A newly graduated doctoral student recounted in the acknowledgment section of his dissertation his journey from digging coal with his father to becoming a doctor in civil engineering, Xinhua News Agency reported. 
The university where the student studied hailed his experience as a transformative journey paved with perseverance.

Recently, a dissertation acknowledgment describing a journey "from digging coal with my dad to graduating as a doctor" recently gained widespread attention, Xinhua reported.

In the acknowledgement, the author wrote: "At age 12, I began mining coal with my father. At 19, I retook the college entrance examination and enrolled in a junior college. Later, I studied hard to earn a bachelor's degree, majoring in geological engineering, and only after two applications did I get the chance to pursue a doctorate."

“After graduating from high school, I didn't let my parents carry much of the financial burden. All my university winter and summer breaks were spent working," the acknowledgment read. His workplaces included electronics factories, chemical plant construction sites, highways, coal mining operation zones, and campus cafeterias.

Netizens praised the acknowledgment as a genuine portrayal of how education can change one’s destiny, with many admiring how he stayed true to his original aspiration despite the hardships.

Following the online discussion, Beijing University of Technology confirmed that the author was indeed a student. He studied full-time at the university from September 2020 to June 2025, majoring in civil and architectural engineering, Xinhua reported.

The university honored his journey on its WeChat account, stating "From the coal pits to doctoral graduation – this journey was paved by unwavering persistence." The university emphasized that his story is "not an unattainable legend, but a life's imprint shared by every striver."

From July 25 to 26, Fuping county in North China's Hebei Province was struck by heavy rainfall, which also lashed Beijing and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The torrential rains had affected 46,235 residents across six townships, resulting in two fatalities and two missing persons, China Central Television (CCTV) reported Sunday, citing data by local authorities.

The report said a total of 4,655 individuals from 1,289 households have been relocated to emergency shelters.  

According to the Baoding meteorological bureau, Fuping experienced an extreme rainstorm that shattered its single-day precipitation record. Monitoring data from national, regional and hydrological stations show that from 5 pm on Friday to 1 am on Saturday, the county received an average rainfall of 140.5 millimeters, CCTV reported.

The heaviest precipitation was recorded at Xizhuang hydrological station, reaching 532 millimeters, while the peak hourly rainfall — 145 millimeters — also occurred there, surpassing all previously documented hourly rainfall extremes in the area, according to the report.

On Sunday evening, Beijing's northern districts experienced intense rainfall with localized extreme downpours. The districts of Miyun, Huairou and Yanqing upgraded their warnings to red alerts — the highest level in China's four-tier rainstorm warning system. This marked Beijing's first regional red alert for heavy rainfall since the beginning of this year's flood season, the Guangming Daily reported.

CCTV reported that torrential rains in northwestern Miyun district triggered severe flooding and landslides, affecting multiple villages. Fengjiayu township was hit the hardest, with roads, power and communication networks cut off in several villages.  

After establishing contact via satellite phone with stranded residents in Fengjiayu, a firefighter rescue team advanced on foot. All affected individuals have now been evacuated and relocated. As of around 1:00 am on Sunday, the flood peak had passed, and water levels began gradually receding, according to CCTV.


Also, according to Xinhua News Agency on Sunday, widespread torrential rain has persisted across Inner Mongolia since Wednesday, triggering flooding in several areas.


In Xilingol League and cities of Ordos and Ulanqab, more than 22,000 people have been relocated. Over 14,000 pieces or sets of machinery, 737 drainage devices and 8,287 sets of rescue supplies have been deployed across the region, according to the regional emergency management department.


From 8:00 am on Friday to 8:00 am on Saturday, precipitation was recorded at 1,854 stations across 12 leagues or prefecture-level areas and 92 banners or counties in Inner Mongolia, with heavy rainfall concentrated in Xilingol League and the cities of Ulanqab, Hohhot and Tongliao, said local meteorological authorities.


In response, the region has activated Level-IV alerts for flooding and geological disasters and a Level-III alert for rainstorms. Currently, it has also allocated 34,000 items or sets of relief supplies to support its affected areas. 

Addressing a media question over Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, telling the media that China will produce a new national plan to tackle climate change, which would be announced in autumn, whether China has set a final timeline for its climate goals. Additionally, as China and the EU are engaged in climate negotiations, whether both sides will issue a joint statement at the upcoming China-EU summit next week, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang held the sixth China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue with Ribera, and the Chinese side has already released information about it, which the reporter can refer to.

Lin emphasized that China has always actively implemented the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and is vigorously promoting green and low-carbon development. Regardless of how the international situation changes or how other countries adjust their policies, China will steadfastly strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, said Lin.

On Tuesday morning, Philippine Coast Guard vessel 9701, operating in the waters near China's Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea, deliberately provoked China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels 21550 and 5009, which were conducting rights protection and law enforcement operations in the area. 

The vessel repeatedly conducted high-speed transits through the stern areas of China Coast Guard law enforcement vessels while dangerously approaching them, with the closest distance being only some 100 meters. This act seriously threatened the navigation safety of the CCG vessels.

Analysts told the Global Times that unlike the previous "hit-and-run" style provocations aimed at portraying an image of "victim," the Philippine's provocative behavior this time was more "arrogant and unreasonable." In connection with a series of recent provocations by the Philippines in the South China Sea, the Philippines has shown a new trend of ignoring international rules, which will undoubtedly force China to further step up rights protection and law enforcement efforts in the South China Sea.

Images sent back by the Global Times reporter dispatched to Huangyan Dao show that at around 10:30 am on Tuesday, while "escorting" two official vessels of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to operate in the waters near China's Huangyan Dao, Philippine Coast Guard vessel 9701 provoked CCG vessels 21550 and 5009, which were carrying out rights protection and law enforcement operations in the area. 

The images show that the vessel repeatedly made large-angle course changes at close range and conducted high-speed transits through the sterns of China Coast Guard vessels 21550 and 5009, with the closest distance to the two ships being about 100 meters.

Track charts obtained by the Global Times from the scene also show that within about half an hour, Philippine Coast Guard Ship 9701 was in a state of high maneuverability and irregular navigation, with a haphazard route, seriously disrupting the navigation path of CCG vessels 21550 and 5009, which were sailing normally.

"The Philippines' actions are extremely egregious in nature and seriously endangered the safety of CCG vessels," Yang Xiao, an expert on maritime issues at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

He noted that Philippine vessel 9701 has a displacement of 2,300 tons, while CCG vessels 21550 and 5009 are hundred-ton-class. During the enforcement operation by the two Chinese vessels, the Philippine vessel repeatedly made sharp turns at high speed, at one point closing to within just 100 meters of the Chinese boats. "This constitutes an extremely dangerous and malicious act of provocation. Any collision would have led to catastrophic consequences," the expert stressed.

He further stated that despite the large tonnage of its vessel, the Philippine side made multiple close-range course changes and sailed at high speed. This provocative act by the Philippines is unprecedentedly aggressive, differing from its previous behaviors.

Considering recent actions made by the Philippines, it is clear that Manila has not only disregarded China's restraint, but also completely ignored relevant international rules, attempting to continuously escalate tensions in the South China Sea. This series of provocations warrants high vigilance.

"While the Philippines has been trying to paint China as a 'bully' in the South China Sea on the international stage, the reality is that China has exercised maximum restraint in its rights protection and law enforcement operations, striving to avoid further escalation," said Yang. 

He emphasized that the reckless maneuvers of Philippine vessel 9701 had seriously endangered the safety of CCG vessel 21550. "The Philippine side really needs to think carefully: if it causes the situation to deteriorate further, will it end up shooting itself in the foot?"

In response to the claims made by US President Donald Trump saying that he thinks China will soon sentence people to death for fentanyl manufacturing and distribution, and he expressed optimism about the prospects of reaching an agreement with Beijing on illicit drugs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that China has repeatedly stated that fentanyl is the US' problem, not China's. The responsibility lies in the US itself.

The US has ignored China's goodwill and insisted on imposing fentanyl tariffs on China, which severely impacts China-US dialogue and cooperation on counternarcotics, and significantly harms China's interests. If the US genuinely wants to cooperate with China, it should face the objective facts and engage in dialogue with China on an equal, respectful, and mutually beneficial basis, said Lin.

China's Ministry of Education has issued its second study abroad alert for 2025 on Friday, warning that the security situation in the Philippines has been unstable recently, with a surge in crimes targeting Chinese nationals. The ministry advised students to carefully assess safety risks and to strengthen their awareness and precautions when considering pursuing study in the Philippines.

In a statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on April 1, the embassy said in recent times, the public security situation in the Philippines has been unstable. Incidents involving local law enforcement harassing and inspecting Chinese nationals and enterprises have occurred frequently. Political gatherings, protests, and demonstrations have also become more common across the country, resulting in heightened security risks for Chinese nationals and institutions in the Philippines.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the Philippines urge Chinese nationals to closely monitor local security developments, strengthen personal safety precautions and emergency preparedness, minimize unnecessary outings, and avoid political gatherings and crowded areas. Chinese nationals are also advised to comply with local laws and regulations and remain alert to potential safety traps or scams, according to the statement. 

The embassy also reminded those planning to travel to the Philippines to carefully assess the risks and make prudent travel decisions.

In response to a media inquiry on what's China's consideration behind the announcement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday that the alert is a responsible and legitimate measure taken by the Chinese government to protect the safety and rights and interests of Chinese students overseas.

"We once again remind Chinese students studying in the Philippines to make a careful assessment of the safety risks. At the same time, we urge the Philippines to take concrete actions to protect the safety, dignity and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students studying in the Philippines," the spokesperson said.

Editor's Note:

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War. Winning the war is a great victory for the national spirit with patriotism at its core, a great victory achieved with the Communist Party of China (CPC) fighting as the central pillar, a great victory fought by the whole nation through solidarity and bravery, and a great victory for the Chinese people, anti-fascist allies, and people around the world who fought shoulder-to-shoulder.

To commemorate this historic milestone and its lasting impact, the Global Times has launched a themed series revisiting the great significance of the victory through three lenses: The "Guardians of Memory," the "Witnesses of Struggle," and the "Practitioners of Peace." It underscores the importance of "learning from history to build together a brighter future."

This is the fifth installment of the "Guardians of Memory" series, in which, the Global Times spoke with several Chinese veterans who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The veterans, now in their nineties, shared their experiences of joining the Chinese military and bravely fighting Japanese invaders on the front lines decades ago. They are the witnesses to those turbulent years of war, and the living heroes who safeguarded national dignity with their own flesh and blood.

'I was fearless at that time'

"Among the Hakka mountain songs, I sing the most, with two or three baskets of verses..."

In the 1940s, amid the sprawling mountains of southern China, a young boy sang a folk song in a local dialect with a clear, bright voice. This boy, Cai Hua, wasn't singing just for fun. As one of the youngest soldiers in the Dongjiang Column, he used the guise of singing mountain songs to secretly relay information to his comrades.

The Dongjiang Column, officially known as the Dongjiang Column of the Guangdong People's Anti-Japanese Guerilla Force, was a guerrilla force against Japanese aggression under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). During the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, it was active in South China's Guangdong Province, conducting guerrilla warfare in the vast enemy-occupied areas controlled by the Japanese and puppet troops.

Cai joined the Dongjiang Column in 1944 at the tender age of 12. Before that, after the death of his father, he'd worked for local landlords and wealthy farmers, often facing abuse. One day, while out gathering firewood, Cai encountered two guerrilla fighters from the Dongjiang Column. Sympathizing with Cai's plight, they later invited him to join the Dongjiang Column after several evaluations.

What drove young Cai to join the Dongjiang Column even more, was his deep hatred toward the Japanese invaders. He recalled that in 1938, the Japanese army carried out indiscriminate bombings across many parts of Guangdong. After occupying Cai's hometown, a village in Huizhou, Guangdong, they implemented the inhuman "Three Alls Policy," burning and massacring civilians for over 50 days. At that time, Cai was only six years old.

"I hated those who exploited the people," Cai told the Global Times.

Cai later became a soldier in the Dongjiang Column. That year, the Japanese army invaded northern parts of Guangdong, and the main task of the guerrilla fighters was to conduct sabotage behind enemy lines. The leaders of the Dongjiang Column entrusted young Cai with some special missions, such as "cutting the Japanese army's telephone lines" and "sabotaging their vehicles."

According to Cai's recollections, he was fearless at that time, "determined to make life difficult for the Japanese." With his cleverness and alertness, he caused a lot of trouble for the nearby Japanese forces, such as interrupting their communications, making their supplies disappear, and causing their vehicles to break down.

On one occasion, when a battalion of Japanese troops was stationed in Cai's village, he even went to steal the pistol of a Japanese battalion commander, when he saw him sleeping under a tree. "I called my cousin to keep watch with a hoe, while I grabbed his gun and ran away," Cai told the Global Times, smiling. "That was the closest I ever got to a Japanese commander."

Despite his young age, Cai was able to endure great hardships during the war. Once, when his commander asked him to deliver an urgent message, he spent three days and two nights crossing numerous gullies and wild ridges, evading the tracks of tigers and wild boar. "But I couldn't escape the mosquitoes; I was covered in bites, and my whole body was swollen," he recalled.

During the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Dongjiang Column effectively tied down a large number of Japanese and puppet troops in the vast mountains and villages of southern China, providing effective support to the frontline battlefield.

Having lived through the war and faced life-and-death challenges, Cai said he deeply understands the preciousness of peace. He said that in the past, they ate sweet potatoes and couldn't even bear to peel them, and going hungry was a common occurrence. "Now life is prosperous, and we lack nothing," he told the Global Times. "My greatest wish is for a strong country and a strong military, to safeguard our territorial integrity and protect the people's happy lives, preventing historical tragedies from repeating themselves."

Cai joined the CPC in 1954. He urges today's young people to remember history, work hard, and contribute to building a stronger nation. "Our country was once poor and backward, bullied by others. Today's happy life is the result of the blood and lives sacrificed by countless revolutionary martyrdom of Party members," he noted.

Chinese Embassy in Israel has condemned a recent visit to Taiwan island by a member of Israel's Knesset, saying the move seriously violated the one-China principle and undermined the political foundation of China-Israel relations, according to the spokesperson for Chinese Embassy in Israel on Wednesday.

A member of Israel's Knesset (MK) from Yesh Atid traveled to China's Taiwan island to meet with the so-called "vice president" and "foreign minister" of the Taiwan region. Upon returning to Israel, this MK exchanged mutual flattery with relevant figures of Taiwan island on social media and published an article in Israeli media, in which this MK boasted about his travel experience and openly referred to China's Taiwan as a "country." 

In response to a question concerning this matter, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Israel stated that the words and acts of this MK regarding Taiwan island seriously violated the one-China principle, severely undermined the political foundation of China-Israel relations, and gravely poisoned the atmosphere for the friendship and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. 

The Chinese Embassy in Israel firmly opposes and strongly condemns such acts, and has lodged solemn representations with the Israeli side, demanding an immediate correction of the wrongdoings to eliminate the negative impact, said the spokesperson.

"There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The one-China principle, as a prevailing international consensus and basic norm in international relations, has become part of the post-war international order," said the spokesperson. 

The spokesperson noted that the China-Israel Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations clearly stipulates that "the Government of the State of Israel recognizes that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China." It is evident that this MK is acting in open defiance of the Israeli government's position.

Taiwan island is a province of China and has never been a country, not in the past, and never will be in the future, the spokesperson said. "I would advise this MK to take some time to study Chinese history and understand how, over the course of more than 5,000 years of the Chinese civilization, the spiritual world and belief system of the Chinese people have been shaped." 

It is through this long history that a shared conviction - "the territory must not be divided, the country must not be disordered, the nation must not be scattered, and the civilization must not be broken" - has been forged. By learning Chinese history, you will not be easily misled and will come to realize that the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces have no way out and no future. The "Taiwan independence" separatist forces are nothing more than mere clowns, destined to bring disgrace upon themselves.

"I also advise this MK to open his eyes and see what are the global trend and reality regarding the Taiwan question: 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China based on the one-China principle. By looking at the world objectively, you can break free from the information cocoon built by the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and make the right choice, instead of standing on the wrong side of history," the spokesperson said.

Furthermore, the spokesperson suggested that if possible, this MK should visit China's Fujian Province, which sits opposite to Taiwan Province across the Taiwan Strait. "You will see that people on both sides of the Straits are family bound by blood ties, and that Taiwan belongs to the over 1.4 billion Chinese people, including the 23 million Taiwan compatriots,'' the spokesperson said.  

"You will understand why Taiwan's future must and can only be determined by the collective will of the over 1.4 billion Chinese people, instead of being manipulated by a small group of the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces playing politics," the spokesperson said.

The American One Voice Children's Choir, whose heartfelt performance of Chinese ballad “As Your Wish” touched the hearts of millions of Chinese this January, visited Fuzhou No. 16 Middle School on Friday in Fuzhou, East China’s Fujian Province, where Chinese and American students bonded over China's intangible cultural heritage and exchanged songs and gifts. Youths from both sides told the Global Times that they believe music can transcend differences, that they will never forget such a memorable experience, and expect to see more such China-US collaborations in the future.

Together they tried their hands at traditional crafts including lacquer fans, cork carvings, ink wash painting, oil-paper umbrellas, and jasmine flower art. Under the guidance of Chinese peers, the young American visitors expressed deep fascination with these cultural treasures.

At the fan painting session, a member of the One Voice choir completed an expressive ink bamboo landscape in traditional Chinese style. She told the Global Times that "I think it conveys friendship. Because we did it together, me and my friend. He did this one and then I did this one. And they're growing together. It's a symbol of friendship.”

During the campus visit in Fuzhou, the One Voice choir and Fuzhou No. 16 Middle School's Yuying choir exchanged performances. 

"If you have ever suffered for my sweetness, I am willing to live as your wish. May it not be in vain, may we move forward bravely, in this prosperous world every day..." The chorus of As Your Wish resonated at the auditorium, as the Chinese and American students held hands while forming a circle. The auditorium erupted in cheers and thunderous applause, with many students moved to tears by this heartfelt cross-cultural connection.

As the campus tour wrapped up, Yuying choir exchanged gifts with the One Voice choir, such as pens and notebooks, Chinese paintings and jasmine flower tea.

Fuzhou No. 16 Middle School’s deep bond with American institutions dates back to some 166 years ago. In 1859, the Methodist Episcopal Church founded Yuying Girls' Boarding School- the first women's missionary school in East Asia and laid the cornerstone of what is now the Fuzhou No. 16 Middle School. 166 years later, those roots still grow strong. In its early days, American educators led this school; later, Chinese principals like Lan Xingqiu, educated at Columbia University, carried that legacy forward, Global Times learned from the school. 

The One Voice Children's Choir, from Utah, the US, is made up of a group of children who met while singing at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. This tour marks One Voice's return to China after 2023, with performances in cities such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Beijing.

The choir performed the Chinese song "As Your Wish" at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing with the video of this performance going viral on social media and garnering over 1 million likes. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that the huge popularity of this video shows once again that more people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the US are what the people want and support. 

In November 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in San Francisco that China is ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years. Under this initiative, a total of over 16,000 young Americans have been to China on exchange and study programs in 2024. They made new friends, learned a new language, experienced the Chinese culture, and had a glimpse of a modern China, Guo said. 

The fourth typhoon of the year, Typhoon Danas, formed in the early hours of Saturday, which is expected to move in a north-northeasterly direction at a speed of around 10 kilometers per hour, with its intensity gradually increasing, , according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). 

At its peak, it may reach typhoon strength (Category 12-13, with wind speeds of 35-40 meters per second), and is projected to approach the coastal areas between the southwestern part of Taiwan island and northern Fujian Province, CCTV News said. 

From Saturday to Tuesday, there is a heightened meteorological risk of mountain floods and geological disasters in the central and eastern parts of Zhejiang and eastern Fujian, CMA said. 

There is also a meteorological risk of small to medium-sized rivers in parts of central and eastern Zhejiang exceeding warning water levels, Urban waterlogging due to heavy rainfall may occur in areas such as Jinhua and Taizhou in Zhejiang.

Maritime authorities in South China's Guangdong activated a Level III emergency response for tropical cyclone prevention at 10 am on Saturday, CCTV News said. 

In addition, typhoon preparedness alerts have been issued for six cities in the province including Shantou, Shanwei, Jieyang, Chaozhou, Huizhou, and Shenzhen.

The Fujian maritime safety administration activated a Level II typhoon emergency response at 12 pm on Saturday. Earlier at 11 am, the Fujian provincial meteorological administration raised its typhoon alert to Level III.

On the same day as of 3 pm, multiple passenger ferry routes - including the "Huangqi-Matsu," "Mawei-Matsu," and "Quanzhou-Kinmen" mini three-links routes - had suspended operations, and 50 marine construction projects had been halted.

At 8 am on Saturday, the Zhejiang maritime safety administration activated a Level IV maritime typhoon emergency response, instructing relevant maritime units to make necessary typhoon preparedness efforts. The Wenzhou Maritime Safety Administration initiated a Level III emergency response at 4 pm on the same day, according to the media report. 

Starting at 8:30 am on July 5, coastal areas of Ningbo also activated a Level IV typhoon emergency response. Maritime authorities in Ningbo have strengthened patrols and inspections of ports, waterways, anchorages, and inland navigation zones.