World Today

①Shanghai has emerged as China's top trading port with Africa. How have the trading patterns evolved over time? (00:45)

②Several Ukrainian ministers have resigned as President Volodymyr Zelensky carries out the biggest shake-up of his government since the war began. What's behind this move? (13:19)

③China's two biggest shipbuilders plan to merge. (24:07)

④Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced plans to move Christmas to October amid turmoil. (33:06)

⑤How has a potential merger between a Japanese and a US steel company become a political issue that's influencing the US presidential campaigns? (42:36)

①China elevates relations with several African countries ahead of the FOCAC summit. What message does it send out? (00:40)

②China announces probes over Canada’s tariff hike. We discuss more on the legal grounds for these investigations. (13:17)

③Türkiye has applied to join the BRICS. (23:50)

④Eurozone inflation fell sharply to a three-year low of 2.2% in August. (32:51)

⑤Volkswagen is considering shutting factories in Germany and cutting jobs. What factors have been driving these decisions? (42:28)

①African leaders arrive in Beijing for 2024 FOCAC summit. What to expect? (00:49)

②China's Caixin Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index jumped to 50.4 in August. (14:59)

③A general strike has taken place in Israel over what is seen as the government’s failure to secure the return of hostages in Gaza. Will it pressure Netanyahu to reconsider his war strategy? (24:44)

④China has urged the EU to be objective and fair on the South China Sea issue. (32:25)

⑤In Germany, a far-right political party has won a state election for the first time since the Second World War. (42:00)

In 2018, US authorities launched the China Initiative, targeting American scientists for the so-called suspicious links to China. The initiative went on for 4 years, and most of the targeted scientists have a Chinese origin.

Now, a US government agency that prompted many inquiries under the initiative has admitted that a difficult climate was created. A recent statement by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) mentioned the unintended consequence for Asian-American researchers who may feel targeted and alienated. The NIH says it is looking to repair relations with Asian researchers, but can a sense of fear and anxiety be easily dissipated?

Host Ding Heng is joined by Tian Xia, Professor of Medicine with University of California Los Angeles; Professor Liu Baocheng, Director of the Center for International Business Ethics, University of International Business and Economics; Josef Mahoney, Professor of Politics and International Relations with East China Normal University.

①Chinese President Xi Jinping has met U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Beijing. How did the conversation go? (00:48) ②China has released a white paper on the country's actions and achievements over the past decade on its energy transition. What are the details? (15:45) ③Pacific Island states have backed an Australian-funded plan to improve police training and create a multinational crisis reaction force.(25:10) ④Two U.S. Republican lawmakers have asked the U.S. Defense Department to add Chinese battery maker CATL to a list of restricted companies.(35:28) ⑤Malaysia is set to pursue a 2.4 billion dollar deal to acquire new passenger trains via a leasing agreement with China.(42:50)

①China's non-financial outbound direct investment has increased in the first seven months of this year. What are the details? (00:56) ②The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou area in southern China is the World Intellectual Property Organization's second largest science and technology cluster in the world for the fifth consecutive year.(11:55) ③Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says he has put ties with the United States Embassy on hold over clashes on Mexico's judicial reforms. What's the background? (25:20) ④British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is on a two-day visit to Germany and France. What are the top issues on his agenda? (34:50) ⑤Australia will introduce a cap on the number of new international students it accepts as part of a migration crackdown.(44:10)

①Leaders of Pacific Island nations are gathering in Tonga for their annual meeting. What are the issues that matter? (00:46) ②Russia has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Ukraine, killing at least seven people. What’s the latest in the Russia-Ukraine conflict? (11:48) ③China has accused Canada of trade protectionism after Ottawa announced it will impose a hefty tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles.(25:20) ④The World Health Organization has launched a global response plan to contain the mpox outbreak.(35:10) ⑤Our interview with Ovigwe Eguegu, Policy Analyst at Development Reimagined, on infrastructure partnerships between China and Africa.(43:50)

①U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is visiting China from Tuesday to Thursday. What's the background? (00:50) ②Israel claims Hezbollah's missile barrage has failed to hit any of its military bases. What's at stake after recent exchanges of fire between the two sides? (12:50) ③U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled that an interest rate cut is imminent in a keynote address at the Jackson Hole symposium.(25:20) ④French police have arrested Telegram founder Pavel Durov at an airport outside Paris.(36:40) ⑤NASA has decided to return Boeing's Starliner astronauts from space next year.(45:40)

Ukraine has continued to press on with a major incursion into Russia's Kursk region.

The Ukrainian military claims to have destroyed pontoon bridges and engineering equipment in the region with US-made rockets.

These moves are part of an attempt to establish what President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a military "buffer zone" inside Russian territory.

Meanwhile, Moscow said its forces had halted Kyiv's advance in the region and gained ground in eastern Ukraine.

How does Ukraine's incursion into Russia alter the dynamics of the war?

Host Zhao Ying is joined by Zhang Xin, Deputy Director of the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University; Hannan Hussain, Co-founder of Initiate Futures, an Islamabad-based policy think tank; Joseph Siracusa, Dean of Global Futures with Curtin University.

① Chinese Premier Li Qiang has paid a visit to Russia where he co-chaired an annual regular meeting with his Russian counterpart and also held talks with Vladimir Putin. In what areas are China and Russia ready to expand cooperation? What is fundamentally driving the two sides closer? (00:47)

② We explore the specific policy directions in a new guideline unveiled by China to improve its market access. (13:59)

③ Key takeaways from the Democratic National Convention in the US. And what are the issues of concern in this year’s US election? (25:00)

④ India’s Narendra Modi has decided to travel to Ukraine. What could be his consideration? (35:03)

⑤ We hear from Zambia’s Information and Media Minister Cornelius Mweetwa on his views on China’s modernization and China-Africa ties. (42:45)