UN chief condemns Israeli settler violence in West Bank

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns the attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including arson on two mosques, his deputy spokesman said Tuesday.

"The secretary-general condemns the attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, including the reported arson attacks on two mosques, vandalism of private property, and attacks targeting Palestinians and their livelihoods," his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.

"Attacks against places of worship are heinous and unacceptable and risk further inflaming an already volatile situation," Haq said. "The secretary-general calls for those responsible to be swiftly identified and held accountable, in line with Israel's obligations under international law."

Guterres further calls on the Israeli authorities to take immediate and effective measures to prevent further attacks by settlers against Palestinians and their property, including places of worship, and to ensure the protection of civilians, Haq said.

The secretary-general urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint, prevent any further escalation, and take immediate steps to restore calm and reduce tensions, the spokesman said.

A new wave of settler violence broke out last week in the West Bank. On Friday, violent incidents southwest of Nablus resulted in the killing of four Palestinians and two Israelis, injuries to several others, and extensive damage to Palestinian property, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov told the Security Council on Tuesday.

Following Friday's incidents near Nablus, Israel launched a large-scale arrest campaign in the West Bank, detaining at least 80 Palestinians. On Sunday, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the West Bank and set fire to two mosques -- one south of Nablus and the other south of Tulkarm, according to press reports.

UN chief condemns Israeli settler violence in West Bank

The Youyiguan Port, or Friendship Pass, in Pingxiang City of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region neighboring Vietnam registered sharp growth in the value of imports and exports in the first half of this year.

The port, China's main gateway to Vietnam, recorded a total import and export cargo value of 364.12 billion yuan (about 53.77 billion U.S. dollars) in the first six months, up 26 percent year on year.

The trade with ASEAN member states dominated the port's performance, with the value of imports from and exports to ASEAN countries reaching 361.4 billion yuan in the January-June period, a 26.2 percent increase year on year, accounting for 99.3 percent of the port's total cross-border volume.

Machinery and electronic products remained the main categories of imports and exports through the port.

To facilitate economic and trade exchanges between China and ASEAN countries, the local customs authorities have introduced a series of measures to simplify the customs declaration and clearance procedures, raising the overall inspection efficiency by 40 percent.

South China's Friendship Pass registers sharp growth in value of imports, exports in January-June