Typhoon Bavi: China’s most powerful storm of the year hit Zhejiang with two landfalls, driving nearly 2 million evacuations and triggering red rain alerts, flight and rail disruptions, and fears of flash floods and landslides across eastern provinces. South China Sea: The US, UK, Australia and 12 others reiterated that the 2016 Hague ruling is final and legally binding, rejecting “destabilising” actions as China continues to contest the award. Food delivery crackdown: China’s market regulator drafted rules to curb price-war tactics by delivery platforms, aiming to stop forced promotions and long-term subsidies that squeeze restaurant margins. AI access controls: Beijing held talks with major tech firms about restricting overseas access to advanced Chinese AI models and tightening penalties around AI theft or leaks. Space race: China successfully recovered a reusable Long March-10B booster using a sea-based net system, joining SpaceX and Blue Origin in landing an orbital rocket stage. Central bank gold buying: The PBOC reported its biggest monthly gold reserve increase in over two years, adding about 15 metric tons in June despite a sharp bullion price drop. Tech supply squeeze: In Shenzhen’s electronics hub, memory and SSD shortages are pushing PC component prices higher, hitting consumers and delaying builds.