How today looks from inside China

Hengnan county responds after $415M riverside project stalls for years

Authorities in Hengnan County, Hunan province, have acknowledged that a section of a 300-million-yuan ($41.5 million) riverside scenic belt project has been suspended since 2018. The county set up a special task force after media reports highlighted the stalled works, the re-cultivation of expropriated land, and claims that some of the land was basic farmland. A county investment company admitted the initial planning was poorly considered and that basic farmland protections have prevented a restart.

Serbia requests Russian firefighting plane as EU resources strained; Putin issues immediate order

Serbia requested and received a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 firefighting aircraft after its interior ministry said the European Union lacked available planes to help combat worsening wildfires. The Russian plane, dispatched on a direct order from President Vladimir Putin, landed on the evening of August 19 and began operations the following day. Serbia is not an EU member but can access its civil protection mechanism; however, widespread summer fires across Europe have depleted the bloc's resources.

Israeli military admits to shooting that killed 5-year-old Palestinian girl after two-year denial

The Israeli military has admitted it opened fire on a car carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab and her family in Gaza in January 2024, and shelled an ambulance sent to rescue her. The strikes killed Rajab, six relatives, and two paramedics. An internal military investigation, prompted by a telephone recording of the girl pleading for help, found troops fired on the vehicle and a tank shell hit the ambulance. The IDF announced a criminal investigation but rights groups note such probes rarely result in convictions.

孕妇误服有毒液体医院致歉：涉事医生暂停执业|九派新闻|医疗机构|葡萄糖|产检|产科_新浪新闻

Xi Jinping says China-Ecuador FTA is delivering dividends and showing potential

President Xi Jinping met Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa in Beijing on August 18. Xi stated that recent progress in bilateral ties reflects the benefits of the free trade agreement and demonstrates the potential of China's vast domestic market. Ecuadorian media and officials highlighted the tenth anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership and the opportunities for exports and investment created by the FTA and Belt and Road cooperation, as reported by an official media program.

Xi Jinping congratulates Hakainde Hichilema on re-election as Zambia's president

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Hakainde Hichilema on his re-election as president of Zambia, according to a Xinhua News Agency report carried by Sina News. Xi noted their two previous meetings and said he highly values the bilateral relationship. He expressed willingness to work with Hichilema to implement outcomes from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit and to elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

First mRNA cancer vaccine clears Phase 3 trial, jointly developed by Moderna and Merck

Moderna and Merck announced positive Phase 3 trial results for an individualized mRNA cancer vaccine. When combined with the immunotherapy Keytruda, the vaccine reduced the risk of recurrence or death in high-risk melanoma patients by 49% compared to Keytruda alone. The full data has not yet been published, but the companies plan to seek approval from the US FDA. The news drove a sharp rise in both companies' stock prices.

Malaysia Airlines completes pilot drug tests after crew member caught with 26 kg of narcotics

Malaysia Airlines has completed mandatory drug screening for all active pilots, with all results negative, following the July arrest of a second officer at Jakarta airport for allegedly carrying 26 kilograms of ecstasy and methamphetamine. The airline says the individual was an observer in the cockpit, not a flying pilot, and had not been on duty for two days prior to the flight. Screening will now expand to roughly 2,840 cabin crew by early September.

China to build roughly 60,000 km of premium self-drive tourism roads

China’s Ministry of Transport announced a plan to establish a premium self-driving tourism highway system during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030). Centered on ordinary national highways, the network will string together national cultural parks, core tourist sites, and scenic landscapes, forming a backbone of around 60,000 kilometers laid out in three rings, four horizontals, and five verticals. The report, sourced from CCTV, lists specific themed routes such as the Great Wall, Yellow River, Yangtze River, and Long March corridors.

China's railway investment hits 440.6 billion yuan in Jan–July, up 1.8%

From January to July, China invested 440.6 billion yuan in railway fixed assets, a 1.8% increase year-on-year, according to a China Net commentary citing the official 'China Railway' WeChat account. The piece describes the spending as both a milestone in the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan and a driver of regional economic vitality. It highlights progress on several new high-speed lines, including an 18-minute Guangzhou–Foshan link and the opening of the Xi’an–Ankang corridor through the Qinba mountains.

A Chinese Sturgeon's Journey Home: How a Decade of Yangtze Protection Revived a Species

A commentary published by Xinhua Daily Telegraph uses the life cycle of the Chinese sturgeon to illustrate the achievements of the Yangtze River conservation policy. The piece, framed as a poetic narrative, describes how the ancient fish's survival was threatened by pollution, shipping, and overfishing, but claims its fortunes have reversed under the 'Great Protection of the Yangtze' initiative. It cites a rise in the juvenile sturgeon's sea-entry survival rate from under 1% to 12.2%, attributing this to a fishing ban, habitat restoration, and artificial breeding and release programs.

Qiushi explains why disaster prevention and relief are 'extremely important'

A Qiushi article, framed as commentary on a recent speech by Xi Jinping, argues that disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief have become unprecedentedly important for China. It cites a series of recent disasters—dam failures, landslides, typhoons—and presents climate change, urbanization, and systemic interconnectedness as escalating threats. The piece outlines the 'seven upholds' experience and calls for integrating safety standards into all planning to protect lives and economic development.

University students retrace the Long March route in Ningxia for ideological education

Students from Ningxia University and Sanming University visited the Jiangtaibao Reunion Memorial Park in Xiji County, Ningxia, as part of a national ideological and political practice activity marking the 90th anniversary of the Long March's end. A guide recounted the 1936 reunion of Red Army forces, and students reflected on the hardships endured by soldiers their own age, pledging to apply the 'Long March spirit' to their studies in technology.

China rolls out 18 measures to boost county-level consumption

Nine central government departments, led by the Ministry of Commerce, have jointly issued a policy document outlining 18 measures to stimulate consumption in China's vast county-level and rural markets. The document, reported by state-aligned outlet Guangming Online, categorizes counties by economic strength and population, tailoring development priorities accordingly—from quality upgrades in richer areas to basic livelihood guarantees in smaller ones. It covers upgrading commercial facilities, expanding logistics networks, supporting local brands, and integrating culture, agriculture, and tourism to draw spending.

A decade of Yangtze conservation: how Jiangsu is reviving millennia-old cultural heritage

A Modern Express feature, republished by NetEase, marks the tenth anniversary of China's Yangtze River Protection strategy by detailing how Jiangsu province is integrating cultural heritage preservation with ecological restoration. The piece highlights archaeological discoveries from 8,000-year-old sites, the transformation of industrial shorelines into public cultural spaces, and efforts by young artisans to modernize intangible cultural heritage like the Taiping mud whistle.

China's top union body issues 15th Five-Year Plan for labor movement and union work

The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) has released its guiding document for the 2026–2030 period, the '15th Five-Year Plan for China's Labor Movement and Trade Union Work.' The plan, reported by Xinhua, outlines 11 priority areas including ideological guidance for workers, deepening industrial workforce reforms, protecting labor rights, and safeguarding political security in the labor sector. It sets 12 concrete targets across 8 areas such as cultivating 'great country artisans' and expanding union membership.

Sichuan banquet wall collapse kills 5, injures 17; local officials cite prior quake damage checks

A wall collapsed during a college-acceptance banquet in Changning County, Sichuan, on August 18, killing five people and injuring 17. The county emergency bureau said a temporary canopy accumulated rainwater, and the rope tension pulled down a parapet wall. The local township government stated it had been inspecting hazardous buildings after an earthquake and had previously campaigned against extravagant banquets.

KTV in Hangzhou assault case speaks out; two suspects detained and dismissed

A KTV venue linked to the high-profile assault of a woman in Hangzhou has closed, with staff citing equipment upgrades and declining to comment on the case. The incident involves Zhao Moufeng, a former China Merchants Shekou Zhejiang executive, and Yu Moudong, a public official from Binjiang District. Both were criminally detained and dismissed from their posts after an official investigation found they committed forcible indecency against the victim at the KTV on July 26, during which Zhao pushed her, causing a lumbar injury classified as a minor level-two injury.

Russia's 'Doomsday Submarine' Begins First Sea Trials

The Russian nuclear-powered submarine 'Khabarovsk' (Project 09851) began its initial factory sea trials on August 17, as reported by TASS and republished by the Chinese state-affiliated outlet Guancha. The vessel, under construction since 2014, is designed to carry six 'Poseidon' nuclear-powered intercontinental drones. The report notes a six-year delay from its original 2020 delivery date without explaining the cause.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit South Korea, Foreign Ministry says

At a regular press briefing on August 19, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit South Korea. Lin described China and South Korea as close neighbors and cooperative partners, noting that 34 years of diplomatic ties have brought tangible benefits and contributed to regional peace. He said the visit would help implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and President Lee Jae-myung during their mutual visits around the turn of the year, and would advance the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership.