World Today

①Nearly 4 million domestic trips have been made in the first three days of China's Golden Week holidays. We bring you more on China's holiday consumption. (00:46)

②The head of the IMF has called for the organization to adapt to changes in the global economy, particularly China's rise over the past decade. Should China be granted more voting power in the IMF? (12:23)

③Donald Trump's civil trial in New York has begun. What's at stake, and what could happen next? (23:09)

④Japan to begin release second batch of Fukushima water. (32:08)

⑤Will Slovakia's new coalition government end military support for Ukraine? (41:03)

①China and Germany have agreed to expand market access after resuming high-level talks in Frankfurt. How significant is this for both sides? (00:47)

②China has rejected a report released by the U.S. State Department that accuses China of "spreading disinformation globally", saying the report is in itself disinformation. (12:08)

③Türkiye launches airstrikes against Kurdish militants in North Iraq after deadly Ankara blast. (24:02)

④The US government has avoided a shutdown as the Congress passed a short-term funding bill. What happens next? (34:03)

⑤US lawmakers demand documents on Ford battery partnership with CATL. (44:02)

China's economic landscape has become a focal point of extensive debate. Amidst a flurry of Western media predictions ranging from "stagnation" to "collapse" for the world second-largest economy, concerns about its future have taken center stage.

While some argue that China is at crossroads, others believe that existing and forthcoming policies will pave the way for sustained economic growth. What lies ahead for China's economic future? Is it poised to ascend into the ranks of high-income nations, or could it be stuck in the so-called "middle-income" trap?

In this episode, we cut through the noise and explore the real picture of China's economy. Host Zhao Ying is joined by Chen Jiahe, chief investment officer at Novem Arcae Technologies; John Ross, Senior fellow with Chongyang Institute of Financial Studies, Renmin University; and Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow at Taihe Institute.

① Ten years on: How have China's free trade zones spearheaded trade and opening-up? (00:54)

② Foreign institutions express positive views on the A-share market and China's economic growth. (12:30)

③ The China Coast Guard says the Philippines' claim about removing Chinese blocking nets at Huangyan Island is purely fabricated. (24:42)

④ DPRK amends its constitution on nuclear policy, citing the need to deter U.S. provocations. (35:38)

① Chinese senior diplomat calls on the United States and its policy toward China to return to a rational and pragmatic track. (00:49)

② China, Japan, and South Korea agree to resume leaders’ summit “as early as possible”. (14:54)

③ China’s upcoming holiday is expected to spark the biggest boom for Chinese outbound tourism since the pandemic. (24:32)

④ France and Germany have laid out a set of proposals for reforming the European Union, dividing the member states into four tiers. (33:32)

⑤ South Korean court rejects an arrest warrant for the main opposition party leader. (44:08)

① Highlights of China's whitepaper on global community of shared future. (00:45)

② China EU have “candid and pragmatic” talks on economic and trade issues. (15:50)

③ US auto workers expand strike as Biden, Trump to join the picket line this week. (35:01)

④ Biden pledges more aid to Pacific islands. Can US keep its promises this time? (52:25)

① EU Trade Chief in China for the China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue, saying no intention to "decouple" from China. (00:54)

② Former U.S. State Secretary Henry Kissinger warns against the dangers of decoupling with China. (14:03)

③ Solomon Islands PM blasts Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, calling it an attack on global trust. (24:55)

④ U.S. envoy confirms Five Eyes informed Trudeau's India allegation. (36:15)

⑤ France to withdraw troops from Niger by year-end: Macron. (44:40)

UN chief Antonio Guterres has delivered a grave warning to leaders from across the world, expressing deep concern about the mounting global challenges and escalating geopolitical tensions. “Our world is becoming unhinged. Geopolitical tensions are rising. Global challenges are mounting. And we seem incapable of coming together to respond.”

How can world leaders effectively address and navigate these challenges? Are we witnessing a rising under-current in the world's political landscape, fundamentally reshaping global dynamics?

Host Ge Anna is joined by Dr Timothy Kerswell, Research Fellow at Advanced Institute of Global and Contemporary China Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong; Dr George Tzogopoulos, Director of the EU-China Programmes and Senior Research Fellow, European Institute of Nice; Prof Qu bo, China Foreign Affairs University.

① China’s vice president has hailed the Global Development Initiative as a success in promoting cooperation and incubating new economic momentum. What does the initiative tell us about China’s worldview on international affairs? (00:55)

②Poland says it is no longer supplying weapons to Ukraine, as a diplomatic dispute over grain escalates. Does this raise questions about the sustainability of the support to Ukraine? (13:33)

③Top leaders of the US and Israel vow to work together to normalize Israel-Saudi relations, but Saudi Arabia says Palestinians would be important in any deal to normalize ties with Israel. Which party has more urgency to see a normalization deal? (24:37)

④Boeing has predicted that China will receive 20% of the world's new commercial airplane deliveries over the next 20 years. (35:41)

⑤China has accused the US of infiltrating Huawei servers beginning in 2009. What’s correlation between the alleged hacking and the US sanctions against the firm? (45:29)

①We take a look at a new round of China-Russia strategic security consultation in Moscow. (00:55)

②The war in Ukraine has figured prominently on the first day of the high-level UN General Debate. (12:33)

③Azerbaijan has launched a military operation in the disputed mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh, calling it an "anti-terror" measure. We explore the reasons behind the resurgence of violence in the region. (24:45)

④Eurozone inflation was revised down to 5.2% in August. (35:23)

⑤UK opens a new chapter in digital regulation as parliament passes Online Safety Bill. (44:32)