Anticipation is mounting for the ninth Asian Winter Games, as the opening ceremony is just days away in Harbin, capital of China's northernmost province of Heilongjiang.
Sha Xiaolan, chief director of the opening ceremony assured fans that preparations are on track for a spectacular event on February 7.
"The overall progress has been going smoothly. Since December, we have been conducting rehearsals in our main venue, going scene by scene and program by program. This phase has already been completed successfully. We are now moving into the phase of joint rehearsals and full-element rehearsals. Our theme for the event is 'Dream of Winter, Love among Asia', along with a set of key phrases: 'Asian elegance, Chinese grandeur; Heilongjiang characteristics, Harbin charm'. Notably, iconic landmarks of Harbin, such as the Central Street, Harbin Ice and Snow World, and music square, have left a profound impression on our creative team. We will incorporate these elements into the opening ceremony," said the director.
With the Asian Winter Games just 30 days away in the renowned ice city of Harbin, test events across various disciplines have been in full swing, and organizers are reinforcing their emergency preparedness through a comprehensive system that integrates medical, meteorological, and other vital support services.
The ninth Asian Winter Games, scheduled between Feb 7 and Feb 14, are expected to see the highest participation in the event's history, with a total of 1,275 athletes from 34 countries and regions already registered.
Harbin gears for spectacular 9th Asian Winter Games opening ceremony
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza Strip has risen to 50,423, with 114,638 injured, after nearly 18 months of Israeli military operations, Gaza health authorities said Wednesday.
Local medical sources noted that since the Israeli army resumed its operations on March 18, the number of fatalities has reached 1,066, while 2,597 have been injured.
In the past 24 hours alone, hospitals in Gaza received 24 fatalities and 55 injured. Many bodies remain trapped beneath the rubble, with ambulances and civil defense personnel struggling to reach them.
According to a report by the Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that it had carried out strikes on over 50 sites belonging to Hamas and other militant groups, ahead of a major ground push into the southern Gaza Strip. During the day, dozens more strikes were carried out across Gaza.
In addition, the IDF issued a statement on Wednesday night that it had intercepted two rockets launched from northern Gaza. Air raid sirens were activated in areas near the Gaza Strip, and local media said that there are no reports of injuries or damage in the attack. The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to Palestinian media reports on Wednesday, the Israeli air force targeted a medical facility operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. The head of Gaza-based health authorities reported on the same day that 19 people were killed in the attack.
The Israeli military stated on Wednesday that it had struck a Hamas command center in Jabalia.
On Wednesday night, Al Jazeera quoted relevant sources as saying that Hamas officials had received Israel's response to the ceasefire proposal, which had been put forward by mediators and accepted by Hamas. Based on this response, they concluded that Israel had rejected the proposal.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 50,423
