World Today

①Chinese, Ecuadorian leaders discuss Belt and Road cooperation and investment. What's driving Latin American nations to deepen ties with China? (00:55)

②Macao unveils its next 5-year development plan. How can Macao move beyond gaming and tap into mainland's growth? (12:50)

③China recovers rocket stage on land for first time after earlier recovery at sea. How close is China to achieving routine rocket recovery and reuse? (24:51)

④World Robot Conference opens in Beijing, showcasing real-world uses. Where does China stand in the global race to develop humanoid robots? (33:55)

⑤29 U.S. states take Meta to court over allegations that Facebook and Instagram are hooking kids. Is Big Tech finally being held accountable for social media addiction? (44:12)

①Taiwan's defense budget tops NT$1 trillion. More military spending, less for livelihoods - and is Taiwan any safer? (00:53)

②China-Europe Arctic shipping route enters regular weekly operation. What does a faster route mean for global supply chain resilience? (14:50)

③China is rapidly emerging as a major force in global drug innovation. What's behind the rise? (25:00)

④Frustration with Washington grows among US Gulf allies. Can diplomacy still work in the Iran conflict? (34:00)

⑤DRC Ebola outbreak declared the deadliest in the country's history. How serious is the threat? (43:34)

①China says allegations by Philippine defense secretary are unfounded. Why is Teodoro so determined to push China and the Philippines toward confrontation? (00:58)

②South Korean president to revive pro-Japanese asset investigation committee after a 16-year hiatus. Can normal relations with neighbors be maintained if Japan still refuses to confront its wartime history? (10:00)

③China briefs media on Jan-July economic performance. What policy support will China roll out to keep the growth momentum going? (23:37)

④DJI scores a key procedural victory in lawsuit against the US Department of Defense. Could this ruling open the door for DJI to fight its way off the Pentagon's blacklist? (34:23)

⑤German companies cut US investment to a three-year low. Even as the EU pledges more investment in the US, why are German businesses reluctant to bet on America - and what are they worried about? (44:58)

On August 15, 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. For the countries and peoples across Asia who suffered under Japanese militarist aggression, August 15th has never been an ordinary day. It represents the triumph of justice over aggression. It also marks the end of a war that brought immense suffering and profound devastation to Asia.

81 years after Japan's surrender, has Japan truly learned from its past - or is history repeating itself?

Host Ge Anna is joined by Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation, a Canadian Think Tank, and Chairman of Asia Narratives; Dr. Lee Pei May, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the International Islamic University Malaysia; Dr. Liu Kuangyu, Researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

①U.S. leads in missile tests, yet criticizes China: double standards, strategic anxiety, or both? (00:44)

②A China-led international standard on smart city data utilization is released. How will it shape future human urban life? (12:49)

③Putin makes his first visit to an island disputed with Japan. What messages is he sending to Japan? (24:01)

④China's homegrown C919 jet makes international debut. How big a moment is it for global aviation? (33:10)

⑤A culinary anti-war blockbuster gains traction globally. We speak with its translator about China's anti-war storytelling.

①China surpasses the U.S. in R&D spending. What does it mean for the global tech landscape? (00:41)

②Elon Musk encourages people to visit China. We explore what is attracting international tourists to the country. (14:19)

③Pakistan says the U.S. and Iran are close to some arrangement on peace. How close are they to reaching a real agreement? (25:32)

④Turkish parliament passes landmark legal framework for PKK disarmament. How might it reshape Türkiye's ties with Iraq and Syria? (35:47)

⑤How is China preparing for above-average typhoon activity? (45:40)

①China rejects illegally established "Arunachal Pradesh" by India. What's behind India's unilateral attempt to redraw administrative boundaries and alter facts on the ground? (00:41)

②Japan's defense ministry will request a record-high budget for fiscal 2027. How serious are the regional implications? (14:00)

③China's central bank names Deutsche Bank as clearing bank for the renminbi. What does it mean for China-Europe economic relations? (25:08)

④China takes 97% of H1 global humanoid robot shipments. What explains this dramatic lead? (34:52)

⑤Meta launches an open-weight AI model. Where does it put Meta in the global AI race? (44:36)

①China and Argentina renew currency swap agreement. Can RMB help Argentina hedge against the risks of USD dependence? (00:38)

②China's foreign trade expanded over 19% last month. We explore the drivers behind the growth. (12:50)

③Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan sign a joint defense agreement. What does it mean for regional security? (24:43)

④Why are countries tightening controls on critical minerals? (35:37)

⑤Syria and Russia reach an MoU on the future of Russian military bases. What does it tell us about Syria-Russia relationship now? (44:26)

As the world prepares to mark the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II, Japan, a defeated country in that war, is rolling out a series of security and military initiatives. Why is Japan accelerating its military buildup after decades of maintaining an exclusively defensive posture? What kind of military power is it seeking to become? And should Asia be worried?

Host Dou Hongyu is joined by Sultan Hali, a retired air force officer and author from Pakistan, Dr. Lee Pei May, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the International Islamic University Malaysia, and Dr. Liu Kuangyu, a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

①China's Ministry of Finance has raised 15 billion yuan (over $2.2 billion) through a sovereign bond auction in Hong Kong. We explore the reasons for the sale's good performance. (00:54)

②The EU says it has collected 1.4 billion euros in revenue from frozen Russian assets and will channel the proceeds to Ukraine. Is the windfall profit mechanism actually helping Ukraine? (15:11)

③The Trump administration has refunded about $100 billion of the tariff revenue collected before the US president's "liberation day" duties were struck down by the Supreme Court. What does it mean for US importers? (24:52)

④Iran is close to reaching an agreement with Oman on new shipping arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz. Is it a window of opportunity for the waterway's reopening? (36:18)

⑤A SpaceX rocket piece has smashed into the moon at high speed. What's unusual about it? (46:32)