Hong Kong holds National Day gala to mark 75th founding anniversary of PRC

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region held a National Day Gala on Wednesday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, inviting celebrities, artists, and students from schools and universities to present spectacular performances of various kinds.

The gala opened with a heartfelt performance by Michelle Siu, a visually impaired singer, and the Touching China 2023 Character of the Year, along with two other singers, to voice their love for China. The gala also included a children's martial arts performance, a middle school orchestra, and a chorus from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, along with performances staged by other artists and celebrities in presenting their best to the audience, featuring the participation of both professionals and amateurs, and their shared patriotism.

The gala featured both modern and traditional performances, all immersed with Chinese culture and regional characteristics, reflecting the heartfelt love of Hong Kong citizens to the motherland.

"As Hong Kong residents, with strong backing of the motherland, we should fully utilize Hong Kong's advantages with the support of the motherland and our connectivity to the world under the 'One Country, Two Systems'. We should be fully confident in striving for greater new achievements. Wish our motherland peace and prosperity, and I also believe that Hong Kong will definitely create a brighter future." said Jin Ling, chairman of the Hong Kong Island Woman's Association.

Also attending the gala among the some 6,000 guests were Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.

Hong Kong holds National Day gala to mark 75th founding anniversary of PRC

Two U.S. F-18 fighter jets entered Venezuelan airspace on Tuesday, circling for about 40 minutes.

The jets flew within 100 miles (about 161 km) of Maracaibo, Venezuela's second-largest city which is home to Rafael Urdaneta Air Base, one of the main military air bases in western Venezuela, according to a report from the Miami Herald.

Data from Sweden's FlightRadar24 showed the jets flying over the northern tip of Lake Maracaibo, above the waters of the Gulf of Venezuela, and between the cities of La Guajira, in Zulia state, and Coro, the capital of Falcon state. Zulia state is a key oil and gas producing region in Venezuela, while Falcon state has some of the country’s biggest refineries.

FlightRadar24 data also showed a U.S. MQ-4C Triton drone flying close to Venezuela’s coast on Tuesday, although it did not appear to enter Venezuelan airspace.

Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil warned on Tuesday that the U.S. actions pose an extremely serious challenge to regional security and peace.

The president of Venezuela's National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez Gomez, said that the U.S. military activities around the country were not intended to "combat drug trafficking", as the U.S, claims, but to attack and destroy Venezuela.

Iran warned that the recent situation poses a threat to peace in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by telephone on Tuesday and reiterated his country's "willingness to stand by Venezuela", the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry reported.

Pezeshkian also said that U.S. provocations of Venezuela "violate the principles of international law and constitute a dangerous precedent for the peoples of the world."

U.S. fighter jets enter Venezuelan airspace as tensions escalate