Xinhua photos of the day

An aerial drone photo taken on April 9, 2024 shows spotted seals resting on mudflat in waters of Sandaogou in Panjin City, northeast China’s Liaoning Province. As the eastern part of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), a large-scale afforestation project, northeast China has seen continuous improvement of ecological environment. China proposed in June 2023 to turn the TSFP into a fully functional and unbreakable “green Great Wall” and ecological security barrier in northern China. Launched in 1978, the TSFP aims to rehabilitate and green desert-prone lands and desertified areas in northwest, north and northeast China. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Wang Aoqian (top, C) of China spikes the ball during a match between China and Chinese Taipei at the 2024 Asian Eastern Zonal Women’s Volleyball Championship in Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)

In this aerial drone photo, a dike breach is sealed in Taipingdi Town of Chifeng City, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 14, 2024.
The dike breach at a river in Inner Mongolia was sealed at 2:13 p.m. Wednesday, causing no casualties, according to the local drought relief and flood control headquarters.
The dike breach, which measured over 10 meters in width, occurred at about 12:40 p.m. Tuesday at the Laoha River in Taipingdi Town of Chifeng City, forcing over 800 residents to evacuate and affecting some 600 hectares of farmland.
Over 800 rescue personnel from armed police, firefighting, public security, emergency management and other departments were mobilized to seal the breach. (Xinhua/Bei He)

People participate in a demonstration fighting for justice for Philippine wartime sexual slavery victims of the Japanese troops during World War II in Manila, the Philippines, on Aug. 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

A farmer shows harvested crabs by a crab pond in Xuegong Village, Linyi County, north China’s Shanxi Province, Nov. 23, 2021. Located on the bank of the Yellow River, Xuegong Village boasts over 333.3 hectares of Yellow River tidal flats and nearly 333.3 hectares of barren ditches. In recent years, the local community has integrated these lands to develop specialized aquaculture. The Yellow River tidal flats with lush aquatic plants provide excellent conditions for crab growth.
Today, crab farming has become a distinctive industry for increasing the income of Xuegong Villagers. In 2023, the village’s crab production reached 75,000 kilograms. (Photo by Yan Xin/Xinhua)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 14, 2024.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Wednesday that he will not run in the presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) next month, in a countdown to his three-year term. (Philip Fong/Pool via Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 30, 2024 shows short-finned pilot whales swimming in the South China Sea.
A group of short-finned pilot whales have recently been spotted in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

A tourist scans the payment QR code to pay for the figs he bought from vendor Yimamamat Saipar onboard the train No. 7557, Aug. 1, 2024. This train, connecting Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, to Hotan in the region’s south, makes nearly every station along its 1,960-km route a stop.
This special slow train not only facilitates travel for residents and farmers heading to bazaars but also delivers a taste of fresh delights to all on board. (Xinhua/Jin Bowen)

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 13, 2024 shows a wetland park in Weishan County in Jining City, east China’s Shandong Province.
Weishan County is renowned for its wetland ecosystem as it has stepped up ecological conservation and green development in recent years. Currently, about 160,000 mu (10,666.67 hectares) of wetlands have been restored and protected here. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

A man dives into the sea to cool off from the cliff at the Seagull’s Rocks Beach in Pula, Croatia on Aug. 14, 2024. The maximum temperature in Pula reaches 35 degrees Celsius during the day. (Srecko Niketic/PIXSELL via Xinhua)