Three-minute news, Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Domestic

1) On the afternoon of July 17, Xi Jinping met with former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

On July 17, Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change, held talks with John Kerry, the US special presidential envoy for climate, at the Beijing Hotel. The talks lasted about four hours.

2) National Bureau of Statistics: In the first half of the year, the gross domestic product (GDP) was 59.3034 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%, 1 percentage point faster than in the first quarter; in the first half of the year, the national consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.7% year-on-year; the national average urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.3%, down 0.2 percentage points from the first quarter; the national per capita disposable income of residents was 19,672 yuan, an actual increase of 5.8% after deducting price factors, accelerating by 2 percentage points; the national added value of industries above designated size increased by 3.8% year-on-year, accelerating by 0.8 percentage points compared with the first quarter. Overall, the national economy has rebounded and improved in the first half of the year, and high-quality development has steadily advanced.

3) [Rule of Law] Maintaining the unified national legal system, the Ministry of Justice reviewed 2313 regulations and rules filed in 2022. Lai Huaping, deputy mayor of Fuxin City, Liaoning Province, is suspected of serious disciplinary violations and is under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation. Han Jiazheng, deputy mayor of Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, is under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation.

4) Shi Taifeng, Minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized during his investigation in Yanbian, Jilin Province: Focusing on the main line of strengthening the consciousness of the Chinese nation community, further improve the overall pattern of United Front work in ethnic minority areas. The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference held a symposium on the analysis of macroeconomic situation in the first half of 2023.

5) On the morning of July 17, Zheng Zhajie, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, held a symposium to hear opinions from private enterprises. The National Development and Reform Commission and five other departments: Taking environmental cleanup and remediation as the first move, building livable, employable, and beautiful rural areas. Ministry of Civil Affairs: Will focus on rectifying the prominent risks and hidden dangers of illegal fundraising in the field of elderly care services.

6) China's first domestically produced large-scale cruise ship, "Adora Magic City," left the dock on the morning of July 17 and began its maiden voyage.

8) [Military] A certain surface-to-air missile brigade of the Northern Theater Command Air Force: Full-process confrontation, fighting to the end.

9) [Hong Kong and Macao] The 2022/2023 Hong Kong racing season concluded with a total betting turnover of HK$141.1 billion.

Typhoon Talim is gradually moving away, and Hong Kong has changed to a No. 3 strong wind signal. Macao is making every effort to cope with Typhoon Talim to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.

10) [Taiwan] On the third day of the visit to Taiwan by a group of teachers and students from mainland universities, the students changed into casual clothes to participate in an exchange activity at the Changfeng Foundation, and then visited Taipei 101 and National Taiwan University.

On July 16, the teachers and students' "extra" itinerary was revealed: They watched a professional baseball game.

International

1) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Lai Ching-te's planned stopover in the United States: We firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" separatists from going to the United States under any name or pretext, and have lodged a strong protest with the US side. The Chinese Embassy in South Korea reminds: Strengthen prevention of continuous heavy rain natural disasters.

2) The launching ceremony of the fourth China-Croatia joint police patrol was held at the Chinese Embassy in Croatia on July 16, local time. Eight Chinese police officers participating in the joint patrol will conduct a one-month joint police patrol in Zagreb and other places.

3) The United States announced its agreement to allow several European countries to train Ukrainian F-16 pilots. When asked how to "resolve the Ukraine crisis in 24 hours," Trump said: I have good relationships with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders. A drive-by shooting in Chicago on July 16, local time, resulted in one death and four injuries. A world record! An unopened original iPhone was sold for $158,000.

North American box office: "Mission: Impossible 7" topped the North American box office on its opening weekend.

4) On July 17, the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee stated that in the early hours of that day, Ukraine dispatched two unmanned surface vessels to attack the Crimean Bridge, causing damage to part of the highway section of the bridge. The Russian Ministry of Transport stated that part of the Crimean Bridge was damaged, resulting in two deaths and one injury. Rail traffic on the bridge has now been restored.

5) Russia announced the suspension of the Black Sea port grain export agreement. The Kremlin: This is unrelated to the attack on the Crimean Bridge. The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade announced that due to concerns about US espionage activities, it will prohibit employees from using Apple phones and other Apple devices at work starting July 17. Putin satirized European politicians for obeying the United States: If they are told to be hanged, they will ask if they can use domestic ropes? Russian media: Hundreds of Wagner mercenaries have arrived in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, by plane and will help maintain security during the referendum.

6) Suffering from the pollution of US military bases, Okinawa residents want to file a complaint at the UN meeting. Japanese media: 80% of respondents said that the Japanese government's explanation of the discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water was insufficient. South Korean media: US-Japan-South Korea joint drills "intercepting North Korean missiles." South Korea's largest opposition party questioned the IAEA investigation report. Worried about the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water, South Korea's imports of fish and shellfish from Japan have fallen for three consecutive months.

7) South Korea's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters: This round of heavy rain has caused 40 deaths, 9 missing, and 34 injuries. 13 bodies were recovered from the "death tunnel." South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol held a response meeting on the day he returned from his visit to Europe. Foreign media: South Korea will provide more demining equipment to Ukraine.

8) A plane crashed during an aerobatic performance in Finland, killing the pilot. A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck Neuquén Province in southern Argentina in the early hours of July 17, local time, with no casualties reported.

Finance and Securities

1) Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Financial Regulatory Administration: Improve the policy system of cyber security insurance, and strengthen the support of the insurance industry's policies for cyber security insurance.

2) National Bureau of Statistics: In June, China's surveyed unemployment rate for the labor force aged 16-24 was 21.3%, and it may increase next month.

3) The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will introduce policy measures to support the high-quality development of computing power infrastructure.

4) Liu Guoqiang, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China: China has sufficient monetary policy space, and new tools will be created if necessary.

5) With total liabilities exceeding 2.4 trillion yuan, China Evergrande disclosed its annual report.