Podcasts about national development

TOPIC:Governance, National Development and the Political Road to 2027On this Democracy Day edition of Oluwakayode and The Guru, the duo take listeners through a critical examination of Nigeria's democratic journey, reflecting on the gains, shortcomings, and challenges that continue to shape the nation.Against the backdrop of Democracy Day celebrations, the conversation explores the meaning of democratic governance in Nigeria, the performance of political institutions, and the relationship between leadership, accountability, and national development. The discussion also assesses whether the promises of democracy have translated into meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Oluwakayode and The Guru analyze the emerging political landscape, the calculations already taking place behind the scenes, and the issues likely to define the next electoral cycle. From governance and economic performance to security and public trust, the duo connect today's realities with tomorrow's political stakes.Rich in historical perspective, political insight, and thoughtful analysis, this episode provides listeners with a deeper understanding of where Nigeria stands today and the choices that will shape its future.

China trekt de komende vijf jaar zo'n 2 biljoen yuan, omgerekend ruim 250 miljard euro, uit voor een landelijk netwerk van onderling verbonden AI-datacenters. Daarmee wil Peking de afhankelijkheid van Amerikaanse chipmakers als Nvidia en AMD afbouwen en de achterstand op de VS inlopen, vertelt techredacteur Stijn Goossens in deze Tech Update. China bereidt een omvangrijk investeringsplan voor om verspreide AI-datacenters te bundelen tot één samenhangend, landelijk netwerk. Dat meldt Bloomberg op basis van ingewijden. Verschillende overheidsinstanties, waaronder de invloedrijke National Development and Reform Commission, werken aan het plan. Staatsbedrijven China Mobile en China Telecom moeten het merendeel van de datacenters beheren en met elkaar verbinden. Het plan past in China's nieuwste vijfjarenplan, dat loopt tot 2030 en zwaar inzet op AI en data-infrastructuur. Opvallend is de technologische eis: minstens 80 procent van de kerntechnologie, inclusief de AI-chips, moet van binnenlandse leveranciers zoals Huawei komen. Daarmee worden Nvidia en AMD vrijwel volledig buitenspel gezet. De financiering komt vooral uit staatsobligaties en strategische overheidsfondsen. Inclusief de koppeling met het elektriciteitsnet kan de totale investering oplopen tot zeker 5 biljoen yuan. Toch valt het bedrag in het niet bij de Amerikaanse uitgaven: de grote techbedrijven uit de VS trekken dit jaar in totaal al zo'n 725 miljard dollar uit voor AI. Chinese datacenters zijn doorgaans wel goedkoper te bouwen. Verder in deze Tech Update Snapchat stuurt reclames vermomd als chatberichten naar Nederlandse gebruikers. Vanaf vandaag verschijnen gesponsorde 'snaps' tussen de gewone chats, met alleen een klein label 'ad' ernaast; KLM is een van de eerste merken die meedoet. Het platform telt in Nederland zo'n 6 miljoen maandelijkse gebruikers en draait nog altijd verlies. Belangenstichting SOMI sleept Snapchat voor de rechter via een massaclaim. SOMI stelt dat het platform verslavend is ontworpen, met functies als de 'streaks', en dat dit in strijd is met de Digital Services Act. De stichting eist 1.000 euro per minderjarige gebruiker en 750 euro per volwassene, plus aanpassing van de werkwijze binnen twee weken. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Tanzania gained independence in 1961, Julius Nyerere saw publishing as a key part of decolonization and nation-building. In 1966, he founded the Tanzania Publishing House (TPH), putting state publishing at the center of building national identity and culture, and of bringing people together through language.Tanzania's influence grew throughout the 1970s and 1980s. During this period, Dar es Salaam served as the headquarters for several Southern African liberation movements, such as FRELIMO, SWAPO, and the ANC. TPH was central in this era, publishing and distributing anti-imperialist works like Walter Rodney's How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, Agostinho Neto's Sacred Hope, Samora Machel's Establishing People's Power to Serve the Masses, and Issa Shivji's Class Struggle in Tanzania.Integral to TPH's influence during these years was Walter Bgoya, who served as managing director from 1972 to 1990 and played a major role in making TPH and Dar es Salaam a center for progressive intellectuals from around the world. His leadership was instrumental in shaping the publishing landscape.For publishers like TPH, state-led publishing ended in the 1990s. when the IMF's Structural Adjustment Program brought austerity and privatization, which hurt state-owned companies. This directly impacted TPH and changed the country's publishing landscape.When the government stopped supporting state publishing, Walter Bgoya decided to leave TPH in 1991. He went on to start Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, carving out a new path in independent publishing. Since then, Mkuki na Nyota has continued this legacy as a key force in East African publishing, producing critical academic, historical, and literary works. In this episode, we interview Walter Bgoya. We focus on his leadership at TPH and his founding of Mkuki na Nyota. The conversation explores African publishing as a tool for decolonization, culture, and independence. This episode is part of the Africanist Press's New Democracy Series.

【欢迎订阅】 每天早上5:30，准时更新。 【阅读原文】 标题：China Bans Meta 's Acquisition of Manus on National Security GroundsDecision reflects Beijing's broader attempts to protect China's AI know -how正文：China has banned Meta Platforms' acquisition of artificial-intelligence startup Manus on national security grounds and ordered that the $2.5 billion deal be unwound. China's National Development and Reform Commission, which has the authority to review foreign investments, said Monday that it has banned the acquisition and ordered it to be rescinded. “The transaction complied fully with applicable law,” a Meta representative said in an email statement. “We anticipate an appropriate resolution to the inquiry.”知识点：unwind v. /ˌʌnˈwaɪnd/to cancel or reverse a financial agreement, deal or arrangement. 撤销（交易）；解除（协议）e.g. Both sides agreed to unwind the partnership contract peacefully. 双方同意和平解除合作合约。获取外刊的完整原文以及精讲笔记，请关注微信公众号「早安英文」，回复“外刊”即可。更多有意思的英语干货等着你！ 【节目介绍】 《早安英文-每日外刊精读》，带你精读最新外刊，了解国际最热事件：分析语法结构，拆解长难句，最接地气的翻译，还有重点词汇讲解。 所有选题均来自于《经济学人》《纽约时报》《华尔街日报》《华盛顿邮报》《大西洋月刊》《科学杂志》《国家地理》等国际一线外刊。 【适合谁听】 1、关注时事热点新闻，想要学习最新最潮流英文表达的英文学习者 2、任何想通过地道英文提高听、说、读、写能力的英文学习者 3、想快速掌握表达，有出国学习和旅游计划的英语爱好者 4、参加各类英语考试的应试者（如大学英语四六级、托福雅思、考研等） 【你将获得】 1、超过1000篇外刊精读课程，拓展丰富语言表达和文化背景 2、逐词、逐句精确讲解，系统掌握英语词汇、听力、阅读和语法 3、每期内附学习笔记，包含全文注释、长难句解析、疑难语法点等，帮助扫除阅读障碍。

China's top economic planner announced on Monday that it is taking temporary control measures on domestic gasoline and diesel prices to shield the economy and consumers from a recent abnormal spike in international crude oil prices.国家发展和改革委员会3月23日宣布，为保障经济和消费者免受近期国际原油价格异常飙升的冲击，将对国内汽油、柴油价格采取临时调控措施。Starting at midnight on Monday, the retail prices of gasoline and diesel will see a moderated increase of 1,160 yuan ($163) and 1,115 yuan per metric ton, respectively, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.根据国家发展改革委发布的通知，自3月23日24时起，国内汽油、柴油零售价将适度上调，每吨分别上涨1160元和1115元。Under the country's existing pricing mechanism, the sharp rise in global oil prices—driven by escalating geopolitical conflicts, would have triggered a much steeper hike of 2,205 yuan per ton for gasoline and 2,120 yuan per ton for diesel.根据现行价格机制计算，受地缘政治冲突加剧影响，国际油价持续飙升，原本汽、柴油价格每吨分别应上调2205元和2120元。The NDRC stated that this temporary intervention, executed within the framework of the current pricing mechanism, is designed to mitigate the impact of extreme global market fluctuations. The move aims to ease the financial burden on downstream users, ensure the smooth operation of the macroeconomy, and safeguard people's basic livelihoods.国家发改委表示，此次在现行价格机制框架内实施的临时调控措施，旨在有效减缓国际油价异常上涨带来的冲击，减轻下游用户负担，保障经济平稳运行和社会民生。To maintain market stability, the commission has directed major oil production and sales enterprises to optimize their operations, coordinate transport, and guarantee an adequate market supply of refined oil.国家发展改革委将指导成品油生产销售企业全力做好成品油生产组织调运，保障市场供应。Furthermore, the NDRC pledged to work closely with relevant departments to intensify market supervision. Authorities will strictly crack down on any violations of national price policies to maintain market order and effectively protect consumer rights and interests.此外，国家发改委将密切配合相关部门加大市场监督检查力度，严厉查处不执行国家价格政策等违法违规行为，切实维护市场秩序，保护消费者利益。gasoline /ˈɡæsəliːn/汽油 diesel /ˈdiːzəl/柴油 crude oil /kruːd ɔɪl/原油 refined oil /rɪˈfaɪnd ɔɪl/成品油 intensify market supervision /ɪnˈtensɪfaɪ ˈmɑːrkɪt ˌsuːpərˈvɪʒən/加强市场监管

China has rolled out a guideline to advance child-friendly development across the society. The National Development and Reform Commission said the move aims to promote children's healthy, all-round growth.

Ghana football keeps retrogressing and lacks direction; it needs a strong national development plan. - Countryman Songo.

The head of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic regulator, says the country's GDP is expected to grow by over six trillion yuan, or nearly 870 billion U.S. dollars, this year (01:20). Foreign diplomats and overseas media have spoken highly of China's ongoing Two Sessions and achievements over the past years (11:58). Beijing calls for de-escalating tensions in the Middle East while stepping up efforts to assist stranded Chinese nationals in the region (19:41).

China has revised and abolished more than 10,000 problematic policy documents nationwide this year as it reviews laws and regulations involving the unequal treatment of enterprises, with a focus on grassroots authorities, according to the Ministry of Justice.据司法部介绍，今年以来，中国在审查涉及企业不平等对待的法律法规过程中，已在全国范围内修订和废止1万余份存在问题的政策文件，重点聚焦基层执法和行政部门。Key grassroots issues have also been addressed, including government failures to fulfill obligations, illegal debt raising and the practice of "new officials disowning past obligations".同时，一批基层突出问题得到整治，包括政府不履行承诺、违法举债，以及“新官不理旧账”等现象。Launched in March, a special operation led by the ministry to standardize enterprise-related law enforcement has rectified 54,000 prominent cases across the country, assisting enterprises recover 28.92 billion yuan ($4 billion) in economic losses.今年3月启动的由司法部牵头的涉企执法规范化专项行动，已在全国纠治5.4万起突出问题，帮助企业挽回经济损失289.2亿元人民币（约合40亿美元）。To unify law enforcement standards, the Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with departments such as market supervision and firefighting, has urged local governments to introduce more than 330 standardized measures.为统一执法标准，司法部会同市场监管、消防等部门，推动地方出台330余项执法规范化措施。In addition, more than 50 million entries on enterprises' abnormal operation lists have been restored, and 3.5 million penalty records removed, in a bid to ease hurdles hindering enterprises' credit restoration and access to financing and bidding opportunities.此外，已有5000多万条企业经营异常名录记录被修复，350万条行政处罚记录被依法撤销，着力破解企业信用修复、融资和参与招投标等方面的障碍。Following the operation, arbitrary fines nationwide have dropped by 8.2 percent year-on-year, with stricter oversight imposed on regions registering abnormal hikes in fines.专项行动开展后，全国乱罚款现象同比下降8.2%，对罚款异常增长地区实施了更严格的监督。Meanwhile, departments including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Finance have advanced long-term supervision of enterprise-related charges, prompting regions and departments to generally establish catalogs of such charges and release them to the public.与此同时，国家发展改革委、工业和信息化部、财政部等部门推进涉企收费长效监管，推动各地区、各部门普遍建立涉企收费目录并向社会公开。Illegal cross-regional and profit-driven law enforcement has also been targeted, with relevant cases screened, irregularities rectified and root causes identified. Cross-provincial jurisdiction systems and collaborative mechanisms have been established following comprehensive case reviews.跨区域、逐利性执法问题也被纳入重点整治范围，通过筛查案件、纠正违规行为、查找问题根源，推动建立跨省管辖制度和协作机制。In one typical case, a county-level comprehensive law enforcement bureau in Shandong province was found in April 2025 to have illegally penalized an out-of-town seed business.在一起典型案例中，2025年4月，山东省某县综合执法局被查出对一家外地种子企业实施了违法处罚。The bureau fined the company in March for failing to label variety right numbers on corn seeds but failed to transfer jurisdiction to the relevant local agricultural authority as required. The municipal supervision bureau issued a rectification order and transferred the case to disciplinary authorities.该执法局于3月以玉米种子未标注品种权编号为由对企业罚款，但未按规定将案件移交当地农业主管部门。市级监督部门随后下达整改通知，并将案件移送纪检部门处理。According to the ministry, the operation, coupled with supporting policies, has boosted market vitality.司法部表示，专项行动及配套政策有效激发了市场活力。The number of national market entities has seen a net increase of more than 5 million, while newly registered private enterprises rose by 6.8 percent in the first eight months, 18.6 percentage points higher than the growth rate for the entire last year.全国市场主体数量净增500多万户，前八个月新登记民营企业同比增长6.8%，比去年全年增速高出18.6个百分点。Vice-Minister of Justice Hu Weilie said that despite progress, deep-seated problems remain in administrative law enforcement.司法部副部长胡卫列表示，尽管取得积极成效，但行政执法领域仍存在一些深层次问题。Some entities, he said, have failed to strictly implement the "two separate lines for revenue and expenditure" system to tighten oversight of public fund management.他说，一些单位未严格落实“收支两条线”制度，公共资金监管不到位。Instead, they have set quotas and targets for confiscated income or linked such income to performance assessments.相反，有的地方设定罚没收入指标，或将罚没收入与绩效考核挂钩。Others have not fully advanced the reform of administrative law enforcement, leading to recurring issues such as overlapping and redundant enforcement as well as shirking responsibilities.还有一些地方行政执法体制改革推进不到位，导致多头执法、重复执法和推诿扯皮等问题反复出现。Some have abused discretion in administrative penalties, arbitrarily imposing maximum fines and substituting penalties for proper management, Hu said.胡卫列表示，还有个别执法人员滥用自由裁量权，动辄顶格处罚，以罚代管。He said these problems have persisted for a long time and stem from deep-rooted causes that include misplaced performance concepts, insufficient professional law enforcement capabilities, weak oversight, and inadequate institutional development. More in-depth research and targeted efforts are needed to address the challenges, he added.他指出，这些问题长期存在，根源在于政绩观偏差、执法专业能力不足、监督乏力以及制度建设不健全等深层因素。他补充说，必须开展更深入研究，采取更有针对性的举措，才能有效破解这些难题。To improve and standardize long-term mechanisms for enterprise-related law enforcement, the ministry will accelerate the introduction of regulations, including measures for the administration of law enforcers and policy documents advancing the rule of law in comprehensive administrative law enforcement reform.为健全和规范涉企执法长效机制，司法部将加快出台相关法规制度，包括执法人员管理办法以及推进综合行政执法改革法治化的政策文件。Approval, supervision and law enforcement powers will be more scientifically delineated, and regular training and proficiency tests for law enforcement personnel expanded.审批权、监管权和执法权将更加科学划分，同时扩大执法人员常态化培训和能力考核。Authorities will also intensify efforts to align administrative law enforcement standards across regions and review laws, regulations and policies that hinder the construction of a unified national market.有关部门还将加大行政执法标准跨区域统一力度，系统清理妨碍全国统一大市场建设的法律法规和政策措施。The ministry will promote the development of a national unified administrative law enforcement supervision platform to strengthen full-process, real-time and precise oversight of enforcement activities.司法部还将推动建设全国统一的行政执法监督平台，强化对执法活动的全过程、实时化、精准化监督。ease business issues优化营商环境 new officials disowning past obligations新官不理旧账enterprise-related law enforcement涉企执法credit restoration信用修复profit-driven law enforcement逐利性执法unified national market全国统一大市场

Eager to tap into a huge potential customer base, industry players are accelerating their push into the artificial intelligence-driven toys market, hoping to unlock new growth as supportive policies inject fresh momentum into the sector.为挖掘庞大的潜在客户群体，行业参与者正加速进军人工智能驱动的玩具市场，期待借政策支持为该领域注入新动能，从而开启新的增长空间。Experts and business leaders noted that AI toys, created to provide emotional support and companionship, are well-positioned to spark the next wave of consumer trends by using advanced technologies to foster emotional connections with consumers.专家和商业领袖指出，人工智能玩具旨在提供情感支持与陪伴，凭借先进技术与消费者建立情感纽带，有望引领下一波消费潮流。"Young consumers are increasingly paying for emotional value, and AI companionship is emerging as a key early-use case," said Sun Zhaozhi, founder and CEO of Shanghai-based AI-driven toy startup Robopoet.上海人工智能玩具初创企业珞博智能科技有限公司创始人兼首席执行官孙兆治表示：“年轻消费者越来越愿意为情感价值买单，而人工智能陪伴正成为关键的早期应用场景。”"This is attracting more companies, including major firms, into the field," Sun said.孙兆治表示：“这正吸引着更多企业，包括大型企业，进入该领域。”According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China's AI toy market was valued at 24.6 billion yuan ($3.49 billion) in 2024, and is expected to be worth 29 billion yuan this year.根据工业和信息化部的数据显示，2024年中国人工智能玩具市场规模达246亿元（约合34.9亿美元），预计今年将达到290亿元。The growth momentum is backed by an action plan released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the People's Bank of China and the State Administration for Market Regulation last month, where collectible toys were listed as a priority support consumption category for the first time, making it one of 10 consumer segments targeted to exceed the 100 billion yuan mark by 2027.增长势头得益于上月由工业和信息化部、国家发展和改革委员会、商务部、文化和旅游部、中国人民银行及国家市场监督管理总局联合发布的行动方案。该方案首次将收藏玩具列为重点扶持消费品类，使其成为十个目标消费领域之一，力争到2027年实现规模突破千亿人民币大关。"The deep integration of AI with traditional toy manufacturing is reshaping product forms and value chains, making AI toys a new engine for high-quality industrial development," said He Yaqiong, head of the consumer products industry department at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.工业和信息化部消费品司司长何亚琼表示：“人工智能与传统玩具制造的深度融合，正在重塑产品形态和价值链，使智能玩具成为高质量产业发展的全新引擎。”Priced at 399 yuan, Robopoet's flagship AI plush toy Fuzozo, which talks to and makes eye contact with users, sold over 1,000 units in the first 10 minutes of the "618" shopping festival presale and ranked No 1 in AI toy sales on both JD and Tmall during this year's Double 11 shopping festival, Sun said.珞博智能旗下旗舰AI毛绒玩具“芙崽”售价399元，具备与用户对话及眼神交流功能。据孙兆治透露，该产品在“618”购物节预售阶段开售10分钟内销量突破千台，并在今年双11购物节期间同时荣登京东、天猫两大平台AI玩具销量榜首。The senior executive added that the product has sold about 100,000 units so far this year and targets 1 million next year, aiming for 400-500 million yuan in gross merchandise value.孙兆治补充道，该产品今年迄今已售出约10万台，明年目标为100万台，力争实现4亿至5亿元人民币的商品交易总额。As consumer demand grows more diverse, more companies are shifting their focus toward AI-powered pet companions.随着消费者需求日益多元化，越来越多的企业正将目光转向人工智能驱动的宠物伴侣。"Unlike typical robots designed to serve humans, our product simulates a live pet that needs care. The process of caring offers users a sense of healing, helping them to cope with anxiety and loneliness," said He Jiabin, co-founder and CEO of AI robot pet manufacturer Ropet.人工智能宠物机器人Ropet的联合创始人兼首席执行官何嘉斌表示：“与传统服务型机器人不同，我们的产品模拟了需要照料的活体宠物。照料过程能为用户带来治愈感，帮助他们缓解焦虑与孤独。”He added that AI-powered robot pets better suit the lifestyles of young people today, as challenges such as allergies, time constraints and a training process are not present.何嘉斌补充道，人工智能驱动的机器人宠物更适合当今年轻人的生活方式，因为它们避免了过敏、时间限制和训练过程等难题。Supported by an emotional large language model and behavioral learning, Ropet can continuously adapt to users' habits and gradually develop distinctive traits, allowing it to interact more like a personalized pet, the executive said.何嘉斌表示，在情感化大型语言模型和行为学习技术的支持下，Ropet能够持续适应用户习惯并逐步形成独特个性，使其互动体验更接近于个性化宠物。Following its domestic debut on JD in late October, the AI pet product quickly made its way into the platform's top three ranking in the robot category by sales volume during the Double 11 shopping festival.这款人工智能宠物产品于十月下旬在京东平台国内首发后，在双十一购物节期间迅速跻身该平台机器人品类销量前三名。"Our business logic is straightforward: first create an appealing hardware product, then use high usage rates to accumulate behavioral data, and finally leverage this data to deliver true intelligence," He said.他说道：“我们的商业逻辑很简单：先打造一款吸引人的硬件产品，再通过高使用率积累行为数据，最后利用这些数据实现真正的智能化。”As domestic momentum builds, Chinese AI toys are also finding strong traction abroad.随着国内势头增强，中国的人工智能玩具在海外市场也获得了强劲的牵引力。In 2024, China's domestic toy retail market was worth 97.85 billion yuan, up 25.5 percent from 2020, while toy exports totaled $39.87 billion, rising 19.1 percent from 2020, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said.工业和信息化部数据显示：2024年中国国内玩具零售市场规模达978.5亿元，较2020年增长25.5%；玩具出口总额达398.7亿美元，较2020年增长19.1%。"Consumers in the United States and Europe have shown high acceptance of AI robots with visual understanding and personalized interaction. Many describe our products as 'little desktop creatures', 'AI pets' or an 'emotional charging station'," said Yi Qi, marketing manager at Shenzhen-based AI hardware company TangibleFuture.深圳可触未来智能硬件有限公司的市场经理陈怡琦表示：“美国和欧洲消费者对具备视觉理解和个性化交互功能的人工智能机器人表现出高度接受度。许多人将我们的产品称为‘桌面小精灵'、‘人工智能宠物'或‘情感充电站'。”The company's LOOI Robot, priced at around $150, differs from typical companion robots with its phone-dock form factor. Once a smartphone is placed on it, the device activates intelligent interaction and obstacle detection functions.该公司推出的LOOI机器人售价约150美元，其手机底座造型设计区别于传统伴侣机器人。当智能手机放置于底座后，设备即刻激活智能交互与障碍物检测功能。Since mass production began in November 2024, more than 10,000 units have been shipped, with 90 percent sold overseas. The product even received a social media endorsement from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.自2024年11月启动量产以来，LOOI机器人已交付逾万台，其中90%销往海外市场。该产品甚至获得了特斯拉首席执行官埃隆·马斯克在社交媒体上的推荐。"Boasting the world's most complete toy industry chain, strong manufacturing capabilities and a highly skilled labor force, China is now able to offer more high-quality and well-priced toys to global consumers," said He Ya qiong, from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.工业和信息化部部长何亚琼表示：“中国拥有全球最完整的玩具产业链、强大的制造能力和高素质的劳动力队伍，如今能够为全球消费者提供更多高品质、高性价比的玩具。”gross merchandise value(GMV)商品交易总额tractionn.[ˈtrækʃn]吸引力

Today on Galway Talks with John Morley:  9am-10am  Galway secures €3billion in revised National Development plan    Nearly €150k spent on proposed Clifden railway bridge before NTA pulled funding   COPE Galway offers Essential Lifeline to over 3,000 people, annual report shows   10am-11am Pathway now clear for establishment of  Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce in Ballinasloe   Demand for answers after turf cutting injunction   Kennys Bookshop & Art Gallery celebrates 85 years in business   11am-12pm Culture Corner - The Reincarnation of Cornelius Agrippa   Connacht Tribune Headlines    Anti-Genocide group to protest at Honorary Doctorate cermony at University of Galway   Music Mornings - SAILHYMN  

The Department of Transport published the list of transport projects that are on the priority list for this government under the Revised National Development Plan, this list is discussed by Fianna Fail Senator Dee Ryan, Labour Senator Nessa Cosgrove, Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice and Paul Hosford Political Editor, Irish Examiner

China's sharpened focus on cultivating strategic emerging industries during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period will give fresh vitality to nurturing new quality productive forces and help the country better navigate external uncertainties while maintaining its edge amid global competition, said officials, experts and company executives.Their comments came as China plans to make more efforts to accelerate the development of emerging sectors such as new energy, new materials, aerospace and the low-altitude economy during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, according to the recently unveiled Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development.President Xi Jinping said the recommendations were initiated in line with the country's strategic development goals, recognizing the pivotal role of the next five years, and based on an in-depth analysis of both the domestic and global landscapes.Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said, "It is important that we seize this window of opportunity to consolidate and build on our strengths, remove development bottlenecks, shore up areas of weakness, seize the strategic initiative amid intense international competition, and secure major breakthroughs in strategic tasks of overall importance to Chinese modernization."The remarks were made in Xi's explanatory speech on the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, delivered at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which concluded in Beijing in late October.Yao Jun, head of the department of planning at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that "President Xi's speech is grounded in reality and forward-looking, and it has pointed the way forward for us in all our endeavors".According to Yao, the achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period have laid a solid foundation, and the strategic tasks proposed going forward are comprehensive and well-focused.Yao said, "We will anchor our work on developing new quality productive forces, driven by the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation."He added that the focus will be on intelligent, green and integrated development, moving manufacturing from scale expansion to value creation.Zhu Min, former deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, said the distinctive strength of China's economy lies in its strong real economy and industrial system."As China's technological capabilities continue to grow, the key challenge — and opportunity — is to effectively integrate these advancements to cultivate new industries driven by new quality productive forces. That's central to China's future economic trajectory," he said.Zhu also said such a trend is already mirrored in China's emphasis on strategic emerging industries such as new energy and the low-altitude economy. These sectors are poised for significant growth, built upon the robust momentum of China's "three new" economies — new industries, new business forms and new models — which already contributed over 18 percent to the country's GDP as of 2024, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.Zhu Keli, founding dean of the China Institute of New Economy, said, "China's goal of nurturing these frontier sectors not only reflects confidence in our own industrial capabilities but, more critically, serves as a key measure to seize the initiative in global sci-tech industrial competition."China has been the world's largest manufacturing country in terms of output for 15 consecutive years, and it ranks first globally in the output of over 220 industrial products, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology."Boasting such a complete industrial system, China provides rich application scenarios and enormous market potential for technological innovation, as well as solid support for the development of new industries," Zhu added.According to Zhu, emerging pillar industries, represented by the low-altitude economy, are now capable of driving growth momentum and are transitioning from "isolated breakthroughs" to "industrial-chain-wide expansion".Tian Gangyin, founder, chairman and president of the Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle developer United Aircraft, said the blueprint mapped out for the 15th Five-Year Plan period is "inspiring and motivating".Industrial-level drones are finding applications in a wide range of fields, such as emergency rescue work, power line patrolling, farming, and surveillance and security operations, he added.Aerospace is another strategic industry that China values, and in which companies are moving fast. Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co, for instance, plans to double its number of launch pads from two to four, and push forward rocket-recovery technology, marking a major step in the country's bid to build a globally competitive commercial space hub in Wenchang, Hainan province.Yang Tianliang, chairman of the company, said: "By end-2026, we will have launch pads No 3 and No 4, along with a new technical area and telemetry station. Once completed, the facility will be able to handle more than 60 launches annually, with each pad supporting launch missions every 10 days, or even weekly."Meanwhile, China is making progress in the new energy industry, such as in nuclear energy.Wei Zhigang, chairman of Hainan Nuclear Power Co, said artificial intelligence computing fuels an exponential surge in demand for electricity, and it is increasingly difficult for the traditional energy supply to meet such a huge demand."Secure, affordable and low-carbon energy has become a key factor driving the high-quality development of the intelligent computing industry," Wei said.

In this episode, Jim sits down with U.S. National Development Program Head Coach Chris Zambri to discuss how the USGA is building a national system to develop America's next wave of world-class golfers. Zambri shares his journey from USC and Pepperdine to leading the program, why the U.S. needed a true national development model, and how it's inspired by Sweden's holistic approach to building complete athletes—mentally, physically, and technically. They dive into how the program identifies top talent, fills key gaps in junior development like course management and performance analytics, and prepares players for elite competition. Zambri also breaks down the boys team's groundbreaking appearance at the Sahalee NCAA event, where high schoolers competed against powerhouse college programs—gaining invaluable experience under professional-level conditions. The US National Development Program also has a Grant Program helping deserving families offset the financial burden of pursuing elite junior golf. The application for the 2026 grants is Friday October 31st. For more information, see https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/usndp-home-page/grant-information.html The Driven Golf Podcast is brought to you by FlagBag Golf Company and StrackaLine. Use code ‘DRIVEN' for 20% off StrackaLine yardage books or mention ‘Driven Golf' when ordering a FlagBag golf bag for a free custom headcover. @flagbaggolf | flagbaggolfco.com strackaline.com Join the Driven Golf Podcast Group on Facebook and subscribe to the Driven Golf Analytics YouTube Channel. Visit DRVN.Golf for more content. Hosts: Jim Colton (@drivengolfanalytics) & Andrew Lewis (@andrewlewisgolf) @usndp⁠)Producer: Joseph Kay (@joseph_kay)

China is set to make the development of new quality productive forces one of the top priorities of its next five-year plan, as policymakers seek to upgrade the nation's industrial structure, spur innovation-driven growth, and reinforce confidence in the long-term outlook of the world's second-largest economy, said officials, experts and global executives.官员、专家及全球企业高管表示，中国计划将发展新质生产力列为下一个五年规划的重点任务之一，政策制定者正致力于推动产业结构升级、激发创新驱动型增长，并增强对这一世界第二大经济体长期发展前景的信心。The new blueprint will serve as a crucial bridge between the current phase of recovery and China's goal of basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035. Experts said it underscores the country's resolve to reinvigorate growth amid domestic structural pressures and rising global uncertainties, steering the economy toward new drivers such as advanced manufacturing, green transformation and digital innovation.这份新蓝图将成为当前复苏阶段与中国2035年基本实现社会主义现代化目标之间的重要桥梁。专家指出，这凸显了中国在国内结构性压力和全球不确定性上升的背景下重振增长的决心，推动经济向先进制造业、绿色转型和数字创新等新动力方向发展。Their comments came as the market is closely watching the draft proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), as the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is holding its fourth plenary session in Beijing to deliberate on the drafting of the blueprint for China's development over the next five years.他们的表态正值市场密切关注“十五五”规划草案之际，中共二十届四中全会正在北京召开，审议未来五年中国发展蓝图的编制工作。President Xi Jinping shed light on the likely key priorities in Shanghai in April as he presided over a symposium on China's economic and social development in the 15th Five-Year Plan period and delivered an important speech.4月，习近平主席在上海主持“十五五”时期经济社会发展座谈会并发表重要讲话，阐明了未来五年可能的重点任务。Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said higher strategic priority must be given to fostering new quality productive forces in line with local conditions in the next five years.作为中共中央总书记，习近平强调，未来五年必须结合地方实际，把培育新质生产力摆在更突出的战略位置。Highlighting the roles of technological innovation and the real economy, he called for efforts to transform and upgrade traditional industries, develop emerging industries, and make forward-thinking arrangements for industries of the future, in order to accelerate modernization of the industrial system.习近平主席强调科技创新和实体经济的重要作用，呼吁着力推动传统产业转型升级、发展战略性新兴产业、前瞻布局未来产业，以加快推进工业体系现代化。Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, said his team believes that China will remain committed to deepening the economic transition anchored in technology and innovation to secure the supply chain and energy self-sufficiency. "We expect a tech-and supply-driven framework."摩根士丹利首席中国经济学家邢自强表示，其团队认为中国将继续致力于深化以科技和创新为核心的经济转型，保障供应链和能源自给自足，“我们预计将形成一个以科技和供应链为驱动的框架”。Zhang Ning, senior China economist at UBS Investment Bank, said China is likely to continue offering support in fundamental and frontier research, and in self-sufficiency technology bottleneck areas during the next five years.瑞银投资银行高级中国经济学家张宁指出，未来五年中国可能会继续支持基础研究和前沿研究，并在关键技术“卡脖子”领域助力自主可控。"We think fostering 'high-quality growth' will likely be the top priority over the next decade, mainly driven by innovation and total factor productivity growth," Zhang added.她补充道：“我们认为，未来十年‘高质量增长'有望成为首要任务，这一增长将主要由创新和全要素生产率提升驱动”。A meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, chaired by Xi in late September, discussed major issues related to the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development.9月底，习近平主席主持召开中共中央政治局会议，研究“十五五”时期国民经济和社会发展规划编制的重大问题。The meeting stressed the need to remain committed to high-quality development, foster new quality productive forces in line with local conditions, and comprehensively deepen reform while further expanding high-level opening-up.会议强调，要坚持高质量发展，结合地方实际培育新质生产力，全面深化改革并进一步扩大高水平对外开放。Citing research topics for the next five-year plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic regulator, Ye Fan, an analyst at Southwest Securities, said the scope of studies under the upcoming five-year plan has expanded significantly, with newly added topics accounting for about 50 percent of the total.西南证券分析师叶凡援引中国最高经济调控机构国家发展和改革委员会发布的“十五五”规划研究课题指出，下一个五年规划的研究范围大幅扩大，新增课题约占总数的50%。"Among them, subjects related to technological innovation and industrial development increased by 80 percent and 64 percent, respectively," Ye noted. "The topics cover key areas such as global technological and industrial transformation, talent development and innovation capacity building. In terms of industrial priorities, the focus is placed on key areas including the digital economy, artificial intelligence, services and healthcare."其中，科技创新和产业发展相关课题占比分别提升80%和64%，涵盖全球科技产业变革、人才培养、创新能力建设等关键领域；产业重点则聚焦数字经济、人工智能、服务业、医疗健康等方向。According to Ye, policymakers will place greater emphasis on development quality, efficiency and sustainability in the next five years. "It will drive industrial upgrading through technological innovation, deepen the integration of the digital and real economies, and promote a comprehensive green transformation of China's economy and society."叶凡表示，未来五年政策制定者将更注重发展质量、效率和可持续性，通过科技创新推动产业升级，深化数字经济与实体经济融合，促进中国经济社会全面绿色转型。In March 2024, Zheng Shanjie, head of the NDRC, told a symposium that the planning of the 15th Five-Year Plan will fully take into account the practical requirements for developing new quality productive forces.2024年3月，国家发展和改革委员会（NDRC）主任郑栅洁在一场座谈会上表示，“十五五”规划编制将充分考虑发展新质生产力的实际需求。He said policymakers will focus on identifying key tasks and foundational projects to promote the growth of new quality productive forces as they set major goals, strategic missions, reform measures, and large-scale projects for the next stage of China's economic and social development.他指出，政策制定者在确定下一阶段中国经济社会发展的主要目标、战略任务、改革举措和重大项目时，将重点明确推动新质生产力发展的关键任务和基础性项目。Hu Yuwei, chief policy analyst at China Securities, said the next five-year blueprint will place greater emphasis on innovation-driven growth, green and low-carbon development, and digital transformation to adapt to the trends of globalization and informatization.中国证券首席政策分析师胡玉玮表示，下一个五年规划蓝图将更加强调创新驱动增长、绿色低碳发展和数字化转型，以适应全球化和信息化趋势。China's innovation capacity has risen rapidly over the past few years. According to the "Global Innovation Index 2025" report released by the World Intellectual Property Organization, China has risen to 10th place in the global innovation ranking for 2025, up one spot from last year, marking its first entry into the top 10.过去几年，中国创新能力快速提升。根据世界知识产权组织发布的《2025年全球创新指数》报告，中国2025年全球创新排名升至第10位，较上年提升1位，首次进入前十。However, Hu cautioned that challenges remain. "Our basic research remains relatively weak, with insufficient concentration of scientific resources and a lack of systematic advantage in original innovation."不过，胡玉玮也提醒，挑战依然存在。“我国基础研究相对薄弱，科技资源集中度不足，原始创新缺乏系统性优势。”Hu suggested that during the next five years, China should strengthen its national strategic science and technology capacity, enhance self-reliance in core technologies, and promote advanced, smart and green manufacturing.胡玉玮建议，未来五年，中国应强化国家战略科技力量，提升核心技术自主可控能力，推动先进制造、智能制造和绿色制造发展。Global executives hailed China's ongoing efforts to foster new quality productive forces, saying that multinational corporations will see rising opportunities in the next few years.全球企业高管对中国培育新质生产力的持续努力表示赞赏，认为跨国公司未来几年将迎来更多机遇。"I don't see China only as just the market. I think China has probably become an engine for some specific innovations, which we can develop elsewhere," said Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, a French transnational group focusing on ecological environment and resource management.法国生态环境与资源管理跨国集团威立雅首席执行官埃斯特尔・布拉希利亚诺夫（音译）表示：“我不认为中国只是一个市场，我认为中国很可能已成为某些特定创新的引擎，这些创新成果也可应用到其他地区。”Brachlianoff said she is confident that China's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan will keep green development high on the agenda, creating more opportunities for Veolia in areas such as decarbonization and ecological restoration.布拉希利亚诺夫称，她相信中国即将出台的“十五五”规划将继续把绿色发展置于重要议程，为威立雅在脱碳、生态修复等领域创造更多机会。Marc Horn, president of Merck China, said China is an important source of innovation. "We are very confident in staying the course and remaining committed to our investments (here in China)."默克集团中国区总裁何慕麒表示，中国是重要的创新源泉。“我们对在中国的发展道路充满信心，并将继续坚定投入。”underscore/ˌʌndəˈskɔː(r)/v.强调；凸显bottleneck/ˈbɒtlnek/n.瓶颈；障碍reinforce/ˌriːɪnˈfɔːs/v.增强；巩固deliberate/dɪˈlɪbəreɪt/v.审议；仔细考虑

As usual, the news is newsing. This week we discuss rising international pressure in relation to the starving people of Gaza, the low key announcement of the National Development Plan, listeriosis, racist incidents in Dublin and the removal of the Lidl in Carrigstown from Google Maps.Pre-order Carl's book here.To support the podcast and access bonus episodes, join the community on Patreon here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Emer Higgins, joins us to unpack the National Development Plan—what it means for communities across Ireland, how progress is being tracked, and the priorities shaping the country's future.

Kerry Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly is his party’s spokesperson for climate, environment, energy and transport.

There's a call for the Government to provide clarity as to whether a new Model three hospital in the Midwest will be included in the National Development Plan. The revised plan gives the Department of Health an allocation of €9 billion for 2026 to 2030 but a list of projects to be supported isn't expected to be finalised for several months. The findings of HIQA's review of emergency capacity in this region are due in September and hopes for a new emergency department were dealt a significant blow in May when HSE MidWest made a submission that didn't recommend such a facility. Scariff-based Independent MEP Michael McNamara believes residents of Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary deserve a straight answer on the matter.

This week the Government outlined spending of €200 billion on a National Development Plan stretching over the next decade. In parallel it also set out its stall for this year's budget, signalling a spending and tax package of €9.5 billion. Joining host Ciarán Hancock in studio to dissect these spending plans and tax cuts against a backdrop of a potential trade war between the US and the EU were Ellen Coyne, political correspondent of The Irish Times, Ferga Kane, EY Ireland's strategy and transactions team lead, and Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times. They tease out the headline numbers in the National Development Plan, the areas being targeted over the next five years, and the likely impact on future foreign investment.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Jerry spoke to Minister for Children Norma Foley about the National Development Plan and the Government’s summer economic statement.

The Government is being urged to ramp up investment in the road network of rural parts of Clare. It comes as details have been revealed of the State's plans to invest €112 billion in infrastructure over the next five years. As part of the revised National Development Plan, housing is to receive an investment of €36 billion while transport will be supported to the tune of €24 billion - €2 billion of which will go towards Dublin's Metrolink. O'Callaghan's Mills native and Secretary of the Clare branch of the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association, Martin McMahon, claims the powers that be have a job of work to do to prove the west of Ireland isn't being forgotten about.

The government has signed off on a 112-billion-euro capital investment package out to the end of the decade. A further 100 billion is being planned for the years 2030 to 2035. The National Development Plan review injects further cash from the Apple Tax and AIB share sales. 24 billion of that money will be put into transport, including public transport. While 36 billion euro is being provided to 2030 for housing - not including investment in water. Tánaiste Simon Harris says the money will contribute to huge infrastructure improvements. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Garry Miley, Ogonnelloe-based Architect and Colmán Ó Raghallaigh, West On Track.

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin joined Newstalk Breakfast this morning ahead of the Cabinet summer break. Joining Shane to discuss Metrolink, budget and the National Development Plan and more.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers joins The Last Word to discuss the Government's revised National Development Plan which aims to address the country's gaps in housing, utilities infrastructure, transport and more.Catch the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A Clare TD says the county is in urgent need of large-scale funding under the National Development Plan to prevent the death of rural Clare communities. A further €30 billion is to be be added to the revised plan, taking the total to €100 billion between 2026 and 2030. The amounts allocated to each department and utility will be announced later today while a full list of all projects set to receive funding is not expected for a number of months. Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney says business closures and population decline will continue in rural areas if infrastructural issues aren't addressed.

The Government's flagship new plan to build infrastructure over the next five years. Reporter Barry Lenihan gives us a breakdoen of the details.

The Government's National Development Plan has been unveiled today, which will see investment to the tune of €200 billion over the next decade.But, will this be all it's cracked up to be?Joining Kieran to discuss is Danny McCoy, CEO of IBEC and Frances Ruane, the Chair of the state's National Competitiveness and Productivity Council.

The final elements of the €200 billion National Development Plan have been agreed and published earlier today, with the Government setting out how we will invest in all our infrastructure for the next 10 years.So how will the €200 billion be spent?Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Reform and Digitalisation, Fianna Fáil Deputy Leader and TD for Dublin City West, Jack Chambers, joins Kieran to discuss.

The final elements of the €200 billion National Development Plan have been agreed and published earlier today, with the government setting out how we will invest in all our infrastructure for the next 10 years.But, what exactly will the money be spent on, and was every base covered?Mairéad Farrell, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and TD for Galway West/South Mayo and David Timoney, Chief Economist at Davy, join Kieran to discuss.

Cormac McQuinn, Political Correspondent for the Irish Times, discusses the revised National Development Plan being unveiled by government. Sean Canney, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, outlines the new National Development Plan projected to spend nearly €100 billion between 2026 and 2030.

Sandra Hurley, of our Political staff, reports on the revised national development plan which is due to be published tomorrow.

With a chronic shortage of housing, a water supply which cannot meet demand, and an electricity grid creaking at the seams, there's plenty to talk about with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Jack Chambers.

Michael Healy-Rae, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine; Martin Kenny, Sinn Féin TD for Sligo–Leitrim; Paul Lawless, Aontú TD for Mayo

David Murphy, Economics and Public Affairs Editor, explains what the National Development Plan review is and why it matters.

Bolstered by sustained policy support for trade-in programs, China's consumption is likely to continue its robust growth momentum in the second half of the year, better underpinning the country's stable economic growth amid mounting external uncertainties, analysts said.分析人士表示，在对以旧换新项目的持续政策支持的推动下，中国的消费可能会在今年下半年继续保持强劲的增长势头，在外部不确定性日益增加的情况下更好地支撑该国的稳定经济增长。China still has ample fiscal headroom to reinforce its trade-in initiative later this year should consumer demand exhaust its initial 300 billion yuan ($42 billion) allocation, they said, emphasizing that similar policy incentives could be extended to the service sector to foster more sustainable consumption growth.他们表示，如果消费者需求耗尽其最初的3000亿元人民币（420亿美元）的拨款，中国仍有充足的财政空间来加强其以旧换新计划，并强调类似的政策激励措施可以扩展到服务业，以促进更可持续的消费增长。On Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance announced the issuance of 11 ultra-long-term treasury bonds in the third quarter, with four of them seeing their timelines accelerated compared with the previous plan released in April. This will help maintain a continuous flow of funding to support policies meant to boost consumption, analysts said.周二，财政部宣布在第三季度发行11只超长期国债，其中4只的发行时间比4月份发布的计划提前。分析人士表示，这将有助于保持持续的资金流动，以支持旨在促进消费的政策。According to the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic regulator, the third group of fiscal funding through ultra-long-term treasury bonds for the consumer goods trade-in program is scheduled to be allocated in July.周二，财政部宣布在第三季度发行11只超长期国债，其中4只的发行时间比4月份发布的计划提前。分析人士表示，这将有助于保持持续的资金流动，以支持旨在促进消费的政策。The central government has earmarked 300 billion yuan in ultra-long-term treasury bonds to support the trade-in program for the whole year. The first two groups of fiscal funding, totaling 162 billion yuan, were allocated in January and April.中央政府已指定3000亿元人民币的超长期国债，以支持全年的置换计划。前两批财政资金共计1620亿元，分别于1月和4月拨付。"If the remaining 138 billion yuan runs out ahead of schedule, the possibility of unveiling additional funding this year cannot be ruled out," said Zhao Wei, chief economist at Shenwan Hongyuan Securities.申万宏源证券首席经济学家赵表示：“如果剩余的1380亿元提前用完，今年不排除推出额外资金的可能性。”。"As the trade war initiated by the United States still weighs on China's economy, efforts to shore up domestic demand will be of paramount importance to mitigate external shocks and maintain steady growth," he said.他说：“由于美国发起的贸易战仍对中国经济造成压力，提振内需对于缓解外部冲击和保持稳定增长至关重要。”。By avoiding a one-time, large-scale fund injection that could disrupt market dynamics, the phased allocation of the fiscal funds helps create a stable and supportive environment for the consumption recovery to take hold throughout the year, Zhao added.赵补充道，通过避免可能扰乱市场动态的一次性大规模资金注入，财政资金的分阶段分配有助于为全年的消费复苏创造稳定和支持性的环境。In late June, the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, also pledged to leverage various tools in support of the trade-in programs, such as increasing credit support for recycling companies and home renovation suppliers and fast-track financing for manufacturers of energy-efficient smart home products.6月下旬，中国央行中国人民银行还承诺利用各种工具支持以旧换新计划，例如增加对回收公司和家居装修供应商的信贷支持，以及为节能智能家居产品制造商提供快速融资。"Boosted by the trade-in programs, sales of household appliances, furniture and communication devices have registered rapid growth. Sales related to trade-ins have surpassed 1.4 trillion yuan so far this year," said Li Chao, a spokeswoman for the National Development and Reform Commission, when addressing a news conference on June 26.国家发展和改革委员会发言人李超在6月26日的新闻发布会上表示：“在以旧换新计划的推动下，家用电器、家具和通信设备的销售额实现了快速增长。今年到目前为止，与以旧换旧相关的销售额已超过1.4万亿元。”。According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, China's consumer spending in May posted its strongest monthly growth since 2024, with retail sales of consumer goods expanding 6.4 percent year-on-year in May, a 1.3 percentage point increase from April.根据国家统计局的数据，中国5月份的消费支出出现了2024年以来最强劲的月度增长，5月份消费品零售额同比增长6.4%，比4月份增长1.3个百分点。Experts cautioned that although the trade-in policies have been effective in driving sales of consumers goods, they also carry the risk of front-loading consumer demand, which could create challenges down the line.专家警告称，尽管以旧换新政策有效地推动了消费品的销售，但它们也带来了提前满足消费者需求的风险，这可能会在未来带来挑战。"Providing similar consumption incentives to promote service sector spending could become a key policy lever going forward," said Jiang Zhao, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.中国国际贸易经济合作研究院副研究员江赵表示：“提供类似的消费激励措施来促进服务业支出，可能会成为未来的一个关键政策杠杆。”。Jiang noted that development patterns in advanced economies indicate that upon entering high-income status, nations typically experience a gradual rise in the proportion of service consumption. As China approaches this threshold, its consumption structure is transitioning from being focused on goods to being focused on both goods and services, he said.江指出，发达经济体的发展模式表明，进入高收入国家后，服务消费的比例通常会逐渐上升。他说，随着中国接近这一门槛，其消费结构正在从以商品为重点转变为以商品和服务为重点。Nevertheless, service consumption spans diverse sectors such as elderly care, tourism, fitness and healthcare, implying that subsidy programs would demand substantial fiscal funding and pose significant oversight challenges, Jiang said, adding that any decision to implement such incentives would require prudent assessment based on practical conditions.然而，江表示，服务消费涵盖了养老、旅游、健身和医疗保健等多个领域，这意味着补贴计划将需要大量的财政资金，并带来重大的监管挑战。他补充说，任何实施此类激励措施的决定都需要根据实际情况进行审慎评估。fast-track financingn.快速融资consumption structuren.消费结构

Can the National Development Plan deliver on all its projects? With a €165 billion investment in transport, housing and infrastructure - will everything be met by 2040?Joining Kieran to discuss is Brian Caulfield, Professor in the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin.

Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers is launching public consultation on the National Development Plan Review today. Minister Chambers spoke to Shane this morning.

Send us a textJames Montague discusses his journey from cutting hair in the projects for 50 cents to building an empire through real estate development. He emphasizes the importance of starting with what you have and pivoting when necessary. Montague shares his personal transformation after suffering a stroke at 26, which led him to focus on health and time management. He highlights his mission-driven development company, f7 National Development, which includes projects like a STEM school and a retirement home. Montague's book, "Hood Minted: How Hustle and Faith Built an Empire," reflects on his experiences and lessons learned, aiming to inspire entrepreneurs.Support the showThank you for listening.... Feel free to contact us with your thoughts, questions, or more. We would love to hear from you. Please contact rinnie@webbsquared.org

On behalf of Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Region and its National Security Task Force the Hoover Institution held a Taiwan Roundtable Discussion on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, from 5:00 - 6:00 pm PT. Taiwan is facing a potential constitutional crisis. In December 2024, Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature voted to impose a 2/3 supermajority quorum for the Constitutional Court to hear new cases. The legislature then voted down all the new nominees to the Court, leaving it with only 8 of members and unable to meet the new quorum requirement. The government has appealed to the Court to meet anyway and rule that the new amendments are unconstitutional. In this discussion, three experts on Taiwan's politics and judicial system discuss the factors leading up to this confrontation, the options facing the court, and the potential for deeper reforms to strengthen judicial independence in the face of a deepening confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties. ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS Chien-Chih Lin is an associate research professor at Institutum Iurisprudentiae, Academia Sinica and an associate professor at the Graduate Institute of National Development, National Taiwan University. He received the LLM & JSD degrees from the University of Chicago. His academic interests focus on comparative constitutional law in Asia. Lin is the coauthor ofConstitutional Convergence in East Asia (2022) and Ultimate Economic Conflict between China and Democratic Countries (2022). His articles can be found in both peer-reviewed and student-edited law journals as well as edited volumes, including Oxford Handbook of Constitutional Law in Asia, American Journal of Comparative Law, and International Journal of Constitutional Law. He is the book review editor of International Journal of Constitutional Law. Weitseng Chen is a faculty member at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law, specializing in law and economic development, law and politics, and legal history in the context of Greater China. He has recently published several books, including Regime Type and Beyond: The Transformation of Police in Asia (CUP, 2023), Authoritarian Legality in Asia: Formation, Development and Transition (CUP, 2019), The Beijing Consensus? How China Has Changed the Western Ideas of Law and Economic Development (CUP, 2017), Property and Trust Law: Taiwan (with Yun-Chien Chang & Y. J. Wu, Kluwer, 2017), and Law and Economic Miracle: Interaction Between Taiwan's Development and Economic Laws After WWII (in Chinese, 2000). Weitseng Chen earned his JSD from Yale Law School. Prior to joining NUS, he served as a Hewlett Fellow at Stanford's Center for Democracy,Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) and practiced as a corporate lawyer in the Greater China region with Davis Polk & Wardwell. Kharis Templeman is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and part of the Project on Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific. Templeman is a political scientist (Ph.D. 2012, Michigan) with research interests in Taiwan politics, democratization, elections and election management, party system development, and politics and security issues in Pacific Asia.

On this week's episode of GOLF's Subpar, Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz are joined by USGA CEO Mike Whan for an exclusive interview. The former commissioner of the LPGA talks the many initiatives they have in place for the start of the recreational golf season, what venues he is most excited to have hosting their Championships and why creating the U.S. National Development Program was so important.--Join us at The Bank, Hilton Head's Beer Garden, for Subpar Live on Wednesday, April 16, at 6 PM EST. Enjoy a night of golf, laughs, and good times with drink specials, giveaways, and more. Whether you're a PGA Tour caddie, a fan, or in town for RBC Heritage, this is the place to be. Presented by Zone.--Make sure you enter the Golden Bear(™) Sweepstakes between March 27th - April 13th with Fanatics Sportsbook for your chance to win a pin flag signed by Jack Nicklaus. Gambling Problem? See Official Rules at https://sportsbook.fanatics.com/promo-terms/2025/Sweepstakes/ALL_1878.pdf . Sponsor: FBG Enterprises Opco, LLC. Not sponsored, endorsed by or affiliated with Augusta National, Inc.⁠https://www.joinfanatics.com/subpar-signed-flag-sweepstakes/⁠GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Connecticut residents call (888) 789-7777,  Massachusetts residents call (800)-327-5050, New York residents call (877) 8-HOPENY, Maryland residents visit ⁠mdgamblinghelp.org⁠. --Thank you to our partners at Ship Sticks.  Skip airport stress and costly airline fees with complimentary insurance, real-time tracking, dedicated support, and on-time delivery.  Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠shipsticks.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the code SUBPAR20 to enjoy 20% off your first shipment.--Thank you to our partners at Callaway. The #1 putter on every major Tour—PGA, LPGA, DP World—you name it. More Tour Pros trust Odyssey than any other brand, and it shows with #1 rankings in worldwide wins and money earned. See what it can do for you at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OdysseyGolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.--Choose your style, pick your favorite Birdie Juice logo and shop from a line-up of top tier brands at ⁠⁠⁠⁠shop.golf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ today!

The Singapore Leopard Cat, may be in a wild area near you. This relatively unknown and shy "big cat" has several habitats around Singapore and is highly endangered. With around 50 animals estimated to live here, Vilma D'Rozario & Carmen Pang, co-founders of Singapore Wildcat Action Group (SWAG), other researchers, and Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development of Singapore, are working hard to make sure the local organizations and citizens know about this cat. In our “Saturday Morning Show” Sit-Down Conversation - host Glenn van Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys find out more about this reclusive, beautiful species and how to give it a safe island home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the U.S. lead negotiator on climate change, an inside account of the seven-year negotiation that culminated in the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015—and where the international climate effort needs to go from here. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change was one of the most difficult and hopeful achievements of the twenty-first century: 195 nations finally agreed, after 20 years of trying, to establish an ambitious, operational regime to address one of the greatest civilizational challenges of our time.  In Landing the Paris Climate Agreement: How It Happened, Why It Matters, and What Comes Next (MIT Press, 2024), Todd Stern, the chief US negotiator on climate change, provides an engaging account from inside the rooms where it happened: the full, charged, seven-year story of how the Paris Agreement came to be, following an arc from Copenhagen, to Durban, to the secret U.S.-China climate deal in 2014, to Paris itself. With a storyteller's gift for character, suspense, and detail, Stern crafts a high-stakes narrative that illuminates the strategy, policy, politics, and diplomacy that made Paris possible. Introducing readers to a vivid cast of characters, including Xie Zenhua, Vice Minister of China's National Development and Reform Commission, Bo Lidegaard, chief strategist for Denmark's Prime Minster, and Indian minister Jairam Ramesh, Stern, who worked alongside President Barack Obama and Secretaries of State John Kerry and Hillary Clinton, depicts the pitfalls and challenges overcome, the shifting alliances, the last-minute maneuvering, and the ultimate historic success. The book concludes with a final chapter that describes key developments since 2015 and the author's reflections on what needs to be done going forward to contain the climate threat. A unique peek behind the curtain of one of the most important international agreements of our time, Landing the Paris Climate Agreement is a vital and fascinating read for anyone who cares about the future of our one shared home. Todd Stern is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a nonresident distinguished fellow at the Asia Society, concentrating on climate change. He served from January 2009 until April 2016 as the Special Envoy for Climate Change at the Department of State, where he was President Barack Obama's chief climate negotiator. Caleb Zakarin is editor at the New Books Network. 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

Electrifying Indonesia: Technology and Social Justice in National Development (U Wisconsin Press, 2023) tells the story of the entanglement of politics and technology during Indonesia's rapid post-World War II development. As a central part of its nation-building project, the Indonesian state sought to supply electricity to the entire country, bringing transformative socioeconomic benefits across its heterogeneous territories and populations. While this project was driven by nationalistic impulses, it was also motivated by a genuine interest in social justice. The entanglement of these two ideologies-nation-building and equity-shaped how electrification was carried out, including how the state chose the technologies it did. Private companies and electric cooperatives vied with the hegemonic state power company to participate in a monumental undertaking that would transform daily life for all Indonesians, especially rural citizens. In this innovative volume, Anto Mohsin brings Indonesian studies together with science and technology studies to understand a crucial period in modern Indonesian history. He shows that attempts to illuminate the country were inseparable from the effort to maintain the new nation-state, chart its path to independence, and legitimize ruling regimes. In exchange for an often dramatically improved standard of living, people gave their votes, and their acquiescence, to the ruling government. 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

Electrifying Indonesia: Technology and Social Justice in National Development (U Wisconsin Press, 2023) tells the story of the entanglement of politics and technology during Indonesia's rapid post-World War II development. As a central part of its nation-building project, the Indonesian state sought to supply electricity to the entire country, bringing transformative socioeconomic benefits across its heterogeneous territories and populations. While this project was driven by nationalistic impulses, it was also motivated by a genuine interest in social justice. The entanglement of these two ideologies-nation-building and equity-shaped how electrification was carried out, including how the state chose the technologies it did. Private companies and electric cooperatives vied with the hegemonic state power company to participate in a monumental undertaking that would transform daily life for all Indonesians, especially rural citizens. In this innovative volume, Anto Mohsin brings Indonesian studies together with science and technology studies to understand a crucial period in modern Indonesian history. He shows that attempts to illuminate the country were inseparable from the effort to maintain the new nation-state, chart its path to independence, and legitimize ruling regimes. In exchange for an often dramatically improved standard of living, people gave their votes, and their acquiescence, to the ruling government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In this episode of The Week in Markets, equities research analyst Jen-Ai Chua highlights how stronger than expected non-farm payrolls data has spooked US markets, while the much awaited press conference by China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Tuesday disappointed. More economic data releases in upcoming weeks should provide greater clarity as to the likelihood of ‘no landing' in the US and the slowdown in China. We expect the Asian REITs to continue doing well as expectations of lower rates remain intact.This episode was recorded on October 8, 2024.

S&P futures are pointing to a softer open today. Asian equities were broadly higher today, led by Japan's Nikkei and the Hang Seng. European equity markets are lower in early trades. Hong Kong-listed Chinese stocks extended their recent upward momentum today. The sustainability of this rally is believed to depend on the scale of fiscal responses and signs of macroeconomic stabilization. China's National Development and Reform Commission is expected to outline policies to support economic growth on Tuesday, with expectations of a fiscal package up to 2 trillion yuan. For this week, key macro events include the release of the FOMC minutes and US CPI data, both on Wednesday. The US CPI is anticipated to show further moderation in inflation, although strong August payrolls have reduced the likelihood of another rate cut in November. Companies Mentioned: Vista Outdoor, Wynn Resorts, Pfizer

Hurricane Beryl made landfall along the Texas coastline this past week, devastating the area and leaving millions of people without power.   Assistant Executive Director of National Development at Minuteman Response John Lebeau discusses the organization's mission to offer life-saving services to those who've been impacted by disasters. Later, he shares some of stories of those he's helped and reflects on the impact it has left on him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices