UN calls for end to attacks on healthcare services in Lebanon

The United Nations on Tuesday called for an end to attacks against healthcare services in Lebanon.

Speaking at a daily press briefing, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the security and humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains concerning.

On the safety of UN missions in the area, he emphasized that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has maintained a consistent message in its communication with all parties.

"UNIFIL continues to remind all actors to avoid operating in proximity to United Nations positions and personnel, and urges all parties to refrain from actions that could endanger peacekeepers," Haq said.

UNIFIL has lodged protests with the Israel Defense Forces concerning the presence and operations of Israeli troops and vehicles near its headquarters, and with the Lebanese Armed Forces regarding the activities of non-state actors near UN positions.

According to the spokesman, UN peacekeepers continue to report extensive Israel Defense Forces military activity across the area of operations, including high-density armoured movements, large-scale engineering and demolition works, and sustained logistical traffic. On Monday, peacekeepers recorded 340 launches of projectiles attributed to the Israel Defense Forces and 11 attributed to non-State actors in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, he said.

Meanwhile, attacks affecting healthcare and essential civilian services continue to raise grave concern, the spokesman said, including an air strike on a volunteer-run medical center affiliated with the Ministry of Public Health in Srifa in Southern Lebanon that killed one medic and injured five others on Monday. Earlier the same day, another medic was killed in town of Toul in the Nabatieh district in southern Lebanon when assisting victims following a strike.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which maintains a presence in Lebanon, has also reported that living costs are rising and food security is worsening in the country. A surge in food and fuel prices has driven up transport and production costs and undermined families' ability to afford basic food, Haq said.

UN calls for end to attacks on healthcare services in Lebanon

UN calls for end to attacks on healthcare services in Lebanon

A dazzling lineup of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies was on display at an immersive tech fair that just concluded on Tuesday in Guangzhou City, south China, captivating visitors with true-to-life and thrilling game experiences.

Held inside the China Import and Export Fair Complex, the three-day World VR/AR/XR/MR Industry and Smart Glasses Exhibition drew exhibitors from around the world to showcase their hottest immersive products, and tech enthusiasts couldn't wait to test the gadgets and gear firsthand.

"I just experienced the VR skydiving. The sense of weightlessness is very strong, and my experience is fantastic. It feels like real skydiving, but you can't stay for too long, as it's so real that you might get a bit dizzy," one visitor said.

A local company presented several products including a dome-screen theater that delivers glasses-free 3D visuals ideal for tourist attractions.

"The highlight is that we have turned the track-based theater into a dome theater. It offers a 3D audio-visual experience with 8K high-definition images. Our exclusive footage is incredibly sharp, and we've added immersive motion effects along with special effects like wind, rain, thunder, snowflakes, and bubbles," said Liu Jiale, sales manager of the exhibiting company.

The company landed an overseas order on the very first day of the expo, and saw a steady stream of curious visitors stopping by to try out the products.

Another overseas company showcased a VR large-space arena that allows multiple visitors to experience it at once. The game has already attracted players from 35 countries and regions.

"We come here every year to introduce new games. We have many clients, both Chinese and international, from countries like Kazakhstan, Spain, France, and many others. We offer seven VR games with new maps, and our games currently support eight foreign languages," said Denis, the company manager.

China is now home to over 35,000 VR firms, and the whole VR industry is forecast to exceed 350 billion yuan (about 50 billion U.S. dollars) by 2026.

Immersive VR games wow crowds at Guangzhou tech expo