Podcasts about Beijing

US BOLSTERS PACIFIC SOCIETAL RESISTANCE AS CHINA ENTRENCHES IN PALAU AND YAPColleague Cleo Paskal. Cleo Paskal details the intensifying struggle for influence in Oceania, specifically regarding Palau and Yap, which are vital for defending the corridor between Hawaii and the Philippines. In Palau, a new comprehensive agreement aims to counter China's "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive activities" by strengthening the island's law enforcement and healthcare systems to build "societal resistance." This partnership, which notably involves Palau accepting US deportees, represents a strategic shift from purely kinetic defense to political warfare, helping the nation block Chinese organized crime and preserve sovereignty. Conversely, in Yap, despite a new US commitment of nearly $1.5 billion for dual-use infrastructure, Chinese state-linked entities are aggressively embedding themselves. By underbidding on projects like rebuilding a bridge and an Imperial Japanese runway on Woleai, Beijing is effectively subsidizing expansion to gain leverage over local elites during critical access negotiations. 1900 PALAU

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan covers the first confirmed U.S. ground strike inside Venezuela, escalating threats between Washington and Tehran, high-stakes peace negotiations over Ukraine, and a wide-ranging listener Q&A that spans Africa, Europe, and promising medical breakthroughs. U.S. Destroys Venezuelan Port Facility: President Trump confirmed that U.S. forces destroyed a port facility used by the Maduro regime to load drug trafficking boats. Reporting from Axios and CNN indicates the strike targeted land-based infrastructure, marking a major escalation beyond maritime interdictions. Bryan explains that the CIA and U.S. Special Forces were almost certainly involved and that the attack was meant to signal to Maduro that Washington has deep intelligence access and is prepared to keep striking unless a deal is reached. Risks of Retaliation and Global Entanglement: Bryan warns that a cornered Maduro may turn to sabotage operations inside the United States using narco gangs like Tren de Aragua. He also outlines less likely but more dangerous scenarios involving Chinese or Russian support, noting that Venezuela owes Beijing roughly $70 billion. Bryan argues Trump likely holds the advantage, but the situation remains volatile. Trump Threatens New Strikes on Iran: Following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump said additional U.S. airstrikes are possible if Iran advances its nuclear or ballistic missile programs. For the first time, Washington appears equally focused on Iran's missile capabilities, aligning more closely with Israel's long held concerns. Iran's president responded by declaring a full-scale war with the United States and Israel. Iranian Assassination Plot Uncovered: The FBI is investigating an Iranian Quds Force team allegedly operating inside the United States to kidnap or assassinate American officials, including President Trump. Bryan connects the threat to mounting unrest inside Iran, where currency collapse, water shortages, and street protests are pushing the regime toward desperation. Ukraine Seeks Long-Term U.S. Security Guarantees: President Zelenskyy asked for a fifty-year American security guarantee as part of any peace deal with Russia. Trump countered with an offer of fifteen years. Bryan explains why such guarantees could entangle the United States in future wars and spark backlash from Trump's America First base, especially if paired with new conflicts in Iran and Venezuela. Listener Questions and Medical Good News: Bryan answers listener questions on Somaliland, European cultural decline, and why Israel's recognition of Somaliland has ignited regional tensions. He closes with encouraging medical updates on multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes, highlighting research that links oral health, cellular energy balance, and natural sunlight exposure to improved outcomes.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Venezuela port strike CIA Special Forces, Maduro narco boats Tren de Aragua, Trump Iran missile nuclear threats, Iranian assassination plot Quds Force FBI, Ukraine peace talks security guarantee, Zelenskyy Trump fifteen years, Somaliland Israel recognition Horn of Africa, Europe cultural decline cousin marriage, MS oral bacteria research, NAD Alzheimer's study, sunlight diabetes glucose control

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: China and Russia appear closer than ever—but the relationship is far from equal. We'll break down how Beijing is exploiting Russia's growing dependence as the war in Ukraine drags on, turning Moscow's isolation into long-term leverage for China. Christmas Day airstrikes in Nigeria. The U.S. hits Islamic State targets hard, as President Trump signals there is a limit to how long the slaughter of Christians will be tolerated. Israel announces it has killed a member of Iran's elite Quds Force, allegedly involved in planning attacks across the region. And in today's Back of the Brief—Israel becomes the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state, drawing sharp condemnation from the international community. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.  Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Chris lays the foundation for his efforts in 2026. With a focus on the economy and Demcorat's fraud, Chris hopes you will join him in his renewed mission. 

Of all living composers, perhaps none are more closely associated with the sound of Christmas than John Rutter and Bob Chilcott. Earlier this year, both marked milestone birthdays - Rutter turned 80 and Chilcott 70. A few days before Christmas, we caught up with them to talk about carols, choirs, and the enduring magic of the season.Jimmy Lai is one of Hong Kong's most prominent critics of the Beijing government: a media tycoon, democracy campaigner, and a Roman Catholic. The 78-year-old British citizen has been in prison since December 2020 and is now, after last week's guilty verdicts, facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. In her first interview with UK media, his daughter Claire Lai, tells the BBC's Danny Vincent she fears her father may become a martyr. 'Before The Millennium'- a Christmas production by Karim Khan. It's set in a Woolworths store in 1999, the year Ramadan and the Christmas season coincided. It explores the friendship between two migrant women during the festive season. Muslim writers and performers like Karim are telling stories of faith, friendship and everyday life as British Muslims, and fringe theatre has become an increasingly important platform for them.Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Catherine Murray Studio Managers: Mike Smith & Patrick Shaw Editor: Tim Pemberton

For review:1. The United States hasn't given up its pursuit of the massive, rusted oil tanker it chased into international waters near Venezuela last weekend, Officials no longer expect the Bella 1 to return to the country to load up with oil as the US military and Coast Guard chase it. The ship is currently empty.2.  Busy Week: President Trump to Meet with Ukraine President & Israeli PM.3. Israel on Friday became the first country to recognize Somaliland, a former British protectorate that unilaterally declared independence from formerly Italian-ruled Somalia in 1991.4. The United Nations Security Council will convene an emergency session on Monday to discuss Israel's recognition of Somaliland, with members slated to condemn the move.The European Union joined the chorus of condemnations of Israel's move.5. The Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Sunday the delivery of the first operational high-power laser interception system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., dubbed “Iron Beam,” to the Israel Defense Forces.6. The Pentagon has claimed that Chinese missile forces are operating a new type of anti-ship ballistic missiles that are capable of reaching the West Coast of the United States, according to the annual report on Beijing's military power.  

In this episode of The PPDB Situation Report: We begin in Ukraine, where another brutal year of war has upended long-held assumptions on both sides of the battlefield. What's changed, what hasn't, and what it tells us about where the conflict is heading next. Joining us to break it all down is George Barros from the Institute for the Study of War. Later in the show, we shift our focus to the Far East, where strategic competition continues to intensify across the region—from Beijing's long-term ambitions to Washington's evolving posture. We'll be joined by Steve Yates from The Heritage Foundation to break it all down. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold ExpressVPN: Visit https://ExpressVPN.com/baker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Christmas week, we're left to confront a hard truth: Christians are under attack in many corners of the world.On October 10, the Chinese Communist Party arrested Pastor Ezra Jin, founder of Beijing's Zion Church — along with 28 other leaders — in the largest crackdown on a Christian church in China in decades.Pastor Jin's daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, joins host Cliff May to scrutinize Beijing's campaign against Christians and Christianity.

Pour terminer l'année, l'équipe de Sur le Fil vous propose de passer en revue les dossiers chauds de l'année 2026 à l'échelle internationale, des relations entre les Etats-Unis et l'Europe, en passant par la guerre en Ukraine, la relation entre Pékin et Washington, les grandes tendances sur le continent africain et en Amérique latine et la situation à Gaza.Un épisode préparé avec Karim Talbi, rédacteur en chef de l'AFP pour l'Europe, Laura Bonilla, rédactrice en chef de l'AFP en Amérique latine, et Patrick Markey, redacteur en chef Afrique de l'AFP.Intervenants : Michael Cox, professeur émérite en relations internationales à la London School of Economics. Auteur de US Foreign Policy, dont la nouvelle édition va paraître en mars 2026.Alice Ekman, directrice de la recherche de l'Institut des études de sécurité de l'Union européenne (EUISS) et spécialiste de la Chine. Autrice notamment de Dernier Vol pour Pékin (Flammarion, 2024)Agnès Levallois, présidente de l'Institut de recherche et d'études Méditerranée Moyen-Orient (IreMMO), spécialiste du monde arabe contemporain. Realisation : Michaëla Cancela-KiefferDoublages : Emmanuelle Baillon, Denis Barnett Sébastien Casteran, Marie Dhumieres, Maxime MametExtraits sonores : AFPTV Extrait afrobeat : "Water", par TylaMusique : Nicolas VairPour aller plus loinCinq choses à attendre en 2026 (AFP)The G20 Agenda Is Shifting from the Global South to America FirstLe durcissement américain vis-à-vis de l'Europe va continuer, prévient Paris | European Newsroom (AFP)Paix en Ukraine : la dernière version du plan américain en 20 points (24 décembre 2025)Document officiel énonçant la stratégie de sécurité américaine (Novembre 2025)Breaking down Trump's 2025 National Security Strategy | Analyse par l'institut BrookingsGuerre commerciale : Donald Trump et Xi Jinping prêts pour un fragile accord de trêve ? | IfriPour la Chine, l'UE est un enjeu secondaire | Cairn.info (Décembre 2025)La Chine dans le monde. Entretien avec Alice Ekman (Diploweb, juillet 2024)China's turn towards the 'Global South': Europe is not Beijing's priority | European Union Institute for Security Studies(17 juillet 2025)Africa outlook 2026 - Economist Intelligence UnitConseil de sécurité: les derniers développements en Afrique de l'Ouest et au Sahel illustrent la fragilité et la résilience de la sous-région | ONU Couverture des réunions & communiqués de presseMegaprojet gazier de TotalEnergies au Mozambique : le communiqué de l'entrepriseA Gaza, des Palestiniens sous les bombes du côté israélien de la "ligne jaune" (AFP, 22 décembre 2025)Operation Southern Spear: The U.S. Military Campaign Targeting Venezuela | Council on Foreign RelationsAmérique latine : un nouveau cycle électoral incertain - Fondation Jean-JaurèsLa Semaine sur le fil est le podcast hebdomadaire de l'AFP. Vous avez des commentaires ? Ecrivez-nous à podcast@afp.com. Si vous aimez, abonnez-vous, parlez de nous autour de vous et laissez-nous plein d'étoiles sur votre plateforme de podcasts préférée pour mieux faire connaître notre programme. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

This Christmas week, we're left to confront a hard truth: Christians are under attack in many corners of the world.On October 10, the Chinese Communist Party arrested Pastor Ezra Jin, founder of Beijing's Zion Church — along with 28 other leaders — in the largest crackdown on a Christian church in China in decades.Pastor Jin's daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, joins host Cliff May to scrutinize Beijing's campaign against Christians and Christianity.

Happy holidays from Sinica! This week, I speak with Paul Triolo, Senior Vice President for China and Technology Policy Lead at DGA Albright Stonebridge Group and nonresident honorary senior fellow on technology at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis. On December 8th, Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he would approve Nvidia H200 sales to vetted Chinese customers — a decision that immediately sparked fierce debate. Paul and I unpack why this decision was made, why it's provoked such strong reactions, and what it tells us about the future of technology export controls on China. We discuss the evolution of U.S. chip controls from the Entity List expansions under Trump's first term through the October 2022 rules and the Sullivan Doctrine, the role of David Sacks and Jensen Huang in advocating for this policy shift, whether Chinese firms will actually want to buy H200s given their heterogeneous hardware stacks and Beijing's autarky ambitions, what the Reuters report about China cracking ASML's EUV lithography code tells us about the choke point strategy, and whether selective engagement actually strengthens Taiwan's Silicon Shield or undermines it. This conversation is essential listening for understanding the strategic, technical, and political dimensions of the semiconductor competition.6:44 – What the H200 decision actually changes in the real world 9:23 – The evolution of U.S. chip controls: from Entity Lists to the Sullivan Doctrine 18:28 – How Jensen Huang and David Sacks convinced Trump 25:21 – The good-faith case for why export control advocates see H200 approval as a strategic mistake 32:12 – What H200s practically enable: training, inference, or stabilizing existing clusters 38:49 – Will Chinese companies actually buy H200s? The heterogeneous hardware reality 46:06 – The strategic contradiction: exporting 5nm GPUs while freezing tool controls at 16/14nm 51:01 – The Reuters EUV report and what it reveals about choke point technologies 58:43 – How Taiwan fits into this: does selective engagement strengthen the Silicon Shield? 1:07:26 – Looking ahead: broader rethinking of export controls or patchwork exceptions? 1:12:49 – What would have to be true in 2-3 years for critics to have been right about H200?Paying it forward: Poe Zhao and his Substack Hello China TechRecommendations: Paul: Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski, Amerca's Great Power Propheti by Ed Luce; Hyperdimensional Substack by Dean Ball Kaiser: Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green; The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green; So Very Small by Thomas LevensonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Las autoridades chinas buscan revertir el preocupante envejecimiento de la población con incentivos económicos y menos restricciones legales para promover el matrimonio y la natalidad. En una sociedad moderna cada vez más individualista, resurgen los “mercados de solteros y solteras”, una tradición en la que los padres se reúnen en lugares públicos para buscar la media naranja a sus hijos. La corresponsal de RFI en París visitó uno de estos “rincones de emparejamiento”. China envejece y el problema demográfico ha pasado a ser considerado un asunto de Estado. De hecho, el XX Congreso del Partido Comunista chino en 2022 enfatizó que el país necesita “aumentar las tasas de natalidad y reducir los costos del embarazo, el parto, la escolarización y la crianza”. Para revertir la tendencia de envejecimiento, es necesario impulsar los matrimonios, aunque generacionalmente es una decisión que se pospone cada vez más, por un cambio de actitud hacia el matrimonio, pero también por las presiones económicas. En los últimos años, los matrimonios han caído estrepitosamente, alcanzando en 2024 el mínimo histórico, con 6,1 millones de parejas casadas. En mayo de 2025, entraron en vigor nuevas normas nacionales para el registro matrimonial que eliminan las restricciones geográficas, permitiendo a las parejas contraer matrimonio en cualquier lugar del país, sin necesidad de presentar el registro de residencia, o ‘hukou'. También los gobiernos locales buscan incentivar los matrimonios con cheques regalo o a través de iniciativas que combinan turismo y registro civil. Para las familias chinas, buscar una pareja a los hijos forma parte de la tradición. Aunque ahora, el individualismo es mayor y los jóvenes prefieren las aplicaciones de citas, hay muchos padres que siguen acudiendo a los conocidos como ¨Mercados de Solteros y Solteras¨. En China, el término 相亲角 (xiangqinjiao) significa `rincón de emparejamiento`, y consiste en un encuentro que tiene lugar en parque o lugares públicos donde los padres buscan encontrar pareja a sus hijos solteros. Lejos de tratarse de una costumbre más rural o en desaparición, el formato se ha enriquecido y las grandes y modernas ciudades de China acogen gran variedad de estos eventos. En Beijing, todos los días de la semana se puede acudir a una cita de estos famosos Mercados de Solteros y Solteras. Y los lugares escogidos son bien transitados y conocidos, como el Templo del Cielo, el parque Zhongshan, al lado de la Plaza de Tian´anmen, y en el Parque Olímpico. Visitamos el Mercado de Solteros y Solteras que se cita todos los domingos a la tarde en la salida D de la estación de metro del Parque Olímpico. Desafiando las gélidas temperaturas del invierno pekinés, voluntarios de la asociación Linhood, especializada en eventos de emparejamiento, distribuyen en el suelo unos treinta carteles de presentación de candidatos y candidatas. Nos sorprende que no hay solo jóvenes, encontramos incluso una mujer de 63 y un hombre de 70 años. Una foto encabeza cada ficha, que incluye la edad, la altura, lugar de residencia y nacimiento y trabajo, además de una lista de requisitos para su posible pareja y un código QR para contactar directamente. Nie Lin, es voluntario de Linhood y está entretenido en mantener los carteles en su sitio, aunque la brisa caprichosa se lo está complicando. Por esta razón, los domingos ventosos suspenden la actividad, nos explica. “Aquí puedes ver a la persona real en persona y la persona real se acercará. La tasa de éxito de emparejamiento es mayor. Y esto es gratuito, es un bien público, no tiene coste. El rango de edad oscila entre los 20 y los 40 años. El precio por una novia en China es muy alto. Hay muchos padres que vienen aquí para ayudar a sus hijos, porque están muy ocupados”, cuenta Nie Lin. Nie Lin nos plantea que el uso de app de citas suma cada vez más detractoras, porque se sienten en un lugar inseguro donde el lenguaje pasa por ser violento e incluso hay casos de acoso. En las actividades que organiza Linhood, el ambiente es sano y seguro, por eso la comunidad crece. En una esquina algo más retirada, un nutrido grupo de padres también ha traído los carteles de sus hijos, en esta ocasión, más caseros y sin fotos. “Hombre de Pekín, nacido en 1988, altura 180 cm., título universitario en finanzas. Con coche y casa propia, padres jubilados, vive en Shijingshan. Buscando mujer del año 1989 en adelante. Altura superior a 160 cm., con trabajo estable, padres con pensión vitalicia. Preferencia por mujeres de Pekín y mujeres que trabajan en la periferia de Pekín”, reza uno de los carteles. “Mujer del año 1987, 163 cm., soltera, graduada, miembro del Partido Comunista, profesora. Apariencia dulce y alegre, con buen conocimiento de libros, buen sentido del silencio, padre funcionario del Gobierno jubilado. Buscando hombre nacido entre 1979-1989, con titulación superior, altura superior a 175 cm., trabajo estable, con residencia en Pekín”, dice otra de las fichas, de una mujer en este caso. En medio de un corro, algunos candidatos se pasan un micrófono para presentarse. Los padres les aplauden y atienden las informaciones pensando en un posible emparejamiento. “Nací en 1990, en la ciudad de Zhangjiakou, en la provincia de Hebei. Trabajo en una oficina en Beijing, tengo hukou en el distrito de Haidian de la capital china. Tengo vivienda, y espero la lotería para una matrícula de auto. Soy introvertido. Sé que mi salario no es muy alto, pero se irá incrementando con los años. El único requisito que pongo a las candidatas es medir más de 1,5 metros”. El dinamizador presenta a un joven nuevo, recién llegado de la vecina ciudad de Tianjin se anima finalmente a hablar. Trabaja en uno de los centros neurálgicos de la nueva tecnología en la capital, el centro Zhongguancun. Cuando dice que estudió en una universidad de Estados Unidos, los padres se asombran y parecen prestarle más atención. Sobre los requisitos para sus candidatas: el joven dice no ser exigente: haber nacido después de 1996 y medir más de 1,62m. Una pareja explica que su hijo no viene a estos encuentros porque es muy tímido. Aprovechan para presentarlo con la primera información que todos piden: si es hombre o mujer, y el año de nacimiento. En su caso, su hijo tiene 34 años y está buscando pareja desde hace 2 años. Con un ritmo de vida acelerado, poco tiempo para dedicar al otro y demasiada dependencia de las aplicaciones digitales, estos encuentros presenciales son una alternativa que se resiste a desaparecer, al menos mientras existan padres con ganas y urgencia de emparejar a su descendencia.

China has condemned Japan's substantial increase in defense spending, saying the move exposes what Beijing calls the "sinister intention" of Japanese right-wing forces of advancing remilitarization.

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Beijing condemns Japan's substantial increase in defense spending after the Japanese cabinet approved a draft budget for fiscal year 2026 (01:01). China's high-speed rail network surpasses 50,000 kilometers with the opening of a new line in the country's northwest (17:29). The U.S. president confirms his country's military strikes against Islamic State targets in Nigeria (20:00).

Javier Carriqueo es un corredor olímpico argentino nacido en San Martín de los Andes. Compitió en los Juegos de Beijing 2008 y Londres 2012, y es el actual poseedor del récord nacional en los 3,000 metros llanos.Fue campeón iberoamericano y, recientemente, se reinventó en el trail running, consagrándose campeón sudamericano y campeón mundial de carrera con raquetas de nieve en 2022. En 2025, obtuvo el título nacional Máster +45 en los 21K del ASICS K42.

Eagerly awaiting the upcoming New Year's Day holiday, Wang Xiaohui, 32, has planned a trip to Harbin — a traditional winter tourism destination and the capital of Heilongjiang province — for the three-day break starting on Jan 1. Wang will ring in the New Year amid the city's dreamlike snowy vistas.32岁的王晓慧正满怀期待地迎接即将到来的元旦假期，她计划在1月1日开始的三天假期里前往哈尔滨——这一传统的冬季旅游目的地，也是黑龙江省省会。她将在这座城市如梦似幻的雪景中迎接新年的到来。"I used to spend New Year's Eve in Beijing with my family, eating dumplings, but this year I'll spend it with three friends," she said.她说：“以前我都是和家人在北京一起过除夕、吃饺子，但今年我会和三位朋友一起度过。”She had planned to see in the New Year at Harbin Ice and Snow World, one of China's top snow-themed parks, but was unable to get tickets.她原本计划在中国顶级冰雪主题乐园之一——哈尔滨冰雪大世界迎接新年，但未能买到门票。Travel agencies have forecast significant growth in both domestic and outbound tourism during the three-day holiday. Within the country, colder regions with abundant snow and regions with milder climates are competing for travelers.多家旅行机构预测，在为期三天的假期中，国内游和出境游均将实现显著增长。在国内市场，冰雪资源丰富的寒冷地区与气候相对温和的地区正共同争夺游客。Qi Chunguang, vice-president of travel portal Tuniu, said, "In the past 10 days, searches for 'New Year' tour products on our platform have doubled compared with the previous 10 days, and searches for 'New Year's Eve countdown' have grown by over 50 percent."旅游网站途牛副总裁齐春光表示：“过去10天，我们平台上‘元旦'旅游产品的搜索量较此前10天翻了一番，‘跨年倒计时'相关搜索量增长超过50%。”Qi noted the soaring popularity of snow destinations like Harbin and predicted that a travel peak in the winter tourism market would occur during the New Year's Day holiday. This is supported by data from Tujia, a domestic homestay booking platform, which reported that Harbin currently leads in holiday bookings.齐春光指出，哈尔滨等冰雪旅游目的地热度持续攀升，并预计元旦假期将迎来冬季旅游市场的出行高峰。国内民宿预订平台途家提供的数据也印证了这一判断，目前哈尔滨在假期预订量中位居前列。"Warmer places like Quanzhou in Fujian province and Libo in Guizhou province are also popular, with searches increasing by three to five times in the past 10 days," he said.他说：“福建泉州、贵州荔波等气候较为温暖的地区同样受到欢迎，过去10天相关搜索量增长了三到五倍。”Li Ailing, from Beijing, has booked a three-day trip to Quanzhou with her husband.来自北京的李爱玲已与丈夫预订了一次为期三天的泉州之行。"Beijing is too cold in winter, so we want to go to a warmer place with beautiful sea views," Li said. "My husband visited Quanzhou last year, and highly recommended it for its delicious food and distinct culture."李爱玲表示：“北京冬天太冷了，所以我们想去一个温暖、还能看到海景的地方。我丈夫去年去过泉州，他非常推荐那里，觉得美食丰富、文化特色鲜明。”Li said that they plan to leave on Dec 31, a day before the holiday period starts, to avoid the traffic rush.李爱玲说，他们计划在12月31日、即假期开始前一天出发，以避开交通高峰。The outbound tourism market is also expected to boom over the holiday. Online travel agency Qunar forecasts its first travel peak on Saturday. Popular destinations include South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam, with South Korea seeing the fastest growth in bookings due to lower flight prices.元旦假期期间，出境游市场也有望迎来增长。在线旅游平台去哪儿网预测，其首个出行高峰将出现在周六。热门目的地包括韩国、泰国、新加坡和越南，其中韩国因机票价格较低，预订量增长最快。Qunar noted that some tourists are extending their trips by taking extra paid vacation days to visit more distant destinations such as Egypt and Spain. "New Zealand is also popular among those extending their breaks because it's midsummer there. We've seen flight bookings to New Zealand increase by 1.1 times on our platform," it added.去哪儿网指出，一些游客通过额外请带薪年假，将行程延长，前往埃及、西班牙等较远的目的地。该平台补充称：“新西兰也受到延长假期游客的青睐，因为当地正值盛夏。我们平台上飞往新西兰的机票预订量增长了1.1倍。”snow-themed park/snəʊ θiːmd pɑːk/冰雪主题乐园homestay booking platform/ˈhəʊmsteɪ ˈbʊkɪŋ ˈplætfɔːm/民宿预订平台traffic rush/ˈtræfɪk rʌʃ/交通高峰flight bookings/flaɪt ˈbʊkɪŋz/机票预订量paid vacation days/peɪd vəˈkeɪʃən deɪz/带薪休假

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/korean-studies

On today's episode, we discuss Christmas traditions and favorite holiday movies before pivoting into how AI, robotics, and cheap energy could radically reshape productivity and national power. The crew breaks down the China–U.S. tech race, from Huawei's 7‑nanometer chips and SMIC's fabrication constraints to whether Western export controls can really keep Beijing behind in advanced AI hardware. They dig into the real economics of data centers and humanoid robots, including power and cooling limits, why Nvidia and other chip makers are soaring, and whether an AI‑driven productivity boom could be the last chance to grow out of America's debt load. Finally, they argue over inflation, deficits, and money supply, debate whether government spending or printing drives price spikes, and speculate about crypto, central bank digital currencies, and how future “robot workers” might both save and destabilize the financial system. Don't miss it!

Several travel agencies have reported a significant hike in winter vacation tour bookings after schools and universities across China recently announced their winter holiday schedules. Industry insiders said domestic destinations with milder climates and overseas scenic spots are in intense competition to attract winter holiday travelers.多家旅行社表示，随着全国中小学和高校陆续公布寒假安排，冬季度假游预订量显著攀升。业内人士称，气候温和的国内目的地与海外景点正展开激烈竞争，争夺寒假游客资源。Since late November, primary and high schools nationwide, as well as universities, have been releasing their winter holiday plans, with vacation lengths ranging from 25 days to over 40 days.自11月下旬以来，全国中小学及高校陆续公布寒假安排，假期时长从25天到40多天不等。In Shanghai, for instance, primary and high school students will have 25 days off from Feb 2 to 27. In contrast, winter holiday breaks last 43 days in Heilongjiang province in Northeast China, starting in mid-January, as the region experiences earlier and more severe cold weather.例如，上海的小学生和中学生将从2月2日至27日享受25天的假期。相比之下，中国东北的黑龙江省因寒冷天气来得更早且更为严酷，其寒假从1月中旬开始，长达43天。As students' winter vacations will overlap with the Spring Festival holiday—a traditional Chinese period for family reunions falling in mid-February next year—many families are choosing to travel during the first half of their children's winter breaks to avoid travel peaks and potential price hikes for flights and hotel rooms during the Spring Festival holiday period.由于学生寒假将与春节假期重叠——这个中国传统的团圆时节将于明年二月中旬到来——许多家庭选择在孩子寒假的前半段出行，以避开春节期间的出行高峰和机票酒店可能上涨的价格。"I plan to take my son on a week-long winter tour in late January using my paid leave, although we haven't finalized the dates yet," said Wang Li, 39, who works in Beijing." We have two final choices—Hainan in South China and Kunming in Southwest China—both of which enjoy milder climates in winter."39岁的北京上班族王莉（音译）表示：“我计划在一月底用带薪休假带儿子进行为期一周的冬游，不过具体日期尚未敲定。我们有两个最终选择——中国南部的海南和西南部的昆明，这两个地方冬季气候都比较温和。”Wang said she previously sent her son to winter holiday tutoring classes, such as ice hockey and tennis, and scheduled family trips during the Spring Festival holiday. "Those plans cost much more because accommodation and flight prices skyrocketed during Spring Festival. This winter holiday, I want to move the family trip to earlier," she said.王莉（音译）表示表示，她此前曾让儿子参加寒假补习班，比如冰球和网球课程，并在春节假期安排了家庭旅行。她说：“这些计划花费更高，因为春节期间住宿和机票价格飞涨。这个寒假，我想把家庭旅行提前安排。”Wang is not alone. Travel portal Qunar said tour bookings from mid-January—when most students begin their winter school breaks—to the period before the Spring Festival holiday have seen significant growth since late November.王莉（音译）并非个例。旅游门户网站去哪儿网表示，自1月下旬（多数学生开始寒假）至春节假期前的旅游预订量，自11月下旬以来呈现显著增长。Qunar also reported a notable increase in flight ticket bookings for children during that period. Bookings for infants and children aged up to 12 rose by 60.7 percent year-on-year. Domestically, warmer destinations including Zhuhai in Guangdong province, Sanya in Hainan, and Xishuangbanna in Yunnan province have all seen a surge in tourism bookings, the platform said.去哪儿旅游网数据显示，同期儿童机票预订量显著增长，0至12岁婴幼儿及儿童机票预订量同比增长60.7%。该平台指出，国内旅游方面，广东珠海、海南三亚、云南西双版纳等温暖目的地均迎来旅游预订高峰。Overseas destinations such as Thailand and Russia are also popular choices for winter holiday travelers. According to Qunar, Thailand is currently the top overseas destination on its platform, with flight ticket bookings from the Chinese mainland to the country increasing 21 percent from mid-January to the eve of the Spring Festival holiday.泰国和俄罗斯等海外目的地也是冬季度假游客的热门选择。据去哪儿旅游网数据显示，泰国目前在其平台上位居海外目的地榜首，1月中旬至春节假期前夕，中国大陆至泰国的机票预订量同比增长21%。Qi Chunguang, vice-president of travel portal Tuniu, noted a boom in overseas winter holiday tours.途牛旅游网副总裁齐春光指出，海外冬季度假游呈现爆发式增长。"Some long-distance tour products to Australia and New Zealand for the winter holiday have already sold out," Qi said. "Tours to Europe, Dubai and Egypt will see a booking rush this month." He added that tour products to overseas island destinations such as the Maldives are also entering their peak reservation season.齐春光表示：“部分澳大利亚和新西兰的冬季长途旅游产品已售罄，本月欧洲、迪拜和埃及的旅游线路将迎来预订高峰。”他补充道，前往马尔代夫等海外岛屿目的地的旅游产品也正进入预订旺季。Zhou Chenjie, 42, who lives in Shanghai, said she has booked a five-day family trip to Thailand starting Feb 4. "It's my daughter's birthday wish," Zhou said. "Traveling before the Spring Festival holiday is a good deal, as flight tickets and hotel rooms are offered at discounted prices."现居上海的42岁周晨洁（音译）表示，她已预订了2月4日起为期五天的泰国家庭游，她说：“这是女儿的生日愿望。春节前出行很划算，机票和酒店都提供折扣价。”

What if the secret to conquering self-doubt and negotiating your worth at work begins with lowering your tolerance for compromise in your most intimate relationships?In this episode of Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors, Erica Rooney sits down with Jingjin Liu, serial entrepreneur, investor, and global advocate. Jingjin is the founder of the Elevate Group and the co-founder of Zazu, Asia's first sexual wellness company for women. She proves a radical truth: confidence in the bedroom leads to confidence in the boardroom.Jingjin shares her fascinating journey from a "weird girl" in Beijing to the youngest Global Marketing Director in a male-dominated industry, revealing how deep-seated societal conditioning and a high tolerance for small compromises at home are the sticky floors keeping women stuck in their careers.Inside the Episode:The Bedroom to Boardroom Link: Jingjin breaks down how women's tendency to make compromises in the bedroom (e.g., accommodating a partner's sleep or TV habits, or silence about sexual desire) builds a pattern of accommodating behavior that is carried directly into the workplace.The Snoring Analogy: A powerful and relatable example of the high tolerance for "bullshit" women build at home—from sleeping poorly due to a partner's snoring to not asking for dishes to be washed—and why lowering that tolerance is the first step toward self-assertion.The LIE of Self-Worth: How making small, repeated compromises at home leads to the deep, intrinsic belief that "I am not worth it," making it impossible to ask for a bigger budget or better salary at work.The Twin Sticky Floors: The two most common traps for high-achieving women in corporate settings: The Likability Trap & PerfectionismFighting for the Whole Cookie: How to move past the "tall poppy syndrome" and scarcity mindset that pits women against each other. Jing Jin argues that women are often distracted by fighting for the crumbs instead of demanding the whole damn cookie for everyone.The Global Sisterhood: Jingjin shares the exciting evolution of the Elevate Group's mission, shifting from focusing only on Asian women to impacting 5 million women in business globally, recognizing that gender discrimination and self-doubt are universal challenges.If you are ready to reclaim your power, fight back against sexism, and elevate your ambition by dismantling the inner conditioning that holds you back, this episode is a courageous call to action.

What if the secret to conquering self-doubt and negotiating your worth at work begins with lowering your tolerance for compromise in your most intimate relationships?In this episode of Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors, Erica Rooney sits down with Jingjin Liu, serial entrepreneur, investor, and global advocate. Jingjin is the founder of the Elevate Group and the co-founder of Zazu, Asia's first sexual wellness company for women. She proves a radical truth: confidence in the bedroom leads to confidence in the boardroom.Jingjin shares her fascinating journey from a "weird girl" in Beijing to the youngest Global Marketing Director in a male-dominated industry, revealing how deep-seated societal conditioning and a high tolerance for small compromises at home are the sticky floors keeping women stuck in their careers.Inside the Episode:The Bedroom to Boardroom Link: Jingjin breaks down how women's tendency to make compromises in the bedroom (e.g., accommodating a partner's sleep or TV habits, or silence about sexual desire) builds a pattern of accommodating behavior that is carried directly into the workplace.The Snoring Analogy: A powerful and relatable example of the high tolerance for "bullshit" women build at home—from sleeping poorly due to a partner's snoring to not asking for dishes to be washed—and why lowering that tolerance is the first step toward self-assertion.The LIE of Self-Worth: How making small, repeated compromises at home leads to the deep, intrinsic belief that "I am not worth it," making it impossible to ask for a bigger budget or better salary at work.The Twin Sticky Floors: The two most common traps for high-achieving women in corporate settings: The Likability Trap & PerfectionismFighting for the Whole Cookie: How to move past the "tall poppy syndrome" and scarcity mindset that pits women against each other. Jing Jin argues that women are often distracted by fighting for the crumbs instead of demanding the whole damn cookie for everyone.The Global Sisterhood: Jingjin shares the exciting evolution of the Elevate Group's mission, shifting from focusing only on Asian women to impacting 5 million women in business globally, recognizing that gender discrimination and self-doubt are universal challenges.If you are ready to reclaim your power, fight back against sexism, and elevate your ambition by dismantling the inner conditioning that holds you back, this episode is a courageous call to action.

Once believed to be merely a children's favorite, animated films have "grown up", becoming the most commercially successful genre in China and making 2025 the highest-grossing year on record for the category.曾被认为只是儿童最爱的动画电影已然“长大成人”，成为中国最成功的商业类型片，并使2025年创下该类型片票房收入最高纪录。As of Tuesday, propelled recently by Disney's blockbuster Zootopia 2, the box office revenue of animated movies in China has reached 25.06 billion yuan ($3.56 billion), nearly 270 percent higher than in 2024, according to industry tracker Maoyan Pro.据猫眼专业版数据显示，截至周二，在迪士尼爆款动画《疯狂动物城2》的近期推动下，中国动画电影票房收入已达250.6亿元（约合35.6亿美元），较2024年同期增长近270%。Winning over Chinese theatergoers for various reasons — including the new character Gary De'Snake, deliberately released during the Chinese zodiac's Year of the Snake — the sequel to Zootopia 2 ,which was a hit in 2016, has grossed over 3.8 billion yuan since its premiere on Nov 26. The figure has surpassed its North American earnings of $283 million, making China the film's most lucrative market worldwide.《疯狂动物城》续集自11月26日上映以来，累计票房已突破38亿元人民币。这部2016年大热动画的续作凭借多重因素赢得中国观众青睐——包括在蛇年特别推出的新角色“加里·蛇”。该数字已超越其在北美地区2.83亿美元的票房收入，使中国成为该片全球最赚钱的票仓。Zhi Feina, a film researcher at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, said the overwhelming popularity of Zootopia 2 demonstrates the dynamic and huge potential of China's movie market, proving that appealing content — regardless of its cultural background — can always find a large fan base in the country.中国艺术研究院电影研究员支菲娜表示，《疯狂动物城2》的火爆上映充分展现了中国电影市场的蓬勃活力与巨大潜力，证明了具有吸引力的内容，无论其文化背景如何，总能在中国赢得庞大的观众群体。Currently, the biggest contributor to this year's animation box office bonanza is still Ne Zha 2, the runaway hit sequel to the 2019 filmNe Zha, which set the previous record for the genre. Having earned over 15.4 billion yuan on the Chinese mainland, Ne Zha 2 alone has accounted for 30 percent of this year's total box office — including all live-action movies.目前，今年动画票房狂潮的最大贡献者仍是《哪吒之魔童降世2》，这部续作延续了2019年首部《哪吒》创下的动画票房纪录。仅《哪吒之魔童降世2》在中国大陆就斩获154亿元票房，占今年总票房的30%。该数据涵盖所有真人电影。The first Ne Zha film was released in 2019 and earned 5 billion yuan, making that year the highest-grossing ever for animated films, until Ne Zha 2 set the new record.首部《哪吒》电影于2019年上映，创下50亿元票房纪录，使该年成为动画电影票房最高的一年，直到《哪吒之魔童降世2》刷新了这一纪录。Following Ne Zha 2 and Zootopia 2 , the third highest-grossing animated film this year is Nobody, a feature-length spinoff of one episode from the 2023 animated series Yao-Chinese Folktales, produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio — a pioneer since the late 1950s in introducing unique Chinese animation aesthetics to the world. By reflecting the career stress and dreams of ordinary people, the movie has struck a chord with young audiences, earning 1.719 billion yuan.继《哪吒之魔童降世2》和《疯狂动物城2》之后，今年票房第三高的动画电影是《浪浪山小妖怪》。这部由上海动画电影制片厂出品的长篇动画，改编自2023年动画系列《妖怪故事》中的一个单元故事。自1950年代末以来，该制片厂始终致力于向世界展示独特的中华动画美学。影片通过映射普通人的职场压力与梦想，引发年轻观众共鸣，累计票房达17.19亿元。The fourth highest-grossing animated movie is Boonie Bears: Future Reborn, the 11th installment of the long-running Boonie Bears franchise, which was launched in 2012. Centering on the titular bear siblings' new adventure in a futuristic world, the film earned 821 million yuan.票房第四高的动画电影是《熊出没·重启未来》，这是自2012年推出的长寿动画系列《熊出没》的第十一部作品。影片围绕熊家族兄妹在未来世界的新冒险展开，最终收获8.21亿元票房。Other animated hits include The Legend of Hei 2, centering on a cat demon capable of shape-shifting into a young boy, and Curious Tales of a Temple, adapted from Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) novelist Pu Songling's masterpiece Liaozhai Zhiyi (Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio). The overall ticket revenue from animation has accounted for 49 percent of this year's total box office, according to Maoyan.其他动画热门影片还包括《罗小黑战记2》，讲述了一只能变身为少年男孩的猫妖的故事；以及改编自清代（1644-1911）小说家蒲松龄名著《聊斋志异》的《聊斋奇谭》。据猫眼数据显示，动画电影票房收入占今年总票房的49%。Shen Wei, a concept artist for theNe Zha franchise, said the rise of Chinese animation is built on the progress that domestic animators have made in recent years. "In the past, animated works were thought to attract only young audiences, especially children. But with advances in both storytelling and animation techniques, Chinese animation has really diversified and succeeded in drawing a wider audience," Shen said.《哪吒》系列概念设计师申威表示，中国动画的崛起奠基于国内动画人近年来的进步。他表示：“过去动画作品被认为只吸引年轻观众，尤其是儿童。但随着叙事手法和动画技术的双重进步，中国动画已实现真正多元化，成功吸引了更广泛的受众。”Yuan Yun'er, a Beijing-based film critic, said the infusion of modern values into traditional culture is a key factor behind the success of Chinese animated films this year. Both Ne Zha 2 and Nobody draw inspiration from ancient classics, with the latter loosely inspired by the 16th-century novel Journey to the West.北京影评人袁云儿指出，将现代价值观注入传统文化是今年中国动画电影成功的关键因素。《哪吒之魔童降世2》和《浪浪山小妖怪》均从古代经典中汲取灵感，后者更以十六世纪小说《西游记》为创作蓝本。"It's easy to stir audiences' interest when they already know the settings and characters. They feel a fresh connection when these reimagined stories reflect their own modern-day struggles and pressures," Yuan said.袁云儿表示：“当观众已经熟悉故事背景和角色时，很容易引起他们的兴趣。当这些重新构思的故事反映出他们自身在现代社会中的挣扎与压力时，他们便会产生一种全新的共鸣感。”franchisen./ˈfræn.tʃaɪz/系列作品sequeln./ˈsiː.kwəl/续集

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Alarming new intelligence from the Pentagon suggests China is rapidly filling newly constructed missile silos with intercontinental ballistic missiles, signaling a nuclear buildup moving faster than analysts expected and raising fresh concerns about Beijing's long-term intentions. Ukraine takes the fight deep inside Russia, striking energy infrastructure, aircraft, and naval targets in a coordinated wave of attacks aimed at disrupting Moscow's war effort far from the front lines. Diplomacy delivers smiles but no substance, as White House officials describe talks with Russia in Miami as “productive,” even while the Kremlin openly admits no progress has been made toward ending the war. And in today's Back of the Brief: border fighting between Cambodia and Thailand drags into a third week, with new talks planned to revive a ceasefire once brokered by President Trump. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leave your recommendations below. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!Chapters (00:00) About the books(2:20) The Dean of Shandong(12:35) Private Revolutions(20:35) The New China Playbook(29:20) I Deliver Parcels in Beijing(40:40) Final thoughts(42:30) Books for next year, book club?Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepodLatest Substack post: https://substack.com/@sinobabble/p-178934152Links to everything: https://linktree.com/sinobabbleSupport the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

Empire, Stability, and the Smokescreen of MoralityBy Renaldo C. McKenzieLet us be honest—brutally honest, the way history demands and empire resents.What is unfolding in Venezuela, and across the wider Caribbean basin, has little to do with democracy, human rights, or some sudden moral awakening in Washington. It has everything to do with power—raw, unapologetic, strategic power—and the anxiety that sets in when that power feels challenged.The United States does not intervene because a government is despotic. If that were the case, half the world's strongmen would be facing sanctions before breakfast. The United States intervenes when dominance is threatened—when a small country dares to rearrange its economic loyalties, when it flirts with alternatives, when it whispers to Beijing or Moscow instead of kneeling to Washington.This is not conjecture. This is pattern. Take Venezuela. The hostility toward the Maduro government is not rooted in humanitarian outrage. It is rooted in the fact that Venezuela has chosen to deepen relations with China and Russia—to do business outside the American orbit. That is the unforgivable sin. Everything else—drugs, dictatorship, democracy—is stage dressing.The same script plays across the Caribbean. Jamaica, like many of its neighbors, has welcomed Chinese investment: ports modernized, infrastructure built, capital flowing where Western lenders once stalled. Suddenly, “stability” becomes a concern. Suddenly, sovereignty is suspect. Funny how that works.This is not about policing the world's conscience. It is about preserving a hierarchy. History offers receipts. In Guyana, the United States once supported a government that was neither democratic nor just—one that violently suppressed dissent and oversaw the assassination of revolutionary scholar Walter Rodney. That regime, led by Forbes Burnham, was later found culpable by a commission of inquiry. Yet at the time, it enjoyed American backing. Why? Because it played ball. It served U.S. interests. Morality, apparently, is negotiable.Contrast that with today. Guyana now hosts massive U.S. oil interests, where American corporations extract vast wealth while the Guyanese people receive a fraction. That arrangement is deemed acceptable—commendable, even. But let Guyana decide tomorrow to nationalize its resources, to partner elsewhere, or to rely on itself, and watch how quickly the tone changes. Hypothetical? Hardly. We have seen this movie before.Consider Cuba—decades under embargo, not because it threatens the world, but because it refuses submission. Consider Ukraine, punished by war for seeking stability outside one imperial sphere and into another. When small nations move independently, the ground shakes.The language of “communism” is the oldest smokescreen in the book. It is wheeled out whenever convenient, retired when inconvenient. The real crime is not ideology—it is disobedience.This is the central argument of my forthcoming book, Neoliberal Globalization Reconsidered: Unfair Competition and the Death of Nations. Nations do not collapse simply because of internal failure; they are often pushed—cornered by systems designed to ensure that wealth flows upward and outward, never inward, never locally, never freely.And here lies the uncomfortable truth: empire does not require virtue. It requires compliance.Yes, America wants to remain competitive. That desire is not irrational. But competitiveness built on coercion, embargoes, and destabilization is not leadership—it is fear masquerading as strength. And fear, history tells us, is a dangerous policy advisor.The Caribbean must tread carefully. Sovereignty is costly. Independence comes with consequences. But the alternative—permanent subordination dressed up as partnership—is far more expensive in the long run.Renaldo is the Author of Neoliberalism, 2021) and Neoliberal Globalization Reconsidered, Unfair Competition and the Death of Nations", contributions by Martin Oppenheimer

Top ‘90s model, nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner Rosemary Ferguson joins Tanya Rose to share her travel secrets this week. In this episode, Rosemary reflects on how travel has shaped her life ever since moving to Brazil as a child, unpacks how she spent a whirlwind 24 hours in Beijing and reveals why she believes you should never visit Ibiza in August… Plus, Rosemary shares why thinks everyone should see the Amazon Rainforest and highlights how her wellness practices have become a core part of how she travels. Don't forget to follow @travelsecretsthepodcast and remember, you can watch all of our episodes on YouTube. Places mentioned: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Malaysia Portugal Amazon Rainforest, Brazil New York City, United States Krabi, Thailand Beijing, China Ibiza, Spain The Saddle, Scotland Hotel Argos, Ibiza, Spain Cherating, Malaysia Maldives Rajasthan, India Elsewhere…Goa, India Rome, Italy Marseilles, France Chapters 00:00 Intro 05:09 Secret 1: Number 1 travel destination everybody should go to 08:35 Secret 2: Most unexpected travel experience 10:52 Secret 3: Most Over or Underrated travel experience 16:45 Secret 4: Best Food & Drink while travelling 21:56 Secret 5: Number 1 travel tip 26:51 Secret 6: Poignant memory from a trip 30:48 Secret 7: Special travel photograph 32:50 Outro

3. British Weakness: The Failure to Challenge Beijing Over Jimmy Lai. Mark Simon predicts Prime Minister Starmer will fail to secure Jimmy Lai's release because the UK mistakenly views China as an economic savior. He notes the UK's diminished military and economic leverage leads to a submissive diplomatic stance, despite China'sdeclining ability to offer investment. EMPRESS DOWAGER CIXI.

PREVIEW Guest: Victoria Coates Summary: Coates analyzes China's energy vulnerability, specifically its reliance on a "shadow fleet" importing Venezuelan oil. She suggests the US should interdict these shipments because China lacks a "Plan B." Forced to buy licit, market-price oil from suppliers like the Saudis, Beijing would suffer significant costs to its economic growth. 1845 CARACAS

Host: Annik Sobing Guest: Maria Pechurina, Director of International Trade at Peacock Tariff Consulting Published: December 22 Length: ~30 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center In this Simply Trade Roundup, host Annik Sobing is joined by international trade and economic diplomacy expert Maria Pechurina for a deep dive into BRICS and what it means for global trade in 2026. Maria, who has a strong background in Chinese studies and international relations, explains how BRICS has expanded from its original five members to a much broader “BRICS Plus” bloc that now includes countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, representing roughly 40% of global GDP, over 40% of the world's population, about a quarter of global merchandise exports, and potentially half of the world's oil production.​ Together, they explore how aggressive U.S. tariff policy in 2025 has accelerated a shift toward deeper BRICS cooperation and a more bipolar trading system. Maria illustrates this with examples such as U.S. tariffs on India that pushed New Delhi closer to Beijing and other BRICS partners, and she unpacks the growing trend toward non‑dollar settlement channels and local‑currency trade within the bloc. The conversation then turns to what all of this means for U.S.‑based trade and customs professionals, including the need to think in terms of “two playbooks” (U.S./EU vs. BRICS‑linked trade), prepare for more politically driven tariffs, and build scenarios and risk matrices that reflect a permanently more volatile environment.​ What You'll Learn in This Episode What BRICS and “BRICS Plus” are, who is involved, and why the bloc now represents a major share of global GDP, population, exports, and oil production.​ How U.S. tariffs and sanctions pressures in 2025 pushed countries toward deeper intra‑BRICS cooperation and regional trade (e.g., India–China, China–Brazil).​ Why 2025 effectively “broke” the old multilateral trade model and how 2026 is likely to cement a more bipolar system (U.S./EU vs. BRICS‑centric tracks).​ The rise of non‑dollar settlement and alternative payment systems, including local‑currency trade between Russia, China, India, and Brazil, and what that implies for dollar demand.​ How tariffs are increasingly used as political leverage, including “secondary” or punitive tariffs tied to countries' domestic or foreign policy choices.​ What a dual‑track supply chain strategy looks like in practice for U.S. importers and compliance teams. Key Takeaways BRICS is no longer a fringe coalition; it is a central, growing pillar of global trade and energy, with China as a major center of gravity.​ U.S. and EU trade professionals must be ready to manage two distinct regulatory environments at once, with different expectations on origin, currency, sanctions, and documentation.​ Politically driven, rapidly announced tariffs will remain a major planning risk, making scenario modeling and proactive supplier strategies essential.​ Smaller and mid‑sized companies can amplify their influence by working through trade and industry groups to communicate real‑world impacts to policymakers.​ Credits Host: Annik Sobing Guest: Maria Pechurina – Peacock Tariff Consulting Producer: Lalo Solorzano Subscribe & Follow New Roundup episodes every week. Presented by: Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals.​

This episode is brought to you by Wirana Shipping Until the opening decade of this century, shipowners were among the chief beneficiaries of what was known at the time as ‘relationship banking'. The market was dominated by a handful of British and German banks, who usually just allowed their ship finance teams to get on with it and didn't ask too many questions. It seemed that there were few problems that couldn't be sorted out over a three-bottle lunch at a rather expensive restaurant. If the top brass were ever sufficiently impertinent as to ask why leniency had yet again been extended, they were told they simply didn't understand the cyclical nature of the shipping industry. Then a bunch of derivatives traders came along and spoiled the party. In the wake of the global financial crisis of 2008 onwards, shipping loans could be bought for just cents on the dollar and bad shipping loans even forced a number of long-established banks to close their doors altogether. Private equity rushed in and, by and large, lost its shirt. To repurpose the earlier euphemism, it simply didn't understand the cyclical nature of the shipping industry and was never going to wait around long enough to get its money back. While European banks still lend to blue chip shipowners, many smaller and medium-sized owners have turned to Asian, and especially Chinese, leasing companies to source their S&P needs. For a while that worked, especially because the Asian lenders were politically mandated to keep domestic shipyard orderbooks as full as possible. But even that arrangement has been under strain in the last 12 months, thanks to tariff and port fee tensions between Washington and Beijing. So what happens now? If you need to borrow money next year, who is going to lend it to you and how much will you be expected to pay? Joining David on the podcast this week are: Stephen Fewster, global head of shipping finance, ING Bank Pankaj Khanna, chief executive, Heidmar Maritime Holdings Dimitris Karamacheras, partner, Hill Dickinson

China's theft of American intellectual property and technology — estimated to cost the U.S. roughly $600 billion annually — has allowed Beijing to accelerate its technological and economic rise without making comparable investments. This has helped China go from one of the world's poorest nations to a global superpower in just 50 years. Former Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency David Shedd and former intelligence analyst Andrew Badger explore how China used America's secrets to transform its economy and military in their new book, The Great Heist: China's Epic Campaign To Steal America's Secrets. The two authors recently joined the Rundown's Jessica Rosenthal to discuss cases involving U.S. companies such as Tesla and Apple losing proprietary technology to Chinese employees, how their thievery has boosted China's military capabilities, and potential strategies for economically and technologically decoupling from China. They also discuss the possibility of war with China and whether Beijing's technology could eventually surpass America's. We often must cut interviews short during the week, but we thought you might like to hear the full conversation. Today on the Fox News Rundown Extra, we share our entire interview with former Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency David Shedd and former intelligence analyst Andrew Badger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Millionaire Missionary is now available on Amazon! (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G94FKJJW/) Today's episode takes another long look at the life and times of Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong's most famous pro-democracy advocate, who is facing life in prison by the Chinese regime that he dared to criticize. (Also, the UK get's critiqued for not only doing nothing for Jimmy Lai, but instigating on British soil similar attacks against free speech!) We also take a deep look at a couple of spiritually needy areas in China, the special administrative regions of Tibet and Inner Mongolia, respectively. Pray for China (Dec 22-28): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-dec-22-28-2025 Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network (Christian Podcast Community)! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I present a new Chinese city or county to pray for every day. Send your questions or comments to chinacompass@privacyport.com. Everything else can be easily found at PrayGiveGo.us! China Executes Former Senior Banker For Taking $156 Million In Bribes https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2025/12/1333334/china-executes-former-senior-banker-taking-us156m-bribes#google_vignette Hong Kong Mogul Jimmy Lai Convicted by Pro-CCP Kangaroo Court Last year's Jimmy Lai episode: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/30293/episodes/49 Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was convicted in a landmark trial seen by critics as a symbol of the financial hub's deteriorating freedoms. Found guilty of colluding with foreign forces under the National Security Law that China imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, and of publishing seditious materials through his now-defunct newspaper Apple Daily, Lai denied all charges, and faces the possibility of a life sentence. Now, Britain should be ashamed for doing nothing to stand up for one of its own citizens being bullied by Beijing. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/jimmy-lai-a-hong-kong-rags-to-riches-media-tycoon-who-became-fierce-critic-of-beijing/article70397910.ece https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/hong-kongs-legal-clampdown-on-jimmy-lai-tycoon-and-china-critic https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hong-kongs-jimmy-lai-found-guilty-of-sedition-foreign-collusion https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/reaction-to-hong-kong-tycoon-jimmy-lais-guilty-verdict-in-national-security-trial https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/15/hong-kong-authoritarianism-hides-behind-legalistic-facade/ Let's take a look at this coming week's Pray for China (PrayforChina.us) cities… Pray for China (Dec 22-28): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-dec-22-28-2025 Here’s the full interview with Denny, who tells the story about being chased all around Alashan in Inner Mongolia: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/30293/episodes/12 Thank you for listening! Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Don’t forget to follow me on X (@chinaadventures) or email chinacompass@privacyport.com with any questions or comments. Also, I’m working on getting set up for sponsorships at Ko-Fi & Patreon. There’s also a Paypal link at PrayforChina.us if you’d like to give to support the China ministry. Last but not least, for (almost) everything else we’re doing visit PrayGiveGo.us. Luke 10, vs 2: the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, therefore ask the Lord for more. Talk again soon!

Kate Adie introduces stories from Ukraine, Hong Kong, Australia, the USA and Laos.Russian forces have tried to capture the city of Pokrovsk for nearly two years as it seeks to control Eastern Ukraine, but Ukrainian forces have continued to resist the advance, helped by Ukraine's innovative arms industry. Jonathan Beale met battle-scarred troops at a command centre and visited a secret missile factory.The Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been convicted of ‘colluding with foreign forces' under the Beijing-imposed national security law. Mr Lai had been accused of violating the law for his role in pro-democracy protests and through his newspaper, Apple Daily. Danny Vincent has been following the case.Last weekend, two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi beach in Sydney. 15 people were shot dead and dozens more were injured in the worst mass shooting in Australia in nearly three decades. Katy Watson has been speaking to members of Sydney's Jewish community.In the 'Yellowstone' state of Montana the prospect of a public land sell-off has brought together unlikely allies, as cowboys and environmental activists, conservatives and progressives, have all joined forces to protect their way of life. Ellie House reports from Montana.And we're travelling through rural Laos where people hold a deep spiritual connection to the land, where spirits are believed to inhabit all elements of the natural world. Sara Wheeler heard how the Khmu people have held fast to their ancient beliefs in the face of a repressive government.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie Hill Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Watch this episode on YouTube here.China isn't just competing economically — it's coercing strategically. Drawing on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission's latest report, guest host Craig Singleton is joined by Commission Vice Chair Randy Shriver and Commissioner Mike Kuiken to unpack how Beijing weaponizes its economic power — and why Chinese economic statecraft now sits at the center of U.S. national security.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Moscow deploys its newest nuclear-capable missile system to Belarus, placing a powerful new class of weapons on NATO's doorstep and forcing the alliance to reassess its defensive posture. Beijing lashes out after Washington approves a massive arms package for Taiwan worth more than ten billion dollars, including missiles, drones, and heavy artillery. New reporting claims President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quietly planned a potential strike on Iran's nuclear program far earlier than publicly known, using a coordinated deception campaign. And in Today's Back of the Brief: Just days after the deadly attack on Bondi Beach, Australian police launch a dramatic operation in Sydney amid intelligence warnings of a possible follow-on plot. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Debt Relief Advocates: Learn what debt reduction you may qualify for. Go online and visit https://DRA.com/podcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As early as 1989, intelligence officers in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) recognized China as the next threat, says former DIA officer and physicist Michael Sekora.“We identified what [China] was doing to become a superpower faster than any country in history, and we were on track to containment,” Sekora says.Back in the 1980s, he led a classified Defense Intelligence Agency program called “Project Socrates” that was created under the Reagan administration to determine the cause of U.S. economic and military decline, find a way to reverse it, and outcompete Moscow. Later they turned their sights to Beijing.“It was very obvious what was going on: China was executing a national technology strategy, which basically was playing ... a very adroit game of worldwide offensive, defensive, technology exploitation chess,” Sekora says. “What we had in Socrates could have easily contained China.”The project was defunded by the Bush administration, and the United States went the opposite route, allowing many key technologies to be handed over to Beijing over the course of several decades.In this episode, he breaks down why he believes the United States has lost its edge in technological innovation and how this can be turned around.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

After years of debate and scrutiny, TikTok has signed an agreement for a new U.S. joint venture. By January 22, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC will be managed by three investors: Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX. Former TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer joins CNBC's Beijing Bureau Chief Eunice Yoon to discuss the implications of this deal for geopolitics and data safety. Executive wine editor of Food & Wine Ray Isle brings his holiday sips to set, including recommendations at varying price points and varying ABVs. Amid tariffs and a growing nonalcoholic beverage trend, Isle says the wine industry has always been cyclical. Plus, Barack Obama's 2025 list of favorite books includes a familiar title, and the Trump administration continues its Fed Chair interviews.  Steve Liesman - 05:51Kevin Mayer & Eunice Yoon - 15:40Ray Isle - 24:22 In this episode:Steve Liesman, @steveliesmanEunice Yoon, @onlyyoontvBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Turkel outlines his collaboration with US leaders, including Matt Pottinger and Nancy Pelosi, to secure sanctions and a formal genocide designation. He highlights the bipartisan consensus against Beijing's abuses, noting that his effective advocacy on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom led China to sanction him personally 1967 RED GUARD

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: A troubling congressional report reveals Beijing may be quietly tapping into American taxpayer-funded research programs, potentially funneling sensitive nuclear technology to the Chinese military. European leaders discuss a possible multinational force following a ceasefire, as Germany's chancellor suggests Western troops could be authorized to push back Russian forces if necessary. An MIT professor is killed in his Massachusetts home, and Israeli officials are now reviewing intelligence that may point to Iranian involvement. New surveillance footage is released as the manhunt continues in the Brown University shooting, with a person of interest now identified. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Debt Relief Advocates: Learn what debt reduction you may qualify for. Go online and visit https://DRA.com/podcast  Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This one is more entertaining than anything. Mr. Andrew Shaw mentioned this looting of the eastern Qing Tombs event when I interviewed him earlier in the year. If you recall, he wrote that book called "Spoil." This time, I'm focusing on the events that went down in July 1928 at the Qing Eastern Tombs 清东陵 northeast of Beijing. This all took place in the final moments of the Warlord Era, right after the Central Plains War. This act perpetrated by warlord Sun Dianying 孙殿英 epitomized the venality of these parasites.   To get early access to all the new episodes coming in February 2027, consider Patreon or CHP Premium. Details at the Website: https://teacup.media/support    

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) President Trump prepares to address the nation tonight, fueling speculation about what he may announce. Bryan walks through the most likely possibilities, from the economy and falling inflation to explosive new revelations showing the Biden DOJ pushed ahead with the Mar-a-Lago raid despite FBI warnings that no probable cause existed. Trump may also signal major changes on marijuana policy or escalate pressure on Venezuela, as the White House orders a blockade of oil tankers that could trigger cascading unrest in Caracas and Havana. Abroad, China hardens its grip on the Panama Canal by blocking US-led efforts to reclaim port operations, raising the stakes for American naval access. Trump counters Beijing's influence by naming Peru a major non-NATO ally, part of a broader strategy to lock down South America's Pacific coast alongside new conservative governments in Chile and Ecuador. In Europe, the Green Revolution falters as Brussels backs away from banning combustion engines and Ford writes down nearly $20 billion after abandoning its electric truck push. The episode closes with remarkable scientific news from Japan, where researchers discovered a bacteria found in the Japanese tree frog that eradicated tumors in mice with a 100 percent success rate, offering new hope for future cancer treatments.    "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Trump national address, US economy data, Mar-a-Lago FBI raid documents, DOJ lawfare, marijuana reclassification, Venezuela oil blockade, Panama Canal China, Peru non-NATO ally, South America strategy, EV collapse Europe, Ford EV losses, combustion engine reversal, Japanese tree frog cancer research

In this episode of China Decode, Alice Han and James Kynge break down a quieter but consequential shift in Washington's China strategy. They unpack Trump's new national security playbook, why Beijing is suddenly sounding upbeat, and whether this signals a real reset or just a tactical pause in U.S.-China tensions. They also dig into China's baby bust — and the backlash to a new tax on condoms — as policymakers search for answers to falling birth rates. Plus, Alice sits down with Chip War author Chris Miller to discuss Trump's surprise reversal on AI chip exports to China, what it means for NVIDIA, and why semiconductors are now at the center of global power politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices