Podcasts




U.S.-China Climate Pledges and India's Coal Reliance

Duration: 0:11:52

The climate summit in Glasgow showcased the determination of countries to control greenhouse gas emissions. China and the US made commitments to strengthen their climate actions, despite political and economic tensions. However, China's agreement with India to reduce the use of coal was weakened, and its emissions are still twice as high as the US and four times as high as India's. Japan pledged to reduce its use of coal. The UN's document on climate change for the first time highlighted coal as a major driver of global warming, with India opposing the motion. The agreement reached called for the gradual reduction of coal use and the end of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels. To achieve the target of controlling global warming by 1.5°C, emissions must be reduced by 10-45% by 2030, with wealthy nations required to submit new emissions plans by 2025.


The phenomenon of population migration

Duration: 0:37:54

Technological advances have made the ability to move from one place to another quite simple and easy . Even in ancient times, people traveled long distances, enduring inconvenience and long travel times, sometimes to get to the other side of the earth and start a new life .


History of the stock market

Duration: 0:01:58

Filled with stories and legends, the history of economic development has always fascinated people. From ancient civilizations to modern prosperity, the evolution of economic systems and markets is a tale worth telling. The story begins with the emergence of the first stock exchange in the world in Antwerp, Belgium in 1531. However, it was the East India Company with its rich history and significant impact on the economy that truly shaped the course of economic history. The old trading posts paved the way for the birth of modern corporations, leading to the rise and fall of major players in the economic landscape. From financial bubbles to market crashes, such as the South Sea Bubble in Britain in 1720, the history of stock exchanges is a rollercoaster of success and failure. The birth of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange in 1790 marked a turning point in investment history, followed by the establishment of stock exchanges in Europe and America, ultimately shaping the global economy as we know it today.


Yalla Culture - Episode 08 - Magical Realism

Duration: 0:07:10.403628

Welcome to episode eight of Yalla Fekra! Today, we will be talking about magical realism in literature. Magical realism and realism never meet. So, what brought these two together? Let's start from the beginning. Common knowledge suggests that magical realism emerged in literature or is specifically present in literature, but this is incorrect. It is closely linked to Latin America rather than the Arab world. In fact, in the 1920s in Germany, there was an exhibition on the New Objectivity. The term magical realism was coined by Latin American authors, such as Isabel Allende from Chile, Salman Rushdie from India, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez from Colombia. Marquez, in particular, gained fame for his novel "One Hundred Years of Solitude." He even won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. Other notable authors in this style include Haruki Murakami from Japan and Naguib Mahfouz from Egypt. So, what can bring together realism and fantasy in a narrative? A novel that combines elements of both can seem quite ordinary with a touch of imagination or fantasy. It can feel like watching a movie or living an ordinary life suddenly filled with magical occurrences. The debate between critics about magical realism continues. The boundaries of magical realism are not clear, making it difficult to define and categorize. In conclusion, the term magical realism originated in Germany and was later adopted in literature. However, as different authors began using it, the definition became blurry. Magical realism combines realism with elements of fantasy, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. It's a clash where it's hard to distinguish what is real and what is magical. Ultimately, magical realism remains a unique and captivating genre.


Cross-border e-commerce enters Japan: a dangerous shoal or a gold mine?

Duration: 0:07:01.606122

The mobile phone cannot be a constant rule, the motherland is relaxed and casual, and the latest and technological progress in the lively girls' information bureau. And it is not exclusively broadcast on Himalaya. With a serious injury to the mainstay of beauty and emotional intelligence, re-listen to today's lively girls' information bureau. When talking about Japan's internet market, what is your inherent impression? Is it a risky windstorm or a big mining site? A few years ago, the then CEO of the UCC district summarized the internationalization strategy, dividing the global market into four areas, with China as an emerging market, the US and Europe as another three overseas markets, and Japan and South Korea forming their own system. Especially in Japan, influential companies and business models have grown locally, and the entire internet industry environment is very closed. Foreign companies find it difficult to succeed. We decided to temporarily give up, which represents the views of most Chinese internet companies on the Japanese market at that time. In a long period of time, Chinese internet companies would often target Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, then Southeast Asia, India, and finally Japan. However, a trend has quietly begun to change. In the past two years, electronic brands such as Haier and Huawei have started operations in Japan, with platforms like Douyin and NetEase games entering the Japanese market. This has changed the impression of Chinese manufacturing among Japanese consumers. Low-end lifestyle service platforms have also penetrated the lives of Japanese consumers. In some areas, particularly in the e-commerce sector, Japan is worth paying attention to. It is a potential market with a large number of high-value consumers. E-commerce sales account for only 5% of total retail sales, leaving plenty of room for growth. The e-commerce sector in Japan is currently the fastest-growing channel among all retail channels, and it is difficult for Chinese cross-border players. However, the consumption trend is gradually changing. In Japan, a potential market with a large number of high-spending consumers. For Chinese e-commerce players seeking overseas development opportunities, it is time to explore the Japanese e-commerce market. However, before thinking about how to proceed, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of Japanese consumers. Unlike Chinese consumers who order directly on Taobao and JD using WeChat and Alipay for payment, Japanese online consumers have two very striking characteristics. One is the heavy use of mobile search during the shopping process. The other is the variety of payment methods due to the emphasis on privacy and security in Japan. In addition to credit cards, online payments can also be made through convenience stores, gift cards, bank transfers, etc. To better communicate with Japanese consumers, cross-border e-commerce players in China can take the following measures. Firstly, deep localization is the key to gaining consumer trust. For example, providing authentic Japanese language services and interfaces, converting payments into Japanese currency units, emphasizing product quality over price, and providing detailed product descriptions can increase customer stickiness. Chinese internet companies, especially cross-border e-commerce companies, have a great opportunity in Japan. The early bird catches the worm. Let's wait and see. That's all for this episode. See you next time.


"Energies and the fate of planet Earth" series: biomass!

Duration: 0:11:24.181927

In an interview, Marco Bravo discussed the importance of biomass energy in Brazil as part of a broader series on sustainable energy sources. He explained that Brazil has the potential to become a global leader in biomass energy production, particularly from sugarcane byproducts like bagasse. Biomass, derived from plant materials, serves as a renewable energy source and can be converted into energy through combustion. Brazil produces both ethanol from sugarcane juice and additional ethanol from bagasse, which can also be used to generate energy. Bravo highlighted the economic advantages of converting bagasse into bioplastics, noting that while burning a ton of bagasse costs $20, producing bioplastics from it can range from $1,000 to $4,000, reflecting a growing market. He emphasized that biomass energy plays a significant role in Brazil's energy matrix, contributing around 9% of the country's energy. Despite being surpassed by China and India, Brazil has a storied history with ethanol, dating back to the 1970s, and now possesses advanced technology in sustainable energy production. The conversation also touched on climate change, with Bravo stressing the urgent need for carbon reduction strategies to mitigate extreme heat events, which are increasingly prevalent due to both seasonal changes and human-induced climate factors. He advocated for cleaner technologies and sustainable fuel sources, such as ethanol, wind, solar energy, and green hydrogen, as essential steps toward addressing the challenges posed by climate change.