Podcast
World Today
Hosted by China Plus · EN
With in-depth panel discussions on domestic and global news and current affairs, World Today gives you the story behind the headlines.
124episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
What’s fueling panda bond boom?
Jun 1700:53:05Tap to summarize① China has released a white paper on its approach to global governance. What are China’s key contributions to global governance? (00:55) ② Days after the US and Iran announced a framework deal for peace, what is actually in the deal remains unclear. We explore the uncertainties facing the peace process. (15:27) ③ Leaders of G7 nations have promised to support Ukraine and sanction Russia. How much will they turn the promise into real actions? (24:58) ④ What is fueling the strong growth of China’s panda bond market this year? (34:18) ⑤ China says anti-drug authorities of China and the US are maintaining sound cooperation. What does it take to build a professional and pragmatic anti-drug partnership between the two sides? (44:25)
Transcribe →Will Ukraine and Moldova become EU members?
Jun 1600:53:28Tap to summarize① Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing is on a state visit to China. How could China help Myanmar develop its economy and improve livelihoods? (00:54) ② What do China’s latest official economic figures tell us about the momentum in its industrial production and consumption? (13:11) ③ Across China, universities are racing to launch new majors in fields like AI, robotics, and embodied intelligence. How can education systems prepare young people for a future where humans and intelligent machines increasingly work side by side? (24:56) ④ The European Union has launched the membership accession process for Ukraine and Moldova. What is lying ahead for the two nations? (36:28) ⑤ Japan’s central bank has increased its main interest rate to a new 31-year-high. Has Japan entered an inflationary cycle after twenty years of deflation? (45:26)
Transcribe →Are US and Iran ready for peace?
Jun 1500:54:05Tap to summarize① The US and Iran have reached a framework deal for peace and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Will it return the region to a status that existed before the war? (00:52) ② What’s at stake at the G7 summit in France? (14:41) ③ The European Central Bank has raised its interest rates for the first time since 2023. We explore the urgency for Europe to tackle inflation amid surging energy prices. (25:28) ④ Voters in Switzerland have rejected a nationwide referendum to cap the country's population at 10 million by 2050. Why does Switzerland prefer to maintain economic ties with the European Union? (35:09) ⑤ The International Labor Organization has adopted the world’s first binding agreement setting out employment standards for digital platform workers. Why is it important to provide adequate safeguards for gig economy workers? (44:57)
Transcribe →Panel: What does it take to contain Ebola outbreak in Central Africa?
Jun 1200:53:41Tap to summarizeIt’s been nearly a month since the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The numbers of confirmed cases and deaths are continuing to rise. In a situation facing a lethal pathogen and zero approved vaccines, what does it take to stop the spread of the virus? Host Ding Heng is joined by Susannah Mayhew, Professor of Health Policy, Systems and Reproductive Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Shane Thomas, Professor of Health Promotion at Federation University Australia; Professor Wu Zhiwei from School of Pharmacy, Dali University in Yunnan, China.
Transcribe →Exploring China's human rights approach
Jun 1100:53:37Tap to summarize① What does the new national human rights action plan reveal about China's human rights approach? (00:37) ② A conversation with the vice-president of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden on the right to development (14:48) ③ Global nuclear weapons spending surges to a record high of $119 billion. What's driving the increase? (25:30) ④ The world's second-hottest May on record: How can we respond to unusual weather patterns? (34:35) ⑤ The World Conference of Classics: Ancient wisdom for modern challenges (43:41)
Transcribe →Can China become a leader in flying cars?
Jun 1000:53:33Tap to summarize① What does China's CPI in May reveal about consumer demand? (00:41) ② How is the Global South's push for a greater voice reshaping the world's human rights system? (14:29) ③ A flying car factory begins operation in Guangzhou. Can China become a leader in flying vehicles? (25:22) ④ Iran and the U.S. trade retaliatory attacks. Are the prospects for a ceasefire growing dim? (26:32) ⑤ Britain to ban "harmful" social media for under-16s. We explore how to create a healthy internet culture for children. (46:01)
Transcribe →What's behind the most expensive World Cup in history?
Jun 900:53:43Tap to summarize① An in-depth analysis of China-DPRK relations. (00:41) ② China's foreign trade up 15.3% in first five months. What's behind the growth? (14:20) ③ Iran and Israel say they are halting attacks on each other. De-escalation or a pause before the next clash? (25:30) ④ Australian expert analyzes China's human rights approach. (37:11) ⑤ What's behind the most expensive World Cup in history? (46:21)
Transcribe →Is Europe able to reduce reliance on U.S. search engine?
Jun 800:53:43Tap to summarize① China's trade in services maintained positive growth during the first four months. What was behind the performance? (00:43) ② What has made the Chinese city of Yiwu grow from a small county to the "World's Supermarket?" (13:15) ③ Israel and Iran trade missile strikes in the most serious confrontation since their April ceasefire. What triggered the escalation? (25:21) ④ Leaders of Britain, France and Germany voice support for direct Ukraine-Russia dialogue. Could their backing advance meaningful dialogue? (36:13) ⑤ The EU Parliament to switch to a French search engine from Google in a tech sovereignty push. Is Europe able to reduce reliance on U.S. technologies? (45:54)
Transcribe →Panel: How China balances openness and security under its new outbound investment regulation
Jun 500:53:54Tap to summarizeChina has unveiled new regulations on outbound investment to push ahead high-level opening-up while safeguarding national security and interests. Why has China introduced the rules at this particular moment? What do they mean for Chinese companies expanding overseas and for their international partners? And how can China balance opening-up and security? Host Dou Hongyu is joined by Adjunct Professor Warwick Powell at Queensland University of Technology; Assistant Professor Wang Yaojing with the School of Economics, Peking University; Senior Research Fellow Zhou Mi with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, to answer these questions.
Transcribe →Why is Trump using forced labor allegation to rebuild his tariff regime?
Jun 400:53:35Tap to summarize① The Trump administration has proposed new tariffs on imports from 60 economies, claiming they fail to ban US imports made with forced labor. Is this a legitimate ground to rebuild the administration’s tariff regime following domestic legal setbacks? (00:54) ② The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution to limit Donald Trump’s war powers against Iran. Is the US president increasingly isolated on the Iran war? (15:11) ③ The World Health Organization says efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are gaining ground. We explore the remaining challenges for the mission. (24:56) ④ China has launched a national digital identity system to give every humanoid robot a personal identification number. How will the platform strengthen industry standards? (34:46) ⑤ Britain has ordered Google to allow news publishers to opt out of AI model fine-tuning for search summaries. How could Google’s AI Overviews deal a blow to publishers? (44:37)
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