🔥 Hot Topics · Aug 5, 2026

Over 20 Chinese tourists denied boarding, Thailand airport apologizes; top exam scorer claims second-place paid her to withdraw; death sentence commuted to reprieve, victim's family found out 10 years later; 'Lanzhou Lamian' restaurants to be renamed; Korean stocks surge with circuit breaker as Japanese stocks rally; US reportedly mulls banning new Chinese optical modules; South Korea declares national disaster over heat; Musk loses 2.45 trillion yuan in a month; Harmony Intelligent Mobility responds to 'bamboo cicada' incident; STO Express placed under investigation; Lancome's first China flagship emptied; 8-year-old who lived alone gets into university.

1. 1. Over 20 Chinese Tourists Denied Boarding, Thai Airport Apologizes

   Over 20 passengers on Thai Airways TG674 were removed from the jet bridge and missed the flight; a security guard was filmed making a 'slant-eye' gesture. Suvarnabhumi apologized and disciplined the guard.

2. 2. Top Scorer Claims Second-Place Rival Paid Her to Withdraw

   A Leizhou candidate says a middleman offered tens of thousands of yuan to drop out of her interview despite ranking first; she also accuses the recruiter of leaking her info. An investigation is underway.

3. 3. Death Sentence Commuted, Family Found Out 10 Years Later

   In a 1999 robbery-homicide in Xuanwei, Yunnan, Duan Xianfeng's death sentence was commuted on appeal without notifying the victim's family, who only learned 10 years later. Yunnan prosecutors took the case in Jan 2026.

4. 4. 'Lanzhou Lamian' Restaurants to Be Renamed

   'Lanzhou Lamian' actually has little to do with Lanzhou, and the misnamed label from 40 years is being corrected. In June, 72 Tianjin noodle shops swapped their 'Lanzhou' signs for 'Qinghai Lamian.'

5. 5. Korean Stocks Surge with Circuit Breaker, Japanese Stocks Rally

   The Korean exchange triggered the SIDECAR mechanism, pausing KOSPI program buying for 5 minutes as the index rose up to 4%. SK Hynix and Samsung rose over 6%, with Nikkei 225 up over 3%.

6. 6. US Reportedly Mulls Ban on New Chinese Optical Modules

   Reuters reports the FCC is drafting measures to ban imports of new Chinese optical modules, hoping to finalize within the year, citing unsubstantiated data-theft and malware claims.

7. 7. South Korea Declares National Disaster Over Heat

   South Korea declares a 'national disaster' over persistent heat, with nearly 2,000 heat-related illnesses and 16 deaths reported since May.

8. 8. Musk Loses 2.45 Trillion Yuan in a Month

   Musk's 'black July' shaved about $363 billion (2.45 trillion yuan) off his wealth in one month — roughly two 'Jensen Huangs' lost.

9. 9. Harmony Intelligent Mobility Responds to 'Bamboo Cicada' Incident

   Harmony Intelligent Mobility says complaints cite clear infringement facts and evidence, deny targeting normal play/making/display/sale of 'bamboo cicadas,' and deny any requests to platforms to delist them.

10. 10. STO Express Under Investigation

    State Post Bureau says firms operating under the 'STO Express' brand have had recurring safety accidents and hazards; STO Express Ltd faces a formal investigation for inadequate safety management.

11. 11. Lancome's First Flagship in China Emptied

    Lancome's global flagship at Beijing's apm mall is shut and stripped empty. The store, once China's largest Lancome beauty outpost, closed in under six years.

12. 12. Girl Who Lived Alone at 8 Now Admitted to University

    Zhang Zheng of Anyue, Sichuan, lived alone from age 8 with a kitchen knife by her bed for self-defense, was adopted by a teacher at 10, and scored 598 to enter Sichuan Normal University, planning to teach back home.