As the ice and snow season peaks in northern China’s Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang, winter sports are rapidly spreading to many schools there, allowing students to experience and enjoy ice and snow activities on campus.
In Hulun Buir City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, colorful ice and snow activities not only energize students but also offer them opportunities to experience ice and snow culture.
"I'm very happy. I played snow tubing with my dad. Today is also a snow holiday, so I'm really happy," said Bai Yiran, a student who enjoyed the activities with her family.
In Zhalantun City, an ice and snow sports event was held on the campus of an experimental primary school, where students could try activities such as snow tubing, curling, and speed skating.
"In the future, our school will further promote the integration of education and sports, striving to establish a campus with distinctive features in ice and snow sports," said Cheng Fenglian, deputy director for physical education, health, and arts of the experimental primary school of Zhalantun City.
Some primary schools and kindergartens in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province opened ice sports classes to engage students in the charm and excitement of ice and snow activities.
"I really like the ice and snow activities organized by our school, like snow tubing, curling, and the rabbit dances -- they're great fun," said a primary school student in Heihe City.
Winter sports thrill students on campus in Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang
The prices of some life-saving medicines have soared to levels that are unaffordable for ordinary people in Venezuela, as the United States has ramped up military presence in the Caribbean off Venezuela's coast, alongside escalating sanctions, blockades and military threats against the oil-rich South American nation since late August.
At a northeastern suburb in the capital city Caracas, locals can still purchase most of the commonly used medicines at a major supermarket, where some antibiotics have been sold out, and some first-aid medicines and supplies have become too costly for ordinary residents.
"I'm here mainly to buy antibiotics. I have problems with my lungs. But I can't get all I want, such as vancomycin," said a resident named Alfonso.
"(Recent tensions have affected) the supplies and prices of drugs. The prices of cancer drugs, insulin drugs and albumin are very high, and most patients here cannot afford them," said Giovanna Gonzalez, a pharmacist with the supermarket.
Around 90 percent of the raw materials for drugs in Venezuela rely on imports, and the country's medical equipment such as monitors and anesthesia machines are almost entirely dependent on overseas supplies.
Main international airlines suspended flights to and from Venezuela in November, and U.S. blockades have delayed many cargo ships for a month, with some refusing to dock in Venezuela for safety concerns.
"Venezuela has been caught in the complex humanitarian emergency declared by the World Health Organization for about 10 years. If the suspension of flights persists, relevant international companies will have to choose more difficult or longer transportation routes, which will further push up the already high prices of medicines and medical equipment in Venezuela, and the patients will pay more money," said Huniades Urbina-Medina, president of the National Academy of Medicine of Venezuela.
Venezuela's medicine prices soar to unaffordable level amid US blockades
