The death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the beginning of the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict in last October had reached 2,986, with injuries rising to13,402, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Sunday.
Eighteen people were killed and 83 others injured on Sunday in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, said the ministry.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest report that due to Israel's continued air strikes and bombings, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon today is more severe than it was in 2006, when a major conflict between Lebanon and Israel broke out.
Imran Riza, who served as the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), condemned attacks against civilians and infrastructure, and called on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and protect the people.
The OCHA said in its report that the Israeli army had repeatedly asked people in Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, Nabatieh in the south, and the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut to evacuate, before launching airstrikes on these areas.
As key infrastructure such as medical institutions have been damaged by airstrikes, many hospitals are overloaded, and some hospitals are facing a shortage of blood supplies, urgently needing blood donations to cope with the surge in the number of wounded, said the report.
Previously, due to the continued airstrikes by the Israeli army, arrangements for the delivery of aid supplies to Baalbek had to be postponed, and medical supplies provided to Lebanon by other countries were also forced to be postponed due to frequent attacks near the airport.
Death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon rises to 2,986
China is experiencing a surge in outdoor and sporting activities which serve as a powerful catalyst for consumption and economic growth.
In Baoding City, north China's Hebei Province, residents are flocking to a local sports center for their fitness fix. Activities such as tug-of-war, balance bike racing, and pickleball are igniting public enthusiasm for sports.
"Pickleball is such a vibrant and enjoyable sport. It allows us not only to experience the joy of sports but also to appreciate the power of teamwork. I hope there will be more events like this in the future so that pickleball can gain wider popularity in Baoding," said Guo Yingqiu, a pickleball enthusiast.
While sports focus on physical activities, they also help boost the local economy. Streets surrounding the sports center were packed with vendors selling products like table tennis rackets and snacks.
Chinese cities have also benefited from hosting sporting events. Over the past month, China hosted several international competitions, including the 2024 China Open tennis tournament in Beijing. Ticket sales exceeded 80 million yuan (over 11.3 million U.S. dollars), reflecting a 60 percent increase from the previous year.
This year's tournament also attracted more sponsorships. The 2024 Wuhan Open saw a rise in viewership and revenue, driven by an influx of out-of-town visitors. Of the 180,000 spectators, more than 44 percent traveled to Wuhan for the tournament, contributing significantly to the local economy, particularly in the food and hospitality sectors.
"Sports events are a powerful tool for fostering new types of consumption and expanding existing markets. Moving forward, we aim to develop the sports event economy by creating an ecosystem that unleashes the sector's potential and cultivates a sustainable consumer market," said Chen Jie, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports.
Latest reports indicate that bookings for outdoor sports in the first half of this year surged by nearly 60 percent. With the winter sports season approaching, China anticipates further growth in the sports sector nationwide.
Rise of fitness events in China to fuel economic growth
