China on Friday expressed grave concerns and strong condemnation over the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)'s attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) observation tower, which injured UNIFIL personnel. 

"Any deliberate attack on UN peacekeepers is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and UNSC Resolution 1701. It is absolutely unacceptable and shall be put to an immediate stop," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.

Many UN member states have voiced similar condemnation and concerns, which observers believe reflects a strong and common dissatisfaction and opposition from the international community regarding the impact and provocation against the authority of the UN, international law, and the international order.

UNIFIL said on Thursday that an Israeli tank fired on a watchtower in its headquarters in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, injuring two members. 

According to China Central Television, China's 22nd batch of peacekeeping troops in Lebanon is safe and in good condition so far.

"We request investigation into the incident, effort to bring relevant people to account and measures to prevent such incident from happening again. Parties to the conflict must earnestly ensure the safety and security of all UN personnel and property, including the UNIFIL," Mao said.   

"China urges parties concerned, Israel in particular, to take immediate measures to deescalate tensions, ensure the safety of UN peacekeeping personnel, and prevent the conflict from further expanding or even spiraling out of control," Mao said.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned Israeli forces attack in south Lebanon that injured two Indonesian military personnel who are members of the UNIFIL. "I condemn the fact that there was a shooting against a UN premise, wounding two peacekeepers, which is a violation of international humanitarian law," the UN secretary general said.

At the UN Security Council Briefing on the Lebanese-Israeli Situation on Thursday local time, China's permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, also said that China expresses grave concerns and strong condemnation regarding the IDF's attack, which resulted in injuries to UNIFIL personnel.

Since the latest round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last year, Israel has increasingly expressed dissatisfaction with the UN mechanism, often labeling the UN as "anti-Israel," and the relationship between Israel and the UN has also become increasingly tense, observers said. 

Italy officially protested with Israel on Thursday for targeting UNIFIL deployed in south Lebanon, which hosts UNIFIL headquarters and two Italian bases. Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto contacted his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant to complain, describing the events as "unacceptable to the Italian government."

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said Moscow fully supports the security of peacekeepers, who are being subjected to "unpredictable risks" due to Israel's presence on the Blue Line. "We all understand that this is a war crime. It deserves the most decisive reaction from all of us," Nebenzya reportedly told a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday.

France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs condemned the attack and said it was waiting for an explanation from Israel as to why it took place. "France expresses its deep concern following the Israeli shots that hit [UNIFIL] and condemns any attack on the security of UNIFIL," the ministry said in a statement.

Israel's attack on UNIFIL has been met with strong condemnation from the international community, including some Western countries, indicating a strong common opposition to such disregard for international law and order, Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times.

According to Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute of Ningxia University, Israel's attack, which also undermines the authority of the UN and the safety of UN peacekeeping personnel, has further intensified the dissatisfaction of the international community.

Notably, among the global reactions, the White House said the US was deeply concerned by reports that Israeli forces fired on UN positions and was pressing Israel for details, according to Reuters.

Observers believe that the statements from the US may reflect a sense of helplessness, which also highlights the duality in its policy toward Israel - supporting and indulging it on one hand, while on the other having disagreements on many issues and not wanting to be drawn into the conflict. "Therefore, the US stance is kind of weak and may lack significant practical meaning," Liu said.

China's State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office congratulated Sam Hou Fai on being elected by an overwhelming majority as the sixth-term chief executive designate of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Sunday.

The successfully concluded election is "significant" for implementing the principle of "patriots administering Macao" and advancing the successful practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics, the office said in an article posted on its website.

Taking place ahead of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, the election fully reflected the Macao society's wholehearted support for the "one country, two systems" principle and its strong confidence in the development path of the Macao SAR over the past 25 years, the article said.

It has also demonstrated the Macao society's widespread recognition of Sam and high expectations for Macao to achieve further development under the leadership of the new chief executive, it added.

The article noted that Sam had received broad public support for his deep affection and sense of responsibility toward Macao and the country, willingness to collaborate with various social groups and sectors, and commitment to promoting socio-economic development and improving the well-being of Macao residents.

Sam, who previously served as president of Macao's Court of Final Appeal, has handled a number of major cases and effectively safeguarded national security and the constitutional order of the Macao SAR, the article said.

The Macao society has confidence in Sam to safeguard both the overall interests of the country and the fundamental interests of Macao, and ensure the steady and sustained practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics, it added.

The article also said Sam demonstrates his capability of adapting to changes and seeking transformation, and the will to seize opportunities and pursue reform.

The new chief executive designate is expected to unite and lead the Macao society to create a better future and make greater contributions to building China into a stronger country and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, the office said in the article.

Sam, who announced his candidacy on Aug. 28, won the election on Sunday with 394 votes in favor out of 398 valid ballots.

During the weeklong National Day holidays, Baotu Spring in East China’s Shandong Province, one of the famous attractions, was crowded with tourists. However, a scene of a security guard holding a chubby carp and persuading tourists not to overfeed the fish has recently gone viral.

This scene then triggered public debate on civilized travel, as some netizens who watched the video said the fish “was indeed too fat to swim.”

The security guard, Zhang Shoujun, said he was trying to gently remind visitors not to overfeed the fish because the water resources there are very nutrient-rich, enough for the fish to survive, according to China Central Television (CCTV).

Due to the large influx of visitors during the National Day holidays, many tourists were drawn to the fish and wanted to feed them, Zhang said. 

This led to instances of overfeeding, which negatively impacted the water quality and overall environment of the pool.

To prevent tourists from over-feeding the carp in the pond, the scenic area has implemented measures such as setting up reminder signs and increasing the number of volunteers in the area to guide tourists towards responsible behavior, as reported by the CCTV.

Workers are busy filling orders in a textile and clothing production workshop in Jimo district, Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province on October 7, 2024. Through policy guidance, Jimo district encourages enterprises to increase investment in new technologies, processes and products. In the first half of 2024, 85 regulated textile and clothing enterprises in Jimo achieved an output value of 8 billion yuan ($1.14 billion), a year-on-year increase of 3.8 percent. Photo: VCG

The Philippines and South Korea on Monday upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership and agreed to boost defense cooperation. While Western media hyped the move's link to the Philippines' ongoing tensions with China in the South China Sea, Chinese experts urged the two countries not to fall into the US scheme of containing China.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr agreed on Monday to boost defense cooperation as their countries elevated ties to a strategic partnership, Reuters reported on Monday.

In a joint press conference with Marcos, Yoon said his country would actively take part in the latest phase of the Philippines' multi-billion-dollar effort to modernize its military security at a time of rising tensions with China in the South China Sea, Reuters reported.

Reuters noted that South Korea has sold FA-50 fighter jets, corvettes, and frigates to the Philippines.

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Monday that South Korea has been a key arms supplier of the Philippines, and its position on the South China Sea issue is becoming more obvious after the South China Sea issue was included in the US-Japan-South Korea trilateral summit last year.

South Korea's defense cooperation with the Philippines caters to the US strategy of containing China in the South China Sea, Chen said.

South Korea is not a South China Sea country, and it should not perceive China as a rival. Such a move will only cast a shadow on China-South Korean ties, and will bring further instabilities to the region, observers said.

Even if the Philippines receives more weapons and equipment from South Korea, Japan and the US, Manila cannot change China's position on its islands and reefs in the South China Sea, or the Chinese military's determination and capabilities in defending them, said Chinese military experts reached by the Global Times. 

During the weeklong National Day holidays, the "mysterious" Ailao Mountains in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, off the beaten track, has turned into a hit attraction.

The authority responsible for the management of the site said that the safety of tourists can be ensured as long as they visit the opened areas in accordance with the requirements of the scenic spots. Unauthorized visits, however, may result in a fine of up to 5,000 yuan ($710).

Initially, the Ailao Mountains gained attention through an adventure-themed blurry and mysterious video posted by an online blogger, which contained images of sudden encounters with fog and warning signs like "bears nearby," leaving netizens with a thrilling and creepy feeling. Curious tourists then flocked to the area, leading to blocked mountain roads, CCTV news reported on Monday.

According to a video posted on Sunday by a local account of an aerial shot of the driveway up the Mountains, the highway circling the mountains was packed with small cars stuck in traffic.

The Ailao Mountains were located in the central part of Yunnan, spanning the prefecture-level cities of Chuxiong, Yuxi, and Pu'er. The Mountains were dubbed by some as "Forest of Death" due to its ravines and dense forests, and unpredictable weather, the CCTV news said. It is crowned as the largest, least disturbed, and most intact subtropical montane wet evergreen broadleaf forest ecosystem at this latitude worldwide, according to public information. Its remote location and primitive nature have bred some "mysterious stories" related to this area. 

The peripheral part of Ailao Mountains is open to travelers under administration of Xinping Yi and Dai Autonomous County. As long as the tourists adhere to the scenic area's regulations, their safety can be fully guaranteed, according to the local cultural and tourism department.

Over half a million tourists visit this scenic spot and its neighboring attractions every year. During the National Day holidays this year, a total of 50,000 tourists visited the site, up 15 percent year-on-year, the local cultural and tourism department said.

The deeper, inaccessible areas of the Ailao Mountains, still not open to the tourists, consist mostly of pristine forests without proper roads. These areas often face severe weather conditions, which can cause tourists to experience altitude sickness and hypothermia. The area's anomalous magnetic field can render compasses useless, heightening the risk of getting lost. 

On Sunday, the relevant departments of the scenic area issued notices clearly indicating it is strictly prohibited for any individual or group to enter the area or participate in activities like hiking, trekking, or camping without proper authorization.

Another announcement released by the local authorities also claimed that tourists who enter the nature reserve without authorization or disobey the management authorities will face penalties by management and can be fined between 100 yuan ($14) and 5,000 yuan ($710).

In November 2021, four geological surveyors sacrificed on duty after entering the hinterland of the Ailao Mountains. After forensic examination and joint on-site investigation, the main reason for the deaths of the four personnel was excessive physical exertion and the loss of body temperature caused by sudden gusts of wind and rapid drops in temperature, according to the CCTV news.

China's National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) on Friday revealed major advancements at three archaeological sites, showcasing significant discoveries of history and culture from prehistoric period and the Xia Dynasty (c.2070BC-c.1600BC).

The Huangchaodun site is located in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. It is a settlement from the early to mid-Neolithic period, dating back approximately 9,300 to 8,000 years.

The site, covering an area of about 70,000 square meters, includes two platforms, a surrounding moat, and a rice paddy. Ancient river channels, ponds, and water ditches connecting the ponds to the settlement moat were also discovered.

The rice paddy, located east of the platforms and covering about 15,000 square meters, has revealed ridges and possible wooden remains, with the discovery of carbon-tempered pottery shards. Optically stimulated luminescence dating indicates that the rice paddy dates back to the Shangshan culture - recognized as the world's earliest rice cultivation culture, dating between 11,400 and 8,600 years ago - and extends into the early Neolithic Kuahuqiao culture period.

Lin Liugen, a professor from the School of Art and Archaeology of Zhejiang University, told the Global Times on Friday that the site is characterized by its "distinctive features and unique elements." It is one of the most well-preserved Shangshan-Kuahuqiao culture sites, offering a vivid snapshot of early rice farming communities within the lower Yangtze River region.

"Understanding the relationship between such a large-scale rice paddy field and the settlement is of great significance for studying the early agricultural development in ancient China 9,000 years ago and for recognizing the dietary structure of our ancestors at that time," he said.
The second project, the Caoyangang site in Xinghua, East China's Jiangsu Province, is a mid-Neolithic site, dating back about 7,200 to 6,900 years.

Covering more than 80,000 square meters, the site is covered by a natural sediment measuring nearly 2 meters thick. The unique low-lying wetland environment with waterlogged preservation has allowed for the excellent conservation of a large number of organic artifacts.

Over 200 features, including house sites, ash pits, ash ditches, and wells, have been discovered. In addition, more than 2,800 artifacts made of various materials, including pottery, bone, stone, wood, jade, and shells, have been unearthed. It is worthy to mention that the unearthed fire-drilling tools are the earliest known in China.

Gan Huiyuan, a research fellow at Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, told the Global Times that the Caoyangang site is the earliest known Neolithic site in the eastern Jianghuai region, with a novel cultural aspect, rich connotations, and distinct regional characteristics, filling a gap in the Neolithic archaeology of the Jianghuai area, a region near the Yangtze River and Huaihe River.
The third unveiled Baliqiao site is located in Fangcheng county, Central China's Henan Province. It is a large enclosed settlement of the renowned Erlitou culture, which has been dated between 1700-1600BC.

The site, spanning approximately 1.35 million square meters, is bordered by moats on its north, west, and south sides, with a local river forming its eastern boundary. On the east bank of the Pan River, large-scale cultural remains from the same period have been uncovered. Sacrificial pits have been found around the main building of Site 1, with the discovery of ritual vessels, jade, and turquoise artifacts.

Wu Zhijiang, deputy research fellow of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, told the Global Times that the Baliqiao site is the largest and highest-ranked Erlitou culture settlement discovered in southern Henan Province to date, and bears a close relation with the Erlitou Relics that can be traced back to 3,500 to 3,800 years ago in ancient China's late Xia or early Shang (1600-1046 BC) dynasties.

He noted that the preliminary revelations of the "multi-grid layout" and the discovery of significant remains such as large rammed earth buildings offer new insights into the morphology and social structure of urban settlements in Xia culture. These discoveries mark a significant breakthrough in the archaeology of Xia culture.

The inaugural Peiyuan Arts Festival, running from Friday to Sunday, aims to nurture young theater ­talent and promote original stage art. 

This innovative event serves as a platform for showcasing and incubating original Chinese artistic works, infusing new vitality into the country's theatrical landscape.

A total of 20 pieces were publicly showcased in a "work-in-progress" format, covering various artistic forms including dramas, Yue Opera, children's theater, dance, musicals, script-based performances, sound theater, and installation theater. 

The themes range from historical legends and future sci-fi to ­real-life experiences, magical realism, suspense, and existential issues.

Chinese stocks listed overseas continued their upward trajectory, even as the Chinese mainland market closed for the week-long National Day holidays. This trend highlights how recent stimulus measures in China have boosted overseas investors' confidence in the Chinese economy and assets.

Chinese stocks showed significant strength in the US markets as the NASDAQ Golden Dragon China Index rose 4.93 percent on Wednesday, marking its first close above 8,000 points since February 2023.

The NASDAQ Golden Dragon China Index has rallied for six consecutive trading sessions since September 25.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) overseas that track Chinese stocks continued their recent rally on Wednesday. Several popular China ETFs in the US - KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF, iShares China Large-Cap ETF, and iShares MSCI China ETF - all closed at least 5 percent higher on the day.

A wave of capital that previously left Chinese equities for stocks in Japan and Southeast Asia is poised to reverse as investors rush to catch the rally, Bloomberg reported, citing market watchers.

Overseas investors' bullish sentiments in Chinese assets were fueled by a package of stimulus measures announced last week by China's financial regulators, which experts expect will shore up the growth of the world's second-largest economy.

A combination of financial measures has provided the much-needed stimulus for the Chinese economy, Wei Jianguo, former Chinese vice minister of commerce and executive deputy director of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, told the Global Times.

Coupled with the implementation of interest rate cut and reserve requirement ratio cut, the policy of China to cut existing mortgage rates is expected to help the real estate market stabilize and move toward a healthier trajectory, Wei said.

This round of market rally indicates that global investors are optimistic about a series of recently implemented macroeconomic policies, reversing their previous pessimistic sentiments, Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund, told the Global Times on Thursday.

China's recent support policies for the real estate industry are beneficial for boosting related sectors. Subsequent policies aimed at promoting consumption will stimulate demand, further enhancing expectations for economic growth, Yang said.

A new book showcasing the academic career of renowned archaeologist and cultural relic expert Sun Ji was unveiled on Thursday at the National Museum of China.

Sun, honorary director of the museum's research institute, is recognized for his significant contributions to the study of ancient artifacts, technology history, and cultural exchanges between China and the world.

Scheduled for release in October, the book is a comprehensive collection divided into five sections: "Sun Ji's Academic Achievements," "Academic Legacy," "Critiques," "Interviews," and "Memoirs." It contains 41 articles written by scholars, reflecting on Sun's works in such fields as antiquities authentication, the history of science, and traditional costumes.

Compiled by the National Museum of China and published by Yilin Press, the book is set to be released in October.