A group of Chinese and U.S. students visited Hebi City in central China’s Henan Province from Thursday to Saturday as part of the "2026 U.S. Youth Pickleball Cultural Exchange Trip to China," a program aimed at fostering cultural connections and mutual understanding beyond the pickleball court.
Running from February 15 to 24, the trip involves over 190 youth participants from both countries engaging in inter-school exchanges, pickleball matches, and cultural visits in four locations, Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, Shangyou in Jiangxi Province, Hebi in Henan Province, and Beijing.
During their stay in Hebi's Xunxian County on Friday, one of China’s oldest walled cities, students participated in traditional activities such as stilt walking and lion dance to celebrate the Spring Festival, gaining firsthand experience of the region's vibrant culture.
"How, you know, we're in a big crowd, we're hootin' and hollerin', and then we step through this gate and it's peace. It's so amazing. It's a sudden change that I've never experienced anywhere else, and for that, it's beautiful," said Ryan Corkery, a U.S. student.
In workshops led by local artisans, participants explored Spring Festival calligraphy and traditional clay sculpture -- intangible cultural heritage crafts passed down through generations in the region.
"Today in Hebi, wow, that’s all I can say. From the grand entrance to seeing the city, to coming and engaging in arts and crafts, having a lunch literally in town and enjoying the local cuisine. It just really allows us to understand the open-up and learn culture," said Dr. Jeffrey Sullivan, director of Systemwide Athletics at Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.
A pickleball match took place on Saturday at a local sports center in Hebi, fostering mutual respect between Chinese and U.S. students through friendly competition.
US, Chinese students connect through pickleball cultural exchange in central China city
Russia's military said more than 1,200 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones were intercepted and destroyed across multiple regions overnight into Thursday, while Ukrainian forces reported striking a Russian drone control point and repelling attacks on several fronts.
In its latest update, the Russian Ministry of Defense said 1,214 Ukrainian drones were downed across 19 regions, including Bryansk, Belgorod, and Moscow.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported on Telegram that 613 drones targeted the capital region between 20:30 Wednesday and 07:00 Thursday. Most were intercepted at long range by air defenses, with an additional 231 destroyed as they approached the city.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said a drone struck a dry cargo ship carrying supplies for Ukrainian forces en route to the port of Odesa early Thursday.
In retaliation, Ukrainian forces targeted energy infrastructure in the Luhansk region, cutting power to six towns and leaving over 150,000 households without electricity as of Thursday afternoon, according to Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-appointed head of the region. Pasechnik added that central Luhansk was hit by a massive morning strike that damaged residential buildings, a post office, the archives building, and a parking lot, though no injuries were reported.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in its 08:00 Thursday update that its forces struck two Russian personnel concentration areas and a drone control point over the past 24 hours, while repelling attacks in several directions, including Pokrovsk. Ukrainian forces also claimed to have destroyed various Russian armored vehicles, artillery systems, ground robotic systems, and drones.
Separately, Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 112 attack drones beginning Wednesday evening, 97 of which were shot down or suppressed by 08:00 Thursday. The air force noted that the assault was ongoing, with several Russian drones still active in Ukrainian airspace.
Russia reports over 1,200 Ukrainian drones downed overnight as Ukraine counters with strikes
