World Today

① In a recent session of senior CPC officials, Xi Jinping stressed youth employment and said that full employment is a priority goal for social and economic development. What are the opportunities and challenges in China’s job market? (00:50)

② We take a look at a new report released by the Chinese government on human rights violations in the US in 2023. (14:40)

③ We explore why the US is not in a leading position in the EV sector. (24:44)

④ A former intelligence chief will lead a right-wing coalition in Netherlands. What could be the new government’s policy directions? (34:51)

⑤ We look at Haiti’s political process where its transitional council has tapped a former prime minister to lead the country again. (42:06)

① Member states of the World Health Organization have decided not to invite Taiwan to the organization's annual assembly in Geneva. Who is politicizing a health issue to advance their own agenda? (00:54)

② A decade after China launched the first phase of its semiconductor investment fund, the investment vehicle is now officially into its third phase. We discuss China’s goals on semiconductor. (13:02)

③ What was behind the rise in China's industrial profit in April? (24:57)

④ Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi is in China to mark a decade of strategic partnership. (33:49)

⑤ The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Rafah after a deadly Israeli airstrike killed 45 Palestinians sheltering in a refugee camp. Are there still means to rein in Israel? (45:16)

① Leaders of China, South Korea, and Japan meet for their first trilateral talks in more than four years. We explore the signals from this move? (00:49)

② Emmanuel Macron is in Germany for the first state visit to the country by a French president in 24 years. What are the issues where Paris and Berlin don’t really see eye to eye? And what can they agree on? (13:44)

③ China is to host a major China-Arab cooperation forum this week. What are the issues expected to be the central topics for discussion during the meeting? (24:48)

④ The International Court of Justice, an arm of the UN, has ordered Israel to suspend its military campaign in Rafah. How might the rulings affect the war in Gaza? (35:01)

⑤ Nvidia, powered by AI boom, has reported soaring revenue and profits. (42:41)

A Chinese mainland spokesperson said that Lai Ching-te's speech upon assuming the role of the Taiwan region's new leader has sent a dangerous signal regarding "Taiwan independence."

Chen Binhua with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said Lai's speech stubbornly followed the "Taiwan independence" position, advocated separatism, incited cross-Strait confrontation, and sought independence by relying on foreign support and by force.

What provocations did Lai Ching-te make? What does Taiwan's future hold under his leadership? Host Liu Kun is joined by Professor Qu Qiang, Fellow of Belt and Road Research Center at Minzu University of China; Dr. Liu Kuangyu, Researcher at Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Josef Mahoney, Professor of Politics with East China Normal University.

①The Chinese People's Liberation Army conducts joint military drills surrounding the island of Taiwan. What signal do they send out? (00:38)

②UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calls a general election for July 4. Why is he calling it now and what happens next? (13:44)

③14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership Summit takes place in Xi'an, China. (24:09)

④What's behind the diplomatic crisis between Spain and Argentina? (34:08)

⑤Scarlett Johansson accuses OpenAI of creating a voice similar to hers without permission. (43:17)

①Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterates that the Taiwan question is at the center of China's core interests. (00:47)

②US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is urging Europe to join the US in clamping down on China's green-tech exports. Are they building a protectionism alliance in the name of countering overcapacity? (13:10)

③What next for Iran after President Raisi's death? (24:34)

④In a historic move, Ireland, Spain and Norway say they are recognizing a Palestinian state. How significant are the announcements? (32:08)

⑤Low-altitude economy takes off in China. (42:03)

①China has urged the United States not to use the Taiwan region as a tool to contain China. (00:44)

②The International Criminal Court seeks arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders. What does that mean to the conflict? (15:17)

③A British court has ruled that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal his extradition to the United States. What happens next? (23:45)

④Japan and ASEAN plan joint strategy on auto production. (32:53)

⑤Deadly clashes in a French Pacific territory raise fears of civil war. (43:02)

①Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Kazakhstan for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers Council. (00:42)

②China's economy continued to perform well in April. (13:10)

③A Chinese mainland spokesperson said Lai Ching-te has sent "a dangerous signal" of seeking so called "Taiwan independence". (24:17)

④Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died in a helicopter crash. What do we know so far, and what will happen next for the country? (34:34)

⑤US security adviser urges Natanyahu to connect war to "political strategy". (42:57)

Vladimir Putin’s visit to China has created one more opportunity for China and Russia to celebrate and strengthen their cooperation. Beijing and Moscow have signed more than ten agreements during Putin’s trip. Xi Jinping says the current relationship was not easily gained, so it ought to be cherished by the two sides more than ever before.

Why are China and Russia good friends and partners? What can their partnership bring to the international community?

Host Ding Heng is joined by Professor Alexey Maslov, Director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies, Moscow State University; Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations & security analyst; Dr. Zhang Xin, Deputy Director of the Center for Russian Studies, East China Normal University.

①China and Russia have agreed to deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic ties. What are the details? (00:45) ②China Coast Guard has expelled Philippine vessels that illegally entered Chinese waters in the South China Sea. (14:36) ③Singapore has inaugurated Lawrence Wong as prime minister. What does the future hold for Singaporeans? (25:23) ④Slovakia’s Prime Minister remains in hospital after an attempted assassination. (35:45) ⑤German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned against cutting the German economy off from potential markets abroad against the backdrop of U.S. tariff hikes for Chinese products. (43:03)