Taiwan: Typhoon Danas Topples Archway of Tainan’s Nankunshen Daitian Temple

Typhoon Danas made landfall near Budai Township, Chiayi County around 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, bringing gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Typhoon Danas weakened to a tropical storm after its eye departed Taiwan early Monday. The storm toppled Tainan's iconic archway of Nankunshen Daitian Temple, causing widespread flooding across the neighborhood.

US: North Dakota Sees Powerful Winds Amid Tornado-Producing Storm

Severe weather swept across the upper Midwest on Friday, June 20, bringing powerful winds and leaving at least 3 dead in North Dakota as a tornado ripped through the area.

"Total Dictation" held in Russia

STORY: "Total Dictation" held in Russia SHOOTING TIME: April 20, 2024 DATELINE: April 21, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:07 LOCATION: ST. PETERSBURG, Russia CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the "Total Dictation" event in St. Petersburg, Russia STORYLINE: The International Russian Language Grammar Test "Total Dictation" was held simultaneously on Saturday in dozens of cities in Russia and worldwide. During the annual cultural event, people got together to write down a dictation in the Russian language, which will be checked and nominated by a special grammar commission. According to the organizer, this year's event took place in over 40 countries and regions. Total Dictation was created to draw attention to literacy and to develop a culture of literate writing in the Russian language. The first such event was organized by philology students from Novosibirsk, Russia on March 11, 2004. Since 2012, the Total Dictation has become an international event that was supported by Russians abroad and people studying

After 20 years, Iraqis still suffer from impact of U.S. use of banned weapons

STORY: After 20 years, Iraqis still suffer from impact of U.S. use of banned weapons SHOOTING TIME: March 12, 2024 DATELINE: March 20, 2024 LENGTH: 00:03:05 LOCATION: FALLUJAH, Iraq CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Fallujah 2. various of local people 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): KHALID IBRAHIM, Fallujah citizen 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): NOUR, Ibrahim's daughter 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): ABDUL QUDDUS HAMEED, Medical analysis specialist STORYLINE: Twenty years after the U.S. military offensive in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, locals are still suffering from the lasting impacts of the use of internationally banned weapons by U.S. forces. In April 2004, U.S. occupation forces launched an offensive in Fallujah, 50 km west of Baghdad, but they encountered strong resistance from anti-U.S. armed groups, which prompted the U.S. forces to sweep the city in November of the same year. According to local doctors and citizens, the U.S. forces employed internationally banned weapons in their operation,

CHINA-XINJIANG-YULI-COTTON-SPRING PLOUGHING (CN)

CHINA-XINJIANG-YULI-COTTON-SPRING PLOUGHING (CN)

(230427) -- YULI, April 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Arkin Reyim talks with his family members in Yuli County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 1, 2023. Arkin Reyim is a 51-year-old cotton farmer with more than 300 mu (20 hectares) of cotton fields in the Bax Mali Village of Yuli County in Xinjiang. Arkin's courage and unique vision has prompted him to start growing cotton in 2004 when he got married with his wife Hasiyat Kasim. Since then, Arkin has devoted himself into the cultivation of cotton for over 10 years, thus making him an experienced cotton grower in the county. In this year, Arkin bought the Beidou navigation system with 8,000 yuan (about 1155.5 U.S. dollars) to have it installed into his tractor, as a way to mechanise the growing process and improve efficiencies. Yuli County in Xinjiang is suitable for the growing of cotton due to its unique natural conditions. It has become an important commodity cotton production base of the country. At present, the county's 1 mil

CHINA-XINJIANG-YULI-COTTON-SPRING PLOUGHING (CN)

CHINA-XINJIANG-YULI-COTTON-SPRING PLOUGHING (CN)

(230427) -- YULI, April 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Arkin Reyim looks for tractors for spring ploughing via his mobile phone as he takes a meal in Yuli County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 1, 2023. Arkin Reyim is a 51-year-old cotton farmer with more than 300 mu (20 hectares) of cotton fields in the Bax Mali Village of Yuli County in Xinjiang. Arkin's courage and unique vision has prompted him to start growing cotton in 2004 when he got married with his wife Hasiyat Kasim. Since then, Arkin has devoted himself into the cultivation of cotton for over 10 years, thus making him an experienced cotton grower in the county. In this year, Arkin bought the Beidou navigation system with 8,000 yuan (about 1155.5 U.S. dollars) to have it installed into his tractor, as a way to mechanise the growing process and improve efficiencies. Yuli County in Xinjiang is suitable for the growing of cotton due to its unique natural conditions. It has become an important commodity cotton production b

CHINA-XINJIANG-YULI-COTTON-SPRING PLOUGHING (CN)

CHINA-XINJIANG-YULI-COTTON-SPRING PLOUGHING (CN)

(230427) -- YULI, April 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Arkin Reyim looks for tractors for spring ploughing via his mobile phone as he takes a meal in Yuli County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 1, 2023. Arkin Reyim is a 51-year-old cotton farmer with more than 300 mu (20 hectares) of cotton fields in the Bax Mali Village of Yuli County in Xinjiang. Arkin's courage and unique vision has prompted him to start growing cotton in 2004 when he got married with his wife Hasiyat Kasim. Since then, Arkin has devoted himself into the cultivation of cotton for over 10 years, thus making him an experienced cotton grower in the county. In this year, Arkin bought the Beidou navigation system with 8,000 yuan (about 1155.5 U.S. dollars) to have it installed into his tractor, as a way to mechanise the growing process and improve efficiencies. Yuli County in Xinjiang is suitable for the growing of cotton due to its unique natural conditions. It has become an important commodity cotton production b

CHINA-XINJIANG-YULI-COTTON-SPRING PLOUGHING (CN)

CHINA-XINJIANG-YULI-COTTON-SPRING PLOUGHING (CN)

(230427) -- YULI, April 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Arkin Reyim talks with his family members in Yuli County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 1, 2023. Arkin Reyim is a 51-year-old cotton farmer with more than 300 mu (20 hectares) of cotton fields in the Bax Mali Village of Yuli County in Xinjiang. Arkin's courage and unique vision has prompted him to start growing cotton in 2004 when he got married with his wife Hasiyat Kasim. Since then, Arkin has devoted himself into the cultivation of cotton for over 10 years, thus making him an experienced cotton grower in the county. In this year, Arkin bought the Beidou navigation system with 8,000 yuan (about 1155.5 U.S. dollars) to have it installed into his tractor, as a way to mechanise the growing process and improve efficiencies. Yuli County in Xinjiang is suitable for the growing of cotton due to its unique natural conditions. It has become an important commodity cotton production base of the country. At present, the county's 1 mil

Italian chef's labor of love in Shandong

STORY: Italian chef's labor of love in Shandong DATELINE: April 18, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: JINAN, China CATEGORY: Culture SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): FEDERICO BIANCHINI, Italian chef 2. various of Bianchini cooking 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): DONG YAN, Bianchini's wife 4. various of views in Dongying 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): DONG YAN, Bianchini's wife 6. various of views of the Yellow River 7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): GUO YUN, Chairman of the Dongying Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): FEDERICO BIANCHINI, Italian chef "I love China, and I love Dongying." 61-year-old Italian chef Bianchini has lived for four years in Dongying in east China's Shandong Province, running a restaurant with his Chinese wife Dong Yan. In 2004, Bianchini married Dong Yan, a Chinese living in Verona, Italy. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): DONG YAN, Bianchini's wife "Four years ago, I brought my husband to Dongying. Dongying is a beautiful and friendly city. My husband loves here." In

French beauty brand eyes opportunities in China's growing market

STORY: French beauty brand eyes opportunities in China's growing market DATELINE: April 16, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Sephora 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MAGGIE CHAN, Managing director of Sephora Greater China 3. various of Sephora 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MAGGIE CHAN, Managing director of Sephora Greater China STORYLINE: China's fast-growing market is very attractive to Sephora. An executive of the French beauty brand has recently shared views on the opportunities in China. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MAGGIE CHAN, Managing director of Sephora Greater China "Sephora entered into China and completed the registration in 2004. And very soon, in 2005, Sephora already opened the first store. It's already 19 years in China. Sephora in China witnessed the growing of this China market. It (has been) helping our business to boom and to grow. Until today, after 19 years, we have around 327 stores in 91 cities. So this expansion pace (has been) riding on the

Brazilian business leader expects China-Brazil trade ties to grow further

STORY: Brazilian business leader expects China-Brazil trade ties to grow further DATELINE: April 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:46 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street scenes in China 2. SOUNDBITE (English): HENRY OSVALD, President, Brazilian Association for Industry, Commerce and Innovation in China (BraCham) 3. various of street scenes in Brazil STORYLINE: As Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pays a state visit to China from Wednesday to Saturday, a Brazilian business leader says that he expects trade ties between both countries to grow further. SOUNDBITE (English): HENRY OSVALD, President, Brazilian Association for Industry, Commerce and Innovation in China (BraCham) "I've been in China since 2004. We have currently around 140 Brazilian companies in China, mainly in Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and also in Guangdong. I think both countries really need each other, for Brazil, even more, because China is the main trade partner. We are very confident that the rela

French expat enjoys life in China's Wudang Mountains

STORY: French expat enjoys life in China's Wudang Mountains DATELINE: April 7, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:15 LOCATION: WUHAN, China CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of Wudang Mountains 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MARC VERLANT 3. various of the house in the countryside where Marc lives 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): MARC VERLANT 5. Marc talking with local people 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): MARC VERLANT 7. SOUNDBITE 4 (French): MARC VERLANT 8. various of Wudang Mountains STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MARC VERLANT "I'm Marc from France. Some locals say that I'm almost a native of Wudang." SOUNDBITE 2 (French): MARC VERLANT "I live in the countryside, so I have a garden and a hill. I take care of my garden and I take care of my bees when the bees come." SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): MARC VERLANT "Sustainable ecological agriculture." SOUNDBITE 4 (French): MARC VERLANT "When I first came here, this felt like my second home. I found a sense of belonging here. These are the reasons why I am here. When I came (in 2004), Wudang

New president of Tokyo Stock Exchange

New president of Tokyo Stock Exchange

TOKYO, Japan - Takuo Tsurushima who assumed the presidency of Tokyo Stock Exchange Inc. (TSE) on April 1, 2004.

U.N. Univ. to move research facility to Yokohama from Tokyo

U.N. Univ. to move research facility to Yokohama from Tokyo

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama Mayor Hiroshi Nakata (L) and United Nations University (UNU) Rector Hans van Ginkel gives a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 19 on UNU's plan to move its Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) to Yokohama on April 1, 2004.

Yuasa, Japan Storage Battery to merge next April

Yuasa, Japan Storage Battery to merge next April

OSAKA, Japan - Japan Storage Battery Co. President Shinichiro Murakami (L) and Yuasa Corp. President Naruo Ohtsubo pose at a news conference in Osaka on July 11 after announcing an agreement to integrate their businesses under a joint holding company on April 1, 2004.

Diet OKs bill giving nat'l colleges more autonomy

Diet OKs bill giving nat'l colleges more autonomy

TOKYO, Japan - Education minister Atsuko Toyama gestures her appreciation July 9 after the House of Councillors approved a set of bills to turn state-run universities into independent administrative institutions in April 2004 amid concerns that the legislation will not do enough to curb government involvement in higher education. The legislation will take effect on Oct. 1.

Ghana records highest inflation rate since 2004

STORY: Ghana records highest inflation rate since 2004 DATELINE: May 14, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:42 LOCATION: Accra CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Accra central business district 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SAMUEL KOBINA ANNIM, Government statistician 3. various of Accra central business district 4. various of Tema Port 5. various of bus terminal 6. SOUNDBITE 2: ABENA BADU, Vendor at Kimbu in the capital Accra 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): LESLEY DWIGHT MENSAH, Economist with the Institute of Fiscal Studies STORYLINE: Ghana's inflation rate reached 23.6 percent in April, the highest since 2004, said the Ghana Statistical Service Wednesday. Samuel Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician, said at a regular press conference that the food inflation increased to 26.6 percent and the non-food inflation increased to 21.3 percent in April. Providing policy considerations for national and subnational decision-makers, the government statistician revealed that 295 out of the 305 brand items in the inflation

Yuasa, Japan Storage Battery to merge next April

Yuasa, Japan Storage Battery to merge next April

OSAKA, Japan - Japan Storage Battery Co. President Shinichiro Murakami (L) and Yuasa Corp. President Naruo Ohtsubo pose at a news conference in Osaka on July 11 after announcing an agreement to integrate their businesses under a joint holding company on April 1, 2004. (Kyodo)

New president of Tokyo Stock Exchange

New president of Tokyo Stock Exchange

TOKYO, Japan - Takuo Tsurushima who assumed the presidency of Tokyo Stock Exchange Inc. (TSE) on April 1, 2004. (Kyodo)

U.N. Univ. to move research facility to Yokohama from Tokyo

U.N. Univ. to move research facility to Yokohama from Tokyo

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama Mayor Hiroshi Nakata (L) and United Nations University (UNU) Rector Hans van Ginkel gives a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 19 on UNU's plan to move its Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) to Yokohama on April 1, 2004. (Kyodo)

Diet OKs bill giving nat'l colleges more autonomy

Diet OKs bill giving nat'l colleges more autonomy

TOKYO, Japan - Education minister Atsuko Toyama gestures her appreciation July 9 after the House of Councillors approved a set of bills to turn state-run universities into independent administrative institutions in April 2004 amid concerns that the legislation will not do enough to curb government involvement in higher education. The legislation will take effect on Oct. 1. (Kyodo)