When President Obama appointed Richard Holbrooke to manage the U.S. relationship with Afghanistan and Pakistan, the assignment seemed like a perfect challenge for the veteran diplomat. Instead, the two men could not see eye to eye before Holbrooke's untimely death in 2010. George Packer, author of a new biography of Holbrooke, explains the fundamental differences between the president and diplomat.

Asia Abridged

Why Richard Holbrooke Clashed With Barack Obama

In a lively appearance at Asia Society, Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran would continue to sell its oil to foreign buyers in spite of American pressure, offered to negotiate a prisoner exchange with the U.S, and said that Iran, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia had agreed to a ceasefire in Yemen in 2015 — but Saudi Arabia pulled out at the last minute.

Iran Foreign Minister's Defiant Message for the U.S.

Economist Jesper Koll explains his counterintuitive take on the country's growing prospects — particularly for its youth.

Japan's Unheralded Opportunities

Whether it's on the silver screen, a television screen or your computer screen, Asian and Asian American talent has achieved mainstream status in Hollywood.

How Will 'Crazy Rich Asians' Change the Entertainment Industry?

Daniel Russel of the Asia Society Policy Institute discusses the limits of President Trump's "mano a mano" approach to solving the North Korean nuclear crisis.

Why the Trump/Kim Talks Fell Apart

Financier Weijian Shan recounts his experience as a teenager during China's Cultural Revolution and his subsequent arrival in the United States.

Remembering China's Cultural Revolution

A changing global film industry is giving India's filmmakers and actors a chance to be seen by audiences well beyond its borders. People speaking in this podcast: Visheh Bhatt, filmmaker: https://twitter.com/VishehB7 Kabir Khan, filmmaker: https://twitter.com/kabirkhankk Zulfiqar Khan, managing director of video streaming platform Hooq: https://www.hooq.tv/ Anil Kapoor, actor and producer: https://twitter.com/AnilKapoor Michelle FlorCruz, Asia Society: https://twitter.com/mflorcruz

Is Indian Film Asia's Next Big Cultural Export?

Two Asian immigrants share their stories of coming to the United States, and coming to terms with their undocumented status. As the United States struggles with the question of immigration, hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants — many of whom are Asian — live with an uncertain future.

Hearing From America's Undocumented Asians

In this episode of Asia Abridged, Wendy Cutler and Orville Schell tell us why, contrary to President Trump's assertions, Beijing is well-positioned to compete in a trade conflict with the United States.

Why China Could Win a Trade War

Asia Society Policy Institute Vice President for International Diplomacy and Security Daniel Russel and former U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman explain why the Singapore summit was such a disappointment for the United States and how Kim Jong Un has gained a formidable position in respect to the countries trying to contain North Korea's nuclear program.

A 'Bonanza' For Kim Jong Un

Defense and security experts discuss how Artificial Intelligence is changing the landscape of warfare and weapons. With China making a big push on A.I. research, how are competitors like the U.S. and India keeping up?

How China Is Winning the Global Artificial Intelligence Race

Trita Parsi, founder of the National Iranian American Council and a leading expert on Iran, discusses the changes occurring inside Iran and assesses the economic consequences of President Trump’s threats to pull out of the Iran Nuclear Deal.

The Subtle Forces Shaping Iran's Future

As chief secretary of Hong Kong during the 1990s, Anson Chan had a front-row seat for the territory’s handover from British to Chinese rule. In a recent conversation held at Asia Society, Chan explains why she’s pessimistic that Hong Kong’s autonomy — guaranteed by the terms of the handover — will be able to withstand mainland China’s growing power.

Hong Kong's Vanishing Autonomy

Film industry insiders discuss Hollywood’s slow shift toward diversity and what Asian American communities can do to convince studios that their stories are not only worth telling, but also have huge box office potential.

Audiences Are Ready For Diverse Storytelling — Is Hollywood?

Veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl describes her 1974 trip to Cultural Revolution-era China and explains how the recent experiences of real estate developer Zhang Xin epitomize the changes that are occurring in the country.

Lesley Stahl on China’s Changes

The most memorable moments from Asia Society’s acclaimed programming, delivered in 15 minutes or less. We choose the most enlightening, fascinating, and entertaining events and conversations and turn them in to easy-to-digest podcast episodes. If you have a passion for Asia — including arts, culture, current affairs, policy, Asian-American issues, and more — subscribe today.

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Asia Abridged

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