Erinome:Hello dear friends! Welcome to our podcast. Today, let's chat about something fun—how typhoons get their names. Enceladus, have you heard the name "Doksuri" recently? It was a strong typhoon a while ago.  

Enceladus:Oh right! I saw news about it. But wait, why do typhoons have names anyway? Like, why not just numbers?  

Erinome:Good question! Long ago, different countries called the same typhoon different names. It was so confusing! So in 1997, the WMO (World Meteorological Organization) had a meeting in Hong Kong. They decided to use a统一 naming list from 2000.  

Enceladus:A统一 list? How does that work?  

Erinome:There are 14 members—countries and areas in Asia-Pacific, like China, Japan, South Korea, and more. Each gives 10 names. So 14×10=140 names total! They use these names in order, again and again. Like a big name book,循环使用.  

Enceladus:Wow, 140 names! That's a lot. What kind of names do they choose?  

Erinome:Most are easy to say, not too long—less than 9 letters. And they can't have bad meanings in any member's language. No business names either. Like, China gave names such as "Wukong" (the monkey king) and "Yutu" (jade rabbit). Cute, right?  

Enceladus:So cool! I know "Wukong" from the story. What about other countries?  

Erinome:Japan gave "Kujira"—it means "whale". South Korea named "Doksuri"—that's a kind of eagle, a bird of prey. Oh, and Thailand gave "Morakot", which means "emerald".  

Enceladus:Emerald? That sounds pretty. But typhoons can be dangerous. Why such nice names?  

Erinome:Haha, good point! The names usually have peaceful or beautiful meanings. People hope the typhoon will be gentle, maybe bring rain but not too much damage. Like "Moli" (jasmine) or "Lianhua" (lotus).  

Enceladus:Oh, I get it. But wait, do the names stay forever? What if a typhoon causes big problems?  

Erinome:Ah, you asked about "removal"! If a typhoon brings huge damage or many deaths, countries can ask to remove its name from the list. Then it's gone forever, and the original country gives a new name.  

Enceladus:Really? Any examples?  

Erinome:Yes! Like "Rammasun" in 2014. It hit China hard—floods, destroyed houses, big economic loss. So it was removed. Thailand gave a new name "Bualoi", which means Thai coconut milk.  

Enceladus:Oh no, that's sad. But coconut milk sounds nice. What about "Lekima"? I heard that name before.  

Erinome:"Lekima" was a strong typhoon in 2019. Its name came from Thailand, and it's a kind of tropical fruit! But it caused a lot of trouble in China. So later, it was removed too.  

Enceladus:A fruit? That's funny. So typhoon names can be animals, plants, or even fruits?  

Erinome:Exactly! China's "Dujuan" is a flower (azalea), Cambodia's "Krovanh" is a tree, Japan's "Kujira" is a whale constellation. So many types!  

Enceladus:Um, you know what? I saw something strange—someone registered "Doksuri" as a trademark! Like, for clothes or machines. Is that true?  

Erinome:Wow, really? Oh right! The news said some companies registered typhoon names as trademarks. "Doksuri" was registered as early as 2014. Other names like "Elena" or "Nepartak" too.  

Enceladus:Why would people do that? Isn't it a bit weird? Using a typhoon's name for business?  

Erinome:Some网友 were surprised. They said, "You can register that?" Others joked, "Registering everything will only hurt you." But is it allowed?  

Enceladus:What does the law say?  

Erinome:China's Trademark Law says you can't use names that harm public order or have bad influence. But typhoon names... maybe they're not seen as "bad" yet? So some get registered.  

Enceladus:Hmm. Interesting. Back to naming rules—how are the 140 names arranged?  

Erinome:They are divided into 10 groups, 14 names each. The order follows the English letters of the member countries. So each year, they use the names in order,循环下去. And they still keep the number, like "1909" for "Lekima"—2019, 9th typhoon.  

Enceladus:So if a name is removed, they need a new one?  

Erinome:Yes! The original country gives a new name. For example, China had "Longwang" (Dragon King), but it was removed. Now we have "Haiyan" instead? Wait no, "Haiyan" was also removed... Oh right, China's current names include "Haiyan", "Wukong", "Yutu", "Bailu", etc.  

Enceladus:So many changes! It must be hard to keep the list updated.  

Erinome:Haha, maybe. But it's important. Clear names help people remember and prepare for typhoons. Like, if you hear "Doksuri is coming", you know to stay safe.  

Enceladus:That makes sense. So next time I hear a typhoon name, I can guess where it came from! Like "Shanshan"—maybe Hong Kong?  

Erinome:Yes! Hong Kong's names include "Shanshan", "Wanyi", "Lingling". Macau has "Sanba", "Butterfly", "Lianhua". Each place has its own style.  

Enceladus:This is so interesting! I never knew typhoon naming had so many rules and stories.  

Erinome:Right? It's not just a name—there's history, culture, and even some sad stories when they get removed. 

Erinome: Hello dear friends! Welcome to our daily news roundup. I'm Erinome.  

Enceladus: And I'm Enceladus. Let's go through today's top stories together, shall we?  

Erinome: First, some weather and disaster news. The Ministry of Natural Resources says Typhoon Fengshen (the 24th this year) and strong cold air will hit Zhejiang and Fujian. They'll have storm surges and dangerous waves. Oh no, that sounds really serious.  

Enceladus: Yeah, hope people there stay safe and prepare well.  

Erinome: Next, about wages. The 2025 national minimum wage is updated! Shanghai's monthly minimum wage is 2740 yuan, top in China. And Beijing's hourly minimum wage is 27.7 yuan, the highest. Wow, Shanghai is leading again!  

Enceladus: Right! Working people must be happy with that.  

Erinome: Now, e-commerce news. Douyin E-commerce released their "Double 11" results. Over 30,000 clothing merchants saw their sales jump 300% year-on-year through live streams. Haha, live streaming is really changing shopping these days!  

Enceladus: Totally! So many people watch live streams to buy things now.  

Erinome: Sad news from Baise. The city reported 365 waterlogging points in total, and 122 are still not gone. They will make "one plan per point" to drain the water. Sad to hear that, hope the drainage works fast.  

Enceladus: Me too. Waterlogging is so troublesome for daily life.  

Erinome: Now, a big theft case. Shanghai busted a shared bike theft gang. 11 people stole over 10,000 bikes in two years! The涉案金额 (involved money) is over 10 million yuan. You know that? That's so many bikes! Unbelievable.  

Enceladus: How could they steal that many? Shared bikes are for everyone, not to steal.  

Erinome: Next, the "Wild child" update. No abduction was found. The parents have high education, and now the child and parents are under control. Um, hope the child is safe and getting good care now.  

Enceladus: Yeah, that's the most important.  

Erinome: Now, about an internet celebrity. Chai Duidui and his wife were arrested. They're suspected of making and selling fake products. Before, they were banned for smearing Pang Donglai, which got a lot of attention. Wow, making fake products is really bad, right?  

Enceladus: Exactly! You can't cheat customers like that.  

Erinome: Great science news! China's Tianyan FAST made a new discovery. It first captured millisecond radio bursts from a star's heizi qu (sunspot area). This fills the gap in understanding small-scale magnetic fields of stars outside the solar system. That's amazing! Our Tianyan is so cool.  

Enceladus: So proud of our scientists! They're doing such great work.  

Erinome: Sports news now. Su Chao semi-final: Nantong team beat Wuxi team in a penalty shootout, so they're in the final. The final will be between Nantong and Taizhou, on November 1st at Nanjing Olympic Sports Center Stadium. Football fans must be excited!  

Enceladus: Penalty shootouts are always thrilling. Can't wait for the final!  

Erinome: Last story: French media says the Louvre Museum had a robbery on the 19th. 9 Napoleon-era jewels were stolen in just 7 minutes! Now 2 have been found, but their value is immeasurable. President Macron is following the case. Oh no! Those jewels are so precious. Hope they find all of them soon.  

Enceladus: Me too. Historical treasures like that should be protected well.  

Erinome: Okay, that's all the news for today. Thanks for joining us!  

Enceladus: Yeah, let's talk again next time. Bye!

Erinome: Hello dear friends! Today, we’re going to talk about a very important person—Yang Zhenning, a great physicist who passed away in October 2025. He lived to be 103 years old. Let’s remember his life and what he did, Enceladus.

Enceladus: Oh no, that’s sad news. I’ve heard his name before, but can you tell me more about him? When was he born?

Erinome: He was born in 1922 in Hefei, Anhui. His father was a math professor at Tsinghua University, so when he was 7, his family moved to Beijing. He grew up in Tsinghua园 (Tsinghua Garden) for 8 years—what a special childhood!

Enceladus: Wow, Tsinghua is a top university in China. Did he study there later?

Erinome: Kind of! But then the war started in 1937. His family moved to Kunming, and he studied at Southwest Associated University. He graduated with a physics degree there in 1942. Then he got a master’s from Tsinghua too!

Enceladus: So he was really smart from a young age. When did he go abroad?

Erinome: In 1945, he went to the US as a student, studying at the University of Chicago. He got his PhD there in 1948. Later, he worked at Princeton Institute for Advanced Study—um, that’s where Einstein worked too!

Enceladus: Oh right! What was his big achievement? I think he won the Nobel Prize?

Erinome: Yes! In 1957, he and Li Zhengdao won the Nobel Prize in Physics. They found that “parity is not conserved” in weak interactions. That was a big surprise for physics!

Enceladus: Wow, that’s amazing. So he was the first Chinese to win the Nobel Prize in Physics?

Erinome: Yes! They were the first Chinese with Chinese passports to win it. Later, he did more great work—like the Yang-Mills theory, which is super important for modern physics. Some people say it’s as big as Einstein’s work!

Enceladus: But he was in the US for a long time. Did he ever come back to China?

Erinome: Oh, he always missed China. In 1971, when US-China relations started to get better, he was the first famous Chinese scientist to come back. He met his good friend Deng Jiaxian, who worked on China’s atomic bomb.

Enceladus: How did he feel then?

Erinome: He was so moved! When he heard China made the atomic bomb by itself, he cried. After going back to the US, he gave speeches at many universities, telling people about China. Many Chinese scholars followed him to visit China—he was like a bridge between US and China!

Enceladus: That’s really cool. Did he help China’s science later?

Erinome: So much! In 1972, he told Premier Zhou Enlai that China should focus on basic science. Premier Zhou listened! Later, he set up funds to help Chinese students study in the US. Over 100 scholars got help—they became key scientists in China!

Enceladus: He really loved his country. When did he move back to China?

Erinome: In 1999, he started teaching at Tsinghua University. He was 77 then, but he still taught freshmen physics! He helped build Tsinghua’s Institute for Advanced Study, getting good teachers and money for it.

Enceladus: Did he change his nationality? I heard something about that.

Erinome: Yes. In 2015, he gave up his US nationality and became a Chinese citizen again. Then he became a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He said, “My life is like a circle—I started in Tsinghua, and now I’m back.”

Enceladus: That’s so touching. What else did he do in his later years?

Erinome: In 2021, he gave Tsinghua over 2,000 things—books, papers, photos. They made a “Yang Zhenning Room” in the library. He also said, “I want to help Chinese people feel confident—we can be great in science too.”

Enceladus: Oh, that’s a big contribution. So why do people call him “the most normal genius”?

Erinome: Because even though he was super smart, he was simple. His motto was “宁拙毋巧，宁朴毋华” (Better to be honest than tricky, simple than showy). He taught students, talked to young people—just like a normal teacher, but with a big heart.

Enceladus: He lived a long life—103 years. When did he pass away?

Erinome: In October 2025, in Beijing. The news made many people sad. Tsinghua University said, “He’s a legend across two centuries, connecting China and the West.

Enceladus: Do people remember him in other ways?

Erinome: Yes! There’s a star named after him—Asteroid 3421, called “Yang Zhenning Star.” He also got many awards, like the US National Medal of Science and China’s International Science and Technology Cooperation Award.

Enceladus: So his life was about science and China. What do you think we can learn from him?

Erinome: I think… love for knowledge, love for country, and being simple. He once said, “Science is for everyone, and China can be a leader in science.

Enceladus: That’s inspiring. He will be missed a lot.

Erinome: Yes. He was not just a genius—he was a proud son of China. His story will always encourage us.

Enceladus: Okay, that’s it for today. Let’s remember Yang Zhenning—a great physicist, a kind teacher, and a loyal patriot. Rest in peace, Mr. Yang.

Erinome: Let’s talk again next time. Bye, friends

Erinome: Hello everyone! Welcome to today's "Daily News Chat"! I'm Erinome.  

Enceladus: And I'm Enceladus! Let's jump into the latest news together, okay?  

Erinome: First, let's talk about the weather. The Central Meteorological Observatory says cold air is really strong now! There's a big temperature drop across the country. Many northern areas have their highest temperature 8 to 10℃ lower than usual—like as cold as mid-November!  

Enceladus: Oh wow, that's so cold early! And guess what? Beijing suburbs even had the first snow of 2025! Brrr.  

Erinome: Right! And more about the cold: the Observatory also said some northern places could drop more than 15℃. People need to wear warm clothes, for sure.  

Enceladus: Moving to tech news! Generative AI users in China have passed 500 million. And "embodied intelligence" is becoming a hot spot for industry development. You know, AI that can interact with the real world?  

Erinome: Hmm, that's cool. AI is getting more and more part of our lives.  

Enceladus: Next, banks! Many banks announced they will clean up long-term inactive accounts—both personal and unit accounts. So if you have an old bank account you don't use, maybe check it soon!  

Erinome: Oh right, I have an old account too. Maybe I should log in and use it a little, haha.  

Enceladus: Good idea! Now, good news for Hunan people: Hunan will发放 1 亿元消费券—100 million yuan! They'll go to dining, fuel, housekeeping, and beauty services.  

Erinome: That's nice! People can save money when eating out or getting haircuts.  

Enceladus: Speaking of big money—guess how much a phone number sold for? A number with tail number 66666666 (liuliu liuliu liuliu liuliu) was拍出 for 2.75 million yuan! 4 people bid 67 times.  

Erinome: 2.75 million?! Wow, that's super expensive! The judge said if the buyer regrets in 5 days, they'll lose 400,000 yuan deposit. That's a lot of money for a number!  

Enceladus: Right! Now, education news: many provinces are encouraging technical schools to open "technician classes" for unemployed college students. Experts say undergraduates "going back" to technical schools isn't downgrading—it's upgrading! Because they learn practical skills.  

Erinome: Oh, that makes sense. More skills mean better jobs, maybe.  

Enceladus: But here's sad news: a kindergarten in Liaoning was accused of abusing children over 1,000 times in 15 days. Parents say their kids now have mental disorders. The kindergarten is closed, and 4 teachers were arrested.  

Erinome: Oh no, that's so sad. Poor kids. I hope they get help soon.  

Enceladus: Let's look at international news. UN Secretary-General Guterres warned the UN is facing a bankruptcy crisis! He proposed cutting 18.8% of staff by 2026. And right now, the US is the biggest debtor—owing over 3 billion dollars.  

Erinome: Oh wow, UN in trouble? That's serious. They need money to work, right?  

Enceladus: Yes. Now the US itself: US media says the government has been shut down for 18 days. Many workers in the nuclear safety agency and courts are forced to take unpaid leave. That's hard for them. And Trump said he'll put a 25% tax on imported medium and heavy trucks.  

Erinome: Sad for those workers—no pay but still need to live.  

Enceladus: More bad health news: foreign media says India's "brain-eating amoeba" cases are surging, with 26 dead. And Sudan's cholera outbreak: over 120,000 people infected, 3,000 dead.  

Erinome: Oh no, that's terrible. Hope they can get medical help fast.  

Enceladus: On conflicts: a Hamas official said they plan a 3 to 5 year ceasefire to let Gaza rebuild. But they won't disarm. Let's hope that works.  

Erinome: And Pakistan airstriked eastern Afghanistan, killing 17 and injuring 16. Afghanistan said to keep talks going, their forces won't take new action. Now both countries' reps are in Doha for talks.  

Enceladus: Talks are better than fighting. Let's wish them luck.  

Erinome: Okay, that's all the news for today. Thanks for listening!  

Enceladus: Yeah! Stay warm, stay safe, and we'll talk again next time. Bye!

Erinome:Hello dear friends! Welcome to our podcast. Today we’re talking about an exciting news for students in China—Zhejiang province just started a new holiday plan! I’m Erinome, and with me is Enceladus.  

Enceladus:Hi everyone! Oh, new holidays? For students? That sounds fun! What kind of holidays?  

Erinome:They’re called “spring and autumn holidays” for primary and middle school students. And guess what? Zhejiang is the first province in China to have this plan for all its cities!  

Enceladus:Wow, really? The first in the whole country? When did this happen?  

Erinome:On October 9th, all 11 cities in Zhejiang released their plans. So now every city there will have these holidays.  

Enceladus:Wait, what are spring and autumn holidays exactly? Are they like summer or winter vacation?  

Erinome:No, not really. They’re short holidays, different from the long summer or winter breaks. Like, in spring and autumn semesters, students get a few extra days off.  

Enceladus:Oh right! Shorter than summer vacation. How did Zhejiang start this? Did they try it before?  

Erinome:Yep! Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang, started testing spring holidays back in 2004. You know, like a small trial first.  

Enceladus:2004? That’s early! So they had experience. How did that trial go?  

Erinome:Good, I think. In recent years, Hangzhou’s spring holiday is around May, and autumn around October. This year, they even added after-school care for kids whose parents can’t stay with them.  

Enceladus:After-school care? Like activities for the kids during the holiday?  

Erinome:Exactly! For example, a school in Hangzhou—Jiangzhuying School—had over 60 students in their spring care class. They invited outside teachers to teach them to make “electronic picture books.”  

Enceladus:Oh! Electronic picture books? With AI? That’s cool! Did the kids like it?  

Erinome:Haha, probably! They could make a few pages in one class, and in 4 days, each kid made their own AI storybook. How fun is that?  

Enceladus:So other cities in Zhejiang are now doing this too? When do they have the holidays?  

Erinome:Different cities have different times, but most autumn holidays are in November. They connect the holiday days with weekends to make a 5-day break!  

Enceladus:5 days? Nice! Like, 3 holiday days plus 2 weekend days?  

Erinome:Yes! For example, Ningbo’s autumn holiday is November 12-14 this year. Then with November 15-16 weekends, that’s 5 days off.  

Enceladus:What about Jiaxing? Any info on that?  

Erinome:Jiaxing’s Nanhu District has the same dates as Ningbo—November 12-14. So 3 days holiday plus 2 weekends, 5 days total.  

Enceladus:Do all cities have 3 days? What about Jinhua?  

Erinome:Jinhua’s cities like Yiwu and Dongyang have 3 days too, but in late November—November 21-25, including the weekend. So flexible, right?  

Enceladus:Wow, flexible for local needs. Who decides the dates then?  

Erinome:The cities and counties make their own plans. The Zhejiang education department said they respect local differences. Over ten departments work together to support it.  

Enceladus:That’s a lot of help! So why is this important? Just more holidays?  

Erinome:A researcher from China Education Academy, Chu Zhaohui, said study isn’t only in classrooms. These holidays let kids go outside, into nature or society. Good for their social development.  

Enceladus:Oh right! Like learning from real life, not just books. That makes sense.  

Erinome:Exactly! And other provinces are trying too. Like Hubei Lichuan had a spring holiday connected with Qingming Festival. Guangdong Foshan is testing 5 days—3 autumn, 2 spring.  

Enceladus:So Zhejiang is leading, and others might follow?  

Erinome:Maybe! The national government also encouraged places to try these holidays, as long as total school days don’t change. They just adjust the time.  

Enceladus:Parents must be happy? More time with kids, or easier to plan trips?  

Erinome:Probably! But some might worry about childcare, hence the after-school care services. Like Hangzhou’s example.  

Enceladus:Smart. So kids have fun, parents have support. Win-win?  

Erinome:I think so! It’s a new way to make study more diverse.  

Enceladus:That’s cool. So Zhejiang really set a good example here.  

Erinome:Yep! First province in China to do this全省 (quansheng—whole province). Pretty big step.  

Enceladus:Sad for students in other provinces? Maybe not yet, but maybe soon!  

Erinome:Haha, maybe! Let’s hope more places try.  

Enceladus:Well, that’s interesting. Short holidays, flexible times, help from many departments… sounds like a good plan.  

Erinome:Totally! Okay, time to wrap up. Thanks for listening, everyone!  

Enceladus:Yeah, hope you learned something new. See you next time!  

Erinome:Bye!  

Enceladus:Bye!

Erinome: Hello everyone! Welcome to today's news chat. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Let's take a look at the latest news together, okay?  

Enceladus: Sure! Let's start with the first one. What's up with the central bank data?  

Erinome: Oh right! The central bank said that in the first three quarters of 2025, China's RMB loans increased by 14.75 trillion yuan. Also, RMB deposits went up by 22.71 trillion yuan, and the total social financing scale was over 30.09 trillion yuan. That's a lot of money moving around!  

Enceladus: Wow, that’s a big number. So loans and deposits are both growing, huh?  

Erinome: Yep! Next, the National Bureau of Statistics reported September’s consumer prices: down 0.3% year-on-year, but up 0.1% month-on-month. And the Tax Bureau said manufacturing got nearly 1.3 trillion yuan in tax cuts and refunds in the first 8 months.  

Enceladus: Oh, prices went down a little yearly but up a bit monthly. And tax cuts for factories—good for businesses, you know that?  

Erinome: Totally! Then, six departments plan to build 28 million electric vehicle charging facilities by the end of 2027. That will double the charging service capacity.  

Enceladus: Wow, 28 million! More charging stations mean it’s easier to own electric cars, right? That’s cool.  

Erinome: Yeah. But here’s some bad news: the official report on the "Cai Guoqiang fireworks show" incident. It said 15.29 mu of grassland was damaged, and several people were removed from their posts.  

Enceladus: Oh no, that’s sad. Damaging grassland isn’t good for the environment.  

Erinome: Definitely. On a better note, October 15th was a big day for high-speed rail! The cross-sea tunnel of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Rail's Shiziyang Passage was finally贯通 (guantong, completed). It’s expected to open in 2026.  

Enceladus: Oh, when it opens, how fast will it be?  

Erinome: Travel time between Guangzhou and Shenzhen will go from 1 hour to just 30 minutes! And annual passengers might hit over 200 million.  

Enceladus: Wow, 30 minutes! That’s super fast. Commuters must be happy about that, haha.  

Erinome: For sure. But then, some terrible news from Shandong. In Liaocheng, a man drove into people, killing 8 and injuring 4. Police said he was drunk driving—his alcohol level was 195.3mg per 100mL. He’s been controlled now.  

Enceladus: Oh no, that’s so sad. Drunk driving is so dangerous. My heart goes out to the families.  

Erinome: Me too. Let’s switch to some positive news. In Ningbo, Zhejiang, the first cargo ship of the China-Europe Arctic Container Express Route left Ningbo and arrived in the UK via the Arctic route. It’s the world’s first such route!  

Enceladus: Arctic route? That’s a new shipping way, right? Interesting. Shorter path maybe?  

Erinome: Probably! Now, gold news. International gold price hit a new high—over $4200 per ounce. Domestic gold jewelry is over 1235 yuan per gram. And Gansu found a large gold mine with over 40 tons, equal to two big mines!  

Enceladus: Whoa, gold prices are really high. And 40 tons of gold? That’s a lot, um.  

Erinome: Yep. Then, about northern Myanmar: details on the Kokang "Four Families" case. The Wei family was involved in gambling fraud over 14 billion yuan, and it caused 8 Chinese citizens’ deaths. The Liu family had over 10.6 billion yuan in gambling fraud too.  

Enceladus: Oh no, that’s terrible. Gambling fraud hurts so many people. Hope they get punished.  

Erinome: Moving to international news. Foreign media said the US Department of Justice seized nearly 130,000 bitcoins from a Cambodian fraud network. Worth about $15 billion—that’s the biggest seizure ever!  

Enceladus: 130,000 bitcoins? That’s a huge amount! I didn’t know they could seize that much, you know?  

Erinome: Crazy, right? Then, Japanese media reported that Japanese-Korean entrepreneur Masayoshi Son is back as Japan’s richest man. His wealth went up 268.2 billion yen in half a year. He got famous for investing in Alibaba, remember?  

Enceladus: Oh yeah, Masayoshi Son! Alibaba investment made him big. Now he’s rich again, haha.  

Erinome: Last two news bits. In Afghanistan, there was an explosion in Kabul—officials said it was an oil tanker explosion. And Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire to try to find solutions.  

Enceladus: Sad about the explosion. Hope the ceasefire helps them talk things out, you know?  

Erinome: Me too. Okay, that's it for today's news. Thanks for joining, everyone. Let's talk again next time!  

Enceladus: Bye!

Erinome:Hello everyone! Welcome to our podcast. Today, let’s talk about a hot topic in China recently—the age limit for the national civil service exam has been raised to 38. Enceladus, have you heard about this?  

Enceladus:Oh yes! I saw the news last week. Wow, that’s a big change, right? Before, it was 35, right?  

Erinome:Exactly! The 2026 national civil service exam公告 (gonggao, announcement) says now people under 38 can apply. Even master’s or PhD graduates can go up to 43. That’s 3 years more than before!  

Enceladus:Wait, did this happen suddenly? Or did some places try it first?  

Erinome:Good question! Some cities started earlier. Like Shanghai, in August 2025, they let people under 38 apply for law enforcement jobs. Then Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi… more and more provinces followed. Now the national exam made it official.  

Enceladus:Why change the age limit? Is there a big reason?  

Erinome:Um, the government said it’s to match the “delayed retirement” policy. You know, China is getting older, and the average age of workers is already 39.72. If they still used 35 as the limit, many experienced people couldn’t join.  

Enceladus:Oh right! 35-38 year olds often have work stress, like company layoffs or industry problems. Now they get another chance for a “stable job”, like a “铁饭碗” (tie fanwan, iron rice bowl). That must help their anxiety, right?  

Erinome:Yes! Like Jason, a 35-year-old guy from Suzhou. He worked in an industry that’s going down. He said when he was young, he didn’t care about “stable jobs”, but after seeing industry动荡 (dongdang, ups and downs), now he just wants stability.  

Enceladus:Sad, but I get it. Stable jobs are important for families. But wait, does this mean more competition for young people?  

Erinome:Hmm, maybe. The news says the number of jobs this year is 38,100, which is 2,000 less than last year. So more people applying, fewer jobs… young students might feel more “内卷” (neijuan, involution), you know?  

Enceladus:Oh no! That’s tough. What about the older applicants? Is it easy for them to study for the exam?  

Erinome:Not really. Like L from Henan, born in 1989. He tried last year but didn’t pass. He said the exam has so many questions, and he’s slower than young people. Also, he has a family—needs to work, take care of kids… hard to find time to study.  

Enceladus:Wow, that’s a lot of pressure. So even with the age limit up, it’s not easy for them?  

Erinome:Right. Some also worry about after getting the job. A 35-year-old new worker might be at the same level as a 25-year-old who’s worked 10 years. That could make them feel bad, you know?  

Enceladus:But maybe their experience helps? The news said older workers are good at talking to people, solving problems. Like a 36-year-old who handled neighbor fights with his life experience.  

Erinome:Yes! That’s a plus. The policy wants to focus on “ability” more than age. That’s a good direction, right?  

Enceladus:I think so. It breaks the “35-year-old barrier” in the job market. Maybe companies will follow, too? Less age discrimination.  

Erinome:Hope so! But some people say it’s just a small change. The real problem is making sure “ability matters most”, not just age numbers.  

Enceladus:True. So, do you think this policy is good overall?  

Erinome:For people over 35, it’s a light of hope. For society, it uses more experienced people. But we need to fix the competition and career development problems later.  

Enceladus:Agreed. Well, it’s a big step. Let’s see how it goes.  

Erinome:Okay, that’s it for today. Thanks for listening! Let’s talk again next time. Bye!  

Enceladus:Bye!

Erinome: Hello dear friends! Welcome to today's news roundup. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Let's see what's happening around us today, shall we?  

Enceladus: Hi everyone! Let's start with the weather first, maybe? It's getting cold lately, right?  

Erinome: Oh yes! The strongest cold air this year is coming! From the 14th to the 20th, it will sweep across China from north to south. Northern areas might feel "winter comes in one night", and the long "autumn tiger" in the south will end. Brrr, time to get thick clothes!  

Enceladus: Wow, really? I need to check my winter coat tonight. So cold so fast!  

Erinome: Next, about cars. Did you know? China now has 550 million drivers and 460 million vehicles! Both the total number and the increase are the first in the world. That's a lot of cars on the road!  

Enceladus: Oh, I see more cars every day. But more drivers mean we need better traffic rules, right?  

Erinome: Exactly! And good news for new car owners: from November 1st, the police will fully promote "one-stop" license plate service for new Chinese-made small cars. No need to go to the vehicle management office anymore. So convenient!  

Enceladus: That's great! Saving so much time. I remember my dad had to run around for his car's license before.  

Erinome: Now, for job seekers: the 2026 national civil service exam starts registration on the 15th. They will hire 38,100 people. The age limit is relaxed to 38, and for fresh master/PhD graduates, up to 43. That's good for older candidates!  

Enceladus: Oh, that's a big change! My cousin is 35, maybe he can try now. Hope he gets lucky.  

Erinome: Let's talk about food. The National Food and Reserves Bureau said on the 14th that autumn grain purchase starts officially. This year's autumn grain harvest is sure, and they expect to buy 180 million tons. So we have enough food!  

Enceladus: That's a relief! Harvest means no hunger. Farmers must be happy after hard work.  

Erinome: Sad news next: a "success master" named Yang Taoming cheated 380 million yuan. He got life imprisonment in the second trial. He once said he could sell a hair for 60,000 yuan and a white paper for 40,000 yuan. That's crazy!  

Enceladus: Oh no! Who would believe selling a hair for 60,000? Cheating so much money, he deserves it.  

Erinome: Now a lucky story! In Xiaogan Hubei and Nanjing Jiangsu, there were two 10 million yuan lottery wins. The winner is the same person! He said he couldn't eat or sleep for days after knowing. Haha, I would be nervous too with so much money!  

Enceladus: Wow! So lucky! 10 million is a lot. Maybe he's worried about how to use it? I hope he enjoys it.  

Erinome: Guangdong's medical insurance bureau is asking for clues about insurance fraud. From now to December, the top prize is 200,000 yuan. That's to stop people cheating the insurance system.  

Enceladus: Good! Insurance is for people who need it. Cheating is bad, so reporting is important.  

Erinome: JD.com will release a new car on November 9th. Media thought JD is entering the car industry, but JD said they are working with CATL and GAC Group, not making cars directly.  

Enceladus: Oh, so it's a cooperation, not their own factory. Maybe a smart car? I'm curious.  

Erinome: A scary thing happened to a Chinese tourist in Thailand: a guide threatened, "If you don't spend, you can't go back to China." The Chinese embassy said Thailand is investigating the travel agency. That's not right!  

Enceladus: Oh no! Travel should be fun, not forced to spend. Hope the guide gets punished. Tourists need to feel safe.  

Erinome: Last, sports news! Japan's men's football team beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly. They are the first Asian team to beat Brazil this century. Wow, that's a big win!  

Enceladus: That's amazing! Asian football is getting stronger. I didn't expect Japan to beat Brazil. Cool!  

Erinome: Okay, that's it for today's news. Thanks for listening, everyone!  

Enceladus: Yeah, see you next time! Bye!

Erinome: Hello dear friends! Welcome back to our podcast. Today, let’s chat about some big news in China’s beverage world. You know, Wahaha? That famous drink brand many of us grew up with. Enceladus, have you heard the recent news about it?  

Enceladus: Oh, Wahaha! I remember their milk drinks from when I was a kid. What happened? Is everything okay with the company?  

Erinome: Hmm, there’s a big change. Zong Fuli, the daughter of Wahaha’s founder Zong Qinghou, has resigned from her positions at Wahaha Group.  

Enceladus: Resigned? Like, left her job? What positions did she have?  

Erinome: She was the chairperson, legal representative, and director of Wahaha. And it’s official—she resigned on September 12th, and the company confirmed it in October.  

Enceladus: Wow, that’s sudden! She just took over after her dad passed away last year, right? So she only stayed in those roles for a little over a year?  

Erinome: Exactly! Her dad Zong Qinghou died last year, and she became chairperson in August 2024. Now, just a year later, she’s stepping down. Sad, isn’t it?  

Enceladus: Oh no, that must have been tough. Why did she resign? Any specific reason?  

Erinome: The main reason is about the “Wahaha” trademark. You know, the brand name. She couldn’t use it easily because of the company’s share structure.  

Enceladus: Share structure? What does that mean?  

Erinome: Let me explain simply. Wahaha’s shares are split three ways now: 46% owned by state-owned assets, 29.4% by Zong Fuli herself, and 24.6% by the company’s trade union. To use the “Wahaha” trademark, all three groups need to agree. She can’t decide alone.  

Enceladus: Oh, so even if she was the chairperson, she couldn’t use the brand freely? That sounds really tricky.  

Erinome: Exactly! The news says it’s a “trademark compliance issue.” Since the share structure needs all shareholders to agree, she couldn’t use “Wahaha” without their okay. So she chose to leave and focus on her own new brand.  

Enceladus: Her own brand? What’s it called?  

Erinome: It’s called “Wa Xiao Zong.” Sounds a bit like “Little Wahaha,” right? Cute name. And this brand is owned by Hongsheng Group, which Zong Fuli actually controls.  

Enceladus: Hongsheng Group? I haven’t heard of that. Is it a new company?  

Erinome: No, it’s not new! It started in 2003 as a contract manufacturer for Wahaha. Now it’s a big company covering the whole drink production chain. And Zong Fuli is the key person there—she’s the director, and Hongsheng is fully owned by another company she controls.  

Enceladus: Oh, so she’s been building her own team for a long time? That makes sense. So leaving Wahaha isn’t starting from zero.  

Erinome: Right! And there were signs before this. Since September, many Wahaha companies have changed their names to “Hongsheng” ones. Like, some local Wahaha factories are now called Hongsheng companies.  

Enceladus: Oh! So that was her plan—preparing for Wa Xiao Zong?  

Erinome: Probably! The news says those name changes were “铺路” (pū lù)—like paving the way for the new brand. She also did things like digital upgrades and team reforms before; now those can help Wa Xiao Zong grow.  

Enceladus: But wait, why did her time at Wahaha end so fast? She took over only last year, right?  

Erinome: Yeah, it was a tough year. She faced a lot of problems. First, after her dad died, there was a big fight over his遗产—like, 1.8 billion US dollars! Some people said they’re Zong Qinghou’s other children and wanted part of the shares and trust.  

Enceladus: Oh no, family problems? That must have made things harder for her at work.  

Erinome: Totally! And there were internal fights too. Last July, some shareholders questioned her management, and there were rumors she might resign then. But the company said she stayed. Then, she tried to replace old executives with new ones, which made some people unhappy.  

Enceladus: Wow, so many struggles. No wonder she decided to leave. But does she still have any connection with Wahaha now?  

Erinome: She still owns 29.4% of Wahaha’s shares—so she’s the second biggest shareholder. But she’s not in management anymore. Her focus is all on Wa Xiao Zong now.  

Enceladus: So from “inheriting an empire” to “building a new brand”—that’s a big change for her, right?  

Erinome: Exactly! The news says this choice might even change the competition in China’s beverage industry. Everyone is watching: Can Wa Xiao Zong take over Wahaha’s old sales channels? Can it be successful without the “Wahaha” name?  

Enceladus: That’s a good question. Wahaha has such a long history and many loyal customers. Wa Xiao Zong is new—will people buy it?  

Erinome: Maybe! She has the Hongsheng Group’s factories and her past reforms. But it won’t be easy. And what about Wahaha? Now, with state-owned assets holding 46%, and no Zong family in charge, what will happen to the brand we all know?  

Enceladus: It’s like the end of an era, huh? The “family business” part of Wahaha might be over. 

Erinome: Hello dear listeners! Welcome to our daily news chat. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Let's dive into today's top stories, shall we?  

Enceladus: Hi everyone! So excited to share the news with you. First up, good news for drivers! China's domestic refined oil retail prices just had the 8th drop this year. Oh, really?  

Erinome: Yep! Filling 50 liters of 92-octane gasoline now costs 3 yuan less. That's a small saving but nice, right? And the Passenger Car Association said September's passenger car retail sales were 2.241 million units, up 6.3% year-on-year. The car market is doing well!  

Enceladus: Wow, that's good to hear. Next, for travelers—after the holiday, flight ticket prices are dropping a lot! Some routes even have over 70% decrease. Flights from Shanghai, Beijing to popular tourist spots are as low as around 200 yuan. Oh no, I should have planned a trip after the holiday!  

Erinome: Haha, me too! Maybe next time. Now, trade news: Customs总署 says in the first three quarters, China's goods trade import and export reached 33.61 trillion yuan, up 4% year-on-year. That's a new record high for the same period in history! Amazing, right?  

Enceladus: Wow, our trade is so strong! Next, about cities—China's first urban comprehensive development index report is out. Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai are top three. Then Hangzhou, Jinan, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu, Wuhan are in the top ten. You know that? I’ve been to some of these cities, they’re really developed!  

Erinome: Yeah, they are! Now, family news from Guangdong: Starting next year, married couples in the province can check each other's property, like houses and cars. That’s a big change for couples, huh? And a white paper says China's women's development level has risen a lot—over 690 million women have entered a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. That’s wonderful!  

Enceladus: So great to hear about women’s progress. Moving on to Shanghai—they’re improving funeral policies. Choosing ecological burial now gets a one-time reward of 3,000 yuan. That’s a good way to encourage green choices, I think.  

Erinome: Totally! Tech news now: China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom all announced on the same day that eSIM mobile phone commercial trial is approved. eSIM is so convenient, no physical SIM card needed. I can’t wait to try it!  

Enceladus: Me too! Now, gold prices—spot gold just rose above $4,100 per ounce, a new all-time high. And domestic gold jewelry price is now 1,190 yuan per gram. Gold is getting really expensive, wow.  

Erinome: Oh, that’s a lot! But be careful with your facial towels—CCTV exposed market problems. There’s “Mianroujin” (cotton soft towel) and “Mianroujin” (chemical fiber soft towel). Only one character different, but their raw materials and production are very different! The second one isn’t made of cotton, but chemical fiber. It might have chemical residues easily. So we need to check carefully when buying!  

Enceladus: Oh no! I’ll definitely check next time. Now, international news: South Korean media says their population over 70 has exceeded the 20-29 age group for the first time. They’ve entered a “super-aging society.” That sounds sad, right?  

Erinome: Yeah, aging is a big issue. Another international story: British media reports German President will pay a state visit to the UK in December. That’s the first in 27 years! Long time no visit.  

Enceladus: Interesting! And Israeli media says Trump visited Israel, and Netanyahu gave him a “golden peace dove” sculpture as a gift. Peace dove, nice symbol.  

Erinome: Yep! That’s all for today’s news. Thanks for listening, everyone!  

Enceladus: See you next time! Bye!