Two-year restoration reveals tales of Istanbul's Sunken Palace

STORY: Two-year restoration reveals tales of Istanbul's Sunken Palace DATELINE: Sept. 1, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:59 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the city of Istanbul in Türkiye 2. various of Basilica Cistern 3. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): MERVE GEDIK, Project director at Istanbul Municipality's Cultural Heritage Department 4. various of Basilica Cistern STORYLINE: After two years of arduous restoration and consolidation, the Basilica Cistern, a 1,500-year-old Byzantine underground reservoir, finally has its hidden beauties and the stories behind its formation brought to light. Known for a huge underground chamber supported by marble columns, the cistern, also known as the Sunken Palace, is located on the ancient Istanbul peninsula, once the Byzantine Empire's capital. The cistern spanning over 10,000 square meters was built on the order of Emperor Justinian I, who was desperate to solve the city's water problem, Berk Alparslan, an archaeologist with the Istanbul Munic

Heroic rescue of British POWs in WWII | Stories shared by Xi Jinping

STORY: Heroic rescue of British POWs in WWII | Stories shared by Xi Jinping DATELINE: Sept. 30, 2022 LENGTH: 00:06:10 LOCATION: ZHOUSHAN, China CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Zhoushan and "Lisbon Maru" related footage 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DENISE WYNNE, Daughter of "Lisbon Maru" survivor Dennis Morley 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HU MU, Researcher, Zhejiang Ocean University 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): DENISE WYNNE, Daughter of "Lisbon Maru" survivor Dennis Morley 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): DENISE WYNNE, Daughter of "Lisbon Maru" survivor Dennis Morley 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): WU BUMING, Descendant of "Lisbon Maru" rescuer 7. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): DENISE WYNNE, Daughter of "Lisbon Maru" survivor Dennis Morley 8. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): WENG MAOLIANG, Descendant of "Lisbon Maru" rescuer 9. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): YAN YAJUN, Descendant of "Lisbon Maru" rescuer 10. SOUNDBITE 9 (English): BRIAN FINCH, British veteran 11. SOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): WU SIZHEN, Lecturer, Party School of Zhoushan Munic

Ramadan cannon revives old tradition in Jordan

STORY: Ramadan cannon revives old tradition in Jordan DATELINE: April 13, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:58 LOCATION: Amman CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Iftar cannon 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): NASSER RAHAMNEH, Spokesperson of the Greater Amman Municipality 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): NASSER RAHAMNEH, Spokesperson of the Greater Amman Municipality STORYLINE: The cannons were fired into the sunset with the booms reverberated through the valley and up the crowded hills of the Jordanian capital Amman, notifying people of the time of Iftar, when Muslims get to break their daylong fasting during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. This year, the Greater Amman Municipality, in collaboration with the Jordanian Armed Forces, launched the Ramadan cannon to announce the time of the breaking of the fast in a symbolic gesture to remind people of their old time. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): NASSER RAHAMNEH, Spokesperson of the Greater Amman Municipality "Ramadan cannon is launched from the palm square near the Greater Amman Munic