China-US youth choir festival strikes chord for peace

Young singers from China and the United States came together in Beijing, uniting their voices in the second stop of a choir festival that celebrates harmony, cultural exchange, and enduring friendships between the two countries.

The 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival is being held from July 10 to 18 sequentially in Fuzhou and Beijing. Nearly 30 youth choirs from both countries, totaling over a thousand participants, are taking part in this large-scale cultural exchange event through music.

"For this trip specifically, our choir prepared two Chinese pieces of Molihua (Jasmine Flower) the rendition. So we will sing in Chinese, in Mandarin, and we got many pictures together, exchanged Wechat, talked and that was probably my favorite day, with just interacting and singing together with the other students," said Savannah Webb, a junior at the college of Music Education, Utah Valley University.

Webb highlighted the shared bonds between China and the U.S., emphasizing that beyond differences, there lies a deep emotional resonance rooted in common feelings.

"Regardless of language and regardless of upbringing, culture, maybe beliefs, we have something in common in here today that is when we sing music, even though we don't know each other's words, we feel it and understand it in our souls. And that is something that connects all of us, and that we don't need to understand you because we feel it in here," she said.

The warmth and hospitality of the Chinese people have left a lasting impression on the American visitors, who feel embraced by the friendliness shown everywhere they go.

"I am just dropped by like the kindness, it's like really baffling to me just like how generous you guys have been. And I'm just really grateful for the experience," said Hannah Boyack, a graduate student of the College of Music Education, Utah Valley University.

"(Chinese) I learn Chinese, (English) and I love it. (Chinese) I love Chinese language and China. (English) And I've been really enjoying the experience of learning how you guys communicate with each other and not just with the language and with the tones, but also so your mannerisms and your customs," said Anthony Ruiz, another student from Utah Valley University who speaks fluent Mandarin.

"(Chinese) 'All within the four seas are brothers.' -- We are brothers and sisters in this world. There is one night we did a river cruise on the Minjiang River and the buildings on both sides were lit up blue, all the way along the skyline with 'Sing for Peace' written up and down the skyscrapers. That's the theme. And we could not believe that the whole city had basically dedicated its look for us. That's pretty special. We don't see this in the United States. I think that takes a lot of coordination and effort and heart," said Reed Criddle, a professor at Utah Valley University.

The festival is co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the People's Government of Fujian Province.

Through music and shared experiences, these young voices prove that mutual understanding transcends borders and language barriers.

China-US youth choir festival strikes chord for peace

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests