World Today

①President Xi Jinping addresses the BRICS summit: development as an inalienable right of all countries, expansion of BRICS for a more equitable international order, etc. We discuss the spirits of his address. (00:57)

②U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo meets Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. ahead of her China trip. (11:56)

③South Korea has held its first nationwide air defense drills in six years amid growing tensions with North Korea. Does this indicate that the tensions on the Korean Peninsula have reached a new high since 2017? (25:12)

④We look at how Japan’s trade with Russia continues despite Japan following the US and Europe in sanctioning Russia. (34:24)

⑤China is carrying out an anti-corruption campaign in the healthcare sector. (43:56)

①President Xi Jinping says the China-South Africa relationship has entered a golden era, and it is increasingly generating a global influence. Does he have a point? (00:55)

②The Central American Parliament has voted to expel Taiwan as a permanent observer, replacing it with the Chinese mainland. What could Beijing bring to the parliament and the region? (13:50)

③Chinese premier has stressed faster development of digital economy. (25:24)

④Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has returned to the country for the first time after more than 15 years in self-exile. We look at the political timing of his return. (35:45)

⑤Organizers of the Paris Olympics have vowed to redouble efforts to clean up the Seine River after a few recent test events were cancelled due to pollution. (44:40)

①Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on a four-day trip to South Africa to attend a BRICS summit and pay a state visit to the country. We discuss the things at stake during his trip. (00:56)

②We take a look at a recent trilateral summit between the US, Japan and South Korea. Is there really such thing as "a new era of trilateral partnership"? (14:39)

③The cultural and tourism market in China has been surging this summer, with packed tourist attractions and record-high box office. (24:50)

④The Netherlands and Denmark have confirmed plans to provide Ukraine with more than 40 F-16 fighter jets. How to assess the realistic meaning of the transfers to Ukraine? (34:59)

⑤Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says succession plans are "back on track" with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. (45:44)

Taiwan deputy leader Lai Ching-te has returned home after making two controversial stopovers in the Unites States in a week-long trip.

Beijing has condemned the stopovers, accusing “Taiwan independence” forces of dragging the island into war and calamity.

Because Latin America is home to most of Taiwan’s so-called remaining diplomatic allies, a trip to these countries with US transits is a trick for some Taiwan politicians to politically engage with the US.

What has Lai Ching-te attempted to pursue during the stopover? And who is destroying peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits?

Host Ding Heng is joined by Dr. Liu Kuangyu, Researcher with the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Harry Targ, Emeritus Professor of Political Science and International Relations with Purdue University; Duncan McFarland from the Peace and Solidarity Commission of the Communist Party USA.

① Chinese premier outlines measures to meet economic goals. What are the innovative measures driving China's economic growth? (00:47)

② China, Vietnam vow to jointly safeguard peace of South China Sea. (13:44)

③ Beijing stands firm against Washington's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. How China defend its economic interests? (24:18)

④ China ramps up efforts in robotics applications. How this high-tech endeavor reshaping industries in China? (34:24)

⑤ Why Beijing, Barcelona, Toronto ranked as most suitable cities for remote work? (44:52)

① Will China overtake Japan as the world's leading auto exporter by 2023 end? Moody's Analytics predicts a shift in global dynamics. (00:55)

② How China vitalizing rural economies? Unveils three-year plan to commercialize 90% of its counties. (14:06)

③ Argentina devalues peso after far-right candidate wins primary. What does the future hold? (24:46)

④ Sudan ‘spiralling out of control’ as 1 million flee country, UN warns. (33:49)

⑤ China's summer railway transportation is expected to surpass the pre-pandemic level. (43:16)

① Xi urges continuous push for ecological civilization. How has China balanced development and environment? (00:48)

② What does the steady recovery of China's value-added industrial output in the first 7 months signify? (16:35)

③ BRICS Summit preparations at an advanced stage: South Africa’s BRICS Amb. (24:06)

④ What propelled the UAE and India to ditch the dollar in crude oil trade? (34:50)

⑤ What's behind China's record-breaking summer box office earnings as domestic movies take the lead? (43:21)

① Chinese FM’s trip to Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia: What does the future hold? (00:47)

② China's State Council stresses optimizing foreign investment environment. (13:40)

③ China expresses strong opposition with the US over a "stopover" by a Taiwan independence agitator. (21:53)

④ Hawaii wildfire tragedy spurs reflection on disaster preparedness (32:43)

⑤ Workers in Asia may not be as busy and productive as they seem to be. (43:14)

Saudi Arabia has attracted international attention with one diplomatic initiative after another – normalization with Iran, peace talks with the Yemeni Houthis, efforts to broker a ceasefire in Sudan, and hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during an Arab League Summit, etc.

Most recently, Saudi Arabia hosted senior officials from dozens of countries for a summit on peace talks over Ukraine.

Some people say things are changing in the Saudi foreign policy, with Riyadh, as an ally of Washington, setting its own agenda and balancing between global players to maximize its own gains.

We take a look at Saudi Arabia’s perceived pursuit of strategic autonomy.

Host Ding Heng is joined by Greg Barton, Professor of Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University; Dr. Wang Jin, Middle East expert and Associate Professor with Northwest University in Xi'an, China; Dr. Ben Rich, Senior lecturer in International Relations and History at Curtin University.

①Joe Biden issues executive order restricting U.S. tech investment in China. What does this mean for the interconnected global tech industry? (00:53)

②Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso made a provocative visit to China's Taiwan region. What could be the underlying agenda? (17:47)

③A presidential candidate in Ecuador has been shot dead during a campaign rally. We delve deeper into the surge in crime and violence in the country. (24:33)

④Expert says BRICS growing as an alternative voice for global south. (32:42)

⑤China resumes group tours to the U.S., Japan and other key markets. How will this contribute to the recovery of the global tourism industry? (41:55)