Three-minute news bulletin for Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Domestic:

1) Xi Jinping chaired the first meeting of the 20th Central Auditing Commission, emphasizing the unique role of auditing in promoting the Party's self-revolution and further promoting the high-quality development of auditing in the new era. Xi Jinping replied to a letter from veteran experts and artists of the National Art Museum of China, emphasizing the need to work hard on high-quality collection, high-level utilization, and high-quality service, striving to build a national and even world-class art hall. Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the "2023 China Tibet Development Forum." Li Qiang sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Russia Business Forum.

2) Central government transfers to local governments exceeded 10 trillion yuan, an increase of 3.6%, with key support for grassroots "three guarantees" (guaranteeing basic livelihood, wages, and operation) and other areas.

3) [Rule of Law] The Supreme People's Court: Three criminals convicted of raping minors were executed, resolutely and severely punishing crimes of sexual assault against minors in accordance with the law. Xu Jiansheng, former first-level inspector of the 18th Disciplinary Inspection and Supervision Group of the Guizhou Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, is under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation. Fang Lixu, former president of the Guangdong Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade, was expelled from the Party and removed from public office. The Heilongjiang Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision reported eight typical cases of clarification and vindication. The first trial of the case of a Fudan University teacher killing the college secretary opened, with a verdict to be announced at a later date.

4) At 12:30 pm on May 23, 13 Chinese scientific expedition team members successfully summited Mount Everest. This is the second time China's Mount Everest scientific expedition has broken through an altitude of over 8,000 meters after 2022. Researchers successfully maintained and upgraded the world's highest automatic weather station and conducted various scientific investigations.

6) Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development: Basic realization of garbage classification coverage by 2025. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs selected and released the top ten excellent agricultural germplasm resources in 2022.

7) The flood control and emergency rescue drill for the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project was successfully held.

The winter wheat harvest progress in major producing areas of China has reached 4.8%, and many places have "won the battle against pests" to lay a solid foundation for a bumper harvest.

8) [Military] The deployment of research and standardization of troop classification management work has been launched. The Qi Jiguang ship arrived in Vietnam for a friendly visit. On May 23, the 16th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition opened, and the Chinese Air Force August 1st Flight Demonstration Team made its first public appearance after being equipped with J-10C fighter jets.

10) [Taiwan] The Taiwanese military conducted a five-day "Han Guang" military exercise. Experts: The US watches silently, and may not come to the rescue in the future. Making a fuss over nothing? Taiwan's foreign affairs chief Joseph Wu claimed to have communicated with the US about including Taiwan in a "nuclear umbrella." The only remaining "comfort woman" in Taiwan passed away. A senior media person said: These grandmothers never received an apology in their lifetime. New suspicions emerged in the death of a 500 million NT dollar high school student in Taiwan: The forensic doctor suspects that the deceased was poisoned before death and that there were accomplices.

International:

1) The new Chinese ambassador to the US is about to arrive in the US? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: It is suggested to pay attention to the updates on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We hope that the US will adopt responsible fiscal and monetary policies and not shift the risks of the US to the world. Japan officially introduced export control measures for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The Ministry of Commerce: Japan should immediately correct its wrong actions, and China firmly opposes this. Hua Chunying posted five consecutive posts questioning: If China is a "threat," what is the G7 that launched wars against sovereign countries? Hua Chunying posted a picture: A frog sits at the bottom of a well and asks: "G7 = world?"

Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, will pay an official visit to China from May 24 to 28. The official report on the death of Lin Hui, the giant panda in Thailand: Atherosclerosis with embolism leading to multiple organ failure.

2) China urged the warring parties in Sudan to cease fire and fighting as soon as possible and resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiation. The ceasefire agreement in Sudan came into effect, and the United Nations urged the warring parties to observe a truce. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations awarded certificates to newly recognized Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, including four heritage sites in China. The 19th World Meteorological Congress opened in Geneva, Switzerland on May 22. World Meteorological Organization: Meteorological disasters have caused over 2 million deaths in the past half-century.

3) Biden and McCarthy's intensive negotiations on the debt ceiling for three consecutive weeks have yielded no results. The US Treasury Secretary warned that the US is "highly likely" to default on its debt in early June. Explosion near the Pentagon? The US Department of Defense spokesperson denied the rumor. US media: It's an AI image again.

Foreign media: A van crashed into a security barrier near the White House, and a Nazi flag was found in the vehicle.

African-American Republican Senator Tim Scott announced his candidacy for US president. A female writer who was sexually assaulted is suing Trump again for defamation, seeking $10 million in compensation. TikTok sued the US state of Montana for its illegal ban. Bill Gates talked about artificial intelligence again: "AI assistants" will bring disruptive changes, and search engines and online shopping websites will disappear.

4) Russia said that Ukrainian militants infiltrated Russian territory and that 39 Ukrainian personnel were eliminated. Ukraine denied that Ukrainian troops entered Russian territory. The Russian Foreign Ministry: Western military biological activities pose a threat to the national security of other countries. A Ukrainian citizen was sentenced to 16 years in prison by Russia for espionage. Zelensky recorded a video on his return flight thanking the G7: We will work together to enhance Ukraine's potential. Zelensky stated at the front line: Ukraine will create a marine corps. Ukraine: The battle for Bakhmut has decreased, and Ukrainian troops still control parts of the area. Ukrainian military: Russia urgently transferred nuclear ammunition storage facilities in Belgorod.

5) The EU failed to reach a consensus on the 11th round of sanctions against Russia. Hungarian Foreign Minister: Sanctions are more harmful to Europe. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell: India's purchase of Russian oil is legal, and I cannot blame them.

6) A German magazine investigation found new clues to the "Nord Stream" explosion pointing to Ukraine, and four European countries refused to comment. France officially released its action plan for greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2030. A former Polish president complained about rising prices and low pensions, and at the age of 79, he still has to rely on earning extra money to make a living.

8) Japanese media: Japan will run for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2032. A Japanese scholar commented on the G7 Hiroshima Summit: "A farce of deception and hypocrisy." Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reminded Cambodian officials: We cannot establish diplomatic relations with mainland China and recognize Taiwan at the same time; this is absolutely unacceptable.

9) Brazilian President: The Russia-Ukraine issue should be discussed at the United Nations, not at the G7 summit. Brazil declared a 180-day animal health emergency due to avian influenza. Argentina's 2000-peso banknote has entered circulation.

Finance and Securities:

1) Cyberspace Administration of China: In 2022, China's digital economy reached 50.2 trillion yuan, ranking second in the world.

2) Ministry of Finance and National Film Administration: Exemption from the National Film Industry Development Special Fund from May 1 to October 31.

3) State Administration for Market Regulation: The number of newly established individual businesses in China increased by 14.3% year-on-year in the first quarter.

4) As of the end of April, the total scale of private equity funds reached 20.75 trillion yuan. China Passenger Car Association: Preliminary estimates show that new energy vehicle retail sales in May were around 580,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 60.9%.

5) Alibaba Cloud was reported to have laid off 7% of its employees, with compensation at N+1+1. Former Baidu vice president Ma Jie joined Innovation Works and established an AIGC company. Amazon China announced that it will no longer provide app store services from July 17.

6) Yesterday's closing prices: