International

On the 9th local time in the United States, rumors spread that months of US investment restrictions on China had been implemented. On the same day, US President Biden signed an executive order restricting new investments in sensitive technologies such as semiconductors, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence in China. This executive order, which will take effect in 2024, has been described by US media as an unprecedented investment restriction rule against China. In what context was it introduced? What are the characteristics? What impact will it bring to China and Sino US relations? Under the guise of "national security," Biden continued to use the familiar rhetoric of "US national security" when signing the new executive order. According to the executive order, the progress of "relevant countries" in sensitive technologies and products that are crucial for military, intelligence, surveillance, or cyber capabilities poses a threat to US national security

In just July, the soaring global rice prices have once again reached a new high. According to data recently released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the global rice price index rose 2.8% month on month to 129.7 points in July, the highest level in nearly 12 years. Asian rice prices have climbed to the highest point in nearly 15 years. Frequent extreme weather and restrictions on exports by major rice producing countries are considered the driving forces behind high rice prices. So, when will this wave of rising rice prices end? What are the impacts and thoughts on responding to the food crisis? From a wave of newly released data, I have gained some insights into the concept of rice being as expensive as a pearl. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the global rice price index rose 19.7% year-on-year in July, reaching 129.7 points, the highest record since September 2011

According to an article published by American financial media CNBC on Thursday, global gold prices are expected to reach historic highs in 2024 due to continuously declining interest rates and heightened concerns about economic recession, which have elevated gold's position as a safe haven asset. The media quoted some market analysts as predicting that spot gold prices may touch or even exceed the intraday high of $2072.5 per ounce set in August 2020, and are expected to reach $2500 per ounce by 2024. Interest rates are falling, gold is in high demand? As is well known, gold, as a safe haven asset, is closely related to factors such as geopolitical situation, interest rate fluctuations, inflation, and supply-demand relationships. Specifically, when geopolitical tensions arise, gold is often seen as a safe haven; And when interest rates rise, people's demand for gold

According to preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 10th, the number of suicides in the United States reached a new high of 49000 in 2022. In addition to mental health issues, the widespread use of suicide tools and firearms is also seen as a contributing factor to this phenomenon. Faced with the increasing number of suicides, US health officials are calling on people to cherish their lives and seek help in a timely manner when facing difficulties. According to preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 10th, the number of suicides in the United States reached a record high of 49449 in 2022, an increase of 2.6% from the previous year. This level is equivalent to 14.9 suicides per 100000 Americans last year. According to the Associated Press, this means that suicide in the United States has reached the most common level since World War II. From a temporal perspective, from the early 21st century to 201

According to foreign media reports, US and Iranian officials revealed on August 10th that Iran has transferred five imprisoned Americans from prison to home arrest in exchange for the release of billions of dollars in Iranian funds in South Korea. This is part of a preliminary agreement reached between the two countries in the tense US Iran relationship. Public opinion believes that this marks a rare highlight in US Iran relations, but there are still variables in the future progress of the agreement. The Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations revealed on the 10th that Iran and the United States have agreed to release and pardon five prisoners from each other. It is reported that Iran has released four American prisoners and placed them under home arrest. Another American has previously been placed under house arrest. Iranian officials told the Associated Press that these American prisoners, who have been placed under house arrest, mark a significant step forward for Iran and the United States in implementing relevant agreements

Hawaii Governor Josh Green confirmed on the 12th that wildfires have caused at least 89 deaths on Maui Island in the state, surpassing the California Camp fire that caused at least 85 deaths in 2018, making it the deadliest wildfire in the United States in a century. Mayor Richard Bison of Maui County has warned that the death toll will further increase as more rescue personnel arrive and conduct searches. A wildfire broke out on Maui Island, Hawaii, USA on the 8th local time. The fire quickly spread and engulfed the coastal town of La Haina in the northwest, leveling it to the ground. Maui Island is the second largest island in the Hawaiian Islands, with a population of over 100000. As the former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii and an economic center that attracts millions of tourists every year, La Haina suffered heavy losses in this disaster, using the mayor of Maui County, Richard

According to foreign media reports on the 12th, China and the United States will approve the continued increase in the number of direct passenger flights between China and the United States. Starting from the end of October this year, the number of flights is expected to double. This will provide support and convenience for promoting personnel exchanges and trade between the two countries, and also bring good news for outbound tourism once again. The number of flights is expected to double. The US Department of Transportation announced on the 11th that starting from September 1st this year, the number of Chinese passenger flights allowed to travel to and from the United States per week will increase to 18, and from October 29th to 24. At present, there are 12 round-trip flights per week. The statement also stated that the Chinese government will agree to double the weekly number of US passenger flights to and from China. The US Department of Transportation has stated that the demand for flights is expected to increase before and after the start of the new academic year, so the first batch of new flights will begin on September 1st,

On August 13th, Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, concluded his four-day trip to three Southeast Asian countries. During the visit, Wang Yi held meetings with political leaders from Singapore, Malaysia, and Cambodia, exchanging extensive views on bilateral relations, regional and international situations, and other issues. Wang Yi's visit is another high-level interaction between China and ASEAN countries since the beginning of this year, and also a significant milestone for China's efforts in neighboring diplomacy. It can be seen from the information released by China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Cambodia that this visit has a large amount of information and many highlights. The first highlight is that China and the three countries are advancing bilateral relations around their respective keywords. In the first stop in Singapore, "implementation" became the keyword. Both sides emphasize the need to implement the new developments in China Singapore relations during the March meeting between the leaders of the two countries

It seems that the "cage fight" between two American Internet giants, Musk and Zuckerberg, which has been going on for more than two months, is going to end? Zuckerberg said on the 13th local time that Musk was "not serious" about the booking, "it's time to look forward.". In response, Musk posted on his social media platform, the original Twitter account renamed "X", saying, "Zack is a coward." In response, the onlookers who watched the "verbal battle" in the air for over two months couldn't help but feel confused: whether Musk and Zuckerberg will still fight or not? After earning enough traffic, this hype seems to be coming to an end. Zuckerberg: Forgive me for not accompanying you. In June of this year, after Facebook founder Zuckerberg announced the creation of a new platform called "Clue" to benchmark Musk's "X", Musk proposed to engage in a "cage fight" with Zuckerberg under the instigation of netizens. Unexpectedly

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japanese government sources revealed that the United States and Japan will jointly develop hypersonic missile interceptors. During this week's US, Japan, and South Korea summit, US and Japanese leaders may reach an agreement on this matter. According to Nikkei Asia, the Japanese Ministry of Defense claims that this is the world's first practical missile for intercepting hypersonic weapons. Japanese media reported that the joint development of a new type of anti missile interception missile by the United States and Japan aims to enhance the alliance's deterrence and response capabilities in response to hypersonic weapons developed by China, Russia, and North Korea. Japan and the United States have been planning to join forces against hypersonic weapons for a long time, and related news has already been circulating. Last December, Nikkei Asia exposed this collaboration plan. The report states that Japan and the United States are considering joint research and development to intercept advanced technology

Argentina will welcome a quadrennial general election in October. On the 13th local time, Argentina held a preliminary election with wind vane significance. Preliminary results show that against the backdrop of a sluggish local economy and high inflation, Javier Milley from the right-wing camp has become the dark horse, while the other two mainstream political factions have performed poorly. At present, Mile, who is regarded as the "Argentine Trump", may become president, which has attracted attention from all parties. With the new general election approaching, Argentina held its primary election on the 13th. Out of approximately 46 million people nationwide, up to 35.4 million are eligible to vote. Presidential candidates with a vote share of over 1.5% in the primary election will receive admission tickets. In Argentina, primary elections often serve as a barometer of public opinion and a barometer of election prospects. The vote was held on the afternoon of the 13th local time at 6 pm

On August 15th, India will celebrate its 77th Independence Day. Indian Prime Minister Modi will raise the national flag on the walls of the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi and deliver a speech to the country. This will be Modi's 10th consecutive Independence Day speech and also his last Independence Day speech before the 2024 election. Analysis suggests that currently, whether it is the inflation risk caused by the soaring prices of tomatoes and rice, the deadly three-month racial conflict, or the formation of an alliance among 26 opposition parties, all are unavoidable issues for the Indian People's Party. At the same time, Modi's foreign policy of approaching the United States and the West has also sparked controversy. In this context, Modi will take Independence Day as an opportunity to showcase his achievements in governance, depict a "strategic opportunity period", and strive to create a favorable atmosphere for next year's election. Declaration before the election in August

According to reports from Korean Central News Agency and Russian Satellite News Agency on August 15th, Russian President Putin and General Secretary and State Councilor Kim Jong un of the Workers' Party of Korea exchanged congratulatory messages on the occasion of North Korea's "National Liberation Day". The outside world has noticed that the diplomatic interaction between the leaders of Russia and North Korea coincides with the prolonged crisis in Ukraine, the upcoming summit between the United States, Japan, and South Korea, and the potential escalation of tensions on the peninsula. On the one hand, Russia and North Korea consolidate traditional friendship through historical milestones, and on the other hand, they send signals of mutual support to jointly address complex situations and external pressures. New signs of deepening relations: On August 15, 1945, the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonial rule. North Korea designated this day as "Motherland Liberation Day", while South Korea referred to it as "Liberation Day". Every year on this day, South Korea and North Korea hold corresponding commemorative activities. Putin in He

According to foreign media reports, the Russian central bank held a non routine interest rate meeting on the 15th local time, during which it decided to raise the benchmark interest rate by 350 basis points from the previous 8.5% to 12%. The previous day, the exchange rate of the Russian ruble against the US dollar fell below 100 rubles per dollar, marking the first time since March last year that it has fallen below this psychological threshold. After the Russian central bank announced its interest rate hike decision, the ruble has rebounded somewhat. According to reports, the Russian central bank announced a significant interest rate hike on the 15th, stating that as the ruble depreciates and inflation expectations rise, this decision is aimed at limiting the risk of price stability. However, the Russian central bank has previously stated that it has not seen any threat to financial stability from the decline in the ruble. It is reported that due to the previous drop of the ruble to US dollar exchange rate below 1 to 100 rubles, it was originally scheduled for September

It is not unfamiliar for the leaders of the United States, Japan, and South Korea to be in the same frame, but this Friday's Camp David engagement is very different from before. This will be the first time that the three heads of state have held a separate meeting outside of a multilateral setting. It is reported that the leaders of the three countries will discuss topics such as expanding trilateral cooperation, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and economic security, and will formulate new defense measures to "enhance collective security.". According to external comments, the Biden administration is urging the leaders of the United States, Japan, and South Korea to hold Camp David talks, aiming to leverage the momentum of reconciliation between Japan and South Korea, promote the institutionalization of cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea, so that trilateral relations can "stabilize and go far", and respond to so-called regional threats from China and North Korea. However, analysts believe that the new actions of close collusion between the United States, Japan, and South Korea may be a threat to regional peace and stability. Sprinkle icing on the three sided cake, according to Japanese media reports

Being in Singapore makes it easy to be surrounded by greenery. Whether it's the vast green spaces and parks that can be seen everywhere, the lush trees on the streets, or the "sky gardens" on the rooftops and middle terraces of buildings, it's almost forgotten that this is one of the countries with the highest population density in the world. In fact, Singapore's "green" is not only limited to its appearance, but also integrated into its bloodline. How does Singapore promote national sustainable development and create a greener "garden city" in order to achieve net zero emissions before 2050? Recently, along with a delegation of Chinese journalists, reporters went to Singapore to explore the situation. How can green buildings achieve net zero emissions? Walking through the streets and alleys of Singapore, vibrant "green" is everywhere, but entering the office building of DBS Bank in the Newton area of Singapore, one can better experience the construction of buildings

Last month, US soldier Travis Kim suddenly crossed the border from Panmunjom into North Korea as he was about to return home, and there has been no news since then. After nearly a month, North Korea confirmed for the first time on August 16th that this American soldier had been detained by the North Korean side.In response, the US Department of Defense stated that it is unable to verify the statements of North Korean official media. According to the Korean Central News Agency, on July 18th, Travis Kim, a US soldier stationed in South Korea, illegally invaded North Korean territory in Panmunjom. In the afternoon of that day, Jin infiltrated tourists and intentionally invaded the North Korean area while visiting the Panmunjom Joint Security Zone. Later, he was killed by Korean People's Army soldiers on duty

After Typhoon Kanu, Typhoon Lann, the 7th of this year, hit Japan again. On the 15th, "Lan En" made two consecutive landings in Japan. According to Japanese media reports, the typhoon caused power outages in tens of thousands of households, cancelled over 900 flights, and required 240000 people to evacuate. At present, Typhoon Lann has weakened into a tropical storm and will move northward across the Sea of Japan. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency stated that concentrated rainfall may still occur in most areas. At 5:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, rainstorm, power failure and suspension of navigation, Typhoon "Lanen" landed at the southern end of Wakayama Prefecture, Giyi Peninsula, and then swept across western Japan. At that time, the wind speed of Lan En was close to 160 kilometers per hour, equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane. Affected by the passage of "Lan En", heavy rain fell in the central and western parts of Honshu Island, Japan on the 15th. Tottori County Encounters Decades

On the 15th, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu held his third meeting with Russian Defense Minister Shoigu this year while attending the 11th Moscow International Security Conference in Russia. Analysis suggests that this visit reflects the sustained high-level operation of the military relationship between China and Russia, and continuously enriches the strategic connotation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia in the new era. Faced with complex changes, China and Russia have always supported each other on issues related to each other's core interests and major concerns. The Mo'an Meeting, which started in 2012, is an annual international security conference organized by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The first Mo'an Conference invited 200 political and military experts from 50 countries to attend, including representatives from Europe, the United States, and Canada. But after 2014, Western diplomats and the military began to refuse to attend.

The Wall Street Journal reported on the 15th that as the COVID-19 receded, the number of homeless people in the United States hit a record high this year. The statistics so far have increased by about 11% compared with last year, more than 580000 people, the largest increase since the US government began tracking data in 2007. The Wall Street Journal compared data from 67 out of the 100 regions with the highest number of homeless people last year, with 48 regions showing growth this year. California accounts for the majority of this data. It is estimated that 171000 Californians are homeless this year, accounting for 30% of the total homeless population in the United States. Among them, the number of homeless people in Santiago alone is 10264, an increase of 22% from last year. In addition, the homeless in Denver, Colorado

On August 14th local time, former Republican President Donald Trump was charged with 13 felonies in Georgia on suspicion of overturning the 2020 presidential election results. This is the fourth time Trump has been criminally charged this year. Analysis suggests that against the backdrop of the 2024 US presidential election, Trump's consecutive criminal charges reflect both his own stain and the political motivation of the Democratic Party to crack down on opponents. As Trump's popularity remains high within the Republican Party, it is not ruled out that he will face more accusations. These legal disputes may not come to an end until the second half of next year. In the November 2020 US presidential election, Trump lost to Democratic presidential candidate Joseph Bay in Georgia by less than 12000 votes on four criminal charges

After many states in the United States banned government devices from using the video sharing app TikTok, New York City has also joined this ranks. On the 16th, the New York City network department demanded that TikTok be removed from government equipment within 30 days, citing so-called "security concerns". Analysis suggests that this is the latest sign of the US government's stigmatization and unreasonable crackdown on Chinese enterprises and technology applications. A series of "bans" in the United States violate the principle of fair competition and highlight the essence of hegemony. This approach has also been questioned by the American people. A spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated in a statement on the 16th that the city's network department has determined that TikTok "poses a security threat to the city's technology network.". All institutions in New York City must remove this application within 30 days

UBS Group and Credit Suisse jointly released the 2023 Global Wealth Report on the 15th, stating that last year, due to high inflation, rising interest rates, and a strengthening US dollar in multiple countries, global private wealth decreased by $11.3 trillion and the number of millionaires decreased by 3.5 million. However, another indicator reflecting the economic level of ordinary people - the median global wealth has increased, and the wealth gap has narrowed accordingly. The report predicts that global private wealth will show an upward trend over the next five years, led by middle-income economies. The decline in wealth is due to UBS's acquisition of Credit Suisse in June this year, marking the first joint release of the Global Wealth Report by two financial institutions. This report is based on the wealth holdings of 5.4 billion people in nearly 200 economies worldwide, and defines "wealth" as a household's assets minus

VinFast, a Vietnamese start-up car company founded only 6 years ago, has recently caused a sensation on Wall Street: after its debut in the US stock market, its market value skyrocketed, leaving veteran car companies such as Volkswagen and Ford behind and showcasing the charm of Vietnamese independent car brands to the world. The public opinion believes that the surge in VinFast's stock price is due to investors' confidence and enthusiasm for electric vehicle startups. However, due to poor sales and revenue, it remains to be seen whether VinFast's stock price can maintain its upward trend and whether the path of globalization is smooth. Important milestone: On August 15th local time, the stock of Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast was publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange in the United States. This is not a standalone IPO of VinFast, but a special purpose acquisition of Black, a company owned by Ho You lung, son of gambling tycoon Stanley Ho

On August 16th, the Thai Constitutional Court rejected an appeal calling for a review of whether the parliamentary rejection of the nomination of Prime Minister Bhutta, the leader of the Far Progressive Party, was unconstitutional. This means that it has been confirmed that there is no hope for Bhutta to challenge the Thai Prime Minister's throne. On the same day, Thai National Assembly President Vano announced that the parliament had decided to hold a joint meeting on August 22nd to elect a new Prime Minister. Since the May parliamentary elections, the new government in Thailand has been struggling to produce, causing concern from the outside world. Can Seth, the prime minister candidate elected by the Thai party, the second largest party in the Thai House of Commons, successfully overcome the challenge after Pita's complete elimination? Can the political deadlock that has lasted for over three months be broken? The third round of Prime Minister elections will be held on the 16th local time. The appeal of the Far Progressive Party in Thailand was rejected by the Thai Constitutional Court, once again causing a blow to Bhutta. Based on the support of the Far Progressive Party and the Far Progressive Party

On the evening of the 17th local time, American entrepreneur Elon Musk said on his social media platform 𝕏 that he had just arrived in Japan. The public has noticed that this is Musk's first visit to Japan in nine years. In recent years, the relationship between Musk and Japan has become somewhat subtle due to the combined effects of controversy and cooperation. For the first time in nine years, around 8 pm on the 17th, Musk said on his predecessor Twitter that he had just arrived in "amazing" Japan. On the morning of the 18th, Musk released a series of short videos showing his excitement as he visited the light and shadow interactive exhibition held by the Japanese art group teamLab. Considering Musk's ambition to explore the universe, it is not surprising that he is excited about this exhibition with a theme of dreamy starry skies. Based on the information available from the outside world, Musk's last trip to Japan was

"The sea level rise in the Southwest Pacific is faster than the global average, and low-lying islands may be affected." This is a "warning" given by the latest report from the World Meteorological Organization. The report reminds that seawater warming, acidification, and an increase in extreme weather events are damaging marine ecosystems and posing serious socio-economic risks. On the 18th, the World Meteorological Organization released the "2022 Southwest Pacific Climate Status" report at the Third Pacific Meteorological Ministerial Conference held in Fiji, with an annual increase of about 4 millimeters. The report points out that the overall rate of sea level rise in some regions of the Pacific is slightly higher than the global average, reaching about 4 millimeters per year in some regions. This means that over time, low-lying areas such as Tuvalu and Solomon Islands may be submerged, and agricultural and residential land will no longer exist. According to the world

Multiple Western media outlets revealed on the 17th that the US government has agreed for Denmark and the Netherlands to provide Ukraine with these fighter jets after completing training for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. It is expected that Ukraine will use this American made fourth generation aircraft next year. Analysis suggests that US President Biden changed his previous attitude in May this year and gave the green light to Western allies to provide the F-16 to Ukraine. The current new move reflects the urgency of the United States to deliver fighter jets as soon as possible. But the symbolic significance of this move is greater than its actual significance, which may not help change the situation. Expected to use fighter jets next year, the US "Politician" website cited a spokesperson for the State Department and anonymous US officials on the 17th, stating that the US sent a letter this week to Denmark and the Netherlands, promising to "accelerate" the approval of all necessary F-16 transfer requests in order to end training for Ukrainian pilots

The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on the 17th that, with approval from the United States, Israel will sell the Arrow-3 missile defense system to Germany for $3.5 billion. This will be Israel's largest military sale to date. Since the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Germany's defense policy has undergone major adjustments and the defense budget has been significantly increased. The largest military sale in Israeli history, according to Reuters, the US State Department notified the Israeli Ministry of Defense on the 17th and agreed to sell the Arrow-3 missile defense system, clearing the last major obstacle to the deal. It is reported that the Arrow type anti ballistic missile system, jointly developed by Israel and the United States, can intercept intercontinental missiles outside the atmosphere, especially missiles carrying nuclear and biological warheads. It is one of the few systems that can intercept and destroy missiles at high altitudes. Arrow-3 system

On the 20th local time, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida immediately went to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after his trip to the United States to inspect the preparations for the discharge of contaminated water into the sea. Japanese media also reported that the Japanese government will hold a cabinet meeting on the 22nd to finalize the schedule for the discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea. Public opinion has noticed that in the context of the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge plan seemingly receiving support from the US and South Korean governments, Kishida's visit to Fukushima this time aims to win the support of local people for this plan. However, there are still many questions to be answered regarding the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge plan. Before making a final decision, I would like to personally visit the site. On the 18th local time, after meeting with US and South Korean leaders in the United States, Kishida stated that he will go to Fukushima before the 20th to inspect the preparations for the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea. For