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Eight individuals connected to the children's abnormal blood lead case at a kindergarten in Tianshui city, Northwest China's Gansu Province, have been placed under criminal detention after investigations revealed that the kindergarten illegally added inedible painted pigments to children's foods, Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday. 

The joint investigation team in Tianshui city released on Tuesday a notice on the case, China Central Television (CCTV) reported. 

According to a notice, as of 10 pm on Monday, all 251 children at Peixin Kindergarten have been tested. According to blood lead standards, 233 children were found to have abnormal blood lead levels, while 18 were within the normal range. The test results of the sampling from the kindergartens related to Peixin Kindergarten, including Weibei Kindergarten, Ciai Kindergarten, and Mengdiai Kindergarten, were all normal. At present, relevant departments have formed an expert team to fully carry out medical treatment efforts.

Of 223 food samples tested, 221 passed inspection, while two from Peixin Kindergarten failed. One sample was a leftover breakfast item, the tri-color red date steamed cake, and the other was a dinner dish, corn roll with sausage. 

The lead content in the two samples was 1,052 milligrams per kilogram and 1,340 milligrams per kilogram respectively, both far exceeding the national food safety standard limit of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram for food contaminants. 

The investigation also revealed that the kindergarten's head, surnamed Zhu, and its investor, surnamed Li, instructed kitchen staff to purchase decorative paint online, dilute it, and use it in preparing some food items. 

In the early hours of July 3, the police seized the remaining hidden paint. Testing confirmed that the seized paint contained lead and the paint was clearly labeled as inedible on its packaging. 

Currently, the public security authorities have placed Zhu and Li, and six others under criminal detention on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food. Two additional individuals are under compulsory measures with bail pending trial. 

After the incident happened, the National Health Commission and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration on Friday dispatched experts to Tianshui to guide the on-site handling of the incident, according to Sun Chengye, chief expert of poison control from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Regarding the follow-up treatment of the affected children, Zhang Hao, director of the Health Commission of Gansu Province said that Gansu has mobilized 18 provincial-level experts in toxicology, critical care, and pediatrics to participate in the treatment. Three designated hospitals at provincial and municipal levels have been selected with sufficient bed capacity prepared and a green channel established. 

Additionally, three expert outpatient clinics have been set up for lead poisoning, pediatrics and psychological counseling at Tianshui Second People's Hospital. Emergency coordination has been made to supply medicine for treating lead poisoning to ensure the sufficient treatment needs for the affected children. 

Liu Lijiang, mayor of Tianshui, said in a CCTV interview that the authorities felt deep sorrow and great remorse for the physical and psychological harm caused to the families of the affected children by this incident. 

This incident exposed shortcomings and loopholes in the city's public food safety supervision, Liu said, adding that the authorities will draw profound lessons from it, strictly implement the "four strictest" requirements, improve and reinforce all relevant measures, firmly enforce regulatory responsibilities, and build a solid defense line for food safety to prevent such incidents from recurring. 

After the incident, some parents of the children with abnormal blood lead levels described the treatment process for their children, saying some children must undergo over six hours of IV infusion every day, Jimu News reported. 

The testing reports of several hospitalized children show that their blood lead levels exceeded 250 micrograms per liter, with some exceeding 450 micrograms per liter, according to media reports.

According to Yan Chonghuai, an expert at Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the blood lead level in kindergarten-age children should be around 20 micrograms per liter. For children undergoing rapid growth and development, lead's neurotoxicity is particularly pronounced and can affect their intelligence quotient (IQ), Sichuan Daily reported. 

Yan pointed out that the neurodevelopmental toxicity caused by lead is irreversible, which means that even if treatment brings blood lead levels back to normal, it is very difficult to reverse the damage caused to a child's IQ, expected level. 

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary in 2025, the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Tuesday adopted by consensus a resolution titled "The contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights," co-sponsored by China and 40-plus other countries. This is the first time since the resolution in 2017 that it has been adopted by consensus without a vote, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday. 

Chen Xu, permanent representative of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said the resolution reaffirms the vital role of development in ensuring the enjoyment of all human rights, highlights the importance of people-centered, high-quality development in meeting the growing aspirations for a better life and in advancing the full realization of human rights.

Chen expressed hope that the resolution would foster greater consensus and encourage all countries to work with China in prioritizing the future of humanity and the well-being of all nations, revitalizing genuine multilateralism, pursuing high-quality development, and promoting and safeguarding all human rights. 

The resolution reflects the shared aspirations of many developing countries. It was jointly sponsored by 40-plus nations, including Cameroon and Pakistan. Representatives from countries such as Cuba, Bolivia, Ethiopia, and Kenya voiced strong support, noting that the resolution will help raise global awareness of the role of development in promoting human rights and further the cause of human rights protection through sustainable development.

Following its adoption, many countries, including Russia, Brazil, Chile, and the European Union, extended congratulations to China. They recognized China's leadership in advancing the agenda of development-driven human rights at the UNHRC and commended its constructive engagement in crafting a more balanced and impactful resolution text, which has garnered wide recognition and broad international support.

When asked for comments on reports that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made three demands to China on Tuesday, including one regarding cooperation with Russia, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning responded on Wednesday that the normal cooperation between China and Russia does not target any third party and should not be interfered with by any third party.

According to TASS, von der Leyen asked China to limit cooperation with Russia, among other things, ahead of the upcoming China-EU summit.

Von der Leyen accused "China's unyielding support for Russia" of "creating heightened instability and insecurity in Europe." "We cannot accept this," she emphasized in a speech at an EP plenary joint debate on relations between the European Union and China, per TASS.

In response, Mao said that the normal cooperation between China and Russia does not target any third party, nor should it be interfered with by any third party.

The Japanese Self-Defense Force on Wednesday began deploying its fleet of V-22 Ospreys at a newly opened permanent base in southwestern Japan, which is part of Tokyo's accelerating military buildup under the excuse of so-called China's military amibitions, according to media reports. A Chinese military affairs expert criticized Japan for building up its military power, using the so-called "China threat" as a pretext to target China, which effectively breached the constraints imposed by its pacifist constitution as well as the post-war international order.

The Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) on Wednesday opened a new camp in southwestern Japan to host its fleet of Osprey transport aircraft, which according to Kyodo News, is part of efforts to strengthen defenses of remote islands amid so-called fears over "China's increasing military ambitions." 

The first V-22 Osprey arrived at the new Camp Saga, in the prefecture of the same name on the main island of Kyushu, after transferring from Camp Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo. The GSDF's tilt-rotor aircraft had been temporarily based there since July 2020, Kyodo News said. 

This move marks yet another step by Japan to strengthen its military deployment in the southwest direction targeting China, and is part of a broader effort to enhance its offensive combat capabilities, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

"In recent years, Japan has continuously bolstered its offensive military power by producing and deploying advanced weaponry with strong strike capabilities, including submarines, aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and cruise missiles. This latest deployment of V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft under the pretext of the so-called China threat rhetoric is a clear extension of Japan's military expansion," Zhang said. 

The use of the V-22 remains controversial in Japan, especially in the south, due to a series of accidents involving the aircraft, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Thursday. 

In November 2023, a US Air Force Osprey crashed off Japan's southern coast, killing eight people, the media report said. In October 2024, a Japanese army V-22 Osprey tilted and hit the ground while attempting to take off during a joint exercise with the US military. An investigation found human error to be the cause, according to the AP. 

Despite the V-22 Osprey has been involved in multiple accidents, causing casualties and property damage, which has sparked strong protests from the Japanese public, Japan continues to deploy such accident-prone equipment in order to demonstrate alignment to the US and align with the US' "Indo-Pacific Strategy," ignoring the safety and concerns of its own citizens, Zhang noted. 

On Wednesday morning, protesters rallied in front of the new Camp Saga's main gate, carrying banners and signs to call for the "complete removal of Ospreys," according to Xinhua News Agency. 

As a former aggressor, Japan bears a historical responsibility to deeply reflect upon and restrain itself from repeating past mistakes. However, current trends among right-wing forces in Japan, such as denying historical aggression and glorifying wartime atrocities, are growing, Zhang noted. 

"These tendencies, combined with the trend of military expansion and the resurgence of militarist ideologies, point to a troubling drift back toward militarism, which warrants serious attention and vigilance," he said.

In yet another attempt to weaponize academic exchanges, US House Republicans, according to AP on Thursday, have made baseless accusations against the China Scholarship Council (CSC), urging seven American universities to sever ties with the long-standing educational program. 

The move, framed under the pretext of "national security," exposes Washington's growing desperation to stifle China's development through "academic decoupling" - a strategy that a Chinese expert warns will backfire, eroding the US' own scientific competitiveness and global academic leadership.

According to AP report on Thursday, the House Select Committee on China, led by Republican Rep. John Moolenaar, recently sent letters to Dartmouth College, the University of Notre Dame, and five other institutions, labeling the CSC—a Chinese government-funded scholarship program for overseas studies—as a "nefarious mechanism" for technology transfer. The lawmakers demanded that universities provide records related to the program, AP reported.

Moolenaar claimed that the program is a "technology transfer effort that exploits US institutions and directly supports China's military and scientific growth." 

These "pan-securitization" accusations reveal the US' true intention of suppressing China's development through "academic decoupling," Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday. "It is evident that these Republican lawmakers aim to weaken or even sever educational exchanges between China and the US, thereby spreading distorted perceptions of China within American society," Li said.

 The CSC, established in 1996, sponsors many Chinese students annually to study abroad, including in the US. Like many international scholarship programs, it requires recipients to return to China for at least two years after graduation—a standard clause also found in US government-funded initiatives such as the Fulbright Program. 

The Republican-led committee's latest push aligns with a broader US trend of restricting Chinese students in so-called "critical fields." 

According to AP, the US has stepped up scrutiny of Chinese students coming to the US. In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would revoke visas from some Chinese students studying in "critical fields." During his first term, US President Donald Trump restricted visas for students affiliated with China's so-called "military-civil fusion strategy."

According to the report, Dartmouth and Notre Dame confirmed they were already phasing out CSC partnerships, but the University of California (UC) system emphasized its commitment to global collaboration. "International students and academic partnerships are critical to scientific progress, economic growth, and our educational mission," said the office of UC President Michael V. Drake, AP reported.

Li argues that Washington's move is self-defeating. "Such actions by the US reflect an unwillingness to tolerate China's progress, pushing America toward a more insular path," noted the expert. "This approach will not only worsen China-US relations but also is an attempt to sow seeds of hostility domestically."

According to the Institute of International Education last December, China is the second-largest source of international students in the US, despite a 4 percent decline to 277,398 students in the 2023-24 academic year. Reuters said in May that this drop was driven partly by growing tension between the world's two biggest economies and heightened US government scrutiny of some Chinese students. AP noted that the majority are self-funded - only a fraction receive CSC grants. 

Li said many Chinese graduates contribute to American innovation, with a significant number staying to work in tech, engineering, and academia. "By alienating these scholars, the US risks losing a vital talent pipeline," the expert warns.

The accusations against the CSC are only part of a wider campaign led by some US politicians against China-US educational ties. In May, Rep. Moolenaar pressured Duke University to cut collaboration with a Chinese institution, while Eastern Michigan University terminated partnerships with two Chinese universities in June following committee scrutiny.

"By singling out the CSC, some so-called American elites lay bare their entrenched arrogance, prejudice, and sense of superiority," Li remarked. "Such anti-China rhetoric is not limited to Republicans—many Democratic lawmakers hold similar biases, indicating a broader decline in enthusiasm within the US government for genuine educational engagement."

 "There is no doubt that the US is treating educational exchanges as a political weapon," the expert emphasized. 

 Li said that Washington should recognize the mutual benefits of cross-border education, otherwise its fear-driven policies may achieve the opposite of their intended effect, leaving America less innovative and increasingly isolated on the global stage.

The 25th batch of the Chinese medical team in Ethiopia has donated much-needed medical supplies to the Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital, also known as the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, located on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, the East African country's capital.

Addressing the handover ceremony on Wednesday evening, Eshetu Tadele, chief executive officer of Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital, hailed the successive Chinese medical teams for their "life-saving contributions" to the people of Ethiopia and for imparting medical knowledge and skills to their Ethiopian counterparts in the process.

He said Chinese medical teams based at the hospital have demonstrated that "the health system has no boundary. That is why you showed your heart and your kindness in helping Ethiopia."

Highlighting that the latest donation of medical supplies marks the third such contribution to the hospital within a year, Tadele said a recent similar donation, coupled with a successful skills transfer initiative, has enabled the establishment of a fully-equipped eye treatment unit at the hospital.

"I would like to thank you very much for the huge and tremendous donation to our hospital. Since the establishment of this hospital, the Chinese government has been donating lots of medical equipment, and lots of experts have been assigned to our hospital to help Ethiopian communities," Tadele said.

"I would like to thank you for the support in terms of human resources, medical equipment, and skills transfer, which strengthens the health system in Ethiopia," he added.

While welcoming the 26th batch of the Chinese medical team, the hospital community also commended the outgoing team members for their "important support" in safeguarding the health and well-being of the Ethiopian people.

They underscored that Chinese doctors' service is a vivid manifestation of the two countries' growing people-to-people ties.

Liu Junying, head of the 25th batch of the Chinese medical team, said his team, which began work at Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital in May 2024, has been delivering medical services to Ethiopian communities as part of the long-standing Sino-Ethiopian health cooperation.

He further reiterated China's commitment to sending successive medical teams to provide healthcare for Ethiopians in need, while also sharing expertise with local medical professionals.

The newly dispatched 26th Chinese medical team, consisting of 16 specialists across various fields, continues China's medical mission to Ethiopia, which has been serving the local population since the 1970s.

China welcomes the latest developments in relations between Russia and the Afghan interim government, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Friday.

Mao's remarks were made in response to a media inquiry about Russia's formal recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which is ruled by the Taliban.

According to Russia's Tass News Agency, Moscow has formally recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

As a traditionally friendly neighbor of Afghanistan, China believes the country should not be excluded from the international community, Mao said.

China supports the international community in strengthening engagement and dialogue with the Afghan interim government, encourages it to actively respond to international concerns, and jointly assists in Afghanistan's reconstruction and development, supports its fight against terrorist forces, and contributes positively to regional peace, stability, and prosperity, Mao said.

When asked whether China has similar plans, Mao said that regardless of changes in Afghanistan's internal or external situation, diplomatic relations between China and Afghanistan have never been interrupted.

Since the establishment of the Afghan interim government, the diplomatic missions of the two sides have maintained normal operations in each other's territory, playing a positive role in promoting bilateral relations, the spokesperson said.

She added that China will continue to pursue a friendly policy toward all Afghan people and support exchanges and cooperation across various fields between China and Afghanistan.

After a prediction that a devastating earthquake would strike Japan on Saturday recently went viral on social media, but did not come true, the Global Times has learned from several Chinese tourism operators that despite concerns and trip cancellations of some Chinese tourists, several tour groups to Japan have departed as scheduled. 

The widely discussed prophecy originated from the comic book "The Future I Saw" by Japanese manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, which predicted that on July 5, a crack will open up under the seabed between Japan and the Philippines, sending ashore waves three times as tall as those from the Tohoku earthquake,according to CNN.  

Although the prophecy did not come true, several earthquakes struck southwestern Japan on Sunday and Saturday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) says earthquakes with estimated magnitudes of 4.8 and 5.4 occurred on the island of Akuseki-jima in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima at 2:01 pm and 2:07 pm on Sunday, but there is no tsunami threat, Japanese media outlet NHK reported on Sunday.

JMA also reported a quake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.4 off the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima at 6:29 am, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

"It is absolutely a coincidence. There is no causal connection," Ayataka Ebita of the JMA said at a press conference later on Saturday, Japan's Kyodo News reported. Ebita said current science is unable to accurately predict earthquakes, and any that appear to fit the manga's prediction are purely coincidental. "In Japan, earthquakes can happen at any time. Please be prepared always," he added. 

On Saturday, the topic surged to the top of trending searches on Chinese social media. "Nothing happened in Japan" became the No.1 trending topic on Chinese X-like platform Weibo. 

The Global Times learned on Sunday from Qunar, a major Chinese online travel agency, that it had previously received questions from tourists regarding this issue and that there had been some trip cancellations. Staff from China Youth Travel Service (CYTS) Aoyou told the Global Times on Sunday that their tour groups to Japan had departed as scheduled, as they hadn't received any official notifications, adding that they offer positive guidance to tourists' inquiries based on official information.

A Chinese national surnamed Ma, who operates a hot spring hotel and provides chartered tour services in Japan's Izu, told the Global Times on Sunday that his main customers are Chinese tourists during weekdays and the summer holidays, and that there were very few customers before July 5. "But from today onwards, the number of visitors will increase, according to bookings. Queuing is now necessary at Izu's popular destination, Mount Omuro, which was previously not required. And my hotel is almost fully booked after July 16," Ma said.

Despite viral rumors of an impending disaster, hk01 reported that three tour groups under Hong Kong-based travel agency EGL Tours had departed on Saturday, heading respectively to Japan's Hokkaido, Kyushu and Osaka.

A tourist heading to Kyushu said that the tour fee was one-third cheaper than before, adding that they had made disaster prevention preparations in advance, including bringing some food and other necessities, per hk01.

Steve Huen of EGL Tours said that due to the earthquake prediction, the number of tour groups to Japan in July has dropped from an average of seven to 10 groups per day to just three groups on Saturday. And the number of people per group has also declined from an average of 20 to 30 people to just 12 people on Saturday, and the prices of the tour groups have significantly decreased.

But he believes that the worst period has passed and expects the number of people joining tours to Japan to rebound as early as August, with a significant recovery anticipated by the end of September to October, close to the autumn foliage season.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Sunday that BRICS countries should strive to become the vanguard in advancing the reform of global governance.

Li made the remarks when addressing the plenary session of "Peace and Security and Reform of Global Governance" of the 17th BRICS Summit, calling on the bloc to safeguard world peace and tranquility, and promote the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Leaders of BRICS countries attended the meeting, which was presided by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Li said at present, changes unseen in a century are unfolding at an accelerated pace, international rules and order are being severely challenged, and the authority and efficacy of multilateral institutions continue to wane.

The vision of global governance put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, characterized by extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, has been further demonstrating its contemporary value and practical significance, Li said.

In face of growing conflicts and differences, it is needed to enhance extensive consultation based on equality and mutual respect; In face of deeply intertwined common interests, it is needed to pursue joint contribution through solidarity; In face of mutually beneficial development opportunities, it is needed to hold an open mind to seek mutual success and shared benefits, said Li.

As the leading force of the Global South, BRICS countries should uphold independence and self-reliance, demonstrate a sense of responsibility, and play a greater role in building consensus and synergies, Li noted.

The Chinese premier called on the group to hold fast to morality and justice, and seek fundamental solutions based on the merits of each issue.

BRICS countries should also focus on development and bolster the drivers of economic growth, said Li, adding that they should actively spearhead development cooperation and tap into the growth potential of emerging sectors.

Noting that China will establish a China-BRICS research center on new quality productive forces this year, Li also announced a scholarship established for BRICS countries to facilitate talent cultivation in sectors including industry and telecommunication.

It is essential for BRICS countries to foster inclusiveness and advance exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, Li said, calling on the countries to act as advocates for the harmonious coexistence of civilizations, striving to ensure diverse civilizations flourish together through mutual reinforcement.

China stands ready to join hands with other BRICS countries to promote global governance in a more just, equitable, efficient and orderly direction, working collectively to build a better world, he said.

The leaders of countries participating in the meeting noted that the BRICS cooperation mechanism has continued to grow stronger and more representative, with its international influence rising steadily.

It has provided an important platform for Global South countries to defend their right to development, uphold international fairness and justice, and participate in the reform of the global governance system, they said.

In an increasingly turbulent world where unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, they said, BRICS countries should enhance solidarity and coordination, defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold and practice multilateralism, and make greater contribution to promoting common development, improving global governance, and fostering lasting peace and prosperity in the world.

The meeting adopted the Rio de Janeiro Declaration of the 17th BRICS Summit.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday called for commitment to building an open world economy, and urged the importance of opposing unilateralism and protectionism.

In his remarks addressing the plenary sessions of the 17th BRICS Summit, Li also stressed the need to maintain the stability and smoothness of industrial and supply chains.