World Today

① China shortens negative lists for foreign investment for 5th straight year.

② China urges more consensus building in Iran nuclear talks.

③ Jonathan Spence, acclaimed scholar of China, dies at 85, with mourns from China.

④ A review of 2021 through words: “Afghanistan” and “AUKUS”.

①China vows to stabilize grain production and expand oilseed crops in 2022. ②China saw a rise in its November industrial profits. ③South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu dies aged 90. ④A review of 2021 through words and phrases: “democracy” and “CPC’s 100 anniversary”.

Ukraine is at the center of soaring geopolitical tensions, with the U.S. and Kyiv accusing Russia of planning a military attack on its southern neighbor. Moscow denies the allegation. What is the direction in which the Ukraine crisis is developing? Host Ding Heng is joined by Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations & security analyst; Wyn Grant, Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Warwick; Professor Qu Bo from China Foreign Affairs University.

① Putin holds annual Press Conference as tensions over Ukraine soar.

② Chinese mainland records 100 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

③ The west is accused of colonialism in its climate movement.

④ Harvard professor convicted, China responds U.S. should not vilify interactions between China and foreign talents.

⑤ Chinese firms look for global cooperation in digital economy.

① Xi-Scholz phone call eyes advanced China-Germany friendship, ‘reinforces a solid start’.

② Turkish lira swings wildly after Erdogan announces rescue plan.

③ China takes reciprocal countermeasures against U.S. sanctions.

④ Putin says Russia has ‘nowhere to retreat’ in a standoff with the U.S. over Ukraine.

⑤ Big data is how China caught illegal tax evasion of streamers.

① China, Japan agree to manage maritime differences, safeguard maritime stability.

② Economists lower US GDP forecast after Biden spending plan blocked.

③ Russia expels 2 German diplomats in retaliatory move.

④ Omicron becomes dominant COVID variant in U.S.

⑤ China considers revising law to strengthen protection for women.

① All 90 members of Hong Kong's LegCo elected.

② New push for vaccines, lockdowns to stem 'raging' Omicron in the West.

③ Leftist millennial wins election as Chile’s next president.

④ Net profits of China's state-owned enterprises hit 275 billion U.S. dollars in Jan-Nov.

⑤ Pentagon documents reveal 'deeply flawed' U.S. air war: report.

ASEAN is gaining importance in the competition between the U.S. and China, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made his maiden trip to the region this week. Will ASEAN maintain its centrality in this great power competition? Our host Liu Kun is joined by David Martin Jones, Visiting Professor at KCL, Timo Kivimaki, Professor at University of Bath, Dr. Lee Pei May, Assistant Professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia, and Professor Zha Daojiong of Peking University.

①US Senate passes $770 billion defense bill, sending it to Joe Biden.

②New German Chancellor Olaf Scholz makes first government briefing to parliament, calling China an important economic partner.

③US House passes China bill that bans all Xinjiang imports over so-called "forced labor".

④Report says UK public don't want "perennial fights of a permanent Brexit" with EU.

①Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin hold talks amid tensions with the West.

②WHO warns Omicron variant is spreading at unprecedented rate.

③UAE suspends talks on multi-billion dollar weapons deal with the US.

④Harvard professor on trial for hiding ties with China.