CNA Correspondent

China’s bigger bet on South Africa 14.07.2026 24min

For years, China's presence in Africa was defined by railways, roads and mega infrastructure projects. But a quieter transformation is underway. Through the lens of South Africa, Genevieve Woo and Senior China Editor and Senior Correspondent Olivia Siong explore how Chinese companies are shifting from building projects to building businesses, manufacturing locally and putting down deeper roots. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Hangzhou the Silicon Valley of China? 07.07.2026 21min

From robot patrol dogs to AI doctors, Hangzhou is fast producing some of China's most talked-about tech companies. The city is best known as the home of Alibaba and, more recently, DeepSeek. But beyond the headlines, what makes Hangzhou such a powerful engine for innovation? CNA Senior Correspondent Tan Yew Guan speaks with Genevieve Woo about the talent, capital and government support behind one of China's most dynamic tech ecosystems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America at 250: United or divided states? 02.07.2026 33min

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, it stands as the world's largest economy and commands the most powerful military. Yet confidence in its institutions has eroded, political divisions run deep and many question the nation's trajectory. From symbolic shifts on the White House grounds to the rise of China and the heavy cost of global leadership, Genevieve Woo and Senior Correspondent Simon Marks examine what these domestic and global tensions reveal about the state of the superpower.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can toys and companions fill China's emotional needs? 23.06.2026 16min

China has a new buzzword: Emotional value. It is used to explain everything from blind box obsessions and AI companions to why young people are hiring strangers to climb mountains with them. In this episode of the CNA Correspondent podcast, Genevieve Woo and Correspondent Krystal Chia explore the rise of China’s emotional economy and examine what this growing search for comfort and connection reveals about modern Chinese society.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is this really the World Cup of chaos? 16.06.2026 18min

The FIFA World Cup 2026 was always going to be unprecedented. Three host nations, 16 cities and 48 teams across an entire continent. What nobody quite expected was how much drama would happen off the pitch. The tournament kicked off amid an ongoing US-Iran conflict, Africa's top referee was denied entry to America, fans have paid record prices for tickets and the three co-hosts - the US, Canada and Mexico - are fighting a trade war of their own. Arnold Gay speaks to correspondents Matthew Mohan, Mitch McCann and Toni Waterman to unpack the politics, problems and blemishes behind the beautiful game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia vowed to change after Bondi. Has it? 11.06.2026 26min

Almost six months ago, two gunmen opened fire on hundreds of Jewish families celebrating Hanukkah near Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed and more than 40 wounded in the December 14, 2025 attack - Australia's worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years. In the aftermath, Parliament passed stricter hate crime and gun ownership laws, announced a national buyback scheme and launched a Royal Commission into antisemitism. But since then, the gun buyback initiative has faltered and a provision to criminalise inciting racial hatred has been quietly dropped. On this episode of the CNA Correspondent podcast, Arnold Gay speaks to Natashya Gutierrez and Jack Board to ask: Do Australian Jews feel any safer today? And have the nation's leaders truly matched their words with action?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aviation was flying high. Then the war in Iran changed everything 09.06.2026 17min

The numbers going into 2026 were some of the best in aviation history. Then, US and Israeli strikes on Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, choking off a fifth of the world's oil supplies. Carriers saw jet fuel prices surge by more than 120% and braced for supply shortages, cancelling thousands of flights and raising airfares. Some budget airlines have already shut down, and others could follow.The aviation industry's annual gathering in Rio was supposed to celebrate record profits and chart a greener future. Arnold Gay speaks with Yasmin Jonkers to find out who will survive, who pays for cleaner skies and what kind of world we are flying into.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can rice farming ever be climate friendly? 02.06.2026 25min

Traditional rice farming is a major climate problem. Flooded paddy fields release methane, a greenhouse gas 27 times more potent than carbon dioxide. But a Singapore-led project in Indonesia is testing a new way forward. By changing the way rice is planted and grown, researchers say emissions can be cut by up to half, without hurting farmers’ incomes. Arnold Gay speaks to CNA Senior Correspondent Saifulbahri Ismail about the science behind low-methane rice, the challenges of changing long-held farming practices and if consumers will go for a more climate-friendly grain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jensen Huang: The tough boss of Nvidia who is 'exhausted all the time' 26.05.2026 23min

Jensen Huang is one of the most influential men in the world right now - the CEO and face of Nvidia, the company powering the global AI boom. But beyond the black leather jacket and rockstar status is a deeply candid story about immigrant sacrifice, fear of failure and relentless ambition. In this special episode of the CNA Correspondent podcast, Genevieve Woo speaks to Senior Correspondent Victoria Jen after her wide-ranging interview with the Nvidia co-founder, covering everything from AI anxiety and job losses to China, Taiwan and what really drives the world’s most powerful chipmaker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Koreans who left home to build two nations 19.05.2026 21min

In the 1960s and 70s, tens of thousands of South Koreans went to what was then known as West Germany as miners and nurses under a labour-for-loan deal. They were meant to stay for three years. Many never left. Genevieve Woo speaks to CNA Senior Correspondent Lim Yun Suk about the sacrifices behind South Korea’s rise - and the lives built between two countries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump meets Xi: Who came out ahead? 15.05.2026 19min

The Trump–Xi summit has just wrapped in China.   But beyond the handshakes and official statements, what really happened behind closed doors?  We break down the key moments, the surprises and the strategic stakes with insights from Beijing and Washington.  From trade and tech rivalry to the Taiwan question, the shadow of Iran and global energy tensions, we ask - who came in with the upper hand and did that balance of power shift by the end?  Genevieve Woo unpacks the two-day meeting with Tan Si Hui in Beijing and Nick Harper in Washington. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speed and strain: The impact of Asia's EV surge 12.05.2026 34min

China has raced ahead in electric vehicle adoption, building vast charging networks, scaling production and reshaping how cars are bought and used. But across the rest of Asia, the shift is unfolding in far more uneven ways. From Mongolia’s hybrid-driving herders to Indonesia’s nickel boom and the Philippines’ copper reserves, the EV revolution is creating new opportunities alongside environmental strain, social tensions and questions over long-term sustainability. Arnold Gay speaks with CNA correspondents Bong Xin Ying and Jack Board about China’s dominance, the hidden costs of the transition and whether the rest of Asia can build its own EV ecosystems.  Editor's note: This episode of CNA Correspondent has been edited to remove an incorrect soundbite.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

168 lives, a chain of failures: What Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court fire exposed 05.05.2026 21min

The Wang Fuk Court fire left 168 people dead and thousands displaced, making it one of Hong Kong’s deadliest disasters in decades. Months on, investigations are uncovering deeper failures, from alleged substandard materials to possible corruption in the tendering process. As the inquiry continues, Genevieve Woo speaks to CNA correspondent Deborah Wong to understand what went wrong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan’s tourism rebounds, but where are the Chinese tourists? 28.04.2026 18min

Japan’s tourism industry is back, with a record 10 million visitors in early 2026. But a major shift is underway: Chinese arrivals, once the backbone of Japan’s tourism boom, remain well below pre-pandemic levels. With visitor arrivals from South Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe and the US surging, can these new markets make up for the drop from China? And how are they reshaping the Japanese tourism industry’s growth, earnings and competitiveness? Arnold Gay finds out from senior correspondent Michiyo Ishida.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do social media bans really protect kids online? 21.04.2026 34min

When it comes to social media policing, governments are no longer waiting for tech companies to act - they’re stepping in. Australia has an under-16 social media ban, Indonesia is cracking down on non-compliant platforms and pressure is growing in India, as a new wave of regulation takes shape. But do these measures actually work? Or are the authorities always a step behind the tech giants and curious young people?  Arnold Gay speaks to Natashya Gutierrez, Chandni Vatvani and Neha Poonia about what’s driving this shift, how enforcement is playing out and if these bans can really reduce the risks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Energy shock: How the war on Iran is reshaping global power 14.04.2026 25min

The war on Iran was expected to showcase military might, but it quickly turned into a battle over energy. With oil and gas flows disrupted, the crisis is rippling across the globe, hitting economies and households from Asia to the US. Why does the world remain so vulnerable to energy shocks? Could this accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels or deepen dependence? And how might the conflict reshape the balance of power in favour of China? Arnold Gay speaks to Roland Lim and Toni Waterman about how the war will impact economies, geopolitics and the search for energy security. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BTS comeback: Iconic K-pop band aims to once again conquer the world 07.04.2026 23min

Fans are rejoicing over the long-awaited return of boy band BTS. But beyond the spectacle, the ultra-famous K-pop group is expected to bring in billions of dollars to South Korea. Genevieve Woo speaks to Lim Yun Suk and Grace Shin about the Bangtan Boys' growing role at the intersection of culture, economics and global influence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran war fallout: Neighbouring Iraq pushed to the brink 01.04.2026 19min

The conflict in Iran has pushed Iraq into a precarious position. Oil exports have been impacted and the country is caught in the middle of US-Israeli attacks on Iran-backed militia based in Iraq. Many of Iran's retaliatory attacks on US and coalition assets have taken place in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Arnold Gay speaks to Olly Barrett in this episode to understand what the Kurds and Iraqis fear most, even after the war ends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How China is shaking up the world of pharmaceuticals 24.03.2026 19min

China is fast becoming a global leader in producing cutting-edge medicine, with nearly half of the world’s new drugs in testing now emerging from its labs. But can it replicate in pharmaceuticals what it has achieved in electric vehicles and robotics with faster and cheaper innovation? CNA Senior Correspondent Tan Yew Guan joins Otelli Edwards in this week’s episode of the CNA Correspondent podcast to explore China’s biotech ambitions and its push to make breakthrough treatments both accessible and affordable.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life on the line: Taiwan’s death penalty debate 17.03.2026 17min

Taiwan’s long-standing debate over the death penalty has resurfaced after a landmark court ruling and the island's first execution in five years. In this week’s episode of the CNA Correspondent podcast, Genevieve Woo sits down with Senior Correspondent Victoria Jen to discuss her reporting on people caught in between, from victims’ families seeking justice to those who say the risk of irreversible error is too great to ignore. Through their stories, we examine why trust, fallibility and competing ideas of justice continue to divide Taiwanese society.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.