Michael Zhuang

Record rainfall floods streets, disrupts thousands of flights, and prompts the relocation of thousands of residents.

Residents describe homes swept away, roads and communications cut off, and missing villagers.

A viral joke over a toy’s ‘wa-wa’ sound has evolved into a broader outlet for public frustration with Huawei and China’s tightly controlled online environment.

This year’s exercise is different in unprecedented ways such as the military’s use of drone swarms, said one expert.

Medical workers say employers are collecting passports, while some residents report failed passport applications before new rules take effect.

Medical workers say some Beijing hospitals are reclaiming bonuses, suspending incentive pay, and delaying salaries as funding pressures mount.

Analysts say administrative measures cannot overcome weak incomes, job insecurity, and broader economic pressures weighing on Chinese households.

The annual retreat has sparked debate over its influence as analysts point to elite divisions and the unresolved Zhang Youxia case.

New rules granting authorities broader powers to question travelers and review data are being tested ahead of a Sept. 15 rollout.

Police questioned AI relay platform operators, signaling that Beijing is extending controls over access to foreign AI models.