What happens in Moldova? Why was the election so close? How has Russia tried to hijack the elections in Moldova? Are Moldovan and Romanian languages different? What are the generational and regional differences in Moldova?

We talked to an actual Moldovan (they aren't that rare..) about this often overlooked country. Recorded in October 2024.

Recommended sources for further information:

Rise Moldova https://www.rise.md/english/

Vlad Lupan, on Twitter: @VladLupan

Paula Erizanu @paulaerizanu

Denis Dermenji https://www.rferl.org/author/denis-dermenji/bmvkqt

Victor's book recommendation: Playing the Moldovans at Tennis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/994023.Playing_the_Moldovans_at_Tennis

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Joe and Pingu have a catch up on the victory plan, the status of the battlefield in Ukraine, the ongoing elections, North Korea, and nukes. Recorded on the 20th of October, 2024.

What do we know about the victory plan?

What purpose will North Korean troops play in the war?

What do people misunderstand about North Korea?

Does Ukraine have nuclear weapons?

We discuss, and venture some educated guesses.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did Russia seem totally unbothered by Ukraine’s counter attack into Kursk?

What do the various elections around the world mean for Ukraine?

What happened with the downed F-16 in Ukraine?

Will Joe get over his cold that you can hear?

Why is AI worrying?

Find out in this episode of The Think Tank!

With Dr. Joseph Place and Pingu

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Dr. Joe and not Dr. Matt talk to Shaun Pinner. One of the British soldiers in the Ukrainian armed forces captured in the defence of Mariupol. They discuss his background, what the media gets wrong about Ukraine and its overlooked successes, what the future of the conflict looks like, why online activism is important, and what's great about life in Ukraine.

Read his book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/300663/shaun-pinner

Listen to Letters from Ukraine via Twitter: @UkrainianWriter

Support: https://www.braveu.fund/

https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/300663/shaun-pinner

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Joe and Matt chat with Olga of Uzhhorod, a Ukrainian from Zakarpattia, an oblast which borders Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. They discuss Olga’s experience of language in the country, myths about the country, how things are changing, growing up in a multilingual environment, absurdity of russian propaganda, why language is not equivalent to nationality, and how to fight back.

Ongoing Fundraiser for Olga’s friend: https://choko.link/slashsquad

Joe’s Blog Post about Zakarpattia: https://jjplace.co.uk/?p=109

Joe’s article about language policies: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11212-023-09612-3

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