Podcasts about Beijing

THE MOVE TO BEIJING AND XI ZHONGXUN'S 1962 PURGE Colleague Joseph Torigian. This segment explains that the book title comes from Mao's praise of Xi Zhongxun for prioritizing the party despite suffering. It traces the family's move to Beijing, the birth of "favorite son" Xi Jinping, and the father's complex loyalty to Mao. Torigiandetails Xi Zhongxun's 1962 purge, which foreshadowed the Cultural Revolution; he was removed for supporting a novel about martyr Liu Zhidan, which Mao viewed as a challenge. NUMBER 12

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—new reporting from The New York Times pulls back the curtain on Russia's war machine, revealing a system built on abuse, coercion, and the ruthless exploitation of its own soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Later in the show—fresh warning signs from Beijing, as Xi Jinping uses his New Year's speech to double down on Taiwan, declaring reunification inevitable after a round of large-scale Chinese military exercises. Plus—new details from President Trump's meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu suggest Israel is already floating the idea of a second round of strikes against Iran. And in today's Back of the Brief—Finland seizes a cargo vessel suspected of damaging a vital undersea cable linking two NATO neighbors. 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 Glorify: Feel closer to God this year with Glorify—get full access for just $29.99 when you download the app now at https://glorify-app.com/PDB.  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

This episode hits hard on the raw frustration boiling over in America as 2025 ends: fraud exposed everywhere, from massive Minnesota voter registrations processed online with zero proof of citizenship to billions siphoned off by NGOs and Somali-style scams in multiple states. President Trump calls out the injustice against Tina Peters on Truth Social, slamming Colorado for ignoring his December pardon of the Gold Star Mom jailed for nine years just for demanding honest elections yet she remains locked up while the system protects the real crooks. We're at a tipping point: only 24% of Americans are satisfied with the country's direction, a steep drop showing outrage over stolen voices, no arrests for the big players, and endless bullshit from the FBI on everything from J6 pipe bombers to election integrity.Guest geopolitical expert Halsey English joins to break it down: Who's really blocking Trump from holding treasonous actors accountable? With escalating U.S. actions against Venezuelan drug ops (tied to China), Beijing's Taiwan drills testing resolve, and Venezuela as a potential proxy flashpoint, is domestic rot deep state sabotage, weaponized agencies, and institutional defiance dooming America to fail, or can we still turn the corner before it's too late?From Elon's fraud estimates to whistleblowers in Ohio and Massachusetts, Andy Frisella's epic rant, and the growing calls to stop paying taxes altogether, this show lays bare the betrayal: hardworking Americans getting screwed while the swamp laughs. The people have had enough fraud, lies, and inaction are pushing us off the cliff. Tune in for unfiltered truth, hard questions, and no punches pulled. America First or we lose it all.

The biggest questions in U.S. foreign policy today tend to be about China. Policymakers and analysts argue over the implications of China's rise, the extent of its ambitions, the nature of its economic influence, and the meaning of its growing military strength. Underlying these arguments is a widespread sense that where Beijing once seemed likely to slot comfortably into a U.S.-led international order, it now poses a profound challenge to American interests. No one brings more perspective to these arguments than the historian Odd Arne Westad. In a series of essays in Foreign Affairs over the past few years, Westad has explored the drivers of China's foreign policy, its approach to global power, and its fraught ties with the United States. He sees in the long arc of Chinese and global history a stark warning about the potential for conflict, including a war between China and the United States. But Westad also sees in this history lessons for policymakers today about how to avert such an outcome. Dan Kurtz-Phelan spoke to Westad about China's complicated past, about how that history is defining its role as a great power, and about the paths both to war and to peace in the years ahead.   You can find sources, transcripts, and more episodes of The Foreign Affairs Interview at https://www.foreignaffairs.com/podcasts/foreign-affairs-interview.

Así celebraron millones de personas la llegada del 2026 de Nueva York a Beijing. El papa León XIV hizo un llamado al perdón y el entendimiento en su primera misa del año. Trump retira a la Guardia Nacional de Chicago, Los Ángeles y Portland.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It might be a new year but tensions in the Taiwan strait continue as Beijing aggressively asserts its presence. China has recently launched a military exercise warning against Taiwan independence, surrounding the East Asian Island nation with army, naval, air and rocket force units.  Joining Nic Healey on Nightlife is Bang Xiao, a journalist at ABC's Asia Pacific Newsroom and supervising producer for the ABC Chinese in-language service at ABC News.

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 New Year's Eve Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan delivers major economic updates, exposes collapsing green energy narratives, explains the White House's aggressive new asylum strategy, and revisits the explosive Somali fraud scandal in Minnesota that is now dominating national politics. He closes with a reflection on truth, power, and why elites work so hard to stop Americans from asking hard questions. Good News for Your Wallet: Pending home sales jumped 3.3 percent in November, the strongest showing in three years, driven by rising wages and lower mortgage rates. Rents are falling across most major cities, creating the most renter-friendly market in at least a decade. HUD data shows that two-thirds of rental demand came from the foreign-born, meaning deportations and self deportations are directly increasing housing supply and lowering prices for native born Americans. The Cheap Labor Myth Collapses: After more than two and a half million illegal migrants have left the country, GDP and wages are rising while rents and crime fall. Bryan argues Americans were lied to for decades by elites who claimed cheap foreign labor was necessary. The data now shows the opposite, and he calls the moment revolutionary. Green Energy Reality Check: China's renewable energy boom is largely a mirage, with many wind and solar projects never connected to the grid. Beijing is simultaneously expanding coal plants across Southeast Asia. Global wind speeds and solar efficiency are declining, and Japan is restricting solar farms for environmental and aesthetic reasons. Bryan says the global green movement is now in retreat. Trump's New Asylum Strategy: The White House is canceling large numbers of asylum claims and sending others to third countries like South Sudan or Palau while cases are reviewed. The administration says most asylum claims are fraudulent and designed to exploit loopholes. Democrats accuse Trump of abandoning human rights. DOJ Targets DEI Programs: The Justice Department is using the False Claims Act to pressure federal contractors to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. Companies must either eliminate DEI or face massive fines for defrauding the government. Universities Face a Financial Shake-Up: The Trump administration wants universities and venture capital firms to share profits from taxpayer-funded research. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is pushing for equity stakes or cash returns when patents are commercialized. Elon Musk Enters the Midterm Fight: Despite past clashes with Republicans, Elon Musk says he will spend hundreds of millions of dollars to help the GOP keep Congress. He cites fears of Democrat censorship, economic control, and what he calls ideological extremism. Minnesota's Somali Fraud Scandal Explodes: Federal investigators say Somali-run nonprofits defrauded taxpayers of at least nine billion dollars through fake daycares, autism services, food programs, and Medicaid scams. Money funded luxury lifestyles, Islamist terror groups, and Democratic campaigns. Governor Tim Walz halted earlier investigations after activists accused the state of racism. A Somali academic told the New York Times that fraud is culturally encouraged, a statement Walz has avoided addressing. Bryan explains why Elon Musk now calls the governor "Traitor Tim." A New Year's Reflection: Bryan closes by urging listeners to reject elite deflections and keep demanding the truth. He argues that the real battle ahead is not left versus right, but truth versus lies, and promises that this podcast will continue to challenge power with facts, logic, and reason in the year ahead.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: pending home sales rent decline deportations, cheap labor myth wages GDP, China coal expansion fake green energy, Trump asylum third country policy, DOJ False Claims Act DEI, university patent profit sharing Lutnick, Elon Musk GOP midterms funding, Minnesota Somali fraud nine billion dollars, Tim Walz investigation, al Shabaab terror funding

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In this special year-end edition, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso reflect on a transformative 2025 in the Indo-Pacific, examining the dramatic shift from conventional diplomacy to hard power politics under the Trump 2.0 administration. The episode provides a comprehensive review of the podcast's most impactful conversations, from national government leaders to topical experts, while analyzing the year's major geopolitical developments.Trump 2.0 and the Hard Power PivotJim and Ray discuss how the year began with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel's appearance, marking the podcast's first sitting ambassador interview. Following President Trump's January inauguration, 2025 witnessed a fundamental reorientation of American Indo-Pacific policy away from soft power initiatives toward military deterrence and economic leverage through tariffs. They discuss how this approach disrupted established norms and international agreements, with potential Supreme Court challenges to executive power looming in 2026.China's Gray Zone and Political Warfare CampaignsGray zone and political warfare emerged as a dominant theme, with a topical episode featuring the RAND Corporation's Todd Helmus becoming the year's most downloaded audio content. The hosts recall what they learned about China's comprehensive political warfare strategy, which treats peacetime as a mere continuation of conflict through non-military means. Notable coverage included the extraordinary incident where two Chinese Coast Guard vessels collided near Scarborough Shoal, producing the year's top video episode as Beijing's propagandists struggled for four days to craft a narrative blaming the Philippines for a setback they couldn't admit to.Regional Flashpoints and ConflictsThe podcast provided critical context for unexpected conflicts, including the India-Pakistan and Thailand-Cambodia border wars. These complex, multi-generational disputes were unpacked by regional experts like Indian strategic analyst Nitin Gokhale and former Cambodian Ambassador Pou Sothirak.The Trump-Modi Relationship UnravelsWhat began as a seemingly stable partnership deteriorated rapidly in 2025, with Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin providing blunt analysis of an unexpectedly cooling U.S.-India relationship. The Trump administration's surprising pivot toward Pakistan represented a stunning reversal from Trump 1.0 policies, raising questions about Quad's future effectiveness and regional security cooperation.Transnational Crime and Human TraffickingInvestigative reporting by the Washington Post's Sue-Lin Wong exposed the exponential expansion and brutal reality of scam compounds across Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines, where human trafficking victims are forced into “pig-butchering” and cryptocurrency fraud operations. We also featured Washington Post reporter Rebecca Tan discussing the methamphetamine crisis fueled by Chinese precursor chemicals flowing through lawless Myanmar territories into markets across Asia.Historic Interviews and Podcast Milestones2025 brought unprecedented access, including interviews with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and the podcast's first head-of-state guest, Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. Documentary filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama also came on to discuss Beijing's failed attempt to suppress her West Philippine Sea documentary, while North Korean defector Timothy Cho shared his harrowing escape story.​The hosts also recall the podcast's experiments with live broadcasts covering Australia's election results and China-Japan tensions.2026 OutlookMonthly listenership quadrupled in 2025, establishing the podcast as the leading Indo-Pacific affairs platform. As 2026 approaches, the hosts anticipate continued geopolitical turbulence, Supreme Court tariff decisions and evolving great power competition dynamics across the region.

China has been holding military drills around Taiwan simulating the seizure of the island's key areas. Beijing described its actions as a warning against “Taiwan Independence, separatist forces and external interference”. We were joined for a discussion by William Tang, Senior North East Asia Analyst for the International Crisis Group think tank.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has delivered a New Year speech via China Media Group and the Internet (01:05). Beijing says the military exercises around Taiwan served as a warning to separatist forces on the island, and against foreign interference in the Taiwan question (10:40). The United States announces sanctions on 10 individuals and entities, targeting Iran's drone trade with Venezuela (19:27).

The Chinese president calls for unity to advance Chinese modernization at a gathering to usher in the New Year (01:06). Beijing says the military exercises around Taiwan served as a warning to separatist forces on the island, and against foreign interference in the Taiwan question (10:40). The United States announces sanctions on 10 individuals and entities, targeting Iran's drone trade with Venezuela (19:27).

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is set to resume, more than a decade after the aircraft vanished while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. - Pencarian pesawat Malaysia Airlines MH370 dilanjutkan kembali, setelah lebih dari satu dekade pesawat tersebut hilang saat terbang dari Kuala Lumpur ke Beijing yang berpenumpang 239 orang.

Greetings to all! Year after year, life opens a fresh chapter. As the new year begins, I extend my best wishes to you from Beijing!The year 2025 marks the completion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development. Over the past five years, we have pressed ahead with enterprise and fortitude, and overcome many difficulties and challenges. We met the targets in the Plan and made solid advances on the new journey of Chinese modernization. Our economic output has crossed thresholds one after another, and it is expected to reach RMB 140 trillion yuan this year. Our economic strength, scientific and technological abilities, defense capabilities, and composite national strength all reached new heights. Clear waters and lush mountains have become a salient feature of our landscape. Our people enjoy a growing sense of gain, happiness and security. The past five years have been a truly remarkable journey, and our accomplishments have not come easily. Your unwavering hard work has made our nation thrive and prosper. I salute you all for your exceptional diligence and invaluable contributions.This year is full of indelible memories. We solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and established the Taiwan Recovery Day. These grand national events were majestic and powerful, and the glory of victory will shine through the pages of history. They are inspiring all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation to remember history, honor fallen heroes, cherish peace, and create a better future. They are rallying a mighty force for the great rejuvenation of our nation.We sought to energize high-quality development through innovation. We integrated science and technology deeply with industries, and made a stream of new innovations. Many large AI models have been competing in a race to the top, and breakthroughs have been achieved in the research and development of our own chips. All this has turned China into one of the economies with the fastest growing innovation capabilities. The Tianwen 2 probe began its star-chasing journey to explore asteroids and comets. Construction of the hydropower project at the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River started. China's first aircraft carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system was officially commissioned. Humanoid robots did kung fu kicks, and drones performed spectacular light shows. Inventions and innovations have boosted new quality productive forces and added colorful dimensions to our lives.We endeavored to nurture our spiritual home with cultural development. There was a surging public interest in cultural relics, museums, and intangible cultural heritage. A new Chinese cultural site was added to the World Heritage List. Cultural IPs such as Wukong and Nezha became global hits. The younger generation came to deem classic Chinese culture as the finest form of aesthetic expression. The cultural and tourism sectors thrived. The "super league" football games in our cities and villages attracted numerous fans. Ice and snow sports ignited people's passion for the winter season. Tradition is now embracing modernity, and the Chinese culture is shining in even greater splendor.We joined hands to build a better life and enjoyed it together. I attended celebrations in Xizang and Xinjiang. From the snow-covered plateau to both sides of the Tianshan Mountains, people of various ethnic groups are united as one, like seeds of a pomegranate sticking together. With white khatas and passionate singing and dancing, they expressed their love of the motherland and the happiness they enjoy. No issue of the people is too small; we care for every leaf and tend every branch in the garden of people's well-being. Over the past year, the rights and interests of the workforce in new forms of employment have been better protected, facilities have been upgraded to bring more convenience to the elderly, and each family with childcare needs has received a subsidy of RMB 300 yuan per month. When the happy hum of daily life fills every home, the big family of our nation will go from strength to strength.We continued to embrace the world with open arms. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin and the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women were very successful; and island-wide special customs operations were launched in the Hainan Free Trade Port. To better address climate change, China announced new Nationally Determined Contributions. After announcing the three global initiatives on development, security, and civilization, I put forward the Global Governance Initiative to promote a more just and equitable global governance system. The world today is undergoing both changes and turbulence, and some regions are still engulfed in war. China always stands on the right side of history, and is ready to work with all countries to advance world peace and development and build a community with a shared future for humanity.Not long ago, I attended the opening ceremony of the National Games, and I was glad to see Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao coming together in unity and acting in unison. We should unswervingly implement the policy of One Country, Two Systems, and support Hong Kong and Macao in better integrating into the overall development of our country and maintaining long-term prosperity and stability. We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship. The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable!Only a strong Communist Party of China can make our country strong. We launched the study and education program on fully implementing the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct. We exercised strict governance of the Party through credible measures, and promoted the Party's self-revolution to fight corruption and advance healthy governance. As a result, the conduct of our Party and government steadily improved. We must stay true to our original aspiration and founding mission, and pursue our goal with perseverance and dedication. We should continue to give a good answer to the question on how to maintain long-term governance put forth in a cave dwelling in Yan'an and prove ourselves worthy of the people's expectation in the new era.The year 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. A successful venture should start with a good plan and with clear goals set. We should focus on our goals and tasks, boost confidence, and build momentum to press ahead. We should take solid steps to promote high-quality development, further deepen reform and opening up across the board, deliver prosperity for all, and write a new chapter in the story of China's miracle.The dream lofty, the journey long-bold strides will get us there. Let us charge ahead like horses with courage, vitality, and energy, fight for our dreams and our happiness, and turn our great vision into beautiful realities.The sun of the new year will soon rise. May our great motherland stand in magnificence! May the fields across the country deliver good harvest! May our nation bathe in the glory of the morning! May you all enjoy life to the fullest, and achieve every success! May all your dreams come true!

For Review:1. Saudi Arabia bombed Yemen's port city of Mukalla on Tuesday over what it described as a shipment of weapons for a separatist force there, which arrived from the United Arab Emirates. 2. US Drone Strike on Venezuelan Port.The drone strike targeted a remote dock on the Venezuelan coast that the US government believed was being used by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to store drugs and move them onto boats for shipping. There were no casualties, according to the sources.3. The United States is offering Ukraine security guarantees for a period of 15 years as part of a proposed peace plan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday.4. A top Russian official on Monday issued personal threats against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Russia claimed that Ukraine launched a drone attack on one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's official residences.5. President Trump meets wit Israeli PM Netanyahu; Discusses Gaza Peace Deal; Iran Missile Development; Lebanon; & Syria.  6. The United States defended Israel's right to recognize the breakaway territory of Somaliland as a state at the United Nations on Monday, comparing it to the recognition of a Palestinian state by numerous countries.7. Chinese forces fired more than two dozen rockets and rehearsed port seizures on the second day of ongoing blockade drills around Taiwan.In statements and posters, Beijing cites Washington's recent $11 billion arms sale of artillery systems, short-range ballistic missiles and loitering munitions to Taipei as one of the main reasons for the Justice Mission drills. 

中国の何立峰副首相と記念撮影する日中経済協会の進藤孝生会長ら、２月１７日、北京・人民大会堂日中経済協会は３１日、経団連や日本商工会議所と来年１月２０～２３日の日程で計画していた北京訪問を延期すると発表した。 A Japanese business delegation will postpone a planned visit to Beijing, the Japan-China Economic Association said Wednesday.

A Japanese business delegation will postpone a planned visit to Beijing, the Japan-China Economic Association said Wednesday.

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

On this week's One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, examine the security risks posed by major Chinese companies like Alibaba. The hosts discuss a recent White House memo alleging that Alibaba provided tech support for Chinese military operations against countries, including the US. They explore what China's national security laws mean for data access and the dangers posed by its infrastructure control. They also discuss the UK's experience with Huawei and Europe's concern about commercial dependencies on China. The episode sheds light on the case of imprisoned Hong Kong Democracy activist and British national Jimmy Lai, raising questions about how the West should further engage with Beijing. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tradition Meets Modernity: Ming's New Year Transformation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-30-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 明静静地走在故宫的雪地上，心中是一片复杂的情感。En: Ming walked quietly on the snowy ground of the Forbidden City, her heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.Zh: 她刚从海外留学归来，第一次在冬天回到家中。En: She had just returned from studying abroad, visiting home for the first time in winter.Zh: 故宫在冬日的天空下显得更加宏伟，红色的墙壁与白色的雪交相辉映。En: The Forbidden City appeared even more majestic under the winter sky, with the red walls contrasting against the white snow.Zh: 她呼吸着北京冷冽的新鲜空气，心中既兴奋又紧张。En: She breathed in the crisp, cold air of Beijing, feeling both excited and nervous.Zh: 明要回家与家人团圆，迎接即将到来的春节。En: Ming was returning home to reunite with her family and prepare for the upcoming Spring Festival.Zh: 李华奶奶是明最敬佩的人。En: Li Hua Grandma was the person Ming respected the most.Zh: 奶奶喜欢和孙辈们讲述家族的传统和故事。En: Grandma loved to share family traditions and stories with her grandchildren.Zh: 明知道，奶奶希望她能够传承这些珍贵的家族文化。En: Ming knew that Grandma hoped she could carry on these precious family cultures.Zh: 但明内心深处，还有对未来生活的向往，她渴望自由，希望用自己的方式生活。En: However, deep inside, Ming also longed for her future life; she yearned for freedom and wanted to live in her way.Zh: 弟弟金也已经在家等她，他是个不安分的年轻人，总是想要新鲜的冒险。En: Her brother Jin was already waiting for her at home, a restless young man always seeking new adventures.Zh: “明，你回来了！”当明走进家门时，奶奶的脸上绽放出微笑。En: "Ming, you're back!" Grandma's face broke into a smile as Ming walked through the door.Zh: 火炉的温暖驱散了寒冷，屋内挂满了红色的灯笼和对联，春节的气氛浓厚。En: The warmth of the stove dispelled the cold, and the house was filled with red lanterns and couplets, creating a festive atmosphere.Zh: “奶奶，我回来啦！”明笑着回答，但又感到微微紧张。En: "Grandma, I'm back!" Ming replied with a smile, though she felt a bit nervous.Zh: 家人聚在一起享用年夜饭。En: The family gathered for the New Year's Eve dinner.Zh: 奶奶提议明主持今年的拜年仪式。En: Grandma suggested Ming host this year's New Year ceremony.Zh: 明知道这个责任重大，她不想让奶奶失望。En: Ming knew this was a significant responsibility; she didn't want to disappoint Grandma.Zh: 她决定：既然要做，那就大胆创新，加入一些自己在国外学到的元素。En: She decided: if she was going to do it, she would innovate boldly and incorporate some elements she had learned abroad.Zh: “今年我们来试试新的方式。”明说。En: "This year, let's try something new," Ming said.Zh: 全家人都愣住了。En: The entire family was stunned.Zh: 只见明依然尊重着传统的流程，但在每个环节，她加上了自己的解释，以及在国外学习到的文化元素。En: Ming remained respectful of the traditional process, but at each step, she added her explanations and cultural elements she'd learned overseas.Zh: “这很有意思！”金第一个开始鼓掌，打破了寂静。En: "This is interesting!" Jin was the first to start clapping, breaking the silence.Zh: “明，这很独特。”奶奶微笑着，眼神中透出欣赏。En: "Ming, this is very unique," Grandma smiled, her eyes showing admiration.Zh: 就在这一夜，传统和新意碰撞，产生出和谐的火花。En: On this night, tradition and innovation collided, creating harmonious sparks.Zh: 明发现，通过自己的方式，她不仅与家人更加亲近，也使她的家人更了解她在外经历的生活。En: Ming found that by doing things her way, she not only became closer to her family but also helped them understand her experiences abroad.Zh: 随着烟花在夜空中绽放，明在心中决定：她会继续寻找自己在传统和现代之间的平衡。En: As fireworks burst in the night sky, Ming decided in her heart: she would continue to find her balance between tradition and modernity.Zh: 家人因为她的改变而走得更近，她也更加自信地迈向未来。En: Her family came closer together because of her changes, and she moved more confidently toward the future.Zh: 热闹的春节夜渐渐归于宁静，但这个冬天的聚会，给了明和家人永存于心的温暖。En: The lively Spring Festival night gradually returned to tranquility, but this winter gathering gave Ming and her family warmth that would last in their hearts forever.Zh: 明在古老的故宫中，找到了自己的位置，连接了过去与未来的道路。En: In the ancient Forbidden City, Ming found her place and connected the road between past and future. Vocabulary Words:quietly: 静静地emotions: 情感majestic: 宏伟crisp: 冷冽excited: 兴奋reunite: 团圆upcoming: 即将到来的respected: 敬佩share: 讲述precious: 珍贵traditions: 传统yearned: 渴望restless: 不安分stove: 火炉dispelled: 驱散lanterns: 灯笼couplets: 对联significant: 重大innovate: 创新incorporate: 加入stunned: 愣住harmonious: 和谐fireworks: 烟花tranquility: 宁静lively: 热闹warmth: 温暖ancient: 古老connected: 连接balance: 平衡confidence: 自信

Baadigoob cusub oo dib loogu raadinayo diyaaraddii Malaysia Airlines ee number-ka duulimaadkeedu ahaa MH370 ayaa dib loo bilaabay Talaadadii, December 30 2025, in ka badan toban sano kaddib markii ay diyaaraddaasi luntay. Diyaaraddaas ayaa ka duushay magaalada Kuala Lumpur kuna sii jeedday magaalada Beijing, iyadoo ay saarnaayeen 239 qof.

China has held its annual Central Rural Work Conference in Beijing to map out priorities for the country's rural work in 2026 (01:10). The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army has run its second day of military drills around Taiwan, conducting long-range live fire exercises (05:33). U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed breaking the Gaza deadlock (17:59).

China is accelerating its push toward a consumption-led economic model, with policymakers identifying the expansion of domestic demand as the key driver of GDP growth during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), economists and officials said.经济学家和相关官员表示，中国正加快向消费主导型经济模式转型，政策制定者已明确将扩大内需列为 “十五五” 规划时期（2026-2030 年）国内生产总值增长的核心驱动力。Following the tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference, which prioritized domestic demand for 2026, experts noted a strategic transition: China is moving beyond simple volume growth toward "structural optimization". This involves leveraging fiscal tools to boost household incomes and specifically targets the high-growth services sector to buffer against external uncertainties.在为 2026 年经济工作定调、并将扩大内需列为重点任务的中央经济工作会议召开后，专家指出中国正迎来战略转型：经济发展正从单纯的规模增长转向 “结构优化”。这一转型包括运用财政工具提振居民收入，并重点瞄准高增长的服务业，以抵御外部环境的不确定性。An official from the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs confirmed that Beijing will roll out concrete plans to boost household incomes and raise basic pensions while increasing the supply of high-quality products and services and also removing unreasonable restrictions to fully unlock consumption potential.中央财经委员会办公室的一位官员证实，国家将出台具体方案，在提高居民收入、上调基本养老金的同时，增加优质产品和服务供给，消除不合理限制，以充分释放消费潜力。Experts see this policy stance as a signal for significant growth in specific areas, and express optimism about the long-term potential of China's consumer market.专家认为，这一政策立场预示着部分特定领域将迎来大幅增长，并对中国消费市场的长期潜力持乐观态度。Wang Wei, a senior researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council, said at a recent forum hosted by China News Service: "China's consumption growth maintains strong momentum and ample potential. Emerging areas such as digital services, green technology and health-related demand are expected to become the primary engines of the consumer market."国务院发展研究中心资深研究员王伟在近期由中国新闻社主办的一场论坛上表示：“中国消费增长势头强劲、潜力充足。数字服务、绿色科技以及健康相关需求等新兴领域，有望成为消费市场的核心增长引擎。”Official data support this structural divergence. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales of services climbed 5.4 percent year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2025, outpacing the overall retail growth of 4 percent.官方数据印证了这一结构性分化趋势。国家统计局数据显示，2025 年前 11 个月，服务业零售额同比增长 5.4%，增速高于整体零售 4% 的同比增幅。Chen Lifen, a researcher at the DRC, described the current phase as a critical evolution from a goods-dominated model to one that balances goods and services, with a long-term trajectory toward a services-led structure.国务院发展研究中心研究员陈丽芬表示，当前阶段正处于关键转型期，经济模式正从商品主导型转向商品和服务均衡型，长期来看将朝着服务主导型结构迈进。"As income levels rise, demand for services, which typically have high income elasticity, naturally increases its share of total wallet spending," Chen said, adding that with basic needs largely met, the "quality upgrade" is driving capital toward personal development, leisure and smart home ecosystems.陈丽芬指出：“随着居民收入水平提升，收入弹性较高的服务类需求在居民总消费中的占比自然会上升。” 她补充道，在基本需求得到充分满足的背景下，“品质升级” 正推动资本流向个人发展、休闲娱乐以及智能家居生态等领域。The shift is already reshaping corporate investment strategies as companies move to capture these high-quality demand pockets.这一转型已经在重塑企业的投资策略，企业纷纷布局以抢占这些高品质需求市场。Fang Xing, a vice-general manager at Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance, highlighted the surging "pet economy" — now valued at approximately 300 billion yuan ($42.81 billion). With veterinary costs often exceeding 10,000 yuan for major procedures, financial institutions are developing specialized insurance products to hedge these rising household costs.平安产险副总经理方兴特别提到了蓬勃发展的 “宠物经济”，其市场规模目前已达约 3000 亿元人民币（合 428.1 亿美元）。由于宠物重大诊疗项目的费用往往超过 1 万元，金融机构正研发专项保险产品，帮助家庭对冲这类不断上涨的支出。Similarly, in the manufacturing sector, the focus has shifted from scale to efficiency. Guo Yanhu, a director with Gree Electric Appliances, said consumer demand for green energy is driving research and development. He cited Gree's investment in AI-driven energy systems — which has boosted efficiency by over 25 percent — as a direct response to both domestic eco-targets and demand from overseas markets.无独有偶，制造业的发展重心也从规模转向了效率。格力电器董事郭彦虎表示，消费者对绿色能源的需求正驱动企业加大研发投入。他举例称，格力对人工智能驱动能源系统的投资，使能效提升超 25%，这一举措既是对国内生态目标的响应，也是对海外市场需求的直接对接。Economists emphasize that sustaining this momentum requires institutional reforms. Su Jian, a professor at the School of Economics at Peking University, said expanding "high-quality demand" requires a virtuous cycle where new products help cultivate new demand, while cost-reducing innovations allow new demand to scale.经济学家强调，要维持这一增长势头，必须推进制度改革。北京大学经济学院教授苏剑表示，扩大 “高品质需求” 需要形成良性循环：新产品助力培育新需求，而降本创新则为新需求的规模化发展提供支撑。While fiscal and monetary policies are essential to expand demand, Su said expanding high-quality demand depends on developing new quality productive forces through product innovation and process innovation.苏剑指出，尽管财政和货币政策对扩大需求至关重要，但扩大高品质需求的核心在于通过产品创新和工艺创新，培育新质生产力。Luo Zhiheng, chief economist at Yuekai Securities, added that boosting consumption during the 15th Five-Year Plan period is a strategic choice rather than a short-term policy response.粤开证券首席经济学家罗志恒补充道，“十五五” 期间提振消费是一项战略抉择，而非短期的政策应对措施。"Key to raising the household consumption rate will be improving income distribution, strengthening social security and widening market access. These are the fundamental levers to converting potential demand into actual economic activity," Luo said.罗志恒表示：“提高居民消费率的关键在于完善收入分配、强化社会保障以及拓宽市场准入。这三项举措是将潜在需求转化为实际经济活动的根本抓手。”consumption /kənˈsʌmpʃn/ 消费domestic /dəˈmestɪk/ 国内的；家庭的innovation /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ 创新elasticity /ˌiːlæstɪˈsɪəti/ 弹性

President Xi Jinping has underlined the need for Beijing and Washington to maintain the momentum of the steady development of bilateral relations to strive for more positive progress, emphasizing that it is important for China and the United States to jointly safeguard the outcomes of the victory in World War II.国家主席习近平强调，中国和美国有必要保持双边关系稳步发展的势头，争取取得更多积极进展，并指出中美共同维护第二次世界大战胜利成果具有重要意义。Xi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with United States President Donald Trump on Monday evening.习近平是在周一晚与美国总统唐纳德·特朗普通电话时作出上述表述的。Xi talked about his meeting with Trump in Busan, Republic of Korea, last month as well as the important consensuses they reached during that meeting, saying that they have recalibrated the course of the giant ship of China-US relations and provided more momentum for it to sail forward steadily, sending a positive signal to the world.习近平谈及上月在韩国釜山同特朗普总统的会晤及双方达成的重要共识，表示此次会晤为中美关系这艘“巨轮”重新校准了航向，为其稳健前行注入了新的动力，并向世界释放了积极信号。He said that since the Busan meeting, China-US relations have generally maintained a steady and positive trajectory, which has been welcomed by both countries as well as the international community.他说，自釜山会晤以来，中美关系总体保持稳定、向好的发展态势，受到两国以及国际社会的普遍欢迎。What has happened demonstrates yet again that the description of China-US cooperation benefiting both sides and confrontation hurting both sides reflects a common sense that has been repeatedly proved by experience, and the vision of China and the US helping each other succeed and prosper together is a tangible prospect within reach, Xi said.习近平表示，事实再次表明，中美合作对双方有利、对抗对双方不利，这一判断是被反复实践证明的常识；中美相互成就、共同繁荣并非遥不可及，而是切实可期的现实前景。He called for both countries to maintain this momentum, adhere to the correct direction, and uphold the attitude of equality, respect and mutual benefit.他呼吁双方保持当前发展势头，坚持正确方向，秉持平等、尊重、互利的态度。Both sides should lengthen the list of cooperation and shorten the list of problems, striving for more positive progress and creating new spaces for cooperation for China-US relations in order to benefit the people of both countries and the world, he added.他补充说，双方应不断拉长合作清单、缩短问题清单，争取取得更多积极成果，为中美关系开辟新的合作空间，更好造福两国人民和世界。Xi reiterated China's principled stance on the Taiwan question, emphasizing that Taiwan's return to China is an important part of the postwar international order.习近平重申了中方在台湾问题上的原则立场，强调台湾回归中国是战后国际秩序的重要组成部分。China and the US once stood together against fascism and militarism, and given what is going on, it is more important for them to jointly safeguard the results of the victory in World War II, he said.他说，中美曾并肩反对法西斯主义和军国主义，鉴于当前形势，双方更有必要共同维护第二次世界大战胜利成果。Trump said that President Xi is a great leader. He noted that he enjoyed the meeting with Xi in Busan and he fully agreed with Xi on his comments about bilateral relations.特朗普表示，习近平主席是一位伟大的领导人。他指出，自己非常享受在釜山与习近平主席的会晤，并完全赞同习近平关于双边关系的相关看法。He said that both sides are comprehensively implementing the important consensuses they reached at the Busan meeting.他说，双方正在全面落实釜山会晤期间达成的重要共识。The US acknowledges the significant role China played in the victory in World War II and understands the importance of the Taiwan question to China, Trump said.特朗普表示，美方承认中国在第二次世界大战胜利中发挥的重要作用，也理解台湾问题对中方的重要性。The two leaders also talked about the Ukraine crisis. Xi emphasized that China supports all efforts that are conducive to peace, and hopes that all parties will continue to narrow their differences to reach a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement to resolve the crisis at its root.两国领导人还就乌克兰危机交换了意见。习近平强调，中方支持一切有利于和平的努力，希望有关各方继续缩小分歧，达成公平、持久、有约束力的和平协议，从根本上解决危机。maintain the momentum /meɪnˈteɪn ðə məˈmentəm/保持势头outcomes of the victory in World War II/ˈaʊtkʌmz əv ðə ˈvɪktəri ɪn ˌwɜːrld wɔːr tuː/二战胜利成果principled stance /ˈprɪnsəpld stæns/原则立场postwar international order/ˌpoʊstˈwɔːr ˌɪntərˈnæʃənl ˈɔːrdər/战后国际秩序fair, lasting and binding peace agreement/fer ˈlæstɪŋ ænd ˈbaɪndɪŋ piːs əˈɡriːmənt/公平、持久、有约束力的和平协议

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 87-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,723 on turnover of 6.4-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Monday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its share price hit a new record high on the back of reports the company plans to raise prices for its advanced chips. China carrying out live-fire drills around Taiwan China is carrying out live-fire military drills around Taiwan today and has said they will be taking place until 6 o'clock this evening in five designated maritime and airspace zones. The exercises are code-named "Justice Mission 2025." According to coordinates provided by China's Eastern Theater Command, the drills were to be staged (舉辦) in the sea and in the airspaces north of Keelung, east of Taitung, south of Pingtung, southeast of Penghu, and northwest of Taoyuan. The Ministry of National Defense says all five of the drill zones are within Taiwan's territorial waters. According to the ministry, the island's armed forces have established an ad hoc emergency operations center and are respond to developments. Cause of Taichung power outage under investigation Tai-Power says the cause of a power outage that affected over 9,000 households in Taichung's Beitun District is under investigation. The outage began at around 8:55 last night and power was restored (恢復) by 10:30. According to the Tai-Power, the outage not only affected households, but also large numbers of businesses and several fire stations located in the district. Tai-Power says repair teams arrived at the scene and found that the fault was located in the power distribution room. The state generator says personnel carried out repairs, before carrying out two power transfer operations to isolate the fault area. Repair teams also reduced the power outage in order to minimize the number of households affected. Israel PM to Meet Trump in Florida Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to meet President Trump in Florida later today for talks that are expected to (預計，預期) focus on the Gaza peace plan, Iran and Lebanon. Blake Sifton reports from Tel Aviv China Condemns Panama Monument Demolition China has condemned the demolition (拆除) of a monument honoring the Chinese community in Panama. Panama's president echoed the condemnation, blaming local authorities and pledging the monument would be rebuilt. Overnight, videos circulated on social media showing large excavators tearing down the monument. The Chinese Embassy in Panama accused the local authorities of having “brazenly (明目張膽) and forcibly demolished” the monument and “seriously damaged the friendly sentiments of the Chinese people towards the Panamanian people.” It's the latest development as the Trump administration in the US pushes for the Central American nation to distance itself from Beijing. Turkey Armenia to Simplify Visa Procedures Turkey and Armenia have agreed to simplify visa procedures to normalize ties, according to Turkey's Foreign Ministry. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said electronic visas will be available for both countries' passport holders starting Jan. 1-st. Relations have been strained by historic grievances (不平，委屈) and Turkey's alliance with Azerbaijan. The countries have no formal diplomatic ties, and their border has been closed since the 1990s. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 客家委員會《客家影像故事》徵件中！ 手機、相機都能拍。 今年年度主題是「水」，埤塘、水圳、溪流、河壩的客庄故事都可以。 拍水的主題就有機會拿50 萬大獎！ 徵件到115年4月30日，詳細資訊可到客委會官網查詢 連結：https://sofm.pse.is/8jk3vs -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Chinese chipmakers met uitbreidingsplannen moeten aan de overheid kunnen aantonen dat minstens de helft van de apparatuur die ze gaan aanschaffen van Chinese makelij is. Anders worden vergunningen voor uitbreidingen bijna niet meer goedgekeurd, meldt een drietal ingewijden aan persbureau Reuters. Niels Kooloos vertelt erover in deze Tech Update. De Chinese overheid zou de regel al maanden handhaven, ook al is die niet formeel vastgelegd. Chipmakers krijgen pas weet van de voorwaarde als ze vergunningen aanvragen om uit te breiden. Het doel van Beijing is om de Chinese chipketen zeldredzamer te maken. Op termijn zou het zelfs de bedoeling zijn dat Chinese chipmakers al hun aanbestedingen in China doen. Verder in deze Tech Update: Op Facebook zouden posts die de schietpartij op Bondi Beach in Australië verheerlijken te lang blijven staan, volgens de Britse stichting Community Security Trust Het loon van een Belgisch Kamerlid is per ongeluk overgemaakt naar cybercriminelen door een phisingmail See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tension is running high between China and Taiwan. Beijing is carrying out its biggest-ever military drills off the island, saying they're a warning to what it calls separatist forces. So what's behind this show of power? And would China use force against Taiwan? In this episode: Shaun Rein, Founder & Managing Director of China Market Research Group. Chen Shen Yen, Research Fellow Institute of International Relations. Ja Ian Chong, Associate Professor of political science at the National University of Singapore. Host: Adrian Finighan Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

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. 

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports Cambodia and Thailand officials are meeting in China to help ease a serious border dispute.

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is set to resume more than a decade after the aircraft vanished while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. A fresh search in the southern Indian Ocean is being conducted by private marine robotics company Ocean Infinity, using advanced technology in hopes of retrieving answers to one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries. But families of passengers on board say they need transparency on the terms of the search, and clarity on the prospects for recovery.

The Daily Quiz - Sports and Leisure Today's Questions: Question 1: What is the name of the classic board game where players must be the first to send all four of their pieces all the way round a board? Question 2: How Many Players Are There In A Volleyball Team? Question 3: With which sport is Mark Spitz associated? Question 4: Built for the 2008 Olympics, what is the name of the Beijing city structure that won architecture's Lubetkin Prize? Question 5: What sport do the following terms belong to - "Hotdog and Bottom Trun"? Question 6: What is the nickname of the English football team Crystal Palace? Question 7: What is the nickname of the English football team Cardiff City? Question 8: What is the nickname of the English football team Newcastle United? This podcast is produced by Klassic Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

① PLA holds drills around Taiwan: how is China drawing a clear line against external interference? (00:45) ② Chinese FM says China will continue to make efforts to rebuild peace between Thailand and Cambodia. Why does regional stability matter so much for Asia's future? (14:09) ③ Year-end special: How should we read the signals from Beijing and Washington — and where are China–U.S. relations really heading? (26:48)

The impeachment proposal against Taiwan leader, Lai Ching-te, initiated by the island's opposition lawmakers from the Chinese Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party, was approved by Taiwan's "legislative yuan" on Friday, allowing the case to proceed.由中国国民党和台湾民众党反对派“立委”发起、针对台湾地区领导人赖清德的弹劾提案，于周五在台湾“立法院”获得通过，相关程序得以继续推进。The impeachment motion passed with 60 votes in favor and 51 against, surpassing the majority threshold in the "legislative yuan". The final roll-call vote on the impeachment is scheduled for May 19, following a series of public hearings and review meetings.该弹劾动议以60票赞成、51票反对获得通过，超过“立法院”所需的简单多数门槛。根据安排，在一系列公开听证和审查会议之后，最终的记名投票将于5月19日举行。Lawmakers from the KMT and TPP announced a plan to impeach Lai at a joint news conference in Taipei on Dec 19, after the Lai administration on Dec 15 refused to promulgate an amendment to the government revenue allocation plan that had been enacted by the island's "legislature".在赖清德当局于12月15日拒绝公布此前已由台湾“立法机构”通过的政府财政收入分配方案修正案后，国民党和民众党“立委”于12月19日在台北联合记者会上宣布将对赖清德发起弹劾。The amendment, revised by the opposition parties, would have allocated a larger share of government revenue to local governments. The Lai administration's refusal marked the first time a Taiwan leader has failed to enact a law passed by the "legislature".该修正案由反对党修订，旨在将更多政府财政收入分配给地方政府。赖清德当局的拒绝行为，标志着台湾地区领导人首次未能施行由“立法机构”通过的法律。According to the impeachment schedule, the island's "legislative body" will hold public hearings on Jan 14 and 15, followed by review meetings on Jan 21 and 22, as well as May 13 and 14, during which Lai will be required to answer questions from legislative representatives.根据弹劾程序安排，台湾“立法机构”将于1月14日至15日举行公开听证会，并于1月21日至22日以及5月13日至14日召开审查会议，期间赖清德需接受“立委”质询。On Wednesday, Peng Qing'en, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, criticized Lai's actions at a regular news conference in Beijing, saying that they run counter to the public will and have eroded the support of the people in Taiwan."周三，国务院台办发言人彭清恩在北京举行的例行记者会上批评赖清德的相关行为，指出其违背民意，削弱了台湾民众的支持。Lai has stubbornly adhered to a 'Taiwan independence' stance, repeatedly undermining democracy and freedom, abusing the judicial system to suppress political opponents, engaging in 'green terror' and creating a 'chilling effect'," Peng said.彭清恩表示，赖清德顽固坚持“台独”立场，反复破坏民主与自由，滥用司法体系打压政治对手，制造“绿色恐怖”，形成“寒蝉效应”。He further condemned the Lai administration for disregarding the welfare of the people in Taiwan for political gain, as well as manipulating and provoking political strife for personal political gain, which has led to strong public opposition.他进一步谴责赖清德当局为谋取政治私利而无视台湾民众福祉，操弄并激化政治对立，已引发社会强烈反弹。At the same time, the online petition to "impeach Lai", launched in Taiwan on Dec 18, has reportedly surpassed 8 million signatures, according to media reports.与此同时，据媒体报道，12月18日在台湾发起的“弹劾赖清德”网络联署，签名人数已突破800万。Tsai Cheng-yuan, a former lawmaker and a political commentator in Taiwan, said, "Lai spends all his time focusing on 'Taiwan independence', without considering Taiwan's economic development or social harmony."台湾前“立委”、政治评论员蔡正元表示，赖清德将全部精力用于推动“台独”，却未顾及台湾的经济发展与社会和谐。An impeachment motion against the leader or deputy leader of the Taiwan authorities must first be proposed by at least half of the total lawmakers and approved by a two-thirds majority before being submitted to the judicial body for review.针对台湾当局领导人或副领导人的弹劾案，须由至少半数“立委”联署提出，并经三分之二多数通过后，方可提交司法机关审查。Currently, the "legislative yuan" has 113 representatives, including 52 from the KMT, 51 from Lai's Democratic Progressive Party, eight from the TPP and two independents.目前，台湾“立法院”共有113名“立委”，其中包括国民党52席、赖清德所属民进党51席、民众党8席以及2名无党籍人士。roll-call vote /ˈrəʊl kɔːl vəʊt/记名投票promulgate /ˈprɒməlɡeɪt/颁布，公布government revenue allocation /ˈɡʌvənmənt ˈrevənjuː ˌæləˈkeɪʃn/政府财政收入分配public hearing /ˈpʌblɪk ˈhɪərɪŋ/公开听证会chilling effect /ˈtʃɪlɪŋ ɪˈfekt/寒蝉效应

China analyst and Momentum Works founder Jianggan joins Jeremy Au to break down how US–China tensions evolved through a year of tariffs, rare earth leverage, supply chain shocks, and fast-moving geopolitical swings. They examine why both sides misread each other, how Chinese companies adapted faster than expected, and why the global system settled into a tactical pause instead of a decisive split. Their discussion shows how on-the-ground China differs from Western narratives, how product iteration and factory conditions changed under competitive pressure, and why neither side can force a quick victory. Jianggan also shares insights from thirteen trips across China as he tracks e-commerce exporters, shifting macro sentiment, and the emerging negotiation patterns that shape 2026. 02:28 US tariffs aimed to hurt China but failed to break its exporters: Chinese firms diversified markets, adjusted production, and kept shipping strong volumes even as analysts expected collapse. 03:08 China deployed rare earths and soybeans as leverage: Beijing used export controls, licensing rules, and supply pivots to respond in structured tit for tat moves that surprised US policymakers. 07:04 A tactical pause replaced escalation: Both sides realized they could not win quickly, creating a fragile equilibrium shaped by low trust but stable expectations. 10:06 Factory floors tell a different story: Air-conditioned warehouses, livestreamed food production, one dollar meals, and rising worker savings show a more complex China than what headlines describe. 21:12 Chinese product cycles sped up dramatically: Exporters improved quality within a year, added more features, and stayed cheaper, putting global incumbents under real pressure. 26:26 Narratives on both sides miss the nuance: Sensational media framing and echo chambers make Americans underestimate China and make Chinese underestimate America. 29:06 TikTok deal shows coexistence is possible: Restructuring turned adversaries into stakeholders and created a template for how cross-border platforms can operate under political pressure. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jianggan-li-chinas-counterplay Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/engineering-soft-landings WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea Spotify English: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0T Bahasa Indonesia: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Vs8t6qPo0eFb4o6zOmiVZ Chinese: https://open.spotify.com/show/20AGbzHhzFDWyRTbHTVDJR Vietnamese: https://open.spotify.com/show/0yqd3Jj0I19NhN0h8lWrK1 YouTube  English: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyAu?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcast  English: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/brave-southeast-asia-tech-singapore-indonesia-vietnam/id1506890464 #USChinaRelations #Geopolitics #ChinaEconomy #TradeWar #RareEarths #GlobalSupplyChains #SoutheastAsiaTech #TariffTalks #MarketDynamics #BRAVEpodcast

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

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.

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

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

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.