A recent trend of exquisite women dedicated to fully enjoy their experience on high-speed trains has gone viral, with related vlogs flooding Chinese social media platforms and sparking heated discussions.

During the journey, the blogger completes various tasks such as disinfection, humidification, and mite elimination. Additionally, they engage in activities like flower arrangement, brewing tea, and cooking instant noodles along the way. Unlike typical chaotic travel scenarios, the women in the videos used their carefully selected items to enhance both comfort and happiness during their train journeys. 

Many netizens have shared their thoughts, noting that while the trips may be brief, the tasks undertaken are substantial, with many adding that they were impressed with the girls’ execution. However, there are individuals who have raised doubts regarding the necessity of emphasizing these intricate details during travel experiences.

As of August 26, State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company has established 21 fully automated UAV nests in the main urban area of Taizhou, covering an area of nearly 400 square kilometers and achieving full coverage of intelligent UAV inspection for power transmission, transformation, and distribution equipment within the main urban area of Taizhou.

Currently, UAVs have become one of the effective means for inspecting power grid equipment. In the past, pilots would typically carry UAVs to the site for operations, but considering factors such as personnel and vehicle arrangements, equipment endurance, and job transfers, the effective working hours of each pilot group were only around 5 hours per day, making it difficult to fully meet the periodic inspection requirements of multiple disciplines.

Since this year, Taizhou Power Supply has leveraged the technical advantages of grid-based autonomous UAV inspection, optimized the location of nests and autonomous flight routes, and built a "radial" mobile UAV inspection network covering approximately 1,166 kilometers of transmission lines, 1,300 kilometers of distribution lines, and 24 substations.

Now, after initiating automatic inspection, UAVs can automatically execute tasks in the pre-set order without any human intervention throughout the flight operation. They can automatically manage the entire process from takeoff from the nest, operation, return, charging, and data transmission, significantly reducing labor costs.

According to Dai Yongdong, the head of the Intelligent Operation and Inspection Center at Taizhou Power Supply Company, after adopting the fully autonomous nest operation mode, the daily effective working hours of UAVs have reached 12 to 15 hours. Fine-grained inspections of transmission and distribution equipment can be increased from once every quarter to four times a month, and fine-grained inspections of substations can be increased from once every quarter to once every three days, significantly improving the quality and efficiency of equipment inspections.

The recent boom in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry has brought increased attention to the computing-related sector, including cloud computing and chips. With the rapid growth of AI applications in various industries, there is a growing demand for more powerful computing systems to support these applications. 

Officials and industry leaders attending an ongoing industry expo have expressed confidence in the domestic development of advanced computing capabilities, as Chinese enterprises have made significant advances in the sector, relying on their experience and technology prowess.

The China International Big Data Industry Expo 2024, which opened on Wednesday in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, attracts many Chinese technology companies eager to capture a piece of the booming domestic AI-related industry.

Wang Chenghong, a representative of Henan Kunlun Information Technology Co, told the Global Times that the company has its own high-performance AI servers and self-developed technology for integrating AI with general computing.

In addition to establishing related infrastructure such as data centers, regions across China have rolled out measures to boost computing power infrastructure development. 

Xu Lin, Party secretary of Guizhou Province, announced plans to further develop intelligent computing industrial clusters with a primary emphasis on AI technology. 

The province aims to cultivate industry-specific large language models, enhance data center infrastructure and broaden the utilization of data elements across various sectors. 

The computing power is reshaping global economic landscapes at an unprecedented pace, said Gao Wen, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, at a forum on Thursday.

To strengthen advanced computing capabilities and foster new quality productive forces, China has invested more than 43.5 billion yuan ($6.12 billion) in a nationwide project to build computing data centers, Liu Liehong, head of the National Data Administration, said at the expo.

China's massive investment in computing comes as it faces increasing restrictions from the US, which has limited exports of some advanced computing products, including those from industry leader Nvidia in recent years, according to Reuters.

As Washington steps up controls on chip exports to China, the US chipmaker is still actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with Chinese enterprises and benefit from their rapid progress.

While China was a "significant contributor" to the data center revenue in the past quarter, "it remains below levels seen prior to the imposition of export controls," Nvidia CFO Colette Kress said during an earnings call on Thursday. "We continue to expect the China market to be very competitive going forward." 

China's success in self-reliant semiconductor production hinges on surmounting technological hurdles, navigating geopolitical complexities, and fostering a domestic AI chip supply that is both cutting-edge and economically viable, experts noted.

A local resident from Xuzhai Village in Dongyang, East China's Zhejiang Province, makes decorated lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 3, 2024. Decorated lanterns from Xuzhai Village have a long history, integrating multiple techniques including wood carving, bamboo weaving and tailoring. They're sold in other parts of China as well as overseas markets. Photo: VCG

China's manufacturing sector showed signs of improvement in August, with the Caixin Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to 50.4, up 0.6 percentage points from July, bringing the index back above the expansion threshold. 

The data suggest a pickup in demand, steady employment levels and improving business confidence, but challenges remain in the face of external uncertainties, according to the survey published on Monday.

A reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity, while a number below signals a contraction. 

The production index in August saw a slight increase in the expansion range, while the new orders index reversed its contraction in July and returned to expansion territory.

According to surveyed enterprises, growth in new orders was mainly driven by improvements in basic demand and various promotional measures. 

Employment in the manufacturing sector stabilized in August, with the employment index hovering in expansion territory. 

Manufacturers in the industry generally believe that factors such as business expansion, new product releases and an improvement in economic conditions will drive sales growth. 

Wang Zhe, a senior economist at Caixin Insight Group, said that the August PMI data suggest a modest recovery in the manufacturing sector, with both supply and demand expanding, but challenges remain in achieving stable growth in the face of external uncertainties.

The Caixin data showed that external demand weakened in August, with the new export order index falling below the critical point for the first time this year, marking the lowest level since December 2023. 

China's official manufacturing PMI released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) came in at 49.1 in August, down from 49.4 in July. 

Zhao Qinghe, an NBS statistician, attributed the slight drop to factors such as extreme weather and off-season production in some industries. 

Zhou Maohua, an economist at China Everbright Bank, told the Global Times on Monday that there is a need for increased implementation of macroeconomic policies, with a continued focus on boosting effective demand and promoting domestic circulation. 

The key priority is to accelerate the implementation of policies to fully unleash their benefits and boost market confidence. Additionally, policy support should be optimized based on the uneven recovery of different industries, Zhou added. 

A US Navy patrol aircraft was reportedly spotted as a Philippine Coast Guard ship rammed into a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel in the lagoon of China’s Xianbin Jiao in the South China Sea on Saturday, with experts saying the US plane serves as encouragement for the Philippines to conduct bolder and riskier provocations.

The Philippine Coast Guard ship MRRV-9701, which has been illegally stationed at China’s Xianbin Jiao, on Saturday lifted its anchor and conducted continuous maneuvers, stirring up troubles in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao. CCG Vessel 5205 took measures including verbal warnings, monitoring and control in accordance with the law and regulations, Liu Dejun, a CCG spokesperson, said in a statement on Saturday.

In the process, the Philippine MRRV-9701 deliberately rammed into CCG Vessel 5205 in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, causing a collision for which the Philippines bears full responsibility, Liu said.

Liu demanded the Philippines to immediately withdraw its ship from the Chinese reef.

The CCG also released a video showing the Philippine ship sailing into the path of the Chinese vessel, causing the collusion.

The Philippines has repeatedly attempted to send supplies to the MRRV-9701 that has been illegally anchored in the lagoon of China’s Xianbin Jiao since April, first using ships then using a helicopter, marking serious violations to China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The latest movement by the MRRV-9701 showed that, unlike the Philippines’ old warship illegally grounded at China’s Ren’ai Jiao, the MRRV-9701 is capable of moving on its own, observers said.

Xue Chen, a research fellow at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times that if the MRRV-9701 runs short of supplies, it should withdraw from Xianbin Jiao and return to the Philippines.

It exposed that the Philippine ship’s deployment at Xianbin Jiao is aimed at creating a false concept to smear China in the international community, with the aim of violating China’s sovereignty, Xue said.

During the incident, a US Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft was spotted on-site disrupting the CCG’s law enforcement operations, according to Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with state broadcaster China Central Television.

A Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday that the US military aircraft could gather intelligence and potentially carry out jamming on Chinese vessels.

The P-8A’s presence serves as an encouragement to the Philippines to conduct harder provocations, the expert said, noting that US aircraft could also serve as an aerial military “journalist” contributing to its scheme of throwing mud on China.

Such moves will only sabotage peace and stability in the South China Sea, experts said, predicting new rounds of provocations by the Philippines in near future, backed by the US.

After the mixed doubles table tennis final match was held at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, Chinese gold medalists Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, North Korean silver medalists Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong, and South Korean bronze medalists Shin Yu-bin and Lim Jong-hoon, posed for a group selfie. This friendly interaction among these athletes has sparked widespread discussion.

When Kim, the North Korean female player, experienced a microphone issue at the post-match press conference, Wang took the initiative to check and gave a hand, showing a good sportsmanlike demeanor.

Despite being competitors on the field, athletes' ability to communicate and interact amicably on the podium demonstrates the deep friendship and mutual respect among them. The photograph of the three nations not only captures their moment of glory but also embodies the Olympic spirit's essential values of friendship and unity.

Sun expressed gratitude towards her partner Wang, stating that the Olympics is the most sacred and prestigious competition.

"Participating in an international competition and the Olympics for the first time, I feel both happy and a bit regretful," Kim said after the final match. 

"We have learned a lot from competing against the world's top-ranked Chinese team. We will train harder and aim to win the gold medal next time... the Chinese team are the world's top team, we did our best" she said.

Regarding Wang as an idol, Shin said, "At the Chengdu mixed team event, I went to ask for Wang Chuqin's autograph and took a photo with him. He was very friendly."

"I've faced Wang in mixed doubles many times. His strength is impressive, and it's difficult to return his shots. Every time I have to return his ball, I feel that it's a real challenge, a feeling of 'as expected of the world number one.'"

These interactions and mutual respect between athletes transcend national and ethnic boundaries, highlighting the sincerity and inclusiveness present in competitive sports, experts said.

The "emotional entanglement" between Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle and Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers during the ongoing Paris Olympics, which began with a misunderstanding but ended in friendship, has captured the attention of Chinese netizens over the past few days.

The story started when Chalmers did not acknowledge Pan's greeting before the men's 100 meters freestyle swimming competition, which Pan interpreted as "deliberate."

In a subsequent media interview, after Pan broke his own world record to win gold in the men's 100 meters freestyle, he expressed disappointment that Chalmers did not respond to his attempt at friendliness. Pan also remarked that some foreign swimmers lacked respect for Chinese athletes and coaching staff.

Pan's comments quickly went viral on Chinese social media, leading many netizens to criticize Chalmers for his perceived bad manners and arrogance.

Chalmers later clarified that he had not seen Pan's greeting and reached out to him personally afterward. He also sent a private apology to Pan, who responded positively by exchanging swim caps with Chalmers.

Chalmers shared photos on social media of the exchanged swim caps, including Pan's, and their handshake. They also exchanged contact information, and Pan said he is looking forward to showing Chalmers around Shanghai, the first stop of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024 in October.

As spectators cheered and celebrated Team China's exceptional performance at the Paris Olympics, the presence of foreign coaches has sparked extensive discussion among Chinese netizens, with many praising their dedication.

During the Olympics, Chinese rhythmic gymnasts made history to win the country's first Olympic group all-around gold medal in Paris. It was the first time a team from outside Europe has won Olympic gold since the event was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. 

Anastasia Bliznyuk, serving as coach of the Chinese rhythmic gymnastics team, played a pivotal role in this historic victory, earning recognition and praise from many Chinese netizens and gymnastics enthusiasts.

Bliznyuk, a two-time group all-around champion in rhythmic gymnastics from Russia, has been coaching the Chinese team since 2022. With the ban on Russian athletes by the International Olympic Committee, Bliznyuk has realized her Olympic aspirations through the success of the Chinese team, according to media reports.

A video shared by Chinese netizens depicting Bliznyuk and head coach Sun Dan nervously empathizing with the competing Chinese team in a previous competition has been widely shared and discussed by Chinese netizens, with many expressing gratitude for the Russian coach's support.

One comment stated that that's probably why the Chinese rhythmic gymnastics athletes could win, because the coaches on the sidelines appeared to be competing themselves. 

After she took on her role as coach in China, Bliznyuk began learning Chinese to improve communication. Nearly three months later, she could express herself in Chinese and started coaching her team members in the language, according to Russia Today.

Welcoming attitude to China

Throughout the Paris Olympics, the Chinese sports delegation was supported by a total of 34 foreign coaches across over 20 sports, such as boxing and skateboarding. Additionally, numerous foreign experts and medical personnel were engaged in the preparation for the games. 

These professionals not only contributed to enhancing the athletic performance of Chinese athletes but also fostered strong bonds with everyone during the coaching process, according to media reports.

In the 2022 Winter Olympics, the Chinese sports delegation included a total of 51 foreign coaches, making up over 65 percent of the coaches in the delegation. These coaches hailed from 19 countries and regions including the US, Canada, Russia, France and Japan. 

The Chinese delegation's impressive qualification for all seven sports and 15 disciplines, competing in 104 out of 109 events, including 35 events for the first time at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, can be attributed to the country's openness to international coaching teams. This welcoming attitude has been instrumental in driving the growth and success of winter sports in China, according to the Beijing Daily.

Innovative training methods

Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Monday that the foreign coaches are not only highly professional, but also dedicated, with a strong work ethic.

"The foreign coaches are accustomed to sharing their international insights and successes to guide our athletes, offering them valuable opportunities to broaden their horizons," Wang added. 

In terms of the technique of the Chinese rhythmic gymnasts, Bliznyuk said that she believes that Chinese rhythmic gymnastics schools have their unique characteristics, as they are characterized by synchronization, graceful movements and a distinctive Chinese style. If the rhythmic gymnastics schools of Russia and China were to join forces, even greater results would be achieved. 

Meanwhile, the Chinese female boxers also clinched a total of three gold and two silver medals, representing the best Olympic performance for Chinese boxing. In the lead-up to the Olympics, the Chinese women's boxing team enlisted the expertise of a coaching team from Cuba to refine and sharpen the techniques and tactics of the Chinese athletes. 

Li Qian, one of the Chinese boxers, said that the Cuban coaches provided valuable and practical expertise. Their main focus was to work on offensive tactics, with a more aggressive approach, as reported by the media. 

In an interview, Coach Raul Fernandez Liranza mentioned that the results are a culmination of the collective efforts of many individuals. He highlighted that his team conducted extensive research and preparation in the initial stages, followed by multiple overseas training sessions, competitions and exchanges in the later stages. "I hope we'll be in the same position in the next Olympics," he said.

Italian coach Patrizio Antonio Parcesepe helped distance race walker Yang Jiayu improve her endurance and acclimate to hot weather conditions. Yang won gold in the 20 kilometers walk at the Paris Olympics.

Yang said that she gained valuable insights from Coach Patrizio, and she also received words of encouragement from her coach during the Paris Olympics competition.

Alongside the players' training and China's established training system, foreign coaches have introduced innovative training methods and techniques. When introducing foreign coaches, Wang Chunlu, a former short track speed skating world champion, emphasized the importance of continuously learning and comparing different coaching approaches to find the training methods that work best for China's athletes.

When considering the ongoing trend of sports transcending national borders and becoming increasingly globalized, Shen Yi, a professor on international relations at Fudan University, highlighted that this evolution reflects the advancement of human society. Sports exchanges have played a crucial role in the global movement of talent in today's era of globalization, Shen added.

China's inclusivity and magnanimity are evident in its open-minded approach. "As China welcomes talent from all corners of the globe, everyone is expected to fulfill their role," Shen said. 

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday announced the birth of panda twins early Thursday morning in Hong Kong, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The pair, a female and a male, are cubs of Ying Ying and Le Le, pandas given as a gift by the central government to Hong Kong in 2007.

Ying Ying and Le Le successfully completed natural mating in Ocean Park in March. After five months of gestation, the female giant panda Ying Ying finally gave birth to the twins.

A team of animal care professionals, together with experts from the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, are working around the clock to take care of Ying Ying and the newborn twins until their condition fully stabilizes, according to the Information Services Department of the HKSAR government, as reported by Xinhua.

HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee thanked the central government for gifting the pandas, which he said fully demonstrates its care and support for the HKSAR.

He said that this year is the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the birth of the first pair of giant panda cubs in Hong Kong is of special significance.

According to the Ocean Park, this birth is a true rarity, especially considering Ying Ying is the oldest giant panda on record to have successfully given birth for the first time. 

The Park also said on its social media platform that the public will have to wait a few months before they can officially meet the cubs.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of HKSAR, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, attended a ceremony on Friday in Southwest China's Sichuan Province for the signing of a cooperation agreement between the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda and the Hong Kong Ocean Park.

The agreement aims to better implement the central government's gift of a pair of giant pandas to the HKSAR in 2024, according to China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda.