Westernmost portion of Asia
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pWotD Episode 2997: Druze Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 197,037 views on Wednesday, 16 July 2025 our article of the day is Druze.The Druze ( DROOZ; Arabic: دَرْزِيّ, darzī or دُرْزِيّ durzī, pl. دُرُوز, durūz), who call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn (lit. 'the monotheists' or 'the unitarians'), are an Arab esoteric religious group from West Asia who adhere to the Druze faith, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and syncretic religion whose main tenets assert the unity of God, reincarnation, and the eternity of the soul.Although the Druze faith developed from Isma'ilism, Druze do not identify as Muslims. They maintain Arabic language and culture as integral parts of their identity, with Arabic being their primary language. Most Druze religious practices are kept secret, and conversion to their religion is not permitted for outsiders. Interfaith marriages are rare and strongly discouraged. They differentiate between spiritual individuals, known as "uqqāl", who hold the faith's secrets, and secular ones, known as "juhhāl", who focus on worldly matters. Druze believe that, after completing the cycle of rebirth through successive reincarnations, the soul reunites with the Cosmic Mind (al-ʻaql al-kullī).The Epistles of Wisdom is the foundational and central text of the Druze faith. The Druze faith originated in Isma'ilism (a branch of Shia Islam), and has been influenced by a diverse range of traditions, including Christianity, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Pythagoreanism. This has led to the development of a distinct and secretive theology, characterized by an esoteric interpretation of scripture that emphasizes the importance of the mind and truthfulness. Druze beliefs include the concepts of theophany and reincarnation.The Druze hold Shuaib in high regard, believing him to be the same person as the biblical Jethro. They regard Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and the Isma'ili Imam Muhammad ibn Isma'il as prophets. Additionally, Druze tradition honors figures such as Salman the Persian, al-Khidr (whom they identify with Elijah, John the Baptist and Saint George), Job, Luke the Evangelist, and others as "mentors" and "prophets".The Druze faith is one of the major religious groups in the Levant, with between 800,000 and a million adherents. They are primarily located in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, with smaller communities in Jordan. They make up 5.5% of Lebanon's population, 3% of Syria's and 1.6% of Israel's. The oldest and most densely populated Druze communities exist in Mount Lebanon and in the south of Syria around Jabal al-Druze (literally the "Mountain of the Druze"). The Druze community played a critically important role in shaping the history of the Levant, where it continues to play a significant political role. As a religious minority, they have often faced persecution from various Muslim regimes, including contemporary Islamic extremism.Several theories about the origins of the Druze have been proposed, with the Arabian hypothesis being the most widely accepted among historians, intellectuals, and religious leaders within the Druze community. This hypothesis significantly influences the Druze's self-perception, cultural identity, and both oral and written traditions. It suggests that the Druze are descended from 12 Arab tribes that migrated to Syria before and during the early Islamic period. This perspective is accepted by the entire Druze communities in Syria and Lebanon, as well as by most Druze in Israel.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:47 UTC on Thursday, 17 July 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Druze on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Ruth.
The Iran-Israel conflict, and America's entry into their war, caused extreme unease in West Asia. Whether the ongoing ceasefire is only a matter of convenience driven by domestic compulsions and mutual exhaustion or indeed a step toward lasting peace remains to be seen. For this fragile peace to transition to a lasting peace and to arrive at a win-win solution, mature statesmanship must replace jingoistic brinkmanship. Regime change is not the answer. Watch the latest column for ThePrint by former Army Chief General MM Naravane (Retd).
Talking about freedom when we believe we have it makes for a deeply reflective experience. There are definitely occasions where we feel free. There will be times when we even act freely. In many places we speak freely and congregate freely. Yet those freedoms are being tightened, and our free speech is being choked.I will address those sentiments in a future episode, so for now I thank Amin for talking about his personal experiences in Jordan and travelling to different countries as well as his openness in reflecting on integration in coming to Germany.This is TwoandaMic, #riseup and be curious.I welcome opinions of every kind so please come and find me on social media at:Instagram: TwoandaMicTwitter: TwoandaMic1Should I really have to ask?
Twin brothers, Shahin and Shahbaz Bakhshnia, share the powerful story of their conversions from Islam to Christianity and how they began a ministry to reach other Muslims through church planting in West Asia and an underground network of Bible workers in Iran.
In this episode, we present a crossover of Guerrilla History and the Adnan Husain Show. Here, Dr. Gerald Horne joins Adnan and Henry to discuss his recent book, Armed Struggle?: Panthers and Communists, black Nationalists and Liberals in Southern California, Through the Sixties and Seventies. As ever, Professor Horne connects the histories of organizing and resistance against racial capitalism to the contemporary situation, including the LA uprisings against ICE raids and developments against neocolonialism and imperialism in West Asia. A wide-ranging conversation with the inimitable Dr. Horne ranged across the histories of class politics, struggles against racism, and geopolitics to consider the prospects for resistance locally and internationally in contemporary movements for justice. Gerald Horne is the John J. and Rebecca Moores Chair of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston. His research interests are unbelievably varied, encompassing biographies of W.E.B. Du Bois and Paul Robeson, to The Haitian Revolution, to Hollywood in the '30s-'50s, to Jazz and Justice. Be sure to check out his bibliography, you're certain to find something that interests you! Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory We also have a (free!) newsletter you can sign up for, and please note that Guerrilla History now is uploading on YouTube as well, so do us a favor, subscribe to the show and share some links from there so we can get helped out in the algorithms!! *As mentioned, you will be able to find Tsars and Commissars: From Rus to Modern Russia soon on YouTube.
A version of this essay was published by firstpost.com at https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/shadow-warrior-west-asia-hostilities-will-resume-again-only-question-is-when-13903341.html West Asia is again on the boil. Well, to be precise, it has been on the boil for a very long time, but we have the additional spectacle of the Iran-Israel war. Despite the ceasefire, which I hope does hold, there is a lot here that should concern all of us based on the geopolitical and geo-economic fallout.There are at least three issues of interest: the geopolitics, the war tactics, and the impact on the rest of the world. GeopoliticsIt would be fair to say that much of the turmoil in the region dates back to British (and to a lesser extent French) meddling in the 20th century, for instance the Sykes-Picot Act, or the antics of TE Lawrence. Britain's broader actions—contradictory promises (Balfour), repressive mandates, oil-driven interference, and botched withdrawals—sowed division, resentment, and conflict that shaped the region's 20th-century chaos. Many of these issues, like sectarianism in Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, persist today.The nations Britain created with arbitrary lines marked on a map made no sense because they ignored ethnic, tribal, and religious realities, sowing seeds for future conflicts. Indians know all about this: the same sort of random map-making in the Indian subcontinent led to extraordinary misery (the Radcliffe Line, created in just five weeks, created East and West Pakistan with little attention paid to ground realities, using outdated maps and census data).The British Deep State (let us call it Whitehall for short) has lost much of its clout, but it has been leading the American Deep State by the nose in what I referred to as a “master-blaster” relationship. And the latter has a rather clear SoP: there needs to be constant wars to feed the Military Industrial Complex, and so they will arrange for wars, which will lead to a complex money-laundering operation, with petrodollars being whitewashed through the IMF etc and ending up in the coffers of Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Palantir, and friends. It is notable that one of President Trump's main claims to fame in his first Presidency was that he scrupulously avoided going to war, in sharp contrast with his predecessors over the last several decades, all of whom had started or indulged in one war or the other. It appears that this time, though, the US Deep State has managed to co-opt Trump into its warmaking agenda, which, incidentally does not disqualify him for a Nobel Peace Prize: see Kissinger or Obama.What has happened in this 12-day war is that it became a stalemate, for all practical purposes. Neither Israel nor Iran can fully defeat the other, as neither has the resources to continue. A good metaphor is a boxing match, where evenly matched pugilists are both exhausted, covered and blinded with blood, and can hardly stand on their feet. The referee calling a halt is a blessing for both of them.Iran has, for years, shouted hair-raising slogans about obliterating Israel, although it is not clear how much of this was rhetoric, considering Uncle Sam's support for the latter makes the latter quite powerful. This sloganeering was supplemented by proxy allies, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, all of whom have been capable of mischief. Plus there is the nuclear bomb.Israel set out to tame Iran on all these fronts. Their goals were to deprecate, if not destroy, Iran's nuclear capability, defang the proxies, and impose a regime-change on the country. Let us remember the Stuxnet incident of 2010 when a computer virus was introduced into the Iranian centrifuges that are used for uranium enrichment, causing many of them to disintegrate. The assaults on Nataz, Fordow and Ispahan (much like Israel's raid on Iraq's Osiraq reactor long ago) were intended to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program altogether.With the US' help, it appears as though there has been serious damage to Iran's weapons capabilities, although there are rumors that 400 kg of highly enriched uranium was smuggled out just before the bunker-buster strikes via B-2 bombers on the fortified, underground sites. Among Iranian proxies or force-multipliers, its so-called Axis of Resistance, Hamas has been severely degraded, with top commanders eliminated (notably Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh) and its tunnel network in Gaza largely inoperable. Hezbollah leader Hasan Nazrallah and several key aides have been targeted and killed. The Houthis have escaped relatively unscathed, although the Americans were bombing them.On the other hand, it may not be possible to effect regime change in Iran. There seems to be a standard playbook of so-called ‘Color Revolutions', wherein a ruler is replaced by someone close to the West through what is portrayed as a “popular uprising”. The Ukraine Maidan Revolution that placed Zelenksy in power, the Bangladeshi coup that brought Yunus to power, and the “Velvet Revolution” are examples.But one of the earliest examples was the CIA/MI6 coup in Iran that overthrew Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953 and brought Shah Reza Pahlavi back to monarchical power. And the reason: Mossadegh had nationalized the Iranian oil industry, and freed it from the clutches of British Petroleum. The 1979 coup by the mullahs succeeded because the Shah was unpopular by then. Iranians, despite widespread opposition to Khameini, probably don't want the Shah dynasty back, or for that matter someone else chosen to rule them by outsiders.There was also a fairly strange set of events: just as it is said the Iranians were allowed to spirit their uranium away, the Iranians seem to have given notice of their attacks on US bases in Qatar etc. (allowing the US to move their aircraft and personnel), and, strangest of all, a social media post by Trump that appeared to approve sanctions-free Iranian supply of oil to China!Thus there are some pantomime/shadow-boxing elements to the war as well, and some choreography that is baffling to the impartial observer. Geopolitics is a complex dance.War tacticsThe Israeli assault on Iran started with shock and awe. In the first phase, There was a massive aerial bombing campaign, including on Natanz. But more interestingly, there was a Mossad operation that had smuggled kamikaze drones into a covert base near Teheran, and they, as well as anti-tank missiles degraded Iranian air defenses. Mossad also enabled successful decapitation strikes, with several top commanders and nuclear scientists assassinated.This phase was a big win for Israel, and reminded one of the continuing importance of human intelligence in a technological age. Patiently locating and mapping enemy commanders' movements, managing supply chains and using psychological tactics were reminiscent of how Mossad was able to introduce the Stuxnet worm, and use pagers as remote explosive devices. In the second phase, the two were more evenly matched. Israel's Iron Dome was unable to deal with sustained barrages of Iranian missiles, as no anti-missile system can be more than 90% effective. Both began to suffer from depleted stocks of arms and ammunition. Thus the metaphor of two grievously wounded boxers struggling to stay on their feet in the ring. It took the bunker-busting US B-2 bombers in the third phase to penetrate deep underground to the centrifuges, but there is still the possibility that Iran managed to ship out its fissile material.We are now in a fourth phase: both parties are preparing for the next round of kinetic warfare.The lessons here were once again the remarkable rise of UCAVs or drones as weapons of war, and the continued usage of high-quality human intelligence. It is rumored that Israeli agents had penetrated to high levels in the Iranian military hierarchy, and there was allegedly a high-level mole who was spirited away safely out of Iran.Both of these are important takeaways for India. The success of India's decoy drones in the suppression of Pakistani air defenses will be hard to repeat; the Ukrainian drone strike against Russia's strategic TU-44 and other strategic bombers, which were sitting ducks on the ground, shows us what drones can do: India has to substantially advance its drone capability. India's counterintelligence and human intelligence suffered grievous blows when various personalities, including a Prime Minister, a Vice President, and the head of RA&W all turned hostile, with the result that India's covert presence in Pakistan will have to painfully recreated again. Perhaps India also does not have a policy of decapitation strikes. Should it?Impact on the rest of the world, especially IndiaIn general terms, it's hard to declare an outright non-loser in this war, except possibly China, because it is the one player that seems to be quite unaffected: its saber-rattling on Taiwan continues unabated. Russia lost, because it had been viewed as being an ally of Iran; it was unable to do much, enmeshed as it is in the Ukraine mess. Israel and Iran both came out, in the end, looking weakened, as neither could deliver a fatal blow.The US got kudos for the B-2 bombers and the bunker-busters, but it is not entirely clear if there was some kind of ‘understanding' which meant that Iran is still not that far away from being able to build its nuclear bomb. Indians will remember how President Reagan winked at Pakistan's efforts to nuclearize with Chinese help, and issued certificates of innocence.Pakistan in particular, and the Islamic Ummah in general, took a beating. Instead of expressing Islamic solidarity with Iran, it turns out Pakistan was quite likely opening up its air bases for possible US strikes on Iran. That would explain why Indian strikes on Pakistan's Nur Khan air base alarmed the Americans, who may have been bulking up their presence there partly as a way of opening a new front against Iran.None of the other Islamic powers, with the possible exception of Turkey, paid more than lip service to Iran's troubles, which was interesting to note. The Sunni-Shia schism holds. The worst outcomes were averted: the nightmare scenarios, in order of seriousness, would have been a) World War 3, b) nuclear bombs being dropped on one or more of the belligerents, c) a broad war in West Asia, c) the closing of the Straits of Hormuz and a serious spike in energy prices.From the point of view of a nation like India, it demonstrated, yet again, that superpowers have their own rationale of amoral transactional relationships with other countries. India, as an aspiring superpower needs to internalize the fact that foreign policy is the pursuit of war by other means, and there are only permanent interests, not permanent friends. Instead of the highfalutin' moralizing of the Krishna Menon and Jawaharlal Nehru days, what India needs is the pursuit of its own national interests all the time.In this context, both Israel and Iran are useful to India. There is a billion-dollar arms trade between Israel and India (and Israel long ago offered to destroy Pakistan's Kahuta nuclear reactor with India's help, but shrinking-violet India refused). Today India is Israel's biggest arms buyer, with products ranging from Phalcon AWACS to Barak missiles to Harop and other drones, with Hermes 900 drones co-produced in India and exported to Israel.As for Iran, India's investment in Chabahar port is a strategic counter to China's CPEC and Gwadar port in Pakistan. It enables India to avoid Pakistan in its trade to Afghanistan and Central Asia. It is also a node on the International North South Transport Corridor, using which India can connect to Russia and Europe. It cuts time and cost of shipping to Europe by 30% as compared to the Suez Canal. India has invested more than a billion dollars in Chabahar.Besides, India used to be a big customer for Iranian oil, but that has been cut to near-zero from 20+ million tons a year because of US sanctions on Iran. If and when sanctions are lifted, India will have an interest in buying Iranian oil again. India has interests in both Israel and Iran, and it should continue to maintain its good relations with both. Nevertheless, West Asia remains a tinderbox. Hostilities will resume again, the only question is when. Iran will not give up on its nuclear ambitions, and as with Pakistan, some nuclear power will proliferate to it sooner or later, quite possibly China. The grand ambition to topple Iran's mullahs is not likely to come to fruition. Israel will continue to be beleaguered. Status quo ante, after the current round of noise dies down.2075 words, 1 Jul 2025The AI-generated podcast in Malayalam from notebookLM.google.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe
Sa gitna ng genocide sa Gaza, tuluy-tuloy din ang pambobomba ng Israel at US sa iba't ibang bahagi ng West Asia. Ano nga ba ang nasa likod nito? Ito ang tatalakayin natin ngayong gabi sa ALAB Analysis kasama ang veteran journalist na si Inday Espina Varona, Atty Fudge Tajar at Raymond Palatino. Sumali sa diskusyon!
Tune in for another episode of Give The People What They Want! with Zoe Alexandra and Indian journalist Prasanth R as they discuss the unprovoked US-backed Israeli assault on Iran, aid massacres in Gaza, indifference at the G7 summit, and the protests in Kenya following the death of a blogger in police custody.
From Moneycontrol Mutual Fund Summit, we spotlight the leading voices on industry trends and growth prospects. We also report on a possible fresh controversy at Indusind as a probe reveals microloan defaults. Meanwhile, a fragile truce in West Asia came as a relief for Indian exporters for whom the middle east is a major market. Also, in a welcome move, the government is planning to extend social security benefits to gig workers. Tune in for all this and more in today's edition of moneycontrol Editor's Picks.
Hello, this is your daily dose of news from Onmanorama. Tune in to get updated about the major news stories of the day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the possibility of a new U.S. war looms in West Asia, we speak to political scientist Wilmer Lemon for this month's episode of the F-Word on fascism. And a U.S. veteran was among those speaking out in front of the White House at a protest against Israel's attack on Iran. Plus headlines on Gaza, Iran, Minnesota shooter, and the DC budget. The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people's voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and support our own media! Please click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on this website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION! You can also give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Thank you! On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation's Capital gives a voice to the voiceless 99 percent at the heart of American empire. The award-winning, weekly hour, produced and hosted by Esther Iverem, covers social justice activism about local, national and international issues, with a special emphasis on militarization and war, the police state, the corporate state, environmental justice and the left edge of culture and media. The show is heard on three dozen stations across the United States, on podcast, and is archived on the world wide web at https://onthegroundshow.org/ Please support us on Patreon or Paypal. Links for all ways to support are on our website or at Esther Iverems Linktree: https://linktr.ee/esther_iverem
General Rajiv Narayanan unpacks West Asia's unraveling—Israel crushes Iran's missiles, Pakistan fears Sindhu 2.0, and Xi Jinping faces internal revolt. Meanwhile, India's Dhwani hypersonic missiles and Andaman oil fields redraw global power lines.
Sina Rahmani of The East is a Podcast and Red Media had planned to come on the show before this, and in light of the Zionist entity's unprovoked attack on his ancestral country of Iran in violation of international law I offered him every chance to back out, but hardworking podcaster that he is, he joins us for some light vibing and riffing and unstructured meditations about, among other things, the unexpected similarities between the entity and postwar Japan, as well as the bright future that I nevertheless hope for in the latter (my adopted homeland in my recovering-settler existence)—which future must lie beyond the whiteness that Japan too has claimed for itself in the postwar, thereby following a path of delusion that many countries in Africa and West Asia are still being forced down today pending the working and peasant classes rising up and showing the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The United States and Israel are waging war on Iran, but why? What are their real goals? Ben Norton explains the imperial strategy to impose US hegemony on West Asia (aka the Middle East), destroy the Axis of Resistance, colonize Palestine, destabilize the revolutionary Iranian government, preserve the petrodollar system, prevent de-dollarization, divide BRICS, and break up the Iran-Russia-China partnership. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwH780cEcEQ How Israel's war on Iran was made in USA: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2025/06/14/israel-war-iran-us-trump-support/ US pressures Saudi Arabia to sell oil in dollars, not Chinese yuan: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/08/10/us-saudi-arabia-sell-oil-dollars-chinese-yuan/ Topics 0:00 US support for Israeli attacks 4:38 Goals of US-Israeli war on Iran 10:13 Israel: outpost of US empire 14:35 US imperial strategy 16:28 Geopolitics of West Asia (Middle East) 17:50 Oil and gas 21:11 Geostrategic chokepoints 24:53 Axis of Resistance 28:33 Syria: Fall of Assad government 31:44 US plan to overthrow 7 countries 33:54 Iranian Revolution 35:53 Anti-colonial movements 39:14 Dedollarization 41:49 Petrodollar and OPEC oil embargo 47:05 Super Imperialism 49:36 Petrodollar challenge 52:43 BRICS 55:55 Shanghai Cooperation Organization 58:53 Iran-Russia-China partnership 1:04:05 US divide-and-conquer strategy 1:06:03 Outro
The United Arab Emirates, or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal elective monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as its capital. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Israel, the U.S. armed outpost in West Asia, bombs Iran, assassinating several military leaders and at least one nuclear scientist. We speak to historian Gerald Horne. And here at home, the Trump administration tests the limits of executive authority by illegally calling up both the National Guard and the Marines against protesters. And the administration is still firing federal workers illegally. We hear from a union leader, and we speak to a lawyer helping them to fight back. With Gerald Horne, Mark Dimondstein, Sejal Singh, Becky Pringle, Lee Saunders, pro-immigrant and anti-ICE protesters in DC. The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people's voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and support our own media! Please click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on this website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION! You can also give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Thank you! On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation's Capital” gives a voice to the voiceless 99 percent at the heart of American empire. The award-winning, weekly hour, produced and hosted by Esther Iverem, covers social justice activism about local, national and international issues, with a special emphasis on militarization and war, the police state, the corporate state, environmental justice and the left edge of culture and media. The show is heard on three dozen stations across the United States, on podcast, and is archived on the world wide web at https://onthegroundshow.org/ Please support us on Patreon or Paypal. Links for all ways to support are on our website or at Esther Iverem's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/esther_iverem
rWotD Episode 2962: Saba Mahmood Welcome to Random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Friday, 13 June 2025, is Saba Mahmood.Saba Mahmood (1961–2018) was professor of anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley, she was also affiliated with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Institute for South Asia Studies, and the Program in Critical Theory. Her scholarly work straddled debates in anthropology and political theory, with a focus on Muslim majority societies of West Asia (including the Middle East) and South Asia. Mahmood made major theoretical contributions to rethinking the relationship between ethics and politics, religion and secularism, freedom and submission, and reason and embodiment. Influenced by the work of Talal Asad, she wrote on issues of gender, religious politics, secularism, and Muslim and non-Muslim relations in the Middle East.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:21 UTC on Friday, 13 June 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Saba Mahmood on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Matthew.
Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric of being a peace president is fading fast, as Russia, West Asia and China remain in the crosshairs. We speak to historian Gerald Horne. And then we go to Dayton Ohio, where hundreds of people participated in actions to counter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization/ NATO military alliance meeting there. Plus headlines on five years since George Floyd's murder, Elon Musk's exit from Washington, and much more. The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people's voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and support our own media! Please click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on this website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION! You can also give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Thank you! “On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation's Capital” gives a voice to the voiceless 99 percent at the heart of American empire. The award-winning, weekly hour, produced and hosted by Esther Iverem, covers social justice activism about local, national and international issues, with a special emphasis on militarization and war, the police state, the corporate state, environmental justice and the left edge of culture and media. The show is heard on three dozen stations across the United States, on podcast, and is archived on the world wide web at https://onthegroundshow.org/ Please support us on Patreon or Paypal. Links for all ways to support are on our website or at Esther Iverem's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/esther_iverem
Clearing the FOG with co-hosts Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese
The Trump administration, which unilaterally withdrew from the Iran Nuclear Agreement during Donald Trump's first term, claims to be negotiating a new nuclear agreement with Iran. However, 'negotiations' are taking place under an escalation of economic coercive measures, a.k.a. sanctions, and military threats. Bahman Azad, president of the US Peace Council, delves into the hidden intentions of the Trump administration and the changes to Iran's foreign policy under its new president. Azad also explains what is happening in the context of the rise of the multipolar world and the decline of US hegemony, and what we can do in the United States to promote security and peace, as Israel and the US prepare for war. For more information, visit PopularResistance.org.
Welcome to Season 4 of Travel Stories with Moush everyone! In this inspiring episode, we're joined by travel visionary Haitham Mattar - a pioneer in tourism leadership and the CEO of IHG Hotels (Middle East, Africa and West Asia). From shaping Ras Al Khaimah into an adventure hub to transforming Saudi Arabia's tourism story, Haitham shares powerful insights, incredible travel stories, and a peek into his new book "Pots, Pans, and Five-Year Plans."Destination Highlights:Saudi Arabia, Red Sea Cruise Experience – Haitham joined the first-ever cruise ship to sail in the Red Sea post-pandemic. He visited untouched islands like Sindalah, witnessed crystal-clear waters and vibrant corals and cruised past the Wadi ad-Disah, believed to be where Moses split the sea. He also believes that Saudi Arabia is a tourism powerhouse in the making.AlUla, Saudi Arabia - A “living museum” with tombs carved into mountains, echoing the Nabataean civilization. According to Haitham, it's a stargazing paradise and one of the most peaceful, spiritual places on earth.Petra, Jordan – A must-visit destination.Lebanon – He celebrates the ancient city of Byblos, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and loves the buzz of Beirut, with its diversity, gastronomy and the unique way expats adopt Lebanese culture. The rich history, stunning Mediterranean coastline and enduring charm of Lebanese villages is what makes the country even more special.Oman – An underrated gem according to Haitham. He believes that Oman has major untapped potential in sustainable and adventure tourism.Island of Palau – A sustainability model and a standout example of tourist accountability and community-first tourism.Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman - A hidden gem offering tranquility, indulgent spa experiences, and adrenaline sports like paragliding. https://www.sixsenses.com/en/hotels-resorts/middle-east-africa/oman/zighy-bay/Agra, India – Haitham is deeply moved by the Taj Mahal and the profound story of love behind it. He also highlights the Agra Fort as an underrated gem, rich in Mughal architecture and history.Six Senses Barawara, Rajasthan, India – A place where he would like to keep going back to and one that holds a very special place in his heart. https://www.sixsenses.com/en/hotels-resorts/asia-the-pacific/india/fort-barwara/Connect with Haitham at:haitham.mattar@ihg.comThank you everyone for tuning in today. I hope our conversations have fueled your wanderlust and inspired you to explore the world in new and exciting ways. Please don't forget to hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcasting channel to keep up with our latest episodes. I would love to know what you think…what kind of travel stories and guests you would like me to cover. So, please do leave a comment, a rating or a review. Do follow me on Instagram and find out who's joining me next week. I'm at @moushtravels. You can also find all the episodes and destinations mentioned by all the guests on my website www.moushtravels.com as well as on the episode show notes. Thanks for listening and until next time safe travels and keep adventuring. "Want a spotlight on our show? Visit https://admanager.fm/client/podcasts/moushtravels and align your brand with our audience."Connect with me on the following:Instagram @moushtravelsFacebook @travelstorieswithmoushLinkedIn @Moushumi BhuyanYou Tube @travelstorieswithmoush
Tune in for an episode with Zoe Alexandra and Indian journalist Prasanth R as they discuss the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, as well as Trump's tour in West Asia and shifts in relations with the US and countries of the region, the massacres in Ecuador and Peru, the China-CELAC meeting in Beijing as well as the latest on US-China tariff deal.
Frederik Soderholm and Mehmet Ali Arslan interviewed me (Justin) for their Fredshetsarna (Swedish) podcast about nonviolence and military matters in West Asia.
This is the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I am Ichha Sharma.Today is the 22nd of April and here are today's headlines.En route to Jeddah today for a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the nation as “one of India's most valued partners — a maritime neighbour, a trusted friend and a strategic ally”. He also said that the partnership between the two countries has “limitless potential”. Modi is set to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tonight, where both leaders are expected to discuss expanding cooperation in an array of crucial areas, such as energy, defence and trade, besides expediting Riyadh's $100 billion investment plan for India. Besides bilateral ties, the two leaders will also exchange views on pressing regional and global issues, including the overall situation in West Asia.In the first high-level visit from the White House since the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January, US Vice-President J D Vance met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and both sides “welcomed the significant progress” in negotiations towards a India-US bilateral trade pact, framing it as a “new and modern trade agreement.” Vance today praised India's heritage and strategic partnership with the US, saying, “I believe there is much that the US and India can accomplish together.” Speaking in Jaipur, he noted that both nations are working toward a bilateral trade agreement based on shared priorities. Referring to past policies, Vance said, “We are not here to preach,” and highlighted President Trump's vision to “rebalance global trade” and “build a bright new world” with partners like India. At least eight people, including tourists, were injured in a suspected militant attack in south Kashmir's Pahalgam today. Sources said two of the injured are critical. According to sources, militants opened fire on tourists at Baisaran, an off-the-road meadow in Pahalgam. Baisaran is a popular destination among tourists. Police sources said that at least eight people, including tourists, were injured in the shootout. Police sources said the number of injured could increase.A few days after warning against judicial overreach, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasised today that Parliament is supreme, and elected representatives are the final arbiters of the Constitution. Addressing a gathering at an event called ‘Kartavyam' in Delhi University, marking 75 years of the Constitution, Dhankhar said, “There is no visualisation in Constitution of any authority above Parliament… elected representatives… They are the ultimate masters as to what (the) Constitution content will be.” He referred to Indira Gandhi's imposition of the Emergency in 1975 and her electoral defeat in 1977 to underscore how elected representatives are most accountable to the public.Gold prices are glittering above the Rs 1 lakh-level per 10 gm for the first time as the international prices surged after US President Donald Trump unveiled plans to overhaul the Federal Reserve. Gold consolidated its position as the best safe haven asset in the volatile global financial markets. The price of 24-karat gold (999 fineness) was quoted at Rs 1,00,000 per 10 gm in the Mumbai bullion market today. The price of 22 karat gold was quoted at Rs 91,600 per 10 gm on Tuesday as global markets continued to remain jittery over the Trump's tariff plans and his threat to revamp the US Fed that could lead to a spike in inflation and interest rates.US President Donald Trump is facing a significant dip in his economic approval ratings, with his performance on the economy registering the lowest numbers of his presidency. According to the latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey, broad discontent over issues like tariffs, inflation, and government spending has contributed to this decline. The surge of economic optimism that followed Trump's election in 2024 has all but disappeared, with more Americans now predicting that the economy will worsen, a stark shift from the hopeful outlook that marked earlier years. The survey revealed a sharp turn towards pessimism about the stock market as well, with many feeling uncertain about future economic prospects.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express
China has emerged as one of the world's leading developers of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). This is reflected in China's exports of UCAVs, especially across West Asia and Central Africa. In this episode of All Things Policy, Shobhankita Reddy sits down with Adya Madhavan, researcher with the Takshashila Institution, to discuss Adya's latest research work examining the factors that have enabled China to build such a robust export market, the politics of UCAV exports, and the implications for other countries, including India. The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.https://school.takshashila.org.in/pgpAll Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
*Producer's note: This episode begins with a request to help my friend Mohammed in Gaza. Please consider supporting Mohammed's fundraiser to support his family in their efforts to survive the genocide. As I explain in the episode, Mohammed's family has been displaced 5 times, most recently 10 days ago! Any sized donation is welcome!* Prof. Adnan Husain hosts a conversation with Nora Barrrows Friedman (@norabf), Alex Aviña (@Alexander_Avina/), and Sina Rahmani (@UrOrientalist) about the increasingly violent and dangerous turn of events both in the imperial core and West Asia. *Co-published with The Adnan Husain Show* Watch the video edition on Adnan's YouTube channel Like, subscribe, share and support (if you can!): www.patreon.com/adnanhusain @adnanahusain on X adnanahusain.substack.com www.youtube.com/adnanahusain786 www.adnanhusain.org
Hello and elcome to Colonial Outcasts, the anti-imperialist podcast that needs a vacation, but is unlikely to get one. Today we are going to be doing a round table of the conflicts arising in the West Asia which I am calling the Global War on Terror 2.0 - and we're doing 2.0 because 1.0 only lasted twenty years, killed millions from Afghanistan to Lybia, and accomplished pretty much nothing. AQ is still around, the Taliban are still around, there are open air slave markets in Lybia and the Islamic State ideaology has spread its way across Africa in the Sahel. And yes, all the while you got poorer, less educated, and we want more of that. Join us as we look at the violence of late-stage imperial power.
TRANSLATION MENU: LOOK UPPER RIGHT BELOW THE SOCIAL MEDIA ICONS. IT OFFERS EVERY LANGUAGE AVAILABLE AROUND THE WORLD! ALSO, SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRINT ICONS ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST! Pictured above: Rainer Shea on the left and yours truly on the right. Spanning the generations, 24 and 70 years old, respectively! Sixteen years... The post Rainer Shea is 24, American, dynamic, ethically grounded and communist. We discuss his hardworking efforts, China and West Asia. Radio Sinoland 250312 appeared first on CHINA RISING RADIO SINOLAND.
This episode was structured off of the article "Imperialism in Crisis: Gaza, Trade Wars and Trump's Geopolitical Mayhem" by Elina Xenophontos, joining us tonight from London, England. An unstable West Asia security situation has global ramifications and this talk about a voluntary mass exodus of Palestinians from Gaza is unworkable, stilly, and as detached from reality as anything else the United States has done in the Levant over the past 20 years. Why is this scheme doomed to fail: well, we are going to do a whole geopolitical and economic round-up from “the periphery to the metropole." Lets get into it... Article: https://www.patreon.com/posts/imperialism-in-121608917?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabi0sZtPJRUQBZbv6bDk_UFUJDJhDhOm0-n6F6UAl_6YBFlFPRhy3i8gEM_aem_IhiEoMf1RJopZORO1yEG6g
It's Tuesday, February 4th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Egyptian Christian jailed for converting from Islam An Egyptian Christian, Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo, is a father of five and converted from Islam to the Christian faith. Originally from Yemen, West Asia, he has been released from an Egyptian prison after three years of incarceration. Abdo was indicted on charges of participating in a private Facebook group which advocated the Christian faith. Alliance Defending Freedom International represented the Christian convert who suffered poor treatment in prison, affecting his heart, liver, and kidneys. Trump pauses tariffs on Canada & Mexico after pledge to boost border enforcement On Monday, President Donald Trump agreed to a 30-day pause on his tariff threats against Mexico and Canada since America's two largest trading partners took steps to appease his concerns about border security and drug trafficking, reports the Associated Press. TRUMP: “Had a great talk with Mexico. We have to stop fentanyl from coming in, and we have to stop the illegal aliens from coming in.” In the face of a 25% tariff south of the border, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would reinforce the border with 10,000 members of her country's National Guard. TRUMP: “They've agreed to put in 10,000 soldiers permanently, like forever, 10,000 soldiers at their side of the border and stop fentanyl.” That's why Trump called off that tariff threat for the moment. Mexico's trade surplus with the U.S. is running at $160 billion. The Trump administration had also suggested a 25% tariff on Canadian annual imports of some $430 billion. Initially, the Canadian government responded with a suggestion of a 25% tariff on American goods, currently running at $107 billion. But, on Monday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X that the pause would occur “while we work together,” saying that his government would name a fentanyl czar, list Mexican cartels as terrorist groups, and launch a “Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl, and money laundering.” Will Trump's tariff threat persuade China and European Union? Trump has announced a 10% tariff on China on $400 billion of imports to begin today if President Xi Jinping does not demonstrably commit to combat illegal immigration and drug smuggling, reports Reuters. TRUMP: “If we can't make a deal with China, then the tariffs will be very, very substantial.” China's surplus is $270 billion. Europe will not be immune to President Trump's tariff pressure either. He is planning to levy a tariff on the European Union which, at this point, holds a trade surplus of $160 billion with the United States. U.S. Agency for Int'l Development under control of State Dept now Meanwhile, the Trump administration has announced that the U.S. Agency for International Development, primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance, will move under the direct control of the U.S. State Department. It will no no longer act as an independent agency. USAID spending has run between $15 and $20 billion per year over the last 20 years. It was created in 1961 under the Kennedy administration. In related news, the USAID website was taken down Saturday. Dept. of Defense ends identity months The U.S. Defense Department has announced an end to the sponsorship and support of “Identity Months” through the use of official resources. That will include Black History Month, Women's History Month, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The release entitled “Identity Months Dead at DoD” stated that the department would instead “celebrate the valor and success of military heroes of all races, genders, and backgrounds as we restore our warrior culture and ethos.” New York doctor to be arrested for prescribing Abortion Kill Pill A Louisiana grand jury has issued an arrest warrant for a New York doctor who allegedly prescribed abortion kill pills for a pregnant minor who resided in the state of Louisiana. The jury indicted Dr. Margaret Carpenter; her company, Nightingale Medical, PC; and the minor's mother for the felony of administering an abortion-inducing drug to the child. West Baton Rouge District Attorney Tony Clayton told the Associated Press that the mother turned herself in to the police last week. Job 24:1, 14 speaks of this. “Since times are not hidden from the Almighty, why do those who know Him see not His days? … The murderer rises with the light; He kills the poor and needy; and in the night he is like a thief.” Education decline in America The United States is leading the world in educational decline, according to the most recent Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study issued towards the end of 2024. Our students' math scores dropped from 13th place in 2019 to 25th place in the 2023 testing. American 4th graders' scores fell 18 points after 2019, while 8th graders' scores fell by 27 points—the biggest drop since the United States began participating in the test in 1995. Peggy Carr, the commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, noted what she called the “steep, steep” declines — erasing progress made in previous years. Brazil, South Africa, and Morocco have the worst scores while China, South Korea, Singapore, and Japan lead the world in science and math. But let us all remember that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction..” (Proverbs 1:7) Martyr John Rogers burned at the stake February 4, 1555 And, on this day in history, February 4th, 1555, John Rogers was burned at the stake, as the first Christian martyr under the reign of the English monarch Mary I. She became known as “Bloody Mary” for ordering a total of 280 Protestants burned at the stake. Rogers was a friend of William Tyndale and continued Tyndale's efforts to translate the Bible. Roger's work included the first complete English Bible and English Bible commentary, published under the pseudonym Thomas Matthews. His translation was known as the Matthews Bible. He is remembered for singing the Psalms as he was marched to the site of his execution. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, February 4th in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Listen to the Sat. Jan. 18, 2025 edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. In this program we review events in West Asia amid a pending ceasefire in Gaza. Later we continue our 96th birthday historical review of the life, times and contributions of Civil Rights and Peace activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We look back on interviews and events from 1959 and 1963.
Listen to Thurs. Jan. 16, 2025 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. This episode features our regular PANW report with some of the most pressing and burning issues of the day. In the second hour we look into recent developments in West Asia. Finally, we pay tribute to the 96th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2025 is promising to be a crucial year in the history of West Asia. Just weeks have passed since the ouster of Syria's Bashar al-Assad and his replacement with pro-Western leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. Syria was a key member of the so-called “Axis of Resistance” – a coalition of actors opposing Israel and its actions. What will Assad's departure mean for the resistance against Israel, especially given Jolani's overt friendliness with Tel Aviv? Given their new government, what is in store for Lebanon and Hezbollah now? And how about Iraq and Yemen?To discuss all of this and more is returning guest, Ghadi Francis. Ghadi is an author, journalist, and war correspondent who has covered the situations in Syria and Palestine in great detail. Born in Lebanon, she is the author of the book “My pen and pain: One hundred days in Syria” (2012). Last month, Ghadi joined The MintCast to discuss the fallout of Israel's attack on its neighbors. During the interview, she set her sights on the Erdoğan administration in Ankara, stating that “Türkiye is as expansionist as Israel – and it is not new!” We lived in a nation that was called ‘Greater Syria' that was occupied by the Ottomans for around 300 years. And it stretched from Lebanon to Syria to Iraq. Nineveh, Aleppo, all of that was occupied by the Ottomans. We were part of the Ottoman Empire. We were ruled by them in a dictatorship and in an occupation.”Francis recently returned from a trip to Iraq, where she was impressed by the rebirth of the country after decades of occupation. Unlike Yemen, she assessed, Iraq is not in a position to face down the might of either the U.S. or Israel. “If the Iraqis continue to resist on their own and they get attacked by the Israelis, nobody is going to protect them,” she said. “So if they refrain for a while from being in active resistance operations and, rather, being a good and strong community…this itself is a great achievement.”Support the showMintPress News is a fiercely independent. You can support us by becoming a member on Patreon, bookmarking and whitelisting us, and by subscribing to our social media channels, including Twitch, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to MintCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and SoundCloud. Also, be sure to check out the new Behind the Headlines channel on YouTube and subscribe to rapper Lowkey's new video interview/podcast series, The Watchdog.
Thuraya, Angie, Mohammad, and Edward join Breht to discuss recent events in Syria. Together they discuss what happened, Syria under the Assad government, the hope and concerns of the the Syrian people, the role Syria plays in the axis of resistance, Syria's connections to Palestine, current conditions in Gaza, Israel's ongoing genocide and its actions in Syria, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and their governing promises, the history of the Syrian civil war and its continued relevance, the role of US-led imperialism in the region and its backing of HTS, Turkey and Iran, sanctions on Syria and the role they've played in destablizing the country, the uncertainty for Syrians about what comes next, and much, much more. Recommendations and Resources: The Origins of the Syrian Crisis Lecture Decolonize The Classroom Guerrilla History's episode on Syrian Sanctions The Cradle News Gaza Funds Al Mayadeen News Educators for Palestinian Liberation Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio Follow RLR on IG HERE Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio
Yara and Mohammed are joined by Patrick Higgins, a historian of U.S. imperialism in West Asia, to discuss the relationship between the United States and Israel, Palestinian revolutionary conceptions of that relationship, and how a recognition of the genocide in Gaza as a function of imperialism helps us better understand American "foreign and domestic" politics and our own role in confronting zionism, fascism, and empire.
Listen to the Wed. Jan. 1, 2025 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. This episode features our PANW report with dispatches on the recent vehicular, shooting and bombing attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas; the new administration in Senegal and government in Ivory Coast have called for the withdrawal of foreign military forces; Kenya President William Ruto has acknowledged the disappearance of activists in the East African state; and over one million doses of cholera vaccines have reached the Republic of South Sudan. In the second and third hours we review events in West Asia from Palestine and Lebanon to other areas.
Listen to the Tues. Dec. 31, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. This episode features our PANW report with dispatches on some of the most pressing and burning issues of the day. In the second and third hours we review events in West Asia with special focuses on Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran.
Listen to the Sat. Dec. 28, 2024 edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. This episode features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the preparations being made in Ethiopia for the upcoming African Union (AU) Summit in Feb.; Kenya President William Ruto has spoken about the activists who are being disappeared in the country since youth demonstrations during the year; Chad opposition groupings are vowing to disrupt the local and regional elections being held inside the country; and there are many being blamed for the stampede deaths in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the last several weeks. In the second hour we listen to an analysis of the situation in West Asia. Finally, we continue the James Baldwin centenary through an address delivered on the artist's quest for integrity.
Listen to the Fri. Dec. 27, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. This episode features our PANW report with dispatches on the upcoming legislative elections in Chad; two opposition groupings in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have combined to criticize President Felix Tshisekedi; Mozambique is continuing its plans for the LNG production facilities in the north of the country; and the recently-elected Senegalese President Faye has called for the removal of all foreign military bases in this West African state. In the second and third hours we review the geopolitical situation in West Asia covering events in Palestine, Lebanon, Syira, Yemen and Iran.
Listen to the Tues. Dec. 24, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. This program features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the political and security situation in West Asia. In the second and third hours we listen to analyses from experts on international affairs as they recap events of the previous months and year.
Clearing the FOG with co-hosts Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese
On December 8, the United States and Israel, with support from Turkey, succeeded in overthrowing the Syrian government using Islamic jihadist militants as proxies. Some people in the United States are claiming this as a victory for the Syrian people even though the proxies are Al Qaeda terrorists. Clearing the FOG speaks with Ajamu Baraka about the coup, the history of resistance in Syria and in the region, and what this means for the Syrian people. Baraka discusses Israel's immediate expansion of its occupation in Syria and its quest for a 'Greater Israel.' He also discusses a tendency for some Left forces in the United States to side with US imperialism and why it is important to have ideological clarity about what is happening. For more information, visit PopularResistance.org.
Ralph welcomes retired diplomat Ambassador Chas Freeman to discuss the United States' disregard for international law, the incoming Trump administration's approach to foreign policy, and the decline of the American Empire (among other topics).Ambassador Chas Freeman is a retired career diplomat who has negotiated on behalf of the United States with over 100 foreign governments in East and South Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and both Western and Eastern Europe. Ambassador Freeman was previously a Senior Fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires in the American embassies at both Bangkok and Beijing. He was Director for Chinese Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 1979-1981. He was the principal American interpreter during the late President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972. In addition to Chinese, Ambassador Freeman speaks French and Spanish at the professional level and can converse in Arabic and several other languages.He concluded his thirty years in public service as Assistant Secretary of Defense, responsible for managing defense relations with all regions of the world except the countries of the former Soviet Union. Ambassador Freeman is the author of several well-received books on statecraft and diplomacy, including The Diplomat's Dictionary, America's Misadventures in the Middle East, and America's Continuing Misadventures in the Middle East.I think it's fair to say that our country led the drive for international law, a world order that was based on rules established by consensus and legitimized at the United Nations. But we have also led the drive away from the rule of law, both internationally and domestically. And I think the connection is contempt for procedural justice or due process.Chas FreemanThat whole area of international law—which was a stabilizing force in the world—has gone [when Trump removed us from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Agreement in Europe.] And the UN Charter is disrespected—not just the US Constitution is—in its fundamentals. We invade the sovereignty of other countries with no serious regard for the legal prohibitions against that. And in fact, those legal prohibitions—which once were something that smaller countries could rely upon when they confronted the great powers—are no longer effective. Therefore, we see at the local level, the regional level, a proliferation of weapons designed to counter and defend against attack by greater powers. So the whole world is in effect arming itself. This is very good for arms manufacturers, but it's very bad for the prospects for our species.Chas FreemanThere are no realistic threats against the United States—except those that we are provoking. Our view seems to be that the best way to deal with the hornet's nest—I'm speaking of West Asia, the Middle East here—is to go and poke the hornets in their nest.Chas FreemanThe real risk now…is Israel has so much power in the US that it could create incidents which would flip the United States into a blazing barrage of empire expansion— and suppression in the United States domestically. And they have an incoming president who is ripe for that kind of manipulation to begin with.Ralph NaderIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 12/11/241. On December 4th, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was assassinated in broad daylight in Midtown Manhattan. Clues indicated that the killing was political; most notably, the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were each written on one of the three bullets fired at the scene. As AP notes, “The messages mirror the phrase ‘delay, deny, defend,' which is commonly used by lawyers and critics about insurers that delay payments, deny claims and defend their actions.” Following nearly two full days of nescience, authorities turned up a suspect – Luigi Mangione, the Ivy League-educated scion of an established Baltimore family who had shown signs of increasingly erratic behavior in recent months, perhaps related to ever-worsening back pain. When Mangione was apprehended in an Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonald's, he was found with “a three-page handwritten document that indicated ‘motivation and mindset,'” the BBC reports, however authorities have not released this manifesto. Perhaps unsurprisingly, ABC 7 New York reports that Mangione's actions have unleashed a torrent of “‘volcanic' anger,” toward health insurance agencies, which many regard as capricious and cruel. It remains to be seen how this public sentiment will factor into what is sure to be a highly-publicized criminal trial.2. The reverberations of Mangione's actions are already being felt. Back in November, the American Society of Anesthesiologists issued a statement decrying Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's unilateral declaration that it would refuse to “pay for anesthesia care if [a] surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes.” The ASA called on Anthem to reverse that proposal, but their pleas were ignored. That is until December 5th – just one day after the UnitedHealthcare shooting – when the company abruptly reversed themselves and even scrubbed the announcement of the policy from their website. Of course, Anthem insists that the outcry was based on “misinformation” and denies any correlation between the assassination and their decision, per NBC, but the timing frankly makes that difficult to believe.3. Another New York City killing also made the news last week: the trial of Daniel Penny, a former U.S. Marine on trial for strangling Jordan Neely to death in a New York subway car. Neely was an African-American street artist who had been experiencing homelessness. CNN reports Penny was found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, already a lesser charge than the original second-degree manslaughter allegation, which Judge Maxwell Wiley dismissed Friday after jurors “twice told the court they could not come to a verdict on the count.” Neely's father, Andre Zachary, is quoted saying “I miss my son. My son didn't have to go through this. I didn't have to go through this either…What's going to happen to us now? I've had enough of this. The system is rigged.”4. Turning to the Middle East, the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria has fallen. Assad, with help from Russia, has clung to power since the country descended into civil war in 2011, beating back all manner of rival forces ranging from U.S.-backed rebels to left-wing Kurdish militias to ISIS. The faction that finally did wrest power from Assad is called Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham or HTS, which splintered from Al-Qaeda but is now engaging in a so-called “charm offensive” per France24, and promoting itself as a tolerant faction that will not subjugate women or oppress ethnic and religious minorities such as Syrian Christians, Druze, and Kurds. In a statement, the group told the Kurds of Aleppo “You have the right to live freely … Diversity is a strength of which we are proud…We denounce the actions of the Islamic State group against the Kurds, including the enslavement of women … We are with the Kurds to build the Syria of tomorrow.” ABC reports the U.S. will “recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women.” So far HTS seems to fit the bill. And if this all wasn't enough, the Syrian situation is further complicated by Israel using this moment to expand its foothold in the country. CNN reports Israel has “launched airstrikes at military targets across Syria and deployed ground troops both into and beyond a demilitarized buffer zone for the first time in 50 years,” setting the stage for a possible new front in Netanyahu's ongoing regional war.5. In Palestine, the Intercept reports five Palestinians in the West Bank, along with the councils of the three villages they hail from have filed “a formal regulatory complaint in Germany accusing the media giant Axel Springer of contributing to human rights abuses in Palestine.” Specifically, the complaint concerns Yad2, a classified ads platform and subsidiary of Axel Springer that has been compared to Craigslist, which the plaintiffs allege enables illegal settlements. According to the complaint filed by Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre, Yad2's facilitation of settler activity violates Germany's Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which “requires German companies to identify and mitigate human rights risks within their global supply chains, including in subsidiaries which they control.”6. In more Israel/Palestine news, the student body at Yale has “overwhelmingly,” passed three pro-Palestine referenda, including two demanding that the university “disclose and divest from its holdings in military weapons manufacturers, ‘including those arming Israel,'” per Yale Daily News. These measures passed with around 80% of the vote. Han Pimental-Hayes, an organizer with the pro-Palestine Sumud Coalition, is quoted saying “University leaders have long tried to paint pro-Palestine and pro-divestment students as a fringe minority. The results of this referendum demonstrate that in reality, the movement for a free Palestine and a more ethical endowment is overwhelmingly popular.” Yale Friends of Israel however expressed that they are “certain” Yale will not change its investment policy regarding Israel's weapons of war.7. Looking to Africa, Semafor reports that the incoming Trump White House appears set to recognize the breakaway state of Somaliland, spurred on by right-wing elements who wish to use the unrecognized country as a base for anti-China intelligence operations. This piece highlights that this move would rattle the governments of East Africa and draw the ire of the African Union, but Trump's China hawks see it as a critical element of countering Chinese influence in the region and particularly in Djibouti where the People's Liberation Army has set up one of its handful of foreign military bases. Even if Trump does not recognize Somaliland however, and instead hews to the traditional American “One Somalia” policy, Republicans are calling for Trump to take an approach akin to Taiwan – treating it as independent without formal recognition.8. Turning to domestic politics, POLITICO reports Democrats are staging a “mutiny” against the old guard who have monopolized power in the House. This report focuses on Rep. Jerry Nadler, 77, who will vacate his position as the top Democrat on Judiciary to clear the way for Jamie Raskin, Rep. Raul Grijalva, 76, who announced he would step down as the top Dem on the Natural Resources Committee, and David Scott of Georgia, 79, who is looking down the barrel at multiple challenges for his spot on the Agriculture Committee. Since this piece was published, another major challenge has emerged – NBC reports AOC is gunning for the top Democratic spot on the Oversight Committee. The POLITICO piece emphasizes Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' approach of letting the challenges “speak for themselves,” as an indication that he will not fight this wave of challenges.9. Washington Post labor reporter Lauren Kaori Gurley reports the Teamsters are demanding Amazon agree to bargaining dates by December 15. In a statement, Teamsters President Sean O'Brien writes “The Teamsters are done asking nicely for Amazon to stop breaking the law. Amazon must commit to come to the table and bargain a Teamsters contract with its workers — or face the consequences of its inaction.” This gambit by the Teamsters comes just as the winter holiday gift deliveries are getting into full swing, maximizing the union's leverage. Moreover, the Teamster's Faustian bargain with the Trump administration may yield results for them, as the normally business friendly Republicans may be inclined to put the screws to Amazon on behalf of this particular union. Whatever the circumstances, the Amazon Teamsters deserve a contract and it is heartening that O'Brien is fighting for his members.10. In decidedly worse Trump news, the president-elect has announced former Missouri Republican Congressman Billy Long as his pick to lead the IRS. A story by the Lever sounds the alarm on how he might use the “non-profit killer” bill to pursue political vendettas against tax-exempt organizations he dislikes. This piece exposes Long's role in trying to pressure the IRS to launch a probe into, of all things, the Humane Society following their support of a Missouri ballot measure strengthening dog breeder regulations. Put another way, if Long was ready to use the long-arm of the IRS to crack down on an organization whose sole political goal is the protection of animals, what might he do to organizations devoted to civil rights or social justice?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
The IOF archeological units has taken Al-Aqsa hostage, refusing islamicate excavations, they change the names of ancient sites and produce national myths out of Joshua's genocide. But they can not defend themselves against the communal democracy which the Muslims built in Iberia. Today we look at the latest evidence that will establish our gaze deep in to an impossible past. How British, American and Zionist Imperialism has dominated West Asia for some two centuries under the auspice of Biblical Archeology. Destroying remains and forging artifacts. With materialist theory we will compare Mossad approved conclusions of an older generation of archeologists with that of a new and begin to discard basic idealist concepts of a Holy Land chronology to free our prehistoric communists from the priesthood' blessing scams.
The United States spent billions over years arming and training militants in Syria, many linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. The extremist "rebels" who took over Aleppo (and rule Idlib) said they "love Israel". Ben Norton documents the Western dirty war on Syria, and how Washington is trying to divide and conquer the anti-colonial Axis of Resistance in West Asia (the Middle East). VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl-vX1RBapo Topics 0:00 CIA armed & trained "rebels" in Syria 2:14 Rebranded Al-Qaeda (HTS) takes over Aleppo 4:54 Jake Sullivan: "AQ is on our side in Syria" 6:04 Syrian Al-Qaeda (Nusra Front) got US weapons 6:50 Israel supported Salafi-jihadist "rebels" in Syria 7:52 Syrian "rebels" say they "love Israel" 11:47 US demands Syria cut ties with Iran & Hezbollah 13:14 Israel violated Lebanon "ceasefire" 100 times in 1 week 14:09 USA tries to divide Axis of Resistance 15:31 Geopolitics of West Asia (Middle East) 16:23 Israel is US empire's unsinkable aircraft carrier 17:46 (CLIP) Biden: If Israel didn't exist, US would have to create it 18:11 USA uses Israel to crush anti-colonial resistance 19:59 ISIS got US weapons 22:05 (CLIP) Biden: US allies supported ISIS & Al-Qaeda in Syria 24:10 DIA memo shows Pentagon knew ISIS & AQ led Syrian opposition 29:21 NATO-backed Israeli think tank said ISIS was "useful tool" 31:30 US-led war on Syria continues 32:15 Outro
We're extremely excited this week that Dan was invited to sit down with Prez and Talia from The Minyan podcast to discuss the long history of support for Israel by US labor unions and how that has changed in recent years. Building off our recent interview with Professor Jeff Schuhrke, we discuss how anti-communism was used by labor leaders to justify supporting US imperialist policies around the world, including support for Israel. We dig into the ways rank and file efforts to embrace Palestinian solidarity were often stifled from the top in the name of keeping US interests in West Asia safe from "Soviet Aggression." Finally, in light of this history, we discuss how monumental the recent mass movement by rank and file workers to demand their unions end their collaboration with Israeli apartheid is, and why continued organizing within the union movement is our best path to making material change to US foreign policy. Follow The Minyan on Twitter @the_minyan, and on Bluesky @minyan.bsky.social Follow Work Stoppage at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter, and on Bluesky @workstoppage.bsky.social Check out all of The Minyan's great episodes here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fgRlhmbQhZpYzKOth98gq Find all the info on Work Stoppage at http://workstoppagepod.com/
"We're extremely excited this week that Dan was invited to sit down with Prez and Talia from The Minyan podcast to discuss the long history of support for Israel by US labor unions and how that has changed in recent years. Building off our recent interview with Professor Jeff Schuhrke, we discuss how anti-communism was used by labor leaders to justify supporting US imperialist policies around the world, including support for Israel. We dig into the ways rank and file efforts to embrace Palestinian solidarity were often stifled from the top in the name of keeping US interests in West Asia safe from "Soviet Aggression." Finally, in light of this history, we discuss how monumental the recent mass movement by rank and file workers to demand their unions end their collaboration with Israeli apartheid is, and why continued organizing within the union movement is our best path to making material change to US foreign policy. Follow The Minyan on Twitter @the_minyan, and on Bluesky @minyan.bsky.social Follow Work Stoppage at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter, and on Bluesky @workstoppage.bsky.social Check out all of The Minyan's great episodes here: open.spotify.com/show/0fgRlhmbQhZpYzKOth98gq Find all the info on Work Stoppage at workstoppagepod.com/ "
War is spreading throughout West Asia, a situation understood by many observers as an outgrowth of Israeli expansionism. In a return visit to Downstream, historian Ilan Pappé provides a century's worth of context to the unfolding crisis. He talks to Aaron to talk about the lack of a viable left in Israel, why nation-states haven't […]
In this episode of Guerrilla History, we present a crossover conversation we did with our friend Sina from The East Is a Podcast on the topic of Radical Independent Media As Anti-Imperialist Practice! This topic stems from a talk Henry gave for the Friends of Socialist China, and will be continued in a forthcoming episode on Publishing As Anti-Imperialist Practice featuring several Editorial Board members of Iskra Books. Be sure to Subscribe to Sina's show (links below), and also subscribe to our freshly made YouTube channel, which will begin uploading material very soon! Sina Rahmani is host of The East Is a Podcast, which is a critical lens on the history of the present on West Asia and North Africa (and beyond), featuring interviews with experts and archival mashups. Be sure to also subscribe to his YouTube channel, and follow him on Twitter @urorientalist. Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
Freedom Broadcasters Livestream Thursday Oct 10-2024 Featured Guest: Matthew Ehret Topic: High Escalation in West Asia: Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Iran and more https://risingtidefoundation.net/ https://canadianpatriot.org/https://matthewehret.substack.com/ Bio: Matthew is a journalist and co-founder of the https://risingtidefoundation.net/. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Patriot Review, Senior Fellow at the American University of Moscow and BRI Expert for Rogue News. Matthew has published scientific articles with 21st Century Science and Technology, Nexus, Principia Scientifica, and is a regular author on Strategic Culture, Washington Times, The Cradle and Global Research. He has authored the book series “The Untold History of Canada” and the recently published book series“The Clash of the Two Americas. Volumes 1-3: Vol 1- The Unfinished Symphony, Vol 2- Open vs. Closed System and vol 3 - The Birth of a Eurasian Manifest Destiny and most recent- Science Unshackled: Restoring Causality in a World of Chaos Special Guest Host: Drago Bosnic BRICS portal (infobrics.org) https://t.me/CerFunhouse Creator Host: Grace Asagra, RN MA Podcast: Quantum Nurse https://graceasagra.com/ Hartmut Schumacher Roy Coughlan Podcast: AWAKENING https://www.awakeningpodcast.org/ --Upgrade Your Brain Unleash & Use Your Uniqueness https://braingym.fitness/ --- Speaking Podcast/ Coaching My Other Podcasts https://roycoughlan.com/ https://partnerco.world/ My Website https://partner.co/?custid=N6543249 ------------------
Alyson and Breht discuss the unfolding regional war between Israel and literally all of its neighbors, the restrained Iranian response to Israeli aggression, US complicity and contributions to the fascist mass murder campaign, Hezbollah and Lebanon, Russia and Syria, the decrepit war criminals littering the US ruling class, who is actually running the Biden adminstration, Kamala and Trump tripping over one another to declare their love and loyalty to Israel, why Democrats and their ardent supporters are thoroughly right-wing, the looming prospect of nuclear war and how it might happen, how this regional war might spill over into a world war, how US propaganda employed after 9-11 is used today to justify war and violence against Arab Muslims, the lessons learned from the CIA assassination of JFK, why the US and Israel must be defeated for the good of humanity, how resources are taken away from desperate people in the US facing CC-fueled natural disasters and spent on war instead, and much, much more. Outro Song: "I May Be Young" by MC Abdul Support Rev Left HERE Check out all Red Menace Eps HERE Follow us on IG HERE
Alyson and Breht discuss the unfolding regional war between Israel and literally all of its neighbors, the restrained Iranian response to Israeli aggression, US complicity and contributions to the fascist mass murder campaign, Hezbollah and Lebanon, Russia and Syria, the decrepit war criminals littering the US ruling class, who is actually running the Biden adminstration, Kamala and Trump tripping over one another to declare their love and loyalty to Israel, why Democrats and their ardent supporters are thoroughly right-wing, the looming prospect of nuclear war and how it might happen, how this regional war might spill over into a world war, how US propaganda employed after 9-11 is used today to justify war and violence against Arab Muslims, the lessons learned from the CIA assassination of JFK, why the US and Israel must be defeated for the good of humanity, how resources are taken away from desperate people in the US facing CC-fueled natural disasters and spent on war instead, and much, much more. Outro Song: "I May Be Young" by MC Abdul Support Rev Left HERE Check out all Red Menace Eps HERE Follow us on IG HERE