Podcasts about Southeast Asia

We're back with another episode of the Weekly Buzz with Helium 10's Chief Brand Evangelist, Bradley Sutton. Every week, we cover the latest breaking news in the Amazon, Walmart, and E-commerce space, interview someone you need to hear from, and provide a training tip for the week. Five takeaways from America's landmark lawsuit against Amazon https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/28/tech/amazon-ftc-lawsuit-takeaways/index.html The FTC's lawsuit against Amazon would lead to higher prices and slower deliveries for consumers—and hurt businesses https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/amazon-ftc-antitrust-lawsuit-full-response Walmart Marketplace Increases Third-Party Seller Activity https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2023/09/27/walmart-marketplace-increases-third-party-seller-activity/ Indonesia bans e-commerce transactions on social media in major blow to TikTok https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/27/tech/indonesia-tiktok-ecommerce-ban-hnk-intl/index.html Amazon to invest up to $4 billion in AI startup Anthropic https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/25/amazon-to-invest-up-to-4-billion-in-ai-startup-anthropic/ Walmart Deals Holiday Kickoff sales event will coincide with Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days https://www.wvtm13.com/article/walmart-deals-holiday-kickoff-october/45318835# An update on Prime Video https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/entertainment/prime-video-update-announces-limited-ads Up to tenth of Amazon shoppers in Great Britain ‘bribed' by sellers to offer good review, poll finds https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/28/up-to-tenth-of-amazon-shoppers-in-great-britain-bribed-by-sellers-to-offer-good-review-poll-finds Amazon's biggest competitor gets bad grade from the BBB https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/amazons-biggest-competitor-gets-bad-grade-bbb/QAGKNI77WZDWTOXMEHSNEDGVUQ/ Shopify invests in wholesale platform Faire https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/shopify-invests-wholesale-platform-faire-2023-09-27/ Eligible Walmart Marketplace sellers can use Walmart's Self-Serve Marketing portal in Seller Center to invest in Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and promote their products in Google search results through Shopping Ads. https://sellerhelp.walmart.com/s/guide?language=en_US&article=000011195 We aren't stopping at that! Don't miss our spotlight discussion on how you can unlock more profits with Helium 10's Managed Refund Service. This new service aims to recover funds for sellers from Amazon errors by identifying and submitting recovery claims on behalf of the sellers. Lastly, Carrie Miller gives us the training tip of the week about how to see which ASINs are the most clicked and bought from Amazon Brand Analytics data but inside Helium 10. It's a packed episode, so buckle up! n this episode of the Weekly Buzz by Helium 10, Bradley talks about: 00:51 - Amazon FTC Lawsuit 03:25 - Walmart Marketplace Increases 03:51 - Amazon Holiday Inventory 04:18 - Seller Fulfilled Prime 05:21 - TikTok Shop Trouble 06:20 - Manage Experiments Update 06:55 - Amazon AI Move 07:45 - Walmart Holiday Deals 08:27 - Prime Video Ads 09:45 - Incentivized Reviews Rampant 11:06 - Temu Trouble 11:45 - Shopify Wholesale 12:57 - Walmart Google Ads 14:15 - Try Helium 10's New Managed Refund Service 15:30 - ProTraining Tip: How To See Brand Analytics Data Inside Helium 10 Transcript Bradley Sutton: Amazon replies to the FTC lawsuit. Walmart marketplaces on the rise. Tiktok shop is having trouble in Southeast Asia, manager experiments gets an update. Walmart holiday deals coming. Incentivize reviews are going crazy in the UK. These stories and much more on today's episode of the Weekly Buzz. How cool is that? Pretty cool, I think. Hello everybody, and welcome to another episode of the series sellers podcast by Helium 10. I'm your host, bradley Sutton, and this is a show that is our Helium 10 Weekly Buzz, where we give you a rundown on all the news stories that are going on in the Amazon, walmart, e-commerce world and we also give you training tips of the week that will give you serious strategies for serious sellers of any level in the e-commerce world. Let's see what's buzzing. All right, tons of articles out today, so let's go ahead and hop right into it. The first article here is actually from CNN Business and it was a five entitled five takeaways from Amazon's landmark lawsuit, or America's landmark lawsuit against Amazon, and you know, they weren't too far off in this article. Bradley Sutton: I remember last week I talked about how ridiculous some of these articles were, like just people not understanding even what was going on in the Amazon. And basically it's you know. They're kind of summarizing and saying that, hey, this landmark case targets Amazon's retail platform, alleging that it's harm shoppers and sellers alike at a massive scale. All right Quote. It has a self-reinforcing cycle of dominance and harm. The plaintiffs claim oh, my goodness gracious, and it has. Amazon is running an illegal monopoly in ways that are paying off for Amazon, but at a great cost to tens of millions of Americans of households and hundreds of thousands of sellers. All right now Amazon, you know, check out the CNN article. It talks about the you know five takeaways you know from it. But Amazon replied in another article that we also have linked in the comments and entitled the FTC's lawsuit against Amazon would lead to higher prices, slower deliveries for consumers and hurt businesses. Hmm, if we only didn't say that, like weeks ago, like anybody who actually knows anything could have told you this that there's nothing good that's gonna come out of this for Amazon sellers nor Amazon buyers. And this article that Amazon releases, kind of like in reply to this FTC lawsuit kind of, you know, talks about that how, yeah, if this goes through, it's gonna make Prime more expensive, it's gonna have more shipping fees or more fees for sellers, et cetera. And it's kind of funny, like some of the things that you know I talked about was how Amazon kind of like I guess you can say, punishes sellers for having lower prices on other marketplaces. Some sellers don't like I mean to me, like it is what it is, you know, like we should be having, you know, same, similar prices, you know across the board. But even, let's say, an Amazon seller thought that was a bad thing. You know, if this FTC lawsuit is for the public, like Amazon is making sure that people, you know, don't gouge customers on the platform. You know, like sellers like like no, hey, if it's cheaper outs outside there, you should have a cheap price on Amazon. But how is that harming the consumers? You know, maybe, maybe could be considered harming the sellers, but you know the millions and millions of prime members now get the benefit of having low prices. So it's like Amazon, or the FTC, is like talking out of like two sides of its, of its mouth there. So it's kind of interesting. Bradley Sutton: So the next article actually switching to Walmart is from Forbes and says Walmart marketplace in increases third-party Seller activity. Not many stats and figures from here, just the writer here is talking about how there's a lot more investment in advertising in this Q4. He expects sellers to have a lot more sales on Walmart Compared to the past, as Walmart's really been expanding their focus on third-party marketplace. Next article here this is from seller central dashboard, just as a reminder to send in FBA and MCF inventory by October 26 before a holiday deal events. So there's less than five weeks left. So like, if you're trying to to have something you know, go for black Friday, cyber Monday deals you actually need to have your inventory in by October 26th. So that's. That's actually not that that far away, so well in advance. Bradley Sutton: Next article is a reminder that seller fulfilled prime is coming back. All right, so seller fulfilled prime, it's gonna be without that 2% fee that we talked about earlier before. We're gonna have a blog later today or tomorrow You'll see at Helium 10 comm forward slash blog that talks about how to enroll in seller fulfilled prime. Me I'm not gonna roll it like I have. You know I don't ship too much stuff. So like there's no way. I'm not gonna use Amazon FBA you know like for to try and get the prime back. Remember to do prime badge for seller fulfilled prime. You've got to have a way to ship to like same day, next day or two-day delivery, including weekend delivery. Obviously, I can't. You know most of us can't, can't do that, but some of you bigger sellers out there who have, you know really good, you know shipping agreements with companies. You might want to take advantage of this and then for your fulfill by merchant you can actually get a prime badge now. So just look out for that announcement or that blog and it's actually gonna be officially announced by Amazon In a couple of days. You'll see some big comms coming out of Amazon about seller fulfilled prime, but you'll be able to get that blog before the Amazon announcement on our blog later today or tomorrow. Bradley Sutton: Next article today we're gonna talk about is actually coming out of Indonesia, all right, and it says Indonesia bans e-commerce transactions on social media in a major blow to tick tock. So Indonesia is actually the biggest you know platform for tick tock in Southeast Asia. I believe. It has something like a hundred and twenty, a hundred and twenty five million monthly active Users and tick tock shop has, you know, released worldwide. But now the government is saying no, you can't have e-commerce and social media together. So you're gonna have to, you know, within the next week or so I forgot when the deadline is you're gonna have to, like, take tick tock shop out and make it a separate app. So this will be interesting to follow, like if something like this happens in other marketplaces and that's gonna be obviously a big blow to tick tock shop. I don't foresee that happening here in in America, but you know kind of is gonna hurt tick tock shop for those who are trying to sell Products in Indonesia. Bradley Sutton: The next article here was also from seller central. It says expand single asin AB test to multiple stores. So now, with manage your experiments, you're gonna be able to run separate AB tests on your asins across multiple stores, all right. So, like to different marketplaces in different regions, you can kind of see how how imagery works, you know, between you know, like Amazon Canada, amazon USA, etc. And you can add, like, for example, it says a brand logo to your a plus content to see performs performs differently in different countries, to pay on how well Established your brand is. Bradley Sutton: A next article here is from tech crunch entitled Amazon to invest up to four billion in AI start startup and Anthropic all right, so this you know a anthropic is this startup who's kind of making waves in the industry. You know that I've heard about them a while back, but you know the interesting thing here. You know we've been talking for a long time that that it's gonna AI Generative AI is gonna definitely change the the shopping experience and that's gonna affect sellers. Andy Jassy, amazon's CEO, says Amazon believes this deal can improve many customers experiences short and long term through our deeper Collaboration with Anthropic. So, again, improve many customer experiences All right. So again, ais. That's gonna change the way people shop eventually on Amazon and that means it's eventually gonna change the way that you know we sell or sell on Amazon. Bradley Sutton: Next article is just from a local TV station, but we talked about this before. It's kind of funny that you know every time Amazon does something, you know Walmart might reply and do something similar or vice versa. You know we're in a competitive matchup here, so this article is entitled Walmart Deals Holiday Kickoff Sales Event Will Coincide with Amazon's Bing Prime Day deals All right. So it's not you know big or Amazon's big deal days, All right. It's Walmart deals holiday, all right. So this is actually happening a little bit earlier than big, big deal days. It's coming on the end from the ninth to the 12th and it's available even to non-Walmart Plus sellers or what non-Walmart Plus buyers? It'll be available to. Bradley Sutton: Next article from Amazon, an update on Prime Video. So you know, prime Video has a lot of like you know, tv shows and and and movies and different things, and so they they talked about some of their, their. You know what they've achieved lately with Amazon Prime Video. But the key is that in early 2024, amazon Prime Video shows and movies will include limited advertisements. All right, and there's going to be a people are going to have to pay $2.99 a month if they don't want to see these ads. But again, you know, anytime we talk about you know advertisements coming on Amazon. You know properties, whether it's in store or other ways. It's eventually another way to get your products in front of of buyers. All right, it's new ways. Bradley Sutton: You know a lot of people are watching Amazon Prime Video. What was that? It's like a, not Game of Thrones, but it's like a Lord of the Rings prequel or something like that. I think was on Prime Video. But you know millions of people watch that. Imagine, you know, somehow for the people who aren't paying that $2.99, you know they're seeing an ad for a coffin shelf on there. I don't think you know we are big enough to advertise on Game of Thrones or or Lord of the Rings or anything like that, but just shows you an example of what could be possible in the future. You know, if you are a big enough seller you could start having your ads potentially on some of these big TV shows from Amazon Prime Video. Bradley Sutton: Now an interesting article from the Guardian in the UK. It says up to a 10th you know, 10% of Amazon shoppers in Great Britain were found to have been bribed by sellers to offer a good review. So they pulled 1500 adults who had bought from Amazon in the UK in the past 12 months and they all got like like gift card offers or free products or refunds in order to cheat the system. This article said all right. So you know Amazon obviously does not want anybody having, you know, any kind of incentivized reviews you know happening. So there's a lot of sellers who are breaking the rules. They're probably going to get caught. You know a lot of them. Some of them. Don't get caught. But don't don't try this, guys, all right. So it also said that 4% of those polls said that they were offered a reward for changing a negative review to a positive one. All right. So, like, how did they even get a hold of that that customer? It's kind of a interesting All right. So you know UK government is looking into how to tackle this a little bit more, but it'd be curious to see what you know how this is in the US. You know, I just ordered a ring light or something and I got like a little gift card saying, hey, you know, try to or not a gift card, but a little card, insert card offering a gift card to to like, have a positive review. So this kind of stuff still happens. But, guys, don't do it. Don't do it, not worth it, not worth it. Bradley Sutton: Our next article here is from Kiro7. It was just about a Temu, all right. So it says Amazon's biggest competitor gets bad grade from the BBB. Temu is not Amazon's biggest competitor, first of all, but not a thousand. You know it's the number one app on on Google and Apple, yeah, okay. So in that sense, maybe it's it's an Amazon competitor, but you know, Temu sales are very low compared to Amazon, but according to the Better Business Bureau, they've received a thousand recent you know complaints about the service. But you know, like what do you expect when you're getting like a $2 address or something like that? But it's probably one of the many reasons why nobody you know Amazon sellers. Amazon itself isn't really concerned with Temu being too much of a threat. Bradley Sutton: Switching platforms. Now Shopify invested this week into a wholesale platform called Fair. You know, a lot of people knew about Fair, a place where people can get wholesale products but now Shopify is investing there and it wants to see this startup adopt Shopify technology for its clients. All right, so. Fair was founded in 2017. It's valued at $12 billion. That's a pretty big company. It's now going to become the recommended wholesale marketplace for Shopify merchants. All right, so this is going to make it easy for Shopify merchants to find wholesale buyers and also enable retailers to source from Fair's network of brands. It's kind of interesting because, for example, fair said the most popular search filter on its platform is not on Amazon. Bradley Sutton: All right so you know hey if they're going to find some stuff for Shopify that's only on Shopify and not on Amazon. You know this. This kind of like a match seems to be made in heaven. It'll be interesting to see if you know how this changes, how Shopify sellers sell. You know, let me know in the comments below if you are selling on Shopify and you know this is good, if you're going to start, you know, perhaps maybe selling your products on the Fair platform. A last news article was from Walmart seller help. It's actually interesting. They have a. They're launching self-service search engine marketing. Say that three times fast. All right Now, basically, eligible Walmart marketplace sellers can use this portal in Seller Center to invest in search engine marketing. Bradley Sutton: So you're going to be able to do Google shopping ads. Now, I don't know too much about this stuff, but I could be wrong. But I believe that this is like. These are like those. You know, when you search a keyword in Amazon or in Google, at the very top right there would be those ads where you can like, click directly into the results and it'll go directly to the storefront you can buy the product. I don't believe Amazon is available for this. So this is another potential advantage you can have of, of doing Google ads, where it can go directly to your store, right there in the shop, the shopping ad section of Google. So you know, if you're a Walmart seller, go into a Seller Central, you can create campaigns right now. You can even bulk create it and then we have the article here linked in the comments below if you want to get more information on this. Bradley Sutton: So, whoo, a lot of articles today, a lot going on in the ecommerce world. Quick, quick note. You know, if you missed it, last week Helium 10 launched a reimbursement service. So a lot of you guys are ready to use refund genie where you can, you know, download reports for your loss and damage things from Amazon, things that Amazon might owe you money on, and you're able to go ahead and, and you know, file your own claims and get your money back. But now we have a service that is designed to where we're going to do the work for you, you know, for a percentage of it, and we'll also find other money that you know, refund genie, you know it's not looking for. So if you want to find out more information about this, the service is actually free, you know, to use. We only can get money if we get money for you, and some sellers are getting thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars back by using it. So if you'd like a free demo of it or to get more information, go to h10.me/mrs h10.me/mrs to be able to sign up for a free demo. Alright, now let's go into a quick training tip of the week from Kerry, talking about how you can see who's getting the most clicks and the most purchases from brand analytics. But right inside of Helium 10 Cerebeo, Carrie, take it away. Carrie Miller: Did you know that you can see click share and conversion share within Cerebro? That's right. If you have your Helium 10 account connected to seller central and you have a diamond and above, you can actually see this click share. So it's a really great tool when you're doing your keyword research. So the first thing you want to do is you want to log into Cerebro. So I've done a multi search here. It doesn't matter really the position for this particular strategy, but usually I always like to make sure my own, mason, is first, so I can compare it to all others. But if you scroll down here, you can actually see that we have a whole entire column for ABA, total click share and then conversion share. Okay, so what we're gonna do is we're gonna actually drill into this a little bit more and if you go to let's see here a wooden egg holder, we can click on this graph and get a little bit more details. Now I will say not all of these keywords have information. It really just depends on what is provided in brand analytics, and if it's in brand analytics, we can pull it in here. So it has to have, you know, a good amount of search volume in order to get this information. So let's take a look at wooden egg holder. So if we click on this, we can actually see the last few months or six months or so of click share and conversion share, and you can actually, you know see this this most recent month we're in September right now. We can actually go back to see August and you can click along on this graph and hover along this graph and you can actually see at the bottom there which were the top three Clicked and converted on. So when we take a look at this, you can actually see, okay, this one has an 18% click share and a 19% conversion share. So that's, they're doing something right. That means you know a lot of people are actually purchasing when they do actually click on their listing. This one is, you know, 8% and a conversion share of 6.5 you know they're doing pretty well as well and then 7% and 9.1. So now, if you see, you know a really large click share and pretty much no conversion share, that probably means people are clicking on it, thinking it's something, but they're not seeing what they actually want to buy. So one really cool thing that you can actually do if you want to, you know, see what maybe one of these competitors are doing that has the most click share and conversion share. You can see what they're actually doing by running listing analyzer. Now you can actually go ahead and see it in here and when you click on run listing analyzer or you can go straight to listing analyzer and add things in yourself. Carrie Miller: I'm just going to click on run listing analyzer. Let's see what we have here. Are these the top ones? Yes, these are the ones I want to look at. So I'm going to click on run listing analyzer and I'm going to be able to see all of the information for all three of these listings and includes price. It'll include the images and everything that we really need to know, kind of stacked on top of each other. All right, so all of this data is is now uploaded into listing analyzer from that click share, conversion share, so we can see, maybe, the difference. Okay, so this top one was the topped clicked and we can look at the price. Now it has a pretty good price. It's not the lowest price. This one is actually the lowest price, but you know, between these two especially that does have a lower price, so $20 might be the best. And then another thing you can do is you can take a look at the images and see if there's something that this Particular listing has done that this one didn't. Maybe they did. You know better close-up images here. These one, these have a little bit better lifestyle images. Carrie Miller: So it's kind of a mystery there as to why the first one would get the the most clicks. But usually what you can do is kind of drill down a little bit more into the details and you can see, you know, what people are looking for. Potentially it has to do with the actual structure of the product. This one has a little bit more sturdy look. This one looks a little bit more Shaky and it has a lot more eggs on it. So this one probably fits better into your, into your refrigerator. So there's a lot of different components that can go into that. But you can kind of see it a little bit better when you take a look at the media all stacked on top of each other and then also the pricing. So that is just basics click share and conversion share and ways you can kind of analyze that to see if there are ways that you can improve your listing to get some more click share and conversion share. So check it out and let us know what you think. Bradley Sutton: Alright, thank you very much, Carrie, for that training tip. I hope you guys enjoyed this episode. We'll see you guys next week to see what's buzzing.

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A woman experiences an out-of-body experience while meditating—catching the attention of an entity hiding in the shadows.Inspired by an account from Vicki.Ghost Maps follows an unnamed narrator as he chronicles true accounts of the supernatural across Southeast Asia. ►GHOST MAPS CREDITS:Kyle Ong - DirectorWayne Rée - WriterJoline Lim - Art Director►FOLLOW US:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearehantu/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/wearehantuFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearehantu/Website: https://www.hantu.sg/ ►SUPPORT US:Libsyn:https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=HANTUPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/wearehantuMerchandise: https://www.redbubble.com/people/wearehantu/shop ►MUSIC CREDITS:Kevin Macleod: https://incompetech.comMyuu: https://www.youtube.com/user/myuujiArtlist: https://artlist.io/ ►THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS ON PATREON: Stanley SantosAustin ChongLinda HadenNeoVegasAssassinMai Jake Lee YJSofeaCeph, the Ghost WriterSlajaSajkaNicolez PhuaAndika BramantioMedidi StephensMiranda Pruett Abby WintkerDyah Candra Hapsari SubagyoAdnan SalimPhani ShankarTom JohariR.YAayush GuptaNikoHeather TanKai LinJulie HolochwostMonica DuboisLexiHanni LaurenChristopher SmallwoodAshley ChanØyvind Husebø Kismet Sith Socheata ►ABOUT HANTU:#trueghoststory #ghoststory #ghoststories #horrorstory #horrorstories #southeastsia #singapore #ghostmaps #deadair #podcast #wearehantu #hantu #hantusg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, six Portuguese people between the ages of 11 and 24 years old are presenting their case. They accuse the 32 members of the European Union of violating their human rights for what they say is a failure to adequately address climate change. And, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio returned to Earth from the international space station today. Rubio's return along with Russian cosmonauts comes at a time when US-Russia relations are in question. Also, "fast fashion" routinely borrows the designs of Southeast Asia's Indigenous weavers in the hill tribes of Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Now some are calling it plagiarism. Plus, a modern take on an ancient Chinese folktale. 

The “Gunkie Jar” is a Powerful Measurement of Effectiveness.I had my very first hydrafacial and at the end I was asked, “Want to SEE the results?” While my skin felt great afterwards, the memory that's seared in my mind is seeing the results of the dead skin, dirt, and gunk.Get inspired by President and Chief Executive Officer of BeautyHealth, Andrew Stanleick, who is leading the beauty industry to be more vulnerable, transparent, and real.He leads a category creating company at the intersection of beauty, aesthetics, wellness and health that is transforming the professional beauty and skincare experience.From a small fishing village in Devon, England, he has led some of the biggest and fastest rising beauty and fashion brands, working in 9 countries over his 25+ year career. He led L'Oréal's expansion in EMEA, Coach's growth in Southeast Asia, and the turnaround of Coty Americas, especially the relaunch of Covergirl and as CEO of the Kylie Jenner beauty business.Now as CEO of The Beauty Health Company (NASDAQ: SKIN), Andrew is building a multi brand, tech-driven beauty platform, with rocket-ship brand Hydrafacial as its hero– which is present in 90 countries, delivers 3 million treatments a year, and behind BeautyHealth's 41% revenue growth in 2022.LinkedIn Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewstanleick/Company Link: https://www.beautyhealth.com/What You'll Discover in this Episode:What happened during my first hydrafacial.The big change that's happening in the beauty industry.Why more men are getting into the beauty treatments.How hybrid working is driving the skin care industry.His workout regime. Why he left the “Big Beauty” and transitioned to leading a smaller organization.What it's like working with Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian.How he gets feedback from the frontlines.Their positive LinkedIn strategy.The quote he uses to motivate his team.-----Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter

Trade development plays a large role in increasing overseas demand for U.S. Soy. The United Soybean Board recently provided an opportunity for a group of future checkoff farmer-leaders to visit Southeast Asia for an inside look at customers in the animal ag and soy food sectors that use U.S. Soy products. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In late August, China's Ministry of Natural Resources released its new “standard map,” which includes not only Taiwan, but also parts of the maritime zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It also includes land that China disputes with India—and even some Russian territory. To publicize the map and China's claims, Beijing launched a “national map awareness publicity week,” as it has for map releases in recent years. China's map release is an annual event, which can happen at any time. So why now? And what does the map tell us about Chinese foreign policy under Xi Jinping? To discuss this topic, host Bonnie Glaser is joined by Dr. Collin Koh who is Senior Fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, based in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He has research interests on naval affairs in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on Southeast Asia.  Timestamps[01:29] How does this map differ from previous ones?[04:44] Interagency Coordination on Release[05:51] Reaction of the Chinese Foreign Ministry [08:12] Significance of the Timing of the Release[11:32] Protests Against the Map's Release[15:09] Portrayal of the South China Sea[19:35] Ambiguity of Beijing's Claims [23:44] Territorial Claims Along the Sino-Russian Border[26:58] Lasting Impact of the Map 

Join me as we journey into the heart of Southeast Asia with Susan Hammond, founder of the War Legacies Project, whose experience and knowledge of the Vietnam War's aftermath is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Her decades-long dedication to understanding the enduring impacts of this conflict paints a vivid, and often distressing, picture of the lasting effects of Agent Orange and explosive remnants of war. From the chilling realities of dioxin contamination to the ongoing health hazards, Susan walks us through her significant work on the ground in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.This episode takes a hard look at the alarming effects of dioxin, a toxic compound present in Agent Orange, on the environment and human health. We traverse into the depths of containment strategies, shedding light on the collaborative efforts of Susan's organization and the US government in mitigating the contamination. The conversation takes a turn towards the human dimension, as we discuss the profound impacts of Agent Orange on health and the advocacy for those affected by the war. Understand how the US government plays a role in providing services and shaping policy for the affected populations.Finally, we steer the conversation to the often overlooked issue of cluster munitions, particularly their use in Ukraine by the US government. Susan shares her research findings from Laos, where unexploded bombs continue to pose a deadly threat. As we approach the end of this enlightening episode, we discuss the importance of raising awareness about the enduring impacts of war and the critical role we all play in preventing future generations from experiencing similar suffering. Don't let this remarkable conversation pass you by.Check out the shownotes to learn more!__________________Support the PodcastClick here to send in a one time or monthly donationJoin the Podcast Mailing list: https://www.globalhealthpursuit.com/mailing-list Make sure to follow Hetal on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook!Email her at hetal@globalhealthpursuit.com.Thank you so much. We deeply appreciate you.

The Gelsemium APT is active against a Southeast Asian government. A multi-year campaign against Tibetan, Uighur, and Taiwanese targets. Stealth Falcon's new backdoor. Predator spyware is deployed against Apple zero-days. An update on Pegasus spyware found in Meduza devices. There's a shift in Russian cyberespionage targeting. A rumor of cyberwar in occupied Crimea. In our Industry Voices segment, Amit Sinha, CEO of Digicert, describes digital trust for the software supply chain. Our guest is Arctic Wolf's Ian McShane with insights on the MGM and Caesars ransomware incident. And if you're looking for a Super Bowl pick, go with an egg-laying animal…and, oh, the NFL and CISA are noodling cyber defense for the big game. For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news briefing: https://thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/12/183 Selected reading. Rare Backdoors Suspected to be Tied to Gelsemium APT Found in Targeted Attack in Southeast Asian Government (Unit 42) Rare Backdoors Suspected to be Tied to Gelsemium APT Found in Targeted Attack in Southeast Asian Government (IBM X-Force Exchange) Evasive Gelsemium hackers spotted in attack against Asian govt (BleepingComputer) Unit 42 Researchers Discover Multiple Espionage Operations Targeting Southeast Asian Government (Unit 42) EvilBamboo Targets Mobile Devices in Multi-year Campaign (Volexity)  From Watering Hole to Spyware: EvilBamboo Targets Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Taiwanese (The Hacker News) Stealth Falcon preying over Middle Eastern skies with Deadglyph (We Live Security) t Deadglyph: Covertly preying over Middle Eastern skies (LABScon)  New stealthy and modular Deadglyph malware used in govt attacks (BleepingComputer)  Deadglyph: New Advanced Backdoor with Distinctive Malware Tactics (The Hacker News)  0-days exploited by commercial surveillance vendor in Egypt (Google). PREDATOR IN THE WIRES: Ahmed Eltantawy Targeted with Predator Spyware After Announcing Presidential Ambitions (The Citizen Lab)  New Apple Zero-Days Exploited to Target Egyptian ex-MP with Predator Spyware (The Hacker News)  Egyptian presidential hopeful targeted by Predator spyware (Washington Post) Russian news outlet in Latvia believes European state behind phone hack (the Guardian)  Exclusive: Russian hackers seek war crimes evidence, Ukraine cyber chief says (Reuters). Russian hackers trying to steal evidence of Moscow's war crimes in Ukraine - cyber chief (Ukrinform). Large-scale cyberattack reported in occupied Crimea (The Kyiv Independent)  NFL, CISA Look to Intercept Cyber Threats to Super Bowl LVIII (Dark Reading)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Barnhart has worked in Mexico and Central America for the last 25 years as an archaeologist, an explorer and an instructor. During his four years as the student of Dr. Linda Schele (world renowned for finally breaking the Maya code of hieroglyphics in 1973) he developed a strong background in Maya hieroglyphics, iconography and archaeoastronomy. From 1998 to 2000 he was the Director of the Palenque Mapping Project, an archaeological survey that discovered over 1000 new structures in the Maya ruins of Palenque.He received his Ph.D. in Anthropology at The University of Texas at Austin in 2001 and is now the Director of the Maya Exploration Center, a non-profit research center based in Austin, Texas and Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico.In 2013 his 24-lecture Great Courses series entitled “Lost Worlds of South America” was released and very well received. Based on its success, he returned to the Great Courses studios in 2014 to produce a 48-lecture series entitled ":Maya to Aztec: Ancient Mesoamerica Revealed". His latest Great Courses series, released in July of 2018, is titled "Ancient Civilizations of North America". He is currently investigating archaeoastronomy and ancient geometry in the ruins of Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia. Visit www.mayaexploration.org for more information about Dr. Barnhart and the Maya Exploration Center.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/2790919/advertisement

------------------------------- 強化英語課程資訊 ------------------------------- 「社會人核心英語」有聲書課程連結：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 歡迎針對這一集留言你的想法： 留言連結 官方網站：www.15mins.today 加入Clubhouse直播室：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/46hm8k 訂閱YouTube頻道：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 主題投稿/意見回覆 : ask15mins@gmail.com 商業合作/贊助來信：15minstoday@gmail.com ------------------------------- 以下有參考文字稿～ 各播放器有不同字數限制，完整文稿可到官網搜尋 ------------------------------- Topic: Junk food habit affects sleep quality French fries and hamburgers are popular with teenagers. Everyone knows that these high-calorie foods can lead to chronic illnesses such as heart disease and high blood pressure, but, according to a report published by Medical Xpress, a study led by the University of Queensland in Australia has found that eating too much junk food can also have an impact on teenagers' sleep quality. 薯條、漢堡等速食及飲料很受青少年喜愛。眾所皆知這些高熱量食物會導致慢性疾病，如心臟病和高血壓等。不過，「醫療快訊」報導，澳洲昆士蘭大學帶領的一項研究發現，吃過多的垃圾食品還會影響青少年的睡眠品質。 According to the research results, teenagers who drink more than three soft drinks per day were 55 percent more likely to report sleep disturbance than those who only drink one cup per day. Males who ate fast foods on more than four days per week were 55 percent more likely to report sleep disturbance than those who ate them only once a week, while females were 49 percent more likely to do so. 根據研究結果，每天喝三杯以上飲料的青少年自稱有睡眠障礙的機率，比每天只喝一杯軟飲料的青少年高百分之五十五。每週吃四天以上速食的男性自稱有睡眠障礙的機率，比那些每週只吃一次速食的男性高百分之五十五，而女性的機率高出百分之四十九。 This global study examined unhealthy diets and stress-related sleep disturbance in high school students from 64 countries. The study found that 7.5 percent of adolescents reported having stress-related sleep disturbance, which was more common among females than males and increased with more frequent consumption of carbonated soft drinks, as did the occurrence of sleep problems. Because carbonated drinks often contain caffeine and large amounts of sugar, while fast foods are high in energy but poor in nutrients, long-term consumption can cause nutritional imbalances. 這是一項針對全球不健康飲食和與壓力有關的睡眠障礙研究，涉及來自六十四個國家的高中生。研究表明，百分之七點五的青少年自稱有壓力相關的睡眠障礙，其中女性比男性更常見，且隨著碳酸飲料的頻繁飲用而增加，睡眠障礙的比率也愈高。因為碳酸飲料通常含有咖啡因和高糖分，而快餐食品高熱量但較缺乏營養，長期攝取會營養不均衡。 These data were collected from global health surveys conducted by the WHO between 2009 and 2016, which included about 170,000 students aged 12 to 15 years from 64 low, middle and high-income countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, South America and the eastern Mediterranean. 這些數據收集自二○○九年至二○一六年世界衛生組織的全球健康調查，其中包括來自東南亞、非洲、南美部分地區和地中東海東部地區的六十四個低、中、高收入國家的約十七萬名十二至十五歲的學生。 The research team said that frequent intake of soft drinks and eating of fast foods is closely associated with sleep problems in teenagers, and that this phenomenon is particularly clear in high-income countries. The research team said that these findings are worrying because poor-quality sleep has an adverse impact on adolescent health and cognitive development. They suggested that policies should be formulated that target these unhealthy behaviors. 研究團隊表示，青少年經常喝飲料、吃速食與睡眠障礙之間關聯密切，這現象尤其在高收入國家特別明顯。研究團隊指出，這些發現令人擔憂，因為睡眠品質差會對青少年的健康和認知發展產生不利影響。他們建議應針對這些不健康的行為制定相關政策，使青少年能健康成長。 Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2021/01/05/2003749938 Next Article Topic: Cognitive decline linked to ultraprocessed food, study finds Too many daily calories from highly processed foods like lunch meats, frozen dinners, and packaged cookies may speed up cognitive decline, a new study suggests. 一項新的研究表明，每天從午餐肉、冷凍晚餐和包裝餅乾等高度加工食品攝入過多卡路里，可能會加速認知能力下降。 In the study, researchers examined the diets and cognitive function test results of more than 8,000 adults in Brazil. At the start of the study, participants consumed an average of about 2,850 calories a day. About 28 percent of their daily calories came from highly processed foods. 在這項研究中，研究人員檢視巴西8000多名成年人的飲食和認知功能測試結果。在研究開始時，參與者平均每天消耗約2850卡路里的熱量。他們每天有約28％的卡路里來自高度加工食物。 After about nine years of follow-up, cognitive test scores for memory and executive function declined the most for participants who ate the most highly processed foods. 經過約9年追蹤，吃加工食品最多的參與者，其記憶力和執行功能的認知測試分數下降幅度最大。 Ultraprocessed foods are defined as “industrial formulations of food substances (oils, fats, sugars, starch, and protein isolates) that contain little or no whole foods and typically include flavorings, colorings, emulsifiers, and other cosmetic additives,” according to the study. 根據這項研究，超加工食品被定義為「食品物質（油、脂肪、糖、澱粉和蛋白質分離物）的工業配方，含極少或不含全天然食品，通常包括調味劑、色素、乳化劑和其他化妝品添加劑」。 Next Article Topic: Taiwan gourmets shocked at Pizza Hut's newest cilantro, century egg-flavored delight 必勝客最近傳出將推出「香菜皮蛋豬血糕比薩」，交雜台式料理讓最勇猛的台灣人都震驚。 Pizza Hut is about to release a new “cilantro, century egg pig's blood cake pizza” (香菜皮蛋豬血糕比薩) whose chaotic combination of flavors is poised to shock even the most daring Taiwanese gourmet. 據網友所述，此比薩將結合台灣各式道地美食，而這個消息也引來熱議。 According to social media users, the new pizza will combine many well-known traditional Taiwanese street foods, and the announcement sparked intense discussions online. 許多人表示當每道口味都那麼重的時候就不會那麼美味，也有人開玩笑的問必勝客「到底有多討厭義大利」。 Many thought that the flavors were too strong and would clash. Social media users even teased Pizza Hut, commenting “how much do you hate Italy?” 必勝客之前也已推出過眾多奇特的口味，其中包括臭豆腐、麻辣鍋、拉麵、榴槤和湯圓等。 Pizza Hut had launched many unusual pizza flavors in the past, including stinky tofu, spicy hot pot, ramen, durian, boba, and fried tangyuan. 最近也因為端午節特別推出了粽子口味的「北皇粽比薩」，如今依舊在菜單上。 Their recent Dragon Boat Festival series, which includes Zongzi flavored pizza, is still on the menu. 根據網友分享，新口味的DM上寫著此比薩內含「香菜、花生粉、豬血糕和Q彈皮蛋」。 According to the poster provided by social media users, the cilantro century egg pig's blood cake pizza is made with four key ingredients: cilantro and peanut powder from Yunlin, braised pig's blood cake and chewy century eggs. 網友表示這個口味對於不敢吃香菜、皮蛋、豬血糕或是對花生過敏的人都是極大的挑戰。 Some commented that this flavor is challenging people who dislike cilantro, century eggs, and pig's blood cake, or are allergic to peanuts. 也有人點出這四種材料單看起來都好，但是被混搭在一起後胃口全沒了。 Others expressed their strong dislike over the idea of mixing those four ingredients together. 然而，還是有勇者表示自己想試試看，並稱「這個口味還是比鳳梨好」。 However, many were still willing to give the pizza a try, commenting “this new flavor is better than pineapple on pizza.” 更有人建議必勝客應該試做「辣味鴨血」或是「銀絲卷」口味。 Another suggested adding “spicy duck blood” or “silver thread buns” (銀絲卷). 網友也開玩笑的指出必勝客真的在向義大利宣戰了，留言中寫道「如果義大利攻打台灣，我一點也不會感到意外」。 Some also joked that Pizza Hut is challenging Italy with this outrageous flavor, with one questioning“Does Pizza Hut want Italy to declare war?” while another said, “If Italy attacks Taiwan, I wouldn't be surprised.” 根據網友所述，此新口味將在六月底登場。 According to social media users, this flavor will be released at the end of June.

In this episode of The Negotiation, we are excited to be joined by Shai Oster, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who recently served as Asia Bureau Chief for The Information. Shai previously worked at the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, with postings spanning China, Europe, and the U.S. He's now working as an independent strategy and communications consultant based out of Bangkok. In our conversation with Shai, we dive into various topics related to China's economy, the tech industry, and investment flows. We explore different sectors in China, such as biotech, clean tech, and semiconductors. We also talk about the rise of electric vehicles in China, the success of Chinese auto exports, and how that's playing out on the ground in places like Bangkok. We conclude our conversation by looking at the platform economy in Southeast Asia, including a breakdown of the e-commerce, food delivery, and digital payment ecosystem in Thailand.  Topics Discussed and Key Points:●      Economic changes in China●      The current state of China's tech industry●      Challenges in the IPO market●      The rise of Chinese electric vehicles ●      Chinese investment in Thailand's EV industry and the international expansion of Chinese automakers●      Electric vehicle adoption's impact on electricity prices and household grids●      The dominance of Lazada and Shopee in Southeast Asia e-commerce●      Importance of payments infrastructure and role of banks●      Comparison of payment processes in China and the US●      Key players in the e-commerce and food delivery sectors in Thailand●      Lack of consolidation in the Thai market and the potential impact of subsidy wars

Uninformed Comments Sections The Ochelli Effect 9-21-2023 Mike SwansonChuck and Mike Talk about Assassination and the way of the Deeper States that might make it happen. Cold War Context and the general mentality of The Military minus the Industrial Comples are also explored.REFERENCE LINKSDanny Jones Podcast Featuring Dr. John Newman We played 55 seconds of an edited cliphttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/rJ4Uk2Hp1X8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFdmpbLEvtkMICHAEL SWANSON BE IN THE KNOW:https://wallstreetwindow.comTWITTER:https://twitter.com/tradermike_1999FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/tradermikeBOOKS BY MICHAEL SWANSON:The War State: The Cold War Origins Of The Military-Industrial Complex And The Power Elite, 1945-1963https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EWLGXHW/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0Why The Vietnam War?: Nuclear Bombs and Nation Building in Southeast Asia, 1945-1961 By Michael Swansonhttps://www.amazon.com/Why-Vietnam-War-Southeast-1945-1961-ebook/dp/B08FHBS17KIf you can, drop by and see us. Chuck, Mike Swanson, B Pete, Doug (From The Dallas Action Podcast), and a bunch of others you may have heard on the networkJFK LANCER conference NID Get Info and Tickets here: https://jfklancerpublications.com/Ochelli LinksOchelli Link Treehttps://linktr.ee/chuckochelliKeep us Going and Help Chuck get to Dallas in Novemberhttps://ochelli.com/donate/

Join 6AMRun.com Ambassador and Host, Marc Paisant, as we welcome CEO and Founder of PurelyB, Jesrina Arshad Jesrina is the Founder and CEO of PurelyB (www.PurelyB.com), a leading health and wellness lifestyle brand in SE-Asia, elevating Malaysian superfoods onto the global stage. At PurelyB, Jesrina is dedicated towards the transformation of people's well-being and the empowerment of sustainable, health-conscious living – a mission deeply rooted in her own inspiring journey toward personal health transformation. With a BSc in Multimedia Technology and Design from the University of Kent (UK) and a MA in Marketing from Kingston University Business School (UK), Jesrina's background uniquely prepared her to become an entrepreneur in the digital marketing and e-commerce space. Following stints in executive roles at GroupM and ASTRO, the leading consumer media and entertainment group in Southeast Asia, Jesrina launched PurelyB in 2015. Backed by Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, 500 Startups, PurelyB™ combines Malaysia's ancestral wellness traditions, with science, creating unique superfood blends for modern lifestyles globally for optimal health and beauty. Rooted in rare Malaysian rainforest botanical remedies, PurelyB's ingredients are sourced naturally and sustainably from marginalized farmers across Asia, ensuring unmatched purity and potency and social impact. Today PurelyB has 7 million+  users across the globe including Malaysia, Singapore, USA, Australia and France, as they champion sustainable healthy living harnessing the power of Asian traditions in wellness. Jesrina's mission is to honor and preserve Malaysia's wellness heritage and herbal culture - powered by nature & technology -  to bring their benefits to the world, and to improve the lives of PurelyB customers, communities and our planet. Beyond her role as a founder, entrepreneur and wellness advocate, Jesrina is committed to upskilling and empowering marginalized female communities in Malaysia, and in her spare time is passionate about inventing healthy plant-based recipes with an Asian twist. All listeners can use code WELLNESS10 for 10% off of your order.  Please visit: https://www.purelyb-us.com/  to learn more. For more information please contact: jesrina@purelyb.com press@purelyb.com  To be a guest, or share your story with the 6AM Run Community apply at: https://forms.gle/hBHCKpYKT6R9tH6m7 6AM Run believes in improving everyone's physical ability to not only have motion, but STAY IN MOTION. All this while creating an amazing supportive, surrounding community. Run Faster, Farther, & Recover For More Runs! Guest are found through PodPros (podmatch.com) and recorded through Riverside.fm. 6amrun.com #6amrunSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I'm joined by Andrew Kamphey, who is the founder of Better Sheets, a platform of tools and tutorials to get better at using Google Sheets, that has done well over $200k in revenue since he launched in 2020. He started out working as a tech on cruise ships, before moving to LA to work in the film industry, which is where he gained all of his Google Sheets prowess. From here he's had a meandering life journey, working while travelling South East Asia, starting and selling an influencer newsletter, writing a book about charging and even launching a SaaS. Andrew has had his finger in piece of the indie hacking pie and has now settled on being the Google Sheets guy. At least for now.Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 02:08 - Failing to go full time 04:13 - Selling Influence Weekly 06:26 - Starting BetterSheets 09:32 - Turning Better Sheets into a full time income 11:53 - Reluctancy to become the "Google Sheets Guy" 13:37 - Recommendations Recommendations Book: Lying for Money Podcast: The Deep Life Indie Hacker: Jon Yongfook, Danny Postma, James & Danielle Follow AndrewTwitterMy links Twitter Indie Bites Twitter Indie Bites YouTube Join the membership Personal Website 2 Hour Podcast Course PodPanda (hire me to edit your podcast) This Indie Life Podcast Sponsor - EmailOctopus

HeatherAsh Amara is the author of nine books, including the bestselling Warrior Goddess Training, The Seven Secrets of Happy and Healthy Relationships with don Miguel Ruiz Jr., and the upcoming book Wild, Willing, and Wise. She skillfully and unconditionally guides people to shift from self-judgment to discernment, victimhood to authentic vulnerability, and to shed limiting domestication so they can ground into their self-intimacy, steadiness, and stillness. Raised in Southeast Asia, HeatherAsh has traveled the world from childhood and is continually inspired by the diversity and beauty of human expression and experience. She brings this open-hearted, inclusive worldview to her writings and teachings.  HeatherAsh Amara web site Meet Kelly Sullivan Walden Author, Dream Expert, Media Personality here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In July 2022, Jasmin Rubia, Kenneth Rementilla, and Hailey Pecayo took part in a fact-finding mission to look into the alleged murder of Kylene Casao, a 9-year-old girl, and Maximino Digno, a 50-year-old farmer, by members of the 59th Infantry Battalion on July 18 in Taysan, Batangas. Later, the military stated that people who took part in the fact-finding mission were giving terrorists material assistance. The law authorises the police and military to hold people for up to 24 days without a warrant or charge. This is clearly in violation of international laws and standards. But this is what red-tagging does: giving the government vast rights to conduct surveillance and label groups or people as terrorists without due process, or in fact any clarity on how that label can be removed afterwards. In this episode, we will talk about the Kyllene and Maximino investigation, the ATA law in the Philippines, and what we can do as Southeast Asians to support the persecuted activists and to vigorously fight for the repeal of said law. You can also find this podcast on our website. Our movement needs your support. A movement is only as strong as its members. If you believe in a more democratic Southeast Asia, join New Naratif as a member ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this week's episode, Evangelist Chance Walters gives us a Field Report from their last Crusade in Southeast Asia while discussing the importance of developing your own personal history with the Lord.

In the southern Philippines, the Bohol community speaks a language they say one man, Pinay, created long ago, leaving it for a modern Filipino named Mariano Datahan to rediscover and reenliven. The Last Language on Earth: Linguistic Utopianism in the Philippines (Oxford University Press, 2023) by Piers Kelly tells the story of the Eskayan language through linguistic, ethnographic, and historical analysis. Kelly investigates the origins of the Eskayan language as well as its role in political and conceptual controversies around language diversity and colonial contact. Carefully avoiding—and problematizing—dichotomies such as “real or fake,” “invented or natural,” the book explores not only the nature of Eskayan, its writing system, lexicon, and syntax, but also its relationship to other languages employed in the Philippines and to strategies of colonial resistance across Southeast Asia. Malcolm Keating is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Yale-NUS College. His research focuses on Sanskrit works of philosophy in Indian traditions, in the areas of language and epistemology. He is the author of Language, Meaning, and Use in Indian Philosophy (Bloomsbury Press, 2019) and host of the podcast Sutras & Stuff. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies

CBDCs in the Spotlight: From Milton Friedman's view all the way to the Swiss perspective CBDCs remain a controversial topic and Patrick`s recently published article in the Journal of Digital Assets is a valuable opportunity to discuss his research on the Pros and Cons of CBDCs. Dr Patrick Schueffel https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-s... is an adjunct professor at Fribourg's School of Management in Switzerland. His research focuses on Fintech, Digital Assets and Entrepreneurship. Patrick has worked for many years in senior positions in banking in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Due to three-year stint in Singapore, he has an extensive network in the crypto area in Southeast Asia. He has been publishing widely in renowned scientific journals and holds numerous postgraduate degrees from universities across Europe.Patrick  Schueffel's article in the Journal of Digital Assets on CBDCs: https://buff.ly/45GFaePCBDCs: Pros and Cons: A comprehensive list and discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of central bank digital currency`AbstractCentral bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have the potential to fundamentally alter the current monetary system. Potentially they could bring about a whole range of advantages compared to the status quo, yet they could also introduce a host of disadvantages. This text provides a comprehensive list of the pros and cons of CBDC along with a description of every single positive or negative outcome. Finally, it weighs the benefits and drawbacks of this new form of legal tender against each other.

As fall gets into full swing, we're kicking off the second half of Season 6 of the EWN Podcast by talking with members of the EWN leadership team about what they've been working on and what's ahead. In Episode 5, host Sarah Thorne is joined by cohost Jeff King, National Lead of the EWN; cohost Amanda Tritinger, Deputy Program Manager, EWN; and Courtney Chambers, Communications Lead, EWN.The summer of 2023 was an unprecedented summer in many ways. As Sarah notes, “Mother Nature certainly demonstrated that climate change is upon us.” Jeff agrees, revisiting the topic Canada's worst wildfire season ever, covered in Season 6, Episode 4, as well as the wildfires that devastated Lahaina, Hawaii. He also talks about the extreme rainfall and flooding in the southwest caused by Tropical Storm Hillary and the extraordinary flooding and devastation caused by Hurricane Idalia to the big bend area of Florida. As Jeff notes, “People in all parts of the US, Canada, and around the world are experiencing the effects of climate change firsthand.” This global wakeup call is challenging and motivating for the EWN Program. Jeff notes that there are 49 active research projects being led by personnel at the USACE Engineer Research and Development Center to address the climate change imperative by integrating nature-based solutions.As Communications Lead, Courtney Chambers is responsible for sharing the incredible work that is going on with EWN. In her discussion with Sarah, Courtney describes some of what she has been doing to support the development and promotion of publications critical to broadening the reach of EWN, including the next volume of the EWN Atlas series, which captures the essence of EWN and nature-based solutions through images. As Courtney notes, “If you've seen Atlas I or II, you know that these books really showcase the potential for EWN and the diversity they can include.” Sarah adds, “You're helping to share the stories of all of the brilliant scientists, engineers, landscape architects, and other collaborators—and the EWN projects that they're working on—to inspire others. It's important work.”Sarah also speaks with Amanda Tritinger. Amanda shares highlights from her recent trip to Taiwan, coordinated with the USACE Pacific Ocean Division (POD). She was invited to talk about opportunities to engineer with nature as part of the information and technology exchange with the Taiwan Water Resource Agency. “The TWRA has a lot of really cool projects. It was exciting to share what EWN has going on but also to learn a lot of what Taiwan has been doing.” Amanda notes that through the POD they have been involved with a lot of opportunities in Southeast Asia with colleagues in Japan and Vietnam. “It's really exciting that the world is a big place and what seems like a problem can be its own solution through the use of natural infrastructure and better understanding the environment around us.”In closing, Jeff notes, “The climate change that we've all been experiencing is really challenging and motivating our EWN colleagues and collaborators to be innovative—to conduct research and field work on a range of projects that can help mitigate the impacts of climate change and help communities adapt and become more resilient. I really look forward to sharing some of the truly groundbreaking work underway on future episodes of the EWN Podcast. I don't think we're going to run out of interesting things to share with our listeners!!”For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ • Jeff King at LinkedIn• Amanda Tritinger at LinkedIn• Courtney Chambers at LinkedInThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5872676/advertisement

In the southern Philippines, the Bohol community speaks a language they say one man, Pinay, created long ago, leaving it for a modern Filipino named Mariano Datahan to rediscover and reenliven. The Last Language on Earth: Linguistic Utopianism in the Philippines (Oxford University Press, 2023) by Piers Kelly tells the story of the Eskayan language through linguistic, ethnographic, and historical analysis. Kelly investigates the origins of the Eskayan language as well as its role in political and conceptual controversies around language diversity and colonial contact. Carefully avoiding—and problematizing—dichotomies such as “real or fake,” “invented or natural,” the book explores not only the nature of Eskayan, its writing system, lexicon, and syntax, but also its relationship to other languages employed in the Philippines and to strategies of colonial resistance across Southeast Asia. Malcolm Keating is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Yale-NUS College. His research focuses on Sanskrit works of philosophy in Indian traditions, in the areas of language and epistemology. He is the author of Language, Meaning, and Use in Indian Philosophy (Bloomsbury Press, 2019) and host of the podcast Sutras & Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

“One ironic anxiety of travel is that suddenly you're living in 'organic time' and you're not used to it.”  –Rolf Potts In this "vagabonding audio companion" episode of Deviate, remixed from Aaron Millar's Armchair Explorer podcast, Rolf talks about his earliest travel dreams, and what compelled him to finally take a vagabonding dream trip around North America by van in his early twenties (2:00); how travel expectations and planning are often at odds with the joy of what happens spontaneously on the road (8:30); the delightful surprises Rolf found on a recent trip to Sumatra and the Mentawai Islands (11:30); Rolf's experiences in Myanmar, and the importance of seeing time, rather than possessions, as our most important form of wealth in life (22:00); Rolf's early experiences in Southeast Asia, and his monthlong boat journey down the Mekong River (31:00); and how, at its best, travel teaches us to pay attention to life itself (35:00). The Armchair Explorer podcast features adventure storytelling set to music and cinematic effects. Notable Links: Vagabonding, by Rolf Potts (book) The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Souvenir, by Rolf Potts (book) Van Life before #VanLife (Deviate episode) Uinta Mountains (mountain range in Utah) Mardi Gras (annual celebration in New Orleans) Sumatra (island in Indonesia) "Travel in Sumatra is cheap and amazing" (dispatch) "Seeking crowds is better than crowd-sourcing" (dispatch) Mentawai Islands (archipelago in Indonesia) "Boredom is one of the greatest gifts of travel" (dispatch) Hornbill (tropical bird) Bessie Stringfield (20 century American motorcycle traveler) Bagan (UNESCO World Heritage Site in Myanmar) Mekong (river in Southeast Asia) "One Month on the Mekong," by Rolf Potts (travel essay) Henry David Thoreau (American essayist and philosopher) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel's 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don't host a “comments” section, but we're happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

In the southern Philippines, the Bohol community speaks a language they say one man, Pinay, created long ago, leaving it for a modern Filipino named Mariano Datahan to rediscover and reenliven. The Last Language on Earth: Linguistic Utopianism in the Philippines (Oxford University Press, 2023) by Piers Kelly tells the story of the Eskayan language through linguistic, ethnographic, and historical analysis. Kelly investigates the origins of the Eskayan language as well as its role in political and conceptual controversies around language diversity and colonial contact. Carefully avoiding—and problematizing—dichotomies such as “real or fake,” “invented or natural,” the book explores not only the nature of Eskayan, its writing system, lexicon, and syntax, but also its relationship to other languages employed in the Philippines and to strategies of colonial resistance across Southeast Asia. Malcolm Keating is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Yale-NUS College. His research focuses on Sanskrit works of philosophy in Indian traditions, in the areas of language and epistemology. He is the author of Language, Meaning, and Use in Indian Philosophy (Bloomsbury Press, 2019) and host of the podcast Sutras & Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Neil Hansen began his aviation career as a pilot for Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa. He later spent more than a decade in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War era as a captain for Air America, the CIA's airline that operated there during the Vietnam era and the ‘Secret War' in Laos. Neil reveled in the risky flying that fed his adrenaline addiction. Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: The Veterans Channel

In the southern Philippines, the Bohol community speaks a language they say one man, Pinay, created long ago, leaving it for a modern Filipino named Mariano Datahan to rediscover and reenliven. The Last Language on Earth: Linguistic Utopianism in the Philippines (Oxford University Press, 2023) by Piers Kelly tells the story of the Eskayan language through linguistic, ethnographic, and historical analysis. Kelly investigates the origins of the Eskayan language as well as its role in political and conceptual controversies around language diversity and colonial contact. Carefully avoiding—and problematizing—dichotomies such as “real or fake,” “invented or natural,” the book explores not only the nature of Eskayan, its writing system, lexicon, and syntax, but also its relationship to other languages employed in the Philippines and to strategies of colonial resistance across Southeast Asia. Malcolm Keating is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Yale-NUS College. His research focuses on Sanskrit works of philosophy in Indian traditions, in the areas of language and epistemology. He is the author of Language, Meaning, and Use in Indian Philosophy (Bloomsbury Press, 2019) and host of the podcast Sutras & Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

With some of the highest energy bills in Southeast Asia and extreme weather to match, the Philippines experiences the climate crisis -- and climate activism -- as a part of daily life. Clean energy advocate Kala Constantino highlights how people across the country are coming together to transform policies, power and the economy as the island nation maps out its green revolution.

"What's the worst that can happen? You're going to suffer and you're going to die but you know what? We're going to all do that anyway so just relax and do what you want to do as long as it doesn't hurt anybody else." – Lya BadgleyToday's featured author is mom, wife, former musician, and world traveler, Lya Badgley. Lya and I had a fun chat about her first book, “The Foreigner's Confession”, ex-pat life in Southeast Asia, and more!!! Key Things You'll Learn:How Lya transitioned from musician to authorLya's experience with opening a restaurant in MyanmarHow Lya deals with writer's blockHer three major lessons learned from traveling the world Lya's Site: https://www.lyabadgley.com/Lya's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09KVJ947G/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=a60f7702-9215-41fd-9115-bee1b4c9b6c4&store_ref=ap_rdr&ref_=ap_rdr The opening track is titled "Money Trees" by the magnanimous chill-hop master, Marcus D (@marcusd). Be sure to visit his site and support his craft. https://marcusd.net/Please support today's podcast to keep this content coming! CashApp: $DomBrightmonDonate on PayPal: @DBrightmonBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dombrightmonGet Going North T-Shirts, Stickers, and More: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dom-brightmon You May Also Like… Ep. 679 – “Rock Gods & Messy Monsters” with Diane Hatz (@dianehatz): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-679-rock-gods-messy-monsters-with-diane-hatz-dianehatz/ Ep. 586 – “Flipping Bad Situations into Joyful Children's Books” with Violet Lemay (@violetlemay): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-586-flipping-bad-situations-into-joyful-childrens-books-with-violet-lemay-violetlemay/ Ep. 714 – “Drink Wine and Be Beautiful” with Kimberly Noel Sullivan (@KimberlyinRome): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-714-drink-wine-and-be-beautiful-with-kimberly-noel-sullivan-kimberlyinrome/ Ep. 578 – “From Great Resignation to Life Transformation” with Heather Markel (@expatconnector): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-578-from-great-resignation-to-life-transformation-with-heather-markel-expatconnector/ Ep. 597 – “Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will” with Sarah Elkins (@sarahelkins): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-597-your-stories-dont-define-you-how-you-tell-them-will-with-sarah-elkins-sarahelkins/ Ep. 401 – “Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss” with Connor Judson Garrett (@GarretJudson): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-401-spellbound-under-the-spanish/ 240 – “Living An International Life” with E.J. Moran: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/240-living-an-international-life-with-ej-moran/ Ep. 351 – “The Gift Legacy” with JP McLean (@jpmcleanauthor): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-351-the-gift-legacy-with-jp-mclean-jpmcleanauthor/ Ep. 553 – “Passport Forward” with Lex Latkovski: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-553-passport-forward-with-lex-latkovski/ Ep. 549 - “Japan's Best Kept Culinary Secret” with Christopher Pellegrini (@ChrisPellegrini): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-549-japans-best-kept-culinary-secret-with-christopher-pellegrini-chrispellegrini/ Ep. 303 – “10,000 Miles with my Dead Father's Ashes” with Devin Galaudet (@DevinGalaudet): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-303-10000-miles-with-my-dead-fathers-ashes-with-devin-galaudet-devingalaudet/ 54 - "Living & Traveling Abroad" with Nicole T. Brewer (@iluv2globetrot): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/54-living-traveling-abroad-with-nicole-t-brewer-iluv2globetrot/ Ep. 314.5 (Holiday Bonus) – “Turning Point” with Kristy Smith (@kristynotkirsty): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-3145-holiday-bonus-turning-point-with-kristy-smith-kristynotkirsty/ Ep. 501 – “Everyone Is an Entrepreneur” with Gregory Diehl (@GregoryVDiehl): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-501-everyone-is-an-entrepreneur-with-gregory-diehl-gregoryvdiehl/

With some of the highest energy bills in Southeast Asia and extreme weather to match, the Philippines experiences the climate crisis -- and climate activism -- as a part of daily life. Clean energy advocate Kala Constantino highlights how people across the country are coming together to transform policies, power and the economy as the island nation maps out its green revolution.

I had the pleasure of connecting with Evie after an extraordinary experience she had on a trip to Southeast Asia following the passing of her beloved grandmother. You'll also hear Evie's personal journey of motherhood, which informed her work in surrogacy, egg-freezing, fertility and access to information. It's an inspiring story that illustrates how a life journey can shape one's destiny!

In this episode, Stefan speaks with Joshua Cinner. Josh is a distinguished professor in the social sciences at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, and is one of world's leading researchers on human-environment interactions in fisheries, marine conservation and coral reef systems. His research brings together a wide range of social science disciplines including human geography, common property, anthropology, and conservation policy. He often works closely with ecologists on interdisciplinary research topics. Increasingly, his research is moving beyond the case study approach toward a ‘big picture' comparative exploration of human-environment interactions. This includes work with coastal peoples in the Pacific Islands, South East Asia, East Africa, and the Caribbean, to better understand how socioeconomic factors influence the ways in which people use, perceive, and govern coral reefs. In our conversation, Josh explains his origin story connecting to marine systems, his research on coral bright spots and ambitions to continue large scale comparative analyses of human-nature interactions in fisheries. He also explains his approach to collaborative project design and implementation, and how he navigates the social networks of science and science management.   Josh's JCU page https://research.jcu.edu.au/portfolio/joshua.cinner/   Josh's Google Scholar page https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pgldl5oAAAAJ&hl=en   Publication link: Bright spots on the world's coral reefs https://www.nature.com/articles/nature18607   Publications link:  Sixteen years of social and ecological dynamics reveal challenges and opportunities for adaptive management in sustaining the commons | PNAS

Since its first formation in 2007, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or "Quad" of the Australia, India, Japan and the United States of America has continued to evolve in to something that isn't a fully formed alliance, but is a bit more than just a talking shop as well. Encouraged by the changing nature of the People's Republic of China, it is evolving in to something with great potential for enhancing security and international norms at sea to the benefit of not just the Quad, but the other nations in the area.For the full hour today to discuss the Quad will be returning guest Blake Herzinger.The foundation for our discussion will be via the Unites States Study Centre, Bolstering the Quad: The case for a collective approach to maritime security.Blake is a Research Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Defence Program at the United States Studies Centre. His work is broadly focused on Indo-Pacific defence policy and US security cooperation, with emphasis on maritime security and sea power. Previously a Non-resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Blake also directed global security policy for Twitter, and was a Non-resident WSD-Handa Fellow and Young Leader at Pacific Forum. Prior to that, Blake was a civilian adviser to the US Pacific Fleet, focusing on maritime security cooperation in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the South Pacific. During that time, he and his team developed the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative program, delivering assistance ranging from coursework to coast guard cutters to regional maritime law enforcement organisations. He is a serving US Navy Reserve foreign area officer and spent ten years in active service.His work can be found in Foreign Policy, War on the Rocks, The Diplomat, The Straits Times and Nikkei Asia, among other publications. His book, Carrier Killer, focuses on China's anti-ship ballistic missile program and its influence on the regional military balance. Blake holds an MSc in Strategic Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University, and completed his BA in Political Science at Brigham Young University.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3270000/advertisement

Description: Join us in this enriching episode where we sit down with the seasoned business professional, Augustin (Augie) Bourgois. With a rich background spanning management, customer success, and data analytics, Augie brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the table. In this episode, we delve deep into the intricacies of establishing and leading a successful Business Intelligence consulting firm. Augie shares his journey, the highs and lows, and the lessons learned from building a business with a remarkable track record in market analysis and driving revenue growth. We also explore Augie's entrepreneurial spirit, a driving force that has enabled him to identify and seize new business opportunities consistently, steering them towards profitability. Augie sheds light on the key principles of entrepreneurship and offers invaluable advice to budding entrepreneurs. But it's not all business; we take a lighter turn as we discuss Augie's experiences working in 5-star hotels in South East Asia and managing events in some of the most prestigious locations in New York City. Augie shares behind-the-scenes stories, the glamour, and the grit that goes into maintaining the highest standards in the hospitality industry. As someone with multilingual abilities and a master's degree in Hospitality Management, Augie offers a fresh perspective on the evolving dynamics of the hospitality sector, drawing from his rich educational background and hands-on experience. It's a conversation that offers a perfect blend of business insights and personal stories, painting a holistic picture of a life lived with passion and purpose. Whether you're a business enthusiast looking to glean insights from a seasoned professional, or simply someone eager to hear inspiring life stories, this podcast episode with Augustin (Augie) Bourgois promises a rich, enlightening, and heartwarming experience. Disclaimer: Not advice. Educational purposes only. Not an endorsement for or against. Results not vetted. Views of the guests do not represent those of the host or show. Do your due diligence. Click here to join PodMatch (the "AirBNB" of Podcasting): https://www.joinpodmatch.com/drchrisloomdphd We couldn't do it without the support of our listeners. To help support the show: CashApp- https://cash.app/$drchrisloomdphd Venmo- https://account.venmo.com/u/Chris-Loo-4 Buy Me a Coffee- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chrisJx Thank you to our sponsor, CityVest: https://bit.ly/37AOgkp Click here to schedule a 1-on-1 private coaching call: https://www.drchrisloomdphd.com/book-online Click here to purchase my books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PaQn4p Follow our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/chL1357 Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/drchrisloomdphd Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereal_drchrisloo Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drchrisloomddphd Follow the podcast on Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christopher-loo Thank you to our advertisers on Spotify. Financial Freedom for Physicians, Copyright 2023

The East India Company is remembered as the world's most powerful, not to say notorious, corporation. But for many of its advocates from the 1770s to the 1850s it was also the world's most enlightened one.  Joshua Ehrlich reveals that a commitment to knowledge was integral to the Company's ideology. In The East India Company and the Politics of Knowledge (Cambridge UP, 2023), he shows how the Company cited this commitment in defense of its increasingly fraught union of commercial and political power. He moves beyond studies of orientalism, colonial knowledge, and information with a new approach: the history of ideas of knowledge. He recovers a world of debate among the Company's officials and interlocutors, Indian and European, on the political uses of knowledge. Not only were these historical actors highly articulate on the subject but their ideas continue to resonate in the present. Knowledge was a fixture in the politics of the Company – just as it seems to be becoming a fixture in today's politics. Joshua Ehrlich is a historian of knowledge, political thought, the East India Company, the British Empire, and South and Southeast Asia. Currently Assistant Professor of History at the University of Macau, he received a PhD and MA from Harvard University and a BA from the University of Chicago. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

This episode we will look at the influences on Japan from the continent, starting with what was going on between the archipelago and the peninsula with tribute--in the form of birds and even books--as well as conflict.  We'll start to look at what sorts of knowledge was being passed over to Japan in the form of various books, and hopefully set the stage for changes that we will eventually see in the form of the Yamato government, itself. For more, check out our blog post at https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-94 Rough Transcript   Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua, and this is Episode 94: Magpies, Buddhism, and the Baekje Summer Reading Program This is one of a multi-part series discussing the late 6th and early 7th centuries during the reign of Kashikiya Hime, aka Suiko Tennou.  Last episode, Episode 93, I did a very quick overview of just what is going on and some of the players involved.  This episode I want to start deep diving into some of the topics, and we're going to start with looking at the relationship between Yamato and the Continent, primarily, but not exclusively, through their relationships, the gifts and tribute that was going back and forth, and immigration—primarily from Baekje and Silla—and the importation of new ideas, not just Buddhism.  This in turn would would eventually lead to a formal change in the way that the Yamato state governed itself and how it came to see itself even as an equal to that of the Sui court, which had unified the various kingdoms of the Yangtze and Yellow River Basins in the area of modern China. To begin, we'll go back a bit, because this dynamic isn't simply about Kashikiya Hime, Soga no Umako, or any one, single figure—though that is often how it is portrayed.  To start with, let's cover some background and what we know about the archipelago and the continent. As we went over many, many episodes back, the early Yayoi period, prior to the Kofun period, saw a growth in material cultural items that were from or quite similar to those on the Korean peninsula.  There had been some similarities previously, during the Jomon period, but over the course of what now looks to be 1200 to 1300 years, the is evidence of people going regularly back and forth across the straits.  It is quite likely that there were Wa cultural entities on both sides in the early centuries BCE, and there are numerous groups mentioned on the Korean peninsula, presumably from different ethno-linguistic backgrounds, though typically only three areas get much focus: The Samhan, or three Han, of Mahan, Byeonhan, and Jinhan. Later this would shift to three Kingdoms:  Baekje, Silla, and Goguryeo, and they would  get almost all of the press.  Still, we know that there were groups like the Gaya, or Kara, confederacy, and likely other small, eventually isolated groups that did not have their stories written down anywhere, other than mentions in the Chronicles of Japan or of one of the other three major Kingdoms of the peninsula. These groups continued to trade with the continent, and as the archipelago entered the period of mounded tombs, they were doing so as part of a larger mounded tomb cultural area that included both the archipelago and the Korean peninsula: First the funkyubo, which is to say burial mounds, with multiple burials, and then the kofun, the singular tomb mounds for an individual and possibly their direct relatives.  This tradition reached its apex with the distinct zenpo-koen, or round-keyhole style, kofun, an innovation that was rooted in continental practice but at the same time distinctly a part of the archipelago. Many artifacts came over throughout this period, and a fair number of them came with a new innovation: writing.  There is debate over the earliest forms of “writing” to be found in the islands, with evidence of characters on pottery being questioned as to its authenticity.  However, it is hard to question the writing that appeared on the early bronze mirrors and other such artifacts that showed up. Early writing on the archipelago is more decorative or even performative—crude attempts to copy existing characters that often demonstrate a lack of understanding, at least by the artisans that were making various elite goods.  Though, based on the fact that even obvious forgeries with nonsense characters made their way into tombs as grave goods, we can probably assume that most of the elites were not too concerned with writing, either, other than for its decorative, and possibly even talismanic qualities. In the fourth and fifth centuries, this began to change.  We have specialists and teachers coming over to the archipelago, often there as tutors for the royal Baekje princes who were apparently staying in Yamato as part of a diplomatic mission.  No doubt some Yamato elites began to learn to read and write, but even at this point it seems to have been more of a novelty, and for several centuries reading and writing would seem to have remained largely the purview of educated immigrant communities who came to Yamato and set up shop. Though, along with things like the horse, writing may have nonetheless assisted Yamato in extending its authority, as speech could now, with a good scribe, be committed to paper or some other medium and then conveyed great distances without worry about something begin forgotten. So, at this point, writing appears to mostly be utilitarian in purpose.  It fills a need.  That said, we have discussion of the Classics, and as reading and writing grew, exposure to writings on philosophy, religion, and other topics expanded.  After all, reading meant that you were no longer reliant on simply whom you could bring over from the continent.  Instead, you could import their thoughts—or even the thoughts of humans long dead—and read them for yourself.  In the early 6th century, we see Baekje sending over libraries worth of books.  These are largely focused on Buddhist scriptures, but they also include other works of philosophy as well.  It is unclear to me how much the evangelical nature of Buddhism contributed to this spread.  Buddhism exhorts believers to share the Buddha's teachings with all sentient beings.  Even during the Buddha's lifetime, his disciples would go out and teach and then gather back with their teacher during the rainy season. Buddhist teachings, coming over in books—the sutras—came alongside of other writings.  There were writings about philosophy, about medicine, and about science, including things that we might today consider magical or supernatural.  Those who knew how to read and write had access to new knowledge, to new ideas, and to new ways of thinking.  We can see how all of this mixed in the ways that things are described in the Chronicles.  For example, we see that many of the rulers up to this point have been described in continental terms as wise and sage kings.  Now, as Buddhism starts to gain a foothold, we see Buddhist terminology entering in to the mix.  In some ways it is a mishmash of all of the different texts that were coming over, and it seems that things were coming more and more to a head. In addition, there were things going on over on the continent as well, and this would come to also affect the archipelago.  For one thing, this was a period of unification and consolidation of the various state polities.  Baekje and Silla had been consolidating the smaller city-states under their administration for some time, and in 589 the Sui dynasty finally achieved what so many had tried since the time of the Jin—they consolidated control over both the Yangtze and Yellow River basins.  They set up their capital, and in so doing they had control of the largest empire up to that point in the history of East Asia.  The Sui dynasty covered not only these river basins, but they also had significant control over the Western Regions, out along the famous Silk Road. The Sui could really make some claim to being Zhongguo, the Middle Kingdom, with so many of the trade routes passing through their territory.  They also controlled the lands that were the source of so much of the literary tradition—whether that was the homelands of sages like Confucius, or else the gateway to India and the home of Buddhism.  It is perfectly understandable that those states in the Sui's orbit would enter a period of even further Sinification.  For the archipelago this was likely through a lens tinted by their intermediaries on the Korean peninsula, but even they were clearly looking to the Sui and adopting some of the tools of statecraft that had developed over in the lands of the Middle Kingdom. During the early years of the Sui, Yamato had been involved in their own struggles, and at the end of the previous reign Yamato had an army in Tsukushi poised to head over and chastise Silla for all that they had done to Nimna, but then Hasebe was assassinated, and it is unclear what actually happened to that expedition.  Yamato started gathering an army in 591, and Kishi no Kana and Kishi no Itahiko were sent to Silla and Nimna, respectively, as envoys, and then we are told that in 595 the generals and their men arrived from Tsukushi.  Does that mean that they went over to the peninsula, fought, and then came back from Tsukushi?  It is all a little murky, and not entirely clear to me. Rather, we are told that in 597 the King of Baekje sent Prince Acha to Yamato with so-called “tribute”—the diplomatic gifts that we've discussed before, re-affirming Baekje and Yamato's alliance.  Later that same year, Iwagane no Kishi was sent to Silla, so presumably Yamato and Silla relations had improved.  Iwagane no Kishi returned back some five months later, in 598, and he offered a gift from the Silla court of two magpies to Kashikiya Hime.  We are told that they were kept in the wood of Naniwa, where they built a nest in a tree and had their young. Aston notes here that magpies are plentiful on the continent but not in Japan.  Indeed, their natural range is noted across eastern China and up through the Amur river region, as well as a subspecies up in Kamchatka, and yet it seems like they didn't exactly stray far from the coast.  In modern Japan, the magpie, is considered to be an invasive species, and the current populations likely were brought over through trade in the late 16th century, suggesting that this initial couple of birds and their offspring did not exactly work out.  Even today magpies are mostly established in Kyushu, with occasional sightings further north—though they have been seen as far north as Hokkaido.  Perhaps Naniwa just was not quite as hospitable for them.  There is also the possibility that the term “magpie” was referencing some other, similar bird.  That is always possible and hard to say for certain.  That said, it is part of a trend, as four months later, in the autumn of 598, a Silla envoy brought another bird:  this time a peacock. Not to be outdone, apparently, a year later, in the autumn of 599, Baekje sent a veritable menagerie:  a camel, two sheep, and a white pheasant.  Presumably these were sent alive, though whether or not there was anyone in Japan who knew how to take care of them it is unclear.  I can only imagine what it must have been like to have such animals on board the ship during the treacherous crossing of the Korea strait—for all we know there were other exotic gifts that were likewise sent, but these are the only ones that made it. And if this sounds far-fetched, we have plenty of evidence of the exotic animal trade.  Animals such as ostriches, and possibly even a giraffe or two, were somehow moved all the way from Africa along the silk road to the court in Chang'an. There were also “tribute” gifts sent from parts of the archipelago, though I suspect this was quite different from the diplomatic gifts shared between states.  For example, there was a white deer sent to Kashikiya Hime from the land of Koshi in the winter of 598.  It was no camel or magpie, but white or albino animals—assuming that wasn't their normal color—were considered auspicious symbols. Also, in 595 there was a huge log that washed ashore in Awaji.  A local family hauled it up and went to use it as firewood when they noticed that it gave off a particularly sweet smell.  Immediately they put out the fire, as they suddenly realized what they had:  it was a log of aloeswood.  Aloeswood is well known as one of the most highly prized aromatic woods, and it famously does not grow in Japan.  In fact, it is a tropical wood, growing in Southeast Asia.  For a log to have washed ashore is almost unbelievable—perhaps it was part of a trade shipment that sank.  It isn't impossible that a log somehow fell, naturally, into the ocean and followed the currents all the way up to Japan, which would have been quite the journey. And so, with such a rare gift, the people offered it up to Kashikiya Hime.  This was probably the best course of action.  They could use it for themselves, but that likely wouldn't have done much other than help perfume the air for a time.  Or they could have tried to sell it—but given the rarity, I'm sure there would have been questions.  In both cases, I suspect that they would have been at risk of some elite getting wind and deciding that they should just take it for themselves.  By offering it to the court, publicly, they received the credit for it, at least—and it probably put them in favor with the court at least for a little while. Logs like this would be treated with immense respect.  Small pieces would be taken, often ground down and used sparingly.  A piece much like this called “Ranjatai” came over as a gift from the Tang dynasty in the 8th century, and was later preserved at Todaiji in the 8th century, and is still there as part of the Shosoin collection. The story of this particular one is interesting in that knowledge of aloeswood and the tradition of scent appreciation likely came over from the continent, probably from the Sui and Tang dynasties, as part of the overall cultural package that the archipelago was in the midst of absorbing. Despite the apparently good relations indicated by gifts like magpies or peacocks, it is clear there were still some contentions with Silla, especially given that nobody had forgotten their takeover of Nimna, and it didn't help that in 600, we are told that Silla and Nimna went to war with each other--again.  It isn't clear just how involved Yamato was in this, if at all—by all accounts, Nimna has already been under Silla control.  Was this a local rebellion?  An attempt by Yamato and Baekje to split it off?  Or something else?  Or is it just a fabrication to justify the next bit, where we are told that Kashikiya Hime sent an army of 10,000 soldiers under the command of Sakahibe no Omi as Taishogun and Hozumi no Omi as his assistant, the Fukushogun?  They crossed the waters over to Silla and laid siege to five of Silla's fortresses, forcing Silla to raise the white flag.  The Nihon Shoki claims that Silla then ceded six fortified places:  Tatara, Sonara, Pulchikwi, Witha, South Kara, and Ara. Since Silla submitted, the Yamato troops stopped their assault and Kashikiya Hime sent Naniwa no Kishi no Miwa to Silla and Naniwa no Kishi no Itahiko to Nimna to help broker some sort of peace.  Interestingly, this seems quite similar to the account of 591, when they sent “Kishi no Itahiko”, with no mention of Naniwa.  Presumably it is the same individual, and I have to wonder if it isn't the same event, just relocated and duplicated for some reason. A peace was brokered, and the Yamato troops departed, but it seems that Silla was dealing in something other than good faith: no sooner had the Yamato troops gotten back in their boats than Silla once again invaded Nimna, again. I'd like to stress that there is no evidence of this at all that I could find in the Samguk Sagi, and it is possible that some of this is in the wrong section, possibly to simply prop up this period, in general.  However, it is equally as likely that the Samguk Sagi simply did not record a loss to Yamato—especially one that they quickly overturned, setting things back to the status quo.  As such, the best we can say is that Silla and Yamato around this time were less than buddy buddy. With Silla going back on their word, Yamato reached out to Goguryeo and Baekje in 601.  Ohotomo no Muraji no Kurafu went to Goguryeo, while Sakamoto no Omi no Nukade traveled to Baekje.  Silla was not just waiting around, however, and we are told that Silla sent a spy to Yamato, but they were arrested and found out in Tsushima.  They arrested him and sent him as tribute to the Yamato court. We are told that the spy's name was “Kamata”, and he was banished to Kamitsukenu—aka the land of Kenu nearer to the capital, later known as Kouzuke.  And there are a few things about this story that I think we should pull on. First off, that name: Kamata.  That feels very much like a Wa name, more than one from the peninsula.  We aren't told their ethnicity, only whom they were working for, so it may have been someone from Wa, or possibly that is just the name by which they were known to the archipelago.  There likely were Wa who were living on the peninsula, just like there were people from Baekje, Silla, and Koguryeo living in the archipelago, so that's not out of the question.  Furthermore, it would make sense, if you wanted to send someone to spy on Yamato, to use someone who looked and sounded the part. The punishment is also interesting.  They didn't put him to death.  And neither did they imprison him.  In fact, I'm not sure that there would have been anywhere to imprison him, as there wasn't really a concept of a “prison” where you just lock people up.  There may have been some form of incarceration to hold people until they could be found guilty and punished, but incarceration as a punishment just doesn't really come up.  Instead, if you wanted to remove someone, banishment seems to have been the case—sending them off somewhere far away, presumably under the care of some local official who would make sure that they didn't run off.  Islands, like Sado Island, were extremely useful for such purposes, but there are plenty of examples where other locations were used as well. They probably could have levied a fine, as well, but that seems almost pointless, as he would have been free to continue to spy on Yamato.  Instead they sent him about as far away from Silla and Silla support as they could send him. This also speaks to the range of Yamato's authority.  It would seem that Tsushima was at least nominally reporting to Yamato, though given that he was sent as “tribute” to the court, that may indicate that they still had some level of autonomy.  And then there must have been someone in Kamitsukenu in order to banish someone all the way out there, as well. Of course, given all of this, it is hardly surprising that Yamato was back to discussing the possibility of making war with Silla again.  And so, in the second month of 602, Prince Kume was appointed for the invasion of Silla, and he was granted the various “Be” of the service of the kami—possibly meaning groups like the Imbe and the Nakatomi, along with the Kuni no Miyatsuko, the Tomo no Miyatsuko, and an army of 25,000 men.  And they were ready to go quickly—only two months later they were in Tsukushi, in the district of Shima, gathering ships to ferry the army over to the peninsula. Unfortunately, two months later, things fell apart.  On the one hand, Ohotomo no Muraji no Kurafu and Sakamoto no Omi no Nukade returned back from Baekje, where they likely had been working with Yamato's allies.  Kurafu had been on a mission to Goguryeo and Nukade had been sent to Baekje the previous year.  However, at the same time, Prince Kume fell ill, and he was unable to carry out the invasion. In fact, the invasion was stalled at least through the next year, when, in about the 2nd month of 603, almost a year after Prince Kume had been sent out, a mounted courier brought news to Kashikiya Hime that he had succumbed to his illness.  She immediately consulted with her uncle, Soga no Umako, and the Crown Prince, Umayado, and asked them for their counsel.  Ultimately, she had Kume's body taken to Saba in Suwo, out at the western end of the Seto Inland Sea side of western Honshu, modern Yamaguchi Prefecture, where the prince was temporarily interred, with Hashi no Muraji no Wite, possibly a local official, overseeing the ceremony.  Later, Wite's descendants in the region were called the Saba no Muraji.  Kume was finally buried atop Mt. Hanifu in Kawachi. A quick note here about time.  It is sometimes difficult to figure out just what happened when.  This is all noted for the fourth day of the second month of 603.  Clearly it didn't all happen in one day, so what actually happened on that day?   Remember, Kume fell ill in the 6th month of 602, and we are now in the 2nd month of the following year.  So did he fall ill and then was wasting away for 8 months before he passed away?  Or is this the date when the court learned of his death?  Or is it the date when his body was finally buried?  There is a lot going on, and they don't exactly provide a day-to-day.  My general take is that this is when the news arrived at the court, which is when there would have been a court record, while the rest was likely commentary added for context, even if it happened much later. In addition, this whole thing holds some questions for me, not the least the name of this prince:  Kume.  Presumably, Kume was a full brother to none other than the Crown Prince, Prince Umayado.  He was also a son of Princess Anahobe and the sovereign, Tachibana no Toyohi, and we have seen then name “Kume” before as a name, or at least a sobriquet, for someone in the royal family.  However, it also means “army”, which seems surprisingly on the nose, given that all we are given about him is that he was supposed to lead an army.  It makes me wonder if this wasn't one of those half-remembered stories that the Chroniclers included without all of the information.  Then again, maybe Kume really was his name, and this is all just a coincidence. I also would note that it was not typical to have a royal prince leading an expedition like this.  Typically, the taishogun would be someone from an influential family, but not a member of the royal family, themselves.  That this army was being led by a royal prince also seems to speak to how this was seen as significant.  Perhaps that is why, when Kume passed away, they chose as his replacement his older brother:  Tahema. [Look up more on Tahema and if I can find out about him] Tahema was selected to take over for his younger brother on the first day of the 4th month of 603, and 3 months later, on the 3rd day of the 7th month, he was leaving out of Naniwa.  He didn't get very far, however.  Tahema embarked on this adventure along with his own wife, Princess Toneri.  We've seen this in past episodes, where women were in the camp alongside their husbands, directly supporting the campaigns.  Unfortunately, in this case, Princess Toneri died shortly into their journey, at Akashi.  This is recorded as only three days after they had departed, which likely means it happened quickly.  They buried her at Higasa Hill, but Tahema, likely grieving his loss, returned, and never carried out the invasion. Five years later, things may have improved with Silla, as there were a number of immigrants—we are only told that they were “many persons”—came to settle in Japan.  What isn't noted is whether or not this was of their own volition.  What forces drove them across from the peninsula?  Did they realize that there were opportunities to come and provide the Yamato elites with their continental knowledge and skills?  Were they prisoners of war?  If so, where was the war?  Or were they fleeing conflict on the peninsula?  Perhaps political refugees?  It isn't exactly clear. While things were rocky with Silla, relations seem to have been much better with the Baekje and Goguryeo.  While exotic animals may have been the gift of choice in the early part of the period, by 602, Baekje and Goguryeo were both sending gifts of a different sort.  These were more focused on spiritual and intellectual pursuits.  And so, in 602, a Baekje priest named Kwalleuk—or Kanroku, in the Japanese pronunciation—arrived bringing books on a number of different subjects, which three or four members of the court were assigned to study.  We don't know exactly what the contents of each book was, but based on what we generally know about later theories, we can probably make some educated guesses that much of this was probably based on concepts of yin and yang energies.  Yin and yang, were considered primal energies, and at some point I will need to do a full episode just on this, but during the Han dynasty, many different cosmological theories came together and were often explained in terms of yin and yang.  So elemental theory is explained as each element has some different portion of yin and yang, and similarly different directions, different times of day, and different times of the year were all explained as different proportions of yin and yang energies, which then contributed to whether certain actions would be easier or more difficult—or even outright dangerous. The book on calendar-making, or ”koyomi”, was assigned to Ohochin, whose name suggests that he may have been from a family from the continent, and he was the ancestor of the Yako no Fumibito.  Calendar-making was considered one of the more important roles in continental sciences, although it never quite took off to the same degree in Yamato.  Still, it described the movement of the stars and how to line up the lunar days with various celestial phenomena.  It also was important for understanding auspicious and inauspicious days, directions, and more—arts like divination, geomancy, and straight up magic would often provide instructions that required an understanding of the proper flow of yin and yang energies, as represented by the elements, and expressed on the calendar in terms of the elemental branch and stem system, with each day being related to a given element in an either greater or lesser capacity, usually related as the elder or younger brother.  Events might be scheduled to take place, for instance, on the first rat day of the first month, and so the calendar maker would be the one to help determine when that would be.  Also, since the solar and lunar calendars were not in synch, there would occasionally be a need for a “leap month”, often known as an extra-calendrical month, which would typically just repeat the previous month.  This would happen, literally, “once in a blue moon”, an English expression referring to a solar month with two full moons.  In fact, we just had one of those last month, in August of 2023. This isn't to say that the archipelago didn't have a system of keeping track of seasons, etc.  Clearly they were successfully planting and harvesting rice, so they had knowledge of roughly what time it was in the year, though there are some thoughts that a “year” was originally based on a single growing period, leading to two or three “years” each solar year.  Either way, farmers and others no doubt knew at least local conditions and what to look for regarding when to plant, and when to perform local ceremonies, but this was clearly a quote-unquote, “scientific” approach, based on complex and authoritative sounding descriptions of yin and yang energies. Closely related to the calendar-making studies, another book that the Baekje priest Kwalleuk brought over was one on Astronomy, or “Tenmon”, a study of the heavens, which was studied by Ohotomo no Suguri no Kousou.  For perhaps obvious reasons, astronomy and calendar-making were closely aligned, since the change in the stars over the course of the year would often have impacts on the calendar.  However, this was also likely very closely aligned with something akin to astrology, as well, following the celestial paths of various entities, many of those being things like planets.  If you aren't aware, planets, though they often appear in the sky as “stars”, have apparently erratic movements across the heavens.  The stars generally remain fixed, and from our perspective appear to “move” together throughout the year.  Planets, however, take funky loop-de-loop paths through our sky, as they, like the earth, are also orbiting the sun.  Furthermore, different planets orbit at different speeds.  All of this leads to some apparently strange movements, especially if you envision the sky as a round dome over a flat earth.  There are also other phenomenon, from regular meteor showers to comets, and even eclipses, all of which were thought to have their own reasons.  Some of these were considered natural—neither auspicious nor inauspicious—while others were thought to impact the flow of yin yang energy on the earth, thus potentially affecting our day-to-day lives. Kousou was apparently trying to get the special bonus for the summer reading program, because he also studied another book that came over from Baekje on a subject that Aston translates as “Invisibility”, or “tonkou”.  This is a little less obvious an explanation.  I don't think that they were literally studying, ninja-style, how to not to be seen.  In discussions of kami we've talked in the past about visible kami and, thus, conversely, invisible kami.  It appears to be based on a type of divination to help better understand auspicious and inauspicious signs, and is based on a blend of various theories, again connected to a large yin-yang theory. Finally, there was another volume that was studied by Yamashiro no Omi no Hinamitsu that Aston translates as straight up “magic”, or “houjutsu”.  Of course, in the worldview at the time, Magic was just another science that we didn't understand.  By understanding the flow of yin and yang, one can affect various things, from helping cure disease and heal the sick to causing calamity, even to the point of possibly learning the secrets of immortality. Much of this would fall into the terms “onmyoudou”, the way of Yin and Yang, and there had been some work on that introduced earlier.  That it was being introduced by a Buddhist priest demonstrates what I was saying earlier about just how interconnected it all was. Other Buddhist gifts were much more straightforward.  In 605, for instance, the king of Goguryeo sent 300 Ryou of what they call “yellow metal”, possibly an admixture of gold and copper, for a Buddhist image.  Five years later they sent two priests.  One of them, Tamchi, is said to have known the Five Classics, that is the Confucian classics, as well as how to prepare different colored paints, paper, and ink. All of this is interesting, but it is the usual suspects.  Yamato had been siphoning off culture and philosophy from the states and kingdoms of the Korean peninsula for some time, and in that time, they began to adopt various continental practices.  In later centuries, much of this would be attributed to the work of Shotoku Taishi, aka Prince Umayado, especially the transmission of Buddhist thought, although for the most part we haven't actually seen a lot of that in the Chronicles themselves, which we'll get to. However, later stories paint him as one of the main forces pushing for reform in the court, especially when they would eventually push for a new, 17 article constitution, based on principles pulled from a variety of sources—both Buddhist and Han philosophical foundations.  Along with that constitution, the court also instituted a 12 rank system for court ministers.  This ranking system would remain in place, eventually replacing entirely the kabane system that ranked individuals based on their family in favor of ranking one for their individual achievements.  Furthermore, it wasn't just a status symbol.  Rank would come into play in all aspects of courtly life, from the parts of the palace you were allowed to be in, the kinds of jobs you could do, and even the amount that you were paid for your service, making the families of the land part of and dependent on the bureaucracy. And with such a system in place, there was only one natural thing for it:  The Yamato court would reach out beyond the Korean peninsula and go directly to the source.  They would send envoys to the court of the Sui Emperor himself and establish relations with the Middle Kingdom directly, leading to one of the most famous diplomatic incidents in all of the early Japanese history. And that is where I'm going to have to leave it for now, because once we get into that rabbit hole we are going to have a whole other episode.  And so now we are fully grounded in our foundation.  We can see Yamato importing people and also ideas from the continent, through the peninsula, and those ideas are taking root.  They are causing changes, at least at the Yamato court, but those changes would eventually make there way throughout society, and forever change Japan and even how they see themselves.  The lens of what is commonly seen as Buddhist and Confucian thought would be a powerful tool that would shape the ideas to come. Until next time, then, thank you for listening and for all of your support.  If you like what we are doing, tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to Tweet at us at @SengokuPodcast, or reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.