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Last time we spoke about the fall of Shanghai. In October 1937 a small battalion led by Colonel Xie Jinyuan transformed the Sihang Warehouse into a fortress against the advancing Japanese army. These men, known as the "800 Heroes," became symbols of hope, rallying local citizens who provided vital support. Despite heavy casualties, they held out against overwhelming odds until a strategic retreat was ordered on November 1. As Japanese forces intensified their assaults, they breached the Chinese defenses and captured strategic positions along Suzhou Creek. The fighting was fierce, marked by desperate counterattacks from the besieged Chinese soldiers, who faced an unyielding enemy. By November 9, the Chinese faced a full retreat, their organized defenses collapsing into chaos as they fled the city. Desperate civilians sought refuge in the International Settlement but were met with hostility, exacerbating the terror of the moment. Amidst the turmoil, remaining forces continued to resist in pockets, holding out as long as possible. By November 11, Japanese troops raised their flag in the last stronghold, marking a grim victory.   #163 Crossing Nanjing's Rubicon Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. As the Japanese were mopping up Shanghai, Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary on November 11th “I fear that they could threaten Nanjing”. Over In Shanghai, General Matsui Iwane was dealing with foreign correspondents, eager to learn what Japan's next move would be and to this he simply stated “For future developments, you had better ask Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek”. The correspondents were surprised by this response and pressed him further. He replied . “Chiang Kai-shek was reported to have predicted a five-year war, well, it might be that long. We don't know whether we will go to Nanjing or not. It all depends on Chiang.” At this point Shanghai was falling under Japanese control and now Matsui and his fellow field commanders were thinking, what's next? Nanjing was certainly the next objective. It was a common understanding amongst the Japanese leadership, that if the four main eastern cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing were lost, Chiang Kai-Shek's government would collapse. Three of these cities had been taken, Nanjing was dangling like fresh fruit. Matsui's staff believed the Chinese units departing Shanghai would mount a stand immediately west of the city, probably a defensive line running from Jiading to Huangduzhen. On the night of November 11th, Matsui issued a command to all units in the Shanghai area to advance west along the railway towards Nanjing. Their first objective would be a line extending from Taicang to Kunshan. Chiang Kai-Shek was not only reeling from military defeats, but also the gradual loss of his German allies. The Germans were increasingly aligning with the Japanese. Chiang Kai-Shek was looking for new external help, so he turned to the Soviets. It was a marriage of convenience, Chiang Kai-Shek signed a non-aggression pact with the USSR that year and wasted no time pleading for aircraft and pilots. Moscow began sending them before the ink touched the paper. 200 aircraft and pilots in return for some essential minerals, wolfram and tungsten. The Sino-Soviet friendship even drew in an unlikely source of support, Sir Winston Churchill. The Soviet envoy to the UK described how during a meeting with Churchill “he greatly praised our tactics in the Far East: maintenance of neutrality and simultaneous aid to China in weaponry.” Soviet pilots found themselves dispatched to Nanjing where they were briefed by Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich, the deputy commander of the Soviet Air Force. “The Japanese armed forces are technically superior to the Chinese. The Chinese Air Force is a particular concern. Soviet pilots who have rushed to China's aid are currently in Nanjing. They are fighting valiantly.” Meanwhile back at Shanghai discipline and order that had characterized previous Chinese withdrawal had collapsed. Simply put, there were hundreds of thousands of men trying to retreat across the lower Yangtze region, it was a shitstorm. Many units had to disengage during combat with the enemy and scramble to pull out. Huang Qixiang, the deputy commander of the Chinese right flank in Shanghai, executed a strategic withdrawal moments before his command post succumbed to the advancing enemy forces. Just fifteen minutes after his departure, the area was overrun by Japanese troops. In a desperate bid to avoid capture, another general had to cross a creek, nearly drowning in the process. Rescued while barely clinging to life and drenched in icy water, he was welcomed by a peasant family who aided in his recovery before he resumed his arduous journey westward. The scale of this withdrawal, occurring both day and night, could hardly escape the enemy's notice, and its complexity made the operation increasingly difficult. The execution of the withdrawal exacerbated the situation significantly. Orders to abandon their positions started to trickle down immediately after the upper command made the decision. However, these orders reached the units in a disorganized manner. Many telephone lines had been sabotaged, and when soldiers were sent to relay the orders in person, they faced severe disruptions in the transportation network. Consequently, many units only became aware of the withdrawal when they witnessed the mass movements of their comrades heading westward. Upon realizing what was happening, many soldiers fled in a state of panic. There were no comprehensive plans outlining the retreat, no designated routes for the various units, nor any established timetables. The outcome was a chaotic scramble for survival. Soldiers who had fought side by side for three months suddenly found themselves competing against one another in a desperate race to escape. At bridges and other chokepoints, weary soldiers exhausted their last reserves of strength, brawling with their fellow troops to be the first to cross. Meanwhile, officers traveling in chauffeur-driven cars attempted to assert their rank to gain priority access to the roads, adding to the growing disorder that ensued. The massive army was hindered by its sheer size, resulting in miles of congested roads filled with men unable to move in any direction. This made them easy targets for Japanese aircraft, leading to a bloody cycle of repeated attacks. Planes adorned with the red Rising Sun insignia would emerge from the horizon, swooping down to strike at these vulnerable formations. As commander Chen Yiding recalled “The lack of organization and the gridlocked roads resulted in far more casualties than could have been avoided,”.  On November 12th, the newspaper Zhaongyang Ribao, published an editorial addressing the citizens of Nanjing, to remind them that tough times lay ahead now that Shanghai had fallen. The article stipulated they needed to prepare the city for the upcoming battle,  “Now, all the citizenry of the capital must fulfill their duty in a way that can serve as a model for the entire nation.” Nanjing in 1937 was a city touched by the war, but not enough to change the social fabric just yet. Cinema's remained open, the shopping arcade was crowded as usual, traffic was heavy along Zhongshan Road, order remained. Telephones remained on, except during air raids. Connections to the outside world functioned as they should, given this was the capital. The region had seen a good harvest in 1937, no one was going hungry. However as the front 200 miles away drew closer, bombing raids more frequent, fear of the enemy increased. Contact with the outside world gradually declined. By mid November the train link from Nanjing to Shanghai was severed.  While the fear amongst the populace increased, so did a newfound sense of common purpose against a common enemy. Poster calling for the Chinese to unite against the Japanese invaders were found throughout Nanjing. Residents were conscripted for various fortification efforts, with some receiving basic military training to help defend the city. Those who refused to cooperate faced severe penalties as “traitors,” while the majority willingly participated. Both military and civilian police were deployed throughout the city, diligently checking identities in an ongoing effort to root out spies and traitors. The authorities enforced a strict prohibition against discussing military matters in restaurants and other public venues. Then all the high ranking military officials and politicians families gradually began departing the city in secrecy. This was followed by said politicians and military officials. Twas not a good look. Nanjing soon saw its population decline from 1 million to half a million. Those who stayed behind were mainly the poor, or those anchored, like shopkeepers. Every day saw a steady stream of Nanjing citizens leaving the city over her main roads, fleeing into the countryside with carts full of belongings. On November 12th at 10am orders were issued for the Japanese to advance west. What had been a war of attrition, where inches of land were claimed with blood, suddenly it was a war of movement. As one Japanese soldier recalled “In the course of 50 days, I had moved only two miles. Now suddenly we were experiencing rapid advance”. As the Japanese came across small towns, they found large posters plastered on all the walls. These were all anti-japanese with some nationalist propaganda. The Japanese soldiers would tear them down and paint up their own messages “down with Chiang Kai-Shek!”.  Towns and cities west of Shanghai fell rapidly one after another, each succumbing to a grim pattern: swift conquest followed by widespread devastation. Jiading, a county seat with a population of approximately 30,000, succumbed to a prolonged siege. When the 10st division captured Jiading on November 13, after relentless shelling had leveled a third of the city, they began a massacre, indiscriminately killing nearly everyone in their path, men, women, and children alike. The battle and its aftermath resulted in over 8,000 casualties among the city's residents and surrounding countryside. One Japanese soldier referred to Jiading as “A city of death, in a mysteriously silent world in which the only sound was the tap of our own footsteps”.  On November 14, soldiers from the 9th Division reached Taicang, an ancient walled city designed to withstand lengthy sieges. As they crossed the 70-foot moat amid heavy fire, the Japanese troops confronted the formidable 20-foot-high city wall. After breaching the wall, their infantry swiftly entered the city and seized control. The destruction persisted long after the fighting ceased, with half of the city being devastated, including significant cultural institutions like the library, and salt and grain reserves were looted. It was as if the Japanese aimed to obliterate not just the material existence of the people but their spiritual foundation as well.  Casual cruelty marked the nature of warfare along the entire front, with few prisoners being taken. Ishii Seitaro, a soldier in the 13th Division's 26th Brigade, encountered a mass execution while marching alongside the Yangtze River. Several headless corpses floated nearby, yet three Chinese prisoners remained alive. A Japanese officer, personally overseeing the execution, wore a simple uniform, but the two ornate swords at his belt indicated his wealthy background. Approaching one prisoner, the officer dramatically drew one of the swords and brandished it through the air with exaggerated flair. In an almost theatrical display, he held it aloft, the blade trembling as if he were nervous. The prisoner, in stark contrast, exhibited an unnerving calmness as he knelt, awaiting his inevitable fate. The officer swung the sword down but failed to deliver a clean strike. Although he inflicted a deep gash to the prisoner's skull, it was not fatal. The prisoner collapsed, thrashing and emitting a prolonged scream that sent chills through those present. The officer, seemingly exhilarated by the anguish he caused, began wildly slashing at the figure until the screams subsided. Ishii turned away in horror, his mind swirling with confusion. Why were the Chinese being executed? Had they not surrendered?  Three months into the war's expansion to the Yangtze region, air raids had become an all too frequent menace in Nanjing. The first major raid came on August 15th and increased each week. On the night of August 27, approximately 30 bombs were dropped on Purple Mountain, specifically targeting the Memorial Park for Sun Yat-sen, aiming to hurt the morale of Nanjing's residents. As days melted into weeks and weeks stretched into months, the landscape of Nanjing transformed under the weight of war. Residents began constructing dugouts in courtyards, gardens, public squares, and even on streets. Foreigners painted their national flags on top of buildings and vehicles, attempting to avoid the risk of being machine-gunned by strafing aircraft. Each raid followed a predictable routine: sirens wailed loudly 20 to 30 minutes before the attack, signaling pedestrians to seek shelter and drivers to stop their engines. By the time a shorter warning sounded, the streets had to be cleared, leaving nothing to do but await the arrival of Japanese planes. Initially, the part-US-trained Chinese Air Force posed a considerable threat to Japanese bombers. The 4th and 5th Chinese Squadrons, stationed near Nanjing to defend the capital, achieved early success, reportedly downing six bombers during the first air raid on Nanjing. Much of the credit for these aerial victories belonged to Claire Chennault, a retired American Army Air Corps captain who had become an advisor to the Chinese Air Force, overseeing Nanjing's air defense. Chennault taught his pilots tactics he had developed in the US but had never fully implemented. His strategy was straightforward: three fighters would focus on one enemy bomber at a time. One would attack from above, another from below, while a third would hover in reserve to deliver the final blow if necessary. He instructed the Chinese pilots to target the engines rather than the fuselage, reasoning that any missed shots could hit the gas tanks located in the wing roots. This approach proved successful, leading to the loss of 54 Japanese planes within three days. For Chennault, it validated his belief that air superiority required a diverse range of aircraft, not just bombers. Nighttime raids, however, posed a greater challenge. Chennault, along with other commanders, sought solutions. Chinese General C.C. Wong, a German-trained artillery officer overseeing the country's anti-aircraft defenses, ensured that dozens of large Sperry searchlights were positioned throughout Nanjing in a grid pattern. This setup had a dual purpose: it would dazzle the Japanese bomber crews and highlight their planes in silhouette for Chinese fighters above to target. The bravery of the most skilled Chinese pilots occasionally gained media attention, making them local celebrities amidst an otherwise grim war environment. However, this bright moment faded quickly when the Japanese command decided to provide escorts for their bombers. Consequently, the elite of China's air force, its finest pilots and aircraft, were lost within weeks that fall. All air raids were brutal, but the worst assaults occurred at the end of September. As a radio broadcaster reported on September 25th “Gallons of civilian blood flowed today as Nanking endured three ferocious air raids”. In total, 96 Japanese sorties were launched on that day. Witnesses observed around a dozen Chinese aircraft retreating north across the Yangtze, initially believing they were fleeing, but some returned to confront the enemy. When Chinese fighters managed to down a Japanese bomber, the streets erupted in cheers as civilians momentarily forgot their fear. The primary aim of the September 25 attack appeared to be spreading terror among the civilian population. Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary that day  “The repeated Japanese air raids over the past several days have had no impact on our military installations. Instead, civilian property has sustained significant damage.” Around 20 bombs struck the Central Hospital, one of Nanjing's largest medical facilities, causing extensive destruction and prompting the evacuation of its staff. Two 1,000-pound bombs exploded nearby, leaving large craters. Had these bombs landed slightly closer, they could have resulted in mass casualties among the hospital's 100 patients, including a Japanese pilot who had been shot down earlier that month. The air raids at the end of September prompted protests from the Americans, British, and French governments to Japan. In response, Tokyo issued a statement on September 30, asserting that while they were not intentionally targeting non-combatants, it was “unavoidable” for achieving military objectives that military airfields and installations in and around Nanjing be bombed.   The battle for Jiashan was among the fiercest in the southern Yangtze delta campaign in November 1937. Although Jiashan was a moderately sized town straddling a crucial railway connecting Shanghai to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. For the Japanese, seizing Jiashan was imperative for their westward advance; without it, their military progress would be severely hampered. Jiashan had endured three days of relentless bombing by the Japanese Air Force, driving most residents to flee into the surrounding countryside. Only about 100 remained, those who were too old or too sick to escape, abandoned by family or friends who lacked the means to assist them. The Japanese troops brutally bayoneted nearly all of these individuals and buried them in a mass grave just outside the town's northern gate. Jiashan was captured by the 10th Army, a division fresh from victories and eager to engage in combat, unlike the weary forces of the Shanghai Expeditionary Force further north. With less than a week of combat experience, the 10th Army's soldiers were hungry for a fight. The martial spirit of the 10th Army was exemplified by its commander, Yanagawa Heisuke. Born near Nagasaki in 1879, he was among a group of retired officers called back to active service as the war in China escalated unexpectedly. Having served in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and taught at the Beijing Army College in 1918, Yanagawa had considerable experience in military affairs. However, his past exposure to China did not cultivate any empathy for the enemy. He was determined to push all the way to Nanjing, and once there, he intended to blanket the city in mustard gas and incendiaries until it capitulated. While Japanese commanders debated the value of capturing Nanjing, the Chinese were equally preoccupied with whether it was worth defending. Most military professionals viewed the situation as a lost cause from the start. After the fall of Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek summoned one of his top commanders, Chen Cheng, to Nanjing for discussions. “How can Nanjing be held?” Chen Cheng shot back “Are you ordering me to hold Nanjing?” Chiang replied “I am not”. Chen Cheng stated frankly, “I believe Nanjing should not be held at all.” By mid-November, Bai Chongxi, one of China's most respected generals, advocated for declaring Nanjing an open city. He argued that defending it was not only unnecessary but also impossible. All available forces had been deployed to Shanghai and were now exhausted. Furthermore, no reinforcements would be forthcoming if they made a stand in Nanjing. Instead of stubbornly clinging to fixed positions, he preferred a more flexible defensive strategy. Zhang Qun, Chiang's secretary, supported Bai's stance, believing that while Nanjing should ultimately be abandoned, political considerations were paramount. If the Chinese simply withdrew and allowed the Japanese to occupy the city, it would undermine China's position in any future negotiations. The Japanese would not be able to present themselves as victors who had triumphed in battle. Similarly, Chiang's chief military advisor, General Alexander von Falkenhausen, was against attempting to hold Nanjing. He deemed it “useless from a military perspective, suggesting it would be madness.” He warned that if Chiang forced his army into a decisive battle with their backs to the Yangtze River, “a disaster would probably be unavoidable.” Chiang's head of the operations bureau Liu Fei argued Nanjing could not be abandoned without a fight as it would crush the NRA's morale. He believed that defending the city could be managed with as few as 12 regiments, although 18 would be feasible. Most at the meeting agreed and Chiang understood Nanjing's international recognition necessitated some form of defense, doomed or not. A second meeting was formed whereupon, Tang Shengzhi, a general staff officer whose loyalties were, lets be honest very flip floppy. During the warlord era, he routinely switched sides, especially against Chiang Kai-Shek. At the meeting Tang stated in regards to Nanjing's international prominence and being the final resting place of Dr Sun Yat-Sen “How can we face the spirit of the former president in heaven? We have no choice but to defend the capital to the death.” Chiang's commanders were all well aware of his intentions. The generalissimo was eager for a dramatic last stand in Nanjing to serve propaganda purposes, aiming to rally the nation and convey to the world that China was resolute in its fight against Japan. His commanders also recognized the rationale behind fighting for Nanjing; however, very few were inclined to embark on what seemed a likely suicide mission. The third meeting occurred the day after the second. Chiang opened by asking, as many anticipated, “Who is willing to shoulder the burden of defending Nanjing?” An awkward silence followed. Then Tang Shengzhi stepped forward. “Chairman, if no one else is willing, I will. I'm prepared to defend Nanjing and to hold it to the death.” Without hesitation, Chiang accepted his offer. “Good, the responsibility is yours.”A little refresher on Tang, he had played a role in Chiang Kai-shek's efforts to unify China by force in the 1920s, when the nation was a patchwork of fiefdoms. However, their relationship had soured on two occasions, forcing Tang into temporary exile, first to Japan and then to Hong Kong. The Japanese invasion of northeastern China in 1931 prompted a loose reconciliation, and since then, Tang had held several important positions, notably organizing war games simulating a Japanese assault on Nanjing. However Tang had often suffered from illness, and crucially, he had not led troops in the field against the Japanese since the onset of full-scale war that summer. Hailing from Hunan province, he was a typical provincial soldier and would likely face challenges commanding respect among elite divisions loyal solely to the central government in Nanjing. He was definitely not the first choice for such a significant task.  Amazingly, while tens of thousands of Chinese and Japanese were killing each other, while Japanese planes relentlessly bombarded Chinese cities including the capital, and while Japanese soldiers committed heinous atrocities against Chinese civilians, the two nations maintained diplomatic relations. China had a fully operational embassy in Tokyo, led by Xu Shiying, a 65-year-old diplomat. This surreal arrangement persisted because neither side was willing to officially declare war. In the fall of 1937, as Japanese armies were heavily engaged on two fronts within mainland China, Xu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirota Koki to propose a non-aggression treaty. The proposal was swiftly rejected in Nanjing. By November 1937, Xu was no longer at the forefront of events, and foreign observers shifted their focus from the capitals of the warring nations to Belgium. While large-scale battles raged along the lower Yangtze, representatives from 19 countries convened in Brussels to search for a way to end hostilities. Although China participated in the conference, Japan did not. Japan had received two invitations to join the talks, with its response to the second arriving in Brussels on November 12: a firm rejection. Japan asserted that it preferred direct bilateral negotiations with China, dismissing the Brussels conference held under the auspices of the Nine-Power Treaty, a pact signed in 1922 aimed at ensuring China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Japan argued that intervention by a collective body like the conference “would merely stir national sentiments in both countries and complicate efforts to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution.” The League of Nations had called for a Nine-Power conference a month earlier, which ultimately became a 19-power conference as other nations with interests in East Asia joined. From the outset, Japan opposed the assembly and was absent when the first plenary meeting commenced in Brussels on November 3. Japanese leaders feared that China might attempt to leverage the conference against Western powers, recalling how, in 1895, Japan had been denied its spoils following its first modern war with China due to the intervention of Russia, France, and Germany, who blocked Japan from claiming the strategic Liaodong Peninsula adjacent to Korea. China also exhibited a lukewarm attitude toward the conference. While Japan feared the potential outcomes, China was concerned about the lack of significant results. The proposal to transition discussions from the League of Nations, perceived as ineffective, to the even less authoritative Nine Powers, which lacked formal organization. Nonetheless, the Chinese chose to participate in Brussels, maintaining the pretense that something meaningful could be accomplished. Shortly after Japan's second rejection of the invitation, Wellington Koo made an impassioned plea in Brussels, stating, “Now that the door to conciliation and mediation has been slammed in your face by the latest reply of the Japanese Government, will you not decide to withhold supplies of war materials and credit to Japan and extend aid to China?” In reality, Koo understood that significant Western aid to China was highly unlikely, aside from token gestures. Previous international discussions had momentarily halted Japanese advances in the past; for instance, in 1932, Japanese troops had paused their movements in the Shanghai area just hours before the League of Nations General Assembly commenced. However, that was nearly six years earlier, and circumstances had changed dramatically since then. Rogue states had grown bolder, while democracies seemed increasingly timid. Thus, the Chinese agenda in Brussels was not primarily driven by hopes for substantial Western concessions. Instead, the delegates had been tasked by Nanjing to anticipate the post-conference landscape and to actively seek ways to encourage Europe and America to support Soviet military action against Japan.   China, long reliant on Germany as a diplomatic partner, increasingly felt betrayed, not just by Germany, but also by its fascist ally, Italy. Consequently, it began looking more favorably upon the Soviet Union, Japan's archrival in Northeast Asia, as its main source of international support. The Soviet Union exhibited a firmer stance than the Western democracies at the Brussels conference, joining China in advocating for collective security in Europe and Asia. On November 15th, a small group of officers from the 10th Army gathered for late-night discussions in an abandoned building north of Hangzhou Bay, where they would effectively decide the fate of China. Yanagawa Heisuke, the commander of the 10th Army, presided over the discussions. Fresh from the battlefield since the beginning of the month, he was eager to escalate the fight, a sentiment echoed among the others. It was an unusual meeting, where officers as low in rank as major were making decisions typically reserved for the highest echelons of political power. The agenda included a pivotal question: Should they adhere to Order No. 600 received from Tokyo a week prior, which instructed them to halt their advance along a line from Suzhou to Jiaxing? Or, should they disregard these explicit orders and push forward to seize Nanjing? While the Japanese Army had failed to completely annihilate the Chinese forces around Shanghai, there was a consensus that their adversary was now reeling from recent setbacks, presenting an opportune moment to strike decisively and secure a swift victory. The only remaining question was how aggressively to pursue this goal. Colonel Terada Masao, a senior staff officer within the 10th Army, spoke first. “The Chinese Army is currently retreating toward the capital. We should cross that line and pursue the enemy straight to Nanjing.” Major Iketani Hanjiro, a staff officer recently attached to the fast-moving 6th Division, then offered his input “From a tactical perspective, I completely agree with Terada that we should cross the line, but the decision to attack Nanjing should be considered not just tactically, but also politically. It's not that field commanders can't create a fait accompli to pressure our superiors in Tokyo. However, we must proceed with great caution”. A staff officer raised this question  “What if Tokyo orders us to pull back those smaller units?” Iketani responded “In that case, we will, of course, withdraw them to this side of the line”. Ultimately, Iketani's cautions were set aside, and Terada's aggressive approach prevailed. The majority agreed that the tactical circumstances presented a rare opportunity. Japanese troops in the Shanghai area were poised to advance west, not through small, individual skirmishes but with a substantial deployment of their forces. Officers estimated that if a decisive push was made immediately, Nanjing could fall into Japanese hands within 20 days. However Colonel Kawabe Torashiro, the newly appointed chief of the Army General Staff's Operations Section suddenly arrived at the theater. He was sent on a mission to assess whether the Central China Area Army should be granted greater operational freedom. It was well known in Tokyo that field officers were eager to capitalize on the momentum created by the collapse of Chinese defenses around Shanghai. Kawabe's task was to explore the possibility of allowing forces to cross the line from Suzhou to Jiaxing and move westward in pursuit of the retreating enemy. However, Kawabe was staunchly opposed to further military adventures in China. Kawabe was part of the dwindling faction of "China doves" within the Japanese military. As early as the summer of 1937, he had become alarmed by a letter from a civilian Japanese visitor to the Chinese mainland, warning that Japanese officers were attempting to engineer an “incident” with China to provoke open conflict. This would provide Japan with a pretext to expand its influence in northern China. Kawabe had attempted to alert his superiors, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. They had been lulled into a false sense of security by reports from China that dismissed all talk of war-mongering as baseless and alarmist. When he arrived to the front he stated “I am here to inspect conditions on the ground so that a final decision can be made on where to establish the operational restriction line”. Alongside him came General Akira Muto, recently appointed the commander of the Central China Area Army. He also happened to be one of the architects of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Muto responded promptly: “The line currently stretches from Suzhou to Jiaxing, but we should consider crossing it. This will help us achieve our overall objectives in the theater.” Muto continued, arguing that the 10th Army should be permitted to advance to Huzhou, south of Lake Tai, effectively cutting off communications between Nanjing and the strategic city of Hangzhou. He further claimed that the Shanghai Expeditionary Force should be allowed to capture the vital city of Jiangyin, suggesting, perhaps overly optimistically, that its loss could lead to the fall of Chiang Kai-shek. Ultimately, Muto insisted, Nanjing should also be seized, which he asserted would bring an end to the war. Kawabe listened patiently, a practice he would repeat in the following days as other field officers echoed similar sentiments, eagerly expressing their desire to advance all the way to Nanjing. Yanagawa and his 10th Army exemplified this aggressive mindset. Nevertheless, just as the hawks within the Japanese military and the nation's political leadership appeared to be prevailing in the struggle over China policy, they faced unexpected challenges from a different direction. Germany, a power with ambiguous sympathies in East Asia, was quietly engaged in negotiations aimed at bringing peace. Oskar Trautmann, Germany's ambassador to China, had maintained an objective and neutral stance when he met with Chiang Kai-shek in early November to relay Japan's conditions for initiating peace talks. These conditions included extensive concessions in northern China, such as the withdrawal of all Chinese troops to a line south of Beijing and the establishment of a pro-Japanese regime in Inner Mongolia, bordering the Soviet-controlled Mongolian People's Republic. Chiang dismissed these demands outright, but Trautmann and his superiors in Beijing continued their top-secret efforts. Germany's motivation for seeking an end to the Sino-Japanese War was not rooted in a genuine love for peace, but rather in their embarrassment over witnessing their old Asian ally, China, fighting against their new partner, Japan. Herman Göring, president of the Reichstag and a leading figure in the Nazi party, told a Chinese visitor, “China and Japan are both friends of Germany. The Sino-Japanese War has put Germany between Scylla and Charybdis. That's why Germany is ready to seize the chance to become a mediator.” Germany also feared that a prolonged conflict in China could jeopardize its commercial interests in East Asia and weaken Japan's capacity to confront the Soviet Union, potentially freeing Moscow to allocate more resources to a fight in Europe. In essence, continued hostilities could significantly harm Germany. Japanese field commanders were frustrated by Germany's mediation efforts.  When news of Trautmann's mission leaked, the German diplomat faced severe criticism in the Chinese media, which deemed any negotiation with the "Japanese devils" unacceptable. Additionally, there was the matter of China's ties with the Soviet Union; employing a German mediator raised the possibility of cooperation among China, Japan, and Germany, potentially expanding the anti-Soviet bloc, which would, in turn, pressure Moscow to increase its support for China. By mid-November, however, the complexities of this diplomatic game started unraveling and then Japan took action. At 7:00 am on November 19, Yanagawa issued instructions to his troops in the field. “The enemy's command system is in disarray, and a mood of defeat has descended over their entire army. They have lost the will to fight. The main Chinese forces were retreating west of the line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, and this withdrawal was soon likely to spiral into a full-scale retreat. We must not miss the opportunity to pursue the enemy to Nanjing.” I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Shanghai had fallen, and the Japanese forces pursued their fleeing enemy further west. However they had orders to halt, but would they? Officers from top down deliberating on the issue, with the vast majority pushing for a drive to Nanjing. They thought it represented the end objective of the conflict. They would all be very wrong. 

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After months of uncertainty following the loss of federal funding, the International Institute of St. Louis' Festival of Nations is returning to Tower Grove Park this weekend. Terry Bates, director of marketing and communications for the Institute, shares how donors stepped up to make sure the festival would stay on track, and what makes the annual event – a St. Louis staple for decades – important to the Institute's mission of serving refugee and immigrant families.

Pastor James shows how the spread of the nations from Noah demonstrates the unity of humanity.

➡️ Watch the full interview ad-free, join a community of geopolitics enthusiasts and gain access to exclusive content on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingGeopolitics➡️ Sign up to my free geopolitics newsletter: https://stationzero.substack.com/This is a conversation with Gregory Smith, a policy analyst at Rand focusing on the influence of AI and emerging technologies on geopolitics. And this was - and I hope I don't offend any of my other guests by saying - one of the most fascinating conversations I've ever had on the podcast.Today, we are at a point when there's a realistic chance that in the next decade or so we might get an AGI - artificial general intelligence or even ASI - artificial superintelligence: a next stage of AI that would be able to do everything that humans can and possibly even significantly better. If that happens it will radically transform every aspect of our lives but while the impact on other areas is widely discussed - how it might reshape geopolitics is largely ignored - even though its impact would be absolutely transformational. Greg and his colleagues at Rand recently published an extremely interesting paper where they for the first time try to explore what that might look like - and they present 8 different scenarios of how AGI can transform the global world order. Most of them are pretty bad but all of them are fascinating - leading to a rise of new superpowers, fall of the old ones and a fundamentally different world. And in this conversation, we discuss what that world might look like.

www.kelloggsfc.com AD FREE and Exclusive episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/Footballforkids In this episode of the Football For Kids Podcast, Darren Rees tells the inspiring story of Antoine Semenyo – the Bournemouth goal-scoring machine and Ghana international. Born in Chelsea in the year 2000, Semenyo's journey has been anything but easy. From kicking a ball in the park with his dad, facing rejection after rejection at clubs like Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, and even nearly giving up football completely… to finally breaking through with Bristol City, battling through tough loan spells in non-league and the lower leagues, and then becoming a multi-million pound Premier League player with AFC Bournemouth. We'll hear how Semenyo grew up watching the Africa Cup of Nations on TV with his family, dreaming of heroes like Didier Drogba and Asamoah Gyan – and how that dream came true when he went on to wear the Ghana shirt himself at international level. But this episode doesn't stop at the goals and glory. We also talk about the serious issue of racism in football. On 15 August 2025, Semenyo was racially abused while playing at Anfield. We explain why this is so wrong, why racism has no place in football or anywhere, and how kids can learn to always choose kindness, bravery, and respect.

Why did the great powers of Asia stagnate whilst Europe was rising? This question—often called the Great Divergence—is one of the most defining questions of modern history.Few case studies illuminate this question as well as the contrast between Britain and India. Did colonialism make Britain rich and India poor? Or was Britain's rise already underway before conquest? And what does all this tell us about the everyday experiences of the people of on two sides of the divide?This episode is a live recording from the British Academy, where I was invited to speak at the launch of Bishnupriya Gupta's An Economic History of India. I was honoured to give this talk on this exceptionally rich topic, speaking after some of the leading experts of India's history. How did I do? Share your thoughts in the comments at OnHumans.Substack.com.Enjoy!DIG DEEPERRead: See my article on the ⁠"Origins of Modern India⁠⁠". Complement with "Origins of Modern China" from last fall.Listen: Check out the two-part "⁠What About India?⁠" series from this February. Complement with the episode with Professor Tirthankar Roy this July.SUPPORT THE SHOWYou can pledge your support at ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/OnHumans⁠⁠⁠⁠KEYWORDS Big history | Economic History | Why the West | Gunpowder empires | Mughals | Colonialism | Imperialism | British East India Company | European colonialism | History of Colonialism | Geographical Determinism | Environmental Determinism | Political History | Fiscal History | Great Divergence | Western Dominance | Early Modern History | Kenneth Pomerantz | Steven Broadberry

This week we're wrapping up summer with a mix of beach vibes, local hangs, and a few San Diego updates you don't want to miss. We kick things off with a weekend recap—Pelly's, talking about camping plans, an end-of-summer beach party, Moneyline in Encinitas, and more.Our New, To Do, and Adieu segment brings:NEW: Coinhaus drops a fresh new beer

C'est à la Une de nombreux sites d'information maliens ce matin. Onze photographies un peu floues, dont celle d'un homme blanc, photos dont on peut penser qu'elles ont été prises après l'arrestation de ce petit groupe accusé de conspiration. « Tentative de déstabilisation : des noms révélés à la télévision nationale », titre Sahel Tribune, qui ajoute : « Bamako brise le silence : des officiers, des civils et un ressortissant français sont arrêtés pour tentative de fragilisation de la Transition. Un coup de filet qui en dit autant sur la fermeté du pouvoir que sur le climat de défiance ambiant ». « Parmi les personnes arrêtées », précise Bamada.net, figure « un ressortissant français présenté comme agissant pour le compte d'un service de renseignement français. Il est accusé d'avoir mobilisé des responsables politiques, des acteurs de la société civile et des militaires, dont les généraux de brigade Abass Dembélé et Nema Sagara ». Notons d'ailleurs que Nema Sagara est la seule femme figurant sur les photographies publiées hier. Quant au gouvernement, précise le Journal du Mali, « il affirme que la situation est maîtrisée et que l'enquête se poursuit pour identifier d'éventuels complices ». Animaux brûlés vifs Dans l'actualité africaine également : des incendies monstres dans le nord du Maroc. « Un vaste incendie ravage actuellement la forêt d'Amelay, située dans la province de Chefchaouen », annonce Africanews. « De puissantes colonnes de fumée s'élèvent au-dessus de la région, tandis que les flammes dévorent des hectares de végétation, attisées par des vents violents et des températures caniculaires (…) les autorités ont ordonné l'évacuation des habitations les plus proches, par mesure de sécurité. Les habitants ont décrit des scènes de panique et des flammes d'une intensité sans précédent ». Des habitants dont l'hebdomadaire marocain Tel Quel publie des témoignages. Mohamed Darraz, un agriculteur de 32 ans raconte : « Notre vie a basculé. Le feu a tout emporté (…) Certains animaux ont été brûlés vifs dans leurs enclos. Nous avons essayé de nous entraider, mais face à un tel incendie et au vent, c'était presqu'impossible ». Hier soir, le feu était circonscrit selon les autorités marocaines. Mais la prudence reste de mise. Tel Quel rappelle que « le Maroc est frappé par une sécheresse persistante depuis 2018, et subit actuellement une intense vague de chaleur accompagnée par le chergui, vent chaud et sec venu du Sahara, qui complique les opérations de secours ».  Nous nous sommes retrouvés à l'eau À la Une également, un nouveau naufrage de migrants au large de l'île de Lampedusa, en Italie. « 27 morts, des dizaines de disparus » titre Africanews qui raconte : « Le bateau, parti de Libye, a chaviré à environ 20 kilomètres, au sud-ouest de l'île sicilienne. Parmi les soixante survivants, figurent des mineurs originaires du Pakistan, d'Egypte, de Somalie et du Soudan ». « Les recherches se poursuivaient hier » ajoute Média 24. Le journal marocain cite le témoignage d'une Somalienne, « qui a perdu son fils et son mari ». Elle a expliqué au journal italien Il Corriere della Sera « qu'elle avait son fils dans ses bras et son mari à ses côtés. Je ne sais pas comment, nous nous sommes retrouvés à l'eau. Les vagues les ont emportés tous les deux ».   Selon l'OIM, l'Organisation Internationale pour les Migrations, ce sont au total deux bateaux qui étaient parti de Tripoli, à l'aube, avec environ 95 personnes répartie sur deux embarcations. « Mais après que l'un des deux bateaux a pris l'eau, les passagers ont grimpé sur l'autre, qui a chaviré sous la surcharge », explique l'OIM. Selon le HCR, le Haut-commissariat des Nations unies pour les réfugiés, « plus de 700 personnes ont déjà perdu la vie cette année »,  en tentant de traverser la Méditerranée. 

Russian officials say a top priority at Friday's Trump-Putin summit is normalizing U.S. relations on topics beyond Ukraine. That concerns European officials, who consider Russia a long-term threat. With support from the University of British Columbia’s Global Reporting Program, Nick Schifrin spoke with Estonia’s defense minister about the Baltic nations’ fortified border with Russia. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Russian officials say a top priority at Friday's Trump-Putin summit is normalizing U.S. relations on topics beyond Ukraine. That concerns European officials, who consider Russia a long-term threat. With support from the University of British Columbia’s Global Reporting Program, Nick Schifrin spoke with Estonia’s defense minister about the Baltic nations’ fortified border with Russia. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Selon les Nations unies, le nombre d'affaires judiciaires liées au climat a plus que doublé en l'espace de 5 ans. Autour du globe, on pouvait recenser 2 180 contentieux en 2022 contre 884 en 2017. (Rediffusion) Des mobilisations locales contre des projets de barrages, de golf ou d'extension de sites industriels, des recours juridiques contre des usines polluantes, ou des géants de l'agroalimentaire... Les citoyens s'engagent davantage pour préserver leur environnement et leurs actions peuvent réussir. À l'échelle de la France, on compte, par exemple, 250 victoires écologistes depuis 1971. Des succès qui ont permis de sauver des milliards d'hectares de terres agricoles ou de forêts et économiser des milliards d'euros en investissements publics. Blocage, occupation, réunion publique, action en justice... Comment les citoyens s'organisent pour obtenir gain de cause ? Et pourquoi certaines actions peinent à aboutir malgré les preuves d'impacts négatifs sur la santé et l'environnement ?   Cette émission est une rediffusion du 30 janvier 2025. Avec : • Gaëtan Renaud, chargé d'enquêtes socio-économiques et environnementales. Rédacteur et auteur de l'étude Quand la lutte l'emporte - une décennie de victoires contre des projets imposés et polluants commanditée par l'association Terres de Luttes et la revue Silence • Grégoire Osoha, journaliste, réalisateur de documentaires et de podcasts. Auteur de Atome 33 – histoire d'une lutte collective contre une pollution industrielle, au Québec (Marchialy, sortie le 12 février 2025) • Abderrahmane Sissako, cinéaste, président de l'Association Mauritanienne pour l'Environnement (AME). L'association organise Une «Marche Bleue» pour la préservation des zones humides en Mauritanie, du 1er au 9 février 2025. La « Marche Bleue » suivra un itinéraire de marche longeant 60 km en bord de mer en direction du sud et prendra fin à la zone humide de Tambass-Lobodou. En fin d'émission, la rubrique Mondoblog chez les voisins avec Alaa Khzam.  • Chamsou-Dine Baguiri, blogueur béninois, nous présente l'aquaponie, un système innovant qui allie élevage de poissons et culture de plantes pour une agriculture plus durable.  • Le blogueur guinéen Alpha Oumar Baldé analyse avec autodérision le rapport des Guinéens au temps, entre retard chronique et flexibilité horaire.  • Marina Tem, blogueuse du Cameroun, partage une introspection sur l'écriture comme acte de résistance et d'affirmation, concluant par un poème bouleversant.    Programmation musicale :  ► Oil United vs Green Team - Xuman & Keyti & Defty ► Who's Bad - Arma Jackson.

Une rencontre secrète a eu lieu, lundi 11 août, en Suisse, à Zurich, entre le chef de l'armée soudanaise, le général Abdel Fattah al-Burhan et l'émissaire américain pour l'Afrique, Massad Boulos. La rencontre a duré trois heures selon le gouvernement soudanais. Elle portait sur le plan américain pour un cessez-le-feu global au Soudan ainsi que sur l'acheminement d'une aide humanitaire, particulièrement vers el-Fasher, la capitale du Darfour nord assiégée par les paramilitaires des Forces de soutien rapide. Le chercheur Roland Marchal revient sur la position de la diplomatie américaine et sur ces nouveaux efforts pour tenter de négocier une sortie à la crise soudanaise. RFI : Qu'est-ce qu'on sait de ce plan pour un cessez-le-feu global qui aurait donc été proposé par les États-Unis lors de cette rencontre ? D'abord, les discussions ont eu lieu avec une seule des deux parties en l'occurrence avec le général al-Burhan, qui est le chef de l'armée soudanaise. On ne sait pas si d'autres discussions ont lieu parallèlement ou vont avoir lieu avec les Forces de soutien rapide commandées par le général Hemedti. Ce qu'on pense savoir, c'est que la diplomatie américaine s'efforce de faciliter l'accès humanitaire et qu'il y a à faire des deux côtés. C'est-à-dire que l'accès humanitaire est freiné tant du côté des RSF que du côté de l'armée soudanaise. Et donc il faut lever toute une série d'obstacles pseudo bureaucratiques pour permettre à l'aide d'arriver là où elle doit arriver. Le deuxième problème, c'est évidemment quel type de cessez-le-feu et de relance politique peut avoir lieu. Les renseignements qu'on a aujourd'hui sur la réunion ne permettent pas d'éclairer ça très bien. On sait que le général al-Burhan va sans doute défendre une exclusion totale des FSR et sans doute le jugement d'Hemedti et de tous ceux qui lui ont été le plus proche. Mais il est sûr que dans des discussions confidentielles, le général al-Burhan peut dessiner une voie qui n'a pas encore été empruntée jusqu'à présent. Et pourquoi a-t-il accepté cette fois-ci de rencontrer les Américains ? Est-ce que ça s'explique notamment par les avancées du coup des forces soudanaises sur le terrain ? Oui et non. Oui, évidemment, le gouvernement soudanais n'est plus dans la position de faiblesse dans laquelle il était il y a un an. Mais d'un autre côté aussi, il y a des critiques de plus en plus fortes qui sont exprimées vis-à-vis du général al-Burhan. Il y a des sanctions parce qu'apparemment, des armes chimiques auraient été utilisées par l'armée soudanaise contre les populations. Et puis d'autre part aussi parce que, au moins d'un point de vue militaire, on est tout à fait conscient que d'un côté comme de l'autre, il y a une escalade dans la technologie qui est utilisée et qu'il va falloir autre chose que simplement une supériorité militaire pour régler ce conflit. Et puis aussi, il y a une inquiétude, peut-être que le général al-Burhan a peut être une inquiétude vis-à-vis de ses propres troupes, le fait que le contrôle des milices est quand même difficile, et donc c'est peut-être aussi un bon moment pour lui d'essayer de marquer des points diplomatiquement en soulignant combien les preuves contre les Forces de soutien rapide sont multiples concernant l'assassinat de civils, des massacres de masse, etc. Mais est-ce qu'il n'y a pas des contreparties qui pourraient être demandées au général al-Burhan, comme par exemple son départ ou la mise en place d'un gouvernement civil ? On ne sait pas réellement quelle est l'expertise dont se prévaut l'envoyé américain Massad Boulos. Donc on ne sait pas si ce sont des discussions à haut vol, sans entrer dans des détails, ou si l'envoyé spécial américain a une vision extrêmement précise des forces en présence, se souvient qu'il y a des forces civiles qui se sont opposées à Omar el-Béchir en 2019, et également des forces civiles qui aspirent à gouverner, qui aspirent à un changement. Donc, la question est de savoir si les Américains vont se contenter finalement d'une négociation avec les deux parties armées, ou est-ce qu'ils iront beaucoup plus loin. Sur un véritable régime civil de transition qui inclura ou n'inclura pas des personnalités proches des deux parties combattantes aujourd'hui. Est-ce qu'avec ces discussions, on peut espérer que l'aide humanitaire circule mieux au Soudan et plus particulièrement vers El Fasher, la capitale du Darfour-Nord ? Du côté du gouvernement soudanais, les choses sont à la fois plus simples puisqu'il y a une autorité, il y a une chaîne de commandement et plus compliqué parce qu'il y a la chaîne de commandement de l'armée, mais il y a aussi beaucoup de milices qui sont sur les routes, qui ont leur propre check-point. C'est un véritable chemin kafkaïen pour obtenir toutes les autorisations pour les Nations unies de quitter Port-Soudan, où l'aide humanitaire arrive pour l'envoyer dans des lieux qui sont, il faut le rappeler, pour certains, contrôlés par le gouvernement, puis pour d'autres endroits qui sont plus sympathisantes des Forces de soutien rapide, et dans ce cas-là, il y a des oppositions très fortes qui se manifestent. L'envoyé spécial américain peut trouver des moyens et des arguments pour convaincre le général al-Burhan d'agir de façon un peu plus déterminée, de faire respecter la chaîne de commandement, puisqu'il prétend être le gouvernement. Ce sera sans doute beaucoup plus compliqué du point de vue des Forces de soutien rapide, dans la mesure où, s'il y a l'image d'un commandement central, il y a quand même une très grande faiblesse de la chaîne de commandement, ce qui fait que les milices sur le terrain peuvent établir des check-points et n'en ont rien à faire des papiers, fussent-ils signés par Hemedti ou son frère.

Mo Salah is one of Egypt's biggest and highly influential footballing icons. John Bennett visit his home village of Nagrig to meet the people who helped shape his early career and see the impact he still has on his local community. He explores the journey Salah took from Nagrig to Cairo to help achieve his dreams and gain an insight from those who have worked with him closely about what has driven him to global superstardom. And with the Africa Cup of Nations and a World Cup to come over the next 12 months, we assess whether Salah needs success with the Egyptian national team to cement his status in his homeland.

From remote tribes to military bases, discover how God is transforming lives in the world's darkest places. Host Greg Kelly sits down with InTouch Ministries leaders Philip Bowen and Ella Bogo Ydi to share powerful stories, faith-driven innovation, and the global impact of Dr. Charles Stanley's legacy. See how the Messenger audio Bible and strategic partnerships are making Jesus known—everywhere.  Subscribe for more stories of hope, faith, and transformation: unknownnations.com #UnknownNations #Podcast #Missions #InTouchMinistries #Faith #GlobalChurch #MakeJesusKnown

As we continue this series, we look at the evolving governing head of globalism and how it was founded: the United Nations. This series will pull back the curtain on one of the most powerful institutions in the world.Isaac Kappy Intro: https://x.com/GerardTakiwa/status/1953882091307028660 Trump on Operation Warp Speed: "One of the most incredible things ever done in this country... Everything about it was has been amazing."https://x.com/disclosetv/status/1953212286384128392 RFK Jr: “We're developing a universal vaccine at NIH, which is a vaccine that addresses the entire phylum of viruses.” https://x.com/MazeLove14/status/1953719485409460714

Personal Revival, Nation Awakening & Generational ReformationWe are currently raising funds for our Sanctuary Building that we are building. If you'd like to partner with us in building a resting place for the presence of the Lord, you can give today at: https://www.victoryfla.com/giveFor all the latest on all things Victory, be sure to check out our website at https://victoryfla.com and follow us on social media.Download our app at: https://victoryfla.com/appFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/victorychurchfla/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchfla/X: https://twitter.com/victorychurchfl/

ABOUT THE EPISODEIn this episode of the Christian Wellbeing Show, host Michelle and co-host Stuart continue their exploration of the concept of 'church', building on ideas from the first episode of What is Church?They call listeners to an honest reflection on the church's current state and the potential for transformation. Challenging the order of worship and particular negative behaviours and expectations found in church life such as control, passivity and behaviour modification, they take a look at the need for new ‘wine skins' for church and fresh, adaptive ways of gathering that reflect the empowering, equipping and joy-filled community Jesus envisioned.Find answers to questions such as;What is the ecclesia?Are we truly equipped and empowered in church?Can we align church to what Jesus had in mind?What would church look like if we let Jesus build it?Join them in this exciting, informative and refreshing conversation and discover The Five ‘E's of what we should receive from church!ABOUT THE HOSTMichelle has been a believer for over 37 years, involved in full-time Christian ministry for 35 years in six countries on three continents, and is a master of transition and cross-cultural expert. Originally from the UK, Rev. Dr. Michelle has a doctorate degree in ministry (D.Min) with specialisms in Cross Cultural Mission and Natural Health & Nutrition and is ordained by Church For The Nations, Phoenix, USA. With huge experience of personal trauma, she is certified in grief, crisis and trauma counselling and Animal-Assisted-Therapy & Activities (AAT/AAA), is a trauma awareness trainer, and a C-PTSD survivor. She is author of the book, ‘Surviving Trauma, Crisis & Grief', printed in English and Mandarin Chinese and endorsed by US traumatologist and author, the late Dr H Norman Wright, formerly one of America's most prominent Christian counsellors. Michelle is a ministry co-founder, speaker, truth-teller, voice for freedom, advocate for the family, and has a passion for natural, healthy living and seeing people's lives improved. She homeschooled her three children, has ten grandchildren, is an artist, dog lover and keen gardener with a love for self-sufficiency.Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and it is recommended that you speak to your GP, doctor, or health professional of your choice regarding any medical concerns you may have.ABOUT THE CO-HOSTStuart is a fifth-generation believer and has been teaching the Word of God for over 40 years. Since quitting his career as a corporate administrator with a top 100 UK plc, he has been involved in full-time, cross-cultural ministry in six countries on three continents. He is the author of several books and is a trained life coach (kingdompurposecoaching.com), a natural ability consultant, and ordained through Church for the Nations, Phoenix. Stuart has a bachelor's degree in business and a doctorate degree in Christian Ministry, with a specialisation in Cross-cultural and Kingdom Mission.LINKShttps://linktr.ee/ChristianWellbeingShow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump Takes Over DC! Deploys Military to Protect Nations Capital. Steven Crowder, Benny Johnson. Dennis Prager- The Future of the West.   StevenCrowder- The Left Is Seething, But He's Right Benny Johnson- Trump Takes Over DC! Deploys Military to Protect Nations Capital, National Guard: ‘OWN The Streets' Dennis Prager's Best Moments | The Future of the West   The Left Is Seething, But He's Right Watch this video at- https://youtu.be/KJ09huumDI8?si=7za0hfMwUjNRWm-u StevenCrowder 5.68M subscribers Aug 11, 2025 Homelessness is definitely a problem. Washington, D.C. has a huge crime problem. It's a good thing President Donald Trump is here to take care of it. DOWNLOAD THE RUMBLE APP TODAY: https://rumble.com/our-apps Join Rumble Premium to watch this show every day! http://louderwithcrowder.com/Premium Bite-Sized Content: https://rumble.com/c/CrowderBits Subscribe to my podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/louder-with-... FOLLOW ME: Website: https://louderwithcrowder.com/ Twitter:   / scrowder   Instagram:   / louderwithcrowder   Facebook:   / stevencrowderofficial     Trump Takes Over DC! Deploys Military to Protect Nations Capital, National Guard: ‘OWN The Streets' Watch this video at- https://youtu.be/mC0wXwNlbg0?si=WMItWti9ALBPCDQZ Benny Johnson 5.54M subscribers 87,593 views Aug 11, 2025

Today we're looking at an amazing declaration by Nebuchadnezzar about the dominion and authority of God. It's a wonderful celebration of God and it comes from a man whom God humbled to bring him to this point. Join us! Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. In 2025, we were added to the "Best 100 Bible Podcasts" list from www.millionpodcasts.com. We are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

La bataille de l'Unesco bat son plein. En octobre, lors d'un premier tour, trois candidats vont s'affronter pour succéder à la Française Audrey Azoulay au poste de Directeur général de l'Organisation des Nations unies pour l'éducation, la science et la culture (Unesco). En lice, la Mexicaine Gabriela Ramos, l'Égyptien Khaled el-Enany et le Congolais de Brazzaville Edouard-Firmin Matoko. La France soutient le candidat égyptien et le Premier ministre du Congo-Brazzaville n'hésite pas à regretter « l'ingratitude de la France à l'égard de son pays ». Anatole Collinet Makosso répond aux questions de Christophe Boisbouvier. RFI : En mars prochain, Monsieur le Premier Ministre, aura lieu l'élection présidentielle. Est-ce que le chef de l'État, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, qui cumule déjà plus de 40 ans de pouvoir, sera candidat à un nouveau mandat ? Anatole Collinet Makosso : Le président américain Franklin Roosevelt vous avez déjà donné un enseignement : que ce n'est pas au milieu du gué qu'on change de cheval, ou qu'un bon cavalier ne peut pas laisser sa cavalerie au milieu du gué. Donc, pour nous qui avons encore la chance d'avoir à la tête de nos États des hommes d'une certaine expérience qui ont connu l'Afrique dans tous ces états, nous ne voyons pas pourquoi nous devons nous priver de leur expérience et de leur sagesse. C'est pour cette raison que nous pensons que Denis Sassou-Nguesso reste justement le candidat idéal. Donc, vous nous annoncez qu'il sera candidat ? Je ne vous annonce rien. Il a la réquisition populaire sous réserve de ce qu'il dira lui-même. Mais jusqu'à preuve du contraire, son peuple le réclame comme candidat parce que son peuple estime qu'il n'a pas besoin de subir un saut dans l'inconnu. Depuis le lendemain de la présidentielle de 2016, deux des principaux adversaires politiques du chef de l'État, Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko et André Okombi Salissa, sont en prison. Ils ont été condamnés à 20 ans et beaucoup les considèrent comme des prisonniers politiques. Est-ce qu'une grâce présidentielle est envisageable d'ici le mois de mars prochain ? Lorsqu'on aura vu par exemple que dans certains pays, les hommes politiques ou coupables d'infractions qui auraient été jugés ont bénéficié comme ça d'une grâce présidentielle, peut-être que nous en tirerons les leçons et ça nous servira peut-être d'exemple. Autre opposant politique, Lassy Mbouity du parti Les Socialistes. Le 11 mai dernier, quelques jours après l'annonce de sa candidature, il a été enlevé chez lui par des hommes armés et encagoulés, puis tabassé pendant neuf jours avant d'être relâché. Est-ce que ce n'est pas le signe qu'il règne aujourd'hui à Brazzaville, une violente campagne d'intimidation contre certaines personnalités qui voudraient compétir l'année prochaine ? Si on me cite un seul établissement sanitaire qui avait reçu Monsieur Lassy Mbouity, même de passage, même en hospitalisation de jour, eh bien il faut donc qu'on me cite un seul établissement sanitaire par lequel Monsieur Lassy Mbouity est passé. S'il n'y a aucune information à ce sujet, je considère tout le reste comme étant une légende. En octobre prochain, l'Unesco va élire son prochain Directeur général. Il y a trois candidats : la Mexicaine Gabriela Ramos, l'Égyptien Khaled el-Enany et votre compatriote Edouard Firmin Matoko. Celui-ci ne s'est déclaré candidat qu'au mois de mars dernier, deux ans après son rival égyptien. Est-ce que ce n'est pas trop tard ? Est-ce que ce n'est pas un handicap ? Dans quel pays et dans quelle institution on présente la candidature deux ans avant la période de l'élection ? Notre compatriote a présenté sa candidature dans les délais. Le candidat égyptien Khaled el-Enany a un CV assez impressionnant puisqu'il a été ministre égyptien des Antiquités. Quels sont les atouts du candidat congolais Édouard Firmin Matoko face à ce candidat prestigieux ? Son expérience au sein de la maison. Près de 30 ans, cadre de l'Unesco et pour avoir préservé le patrimoine culturel partout dans le monde, y compris en Égypte. Et, au regard de tout son parcours, on pense qu'au moment où l'Unesco traverse une période de turbulences avec le désengagement de certains États - et pas des moindres -, nous pensons qu'il faut que ce soit quelqu'un de la maison qui puisse conduire ces réformes en douceur et en profondeur. Est-ce que le candidat égyptien n'est pas soutenu par plusieurs pays comme la France et aussi par l'Union africaine ? Soutenu par l'Union africaine, je ne sais pas. L'élection se passe à l'Unesco, donc ce n'est pas à l'Union africaine d'imposer un vote là où on requiert la volonté souveraine des États. Deuxièmement, cette candidature, qu'elle soit soutenue par la France, c'est un fait. Nous notons, ce n'est pas la première fois que la France voterait contre le Congo. Si la France peut être indifférente à la candidature portée par Brazzaville, capitale de la France libre d'hier, mais il y a des pays comme l'Angola qui ont le sens de la gratitude, qui ne peuvent pas oublier que, au moment où ils célèbrent aujourd'hui le 50ᵉ anniversaire de l'indépendance, Brazzaville et le Congo ont joué un rôle très important pour leur indépendance, que nous allons tous célébrer aujourd'hui. Les pays comme l'Afrique du Sud ne peuvent pas manquer de gratitude au moment où nous allons célébrer bientôt le 35ᵉ anniversaire de la fin de l'apartheid. Il se souviendra du symposium littéraire contre l'apartheid organisé à Brazzaville. Il y a des pays qui ont encore le sens de la mémoire, de la gratitude. Ce que la France oublie, les autres pays ne l'oublient pas.

Ricky Carmichael and Ryan Villopoto are back, and they are joined by first-time 450 Pro Motocross winner Hunter Lawrence to discuss his victory, the perseverance it took to get on top of the podium, the upcoming Motocross of Nations race at Ironman, and his love of working on cars. Our champions also dissected Jett Lawrence's penalty and why it was so severe, Chase Sexton's day-ending crash, RJ Hampshire is officially a podium guy in the premier class, and whether teams keep riders in the 250 class too long.(0:00) Welcome back, Title 24.(1:20) A 3-week break that wasn't a break.(9:05) Hunter Lawrence joins the show.(32:50) "I love Hunter's mindset."(34:35) Will there be track changes for MXoN?(38:18) Jett Lawrence: Was the penalty too severe?(46:05) Chase Sexton: "Crap luck."(51:35) Has Sexton caught Jett in speed?(54:41) Flowers to RJ Hampshire.(56:31) Eli Tomac: Illness vs. the conditions.(58:36) Jo Shimoda proved he's worth a new deal.(1:01:31) Haiden Deegan: To Race Budds on a 450 or To Not?(1:05:45) Are riders kept in 250 class too long?(1:11:59) Motorsports on NBC this week.(1:13:18) An Apology to Unadilla?(1:16:00) See you next week!

If you placed your faith in Jesus, we are celebrating with you!Click below to fill in your information so we can connect with you!New to Church: https://churchalivenj.churchcenter.com/people/forms/631827I've Decided to Follow Jesus: https://churchalivenj.churchcenter.com/people/forms/631829Subscribe to Our Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHNDPb5XMkf1LyqoTU30vg Help Support and Grow our Ministry to reach people around our community and spread the love of Jesus: https://churchalivenj.churchcenter.com/giving Stay connected with us through our:Church Alive Website: https://churchalive.tvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchalivenj/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchAliveNJ/Plan your next in-person visit. We are located at:Rutherford Location- The Williams Center9AM, 11AM, 1PM 15 Sylvan St, Rutherford NJLyndhurst Location- 10AM, 12PM525 Riverside Ave, Lyndhurst NJ

Oliver Wong Citylights Church is a non-denominational church located in Greenville, SC who exists to be followers of Jesus devoted to Building Family, Blessing Neighbors, and Bringing Good News to the Nations.

Jon Childes Citylights Church is a non-denominational church located in Greenville, SC who exists to be followers of Jesus devoted to Building Family, Blessing Neighbors, and Bringing Good News to the Nations.

Conquering the 7 enemies within as well

Aston Villa unveiled the signing of 24-year-old Ivory Coast international, Evann Guessand on Friday and as a result, Cole was joined by French football expert, Jonathan Johnson to discuss what Villa fans can expect from Guessand and how he could fit into Unai emery's plans.You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?What kind of player is Evann Guessand?From Jonathan's point of view, what are Guessand's main attributes?Should Villa fans be concerned about Guessand missing time due to the Africa Cup of Nations?Could Guessand be the type of player to make an immediate impact or is patience a virtue with this signing?STAY CONNECTED:Email: holtecast@gmail.comX: @HoltecastPodThreads: HoltecastBluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.socialCole Pettem: @TalkAstonVillaGUEST: @Jon_LeGossipEPISODE NOTES:Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children's Hopsice.Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The spiritual darkness of our modern world stems from removing God's Word from our homes, schools, and public life, leaving us unable to discern basic truths about human nature and morality.• Making time for God should be our top priority each day• Marital commitment requires cleaving to your spouse regardless of feelings• Actions should precede feelings—duty comes before emotional satisfaction• Christians must follow Scripture over denominational traditions• Physical discipline of children is biblical when administered properly• Medal of Honor recipient Gary Burnell Beekrick exemplified selfless service• Nations influenced by Christian principles demonstrably flourish compared to those withoutGod bless you all, God bless your families, God bless your marriages, God bless America, God bless your nation wherever you are around the world. We'll talk to you all again real soon, looking forward to it.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

« Ce n'est pas à un responsable politique d'employer ces termes, c'est aux historiens, en temps voulu. » Questionné, sur le plateau de TF1, sur son refus de qualifier la situation à Gaza de génocide, Emmanuel Macron a botté en touche, le 13 mai. Depuis, le ton du président de la République à l'égard des responsables israéliens s'est fait plus menaçant, mais il n'a pour l'heure pas changé de vocabulaire pour caractériser la catastrophe humanitaire en cours dans la bande de Gaza.Une lourde charge historique pèse sur les responsables politiques lorsqu'ils invoquent cette notion, inventée après la seconde guerre mondiale par Raphaël Lemkin, juriste polonais d'origine juive réfugié aux Etats-Unis. En créant ce mot, Lemkin voulait empêcher la reproduction « de l'innommable » : la Shoah. L'interdiction du génocide a ensuite été adoptée par l'Organisation des Nations unies comme un « principe fondamental qui s'applique en tout et sans exception à toute l'humanité ».Les juges de la Cour internationale de justice (CIJ) ont estimé, dès le 26 janvier 2024, qu'il existait un risque « plausible » de génocide à Gaza. Alors, quels sont les critères juridiques d'un génocide ? Pourquoi une large partie de la communauté internationale refuse d'employer ce terme pour qualifier le sort des Gazaouis ? Que font les instances juridiques mondiales, telle que la CIJ, face à ce conflit ? Dans cet épisode du podcast « L'Heure du Monde », Stéphanie Maupas, journaliste spécialiste de la justice internationale au Monde, fait la lumière sur cette notion aussi sensible que complexe.Un épisode de Marion Bothorel et Claire Leys, réalisé par Quentin Bresson. Présentation et rédaction en chef : Claire Leys. Dans cet épisode : extraits de l'interview d'Emmanuel Macron sur TF1 le 13 mai 2025 ; d'une intervention de Raphaël Lemkin dans l'émission « Heure du Culture française » diffusée le 21 octobre 1948 ; d'une émission de l'Université Radiophonique internationale diffusée le 20 janvier 1949 ; des prises de parole du ministre israélien Bezalel Smotrich les 5 et 6 mai 2025 ; d'une vidéo du premier ministre israélien Benyamin Nétanyahou postée sur ses réseaux sociaux le 19 mai 2025 ; de la déclaration devant le Conseil de sécurité du responsable des affaires humanitaires de l'ONU, Tom Fletcher, le 13 mai 2025 et d'un discours d'Emmanuel Macron prononcé le 30 mai 2025.Cet épisode a été initialement diffusé le 4 juin 2025. Hébergé par Audion. Visitez https://www.audion.fm/fr/privacy-policy pour plus d'informations.

Title: Let the Nations Praise You Preacher: John Folmar Series: Ancient Prayers Passage: Psalms 67:1-7

More genealogy! Yes! (Actually, this chapter is really rich!)

Passage: Psalm 2, Speaker: Kyuboem Lee, Series: Psalms Mini-Series

The Lord's Record, the Wheat and the Tares, and the Coming War: D&C 85–87 Unveiled | Dr. D. Todd: Jesus Christ's Apostle to All Nations and GenerationsIn this week's revelatory message, Dr. D. Todd Harrison opens Doctrine and Covenants 85–87—three sections that speak with sobering clarity about the Lord's expectations, His coming judgments, and the spiritual record being kept of every soul.Viewers will learn:D&C 85 – The Lord commands that a record be kept of those who inherit Zion and those who rebel. He warns that those who claim blessings without obedience will be “cut off,” and that He will “send one mighty and strong” to set His house in order.D&C 86 – The parable of the wheat and the tares is revealed anew. The Lord explains that the Apostles of old sowed the wheat, but apostasy allowed tares to grow. In the last days, the Lord will separate them—and the righteous will shine forth.D&C 87 – A prophecy of war beginning with South Carolina, expanding to engulf nations. The Lord declares that “all nations will be at war,” and that His judgments will be poured out until the full end.This message is not just historical—it is present. The Lord is still keeping record. The wheat and tares are still growing together. And the storm clouds of prophecy are gathering. Dr. Harrison invites all to prepare spiritually, walk uprightly, and seek the Spirit's confirmation of these truths."I testify as an Apostle and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that the revelations in Doctrine and Covenants 85–87 are not distant—they are unfolding. The Lord is keeping record. He knows who walks in covenant and who claims blessings without obedience.The wheat and the tares grow together still. But the separation is coming. And the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.I declare that the wars prophesied in Section 87 are not metaphor—they are real. The Lord has spoken. And His judgments will come. But so will His deliverance.I speak these words as one sent directly by Jesus Christ to declare His living voice. He has called me to warn, to teach, and to invite. The time is short. The record is being written. And the Spirit is bearing witness.In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."Dr. D. Todd HarrisonJesus Christ's Apostle to All Nations and GenerationsJesus Christ's Foreordained ApostleThe Most-Followed LDS Religious Leader on Facebook

Have you ever felt that conflict deep in your soul? The world screams for justice, but the words of Jesus echo in your spirit, telling you to turn the other cheek. This isn't a contradiction; it's a battle plan—a spiritual technology so powerful it changed the world. In this episode of "Coffee with Conrad," we trace the revolutionary path of nonviolence not as passive pacifism, but as an offensive spiritual declaration of war against the enemy. We'll uncover how the torch of truth, lit by Jesus, was passed to Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and finally to Martin Luther King Jr., igniting transformative change in their wake Key Takeaways:The Battlefield and the Weapon: The true meaning of "turning the other cheek" is an active confrontation with spiritual weapons of love and truth, not passive resignation. Our battle is not against "flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness" (Ephesians 6).A Chain of Torchbearers: Learn how the radical idea of non-resistance to evil was passed from Jesus to Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, who wrote The Kingdom of God Is Within You. This book then influenced a young Indian lawyer, Mahatma Gandhi, who forged the concept into a weapon he calledIgniting America: Discover how Martin Luther King Jr. found in Gandhi's satyagraha the method he needed to put the Christian doctrine of love into social action. King's nonviolent approach, rooted in agape love, led to monumental change like the Voting Rights Act of 1965.Your Calling and Your Hill: Each of us has a specific calling—a "divine assignment" where our passion aligns with kingdom purposes. The key is to find your "hill to die on" and confront the spiritual forces behind that specific injustice with Jesus's revolutionary love.Study the Word and the Torchbearers: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God" (2 Timothy 2:15). The chain of truth shows that one idea from Jesus can change the world, and we can be warriors for this cause by studying these principles"The Demon Slayer: John Wesley's Hidden Spiritual Battles" https://youtu.be/LK5npfA0YWA?si=zHcjynJx0uTaLweT The Kingdom of God Is Within You by Leo Tolstoy https://amzn.to/3H8klSu Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr https://amzn.to/45kqkM8 My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi https://amzn.to/3JiOS0k Connect With Me:Blog: conradrocks.nethttps://www.conradrocks.net/Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok https://www.facebook.com/conrad.carrikerhttps://www.instagram.com/conradcarrikerhttps://twitter.com/MostRadicalManhttps://www.tiktok.com/@supernaturalchristianityFree Resources:Try Audible Free Trial https://amzn.to/2MT9aQWGet Readwise Free Trial https://readwise.io/i/conrad8Get Remnote Free Trial https://www.remnote.com/invite/sRJnqJujEgsGoLuc2Start Amazon Prime Free Trial https://amzn.to/2JtymteFor Creators: Get $10 off StreamYard https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5663052624035840My Work:Books: Open Your Eyes | Night Terror https://amzn.to/3RJx7byhttps://amzn.to/3XRFohlShop: Team Jesus T-Shirts https://teespring.com/stores/team-jesus-4Support:PayPal https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/ConradRocksThings we need on our Ministry WishList https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2GSBT99APHFQR?ref_=wl_share

The world is shaking, and you have a part to play in what happens next. I'm seeing God raise up strategic leaders and positioning His people—not just in the church, but in government, media, and every sphere of influence—to shape the destiny of nations. This is your moment to step into your assignment and be part of fulfilling the Great Commission in real time.

Pastors' Point of View Ep. 367 with Dr. Andy Woods Prophecy Update: The World Stage is SetTopics covered:RESTRAINERWORLD VS. ISRAELEUROCENTRIC NEW WORLD ORDER

Two rezonings dominated Tuesday's Metro Council meeting: An Urban Design Overlay in The Nations, and a logistics warehouse on Franklin Limestone Road. What did public comment teach us about neighborhood outreach in Nashville? District 29 Councilmember Tasha Ellis joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to explain why she voted no on the UDO, and how she's hoping to kill the noise from loud cars on our streets. Plus, breaking news about the Tesla Tunnels potentially going under the Music City Center, and why Hayley Williams' new video for “Ego Death At a Bachelorette Party” is giving us hope. Vote for City Cast Nashville as Best Podcast in the Nashville Scene's 2025 Best of Nashville awards! You must vote in 20 categories for your vote to count. Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 8th episode: Overlook Maps Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville   Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Headlines for August 07, 2025; “War in Perpetuity”: M. Gessen Warns Putin Won’t Make Peace with Ukraine Because It Risks His Own Survival; From India to Brazil, Trump Intensifies Trade War Against BRICS Nations as New Tariffs Take Effect; “Tightening the Chokehold”: Amjad Iraqi on Israel’s Plans to “Empty Out” Gaza and Annex West Bank; The Global Plastic Threat: Research Finds Plastics Can Lead to Disease, Disability & Premature Death

Headlines for August 07, 2025; “War in Perpetuity”: M. Gessen Warns Putin Won’t Make Peace with Ukraine Because It Risks His Own Survival; From India to Brazil, Trump Intensifies Trade War Against BRICS Nations as New Tariffs Take Effect; “Tightening the Chokehold”: Amjad Iraqi on Israel’s Plans to “Empty Out” Gaza and Annex West Bank; The Global Plastic Threat: Research Finds Plastics Can Lead to Disease, Disability & Premature Death

On the political front, President Trump is ramping up pressure on Washington, D.C., threatening to deploy federal law enforcement—including the National Guard—and potentially strip the city of its home rule following an assault on a staffer. This controversial power play comes despite a 26% drop in violent crime, raising serious questions about overreach and governance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show Podcast, we unpack a whirlwind of news spanning entertainment, justice, and national politics. First up, BET has officially suspended both the Soul Train Music Awards and the BET Hip‑Hop Awards. Executives are citing the need to reimagine their place amid today’s changing media landscape. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re gone forever, but the shift signals a new chapter for Black music television. On the political front, President Trump is ramping up pressure on Washington, D.C., threatening to deploy federal law enforcement—including the National Guard—and potentially strip the city of its home rule following an assault on a staffer. This controversial power play comes despite a 26% drop in violent crime, raising serious questions about overreach and governance. In legal drama, Diddy’s lawyers have raised alarm over what they call inhumane conditions at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. They claim the rapper is being served expired and maggot-infested food, using this as a critical argument for bail reconsideration. Website: https://www.urban1podcasts.com/rickey-smiley-morning-show See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this second conversation with political philosopher Yoram Hazony, we dive deeper into the biblical concept of nationhood, wrestling with listener-submitted questions on nationalism, empire, and political virtue. Hazony responds to critiques and clarifies his position: biblical nationalism is not about racial purity or imperialism, but about the virtue of limited, self-governing peoples—unified not by ethnicity but by shared laws, traditions, and faith. Hazony distinguishes biblical terms like am and goy, explores the status of converts like Ruth, and dismantles the modern racialized understanding of nationhood. He emphasizes that scripture assumes nations will be internally diverse, but not infinitely so—there must be a dominant center that holds people together. The conversation also explores why biblical literature, not Greco-Roman thought, shaped the American constitutional order, and why the prophets critique empire while affirming the need for some form of the state. As Hazony puts it, “Purity is not the goal. Faithful unity is.” For the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy article Yoram mentioned in the interview, access the PDF here: https://journals.law.harvard.edu/jlpp/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2025/06/Hammer-FINAL_TC-JH-YRH-edits.pdf For more of Yoram's literature: https://www.yoramhazony.org/ https://x.com/yhazony We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 The Virtue of Nationalism 05:19 Understanding Nation in Biblical Context 10:42 The Role of Genetics and Kinship in Nations 15:25 Diversity and Unity in National Identity 20:09 Power Dynamics in Heterogeneous Nations 25:23 Biblical Foundations of Western Political Thought 38:14 The Christian Heritage of the West 41:15 Separation of Powers and the Mosaic Constitution 44:37 Separation of Church and State 48:29 The Concept of Empire 59:00 The Role of Kings and the State 01:00:17 Eschatology and the Future of Nations

In this episode of Pray the Word on Malachi 1:11, David Platt challenges us to live for the fame of God's name.Explore more content from Radical.

It's the Leatt LVK: More Than Moto show where Start Your Systems' Kellen Brauer and Vital MX's Lewis Phillips debate current SX/MX/MXGP topics as well as general life itself. In Episode 70, the boys talk about who cleaned up at Loretta Lynn's, Colt Nichols season ending surgery, Motocross of Nations, and take your fan questions. It's all brought to you by Leatt, Namura, Race Tech, and Partzilla.

In this episode of Pray the Word on Zechariah 8:20–23, David Platt challenges us to live to guide the nations to salvation.Explore more content from Radical.