Episode description

China has been using the Olympics to try and present a positive view of its treatment of the Uyghur minority in China amid a diplomatic boycott of the games over human rights abuses. Katie Stallard and Emily Tamkin in Washington, DC and Ido Vock in Berlin discuss the games, as well as the treatment of tennis star Peng Shuai, and whether her reappearance has erased concerns for her welfare.

Also, the French president Emmanual Macron has visited Russia amid heightened tensions on the Ukraine border. The team discuss whether Europe should be more worried about troop build-ups in Belarus.

Then in You Ask Us, a listener has a question about the 6 January US Capitol insurrection and whether anyone involved will be prevented from holding political office.

If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.

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Further Reading:

Beijing’s “green” Winter Olympics looks as fake as its snow

Peng Shuai speaks but the man she accused remains out of reach

Russia’s military build-up in Belarus could be Nato’s next flashpoint

Hoping to stave off war in Ukraine, Macron goes to Moscow

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