Typhoon Dolphin: The storm hit China’s east and pushed inland toward Hubei, triggering evacuations and emergency flood response as Beijing braced for up to a third of its annual rainfall in 24 hours; Shanghai saw massive disruption with hundreds of flights canceled and flooding across districts. Space Program Setback: China’s Long March 7A exploded shortly after liftoff, destroying the Zhongxing-4B communications satellite; officials cited a flight anomaly and said an investigation is underway. Rare Earth Supply Push: China Northern Rare Earth Group plans a 50% expansion at Bayan Obo in Inner Mongolia, investing about $74 million to boost ore processing capacity for critical minerals. Tech Supply Chain & Chips: Reports say Apple and other US PC makers are testing Chinese CXMT memory chips after US firms face strained pricing and supply pressures tied to blacklisted Chinese suppliers. Monetary/Finance Link: Deutsche Bank was named the first European renminbi clearing bank, aiming to speed cross-border yuan settlement between Europe and China. Immigration Enforcement: China took legal action against 100+ Philippine nationals for illegal work or residence, signaling tighter scrutiny of foreigners’ status. Defense Security Alarm: UK Royal Navy drone cameras reportedly sent data to China via Chinese-made components, though the UK MoD says no sensitive systems were accessed. Diplomacy in the Pacific: China warned the Pacific Islands Forum secretary-general over Taiwan’s planned participation in a Palau summit, escalating regional tensions.