- *Fireworks shop explosion in Hubei:* A blast at a retail fireworks store in Zhengji Town, Xiangyang, killed 12 people on Wednesday afternoon. Emergency crews extinguished the fire by 3:30 pm, and investigators are still probing the cause ¹ ².
- *Lunar New Year market closures:* Mainland China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges are shut from Feb 16‑23, while Hong Kong’s bourse stays closed through Feb 19. Trading will resume on Feb 24 (mainland) and Feb 20 (HK) ³.
- *Private sector’s role in 2026 growth:* CGTN highlights how private firms—from AI startups like DeepSeek to drone‑delivery giant Meituan—are driving consumption, tech innovation, and export resilience, now accounting for over 70% of national sales and 57% of foreign trade ⁴.
- *US‑Iran tensions echo in Beijing:* Chinese analysts view the escalating US military posturing near the Strait of Hormuz as a domestic‑politics‑driven bluff, warning it could destabilize regional shipping routes and energy flows ⁵.