Xi attends grand gathering to celebrate Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday attended a grand gathering at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, capital of Xizang Autonomous Region, to mark the region's 60th founding anniversary.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined around 20,000 local officials and people from all ethnic groups and all walks of life in the celebration.

Gama Cedain, chairman of the people's government of Xizang Autonomous Region, announced the commencement of the gathering at about 10:00.

Also present were other senior officials, including Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the central delegation for the anniversary celebration activities, and Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.

The Xizang Autonomous Region was founded in September 1965, after the establishment of the regional People's Congress, the local legislature, through elections.

Over the past six decades, Xizang has made historic breakthroughs in its economic and social development.

The region's GDP totaled 276.5 billion yuan (38.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024 -- 155 times that in 1965. Xizang's average life expectancy has reached 72.5 years, against 35.5 years in the 1950s. Notably, the region has eliminated millennia-old absolute poverty and become a moderately prosperous society in all respects alongside the rest of the nation.

Xi attends grand gathering to celebrate Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

Xi attends grand gathering to celebrate Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

Xi attends grand gathering to celebrate Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

Xi attends grand gathering to celebrate Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

Xi attends grand gathering to celebrate Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary

The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.

The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.

The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.

The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.

The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.

The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.

The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.

Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.

The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.

The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.

ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges

ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges