China Highlights
The 2026 Rural Revitalization Cup Youth Football Invitational Opens in Beijing
The 2026 “Rural Revitalization Cup” Youth Football Invitational opened in Beijing on October 13, bringing together 16 U11 teams and 224 young players from schools benefiting from the program and counties receiving key support for rural revitalization. The tournament gave rural youth an opportunity to learn from one another and showcase their talents, while helping promote football and advance rural revitalization.
The Changchun Winter Universiade Officially Ignites the “Flame of Knowledge”
The welcome ceremony for the flame of the 33rd Winter World University Games, to be held in Changchun in 2027, took place on October 14. The flame, brought from Turin, Italy, was used to light the first torch and the flame cauldron at the host venue. Its arrival in Changchun added to the excitement surrounding preparations for the Games and kindled anticipation for the event.
General Administration of Customs: China’s private enterprises recorded 22.73 trillion yuan in imports and exports in the first three quarters, up 19.1% year on year.
In the first three quarters of 2026, China’s private enterprises recorded 22.73 trillion yuan in total imports and exports, up 19.1% year on year and accounting for 56.9% of the country’s total foreign trade, maintaining their position as its largest contributors. Steady growth in private enterprises’ foreign trade highlights their business vitality and injects strong momentum into the development of China’s foreign trade.
Tongxu, Henan: A bowl of hot-and-sour vermicelli “cooks up” a 10-billion-yuan industry.
In Tongxu, Henan, hot-and-sour glass noodles are driving industrial growth. Busy production lines and a wide range of products on display show how the industry continues to expand. A humble bowl of noodles has grown into an industry worth tens of billions of yuan, injecting new vitality into the local economy.
AI in the Classroom: What Changes Does It Bring?
AI is bringing more interaction and personalized learning to the classroom: solid geometry can be presented visually with smartboards, learning data helps teachers tailor instruction to each student, and students can choose their own courses and learning paths. Technology makes abstract concepts easier to understand, teaching more precise, and the learning experience richer.
Taiwan Affairs Office: Passenger traffic on “Mini Three Links” routes remained brisk during the National Day holiday.
The Taiwan Affairs Office said passenger traffic on the “Mini Three Links” routes remained brisk during the National Day holiday, with people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait actively visiting relatives and friends and traveling. The increase in people-to-people exchanges has brought greater vitality to grassroots interactions across the Strait.
Construction of the Maoping Port rail link at the Three Gorges hub accelerates
Construction of the rail link serving Maoping Port at the Three Gorges hub in Zigui, Hubei, is gathering pace, with 100-meter-long rails being precisely laid on the Jiuli Super Major Bridge. The project has entered its final, all-out push. Once completed, this 39.59-kilometer freight railway—the first in China designed to transfer cargo across a dam—will strengthen the Three Gorges’ integrated transport network, enable seamless connections between waterways, roads and railways, and improve the efficiency of multimodal transport.
One rocket, 10 satellites: Zhuque-2 Improved Y4 launch vehicle successfully lifts off.
At 19:40 on October 14, the Zhuque-2 improved Y4 launch vehicle was successfully launched from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone. It successfully placed its 10 onboard satellites into their planned orbits, completing the flight test mission with full success and adding another achievement to the development of China’s commercial space industry.
The 6th Hundred Cities, Ten Thousand People Heart-Healthy Run charity event kicks off in Dongguan.
The sixth “100 Cities, 10,000 People Heart-Healthy Run” charity event got under way on the 14th at Qifeng Park in Dongguan in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. More than 200 caring people from Taiwan joined mainland participants, volunteers and members of the public. Bringing people together through charity and well-being, the event promoted cross-Strait exchanges and people-to-people friendship, and conveyed the warmth of standing together to care for society.
Guangxi’s Ligao Fragrant Glutinous Rice Cakes: An Age-Old Craft Kneads a New Rural Industry into Being
Li Gao fragrant glutinous rice cakes, a traditional delicacy famous throughout Liuzhou, Guangxi, carry generations of festive memories and deep ties to home. As this time-honored craft is revitalized and grows into a rural industry, local specialties have the potential to bring fresh vitality to rural development.
China discovers Jurassic flightless bird Yangyuanornis, overturning conventional views of early bird evolution.
The discovery in China of Jurassic fossils of flightless birds challenges the traditional view that early bird evolution was always primarily driven by adaptation for flight. It provides new evidence for understanding the origins and evolution of birds and highlights important advances in paleontological research in China.
From Glazed Roof-Ridge Beasts to Museum Artifacts, Tibetan Youth Explore Chinese History
Laba Tsering, a student from Dingri County in Shigatse, Tibet, visited the Palace Museum and saw in person the Forbidden City he had read about in his textbooks, fulfilling a long-held wish. By viewing the glazed roof ornaments and museum artifacts up close, young people from Tibet can explore Chinese history through firsthand experience and appreciate the魅力 of Chinese culture.
A construction road has become a bond between Chinese-funded enterprises and the Cambodian people.
A road built with the participation of Chinese companies has become a link between businesses and the Cambodian people. It has not only made travel easier for local residents, but also strengthened the warm bonds between the people of China and Cambodia.
China Completes First Batch of Cross-Border Green Electricity Certificate Trading, Connecting with Hong Kong’s International Green Finance Market
China’s first cross-border centralized trading of green certificates has taken place in the Hong Kong market, with about 100,000 certificates traded, representing nearly 100 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity. The move establishes a channel linking the mainland’s green certificate market with Hong Kong’s international green finance market, creating new opportunities for green energy trading and financial cooperation.
Global Good News
Teen’s Wish to Return Kindness She Received Sees Her Lemonade Stand Become $5 Million Charity Engine
Inspired by the kindness she received, one teen started a lemonade stand to give back—and it has grown into an annual July tradition across Ohio. Over eight years, children’s stands have raised $5 million for charity, turning a refreshing summer drink into meaningful help for people in need.
Elderly Theater Worker Surprised by $146,000 for Her Retirement Crowdfunded by Young Moviegoer
A young moviegoer in Maryville, Tennessee, raised $146,000 through GoFundMe for an elderly theater worker who had continued working past retirement age. The generous fundraiser will help her finally retire and enjoy a well-earned rest.
Montana High School Softball Player Discovered Long-Lost Sister on Opposing Team
A Montana softball game became an unforgettable family reunion when Samantha Rensvold, adopted as an infant, discovered her long-lost biological sister playing for the opposing out-of-state team. The chance encounter brought the sisters together through their shared love of the game.
Giant Tortoise Population is Thriving–Survey Finds 180,000 on One Island Chain
A landmark survey found approximately 180,000 giant tortoises on Seychelles’ Aldabra atoll—the highest number ever recorded for the species. The once-endangered population is now thriving, marking a remarkable conservation success.
Sloth Bear Named By Julia Roberts is Flourishing After Rescue From Dancing Trade in India
A sloth bear rescued from being forced to dance for tourists in India is now flourishing, according to a rescue charity. The bear gained attention when Julia Roberts named it while filming *Eat, Pray, Love* in 2009, and its recovery is a hopeful example of life after abuse.
The Spark: The ‘Community Lighthouses’ Where Neighbors Help Neighbors
“Community Lighthouses” highlight neighbors supporting one another and creating positive change through meaningful local action. The story celebrates how small acts of connection can help strengthen communities.
Family Sells 650 Acres on East Texas Lake to Become State Park, Saying Land is ‘Part of my soul’
A multigenerational family has sold 650 acres along Lake Palestine in East Texas to become a state park. The shoreline’s largest remaining stretch of connected land—including pine woods, bluffs, wetlands, and a pecan orchard—will soon be open to the public, preserving a cherished landscape for everyone to enjoy.
‘Like Caring for a Pet’ – the App That Lets You Know if Your Neighborhood Tree Is Thirsty
Berlin’s open-source Gieß den Kiez app helps thousands of residents find and water nearby trees, with a map covering roughly 900,000 street trees. By making tree care easy and engaging, the initiative helps keep neighborhoods greener and better able to withstand summer heatwaves.
World’s Heaviest Pumpkin Sets Incredible New Record at 2,856 lbs.
A giant pumpkin weighing 2,856.8 pounds (1,295.8 kilograms) was certified as the heaviest ever grown by a man at a competition in Wargrave, Britain. The remarkable achievement sets a new world record and celebrates the dedication and skill of giant-pumpkin growers.
The women putting community at the heart of elephant conservation
Across Africa, women are challenging traditional ideas about who can lead conservation and placing communities at the heart of efforts to protect elephants. Their growing leadership is helping make conservation more inclusive and community-focused.
Meet the 14-year-old uncovering London’s lost history
At just 14, seasoned mudlark Emmylou Vaxby has spent nearly a decade exploring the Thames foreshore for fragments of London’s past. Her curiosity is helping uncover and share the city’s rich history.