ChemChina wins EU, US nods for Syngenta takeover

Brussels/Washington - China National Chemical Corp won the European Union's antitrust approval for its $43 billion takeover of Swiss pesticide maker Syngenta AG, a day after the US gave its blessing, bringing China's largest foreign acquisition closer to the finish line.

Starbucks launches pure local brew

Starbucks Coffee Co, the global coffee chain, has introduced its first single-origin coffee from Southwest China's Yunnan province, in an effort to help local coffee growers boost their income.

Tech firm looks to AI to help remote kids

iFlytek Co Ltd, a Shenzhen-listed tech firm, is using artificial intelligence to help children in remote areas get a better education.

Free health insurance initiated, to lift villagers out of their poverty

Hexie Health Insurance Co Ltd has donated 49.74 million yuan ($7.22 million) of personal accident insurance to villagers in East China's Shandong province as part of an effort to lift rural citizens out of poverty.

IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Passport to success

Twenty-year-old Chen Qiyu stood center-stage, holding a crystal trophy, a certificate and a bouquet in her arms. The cameras lingered, dazzling with flashes. A continuous volley of applause swept through the large audience as she was crowned the champion of this year's 21st Century National English Speaking Competition.

What they say

Feng Feifei, senior producer, BBC Learning English

How the competition has evolved over the years

1995: Huang Qing, then deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, conceived the idea of holding a national English speaking competition in China. Preparation for the competition began soon afterward.

Creating a model lawyer in books

If He Jiahong had been better at mathematics, he might never have become one of China's top legal experts.

New Zealand gets new taste of Chinese culture with tai chi, more

WELLINGTON - Han Xuanting spins in a skirt typical of the style of China's Uygur ethnic group, with a dozen New Zealand girls in school dresses imitating her steps around her.

Laos and UN expand efforts to keep girls in school

VIENTIANE - The Lao Ministry of Education and Sports and the United Nations Population Fund have agreed to strengthen their partnership by continuing to build on their campaign titled "Noi".

Now 'odd' even cool

Mismatched shoes are suddenly a fashion statement, not the sleepy accident of the absent-minded.