BEIRUT， Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Almost 50，000 people came together in the Lebanese capital city Sunday morning to participate in the annual "Beirut Marathon"， a charitable and sporting event， which draws people from across the country and around the world.
Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri took part in the seven kilometer fun race and was seen wearing black attire and sunglasses and taking selfies with participants.
The marathon started at around 7 a.m. and included 11 different races for adults， women， special needs individuals， students and children accompanied by their parents.
Hariri said a marathon was also taking place in the formation of the government， whereby parties are competing for ministries.
"Lebanon is doing very well， especially following the election of President Michel Aoun， who has reflected a sense of comfort for everyone，" Hariri said.
Asked if the marathon is faster than the government， Hariri pointed that "there is also a marathon in forming the government， they are competing for ministries."
He added that "we are looking towards the future and Lebanon is doing well."
For her part， "Beirut Marathon Association" President May Khalil told reporters that "we salute Prime Minister Hariri and we emphasize that we have full confidence that the government will be formed because Lebanon needs a period of security. We are very happy that Premier Hariri is leading this stage."
One of the most challenging races is the internationally measured and certified 42 kilometer race， which begins from the Beirut New Waterfront and ends at Martyrs' Square in Downtown Beirut and spans various neighborhoods in and around the Lebanese capital.
Kenyan Edwin Kibet Kiptoo won the 42 kilometer race， while Jordanian Ahmed Soumar came in first place in the 21 kilometer half race.
Shereen Njeim was the first Lebanese woman in the 42 kilometer race， coming in fourth place in the total ranking.
Refreshment stands， paramedics and police were on standby along the whole route. Different companies， organizations， universities and other institutions were represented with runners at the long race， setting up their own stands and cheering on the participants.
"Despite all the economic and social challenges we are facing in Lebanon， these sorts of activities give us hope that Lebanon is doing well，" one Lebanese racer told reporters.
Road closures and diversions have caused heavy traffic in some areas of the city. Enditem
XIAMEN Jordy Nelson Camo Jersey , Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Zheng Jinxing, 54, and his friendsconduct nightly patrols along the roads of Jin'an community in thecoastal city of Xiamen in east China's Fujian Province.
In 2013, when Zheng began the patrols, burglaries were oftenreported within the community.
"Thieves are skillful, they can open a door with a plastic card.Some of the locks in our community are inadequate, so we oftenencourage residents to change their locks," he said.
Zheng and his team of volunteers never take a night off, theirpatrol takes place from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., even during a typhoon orwhile their neighbors celebrate the lunar new year. They see it astheir duty to the community, which is made up of mainly low andmiddle-income families.
"If we see car lights on or doors unlocked, we let the ownersknow. We return lost bags, mobile phones and drivers' licenses orhand them over to the police," he said.
As a sanitation worker, Zheng's day begins at 3 a.m. When hefinished work, he returns to the community to guide traffic. Afterdinner, he goes out to patrol.
But when he moved to the community in 2009, Zheng was known as a"troublemaker."
"I always got drunk and got into fights, nothing in thecommunity was good in my eyes," he recalled. "The head of thecommittee said I should change my behavior. It took time, buteventually I was able to change."
Zheng has now been acknowledged as a star volunteer within thedistrict. His story is typical of many of the 2,562 registeredvolunteers in Jin'an.
Covering an area of 310,000 square meters, Jin'an is Xiamen'slargest government-built community for low-income families. Thecomprehensive volunteer system earned it an award as one of China's" most beautiful communities" last year.
In the morning, a group of red-coated grandmas collect garbagein the community and teach the benefits of sorting recyclables.
During the day, basketball, choir and Taichi clubs - allorganized by volunteers - fill Jin'an with laughter and song.
The residents have free access to almost any service theyrequire from water and electricity maintenance, psychological andlegal counseling, to medical treatment and translation services, aspart of the voluntary services within the community.
They can even request a specific service by posting their needsonline or leaving a message in a suggestion box. If the request isreasonable, the residential community committee will check thevolunteer schedule and arrange for someone with the relevantprofessional knowledge to assist.
cThey regularly visit andchat with those in need, read them newspapers, clean their homes orhelp them buy groceries.
Chen Liming, director of the Jin'an residential communitycommittee, said all of the community's meeting rooms are availablefree of charge for activities.
"On weekdays, most of our volunteers are middle-aged and elderlypeople, while younger people often serve the community at night andon weekends," Chen said. "We have volunteers in every building.They collect the residents' suggestions to help us evaluate ourservices on a regular basis."
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