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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 begum, with you on this thursday, february the 12th 2026.
You're listening to the beijing hour coming to you live from the chinese capital.
On today's program, Chinese officials have forecast over 2 million daily cross-border trips during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday.
Iran says the goal of reaching a deal with the US on a peaceful nuclear program is still achievable.
And Chinese machinery and manufacturing upgrades are boosting farm productivity across Brazil.
In business, China is providing one-stop public services for enterprises.
In sports, the latest medal events at the Winter Olympics in Italy.
In culture and entertainment, promoting CMG's Spring Festival Gala in South African cinemas.
Now checking the day's top stories.
China's National Immigration Administration forecasts just over 2 million daily cross-border trips during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday.
That marks an increase of 14% from the same period last year.
Major international airports expect significant passenger surges.
Authorities say outbound travel will peak on Sunday, while inbound flows will reach their highest between February 22nd and 23rd.
More foreign visitors are also seizing the opportunity to join the festive celebrations across China.
They will be here for over two weeks having a family time look at the firecracker show enjoying food.
So it's a day off for us in China.
I expect to have a lot of good times and a lot of good food.
There are so many places in China that I want to visit.
This time coming to Harbin.
The place I'm most looking forward to is the ice and snow world, and I also want to taste all kinds of local delicacies.
In the meantime, communities in southern China have celebrated the little new year to mark the arrival of the holiday season.
Expats living in Shanghai picked up calligraphy brushes to learn the craft for the very first time.
Chen Tong reports.
For this group of expats, calligraphy is something new.
Mike Norton tried it for the very first time, doing his best to write 马年大吉, meaning big fortune in a year of the horse.
As you can see, maybe not so good a job, we need more practice.
This is also the first time for the Kyrgyz couple to use brush pens.
They wrote 马到成功, meaning instant success.
But there are also expats who trained when they were young, so their work looks quite good.
What the lady told me is like this one's zhuan shu, this one's hao shu and then this one, jiagu wen looks like.
It does not look like a horse.
It does not look like a horse, but, you know, I'll accept it.
Well, calligraphy might be a little difficult for those foreigners, but today is Xiaonian Little New Year, so this special activity means far more than writing itself.
The event was organized by a district-level culture and tourism promotion department in Shanghai.
In China, Little New Year marks the start of spring festival preparations, about a week before Chinese New Year.
These expats hope their calligraphy will bring luck and prosperity in the year of the horse.
Always health and hopefully prosperity.
I really enjoy just like doing all these group activities together and just reminds me of, you know, building community and just celebrating like new beginnings and just being together with family and friends.
And that's something that I feel like is like really appreciate about Chinese New Year.
For Chinese people, the new year is a time for family reunion.
And for these expats living far from home, experiencing Chinese traditions helps them understand rituals and feel the warmth of family as well.
That was Chen Tong reporting.
The China-Laos Railway is seeing an increasing number of international travelers eager to experience traditional Spring Festival customs.
Data from the Mohan Exit Entry Border Inspection Station shows that since the start of the travel rush period early this month, the railway checkpoint in southwestern China has processed around 10000 inbound and outbound travelers.
Among them, more than 1,300 were foreign nationals from 33 countries and regions.
That's an increase of more than 30% from the previous year.
We are very looking forward to the Chinese New Year.
Well, we know a little bit about it, but of course you would like to learn more.
For example, we know that a lot of events are going on and maybe fireworks.
And that all families have small traditions to give, I think, a red envelope and then with money to bring good luck.
And that every year there is another event, they celebrate another year of an animal and this year it will be the year of the horse we hope to see, like a lot of the traditions.
We also contacted our host and she will help us and explain where we can go, what we can see in the neighborhoods.
Last year i was lucky enough to spend Chinese Spring Festival in Hainan.
Memorable experience for me.
People were pleasurable, really interesting, fantastic time.
And most remember on the night, fireworks.
All day long, fireworks.
May I wish a happy new year and a prosperous 2026 to all Chinese people for next year.
The China-Lao Railway, a flagship Belt and Road project, began operations in December of 2021.
The more than 1,000-kilometer line connects Kunming and Vientiane.
As of February 2nd, the railway had operated 90000 passenger train services and carrying over 66 million passengers.
It's also transported nearly 77 million metric tons of cargo.
With just days to go until Spring Festival, cities across China are busy preparing for the holiday.
In Henan Province, festive decorations are already on full display in Zhengzhou.
Red lanterns now wind the streets, creating a vibrant and joyful holiday atmosphere throughout the city.
In Ningxiahui Autonomous Region, a lantern fair is drawing large crowds.
A special exhibition in Inchuan features colourful lanterns, some of which have been created by local students and their teachers.
The event will run through early March with traditional performances and folk activities for all ages.
Meanwhile, in Guizhou Province, villagers in Guiyang are busy preparing traditional New Year foods, such as sausages and rice cakes, while cultural performances bring together residents and visitors to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Horse.
As Spring Festival approaches, a group of American teenagers is heading to China with pickleball paddles in hand.
They're here to build friendships and experience the culture.
Zheng Tao has more.
In Chinese tradition, Spring Festival means going home, family dinners, holiday traditions, time with parents and friends.
But for these American high school students, The holiday begins with a 40-hour flight across the Pacific.
Their destination is China.
Their luggage packed with paddles, sneakers and a lot of curiosity.
And their common language is pickleball.
Leading the group is Dr. Jeffrey Sullivan.
We are extremely excited to return to China, especially during this very special time of the Spring Festival.
And we have 31 new ambassadors and seven returning ambassadors and me and six other staff members, for a total delegation of 45.
And we are extremely excited to come back to China.
Sullivan has led similar trips before, and this time the focus is still the same using sport to bring young people together.
At the heart of the visit is pickleball.
One of the fastest growing sports in the United States is part tennis, part badminton, part ping pong.
Simple to learn, fast to play, easy to enjoy.
And that, Sullivan says, is exactly why it works.
Pickleball is a sport that people experience success with rather quickly.
It becomes fun very quickly.
So some of those nerves get out of the way very quickly. very fast.
And that allows the friendships and the joy to start.
For 17-year-old Hayley Cochran, this is already her second time to China.
She calls her first trip life-changing.
When she heard there was a chance to come back, she didn't hesitate.
I just had to take this other opportunity to experience going to China during Chinese New Year.
I'm so excited to make more connections that will last a lifetime and learn more about Chinese culture, especially visiting the two smaller communities that we didn't get to visit before.
For first-time visitor Michael Horton, everything feels new and exciting.
Oh my gosh, when I told my mom at first, she was like a little shocked.
She was like, wait, China?
Like you're going to another country?
And I was like, Beyond the matches, the students are also diving into Chinese New Year traditions.
They're riding spring festival couplets, making dumplings, watching holiday performances and celebrating with local families.
Organizers say these everyday experiences matter just as much as the games themselves.
The program is coordinated by Dr Wang Pengfei, founder of the China-US Youth People-to-People Exchange Initiative.
He says sport is only the starting point.
We hope these American students can come not just as visitors, but as participants.
We see this program as planting seeds.
We hope the impact goes both ways and lasts far into the future.
The exchange is also part of a broader initiative that aims to bring 50000 young Americans to China over five years for study and cultural programs.
From ping-pong diplomacy decades ago to today's pickleball courts, the sport may look different, but the goal remains the same.
Sometimes all it takes to connect two countries is a small paddle.
A plastic ball and a game played together.
For the Beijing Hour, this is Jiang Tao.
Coming up, Tehran says a deal with Washington on peaceful nuclear development is still possible.
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Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Arachi, says reaching an agreement with the United States on Iran's peaceful nuclear program is achievable.
In a social media post, Arachi said he sincerely hopes the coming year will be one of peace and stability, with dialogue prevailing over war.
He noted that Iran favors a diplomatic path and that an agreement is within reach, provided it respects fairness and balance.
However, he emphasized that under no circumstances will Iran retreat from defending its sovereignty, regardless of the cost.
Iranian President Mazud Pazeshkin says Iran does not seek nuclear weapons and is willing to undergo verification of its nuclear program.
He stresses that Iran will not surrender to excessive demands or yield to injustice and aggression.
Speaking at celebrations in Tehran for the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Pazeshkin said that a wall of distrust created by excessive Western and US demands has impeded talks.
At the scene.
The Iranian public reaffirmed allegiance to the national establishment and condemned what they called aggressive, destabilizing and criminal policies of the United States and Israel.
Ehsan Kevani reports from Tehran.
47 years after the revolution that reshaped Iran, this year's anniversary arrives under a different shadow.
One cast just last month, when thousands took to the streets in violent protests across multiple cities.
That is why the country's supreme leader invited the nation to participate in the anniversary rallies.
On February 11th, tens of thousands gathered in Azadi or Liberty Square in Tehran.
A defining feature of this anniversary is its intergenerational nature.
Around me are Iranians who lived through the revolution alongside many born decades later.
For these pro-government Iranians, it's a day to reflect on a shared history and reinforce a sense of national identity.
We asked people what the major achievements of the Islamic Revolution are after almost half a century.
Compared to previous decades, we have seen great progress in the missile and aerospace sectors.
Also, in scientific and cultural areas, we have improved significantly.
In the nuclear sector, missile capabilities in medical and pharmaceutical spheres, we are so good.
Iranians have had great achievements in the academic sector.
The achievements are not limited to military issues but include scientific and technical areas.
During the past four to five decades, Iran has had remarkable achievements in terms of building power plants and also developing technical and engineering technologies.
During the anniversary ceremony, President Massoud Pazushkian made a public speech in Liberty Square.
We are able to solve the problems with our Muslim neighbors and we will overcome these problems.
We do not need outsiders to come to the region and make decisions for us.
Those gathered here present a different image.
Organized celebratory and publicly loyalist participants describe their presence as a direct response.
The official narrative frames this turnout as a rebuke to last month's unrest, a display of enduring popular support.
That was Ehsan Kevani in Iran.
U.S.
President Donald Trump says he's not reached a definitive agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their talks on Iran.
Two leaders spoke behind closed doors at the White House on Wednesday in their seventh meeting since Trump returned to office last year.
Trump has insisted that Washington will continue its talks with Tehran with the aim of striking a deal.
Netanyahu was expected to urge Trump to include limits on Tehran's missile arsenal.
The Israeli prime minister has repeatedly stressed that Israel's security interests must be taken into account.
Owen Fairclough reports from Washington.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, arrived at the White House on Wednesday to meet US President Donald Trump, having set out his priorities.
Gaza, the region, but of course, first and foremost, the negotiations with Iran.
Netanyahu's visit follows last week's indirect talks between the US and Iran aimed at de-escalating tensions that have soared since Trump took office for a second time.
Trump supported Israel in last summer's conflict with Iran by bombing its nuclear program sites whose purpose is disputed, and has threatened to strike Tehran's leadership amid mass protests against the government.
If Iran's future and its implications for Middle East security are on the agenda, so is Gaza.
Netanyahu's visit takes place before Trump hosts the first meeting of the Board of Peace he established to oversee Gaza's reconstruction following a ceasefire with Israel.
Though, attacks continue.
And although Netanyahu has agreed to join a board run by his closest ally, he initially objected to the inclusion of regional rivals, Turkey and Qatar.
While on Monday Gulf State board members, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates joined the United Nations to condemn Israel's easing of settlements expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Dutch actions, including Israel's continuing presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, are not only destabilizing but, as recalled by the International Court of Justice, unlawful.
The Board of Peace is due to meet next week.
That was Owen Fairclough reporting.
The Wall Street Journal reports the US is ready to deploy a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East within two weeks.
The report says the carrier, likely to be the USS George H.W.
Bush is completing training exercises off the coast of Virginia and could accelerate its readiness if ordered.
President Trump has not issued the official order, though.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council says Tehran has not received any clear proposal from Washington.
He stressed that ongoing talks are strictly limited to Iran's nuclear program and accused Israel of attempting to disrupt the negotiations.
U.S.
Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files during a congressional hearing on Wednesday.
The hearing followed the release of millions of new files related to the convicted sex offender.
Bondi also defended President Donald Trump and the department's actions in response to questions from Democrats.
The hearing was marked by repeated clashes between Bondi and Democratic lawmakers.
Walter Morris has more.
U.S.
Attorney General Pam Bondi answering tough questions on Capitol Hill.
For months, the Department of Justice has faced criticism from members of both political parties for failing to release the Epstein files in a timely manner.
Wednesday, Bondi defended the Trump administration's actions and traded insults with lawmakers.
Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday as the administration faces more scrutiny over the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Democrats accused Bondi and the Department of Justice of committing a cover-up to protect Donald Trump and the wealthy men involved in Epstein's child sex trafficking ring.
During her testimony, Bondi was defiant at many points, refused to answer questions about why the DOJ released the names of victims while redacting the names of Epstein's powerful co-conspirators.
And there were several dramatic moments as well.
At one point a lawmaker from Washington state asked Bondi to apologize to Epstein survivors who attended the hearing.
Bondi refused and accused the Democrats of playing politics.
Bondi also faced accusations of using the Department of Justice to attack Trump's political opponents, and she frequently responded with personal insults.
How many perpetrators are you even investigating?
First.
You showed it.
I find it.
How many have you indicted?
Excuse me.
I'm going to answer the question.
Answer my question.
No, I'm going to answer the question the way I want to answer the question.
No, you're going to answer the question the way I asked it.
Chairman Jordan, I'm not going to get in the gutter with these people, but I'm going to answer the question.
How many have you indicted?
Reclaiming my time.
I think it's very interesting.
It's very interesting that he talks about they indicted him.
The president said they indicted him twice.
They sure did.
Oh, okay.
Here we go with these theatrics.
Hours before that hearing, a group of Epstein survivors and their families spoke on the steps of the US.
Capitol.
They were joined by lawmakers in the Women's Democratic Caucus.
The survivors say Bondi's Department of Justice acted carelessly by releasing sensitive victim information like nude photos.
And they say the Trump administration is protecting wealthy and powerful Epstein associates.
And now they're calling on the DOJ to do its job.
A partial release of these files by the DOJ, riddled with improper redactions that expose the vulnerable and shield the powerful from accountability, is not justice.
It is injustice.
As victims of this crime and citizens of this country.
We will not stand for it, and neither should you.
We need survivors to be taken seriously.
There should never be a time limit on justice and the DOJ needs to do its job.
Give us the rest of the files and start the investigations.
Start the investigations on the things that are in the files right now.
During her testimony, Bondi told lawmakers that the Justice Department did everything possible to protect survivors, but mistakes were inevitable because of the amount of documents.
That was Walter Morris reporting from Washington.
Weekly demonstrations continue in South Korea, drawing attention to Japan's colonial-era crimes.
Protesters in Seoul are highlighting the sexual enslavement of women.
They're demanding meaningful apologies and fair reparations for the victims.
Frank Smith reports.
The sexual slavery of women under Japanese colonial rule continues to impact relations between South Korea and Japan.
This protest over sexual slavery, commonly referred to as the comfort women issue, represents efforts for those victims to obtain a sincere apology and compensation from Tokyo.
New Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takeuchi, has previously questioned Japan's sexual enslavement of women, igniting concern among comfort women supporters here.
We warn you clearly a nation that denies its past and advances towards becoming a military power can never speak of peace.
Electoral victory cannot absolve war crimes and domestic political support cannot absolve historical responsibility.
Opposition groups, denying the history of Japanese atrocities, began counter demonstrations, sometimes harassing the supporters of Comfort Women.
But a recent law has caused those groups to suspend their activities.
Republic of Korea, lawmakers agreed to amend the Comfort Women Victims Protection Act to criminalize such denialism.
Japan's contention that it has already apologized and provided compensation is not accepted.
What the victims clearly demanded was acknowledgement of responsibility and an apology.
But this were omitted.
The victims' genuine demands were omitted.
And the agreements were concluded with money and collusion between the two governments.
Liberal Republic of Korea President Lee Jae-myung has been criticized for prioritizing diplomacy.
Our government needs to be more forceful and say, acknowledge your wrongdoing.
Fewer than 10 registered Republic of Korea comfort women are still alive.
The demonstrators here on Peace Road at the Statue of Peace say their Wednesday rallies will continue as they amplify the calls of the comfort women, victims and their hopes for a world at peace without war.
That was Frank Smith reporting from Seoul.
Coming up, Chinese know-how is helping to boost farm productivity in Brazil.
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Brazil is one of the world's leading agricultural exporters, and its farm machinery market has long been dominated by European and American brands.
Now, as Chinese manufacturing upgrades, Chinese agricultural machinery is gaining ground from coffee plantations in southeastern Brazil to family farms in the northeast, boosting productivity across the country.
Lei Shengping reports.
Ribeirão Preto in Brazil's São Paulo state lies at the heart of the country's coffee and citrus belt.
It is also a major hub for agricultural technology and a key entry point for Chinese farm machinery into the Brazilian market.
In recent years, several Chinese brands have set up sales and service outlets here, offering after-sales support.
Their products are steadily gaining recognition.
Ubiraten Sosa runs an agricultural machinery sales and service company that became an agent for Chinese manufacturer Yituo in 2024.
He says Chinese machines are winning over customers with easy operation durability, fuel efficiency and improving after-sales service.
In 2025, sales of Ito products handled by his company rose by more than 130, with sales expected to top 1000 units in 2026.
Chinese agricultural machinery now covers a wide range of power levels and meets the needs of different customers, from family farms to large-scale agriculture.
Coffee grower Mauricio Makoto Kondo has farmed coffee for decades.
His family manages more than 200 hectares of plantations and demands reliable machinery.
Six months ago, he bought his first Ito tractor and says it exceeded expectations.
Fuel consumption is lower than my other tractors and the cabin is quieter.
It performs well in both power and daily efficiency.
Chinese machinery is not only gaining acceptance in highly mechanized states like Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, it is also expanding into Brazil's northeast, where small-scale family farming is common.
In the town of Abogi, more local women are learning to operate agricultural machinery to improve efficiency and livelihoods.
Nearly 60 years old Antonia Di Vanni Maia Gomez has farmed corn and beans for over 15 years.
She says mechanization has transformed her work.
Before we worked with hosts, it was very hard.
Now with agricultural machinery, the work is much easier.
Zaleski Nascimento.
Lima is an agricultural technology promotion officer, training women to use farm equipment.
She says interest is growing.
Some women now want to learn how to operate larger machines.
Supporting women in agriculture is essential for food security and quality of life.
From large plantations to family farms, Chinese agricultural machinery is increasingly supporting Brazil's agricultural developments.
Brazil is now among the fastest-growing overseas markets for Chinese farm machinery exports.
With competitive prices, a diverse product range and expanding localized services.
Chinese equipment is taking firm roots in Brazil's red soil, deepening China-Brazil agricultural cooperation.
That was Lei Shengping reporting from Brazil with contributions from Yang Yimeng.
The U.S.
House of Representatives has narrowly approved a resolution to terminate President Donald Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs on Canadian goods.
The largely symbolic measure directly challenges Trump's claim that Canada poses a drug-related national security threat.
The resolution now moves to the Senate, which has twice voted to block the tariffs.
However, the bill faces an almost certain presidential veto, and overriding it would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers.
Trump has warned of consequences for those opposing him and insisted Canada is among the worst trading partners.
The tariffs have drawn sharp criticism for forcing up costs for US households, estimated at 1300 to 1400 per year.
At 29 past the hour, Beijing down to minus 2 Thursday evening.
It's cloudy and 13 on Friday.
Shanghai is down to 7, then sunny and 17.
Chongqing will be overcast overnight, 8 degrees, then cloudy and 17.
Nanchang is overcast and 4 this evening, then a light rainfall and 17.
Last is cloudy tonight and tomorrow, a low of minus 6 and a high of 7.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad will be cloudy and 10 this evening, followed by 23 degrees on Friday.
Vientiane's overcast in 19, then cloudy in 33.
Phnom Penh's getting a light rainfall overnight in 23, followed by overcast conditions in 34.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, Chinese officials have forecast over 2 million daily cross-border trips during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday.
Iran says the goal of reaching a deal with the U.S. on a peaceful nuclear program is achievable.
And Chinese machinery and manufacturing upgrades are boosting farm productivity across Brazil.
Shane Bigham with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
And 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?
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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.
It's Shane Begum with you on this Thursday.
Still to come.
In business, China's providing one-stop public services for enterprises.
In sports, latest medal events at the Winter Olympics in Italy.
In culture and entertainment, promoting CMG's Spring Festival Gala in South African cinemas.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtm.com or follow our ex-account at cgtmradio.
Now checking the day's headlines, here's Wang Ziheng.
Thank you, Shane.
Chinese President, Xi Jinping, has called for a stronger strategic and forward-looking approach to basic research, urging greater support for scientists to produce more original breakthroughs.
In an instruction on work related to the National Natural Science Foundation, President Xi called for reforms to improve the science funding system, refine the funding framework and boost efficiency amid a new wave of technological and industrial transformation.
He also stressed the importance of fostering a sound research environment and expanding international cooperation to enhance China's self-reliance and strength in science and technology.
Established in 1986, the National Natural Science Foundation is a key channel for national funding of basic research.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, reaffirming that China will remain a reliable and long-term strategic partner for Hungary.
He welcomed Hungary to continue riding the fast train of Chinese modernization, to share in development opportunities and promote common progress.
Orban welcomed more Chinese companies to invest and thrive in Hungary.
Wang Yi also held talks with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Siato.
The two sides agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation, jointly work for the sound development of China-EU relations and enhance collaboration in global governance.
Data from the National Energy Administration shows that China's newly installed solar and wind power capacity exceeded a record 430 million kilowatts last year.
That represented a 22% increase.
The surge propelled the cumulative grid-connected wind and solar power capacity to surpass thermal power for the first time.
The two clean energy sources accounted for 22% of China's total electricity output in the year 2025.
Daily consumer goods duty-free shops in Hainan province recorded nearly 500000 yuan in sales volume on the first day of their opening, on Wednesday.
That's equivalent to around US$72,000.
The first five stores are now open to residents in the island province.
The move followed China's introduction of a zero-free policy on certain imported goods for residents in the Hainan Free Trade Port.
A South Korean court has sentenced former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to seven years in prison for his role in ex-president Yong Suk-yeol's failed attempt at martial law in December 2024.
Special prosecutors sought a 15-year sentence, arguing the former minister played a critical role in enabling the insurrection.
Lee denied the charges.
He has been in custody since August.
The 61-year-old is the second member of Yong's cabinet to be sentenced for their role in the martial law declaration, after former Prime Minister Han Duk-soo received 23 years last month.
Nine people are dead in one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history.
Police say the revised number of fatalities previously reported as 10 includes the suspect.
The 18-year-old woman who authorities say had a history of mental health issues allegedly killed herself, her mother and stepfather before carrying out an attack at her former school in Western Canada on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has postponed a planned trip to Europe and ordered flags on all federal buildings to be flown at half-mast.
Schools in the San Francisco United School District remained closed for a third day on Wednesday.
About 6000 public school teachers went on strike, demanding higher wages, better health benefits and more resources for special education.
Leslie Hu is one of them.
We are fighting for the schools our students deserve and educators come together to fight for our students, with our students, with our families, to actually get the things that students need, where right now, we're really working to help students with special needs get the services that they need, as well as having our families our teachers who have families get quality health care.
I hope that we can get this done as soon as possible and educators here and standing with our families and students are prepared to go as long as it takes until we have a signed agreement.
Teachers are asking for a nine percent wage increase but the district has only offered six percent.
The district faces a deficit of 100 million US dollars and is under state oversight because of a long-standing financial crisis.
Thank you very much.
That's Wang Ziheng with headlines.
Coming up in business, China's providing one-stop public services for enterprises.
Thank you, Shane.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Thursday.
The Shanghai composite was up slightly, while the Shenzhen component gained more than 0.8%.
Power equipment and non-metal material were among the top gainers.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index decreased over 0.8%, and in Japan, the Nikkei remained almost flat.
Meanwhile, international precious metal prices declined on Thursday.
As of the time of writing, the gold spot price stood at around US$5,069 per ounce, down around 0.2%.
The silver spot price decreased nearly 0.4%.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry says it has consolidated resources from various sectors to upgrade the former Going Global public service platform into a national-level integrated overseas service platform.
It provides one-stop public services for enterprises throughout the entire process and value chain of Going Global.
The upgraded platform coordinates resources across fields such as law, finance, and logistics.
Focusing on region-specific and specialized professional services.
It connects various platforms, including a major tax platform, a legal service platform and a national public service platform for intellectual property.
The newly opened Tongzhou Station, a major underground rail hub in Beijing's sub-centre, is dramatically shortening commutes across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Beyond saved minutes, it is also transforming how people begin their day.
Xu Yimeng spends a day with station staff to see how this infrastructure turns travel time into readiness for work and for life.
Tongzhou Railway Station, now operational in Beijing's At 8.30 a.m., Wang Yao pins on her badge.
Her day begins with a team briefing, preparing to guide thousands of passengers smoothly through their journeys.
The station hasn't just reshipped travel for commuters, it changed her own commute.
The biggest change for me is time saved.
My old commute to Beijing station was nearly 80 kilometers.
Now it's about 35.
I take the high-speed train, just 25 minutes door to door.
Before, I drove 40 to 50 minutes.
Now I use that train time productively and I get more moments at home with my newborn.
She's not alone.
The station has simplified commutes for many staff her new long multi-light trips into direct, efficient rides.
One colleague used to travel from Tangshan for testing high-speed rail to Beijing station, then a suburban line, then a bike about two hours total.
Now, with Tangho station open, she takes a direct train and commutes in roughly an hour.
That saves her two hours every round trip.
For Wang Yao and her team, these personal gains sharpen their focus, ensuring every passenger enjoys the same efficiency.
Their first stop is the information desk, the vital point, where schedules, rules and connections are clarified, saving passengers their most precious resource time.
For those who need actual help, like parents with young children.
This service offers calm amid the rush.
We start our main contact point, handling inquiries, lost and found callbacks.
We resolve everything carried over from the last shift before moving forward.
Her routine continues onto the platforms, meeting trains, observing flows, guiding anxious passengers toward the fastest route.
For passengers, the benefits are clear.
I used to ride share home about 150 yuan and 2 to 3 hours plus waiting.
Now the high-speed train costs 79 yuan, no transfers.
It's far more convenient.
To experience what an hour on high-speed rail makes possible, which is the time often lost on road journeys.
I boarded a train myself.
On board is more than speed.
With power outlets at hand, I recharge my laptop and settle into work, turning travel time into productive time.
I even met a fellow passenger who became an interviewee, helping move my work forward along the way.
I'm returning to my hometown in Yutian, Hebei.
Before, it was a major trip, train from Beijing station, carpool for 100 yuan, or a family pickup.
Each way took two hours plus costs.
Now from my Beijing home.
It's a 10-minute taxi to Tangzhou station, then about 40 minutes to Yutian.
I go home more often now.
And that was Xu Yimeng reporting.
For more, Lily Lu spoke with Chen Long, an assistant professor at Beijing University of Technology.
So we have this guiding principle, which is literally translated as a people city that's built by people for the people.
How is it reinforcing the rationale and importance of urban upgrading policies?
I think the concept of a people's city reframes the objective of urban upgrading.
It shifts the focus from increasing development capacity to improving the quality of everyday life.
This means urban policies increasingly address the accessibilities to services, the public space quality, aging population and community level facilities.
And these elements may not immediately raise GDP, but they directly influence the social equity, urban efficiency and long-term sustainability.
And more importantly, the concept changed the nature of governance.
Urban upgrading is no longer a periodic construction campaign.
It becomes an ongoing public service process supported by data management, digital management and incremental renewable.
And the aim is to reduce the structural inefficiencies in daily living, For example the commuting burdens, the service mismatches and even the resource distribution.
And therefore, the significance of urban upgrading is deepened.
It evolves from an investment-driven development strategy into a people-centered governance mechanism that maintains urban vitality even in this post-expansion era.
That was Assistant Professor Chen Long at Beijing University of Technology, talking about China's urban development.
An international large-scale scientific initiative led by Chinese scientists has officially started.
The Plant Planet project aims to decode the genetics of the major lineages of land plants.
It is co-initiated by the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, together with Peking University and more than 40 other institutions from 15 countries and regions.
The project also seeks to address global challenges such as food security, biodiversity conservation and drug discovery.
Cities in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are pioneering a modern forage and pasture industry through artificial planting and natural grassland restoration to meet their immense demand for forage.
The region leads China's annual livestock breeding with over 140 million head of grass-fed animals.
In 2025, Inner Mongolia's artificial forage planting area reached about 14 million hectares, with total forage supply surpassing 75 million metric tons.
The feed effectively supports key livestock industry chains, including dairy and beef.
The combined output value amounted to 500 billion yuan, or roughly 72.4 billion US dollars.
Based in Bayanur, Shenmu High-Tech Ecological Grass Industry Company has developed over 15000 hectares of organic pasture and feed cultivation bases.
Meanwhile, at the National Grassland Technology Innovation Center in Hohhot, researchers have developed a new series of biofertilizers.
These products can enhance plant nutrient uptake, stress resistance and root health, supporting the restoration of damaged grasslands and helping increase the yield of forage.
And finally, a new intelligent driving laboratory in Chongqing is now open, which can test self-driving cars in realistic rain, fog and traffic all at the same time.
Covering more than 5000 square meters.
The lab in the southwestern city is a global pioneer in bringing together moving vehicles, changing weather and complex traffic flow in one testing environment.
It aims to ensure intelligent vehicles are safe before they hit the road, even in the toughest, most unexpected situations.
The lab can adjust rain, fog and lighting in real time, creating smooth natural weather changes.
Real cars can interact instantly with simulated traffic, solving a major problem with traditional lab tests that couldn't capture the complexity of the real world.
Chinese authorities have chosen at least 20 cities and city clusters as pilot zones for vehicle road cloud integration, connecting cars, infrastructure and data to support the future of smart transportation.
Thank you very much.
That's Tianyu with Business.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming up in sports.
The latest medal events at the Winter Olympics in Italy.
Sideline Story brings you all things sports-related.
The hottest topics, latest events, juiciest stories, all with a very personal take.
Subscribe to Sideline Story Podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in China and around the world.
47 past and turning to sports.
Here's Yangguang.
Thank you, Shane.
We begin with the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
As of Thursday afternoon, Norway remains on top of the table table with 7 golds, 2 silvers and 4 bronzes, followed by the United States and Italy.
Team China is in 14th with 1 silver and 2 bronzes.
The second bronze medal came from Ning Zhongyan in the men's 1000m speed skating, delivering China's first ice medal at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
He clocked a time of 1 minute 7.34 seconds.
It also marked Ning's first Olympic medal at these games.
This performance was close to perfect.
In the first 600 meters, I really delivered my best form.
Over the last 400 meters, my drop in speed was slightly beyond what I had planned.
But I achieved my goal of earning a medal, which is a big boost to my confidence.
Getting a bronze medal is the biggest recognition for me in the past four years.
Ning was one of the flag bearers for China at the opening ceremony.
Jordan Slots of the United States took gold in one minute 628 seconds, breaking the previous Olympic record set by Dutch skater Gerrit van Velde at Salt Lake City 2002.
Yeah, that would be super huge.
I think it would be second next to Eric Heiden.
And that would be something that's crazy, super historical.
I don't know if it's going to happen, right?
It's hard enough just to get one gold medal.
But one is, you know, it's huge.
And for me, just you know, being able to win one and doing it in a thousand meter.
You wait four years to be able to do it.
It means a lot.
So I'm happy so far.
Slots finished 0.5 seconds ahead of Dutch skater Janine de Boe who took silver.
Chinese snowboarder Wang Ziyan has reached the men's halfpipe final.
He scored 80.5 points in his second round to finish 10th in qualifying.
Wang missed 10 months after an injury at the 2025 Asian Winter Games.
He said he pushed through fear and gave his best.
The 22-year-old hopes his snowboard videos inspire others to try the sport.
Scotty James of Australia topped qualifying.
17-year-old Ren Chongshuo finished 20th and didn't advance.
The final takes place on Friday.
Switzerland's Franjo van Ormen has captured the men's Super G title to become just the third male Alpine skier to win three gold medals at a single Winter Games.
Van Ormen added Super G gold to his earlier victories in Dunhill and team combined.
He joined Tony Salmer and Jean-Claude Killy as the only male Alpine skiers to sweep three golds in one edition.
Italy won both luge doubles events.
Andrea Voiter and Marianne Oberhofer took women's gold.
Emmanuel Ryder and Simon Kaiwalder won men's events.
American Elizabeth Lemley won mogul's gold after the defending champion crashed.
Frances Julia Simon took biathlon gold.
Norway's Jens Luers of the Borough were Nordic combined by one second.
Scotty James and Chloe Kim topped the snowboard halfpipe qualifying.
China's Cai Xue turned down Liu Jiayu crashed and went to hospital, but she's in stable condition.
And in figure skating, Beijing 2022 champion Jilong Ciceron has retained his Olympic ice dance title at Milano Cortina Winter Games, winning with new partner Laurence Funian Biodre.
Skating to music from the film The Veil.
They produced a near-flawless free dance to score 13564 points and finished with 22582.
The 31-year-old Cizeron became the first ice dancer to win Olympic gold with two different partners.
The French skater captured the title in Beijing with Gabriela Papadakis.
He teamed up with Founia Beaudry last March and the pair quickly rose through the ranks, winning the European title in January.
Reigning world champions Madison Chalk and Evans Bates of the USA took silver.
Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier came third for Browns.
In football action from the English Premier League, Manchester City scored three goals in the first half against Fulham, and Twain's Manuel, Nicole O'Reilly and Erling Haaland all found the net.
Manager Pep Guardiola showed great satisfaction.
They were really good performers, one of the best in the season after Anfield.
From our experience when it's important, in emotional games, like until the Champions League, the next one is always tricky.
We were lucky it was a home and away.
We know the experience, what happened in our first leg there, when we suffered incredibly in the second half?
I said, we didn't run.
We ran there.
The process was so good.
City now just three points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Arsenal will take on Brentford.
Elsewhere, Liverpool got past Sunderland 1-0.
Liverpool is sixth, two points behind fifth-placed Chelsea and three back from United in fourth.
Nottingham drew 0-0 with Wolverhampton.
Aston Villa beat Brighton 1-0 and it's Burnley over Crystal Palace 3-2.
From east to west, people in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark.
Want to know how they beat the odds and made a difference?
Footprints brings you the true life stories of their journeys.
53 past the hour.
Turning to culture and entertainment.
The CMG Spring Festival Gala promotional video has returned to South African cinemas for the third year.
It now plays at a cinema in Johannesburg.
Guadalupe Saborna is a cinema manager and says the technology and cultural elements are impressive.
So actually when I first saw it, I was surprised and like a bit excited.
Chinese culture, especially with the technology, and they're mixed with culture and everything just shows like, shows you everything, and that makes it better because you know, it makes it seem more like an international event, more like than just a local event.
Local viewers, like danielle cower, say they enjoy learning about chinese traditions.
I think it's a really good moment for you know, especially for, like multicultural experiences, so then we can also learn about you know different countries and different cultures.
The gala's promotional video first debuted in Cape Town cinemas in 2024 and expanded to cinemas in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban last year.
China Media Group has held a spring festival gala event in Moscow, with over a thousand people participating in the cultural exchange.
Russian artist Anna Donchenko gave CMG a horse-themed painting for the Year of the Horse.
Guests enjoyed dance, music and Chinese customs like sugar painting.
The gala starts on February 16th at 8 p.m.
Beijing time.
Over 3,300 media outlets worldwide will broadcast and report it in 85 languages.
In a small town in Yunnan province, tradition and taste come together for Spring Festival.
Local cooks are putting new spins on centuries-old dishes.
Yang Jinghao shows us how history meets flavor on the holiday table.
Coffee beans being ground.
But they are not broke up.
These rinds are going into sausages.
In Muhi Town, southwest China's Yunnan Province, sausage making is a long-standing tradition.
Almost every household prepares it ahead of the Spring Festival.
For Li Yan, keeping this tradition alive also means giving it a modern taste.
Apart from coffee, Li also adds local specialties such as tea powder and even roast petals to her pork sausages.
I'm working on a new avocado sausage.
Even though the trademark is still pending, we've already secured around 6,000 orders.
Mohei has a long history of salt production dating back more than 300 years, a tradition that helped shape local cured meat culture.
From small village kitchens, these local sausages are now reaching customers across the country.
For Li, it's about more than business.
It's also about sharing a local taste with the wider world through continuous innovation.
If we don't try something new and only stick to a few old flavors, we'll eventually be left behind.
As demand grows, the industry is also creating jobs and supporting rural development.
I've worked here for more than 10 years.
The working environment is good, the owner treats us well, and the pay is good.
We were invited to taste some of the special delicacies.
Wow, the rose adds a subtle fragrance that brightens the meat's deep and savory flavor.
I've never tasted anything like this.
Rooted in tradition and seasoned with creativity, these sausages carry the taste of home and the warmth of family reunions.
That was Yang Qinghao reporting.
And historians in Kazakhstan have found ancient bronze coins in the Jambal region.
The coins date from the 8th to 12th centuries.
Some coins came from the ancient city of Taraz.
Others originated from China's Tang and Song dynasties.
Experts say the discovery proves active trade along the ancient Silk Road.
57 passed now.
Checking the forecast before we go for the day.
Beijing's down to minus 2 Thursday evening.
It'll be cloudy and 13 on Friday.
Shanghai 7 overnight, then sunny and 17.
Chongqing will be overcast and down to 8, followed by cloudy conditions and 17.
Nanchang's overcast and 4, followed by light rainfall and 17.
Lhasa's getting clouds tonight and tomorrow with a low of minus 6 and a high of 7.
Also in Asia, Islamabad's cloudy this evening in 10 degrees, followed by a high of 23 on Friday.
Vientiane's overcast in 19 overnight, then cloudy in 33.
Phnom Penh's getting a light rainfall in 23 degrees overnight, followed by overcast skies in 34.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
Chinese officials have forecast over 2 million daily cross-border trips during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday.
And Iran says the goal of reaching a deal with the US on a peaceful nuclear program is still achievable.
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.
Find The Beijing Hour at precisely 6 p.m.
Beijing time.
We meet you on podcast and on air every weekday.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made a living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, talked to the herders farmers boatmen, fishermen and eco-activists who share a close bond with the river, and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos, all in our 12-part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
