Best Geopolitical Intelligence Services Podcasts (2025)

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Russia to raise utility rates starting July 1, with hikes nearing 40 percent in some cities

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Starting July 1, Russia will implement a scheduled increase in utility and municipal service rates, in line with a government directive approved in November 2024, according to the website Garant.ru. In line with the directive, the cost of utilities and municipal services will rise by between 8.6 and 21.1 percent, depending on the region. Rates in M…

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Trump envoy calls Kremlin statement blaming U.S. and Ukraine for stalled peace talks ‘Orwellian’

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U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg on Monday dismissed recent Russian claims that Washington and Kyiv are delaying peace talks, calling them “unfounded.” “Peskov’s recent comments on the state of negotiations are Orwellian. Russian claims that it is the US and Ukraine stalling peace talks are unfounded,” Kellogg wrote on X. Kellogg also stressed that…

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St. Petersburg child services now require proof of ‘no sex change’ for adoption

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People applying to become adoptive parents or guardians in St. Petersburg are now required to provide documentation proving that they have not undergone any gender-affirming transition. The city’s social policy committee confirmed to journalists at Fontanka that this paperwork — typically, a birth certificate — is now necessary for adoptions and gu…

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‘You can’t deny people living through hell a chance to be happy’. Three queer Russians on finding love after the Kremlin branded LGBTQ+ people ‘extremists’

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While Pride Month is being celebrated around the world, LGBTQ+ people in Russia can’t safely meet, let alone live openly. The Russian government’s crackdown on queer people has been escalating for years. Even so, those inside the country are still finding ways to connect and build relationships. Meduza spoke with three LGBTQ+ Russians who have carv…

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Bidding ‘No’ farewell. Meduza’s anniversary exhibition ends this week with last-chance tours, a Navalny figurine drop, and so much more. Here’s what you need to know.

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Meduza’s “No” art exhibition, which opened in Berlin on April 26, is drawing to a close this weekend. Over the past two and a half months, more than 400 people took part in our curatorial tours and we received 2,000 handwritten notes from visitors in exchange for just as many Navalny figurines. We’ve hosted panel discussions, meet-and-greets with t…

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Russia opens ‘rehabilitating Nazism’ case over video of teenagers singing Ukrainian anthem and song about Bandera

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The Samara regional branch of Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on charges of “rehabilitating Nazism” based on “information from social media.” The agency said the case concerns a video showing teenagers in the city of Tolyatti performing “musical works containing elements of Nazi rehabilitation.” Earlier, local Telegram c…

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Kadyrov’s teenage son arrives at wedding in limited-edition Mercedes-Benz, despite E.U. export ban

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Adam Kadyrov, the son of Chechnya Governor Ramzan Kadyrov, showed up at his wedding on June 28 in a limited-edition Mercedes-Benz G-Class “STRONGER THAN THE 1980s,” according to an investigation by The Insider and the reporting project All Exclusive. The Insider reports that only 460 of these vehicles were ever produced. In photos from the wedding,…

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‘Russia’s approach hasn’t changed: they strike where people are likely to be’. Moscow’s latest attacks in Ukraine kill civilians in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and beyond

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Over the past week, Russian forces have carried out large-scale strikes on Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Kherson, and other Ukrainian cities. On June 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that since the start of the month, Russia had launched 2,736 drones of various types (including decoy drones) at Ukrainian territory. Russian troops have als…

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‘Unacceptable violence’. Sudden mass arrests in decades-old murder case spark diplomatic row between Russia and Azerbaijan

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A court in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg has jailed seven people pending trial on charges of murder and attempted murder targeting members of the Azerbaijani community between 2001 and 2011. According to local media, the arrests followed an extensive police operation during which residents with Azerbaijani roots were violently detained. Two sus…

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Police raid Baku office of Russian state media agency Sputnik Azerbaijan

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Police raided the Baku office of the Russian media agency Sputnik Azerbaijan on Monday, according to local media reports citing the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry. Law enforcement reportedly took control of the building. Police said more information about the search would be released later. The news outlet Qafqazinfo notes that Sputnik Azerbaijan, p…

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GIS Radio: Will international organizations survive? 14:00

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Global institutions were born out of post-war idealism, but they have failed to prevent conflict, as analyzed by Enrico Colombatto. Read the report here. 📚 Explore all GIS Reports 📝 Read the weekly comments from Prince Michael of Liechtenstein 🔔 Stay updated on the latest reports and analysis: LinkedIn & X 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter or sub…

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‘Why should we prioritize spending on them?’: Belgorod authorities won’t repair homes of residents who left Russia until after the war ends

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Authorities in Russia’s Belgorod region will not begin restoring property damaged by shelling for residents who have left the country until after the war ends, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced. “Restoration of housing and vehicles for all residents of the Belgorod region whose property was damaged during shelling — and who have since left the …

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Mick Mulroy Talks BDA on Iran, War Powers Act, & Gaza Negotiations | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS 51:49

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This episode we talk about the recent US strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and the complex battle damage assessment. We dissect the ongoing debate around the War Powers Act and presidential authority in military actions, along with a passionate discussion on the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Plus, we examine the new ceasefire in the …

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Zelensky signs decree to withdraw Ukraine from landmine ban treaty

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree enacting a decision by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning antipersonnel mines, according to Roman Kostenko, a lawmaker from the Holos party. “This is a step the reality of war has long demanded,” Kostenko wrote. “Russia is not a pa…

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Critical Thinking - Combatting Domestic Abuse (Part 2) 47:35

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Critical Thinking Combatting Domestic Abuse (Part 2) Black Spy Podcast 199, Season 20, Episode 0010 Below is a concise yet data-rich overview of the current domestic violence situation in the UK, as discussed in Part One of the Black Spy Podcast, featuring host Carlton King (“The Black Spy”), neuroscientist Dr Rachel Taylor, and journalist Firgas E…

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S9 Ep55: Espresso Martini | Operation Midnight Hammer, Trump’s Claims, and What Comes Next 1:08:14

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This week, Chris and Matt return for an emergency deep dive on Operation Midnight Hammer, the largest US strike on Iran since 1979. They break down what the bombing raid and actually achieved, why initial White House claims of “obliterating” Iran’s nuclear program don’t hold up to scrutiny, and what the intelligence community’s more cautious battle…

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Secret Intelligence Service (MI-6) Officer | Charles Beaumont | Ep. 355 1:14:46

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Charles Beaumont, a former British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) officer, discusses his career. Beaumont, whose identity is concealed due to British laws, shares insights into his recruitment, MI6's evolution from Cold War operations to counter-terrorism after 9/11, and his personal experiences serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The conversation …

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What’s next, and why? How the Ukraine war’s uncertainty complicates NATO planning and shapes future Russian aggression

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Earlier this week, Bloomberg published a comprehensive report, complete with swirling infographics and color-coded maps marked with thick attack arrows, modeling a theoretical Russian war with NATO. The journalists estimate that such a conflict would cost the world $1.5 trillion. On the same day Bloomberg published its report, The New Yorker releas…

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Ukraine launches new long-range drone strikes at Russian military airfield, targeting tactical warplanes

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Ukrainian forces attacked the Marinovka airfield in Russia’s Volgograd region with long-range drones in the early hours of June 27, striking four Su-34 aircraft and a technical maintenance facility, according to Ukraine's military leadership. Officials said the extent of damage is still being assessed. Ukraine’s Security Service, which also partici…

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‘Thanks to President Trump…’. Putin discusses peace talks with Kyiv and relations with Washington during press conference in Belarus

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President Vladimir Putin wrapped up a two-day visit to Belarus on Friday, after taking part in the Eurasian Economic Forum and a Eurasian Economic Union summit. Speaking at a press conference after the events, Putin took questions from reporters on a range of topics, including negotiations with Ukraine, relations with Washington, and Russia’s defen…

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‘As long as there is resistance, there is hope’. In occupied Crimea, drivers are risking arrest to cover up Russian flags on their license plates

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A Russian serviceman pulls over a car during a counter-sabotage drill in Crimea. February 12, 2025. Since January, all vehicles in Russia must display license plates featuring the national flag — a rule extended to annexed Crimea. Many car owners on the peninsula, however, are refusing to show Russian state symbols. But as Kremlin-installed authori…

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Russian government training standards for esports athletes to include 30-meter sprint, push-ups, and mouse click test

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Russia’s Sports Ministry has drafted a new set of federal standards for training esports athletes, replacing two earlier versions of the document that were never adopted, the newspaper Kommersant reports. The proposal, which was published on the ministry’s official legal portal, outlines general and specialized fitness benchmarks for aspiring espor…

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Scuffle breaks out after Armenian special forces raid church leader’s residence

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Armenian police and special forces from the country’s National Security Service (NSS) entered the grounds of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the residence of its spiritual leader, on Friday, according to the outlet News.am. NSS officers also reportedly searched the home of Archbisho…

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‘Artists always get a carte blanche’. The anonymous curator of Meduza’s anniversary exhibition on the show’s origins, history’s echoes, and the role of art in times of crisis

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From April 26 to July 6, the Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien art space in Berlin is hosting “No,” an exhibition marking Meduza’s 10th anniversary. Featuring works by artists from across the globe, the show invites visitors to reflect on the upheavals of the past decade — from war and the rise of authoritarianism to the deepening crises of polarizatio…

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‘We know that’s what finished him off’. A Russian CT scan room infected cancer patients with hepatitis. At least four died, but no one has been prosecuted.

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In January 2025, Russia’s Investigative Committee launched a criminal negligence case after patients at a cancer clinic in the country’s Far Eastern Kamchatka region were infected with viral hepatitis. The disease was detected in 50 people who underwent contrast-enhanced CT scans at the Kamchatka Regional Oncology Clinic between 2023 and 2024; medi…

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Lynne Tracy leaves post as U.S. ambassador to Russia

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Lynne Tracy, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, is departing Moscow, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. “Ambassador Tracy’s commitment to dialogue, even in difficult times, is an example of true diplomatic leadership,” the message said in Russian. 🇺🇸🇷🇺 Посол США Линн Трейси покидает Москву. Благодарим eё за последовательную дипломатию, глубокое уваж…

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White House recommends cutting funding for war crimes investigations in Ukraine — Reuters

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The White House Office of Management and Budget has recommended that the State Department end funding for nearly two dozen programs that investigate war crimes around the world, Reuters reported, citing internal documents and sources familiar with the matter. The recommendation covers, among other efforts, projects focused on investigating alleged …

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GIS Radio: Will Trump’s plan to split Russia and China succeed? 14:28

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Dr. Junhua Zhang analyzes how, as the U.S. struggles to divide its rivals, its missteps stand in sharp contrast to China’s deft diplomacy and Russia’s strategic craftiness. Read the report here. 📚 Explore all GIS Reports 📝 Read the weekly comments from Prince Michael of Liechtenstein 🔔 Stay updated on the latest reports and analysis: LinkedIn & X 📬…

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An App Store ultimatum. New legislation will require Apple to open iPhones and iPads to Russia’s state-backed marketplace

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The State Duma has adopted legislation in its third and final reading designed to force Apple to open iPhones and iPads to a “unified app store” for Russian users, breaking the App Store’s software monopoly. Meduza breaks down the legislation’s history and what to expect in Russia’s mobile-device market. In July 2022, lawmakers passed a law orderin…

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Lebanon at a Crossroad 54:55

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Is General Joseph Aoun the man to rescue Lebanon’s institutions? Can the Lebanese Armed Forces disarm Hezbollah? Can the Lebanese state recover from years of corruption and poor governance? And what role do external powers—Iran, Israel, Syria, and the Gulf states—play in Lebanon’s fate? Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Imad Harb to unpack the country…

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Chinese journalist reportedly injured in drone attack in Russia’s Kursk region

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A Chinese television journalist was injured in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Kursk region, according to Governor Alexander Khinshtein. Lu Yuguang, a 63-year-old correspondent for China’s Phoenix Television, was reportedly in Kursk to gather material for a story about local civilians who have come under Ukrainian drone attacks. Khinshtein ini…

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Ukraine’s top commander says Russian offensive in Sumy region has stalled

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Ukrainian forces in Ukraine’s Sumy region. June 19, 2025. The advance of Russian forces in the border areas of Ukraine’s Sumy region has been stopped, according to Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. “Based on the results of May and June, we can say that the wave of attempts at a ‘summer offensive’ launched by the enemy fro…

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‘The geopolitical situation has changed’. Russian authorities move to fully ban Ukrainian language from schools in occupied territories

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At the start of the 2025–2026 school year, Russia plans to impose a full ban on Ukrainian language education in schools across the territories it occupies in Ukraine. In reality, occupation authorities have already spent years dismantling such instruction and punishing parents who tried to enroll their children in online Ukrainian classes. Journali…

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U.S. officials add new felony charges to case against Russian scientist Kseniia Petrova

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On Wednesday, June 25, a federal grand jury in Boston indicted Kseniia Petrova, a Russian scientist employed by Harvard University, on new charges of lying to customs officials at Logan International Airport. Petrova was taken into custody on February 16, 2025, on suspicion of smuggling frog embryos into the United States from France. Smuggling car…

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North Korea could send troops to support a new Russian offensive in Ukraine as soon as July, South Korean intelligence says

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North Korea may deploy additional troops to Russia as early as July to support Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing South Korean lawmakers who had been briefed by the country’s National Intelligence Service (NIS). The intelligence officials reportedly said the potential North Korean deployment could coincide with a n…

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‘Vulgar borrowings that pollute and distort’. Despite years of promises, Russia’s new law on ‘protecting’ the Russian language still doesn’t ban English words on signs

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What happened? Vladimir Putin has signed a new law on “protecting” the Russian language. Set to take effect on March 1, 2026, the law will regulate publicly available, consumer-facing information about goods and services — including signage, labels, posters, shop windows, and other promotional materials. Many media outlets reported that the law eff…

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Polish lawmakers vote to withdraw from landmine ban treaty

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The lower house of the Polish parliament, the Sejm, has voted to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling and production of anti-personnel landmines, according to radio station RMF24. A total of 413 lawmakers voted in favor of the measure, while 15 opposed it and three abstained. Before the vote, Polish Defense Minister …

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Did We Kill the Iranian Nuke Program or Not? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS 36:19

5d ago36:19

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In this episode of "Eyes on Geopolitics," I join co-host Andy Milburn to discuss the recent U.S. bombing of Iran's nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. We delve into the efficacy of the strikes, particularly concerning the depth of Iran's centrifuges and the capabilities of the GBU-57 bunker buster bombs. Our conversation also explores the…

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GIS Radio: China’s European bridgehead 18:52

7h ago18:52

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Zoltán Kiszelly analyzes how Hungary has become Beijing’s gateway to the European Union. Read the report here. 📚 Explore all GIS Reports 📝 Read the weekly comments from Prince Michael of Liechtenstein 🔔 Stay updated on the latest reports and analysis: LinkedIn & X 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter or subscribe directly on LinkedIn…

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The Danish Delta Force (Jaeger Corps) | Thomas Rathsack | Ep. 355 1:11:15

6d ago1:11:15

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Thomas Rathsack is a veteran of the Danish Jaeger Corps, where he served with deployments in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Beyond his combat roles, he contributed to humanitarian efforts in demining and provided VIP security. Rathsack is also an accomplished author, best known for his controversial, best-selling memoir, "Jaeger," and has since expande…

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GIS Radio: Trump and the allure of BRICS: A Southeast Asian perspective 15:37

6d ago15:37

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Thitinan Pongsudhirak analyzes how Washington’s 2025 tariff shock accelerates Southeast Asia’s turn toward BRICS for geopolitical and economic alternatives, though not without risk. Read the report here. 📚 Explore all GIS Reports 📝 Read the weekly comments from Prince Michael of Liechtenstein 🔔 Stay updated on the latest reports and analysis: Linke…

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GIS Radio: Turkey and the West return to the table 13:48

7d ago13:48

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Intrigued by Turkey's evolving global stance? Klaus Wölfer analysed how Ankara is skillfully navigating its regional ambitions, vital NATO membership, and drive for economic growth. Discover the delicate balance Turkey strikes as the West re-engages in crucial talks, shaping a new chapter in international relations. Read the report here. 📚 Explore …

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The U.S. BOMBS Iran | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS 39:24

8d ago39:24

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In this episode, the hosts discuss the recent US military actions against Iranian nuclear sites, the implications of these actions, and the potential for blowback. They explore the challenges of intelligence assessments, the Iranian resistance, and the broader geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. The conversation highlights the complexities o…

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GIS Radio: Meloni’s African engagement strategy at risk in Libya 14:24

8d ago14:24

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Federica  Saini  Fasanotti analyzes how Rome’s migration deals with Tripoli may unravel as militia influence grows and stability deteriorates. Read the report here. 📚 Explore all GIS Reports 📝 Read the weekly comments from Prince Michael of Liechtenstein 🔔 Stay updated on the latest reports and analysis: LinkedIn & X 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsle…

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Combatting Domestic Violence (Part 1) 46:01

8d ago46:01

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🎙️ Tune in to Part One of this week's Black Spy Podcast Critical Thinking Combatting Domestic Violence Black Spy Podcast 198, Season 20, Episode 0009 🎙️ Tune in to Part One of The Black Spy Podcast Host Carlton King (“The Black Spy”) sits down with Dr Rachel Taylor, a leading neuroscientist, and journalist Firgas Esack, to dive deep into these figu…

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SEAL Team 6 Leaves a Man Behind | Rob Harrison | Ep. 354 2:16:49

10d ago2:16:49

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This interview features AC-130 aircrew member Rob Harrison, providing his firsthand perspective on the Roberts Ridge mission. It presents a detailed examination of the critical decisions and complex events concerning John Chapman's Medal of Honor. The discussion aims to clarify the complexities and controversies of this significant military operati…

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S9 Ep54: Espresso Martini | Israel vs. Iran, Trump Wavers, and Moscow’s China Paranoia 1:16:30

10d ago1:16:30

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This week, Chris and Matt dive into the war between Israel and Iran, now entering its second week, with President Trump weighing a direct US strike on Iran’s deeply buried Fordow nuclear facility. They unpack how the conflict began, Mossad’s covert sabotage campaign, the mounting civilian toll, and the split between Israeli and US intelligence over…

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Does the U.S. Jump Into War? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS 52:35

11d ago52:35

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In this conversation, Dee and Jonathan W. Hackett discuss the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, the implications of U.S. military involvement, and the historical context of these geopolitical dynamics. They explore the potential outcomes of military action, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the human cost of war. The di…