It's the Brian Larry Show on WNYC. Good morning again, everyone. So we've talked about a local issue,

the New Jersey governor's race. We've talked about a national issue, the Epstein

files. Now we're going to talk about a global issue that could affect everybody in the world

and certainly people in the United States. On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in China for what appeared to be a jovial meeting.

At one point, you've probably seen this shot.

The three leaders held hands in a circle and left.

The summit is widely being described as to show an alternative to U.S. and Western global leadership.

She and Putin aimed to convey their alliance as an alternative world order, challenging

the United States.

Modi wanted to show that his country has other powerful friends,

especially if the Trump administration continues imposing high tariffs.

And then there was another photo op yesterday with

Xi Jinping, Putin, and Kim Jong-un. Caught somewhere in the middle of this East versus West

battle is the small European country of Serbia. Now, over the last 13 years in power,

Serbia's president, Alexander Ruchich, has attempted to benefit from

the rivaling global powers. He's allowed Russia to have majority ownership of Serbia's oil

refinery and greenlit infrastructure projects built by the Chinese. That's on the one side.

At the same time, he's rapidly moved to approve a Trump

family multi-million dollar hotel project. But since last November, and here's where it gets

really interesting, mass sustained protests led mostly by students who, from what I've heard,

have been traditionally apathetic in Serbia, unlike students here,

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