Podcasts about Solomon Islands

The latest news from Melanesia.

The latest news from Melanesia.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! In this two-part conversation, Natasha Johnson, shares her impressive experience in both the nonprofit and academic sectors. For over two decades, she has been an activist, educator, lawyer, and artist working primarily on intersectional gender justice. She served as the executive director of several nonprofit organizations, as an anti-trafficking legal specialist drafting reform legislation in the Solomon Islands, and as a director of education working to support homeless LGBTQ youth. She is skilled at creating arts-based programming that integrates human rights and social justice awareness in elementary through graduate school environments. She has also taught courses in law, ethics, policy, civic engagement, education, nonprofit leadership, business development, and more. in her scholarly roles, she has been a professor and a director of academic programs at multiple colleges and universities, including Metropolitan College, St. Joseph's College, Adelphi University, and Medgar Evers College. In 2015, she founded Globalizing Gender, a nonprofit organization committed to creating a just world and preventing gender-based violence through capacity building, law, governance, and awareness. In 2018, she organized New York City's inaugural march to end female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) in the United States and was one of the lead contributors to a local statute that created a mayoral-appointed culturally aware task force on FGM/C, the first of its kind in the country. After years of selfless work in diverse communities across the globe, Natasha is at an inflection point in her career and we're fortunate to get a glimpse of how she's approaching finding and settling into a new next. Where to find Natasha? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook Her TEDxFlatbush Talk on YouTube What's Natasha reading? All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby The Revelation of Dionne Daphne by Mara Brock Akil Delicious Foods by James Hannaham Other topics of interest: About Flatbush, Brooklyn About Brooklyn's oldest High School - Boys and Girls High School About the Solomon Islands Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian peoples of the Pacific Revist Glocal Citizen, Brigitte Perenyi's own personal experience in the trokosi system What defines Gender-based Violence? What is FGM/C? What is a B-Corp? About Tower RecordsSpecial Guest: Natasha R. Johnson.

The latest news from Melanesia.

The latest news from Melanesia.

In Pacific Waves today: Pacific media summit underway in Fiji; NZ political parties lay out foreign policies; Pacific voters in NZ urged to look beyond political promises; An illegal homebrew operation busted in Solomon Islands; Samoa and Tonga secure netball world cup spots. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Greetings Glocal Citizens! In this two-part conversation, Natasha Johnson, shares her impressive experience in both the nonprofit and academic sectors. For over two decades, she has been an activist, educator, lawyer, and artist working primarily on intersectional gender justice. She served as the executive director of several nonprofit organizations, as an anti-trafficking legal specialist drafting reform legislation in the Solomon Islands, and as a director of education working to support homeless LGBTQ youth. She is skilled at creating arts-based programming that integrates human rights and social justice awareness in elementary through graduate school environments. She has also taught courses in law, ethics, policy, civic engagement, education, nonprofit leadership, business development, and more. in her scholarly roles, she has been a professor and a director of academic programs at multiple colleges and universities, including Metropolitan College, St. Joseph's College, Adelphi University, and Medgar Evers College. In 2015, she founded Globalizing Gender, a nonprofit organization committed to creating a just world and preventing gender-based violence through capacity building, law, governance, and awareness. In 2018, she organized New York City's inaugural march to end female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) in the United States and was one of the lead contributors to a local statute that created a mayoral-appointed culturally aware task force on FGM/C, the first of its kind in the country. After years of selfless work in diverse communities across the globe, Natasha is at an inflection point in her career and we're fortunate to get a glimpse of how she's approaching finding and settling into a new next. Where to find Natasha? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook Her TEDxFlatbush Talk on YouTube What's Natasha reading? All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby The Revelation of Dionne Daphne by Mara Brock Akil Delicious Foods by James Hannaham Other topics of interest: About Flatbush, Brooklyn About Brooklyn's oldest High School - Boys and Girls High School About the Solomon Islands Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian peoples of the Pacific Revist Glocal Citizen, Brigitte Perenyi's own personal experience in the trokosi system What defines Gender-based Violence? What is FGM/C? What is a B-Corp? About Tower RecordsSpecial Guest: Natasha R. Johnson.

This week on the Newscast, we're joined by Dilafruz Khonikboyeva, the founder of the Home Planet Fund, an independent, Indigenous-led nonprofit that provides funding for local and Indigenous communities and conservation projects around the world. Khonikboyeva, who is also the organization's executive director, speaks about the ethos of the Home Planet Fund and how it works. But I must emphasize that in my conversation with Khonikboyeva, what stands out most to me isn't just the fund's focus on Indigenous-led conversation and investing in local knowledge. It's the well of experience Khonikboyeva brings to it that, growing up in Tajikistan under Soviet occupation and having firsthand experience of a community making do under extremely difficult circumstances, I believe, is rare among philanthropic efforts. In a sector that runs on reports, restrictions, and guarantees, Khonikboyeva encourages funders to work differently, which often might come in an answer they don't want to hear. "If you're getting a satisfying answer in this space, something isn't right," she says. She explains: "I think sometimes people wanna hear, 'Yes, we'll take your money. Yes, we'll do what you want in the timeline that you want. Yes, everything is possible." And it's just not true, right? That is actually not how life works, and anybody who tells you otherwise is certainly selling you something." The Home Planet Fund chooses to focus on four distinct ecologies that "researchers have pinpointed around the world [as] critical from a climate and biodiversity angle," Khonikboyeva says. These are the Tongass Rainforest of Alaska; the glaciers around Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India — sometimes referred to as "the third pole"; the grasslands of East Africa; and the South Pacific. Through trusted networks, Khoniboyeva and her team identify and build relationships with local communities in these areas who are already engaged in conservation efforts and provide them with funding. "Making sure we have elders, making sure we have whole communities, making sure we have women's groups, making sure we have youth groups involved and co-building with them is really, really important," she says. Please take a minute to let us know what you think of our podcast here. Mike DiGirolamo is the host & producer for the Mongabay Newscast based in Sydney. Find him on LinkedIn and Bluesky. Banner image: Faye Saemala, whose family has lived in the village of Lilisiana, in the Solomon Islands, for generations. Image courtesy of Jason Gagame. —- Timecodes (00:00) "The Hardest of Humanity That I've Seen" (03:41) Dilafruz Khonikboyeva Explains the Home Planet Fund (08:39) Growing Up in Tajikistan (12:00) Community Works Over Monetary Incentive (16:58) How the Fund Built Relationships (19:45) Identifying the Four Ecologies (24:10) Support Mongabay on Patreon (24:48) 'We Don't Accept Grant Proposals' (27:56) Women's Collectives in the South Pacific (31:58) The Case for Unrestricted Funding (35:02) Towards a Collaborative Fund (38:33) "If You're Getting a Satisfying Answer, Something Isn't Right" (40:51) Working in Conflict Zones (45:10) Mindset Shifts for Philanthropists (46:55) 'Investing in Healing Ourselves' (50:49) Closing

Visit prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/WARTIMESTORIES and use code WARTIMESTORIES and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! Don't sleep on [@ultrapouches]. New customers get 15% Off with code WARTIMESTORIES at takeultra.com! #UltraPouches #ad For a limited time only, new customers get 20% off + free shipping at blueprint.bryanjohnson.com by using code WARTIMESTORIES at checkout. #Blueprint #ad For thousands of years, stories of giants have appeared across cultures around the world — from ancient religious texts and Indigenous oral histories to legends carried through generations. More recently, similar stories have emerged from some unexpected places, including the accounts of servicemembers operating in remote corners of the world. This compilation explores reports of enormous humanlike beings spanning Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands, and North America — drawing from military encounters, local traditions, historical records, and firsthand testimony that continue to raise questions about the origins of these enduring stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest news from Melanesia.

In October 2013, a young Dane named Thor Pedersen set off from his home with a single, slightly mad rule: he wanted to visit every country on earth — all of them — in one continuous journey, and to do it without ever once setting foot on an airplane. Container ships, trains, buses, and a great deal of waiting around. He thought it might take three or four years. It took almost ten. He crossed closed borders and war zones, ran out of money more than once, was stranded for two years by the global pandemic, and served the whole time as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Red Cross. In 2023 he became the first person in history to do it. In this episode, Jonathan Thomas talks to Thor about the whole extraordinary decade — and, this being the Anglotopia Podcast, spends a good while on Britain, which came remarkably early in the itinerary. Thor recounts crossing from Calais to Dover after meeting Syrian refugees at the port, being awestruck by Bristol's maritime heritage, a memorable host in Wales whose front garden contained a toilet lying on its side, a Red Cross officer in Belfast who felt like the James Bond of the Red Cross, falling for the Scottish countryside, buying dodgy Les Misérables tickets in London, a desperate dash for seasickness pills in Immingham, and Hogmanay in Inverness courtesy of a kind bartender. But the deeper story is the one Thor tells in an unusual way: he doesn't sell it as a triumph. He's honest about the loneliness, the setbacks, the cerebral malaria, the migraines, the moments at gunpoint, the two years stuck in Hong Kong — and about the thing that actually got him around the world, which turned out not to be toughness at all, but the kindness of strangers. Links The Book The Impossible Journey — Amazon US The Impossible Journey — Amazon UK The Impossible Journey — Waterstones The Impossible Journey — Barnes & Noble The Impossible Journey — Hachette Australia ⠀Published by Robinson. ISBN 9781472149763 (hardback) / 9781472149770 (paperback). Thor Pedersen Thor Pedersen — Official Website The Impossible Journey — Thor's Site Once Upon A Saga — The Original Project Blog Thor Pedersen on Instagram Thor Pedersen on Facebook Speaking Engagements & Talks ⠀Mentioned in the Episode The Danish Red Cross International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) British Red Cross The Adventurers' Club of Denmark The Explorers Club, New York Hong Kong Tourism Board The Danish Seamen's Church, Hong Kong The California Zephyr — Amtrak ⠀Anglotopia Friends of Anglotopia Club ⠀ Takeaways 1 The idea arrived by email. Thor's father sent him a link about the world's most-travelled people, and Thor — then 34, twelve years into a career in shipping and logistics, and having visited around 50 countries — discovered that roughly 200 people had reached every country, but nobody had done it entirely without flying. He describes it striking him "like lightning." 2 His definition of "every country" was deliberately generous. The UN recognizes 193 sovereign states plus two observer states (the Vatican and Palestine). Thor built on that, splitting the Danish kingdom into Denmark, the Faroes and Greenland, and splitting the UK into England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — arriving at 203 — precisely so nobody could come back afterward and say "but what about Kosovo?" 3 Britain came very early — country numbers seven through ten, in late 2013, just weeks after leaving Denmark. He crossed Calais to Dover after meeting Syrian refugees camped by the rail tracks, was refused as a foot passenger, and got across by knocking on car windows until a driver calling himself Rambling Rat let him ride along. 4 Travelling only overland and by sea teaches you something you cannot learn from an airplane: how enormous the world actually is, and how gradually it changes. Thor points out that at borders, people wear the same clothes, eat the same food, often share a language — and the plants and animals don't care which side they're on. The real changes happen further inland. 5 He became a Red Cross Goodwill Ambassador early on, which transformed the project. Within weeks he realized it wasn't a country project but a people project. Meeting national Red Cross societies gave him rapid, genuine insight into each country — its economy, its government, whether it was a strong or weak society — and gave balance to a social media feed that otherwise risked being relentlessly, artificially upbeat. 6 Two years in, in Central Africa, everything collapsed at once: he lost financial backing, his long-distance relationship was falling apart, he was recovering from cerebral malaria, he was suffering debilitating migraines for the first time in his life, and his life was at risk more than once. It was the point at which he genuinely broke — and the point at which he first wanted to go home. He still had eight years left. 7 The pandemic stranded him in Hong Kong for two years. He'd arrived expecting a four-day transit stop. Immigration eventually told him he couldn't stay indefinitely as a visitor and offered three options: marry someone, study, or work. He ended up employed by the Danish Seamen's Church as "junior assistant to a reverend who wasn't there," shopping for seafarers trapped aboard their ships and unable to come ashore. 8 Hong Kong was both the worst and best chapter. CNN picked up his story, which went viral and transformed his profile. The Hong Kong Tourism Board nicknamed him "Hong Kong's only tourist." By the end he had two apartments, two cars, a driver's licence, a temporary ID card and a dentist. It remains the place in the world he misses most. 9 He felt no joy at all on reaching the final countries. Sri Lanka, then the Maldives on 23 May 2023 — everything had become "automated and mechanic," and he was working through interviews while everyone else scuba dived and drank martinis. The project was successful in the Maldives, but it was completed when he got home to Aarhus, 31 days later by container ship — 40 container ships in total across the decade. 10 Thor's strongest observation about travel is that most of the world is deeply ordinary. People go to work, go to school, spend time with family, follow their sports teams. He travelled through the Game of Thrones years and found everyone everywhere talking about it. He saw a boy in Libya spinning a Captain America shield fidget spinner. We are, he argues, far more connected than we think. ⠀ Soundbites 1 "I found out no one had accomplished it completely without flying. For most people that would be an uh-huh kind of moment, and then people would move on. But it struck me like lightning." — Thor on the email from his father that started everything. 2 "There's a common phrase where people say it's a small world. It really isn't. If it was a small world, I think I would have been back home a lot sooner." — Thor on what a decade overland teaches you. 3 "Around most border areas, people wear the same clothes. You get the same food on either side. The plants and the animals in the area do not care which side of the border they're on." — Thor on seeing where countries actually meet. 4 "Within weeks I realized that this wasn't a country project, that this was a people project." — Thor on the shift that changed everything. 5 "I was in Central Africa and I was deep in over my head. I lost financial backing. My long-distance relationship was falling apart. I was recovering from cerebral malaria. My life was at risk several times. And I just lost the motivation to continue." — Thor on the moment it broke him, two years in. 6 "If there was a competition within hospitality globally, like the Olympics, we would be on the bench watching the other countries. We are kind and helpful and friendly — but we have no idea how friendly we could be." — Thor comparing Northern European and global hospitality. 7 "I made an excuse that I was going to the bathroom, but really what I wanted to do was go and pay for all of us. And on my way there, they already knew what I was up to and shouted to the cashier — don't let him pay, we will take care of it." — Thor on his host Dafala in Sudan. 8 "So I was hired to be the junior assistant to a reverend who wasn't there." — Thor on how he solved his Hong Kong immigration problem. 9 "I arrived with my hat and my backpack, and when I was at my highest I had two apartments, I had two cars, I had access to the port, I had my driver's licence, I had a dentist. I had a life in Hong Kong." — Thor on two years stranded. 10 "The real story here is that most of the world is such an ordinary place. It is just people getting by in life, making the best of the situations that they have. Going to work, going to school, spending time with family, falling in love, following their sports teams." — Thor on what a decade on the road actually revealed. ⠀ Chapters 00:21 Introduction — One continuous journey, every country on earth, and no airplanes 01:48 Where Does an Idea Like That Come From? — Twelve years in shipping, and an email from his father 03:46 The Lightning Bolt — Discovering nobody had done it without flying 04:30 Did He Know What He Was Signing Up For? — Four years becomes ten 04:54 Two Years In, Central Africa — Where it all fell apart the first time 06:30 THE NO FLYING RULE — What travelling overland and by sea actually gives you 07:20 How Big the World Really Is — Denmark, Texas, Greenland and the skewed world map 08:47 Where Countries Meet — Same clothes, same food, and animals that don't care about borders 09:36 Watching the Landscape Change — Desert to bushes to forest to mountains 10:17 Which Definition of a Country? — 193 UN states, and why Thor's list runs to 203 12:24 THE RED CROSS — How being a Goodwill Ambassador changed the journey 12:50 A People Project, Not a Country Project 13:22 What the Red Cross Gave Him — Rapid, genuine insight into every country he entered 15:08 Balance — Why it mattered to post things that weren't relentlessly positive 16:05 BRITAIN — Country numbers seven through ten, in late 2013 16:44 Calais — Meeting Syrian refugees by the rail tracks before crossing 17:28 Rambling Rat — Refused as a foot passenger, and getting across by knocking on windows 17:58 Bristol — An open-air museum of seafaring history 18:38 Wales — A kind host, a house with grass to the windows, and a toilet in the front yard 19:11 Minimum 24 Hours Per Country — And how fast the early legs moved 19:24 Northern Ireland — The James Bond of the Red Cross, and a city of walls 20:00 "It's Raining a Wee Bit" — Thor's accent problem 20:32 Scotland — Awestruck by the west coast, and on to Glasgow and Edinburgh 21:08 Edinburgh — His girlfriend, now wife, visits two weeks after he left home 21:34 London — Les Misérables, dodgy tickets, and an unexpectedly happy ending 22:48 Back to the UK — A missed ship to Iceland, and an unplanned return via Immingham 23:42 The Pharmacy Dash — Crawling under the shutters for seasickness pills 24:26 Scrabster — And a devastating email about a ship that isn't coming 25:04 Edinburgh Again, Then Inverness — Hogmanay with a bartender who takes in strangers 26:15 CULTURAL DIFFERENCE — Reading what people really think of you 26:50 The Hospitality Olympics — Why Northern Europe would be on the bench 27:40 Dafala in Sudan — Not being allowed to pay for anything 29:07 Poland and Hong Kong — Strangers who cook for you at midnight, and four days that became five months 29:54 "The Guest Is God" — Hospitality in India and Pakistan 31:02 The Arab World — Why you may never know what someone truly thinks of you 31:41 Denmark, Britain and America — Three different ways of masking contempt 33:12 THE UNITED STATES — How he got there and what happened 33:26 Iceland to Greenland to Canada — Crossing the Atlantic by ship 34:21 Immigration at Buffalo — Colin Farrell, a German form, and a very unimpressed officer 35:37 New York at 4 AM — Sleeping under a tree in Central Park 36:39 A Bird, a Beard and Free Wi-Fi — Central Park as a budget traveller's dream 37:04 Washington DC — Free museums, and more homelessness than the movies show 37:56 THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR — The train that changed the trip 38:09 Meeting Art — A chance conversation in the queue 38:45 Four Hours in Chicago — A grandfather's grave and a different ticket 40:06 The First Class Surprise — Art's private cabin, bunk beds and meals included 41:00 Communal Dining — Strangers, awkward seating, and solving global politics three times a day 42:18 San Francisco and Onward — To Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean 43:19 WHEN IT GOT HARD — The end of the good energy days 43:32 Naive Expectations — CNN, BBC and Nike were not, in fact, calling 44:49 Central Africa — "That is just a different level of hardship" 45:40 An Astonishing Part of the World — Beautiful, lush, friendly, and extremely hard to travel 46:34 Losing the Thread — Forgetting why any of it mattered 47:24 Migraines and Malaria — What his body did in response 48:40 At Gunpoint — And the moment he grabbed a steering wheel at speed 49:18 Where an Ambulance Might Not Come — The reality of a medical emergency in that region 50:03 MOST OF THE WORLD IS ORDINARY — Game of Thrones, fidget spinners and a Captain America shield in Libya 51:52 THE PANDEMIC — Two weeks' delay in the Solomon Islands, then the Marshall Islands 52:45 Four Days in Hong Kong Becomes Two Years 53:31 Down to the Last Nine Countries — And desperate to go home 54:24 Five Months With One Family — And the need for personal space 55:03 CNN Finds Him — The article that went viral and changed everything 55:38 Hong Kong's Only Tourist — Working with the Hong Kong Tourism Board 56:28 Immigration Runs Out of Patience — Marry, study, or work 57:35 THE DANISH SEAMEN'S CHURCH — Junior assistant to an absent reverend 58:27 Seafarers Trapped Aboard — Suicide rates, shipboard dentistry, and captains who died at sea 59:32 Shopping for the Ships — What Thor actually did for a year 01:00:17 Forty Container Ships — And the satisfaction of giving something back 01:00:27 The Luck of the Delay — Why being stuck in Hong Kong was better than the alternatives 01:01:20 A Life in Hong Kong — Two apartments, two cars, a dentist, and the place he misses most 01:02:04 THE END OF THE JOURNEY — Sri Lanka, then the Maldives 01:02:47 Bureaucratic Obstacles to the Finish Line — Not allowed to leave the ship 01:03:33 Flags, Friends and a Resort Island — And Gunnar Garfors breaking the story 01:04:14 No Joy At All — Working through interviews while everyone else celebrated 01:05:20 Successful in the Maldives, Completed at Home — And why he refused to fly back 01:06:06 The Milan Maersk — 31 days from Malaysia to Aarhus 01:06:46 Windmills in the English Channel — The slow return home 01:07:20 Homecoming — Rain, a crowd at the portside, and his wife 01:07:59 WHAT NOW? — The Adventurers' Club and a secret expedition 01:08:48 Africa, Camels, Volcano — Three clue words and nothing more 01:09:09 Life Today — Speaking engagements, film festivals and book events 01:09:34 Emirates Business Class vs Ryanair — A memorable downgrade 01:10:06 Wrap-Up — The Impossible Journey, out now, and Friends of Anglotopia Video Version

On December 7, 1941, Lieutenant Bruce McCandless ran through gunfire at Pearl Harbor to reach his ship, the USS San Francisco, just as the second wave of Japanese aircraft struck. It was the first day of a war that would carry him through nearly every major Pacific naval campaign — and decades later, his own words would almost be lost to history. In this episode of Echoes of War, host Greg sits down with Bruce McCandless III to discuss his newly published book, Iron and Fire: The Pacific War Story of Destroyer Captain Bruce McCandless — a firsthand World War II memoir recovered from his grandfather's papers and shaped for publication in time for the 85th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Rear Admiral Bruce McCandless was a Medal of Honor recipient who served aboard the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco (CA-38), one of the most decorated ships of WWII, before commanding the destroyer USS Gregory (DD-802). In this conversation, we cover his experience at Pearl Harbor, the brutal night surface battles of Guadalcanal and Cape Esperance, the naval war in the Solomon Islands, operations to drive Japanese forces from Attu and Kiska in the Aleutians, and the harrowing kamikaze attacks faced during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. We also discuss how this manuscript was discovered decades after it was dictated, why it was set aside for so long, and what it was like editing a firsthand account of combat written by a family member and Naval hero. Whether you're a WWII history buff, a student of Pacific War naval history, or simply searching for authentic first-person military memoirs, this episode offers a rare, unfiltered look at the human cost of naval combat in World War II.

In today's edition of The Final Deposition, Jake Russell '26 sits down with distinguished alumna, Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock '94, to reflect on her distinguished legal and foreign service career which started right here at of Widener University Commonwealth Law School. Ambassador Yastishock reflects on her time at Widener as an evening division student, balancing her work in the Pennsylvania government with her legal studies. Soon after graduating, Ambassador Yastishock took her Widener Law Commonwealth degree and entered the global stage. The ambassador discusses the beginning of her legal career rebuilding the legal institutions of former Soviet states and her move to a decades-long career with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The ambassador represented American development interests abroad in many wartime theaters during her tenure and took postings in the Middle East, East Asia, and Europe. In 2024, she was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as the United States Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands.  Every case leaves a record. Welcome to Widener Law Commonwealth's student-run podcast series: The Final Deposition, where law meets world. From science and technology to sports, entertainment and pop culture, we sit down with attorney's, policymakers, innovators, trailblazers, and influential voices shaping the moments everyone is talking about. Each episode examines how the law works when it matters most. Curious, compelling and critical conversations you don't just hear. You feel them long after the record is closed.  Time Stamps 00:00 - Introduction & Welcome 00:48 - Early Career & State Government Experience 03:34 - Transitioning from Local to International Law 05:22 - Influential Law Professors & Academic Roots at Widener 06:55 - Work in Central Asia: Kazakhstan and Tajikistan 09:10 - USAID Role in the South Caucasus Region 11:15 - Applying Legal Mindsets to High-Stress Diplomacy 12:00 - Senior Legal Advisor Role in Afghanistan 14:44 - Inter-Agency Collaboration & Relationship Building 16:34 - Regional Leadership in Ukraine and Eastern Europe 19:14 - Path to Ambassadorship in the Pacific 22:22 - The Senate Confirmation Process 26:13 - Leading Overseas Embassies & Key Milestones 30:00 - Returning to the State Department & Looking Forward Transcript: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YhO0DVzPTixe4JjqcnHmJxF7L8BtWFpb/view?usp=sharing Music Credit: "The Verdict Is In" by KyivNightsMusic https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/320251718-verdict  Widener University Commonwealth Law School is the Pennsylvania capital's only law school, with four specialized centers of legal scholarship through its Law & Government Institute, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center, Business Advising Program, and Center for Equity and Justice. Widener Law Commonwealth offers an exceptional learning experience that is personal, practical, and professional. Visit commonwealthlaw.widener.edu for more information.

The latest news from Melanesia.

The latest news from Melanesia.

The latest news from Melanesia.

Germany's far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) has won a landslide election in the Saxony-Anhalt state election coming just short of forming government. If they do manage to form government, it will be the first time a far-right party governs a German state since... uhh... you know,,, the Nazis. And who said history doesn't repeat itself? Back home, Australia is being accused of foreign interference after texts were leaked between them and Solomon Islands leadership about a new treaty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest news from Melanesia.

Watch the full podcast! https://chinauncensored.tv/programs/podcast-351 Just a few years ago, the Solomon Islands was considered a lost cause to China because of how successfully the CCP had captured its government and embedded itself in the economy. But today, things couldn't be more different. While the country's top fighter against China is no longer with us, his work continues on through his advisor, who is now special secretary to the country's new prime minister, and other civil servants who are keeping China's influence at bay. Join our fight to expose the CCP at https://chinauncensored.tv and get ALL the new full-length interviews! And check out our other channel, China Uncensored: https://www.youtube.com/ChinaUncensored Our social media: X: https://www.x.com/ChinaUncensored Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChinaUncensored Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChinaUncensored #China

This month's news includes updates from the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Botswana, Taiwan, the Solomon Islands, Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador. Produced by :Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar) Music: "Burn your village to the ground", by The Haluci Nation, used with permission.

Author and adventurer Inga Aksamit returns to this Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" show with the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) — to take us snorkeling for two weeks aboard the MV Bilikiki in the Solomon Islands.  From a camouflaged crocodile fish and venomous sea kraits to a floating village market and the Coral Triangle's marine biodiversity, Inga shares what it's like to spend eleven days snorkeling with Snorkel Venture on one of the South Pacific's most remote liveaboard adventures. SOLOMON ISLANDS SNORKLE ADVENTURE RESOURCES:   - Inga's article about her experience: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/snorkeling-solomon-islands  - Plan Your Own Snorkeling Adventure: https://snorkelventure.com/  MORE ON INGA & IFWTWA: - Inga Aksamit: https://ingasadventures.com/  - IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/  - Follow this podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/food-wine-travel-with-ifwtwa  - Read its companion magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine 

Checking in on our own Vision UCB Asia Pacific team working to bring Christian radio to South Pacific Islands. We'll chat with our own Grant Kennedy about his expedition to the Solomon Islands upgrading transmission services. Life, Culture and Current Events from a Biblical Perspective with Neil Johnson.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Pacific Waves today: Hurricane Lowell leaves trail of destruction in Hawaii; PNG's capital top cop gearing up for busy year ahead; New treaty between Aust and Solomon Islands on the horizon; New Pacific study explores bedtime habits. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Annie Sargent talks with Elyse Rivin about Jean-François de Galaup, Comte de Lapérouse. He was born near Albi. He became one of France's greatest naval explorers. Louis XVI sent him to finish mapping the Pacific after Captain Cook. Listen to this episode ad-free They cover his forbidden love story. They talk about his humane command style, rare for a naval officer of his time. They also cover the 1788 cyclone that ended his voyage near the Solomon Islands. It remains one of France's biggest maritime mysteries, and search parties still look for answers today. Tune in for a story of ambition, love, and disappearance. Subscribe to Join Us in France so you never miss an episode. Table of Contents for this Episode Today on the podcast: Jean-François de Galaup, Comte de Lapérouse Podcast supporters Magazine segment Adventure Setup Why Lapérouse Matters Origins in Albi Childhood and Education Naval Academy to First Battles North Atlantic Campaigns Humane Commander Reputation Rivalry with Britain Indian Ocean Expedition Forbidden Love Eleanor American War Heroics Explorer Mindset and Maps Name La Pérouse Explained Marriage and Royal Mission Epic Pacific Route Cyclone And Disappearance Searches And Legacy Eleanor Waits In Vain Astrolabe Navigation Tech Visiting Albi And Paris Final Recommendations Thank you Patrons  French summer camp for adults. Annie's Updates Next week on the podcast Copyright More episodes about French culture

As Pacific Islands Forum leaders gathered in Palau, one of the last nations recognizing Taiwan, five members skipped sending their top leaders. Meanwhile, a June survey found New Zealanders now rate the United States a greater threat than China, to which our guest said warmth toward Washington had “fallen off a cliff.”Hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso are joined by David Capie, Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, who explains why views of both great powers have shifted. Warmth toward China had eroded for years because of its actions toward the South China Sea, Hong Kong, and the Uyghurs, as well as its expanding Pacific presence since the 2022 Solomon Islands agreement. Then a PLA Navy task group circumnavigated Australia and conducted live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea, diverting commercial flights. Strategy documents are read by “foreign policy nerds,” Capie notes, but when flights carrying “grandma home to the Gold Coast” get rerouted, the public notices. What flipped the ranking was 18 months of U.S. policy, such as tariff whiplash, Greenland and Canada rhetoric, and USAID's closure leaving perceptions of America “in the freezer” while Beijing now pitches itself as the responsible, predictable partner.He maps New Zealand's foreign policy reset ahead of November's election: leaning into Australia and Five Eyes partners, deeper security cooperation with Japan, new partnerships across Southeast Asia and a recalibrated India relationship. On the Cook Islands, Capie traces how Wellington's relations with Rarotonga had soured over a China partnership agreed without adequate consultation, the aid pause that followed, and the new Declaration on Defence and Security, but then unpacks the surprise U.S.–New Zealand port project at Penrhyn and its link to seabed minerals.On the missing PIF leaders, his verdict is “a little from column A and a little from column B”. Chinese pressure is real, but so are local dynamics like the Solomon Islands no-confidence vote that pulled Prime Minister Wale back home. He warns against “always seeing strategic machinations where often there are local dynamics at play.”Australia's Ocean of Peace Alliance with Fiji prompts hard questions about militarization and whether Canberra and Wellington praise PIF centrality while building a parallel architecture. That tension showed after China's July 2026 submarine-launched ballistic missile test into the Pacific, its first ever into international open waters. Leaders spoke frankly, but no collective PIF statement emerged. Keeping China out of the Pacific Islands, Capie says, would be “a fool's errand” – the real concern is its expanding security footprint. His challenge to Wellington, Canberra, and Washington: lift your game and treat transnational crime and climate change as priorities in their own right.Plus: pavlova, flat whites, and why David won't perform a haka.Follow David Capie on X, @davidcapieFollow us on X, @IndoPacPodcast, LinkedIn or FacebookSponsored by BowerGroupAsia, a strategic advisory firm that specializes in the Indo-Pacific

In Pacific Waves today: Cabinet revolt likely in Solomon Islands - ex minister; Pacific leaders demand more climate action; PNG Chiefs CEO says NRL entry 'transformative'; Cook Islands women dance to better health. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Global News on the topic of Indigenous Rights. In this edition, news from USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Botswana, Taiwan, the Solomon Islands, Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador. Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar(Sunuwar). Music "Burn your village to the ground", by The Halucination, used with permission.

The Great Game gets down and dirty as China throws a tantrum about Taiwan’s inclusion in the Pacific Islands Forum, and key regional PMs suddenly decide against attending. Ben Packham is here to help us work out what is really going on. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Pacific Islands Forum preparations thrown into disarray This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Our team includes Tiffany Dimmack, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to True Blue Conversations. Today, I'm joined by someone whose journey through the Australian Defence Force spans service, deployments, communications, international operations, and an enduring passion for defence, intelligence and geopolitics. Darwin Fermo enlisted in January 2000 as a Reservist, marching into 10th Light Horse Squadron as a Driver/Crewman before transferring to the Australian Regular Army in February 2001 as an Operator Specialist Communications Signalman. He was posted to the School of Signals, where he was completing his training when the world changed forever with the September 11 terrorist attacks. From there, Darwin was posted to Brisbane's 1st Joint Support Unit, serving with Radio Troop. His career would soon take him well beyond Australia, including a deployment to the Solomon Islands in 2003, participation in the first Talisman Sabre exercise aboard USS Boxer in 2005, and deployment to Iraq with AMTG2 later that year. He would go on to serve in Darwin with HQNORCOM, supporting Operation Resolute, while simultaneously undertaking university studies in Security, Terrorism and Counterterrorism. Darwin ultimately made the difficult decision to leave the Army in 2008, choosing to pursue his university studies full-time. But the ADF never really left him. He was offered the opportunity to re-enlist in 2018, which he declined while preparing for his wedding. Then, in 2019, he sat an Officer Selection Board for the Maritime Warfare Officer role. Despite being assessed as highly suitable, an unexpected medical classification issue prevented him from progressing. Today, Darwin continues to maintain a deep interest in the ADF, international relations, security and geopolitics. But his service didn't end when he left the Army. Darwin went on to serve as an Australian Federal Police officer, bringing together his military communications background, operational experience and passion for security and national service. In this conversation, we're going to explore Darwin's journey — from a young Reservist joining the 10th Light Horse, through the School of Signals and the post-9/11 military, to the Solomon Islands, Iraq and Talisman Sabre, and ultimately his transition from the ADF into policing and transitioning out of the AFP. We talk about the decisions that shaped his career, the opportunities he pursued, the ones that didn't work out, and what it means to continue serving in a different uniform and finding purpose again after the uniform comes off. Host: Adam Blum Guest: Darwin Fermo Editor: Kyle Watkins

In Pacific Waves today: PNG parliament to decide over Bougainville's political future; Fiji's government relaxes tourism tax rules; Solomon Islands hosting of the Pacific games under scrutiny. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In Pacific Waves today: Vanuatu and Solomon Islands sign police MOU; American Samoa group takes legal action over US mining plan; Celebrating the Tongan language in Aotearoa. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In this session, attendees will be equipped to navigate the discernment process of identifying the best-fit sending agency for them.

The latest news from Melanesia.

On July 6, a Chinese submarine fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile out of the South China Sea. It likely overflew parts of the Philippines before coming down in waters between Tuvalu, Nauru and Solomon Islands, inside the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone. The 14 Pacific Island countries in whose region it landed were almost entirely skipped in Beijing's notifications. A month later, when Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers met in Fiji, two of its members held up the response text.Kathryn Paik of the Center for Strategic and International Studies joins Ray Powell and Jim Carouso to explain what Beijing was signaling, and why the Pacific Island Countries couldn't answer with one voice. Paik wrote the first-ever U.S. Pacific Partnership Strategy at the National Security Council, following 23 years in the Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot and as a military attaché in Indonesia.In this episode:Why the missile's route mattered more than its range: launched from the South China Sea, overflying a U.S. treaty ally and landing in a declared nuclear-free zone hours after Australia signed its fourth-ever mutual defense treaty with Fiji. Paik's read: the message was that China "can militarily touch you anywhere it wants."How Nauru and Kiribati, two countries that recently switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, frustrated an 18-member consensus bloc. Jim presses the obvious counter — the U.S. and France tested here for decades — and Paik explains what makes this launch different.How sports became a national security instrument in a deal to put Papua New Guinea in Australia's National Rugby League, and the commitment on security ties with Beijing that came attached.Australia's diplomatic surge: mutual defense treaties with PNG and Fiji, plus bespoke security pacts with Tuvalu, Nauru and Vanuatu.Why Kiribati patrols an ocean territory larger than India with a population of roughly 140,000, and what that means for fisheries, the seabed and undersea cables.Paik on why U.S. Pacific policy has always been somebody's side job: "In Australia they have 300 people in their Office of the Pacific. We have about a dozen." The 2025 damage to U.S. standing, including USAID's closure, tariffs and no resident ambassadors across the 14 Pacific Island countries. Subscribe for your weekly Indo-Pacific briefing.Follow Kathryn Paik on LinkedIn or X, @KathrynPaikFollow us on X, @IndoPacPodcast, LinkedIn or FacebookFollow Ray Powell on X, @GordianKnotRay, or LinkedIn, or check out his maritime transparency work at SeaLightFollow Jim Carouso on LinkedInSponsored by BowerGroupAsia, a strategic advisory firm that specializes in the Indo-Pacific

The latest news from Melanesia.

In Pacific Waves today: Cost of living is a dominant issue for Cook Islanders ahead of general election; Foreign policy of new-look Solomon Islands leads to fiery criticism in parliament; Rota residents welcome disaster relief package; New Caledonia's new President is the first Wallisian to hold the role. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan breaks down Communist Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's primary win for Michigan's Senate seat and why the party establishment, from Chuck Schumer on down, is embracing him as their new face. Bryan reports on a remarkable shift in the immigration fight, with companies raising wages and recruiting American high schoolers to fill jobs left by deported Haitians, plus new fines and bond requirements aimed at illegal and legal immigrants alike. He also breaks down troubling new data showing Flock license-plate cameras misread plates more than 70 percent of the time in one California city. Plus, Bryan covers Iran's blunt admission that it's building a nuclear bomb, a fragile new deal governing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, expanding Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Iranian cyberattacks hitting US water utilities in a dozen states, and encouraging news from the Pacific where ivermectin is knocking out a scabies outbreak. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32   Keywords: Wright Report, Bryan Dean Wright, Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan Senate, Communist Democrats, DSA, Haitian deportations, immigration, Flock cameras, Iran nuclear bomb, IRGC, Strait of Hormuz, Houthis, Red Sea, cyberattacks, water utilities, ivermectin, Solomon Islands

The mother of a Kiwi climber trapped in ravine in Solomon Islands for more than a week says her son and his friend are doing well, after a pretty harrowing experience. Deni Holl's 25 year old son Keanu Isaksson and his 19 year old mate Luca Zylstra-Law were climbing the Solomons' highest peak when they got stuck for eight days before being rescued on Tuesday. RNZ Pacific's Kaya Selby reports.

The two young Kiwi climbers who were trapped for a week on the highest mountain in the Solomon Islands, say there were times when they weren't sure they'd make it home. Keanu Isaksson and Luca Zylstra-Law spoke to John Campbell.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Wednesday Q&A episode of The Wright Report, Bryan sets the record straight on Washington's devastating Spokane wildfires, sparked by a convicted arsonist and falsely blamed on climate change, while Communist Democrats rack up major primary wins across the country. Bryan answers listener questions on why the Democratic Socialists keep pushing radical, dispiriting rhetoric, the case for killing the Senate filibuster to stop a coming Communist takeover, and growing frustration with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin's softer stance on deportations and legal immigration. He also breaks down a shocking new report that one in five American workers tested positive for drugs. Plus, Bryan covers Trump's plans to rebuild America's critical mineral and mining industry, Morocco's king dodging blame for orchestrating the Muslim migrant invasion of Spain, why oil companies aren't really to blame for high gas prices, and a major US win in the Pacific with a new port deal in the Solomon Islands aimed at countering China. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32   Keywords: Wright Report, Bryan Dean Wright, Spokane wildfires, Jay Inslee, Michigan primary, Abdul El-Sayed, Communist Democrats, filibuster, Markwayne Mullin, H1B visa, drug testing, critical minerals, tungsten, Morocco, Spain, Solomon Islands, China

The government has announced it is withdrawing its support for Lakapi Samoa; two NZers stuck on mountain in the Solomons, then rescued; Solomon Islands signs a shiprider agreement with the US coastguard; more killings in West Papua as conflict deepens, and Cook Islands goes to the polls next week.

In Pacific Waves today: Kiwi climbers who were trapped on Solomon Islands mountain, rescued; West Papua rebel army strikes again; Story of All Blacks legend, Jonah Lomu - brought to life on the big screen; A look back at some of the biggest sporting moments during the week for Pacific athletes and teams. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A survivor's story - the unexploded bombs that kill and injure up to 20 people a year in the Solomon Islands.  

“The ultimate defeat of Japan [will] be accomplished by blockade, bombing, and assault.”This is the story of American island hopping—or should we say leapfrogging?—through Pacific waters. By 1943, the Japanese are settled in for the long haul, no matter what it may cost. America sees some successes like new skip bombing techniques at the Battle of the Bismarck sea, but a change of strategy is needed for real gains. American leaders General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral William "Bull" Halsey launch Operation Cartwheel, a strategic campaign of amphibious landings designed to neutralize Japanese strongholds like Rabaul, Papua New Guinea without attacking head-on. Meanwhile, even though the Solomon Islands are still an active war zone, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt undertakes a morale-boosting tour, visiting every wounded soldier she possibly can. Just a few short months later, Americans win the brutal Battle of Tarawa at great cost, a decisive victory that exposes the devastating realities of island warfare to those back home. Is each tiny island in the Pacific worth this much death? Or can another path be found? ____Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com andgo deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendationsjoin discussions in our Facebook communityget news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette come see a live showget HTDS merchor become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks.HTDS is part of Audacy media network. IInterested in advertising on the History That Doesn't Suck? Contact Audacyinc.com.

Cleo Paskal exposes Chinese cognitive warfare in the Solomon Islands, where identical pro-Beijing propaganda appeared in separate newspapers. She details China's aggressive pressure on Palau, utilizing economic threats, triad activity, and cyberattacks to force the nation to de-recognize Taiwan before an upcoming regional forum in late August. (6)

STREAMING MAKING JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FEATURING GORDON CHANG, STEVE YATES, CLEO PASKAL, CHARLES BURTON, 7-15-26The John Batchelor Show features discussions with experts regarding shifting political dynamics and security concerns in the Indo-Pacific and North America. Steve Yates explains the rise of Taiwan's TPP party, a former youth movement now acting as a legislative power broker that is pursuing controversial engagement with mainland China. Meanwhile, Cleo Paskal details how Beijing utilizes cognitive warfare and economic pressure to influence small island nations like Palau and the Solomon Islands. The dialogue also addresses Canadian domestic issues, including the geopolitical tensions surrounding the Gordie Howe International Bridge and concerns over Chinese interference within Canada'spolitical elite. Throughout the segments, the participants highlight a consistent pattern of Chinese efforts to divide democratic allies and expand regional dominance through both propaganda and trade promises.Formatted as a single paragraph. One correction: Cleo Paskal (source had Pascal).

SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-15-261904 PERSIAMichael Bernstam discusses China's "colonial" economic relationship with Russia, demanding natural gas at heavily subsidized domestic rates. Capitalizing on Russian weakness, Beijing insists Russia fund its own pipelines while China signals a shift toward supporting Ukrainian territorial integrity, effectively throwing Putin "under the bus" to pressure the West. (1)Michael Bernstam explores Houthi threats to the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which could drive oil prices over $100 per barrel by choking global shipping. Simultaneously, Ukrainian drone strikes have crippled Russian refining capacity and shipping in the Black Sea, leading to energy rationing, electricity shortages, and potential food crises in Crimea. (2)Bob Zimmerman provides updates on SpaceX's Starship test flight and the FAA's rapid approval process. He details the deployment of version three Starlink satellites, rumors of a massive new Louisiana spaceport, and criticizes a Texaspolitician's "irrational" investigation into Elon Musk's government grants for rural internet access. (3)Bob Zimmerman explains why AI is currently inadequate for counting lunar craters, failing to meet human accuracy standards. He also highlights the discovery of a potential black hole in Omega Centauri, discusses the desolate nature of Mars's Jezero Crater, and notes the mysterious, unexplained "spokes" appearing in Saturn's rings. (4)Steve Yates analyzes the Taiwan People's Party's (TPP) historic visit to mainland China. Originally a pro-identity youth movement, the TPP is now seeking political power through a coalition with the pro-China KMT. This shift complicates Taiwan's political landscape, as the younger demographic overwhelmingly identifies as Taiwanese, not Chinese. (5)Cleo Paskal exposes Chinese cognitive warfare in the Solomon Islands, where identical pro-Beijing propaganda appeared in separate newspapers. She details China's aggressive pressure on Palau, utilizing economic threats, triad activity, and cyberattacks to force the nation to de-recognize Taiwan before an upcoming regional forum in late August. (6)Charles Burton discusses the strained Canada-US relations regarding the Gordie Howe Bridge. Disagreements over ownership and revenue sharing led Donald Trump to claim a "victory" by coercing Canadian concessions. This dispute has fueled hostility in Canada, leading to a boycott of US travel and alcohol imports in Ontario. (7)Charles Burton criticizes the lack of transparency regarding Chinese infiltration in the Canadian government. He argues that Prime Minister Carney's administration prioritizes business interests over national sovereignty, ignoring warnings about espionage and transnational repression while pursuing empty promises of doubled trade from Beijing to counter US tariffs. (8)Evan Ellis reports on the collapse of Cuba's electric grid, marking the third major blackout in nine days. While the island devolves into ruin, the Trump administration weighs military action against potential negotiations with the Castrofamily, as China and Russia provide only minimal, symbolic economic and political support. (9)Evan Ellis details the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela following twin earthquakes. While US Southern Commandprovides tactical aid, the corrupt and inefficient Rodriguez government is unable to respond to massive destruction, including thousands of deaths and ruined infrastructure. The situation highlights the inadequacy of the current Venezuelan regime. (10)Evan Ellis examines political instability in Bolivia involving Evo Morales and the upcoming inauguration of Keiko Fujimori in Peru. He also notes unresolved tensions over the Falkland Islands as Argentina faces Britain in the World Cup, emphasizing Javier Milei's strategic shift toward collaboration with the United States. (11)Evan Ellis analyzes judicial cruelty in Brazil, where Flavio Bolsonaro is barred from visiting his ill father. In El Salvador, President Bukele is seeking an unconstitutional third term. Despite his high approval ratings and security successes, the move raises alarms about the global trend of abandoning democratic constraints. (12)Thaddeus McCotter reflects on the death of Senator Lindsey Graham and the rising global pattern of political violence, including the murder of a UK MP. He also addresses credible Iranian threats to assassinate the US President, suggesting that decapitation strikes against heads of state have become routine. (13)Thaddeus McCotter connects global energy prices to military strategy, noting how Ukrainian drone strikes on Russianrefineries impact domestic affordability. He warns that the Republican party must clarify objectives in Iran and Ukraineto address MAGA base concerns regarding "forever wars" before the upcoming midterm elections. (14)Judy Dempsey discusses the US naval blockade of Iran and European concerns over energy security. She argues that European leaders find Trump's policies unpredictable and emphasizes that the future must be built on transparency, democracy, and accountability to counter the rise of authoritarian models like communist China. (15)Judy Dempsey highlights increasing threats against European politicians, particularly in Germany from the far-right AfD. Despite the current prominence of "strong men," she maintains that authoritarian systems are unsustainable because the human spirit fundamentally requires freedom, which dictatorships cannot provide or permit in the long term. (16)Headers and affiliations omitted, tail numbers (1)–(16). Corrections applied: Thaddeus McCotter (source had Thaddius), Cleo Paskal (source had Pascal), Omega Centauri (source had Centuri), and Jezero Crater (source had Jazero).

“Guadalcanal is not the name of an island. It is the name of the graveyard of the Japanese army.”This is the story of America's first major offensive in the Pacific since Midway.Amid hard fighting among the frozen peaks of Attu at the tail end of Alaska's Aleutian Islands, the Americans are gaining ground. But the cost is steep. Carrying out banzai charges, Japanese soldiers are prepared to fight to the last man. This is the case in the Solomon Islands as well, where US Marines—or "Uncle Sam's Miserable Children," as they call themselves—are storming the beaches of Guadalcanal. The island is only barely held, largely thanks to the almost unbelievable bravery of Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant John Basilone.Meanwhile, American codebreakers have obtained Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku's flight plans. The man who surprised America at Pearl Harbor is about to get a surprise of his own.____Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com andorder Prof. Jackson's bookgo deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendationsjoin discussions in our Facebook communityget news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette come see a live showget HTDS merchor become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks.HTDS is part of Audacy media network. Interested in advertising on the History That Doesn't Suck? Contact Audacyinc.com.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Masa Chips - Promo Code Wright for 25% Off Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he covers today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Monday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan covers America's 250th birthday weekend, from Trump's Mt. Rushmore fireworks comeback and his barn-burner speech calling Communism a cancer on the Republic, to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's counter-speech from George Washington's desk blasting white Americans as colonizers while his wife skipped the celebrations for a Muslim retreat in Spain. Bryan then tracks the sharp clash between VP JD Vance and Pope Leo over open borders immigration policy, grounded in fresh cases including a Biden-era Haitian migrant killing a Pennsylvania State Police trooper, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz pardoning a convicted child rapist from Laos, and newly elected Communist Congresswoman Melat Kiros refusing to condemn a Muslim terror attack targeting Jews in Boulder. On the global front, Iran's IRGC announces a discriminatory fee structure for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the former Ayatollah's funeral reveals the possible disappearance of Iran's new Supreme Leader, and Australia continues pulling Pacific island nations away from China with new security pacts in Fiji and the Solomon Islands. Plus, Spain's solar energy collapse offers a warning to US states doubling down on green energy, Europe's heat wave kills thousands as governments block air conditioning in the name of climate policy, Taiwan brings back anti-Communist military training, and Finnish researchers confirm that kids with dogs are healthier and need fewer antibiotics. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32   Keywords: Bryan Dean Wright, The Wright Report, America 250th birthday, Trump Mt. Rushmore fireworks, SAVE America Act, John Thune filibuster, Zohran Mamdani George Washington desk, Pope Leo immigration, JD Vance Pope Leo, Pennsylvania trooper Michael Pahira, Haitian migrant homicide, Tim Walz pardon child rapist, Melat Kiros Boulder attack, Mohamed Sabry Soliman flamethrower, Trump Accounts children savings, Taiwan anti-Communist military training, Iran IRGC Strait of Hormuz fees, Ayatollah Khomeini funeral, Mojtaba Khamenei, Australia Fiji security pact, Solomon Islands China, Vanuatu, Spain solar energy collapse dirty green energy, Europe heat wave air conditioning deaths, Patti LuPone Turkey cruise, Monday Headline Brief, dogs children health antibiotics

Washington Wednesday on the Supreme Court's landmark term, World Tour on restoring trust in the Solomon Islands, and portraying America's most famous founder. Plus, Cal Thomas on the deepest political divide, yodelers beating the heat, and the Wednesday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from WORLD Watch, a 10-minute video news broadcast that the whole family can agree on. Free for the first 7 days ... worldwatch.news/podcast