The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday held an emergency public meeting on the situation in the Middle East, with representatives of the United States and Iran expressing opposing views over recent escalations in the region.
Tensions have been inflamed after an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday targeted a southern suburb of Beirut, reportedly killing Hezbollah's top military commander, Fouad Shokor, who was allegedly behind a cross-border rocket attack that killed 12 young people in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Saturday.
This was followed on Wednesday by the death of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in the Iranian capital Tehran after his residence was attacked in an alleged Israeli assassination.
The U.S. said Israel has the right to defend itself, stressing that it did not participate in Israel's air strikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday, and was not aware of or involved in the death of Haniyeh.
"The United States was not involved with Israel's response on July 30 in Lebanon. That said, there is no doubt, absolutely none, that Hezbollah was responsible for this attack, which used an Iranian weapon and was launched from a portion of Lebanon controlled by Hezbollah," Robert A. Wood, alternate representative of the United States for special political affairs in UN, said at the meeting.
In response, the Iranian representative said the assassination of Haniyeh would not have been possible without the authorization and intelligence support of the United States, and also accused the U.S., the UK and other countries of obstructing the Security Council in adopting a media statement condemning Israel.
"The responsibility of the United States as a strategic ally and main supporter of the Israeli regime in the region cannot be overlooked in this horrific crime. This act could not be occurred without the authorization and intelligence support of the U.S. The continuation of Israel's aggression threatens peace and stability in the region. The international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, cannot remain indifferent to such heinous crimes and must take decisive action to address this violation and hold the perpetrators accountable," said Amir Saeed Iravani, the permanent representative of Iran to UN.
US, Iranian representatives clash at UN meeting on Middle East situation
US, Iranian representatives clash at UN meeting on Middle East situation
US, Iranian representatives clash at UN meeting on Middle East situation
The golden hues of autumn, from natural scenery to harvest scenes and rural attractions, have not only added a bright splash of color across China but also sparked a boom in rural tourism during the country's week-long National Day holiday.
The Sumushan National Forest Park in Ulanqab City of north China's Inner Mongolia has become a prime spot for tourists to bask in the golden sea of birch trees. These towering trees, adorned in their autumn glory, drew visitors from all directions to marvel at the vivid display of fall.
The park's high-altitude areas even offered a unique spectacle of frost mingling with golden leaves, creating a stunning mix of gold and silver, prompting countless tourists to stop and snap photos.
Heading west, the poplar forests in Jinta County of northwest China's Gansu Province also entered their prime season, with the golden landscape drawing in tourists from all over the country, eager to capture its beauty.
Photographers were especially drawn to the scene, with many visitors donning traditional regional attire to capture the attraction's striking backdrop in their photoshoots.
"I stumbled upon photos of Jinta's poplar forest online, and I was amazed by its beauty. The park even provides photoshoot services, and the photos turned out great," said Li Min, a visitor.
Meanwhile, Shapotou, a unique location in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region where the Tengger Desert meets the Yellow River, has emerged as another top destination.
Known for its stunning combination of desert, river, mountains and oases, Shapotou whose literal meaning is "high sand dunes", offers a range of activities, including camel rides, zip-lining, and sheepskin raft rides, a traditional mode of transportation along the Yellow River.
"The contrast of the desert and the Yellow River is something you rarely see. It's a striking combination. My favorite part was the sheepskin raft ride because it felt like I was truly connecting with the Yellow River," said Song Yiwei, a tourist.
In the first four days of the holiday, Shapotou received over 110,000 visitors, and by the end of the holiday, the site is expected to host more than 160,000 people.
The National Day holiday also aligns with the harvest season in many regions, further enriching the tourism experience.
A small town known as Ledao in Shuangliao City of northeast China's Jilin Province draws tourists to its 4,000 mu (about 266 hectares) of golden rice fields.
One of the town's most popular features is a small train that runs through the sprawling fields, offering tourists a scenic ride. Originally running hourly, the train now operates continuously due to the high demand.
Visitors to Ledao can also climb a tower to admire intricate rice paddy art from above or participate in traditional craft activities like weaving with rice stalks or painting gourds.
"The vast expanse of rice fields is truly awe-inspiring. There's so much to see and plenty of scenic spots for photos. It's a fantastic spot for tourism," said Zhao Yimeng, a tourist.
Ledao is expected to welcome over 6,000 visitors during the holiday, marking a 10 percent increase year on year. The growing cultural and tourism sector has boosted the local economy, creating around 4,000 jobs and generating an estimated 4.2 million yuan (about 598,000 U.S. dollars) in income.
Ningling County of central China's Henan Province welcomed tens of thousands of visitors each day to its 220,000 mu (around 14,667 hectares) of pear orchards. The golden pears hanging from the trees provided the perfect harvest backdrop for tourists exploring the orchards. Many also visited the Pear Museum. The local tourism revenue reached 5 million yuan (about 712,408 U.S. dollars) during the holiday.
In Ningbo City of east China's Zhejiang Province, the ripened crops of corn and sorghum painted the countryside in shades of red and yellow. Visitors not only admired the harvest but also indulged in fresh local produce and unique cultural products at nearby rest stops.
Artificial golden landscapes have also proved popular. In Qu County of southwest China's Sichuan Province, idle houses in rural areas have been transformed into golden-hued guesthouses, perfect for the growing demand for laid-back and scenic escapes. Wooden cabins, surrounded by leaves, set the stage for visitors to relax and savor leisurely meals with friends in the countryside.
During the holiday, over 20 rural tourism spots in Qu County attracted more than 10,000 daily visitors, marking a 40 percent increase compared to regular days. A range of rural tourism products, blending local culture with leisure and relaxation, offered visitors a vibrant and festive holiday experience.
The National Day holiday, which runs from Oct 1 to 7, marks a peak period for travel and tourism in China.
Golden landscapes, vibrant rural tourism light up China during National Day holiday
