China marks 79th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II

Patriotic education activities have been carried out across China to honor those who died in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, as Aug 15 this year marks the 79th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II (WWII).

In a poignant gesture of remembrance, a group of students from Zhangwan, a town in east China's Shandong Province, visited an exhibition hall in a model village in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Students delved into the vivid narratives of the village's valiant stand against Japanese aggression during the war. The artifacts on display, including rusted weapons and relics of the era, serve as tangible reminders of the courage and resilience exhibited by the villagers in the face of adversity.

At the Museum of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in the Chinese capital city Beijing, there has been a noticeable increase in visitors, as Aug 15 approaches.

"Since it's summer vacation, I bring my children here to learn about the history of the war of resistance against Japanese aggression. I hope they will learn about the past and understand how hard-won our current peaceful and stable life is," said Zhou Lihong, a visitor.

To provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the contributions of Macao compatriots to the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, the museum works jointly with the Oral History Association of Macao to stage a photo exhibition.

"We hope to inspire more people to continually contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through this exhibition," said Lai Shengliang, deputy curator of the Museum of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

China marks 79th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II

The recent Israeli airstrikes on multiple sites in Yemen, including Hodeidah Port in the north, could have devastating consequences, potentially further worsening the humanitarian situation in the country, an United Nations official said on Friday.

On Dec 19, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Houthi targets in northern Yemen, resulting in the destruction of two major power stations in the capital, Sanaa, and several ports along the coast of the Red Sea.

A total of three ports in Hodeidah Province were affected by the airstrikes: the ports of Hodeidah, Saleef, and Ras Isa.

On Thursday, Israel launched another round of airstrikes targeting key infrastructure and Houthi-controlled sites in Sanaa and Hodeidah, according to media reports.

Julien Harneis, UN resident coordinator in Yemen, stated that 80 percent of food and nearly 90 to 95 percent of medical supplies needed in northern Yemen rely on Hodeidah Port for passage, making the port extremely important.

He emphasized that if the port were to break down, it would have catastrophic consequences, leading to a rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

"So, the airstrikes some days ago which destroyed the two tugs was estimated to reduce the harbor capacity by 50 percent. Now, we don't know how long that reduction in capacity will be and we have yet to done a thorough analysis of what the impact of yesterday's airstrikes. So, we're still collecting information and trying to understand that," Harneis said.

The UN predicts that by 2025, the population in need of humanitarian assistance in Yemen will rise to 19 million people. If the internal conflict in Yemen persists, this situation may worsen even further, Harneis noted.

Israeli airstrikes on Yemen may trigger devastating consequences: UN official