International Chinese Language Day has sparked vibrant celebrations around the globe, showcasing the global resonance of linguistic diversity and cultural inclusivity.
Marking its 2010 establishment, the day coincided with Grain Rain, one of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese calendar, and emphasized equal recognition of the United Nations' six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
In honor of the day, the Confucius Institute at Prince Sultan University, a premier private institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, organized vibrant celebrations on Saturday. The event showcased Chinese culture through activities such as calligraphy and embroidery workshops, alongside displays of intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, attracting local enthusiasts.
At the University of Zambia, the Confucius Institute also marked the occasion by hosting celebrations that welcomed members of the local Chinese community and participants eager to immerse themselves in Chinese traditions.
"It's quite a delicate art in which you learn on how to write the beautiful Chinese characters, also known as 'Han Zi' in Chinese," said Damian Mukumbuta, a Zambian student.
"Paper-cutting is one way of learning Chinese. You get to learn paper cutting in different ways, different styles, and it brings out different shapes which are really nice and attractive," said Godfridah Malama, a Zambian student.
Meanwhile, similar celebrations took place in Turkmenistan, adding to the worldwide enthusiasm for honoring Chinese language and culture.
2025 Int'l Chinese Language Day celebrated globally, highlighting cultural diversity
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the situation in Iran is "under total control" following violence linked to protests that spiked over the weekend.
Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, the foreign minister noted that armed terrorist groups had infiltrated the protests, attempting to divert them from their legitimate course. He claimed that evidence has been gathered showing Iranian security forces being shot at, with the aim of causing further casualties. He accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.
Araghchi further stated that the government is closely monitoring developments on the streets, emphasizing that "the situation has come under control." He also affirmed that internet services, curtailed during the unrest, would be restored after coordination with security agencies.
The government has engaged in dialogue with merchants and protest representatives and initiated reforms to address grievances related to price hikes and currency depreciation. Iran has taken a series of actions and measures to respond to the demands of peaceful demonstrators, the foreign minister said.
Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said that clear evidence links recent riots and vandalism of public facilities in Iran to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This came after former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Mossad agents operating on Iran's streets in a social media post. The Iranian foreign minister asserted that police are being attacked by "terrorists" acting under the direction of Israeli operatives, whom Pompeo publicly acknowledged.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions.
Iranian foreign minister says situation "fully under control," accuses Israeli intelligence of stoking unrest
