Israel launched intense bombardments on Gaza’s southern city of Rafah on Friday, following the collapse of truce talks between Israel and Hamas in Cairo on Thursday, further worsening the desperate situation.

Around 110,000 people have fled Rafah as Israeli bombardment intensifies, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Ten out of its 34 medical points in Rafah were forced to close and its three operational health centers in the area are running at reduced capacity, UNRWA said.

Approximately 1.4 million people, more than half of Gaza’s population, are sheltering in Rafah amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas, according to the UN. Most residents are in makeshift shelters or tents, lacking access to clean drinking water, adequate food and medical supplies. This crisis is compounded as heavy fighting on the outskirts of Rafah between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants has rendered aid crossings inaccessible.

On Friday, Hamas announced plans to consult with leaders from other Palestinian factions to reassess its ceasefire negotiation strategy amid the ongoing conflict. The group’s statement highlighted that Israel’s rejection of the ceasefire proposal has thwarted all efforts to establish peace. It also accused Israel of avoiding a ceasefire by continuing military operations in Rafah and seizing control of the Palestinian side of Rafah’s border crossing, even after accepting the mediators’ proposal.

Situation in Rafah on ‘knife’s edge’

An Israeli ground attack in Gaza’s Rafah could result in an “epic humanitarian disaster,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned on Friday, following the failure of truce negotiations in Cairo to reach an agreement.

“A massive ground attack in Rafah would lead to an epic humanitarian disaster and pull the plug on our efforts to support people as famine looms,” Guterres said at a news conference in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. He described the situation in the southern Gazan city as “on a knife’s edge.”

He also stated that the UN is working with all parties to resume delivering life-saving aid, including urgently needed fuel, through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings.

UN addresses Palestine’s bid for membership

On Friday, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution supporting the Palestinian bid for full UN membership by recognizing its qualifications and recommending that the Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably.” The resolution was adopted with 143 votes in favor and nine against, including the United States and Israel, with 25 countries abstaining.

Proposed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on behalf of 22 Arab countries and co-sponsored by about 65 states, the resolution affirms that “the State of Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter and should therefore be admitted.”

UAE’s permanent representative to the UN, Mohamed Abushahab, emphasized, “The vast majority of countries in the General Assembly are fully aware of the legitimacy of the Palestinian bid and the justness of their cause, which faces fierce attempts to suppress it and render it meaningless today.”

Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Abdulaziz Alwasil, said that “The resolution presented today is fully in line with those resolutions. It seeks to implement the will of the international community and contribute to building true peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution.”

Also, Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, expressed his country’s support and approval for the resolution through the official news agency IRNA.

In contrast, after the vote, Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, accused the assembly of trampling on the UN Charter.

An application for full UN membership requires approval from the 15-member Security Council before proceeding to the General Assembly. Al Jazeera reported that the 193-member UNGA’s vote functioned as a global survey of support for the Palestinian bid for full membership, which would recognize a Palestinian state. This follows a U.S. veto in the Security Council last month.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration on Friday expressed concerns over Israel’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons during its military operation in Gaza, suggesting potential violations of international humanitarian law. However, the administration refrained from providing a definitive assessment, citing the chaotic conditions in Gaza as a challenge to verifying specific violations.

This conclusion was part of a State Department report to Congress, mandated by a new National Security Memorandum that President Joe Biden issued in early February.

Source(s): CGTN

China is not a “systemic rival” for the EU, their common interests far outweigh their differences. In the context of China-EU relations, the two sides should be characterized rightly as partners. “De-risking” does nothing helpful to an independent EU.

Since its first appearance during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in early 2023, “de-risking” has become a keyword in the EU’s policies towards China. However, people from the EU strategic community have become significantly more vocal about the drawbacks of “de-risking.” Several well-known think tanks and media outlets have published reports and articles explaining that an obsession with “de-risking” fails to achieve “economic security” and undermines EU interests.

First, “de-risking” weakens the competitiveness of the EU industries. The European Center for International Political Economy believes that the EU’s economic and trade policy tools and import restrictions, as well as excessive intervention and strengthened regulation of enterprise production, trade and investment at the micro level, will suppress industrial capacity and efficiency within the EU. Project Syndicate predicts that artificial intelligence and net-zero industry acts will significantly increase start-up business costs, reduce investment confidence and hinder the EU from becoming an international industrial leader.

Second, “de-risking” threatens to break up the EU common market. The German Marshall Fund warns that EU member states can only adopt alternative measures to the EU’s restrictive trade rules, leading to stagnation or even regression of regulatory cooperation in the common market. The London School of Economics and Political Science sees risks to European unity from growing dissension among member states, as well as between individual states and the European Commission.

A China-Europe freight train, which set out from Duisburg, Germany, carrying exhibits for the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) arrives in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) Finally, “de-risking” does nothing helpful to an independent EU. The Economist observes that since EU companies are deeply embedded in global production and distribution networks, strengthening interdependence with other economies would help enhance their independence. Promoting “partial decoupling” under the pretext of “economic security” completely contradicts it. The Brussels-based economic think tank Bruegel advises the EU not to launch anti-dumping investigations against Chinese solar panels, as the EU urgently needs equipment for solar power plants and energy storage to prepare for the vast energy import risk. Pricy natural gas imports from the United States will only increase the dependence.

At the China Development Forum 2024, Ola Kalleniushe, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, expressed his opposition to tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports. “We have been investing in China for more than 20 years, and we will continue to do so. We need to keep trade relations open and vibrant for a win-win result in terms of economic growth.” That is true. Reasons lie in the facts.

China is not a “systemic rival” for the EU. In fact, China and Europe do not have clashing fundamental interests between them or geopolitical and strategic conflicts. Their common interests far outweigh their differences. In the context of China-EU relations, the two sides should be characterized rightly as partners.

Over the past 20 years, trade volume between China and the EU has increased sixfold, and bilateral investment has increased more than fivefold. According to a new report by The Conference Board, over 98 percent of European companies in China are very willing to stay. EU officials have admitted that the success of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy cannot be achieved without the infrastructure, technology, and materials China can offer. Since the beginning of this year, the EU’s rational perception of China and willingness to cooperate have both strengthened as exchanges between the two sides have increased at all levels.

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows OOCL PIRAEUS, one of the largest container vessels in the world, arriving at Piraeus port, Greece. (Xinhua) Cooperation with China helps the EU enhance its ability to fend off risks. The market should determine the supply chain, while political intervention will create distractions. According to the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, 59 percent of surveyed companies consider China among the top three investment destinations. The German Chamber of Commerce in China reports that 91 percent of its member companies will continue to operate in the Chinese market, and more than half plan to increase investment in the next two years.

A cool head can lead the way through the mist. China’s policy consistency and stable economic growth have proven it is a trustworthy partner and a stable force that will help the EU pursue strategic autonomy. Striding shoulder to shoulder, China and the EU will advance with a green light at every crossing.

Editor’s note: The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News and publishing as it is from Xinhua News Agency. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Maldives News Network or Xinhua News Agency.

How time flies. We are now a third of the way through 2024. During the period, have you realized any dreams? In the past, many Chinese people have made their dreams come true. Some stories went viral on the Internet, touching and inspiring numerous netizens. Here are some of the stories.

China’s Shenzhou-15 astronaut crew is known as the “Dream Crew.” Astronauts pursue their dreams of cruising in space together with China’s Space Dream. Among them, Deng Qingming’s story is particularly moving.

In 2022, Deng was selected for the Shenzhou-15 manned space mission after a comprehensive evaluation at the age of 56, perhaps not a golden age for an astronaut, a career that would require one’s physical strength and mental alertness to be constantly at their best. Yet Deng has shown his fellow Chinese that he was in excellent condition. Having learned about his experience as a “back-up astronaut,” we truly admire his devotion to China’s manned space program.

Four times in a row, Deng was selected as a member of the preparatory crew for Shenzhou-9,10,11 and 12, but never made it to the final list. Most of the time, he was a training partner for the luckier ones. “It’s impossible not to feel frustrated sometimes,” Deng admitted, “but no matter who carries out the mission, he or she represents all Chinese astronauts and I am one of them. As long as the mission is successful, my efforts pay off, even though I was only ‘Plan B’.”

As time passed by, Deng’s hope to fly into outer-space seemed to fade. But he never gave up. He quickly put aside his frustrations and restarted his daily training with an all-time positive attitude. He was willing to spend his whole life preparing for the mission he loved, but he would never allow himself to be unready when and if the task fell upon his shoulders. And when the task really came to him in 2022, he had every capability to accomplish the mission with excellence. It could be said that the rapid development of China’s space industry gave Deng the opportunity to chase his dream and Deng integrated his career into China’s space industry so that his dream was finally realized.

The Shenzhou-15 astronauts Deng Qingming (L), Fei Junlong, and Zhang Lu send their Spring Festival greetings from China’s Tiangong space station in a video released by the China Manned Space Agency on New Year’s Eve, January 21, 2023. (File Photo/Xinhua)

The dream to get equal rights in education and development has also come true in China as everything continues to improve. At the graduation ceremony of the Communication University of China in June 2023, a valedictorian won the attention of many Chinese for her good voice and impressive speech. Her name is Dong Lina, the first visually impaired master’s degree graduate specializing in broadcasting and television in China, who was once working in therapeutic massage.

Born into a farmer’s family, Dong was diagnosed with congenital amblyopia and turned completely blind at the age of 10. Like many other visually impaired children, she went to a school for the blind and the deaf and learned Tuina, a type of therapeutic massage. Her life back then was like a preset route, but Dong was reluctant to take it as it was and wanted to have more options.

In 2006, she learned about a broadcast training program in Beijing by chance, and succeeded in joining the training. Since then, Dong has deeply fallen in love with broadcast recitation.

Thanks to the development of integrated education, Dong achieved many miracles despite the difficulties. She reached the top level in the Mandarin proficiency test, and won the second prize in a national recitation contest. In 2020, she entered the Communication University of China for her master’s degree in broadcasting and television. After graduation, Dong is now leading a fulfilled life as a teacher and an active streamer on internet social platforms.

Dong Lina, China’s first visually impaired master’s degree graduate of broadcasting and television, delivers a speech at the 2023 graduation ceremony of Communication University of China (CUC), Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2023. /Screenshot from the official WeChat account of the CUC

It is worth noting that China has nearly 85 million people with disabilities, among whom more than 17 million are visually impaired. Over the decades, China has been striving to develop various ways to safeguard their rights to welfare, education and employment, so that people with disabilities can benefit equitably from social and economic progress, expand their career choices and pursue a better life.

Deng and Dong might be thought of as quite special due to the nature of their careers. But for every ordinary Chinese, they also have an opportunity to chase their dreams in their lives. A migrant worker named Yi Qunlin received an invitation to the 2024 National Spring Festival Gala. Why was he invited?

Yi was a construction worker in Shenzhen and an enthusiastic music lover. One day in April 2023, he found a charity piano at a subway entrance. His son encouraged him to give it a try.

As he was playing The Butterfly Lovers, people present were all amazed. With their encouragement, Yi went on and played more than ten pieces. “I felt that I was recognized by people. Music makes me happy, letting me forget my worries and cares.” he said.

Yi Qunlin, wearing a construction worker’s uniform, plays the piano on the street. /Screenshot of a viral video online

In the following month, Yi was invited to perform in a concert hall for his fellow workers, something he had never imagined before. More surprisingly for Yi, he received an invitation to attend the 2024 National Spring Festival Gala.

As inclusiveness continues to be enhanced in China today, grassroots win respect and recognition from society, and lead a dignified life according to their personality and strengths. Yi earns his living working at construction sites, and he creates happiness playing the piano.

Stories like these are abundant in China today. They tell us how human rights are protected and promoted as China develops. One of the advantages of China’s development model is that it can bring more fruits of modernization to all of its people more equitably, continue to better protect human rights, and strengthen freedom and all-round development. How Deng, Dong and Yi realized their dreams in China is the best proof.

Source: CGTN

Editor’s note: The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for CGTN and publishing as it is from CGTN. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Maldives News Network or CGTN.