China is bringing a mix of tradition and technology to London. More than 200 delegates and 116 Chinese cultural and tourism enterprises and organizations are expected to participate in World Travel Market London from November 3 to 5. China’s exhibition area will cover approximately 490 square meters, about 22 percent larger than last year. Visitors will be able to explore traditional Chinese crafts and cultural performances alongside innovative travel technologies, including AI translation devices, smart glasses and intelligent exoskeletons. The exhibition aims to showcase not only China's cultural heritage but also how new technologies are transforming the travel experience.

Can a blanket help save a melting glacier? Chinese researchers are testing an innovative approach to slowing glacier melt: covering sections of ice with a special nanofilm designed to reflect heat and promote radiative cooling. At Dagu Glacier in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the protective material reduced ice melt by more than 80 percent in treated areas, according to researchers. Over six years of experiments, parts of the monitored glacier surface even gained around 10 centimeters in elevation. The findings suggest that advanced cooling materials could help protect vulnerable sections of glaciers, although their effectiveness and practicality on a larger scale remain to be studied.

Brazilian incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, candidate of the ruling Workers' Party, won the presidential runoff on October 25. With 99.99 percent of the votes counted, Lula received 51.79 percent of the valid votes, compared with 48.21 percent for Flavio Bolsonaro, the Liberal Party's presidential candidate and son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Lula will be sworn in on January 5, 2027, for a four-year term, marking his fourth election as Brazil's president.

Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in the snap parliamentary election on October 25, as independent projections and leaders of a student-backed movement born out of anti-corruption protests confirmed an outright parliamentary majority that ends the Serbian Progressive Party's (SNS) 14-year grip on power.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with co-chair of the Board of Trustees of the Asia Society John L. Thornton and The New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, who are in China for the 2026 Global Governance Forum (Xiongan), on October 23.

A Chinese tech creator's first major English-language video on X is making waves far beyond China. Tim Pan, founder of Chinese video production channel MediaStorm (影视飓风), released an English-language review of Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, on October 21. The video drew nearly 50 million views within 24 hours, with international audiences praising its cinematic production, creative approach and detailed testing. Tim wasn't the only Chinese creator drawing attention to Apple's latest device. On the same day, another popular Chinese tech reviewer, He Tongxue, released a nearly 28-minute analysis of the iPhone Duo. His team used specialized equipment to measure the screen crease, examine the hinge and test the phone's performance, battery life and software compatibility. Their findings offered a detailed look at both the strengths and limitations of Apple's first foldable phone. Both creators have already built large audiences in China, where elaborate experiments, professional cinematography and extensive product testing have become hallmarks of leading tech channels. What makes Tim's latest video particularly interesting is its reception overseas. Rather than relying on translated clips or reposts, he is presenting Chinese-produced content directly to international audiences in English. The discussion around his video has focused largely on its production quality and the depth of its testing.

What did a royal ceremonial complex look like 5,000 years ago? Chinese archaeologists have uncovered the remains of three ancient wooden structures near the Fanshan burial site, one of the most important royal cemeteries of the Liangzhu civilization in eastern China's Zhejiang Province. Using evidence from 120 postholes, researchers reconstructed the possible appearance of the buildings. The largest structure measured approximately 25 meters long and 16 meters wide, with one reconstruction suggesting a height of around 15 meters. Archaeologists believe the structures may have served as ceremonial halls associated with royal burial rituals, offering new clues about the political and religious life of the ancient Liangzhu civilization.

China's digital yuan has recorded transactions worth approximately 31 trillion yuan ($4.4 trillion) as of the end of September 2026, according to the People's Bank of China. The digital currency has now processed around 4.3 billion transactions.

On October 21, @UnitreeRobotics unveiled its "H2-X Kung Fu Legend Guardian" robot, capable of performing impressive feats such as front flips over cars, jumps from heights of 4 meters and consecutive aerial kicks.

Canada is looking beyond the United States as it seeks to reduce its economic dependence on its southern neighbor. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting Türkiye for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as Ottawa seeks to expand its international trade partnerships amid tensions over U.S. tariffs. The visit comes just a day after Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a C$8.7 billion ($6.18 billion) plan to support Canadian industries hit by U.S. tariffs, particularly the steel, automotive and critical minerals sectors. "From mine to mill to assembly line, Canada and Ontario are protecting jobs today and making bold investments that will build a stronger, more resilient, more independent Canadian economy for tomorrow," Carney said. Ontario, Canada's manufacturing heartland, has been among the hardest hit by U.S. tariffs due to its heavy reliance on exports to the American market, particularly automobiles and steel. The Canadian government says it has already provided more than C$25 billion in assistance to workers and businesses affected by U.S. tariffs.

China's export controls on Japan are aimed at thwarting Japan's remilitarization and attempts to acquire nuclear weapons, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on October 21. Her remarks came in response to a question about a Financial Times report that Japan could run out of supplies of the critical rare-earth element yttrium within months. "China implements export controls on Japan in accordance with the laws and regulations. The aim is to thwart Japan’s remilitarization and attempt to possess nuclear weapons," Mao said. China's position on safeguarding the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains for critical minerals remains unchanged, she noted, adding that all parties have a responsibility to play a constructive role in this regard.

Every generation has its own long march, and every generation must see that march through.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed proposals for various ceasefire formats with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo, Norway, on October 20. The meeting was also attended by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Speaking after the meeting, Zelensky said the talks also covered security guarantees for Ukraine and the country's recovery. Following the meeting, Witkoff is scheduled to travel to St. Petersburg, Russia, where he will meet with the Russian leadership to discuss peace efforts.

On October 20, China's Ministry of Commerce voiced dissatisfaction and opposition to the latest U.S. move, which ordered its federal civilian agencies to stop using artificial intelligence (AI) products and services from Chinese companies. China adheres to placing equal emphasis on development and security, ensuring that AI remains safe, controllable and reliable, a ministry spokesperson said. The U.S. side has taken discriminatory restrictive measures against Chinese AI companies for so-called national security concerns, the spokesperson stressed, saying the U.S. move is a typical act of overstretching the concept of national security and abusing administrative means to suppress Chinese enterprises. It severely harms the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, undermines a fair competitive market environment and disrupts normal commercial cooperation between China and the U.S. in the AI sector, the spokesperson said. China urges the U.S. side to immediately correct its wrong practices, stop the unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies, and revoke relevant discriminatory restrictive measures, and hopes the United States will earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and make good use of the China-U.S. AI dialogue mechanism.

The BBC reported on October 20 that it will close its BBC Three and BBC Scotland television channels in the spring, as the corporation continues to make 500 million pounds ($669 million) of savings over two years. Both services will become online-only, which means that they will continue to produce and host some content on iPlayer, without the need to fill a terrestrial TV schedule, according to the report. The BBC also announced that it will close Radio 4 Extra, which largely airs speech programs from the BBC's archive, including comedy, drama and documentaries. The decision was made in response to "immediate cost pressures," BBC Director-General Matt Brittin said, adding that "we all know that means tough choices." "Against the backdrop of significant financial challenges, we must focus our resources where they will have the greatest impact for audiences," Director of BBC Scotland Hayley Valentine said.

The British government on October 19 warned individuals and companies considering bids for construction projects in Israel's controversial E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank that they could face sanctions and legal and reputational consequences. "The decision by the Israeli Government to open tenders for settlements in E1 is a direct threat to the prospect of a two-state solution and has been widely condemned by the international community. Today is the deadline for bids for the E1 settlement tender," British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement. He warned that Britian had created new powers allowing to sanction individuals and companies involved in the construction of illegal settlements such as E1. "We urge businesses and individuals not to proceed with bids for E1 construction tenders. They should be aware of legal and reputational consequences, including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law," said the foreign secretary. "This UK Government will not accept the continued displacement of Palestinians and the unlawful occupation that persists," he added.

Tehran will not accept that another country would seek to impose its will and demands on other nations through force and pressure, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said during a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tehran on October 19. Citing U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, Pezeshkian said assassinating its leadership, military commanders, nuclear scientists and students, and hitting infrastructure defies all legal and moral standards, especially while Tehran was still negotiating with Washington. Iran has no fundamental dispute with other countries of the West Asia region and is prepared to resolve existing issues and challenges through dialogue, Pezeshkian said, according to a statement published on the website of his office. Lavrov, for his part, highlighted Russia-Iran alignment on global issues, stressing the need to press ahead with diplomatic talks and tap existing capabilities to bolster peace and security, the statement said.

APEC 2026 with 30 days to go.

From Paris to Lisbon, Europeans are taking to the streets. And while the protests have different causes, many share a common concern: the rising cost of everyday life. A wave of demonstrations swept several European countries over the weekend, with protesters demanding action on inflation, housing shortages, education and public services. In France, around 550,000 people participated in nationwide demonstrations on October 17, according to the country’s Interior Ministry. Farmers, students, trade unions and climate activists joined the protests, which were also marked by serious violence. French authorities reported 2,397 arrests and 997 injured police officers and gendarmes. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the destruction and promised legal action, while acknowledging public concerns about purchasing power and the conditions facing young people. Elsewhere in Europe, protests reflected different but related pressures. In Portugal, tens of thousands marched against soaring rents and declining purchasing power, with demonstrators in Lisbon demanding affordable housing and action against property speculation. In Italy, protests over living costs and government policies led to clashes with police. In Belgium, students demonstrated against education reforms and rising expenses.