In this weekly video podcast Diana Mautner Markhof, Editor-in-Chief of iGlobenews, discusses current events and breaking news with world renown China expert Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik and top Russia expert Professor Gerhard Mangott.
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Episode 16, 22 July 2026
Does Europe’s Future depend on Ukraine or is there a Larger Dimension?
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Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top Russia expert Professor Gerhard Mangott the present and future of European security. How could the war in Ukraine end? How stable are the governments of Russia and Ukraine? Why is Zelensky constantly reshuffling his government? Zelensky is under pressure from Trump to hold elections and from the EU to combat corruption. Is the Ukrainian leader removing rivals so as to stay in power. Although Ukraine has very effective any corruption agencies, due to a lack of prosecutorial power, no politician has been held accountable in a court of law. How are Trump’s Greenland plans and his war on Iran affecting Russia and the war in Ukraine? NATO division over the Greenland issue is not in the interest of the alliance. How can peace in Ukraine move forward? Europe is not talking to Russia and the United States has shifted its focus to the Middle East. Despite the lip service paid to Ukraine during the Ankara Summit and the pledge for more money – most of which is coming from the EU – Ukraine is running out of soldiers, defensive weapons and options. A nuclear escalation by Russia is very unlikely. But should European nations who supply and produce weapons for Ukraine prepare for a Russian surgical attack? German arms industries being a prime target. Professor Mangott views any scenario which sees Russia as the loser in this war as highly unlikely. Russia has to win the war and Ukraine only has to “not lose the war”.
Episode 15, 16 July 2026
Settling Scores in the South China Sea
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Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik the relevance of the South China Sea and why we should be paying much more attention to this area. As US dominance of the SCS decreases, China is ramping up its game. On the 10th anniversary of the UNCLOS arbitral award for The Philippines, many western countries, including the EU and the US have reaffirmed the award. What does this award signify for maritime law? China has to this day not accepted the decision and continues to island build. Now other countries are copying China and building their own islands. Why is the Strait of Malacca so important. What is the Malacca Dilemma and how is China preparing for the worst case scenario? What role does ASEAN play in the South China Sea? Does it have a future and will the Philippines succeed in passing a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. How is Japan is expanding its influence in the South China Sea?
Episode 14, 2 July 2026
China vs. “Made in Europe” & “America First”
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Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik if China can take on the EU and the US at the same time. The EU is copying many US protectionist policies, but is always a step or two behind. EU economies are stagnating and shrinking, while real Chinese and US GDP growth are similar. This trend is also a result of political decisions made in disregard to sound geo-economic strategy. Germany’s auto industry is shrinking and turning to weapon’s manufacturing while China retains control of world steel production and critical minerals. China implemented Germany’s Industry 4.0 strategy, while Europe turned away from robotization, despite their demographic problem. What role have China’s Belt and Road Initiative played? The US and Europe are lagging behind, despite investing billions in Africa to break China’s hold on the continent. While Japan is actively trying to find a replacement for critical minerals, where is the innovation from Europe and the US? Europe no longer has access to cheap Russian gas because of its solidarity with Ukraine. Expensive energy imports from the US are strengthening the US economy and hurting Europe. Red tape from Brussels is making matters even worse for European industry. How can Europe survive and what strategy will China pursue to counter the US and the EU? Will China’s leadership in quantum physics be the key to its supremacy, or will the US win this race? Who will win the space race?
Episode 13, 17 June 2026
Ukraine, EU and Russia: Backing into World War III?
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Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik the possibility of the war in Ukraine escalating into World War III. What plan do the Europeans have now that the US has made clear it is backing out of the conflict. As Ukraine uses NATO airspace in the Baltic countries for drone attacks on Russia, the danger of an escalation looms. Will Russia close the Suwalki Gap? Will the West shutout Russia from the Baltic Sea to have a bargaining ship against Russia’s control of the Black Sea? European leaders have seemingly forgotten that Russia has the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. The podcast discusses how Russia will reestablish nuclear deterrence, the possibility of a nuclear Germany and how the end of the New START Treaty affects nuclear proliferation. What are European politicians doing to stop this escalation, which is driven by drone and AI warfare. Parallels to Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza and its attacks on civilians in Lebanon are made. The laws of war in modern warfare have become irrelevant. The Europeans have contributed to this total breakdown of the international order by propagating a double standard with regard to its treatment of Israel’s ever expanding offensive wars in the Middle East and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Will the European public continue to be gaslighted or will they use their power at the ballot box to elect leaders who put peace ahead of war? Is Ukraine and irresponsible European leaders leading the West and world into a World War III? How will Russia react to the Ukraine’s ever increasing attacks into the Russian Motherland? Will they resort to a nuclear reply? Are we backing into World War III?
Episode 12, 4 June 2026
The Future of the Greater Middle East: Türkiye, Iran or Israel?
Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik the future security architecture of the Greater Middle East. Will President Trump be able to shut down Israel’s war in Lebanon? Will Israel achieve its goal of a Greater Israel? Will Türkiye play an even more important role? Ankara is hosting the NATO Summit in July 2026, an opportunity? What role are the Kurds playing? A secret plot now uncovered shows how Israel wanted to deploy the Kurds to overthrow Iran’s leader? Are the Abraham Accords gone for good? Why is the US considering an even closer military cooperation with Israel? Implications for the Cairo Teheran rapprochement? As we navigate the complexities of the Middle East, the current geopolitical landscape presents numerous challenges. Who will get the upper hand in the Middle East. Major countries like Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt are already positioning themselves for a post-Iran war era. As tensions rise, it’s crucial to understand the motivations of all players involved. Who will be among the winners and who will be on the losing side? Who will get the biggest slice of the cake? Tune is to our podcast to get deep analysis and engaging discussion.
Episode 11, 24 May 2026
The Gaza Flotilla … The Europe that can(‘t) say NO
Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik the state of Europe in world politics. The discussion starts with the European reaction to the Gaza Flotilla the Global Sumud and moves on to other topics affecting Europe. Will Europe move away from Israel? Will Europe finally learn to stop being the yes man of the US and learn to say no? How will Europe deal with Greenland, the Arctic, the Ukraine war, the brewing trade war with China, the unfavorable US EU tariff deal? How can the UN be made useful in a future world where international law is being replaced by the law of the jungle? How should the EU be reformed? What can we learn from history and what makes Japan and Germany so different? Will Friedrich Merz manage to charm Donald Trump, so he can take over leadership of Europe?
Episode 1 - 5
Episode 1, 15 March 2026
The China and Russia Factor in the US/Israeli Strategy for Iran
iGlobenews Editor-in-Chief, Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses current events and world politics with China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik. How has and will the US/Israeli war in Iran influence China, Russia, US relations? Who will gain? Who will lose? Whata will the new world order look like? Will Iran want nuclear weapons after being attacked twice within a year? What will happen to the NPT? How will the EU position itself?
Episode 2, 19 March 2026
Will the War in Iran Seal Ukraine’s Fate
During this episode iGlobenews Editor-in-Chief, Diana Mautner Markhof, and China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik discuss how the war in Iran affects the war in Ukraine and vis-versa. Will the escalation in Iran bring about an escalation in Ukraine? Has peace in Ukraine moved even further into the future or will there be a speedy push to end the war? Is Ukraine’s corruption being instrumentalized to end the war? Has Russia’s position changed since the US/Israeli attack on Iran? Will China’s role in Ukraine change as a result of the war in Iran? Will Russia benefit from the US and its disregard for international law? How will the economic fallout of the US/Israeli war in Iran benefit Russia? What new security arrangements? Looking at history, what are the parallels/lessons for Ukraine and Iran? Has the US learned nothing from its policy of regime change in Ukraine and Iran?
Episode 3, 26 March 2026
BRICS Broken? The Iran War Stress Test
Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik how the Iran war will impact the future of BRICS. Before the war BRICS was on the rise with 40+ countries waiting to join. This war highlights the deep political divide within the anti-western bloc. BRICS has not managed to issue a common statement condemning the war against Iran, a BRICS member. India holds the Presidency of BRICS in 2026. Just days before the bombing of Iran, Prime Minister Modi addressed the Israeli Knesset as a guest of honor. Was this part of the preparation to go to war? On 19 February 2026, Jakarta signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade in Washington. Was this an effort by the Trump Administration to silence an important BRICS player by restraining its foreign policy autonomy? Is Israel using the war on Iran to distract from its genocide in Gaza and its ongoing violence and occupation in the West Bank? Has Egypt been silenced by the billions it receives from the US in military and economic support? Will the Iran war break the dominance of the petrodollar? Can the Chinese digital Yuan (e-CNY) play a role? What if Saudi Arabia actively joins the war on the US/Israeli side? South Africa, an outspoken critic of the US/Israeli war on Iran has been uninvited from the G7 – coincidence? What role are Russia and China playing?
Episode 4, 2 April 2026
Has Trump been out-trumped by Iran?
Has Trump been out-trumped by Iran? Why did the US get into the war? Is there a security interest for the US which justifies this war, or, is the US fighting Israel’s war? How will the Palestinian question figure into any solution to the Iran war? Will the US find an exit strategy or will the US continue to escalate? What will happen to the US allies in Europe and East Asia who are suffering because of the world wide energy crisis? Will the Gulf countries survive if this war escalates? Can a diplomatic solution be found, or will China and Russia join the war openly and more actively in support of Iran? What does history teach us about asymmetric wars? Will Iran end up developing a nuclear bomb?
Episode 5, 9 April 2026
Kowtowing or Cooperation: Which is China’s Vision for a New World Order
Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik, China’s vision for a new world order. Can the world expect to kowtow to China, or will China seek to lead through cooperation and diplomacy? Or maybe some of each? China is a driving force in pushing for peace in Iran. It is in a unique position to influence US policy at the highest level. China has many aces up it sleeve when it comes to power politics. What will happen to the US economy if China continues the sale of T-bills? Will China use its leverage in rare earths to help solve the Iran problem? What can we learn from China’s history when trying to understand how China deals with present challenges? How will China solve the Taiwan issue? Will President Xi consider a military solution under any circumstances? How close are we to a nuclear war? Can China also influence Israel? How will the relationship between Russia and China, and China and the US evolve due to the Iran war? How long will President Xi remain in power and what should the world expect from China moving forward?
Episode 6 - 10
Episode 6, 16 April 2026
Greater Israel or Greater Middle East: China’s increasing Role
Editor-in-Chief, Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik, the divergent visions for the future of the Middle East. Will Israel and the US reach their goal to install Israel as the dominant power. Will Israel realize its goal of a Greater Israel? Will the US put pressure on Israel so peace can be reached? Israel does not want to stop fighting Iran and the Israeli public wants this war. How is China working for its own vision which of course does not coincide with that of the US or of Israel. The US is becoming more and more isolated and is looking for peace. Is Europe moving closer to China? Can Türkiye become a dominant power in the Middle East? How does NATO figure into this equation? Will the leadership in the US take the wishes of the American public into consideration – a majority is against the war in Iran? How will China work its diplomacy to get the Strait of Hormuz open? Will Iran close the Strait of Bab el Mandab if tensions escalate?
Episode 7, 23 April 2026
Europe: Regaining Relevance or Destined for Division
Editor-in-Chief, Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik, the future of Europe and the EU. Will it find a path towards unity and relevance or remain divided and irrelevant? Why does Europe need Russia as an enemy? Is there a third way becoming apparent? The recent vote in Bulgaria would argue for this. How should the EU deal with Turkey? Is Ursula von der Leyen really the right person for the job? How is the EU dealing with the blatant double standard when dealing with Israel? Why can it not come to decision to suspend the EU Israel Association Agreement? Compare this to how Russia was treated after it invaded Ukraine. Why are European countries cracking down on freedom of speech and assembly? The power of the Brussels swamp and the unelected EU leadership are more and more disconnected from the average citizen. Will EU enlargement not lead to even more division among member states? Can the EU use its economic power to regain relevance? Who will lead the EU as the US pulls back?
Episode 8, 1 May 2026
AI and Deindustrialization: Workers have nothing to lose but their jobs
Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik the future of workers in the age of AI and deindustrialization. Will the EU’s newly proposed Industrial Accelerator Act protect the European market from China? How will China retaliate? How can Europe and the US stop deindustrialization? Has the age of free trade ended and are we now in an age of economic nationalism? Will the arms industry save Europe’s flailing industry? Are Europe’s weapon’s technologies being transferred to Israel in order to save jobs? Is China also in a crisis with its workforce? With wealth in the hands of the billionaire class – who will benefit from any effort to reindustrialize? What role will AI and robotics play in the manufacturing and the service sector? Is the China model where we are all headed?
Episode 9, 9 May 2026
China’s Asian Leadership Policy vs. US “Diplomacy of Destruction”
Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik how China is skillfully using the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East to its advantage. With President Trump about to visit Beijing the main point on China’s discussion list is Taiwan. This episode of iGlobeViews delves into the complex dynamics of China’s leadership policy and the implications for Taiwan, U.S. foreign policy, and the evolving nature of international relations. How will Japan’s expand its influence in Asia. Will Japan come to Taiwan’s aid if China should attack? Will Japan seek to go nuclear? Will China be instrumental to a lasting peace with Iran? What are the wider implication of the constitutional change in North Korea to not seek reunification with the South. The US and its diplomacy of destruction or lack of benevolence is a sign of a declining hegemon – what does this mean for the West and the US? What does this mean for China and also for Russia? This discussion sheds light on the strategic maneuvers of major world powers and their impact on global stability.
Episode 10, 16 May 2026
Trump Xi Summit: A Global Win-Win Outcome?
Diana Mautner Markhof, discusses with top China expert Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik the outcome of the recent Trump Xi summit in Beijing. Discover key insights from the recent Trump-Xi summit and why it’s considered a win-win for both nations. Essential for those interested in global politics. What are the implications for Taiwan, Iran and the world at large? The discussions around Taiwan were significant, as they could impact future military support and sovereignty issues. Both leaders were satisfied with the outcome. Trump’s disciplined approach during the meeting indicated a shift in his typical style, suggesting a greater awareness of the political implications of their dialogue. The U.S. appears to be shifting towards a more cooperative stance with China, which could lead to reduced tensions in regions like East Asia.