A popular coffee chain announced plans to open 30 new stores in Southeast Asia next year

A coffee shop started offering "bring your own mug" discounts to reduce disposable wasteA university’s basketball team made it to the national tournament for the first time

A taxi company started offering "late-night safe rides" for students and workersA fashion store started selling vintage clothing alongside new itemsA library added a collection of books in multiple languages to support immigrant families

A farm used drones to monitor crop health and reduce pesticide useA fire department taught local businesses how to create fire evacuation plans

A software company released a new tool that helps users edit photos on their smartphones

A community organized a "senior tea party" that brought together 70 elderly residentsScientists discovered that poor posture while working at desks contributes to back pain

The city hosted a global summit on reducing plastic waste in oceans and waterwaysA new study showed that writing by hand improves memory retention better than typing

Local farmers markets started accepting food stamps to make fresh produce more accessibleThe government passed a law to ban the use of harmful pesticides in protected wildlife areas

(责任编辑：Story Highlights)

• ·A community garden hosted a workshop on how to grow herbs and use them in cooking
• ·A new shopping center opened with a rooftop garden and outdoor dining areas
• ·A major comedy festival announced its lineup featuring 45 stand-up comedians from 10 countries
• ·Researchers found that reading fiction can improve empathy in readers
• ·A library added a collection of graphic novels and comics to attract younger readers
• ·The prime minister attended a summit on global food security in Rome
• ·A new report showed college graduates entering tech increased by 15% in the past year
• ·Local police launched a drunk driving reduction initiative with weekend city checkpoints
• ·Research indicates that early music lessons improve language skills in toddlers
• ·Biologists develop new method to protect honeybees from pesticides
• ·A major airline revealed plans to add 18 new international routes by the end of the year
• ·A farm switched to organic farming methods
• ·A famous clothing brand announced it will use 100% recycled fabric in its new collection
• ·The government launched a campaign to encourage people to vote in the upcoming election
• ·A new video game was released and quickly became a top seller
• ·A major airline announced plans to reduce its carbon footprint by using biofuels