The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on Monday announced the imposition of punishment measures on Shen Pao-yang and Robert Hsing-cheng Tsao, two key secessionist figures from island of Taiwan; along with Kuma Academy, an organization that propagates secessionist ideas and serves as a base for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities.

After careful verification of the clues submitted by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits regarding the die-hard "Taiwan independence" separatists, the Taiwan Affairs Office decided to impose punishment measures on Shen, Tsao and the Kuma academy, said office spokesperson Chen Binhua.

Chen said that with backing from Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and external forces, the Kuma Academy has openly fostered violent "Taiwan independence" individuals under the guise of training and outdoor activities. He added that the academy has actively engaged in separatist activities, making it a clear stronghold for "Taiwan independence" elements.

Shen, the head of the academy, has been actively and systematically organizing activities promoting "Taiwan independence." He has also deliberately promoted "Taiwan independence" and "anti-China" ideologies, particularly targeting the young people in Taiwan.

Tsao, a businessman from the island, has provided substantial financial support to the academy, supporting its activities to divide the country by spreading harmful ideologies of "opposing China and seeking independence" through various means.

"The two individuals have openly pursued efforts to divide the country and fuel discord, seriously threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and causing significant harm to the common interests of people across the Strait, as well as the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation," Chen said.

Chen said that the mainland has decided to include Shen and Tsao in the list of die-hard "Taiwan independence" separatists, and impose sanctions on the Kuma Academy, as well as Shen and Tsao. 

These measures include prohibiting Shen, Tsao, and their family members from entering the mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions; restricting the Kuma Academy and the associated institutions of Shen and Tsao from cooperating with relevant organizations and individuals in the mainland, while prohibiting their affiliated enterprises and financial backers from profiting within the mainland. 

Furthermore, necessary punitive measures will be taken in accordance with guidelines on imposing criminal punishments on die-hard "Taiwan independence" separatists for conducting or inciting secession, and they will be held accountable for life according to the law.

Chen emphasized that the mainland will not tolerate or show leniency for die-hard 'Taiwan independence' separatists or bases with malicious "independence" rhetoric and rampant "independence" activities. They will be dealt with heavy blow and harsh penalties. Public, especially the Taiwan compatriots, are welcome to continue providing new clues regarding criminal activities related to conducting or inciting secession by the Kuma Academy, Shen, and Tsao.

Chen stated that facing the historical trend of national rejuvenation and reunification, "Taiwan independence" separatists will inevitably face painful price for their actions. "Taiwan independence" and peace across the Straits are as incompatible as fire and water.

Chen hopes that the vast number of Taiwan compatriots will become aware, recognize the extreme danger and harm of "Taiwan independence," actively distance themselves from the Kuma Academy and die-hard" Taiwan independence" separatists like Shen and Tsao, resolutely oppose the separatist actions of "Taiwan independence," and join hands with their mainland compatriots to promote cross-Straits exchanges, cooperation, and integrated development, safeguarding the common homeland of the Chinese nation and bringing enduring benefits to both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

China welcomed an initial shipment of 22 tons of avocados imported from South Africa on Tuesday in Shanghai, Chinanews.com reported on Thursday.

The first shipment of imported South African avocados will also be displayed at this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November, according to cnstock.com.

South Africa has become the third African country after Kenya and Tanzania to gain access for exporting fresh avocadoes to China, according to the report from Chinanews.com.

Agricultural products remain one of the most important exports from Africa to China. Strengthening cooperation in popular items such as avocados will not only boost bilateral trade but also introduce more high-quality and affordable commodities to meet the growing demand in China, Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Agriculture was a focal point at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in September in Beijing, where multiple cooperation agreements were signed, further strengthening collaboration.

For instance, China will grant duty-free treatment to 100 percent of the tariff lines of products from least developed countries in Africa with diplomatic ties with China; sign framework agreements on economic partnership for shared development with interested African countries; and strengthen cooperation on inspection and quarantine and standards, and expand access for agricultural exports from Africa, according to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027).

Various measures to support agricultural exports from Africa to China are conducive to streamlining trade with optimized procedures, which will help ensure the freshness of agricultural products like avocados with shortening customs clearance time, Song noted.

More Chinese consumers will be able to learn about African products with their advantages as the products have opportunities to be displayed at expos such as CIIE, according to Song.

In the first eight months of the year, China imported 28.47 billion yuan ($4.02 billion) worth of agricultural products from Africa, a 4.8 percent year-on-year increase.

Border control authorities on the Chinese mainland recorded about 13.57 million inbound and outbound trips during the National Day holiday from Oct. 1 to 7, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

They also recorded 606,000 vehicles crossing the border during the seven days, one of the longest public holidays on the mainland, according to a statement released by the ministry on Monday.

The number of criminal cases and public security incidents reported on the mainland during the holiday decreased by 5.7 percent and 20.4 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year, according to the statement.

A daily average of 580,000 police and auxiliary police officers worked to protect tourists from public security threats during the holiday, it added.

In his nearly four years in office, US President Joe Biden will finally set foot on the African continent ahead of the November presidential election as his presidency approaches its conclusion. While the White House is keen to portray Biden's trip to Angola as fulfillment of "a commitment" to go to Africa, analysts view it as symbolic, saying that it once again exposes US' lack of regard for the continent's call for development and it is merely focused on vying for US influence against China. 

Biden will travel to Luanda, Angola, from October 13 to 15 after spending three days in Germany. This will mark his first trip to an African country as president and the first visit to the continent by a sitting US president since 2015, according to media reports. 

On Monday, while answering a question why Biden's trip to Angola needs to be in October, not in December or January before he leaves office, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said that "there's not a lot of time… the president had made a commitment and a promise to go to Africa, to continue to show his commitment to that relationship." In December 2022, Biden held a summit with African leaders in Washington, DC and promised to visit the continent. 

Biden has chosen to visit Angola less than a month before the US presidential election to address criticism about his lack of attention to Africa during his presidency, aiming to bolster support for the Democratic Party. Moreover, the US values Angola's geopolitical significance, regional influence and its rich oil and mineral resources, Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

Biden's trip to Angola has garnered media attention, with some Western outlets reporting that it aims to strengthen ties with Africa and counter the growing influence of China and Russia in the continent.

Song said that as Biden approaches the end of his presidency, he is finally acknowledging his "commitment" to Africa, yet this last-ditch visit cannot change US' consistent arrogance toward the continent. 

"The trip is more symbolic than it is capable of bringing any concrete benefits to Africa's development," Song said, noting that African countries are well aware that their core development needs are rarely a priority for the US, which only offers empty promises when vying for influence against Russia and China.

During the National Day holidays, Xixian county in the city of Linfen, North China's Shanxi Province, ended up under the spotlight due to its role in inspiring the art design of popular video game Black Myth: Wukong. The county's Xiaoxitian Temple served as one of the key inspirations for the suspended sculptures of the Buddhist kingdom the player's character, The Destined One, enters in the game. 

However, long lines triggered frustration among tourists. Fortunately, the local authority quickly responded by introducing a series of measures to solve the problem. Experts said it is necessary to create a provincial-level information sharing platform to provide tourists with up-to-date information, so they can make informed decisions in advance. 

Located atop Fenghuang Mountain, Xiaoxitian is a national key cultural relic protection unit. The scenic area has long attracted flocks of tourists. 

The scenic area posted a thank you letter to tourists on Monday, promising that visitors with a ticket purchase voucher for the Mid-Autumn Festival to the National Day holidays can return to visit for free before the end of this year. 

The Director of the Xiaoxitian Scenic Area Service Center Liu Xiaogang told the Global Times on Monday that the daily peak number of tourists to the temple reached 17,626. A total of 88,619 tourists were received in the first six days of the National Day holidays. 

It is notable that the main hall of Xiaoxitian Temple, the core viewing area with nearly 2,000 Buddha statues, is just 169 square meters in size. Its colorful suspended sculptures are regarded as treasures in the history of Chinese sculpture art.

Right before the Golden Week, the service center established a tourism guarantee headquarters, which developed work and emergency plans for the peak tourism period to deal with volumes of 5,000 people, about 10,000 people, and above 15,000 people. 

The service center stretched opening hours to as early as 6:30 am, which helped prevent too high a concentration of visitors. The center also adopted a reservation system so that visitors could book specific time slots, Liu said. 

Measures were quickly taken after many tourists gave the visitor experience at the scenic spot bad reviews. 

On Wednesday, many tourists were reported to have been shouting "Xiaoxitian, chaping!" or "Bad review for Xiaoxitian." In response to the situation, the Xixian County Bureau of Culture and Tourism circulated a letter to visitors on Thursday morning asking for tolerance. 

It noted that, as an agricultural county, the county is stepping up efforts to transform into a tourist location thanks to the trust of tourists. 

Three parking lots were arranged, offering free shuttle buses, with parking areas of government departments, enterprises and institutions in the county open for visitors as well during the holidays, the letter mentioned. 

The letter also stated that the county has been working hard to re-plan a one-way tour route and setting up a pedestrian area on Fenghuang Street. 

In a video clip posted on social media platforms on Monday, Liu Wei, a deputy director of the Xixian Public Security Bureau, can be seen speaking to tourists through a speaker: "Everyone has put forward their opinions, and we will make rectifications immediately. But the safety of the people comes first. No matter how much you complain or scold, your safety must come first!"

Lü Xuehui, a deputy county magistrate of Xixian, could also be seen in the video singing for tourists at the scenic area.

Media reports said that the Party secretary of the Xixian Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee and major government officials of all departments canceled their vacations so they could stand duty on the front lines. 

Huang Shenghui, director of the Xixian Public Security Bureau, went to the scenic spot and explained to tourists, "Please give me half an hour and I will solve the problem." He then walked into the crowd to direct tourists, "For everyone's safety, don't crowd each other."

Jiang Yiyi, a deputy dean of the sports, leisure and tourism school at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Monday that local authorities need to implement more measures to manage tourist volume. 

"A booking system is needed for local tourism management, so that people will learn about availability before they get to the location and understand what to expect," Jiang said. 

Jiang noted that tourists were following the buzz about the location created online, but, by contrast, the county level scenic area has limited capacity to receive visitors. 

To deal with this challenge, cultural and tourism departments need to encourage tourists to be more rational in choosing where to go and what to do during the holidays. 

"For provincial tourism departments, it is imperative to create a real-time information sharing platform to let the tourists know which scenic areas still have openings for bookings and parking spaces," she stressed. 

To avoid long wait lines, it would be helpful to provide tourists information about where else they can visit, dine or rest, Jiang said. 

The Ministry of Education of China announced plans to add 39 new soccer sports majors at universities on Friday. This highlights the current scarcity of soccer programs in higher education and underscores the pressing need for the development of Chinese soccer. While the impact of this initiative may take time to materialize, it represents a promising long-term strategy for the sport's advancement in China.

Recently, following the national team's consecutive losses to Japan and Saudi Arabia, numerous football fans, media personalities, and authoritative bodies have voiced their opinions and proposed solutions. Eventually, the idea of establishing soccer majors gradually emerged.

This initiative provides a new platform for children passionate about soccer to focus on their athletic development without fear of academic compromise. 

It allows students to balance soccer training with their studies, treating soccer as a means of learning and personal growth.

For students aspiring to become professional soccer players, the establishment of soccer majors offers a clear career path and development opportunities. 

The initiative also has the potential to enhance the sport's visibility and broaden its audience. 

Parents may be inspired to introduce their talented children to soccer, recognizing that the existence of such majors indicates a commitment to and support for soccer education.

The majors will promote soccer on a wider scale and advance soccer culture in China. Through systematic learning and training, even students who do not become professional players will acquire valuable soccer knowledge and skills, contributing to the long-term development and talent pool in the sport.

Wang Dazhao, a soccer commentator and member of the News Committee of the Chinese Football Association, told the Global Times that the key to advancing Chinese soccer is fostering children's interest in the sport.

"Those soccer powerhouses did not establish specialized soccer majors. Their success often relies on a well-developed soccer system and cultural tradition rather than academic programs," he noted.

Wang emphasized that the development of Chinese soccer should not be rushed or forced. Instead, the focus should be on creating conditions for children to develop their interests willingly.

"To truly inspire children's love for soccer, it's crucial to provide them with proper facilities and professional guidance. Only when children receive systematic training in a positive environment will their interest be sparked, and they will seek more opportunities," Wang said.

He pointed out that every country has its strengths and weaknesses in sports. In China, where soccer is relatively underdeveloped, it is not necessary to force it to become mainstream immediately. Instead, gradual progress and scientific development should be the focus.

By improving infrastructure, cultivating youth interest, providing professional guidance, and increasing resource investment, a solid foundation for the long-term development of Chinese soccer can be established. 

It is important to respect the natural development of sports and allow soccer to grow and progress under appropriate conditions. Only through this approach can the development of Chinese soccer be better promoted.

A recent research project led by the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has unearthed a new firefly fossil preserved in 100 million-year-old Burmese amber in Hukawng Valley, northern Myanmar, offering new insights into the evolution of bioluminescence. 

The fossil, dating back to the mid-Cretaceous period, represents a new genus and species of firefly. The research team, led by professor Cai Chenyang, has named the species Flammarionella hehaikuni. The teams findings have been published in the biological journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

"This ancient firefly presents a distinctive feature - a set of elongated antennae with triangular serrations, equipped with oval-shaped sensory receptors," Cai told the Global Times in an interview on Monday.

He added that while this is not the first firefly fossil discovered from the Cretaceous, the higher degree of morphological differentiation in this specimen suggests that multiple firefly species existed during that period.

Measuring less than 1 centimeter in length, this ancient firefly specimen had long antennae, ­transparent wings, and a bioluminescent organ near the end of its abdomen, much like fireflies do nowadays. 

The fossil clearly displays this light-emitting organ, indicating that fireflies possessed bioluminescence as far back as the Cretaceous, and that the bioluminescent organ has remained largely stable through ­evolution.

Additionally, the firefly's antennae feature elliptical sensory receptors, which the research team has stated were likely specialized olfactory organs used to find mates at night.

"Based on the detailed analysis of the fossil, we speculate that the bioluminescent organ of this Cretaceous firefly was used not only for attracting mates, but also for communication between individuals," Cai said.

In 2021, a team of Chinese, Czech, and British paleontologists discovered an ancestral firefly in Burmese amber from the same period. 

The Chinese research team at the time was also led by Cai. During that study, over 20,000 pieces of amber were examined, leading to the discovery of a well-preserved male firefly ancestor which was classified under the family called Cretophengodidae. 

It's worth noting that while today's fireflies emit light from the end of their abdomen, this ancient specimen's light-emitting organ was located closer to the front of the abdomen. 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed deep concerns on Wednesday over the turmoil in the Middle East, stressing that China opposes the violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and opposes moves that fuel antagonism and escalate tensions. This statement follows Israel's launch of ground military operations in southern Lebanon on Tuesday and Iran's military strikes against Israeli territory early on Wednesday.

China calls on the international community, especially major countries with influence, to play a constructive role and avoid further turmoil. China believes that the protracted fighting in Gaza is the root cause of this round of turmoil in the Middle East, and all parties need to work urgently for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated in the statement. 

Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in what Tehran said was retaliation for the recent killings of top Hezbollah and Hamas officials. Analysts view the attack as the latest escalation of the regional tensions at a time when this round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has dragged on for nearly a year, with a greater potential to spill over to regional multi-point conflicts.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said in statements on Tuesday that it launched dozens of ballistic missiles on strategic centers in Israel in retaliation for Israel's assassinations of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and senior IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan, as well as its intensification of "malicious acts" with the US support in its offensives against Lebanese and Palestinian peoples, Xinhua reported.

Iran's forces used hypersonic Fattah missiles for the first time, and 90 percent of its missiles successfully hit their targets in Israel, the Revolutionary Guards said, according to Reuters.

The Israel Defense Forces said it conducted a "large number of interceptions." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israelis that Iran "made a big mistake" and "will pay" for launching a missile attack on the country Tuesday, according to CNN.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on social media platform X early on Wednesday that Iran exercised "self-defense" against Israel and its action is concluded unless the "Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation," Reuters reported. "Our action is concluded unless Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful," Araqchi added.

Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon have announced the closure of their airspace on Tuesday evening after the Iranian missile attack.

Meanwhile, 55 people were killed and 156 were injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon in the past 24 hours, according to the Lebanese health ministry on early Wednesday.

With war ramping up across the Middle East on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for the violence to end now. "I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation," he said in a tersely worded statement. "This must stop.  We absolutely need a ceasefire."

Iran's move is a response to a series of recent developments in the region, experts said. "Recently, evaluations from both Iran and the international community suggest that Iran is in a rather unfavorable situation," Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Iran has endured pressure for a long time, and this move may intend to reverse the increasingly disadvantageous situation for Iran over the past few months, Liu said.

According to the Washington Post, US Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday she condemned Iran's attack on Israel "unequivocally" and "fully support[s]" President Joe Biden's order for the US military to shoot down Iranian missiles aimed at Israel.

According to AFP, Hezbollah said Wednesday it clashed with Israeli soldiers who tried to infiltrate into Lebanon, and also targeted Israeli troops across the border.

Experts warned that the regional situation is at high risk of escalating into multi-point conflicts. The US continues to indulge Israel and tacitly allows it to take any unrestricted military action, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"The US has sent the wrong signals to the wrong allies at the wrong time, leading to an escalation of the situation that is out of control and spreading. Therefore, it is likely that multi-point conflicts will inevitably erupt next," Sun said.

Experts also noted that the difficulty faced by the US to maintain its balancing policy in the Middle East will increase. 

The US aims to maintain comprehensive support for Israel while hoping to avoid being drawn into a new round of conflict, which could affect its strategic contraction in the Middle East and the global shift of focus toward great power competition, Liu said.

Therefore, the US has adopted a strategy of dynamic military adjustments. Whenever the crisis escalates, it enhances its military presence in the Middle East to demonstrate support for Israel and deter the Iran-led axis of resistance, Liu noted. "However, as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate, achieving this balance will be increasingly challenging."

According to the Department of Consular Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 146 Chinese citizens in Lebanon and five foreign family members safely arrived in Beijing on Wednesday on a charter flight operated by Air China, following 69 Chinese citizens in Lebanon, along with their 11 foreign family members, on Tuesday safely arrived in Cyprus aboard the vessel Xin Xia Men of China Ocean Shipping Group.

All Chinese citizens who wished to evacuate have now safely left Lebanon. The Chinese embassy in Lebanon will continue its work and remain on duty, the department said on Wednesday.

A new exhibition "Hemei Shengong" at Beijing's He Art Museum is putting on display over 200 works from 75 Chinese artists and intangible culture heritage inheritors, providing visitors with a journey through China's arts and crafts history spanning time and space. The new exhibition includes five sections, encompassing pottery, painting, weaving and more. 

A celebration of the achievements of Chinese arts and crafts, the exhibition also aims to create an exchange platform for artists that promotes the integration of tradition and innovation.   

According to Song Shaobo, director of the He Art Museum, arts and crafts are an important part of Chinese culture and have profound historical and cultural value. 

"We hope that through such an exhibition, arts and crafts will get closer to modern life and will keep flourishing in today's society," added Song. 

The exhibition is set to run until October 10.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders attended a ceremony to present flower baskets to fallen heroes at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing on Monday.

The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day.