Chinese Multicultural Herald

【🚀 Starship Reaches Orbit for the First Time!】

SpaceX’s Starship Flight 14 lifted off from Starbase in South Texas at about 7:50 a.m. Central Time on Sept. 28, marking the spacecraft’s first attempt at an orbital flight. 🌎

The mission also carried 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites. Despite an engine issue during flight, Starship successfully reached orbit and deployed the satellites—a major milestone in SpaceX’s push toward a fully and rapidly reusable launch system.

From test flights to orbit—how far do you think Starship can go next? 🚀✨

【🏓 China Sweeps Asian Games Table Tennis Golds!】

On Sept. 28, the table tennis events at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games came to a thrilling close! 🇨🇳

Kuai Man & Wang Manyu stormed past Japan’s Miwa Harimoto & Hina Hayata 4-0 to win women’s doubles gold. Wang secured her third gold of the Games, while Kuai also completed a three-gold haul. 🥇🥇🥇

In men’s singles, Lin Shidong defeated defending champion Wang Chuqin 4-0 to claim his first Asian Games singles title! He also took mixed doubles and men’s doubles gold.

Three golds each—what a finish! 👏 Which performance impressed you most? 🇨🇳🏓

【🎾 When Table Tennis Meets Tennis!】

The Australian Open 2027 China launch event took place at Lotus Court of Beijing’s National Tennis Center on the evening of Sept. 28.

Sports and entertainment stars including tennis-loving table tennis legend Ma Long, actors Li Xian and Liu Haoran, and figure skater Sui Wenjing stepped into the spotlight. ✨

Li Xian even traded the red carpet for the court, beating Sui Wenjing in the “One Point Grand Slam” celebrity match to reach the semifinals! 🎾🔥

Who would you want to see pick up a racket next? 👀

【🏒 Big Trade Alert in Toronto!】

On Sept. 28, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forwards Kirill Marchenko and Miles Wood, along with goaltender Elvis Merzļikins, from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Heading to Columbus are defenseman Emil Andrae, forwards Matthew Knies and Steven Lorentz, plus a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. 🔄

Marchenko, 26, coming off a 27-goal, 40-assist season, has also signed a six-year, $75 million deal with Toronto, according to NHL.com.

A major roster shake-up just before the new season! 👀🏒

【Giant Pandas "Ping Ping" and "Fu Shuang" Arrive in Atlanta, USA】

🐼✈️ THEY'RE HERE! Atlanta just got TWO new fluffy superstars! 🎉

On September 27, giant pandas "Ping Ping" and "Fu Shuang" — both born in Chengdu, Sichuan — landed in Atlanta on a charter flight to begin their 10-year stay! 🏡

The pair will undergo a month of quarantine before their public debut date is announced. Zoo Atlanta's panda partnership with China began in 1999 with "Lun Lun" and "Yang Yang," who returned to China in 2024 after raising 7 cubs! 👶🐼

The US now has pandas at 3 zoos: Washington's National Zoo, San Diego Zoo, and Zoo Atlanta!

When do YOU think they'll make their public debut? Drop your guess below! 👇

【Huang Youzheng/Lin Shidong Win Asian Games Men's Doubles; Wang Manyu Takes Women's Singles】

🏓🥇 GOLDEN NIGHT FOR CHINA at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games! 🎉

On September 27, Huang Youzheng/Lin Shidong beat Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto / Hiroto Shinozuka 4:2 to claim men's doubles gold! 💪 After dropping the first game 6:11, they roared back with 11:4, then sealed it 11:6, 11:5, 11:1!

In women's singles, Wang Manyu defeated defending champion Sun Yingsha in an all-China final! Wang took the first two games, Sun fought back 13:11, and after a nail-biting 15:13 sixth game, Wang claimed gold! 🏆

Sun: "Injury recovery affected my training intensity. This may be my last Asian Games, so I cherished every moment." ❤️

Who's your favorite table tennis star? Tell us! 👇

【Qingdao's Century-Old Liyuan Hosts "World Stage" — Canadian Comedy Troupes Among Global Performers at "One Street, Great Show"】

🎭🌏 When a 100-year-old Chinese neighborhood becomes a WORLD STAGE — and Canada's comedy stars join the party! 🍁

During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Qingdao's historic Zhongshan Road came alive with the 3rd (2026) Liyuan Comedy Festival! Theme: "Surprise at Every Step" — using the Liyuan's interconnected courtyards and alleys to create a "block + theater + courtyard" 3D performance layout. 🏮

Over 1,000 shows from Chinese AND international troupes — including artists from France, Denmark, CANADA 🇨🇦, and Australia — roamed the streets bringing joy!

Italian actors made a full band with a guitar and kitchenware; Cuban rhythm comedy turned mops into saxophones... and Canadian performers added their own unique flavor to the global comedy mix! 🍁🎤

Which country's comedy style do you love most? Tell us! 👇

【Chinese Musician Liu Huan Passes Away at 63】

🎵💔 A heartbreaking loss for Chinese music. Liu Huan, renowned Chinese musician and retired professor at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), passed away in Shanghai on September 25, 2026, at 9:52 AM, at age 63.

Liu entered the music scene in 1987 singing a TV drama theme song, going on to create classics like "The Crescent Moon" and "Hero's Song." In 2008, he performed the Olympic theme "You and Me" with British soprano Sarah Brightman at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony! 🎤🏅

He won "China's Top Ten Singers" and "China's Top Ten Songwriters" awards, becoming a household name as a singer, songwriter, and producer.

Per his wishes, funeral arrangements will be simple — no funeral committee, no farewell ceremony or memorial service. 🙏

【✨ Madonna Lights Up the 2026 VMAs!】

Madonna opened the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sept. 27 in Los Angeles with Sabrina Carpenter, performing “Bring Your Love” before Charli xcx joined her for “Danceteria Afterhours.” 💃🔥

Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the night delivered plenty of star power—and a first VMA win for LISA! 🏆 She took home Best Pop for “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi, becoming one of the night’s early winners.

Taylor Swift also made VMA history, while the Peacock Theater stage welcomed tributes to Dolly Parton and George Michael. 🎤✨

Which performance or moment was your favorite? 👀

【揭秘中美元首夫妇共同参观的美国国家档案馆：不少馆藏见证两国友好】
9月25日，中美元首夫妇共同参观美国国家档案馆。走进美国国家档案馆，门口两句话格外醒目：Study the past——研究过去；What is past is prologue——凡是过往，皆为序章。这两句话，为整座档案馆定下基调。从秘密磋商到总统访华，从一封信到一次握手，展厅里的画面串联起太平洋两岸的共同记忆。一起来看看馆内有哪些关于两国友好的馆藏吧！