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This is the Beijing Hour, Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Bigham with you on this Monday, September 29th, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, China's emphasizing a people-centered approach as it sets economic and social goals for the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
Iran says the European decision to reenact sanctions against Tehran is illegal and unjustified.
China's successful mission to return rock samples from the moon wins a top honor at the International Astronautical Congress in Australia.
In business, China's tourism spending and emerging trends.
In sports, setting up the semifinals at the China Open in Beijing.
In culture and entertainment, a Chinese war film premieres in Australia.
Now the day's top stories.
The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee has emphasized a people-centered approach during the country's economic and social development in the next five years.
General Secretary Xi Jinping of the CPC Central Committee chaired a meeting that discussed the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan.
It said the outcomes of modernization should be shared more broadly and equitably.
The meeting decided that the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee will be in Beijing from October 20th to the 23rd.
The meeting also stressed high-quality development, with a focus on fostering new quality productive forces, deepening reforms and expanding high-level opening up.
Traveling and shopping in China become new trends among international tourists under policies such as visa exemptions and tax refunds.
Authorities say the facilitation showcased the glamour of Chinese culture and demonstrated China's sincerity in opening up.
Among other achievements in the culture and tourism sectors during the 14th Five-Year Plan that lasts until the end of the year.
China has 60 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List and 44 on the organization's Intangible Heritage List.
Cultural tourism has become popular among Chinese people, with museums across the country attracting a record 15 billion visits last year.
China has also improved cultural services since 2021.
There were more than 3,200 public libraries and 44,000 cultural facilities as of last year.
China's night economies evolved from markets to a new ecosystem that includes dining, culture and recreational activities.
It's emerged as a driver for growth across China.
In Shanghai, nighttime consumption since June has expanded by 3 to exceed 88 billion yuan, or roughly 12 billion US dollars.
Zheng Songwu is taking a look at what's drawing in younger audiences.
As night falls, entertainment venues like the Asian Mansion in Shanghai come alive.
Their productions attract the young people looking to relax after a hard day's work.
Musicals, talk shows and a lot of dramas are some of the go-to choices for those seeking immersive experiences.
Municipal government policies like extending operating hours and curating the nightlife festivals are fueling the interest.
It's been trending in Shanghai to relax by visiting live shows.
Friends of my age said people born in the 1990s and 2000s around them prefer to relax in this way, since it's leisurely, relaxing and happy.
Shanghai authorities have supported the night economy by promoting popular landmarks and top nightlife destinations.
Creators of musicals and dramas are attracting visitors by creating engaging stories or using show credits to cross-promote other productions.
Our musical featured crossovers with other shows.
For example, after the main performance concludes, we would include crossover elements as the credits roll.
This helped the audience experience different theatrical works centered around female characters.
Official data shows Shanghai has consistently maintained the top position in China's National Nine Economy Index throughout 2025.
The increase is also reflected in theater bookings.
Our musical, which began its run at the end of May and continues through tonight, has now reached its 66th performance.
It will run until October 8th.
Our musical has accounted for approximately 70 to 80 of the total box office revenue in the musical theater market.
So, while Shanghai's skyline continues to dazzle, it's the energy on the ground in these hubs of culture, and the nightlife after sunset truly tells a story of a city that never sleeps and whose economy grows even stronger at night.
That was Zheng Songwu on the nighttime economy in Shanghai.
Chinese authorities are expecting more than 23 billion domestic trips during the National Day holiday that begins on Wednesday.
The Transport Ministry said nearly 80% will be road trips.
Authorities predict the National Railway Network will average over 18 million passenger trips per day.
The civil aviation sector is expecting a record high number of passenger trips.
Meanwhile, immigration officials forecast an average of more than 2 million daily cross-border trips during the holiday period.
This year's Golden Week includes the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival and will last for eight days.
South Korea's 15-day visa-free policy for Chinese tour groups has taken effect.
The trial program runs until next June.
This follows China's extension of visa-free entry for South Korean citizens last year.
Shane Hamm reports from Incheon International Airport.
The hope is that up to a million Chinese visitors will come and visit South Korea under this newly established group visa-free program.
If you look at the numbers, China is obviously a very important country source of tourists for South Koreans.
In fact, one in four tourists from overseas that visit the country come from China.
The big benchmark that's compared in terms of tourism numbers is obviously before the COVID-19 pandemic pandemic south korean tourism numbers aren't quite at that level yet but the hope is with this new visa free program numbers will jump.
Last year four and a half million chinese uh nationals visited south korea.
But the way it'll work is that chinese nationals in groups of three or more people at least that are registered or booked travel through officially recognized tour agencies will be allowed to benefit from this visa-free travel.
It is a reciprocal move after China initiated a similar sort of program for South Korean nationals.
And based on the numbers.
Thus far, numbers from South Korea to China have actually jumped, especially amongst youngsters.
And speaking of youngsters, the way just standing here at the airport, judging by the number of of flights coming from Chinese cities, is extremely drastic here.
The hope is that these numbers will relate to spending here for the local economy, both for hotels and the larger retail industries like duty-free retailers here as well.
South Korea is aiming to attract 5.4 million visits from Chinese tourists this year.
South Korean travelers made more than 900000 trips to China during the first four months of the year under the visa exemption, up nearly 50.
Managing Vice President Yohan Park of Korean Air's China Regional Headquarters says the reciprocal visa policies will lead to stronger competitiveness of tourism services and infrastructure.
The Chinese market is the largest and steadily growing market.
If more customers start traveling, it will lead to an increase in premium demand and repeat demand in the long term and will have a positive effect on the overall tourism and service industry centered on aviation.
The senior executive invited Chinese people to experience Korean culture and encouraged South Koreans to explore China.
That, he said, is close and surprisingly new.
China's highlighted its efforts in the effective and sustainable use of resources during the 14th five-year plan that ends this year.
Officials from the Ministry of Water Resources say that, despite strong economic growth and years of bumper grain harvests, the country's overall water consumption has remained flat.
In 2024, water consumption per 10000 yuan of GDP fell by nearly 18, while industrial water intensity dropped by almost a quarter.
Authorities also pointed to record investment in Water Conservancy.
The country has invested over 54 trillion yuan in water infrastructure from 2021 to this year, over one and a half times more than that of the previous five-year period.
With more on China's sustainable water use.
We're joined by Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.
Thanks for joining us this evening.
And first of all, how did China achieve efficiencies in its water consumption while continuing to grow its economy and ensure food security?
We know that China has a very serious and a systematic way of dealing with the water.
So the government is trying to make the world I mean the society of China to realize that the water is very precious.
We have to be very careful in using our resources.
I think the whole society has some awareness about how can we do it better in different ways.
Like for the consumption, the people are using less water to meet their demand.
And that is probably one of the reasons we are seeing that water usage.
And another one is from the industries.
We see that higher quality may be the reason for the sectors for development in the past five years.
So we see more services sectors developing quicker, and also even for the industries, they are trying to use technology to use less water and make better products.
So in this regard, I would say that is an outcome from a systematic way of dealing with water as a very precious resource.
What long-term challenges remain for ensuring water security, especially in the face of climate change and rising demand?
Well, we know that water, you know, the coverage and also the rainings are moving year from year.
So we have to take it very serious about how can we have a better weather forecast, about you know where the rains go, and also something like the typhoon, and whether they can bring us more water.
If you are looking at the ability of the society, I would say that China is trying to do better in the modernization.
So we are going to use water more wisely.
So in this regard, i would say that companies are trying to use better technology, like the artificial intelligence or other kind of things, to to know the water distribution and trying to use that more efficiently.
So, for the people, i would say that more consumers were trying to use, you know, more efficient ways, like some of the the home appliances, to use the water more wisely.
So this is a kind of a systematical way of dealing with the water and we have to deal with so many uncertainties, like for some of the geopolitical tensions or other issues.
We have to use the technology to help us to know more about the future, and trying to use them wisely.
Thank you very much for joining us.
That was Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.
Coming up, Iran rejects European sanctions targeting Tehran's nuclear program.
To buy or not to buy?
That's the question.
China is easing property restrictions and loosening cross-border financing rules to draw more foreign buyers.
Is this a last resort to boost its housing market?
How much appetite does foreign capital have for Chinese real estate?
Which cities are likely to stand out for overseas investors?
And what further reforms are needed to bring in capital without tipping the balance?
Tune into the chat lounge this week, wherever you get your podcasts and our CGTN radio, as we break down the changes that might reshape China's property market.
13 minutes past the hour.
Iran's calling the actions by European powers to re-enact sanctions on Tehran illegal and unjustified.
The United Nations has confirmed the return of the sanctions after the Security Council failed to adopt a China and Russia-backed resolution that would have extended the nuclear deal.
Iran is warned of a harsh response and is recalling its ambassadors from Britain, France and Germany, the countries that triggered the snapback.
But President Massoud Pazeshkian said Iran has no intention of leaving the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Begir Halibaf, is urging UN members not to recognize the punitive measures.
The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the implementation of the snapback mechanism and the reinstatement of sanctions resolutions to be illegal.
Considering that Russia and China, as two permanent members of the Security Council, have explicitly stated this in official statements and public positions, no country is obligated to comply with them.
UN sanctions freeze assets and halt arms deals.
They'll likely hit Iran's already fragile economy, resulting in higher food prices and living costs.
Saper Sarami has more from Tehran.
In 2015 China France Russia Germany, the UK and the US agreed to leave sanctions on Iran in return for targets and transparency on Tehran's nuclear program.
Now, 10 years later, U.S. sanctions are becoming a reality once more.
The UK, France and Germany, the E3, say Iran has failed to comply with its nuclear commitments, producing near weapons-grade uranium without civilian commitment justification.
The snapback clause allows any participant in the 2015 nuclear accord to restore sanctions if Iran is judged to be in breach.
On 26 September, the UN Security Council rejected the bid to extend sanctions relief for six months.
Iran remains a member of the broader NPT, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
Iran's foreign ministry warned the European move would undermine cooperation with the UN's nuclear watchdog, while stressing that Tehran remains ready for fair and balanced talks.
Ultimately, it's not as if the sky will fall and we'll have to surrender if they go through with this.
The reality is that, with the measures we have in place, with the relationships we maintain with our neighbours, with the countries in Eurasia, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and with the interactions that have been forming, as well as with the people of our own country and Iranians who care about Iran and the territorial integrity of the nation, we will be able to overcome this situation.
The United States, which imposed its own sanctions on Tehran in 2018, has welcomed the snapback sanctions, saying it will work with Europe to enforce them.
With financial restrictions, arms bans and measures targeting Iran's missile program coming back into force, the economic pressure on ordinary Iranians is expected to intensify.
This has a very direct effect, even when buying everyday necessities and groceries.
I work as an online taxi driver myself and honestly, I've been wanting to buy a phone for about six months now.
Every time I go to check, they tell me the dollar price has gone up.
The phone I had in mind was around 12 or 13 million tomans, and suddenly it's 15 million.
Since the early days of the revolution we have lived under sanctions and in a way, people here have grown used to dealing with them.
These sanctions now, perhaps more psychologically than economically, don't seem to affect people's daily lives as much, especially compared to the much tougher sanctions imposed by the US.
Tehran insists the sanctions are both illegal and counterproductive.
The big question now is whether this escalation pushes all sides back to the negotiating table or locks them deeper in a confrontation over Iran's nuclear program.
That was Sapera Sarami on the ramifications of sanctions on Iran.
Hamas says it's lost contact with two Israeli hostages in Gaza City.
The group is calling on Israel to pull back troops and suspend airstrikes for 24 hours so the fighters can retrieve the captives.
The fatal hostages could cast a shadow over a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US.
President Donald Trump on Monday.
Israel's intensified its assault on Gaza City, flattening districts and ordering mass evacuations of Palestinians.
Netanyahu says the operation aims to destroy Hamas in what he calls its final bastion.
NATO says it's upgrading its mission in the Baltic Sea with an air defense frigate.
This is in response to drone incursions in Denmark.
Poland and Estonia have also reported recent drone intrusions near critical infrastructure.
The European countries claimed the drones were Russian, while Moscow denied the allegations.
Rahul Patak reports.
Poland had to scramble its fighter jets and briefly close its airspace in areas where unidentified drones were seen.
Earlier this month, three drones were shot down in Polish airspace.
Russia says there is no evidence the drones were theirs.
Denmark has ordered a ban on civil drone flights after drones were observed at several military facilities overnight.
They will be banned from Monday through Friday this week when Denmark hosts European leaders.
Last week, several Danish airports, including Copenhagen, were closed when drones were spotted in the skies.
Norway also had to close its main international airport in Oslo for three hours after a drone was seen.
Now it's important to say, with the Norway and Denmark incidents, that there is no direct evidence to suggest the drones are Russian.
But there's no doubt that these airport closures had a major economic impact on both countries.
Well, speaking at the United Nations, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs said his country would not deliberately target European countries with drones or missiles.
We have nothing to hide.
We never attack civilian infrastructure.
Incidents happen, but we never conduct targeted fire against them.
We never target the countries in Europe with our drones or missiles, be that EU members or in NATO countries.
Once again.
If Poles indeed wanted to get to the bottom of that situation, we've proposed a meeting, immediately proposed a meeting, but no one wants to discuss that.
NATO leaders who have been meeting in Latvia believe Europe needs stronger drone and air defences.
From our perspective, the threat assessment is clear.
Russia poses a long-term threat to your Atlantic security.
Terrorism remains a persistent threat.
Europe and the Alliance is being tested in every way possible.
So that the task is to equip our forces for the threats and challenges of today and those of tomorrow.
Tough talk from NATO, which believes the escalating drone incursions are a Russian test of European defences.
Russia continues to insist it has no interest in targeting European countries.
That was Rahul Patak, on recent tensions in Europe following drone incidents after a week of diplomacy at the United Nations General Assembly.
Questions linger over the future of the UN as the world body struggles with a lack of funding.
Analysts are urging the UN to consider structural changes for it to remain relevant.
Mitch McCann reports from New York.
Budgets at the United Nations are not just numbers on a balance sheet.
They are a matter of life and death for millions around the world.
The UN faces a financial crisis.
The global body employs staff in New York Nairobi, Geneva and deploys thousands worldwide to conflict zones and humanitarian disaster areas.
But it is now facing a staff reduction by 20% and plans to cut US$500 million from its budget.
The Secretary-General is under no illusions why the UN is running out of cash.
The United Nations has faced a liquidity crisis because not all member states pay in full and many also do not pay on time.
Since President Trump took office, the US, which accounts for 22 of the UN's budget, has largely stopped paying its obligations.
Reports say Washington owes more than $3 billion.
And for America's 2026 budget, instead of paying 15 billion, the US has allocated only 300 million.
It's going to be a very shrunken organization next year, and one which will not have the same impact that it has right now.
As it tries to save cash, the un is shifting some of its agencies and work to less expensive locations, including its office in nairobi kenya, but one analyst worries that in doing so, diplomats may not be able to have the important face-to-face conversations that can lead to change.
Every time something happens, there is limits to zoom.
There, you need to meet somebody in the cafeteria or the men's room.
Uh, and that kind of the kinds of temporary, important sparks that fly are just not met by having people spread out all over the planet.
During the high-level week this year, some leaders used their addresses to criticize the UN's inability to resolve many of the crises it was created to address.
One of the main roadblocks, according to diplomats, is the UN Security Council and the permanent member's ability to veto resolutions.
These are major structural challenges that must be addressed for the UN's relevance to remain.
So I wouldn't say that funding is necessarily the number one issue.
I would say it's cynicism about the role of international law or its ability to prevent and to put an end to conflict, which is a sort of contagion that we have to stop.
While critical of the Security Council, international relations professor and human rights advocate, Steve Swerdlow says the UN is still relevant, in part because it gives smaller international voices a seat at the table, allowing them to push for action on issues such as climate change and human rights abuses.
It's a sentiment shared by many of the analysts we've spoken to in recent days, who believe the UN finds itself at a critical moment, beset by funding woes and fighting for relevance.
But analysts also add that the UN remains the only international body equipped to deal with many of the challenges the world faces today.
That was Mitch McCann on debates over the United Nations role.
Coming up, a Chinese moon mission receives top honors at an event in Australia.
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24 minutes past the hour.
China's Chang'e 6 mission that retrieved samples from the far side of the moon has won the top honour in the team category at the International Astronautical Congress in Australia.
China shared the samples with the global scientific community to help uncover more mysteries of the moon.
Wu Lei reports from the world's largest space event in Sydney.
Over 7000 space leaders, experts and engineers and enthusiasts gather here to explore innovations, foster collaboration in cutting-edge space technologies.
At the opening ceremony, the International Astronautical Federation presented its top global honors, with China's Chang'e 6 team receiving the World Space Award in the team category.
On May 3 last year, China's Long Mach 5 rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site and on June 25 the return capsule touched down carrying 19353 grams of lunar samples from the moon's far side, the first collection of its kind in human history.
What makes this achievement especially significant is that these precious samples are not just for China.
They are being shared with the global scientific community, enabling researchers worldwide to deepen our collective understanding of the moon's formation and evolution.
This award recognises what China can achieve through fruitful global cooperation in space exploration.
As the Congress opens, the message is clear.
Sustainability in space directly supports resilience on Earth.
Dozens of Chinese space companies have brought their latest rocket, AI technologies and satellite services.
From China's manned missions to satellite services, global space communities have paid more attention to these developments.
That was Wu Lei reporting.
Vietnamese disaster management authorities say Typhoon Bui Loi has killed at least 14 people.
More than 20 fishermen were missing as of midday on Monday.
Thousands have left coastal towns in central and northern Vietnam and authorities have ordered fishing boats back to harbour and closed airports.
Before it hit Vietnam, Bui Loi brought torrential rains and strong winds to southern China.
High-speed railway services have resumed in Hainan province as the impact continues to weaken.
Tropical storm Imelda has caused disruptions in the Bahamas and Cuba.
Meteorologists expect it to become a hurricane.
A storm watch was posted in parts of Florida.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto has weakened but remained a strong Category 4 storm in the Atlantic, threatening Bermuda.
A gunman opened fire inside of a church in Michigan on Sunday, killing at least four people.
Police say the suspect drove his car into the church during a service and opened fire on the crowd with an assault rifle.
He also set the church on fire before dying in a shootout with police officers.
Police Chief William Ureña says they've identified the gunman.
The suspect again, we're in the preliminary stages right now was neutralized at 10-33-44 in the parking lot of that church.
That suspect is a 40-year-old male from the city of Burton, who we identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford.
The Gun Violence Archive shows this was the 324th mass shooting in the United States so far this year.
The United States says the Taliban in Afghanistan has released an American citizen through Qatari mediation.
Amiri's release followed a visit by Washington's hostage envoy, Adam Bowler.
He's the fifth American citizen to be freed by the Taliban this year.
The envoy visited Kabul after U.S.
President Donald Trump urged the Taliban to give back control of Bagram Air Base.
Locals in southern India are blaming the late entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay for the stampede that's killed at least 41 people at a campaign rally on Saturday.
Tamil Nadu states appointed a commission led by a retired judge to investigate.
The chief minister has announced 1 million rupees, or US11000, in compensation for the families of the victims and China's expressed condolences.
The number of survivors of the Nanjing Massacre is down to 25 after the death of 94-year-old Xiong Shulan.
She survived the mass killing by Japanese invaders in 1937 by shaving her head and disguising herself as a boy.
Japanese forces killed approximately 300000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers within six weeks in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.
China's preserved survivor testimonies and written and video transcripts.
UNESCO listed the documents in the Memory of the World Register in 2015.
We're at 29 past the hour.
Beijing's getting cloudy conditions in 17 on Monday evening.
Sunny with a high of 29 for Tuesday.
Dazhou will see heavy rainfall overnight in 19 degrees, then showers in 27.
Nanchang's down to 26 with cloudy skies, then thundershowers in 32.
Tianjin gets moderate rainfall in 25 overnight, then showers in 31.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's down to 20, followed by sunny skies and 35.
Vientiane will see heavy rainfall and 23 overnight, then more rain and 28 degrees.
Phnom Penh's getting heavy rainfall tonight 24 degrees for a low, then a light rain, and 31 tomorrow.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, China's emphasizing a people-centered approach as it sets its economic and social goals for the 15th five-year plan period.
Iran says the European decision to reenact sanctions against Tehran is illegal and unjustified.
And China's successful mission to return rock samples from the far side of the moon wins a top honor at the International Astronomical Congress in Australia.
Shane Begum with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
Shh, listen up.
Can you hear the heartbeat of our world?
It's vibrant and pulsating with the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees to the gurgle of rivers.
From the silent strength of mountains to the icy whispers of glaciers.
Even the solid ground beneath our feet.
Right there, in the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
Ever wondered what's actually going on in Africa through the perspective of an African?
How are things really going between China and Africa?
What's the narrative of this relationship?
Well, get a perspective with China Africa Talk.
Hear from African diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, Chinese natives and more.
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We'll see you there.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Bigham with you on this Monday.
Still to come, in business, China's tourism spending and emerging trends.
In sports, setting up the semifinals at the China Open in Beijing.
In culture and entertainment, the Chinese war film premieres in Australia.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at cgtnradio.
Now checking the day's headlines, here's Tianyu.
Thank you, Shane.
The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will convene its fourth plenary session in Beijing from October 20 to 23.
General Secretary Xi Jinping chaired a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Monday to study major issues in the drafting of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development.
The meeting reviewed feedback on a draft proposal for the plan, agreeing to submit a revised version for discussion at the plenary.
Officials said the document reflects broad consultation and provides strategic guidance for advancing Chinese modernization.
The meeting stressed that development during the 15th five-year plan period must adhere to the party's overall leadership and a people-centered approach.
It emphasized high-quality development driven by innovation and reform, and highlighted the need to balance development and security.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang says China is ready to continue deepening coordination with North Korea to better safeguard common interests.
He made the remarks while meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Choi Son-hui.
Premier Li said China is willing to work with North Korea to further carry forward traditional friendship and strengthen strategic communication to better benefit the people of both countries.
Choi said North Korea hopes to strengthen high-level exchanges with China and further boost bilateral cooperation.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has promised a significant improvement in the security of government administrative systems following a major fire that disrupted online services across the country.
The blaze broke out at the National Information Resources Service last Friday and was put out the next day.
Lee voiced concern over disruptions to postal shipping and financial services ahead of the mid-autumn holidays in October.
As we approach the Chuseok, when postal delivery and financial services are in high demand, I urge all relevant ministries to make every effort to ensure the rapid restoration and operation of systems closely tied to people's daily lives, so as to minimize inconvenience and confusion for the public.
Investigators suspect the fire began with a lithium-ion battery explosion during maintenance, damaging some servers and forcing the shutdown of hundreds more.
The safety ministry says they are seeking to resume operations of most government systems with nearly all security equipment and at least half of affected network facilities restored.
Israel says troops killed a Palestinian suspect in the death of an Israeli soldier in the West Bank.
Media said a Palestinian driving a truck rammed towards Israeli troops at the Jij Junction.
The Palestinian health ministry said Israeli forces shot dead a 24-year-old man near the location.
Security sources and witnesses said Israeli armed forces closed the entrance to nearby Kalkiria and all villages along Route 55 that connects Nelbis in the northern West Bank.
Israel has been conducting military operations in northern West Bank cities, claiming to pursue Palestinian militants.
Armed federal agents patrolled the streets of downtown Chicago on Sunday while U.S.
President Donald Trump ordered 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon.
The move sparked immediate backlash from Oregon Governor Dan Rayfield, who claims the president has overstepped his authority.
The president is either purposefully ignoring the reality on the ground in Portland to score political points or, at best, is recklessly relying upon social media gossip.
The president's actions today only serve to further divide us as a nation, as a community, under the guise of caring about public safety.
Trump said he ordered the 60-day deployment to address what he called violent protests threatening federal property.
Rayfield filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of the state and the city of Portland.
The case argues, Trump lacks authority to send in troops, since the situation does not amount to an invasion, rebellion or obstruction of federal law.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour 60 minutes of comprehensive news, your window on China and the world.
We're at 36 past the hour now and turning to business.
Here's Do Hongyu.
Thank you, Shane.
First, let's check news from the equity markets in Asia.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Monday.
He Jian has more.
The mainland stocks rose today as shares of carmakers and solar energy firms jumped on, signs that Beijing's crackdown on price wars is starting to bear fruit.
Sentiment was also aided by China's central bank's pledge to step up policy support for growth.
By closing.
The Shanghai Composite Index gained 09 after being up as much as 13 earlier in the session.
Market analysts point out that the August industrial profit surge is mostly due to the fact that it's being measured off a low base, but signs of early progress in the anti-evolution campaign are emerging.
CATL up over 4 and reports indicate that domestic demand for energy storage sales is currently very strong.
The stock market also rose sharply after news that MoreThreads Technology, an artificial intelligence chip maker that competes with NVIDIA Core, got regulatory approval to list on the tech focus board in Shanghai.
That was He Jian reporting.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index was up 0.7%.
Tokyo stocks ended lower.
The Nikkei was down nearly 0.5%.
China's official data shows that in the first half of 2025, citizens took over 3 billion trips and spent more than 3 trillion yuan, or around 440 billion US dollars.
More people have visited museums and archaeological sites, combining sightseeing with cultural and historical experiences.
China's cultural industry grew strongly last year, earning about 20 trillion yuan, or around 3 trillion US dollars, a 40 increase compared with 2020.
The number of large-scale cultural enterprises reached 78,000.
As the National Day holiday and mid-autumn festival approach, many people have already booked tickets for travel during this peak season.
Popular cities like Beijing Wurumqi, Chengdu and Chongqing have added flights and train services to meet the growing demand.
In Sichuan province, crowds are turning out for a variety of evening activities.
Restaurants and shops are staying open longer to meet the rising demand at night.
Analysts say this nighttime economy now makes up about 60% of urban spending.
Chen Mengfei has more.
When the sun sets on Chengdu, a magnet for the young and hip, the fun is just beginning.
Going out in Chengdu lasts from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next morning.
It's like having another job.
The city of 20 million has some of the most vibrant nightlife in China.
Every night in this theater-like hall, an army of singers belts out Chinese and Western pop songs on a stage set to be world-class.
Our sound system uses the Marathon brand, the same one Michael Jackson used in his concerts.
But for Cheng Ju's savvy party-goers, pleasing the eyes and ears is not enough.
A top club must also include a top kitchen.
When it comes to food and drink, it's absolutely central for Sichuan.
People here love to eat.
Take this beef, for example.
Every day we prepare a rich stock using fresh beef, then marinate it on the spot.
The process takes six hours each day.
Food is at the heart of going out in Chengdu.
The night often starts with a meal, moves through various nibbles and ends with a round of barbecue Chinese people's favorite late night eat.
These skewers create livelihoods for countless small and medium business owners.
I'm open 16 hours every day, so it's very demanding.
But for ordinary people like me, it doesn't require much technical skill.
You just need to be able to handle the effort and late nights.
And because of running this barbecue, I was able to buy my first home.
So I really love doing barbecue.
Last year, the municipality of Chengdu rolled out 55 measures to support private businesses, including allowing street-front shops to expand operations outdoors.
Before, when we weren't allowed to put tables outside, we were even thinking of closing the shops.
Now that we can set up a few outdoor tables, business has picked up.
Things are only getting better and the government's policies are really supportive.
The consensus among businesses is that consumers are not splurging these days, so they do what they can to boost earnings.
In the hyper-competitive bubble tea industry, some shops are now open 24 hours.
Being open 24 hours will boost our store's gross merchandise value or GMV.
Milk tea sales from midnight to 7 a.m. make up about 10% of our total.
For the city's night owls and the economy, some midnight caffeine is welcome.
That was Chen Mengfei reporting.
A new high-speed rail line has opened, cutting travel time from Beijing to Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province to about four hours.
The line to the northeastern ski resort is expected to boost China's winter sports and ice tourism.
Trains are designed for tourists, with extra space for ski equipment and smart temperature control to ease indoor-outdoor temperature changes.
Jilin is famous for its natural powdery snow, with about 70 ski resorts and 360 ski trails.
Last winter, the province received 170 million domestic tourists.
China's state-owned enterprises improved their performance in the first eight months of 2025.
The finance ministry says total revenue rose 02 to about 54 trillion yuan, or around 8 trillion US dollars.
Total profits fell 2.7%, but the decline slowed compared with the first seven months.
Taxes and fees payable also edged down 0.3% to 3.9 trillion yuan.
China's Council for the Promotion of International Trade says global trade frictions rose in July as the US continued to adjust its tariff policies.
The global trade friction index rose from 92 in June to 110.
The United States, the European Union and Brazil ranked as the top three in the index.
The US had the largest value of trade friction measures, holding the top spot for 13 straight months.
The Council says the index reflects growing tensions in global trade.
It tracks tariffs, trade remedies, technical barriers, import and export restrictions and other limits in 20 countries and regions.
Microsoft and Amazon have announced multi-billion dollar investments to build data centers in New Zealand.
The companies aim to use the country's renewable energy supply to achieve carbon neutral operations.
However, experts have raised questions about the economic benefits and the company's promises regarding data security.
Owen Poland reports.
Amazon's recent launch of three Auckland data centres worth several billion dollars included a traditional Maori welcome and an upbeat prime minister.
It will create up to 1000 jobs and it will deliver more than almost 11 billion worth of boost to our GDP.
And that's not all.
Microsoft has created New Zealand's biggest data centre in West Auckland and says the use of generative AI like ChatGPT could boost the local economy by more than 100 billion over the next decade.
But some experts question the hype.
Who's going to make the gain?
The biggest gain from this is Microsoft.
So are we clear about the numbers?
Do we know how they're generated?
Have we got independence to assess those numbers?
That's my first thought as an academic.
By tapping into energy sources like wind farms.
The tech companies are using New Zealand's renewable energy to meet their carbon zero targets, and Microsoft has even invested in a new geothermal station.
But the national grid that supplies the energy-hungry data centres relies on fossil fuels because it's only 85 renewable.
So increased demand could stretch the system and force up energy costs.
That is quite concerning, especially in New Zealand, where we are struggling at the moment to meet our normal electricity demands for businesses.
It's been predicted that data centres could use up to 13 of New Zealand's entire power supply within the next decade.
But uncertainty about where that power will come from means that additional coal is being imported to fuel New Zealand's biggest power station.
The Huntly station burns coal from Indonesia and one million tonnes is now being stockpiled to meet future energy demands and keep the lights on.
Questions are also being asked about promises of data security, and New Zealand's weak privacy laws may not protect personal information, especially if the Trump administration doesn't recognize international rules.
Amazon and Microsoft have engaged with indigenous Maori to specifically protect their data.
But last month's opening of a New Zealand FBI branch office has raised fresh concerns about privacy.
That was Owen Poland reporting.
All right, thank you very much.
That was Dohungi with Business.
And coming up in sports, setting up the semifinals at the China Open in Beijing.
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47 past the hour now and turning to sports.
We start with tennis and Yannick Sinner's edge past Fabian Marzan 6175 to reach the China Open semifinals in Beijing.
The Italian rallied from a breakdown to win the final three games, overcoming a late challenge.
After a dominant first set, Sinner fended off a second set, scare breaking in the 10th and 12th games to seal victory.
The 2023 Beijing champion will now face fellow top 10 star, Alex Diminar, who advanced after Jakub Mensik retired in the quarterfinals.
On the women's side, top seed Iga Swantek earned her 400th career win at the China Open, as Camila Osorio retired with an abdominal injury after losing the first set 6-0.
Swantek will face No.
16 seed Emma Navarro in the fourth round. who also advanced via opponent retirement.
Earlier, home favorite Zheng Shuai fell to Amanda Anisimova in the third round.
Zheng started strong breaking for a 5-3 lead and saving five set points in a thrilling first set tiebreak which she narrowly lost 15-13.
The Chinese veteran showed grit and skill before Anisimova dominated the second set 6-0.
Zheng says she was satisfied with her performance at the tournament.
My physical condition was not very good this time, so I could not play as well as in the first two rounds.
Facing a tough opponent, I told myself to play hard and avoid being swept away.
After I won the first couple of games and even took the lead in the opening set, I thought I did a really great job.
I just tried my best here, but I ran out of energy.
Zhang's fight earned applause from the home crowd and Isamova moves on to face Karolina Machova in the fourth round.
In table tennis, top seed Wang Chuqin gave home fans plenty to cheer about with the commanding win over South Korea's Zhang Wujian at the WTT China Smash.
The 25-year-old looked sharp from the start, using his powerful forehand to dictate the pace.
Though Zhang tried to respond with early leads in the second and third games, Wang's precise serves and strong backhand turned the momentum back in his favor.
He sealed the victory in straight games to move comfortably into the next round.
Also advancing was Wang's teammate, Sheng Peng, who overcame Belgium's Adrian Rassenfosse in a one-sided contest.
On the women's side, world number five, Wang Yi Di swept past Australia's Liu Yangzi.
Wang makes consistency with sharp angles to take control of the match, setting up a clash with India's Sharija Akula.
In volleyball, Italy successfully defended his crown with a 3-1 win over Bulgaria to capture a fifth world title at the Men's World Championships in the Philippines.
From the outset, the Italians showed the calm of a championship team.
Captain Simone Gianelli orchestrated the attack with precision, while back row strikers kept Bulgaria on the defense.
Despite late pressure, Italy's composure carried them through the opening set.
Bulgaria then turned to young star Alexander Nikolov, who almost single-handedly powered the offense.
But Italy's depth in serving runs proved decisive and they doubled their lead.
Bulgaria fought back to take the third, but Italy quickly reasserted themselves in the fourth.
With heavy serves breaking Bulgaria's rhythm, the defending champion stormed home to seal the title once again.
In motorcycle racing.
Marc Marquez sealed his seventh MotoGP World Championship at the Japanese Grand Prix, with five rounds still to go.
The Spaniard finished second behind Ducati teammate Francesco Bonaya, a result that gave him an unassailable lead over his brother Alex, in the standings.
He says this title means a lot for him after years of hard work and hardships.
Super strange feeling.
Of course I feel happy but first feeling is like I feel in peace with myself.
I mean the first sentence as I say in Spanish TV is like I was Mark against Mark during five years.
Mark against injury but especially about mental side was difficult.
Many people around me helps, helps a lot, and I will not say any name because without them they already know.
Marquez began the race in third and, after some early pressure from KTM's Pedro Acosta, moved into second on lap 11.
Benaiah was untouchable at the front, powering to his second win of the season, despite late concerns over smoke from his bike.
Honda's Jomir claimed third, while Alex Marquez crossed the line in sixth.
For Mark, the title marked the first one since 2019 and the end of a long road back, overcoming years of injuries and setbacks, to reclaim his place atop the sport.
In football, Arsenal pulled off late drama at St.
James Park snatching a 2-1 Premier League victory over Newcastle United with a stoppage time header.
Newcastle had struck first in the 34th minute with a short corner after a defensive lapse.
Arsenal dominated possession but was left frustrated by a series of missed chances.
Strong saves from goalkeeper Nick Pope. and controversial penalty decisions overturned by VAR.
The breakthrough came late.
Declan Rice's delivery from a short corner set up Michael Moreno against his former club.
Deep into stoppage time, Gabriel rose above the defence to clinch all three points for the visitors.
The win lifted Arsenal to second on the table, just two points behind Liverpool.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Coming up in culture and entertainment, a Chinese war film premieres in Australia.
The Yellow River Mosaic is a 12-part series of multimedia stories featuring the people who live by the river and share a close bond with it.
Subscribe to Yellow River Mosaic on your favorite podcast platform or visit radiocgtncom for more in this program.
The movies are part of the remembrance on the 80th anniversary of China's victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese aggression in the end of World War II.
James Hyams viewed Evil Unbound with a multicultural group in Brisbane.
Welcome to Events Cinema in Brisbane, Australia, where an audience has just seen Evil Unbound.
Despite there being no advertising of this film in Western countries, there are many people watching Evil Unbound, such as Australian filmmaker Tim Shen.
Obviously, this film is heavily inspired by the historical events between the Japanese and Chinese during World War II and experiments they did.
A lot of stuff that they did was unhumane.
It definitely brings a different perspective from the eastern side to World War II.
It wasn't just the Nazi Germany that was evil at the time, but also some of the monstrosity that the Imperial Japan did.
That's why it's interesting seeing this on screen in Brisbane.
Australians are mostly unfamiliar with the atrocious war crimes that were committed by the Japanese in the same war, because our education system never taught us about that.
I agree, and I certainly wasn't taught this in any Australian school I went to.
During history class, I only learnt about Germany and their side of things.
I did not know the gruesome... torture that Japan did in the war as well.
In terms of human experimentation, I did not know that at all.
I did not know it was that bad.
This is based off real events.
This film will encourage the unaware to learn more about the Japanese Imperial Army and how they experimented on Chinese Russians, Koreans and Mongolians.
This movie serves as a gateway for people who's curious about the WWII Chinese and Japanese history.
Even though it's only a movie inspired from the WWII events, it certainly gives people a reason to learn more about the real history.
Also, the closing of the film has drawn the ire of audience members.
The director reveals that the American government gave immunity to the guilty Japanese army in exchange for experimental findings.
At the ending credits it was stated that Ishii and his compatriots were awarded full immunity and they never faced any trials.
And I like how the film in the end tried to highlight America's involvement, even though on the screen we all just saw what the Japanese did.
America made such an evil trade.
More people should know about American's involvement as well.
This film has been very successful in China, generating 345 million yuan in ticket sales on its release day, September 18.
That was James Hyams in Australia.
Chinese director Chen Kaige's highly anticipated war epic, The Volunteers Peace at Last will hit theaters nationwide on Tuesday, making it a major highlight of the National Day holiday season.
The final chapter of the trilogy shifts away from large-scale battlefield scenes to explore a complex stage of the Korean War where fierce fighting and tense negotiations unfolded at the same time.
The story follows Li Xiao, portrayed by Zheng Zifeng, as she searches for her father, weaving personal struggles into the broader arc of history and giving the saga new emotional depth.
Pre-sales for the film have already topped 10 million yuan, placing it among the holiday's top contenders, alongside Sound of Silence and A Writer's Odyssey 2.
The trilogy's first two installments grossed nearly 2 billion yuan combined, setting high expectations for the finale.
We're at 57 past the hour now.
Checking the forecast before we go for the day.
Beijing's cloudy overnight in 17 degrees.
Sunny skies with a high of 29 on Tuesday.
Dazhou's getting heavy rainfall overnight in 19.
Then it showers with a high of 27.
Nanchang's down to 26 under cloudy skies, then thundershowers in 32.
Tianjin will see moderate rainfall this evening 25 degrees for a low and then showers in 31 degrees.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's 20 overnight, sunny in 35 for Tuesday.
We intend to see heavy rainfall in 23 this evening, followed by more rain in 28.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
China's emphasizing a people-centered approach as it sets economic and social goals for the 15th five-year planned period.
And Iran says the European decision to reenact sanctions against Tehran is illegal and unjustified.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Shane Biggum in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
On the 25th anniversary of FOCAC, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, CGTN Radio presents a special feature series Together Forward, showcasing the breadth and depth of the China-Africa partnership.
Clean water projects in Zimbabwe.
New classrooms in Botswana.
Grand innovation in Kenya.
Agricultural training in Handan, vibrant trade in Yiwu and the documentary producer's journey in Hangzhou.
These are the stories that bring this partnership to life.
We have trained a group of high-quality talents in Africa who understand agriculture, love rural areas and care for farmers.
In this world-cleaning program, who go a long way in addressing this critical need.
All over the world, I never see one country like China, especially like you.
So this becomes more productive, cost-effective, and more free life.
I have a small dream.
Before turning 45, I want to make 10 China-Africa documentaries.
This school is beautiful, and like I'm saying, everybody wants to be a learner.
Join us in celebrating 25 years of FOCAC.
Stay tuned with China-Africa Talk and discover the real impact of China-Africa cooperation and how we're moving forward together.
