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When Guangli Xu's phone started buzzing with thousands of notifications, he realised he had "gone viral". The 28-year-old shared a video to social media platform Douyin — the Chinese version of TikTok — titled "Challenging the world's longest commute to classes". The video documents the 8,800km journey Xu takes weekly from his hometown Dezhou, in China’s Shandong province, to Melbourne for face-to-face classes. "A round trip takes about 72 hours. One way is about 10 to 13 hours on the plane," he tells SBS Mandarin. Xu first came to Melbourne eight years ago and in that time has completed his undergraduate studies in game design and a master's degree in arts management at RMIT University. For his final semester this year, he decided to move back to his hometown and become an 'international commuter'. Source: Supplied "I usually leave for Melbourne on Monday mornings and can be back home [in China] by Wednesday evenings," Xu says. Between August and October, he made the commute 11 times, with each round trip costing around $1,500. He says the expense is comparable to his typical monthly living costs in Melbourne. Xu says the main reasons he wanted to become an "international commute student" were to spend more time with his family and girlfriend, who are based in Dezhou, and to prepare for a career in China post-graduation. Before committing to the plan, Xu read up on China's overseas degree recognition and recruitment timelines and assessed the feasibility of managing his coursework remotely. Why international students like Huzaifa say they feel 'like a scapegoat' "I found that the flight routes between China and Australia are frequent, with multiple airlines operating, so I gave it a try ... It turned out to be quite feasible and I haven't encountered any major issues," he explains. "I prefer the environment and convenience in China. After living abroad for so many years, I also wanted to spend more time with my family." Cross-state commuting Alongside international commuting, some domestic students are travelling interstate for their studies. Hunter Huang, a Chinese international student at the University of Adelaide, moved to Sydney in February and began a four-month journey of "cross-state commuting" to complete his postgraduate studies in marketing. The 27-year-old had been living in Adelaide since 2016, where he completed his foundation and undergraduate studies. Source: Supplied Speaking to SBS Mandarin, Huang says he would typically fly from Sydney to Adelaide once a month, returning the same day. "I usually arrive at Sydney Airport around 6am and take the earliest flight to Adelaide, arriving just in time for my 10am class. Like Xu, Huang’s move was in part motivated by love — his girlfriend lives in Sydney. He also cited Sydney’s lower shared accommodation costs and greater job opportunities as primary reasons behind his decision to commute between states. "After calculating the costs, I found that living together [with my girlfriend] in Sydney is cheaper than living apart, with me staying in Adelaide to study. We're saving nearly a month's rent, around $2,000," Huang says. "Also, it's not easy to find a marketing job in Adelaide but there are more opportunities here in Sydney." There are new restrictions for student visas in Australia. Here's what you need to know Could international commuting become mainstream? Xu isn't the only one adopting the international commute lifestyle. On Chinese social media, it is not unusual to see international students from other countries posting videos tagged "China-Japan commute", "China-Korea commute" and "China-Russia commute". Dr Qian Gong, a scholar of Chinese media and popular culture at Perth's Curtin University, believes that short-term international commuting could become "a more common practice" among international students in the near future. "Particularly for countries that are geographically closer, like South Korea, Japan, Malaysia or Singapore, I think it's highly possible that some students might opt for a period of international commuting," she says. Source: Supplied Gong explains that compared with earlier generations of Chinese international students, the new generation places a higher value on staying connected with their families. Additionally, an increasing number of students now choose to return to China after graduation. "I've seen students mention that one reason they choose Australia is the [smaller] time difference between Australia and China. Whereas in the US, for instance, it's less convenient to call or video chat with family," she says. "Over time, international commuting might become a practice that no longer stands out as unusual." These uni students are working 'extreme hours' to make ends meet, but a crackdown is looming International commute not for everyone As Xu's international commute videos gained traction online, he started facing criticism. Some comments posted on Douyin label him a "wealthy kid" and questioned the value of his degree. Dr Hongzhi Zhang is a senior lecturer in education at Monash University and says the decision to undertake international commuting is tied to a range of social, economic and lifestyle factors international students have to consider. "If there were more job opportunities and better living conditions here in Australia, I believe [Xu] would be more inclined to invite his family to live in Australia, rather than flying back to China every week," Zhang says. Source: SBS News Despite the considerable time spent travelling and associated costs, Zhang says international commuting does not necessarily diminish the quality of learning. "What affects the quality of learning is whether the student has adequately prepared before attending class," he explains. Zhang points out that since the pandemic, universities have embraced more flexible teaching methods to meet diverse needs. "For instance, many reading materials are now provided online in advance. Whether students are in Australia or elsewhere, they can prepare for class ahead of time." International students face major mental health barriers. Are universities doing enough? In early December, Xu returned to Melbourne to prepare for his graduation ceremony later this month. Reflecting on his three-month journey as an international commuter, Xu described it as a "bold" experiment that not only enriched his life experience but also made him more confident about planning for his future. But he says international commuting is "not a good fit for everyone". "But if your time and energy abroad are already limited, I'd recommend focusing on integrating into local life as soon as possible. I think that will have greater meaning for your future." This story was written by Nicole Gong from SBS Mandarin .zhoebless 。

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — What's stoking the Denver Broncos' surprising surge is the growing connection between rookie quarterback Bo Nix and veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Whenever the Broncos (7-5) need a clutch catch, a key flag or a timely touchdown, Sutton is usually the one delivering it like he did Sunday when he caught eight passes on 10 targets for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns that sparked the Broncos' come-from-behind 29-19 win at Las Vegas. “Courtland played tremendous,” coach Sean Payton said. Again. “He’s just reliable,” Nix said. “He's just always there when you need him.” Sutton's size (6-foot-4 and 216 pounds) and experience (he's in his seventh NFL season) make him an ideal target and safety valve for the rookie QB whose confidence is growing by the week. “He’s smart. He’s savvy. He makes plays when the ball’s in the air,” Nix said. “You can trust him. When it’s up in the air, it’s his or nobody’s. It’s not going to be a pick.” Nix's first touchdown toss to Sutton was an 18-yarder that allowed the QB to break Marlin Briscoe's 1968 Denver rookie record of 14 TD passes, and the two connected again with 5:30 left to make it a two-score game. The Broncos trailed 13-9 at halftime and Nix said they knew they had to get the ball into Sutton's hands more in the second half after he had caught the only pass thrown his way in the first half (for 17 yards). “Didn’t target him (much) in the first half,” Nix said. “We come out and say, ‘Look, Courtland, this is your half.’ We take over the game. He goes for two touchdowns. That just kind of speaks for what he means to our team.” Sutton has been on a tear after since he wasn't targeted a single time in Denver's 33-10 win at New Orleans on Oct. 17. (Payton mentioned as recently as last week what an anomaly that game was because there was a heavy diet of plays for Sutton that just didn't pan out for various reasons.) In his six games before that goose egg, Sutton had 21 catches on 49 targets for 277 yards and a touchdown. In the five games since, he's caught 36 of the 48 balls thrown his way for 467 yards and three TDs. Plus, he threw a touchdown pass to Nix on a “Philly Special” at Baltimore in Week 9. “I think we're just scratching the surface,” Sutton said. Thanks in part to the chemistry between Nix and Sutton, the Broncos are in position for the seventh and final playoff spot entering December. What’s working The passing game, thanks to the Nix-Sutton connection. What needs help The running game. Javonte Williams had just 2 yards on eight carries and Audric Estime ran three times for 15 yards against the Raiders' run-heavy fronts and a steady diet of blitzes. Jaleel McLaughlin saved the day with seven carries for 44 yards. Stock up OLB Nik Bonitto. His 10 sacks make him the first Denver defender with double-digit sacks since 2018, when Von Miller did it. Stock down Once again, the Broncos' special teams, with the exception of K Wil Lutz, who hasn't missed a field goal attempt or extra point since his protection unit cratered at Kansas City three weeks ago and allowed the Chiefs to block what would have been the game-winning kick as time expired. On Sunday, the Raiders had a successful fake punt and a 59-yard kickoff return. Injuries Payton isn't saying much about the injuries to DE Zach Allen (heel) and CB Riley Moss (knee) except that to him they're not serious setbacks for either player. Key number 2 — The Broncos are two games above .500 for the first time since starting the 2021 season with three wins. Next steps The Broncos host Cleveland (3-8) on Monday night ahead of their bye week. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Arnie Stapleton, The Associated Press

Lindsey Vonn competes in a pair of downhills, another step on her comeback trail at the age of 40COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — For a pair of lower-level downhill events, this sure had plenty of Olympic medal-capturing and World Cup-winning ski racers. The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn , the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X . “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont , last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’" AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing Lindsey Vonn Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

The 2024 NWSL Final is as big as it gets. Battling for the playoff title are the top two teams during the regular season, both of which survived the early stages of knockout-round postseason play. Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are The Orlando Pride, winners of the NWSL Shield for the best regular-season record, are the No. 1 seed that will take on the No. 2 Washington Spirit . Orlando is led by the Brazilian icon Marta, while Washington is pioneered by rising U.S. women's national team forward Trinity Rodman. Here's how and where to watch the 2024 final: When is the 2024 NWSL Final? The 2024 final between Orlando and Washington is slated for Saturday, Nov. 23. What time is the 2024 NWSL Final? Kickoff time is slated for 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT. Where is the 2024 NWSL Final? CPKC Stadium, home of NWSL side Kansas City Current in Missouri, is the neutral venue for the game. How, where to watch the 2024 NWSL Final on TV The Orlando-Washington NWSL final will be broadcast by CBS. How, where to watch the 2024 NWSL Final online The Orlando-Washington NWSL final will be available to stream on Paramount+ . How many NWSL championships do the Orlando Pride have? The Orlando Pride has not yet won an NWSL championship through the playoffs. How many NWSL championships do the Washington Spirit have? The Washington Spirit have won one NWSL title, which transpired in 2021. It finished as runner-ups in 2016.