Peng Shuai at the Olympics, and Russia on Europe’s border

How China is trying to sanitise its human rights record at the Olympics, and why we should worry about Russian troop build-ups.

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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