Podcasts about supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei

After the US's unprecedented strikes over the weekend, the future of Iran's nuclear programme remains uncertain. Israel has sent a new wave of strikes hitting, among other targets, Evin prison which is home to many political prisoners. The US President Donald Trump has indicated he would not rule out regime change in the country.Also on the programme, our first glimpse through a powerful new telescope, set atop a mountain in Chile; and, how online conspiracy theories are poising a danger to cancer treatments.(Photo: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in southern Tehran, Iran, 4 June, 2025. Credit: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency/Reuters)

With the Israel-Iran war stretching into its second week, commentators from all sides of the political arena have been delivering their optimistic, pessimistic, and realistic opinions on the conflict.  Here are the facts:  The war is going in Israel's favor. There's a 50-50 chance of regime change, but only a 25% chance the new leaders will be better than Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  The Trump administration might have to intervene but is holding back because it thinks Israel will find a creative way to destroy Iran's underground nuclear facilities on its own, surmises Victor Davis Hanson on today's edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words:”   

Iran and Israel are exchanging strikes for a sixth day, with Israel's defense minister saying the country plans on striking “very significant targets in Tehran," and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posting on social media, “In the name of the noble Haidar, the battle begins.” President Trump has demanded an “unconditional surrender” by Iran, and met Tuesday with his national security team, according to the White House. Before the meeting, he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israeli source familiar with the matter. All this as the President weighs further U.S. involvement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel entered its sixth day, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on social media, “The battle begins.” Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump demanded Iran's “unconditional surrender.” He also called the supreme leader an “easy target” and said that America's “patience is wearing thin.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week as Fox News tried to hype up mostly peaceful protests against ICE raids across the country the network was hit with a giant asteroid of a story - one that was too big to ignore and incredibly hard to spin. Israel, seemingly frustrated with Trump's lack of progress with a diplomatic solution, launched Operation Rising Lion and struck Iran's nuclear sites.Iran immediately retaliated striking Israel. As of today 224 Iranians have perished along with 24 Israelis.Israel's actions push the world dangerously close to an expanded global conflict. President Trump has made things worse by recklessly tweeting things that imply that the United States is prepared to enter a full scale war with Iran.Trump posted on social media for Iran's "unconditional surrender" and said the U.S. knew where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was located, but would not kill him, "for now.” In social media posts Trump has also used the pronoun ‘we' when referring to the actions of the Israeli government. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

The air war between Israel and Iran has continued overnight after President Trump issued more warnings to Iran - saying Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was an “easy target”. So will he actually follow through with this threat? Will America join the fight? And what is Israel's plan if they don't? To discuss all this and more on the latest episode of The Fourcast Matt Frei is joined in Tel Aviv by Israeli journalist Gideon Levy who is a controversial and divisive critic of Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

US President Donald Trump says he wants Iran's unconditional surrender, as US officials have indicated more fighter jets are being deployed to the Middle East. Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Iran intends to deliver a strong response, as he declared the battle has begun. Officials in Iran say the death toll in five days of aerial attacks is at least 224, while the number of people killed in Israel has increased to 24.

G7 leaders gather in Kananaskis, Alberta to talk about the global economy, trade tariffs and other issues. The G7 is hosted this year by Prime Minister Mark Carney. He had bilateral meetings with a number of leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump. The Israel - Iran conflict was front and centre.Also: The Israel - Iran war shows no sign of letting up. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not ruled out ‘eliminating' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel stepped up its bombardment of areas in Iran, including Iranian state television, and Iran launched another major salvo of missiles at targets within Israel.And: The federal government launches a ‘Canada Strong Pass' that offers discounts for travel within our country.Plus: Minnesota shooting, pregnancy loss and more.

The conflict between Israel and Iran enters its fourth day. NBC News confirms that U.S. President Trump rejected Israel's proposal to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. G7 leaders arrive in Calgary, Canada with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East at the forefront of the agenda but tariff talks will weigh on discussions between President Trump and other heads of state. Renault CEO Luca De Meo is to step down as CEO of the French autos giant and pursue a role outside the sector. Reports in French media suggest he may next take the helm at Gucci owner Kering.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Correspondent Mitch McCann spoke to Corin Dann.

Iran and Israel continue to target each other with airstrikes, following one of Israel's largest assaults on Iranian soil to date. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed that the country will not show any leniency towards Israel.

This week on the Mark Levin Show, open borders, radicalized college campuses, and biased media drive cultural decay in the U.S. Unvetted immigration from conflict zones, homegrown terrorism fueled by media misrepresentation, and Marxist indoctrination in universities are key issues. A Marxist allegedly killed two people in D.C. weeks ago and now an Egyptian illegal immigrant allegedly tried to kill people protesting Hamas in Boulder, Colorado, with Molotov cocktails. Biden's policies worsened these problems, and outlets like CNN and the New York Times spread Hamas propaganda, such as false claims of Israeli attacks. The United States is among the most religiously tolerant nations, with the Constitution ensuring freedoms for all, regardless of beliefs. Faith acts as a moral foundation, moderating behavior and fostering societal civility, even influencing non-believers through surrounding values. Christianity does not seek political control, in contrast to political Islam, which aims for centralized authority over society and government. Without an enlightenment embracing individual liberty, Islam's dominant establishment often supports Islamism, which clashes with Western values. Importing such ideologies into the U.S. may lead to resistance against assimilation, as seen in parts of Europe and emerging in America. An Egyptian national, illegally in the U.S. after overstaying a tourist visa, allegedly attacked Jewish Americans, including a Holocaust survivor, in Boulder, Colorado. The Biden administration's lax vetting and work permit issuance enabled this incident. How many people do we have like this in America? Mark contrasts Alexander Hamilton's vision of a strong central government with Jefferson and Madison's preference for limited federal power and strong state authority. Hamilton's ideas, like a lifelong executive and senators, were rejected by most framers, who favored state-centric governance, as Madison emphasized in Federalist 45. Hamilton's support for implied powers (Federalist 33) appeals to modern advocates of activist government. Elon Musk's push for spending cuts right now is nonsensical. Tax cuts are urgently needed to boost the economy and help Republicans maintain control during the midterms. Yes, spending is out of control but addressing it all at once is challenging. The Convention of States movement is a vital, under-discussed solution to institutionally fix congressional dysfunction, with frustration over Musk and others' lack of support or mention of this critical initiative for long-term conservative fiscal reform. Democrats are misrepresenting the bill's effects, exaggerating economic harm, and overlooking their own $2 trillion Inflation Reduction Act. Also, a nuclear deal proposal offered to Iran was rejected by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The deal required Iran to stop uranium enrichment. Iran's firm rejection may lead to consequences from President Trump if their stance continues. A Chinese couple were charged with smuggling a biological pathogen into the U.S. Communist China is trying to poison us and kill our crops. This is what happens when you have open borders and democrats. Meanwhile, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill limiting Chinese land ownership near military bases. Some Democrats are special pleaders for the enemy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and reporter Ariela Karmel join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As hostage family members met with members of the Trump administration in the White House on Tuesday, Berman discusses the latest developments in the hostage negotiations, as Hamas continues to leverage the remaining living hostages for political gain while negotiators say Hamas must accept US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff's latest proposal. He also looks at Iran's rejection of the nuclear deal proposal, after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the US proposal for a nuclear agreement went against the country’s national interest of continuing to enrich uranium. Berman notes that Iran wants a deal of some kind, particularly one that will protect them against future Israeli attacks, and is continuing to negotiate, with another round slated for this weekend. Berman describes one of the aid sites in Gaza that was created by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and the complications of funneling Gazans into the space to receive their aid packages. He notes that the aid centers are closed today to fine-tune the process and prepare safe access routes after the IDF opened fire toward Palestinians who had approached troops after straying off a pre-approved path for reaching a Rafah distribution site. Berman also looks at Spain and its decision to cancel another arms deal with Israel, spiking a $325 million system that would have been developed in Spain by Pap Tecnos, a subsidiary of Israel’s Rafael Advance Defense Systems. Berman discusses that Spain is a long-time critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and that it may be following other European countries with this step. Karmel speaks about ongoing government settlement policies that incentivize Israelis to move to the West Bank due to rising housing costs inside Israel, and how that situation has been concretized by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government. She also relates the launch of a book by released hostage Eli Sharabi, the first book by a former hostage, and his determination to keep living despite the personal tragedies he has experienced. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Senior Israeli official: Hamas ‘must understand it has to accept the Witkoff outline’ Key US consulting firm withdraws from American- and Israeli-backed Gaza aid agency Israel punches back at UN chief for demanding probe into Gaza aid site shooting Trump insists no enrichment in Iran deal after US said to offer limited nuke activity Spain reneges on $325m purchase of anti-tank missiles from Israel’s Rafael Is the government using the housing crisis to drive the settlement movement? A book to wake up the world: Ex-hostage Eli Sharabi launches memoir of captivity and survival Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: The Al-Ansar Mosque in Gaza's Deir al-Balah after Israeli airstrikes, June 3, 2025. (Photo by Ali Hassan/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For review:1. Russia and Ukraine Istanbul Talks Last Under 2 Hours with Large Prisoner Exchange Agreement and Consensus to Meet Again. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the POW swap as a “confidence-building measure” and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again.2. US President Donald Trump says he will be speaking to Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday about ending the war in Ukraine, saying the call would be about "stopping the 'bloodbath'". The President said the call would take place at 10:00 EST & he would then speak to Ukrainian President Zelensky, and leaders of some NATO countries.3. Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev, who led the assault on Mariupol in 2022, as the Commander of the Russian Ground Forces.4. IDF Airstrikes on Houthi Ports. Israeli fighter jets targeted two Houthi-controlled ports in the west of the country, and threatened to kill the terror group's leader (Abdul-Malik al-Houthi), in response to the Iran-backed group's ongoing missile and drone attacks on Israel.5. The Israel Defense Forces announced that it has launched the first stages of a major offensive in the Gaza Strip, dubbed “Gideon's Chariots,” that will seek to “seize strategic areas.” 6.  In Baghdad, Leaders at an Arab League summit demanded increased pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza, and reiterated the 22-nation body's rejection of President Trump's plan to take over the enclave, oust its residents, and rebuild it as a coastal resort.7.  Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said US President Donald Trump was lying about his intentions for the region, and once again called Israel a “cancerous tumor” that must be uprooted.8. Armor Not Dead: Netherlands Building Tank Battalion. The new battalion, equipped with at least 46 x Leopard 2A8 Tanks, will be based at Bergen-Hohne Training Area (Germany), where the Dutch says there is enough space for realistic training, something that is lacking in the Netherlands.9. The Hungarian Defence Forces has received 3 x Leopard 2A7HU main battle tanks and their first Leguan 2HU armored vehicle-launched bridge as part of a contract signed in 2018. The plan will integrate up to 44 x tanks and associated support equipment to modernize the military's ground-based armored firepower. 

//The Wire//2300Z March 31, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: STRATEGIC BOMBER BUILDUP AT DEIGO GARCIA CONTINUES, USA-IRAN RHETORIC INCREASES. CHINA DELAYS BLACKROCK DEAL TO BUY PANAMA CANAL.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Panama: The recently announced sale of Panama Canal Ports has been blocked by the Chinese government at the eleventh hour. As announced a few weeks ago, the majority of port facilities pertaining to the Panama Canal were scheduled to be sold to a consortium ultimately owned by Blackrock. This deal has been halted/delayed by China at the last minute.AC: The general theory behind this sale was for a critical maritime asset like the Panama Canal to be under American control as announced by the White House several weeks ago. After this initial interest was expressed, the deal became not necessarily American government control over the Canal, but rather for an American company to own these port facilities. Ultimately, the Chinese government halting the deal complicates the situation somewhat, especially since the reasons for the allegedly-temporary halt are not entirely clear. In any case, this indicates that the White House is not out of the woods yet when it comes to developments in Panama.Middle East: American rhetoric regarding a potential war with Iran has continued to escalate, with President Trump stating that "if we don't make a deal, there will be bombing". This comes on the heels of contradictory statements by DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who stated on Thursday that the intelligence community "continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003". Regardless of this assessment, American war plans continue.Meanwhile, a major surge of American military logistical resources is underway throughout the region. Satellite imagery from this morning confirms the presence of at least 5x B2 Spirit bombers at the airfield on Diego Garcia, along with an assortment of the standard tanker aircraft.AC: At least two KC-135 Stratotankers were observed moving from Guam to Diego Garcia early last week, which is a rare logistical movement and indicative of efforts to pull resources from multiple Areas of Responsibility (AORs) to provide logistical support for whatever is planned. A handful of C-17 cargo planes also landed at Diego Garcia over the weekend, adding to the sharp increase in aviation traffic at the remote island over the past week. Substantially increased C-17 cargo flights into Al Udeid Airbase have continued over the past few days as well. An additional B2 Spirit (likely intended for deployment to the Indian Ocean with the others) was located in Honolulu, possibly due to maintenance reasons.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments:When a man threatens to bomb a foreign nation, and then begins staging large numbers of strategic bombers near that nation, one might be inclined to think that man is serious.At the risk of speculating too wildly, it's possible that the White House intends go to war with Iran in any case, regardless of any sort of agreement. This is a classic tactic in Middle East diplomacy...engage in peace talks then at the last second claim the other side violated some term of the agreement, and the war is on. Considering the extremely significant numbers of military logistics pouring into the region, this could be a possibility...offering the olive branch openly on one hand, to distract from readying the arrows with the other.Conversely, all of this could be a giant pile of nothing. This could be an undisclosed drill, or some kind of shell game with resources, or any other number of theories that point to some innocent shuffling of bombers. This could be more of a deterrent than a legitimate preparation for a large scale military campaign. However, if

For review:1. US President Trump threatens Iran with bombing and tariffs over nuclear program. If they (Iran) don't make a deal, there will be bombing,” President Trump said in a telephone interview. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”2. In response to US President Trump's threat of bombing and tariffs, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday the US would receive a strong blow if it acts on President Donald Trump's threat to bomb unless Tehran reaches a new nuclear deal with Washington.3. IDF Prepares Return to Rafah. The Israel Defense Forces issued an evacuation warning on Monday for Palestinians in the entire Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip, saying the military was “returning to fight with great force to eliminate the capabilities of terror organizations in these areas.”4. President Trump reportedly "disappointed" in President Putin but thinks the peace negotiations "are making progress, step by step."5. Russia Launches Submarine Armed with Hypersonic Zircon Missile. The Zircon has a reported range of 500 to 1,000 kilometers, depending on its trajectory.It can fly at Mach 8, making it nearly impossible to intercept with current air defense systems, according to the US-based Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA).6. Egypt in Talks for S. Korea's FA-50 Light Attack Aircraft. Egypt's Ambassador to Seoul, stated that discussions between the two countries are progressing positively after months of negotiations for an initial order of 36 aircraft.7. US Army Contracts LM for Precision Strike Missiles. With an operational range exceeding 499 kilometers (310 miles), a PrSM launch pod is capable of carrying and firing two missiles.8. The Army's Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor ready for low-rate production. 

TURKEY, GAZA, AND IRAQHEADLINE 1: Erdogan's Hamas clients are also dealing with popular unrest.HEADLINE 2: The regime in Iran replied to President Trump's letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.HEADLINE 3: The United States military continues to hammer the Houthis.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Michael Rubin, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

The United Nations said on Tuesday that it rejects any aggression against Syrian sovereignty and violations of its territorial integrity, while Israel said it was establishing a "sterile defense zone" in southern Syria after carrying out more than 350 strikes in 48 hours.12月10日，联合国表示，反对任何侵犯叙利亚主权和破坏其领土完整的行为。而在48小时内实施了350多次袭击后，以色列表示正在叙利亚南部建立一个“无菌防御区”。Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at a news conference that Syria's "turning point" should not be used by its neighbors to encroach upon its territory, and should instead be used by all those in the region to support the Syrian people.联合国秘书长古特雷斯的发言人迪雅里克在新闻发布会上表示，近期局势变化是叙利亚面临的“转折点”，周边邻国不应趁机侵占叙利亚领土，而该地区的所有人应在此时支持叙利亚人民。Dujarric said they were very clear about the violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement following the Israel Defense Forces' occupation of the buffer zone. In 1967, Israel occupied most of the Golan Heights during the Middle East war and later annexed the territory. This was never recognized by the international community.迪雅里克强调，联合国非常清楚以色列国防军占领缓冲区违反了1974年签订的脱离接触协议。1967年，以色列在第三次中东战争中占领戈兰高地部分地区，后将这一被占领土兼并。国际社会不承认以色列对这一地区的主权。Meanwhile, Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, told journalists in Geneva on Tuesday that the conflict in northeastern Syria is not over as there have been clashes between the Syrian National Army, the opposition groups and the Syrian Democratic Forces.与此同时，联合国秘书长叙利亚问题特使裴凯儒10日在瑞士日内瓦表示，叙利亚东北部的冲突尚未结束，叙利亚国民军、反对派团体和叙利亚民主力量之间持续发生冲突。"We are calling obviously for calm also in this area," Pedersen said.裴凯儒说：“我们呼吁该地区保持冷静。”In addition, Israeli troop movements into the occupied Golan Heights and bombardments "need to stop", he said. "The message from New York is just the same — that what we are seeing is a violation of the disengagement agreement in 1974."此外，裴凯儒表示，以色列军队进入被占戈兰高地并进行轰炸的行为“必须停止”。他说：“联合国发出的信息是一样的——我们所看到的是对1974年脱离接触协议的违反。”In a post on X, the Israel Defense Forces reported striking most of what it claimed were the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria in 48 hours "to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements".以色列国防军在社交平台X上发帖称，过去48小时内在叙利亚实施的袭击，击中了叙利亚大部分战略武器库，“以防止它们落入恐怖分子之手”。Among the actions were more than 350 airstrikes. A "wide range of targets" included antiaircraft batteries, Syrian Air Force airfields and dozens of alleged weapons production sites in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia and Palmyra.以军的行动包括350多次空袭。袭击目标广泛，包括大马士革、霍姆斯、塔尔图斯、拉塔基亚和巴尔米拉的机场、防空炮台以及一些武器生产基地。Syria's naval operations were also targeted, including the Al-Bayda port and the Latakia port, where 15 Syrian naval vessels were hit.叙利亚海军也遭到袭击，其中包括位于米奈特贝达湾和拉塔基亚港的15艘叙利亚海军舰艇。Pedersen said Syria is still in a very "fluid" period, adding that there is a real opportunity for change, but it needs to be grasped by the Syrians themselves and supported by the UN and the international community.裴凯儒表示，叙利亚仍处于一个非常“不稳定”的时期。这是一个真正的变革机会，但这个机会需要叙利亚人自己把握，并得到联合国和国际社会的支持。Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani, leader of the opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham that led the rebel offensive and wrested control of Syria, told CNN that their goal had been to overthrow Syria's longtime president Bashar al-Assad.领导叛军攻势并夺取叙利亚控制权的反对派组织——沙姆解放组织的领导人阿布·穆罕默德·乔拉尼告诉CNN，他们的目标是推翻长期执政的叙利亚总统巴沙尔·阿萨德的政权。Syria's caretaker Prime Minister Mohamed al-Bashir called for stability and calm amid a leadership change.叙利亚过渡政府领导人穆罕默德·巴希尔呼吁在领导层更迭之际维持稳定和平静。On Wednesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the toppling of Assad was the result of a plan by the United States and Israel.11日，伊朗最高领袖阿亚图拉·阿里 ·哈梅内伊表示，阿萨德政权被推翻是美国和以色列共同策划的结果。"What happened in Syria was mainly planned in the command rooms of America and Israel. We have evidence of this. A neighboring government of Syria was also involved," Khamenei said in a speech reported by state media, without naming the neighboring country in question.“叙利亚发生的一切主要是在美国和以色列的指挥中心策划的。我们有证据证明这一点。叙利亚的一个邻国政府也参与其中。”哈梅内伊在伊通社报道的讲话中说，但没有点出这个邻国的名字。Dina Yulianti Sulaeman, director of the Indonesia Center for Middle East Studies, told China Daily that Israel, which is "most invested in weakening Syria" because of the latter's historically hostile stance toward it, will not allow Syria to become stable and secure.印度尼西亚中东研究中心主任迪娜·尤利安蒂·苏莱曼告诉《中国日报》，以色列“最想削弱叙利亚”，因为叙利亚历来对以色列持敌对立场，以色列不会允许叙利亚变得稳定和安全。"In recent days, Israel has bombarded Syria, destroying nearly all of Syria's military facilities, effectively leaving the country with no capacity to defend its sovereignty," she said.她表示：“最近几天，以色列轰炸了叙利亚，摧毁了叙利亚几乎所有的军事设施，实际上使叙利亚没有能力捍卫自己的主权。”"The accumulation of Israeli attacks, the collapse of infrastructure safeguarding territorial sovereignty, economic hardships, and internal chaos bring the potential for Syria's balkanization, as long envisioned in Israel's Oded Yinon Plan."“以色列持续的袭击、捍卫领土主权的基础设施的崩溃、经济困难以及内部混乱，都为叙利亚的巴尔干化带来了可能，而这正是以色列的‘伊农计划'长期以来所设想的。”The Oded Yinon Plan refers to a strategy, outlined in a 1982 article by a former Israeli official and scholar, for Israel's expansion in the Middle East and North Africa region.“伊农计划”是指以色列前官员、学者伊农在1982年发表的一篇文章中概述的以色列在中东和北非地区扩张的战略。sterileadj. 无菌的decryv. 公开反对；谴责balkanizationn. 巴尔干化；分割成小国territorial integrity领土完整

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:     Beginning in Eastern Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he plans on delivering a comprehensive proposal to end the war to President Joe Biden at an upcoming U.N. General Assembly meeting in September, vowing to press their attacks inside Russia to force Putin to the negotiating table. In a rare bit of good news out of Gaza, IDF forces successfully rescued an Israeli hostage taken by Hamas during the 7 October attacks, the first hostage to be reclaimed alive from inside Hamas's tunnel network. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he is open to restarting negotiations with the US regarding Iran's nuclear program, though he seems to be of two minds regarding the issue, also warning his countrymen not to place their trust in America. In our 'Back of the Brief' segment, Lebanese users of the popular US-based online dating platform Tinder were recently treated to a special message allegedly from the U.S. military: Do not take up arms against the United States and its partners. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.     Email: PDB@TheFirstTV.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei votes in snap poll.

The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has raised the question of another succession — that of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Raisi was seen as a strong candidate before his death. Also, Kenya's president is in the US for a historic state dinner celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations with the United States. It comes as Kenyan police prepare to arrive in Haiti to lead a controversial multinational UN force backed by Washington there. And, the Biden Administration faces an uphill battle in its efforts to close down the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Plus, a look at the legacy of the Latin Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and accordionist from Colombia, Omar Geles, who has died at the age of 57.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named an acting president following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials in a helicopter crash. Prime Minister Benjamin Netyanyahu is facing accusations from his own war cabinet that he doesn't have a strategy for replacing Hamas in Gaza. Michael Cohen will return to the stand in what will likely be the final day of testimony in the New York criminal trial of former President Donald Trump. And a London court is expected to deliver a final decision on whether or not Julian Assange can appeal extradition to the U.S. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by John Helton, Lauren Migaki, Dana Farrington, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfe. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted May 20 at 8 a.m. CT: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country’s foreign minister have been found dead hours after their helicopter crashed in fog. That leaves the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei quickly named a little-known vice president as caretaker Monday. The supreme leader has the final say in the Shiite theocracy.  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A popular centrist member of Israel’s three-man War Cabinet has threatened to resign from the government if it doesn’t adopt a new plan for the war in Gaza in the next three weeks.  HOUSTON (AP) — Houston area residents affected by deadly storms last week that left at least seven dead have received some good news. Officials say power was restored by Sunday evening to a majority of the hundreds of thousands of customer left in the dark and without air conditioning in hot and humid weather.  NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial is heading into the final stretch with the former president insisting he did nothing wrong. Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a payment to a porn actor who alleges they had a sexual encounter. The landmark trial kicks back off Monday with more defense cross-examination of former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, whose testimony tied Trump to an alleged hush money scheme.  John Krasinski’s imaginary friends movie “IF” claimed the top spot at the box office this weekend according to studio estimates Sunday. Its $35 million North American debut was also a bit lower than some projections. “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” continues to be the rare bright spot in a summer movie season that has gotten off to a bumpy start. In just 10 days, it surpassed $100 million domestically with $26 million in its second weekend. Third place went to “The Strangers—Chapter 1” with holdovers “The Fall Guy” and “Challengers” rounding out the top 5. In other news: What we've learned so far in the Trump hush money trial and what to watch for as it wraps up Airstrike kills 27 in central Gaza and fighting rages as Israel's leaders are increasingly divided Child is among 3 dead after Amtrak train hits a pickup truck in upstate New York Biden tells Morehouse graduates that he hears their voices of protest over the war in Gaza In entertainment news, the latest on Paul McCartney's fortunes and Francis Ford Coppola's "Megalopolis." The NBA's Final Four is set after two Game 7 road wins, Xander Schauffele dramatically wins his first major. the Phillies, Yankees and Dodgers extend their winning ways and Joey Logano nearly leads all the way to win at North Wilkesboro. 16 MLB is expected to investigate David Fletcher for gambling on sports, AP source says 17 Golfer's prompt release from jail rankles some who recall city's police turmoil 18 Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation 19 On this week's AP Religion Roundup, once officially atheist, today's Cuba hosts a rich diversity of faiths. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed after his helicopter crashed in poor weather in mountains near the Azerbaijan border. The charred wreckage of the helicopter which crashed on Sunday carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six other passengers and crew was found early on Monday after an overnight search in blizzard conditions.  Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced five days of public mourning and confirmed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim head of the country's executive branch. Here is the latest report by the Reuters News Agency...

NNN Website https://sites.google.com/view/alientom/home New Normal News #11 If you are born into a fish tank you will never know what's natural. You will only know the fish tank. You will never know God. you will think the fish tank is natural, Normal and maybe even God. Let's stop building the fish tank. Talk about the new normal. Find me on x and tell me what you see and think about the new normal. Make videos. Post posts. If we stay silent the future is bleak for our children. I do not consent to anti human agendas and neither should you. echo chambers and digital prisons I only see what x wants me to see. I see all the replies that agree with my stance. I never see counter positions. This keeps the left and right divided, disoriented and enemies. Imagine someone getting all of their information from msm and google. They will never know the truth. They will be walking programs. 2021 a scientist talked about making ppl allergic to red meat thru gene editing similar to how a tick disease can do that to ppl. For anyone routing for Israel.. a group of settlers destroyed food from aid trucks heading to Gaza. They want the families and children in Gaza to starve. So congrats I guess? People love sacrificing others for religion. The new religion has you sacrifice your child's gender in order to receive good social credit. What other things does the new normal religion ask for you to sacrifice? Take a vaccine to save someone else? Oops not safe or effective. Don't fly, eat red meat, live in a 15 minute city... What else? Leave a comment or hit me up on X and let me know what other new normal sacrifices you think of. Children are still dying suddenly from heart attacks in the New Normal. “Sudden And Unexpected” @toobaffled on x Do you remember seeing video compilations of athletes collapsing during a match before the experimental mRNA injection was implemented? No? That's because it was an extremely rare event to happen to an athlete; Now, however, it seems to happen every week, hence all the compilation clips .. The demand for representation in taxation played a crucial role in shaping the American Revolution. In a constitutional republic, the government operates under a prevailing constitution that outlines the powers and limits of government. Representatives elected by the people execute their duties within these constraints. One fundamental principle is the protection of minority rights against potential majority tyranny. The United States, for instance, functions as a constitutional republic, where citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf. While it's not a pure direct democracy, democratic processes are deeply interwoven in facilitating effective governance within this framework¹. So, yes, democracy plays a crucial role in a constitutional republic. Did we say yes to giving 100s of billions of dollars to defend Ukraine and Israel's borders when ours is open? Did we say give Pfizer and Moderna money and immunity to make a vaccine for covid that did more harm than good? Are we still a constitutional republic? Who does our government work for? 12 Republicans. I wish they were as passionate about the US as they are Israel. April 24, 2024 Mr. Karim A. A. Khan KC Office of the Prosecutor International Criminal Court Oude Waalsdorperweg 10 The Hague, The Netherlands Dear Mr. Khan, We write regarding the reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) may be considering issuing international arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. Such actions are illegitimate and lack legal basis, and if carried out will result in severe sanctions against you and your institution. The ICC is attempting to punish Israel for taking legitimate actions of self-defense against their Iranian-backed aggressors. In fact, in your own words, you witnessed “scenes of calculated cruelty”1 conducted by Hamas in Israel following the October 7 attacks. These arrest warrants would align the ICC with the largest state sponsor of terrorism and its proxy. To be clear, there is no moral equivalence between Hamas's terrorism and Israel's justified response. The ICC is also prohibited by its charter from proceeding in any case unless the relevant government is unwilling or unable to police themselves. You yourself have said that “Israel has trained lawyers who advise commanders and a robust system intended to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.”2 By issuing warrants, you would be calling into question the legitimacy of Israel's laws, legal system, and democratic form of government. Issuing arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel would not only be unjustified, it would expose your organization's hypocrisy and double standards. Your office has not issued arrest warrants for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei or any other Iranian official, Syrian President Bashar al Assad or any other Syrian official, or Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh or any other Hamas official. Nor have you issued an arrest warrant for the genocidal General Secretary of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, or any other Chinese official. Finally, neither Israel nor the United States are members of the ICC and are therefore outside of your organization's supposed jurisdiction. If you issue a warrant for the arrest of the Israeli leadership, we will interpret this not only as a threat to Israel's sovereignty but to the sovereignty of the United States. Our country demonstrated in the American Service-Members' Protection Act the lengths to which we will go to protect that sovereignty. The United States will not tolerate politicized attacks by the ICC on our allies. Target Israel and we will target you. If you move forward with the measures indicated in the report, we will move to end all American support for the ICC, sanction your employees and associates, and bar you and your families from the United States. You have been warned. 1 https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144362. 2 https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/icc-prosecutor-karim-khan-kc-concludes-first-visit-israel-and-state-palestine-icc-prosecutor. Sincerely, __________________________ Tom Cotton United States Senator __________________________ Marsha Blackburn United States Senator __________________________ Ted Budd United States Senator __________________________ Ted Cruz United States Senator __________________________ Pete Ricketts United States Senator __________________________ Rick Scott United States Senator __________________________ Mitch McConnell United States Senator __________________________ Katie Boyd Britt United States Senator __________________________ Kevin Cramer United States Senator __________________________ Bill Hagerty United States Senator __________________________ Marco Rubio United States Senator __________________________ Tim Scott United States Senator

In this episode, we discuss allegations of corruption within the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), particularly focusing on its corrupt conduct. We then shift to global politics, discussing the deepening ties between North Korea and Russia amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The episode concludes with an examination of Iran's nuclear ambitions, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stating that the West cannot stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and a warning from Israel about potential security threats. YouTube: ⁠⁠youtube.com/@unspokentruthofficial⁠⁠ Join the community of truthers here: ⁠⁠theunspokentruth.com.au --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unspokentruthofficial/message

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday. Editor David Horovitz and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode. This morning, activists opposed to the proposed judicial overhaul demonstrated outside the Tel Aviv home of Opposition Leader Yair Lapid in what seems to be a new tactic. What are they asking for? Over the weekend, New York hosted its annual Israel parade and the anti-judicial overhaul protestors were there, too. Horovitz shares what were some of the scenes there as opposed to what we've been seeing in Jerusalem. The US again appears receptive to restarting nuclear talks, in what many are calling a “less for less deal.” What would the new deal likely involve -- and how could it benefit Israel? Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana is set to visit Morocco tomorrow in the first official visit by a Knesset speaker to the parliament of a Muslim country. Why else is it significant? Horovitz interviewed comedian Dan Ahdoot, who is wrapping up a tour of Israel with Comedy for Koby. We hear about the rising star who charmed audiences throughout the country.Discussed articles include: ‘No compromise': Anti-overhaul protesters rally outside Lapid's home Anti-overhaul protesters disrupt Economy Minister Barkat's speech at NY conference On 22nd week, anti-overhaul protests enjoy bump in turnout amid anger at police Echoes of the Judean People's Front: Monty Python's in Jerusalem, and it isn't funny Iran unveils claimed hypersonic missile, says it is able to beat air defenses Casting wary eye on IAEA, Israel fears US laying groundwork for new Iran deal Knesset speaker Amir Ohana set to visit Morocco's parliament this week Comedy for Koby's Dan Ahdoot: Why Falafel Phil and over-tipping hold the keys to peace Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. IMAGE: In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a ceremony commemorating the death anniversary of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, shown in the poster at top right, at his mausoleum just outside Tehran, Iran, June 4, 2023. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard targeted the residence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with artillery. Local authorities and state governments in the northeast U.S. are asking the federal government for more help as they deal with illegal immigrants crossing from Canada into the U.S. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg offered a private response to Donald Trump, who urged his supporters to protest after claiming that he would be arrested. Elizabeth Warren called for a new Federal Reserve Chairman as she lashed out at Jerome Powell's job performance. Warren Buffett spoke with Biden administration officials about the banking crisis. A new bill in California, SB 345, seeks to protect doctors who provide abortion medication by mail to women in states where the medication, or the procedure itself, is banned. It would also permit the distribution of controversial transgender medication, such as puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones, in states where local laws would prohibit it. The director of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at a California college said she was “harassed and bullied” out of her job because she wanted to consider the perspectives of people from all races equally. A children's book event hosted by Chaya Raichik, a conservative author who runs the @LibsOfTikTok account, was canceled because of threats.The Patriot Power Generator from 4Patriots. com and use code TAPP for 10% off first-time orders on anything in the store.BeanstoxEinstok2nd Skull"Homegrown" Boone's Bourbon

Members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard targeted the residence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with artillery. Local authorities and state governments in the northeast U.S. are asking the federal government for more help as they deal with illegal immigrants crossing from Canada into the U.S. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg offered a private response to Donald Trump, who urged his supporters to protest after claiming that he would be arrested. Elizabeth Warren called for a new Federal Reserve Chairman as she lashed out at Jerome Powell's job performance. Warren Buffett spoke with Biden administration officials about the banking crisis. A new bill in California, SB 345, seeks to protect doctors who provide abortion medication by mail to women in states where the medication, or the procedure itself, is banned. It would also permit the distribution of controversial transgender medication, such as puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones, in states where local laws would prohibit it. The director of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at a California college said she was “harassed and bullied” out of her job because she wanted to consider the perspectives of people from all races equally. A children's book event hosted by Chaya Raichik, conservative author who runs the @LibsOfTikTok account, was canceled because of threats. The Patriot Power Generator from 4Patriots. com and use code TAPP for 10% off first-time orders on anything in the store.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened marginally higher this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,763 on turnover of 2.4-billion N-T. The market rose on Monday as buying was sparked by the gains on Wall Street at the end of last week on the back of reduced concerns over rate hikes by the U-S Federal Reserve. The bellwether electronics sector led the broader market higher, while semiconductor stocks also rose as they enjoyed the upturn seen by U-S tech firms last Friday. **Defense Minister Warns China Could Enter 24-Nautical-Mile Limit ** Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng is warning that China could seek to use visit to Taiwan by high level foriegn officials as a pretext (藉口) to enter Taiwan's maritime baseline of 24-nautical miles. Speaking at a legislative hearing, Chiu said Beijing is actively looking for excuses to further encroach (侵犯) on Taiwan's territorial waters and airspace, and such visits could see China intensifying it's the military threat towards to the island. Chiu says along with entering Taiwan's maritime baseline, China could also seek to approach the island's territorial space of 12-nautical miles. The defense minister says that island's military is prepared for any possible military response from China and the armed forces will "restrain itself" from launching the first strike to avoid giving China an excuse to attack Taiwan. **Premier Attends Opening of Kaohsiung's New Cruise Terminal ** And, Premier Chen Chien-jen has attended (出席) the opening of Kaohsiung's new cruise liner terminal. The Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal is shaped like a whale and was built at a cost of 5-billion N-T. It took 10-years to complete and on Monday welcomed its first two cruise ships. The new cruise terminal will allow up 3,500 people to enter Taiwan every hour. It has automated voice-to-text translation kiosks in four languages and has 26 gates for customs inspection, up from 12 in the old terminal. **Iran Supreme Leader on Suspected Poisonings ** Iran's supreme leader says that if a series of suspected poisonings at girls' schools is proven to be deliberate, the culprits (罪魁禍首) should be sentenced to death for committing an “unforgivable crime.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say on all matters of state, and Monday was the first time he spoke publicly about the suspected poisonings. The incidents began late last year and have reportedly sickened hundreds of children. Iranian officials only acknowledged them in recent weeks and have provided no details on who may be behind the attacks or what chemicals — if any — have been used. Unlike neighboring Afghanistan, Iran has no history of religious extremists targeting women's education. **US FBI Offers Reward for Kidnapped Citizens in Mexico ** The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward to help find four US citizens who were kidnapped in a Mexican border city. The Mexican president says they crossed over from the US to buy medication (藥物) when they were attacked by gunmen on Friday. US correspondent Nick Harper reports. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

A Pentagon official said the recovery would enable US analysts to examine sensitive Chinese equipment. We asked a former US State Department official how much this will worsen the relations between Washington and Beijing. Also in the programme: Reports from Iranian state TV say Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has pardoned a large number of prisoners linked to the women-led protests that swept the country since September; and as Pakistan's former president General Pervez Musharraf dies, we explore how he's regarded inside the country. (Photo: Chinese high-altitude balloon spotted over North Carolina, Charlotte, US, on the 1st of February 2023. Credit: EPA).

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is pardoning a large number of prisoners, including some of those arrested during the past months of protests. We'll hear a view from Tehran. Also in the programme: The former Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf has died - we'll assess his relationship with the US after 9/11; and the British writer Hanif Kureishi on finding his voice after a terrible accident on holiday. (Photo: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Credit: Handout via Reuters)

Stanford's Evelyn Douek and Alex Stamos weigh in on the latest online trust and safety news and developments:An EU regulator is putting behavioral advertising at risk and leveling more than $400 million in fines against Meta for Facebook and Instagram privacy violations. - Sam Schechner/ The Wall Street Journal, Vincent Manancourt/ Politico, Adam Satariano/ The New York Times, Stephanie Bodoni/ Bloomberg NewsMore: Meta plans to appeal the ruling against its legal basis for processing data to provide targeted posts and ads based on user activity. - MetaGoogle is implementing an appeals process for users suspended for sharing child sexual abuse materials on its platforms and will provide more information about why an account is suspended. - Kashmir Hill/ The New York TimesThe move follows New York Times reporting on fathers who lost access to their accounts after sharing requested photos of their children's genitals for medical treatment. Criminal investigations found them innocent, but Google refused to restore their accounts. - Kashmir Hill/ The New York TimesTwitter announced it relaxed policies for cause-based U.S. advertising and will expand permitted political advertising as ad revenue declines under Musk's ownership due in part to brand safety concerns. - @TwitterSafety, Brian Fung/ CNNMore: Many platforms banned or limited political advertising ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Analysis by Duke University researchers found there is little evidence those bans achieved their intended effects of limiting the spread of false or misleading information about elections. - J. Scott Babwah Brennen, Matt Perault/ Duke UniversityFacebook wants out of politics, but there is no escape! Efforts to reduce political or socially divisive topics had unintended consequences as users saw more spam content and less hard news. - Jeff Horwitz, Keach Hagey, Emily Glazer/ The Wall Street JournalFacebook's self-imposed deadline for deciding whether to reinstate former President Donald Trump's account has come and gone with any action and a public announcement expected in the coming weeks. - David Ingram/ NBC NewsThe Oversight Board released a new decision overturning Meta's removal of a Facebook post with a slogan used to protest the Iranian government, literally translating to “death to Khamenei,” in reference to ousting the current political regime led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. - Oversight Board, Katie Paul/ Reuters Members of the January 6 special committee staff who specialize in technology research and policy highlighted important findings that Trump received special protections on platforms despite red flags raised by trust and safety staff, however, right-wing networks with everyday people drove extremist views and organizing. They argue for increased transparency as the first legislative step to hold social media companies accountable. - Dean Jackson, Meghan Conroy, Alex Newhouse/ Tech Policy Press (commentary)WhatsApp added a feature that makes it easier for users in repressive regimes to bypass internet censors that attempt to ban or block access to the service. - Andrew Jeong/ The Washington PostThe Supreme Court allowed a lawsuit filed against the Israeli spyware firm NSO Group that claims the company is responsible for the illegal surveillance of 1,400 individuals to proceed. - Jessica Davis/ SC Media Researchers are raising the alarms that Brazilian far-right activists were organizing in the open across social media platforms far in advance of this week's violent attacks on government buildings in protest of the recent presidential election. - Elizabeth Dwoskin/ The Washington Post, @detJoin the conversation and connect with Evelyn and Alex on Twitter at @evelyndouek and @alexstamos.Moderated Content is produced in partnership by Stanford Law School and the Cyber Policy Center. Special thanks to John Perrino for research and editorial assistance.Like what you heard? Don't forget to subscribe and share the podcast with friends!

A niece of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been arrested after calling on foreign governments to cut all ties with Tehran's quote, "murderous and child-killing" regime. Farideh Moradkhan now behind bars after a scathing video statement shared by her brother prior to the arrest. Anti-government protests continue to shake Iran, two months on from the death of Mahsa Amini following her arrest by the country's so-called morality police. BBC Persian Service journalist Siavash Ardalan spoke to Guyon Espiner.   

Ayatollah Khamenei's niece arrested after she compares Iran's supreme leader to Hitler, Mussolini Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Farideh Moradkhani, the niece of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has compared her uncle to fascist dictators like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. "How long do we have to witness oppression by political autocrats in any part of this world? Isn't the experience of Hitler, Mussolini, Ceaușescu, Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein, Khomeini and his last one, Khamenei, enough?" Moradkhani said. Moradkhani's comments came in the form of a video message posted to YouTube and Twitter on Friday by her brother, Mahmoud Moradkhani. "All humanity is observing that Iranian people with empty hands, with exemplary courage and bravery, are fighting with the evil forces," Moradkhani said. "At this point in time, the people of Iran are carrying the burden of this heavy human responsibility alone by paying with their lives." Moradkhani also criticized apparent inaction other than "short and ineffective statements" by the United Nations as her country suffers under "obvious cruel oppression." She also blasted the "ridiculous and laughable sanctions" that have been levied against Iranian officials. This is just my opinion. PS: If you enjoy my content, I will think of you while drinking my coffee. – Buy Me a Coffee The Slippery Slope Spotify J Fallon Apple Music J Fallon Spotify J Fallon YouTube The Slippery Slope Apple Podcasts The Slippery Slope YouTube The Slippery Slope Stitcher --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jason-fallon/message

On the latest episode of Free Expression, policy analyst Reuel Marc Gerecht tell Wall Street Journal Editor at Large Gerry Baker why Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his regime see the most recent protests in Iran as a dangerous threat to their power, why sanctions won't stop Iran's significant nuclear program, and why Iran is aligning with Russia and China in a new Cold War with the West.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down the increased use of Iranian suicide drones by Russia in Ukraine and the significant rise of Iranian strikes against the Iraqi Kurds using unmanned aerial vehicles. We also look back to when Erick joined the Kurdish Peshmerga along the Iran/Iraq border, a place where few American civilians have set foot since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Plus, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed Israel and the U.S. for the wave of protests rocking his regime. Will Tehran use this false accusation as a justification for a wave of new attacks? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russian President Vladimir Putin made what The Washington Post called a “rare international trip to Iran" a few days ago. His trip seems to indicate closer ties between the allies, as he met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi before convening with Turkish President Erdogan. It's also impossible to ignore the fact Putin's visit to Iran comes right after President Joe Biden visited Israel, a nation Iran has repeatedly threatened. Biden and Israel addressed concerns over Iran — a longstanding global issue for which no real solution seems to be on the table. Consider that along with the other global catastrophes and events unfolding, and there's much to discuss. The world is at a precarious juncture and it can be seen that this meeting fulfills prophecy in the Bible. Tonight on Ground Zero, Clyde Lewis talks about PIA FIDELIS - LOYALTY TO THE ORDER. https://groundzeromedia.org/7-25-22-pia-fidelis-loyalty.../ Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis is live M-F from 7-10pm, pacific time, and streamed for free at groundzero.radio. There is a delayed broadcast on our local Portland affiliate station, KPAM 860, from 9pm-12am, pacific time. For radio affiliates near you, go to talkstreamlive.com. To listen by phone: 717-734-6922. To call into the show: 503-225-0860. The transcript of each episode will be posted after the show at groundzeromedia.org. In order to access Ground Zero's exclusive digital library which includes archived shows, research groups, videos, documents, and more, you must sign up at aftermath.media. Check out the yearly specials!

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to Tehran for meetings with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This week on The New Arab Voice, we're exploring the relations between Russia and Iran. What is the current state of relations between the two countries? How has the Russian invasion of Ukraine affected the relationship? Are Russia and Iran now competitors in the black market for oil? Will Iran provide Russia with its domestically produced military drones. This week, we speak with Sanam Vakil (@SanamVakil), Deputy Head & Senior Research Fellow at the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House (@CH_MENAP), and Hamidreza Azizi (@HamidRezaAz), CATS Fellow at the German Institute for International Security Affairs, focusing on Iranian foreign policy. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge). Theme music by Omar al-Fil (@elepheel). Other music by Blue Dot Sessions.To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck tackles the major headline gripping the Middle East. Vladimir Putin visits Iran with intentions to deepen ties amid the Kremlin's ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. The Russian President is scheduled to hold talks with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just days after U.S. President Joe Biden visited Israel and Saudi Arabia, Tehran's primary rivals in the region. Are these three rouge leaders sending a message to the world? Is the end time's confederation against Israel starting to assemble as predicted by Ezekiel the prophet? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good morning, this is Toby Sumpter with your CrossPolitic news brief for Tuesday, January 7th, 2020. In response to the US killing of Iranian Terrorist Qasem Soleimani last Friday, the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the US had committed a grave mistake. On the day of the attack, Iran's Foreign Minister Javid Zarif tweeted that the airstrike was an “act of international terrorism,” suggesting that General Soleimani had been the most effective force fighting ISIS and Al Qaeda. The Foreign Minister said the act was “extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation” adding that “the US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.” “Soleimani was the international face of resistance,” Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement, “and all lovers of resistance will be his avengers.” He added that “harsh retaliation is waiting.” Khamenei has ordered three days of public mourning, according to the AP.  The Daily Mail reports that on Saturday, Iranian General Gholamali Abuhamzeh, a Revolutionary Guards commander in the southern province of Kerman, threatened that Iran had itendified 35 targets for potential strikes and raised the red flags of revenge over every key mosque. Abuhamzeh said vital American targets in the region had been identified a 'long time ago', including ships in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and Tel Aviv. “The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there … some 35 U.S. targets in the region as well as Tel Aviv are within our reach,” he said, according to Reuters. Trump responded on Sunday via Twitter: “Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding the world of their terrorist leader who had just killed an American, & badly wounded many others, not to mention all of the people he had killed over his lifetime, including recently.... ....hundreds of Iranian protesters. He was already attacking our Embassy, and preparing for additional hits in other locations. Iran has been nothing but problems for many years. Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have... ...targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!” Many commentators pointed out that the threat to strike 52 cultural sites would seem to be a breach of international law. Others were also quick to say that this is the sort of international crisis they feared Trump would blunder into. But Trump continued on Twitter undeterred: Quoting a tweet from Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw who asked what is so controversial about there being repercussions for terrorists attacking the US, Trump said, “They attacked us, & we hit back. If they attack again, which I would strongly advise them not to do, we will hit them harder than they have ever been hit before! Trump followed up with two more tweets on the subject: “The United States just spent Two Trillion Dollars on Military Equipment. We are the biggest and by far the BEST in the World! If Iran attacks an American Base, or any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment their way...and without hesitation! These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner. Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!”  The US House Foreign Affairs Committee's Twitter account shot back, quoting this last tweet from the President, “This Media Post will serve as a reminder that war powers reside in the Congress under the United States Constitution. And that you should read the War Powers Act. And that you're not a dictator.” It seems that the House is suddenly interested in the constitution again…  On Sunday Iran announced that it is withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal. In exchange for economic sanctions being lifted, Iran had agreed to end all uranium enrichment programs for at least 15 years and submit to various inspections. However, last May, Trump had reinstated sanctions against Iran and states that trade with Iran, effectively ending America's participating in the deal. Iran responded by giving the other nuclear deal signatories 60 days to protect it from US sanctions, threatening to resume production of enriched uranium. Nuclear watchdog IAEA says that Iran has recommenced enriched uranium production. Trump responded to Iran's announcement on Sunday with all caps and an exclamation point: “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon!” Meanwhile the Iraqi Parliament passed a non-binding resolution asking US forces to leave the country, and Reuters reported Monday that the US Marine Corp Brigadier General William H. Seely III, the commanding general of Task Force Iraq had written a letter addressed to the Iraqi defense ministry's Combined Joint Operations Baghdad, stating, “Sir, in deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, CJTF-OIR will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement… We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.” [This letter was later repudiated by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who insisted that the US has no plans to withdraw troops, according to Reuters. Trump also said such withdrawal would only be accompanied by severe sanctions.] Finally, on this topic, it's worth noting that a 1996 interview with Joe Biden captures him on a news program insisting strongly that if Iran every attacked a US facility it should be considered an act of war and that ANY retaliation would be warranted. Hmmm… We'll just let simmer for a bit and see if anyone notices. Probably not.  But speaking of fires, Australia continues to be ravaged by the worst wildfires seen in decades. CNN reports that dozens have died and more that 1300 houses have been destroyed, with over 14.7 million acres burned across six states, with 8.9 million of those acres in the hardest hit New South Wales. It's estimated that perhaps a third of the koalas in New South Wales may have been killed by the fires, which has caused some Hollywood elites to speak out in great alarm. But of course you can get more sympathy in Hollywood for koalas than you can for human babies, as evidenced by the applause and tears Actress Michelle Williams received at the Gold Globe Awards on Sunday night, when she announced that she had employed “a woman's right to choose,” implying that she had killed at least one of her children, so that she could pursue a career in acting.  But back to the Australian forest fires, higher than average temperatures, high winds, lightning strikes, arsonists, and the recent legalization of sodomite marriage in 2017 are all blamed by leading scientists. However, what you won't hear in the news is the fact that beginning the 1990s, Bob Carr's liberal Labor government began a massive forest lock-up program. Peter Austin writes at theland.com.au, “Before that "greening" frenzy began, soon after Carr came to office in 1995, national parks and reserves accounted for some 4.8 per cent of New South Wales. Today the total area of the state controlled by the National Parks and Wildlife Service is more than 9pc. In less than 20 years, therefore, the area of national parks and related reserves has virtually doubled, but the resources deployed to manage this vastly expanding empire have not doubled with it. On the contrary, it was revealed last week that even since 2011, successive budget cuts have resulted in the NPWS slashing its staffing of rangers by one-third, thereby impairing its capacity to conduct hazard reduction burns. But before Carr took over, much of the coastal bushland now locked up in national park was prudently managed state forest, where fuel loads were kept down by logging programs, regular thinning and cattle grazing.” Turns out that the GREEN Religion doesn't keep things Green at all. It just results in them turning black. And I'm not just talking about the United Methodist Church. This a lesson in government incompetence. But it's also a lesson in biblical jurisdictions. It is not the Civil Magistrate's job to managed forests. Incidentally, it's not the civil magistrate's job to fund the arts or media or news or education. God did not give those jobs to that office. Therefore, it is disobedience to God and inevitable tyranny for the State to assume those powers. Should Christians care about the environment? Of course. But we should care about it through private ownership of land, and private foundations and associations that will have skin in the game. Personal responsibility is key to success. Bureaucrats and committees cannot be expected to care that much about what doesn't actually belong to them. The other thing to note here is that God commanded mankind to take dominion of the earth and cultivate it. This means in part that the earth needs cultivating. We need godly foresters and loggers and conservationists who understand that just like man is not good all alone and needs a helper, so too, the land is not good all alone and needs gardeners. And the more the GREENIES fail to actually care for the earth, enterprising Christians should be looking for ways to pry the government's fat fingers off the land and return it to private citizens and foundations.  This is Toby Sumpter with your CrossPolitic New Brief for Tuesday, January 7th, 2020. If you would like to encourage more of this, and why wouldn't you, please share the show and consider becoming a CrossPolitic Member. As a member you get access to a number of behind the scenes interviews, our CrossPolitic Worldview Series, and several masterclasses on parenting, Christian business principles, God and Government, eschatology, and a Proverbs Bible Study. You can find out more and become a member at flfnetwork.com/membership. 

The engineering of president-elect Ebrahim Raisi's victory in Iran's recent election on 18 June 2021 constitutes a potential domestic and foreign policy watershed. Designed to ensure conservative control of all levers of power in Iran and help Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei manage his succession, manipulation of the election swept aside the Islamic republic's long-standing democratic pretensions. Moreover, efforts to achieve American and Iranian agreement on a return to the 2015 international nuclear agreement could be complicated by the fact that the US has sanctioned Raisi for his troubled human rights record. This webinar will explore what impact the rise of Raisi will have on regional security in the Middle East. This public talk was conducted online via Zoom on Tuesday, 6 July 2021, from 4pm to 5.30pm (SGT). Click here for more details on the event: https://mei.nus.edu.sg/event/irans-presidential-election-impact-on-the-islamic-republics-policies/ 

Iranians have had enough of their long drought — specifically in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province, where people are protesting the severe water shortage.They say their hardships are about poor water management.Related: Planting dense urban forests could save Karachi from extreme heatFor the past week, crowds of demonstrators have been met with a violent response from security forces. At least three people have died.Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday that people could not be blamed for protesting, and called on officials to deal with the crisis.Kaveh Madani, a senior fellow at Yale University and the former deputy head of Iran's Department of Environment, joins The World's host Marco Werman to discuss Iran's challenges with water shortages.Marco Werman: Kaveh, what is the extent of the water shortage in Khuzestan right now? Kaveh Madani: The system is essentially water bankrupt. Water demand is far more than the available water. Iran has been using its water resources unsustainably. Khuzestan is just one of these places where the explosion eventually has appeared. People are saying that we have had enough and the environment is actually saying that it has had enough. Well, just over two years ago, the same region of Iran was under water — extreme flooding. How does a region exhaust surface and groundwater in such a short period of time?It's a very good question. That part of Iran, and all parts of Iran, have floods and droughts. Now, this place was flooded for two years. They had lots of damage, but the reservoirs got full. But people forgot that they have to conserve and use less water. And when I say people, it's not really people, the government who allocates water to different uses — agriculture, domestic sector, industrial sector — and then they drain the reservoir. And now, there is no rain and no water is available for the farmers to irrigate their farms and cities are even suffering.So what is the one big management mistake that should have been avoided to have prevented this current shortage?Essentially, Iran is a semi-arid area. Khuzestan province is an exception. It's very wet. It has mountains in the north and the south. It has the Persian Gulf. But then you start putting reservoirs everywhere. You use the water for agriculture, don't supply enough water to your wetlands, don't supply enough water to the environment and the ecosystem. So, essentially, you are developing unsustainably.Related: US launches airstrikes targeting Iran-backed militias How do you see climate change affecting and making the situation even worse?Climate change [is] everywhere, heat wave[s] and wildfires in California, floods in Germany or drought in Iran. Climate change has a multiplier effect. Climate change increases the intensity and frequency of extreme events like heat waves, floods and droughts. So, it catalyzes the problem, exacerbates the problem. You cannot blame it as the main cause. And if you do that, essentially, you justify what is happening. This means that managers and governments don't have any liability, but managers and governments are there to forecast and predict these situations and get the system prepared and make it resilient. We have not had enough action by the governments to get us prepared for what is happening at the global scale and [it] is making the problems worse. You worked in the public sector, in environmental management in Iran. What kind of reforms or reframing needs to happen for a more sustainable water situation in the country?This economic model, which only thinks about production and doesn't think about the environment, is dysfunctional. This has been proven to us around the world. Iran must change its development model, must invest in the industrial and service sector and decrease the pressure on its natural environment if it wants to survive. This means diversifying the economy and making big reforms to the agricultural sector. And these are very, very painful surgeries that you can't do, essentially, in systems where people are mad at you or have lost trust and faith in the government.And it's not just Iran, as you alluded earlier. I mean, the next big crisis in the globe, we are told, and that is already here, is around water shortages that are leading to monetization of water and making it less accessible to a lot of people. What does the situation in Khuzestan tell us about the future of water everywhere?You know, we are water bankrupt in many places. The system that we have is not sustainable right now. What we are seeing in Iran is a political crisis. It's a social crisis. You cannot just take the environmental sector out and prescribe solutions for the environmental sector, disregarding all other governance and social issues.Well, to that point, before I let you go, I wanted to ask you about Khuzestan, which is home to an Arab ethnic minority that has historically faced discrimination from the Iranian government. To what extent do you think are the environmental outcomes there are due to a pattern of certain groups being de-prioritized by the government?This is a very hard question to answer. You know, if this is intentional or this is a systematic failure, it's like, you know, the problem we have with the African American communities or Black communities in the United States, that you see that there is a pattern there, that inequality exists in the system and in every sector. We have the same situations with ethnic communities, the environmental injustice implications of the development projects in Iran are significant. But before I let you go, let me tell you this: Khuzestan is a very rich region in terms of oil and gas. The benefits of Khuzestan were not limited to Iraq. You in the United States have also benefited from the oil that this region has produced. What we didn't think about was the environmental justice implications of our aggressive economic development that was dependent on fossil energy. And now those people are left with pollution. And we are here in the United States with a much better quality of life. And I think this is something for us to to consider, how our lifestyle, how what we do in Europe or in North America is affecting people in the Global South.This interview was edited and condensed for clarity. 

Iranians have had enough of their long drought — specifically in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province, where people are protesting the severe water shortage.They say their hardships are about poor water management.Related: Planting dense urban forests could save Karachi from extreme heatFor the past week, crowds of demonstrators have been met with a violent response from security forces. At least three people have died.Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday that people could not be blamed for protesting, and called on officials to deal with the crisis.Kaveh Madani, a senior fellow at Yale University and the former deputy head of Iran's Department of Environment, joins The World's host Marco Werman to discuss Iran's challenges with water shortages.Marco Werman: Kaveh, what is the extent of the water shortage in Khuzestan right now? Kaveh Madani: The system is essentially water bankrupt. Water demand is far more than the available water. Iran has been using its water resources unsustainably. Khuzestan is just one of these places where the explosion eventually has appeared. People are saying that we have had enough and the environment is actually saying that it has had enough. Well, just over two years ago, the same region of Iran was under water — extreme flooding. How does a region exhaust surface and groundwater in such a short period of time?It's a very good question. That part of Iran, and all parts of Iran, have floods and droughts. Now, this place was flooded for two years. They had lots of damage, but the reservoirs got full. But people forgot that they have to conserve and use less water. And when I say people, it's not really people, the government who allocates water to different uses — agriculture, domestic sector, industrial sector — and then they drain the reservoir. And now, there is no rain and no water is available for the farmers to irrigate their farms and cities are even suffering.So what is the one big management mistake that should have been avoided to have prevented this current shortage?Essentially, Iran is a semi-arid area. Khuzestan province is an exception. It's very wet. It has mountains in the north and the south. It has the Persian Gulf. But then you start putting reservoirs everywhere. You use the water for agriculture, don't supply enough water to your wetlands, don't supply enough water to the environment and the ecosystem. So, essentially, you are developing unsustainably.Related: US launches airstrikes targeting Iran-backed militias How do you see climate change affecting and making the situation even worse?Climate change [is] everywhere, heat wave[s] and wildfires in California, floods in Germany or drought in Iran. Climate change has a multiplier effect. Climate change increases the intensity and frequency of extreme events like heat waves, floods and droughts. So, it catalyzes the problem, exacerbates the problem. You cannot blame it as the main cause. And if you do that, essentially, you justify what is happening. This means that managers and governments don't have any liability, but managers and governments are there to forecast and predict these situations and get the system prepared and make it resilient. We have not had enough action by the governments to get us prepared for what is happening at the global scale and [it] is making the problems worse. You worked in the public sector, in environmental management in Iran. What kind of reforms or reframing needs to happen for a more sustainable water situation in the country?This economic model, which only thinks about production and doesn't think about the environment, is dysfunctional. This has been proven to us around the world. Iran must change its development model, must invest in the industrial and service sector and decrease the pressure on its natural environment if it wants to survive. This means diversifying the economy and making big reforms to the agricultural sector. And these are very, very painful surgeries that you can't do, essentially, in systems where people are mad at you or have lost trust and faith in the government.And it's not just Iran, as you alluded earlier. I mean, the next big crisis in the globe, we are told, and that is already here, is around water shortages that are leading to monetization of water and making it less accessible to a lot of people. What does the situation in Khuzestan tell us about the future of water everywhere?You know, we are water bankrupt in many places. The system that we have is not sustainable right now. What we are seeing in Iran is a political crisis. It's a social crisis. You cannot just take the environmental sector out and prescribe solutions for the environmental sector, disregarding all other governance and social issues.Well, to that point, before I let you go, I wanted to ask you about Khuzestan, which is home to an Arab ethnic minority that has historically faced discrimination from the Iranian government. To what extent do you think are the environmental outcomes there are due to a pattern of certain groups being de-prioritized by the government?This is a very hard question to answer. You know, if this is intentional or this is a systematic failure, it's like, you know, the problem we have with the African American communities or Black communities in the United States, that you see that there is a pattern there, that inequality exists in the system and in every sector. We have the same situations with ethnic communities, the environmental injustice implications of the development projects in Iran are significant. But before I let you go, let me tell you this: Khuzestan is a very rich region in terms of oil and gas. The benefits of Khuzestan were not limited to Iraq. You in the United States have also benefited from the oil that this region has produced. What we didn't think about was the environmental justice implications of our aggressive economic development that was dependent on fossil energy. And now those people are left with pollution. And we are here in the United States with a much better quality of life. And I think this is something for us to to consider, how our lifestyle, how what we do in Europe or in North America is affecting people in the Global South.This interview was edited and condensed for clarity. 

Preliminary results show Ebrahim Raisi, the hardliner close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has won Iran's Friday presidential election, so far with 62% of the vote. And America met climate goals in 2020 despite presidential efforts to the contrary.

Iranians go to the polls next week to decide who'll be the country's next president. Hundreds of potential candidates were disqualified, some of whom represent the reform movement, leaving just seven men in the running. Whoever wins will inherit a dire economy, with one-in-ten Iranians unemployed, inflation running at roughly 50%, and growing queues to buy everyday items like chicken. The victor will also have to share power with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), and parliament. So what kind of mandate will he have? How democratic are the country's elections? And what impact will the new leader's policies have on Iran, its people and its place in the world? Ritula Shah is joined by a panel of Iranian guests.

Today on The Leaders' Brief - As China and the US continue to be locked in a trade war, one important bone of contention between China and Western nations remain Hong Kong, and Beijing is mulling over the possibility of making changes to the specially administered region's electoral system.Chinese media recently reported Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office as saying that Beijing needs to close relevant legal loopholes within the framework of the Constitution and the Basic Law to ensure that Hong Kong's governance is controlled by patriots. A step in that direction, which remains a possibility, could intensify protests in the erstwhile British colony and invite more Western sanctions on Beijing.  Australia finally started its COVID vaccination rollout this week even as anti-vaccination protests rocked several parts of the country. The country's Prime Minister Scott Morrison became one of the first citizens to receive the jab in an event broadcasted live to assert confidence among Australians about the safety of the vaccines. About 60,000 are expected to be administered by the end of this week to frontline workers and residents of aged care homes. On the day of the deadline, Iran announced that it has gotten into a temporary arrangement with the IAEA that would allow the global watchdog to retain the "necessary degree of monitoring and verification work." However, President Hassan Rouhani has faced severe criticism for the IAEA deal and the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has suggested Tehran may continue enriching uranium up to 60%.  About egomonk: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedInegomonk is a global intelligence platform delivering asymmetric outcomes by bringing organizations closer to the communities they want to serve and the leaders they wish to influence. If you wish to collaborate with us then email us at contact@egomonk.com.

Today on The Leaders' Brief - South Korea's jobless rates hit a 21-year high this week as the country continues to grapple in controlling COVID-induced business losses. However, compared to other countries Seoul has done fairly well in checking the spread of the coronavirus, and ensured the least possible losses to its economy during the pandemic. Till Wednesday, the country had recorded a total of 81,930 cases with a little over 1,400 deaths. The country is now banking on a quick and efficient vaccination programme to revive sectors dependant on crowds and a sharp recovery in tech exports could create room for jobs in the manufacturing sector.  The European Union has said it is considering sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin's government to pressurize the release of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. The development comes after Navalny allies Leonid Volkov and Vladimir Ashurov spoke to top diplomats from the EU, the UK, the USA, Ukraine and Canada over video call and requested them to take more punitive measures against politicians and influencers linked to the Russian President.  Iran's Intelligence minister Mahmoud Alavi hinted that Tehran may go back on its promise to not develop Nuclear weapons. Mr Alavi's veiled threat came two days after the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the USA to lift all sanctions placed by the erstwhile Trump administration if it wanted Iran to live up to commitments under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The threats come as a matter of major concern for the Biden administration's foreign policy team working towards maintaining stability in the Arab world.  About egomonk: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedInegomonk is a global intelligence platform delivering asymmetric outcomes by bringing organizations closer to the communities they want to serve and the leaders they wish to influence. If you wish to collaborate with us then email us at contact@egomonk.com.

Addressing the Islamic Republic's future in terms of its stability, security and what has been their expanding reach and influence in the Western Hemisphere, CLARE LOPEZ, a national security consultant and president of Lopez Liberty LLC, speaks to the latest threats by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who has now come out and stated: “The Islamic Republic of Iran ... will definitely deal the counterblow to the Americans,” Also, for more information see: https://worldisraelnews.com/iran-threatens-harsher-revenge-against-us-for-death-of-soleimani/. See: https://www.facebook.com/TheDeniceGaryShow/videos/343225870019526/ Share this broadcast with others and help continue the work of The Denice Gary Show by making your tax-deductible contribution to The Middle East Initiative, P.O. Box 82162, Bakersfield, CA 93380.

Next week, Iranians go to the polls to elect a new parliament. This time around there will be fewer choices on the ballot, after a number of ‘reformist’ politicians were purged from the list of candidates allowed to stand. Popular anger over the country’s dire economy has been spilling onto the streets, with some criticising Iran’s ruling elite, while others blame the United States for withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and introducing fresh sanctions. But just who is in charge in Tehran? If hardliners are consolidating power, why now? And is outside pressure to bring about regime change strengthening the hand of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or helping those Iranians who want a closer relationship with the West? Ritula Shah and a panel of expert guests discuss - what's next for Iran?

This week we discuss a few updates to stuff we talked about last week, some articles we found that stood out to us, and discussed what it is that drives people to vote for a partictular party or candidate. Mostly shooting the breeze like the good ol’ days of episode one. Also... Shower Thoughts and some TIL. If you like the music check out the artist here: theearthonfireIntro song links: Spotify Apple MusicPlease subscribe to us on YouTube and join us live for our weekly recording!Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Facebook for the easiest way find us live (YouTube Links will be posted there)Links discussed in episode:TIL that in WWII, an Australian soldier removed his own appendix in the middle of a Philippine jungle in 1944, without any anaesthetic and with only the use of a mirror and an ordinary knife. The operation took 4 and a half hours and he stitched himself up with jungle fibre. TIL that since roosters crow at an average of 130 decibels, their external auditory canals close off completely when they fully open their beak. This prevents them from damaging their own hearing when they crow.TIL In 1883, gifts were distributed after a show in Victoria Hall. Many of the estimated 1100 children surged downstairs, but the door opened inward and had been bolted so only one could pass at a time. Those in front were crushed by those behind them. 183 children between the ages of 3 and 14 died.He's rightProtesters in Iran are demanding that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei steps down, after the country's military admitted to accidentally downing a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 people on boardme_irlme irlme irlme irlme irl Ricky Gervais to celebrities at the Golden Globes: "You're in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world." Virginia Democrat introduces bill to allow minors to obtain birth control and vaccines without parental consent. Remember, when Colorado implemented similar policies, the teen pregnancy rate AND the abortion rate dropped by double digits. Don't like abortion? Vote for bills like this.TIL that two doctors saved a woman’s life on an airplane by performing mid-air surgery on her with a coat hanger and silverware. They also used cognac to sterilise the equipment. It was on a flight from Hong Kong-London. They couldn’t land for help, as the increase in air pressure could kill her. Oculus Quest fixed my Binocular Dysfunction Shower Thoughts:If elevators hadn't been invented, all the CEOs and important people would have their offices on the first floor as a sign of status.When buying something from a store for $1.00, we think it’s super cheap, but on the App Store, it’s super expensive LEGO could make lots more money if they had an online "build and ship" service where you build your thing online and have them ship you the parts with instructions.Old people always complain of millennials and “always being on their phones,” yet they’re the ones who refuse to ever put them on silent modeTurbulence is the pot hole of the sky.Stormtroopers must be brilliant at Russian RouletteHeist movies based on Real heists make more money than the heist itself.There are many men named Hunter, but oddly no women named gatherer.Google is being widely used as a Spell checker.At this point in time, a baby was born, someone had their first birthday, another went through puberty, another proposed, another married, another retired and another died. Practically a whole life was lived in this very momentMaturity is realizing that maybe you're the asshole that needs to changeIn a good relationship, no one wears the pants.If you rate someone 10/10, they’re a 1As a kid growing up you never appreciate that one of life's most difficult questions as an adult is what are we going to do for dinner tonight. The trickier part is you have to answer this question every day.If elevators hadn't been invented, all the CEOs and important people would have their offices on the first floor as a sign of status.Being able to do well in school without putting any effort in actually makes your life harder in the futureThe voice in your head is incredible at impersonationsIf you have an organ donor card, you will drop loot when you die.The kids of the future probably won’t make ‘Brrmmm brrmm’ sounds when they play with toy cars

The Times of Israel's military correspondent Judah Ari Gross speaks with former deputy head of Israel's national security council Chuck Freilich. Freilich, who was born in the United States, but has lived in Israel for 50 years, speaks soberly about the many security threats facing the Jewish state. The interview, conducted prior to the targeted killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, nonetheless covers the looming existential peril presented by a nuclear Iran. Image: Senior Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani, center, attends a meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (not seen) and Revolutionary Guard commanders in Tehran, Iran, September 18, 2016. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

The acting Customs and Border Protection commissioner is resigning amid a surge of immigrants at the southern border. John Sanders' resignation is set for July 5, and he didn't provide a reason for stepping down. The resignation comes as CBP deals with accusations of poor living conditions at US border facilities. House Democrats are battling over a $4.5 billion emergency aid bill for the southern border. Liberals are outraged over the treatment of migrant children and are pushing for more protections in the bill. They want tougher standards for facilities that house migrant families. In the meantime, the White House is threatening a presidential veto, as it seeks more funding for ICE detention. House leaders want to get the bill passed before next week's July 4 recess. In an open letter, 18 individuals from 11 wealthy families detailed the sweeping benefits of imposing a wealth tax on the richest Americans. What signal is this sending to the broader American electorate? “We are writing to call on all candidates for president, whether they are Republicans or Democrats, support a moderate wealth tax on the fortunes of the richest 1/10 of the richest 1% of Americans — on us. The next dollar of new tax revenue should come from the most financially fortunate, not from middle-income and lower-income Americans.” How much revenue could realistically be generated from a tax of this nature?US President Donald Trump said in a Tuesday tweet, “Any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration.” He called Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's comments “ignorant and insulting.” Rouhani said earlier Tuesday that the White House was "afflicted by mental retardation" and vowed that Tehran would not be intimidated by American sanctions. “Imposing useless sanctions on Iran's Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] and the commander of Iran's diplomacy [Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif] is the permanent closure of the path of diplomacy,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Twitter. What does this mean going forward?A recent New York Times piece, "Guantánamo Case to Test Whether Torture Can Be Put on the Docket," details abuse Majid Khan suffered while in CIA prisons. "Mr. Khan, a confessed Qaeda courier, was held in almost total darkness for a year, fearing he would be drowned in an icy tub and isolated in a cell with bugs that bit him until he bled. In 2004, his second year of CIA detention, the agency 'infused' a purée of pasta, sauce, nuts, raisins and hummus up Mr. Khan's rectum when he went on a hunger strike, according to a Senate Intelligence Committee report. Now Mr. Khan and his legal team are pursuing a strategy in an effort to force the United States government to acknowledge what was done to him in a way it never has for any of the detainees who were subjected to torture — and to give him a measure of compensation for it." The government is fighting the case, so what will happen next?GUESTS:Maru Mora-Villalpando — Nationally known immigrant rights activist, co-founder of the Latinx organization Mijente and community organizer with Northwest Detention Center Resistance. Dr. Jack Rasmus — Professor of economics at Saint Mary's College of California and author of "Central Bankers at the End of Their Ropes: Monetary Policy and the Coming Depression."Jefferson Morley — Journalist and editor who has worked in Washington journalism for over 30 years, 15 of which were spent as an editor and reporter at The Washington Post. The author of "The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton" and "Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA," Morley has written about intelligence, the military and politics for Salon, The Atlantic and The Intercept, among others. Jim Kavanagh — Political analyst and commentator and editor of The Polemicist.Dr. Ajamu Baraka — American political activist and former Green Party nominee for vice president of the United States in the 2016 election.

IRAN Says The Channel For Diplomacy Is Closed 'Forever' Should We Or Trump Worry?Iran blasts new US sanctions, says channel for diplomacy is closed 'forever'A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a tweet Tuesday that the new U.S. sanctions that target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials close any channel for diplomacybetween the two countries "forever." President Trump signed an executive order Monday issuing “hard-hitting” financial sanctions against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his associates. The U.S. and Iran have seen tensions increase exponentially in the past few weeks after an initial U.S. sanctions squeeze that Washington said led to the attacks on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The situation became increasingly dire last week after Tehran admitted to downing a $100 million U.S. Navy drone. Trump said the sanctions “will deny the supreme leader and the supreme leader's office and those closely affiliated with him and the office access to key financial resources and support.”Trump wonders if Biden has a 'big secret'Ahead of the first Democratic primary presidential debates on Wednesday and Thursday, President Trump has renewed his attacks on Joe Biden, this time questioning why former President Barack Obama hasn't endorsed his former vice president. In a new interview with the Hill, Trump wondered if there was a “big secret” as to why Obama has not backed Biden. “How he doesn’t get President Obama to endorse him, there has to be some reason why he’s not endorsing him,” Trump told The Hill. “He was the vice president. They seemed to have gotten along. President Obama not endorsing him is rather… a big secret.”Report: White House moves to prevent Conway from testifying about alleged Hatch Act violationsThe White House has reportedly moved to prevent counselor Kellyanne Counselor from testifying before Congress about allegations of violations of the Hatch Act, the Washington Post reported Monday. The House Oversight Committee, anticipating a lack of cooperation from Conway and the White House, plans to vote Wednesday on a subpoena to force her testimony. In an interview with "Fox & Friends" on Monday, Conway pushed back against a finding that she violated the Hatch Act and dismissed a recommendation that she be fired as an attempt to "silence" her and prevent her from working toward President Trump's re-election.Newly-released video footage show Jussie Smollett with rope around his neckChicago police released hundreds of files and nearly 70 hours of video footage on Monday from the investigation into Jussie Smollett's claim back in January that he was attacked by two men -- an allegation that police later characterized as a hoax. In one ofthe videos, police body-cam footage showed Smollett -- with his face blurred -- wearing a white rope that he told detectives his attackers looped around his neck. When one of the officers asked Smollett if he wanted to take the rope off of his neck, the 37-year-old actor did while stating: "Yeah. I do. I just wanted you all to see it." The release of the footage, marked the latest chapter in a story that began with Smollett's allegations that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. He eventually was arrested on charges that he lied to police, but prosecutors later dismissed the charges.Missing mother's family denies her case is a 'Gone Girl' disappearanceFamily and friends of missing Connecticut mother of five Jennifer Dulos on Monday countered a claim from her estranged husband’s lawyer that the author was "deeply troubled,” and rejected any suggestions that she was faking her disappearancein a plot similar in the 2015 cinematic thriller "Gone Girl." In a Fox News interview on Friday, lawyer Norm Pattis said his client, Fotis Dulos, was "emotional, tired, distraught" over the "exhausting ordeal" and disappearance of his estranged wife. He said Jennifer Dulos "had a troubled past," describing her as a writer who "wrote a manuscript similar to 'Gone Girl,'" a thriller that later became a hit Hollywood movie. In response, Carrie Luft, a spokeswoman for family and friends of the missing mother, said: “This is not fiction or a movie. This is real life, as experienced every single day by Jennifer’s five young children, her family, and her friends.”TODAY'S MUST-READSProsecution witness admits no evidence of stab wound in Navy SEAL trial.Pelosi faces revolt in her party over $4.5B emergency aid bill for migrants.Nebraska woman's accused killer slashes his neck in courtroom horror: reports.MINDING YOUR BUSINESSEXCLUSIVE: After Stephen Moore's failed Fed bid, he's creating a crypto central bank. Bitcoin hits $11K: A timeline of cryptocurrency's rise, fall and rebound.Average retirement-age Americans have this much in their 401(k), report says.

Tens of thousands of Iranians have been protesting the government over the last few weeks in large part over the country's bad economy and a recent jump in the prices of basic goods. The crisis seems to be growing as many are calling for the ouster of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, among others. Host Dan Loney talks with Philip Nichols, Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics at The Wharton School, Nader Habibi, Professor of Economics at the Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University, and Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, Professor of Economics at Virginia Tech, to discuss the economic and political impact of these protests on Knowledge@Wharton. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

1. ISIS Affiliate Claims Responsibility For Rocket Attack The Islamic State officially claimed responsibility for the two missiles that were fired into an open field in southern Israel. #ISIS #Rocket ____________________ 2. ISIS Takes Territory Near Israeli Border In Surprise Attack Syrian opposition army defector Col. Ismail Ayoub said that “in a surprise attack, Islamic State made an attack on positions held by the free Syrian army or FSA groups near Israeli border. #Syria #ISIS ____________________ 3. Syrian Media Reports Of Israeli Airstrike Near Damascus The Syrian pro-government media service Al-Masdar reported that Israeli aircraft were spotted in Syrian airspace, conducting strikes against a Hezbollah bound weapons convoy. #Syria #Airstrike ____________________ 4. Jordan & Egypt Say Two-State Solution Is A Must Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi and King Abdullah the second have joined for a meeting in Cairo insisting on the implementation of a two state solution. #Egypt #Jordan #TwoStateSolution ____________________ 5. Jpost Editor: Trump Caves, Will Not Move Embassy To Jerusalem ILTV's Steve Leibowitz sat down with Jerusalem Post Editor in Chief Yaakov Katz to discuss the campaign promise of US President Donald Trump to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. #SteveLeibowitz #YaakovKatz #Embassy ____________________ 6. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: ‘Israel Is Showing Signs Of Collapse' Iran's Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claims that Israel's beginning to disintegrate- amid worldwide opposition to its policies. #Iran #Khamenei ____________________ 7. 18 Month Sentence Given To Israeli Soldier Draws Outrage The Israeli military court sentencing of Israeli soldier Elor Azaria for 18 months is drawing outrage in the country. #ElorAzaria #Sentence ____________________ 8. Netanyahu Lands In Australia; First Ever Visit By Israeli Premier Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a warm “ceremonial welcome” from Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in a first ever official visit to Australia of an Israeli prime minister. #Netanyahu #Australia ____________________ 9. Israeli-Australian Relations Grow Stronger Nathan Jeffay, Israel Correspondent for the Australian Jewish News speaking at ILTV studio to discuss the implication of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu first ever trip to Australia. #NathanJeffray #Australia #Netanyahu ____________________ 10. Israeli Startup Invents Smart Glass Windows An Israeli start-up called Gauzy is now introducing interactive smart windows to the world that will be introduced in Mercedes Benz cars. The patented technology reinvents glass by allowing users to control its transparency with their hands. #Gauzy #Windows ____________________ 11. 4-Day Vacation Giveaway In Tel Aviv The city of Tel-Aviv and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism announced that they are sponsoring a competition where contestants can win a four-day vacation in Tel Aviv. #Vacation #Tel Aviv ____________________ 12. Hebrew Word Of The Day, METZIL | מציל = LIFEGUARD Learn a new Hebrew word every day. Today's word is "metzil" which means "lifeguard" #Learnhebrew #Hebrewwordofday #Iltvhebrewwordofday _____________________ 13. The Weather Forecast Tonight should be partly cloudy with a low of forty-nine or nine degrees Celsius. Temperatures are set to rise a bit tomorrow to a high of sixty-six; or nineteen degrees Celsius though the sky will remain partly cloudy throughout the day. #Israelweather #Israelforecast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has led the Islamic Republic since 1989. But after the nuclear deal with the US, questions have been raised over whether it is necessary to have a senior cleric in charge, says Najmeh Bozorgmehr. Now reformists and hardliners have begun to position themselves for influence over the future of the country See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Aired 03/02/12 Iranians went to the polls in parliamentary elections today. With many reformists and opposition leaders not participating, the vote is a contest between hard-line supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pressure from the West over Iran's nuclear program has been a central issue. Barbara Slavin is Washington correspondent for AL-Monitor.com, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, and the author of Bitter Friends, Bosom Enemies: Iran, the US and the Twisted Path to Confrontation. Guests: Barbara Slavin: AL-Monitor.com, @barbaraslavin1 Also Vladamir Putin is almost certain to regain the presidency in elections in Russia on Sunday, but that victory may be more a reflection of voters' resignation than broad support for his twelve-year rule. Putin, who has been suggesting Russia could walk away from the Start II treaty and is accusing Hillary Clinton of funding protests in his country, is heavily favored. Matthew Rojansky is Deputy Director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Guests: Matthew Rojansky: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, @MatthewRojansky