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  • Celebrating International Day at Wuxi school

    Celebrating International Day at Wuxi school

    On April 12, a vibrant cross-cultural celebration unfolded at Boston International School located in Xinwu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, turning the campus’s central open plaza into a bustling, immersive miniature “global village” for the school’s yearly International Day gathering.

    Organized by the school’s community of students and faculty, the one-day event brought global diversity right to the school grounds, with more than 50 interactive booths curated to showcase cultural heritage from over 20 countries and regions across the world. Attendees wandered through the plaza, exploring traditional handcrafts unique to different cultures, joining lighthearted cultural games, and sampling a wide spread of authentic international cuisines. Every booth was filled with one-of-a-kind cultural artifacts and interactive experiences that highlighted the distinct traditions of the nations on display, wrapping the entire campus in an atmosphere of joyful cross-cultural exchange.

    The annual International Day has become a signature tradition at Boston International School, designed to foster global awareness, cultural empathy, and inclusive community among students from diverse backgrounds. By giving participants a hands-on opportunity to engage with global cultures outside of textbooks, the event creates a dynamic learning space that celebrates difference while building connections between students of all nationalities. This year’s gathering drew enthusiastic participation from both students and teaching staff, with many attendees noting that the immersive experience deepened their understanding of global cultural diversity and strengthened the school’s inclusive, interconnected community.

  • Grey-haired volunteers warm China’s countryside

    Grey-haired volunteers warm China’s countryside

    As pale pink dawn creeps over the rolling wheat fields of central Henan province on a mild spring morning, 79-year-old Meng Laifa wheels his well-worn tricycle out of his courtyard gate. Tucked in the rear cargo box are three trusted companions: a thick sharpening stone, a small hammer, and a plastic bottle of water. Eight kilometers down a winding country road lies Shanqian Xuzhuang village, the 271st stop for the senior volunteer association Meng has served with for years.

    This weekly trip is no casual errand to sell wares or visit relatives. It is a quiet promise Meng and his fellow volunteers have kept for more than a decade. Founded 12 years ago in Xiangcheng county by local resident Song Hongchang, the association began with just 15 members reaching out to isolated, homebound elders. Today, it has grown into a movement of more than 5,000 participants, over 80 percent of whom are seniors over 60 years old—former teachers, retired small business owners, and lifelong farmers who have turned their retirement years into a period of purposeful service.

    Calling themselves the “silver-haired corps”, the group operates on a simple yet innovative “old helping old” model that meets the most pressing unmet needs of rural China’s aging population. Healthy, more mobile seniors travel from village to village, delivering hot meals to doorsteps, trimming hair for homebound elders, sharpening tools, distributing free reading glasses, and most importantly, offering companionship to seniors who often live alone while their adult children work in distant cities.

    “We don’t think of this as one-sided help,” said one volunteer chopping vegetables for the group’s free communal lunch, a warm chuckle escaping her as she worked. “We gain just as much energy and joy from spending time with them as they gain from our help.” This reciprocal bond offers a vivid, grassroots example of how rural China is adapting to the challenges of an aging population, one small, caring act at a time.

    China is now home to more than 300 million people aged 60 and above, marking the country’s entry into a stage of moderate population aging. The strain of this shift is felt most acutely in rural areas, where formal elderly care services remain relatively scarce, and many working-age adults have migrated to urban centers for jobs. The old-helping-old model unlocks an underutilized community resource: active, healthy younger seniors who have abundant time, life experience, and a desire to contribute to their communities. As both current service providers and future beneficiaries of the network, they build a sustainable system of mutual support that fits the unique fabric of rural life.

    The road to building this network was not always smooth, Song recalled. In the early days, local residents were suspicious of the unsalaried group, with some accusing the volunteers of running a pyramid scheme. The organization also faced criticism when it failed to publish its financial accounts promptly, eroding initial trust. But with targeted support from local authorities, the association established a Party branch, brought transparent governance to its operations, and gradually won over community confidence.

    Today, the 15th of every month is designated a special “practice day”, where the senior volunteers are joined by young members of the Communist Youth League, lecturers from the local retired cadres bureau, and anti-fraud investigators from local police stations. This collaboration has created a powerful synergy between grassroots voluntary action and government support, expanding the scope and impact of the group’s work. All financial transactions—every donation received and every expense paid—are published daily for full public scrutiny, and every volunteer’s service hours are officially recorded to keep operations accountable. “What keeps us moving forward is consistent government backing and clear, solid rules,” Song explained.

    One of the association’s most meaningful initiatives grew from a simple, heartfelt encounter back in 2019. During a village visit, Song and his team met an elderly man whose bad teeth left him unable to chew solid food, who said his greatest wish was just to bite into a fresh apple. Sheng Hailiang, a volunteer dentist traveling with the group, stepped forward immediately: “Let me see what I can do.” Within days, Sheng connected with a dental supplier that agreed to craft a set of custom dentures for the man for free. The “Apple Project” was born—named for the elder’s simple wish, the initiative also carries a symbolic meaning of good health and blessing for every participant. To date, the program has provided free dentures for more than 60 low-income rural seniors.

    The association’s impact extends far beyond dental care. Its “Love Lunch Mobile Canteen” has traveled nearly 8,000 kilometers across scattered rural villages, serving more than 170,000 hot, nutritious meals to seniors who struggle to cook for themselves. Its reading glasses program has given hundreds of elderly rural residents their first ever pair of prescription glasses, allowing them to read books, newspapers, and handwritten letters from their children again.

    This grassroots old-helping-old model is not an isolated case. Across China, thousands of similar silver-haired volunteer groups are emerging across sectors: tens of thousands of retired teachers have returned to classrooms to support underserved rural education, while other senior volunteer teams take on community work from neighborhood dispute mediation to waste sorting and local mutual aid networks. The World Health Organization’s vision of “active aging”—which frames older adults not as a societal burden, but as a valuable social resource—is taking deep root across China’s countryside.

    By late afternoon, as the sun dips low and paints the village rooftops gold, the villagers head home after a day of connection and support. The volunteers pack up their tools, wash the last of the lunch dishes, and roll up the event banner. Tomorrow, they will prepare for their next stop: the 272nd village on their ongoing route of care. Meng lifts his sharpening stone back onto his tricycle, turns the crank, and sets off for home, golden sunlight stretching his shadow long across the quiet country road. Across the vast expanse of rural China, thousands of silver-haired volunteers just like Meng are bringing warmth, connection, and strength to the country’s aging society, one small act of service at a time.

  • Shanghai to transform into a city of flowers

    Shanghai to transform into a city of flowers

    Starting April 18 and running through May 10, 2026, Shanghai will undergo a dramatic citywide transformation for the 2026 Shanghai International Flower Show, turning the entire metropolis from its bustling downtown core to its outlying five new towns into an immersive open-air floral exhibition.

    Moving beyond the conventional format of confining flower shows to a single dedicated park space, event organizers have broken traditional geographic and conceptual boundaries to craft a holistic floral experience that integrates botanical displays into the daily urban fabric of Shanghai. Zhu Xinjun, deputy director of Shanghai’s Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau, outlined the ambitious multi-site layout, which centers on two primary core venues, 10 supporting secondary venues, and pop-up installations across dozens of major commercial districts throughout the city.

    One of the two flagship venues, the Shanghai Botanical Garden, will host a sprawling 40-hectare professional exhibition split into four specialized thematic zones. The venue will feature 41 distinct floral attractions showcasing more than 400 unique plant varieties, ranging from rare native Chinese species to exotic cultivars sourced from horticultural communities around the world.

    The second core venue, located in downtown Huangpu District, will complement the botanical garden’s collection with more than 40 custom-designed themed gardens and over 60 curated floral window displays that line the district’s busy commercial streets. International garden pavilions highlighting horticultural styles from across the globe and dedicated floral art galleries will also be installed throughout Huangpu’s shopping and business districts, bringing world-class floral design directly to pedestrians and shoppers.

  • US, Iran to hold peace talks in Islamabad later this week: sources

    US, Iran to hold peace talks in Islamabad later this week: sources

    After years of escalating tensions and intermittent diplomatic backchanneling, high-stakes peace negotiations between the United States and Iran are set to convene in Islamabad, Pakistan later this week, multiple anonymous sources confirmed in a report shared by Reuters on Tuesday. The development, first updated publicly by Xinhua News Agency on April 14, 2026, marks a rare step toward de-escalation between two long-standing adversarial powers that have been at odds over regional security, nuclear policy, and geopolitical influence for decades. Pakistan, a country that maintains diplomatic and economic ties with both Washington and Tehran, has stepped into the role of neutral host for the talks, leveraging its regional standing to facilitate face-to-face dialogue between the two negotiating teams. While details surrounding the specific agenda, key delegates, and expected outcomes of the closed-door discussions remain tightly under wraps, the confirmation of the meeting itself signals a potential shift away from the heightened confrontation that has defined US-Iran relations in recent years. Diplomatic observers note that hosting high-level talks between the two nations also underscores Pakistan’s growing role as a mediator in regional conflicts, balancing its own strategic partnerships to create space for peaceful negotiation. As of Tuesday, neither the US State Department nor Iranian foreign ministry officials have issued an official public statement confirming or denying the scheduling of the talks.

  • Israeli envoy to Italy calls magazine antisemitic over settler violence coverage

    Israeli envoy to Italy calls magazine antisemitic over settler violence coverage

    A heated diplomatic controversy has ignited across European and Middle Eastern media circles after Israel’s ambassador to Rome, Jonathan Peled, launched a scathing attack on a leading Italian current affairs magazine, labeling its recent cover highlighting systematic violence against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank as antisemitic and manipulative.

    The April 10 print edition of L’Espresso featured a striking image captured by award-winning Italian photojournalist Pietro Masturzo, paired with the blunt headline “Abuse.” The spread was paired with a months-long investigative project examining the rapid expansion of Israeli settler movements in the occupied territories and its devastating cumulative impact on Palestinian civilian life. The specific photograph at the center of the debate was taken on October 12, 2025, the opening day of the annual olive harvest in Idhna, a small Palestinian village located west of Hebron, as part of Masturzo’s long-form documentary project chronicling daily life under Israeli occupation.

    In a public post on X, Peled condemned the publication’s choice of cover, arguing that the image deliberately distorts the on-ground reality of Israeli security operations. He claimed the spread perpetuates harmful anti-Jewish stereotypes and fuels sectarian hatred, writing that “responsible journalism must be balanced and fair” when covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Going further, the ambassador insinuated without providing any supporting evidence that the image could have been digitally altered to misrepresent events.

    Masturzo, the photographer behind the image, has pushed back forcefully against Peled’s claims, releasing a detailed contextual breakdown of how the photograph was captured. He explained that moments before he took the shot, a group of armed Israeli settlers – one of whom, the figure visible in the frame, was disguised in an Israeli army uniform – backed by active-duty Israeli soldiers with obscured faces, had entered the village to block local Palestinian farmers from accessing their olive groves for the annual harvest. The settler’s confrontational gesture captured in the frame, Masturzo added, was a deliberate act of dehumanization: the man mimicked the call a shepherd uses to gather livestock, speaking to the Palestinian farmers as if they were animals rather than people.

    Variations of the image and other photographs of the same confrontation have already appeared in multiple international outlets, confirming the authenticity of the reporting and the consistency of documentation of settler violence in the region. In an Instagram post defending the decision to publish the image, Masturzo emphasized that the frame captures a widespread reality that global media too often chooses to ignore. He noted that the project is not only intended to expose human rights violations against Palestinians but also to stand in solidarity with Palestinian photojournalists who risk their lives daily to document abuses against their communities.

    The investigative reporting inside the magazine, written by journalist Alae Al Said, draws on first-hand testimonies from Palestinian residents across the Jordan Valley, where settlers backed by Israeli military forces carry out near-daily attacks on civilian communities. One resident, a father of six, described how dozens of settlers stormed his village, destroying local infrastructure, assaulting civilians, demolishing residential structures, and stealing community livestock. In another high-profile case documented in the piece, settlers seized full control of a critical natural water spring that supplies multiple Palestinian villages, with one resident noting that “they’ve colonized all the water sources.”

    The reporting also calls out the international community for its inaction, specifically criticizing recent statements from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who voiced vague “concern” over settler violence last month. The magazine dismisses such statements as empty rhetorical gestures that do nothing to hold Israel accountable for its policies in the occupied territories, concluding that the United States remains the primary global backer of the ongoing colonization of Palestinian land, allowing systematic violence to proceed slowly, silently, and relentlessly.

    Online, the controversy has drawn widespread backlash against Peled’s criticism, with thousands of social media users arguing that the image accurately reflects the daily reality of occupation that Palestinians have endured for decades. Many commentators have highlighted the power of the image to convey systemic dehumanization more effectively than longer written reports. One user noted that “With this one photograph you somehow told the story of contempt and impunity more effectively than thousands of existing images of brutal violence. It’s a reminder of the power that photography can still wield, despite everything.” Others have sarcastically echoed the ambassador’s claim, joking that simply documenting on-ground reality in the West Bank is now labeled antisemitic.

    The controversy comes amid a sharp escalation of violence across Palestinian territories since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in October 2023. Official data from the Palestinian Health Ministry puts the total number of Palestinians killed in Gaza at more than 72,329, with over 172,000 wounded. In the occupied West Bank alone, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,050 Palestinians since the war began, according to ministry data. The most recent fatal incident documented came just days ago, when Israeli soldiers beat a 68-year-old Palestinian woman to death during a military raid on her home in Jayyous, a town in the northern West Bank.

  • Xi urges enhancing China-Spain cooperation for more fruitful results

    Xi urges enhancing China-Spain cooperation for more fruitful results

    BEIJING — In a high-profile bilateral meeting held at the Great Hall of the People on April 14, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is currently conducting an official visit to China, and outlined a clear vision for deepening collaboration across multiple priority sectors between the two nations. During the meeting, Xi emphasized that China and Spain should ramp up cooperative efforts in key areas that include cross-border trade, renewable new energy, and the fast-growing intelligent economy, while also stepping up people-to-people exchanges in culture, education, scientific research, and sports. Noting that the two countries share a solid foundation for bilateral ties and multiple overlapping development interests, Xi pointed out that both sides should fully capitalize on existing opportunities to pursue innovation-driven growth. He added that advancing the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership to deliver more substantial, tangible outcomes will ultimately translate into greater well-being and shared prosperity for the populations of both nations.

  • Xi says China, Spain should strengthen cooperation to oppose ‘law of jungle’

    Xi says China, Spain should strengthen cooperation to oppose ‘law of jungle’

    BEIJING, April 14, 2026 – In a high-profile diplomatic meeting with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for strengthened bilateral cooperation between China and Spain to push back against a global retreat toward the coercive “law of the jungle” that threatens international order.

    Sanchez is in Beijing for an official working visit, marking the latest high-level exchange between the two nations aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic ties amid shifting global dynamics. During the talks, Xi highlighted that the contemporary international system is facing unprecedented instability, with a growing confrontation between two competing approaches to global governance: one rooted in the rule of law, and another that prioritizes the brute “rule of power” favored by larger nations seeking unilateral advantage.

    Against this backdrop, Xi urged both China and Spain to stand together in upholding the principles of genuine multilateralism, an approach that centers equal participation from all nations regardless of size, rather than the hegemonic order that allows stronger powers to dictate terms to smaller states. The call aligns with China’s long-standing diplomatic position of advocating for a multipolar global order and rejecting unilateralism, power politics, and the aggressive expansion of influence that harkens back to the “law of the jungle” where might makes right.

    The meeting comes as many European and Asian nations face growing pressure to align with competing global blocs, making bilateral cooperation between major economies like China and Spain a critical factor for maintaining regional and global stability. Both sides are expected to continue discussions across trade, climate action, cultural exchange and other areas in the coming days of Sanchez’s visit, with a shared focus on preserving a rules-based international system that benefits all nations.

  • Hi Five China: Life beyond retirement in Hainan

    Hi Five China: Life beyond retirement in Hainan

    Against the backdrop of China’s rapidly aging population, the southern island province of Hainan has carved out a new reputation as the nation’s leading destination for mobile retirees, drawn by its year-round mild climate and rapidly expanding elder-focused healthcare and wellness infrastructure. To investigate the shifting landscape of eldercare in China and examine how the sector is adapting to meet surging demand from an aging demographic, China Daily reporter Yan An joined a senior wellness travel group to experience life on the bustling island first-hand.

    What the reporter uncovered during her visit challenges common outdated stereotypes about retirement. Far from marking a quiet end to active, purposeful life, retirement in Hainan is increasingly framed as a fresh beginning — a new chapter where older adults can pursue personal growth, social connection, and self-fulfillment, all backed by a fast-growing, consumer-centric senior service industry that caters to the evolving needs of modern retirees.

    This trend reflects a broader national shift in how older Chinese approach retirement, as growing affluence and improved senior-focused infrastructure allow millions to choose active, location-independent post-work lifestyles rather than remaining in their lifelong hometowns. Hainan’s rise as a preferred retirement hub also signals growing opportunities for the eldercare and senior tourism sectors, as businesses and policymakers work to keep pace with the changing demands of China’s aging population.

  • Senior CPPCC official charged for bribery

    Senior CPPCC official charged for bribery

    In a formal announcement released on Tuesday, China’s top prosecuting body confirmed that Bi Jingquan, a former senior official of the country’s top political advisory body, has been officially indicted on bribery charges by prosecutors from Shandong Province. The case against Bi was first investigated and concluded by the National Commission of Supervision, China’s top anti-corruption watchdog, before being handed over to prosecuting organs for mandatory review and the filing of formal legal charges. Jurisdiction over the case was assigned to prosecutors based in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong Province, who have now submitted their official indictment to the Jinan Intermediate People’s Court to move the legal process forward. According to the indictment details, Bi is alleged to have abused authority across multiple senior positions he held throughout his decades-long career. These roles include former head of the National Medical Products Administration, former deputy head of the State Administration for Market Regulation, and former deputy head of the Committee on Economic Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body. Prosecutors claim Bi exploited these positions to secure improper benefits for third parties in exchange for accepting large sums of money and high-value valuables, which meets the legal criteria for criminal bribery. Prosecutors emphasized that throughout the entire review and prosecution procedure, Bi was fully informed of all his legal rights as a defendant, and the legal arguments and defense positions submitted by Bi’s legal representation were formally reviewed and considered ahead of the indictment being filed. Bi, now 70 years old, is a native of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China. He joined the Communist Party of China in March 1978 and entered official public service in February 1982. Over his four-decade career, he held senior leadership roles across multiple key national regulatory and economic bodies, including the former national price bureau, the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Medical Products Administration, and the State Administration for Market Regulation. In August 2020, Bi took up his post at the Committee on Economic Affairs under the CPPCC National Committee, and later also held key positions at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, a leading national economic think tank. The indictment marks a key step forward in the country’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which targets misconduct by public officials at all levels across government and political advisory bodies.

  • Xi puts forward four-point proposal on promoting Middle East peace, stability

    Xi puts forward four-point proposal on promoting Middle East peace, stability

    BEIJING — In a high-profile bilateral meeting held in the Chinese capital on Tuesday, President Xi Jinping laid out a structured four-point proposal designed to advance lasting peace and long-term stability across the Middle East. The talks took place during a working visit by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates.
    Against a backdrop of ongoing regional tensions and unresolved conflicts that have rippled across the globe, President Xi’s proposal outlines four core guiding principles to steer future peace efforts. First, it calls for universal adherence to the fundamental principle of peaceful coexistence between all regional states, regardless of differing political systems, religious traditions or strategic outlooks. Second, it emphasizes unwavering respect for the inviolable principle of national sovereignty, a cornerstone of modern international relations that underpins the territorial integrity of every nation in the region. Third, it prioritizes consistent commitment to the rule of law in international affairs, establishing clear, shared norms to govern interactions between states and resolve disputes through peaceful, rule-based channels. Finally, the proposal calls for coordinated, integrated advancement of development initiatives and security frameworks, recognizing that sustained economic progress and collective security are mutually reinforcing pillars of stable societies.
    The proposal comes as China expands its diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, positioning itself as a neutral broker committed to de-escalation and inclusive dialogue between regional actors. The meeting between President Xi and the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince also underscores the deepening bilateral ties between China and the United Arab Emirates, spanning trade, energy, security and cultural cooperation.