Good morning, Beijing. Monday, June 22nd, the eighth day of the fifth lunar month in the Bingwu year, sees temperatures ranging from 20°C to 32°C, with traffic restrictions on vehicles ending in 2 and 7.
Today's weather will start sunny before turning cloudy, with scattered thunderstorms expected across most areas. Winds will shift from north to south, force 2 to 3, with gusts potentially reaching force 7 during storms. The high is forecast at 32°C. Overnight, skies will be mostly cloudy with intermittent showers or thunderstorms, and winds will change from south to north, force 1 to 2, with a low of 20°C. This afternoon, brief but intense rainfall is possible in western and northern areas, accompanied by strong gusts of around force 7 and small hail. Please take precautions.
From June 23rd to 28th, the weather will be predominantly overcast. Rainy periods are anticipated around the 23rd and the 26th. Stay updated with the latest forecasts and prepare accordingly.
In a recent update, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported the latest monitoring data for acute respiratory infections. There has been a fluctuation in respiratory disease cases recently, with rhinovirus being the most frequently detected pathogen in both outpatient influenza-like cases and severe hospitalized cases. Its positive detection rate is rising, showing a more rapid increase in northern provinces. The CDC advises the public to wear masks throughout their entire hospital visit. Wearing a mask is also recommended in crowded places or on public transport.
A draft of Beijing's museum regulations has been released for public consultation. It stipulates that state-owned museums must be open to the public for no less than 300 days per year, while non-state-owned museums should operate for at least 240 days annually. Beijing aims to deeply integrate museums with urban planning, cultural tourism, science, and education to optimize a unified city-wide layout. Citizens can submit suggestions for amendments to the draft until July 16th. The city supports establishing museums in repurposed heritage buildings and old factories. It also plans to create cultural exhibition spaces in transportation hubs, parks, and key commercial districts, develop museum-themed tour routes, and promote the integrated development of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions.
Located near Beijing's East Fifth Ring Road is a cluster of understated yet distinctive pale-yellow buildings. This is the site of the historic 491 Radio Station, which broadcast the grand ceremony of the founding of the People's Republic of China to the world. Now a nationally protected heritage site, the surrounding area has been transformed into a cultural and creative hub, becoming a trendy destination popular with young people.
Chinese refereeing team makes World Cup appearance, with Ma Ning issuing six yellow cards. At 8:00 AM Beijing Time on June 21st, the second round of Group E matches in the FIFA World Cup saw Ecuador face Curaçao in Kansas City, USA. The match was officiated by the Chinese refereeing trio of Ma Ning, Zhou Fei, and Fu Ming. Ma Ning served as the head referee, marking the first time in 24 years a Chinese referee has taken this role at a World Cup. Since the 2002 tournament, the Chinese men's national team has not qualified for the World Cup, and Chinese referees have not served as head referees. This time, Chinese referees have "returned to the World Cup stage" ahead of the national team. In this match, Ma Ning issued a total of six yellow cards, showcasing his reputation as a "card master."
Spain dominates with a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia; Belgium and Iran play to a 0-0 draw. In the early hours of June 22nd Beijing Time, Spain faced Saudi Arabia in the second round of Group H matches in Atlanta, USA. Spain completely dominated the match, securing a 4-0 win, with 18-year-old Lamine Yamal scoring his first World Cup goal.
On June 22nd Beijing Time, in the second round of Group G matches, Belgium and Iran played to a 0-0 draw.
Japan secures a commanding 4-0 win over Tunisia in the 1000th match in World Cup history. On June 21st Beijing Time, Japan defeated Tunisia 4-0 in their second Group F match, significantly improving their chances of advancing. Tunisia, with two consecutive losses, is confirmed to be eliminated, becoming the third team after Haiti and Turkey to exit the tournament early. This match was the 1000th official fixture in World Cup history.
Lei Jun responds to online buzz after being "roasted" by a child while having breakfast in Wuhan. On June 21st, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun appeared at the Beijing International Book Fair. Addressing the recent online discussion sparked by his breakfast outing in Wuhan, Lei chuckled, saying, "Such a simple thing actually trended for several days. I find it quite unbelievable. But upon reflection, in today's era of traffic and attention, praise generates traffic, criticism generates traffic, and mockery generates even more traffic. This might be a price we all have to pay in this era." Lei Jun noted that some critics have no real stance; they are merely chasing traffic. Many are even from "water army" companies that profit from generating online engagement. "When you see such reports, just take it with a grain of salt," he advised.
Yunnan Provincial Admissions and Examinations Authority apologizes for error in middle school entrance history exam. According to reports, an error was found in content on Panel 2 of Question 29 in the history section of Yunnan Province's 2026 middle school entrance exam. The Yunnan Provincial Department of Education has instructed the Provincial Admissions and Examinations Authority to immediately investigate the exam-setting process and assess the impact on test-takers. The verified issues are: (1) The statement "Thomas Edison was born in New York in 1882" is incorrect; it should be "born in Ohio in 1847." (2) The phrasing "Edison invented over 1,000 patented technologies including the electric light bulb, telephone, and motion pictures" is imprecise; it should be "Edison obtained over 1,000 invention patents in fields including the electric light bulb, telephone, and motion pictures." The Provincial Department of Education has formed an investigation team to look into the responsible units and individuals. Currently, the分管领导 (deputy head), the head of the exam-setting department, and the secretary for the history subject命题 at the Provincial Admissions and Examinations Authority have been suspended pending investigation. The head and members of the exam-setting panel will also face严肃追责问责 (serious accountability measures).
Six fatalities in residential fire in Luxi, Hunan. Reports indicate that a fire broke out on the first floor of a residential building on Zhuzhou North Road in Wuzhen Town, Luxi County, at 6:21 AM on June 21st. The incident has resulted in six deaths.
Japanese media reveals Japanese army injected humans with large amounts of horse and chicken blood during war of aggression against China. A report from a Japanese army medical conference in March 1940 indicates that during the war of aggression against China, Japanese forces疑似 (are suspected to have) repeatedly conducted experiments involving injecting animal blood into humans. The report shows the experiments took place in the autumn of 1938 at an undisclosed location, involving 23 subjects of unknown identity. Experimenters injected some subjects with animal blood or serum, including massive transfusions of horse blood into those in critical condition from blood loss, and injecting chicken blood into humans to observe its retention time. The report also states that subjects developed symptoms like high fever after the transfusions.
US Vice President Vance: US-Iran negotiations have made significant progress. Reports on June 21st state that US and Iranian delegations began talks in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. This is the first round of talks since the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding. US Vice President Vance stated that the negotiations have "made significant progress in the past few hours" and that "we expect to make more progress in relevant areas." Iranian President Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran will not give up its right to uranium enrichment, emphasizing that Iran has "clearly stated it will not build an atomic bomb." Pezeshkian noted that the US wants to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, and Iran has had no intention of doing so for years. "But one thing is clear: Iran will absolutely not give up its right to uranium enrichment, and the US will have to accept this," he said.
Norway to restrict AI use for primary and secondary school students, implementation set for late August. Reports on June 21st indicate that Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated on the 19th that the country will原则上 (in principle) completely ban the use of generative AI tools for primary school students and restrict their use for middle school students to prevent negative impacts on learning. Støre said at a press conference that "the most important thing in school is for children to learn to read, write, and do math," and using AI increases the risk of children skipping crucial steps in the learning process. Therefore, the Norwegian government has decided to implement the new rules at the start of the new school year in late August.
A touching rescue story from Guizhou. On May 27th, a young child accidentally fell into a river while playing near the bank in Kaili, Guizhou. The father jumped in to rescue them, but both were endangered by strong undercurrents. At this critical moment, 20-year-old food delivery rider Jin Xiaowu, along with Wang Fangyang, Zheng Chaochao, Jin Peijie, and others, jumped into the river one after another. Together, they successfully moved the father and child to safety. However, Jin Xiaowu, exhausted, was swept away by the undercurrent and tragically lost his life. A note in his phone clearly recorded his two goals for 2026: "Save 20,000 yuan" and "Buy a van for my father." Local authorities have initiated procedures to recognize Jin Xiaowu and the other brave individuals according to regulations.后续 (Subsequent) steps will involve initiating commendation work per policy and implementing support measures to切实帮助家属解决实际困难 (practically help the families resolve difficulties). Salute to these ordinary heroes who stepped up in a crisis!
Commentary: Relying on AI for college applications is unreliable; chart your own life path. As 2026 college entrance exam scores are about to be released,志愿填报 (college application) season is approaching. Reports indicate that tech and internet giants are competing to enter the new market of using AI to assist with applications, targeting the pressing needs of students and parents. However, experts warn that due to factors like data updates and algorithmic logic,盲目依赖 (blindly relying on) AI tools can easily lead to application mistakes. Standardized algorithmic answers难以代替 (are difficult to replace) personalized life choices. College application is a life-planning exercise where students examine themselves and look toward the future, testing their understanding of their own interests and abilities, and their judgment of social development trends. These unquantifiable personal traits are precisely what algorithms struggle to grasp. College application is never a simple data-matching exercise; it is a comprehensive life plan that balances academic scores, interests, personal characteristics, and long-term development. Algorithms can calculate score rankings and match admission probabilities, but they cannot quantify a student's passions and aptitudes, nor can they accurately predict industry trends or align with an individual's growth pace. The "optimal application plan" calculated by AI might be the best solution from one data dimension, but it is not necessarily the best solution for a student's life development. In fact, there are already many channels that can provide more authoritative consulting services than AI for students and parents. On June 21st, the 2026模拟演练 (simulation exercise) for college application填报 opened. The newly upgraded Ministry of Education "Sunshine志愿" information service system and the志愿辅助 (application assistance) platforms launched by provincial education考试院 (examination authorities) are all free, public channels. Algorithms can calculate probabilities but cannot calculate passion and perseverance; data can match institutions but cannot replace life decisions. Using technology as an aid and letting passion be the guide is the way to fill out the best application for each individual student.