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.

Australian student visa rejection rate rises

STORY: Australian student visa rejection rate rises SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 23, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 24, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:09 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of international students in Canberra 2. various of the Australian National University campus STORYLINE: According to the latest Australian government data, 80.9 percent of total international student visa applications in the six months to December 2023 were approved -- down from 86 percent in the financial year 2022-23 and 91.5 percent in 2021-22. It marks the lowest approval rate since 2005-06. The fall coincided with the December release of the government's new migration strategy, which places an emphasis on greater scrutiny for student visa applicants to end exploitation of the immigration system. Under the overhaul, colleges and universities have been placed into three tiers based on their history of visa fraud or other problems with international students. Those in tier one, including Australia's largest universities, ar

Endangered white-headed langur population increases to 1,400

STORY: Endangered white-headed langur population increases to 1,400 DATELINE: Feb. 25, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:51 LOCATION: NANNING, China CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of white-headed langurs 2. various of nature reserve 3. SOUNDBTIE (Chinese): NONG DENGPAN, Director, Administrative center of white-headed langur national-level nature reserve in Chongzuo STORYLINE: According to the white-headed langur national reserve in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the population of China's endangered white-headed langur has increased to over 1,400. The white-headed langur is one of the world's most endangered primate species. In the 1980s, its population dwindled to some 300 due to deforestation, land reclamation and poaching. Characterized by the white hair on their heads, the animals are found in the karst hills between the Zuojiang and Mingjiang rivers in the city of Chongzuo, Guangxi. In 2005, a regional-level nature reserve was established in Chongzuo to protect the rare primates. It wa

Chinese train driver on Jakarta-Bandung HSR helps promote ties

STORY: Chinese train driver on Jakarta-Bandung HSR helps promote ties DATELINE: Feb. 15, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:08 LOCATION: Jakarta CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the train driver working 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): MU ZHEN, Chinese train driver 3. various of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) STORYLINE: Mu Zhen, 45, is a Chinese train driver who operates locomotives on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) under construction. He participated in the comprehensive trial operation of Jakarta-Bandung HSR in November 2022. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): MU ZHEN, Chinese train driver "I've been working as a train driver for 18 years since 2005. I became a high-speed train driver in 2016. Driving high-speed trains on the Chinese-built Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway makes me very excited and proud. I'm proud that China's high-speed technology has gone global. I'd like to make some contributions to the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project. In the future, we will offer one-on-one training

Australian expat's 18-year charity journey in China

STORY: Australian expat's 18-year charity journey in China DATELINE: Feb. 5, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:25 LOCATION: ZHONGSHAN, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Australian expat working 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JERRY GREY, Australian media commentator 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JERRY GREY, Australian media commentator 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JERRY GREY, Australian media commentator 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): JERRY GREY, Australian media commentator 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): JERRY GREY, Australian media commentator 7. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): JERRY GREY, Australian media commentator 8. various of the Australian expat and his team STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JERRY GREY, Australian media commentator "My name is Jerry Grey. I live in Zhongshan in Guangdong. I've been in Zhongshan for 18 years. And since 2005, my wife Ann Liang and myself have been actively involved in raising money to help people who are less fortunate than ourselves." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JERRY GREY, Australian media commen

Feel charm of China's 1st national wetland park on World Wetlands Day

STORY: Feel charm of China's 1st national wetland park on World Wetlands Day DATELINE: Feb. 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:14 LOCATION: HANGZHOU, China CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): ZHENG MENGYU, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of Xixi wetlands 3. SOUNDBITE (English): MUSONDA MUMBA, Secretary-general of Ramsar Convention STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): ZHENG MENGYU, Xinhua correspondent "On Feb. 2, the 27th World Wetlands Day (celebration) in China with the theme of 'Wetland Restoration' was held in Xixi National Wetland Park, Hangzhou city, east China's Zhejiang province. Xixi wetland is the first national wetland park in China. In recent years, more than 800 species of animals and plants have increased here, making it a paradise for birds, fish, insects and vegetation." Xixi National Wetland Park opened in 2005. It is located in Hangzhou's northwestern suburb and occupies about 10 square kilometers with rare and endangered aquatic animals and plants. In 2009, it was listed as a Wetland of

A train driver's 18 years of dedication to plateau railway

STORY: A train driver's 18 years of dedication to plateau railway DATELINE: Jan. 17, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:03 LOCATION: LHASA, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Huang Qigang 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HUANG QIGANG, Ground handling driver 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): HUANG QIGANG, Ground handling driver 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HUANG QIGANG, Ground handling driver 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): HUANG QIGANG, Ground handling driver 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): HUANG QIGANG, Ground handling driver STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HUANG QIGANG, Ground handling driver "My name is Huang Qigang, a ground handling driver of Lhasa locomotive maintenance center, China Railway Qinghai-Tibet Group Co., Ltd." Huang has been working in the railway sector since 2005. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): HUANG QIGANG, Ground handling driver "I have been working for 18 years and started driving trains 15 years ago." In Feb. 2022, Huang became a ground handling driver of Fuxing bullet trains. 　　 SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HUANG QIGANG, Gr

Kuroda to become Asian Development Bank president

Kuroda to become Asian Development Bank president

TOKYO, Japan - Haruhiko Kuroda, former vice finance minister for international affairs in Japan, will assume the post of Asian Development Bank president Feb. 1, 2005.

(1)Yamanouchi, Fujisawa to merge in April 2005

(1)Yamanouchi, Fujisawa to merge in April 2005

TOKYO, Japan - Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. President Toichi Takenaka (R) and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. President Hatsuo Aoki shake hands at a news conference at a Tokyo hotel Feb. 24. The companies agreed to merge April 1, 2005, to create the second-largest Japanese drug maker in terms of group sales.

(2)Yamanouchi, Fujisawa to merge in April 2005

(2)Yamanouchi, Fujisawa to merge in April 2005

TOKYO, Japan - Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. President Toichi Takenaka (R) and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. President Hatsuo Aoki tell reporters at a Tokyo hotel Feb. 24 about their agreement to merge April 1, 2005 to create the second-largest Japanese drug maker in terms of group sales.

Kuroda to become Asian Development Bank president

Kuroda to become Asian Development Bank president

TOKYO, Japan - Haruhiko Kuroda, former vice finance minister for international affairs in Japan, will assume the post of Asian Development Bank president Feb. 1, 2005. (Kyodo)

Gov't mulls opening Kyoto State Guest House to public

Gov't mulls opening Kyoto State Guest House to public

File photo taken in 2005 shows Kyoto State Guest House in Japan's ancient city of Kyoto. It was reported on Feb. 1, 2016, that the government is considering opening the guesthouse to the public throughout the year in a bid to attract more foreign visitors and boost tourism in the country. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

(1)Yamanouchi, Fujisawa to merge in April 2005

(1)Yamanouchi, Fujisawa to merge in April 2005

TOKYO, Japan - Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. President Toichi Takenaka (R) and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. President Hatsuo Aoki shake hands at a news conference at a Tokyo hotel Feb. 24. The companies agreed to merge April 1, 2005, to create the second-largest Japanese drug maker in terms of group sales. (Kyodo)

(2)Yamanouchi, Fujisawa to merge in April 2005

(2)Yamanouchi, Fujisawa to merge in April 2005

TOKYO, Japan - Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. President Toichi Takenaka (R) and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. President Hatsuo Aoki tell reporters at a Tokyo hotel Feb. 24 about their agreement to merge April 1, 2005 to create the second-largest Japanese drug maker in terms of group sales. (Kyodo)