Federal republic in Central Europe
POPULARITY
Categories
Washington Wednesday on moral rescue in Venezuela, World Tour on the deadly fire in Switzerland, and Arsenio Orteza's conversation with Ellie Holcomb. Plus, Janie B. Cheaney reflects on slow change, a big expensive fish, and the Wednesday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from The Free Lutheran Bible College (FLBC), Plymouth, MN, prepares students to live out their calling through the study of God's Word in authentic community since 1964. At FLBC, biblical truth isn't an elective course—it's the foundation of our academic study. Through the study of God's Word in authentic, Christ-centered community, you'll form a biblical worldview that gives you clarity and confidence for whatever comes next—college, career, family, or ministry. Learn more at flbc.edu/worldFrom Commuter Bible, the Bible podcast series that matches weekly schedules. On podcast apps and commuterbible.org. Annual plans begin this week.And from Dordt University. Dordt's online Master of Social Work program equips students for faithful service in their local communities – until all is made new.
Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureTrump’s tariff system is putting a lot of strain on the Eurozone, they were hurting from the green new scam, but now it’s all falling apart. New supply of oil is coming into the US, prices are going to drop. Trump is shutting down the [CB] plan down, no institutional investors in real estate, prices are about to come way down. Newsom wants to confiscate Bitcoin. The [DS] is feeling pain, their drug, human and oil trafficking system is being dismantled. The [DS] have lost the information war, common sense has now taken over. The [DS] will now being moving to physical war. This is the trap Trump has set to use the Insurrection Act. Slowly but surely the [DS] will become more violent and Trump and team will have to call the ball. Buckle up, the storm is approaching. Economy Trump’s Tariffs Are Sinking The Eurozone German trade surpluses are shrinking, with 2025 exports to the US projected down 7% and overall trade surplus far below 2024 levels. Structural challenges—especially Chinese competition in automotive—compound short-term pressures, threatening Germany’s role as Eurozone anchor. A German recession risks Eurozone-wide contagion, potential ECB stimulus, and euro depreciation, clouding the outlook for 2026. Since tariffs stepped in, the Eurozone has struggled with exports and hasn’t even retaliated to them. A passive approach that shows off all its weaknesses and, above all, is sinking the economy of its major member: Germany. Germany was already stuck with a negative GDP growth before tariffs, but the latter are acting as a final blow for the third economy in the world. A couple of weeks ago I pointed out the main risks that concern Japan (the fourth economy in the world); now it is time to assess the shape of the German economy. How tariffs are hitting Germany Germany's total exports in 2024 amounted to $1.63 trillion, and 11% of these goods were exported to the US, the main trading partner. Just this data says a lot; in fact, Germany used to rely on the US to generate billions and billions of trade surpluses. A sort of Chinese approach, but at a lower scale. Now, almost every European good exported to the US is subject to a 15% tariff, which is making German goods less convenient for US companies. We know that the latter pay most of the tariffs, and this means bearing higher costs of goods sold, therefore lower profits. Companies don't like to reduce their net profit margin, so it is not a surprise they are looking around to find new trading partners. On top of this significant issue, the currency fluctuations are adding further pressure on German exports.. Source: seekingalpha.com (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2008918914110021878?s=20 and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter! DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA https://twitter.com/DOGEai_tx/status/2008960798094188804?s=20 https://twitter.com/truflation/status/2008494612378501267?s=20 index, calculated from millions of price data points, has remained below 2% since Dec 30. https://twitter.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/2008641445574615279?s=20 https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2008921005046350098?s=20 domestic production, tax relief & energy independence. America remained the strongest economy in the world as capital flowed toward US assets. https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2008694980944998633?s=20 Political/Rights https://twitter.com/paulsperry_/status/2008707706052632955?s=20 Democrat Charlotte Sheriff Now Under Investigation for “Mafia-style” Intimidation and Corruption District Attorney Spencer Merriweather has formally requested the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to probe allegations of attempted extortion and corruption against Democrat Sheriff Garry McFadden. The petition outlines explosive allegations regarding Sheriff McFadden's conduct over House Bill 10, a controversial state law mandating cooperation between local sheriffs and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Rep. Cunningham, a fellow Democrat who provided a critical vote to override the Governor's veto of the bill, alleges McFadden threatened her safety to influence her vote. According to the petition, McFadden told Cunningham that if she continued to support the bill, the “people of Mecklenburg County would ‘come after' her.” The filing claims McFadden added, “I don't want to see you get hurt. You live in my county.” Cunningham described the interaction as “akin to a mafia boss demanding money by saying ‘nice little store you've got there; it would be a shame if anything happened to it.’” District Attorney Merriweather confirmed he has asked the SBI's Professional Standards Unit to investigate the claims before his office decides whether to proceed with the removal petition. The DA's letter to the SBI specifically requests an investigation into: Extortion and bribery. Economic threats made to influence legislation. Hatch Act violations (regarding improper political activity). State campaign finance violations. Source: thegatewaypundit.com Breaking: Tensions Reach Boiling Point in Minneapolis As Woman Attacks ICE With Vehicle, Is Neutralized https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2008962609769533872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008962609769533872%7Ctwgr%5Ea8d4c3aaf88bd8bfc614f35ff01e9af383546251%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Fbobhoge%2F2026%2F01%2F07%2Fbreaking-tensions-reach-boiling-point-in-minneapolis-as-woman-attacks-ice-with-vehicle-is-neutralized-n2197863https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2008973759097733306?s=20 https://twitter.com/TriciaOhio/status/2008957179793998266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008957179793998266%7Ctwgr%5Ea8d4c3aaf88bd8bfc614f35ff01e9af383546251%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Fbobhoge%2F2026%2F01%2F07%2Fbreaking-tensions-reach-boiling-point-in-minneapolis-as-woman-attacks-ice-with-vehicle-is-neutralized-n2197863 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2008958131502768415?s=20 Source: redstate.com Geopolitical https://twitter.com/WadeMiller/status/2008657547629392370?s=20 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2008906360537456723?s=20 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2008912529087779051?s=20 On December 20th, the US Coast Guard and Navy attempted to board a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The tanker escaped, headed for the north Atlantic, painted a Russian flag on its hull, and has been operating under a new name (Marinera). US military aircraft are tracking the tanker off the coast of Ireland and are said to be preparing to board it. And now, a Russian sub is enroute to intercept it. https://twitter.com/ConflictDISP/status/2008882720408305975?s=20 https://twitter.com/Rightanglenews/status/2008892280867000469?s=20 https://twitter.com/visionergeo/status/2008887222787887241?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2008953776976134460?s=20 https://twitter.com/TankerTrackers/status/2008926432026632522?s=20 https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2008937593702916205?s=20 Putin’s side against Trump. TDSx1000 https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/2008900933242032586?s=20 https://twitter.com/drawandstrike/status/2008633796317372618?s=20 that asshole pretending to be it’s President. Neither is the gal currently pretending she’s President of Mexico. When you figure out what the transnational crime syndicate is, and the kind of shit it’s been up to for over 130 years, some of you are gonna be awfully surprised. But then a lot of stuff you’re presently confused about will make sense. Brilliant Restitution Plan – President Trump Announces Interim Venezuela Oil Payment of $2 Billion This is way beyond winning, this is stunningly brilliant strategy. Not only has President Trump successfully apprehended Venezuela dictator Nicolas Maduro, but the remaining interim government officials have acquiesced to fund a civil restitution plan to pay for their malfeasance. The government that stole from its people is being forced to pay restitution for their own fraud, abuse and misconduct. [SOURCE] The 30 to 50 million barrels of oil is approximately a $2 billion self-created reconstruction effort. Compare and contrast this approach with the trillions of U.S. taxpayer funds that were used in the failed efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, etcetera…. or even Kuwait, albeit the Kuwaiti's offered, but prior U.S. leadership chose influence over restitution. In this example, almost immediately the funds now in the control of President Trump can be deployed to the greater benefit of the Venezuelan people. Another way to look at this is like a type of ‘sovereign wealth fund' created by the corrupt Venezuelan officials, using the resources that belong to the Venezuelan people, to support the interim needs of the same citizens they victimized. Well done President Trump and Secretary Rubio! Source: theconservativetreehouse.com The second phase will be a phase that we call recovery. And that is ensuring that American, western, and other companies have access to the Venezuelan market in a way that’s fair, also at the same time, begin to create the process of reconciliation nationally, within Venezuela, so that the opposition forces can be amnestied and released from prisons, and brought back to the country, and begin to rebuild civil society. And then the third phase, is of course will be one of transition. Some of this will overlap. I’ve described this to them (Venezuela) in great detail. We’ll have more detail in the days to follow. But we feel like we’re moving forward here in a very positive way. https://twitter.com/Matt_Bracken48/status/2008704247341183281?s=20 with a long-term secret IUD program, where Inuit women and young girls visiting Danish clinics for “health checks” were for unknowingly fitted with dangerous coil IUDs that were left in for years, leaving many sterile and in chronic lifelong pain. It was total “Dr. Mengele” stuff. The Inuit in Greenland are ripe for a better offer. And in any event, Denmark’s “claim” on Greenland is a total joke. Please read the whole Substack in the first reply. I’ll also do some more screen grabs in an X-thread to whet your appetite. War/Peace me the Noble Peace Prize. But that doesn't matter! What does matter is that I saved Millions of Lives. RUSSIA AND CHINA HAVE ZERO FEAR OF NATO WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND I DOUBT NATO WOULD BE THERE FOR US IF WE REALLY NEEDED THEM. EVERYONE IS LUCKY THAT I REBUILT OUR MILITARY IN MY FIRST TERM, AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. We will always be there for NATO, even if they won't be there for us. The only Nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT REBUILT U.S.A. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT Medical/False Flags The New Food Pyramid Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has released a new food pyramid guide for Americans. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans released today meshes MAHA-influenced changes with longer-standing advice for people to cut sugar consumption while eating more protein, whole grains and colorful fresh vegetables and avoiding “highly processed” foods. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2008654733020717345?s=20 Medicaid Will ‘Claw Back’ Fraud Funds From Minnesota: Agency Head Minnesota will feel an “increasing vise grip of financial penalties” to help make up for taxpayer dollars lost to fraud, Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service, said Jan. 6. His agency is auditing all 14 Medicaid programs that Minnesota flagged as vulnerable to fraud; that excludes 73 other Medicaid programs Minnesota runs. The agency also will “claw back that money” from current Medicaid payments that were to be made to Minnesota, Oz told Fox News. “This is a major problem for the state, because they've got to own the fact that they have been bilking the federal taxpayer [because of] their sloppy behavior for years,” Oz said. Oz said his agency has had difficulty tracking at least $500 million in Medicaid payments to Minnesota. Available data makes it hard to figure out how it was billed and “where it went,” he said. Source: zerohedge.com President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/JudgeJeanine/status/2008642273991393473?s=20 Today? Less than 10% not prosecuted. This is what REAL enforcement looks like. Trump's federal surge is delivering results — law and order is being restored in DC. https://twitter.com/WallStreetApes/status/2008789449178579342?s=20 – Neville Roy Singham and his network – Hansjorg Wyss, a billionaire donor in Switzerland – Additional Foreign Cash – Reid Hoffman (Named by Trump) “It’s also big left-wing funders, some of them who are not citizens of this country, Mr. Hansjörg Wyss in Switzerland, they’re pouring money into this entire ecosystem.” “We have identified dozens of radical organizations, not just the decentralized Antifa organizations, but dozens of radical organizations that have received more than $100 million from the Riot Inc investors.” “I think the most shocking thing is that we have found that more than $100 million in US taxpayer funding has flowed into these funding networks” Trump Offers Blueprint on How Republicans Can Win the Midterms and Future Elections Trump said this to the GOP members: You gotta win the midterms. ‘Cause if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just gonna to be… I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me. I’ll get impeached. We don’t impeach them, you know why? Because they’re meaner than we are. We should have impeached Joe Biden for a hundred different things. Here is the second part They are mean and smart: but fortunately for you, they have horrible policy. They can be smart as can be, but when they want open borders, when they want, as I said, men in women’s sports, when they want “transgender for everyone!” Bring your kids in, we’re going to change the sex of your child. Just send them our way. […] We have great, common-sense policy. They have horrendous policy. What they do, is they stick together. They never have a no vote. Trump wasn’t whining that he is afraid of impeachment — he was spitting facts: if Democrats win, impeachment is inevitable; so, don’t let them win and show them this is how you do it. Trump made clear to Republicans that they must hammer home their common-sense, America-forward policies and contrast those against the truly terrible schemes of the Democrats. Trump said, “You can own health care. Figure it out. […]If you explain it: the money goes directly to the people, that’s going to be your issue.” Source: redstate.com (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");
Stijn Schmitz welcomes Marc Faber to the show. Marc Faber is Contrarian Investor and Publisher of the Gloom, Boom, & Doom Report. Their discussion centers on global economic trends, monetary policy, and the impact of continuous money printing by central banks. Faber, a proponent of the Austrian school of economics, critically examines the current financial landscape, highlighting how central banks and financial institutions are incentivized to continuously print money, which leads to uneven price increases across various assets. Faber argues that money printing fundamentally distorts economic systems, with financial institutions benefiting first from monetary expansion while average workers experience declining real wages. He points out that while nominal GDP might show growth, real purchasing power for most people has actually decreased. The conversation explores the historical context of economic cycles, with Faber referencing economists like Kondratiev and discussing how societies rise and decline. The discussion shifts to geopolitical dynamics, particularly the changing global power balance between the United States and emerging powers like China and Russia. Faber suggests that the US is no longer in the dominant position it held post-World War II, with potential competitive challenges emerging from other global powers. Regarding investment strategies, Faber recommends diversification across assets like real estate, precious metals, stocks, and cash. He sees particular potential in gold, silver, and platinum as alternative currencies, and believes these metals can serve as protection against monetary devaluation. He’s especially bullish on platinum, suggesting it might eventually surpass gold in price. Faber’s investment philosophy emphasizes understanding price dynamics over specific company details, advocating for purchasing assets below their intrinsic value. He remains skeptical of government interventions and central bank policies, viewing them as potentially destructive to long-term economic stability. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:00:51 – Precious Metals Bull Run 00:01:25 – Gold Market History 00:02:31 – Money Printing Effects 00:05:33 – Financial Industry Incentives 00:07:15 – Austrian Economics Overview 00:09:10 – Keynesian Policies Critique 00:14:40 – Economic and War Cycles 00:20:25 – Geopolitical Tensions Rise 00:22:47 – Global Financial System Risks 00:24:00 – Safe Currencies Gold Silver 00:27:12 – Approaching Economic Crises 00:33:02 – Portfolio Diversification Advice 00:35:49 – Silver Platinum Investment Benefits 00:42:05 – Newsletter and Personal Reflections 00:45:44 – Concluding Thoughts Guest Links: Website: https://www.gloomboomdoom.com/ X: https://x.com/gloomboomdoom Dr. Marc Faber was born in Zurich, Switzerland. He went to school in Geneva and Zurich and finished high school with the Matura. He studied Economics at the University of Zurich and, at the age of 24, obtained a Ph.D. in Economics magna cum laude. Between 1970 and 1978, Mr. Faber worked for White Weld & Company Limited in New York, Zurich, and Hong Kong. Since 1973, he has lived in Hong Kong. From 1978 to February 1990, Marc was the Managing Director of Drexel Burnham Lambert (HK) Ltd. In June 1990, he set up his own business, publishing a widely read monthly investment newsletter, “THE GLOOM BOOM & DOOM,” a report highlighting unusual investment opportunities. Dr. Faber is also the author of several books, including “TOMORROW’S GOLD – Asia’s Age of Discovery,” first published in 2002 and highlighted future investment opportunities. “TOMORROW’S GOLD” was on Amazon’s bestseller list and translated into Japanese, Korean, Thai, and German. Marc is also a regular contributor to several leading financial publications around the world. In addition, Dr. Faber is a frequent speaker at various investment seminars and is well known for his “contrarian” investment approach.
Loss of momentum isn't just happening in the US, it is very well synchronized globally with practically the same pattern showing up everywhere. Updates from neighbors Canada and Mexico show a deepening downturn at the end of last year, especially Mexico putting up its deepest contraction since April. Over in Europe, Germany fell back bringing Italy down with it. Plus, global bellwether Switzerland experienced its own “unexpectedly” sharp setback. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro Analysis---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------What if your gold could actually pay you every month… in MORE gold?That's exactly what Monetary Metals does. You still own your gold, fully insured in your name, but instead of sitting idle, it earns real yield paid in physical gold. No selling. No trading. Just more gold every month.Check it out here: https://monetary-metals.com/snider---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SPG Canada Manuhttps://www.pmi.spglobal.com/Public/Home/PressRelease/78c6ddcb80cf4ef0b14fc9dc3c091c86SPG Mexico Manuhttps://www.pmi.spglobal.com/Public/Home/PressRelease/47f22c8de61b4d54965a25c3d3c417caSPG Germany Manuhttps://www.pmi.spglobal.com/Public/Home/PressRelease/bd3c462f68704c5ea1613f2fce2879fdSPG Italy Manuhttps://www.pmi.spglobal.com/Public/Home/PressRelease/be3b992b4ebb4b4db3030abaff5e0bc5Bloomberg Swiss Manufacturing Contracted More Than Anticipated in Decemberhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-05/swiss-manufacturing-contracted-more-than-anticipated-in-decemberhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU
Listeners of Tonebenders sent in their favourite stories of recording sounds out in the world. This is part two, of two, featuring these amazing soundscapes from all over the world. Recordings were sent in of sounds from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Australia, England, Palau, Laos, Poland, Botswana, Germany, Albania, Switzerland, Canada and The USA. So get ready for a sonic trip around the world! This episode features contributions from listeners Ronald Schmidt, Dmitry Chernov, Richard Walters, Jonathon Pilon, Lucas Vitale, Udo Baumhögger, Ryan Granger, Leon Regula, Anita Yung and Jan Dzyr. If you missed part one go back and find eps 334. Congrats to Diego Lukumy and Lamar Samuels for winning the draw to receive a free pair of O-Mini high-sensitivity, miniature omnidirectional electret microphones, kindly donated by Chris Trevino._____ Los Angeles Listeners come out this Thursday, January 8th, to the very first Tonebenders Screening Series. We will be showing the film F1: The Movie followed by a live recording of a Tonebenders episode with the F1 sound team. Guest will include Gary Rizzo, Gwen Whittle, Gareth John and Al Nelson. Space is limited, so reserve you seat now https://tonebenderspodcast.com/tonebenders-f1-screening/ _____ SPONSORS: As the New Year begins, Sound Ideas is offering its largest sale to date. For a limited time, receive 55% off professionally recorded sound effects and music libraries. This New Year promotion applies across their esteemed catalog, making it an ideal moment to expand or update your professional collection with authentic audio and a proven standard of quality. The Sound Ideas New Year Sale is available now for a limited time– so visit http://www.sound-ideas.com now. ______ If you are interested in field recording, you should know about the O-Mini P48 and the brand new O-Mini PIP miniature omni-directional electret microphones. Each one is hand made by Chris Trevino, a practicing field recordist, and a really engaged member of the sound community. He puts a lot of work into making and testing each mic to ensure they live up to his high standards. They are ultra-sonic capable, which makes manipulating your recordings with them a lot of fun. They are also extremely affordable. At $150us for the P48 & $130 for the PIP, they offer a lot of value for a stereo matched pair. Find out more at https://www.chrisatrevino.com/store Episode Notes: https://tonebenderspodcast.com/343-2025-listener-field-recording-stories-pt-2/ Podcast Homepage: https://tonebenderspodcast.com This episode is hosted by Timothy Muirhead
As the new year begins, I'm revisiting my Europe travel bucket list for 2026.So I'm sharing the destinations that are calling my name — along with a few beloved places I'm eager to return to.This annual tradition is less about rigid travel plans and more about dreaming, reflecting and noticing how our travel wishes evolve over time.In this episode, I walk through my Travel Bucket List for 2026, highlighting a mix of new destinations and long-time favorites across Europe.From England's countryside and dramatic coastlines to iconic regions of France, Italy, Ireland and Scandinavia, I share what's drawing me to each place and why they've earned a spot on my travel bucket list this year.I also touch on the places I'm most excited to revisit — destinations that left a lasting impression and still have more stories to reveal.Whether it's returning to wild landscapes, exploring quieter regions, or imagining a future long-distance walk, this episode is about how travel dreams shift as we do.If you love Europe travel, reflective planning, and using a travel bucket list as a source of inspiration rather than pressure, this episode is for you. Want to chat more about travel to Europe?Send me a message at Lynne@WanderYourWay.comIn this episode:1:30: Intro5:05: Places I crossed off from my 2025 list7:02: Rome, Italy8:45: Sligo & Donegal, Ireland11:40: Iceland13:27: Lake Como, Italy15:41: Slovenia18:00: Brittany, France19:45: Grindelwald / Lauterbrunnen / Interlaken, Switzerland21:59: Finland24:36: Cornwall & Devon, England26:34: The Shetland Islands & Orkney Islands, Scotland31:24: Bonus item34:30: Return list45:55: Wrapping it upImportant links:Discover SligoCounty Donegal • IrelandExploring Astonishing Iceland with Monika Pronczuk: Beyond the Golden CircleSlovenia OverviewTravel to Switzerland with Carolyn Schönafinger of Holidays to SwitzerlandDiscovering Amazing Finland with Tarja Koivisto of Visit FinlandExploring the Islands of Scotland with Bo FraserWander Your Way AdventuresWander Your WayWander Your Way ResourcesSafety Wing Insurance ★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach reflects on a tragic New Year's Eve fire in Switzerland to ask a sobering question: are we living with the end in mind? Using Luke 17 and the examples of Noah and Lot, he reminds us that life is finite and celebrations are fleeting, urging listeners to consider whether their daily choices reflect God's kingdom. Pastor Zach challenges us to take our relationship with God seriously today, rather than putting it off, because tomorrow is never guaranteed.Have an article you'd like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
This week we welcome guests Charmania and discuss: • Creating a new AI introduction • People recording the burial of Anthony Joshua's friends • 40 New Years Eve fire deaths in Switzerland ski resort could have been avoided • Lack of emergency services in Nigeria • The difference in the after effects of a travesty in different countries • People being addicted to their phones • Would you record a car accident • Inconsiderate drivers • Most famous Nigerian • Not knowing Bad Bunny • Sinners Movie and it's appreciated cultural representation • Asian American & African American issues • Black people Boycotting Asian shops • Elaine The Pain controversy • The similarities of different ethnicities • Dealing with grief • Being cool middle aged people • How to deal with a bereaved person • #StavrosSays :2016 Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO9ctKn_Mdc] Connect with us at & send your questions & comments to: #ESNpod so we can find your comments www.esnpodcast.com www.facebook.com/ESNpodcasts www.twitter.com/ESNpodcast www.instagram.com/ESNpodcast @esnpodcast on all other social media esnpodcast@gmail.com It's important to subscribe, rate and review us on your apple products. You can do that here... www.bit.ly/esnitunes
Excellent Executive Coaching: Bringing Your Coaching One Step Closer to Excelling
Swiss law professor Xavier Oberson discusses with host Dr. Katrina Burrus the experiences and challenges to which he now attributes his successful international law practice. Who is Xavier Oberson? Xavier Oberson is a Professor in Swiss and International Tax Law at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. After his studies at the University of Geneva, he obtained his law degree and his Doctorate in 1990. He then pursued graduate studies and research at Harvard Law School, where he also completed the International Tax Program (ITP) in 1992. Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review. The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals. Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.
The US has warned the new interim leader of Venezuela to do as it says - or face the consequences. Donald Trump says if Delcy Rodriguez "doesn't do what's right, she's going to pay a very big price". The ousted Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, is due to appear in court in New York. Also in this podcast, Denmark's prime minister has told Donald Trump to "stop threats" about taking over Greenland. Police in Switzerland say they have now identified all forty victims of the New Year's Day fire in a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. Iran's government has announced that it will begin paying a new monthly allowance to every citizen. The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has markedly increased his defence budget for 2026. The movie Avatar: Fire and Ash has made more than a billion dollars at the global box office. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Today's Headlines: Looks like there's no easing into this new year. Trump dramatically escalated his Venezuela fixation this weekend, launching major strikes in Caracas and having Nicolás Maduro pulled from his home and flown to federal detention in Brooklyn. Maduro was re-indicted on familiar narcotrafficking charges, while Trump bragged that the U.S. is effectively “running Venezuela now” alongside American oil companies. But instead of installing Trump's preferred opposition figure, Venezuela's Supreme Court tapped Maduro's vice president Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader. Before all that, the U.S. had spent weeks chasing a Venezuela-bound oil tanker — until Russia swooped in on New Year's Eve, added it to its registry, and painted a Russian flag on the side to shield it from seizure. Trump also hosted President Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago with Stephen Miller, Jared Kushner, and Pete Hegseth, claiming “progress” while simultaneously echoing outrage on Putin's behalf after a friendly call with him. Abroad, Switzerland's army chief warned the country couldn't withstand a major attack, protests in Iran turned deadly as Trump threatened to “intervene,” and Trump ordered Christmas Day strikes on ISIS militants in Nigeria. On the home front, Trump froze all childcare payments nationwide after citing a Minnesota welfare fraud case involving a small group of Somali immigrants — while simultaneously moving to garnish wages from millions of student loan borrowers in default starting in January. One notable check on his power: the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 against his National Guard deployments to several U.S. cities. Meanwhile, the newly released Jack Smith testimony says he had evidence Trump committed multiple felonies that could rise to treason before his cases were shut down — and the massive Epstein document dump is already under scrutiny for delays, missing records, and questionable redactions, including internal DOJ emails noting Trump flew on Epstein's plane more than previously known. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NBC News: Maduro arrives in New York after capture in Venezuela NYT: How Trump Fixed On a Maduro Loyalist as Venezuela's New Leader NYT: Russia Asks United States to Stop Pursuit of Fleeing Oil Tanker NBC News: Trump and Zelenskyy project optimism about prospects for a Ukraine-Russia peace deal despite 'thorny issues' The Daily Beast: Putin Burns Trump With Embarrassing Details of Phone Chat Reuters: Army chief says Switzerland can't defend itself from full-scale attack PBS: Trump threatens to intervene in Iran if regime continues to kill protesters NYT: U.S. Strikes ISIS in Nigeria After Trump Warned of Attacks on Christians NYT: Trump and Netanyahu Exchange Praise After Meeting, Showing Few Signs of Strain CNN: Israel becomes first country to formally recognize Somaliland as independent state AP News: Trump's attacks on Minnesota's Somali community cast a spotlight on fraud cases The Guardian: Trump administration reportedly freezes all childcare payments to all states CNBC: Trump administration to start seizing pay of defaulted student loan borrowers in January WaPo: Trump ends effort to keep National Guard in Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland PBS: Read Jack Smith's full deposition on the decision to indict Trump Axios: Mike Pence's think tank poaches top Heritage staff as MAGA rift grows NBC News: Justice Department is reviewing 5.2 million pages of Jeffrey Epstein files NBC News: The president, the plane and the prince: Top takeaways from the 3rd Epstein files release Des Moines Register: Democrat wins Iowa Senate election, holding off GOP supermajority CNBC: USPS changes may delay postmark dates. What it means for your tax returns, ballots, bills and more Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the current state of the MBA admissions season. Twenty-nine leading MBA programs have an application deadline during this upcoming week! In fact, the only top schools without deadlines this week are NYU / Stern, MIT / Sloan, Texas / McCombs, USC / Marshall and INSEAD - and these programs all have deadlines next week or the following week. Graham highlighted MBA webinar events that are on the horizon that Clear Admit is hosting. The first webinar looks at the enduring value of the MBA. The second series of events is for deferred admissions candidates who are currently completing their first degrees. As always, signups are for our events are here: https://www.clearadmit.com/events Graham noted a news story recently published on Clear Admit which takes stock of the past year and looks ahead to MBA predictions for 2026. These predictions, from the Clear Admit team, include a shift in the admissions process that focuses more on areas of the process that cannot be impacted by AI, the possibility that the GRE becomes the most popular MBA admissions test, and the notion that b-schools will continue to roll out specialized masters to help young professionals get the tools needed in today's workforce. Graham also noted four MBA admissions tips, focusing on scholarship negotiations, the data forms, optional essays, and how to show an MBA program that you've done the research on their offering. Graham then noted a Real Humans piece spotlighting students from the University of St Gallen MBA in Switzerland. We then discussed two recently published Class of 2025 employment reports from Wharton and Columbia. For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected two ApplyWire entries and one DecisionWire entry: This week's first MBA admissions candidate appears to have an interesting background, from Colombia. However, we fear that their 309 GRE score will harm their chances at the very top MBA programs. This week's second MBA applicant is an investment banker and has a very strong background. But they have a DUI from their university days. We discussed those implications. This week's final MBA candidate has several offers from leading MBA programs. They are seriously weighing the offers between Booth (with $130K scholarship and a dual degree offer) and Harvard. This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who've been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
Mark Cox opens 2026 recharged and ready, diving into the stunning U.S. capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro while torching media skepticism and political spin. Kim's “On a Whim” spotlights the $9 billion Minnesota daycare fraud scandal that could sink Governor Tim Walz, tying corruption and media cover-ups into a broader political reckoning. Between laughter over “ever vacationing” jokes, New Year's resolutions, and a listener trip to Switzerland, the team balances humor with hard-hitting commentary on socialism, border security, and America's global message under Trump's renewed leadership. #Maduro #MinnesotaFraud #TimWalz #Trump #ForeignPolicy #KimOnAWhim #MarkCoxMorningShow
Note: Italy has increased their flat tax to €300,000 as expected.Life in Europe doesn't have to be as high-tax as you may imagine. Discover 13 legal tax regimes that let you live in Europe while paying under 10% – the same strategies used by the likes of David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Novak Djokovic. We break down the exact requirements, costs, and qualifying criteria for special programs in Italy, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Spain, Poland, and Switzerland.Download the full European special tax regimes report here for free.
In our news wrap Sunday, parts of northern California brace for more rain as residents try to escape rising flood waters, hundreds gathered to attend a memorial for those killed in a New Year's Day fire at a bar in Switzerland, and gunmen in northern Nigeria killed at least 30 people and abducted several others. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
It's Jimmy IV‘s 59th birthday… it's a new year… and for the first time ever, we're opening up the SexyCoolLounge Mail-Bag.
Sunday's top stories:Venezuela faces uncertain future following ousting and arrest of president Maduro by US forces.Donald Trump's action against Maduro generates condemnation and praise in US.A memorial service in Switzerland for the victims of that New Years Eve fire, as the identies of more of the victims becomes known.The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says rental supply is up and demand is down.A warning for those living in coastal areas of southern B-C -- they are at high risk of flooding today. Some medical schools in Canada adopting new approaches to the way they recruit and train doctors.
It would be pointless to suggest that The Great Leader was 'starting 2026 as he means to go on.' Everything He does happens precisely when and because He means it to. That said, 2026 began with great intention. An epic seasonal trip to Switzerland from The Great Leader and a raft of predictions for the year ahead, from Steve. Please send your listener comments to Danny@radiox.co.ukThis week's podcast is dedicated to Frederick.Thank you.
Cheesy and Fondue celebrate national Swiss Cheese Day! We find out about a cheese hike in Switzerland. We learn how Swiss cheese gets holes and why they don't call it Swiss cheese in Switzerland. And of course, we tell a very cheesy joke!Find us at www.justcheesy.com and everywhere you enjoy social media! https://linktr.ee/JustCheesy***Newsly is the sponsor of this episode! Go to https://newsly.me to download the free app and listen to articles, podcasts and digital radio! Get a FREE 1-Month Premium Subscription by using promo code CHEESY. Start listening today! *** Why is cheddar the most dangerous of all the cheeses? Because it is very sharp!Show Notes swisshttps://www.cntraveler.com/story/hiking-switzerlands-cheese-trails https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/grindelwald-switzerland-hikers-guidehttps://www.bluewin.ch/en/news/switzerland/a-cheese-war-rages-between-switzerland-and-austria-2945460.htmlMhttps://www.dispatch.com/story/sponsor-story/american-dairy-association-mideast/2025/12/18/top-holiday-gift-ideas-from-11-ohio-cheesemakers/87809814007/https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/how-does-swiss-cheese-get-its-holeshttps://www.npr.org/2025/11/18/nx-s1-5610464/a-swiss-gruyere-with-savory-butterscotch-notes-is-crowned-the-worlds-best-cheesehttps://www.iflscience.com/for-centuries-nobody-knew-why-swiss-cheese-has-holes-then-the-mystery-was-solved-81178
Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Finding Wonderland: Adventures in Everyday Familiarity Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2026-01-04-23-34-02-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A havas délután csendesen ereszkedett le a lakónegyedre, miközben Áron a hóval borított utcákon sétált haza.En: The snowy afternoon quietly descended upon the residential area as Áron walked home through the snow-covered streets.Hu: A friss, hideg levegő az arcára csapott, ahogy szatyrában a repülőtér illatától átitatott kabátját szorította.En: The fresh, cold air hit his face as he clutched his airport-scented coat in his bag.Hu: Nemrég tért vissza egy csodálatos téli kiruccanásról Svájcból.En: He had recently returned from a wonderful winter getaway in Switzerland.Hu: Akaratlanul is összehasonlította a csendes, mégis kicsit egyhangú, hétköznapi életet otthon, a hegyek izgalmas, hóval borított élményeivel.En: Unintentionally, he compared the quiet, yet somewhat monotonous daily life at home to the exciting mountain experiences filled with snow-covered adventures.Hu: Rebeka, a legjobb barátja, aki mindig ott volt mellette, a kis kávézóban várt már rá.En: Rebeka, his best friend, who was always there for him, was already waiting for him at the little café.Hu: A kávézó nem volt messze az otthonuktól, és a két barát gyakran találkozott ott.En: The café wasn't far from their home, and the two friends often met there.Hu: Amikor Áron belépett, Rebeka már egy gőzölgő bögre alá ragasztott cetlire írta az újévi terveit.En: When Áron walked in, Rebeka was already writing her New Year's plans on a note stuck under a steaming mug.Hu: "Szia, Áron!" köszönt Rebeka vidáman, miközben besündörögött a meleg helyiségbe.En: "Hi, Áron!" Rebeka greeted cheerfully as she cozied up into the warm room.Hu: "Milyen volt a visszatérés?"En: "How was the return?"Hu: Áron belenézett Rebeka mosolygós szemébe, és megvonta a vállát.En: Áron looked into Rebeka's smiling eyes and shrugged.Hu: “Hiányzik az utazás izgalma. A mindennapok itt, bár kedvesek, mégis mások.”En: “I miss the thrill of traveling. Everyday life here, although pleasant, is different.”Hu: Rebeka csak bólintott, aztán azt javasolta, hogy érdemes más szemmel nézni a megszokott dolgokat.En: Rebeka just nodded, then suggested that it might be worth looking at familiar things with new eyes.Hu: "Miért nem fedezzük fel újra a környéket? Ki tudja, milyen rejtekhelyeket találunk" – nevetett Rebeka, és kortyolt egyet a forró italából.En: "Why don't we explore the neighborhood again? Who knows what hidden gems we'll find," laughed Rebeka, taking a sip of her hot drink.Hu: És így is tettek.En: And that's what they did.Hu: Másnap elhatározták, hogy feltérképezik a környék utcácskáit, új szemüveggel nézve mindent.En: The next day, they decided to map out the neighborhood streets, viewing everything with fresh eyes.Hu: A hóban csendesen, de lelkes léptekkel sétáltak, és minden apróságra figyeltek.En: They walked through the snow with quiet yet enthusiastic steps, paying attention to every little detail.Hu: A sétájuk során felfedeztek egy kicsi, de hangulatos parkot, amelyet eddig észre sem vettek.En: During their walk, they discovered a small yet cozy park they had never noticed before.Hu: A fák havas koronái alatt egy kopott padra ültek le, beszélgettek és nevettek.En: They sat beneath the snowy canopies of the trees on a worn-out bench, talking and laughing.Hu: A park közepén találtak egy régi, kovácsoltvas szökőkutat, amelyről kiderült, hogy a környék régi lakói használták egykor kulcsszereplőként különféle közösségi ünnepeken.En: In the middle of the park, they found an old wrought-iron fountain, which turned out to have been a key feature for local residents during various community celebrations.Hu: Ahogy ott ültek a padon, Áron megérezett a felpezsdítő érzést, amelyet az utazás során megtapasztalt.En: As they sat on the bench, Áron felt the invigorating sense he experienced during his travels.Hu: Rebeka mosolygva figyelte barátja változását és a boldogságot, amit az egyszerű felfedezés nyújtott neki.En: Rebeka watched her friend's transformation with a smile, seeing the happiness that simple discovery brought him.Hu: "Lehet, hogy nem kell messzire utaznunk, hogy kalandokat találjunk," mondta Rebeka.En: "We might not need to travel far to find adventures," said Rebeka.Hu: "Itt is találhatunk izgalmat és szépséget, ha keresünk."En: "We can find excitement and beauty here, too, if we look for it."Hu: Végül úgy döntöttek, hogy minden hétvégén újabb része lesz a környéküknek, amelyet feltérképeznek.En: They finally decided that every weekend they would explore a new part of their neighborhood.Hu: Letették a voksukat egy kalandosabb, felfedezőbb élet mellett – közvetlenül az otthonuk közelében.En: They committed themselves to a more adventurous, exploratory life—right near their home.Hu: A számukra kedves kis kávézóba visszatérve Áron hálásan nézett körül.En: Back at their favorite little café, Áron looked around gratefully.Hu: Rájött, hogy a szépség nem mindig távoli hegycsúcsokban rejlik, néha csak más szemekre van szükség ahhoz, hogy meglássuk azt, ami eddig rejtve volt a mindennapok szürkeségében.En: He realized that beauty isn't always hidden in distant mountain peaks; sometimes, you just need fresh eyes to see what has been hidden in the grayness of everyday life. Vocabulary Words:descended: ereszkedettresidential area: lakónegyedclutched: szorítottamonotonous: egyhangúadventures: élményekcheerfully: vidámancozied: besündörögöttfamiliar: megszokottexplore: fedezzük felhidden gems: rejtekhelyeketenthusiastic: lelkeswrought-iron: kovácsoltvascanopies: koronáiworn-out: kopotttransformation: változásáthappiness: boldogságcommit: voksukatgratefully: hálásandistant: távolipeaks: hegycsúcsokfresh eyes: más szemeksteaming: gőzölgőmug: bögremap out: feltérképezikgrayness: szürkeségébeninvigorating: felpezsdítőcommunity celebrations: közösségi ünnepekentransformation: változásátexcitement: izgalmaunexpected: váratlan
World news in 7 minutes. Monday 5th January 2026.Today : US-Venezuela attack. Maduro captured. World reactions. Syria, Britain, France strikes. Iran protests. Japan toilets. Nigeria avillage attack. Somalia Al-Shabaab hit. Switzerland fire. Germany power cut. UK Eva Schloss.SEND7 is supported by our amazing listeners like you.Our supporters get access to the transcripts and vocabulary list written by us every day.Our supporters get access to an English worksheet made by us once per week.Our supporters get access to our weekly news quiz made by us once per week.We give 10% of our profit to Effective Altruism charities. You can become a supporter at send7.org/supportWith Stephen DevincenziContact us at podcast@send7.org or send an audio message at speakpipe.com/send7Please leave a rating on Apple podcasts or Spotify.We don't use AI! Every word is written and recorded by us!Since 2020, SEND7 (Simple English News Daily in 7 minutes) has been telling the most important world news stories in intermediate English. Every day, listen to the most important stories from every part of the world in slow, clear English. Whether you are an intermediate learner trying to improve your advanced, technical and business English, or if you are a native speaker who just wants to hear a summary of world news as fast as possible, join Stephen Devincenzi, Juliet Martin and Niall Moore every morning. Transcripts, vocabulary lists, worksheets and our weekly world news quiz are available for our amazing supporters at send7.org. Simple English News Daily is the perfect way to start your day, by practising your listening skills and understanding complicated daily news in a simple way. It is also highly valuable for IELTS and TOEFL students. Students, teachers, TEFL teachers, and people with English as a second language, tell us that they use SEND7 because they can learn English through hard topics, but simple grammar. We believe that the best way to improve your spoken English is to immerse yourself in real-life content, such as what our podcast provides. SEND7 covers all news including politics, business, natural events and human rights. Whether it is happening in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas or Oceania, you will hear it on SEND7, and you will understand it.Get your daily news and improve your English listening in the time it takes to make a coffee.For more information visit send7.org/contact or send an email to podcast@send7.org
Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent condolences to Swiss President Guy Parmelin over a deadly New Year fire in Crans-Montana that killed 40 people and injured 119.
Topics: Disaster strikes in Switzerland on New Year's (8:06) Condolences to the families that lost their kids this week (13:38) Mexico experienced a 6.5 earthquake (29:18) Developments that are happening in Venezuela (30:24) Minnesota child centers being investigated (36:44) Cruise suspends search for 77-year-old women (42:46) Wisconsin man serving time for throwing baby into a wall (49:14) Jamal Bryant speaks out against criticism about his wife (56:04) Updates on Anthony Joshua & Stefon Diggs case (1:04:02) Will Smith sued by violinist (1:10:55) Ending Music: Kanye West – Jesus Lord (Instrumental) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Twitter: @My2Podcast Instagram: my2centspodcastg2 YouTube: My2CentsPodcast Business email: my2centspod@yahoo.com
Officials investigating the ski resort fire in Switzerland say they're focussing on the bar's safety measures. Also: Iranian officials warn the US against intervention over protests; swapping life in the US for life in Russia; Argentina's 'tax innocence law'; the AI chatbot, Grok, says it will fix safeguards; and Venus Williams wins a wild-card entry to the Australian Open.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto by: Reuters
Started the New Year off by talking about the stunning raid into Venezuela to arrest President Nicholas Maduro, and then talked about the horrific fire in Switzerland on New Year's Eve that killed at least 40 young people. Plus more on the widening Minnesota fraud scandal, Colorado hiker killed by mountain. lion, Burkina Faso and Mali ban US citizens, and a guy going into the Indianapolis jail found with a large wad of cash stuffed up rectum. Music: Credence Clearwater Revival/"Fortunate Son"
In this wide-ranging conversation with Advance test pilot and former Swiss Champion Michael Maurer we discuss various aspects of paragliding, including the challenges and dangers of being a test pilot, the influence of family on flying careers, the importance of competition, and the pursuit of flow in flying. We also touch on advancements in paragliding technology, the future of the sport in Switzerland and across the world, and the significance of training and preparation for competitions. Michael shares personal anecdotes about his experiences and reflections on his career, emphasizing the balance between risk and learning in the sport.
President Donald Trump on Jan. 2 vowed to come to the aid of the opposition in Iran if protesters are killed by the Tehran regime. Several people have already been killed in the Islamic Republic after demonstrations over the nation's ailing economy turned violent, Iranian media and rights groups reported earlier.Prosecutors in Switzerland say sparklers likely caused the fire that left at least 40 people dead on New Year's Eve. Many of the victims were foreigners. Americans were in the alpine town, but it's not yet clear if any are among the victims.
Shock around the world over the disaster at a New Year's Eve celebration in Switzerland that left 40 dead and 115 injured. Authorities think the fire started when sparklers got too close to flammable material on the ceiling. As Steven Fabian reports, with sparklers so popular at celebrations here in the U.S. - many are worried a disaster like this could happen here. And New Year's started off with a literal bang in Boise Idaho. The fireworks during their traditional potato drop, caused a boom so loud, nearby windows shattered and a little girl named Bella was hit with flying glass. Plus a double murder mystery. A dentist and his wife were found shot to death in their home. Their two young children, also at home were unharmed. Jenna DeAngelis has more on the search for a killer. And with the holidays behind us, it's one of the best times of year to get a deal. So what should you be buying right now? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
AP's Lisa Dwyer reports on one mother's slim hope of finding her son after a devastating fire in Switzerland.
Fraud paused, new immigration rules, deadly fire in Switzerland, and a foreigner takes over New York City. Plus, the Message of the Day, more on the Somali fraud in Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today, we're talking about global NYE celebrations and a deadly fire in Switzerland; new laws going into effect (and not going into effect) in 2026; the College Football Playoffs; and other top news for Friday, January 2nd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Looking to support us? You can choose to pay here Check out The Pour Over's Gift Guide! Check out our sponsors! We actually use and enjoy every single one. Cru Wild Alaskan Safe House Project Gloo QAVA CCCU Filament Bible Upside Mosh LMNT Theology in the Raw Not Just Sunday Podcast Bible Gateway Plus
Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as mayor of New York City. What will his first action be? Plus, a New Year's tragedy occurs at a ski resort in Switzerland leaving about 40 people dead. How champaign bottles lit with sparklers may have ignited the disaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Investigators have questioned two French managers from the bar and are looking into the insulation foam used on the ceiling.Iran has warned President Trump against interference, after he said the US would come to the rescue if protesters were killed. We hear from a protester. And President Zelensky of Ukraine has appointed the country's military intelligence chief as the new head of his presidential office. But what do we know about Kyrylo Budanov?(Picture: Tributes left in the town of Crans Montana in Switzerland. Credit: Bott / EPA)
As new images emerge of the fire at "Le Constellation" bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, the families of those still missing face an agonising wait for news: we have the latest from the investigation.Also in the programme: President Trump says he's ready to step in to defend the anti-government protesters in Iran; we hear from a protester. Plus life at a hundred – we speak to one woman, still laughing - and still performing – at 100 years old.(IMAGE: People pay their respects to the victims with flowers near the area where fire broke out at the 'Le Constellation' bar leaving people dead and injured, during New Year's celebration, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, 02 January 2026 / CREDIT: Jean-Christophe Botte/EPA/Shutterstock)
Iranian media reported that several people had died in clashes between protesters and security forces. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Officials and survivors are sharing new details about a deadly New Year's Day fire in Switzerland. New York City's new mayor is rolling back executive orders signed by his predecessor. A super PAC supporting President Donald Trump has amassed an unprecedented cash stockpile. President Trump has issued a stern warning to Iranian leadership amid violent protests. Plus, a teenager has been arrested in connection with an alleged terror attack plot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In mid-December 2025, the FDA approved an at home devicethat aims to treat depression by sending electric current into a part of the brain (the prefrontal cortex) known to regulate mood. This has been available in the UK since 2019 but it is new to the US. The manufacturer has stated that over 55,000 patients have used the device across Europe, the UK, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. How does this work? Is there data to support this new therapy? In this episode, we will summarize three consecutive years of data (2023, 2024,2025) to answer that question. Listen in for details. 1. Sci Amer: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-approves-first-device-to-treat-depression-with-brain-stimulation-at-home/2. August 12, 2023: Burkhardt, Gerrit et al.Transcranial direct current stimulation as an additional treatment to selectiveserotonin reuptake inhibitors in adults with major depressive disorder inGermany (DepressionDC): a triple-blind, randomised, sham-controlled,multicentre trial The Lancet, Volume 402, Issue 10401, 545 – 5543. October 21, 2024: Woodham, R.D., Selvaraj, S.,Lajmi, N. et al. Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation treatmentfor major depressive disorder: a fully remote phase 2 randomizedsham-controlled trial. Nat Med 31, 87–95 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-4. December 15, 2025: Moshfeghinia R, Bordbar S,Roointanpour Y, Arab Bafrani M, Shalbafan M. Efficacy and safety of home-basedtranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on patients with depressivedisorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 15;15(1):43850. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-28648-5. PMID:41398008; PMCID: PMC12705823.
//The Wire//2300Z January 1, 2026////ROUTINE////BLUF: MULTIPLE STATES OF UNREST CONTINUE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. MAJOR FIRE RESULTS IN MASS CASUALTIES AT SWISS NIGHTCLUB. NEW YEAR'S RIOTS STRIKE EUROPE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -International Events-Switzerland: Last night a significant structure fire was reported at a New Year's celebration event hosted by a nightclub in Crans-Montana. A fire broke out at the Le Constellation nightclub, which consumed most of the facility. Approximately 40x fatalities have been reported due to the fire, along with dozens of others suffering severe burns. Most of these casualties are assessed to have resulted from the challenges in evacuating the structure.Netherlands: Overnight a major fire was reported at the historic Vondelkerk Church in Amsterdam. The fire completely destroyed most of the church, which was serving mostly as office space due to a decline in the parish population over the years.Analyst Comment: The cause of the fire has officially not been released, however local authorities have stated that the fire is under investigation, which is itself and indicator that there is something to investigate.Europe: New Year's festivities resulted in many riots around the continent. Various Moroccan enclaves in Belgium were observed rioting overnight, many of which involved parading around Brussels with weapons in the open, and generally trying to destroy things with fireworks. Actual explosives and incendiary devices were also used throughout the night in Belgium, as a few firebombings took place in Antwerp. France reported around 1,173x vehicles set on fire around the nation, and about 500x arrests were made by riot police throughout the night. Arson attacks were also reported throughout the Netherlands, with migrants attacking Dutch police vehicles with Molotovs.Middle East: The situation in Iran is deteriorating as protests continue to grow throughout the nation. Protests began in Tehran a few days ago, and have spread to several other major cities around the country.Analyst Comment: As with any crisis in the region, there is a significant amount of deception and propaganda afoot. However, based on the videos that are making it out of the country, the protests are indeed real. The point of debate is how significant these demonstrations are. The Israeli's have claimed what they always do, that the Ayatollah has fled the country in disgrace, and revolution is underway. The Iranians have likewise done what they always do as well, and not even acknowledged what's happening at all. The truth is probably somewhere between these two extremes, and only time will tell how significant these protests become over the next few weeks.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Right now it looks like the nightclub fire/explosion in Switzerland was probably not a terrorist attack, as the start of the fire was highly documented. A considerable amount of fireworks were noted at this location, many of which were being set off in a risky manner, such as the fireworks which were ignited indoors and held very close to extremely flammable soundproofing tiles. Shortly after the investigation into the fire was launched, Swiss authorities stated that they think it was an accident.Witnesses that took videos of the aftermath might also shed some light on why there was an exceptionally high casualty count for such a small venue. Videos of the fire (which are too graphic for mixed company) confirm that many people were trapped inside the building, and unable to escape. Only one staircase served as an egress method for the basement, where the fire first began. Additionally, once the fire broke out, many people did not evacuate, either out of ignorance or inebriation. As such, many people only thought about evacuating after the fire was already consuming the entire structure, and it was impossible to u
Explore the enigmatic realm of unidentified flying objects through three rare, obscure photographs that have intrigued UFO researchers, skeptics, and conspiracy enthusiasts. Captured in a time before digital editing, these images—from snowy Poland, wartime China, and sunny Italy—defy simple explanations and hint at extraterrestrial observers challenging our reality.MF Thomas starts by honoring the infamous 1975 Billy Meier photo from Switzerland: a silver disc "beamship" that inspired The X-Files' "I Want to Believe" poster. Debunked as a hoax with models, strings, and confirmed by his ex-wife Kalliope and experts like Joe Nickell, it contrasts with the episode's more resilient cases.In Part 1, travel to 1959 Muszyna, Poland, where Dr. Stanislaw Kowalczewski photographed a flattened oval UFO during a winter holiday. Emerging from a yellow-orange cloud as a luminous orb, it appeared as a dark saucer on film. Experts in Warsaw papers like Stolica affirmed it 90% likely a self-luminous flying saucer. Linked to Polish UFO lore like Gdynia and Emilcin, it faded under Soviet secrecy—alien craft or artifact?Part 2 delves into WWII Pacific Foo Fighters, focusing on the 1942 Hopeh UFO photo from Tianjin, China, under Japanese occupation. This street-level shot shows a domed silver disc overhead, with pointing pedestrians. Ufologist Shi Bo attributes it to an American witness; analyses dismiss planes or shells. Tied to sightings like Sergeant Brickner's 150+ wobbling objects over Tulagi, it anchors Asian UFO history.In Part 3, relive Italian pilot Giancarlo Cecconi's 1979 Treviso encounter. Radar spotted an erratic object with a blue trail; Cecconi snapped 80+ photos of a 25-foot matte-black cigar-shaped craft with a dome, maneuvering at 300 mph. Backed by witnesses and researcher Antonio Chiumiento, who uncovered potential Ministry cover-ups. Parallels include Chiles-Whitted (1948), RB-47 (1957), and Gemini 4 (1965) cylinders.Weaving testimonies, analyses, and cosmic philosophy, this episode sparks wonder: portals to other worlds or illusions? Ideal for paranormal fans, alien tales, and mysteries.www.mydarkpath.com/78-historical-ufo-photosRead MF Thomas' novels Like Clockwork https://amzn.to/417lOzyArcade https://amzn.to/4aTpisxA Sickness in Time https://amzn.to/41apSPKSeeing by Moonlight ...
Switzerland faces the painful task of identifying victims of a deadly New Year bar fire at a ski resort. Tesla's Q4 sales are expected to drop as the electric vehicle maker hopes for a better 2026. And China has removed a tax exemption on contraceptives to spur a flagging birth rate. Listen to Morning Bid podcast here. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter here. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast here. Find the Recommended Read here. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom podcast, host Stewart Alsop interviews Marcin Dymczyk, CPO and co-founder of SevenSense Robotics, exploring the fascinating world of advanced robotics and AI. Their conversation covers the evolution from traditional "standard" robotics with predetermined pathways to advanced robotics that incorporates perception, reasoning, and adaptability - essentially the AGI of physical robotics. Dymczyk explains how his company builds "the eyes and brains of mobile robots" using camera-based autonomy algorithms, drawing parallels between robot sensing systems and human vision, inner ear balance, and proprioception. The discussion ranges from the technical challenges of sensor fusion and world models to broader topics including robotics regulation across different countries, the role of federalism in innovation, and how recent geopolitical changes are driving localized high-tech development, particularly in defense applications. They also touch on the democratization of robotics for small businesses and the philosophical implications of increasingly sophisticated AI systems operating in physical environments. To learn more about SevenSense, visit www.sevensense.ai.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Robotics and Personal Journey05:27 The Evolution of Robotics: From Standard to Advanced09:56 The Future of Robotics: AI and Automation12:09 The Role of Edge Computing in Robotics17:40 FPGA and AI: The Future of Robotics Processing21:54 Sensing the World: How Robots Perceive Their Environment29:01 Learning from the Physical World: Insights from Robotics33:21 The Intersection of Robotics and Manufacturing35:01 Journey into Robotics: Education and Passion36:41 Practical Robotics Projects for Beginners39:06 Understanding Particle Filters in Robotics40:37 World Models: The Future of AI and Robotics41:51 The Black Box Dilemma in AI and Robotics44:27 Safety and Interpretability in Autonomous Systems49:16 Regulatory Challenges in Robotics and AI51:19 Global Perspectives on Robotics Regulation54:43 The Future of Robotics in Emerging Markets57:38 The Role of Engineers in Modern WarfareKey Insights1. Advanced robotics transcends traditional programming through perception and intelligence. Dymczyk distinguishes between standard robotics that follows rigid, predefined pathways and advanced robotics that incorporates perception and reasoning. This evolution enables robots to make autonomous decisions about navigation and task execution, similar to how humans adapt to unexpected situations rather than following predetermined scripts.2. Camera-based sensing systems mirror human biological navigation. SevenSense Robotics builds "eyes and brains" for mobile robots using multiple cameras (up to eight), IMUs (accelerometers/gyroscopes), and wheel encoders that parallel human vision, inner ear balance, and proprioception. This redundant sensing approach allows robots to navigate even when one system fails, such as operating in dark environments where visual sensors are compromised.3. Edge computing dominates industrial robotics due to connectivity and security constraints. Many industrial applications operate in environments with poor connectivity (like underground grocery stores) or require on-premise solutions for confidentiality. This necessitates powerful local processing capabilities rather than cloud-dependent AI, particularly in automotive factories where data security about new models is paramount.4. Safety regulations create mandatory "kill switches" that bypass AI decision-making. European and US regulatory bodies require deterministic safety systems that can instantly stop robots regardless of AI reasoning. These systems operate like human reflexes, providing immediate responses to obstacles while the main AI brain handles complex navigation and planning tasks.5. Modern robotics development benefits from increasingly affordable optical sensors. The democratization of 3D cameras, laser range finders, and miniature range measurement chips (costing just a few dollars from distributors like DigiKey) enables rapid prototyping and innovation that was previously limited to well-funded research institutions.6. Geopolitical shifts are driving localized high-tech development, particularly in defense applications. The changing role of US global leadership and lessons from Ukraine's drone warfare are motivating countries like Poland to develop indigenous robotics capabilities. Small engineering teams can now create battlefield-effective technology using consumer drones equipped with advanced sensors.7. The future of robotics lies in natural language programming for non-experts. Dymczyk envisions a transformation where small business owners can instruct robots using conversational language rather than complex programming, similar to how AI coding assistants now enable non-programmers to build applications through natural language prompts.
The U.S. Justice Department said on Friday it thwarted an alleged plan by a North Carolina man to carry out an ISIS-inspired attack using knives and hammers on New Year's Eve. Christan Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill, North Carolina, was charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, according to a Justice Department statement.Dozens of young partygoers injured in a New Year's Eve bar fire in Switzerland were transferred to specialist burn units across Europe as they fought for their lives on Friday after being hit by the devastating blaze, which has killed at least 40. Initial findings showed the fire that spread among the mostly young crowd of revellers in Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana was likely caused by sparkler candles being carried too close to the ceiling, the local prosecutor said.
Episode 153 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Angie Sparks with moderator Cameron Laufer, opens with a community “commiseration” post about painful travel mistakes. Member Ray shared losing 38,000 JetBlue points and cash after accidentally booking a non-refundable Blue Basic fare and missing the DOT cancellation window by just a few hours. This sparked stories from others about points and money lost due to rigid policies or simple stubbornness, reinforcing how unforgiving award travel rules can be. The hosts then covered key news, including the Venture X 100k offer ending January 5, the JetBlue–JAL partnership ending March 31, Chase Freedom/Flex Q1 5x categories, and a disappointing British Airways Avios devaluation that raises both award costs and fees.Angie and Cameron also shared recent card activity and trip updates. Angie is focusing on earning steady points into 2026, timing new applications like the Amex Brilliant, and planning future travel to Switzerland and possibly Australia in 2027. Cameron discussed recent redemptions in Southeast Asia that delivered strong value, progress on large bonuses, and upcoming family travel using Southwest Companion Pass benefits. The main discussion centered on a 2026 points forecast, including which cards they're interested in opening, which ones they plan to close or downgrade, and how shifting fees, benefits, and credit limits are shaping their strategies.The episode wrapped with award travel goals for 2026 and a practical tip of the week: don't let chasing small credits or minor wins consume disproportionate time and energy. Angie noted that some credits, like Instacart, may not be worth the effort, while Cameron echoed this with examples like phone credits. Overall, the episode balanced cautionary tales, forward-looking strategy, and a reminder to keep points and miles fun—and efficient—as 2026 approaches.Episode Links:Venture X Offer EndingJetBlue/JAL Partnership EndingChase Freedom Q1 CategoriesBritish Airways DevaluationWhere to Find Us The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here Reserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026 Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.
Switzerland mourns 40 lives lost in a deadly New Year's Eve fire in Crans-Montana, with over 100 injured. Deadly protests spread across Iran as demonstrators call for regime change. New SNAP rules restrict sugary drinks and junk food, sparking debate over health versus personal choice. New Ontario regulations on archeological protections seen as speeding up development but putting history at risk. Increased avalanche danger has officials warning skiers to stay out of back country areas of the Rockies. Wage gap hits a record in Canada, with top CEOs earning 248 times more than the average worker.
Federal authorities in North Carolina say they thwarted an ISIS inspired plot to attack soft targets on New Year's Eve. Investigators in Switzerland believe the fire at an alpine bar that killed at least 40 people was started by a sparkler on top of a champagne bottle. President Trump trades barbs with Iranian officials over protests there. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ed Donahue reports on the possible cause of a deadly fire in Switzerland that killed scores or New Year's Eve party goers.
Morse code transcription: vvv vvv What we know about the Switzerland ski resort fire The Traitors returns with new secret traitor in major shake up Strictlys Ellie and Vito still dancing together every week Colin Salmon EastEnders actor grateful to avoid driving ban for speeding Stranger Things Season five draws to an epic and emotional close Shamima Begum Home secretary to robustly defend citizenship decision Crypto users forced to share account details with tax officials Around 40 dead in Swiss ski resort bar fire, police say In pictures New Year welcomed around the world Eyewitnesses describe tragedy of Swiss ski resort fire
Swiss police say dozens of people have died in a fire at the ski resort of Crans-Montana. More than a hundred others were injured, many seriously. The fire broke out early in the morning in a bar packed with people celebrating the New Year. We hear from the scene. Also in the programme: as the latest US visa bans and restrictions take effect in a large number of countries, mainly in Africa, we hear from the Nigerian government; plus what's behind the latest purges of China's top military officers?(IMAGE: Furniture pieces lie on the ground as an ambulance stands at the site of an explosion and fire at the "Le Constellation" bar, where several people died and others were injured after an explosion tore through a crowded New Year's Eve party, according to Swiss police, in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland, January 1, 2026, in this screen grab obtained from video / CREDIT: Valais Canton Police/Handout via REUTERS)
The President of Switzerland says the fire at a ski resort early on New Year's Day which killed around 40 people is one of his country's worst tragedies. Witnesses at the bar in the ski resort of Crans Montana say the entire ceiling was ablaze within seconds. Also in the programme: There have clashes in a number of small towns across Iran, on the fifth day of anti-government protests; China has introduced a series of tax incentives - including levies on contraceptives and exemptions for childcare - to try to boost its falling birth rate; and new tax regulations are taking effect today in forty-eight countries over the personal ownership of cryptocurrency. Plus punk rock is 50 years old this year. Why does this rather simple music keep influencing musicians even now? (Photo: Officials say around 40 people were killed and 115 injured in the fire. Credit: Getty Images)
John Ghanim was born to a conservative Muslim family and community in Yemen. Eventually, John left Islam and fled Yemen as a refugee. In this episode, John describes what Muslims believe, how we can better reach out to Muslims, and what showed him that Islam is a false religion.John's testimonyJohn's websiteJay Smith on Islam's OriginsSpecial thanks to Credo Schloss Unspunnen for the filming location and hospitality. This episode was recorded at the Kingdom Connect Conference in Switzerland; find more information at https://kingdomconnecteurope.org.This is the 300th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and featured content!Join us on Patreon or become a website partner to enjoy bonus content!Visit our YouTube channel or connect on Facebook.Read essays from our blog or listen to them on our podcast, Essays for King JesusSubscribe on your podcast provider of choiceSupport us or learn more at anabaptistperspectives.org.The views expressed by our guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Anabaptist Perspectives or Wellspring Mennonite Church.