Erinome: Hello dear friends, and welcome back to our show! I'm Erinome.

Enceladus: And I'm Enceladus. We're here to share some of the latest news with you. Let's see what's happening.

Erinome: Okay, let's start with some very sad news from Hong Kong. A terrible fire in Da Pu has led to 128 deaths and 83 injuries. Oh no, it's just awful. And they say 150 people are still missing.

Enceladus: That is heartbreaking. So many people affected. And I see there's an update on the investigation. The Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption has arrested three more people, bringing the total number of arrests to 11.

Erinome: Well, in response to this tragedy, there has been a lot of support. The China Social Welfare Foundation announced an update on its fundraising. Nearly one million people have donated. Wow.

Enceladus: That's amazing to see people coming together to help. And the Hong Kong government also said that donations and government funds have reached 1.1 billion Hong Kong dollars. That's a lot of money to help the victims.

Erinome: Yes, it is. Moving on to some health news. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that the rate of positive flu tests in the country is now close to 45%. This means we are at a medium level of flu season overall.

Enceladus: 45%? Wow, that's quite high. And it says some provinces have even reached a high level. Everyone should be careful and take care of their health.

Erinome: Definitely. Now for some economic news. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported that in the first 10 months of the year, retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas reached 5.5 trillion yuan.

Enceladus: 5.5 trillion! And you know what's interesting? The report says this is a 4.6% increase from last year. This growth is 0.4 percentage points higher than in the cities. It seems the countryside is spending more.

Erinome: That is interesting. And speaking of movement, the Ministry of Transport shared some data too. In the same 10 months, the number of cross-regional passenger trips in China was 56.88 billion.

Enceladus: 56.88 billion trips! That's a huge number. It's a 3.6% increase compared to last year. People are really traveling a lot.

Erinome: They are. Now, let's talk about a new policy. Several provinces have made it clear that areas with weaker financial situations should be very careful about offering new or increased subsidies for raising children.

Enceladus: Um, that makes sense. If a local government doesn't have enough money, it's probably wise not to make new promises for spending.

Erinome: I agree. Here's another new rule, this one from the central bank and other departments. Starting next year, when you withdraw more than 50,000 yuan in cash, you will no longer need to register the purpose of the withdrawal.

Enceladus: Oh, really? So it will be easier to take out your own money. That sounds like a convenient change for many people.

Erinome: It does. And here's a notice for people who ride electric bikes. From December 1st, the old standard electric bikes will no longer be sold.

Enceladus: You know that? I heard about this. The new national standard requires that all new bikes have 3C certification. And for safety, the motor will stop providing power when the speed goes over 25 kilometers per hour.

Erinome: That sounds like a good safety feature. Now, let's look at the markets. The international price of gold went up by 4.3% in one week. And November was the fourth month in a row that it has increased.

Enceladus: Wow. And it's not just gold. The price of silver has reached a new record high. It says the price has gone up by almost 90% this year. That is a huge increase!

Erinome: It really is. Now for some travel news related to Japan. In December, 904 flights from China to Japan have been canceled.

Enceladus: 904 flights? That's a lot. And travel agencies are saying that almost all group tours from China to Japan have been canceled. Also, about 40% of individual travel bookings have been canceled too.

Erinome: And there's more news from Japan. A Japanese media outlet reports that Tohoku University plans to increase tuition fees for foreign students by 70%. The university said this is to make a "distinction" between them and Japanese students.

Enceladus: 70% more? That's a big price difference. It will make studying there much more expensive for international students.

Erinome: Moving on to news from the United States. According to US media, former President Trump has announced that all documents signed by President Biden using an "auto-signature pen" are immediately no longer effective.

Enceladus: Okay, that's an unusual announcement. Also from the US, media reports say that the country has stopped issuing visas to individuals holding Afghan passports. And the US Treasury Secretary said they are working to cut off federal benefits for illegal immigrants.