The fourth typhoon of the year, Typhoon Danas, formed in the early hours of Saturday, which is expected to move in a north-northeasterly direction at a speed of around 10 kilometers per hour, with its intensity gradually increasing, , according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).
At its peak, it may reach typhoon strength (Category 12-13, with wind speeds of 35-40 meters per second), and is projected to approach the coastal areas between the southwestern part of Taiwan island and northern Fujian Province, CCTV News said.
From Saturday to Tuesday, there is a heightened meteorological risk of mountain floods and geological disasters in the central and eastern parts of Zhejiang and eastern Fujian, CMA said.
There is also a meteorological risk of small to medium-sized rivers in parts of central and eastern Zhejiang exceeding warning water levels, Urban waterlogging due to heavy rainfall may occur in areas such as Jinhua and Taizhou in Zhejiang.
Maritime authorities in South China's Guangdong activated a Level III emergency response for tropical cyclone prevention at 10 am on Saturday, CCTV News said.
In addition, typhoon preparedness alerts have been issued for six cities in the province including Shantou, Shanwei, Jieyang, Chaozhou, Huizhou, and Shenzhen.
The Fujian maritime safety administration activated a Level II typhoon emergency response at 12 pm on Saturday. Earlier at 11 am, the Fujian provincial meteorological administration raised its typhoon alert to Level III.
On the same day as of 3 pm, multiple passenger ferry routes - including the "Huangqi-Matsu," "Mawei-Matsu," and "Quanzhou-Kinmen" mini three-links routes - had suspended operations, and 50 marine construction projects had been halted.
At 8 am on Saturday, the Zhejiang maritime safety administration activated a Level IV maritime typhoon emergency response, instructing relevant maritime units to make necessary typhoon preparedness efforts. The Wenzhou Maritime Safety Administration initiated a Level III emergency response at 4 pm on the same day, according to the media report.
Starting at 8:30 am on July 5, coastal areas of Ningbo also activated a Level IV typhoon emergency response. Maritime authorities in Ningbo have strengthened patrols and inspections of ports, waterways, anchorages, and inland navigation zones.
The first round of indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas ended inconclusively in Doha, Qatar, according to multiple media reports on Monday, while Israeli offensives continue in Gaza Strip. Analysts believed that Israel's participation in talks is likely more of a perfunctory response to US pressure, and the situation in Gaza is expected to remain grim for the foreseeable future.
According to the BBC, the session lasted for nearly three and a half hours and took place in two separate buildings in Doha. Messages and clarifications were exchanged between the two sides through Qatari and Egyptian mediators, but no progress was achieved.
"After the first session of indirect negotiations in Doha, the Israeli delegation is not sufficiently authorized ... to reach an agreement with Hamas, as it has no real powers," two Palestinian sources told Reuters.
The specific details of the latest ceasefire proposal have not been made public. According to a copy of ceasefire proposal submitted by mediators to Hamas obtained by The Associated Press ahead of the talks, during the 60-day ceasefire Hamas would hand over 10 living and 18 dead hostages, Israeli forces would withdraw to a buffer zone along Gaza's borders with Israel and Egypt, and significant amounts of aid would be brought in.
The proposal stops short of guaranteeing a permanent end to the war, but states negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would take place during the 60 days, the ABC News reported.
The negotiation took place as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed to Washington for a meeting with US President Donald Trump Monday local time. Netanyahu said he believed his discussions with Trump would help advance talks on a Gaza hostage release and ceasefire deal, as Trump predicted an agreement could be reached this week, Reuters reported on Sunday.
Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu said that Israeli negotiators had clear instructions to pursue a ceasefire agreement under terms already accepted by Israel, Reuters reported.
Israel's participation in ceasefire talks is, to some extent, a perfunctory response to US pressure, according to Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, in an interview with the Global Times on Monday.
The US aims to limit its engagement in the Middle East to prevent conflict escalation. However, since the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict erupted in 2023, the US has been constrained by its close ties to Israel, rendering it unable to fundamentally shape or restrain Israel's actions, Liu noted.
Liu pointed out that Israel and Hamas remain deeply divided on core issues. Hamas hopes negotiations will lead to a complete end to the conflict, with Israel halting military operations, withdrawing from Gaza in phases, so as to facilitate a staged hostage exchange. However, Israel appears unwilling to end the conflict. Despite pressure to secure the release of hostages, Israel continues to pursue the complete elimination of Hamas.
The ceasefire talks came as Israeli forces intensified their attacks on Hamas in Gaza. According to Xinhua, Israel killed the head of Hamas' naval force in northern Gaza in an airstrike, citing the military and Shin Bet domestic security agency on Sunday.
The civilian death toll in Gaza is also rising. Citing Civil Defense in Gaza, Xinhua reported that at least 43 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
Since Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, at least 6,860 Palestinians have been killed and 24,220 others injured, bringing the overall death toll in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023 to 57,418, with a total of 136,261 people injured, according to data released on Sunday by health authorities in Gaza.
In the coming period, even as negotiations proceed, Israel is likely to persist with its military operations in Gaza. Given the limited impact of external mediation, the stark power imbalance between Israel and Hamas, and Israel's increasingly bold and assertive posture following its conflict with Iran, the outlook for peace in Gaza remains deeply uncertain, according to Liu.
On June 23 and 25 local time, the Global Times held its "Overseas China Week" events in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) with a photo exhibition titled "Moving forward together across mountains and seas: a decade of China-LAC sustainable cooperation," in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The photo exhibition drew widespread attention and positive feedback from various sectors in the two countries. The exhibition's opening ceremony was held on June 23 local time at the Ibero-American Center for Research in Science, Technology, and Innovation in Buenos Aires. Global Times President and Editor-in-Chief Fan Zhengwei, Chinese Ambassador to Argentina Wang Wei, former Argentine Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Daniel Filmus, and former Argentine Defense and Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana jointly cut the ribbon.
The ceremony was witnessed by Chinese nationals based in Argentina, locals, business leaders, and other distinguished guests. In his speech, Fan said that the event marked a celebration of China-LAC friendship and provided a new platform for sharing governance experiences and strengthening cooperation in sustainable development. Over the past decade, China and LAC countries have worked hand in hand across great distances to contribute touching stories of cooperation in the field of sustainable development, all for the shared goal of protecting humanity's common home.
The photo exhibition this time featured three sections - "Green lifestyle," "Green production," and "Green cooperation." It presented China's achievements in green mobility, clean energy, and ecological governance through photographs, media layouts, and curated exhibits. It also highlighted areas in which China-LAC cooperation has flourished, such as new energy, electric vehicles, satellite remote sensing, and agricultural technologies.
"From shared bikes on the streets of Beijing to self-driving Chinese e-bikes attracting crowds in Brazil, and from clean energy breakthroughs at the Baihetan hydropower station in Southwest China to low-carbon soybean oil produced in Argentina's Timbúes, the photos - taken by Chinese photographers, Chinese enterprises with deep cooperation with Latin America, and selected from the Global Times' own features - not only illustrate green cooperation achievements, but also capture the vivid journey of building a shared future," Fan said. The exhibition coincided with a key milestone in China-LAC relations. The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-CELAC Forum. In May, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the forum, where he said that China and Latin America are advancing hand in hand as a community with a shared future and announced that the two sides would jointly launch five programs of solidarity, development, civilization, peace and people-to-people connectivity, which provided clear direction for building a China-Latin America community with a shared future in the new stage.
Moreover, the 17th BRICS Summit will be held in July in Rio de Janeiro, and COP30 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is scheduled for November in Brazil.
"I'm very pleased to visit this photo exhibition organized by the Global Times," said Taiana. "It's a rare opportunity for the people of Buenos Aires to get to know many aspects of China, including its technological achievements, historical heritage, and beautiful natural landscapes. The exhibition offers a great overview and will hopefully spark curiosity to learn more about China and even visit the country in the future," he said.
Speaking on the prospects of China-LAC cooperation, Taiana said, "China is a world leader in renewable energy and environmental protection, while Latin America is home to critical biodiversity resources. China can play a leading role in promoting sustainable energy development, helping Latin America build a more sustainable development model and lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty." Carolina Mera, a professor at the University of Buenos Aires, told the Global Times that she was deeply impressed by how Chinese technologies were being applied in agriculture and environmental protection. "This is an important inspiration for South America," Mera said. "We should enhance environmental cooperation and learn from China's experience. Argentina also has technologies worth sharing. That's why strengthening China-LAC cooperation is crucial."
During the event, the Global Times Institute signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ibero-American Center for Research in Science, Technology, and Innovation to jointly promote technological exchange and build a closer China-LAC community with a shared future.
On June 25 local time, the photo exhibition was moved to Brazil where it was held in Rio de Janeiro alongside the Global South Dialogue: Roundtable Forum of China-Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries, attracting guests from government, academia, environmental groups, businesses, and the media.
The venue was filled with energy as visitors showed strong interest in themes such as agricultural mechanization in West China, China-Brazil technological cooperation, and urban ecological governance. Exhibition-related cultural and creative products were also well received by the visitors.
Many attendees told the Global Times that the exhibition helped deepen their understanding of the tangible foundation and great potential of China-LAC green cooperation.
Monica Bruckmann, a professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, said after visiting the exhibition, "We were pleasantly surprised by these photos. China's progress in industrialization and green energy is impressive. Through these images, we can truly feel the country's efforts."
"Seeing China's real advances in green energy, especially in solar power, is so important," Bruckmann noted, stressing that being able to witness these developments through visual media was profoundly meaningful.
"Both Brazil and China have vast natural resources, and an energy transition is vital for both nations. Moreover, China possesses advanced technologies," Bruckmann said. "As BRICS members, establishing strategic cooperation between the two nations is essential for advancing the global agenda."
Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, a professor at Fluminense Federal University in Brazil, was especially moved by a photo showing Beijing residents cycling down Chang'an Avenue at night. "It reminded me of my days in Beijing," he said. Carvalho believes that Beijing is a microcosm of China - seamlessly blending the past, present, and future while advancing steadily on the path of sustainable development. During the exhibition events in Argentina and Brazil, many overseas Chinese told the Global Times that the images on display were valuable records and hoped they can be preserved locally for a long time. "We hope to see more exhibitions like this coming to Latin America to promote China's green development philosophy and bridge the information gap between domestic and international audiences," said one oversea Chinese in Argentina.
At two photo exhibition events, the heartfelt messages left by visitors in the guest books also served as vivid testaments to the friendship between China and Latin America: "Thank you, Global Times, for supporting the friendship and cooperation among peoples of different countries. Together, we long for a more united and just world." "It is an honor to see this platform promote mutual understanding and friendship between South America and China." "We will always be friends." The messages convey the deep appreciation for China-Latin America exchanges and also reflect the longing for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Previously, the Global Times "Overseas China Week" event had held similar photo exhibitions and promotional events in Germany and Kazakhstan, using images and visual storytelling to present China's green development philosophy and international cooperation achievements, making China's role in global low-carbon development visible and tangible to the world.
When asked to comment on a UK report which alleged that Chinese spying has risen in recent years and Foreign Minister David Lammy has told parliament that his administration is investing US$800 million into the investigation as a result, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wednesday reaffirmed China's steadfast commitment to the path of peaceful development. "China never poses a threat to any country, nor dose it interfere in other countries' internal affairs," Guo stated.
"Both China and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world. To grow bilateral ties and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation is in the interest of the two countries and the rest of the world," said Guo at a regular press briefing on Wednesday.
"China stands ready to grow its ties with the UK based on mutual respect and proper management of the differences, but we never accept any smear or groundless accusation," Guo noted.
The Defense Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province on Thursday. Both the group photo featuring participating parties and the group visit to the site of the 2018 SCO summit drew the attention of global media. The fact that defense ministers from 10 countries gathered to discuss regional issues and reached a consensus, especially against the backdrop of frequent regional conflicts, demonstrates their shared desire to pursue cooperation and seek development, experts told the Global Times.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun hosted the meeting and delivered remarks, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.
At a time when the international situation is intertwined with chaos and change, it is particularly important for the SCO to play the role of a stabilizing anchor, said Dong.
He noted that China is willing to work together with all member states to uphold the original aspirations of the SCO and promote the "Shanghai Spirit," firmly defend international fairness and justice, jointly address security challenges, and promote the steady and long-term development of defense and security cooperation in moves to provide stronger support for building a shared home featuring solidarity, mutual trust, peace, prosperity, development, good neighborliness and friendship, as well as fairness and justice.
All participating parties unanimously agreed to continue to strengthen strategic communication, promote practical cooperation, and work together to maintain regional peace and stability. The meeting was a complete success, according to the Xinhua report.
Zhang Chi, a military affairs expert at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), told the Global Times at the sidelines of the meeting that the remarks by the Chinese side showed vision, responsibility, and action.
Zhang Chi said that the Chinese side emphasized that the SCO is open and inclusive, upholding solidarity, mutual trust, shared security, consensus-building through dialogue, and close coordination, with the goal of building an SCO community with a shared future. The Chinese side also stressed that the SCO will serve as a stabilizing anchor amid a turbulent and complex international landscape, with member states working together to safeguard regional peace and stability. China is committed to advancing practical cooperation alongside fellow SCO member states.
The meeting was attended by defense ministers from all 10 SCO member states, including India, Pakistan, and Iran, which have recently gone through conflicts. Through the discussions, all parties reached a consensus, agreeing to further strengthen strategic communication, advance practical cooperation, and jointly uphold regional peace and stability. Zhang said that this vividly exemplifies the "Shanghai Spirit," a spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and pursuit of common development, thereby continuously advancing the building of an SCO community with a shared future.
The Global Times reporters also met many colleagues from other media outlets at the meeting, some of whom had also attended the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Since 2002, the Shangri-La Dialogue has become the biggest defense and security forum in the Asia-Pacific region, but many people have noted the differences between these two important events: the Shangri-La Dialogue was highly confrontational, while the SCO Defense Ministers' Meeting was full of friendly trust.
Zhang Chi, who has participated in five editions of the Shangri-La Dialogue, said that it is an international conference led by the US and Western countries that often intentionally hypes some sensitive and disputed issues, and even sets traps to attack attendees. By comparison, the SCO Defense Ministers' Meeting gives all parties full respect and hosts friendly conversations and talks.
Another difference is that the US and Western countries often trigger confrontation at some international conferences, which leads to a deterioration of global and regional tensions. The SCO Defense Ministers' Meeting, however, advocates the safeguarding of regional peace and stability, the strengthening of strategic communication and promotion of pragmatic cooperation, which provides positive energy for the peaceful development of the world.
Briefing the media at a regular press conference on Thursday, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said that China is the rotating chair of the SCO this year, and hosting the Defense Minister's Meeting is an important part of its duties.
Throughout the process of the establishment and development of the SCO, defense and security cooperation has played an especially significant role. The Chinese side has actively promoted strategic communication, deepened substantive cooperation, and initiated many cooperation programs, Zhang Xiaogang said.
"United in cooperation, our journey will be long and steady. The Chinese military will work with militaries of other SCO member states to carry forward the 'Shanghai Spirit,' further broaden and deepen defense cooperation, and join hands in building a common home featuring solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, and fairness and justice, thereby contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind," said the spokesperson.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Thursday that an important mission of the SCO is jointly countering terrorism, separatism and extremism, as these forces threaten all countries' national security as well as peace and stability in various regions. He stressed that the SCO is not a military alliance, nor does it target a third party, but an organization that boosts cooperation.
SCO member states are influential countries that play crucial roles in safeguarding regional peace and stability. The stronger they are, the more helpful they will be in playing such roles, Song said.
Silently standing at the Kwong Tong Cemetery in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur for nearly eight decades, the Selangor Nanyang Drivers and Mechanics World War II Monument marked some less known stories during that massive war - overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia (Nanyang Huaqiao) who dedicated their youth and life on the Burma Road, a wartime lifeline for China's combat against Japanese aggression.
After Japan decreed full-scale war against China in 1937, many ports and maritime routes were occupied by Japanese troops and logistics became a serious problem. China opened up the Burma Road which connected today's Myanmar and Southwest China's Yunnan Province, for transportation of military supplies.
Some 3,200 overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics living in Southeast Asian countries were rallied by famous business pioneer and philanthropist Tan Kah Kee in 1939 during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945). From 1939 to 1942, these Nanyang Volunteers transported 500,000 tons of military supplies, more than 15,000 auto vehicles and countless civilian supplies through the Yunnan-Myanmar Road, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
These drivers and mechanics, braved primitive nature, poor road conditions and barrages of bombs, with more than 1,000 losing their lives. Among the rest of the volunteers, half returned to Southeast Asia and half stayed in China.
Numerous Nanyang Huaqiao, rich or poor, also donated their property to support China's resistance to aggression and anti-fascist efforts - in 1937-42, they supported more than 5.4 billion French francs by donation, overseas remittance and purchase of public bonds.
However, their contribution and sacrifice were "largely forgotten in the following half century," said Yong Pock Yau, the chairman of the association of Kwong Tong Cemetery Management Kuala Lumpur, where the monument stands.
Yong, a second-generation Malaysian Chinese, told the Global Times that he only got to know about the Nanyang Volunteers after becoming president of the association and very recently realized that the familiar Selangor Monument erected in 1947, which he sees daily, is the world's first dedicated specifically to this heroic group.
Another international task force operating in wartime on the Yunnan-Myanmar Road, protecting it from Japanese bombing, was American Volunteer Group. Compared with those "Flying Tigers," Nanyang Volunteers are unsung heroes.
"We are obliged to preserve their heroic stories and pass them on to future generations, so that history is correctly memorized, Yong said, "If we do not remember them, do not rescue the documents, do not tell our children about them, that will be a betrayal to our roots and disrespectful to the historical truth."
Sing for less known patriots
This year, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the Kwong Tong Cemetery Kuala Lumpur is building the historic monument into a memorial park with a museum. Names of all the volunteers will be inscribed on a stela.
Due to lack of paper records, unearthing the history of Nanyang Volunteers depended heavily on oral history; as many of the volunteers settled down in Southwest China, a bunch of research institutions, museums and memorials took root in Yunnan Province.
To make the new memorial park true to history, educational and enlightening, Yong and his colleagues have visited institutions and museums in Yunnan to collect the limited and precious documents and photos, and learn about their curation experience.
Numbers, including 3,200, the number of volunteers, and 1,146 km, the full length of the wartime road, will be highlighted in the park.
Yong's team also retraced a section of the Yunnan-Myanmar Road "to get firsthand experience" of what it would be like to traverse the deep mountains and forests to get lifesaving supplies to the frontline.
The 24 switchbacks on this winding road became a design element of the memorial park to remind visitors of how dangerous the trip was and how brave the volunteers were, according to Yong. "You will never understand their [Nanyang Volunteers] deep love for the motherland and their great courage, unless you retrace that path," 73-year-old Bong Boon Ming, nephew of a Malaysian volunteer, told the Global Times.
Bong organized a revisit to the historical road where 3,200 volunteers shed sweat, tears and blood. He is also in close contact with descendants of Nanyang Volunteers and related organizations to jointly preserve the history.
"For me and other volunteers' descendants, the revisit was about tracing family history, inheriting spirit of overseas Chinese and feeling their belief," Bong said.
Yong said it is hoped that this upgrade of the monument can help visitors, particularly the younger generation, to learn more about the Nanyang Volunteers' history, so as to better understand the role of our ancestors in the World War II and get a comprehensive view of war history.
Yong also mentioned that after Japanese occupation of Malaysia, they carried out massacres, mostly against overseas Chinese. There are many monuments for massacre victims across Malaysia. A large monument with a World War II Memorial Peace Park was built at the cemetery in Kuala Lumpur in 2015.
Just like the name Peace Park suggests, we are commemorating the suffering in war "not to pass on hatred, but because we yearn for and vow to safeguard peace," Yong noted.
Carrying on their legacy
There has been more and more people joining the cause of unearthing the Nanyang Volunteers' stories, doing related academic research and public education. It is crucial because the international community, especially the English language world, knows so little about it, said Xia Yuqing, professor and deputy director of the overseas Chinese research institute at the Yunnan Chinese Language and Culture College, Yunnan Normal University.
Xia has been doing research on the Nanyang Volunteers for decades.
Through exchanges with Southeast Asian countries, "we can bring their stories to the world" as peace defenders during World War II and hardworking builders of local communities after the war, Xia told the Global Times.
Their stories constitute an indispensable chapter in the narration of wartime Yunnan-Myanmar Road, an artery that links China to global anti-fascist forces, including British, Americans, Indians…It is an epitome of anti-fascist alliance's efforts in pursuit of peace and justice, Xia noted.
Yong told the Global Times that the construction of the memorial park and museum is going smoothly and they will open to the public on August 14, the eve of the 80th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender.
Commemoration events in August will also include premiere of a drama featuring the Nanyang Volunteers. The cemetery association allocated fund for playwright and director, while all performers are volunteers.
After the debut, the drama will tour dozens of Chinese schools in Malaysia and possibly reach a wider audience, supplementing education of history that is seldomly taught today.
Yong had brought his children to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, as well as other memorial sites and venues.
"It is important for youth to understand that the peace and prosperity we enjoy today are not given, but obtained through endeavors and struggles."
The United States conducted attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the IAEA. The actions of the United States seriously violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, as well as Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. They have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East and dealt a heavy blow to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council Emergency Meeting, according to a release posted on the website of China's Permanent Mission to the UN on Sunday.
The international community must uphold justice and make concrete efforts to cool down the situation and restore peace and stability, said Fu.
In the context of the abrupt escalation of tensions in the Middle East, China is deeply concerned about the risk of the situation getting out of control. The parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, should reach an immediate ceasefire to prevent a spiraling escalation and to resolutely avoid the spillover of the war. The parties concerned should abide by international law, curb the impulse to use force, and avoid exacerbating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire, Fu said.
Fu called for effective protection of civilians. "The ultimate victims of all conflicts are the innocent people. China is deeply saddened by the large number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict," Fu noted.
"At present, diplomatic means to address the Iranian nuclear issue have not been exhausted, and there is still hope for a peaceful solution. Parties should stay firmly committed to the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue and work to bring it back onto the track of a political solution through dialogue and negotiation, with a view to reaching an agreement acceptable to all parties," Fu said.
The Security Council shoulders the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It cannot stand idly by in the face of a major crisis. Russia, China, and Pakistan have proposed a draft resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, protection of civilians, respect for international law, and engagement in dialogue and negotiation, Fu said.
"We hope that Council members can demonstrate their strong sense of responsibility by jointly supporting the draft resolution, to enable the Security Council to fulfill its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security," Fu noted.
China stands ready to work with the international community to foster synergy, uphold justice, and make unremitting efforts to restore peace and stability in the Middle East, Fu said.
According to notices on the official WeChat accounts of the Chinese embassies and consulates in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday, in light of the current regional security situation, Chinese citizens in these countries are advised to exercise caution when traveling, stay away from military bases and sensitive facilities, and ensure personal safety.
The Chinese Embassy in the UAE stated on its WeChat account that given the further escalation of regional conflicts and the high risk of spillover effects, Chinese citizens in the UAE should closely monitor the regional situation, raise their awareness of protection, arrange travel plans cautiously, avoid military bases and sensitive facilities, and prioritize personal safety. In case of emergencies, they are advised to contact local authorities immediately and reach out to the embassy or consulate.
The Chinese Embassy in Kuwait issued a similar notice warning that due to the current regional security situation, Chinese citizens in Kuwait should remain highly vigilant, stay informed about security risks, plan their trips prudently, steer clear of military bases and sensitive installations, and ensure their safety. In emergencies, they should call the police first and contact the embassy promptly.
Following online reports alleging that an employee of the Songyang County Transportation Bureau in East China's Zhejiang Province held wedding ceremonies with two women in succession, the county authorities launched an investigation and dismissed the employee for seriously violating social ethics and causing a negative public impact, according to an official statement issued on Monday.
The statement by a joint investigation team the county organized revealed that the employee, surnamed Pan, was an auxiliary law enforcement staff member of the county's transportation bureau. Pan was simultaneously in romantic relationship with two women, surnamed Huang and Zhou.
On May 10, 2025, Pan held a wedding ceremony with Huang. On May 13, Pan proposed to Zhou the cancellation of their originally scheduled wedding on May 17. The investigation confirmed that Pan did not legally register a marriage with either Huang or Zhou, according to the statement.
The statement said that Pan has seriously violated social ethics and caused a negative impact. After deliberation by the local transportation bureau, it has been decided to dismiss Pan from his position.
The Hong Kong Police Force have launched a pilot program called the "Small-Scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operational Deployment" to conduct automated and regular high-altitude patrols for crime prevention using drones, local media Wen Wei Po reported on Wednesday. In the first phase, the program will be implemented in the Border District and the Kowloon West Region for a period of three months, officially starting from Friday, Wen Wei Po said.
The Global Times learned from the HKPF on Wednesday that the program is part of the police's efforts of actively promoting "digital policing" by leveraging technology and streamlining processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
The program aims to integrate drones into various aspects of daily policing. This includes the use of automated drone hangars to pre-program flight paths and execute patrol missions autonomously, significantly improving patrol efficiency, the police told the Global Times in an e-mailed statement.
The drones will also be deployed for high-altitude urban patrols focused on crime prevention and maintaining public safety and order. The primary goal of the pilot program is to harness technology to implement digital policing, deliver high-quality police services, enable more flexible deployment of frontline officers, and enhance overall operational efficiency, the police said.
Tango Ko, superintendent of police at the key points and search division of the major events bureau, was quoted as saying in a report by the local media RTHK on Wednesday that all police drone operations will be conducted by certified remote pilots.
"Before every drone mission, they will have a comprehensive risk assessment, for example, the takeoff area, landing area and also to decide the flight path. We will make sure that the flight path is away from the pedestrian and also vehicular traffic density," Ko was quoted as saying in the media report.
To address and alleviate public concerns about potential privacy infringements during drone operations, the police told the Global Times that it will strictly adhere to the relevant guidelines regarding the use of drones including conducting routine patrols primarily for real-time surveillance, focusing only on public areas unless video recording is required for specific investigations.
Surveillance will not cover the interior of private buildings or personal spaces, the police said.
Also, it is establishing internal protocols to regulate flight missions, including whether recording is necessary and how any collected footage will be handled, and carefully planning flight routes to avoid unnecessary proximity to the public or residential areas.
Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chris Tang Ping-keung revealed in December 2024 that the police would implement the drone patrol system integrated with artificial intelligence to enhance security services, local media outlet in Hong Kong The Standard reported on December 12, 2024.
During a Legislative Council meeting, Tang said drone technology is becoming a global trend, saying that the Hong Kong disciplined forces will adopt various strategies to effectively utilize drone technologies in suitable scenarios.
As of May, 700 officers across all police districts are qualified to operate patrol drones as holders of an advanced rating from the Civil Aviation Department, the South China Morning Post reported. Ten officers in the border police district have been trained to operate the automatic drone system, according to the media report.
