The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building and an iconic feature of the skyline in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), turns red on the Chinese national flag on Tuesday to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China.
The 828-meter-tall tower was illuminated with China's five-starred red flag to mark the National Day, along with holiday blessings to the Chinese people.
As darkness fell, the tower's facade was adorned with the vibrant red and yellow of the Chinese flag, creating a mesmerizing sight visible across the Dubai skyline.
Under the skyscraper, the fountain show has changed its background music to the melody of "China in the Lights", enhancing the festive atmosphere and drawing crowds of onlookers.
"In the two years since I came to Dubai for work, I have deeply felt the strength of my motherland. Students at the University of Dubai are becoming more and more interested in China. Now when I walk around the campus, I can hear them greeting me in Chinese everywhere," said Dai Jingjing, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Dubai.
The celebration extended beyond the light show, with UAE's top leadership, including the President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - the Vice President and Prime Minister - taking to social media to congratulate China on its National Day.
The business community in Dubai also expressed admiration for China's rapid development.
"China is number one in terms of development, that I'm very sure about. I congratulate you on having achieved so much in such a short period of time, which no one else could have done," said Mohamed bin Ali Alabbar, founder of Emmar Properties.
World's tallest building light up red to celebrate China's 75th National Day
World's tallest building light up red to celebrate China's 75th National Day
World's tallest building light up red to celebrate China's 75th National Day
At least 15 people were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, according to Lebanese official sources.
At least one child was among those killed and several children were among those injured in the strikes, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry and the National News Agency.
The Israeli army on Saturday morning ordered residents of southern Lebanese towns to evacuate before conducting airstrikes and demolishing homes.
Israeli attacks and airstrikes in Lebanon since March 2 had killed 2,795 people and injured 8,586 others, according to the latest data released by the Emergency Operations Center of Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it launched a rocket barrage overnight targeting a gathering of Israeli military vehicles and soldiers along the Lebanon-Israel border, in response to Israeli violations of the ceasefire.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said the group was in a "defensive position" against Israeli "aggression" and warned that Israel should expect a response whenever it targets Lebanese villages or Beirut's southern suburbs. An Israeli soldier was seriously injured, and two others moderately injured in Israeli territory near the Lebanese border by an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah on Saturday, according to a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The soldiers were rushed to a hospital, the statement said, adding that additional explosive drones launched by Hezbollah fell in Israeli territory near the border, without causing any casualties.
Another explosive drone hit an unmanned IDF engineering vehicle in southern Lebanon, with no casualties reported, the IDF said, adding that its air force intercepted several projectiles launched by Hezbollah toward Israeli soldiers operating in southern Lebanon.
The exchanges of fire came despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect last month following weeks of cross-border fighting tied to broader regional tensions triggered by the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
15 killed in Israeli strikes in S. Lebanon
