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Real-time News
August 19th - Today, the Change-7 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y14 carrier rocket completed their technical work at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China, and the combined spacecraft and rocket have been vertically transported to the launch area. The Change-7 probe and the Long March-5 Y14 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in April and July respectively, and have successively completed assembly, testing, and other preparatory work. Currently, the launch site facilities and equipment are in good condition, and subsequent pre-launch functional checks, joint tests, and propellant loading will be carried out as planned, with launch scheduled for the coming days.Canadian Prime Minister Carney: Significant progress has been made in negotiations with the United States, but important work still needs to be done.On August 19th, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) announced that it expects the South Korean economy to grow by 3.2% in 2026, higher than its May forecast of 2.5%, citing strong global demand for chips, with the benefits expected to gradually translate into the domestic economy. This latest forecast is higher than the South Korean governments 3% prediction and the International Monetary Funds (IMF) 2.6% forecast released last month. As economists and policymakers raise their growth expectations, the KDI is attempting to incorporate surging AI demand and assess its sustainability. The KDI stated that the expansionary momentum of the South Korean economy since the second half of last year is expected to continue, with AI demand continuing to drive semiconductor exports, offsetting the impact of increased import costs due to the Middle East wars. The KDI projects that South Korean exports will grow by 8.7% this year and 5% next year.On August 19, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office held a regular press conference. A reporter asked: According to Taiwanese media reports, relevant parties in Taiwan are calling for the restoration of more direct flights between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Is the spokesperson aware of the relevant progress? Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian stated that the efforts of relevant parties and enthusiastic individuals in Taiwan to advocate for the restoration of more direct flights between the two sides fully reflect the shared desire of compatriots on both sides of the Strait to fully restore the normalization of direct air passenger flights. However, it is understood that the Taiwan Civil Aviation Authority rejected the charter flight application on the grounds that it was not within the scope of holiday charter flights. The DPP authorities should face up to the realistic demand for direct air passenger flights between the two sides of the Strait, follow the will of the people, and remove the unreasonable restrictions on cross-strait air transport as soon as possible.On August 19th, the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Shanghai Zhangjiang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone." The plan proposes to improve the science and technology investment and financing system, strengthen the functions of the professional angel investment service platform, and optimize the early-stage investment ecosystem. It also aims to improve venture capital exit channels, vigorously develop private equity secondary market funds (S funds) and M&A funds, support the creation of an equity investment cluster, support qualified high-quality technology companies to list on the Science and Technology Innovation Board (STAR Market), encourage enterprises to utilize the pilot policy of M&A loans to implement supply chain M&A, and make good use of structural monetary policies such as re-lending for technological innovation and technological transformation. Furthermore, it encourages technology companies to issue innovation and entrepreneurship corporate bonds and investment institutions to issue technology innovation bonds. The plan also promotes the construction of a demonstration area for the integration of finance and technology industries, and encourages private capital, foreign capital, and other social capital to participate in park construction and industrial innovation.
