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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, April 24th, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, China and Kenya have reached an agreement to elevate bilateral ties.
China successfully launched a Shenzhou 20 mission to the Tiangong space station.
Beijing's denied US claims that tariff negotiations are underway and the two sides are close to a deal.
In business, the IMF issues a gloomy outlook on global debt levels.
In sports, top track and field athletes are gathering in shaman.
In culture and entertainment, the Beijing International Film Festival's support for young directors and actors.
Now checking the day's top stories.
The leaders of China and Kenya have agreed to elevate ties to a community with a shared future in the new era.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met visiting Kenyan President William Ruto and pledged efforts to make the relationship an example of leading China -Africa relations and cooperation among the global south.
Ruto said he believes the future of the two countries will intertwine in friendship and progress.
The two sides issued a declaration to work together under the new relationship and through three global initiatives.
Well Kenya is China's important partner under the Belt Road initiative, and the International Monetary Fund projects that Kenya will overtake Ethiopia to become the largest economy in East Africa this year.
Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, is a regional economic and financial hub.
To offer some observations about China's ties with Kenya and Africa, reporter Gao Chun -ye joins me now in the studio.
now she worked in Africa for five years and has been to Kenya four times to observe its development on the ground.
Thanks for joining us, Junya.
First of all, help us understand what does communities with a shared future mean for countries like Kenya and regionally, especially within the global context of tariffs shaking up international trade?
Yeah, thank you for having me Shane.
Well yes, as you mentioned earlier China and Kenya have elevated their relationship to China -Kenya community with a shared future for the new era.
So actually, this really marks a landmark milestone because Kenya is a key participant of the Bolton Roads Initiative in Africa.
The BRI flagship projects in Kenya, like the Mombasa -Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway and the Nairobi Expressway, they have really improved the domestic connectivity and promoted the regional integration in East Africa.
To get a better understanding, for example, with the building of the Nairobi Expressway, the travel time from Nairobi's CBD to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has been reduced from 2 hours to 20 minutes.
So part of Ruto's trip to China this time will be focused on the expansion and construction of certain critical projects, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and trade as well.
Also, the tariff stuff because we know that Ruto's visit to China comes at a time when Western support for Africa, including Kenya, is waning.
We know that the African Growth and Opportunity Act has been at the corner of US economic policy and commercial engagement with Africa, and under AGOA, African countries enjoy tariff -free arrangement from the US, but now, the reciprocal tariffs nullify the preferences that sub -Saharan African countries enjoy, and Kenya itself is seeing a 10 % tariff on its exports to the US.
So all this just prompts the developing world, including China and Kenya to strengthen their cooperation, to sustain exports, and to safeguard global free trade and open markets.
So we know that China is Kenya's largest trading partner so far and the biggest source of its imports.
And Kenya is China's biggest trading partner in East Africa.
So yes, in the face of US tariffs.
This is really the time for the global South, including China and Kenya, to stand together and seek inclusive growth and deepen cooperation.
The joint declaration says Kenya appreciates President Xi Jinping's initiatives to support agricultural modernization in Africa.
Kenya is the continent's largest avocado exporter.
Its avocados have found their way into the Chinese market thanks to the China -Africa cooperation forum in the China International Import Expo.
So tell us about Kenya's avocado industry and the fruit's role in agricultural and economic cooperation.
Yeah, I don't know if you've tried Kenyan avocados before, Shane.
Yeah, I'm the lucky one.
I've been there several times.
They're really good, you know, high quality, fair prices.
Sometimes you can get one avocado for one yuan.
And like you said, Kenya is Africa's largest avocado exporter.
Actually, Kenyan avocados entered the Chinese market back in August 2020.
And in less than 3 years, Kenya has become the 3rd largest avocado exporter to China, after Peru and Chile.
And China has so far imported almost 7 times of avocados from Kenya with a value of 90 in Milinguan, agriculture remains a vital pillar of China -China cooperation.
Besides avocados, China also imports tea and certain seafoods like crabs with the value of all those imports.
They are growing significantly year after year.
And as far as I know, President Ruto during his trip here is expected to inaugurate the T holding center in Fujian province.
This move actually seem to boost the visibility and market access of the Kenyan tea in China and in Asia as a whole, and so with China importing more Kenya products, it definitely brings more business opportunities.
Personally I really hope to see the import of Kenya coffee to China because they are also very good.
But for deep cooperation in terms of agriculture I think because right now, 75 % of Kenya's population is engaged in agriculture, actually the output only accounts for 25 % of its GDP so there's a lot to explore in terms of the modernization of Kenya's agriculture sector.
So be it equipment, be it expertise or technologies, so China definitely has a legal road to play.
Thank you very much. That was Gao Jun -ye reporting.
From there, we are off to space.
China's announced the successful launch of its Shenzhou -20 mission from a base in the northwest. The spacecraft entered orbit with the crew, all in good condition.
Astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrei and Wang Jie will meet their Shenzhou -19 colleagues inside the Tiangong space station and complete a rotation.
The new crew will stay in orbit for six months, conducting spacewalks and science experiments.
Shenzhou 19 scheduled to return on Tuesday.
The Shenzhou 20 crew will explore life science in orbit with zebrafish worms in a type of bacterium.
We asked astronomy professor Zheng Fan of Beijing Normal University why these experiments are important.
The life experiments are mostly there to study how to cope with prolonged face states.
So the zebrafish is there to study how muscle atrophy, how bone loss works, how to prevent that.
the worm, it has a regenerative capability.
So by learning how regeneration works you can possibly learn how to do, how we cure injury back in space.
And also the bacteria is there to study how you can enrich soil, sustain ecosystems, basically planting stuff in space and possibly on the lunar surface as well in the far future.
China announced a plan to train two Pakistani astronauts and take one on a future space mission.
Professor Jung said this marks the next step in establishing a lab for international space research. Basically China promised this space station is going to be an international good and it operates on a scientific protocol, which means China will show their outgoing and the cost and the collaborator designing the experiment, which sort of experiment cost. And the Pakistani astronaut will go there as a pilot specialist carrying experiments designed by Pakistani scientists.
So, that's a different level of collaboration.
In the future, Chinese space station will become very important because after the International Space Station get decommissioned and although possibly commercial stations will be up there, they're not going to be doing things for free.
So for a publicly -founded science experiments in space, the China Space Station is important.
And also because science is so international, there's only a few experts in each area and they don't spread it out across the world.
So international cooperation is also important.
So that's something to look forward to.
China space exploration programs have taken international payloads along with their missions already.
Chang 'e -6 retrieved samples from the far side of the moon.
Also took payloads from France, Italy, the European Space Agency, and Pakistan into orbit when it launched last year.
Chinese official says 17 countries and international organizations and over 50 research institutions have joined the International Lunar Research Station initiated by China.
Deputy Director Bianzhe Gong of the China National Space Administration says the station will offer new opportunities and platforms for fostering global intelligence integration technological innovation inclusive cooperation and shared development chief designer Wu Wei Ren of China's lunar exploration program says the station will be built in two phases a basic model by 2035 in the lunar south pole region and an extended model in the 2040s the basic model will include the Chang 'e 7 and 8 missions and China says it'll launch the Tianwen -3 mission to get samples from Mars around 2028.
Guanfeng from the China National Space Agency says they hope to explore the Red Planet with international partners.
The agency also says it approved applications from seven institutions in six countries to study the lunar samples from Chang 'e -5.
Coming up, Chinese authorities deny having any current discussions with the U .S. on Washington's tariffs.
From eggs to Hollywood and global trust to monetary stability.
America's tariff war against the rest of the world is dearly backfiring on its own people and economy.
What are Americans losing due to the US tariff war?
US officials have indicated tariffs on China could drop substantially.
But how reliable is such a statement?
And can it reverse the damage already made?
Now 12 minutes past the hour.
China says U .S. claims that tariff talks are ongoing and the two countries that will reach a deal soon are fake news.
The foreign ministry said there are no negotiations.
A spokesperson reiterated that China has opened the talks but will not back down if the fight goes on.
The official stressed that dialogue must be equal and mutually beneficial.
China's ambassador to the United Nations has chaired a Security Council meeting on unilateral bullying and its impact on international relations.
PPE told UN members that the world needs equality, justice and unity.
He said the U .S. tariffs on global trading partners are an act to serve American interests at the expense of the rights of all countries.
Diplomats from more than 80 countries attended that meeting.
Many shared their opposition to unilateral tariffs and called for a return to the fair and predictable multilateral trading order.
Jody Jacobs reports from New York.
It was an informal meeting arranged by the Chinese mission to the UN and one with a strong message.
China practices true multilateralism, firmly opposes hegemonism and power politics and always upholds justice and stand up for what is right.
in the face of US abuse of tariffs a move against the trend of the times the meeting attended by several member states follows US President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose tariffs on nearly all products imported to the United States.
A move China argues has had an adverse effect on global supply chains violates international trade rules.
China's ambassador to the UN added that member states cannot allow things to be dictated by those with a and that no country has the right to put itself above international law.
The world needs openness and inclusiveness, not closure or isolation.
Economic globalization is the only way to human progress and an irresistible trend of the times.
Erecting high walls of tariffs is turning back the wheel of history.
The world will never and should never return to a state of mutual isolation and fragmentation.
Columbia University's Jeffrey Sachs told the gathering that the tariff measures were not grounded in sound economic logic and risked causing significant harm to the global economy.
There is no excuse for these unilateral tariffs, not remotely are they related to unfair practices of the rest of the world somehow cheating the United States.
Now the claim of the US government was never examined by Congress.
It was never debated in the public.
It was made as a matter of an emergency decree that also in my view not only violates multilateralism but also the US Constitution.
I find no justification whatsoever economically for the actions were taken, nor did the financial markets worldwide, which began to enter into a panic.
China believes that tariffs will have potential dire consequences for developing countries, saying it could also undermine progress towards the UN's 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
The United States, however, has pushed back its representative at Wednesday's meeting claiming that President Trump is resetting the global trade environment.
That was Jody Jacobs on discussions about tariffs and trade at the United Nations.
And 12 American states have filed a lawsuit to challenge the Trump administration's tariffs, saying the president cannot institute the levies without the approval of Congress.
The lawsuit challenges Trump's claim that he can impose tariffs based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Small business owners say they're under heavy pressure because of the tariffs.
The price of all of the bags is $7 ,000, but the estimate came in plus $10 ,000, which is 145 % tariff.
So the, basically what was 7 ,000 is now 17 ,000.
Their price is 50 % more than what I was getting for Asia.
This is a drastic hit for us.
We have a quarter million dollars in inventory stuck in China right now.
We can't ship it here, we don't have four hundred thousand dollars to pay the tariffs that Trump wants on those right now.
So we've had to freeze all shipments, all orders, all production.
We're out of business in months.
We had twelve people at the beginning of the year, we're down to five employees now.
Up until this administration it didn't cost us anything.
Our baby products toys did not have a tariff.
We expected to pay $30 ,000 for this shipment.
We knew this was coming.
The administration said there would be tariffs and that was a reasonable amount and now it's $230 ,000.
That's just out of reach. Meantime, German business representatives say the tariff measures violate the basic principles of the free market.
American consumers are turning to Chinese e -commerce to shop as they face rising prices as a result of the tariffs.
One app has emerged for its offer of variety.
Martin Yale finds out about this unexpected popularity.
Chinese suppliers and creators have taken to TikTok to showcase how global luxury products are actually produced in Chinese factories.
More than 80 % of the luxury bags in the world are made in China.
Many of the viral videos refer viewers to DHgate, also known as the little yellow app, to purchase from them directly.
What they offer are knownaguets similar to name brand items, but without the brandy.
When it comes to dupe, there is a spectrum.
So you can get a dupe that let's say just looks like an item, maybe a sweater, maybe there's a certain pattern that you like from one designer brand and they have a similar one.
And you know the quality isn't going to be the same.
So it could be someone just looking for a dupe based on style.
But then again, there are dupes out there that have the same fabric composition, such as products like t -shirts and leggings.
You can often find similar quality in a dupe.
DHgate's popularity has fueled another trend.
Influencers on TikTok reviewing their DHgate purchases and offering pointers to get the highest quality product and experience.
Oh, for sure cheaper.
Like on Amazon, I saw a strap that was like 40 bucks and probably like $2 from DHgate.
That's what J paid for a smartwatch strap.
I thought it was interesting because I heard things on Amazon were getting dropped shipped from the same places that you would get from DHK, so I thought if I could get it cheaper I might as well try it there.
And so I thought it was okay.
Like, the items were the same, but it just took a long time to get to me and stuff.
It can take longer to ship, but many consumers say they'd still rather wait to save money.
I know a lot of people choose DHK just because it is cheaper products for them.
Especially with like the terrorists and stuff, now people are trying to find clothes that are affordable.
And I personally haven't bought anything from there, but I heard, I know some people who have bought from there and they said they would like good quality, same quality as like from the stores and stuff.
DH Gate has become so popular that it recently hit number two on the Apple iOS app download chart, just behind ChatGPT.
But the platform has been around since 2004.
Its sudden rise to prominence has a lot to do with the current economic climate, trade tension and US tariffs on Chinese products.
In response to that we've seen these videos circulate from again Chinese suppliers and marketplaces that hey you can still buy direct from us and you'll be saving either way.
So there's other strategies as well as even sourcing agents that are providing advice on how to have items that you purchase shipped to their warehouse and then they will consolidate all your packages, and then ship it as a personal purchase, and then you should be able to save and basically loophole those tariffs.
Alvarado says shoppers do need to be cautious to avoid buying counterfeit goods, but still agrees the app has emerged at an opportune time to connect eager sellers with eager buyers looking for a deal.
Mark Neal reporting on a surge in deals on Chinese e -commerce apps.
The British Chancellor of the Exchequer has reaffirmed that a country will not sacrifice its regulatory standards to secure a trade agreement with United States.
Rachel Reeves says British standards on food safety, digital protection and road standards are non -negotiable.
She's ruled out concessions on food standards and compromise on the Online Safety Act, which requires tech companies to take stronger measures to protect children from harmful online content.
Reeves has also urged actions to protect free, fair and open trade and help businesses keep their access to trade around the world.
She calls for a reduction in the tariffs between the two countries.
There are still tariffs both ways even before liberation day in April between our countries.
I would like to see those those tariffs and non -tariff barriers reduce.
I think that's in the interest of both our economies and because we're starting from a position of balanced trade I think that that can be a bilateral process between our two countries to remove those remaining trade barriers that do exist. And I think if we work on that basis there is a deal to be done that will benefit industry both in the UK and the US and jobs in both of our countries as well.
Well Britain signaled it may consider targeted concessions in other areas.
Reports say London's exploring the possibility of reducing tariffs on US automotive imports to two and a half percent.
Reason failed a new trade policy package during her visit to Washington, D .C.
The key components included a review of the customs exemption for low -value imports, which currently allows goods valued under 135 pounds or nearly $179 to enter Britain without duties.
Brazil is the world's second largest coffee consumer after the United States, with the average Brazilian drinking over 1 ,400 cups of coffee each year.
But due to falling domestic production and other factors, coffee prices in Brazil have surged, pushing up inflation and even giving rise to fake coffee products on the market.
Lei Shengping reports.
Coffee prices in Brazil have climbed steeply in recent years, according to a recent report from the Brazilian Coffee Industry Association.
Prices jumped nearly 40 % in 2024 alone.
In São Paulo, Brazil's largest city, many consumers say cheap coffee is becoming a thing of the past. I subscribe to a monthly coffee delivery.
The price has definitely gone up a lot.
I haven't changed how much I buy yet.
But if it gets more expensive, I will have to cut back.
Coffee is really expensive now.
It used to cost 5 or 6 reais, about 1 US dollar, for a small cup.
Now that price doesn't exist anymore.
You need to pay at least 12 KI maybe more depending on the place Data from Brazil's National Statistics Agency shows that as of January ground coffee Prices had rising over 15 % Over the previous year in January alone prices were up nearly 9 % compared to December Ground coffee alongside carrots and tomatoes was one of the top contributors to food inflation that month In supermarkets across São Paulo, a 500 -gram bag of ground coffee now sells for around 38 reals, up more than 60 percent from a year ago.
As prices rise, thick coffee products are also making their way into some Brazilian stores.
These imitations are made with grains, fruits, flavorings, and colorings to mimic real coffee.
In Minari rice, one of Brazil's top coffee producing states, professional coffee taster Marcus explains how consumers can spot the difference.
Fake coffee often contains impurities like straw, corn or even stones.
Real coffee is made from high -quality beans and is free of contaminants.
You can also tell by the look, smell, and taste.
Fake coffee is often very bitter while real coffee made with genuine beans has a thicker texture, richer flavor, and better aroma.
Coffee is more than just a beverage in Brazil.
It is a daily ritual.
But with prices soaring nearly 40 % over the past year, Brazilians are now paying much more for their favorite drink.
For the Beijing award, this is Le Champion bribes Brazil.
All right, coming up China commends Iran's statements on the latter's nuclear program.
Experience the musical classics of the East. Mingle with the masters of Chinese music.
Music talks, witness the sound of antiquity and modernity.
Now, 26 past now Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China commends Iran's promise not to develop nuclear weapons and supports the settlement of the Iran nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means.
The diplomat told his Iranian counterpart that China also supports Tehran's dialogues with countries including the United States.
Li Shuang has more.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Iranian counterpart, Saeed Abbas Aratsi in Beijing as part of a Russia's official visit to China.
The two sides held in -depth discussions on China -Iran bilateral relations, as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern.
The talks come at a critical time, just days ahead of a third round of indirect discussion between Tehran and Washington in Oman aimed at reviving a nuclear deal abandoned by the US in 2018.
The two foreign ministers held in -depth talks on the Iran nuclear issue.
Wang reiterated China's support for a diplomatic solution, its opposition to peace and unilateral sanctions and its backing for Iran's right to peaceful nuclear use.
Arachi praised China's constructive role and pledged to maintain close coordination.
And before landing in Beijing, Arachi was in Moscow underscoring Iran's efforts to keep close consultation with two key players in the nuclear accord, Russia and China.
Beijing said the meeting is expected to play a key role in implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, strengthening political mutual trust and advancing cooperation across various fields.
That was Li Xiong reporting.
India's announced a raft of measures to downgrade ties with Pakistan the day after militants killed 26 people at a tourist destination in Indian controlled Kashmir.
Police said the victims of the attack included 25 Indian nationals and one from Nepal.
Protests have erupted over the bloody attack on civilians in decades.
Ravinder Bhawa has more.
This attack is being seen as a setback to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's achievement of peace and development in the long troubled region of Jammu and Kashmir.
A lesser known militant organization, Kulkashmeer Resistance, has claimed the responsibility for this attack in a social media message.
They have expressed discontent over 85 ,000 outsiders being settled in the region, leading to a demographic change.
Prime Minister Cut short his two -day visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to New Delhi on Wednesday morning.
He held a meeting with the national security adviser, the foreign minister and other senior officials at the airport being briefed on the situation.
India's interior minister met with the families of the victims. There were about 1 ,000 tourists and about 300 local service providers and workers present in the area when the attack took place.
About 100 people, suspected to have been militant sympathizers in the past, are being questioned.
the police have released sketches of three of the four suspected attackers.
Protests erupted around the country condemning the attack.
Impact on the tourism industry is expected.
Many airlines and travel agents are already reporting cancellations in bookings.
Many Kashmiris might face potential economic losses because the tourist season was just getting underway.
That was Ravender Bhawat reporting.
We're at 29 past and checking the forecast ahead of the break, Beijing down to 7 degrees Thursday evening.
It's sunny skies in 24 on Friday, Nanshong's down to 17, then cloudy in 24.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's down to 17, then sunny in 40 on Friday, Baintian's at 26 overnight, then a slight rainfall in 36 degrees, Phnom Penh's down to 25 and then a slight rain in 36.
In Africa that will be escaping some rainfall in 24 degrees on Friday.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, China and Kenya have reached an agreement to elevate bilateral ties.
China successfully launched its Shenzhou 20 mission to the Tiangong Space Station, and Beijing's denied US claims that tariff negotiations are underway, and the two sides are close to a deal.
Shane Bingham with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
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, and 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.
Get on our wave then every week to find out what's real with China Africa Talk.
Find us on your favorite podcast, 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 Bigum, with you on this Thursday still to come in business the IMF issues a gloomy outlook on global debt levels, in sports top track and field athletes are gathering in shaman in culture and entertainment the beijing international film festival support for young directors and actors contact us you can email radio at cgtm .com or follow our x account at cgtm radio but now with the check of the day's headline news here's Tian Yu Thank you Shane.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed the willingness to work with the international community to address challenges through unity and cooperation and uphold international trade rules and global fairness and justice He made the remarks while holding talks with Kenyan President William Ruto in Beijing.
Ruto said that trade wars undermine the existing international order, and that Kenya appreciates China's role as a stabilizer and his efforts to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of global south countries.
Meantime, the two countries have agreed to elevate their ties to a China -Kenya community with a shared future for the new era.
President Xi held the move as a strategic choice for both sides.
China has successfully launched the Shenzhou -20 manned space mission.
The crew reported good condition as the capsule entered orbit.
Astronauts Chen Zhong, Chen Zhongrai, and Wang Jie will meet their Shenzhou -19 colleagues inside the Tiangong Space Station and complete a rotation.
The new crew will stay in orbit for six months conducting spacewalks and science experiments.
Xinzhou 19 will return on Tuesday.
Beijing has denied any engagement with Washington on tariff -related issues.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiaquan said there have been neither consultations nor negotiations between the two sides let alone any imminent agreement.
The remarks come as some sources allege that China and the US could soon reach a tariff deal.
Guo said if the US wants a trade war, China will fight till the end, and if the US wants to talk, then China's door is wide open.
The spokesperson also stressed that any dialogue must be based on equality, mutual respect, and reciprocity.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has agreed to allowing a technical team from the UN nuclear watchdog to discuss restoring camera surveillance at nuclear sites.
Rafael Grossi described it as an encouraging sign of Iran's willingness to come to terms. I'm quoting from their public statements.
They are adding significant number of new cascades, and if you add to that the fact that we have lost, since they reduced our cameras at garage and other places, we have lost so much visibility as to certain activities that they are having.
well. We have a much more complex field in front of us.
The good thing is that we know what we need to look at.
We have a unique perspective about that.
We have a timeline of what has been happening and even including during this time where we lost what we call continuity of knowledge.
So we we can have the best possible shot at reconstructing the the picture, if you want.
Iran curtailed access and monitoring at its nuclear science by the IAEA in response to the u .s withdrawal from an accord under the first trump administration the accord eased sanctions in exchange for irba accepting limits and monitoring of his new nuclear program iran says its nuclear sites are for civilian purposes only.
Tehran and Washington held a second round of talks on the weekend, aiming to ensure Iran doesn't use its nuclear program to develop weapons and to lift U .S. sanctions on Iran.
Prosecutors in South Korea have indicted former President Moon Jae -in on corruption charges.
They allege Moon received around US $150 ,000 for facilitating the employment of his son -in -law at an airline.
Investigators say former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sung Jik had control of the airline.
Authorities also indicted Lee on charges of bribery and occupational breach of trust. Moon's daughter and son -in -law received suspended indictments.
And finally, Denmark's Royal Palace says King Frederick will visit Greenland next week in a show of solidarity against US President Donald Trump's threats to control the island.
He will visit the regional capital, a military outpost and a special forces command.
The government said the Prime Minister will travel to the territory on Saturday.
Danish and Greenland leaders have rejected Trump's plan and said only the people can decide the Arctic region's future.
The two prime ministers will discuss the geopolitical situation and ties.
Thank you very much, that was T anyu with headlines.
Coming up in business, the IMF issues a gloomy outlook on global debt levels.
Thank you, Shane. Chinese stocks closed mixed on Wednesday.
The Shanghai Composite index was a little above flat and the Shenzhen Component index dipped about 0 .6%.
Shares related to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals were among the biggest winners while those related to semiconductors and software development emerged as the biggest losers.
Elsewhere in China, the Hong Kong stock market suffered losses with the Hang Seng index dipping over 0 .7%.
In Japan the Nikkei gained about half a percent.
The International Monetary Fund has issued a gloomy outlook on global public debt saying it's rising to potential crisis levels.
It also noted that trade policy uncertainty is off the charts largely due to global shocks over US tariff policy.
Poppy Meputin has more.
Uncertainty. That's the overarching theme of the IMF spring meetings taking place in Washington as the fund projects rising global debt through 2025 and beyond.
US tariff policy has global markets and economies on edge as access to markets is less certain and commodity prices are anticipated to rise.
Good morning. Good afternoon.
Speaking Wednesday on the IMF's latest fiscal monitor report, economists said global trade policy uncertainty is quote off the charts.
Since the last fiscal monitor in October 2024, global economic prospects have significantly deteriorated and risks to the economic outlook are elevated and tilted to the downside.
Uncertainty is very high and confidence has been weakening.
The IMF's Director of Fiscal Affairs, Vitor Gasper, noted that according to risk projection tools the IMF sees the potential for global debt reaching as high as 117 percent of global GDP by 2027, a level not seen in decades.
But even that extreme adverse scenario may be underestimating tail risks because trade and geo -economic uncertainty is escalated, financing conditions tightened, financial market volatility is visible from headlines and spending pressures have intensified further.
Since U .S. President Donald Trump proclaimed Liberation Day earlier this month, slapping tariffs on more than 180 countries, financial markets around the world have experienced extreme volatility, with dramatic swings and historic plunges, wiping trillions of dollars from major indexes.
On Monday, the Dow Jones shed almost 1 ,000 points, then rallied to make up those losses on Tuesday.
The U .S. revision of reciprocal tariffs to 10 percent, a temporary pause on full -blown rates has done little to tamp down market fears, and that's having a knock -on effect on global trade policy.
The IMF says the ongoing trade uncertainty will continue to push up global debt, and with growth stifled, the cost of borrowing goes up and consumer spending goes down.
The US is not immune to these economic shocks.
While the IMF projects that tariff revenues will slightly reduce the country's overall federal deficit this year, it says Washington needs to implement a fiscal adjustment in the medium term, to put public debt on a decisively downward path.
That was Poppy by Putin, reporting from Washington.
The European Union has announced fines of nearly $800 million against the US tech giants Apple and Meta for violating digital competition laws.
It's the first time the EU has issued such penalties.
Washington has threatened to retaliate if its tech companies are targeted.
Willem Denslo reports from Brussels.
Just over a year after launching its non -compliance investigation, the European Commission has ruled that both Meta and Apple violated The Digital Markets Act.
Apple was fined $571 million after EU regulators found the company failed to provide consumers with suitable information about alternative offers outside of its app store.
Beyond the fine, the iPhone maker has been instructed to remove both commercial and technical restrictions that prevent people from being steered away from its online platform.
In response, Apple said it's being unfairly targeted, and the move is bad for both the privacy and security of users.
A company representative said it will appeal the commission's decision.
Meta, meanwhile, was hit with a $228 million penalty over its consent or pay advertising model that was introduced in the EU back in 2023.
The parent company of Facebook and Instagram responded, saying US businesses are being handicapped while claiming that Chinese and European firms are held to different standards.
METAs chief global affairs officer Joel Kaplan said the company will have to change its business model, likening it to a multi -billion dollar tariff.
Recent tariffs imposed by the United States have heightened trade tensions between Washington and Brussels.
And President Donald Trump has previously threatened to retaliate should the EU penalise American tech companies.
The European Commission has dismissed the notion that these fines are linked to those trade disputes.
A spokesperson for the commission said the action against Meta and Apple was proportionate and that any company operating within the EU has to play by the rules.
There was William Denslow reporting.
Now China's domestic tourism has sustained its strong momentum this year.
First -quarter data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism shows the number of trips within the country rose 26 % to nearly 1 .8 billion.
The tourism surge has boosted consumption with domestic tourist spending up 19 % to 1 .8 trillion yuan or around 250 billion US dollars.
Last year, China posted a 15 % increase in domestic trips and a 17 % rise in spending compared to 2023.
The Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition is now underway in the country's top financial center.
Ubin has this report on car makers working with Chinese firms to make their vehicles more intelligent.
From the latest auto parts, to global firsts for car models and the future of transportation.
Over 100 debuts, 1000 auto brands and an estimated 100 ,000 daily visitors.
This is Auto Shanghai 2025, one of the biggest auto shows in the world.
As cutting -edge technology like Artificial Intelligence quickly evolves, Intelligence business is what every automaker chases, and many recognize China as a key player in shaping the future of their business.
And clearly, this is a very dynamic market, intelligent vehicle features are extremely important.
That's reason why we have set up our One China R &D.
So we have bundled all our capabilities, all our technical experiences in one division, in one location.
so R &D, procurement, quality, engineering and also digitalization.
And as the Chinese market is getting more and more important, related in innovation, especially in technology, in connectivity, in comfort functions, we as Brose will also move some innovation tasks completely globally to China to be on site, on the market, where also the demands and the end consumers are, which is giving us the input.
Auto Shop High 2025 will last until May 2nd, and organizers expect some 1 .3 million visitors.
Initiated in 1985, the biannual event has become a window into the future of the automobile industry, and a platform for carmakers There's Ubin in Shanghai South Korea's economy contracted in the first quarter as exports and consumption stalled amid fears over the impact of Washington's aggressive tariffs.
The country's GDP contracted 0 .2 percent from the previous quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, shrinking for the first time since the second quarter of 2024.
The weak data will increase calls for the Bank of Korea to cut interest rates again as soon as next month as Policymakers worry about the consequences of US President Donald Trump's tariff policies.
Last week the BOK signalled it would cut rates in May and left the door wide open to further monetary easing to cope with significant risks to the economy.
Alright, thank you very much. That was Wang Zhehong with business.
Coming up in sports, top track and field athletes are gathering in shaman.
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Turning to sports. Here is Yang Guang.
Thank you Shane. In track and field, the world's top athletes are gathering in Xiamen for the Diamond League meeting.
Two -time Olympic pole vault gold medalist Armin Duplantis is now in the eastern Chinese city to defend his title.
The 25 -year -old has broken the pole vault world record 11 times in five years, including three times last year after doing so in Xiamen first. In March, Duplantis won gold at World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing and cleared six meters for the 102nd time in his career.
This is my second time being here in Xiamen.
I'm very excited to compete, very excited to be back.
I hope to jump really high.
I jumped really great last year, of course.
I jumped the world record here in Xiamen, so I know that it's a beautiful stadium.
A good stadium that I can jump really high, so I hope to just come here and just jump high again.
Something like last year would be nice.
Yeah, I feel good, good shape.
Now I just have to put the pieces together and jump high on Host China will send a number of elite athletes, including women's world champion shot putter Gongli Zhao, and men's 200 -metre Asian record holder Shie Jin Ye.
In football, a 2 -0 draw between Arsenal and Crystal Palace has taken Liverpool one step closer to the Premier League title.
The result means Liverpool only needs a draw against Tottenham on Sunday to win the league.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta showed disappointment.
Yeah, disappointing result and the performance as well.
We never got the consistency in many areas to completely dominate the game.
We always had the feeling that we have the ball, we had possession going in front twice but the game wasn't grabbed, it wasn't dominated and controlled like we normally do.
Because we were below the standards in some areas and when you are not at your best but you are two times ahead you have to be able to see the game move and we were unable to do it especially with what happened in the second one but Crystal Palace manager Aliv Glesner is quietly satisfied with his team this was an excellent performance and especially when you're down with the first situation you're one little down and when you have conceded ten goals in the last two away games and playing them here at Emirates it's good it's tricky situation but the reaction of the players was unbelievable we
didn't lose we always stick to our plan we didn't lose our head we we didn't lose our confidence, our belief and then creating so many chances here at Emirates against Arsenal is quite difficult and so I'm really very proud of the players and how they performed." Crystal Palace's focus is now on an FA Cup semi -final against Austin Villa on Saturday.
In other football news, Tori Pencil will officiate at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
She sees her selection as an honour.
It is an honor to be selected to be a match official at the FIFA Club World Cup, to be selected among some of the best in the world match officials, to compete on a stage, with the best teams, in the best clubs, and the entire world.
It's going to be just incredible.
She also says they are working hard to make good preparations for the event.
Preparation for a tournament of this magnitude starts decades in advance.
We work very hard every single day for opportunities like this one.
We work on both our sprint and agility with a sprint coach. We work with our sports nutritionist. We work with a sports psychologist and sports scientist on our physical preparation to make sure that we're ready and we can level up our game.
The tournament will feature 32 teams for the first time.
Over 110 officials will take charge of the matches.
The event will take place in 11 US cities in the summer.
It will be the most inclusive global club competition ever held.
In the NBA, Jalen Gray made 8 three pointers and 38 points to lead Houston Rockets to a 109 -94 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Our Prince Xingyue scored 17 points, Stephen Curry led Warriors with 20 points.
With the victory, the Rockets even their first -run Western Conference Series had one game apiece.
Chaillyn Brown scored 36 points and Boston Celtics beat Orlando Magic 109 to 100.
Head coach Joe Mosula praised Chaillyn after he helped lead the defending NBA champions to a win without Jason Tatum.
I mean it a lot I mean at the end of day he's willing to do whatever it takes for us to win and he didn't come in saying he had to get you know 36 10 in there he came in and said I'm gonna do whatever it takes to win and that's what he told me you know that's just that the mindset that he had so regardless of if it's going well for or not.
He could take it to another level and he did that for us and I thought the guys kind of fed off of that.
He also says they will stay focused and the United as tougher games are coming.
I just want to see us play basketball win the margins, be physical, be tough, execute.
That's all that matters.
Do it together. It's the most important thing and I thought our guys did that and you know now the series starts because we're going to a place where they play really well at home and I expect the absolute best of them and gonna be ready for that.
I would swear Cleveland Cavaliers got past Miami Heat 121 -112.
Donovan Mitchell led Cavaliers with 30 points.
All right, thank you very much. That was Yang Guang with sports.
And just ahead in culture and entertainment, the Beijing International Film Festival support for young directors and actors.
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Fifty -three past the hour in culture and entertainment, the Beijing International Film Festival has been supportive for young directors and actors aiming to provide emerging filmmakers with platforms for exposure, industry resources and opportunities for international exchange.
Zhu Xin stands out among young filmmakers from Hangzhou.
Caroline Wu has more.
The 15th Beijing International Film Festival has paid special attention to the future star of Chinese cinema and has set up a spotlight section dedicated to Zhu Xin.
The film, All authorized by its unique narrative techniques and profound connotations.
This film, Zhu Xin's latest feature was selected for both the Berlin Critics Week and the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
The film's screening at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival marks its premiere on the Chinese mainland and it's definitely worth a trip to the theater to experience it on the big screen.
First of all congratulations on winning the Best Actor award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
For your new work, All Quiet at The Sunrise, could you briefly introduce this work?
It's an independent film that started production in 2022.
For me, it's a story about a child and his mother.
At the same time, it delves into the relationship between his mother and son through a discussion of language and love.
CGTN has released the film list CGTN's Picks for the first time at the Film Festival.
With the slogan See the Difference, we want to recommend works from different cultures around the world.
What's your opinion on this?
Yes, I've watched two of them.
One is a Swiss film called Courage.
And another one, probably also Swiss, is called The Sparrow in the Chimney.
I believe that CGTN's Pix to some extent brings these rather unique works with the humanistic and cultural flavors of different countries to a broader perspective.
And I will also spend such a period of time in the cinema.
So for me, it's a moment exclusive to the film festival.
Many of your works have been selected for international film festival events like the Berlin Critics Week.
How do international audiences view your works?
I'm not worried that there will be obstacles in cultural exchanges at film festivals.
Instead, people watch or ask questions out of doubt or curiosity, which is exactly the significance of film festivals.
It's not about simply absorbing or even misunderstanding.
And I think this is also part of the cultural exchange in film.
How do foreign filmmakers view the Chinese film market?
The Chinese film market is huge.
I believe that for many directors from small countries, the highest box office market for their films may not be their own countries, but definitely China.
There are some such cases, so I think this is a very interesting situation.
I believe that the audiences have a high degree of tolerance, and they are now eager to see more imported films. Therefore, I think the Chinese market is a great attraction for foreign creators and investors.
Now, in the cinema, I often see films from Southeast Asian countries and many European countries which was not common for a long time in the past. The changes in recent films are really gratifying for filmmakers and film enthusiasts like me because you can see more diverse cultural exchanges.
Hundreds of filmmakers and industry insiders worldwide are attending this year's Beijing International Film Festival.
many of them have expressed strong interest in Chinese films and the Chinese film market.
Media creator Moika Picek says Nezha 2 is her favorite.
Actually, my favorite movie is always the movie that I saw.
It just happens to be that last week I saw Nezha 2 and it's now my favorite movie because that's just how it works for me.
I do really like movies and yeah, I mean I love to explore the background story behind every movie, I love to learn more about a director and their filmography.
So yeah, it's Nezha 2 right now.
The film festival concludes this weekend.
Qingdao will host the 20th China Hua Biao film awards on Sunday, marking the first time the event takes place outside of Beijing.
As a UNESCO city of film, Qingdao boasts the massive China movie metropolis, a 1 .7 million square meter film park with 40 sound stages, cutting edge tech and underwater stages.
Over 1500 film companies operate there, supporting hits like the Wandering Earth and Ne Jatou.
57 past the hour. Beijing down to 7 degrees on Thursday evening.
Sunny skies in 24 expected for Friday.
Manchung is down to 17, then clouds in 24.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad is at 17 this evening.
Friday sunny and 40 degrees Celsius.
Vientiane is down to 26 and then a slight rainfall in 36.
Phnom Penh is getting 25 this evening and that's followed by a slight rain in 36 degrees.
In Africa, Nairobi will get a slight rainfall in 24 on Friday.
CompATL is down to 20, then a slight rain in 25.
Juba is 24 overnight and then cloudy in 39 degrees Celsius.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today, China and Kenya have reached an agreement to elevate bilateral ties.
China's successfully launched its Shenzhou -20 mission to the Tiangong space station.
In business, the IMF has issued a gloomy outlook on global debt levels.
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 the 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 percent of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
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, talk 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 twelve part series the Yellow River Mosaic available only on CGTN radio
