Senior Chinese officials pledge allegiance to Constitution

A total of 47 senior officials from 35 departments and units under China's State Council made a public pledge of allegiance to the Constitution at a ceremony on Friday.

The officials were recently appointed to their incumbent posts.

The ceremony was overseen by Premier Li Qiang, who called on the officials to closely follow the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in thinking, political stance, and action, and implement the decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee with a higher standard.

Li also urged them to foster the right view on performance evaluation, strive to promote high-quality development, improve their capacity to overcome difficulties, and be innovative in their thinking.

The officials were also asked to preserve their integrity, safeguard the authority of China's Constitution, and exercise their duties in accordance with the law.

Senior Chinese officials pledge allegiance to Constitution

Senior Chinese officials pledge allegiance to Constitution

Senior Chinese officials pledge allegiance to Constitution

Senior Chinese officials pledge allegiance to Constitution

Efforts are underway in Gaza City to salvage what remains of the territory's cultural heritage after nearly two years of war.

At the ruins of the Great Omari Mosque, Gaza's oldest and largest mosque, Palestinian workers have been clearing and sorting stones dating back more than 1,200 years using basic tools.

"The Great Omari Mosque represents the heart and soul of Gaza City, and Palestine as a whole. The value of these stones is not in their size, but in their deep and layered historical significance," said Husni Al-Mazloom, manager of the Great Omari Mosque restoration project.

Only fragments of the mosque's minarets and a few of its external walls remain standing.

"During the war, it was not only people, trees, and buildings that were targeted, but also thousands of years of human history. Most historical sites in Gaza City were struck and destroyed in an attempt to erase the historical identity of Gaza's people," said Palestinian historian Ayman Al-Balbisi.

Progress on the restoration project has been extremely slow, as Israel continues to restrict the entry of construction materials, even after nearly eight weeks of ceasefire.

On a positive note, however, the project provides locals with more income.

"Before working here, we were unemployed. When this opportunity became available for me and 20 other workers, it allowed us to provide for our families and cover basic needs. During the war, there was no work available for us at all," said worker Ali Al-Qaloushi.

Palestinians have accused Israel of deliberately targeting heritage sites. But Israel denied, saying its strikes followed international law and targeted Hamas tools near or beneath these locations.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has verified damage to 145 religious, cultural and historical sites in Gaza since October 2023, raising fears of irreversible loss in a territory whose history spans more than 5,000 years and carries the imprint of numerous civilizations.

Gazans race to preserve cultural heritage after two years of war