World Today

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Apr 2, 2026 • 54min

The Iran war: Is the U.S. really "winning big"?

①Trump addressing nation on Iran war: Is US really "winning big"? (00:45) ② Russia says Japan's missile deployment could be "more than tragic". How neighbors guard against a revival of militarism in Japan? (23:54) ③ China's high-tech industries record robust growth in Q1. What explains its economic resilience amid global uncertainty? (33:39) ④ 210 million worldwide learning Chinese as Education Ministry launches new global language center online. (44:40)
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Apr 1, 2026 • 53min

China, Pakistan unveil Gulf peace proposal. What does it signal?

① China and Pakistan unveil joint peace proposal for the Gulf and Middle East. What role can China and Pakistan play? (00:54) ② European Parliament delegation visits China for the first time in eight years. Will this visit help EU lawmakers gain a more objective understanding of China? (21:58) ③ U.S. tech giants cut jobs while doubling down on massive AI investments. What does it mean for the future of jobs in the age of AI? (31:38) ④ World’s largest unmanned cargo drone completes maiden flight in China. How could this breakthrough reshape logistics, and what does it reveal about China’s position in next-generation aviation? (42:11)
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Mar 31, 2026 • 51min

Spain closes airspace to US warplanes – growing NATO rifts over U.S.-Israeli actions?

① World Data Organization opens in Beijing. What’s next? (00:45) ② China launches countermeasures against Japanese lawmaker for undermining China's sovereignty. How far will Japan’s far-right go in undermining regional stability? (13:35) ③ OECD warns U.S. inflation could hit 4.2% this year. How might this reshape U.S. monetary policy and recession risks? (23:01) ④ Spain closes airspace to US warplanes. Does this reveal growing NATO divisions over U.S.-Israeli unilateral actions? (34:04) ⑤ World reacts to Israel passing death penalty law. Could the law escalate tensions and undermine prospects for peace? (42:27)
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Mar 30, 2026 • 53min

What’s the key to peaceful development of cross-Strait ties?

① Cheng Li-wun, leader of the Kuomingtang Party, will pay a visit to the Chinese mainland. What role can Taiwan’s main opposition party play in promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties? (00:53) ② Can Pakistan and a few other nations push for a negotiated settlement between the US and Iran? (13:45) ③ Why have China’s industrial profits accelerated at the start of 2026? (25:00) ④ A new report has ranked China at the 9th in the world in innovation capability. We explore the specific fields where China is doing well and the areas where China is still playing catch-up. (34:29) ⑤ WTO members have concluded their meeting in Cameroon. How long will the US and Brazil be deadlocked over e-commerce duties? How does the prospect of broader WTO reforms look like? (44:03)
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Mar 27, 2026 • 55min

Beyond the tokens: China's AI push is shaping a "smart economy"

China's daily AI token calls, a key measure of how intensively AI is being used, have hit an unprecedented level. What's behind the surge? How is China weaving AI into the fabric of factories, hospitals, and even our homes? And as the country's economy goes "smart," what could that mean for the rest of the world? Host Dou Hongyu is joined by Li Lun, Assistant Professor of Economics at Peking University, Andy Mok, Professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Liu Baocheng, Director of the Center for International Business Ethics at the University of International Business and Economics, to unpack the forces driving China's token boom and explore how AI is powering the rise of a new "smart economy."
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Mar 26, 2026 • 53min

Will long-term care insurance alleviate China’s aging challenges?

① A conversation with Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, a senior UN official, on Boao Forum for Asia and regional economic integration. (00:56) ② China has issued a set of guidelines to accelerate the establishment of a nationwide long-term care insurance system. How will this move help alleviate the country’s aging challenges? (12:43) ③ Why have Chinese-developed AI models led global weekly token usage for a second straight week and overtaken their US counterparts? (25:00) ④ We talk to a senior manager of a leading Chinese enterprise software builder about the future of intelligent systems. (35:31) ⑤ Trade ministers are in Cameroon for discussions on reforming the World Trade Organization. How does the prospect of the talks look like? (45:04)
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Mar 25, 2026 • 54min

China’s ten major scientific breakthroughs in 2025

① China has released a list of its ten major scientific breakthroughs in 2025. What do they tell us about the focus of the country’s scientific research? (00:56) ② A conversation with Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, on cooperation between Hong Kong and Hainan. (14:18) ③ China has lodged a protest with Japan after a Japanese Self-Defense Force officer broke into the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo. To what extent is the intrusion related to the current trajectory of China-Japan relations? (24:57) ④ Ghana’s president has criticized the US government for normalizing the erasure of Black history, warning such policies could have ripple effects elsewhere. Does he have a point? (33:56) ⑤ Humanoid robot maker Unitree has filed for an IPO application on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, looking to raise over $610 million. How could capital markets help China’s humanoid robotics industry to develop? (42:36)
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Mar 24, 2026 • 53min

Is Xiongan New Area becoming a model of China’s high-quality development?

① Xi Jinping has called for efforts to build China’s Xiongan New Area into an innovation hub and a model of high-quality development. How can China nurture an innovative business environment in Xiongan? (00:56) ② A conversation with Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat. (12:17) ③ Why did China’s Yiwu, a hub for small commodities, see a more than 50% increase in trade in this year’s first two months? (24:57) ④ Iran has denied having negotiations with the US, reversing Donald Trump’s earlier claim that Washington had reached major points of agreement with Tehran. Is Tehran willing to engage in serious talks with Washington any time soon? (34:48) ⑤ Australia and the European Union have finalized a free trade agreement following years of negotiations. What has enabled the two sides to make the breakthrough? (44:29)
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Mar 23, 2026 • 54min

The Earth’s climate is more out of balance than ever

① It’s time for the annual China Development Forum. Amid global turbulence, will China serve as a cornerstone of certainty for the world? (00:50) ② Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has met a delegation of the US-China Business Council. What opportunities will China’s 15th Five Year Plan offer to American companies? (13:46) ③ Iran has warned that power plants in countries hosting US bases would be considered legitimate targets if the US attacks Iran’s power facilities. What stage is the war entering? (25:27) ④ The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States has adopted a declaration calling for an end to the economic blockade against Cuba. Is it realistic to have a dialogue between Cuba and the US on the basis of mutual respect? (33:17) ⑤ A new report of the World Meteorological Organization says the climate of the Earth is now more out of balance than at any point in recorded history. Is it coincidence that humanity has just endured the hottest decade on record? (43:21)
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Mar 20, 2026 • 55min

Unfolding China's space roadmap

China says it will turn aerospace into a pillar industry that improves lives and promotes industrial development. What are included in this goal? How close are these ambitions to reality, and what could they mean for you and me? Host Dou Hongyu is joined by Quentin Parker, Director of Laboratory for Space Research, University of Hong Kong; Zhang Fan, Associate Professor of Astronomy with Beijing Normal University; Zhou Mi, Senior Research Fellow with Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, to unfold China's space roadmap.

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