Dec 05 2024 53 mins 7
① For the first time since 1962, France’s government has collapsed in a no-confidence vote. What does it tell about the current state of French politics? (00:49)
② The UNESCO has inscribed Spring Festival on its intangible cultural heritage list. We explore the values of the festival and why it deserves a spot on the list. (14:37)
③ Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te has made a second US stop on his ongoing tour of the Pacific islands. By arranging for Lai to make two so-called stopovers on the US territory, is Washington sending a wrong signal on the Taiwan question? (24:50)
④ A new report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that American defense companies clocked 50% of the global military sales in 2023. We break down a few key findings in this report. (33:15)
⑤ Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have announced a border demarcation deal on the last contested frontier in Central Asia, potentially ending decades of territorial disputes. How significant is this step? (43:57)
