🔥 Hot Topics · Aug 1, 2026
Army Day honors Chinese soldiers; COVID test positivity rate tops 20% for the first time; 'AI stock god' fund liquidates, losing 140 billion yuan; US F-35B fighter crashes; Shandong police bust tobacco case involving poultry manure; EU AI Act transparency rules take effect; Spain's Ceuta enclave sees 60K migrants in 24 hours; Chen Tianqiao buys Shanghai hotel for 220M yuan; police protect teens who donated Japanese war crimes evidence; six major banks publicize loan rate caps; low-price data SIM cards phased out; Sichuan carrier live-fire footage revealed.
1. China's Most Handsome Troops
August 1 marks the founding anniversary of the PLA. Salute to the people's army and best wishes for its birthday.
2. COVID Test Positivity Rate Exceeds 20%
CDC surveillance shows COVID test positivity topped 20% for the first time in July 20-26, up 4 points week-over-week, at moderate prevalence, with southern provinces notably higher than northern.
3. 'AI Stock God' Liquidates, Losing 140 Billion Yuan
The hedge fund led by Leopold Aschenbrenner, heavily positioned in AI infrastructure, faced margin calls and liquidated all US holdings, losing about $20 billion (140 billion yuan).
4. US F-35B Stealth Fighter Crashes
On the morning of July 31, a US F-35B stealth fighter crashed at a San Diego military base after flying too low and missing the runway while preparing to land.
5. Tobacco Mixed with Poultry Manure Flows Nationwide
Shandong police bust an illegal tobacco operation, dismantling a black-market chain where tobacco was mixed with poultry manure and rotten leaves masked by baijiu. 17 suspects arrested.
6. Jordan, 63, and Haaland, 26, Pose Together
Haaland posts a photo with Michael Jordan on Instagram, both smiling, captioned 'No words needed.'
7. Spain's Ceuta Enclave Hit by 60K Illegal Migrants
Nearly 60K migrants entered Spain's Ceuta enclave from Morocco in 24 hours, exceeding half of its 83.6K population; 57 died en route. Von der Leyen calls the crossing 'unacceptable.'
8. Chen Tianqiao Buys Shanghai Hotel for 220M Yuan
Shanda Group acquires Shanghai Miya Hotel from GLP for about 220 million yuan, an 11-story standalone property in a prime location.
9. Police Protect Teens Who Donated War Crimes Evidence
Taizhou police open a case and launch targeted personal protection for Yang, a teen who donated original Japanese army germ-warfare archives and received online death threats.
10. Six Major Banks Publicize Personal Loan Rate Caps
ICBC, ABC, BOC, CCB, PSBC, and BCM publicize caps on total financing cost of personal loans under normal repayment, with annualized fees not exceeding the national ceiling.
11. Low-Price Data SIM Cards Fade Out
China's three carriers say SIM cards can only be sold via official channels from Aug 1, ending third-party online agent sales and the era of cheap high-data plans.
12. Live-Fire Footage of Sichuan Carrier Revealed
New footage of Sichuan (hull 51), first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, showcases its electromagnetic catapult and for the first time reveals live-fire tests of a new multi-purpose decoy round.
Sources and verification
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