Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

RisingTones

82 Dead, 128 Injured in Shanxi Mine Explosion

Domestic media reported that inaccuracies in tunnel maps, as well as a lack of personnel locators, impacted rescue efforts.

Chen Yiru

China’s Top Phone Companies Launch Packages Covering AI Use

The plans offer millions of AI tokens per person for a fixed monthly price. Insiders say the packages’ main customers are government entities and state-owned enterprises.

Chinese Swimming Star in Hot Water Over Reality Show Conduct

Citing arguments with his wife and conflict with other cast members, netizens likened the Olympic swimmer to a toddler and called him a “mama’s boy.”

He Qitong

Ancient Teeth Link Chinese Hominins to Modern Humans

A team of researchers used a new, minimally invasive technique to sample the teeth from six Homo erectus fossils, establishing a framework for future evolutionary research on ancient fossils.

Twin Earthquakes in Guangxi Leave 2 Dead, Thousands Evacuated

Liuzhou City, located near two fault lines, experienced its worst earthquakes in centuries.

A Blind Chinese Woman Was Hit by an E-Bike. It Was Staged. 

The woman, along with a 26-year-old man, has been placed under criminal coercive measures to await the conclusion of the police investigation.

Li Xin

China’s Internet Finds Its Dream Job: Herding 3,000 Sheep 

In comments sections beneath the job posting, young Chinese voiced their interest in leaving “cutthroat” cities and paying off debts, saying they could withstand the position’s potential loneliness.

Handmade: Two Chinese Productions Go Viral for Skipping AI

The productions, made by two amateur teams using their own savings, have garnered hundreds of millions of views on domestic video platforms.

Jiang Xinyi

AI Took His Job. A Chinese Court Awarded Him $38,000.

After his company asked him to accept a pay cut and demotion following an AI rollout, a fintech worker sued — and won.

Brands Allegedly Ban E-Sales in Hangzhou’s Livestreaming Hub

Customers with addresses in the neighborhood, known for its livestreaming community, reported being unable to order items from various luxury brands online for several days.