World Today

One year since the end of US military occupation in Afghanistan, the war-ravaged country is still struggling to recover after 20 turbulent years of military occupation.

How deep are the wounds the U.S. has inflicted on Afghanistan? And what is needed to rebuild a nation?

Host Ge Anna is joined by:

Abdul Hai Qanit, a Kabul-based political analyst and commentator on Afghan Affairs;

Daniel Burke, Schiller Institute representative and former candidate for US Senate, NJ;

Zoon Ahmed Khan, Research Fellow with Center for China and Globalization; and visiting Scholar with Belt and Road Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University.

①Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang urges the US to get rid of its "threat-phobia". We discuss the future of China-US relations. (00:44)

②Last French troops leave Mali, ending nine-year deployment. Should the West rethink their military presence in other countries? (12:23)

③Türkiye and Israel to restore full diplomatic relations. What's behind this decision? (23:07)

④UN chief arrives in Ukraine for meeting with Zelenskyy and Erdogan. What's on the agenda? (30:48)

⑤Why is China betting big on bio-economy? (40:42)

①Joe Biden signs inflation reduction act into law. Can it really help bring inflation down? (00:51)

②Has Germany's economic model failed amid energy crisis? (11:56)

③China issues new guideline to boost birth rate. How effective will it be? (24:27)

④China's research vessel Yuanwang 5 docks at Sri Lankan port. Why had India and the US objected the ship's visit? (36:01)

⑤US state officials fault rollout of monkeypox vaccine. What happened? (44:05)

①William Ruto wins Kenya's presidential election, but veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga’s supporters are disputing the result. Is Kenya’s stability under test? (00:55) ②Narendra Modi has pledged to turn India into a developed country in 25 years. Is it a realistic goal? (13:43) ③Leading semiconductor companies in China have reported strong performance in the first half of 2022, despite the US' crackdown on China's chip industry. (24:32) ④Heatwave and drought are threatening crops in the middle and lower reaches of China's Yangtze River. What can be done to tackle challenges? (35:02) ⑤Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused his predecessor Scott Morrison of undermining democracy by secretly appointing himself to additional ministerial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. We dig into Morrison’s controversy. (44:52)

①US lawmakers travel to Taiwan less than 2 weeks after Nancy Pelosi's visit. What's behind the US provocations? (00:48)

②Is Japan gradually abandoning its pacifist path 77 years after its surrender in World War Two? (13:58)

③What changes have taken place in Afghanistan a year after the Taliban takeover? (24:38)

④FBI seizes top secret document from Mar-a-Lago. (35:28)

⑤China's industrial output up 3.8% in July. (42:42)

Two-thirds of Democratic voters want someone other than Joe Biden to be their party's candidate for the White House in 2024, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll.

Their top concern: his age.

Joe Biden will turn 80 this year. He's already the oldest American president in history. His predecessor, who wants to run again, is 76.

It's not just the American presidency that's gone grey. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 82. Her second in command, Steny Hoyer, is 83. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell is 80.

But how old is too old? What does age exactly mean in politics? What explains America's aging leadership, and does that really hurt the function of democracy?

Host Zhao Ying is joined by Aaron Kall, Director of Debate at the University of Michigan, Prof. Aubrey Jewett from the University of Central Florida, and Prof. Mark Shanahan from the University of Surrey.

① Chinese FM warns against dangerous tendencies in the development of the situation across the Taiwan Strait. What lies ahead? (00:53)

② Russia temporarily halts inspections of its facilities under New START treaty. Will U.S. and Russia slide back into a nuclear arms race? (14:22)

③ Japan's PM names new cabinet as the administration faces slimming public support. (24:13)

④ Baidu plans to launch fully driverless robo-taxis in China.How will it change people's commutes? (33:20)

⑤ Majority backs China's human rights stance: survey. (42:35)

① China releases white paper on Taiwan question and reunification, outlines irreversible historical process. (01:10)

② China has no choice but to fight back: Chinese vice FM on Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. (11:41)

③ Biden signs the US CHIPS and Science Act. How will it harm the global chipmaking industry? (24:46)

④ China’s CPI hits a two-year high of 2.7% in July, but PPI edges down. What does the number tell us about China’s consumer inflation and market? (34:28)

⑤ Tourists stranded by COVID-19 flown off Hainan Island. (44:53)

① Foreign ministers of China and South Korea have talks amid relentless pressure from Washington on Seoul. (00:51)

② Blinken says the U.S. is an "equal partner" with African countries. Can the U.S. give up its dictating nature? (17:23)

③ Chinese NGO reveals U.S. violation of human rights in the Middle East. (23:40)

④ Decoupling with China could cost Germany six times as much as Brexit, a study shows. (33:55)

⑤ Global food prices fell sharply in July. Will the trend last? (41:31)

①Former Kuomintang Party leader Hung Hsiu-chu said Pelosi's visit to Taiwan raised tensions without bringing real benefits to the people in Taiwan.(00:47) ②Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has concluded. What are the main achievements? (16:16) ③The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement has agreed to a Cairo-mediated ceasefire deal with Israel. Will it hold? (26:00) ④Kenya readies itself to choose a new President. Who are the main contenders in this election? (34:02) ⑤China's July export beats expectations at 18% year-on-year. (42:30)