Podcasts about spice route

Exactly a month into his new term, President Donald Trump's latest major pick, Kash Patel, has been appointed as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation after a grueling confirmation in the US Senate. Tulsi Gabbard had earlier been confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence. Both these are positive from India's point of view: they signal that the sinister Deep State may well be reined in, after decades of anti-India activism on its part.Over the last week or two, there have been revelations after revelations of bad faith on the part of the disgraced US establishment, most notably in the shadowy USAID agency, which, it appears, was the absolute “Heart of Darkness” of the Deep State, neck-deep in covert operations, election interference, and general mayhem all over the world, and certainly in India.Trump himself emphasized that $21 million in covert funds had gone towards affecting election outcomes in India. Presumably the reduced majority Modi got in 2024 could be traced back to this. Fortress AmericaThe general contours of Trump's foreign policy are beginning to emerge. I predicted a month ago, before Trump had taken over, in ‘Greenland, Canada, Panama: Chronicles of a Foreign Policy Foretold', that Western Europe, and the United Kingdom in particular, would find themselves treated as irrelevant to the new order to come. That has happened.In fact, things have gone beyond what I anticipated. In a nutshell, Trump is downgrading the Atlantic, and his focus will be on the Americas, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. Which, from a historical perspective, makes sense: the world's economic center of gravity is moving towards Asia; trade flows in the Pacific and the Indian Oceans are increasingly more important than in the Atlantic; and a few centuries of European domination are pretty much over.Sorry Europe, Atlanticism is at an endTo put it bluntly, the vanity that Europe is a ‘continent' is now being exposed as hollow: to be precise, it is merely an appendage, an outpost, to vast Asia. Europe is at best a subcontinent, like India is; it should probably be renamed as ‘Northwest Asia'. The saga of ‘Guns, Germs and Steel' post the Industrial Revolution is winding down rapidly. There is some schadenfreude in that the UK becomes even more irrelevant: just a small, rainy island off NW Asia.The Putin-Trump dialog suggests that Ukraine, and even NATO, are now superfluous. Atlanticism has been a constant in US foreign policy, mostly pushed by two forces:* Eastern European-origin State Department officials who have inherited a blood-feud with Russia from their ancestors, eg. Brzezinski, Albright, Nuland, Blinken, Vindman* an ancient intra-Christian schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church and (for a change) an alliance of Roman Catholics and Western Protestants like Lutherans, Anglicans and Calvinists.It is time that the Americans realized they've been turned into cats'-paws by these forces, and turned their backs on these ancient animosities, which have almost no relevance today. In fact one could argue that a NATO-Russian alliance is the right solution in the medium term, because otherwise both could become puppets of China. Bringing the Ukraine war to an end is a start.The general tone of the Trump White House implies a Fortress America. In practice, this seems to mean that instead of being Globocop, the US focuses on a) the Americas, North and South, b) the Pacific Ocean, d) the Indian Ocean, in that order.A new Monroe Doctrine in the AmericasThe attention being paid to Canada and Mexico over and above the tariffs issues suggests that there is a plan to create a stronger and more unified North American entity; the noises about “Canada the 51st state” and “Gulf of America” suggest that maybe a new NAFTA-style agreement could be inked, especially now that the warming Arctic Ocean makes the thawing tundra of Canada more appealing.It is true that there is no immediate thrust for a Monroe Doctrine-style exclusive US ‘sphere of influence' in South America, but I suspect it is coming. Already, there have been positive vibes between Trump and Argentina's Milei, and Salvador's Bukele: the former for his DOGE-style chainsaw-wielding that's showing results, and the latter for his strong law enforcement.The Island Chains and other red lines in the PacificIn the Pacific, there has been pushback against China's moves on the Panama Canal: there are two Hong-Kong-based entities (read proxies of the Chinese government) controlling ports around it: Balboa on the Pacific side, and Cristobal on the Atlantic side.On the other hand, there is increasing global support (with the judicious use of Chinese carrots such as BRI) for the annexation of Taiwan by China, including, if necessary, by force. A Lowy Institute study (“Five One Chinas: The Contest to Define Taiwan”) suggests that some 119 UN member states accept the official Chinese position on ‘reunification'. Only 40 countries are not on board with China's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan.It is very likely that there will be a showdown between the US and China over Taiwan, within the next two years. It is said that Xi Jinping has given a timeframe of 2027 for all this. It will be interesting to see how many states that condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine will condemn China's future attack on Taiwan. Chances are that many will be strategically silent.Japan, Australia, South Korea and other friends of the US will have a hard time keeping the peace in the Pacific. The “Three Island Chains” act as increasingly critical red lines to contain an aggressive China. In fact, the Asia Maritime Initiative is speaking of five island chains (“China's Reach Has Grown, So Should the Island Chains”), including those in the Indian Ocean (remember the “String of Pearls” intended to tighten around India's throat).The three island chains: 1. Taiwan, Japan, Philippines; 2. Guam, Marianas; 3. Hawaii(Source: China is making waves in the Pacific, Alexandra Tirziu, Jan 2024 https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/china-pacific-conflict/)Meanwhile, in a show of aggression far from its shores, three Chinese warships indulged in “live firing” in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, and commercial aircraft were warned to keep away. This is a warning to Australia, which, thanks to AUKUS foolishness, cancelled French submarines and now await British submarines… in the 2040s.The increasing relevance of the Indian Ocean and the Middle EastMuch of the world's trade, including 75% of global maritime trade and 50% of its daily oil shipments, go through the Indian Ocean.The main issues will be the control of the Straits of Malacca and Hormuz, and the alternative routes being explored by China via the Isthmus of Kra in Thailand, possible use of Coco Islands and other Myanmarese ports including Sittwe and (a bit of a stretch for China) access to Chittagong. There are also troublesome pirates, including Houthis, that make for perilous journeys leading to the Suez Canal, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea.Interestingly, the US is making moves in the Indian Ocean that will support both the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) and I2U2, the India-Israel-UAE-US economic partnership. IMEC is the old Spice Route, revivified.There is also the proposed Ben-Gurion Canal through the Negev Desert in Israel that would benefit Saudi Arabia as well (its futuristic NEOM city is nearby), and this would be made feasible by Trump's proposed transformation of Gaza. It would be an alternative to Suez.Following up on the Abraham Accords, Trump 2.0 would like to bring the Gaza war to an end, and create an environment in the Middle East where Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE et al will form a counter and a buffer to the machinations of Iran and Turkey.The Indo-US joint communique is a statement of intentIt is in this global context that we need to analyze the joint communique between the US and India after the Trump-Modi summit. Both nations will be attempting to advance their own strategic doctrines. The US would like India to become a non-treaty ally. India would like to keep its multi-alignment policy going, along with Atmanirbharatha. These may make any bilateral progress a little rough but some give and take will work.There are a few specific areas of interest:* Defense* There is an effort by the US to wean India away from its dependency on Russia for weapons. The most evident carrot here is the F-35 advanced fighter jet, which has now been offered to India for the first time, along with other conventional weapons such as Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stryker infantry combat vehicles, as well as the P8i Poseidon anti-submarine patrol aircraft, and various drones* The P8i is already in service in India, and it would help keep an eye on the southern Bay of Bengal with its proximity to China's submarine pen on Hainan Island* The F-35 raises some questions. In the Bangalore Air Show it was pitted against the Russian Su-57, which is a lot less expensive. Also, the F-35 needs extraordinary levels of maintenance for its ‘stealth' coating. Finally, should India invest in building its own AMCA 5th-generation fighter jet rather than buying?* Even though there will be co-production agreements, the US is a whimsical supplier (remember Tarapur), and there will be little transfer of technology, so military procurement and cooperation must be carefully thought through by India* Trade and Investment* The goal is to reach $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, which would involve a doubling from current levels ($200 billion in 2023). Besides, the Trump doctrine of reciprocal tariffs and zero trade imbalance may make some of this difficult* Indian firms are planning to invest $7.35 billion in the US* Energy* India will now get access to US civil nuclear technology, but there's a small twist: the clauses invoking civil liability for nuclear damage will be deleted. This is reminiscent of Pfizer's covid-era contract with developing countries: Pfizer was assured of indemnity (with the local governments being liable) in case of injury or death caused by its vaccine. This sounds like a bad idea* India will increase its purchases of US oil and natural gas. This is a win-win: it will increase US imports to India, thus reducing the trade deficit, and India will be assured of additional supplies* Technology and Innovation* A whole raft of actions have been proposed, including a tie-up between the US National Science Foundation and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation in India, a program called TRUST, another called INDUS innovation, and one in the area of space collaboration, titled NISAR* Multilateral Cooperation* The Quad, IMEC and I2U2 figured in communique, but also something called the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture. I note this nomenclature progress with approval: there used to be the Asia-Pacific, then it was the Indo-Pacific, and now the Indian Ocean is being singled out* In the area of counter-terrorism, the communique explicitly named Pakistani entities such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba, among others. This is a welcome change from the shadow-boxing indulged in by the Biden administration and others, whereby Pakistani terrorists were treated as ‘assets'* The extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian now in a Los Angeles jail, to India for investigation into his role supporting David Headley, in the 26/11/2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, is a welcome sign, after the curious Biden exertions in the Pannun case* People to people links* Indian parents are spending $8 billion a year to support 300,000 Indian students in the US. This amounts to a sort of ‘foreign aid', and also incidentally supplies a lot of especially STEM graduates to the US economy* Facilitating visas, which have become frustratingly difficult for Indian business and leisure travelers to the US. Last year, the wait for just a visa interview was 452 days in Chennai (as compared to 15 days in Beijing), which probably was the result ot the Biden State Department ‘punishing' India for refusing to toe their Ukraine sanctions line* The legal movement of students and professionals between the two countries is to be eased.Overall, this is a statement of intent: both Modi and Trump are laying their cards on the table, and they will both (as they should) bargain hard to benefit their own nations. But India is no longer being treated as a pariah as it was since the Pokhran blasts, the denial of cryogenic rocket engines (via, yes, the Biden Amendment), and so on.As Trump moves towards the inevitable multipolar world, he does not wish to leave Asia to eager hegemon China; as he wishes to move the US out of military entanglements in far-off places (for which he expects Europe and others to bear the burden of their own defense), it is natural for him to want India to punch its weight in Asia.A mutually beneficial relationship free of the supercilious lectures by previous Democratic administrations (eg Daleep Singh on Ukraine sanctions, and he was, ironically enough, the great-grand-nephew of Dalip Singh Saund) would be welcome from the Indian point of view. Having a counterweight to China, and a G3 instead of a G2, would likewise be useful from the US point of view. Thus, there are glimpses of a possible win-win situation.2222 words, 22-02-2025 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

Imagine stepping into a world where ancient Indian traditions blend seamlessly with modern luxury. That's exactly what you'll find at Delhi's two most prestigious hotels: The Imperial New Delhi and The Leela Palace New Delhi. These aren't just places to rest your head – they're gateways to experiencing India's rich cultural tapestry in all its glory.The Imperial New Delhi, established in 1936, is like walking into a living museum of Indo-European art and culture. Picture yourself wandering through corridors adorned with over 5,500 rare artworks from the 17th and 18th centuries. The hotel spans eight magnificent acres in Janpath, featuring one of India's largest swimming pools surrounded by swaying palm trees. It's an oasis of calm in the heart of bustling Delhi.What makes The Imperial truly special is its dedication to authentic experiences. The spa offers traditional Ayurvedic treatments that tap into India's ancient healing wisdom. The dining options are equally impressive, with The Spice Route restaurant taking you on a culinary journey through Asia. Don't miss the afternoon tea at The Atrium or the unique experience at the Patiala Peg bar, where you can enjoy an exclusive 120ml pour of premium whisky.On the other hand, The Leela Palace New Delhi represents contemporary Indian luxury at its finest. The hotel amazes guests with its rooftop pool overlooking the Delhi skyline and world-class restaurants like Megu for Japanese cuisine and Jamavar for refined Indian dining. Their concierge service is exceptional, arranging private tours in BMWs to explore both Old and New Delhi's treasures.Both hotels excel at making India's sometimes overwhelming nature feel accessible and enjoyable. They employ the ancient Sanskrit philosophy of "Atithi Devo Bhava" (the guest is equivalent to God), ensuring every visitor feels genuinely cared for. The favorable exchange rate means you're getting world-class luxury at surprisingly reasonable prices.The best time to visit is between October and March when Delhi's weather is most pleasant. Whether you're a business traveler, a culture enthusiast, or a luxury seeker, both properties offer comprehensive services including shopping advisories, spa treatments, and expert guides to help you navigate the city's rich heritage.Beyond just accommodation, these hotels serve as cultural bridges, helping visitors understand and appreciate India's complex heritage. They make first-time visitors feel comfortable while offering seasoned travelers new perspectives on Indian culture. Many guests find themselves planning their return visit before their first stay ends – such is the spell these magnificent properties cast on their visitors.Support the showTripCast360 --- It's all about travel, lifestyle and entertainment.Web: TripCast360.com.Twit: https://twitter.com/TripCast360FB: https://www.facebook.com/TripCast360Insta: https://www.instagram.com/tripcast360/

Season 4, Episode 28 - Restaurant Week returns for November 17th to the 22nd at more than 40 great spots across the region! In this episode we get to take a journey on the Spice Route with Kailash at his amazing restaurant in Bartonsville. Spice Route in Bartonsville is offering a four course prefix menu for just $37 plus taxes but the place with a wide variety of Indian, pan Asian & Thai offers so much more. The Poconos is a year-round destination for millions and with 2,400 square miles of mountains, forests, lakes and rivers with historic downtowns and iconic family resorts, it's the perfect getaway for a weekend or an entire week. You can always find out more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PoconoMountains.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pocono Television Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ streaming live 24/7.

this episode is all things trade deadline! We review all the moves that happened and the ones that didnt! We obviously had to talk about Torts doing his best Wolf of Wall street impression and everything else going on in the NHL today.     Molson x PWHL partnerships and keeping up with whats going on in the league.     All this and MORE!    Download Subscribe Share Like    Love you 

A version of this essay was published by rediff.com at https://www.rediff.com/news/column/rajeev-srinivasan-hamas-war-is-an-immediate-setback-to-india/20231017.htmIt can be argued on several grounds that the 2023 Israel-Hamas war is a point of inflection indicating the general eclipse of the West, and in fact I have done so in an essay. What is unclear is how the end of this era will play out in the medium term and the long term. The best analogy I can think of is the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian nationalist in 1914 or so, and how that set in motion a chain of events that, among other things, ended the European and Ottoman empires over the next forty or fifty years, and more immediately caused the so-called Great War, now re-framed as World War I.Chaos theory at work: as the saying goes, the flapping of a butterfly's wings in Brazil setting off a tornado in Texas. There is the obvious concern that the Israel-Hamas war could set off World War III, especially given that there are many nuclear weapons in the possession of the belligerents and their friends. Iran has recovered from the debacle of the Stuxnet computer worm that caused their Uranium-enrichment centrifuges to blow up (in what was then lauded as an unacknowledged triumph of American and Israeli cloak-and-dagger and technical know-how). Then there is Pakistan and its rapidly growing arsenal, no doubt helped along by screwdriver assembly of Chinese components, and perhaps knocked-down kits. Pakistan is one of the most vocal supporters of Palestine as an Ummah cause, which is ironic considering that Pakistani soldiers (and maybe irregulars) seconded to Jordan in 1970 during the Black September uprising may have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of Palestinians. The specter of an encompassing World War III is sobering, and just as the crumbling League of Nations was unable to fend off earlier editions of world wars, the toothless United Nations is now unlikely to be able to prevent a new one. It hasn't been able to prevent all the smaller conflicts, such as the Ukraine war, and it is obvious that major powers simply don't care about the UN's exertions and bloviations. Therefore, one of the biggest fears is that the Hamas attack might seed a larger conflagration. Of immediate concern, though, is that a nascent process of normalization in West Asia may now grind to a halt. This can have global consequences. It is likely that the earlier edition of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Yom Kippur War of 1973, led directly to the Arab oil embargo followed by the shock of their quadruplication of oil prices. This caused inflation in the US, but more seriously, it precipitated a massive transfer of wealth from developing countries, which set them back by decades, compounding human misery.There are thus unforeseen consequences to what happens in West Asia, which, barring some miracle, will continue to dominate energy supplies for the next couple of decades, even if the most optimistic Green initiatives come to fruition. Things are obviously different from 1973, with West Asians (especially Saudi Arabia) much more self-confident, immensely richer, and also cognizant of the fact that their oil/gas bonanzas will run out sooner or later. They need to diversify their economies, and possibly make some new friends, other than those who are dazzled by their petro-dollars.It is this realization that led to the landmark Abraham Accords, whereby several Arab nations normalized their relations with Israel. The general expectation has been that Saudi Arabia would follow suit, and Mohammed bin Salman has been signaling that he is willing to do this (but also, in his own national interest, willing to embrace China and the proposed BRICS+ currency, both of which would be setbacks for the US and the collective West). The biggest geopolitical casualty of the Hamas war is that this normalization will be put on hold.  Saudi Arabia simply cannot appear to be mindless of the plight of the largely Muslim Palestinians, even if they are nervous about the decidedly fundamentalist Hamas, who, in an interesting twist, may well be aligning themselves with Shia Iran, the principal regional foe of the Sunni Saudis. However, what is also worth noting is that the Saudis, as well as Egyptians and other Arabs, are all reluctant to resettle Palestinians in their largely empty, and rich, countries. There might be two reasons for this: one, perhaps it is still the ambition of the Arab States to eliminate Israel and wipe it off the map altogether (which is what they, and Iran, proclaimed loudly in the past, although it is not clear this is actually feasible any more). If so, maintaining Palestinians as an aggrieved quasi-nation, which would supply an endless stream of militants to the Hamases and Hezbollahs of the region, is a viable, if brutal, strategy.Two, Arab States may not actually want Palestinians as refugees because they might cause all sorts of domestic problems. This always puzzled me, because on average the Palestinians of 1948 were much better educated than most other Arabs, and could have contributed to other Arab nations. My conjecture is that, given the examples of Pakistani migrants in Britain, the Black September Palestinians in Jordan, and more recent Syrian etc refugees in Europe – easily radicalized and prone to blood-curdling rhetoric and possibly action against their host nations – Arab States want to keep them out. This could be the real reason Egypt refuses to open the border for the fleeing residents of Gaza.. It is a bit like the Rohingya of Myanmar. They have a reputation for being troublesome radical Islamists, and so nobody wants to take them in: not Bangladesh where they originally hail from, not any Arab States, not Pakistan (although some Westerners suggested that India and China should take them. China laughed in their faces, but India dutifully did so). Given all this, and the growing clout of Israel under the American security umbrella, chances are that the Palestinian cause would have become increasingly less relevant to Saudis and other Arabs. And that is precisely what might have motivated Hamas and friends: with the emergent normalization of ties with Israel in the region, and initiatives like i2u2 (Israel, India, US, UAE) and IMEC (India Middle East Europe Corridor), there would be commercial and trade ties that would bind.After all, a major part of these trade corridors would be the infrastructure links (railway lines through Saudi Arabia, the Israeli port of Haifa) that would offer alternative trade routes to Europe from India and Southeast Asia. This would offend China too, because its grand Belt and Road Initiative and trans-European railway links would see less business. Thus, in passing, China also is a winner in this Great Game as West Asia goes on the boil, along with usual suspects Iran, Qatar and Turkey. Thus, from several points of view, this Hamas war is an immediate setback to India: it is one of the few countries in the region that enjoys good relations with both Israel and Saudi Arabia, and IMEC would allow it to recreate the old Spice Route to Europe, which was highly lucrative over millennia. All this is in jeopardy now. The strategic and under-construction Vizhinjam container transhipment port in Thiruvananthapuram is a key part of this ambitious trade route.India also has interests in Iran: the Chabahar port could enable India to create an alternative route to Central Asia and Russia called the INSTC (International North South Transport Corridor) bypassing trouble-prone Pakistan and Afghanistan (although that long-pending logistics link is years behind schedule). India cannot allow its relations with Iran to be affected by the war in Gaza. More broadly, if world trade collapses and/or a war begins now it would be unfortunate timing for India. This is the very moment India is ready to finally leave behind the bitter legacy of colonialism, which looted enormous wealth from India (I have argued it was $10 trillion, but economist Utsa Patnaik puts the figure at $45 trillion). A collapse in the procedures of the ‘liberal, rules-based international order', however biased it is in favor of the West, is unfortunate for India in the medium term, although it would probably be fine in the longer term. There are two other aspects of the response to Gaza that are notable. The first is the rise of ugly anti-Jewish sentiments in many parts of the West. This is of concern to Indians, specifically Hindus, because Hindu-hatred is anti-semitism 2.0 and Hindus cannot wish it away.On the other hand, the Left was startled by the dramatic reaction from American Jews to standard Left positioning of moral equivalence between Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces. For instance, several Harvard student groups released statements about their support for Palestine and/or Hamas, which probably was seeded by Pakistani and, alas, woke Indian-origin students in their ranks. Retribution was swift: Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge-fund manager, in effect asked fellow CEOs to blacklist these students. There was furious backpedaling as many students, worried about their job prospects, protested that the statements were made without consulting them. This is positive. The Woke Left in the US is splintering. That may mean the Democratic Party tactic of uber-wokeism may now backfire on them, especially notable as elections are looming in the US. The less the wokeism around, the better for India (see Justin Trudeau's Khalistan antics).The weakening of Western power and resolve vis a vis China is another problem for India. The West simply cannot supply munitions for multiple wars (Ukraine, Gaza, and possibly Taiwan), partly because the US has been deindustrialized. What we might see in the medium term is the deprecation of US power in the Indo-Pacific, and indeed a fallback to isolationism and Fortress America. This would encourage a China that is just waiting to rampage. The current Israel-Hamas war is a net negative for India; the issue of Western Hindu-hatred is a topic for another day. 1650 words, 16 October 2023 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com

A version of this essay was published by firstpost.com at https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/shadow-warrior-g20-and-its-fallout-india-the-swing-state-imec-and-trudeaus-tantrums-13162212.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialA fortnight after the end of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, it's worth revisiting what really materialized, and what India can expect out of all the hard work that went into it.First, the positives. The flawless execution of the Summit is something the Indian leadership and  officials deserve to be congratulated on. There were all sorts of things that could have gone wrong – including security worries – but the whole thing was done with clockwork precision. In a way, this is unsurprising: Indians revel in complexity, and surely running this event, despite the VVIP foreigners, was easier than pulling off the Kumbha Mela. Many pundits had written off the Summit, citing the absence of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, and predicting that it would be next to impossible for there to be a consensus based on which a common declaration could be accepted by all. In the event, the 83-paragraph Leaders' Declaration, wide-ranging and comprehensive, was seen as a diplomatic triumph, with everybody giving in a little on their positions in the interest of the G20 community.The fact that NATO members had to swallow a watered-down condemnation of the Ukraine war, without actually naming Russia, has been framed as a ‘climbdown by the West for the sake of G20 unity' by the Financial Times. That's pretty good spin, but it was remarkable that they didn't seem to be bothered by such ‘G20 unity' at the Bali Summit, 2022. There are more plausible reasons for this ‘climbdown'. One is that the Ukraine war is not going according to plan, which anticipated Russia being beaten by now, both militarily and financially. On the contrary, the EU continues to be Russia's biggest customer, by far. So the sanctions have failed, and the EU is probably fed up with energy shortages. Plus, the Ukrainians don't seem to be making much progress with the much-hyped ‘counteroffensive'. NATO could well be on the point of throwing Zelenskyy under the bus any day now. The West appears to be backpedaling furiously, and they have made such miscalculations before: 1971, Bangladesh; 1975, Vietnam, and so on. Ironically, POTUS Biden went to Vietnam after the G20 Summit, and announced billions of dollars worth of deals in semiconductors and AI, among other things. What a U-turn from the 1970s! Kissinger would be turning over in his grave, except he's still alive.A more optimistic reading of the G20 outcome could well be that India has finally become a swing state. While it is precarious being a swing state, it also has benefits: you get courted by both sides, and you can play them off against each other. India's persistent and aggressive fence-sitting, combined with its robust economic performance, is now making others pay a little more attention to India's needs. But it also invites hostility.There was evidence of this new reality, in a back-handed sort of way, in Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's hissy-fit against India accusing it of a hit-job on a Khalistani terrorist. Trudeau has his own reasons (hurt amour-propre, perhaps), but the Washington Post reported that nobody else in the Anglosphere agreed to support him, with Biden going to great lengths “to avoid antagonizing India and court the Asian power as a strategic counterweight to China”. Even the usually hostile BBC said, “On the grand geopolitical chess board, India is now a key player”. Deep State is not amused. Nor are the rest of the Five Eyes.India's transition from ‘non-aligned' to ‘multi-aligned' has come at the right time. I do hope India does not get swayed by its own rhetoric of being the ‘champion of the Global South' and go back to the Nehru-era ‘king of the banana republics' self-image. Pretending to be the leader of the Third World, and all the NAM exertions got India nothing at all. In 1961, the entire Third World voted 90-1 against India's decolonization of Goa, which was startling. However, things are a little different now that India is looking out for its own interests first and foremost. In that context, the formal induction of the African Union into the G20 is a win for India, especially in light of the stacking of BRICS+ with friends of China. Looking at it from India's point of view, the African Union means especially East Africa, which is part of the Indian Ocean Rim, India's backyard. Africa will be the fastest-growing area, in population and GDP, over the next few decades, and the giant continent's people face problems quite similar to those Indians face. East Africa has millennia-old trade links with India. For instance, a 1500 year old Malabar-built uru, a wooden ship made of teak, was found buried, well preserved in the sands near Alexandria, Egypt, indicating ancient commerce.It is in the context that the new Spice Route, or the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), is also a good initiative. For one, it is fairly direct competition to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has been dogged by accusations that it is ‘debt-trap diplomacy' that ends up with valuable assets extorted from others, as in Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, now forced into a 99-year lease agreement as the debt payments became onerous. Having said that, and despite the fact that a growing India will have more trade with Europe as in the millennia past, it is not entirely clear that the IMEC will take off. On the one hand, there is the history of prized Indian goods like spices, gold, gems, etc. The Roman Pliny the Younger complained that their treasury was being emptied because of the demand for spices and in satisfying “the vanity of [our] women” with cosmetics etc. from India. India of the future may not become, or may not be allowed to become, a workshop of the world at the scale of China. After all, China will not go off into that good night without raging, raging. An article by Martin Wolf in the Financial Times pointed out that ‘peak China' may be some time off. I usually disagree with the man, but here I agree: China's obituaries are a bit premature. It will also double down on a new and improved BRI.Going back to IMEC, there are also practical difficulties even if the political will and funding can be arranged: the port of Haifa, Israel, which would be a logical choice for it, has a major terminal where China is the concessionaire, and so does the Greek Port of Piraeus. Interestingly enough, Adani Ports has control over the older terminal at Haifa, and is reported to be seeking a terminal at Piraeus as well. How curious that Soros keeps attacking Adani again and again: perhaps he is acting on China's behalf as well?Chances are that IMEC will remain a pipe-dream, but there is more of a chance that the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) that India has excelled in may be appealing to many other nations. According to the World Bank, India only took 6 years to achieve development that would normally take 47 years, because of the efficiency improvements due to digitization. This is something the Global South can use. There is also a negative from the G20. The upsurge in infiltration and the huge standoff against terrorists in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, may well be a Chinese signal that they can ratchet up mischief any time, and that the G20 success should not go to India's head. Given that there is a lot of alleged infiltration into and coziness by the Chinese into the Canadian establishment, Trudeau's tantrums may also be inspired by China: the other shoe dropping. All in all, India gets a solid A- for its G20 efforts; the outcomes, alas, may only be a B-.1300 words, 20 Sept 2023  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com

Buckle up for a flavor-packed adventure as we embark on a tantalizing journey through the heart of Africa. In this episode, we will take you on a captivating voyage along the Spice Route of Africa, a path rich in history, culture, and, of course, the vibrant and diverse flavors that define the continent. You'd get to discover the indigenous spices and spice blends of many African countries. Enjoy!

A lot changed in the Indian Fintech world as new regulations were introduced by the RBI in the past few months. To decode the impact of these changes and understand the way forward, we caught up with Mathew Chacko, Partner - Spice Route Legal. In our conversation with him we discuss : Impact of regulations on various models like PPI, BNPL, Digital lending Deep dive into Digital Lending Guidelines Some potential solutions to meeting regulatory asks Do listen to this episode to get a nuanced understanding of the impact of recent regulations. Contact Mathew LinkedIn Twitter Website

Beverly CrandonAli & Marco welcome wine consultant and sommelier Beverly Crandon to the podcast. Beverly is the wine expert behind various organizations including the not for profit Vinequity and Spice Food & Wine Group. We talk to her about this and more, and Marco has wine scenarios for Beverly where she has to pair the perfect wine.A Sneak-Peek:[01:00] Ali and Marco talk about wine they had recently.[3:35] Beverly tells us about Spice Food and Wine Group.[5:20] Ali tells about the dessert he makes and how desserts aren't his thing. [6:20] Ali tells how we was told that ‘the best wine with Indian food is beer', and asks Beverly how we get away from that way of thinking.[7:55] Flavour Bridging.[10:29] Beverly talks about how wine was introduced to the world through the Spice Route and the Salve Trade.[15:12] We find out how Beverly was introduced to wine.[17:45] Beverly's advice on how to approach wine.[19:36] Ali's Gin bias.[21:20] We find out why it's important to get more people cross culturally exploring wine. [22:30] Vinequity [26:14] Beverly shares her thoughts of being a person of colour in the wine industry.[30:35] Wine pairings with ethnic food.[32:50] Marco's first scenario: Brunch and red wine.[36:00] Scenario 2: Texas BBQ[37:49] Scenario 4: Poutine[39:06] Ali find out what wine pairs with Butter Chicken.[40:50] Marco goes nuts that Beverly has picked a wine region he knows all too well.[44:00] Beverly and the love she has for wine consulting.Connect with us on:Twitter: @podisdelciousInstagram: This Podcast is DeliciousWeb: thispodcastisdeliciousEmail: thispodcastisdelicious@gmail.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We are exploring culture in an effort to find the ancient crafts that continue today in hospitality! Ancient Greeks believed that the gods wanted them to be hospitable to visitors or else they'd be punished Ancient Greeks also believed that having the highest hospitable standards was also seen as a sign of wealth.. Exploring the origins of any one item can reveal so much of how it's role has changed or grown. The Spice Route allows for exploration and uncovering

Tracing the history of the evolution of the Global Supply Chain from the Ancient times when the routes like the Silk Road through Central Asia and the Spice Route over the Indian Ocean were mostly linear chains that took a finished product to its ultimate destination. The British colonialization of India was based on the capture of the supply chain of cotton, which proved adverse to the Indian economy. With the advances in shipping and communication technology, East Asia became an economical manufacturing hub. With the pandemic, mew bottlenecks arose, prompting a fresh look at the Supply Chain.

"How are the life stories of Buddha and Jesus similar? There are many similarities between the mythical elements of Jesus and Buddha. Here are just a few of the most striking similarities. Conceived in a miraculous manner Similar names of mother (Maya for Buddha, Mary for Jesus) Was a bit of a child prodigy Underwent a long period of fasting while traveling alone Tempted by, but overcame, the devil Began an itinerant ministry around the age of 30 Had disciples who traveled with him. Performed miracles, such as curing blindness and walking on water Renounced worldly riches and required his disciples to do so also Rebelled against the religious elite (Brahmans for Buddha and Pharisees for Jesus) Dispatched disciples, shortly before his death, to spread his message Were the writers of The Holy Bible aware of Buddhism? Although the distance between the homelands of Jesus and Buddha was great, there was plenty of contact between the two areas and 600 years for ideas to spread. Both trade and the wars of the ever-expanding Roman Empire facilitated contact. There is also the possibility that ideas “met halfway.” It did not require one person to traverse the 3000 miles. The ideas could have been passed along like the Olympic baton. There is a lot of evidence of trade between the two regions. There are various overland routes stretching from China, Asia, Arabia, and Europe, some going back as far as 1500 BCE. These routes were known as The Silk Road (or Silk Route), the Incense Route, and the Spice Route. The transport of goods along these routes relied mainly upon pack animals (camels) and river boats. Goods were also transported by boats across the Indian Ocean. There are cuneiform tablets dating to 2400 BCE describing shipments of cotton cloth, spices, oil, grains, (and even peacocks) which arrest to this trade. Even the Holy Bible attests to this trade with the story of The Three Wise Men from the East traveling by camel with gifts of frankincense and myrrh. You can be sure more than goods were being exchanged. Ideas also traveled these routes. The Buddhist ideas were undoubtedly among the ideas being spread, especially since Buddhist monks had a tradition of missionary zeal. Buddhism does not reject other creeds and religions. Thus, Buddhist ideas could be easily blended with whatever local religious beliefs the monks encountered. Buddhist settled into many areas of the Roman Empire, including Judea. The historian/philosopher Philo, who lived during the time of Jesus, recorded the presence of Buddhists in Egypt. It is quite likely that the authors of The Holy Bible were aware of both Buddha and Buddhist ideas." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/support

On today's program we have Charles Bachmann, a mortgage broker who started in the mortgage business in 1987 as a summer job. Charles has gone on to manage branches for national lenders such as Home Savings of America, Emery Federal Credit Union, and, most recently, American Financial Network over the last decade. He's closed 1000's of loans for people over the last 30 years and still loves helping people get into their first home or purchase of a second home or an investment property. We're talking underwriting guidelines, direction of interest rates and property values, as well as COVID lending overlays to empower you with the knowledge you need to find the right home! Cbachmann@afncorp.comWhat if President McKinley had opted to wear a bullet proof vest and avoided assassination? What if Coke just changed its age-old formula as a devious way to increase sales? What if Burt Reynolds had said yes to the role of James Bond? These are all questions that Michael Smith and Eric Kasum dare to ask in their new, laugh-out-loud audiobook, 100 of the Worst Ideas in History: Humanity?s Thundering Brainstorms Turned Blundering Brain Farts, with riotous results. Michael Smith joins me to talk about these terrible ideas today. www.100worstideas.comIf you're looking for the ingredients for a fantastic fourth of July celebration, or for any summertime party, it's important to have a plan! We have Emmy award winning TV host, food and travel writer Kae Lani Palmisano sharing her recipe for great summer entertainment! Kae Lani Palmisano is a recipe developer and home cook who loves to explore the journey that food takes to get to the plate. While some travelers follow their hearts, Kae Lani has always followed her gut, covering food from unique perspectives across four continents. Her culinary travels have taken her from exploring the Spice Route through Israel and Europe to foraging with the M?ori in New Zealand. As an ?edu-tainer? her work focuses on having fun with food while educating audiences about where it comes from and its historical and cultural impact. She?s also been featured on Gordon Ramsay?s 24 Hours to Hell and Back on Fox, the BBC, Eater Philly, and in the Philadelphia Inquirer. For More Information Visit: www.ALDI.us

Situated on the western coast of the Red Sea in antiquity were a series of thriving seaports, bringing in trade from as far as way as Sir Lanka. Key mercantile centres, where goods made in Iberia could theoretically have been sold alongside items crafted thousands of miles to the east, in South East Asia. Of these seaports, one of the most remarkable has to be Berenike, a thriving cosmopolitan trading centre, first for the Hellenistic Ptolemaic Kingdom and later for Imperial Rome.To talk through the site's extraordinary archaeology we were delighted to be joined by Professor Steven Sidebotham from the University of Deleware. Steve has been leading excavations at the site for several years and in this podcast he highlights why Berenike is one of the most exciting archaeological locations anywhere in the World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

About The Winelands welcomes Abigail Bisogno, Founder and Co Owner of The Spice Route Destination, Suider Paarl in South Africa. READ MORE HERE - https://bitmedia24.com/about-the-winelands-29-an-interview-with-abigail-bisogno-founder-and-co-owner-of-the-spice-route-destination-suider-paarl-south-africa/ https://visitthewinelands.bitmedia24.com/ Centuries ago, anyone with a desire to explore exotic flavours and experiences would have needed to wait for the seasonal return of the traders travelling the spice route. Fortunately, these days a journey of discovery is right on your doorstep, with the modern day Spice Route in Paarl, a sensory feast for today's connoisseurs of craftsmanship and authenticity. ALSO ON - https://youtu.be/fmyTrtUdmdE Follow About The Winelands on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4x74eENPIwEzTulUaUJaNv?si=rBp46LOcTK-IFt8C8VufeA FACEBOOK - https://web.facebook.com/AboutTheWinelands/ FACEBOOK GROUP - https://web.facebook.com/groups/visitthewinelands/ INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/visitwinelands/ SIGN UP - https://aboutthewinelands.gr8.com/

Three years ago, Malavika Raghavan made a career change from food marketing to food creation and decided to go to culinary school to become a Certified Pastry Chef. The ex-marketing professional has over 9 years of brand management experience working in the food industry on brands like Oreo, Philadelphia Cream Cheese & Haagen-Dazs ice-creams in the Middle East and Africa. Her recipes combine rich aromatic flavours with delicate culinary techniques to create dishes that are new yet familiar. Using this aesthetic she has designed dessert menus for an award winning restaurant in Dubai. She is passionate about unearthing culinary wonders from both the kiln and the kitchen and designs a handcrafted line of ceramics tableware under the brand Peace of Bake. She also bakes artisanal cakes and bakes, manages a food blog that demystifies the art of baking for the home baker and an e-commerce platform under the same name. She has a line of Artisanal Spice Mixes called The Spice Route which she takes to local Farmers and Makers' Markets around the city. Malavika's has partnered with many prominent brands in the region including Miele, Bosch Home, Tavola, Think Kitchen, The Meating Room, El Grocer, Mother of the Nation Festival, StrEAT Feast - AD Downtown Moments & Federal Youth Authorities, UAE to develop recipes, menus, live cooking demonstrations and create social media content. Her work has also been featured in newspapers, blogs, international e-magazines, podcasts and by prominent chefs/influencers in the region. Original music credit: Rish Sharma.His music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and other streaming platforms. Audio post production at HNM Studios New Delhi India.October2019 voicesandmore Pte Ltd All rights reserved See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today on the podcast we have Eben Sadie of Sadie Family Wines, based in the Swartland. It is difficult to overstate how important Eben is to the modern reputation of South African wine. Put simply, he is among the most influential people in South African wine, ever. I wanted to talk to Eben about his journey in wine, from his days at Elsenberg, through the Spice Route experience and making those first vintages of Columella and Palladius in the very early 2000s. As you will hear, Eben is a deep thinker and takes wine extremely seriously. It was a great conversation. I give you Eben Sadie…

Have a break from your busy day to day life and let the ancient yoga and pranayama teachings help you discover new ways to strengthen your body and mind. On the way back trust your scences and follow the mesmerising Spice Route established by Vasco da Gama.

Just 40 miles/65 km north of Cape Town lies a large area that makes the most exciting, sought after wines in South Africa. Swartland (Dutch for 'black land') is full of young, passionate winemakers making wines that respect the hot, dry land from which they derive and are able to create wines of such depth, flavor, and nuance that it’s hard to believe so few know about them. In this show, we tell you about the Syrah, Rhône and Mediterranean varietals, the Chenin Blanc and other stunning white blends coming from this area and why you need to seek it out ASAP!   Overview of the region… Swartland was oncea rural backwater, better known for wheat fields than vineyards Vineyards traditionally grew where wheat couldn’t -- on the northern side of Paardeberge Mountains in the south, the plains of Piketberg in the north, and the smaller Ward of Riebeekberg and Kasteelberg Mountains in the east Lots of old vines on slopes where nothing else grows, hand harvested The climate ishot and dry with very low summer rainfall but with consistent afternoon and evening breezes off the Atlantic Ocean. Growers have less concern about fungus and other diseases. They use the ecosystem to keep the vineyards healthy with integrated pest management, bush training of vines, and dry farming   We dork out on plate tectonics! Swartland has ancient geology. The terroirresulted from a combination of tectonic collisions, ancient volcanic activity and continental separation The soils are the oldest in the world and are a mix of shale, arenite sandstone and granite, schist based terroirs. Malmesbury shale on Kasteelberg Mtn is the dominant soil. vertical layering structure caused by tectonic shifts. Water drains away and vines dig deeper for liquid nourishment   Grapes/Winemaking We talk about the grapes and terroir driven wines of the region Red grapes: Syrah/Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Grenache Noir, Carignan, Cinsaut, Tinta Barocca, Pinotage White grapes:Chenin blanc, Grenache blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette, Palomino, Sémillon, Muscat d’Alexandria, Muscat d’Frontignan, Colombard and Verdelho. Viticulture:A lot of natural, noninvasive methods of farming Winemaking:larger barrels that impart less flavor, less racking and stirring to keep earthy flavors, unfiltered, unfined wines – low input wines The Ward of Riebeekbergnear the towns of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West has vineyards on eastern slopes of the Kasteelberg Mountain make big reds of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, and Chardonnay that are complex    We talk about South African and Swartland Wine history We discuss how South Africa lies somewhere between the Old World and New World styles. We discuss the early history in the 1660s, with the arrival of the French Huguenots who planted vineyards. We tell the story of how, in late 1990s, Charles Back of Goats do Roam fame went to Swartland to source grapes and wound up transforming the area by  buying land and hiring Eben Sadie to run his “Spice Route” wines in 1998. We discuss the modern history of the region and why it takes a special person to make wine in conditions withlow rainfall, un-irrigated vines and paltry yields.    Producers and the Swartland revolution We discuss Swartland Independent Producers (SIP), an association that runs the Swartland Revolution celebration every November Their goal: Wines that are a true expression of their origin. Like old world AOPs -- distinctive wines but also making them so as to speak about a sense of place See the list of requirements and the producers here:  https://swartlandindependent.co.za/members/    Top producers AA Badenhorst: AA Badenhorst Family White,  AA Badenhorst Family Red are flagships; Secateurs produced from purchased fruit Lammershoek:Traditional producer Testalonga:“naked” style, funky wines Lammershoek:Libero No. 5 Mullineux: Syrahs and white blends; entry level Kloof Street Porseleinberg  Sadie Family: Columella – Syrah-based blend (famous), Palladius – rich style white; cheaper, co-owned Sequillo range   Don't forget to order your Wine For Normal People book today too!!  ____________________________________________________ Thanks to our sponsors this week: Thanks to YOU! The podcast supporters on Patreon, who are helping us to make the podcast possible and who we give goodies in return for their help! Check it out today: https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople And to sign up for classes, please go to www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes!    Last Bottle    I love this service!! Last Bottle Wines finds great wines and offers them at a one time discount. Last Bottle Wines: Is a fun way to discover the best wines at the lowest prices Maintains relationships with producers in the most prestigious wine regions around the world and traveling to Europe several times each year to eat with, stay with, drink with, walk the vineyards with the people who make the wines. Offer a range of prices from low end to high end $9 to $99 and the wines range from the lesser known kinds like Albariño and Bläufrankish to Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay. Visit: http://lastbottlewines.com/normal and join to get a $10 instant credit to use toward your first order. Invite your wine drinking pals and they’ll get $10 instantly and you get $30 when they make their first buy.   Coravin  Coravin is the first and only tool in the world that lets you pour wine without removing the cork. You can pour wine in any amount and preserve what’s left of the bottle for weeks, months of even years. Thousands of wine professionals, from sommeliers to winemakers, around the world have tested and trust Coravin with their wines and it will change the way you drink wine too. For a limited time, visit Coravin.com and enter NORMAL at checkout to get $20 off your purchase of $50 of more!

On Episode 34 of The InnerViews Podcast: Tyrrell, Fabio and special guest Dan are back to round up all the action across the European Footy World!The Mourinho vs Pogba saga continues.Has Juventus already wrapped up another Serie A Title?Is Eden Hazard World Class?Plus, Is there still hope for Toronto FC?All of this and much more on this week's episode of The InnerViews Podcast!Don't forget to Subscribe and Share with your friends!Youtube.com/TheInnerViews

1. Close To You - Art Nap - Reel People Music  2. Love Somebody (Scott Diaz Grand Plans Dub) - BKT/Memzee - South East Studios  3. This Is A House Record - Saison - No Fuss Records  4. So Good (Original Mix) - Someone - Onako Records  5. All A Dream - Misiu - Razor-N-Tape  6. The Future (feat. “Antony & Cleopatra”) (Purple Disco Machine Remix) - Motez - Sweat It Out  7. Get Down (Original Mix) - Funkatron - Cut Rec Promos  8. Work It (Original Mix) - Malachi - All About House  9. Drive Me Around (Original Mix) - Loshmi - Blacksoul Music  10. Work.Groove (Iban Montoro & Jazzman Was Remix) - Homero Espinosa/Mark Farina - Moulton Music  11. Give It To Me (Ashley Beedle North Street Dub) - Blank & Jones vs. Cassara with Emma Brammer - Soundcolours  12. The Dolphin Groove - Mike Newman - Bagira Ice Records  13. Brand New (Original Mix) - Discotron - Tasty Recordings Digital  You can find all these songs and more at www.traxsource.com

On this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past, host Linda Pelaccio takes listeners on a vivid and far-ranging journey across time and space on the ancient spice trades with Dr. Gary Nabhan. Talking about his new book, “Cumin, Camels, and Caravans, A Spice Odyssey,” Gary draws on his own family’s history as spice traders, as well as travel narratives, historical accounts, and his expertise as an ethnobotanist, he describes the critical roles that Semitic peoples and desert floras had in setting the stage for globalized spice trade. Gary relays to Linda his travels along four prominent trade routes—the Silk Road, the Frankincense Trail, the Spice Route, and the Camino Real (for chiles and chocolate)—and follows the caravans of itinerant spice merchants from the frankincense-gathering grounds and ancient harbors of the Arabian Peninsula to the port of Zayton on the China Sea to Santa Fe in the southwest United States. His stories, recipes, and linguistic analyses of cultural diffusion routes reveal the extent to which aromatics such as cumin, cinnamon, saffron, and peppers became adopted worldwide as signature ingredients of diverse cuisines. With the idea that spices are viewed as political, religious, and cultural tools, Gary and Linda also touch upon how a more virtuous multicultural globalized society may be achieved in the future. Tune in to this fascinating episode! This program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market. Photo via US Library of Congress “I think we have to learn of the costs embedded in our own history to get right the balance between local and global.” —Dr. Gary Nabhan on A Taste of the Past

Get to know the wines of South Africa with Jean-Baptiste Cristini, Head of Sales and Marketing for Fairview and Spice Route wineries. We talk about the country’s most famous wine regions, touch on Pinotage and Chenin Blanc, and, naturally, discuss goat towers.

A call to Cape Town starts a conversation with Jean-Baptiste Cristini, Head of Sales and Marketing for Fairview and Spice Route wineries. We talk about the country’s most famous wine regions, touch on Pinotage and Chenin Blanc, and, naturally, discuss goat towers. … Read more about this episode...

Beginners. We are continuing with our study of countries of the world with Afghanistan. As you know, it is in the news all the time, and has been for quite a few years. Let's try to understand why, and to learn a little more about the country. Afghanistan is located in the central part of South Asia. To the West is Iran, to the Southeast is Pakistan, and towards the North are Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, with China to the East. It is what we call 'landlocked'. That means that it has no access to the sea. Most of its territory is mountainous, called the Hindu Kush area, with the highest peak, called Nowshak, reaching  7,485m. The land quality and shape is also very varied. Some mountains are very steep with narrow gorges and valleys, and others are more like plateaus. A very famous route through the mountains that was used as part of the Spice Route, is the Khyber Pass. The Northern Plains are very fertile and used for agriculture. The South, however, is dry and desert-like. The main rivers are the Amu Darya and the Oxus. There are also hydro-electric dams, but because of political problems, they have not been fully used for a while. Advanced. Historically, Afghanistan has had a life of turmoil. It's location has made it susceptible to invasion, and that is exactly what has happened throughout its history. Because it has been used as an important passage between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, it has come under the control of wealthy and aggressive nations. The first settlers were Indo-Europeans, called the Aryans, who settled in the area about 4000 years ago. It became part of the Persian empire in the sixth century. Alexander the Great from Greece conquered Persia, followed by several other peoples. Khorasan, the original name of Afghanistan, was taken by Arabs in 7th century and from then on it adopted Islam as its oficial religion.The Turks invaded in the 10th century, and then the Mongols in the 13th century. Its prosperity was attractive to its aggressors. In the 18th century Khorasan was ruled by both the Moghuls of India and the Safavids of Persia, but in 1747 the Afghans revolted and separated themselves. Finally, it won independence from British involvement in 1919. Afghanistan is an Islamic State that has a transitional government. In 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. They had planted a Soviet friendly government but met resistance from the population. The occupation continued for 10 years with the toll of 1 million Afghan lives. The opposing militia, the Muhajideen  were supported by the USA and its allies. When the Soviets pulled out, the civil war followed. Then, the Taliban, a group sponsored by Pakistan, became their present occupier and aggressor. After the September 11th attacks, the U.S invaded Afghanistan with the aim of squashing Taliban terrorist activity. This war ravaged nation is the focus of world attention. With untapped resources of oil and gas, and a strong sense of national identity, there is hope that the people of Afghanistan can regain independence and reach their true potential. // //