China's Protected Areas System Enters New Phase of Accelerated Development
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to accelerate the establishment of a system of nature reserves with national parks as the main body, nature reserves as the foundation, and various natural parks as supplements, to protect representative natural ecosystems and habitats of rare species. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed to comprehensively promote the construction of a nature reserve system with national parks as the main body. Since the beginning of this year, China has actively promoted the construction of nature reserves to support high-quality development with high-quality ecological environment and promote harmony between humanity and nature. Recently, the national parks of Giant Panda, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard, Hainan Tropical Rainforest, and Wuyishan have successively completed the confirmation and registration of natural resource rights, which is equivalent to giving these national parks a "household registration." This year, China has comprehensively advanced the demarcation and establishment of national parks, making them a cozy home for numerous rare wild animals and plants. The establishment of the national park system is a major decision made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, standing at the strategic height of achieving the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. It is a major measure for China to promote natural ecological protection, build a beautiful China, and promote harmony between humanity and nature. On October 12, 2021, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the Leaders' Summit of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, announcing China's official establishment of the first batch of national parks, including Sanjiangyuan, Giant Panda, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard, Hainan Tropical Rainforest, and Wuyishan. Sanjiangyuan National Park, located in southern Qinghai Province, is China's first pilot national park system. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has visited Qinghai three times, giving important instructions on ecological protection each time. He emphasized the need to strengthen the construction of a nature reserve system with national parks as the main body and build a model of nature reserves with national representativeness and global influence. Today, Sanjiangyuan National Park has continuously enriched its biodiversity and has become China's largest national park, with the number of Tibetan antelopes recovering from less than 20,000 in the early 1980s to over 70,000. At the same time, the Giant Panda National Park, spanning Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces, has opened up 13 ecological corridors for giant panda populations, protecting over 70% of wild giant pandas; the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park has established a comprehensive "sky-land integrated" monitoring system, with the number of wild Northeast China tigers reaching around 70 and wild Northeast China leopards reaching around 80; in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, the Hainan gibbon population has recovered to 7 groups with 42 individuals; and new species such as the Wuyi forest frog have been discovered in Wuyishan National Park. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made arrangements that will lead the construction of a nature reserve system with national parks as the main body into a new phase of comprehensive acceleration. On September 10 this year, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress reviewed the draft National Park Law. This is China's first national-level special legislation for national parks, which will provide legal basis for the planning and establishment, protection and management, participation and sharing, and guarantee and supervision of national parks. To properly address issues such as overlapping and unclear boundaries of nature reserves, historical issues, and current conflicts, a formal plan for the integration and optimization of national nature reserves has been formed, initially building a new classification and grading system for nature reserves. This year, cooperation between different localities has also greatly promoted the high-level protection and high-quality development of national parks. Wuyishan National Park spans Jiangxi and Fujian provinces and is a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. To promote "coordinated governance across one mountain and two provinces," the Regulations of Jiangxi Province on Wuyishan National Park and the Regulations of Fujian Province on Wuyishan National Park came into effect simultaneously on October 1. According to the National Park Spatial Layout Plan, China has planned 49 national park candidate areas, with a total area of approximately 1.1 million square kilometers. These areas are home to more than 5,000 species of terrestrial vertebrates and 29,000 species of higher plants, protecting over 80% of nationally key protected wild animal and plant species and their habitats. By 2035, China will have basically completed the world's largest national park system, and the Chinese modernization vision of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature will become even more magnificent.
Li Qiang Chairs State Council Executive Meeting
Premier Li Qiang chaired an executive meeting of the State Council on December 6, hearing a report on the comprehensive inspection for promoting high-quality development, discussing work related to ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin, and deliberating the Draft Amendment to the Civil Aviation Law of the People's Republic of China. The meeting pointed out that this comprehensive inspection focused on promoting high-quality development and striving to achieve annual economic and social development goals, identifying and helping to resolve a number of bottlenecks and difficult issues in reform and development, as well as urgent and difficult problems faced by enterprises and the public, and its effectiveness is commendable. It is necessary to take the inspection rectification as an opportunity, transform problem lists into responsibility lists, regard opinions and suggestions from all parties as key points for improving work, deeply study common problems found in the inspection, draw inferences from one instance to others for rectification, and promote implementation from individual cases to broader areas. Rectification work should be advanced as much as possible, with issues that can be rectified and implemented this year not being delayed until next year. For those that require continuous advancement, phased goals should be clearly defined, closely integrating problem rectification with current work to better contribute to the achievement of annual economic and social development goals. The comprehensive inspection's role in promoting and facilitating work should be leveraged, with commendations and incentives for those with good work performance, setting positive examples and promoting good experiences and practices to better stimulate enthusiasm for entrepreneurship. The meeting noted that in recent years, the ecological environment quality of the Yellow River Basin has steadily improved, and water security assurance capabilities have continuously strengthened. It is necessary to deeply implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the symposium on comprehensively promoting ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, firmly grasp the strategic requirement of focusing on protection and governance, emphasize the relationship between water and population, food, and energy, continuously deepen ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin, strengthen environmental pollution prevention and control, promote comprehensive green transformation of development methods, fully ensure the safety of the Yellow River, steadily improve people's well-being, and continuously elevate ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin to new levels. The meeting discussed and generally approved the Draft Amendment to the Civil Aviation Law of the People's Republic of China, deciding to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation. The meeting pointed out that it is necessary to adhere to safety first, coordinate development and safety, strengthen supervision and management, and ensure that the scale of transportation production matches safety assurance capabilities. Continuously improve the quality of civil aviation services, tap the potential of the domestic market, implement major relevant investment projects well, strengthen scientific and technological support, and promote high-quality development of civil aviation. Adhere to openness and cooperation, continuously optimize the global route network layout, and promote international economic and trade exchanges and cultural exchanges. The meeting also discussed other matters.
Li Qiang to Hold "1+10" Dialogue with Heads of Major Global Economic Organizations
Premier Li Qiang will hold a "1+10" dialogue with heads of 10 international economic organizations, including New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff, World Bank President Ajay Banga, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, International Labour Organization Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo, OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, Bank for International Settlements General Manager Agustín Carstens, Financial Stability Board Chairman Klaas Knot, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Jin Liqun, in Beijing on the morning of December 9. The theme of the dialogue will be "Consolidating Development Consensus and Promoting Global Common Prosperity." The parties will exchange views on three topics: "Seizing Opportunities for Change and Promoting World Economic Transformation and Growth," "Upholding Multilateralism and Promoting Reform of the Global Economic Governance System," and "China's Further Comprehensive Deepening of Reforms and Opening Up Broad Prospects for Modernization."
Batch of Major Engineering Projects Underway
In recent days, various regions have seized the golden period of winter construction to accelerate the progress of a batch of major infrastructure projects, including transportation and water conservancy, to boost high-quality development. Currently, construction of a number of major transportation projects is accelerating. The Pinglu Canal, a backbone project of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, has entered its golden dry season construction period. At the Madao Hub construction site, 13 sections of the ship lock main body are being poured simultaneously, with nearly half of the total pouring volume completed. The main project of the Pinglu Canal is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, by which time goods from southwestern China will be transported to the sea via the Pinglu Canal, shortening the distance by approximately 560 kilometers. The Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge (Xiamen Section), a key project in Fujian Province, has begun its offshore construction phase. At the construction site of the Liuwudian Channel Bridge, a controlling project, an offshore "concrete factory" has been built to ensure a continuous and stable supply of concrete for the project's construction, as it is entirely offshore and needs to avoid the impact of typhoons and monsoons. The Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge (Xiamen Section) is 19.6 kilometers long, and the main line is expected to open to traffic by the end of 2026. Transportation construction in Xiong'an New Area is accelerating. Bridges account for about 94% of the Xiongshang High-Speed Railway (Hebei Section), and more than 4,600 bridge spans have been erected, completing 74% of the total bridge erection task. The Xiongshang High-Speed Railway connects Xiong'an New Area with Shangqiu, Henan, and upon completion, it will achieve interconnections with the Beijing-Guangzhou and Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railways. The Taiyuan Northwest Second Ring Expressway, a key project in Shanxi Province, has been fully completed and is expected to open to traffic on December 9. It will connect Taiyuan, Lüliang, and Xinzhou cities and five counties, driving the development of the Lüliang revolutionary old area. Winter water conservancy construction is in full swing. Today (December 6), the first phase of the Qaidam Basin Water Resources Allocation Project in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai, commenced construction. This is an auxiliary project to the Nalenggele River Water Conservancy Hub, one of the national major water-saving and water supply projects. The total length of the line is 593 kilometers, and the altitude exceeds 3,000 meters. Upon completion, it can supply 237 million cubic meters of water annually. For the Guangdong Water Resources Allocation Project around the Beibu Gulf, a national major water conservancy project, two branch tunnels were successfully completed recently, and more than half of the 23 branch tunnels have been completed. This project is over 490 kilometers long, drawing water from Yunfu, Guangdong, and connecting 12 reservoirs along the way. Upon completion, it will effectively solve the problem of insufficient water resources in western Guangdong. At the construction site of the Xiaohuang River comprehensive improvement project in Shuangyashan, a key water conservancy project in Heilongjiang Province, workers are raising and thickening the embankments. The project is nearly 30 kilometers long and is expected to be fully completed by April next year, with a flood control area of 180,000 mu.
China Launches New Round of Rural Road Improvement Program
This year, China has newly built or renovated over 110,000 kilometers of rural roads, implementing a new round of rural road improvement actions focusing on promoting informatization. Since the beginning of this year, China has launched a pilot program for "one road, one file" informatization of rural roads in 15 provinces, striving to achieve collaborative linkage and data sharing of rural road data. While promoting informatization, China has also continuously improved the governance capacity of rural roads. As of now, the excellent and good road rate of China's rural roads has increased from 79% at the end of 2013 to 91.1%. In addition, the continuous improvement of rural road service levels has not only revitalized cultural, tourism, and other characteristic resources in rural areas but also created more employment opportunities. Currently, the field of rural road management and maintenance provides approximately 850,000 job positions.
China Unveils 50 Measures to Boost Pharmaceutical Sci-Tech Innovation
Reporters learned today (December 6) from the National Health Commission that in recent years, focusing on people's life and health needs and key issues, the National Health Commission and other relevant departments have enhanced their innovation capabilities. They have issued 50 specific measures to promote scientific and technological innovation in health, covering 10 aspects such as building a scientific and technological innovation work system, refining key tasks, and improving professional services, to create a new ecosystem that promotes scientific and technological innovation in health across the government, industry, academia, and research sectors. In terms of drug supply, China has, guided by clinical needs, successively formulated and released five batches of "Lists of Encouraged Development and Declaration of Pediatric Drugs," totaling 144 drugs. Currently, 32 drugs suitable for children have been approved for market, 16 of which are for rare diseases. Three batches of "Lists of Encouraged Generic Drugs" have been formulated and released, totaling 89 varieties. Currently, 33 varieties have been approved for market, 10 of which fill domestic therapeutic gaps, and 5 fill domestic production gaps.
3 Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Items Shift from Urgent Safeguarding List to Representative List
On the evening of December 5, Beijing time, three Chinese intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items were transferred from UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, demonstrating China's excellent practices and achievements in systematic ICH protection. The 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, through its review on December 5, decided to transfer three items, namely "Traditional textile crafts of the Li ethnic group: spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery," "Qiang New Year," and "Traditional wooden arch bridge building techniques of China," from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The traditional textile crafts of the Li ethnic group refer to the traditional handicrafts used by women of the Li ethnic group in Hainan Province to make clothing and other daily necessities from natural fibers such as cotton and hemp. Qiang New Year is the annual traditional New Year of the Qiang ethnic group. The traditional wooden arch bridge building techniques of China refer to the system of skills used to construct arch bridges using traditional wooden building tools and manual techniques, connected by mortise and tenon joints. Since their inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2009, these three ICH items have shown significant protection achievements and continuously improved their viability, leading to their successful transfer to the Representative List. It is understood that UNESCO's ICH Lists and Register include the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. Currently, China has 44 ICH items inscribed, including 39 on the Representative List, 4 on the List of Urgent Safeguarding, and 1 on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices, ranking first globally in total number.
Domestic News Snippets
China Retail Business Climate Index at 50.4% in December
The China General Chamber of Commerce announced today (December 6) that the China Retail Business Climate Index for December was 50.4%, staying within the expansion range. Among them, the leasing and operation index was 51.9%, maintaining a medium-to-high level, indicating strong demand for service consumption; the e-commerce operation index was 50.5%, up 0.3 percentage points year-on-year, showing a continuous improvement in online consumption.
China's Futures Market Turnover Up 13.28% in November Year-on-Year
The China Futures Association announced today (December 6) that the national futures market turnover in November was 62.19 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13.28%. Among them, futures trading for glass and palm oil were active, and the trading volume for feed breeding and new energy metal futures significantly rebounded month-on-month, effectively serving the development of the real economy.
Global Development Report 2024 Released
The "Global Development Report 2024" was released today (December 6). This is an important knowledge product by China to implement the Global Development Initiative. The report analyzes the common challenges currently facing the world in areas such as climate change, industrial and supply chains, and poverty reduction, and proposes targeted recommendations.
Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Emergency Management Allocate 5.272 Billion Yuan in Central Natural Disaster Relief Funds
Recently, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management allocated 5.272 billion yuan in central natural disaster relief funds to support local efforts in providing temporary living assistance to disaster-stricken people during the winter and spring seasons, ensuring their safety and warmth through the winter.
Multiple Measures to Promote High-Quality Development of Ice and Snow Economy in Northeast China
Reporters learned from the National Development and Reform Commission that China recently introduced policies and measures to promote the high-quality development of the ice and snow economy in Northeast China. These measures deploy 15 key tasks and specific initiatives across four areas: ice and snow tourism, ice and snow sports, ice and snow culture, and ice and snow equipment, aiming to build Northeast China into a high-ground for China's ice and snow economy and achieve new breakthroughs in the comprehensive revitalization of the Northeast.
Central SOEs Procure and Help Sell Agricultural Products Exceeding 11 Billion Yuan in First 10 Months of This Year
Reporters learned today (December 6) from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council that in the first 10 months of this year, central enterprises cumulatively purchased 6.17 billion yuan worth of agricultural products from poverty-stricken areas and helped sell 4.96 billion yuan worth of agricultural products from poverty-stricken areas. As of now, SASAC has cumulatively held 14 central enterprise consumer assistance rallies, effectively expanding sales channels for agricultural products in assisted areas and helping farmers increase income and become prosperous.
National Pollution Permit Trading Total Reaches 36.3 Billion Yuan
The "National Report on Progress of Paid Use and Trading of Pollution Permits (2024)" was recently released by the Environmental Planning Institute of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The report shows that since 2007, 28 provinces across the country have carried out pilot pollution permit trading, achieving positive results. As of June 2024, the total amount of national pollution permit trading has reached 36.3 billion yuan.
General Administration of Customs Introduces Measures to Optimize Port Business Environment and Facilitate Customs Clearance
The General Administration of Customs recently introduced "Sixteen Measures to Further Optimize the Port Business Environment and Facilitate Enterprise Customs Clearance," which include optimizing cross-border e-commerce supervision models, simplifying procedures, promoting the development of "bonded+" new business formats, helping enterprises make full use of tax incentives to reduce costs and increase efficiency, piloting "remote localized inspection" reforms, fostering new foreign trade drivers, and improving cross-border trade facilitation.
Shanghai Lingang New Area Releases Implementation Plan for High-Level Opening-up in the Financial Sector
Today (December 6), the implementation plan for accelerating high-level opening-up and high-quality development in the financial sector of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lingang New Area was officially released. The plan includes 50 measures across six parts, such as increasing financial system innovation, accelerating two-way financial opening, and vigorously optimizing the business environment, to help enhance the competitiveness and influence of Shanghai as an international financial center.
Northwest China's First Gas Storage Cluster Begins Winter Gas Supply
Reporters learned from China National Petroleum Corporation that Wenjisang Gas Storage Cluster, the first gas storage cluster in Northwest China, has officially started gas supply, with a daily supply volume exceeding 3 million cubic meters, providing natural gas to cities along the West-to-East Gas Pipeline and the Bohai Rim region. The Wenjisang Gas Storage Cluster has a 100% green power substitution rate and is expected to supply over 200 million cubic meters of gas this winter and next spring.
2024 Maritime Silk Road International Cultural Tourism Festival Kicks Off
The 2024 Maritime Silk Road International Cultural Tourism Festival kicked off today (December 6) in Fuzhou, Fujian, with tourism and investment businesses from 46 countries and regions participating. At the opening ceremony, policies such as the "Measures for Fujian Province to Promote Inbound Tourism Development and Build a World-Renowned Tourist Destination" and the "Fuzhou Index Report on Jointly Building the Maritime Silk Road" were released.
2024 Tengchong Scientists Forum Opens
The 2024 Tengchong Scientists Forum opened today (December 6). Focusing on the latest trends in scientific and technological innovation, the forum will host five fixed sub-forums, including the University Presidents Forum and the Young Scientists Forum, and has added the Biodiversity and Modern Agriculture Innovation Forum, the Life Sciences and Great Health Forum, as well as the South and Southeast Asia International Intellectual Property Innovation Cooperation Seminar, etc., to promote deep integration of government, industry, academia, and research.
"China Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference" Season 2 Premieres Tonight
The large-scale cultural program "China Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference" Season 2, jointly produced by China Media Group and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, will be broadcast tonight (December 6) at 8 p.m. on the CCTV Comprehensive Channel, showcasing a vibrant lifestyle and wisdom of survival nurtured by traditional Chinese medicine culture through vivid stories.
"High-End Interview" to Feature Exclusive Interview with Nepali Prime Minister Oli Tonight
Tonight (December 6), CCTV News Channel's "High-End Interview" will broadcast an exclusive interview with Nepali Prime Minister Oli. Oli praised the Belt and Road Initiative for driving common development in other countries and expressed high hopes for the development of Nepal-China relations. This program will also be simultaneously launched on new media platforms such as CCTV News, Yangshipin, and CCTV.com.
Syrian Army Says Terrorists Enter Hama City, Damascus Hit by Drone Attack
The Syrian government army issued a statement on December 5, saying that over the past few days, terrorist organizations had launched a large-scale attack from all directions on Hama Province in central Syria. The terrorist organizations have now entered Hama city, and the government forces have redeployed outside Hama city, preparing to counterattack and retake the area. Syrian Defense Minister Abbas stated that evening that the terrorists were backed by external forces, and the redeployment of government forces outside Hama city was a "temporary tactical measure to protect civilian lives." In the Syrian capital, Damascus, sporadic gunfire was also heard. The Syrian government army stated on December 5 that two incoming drones were shot down in Damascus that day. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met with visiting Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad in Baghdad on December 6. Hussein said that Iraq is closely monitoring developments in Syria and stressed that the current situation in Syria directly affects regional security and stability. Mekdad said that Syria and Iraq need continuous consultation and coordination to jointly maintain regional security and stability. According to Iraqi media reports, the foreign ministers of Iraq and Syria also held trilateral talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi today (December 6) to discuss how to deal with the Syrian crisis. The Chinese Embassy in Syria issued an urgent reminder on December 5, stating that in view of the further deterioration of the security situation in Syria, Chinese citizens in Syria are advised to return home or leave the country as soon as possible while commercial flights are still operating.
Palestinian Side Says Israeli Airstrikes Hit Multiple Areas in Gaza Strip
According to Palestinian media reports today (December 6), Israeli forces launched an airstrike near Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza Strip early this morning, killing over 30 people. In addition, several areas in the northern Gaza Strip, including Gaza City and Beit Lahia, and Rafah in the south were also attacked by Israeli forces on December 5, causing multiple casualties. On December 5, Basem Naim, a senior official of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, stated that ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip had resumed. The Israeli army claimed to have struck a Hezbollah weapons transfer route on the Lebanon-Syria border. Hezbollah accused the Israeli army of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement. The Israeli army issued a statement today, claiming that it struck a Hezbollah weapons transfer route in the Lebanon-Syria border area early this morning. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem stated in a speech on December 5 that Israel has violated the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire agreement over 60 times recently, and Lebanon has a responsibility to take follow-up actions.
Russian Foreign Minister Says US Officials' Nuclear Strike Prediction "Extremely Dangerous"
According to news released by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (December 6), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with an American journalist that Russia does not want to go to war with any country, and that the position that "nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought" is fully in line with Russia's fundamental interests. He stated that regarding the escalation of the situation and the possibility of using nuclear weapons, American officials believe that the American homeland will not be hit, which is extremely dangerous and may lead to "reckless" behavior. Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov said that Western countries have misjudged Russia, and Russia is prepared to "use any means" to protect its interests. As for the conditions for peace talks with Ukraine, Lavrov said that Ukraine's non-aligned status is a key principle, and Ukraine must not join NATO, have foreign military bases, or conduct military exercises with foreign troops.
International News Snippets
French President Macron Accepts Prime Minister Barnier's Resignation
French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a televised address on the evening of December 5 that he had accepted Prime Minister Michel Barnier's resignation and that a new prime minister would be announced in the coming days. Macron also ruled out the possibility of his own resignation in the speech. Until a new prime minister is appointed, Barnier will continue to manage daily government affairs and emergency management. On December 2, Barnier "forcibly" passed next year's social security budget bill without a vote by the French National Assembly, prompting left-wing and far-right members of the National Assembly to initiate a vote of no confidence, which passed on the evening of December 4.
Major Oil Producers Extend Voluntary Production Cuts
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) issued a statement on December 5, stating that eight OPEC and non-OPEC oil-producing countries decided to extend their voluntary production cuts of 2.2 million barrels per day, originally set to expire at the end of December this year, until the end of March next year. The eight countries initially announced these voluntary production cuts in November 2023 and have since extended them multiple times. According to the statement, major oil producers will gradually withdraw the production cuts later, depending on market conditions.
Germany's Industrial New Orders Fall 1.5% in October
Data released by the German Federal Statistical Office on December 5 showed that, after seasonal and calendar adjustments, Germany's industrial new orders fell by 1.5% month-on-month in October. The decline in new orders was mainly concentrated in the machinery manufacturing and automotive sectors, with month-on-month decreases of 7.6% and 3.7%, respectively.
Iran Successfully Launches Simorgh Satellite Carrier
On December 6, Iran successfully launched the Saman-1 space tug, a satellite belonging to the Iranian military, and scientific research equipment into orbit using the Simorgh satellite carrier. According to Iranian state television, this launch was Iran's "largest payload launch ever."
7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Northern California Coast
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of northern California, USA, on December 5, with a focal depth of 0.6 kilometers. According to US media reports, at least 39 aftershocks of magnitude 2.5 or greater have occurred in the area. No casualties have been reported yet. Power outages occurred in some parts of California due to the earthquake. After the earthquake, the National Weather Service's National Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for the northern California coast, which was canceled about an hour later.
24 Solar Terms: Major Snow
Major Snow (Daxue) is the 21st of the 24 solar terms and the third solar term of winter. At the end of the program, we enter Natural China to experience the beauty of the Major Snow solar term. During Major Snow, temperatures drop further, rivers and mountains in the north begin to freeze, and when it snows, snowflakes dance in the sky, covering the earth in silver, presenting a magnificent scene of "a thousand miles of ice, ten thousand miles of swirling snow"; while in the south, it is "snow not yet thick, winter deepening," with distant mountains faintly visible, villages awakening in the glow of dawn, and mist enveloping, making heaven and earth like an ink wash painting. During Major Snow, growth continues. Wheat and rapeseed in the Jianghuai and southern regions grow slowly, while wheat in South China and Southwest China enters the tillering stage. The silent falling snow paints a winter scroll.