Podcast

Latest Episode

Global Briefing: Colombia gets US armor, Japan bases F‑35Bs, Zelensky cites June war-end push; Trump booed abroad, Epstein revelations rattle Europe, UK Labour hit by Mandelson scandal and student-loan row, older workers outperform, Rippon launches “Let’s Dance”

Colombia adds more US-supplied armored vehicles

The Colombian Army has taken delivery of 11 M1117 Guardian armored security vehicles from the United States, bringing its total to 156. They are slated for operations in high-complexity areas as part of Colombia’s modernization push, because nothing says “regional mobility” like showing up in an armored box that politely refuses to be shot.

Japan formally begins permanent basing of F-35Bs at Nyutabaru

Japan’s Ministry of Defense held a Feb. 7 ceremony marking the deployment of F-35B fighter aircraft to Nyutabaru Air Base, formally kicking off permanent basing at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force installation. The message is simple: “We would like our deterrence to arrive vertically, thanks.”

Trump says he is surprised the vice president was booed abroad

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, President Trump said he was surprised the vice president was booed at an opening ceremony, noting it happened in a foreign country and claiming the vice president is not booed in the United States. Always comforting to know the export version of political pageantry comes with upgraded heckling.

Research suggests older workers often outproduce younger ones

A growing body of research indicates older workers are generally more productive than younger employees, with productivity and judgment tending to peak decades after graduation. Turns out experience is not a “nice to have,” it is the thing you get after you have stopped thinking every meeting needs a vibe check.

Epstein-linked revelations trigger major Europe fallout, US response appears quieter

Revelations tied to Jeffrey Epstein have led to high-profile resignations and removals across Europe, including a prince, an ambassador, senior diplomats, and leading politicians. Comparable political and institutional fallout in the United States has been noticeably more muted, which is a fascinating cultural tradition where accountability is always “under review” until everyone gets bored.

Gordon Brown warns Mandelson scandal is a problem for Starmer, still backs him

Gordon Brown said the Mandelson scandal is a serious problem for Sir Keir Starmer and suggested he may have been too slow to act, but he still backed Starmer as a man of integrity who can clean up the system. British politics remains the only arena where someone can call it a serious problem and then immediately hand you a mop and a halo.

Angela Rippon launches nationwide “Let’s Dance” campaign

Angela Rippon told GB News she is launching “Let’s Dance,” a nationwide campaign encouraging people of all ages and abilities to take up dancing for physical fitness and mental wellbeing. Backed by groups including the Sport and Recreation Alliance, it includes a national day of dance on March 8, with an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 dance teachers opening their doors, plus an emphasis on inclusive groups, from schoolchildren to older adults and people managing conditions such as Parkinson’s.

Zelensky says US wants war ended by June, warns big issues remain

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States wants Russia and Ukraine to end the war by June, but warned major issues remain unresolved. His comments came as Russia launched further strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities, a grim reminder that “deadlines” are easy to float when you are not the one whose power grid keeps getting turned into confetti.

UK student loan repayment threshold freeze draws hypocrisy claims

Health Secretary Wes Streeting previously condemned the Conservatives’ freeze of student loan repayment thresholds as a “mis-selling scandal,” saying it would cost graduates thousands more after promises the threshold would rise with earnings. In the latest Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a new freeze from 2027 to 2030 to help fund public services including the NHS, with critics arguing it repeats the kind of retrospective change Streeting warned about and could add up to about £14,000 to some graduates’ lifetime repayments. Nothing says “investing in the future” like invoicing it retroactively.

About

This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.

Subscribe

Spotify / Apple / Amazon / iHeart / Pandora / Pocket Casts / Deezer / Google / Podcast Index / RSS