This year's Joseph Levenson Book Prize goes to the 2021 work making "the greatest contribution to increasing understanding of the history, culture, society, politics, or economy of China."

Wherever you may be, we wish you and those close to you the very best Year of the Rabbit. Please accept our annual gift of lunar new year stamps from around the world. We hope you'll take a moment to tell us via email, Facebook or Instagram which of these stamps is your favorite.

A food safety factory shutdown has Americans hunting for baby formula. Readying themselves for a covid-19 lockdown, Chinese in Beijing emptied store shelves. Emerging from lockdown, some in Shanghai are visiting well-provisioned markets. U.S.-China agricultural trade is booming, but many are still being left hungry. Food security, sustainability and safety remain issues.

European views toward China are not uniform. Europeans recognize China's economic prowess and clearly favor continued ties, but majorities in much of Europe now have a negative view towards China.

For decades, European countries assumed that China is a benign force in international relations. European governments are revising their perceptions of China. One of the biggest obstacles to a more cautious policy towards Beijing was Angela Merkel's government. She insisted that business trumps politics. Her departure has marked the beginning of a new era. In particular the Greens have been insisting on a more critical approach towards the PRC. The Russian invasion in Ukraine has further fueled the skepticism towards deep co-operation with authoritarian China.

China has extensive and productive ties with many European nations, but the relationship has been worsening in recent years. The war in Ukraine has led to still more unease.

The pandemic has young people (and not so young people) in China and the U.S. rethinking their career and life aims. With international labor day and China's youth day just around the corner, we look at trends in job seeking and wages.