with such a lucrative trade comes violence. Over the last decade, several dozen Montenegrins and Serbians have been killed across Europe in a bloody feud between two criminal groups - the Škaljari clan and the Kavač Clan, both originating from the small Adriatic town of Kotor. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, Montenegro ranks 5th in terms of criminality out of 44 countries in Europe, with the cocaine trade being it's most prevalent criminal market at a score of 7 out of 10.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeakers:Marko Vešović, Journalist & Editor of the daily newspaper DAN Montenegro, and member of the GI Network.Links:(GI Video) Montenegro's Cocaine War: Rival Clans, Illicit Markets, and Assassinations(GI Paper) Spot Prices: Analyzing flows of people, drugs and money in the Western Balkans(GI Paper) The cocaine pipeline to EuropeŠkaljari clanKavač ClanOC Index Country profiles:MontenegroThe Global Organized Crime IndexGlobal Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

On this very special January night, editor extraordinaire John Freeman was joined by three of his star contributors, Jakuta Alikavazovic, Juan Gabriel Vasquez and Deborah Landau to bid farewell to his literary journal.Buy Freeman's Conclusions: https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/books/freemans-conclusions*Jakuta Alikavazovic (b.1979) is a French writer of Bosnian and Montenegrin origins. Her first novel, Corps Volatils (2008) won the Goncourt Prize for Best First Novel and her second and third novels, Le Londres-Luxor (2010) and La Blonde et Le Bunker (2012) won prizes in France and Italy. Her most recent novel, Night as it Falls (L'Avancee de la Nuit), was published by Faber in 2020. Her essay Comme un Ciel en Nous (Like a Sky in Us) won the Prix Medicis Essai 2021 and her collected newspaper columns Faites Un Voeu (Make a Wish) were published in 2022. She is working on a new novel to be delivered in 2023.Juan Gabriel Vásquez is the author of 8 works of fiction, including the award-winning The Sound of Things Falling, The Shape of the Ruins and Retrospective. His work is published in 30 languages.Deborah Landau is the author of five collections of poetry, most recently Skeletons. Her other books include Soft Targets (winner of The Believer Book Award), The Uses of the Body, and The Last Usable Hour, all Lannan Literary Selections from Copper Canyon Press, as well as Orchidelirium, selected by Naomi Shihab Nye for the Robert Dana Anhinga Prize for Poetry. In 2016 she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. She is a professor at New York University, where she directs the Creative Writing ProgramJohn Freeman is the founder of the literary annual Freeman's and the author and editor of a dozen books, including Wind, Trees, Dictionary of the Undoing, Tales of Two Planets, The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story, and, with Tracy K. Smith, There's a Revolution Outside, My Love. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and Orion, and been translated into over twenty languages. The former editor of Granta, he lives in New York City, where he is an executive editor at Alfred A. Knopf and hosts the monthly California Book Club -- a free online discussion of a new classic in Golden State literature -- for Alta magazine.Adam Biles is Literary Director at Shakespeare and Company. His latest novel, Beasts of England, a sequel of sorts to Animal Farm, is available now. Buy a signed copy here: https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/books/beasts-of-englandListen to Alex Freiman's latest EP, In The Beginning: https://open.spotify.com/album/5iZYPMCUnG7xiCtsFCBlVa?si=h5x3FK1URq6SwH9Kb_SO3w Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Eastern Orthodox Churches in post-communist Eastern Europe are embroiled in long-running conflicts over ownership of territory, saints, sites, nations, and history. These often violent conflicts reflect political and national rivalries, most explicitly in former Yugoslavia and Ukraine. They are often understood as simplified ethnic-national tensions with religious overtones, but, as this book demonstrations, such an assessment overlooks the deeper theological and historiographical framework. Emil Hilton Saggau's book Nationalisation of the Sacred: Orthodox Historiography, Memory, and Politics in Montenegro (Peter Lang, 2023) offers a detailed analysis of the theological backdrop behind these conflicts. It analyses how various strands of Eastern Orthodoxy have adapted to the contemporary political context, a process where history, memory, and politics are transformed to fit the needs of rival nations and churches. The book provides an in-depth analysis of this process and the transformations in church-related conflicts in post-communist Montenegro, where the Serbian Orthodox Church has been pitted against a rival Montenegrin church and Montenegrin government. Additionally the book provides an up-to-date and unique analysis of Eastern Orthodox historiography, modern Serbian theology, religion in Montenegro more broadly, and the roots of the violent clash between Orthodox believers and the Montenegrin government in 2019-2021. 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 Eastern Orthodox Churches in post-communist Eastern Europe are embroiled in long-running conflicts over ownership of territory, saints, sites, nations, and history. These often violent conflicts reflect political and national rivalries, most explicitly in former Yugoslavia and Ukraine. They are often understood as simplified ethnic-national tensions with religious overtones, but, as this book demonstrations, such an assessment overlooks the deeper theological and historiographical framework. Emil Hilton Saggau's book Nationalisation of the Sacred: Orthodox Historiography, Memory, and Politics in Montenegro (Peter Lang, 2023) offers a detailed analysis of the theological backdrop behind these conflicts. It analyses how various strands of Eastern Orthodoxy have adapted to the contemporary political context, a process where history, memory, and politics are transformed to fit the needs of rival nations and churches. The book provides an in-depth analysis of this process and the transformations in church-related conflicts in post-communist Montenegro, where the Serbian Orthodox Church has been pitted against a rival Montenegrin church and Montenegrin government. Additionally the book provides an up-to-date and unique analysis of Eastern Orthodox historiography, modern Serbian theology, religion in Montenegro more broadly, and the roots of the violent clash between Orthodox believers and the Montenegrin government in 2019-2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

The Eastern Orthodox Churches in post-communist Eastern Europe are embroiled in long-running conflicts over ownership of territory, saints, sites, nations, and history. These often violent conflicts reflect political and national rivalries, most explicitly in former Yugoslavia and Ukraine. They are often understood as simplified ethnic-national tensions with religious overtones, but, as this book demonstrations, such an assessment overlooks the deeper theological and historiographical framework. Emil Hilton Saggau's book Nationalisation of the Sacred: Orthodox Historiography, Memory, and Politics in Montenegro (Peter Lang, 2023) offers a detailed analysis of the theological backdrop behind these conflicts. It analyses how various strands of Eastern Orthodoxy have adapted to the contemporary political context, a process where history, memory, and politics are transformed to fit the needs of rival nations and churches. The book provides an in-depth analysis of this process and the transformations in church-related conflicts in post-communist Montenegro, where the Serbian Orthodox Church has been pitted against a rival Montenegrin church and Montenegrin government. Additionally the book provides an up-to-date and unique analysis of Eastern Orthodox historiography, modern Serbian theology, religion in Montenegro more broadly, and the roots of the violent clash between Orthodox believers and the Montenegrin government in 2019-2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

The Eastern Orthodox Churches in post-communist Eastern Europe are embroiled in long-running conflicts over ownership of territory, saints, sites, nations, and history. These often violent conflicts reflect political and national rivalries, most explicitly in former Yugoslavia and Ukraine. They are often understood as simplified ethnic-national tensions with religious overtones, but, as this book demonstrations, such an assessment overlooks the deeper theological and historiographical framework. Emil Hilton Saggau's book Nationalisation of the Sacred: Orthodox Historiography, Memory, and Politics in Montenegro (Peter Lang, 2023) offers a detailed analysis of the theological backdrop behind these conflicts. It analyses how various strands of Eastern Orthodoxy have adapted to the contemporary political context, a process where history, memory, and politics are transformed to fit the needs of rival nations and churches. The book provides an in-depth analysis of this process and the transformations in church-related conflicts in post-communist Montenegro, where the Serbian Orthodox Church has been pitted against a rival Montenegrin church and Montenegrin government. Additionally the book provides an up-to-date and unique analysis of Eastern Orthodox historiography, modern Serbian theology, religion in Montenegro more broadly, and the roots of the violent clash between Orthodox believers and the Montenegrin government in 2019-2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Area/TopicMontenegro, Western Balkans, Adventure Travel Guide TrainingHayley WrightOwner/OperatorBlack Mountain MontenegroInspired by adventurous parents and after journeying to and living in some of the world's colder places (including the North Pole and Siberia) Hayley turned a passion for adventure travel into a full time job as co-owner/ operator of an adventure travel business together with husband Jack in beautiful Montenegro. The destination is fast becoming known for its incredible mountain and coastal landscapes, rivers,lakes and canyons together with the melting pot of culture, warm Balkan hospitality and endless outdoor adventure opportunities. Working beyond borders throughout Montenegro and the Western Balkan region with a community of fantastic local guides and partners enables our guests to enjoy authentic and often transformational travel experiences, pushing their own boundaries in both physical challenges and cultural discoveries. Hayley is also a member of the Adventure Travel Guide Standard governance board, a framework of global standards of excellence for adventure travel guides and is  passionate about supporting adventure guiding as a serious and respected profession which provides sustainable stewardship for the places and people through whose lands we travel.https://www.montenegroholiday.com/SummaryHayley Wright, the founder of Black Mountain Montenegro, shares her journey from working in the oil industry to becoming an adventure travel operator in Montenegro. She discusses the country's potential for adventure tourism and its unique geographical features, including its mountainous terrain and deep canyons. Hayley highlights the characteristics of Montenegrin people, their hospitality, and their pride in their culture and food. She also talks about the challenges and rewards of running a tourism business in Montenegro, as well as the importance of adventure travel guides and the Adventure Travel Guide Standard. In this conversation, Jason Elkins speaks with Hayley about adventure travel and the importance of creating wonderful experiences worldwide. They discuss the passion for adventure travel, building a community of adventure travel guides, exploring the Western Balkans, and the impact of creating memorable experiences around the world.TakeawaysMontenegro offers a unique adventure tourism experience with its mountainous terrain, deep canyons, and diverse cultural heritage.The Montenegrin people are known for their hospitality, genuine warmth, and pride in their culture and food.Adventure travel guides play a crucial role in providing safe and memorable experiences for travelers, and their profession should be recognized and supported.Montenegro's adventure tourism industry has grown significantly in recent years, offering activities such as hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and ski touring.Travelers should be prepared for a laid-back and relaxed lifestyle in Montenegro, where time is not a priority and enjoying life is valued. Adventure travel is a global phenomenon that brings people together and creates a sense of community.Building a community of adventure travel guides fosters collaboration and shared experiences.The Western Balkans, including Montenegro, Croatia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, and Macedonia, offer unique and exciting destinations for travelers.Creating wonderful experiences in different parts of the world helps make the world feel smaller and more connected. Learn more about the Big World Made Small Podcast and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers at bigworldmadesmall.com.

Another day, another episode full of the big stories from the past 24 hours in the wild world of crypto. We'll start with two reasons to feel bullish about Bitcoin and end with Tether refusing to confirm or deny if it's dropping support for its USDT stablecoin on Tron. Inside that story sandwich, we look at potential XRP ETFs and Do Kwon's extradition.Further reading:Michael Saylor to forever buy Bitcoin — ‘No reason to sell the winner' — Jesse CoghlanBitcoin pre-halving ‘pullback' calls for $45K BTC price support retest — William SubergRipple ‘would certainly welcome' an XRP ETF — Ezra ReguerraDo Kwon to be extradited to US following last-ditch effort in Montenegrin court: Report — Turner WrightTether won't confirm or deny if it's dropping USDT on Tron — Jesse CoghlanSo, grab yourself a coffee, and let's get into it!Rise'n'Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph's Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph's website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants' alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast's participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Aleksa Gordić is an ex-Google DeepMind / Microsoft ML engineer currently working on non-English LLMs at OrtusAI, open-sourcing Meta's NLLB (no language left behind) project and YugoGPT. MLOps podcast #203 with Aleksa Gordić, Founder of OrtusAI, Pioneering AI Models for Regional Languages. // Abstract Dive deep into Aleksa's work with the YugoGPT, a language model serving Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin dialects - emphasizing the need for multilingual AI developments. Explore the unique language dynamics in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, the potential business opportunities around multilingual models, and the challenges in deploying large language models. Aleksa shares his experience with vision and image models, his collaborations with key tech players, and his use of advanced technologies. Hear about Aleksa Gordić's journey of being active and visible in the tech community and his insights into the world of machine learning and AI. Prepare to have your thinking challenged and horizons widened as we converse about the intriguing and complex world of MLOps. // Bio Working on non-English LLMs at OrtusAI, open-sourcing Meta's NLLB (no language left behind) project. Worked at DeepMind on the Flamingo project as a research engineer. Worked at Microsoft on the HoloLens 2 project & next-gen mixed reality glasses. // MLOps Jobs board https://mlops.pallet.xyz/jobs // MLOps Swag/Merch https://mlops-community.myshopify.com/ // Related Links Website: https://gordicaleksa.com/ https://github.com/gordicaleksa - I build stuff :) https://discord.com/invite/peBrCpheKE - active AI Discord server (~6000) I bring the best AI researchers in the world to give talks (James Betker DALL-E 3 author, Tri Dao (Flash Attention), etc.) https://gordicaleksa.medium.com/how-i-got-a-job-at-deepmind-as-a-research-engineer-without-a-machine-learning-degree-1a45f2a781de - how I landed a job at DeepMind (and a couple more potentially interesting writings) Aleksa Gordić The AI Epiphany Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj8shE7aIn4Yawwbo2FceCQ/videos ⁠ --------------- ✌️Connect With Us ✌️ ------------- Join our slack community: https://go.mlops.community/slack Follow us on Twitter: @mlopscommunity Sign up for the next meetup: https://go.mlops.community/register Catch all episodes, blogs, newsletters, and more: https://mlops.community/ Connect with Demetrios on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/ Connect with Aleksa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksagordic/ Timestamps: [00:00] Aleksa's preferred coffee [00:17] Takeaways [02:51] Humming the GPU's [06:23] Built Chrome extension for communicating with videos [08:04] Rig Doubles Throughput Time [09:32] Vector databases advise [10:38] Learning from experts, connecting, and gathering insights. [13:47] Zero to Hero for MLOps [15:37] Serendipitous moments [17:52] Depth Over Breaking News [19:50] Trust in GPT Content [22:22] Exam Challenges and AI [26:53] YugoGPT [31:41] WandB Ad [33:33] Linguistic Mysteries [34:52] No Language Left Behind project (NLLB project) [36:53] YugoGPT Development Overview [37:49] NLLB vs YugoGPT [39:35] Yugo GPT parameters [41:16] Opportunities for unsupported languages [43:08] Diffusion model [44:39] Generative AI with image generation models [47:45] AI Challenges and Excitement [50:32] Challenges in different alphabet characters [52:10] Need a co-founder [56:05] Career transition and entrepreneurial mindset [1:00:20] Big Tech salary misconceptions [1:03:02] Inspiring wrap up

If you are not wandering lost in the labyrinth of the old town, you might just be exploring the vast stunning Bay of Kotor, or Boka for the locals. As you travel its length, the Montenegrin coastline had a great impact on me as it gave me that feeling of the stillness and peace that I was craving. Along the walk alongside the Adriatic Sea, I had the privilege of enjoying the well-preserved medieval towns including Perast, Risan and Tivat. All these tiny little towns rest in between a breathtaking scenery of giant limestone mountains dramatically falling down on to the blue bay. This recording captures a serene moment in which I was sitting on a bench near the port, mindful to hear the still waters of the bay at night. Recorded by Rafael Diogo.  IMAGE: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

fWotD Episode 2380: Radoje Pajović.Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of the featured Wikipedia article every day.The featured article for Friday, 10 November 2023 is Radoje Pajović.Radoje Pajović (14 April 1934 – 2 June 2019) was a Yugoslav and Montenegrin historian who worked at the Institute of History at the University of Montenegro for forty years. He has been dubbed "the most prominent Montenegrin historian" of events in Montenegro during World War II by the Montenegrin historian Srđa Pavlović, and Professor Kenneth Morrison, author of the 2009 book Montenegro: A Modern History, asserts that Pajović is one of the most prominent Montenegrin historians in general.Pajović received the "13 July Award" from the National Assembly of Montenegro and the "19 December Award" from the city of Titograd, the capital of Montenegro. His most notable works were Kontrarevolucija u Crnoj Gori: četnički i federalistički pokret 1941–1945 [Counterrevolution in Montenegro: The Chetnik and Federalist Movements 1941–1945], published in 1977; Pavle Đurišić: kontroverzni četnički vojvoda [Pavle Đurišić: Controversial Chetnik Duke], first published in 1987 and then supplemented and expanded and re-published in 2005; and Crna Gora kroz istoriju [Montenegro Through History], also published in 2005. He was the author or co-author of twelve books and the editor of more than twenty, and he published around one hundred articles and other contributions. In the 1990s, some historians attempted to rehabilitate the World War II Chetniks who collaborated with the Axis powers, and Pajović was among the historians who opposed this politically motivated historical revisionism. Towards the end of his academic career and in retirement, Pajović was a vocal advocate for Montenegrin independence and identity.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:20 UTC on Friday, 10 November 2023.For the full current version of the article, see Radoje Pajović on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm Ivy Standard.

Video Podcast:  https://youtu.be/0dIX9NQGhLEGood afternoon everyone, it's Friday September twenty-ninth, twenty. twenty three, and this is your weekly Crypto review. Here are some highlights to bring you up to speed… During an appearance before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday, SEC Chair Gary Gensler says Bitcoin isn't a security. We truly wish, Mr. Gensler would come to the proper conclusions regarding Crypto currencies, and soon! Coinbase went directly to DC to launch their new and very clever campaign called “#StandWithCrypto” this week. They created branded nitro coffee and packaging that touts US crypto stats and analytics, but the best part is, they left them for our unelected SEC chair, Gary Gensler to see and enjoy during Congressional hearings this week. To learn more please visit, America loves crypto dot org. Terra Luna Founder Do Kwon Asks Court to Deny Extradition Request. The defense team for the Terraform Labs founder has asked a court to dismiss the request since Kwon is already in Montenegrin custody. Polygon announced Friday that Google Cloud is officially a validator for the proof-of-stake sidechain. Polygon is transitioning to a validium-based system supported by zero-knowledge proofs. The same infrastructure used to power YouTube and Gmail is now helping to secure the fast, low-cost, Ethereum-for-all Polygon protocol. And finally… Ben Armstrong, AKA BitBoy has informed the world he is taking a one week break from Crypto to deal with personal and business issues. After the last weeks Ben antics, we think it would be a good idea if he took a little extra time to sort out your issues, please! Thank you for tuning in, for more insights into the world of Web3, and how to navigate the rapidly changing crypto and blockchain landscape, visit MVMT dot Media and look for Web3 Unpacked podcasts on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.The information provided in this broadcast represents the sole opinions of MVMT and should not be construed as financial advice. Any actions taken based on this information are at the sole discretion and risk of the individual, and MVMT disclaims any responsibility for the consequences thereof. It is strongly advised that individuals seek qualified professional financial advice before making any financial decisions.

After scoring three goals in as many games in the Serie A, Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese do a profile deep dive on Nikola Krstovic, the Lecce sensation who is already being linked with Inter Milan.This is an extended clip from this weeks free Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google podcasts.To listen to this & all other full episodes of The Italian Football Podcast (with no ads), go to Patreon.com/TIFP OR now also available on Spotify to become a Patron for only $2.99 USD per month (excluding VAT).Follow us: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTubeUse my special link zen.ai/italianfootball and use italianfootbal to save 30% off your first three months of Zencastr professional. #madeonzencastr

Episode #185 In today's episode, we are going to talk about Cultures; the Montenegrin and the Latino culture in particular. As someone who was born in Montenegro, I often see aspects of the Latino culture that totally remind me of my own home country and culture. I want to share those aspects with you in this episode, as well as teach you some new and useful English expressions and words. If anyone wants to get access to this podcast text, please click the link below. patreon.com/user?u=5078593 Also, you can find us on Instagram @youmeandwords --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maverick22/message

The boyzies enjoy the latest splits in the Montenegrin Orthodox Church (MOC/CPC) and check in on their favorite MOC priest, Father Nikola Poleksić, co-founder of the Order of Nine Angles nexion the Astral Bone Gnawers Lodge. Subscribe to patreon.org/tenepod and twitter.com/tenepod.

This week Lubi Popovic guests host No Need for Apologies! We reminisce on why the sound drop “F You Dave Temple” she blessed us with, gives us her beauty routine before going to the doctor and why your feet are the most important part! She also tells us about a time she blocked her friend from meeting up with a guy and she suggests that Dave go to a Russian pedicurist and so much more. This is No Need for Apologies!-----------------HOW TO HELP US GROW:1. Like This and every Video2. Comment for the Algorithm 3. Subscribe on YouTube4. Subscribe on your Podcast App of Choice5. Review and Rate 5 Stars on said App6. Share with a Friend or on Social Media "Hey check out this podcast?!"7. Come back Next week and Repeat!Are you truly Black Air Force 1 Gang? Cop some Merch and prove it!! https://podcastmerch.com/collections/no-need-for-apologies -----------------SEND US MAIL:GaS Digital StudiosAttn: NNFA151 1st Ave # 311New York, NY 10003-----------------WANT THE FULL CATALOG? Go to https://gasdigitalnetwork.com/NNFA Use Code: NNFA for a 7-day free trial on the entire GaS Digital subscription. Gain access to all things NO NEED FOR APOLOGIES - ALL of the episodes, uncensored, in Full HD, AND a week earlier! If you'd like to feature your product on GaS Digital podcasts please email jimmy@gasdigitalmarketing.com with a brief description about your product and any shows you may be interested in advertising on.“NNFA” is a GaS DIGITAL PRODUCTION. New Episodes drop WEDNESDAYS on GaS Digital for subscribers ONLY and SUNDAYS for limited release on YouTube.-----------------FOLLOW US!The Hosts:Derek GainesIG - https://rb.gy/3okmfe Twitter - https://rb.gy/ovoex8 Dave TempleIG - https://www.instagram.com/imdavetemple/ Website - https://www.davetemplecomedy.com/ Guest Host:Lubi PopovicIG - https://www.instagram.com/lubipopovicnyc/ The Podcast:No Need For Apologies IG - https://www.instagram.com/nnfapodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@nnfa.podcast Production:Producer - Teona Sasha IG - https://www.instagram.com/teonasasha/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@teonasasha?lang=en Engineer - Natalie DeCiccoIG - https://www.instagram.com/nataliedecicco_edits/ Edited By - Rebecca KaplanIG - https://www.instagram.com/rebeccatkaplan/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccatkaplan?lang=en #NoNeedForApologies #NNFA #DerekGaines #DaveTemple #Comedy #Podcast #ComedyPodcast #GasDigitalNetwork #LubiPopovic #EasternEurope #Montenegro #RussianNailSalon #Pedicure #Albanian #MobLife #Doctor #GYN #PumpkinTheMovie #Pumpkin #ChristinaRicci #Hershey #Chocolate #BeautyRoutine #KansasNewspaper #CockblockingTo advertise your product on GaS Digital podcasts please email jimmy@gasdigitalmarketing.com with a brief description about your product and any shows you may be interested in advertising on. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Silco, Oswald Cobblepot, Ollivander, Wally West, Forager... our guest at this time, Jason Spisak, voiced all of them and countless more. During our interesting talk, we discussed the art of voice acting and how much of the acting is in the voice acting, how Jason prepares and finds voices for his characters, the "physical" part of voice acting, and how he enters and (if he ever) leaves his roles. We had the chance to hear re-enactments of the best lines from Silco, multiple Harry Potter characters, Young Justice, and even sounds of orcs from the Shadow of Mordor video games and his attempt to voiceover Montenegrin accent. Jason went deep into the psychology of the characters like Forager, how listening to the documentary about cicadas gave him inspiration about it, and how he understands Silco, his relationship with Jinx, the conflict between Piltover and Zaun, as he exclusively confirmed he is coming back as Silco in Season 2 of Arcane!

Buducnost got this, haven't they?

Last week, Adam chaired a conversation between Ben Lerner and Jakuta Alikavazovic, on the writing and translating of The Topeka School, at the conference BEN LERNER - EDGE OF GENRE. The discussion was compelling, enlightening and hilarious in equal measure. Enjoy!Buy The Topeka School: https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/books/the-topeka-schoolBen Lerner was born in Topeka, Kansas, in 1979. He has received fellowships from the Fulbright, Guggenheim, and MacArthur Foundations, and is the author of three internationally acclaimed novels, Leaving the Atocha Station, 10:04 and The Topeka School. He has published the poetry collections The Lichtenberg Figures, Angle of Yaw (a finalist for the National Book Award), Mean Free Path and No Art as well as the essay The Hatred of Poetry. Lerner lives and teaches in Brooklyn.Jakuta Alikavazovic is a French writer of Bosnian and Montenegrin origins. Her debut novel, Corps Volatils, won the Prix Goncourt in 2008 for Best First Novel. She has translated works by Ben Lerner, David Foster Wallace and Anna Burns into French. She lives in Paris and writes a regular column for the daily newspaper Liberation.*Listen to Alex Freiman's Play It Gentle here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4gfkDcG32HYlXnBqI0xgQX?si=mf0Vw-kuRS-ai15aL9kLNA&dl_branch=1 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amfilohije Radović was Metropolitan- a high ranking position in the Orthodox Church- of Montenegro and the Littoral from 1990 until his death in 2020. Amfilohije was a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which also wields considerable influence in Montenegro. Serbia and Montenegro were joined in federation until 2006, when Montenegro voted to become an independent country. He was one of the key figures in a cultural conflict intrinsic to Montenegrin politics: should the country be a loyal ally of the Government in Belgrade, perhaps ruled by it directly, or should it govern its own affairs? Amfilohije was never coy about expressing his own opinions on this matter, and in 2019 led nationwide protests which saw the country elect a pro-Serb government the next year. Montenegro might be in NATO, it might be negotiating to join the EU, and it might have a veneer of a pro-Western place, but its place in the Western fold is by no means guaranteed. My guest today is Ljubomir Filipović. Ljubomir is a Montenegrin political scientist who focuses on foreign influence and information integrity. He is frequently invited onto global media channels to discuss developments in the Western Balkans, and works with the Atlantic Council of Montenegro and the McCain Institute. 

“A feud /fjuːd/, also known in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, clan war, gang war, or private war, or mob war, is a long-running argument or fight, often between social groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted, injured, or otherwise wronged by another. Intense feelings of resentment trigger an initial retribution, which causes the other party to feel greatly aggrieved and vengeful. The dispute is subsequently fuelled by a long-running cycle of retaliatory violence. This continual cycle of provocation and retaliation usually makes it extremely difficult to end the feud peacefully. Feuds can persist for generations and may result in extreme acts of violence. They can be interpreted as an extreme outgrowth of social relations based in family honor. A mob war is a time when two or more rival families begin open warfare with one another, destroying each others businesses and assasinating family members. Mob wars are generally disastrous for all concerned,and can lead to the rise or fall of a family. Until the early modern period, feuds were considered legitimate legal instruments[1] and were regulated to some degree. For example, Montenegrin culture calls this krvna osveta, meaning "blood revenge", which had unspoken, but highly valued rules.[2] In Albanian culture it is called gjakmarrja, which usually lasts for generations. In tribal societies, the blood feud, coupled with the practice of blood wealth, functioned as an effective form of social control for limiting and ending conflicts between individuals and groups who are related by kinship, as described by anthropologist Max Gluckman in his article "The Peace in the Feud"[3] in 1955.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/antonio-myers4/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/antonio-myers4/support

In 1967, Joseph Stalin's daughter braved her way over the Iron Curtain, secret memoir in tow, and landed in America as the Cold War's most famous defector. At 40 years old, Svetlana had left everything behind for a new life in the West and the chance to finally share her story. What she found instead - a controversial commune in the Arizona desert built by Frank Lloyd Wright, a whirlwind marriage dictated by destiny, and a Montenegrin matriarch with dreams of immortality - was far more complicated. In Svetlana! Svetlana! neurotic playwright Dan Kitrosser unravels the weird and wild life of his greatest muse.

Pod Crashing 201 With Dan Kitrosser From Svetlana Svetlana In 1967, Joseph Stalin's daughter braved her way over the Iron Curtain, secret memoir in tow, and landed in America as the Cold War's most famous defector. At 40 years old, Svetlana had left everything behind for a new life in the West and the chance to finally share her story. What she found instead - a controversial commune in the Arizona desert built by Frank Lloyd Wright, a whirlwind marriage dictated by destiny, and a Montenegrin matriarch with dreams of immortality - was far more complicated. In Svetlana! Svetlana! neurotic playwright Dan Kitrosser unravels the weird and wild life of his greatest muse.

Pod Crashing 201 With Dan Kitrosser From Svetlana Svetlana In 1967, Joseph Stalin's daughter braved her way over the Iron Curtain, secret memoir in tow, and landed in America as the Cold War's most famous defector. At 40 years old, Svetlana had left everything behind for a new life in the West and the chance to finally share her story. What she found instead - a controversial commune in the Arizona desert built by Frank Lloyd Wright, a whirlwind marriage dictated by destiny, and a Montenegrin matriarch with dreams of immortality - was far more complicated. In Svetlana! Svetlana! neurotic playwright Dan Kitrosser unravels the weird and wild life of his greatest muse.

Who is Olga Ivanovna Lazović Hinzenberg Lloyd Wright? And why is her name so short? In this episode, we learn about a woman who survived revolutions and revelations, all in the pursuit of art and immortality.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the top experts in the world of numismatics, Jeff Garrett sold more than 25 million dollars worth of rare coins and precious metals, he authored books like "100 Greatest U.S. Coins" and "United States Coinage: A Study By Type" and is the former president of ANA. During our very interesting talk, he told us fascinating stories about his 3+ million dollar purchase of a 1913 Liberty Head V nickel, how he started collecting coins and what is the most expensive piece he sold, and is there room for conspiracy in the infamous Denver's mint 1964 Peace dollar? Mr. Garrett explained the art behind the incredible work of Augustus Saint-Gaudens on the Double Eagle coin and President Theodore Roosevelt's involvement in it. We got to know why is he proudest of his role with the Smithsonian museum and his influence in opening a permanent gallery of numismatics in the American Museum of Natural History. We discuss the connection between currency and national pride, the importance to plant numismatics seeds, and what the future holds for the hobby. We even talked about Pawn Stars and his involvement in the series, and also the only Montenegrin national currency - perper. Numismatics is interesting!

On this edition of Parallax Views, Rey and Boris of the antifascist The Empire Never Ended podcast join the show to discuss the strange story of David Myatt and his neo-Nazi Satanist sect The Order of Nine Angles. For many years the O9A remained relatively obscure, only really known to people on the fringes of the occult/esoteric community. But it has gained notoriety more recently, along with the Atomwaffen Division, thanks to growing concerns about neo-fascist terrorism in the U.S. and Europe. According to Rey and Boris, the O9A believe in bringing about a new type of human being, an ubermensch, by becoming ruthless predators engaged in socially deviant acts including human sacrifice, or in the O9A's terminology the "Culling" of "opfers". The story of this strange sect gets much stranger though as the figure of Joshua Caleb Sutter, co-founder of the O9A-affliated Tempel of Blood, is discussed. Turns out Sutter, who has longstanding involvement in the American white supremacist movement and has served prison time, has acted as an FBI informant. Even stranger, perhaps, is the story of controversial former Montenegrin diplomat Mirna Nikčević and a man by the name Nikola Poleksić, who has become involved in the Montenegrin Orthodox Church as a deacon. This particular thread in the O9A saga is noteworthy because of O9A's belief about "insight roles" within their initiatory process. These insight roles require initiates to go undercover with groups whom may go against their own personal beliefs as part of one's personal "spiritual" growth, developing skills in manipulation against the "Magian" order (in other words, the Western liberal society that O9A opposes), and, perhaps most importantly, infiltration. With that in mind, the stories of Nikčević and Poleksić appear to be examples of O9A infiltration of Church and State. In addition to discussing all of this we delve into David Myatt's history including his involvement with Combat 18. In regards to the history of Myatt and the early O9A we also make mention of the London Nail Bombings. We discuss the myth and reality of Myatt and the O9A as well a sect known as the Astral Bone Gnawers Lodge, the deep state, the history of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, why talking about something as seemingly kooky as the O9A matters, O9A's Satanism as cover for its neo-Nazi fascism, and much, much more!

From driving Ferrari to flying Jetson One, Peter Ternström did it all, as the president of Gran Turismo Events and Co-Founder of Jetson Aero. Mr. Ternström is an event organizer, published author, and avid private pilot with a goal to "make everybody a pilot". He gave us the pleasure to rewind how he and Thomas built Jetson as a company, from prototype to final product, and the team that made it happen, and why with every right we can call it a revolution in the industry. You can get the answer to why someone should buy Jetson One, what comes after it, and why the Polish potato was so important. Also, you can hear a thing or two about Montenegrin roads and embassies.

Paul speaks with Incheon United's Montenegrin international striker Stefan Mugosa on his team's turnaround in fortunes this season, why he loves the club and will never leave.

This week on the Total Waterpolo Podcast we are joined by Primorac Kotor's and Montenegro's up and coming star, Dusan Matkovic. On the show, Dusan talks about his hometown club Primorac, the successful season they have enjoyed this year despite financial difficulties over the past few years, and where he sees his future. The young Montenegrin then opens up about the bittersweet experience of Tokyo - the lows of crashing out in the quarter-finals against Greece, and the high of carrying the flag for Montenegro at the closing ceremony. As ever, in part 2, we put your questions to Dusan - who shares his Total7, as well as his unexpected taste in Music. Don't forget to head over to www.wearwaterpolo.com and use our discount code ‘PODCAST10' for 10% off your next order! You can find James on Twitter @Polo_blog and on Instagram at @Jspencerboyce

Rokas Grajauskas and Mykolas Jankaitis tries to evaluate which European country is most likely to have NBA championship at the end of the season. Topics: Introducing the idea and its predetermined criteria (0:00); Shout out to the first Portuguese NBA player (3:41); Discussing Spanish chances (6:45); The early favorites of the conversation – France (20:56); O.G. Anunoby, Schofield and a British Mavericks All-Star of 1988 (34:04); German speaking countries and Italy (38:29); The sharp contrast in chances of Czech Republic and Slovenia (46:20); A huge boost to Croatian chances by Dario Saric (52:11); A quick look through Bosnian and Montenegrin players, followed by Finland (55:54); Why Latvia has a significantly better chance than Lithuania this year (57:48); The biggest difference of opinions while discussing Serbia and GSW (59:48); Three final countries and the long awaited list (1:03:57).

Did you know Russia likely has more sleeper agents in America today than during the cold war? I was glad to welcome Filip Kovacevic on today's show to talk illegal KGB agents. Where are they? What is their goal? And what is life like for one of these agents? Bio: Filip Kovacevic is an adjunct professor in the Departments of Politics and International Studies. As a Montenegrin author, social justice activist, and geopolitical analyst, Prof. Kovacevic has lectured and taught across Europe, the Balkans, the former USSR, and the U.S., including two years at Smolny College, the first liberal arts college in Russia, operating under the auspices of St. Petersburg State University. He received fellowships from the Open Society Institute and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Prof. Kovacevic is a board member of the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE). Prof. Kovacevic specializes in Russian and Eurasian intelligence history and spy fiction and his current research includes the publications of Soviet and Russian intelligence authors and historians. He is also involved in the analytic study and translation of documents from the KGB archives. Blog: https://thechekistmonitor.blogspot.com/ Background: https://www.usfca.edu/faculty/filip-kovacevic Artwork by Phillip Thor - https://linktr.ee/Philipthor_art To watch the visuals with the trailer go to https://www.podcasttheway.com/trailers/ The Way Podcast - www.PodcastTheWay.com - Follow at Twitter / Instagram - @podcasttheway (Don't forget to Subscribe and Follow on streaming platforms and social media!) As always thank you Don Grant for the Intro and Outro. Check out his podcast - https://threeinterestingthings.captivate.fm Intro guitar melody copied from Aiden Ayers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UiB9FMOP5s *The views demonstrated in this show are strictly those of The Way Podcast/Radio Show*

An assassination is like a stone being dropped into the middle of a still pond – the splash is the violent act itself – the ripples are the repercussions, that spread far and wide – fear, intimidation, silencing, corruption, erosion of trust, environmental damage, illicit firearms, impunity and retaliation – after all, violence begets violence – the damage to society is far-reaching, way beyond the shock of that initial killing. In November 2021, the https://globalinitiative.net/ (Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime) launched the https://assassination.globalinitiative.net/monitor/ (Global Assassination Monitor) - the first ever global database on contract killings. Speakers https://globalinitiative.net/profile/ana-paula-oliveira/ (Ana-Paula Oliveira, Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime ) https://globalinitiative.net/profile/nina-kaysser/ (Nina Kaysser, Senior Analyst, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime ) Presenter Jack Meegan-Vickers Additional material https://assassination.globalinitiative.net/monitor/ (The Global Assassination Monitor) (Paper) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/global-assassination-monitor/ (Killing in Silence: New research uncovers sheer magnitude of assassinations linked to organized crime) https://assassination.globalinitiative.net/ (Assassination Witness Project) (Podcast) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/faces-of-assassination-podcast/ (Faces of Assassination) (Also available across podcast platforms) (Book pdf) https://assassination.globalinitiative.net/ (Faces of Assassination book) (Paper) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/the-rule-of-the-gun-hits-and-assassinations-in-south-africa-2000-2017/ (The rule of the gun: Hits and assassinations in South Africa, 2000-2017) (Paper) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/targeted-killings-eastern-southern-africa/ (Murder by Contract: Targeted killings in eastern and southern Africa) (Paper) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/southern-africas-illegal-firearms-markets/ (How to silence the guns? Southern Africa's illegal firearms markets) (Paper) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/montenegro-assassinations-drug-war/ (Making a killing: What assassinations reveal about the Montenegrin drug war) (Article) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/mozambiques-quiet-assassination-epidemic/ (Mozambique's quiet assassination epidemic) (Podcast) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/too-many-enemies/ (Too Many Enemies) (Narrative podcast exploring the assassination crisis in South Africa) More podcast episodes from the https://globalinitiative.net/multimedia/?content_type=podcast®ion=&initiatives=&observatory= (Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime) are available on https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/deep-dive-exploring-organized-crime/id1511964484 (Apple Podcasts), https://open.spotify.com/show/6E7aHufUzNzGi8f9tXcdBx?si=d6a80a16ca214280 (Spotify), https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vZGVlcGRpdmU (Google Podcasts), https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f61750b7-4045-4530-8426-237db51b41d3/deep-dive-exploring-organized-crime (Amazon Music), https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://show/565308&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/show/565308 (Stitcher), and more.

In a very special episode of TENE, the fellas summarize and discuss their recent Medium article exposing Nazi Satanists in the Montenegrin Orthodox Church (MoC), Civil Society, and the Ministry of the Interior. The episode focuses on the Astral Bone Gnawers Lodge and their troublingly successful "insight roles", paying special attention to a particular MoC deacon who moonlights as a prominent representative of the Order of Nine Angles, even editing their disgusting journals. Despite the obvious ridiculousness of the entire situation, Boris, Fritz, and Rey remind listeners of the dangers such people present. Also, vomit vacations in the '90s, dueling dicks, and late-Yugoslav state-sponsored grooves! Editor's notes: The original Medium article can be found here! The song referenced throughout this episode is Bajaga's "Montenegro". This is The Empire Never Ended, the Antifascist Amerikanski-Balkan podcast about (neo) fascist terror, the (deep) state and the alienation, nihilism and desperation produced by the capitalist system. And how to get rid of all that. Something like that... Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly premium episodes! And check out our social media for updates and whatnot: Twitter + Facebook + Instagram + YouTube

Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin...One language or different languages? Well, today we discuss the historical aspect and how the Serbian language developed. We also give you some examples of phrases used in different regions :)Pozdrav/Ćao/Adio! Support the show (http://www.buymeacoffee.com/mozekafapodcast)

Boris guides TENE through the twists and turns of Montenegrin nationalism and fascist collaboration in the 20th century. He tells how politician and general Krsto Popović turned rebel in support of Montenegrin King Nikola, only to be exiled himself in Italy, forms the inept Lovćen Brigade for the fascists. Boris introduces quisling leader of the occupied Montenegrin state, Sekula Drljević and his ideological inspiration, Savić Marković Štedimlija to our collection of fascist weirdos and their bizarre race theory transforming Montenegrins from a "special kind of Serb" into a "special kind of Croat". The boys follow the convoluted attempts of Mussolini and Hitler to get shit under control by, in the latter case, combining Montenegrin super Serbian Četniks with Montenegrin Serbian-hating Ustaša only to get stomped by the partisans and devour each other. Boris and Rey remind the listener that the legacy of these misadventures which pitted family members against each other in opposing nationalist identities continues to guide politics in Montenegro today. This is The Empire Never Ended, the Antifascist Amerikanski-Balkan podcast about (neo) fascist terror, the (deep) state and the alienation, nihilism and desperation produced by the capitalist system. And how to get rid of all that. Something like that... Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly premium episodes! And check out our social media for updates and whatnot: Twitter + Facebook + Instagram + YouTube

The Montenegrin opposition promises to continue to be pro-western once ascending to power, Australia seizes the visas of two Chinese scholars, flooding continues to ravage Sudan, and the US announces for more troops to be pulled out of Iraq. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/politics1001/support

Ever watched the James Bond 007 movie Casino Royale? We're going to the main location of the movie in this episode, Montenegro! Tune in to learn about this Balkan country who gained independence just 14 years ago.   Mentioned in this episode: Balkans United States of America Germany South Carolina North Carolina Utah New York Nevada Venice, Italy Durmitor Croatia Serbia Bosnia and Herzegovina Albania Ulcinj Podgorica Adriatic Sea Mediterranean Sea Ottoman Empire Turkey Cetinje Austro-Hungarian Empire Battle of Mojkovac Brad Pitt Kotor Casino Royale Serbian language Montenegrin language Yugoslavia Serbia and Montenegro 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum Milo Đukanović Srebrenica massacre Serbian Orthodox Church Montenegrin Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox Church Russia Islam Catholicism Hinduism Judaism Bosnian Bosniak Fascinada Our Lady of the Rocks Statehood Day Njeguški pršut (Prosciutto) Burek (Meat Pie) Rakija Plantaže 13. jul Wine Montenegro 10 Commandments Ostrog Monastery Petar II Petrović-Njegoš The Mountain Wreath The Bridge on the Drina Ivo Andrić

Nikola Mirotic has been traded, there were injuries and we previewed Friday's DFS slate. The Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast is brought to you by Basketball Monster.DFS starts at 40:10Support me and the show here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices