China, Laos hold Friendship Shield-2024 joint exercise

The armed forces of China and Laos launched the Friendship Shield-2024 joint military exercise at the training ground of the Kommadam Academy of the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) in Vientiane on Friday.

The joint military exercise will run from July 5 to July 18. Representatives from the armed forces of both countries, the Chinese ambassador to Laos, the defense attache at the Chinese embassy in Laos, and troops participating in the exercise, attended the opening ceremony.

The exercise, which is the second of its kind, seeks to strengthen strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two militaries, with the aim of promoting regional peace and stability.

The Friendship Shield-2023 joint military exercise was held in May last year in Laos.

China, Laos hold Friendship Shield-2024 joint exercise

A tornado was sighted off the coast near the Dongshan Island in east China's Fujian Province around 10:36 on Monday, according to the local meteorological department.

The department said that the tornado occurred due to severe convective weather conditions. Video footage captured by local residents showed a large waterspout rotating on the sea surface, with thick dark clouds at its top.

According to Dongshan's emergency department, the tornado formed in an open sea area relatively distant from the island. So far, there have been no reports of damage resulting from it.

Tornado spotted off coast of east China's Fujian