This is People’s Daily Tonight, your news source from China.
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HK chief executive condemns latest string of violence
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam condemned the latest string of violent acts that “disrespected national dignity”.
She said such acts will push Hong Kong into a “very dangerous” situation.
Lam added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will be resolute in maintaining law and order in Hong Kong and restoring confidence.
Protesters on Monday launched a city-wide strike, disturbing long lines of traffic in the city and causing more than 100 flights to be canceled. (CGTN)
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Prices of most production goods decline in China
China's official data showed that most production goods monitored by the government posted lower prices in the last 10 days of July compared with the previous 10 days.
Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 28 goods saw their prices fall during the period, with 15 posting higher prices and seven seeing their prices unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Prices of chemicals and steel tubes led the decline while those of live pigs and gasoline posted growth during the period, the bureau said. (Xinhua)
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2 mass shootings in less than 24 hours shock US; 29 killed
It took just 30 seconds in Ohio and zero bullets in Texas for officers to stop two mass shooters this weekend.
But not before 29 people were killed and about 50 injured in less than 24 hours.
Officers gunned down the Ohio shooter at the doorstep of a bar-turned-hiding place in the middle of Dayton’s nightclub district, and arrested the El Paso shooter, as hundreds fled a crowded shopping center.
In the Texas border city of El Paso, a gunman opened fire Saturday morning in a shopping area packed with thousands of people during the busy back-to-school season.
The attacks came less than a week after a 19-year-old gunman killed three people and injured 13 others at the popular Gilroy Garlic Festival in California before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (AP)
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S Korea to spur R&D spending to reduce reliance on Japan
South Korea on Monday announced plans to invest about 7.8 trillion won (6.48 billion US dollars) in research and development to foster the local production of materials and equipment over the next seven years and cut reliance on Japanese imports.
The move comes after Japan on Friday dropped South Korea from its "white list" of countries with fast-track export status, intensifying a row over wartime forced laborers.
In July, Japan tightened controls on the export of materials used to make chips, South Korea’s top export item, which threatened to disrupt global semiconductor supplies used by tech giants such as Apple and Huawei.
South Korea plans to raise "self-sufficiency" for the production of 100 key components, materials and equipment used to make chips, displays, batteries, automobiles and other products, with a goal to stabilize supply over the next five years. (AP)
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China confident of keeping yuan stable: PBOC
China's central bank reiterated on Monday that it has the confidence and capability of keeping the yuan exchange rate stable.
The People's Bank of China attributed the weakening of the currency beyond 7 yuan per US dollar on Monday to measures of unilateralism and protectionism, as well as the expectation of additional tariffs on Chinese goods.
It said despite the weakening, the yuan has maintained basically stable and strong against a basket of currencies. (People's Daily app)
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12 killed, 1 missing in central China flash flood
Twelve people have been confirmed dead and another one remains missing after a downpour-triggered flash flood hit a scenic area in central China's Hubei Province, local authorities said on Monday.
The accident happened around 6:40 p.m. on Sunday in Duobi Gorge, Hefeng County. So far, 61 people have been rescued, according to the rescue headquarters.
The identities of the victims have been preliminarily confirmed as tourists from outside the region. Rescue work is still underway. (Xinhua)
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At least 16 killed, 21 injured in multi-vehicle crash in Cairo
And at least 16 people were killed and 21 others wounded after a multi-vehicle crash and the ensuing explosion on Monday in central Cairo.
The car slammed into three vehicles traveling in the opposite direction, which led to an explosion.
TV footage showed the windows of a nearby building were smashed. (Xinhua)
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And that’s People’s Daily Tonight. Thanks for joining us.
(Produced by David Nye and Wang Zi)