Podcasts about United Nations Security Council

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that there should be no turning back in Iran-United States talks, still less a return to the use of force, while voicing China's readiness to work with Pakistan to continue promoting talks and helping to restore peace, stability and development in the region at an early date.外交部长王毅周二表示，伊美谈判不容倒退，更不能重回诉诸武力的老路。中方愿同巴基斯坦一道继续推动对话，助力该地区早日恢复和平、稳定与发展。Wang made the remarks during a phone conversation with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who briefed him on the latest developments regarding the agreement on the memorandum of understanding for the first stage of negotiations between Iran and the US. The memorandum is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.王毅同巴基斯坦副总理兼外交部长穆罕默德·伊沙克·达尔通电话并作出上述表态。达尔介绍了伊美第一阶段谈判谅解备忘录的最新进展，该备忘录将于周五在瑞士正式签署。Wang emphasized that now the door to peace has opened, it should not be closed again.王毅强调，和平之门已经开启，就绝不能再次关上。Noting that the Middle East has suffered deeply from war and that its people deserve peace, Wang said the current consensus is far from the end point, but rather is a new starting point, adding that lasting peace in the Middle East and the Gulf region still depends on the tireless efforts of all parties.王毅指出，中东饱受战乱之苦，当地民众渴望和平。当前达成的共识并非终点，而是新的起点，中东和海湾地区实现持久和平，仍需各方不懈努力。Dar thanked China for maintaining close communication with Pakistan over the past few months, and for providing valuable support for Pakistan's mediation efforts.达尔感谢中方数月来与巴方保持密切沟通，为巴基斯坦的斡旋工作给予了宝贵支持。He said that Pakistan looks forward to continuing communication and coordination with China to sustain the current momentum for peace talks and jointly play a positive role in achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.达尔表示，巴方期待继续同中方沟通协作，延续当前和谈势头，共同为实现地区持久和平与稳定发挥积极作用。Wang congratulated Pakistan on its efforts to help Iran and the US reach the first-phase memorandum, saying that working for peace is an international responsibility that should be shouldered by all countries.王毅对巴基斯坦推动伊美达成第一阶段备忘录表示祝贺。他表示，谋求和平是各国都应承担的国际责任。Since the outbreak of the conflict, China has maintained contact with all relevant parties and actively worked to stop the fighting and promote peace, Wang said.王毅称，冲突爆发以来，中方始终同有关各方保持联系，积极劝和促谈。From the very beginning, China has firmly supported Pakistan's efforts and stressed to all parties that Pakistan is a trustworthy mediator, while also engaging separately with Iran and the US in its own way, he added.他补充道，中方从一开始就坚定支持巴方的斡旋努力，向各方表明巴基斯坦是值得信赖的调停方，同时也以自身渠道分别同伊朗、美国开展沟通。Compared with the first stage, he said that the second stage of negotiations can be expected to face greater difficulties.他表示，相较于第一阶段，第二阶段谈判预计将面临更大挑战。Wang called on the international community to provide further support for Iran-US negotiations and urged multilateral institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, to play a greater role.王毅呼吁国际社会继续支持伊美谈判，并推动联合国安理会等多边机构发挥更大作用。China has consistently advocated that regional countries should take their future and destiny into their own hands, Wang said. He expressed the hope to explore, through dialogue and consultation, a peace and security architecture that is jointly participated in by all countries in the Middle East.王毅表示，中方一贯主张地区国家自主掌握前途命运，希望通过对话协商，构建中东各国共同参与的和平安全架构。memorandum /ˌmeməˈrændəm/ 备忘录mediator /ˈmiːdieɪtə(r)/ 调停人；斡旋方tireless /ˈtaɪələs/ 不知疲倦的；坚持不懈的momentum /məˈmentəm/ 势头；动力multilateral /ˌmʌltiˈlætərəl/ 多边的architecture /ˈɑːkɪtektʃə(r)/ 体系；架构

Ralph talks to journalist and M.Div. Chris Hedges about Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on artificial intelligence. Then, Ralph speaks with Rick Engler (former member of the US Chemical Safety and Hazards Investigation Board) about Trump's proposed closing of that agency. Finally, Ralph pays tribute to some recently departed friends.Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, who spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. He is the host of The Chris Hedges Report, and he is a prolific author— his latest book is A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine.I think that Pope Leo kind of missed the point of AI. In that he describes that it could be a positive force for Catholic education (these are his words), compassionate health care, creative platforms that tell the Christian story with truth and beauty. I think those were all indications to me that he didn't quite understand what AI is about. It's not about education, it's not about compassion, it's not about truth, and it's not about beauty. It is a very pernicious force that will go beyond, of course, replacing all sorts of labor, but creating a world where fact and fiction are blurred together.Chris HedgesI think that mass organization is kind of all we have left as we barrel towards an authoritarian state. Congress doesn't function, certainly doesn't function as Congress was designed to function. They have surrendered their traditional constitutional authority, including, of course, the call for Congress to declare war. And this kind of unitary executive branch—this was put into place, by the way, before Trump. He's just taken advantage of it…And I think that it's absolutely fundamental that we recapture that kind of militancy, that kind of organized workforce that has traditionally throughout our history been such an important corrective to democracy—along with, of course, journalism.Chris HedgesRick Engler is a former U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board member and labor advocate who founded the New Jersey Work Environment Council. He has advocated for successful landmark state and national public policies that ensure workers and the public's “right to know” about potential chemical dangers, and that promote safer processes, chemical incident prevention, and whistleblower protection.The CSB is unique. I mean, nobody would think of abolishing the National Transportation Safety Board. And no one should think about abolishing the Chemical Safety Board, which does the same thing. It's not about issuing, in this case, fines or violations. It's about trying to understand the underlying causes of what led to these incidents.Rick Engler[Trump's allies] have a certain religious fervor about this. When I talk to plant managers, the plant managers of the corporations are much more careful and nuanced in most cases. They don't want their own plants to explode. But somewhere at the higher corporate levels, I think they're just willing to take the risks that the tradeoff for them is: Trump is supporting them in so many ways, why interfere? Why become part of some nuanced opposition to the most extreme EPA attacks? But I do think the elimination of the CSB is driven by the Trump administration in a way that wouldn't be happening if it was just left to the chemical industry trade associations alone. I'm not sure that's an adequate answer. I'm actually kind of puzzled by it. Because it's also really clear that if there was any one major incident, it would cost so much money—not only in the human tragedy of the lives lost and neighbors harmed and evacuations and shelter-in-place and property damage, but these incidents destroy facilities.Rick EnglerNews 6/12/26* Our top stories this week come to us from California, where, after an excruciatingly protracted wait, authorities have finally called some of the most high-profile races. In Los Angeles, Democratic Socialist City Councilwoman Nithya Raman has secured the second slot in the mayoral race, beating out reactionary former reality television star Spencer Pratt, PBS reports. Pratt garnered significant attention from conservative media for his slick AI-generated ads and his false claims about living in an airstream trailer after his LA home burned down in the recent fires. In actuality, he was living in the posh Bel Air hotel, billed as a campaign expense, per TMZ. Now the question becomes whether or not Raman will be able to expand her coalition to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in November.* If Raman's victory is the good news however, the bad news is that Trump-endorsed Republican Steve Hilton will advance in the gubernatorial race. He will face off against former California Attorney General and Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, who has accepted large campaign contributions from the California Association of Realtors, the California Medical Association and even Chevron, per CalMatters. This outcome means progressive billionaire Tom Steyer will not advance. Many are placing the blame for this on former Congresswoman Katie Porter, who remained in the race despite clearly failing to achieve any real viability throughout the race. This has drawn comparisons to Elizabeth Warren's perceived role as a spoiler candidate vis-a-vis Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Primary, particularly since Porter is a highly visible protégé of Senator Warren. In his concession speech, Steyer closed by telling his supporters “Pay attention. Know what you deserve, and know who is on your side. Understand who the villains are, and say their names out loud. Continue to demand more from your leaders and your government, until they give you the California – and the country – you know you deserve. I will be with you all the way.”* Elsewhere in California however, progressives scored major victories. In California's 22nd congressional district, Bernie Sanders-backed Randy Villegas secured a spot in the top two, beating out his opponent Jasmine Bains, who enjoyed the backing of AIPAC and 53 corporate donors, according to the American Prospect. He will face Republican incumbent Congressman David Valadao in November. Even more impressive is the victory of progressive challenger Mai Vang in California's 7th district primary, where she actually emerged as the top vote getter, beating out longtime incumbent Congresswoman Doris Matsui. However, because Matsui, who is 81 years old, won the second-most votes, she will still advance to the general election.* Another much-anticipated primary was held this week on the exact other end of the country. In Maine, Graham Platner trounced his opponents in the Democratic Senate race, winning over 70% of the vote despite a concerted campaign against him in the national press. In his victory speech, CNN reports Platner wrote off the smears, saying “They don't know Maine.” Furthermore, he said “If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics, and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change…To all those who feel let down, disappointed, or disillusioned. It is my job to earn your trust, your faith, and your support. And I will spend every day of this campaign, and if I have the privilege, every day in the United States Senate, doing exactly that.” Platner will face off against five-term incumbent Senator Susan Collins in a race that will be decisive if Democrats are to have any chance of retaking the Senate in the 2026 midterms.* Turning towards the plains, two candidates are starting to show a surprising level of viability in heavily Republican, rural states. First, in Idaho, Todd Achilles is running as an independent against Republican incumbent Senator Jim Risch. Achilles served as a tank commander and armor officer in the Army before a varied career in the corporate world, education and now politics, according to Independent Voter News. The most striking development in this race is a new poll showing that while “Achilles starts out…behind by 14 points at 48-34…once voters hear biographical information about him and negative messaging about Senator Risch, he gains a full 17 points…[leading] Risch, 41% to 38%.” If accurate, this would be a stunningly close race in a state where registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats by a margin greater than 5-to-1.* In South Dakota, Brian Bengs, another veteran turned educator – turned, in this case, National Park Ranger – is running shockingly close to incumbent Republican Senator Mike Rounds in a head-to-head matchup. According to the South Dakota Standard, the latest polling shows Rounds leading Bengs 44% to 40%, with 16% undecided. Moreover, like the Achilles poll, when voters are given biographical information about Bengs and negative messaging about Senator Rounds, that margin flips to 44% in favor of Bengs, compared to just 42% for Rounds. If these polls are accurate and independent candidates – not just Achilles and Bengs but also Dan Osborn in Nebraska and Seth Bodnar in Montana – prove viable, perhaps even victorious, in states long seen as out of reach for non-Republicans, there will have to be a serious reckoning with the toxicity of the Democratic Party brand in the American heartland.* In Michigan, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed has picked up perhaps the most critical possible endorsement in the state: that of the United Auto Workers. In a statement, the union wrote that “UAW members in Michigan want a fighter in Washington, D.C. who isn't afraid to push forward a strong working-class agenda with moral clarity…From Medicare for All to banning stock buybacks, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is ready, eager, and well-equipped to move our core issues in the U.S. Senate.” Whether because of this endorsement or not, El-Sayed now seems to be in the driver's seat in this primary. This endorsement dovetails with UAW President Shawn Fain's rumored frustration with the mainstream labor movement for not doing more to back labor candidates, such as Clare Valdez in New York, who was a UAW organizer before entering the State Assembly.* On the House floor meanwhile, lame-duck dissident Republican Congressman Thomas Massie delivered a barn-burner of a speech this week, demanding that the government reopen the investigation into the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, Al Jazeera reports. The attack on the Liberty, a US Navy vessel, killed 34 service members and injured 171 others. For decades, Israel has claimed that this was nothing more than an accidental incident of friendly fire, but the surviving veterans have long disputed this explanation, contending that it was a deliberate attack, either as a “false flag operation or because they simply didn't want anybody observing what they were doing that day.” Massie called on the House to “give them closure…It's long overdue. And then they can have their justice.”* Looking to Latin America, the presidential election in Peru is, predictably, coming down to a razor thin margin, WLRN reports. This race, between left-wing Senator Roberto Sánchez and Keiko Fujimori, perennial presidential candidate and daughter of former dictator Alberto Fujimori, currently stands at 50.004% for Fujimori and 49.996% for Sánchez, with 98.258% of the votes tabulated. Sánchez was favored to win after the in-country votes were counted, then Fujimori pulled ahead when the votes from Miami came in, other absentee votes eroded that margin and gave Sánchez the edge once again but Fujimori has yet again pulled ahead by a hair. This is Fujimori's fourth presidential campaign, making it to the runoff each time but ultimately losing by the narrowest of margins.* Finally, in Colombia, Progressive International reports that while Colombian President Gustavo Petro presides at the United Nations Security Council, “conservative forces in the country's legislature have conspired against the constitution to ‘SUSPEND' his presidency — just 11 days from the run-off presidential election.” While Reuters adds that the proposal must be “debated and approved by all ‌16 ⁠members of the [legislative Commission of Investigation and ​Accusation] and subsequently by the Senate before it can take effect,” it is hard to see this as anything besides an opportunistic grab for power while the proverbial cat is away. Petro's four-year term ends in August; the runoff in the presidential election, between leftist Ivan Cepeda and right-wing lawyer Abelardo ​De La Espriella, will be held on ​June 21st.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Last week, Germany failed to secure a temporary seat on the powerful United Nations Security Council. There were several theories about the reason for Berlin's failure, but Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul offered a striking one — that it could be that Germany's support for Israel cost it the coveted seat. Germany is indeed one of Israel's closest allies in the world, and has been for decades. At the same time, the special relationship Israel enjoys with Berlin -- like its ties with other key allies -- has come under strain in the wars it has pursued in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. In August 2025, Germany announced a partial arms embargo on Israel over its decision to conquer Gaza City. To discuss the roots and the state of the Germany-Israel relationship, German Ambassador Steffen Seibert joined the podcast, weeks before he wraps up his four-year tenure and returns to Berlin. He rejects the idea that Germany's approach to Israel is guided by "Holocaust guilt." Instead, he says that the Shoah is a compass for Germany, which has the responsibility to learn the appropriate lessons from that dark period and let them guide its foreign policy. Seibert stresses that the Germany-Israel relationship is also rooted in shared democratic values and common interests. At the same time, he emphasizes that the special relationship exists within the pre-1967 borders, and that it sees Israel's presence in the West Bank as a violation of international law. On the war in Gaza, Seibert calls Israel's military response "inevitable and logical." Still, he says, there are questions over "how it was fought, how long it was fought." Still, he says that Hamas bears the main responsibility for the plight of Gazans. Seibert explains that Germany's decision not to intervene on Israel's behalf in the ICJ genocide case against Israel is a tactical move, as Berlin faces its own charges over its support for Israel: "It changes the assessment that we took at the beginning of the conflict. It's to do with the court case that we find ourselves in." Turning to the Iran war, Seibert says the Israeli-US campaign was "definitely understandable," but that continued fighting won't achieve much, and that it is now time to turn military gains into a political arrangement. Seibert, who learned Hebrew during his tenure, says that he is not sure what he will do next, but intends to continue spending time in Israel while he works to "reinvent" himself in the next phase of his career. Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and video edited by Ari Schlacht. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ferit Hoxha is a career diplomat with over 35 years of experience in the foreign service of the Republic of Albania. Since March 2026, he has been serving as Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Mr Hoxha has had a distinguished and extensive career in multilateral diplomacy and international relations, representing the Republic of Albania at the highest international levels. He has served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2009–2015; 2021–2024), where he led the Albanian delegation during Albania's tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (2022–2023) and twice held the Presidency of the Security Council. He has also served as Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the European Union (1998–2001; 2024–2026), as well as Ambassador to France (2001–2006). From 2018 to 2021, he served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO. Within the central administration, Mr Hoxha has held the positions of Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006–2009) and Director General for Political and Strategic Affairs (2015–2018). Throughout his career, he has contributed actively to multilateral processes and has held senior roles within international organizations, including Vice-President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Vice-President of the UNICEF Executive Board, and chair of key processes within the United Nations Security Council and UNESCO frameworks. Mr Hoxha graduated from the University of Tirana with a degree in French Language and Literature. He is fluent in English, French, and Italian. He has been awarded high national and international distinctions, including the rank of “Grand Officer” of the National Order of Merit of the French Republic and “Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy.” This event is part of the Future-Proofing Europe Project, which is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Negotiator and political analyst Daniel Levy examines the political frameworks, diplomatic initiatives and international mechanisms that have shaped recent developments in Gaza and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Arguing that humanitarian realities cannot be separated from political decisions, Levy explores how international diplomacy, ceasefire arrangements and institutional responses have influenced conditions on the ground and the prospects for Palestinian self-determination.The session explores:The relationship between humanitarian conditions in Gaza and international political decision-making.The development and implications of the post-war ceasefire framework and related diplomatic initiatives.The role of the United Nations Security Council and international institutions in shaping the current political landscape.The creation and function of the proposed "Board of Peace" governance structure.Questions of accountability, international law and the implementation of International Court of Justice rulings.International aid mechanisms, reconstruction efforts and donor frameworks relating to Gaza.Debates surrounding Palestinian governance, representation and future political structures.The future of UNRWA and broader efforts to reshape the international approach to Palestinian refugees.Proposals concerning international stabilisation forces, occupation and security arrangements.The geopolitical interests and international actors influencing developments in Palestine and the wider region.Levy argues that many of the political and diplomatic structures currently under discussion cannot be understood as neutral administrative arrangements, but instead reflect broader debates about sovereignty, accountability, self-determination and the future political status of Palestine.He examines the tensions between international legal frameworks and diplomatic initiatives, questioning whether current proposals adequately address Palestinian rights and political aspirations.The presentation concludes by considering the resilience of Palestinian society, the limitations of existing diplomatic approaches and the challenges facing those seeking a just and sustainable political settlement.Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.Daniel Levy is President of the US/Middle East Project (USMEP) and a former Israeli peace negotiator. He served as an adviser in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and participated in peace negotiations with the Palestinians during the Oslo process and subsequent diplomatic initiatives. A frequent commentator and analyst on Middle East affairs, he is widely recognised for his work on diplomacy, conflict resolution, international law and Israeli-Palestinian relations, and regularly contributes to international media and policy discussions.

Zimbabwe has been elected to a two-year non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. It is the country's third term on the body responsible for international peace and security. Zimbabwe will replace Somalia from the first of January and join the DRC and Liberia as the African A3 group on the Council. We spoke to Zanu PF Spokesperson, Farai Marapira.

Lebanon says Hezbollah has accepted a US-backed proposal for a reciprocal halt to attacks with Israel, as the UN and world powers voice alarm over Israeli strikes in densely populated Beirut suburbs. The United Nations Security Council has held an emergency meeting over the escalation of Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, a day before Lebanon and Israel are to begin a fourth round of US-hosted direct negotiations.

Israel PM Orders Apparent Lebanon Take Over As Beaufort Taken 26yrs Afterhttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/israel-pm-orders-apparent-lebanon-take-over-as-beaufort-taken-26yrs-after/#Benjamin #France #Iran #Israel #Lebanon #Netanyahu #US Lebanon is a sovereign country that has been a founding member of the United Nations since 1945, but, on several occasions, Israel has made an attempt to be in control of some areas of the sovereign nation, Lebanon, which is a small country of approximately 10,500 square kilometres, out of which, about 3,000 square kilometres are perhaps currently under the control and capture of Israeli Armed Forces since the state of Israel began the war of Redemption in 2025, a military operation targeting Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon which the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu in a nationwide video broadcast on Sunday, said, over 8,000 Hezbollah fighters have been killed, ordered Israeli troops to expand more into Lebanon and commended men and women of the Israel Defence Forces of retaking or recapturing Beaufort, a 900-year-old castle city in Lebanon that perched on a high ridge overlooking the Litani River Valley with a good tactical and strategic military viewpoint over Southern Lebanon, the Western Beqaa Valley and Northern Israel, the highly valued military fortress was previously occupied by Israel between 1982 and year 2000 and its reoccupation by Israel on Saturday night has triggered emergency United Nations Security Council meeting, according to the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, France has called for emergency UN security council meeting over Israel expansion into more Lebanon's territory, stating to BFMTV news network on Sunday that while France recognizes Israel's right to self-defense, "nothing can justify the continuation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and its ever-deeper occupation of Lebanese territory", and Israel Defence Forces, IDF in a statement on Sunday via its social media handles, said "These are photos from the precise IDF operation in the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi Saluki area in southern Lebanon, IDF troops located weapons in the village of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah- further proof of Hezbollah's presence inside civilian areas in southern Lebanon". #OsazuwaAkonedoBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/osazuwaakonedo--4980924/support.Kindly support us for more productivity and efficiency in news delivery.Visit our donation page: DonateYou can also use our Mobile app for more news in different formats: CLICK TO DOWNDLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY STORE 

Iran's Foreign Ministry has condemned the "flagrant and unjustified" ceasefire violations by the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that these took place despite ongoing diplomatic efforts mediated by Pakistan.伊朗外交部抨击美国在霍尔木兹海峡“明目张胆”违反停火，强调此举发生在巴基斯坦积极调停之际，是对外交努力的公然挑衅。In the latest developments, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps official said a renewed war with the US is unlikely, but warned that Tehran stands ready to repel any attack, Al Jazeera reported.据半岛电视台报道，最新进展中，一名伊斯兰革命卫队官员表示，与美国再次开战的可能性不大，但警告称，德黑兰已准备好击退任何攻击。"The possibility of war is low because of the enemy's weakness, but the armed forces are lying in wait," said Mohammad Akbarzadeh, a commander of the IRGC Navy.伊斯兰革命卫队海军指挥官穆罕默德·阿克巴尔扎德说：“由于敌人的弱点，战争的可能性很低，但武装部队正在严阵以待。”In a statement issued on Tuesday, reported by Mehr News Agency, the foreign ministry slammed the US Army for continuing its "illegal and unjustifiable actions" since the announcement of the ceasefire on April 8.据梅尔通讯社报道，伊朗外交部在周二发布的一份声明中痛斥美国军队自4月8日宣布停火以来仍旧继续采取“非法且不合理的行动”。The ministry said the US had committed "a flagrant violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region over the past 48 hours", particularly following "multiple instances of maritime piracy against Iranian commercial vessels".外交部表示，美国“在过去48小时内公然违反霍尔木兹甘地区的停火协议”，尤其是在“多次对伊朗商船实施海上海盗行为”之后。The US has said its attacks were defensive in nature, targeting missile sites and boats attempting to lay mines.美国表示，其攻击本质上是防御性的，目标是导弹发射场和试图布设水雷的船只。In his call with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and other regional leaders, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Tehran's readiness to establish a "dignified framework" aimed at ending the ongoing fighting and regional tensions.伊朗总统马苏德·佩泽希齐扬在与卡塔尔埃米尔谢赫塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿勒萨尼等地区领导人通话中重申，德黑兰愿打造一个“有尊严的框架”，从而结束当前冲突，缓解地区紧张局势。Pezeshkian spoke with heads of state from several mostly Muslim-majority countries on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.借宰牲节之机，佩泽希齐扬与多国穆斯林领导人进行了电话沟通。He and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, exchanged greetings on Tuesday. They also underscored the necessity of Islamic unity and indicated a new chapter in regional relations.5月26日，伊朗总统佩泽希齐扬与埃及总统塞西互致问候。双方强调伊斯兰团结的必要性，此举预示地区关系将开启新篇章。Pezeshkian emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation across the Islamic world and expand bilateral relations between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur in his phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.在与马来西亚总理安瓦尔·易卜拉欣的通话中，佩泽希齐扬强调，有必要加强整个伊斯兰世界的合作，并扩大德黑兰与吉隆坡之间的双边关系。Meanwhile in the US, President Donald Trump was expected to meet with his Cabinet on Wednesday at a precarious moment for talks aimed at ending the conflict with Iran.与此同时，美国总统特朗普预计将于5月27日与内阁会面，此时正值结束伊朗冲突的谈判进入微妙关头。He took to social media on Tuesday to grumble that even if Tehran were to offer a complete surrender, the media would paint the end of the conflict as Iran scoring "a masterful and brilliant victory".他5月26日在社交媒体上抱怨称，即使德黑兰完全投降，媒体也会把冲突的结束描绘成伊朗取得了“一场巧妙而辉煌的胜利”。US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations between the US and Iran on extending the ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz will take "a few more days".美国国务卿马尔科·鲁比奥表示，美国与伊朗关于延长停火和重新开放霍尔木兹海峡的谈判将“还需要几天”。According to Iranian sources, an initial deal would end hostilities on all fronts, get traffic moving through the strait within 30 days, and possibly provide some financial relief.据伊朗消息，初步协议将全面结束敌对行动，30天内恢复海峡通航，并可能提供一定经济援助。More difficult issues such as Iran's nuclear program would be negotiated in the second phase. Iran has been allowing some ships through the strait, giving preference to vessels linked to countries with which it has close ties, Reuters has reported.据路透社报道，伊朗核计划等更为棘手的问题将在第二阶段进行谈判。与此同时，伊朗已允许部分船只通行霍尔木兹海峡，并优先放行那些与其关系密切国家的船只。The conflict, which began on Feb 28, has caused an unprecedented oil supply shock, pushing up the costs of fuel, fertilizer and food. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas, has been a fraction of its usual level since the fighting began.这场始于2月28日的冲突引发了前所未有的石油供应冲击，推高了燃料、化肥及食品价格。霍尔木兹海峡平时承载全球约五分之一的石油与液化天然气贸易，但开战以来，通航量仅剩正常水平的一小部分。The IRGC Navy said in a statement on Tuesday that as many as 25 other ships and oil tankers have been able to transit through the strait in coordination with the IRGC naval forces, Iranian media reported.据伊朗媒体报道，伊斯兰革命卫队海军5月26日在一份声明中称，在与革命卫队海军的协调下，已有多达25艘其他船只和油轮通过海峡。Also on Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council condemned what it said was an "egregious drone attack" that targeted an electricity generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates on May 17.5月26日，联合国安理会也对5月17日阿联酋巴拉卡核电站内围外一台发电机遭到的“严重无人机袭击”表示谴责。Strait of Hormuz /streɪt əv hɔːˈmuːz/霍尔木兹海峡mediated by /ˈmiːdieɪtɪd baɪ/由……调停Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) /ɪzˈlæmɪk ˌrevəˈluːʃənəri ɡɑːd kɔː/伊斯兰革命卫队lie in wait /laɪ ɪn weɪt/埋伏，严阵以待lay mines /leɪ maɪnz/布设水雷Eid al-Adha /iːd æl ˈɑːdə/宰牲节underscore /ˌʌndəˈskɔː/强调precarious /prɪˈkeəriəs/不稳定的，微妙的grumble /ˈɡrʌmbəl/抱怨，发牢骚Barakah nuclear power plant /bəˈrɑːkə ˈnjuːkliə ˈpaʊə plɑːnt/巴拉卡核电站

Beyond this month's talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, there’s an epic tale that has been unfolding for decades. It’s a battle to be the world’s number one power and a much bigger story than the latest meeting of these two men. Kishore Mahbubani is a former Singaporean diplomat who served as president of the United Nations Security Council. For two decades, he has argued that the West fundamentally misunderstands the rise of China and its challenge to American supremacy.Mahbubani, who eventually turned to academia, now specializes in governance and public policy. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, he traces the story behind the Xi-Trump talks, the handshakes and the social media posts–and what may lie ahead.Mahbubani also reveals how his own successes were made possible by Singapore’s remarkable growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beyond this month's talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, there’s an epic tale that has been unfolding for decades. It’s a battle to be the world’s number one power and a much bigger story than the latest meeting of these two men. Kishore Mahbubani is a former Singaporean diplomat who served as president of the United Nations Security Council. For two decades, he has argued that the West fundamentally misunderstands the rise of China and its challenge to American supremacy.Mahbubani, who eventually turned to academia, now specializes in governance and public policy. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, he traces the story behind the Xi-Trump talks, the handshakes and the social media posts–and what may lie ahead.Mahbubani also reveals how his own successes were made possible by Singapore’s remarkable growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Wednesday to further extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, while pledging to further strengthen political mutual trust, strategic coordination and practical cooperation between the two countries amid a fluid and turbulent international situation.The agreement was reached during talks between the two heads of state at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, before Putin concluded his two-day state visit to China.After their talks earlier on Wednesday, the two presidents signed a joint statement on further enhancing the comprehensive strategic coordination and deepening good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation between the two countries. They witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation docu­ments in areas including the economy and trade, education, and science and technology.The two sides also issued a joint statement on advocating a multipolar world and a new type of international relations, and reached 20 cooperation agreements in other areas.When addressing the media together after their talks, Xi said this was Putin's 25th trip to China since he first assumed the presidential office in Russia in 2000, which fully demonstrates the high level and uniqueness of China-Russia relations.Noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, Xi said that over the past three decades, bilateral ties have reached the highest level in history as a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, setting an example for a new type of major-country relations.This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. The treaty was last extended on June 28, 2021, when Xi and Putin held talks via video link and issued a joint statement ahead of the 20th anniversary of its signing.Xi said that over the years, the two countries have always abided by the treaty's established principle of non-alliance, nonconfrontation and not targeting any third party, while upholding equality, mutual respect, good faith and win-win cooperation.The two countries have made important contributions to safeguarding international fairness and justice and promoting a new type of international relations, serving as a vital constant amid changes unseen in a century, he said.Xi called on China and Russia to build on past achievements and further support each other firmly on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, maintain close strategic communication and exchanges at all levels, and continuously consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust between the two countries.In recent years, cooperation between China and Russia in various fields has advanced steadily and achieved many positive results. The value of bilateral trade has exceeded $200 billion for three consecutive years, and in the first four months of 2026, two-way trade increased nearly 20 percent, according to customs data.Xi said the two sides should build on this momentum, deepen the alignment between China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and Russia's development strategy through 2030, and upgrade mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields to better serve the development and revitalization of both countries.Speaking about global governance, Xi noted that the world today is far from being peaceful, with unilateralism and hegemonism causing severe harm, adding that the world is facing the danger of returning to the law of the jungle.As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Russia should firmly fulfill their responsibilities as major countries, uphold the authority of the UN as well as international fairness and justice, and oppose all acts of unilateral bullying and attempts to reverse the course of history, he said.China and Russia should, in particular, oppose all provocative acts that deny the outcomes of World War II and seek to justify and revive fascism and militarism, Xi said, emphasizing that the two sides should jointly promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system.Putin, who received a welcoming ceremony that featured a 21-gun salute, quoted the Chinese saying that "one day apart feels like three autumns" when meeting with Xi, whom he described as his "dear friend"."Russia-China relations have reached a truly unprecedented level, and continue to develop. At the same time, our relations are self-sufficient; they do not depend on the current international situation and can serve as an example of relations between nations in this age," he said when addressing the media.He said that Russia is full of confidence in the future of bilateral relations, adding that it will work with China to deepen the two countries' partnership and good-neighborly friendship, strengthen people-to-people bonds, and contribute to the development and revitalization of both countries and the well-being of their peoples."Moscow and Beijing will jointly uphold international law and the provisions of the UN Charter in their entirety ... and cooperate effectively within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and other international structures, making a significant contribution to addressing pressing global and regional challenges," Putin said.During their talks on Wednesday, Xi said the China-Russia relationship has entered a new stage of greater achievements and faster development.Unswervingly promoting the long-term, sound, steady and high-quality development of the China-Russia relationship is a strategic choice made by the two sides based on the fundamental interests of the two countries and the global trends, he said.Xi called on China and Russia to fully implement the important common understandings reached between him and Putin, seize the historic opportunities and further promote the mutual trust, cooperation and friendship between the two countries.He emphasized that both sides should focus on the goals of national development and revitalization, fully leverage the comprehensive and well-established mechanisms of China-Russia cooperation and strengthen the overall planning for cooperation in all respects.The two countries should also promote the upgrading of practical cooperation in trade and investment, energy and resources, transportation, and sci-tech innovation, as well as actively explore cooperation in frontier areas, in order to create new engines for growth with new quality productive forces, Xi said.He added that efforts should be made to continue the long-standing friendship between the two sides, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, film, tourism and sports, and consolidate the social and public support for bilateral friendship.Also on Wednesday, China announced that it has decided to extend its visa-free policy for Russia until Dec 31, 2027. According to TASS news agency, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said in Beijing that Russia will also extend its visa-free policy for Chinese citizens.During their talks, the two heads of state exchanged views on major international and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East.Xi emphasized that all hostilities in the Middle East must end immediately, renewed fighting should be avoided and, most important, negotiations should continue.Noting that the situation in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region is at a critical juncture between war and peace, he said that an early end to the conflict will help reduce disruptions to the stability of energy supplies, the functioning of industrial and supply chains, and the stability of the international trade order.On Wednesday evening, Xi held a welcoming banquet for Putin in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

A US and Bahraini draft United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a halt to Iran's throttling of traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has spotlighted US-Chinese disagreements rather than the consensus President Donald Trump claims he achieved in this week's talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. A Security Council vote on the resolution would be a litmus test of the degree to which Messrs. Trump and Xi had reached a meeting of the minds in Beijing on Iran that went beyond platitudes on which both men could agree and would camouflage their differences.

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has proved extremely controversial, as it risks the lives of Iranians, people across the Middle Eastern conflict zone, and U.S. troops. Its impact on the nations of the Persian Gulf and global energy trade remains a cause for concern during the war and after the ceasefire. The choking of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 20% of global non-renewable energy supplies, has driven up oil prices and caused significant disruptions for Asian nations that depend heavily on Gulf oil. The war, launched without approval from the United Nations Security Council or the United States Congress, is dividing public opinion in the global community, including within the U.S. and its Western allies. Amidst shifting justifications for the war, including the regime change in Iran as a desired U.S.-Israeli goal, the regime in Iran has remained resilient; with support from Russia and China, it seeks to negotiate with the US.. to end decades of isolation.

U.S. and Gulf allies present a draft United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Iran's stopping commercial shipping, especially oil tankers, in Strait of Hormuz; Federal court of appeals is reportedly skeptical of the Pentagon's military punishment of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) for his part in a video reminding servicemembers they have a duty not to follow illegal orders; World Health Organization reassures the world that the handful of hantavirus deaths on a cruise ship is not the start of a pandemic like COVID or SARS; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council issues its final report recommending changes, in many cases reductions, in how the federal government helps states respond to natural disasters. We will hear from the council co-chair and talk about it with Andrew Rumbach, Co-Lead, Climate and Communities Program with the Urban Institute (34); Republican majority in the Tennessee legislature passes and the Republican governor signs into law a new congressional district map aimed at flipping the only Democratic seat in the nine member Congressional delegation to Republican; Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) hosts a National Day of Prayer program in the Capitol Building; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy takes the first ride on the "Freedom 250" Acela train to celebrate America's 250th anniversary; National Capitol Planning Commission meets to consider President Trump's proposal to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building's gray granite exterior bright white. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1950s, Mao Zedong described the relationship between China and North Korea as “as close as lips and teeth.” Over subsequent decades, the relationship has ebbed and flowed, alternating between close alignment and periods of strain. In recent months, China-NK ties appear to be warming once again. A series of high-level exchanges, including Kim Jong Un's attendance at China's Victory Day parade last September, followed by a trip to North Korea by Chinese Premier Li Qiang the following month, suggest renewed diplomatic momentum. Chinese Foreign Affairs Commission Director and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Pyongyang in mid-April is the latest sign of this trend. What is driving this renewed rapprochement between China and North Korea, and what are the implications for the United States? To explore these questions, we are joined today by Andrew Scobell. Andrew is a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute for Security and Development Policy's Asia Program and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. His work focuses on Chinese foreign and security policy, and he has published extensively on China-North Korea relations. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction  [01:38] China's Interests on the Korean Peninsula [04:41] A Cooling of Pyongyang-Beijing Relations? [07:48] How Beijing Views Russia-North Korea Ties  [11:26] What's Driving Chinese Interest in North Korea [14:57] Assessing Wang Yi's Visit to Pyongyang  [18:20] Shifting Stances on Denuclearization [22:09] Implications for the United States [25:48] US-China Shared Interests on the Korean Peninsula

Steve Sweeney was reporting on the Israeli government's murder of civilians in Lebanon when the IDF tried to assassinate him on camera. Here's what American tax dollars are paying for. (00:00) Sweeney's Close Encounter With an Israeli Missile Strike (11:37) Israel's Bombing of St. Peter's Burial Site (22:21) The British Government Taking Israel's Side Over Its Own Citizens (31:06) Why Is Israel Bulldozing Olive Trees? (45:54) Is There More Freedom in Russia Than in Britain? Steve Sweeney is an award-winning Beirut based journalist and has been reporting from the frontline of Israel's war on Lebanon for the past few years. He spent around two years covering the Ukraine conflict from the Russian side and gave testimony at the United Nations Security Council. In March 2026 he narrowly escaped death after an Israeli airstrike on a bridge he was reporting from in southern Lebanon. Paid partnerships with: Cozy Earth: Celebrate Mom with the ultimate gift of comfort by using code TUCKERBOGO at https://cozyearth.com Paleovalley: Use code TUCKER & get 20% off your first order at https://paleovalley.com VanMan: Use code TUCKER for 15% off your first order at http://vanman.shop/tucker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump posts ahead of his threatened deadline to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on electrical infrastructure and bridges, 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will'; China & Russia veto a United Nations Security Council resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, sponsored by Bahrain and supported by the U.S., because, China & Russia say, it blames Iran for closing the strait to commercial shipping but not the U.S. & Israel for starting the war; Artemis II astronauts speak to NASA scientists on their way back to Earth about what they saw when they flew around the moon; Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin visits western North Carolina to discuss FEMA's work to help the area recover from recent hurricanes; Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says at his first news conference since replacing Pam Bondi that accusations the Trump administration is weaponizing the Justice Department are 'completely false'; Vice President JD Vance campaigns in Budapest for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's reelection, and President Trump calls into the rally. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A countdown is underway as President Trump says 'a whole civilisation will die tonight' in Iran without a deal to fully re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, we return to Cambodia's scam centres with a rare visit inside. And is Universal Music which is home to Taylor Swift, about to be sold?(Picture: Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir-Saeid Iravani speaking during a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York, USA, 07 April 2026. Credit:SARAH YENESEL/EPA/Shutterstock)

The United Nations Security Council has failed to adopt a draft resolution which aims to enhance maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that the fundamental way to resolve navigation issues in the Strait of Hormuz is to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, as he held a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the worsening situation in the Middle East.2026年4月5日，外交部长王毅与俄罗斯外长谢尔盖·拉夫罗夫通电话，就日益严峻的中东局势交换意见。王毅表示，解决霍尔木兹海峡通航问题的根本是尽快停火止战。As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Russia should uphold fairness on matters of principle, adopt an objective and balanced approach, and work to gain greater understanding and support from the international community, he said.他指出，中俄作为联合国安理会常任理事国，应在大是大非问题上体现公道，采取客观平衡做法，并争取国际社会更多理解和支持。China has consistently advocated resolving international and regional hotspot issues through dialogue and negotiation, Wang said.王毅强调，中方始终主张通过对话谈判政治解决国际和地区热点问题。He added that China stands ready to continue working with Russia at the UN Security Council, to maintain timely communication on major issues, and make efforts to help cool tensions and safeguard regional peace and stability as well as common security worldwide.他表示，中方愿同俄方在联合国安理会继续合作，在重大问题上及时沟通，为局势降温以及维护地区和平稳定和世界共同安全做出努力。Lavrov said Russia is highly concerned about the continued escalation in the Middle East.拉夫罗夫表示，俄方对中东形势持续升级高度关切。Referring to the ongoing conflict and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, he said Russia believes military action must cease immediately and that the parties should return to political and diplomatic means to address the root causes of the conflict.关于当前战事和霍尔木兹海峡问题，俄方主张必须立即停止军事行动，回归政治和外交轨道，解决冲突产生的根源。He added that the UN Security Council should play a constructive role in this regard, and said Russia is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with China and continue to make efforts for a ceasefire.他还表示，联合国安理会应为此发挥建设性作用。俄方愿同中方密切沟通协调，继续为推动停火止战发声出力。permanent member of the United Nations Security Council/ˈpɜːmənənt ˈmembər əv ðə juːˈnaɪtɪd ˈneɪʃənz sɪˈkjʊərəti ˈkaʊnsəl/联合国安理会常任理事国hotspot issues /ˈhɒtspɒt ˈɪʃuːz/热点问题common security /ˈkɒmən sɪˈkjʊərəti/共同安全ceasefire /ˈsiːsfaɪər/停火

Supreme Court strikes down a Colorado law that banned 'conversation therapy' for LGBTQ+ children. We will talk about the decision with The Hill's Supreme Court reporter Zach Schonfeld (1); Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the role of the U.S. military in Iran is to 'negotiate with bombs' and 'ensure that we compel' the current regime to realize it is 'in a better place if they make that deal" to end the war; President Donald Trump posts that countries not able to get oil due to Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz should buy it from the U.S. or "build up some delayed courage" and fight for it; United Nations Security Council holds an emergency meeting after three UN peacekeepers are killed in southern Lebanon, amid the military conflict between Israel & Hezbollah; Federal judge rules President Trump's White House ballroom construction must stop without Congressional approval; U.S. Homeland Security Department is still shutdown, now at a record 46 days; Interior Secretary Doug Burgum convenes the Endangered Species Committee for the first time in 30 years to approve a national security exemption to the Endangered Species Act for oil & gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico; one day until NASA launches the Artemis II moon mission; former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is honored by her original home state of Maryland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the US-Israel war against Iran intensifies with no clear end in sight, a critical question remains: Is this war legal? On March 10, the United States submitted a letter to the United Nations Security Council, justifying its strikes - carried out alongside Israel - as "necessary and proportionate" self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. But does this argument truly meet the legal threshold for self-defense? What rules of international law apply as this conflict escalates?

President Donald Trump tells reporters outside the White House the U.S. has hit Iran "harder than virtually any country in history has been hit" but "we're not finished yet"; International Energy Agency says its 32 member countries have agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of oil to try to lower prices that have spiked with the disruptions caused by the war with Iran; United Nations Security Council adopts a resolution condemning Iranian attacks against neighboring Gulf nations. The resolution does not mention the attacks by the United States or Israel. Russia and China abstain from the vote; Department of Homeland Security remains closed after more failed funding attempts on the Senate floor. Democrats offer to reopen all agencies but Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs & Border Protections while negotiations over federal immigration procedure reform continues, and Republicans object. Republicans offered to reopen the entire department, and Democrats object; House Oversight Committee questions the accountant for the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Richard Kahn; Japan pauses to remember the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the country 15 years ago today, killing thousands and causing a nuclear power plant meltdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Trump officials brief all of Congress on what, exactly, the administration's objectives are in Iran. Until now, the Trump administration has given conflicting accounts as to why the U.S. attacked Iran on Saturday, and there are many questions members of Congress need to ask. But will they ask them, and will the answers even matter? Nicholas Wu, a congressional reporter for Semafor, explains what Congress is likely to do – and not do.And in headlines, First Lady Melania Trump presides over a United Nations Security Council meeting about protecting children in conflict, a House committee releases videos from the Clintons' Epstein testimony, and it's primary day for voters in three Southern states.Show Notes: Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The woman tipped to be the next head of the UK Civil Service has faced multiple bullying complaints according to reports this morning. The Times newspaper says "there is more than a whiff of misogyny" in the briefings against her. Nuala McGovern hears more about the debate over the possible appointment of Dame Antonia Romeo with Kitty Donaldson, the Chief Political Commentator for the i Newspaper, and Caroline Slocock. Caroline was the first female private secretary to a British Prime Minister when she served alongside Margaret Thatcher.Belle Burden is a former corporate lawyer, a pro bono immigration lawyer, a Harvard graduate and a mother of three, born into American high society. When she got married in 1999, her wedding was announced in the New York Times. Two decades later she broke with convention and published her candid essay on the marriage's sudden rupture, in the long-running New York Times Modern Love series. Now her book Strangers: A Memoir of a Marriage has become a New York Times bestseller. Belle Burden joins Nuala live from New York to discuss ghosting, grieving and getting on with life on her own terms.Tomorrow, the Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will speak about the plight of women and girls in Sudan at the United Nations Security Council. Stories from the war-torn country are harrowing. Sudan's conflict began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces or RSF. More than 150,000 people have died in the conflict across the country, and about 12 million have fled their homes in what the UN has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Nuala is joined BBC's Africa Correspondent, Barbara Plett Usher.Two years ago, Dr Henrietta Hughes, England's first Patient Safety Commissioner, published a report laying out a plan for compensation for women harmed by pelvic mesh implants. The Hughes report set a deadline for the government, which has just passed without action. Dr Hughes tell Nuala what action she wants to see from the government, and Kath Sansom, the founder of the Sling The Mesh campaign group, tells us how women's lives have been affected.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

FCC Chair Brendan Carr says journalists were tricked into covering claims by late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert's claims that he was blocked by CBS from interviewing U.S. Senate candidate in Texas James Talarico; Early voting Texas is got underway this week. We will talk with Texas Tribune reporter Kayla Guo about the Senate race with competitive primaries in both parties and the new congressional district maps drawn to favor Republicans. (9); Billionaire Les Wexner tells Members of Congress he was not a co-conspirator to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and says he was "was duped by a world-class con man." We will talk with Ohio Capital Journal reporter Megan Henry. (20); Day five of the Homeland Security Department shutdown over disagreements about federal immigration operations changes. We get White House and House Democratic leader update; President Donald Trump hosts a Black History Month reception at the White House; Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) says President Trump has been telling lies about the state & federal response to the massive sewage spill in the Potomac River; United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on Middle East peace efforts, with the Secretary General's office expressing concern about Israel's actions in the West Bank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In December 2025, Slovenia completed its two-year term on the United Nations Security Council-participating in 558 formal meetings and 238 consultations of the Security Council, and so much more. Throughout its term, Slovenia addressed the most pressing issues, upheld its values, and shared its expertise globally to maintain international peace and security.rnrnMore recently, in its final month as a member of the UN Security Council, Slovenia held the Presidency for the second time. A visit to Syria and Lebanon was on the agenda, as well as topics related to Bosnia, Sudan, Palestine, Afghanistan, and others. At the helm is Ambassador Samuel ?bogar, who brings a wealth of policy knowledge and experience to the table. There may be few others with such timely insights on global affairs that have recently dominated the headlines.rnrnIn addition to his term in the Security Council, Ambassador ?bogar has had an impressive diplomatic career. He has served as Slovenia's Foreign Minister, Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador to the US, and Head of the EU Delegation to Kosovo and North Macedonia.

In support of the US peace plan for Gaza, President Trump proposed a “Board of Peace” as a transitional governmental authority to ensure Israeli military withdrawal from the territory. It was empowered by the UN Security Council to act on the organization's behalf as a presumably neutral body to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance, rebuild the region that has been physically devastated from war, and oversee security in the return of refugees who have fled the conflict. But as introduced by the American President at the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos in January, it has become a controversial body. Trump advanced a vision of the body, one which includes a payment of one billion dollars (to whom it is still unclear) that could challenge the UN. On today's show we start with an exploration of this new vision for the organization advanced by the US. [ dur: 28mins. ] Stefan Wolff is Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham. His latest book is Ethnic Conflict: Critical Concepts in Political Science. His latest article in the Conversation Donald Trump's ‘board of peace' looks like a privatised UN with one shareholder: the US president. Francesco Grillo is Professor at Bocconi University and Visiting Fellow at The European University Institute. You can find his articles at the Conversation. His latest include Europe must reject Trump's nonsense accusations of ‘civilizational erasure' – but it urgently needs a strategy of its own and Donald Trump's Board of Peace signed at Davos – key points I took away from my visit to the ski resort The Board of Peace was initially and ostensibly created to govern Gaza in light of a peace agreement with the intention of removing Israeli military forces in exchange for a neutral transitional government. This was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 2803 with very specific tasks outlined, including aiding in the creation of Palestinian governance, the physical and economic reconstruction of the war-torn territory, the delivery of public services and humanitarian assistance, and the return of refugees. In this segment, we examine the Board's ability to accomplish its defined set of goals. [ dur: 30mins. ] John B. Quigly is a Professor of Law Emeritus at Ohio State University. He is the author of Palestine Is a State: A Horse with Black and White Stripes Is a Zebra and The International Diplomacy of Israel's Founders: Deception at the United Nations In the Quest for Palestine. Omar Dajani is Carol Olsen Professor in International Law at the University of the Pacific. He is the author of Negotiating Pluralism: Dilemmas of Decentralization in the Middle East (with Aslı Bâli) and A Two-State Solution That Can Work: The Case for an Israeli-Palestinian Confederation (with Limor Yehuda). He also was part of the Palestinian negotiation team at Camp David II in 2000 and has worked with the UN in peacebuilding initiatives, with a particular emphasis on building legal and judicial reforms in Palestinian governance. This program is produced by Doug Becker, Ankine Aghassian, Maria Armoudian, Anna Lapin and Sudd Dongre. Politics and Activism, Middle East, Occupied Palestine

Palestinians in Gaza view a future of rule by U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly inaugurated Board of Peace as representing “another form of occupation” said Haaretz correspondent Nagham Zbeedat, speaking on the Haaretz Podcast. Zbeedat, who covers Palestinian affairs and the Arab world, said that Trump’s vision of an American-led international stabilization force – intended to replace Hamas after it disarms – is likely to be problematic. American “complicity and cooperation with the Israeli army” during the war means that for Palestinians, “the U.S. is the same as Israel. So any government or group that comes from the U.S. will not be welcomed with open arms.” In the short-term, Zbeedat said, the desperate humanitarian situation means that Gazans will “accept the circumstances that they are put in, as long as there are no more airstrikes, as long as food is on the shelves, and as long as there is water, shelter, clothes coming in, and medical care.” But overall, Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere are “not excited” about the Trump plan because of the lack of “any Palestinian presence or voice” at the decision-making level. Also on the podcast: Haaretz diplomatic correspondent Liza Rozovsky discusses the challenges ahead for the new Board of Peace – most prominently, the disinterest of major Western European countries in signing on. “When you are being squeezed and threatened by the U.S. over Greenland, it is pretty bad timing to be joining a Board of Peace chaired by Trump,” Rozovsky noted. For these countries, “giving up your veto power in the United Nations Security Council and just bowing to Trump is not a very attractive offer.” Read more: Trump's Board of Peace Finds Few Enthusiasts Among Palestinians in Gaza Israel's Netanyahu to Join Trump's Board of Peace Alongside Saudis, Qatar and Turkey Trump's Board of Peace Has European States Worried, but Most Refrain From Direct Criticism Trump's Gaza Board of Peace Aims to Rival UN, Charter Shows 'It Never Ended': As the World Moves On, For Gazans It's War as UsualSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seth remembers Martin Luther King, Jr. and his ideas. Anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protesters stormed a church service at Cities Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota yesterday. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was among those who infiltrated the church. A clip of Iranian Journalist Masih Alinejad’s testimony before the United Nations Security Council, directed at the delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran on the mass killings that have taken place there in response to the ongoing civilian anti-government protests. Happy Birthday Dolly Parton!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act and send troops to Minneapolis as anti-ICE protests escalate following two shootings in the past week involving federal law enforcement officers; Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado meets with President Trump at the White House and a bipartisan group of Senators on Capitol Hill about the future of Venezuela after the U.S. military removed former President Nicolas Maduro; United Nations Security Council holds an emergency meeting on the Iranian government's deadly response to protests throughout that country; U.S. Senate passes another package of federal spending bills, sending it to the president, as the clock ticks to another potential partial government shutdown in two weeks; President Trump presents a health care reform proposal he calls the "Great Healthcare Plan' that includes giving people money directly to buy health insurance; Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia charge more than two dozen people with plotting to rig fix U.S. college & Chinese professional basketball games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a United Nations Security Council meeting, Chinese envoy Sun Lei urged the international community to support Iran in overcoming the difficulties and safeguarding national security and stability.

Global Security Reporter, Yvonne Murray on the emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council and Maduro's court appearance.

Monday, January 5th, 2026Today, the Trump administration has invaded Venezuela without authorization from Congress and has arrested Nicolas Maduro; oil barons are already booking flights to Venezuela to plunder the oil there; MSW Media has filed a response to DOJ in the Epstein training videos FOIA case; five years later we're fighting a battle over the basic facts of January 6th; and Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.Thank You, Daily LookFor 50% off your first order, head to DailyLook.com and use code DAILYBEANS.  Thank You, HomeChefFor a limited time, get  50% off and free shipping for your first box PLUS free dessert for life!  HomeChef.com/DAILYBEANS.  Must be an active subscriber to receive free dessert.I Just BLEW UP Trump's EPSTEIN LIE in NEW FILING to DOJ | YouTubeStories:The Venezuela Takeover | The New York TimesFinance Industry Eyes Investment Opportunities in Venezuela | WSJTexas Democrats fill every state and federal race on 2026 ballot, a first for either party | Texas TribuneGood TroubleOppose the US intervention in Venezuela?Indivisible will send an email on your behalf to your Congressmember.Take Action: Stop Trump's War in Venezuela | Indivisible GuideThey also have scripts for phone calls to make it easy for you to voice your opposition to Trump using our military like they're a part of Big Oil.From The Good NewsTahquitz Canyon →Go To DailyBeansPod.com Click on ‘Contact' → ‘Good News and Good Trouble' to Share YoursSubscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTubeOur Donation LinksPathways to Citizenship link to MATCH Allison's Donationhttps://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_86ff5236-dd26-11ec-b5ee-066e3d38bc77&WidgetId=6388736Allison is donating $20K to It Gets Better and inviting you to help match her donations. Your support makes this work possible, Daily Beans fam. Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans FundraiserJoin Dana and The Daily Beans and support on Giving Tuesday with a MATCHED Donation http://onecau.se/_ekes71More Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - Donate

The United Nations Security Council held a meeting regarding the U.S. strikes conducted in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Ambassadors representing several Latin American nations--including Venezuela--condemned these actions, saying they violated international law and sovereignty, with some claiming civilians were killed in the operation. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Michael Waltz called the action a "law enforcement operation ... against two indicted fugitives of American justice." After their capture, President Maduro and his wife were brought to New York City, where he pleaded "not guilty" to drug trafficking charges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Global Security Reporter, Yvonne Murray looks ahead to an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council following the events in Venezuela.

Following the capture of the Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro by the US military, President Trump has said the United States intends to run the South American country until there can be a "safe, proper and judicious transition". The president was pressed by reporters about who would be running Venezuela during the transition period and offered few details on who exactly would be in charge. He added that Washington wasn't afraid of putting boots on the ground. The announcement comes as the United Nations Security Council plans to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss Venezuela's future and the US actions, which U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres views as setting "a dangerous precedent." Nicolas Maduro's vice -president has called for his immediate release, but the exiled opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, says Venezuela's hour of freedom has arrived. We look at what may happen next and whether Donald's Trump's actions have any legal justification.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

Steve, David, Hannah, Jimmy, Matthew. and Francesco give Ralph a well-deserved break and highlight some of the clips they want to revisit from another challenging, inspiring, fascinating, infuriating, and galvanizing year. Featuring interviews with Chris Hedges, Jon Merryman, Mike German, and more.Featured ClipsDouglas Brinkley — The Legacy of Jimmy Carter (January 11, 2025)Chris Hedges — A Genocide Foretold/ World BEYOND War (March 29, 2025)Peter Beinart — Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza (March 15, 2025)John Bonifaz — Impeach Trump!... Again (August 30, 2025)Mike German — Policing White Supremacy (March 8, 2025)Stephen Witt — The AI Prompt That Could End the World (November 8, 2025)Jon Merryman — Trading Life For Death (July 12, 2025)News 1/2/26* Our top story this week is of course the news that the CIA has conducted a drone strike inside the sovereign borders of Venezuela. CNN reports U.S. Special Operations Forces provided intelligence support for this strike, though spec-ops leadership denies this claim. Unsurprisingly, the CIA itself declined to comment. Earlier this month, self-styled Secretary of War Pete Hegseth compared Venezuelan “narcoterrorists,” to Al-Qaeda, indicating that the U.S. plans to use the same counterterrorism playbook that they deployed in the Middle East in Latin America. This, of course, begs the question of whether the United States is willing to reckon with creating a miniature Iraq or Afghanistan so close to home.* Giving the game away, Mike Pompeo – who served as Trump's Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021, told Fox News that the U.S. “can help rebuild…their oil sector,” and that, following a successful ouster of President Nicolás Maduro, American energy companies like Halliburton and Chevron would be able to “go down to Venezuela, [and] build out an economic capitalist model.” This from CBS Austin. President Trump has certainly not been subtle about his designs on Venezuela's oil, but this naked salivation over handing the country's fossil fuel deposits over to Halliburton is another eerie re-rerun of Iraq.* In more news from Latin America, ABC reports workers in Bolivia have declared a general strike to protest the new neoliberal government's announcement that they would scrap longstanding fuel subsidies in the impoverished nation. The fuel subsidies were first introduced under the Leftist government of Evo Morales nearly twenty years ago and have been maintained ever since; President Rodrigo Paz, who took office in November, marks the first non-leftist government elected in the country since 2006. The strike was called by Bolivia's powerful Central Union of Workers, but so far has largely been led by miners with other sectors, such as transportation workers, appearing more hesitant. When united, organized labor in Bolivia has delivered stunning victories in the past, but it remains to be seen how this strike will unfold.* In more foreign policy news, Israel has become the first country to formally recognize the East African breakaway state of Somaliland. Many question why Israel is making this decision at all and particularly why they are doing so at this moment; speculation abounds about a potential quid pro quo, with Israel extending recognition in exchange for Somaliland agreeing to accept Palestinians pushed out of Gaza. Somalia is currently a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. In a statement with other non-permanent council members Algeria, Guyana and Sierra Leone, Somalia's UN Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman said Somalia, “unequivocally reject any steps aimed at advancing this objective, including any attempt by Israel to relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza to the northwestern region of Somalia.” This from Reuters.* In more Israel-Palestine news, American Jewish activist Cameron Kasky – a survivor of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school shooting currently running in the primary to succeed Rep. Jerrold Nadler in New York's 12th congressional district – took the unprecedented step of visiting Palestine over the holidays to see the “reality on the ground.” He spent Christmas at a “peace march in Bethlehem calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza,” and issued a statement on the need to “end the settlements that violate international law and stop encouraging New Yorkers to move there,” in a social media post that garnered nearly 2 million views. Kasky is seeking to consolidate progressive support in this crowded primary, which pits him against Kennedy scion Jack Schlossberg, among many others.* Turning to domestic news, lawmakers in the House and Senate are considering their options to force Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the totality of the documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Among these are two tools often cited by Ralph Nader and Bruce Fein but rarely invoked by Congress: inherent contempt and impeachment. Per NBC, Representative Thomas Massie said “The quickest way, and…most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi,” with Congressman Ro Khanna adding that the lawmakers are “building a bipartisan coalition, and it would fine Pam Bondi for every day that she's not releasing these documents.” Meanwhile, Newsweek reports Massie polled his followers and over 35,000 responded that Bondi should be impeached. However, no articles of impeachment against Bondi have yet been filed. It remains to be seen whether Congress will actually use the immense power vested in the body by the Constitution, or if these efforts will be stymied by the obsequious leadership of the Republican caucus.* Speaking of political party cowardice, this week the DNC announced that they would block the release of their own “autopsy” of what went wrong in the disastrous 2024 presidential election campaign. Writing in the Guardian, friend of the show Norman Solomon – director of RootsAction, executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy – excoriated the party leadership for dodging hard questions such as “how much money went to insider consultants and advertising contractors as the Harris campaign managed to spend $1.5bn during the hallowed 107 days of her presidential campaign last year,” and the wisdom of “Harris continuing to toe the Biden line for huge arms shipments to Israel while its military continued to slaughter Palestinian civilians in Gaza.” More bluntly, an anonymous DNC member quoted in this piece said the decision to block the autopsy is, “about protecting people who fucked up.” RootsAction has released their own autopsy, which pulls no punches.* Our next two stories have to do with online gambling. First, in an address to mayors from across Italy this week, Pope Leo XIV denounced the “scourge of gambling,” which has “ruined many families,” and characterized the issue as a form of “loneliness.” He warned of a litany of other forms of loneliness as well, including “mental disorders, depression, cultural and spiritual poverty, and social abandonment,” according to the Catholic News Agency. Pope Leo cited a report from Caritas showing a surge in gambling across Italy, though this phenomenon is by no means constrained to the country. In the U.S., study after study shows Americans engaging in gambling at unprecedented levels. For example, a 2025 National Institutes of Health study showed 61.3% of adults in North America reported gambling within the past 12 months.* Meanwhile, USA Today reports Drake has been hit with a RICO lawsuit for “promoting an illegal online casino while using proceeds from the site to artificially inflate streams of his music.” This lawsuit, which also names streamers Adin Ross and George Nguyen, centers around Stake.us, which, the suit alleges “was created to bypass restrictions after Stake.com was banned from operating everywhere in the U.S.” As this piece explains, Stake claims that it does not allow gambling with real money in order to evade regulations, but in fact uses stand-ins like “Stake Cash” which can be exchanged for real currency. Drake and Ross were “paid to promote the platform by participating in livestreamed gambling with cash ‘surreptitiously' provided by Stake.” In turn, Drake is accused of using the illicit funds to “[deploy] automated bots and streaming farms to artificially inflate play counts of his music across major platforms, such as Spotify,” as part of his feud with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar. If nothing else, this story shows how ubiquitous online gambling has become, infecting all facets and all levels of popular culture.* Finally, for some good news, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was sworn in at midnight on New Years Eve. Mamdani took the oath of office in the decommissioned subway station underneath City Hall, in a small ceremony, followed by a large public inauguration on New Years Day. In his Executive Order 01, Mamdani officially rescinded “All Executive Orders issued on or after September 26, 2024,” otherwise known as the date of outgoing Mayor Eric Adams' indictment on charges of corruption. These now-rescinded executive orders included officially adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism, a definition which includes antizionism, and other pro-Israel actions. That said, Mamdani explicitly stated he will retain an order establishing a Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism. Others include an order allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to operate on Riker's Island, and a blanket ban on the city's horse carriage industry. The New York Daily News notes “Mamdani has voiced support for banning the industry, but says he first wants to engage in dialogue with the union advocating for carriage drivers.” All in all, this marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of America's largest city. We wish the city, and the mayor, good luck.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

2025 didn't just happen — it unfolded.In this special year-end episode, we debut “The Timeline,” a month-by-month walkthrough of the biggest, weirdest, and most defining moments of the year across sports, news, entertainment, and culture.We kick things off in January with WWE Raw moving to Netflix, devastating Southern California wildfires, and Donald Trump being inaugurated as the 47th President, becoming only the second president ever to serve non-consecutive terms. From there, the year only gets crazier — Luka getting traded to the Lakers, the Eagles stopping the Chiefs' three-peat in the Super Bowl, Kendrick Lamar publicly ending the Drake beef, and John Cena shocking the world with a heel turn.As the months roll on, we hit the Oscars, the election of the first American Pope, Elon vs. Trump on Twitter, Netflix breaking records with K-Pop Demon Hunters, viral Coldplay concert chaos, the Sydney Sweeney jeans ad discourse, major geopolitical moments, celebrity engagements, shocking political violence, and one of the most dramatic World Series finishes ever.We close out the year with iconic sports retirements, internet moments only this show could appreciate, and AI being named 2025's Person of the Year, setting the stage for what's coming next.This episode isn't just about what happened — it's about how it felt to live through 2025 in real time. The moments we couldn't escape, the stories that sparked debates, and the timeline that defined the year.Tap into Episode 668 of the Productive Conversations Podcast—available now on all podcast platforms and YouTube.What you think of 2025 (1:58)Jan 6- Raw is Netflix (5:15)Jan 7- Southern California Wild Fires (11:12)Jan 20- Donald Trump Inaugurated as 47th president, only 2nd president to do non consecutive terms (15:13)Feb 2nd: Luka gets traded to Lakers (22:01)Feb 9- Eagles Win Super Bowl 59, 40-22 over the Chiefs, prevent the 3peat. Kendrick wins beef with Drake and calls him out in front of everyone (24:15)March 1st: Cena Turns Heel (33:50)March 2: Anora wins Best Picture (41:46) May 8: After the death of Pope Francis, the Papal Conclave elects American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. He is the first Pope from the United States. (48:19)June 6: Elon and Trump start beef on Twitter (52:08)June 20th: KPop Demon Hunters Released, most watched Netflix movie of all time (55:35)July 19: US tech CEO suspended after Coldplay concert embrace goes viral (58:25)July 23: Sydney Sweeney Jeans Ad (1:01:15)August 15: In a move that stuns the diplomatic world, President Trump meets with Vladimir Putin in Alaska for a high-stakes summit aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, though initial talks yield little progress. (1:05:06)August 25: Pop icon Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announce their engagement, sparking a global social media frenzy. (1:06:12)September 10: Charlie Kirk assassination (1:10:08)September 17: Kimmel Suspension (1:16:12)September 29: Gaza peace plan: The plan was announced by Trump on September 29, 2025, during a press conference at the White House alongside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was signed on October 9, coming into effect the following day, and was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on 17 November. (1:21:05)October 1st: Government shut down (1:23:53)November 2nd: Dodgers Win Epic Game 7 to win World Series 5-4 in 11 innings (1:28:15)November 4th: Zohran elected mayor (1:32:15)November 2025: Akash gets embarrassed by wife, Ryan said it's ok because it's a joke (1:34:34)December 13: Cena retires in loss to Gunther (1:46:45)December 17 "Architects of AI' is Time Magazine's 2025 Person of the Year, in recognition of their enormous technological and social influence. To reflect the complexity and multiple dimensions of this revolution, the magazine runs two different covers. Setting up more to come from AI world (1:51:05)------#trending #sports #news #entertainment #culture #popculture #podcast Best way to contact our host is by emailing him at productiveconversationspodcast@gmail.com or mbrown3212@gmail.comThis show has been brought to you by Magic Mind!Right now you can get your Magic Mind at WWW.MAGICMIND.COM/ PCLT20 to get 20% off a one-time purchase or up to 48% off a subscription using that code PCJUNE. Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/productive-conversations-with-matt-brown/id1535871441 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7qCsxuzYYoeqALrWu4x4Kb YouTube: @Productive_Conversations  Linktree:https://linktr.ee/productiveconversations

At the United Nations Security Council, member states including China and Russia have criticized the U.S. for escalating military tensions with Venezuela.

United Nations Security Council holds an emergency meeting on U.S. military actions against Venezuela; European leaders stand with Greenland in response to President Donald Trump latest moves toward his stated goal of having the U.S. own the island; Supreme Court turns down President Trump plan to plan to deploy National Guard troops in Illinois and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) joins faith leaders to condemn what they call 'chaos' that federal immigration agents were sowing with their operations in Minneapolis; Commerce Department says U.S. economy grew at a very strong 4.3 percent annual rate in the third quarter of the year; more than 20 Democratic State Attorneys General sue the Trump Administration over its plan to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your very own To Save Us From Hell co-host Anjali Dayal briefed the United Nations Security Council on Monday! She was paired with former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a special meeting of the Council dedicated to examining the role of the Secretary-General and the process for selecting Antonio Guterres's successor. Anjali gives co-host Mark Leon Goldberg a behind-the-scenes account of what it's like to sit in the briefers' chair at the famous horseshoe table and shares highlights from the meeting. After the paywall, Mark and Anjali discuss a glowing New Yorker profile of International Atomic Energy Agency chief—and UN Secretary-General candidate—Rafael Grossi. It's certainly a PR coup for the Argentine, but does PR really matter when it comes to running for UN Secretary-General? We discuss! And one more thing: this is the 50th episode of To Save Us From Hell. Fifty episodes of deep dives into power, politics, and the UN's place in the world. Huge thanks to everyone who listens—and especially to our paid subscribers, who make this show possible. If you've been on the fence, now's the moment: grab a paid subscription using the discount link below, get access to our full episodes and support the show with a cult following around the UN! https://www.globaldispatches.org/40percentoff 

On December 4, the entire United Nations Security Council made an unprecedented trip to Syria. It is hard to overstate what a significant turning point this represents — both for the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole. For thirteen long years, the civil war in Syria was the largest and most brutal conflict in the world, and one that stymied the United Nations by exposing massive geopolitical rifts between key global powers. We may now look to Gaza or Ukraine as examples of paralysis at the Security Council — but it was Syria that first broke it. Now, all fifteen members are in Damascus, in an important show of unity. Mark and Anjali break down why this trip is so significant and what role the UN can play in supporting Syria's democratic transition. After the paywall: Mark and Anjali discuss shocking new revelations about the UN's budget, and what the official "pre-launch" of the selection process for the next Secretary-General tells us about how the UN's next leader will be chosen. Discount link to listen to full episode:  https://www.globaldispatches.org/40percentoff 

Support the Jewish Communal Fund: jcfny.org/Support the Foundation of Jewish Camp: www.jewishcamp.org/callmebackApply to become Ark Media's Production Manager: tinyurl.com/mthkpmnaSubscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=insideGift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/giftsSubscribe to Amit Segal's newsletter ‘It's Noon in Israel':arkmedia.org/amitsegal/Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastCheck out Ark Media's other podcasts: For Heaven's Sake: https://lnk.to/rfGlrA‘What's Your Number?': https://lnk.to/rfGlrAFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorTo order Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdnToday's episode: On Monday, the United Nations Security Council voted to adopt the US-proposed resolution authorizing the establishment of an International Stabilization Force in Gaza, as outlined by President Trump's 20-point peace plan. The resolution allows for Trump's “board of peace” to oversee multinational peacekeeping forces, Palestinian technocrats, and a local police force that would govern Gaza for a period of two years, while potentially paving a path for a Palestinian state.On Tuesday, President Trump met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at the White House. Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, MBS stated that Riyadh would like to join the Abraham Accords but must see a pathway toward a two-state solution. Also, Trump confirmed that the United States will sell F-35 “stealth” jets to Saudi Arabia, prompting concern from Israel's defense establishment, with the Israeli Air Force saying the deal jeopardizes Israel's air superiority.To discuss the developments unfolding with regards to Israel and the Middle East and the possibility of Palestinian statehood, Dan was joined by Ark Media contributors Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive ProducerMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Operations DirectorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

This week, President Donald Trump told reporters that he would be willing to hold talks with Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. His statements came as the Navy's largest aircraft carrier arrived in the Caribbean Sea. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has conducted weeks of attacks on alleged drug boats off the coast of the South American country. But these drug trafficking allegations might just be a distraction from the real focus of Trump's Venezuela ire. Over the weekend, Politico published a piece alleging that White House officials have begun planning for a “post-Maduro” Venezuela, including different options for countries to exile him to. To talk more about Venezuela, regime change, and the perils of war in South America, we spoke with Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, former National Security Council Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere under President Joe Biden.And in headlines, President Trump is meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince at the White House, the United Nations Security Council approves Trump's plan for the future of Gaza, and the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey may be faltering.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Donald Trump says he will sign a bill into law to release all the files from the federal investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein if it passes Congress, a reversal from his position a few days ago. He says he does not want the Epstein issue to be a distraction from all the legislative accomplishments of the Republican party. House Rules Committee takes up the Epstein files release bill today, ahead of expected House floor debate and a vote Tuesday. Federal immigration agents descend on Charlotte, North Carolina to make arrests. Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) says, "it's not making us safer, it's stoking fear and dividing our community." President Trump talks about immigration when asked about his comment that he would meet with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as the U.S. continues to use military strikes against suspected drug carrying boats and to deploy military assets to the Caribbean. President Trump threatens to endorse primary opponents of Republican Indiana state lawmakers, after they hold up a Congressional redistricting effort designed to win additional Republican U.S. House seats.  Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks at a food allergy forum about new research to find the causes.  United Nations Security Council passes a resolution on President Trump's Gaza peace plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/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 joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Last week, the US officially launched negotiations within the 15-member United Nations Security Council on a draft resolution that would follow up on Israel and Hamas’s October 9 ceasefire-hostage agreement. Tomorrow, the Security Council is set to vote on the resolution, which would deliver Gaza to an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and an apolitical Palestinian administration overseen by a Trump-chaired Board of Peace. In the first half of the program, Berman gives an analysis of some of the implications for Israel -- and questions the world's appetite for seeing through in the demilitarization of Hamas. US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he was considering agreeing to a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with F-35 stealth fighter jets, which are made by Lockheed Martin. We hear whether a more robust Saudi air force could affect the Middle East and learn why the United Arab Emirates has not yet received its promised planes. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Friday that the Israeli army had built walls on the Lebanese side of the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border. We learn about the Blue Line and discuss whether a complaint to the UN has any teeth. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US says its plan for postwar management of Gaza offers pathway to Palestinian statehood US: Failure to back UN resolution based on Trump’s Gaza plan is a vote for Hamas, war Indonesia says it has trained 20,000 troops for Gaza peacekeeping force First storm of the season pummels Gaza, flooding tent camps and makeshift shelters Trump says he’s weighing Saudi request to buy F-35s, hopes Riyadh will normalize Israel ties Lebanon to file UN complaint accusing Israel of building border wall beyond Blue Line Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Illustrative: An armed Palestinian Hamas gunman stand not far from an International Red Cross (ICRC) vehicle, as a search for the bodies of killed Israeli hostages takes place, in Gaza City on November 2, 2025. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Veterans Day holiday, President Donald Trump travels to Arlington National Cemetery to honor those who have served in the U.S. military and to highlight his administration's efforts to provide veterans with benefits they have earned. He also says, "we're not going to be politically correct anymore. From now on when we fight a war, we only fight for one reason: to win"; Federal government shutdown, now on Day 42, could end Wednesday, when the House plans to vote on the bill the Senate passed Monday night to reopen the government. But in the meantime, the shutdown fallout continues. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy discusses cancellations and delays at the airports; The two Republican Senators from Kentucky vote on opposite sides on whether to allow sales of hemp-derived THC 'intoxicating' products; National Civics Bee crowns a 14-year-old winner from Ohio; United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on the deteriorating situation in South Sudan. Trump Administration blames the transitional government's mismanagement of international aid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issues a rare apology to Qatar for last month's strike in Doha, while Israel's Shin Bet investigates how the mission went wrong. The United Nations Security Council authorizes expanded powers for international forces to confront the gang violence ravaging Haiti. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. NMLS 182334, https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1881 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB. Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices