Chongqing authorities launched rockets to induce artificial rain, which led to a devastating storm

Chongqing authorities launched rockets to induce artificial rain, which led to a devastating storm. Samsung China plans to lay off 30% of its employees in the sales department due to sluggish domestic demand in China. The average monthly salary at 42 mainland-listed banks has decreased, and 30,000 employees have been laid off. To solve the problem of the heat wave in Chongqing, the Chinese government used special rockets to create rain. But in defiance of heaven, earth, and nature, there were consequences. After a series of rockets were launched, strong convective winds, a hurricane, and heavy rain hit Chongqing and 17 other districts, causing serious damage. According to Upstream News, the Chongqing Weather Modification Office carried out including from 2 p.m. on September 2nd to 2 a.m. on September 3rd, firing 158 anti-aircraft shells, 37 rockets, and burning 24 smoke strips. There was light to moderate rain in the operation area, with heavy rain in some areas, with rainfall ranging from 0.1 millimeters to 31.4 millimeters. According to the weather conditions released by the Chongqing Meteorological Observatory, from 7 a.m. on September 2nd to 7 a.m. on September 3rd, gusty winds of level 8 or above occurred at 70 meteorological observation stations in 20 districts and counties in Chongqing, with a maximum wind speed of 34.4 meters per second. Because of the strong winds, many roadside trees were blown down, and some outdoor billboards were also torn off. A local netizen posted a video online saying that after the artificial rainfall, a floor-to-ceiling window on the 16th floor was completely blown off. "'Our window!' the female homeowner exclaimed in the video. She captioned the video. "'A sudden strong wind blew away the entire window on the 16th floor. Thanks to the artificial rainfall, I discovered this shoddy construction a day earlier.' Not far away, a gas station was damaged. Many large trees were uprooted. Some were snapped by the strong wind, and cars were crushed. Netizens complained. Other places had natural disasters, but Chongqing had man-made disasters. Moreover, after the heavy rain and strong winds, local residents commented, "'It's even hotter today. The artificial rainfall failed. And it's like the end of the world.'" Some netizens criticized, "'I don't know how much significance this rainfall has. It's still scorching today.' Although there were strong winds and heavy rain yesterday afternoon, many trees and some buildings were damaged. Cars parked on the roadside were crushed by trees, and electric vehicles were blown down, twisted and bent, leaving a mess everywhere. Artificial rainfall is destroying the ecological balance. Temporary rainfall in Chongqing is worse than the high temperatures. It's hot when there's no rain, and it's stuffy and steamy when it does rain. The Chongqing Meteorological Observatory predicts that the highest daytime temperature on the 3rd will still be 42 degrees Celsius, and a high-temperature red warning signal was issued at 11.20 a.m. on the same day. The highest daytime temperature in Chongqing on the 4th and 5th is also expected to be above 40 degrees Celsius. Since late August, Chongqing has been experiencing high temperatures. On September 3rd, China Weather Weibo reported that, starting from noon today, the top 10 high-temperature rankings in the country were all stations in eastern Sichuan and Chongqing, most of which were stations in Chongqing. At 1,400, they were all stations in Chongqing, which dominated. The heat in eastern Sichuan and Chongqing remains severe. In the afternoon, the surface temperature in many places exceeded 50 degrees Celsius, and some areas surpassed 60 degrees Celsius. Xi'an and Anyue even exceeded 70 degrees Celsius. Chongqing Weather Forecast said that it is expected Chongqing will continue to experience sunny, hot and high-temperature weather for the next 10 days, September 3rd to 12, with no significant precipitation. Samsung China plans to lay off 30% of its employees in the sales department due to sluggish domestic demand in China. Due to China's economic downturn and weak domestic demand, Samsung Electronics plans to lay off 30% of its employees in its sales department in China by 2025, with the first wave of layoffs affecting 8%, or about 130 people. The Seoul Economic Daily reported on September 4th that intensified competition in the Chinese market and weak domestic demand caused by the economic downturn have made Samsung Electronics operating prospects in China uncertain. In response, the company has implemented extreme restructuring measures. According to industry sources, Samsung Electronics China recently issued a restructuring notice to employees in the sales department and has begun accepting voluntary resignation applications from employees. It is expected that 8% of the 1,600 sales employees in China, or about 130 people, will be affected in the first round of layoffs. This layoff is just the beginning. It is expected that layoffs may reach 30% by next year, said a company insider. Due to sluggish sales of Samsung smart TVs, smartphones and other products in the Chinese market, the company plans to lay off Chinese employees in the sales department and indirect support staff in the production department by next year, with the layoff process already initiated. Samsung Electronics China stated that the layoffs are intended to improve organizational efficiency and market competitiveness and to make necessary business adjustments and personnel optimization. The company plans to reduce the number of employees in its Chinese sales department by about 30% by 2025. Reports indicate that all of Samsung Electronics China's sales employees are locally hired Chinese staff. The news of layoffs has reportedly shocked many of these employees. Since 2018, Samsung Electronics has successively closed several mobile phone and computer factories in China, transferring production to India, Vietnam, and other countries. At the same time, Samsung laid off a large number of Chinese employees, which has had a noticeable impact on the local economy. The average monthly salary at 42 mainland-listed banks has decreased, and 30,000 employees have been laid off. The semi-annual reports of mainland A-share-listed companies have been disclosed, revealing the average salary of more than 2.5 million employees across 42 banks. For the first time, the average monthly salary has declined, and the overall number of employees has decreased by more than 30,000. Due to pressure on the banking industry's operations, the total number of employees at these 42 listed banks decreased in the first half of this year, and overall salaries dropped for the first time. It is estimated that the annual salary outlook for bank employees may not be optimistic. Data shows that the average salary in the banking industry generally declined in the first half of 2024. For example, the average monthly salary at China Merchants Bank decreased by 3.7% year-on-year in 2023. Today, the average monthly salary at the bank is 6,000 yuan lower than it was three years ago. In terms of employee numbers, the total workforce at these 42 listed banks exceeds 2.56 million, a reduction of about 38,000 people compared to the beginning of the year. Cutting staff and reducing salaries may be among the measures banks are taking to improve efficiency and reduce costs. In the first half of this year, most banks reduced their workforces. Of the 42 listed banks, 32 saw a reduction in staff compared to the beginning of the year. Changes in employee numbers at the six state-owned banks have garnered the most attention. ICBC saw the largest reduction. According to the bank's semi-annual report, as of the end of June, ICBC had a total of 409,000 employees, a decrease of more than 10,000 compared to the end of 2023. In recent years, salary cuts and layoffs in the banking industry have become unavoidable topics for bankers. On the evening of August 15th, Ping An Bank released its 2024 interim report, which provided detailed information on its workforce, serving as a comprehensive example of bank layoffs in the first half of this year. By comparing Ping An Bank's data from the end of 2023 to June 30th, 2024, it was found that within half a year, the number of employees dropped from 42,757 to 40,452, with 2,305 layoffs. This data only covers Ping An Bank, not Ping An Wealth Management. Ping An Bank has five branches with more than 1,000 employees, all of which experienced layoffs exceeding 100 people. Among these five branches, the Hangzhou branch had the highest layoff ratio, close to 9%. In parallel with the layoffs, the number of Ping An Bank's business institutions has also decreased. While the number of branches remained unchanged, the number of business outlets dropped from 1,201 to 1,180, a reduction of 21. The Shenzhen branch, for example, decreased from 101 to 97 outlets, a loss of four. Social media users commented that salary cuts are now commonplace and layoffs are even worse. An Anhui-based blogger, Xiaoyi, recently shared that when she visited a nearby bank, the teller mentioned that their branch would be closing this month, leaving only the adjacent ATM. She remarked that many people are aware that life in the financial industry has become challenging. Since Ping An Bank is considered an upper-middle-tier institution in China's financial sector, its situation may represent the broader state of the industry. At the end of 2023, Ping An Bank had 34,496 employees in its banking business division. By the end of June 2024, that number had decreased to 32,308, with 2,188 layoffs. A large number of unemployed young people live under the Guangzhou-Shenzhen bridge. In recent years, China's economy has continued to deteriorate. The unemployment rate remains high, and layoffs have swept across all walks of life. In first-tier cities, such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which are relatively wealthy, a large number of unemployed young people are forced to sleep under bridges and live a hard life because they have no money to pay rent. Video footage shows a large number of unemployed young people living under a bridge in Guangdong. They have no fixed jobs and no money to pay rent. Sometimes they rely on picking up waste to sell for some money to eat. This is a large group of unemployed people living under bridges in Shenzhen. The netizen who filmed the video said that the economy will be worse next year and that there will be more unemployed young people here. The economy is not good, and it is difficult to find a job. In Huizhou, Guangdong, a 20-year-old young man who did not find a job sat on the overpass overnight. A kind passerby offered him a room to sleep, but he refused. Under the square of Shenzhen Longhua bus station, a large number of unemployed young people gather every day and sleep in the open air. The video publisher said that if outsiders come to film, they will be driven away or even beaten by these young people. In a park in Guangdong, several unemployed young people lived on park benches but were driven away by policemen and were not allowed to stay. The trees in the park were still hung with the young people's spare clothes. On the streets of Shenzhen, a college student who graduated from a prestigious university was laid off by a large factory and was forced to sing on the street. The sad lyrics resonated with the audience and they sang together, reflecting on the hardships faced by contemporary young people. Some netizens posted a video explaining why many young people choose to lie down. One joked that he also wanted to get married but was originally 1 million yuan short of buying a house. After working hard for a year, he found that he was 1.5 million yuan short. He had no choice but to give up and no longer wanted to marry or have children. Although it was a joke, it voiced the frustrations of many workers. Some netizens commented, Yes, I can't manage it now and I won't worry about it when I get old. It's useless. In the end, it's all for nothing. The video of a large number of unemployed young people living under the bridge attracted attention. Some netizens asked, Where have all the Chinese government officials and the Ministry of Commerce gone? Why are so many young people unemployed? They are all good kids. At least they didn't break the law. If this continues, the country will be ruined. Beijing Shanghai Department Stores Close in three months, Chinese youth cry in the streets because of unemployment and deadlock. In China, the rise in homelessness is evident. People lack basic necessities like a home or even a dream for the future. Surviving each day becomes the primary goal highlighting the dire situation many face. The economy is in shambles, with businesses struggling and factories closing down. This downturn leads to a decrease in purchasing power and a wave of bankruptcies across various sectors, including retail and real estate. Amidst this turmoil, individuals find themselves without a stable income, resorting to temporary jobs just to make ends meet. The term skilled individuals is used mockingly to describe those who wander the streets in search of work. These individuals, often without a fixed address, perpetuate a cycle of poverty, unable to escape the downward spiral. For those living on the streets, life is a constant struggle. They work sporadically, spending what little they earn on basic necessities like food and shelter. Many have been away from their families for years, unable to afford the journey home. They exist in a state of aimless drift, with no plans or dreams for the future. The government's neglect exacerbates the situation, leaving these individuals to fend for themselves. Some have resorted to selling their IDs to obtain loans, further trapping them in a cycle of debt. Despite their resilience, the lack of support and opportunities pushes them deeper into despair. How dire is the situation for businesses in the city? Let's examine the state of shopping malls in Shanghai. It's strikingly deserted in this vast mall. The only occupants are the sales staff. This image of a Shanghai shopping center was captured by a delivery person. There's a distinct lack of consumer activity. Not only is foot traffic virtually non-existent, but numerous products are also being offered at discounted prices, and the whereabouts of store attendants are uncertain. Even apparel and shoe stores are devoid of patrons. The individuals behind the video, these potential customers, are simply not engaging in spending. Women's clothing sales have plummeted, indicating a diminishing female consumer base. Consequently, the male consumer demographic is even further diminished. A prominent brand outlet sits vacant. Even dining establishments are reliant on sporadic takeout orders. Additionally, there are several storefronts available for rent, with owners hoping to recoup losses and stem financial hemorrhage. Retail activity in Shanghai is on a decline. Video footage from the CCF Shanghai International Daily Necessities Spring Fair shows a noticeable lack of visitors and buying activity. Even the once-vibrant 818 Plaza on Ning West Road is now empty, with ground-floor shops abandoned. This is surprising considering its prime location near the bustling Miao Ming North Road pedestrian street and opposite the famous Wang Jasha Hungi Automobile's flagship showroom. Some remnants of Hungi logos can still be seen on the walls. Hungi, an electric vehicle brand under the Evergrande Group, faced challenges due to Everest financial troubles and delays in Huni's production, leading to a bleak market outlook. Questions arise as to why such a prime location remains unoccupied. Additionally, all shops on the second and third floors of the mall are closed, with the fourth floor mostly vacant except for a hair salon. On a typical Thursday afternoon, salon employees are seen lingering in front of the store. The closure of department stores in Shanghai has raised concerns about the city's economic downturn. On February 5, 2024, Shanghai's iconic department store, Shanghai 600, announced its closure. Locals lament the changes in the retail landscape as other stores like Pacific Department Store, Plaza 66, and Oriental Department Store have also lost their former glory. Many shops have shut down following the pandemic, signaling the end of the bustling atmosphere in historic Xujiahu. Reports suggest that Shanghai 600's employees are being laid off, with owners and managers disappearing after settling final severance payments. Additionally, Jordana Ladies, a high-end women's clothing brand under the Hong Kong Fashion Group, closed its Shanghai Gonghu Plaza store on March 26 after a decade of operation and several relocations. Shanghai's economy is struggling because foreign investment has decreased. A report by the Financial Times says that China, especially Shanghai, is not as appealing to foreign businesses anymore. This is because of strict policies like the zero-Covid rule and laws against espionage. As a result, many foreign companies have left. A recent survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, which has 325 member companies, shows that only 52% of them feel positive about their business future in China over the next five years. This is the lowest level of optimism since the survey started in 1999. Despite hopes for a better year in 2023, business confidence has actually gone down. Both local and foreign companies are reconsidering their investments in China. The decline in the department store industry is not just happening in Shanghai. In Beijing, the Contemporary Mall closed down in December 2023 after being open for 28 years. Located in a prime area near universities and business districts, the mall faced challenges due to changing consumer preferences. As a response, the old department store decided to undergo renovations. In the year 2024, there has been a notable increase in the closure of supermarkets, particularly affecting the traditional large-scale markets. This trend underscores the formidable obstacles confronting the industry, a sluggish economy resulting in reduced consumer spending, heightened competition from new market entrants, and established stores grappling to adapt to evolving consumer preferences. The retail sector in China has borne the brunt of the pandemic, compelling the shutdown of numerous long-standing department stores. In the year 2022 alone, more than 40 department stores ceased operations, with 27 of them having served customers for over a decade. Subsequently, in 2023, over 20 department stores shuttered due to various factors such as lease expirations, management issues, or strategic adjustments. Fast forward to the present, 2024 witnesses the announcement of closure by 10 more long-standing department stores, with 5 closing down entirely and 5 undergoing refurbishments or redevelopment. The primary drivers behind these closures are the expiry of leases and the operational strains experienced by these stores. Adding to the industry's challenges are the formidable presence of e-commerce platforms, presenting a significant obstacle to traditional brick-and-mortar stores. A report issued by China's Central Enterprise CICC in 2024 reveals that a staggering 86.3% of department stores identify insufficient consumer spending as their foremost challenge. Despite an 8.8% increase in overall sales in 2023, nearly 70% of these stores report that foot traffic has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, largely attributed to the dismal sales performance in 2022 amidst the pandemic-induced economic downturn. The confluence of high unemployment and meager wages further exacerbates the situation, constraining consumer purchasing power. Data from CICC for the year 2022 underscores this predicament, revealing that a majority of the population earns monthly incomes below 5,000 yuan. Economist Zheng Xiaonong highlights the alarming trend of China's dwindling middle class and shrinking wealthy elite, as evidenced by the declining number of billionaires globally and the diminishing wealth of affluent families. Zheng Xia's research unveils the stark reality of China's impoverished middle class, burdened by an average debt of 2 million yuan per household. With a staggering 84% of the population categorized as impoverished, the government's policies, predominantly focused on bolstering manufacturing and domestic demand, fail to address the pressing needs of the populace. This lopsided approach risks perpetuating a cycle of borrowing and debt repayment, further exacerbating the economic woes. Despite grappling with inflation, China grapples with deflationary pressures stemming from subdued consumer spending, further compounded by the reluctance of consumers to make purchases amid falling prices. This challenging economic landscape has profound implications for businesses, impeding their ability to move inventory and impacting factory operations.