A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, Taiwan: the most dangerous place on earth, post-covid syndrome (09:00) and Buttonwood: private-credit markets (28:55)
Tag Archives: China
Political Analysis: Is Taiwan Part Of China?
If countries were people, the relationship between China, America and Taiwan would be a love triangle like no other.
Taiwan is by some reckoning the most dangerous flashpoint between China and America. Though Taiwan is in most respects an independent country, China insists it is part of the People’s Republic and is not ruling out taking the island by force. If that were to happen it could ignite an all-out war between America and China. This film explains how this precarious situation came about and how might it play out.
Morning News Podcast: EU-Britain Trade, Female Soldiers & China’s Oscar
Europe’s parliament has overwhelmingly voted to extend a stopgap trade agreement. But the rancour behind the vote, and the deal’s thin measures, say much about future relations.
Female soldiers are entering armed forces in big numbers, but they still face barriers both in getting the job and in doing it. And China’s homegrown Oscar-winning director is scrubbed from its internet.
E-Commerce: How China Reined In Ant & Alibaba
In less than six months, Chinese entrepreneur Jack Ma’s Ant IPO, which could have been the world’s largest, was scuttled and his companies brought in line by regulators. The U.S. is also taking aim at big tech, but here’s how China moves faster. Photo illustration: Sharon Shi
Covid-19: Why China May Mix & Match Vaccines (WSJ)
Chinese Covid-19 vaccines offer relatively low levels of protection compared with some of their foreign rivals. Here is why China is joining other countries in considering mixing and matching vaccines as a key to overcoming multiple vaccination challenges at once. Illustration: Ksenia Shaikhutdinova
Morning News Podcast: U.N. Coronavirus Report, China-Iran Agreement
We discuss the UN’s report into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and hear about a new comprehensive agreement signed between Beijing and Tehran.
Plus: we head to Iceland as the countdown to Eurovision begins.
Views: ‘Bailong Elevator’ – World’s Tallest Outdoor Lift, Hunan, China (Video)
The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan, China is famed for its towering, pillar-like karst formations. One of the fastest and easiest ways to view them is by riding up Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor lift.
Morning News Podcast: China Sanctions Brands, Head Trauma & Audio Apps
Western fashion brands are in Chinese consumers’ crosshairs, the victims of political wranglings over sanctions and human-rights issues—a spat that may soon consume other industries.
A striking number of people in the criminal-justice system have had traumatic brain injuries; our correspondent investigates how much that link has been overlooked. And why the audio app Clubhouse has stormed the Middle East.
4K Walks: ‘Yellow Crane Tower – Wuhan, China’
The history of the Yellow Crane Tower, or Huanghe Lou in Chinese, dates back to the Three Kingdoms period (220-280) in Chinese history. Initially built in 223 AD, the tower served military purposes as a watchtower at the beginning. In the following centuries, it repeatedly saw both destruction and reconstruction. Especially during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, it was destroyed seven times. Yet, each time, it was brought back to life again. Unfortunately, a fire in 1884 completely ruined the building. It was not until 1981 that the tower was once again rebuilt, which took four years. The tower we see today is based on the one designed during the Qing Dynasty. Standing 51.4 meters, the five-story Yellow Crane Tower is perched on the banks of the Yangtze River at the top of the Snake Mountain. It features a mix of octagonal and square structures with a roof covered by 100,000 yellow glazed tiles. Each upturned eave resembles a fluttering crane that is closely linked to the tower’s name.
Morning News Podcast: Biden Press Conference, France-China Sanctions
We unpack Joe Biden’s first official news conference and hear about how sanctions are impacting relations between France and China.
Plus: the latest climate and energy news and a checkup on music industry sales. From Milan: Salone highlights, interviews and a daily running guide.
Boomers Daily 