Three-minute news, Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Domestic

1) On July 24, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held a meeting to analyze the current economic situation, deploy economic work for the second half of the year, and was presided over by Xi Jinping. On July 21, the CPC Central Committee held a symposium with non-Party figures on the current economic situation and economic work in the second half of the year, presided over by Xi Jinping, who also delivered an important speech. Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 31st World University Summer Games in Chengdu from July 27 to 28 and hold a series of diplomatic activities.

2) In order to stimulate new vitality in private investment with operable and effective policy measures, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has introduced 17 work measures to enhance the enthusiasm of private investment.

3) [Rule of Law] The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission (CCDI) announced the results of its supervision, inspection, and investigation of disciplinary inspection and supervision cadres in the first half of 2023. The procuratorial organs decided to arrest He Zehua, former vice-director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. Wang Rong, former Party secretary of Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, is under investigation. Hubei Province reported four typical cases of serious violations of political discipline and political rules: the former mayor believed in the "mutual generation and mutual restraint" of the zodiac signs, and changed personnel accordingly. Hunan Province reported seven typical cases of leading cadres using their power or influence to seek benefits for their relatives and friends. Chongqing police cracked a major cross-border gambling case involving online live streaming: 13 cross-border gambling criminal gangs were busted, nearly 300 suspects were arrested, and more than 400 million yuan in funds were seized.

4) Ministry of Emergency Management: Quickly carry out hidden danger investigation and rectification of campus safety and sports venues. The Ministry of Emergency Management is soliciting public opinions on the "Regulations on Penalties for Production Safety Accidents (Revised Draft for Solicitation of Opinions)". Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development: From January to June 2023, 42,600 old urban communities were newly started for renovation nationwide.

5) This year, the national comprehensive fire rescue team plans to recruit 15,000 firefighters.

6) After 1061 days of arduous construction, the right-line tunnel of the Lhasa-Rizhao Expressway, the Sada Tunnel, was successfully completed, marking a milestone in the construction of this highway.

Over 2.8 million tons! China's total predicted amount of uranium resources has been announced, marking a historic breakthrough in mineral exploration.

7) The collapse of the gymnasium of the No. 34 Middle School in Qiqihar resulted in 11 deaths, and the accident investigation is underway. After the incident, some parents questioned the rescue process, claiming that after their children were sent to the hospital, no one contacted them about their injuries for 5 hours. Citizens spontaneously went to the school gate to offer flowers to mourn: "This is all I can do." The school gate was filled with flowers of mourning, and someone asked the supermarket to send volleyballs. The female coach who died in the Qiqihar accident was a former Sichuan women's volleyball player. On the day of the incident, the junior high school group was training in the gymnasium, and the elementary school group was competing elsewhere.

8) [Military] The China-Russia joint military exercise "Northern·United-2023" concluded successfully.

The 43rd Chinese naval escort fleet paid a friendly visit to five West African countries.

9) [Hong Kong and Macao] A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced on July 24 that the seventh general election of the District Councils in Hong Kong will be held on December 10, 2023.

10) [Taiwan] An accident occurred on the first day of the Taiwan military's "Han Guang Exercise," with an explosion at the Keelung camp injuring nine people, two of whom had their hands blown off.

"Dusuri" has intensified into a strong typhoon and is gradually approaching the southern coast of Taiwan.

International

1) At the invitation of the Cambodian side, Qian Hongshan, vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, led a delegation to Cambodia from July 20 to 24 to observe the seventh national general election. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The policy of unilateral visa exemption for citizens of Singapore and Brunei will be resumed from July 26. Japan will implement export controls on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment from July 23. China: It has lodged a strong protest with Japan. The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) claimed that the reconstruction of the US intelligence network in China has made progress. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The US side repeatedly spreads false information about the so-called Chinese spy network attacks while openly claiming to carry out large-scale intelligence activities against China, which is very telling. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Irresponsibly transferring cluster munitions is very likely to cause humanitarian problems. Is China providing equipment to Russia? Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China has always been cautious and responsible in arms exports. The giant panda "Yuanmeng" in France will return to China on July 25.

2) The Fourth High-Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate between China and Europe issued a joint press release. Hungarian Prime Minister: China's rise is different from that of the United States; it is the return of a 5,000-year-old civilization. In its first 100 days of operation, the China-Laos Railway has served more than 40,000 international passengers.

Suspicious international packages from mainland China have appeared in South Korea? Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China has received South Korea's request for assistance in investigating suspicious international packages and is conducting relevant investigations. South Korea will send a post-war reconstruction team to Ukraine at the end of August to discuss reconstruction projects with the Ukrainian side in detail. Economic aid comes with conditions; the EU and Tunisia have signed an agreement to jointly combat illegal immigration.

3) In order to thoroughly investigate Trump, US federal agencies are paying a "Trump tax," which has cost over $9 million. Kissinger's assistant, Bremer, declassified: Kissinger's visit to China was planned for several months and will convey his views to the White House. Deputy Commander of the "United Nations Army": Dialogue has been held with North Korea on the matter of the US soldier crossing the border into North Korea. US economics professor: The United States is teetering on the brink of crisis, and the economy is heading into a dead end. Poll: More than 60% of respondents believe that the US economy is weak and heading in the wrong direction. Two mass shootings occurred in Texas, USA, resulting in two deaths and seven injuries. Zuckerberg received a Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt. Musk: Different colored belts are interesting.

The Twitter logo has officially changed, Musk: Saying goodbye to the "little blue bird," the logo will become "X".

4) Russian Ministry of Defense: Russia thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow. Putin: Foreign mercenaries in Ukraine have suffered heavy losses due to stupidity. Putin: Russia will have a good harvest this year and will continue to supply Africa. 70% of Ukraine's grain exports are shipped to high- and middle-income countries. Ukrainian Defense Minister predicts the end of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict: We will win before next summer.

5) Belarusian President Lukashenko visited Russia, bringing a map of "Polish troop increase." Lukashenko: NATO weapons and mercenaries are heavily involved in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.

6) Hopes dashed! Foreign media: Macron was not invited to attend the BRICS summit. Preliminary results of the Spanish general election show that the People's Party has become the largest party in parliament. The Cambodian People's Party announced a landslide victory, and Prime Minister Hun Sen's eldest son, Hun Manet, has attracted much attention.

7) The Yamanote Line in Tokyo was suspended during peak hours due to a signal failure, affecting 110,000 passengers. Japanese writer Morimura Seiichi passed away on the 24th due to illness at the age of 90. His documentary work "The Devil's Feast" exposed the crimes of Unit 731.

Korean media: A US nuclear submarine has entered the Jeju military port in South Korea.

8) Iranian lawmakers condemn Ukraine's use of cluster munitions that killed a Russian journalist: "100% wrong!" In the early morning of July 24, a shipwreck in Indonesia resulted in 15 deaths; the cause of the shipwreck is still under investigation. A building collapse in Douala, Cameroon's economic capital, resulted in at least 16 deaths and more than 20 injuries.

9) Uruguayan media: Over 5000 marine animals found dead on Uruguayan beaches.

Finance and Securities

1) The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) plans to improve the system for specific short-term trading to enhance stability and convenience.

2) State Administration of Foreign Exchange: Nationwide promotion of pilot policies for cross-border financing facilitation.

3) Domestic oil prices will be adjusted on July 26, with a significant increase expected.

4) Reports suggest that CATL and Ford's US factory project is under investigation. The company responded that the project is progressing normally.

5) E-House Research Institute report: July's new home sales may shrink by 40% year-on-year. The Hang Seng Index and Hang Seng Tech Index both fell by more than 2% on July 24.