Ding Sheng

The Chinese National Meteorological Centre on Tuesday issued a red alert and evacuated half a million people as Typhoon Sarika hit south China's Hainan, leading to cancellation of hundreds of flights in the island province.

Chinese companies have made a seemingly unstoppable push to the front of the race for a coronavirus vaccine. Yet their speedy ascent has been unhindered by common scientific setbacks being reported by Western rivals, raising questions about how stringently they are vetting and reporting potential safety issues.