How today looks from inside China

Jiangsu official outlines data-element reform plan to spur economic growth

Zhu Aixun, director of Jiangsu’s Development and Reform Commission, detailed a six-pronged framework for accelerating data-element reform in the province. The plan targets bottlenecks in data circulation and value release through measures spanning trading systems, market-player cultivation, supply-demand matching, and cross-border flows. The remarks were made in an interview with state-affiliated outlet Sanlihe.

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University team visits Guizhou old revolutionary areas to document rural revitalization

A student practice team from Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai) visited Zunyi and Chishui in Guizhou province as part of a national ideological education activity marking the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory. The team toured villages including Huamao and Lianhua, where local officials reported sharp income growth and ecological improvements driven by red tourism and bamboo industries.

Iran's president says Supreme Leader Khamenei in 'very good health' after 7-hour meeting

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in 'very good health,' following a roughly seven-hour meeting. The report, carried by China's Xinhua News Agency via Iranian state media, said the two discussed domestic and foreign challenges, including livelihoods, employment, housing, and sanctions. Pezeshkian characterized the talks as 'very successful' and noted the Supreme Leader's emphasis on national unity against hostile forces attempting to sow division.

Feihe touts tech breakthroughs to redefine 'freshness' and lead China's dairy upgrade

Chinese dairy giant Feihe is promoting its technological self-sufficiency and expansion into all-age nutrition. The company reports 2025 revenue of 18.11 billion yuan and claims to have achieved 100% self-production of 161 key raw materials, including lactoferrin, breaking a historic reliance on imports. Chairman Leng Youbin frames these moves as answering the state's call for technological self-reliance under the 15th Five-Year Plan.

US judge rules 32 universities must face lawsuit over alleged early-admission collusion

A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled on August 10 that 32 prominent US universities, including Duke, Cornell, and Northwestern, must face a proposed class-action lawsuit. The suit, filed by former students, accuses the schools of conspiring through their 'early decision' admissions programs to avoid competing for each other's accepted applicants, thereby inflating tuition costs for tens of thousands of students. The judge found the plaintiffs' allegations of antitrust violations to be plausibly argued.

County in Gansu showcases east-west collaboration with industry projects

Weiyuan County in Gansu Province has received investment and industrial support from Chengyang District, Qingdao, Shandong, under China’s east-west paired assistance program. The cooperation has brought a sportswear manufacturing base, a cold-water fish farming project, highland vegetable cultivation, and a solar-plus-storage energy project. The initiatives are reported to create thousands of local jobs and transfer technology and management expertise from the east.

Netanyahu rejects Trump-backed Gaza peace plan, citing need for far-right support

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected a 15-point Gaza peace plan proposed by a U.S.-led 'peace committee,' stating Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed. The move, reported on August 9, is widely seen as a rare open rift with U.S. President Donald Trump. The article attributes the rejection to Netanyahu's need to secure support from far-right coalition partners ahead of upcoming Israeli elections.

Magnitude 3.9 earthquake strikes Gao County in Sichuan's Yibin, depth 5 km

China Earthquake Networks Center officially recorded a magnitude 3.9 earthquake at 05:31 on August 11, 2026, in Gao County, Yibin City, Sichuan Province, at coordinates 28.53°N, 104.66°E, with a focal depth of 5 kilometers. The report, sourced from CCTV, provides only the seismic parameters and does not mention casualties or damage.

Azerbaijan-China cooperation potential accelerating, says parliamentary friendship group head

Sultan Mammadov, head of the Azerbaijan-China inter-parliamentary friendship group, told Xinhua that bilateral relations are advancing in politics, trade, and green energy. He cited a 2025 joint declaration on a comprehensive strategic partnership as a foundation, and noted that China's share of Azerbaijan's total foreign trade rose from 7.9% to 9.9% in 2025. Mammadov described China as a reliable partner and said expanding cooperation is a strategic priority for Baku.

U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve Drops Below 300 Million Barrels as Oil Prices Surge

International oil prices rose sharply on August 10, with U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate climbing over 5% to settle at $82.13 per barrel. The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) fell by 6.1 million barrels to 298.7 million barrels, its lowest level since 1983. The report, sourced from state broadcaster CCTV, notes the drawdown is part of ongoing releases to offset supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, including a 172-million-barrel release ordered by the Trump administration in March.

Colombia 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Kills 111, President Says

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced that a 7.5 magnitude earthquake on August 10 killed 111 people, injured 87, and caused 61 buildings to collapse, according to a brief CCTV report carried by Sina News. The dispatch provided no further details on the quake's location, depth, or ongoing rescue efforts.

Japanese netizens say denial of atomic bombings is a 'boomerang' from their own history distortion

Around the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, NHK reported a surge of online posts in Japan falsely claiming the atomic bombings never happened. The report traces the claims to a right-wing自媒体 (self-media) figure. Some Japanese commenters responded by linking this denialism to Japan's own long-standing revisionism on wartime atrocities, calling it a 'boomerang' effect. The article also highlights Russian criticism of Prime Minister Takaichi for omitting mention of the US role in the bombings during a memorial speech.

Foreign Blogger Experiences Shenzhen's Future as Normal Life

Italian travel blogger Giacomo Piva shared his day in Shenzhen, describing the city's futuristic skyline, robots delivering packages and cleaning streets, fully driverless taxis, drone food delivery, and robot-made coffee. He concludes that in Shenzhen, the future has become the norm.

Traditional crafts and Hanfu drive 'China Chic' consumption boom among foreign tourists

A People's Daily Overseas Edition report, republished by Sina, describes a surge in foreign tourists purchasing traditional Chinese crafts and clothing. It highlights immersive experiences like Thangka painting in Gansu and fish-lantern parades in Anhui, alongside the booming export of Hanfu garments from manufacturing hubs like Caoxian County. The piece attributes this trend to a rebound in inbound tourism and the modernization of traditional products.

Chinese cities race to partner with humanoid robot maker Unitree ahead of its IPO

Unitree Technology, billed as China's first publicly listed humanoid robot company, began its IPO subscription on the Shanghai STAR Market on August 10. The article, originally from the National Business Daily, details how multiple Chinese cities—including Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Tianjin—have secured equity stakes or established joint research labs and subsidiaries with the firm. The piece frames this as a strategic race among local governments to secure a position in the future industrial chain as the sector enters a critical window for mass production and real-world deployment.

Trump demands Iran pay compensation, claims U.S. controls Strait of Hormuz; Iran reshuffles top military brass

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on August 10 that he has instructed his representatives to demand compensation from Iran in all future negotiations, citing past attacks including the 2000 USS Cole bombing. He also claimed the U.S. effectively controls the Strait of Hormuz and has cleared Iranian mines there. Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed six new senior military commanders, including a new armed forces chief of staff and a new head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. President Pezeshkian reported that Khamenei is in good health after an hours-long meeting.

Intern nurse at Shanxi hospital reportedly posted patient’s intimate photos online

A social media post showing what appears to be an intern nurse at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University sharing unblurred photos from an obstetric surgery, including a patient’s private parts, sparked online outrage. The hospital acknowledged the incident but had not issued a formal response by press time. The nurse’s work badge indicated she had been in the department for less than two months.

Beijing Meteorologists: Typhoon Bailu's Impact More Complex Than 2023's Doksuri

On August 10, the China Meteorological Administration held a press briefing on Typhoon Bailu. Beijing's chief forecaster, Zhai Liang, stated that while the current rainfall circulation pattern shares some similarities with the 2023 Typhoon Doksuri event, it is significantly more complex. He cited simultaneous influences from a western trough and another eastern typhoon, making direct comparisons impossible. The forecast will be continuously updated as the system evolves.

Kunshan, Jiangsu upgrades flood emergency response to highest level

Kunshan City in Jiangsu Province raised its flood control emergency response to Level I at 3:30 p.m. on August 10, according to CCTV. The upgrade follows a red rainstorm warning and reflects rising water levels from Typhoon White Dolphin. The local flood control and drought relief headquarters ordered all districts and departments to fully implement emergency measures.