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Li, a medical imaging graduate from Zhongshan College of Dalian Medical University, went viral in China after sharing that she now runs a mango ice‑cream stall in Hechi, Guangxi, while preparing for the civil service exam. Her video drew over 5 million views, but she says her former college contacted her, urging her to delete it to “protect the school's reputation” and avoid alarming students about career prospects.

Li complied and stopped mentioning the school, yet says staff continued leaving negative comments that hurt her business. Zhongshan College denied pressuring her and claimed it respects all careers, though an official admitted the video had a “bad impact” and accused her of seeking attention with “untrue” claims. Li countered that she only named the school after viewers doubted her credentials, noting she had paid over ¥100,000 in tuition.

Frustrated, she reposted the video and challenged the school to sue her if it believed she was defaming it. Online reactions are split—many praise her for honest work and criticize the school, while others suspect she invoked its name to gain attention.

Singapore continues to hold both the regional and global lead in the Henley Passport Index, offering visa‑free access to 193 destinations, slightly down from 195 earlier this year. Japan and South Korea now share second place with access to 190 destinations, while the UAE ranks fourth in Asia with 184, and Malaysia fifth with 181.

Other notable Asian passports include Hong Kong (169 destinations), Israel (168), Brunei (164), Qatar (112), Kuwait (100), Maldives (93), China (83), Thailand (81), and Indonesia (74). At the bottom of the regional rankings are Nepal, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Vietnam's passport has risen seven spots this year to 84th globally, providing visa‑free or visa‑on‑arrival access to 51 destinations. The Henley Passport Index, updated in real time, remains a key reference for global mobility and travel freedom.

Chow Yun Fat showed his humble and approachable side while jogging in Beijing's Chaoyang Park, cheerfully interacting with fans. When one fan suggested keeping a photo private, the 70‑year‑old actor joked that photos are meant to be shared. Known for his passion for outdoor activities, Chow recently ran a 21‑kilometer half‑marathon in 2 hours, 24 minutes, and celebrated his 70th birthday hiking with fellow stars Michael Miu, Jaime Chik, and Calvin Choy.

A legendary Hong Kong actor, Chow first rose to fame through TVB dramas like The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and The Bund. Over his career, he has earned three Hong Kong Film Awards and two Golden Horse Awards for Best Actor. In 2023, he was named Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the Busan International Film Festival, becoming only the second Hong Kong actor after Tony Leung to receive the honor.

The U.S. passport has fallen to 10th place in the latest Henley Passport Index, its lowest ranking since the index began 20 years ago. Americans can now travel visa‑free to 182 destinations, down four from last year and 11 fewer than Singapore, which tops the list. The U.S. once held the number one spot in 2014 but has steadily declined, partly due to limited reciprocal visa arrangements—Americans allow 46 nationalities visa‑free entry, far fewer than many peers.

The drop comes as the U.S. introduces a new visa integrity fee of at least $250 under the Trump administration's “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a move criticized as discouraging foreign visitors. The Henley Passport Index, which uses International Air Transport Association data and updates year‑round, ranks passports by the number of destinations accessible without prior visas.

Currently, Japan and South Korea hold second place with 190 destinations, while seven EU countries, including Germany and France, share third with 189.

The Philippines faced severe weather Thursday as Typhoon Co‑May and Tropical Storm Francisco battered the northern island of Luzon. Co‑May, upgraded from a tropical storm overnight, carried winds of 120 km/h and was expected to make landfall by Friday morning on the west coast, likely in La Union or Ilocos Sur.

Days of monsoon rains preceding the storms had already killed at least 12 people and left eight missing since July 18. Flooding forced tens of thousands to evacuate in Manila earlier in the week, with several thousand still unable to return home due to ongoing rains.

Authorities suspended classes across Luzon and canceled around 70 domestic and international flights. Rescue coordinators warned evacuations could increase if heavy rain continues.

As of late Thursday morning, Co‑May was about 210 km off the west coast, while Tropical Storm Francisco was 735 km from the east coast, heading toward northern Taiwan. Officials said the two systems are not expected to collide.