China to ring in 2025 amid consumers' paradise of markets, shops, restaurants

Shopping streets, flower markets and restaurants across China have been filled a festive and enjoyable atmosphere as the New Year, and Chinese Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) approach.

In Shanghai, shopping malls and streets have launched more than 100 festive activities. For example, coupons have been offered to consumers at Nanjing Road, one of the city's most famous shopping streets, and the opening hours here will be extended on the New Year's Eve.

Consumers in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality have been busy shopping for New Year decorations including lanterns, couplets and items in the shape of snakes, as the Year of the Snake will start on January 29, 2025, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

In south China's Hainan Province, the shopping complex of Haikou International Duty-Free City has launched a year-end promotion event running from this Friday to the end of the year.

In Shijiazhuang City of north China's Hebei Province, a pedestrian street has set up more than 10 units of giant lanterns to create unique experience for tourists.

Meanwhile, a shopping street in Lanzhou City of northwest China's Gansu Province has held a night market decorated with lanterns in different shapes and colors, which has brought 60 percent more visitors to the street compared with the same period last year.

Flower markets have been bustling with consumers with the New Year around the corner.

The Beijing International Flower Port in Shunyi District has been brightened up with red flowers including amaryllis and holly, as well as phalaenopsis in more than 30 new colors such as cream yellow.

In Guangzhou City of south China's Guangdong Province, Lingnan Flower Market, the largest of its kind in southern China, has introduced over 100 varieties of fresh cut flowers from abroad, and offered arrangements of mixed flowers

The imminent New Year and Spring Festival has also brought growing demand for dining out.

In Shenyang City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, the average dining reservation rate the Lunar New Year's Eve has exceeded 60 percent.

In Wuhan City of central China's Hubei Province, catering companies are expected to receive more than 700,000 tables of diners from the Preliminary Eve to the Eve of the Lunar New Year, a 27-percent increase over the same period last year.

China to ring in 2025 amid consumers' paradise of markets, shops, restaurants

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