In today’s news highlights by Epoch Times:
Milk tea shops, cafes, and small bars, which used to be the entrepreneurial dreams of young people in mainland China, are now jokingly referred to as the “new trio of returning to poverty for the middle class,” following the trend of homestays, camping, and murder mystery games becoming the “trio of bankruptcy” for young business owners. From major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen to smaller county towns, these small establishments are popping up in large numbers only to quickly close down, with social media flooded with posts about closures, reflecting an increasingly saturated and fiercely competitive beverage market that is shattering the dreams of countless young entrepreneurs.
Amid the escalating outbreak of the CCP virus on the Chinese mainland, residents interviewed in Hefei, Anhui, and Anyang, Henan, revealed to Epoch Times that local hospitals are seeing an increase in infected patients, tight bed capacity, and even cases of “white lung” disease. Of particular concern is the rising number of sudden deaths among young and middle-aged individuals in both locations, with employees in Hefei hospitals facing reduced wages and direct diversion of hospital funds by the government.
A new Pop Mart store in Hangzhou closed its doors just 2 hours after its grand opening due to overcrowding or safety concerns, sparking consumer dissatisfaction. Allegations of scalping activity at the scene surfaced, with conflicting explanations from the store and the mall about the reason for the closure, turning what was supposed to be a consumer frenzy into a controversial event.
On June 15, OK Airline Flight BK2931 from Changsha to Zhanjiang experienced mechanical issues shortly after takeoff, prompting an emergency return to the departure airport.
Renowned power bank brand Romoss faced bans from multiple universities in Beijing recently, causing widespread attention and leading Romoss to issue a public apology.
In Lixian Town, Sanjie Village, Liucheng County, Liuzhou, Guangxi, villagers who rely on a natural spring as their water source found the water turning turbid and emitting a pungent odor of pig manure overnight. Investigation revealed that the contamination originated from the upstream Weizhongping breeding farm. This incident not only caused villagers to experience symptoms such as diarrhea and headaches after drinking the water but also exposed long-standing environmental violations at the farm, prompting villagers to express deep concerns about future water safety and demanding the relocation of the farm.
Experts analyze the likelihood of the CCP attacking Taiwan, urging Taiwan to enhance its preparedness capability with the assumption that the CCP could invade Taiwan by 2030. Groups such as the Taipei Institute of Political Economy held a “Taiwan Strait Defense Guards” event in Taipei, where experts provided insights and studied the potential for future CCP military aggression against Taiwan, emphasizing the need for Taiwan to bolster its defense preparedness.
The sudden demolition of the south gate of Shangcheng Times Square, a residential complex in Suzhou Wuzhong District, by the developer sparked strong dissatisfaction among property owners. They rallied together to demand answers, raising suspicions of collusion between the local government in Suzhou and the developer for their own benefit.
In the ongoing US-China trade war, the CCP’s threat to the US by monopolizing rare earth minerals and disrupting Western industries, including the automotive sector, faces potential backlash, according to American experts. Should the US find alternative solutions, the CCP’s leverage in this regard would diminish. Currently, the US is pursuing dual strategies: scientists are researching rare-earth-free motors, while the government is establishing its own rare earth supply chain.
Recent reports exposed the controversial practice of villages in Ningbo, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Foshan, and other parts of Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces setting up checkpoints and imposing unauthorized fees, leading to heated discussions on the phenomenon of “village enclosure fees.” Some netizens question the legality of this practice targeting migrant workers and temporary visitors, accusing it of illegal land enclosure and possibly serving as a means of “indirectly expelling outsiders.”
A high-level CCP official known as Gao Yicheng, a troublemaker from Heilongjiang, was arrested. Although calling him a fellow villager felt somewhat uncomfortable, considering that our ancestors were also from Heilongjiang.
Xi Jinping’s recent meeting with the President of Belarus, Lukashenko, at Zhongnanhai raised suspicions. Following the official reports of Xi being accompanied by his wife and daughter at the banquet, the article covering this has been mysteriously deleted by the Belarusian official media, with the reasons undisclosed.
With China’s manufacturing industry experiencing the most significant losses since 2001, many poorly operated enterprises are unable to close down under Beijing’s policy objectives and are forced to stay afloat. The CCP fears that closures could lead to massive layoffs and social unrest.
In recent years, reports of high-ranking CCP military officials being purged have been circulating. Experts suggest that internal power struggles within the CCP pose greater risks than battles on the battlefield, with August 1st, the CCP Army building day, seen as a crucial observation point. The lack of transparency in CCP politics has created a crisis for its own regime.
A morning explosion at the Shanzhou Fireworks Factory in Linli County, Changde, Hunan, on June 16 caused multiple injuries, with employees recalling the moments of escape during the incident, which official sources said resulted in 9 injuries and 2 missing individuals, while the Beijing News reported that over 20 wounded were taken to hospitals for treatment.