World Today

①Shanghai screens over 24 million residents for COVID-19 in one day as the city battles a serious surge of COVID cases. What are the latest? ②Sri Lanka is going through a cabinet reshuffle amid a domestic economic crisis. What went wrong? ③UN chief warns the world will be unlivable unless governments reevaluate energy policies. We examine a new flagship UN report on climate change.

①Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's coalition wins in the country's parliamentary elections. What does it mean for the nation's way forward both domestically and internationally? ②Pakistan's national assembly was dissolved after the rejection of opposition's no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. What are the latest? ③Kremlin said ruble payments will be used more in Russia's foreign trade. How will that influence the evolving energy crisis in Europe?

The 23rd China-E.U. Summit took place on Friday via video link. The two sides addressed the conflict in Ukraine and areas of shared interest such as climate change, biodiversity, and trade relationships. Will there be stronger China-E.U. ties in an unstable world? To find answers, host Ge Anna speaks with Chen Weihua, Chief of China Daily E.U. Bureau; Stephan Ossenkopp, Independent researcher and analyst for the Schiller Institute; John Ross, Senior fellow with Chongyang Institute of Financial Studies at Renmin University; and Prof. Yan Shaohua, Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University.

①China holds two multinational meetings to discuss Afghanistan. We discuss China's role in seeking solution to Afghanistan’s problems. ②China and the EU will hold a leaders' meeting. What’s at stake? ③Russia won't immediately require buyers to pay for its gas exports in rubles. What does it mean to Russia and Europe? ④China’s factory and services activity contracts amid virus resurgence. ⑤We look at China’s top archaeological discoveries in 2021 that may redefine the movement of ancient people.

①Russia is to scale back military activities in the Kyiv area after a fresh round of peace talks with Ukraine. Is the move intended to increase mutual trust or a repositioning? ②Russia and Europe are in a stand-off as Moscow insists Russian gas is paid for in rubles. How might it end? ③Joe Biden talks about Ukraine and Indo-Pacific with visiting Singapore prime minister. We discuss Ukraine crisis's Asia implications. ④On World Bipolar Day, we look at a mental illness known as Manic Depression.

①Solomon Islands’ prime minister dismisses Australia’s criticism of the country's security negotiations with China as “insulting”. Does he have a point? ②Gulf Arab states hold a summit on the war in Yemen. How much does the Saudi-led coalition want a ceasefire? ③Can Ukraine and Russia make a breakthrough as their delegations meet in Istanbul for a new round of talks? ④China reduces personal income tax for parents of children under 3 in a bid to boost birth rate. Will it work?

①Shanghai has announced a two-phase lockdown. Will it curb Covid? ②China’s foreign minister has made a visit to South Asia. We discuss the geopolitics behind his tour. ③Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine is ready to discuss neutrality in peace talks with Russia. How could his statement be received by Moscow? ④Joe Biden denies the US seeks to overturn Vladimir Putin after he appeared to call for regime change. Was Biden misunderstood? ⑤EU targets US tech giants with a new rulebook. What’s in it?

How much symbolism is there at the latest NATO summit on Ukraine crisis? With the war in Ukraine, is NATO returning to its original purpose? Host Ding Heng is joined by Ruud van Dijk, Professor of History and International Relations at University of Amsterdam; Chen Weihua, China Daily EU Bureau Chief; Clifford Kiracofe, Washington-based author and former Senior Professional Staff Member of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

One month into the Russia-Ukraine conflict, how has it changed the world?

The United States reinstates tariff exemptions on 352 Chinese products, what’s next?

The 2022 French Presidential Election is set for next month. Will France give Emmanuel Macron another five years?

Around 2,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in the Chinese mainland. What are the new trends in China's fight against COVID-19?

Will Biden’s trip to Europe further fuel the Russia-Ukraine crisis?

What are the possible implications for other countries due to the US freeze of Russian reserves?

China specifies energy targets for 2021-2025: what to know?